Ministry civil service

Hanoi — Being gay is not a disease, Vietnam has told its doctors, as it called on medical workers to end discrimination against the LGBTQ community. Campaigners told AFP on Tuesday the statement was a major step forward for LGBTQ rights in the Southeast Asian nation, where gay, bisexual and transgender people have long felt marginalized. In an official document released last week, the health ministry said that "homosexuality cannot be 'cured', does not need 'to be cured' and cannot be changed." It urged medical professionals to be "respectful" of gender and sexual orientation after receiving reports of doctors claiming they could treat gender minorities. "Do not consider homosexuality, bisexuality or being transgender a disease," it said. Although Vietnam is seen as relatively progressive on LGBTQ issues compared with some other countries in Asia, misinformation about sexual orientation and gender identity is widespread. According to a Human Rights Watch report published … [Read more...] about Being gay is not a disease, Vietnam tells its medical workers in bid to end anti-LGBTQ discrimination

Leave your questions for Thursday night's Telegraph hustings in the comments Truss tax cuts 'will do nothing for pensioners' Death of high street looms, hopefuls warned Where Truss and Sunak stand on key issues Check the latest live Tory leadership odds Sign up to our Politics WhatsApp group L iz Truss's planned tax cuts alone are "not much good", Rishi Sunak has warned as he said the party risked electoral oblivion in 2024 without providing direct support. At tonight's fifth Conservative leadership hustings in Darlington, Mr Sunak has suggested he would commit tens of billions to tackling the cost-of-living crisis, while Ms Truss is yet to be drawn on whether she would provide any direct payments to Britons. "The only way to help [people] is with direct support," the former chancellor insisted. "Because tax cuts alone are not much good if you're a pensioner if you're not earning any extra money, they're not much good if you're working hard on … [Read more...] about Tory leadership hustings: Rishi Sunak warns Liz Truss’s tax cuts alone are ‘not much good’

Crimea military base explosion Powerful explosions rocked an air base in Russian-occupied Crimea on Tuesday, and while the Defence Ministry in Moscow said that nobody was injured in the explosion, local authorities said at least five people, including a child, were wounded. Russia's Defense Ministry said that munitions blew up at the Saki base, and it emphasized that the installation had not been shelled. "Several munitions intended for aviation exploded in a depot located on the territory of the Saki military airfield, near the locality of Novofiodorovka," the statement said, quoted by Russian news agencies. Ukrainian social networks were abuzz with speculation that it was hit by Ukrainian-fired long-range missiles, and the New York Times cites Ukrainian sources who confirm it was their military which carried out the attack. There has been no official confirmation as yet. Read more at our story here. Ukraine: Rise in number of premature babies since … [Read more...] about Ukraine war: The top developments you need to know for Tuesday

Torrential rainfall has been wreaking havoc in South Korea’s capital and is turning the streets into rivers. Gushing floodwater is thought to have forced open the cover of a manhole in Seoul’s Seocho-gu district last night. Two people were then swept inside, and despite rescuers deploying an underwater robot, they are still yet to be found, MBC TV reports. Fire chiefs say the manhole leads to the Han River, and that floodwater is flowing so relentlessly that rescuers had no chance to get inside. At least 10 people have been killed and seven others are missing as heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms, has pounded Seoul. It’s the most rainfall ever recorded since South Korea began collecting data, and has seen vehicles submerged and public transport systems overwhelmed. Commuters slowly returned to work on Tuesday morning after emergency crews worked overnight to clean up much of the mess. But there were concerns about further damage as torrential rain was … [Read more...] about Flooding in Seoul lifts up manhole cover and sweeps two people inside

PETER MEECHAM Canterbury district commander Superintendent John Price talks to media in Christchurch on Sunday afternoon. A high level investigation is under way following the alleged murder of a woman by a mental health patient in Christchurch. The director of mental health is using statutory powers under the Mental Health Act to inspect the unit the patient was in. The director of mental health has invoked rarely used statutory powers to order an inspection of Christchurch’s Hillmorton Hospital’s secure unit following an alleged murder by a patient. Laisa Waka, 52, was just metres from her home in Cheyenne St, Sockburn, when she was attacked by a man wielding a knife about 4.20pm on Saturday. She died at the scene. A 37-year-old man, who has name suppression , was arrested a short time later, about 500 metres away in Epsom Rd, and charged with murder. READ MORE: Youths to be treated in 'dark and oppressive' hospital for three more years Mental … [Read more...] about Inspection ordered after patient allegedly murders woman on city street

