On Monday, Uganda reopened schools after the longest pandemic-prompted shutdown in the world. Schools have been closed since March of 2020, and despite attempts at remote learning, many students effectively stopped learning after classrooms closed and many students may not return to their education. Certain educators and critics claim the decision may have eroded decades of progress the country has made in regard to education. I'm curious what prompted the government to make such a harsh decision, and what impact it will have on the country's development considering many students are lacking two years of education and may never return to school. (Years of schooling are a part of the calculations for HDI).

The Taliban is currently struggling with a government staffing issue, and are turning to employees of the Taliban's first government who fled to Pakistan at the beginning of the Afghanistan War. Most of the Taliban's government and management roles consist of military officials and theologians. I think it's interesting how much the Taliban is attempting to establish themselves as leaders of the state, and wonder if and when they'll gain any sort of international recognition.

Journalists at El Salvador's leading news outlet, El Faro, claimed that a majority of their employees had been targeted by the spyware Pegasus. Interesting to see how journalists are targeted in different countries, as we heard yesterday with the journalist imprisoned in Myanmar.

An important piece of state-wide news. California Democrats have reintroduced a bill to implement a single-payer healthcare system in the state, this time with a large tax increase to cover the estimated $400 billion annual cost. It would be quite comprehensive, and would effectively ban private insurance for benefits covered by the state.

From the New York Time's, explains the Ukraine-Russia issue. It talks more about Russia wanting Ukraine to back away from the West and NATO, which Ukraine has increasingly aligned itself with and rejected Russian influences.

I kept seeing articles about the escalation between Russia and Ukraine, and that U.S. intelligence believes Russia may try to even invade Ukraine with 175,000 troops in early of next year. I'm not sure what the issue is, so I read this article on what it is that Russia wants from Ukraine. Still a little unsure. Disclaimer: this news source is an international source, but U.S. funded, so bias warning.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/06/world/europe/ukraine-russia-war-front.html Article from the NY Times that sparked my interest.

Barbados' Parliament has elected Sandra Mason to assume the symbolic title of Head of State, replacing Queen Elizabeth. This act is a move to distance the country from their colonial past.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will depart for a five-day visit to Africa to "support democratic principles," and especially to advance diplomacy aimed to prevent a potentially catastrophic civil war in Ethiopia, where there is already extreme violence, that would threaten the stability of East Africa. From my perspective, it isn't often the U.S. or other Western nations engage in diplomacy with African countries, but I could be incorrect. Anyhow, this caught my eye, especially to see if it's effective in heading off what seems to be an imminent civil war in Ethiopia.

Shortly after Donald Trump was permanently banned, Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro encouraged Brazilian to download the Telegram, a messaging app that has been used by conservative politicians and commentators to spread "problematic content -- including disinformation -- in a social media ecosystem facing mounting pressure to combat fake news and polarization." Bolsonaro, dubbed "The Trump of Brazil", is also taking pages out of Trump's book by sowing doubts about election fraud ahead of next year's presidential election.

An article that discusses the role of US interventionism in Haiti's current political and economic crisis.

A guest essay, naming Haiti the "kidnapping capital" of the world, and despite failed past interventions, invites international actors to assist the country in its humanitarian crisis, support Haitian law enforcement to combat the gangs, and prevent gang recruitment in marginalized communities, for example. "Until the Haitian government gets crime under control and brings the gangs to justice, the restoration of the constitutional order and the country's humanitarian and economic recovery will remain elusive."

An example of a low capacity, low autonomy country. Gangs, not the government, rule about half of Haiti's capital, blocking the ports and causing a fuel shortage that is pushing the country to the brink of collapse.

Corporations use propaganda campaigns to push the blame of climate change on individual consumers.

Gang violence, particularly kidnappings and ransom demands, has become another threat to public safety in Haiti, along with natural disaster, political upheaval, and and crippling poverty. Now, gangs are targeting the church, as seen through the kidnapping of 17 American missionaries. The church has long been a pillar of support in Haiti throughout its impoverishment. Breaking this taboo is a sign of how bad the crime and violence has become.

Cuba will hold a public referendum on whether or no to legalize same-sex marriage in the heavily Catholic country. This article profiles a same-sex couple who find the referendum painful stating that "you are submitting to the vote of a heterosexual, heteronormative majority the rights of a minority."

In the beginning of October, Venezuela cut six zeros from its currency in an attempt to fight inflation. Similar attempts have occurred, in 2018 for example, but the effects typically don't last more than a few years. Bolivars in cash are rarely used for everyday purchases anymore.

An opinion's article originally published by Bloomberg, arguing that Mexico could be the next Denmark, mainly a testament to the country's rapid economic growth in many area, and lots of areas for Mexico to emerge on the global stage.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has been accused of mass homicide, in a report by Brazilian senator recommending charges for homicide for purposely letting the pandemic kills hundreds of thousands of Brazilians in a failed bid to achieve herd immunity. Shared by both Ershai and Audrey.

A new hotline has opened in Bogota, named the Calm Line, aimed to fight the machismo culture in Colombia. Unlike other methods to prevent violence against women, the Calm Line takes calls from men, and pushes men to examine how their long-time attitudes of machismo harm their lives and the lives of others. Latin America, notably Argentina and Mexico, have had recent movements related to women's rights and well-being, including legalizing abortion and femicide. Interesting to see a new method of challenging the culture and machismo.

Another article I read about the Pandora Papers from the Times. Breaks down what it is, what it contains, and its importance in an easier and quicker read than the report itself.