Global Quickies: Dutch Heroes, Live-streamed Crime, and Russia Decriminalizing Domestic Violence

THE NETHERLANDS
“The Netherlands is to set up an international fund to support abortion services hit by President Donald Trump‘s order to cut US foreign aid.”

RUSSIA
“Russia’s lower house of parliament has passed a bill to decriminalise some forms of domestic violence. Under the proposed legislation, first-time offenders who do not cause serious injury will face a maximum of 15 days police custody instead of up to two years in jail.”

ZAMBIA
“Police in Zambia have been banned from marrying foreigners, according to a memo by police inspector general Kakoma Kanganja circulating on social media.”

SWEDEN
“Three men have been arrested in Sweden on suspicion of gang-raping a woman, after one allegedly live-streamed the crime on a closed Facebook page.”

RUSSIA
“The Russian government has abandoned plans to fine HIV-infected patients who refuse to register on a Kremlin-administered list of sufferers. Patients would have been forced to add their name to a Government-run registry under plans unveiled by Vladimir Putin on 1 January this year.”

DENMARK
“The Danish footwear company Bianco has found itself dealing with backlash to an advertisement that has been slammed as a “hypocritical”, “sexist” and an “ignorant” attempt to use the fight for gender equality to sell shoes.”

PAKISTAN
“Pakistan’s media regulator has banned a high-profile television host after accusing him of hate speech that could put lives at risk. Aamir Liaquat Hussain had accused five missing liberal activists and their supporters of blasphemy. Such allegations can incite murder in Pakistan where blasphemy is a crime that can result in the death penalty.”

GERMANY
“German police have detained two people after a series of raids against far-right suspects accused of plotting attacks on refugees, Jews and police officers.”

CANADA
“Miss Universe Canada has taken the fight to body shamers where they live: on social media. Siera Bearchell spoke out about “self-worth and self-love” after receiving a number of negative comments online about her weight.”

NIGERIA / UK
“Nigerian author Buchi Emecheta, whose works included The Joys of Motherhood, Second-Class Citizen and The Bride Price, has died at her home in London at the age of 72. […] She was known for championing women and girls in her writing, though famously rejected description as a feminist.”

Featured image: Dutch landscape by David Evers