EU tells Hungary to reverse its controversial LGBT laws or face punishment - Daily Mail

EU tells Hungary to reverse its controversial LGBT laws or face punishment

• EC chief Ursula von der Leyen warned Hungary to reverse its anti-LGBTQ+ law
• Brussels is also said to be considering legal action against the EU member state 
• Hungary's controversial law is ostensibly designed to crack down on paedophilia
• But critics said the law dangerously conflates paedophilia with homosexuality
• The law prohibits sharing any content portraying homosexuality to under-18s 

By Kate Dennett For Mailonline

Published: 19:48 BST, 7 July 2021 | Updated: 19:48 BST, 7 July 2021

A EU chief has told Hungry to overturn its controversial LGBTQ+ law while Brussels is said to be considered legal action against the country.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday warned Hungry to reverse course on its anti-LGBTQ+ policy after pressure mounted on Brussels to cut EU funding to Budapest.

But a spokesman for Hungary's Government insisted they would still press on in spite of the Commission's 'unprecedented' interference in the country's internal affairs.

Von der Leyen, who heads the EU executive, said: 'It is a disgrace this legislation... It is something that flies in the face of the values of the European Union.'

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen (pictured) has warned Hungry to reverse course on its anti-LGBTQ+ policy while Brussels is considered legal action against the country

Brussels is also believed to be considering legal action against the EU member state and may also link the payment of post-Covid recovery funds to the law's repeal. 

The new law is ostensibly designed to crack down on paedophilia, but critics say the law dangerously conflates paedophilia with homosexuality and stigmatises support for the LGBTQ+ community.

The law prohibits sharing any content portraying homosexuality or sex reassignment to children under-18 in school sex education programs, films and advertisements.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban insists the measure is to protect children but has received growing international protest over the law, which is due to take effect on Thursday.

The European Commision is understood to be planning an infringement proceeding, which amounts to a lawsuit over failure to implement EU law that can lead to fines inflicted by the bloc's top court.

'If Hungary does not rectify the situation, the commission will use its powers available as the guardian of the treaties,' von der Leyen told the European Parliament in Strasbourg. 

The law prohibits sharing any content portraying homosexuality to under-18s in school sex education, films and advertisements. Pictured: Demonstrators protest against the law

MEPs have called for the commission to go further, saying they want it to use its new powers to withhold Covid pandemic recovery cash when violations of EU values are proven.

But Hungarian cabinet chief Gergely Gulyas has shot back and denounced what he claimed was an 'unprecedented campaign' by Brussels to meddle in the country's affairs.

'No matter that Brussels wants to let LGBTQ activists into kindergartens and schools, we refuse to do so,' Gulyas told a press briefing in Budapest.

Hungary has for years defied the EU with authoritarian laws that critics say have undermined free speech and threatened the independence of the country's judiciary.

The European Commission has launched several legal procedures against Budapest, including a threat to strip it of EU voting rights, but those moves were blocked by Poland and Hungary.

The latest dispute is over an Anti-Paedophilia Act that was originally billed as toughening punishments for child abuse.

But its final draft contained amendments including a ban on the 'display or promotion' of homosexuality to under-18s, and restrictions on sex education and media content.

'Europe will never allow parts of our society to be stigmatised, be it because of whom they love, because of their age, their ethnicity, their political opinions, or their religious beliefs,' said von der Leyen.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (pictured) insists the measure is to protect children but he has received growing protest over the law, which is due to take effect on Thursday

MEPs mostly backed von der Leyen's tough words for Orban and her threat of legal proceedings. They are expected to pass a resolution on Thursday asking the commission to cut off funding to Hungary.

At last month's summit of EU leaders, led by the Netherlands, nationalist leader Orban was heavily criticised over the law, with only Poland coming to his defence. 

'Our conversation was necessary, difficult, and at times emotional,' EU Council chief Charles Michel, who hosted the summit, told MEPs.  

At the summit, Luxembourg's leader Xavier Bettel told Viktor Orban that he has 'crossed a red line' with the new law banning LGBTQ+ content in Hungarian schools.

Prime Minister Bettel, who is openly gay, said the Hungarian law further stigmatises homosexuals and should be fought.

'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,' he said.

'But being intolerant is a choice. I would stay intolerant to intolerance and this would be today my fight... I am going to tell him that what he is doing in his country is intolerant and that being gay is not a choice.' 

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte also told reporters before last month's summit that Hungary 'has no place in the EU' after passing the law.

And facing Orban inside, Rutte said: 'You have passed the line. This time it is too much,' according to another EU official in the room.

