Europe

Among the topics of tomorrow's Vatican meeting: The possibility of women deacons

5:27pm October 03, 2023

by Jason DeRose

Roman Catholic leaders are gathering at the Vatican for a synod, or meeting, to address issues facing the church. Among the topics will be whether to allow women to become deacons in the church.

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Ukrainian troops have made limited progress retaking Russian-occupied land

2:09pm October 03, 2023

As winter approaches, Ukraine's military takes stock of the limited gains of its counteroffensive. As the war goes on, support for Ukraine seems to waver — especially among Republicans in Congress.

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Politics & Government

Morning news brief

5:02am October 03, 2023

Ukrainian troops make limited progress retaking Russian-occupied land. The fraud trial begins Tuesday for the founder of FTX. Laphonza Butler will make history as California's newest U.S. senator.

In the middle of Poland's Bialowieza Forest, one of Europe's oldest remaining forests, stands Europe's newest border wall: a 15-foot-high metal fence topped with razor wire and security cameras. Poland finished building this fence a year ago to try to stem an influx of migrants assisted to the border by Belarusian soldiers, whose government is trying to destabilize Europe.

World News

Poland's dangerous eastern border takes center stage in upcoming elections

5:26pm October 02, 2023

by Rob Schmitz

The NATO and EU member borders Belarus, the Russian territory of Kaliningrad and Ukraine — plus a strip of land connecting it to Lithuania. It is an unstable and volatile mix of frontiers.

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EU foreign ministers meet in Kyiv as bipartisan U.S. support for Ukraine wavers

5:09pm October 02, 2023

by Joanna Kakissis

As bipartisan support in the U.S. wanes, Ukraine hosts foreign ministers from the European Union, which continues to view Russia's war on Ukraine as an existential threat.

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Chairman of Smer party Robert Fico (center) addresses reporters in Bratislava, Slovakia, on Sunday.

World News

Worry and concern follow pro-Kremlin candidate's victory in Slovakia election

2:21pm October 02, 2023

by Rob Schmitz

Former prime minister Robert Fico campaigned as a left-wing populist, opposing continued military support for Ukraine and aligning with Russia against the United States.

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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (center left) and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell visit a monument to fallen defenders of Ukraine in Kyiv, Monday. Borrell and EU foreign ministers have gathered in Kyiv in a display of support for Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion.

World News

Latest on Ukraine: U.S. aid stumbles and Slovakia elects a pro-Russia leader

12:39pm October 02, 2023

by International Desk

Catch up on key developments and the latest in-depth coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Politics & Government

Sen. Michael Bennet on Ukraine

8:18am October 02, 2023

NPR's David Gura speaks to U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, Democrat of Colorado, about assistance for Ukraine.

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2 weekend events show how Eastern Europe is wrestling with its political future

5:12am October 02, 2023

In Slovakia, a pro-Russia party won the majority of votes in a national election. Thousands marched in Poland to support the opposition to the ruling nationalist party headed by another populist.

A photo shows a general view of the Ecole Militaire and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, on Sept. 26.

World News

France sees a jump in bedbugs, as Paris prepares to host the Olympics next year

4:50pm October 01, 2023

by Joe Hernandez

"No one is safe," Paris first deputy mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said in a tweet on Friday.