THE day Trump is banned on Twitter would be the day many would heave a sigh of relief. But Twitter has said that it would </span>not ban the controversial leader despite his often divisive tweets. Instead of being banned, Trump announced on Twitter that he is banning transgender individuals from the US military." data-reactid="27">THE day Trump is banned on Twitter would be the day many would heave a sigh of relief. But Twitter has said that it would not ban the controversial leader despite his often divisive tweets. Instead of being banned, Trump announced on Twitter that he is banning transgender individuals from the US military.
This controversial ban followed his previously ill-conceived policy of banning visitors from six </span>Muslim countries and his plan to build a wall that would prevent Mexicans from crossing the border illegally." data-reactid="28">This controversial ban followed his previously ill-conceived policy of banning visitors from six Muslim countries and his plan to build a wall that would prevent Mexicans from crossing the border illegally.
One wonders which other minority group Trump would bedevil.</span>" data-reactid="29">One wonders which other minority group Trump would bedevil.
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1. Washington, United States: Transgender military ban
Image</a> by Flickr user torbakhopper. CC BY-ND 2.0.</em>" data-reactid="41">Image by Flickr user torbakhopper. CC BY-ND 2.0.
In a string of </span>tweets released by President Trump on Wednesday (Jul 26), he said that the United States (US) military will not be accepting transgender individuals after consultation with his "generals and military experts". He attributed the reason behind this decision to not being "burdened" with the "tremendous medical costs and disruption" that transgender individuals carry." data-reactid="42">In a string of tweets released by President Trump on Wednesday (Jul 26), he said that the United States (US) military will not be accepting transgender individuals after consultation with his "generals and military experts". He attributed the reason behind this decision to not being "burdened" with the "tremendous medical costs and disruption" that transgender individuals carry.
The White House, however, has not decided how it will implement this ban on current transgender individuals in the military and transgender individuals who express their interest in joining the military. White House spokesman Sarah Huckabee Sanders has </span>insisted that the ban is nothing more than a "military decision". But the Secretary of Defense James Mattis has privately opposed this move and was on vacation when the decision was announced. Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley also said that he found out about the ban only "on the news"." data-reactid="43">The White House, however, has not decided how it will implement this ban on current transgender individuals in the military and transgender individuals who express their interest in joining the military. White House spokesman Sarah Huckabee Sanders has insisted that the ban is nothing more than a "military decision". But the Secretary of Defense James Mattis has privately opposed this move and was on vacation when the decision was announced. Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley also said that he found out about the ban only "on the news".
Last year, the Obama administration </span>allowed transgender individuals to serve openly in the military but left a one-year review period for its implementation. This policy included the access to medical help for service members wanting to change gender. " data-reactid="44">Last year, the Obama administration allowed transgender individuals to serve openly in the military but left a one-year review period for its implementation. This policy included the access to medical help for service members wanting to change gender.
2. Paris, France: No more vehicles on gas or diesel
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Image</a> by Flickr user Images Money. CC BY 2.0.</em>" data-reactid="55">Image by Flickr user Images Money. CC BY 2.0.
France and Britain have taken to banning the sale of vehicles that run on petrol and diesel from 2040 in light of the recent Paris climate accord. The proposal was first </span>announced by France's Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot on July 6. Mr Hulot, who is also a veteran environmental campaigner, insisted that this was a matter of public health policy and fighting against air pollution." data-reactid="56">France and Britain have taken to banning the sale of vehicles that run on petrol and diesel from 2040 in light of the recent Paris climate accord. The proposal was first announced by France's Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot on July 6. Mr Hulot, who is also a veteran environmental campaigner, insisted that this was a matter of public health policy and fighting against air pollution.
