Use the fields below to perform an advanced search of The Signal's archives. This will return articles, images, and multimedia relevant to your query. You can also try a Basic search
3 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(02/25/14 8:00pm)
The president of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, seeks out advice from the United States regarding their newly proposed anti-homosexuality law. Initially, Museveni did not support this law, stating that it is not homosexuals’ fault that they were born “abnormal.”
Acccording to BBCNews, Museveni wants the United States to help their scientists determine if homosexuality is a genetic or behavioral trait.
“I ... encourage the U.S. government to help us by working with our scientists to study whether, indeed, there are people who are born homosexual,” he said. “When that is proved, we can review this legislation.”
President Obama, in an attempt to deal with this issue, stated that the passage of this legislation would greatly harm any relations the United States has with Uganda. This warning holds a lot of weight, considering the fact that the United States is one of Uganda’s largest aid donors.
There are already regulations regarding male homosexuality, but this bill tightens restrictions and now addresses female homosexuality as well. Tighter restrictions include the life imprisonment of anyone who interacts in any homosexual activities.
The discussion of homosexuality without the condemnation of it is also punishable by a prison sentence. Punishment further extends to those who do not report any acts of homosexuality, BBCNews detailed.
According to Al Jazeera, Human Rights Watch, an independent organization dedicated to the defense and protection of human rights worldwide, decided to weigh in on the issue. The Africa director for Human Rights Watch, Daniel Bekele, said, “There is real urgency now that Museveni has stated his intention to sign the bill.”
The Human Rights Watch group replied that Ugandan international donors should specify the consequences that the passage of this anti-homosexuality bill will cause if it is passed. Bekele goes on to say that, “Uganda’s international partners need to show unequivocally that if this bill is passed, it will not be business as usual with the Ugandan government.”
(02/25/14 3:26am)
You may be in the snow, but “You’re not out of the woods,” states Texas Republican and chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee Michael McCaul in reference to the athletes of the Winter Olympics, according to CBSNews.
McCaul explained that he blames the chances of an attack on Russian security official’s lack of input from American counterparts.
America sent two warships to the Black Sea for security at the Winter Olympics, where the commanders have orders to perform “routine security operations and patrols” and be prepared in the event of a problem in Sochi, accounts Politico.
The White House stated that President Obama directed his team at the Pentagon and State Department to “work closely with the Russian government and other partners toward a secure and successful Sochi games and to review carefully and act on any new information that might affect the security of the games.”
“I think any Olympics is going to have a certain risk to it. I think this particular Olympics, I’ve never seen a greater threat, certainly in my lifetime,” McCaul said, according to CBSNews.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reacted to the terrorist threats by spending $2 billion for security at the games and positioning 40,000 troops at the perimeter of Sochi, according to TIMESwampland.
Several Republican Representatives have voiced their concerns regarding security at the Winter Olympics, stating that no one should put their guard down until the games are officially over, including Representative Mike Rogers from Michigan and Representative Peter King from New York, TIMESwampland reports.
“There certainly are a lot of risks. But I think they’re manageable risks, if people stay where they’re supposed to,” Democratic Representative Adam Schiff from California stated, according to CBSNews.
(02/04/14 8:00pm)
Ukraine’s opposition movement was able to gain a foothold when Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and his cabinet resigned last Tuesday, according to The Washington Post. A couple of hours after this shocking move, Ukraine’s parliament invalidated the anti-demonstration laws that had been causing much anger among anti-government demonstrators, reports CNN.
The protests started Thursday, Nov. 21 started immediately after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych had abandoned a proposed trade agreement with the European Union, according to The Washington Post.
Ukrainian protestors created a burrowed, barricaded encampment in Kiev, Ukraine that law enforcement officials were unable to crack through. This was until the anti-protest laws were put in place, and the protestors had come to blows with law enforcement officials, resulting in the deaths of at least four demonstrators.
U. S. Vice President Joe Biden called Yanukovych last Monday night to reinforce American support for “a peaceful, political solution to the crisis,” according to White House officials, describes CNN.
Yanukovych defends the decision by stating that the deal came “with thorns,” and he looked for help elsewhere regarding Ukraine’s economy from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who responded with a $15 billion aid package, The Washington Post details.
After Azarov stepped down from his position, Yanukovych offered the position of prime minister to opposition leader of the Fatherland Party, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, and deputy prime minister to Vitali Klischko, leader of another opposition. Both opposition leaders refused the positions, stating that they needed further negotiations and that although the removal of the anti-protest laws was a large step forward, they must continue to move toward that direction, according to CNN.
Yatsenyuk countered that he expects parliament to assign a commission Wednesday to rewrite the constitution. President Yanukovych stated that he would be willing to yield a great deal of power to parliament under a new constitution, reports The Washington Post.
Klischko goes on further to say that he will not serve in a new government under the leadership of Yanukovych. Some opponents proposed that Yanukovych would be pleased to stay on as a figurehead if he can keep his job and gain immunity from prosecution.
Ukrainian demonstrators barricade law enforcement officials.
AP Photo.