The Church of England is defending its appointment of 'racial justice enablers' to tackle racial inequality and 'white fragility’, amid criticism that it might alienate worshippers. In Birmingham and York, these positions focus on addressing issues like deconstructing whiteness and unconscious bias. The Rev Guy Hewitt, head of the church’s Racial Justice Unit, underscores the gospel's call to confront racism, while critics like Rev Dr Ian Paul argue the approach could create more division, reflecting American cultural conflicts. The initiative has broad support within church synods, though some parishioners have expressed concern over resource allocation. These roles are part of a wider effort to make the Church more inclusive and tackle racism. Church leaders stress the importance of addressing the sin of racism and its impact, aligning with the Church's mission to be a church for all tribes and nations.
The Government has banned 15 synthetic opioids, including 14 nitazenes, classifying them as Class A drugs. These opioids, far stronger than heroin, have been linked to numerous fatalities. Nitazenes, frequently misidentified in other drugs, cause dangerous respiratory depression and are often unknowingly consumed. Home secretary James Cleverly stated the government's commitment to combating these drugs, with the classification resulting in strict penalties for production, distribution, and possession, including potential life imprisonment or unlimited fines. This move follows rising numbers of drug deaths in Scotland and widespread opioid addiction concerns. However, there are calls for quicker action in tracking overdoses and understanding drug spread. Originally developed in the 1950s, nitazenes were never approved for medical use due to high potency and addiction risks, making them a significant public health concern. The Government's classification aims to curb the impact of these potent drugs on public health.
Army must 'prepare genuinely for war'
21 Mar 2024
A new report, backed by former UK defence and security chiefs, emphasises the need for the Army to genuinely prepare for war to effectively deter threats. Key contributors have warned of the army's diminished credibility due to prolonged reductions in size and capability, risking falling below the national critical mass. The report, responding to concerns over inadequate defence spending and global conflicts like Russia's war in Ukraine, suggests that the UK army is no longer considered a top-level fighting force within NATO. It proposes the formation of a 'New Model Army' that is battle-ready and respected, to demonstrate strength to both adversaries and allies. The document proposes a war-ready command structure in Whitehall and recommends a dedicated task force to facilitate necessary changes, akin to the successful Covid vaccine campaign. The report concludes with a plea for bold and decisive action to restore the army's fighting capability within realistic budget constraints.
Russia: and the winner is …
21 Mar 2024
To nobody’s surprise, Vladimir Putin was declared the winner of Russia’s presidential election, with over 87% of the votes cast. In his victory speech, he showed his confidence by mentioning Alexei Navalny by name for the first time, claiming that he had agreed to a prisoner exchange for him shortly before Navalny died in prison. The Kremlin dismissed accusations of Navalny's murder by his widow, Yulia, as false: Putin callously referred to his death as a part of life. The election saw a variety of protests, including pouring dye into a ballot box and setting off Molotov cocktails: Putin played down their impact. The election faced criticism internationally for lack of fairness; British officials condemned Putin's victory as undemocratic and likened him to Stalin. Despite this reaction, the election has solidified his grip on power and given him a mandate to pursue the war with Ukraine more actively.
Three women have been convicted of the brutal murder of Safoora Bibi, a schoolteacher at an Islamic seminary in Dera Ismail Khan, in March 2022. The main suspect, Umra Aman, planned the attack with her two nieces, who were students at the school; they were allegedly prompted by a dream accusing Bibi of blasphemy. The killing has highlighted the pervasive issue of vigilante attacks in the country, fuelled by Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws. Despite the government's stated zero-tolerance policy, reluctance to repeal or reform these laws persists due to pressure from hard-line Islamist groups. Over 90 blasphemy-related killings have occurred in Pakistan in the past seven decades, with a significant rise in recent years.
Venezuela: government keeps arresting opponents
21 Mar 2024
According to Venezuela’s government, there have been numerous conspiracies against president Nicolás Maduro in the last year. This has resulted in the arrest of over thirty individuals, including a prominent human rights lawyer and opposition campaign staff. Critics have denounced these arrests as efforts to suppress political opposition ahead of the upcoming presidential election in July. The attorney general has said the plots aimed at attacking military installations, assassinating Maduro, and destabilising the country. Maduro has also alleged that the US government is behind the plots to assassinate him. The government's crackdown extends to barring key opposition figures from running in the election, such as market advocate María Corina Machado, who remains determined to contest, hoping for international support. However, the government's lack of transparency in legal proceedings raises concerns about due process.
Narendra Modi's government has been accused by the opposition Congress party of using the tax department to financially cripple them ahead of the upcoming elections in April and May, which Modi’s BJP party are favourites to win. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi claimed a systematic effort to starve the party of funds, stating that freezing their 2.1 billion rupee (£20 million) accounts is unprecedented and undemocratic. Her son Rahul said, ‘This is not the freezing of our bank accounts. It is the freezing of Indian democracy.’ Without access to funds, the party is unable to spend money on advertisements and publicity, paying party workers, and printing campaign materials, They have also pointed out that this action has been taken at a time when it had just been revealed that the BJP had benefited hugely from the electoral bonds scheme set up in 2018, which the supreme court declared illegal in February. The BJP and tax authorities have yet to respond.
Vietnam: president’s shock resignation
21 Mar 2024
In what has been described as a ‘political earthquake’, Vietnam's president Vo Van Thuong resigned on 20 March, after allegations of corruption which have tarnished the Communist party's image. He was the youngest president in modern history, and regarded as a protégé of party chief Nguyen Phu Trong. Vice president Vo Thi Anh Xuan will act as interim president, but analysts think that a permanent candidate is unlikely to be selected soon. There will be a ‘very complicated’ succession process within the party that may last until the national congress in 2026, when the successor to Trong, Vietnam’s most powerful politician, will be determined. Concerns about his health mean the largely ceremonial position of the president is crucial. There are growing concerns among foreign investors about political instability in the country, which is a growing manufacturing hub and sits at the middle of the competition between China and the USA for global influence.