Wednesday 22 February 2023

PUTIN ATTACKS WESTERN MORALITY

Gender-neutral God, same-sex marriages: Putin turns moral police for West

In his state of the nation address before the Federal Assembly, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West for not just the Ukraine war but also for destroying Catholic and family values

New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 21, 2023 17:21 IST

Vladimir Putin addressed the Federal Assembly on Tuesday. (Photo: Screengrab/RT)

By India Today Web Desk: A day after US President Joe Biden's surprise visit to Ukraine, Russian premier Vladimir Putin launched a frontal attack on the West, accusing it of not only "unleashing the war" but also for the degradation of Catholic and family values.

In his state of the nation address before the Federal Assembly on Tuesday, Putin said, "The Church of England is considering a version of a 'gender-neutral' God. They don’t know what they’re doing."

Recently, the Church of England said that it was considering how to refer to God without assigning a gender. However, there are no plans to abolish current services yet.

Putin also spoke about the approval of same-sex marriages in the West. "The family union is between a man and a woman," Putin said.

"They're destroying the institution of family. Their cultural-historical identity, and various perversions with regards to children. Priests are forced to recognize and officiate same-sex weddings. The family is a union between woman and man," Putin said.

LINK: https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/putin-russia-west-same-sex-marriage-gender-neutral-god-2337657-2023-02-21

ADDITIONAL MEASURES AGAINST CRIME

20 Feb

Panyaza Lesufi's plan to save Gauteng citizens from 'criminals that play God with our lives'

Zintle Mahlati

Panyaza Lesufi.

Gallo Images/Papi Morake

Panyaza Lesufi gave his first State of the Province Address.
Lesufi said criminals were acting as "God" by holding residents of Gauteng hostage.
He explained how his administration would fight against crime.

Talking tough on crime, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi wants guns registered for use in the province to be monitored via tracking devices.

Lesufi unveiled plans for vehicle licence registrations to be fitted with high-tech security features, making it hard for criminals to duplicate.

On Monday, he revealed a list of priorities, which he said needed to be tackled to save the citizens of Gauteng from "criminals that play God with our lives'".

Lesufi was giving his first State of the Province Address.

He was sworn in as premier in 2022 following the resignation of his predecessor, David Makhura.

He has about a year left in his short term before the 2024 national elections, which are predicted to be tough for the ANC.

Lesufi has long decried the state of crime in Gauteng and how residents are being held hostage by criminals.

His speech on Monday spoke to this concern, with the bulk of its introduction littered with promises to Gauteng's citizens that safety would return.

READ | Gauteng premier moots tighter gun control after AKA, Motsoane murders

Lesufi said that, to tackle crime, his administration would be spending over R700 million in the next few months on several projects.

He said about 400 new cars would be handed to the province's law enforcement agencies, while 180 drones would be added to fight crime in areas unreachable by the police.

To loud applause from the ANC caucus at Johannesburg City Hall, Lesufi said another plan was to issue "electronic panic buttons" to citizens, which they could use to alert SAPS when a crime occurred.

The ANC Gauteng provincial leader said the devices would be linked to police control centres in each community.

Lesufi also made other bold promises in his speech.

READ | Lesufi’s ambitious plan to tackle crime

He said to tackle crime further, the provincial government would change legislation to allow additional features to be added to registered licence plates.

This feature would make it harder for criminals to duplicate licence plates.

Lesufi said guns registered in Gauteng would be fitted with tracking devices.

He said every gun used illegally was once legal, and no weapon in Gauteng should roam the streets untracked.

"Our province is home to heartless criminals who do as they wish. Our situation is out of control," Lesufi said.

NATION IN PRAYER

Our country is in bad state, only God can help us - Raila

He called out Ruto, his DP for pretending to be praying for the country every Sunday.

In Summary

He thanked the clergy who had come to pray with them
Raila spoke during the Azimio prayer rally at the Jeevanjee Gardens in Nairobi, on Wednesday.

Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga now says that the country under President William Ruto’s leadership is in a bad state.

According to Raila, only God can help Kenyans.

“Today is our prayer day. We agreed as Azimio that we set aside a day to meet Kenyans for prayers and to talk to God. Our country is in a bad state and that is why we are saying only God can help us,” he said.

“I want, on behalf of my fellow leaders here, to thank the clergy who have come to pray for us.”

The former Prime Minister called out President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua for pretending to be holding prayer rallies, yet they continue to do 'bad things'.

"Every Sunday they go to church pretending to be praying but they do a lot of evil after that," he said.

Raila spoke during the Azimio prayer rally at the Jeevanjee Gardens in Nairobi, on Wednesday.

LINK: https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2023-02-22-our-country-is-in-bad-state-only-god-can-help-us-raila/

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