Paul Martin

The completion of the Human Genome Project will be a major scientific achievement, but it cannot by itself explain human nature or behavior. Genes produce proteins and operate within complex cellular, developmental, social, and physical environments; characteristics such as intelligence or criminality arise from many interacting genetic and environmental factors rather than single genes. Evidence from adoption and twin studies illustrates these interactions, challenging both strict genetic determinism and strict environmental determinism. The nature–nurture distinction is therefore useful only as a limited framework and becomes misleading when it reduces development to simple genetic blueprints.

Helen Glover has resumed training with the GB Rowing squad after giving birth to twins, hoping to qualify for a third Olympic Games in Tokyo. A two-time Olympic champion, she could become the first British female rower to compete at an Olympics after having children. Glover says her three children motivate her, while she balances training around childcare with help from family, friends and other athlete-mothers. She will prioritize her responsibilities as a mother but remains optimistic about earning selection and contributing to a young Team GB squad even if she does not compete.

Audrey Werro defeated Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson in the women's 800 metres at the European Athletics Championships, winning in a championship-record 1:54.81. Hodgkinson took silver after a closely fought race, while Femke Broeders-Bol won bronze. Despite losing her European title, Hodgkinson said she was proud of her season and welcomed the increased competition, viewing the rivalry with Werro and Broeders-Bol as motivating ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The race followed Werro's successful appeal after falling in the semi-final and intensified attention on the event's pursuit of Jarmila Kratochvilova's long-standing world record.

Amy Hunt won the European Championships 200m title in a European-leading 22.19 seconds, securing her second gold of the Birmingham 2026 championships and reinforcing her emergence as Britain’s leading female sprinter. Dina Asher-Smith took bronze, while Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke won silver in a national-record 22.28. Hunt, who also retained her national 100m title, is targeting two relay golds to complete a historic four-medal haul. Asher-Smith earned her ninth European medal, moving within one of the all-time record. Keely Hodgkinson and rival Audrey Werro both advanced to the 800m final after Werro was reinstated following a fall, while Ireland’s Mark English won the men’s 800m title.

Matt Hudson-Smith won the European 400m title in 44.17 at Birmingham’s track, securing his fifth continental gold and becoming Britain’s most decorated male athlete in European Championships history. He credited his familiarity with the home venue and his race strategy for the victory. Emily Newnham added silver in the 400m hurdles with a lifetime-best 53.33, while Amy Hunt, Dina Asher-Smith and Success Eduan advanced to the women’s 200m final.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has returned to England training after shoulder surgery and has impressed Steve Borthwick with his fitness, enthusiasm and eagerness to resume playing. The Exeter Chiefs winger has not played since before Christmas, but his recovery is being monitored ahead of England’s summer programme. A 33-man squad featuring 14 uncapped players will face a France XV, Argentina twice and the United States, with Borthwick hoping emerging players will establish themselves ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

World Rugby has agreed an exclusive partnership with the BBC to broadcast all 32 matches of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup live across television, audio and digital platforms. CEO Alan Gilpin said the free-to-air deal could create a generational moment for women’s rugby by introducing its players and teams to a much wider UK audience. The tournament will feature England, Wales and Scotland, begin at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on August 22, 2025, and conclude at Twickenham. World Rugby also plans to use coverage of WXV, Rugby Pass TV and social media to build interest and attract new and younger fans.

British diver Kyle Kothari hopes his Olympic debut can inspire more British Asians to take up diving and sport generally. After finishing ninth in the men’s 10m platform preliminary round, he advanced to the semi-finals in Paris. Kothari, believed to be the first athlete from a UK Jain family to compete at the Olympics, discussed the importance of seeing people from similar backgrounds represented in elite sport. His Olympic journey follows serious injuries, including ruptured Achilles tendons, and a decision to leave a financial-services career at JPMorgan to return to diving.

At 51, Andy Macdonald became one of the oldest competitors at Paris 2024 after qualifying for Team GB through his British heritage. Although he failed to reach the men’s park final and finished 18th, he celebrated fulfilling his ambition of competing at the Olympics, landing a crowd-pleasing backflip and emphasizing that skateboarding is about enjoyment, inclusivity and staying young rather than medals. Supported by the enthusiastic crowd and fellow skater Tony Hawk, Macdonald described simply making it to the Games as his gold-medal achievement.

