Honduras: manual recount necessary for presidential election result
The Honduran presidential election has become increasingly tense after the National Electoral Council (CNE) announced a full manual recount of the 30 November vote. Currently there is a wafer-thin margin between the two leading candidates, which has prompted the CNE to announce a ‘technical tie’; it is calling for patience while all the votes are counted manually. Donald Trump sharply criticised the process on social media, accusing the authorities of attempting to alter the outcome and warning that there would be ‘hell to pay’ if his preferred candidate, Nasry Asfura, is not declared the winner. Asfura, a right-wing former mayor, held a lead of just over 500 votes with more than half of ballots counted. His centrist rival, Salvador Nasralla, cited internal projections suggesting he was ahead but refrained from claiming victory. Whatever the final outcome, the election is a clear defeat for the country’s ruling left-wing, whose candidate, Rixi Moncada, only has 19% of the vote.
Mozambique: 100,000 forced to flee after attacks by armed groups
Nearly 100,000 people in northern Mozambique have fled in recent weeks as armed groups have stormed their villages, often at night. They have burnt homes, killed civilians, and forced families to escape without belongings or documents. Nampula province now faces a fourth major influx of displaced people in recent months, pushing already fragile host communities beyond capacity. Schools, churches, and open spaces are overflowing, while humanitarian workers are struggling to respond to simultaneous attacks in many districts. Violence linked to the so-called IS has already displaced more than 1.3 million people since 2017, and now threatens communities which have previously been safe refuges. UNHCR warns that current funding covers only half of what is required, and needs will rise sharply into 2026. Lacking adequate shelter, food, and water, some families are returning to unsafe areas simply because overcrowded conditions leave them no other choice.
Malaysia: court confirms state involvement in Pastor Koh’s abduction
A landmark ruling in Malaysia has recognised state involvement in the disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh, who was abducted in broad daylight in February 2017 and has not been seen since. The high court has ordered the government and police to pay RM 37 million (about £6.8 million) in compensation for wrongful acts. Justice Su Tiang Joo allocated RM 33 million for the enforced disappearance and a further RM 4 million in damages to Pastor Koh’s wife, Susanna Liew, with RM 250,000 awarded for costs. Importantly, the funds must be held in trust until Koh’s whereabouts are known, highlighting the ongoing search for truth. Koh’s abduction, which was captured on camera, involved three SUVs and fifteen men and was completed within forty seconds. While the ruling offers a measure of closure and vindication, his wife expressed deep concern that authorities have failed to act on the findings of previous inquiries or take any action against police officers who are confirmed as taking part in the abduction. Calling on the government to hold an enquiry about what happened to Pastor Koh and his present whereabouts, CSW’s president Mervyn Thomas said, ‘This is a landmark decision which demonstrates the judiciary’s independence by holding state actors accountable, and setting a legal precedent for cases involving enforced disappearance’.
Street preacher acquitted after being accused of hate speech
A Christian street preacher in Swindon has been acquitted of charges related to comments he made in a public space, a case which sparked wider debate about free speech and the policing of perceived hate incidents. Shaun O’Sullivan, 36, was accused of religiously aggravated intentional harassment after a Muslim family claimed his remarks about Jews and Palestine were directed personally at them because they wore hijabs. However, the prosecution case rested largely on their testimony, and CCTV footage showed only a very brief encounter with no sustained confrontation. In court, one complainant acknowledged she had not heard the full message and that her perceptions were influenced by distress over the Gaza conflict. The defence argued O’Sullivan was preaching a general Christian message - not using abusive language - and warned that criminalising public evangelism threatens long-standing freedoms. Supporters described the verdict as a vital affirmation of the right to share Christian beliefs openly in the public square.
