Latest news with #publiclife
Irish Times
11 hours ago
- General
- Irish Times
Why we should all be alarmed by Hungary's latest assault on independent media
In the complicated, often contradictory patchwork of European politics, language matters. So when a government dresses up repression in the finery of democracy, invoking concepts like 'transparency' and 'public interest', we should be suspicious. Hungary's newly proposed 'On the Transparency of Public Life' Bill, now being rammed through its parliament by prime minister Viktor Orbán's ruling Fidesz party, is a case study in Orwellian doublethink. At first glance, the Bill might appear a wonkish set of amendments to existing public accountability laws. Indeed, it is the latest in a long line of calculated moves aimed at dismantling the last remnants of Hungary's independent media and silencing civil society. READ MORE The proposed legislation purports to increase public trust and combat misinformation, but its real objective is to bring all public discourse – including everything which occurs outside the already Fidesz-captured state media – under government control. The Bill's language is intentionally slippery. It targets what it calls 'foreign-influenced' organisations and 'unaccountable' media actors, allowing for investigations and sanctions against groups and individuals who, in the government's view, 'distort public life'. The vagueness is the point. The net is cast wide enough to catch investigative journalists, non-governmental organisations, independent academic researchers, and indeed anyone who dares to question the government's narrative. The legislation is widely seen as part of a renewed push by Orbán against independent voices, prompted by the rare prospect of a real threat to his 14-year grip on power from opposition leader Péter Magyar at next year's election. Over those 14 years, Orbán has systematically reduced the space for dissent in Hungary. State funding has been funnelled into pro-government media conglomerates. Independent outlets have faced advertising boycotts, legal threats and regulatory harassment. Ten years ago the country ranked 40th in the Reporters sans Frontières world press freedom index; it's now 85th. So what does 'transparency' mean in this context? It has nothing to do with clarity and everything to do with control. The state declares itself the arbiter of truth, and any deviation from the approved script becomes a threat to 'public life'. The language recalls not liberal democratic principles, but the rhetorical doublespeak of the old Stalinist Soviet bloc. The press, you see, must be 'free', but only so long as it doesn't undermine 'national unity'. Why should Ireland, or other European Union member states, care? Because Hungary is not some eccentric outlier, but a test case for how far illiberal democracy can stretch the bounds of EU membership. Each law that goes unchallenged becomes a blueprint for others. Poland's media reforms (unlikely to be improved by Sunday's presidential election result), Slovakia's creeping judicial overreach and even Italy's growing pressure on journalists all bear traces of the same anti-pluralist logic. More than 90 editors-in-chief and publishers from across Europe have signed a statement calling on the EU to take action over the Hungarian Bill, warning that it could result in 'effectively outlawing the free press'. But the bloc's mechanisms for accountability remain frustratingly slow and politically hesitant. Rule-of-law procedures against Hungary have been dragging on for years. Financial sanctions are diluted through back-room deals. The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), which comes into effect across all member states in August. aims to protect media pluralism and independence. It includes measures to safeguard editorial independence, protect journalistic sources and ensure transparency in media ownership. Hungary launched an unsuccessful legal challenge to the EMFA following its ratification last year, with a spokesperson arguing that it 'covers several areas where the union has no legislative competence'. But it now remains to be seen whether these new and untested regulations are actually effective, whether these will be enforced and what the consequences will be for those who breach them. Last week, before a meeting with European foreign affairs ministers in Brussels, European Commissioner for democracy, justice, the rule of law and consumer protection Michael McGrath said the Commission had serious concerns about the 'transparency' Bill. 'We believe it is a breach of EU law,' he said. 'And we have asked the Hungarian government to withdraw that draft law. And in the absence of that happening, and should they proceed to legislate and enact this legislation, we stand ready to use the tools at our disposal.' Meanwhile, the damage accumulates. The Bill, once passed, will empower a new supervisory authority with wide-ranging powers to investigate and penalise those deemed insufficiently transparent. You don't have to squint too hard to see what that will mean for local reporters asking questions about corruption or activists criticising the government's stance on refugees or LGBTQ+ rights. Ireland has generally taken a principled stance on media freedom, although successive governments have been painfully slow to reform our draconian defamation laws, with their chilling effect on legitimate inquiry into matters of public interest. But it's not enough to nod from the sidelines at what is happening in other member states. The EU must confront the Hungarian government not just in legal terms, but also on the battleground of public opinion. Because if language is allowed to mean its opposite, democracy begins to erode from within. Transparency, in its true sense, involves allowing the public to scrutinise those in power. Hungary's government's Bill reverses this, turning scrutiny on to the public itself under the guise of national interest. That is not transparency; it is surveillance. And if we do not call it what it is, the danger is not just that Hungary falls deeper into autocracy – it's that the rest of us get used to it.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Jacinda Ardern reveals Queen Elizabeth II's parenting advice
