The World Briefly

February 16, 2024

In the Line of Fire

Paraguay

Paraguay’s upper house voted this week to expel one of the few opposition voices in the country’s political scene, sparking protests and concerns about the state of democracy in the South American nation, Reuters reported. Lawmakers approved the dismissal of Senator Kattya Gonzales from the center-left...

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The World Briefly

February 16, 2024

All Aboard

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone’s government is introducing buses to the country’s busy capital of Freetown, in an effort to provide residents with a public transport system and address the transport crisis, Africanews reported. Freetown has up to now mainly relied on an informal network of road transport, which...

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The World Briefly

February 15, 2024

We Want You

Myanmar

Myanmar’s junta activated a national conscription law this week, and began arresting those resisting the draft – an attempt by the army to boost its numbers amid desertions and defeats in a fight against ethnic rebel groups that have led some to now question the...

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The World Briefly

February 15, 2024

No Misery Allowed

Luxembourg

A new law that bans begging in Luxembourg’s capital city to rein in organized criminal gangs is sparking outrage among some residents and human rights advocates, Euronews reported Wednesday. The controversy began last year when the Luxembourg City Council approved the legislation even as then-Home Affairs...

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The World Briefly

February 15, 2024

Round Two

India

Thousands of Indian farmers clashed with police in the country’s capital New Delhi this week, after protests to demand guaranteed minimum prices for their crops, debt relief and policy reforms from the government spiraled out of control, the New York Times reported. Earlier this week, farmers...

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The World Briefly

February 14, 2024

Future Imperfect

Pakistan

Thousands of protesters have blocked highways and gone on strike this week as part of demonstrations against the results of last week’s general election in Pakistan, Al Jazeera reported. The results of Pakistan’s parliamentary elections released this week showed that allies of jailed former Prime Minister...

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The World Briefly

February 14, 2024

Plugging Leaks

Australia

Australia is planning to criminalize doxxing after a recent incident where pro-Palestinian activists published the personal details of hundreds of Australian Jews, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. Doxxing – also known as “dropping dox” or documents – is described as the unauthorized release of personal information,...

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The World Briefly

February 14, 2024

To the Source

Madagascar

Madagascar plans to castrate child rapists after parliament passed a law this month that was welcomed by victims’ groups but denounced by human rights advocates, Sky News reported. The country’s upper legislative house voted in favor of a law that will allow chemical and – in...

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The World Briefly

February 13, 2024

A Hard ‘Nee’

GazaIsrael

A court in the Netherlands on Monday ruled that the government block all exports of F-35 parts to Israel, arguing their use could be in violation of international law, Reuters reported. “It is undeniable that there is a clear risk the exported F-35 parts are used...

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The World Briefly

February 13, 2024

Not Quite Forever

Finland

Former right-leaning Prime Minister Alexander Stubb won a closely fought presidential election run-off on Sunday, the first election held since the country joined the NATO alliance last year, the BBC reported. Stubb, from the ruling National Coalition Party (NCP), earned 51.6 percent of the vote, defeating...

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The World Briefly

February 13, 2024

Bedroom Politics

India

An Indian state led by the Hindu-nationalist party introduced a new uniform civil code on private matters including marriage, banning polygamy for Muslims, and forcing unmarried couples to register before moving in together, the Washington Post reported. India’s 1.4-billion population comprises 80 percent Hindus and 14...

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The World Briefly

February 12, 2024

Pardon Me

Hungary

Hungary’s president resigned live on television Saturday after a scandal erupted over her decision to pardon a man accused of child sexual abuse, a decision that has caused a setback for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s party, the BBC reported. Over the past week, opposition parties and...

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The World Briefly

February 12, 2024

Chaos Theory

Senegal

Deadly protests erupted across Senegal this week, following President Macky Sall’s decision to postpone the Feb. 25 presidential elections, a move that critics and analysts say will endanger the country’s reputation as a beacon of democratic stability in West Africa, the Associated Press reported. Hundreds of...

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The World Briefly

February 12, 2024

Immoral Tests

Turkmenistan

Authorities in Turkmenistan are ordering female high school students in the country’s western province of Balkan to undergo mandatory virginity tests, saying the move is aimed at establishing the teenagers’ morality, Radio Free Europe reported. Parents, educators and students said officials have demanded gynecological tests without...

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The World Briefly

February 09, 2024

Loose Threads

Brazil

Brazil’s federal police on Thursday attempted to confiscate the passport of former President Jair Bolsonaro as part of an investigation into an alleged coup attempt following his 2022 election loss, Reuters reported. Sources said police visited Bolsonaro’s beach house near the coastal city of Angra dos...

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The World Briefly

February 09, 2024

The Unpredictable Giant

Iceland

A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted Thursday for the third time since December, prompting an evacuation from a popular touristic hotspot and cutting off hot water to thousands of residents amid freezing temperatures, the New York Times reported. Officials said the eruption took place in the...

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The World Briefly

February 09, 2024

Hitting Mute

Australia

Australia will pass a new bill granting employees the “right to disconnect” from work-related calls outside of working hours without facing penalties, the latest country to amend legislation in an effort to promote a better work-life balance, the Independent reported. The legislation is part of a...

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The World Briefly

February 08, 2024

Warning: Speed Bumps

European Union

The European Union unveiled a plan this week to slash climate-changing emissions by 90 percent by 2040 and achieve “net zero” carbon neutrality by 2050, despite mounting opposition and protests from farmers and right-leaning parties skeptical of regulations relating to climate change, the Washington Post...

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The World Briefly

February 08, 2024

Crime and Punishment

Kenya

Four suspects appeared before a Kenyan court this week over a gas explosion that killed six people and injured nearly 300 in the capital Nairobi last week, the BBC reported. The individuals included three officials of the country’s National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the main...

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The World Briefly

February 08, 2024

Jailbirds, Free

India

Indian authorities released a pigeon that had been detained for nearly a year over suspicions that the animal was spying for China, CBS News reported. In May, guards at Mumbai’s international port seized a pigeon carrying a microchip, rings on its legs and Chinese characters written...

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