Hungary's Top Court Strikes Down Police Ban on LGBTQ Gathering
Police failed to adequately justify why a constitutional amendment approved in April — which Orban had said would create legal grounds for banning LGBTQ-themed events in public — applied to one planned for Sunday, the court, known as the Kuria, wrote in a ruling. It was the first time authorities had tried to use the legislation for this purpose.
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Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Human rights ‘worsened' in UK over the past year, says US
A Trump administration report has accused the UK of backsliding on human rights over the past year, citing increased antisemitic violence and growing restrictions on free speech. The annual US State Department assessment, which analyses human rights conditions worldwide, flagged what it described as 'serious restrictions' on freedom of expression in the UK. 'The government sometimes took credible steps to identify and punish officials who committed human rights abuses, but prosecution and punishment for such abuses was inconsistent,' the report read. The report specifically said laws limiting speech around abortion clinics, pointing to 'safe access zones' curbed expression, including silent protests and prayer. 'These restrictions on freedom of speech could include prohibitions on efforts to influence others when inside a restricted area, even through prayer or silent protests,' the report read. In the wake of the 2024 Southport attack, the report said government officials 'repeatedly intervened to chill speech'. Criticism over the handling of free speech was also directed at the governments of Germany and France. A UK government spokesperson told the BBC: 'Free speech is vital for democracy around the world, including here in the UK and we are proud to uphold freedoms whilst keeping our citizens safe.' Sentiments echoed those previously made by vice president JD Vance. In February, Mr Vance criticised the UK over a legal case in which a former serviceman who silently prayed outside an abortion clinic was convicted of breaching the safe zone around the centre. In a wider attack on what he suggested is a shift away from democratic values across Europe, Mr Vance claimed the 'basic liberties of religious Britons, in particular' are under threat. He referred to the conviction of Adam Smith-Connor, 51, who had denied doing so but was found guilty last year of failing to comply with a public space protection order at the centre in Bournemouth in November 2022. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Mr Vance said that the US' 'very dear friends the United Kingdom' appeared to have seen a 'backslide in conscience rights'. 'A little over two years ago, the British government charged Adam Smith-Connor, a 51-year-old physiotherapist and an Army veteran, with the heinous crime of standing 50 metres from an abortion clinic and silently praying for three minutes, not obstructing anyone, not interacting with anyone, just silently praying on his own,' he said. The report also said the Government 'effectively' enforced laws around freedom of association and the rights of workers. The UK Government has been contacted for comment.
CNN
32 minutes ago
- CNN
Sonya Massey shooting prompts Illinois law requiring disclosure of police recruits' backgrounds
Illinois law now requires that prospective police officers approve the release of personal background records in response to last summer's shooting of Sonya Massey, an unarmed Black woman, in her home by a sheriff's deputy who had responded to her call for help. Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed the legislation, which requires disclosure of everything from job performance reports to nonpublic settlement agreements. It resulted from indiscretions that came to light in the background of Sean Grayson, the ex-sheriff's deputy charged with first-degree murder in the case. Pritzker, surrounded by Massey's family in the state Capitol, said the first-in-the-nation law should serve as an example for other states as he let Massey's 'spirit guide us to action.' 'Our justice system needs to be built on trust,' the Democrat said. 'Communities should be able to trust that when they call the police to their home, the responding officer will be well-trained and without a history of bias or misconduct, and police officers should be able to trust that they are serving alongside responsible and capable individuals.' The legislation was sponsored by Sen. Doris Turner, a Springfield Democrat and friend of the Masseys, and Chicago Democratic Rep. Kam Buckner, who noted that Thursday marks the 117th anniversary of the three-day Race Riot in Springfield that led to the founding a year later of the NAACP. Massey, 36, was a single mother of two teenagers who had a strong religious faith and struggled with mental health issues. In the early morning of July 6, 2024, she called 911 to report a suspected prowler outside her home in the capital city of Springfield, 201 miles southwest of Chicago. Grayson and another deputy searched but found no one. Inside Massey's house, confusion over a pot of hot water Massey picked up and her curious response to Grayson — 'I rebuke you in the name of Jesus' — which the deputy said he took to mean she wanted to kill him, prompted him to fire on Massey, hitting her right below the eye. The 31-year-old Grayson was 14 months into his career as a Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy when he answered Massey's call. His arrest two weeks later prompted an examination of his record, which showed several trouble spots. In his early 20s, he was convicted of driving under the influence twice within a year, the first of which got him kicked out of the Army. He had four law enforcement jobs — mostly part-time — in six years. One past employer noted that he was sloppy in handling evidence and called him a braggart. Others said he was impulsive. Those seeking policing jobs must sign a waiver allowing past employers to release unredacted background materials, including job performance reports, physical and psychological fitness-for-duty reports, civil and criminal court records, and, even otherwise nonpublic documents such as nondisclosure or separation agreements. 