Page 9 - Social Issues
Angelina Jolie speaks about pain of refugees
Today on World Refugee Day, Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie has shared her thoughts on ways to help refugees around the world and improve their lives.According to People, the 44-year-old actor wrote an essay titled 'What We Owe Refugees' for TIME magazine in which she highlighted the difference between a refugee and a migrant."Why then has the word refugee acquired such negative connotations in our times?" Jolie wrote. "Why are politicians being elected on promises to shut borders and turn back refugees?""Today the distinction between refugees and migrants has been blurred and politicized," she wrote. "Refugees have been forced to flee their country because of persecution, war or violence. Migrants have chosen to move, mainly to improve their lives."She said, "Some leaders deliberately use the terms refugee and migrant interchangeably, using hostile rhetoric that whips up fear against all outsiders.""Everyone deserves dignity and fair treatment, but we need to be clear about the ...
Four traffickers in Hungary migrant truck deaths jailed for life
Four human traffickers involved in the gruesome deaths of 71 migrants in a truck abandoned on an Austrian highway in 2015 were jailed for life Thursday, in a case that sparked international revulsion. Prosecutors at an appeal court in Szeged, 160 kilometres south of the Hungarian capital Budapest, successfully argued that the initial 25-year jail terms delivered last June were too lenient. The victims -- from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan -- were among hundreds of thousands of desperate people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and elsewhere in 2015, triggering Europe's worst migrant crisis since World War II. Hungary took over the proceedings from Vienna after it emerged that the migrants had suffocated on Hungarian soil. The sentences of gang ringleader Afghan national Samsoor Lahoo and two Bulgarian accomplices, including the truck's driver, were increased to life without parole. A fourth man, also Bulgarian, was also given a life sentence and must serve a minimum term of 30 .
Govt to push campaign against black money at faster pace: President
The government has taken steps to curb generation of black money in the real estate sector to benefit the middle class, and will further speed up its campaign against ill-gotten wealth as part of its commitment to a 'zero tolerance policy' against corruption, President Ram Nath Kovind. The initiatives of the government to check black money include cancellation of registration of 3.50 lakh suspicious companies and signing of automatic financial information exchange agreements with various countries, Kovind said in his customary address to the joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament. "My government will make the zero tolerance policy against corruption more comprehensive and effective. The mission to eliminate corruption from public life and government services will be implemented with greater zeal.... "The campaign against black money will be taken forward at a faster pace. During the last two years, 4 lakh 25 thousand company directors have been disqualified and the registration
Eradication of 'Triple Talaq' and 'Nikah-Halala' imperative for ensuring women equality: Kovind
President Ram Nath Kovind Thursday said eradication of social evils like 'Triple Talaq' and 'Nikah-Halala' is imperative for ensuring equal rights for women in the country. In his address to both the houses of the Parliament in the Central Hall, Kovind urged all the members to cooperate in these efforts to make the lives of women "better and dignified". "To secure equal rights for every sister and daughter in the country, eradication of social evils like 'Triple Talaq' and 'Nikah-Halala' is imperative," Kovind said in his customary address after formation of the 17th Lok Sabha. Under instant 'triple talaq', a Muslim man can divorce his wife by uttering 'talaq' three times in one go. 'Nikah halala' requires a divorced woman to marry and consummate the marriage with another man before she can return to her first husband. The Supreme Court has ruled instant 'triple talaq' as unconstitutional following which the previous government introduced a bill to make it a criminal offence. But the .
In Lebanon, Syrian refugees face new pressure to go home
Lebanese authorities are making their most aggressive campaign yet for Syrian refugees to return home and are taking action to ensure they can't put down roots. Mirroring the rise of anti-migrant sentiment in Europe and around the world, some in Lebanon say that after eight years of war in neighboring Syria they have had enough of the burden of the highest concentration of refugees per capital in the world 1 million amid a Lebanese population of nearly 5 million especially at a time when they are facing austerity measures and a weakened economy. Anti-refugee sentiment in Lebanon has waxed and waned in the past. It's been persistent but limited among a public torn by conflicting feelings resentment over past domination by Syria and worry over the refugees' impact on their country's delicate sectarian balance, but also sympathy for the refugees amid memories of their own displacement during Lebanon's long civil war. But this time a rising star in the country's politics has latched ...
