In a bid to become more gender inclusive, several universities in Australia are ditching “gender-specific” words they claim could be perceived as discriminatory, such as “housewife” and “mankind.”

Students who continue to use the blacklisted words could be penalized with the loss of marks or even the failure of a course, according to news.com.au.

Jill Downie, deputy vice-chancellor of Curtin University in Perth, told the news publication that the university’s “inclusive language procedures” was designed to help staff and students speak and write in an inclusive manner.

“The Student Charter and the Staff Code of Conduct set out the behavioral expectations in relation to students and staff, including a requirement to avoid behaviors which constitute discrimination and harassment,” she said. “Where a member of the university community acts contrary to our expectations, there are clear processes to provide educative and/or other actions to address the issue.”

A student who violates this policy by using language deemed discriminatory in coursework of tests could result in a failing grade, Downie said.

“Whilst it is possible that a student may fail an assessment or be subject to actions under the student charter or misconduct provisions, our preference would be to work with students to educate them on the use of inclusive language and this would be typically handled in the feedback provided to learners,” Downie added.

CQUniversity offers their school community a list of gender neutral alternatives for common words like “man,” which they say could…

Religious antagonism saw its biggest surge in over a decade in 2016, with the world’s two biggest faith groups—Christians and Muslims—ranking as the top victims of political restrictions and social hostility, according to a new Pew Research Center report analyzing religious freedom in 198 countries and territories.

Christians reported incidents of harassment in more places worldwide than any other tradition: 144 countries in 2016, compared to 128 countries in 2015 and 108 in 2014. Incidents include discrimination, verbal assault, physical attacks, arrests, and the destruction of religious sites.

Islam, the world’s second largest religion, is close behind Christianity: Muslims suffered harassment in 142 countries in 2016, up from 125 in 2015 and 100 in 2014.

The Pew report comes just weeks after the US State Department reviewed an annual assessment of religious freedom across the globe.

“The state of religious freedom is dire,” said Sam Brownback, ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, last month. “We have work to do. We must move religious freedom forward—we must defend it in every corner of the globe.”

Religious restrictions ramping up

Pew’s overall findings correlate with Brownback’s disappointment: Religious repression is pervasive and rising.

“When combining measures of government restrictions and social hostilities, more than…

With nationwide marijuana legalization in Canada on the horizon, the industry is shaping up differently there than the way it was established in nine U.S. states that have similarly broad legalization. Age limits, government involvement in distribution and sales, and access to banking are some big discrepancies.

And, yes, Canadians will be able to order cannabis online and have it delivered through the mail — something that’s illegal in the United States.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday that marijuana will be legal in Canada on Oct. 17. In the meantime, its provinces and cities are working out issues concerning regulations.

Here’s what to expect:

GOVERNMENT-RUN STORES

It’s up to the provinces and territories to determine how to handle distribution, and they’re taking a variety of approaches.

Ontario plans to open up to 150 stores run by its Liquor Control Board — a model of public ownership that is unusual in the U.S. No state owns marijuana retail outlets, though the tiny Washington state town of North Bonneville has one city-owned pot shop.

British Columbia is planning for a mix of public and privately owned stores, while Newfoundland and Saskatchewan will have only private pot shops. In some remote areas where stand-alone marijuana stores might not be economically feasible, including in the Northwest Territories, cannabis could be sold at existing liquor stores.

Just like U.S. states, the provinces also differ on home-growing, with many allowing up to four plants and others, including Quebec, barring it.

And rather than a minimum age of 21, as U.S….

The debut Louis Vuitton collection by Virgil Abloh, the first African-American to head a major European fashion house, drew stars of all stripes to Paris for his rainbow-themed menswear show.

Kanye West was there with his wife, Kim Kardashian West, who had returned to Paris for the first time since she was tied up and robbed at gunpoint during an October 2016 jewelry heist. Model Bella Hadid weathered a prevailing hot spell behind shades, while Rihanna and Naomi Campbell arrived for the big event of Paris Fashion Week at the last minute.

Here are some highlights from Thursday’s spring-summer menswear shows:

LOUIS VUITTON’S INCLUSIVE RAINBOW

“It is a big, big day,” Bella Hadid said as she took her seat in the yellow section of Louis Vuitton’s multicolored set.

“It’s great,” chimed in Rihanna, who rocked a hip, white LV jumpsuit.

It was clear by the mood at the show that expectations for artistic director Abloh’s debut were at stratospheric levels.

And Abloh did not squander his moment. There was deep and thoughtful symbolism throughout the 56 multicolored looks.

White dominated the first designs. The hue, which signifies purity or new beginnings, also inspired Abloh’s first main fashion venture, the Milan-based house Off-White.

On Thursday, it was the base color for sheer T-shirts, LV fitted jackets and loose pleated pants that were accessorized with broken white chains that hung from bags and dragged on the floor. All of the models displaying the garments were black.

Colors then flourished.

A fluorescent yellow breast-plate top began a leitmotif of cage-like…

Disturbing video has emerged of a priest slapping a baby across the face as he administers a baptism.

In a 40-second clip posted online, the French-speaking clergyman is seen to lash out in frustration during the ceremony as the tiny child is held by a woman thought to be his mother.

The exact location of the church and date of the incident are unclear, although the video surfaced on the internet on Wednesday.

“I’m going to put water on the forehead, and after I’ll embrace the little man, because he will have become a little Christian,” the elderly priest says in the footage.

However, he soon becomes annoyed with that the boy will not stop crying, grabbing him by the face, raising his voice and telling the infant: “Stop crying, calm down. Calm down.”

He then unleashes a sharp slap against the baby’s cheek, shocking those sat in the church, who can be heard to gasp.

Having seen enough, a man thought to be the child’s father steps in and tries to remove him from the situation – only for the priest to grip the boy by his neck.

Click here to read more.
Source: Independent