Read the full article here.

Dan-Daudu, people born male who dress and live as women, have been around among the Hausa people for centuries. When Islamic rule came into the region originally, it found this tradition too ingrained to stamp out. Colonialism came and suppressed Sharia, along with other forms of Islamic expression. Now the recoil is resulting in even harsher penalties than before. 

French far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen has
been given a three-month suspended jail term for playing down the Nazi
occupation of France.

Le Pen, who was also fined 10,000 euros (£7,400), described the occupation as "not especially inhumane".

What follows are observations, speculations, and wild generalizations, and in any case only apply to my little left-wing college town. Please not to be taking very seriously.

A state and its people are not the same thing. States themselves do
not have rights; states exist only to protect and support people. The state of Israel is not the same as the people who live within the borders of the state of
Israel, and neither is identical to Jewish people. It does everyone a
disservice to pretend that a state, which is fundamentally a social
system created by humans in order to more efficiently feed, shelter,
protect, and regulate themselves, is equivalent to a human life.

Peacekeepers 'deface ancient art'

The BBC reports that UN officers stationed in the Western Sahara have spray-painted graffiti over ancient rock art that is an important cultural heritage site. This was reported by a UN official, called shocking by the UN official responsible for overseeing the area, and referred to the UN cultural heritage preservation arm, UNESCO, to be funded for repair.