More than 115,000 Royal Mail staff have voted in favour of a national strike in what could be the first in a wave of public sector walk outs in the coming months as essential workers continue to struggle with the cost of living crisis. In a ballot announced today, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) – which represents Royal Mail Group workers – voted by 97.6%, on a 77% turnout, to take industrial action. The union is demanding that Royal Mail group enters into negotiations to secure 'a straight, no-strings pay increase for workers.' The Royal Mail said it was 'disappointed' by the strike announcement after offering workers a 5.5% salary boost. It comes as the Government geared up for a hot summer and autumn fight with trade unions today as it offered two million public sector workers including doctors and nurses below-inflation pay rises. More than a million NHS staff including nurses, midwives and paramedics have been offered increased that will see the worst-paid … [Read more...] about More than 115,000 Royal Mail workers vote for strike action in row over pay

The number of people who have died in the UK after contracting coronavirus has risen by 43 to 465. It represents the smallest rise in the number of deaths since 17 March - more than a week ago. But there was the biggest increase in the number of infections across the UK - up 1,542 to 9,529. In England, 28 people died in 24 hours. There were four deaths at Barts Health NHS Trust in London and four others at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust. Advertisement Those who died include a 47-year-old who did not have an underlying health condition. The others who died, including one person aged 93, did have underlying health conditions. More on Covid-19 Majority of babies born in England and Wales in 2021 were out of wedlock, new statistics reveal Tens of thousands stuck in 'China's Hawaii' after COVID lockdown imposed COVID-19 infections fall for second week in a row, ONS says Related Topics: … [Read more...] about Coronavirus: UK deaths rise by 43 to 465 in last 24 hours

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the EU heads to give Ukraine candidate status for the bloc's membership at the upcoming summit in late June. Speaking to the Copenhagen Democracy Summit in a video address, Zelenskyy asked the leaders of the 27 member states to show “that its words about the Ukrainian people being part of the European family aren’t a hollow sound.” Review the day's most important developments in the Ukraine war below. 06.10.2022 06:54 Friday's key points: Mariupol’s mayor has warned that cholera and other deadly diseases could kill thousands of people in the Russian-occupied city as corpses lie uncollected. President Zelenskyy has pleaded for Ukraine's entry into the European Union, and called for EU leaders not to leave his country in a "grey zone". Ukraine is losing up to 200 troops a day, according to a Zelenskyy aide. This is more than double the previous estimates. Two Britons and a Moroccan national … [Read more...] about Zelenskyy calls for more support from Europe, Ukraine’s EU candidacy

World leaders past and present are honouring the memory of former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who died Saturday at age 80. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres: “In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations. He rose through the ranks to lead the organisation into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination.” Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo: “Consummate international diplomat and highly respected former Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan was the first from sub-Saharan Africa to occupy this exalted position. He brought considerable renown to our country by this position and through his conduct and comportment in the global arena. He was an ardent believer in the capacity of the Ghanaian to chart his or her own course onto the path of progress and prosperity.” Russian President Vladimir Putin: “Many years of the life of this remarkable person and great politician were devoted to the service of … [Read more...] about Kofi Annan: tributes pour in for ‘a man of peace and champion of rights’

FBI DIRECTOR Christopher Wray approved an investigation into former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate on August 8, 2022. Wray was nominated by former President Donald Trump to take over the FBI director position in 2017. Who is FBI Director Christopher A Wray? Christopher Wray is an American lawyer, who has served as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation since 2017. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Yale University in 1989 and earned his law degree from Yale Law School in 1992. He began his career in law enforcement in 1997 and was the assistant US attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. While in his position, he covered federal criminal cases, including public corruption, gun trafficking, drug offenses, and financial fraud. READ MORE ON DONALD TRUMP WHERE'S DONNY? Find out where Donald Trump is today He served as Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Criminal Division in George W Bush's … [Read more...] about Who is FBI Director Christopher A Wray?