Topic: U.S.S.R.

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Briefing
Chechnya: How a remote Russian republic became linked with terrorism

The main suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing are two brothers from Chechnya, a Russian republic that has been the scene of cyclical revolts and brutal crackdowns for the past 200 years.
Man and Mars through history

A look back over centuries at man's attempt to uncover information about the 'Red Planet.'Sources: NASA, American Museum of Natural History, and Scientific American
Cuban Missile Crisis: the 3 most surprising things you didn't know

Fifty years ago, the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the United States and the Soviet Union within a hair’s breadth of nuclear war. Here are three things that many Americans don’t know about what historians routinely call “the most dangerous moment in human history.”
Cuban Missile Crisis: 5 ways leftist ideology lives on in Latin America

This week marks the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the US and the Soviet Union were on the brink of nuclear war over the installation of Soviet missiles in Cuba.
Presidential debate: 7 defining moments in history (+video)

From Ronald Reagan’s one-liner, “There you go again,” to Al Gore’s heavy sighs and eye rolls, zingers and mannerisms can define a presidential debate even more than the candidates’ positions on critical issues. Here is a look back at seven defining debate moments.

All Content

Virgin Galactic: Branson eyes 2013 launch for private space travel

Virgin Galactic has 529 paid passengers so far, according to billionaire Richard Branson. The tycoon is planning on bringing his kids on the planned Virgin Galactic spaceflight.
Will NASA's Mars rover crash?

For NASA's Curiosity Mars rover to arrive undamaged on the surface of the Red Planet, a lot of things will have to go right.
Moscow sends warships to Syria: war games or evacuation?

Almost half the ships in a Russian flotilla headed to Syria are well suited for transporting large numbers of people. As many as 100,000 Russians may live in Syria.
Terrorism & Security Russia drafts new UN resolution on Syria, meets Syria opposition

Underscoring its central role, Russia met with opposition Syrian National Council in Moscow today to discuss a new proposal.
How To Watch the Olympics

A book that makes the perfect guide to the Olympics, past and present.
Company promises flights to the moon aboard recycled Soviet space station

The moon may soon be a tourist destination for millionaires with Excalibur Almaz, a British spaceflight firm, preparing to sell $150,000 tickets aboard a 1970s Soviet space station retrofitted with new thrusters
What is Russia thinking on Syria? A brief guide

As the crisis in Syria collapses into what looks like full-blown civil war, Russia's response stems from a complicated mix of principle, self-interest, mistrust of Western motives, and differing perceptions of the situation.
The Daily Reckoning The biggest fraud in economics is ... economics?

What’s the point of having an economy, asks Bill Bonner? It makes no sense to waste trillions of dollars’ worth of resources just to “protect the economy,” he says. The whole point of an economy is to create more stuff, not to waste it.
Mongolia's top election issue: how to spend new riches

Mongolians vote for a new parliament today that will have to decide how the landlocked, still poor country should spend the expected windfall from its mining boom.
Syria's chemical weapons: How secure are they?

Syria has been amassing chemical weapons since the 1980s and is believed to have a larger stockpile than any other country that has faced ethnic civil war.
15 biggest moments for women in the Olympics

Since 1900, when women first began competing in the Olympic Games, there have been many unforgettable moments.
Israel and Russia: Trade and restive Arab world outweigh differences on Iran

As Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Israel, burgeoning technology cooperation and a shared concern about Islamic extremism seem to be overtaking a history of poor relations.
Latin America Monitor Rio +20: What does it augur for the 2016 Olympics?

The UN's global conference underscored just how much ground Rio de Janeiro itself has to cover when it comes to environmental sustainability. It also showed what a long way the city has to go to prepare for the 2014 World Cup games and the 2016 Olympics.
Backchannels CIA aiding Syria rebels: Usually, that's just the beginning

The US is wading into ever murkier waters in Syria with unpredictable consequences.
Keep Calm At Rio+20 environmental summit, is 'catastrophe' inevitable?

Wealthy Western nations are financially exhausted and unwilling to commit to help fund greener development for poorer nations. Will this week's conference in Rio find any solutions?
Modern Parenthood Father's Day gifts of conversation: from poet Yevtushenko to a jobless steelworker

Father's Day gifts: Thanks for the conversations, Dad. A son recalls his newspaper-reporter father's ability to strike up conversations and create bridges of humanity with unlikely people in unlikely places – from poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko to a jobless steelworker.
Opinion: Love and basketball on Father's Day

On Father's Day, I recall fond childhood memories of my dad teaching me to shoot free throws. I'd imagine I was taking a high-stakes shot for the 76ers, with seconds left. Decades later, 76ers forward Andre Iguodala found himself in that exact situation during this year's NBA playoff series.
Briefing D.C. Decoder 101: How Washington spends your money

There's a lot of talk about cutting the US deficit but very little actual cutting of deficit. One reason? There's not much easy to cut. Decoder explains the six ways Washington spends money.
The Monitor's View: Russia protests keep democracy dream alive

The Russia protests on Tuesday tell Putin that the popular hopes for democracy are alive and kicking. His subtle suppression of dissent only hurts Russia's opportunity to modernize its economy.
Greek election: leftist leader has opposition history

Alex Tsipras, whose Syriza party is in a close contest for Parliament, is opposed to Greece's membership in the eurozone.
Iran's nuclear program: 4 things you probably didn't know

Do the US and Israel believe that Iran has a nuclear weapons program? Did President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad really promise to "wipe Israel off the map"? The answers may surprise you.
Latin America Monitor Cold war defense treaty under fire in Latin America

The treaty says an attack against any country in the hemisphere will be treated as an attack against all. The withdrawal of four countries is symbolic of regional power shifts, writes a blogger.
UN head says Syria monitors fired on near reported new massacre site

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told UN representatives in New York about the alleged new atrocity in Syria and UN monitors coming under fire trying to reach the area.
Why China is likely to get more involved in Afghanistan

For the past decade, China has not played a significant role in Afghanistan. But with NATO starting to pull out, Afghanistan's security will affect neighboring China.
The Monitor's View: Euro crisis can build European identity

When European Union leaders meet in late June, they will weigh ideas that point to more political unity as a way to stem the euro crisis. Will Europeans give up more national sovereignty?