Page 100 - Social Issues
First batch of doctors from Wayanad Medical College enter medical service
Governor Justice (Retd.) P Sathasivam, the Chancellor of KUHAS will award MBBS degrees to the first batch students of the DM Wayanad Institute of Medical Sciences (DM WIMS), on Saturday, 6th April, in a grand ceremony at Naseera Nagar.Prof MKC Nair, Vice Chancellor, Kerala University of Health Sciences, will be the chief guest of the function. DM WIMS has received permanent recognition of the Medical Council of India and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. This was announced by Dr Azad Moopen, Chairman, Aster DM Healthcare and DM Education and Research Foundation, at Kochi today.Started in 2013, DM WIMS Medical College could script great success in a short span of time, with the first batch of students securing 96 per cent pass in the final year MBBS examination conducted by the Kerala University of Health Sciences in 2018 with 33 first classes. The top-performing students of the batch, who excelled in the examination, will be presented with gold medals on .
Mizoram civil societies reverse decision to boycott LS polls
An apex body of major civil societies and student associations in Mizoram, which had earlier sought to boycott the Lok Sabha election, reversed its decision on Thursday following an internal meeting of the organisation's top hierarchy. Election to the state's lone Lok sabha seat and by- election to Aizawl West-I assembly constituency will be held simultaneously on April 11. The NGO Coordination Committee had called for an indefinite strike from April 8 in protest against the decision of the Election Commission(EC) to set up exclusive polling booths at Kanhmun village, on the Mizoram-Tripura border, for the Bru voters lodged in six relief camps of Tripura. A statement issued by the committee claimed that the boycott was called off after the state government promised to end the Bru imbroglio by undertaking the last and final repatriation process this year. Lalhmachhuana, the secretary of the committee, said the decision was reversed as the organization did not want to ...
Bonucci says he spoke 'too hastily', condemns 'all forms of racism'
Under-fire Juventus centre-back Leonardo Bonucci said Wednesday he had been "too hasty" when blaming young teammate Moise Kean for being partly responsible for racist insults hurled at him in a Serie A game at Cagliari. "After 24 hours I want to clarify my feelings," said Bonucci, 31, on Instagram. "Yesterday (Tuesday), I was interviewed right at the end of the game, and my words have been clearly misunderstood, probably because I was too hasty in the way I expressed my thoughts. "Hours and years wouldn't be enough to talk about this topic. "I firmly condemn all forms of racism and discrimination. The abuses are not acceptable at all and this must not be misunderstood." Kean, along with his French teammate Blaise Matuidi and Brazilian Alex Sandro, were targeted by monkey noises and jeers throughout the match in Sardinia. But they increased in intensity after 19-year-old Kean scored the second goal in a 2-0 win. The Italian international celebrated with his hands outstretched in front
US tourist kidnapped in Uganda for $500K ransom
Four armed men kidnapped an American tourist in Uganda and have demanded $500,000 as ransom, the country's police force has confirmed.
Virgin Australia cuts staff deal with Brunei airline over Sharia law
The Australian arm of Richard Branson's Virgin Airlines has cancelled a staff travel agreement with Brunei's national carrier in response to the Asian nation's adoption of sharia law, including the death penalty for gay sex, the airline said Thursday. The agreement allowed Virgin staff to book discounted tickets on Royal Brunei flights for leisure travel. The company, Australia's second-biggest airline after Qantas, sent an email to employees explaining the new Sharia code, which came into effect on Wednesday, applies to Muslims, non-Muslims and foreigners "even when transiting on Brunei-registered aircraft and vessels." "Given the harsh (including death) penalties being introduced for activity that is legal and acceptable in Australia, the myID (staff travel) agreement between Virgin Australia and Royal Brunei has now been terminated effective immediately," said the email, a copy of which was made available to AFP. A separate agreement that allows Royal Brunei to sell seats available
LS polls: Over 60 pink polling booths in Meghalaya
The state of Meghalaya will have at least 60 pink polling booths to encourage women to vote in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections."Women's enrollment and the actual turnout of women in the election has always been very high in Meghalaya. Out of the 18.92 lakh voters in the state, almost 52 per cent are women. To promote women's voting, at least one polling station in every constituency will have a pink polling booth," Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor told ANI."There could be some constituencies where we can have more than one also. So, we have kept a minimum target of 60. Last time we had 67 all women polling stations. So, this year also there could be at least 60," he added.Lok Sabha election on two seats in Meghalaya will be held on April 11. The result will be announced on May 23.
