As the West and Russia go about rooting out each other’s spies, they also lose the ability to keep tabs on each other. Time to get back in touch.
Not all eyes are on the prize: Eurovision is often as much about undeclared alliances, voting blocs and political paybacks.
Andres Putting (EBU)/Eurovision
For the first time, Australians can vote for this year’s Eurovision winner. But it’s as much a political battlefield as a song contest – so hopefully the Russians have forgotten the “shirtfront”.
Cristian Nitoiu, London School of Economics and Political Science
Putin is superficially more popular than ever, but his extravagantly militaristic policy and Russia’s economic isolation mean he’s walking a tightrope.
Will Russian science return to the bad old days of Stalin?
Reuters photographer
Loren Graham, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Some Russians are looking back admiringly to a tyrannical scientist from Stalinist times – and using the new field of epigenetics to bolster their case.
Members of the Night Wolves visit the Russian monument in Vienna.
Herbert P. Oczeret/EPA
Commemoration and memory is being re-politicised, and this could have worrying consequences.
When Vladimir Putin reviews the troops marking the 70th anniversary of Russia’s victory of Nazism, he won’t have many leaders of democratic nations to accompany him.
EPA/Alexey Druzhinin/ RIA NOVOSTI
Victory over Nazi Germany is one unambiguously positive accomplishment of the 20th century; and yet, constructing a positive narrative about the Soviet second world war has proven hard – largely because there are some stubborn facts to contend with.
Sanctions intended to be biting have more often been toothless and about giving supporters the warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from taking a principled stand.
Cat dollar via www.shutterstock.com
Plans to dam Lake Baikal’s most important tributary could kick off an international dispute.
Alexis Tsipras’ visit to Moscow this week drew a terse response from Angela Merkel, but no deal has been announced.
Alexey Nikolsky/Ria Novosti/Kremlin Pool/EPA/AAP