Tommy Fleetwood won the silver medal in the men’s golf competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics after Scottie Scheffler produced a joint-course-record 62 to take gold by one stroke. Fleetwood, who has frequently finished runner-up at major tournaments, said he was disappointed not to win but regarded standing on the Olympic podium as one of the most memorable moments of his career. Jon Rahm surrendered an early lead, while Hideki Matsuyama took bronze and Rory McIlroy finished fifth. Fleetwood also praised the Olympic format and the opportunity to compete for something larger than individual success.

Bryony Page won Britain’s first Olympic trampolining gold at the Paris 2024 Games after overcoming lost-move syndrome, serious injuries and previous near-misses, having won silver in Rio and bronze in Tokyo. Her victory was secured when China’s Hu Yicheng stumbled in the final, completing Page’s Olympic medal set. Page said she may continue competing, potentially through the Los Angeles and Brisbane Games, while also hoping to pursue a future performing opportunity with Cirque du Soleil.

Carl Hester says Charlotte Dujardin should be given a second chance after a video emerged showing her whipping a horse during training, prompting her withdrawal from the Paris 2024 Olympics. Hester condemned the conduct but said it was out of character, that Dujardin accepts responsibility, and that the incident should prompt lasting improvements in horse welfare. Competing at his seventh Olympics, Hester is focusing on supporting Becky Moody and Lottie Fry as Britain seeks another team dressage medal while the sport faces renewed scrutiny over its Olympic future.

Adam Burgess won silver in the men’s C1 canoe slalom at the Paris 2024 Olympics, overcoming the heartbreak of finishing fourth in Tokyo by taking a more aggressive approach he called “Project Send It.” His time of 96.84 seconds briefly put him in the lead before France’s Nicolas Gestin claimed gold. Burgess said confidence, breathing techniques and support from his coach, family, friends and the UK Sport-funded performance programme helped him secure Britain’s first men’s C1 Olympic medal since 2008. The result followed Kimberley Woods’ bronze and strengthened Britain’s prospects in canoe slalom.

Delicious Orie, Britain’s seeded super-heavyweight boxing hope, lost a controversial last-16 bout to Armenia’s Davit Chaloyan at the Paris Olympics. Orie believed he had done enough to win but accepted the judges’ decision, becoming the fourth British boxer to exit at the first hurdle after earlier disputed defeats for Charley Davison and Rosie Eccles. The result intensifies concerns about Britain’s boxing campaign and the sport’s Olympic future, after the International Olympic Committee removed the International Boxing Association from overseeing the tournament. Boxing must find a suitable international governing body or risk being excluded from the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

Anna Henderson won silver in the women’s Olympic time trial in Paris after recovering from a second broken collarbone and navigating a rain-soaked, crash-filled 32.4-kilometre course without falling. Australia’s Grace Brown took gold, while Henderson edged Chloe Dygert by less than a second. The medal became Team GB’s second of the Games and capped Henderson’s comeback from a difficult season. In the men’s event, Britain’s Josh Tarling missed bronze by 2.16 seconds after an early front-tire puncture forced a bike change; Remco Evenepoel won gold, Filippo Ganna silver and Wout van Aert bronze.

Welsh boxer Rosie Eccles will represent Team GB in the women’s welterweight division at the Paris 2024 Olympics after overcoming a severe Covid-related nervous-system illness, multiple subsequent infections, injuries and a previous failure to qualify for Tokyo. Inspired by Andy Murray’s resilience and encouraged by compatriot Lauren Price’s Olympic success, Eccles is focused on winning gold at Roland Garros. She says she will defer decisions about turning professional until after the Games and will benefit from Aldi’s athlete-support programme in Paris.

Alex Horne discusses his long-standing involvement with Chesham United, where he became a director in 2022. The club won the Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South title and will compete at the highest level in its 117-year history next season. Taskmaster appeared on the club’s shirts during the successful campaign, helping attract larger crowds, while Horne praised the players and the volunteers who sustain the club.

England opened their Women’s Six Nations title defence with a 10-try victory over Scotland in Newcastle. Marlie Packer scored a hat-trick, while Claudia MacDonald and Amy Cokayne each crossed twice, alongside tries from Tatyana Heard, Poppy Cleall and Sadia Kabeya. Sarah Hunter captained England in her 141st and final international, receiving a standing ovation before retiring to an emotional farewell in her home city. England’s dominant rolling maul remained effective, while Packer also identified a faster, more expansive attacking approach as evidence of the team’s development for a new cycle.

