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Hindustan Times
24-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
That means a lot...: Adam Jacot de Boinod on strange journeys certain words have taken
There are some words so simple, it is possible they will never mean anything else: pain, rain, love. More complex terms can have quite the journey, nodding backwards, eternally, to their complicated and often-distant roots. Let's start with one of my favourites. The Arabic 'al-kuhul' was originally 'a powder used to darken the eyelids'. This of course is where we get the word kohl. But, in laboratories of the time, the term began to be used to refer to any fine powder. Then it began to be used for any refined liquid (typically purified through distillation). Soon, it became the term for all distilled liquids. From there, it was a short skip to, you guessed it: alcohol. Fast-forward a bit for an intriguing one. Theriake, in Ancient Greek, meant 'an antidote against a poisonous bite'. It then came to be used for any medicine doused in sugar syrup to disguise its taste. And from there we get: 'treacle'. Ancient Greek also gave us the word 'enthusiasm', which originally meant 'divinely inspired' (from enthousiasmos; the second syllable drawn from Theos or God). In the 17th century, it became the term for someone possessed by a divine or artistic frenzy. In the 18th century, it came to indicate a 'misguided religious emotion'. It was only fairly recently that enthusiasm lost all its religious connotations, and became a term for someone simply passionate or keen. Meanwhile, 'manu operare', Latin for 'to work by hand', gave us, of course, manually operated. But it also came to include the act of cultivating, and dressing soil. Along the way, we ended up with manoeuvre… and manure! 'Nice', meanwhile, comes to us from the Latin 'nescio' (aka nescient aka ignorant or foolish; also, lazy, strange or effeminate). A thorough insult, in other words. In common English usage, it segued into a term for 'delicate' or 'precise'; then 'fastidious'. Somewhere along the way, it simply became 'pleasant'. (Talk about a turnaround.) To end with, two of my favourites. First, 'sine nobilitate'. This Latin term originally meant 'without nobility'. It was used to refer to any member of the non-aristocratic classes. Soon enough, it became the term for members of such as class who despised their own people and aspired to membership of a higher echelon. And from this we get… 'snob'. In a final tip of the hat to Latin (for now), let's turn to 'glamour'. It comes to us from the Latin 'glomeria', meaning 'grammar'. But 'glamour' has its roots in Scotland. Here's how that happened. From this suspicion came the phrase 'to cast the glamour over', meaning 'to put a spell on' (typically using enchantment, deception or charm). Eventually, just the enchantment, deception and charm remained — all of which still linger in 'glamour'. In a sense, we all have a bit of glamour, then, don't we? We're all speaking at least a bit of Greek and Latin. (Adam Jacot de Boinod is the author of The Meaning of Tingo and Other Extraordinary Words from Around the World)
The National
04-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Experts warn far- right are ‘weaponising Christianity'
EXPERTS have warned that far-right groups are weaponising Christianity for their political agendas and have urged churches to speak out against right-wing extremism. They said groups like Britain First and supporters of the jailed far-right activist Tommy Robinson are increasingly using Christian rhetoric to try to build support for their political causes. The Scottish Government is also monitoring the issue. A response to a freedom of information request by The Ferret revealed its safer communities division suggested staff attend a recent seminar called Christianity and Far Right Extremism, hosted by a think tank called Theos. READ MORE: 'It's needed now more than ever': Thousands march in support of Scottish independence The organisers said far-right extremism has gained ground over recent years in the US and UK, and has sometimes done so by using Christian language, symbols and imagery. Far-right groups claiming to be Christian include Britain First. In 2014, its members targeted mosques across the UK with bibles, calling it a 'Christian crusade'. Supporters also paraded through Muslim-majority areas of UK cities, with large crosses. One of the speakers at the Theos webinar was Dr Maria Power, a senior research fellow at the University of Oxford. She is co-editor of The Church, The Far Right, And The Claim To Christianity, a book published last year on the church's response to the rise of the far-right. Power told The Ferret: 'One of the main problems facing the churches in dealing with right-wing extremism is the fact that many of the 'extremists' are speaking and spreading hate from within the church. 'The Christian churches need to exercise their teaching authority more and speak out against such examples of right-wing extremism, demonstrating how these belief systems are counter to the teachings of Christianity.' She said one of the best things churches can do to combat right-wing extremism is to fund youth work: 'At present, not enough funding is being directed towards youth work, either in the churches or within society as a whole, and this is a fundamental problem. 