Why are Chechen women so dangerous?Over 40% of Chechen suicide bombers over the past decade have been women, almost all of them from the Caucases. This isn’t about global jihad, say a team of Chicago University researchers — it’s women hitting back against the occupation of their land and slaughter of their families.
Chechnya
The hunt for Russia’s black widows
Russia believes the women who blew themselves up on Moscow trains on Monday were part of a 30-person “black widow” cell of suicide bombers. Nine are dead — so where are the other 21 waiting? And when will they strike?
The biggest stories you didn’t read about in 2009
Foreign Policy looks at ten huge stories that that flew under the global media’s radar in 2009, like China’s suspicious naval deal with Brazil, America’s role in Uganda’s civil war and Russia’s role in the murder of Chechens around the world.
Political snippets: A firm favourite at 2.30pm
The Crikey Interest Rate Indicator is still predicting a 0.25% rise today, today’s Newspoll looks a bit suss, and Chechnya’s race horse-owning President Ramzan Kadyrov takes aim.
The new war in Dagestan
Russia’s North Caucasus has been plagued with violence since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Its capital Dagestan is a hotbed for terrorism and has become a new outpost for Chechen rebels.
