Page 47 - Social Issues
Brazil's supreme court votes to make homophobia a crime
A majority in Brazil's supreme court has voted to make homophobia and transphobia crimes like racism, a decision coming amid fears the country's far-right president will roll back LGBT social gains. Six of the Supreme Federal Tribunal's 11 judges have voted in favor of the measure. The five other judges will vote in a court session on June 5, but the result will not be modified. The measure will take effect after all the justices have voted. Racism was made a crime in Brazil in 1989 with prison sentences of up to five years. The court's judges ruled that homophobia should be framed within the racism law until the country's congress approves legislation specifically dealing with LGBT discrimination. Brazil's Senate is dealing with a bill to criminalize discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender with sentences of up to five years. "Racism is a crime against flesh and blood, whether it is a member of the LGBT community, a Jew or an Afro-descendant," justice Luiz Fux said ...
Taiwan holds first gay marriages in historic day for Asia
Taiwan's first official same-sex weddings kicked off Friday in a landmark moment for LGBT rights in Asia as gay couples took the historic step of registering as married, the culmination of a three-decade fight for equality. Shane Lin and Marc Yuan, a couple who fell in love at college, were the first to arrive at a government office in downtown Taipei. Dressed in matching suits, they embraced and kissed in front of a huge media scrum before signing their marriage certificates. They were followed by playwright LiYing Chien and her girlfriend, a cartoonist who goes by the pen name Cynical Chick. Taiwan made history last week when it became the first place in Asia to legalise gay marriage, sparking jubilation among huge crowds of gay rights supporters on the streets of Taipei. But the issue has also caused deep divisions on an island that remains staunchly conservative, especially outside of the cities and among older generations. Some 300 same-sex couples are expected to register on ...
Taiwan begins first legal gay marriage registrations
Taiwan's first official same-sex weddings kicked off Friday in a landmark moment for LGBT rights in Asia, as government offices opened their doors to welcome same-sex couples wanting to register as married. Two couples -- one male, one female -- were the first to arrive at a government office in downtown Taipei, kissing and embracing before signing their marriage certificates, the culmination of the three-decade fight for equal rights.
Taiwan to hold first gay weddings in historic day for Asia
Taiwan's first official same-sex weddings will take place later Friday in a landmark moment for LGBT rights in Asia, a week after lawmakers took the historic decision to legalise gay marriage. Hundreds of couples across the island are expected to turn up at government offices on Friday morning to register their relationships as marriages, the first time they have been able to legally wed. Taiwan made history last week when it became the first place in Asia to legalise gay marriage, sparking jubilation among huge crowds of gay rights supporters on the streets of Taipei. But the issue has also caused deep divisions on an island that remains staunchly conservative, especially outside of the cities and among older generations. In Taipei more than 150 same-sex couples are scheduled to register on Friday, according to local authorities. The city hall will co-host an outdoor wedding party near the famous Taipei 101 skyscraper, with local and foreign dignitaries expected to attend. Among ...
Children up for adoption paraded in Brazil shopping centre
A parade of adoptable children held in a Brazilian shopping centre drew condemnation Thursday, with some comparing the event to the sale of animals or slaves. "Adoption on the Catwalk" in the central-west state of Mato Grosso was designed to "give visibility to children and adolescents who are eligible for adoption," according to an official statement promoting Tuesday's show. The parade -- organised by the local chapters of the Brazil Bar Association's Childhood and Youth Commission (CYC) and the Adoption Research and Support Association (AMPARA) -- was held in the Pantanal shopping mall in the capital Cuiaba. "As we always say, what the eyes see, the heart feels," Tatiane de Barros Ramalho, president of the CYC and a lawyer, was quoted as saying. "It's a night for potential adopters to get to know the kids and teens. The population can have more information about adoption and the children themselves will have a special day in which they will get done up for the parade." An undated ..
Doctor hangs herself, three seniors booked
A 23-year-old doctor belonging to a tribal community allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself at the hostel of the government-run Nair hospital here, police said Thursday. Payal Salman Tadvi, the deceased, was under depression as three of her senior colleagues allegedly used to harass her with castiest remarks, police said. She allegedly hanged herself Wednesday night. Tadvi was the student of a post-graduate course in gynecology. The accused doctors also used to defame Payal on WhatsApp groups of students, a police official said. Agripada police have registered a case against three doctors and probe is on.
