>
Article snippet: Good morning. The New York Times is providing full free digital access to European readers through Sunday. Here’s what you need to know: • Jean-Claude Juncker, above, the president of the European Commission, laid out plans to simplify how the European Union is run. In perhaps the boldest proposal in his annual address to the European Parliament, Mr. Juncker suggested streamlining the bloc’s leadership — an idea that could in theory eliminate his own job. European leaders were largely lukewarm or silent on Mr. Juncker’s idea of combining the presidencies of the European Commission and the European Council, which would require their unanimous support. _____ • Russia and Belarus are about to attack Veishnoriya. Luckily, that’s a fictional state. It’s the focus of a six-day joint military exercise starting today, most likely the biggest display of Russian military power since the end of the Cold War. NATO members are wary. In the real world, Russian towns and cities have received a wave of mysterious bomb threats, all of which have turned out to be hoaxes. Above, Belarusian military vehicles. _____ • Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. election is now undisputed. What’s less clear is the role played by the country’s media. Our media columnist, Jim Rutenberg, spoke with “The Daily” podcast about the information war that the Kremlin is waging against the West, in part through its RT news outlet. Read his full story in the Times Magazine in English or Russian. Above... Link to the full article to read more