Today in the News:
– Europe and Investors are spooked as Italy faces political stalemate
– Russia’s foreign minister defends anti-gay bill
– Iceland porn ban: Can a wired country go porn-free?
European politicians and markets have reacted anxiously after Italy’s general election produced a stalemate between centre-right and centre-left blocs. France and Germany urged continued reform, while Spain described the result as a “jump to nowhere”. Italian markets fell sharply while others in Europe and around the world opened down. Centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi said fresh elections should be avoided, and called for a period of reflection. Oh for crying out loud Italy, when will you get the message that Berlusconi needs to go!?!?!Shares and the euro fell as the outcome of the election became clear, amid concern that the reform agenda would be delayed.
Russia’s foreign minister on Tuesday rejected criticism from the Dutch government and the European Union about proposed legislation that would outlaw “homosexual propaganda.” Responding to Dutch assertions that the legislation may be contrary to Russia’s international obligations, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said there were no such obligations. Russia’s lower house of parliament on Jan. 25 voted to support a bill that makes public events and dissemination of information about the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to minors punishable by fines of up to $16,000. The bill still requires the parliament’s and the president’s final approval. Russia decriminalized homosexuality in 1993, but homophobia is still very strong in the country. Authorities routinely ban gay rallies and parades. I am just curious when these bills will finally blow up in the Russian governments face. Just a matter of time now.
In the age of instant information, globe-spanning viral videos, and the World Wide Web, can a thoroughly wired country become a porn-free zone? Authorities in Iceland are planning to find out. The government of the tiny North Atlantic nation is drafting plans to ban pornography, in print and online, in an attempt to protect children from a tide of violent sexual imagery. still exploring the details of how a porn ban could be enforced. One possibility would be to make it illegal to pay for porn with Icelandic credit cards. Another, more controversial, route would be a national Internet filter or a list of website addresses to be blocked. I think I can almost hear a lot of men and possibly even some women wallow in dispair over these news.
Today in the News:
– Europe and Investors are spooked as Italy faces political stalemate
– Russia’s foreign minister defends anti-gay bill
– Iceland porn ban: Can a wired country go porn-free?
European politicians and markets have reacted anxiously after Italy’s general election produced a stalemate between centre-right and centre-left blocs. France and Germany urged continued reform, while Spain described the result as a “jump to nowhere”. Italian markets fell sharply while others in Europe and around the world opened down. Centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi said fresh elections should be avoided, and called for a period of reflection. Oh for crying out loud Italy, when will you get the message that Berlusconi needs to go!?!?!Shares and the euro fell as the outcome of the election became clear, amid concern that the reform agenda would be delayed.
Russia’s foreign minister on Tuesday rejected criticism from the Dutch government and the European Union about proposed legislation that would outlaw “homosexual propaganda.” Responding to Dutch assertions that the legislation may be contrary to Russia’s international obligations, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said there were no such obligations. Russia’s lower house of parliament on Jan. 25 voted to support a bill that makes public events and dissemination of information about the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to minors punishable by fines of up to $16,000. The bill still requires the parliament’s and the president’s final approval. Russia decriminalized homosexuality in 1993, but homophobia is still very strong in the country. Authorities routinely ban gay rallies and parades. I am just curious when these bills will finally blow up in the Russian governments face. Just a matter of time now.
In the age of instant information, globe-spanning viral videos, and the World Wide Web, can a thoroughly wired country become a porn-free zone? Authorities in Iceland are planning to find out. The government of the tiny North Atlantic nation is drafting plans to ban pornography, in print and online, in an attempt to protect children from a tide of violent sexual imagery. still exploring the details of how a porn ban could be enforced. One possibility would be to make it illegal to pay for porn with Icelandic credit cards. Another, more controversial, route would be a national Internet filter or a list of website addresses to be blocked. I think I can almost hear a lot of men and possibly even some women wallow in dispair over these news.