MPs should work in a way that people are inspired: Prez
President Ram Nath Kovind Thursday advised parliamentarians to accord priority to their duties as public representatives so that people are inspired to discharge their duties as citizens. In his address to the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament in the historic Central Hall, Kovind also urged all MPs to dedicate themselves to the task of building a 'New India' and to discharge duties with utmost sincerity over the next five years. "My advice to all MPs is that you should always remember the fundamental mantra of Gandhiji. He had said that every decision of ours should be guided by its impact on the poorest and the weakest person in the society," he said in his customary address after the formation of the 17th Lok Sabha. The president said all parliamentarians will have to accord priority to their duties as public representatives and as citizens of the country. "Only then will we be able to inspire countrymen to discharge their duties as citizens," he said. Kovind .
'People gave mandate to continue India's development journey'
The people of India have given a mandate to continue with the country's development journey that started in 2014, President Ram Nath Kovind said Thursday. In his address to the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament in the historic Central Hall, he said government is moving ahead to create a strong, secure and inclusive India. In his customary address after formation of the 17th Lok Sabha, the President also said that government has started a pension scheme to help farmers and small traders live a life of dignity. Congratulating the Election Commission and crores of officials and security personnel involved in holding the general elections, he pointed out that over 61 crore people voted in the Lok Sabha polls, creating a record. He said women came out in large numbers to exercise their franchise. He said a record 78 women have been elected as members of the Lok Sabha -- the highest ever and almost half of the elected members are first timers. "In this election, the ...
'Dear White People' season 3 premiere date announced
The third season of satirical series "Dear White People" is set to start streaming from August 2, Netflix has announced. The streaming service timed the news in celebration of Juneteenth, which commemorates the June 19, 1865 abolition of slavery in Texas, reported Deadline. Based on Justin Simien's acclaimed debut indie feature, the show is set against the backdrop of a predominantly white Ivy League university where racial tensions simmer below the surface. It revolves around a group of Winchester University's students of colour as they deal with a diverse landscape of social injustice, cultural bias, political correctness and activism in the millennial age. The cast includes Antoinette Robertson, DeRon Horton, John Patrick Amedori, Ashley Blaine Featherson, Marque Richardson, Logan Browning and Brandon P Bell.
Mexico ratifies new trade deal with US, Canada
Mexico ratified the new North American trade agreement Wednesday, making the country the first to give it final approval despite recent tension with the US. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) passed in the Mexican Senate with 114 votes in favor and just four against, sending what the economy ministry called "a clear message in favor of an open economy and deepening economic integration in the region." There was little doubt the new deal would pass easily in Mexico: the one it aims to replace, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), has helped turn the country into an exporting powerhouse over the past 25 years. Opening debate in the upper house, Senator Veronica Martinez, secretary of the economic committee, called the deal "an important agreement for all Mexicans." "Our economy has been transformed" by regional free trade, she said. The three countries signed the agreement on November 30 after a year of thorny negotiations triggered by US President Donald ...
NSUI to pay fees of kids of slain soldiers, farmers seeking admission in DU
The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) Wednesday announced it will pay the fees of Delhi University aspirants who are children of slain security personnel and farmers who committed suicide. The Congress-backed students' body made the announcement on the occasion of party president Rahul Gandhi's birthday. The NSUI wants to help the children from families of slain Army and security personnel. For this, it wants to pay one year's fees for the children from these families who are going to take admission in the Delhi University this year, it said. The NSUI will also be paying the fees of those who come from the families of farmers who committed suicide due to non-payment of loans to banks, it added. Students will have to register themselves on 'nnsuifordu@gmail.com', following which the national committee will verify their claims and serve the children from the aforementioned families,the NSUI said.