'Young people need community, and right-wing extremist groups provide this for them when the churches don't.' Patrik Hermansson, senior researcher at the anti-racism charity Hope Not Hate, said there are many groups that connect themselves with Christianity. The clearest example is probably Britain First, he told The Ferret, adding that 'increasingly, Tommy Robinson's supporters have begun using this rhetoric as well'. Another factor is US influence, which Hermansson said has been increasing for a number of years. He claimed some of this 'relates to Christian institutions funding far-right activity in the UK, and US reactionaries building relationships with Christian reactionary groups and activists in the UK.' Donald Trump's US election win 'spurred on the far-right in the UK and is generally supported by it', he added, with the caveat that 'it is probably too early to tell of outright influence'. Last week, a summit aimed at tackling the threat from the far-right, hosted by First Minister John Swinney, was held in Scotland. About 50 organisations – including political parties, faith groups and charities – attended the forum in Glasgow. Swinney claimed that shared values were under 'huge threat' from disinformation and pressure from the 'hard right'. All Holyrood parties except the Conservatives attended the event. Nigel Farage's Reform UK party was not invited. Farage claimed Reform were 'never part of the far-right'. Britain First, the Catholic Church and Church of Scotland were asked to comment. WITHHELD INFORMATION Meanwhile, a separate request for information by The Ferret about a far-right political party registered in Scotland was refused by the Home Office, which cited concerns surrounding 'national security'. We asked the UK Government department for communications it held regarding the Homeland Party – which is registered at a West Lothian address and led by a Scot – and Patriotic Alternative, another far-right group from which Homeland splintered. (Image: NQ) But it declined the request, citing part of the freedom of information act which relates to national security. If released, the information 'would undermine national security and the integrity and effectiveness of the government to conduct practices to keep the public safe', the Home Office argued. 'Releasing this information would allow those of concern to the authorities to gain knowledge or information, which would allow them to further or continue their activities of concern.' The Home Office also said it was exempt from releasing the information due to another section of the act, which relates to the formulation or development of government policy, and allows for it to occur in private and 'without fear of premature disclosure'. 'This is because the information relates to current, ongoing policy development, the Counter-Extremism Sprint 2024, to understand and effectively respond to the threat posed by extremists and extremist groups in the UK,' the Home Office stated. 'Release of information relating to these groups risks undermining development of new government policy to respond to the threat of extremism in the UK.' If released, the information would be 'highly likely to be useful to high-harm, extremist groups and individuals seeking to circumnavigate government oversight and intervention', argued the Home Office. Such actors spread 'damaging conspiratorial narratives', 'exacerbate community tensions, promote violence and radicalise into terrorism', it added. The counter-extremism programme was commissioned by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper in August last year. It was designed 'to understand and effectively respond to the threat posed by extremists' – namely those of Islamic and far-right ideologies – and learn how the Government can adapt. The review was reportedly accelerated following far-right riots in England and Northern Ireland last year, which saw organisations including Homeland and a Scottish white supremacist martial arts club try to use the unrest as a recruitment drive. Homeland's enquiries secretary, Carl Wilkinson, told The Ferret that his party does not meet the UK Government's 2024 definition of extremism. The definition includes the 'promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, that aims to negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others; or undermine, overturn or replace the UK's system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights'. Wilkinson highlighted that Homeland is a registered political party, and argued that it participates in elections, 'has never promoted violence' and 'operates under the law and within the bounds of democratic norms'. The news comes days after Homeland held a conference focused on the mass deportation of migrants with guest speakers including the man behind a conspiracy theory cited by white supremacists and mass murderers. The event was also attended by members of the far-right German party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), which was designated as extremist last week. 