BJP created fear about national security: Owaisi
The BJP has created fear about national security and Muslim minorities and used the narrative to its advantage in the Lok Sabha polls, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi claimed Thursday. "Definitely, the BJP was very successful in creating this fear about security of India. BJP has definitely created that narrative of nationalism," he told reporters here. "They have created this fear about Muslim minority.. No where in the world are minorities a threat. But, these are definitely issues wherein the BJP really used it to their advantage," he alleged. The AIMIM leader was responding to a query on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's victory in the Lok Sabha polls. Owaisi said he respected the verdict and it was definitely a victory for the BJP. He also claimed that the verdict would increase the "alienation" of Muslims. "The composite culture of the country is under threat with BJP at the helm of affairs," he alleged. On Opposition raising doubts over EVMs, he said, "I feel the ...
PM Modi vows 'every moment of my life, every fibre of my being devoted to nation'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday promised to devote "every moment" of his time and "every fibre" of his being for the people of India and said the country will now have only two castes -- the poor and those who want to alleviate poverty. In a rousing speech at the party headquarters here to celebrate the BJP's spectacular victory, Modi told cheering supporters that the election has thrown up a mandate to build a new India. "People are chanting Modi, Modi. But this is not a victory of Modi, it is the victory of people who are desperate for honesty in the system," Modi said. This is the victory of toiling farmers who struggle to feed the nation, this is the victory of those who now live in proper houses, this is the victory of the middle class which follows the rules, pays taxes, but wondered if his taxes were being used for the benefit of the country, he said.
Maha: CPI(M) candidate pushed to third position in Dindori
With its nominee from Dindori seat in Maharashtra relegated to third slot in trends, the CPI (M) Thursday tried to put up a brave face and called for intensifying struggle for democracy and secularism. As per the latest trends made available by the Election Commission as on 8:20 PM, BJP's Bharati Pawar was leading from the constituency. NCP's Dhanraj Mahale was in the second position, while Gavit in the third position. "Let us resolve with even more steely determination today to intensify manifold our united struggle for people's rights, for democracy, for secularism and for socio-economic justice! That is the supreme lesson of today's election," Ashok Dhawale, central committee member of the CPI(M), tweeted.
WHO unveils plan to tackle global snakebite 'emergency'
The World Health Organisation on Thursday unveiled a new strategy to dramatically cut deaths and injuries from snakebites, warning a dearth of antivenoms could soon spark a "public health emergency". Each year, nearly three million people are bitten by poisonous snakes, with an estimated 81,000-138,000 deaths. Another 400,000 survivors suffer permanent disabilities and other after-effects, according to WHO figures. In a new report, the UN health agency urged the international community to take steps to address the problem, which it warned had long been dangerously under-estimated and neglected. WHO, which two years ago categorised "snakebite envenoming" as a Neglected Tropical Disease, presented a strategy aimed at cutting snakebite-related deaths and disabilities in half by 2030. Snake venom can cause paralysis that stops breathing, bleeding disorders that can lead to fatal haemorrhage, irreversible kidney failure and tissue damage that can cause permanent disability and limb ...
Sex scandal hit Pollachi votes for DMK
The voters of Pollachi in Tamil Nadu seems to have voiced their anger against the sexual assault and extortion of women by an organised gang through the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) by voting in favour of DMK in the Lok Sabha elections.
UN agency for Palestinians rejects US call to dismantle it
The head of the United Nations organisation for Palestinian refugees on Thursday rejected a US call to dismantle the agency, saying it cannot be blamed for stalled peace efforts. UNRWA's commissioner general Pierre Krahenbuhl rebuffed the criticism from US envoy Jason Greenblatt during a visit to the Gaza Strip. "I unreservedly reject the accompanying narrative that suggests that somehow UNRWA is to blame for the continuation of the refugee-hood of Palestine refugees, of their growing numbers and their growing needs," he said in response to a question about Greenblatt's comments. "The fact that UNRWA still exists today is an illustration of the failure of the parties and the international community to resolve the issue politically -- and one cannot deflect the attention onto a humanitarian organisation," he told a press conference in Gaza City. The United States last year cut off its roughly USD 300 million annual donation to UNRWA, and administration officials now argue the agency ...
Dorsey's mobile payment firm starts hiring for crypto project
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey's mobile payment company - Square - is getting closer to launching its long-awaited crypto project and is ready to make its first hire.
