A contentious general election takes place in Italy, eleven nations sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, and the year’s best films are honored at the Academy Awards.

President Obama hosts leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council; the Washington International Trade Association discusses the Transpacific Partnership negotiations; and V-E Day is observed.

A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: The EU holds its Eastern Partnership Summit in Lithuania; the European Court of Human Rights hears a burqa ban case; and Mali begins parliam…

A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: Trade officials debate the Trans-Pacific Partnership; Afghan president Hamid Karzai visits Pakistan; the UN Security Council reviews several…

The U.S.-Saudi relationship is fraught with complications. Saudi Arabia has the largest oil reserves in the world, giving it influence over what Americans pay at the gas pump. At the same time, the k…