Month: November 2017

Campaigners expect the Australian parliament to legalize same sex marriage in early December.  Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has promised to change the law to allow gay couples to marry after Australians voted overwhelmingly for change in a historic postal survey.   This week history was made in Australia.  Almost 8 million people – or about 62 …

Read more “Australia ‘Weeks Away’ From Legalizing Gay Marriage”

The so-called ‘godfather of coral’ is part of a new research mission to unlock some of the secrets of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.  Dr. Charlie Veron is part of a scientific team searching for the “super corals” that managed to survive consecutive years of bleaching on the world’s largest reef system.   Charlie Veron is …

Read more “‘Godfather of Coral’ on New Mission to Help Save Australia’s Great Barrier Reef”

At the annual Queer Pride parade held by India’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community in the Indian capital recently, the beat of drums was louder than usual — and the chanting and dancing more exuberant. The reason: there is renewed optimism that a recent Supreme Court ruling has paved the way to overturn an …

Read more “Optimism in India About Overturning Law Outlawing Homosexuality”

Anticorruption campaigns in Central Asia, and investigations into corruption there in general, are fascinating to observe. They are so seldom about actually fighting corruption. (The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect those of RFE/RL.) …

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili appealed to all involved in the October 21 municipal elections to “hold these elections in such a way that it is a further step forward to strengthening truly European democracy in Georgia.” International observers’ assessments were not, however, as unequivocally positive. (The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily …

Read more “Georgian Municipal Elections Underscore Ruling Party’s Dominance”

A secretive group living in Kyrgyzstan that adheres to a strict interpretation of Islam is in the spotlight once again after the arrest of one of the community’s leaders. …

Editor’s note: November is Native American Heritage Month. First proclaimed by President George H. W. Bush in 1990, it is an opportunity to acknowledge the histories and cultures of Native people across the U.S., highlighting the challenges they have faced, their sacrifices and their contributions. “Native Americans have influenced every stage of America’s development,” noted …

Read more “Native Americans Gave Places, Animals, Plants Their Names”

Florida Democrat Party chairman Stephen Bittel resigned after anonymous allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior, a decision he made Friday after four candidates for governor said he should step down over the report. The party posted on Twitter a brief statement from Bittel, who had held the position since January. ​”When my personal situation becomes distracting …

Read more “Florida Democratic Party Chair Resigns Over Sexual Behavior”

The Rev. Jesse Jackson disclosed publicly Friday that he has been seeking outpatient care for two years for Parkinson’s disease and plans to “dedicate” himself to physical therapy. In a Friday letter to supporters, the 76-year-old civil rights leader said family and friends noticed a change in him about three years ago. He said he …

Read more “Rev Jesse Jackson Discloses Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosis”

A court in Kosovo has sentenced four opposition figures, including a lawmaker, to prison terms after their convictions for taking part in an attack last year on the parliament building in Pristina. …

The UN Security Council is holding discussions aimed at passing a one-month extension of the mandate to allow experts to determine responsibility for chemical-weapons attacks in Syria, one day after Russia vetoed an approved U.S. proposal. …

The head of Ukraine’s National Union of Journalists (NUJU) is demanding the release of a Ukrainian radio correspondent being held in Belarus. …

Just a dozen years ago, a worn, touched-up old painting of Christ went for less than $10,000 (8,450 euros) at an estate sale. On Wednesday, it was auctioned for a record-breaking $450 million (380 million euros) as a long-lost Leonardo da Vinci dubbed “the Last da Vinci” or the “male Mona Lisa.” Years of painstaking …

Read more “Lost Leonardo Painting Had Tangled Path to $450M Sale”

Carpenters fans have a dozen reasons to be on top of the world this week. Nearly 30 years since the last LP album of new Carpenters material was released, remastered vinyl versions of 12 of the duo’s albums will be released Friday, offering fans clearer versions of tracks including the pop classics “We’ve Only Just …

Read more “Carpenters Return with Vinyl Remasters of Hit Albums”

The United States is seeking “a new era” for Zimbabwe, the State Department’s top official for Africa said on Thursday, implicitly calling on long-time president Robert Mugabe to step aside as a political crisis mounts. In an interview with Reuters, acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Donald Yamamoto appeared to dismiss the idea …

Read more “State Dept. Official: US Wants ‘New Era’ in Zimbabwe”

A senior U.S. State Department official says Russia’s actions over the past decade have shown that Moscow’s willingness to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other nations is “real” and not “simply rhetorical.” …