Quebec, Canada
A bill proposed in Quebec would prevent public employees – such as teachers, judges and police officers – from wearing religious symbols at work. This includes Muslim head scarves, Catholic crosses, Jewish skullcaps and Sikh turbans. The bill was proposed to help simmer religiously-driven tensions in the community. However, many pushed back against the proposal, saying it violated the people’s religious freedoms. France and Denmark are two nations with similar policies, preventing people from wearing certain religious symbols at schools or in courtrooms.
Original article by Dan Bilefsky, March 28, 2019. The New York Times.
Beira, Mozambique
After a tsunami hit the nation, cholera has become prominent in Mozambique. At least 139 cholera cases are known, and vaccines have been rushed to the country to help treat those affected and prevent further cases. Cholera, which spreads through contaminated food and water, causes acute diarrhea and can kill its victim in just a few hours. It is not clear if any of these cases have caused fatality.
Original article by the Associated Press, March 29, 2019. The New York Times.
London, England
For more than 30 years, plastic novelty phones shaped like Garfield the cartoon cat have been washing up on a shoreline in western France. Nobody knew the reason behind this mystery for decades. Recently, volunteers cleaning up the beach discovered the phones were coming from a shipping container that was in a rocky sea cave. Despite being in the water for so long, the phones were preserved pretty well and only have minor cosmetic damage.
Original article by Palko Karasz, March 29, 2019. The New York Times.