In eastern Ukraine, fighting between the Ukrainian military and separatist rebels increased in November. More than 4,000 people have been killed in the conflicts since early April.

In the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk on Nov. 2, the voting to elect leaders for self-proclaimed independent people’s republics in both areas was declared illegal by the Ukrainian government and the European Union. Russia has declared its support for the election results.

On Nov. 12, NATO...

At least 50 people were injured and 30 arrested on Nov. 6 after what began as a peaceful protest in Brussels turned violent, with demonstrators overturning cars and throwing stones and flares at police.

The protest, attended by more than 100,000 people, was staged against new austerity measures proposed by the Belgian government. These included cutting public services, raising the retirement age and delaying an increase in the minimum wage. 

The protest was organized by Belgian...

A car bomb at a military checkpoint on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt on Oct. 24 killed at least 29 Egyptian soldiers and injured at least 28. 

On Oct. 22, two Israeli soldiers were wounded by cross-border fire, including antitank fire, from Sinai. Israeli officials believe the soldiers interrupted an attempt by militants to smuggle drugs across the border. 

Sinai has become a hub of militant activity since former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak was deposed in 2011. The number...