Leaders

Putin scores victory in 'gameshow'-like vote; Myanmar mine collapse; Ethiopian singer's death sparks protests; Botswana's mysterious elephant die-off

July 02, 2020

Vladimir Putin scored an apparent victory in a week-long constitutional referendum that had the trappings of a gameshow. A large landslide struck the Hpakant jade mining site in Myanmar. The killing of Haacaaluu Hundeessaa, an Ethiopian singer and activist, has sparked days of protest. A mysterious die-off of elephants in Botswana has stumped scientists. And, Amsterdam's red-light district is reopening after the coronavirus shutdown.

Leaders

‘Putin is obsessed with the idea of legitimacy,’ opposition activist says of ‘sham’ referendum

The World

July 01, 2020

"Vladimir Putin from this day de jure, belongs to the same league of rogue authoritarian regimes as ... [Hugo] Chavez in Venezuela, [Blaise] Compaoré in Burkina Faso, [Islam] Karimov in Uzbekistan and many, many others," opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza told The World. "And this should be said publicly and clearly from the highest rostrum in the Western world."

Religion

Whose Haghia Sophia?

The World

July 01, 2020

The Byzantines commissioned it as a Greek Orthodox cathedral. The Ottomans conquered it and turned it into an ornate mosque. Then, secular revolutionaries converted it into a monument to two faiths. Its ownership and usage have become a perennial political debate.

Top of The World

Hong Kong national security law to take effect; Iran sentences journalist to death; Koalas could be extinct by 2050 in New South Wales

The World

June 30, 2020

A controversial national security law for Hong Kong is set to take effect, as pro-democracy advocates warn of eroding freedoms in the semi-autonomous region. New reports say US President Donald Trump was briefed in February about suspected Russian bounties on US soldiers, contradicting the president's claims. An Iranian journalist has been sentenced to death. An Australian inquiry shows koalas in NSW could become extinct by 2050.

Human rights

A US report shows big strides on human trafficking. Advocates say the message is misleading.

The World

June 29, 2020

Advocates across the world warn that with the pandemic and economic downturn, there’s an urgent risk that more people will fall prey to human traffickers.

As more journalists stand trial in Turkey, the truth becomes more elusive

The World

June 26, 2020

Turkey is often cited by the Committee to Protect Journalists as the world’s largest jailer of media personnel in the world, alongside China and Egypt.

Free speech

In Thailand, posting a selfie with a beer is a potential crime

The World

June 25, 2020

Under a sporadically enforced law in Thailand, it is risky to say anything flattering about alcohol on social media. You can’t hold up a bottle of bourbon in a selfie and grin. Or show off a pint glass with a Heineken logo.

Conflict & Justice

Police reform requires culture change, not just diversity, advocates say

The World

June 23, 2020

As demonstrations against police brutality and racism continue in the US and in other parts of the world, people who work with police departments to address biases and build ties with communities of color are questioning the effectiveness of their work. The World looks at the San Jose Police Department, which, despite its diversity, was criticized for its response to recent protests.

COVID-19: The latest from The World

Paulinho Paiakan is remembered as a hero to Indigenous Brazilians

The World

June 22, 2020

As Brazil tops 1 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus, the country’s Indigenous peoples mourn the death of a historic leader.

This African American in Ghana says making Juneteenth a federal holiday is a ‘small gesture.’ She urges police reform.

The World

June 19, 2020

Almost 30 years after moving to Ghana, Mona Boyd celebrates Juneteenth. This year, Boyd is reflecting on the meaning of Juneteenth in the context of the latest swell of activism against racism in the United States.

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