The Latest Breaking News from the Iron Curtain

This Week in History: The fall of the Iron Curtain

Explore how major events between 24 and 30 August were captured on The Independent’s front pages

The Independent UK · Aug 24

AI before AI: The forgotten Soviet programme (1/2)

Beginning in the 1950s, the Soviet Union launched an ambitious programme aimed at developing artificial intelligence. While the history of AI today seems to be shaped by the giants of Silicon Valley, ideas originating from behind the Iron Curtain had a significant influence, although they remain largely overlooked.

France 24 · Jul 30

Rocking the Iron Curtain: How Queen’s 1986 Budapest concert cracked the Soviet Bloc

On 27 July 1986, a concert by British rock band Queen in Budapest symbolically tore down the Iron Curtain. A crowd of 80,000 filled the People's Stadium to feel the first wave of freedom. The band's official photographer Denis O'Regan recalls that night in an exclusive interview with Euronews.

Euronews · Jul 29

'You can count on us,' says Germany's president marking 70 years in NATO

Former West Germany sought protection as its 15th member on 6 May 1955 as concern grew about the Soviet army massed east of the Iron Curtain.

Euronews · Apr 28, 2025

Obituary: Former F1 team boss Colin Crabbe, the man who gave Ronnie Peterson his chance

As the head of his small Formula 1 team, Colin Crabbe, who has died aged 82, was the man who gave Ronnie Peterson his big break.  It was just before Crabbe’s 27th birthday when his Antique Automobiles team made its F1 debut in 1969, in the non-championship Madrid Grand Prix at…

Autosport · Mar 14, 2025

Vodka, kilos of caviar and a Russian minder: Iron Maiden’s 1984 World Slavery tour behind the Iron Curtain

The heavy metal giants, including singer Bruce Dickinson, speak to Mark Beaumont as they recall their trip to the Soviet bloc and the denim-clad fans just waiting to rebel against authoritarianism

The Independent UK · Aug 11, 2024

‘For All Mankind’ Spinoff Is in the Works at Apple TV Plus

‘Star City’ looks at space race from behind the Iron Curtain as flagship show gets renewed

Broadcasting & Cable · Apr 17, 2024

Jiri Cerny, a leading Czech music critic and a voice of the 1989 Velvet Revolution, dies at 87

Jiri Cerny, a legendary Czech music critic who introduced Western music to generations of listeners behind the Iron Curtain and became one of the voices of the 1989 anti-communist Velvet Revolution, has died at age 87

The Independent UK · Aug 18, 2023

Is the Apple TV Plus Tetris movie true to life? Two things it gets wrong (and three things it gets right)

Apple TV Plus has a hit on its hands with the true-story movie about extracting Tetris from behind the Iron Curtain. But as almost always happens when real stories become films, some of the most dramatic bits never happened.

iMore · Apr 26, 2023

Trip of the week: the glories of Trieste – then and now

As the great seaport of the Habsburg empire, Trieste was a “thriving ethnic, financial and cultural crossroads”, dubbed “Europiccola” (Europe in miniature) by James Joyce. Then came the First World War, and the grand geopolitical shifts of the 20th century, which left it ever more isolated – hemmed in on…

The Week · Apr 17, 2023