Taipei’s MRT is the only underground railway where someone has offered to tie up my shoelace

As I approached the hall where the relics of our vintage were assembled, I heard an unspirit-like roar

A country’s values come into focus when seen by an outsider, contrasting them with his native country

Caricaturist James Gillray was arrested over a print showing politicians kissing a new royal baby’s backside

Participation in the arts has a hugely positive impact on people’s health and wellbeing

Perhaps a lot of rugby has always been prosaic but I struggle to recall such a dearth of poetry

The quiet streets have that special Viennese quality of grandeur combined with melancholy and nostalgia

It is that forging and tempering that makes the poet’s utterances strong and flexible

Isis could be seen as a vast and terrifying collective outbreak of the Freudian concept of ‘acting out’

After 11 years, Harry Eyres’ column has come to an end. Here’s his first, from January 17, 2004

The taming of the Tea Party leaves the GOP short on the ideological message the voters like

All the world’s languages are anglicising and pidginising, but particularly French

Assertions the patient ‘wouldn’t have wanted to suffer’ offer doctors too much leeway

Elected rulers use heavy-handed authority to prevent being toppled by swings in opinion

The dividing line between beach and mountain people seems to involve their need for company

Uncivil rantings are not as uninformed as one might assume

It would be wrong for charges against the Texas governor to be allowed through the courts

A new book reveals how the very wealthy are shaping US society more than is commonly realised

Donald Trump’s campaign was about sociology not ideology

What cultural impact will the incoming president have? Prepare for a mash-up of Sinatra, sports stars and reality TV

How the property dynamo went from a milk round to becoming a self-made billionaire

Former head of UK Sport has set sights on winning the World Cup

Avoid eating too much and say yes to that extra glass of wine before you go to sleep in flight

For her 99th birthday my granny wanted to fly from Ottawa to Italy and get out her bikini

Casual familiarity triggers a sense of belonging and happiness in most of us and this in turn makes us more resilient

‘What does it mean if you can’t comment on a sector of society unless you’re part of it?’

Eurostar’s new on-board lighting makes me think of an operating theatre lit for intricate surgery

A summer office set-up reminds us that we don’t need gimmicks in the workplace to keep colleagues happy

The great thing about many Alpine resorts is that they understand the value of leaving things alone

Returning to 500 emails that need attention is far worse then checking in every other day

Your company secrets don’t need to be revealed to the tanning masses. Your shareholders will thank you

The Swiss bunker mentality has always felt at once quaint, menacing and oddly reassuring

Your boss and possibly you have a completely outdated view of the Thai capital and need to give it a fresh look

A few of late summer’s more frequently asked questions

I can’t help but question if airlines wouldn’t be further ahead if they had just stuck to getting the basics right

Many media companies still maintain a direct relationship with readers — but few still have access to foyers

‘It’s a snapshot of a nation on the go, but in the most courteous and respectful manner’

While other countries spend a fortune attracting ‘influencers’, in Portugal it has happened organically

Young Canadians should do like Aussies and Kiwis by getting out into the world for extended periods

The facts are very simple: automatic weapons have no place in civil society, even when licensed

The concepts on offer in Japan are exercises in extreme styling and peerless service

Toronto has a troubled history with its waterfront, much of which is cut off by an overhead expressway

From Hawaii to Hampstead, the columnist answers readers’ questions

Is Bombardier C Series the plane business travellers have been waiting for?

My desk and I are having issues. I’m away so often, it’s decided to lead a life of its own

Two tall stories that take place up in the clouds, high above two dazzling Asian cities

What can you do to lower the chances of your motor being stolen

Effective ways to reinvest in existing buy-to-let property portfolio

Five steps to protect workers and employers from a cliff-edge end to temporary economic support

A new series offers a fascinating glimpse into lives lost to history