Uganda Could Change Controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill: The Deputy Foreign Minister of Uganda, Henry Okello Oryem, has told the BBC that Uganda’s controversial anti-homosexuality bill is likely to be changed. “I am a sure the bill will take a different form when it is tabled on the floor in parliament,” Mr Oryem told the BBC’s Network Africa Programme. However, Mr Oryem was quick to discuss other issues: “Homosexuality is not a top priority for the people of Uganda… Our priority is to make sure there is food on the table of our people… that we deal with the issue of disease.” Currently Uganda’s anti-homosexuality bill proposes the death penalty for “serial offenders”, HIV-positive “offenders” and those engaging in homosexual activity with “a minor or disabled person.” Under the bill, anyone who helps, counsels or encourages a person to engage in a homosexual act could face seven years in prison. 



Mine Occupation Cleared: The Mainshill Solidarity camp, a protest camp opposing a massive open-cast mine in South Lanarkshire, has begun to be cleared out by bailiffs and police, under the auspices of the National Eviction Team. So far over 43 protesters have been arrested, the majority charged with aggravated trespass. The site of the mine was occupied seven months ago in solidarity with local communites in the Douglas Valley. The site is owned by Lord Home, who is set to profit from allowing Scottish Coal to mine 1.7 million tonnes of coal from Mainshill. There are already four existing open-cast mines in the area. Former chairman of the Douglas Community Council, Harry Thompson,  said, "Despite massive community opposition to the mine at Mainshill, Scottish Coal and South Lanarkshire Council contiune to disregard the interests of those living in proximity to the mines."




Tony Blair Wanted For War Crimes: Feel like becoming a vigilante? A new website, www.arrestblair.org, is accepting donations to offer as a bounty to anybody who can perform a citizen's arrest on Tony Blair, under the charge of war crimes. So far the bounty stands at over £12,000. A website claims its intention is “to encourage repeated attempts to arrest the former prime minister. We have four purposes: To remind people that justice has not yet been done. To show Mr Blair, that despite his quest for people to “move on” from Iraq, the mass murder he committed will not be forgotten. To put pressure on the authorities of the United Kingdom and the countries he travels through to prosecute him for a crime against peace, or to deliver him for prosecution to the International Criminal Court.” One attempt has already been made: Grace McCann tried to arrest Blair as he left the Chilcot Inquiry and she stands to claim at a bounty of £3,000, which she has pledged to donate to relevant charities. 



Sikhs Should Be Allowed To Wear Ceremonial Daggers: Sir Mota Singh QC, Britain’s first Asian judge, has said that Sikhs should be allowed to wear their ceremonial daggers. “Not allowing someone who is baptised to wear a Kirpan (Sikh ceremonial dagger) is not right,” Sir Mota told the BBC Asian Network. Last year, a Sikh police officer, who had been told to remove his turban during riot training, won a discrimination case against the Greater Manchester Police. In Sikhism, the Kirpan is an article of faith that must be carried at all times by baptised Sikhs. The Kirpan is carried in a sheath attached to a cloth belt. It is normally worn discreetly under clothes and most people would be unaware that a person was carrying one.



Nigeria Anambra State Election Flawed: An election for governor of Anambra state in Nigeria’s oil-rich Delta region has been condemned amid reports of vote-buying and ballot-box theft. Peter Obi was re-elected but just 300,000 people cast their ballots from an electorate of 1.8 million. BBC reporter Fidelis Mbah in Anamra has said he witnessed three ballot boxes being stolen by gangs of youths, with at least one youth being armed and dressed in a police uniform. Chukwuma Soludo, who came third in the election, complained of “brazen manipulation.”

Richard Lemmer is a student at York University and contributing editor at Ctrl.Alt.ShiftHQ