Bihar encephalitis deaths: Protesters in Delhi demand resignation of CM, health min
Protesters gathered outside the Bihar Bhawan here Wednesday demanded the resignation of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the state's health minister Mangal Pandey over the death of more than 100 children due to acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in the state. Fresh deaths due to AES were reported in the state's Muzaffarpur district, taking the total number of casualties to 113. The deaths took place at the Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH), where 20 fresh cases were brought since Tuesday night. Torab Niazi, National Youth General Secretary of Jan Adhikar Party that organised the protest demanded that Rs 25 lakh pe given to the families of the deceased children. "Nitish Kumar and Bihar health minister Mangal Pandey should step down. We are holding protest here because in Bihar, they have imposed section 144," he said. The Opposition in Bihar is quite and not asking any questions about the death of innocent children, he added. Earlier this week, Kumar had visited ...
Two die of fever in Coimbatore, Mettupalayam
A 21-year-old woman has died of suspected brain fever here, while a migrant worker succumbed to a mystery fever near here, sources said Wednesday. Ramya, an IT professional, had been suffering from the fever for the last few days and admitted to a private hospital. As there was no improvement in her condition, she was admitted to the government hospital on June 15 and doctors suspected the brain fever as the reason for the illness. They provided treatment, but she died Tuesday night, the sources said. When contacted, a senior health department official said this could be an isolated case. Meanwhile, a 40-year-old migrant worker from Bihar died of a mysterious fever in the nearby government hospital, Mettupalayam, early Wednesday. Umesh had been suffering from fever for the last three days and undergoing treatment. However, the fever continued and he died without responding to treatment, sources from the hospital said.
Validation of cyclone hit Bhubaneswar city vendors begins
A month-and-a-half after the cyclone Fani battered Odisha, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Wednesday started validating a list of the city's street vendors affected by the calamity in order to provide each of them an assistance of Rs 10,000, officials said. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced last month that about 30,000 street vendors in 11 urban local bodies of the state will get a cash assistance of Rs 10,000 each. The process for verifying the list of street vendors has started in BMC areas and it may take five-six days, the officials said adding that it will be held in other 10 urban local bodies later. The capital city has an estimated 21,483 street vendors - 2,440 mobile vendors, 1,276 peripatetic vendors and 17,767 stationary vendors - and this list is being verified, officials said. They said the assistance of Rs 10,000 will be given to Fani-affected vendors through direct benefit transfer (DBT) mode. The validation is being carried out in ..
Nippon Paint launches employment opportunity program for people with special needs
Keeping in line with its tradition of transforming the lives of underprivileged and special-needs children, Nippon Paint - Asia's No. 1 paint brand in terms of revenues, has launched SAHYOG - a program that aims at creating employment opportunities for people with special needs.Over the next few days, students with Autism Spectrum Disorder from PORDAC NGO (Protection of the Rights of Differently Abled Children) will join as Trainee Interns in the coveted Paint division of Nippon Paint. They will be given specific training on painting Nippon Paint's special-edition products.Delhi-based Thamjit Mayengbam, a differently-abled child with Down Syndrome, today started interning in the Delhi facility (Okhla) of Nippon Paint India.Nippon Paint has always made strides towards becoming a true community brand that engages with society and creates significant opportunities for the whole eco system and larger community. In order to provide dignified employment opportunities to the specially-abled .
Delhi govt offers to help Bihar tackle encephalitis
The Delhi government Wednesday offered all possible assistance to Bihar to deal with the increasing cases of children dying due to acute encephalitis syndrome (AES). Talking to reporters here, deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, flanked by Health Minister Satyendar Jain, said the AAP government was ready to send a team of doctors, paramedics, medicines and ambulances to Bihar. Around 113 children have died so far due to AES in the state. Earlier this week, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had visited a hospital in Muzaffarpur where he faced protests by angry people over the deaths. "I offer all possible assistance to the Bihar government in this crisis. We are ready to provide help such as sending teams of our doctors, para-medical staff, medicines and ambulances, to the state government," Sisodia said. Hitting out at the central government, Jain sought to know as to why no child was getting medical treatment under its Ayushman Bharat programme. The Delhi health minister had ...
