Sunday's victory for Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy underscored the anti-incumbency sentiment in Europe, and the ability of formerly fringe parties on the continent to detoxify their brands.
The big picture: The election came two weeks after the far-right Sweden Democrats stormed their way to a second-place finish in a shock result that will force the long-ruling Social Democrats from power.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday granting Russian citizenship to former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.
Driving the news: Snowden fled the United States and was given asylum in Russia after revealing classified documents about the U.S. government's mass surveillance program in 2013.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned "the rattling of nuclear sabers" and called for the end of "nuclear blackmail" in a speech on Monday.
Why it matters: Guterres' call comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin made a veiled threat to use nuclear weapons last week, though the UN chief did not specifically name Russia or Putin.
President Biden and first lady Jill Biden will welcome French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, for a state visit on Dec. 1, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed at a press briefing Monday.
Why it matters: This will be the first formal state dinner hosted by the Biden administration — coming later than those of previous administrations because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At least 15 people were killed and another 24 injured after a gunman opened fire at a school in the city of Izhevsk located in central Russia, on Monday, AP reported, citing Russia’s Investigative Committee.
Driving the news: Among those killed were 11 children. A security guard and two teachers were also killed, per the Washington Post.
Why it matters: Part of the new assistance will go toward the Ukrainian government's efforts to document, investigate and prosecute atrocities committed by Russian forces so far throughout the invasion.
Multiple military recruitment offices in Russia have been attacked in the days since Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "partial mobilization" of an estimated 300,000 Russian citizens for the country's war in Ukraine.
Driving the news: Local officials said a 25-year-old gunman opened fire at a military draft office in Ust-Ilimsk, Siberia, on Monday, critically wounding the office's commander, Reuters reported.
Washington has privately warned Moscow of "catastrophic" consequences if Russian President Vladimir Putin instructs his military to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, top U.S. officials said in interviews broadcast Sunday.
Driving the news: Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan made the comments after Kremlin officials doubled down on the veiled nuclear threat Putin made in announcing the mobilization of some 300,000 reservists last week.
A coalition of three right-wing parties is on course for majorities in both houses of the Italian Parliament, provisional results from Sunday's general election show — setting the stage for Italy's most conservative government in decades.
Why it matters: The result puts Giorgia Meloni, who leads the Brothers of Italy, in pole position to become prime minister. Her coalition also includes The League, led by far-right firebrand Matteo Salvini, and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia.
A number of Russia's neighboring countries moved to restrict entry for Russians this week as thousands of Russian men attempted to flee military conscription.
If Russia successfully annexes occupied territories of Ukraine, it would spell the end of diplomatic negotiations between Russia and Ukraine,Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday.
Driving the news: Four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine — Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia — are holding referendums from Friday through Tuesday on whether to join Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's mobilization of 300,000 reservists is tantamount to an admission that the country is struggling to continue its war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday.
Driving the news: Putin "has announced the mobilization. It used to be hidden. Now, you see that it has been announced publicly," Zelensky said.
Russia will offer "full protection" to the Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine that vote in referendums to join Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference Saturday.
Why it matters: Decried by Ukrainian and Western officials as a "sham," the referendums are taking place from Friday through Tuesday in the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia and could lead to the annexation of nearly 15% of Ukraine.
