Politics

Russia And China Strike Multi-Billion Gas Deal
This week Gazprom signed a deal with China, which will see the company sell 38 billion cubic meters of gas to the energy-devouring Asian powerhouse. Although details have not been published, it is believed that the Russian gas giant will receive $400bn over the next 30 years. Russia has been busy finding a buyer for its natural resources ever since the crisis in Ukraine has led to deteriorating relations and the imposition of sanctions. There are doubts over the wisdom of the deal for Russia, for the amount of money Gazprom will receive is below the international price for gas.
Read more on BBC News

UN Security Council Approves Sanctions Against Boko Haram
In the wake of the abduction of over 200 girls over five weeks ago, twin blasts that killed 118 people on Tuesday, and the murder of innocent people by gunmen earlier in the week, the UN Security Council has taken action against extremist group Boko Haram. The group has now been added to the UN’s 1267 sanctions list, a list of al-Qaeda-linked organisations. Boko Haram will now be subject to arms embargoes, travel bans and asset freezes.
Read more on Al Jazeera

Green

Carbon Loss From Tropical Forests ‘Underestimated’
Deforestation already accounts for 12 percent of human greenhouse gases, but deforestation is different from degradation. It’s slower moving and tougher to assess from satellite imagery. Degradation can take place in selectively logged sites, and in areas that are returning to forest, so they require on-the-ground assessment from scientists.
Read more on BBC News

For A Brief Moment Last Week, Electricity Prices In Germany Dropped To Zero
For about an hour, electricity prices dropped to zero because on May 11, renewable energy sources met nearly three-fourths of the demand in Germany. Non-renewable sources typically lower production when renewable sources are generating a lot of power, but since they couldn’t adjust quickly enough in this case, non-renewable sources unloaded the power for free.
Read more on Business Insider

Human Rights

World Leaders Voice Concerns Over Human Rights In Thai Coup
The military has taken over Thailand, and the United Nations is especially concerned over the possible human rights violations associated with martial law and military orders. Since the military coup was announced on May 22, 2014, the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC), comprised of all branches of armed forces and the police, has arrested more than 100 ruling party and opposition politicians, activists, journalists, and others accused of supporting the deposed government.  Reports of impromptu detention facilities raises question of their credibility and the access detainees have to their family and lawyers. Additionally, the military leaders have invoked Marshall law, establishing a curfew, halting the constitution and implementing media and public censorship. All these issues should be causes for concern from the international community.
Read more on Voice of America

Women

Iranian Women Who Posted Photos Without Hijabs Face Conservative Backlash
Dozens of women posted photos of themselves on a Facebook page flouting the Islamic dress code in parks, at the seaside and in the streets. The Facebook page was started by a London-based Iranian with the aim of creating debate on whether women should have the right to choose what to wear. Although she was inundated with messages of support from around the world, the reaction from Iran has been less positive. Two small pro-hijab rallies were held in Tehran as hardline men and women demanded authorities to strike down on the rules.
Read more on the Telegraph

Religion

Campaigners Hope Pope’s Visit To Israel Will See Vatican Holocaust Files Released
With Pius XXI’s canonization being considered, campaigners hope to see the release of files that could prove alleged links between the Vatican and Nazi war criminals. The pope’s visit to Jerusalem this weekend has caused some people to believe that he might use the opportunity to dig into the Vatican’s secret Holocaust-era files, allowing the truth to emerge about what the Vatican knew about the Holocaust and when they received the information.
Read more on the Guardian

Health

Night-Eating Syndrome Is “Real”, Research Concludes
Scientists have discovered a gene that when mutated leads to hunger at unwanted hours, interrupts sleep and causes overeating. In the results revealed in this month’s Cell Reports, we found that this particular pair of genes tends to schedule eating with sleep rhythms. When the genes were tested on mice, scientists found that when the genes are mutated they cause unusual mealtimes and weight gain.
Read more on the Business Standard

Tesco To Put An End To Sweets At Checkout Counters
In an attempt to help people make healthier choices, Tesco has announced that it will be stopping sweets and chocolates being sold at checkout counters at its smaller stores across the United Kingdom, with larger stores said to have stopped selling confectionary items at tills 20 years ago. Public Health Minister Jane Ellison has welcomed the move that she hopes will help tackle obesity and ill health.
Read more on Huffington Post