World News

Brazil’s president rejects COVID-19 vaccine, undermining a century of progress toward universal inoculation
Pedro Cantisano, University of Nebraska Omaha The world is eagerly awaiting the release of several COVID-19 vaccines, but Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is not. “I’m

Cuba cracks down on artists who demanded creative freedoms after ‘unprecedented’ government negotiations
María Isabel Alfonso, St. Joseph’s College of New York Leer en español. Cuban artists and intellectuals want more rights – and, in an unusual show

After years of protests, the Islamabad Zoo will convert into an animal sanctuary
The Islamabad Zoo, long a source of complaints from Pakistani animal activists, is officially closing down and converting into an animal conservation centre, city officials announced on December 8.

Ecuador’s transgender communities organize first-ever National Trans March
Rita Hester, a black transgender woman, was brutally murdered in her United States apartment in 1998. Her death became one of the catalysts behind the International Transgender Day

Internet artist behind satirical Australia war crimes image hailed as a hero on Chinese social media
Chinese online patriots have a new hero: Fu Yu(付昱), also known as Wuhe Qilin (乌合麒麟), the internet artist whose satirical image of an Australian soldier

North Macedonia court rejects lawsuit by journalists over 2017 Parliament attack
A Skopje court rejected on December 10 a lawsuit filed by three journalists against the Macedonian state in relation to the 2017 mob attack of

‘It’s not just a joke!’ Nigerian comedians unite against rape culture
Fourteen Nigerian comedians have taken a definitive stance against rape culture by making a commitment to stop making rape jokes. This was done in a 1.43-minute video clip featuring top Nigerian comedians in this order: Ali Baba (Atunyota Akpobome), Seyi Law (Lawrence Aletile), Broda Shaggi (Samuel Perry), AY (Ayodeji Makun), Lasisi Elenu (Nosa Afolabi), Frank Donga (Kunle Idowu), Mr. Macaroni (Debo Adebayo), Maraji (Gloria Oloruntobi), Real Warri Pikin (Anita Asuoha), EmmaOhMaGod (Emmanuel Edunjobi), Taooma (Apaokagi Maryam), Kenny Blaq (Otolorin Peter),

Pakistan to introduce tougher punishment for rape—including chemical castration
Pakistan’s government approved in-principle on November 24 tougher laws against sexual assault which will include chemical castration for repeat offenders. The laws, called the Anti-Rape (Investigation and

Officials urge vigilance; failing grades soar
Here’s what’s happening Saturday with the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S.: THREE THINGS TO KNOW TODAY — Top health officials warned Americans not to let

Contribution of life in soil ‘remains largely underestimated’, says UN agriculture agency |
Ahead of World Soil Day, marked on 5 December, FAO launched its first ever report on “The State of Knowledge of Soil Biodiversity”. The report examines the potential of

Britain okays vaccine as global Covid death toll nears 1.5 million
(AFP) – Britain on Wednesday became the first western country to approve a Covid-19 vaccine for general use, while Japan and Italy pledged free inoculations

South Africa fears virus comeback as cluster outbreaks flare
(AFP) – Localised coronavirus outbreaks in parts of South Africa have raised fears that the country could see a resurgence in cases compounded by gatherings

WHO looks at e-certificates for Covid-19 vaccination
(AFP) – The World Health Organization said it was considering introducing electronic vaccination certificates, as hopes for an end to the pandemic were boosted after Britain became