Kyra Edwards, the only Black member of Great Britain’s squad for the upcoming World Rowing Championships, believes meaningful progress on diversity will take years. She has worked with British Rowing and UK Sport to develop ideas for improving representation, but says progress must extend from grassroots participation to the elite level, where athletes need substantial financial, time and coaching investment. Edwards hopes her World Championship visibility will inspire future rowers. She will also compete in the double sculls with her partner Saskia Budgett after the pair finished fifth at the European Championships, aiming to reach the World Championship final.

Paul Martin recalls his friendship with Desmond Tutu, describing how the archbishop helped secure his release after captivity in Gaza and advocated for a Palestinian prisoner. He portrays Tutu as a deeply religious, courageous defender of South Africa’s oppressed majority who rescued a lynching victim, supported Nelson Mandela and continued challenging corruption under Jacob Zuma. Martin also recalls personal moments involving their families and criticizes Tutu’s perceived blind spots, particularly his harsh focus on Israel while overlooking repression and mass deaths elsewhere in the Middle East. Despite these disagreements, he concludes that Tutu’s contribution to dismantling apartheid and combating prejudice ensured his enduring legacy.

Paul Martin argues that F. W. de Klerk was driven more by pragmatism than ideology. Although he had been a hardline National Party figure, de Klerk unbanned the ANC, released Nelson Mandela, dismantled South Africa’s secret nuclear weapons program and helped negotiate a peaceful transition to non-racial democracy. He also prevented a likely military coup and secured a role for his party through the constitutional “sunset clause.” Martin emphasizes that de Klerk and Mandela remained distrustful rather than genuine friends, and criticizes de Klerk’s later decision to withdraw from the Government of National Unity. Despite apartheid’s disgraceful legacy, de Klerk is ultimately credited with helping create a functioning and peaceful South Africa.

Katy Daley-McLean believes hosting the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in England could significantly accelerate the growth of women's rugby and make a sold-out Twickenham a realistic ambition. She supports staging matches across the country rather than concentrating them in London, arguing that nationwide access would build a broader following. She also emphasizes the tournament's long-term legacy, including increased grassroots funding, stronger local-club engagement and encouraging players to return to the sport.

Lauren Price, who won Olympic middleweight boxing gold for Team GB, has been named the inaugural Olympian of the Year at the National Lottery Awards after a public vote. The Welsh athlete has fulfilled her childhood ambitions of becoming a kickboxing world champion, representing Wales in football and competing at the Olympics, but remains motivated by new goals. She is considering whether to turn professional, potentially following Katie Taylor's example by pursuing world titles, while also weighing her future with GB Boxing. Price credited National Lottery funding and public support for helping her and other athletes achieve their dreams.

Former England defender Stuart Pearce visited Hornchurch to support the seventh-tier club ahead of its FA Trophy final against Hereford at Wembley on 22 May. Hornchurch reached the final after defeating six higher-division opponents, including Notts County, despite its league season being curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Pearce praised the players’ fitness, resilience and team spirit, while the match was also designated as a pilot event for the return of spectators to stadiums, with 3,000 Hornchurch fans expected. The visit was arranged through Pitching In, a grassroots sports investment programme backed by Ladbrokes and its owner Entain.

Great Britain’s women’s wheelchair basketball team is optimistic about winning its first Paralympic medal after silver medals at the 2018 World Championships and 2019 European Championships. Robyn Love says the enforced break from competition helped the squad develop individually and rebuild around fundamentals, while training in a Loughborough bio-secure bubble will provide competitive preparation for Tokyo. Love also hopes to use her profile and participation in the Women’s Sport Trust’s Unlocked programme to encourage more women and girls into wheelchair basketball and eventually establish a women’s academy.

Ireland head coach Adam Griggs believes Sevens players Eve Higgins, Emily Lane and Stacey Flood can add an attacking “x-factor” to Ireland’s Women’s Six Nations campaign. Higgins is set to make her 15-a-side debut against Wales in Cardiff, while Lane and Flood could come off the bench and Eimear Considine returns at full-back. Griggs says Ireland are better prepared than ever but acknowledges the opening Test will reveal their true level. He also supports retaining the tournament as a standalone event while restoring a full round-robin schedule from 2022.

Bianca Walkden is preparing for the postponed Tokyo Olympics with the goal of turning her Rio 2016 bronze medal into gold and becoming Great Britain’s first Olympic heavyweight taekwondo champion. Her career has been shaped by major injuries, missed Olympic opportunities and intense self-imposed pressure. Training alongside close friend and fellow Olympic champion Jade Jones, Walkden remains focused on the European Championships and the Olympic tournament despite the disruption caused by the pandemic.

