Behind the Headlines: Russiagate Unravels, Syria Stabilizes, Spain Almost Splits

Several major world events developed this week. While Putin and Xi both gave speeches outlining their takes on the present - and visions for a better future - fracture points in the rest of the world creaked and groaned. Protests continue in Spain as the government made moves to dissolve the Catalan parliament and hold its separatist leaders accountable. Kurdistan's own failed independence referendum was similarly squashed - the Iraqis took back Kirkuk almost without a shot fired, apparently...