No deliberate delay in executing death penalty of 2 convicts: Maha govt to HC
The Maharashtra government Wednesday told the Bombay High Court that there has been no "deliberate or inordinate delay" on its part in deciding and executing the death penalty imposed on two convicts in the 2007 Pune BPO employee's gang-rape and murder case. The state home department and Superintendent of Yerwada jail in Pune, where the two convicts are lodged, filed their affidavits in response to the pleas filed by the duo seeking to halt their execution scheduled on June 24. The petitions filed by Purushottam Borate and Pradeep Kokade have claimed that the "inordinate delay" in executing the sentence violated their fundamental rights. They urged the high court to commute their death sentence to life imprisonment. In the affidavit, the government said the Pune sessions court delayed in issuing warrants for the convicts' execution despite several reminders sent by the Yerwada prison superintendent and Additional Director General, Prisons Department, Pune. The home department, in its .
Massive protest in Kathmandu against controversial Guthi Bill
Thousands of protestors took to streets here on Wednesday demanding the government to scrap the controversial "Guthi Bill" which, they said, is against the cultural heritage of the Himalayan nation.Guthis, a form of institutional landownership, are socio-economic institutions that fulfill religious public services and social roles from incomes of cultivated or leased land as assets. This sort of institution has been in practice in Nepal for centuries which involve members from a common lineage or several.On April 30, the Nepali government tabled the controversial bill through the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation in the Upper House which proposes consolidation of all acts and amendments related to 'Guthis'."The government has grown more pragmatic for getting a two-thirds majority and is marching towards the state of solitude. It is neither listening to the opposition nor the public and is making decisions on own whims," Maya Dangal, one of the ...
Panel to probe high number of hysterectomy cases in Beed: Maharashtra health minister
The Maharashtra government has set up a committee to probe the high number of hysterectomies that were performed in Beed district in the last three years.This was disclosed by Health Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday while replying to a question by Shiv Sena leader Neelam Gohre in the state Assembly.The committee will be headed by the principal secretary of the health department.As many 4,605 women underwent womb removal surgeries in Beed district in the last three years, Shinde told the House."The committee will also have a team comprising three gynaecologists and women MLAs of the state. The panel has been asked to submit its report within two months," he said.Gohre had raised the issue of women sugarcane farmers aged between 25 to 30 years undergoing womb removal surgeries.In April, the National Commission for Women (NCW) had issued notice to the state chief secretary after a media report said that women were getting their wombs removed to avoid hindrance in work due to ...
Odisha: Litchi goes out of market after encephalitis outbreak in Muzaffarpur
The traders in the state have stopped getting litchis from Muzaffarpur in Bihar, which is reeling under the outbreak of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES).The traders' decision comes after Health Minister Naba Kishore Das asked the Public Food Safety Commissioner to test the quality of litchis from Bihar, which are being sold in the state."I have already asked my department to test the quality of litchis from Bihar. As a result, litchis are not available in the market," Das told reporters here on Wednesday.So far, nearly 112 children have died due to encephalitis in Muzaffarpur, Bihar.Arun Kumar Sahoo, a litchi wholesaler, said: "We were bringing litchi from Malda of West Bengal. But due to complaints about Muzaffarpur litchi, we have stopped to purchase it."Chief District Medical Officer, Sundargarh, DK Sudangi said: "After encephalitis deaths in Bihar, I have asked the Public Health Department to test the quality of litchi. People should get to eat only healthy litchi.
Belagavi: Protest against Union Minister for taking his oath in English
Karnataka Police on Wednesday detained members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, who were protesting against Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways, Suresh Angadi, for taking oath in English as a member of the Lok Sabha.Suresh Angadi, who has won for the fourth time consecutively from Belagavi, having won for the first time in 2004. (ANI)Karnataka Rakshan Vedike or Karnataka Defence forum is a pro-Kannada organization, known for their activism in the interest of Kannada-speaking community in issues like Belgaum border issue, Krishna river water sharing, Cauvery water dispute, Hogenakkal, Mahadai project and so on..