Mohamed Sbihi expects Team GB’s younger rowers to handle the pressure of Britain’s Olympic rowing legacy and create their own success at the rearranged Tokyo Games. The Rio 2016 gold medallist describes how past champions and coach Jurgen Grobler shaped the squad, while expressing confidence that Steve Trapmore’s fresh leadership and the extra year caused by postponement have strengthened his prospects and those of the team.

Hannah Mills decided to postpone her retirement and pursue another Olympic campaign after Tokyo 2020 was delayed to 2021. The Rio 2016 gold medallist, now partnered with Eilidh McIntyre, is already selected for Team GB and hopes to build on their 2019 World Championship victory and Olympic test-event performance in Japan. Although a third Olympic medal could make Mills the most successful female Olympic sailor, she says personal achievement rather than historical records is her main motivation. She also praises the British Sailing Team, grassroots volunteers and Ken Newing for keeping people active and connected through the pandemic.

Alastair Cook endorsed Stuart Broad as a deserving BBC Sports Personality of the Year winner after Broad’s landmark season, which included surpassing 500 Test wickets. Cook also praised Broad and James Anderson’s experience ahead of England’s tours of Sri Lanka and India, while backing returning Test players Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow to make an impact. Speaking during a National Lottery grassroots-sport initiative, Cook praised Shahidul Alam Ratan and Capital Kids Cricket for supporting disadvantaged children during the pandemic.

Sir Geoff Hurst has urged football authorities to take stronger action over the link between heading and dementia, arguing that repeated heading drills in training may pose a significant risk even when match exposure is limited. His concerns are heightened by the number of members of England’s 1966 World Cup team who developed dementia. Hurst supports limiting heading practice and expanding research, while also endorsing research suggesting that smart-meter energy-use data could help relatives and healthcare workers identify unusual changes in the routines of people living with dementia and other conditions.

England and Bristol Bears hooker Clara Nielson reflects on how women’s rugby has expanded since she began playing, noting that more girls now start at younger ages and have access to teams that did not previously exist. After a successful 2019 that included a BUCS Championship title, England appearances and a Barbarians match, Nielson is focused on returning to club rugby after the Tyrrells Premier 15s season was suspended because of coronavirus. She believes the league has raised the sport’s profile and views elite players as important role models for younger girls.

Paul Martin recalls Nelson Mandela’s release from prison on 11 February 1990 and argues that Mandela’s willingness to compromise was central to ending apartheid without a catastrophic bloodbath. Mandela negotiated with former oppressors, cultivated white South Africans through sport, and used the 1995 Rugby World Cup victory to promote national reconciliation. Although South Africa continues to face poverty, inequality and failed efforts to deliver education and jobs, the country is portrayed as substantially better than it was under apartheid, largely because of Mandela’s pragmatic leadership and commitment to forgiveness.

The presence of Stompie Seipei’s mother, Joyce Seipei, at Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s funeral has become central to a political campaign to rehabilitate Madikizela-Mandela’s reputation. Seipei says she has forgiven Madikizela-Mandela and received financial support from her, but does not know who killed her son. ANC leaders and Madikizela-Mandela’s supporters have used this forgiveness, along with former security policeman Paul Erasmus’s claims that apartheid intelligence fabricated damaging stories, to challenge accusations against her. The account notes that testimony from 16 witnesses before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission implicated Madikizela-Mandela in violence, while her later apologies regarding Stompie and the killing of Dr Abdel-Kader Asvat left continuing questions about her responsibility. Her funeral has therefore become a battleground between rival ANC factions and competing interpretations of her role in the anti-apartheid struggle.

Winnie Mandela is portrayed as a courageous and influential anti-apartheid figure whose authority in South Africa's townships was later damaged by arrogance, intimidation, political violence, corruption and allegations of involvement in killings. The account describes the Mandela United football club, the kidnapping and death of Stompie, testimony implicating her in the murder of Dr Abu Baker Asvat, misuse of foreign funding and controversial commercial exploitation of her Soweto home. Although she retained substantial popular and political influence, her legacy became deeply contested, with critics viewing her less as the “Nation’s Mother” than as the “Nation’s Mugger”.

Ratko Mladic’s conviction for genocide and war crimes evokes Paul Martin’s memories of reporting from the Bosnian War, including the deaths and injuries of civilians in Sarajevo and Mladic’s apparent lack of empathy. Martin recounts confronting Mladic during the siege, observing his contempt for international peacekeepers, and witnessing his uneasy relationship with Bosnian Serb political leader Radovan Karadzic. After the war, Mladic remained protected by elements of the Bosnian Serb and Serbian establishments before being captured and sent to The Hague. The verdict means Mladic and Karadzic are likely to spend the rest of their lives in prison, although Mladic and many Serbs may view the judgment as an international conspiracy rather than accountability for mass atrocities.

