Page 148 - Social Issues
Singapore Airlines denies snooping with seatback cameras
Singapore Airlines insisted Thursday that cameras on its planes' entertainment systems had been disabled after an outcry online from worried passengers who spotted the tiny lenses peering at them. Travellers took to Twitter and other social media to raise the alarm over the cameras at the bottom of seatback screens on a number of the Singapore flag carrier's newer aircraft. "Just found this interesting sensor looking at me from the seat back on board of Singapore Airlines. Any expert opinion of whether is a camera?" passenger Vitaly Kamluk tweeted. His tweet was accompanied by photos of the monitor with the embedded camera. Another passenger urged the airline in a tweet to "notify all your passengers and get their consent, particularly EU residents, that you are doing this, why, what are you doing with the data and how long you keep it". The airline confirmed that some of its latest inflight entertainment systems did have fixed cameras -- but assured passengers that they had been ...
Taiwan unveils long-awaited gay marriage bill
Taiwan's ruling party unveiled its latest attempt to create Asia's first gay marriage law on Thursday, a bill offering same-sex couples "permanent unions" as well as limited adoption rights, despite stiff opposition from conservatives. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has had a stuttering and troubled journey towards delivering on their 2016 election promise to grant same-sex couples equal marriage rights. In November, conservatives won a referendum against revising the island's Civil Code to allow gay marriage, in a blow to President Tsai Ing-wen's party and a stark illustration of the social divide caused by the issue. The referendum came after Taiwan's Constitutional Court voted to legalise gay marriage in 2017 -- the first place in Asia to do so -- arguing that denying same-sex couples marriage rights was unconstitutional. The court ordered the government to amend the law by May 24, 2019 but did not specify how it wanted gay marriage to be brought in. The bill published ...
As talks with government fail, farmers resume 200-km 'long march'
After an overnight halt at various locations, Maharashtra farmers resumed their 200-km 'Kisan Long March-2' from Nashik to Mumbai to protest against what they termed a "betrayal" of the peasantry by the BJP governments in the state and the Centre.
Navratilova gets dumped by LGBT group over her transgender comments
Tennis veteran Martina Navratilova has been removed as an ambassador by Athlete Ally, the organisation that supports LGBT athletes, following her controversial comments on transgender sports persons.In an official statement released on the website of the company, the organisation said "Athlete Ally unequivocally stands on the side of trans athletes and their right to access and compete in sport free from discrimination. Martina Navratilova's recent comments on trans athletes are transphobic, based on a false understanding of science and data, and perpetuate dangerous myths that lead to the ongoing targeting of trans people through discriminatory laws, hateful stereotypes and disproportionate violence."As an organisation dedicated to addressing root causes of homophobia and transphobia in and through sport, we will only affiliate with those committed to the same goal, and not those who further misinformation or discrimination in any way. Given this, Navratilova has been removed from ...
Signal summit on sex abuse opens at Vatican
Pope Francis kicks off a red-letter global child protection summit Thursday for reflections on the sex abuse crisis, while victims tired of hearing pledges for change clamour for incisive reforms. The pontiff has set aside three and a half days to convince Catholic bishops to tackle paedophilia in a bid to contain a scandal which hit an already beleaguered Church again in 2018, from Chile to Germany and the United States. The 82-year-old hopes to raise awareness through prayers, speeches, working groups and testimonies from victims. The idea is that the 114 heads of bishops' conferences will return home with clear ideas on how to spot and deal with abuse. The task is made difficult by the fact that some churches, in Asia and Africa in particular, deny the problem exists. "My hope would be that people see this as a turning point," said American Cardinal Blase Cupich, one of the pope's trusted allies in the United States and one of the summit's four organisers. The US Catholic Church ...
