Australian Parliament Approves Same-Sex Marriage

Australia's Parliament has voted to approve same-sex marriage following a protracted and often bitter debate that was finally settled in a nationwide referendum last month that overwhelmingly backed the move.

In the capital Canberra, applause welled up from the House gallery after the chamber on Thursday followed Australia's Senate in approving the Marriage Amendment Bill of 2017.
"What a day! What a day for love, for equality, for respect! Australia has done it," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said in a speech following the vote.

"It's time for more marriages, more commitment, more love, more respect," Turnbull said. "This belongs to us all. This is Australia — fair , diverse, loving and filled with respect for every one of us. This is a great day — it belongs to every Australian."

Australia's Attorney-General George Brandis described the vote as "a truly historic moment."

I tried to take my child to work with me in Japan – but I got thrown out -Yuka Ogata

Earlier this month, I decided to take my 7-month-old baby into the chamber of the Kumamoto municipal assembly because I believed it was the only way I could overcome the huge obstacles that had been placed in front of me as a working mother.

I saw it as my best chance to move forward with the policies I have devoted myself to ever since I became a councillor in my home city: to improve childcare provision and make Japan’s working environment more family friendly.

But almost none of the proposals I have made since I was elected two years ago have been accepted by the city.

After I discovered I was pregnant, I asked the assembly to support me so that I could look after my infant son and continue my job as a councillor. I asked for permission to breastfeed him in the chamber, or for daycare to be provided in the assembly building for the children of councillors, assembly staff and visitors.

But my proposals were turned down. Instead, I was told to resolve those issues myself. Once again, I came up against a mindset that supports the status quo and makes bringing up children in Japan very difficult.

Johnny Hallyday, Singer Known as the ‘French Elvis,’ Dies at 74

French rock star and actor Johnny Hallyday, who became the first Gallic singer to popularize rock ’n’ roll in France and sold over 110 million records during a music career spanning over half a century, has died, according to Agence France Presse. He was 74 and had been fighting cancer for several months.

Widely known as the “French Elvis,” Hallyday began his singing career at the end of the 1950s specializing in French-language cover versions of famous songs by artists like Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochrane and Elvis Presley — whose example inspired him to become a singer.

At the beginning of 1960 Hallyday released his first album, “Hello! Johnny.” The following year he performed at France’s first rock festival at the Palais des Sports in Paris, setting off a near-riot that led to a ban on rock ’n’ roll shows for several months.

Hallyday’s covers instantly proved a successful way for American rock ’n’ roll to infiltrate its way into France. He even gave the Jimi Hendrix Experience their very first gig as his opening act at the Paris Olympia in October 1966.

In later years he was clever enough to sustain his popularity and increase his cross-generational appeal by moving into emotive balladry in a career trajectory similar to that of Presley.

Jerusalem as new capital in Israels

                                     Capital if jerusalem
Officials in Washington confirm that Trump will recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and will order the embassy to be moved there.
Senior U.S. administration officials said in a briefing with reporters on Tuesday night that President Donald Trump will announced in a speech on Wednesday that he has decided not only to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in honor of Israel’s 70th Independence Day, but has also ordered to start the process of moving the American embassy to Jerusalem.

"The president will say that the United States recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel – it is recognition of the historical reality that Jerusalem has been the center of Jewish faith for thousands of years, and the reality today in which the government ministries, the Supreme Court and the central authorities are all located in the capital of Israel – Jerusalem," the officials said.
                                 Capital of Tel-aviv

"The second statement [in the speech] will be that the president ordered the State Department to begin the process of moving the embassy from its present location in Tel Aviv to a new location in Jerusalem," they continued.

United States and Sri Lanka Strengthen Trade and Transportation Partnership

December 5, Colombo:  On December 4, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Atul Keshap and Secretary of Civil Aviation Mr. G. S. Withanage signed an agreement to amend the U.S.-Sri Lanka Open Skies Agreement of 2002 to facilitate the movement of cargo goods more efficiently and profitably.  The amendment strengthens global express delivery cargo networks, enhances bilateral connectivity and competitiveness, and facilitates economic growth and job creation.

“This amendment to our bilateral Open Skies Agreement further strengthens the robust and longstanding trade relationship between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said Ambassador Keshap.  “As Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner, the United States seeks economic growth that provides employment and opportunity for the citizens of both our nations.”

Cricketers vomiting after fielding in smoggy Delhi: Sri Lanka coach

Pollution stopped play Sunday in the third Test between India and Sri Lanka, and visiting coach Nic Pothas said the smog was so extreme that his players -- who took the extraordinary step of wearing face masks -- were "coming off the field and vomiting".

Concentrations of the smallest and most harmful airborne pollutants in Delhi, one of the world's most polluted capitals, hit 384 -- 15 times the World Health Organization maximum -- before returning to levels considered just "unhealthy", the US embassy website showed.

Play was halted for around 20 minutes at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium as Sri Lankan fielders complained of health troubles and the umpires consulted the match referee and team doctors.

