Frenemies?
NASA
Political tensions between Russia and the USA along with new players in the space industry could change the future of space collaboration.
Sifting the remains.
EPA/Alexander Ermochenko
Russia’s response to the MH17 disaster came close to making it an international pariah – and an ensuing year of madcap foreign policy has only made things worse.
Ka-ching! The sound most countries heard when news of the nuclear deal with Iran broke.
Euro Iran via www.shutterstock.com
Most countries welcomed the deal as they jockey to boost trade with the Islamic Republic and gain from the eventual end of sanctions.
Does this look like a ceasefire?
EPA/Alexander Ermochenko
Ukraine is giving Russia two options – and neither is likely to end well.
Guys, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
EPA/Alexander Zemlianichenko
As Greece and Europe struggle to come to an agreement, is Russia offering the Syriza government a viable alternative?
Wait till Vladimir hears about this.
EPA/Andy Wong
Neither Russia nor China like the EU, but they’ve each got their ways of dealing with its members.
No, don’t email me! Don’t you read the news?
Shutterstock spy
Whether the story is true or not, we’ve seen that old threats still give intelligence agencies the jitters, even in the digital age.
‘The sorest stroke any Cavalry Regiment has suffered at one day’s fighting since the memory of man.’
Scotland forever! – Elizabeth Thompson
From Belgium to Moscow to Helmland: how one battle helped shape how we think of war.
In case of conflict, call in the US cavalry of course.
EPA/Adam Warzawa
A Pew survey has found majority of citizens no long support the principle or mutual aid and support.
Often caught talking at cross purposes.
EPA/Sven Hoppe
The Russian economy might be hurting, but the government’s social contract stands firm against a divided West.
Standing firm.
EPA/Matthias Schrader
The situation in is Ukraine deteriorating, but the G7 powers apparently have nothing to add.
Learn from the master.
EA/Yuri Kochetkov
Russian readers are unlikely to believe a narrative that is paid for by Western governments.
Ukraine is making no headway, even after a ceasefire deal.
EPA/Irina Gorbasyova
Both sides appear to be breaking the terms of the ceasefire, while the people of Ukraine struggle to survive.
Hey sup.
EPA/Alexei Nikolsky/Ria Novosti/Kremlin
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”.
Weaker than he seems.
EPA/Yuri Kochetkov
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
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
Sanctions have a terrible track record of success because they’re usually too weak to work and too easy to get around.