Africa
Uganda: Death penalty removed from Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Members of the Ugandan Parliament have decided against the death penalty for homosexuals. The Ugandan government is due to pass the Anti-Homosexuality Bill before Christmas, which initially included the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality”; defined as when one participant is a minor, disabled, a serial offender or HIV positive. Medard Segona MP told the BBC, “Some of us who are human rights activitists would discourage the death penalty”.
Europe
EU Summit: Britain gets stubborn on budget
The EU Budget Summit in Brussels today failed to settle an agreement that could assist the EU’s worst off members. Prime Minister David Cameron said the budget “wasn’t good enough” and wasn’t in keeping with current domestic environments. He said, “Together, we had a very clear message – ‘We are not going to be tough on budgets at home just to come here and sign up to big increases in European spending’.” Critics say that Mr. Cameron is responding to euroskepticism within his Party.
Asia
North Korea salute leader in hillside sign
“Long Live General Kim Jong-un, the Shining Sun!”.has been built on a hillside in North Korean province of Ryanggang. The letters are visible from space, stretch 1,800 feet across and are 20 metres high; six metres higher than the Hollywood sign.
Kim Jong-un became leader of North Korea nearly one year ago, after his father Kim Jong-il died. Synonymously with his father and grandfather, Kim Jong-un is portrayed with deity-like characteristics.
Latin America
US order Argentina to pay up
Argentina is to challenge a US court ruling which has ordered them to pay $1.3Billion USD to foreign creditors. The bonds were Argentina defaulted on in 2001, with creditors offered new bonds. Last week Argentina made a legal appeal for the UN to end a dispute that has resulted in one of their Navy ships being impounded by Ghana. The dispute between Ghana and Argentina is over debts, and has resulted in the challenge. Argentina argues that the holding of their ship violates maritime law. The debt comes from an American billionaire, whom the Ghanaian courts support, who claims to be owed $370m from the democratisation period over a decade ago. A wager of $20m has been offered to Argentina for the ships release.
Oceania
Amnesty International concerns with Austrlian immigration
The Non-government Organisation, Amnesty International, have released a report today saying that conditions at an Australian ayslum camp are “degrading” and “cruel”. The camp is based offshore on the Pacific territory of Nauru, holding just under 400 men. Legislation in September made all asylum detention centres offshore.
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