Page 105 - Social Issues
US struggling with growing number of asylum seekers
Border officials are aiming to more than quadruple the number of asylum seekers sent back over the southern border each day, a major expansion of a top government effort to address the swelling number of Central Americans arriving in the country, a Trump administration official said Saturday. It was the latest attempt to ease a straining immigration system that officials say is at the breaking point. Hundreds of officers who usually screen cargo and vehicles at ports of entry were reassigned to help manage migrants. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen asked for volunteers from non-immigration agencies within her department, sent a letter to Congress late this past week requesting resources and broader authority to deport families faster, and she met with Central American and Mexican officials. The efforts are being made while President Donald Trump is doubling down on threats to shutter the U.S.-Mexico border entirely, a move that would have serious economic repercussions for
Transgenders transcend social barriers, get married
Eight years ago, when Saloni, a transgender, fell in love with Gulam Nabi Ansari and the couple continued their relationship, they faced opposition from their families and were ridiculed by people. But, the couple's joy knew no bounds when they tied the knot at a mass wedding function held for transgenders here in Chhattisgarh on Saturday. "If you want something from the bottom of your heart, the entire universe conspires to get it for you," said 33-year -old Saloni, evoking a line from Shah Rukh Khan-starrer film "Om Shanti Om". She was among 15 transgenders who got married at the function, said to be the first such event for the community in the country. It was conceived by Raipur-based transgender and social activist Vidya Rajput and her team. Both Saloni and Ansari hail from Nagpur district in Maharashtra. "Initially, we decided to keep our relationship a secret. When we told about it to our families, they did not accept it, which is a common problem for ...
Undocumented immigrants released from overcrowded Texas centre
Authorities in Texas have released a number of undocumented immigrants from an overcrowded border processing centre, the media reported.
Transgenders get married in Raipur mass wedding
Fifteen couples got married in a mass wedding ceremony organised for the transgender community here on Saturday.The ceremony was conducted in traditional Hindu ceremonial style with pre-wedding rituals of 'haldi', 'mehendi', engagement and 'sangeet' held a day earlier on Friday."This should have happened a long time ago because we transgenders don't have anybody to share out joys and sorrows. Nobody understands our sorrows. Today the government has given us such a good scheme and has given us an opportunity to get married. I thank them profusely" said Madhu Kinnar, a transgender and the mayor of Raigarh in Chhattisgarh who attended the event."We are getting life partners, what can be better news than this?" said Madhu adding that the marriage was the first of its kind in the country and hopefully it will set a trend for future such events.According to the 2014 Supreme Court judgement, transgenders are now recognised as "third gender" and enjoy constitutional rights and freedom.The ...
Ukrainians to cast vote to elect president
Voters in Ukraine will cast votes on Sunday to elect their sixth president from 39 candidates in the fray.Polls on Sunday will commence around 8 am and close at 8 pm. The counting will take place on Monday. Around 35 million people are eligible to vote.The vote will be monitored by observers from 18 countries as well as 139 Ukrainian civil society organisations, according to Ukraine's Central Election Commission (CEC).This would be a test for President Petro Poroshenko who is facing anti-incumbency. Recently, several people hit the streets to protest against Poroshenko. Even the latest surveys show that another contender Volodymr Zelensky is leading the race with 20.6 percent.Numbers of voters who will come to cast vote is also debatable, among the eligible voters, millions are in Russia-annexed Crimea and Ukraine.Ukraine is a war-torn country which is struggling with corruption. According to the United Nations, more than 13,000 people have been killed in the war that broke out in ...
Trump cuts foreign aid, threatens to close Mexico border
Threatening drastic action against Mexico, President Donald Trump declared he is likely to shut down America's southern border next week unless Mexican authorities immediately halt all illegal immigration. The president, who also cut U.S. aid to three Central American nations whose citizens are fleeing north, emphasized "I am not kidding around" about closing the border, even though such a severe move could hit the economies of both countries. "It could mean all trade" with Mexico, Trump said when questioned on Friday by reporters in Florida. "We will close it for a long time." Though Trump has previously threatened to close the border and has not followed through, his administration moved to cut direct aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. The State Department said in a statement that it will suspend 2017 and 2018 payments to the trio of nations that have been home to some of the migrant caravans that have marched through Mexico to the U.S. border. Trump has been promising for .
