World

Luxembourg’s proud gay PM blasts Hungarian law

Published

1 year ago

June 25, 2021

A new anti-gay Hungarian law has fired up European Leaders

EU leaders have issued a sharp challenge to a new law that critics say targets the LGBTIQ+ community, threatening to sue Budapest over violations of fundamental human rights if it does not back down immediately.

Luxembourg’s gay Prime Minister Xavier Bettel has condemed his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban, stating that Budapest was discriminating against gay people.

“The Hungarian bill is a shame,”

FILE PHOTO: People take part in the annual Pride festival in Budapest, Hungary July 6, 2019. REUTERS/Tamas Kaszas/File Photo

PM Bettel says the new law promotes homophobia.

Despite criticism from rights groups and political opposition in Hungary, Orban ahead of talks with his EU peers in Brussels that the new bill, which bans the distribution in schools of material seen as promoting homosexuality or gender change, was already enacted.

Bettel, who is an advocate of gay rights and sometimes travels with his husband to official state visits, said he would challenge Orban over the contentious law during their meeting.

“To be nationally blamed, to be considered as not normal, to be considered as a danger for young people – it’s not realising that being gay is not a choice,
Bettel said.

Relating homosexuality with paedophilia or pornography was wrong, as was stigmatizing people, he said, adding tongue-in-cheek that himself being gay did not pose any danger to anyone.

Hungary’s anti-gay law threatens programming of televised content

Hungarian broadcasters, advertisers, and school teachers are trying to understand how the law will work in practice.

In Hungary, the government-appointed Media Authority oversees programme content, labelling and broadcast times and has its own power to investigate or respond to complaints from the public.

Fourteen EU governments including France, Germany and Spain have condemned the new law as a “flagrant form of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression”.

World

Four dead in Russian military plane crash

Published

3 days ago

June 24, 2022

Costa Haritos

Four people have been killed after a Russian military plane suffered an engine malfunction

The plane reportedly crashed in the city of Ryazan, which is located southeast of Moscow.

It’s believed five others are also injured. However, it is unclear how many were on board.

The Ilyushin IL-76 military cargo plane is a long-range aircraft, which can reportedly carry over 100 troops.

An Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft, which is similar to the one involved in the incident.

Local authorities say the plane suffered a malfunction while on a training flight.

Russia’s Defence Minister is yet to give any further details on the crash, or about the victims.

World

Double election defeat for UK Conservatives

Published

3 days ago

June 24, 2022

Costa Haritos

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservatives have suffered defeat in two parliamentary by-elections

UK Conservatives have lost two crucial seats in England, which could spark concerns about Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s future.

The centrist Liberal Democrat party won the seats of Tiverton and Honiton.

The seats are in a Conservative part of south-west England, where a majority of 24,000 has been overturned.

The Liberal Democrats say it is their biggest ever majority turn around at a parliamentary by election.

“Tonight, the people of Tiverton and Honiton have spoken for Britain. They’ve sent a loud and clear message: It’s time for Boris Johnson to go, and go now.”
winning candidate Richard Foord

The losses have renewed calls for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign after a police investigation into gatherings at his Downing Street offices.

Johnson recently survived a vote of no-confidence, which secured his term as Prime Minister for another 12 months.

It also follows the Conservatives winning a landslide majority in three decades during the last national election.

World

Protestors disrupt Chinese ambassador’s speech in Sydney

Published

3 days ago

June 24, 2022

Costa Haritos

Protesters are causing disruptions during an address by China’s Ambassador to Australia

Xiao Qian is in Sydney, where is he speaking about how to improve ties between the two countries.

One protester described Mr Xiao as a “representative of a dictatorship” and accused the Chinese Government of committing genocide against Uyghur Muslims.

Others were heard shouting “Free Tibet”, and another was asked to leave the venue prior to the event because he was dressed in a military costume.

The speech was widely seen as an attempt to ease relations between the two countries.

China has put trade sanctions on Australia, while a recent encounter took place between a Chinese fighter jet and an Australian maritime aircraft over the South China Sea.

Security guards reportedly ushered the protesters.