'Remigration conference' Homeland's recent conference on April 26, in Lincolnshire, focused on 'remigration', which the party describes as removing 'illegal, unintegrated, and unwelcome migrants'. Speakers included French academic Renaud Camus, who coined the term 'the great replacement' – a conspiracy theory that white Europeans are being replaced by Muslim people of colour in collusion with a globalist elite. Camus appeared via video link after the Home Office barred his entry to the UK, reportedly telling him that his presence in the UK was not 'conducive to the public good'. The writer denounces violence, but his work has been cited by white supremacists and mass murderers. Homeland defended Camus as having 'consistently promoted peaceful discourse and democratic solutions' and argued he 'cannot be blamed for the actions of individuals who have cited his work'. Also in attendance was Lena Kotré, an elected politician from Germany's Alternative for Germany party, now classified as extreme-right by German intelligence. She reportedly met with neo-Nazis last year and, in Berlin, handed out self-defence stabbing weapons, which are legal in Germany but banned in the UK. Homeland alleged that Kotré distributed the weapons to women who had been targeted by sexual violence from immigrants. The party called it 'a blatant lie' that Kotré attended a neo-Nazi event, which it argued was a 'political conference'. Who are the Homeland Party? The far-right party is led by Kenny Smith, a former British National Party politician from the Isle of Lewis. In 2023, Smith led a breakaway faction from PA to form Homeland, which registered as a political party despite an intervention from the Home Office and warnings from some Electoral Commission staff that senior figures shared 'terrorist literature' and 'antisemitic and racist' content. Homeland dismissed the 'spurious claims' it alleged were made by 'junior' commission staff determined to reject the application. 'Toxic and divisive rhetoric' A SCOTTISH Trades Union Congress (STUC) event, held last week, focused on opposing the far-right. 'Hundreds of trade unionists' declared that 'the toxic and divisive rhetoric of the far-right has no place in our society', STUC's general secretary, Roz Foyer, told The Ferret. 'We will take that call and that action to every town and city across Scotland.' Scottish Labour's Michael Marra said Scots 'must remain vigilant about the rise of the far-right and stand up against the division that extremist groups want to sow'. Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman called for 'a focus on extremism in education settings and on groups using social media to radicalise people, specifically vulnerable groups who are susceptible to this kind of conditioning, covertly or openly'. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'We work closely with partners in Scotland and the UK to ensure we are able to identify and tackle the threat of extremism and terrorism.' Counter-extremism is reserved to the UK Government. The Home Office does not comment on individual cases.
Globe and Mail
26-04-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Legalese Decoder Launches U.S. Campaign to Empower Contractors with AI-Powered Legal Document Simplification
Legalese Decoder, the AI‑powered platform that translates dense, jargon‑filled legal language into clear, actionable text, today announced the launch of its U.S. outreach campaign targeting independent contractors, tradespeople, and small‐business owners who regularly grapple with confusing contracts, service agreements, and liability waivers. Vancouver, CA - Legalese Decoder, the AI‑powered platform that translates dense, jargon‑filled legal language into clear, actionable text, today announced the launch of its U.S. outreach campaign targeting independent contractors, tradespeople, and small‐business owners who regularly grapple with confusing contracts, service agreements, and liability waivers. By combining cutting‑edge natural language processing with easy‑to‑use templates and real‑time Q&A features, Legalese Decoder empowers contractors to review, understand, and negotiate legal documents without the need for costly attorney hours. 'As construction crews, electricians, plumbers, and other skilled tradespeople grow their businesses, they're increasingly saddled with dense paperwork designed for law firms, not for do‑it‑yourselfers or lean teams,' said Theos, Founder and CEO of Legalese Decoder. 'Our mission is to give contractors rapid, intuitive access to the practical meaning behind every clause—so they can focus on the job at hand, not on deciphering fine print.' Key Features Tailored for Contractors Instant Summaries & Highlighting: Identify potential risks, payment milestones, and termination triggers at a glance. Contract Analyzer: Automatically scans for fairness, ambiguity, and industry‑standard anomalies. Legal 'Non‑Advisor' Q&A: Ask plain‑English questions ('What does indemnification really mean here?') and get trustworthy, AI‑driven responses. Document Generator Upgrade (Coming Soon): Auto‑produce draft subcontracts, scope‑of‑work documents, and change‐order forms. Sustainability Pledge: For every subscriber, Legalese Decoder will plant one tree per month through its partner, OurForest. Exclusive 20% SMS Offer: SMS20OFF To kick off the U.S. campaign, contractors in the United States can sign up today and receive 20% off any paid plan simply by responding to a text message from +1 619 975 3425. When prompted, enter the code SMS20OFF at checkout to unlock discounted rates across three tiers: Home Plan — $9.95/month (Reg. $29.95) 5,000‑word upload limit (≈10 pages) 40,000‑character maximum New doubled credits 'Saving Feature' (Coming Soon) Document review & non‑advisor Q&A OurForest tree planting Professional Plan — $49.95/month (Reg. $99.95) ★ Most Popular 100,000‑word upload limit (≈200 pages) 800,000‑character maximum All Home Plan features Legal 'Non‑Advisor' Answers Questions Contract Analyzer for risk, fairness & anomalies Subscriber badge for priority support OurForest tree planting Business Plan — $149.95/month ★ Best Value 1,000,000‑word upload limit (≈2,000 pages) 8,000,000‑character maximum All Professional Plan features Premium SLA with enterprise‑grade security Bulk account management & team dashboards OurForest tree planting 'Whether you're signing your first client or managing dozens of projects simultaneously, Legalese Decoder scales to your needs,' added Theos. 