People in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa celebrate Holi
People in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday celebrated Holi, coinciding with the beginning of the spring season. The Department of Auqaf, Hajj, Religious and Minority Affairs (AHRAMA) hosted the festivities. Around 600 people from the minority Hindu community thronged the Nishtar Hall and celebrated the festival of colours. The day-long celebrations witnessed the Hindu community perform aarti followed by prayers for the prosperity of the country. Youths dressed in Punjabi attire performed Bhangra (dance). Chief guest Dr Hisham Inam Ullah Khan, the Minister for Health, said the Hindu community marked the onset of the spring season with enthusiasm. "Despite our race and religion, we stand united," he said, adding that peace has prevailed and minorities are safe here. Secretary of AHRAMA Hassan Mehmood Yousafzai, Members of the Provincial Assembly Ravi Kumar, Wazir Zada, Ranjeet Singh were also present at the ceremony. The MPAs said the celebration of minorities' events will help
Pope in Morocco: Walls, fear-mongering won't stop migration
Pope Francis praised Morocco as a model of religious moderation and migrant welcome as he kicked off a trip to the kingdom Saturday, warning that walls and fear-mongering won't stop people from exercising their legitimate right to seek a better life elsewhere. King Mohamed VI welcomed Francis as he arrived during an unusual rainstorm and began a 27-hour visit aimed at boosting Christian-Muslim ties and showing solidarity with Morocco's ever-growing migrant community. Morocco last year became the main destination for sub-Saharan African migrants seeking to reach Europe via Spain. The influx has strained the kingdom's resources and fueled anti-migrant sentiment in Spain ahead of the European Union nation's April 28 general election. After an airport greeting, the two leaders took separate vehicles Francis in his popemobile and the king in a Mercedes with a retracted roof and paraded in tandem into town for a formal welcome ceremony at the complex where two of Morocco's past monarchs ..
Will Congress' Nyay help tackle poverty?
The Nyuntam Aay Yojana (Nyay) promised by the Congress ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections could make a difference to its fortunes in most of what have been identified as aspirational districts. The party claims it to be the "ultimate cure" for poverty in the country.
Farmers hold protest rally in Amritsar
Farmers under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee Saturday held a protest rally near the residence of Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu here in support of their demands including a complete loan waiver. The agitating farmers lashed out at the governments at the Centre and in the state for not accepting their demands. Besides complete loan waiver, farmers have been seeking implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report, payment of outstanding amount to cane growers, plots to homeless farmers or farm labourers and old age pension, they said. Press Secretary of the committee, Harpreet Singh Sidhawa, threatened that the farmers would squat on railway track on March 31 to press the governments to accept their demands.
Ganja worth Rs 32 lakh seized in Jharkhand
The police Saturday seized 800 kg ganja worth approximately Rs 32 lakh in Lohardaga district, a senior police officer said here. Superintendent of Police, Priyadarshi Alok said following a tip-off that a consignment was being ferried to Bihar from Kolkata, the police began searching vehicles in the district and found the contraband hidden in a 12-wheeler truck near Kudu of the district. Four persons in a car escorting the truck were taken into custody for questioning, the SP added.
HC upholds TN Act for providing safety of women, kids in lodging houses
The Madras High Court has upheld a state act for regulating lodging houses for women and children, observing that it not discriminatory as the matter of security and safety of women cannot be compared to that of men. A group of women had challenged the Tamil Nadu Hostels and Homes for Women and Children (Regulation) Act 2014, contending that the provisions of such a special enactment were discriminatory and unconstitutional. Their PIL also contended, among other things, that installation of CCTVs would invade the privacy of inmates. Dismissing the PIL, a division bench of justices S Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad said the enactment was for a larger interest, aimed at the safety and security of women and children, in hostels, lodging houses and homes for children and women. "When safety and security of children and women in hostels, lodging houses and homes for children and women, are the paramount objects, indeed there should be a exclusive enactment, to the vulnerable sections of ..
