Author: News Desk

Uganda: Uganda’s President Mr. Yoweri Museveni, has asked lawmakers to clarify that merely identifying as gay is not a criminal offence under a proposed anti-homosexuality law. This move comes in response to international condemnation of the proposed legislation, which is one of the world’s harshest anti-LGBTQ laws. The bill criminalises a broad range of homosexual activities and carries stiff penalties, including death for aggravated homosexuality. In March 2022, legislators in Uganda overwhelmingly passed the bill, which has been widely criticized by human rights defenders, Western governments, and corporations. In a letter to the parliament’s speaker, Mr. Museveni outlined his reasons…

United States: A Sri Lankan provincial governor who has been accused of involvement in killings during the country’s civil war has been denied a visa by the United States on human rights grounds. The decision signals the US government’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for alleged human rights violations and underscores the importance of upholding international human rights standards. The move comes amid ongoing efforts to promote justice and reconciliation in Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the long and bloody conflict. According to a recent investigation in Sri Lanka, former navy chief Mr. Wasantha Karannagoda and others are alleged…

Rome, Italy: Pope Francis has granted women the right to vote in an upcoming gathering of bishops. This significant decision is a reflection of the Pope’s aim to empower women with greater decision-making responsibilities within the church. After years of persistent calls from women demanding the right to vote, Pope Francis has approved alterations to the norms that regulate the Synod of Bishops, a Vatican entity that convenes bishops from around the world for regular meetings. This decision signifies a significant step towards granting women more agency in the workings of the church. The Vatican released the revisions authorized by…

Africa: A new scientific study has shown that the severe drought in the Horn of Africa is a result of human-made climate change. This drought has directly affected around 50 million people in the region and another 100 million in surrounding areas, with approximately 20 million people at risk of famine. The drought has been ongoing since October 2020, with five consecutive seasons of below-normal rainfall, resulting in extended dry conditions and short, intense rainfall that has led to flash flooding. The World Weather Attribution group of scientists conducted a study that revealed that the current drought would not have…

United States: The US and South Korea have restated their commitment to their alliance and have agreed to allow nuclear-armed submarines to make port visits again. Both countries have also issued a warning to North Korea that any nuclear attack would result in a swift and decisive response, including the use of US nuclear weapons. The South Korean President Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol made it explicit that the response would include US nuclear weapons, which is an element of the alliance that is usually left unsaid. The announcement came during a visit by Mr. Yoon to Washington, where he and…

Sudan: According to the UN envoy to Sudan, there are no indications that the conflicting parties are prepared to engage in substantive negotiations to bring an end to the fighting. Despite a fragile 72-hour ceasefire, reports of armed clashes in key areas of the capital city, Khartoum, and other locations suggest that the ceasefire is not fully holding. During a UN Security Council meeting held in New York City on 25th April 2023, Mr. Volker Perthes, the UN envoy to Sudan, stated that each party involved in the conflict is convinced that they can emerge as the winner. “There is…

Uganda: A report by the Institute for Journalism and Social Change (IJSC) has found that the UK government has been indirectly funding an anti-LGBTQ+ organisation in Uganda that backs a proposed law that criminalises being gay. The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), an inter-faith organisation, is a direct recipient of UK aid money as an “implementing partner” of a program aimed at promoting an open society in Uganda. In February 2023, the IRCU, including the Church of Uganda and several evangelical churches, signed a statement expressing concern over “the growing spread of homosexuality” in Uganda and the effect of “the…

United States: South Korean President Mr. Yoon Suk-yeol visited a NASA flight center, coinciding with the signing of a joint statement between his country and the United States to enhance their cooperation in technology and space exploration. During a speech at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, South Korean President Mr. Yoon Suk-yeol expressed his long-standing conviction that the future of humanity lies in space. The President was accompanied by US Vice President Ms. Kamala Harris. President Yoon emphasized his ambition to establish South Korea as a global leader in space technology, with aspirations to achieve resource extraction…

Portugal: Portugal’s President Mr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has stated that his country should take responsibility and apologise for its role in the transatlantic slave trade. This is the first time a Portuguese leader has suggested offering a national apology. From the 15th to the 19th centuries, an estimated 6 million African individuals were abducted by Portuguese ships, forcibly transported across the Atlantic, and subsequently sold into slavery to work on Brazilian plantations. Mr. Rebelo de Sousa addressed this issue during the annual commemoration of the 1974 “Carnation” revolution, stressing that the country should go beyond a mere apology, though he…

London, UK: In the UK, over 750,000 individuals turned to food banks for the first time in the past year due to the rising cost of living crisis, leading to a surge in food parcel distribution by the Trussell Trust. Record-breaking numbers of food parcels were handed out in response to the growing demand for assistance. The Trussell Trust has distributed a record-breaking number of food parcels in response to a surge in demand from over 750,000 individuals who turned to food banks for the first time in the past year in the UK, as a result of the increasing…