The EU has just announced an agreement with major internet providers such as Facebook, Twitter and Microsoft under which material deemed to be “hate speech” will be removed from the internet within 24 hours. However, we have serious concerns that the definition of hate speech is so vague it could effectively censor anything deemed politically incorrect, including for example, any criticism of Islamism, mass migration or even the European Union itself. This could have serious implications for Christian organisations such as Barnabas Fund which are reporting on the persecution of Christians, such as converts from Islam.
In the News
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June 7th, 2016
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June 7th, 2016
The nation is getting ready to celebrate the Queen's official 90th birthday next weekend, and a packed schedule of events has been organised in the capital and beyond for the nonagenarian monarch.
The Queen turned 90 on April 21, but she also has an official birthday in June - this year it falls on Saturday, June 11.
A traditional church service, the annual birthday parade and a mass street party for 10,000 people will all celebrate the milestone birthday of Britain's longest reigning sovereign.
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June 7th, 2016
An Australian survey has revealed that more men are in open relationships than ever before.
The Melbourne Gay Community Periodic Survey examined the sexual and relationship behaviour of gay and bisexual men across the state of Victoria.
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June 7th, 2016
Victims of forced marriages in England and Wales are to be given anonymity for life under amendments to the policing and crime bill.
The new government measure, modelled on the anonymity order introduced last year for victims of female genital mutilation (FGM), will apply to victims from the time an allegation of forced marriage is made.
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June 7th, 2016
Anti-abortion protesters have been making women’s lives hell for years. In the UK, they hang around clinics with the sole purpose of harassing – or as they call it ‘informing’ – women.
They do this by handing out images of mutilated foetuses, shouting out phrases like ‘abortion is murder’ and ‘I’ll adopt your baby’ (because who wouldn’t want to give a baby to a person with fake blood on their clothes?) and even filming terrified women as they try and get through the doors.
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June 7th, 2016
It seems that hardly a week goes by without the publication of a report into end of life care which makes for tough reading. The latest example of this growing trend, by the Care Quality Commission, paints a grim picture of some of this country’s most vulnerable people, such as those with dementia and learning difficulties, not being able to access good quality end of life care, with some being admitted to hospital wards against their wishes. Once there, it is increasingly difficult for them to leave – a new report from the National Audit Office found the number of vulnerable pensioners trapped in hospital beds had risen by a third in the past two years.
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June 7th, 2016
A staggering 80% of 18-year-olds around the world feel that young people are in danger of online sexual abuse and exploitation while using the internet, a Unicef study suggests. Published on 7 June, the report titled "Perils and Possibilities: Growing up online", says more than half of the respondents reported that their friends participate in risky behaviour online.
Based on a global poll of more than 10,000 18-year-olds in 25 countries conducted by Unicef and Ipsos in April, the study "provides a glimpse into young people's opinions and perspectives on the risks they face coming of age in a digital world".
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June 7th, 2016
I doubt there is much that surprises David Dimbleby. But during a filming of Question Time in Aberdeen the other week, he appeared momentarily flummoxed. The topic was the Scottish Government’s proposed ‘Named Persons’ scheme, due to come in across Scotland from this August. Attempting to explain the plans, he simply muttered: “It gets stranger and stranger”.
In the Scottish Parliament tomorrow, we will try to shed some light. The Scottish Conservative opposition has decided to bring forward a new debate on the policy. And we will attempt to press pause on the plans before they are implemented in two months’ time. It is a test for the new minority SNP Government: is it prepared to listen to genuine concerns about its proposals, or will it insist on pushing it through?
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June 7th, 2016
There are calls for pupils in England to be taught about female genital mutilation (FGM) as part of the national curriculum.
Currently PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education), which often covers the topic, isn't a compulsory subject.
The latest figures relating to the number of new incidents of FGM recorded by doctors in England will be revealed later today.
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June 7th, 2016
Airbnb is facing an outcry after a transgender guest stated she was denied a stay by a host because of her gender identity.
Shadi Petrosky, a well-known Hollywood producer, on Sunday tweeted a screenshot of a Minneapolis-based host denying her a stay because she did not want her 13-year-old son to "feel any discomfort in his own home," but thanked Ms Petrosky for her "honesty."