Liam Nolan

Eastern Europe Reporter

Polish farmers block a road outside Warsaw during a nationwide protest on March 20, 2024

What is driving Poland's farmer protests?

An estimated 70,000 Polish farmers blocked more than 550 roads across Poland last week as part of their ongoing protest against the EU's Green Deal and the access of Ukrainian food imports to the bloc's market. After one month of mass protests, Poland's government wants to resolve the dispute.

Europe • 25 Mar 24

People are seen in front of a digital screen displaying Vladimir Putin and a quote from his recent address in Saint Petersburg

Russian election to cement Putin's 'power vertical'

Russians are voting this weekend in a presidential election which is expected to provide Vladimir Putin with a fifth term as president and enable him to stay in power until 2030. The three other candidates do not disagree with Mr Putin's policies, leaving voters with little to choose from.

World • 16 Mar 24

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was speaking at the EPP congress in Bucharest, Romania

We live in pre-war times, Tusk tells EPP delegates

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has told delegates at a congress of the centre-right European People's Party that "we are living in new times, in a pre-war epoch".

World • 07 Mar 24

Leo Varadkar is attending the centre-right European People's Congress in Romania

Varadkar favours processing irregular migrants outside EU

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that he is in favour of processing applications for irregular migrants in countries outside of the European Union.

Politics • 07 Mar 24

Manfred Weber, Chairman of EPP group (R) and Olgierd Geblewicz, President of the EPP Group in the European Committee of the Regions and President of West Pomerania Region speak at a press conference in Bucharest

Immigration, climate on EPP agenda at Bucharest congress

Members of the centre-right European People's Party are meeting in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, today and tomorrow for the group's congress, three months ahead of the European Parliament elections in June.

Europe • 06 Mar 24

The conflict has upended Ukraine's population and destroyed large swathes of the country's civilian infrastructure

Two years on: The war in Ukraine in numbers

Russia's two-year long invasion has changed Ukraine utterly. This article looks at how the war has negatively reshaped Ukraine's population, the scale of losses on the battlefield, and the donor countries which have been Kyiv's strongest supporters.

Ukraine • 24 Feb 24

Prithviraj Kambli puts final touches to a painting of late Russian opposition leader in Mumbai

Can a Russian opposition exist after Navalny?

The death of Alexei Navalny leaves Russians who support democracy without a recognisable leader. Just one month before a presidential election which will allow Vladimir Putin to continue as president until 2030, is there any prospect for an organised opposition movement within Russia?

Alexei Navalny • 18 Feb 24

Watch: Stars step out at Small Things Like These premiere

Berlinale's red carpet goes green for Cillian Murphy

Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon and Emily Watson were among the stars who stepped out at the premiere of Small Things Like These at the Berlin Film Festival.

Movies • 16 Feb 24

Watch: Cillian Murphy says "books and art and film can be a balm to a wound"

Cillian Murphy 'emotionally knocked out' by new film

Cillian Murphy has said his new film Small Things Like These uncovers a dark chapter in recent Irish society and that he was "emotionally knocked out" by the story of a Magdalene Laundry in smalltown Ireland in the 1980s.

Movies • 17 Feb 24

Two women lay flowers at Moscow's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on 3 February during a protest by members of 'The Way Home'

Why a group of soldiers' wives is protesting in Moscow

Since late December, a group of wives of Russian soldiers fighting the Kremlin's war in Ukraine have gathered each Saturday to lay flowers at Moscow's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The women, who number a few dozen, want their husbands to be allowed to return home after more than one year at war.

World • 13 Feb 24