US Pulls Cambodia’s Election Funding; Hun Sen Says Cut It All

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen challenged the United States on Sunday to cut all aid after it announced it was ending funding for a general election next year in response to the dissolution of the main opposition party, media reported. Hun Sen, the strongman who has ruled Cambodia for more than three decades, has taken …

Australia ‘Weeks Away’ From Legalizing Gay Marriage

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 …

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

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 …

Optimism in India About Overturning Law Outlawing Homosexuality

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 …

Georgian Municipal Elections Underscore Ruling Party’s Dominance

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 …

Native Americans Gave Places, Animals, Plants Their Names

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 …

Florida Democratic Party Chair Resigns Over Sexual Behavior

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 …

Rev Jesse Jackson Discloses Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosis

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 …

Lost Leonardo Painting Had Tangled Path to $450M Sale

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 …

State Dept. Official: US Wants ‘New Era’ in Zimbabwe

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 …

Trump Claims ‘Tremendous Success’ of Recent Trip to Asia

In his speech Wednesday, a day after returning from a 12-day Asia trip, U.S. President Donald Trump boasted of “tremendous success” in pushing America’s interests forward. During stops in Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines, Trump pursued his “America First” philosophy, calling for more favorable trade deals for the U.S. He also urged …