The 2016 Olympics are less than a year away. Given the issues that plagued Brazil’s 2014 World Cup, fans, experts and Brazilians are asking if Rio will be ready, and whether hosting the event will hurt or help the country. 
Harry Potter author JK Rowling has spoken out against the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians, but upheld her opposition to the cultural and academic boycott of the country because it would “silence” important voices. 
If you have a sweet tooth, you may want to think twice before you pick up your next donut. A new study says that sugar is “toxic,” leading to metabolic diseases such as high blood pressure and heart disease – even if no weight is gained. 
Spy’s refusal to allow secret drone information into the public domain has caused a Northern Ireland terrorism case, which cost millions of pounds and the efforts of over 40 agents and 30 undercover cops, to collapse. 
Lots of officers from Free Syrian Army (FSA) have joined Islamic State militants, one FSA commanders told RT. That's despite the rebels' centers repeatedly getting attacked by the extremists. 
Japan’s Defense Ministry says it will restart work on a land reclamation project, which is vital for a proposed US military base on the site. This is likely to infuriate the local Okinawa prefectural government, who are deeply against the move. 
The Russian Air Force has conducted 71 sorties targeting 118 terrorist targets in Syria over the past 24 hours, including an Al-Nusra Front command center, the Defense Ministry reports. 