Soldiers’ Mothers, an influential Russian non-profit group composed of the family members of Russian soldiers and purposed to act as a watch dog over the use and abuse of Russian soldiers, was labelled “foreign agent” by the government in August after criticizing the government for sending Russian troops into Ukraine to fight an undeclared war, and … Read more
A former FIFA lead investigator, Terry Steans, who spent two years investigating FIFA for match fixing, has warned that football is “incredibly vulnerable” to the practice. The Football Association confirmed for the first time last weekend that it had a list of known and suspected match-fixers. “Football is incredibly vulnerable,” said Terry Steans, who worked … Read more
Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Andrii Lasenko made warnings Monday that Russia likely intends to target Moldova next, noting that “little green men,” similar to those which invaded and barricaded Crimea in late February before Russia annexed the peninsula from Ukraine, had been recently reported by the former Moldovan Minister of the Interior, Gennady Cosovan. “Russia … Read more
Human rights group Amnesty International has released a collection of images revealing Russian military buildups inside eastern Ukraine, which, the group said, was evidence that Russia was committing war crimes in Ukraine. The satellite images show installments of Russian armor and artillery within Ukrainian borders. “Our evidence shows that Russia is fueling the conflict,” stated … Read more
Sweden now recycles 99 percent of its household garbage. Sweden reuses a large share of its waste–and that of other nations–but it also recycles a lot by burning it for energy. Sweden burns millions of tons of garbage per year in energy-generating plants–a process that has not been without controversy. The average Swede currently produces … Read more
After receiving new reports on the humanitarian crisis in Somalia, the UN has warned that over 1 million Somalis currently face starvation. Conditions in Somalia are worsening due to delayed and erratic rains, as well as to trade disruptions that have resulted from military actions against insurgents. An estimated 1,025,000 people–particularly children–will be “in crisis … Read more
Al Qaeda has formed a new branch in India and surrounding nations. The branch, Qaedat al-Jihad in the Indian Subcontinent, was formed of Afghan Taliban and mujahideen in the region, and was years in the making, according to al Qaeda. The group has the stated purpose of defending the faithful in Burma, Bangladesh, Assam, Gujurat, … Read more
In Pakistan, a group formerly belonging to the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan (TTP) has splintered off, forming a new group called Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA). The group cited the failure of the TTP to pursue the objectives of overthrowing the Pakistani government and establishing an Islamic state as the reason for the split. A top TTP commander, Omar … Read more
In a working paper by David K Deng, writing on behalf of the South Sudanese Law Society (SSLS), the society has proposed a “Truth and Dignity Commission” that would seek to understand the varying historical narratives conceived by South Sudanese–which, the SSLS feels, have contributed and are contributing to the ongoing violent crisis in the … Read more
The Mona Lisa, painted in the early 16th century by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci, is worth an estimated $2.5 billion, and the France’s media has suggested that the “priceless” painting could be sold to alleviate the nation’s debt, which has mounted to $200 billion. The sale of other works was also suggested as possible salable items, including … Read more
[BRIEF] In the face of political protests across the nation, Brazil has banned the wearing of masks in public demonstrations. The ban was signed by Geraldo Alckmin, the governor of Sao Paulo state, and will go into effect upon regulation–which can take up to 180 days. The ban has sparked a further protest against the … Read more
In Italy, protests continue against the government for plans that would criminalize the basic right of Italians to a house. The protesters are criticizing the government for using the housing crisis and austerity–which protesters refer to as “artificial impoverishment”–to push for further gentrification in the nation. The Italian government approved the first changes to the … Read more