Play resumed but Sri Lanka protested twice more, with the visitors soon short on fielders as pacemen Lahiru Gamage and Suranga Lakmal returned to the pavilion.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli declared his first innings on 536 for seven to get the visiting fielders off the ground after the third stoppage.

India's powerful cricket board was less than impressed, accusing the visitors of making a fuss, and vowed to write to its Sri Lankan counterpart about the incident. But Pothas said his men were physically sick amid the "extremely high" pollution levels choking the ground.

Supermoon 2017: Did NASA lie? Shock claim Moon is only 4.7 miles from Earth

A slightly larger, brighter full moon will appear in the sky Sunday night

AS the supermoon 2017 prepares to rise on the horizon, it has been shockingly claimed that NASA hid the truth about the Moon from the world.

The December 3 full moon will reach its point of perigee tomorrow, approaching a distance of around 22,5744 miles from Earth.

But a bizarre video uploaded to YouTube by user RitchieFromBoston, purports to contain evidence that the Moon is much closer to Earth than that and is actually less than 4.7 miles away.

The conspiracy video kicks off with Mr Ritchie peddling theories about chemtrail sprays before shifting his attention to the Moon.

He said: “They’re lying to us. Do not believe NASA because they are lying about our entire origin.”

Claiming to use a Nikon P900 digital camera, he zooms in all the way on the Moon, exposing every bump and crater on its surface.

He said: “See this video that I’m taking right now? I am clearly in the daytime and am zooming in on the Moon.

“Let’s watch this again. In the daylight I am zooming right in on the Moon – no problem with a Nikon P900.

And I can zoom in even further than that, and I believe I will. There it is. You can literally see what looks to be stars shining right through it.”

Scientists develop world’s first artificial intelligence politician

Scientists have developed the world’s first artificial intelligence politician, that can answer a person’s queries regarding local issues such as policies around housing, education and immigration.

The virtual politician, called SAM, was created by Nick Gerritsen, a 49-year-old entrepreneur in New Zealand.

“There is a lot of bias in the ‘analogue’ practice of politics right now,” said Gerritsen.

“There seems to be so much existing bias that countries around the world seem unable to address fundamental and multiple complex issues like climate change and equality,” he said.

Hague Tribunal Probes Slobodan Praljak’s Courtroom Death

As Dutch prosecutors confirmed that Bosnian Croat military chief Slobodan Praljak took poison before he died, the Hague Tribunal launched an independent review to establish what went wrong at the UN court.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia on Friday launched its own independent review into the death of former Bosnian Croat military chief Slobodan Praljak, who swallowed poison in the courtroom after being sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The review will focus on “ICTY internal operations”, the UN court said.

It remains unclear how Praljak got access to the poison in the court.

“The review is mandated to undertake an assessment of relevant existing procedures as well as make any recommendations which may assist other courts in the future,” said a statement from the ICTY.

 

The outcome of the review will be made public, subject to due process and confidentiality considerations,” it added.

The probe will be led by Hassan B. Jallow, Chief Justice of The Gambia and former prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals.

British High Commissioner extols strategic direction of tourism in Sri Lanka

British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and Ambassador to Maldives James Dauris lauded the efforts rendered by the government of Sri Lanka to develop the island nation as a travel hub in Asia during his address at the dinner held by the Institute of Hospitality on Wednesday (29). 

In his address High Commissioner Darius stated that the tourism sector has bolstered the community within Sri Lanka by providing ample employment an international exposure. 

He further highlighted the strategic direction of the government stating that the country may become one of the world’s finest tourist destinations. 

His address is provided below, 

I’m honoured to have been invited to address you this evening.  The industries you lead and represent are ever more a corner-stone of the Sri Lankan economy and of the country’s economic planning. 

Within a couple of miles of here billions of dollars are being invested in new hotel and leisure complexes

Around the country hotels are being built, tea estate bungalows and heritage buildings are being renovated and given exciting new identities.  Jobs are being created and skills developed.  Tourist numbers are rising year on year and forecasts look encouraging.

[According to SLTA figures, more than 300,000 Sri Lankans are directly employed in Sri Lanka’s travel and tourism industry.   It earns the country over 3.5 billion US Dollars in foreign exchange earnings each year.  And the target is to double both revenue and employment by the year 2020, just three years from now.]

The Government recently launched it “Tourism Vision 2025”, to provide strategic direction to the tourism sector.  It envisions Sri Lanka recognised as the “world’s finest island for memorable, authentic and diverse experiences”.

Religion, a private matter, says Rahul

        Breaks silence on his Somnath temple visit row

A day after the controversy regarding his signature in a register meant for non-Hindus during his visit to the Somnath Temple in Gujarat, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said his family was ‘Shiv Bhakt’ (devotees of Shiva) and religion was a private matter.

During his second day of campaign in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home State of Gujarat, Mr. Gandhi denied signing any register except the visitors’ book at the historical temple.

“I had signed my name in one of the visitors’ books at Somnath, but people associated with the BJP wrote my name in another visitors’ book,” he said, accusing the BJP of creating the controversy in the run-up to the crucial Assembly polls.