Section: Newsweek (USA)
Conflict Deaths Surge by More Than a Quarter in 2014
The death toll from global conflicts surged by almost a third last year, according to a new report. In the 20 deadliest conflicts last year, 163,562 people died compared to 126,994 in 2013. Syria remained the world’s most bloody war zone, with over three times more deaths recorded than in Iraq, which ranked second. Nigeria’s conflict...
A Year After Annexation by Russia, Crimea Remains Bitterly Divided
Vladimir Putin, steel in his eyes, strides purposefully through a field of corn. In the distance, the Kremlin’s elaborate towers, and the onion domes of Red Square. Floating above the Russian president, in the azure sky, are the words: “Congratulations on your return to your native harbour!” This eye-catching painting takes up the entire...
NATO Intercepts 11 Russian Jets as War Games Continue
Lithuania has intercepted the largest group of Russian military jets near allied airspace this year, in the early hours of this morning, as Russia continues its snap military exercises in the Baltic, Arctic and elsewhere. The increasing number of unannounced Russian military drills near its Baltic neighbours, combined with Russia sending jets...
Exclusive: Opposition Leaders in London Are Putin’s Next Target
The Kremlin’s war on the Russian opposition has now become so savage it has torn up its own rulebook. Russian dissidents struggling against Vladimir Putin used to be sure of two things. The security services would not shoot them and they would not come after their families. Not any more. Vladimir Ashurkov is one of Russia’s most...
Russians Offered Cash to Attend Pro-Kremlin Events
Russians are being offered cash to attend an upcoming mass celebration of the anniversary of Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine. Listings to attend this, and several other pro-government, events have appeared on a popular Russian website for recruiting TV extras, models and promoters. The website, Massovki, was...
Ukraine’s Fashion Week to Focus on the Country’s Future
While Ukraine’s fight for its sovereignty continues on the frontlines of its Donbas regions, the country’s burgeoning fashion industry has almost finished preparing for the country’s very own fashion week which opens its doors tomorrow, giving designers a platform to reflect on the country’s current conflict and on...
Kremlin-Critic Sobchak ‘Leaves Russia for Some Time’ on Rumours of Dissident Hit-List
One of Russia’s most high-profile journalists and opposition figures Xenia Sobchak has left Russia after security services told her she had become a target for the killers of Russia’s opposition party leader, Boris Nemtsov, according to reports in the Russian press. Sobchak told friends she was leaving Russia at a lunch to celebrate...
Putin Reappears After 10-Day Absence, Laughs Off ‘Gossip’
Russian President Vladimir Putin reappeared on Monday after 10 unexplained days out of public view, laughing off the “gossip” over his health that had erupted during his absence. The 62-year-old leader met the president of Kyrgystan at a lavish Tsarist-era palace outside St Petersburg in his first appearance since Feb. 5. His...
Putin’s Absence Inspires Online Satire and Rumors of Death
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A wave of savage mockery broke over President Vladimir Putin across the Internet on Friday, sparked by days of absence from public view, despite official insistence it was business as usual in the Kremlin. State television footage of Putin working at his residence failed to quell the tide of fantastical theories...
Under Pressure From State Media, Russian Liberal Paper May Go Out of Print
One of Russia’s oldest and most liberal newspapers, famous for its critical stance against the Kremlin, is likely to go out of print, having come under considerable pressure due to competition from Russia’s state-sponsored newspapers. Novaya Gazeta’s editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov told Russian television station Dozhd that the...