Dame Jacinda Ardern was told by Queen Elizabeth II that she should 'just get on with it' after she sought advice on how to bring up a child in the public eye. The former prime minister of New Zealand, 44, has recalled her exchange with the late monarch at a Commonwealth summit in April 2018 while seven-months pregnant with her daughter, Neve Te Aroha. On the first day of the summit at Buckingham Palace, Dame Jacinda, who has advocated for New Zealand becoming a republic, was one of four leaders invited for a 20-minute private meeting with Queen Elizabeth II. In an extract of her new memoir A Different Kind of Power, published in The Guardian, she writes: 'She had, of course, raised children in the public eye, so in our private meeting I asked if she had any advice. 'You just get on with it,' she said simply. 'She sounded so matter of fact, just as my grandma Margaret might have.' She is only the second elected head of government in modern history to give birth while in office, after the late Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan. Dame Jacinda, wearing a mustard-coloured gown and a kākahu, a traditional Māori cloak woven from flax and covered with feathers, had given Queen Elizabeth II a framed image of the monarch during a royal tour to New Zealand in 1953, her head back in a full relaxed laugh. While waiting for the other 52 heads of state to assemble, the then prime minister said she had jokingly asked palace ushers whether the lines should be arranged 'boy, girl, boy, girl'. Only five of the leaders were women. She recalls: 'They looked at me for a moment, perhaps trying to decide whether to take the comment seriously, before moving on to the next leader. 'Of course I hadn't been serious'. Dame Jacinda resigned as leader of the Labour Party and prime minister in January 2023, telling the nation of five million people that she had 'no more left in the tank'. Her five-year tenure was marked by uncompromising and successful, if deeply unpopular, containment measures to stop the spread of Covid-19 during the pandemic. Dame Jacinda's compassionate response and swift reaction to the Christchurch terrorist attack, in which 51 Muslim worshippers were killed in March 2019, won her praise from even her staunchest opponents who had criticised her 'woke' attitude towards politics. In her memoir, she recalled how Donald Trump, the US president, had questioned her description at the time of the far-Right shooter as a 'terrorist'. She writes: 'We discussed what might happen to the terrorist. I used that word, 'terrorist', specifically and President Trump asked if we were calling the gunman that.' She said to him: 'Yes, this was a white man from Australia who deliberately targeted our Muslim community. We are calling him that.' Mr Trump did not respond, but asked if there was anything America could do. 'You can show sympathy and love for all Muslim communities,' she told him. Brenton Tarrant shot dead 51 people at two mosques and had broadcast his rampage over the internet. He was later sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, the first time the maximum available sentence has been imposed in the country. In an accompanying interview with The Guardian, Dame Jacinda described Mr Trump as 'taller than I expected, his tan more pronounced'. Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, is 'quiet, often alone and almost expressionless', she said. When asked for her opinion of Boris Johnson, the former UK prime minister, Dame Jacinda is said to have rolled her eyes. She was awarded a damehood by the Prince of Wales last year, despite her being a staunch republican. Initially, she said she was 'incredibly humbled' but 'in two minds' about accepting the accolade, but did travel to Windsor Castle to collect the award. Dame Jacinda donned a traditional Maori cloak, often worn during special ceremonies, to pick up the award for leading New Zealand through the pandemic. 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.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Jacinda Ardern reveals Queen Elizabeth II's parenting advice
Dame Jacinda Ardern was told by Queen Elizabeth II that she should 'just get on with it' after she sought advice on how to bring up a child in the public eye. The former prime minister of New Zealand, 44, has recalled her exchange with the late monarch at a Commonwealth summit in April 2018 while seven-months pregnant with her daughter, Neve Te Aroha. On the first day of the summit at Buckingham Palace, Dame Jacinda, who has advocated for New Zealand becoming a republic, was one of four leaders invited for a 20-minute private meeting with Queen Elizabeth II. In an extract of her new memoir A Different Kind of Power, published in The Guardian, she writes: 'She had, of course, raised children in the public eye, so in our private meeting I asked if she had any advice. 'You just get on with it,' she said simply. 'She sounded so matter of fact, just as my grandma Margaret might have.' She is only the second elected head of government in modern history to give birth while in office, after the late Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan. Dame Jacinda, wearing a mustard-coloured gown and a kākahu, a traditional Māori cloak woven from flax and covered with feathers, had given Queen Elizabeth II a framed image of the monarch during a royal tour to New Zealand in 1953, her head back in a full relaxed laugh. While waiting for the other 52 heads of state to assemble, the then prime minister said she had jokingly asked palace ushers whether the lines should be arranged 'boy, girl, boy, girl'. Only five of the leaders were women. She recalls: 'They looked at me for a moment, perhaps trying to decide whether to take the comment seriously, before moving on to the next leader. 