At last month's summit of EU leaders, Orban was heavily criticised over the law, with only Poland coming to his defence. Pictured: Demonstrators protest against the new law

At the summit, Luxembourg's openly gay leader Xavier Bette (pictured) told Orban he has 'crossed a red line' with the new law banning LGBTQ+ content in Hungarian schools

Others joined in the criticism, delivering a scathing broadside to Hungary's leader, who has frequently clashed with Brussels and with EU counterparts over his socially conservative policies and perceived undercutting of democratic norms. 

'Being homosexual is not a choice. Being homophobic is a choice. We cannot accept a legislation that is legitimising such a behaviour,' Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo was said to have told Orban.

Even before the summit, most EU countries - 17 of them, including heavyweights Germany, France, Italy and Spain - had made their criticism clear.

They had signed a joint declaration raising 'grave concerns' over the Hungarian law and a follow-up letter deploring any threats to 'the principle of non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation'. 

But some far-right lawmakers, a substantial political force in the European Parliament, continue to back Orban.

French MEP Nicolas Bay of Marine le Pen's far-right National Rally party called the targeting of Hungary 'scandalous'.

'Hungary wants to protect its children against the delusion of gender theory,' he said. 'Budapest is right.'

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2021-07-07 18:48:19Z
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Haitian President Jovenel Moise assassination condemned by Joe Biden as 'heinous attack' - Sky News

Joe Biden has condemned the "heinous" assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise and the wounding of his wife Martine at their home.

The US president called the attack "worrisome" and said his administration needed more information on what happened.

"We condemn this heinous attack and I am sending my sincere wishes for First Lady Moise's recovery," Mr Biden said in a statement.

"The United States offers condolences to the people of Haiti and we stand ready to assist as we continue to work for a safe and secure Haiti."

Image: Joe Biden has condemned the assassination of the Haitian president

A group of unidentified individuals attacked the private residence of Mr Moise, 53, overnight and shot him dead, the country's interim prime minister Claude Joseph said in a statement on Wednesday.

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First lady Martine Moise was also shot in the attack and was hospitalised and it was not immediately clear who was behind the assassination.

Mr Joseph said the police and military were in control of security in Haiti, where a history of dictatorship and political upheaval has long stymied the consolidation of democratic rule.

More on Haiti

The incident has sparked fears of a breakdown in order in the impoverished Caribbean nation - which is already reeling from rampant gang violence and facing a constitutional crisis along with rising coronavirus cases.

In February, Sky News Chief Correspondent Stuart Ramsay reported from Haiti about the violence and unrest gripping the nation.

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February: Haiti, a country sliding into anarchy

Image: Barricades burn in a protest against President Jovenel Moise in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in February

Members of the US Congress also condemned the attack, with Republican Senator Marco Rubio calling on the Biden administration to help bring the killers to justice.

The opposition in Haiti had accused the US - which is Haiti's top foreign donor - of being lenient towards Mr Moise, given his support for American foreign policy.

Mr Moise's administration broke ranks with the Caribbean community (Caricom) to oppose Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Image: A demonstrator shouts past a barricade during a march protest against Haiti's president

Mr Moise's assassination has drawn shock and condemnation from leaders across the world, along with calls for calm and unity in Haiti.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: "I am shocked and saddened at the death of President Moise. Our condolences are with his family and the people of Haiti. This is an abhorrent act and I call for calm at this time."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I am shocked and saddened at the death of President Moïse. Our condolences are with his family and the people of Haiti. This is an abhorrent act and I call for calm at this time.</p>&mdash; Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1412746979411742725?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2021</a></blockquote>

Colombian President Ivan Duque also condemned the killing, describing it as a "cowardly act", and expressed solidarity with Haiti.

He called for an urgent mission by the Organisation of American States "to protect democratic order".

Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, tweeted that "this crime carries a risk of instability and (a) spiral of violence".

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: "I strongly condemn the appalling assassination of President Moise this morning. Canada stands ready to support the people of Haiti and offer any assistance they need."

French Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian said the killing of Mr Moise was a "cowardly assassination", adding: "All light must be cast on this crime that took place in a deteriorating political and security climate.

"I call on all actors in Haitian political life for calm and restraint."

Mr Moise had been ruling by decree for more than a year after the country failed to hold elections, with the opposition calling for him to step down.

Image: Jovenel Moise's wife Martine was wounded in the attack

Haiti had grown increasingly unstable and disgruntled under his rule, with an eruption of violent protests, kidnappings and organised crime.

