Crimea’s parliament has voted – unanimously – in favor of joining the Russian federation and seceding from Ukraine. Crimea, whose population is majority Russian, is set to hold a referendum on secession on March 16.
And US and Europe both condemned the vote as “illegal,” with the US issuing visa bans on Russian officials while reportedly developing other future penalties.
Europe’s
leaders came out of an emergency summit agreeing
to pull Ukraine closer towards Europe by signing key elements of a bilateral
treaty and to halt talks with Russia on a cooperation agreement.
Clashes continue in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, where the administrative headquarters has changed hands between pro-government and pro-Moscow at least twice in the past 24 hours.
Crimea, located on the Black Sea, has changed hands many times over the centuries.
Despite the turmoil in Ukraine, certain EU countries still consider it to be “safe” – at least if you’re a Ukrainian seeking asylum.
Half of all girls in Malawi will be married by their 18th birthday. Some are as young as nine when forced to marry, hampering their health and education, and exposing them to sexual violence, according to a new report.