'Dozens of migrants land in Italy's Sardinia'
Cagliari (Italy), May 22 (IANS/AKI) A total 54 migrants reached Italy's Sardinia island overnight aboard two boats, sources said on Wednesday.
Election Commissioner submits written response to EC: Sources
Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa is learnt to have submitted his written response to the Election Commission on his stand that dissent and minority views in cases of model code violation should be made part of the order. Though it was not immediately known what he has written, it is learnt that in Wednesday's 'full commission' meeting, he maintained that since EC orders on model code are issued under Article 324 of the Constitution they are more than administrative decisions, at times involving campaign ban. Lavasa, sources said, was willing to provide his views again in writing if need arises. The Election Commission's powers flow from Article 324. He is learnt to have said that even views of persons are obtained before arriving at decisions and drew home the point that it was, therefore, necessary to have dissent notes as part of the order. At Wednesday's meeting, convened to discuss the issues flagged by Lavasa, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and fellow commissioner ...
Gopal Shrestha becomes first HIV-infected climber to scale Mount Everest
A-56 year-old Gopal Shrestha from Pokhara in Nepal became first HIV infected climber to ascend world's highest peak, the Mount Everest.Shrestha, resident of Ratnachowk in Pokhara reached the summit on Wednesday morning as per the report of the state-news-agency, the Rastriya Samachar Samiti.The report said, "The 56-year-old, who is a resident of Ratnachowk in Pokhara, set his feet on the summit of the 8,848-metre-tall mountain today at 8:15 am, Liaison Officer at the Everest Base Camp, Gyanendra Shrestha, confirmed National News Agency (RSS)."Shrestha, once a former national football player climbed Everest in the second attempt. His first attempt was abandoned from the Everest Base Camp due to the earthquake of 2015.Gopal Shrestha's latest ascend is a part of his "Step-Up Campaign: Second Phase Everest Expedition", through which he aims to raise awareness in the society and country and provide quality education to children affected with HIV. Record making Shrestha's summit attempt was
UK welfare policies 'violate human rights': UN rapporteur
Britain has "deliberately removed" much of its social safety net due to political ideology "in clear violation of the country's human rights obligations", a UN-commissioned report said Wednesday. Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Philip Alston said "harsh and uncaring" austerity policies introduced following the financial crisis "continue largely unabated, despite the tragic social consequences". "The policies pursued since 2010 amount to retrogressive measures in clear violation of the country's human rights obligations," said the report. The Conservative government dismissed the findings, calling them a "barely believable documentation of Britain" that painted a "completely inaccurate picture" of the country's welfare system. Australian lawyer Alston visited Britain in November, and will present his final report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on June 27. In its summary, he said that "the bottom line is that much of the glue that has held British ...
Kenyan author, LGBT activist Binyavanga Wainaina dies at 48
One of Africa's best-known authors and gay rights activists, Binyavanga Wainaina, has died at age 48, a colleague and friend said Wednesday. The Kenyan author died Tuesday night in Nairobi after an illness, Tom Maliti, the chairman of the Kwani Trust which Wainaina founded, told The Associated Press. Wainaina, who won the 2002 Caine Prize for African Writing, was a key figure in the artistic community who promoted local authors. Friends and supporters in an outpouring of tributes on Wednesday shared his work including his biting essay "How to Write About Africa." "Always use the word 'Africa' or 'Darkness' or 'Safari' in your title," it began. "Subtitles may include the words 'Zanzibar', 'Masai', 'Zulu', 'Zambezi', 'Congo', 'Nile', 'Big', 'Sky', 'Shadow', 'Drum', 'Sun' or 'Bygone'," Wainaina advised in the piece. It quickly became one of Granta magazine's best-loved essays, the magazine said Wednesday. "As a student, he sent the magazine a strongly worded letter condemning our 1994 ...
Thoothukudi 2018 police firing victims remembered
Prayer meetings were held amid tight security here on Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the Thoothukudi police firing in which 13 people were killed. The protesters were demanding closure of Vedanta's Sterlite copper smelter plant for causing environmental pollution.
Duterte tightens grip on power after mid-term polls
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has consolidated his grip on power as his allies swept opposition candidates in the mid-term election, according to official results announced on Wednesday after several deferrals and accusations of lack of transparency.