But Mr Moise and his supporters maintained that his term began when he took office in early 2017, since an interim government ran the country for a year after his election victory in 2016.

Haiti was scheduled to hold general elections later this year.

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2021-07-07 17:28:21Z
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Ten more bodies found in rubble of collapsed Miami building on 14th day of search - Sky News

Ten more bodies have been pulled from the rubble of a Miami building that collapsed two weeks ago, bringing the total death count to 46, authorities have said. 

Miami-Dade assistant fire chief Raide Jadallah told family members in a private briefing on Wednesday that additional human remains had also been found in the destroyed building.

It comes as the search for victims reached its 14th consecutive day.

Image: A total of 46 people have so far been confirmed to have died in the disaster

Mr Jadallah also revealed that no new "voids" have been discovered so far in areas that became accessible for the first time after the remaining portion of the condo building was demolished on Sunday night.

Rescuers had hoped to find new pockets where there might potentially be survivors.

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Crews "did some significant removal of the pile", he said.

"They were able to get down to various areas to inspect."

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The fire chief also told families that the search and rescue operation continues and has not yet transitioned to a recovery mode.

"We're not there yet," he said.

No one has been rescued from the site since the immediate aftermath of the high-rise condominium collapse on 24 June when many residents were asleep.

Emergency teams have been growing increasingly pessimistic as they find no new signs of survival in recent days.

Miami-Dade County fire chief Alan Cominsky said on Tuesday that they were still searching "as aggressively as we can".

But he added: "Unfortunately, we are not seeing anything positive. The key things - void spaces, living spaces - we're not seeing anything like that."

On Tuesday, more than 100 people who were in Champlain Towers South remained unaccounted for.

While still officially a search and rescue, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said families were preparing for confirmation of "tragic loss".

"I think everybody will be ready when it's time to move to the next phase," she said.

She said US President Joe Biden, who visited the area last week, called on Tuesday to offer his continued support.

The search is expected to carry on despite the approach of Hurricane Elsa, as Surfside is forecast to avoid the worst of the weather.

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2021-07-07 15:11:15Z
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President of Haiti assassinated at home, country's interim PM says - Sky News

Haitian President Jovenel Moise has been assassinated at home, according to the country's interim prime minister.

A group of unidentified individuals attacked the private residence of Mr Moise, 53, overnight and shot him dead, Claude Joseph said in a statement.

Haiti's first lady Martine Moise is said to be in hospital.

Image: The first lady is said to be in hospital

Mr Joseph called the killing a "hateful, inhumane and barbaric act", before adding: "Democracy and the republic will win."

He also said Haiti's National Police and other authorities had the situation under control with officers deployed to the National Palace and the upscale community of Petion-Ville.

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The premier said some of the attackers spoke Spanish but added no further explanation.

The impoverished Caribbean country had grown increasingly unstable and disgruntled under Mr Moise's rule, bringing an eruption of violent protests, kidnappings and organised crime.

More on Caribbean

In recent months, opposition leaders demanded he step down, arguing that his term legally ended in February.

But Mr Moise and his supporters maintained that his term began when he took office in early 2017, since an interim government ran the country for a year after his election victory in 2016.

Meanwhile, gang violence has surged heavily in the capital of Port-au-Prince, inflation has spiralled and food and fuel has at times become scarce in a country where 60% of the population makes less than $2 a day.

The troubles come as Haiti still tries to recover from the devastating 2010 earthquake and Hurricane Matthew that struck in 2016.

Mr Moise had been ruling by decree for more than two years after the country failed to hold elections, which led to Parliament being dissolved.

Image: February: Protests erupted when Mr Moise refused to leave office

Opposition leaders have accused him of seeking to increase his power, including approving a decree that limited the powers of a court that audits government contracts and another that created an intelligence agency that answers only to the president.

Haiti was scheduled to hold general elections later this year.

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2021-07-07 11:26:15Z
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Russian fighter jets 'buzz' American spy plane in the Black Sea - Daily Mail

Video shows Russian Su-30 fighter jets buzzing a US Poseidon spy plane over the Black Sea as another NATO ship is 'tracked' by Putin's forces two weeks after HMS Defender stand-off

• Russian fighter jets scrambled to escort US spy plane in Black Sea late Tuesday 
• Two Su-30 fighters were filmed following Boeing P-8 Poseidon plane of US Navy 
• It is the latest standoff between Russian and western powers in Black Sea 
• Two weeks ago, Russian ships fired warning shots at UK vessel HMS Defender 
• Russia also said it was 'tracking' a Spanish warship in the Black Sea today 

By Will Stewart and Chris Pleasance for MailOnline

Published: 14:10 BST, 7 July 2021 | Updated: 14:21 BST, 7 July 2021

Russian fighter jets have been filmed 'buzzing' a US spy plane over the Black Sea in the latest standoff between Moscow and western powers in the contested region. 