Corinne Blatter-Andenmatten says her father, Sepp Blatter, was forced to resign as FIFA president by a conspiracy involving UEFA president Michel Platini. She argues that Blatter stepped down to protect football from further financial damage and loss of credibility, including the possible departure of sponsors. Blatter-Andenmatten strongly defends her father’s honesty while accusing Platini of using improper tactics during FIFA’s presidential congress.

Klaus Iohannis takes office as Romania's president after unexpectedly defeating Prime Minister Victor Ponta, winning nearly 55 percent in the runoff with strong support from young voters through Facebook. A former physics teacher and successful mayor of Sibiu, Iohannis promises fiscal restraint, stronger rule of law, action against corruption, better education and healthcare, and economic improvements that could encourage Romanians abroad to return. He warns that the country must accept further austerity while borrowing from the International Monetary Fund, and sets the goal of making Romania a better-functioning democracy by the end of his term.

Families of Amer Abu Aisha and Marwan Qawasmeh, whom Israeli authorities accuse of abducting three Israeli teenagers, fear the men will be killed or arrested during Israel’s extensive search around Hebron. Abu Aisha’s father doubts that two men could have carried out the kidnapping, while Hamas confirms the suspects are operatives but denies responsibility and accuses Israel of deflecting blame. Israeli forces have arrested more than 400 people and searched homes and rural areas without locating the teenagers, while the Palestinian Authority says it is also searching. The case has revived concerns that a future prisoner swap could strengthen Hamas and encourage further kidnappings.

Julius Malema and his newly formed Economic Freedom Fighters are projected to win a significant share of seats in South Africa’s 2014 election by channeling anger over unemployment, inequality, mining disputes and the ANC’s long rule. Malema promises mining nationalization, uncompensated redistribution of white-owned farmland and the removal of highway toll infrastructure, policies that have alarmed businesses, investors and many white South Africans. His strong media presence and support among striking miners have boosted the EFF, but allegations involving unpaid taxes, hate speech and embezzlement threaten his credibility. Although Malema claims he could win an outright majority, analysts expect the party to weaken the ANC rather than take power.

Australia defeated South Africa by 245 runs in Cape Town to win a dramatic Test series. Chasing an effectively impossible 440, South Africa mounted a prolonged defensive effort, with A B de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn delaying Australia deep into the final day. Ryan Harris then broke through in the closing overs by dismissing Steyn and Morne Morkel, finishing with 4 for 32. The match also marked Graeme Smith's final Test, ending his international career with an emotional farewell.

Graeme Smith retires after an exceptional career as South Africa's captain and opening batsman, holding records for Test matches and runs as captain and leading his country to the top of the Test rankings. His tenure involved major sporting, racial and political pressures, while his unconventional batting style and combative personality made him a distinctive figure. However, declining form, repeated dismissals by Mitchell Johnson, technical weaknesses and recent criticism of his leadership made retirement appear timely. Smith may continue his first-class career with Surrey and could theoretically pursue a future World Cup place with Ireland through his Irish citizenship.

David Warner’s 145 helped Australia declare at 303 for 5 after scoring rapidly in the second innings, leaving South Africa with a target of 440. South Africa collapsed to 15 for 3 before A B de Villiers and Hashim Amla attempted a recovery, but James Pattinson dismissed Amla and South Africa ended the day needing to survive Australia’s final six wickets. Australia required six wickets from 98 overs to win the Cape Town Test and seal the series 2-1.

Graeme Smith announced that he would retire from international cricket at the end of South Africa’s Test against Australia in Cape Town. The 33-year-old captain, who had led South Africa to the top of the Test rankings and amassed more than 9,000 Test runs, said family considerations and a desire to finish at Newlands influenced his decision. His retirement came after South Africa were bowled out for 287, leaving Australia with a substantial lead and in control of the match.

Michael Clarke's unbeaten 161 helped Australia reach 494-7 against South Africa in the deciding Test in Cape Town, marking his second consecutive score above 150 at the venue and a return to form after a difficult period. Supported by centuries from David Warner and an 84 from Steve Smith, Australia took control despite rain and wind reducing play. South Africa's position was further weakened by an early injury to leading fast bowler Dale Steyn, while JP Duminy claimed four wickets late in the innings. With the series tied 1-1 and weather expected to improve, Australia appeared likely to declare and press for victory.