Telangana govt set to present Budget tomorrow
: The Telangana government is set to present vote-on-account budget in the Assembly and also the Council Friday on the first day of the four-day session. Both the Assembly and Council will meet separately at 11.30 am, following which the state government will present the budget. The budget session will conclude with adoption of the Appropriation Bill on the last day, February 25. According to sources, major allocations will be made to the irrigation department as the state government is in the process of implementing major irrigation projects. Also, the government will ensure appropriate funds towards fulfilling some of the poll promises such as Rs one lakh farm loan waiver and Rythu Bandhu scheme. Chief Minister and TRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao, during his assembly poll campaign, promised to increase the assistance under the Rythu Bandhu scheme to Rs 10,000 per annum from the current Rs 8,000 if voted to power again. Chief Secretary SK Joshi, Finance Advisor GR Reddy,
Nationalism has nothing to do with a person or party: Pallavi Joshi
National Award-winning actress Pallavi Joshi, who hosts television show "Bharat Ki Baat", which showcases a positive narrative of Indians, says people tend to associate nationalism with one individual or a political party, and that is a wrong interpretation of the ideology.
Citizenship bill in focus as budget session of Nagaland
The contentious citizenship bill will be in focus in the budget session of the Nagaland assembly that begins from Thursday, with the state government set to adopt a resolution against the proposed legislation. Minister for Planning and Coordination, Neiba Kronu, said the Nagaland government would table a resolution against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, on February 23. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha during the Winter Session on January 8, but could not be tabled in the Rajya Sabha, meaning it has now lapsed. The legislation proposes to accord Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after seven years of residence in India instead of 12 years, which is the norm currently, even if they do not possess any document. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who also holds the finance portfolio, will present the full budget for the fiscal 2019-20 on February 25. The state government is also ...
Maharashtra: Farmers begin Nashik to Mumbai march
Members of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) have started their march from Nashik to Mumbai over various demands of farmers and tribals in Maharashtra.The march towards Mantralaya, Mumbai commenced from Nashik on Wednesday evening. The long march being organised by AIKS comprises of large number of farmers, including women.The farmers will be covering over 165 kilometres between Nashik to Mumbai on foot and are expected to reach Mumbai on February 27.As per media reports, the farmers are pressing for demands such as waiver of farm loans, minimum support price, irrigation facilities and provision of pension.Last year in March, the All India Kisan Sabha had organized a long protest march, led by over 30,000 farmers, from Nashik to Mumbai.The protest, was held to demand a complete farm loan waiver among other things and had commenced on March 5 from the CBS Chowk in Central Nashik only to reach Mumbai on March 11.
Brazil president seeks $270 billion pension savings; Congress has doubts
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro delivered his proposed pension overhaul to Congress on Wednesday, a plan to save over 1 trillion reais ($270 billion) in a decade that raised doubts about whether lawmakers would pass a package of that scale.
Brazil president seeks $270 billion pension savings, Congress has doubts
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro delivered his proposed pension overhaul to Congress on Wednesday, a plan to save over 1 trillion reais ($270 billion) in a decade, which raised doubts about whether lawmakers would pass a package of that scale.
UK investor body to apply red warning if a company's board lacks women
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's top companies face a red warning if they don't have more than one woman on their board, the Investment Association said on Thursday, adding to pressure for more female representation at top levels of management.
France to adopt international definition of anti-Semitism
The French government will adopt an international organization's definition of anti-Semitism and propose a law to reduce hate speech from being circulated online, French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday. Macron, speaking at the annual dinner of a Jewish organization, said France and other parts of Europe have seen in recent years "a resurgence of anti-Semitism that is probably unprecedented since World War II." Macron said applying the working definition of anti-Semitism drawn up by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance would help guide police forces, magistrates and teachers in their daily work. Since the intergovernmental organization approved the wording in 2016, some critics of Israel have said it could be used suppress Palestinian rights activists. The definition states anti-Semitism can take the form of "denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour." Macron said he .