Sri Lanka urged to halt death penalty plan
Amnesty International has urged Sri Lanka to halt plans to resume executions after more than four decades, saying capital punishment will not end drug-related crimes. The statement by the rights group on Wednesday came two days after Sri Lanka president Maithripala Sirisena announced that dates have been set for the country's first executions in 43 years amid rising alarm over drug-related crimes. Authorities have intensified a crackdown on narcotics to deter smugglers from using the Indian Ocean island nation as a transit point for distribution in the region. Biraj Patnaik, South Asia director of Amnesty International, said there is no perfect criminal justice system and the risk of executing an innocent person can never be eliminated. "There is no coming back from an execution," Patnaik said. Amnesty International says legislative amendments in Iran have resulted in a significant decrease in executions of people convicted of drug-related offences. It said trials in Sri Lanka of ...
NE states to fight common issues unitedly
The civil society organisations in the northeastern states on Wednesday formed a common platform in Imphal to fight the common issues in the region unitedly.
Delhi HC asks EC to decide on alleged poll code violations by Andhra government
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take a decision on the alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct by Andhra Pradesh government.A single-judge bench comprising Justice Yogesh Khanna was hearing a plea filed by Jana Chaitanya Vedika stating that the Andhra Pradesh government launched 'Pasupu Kumkuma' and 'Annadata Sukhibhav' schemes just before the Model Code of conduct came into force.The petitioner made representations to the ECI on March 12 and 30, stating that the money transfer under the launched schemes shouldn't happen till polling comes to an end.The court will next hear the case on April 5.'Pasupu Kumkuma' scheme provides financial help to women registered with self-help groups, provides cash of Rs 10,000 and a smartphone too to applicants.It intends to benefit 93 lakh women by transferring money in three installments within three months. Out of these, one installment is to be given a day before polls take place in Andhra ..
Telecom secy calls for joint task force with renewable energy ministry to promote green tech
Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan on Wednesday proposed setting up a joint task force with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to promote green technology in the sector. "It is critical that we should set up a joint task force between the two ministries (telecom and MNRE) to ensure that we work on this together. The incentives that are given to promote renewable energy, the telecom sector should become primary recipient of that kind of incentives," Sundararajan said at an event of telecom tower industry body Taipa. She said that within the mandate of MNRE, there will be scope to design attractive incentivisation policy that can be channelised to telecom companies who adopt renewable energy. "In the new policy, we have already made provision to promote green telecom," Sundararajan said. Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association (Taipa) Director General Tilak Raj Dua said the telecom sector in the country has already deployed around 1.15 lakh diesel-free sites by ...
WhatsApp's new feature will save you from being added to annoying group chats
The amount of WhatsApp groups you are added to surpasses the number of friends you have. To help ease your woes, WhatsApp is reportedly introducing a new tool that will allow you to block anyone from adding you to a group chat.According to Fast Company, the new feature will be available under the privacy settings in the app. Under Privacy, head to Groups in the app, and choose from three options - Nobody, My Contacts, and Everyone.Similar to how you set your preferences for your WhatsApp profile photo or last seen status, you can select Nobody, if you don't want anyone to add you to a group. Choose My Contacts if you are sure of your friends' list and want to avoid spam accounts or business accounts from pestering you with messages. Choose Everyone if you are okay with the current settings which allow anyone using WhatsApp to add you to any group.If you are concerned about your privacy as well as sanity, you can go with the Nobody setting as this will disable any group admin from ...
Woman commits suicide in southwest Delhi's Kishan Garh area
A 24-year-old woman allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan in southwest Delhi's Kishan Garh area, police said Wednesday. The woman, who belongs to Uttar Pradesh, was preparing for competitive exams here and living at a rented house in Kishan Garh area, they said. The incident occurred on Tuesday and police said they were informed about it around 10.30 pm by the house owner. The woman left behind a suicide note stating that she was taking this extreme step by her wish and does not hold anyone responsible for the same, the senior police officer said. The body was preserved in mortuary. It will be handed over to her family after post-mortem, police said.
Every third elderly person suffers misbehaviour, mistreatment in Delhi-NCR, claims NGO study
Every third elderly person suffers misbehaviour or mistreatment in Delhi and neighbouring cities, according to a new study an NGO has claimed. Agewell Foundation in a statement on Wednesday said, it conducted a national-level survey for the fifth session of Open-ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWG) for the purpose of strengthening the protection of the human rights of older persons which will be held on July 31 and August 1 at the UN Headquarters in New York. The OEWG is a UN working group that meets in New York. It was established by a resolution at the 2010 General Assembly. "The survey sample respondents included 8,000 elderly people from Delhi-NCR and concluded that out of 2,743 affected elderly respondents, 985 persons ranked misbehaviour as the most common form of abuse of elders," the NGO said in the statement. According to a study, this is the "most common" form of abuse of elders in the region. "Population aging is a worldwide phenomenon, and India is no exception. Indian ...
