Almost half of Irish people surveyed recently say they would rather the IMF or the EU took over the management of the country at least for the time being – rather than continue to be mismanaged by Irish politicians. Many want Ireland to the default and not take an €85bn loan, believing bank debts should not be paid by ordinary people

Since US midterm elections that were disastrous for the Democrats, attention has turned to America´s left. Inside and outside the two – party system, two distinct lefts are alive if not well – the one polite and established, the other made up of grassroots activist