'Of course I hadn't been serious'. Dame Jacinda resigned as leader of the Labour Party and prime minister in January 2023, telling the nation of five million people that she had 'no more left in the tank'. Her five-year tenure was marked by uncompromising and successful, if deeply unpopular, containment measures to stop the spread of Covid-19 during the pandemic. Dame Jacinda's compassionate response and swift reaction to the Christchurch terrorist attack, in which 51 Muslim worshippers were killed in March 2019, won her praise from even her staunchest opponents who had criticised her 'woke' attitude towards politics. In her memoir, she recalled how Donald Trump, the US president, had questioned her description at the time of the far-Right shooter as a 'terrorist'. She writes: 'We discussed what might happen to the terrorist. I used that word, 'terrorist', specifically and President Trump asked if we were calling the gunman that.' She said to him: 'Yes, this was a white man from Australia who deliberately targeted our Muslim community. We are calling him that.' Mr Trump did not respond, but asked if there was anything America could do. 'You can show sympathy and love for all Muslim communities,' she told him. Brenton Tarrant shot dead 51 people at two mosques and had broadcast his rampage over the internet. He was later sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, the first time the maximum available sentence has been imposed in the country. In an accompanying interview with The Guardian, Dame Jacinda described Mr Trump as 'taller than I expected, his tan more pronounced'. Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, is 'quiet, often alone and almost expressionless', she said. When asked for her opinion of Boris Johnson, the former UK prime minister, Dame Jacinda is said to have rolled her eyes. She was awarded a damehood by the Prince of Wales last year, despite her being a staunch republican. Initially, she said she was 'incredibly humbled' but 'in two minds' about accepting the accolade, but did travel to Windsor Castle to collect the award. Dame Jacinda donned a traditional Maori cloak, often worn during special ceremonies, to pick up the award for leading New Zealand through the pandemic.
Fox News
6 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Michelle Obama and Eric Holder's wife bonded over being 'reluctant spouses' to famous men
As former first lady Michelle Obama tells it, it's not easy being married to a famous man, describing people "spilling water" on her while trying to reach her husband. Both Obama and her guest, OB-GYN Dr. Sharon Malone, who joined the podcast that Obama co-hosts with her brother, "IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson," discussed the challenges of being married to famous men on Wednesday. Malone's husband is former Attorney General Eric Holder, who was the 82nd attorney general of the United States from 2009 to 2015 under former President Barack Obama. Michelle Obama recounted the first time she met Malone during an event. "They put us together because we were both reluctant spouses attending one of these huge dinners," Obama said. "And what, where were they… was Barack a U.S. senator?" "Yes, he was a senator because you, you were still living in Chicago and Eric was in private practice," Malone said. "So it was just it was very early days." Michelle Obama said the experience was overwhelming. "There was a line of people waiting to shake hands with our respective husbands," she said. "You know, people, like, reaching over our heads and spilling water on us, trying to get to these two, you know, illustrious men." Obama said that she saw Malone across the table and felt a kindred spirit, saying, "She had the same look on her face as I did, like, 'Here we go.'" She added that they exchanged a look that said, "You see this? Like, this is crazy, isn't it, girl?" They soon became friends. Obama also spoke about "the fight to protect women's reproductive health" beyond abortion. "Sadly, it has been reduced to 'choice,'" Obama said. "The question of 'choice.' And it's as if that's all of what women's health is. That's the only thing. And as I attempted to make the argument on the campaign trail, this past election, was that there's just so much more at stake." She also called out men for not knowing enough about women's reproductive health. "So many men have no idea about what women go through, right," Obama said. "We haven't been researched. We haven't been considered. And it still affects the way a lot of male lawmakers, a lot of male politicians, a lot of male religious leaders, think about the issue of choice, as if it's just about the fetus, the baby, but women's reproductive health is about our life." "This whole complicated reproductive system that does - the least of what it does is produce life," Obama said. "It's a very important thing that it does. But you only produce life if the machine that's producing it … is functioning in a healthy, streamlined kind of way. But there is no discussion or apparent connection between the two."
The Verge
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Luke Nichols, who runs the nearly 15-million-subscriber-strong YouTube channel, partly blames fame:
Outdoor Boys says goodbye. ...Because of people stealing my content and posting it on other platforms, my family and I have been viewed about 4 billion times, in addition to the 2.8 billion views on YouTube. The sheer volume of fans trying to contact me, trying to take pictures with me, or just trying to come up and talk to me in public can be overwhelming ... The time to stop is before this problem gets so out of hand that my family and I can't live normal lives.
