PAKISTAN
“Pakistan’s supreme court has called on the country’s politicians to ensure that hundreds of people facing imprisonment and even execution under controversial blasphemy laws have not been falsely charged, often by enemies wanting to settle personal scores.”
BANGLADESH
Bangladeshi media received a threatening email demanding all female employees be fired, stop from publishing photos of women without burkas, and warning they would “face the consequences” if they speak against the killing of atheists.
AUSTRALIA
“The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has formally recommended GPs stop prescribing homeopathic remedies and says pharmacists must also stop stocking such products because there is no evidence they are effective in any way.
NIGERIA
The National Broadcasting Commission has ordered a broadcaster to stop airing a mini-series about a transgender child, saying that the show is capable of corrupting the youths as it is also at variance with Nigerian law which prohibits homosexuality.
ZAMBIA
“Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu has turned to God in a bid to stop the freefall of his country’s ailing currency, with bars shut and football matches cancelled on a national day of prayer to end a record slump.”
RUSSIA
Female astronauts get all the important questions from the press: How will they deal with being without makeup for eight days and how they will cope with not being around men.
EUROPEAN UNION / SAUDI ARABIA
“Raif Badawi, a blogger and activist who has been imprisoned and flogged publicly for criticizing Saudi Arabia’s religious establishment, was awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, the European Union’s top human rights award, on Thursday”.
SAUDI ARABIA
“Saudi actor arrested by religious police for taking selfies with female fans in mall”. He has been released on bail pending an investigation into accusations of disturbing public order, mixing with women unrelated to him and abusing social media.
NETHERLANDS
“For the first since the international Next Top Model series was launched in the US in 2003, the reality TV franchise has crowned its trans woman as its winner.”
INDIA
“Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) founder-director Pushpa Mittra Bhargava on Wednesday became the first Indian scientist to join the bandwagon of writers and filmmakers returning their awards when he told TOI that he will return his Padma Bhushan to protest against ‘the government’s attack on rationalism, reasoning and science’.”
MEXICO
“A Mexican TV anchor was molested on live television. The station said it was a stunt – and fired her.”
BELGIUM
“Members of the Church of Scientology convened in a Brussels courtroom on Monday to face charges of fraud, extortion, running a criminal organization, violating privacy laws and practicing illegal medicine. If convicted, the church could be banned from the country.”
KENYA
I read this title as “Dozens Flock to see the Virgin Mary Rock”. I wish that has been the case, it’s just paraedolia, in a rock.
Featured image: Russian astronauts.