According to a new UN report, conditions in Syria have reached "new levels of brutality," and children are among the victims of human rights violations. They estimated that at least 80,000 people have been killed in the region and that chemical weapons were used. They have also uncovered evidence of torture and massacres as “war crimes and crimes against humanity have become a daily reality.” The new report does not call for military intervention, but asks the international community—who are increasingly polarized about the conflict—to help negotiate a peaceful resolution … Discuss

Evidently, Steven Seagal has a shocking number of high-powered international connections. But really, for anyone who has seen any of his films, this should be of no surprise. Steven Seagal is a man that you want on your side. California Congressman Dana Rohrabache told reporters that he and the Under Siege-star have discussed “thwarting radical Islamic terrorism" over the years, and it was time he, Seagal and a few fellow Representatives head over to Russia to see what could have been done to prevent the Boston Marathon Bombings. (The two Boston bombing suspects are from Chechnya, an area in southern Russia.)

Though their trip found “nothing specific,” Rohrabache said that Seagal’s connections in Russia helped make the investigation (which, once again, yielded no new information) possible. The congressman said thanks to Seagal, his diplomatic envoy was able to avoid the hassle of actually having the U.S. Embassy arrange the trip. Who needs a staff of trained, professional, federal employees organizing international trips when you have the steely-eyed face of cold hard justice willing to do your diplomacy? … Discuss

Even if this hands-free "Whopper Holder" may be somewhat tongue-in-cheek, the very fact that it exists is enough for us to be concerned about the fate of humanity. Burger King is currently giving them away as prizes for customer loyalty in Puerto Rico—but really, there are no “winners” when the prize is a contraption that allows you to hold a cheeseburger inches from your face without even having to exert the effort of moving your arms … Discuss

Questions continue to arise about just what happened in Orlando last week, when the FBI's line of questioning with a young Chechen immigrant turned fatal. Ibragim Todashev was a young MMA fighter who had allegedly confessed to committing a triple homicide with late Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev. The FBI questioned Todashev in his Orlando home for at least eight hours early last week, when something happened—but exactly what is in question. Early reports that Ibragim Todashev attacked FBI agents with a knife have come under scrutiny, following the testimony from some unnamed law enforcement officials who say the young man was unarmed. The FBI has given few details, other than, according to spokesman Paul Bresson, “the review process is thorough and objective and conducted as expeditiously as possible under the circumstances.”

However, Abdulbaki Todashev, the father of the slain man, says a friend of his son's snapped a few photos in a Florida morgue that reveal he was shot in the back of the head, execution style. "My son didn't have any weapons," he said. "They questioned him for eight hours—eight hours! ...my son didn't have a gun, didn't have a knife." said Todashev. "I want justice and I want there to be an investigation. I want them to try these people according to American law. These aren't employees of the FBI, they're just bandits, that's all that I can call them" ... Discuss

The World Health Organization is not mincing words about the dangers of the MERS-CoV virus that has already claimed 27 lives. The group’s general director has warned that the newly-discovered virus “is not a problem that any single affected country can keep to itself or manage all by itself" and that it is potentially “a threat to the entire world.” Scientists aren’t yet sure how the virus, which is similar to SARS, spreads between victims but have asked world leaders to bring their resources together to help study it more closely … Discuss

Of late, Coca-Cola's marketing has focused on genuinely heartwarming, life-affirming, live-action experiments to attempt to show that the world is full of genuinely nice people. The free money-dispensing ATM in Spain was their last example—and now, we have this: In recent decades, the countries of India and Pakistan have had a tense relationship. Following years of military conflicts and political disputes, citizens of each country do not have much contact with one another. As part of their "Small World Machines" campaign, Coke created a special vending machine which (in addition to serving ice-cold, refreshing beverages) creates an interactive connection with someone in the other country. You can watch this, kind of touching, video and see the “live communications portal” in action … Discuss