Liam Neeson apologises for racial comment, says he was 'wrong'
Liam Neeson apologized for the comments that he once considered a racist "revenge" attack which came out in February.As a formal apology, Liam came out open to the media and expressed his sorrow over what had sparked a row.In a statement issued to Variety, he said: "I missed the point and hurt many people at a time when language is so often weaponized and an entire community of innocent people are targeted in acts of rage."He added "The horror of what happened to my friend ignited irrational thoughts that do not represent the person I am. I was wrong to do what I did. I recognize that, although the comments I made do not reflect, in any way, my true feelings nor me, they were hurtful and divisive. I profoundly apologize."Neeson's comment ignited a controversy after he gave an interview to the British newspaper The Independent, where he spoke of killing a black person after a friend of his claimed she was raped by a black man."I went up and down areas with a (nightstick), hoping I'd be
Pak armed force personnel chops off wife's hair for not covering her head
A Malakand Levies force personnel has been accused by his wife of torturing her and cutting off her hair for not covering her head during a family function earlier this month.An FIR has been lodged against the personnel at the Mathra police station here, according to Daily Times.The woman has alleged that the incident occurred when she was attending her husband's cousin's wedding. The 'dupatta', or the long scarf typically worn by women in South Asia, slipped off her head while greeting relatives at the do, which apparently angered her husband.Upon reaching home, the husband was physically violent towards the wife, following which he grabbed a pair of scissors and cut off all her hair as "punishment.""There was no one else in the room except my three-year-old child and so he continued beating me," a police official quoted the woman as saying.The husband then threatened to kill the woman if she shared details regarding the brutal act of domestic violence with anybody.This led to the ...
Karnataka CM seeks EC help to stop tax raids
Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday sought the Election Commission's intervention to stop the Income Tax department raids on contractors and businessmen allegedly associated with the ruling JD-S and Congress.
Trump threatens to shut down border with Mexico next week
Threatening drastic action against Mexico, President Donald Trump declared he is likely to shut down America's southern border next week unless Mexican authorities immediately halt all illegal immigration. Such a severe move could hit the economies of both countries, but the president emphasised, "I am not kidding around." "It could mean all trade" with Mexico, Trump said when questioned Friday by reporters in Florida. "We will close it for a long time." Trump has been promising for more than two years to build a long, impenetrable wall along the border to stop illegal immigration, though Congress has been reluctant to provide the money he needs. In the meantime, he has repeatedly threatened to close the border, but this time, with a new surge of migrants heading north, he gave a definite timetable. A substantial closure could have an especially heavy impact on cross-border communities from San Diego to South Texas, as well as supermarkets that sell Mexican produce, factories that ...
Bangladesh stops Rohingya making risky journey to Malaysia
Bangladesh security forces stopped 29 people, mostly Rohingya Muslims, from being smuggled to Malaysia in rickety fishing boats, officials said Saturday, the latest group prevented from leaving squalid refugee camps. Lieutenant Commander Mahmud Hasan said Bangladesh Coast Guard forces found 16 women, seven children and six men waiting for the boat along the coast of the southern Saint Martin's Island early Saturday. "Among them 22 are Rohingya refugees from the Cox's Bazar camps and the rest are Bangladeshis. We have also arrested three human traffickers with a boat," Hasan told reporters. The official said they have handed over the traffickers to the police and sent the refugees back to Kutupalong, the largest refugee camp in the world. About 740,000 of the Muslim minority fled Myanmar for Bangladesh, escaping a military crackdown in the Buddhist-majority nation in August 2017, and joining some 300,000 Rohingya already living in the overcrowded camps. Saturday's operation marked the .
Indian stabbed to death in Germany, wife injured
An Indian national has been stabbed to death and his wife injured in an attack by an immigrant near Munich in Germany, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted on Saturday.
3 migrants charged in Malta in hijacking of ship at sea
Three teenage migrants have been charged in Malta with seizing control of a merchant ship and using force and intimidation, a crime considered a terrorist activity under Maltese law. One of the accused was identified by the court during the arraignment Saturday as Abdalla Bari, a 19-year-old from Guinea. The other two are 15 and 16, and as minors could not be named. One is also from Guinea and the other from Ivory Coast. They are suspects in the hijacking in the Mediterranean this week of the El Hiblu 1, an oil tanker. The captain has said that migrants that his crew had rescued began rioting and took control of his ship when they saw it was returning to Libya, forcing it to turn north toward Europe.
'Unemployment biggest challenge seen by Indians'
In the run-up to the general election, lack of employment opportunities is seen by the Indian public as the biggest challenge, said a report.