Footage released by the Russian Defence Ministry showed two Sukhoi Su-30 fighters flying close alongside a Boeing P-8 Poseidon of the US Navy on Tuesday evening.

The Kremlin said fighters were scrambled as the plane approached its airspace and blocked in from 'violating the state border'.

It did not say where precisely the intercept happened, though it is likely to have been close to Crimea - which Russia considers to be part of its territory but western powers say is Ukrainian territory that has been illegally occupied by Moscow's forces.

Then, on Wednesday, Russia said it is tracking a Spanish warship in the Black Sea amid joint Ukraine-NATO military exercises in the region which Moscow has condemned as a 'provocation'.

It comes exactly two weeks after Russian warships and fighter jets shadowed British warship HMS Defender as it sailed close to the coast of Crimea, with Moscow claiming warning shots and bombs were fired as it was 'chased away'.

This is the moment Russian fighter jets 'buzzed' a US spy plane over the Black Sea after accusing it of approaching their airspace

 Two Su-30 fighters were sent to intercept the Boeing P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance plane, claiming they blocked it from 'violating Russian airspace'

The British Navy denies that account, saying no shots were fired at the vessel - though admitted jets made low passes and Russian ships followed it as it sailed along the 'shortest route' from Odessa towards Georgia.

Speaking about Tuesday's standoff-in-the-skies, a Russian Defence Ministry spokesman said: 'On the evening of July 6, Russian airspace control devices over the neutral waters of the Black Sea detected an air target approaching the state border of the Russian Federation.'

Two Su-30s were dispatched to identify the aircraft and prevent it entering Russian airspace, according to the Russians.

'The crews of Russian fighters identified the air target as a Boeing P-8 Poseidon and escorted it over the Black Sea.

'The flight of Russian aircraft was carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace.

'Violation of the state border of the Russian Federation was not allowed.'

There was no immediate comment from the US and no direct evidence that the plane had sought to encroach Russian airspace. 

Russia is tracking a Spanish naval ship in the Black Sea, the Interfax news agency cited Russia's defence ministry as saying on Wednesday, as Ukraine and NATO countries both held military drills in the area.

The American plane is thought to have been participating in NATO Sea Breeze drills which are currently taking place in the Black Sea

One of the Russian fighter pilots is seen in the cockpit of his jet amid increasing tensions between western powers and Moscow's forces in the Black Sea

The ministry said the Spanish ship had entered the Black Sea on Wednesday to take part in the Sea Breeze 2021 military drills.

The drills, which began on June 28 and will last until July 10, involve 30 ships, 40 aircraft and around 5,000 troops from 32 nations including the likes of Japan, South Korea and Australia.

Officially a defensive exercise to test 'interoperability' between the countries' militaries, the drills will also send a message to Russia as it takes a more-aggressive stance in the Black Sea and surrounding region.

It comes after Russia moved some 100,000 troops, tanks and artillery pieces on Ukraine's border - the biggest build-up of troops since it annexed Crimea in 2014.

Moscow called the move a training exercise to test combat readiness, but many of its forces still remain in the region.

That was followed by an icy summit between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin - the first since Biden became president - in which the two men drew red lines for their future relationship in an attempt to restore 'predictability'.

Russia views any military drills on its border as a provocation, fearing they could be used as a pretext for an invasion.

It comes after the Russian navy said it had fired warning shots at British destroyer HMS Defender as it carried out a patrol in the Black Sea 

In response to the Sea Breeze drill, Moscow has deployed dozens of aircraft including fighters and bombers to Crimea and accused the west of engaging in 'brinkmanship' in the Black Sea.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov also told Russian media that 'provocateurs' risk an escalation,

'They would be better off leaving their provocations aside next time and staying away from that area because they will get punched in the nose,' he said.

But Commander Daniel Marzluff, the U.S. Sixth Fleet's Black Sea Region Engagement Lead, said the Sea Breeze drills are 'essential' in deterring Russian aggression.

'This is clearly the most effective way to bring a unified front to this kind of rogue action,' Marzluff told Newsweek.

Russia will hold a major strategic military exercise, Zapad 2021, in September with Belarus, an annual event focused on what Russia calls the 'western strategic direction.'

