A 10-ton meteor that streaked over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk injured more than 900 people when it sent a shock blast through the area. Most of the injuries are not thought to be serious, but an estimated 270 buildings had windows blown out. There’s also reports that 6000 square feet of a factory building roof completely collapsed. It’s unclear whether or not anyone was hit by actual fragments of the meteor, but officials believe the meteor ended up landing in a nearby reservoir. Amateur videos (like the one below) have been uploaded to YouTube showing the trail of the meteor, followed by a massive sonic boom. Scientists say that the meteor is unrelated to the asteroid 2012 DA14 that is scheduled to make the closest pass by Earth ever recorded later today … Discuss

Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a bill today that bans Americans from adopting Russian children. The bill also forbids NGOs receiving American funds to be closed if the organizations are in any way political. It's widely understood this bill was passed in response to President Obama's recent sanction against Russians believed to be human rights violators. Putin also claims the U.S. funded and supported anti-government protests that arose in Russia last winter. There are currently 740,000 orphans in Russia, with 18,000 Russian adults on a waiting list to adopt. Previously, the U.S. had been the highest adoptive destination for Russian children ... Discuss

The commencement of the 2012 Paralympics commencing today marks a victory for the 13 million Russian citizens living with mental or physical disability— and the 200 athletes representing them on the Russian team. In May 2012, the Russian government ratified the Convention of the Rights with Persons with Disabilities to advocate for the equality of citizens regardless of physical or mental capacity. But years of discrimination take time to break from. Human rights advocates are looking to the Paralympics with high hopes of enforcing the disability rights of Russian citizens. 

Read the report and photo essays of the Human Rights Watch on "The disability rights movement in Russia."

From the article: 

Certainly, over the last 20 years, conditions for people with disabilities in Russia have improved. in Moscow and other large cities, you can actually see ramps – well, at least in the city center – or come across traffic lights equipped with a sound signal for the blind, or even find a few disabilityfriendly kindergartens and schools. however, people with disabilities are largely cut off from society and have very limited choices. So, Russia’s ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in May signaled a great moment for the country’s more than 13 million citizens with disabilities.

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