Author: Anton Anin

Japan Scrambles Jets To Head Off Russian Bombers

Russia is turning its attention to its eastern borders. For instance, the United Press International reported that on 12 April 2017 the Japanese Air Self Defence Force scrambled multiple fighter jets to intercept the approach of three Russian aircraft’s in Japanese airspace. Russia deployed two Tupolev TU-95MS bombers down the

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World’s Largest Refugee Camp Avoids Closure

The world’s largest refugee camp has escaped closure this week. The Kenyan government originally planned to close the refugee camp in Dabaab, Kenya by November, 2016. The government then postponed this closure for six months. A successful high court challenge to the decision means the camp will remain open, providing

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Tillerson’s Comments On South China Sea Needlessly Antagonistic

Rex Tillerson’s comments before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are causing an unnecessary escalation of tensions between the US and China. President Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of State has declared that island building must cease, and China should be barred from accessing the islands it currently controls in the

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Polish Law And Justice Party Withdraws Proposed Media Reform Laws

Poland’s governing Law and Justice party has bowed to popular pressure and withdrawn proposed changes to their media laws. The changes, which have been described by Polish opposition party members as undemocratic and authoritarian, were the subject of popular protests at the end of 2016. Thousands of Polish civilians picketed

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Thousands Protest New Press Laws In Poland

Thousands of protestors have picketed the Polish parliament and Presidential Palace since 16 December 2016. The public protests are in solidarity with approximately two dozen opposition members of parliament who have blockaded the parliamentary chamber with a sit-in protest. The sit-in forced the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) to

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US Lifts Ban On Weapon Exports To Syria

US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced that the United States would commit an additional 200 soldiers to Syria at the Manama Dialogue, a security conference held in Manama, the capital of Bahrain on 10 December 2016. The contingent will consist of Commandos and Bomb Squad specialists. Their role will be

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Torture In Fiji: Amnesty International

Amnesty International has published a report on December 5th, 2016, detailing reports of torture and human rights abuses by Fijian authorities. The report details the use of torture and violence, including physical and sexual assault and abuse, rape and the use of confessions obtained under duress and the threat of

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Thousands Flee Their Homes As Tensions Increase In Kashmir

  On 20 November 2016, the government of Pakistan announced that three children were killed by Indian shelling and another three have been injured. The two girls and their brother, aged between 5 and 10 years old, were killed as their house was shelled in Kotli, which is in Pakistan-administered

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Protestors Clash With Police At Standing Rock

An environmental protest has come to resemble a warzone in recent days as protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline in Cannon Ball, North Dakota, USA, have become flash-points of violence between police and protesters. News outlets have reported that the Police and National Guard have used sound cannons, tasers, tear

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Kashmir Standoff In Pampore: Tensions Flare Into Conflict

  On 13 October 2016, a three-day standoff between Pakistani militants and Indian government forces in Indian Administered Kashmir (IAK) drew to a close. The stand-off took place in an Indian government building in Pampore, a small town on the outskirts of the region’s main city, Srinagar. As the Indian

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