Global Quickies: Taekwondo for Equality, Laughing at Sexists, and Jailing Opposition for Sodomy

UK (from Dan)
“Just when we didn’t think she could get any more amazing, Queen Elizabeth II called gay marriage in England “wonderful.””

NORTH KOREA (from Ray)
The recent history of sexism in North Korea explained by a defector. The marked gender roles, domestic violence, and superstition are a serious issue.

SAUDI ARABIA
Female Saudi TV host laughs and facepalms when her guest says that women driving cars will lead to their being sexually assaulted, and that women in the US and Europe don’t care about being raped. He proposes a truly amazing solution.

TAJIKISTAN
The Taekwondo and Kickboxing Federation of Tajikistan has partnered with UNFPA and the UN Country Team to promote gender equality and prevent gender-based violence.

MALAYSIA
Malaysia’s highest court has upheld a five-year prison sentence for opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on a sodomy charge in a controversial decision that will crush the political ambitions of the man and the movement who pose the most viable threat to the government’s rule.

NIGERIA
Nigeria is to investigate reports of rapes, child trafficking and other abuses in camps for people fleeing from the militant Islamist group Boko Haram.

NORWAY
“[T]he staff at Madshaven Residential Care Home, a home for the mentally disabled, hired the paranormalist to perform the exorcism after they became “spooked by random flickering lights.””

AFRICA
“Organ donation – especially in death – is a difficult subject for indigenous Africans.”

COLOMBIA
A 7-year-old girl was severely bullied by three of her teachers after her atheist parents asked the school to remove her from religión class. The bullying only got worse when the parents complained.

Featured image: TV host laughing at “expert”