Britain's </span>commitment to this ban, which is similar to France, is also part of the government's clean air plan, which is part of a protracted high court legal battle. Ministers believe that the plan is necessary because the rising levels of nitrogen oxide pose the "largest environmental risk" to public health in the United Kingdom (UK). The final plan is due by the end of this month but the draft report was "much weaker than hoped for", according to environmental lawyers." data-reactid="57">Britain's commitment to this ban, which is similar to France, is also part of the government's clean air plan, which is part of a protracted high court legal battle. Ministers believe that the plan is necessary because the rising levels of nitrogen oxide pose the "largest environmental risk" to public health in the United Kingdom (UK). The final plan is due by the end of this month but the draft report was "much weaker than hoped for", according to environmental lawyers.
3. New Dehli, India: Driverless cars
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Image</a> by Wikimedia Commons user Michael Shick. CC BY-SA 4.0.</em>" data-reactid="72">Image by Wikimedia Commons user Michael Shick. CC BY-SA 4.0.
India's minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari said that the government is banning driverless cars because it is a "technology that takes away jobs." He said that there is a demand for about 22,000 more commercial drivers currently and that the government is planning to open 100 training facilities.</span>" data-reactid="73">India's minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari said that the government is banning driverless cars because it is a "technology that takes away jobs." He said that there is a demand for about 22,000 more commercial drivers currently and that the government is planning to open 100 training facilities.
Yet, the development of driverless cars still continues in the country. Tata Elxsi, an Indian design and technology company for product engineering, signed a </span>support deal with "one of the largest global" original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for an ongoing driverless car programme. The Hindustani Times also noted that the proposed Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill that is pending in Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India, has provisions that allow testing of such new technology." data-reactid="74">Yet, the development of driverless cars still continues in the country. Tata Elxsi, an Indian design and technology company for product engineering, signed a support deal with "one of the largest global" original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for an ongoing driverless car programme. The Hindustani Times also noted that the proposed Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill that is pending in Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India, has provisions that allow testing of such new technology.
4. New York, United States: Treaty to ban nuclear weapons
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Image</a> by Flickr user jesse. CC BY-SA 2.0." data-reactid="85">Image by Flickr user jesse. CC BY-SA 2.0.
The United Nations (UN) conference that has been negotiating the first legally binding treaty to ban nuclear weapons finally revealed the results of the "historic" vote, where more than 122 countries approved the treaty (Jul 7). The Netherlands opposed the approval for the treaty and Singapore abstained. </span>" data-reactid="86">The United Nations (UN) conference that has been negotiating the first legally binding treaty to ban nuclear weapons finally revealed the results of the "historic" vote, where more than 122 countries approved the treaty (Jul 7). The Netherlands opposed the approval for the treaty and Singapore abstained.
President of the UN conference Elayne Whyte Gomez said that 129 countries out of the 193 member states had signed up to take part in drafting the treaty. The treaty bans any transfer or use of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices, as well as the threat to use such weapons. It will be </span>opened for signatures in September. " data-reactid="87">President of the UN conference Elayne Whyte Gomez said that 129 countries out of the 193 member states had signed up to take part in drafting the treaty. The treaty bans any transfer or use of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices, as well as the threat to use such weapons. It will be opened for signatures in September.
Nine countries are believed to possess nuclear weapons and they are the United States (US), Russia, </span>Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel. None of these countries supported the treaty. On March 27, when asked about her views on the nuclear weapons ban treaty, US Ambassador Nikki Haley said: "There is nothing I want more for my family than a world with no nuclear weapons, but we have to be realistic."" data-reactid="88">Nine countries are believed to possess nuclear weapons and they are the United States (US), Russia, Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel. None of these countries supported the treaty. On March 27, when asked about her views on the nuclear weapons ban treaty, US Ambassador Nikki Haley said: "There is nothing I want more for my family than a world with no nuclear weapons, but we have to be realistic."
5. Jakarta, Indonesia: Jokowi bans Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia
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Image</a> by Wikimedia Commons user Cahaya Maulidian. CC BY-SA 4.0." data-reactid="99">Image by Wikimedia Commons user Cahaya Maulidian. CC BY-SA 4.0.