Bangladesh says IS teen not eligible for citizenship
A British teen who joined the Islamic State group has no claim to Bangladeshi nationality, Dhaka's foreign ministry said Wednesday, after the UK government decided to revoke her citizenship. Shamima Begum, who travelled to Syria in 2015 and now wants to return to Britain after giving birth in a refugee camp in Syria last week, was stripped of her UK citizenship on Tuesday. The Home Office reportedly believed that Begum was entitled to claim citizenship in Bangladesh -- a claim disputed by the South Asian country. "Bangladesh asserts that Ms Shamima Begum is not a Bangladeshi citizen. She is a British citizen by birth and has never applied for dual nationality with Bangladesh," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "It may also be mentioned that she never visited Bangladesh in the past despite her parental lineage. So, there is no question of her being allowed to enter into Bangladesh," it added. Tasnime Akunjee, a lawyer for Begum's family, earlier said the teen was born in ...
Man sets himself on fire in Germany pro-PKK protest
A man was seriously injured after setting himself on fire in Germany Wednesday as a protest against Turkey's detention of militant Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan, police said. "The 43-year-old doused himself with a liquid and then set himself on fire" outside the courthouse in the western city of Krefeld, police said in a statement. Bystanders doused the flames with blankets and a fire extinguisher, and a rescue helicopter took the man to hospital. "According to witnesses, he said he was protesting against the detention of Ocalan and against German police violence," said the statement, adding that they were also investigating a possible "personal motive" and mental health issues. Last Friday was the 20th anniversary of the day when Turkish secret service agents caught Ocalan in Kenya, outside the Greek embassy in Nairobi -- on February 15, 1999. Ocalan co-founded the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in 1978, an organisation that is now blacklisted as a terror group by Ankara and its ...
Brazil sees USD 300 bn in savings over 10 years with pension reform
Brazil expects to save more than USD 300 billion over 10 years through a bill presented to Congress Wednesday that aims to overhaul the country's unsustainable pension system, the government said. The text, which requires constitutional changes to impose a minimum retirement age and extended pay-in periods for workers in both the public and private sectors, is a crucial plank of right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro's plan to overhaul Latin America's biggest economy. Bolsonaro personally delivered the much-anticipated text to Congress, where he was jeered and booed by leftist deputies in the opposition. He was to address the nation on the issue later Wednesday, after earlier this week warning that spending on pensions would break Brazil's finances within four years if changes were not adopted. Injecting pro-business vigor and removing sclerotic regulations were principal election pledges that propelled Bolsonaro into the presidency. He took office seven weeks ago. "We need to change the
Partner of Serbia's gay PM gives birth to baby boy
Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic's partner gave a birth to a baby boy Wednesday, her office said, heralding it as a historic event although the conservative country does not legally recognise same-sex marriages or partnerships. "Ana Brnabic is one of the first Prime Ministers whose partner has given birth while in office... and the first in the world in a same-sex couple," her media office said in a statement. "The delivery went well and both the mother and baby are doing fine," it added. According to local media, the boy was named Igor. Brnabic, 43, became one of the few openly gay government leaders in the world when she came to power in June 2017. But she has not been a vocal advocate on LGBT issues in a country where homophobia is widespread. In February alone there have been at least two acts of vandalism at an LGBT centre in central Belgrade. During an appearance at a Pride parade in Belgrade in 2017, Brnabic declined to comment on whether she would like to see same-sex ...
Brazil's Bolsonaro aims to save $270 billion on pensions in a decade
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro delivered his proposed pension overhaul to Congress on Wednesday, aiming to save over 1 trillion reais ($270 billion) in a decade by changing tax rates, delaying retirement and creating individual savings accounts.
TDP manifesto to focus on youth, women, middle-class in upcoming elections
The manifesto committee of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) held its first meeting on Wednesday at Andhra Pradesh secretariat in the state's capital Amaravati.The meeting was chaired by committee convener and state finance minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu chaired the meeting. The committee broadly decided to focus on youth, women and middle class in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.The newly constituted committee has reviewed the implementation of the 2014 election manifesto and expressed satisfaction.Next meeting of the committee will be held on February 25. The committee is also planning to launch a website to receive suggestions from the public.
BJP coins 'Namumkin ab mumkin hai' slogan for 2019 polls
'Namumkin ab mumkin hai' (Impossible is possible now) will be the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) major poll campaign tagline for the 2019 general elections. The BJP is seeking a second term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.