'And with our SMS20OFF launch offer, we're making it easier than ever to bring clarity—and cost savings—into the contracting process.' About Legalese Decoder Founded in 2023 and headquartered in Vancouver, CA, Legalese Decoder harnesses proprietary AI models trained on millions of legal filings, statutes, and practice guides to transform impenetrable legalese into plain English. Trusted by individual freelancers, small agencies, and mid‑market firms alike, Legalese Decoder's mission is to democratize legal understanding and ensure that no professional has to choose between getting paid—and getting sued—for lack of transparency. Note to Editors: To experience the platform and receive your 20% SMS discount, watch for a text message from +1 619 975 3425 and enter SMS20OFF when prompted. This offer is valid through June 30, 2025. Media Contact Company Name: Legalese Decoder Contact Person: William Tsui Email: Send Email Phone: (619) 975-3425 Country: Canada Website:
Telegraph
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
TikTok vicar: Jesus was a feminist
A vicar using TikTok to connect with younger generations has told her audience that Jesus was a feminist and to consider 'giving up men' for Lent. Rev Pippa White, 29, has amassed millions of views on the social media platform as part of her efforts to reduce the gap 'between young people and organised religion'. With 20,000 followers, her videos come amid a rise in a new phenomenon known as 'God Tok', with the social media platform fast becoming the community hub for young Christians all over the world. In the UK, weekly attendance for Church of England services among children under the age of 16 was up by almost 6 per cent in 2023. This was higher than the overall rise of 5 per cent, which marked a third consecutive year of growth among congregations. Since moving to a parish in Shropshire a year ago, Rev White, who used to be a barmaid, has become known as the TikTok Vicar and amassed tens of thousands of social media followers. Her content includes behind-the-scenes videos of her life at St Alkmund's Church, as well as attending Taylor Swift concerts and playing rugby. In one video, which has amassed nearly 900,000 views and 129,000 likes, she jokingly told her audience that they should consider 'giving up men' for Lent with the caption 'Jesus was such a girl's girl'. Another features the caption 'when another straight white man becomes bishop', with her sarcastically putting her thumbs up. Underneath she has written 'jokes on me, I've sworn obedience to them'. One video teaches Christian women 'how to go to a concert' in four steps. Rev White, originally from Norfolk and now living in Whitchurch, said it was her sister who first suggested she should be a 'TikTok vicar'. She explained: 'When I moved to Whitchurch, I was like, 'Well, maybe I'll give it a go'. 'I made a few videos and they weren't getting many views but I was having fun. I was just making them for myself, to be honest. 'And then one of them went viral and I felt like I might as well carry on. It's mostly a very joyous thing, which is really fun.' 'Gen Z has a high spiritual awareness' She said forming this connection with younger audiences requires challenging the youth's perception of the Church and Christianity. She added: 'For Gen Z, there is a high spiritual awareness and drive but that's not correlating to Church attendance figures and things like that. 'There is a gap between young people and organised religion – I think it's the organised part of religion that Gen Z really struggles with. 'A big reason why I started doing these TikToks is because I think for a lot of Gen Z, the Church of England is either irrelevant or, let's face it, the reason why we're often in the news is not for good reasons.' A recent study by Theos, the religion and society think tank, discovered that although about half of British adults now say that they have 'no religion', 42 per cent of those believe in some form of the supernatural. 'They are being attracted towards a range of different spiritual beliefs and practices, including Catholicism,' Chine McDonald, Theos's director, told The Telegraph. 'In short, the young people I'm seeing coming to faith are seeking the opposite of the expressive individualism that's been offered to them,' said Rev Glen Scrivener, director of evangelistic ministry Speak Life. 'They are wanting something ancient, deep, communal, embodied, challenging and transcendent.' Rev White does everything from wakes and weddings to hospital chaplaincy and teaching teenagers ethics. She visits care homes and members of the congregation who have become too frail to leave the house. Much of her time is also spent writing sermons. While her TikTok has grown significantly, the vicar said she recognises it does not replace the work she does at the church itself. She explained: 'This is where I do get a bit concerned with the TikTok stuff: I'm very aware social media is not a replacement for the Church. 'This is a really interesting bit in academic theology right now asking, 'Can you have virtual religion?' 'For me, I come down quite hard on the 'no' – because I think there is something about human communities that have to be face to face. I don't want to encourage people to stay online.'