President Joko Widodo has </span>signed a regulation to ban Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), a hard-line Islamic group that supports an Islamic state and the implementation of Sharia Law across Indonesia. The office of coordinating political, legal and security affairs announced the ban in March on the grounds that its vision of establishing an Islamic state contradicted Pancasila, the political ideology of the Indonesian state that values diversity and pluralism. " data-reactid="100">President Joko Widodo has signed a regulation to ban Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), a hard-line Islamic group that supports an Islamic state and the implementation of Sharia Law across Indonesia. The office of coordinating political, legal and security affairs announced the ban in March on the grounds that its vision of establishing an Islamic state contradicted Pancasila, the political ideology of the Indonesian state that values diversity and pluralism.
Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia has condemned the ban and said that it will not remain silent. It has since filed a </span>lawsuit to challenge the ban. (Jul 19) The ban has been criticised by Human Rights Watch, describing it to be draconian and curtailing free speech. AlJazeera reported that around 2000 people from Islamic groups protested against the order in Jakarta on July 18." data-reactid="101">Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia has condemned the ban and said that it will not remain silent. It has since filed a lawsuit to challenge the ban. (Jul 19) The ban has been criticised by Human Rights Watch, describing it to be draconian and curtailing free speech. AlJazeera reported that around 2000 people from Islamic groups protested against the order in Jakarta on July 18.
This comes on the heel of rising tensions and protests, partially organised by Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia, against former Jakarta governor Basuki</span> "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama. He was eventually sentenced to two years in prison in May for blasphemy against Islam." data-reactid="102">This comes on the heel of rising tensions and protests, partially organised by Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia, against former Jakarta governor Basuki"Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama. He was eventually sentenced to two years in prison in May for blasphemy against Islam.
6. Beijing, China: Justin Bieber banned from China
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Image</a> by Flickr user Jiposhy .com. CC BY-SA 2.0.</em>" data-reactid="113">Image by Flickr user Jiposhy .com. CC BY-SA 2.0.
Last week, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture banned the 23-year-old pop star from performing in China. While </span>the Bureau acknowledged that "Justin Bieber is a gifted singer", it reasoned that "in order to maintain order in the Chinese market and purify the Chinese performance environment, it is not suitable to bring in badly behaved entertainers"." data-reactid="114">Last week, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture banned the 23-year-old pop star from performing in China. While the Bureau acknowledged that "Justin Bieber is a gifted singer", it reasoned that "in order to maintain order in the Chinese market and purify the Chinese performance environment, it is not suitable to bring in badly behaved entertainers".
Bieber has shows scheduled in Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and Hong Kong as part of his </span>Purpose World Tour in Asia. The Bureau's statement came as a reply to a question from a fan as to why no venues have been scheduled for Bieber's tour in mainland China." data-reactid="115">Bieber has shows scheduled in Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and Hong Kong as part of his Purpose World Tour in Asia. The Bureau's statement came as a reply to a question from a fan as to why no venues have been scheduled for Bieber's tour in mainland China.
Last Monday (Jul 24), Bieber who was halfway through his global tour, cancelled the rest of his tour "due to unforeseen circumstances". The cancellation affects a number of venues in North America and Asia.
The Beijing Bureau's explanation of what constituted Bieber's bad behaviours</span> revealed little: "As far as we are concerned, he has engaged in a series of bad behaviours, both in his social life and during a previous performance in China, which caused discontent among the public." " data-reactid="117">The Beijing Bureau's explanation of what constituted Bieber's bad behavioursrevealed little: "As far as we are concerned, he has engaged in a series of bad behaviours, both in his social life and during a previous performance in China, which caused discontent among the public."
The last time Bieber was in China, he did raise eyebrows as he went up the </span>the Great Wall of China carried by his bodyguards." data-reactid="118">The last time Bieber was in China, he did raise eyebrows as he went up the the Great Wall of China carried by his bodyguards.
image</a> from Flickr user torbakhopper. CC BY-ND 2.0.</em>" data-reactid="120">Featured image from Flickr user torbakhopper. CC BY-ND 2.0.
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And in the rest of the world: Bans, bans, bans</a> appeared first on The Middle Ground." data-reactid="123">The post And in the rest of the world: Bans, bans, bans appeared first on The Middle Ground.
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