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
India-Bangladesh Home Secretary-level talks from September 2 is being keenly watched by separatist outfits in Assam, who hope that Anup Chetia’s extradition will facilitate the peace talks with the Indian Government. Notwithstanding the recent the Assam-Nagaland border violence, which claimed four lives, people in the northeastern state are hopeful that the Assam peace talks will … Read more
Enthusiasm about the annexation of Crimea among Russians has dropped in the past few months, according to a Lebada Center poll. The news was reported by the opposition’s Dozhd news–a report that contrasts with the reports of official Russian government news outlets, which have reported that Russians are becoming more accepting of the annexation of Crimean into the … Read more
The families of the Russian soldiers recently captured in Ukraine are pleading with the Russian government to return their children from what Russians are increasingly referring to as an “undeclared war” in Eastern Ukraine. The families appealed directly to the Russian president and military leaders to return the soldiers alive and well, and asked for … Read more
Over the weekend, the Italian Navy picked up nearly 4,000 migrants trying to reach Italian shores from North Africa. The Italian Navy uses helicopters, patrol boats and frigates in its Mare Nostrum operation, which was launched last October after 360 migrants drowned off the coasts of Sicily, and is reported to cost $12.5 million per … Read more
In recent weeks, Russians have been attempting to demonstrate against the Russian war in Ukraine–an action that has been difficult because the Russian government has recently passed laws limiting free assembly in Russia. In Moscow Sunday night, Russian protesters attempted to demonstrate against Russia’s undeclared war and were arrested by Russian police. The protesters attempted to hold a candlelight … Read more
Valentina Melnikova, the head of Russia’s famous Soldiers’ Mothers Committee, began receiving a barrage of telephone calls Thursday morning from Russian army leaders–including the deputy defense minister–after accusing the entire high command of invading Ukraine. The callers reportedly wanted to meet with Melnikova. Melnikova included Russian President Vladimir Putin in her accusation. The Russian high command … Read more
[BRIEF] Approximately 100 wounded Russian soldiers arrived in St Petersberg Tuesday, according to a member of the Russian Presidential Council for Civil Society Institutions and Human Rights. Ella Poliakova, a member of the Council and the chairman of the Soldiers’ Mothers of St Petersberg, reported the events to Dodj. An aircraft arrived at St Petersberg’s SM … Read more
The world’s tallest man, who had grown to 2.60 meters (8.5 feet) by age 44, has died from complications associated with the condition that was the cause of his ceaseless growth. Leonid Stadnyk had withdrawn from public attention after being briefly named by the Guinness World Records as the world’s tallest man in 2007. Stadnyk refused … Read more
In recent battles between the South Sudan’s government army and opposition forces, the army has used child soldiers–a violation of South Sudanese and international law–and has drawn the condemnation of Human Rights Watch. “South Sudan’s army has returned to a terrible practice, once again throwing children into the battlefields,” said the Africa director at Human Rights … Read more