BRAZIL: The country’s supreme court unanimously voted today that the armed forces have no constitutional power to intervene in disputes between government branches, a largely symbolic decision aimed at bolstering democracy after years of increasing threats of military intervention.

The court’s decision came in response to an argument that article 142 of Brazil’s constitution affords the military so-called “moderating power” between the executive, legislative and judicial branches.

GREECE: Michalis Chrisochoidis, Greece’s minister in charge of police, announced plans today to set up a nationwide network of domestic violence shelters, days after the fatal stabbing of a woman outside a police station.