NOAA says El Niño has begun in the tropical Pacific, with a 63% chance it becomes one of the strongest events recorded since 1950. Scientists warn it could intensify global heat and disrupt weather, food supplies and economies into 2027.
Posts tagged as “East African”
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has signed a controversial new anti-gay legislation into law, which prescribes the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” and life imprisonment for those found to have engaged in same-sex sexual acts. The law has been widely condemned by rights activists and the United Nations, who argue that it violates the human rights of LGBTQ individuals in Uganda. It has also been met with both praise and criticism in Uganda, with many arguing that it is necessary to protect the country’s traditional values.
Thousands of foreign nationals, including 16,000 Americans, remain trapped in Sudan as the violence continues to escalate and the US government scrambles to evacuate diplomats and provide assistance to those in need. A travel writer from Massachusetts is among those desperately trying to find a way out of the country, as the US State Department urges all US citizens to leave Sudan as soon as possible.
The United States is preparing to evacuate its embassy in Sudan due to the ongoing violence, which has already claimed the life of one American citizen. The State Department has offered its condolences to the family of the deceased, but has not yet issued an official statement on the evacuation. Preparations are underway, but it is unclear when the evacuation will take place or how many people will be affected.
Uganda's parliament has passed a controversial bill that criminalizes same-sex relations and identifies as LGBTQ, with severe penalties including death for so-called aggravated homosexuality and life in prison for gay sex. The bill has been met with strong opposition from the LGBTQ community and human rights groups, and is expected to be signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni in the coming weeks. Human rights groups have called on the president to veto the bill, citing its potential to further endanger the LGBTQ community.