Author: The Speaker Editors

Microscopic habitats, hosting communities of microorganisms formed over geologic time periods, self-sufficient but not self-sustained, have been discovered within droplets of water in the oil of Trinidad’s Pitch Lake, the world’s largest natural asphalt deposit. Researcher Dr Tillmann Lueders explained to The Speaker about the births, lives and possible deaths of these tiny worlds. The report, “Water droplets in oil … Read more

Russia’s Defense Minister, Sergey Shoygo, offered the US a “guarantee” that Russia’s humanitarian convoy–feared by Ukraine to be a “Trojan horse” and currently being held at the Ukrainian border–is carrying no military personnel. Shoygo made the guarantee to US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in a phone call Friday night, and the information was released in … Read more

With a wood frame, some plastic and water, 99 percent of bacteria can be eliminated from unclean water, using a structure created by University of Buffalo, New York student Deshawn Henry. The project has the potential to provide clean water to developing nations around the world, where millions currently have no access to clean water for drinking … Read more

South Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Barnaba Marial Benjamin spoke today on his return from meeting with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and East African trade bloc IGAD in Nairobi, Kenya, and stated that the UNSC and IGAD should concentrate on establishing peace in South Sudan before attempting to address human rights grievances. He also … Read more

Protesting an August 11 forced celebration, Tibetans gathered at a government office in Kardze, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, China, Tuesday. Chinese officials arrived and deployed tear gas and fired on the protesters. Two Tibetans were struck by the bullets. Other Tibetans were also injured in the clash, Free Tibet reported. Hundreds of Tibetans had gathered at … Read more

Russia has sent a humanitarian convoy toward Ukraine. The convoy was to cross the border Wednesday, but has unexpectedly changed course. Currently, no Russian convoy is at the planned border crossing. The current course of the convoy is unknown. The Red Cross, reported to be acting with Russia on the humanitarian mission, has stated that … Read more

Six Tibetans have been located after being detained by Chinese police three years ago. The six were arrested during a protest against forced relocation and construction of a mining project in Lhundrub County, Tibet. The location of the six was confirmed to be Drapchi Prison, Lhasa. The six had received prison sentences ranging from eight to … Read more

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a late night statement Saturday, calling on all Iraqi politicians to constitutionally nominate a new leader that will be acceptable to all of Iraq in order to mobilize the war-torn nation to confront the Islamic State (IS). The statement read that the Secretary General was “deeply concerned about the evolving … Read more

In Xinjiang a recent protest turned riot ended in approximately 2,000 dead, according to Uyghur leaders. Local sources have put the number in the thousands as well. Recent official Chinese sources, however, have provided a number of 96 killed. The incident took place July 28, on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, one of the largest Islamic … Read more

[This report will be updated within the next hour] Aleksandr Zakharchenko, the so-called prime minister of the pro-Russian separatists active in Donetsk, Eastern Ukraine, has stated that the separatists are ready for a cease-fire. Zakharchenko issued a statement Saturday, in which the leader said, “We are ready for a ceasefire in order to prevent the … Read more

Recent CNA Corporation research has brought to light new revelations about water consumption and the electricity sector–including that electricity generation could become difficult in areas of the world prone to water scarcity or water stress. “Given pending constraints in water availability, business as usual will be completely nonviable for the electric power industry,” Benjamin Sovacool, Professor of Business … Read more

A Chinese Aerospace rocket crashed in Bulong Gachaa, in Arbas subdivision of Otog County, Ordos Administrative Region–a remote region in inner Mongolia, Thursday. The rocket caused a large explosion and impact crater, and was witnessed by many local residents. Mongolians in the area have been evacuated from their homes, according to Chinese news agency Epoch Times. … Read more