Russia's Defense Ministry said last month that it planned to monitor the Sea Breeze exercises and 'if necessary, respond adequately to the evolving situation in the interests of ensuring the military security of the Russian Federation.'

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2021-07-07 13:10:58Z
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Young schoolboy melts hearts with his observation about why Sydney's lockdown will be extended - Daily Mail

Schoolboy melts hearts with his simple observation about why Covid 'cases will spread' in Sydney - as the city's lockdown is extended

• A young boy has melted hearts after appearing on a segment of the Today show
• He was asked about concerns Sydneysiders are not taking lockdown serious
• The boy said he'd seen a number of people in Bondi breaching social distancing
• Footage of the interview was posted online, with many praising the wise child 

By Tita Smith For Daily Mail Australia and Australian Associated Press

Published: 06:28 BST, 7 July 2021 | Updated: 06:29 BST, 7 July 2021

A schoolboy has melted hearts across Australia after voicing his concerns about the country's coronavirus crisis.   

The young boy was asked on the Today show on Tuesday whether he believed Sydneysiders were taking lockdown seriously.  

'There were a lot of people at Bondi, and no one was social distancing, so I think the cases are going to be spreading a lot,' he told reporter Lara Vella.

An adorable young boy (pictured) has melted Australians' hearts after sharing his observation about Sydneysiders during the city's lockdown 

Footage of the interview was shared on social media with many praising the young Australian for his observation. 

'Thanks for your advice little man!' one person commented. 

'I may not be able to buy that kid a beer. But I sure f*****g want to!' another added.

'This is why all planning and policy meetings need children to sit in so they can point out the bleeding obvious,' a third said. 

The words of wisdom come as NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday confirmed Greater Sydney would remain under stay-at-home orders for another week after the state recorded 27 new local Covid cases. 

Fourteen of the new cases were in the community while infectious, prompting Ms Berejiklian to declare the lockdown for Greater Sydney, Wollongong, Shellharbour, Blue Mountains and the Central Coast will now end at midnight on July 16, rather than Friday.

'This decision wasn't taken lightly,' she told reporters on Wednesday.

'This Delta strain is a game-changer - it is extremely transmissible and more contagious than any other form of the virus that we've seen.'

'The reason why the NSW government has taken this position is because we don't want to be in a situation where we are constantly having to move between lockdown, no lockdown, lockdown, no lockdown.

The child's observation comes as NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed Greater Sydney's lockdown would be extended for another week after the state recorded 27 new cases

'That is not a way to live and we want to give our citizens the best chance of staying safe and healthy but also making sure our businesses survive and thrive moving forward until the vaccination period is upon us.' 

School students due to return from holidays next week will mostly learn from home, but schools will be open for children of essential workers.

On the current timetable, schools across NSW will return to full face-to-face learning on July 19. 

Ms Berejiklian confirmed the attention of health authorities was shifting to the Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool local government areas amid a surge in cases in Sydney's southwest.

NSW police issued 75 infringement notices on Tuesday.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said some NSW residents were eligible for the Commonwealth COVID-19 disaster payment but the government wasn't considering any other financial support at this stage.

Workers can get payments of $325 or $500, depending on the number of hours of weekly work they have lost because of the lockdown.

Most of the new cases were recorded in Sydney's west, as the so-called Bondi cluster shifts from the city's eastern suburbs. Pictured: People line up at a mass vaccination hub on Wednesday 

Meanwhile, a fourth worker at SummitCare in Baulkham Hills has COVID-19, taking the outbreak at the facility to 10 people, including six residents.

However, the worker has been in isolation since Thursday. Some 130 staff members at the nursing home are isolating, with a surge workforce in place.

A SummitCare spokesman said on Wednesday that jabs were given to 24 residents on Tuesday, taking the facility's vaccination rate to 99 per cent.

The six COVID-positive residents - five of whom are fully vaccinated - are in Westmead Hospital as a precaution and are asymptomatic.

On Tuesday evening, NSW Health said COVID-19 transmission had occurred at the Commonwealth Bank branch at Roselands in Sydney's southwest.

Anyone who visited the branch at various times between June 28 and June 30 must get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.

More than a dozen other health alerts were issued on Tuesday night for venues mostly in Sydney's west, as well as public transport routes.

Harris Farm at Bondi Beach, St George bank at Riverwood, McDonald's and Woolworths at Bonnyrigg and Big W at Menai are among the venues, with details and advice available on the NSW Health website.

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2021-07-07 05:28:18Z
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Taliban 'wage war' in Afghanistan as US and Nato withdraw forces - BBC News - BBC News

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2021-07-06 14:36:48Z
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