Thursday, October 15

ENGLISH

200 million women work without laws against sexual harassment
ENGLISH, Life Style

200 million women work without laws against sexual harassment

    More than a third of countries do not have laws against sexual harassment in the workplace, leaving more than 200 million women without legal protection on the job, according to a new study. Globally, nearly 82 million women work in countries without laws against gender discrimination in pay and promotions, said the study by the WORLD Policy Analysis Center at the University of California, Los Angeles. Working conditions for women have been in the spotlight with highly publicized claims of sexual harassment and assault made by top actresses against movie producer Harvey Weinstein. He has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone. Other women have emerged to accuse more figures in the entertainment and media industries, and millions of women have flooded social media rec...
Prince Harry warns of social media dangers
ENGLISH, London

Prince Harry warns of social media dangers

    Prince Harry has warned of the dangers of social media for young people as he met ambassadors for a mental health charity on a visit to Denmark. Harry spoke to volunteers and service users from the One of Us mental health campaign at a bakery in the Danish capital on Thursday morning. People are spending far too much time online and it's like a mental running machine that they can't get off, he said. Prince Harry. You wouldn't put your body through such a workout. I'm the last person to say ban it but people are suffering from mental fatigue and getting burnt out. We all need to talk to each other more. Harry was given a tour of the bakery kitchen by head chef Claus Borre but declined a Danish pastry on his visit. Speaking afterwards, charity ambassador Troels Torp said Ha...
Westminster staff use secret WhatsApp group to discuss sex pest MPs to avoid
ENGLISH, London

Westminster staff use secret WhatsApp group to discuss sex pest MPs to avoid

    Cabinet ministers are among politicians named in a secret WhatsApp group of female staff in which they discuss sex pest MPs to avoid at Westminster, it has been reported. Female employees, including researchers, secretaries and aides, working in Whitehall and the Houses of Parliament reportedly shared horror stories in the group. The women also warned new recruits of MPs with a reputation for sexually inappropriate behaviour. According to The Sun, sources claim the first MP could be exposed by the weekend, with one source saying resignations are anticipated. Allegations include MPs groping staff in lifts, a Cabinet minister groping during drinks parties, senior MPs having sex with staff in Parliamentary offices and bosses referring to female employees as sugar t**s and dem...
Saudi Arabia work visa validity reduced to one year
Arab world, ENGLISH

Saudi Arabia work visa validity reduced to one year

    Employment visas issued for private sector companies in Saudi Arabia will now be valid for only one year, reports the Khaleej Times. According to Minister of Labour and Social Development Dr. Ali Al Ghafis, this rule will not be applicable for visas issued to government servants as well as domestic workers. The decision was taken on the basis of Article 11 of the Labor Law under which the minister can take the procedures that are deemed necessary for improving the efficiency of the employment market, Saudi Gazette reported. Earlier this week, the minister issued another order allowing foreign mothers of Saudis as well as non-Saudi children of Saudi women to work in those professions which are restricted only to Saudi nationals.
Spain to impose direct rule in Catalonia as crisis spirals
ENGLISH, Europe

Spain to impose direct rule in Catalonia as crisis spirals

    Spain is set impose direct rule in Catalonia on Friday, an unprecedented step that risks sparking unrest as secessionists call on the Catalan parliament to make a defiant declaration of independence. The upper house of the Spanish parliament the Senate and the Catalan parliament both meet at 10:00am (0800 GMT) to discuss the government’s application of Article 155 of the constitution, which allows the central administration to take over a region when it breaks the law. But there is great uncertainty over how this will work on the ground and whether Catalans will accept it. Some independence supporters have promised a campaign of civil disobedience. The crisis has divided Catalonia and caused deep resentment around Spain. It has also prompted a flight of business from the w...
Fireworks at Victoria Park
ENGLISH, London

Fireworks at Victoria Park

Our spectacular, free sci- fi themed fireworks display is being held on 5 November, at 7pm in award winning Victoria Park this year. Produced by Walk the Plank, this year's Guy Fawkes celebration will bring an exciting sci-fi vibe with a mix of both contemporary and classical tracks synchronised to a dizzying sequence of fireworks and special effects. Blasting off at 7pm, residents can journey to the stars and enjoy a stunning and free display. The park will be open earlier in the evening with refreshments available to be bought on site from 5.30pm. Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs said: "In the three years since we brought back the Victoria Park fireworks display it's quickly become a real gem in our annual events calendar. "Victoria Park was rightly recognised by London in Bloom as Lond...
Last chance to comment on the Local Plan
ENGLISH, London

Last chance to comment on the Local Plan

Residents have until 12 November 2017 to tell the council whether its draft Local Plan, which sets out the guidance for development and future investment decisions until 2031, is sound and legally compliant. Consultation on the draft plan opens on Monday 2 October 2017. It is being used to ensure the Local Plan's policies are positively prepared, effective, justifiable and consistent with national policy and the legal requirements and procedures set out in the regulations. John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets said: "It's really important that local people have their say and help us to shape our vision for Tower Hamlets up to 2031. We listened to local views which have helped us set out what types of development should take place, where and how they should be delivered and how we should prote...
The Big Clean Up is underway
ENGLISH, London

The Big Clean Up is underway

The first borough-wide Big Clean Up event is now underway in Tower Hamlets! The council is working with partners and volunteers to hit the streets all this week (23 – 27 October) to pick up litter, tackle graffiti and help to keep areas clean. And local people were invited to share their own views on which bits of the borough could do with some TLC in advance of the clean up week. Mayor John Biggs said: "We know that clean streets are a priority for our residents, so we're adding to our usual cleaning activities and working with our partners in this first borough-wide Big Clean Up." Lead Member for Strategic Development, Cllr Rachel Blake, added: "The council picked up almost 7,000 tonnes of litter and detritus from our streets last year as a part of our work to keep the borough clean. Whi...
Tower Hamlets signs AEG as Victoria Park promoter
ENGLISH, London

Tower Hamlets signs AEG as Victoria Park promoter

The council has signed international promotor AEG to put on major events and community events at Victoria Park for the next five years. The deal will see AEG put on the All Points East festival next year between 25 May and 3 June, this will replace the Lovebox and Field Day festivals. The council tendered the offer to promoters earlier this year with a clear onus to support culture in our community; work with residents to reduce any negative impacts of the festivals; and to generate much needed income for the council to spend on public services. Under the agreement, two long weekends (six days – Friday to Sunday) will host 40,000 people each day. The XX and The National have already signed up to play – with more acts to be announced. Four weekdays in between them will be dedicated to suppo...
Russia test nuclear missile powerful which enough to destroy the UK, Texas or France
ENGLISH, Europe

Russia test nuclear missile powerful which enough to destroy the UK, Texas or France

    Russia is set to test its biggest ever nuclear missile which is powerful enough to destroy the UK, Texas or France with a single strike. The so-called Satan 2 intercontinental ballistic missile could deliver about a dozen nuclear warheads of 40 megatons - 2,000 times as powerful as the atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. President Vladimir Putin's Defence Ministry plans to test two RS-28 Sarmat super nukes at the remote Plesetsk Cosmodrome before the end of the year, it was reported. The 100-ton weapons which could enter service as early as 2019 will make the bombs dropped on Japan look like popguns, experts have said. Russia claims the missiles can beat any defences as it seeks to replace its arsenal of SS-18 Satan weapons. The Satan 2 missile was displa...