Unsplash/Alexander Schimmeck Geoffroy’s spider monkey, also known as the black-handed spider monkey or the…

© FAO Madagascar/Tojotiana Randrianoavy A solar hub in southern Madagascar uses 72 solar panels to…

© Unsplash/David Levêque The “tobacco epidemic” is among the biggest public health threats the…

Two and a half years ago, when the last coalition forces left Iraq, U.S. President Barack Obama said that Americans were “leaving behind a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq.” But today jihadists are tearing the country apart, having taken several major cities in the north, including the second largest one, Mosul. On June 10, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki declared a state of emergency and called for outside assistance, meaning primarily support (including military) from the U.S. But American strategists, who are embittered by their previous campaign, which was costly both in financial resources and human lives, have virtually ignored this appeal. Even without it, Obama′s approval rating is low, and the entanglement of the country in a new military campaign would destroy any hope that the Democrats would win the next presidential election.

On July 15th leaders of the BRICS nations agreed to establish a New Development Bank (NDB) while attending the group summit in Fortaleza, Brazil. This announcement has caused extraordinary attention all around the world, marking the undeniable significance for the future development of the BRICS, as well as the entire foundation of the international financial institutions. Naturally, the NDB creation initiative has prompted optimistic feedback as well as raised questions and skepticism. WEJ has invited two renowned experts to explain the meaning of the BRICS New Development Bank announcement and attempt to predict what this initiative might bring to global financial and economic development.

Real estate is playing an increasingly important role in global investments, and wealthy people are looking for new alternative areas for investing their capital. Internationally important cities remain the most popular and safest places for purchasing real estate assets. In these markets, investors can expect large and quick profits without much trouble. New hot locations are now appearing on the real estate market, and over the next few years, they have every chance of taking their place alongside London and New York or even overtaking these cities in terms of their ability to attract investments.