Russia

Five years have gone by since President Obama signed the nuclear treaty with then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Long after negotiations reached their end, the deal's merits still provoke debate.

General Motors and Volkswagen are closing plants there and laying off workers. Economic problems have led to an estimated 35 percent drop in the once-booming Russian car market.

Separatists and their Russian allies are still trading fire with Ukrainian forces in eastern Ukraine, and casualty counts are rising. The separatists haven't withdrawn heavy weapons, Ukrainians say.

Britain's financial community was worried last year when the West began imposing sanctions on Russia. It turns out that only encouraged wealthy Russians to pump more money into Britain.