'It isn't punitive to any police officer. The same kind of commonsense legislation needs to be done nationwide,' James Wilburn, Massey's father, said. 'People should not be able to go from department to department and their records not follow them.' The hiring agency may see the contents of documents sealed by court order by getting a judge's approval, and court action is available to compel a former employer to hand over records. 'Several departments need to pick up their game and implement new procedures, but what's listed here (in the law) is what should be minimally done in a background check,' said Kenny Winslow, executive director of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, who helped negotiate the proposal. Ironically, no. Most of what was revealed about Grayson after his arrest was known to Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell, who was forced to retire early because of the incident. Campbell was aware of Grayson's shortcomings and, as a result, made him repeat the state's 16-week police training course. Even an incident that didn't surface until six weeks after the shooting — a dash-cam video of Grayson, working as a deputy in a nearby county, ignoring an order to halt a high-speed chase and then hitting a deer with his squad car — would not have disqualified him, Campbell said at the time. 'We can't decide who they do or don't hire, but what we can do is put some parameters in place so that the information will be there and the right decision can be made,' Buckner said. Grayson, who also faces charges of aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct, has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial in October. Publicity persuaded Judge Ryan Cadagin to move the proceeding from Springfield to Peoria, 73 miles to the north. The incident has garnered international news coverage, prompted activists' rallies, and led to a $10 million civil court settlement.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Petrol ban has plunged Europe's car industry into crisis, says Mercedes
A looming ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars has plunged Europe's car industry into crisis, the boss of Mercedes-Benz has warned. Ola Kallenius has urged Brussels to urgently review the policy to avoid the sector's collapse, as he said carmakers are facing their bleakest-ever outlook. As well as the upcoming 2035 ban across the Continent, European carmakers are also battling Donald Trump's tariffs and heightened competition from cheaper Chinese rivals. Mr Kallenius told German newspaper Handelsblatt: 'We need to do a reality check. Otherwise, we'll drive full speed into the wall.' 'Of course we have to decarbonise but we must not lose sight of our economy.' He has called for looser net zero rules after the industry was caught up in the US president's trade war, which has culminated in a 15pc tariff on European cars being exported to the US. This is up from 2.5pc before Mr Trump re-entered the White House, but lower than the 27.5pc imposed after his April 2 'liberation day' tariffs announcement. Mr Kallenius said: 'The environment in which we operate is extremely complex at the moment. 'Our industry is experiencing heavy rain, hail, storms and snow at the same time. Car manufacturing is a tough business, more so than ever.' Mr Kallenius, who took over as chief executive in 2019, also pointed out that any deadline will simply rush motorists into buying petrol or diesel cars. 'That doesn't do the climate any good,' he said. His comments echo those of German rival BMW, which has also argued that the 2035 ban should be delayed. Oliver Zipse, BMW's chief executive, said in October that the date was 'no longer realistic' and could 'threaten the European automotive industry in its heart [leading] to a massive shrinking of the industry as a whole'. The latest intervention will no doubt also raise questions for the Labour Government, which reinstated the UK's 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol cars after coming to power. Weak demand for electric cars has already fuelled job losses across some of Britain's biggest manufacturers, including at Vauxhall owner Stellantis and Ford. Liam Butterworth, the boss of UK engineering giant Dowlais, recently urged Sir Keir Starmer to review the policy owing to the stuttering transition to electric vehicles (EVs). He said: 'This is an industry that has been heavily focused on combustion engines for many decades. It takes time to transition to an EV world, and the consumer needs to be ready as well.' It comes as Chinese manufacturers are rapidly taking market share from legacy European manufacturers. Chinese sales across 28 European countries surged 91pc in the first half of the year, reaching 5.1pc of the market, according to figures from Jato Dynamics. This has meant that Chinese brands now collectively outsell Mercedes in Europe. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
