Celebrating the centenary of Agatha Christie's first novel, 'The Mysterious Affair at Styles', this article explores the enduring popularity of her detective stories, particularly those featuring Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. It discusses the 'golden age of detective fiction', a period between the world wars when whodunits surged in popularity, often authored by women. The article also delves into a statistical analysis of Christie's novels, commissioned by UKTV channel Drama, which examined language and plot structure to identify patterns that could predict the murderer. The study found that certain character attributes, such as occupation and family relations to the victim, could be significant indicators. However, the analysis also acknowledges the limitations of statistical models in predicting the murderer in Christie's complex plots, ultimately suggesting that the charm of her mysteries lies beyond patterns and encourages readers to enjoy the storytelling without relying on statistics.

James Croal Jackson's poetry explores themes of entropy, the fleeting nature of memories, existential crises, the impact of technology on social interactions, environmental concerns about water pollution and microplastics, and reflections on the concept of God. The poems convey a sense of impermanence, the search for meaning in a fast-paced world, and a critical view of environmental degradation.

Belarus' once-promising tech industry has been severely impacted by political repression following the 2021 election, widely condemned as fraudulent by President Alexander Lukashenko. Many tech workers, facing brutal crackdowns, have sought refuge abroad. Poland's Business Harbour Visa has become a crucial escape route, allowing Belarusian professionals to work legally in Poland and bring their families. Since its inception in 2020, Poland has issued 55,000 visas, aiding both individuals and companies in relocating. The program has also been expanded to include nationals from Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Moldova. Despite higher costs of living and inflation in Poland, Belarusian tech workers like Kirill, Alena, and Ivan have found better opportunities and freedom, with some even bringing their entire families to settle in cities like Wrocław.

Two paintings from the workshop of Flemish master Dieric Bouts, stolen during the Second World War, have been returned to Poland from Spain. The diptych, Mater Dolorosa and Ecce Homo, was transferred from the Museo Provincial de Pontevedra to Gołuchów Castle, part of the National Museum in Poznań. The Polish deputy prime minister and minister of culture, Piotr Gliński, highlighted the efficiency of Poland's art recovery system. The paintings were likely stolen from the National Museum in Warsaw during the 1944 Warsaw Uprising. Magdalena Ogórek plans to establish a Museum of Stolen Art in Lower Silesia to showcase the theft of Polish cultural property by Germany during the war. The Polish Culture Ministry and Unesco conducted workshops in Warsaw to prevent trafficking of looted Ukrainian cultural objects, with Unesco's director of culture and emergencies, Krista Pikkat, acknowledging Poland's leading role in this effort.

Berlin officials, including justice senator Lena Kreck, have stated there are no current plans to return the Nefertiti bust or the Pergamon Altar to their countries of origin, despite differing legal and moral perspectives on their possession. Saraya Gomis, Kreck's deputy, personally supports their return, citing anti-discrimination views. The debate has intensified in Germany, with art critic Marcus Woeller arguing against the return of the Nefertiti bust. Egypt has long demanded the return of the bust, while Turkey seeks the return of the Pergamon Altar. The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation maintains that the artefacts were acquired legally, a claim disputed by Egypt. The issue has been highlighted by Germany's recent decision to restitute Benin bronzes to Nigeria, with historian Jürgen Zimmerer suggesting that the artefacts should be returned under similar logic. The Berlin Ministry of Justice has deferred specific restitution matters to the federal German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The article discusses the persistent threat of far-right extremism and neo-Nazism in Germany, debunking the myth of Germany as a post-racist utopia. It highlights incidents of neo-Nazis infiltrating security services, plotting coups, and committing terrorist attacks. The rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, especially in Eastern Germany, and the prevalence of systemic racism and educational inequality for migrants and their descendants are also examined. The author, James Jackson, emphasizes that despite Germany's acknowledgment of past atrocities, there is still significant progress to be made in overcoming the far-right threat and racism.

Bosnia & Herzegovina's complex electoral system has led to tensions among its ethnic groups, with Croat and Serb nationalist parties accused of gaining disproportionate power. The country's division into two entities, the Republika Srpska and the Bosniak-Croat Federation, has been a source of secessionist tensions and political deadlock. Recent reforms by the High Representative aimed at protecting ethnic minority rights have been met with criticism and are seen as potentially entrenching a segregated state. The debate continues on whether to maintain the Dayton peace agreement's ethnic-based system or to transition towards a more typical European-style liberal democracy.

Maten Amad, a young migrant from Iraqi Kurdistan, has successfully crossed the Belarusian-Polish border and reached Germany, where he is now in Eisenhüttenstadt, a primary hub for asylum seekers in Brandenburg. Over the last three months, more than 9,000 migrants, mainly from the Middle East and North Africa, have attempted this perilous journey to the EU, facing extreme hardships such as starvation and hypothermia, as well as aggression from Belarusian soldiers. Approximately 1,500 migrants have managed to complete the crossing.

Poland is maintaining energy stability despite Gazprom's cessation of gas supplies by relying on long-term planning and cooperation with allies. The country's gas storage facilities were significantly full at the time of the cut-off, and infrastructure investments like the Baltic Pipe and the GIPL pipeline with Lithuania are enhancing energy independence. The Świnoujście LNG terminal has also seen increased activity. While some experts view the situation as an opportunity to invest in renewables, concerns remain about potential increased coal use. Poland has secured oil supplies through a deal with Saudi Arabian Aramco and is exploring nuclear energy options with proposals from various international companies.