The Guardian
06-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Assisted dying could become ‘tool' to harm women in England and Wales, say faith leaders
The legalisation of assisted dying in England and Wales could create 'a new tool to harm vulnerable women', particularly those subject to domestic violence and coercive control, say female faith leaders from different traditions. More than 100 women from Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Sikh groups have warned in an open letter that the terminally ill adults bill has 'insufficient safeguards to protect some of the most marginalised in society, particularly women subjected to gender-based violence and abuse by a partner'. The proposed legislation could help such women to end their lives, says the letter, which was published on Sunday on the website of Theos, a Christian thinktank. Concerns that the assisted dying bill could put vulnerable women in danger were raised earlier this year by charities involved in domestic violence and coercive control. They said some perpetrators drove their victims to suicide, and there was a 'significant risk' that coercion could play a part in some cases of assisted dying. Lesley Storey, the chief executive of My Sister's Place, a charity that supports victims of domestic abuse, said the bill provided 'rigorous safeguards where currently there are none'. In another open letter, co-signed by more than 40 women, Storey said the 'risk of coercion for terminally ill women in abusive relationships is real … It thrives in the absence of oversight, where there are no safeguards, checks, or balances'. The safeguards in the bill included comprehensive assessments by professionals, mandatory coercion training, and new criminal offences around coercion. The bill sought 'to put in place robust protections to help ensure that potential coercion is exposed and prevented at every point,' Storey said. The signatories of the female faith leaders' letter include Sarah Mullally, the bishop of London and the third most senior figure in the Church of England, as well as four other C of E bishops, alongside Zara Mohammed, the former secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, and Sam Clifford, the chief executive of Jewish Women's Aid. They write: 'Domestic abuse victims who are also women of faith can face a particular form of abuse at the hands of their perpetrators, who may weaponise theologies and culture to harm and control their victims.' The bill 'fails to take account of how faith and its role at the end of life, as well as its use by both perpetrators and the women they abuse, create complex dynamics that can lead to vulnerable women, who may also hold strong religious beliefs, seeing no way out but death', they continue. The letter adds: 'Much of the debate inside and outside parliament has been conducted by those empowered to speak of the importance of personal choice, without consideration of those who struggle to be heard in the public square. 'It is the voices of the unheard, ignored, and marginalised that we are compelled by our faith traditions and scriptures to listen and draw attention to, in the pursuit of good law-making for the common good – legislation that considers and protects the most vulnerable, not just those who speak loudest.' Women with abusive partners 'may seek assisted deaths to end their suffering at the hands of an abuser', the letter says, adding that the bill lacks safeguards and has 'too much potential to hurt vulnerable people'. Chine McDonald, the director of Theos and the letter's lead signatory, said: 'The number and diversity of women of faith from across religious traditions, ages, and geographical locations who wanted to sign this letter shows the depth of concern about the effects of this bill on women and those in vulnerable situations. It's for them that, compelled by our faith and scriptures, we cannot and will not be silent.' Kim Leadbetter, the Labour MP who proposed the bill, said: 'Following changes in committee, the bill now contains even stronger provisions to guard against coercion and pressure on people in end-of-life care. 'What this bill does is give women autonomy over their bodies as they reach the end, just as I believe they should have autonomy throughout their lives.' The assisted dying bill has completed its committee stage and is due to return to the House of Commons on 25 April. In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women's Aid. In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines may be found via