CBI announces reward for those with information of self-styled godman Virendra Dixit
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for giving information about self-styled godman Virendra Dixit, who has been accused of sexually assaulting women.The announcement comes after Dixit allegedly failed to cooperate with the agency in its investigations.The agency claimed that Dixit has been absconding after Delhi Police filed charge sheet against him.The case was transferred to CBI from Delhi Police by Delhi High Court. CBI had constituted an SIT on December 20, 2017, to investigate the case.Delhi Police had raided Dixit's ashram in Rohini area after receiving complaints of sexual exploitation of minor girls. Several girls who were being kept in inhumane conditions in the ashram were rescued by the police.
Delhi HC asks EC to decide by Apr 4 plea against AP govt schemes ahead of polls
The Delhi High Court Wednesday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to decide by Thursday the representations of an organisation which has alleged that Andhra Pradesh government has attempted to influence voters by launching schemes, including giving monetary benefits, ahead of polls. The organisation has alleged that disbursal of money under these schemes after Lok Sabha election has been notified amounted to violation of model code of conduct. The court was informed by the organisation, Jana Chaitanya Vedika, that it has given two representations to the ECI in March to take action against the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led state government and direct it to keep the transfer of funds, as part of the schemes, in abeyance till the date of polling but no response was received from the poll panel yet. "Since the representations dated March 12 and 30 are still pending, hence the respondent no. 1 (ECI) to dispose of both the representations by passing a speaking order by tomorrow,
CSMT bridge collapse: Another BMC engineer arrested
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) engineer Anil Patil was on Wednesday arrested in connection with the CSMT bridge collapse here.The accused has been sent to police custody till April 5 by Esplanade court.Previously, BMC Assistant Engineer SF Kakulte, another accused in the case, was sent to police custody on Tuesday till April 5 by the Magistrate Court.The court had already sent Neeraj Desai, the structural auditor of the CSMT Bridge, to judicial custody till April 10.Six people were killed and over 30 injured after a portion of the overbridge near the crowded Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station collapsed on the evening of March 14.
HSP manifesto promises universal basic income & jobs
The Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP), of former footballer Bhaichung Bhutia Wednesday said if would launch an universal basic income and would provide jobs to all qualified and unemployed people in Sikkim if voted to power in the coming Assembly election. The HDF manifesto which was released on Wednesday called upon the people of Sikkim to discard the old and cliched caste-communal-crony politics of existing ruling and opposition political parties in the state Assembly, who are nothing but two sides of the same coin. Explaining salient features of his party's manifesto, Bhutia said his party will launch an Universal Basic Income in Sikkim, called Sikkim Samman Yojana, under which a family of five persons will be given an annual guaranteed income of Rs 90,000. The scheme will be implemented within 25 days of his party coming to power, he said at a press conference. Bhutia, who is the working president of HSP, said unemployment was a serious issue in Sikkim with the unemployment .
Protests break out in PoK over custodial death of political activist
People in Muzaffarabad city of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) took to the streets on Tuesday to protest against the "cold-blooded" custodial killing of a political activist.Demonstrators shouted anti-police and anti-government slogans, blocked roads and burnt tyres in anger. They demanded an immediate probe into the death of activist Raja Waqar Turk.In an attempt to quell the mounting anger against the administration and to save itself from media and public scrutiny, the government has formed an inquiry commission which comprises of people who, activists claim, were "perpetrators of the crime.""They called us in SSB office. They searched and enquired. Now, the SHO (Station House Officer) of the city's police station whose personnel were involved in the incident is a member of the inquiry committee. SHO and DSP are members of the committee. As per the law, I believe, a party involved in the crime cannot be a member of the committee. In this case, the same people who have committed the
Trump agrees not to close southern border with Mexico
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) said to have decided to not close the southern border as Mexico "apprehended over a thousand people" at its southern border and returned them to their home countries."I really wanted to close it. But now Mexico is saying, 'No, no, no.' First time in decades. 'We will not let anybody get through.' And they've apprehended over a thousand people at the southern border, their southern border. And they're bringing them back to their countries," The Hill quoted Trump as saying.This comes as a relief to experts who had been arguing that closing the border all together will affect the trade and will detrimental to both the countries.Last week, the President threatened to shut the US' southern border "or large sections of it" next week if Mexico did not begin apprehending more migrants."They've made a big step over the last two days. They are apprehending people," Trump was quoted as saying."The fact that they're doing that means fewer people ..
Severe Sharia law punishments now in force in Brunei
The sultanate of Brunei on Wednesday brought into force severe punishments under a new penal code based on sharia or Islamic law, including death by stoning or amputation applied to crimes such as theft, sodomy or adultery.