Chinese platforms censor LGBT scenes and orgasm references in FRIENDS

Feb 15 2022

Major Chinese streaming platforms have censored the LGBTIQ+ plot line in the popular TV sitcom FRIENDS, leading to massive backlash on social media. In the first episode, conversations regarding the character of Ross’ ex-wife, Carol, who divorces him after coming out as lesbian, were deleted.

Other conversations which were suggestive of LGBT storylines were edited out. In the original version, Ross mentions that there was only one woman for Carol, who leaves him for her friend Susan. The show debuted on Chinese streaming platforms Sohu video and iQiyi in 2012 without any censorship, and this was available to watch until its streaming agreement ended in 2013.

Following a surge of popularity after the 2021 special ‘FRIENDS: The Reunion’, Chinese streaming platforms together purchased the broadcasting rights to the show. Platforms including Bilibili, Tencent, Youku, Sohu and iQiyi began streaming the series on February 11th. Fans took to the Chinese social media site Weibo to protest censorship of the show, with the #FriendsCensored becoming the most trending topic on the site. The hashtag received more than 54 million views on the site on Friday night, but was censored by the platform on Saturday morning.

The censorship also targeted the topic of orgasms. In the original version, Ross said that ‘women can have multiple orgasms’ but in the new version, the character says that ‘women have endless gossips.’ In 2016, China issued new guidelines saying TV shows shouldn’t include story lines involving gay relationships as well as other topics which ‘exaggerate the dark side of society.’ Homosexuality, extramarital affairs, one-night stands and underage love were all listed under ‘vulgar, immoral and unhealthy content.’

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Around €12.5 million invested to improve 100 rural roads last year

Feb 15 2022

In 2021, Infrastructure Malta carried out works ranging from rebuilding to repairs on 100 rural roads with an investment of €12.5 million. The Transport Ministry revealed the data on Tuesday by Minister for Transport, Capital and Infrastructure Ian Borg as he addressed a press conference in Delimara.

The Minister explained how many of these countryside roads had been left without adequate maintenance and abandoned for many years.

Borg said that the safety of the people is a top priority for the government. ‘These roads had ended up in a disastrous state and even dangerous for both farmers and residents, and for others who use these quiet routes for walking, running and recycling’ he said.

‘This is unacceptable to us’ he continued. ‘Therefore, we understood the situation and saw to it that an effective work strategy took place so that farmers and all those who use these roads can enjoy them in the highest quality infrastructure possible. We have seen that the farmer has a safe and adequate environment in which he can work and earn his daily bread. This is the way this social government listens and sees that no one is left out’

Since its establishment back in 2018, Infrastructure Malta completed works in 330 countryside roads in more than 30 different localities. Another 22 rural roads are currently undergoing rebuilding or resurfacing, while works in several others are planned for the coming months.

An agreement with the farmers was also reached as part of these works in order to connect stormwater catchments to nearby agricultural reservoirs. IM is currently working with the Environment and Resources Authority to research and test new, environmentally-friendly paving materials which can be adopted for the surfaces of these roads in the future.

41.5 kilometres of new underground networks were installed by the agency in the rural roads upgraded in 2021. These include water mains, internet and other telecommunications ducts. 46,400 tonnes of asphalt and concrete were used to complete the 37km of rural roads rebuilt or resurfaced in 2021.

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Solid waste decreased by around 20% in 2020 in Malta

Feb 15 2022

The National Statistics Office said that during 2020, the total amount of generated waste decreased by around 19.8% over 2019. The total generation of solid waste in Malta during that year amounted to around 2.5 million tonnes, with hazardous waste increasing by 1.3%, or 521 tonnes. Non-hazardous waste decreased by 20.1%.

There were decreases registered for the three major sub-divisions of non-hazardous waste. Mineral waste went down by almost 533,563 tonnes, secondary waste went down by 46,685 tonnes and other waste by 37,232 tonnes. Waste treatment register a decrease of 21.4%, or 628,179 tonnes, over the same period. This happened mainly due to a drop of 495,130 tonnes in the backfilling of mineral waste. Mineral waste was also the major contributor for the decrease in recycling taking place in Malta, going down by 123,354 tonnes.

Waste amounts that were sent for recycling in other countries advanced by 3.0%, or 2,570 tonnes. During 2020, the total amount of landfilling taking place in Malta and other countries deceased by 11.3% while the total amount of waste that was incinerated increased by 27.3%.

In 2020, the separate collection of waste fractions from bring-in sites deceased by 6.8%, or 279 tonnes, while amounts collected from civic amenity sites increased by 5.5%, or 1,904 tonnes. A for door-to-door collections, decreases of 5.1 and 2.8% were recored in the grey/green bag and organic waste collections. The amount of glass collected increased by 7.4% over 2019.

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Other people possibly involved in Caruana Galizia murder

Feb 15 2022

The Deputy Attorney General said in court on Tuesday that there were probably other people involved in the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Gaizia. He said this in court on Tuesday whilst making his case against the latest bail request by two alleged hitmen in the murder.

Alfred and George Degiorgio said in their latest bail request that they had been held behind bars for around 50 months since their arrest in December 2017.

Deputy AG Philip Galea Farrugia said that he was proved right in saying that the inquiry was still ongoing when making previous objections to bail. ‘It is quite a unique case. It could be, or rather it is probable that other persons were involved.’

Galea Farrugia recalled that in a previous bail decree, the Criminal Court had declared that the assassination involved a web of criminality. The European Court of Human Rights itself acknowledged the fact that in such case of organised crime, investigations were expected to take longer.

Whereas earlier pronouncements by the European Court appeared to be weighing in favour of the bail, more recent judgements focused on balancing the rights of the accused and the presumption of innocence agains the rights of society at large and the proper administration of justice.

Vince Muscat, known locally as il-Koħħu, is currently serving a 15-year sentence after registering a guilty plea in the murder case. Yorgen Fenech also stands accused of complicity in the murder but is pleading not guilty to charges. He claims that it was former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri who ordered the assassination.

The prolonged detention was questioned by lawyer William Cuschieri who represents the Degiorgios. he also said the prosecution had produced no proof showing that the two were planning to escape. As for the web of criminality claim, he said that citing that as a reason to deny bail would mean throwing the presumption of innocence out of the window.

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