5 Good News Stories From Around The World
Take a break with some of the good news from around the world.
Here are four good news stories from around the world to brighten your day.
1. Gay sex is no longer a crime in Mauritius
In a historic moment, Mauritius Supreme Court has ruled that criminalizing same-sex acts is unconstitutional.
In Mauritius, a British colonial-era law criminalized anal intercourse between gay men with up to five years in prison.
On Wednesday Oct. 4, the court determined the law breached people’s rights to freedom of expression, privacy, and liberty, ending the 185 years colonial law.
The case was brought forward by activist Abdool Ridwan (Ryan) Firaas Ah Seek in 2019.
“From today, as a citizen and a human being, I am now free to love whoever I want to without fear. Above all, it also means that the next generations can fully and freely embrace their sexuality without fear of being arrested,” Ah Seek said.
Activists hope the ruling will cause other Africa nations to overturn their anti-gay legislation.
2. This corgi in China pretends to be sick to entertain its little human and it’s so adorable
A corgi in China has gained millions of followers by pretending to be ill so that her young human can practice her doctor skills.
Big Pancake (大餅), a one-year-old corgi, is a frequent patient of its human owner, Momo, an aspiring doctor.
On the account “Momo and Dad” (莫莫和爸爸), Big Pancake and Momo’s medical adventures have received millions of views on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok.
In the videos, Momo, who is usually dressed in a doctor’s white coat, gives a variety of medical examinations to Big Pancake, from dental care to surgeries.
But don’t worry; Momo has a 100% success rate, and no animals have been hurt in the process.
3. This doctor group created a program for girls in Kenya to learn about FGM instead of being cut
A doctor group has created a program that serves as an alternative rite of passage for Indigenous girls in Kenya to learn about female genital mutilation (FGM) instead of being cut.
In traditional Masaai culture, girls are expected to undergo FGM, a dangerous procedure that involves removing female genitalia that often results in lifelong health complications.
In some cases, girls bleed to death or die from infections and the practice can also cause lifelong painful conditions such as fistula and fatal childbirth complications, according to the United Nations.
To help educate girls and the community about the risks associated with FGM, the Africa Medical Research Foundation, known as Amref, worked with the Masaai community to develop an alternate program to FGM.
The program incorporates the traditional ceremonies involved in coming of age, but instead of being cut, girls learn about FGM and their reproductive health and rights.
After the four day program, girls receive a certificate of graduation.
4. These very good dog officers led a military parade in Chile and did a great job
A unit of esteemed puppy officers stole the spotlight while being carried in their humans’ backpacks during Chile’s annual Independence Day Military Parade at O’Higgins Park in Santiago, Chile on Tuesday, Sep. 19.
A remarkable ensemble of 76 dogs attended the highly-anticipated event, with some marching alongside their humans and the others carried in bright yellow backpacks instead, while Air Force planes soared overhead.
Before the march, the dog officers were required to undergo rigorous training with their assigned human police officers to ensure a smooth and safe experience amid the overwhelming crowds and noise from the thousands of people around the nation looking on.
“Since they’re very young, we accustom them to noise, to different scenarios, to be near people so that during the military parade they can enjoy themselves, the same as us,” police captain Gabriela Berrios Bruna told Reuters.
5. Brazil’s top court has ruled to protect this indigenous group’s right to their ancestral land
In a historic moment on Thursday Sep. 21, Brazil’s top court has ruled to protect this Indigenous group’s right to their ancestral land, setting a precedent for the country’s hundreds of Indigenous land claims.
In 2009, the Santa Catarina state, backed by tobacco farmers, ordered the Indigenous Xokleng people to leave their land.
The state government argued that Indigenous people could only claim their land if they proved that they were occupying the land when Brazil passed its constitution in 1988.
The Xokleng, an Indigenous community consisting of around 2,300 people, were then evicted in 2013 after they were unable to provide proof because they had been forced off their lands decades earlier.
But on Thursday Sep. 21, 9 out of 11 judges ruled that Indigenous lands are protected under the constitution even if they have not been legally defined – or demarcated.
The ruling now legally serves as a precedent for future Indigenous land recognition cases, including more than 300 similar cases that are currently pending.
