Stories about War & Conflict from May, 2014
Germany, Already One of the World's Top Weapons Dealers, Breaks Arms Export Record
In 2013, Germany exported 43 percent more small arms than a year earlier. Net users drew attention to the the abuse of children as soldiers, and the government's hypocrisy.
How Gangs Have Become a Trojan Horse in El Salvador's Security Forces (Part 2)
One hundred members of the Salvadoran security forces have been expelled for ties to gangs. The Salvatrucha prefers to infiltrate the police; Gang 18 with the Army. This institution has weaker controls.
VIDEOS: Vintage Southeast Asia in the British Pathe Archive
Many of the films in the British Pathe collection are valuable resource that could teach us a lot about Southeast Asia's recent past and even the present.
From Liberated Aleppo
The citizens of Aleppo, Syria—those eagerly awaiting the liberation as well as those against it—await the details on further areas of their divided city liberated from the Syrian regime.
How Gangs Have Become a Trojan Horse in El Salvador's Security Forces
One hundred members of Salvadoran security forces have been expelled for ties to gangs. The Salvatrucha prefers to infiltrate the police; Pandilla 18 prefers the army.
Macedonian Blogger Warns About Resurgent Neo-Nazi Iconography
Commemorating Victory in Europe Day, Macedonian blog Anfas (“en face“) recently documenting images used by Facebook users to warn about resurgent fascism in a post titled “Images of shame – Current Macedonian Neo-Nazi Iconography”. The blogger also explained the importance of raising awareness of resurgent neo-Nazi iconography in Macedonia: Овој...
Death and Twitter: Reports from Ukraine
Today Russian journalist Ilya Azar reported on Twitter that members of Ukraine's newfangled National Guard had fired on civilian bystanders in Krasnoarmeysk.
Crowd Boos Ukrainian Governor During Victory Day Speech
On a holiday that honors the millions who battled and sacrificed ostensibly to preserve the Soviet Union, lo and behold, Kherson's Governor offended people with his anti-Soviet remarks.
50th Anniversary of Dictatorship in Brazil: A French Torturer in South America
Documents obtained by a researcher in France shed light on the activities of Paul Aussaresses, the executioner of Algiers, military attaché in Brazil in the 1970s.
China-Vietnam clash in the Paracels
“South Sea Conversations” analyses China's motivation behind its aggressive move in the Paracels: maximal claim to maritime rights and forcing Vietnam to consider the “joint development” of energy resources in the disputed area.
Russia's War of the Roses
After the deadly fire in Odessa, and months of tensions between Moscow and Kiev, it's no surprise that a WWII memorial has become an important stage in Russian politics.
Dissecting the Dead in Odessa
Vladimir Golyshev's text on the Odessan tragedy is an excellent representation of pro-Maidan bias, and it's worth reading as a typical case of how Kiev’s allies understand last week's tragedy.
#BringBackOurGirls: Statement from Concerned Nigerian Bloggers
Nigerian bloggers have added their voice to the #BringBackOurGirls campaign: We, the under signed Nigerian bloggers, view with grave concern the continued detention of the innocent school girls who were abducted from Chibok on April 15, 2014. We are of the strong view that no amount of social grievance either against...
China President Xi Jinping's Xinjian Tour
Tea leaf nation reviewed China President Xi Jinping's recent visit to Xinjiang, a province troubled by ethnic conflict. The post read into state media's coverage of the 4-day tour and the train-bombing incident and found both hard and soft political messages regarding the central government's ethnic policy.
Muslims Flee After Separatists Kill 32 in India
Armed Bodo separatists fired indiscriminately at Muslim settlers and torched homes in three different attacks. They were allegedly targeted for their voting choice in the recently concluded elections.
Crowdsourcing Ukraine’s Rebellion
Bloggers in Ukraine are turning to the Internet to publish the locations of troops in the country’s southeast, where the army is in the midst of a massive “counter-terrorist” operation against militants who have seized control of parts of major cities. A group called “Military Maps” on the Russian social...
Live Fire for Russian Historical Reenactor Spy
Military commander of the Slavyanks separatists, Igor Strelkov, is a historical reenactor, and, allegedly, works for Russia's military intelligence.
Syria: Love in the Time of Tyranny
"Wherever I look in Syria, I come across crazy stories of love, brave as a rose stubbornly growing, despite the weeds and thorns trying to suffocate it," writes Marcell Shehwaro.
Tragedy and Confusion in Odessa
Over thirty pro-Russian protesters died in a fire in the cheerful Black Sea port of Odessa on May 2.
Laundering the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
The Kremlin might project its power into Ukraine’s mainland by encouraging, and perhaps arming, Crimean militia. In theory, Moscow might succeed in “laundering” an armed intervention in this way.
#BringBackOurGirls: Nigerians Demand Release of 200 Abducted Girls
People are mobilizing under the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls to pressure the government to do more to find more than 200 teen girls kidnapped by jihadist group Boko Haram.
