🔅 Uganda Upholds Anti-Gay Law & Senegal's Presidential Polygamy Sparks Debate
Plus, Unveiling the Most Polluted Place on Earth & Nigerian Students Shun UK Universities
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Uganda's Constitutional Court Says "No Way" to Overturning Anti-Gay Law
Uganda's Constitutional Court has rejected a petition seeking to annul the country's anti-gay law. In a unanimous decision, the court found that while some sections of the law violated the right to health and privacy, it wasn't going to block or suspend the law.Â
The Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 imposes penalties of up to life in prison for consensual same-sex relations and even has provisions that make "aggravated homosexuality" punishable by death.
President Yoweri Museveni's government has been defiantly sticking to its guns, accusing the West of trying to pressure Africa into accepting homosexuality.
A group of law professors, legislators, and human rights activists brought the petition against the law, arguing that it violates fundamental rights guaranteed by Uganda's Constitution.
Senegal's New President is Shaking Things Up
Senegal's newly elected president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye (BDF), is shaking things up in more ways than one.Â
His first order of business? Renegotiating the contracts of those juicy oil and gas projects developed by big players like BP, Kosmos, and Woodside Energy. Faye wants to make sure Senegal gets a bigger piece of the pie, and who can blame him?
After all, the West African nation is about to hit the jackpot with the $4.8 billion Grand Tortue Ahmeyim liquefied natural gas project and Sangomar oil development. Sure, there have been more delays than a rush-hour commute, but once those taps are open, Senegal is set to become one of the world's fastest-growing economies.
But BDF is different in that he's also proudly displaying his polygamous lifestyle for all to see:
In a move that's got everyone talking, BDF showed up to a recent event with both of his wives by his side, cheered on by thousands of supporters. Marie Khone, his first wife of 15 years, and Absa, his second wife of just over a year, are now set to become the country's first-ever duo of First Ladies.
Polygamy, a traditional and religious practice deeply rooted in Senegalese culture, has long been a topic of debate.
The public appearance of the presidential trio has sparked diverse reactions, with some praising it as a reflection of Senegalese reality and others criticizing it as unfair to women.
But BDF and his supporters aren't backing down. They argue that the West has no right to judge their cultural practices and that polygamy is just one of many matrimonial models determined by a nation's history.
As for the logistics of having two First Ladies, well, that's a whole new ballgame. The presidential protocol will need a serious overhaul to accommodate this unprecedented situation.
The Most Polluted Place on Earth
Tucked away just 50 kilometres from Johannesburg, the Vaal Triangle holds the dubious title of "Most Polluted Place on Earth." This area is in a league of its own regarding air quality, or the lack thereof.Â
Home to 1.7 million people, the Vaal Triangle is a cocktail of industrial emissions, and Bloomberg paints a grim picture of residents living amidst pollutants and respiratory diseases.
What's cooking in this toxic kitchen?
Steel mills, Eskom’s Lethabo power station, and a collection of coal mines all contributed to the smoky haze. While these industries do put food on the table for many, they're also serving up cardiac problems, cancer, and respiratory diseases. And as the local government plays tug-of-war with industries over greener regulations, residents are left gasping for air and demanding compensation for the health toll.
Nigeria: Fewer Students Bound for UK Universities
British universities are staring down the barrel of a financial quandary, and it's all thanks to a nosedive in the number of Nigerian students keen on studying in the UK.
According to an exposé by the Times, the usual influx of Nigerian scholars to British institutions has plummeted by 71% this year. Now, that's a figure that could make even the King's guard raise an eyebrow.
It seems Nigeria's wallet is feeling a bit light these days, what with the economic downturn and all. And when you toss Britain's increasingly frosty visa policies into the mix, it's no wonder Nigerian students are giving the UK the cold shoulder.
As a result, several British universities (who had been largely dependent on the income from fees paid by international students) are now sounding the alarm over impending financial doom. Talk about living in a globalised world.
Food for Thought
“You have little power over what’s not yours."
— Zimbabwean Proverb