Something has puzzled Jeffrey Sachs for 20 years. When he asked the US government for $1bn for Poland to help for their currency stabilisation, they said yes. Within eight hours. They also agreed to debt relief. When he asked for the same thing for Russia, they refused. After two years of asking, he gave up trying and resigned. But a recent book by a Nato commander started to unravel this mystery for Jeremy. It suggests that Poland was viewed as part of the West and Russia was seen as the defeated enemy, worthy to be crushed, not helped. In the end Russia's financial crisis overwhelmed the efforts at reform and normality. He wonders whether this helps explain Russian violence in Ukraine.
Viewpoint: Why the shadow of WW1 and 1989 hangs over world eventsAbout half of Syria's population have left their houses since the beginning of the war. That's a lot of empty houses. And when the owners are absent other people have moved in. Owners often have no idea who is living in their house and it’s too dangerous to go back and check. But Diana Darke did go back. Her friends had been chucked out of her house by her ex-lawyer and the previous owner conniving together to take it for themselves and split it 50:50. Ready for a fight to get her house back, she was surprised that - bob's your uncle - 15 days later it was hers again.
The strange normality of life in the middle of Syria's war
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