Nelson Mandela viewed boxing and other sports as models for equality, discipline and strategic negotiation during South Africa's transition from apartheid. He supported breaking sporting segregation, restoring South Africa's international sporting links and creating multi-racial teams, despite opposition within the ANC and among anti-apartheid activists. His backing helped South Africa return to the Olympic movement and use the 1995 Rugby World Cup, including his public embrace of Springbok captain Francois Pienaar, as a powerful symbol of national reconciliation. The approach helped reduce white fears and contributed to a less violent transition to the 1994 democratic elections.

Nelson Mandela viewed sport as a practical model for an egalitarian South Africa and as a strategic tool for negotiating the end of white rule. He supported integrating cricket, securing South Africa’s return to the Olympic movement and using international competition to reassure white South Africans while building multiracial bonds. Despite opposition within the ANC and pressure from hardline politicians, Mandela helped bring a multiracial team to the 1992 Olympics and used the 1995 Rugby World Cup, where he appeared alongside captain Francois Pienaar, as a powerful national-unity moment. The account argues that this sporting strategy helped reduce racial fears and contributed to a peaceful transition to democracy.

British biomedical scientist Nicholas Priest argues that it is highly unlikely Yasser Arafat died from polonium-210 poisoning, citing the absence of hair loss and bone-marrow damage associated with the confirmed poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko. Swiss researchers reported an 83 percent level of confidence that Arafat had been poisoned, but acknowledged that the illness pattern was inconsistent with acute radiation syndrome and that no significant unsupported polonium was found in non-bone remains. Palestinian investigators identify Israel as the main suspect, while Priest warns that the tiny concentrations detected cannot scientifically support estimates of a lethal dose.

International Labour Organisation Director-General Guy Ryder urged Bangladesh to appoint hundreds of garment-industry inspectors immediately and enact long-delayed labor legislation after the Rana Plaza building collapse killed more than 400 workers, following a factory fire that killed 112 the previous year. Ryder said the Bangladeshi government bears primary responsibility, while Western brands must also improve oversight. Safety experts called for blacklisting non-compliant factories and threatened withdrawal of the EU's duty-free trade preferences, warning that most factories lack adequate safeguards and that further disasters could drive companies toward alternative production bases such as Myanmar.

Mowaffak al-Rubaie recounts accompanying Saddam Hussein to his execution and says the former dictator showed no remorse for the mass killings committed under his regime. A survivor of torture and former neurologist, national security adviser and parliamentarian, al-Rubaie argues that Saddam posed a continuing threat despite the absence of discovered weapons of mass destruction. He defends the intervention that removed Saddam while acknowledging thousands of mistakes, criticizes the death penalty in principle but considers it necessary in Saddam’s case, and says Iraq’s continuing violence reflects decades of Baathist repression. He calls for education reform and greater tolerance, and argues that the West abandoned Iraq by withdrawing security support in 2011.

Former Coalition Provisional Authority administrator Paul Bremer says inadequate troop levels and the absence of an effective counterinsurgency strategy were major mistakes that prolonged Iraq’s insurgency and cost lives. He defends de-Baathification and the disbanding of the Iraqi army, arguing that the latter was approved by US and British governments, while acknowledging failures to secure urban populations and rebuild the country. Bremer also criticizes the rapid US and British withdrawal, says Iran benefited from the occupation’s failures, and maintains that Iraqis are ultimately better off after Saddam Hussein’s removal because incomes and access to services improved and violence declined from its peak.

South Africa's rise to the top of Test cricket is presented as the culmination of a long transformation from apartheid-era sporting isolation to a multiracial national team. The article recalls cricket's segregation, rebel tours and international boycott, then highlights Nelson Mandela's efforts to use sport to promote reconciliation and nation-building. Despite ongoing racial and economic inequalities, quota controversies and administrative problems, improved leadership and merit-based selection have helped produce a stronger, more representative team. Continued development of cricket among black youth could make South Africa's success more common and deepen its significance.

Ernie Els’s second Open Championship victory is presented as closely linked to South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy and Nelson Mandela’s use of sport as a force for reconciliation. Els, who rose to prominence soon after Mandela became president, has navigated racial sensitivities in golf while supporting young disadvantaged players through his foundation. His son Ben’s autism also redirected his priorities and inspired a major charity for autistic children. Despite a decade without a major title, Els has regained his focus and continues to pursue an elusive Masters victory.