A Tibetan protester died Friday–just two days after being released from prison on “medical parole.” The Tibetan was six years into a 15-year prison term for participating in the 2008 Machu Protest, at which Chinese police opened fire and killed 12 Tibetans. The man is the second Tibetan to die after being released on “medical parole” this year. Tenzin Choedak, who … Read more
Genetically modified foods (GM food or GMOs) have been a source of nutrition and debate for over two decades now in Chile. China introduced a genetically modified tobacco as far back as 1992, and two years later the United States saw the commercialization of the GM species recognized as the slow ripening tomato, known by its patent name: … Read more
Tweet Russia is sending a large convoy of humanitarian aid to Transnistria, the pro-Russian region of Moldova, with the stated intention of helping the region integrate into the Euro-Asian Union, according to news PMR, a Moldovan news outlet. The Russian organization responsible for directing the deliveries met with the leader of the pro-Russian separatist government in … Read more
Fighting continued in Grozny, Chechnya, as morning succeeded a night of insurgent activity in the North Caucasus city. At approximately 1 a.m. local time last night, Chechen insurgents killed several police and occupied the Grozny Press House media facility. Current reports have five Russian police killed in addition to seven dead insurgents. [su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEJphQEwA8M”]VIDEO[/su_youtube] The … Read more
A force, reportedly around 300-400 strong, is fighting in Grozny, the capital of Chechnya in Russia’s North Caucasus region. The militants seized the Grozny Press House media facility and laid siege to a school, prompting a military response from Russian authorities. Russian President Vladimir Putin was transported to the Kremlin in the middle of the night … Read more
A group of coffins returned to a far eastern Russian city from the fighting in Eastern Ukraine. The coffins were marked as “Cargo 200” and best efforts were made by Russian officials to keep the funeral secret. “The first 17 zinc coffins were returned to the city, which caused some shock among the local people,” … Read more
Russia’s proposed South Stream pipeline–which would connect Russia to southern Europe without crossing Ukraine–was scrapped Monday in the wake of EU objections to the project. Instead, Russia is naming Turkey as its preferred piped gas partner. Russia has been for several years in the planning stage for an undersea pipeline to that would feed 63 billion cubic meters … Read more
Germany’s foreign ministry spoke on the question of Ukraine’s joining NATO Sunday, stating that the idea could not be on the agenda and that Ukraine was not on the way towards NATO, as far as he was concerned. The minister expressed concern over “adding fuel to the fire” over a continuingly dangerous conflict. “I am … Read more
Unable to vote, hundreds of Moldovans remained at closed polling stations in Moscow, shouting, “Let us vote!” Officials, citing a shortage of ballot papers midway into the vote, stated that no more ballot papers would be issued, and the vote would not be extended. Parliamentary election voting was cut short in the Russian capital after ballot … Read more
World markets rose following China’s interest rate cuts and comments made by the European Central Bank. China’s Central Bank has cut the interest rate on annual deposits to 2.75 percent from 3.00 percent in an attempt to revive the economy. During the first half hour of opening trading, the Dow Jones industrial average rose to 1.00 percent … Read more
While Costa Rica prepares for its annual high-season, store fronts reopen, restaurants become chaotic, and tourists flock to the elegant beachfront hotels of Guanacaste. Despite the surplus of business and affluent tourists, a devil lurks within the most peculiar of places: the Aedes mosquito. With globalization on the rise, infectious, virulent diseases have become an … Read more
Russia President Vladimir Putin and the leader of Abkhazia have signed an agreement under which Putin will become the commander of a joint military force in the breakaway region. “I’m sure that cooperation, unity and strategic partnership between Russia and Abkhazia will continue to strengthen,” stated Putin after signing the agreement Monday. Russia already has … Read more