Morning news brief
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.
Europe
Poland's dangerous eastern border takes center stage in upcoming elections
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.
EU foreign ministers meet in Kyiv as bipartisan U.S. support for Ukraine wavers
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.
Worry and concern follow pro-Kremlin candidate's victory in Slovakia election
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.
Latest on Ukraine: U.S. aid stumbles and Slovakia elects a pro-Russia leader
Catch up on key developments and the latest in-depth coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Sen. Michael Bennet on Ukraine
NPR's David Gura speaks to U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, Democrat of Colorado, about assistance for Ukraine.
2 weekend events show how Eastern Europe is wrestling with its political future
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.
France sees a jump in bedbugs, as Paris prepares to host the Olympics next year
"No one is safe," Paris first deputy mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said in a tweet on Friday.
Pro-Russia ex-PM leads leftist party to win in Slovakia's parliamentary elections
The election was a test for the small central European country's support for neighboring Ukraine. The win by Robert Fico could strain a fragile unity in the European Union and NATO.
In France, workers build a castle from scratch the 13th century way
Deep in a forest in the Burgundy region, a group of enthusiasts is building a castle the medieval way — no motorized machines included.