Page 106 - Social Issues
US awards $1.7mn grant to anti-abortion clinics
US President Donald Trump's administration announced that it would award a $1.7 million family planning grant to a chain of crisis pregnancy centres that oppose abortion and dont offer contraceptives.
AgustaWestland case: Sushen Mohan Gupta's ED custody extended by four days
A Special CBI court on Saturday extended by four days the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody of alleged middleman Sushen Gupta in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland money-laundering case.Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar passed the order after hearing arguments on the agency's plea for extension of custody.Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) DP Singh and advocate Naveen Kumar Matta, appearing for the ED, submitted, "We need Gupta's further custody to confront him with documents which are voluminous."They said that the agency also wants to question him along with Rajiv Saxena who recently turned approver in the case, and sought 10 days remand.The prosecution contended that Gupta was trying to "influence" people who are likely to be witnesses in this case.Countering the agency's submissions, defence counsel PV Kapoor argued that there were no fresh grounds and that his client has already been questioned by the ED."Gupta's father has suffered a heart attack and is admitted in a hospital due to
Pope's trip to Morocco to highlight Christian-Muslim ties
Pope Francis's weekend trip to Morocco aims to highlight the North African nation's tradition of Christian-Muslim ties while also letting him show solidarity with migrants at Europe's door and tend to a tiny Catholic flock on the peripheries. Francis will address the first two items on the agenda Saturday when he begins his 27-hour visit to Rabat, the Moroccan capital. He'll tend to the third when he wraps up the visit with a Mass and a meeting with Moroccan clergy on Sunday. "Morocco has always been a pioneer in initiatives of dialogue with Christians," said Abdellah Boussouf, an Islamologist and secretary general of the Council of the Moroccan Community Living Abroad. "Christians have always enjoyed their rights in Morocco, including freedom of movement, church building and marriage." The highlight of the trip is likely to be Francis' visit Saturday to the Mohammed VI Institute, a school of learning for imams that epitomizes Morocco's efforts to promote a moderate brand of Islam and
Giriraj blames Jignesh Mevani for attacks on migrants in
Union minister Giriraj Singh Saturday trained his guns at Jignesh Mevani, who has been canvassing for his CPI rival Kanhaiya Kumar in Begusarai, blaming the young Dalit leader from Gujarat for the attacks on migrants from Bihar in the western state last year. An indignant Mevani hit back saying he would sue the BJP leader for defamation and alleged that in the backdrop of the "silence" of the ruling BJP in Gujarat, during the anti-migrant violence, Girirajs outbursts were tantamount to "ulta chor kotwal ko daante" (the thief reprimanding the policeman). "What is this Jignesh Mevani doing here in Begusarai. He was involved in attacks on Biharis who were forcibly driven out of Gujarat. He abetted those responsible for the dishonour that our mothers and sisters had to suffer in that state," Singh who reached Begusarai on Friday after spending several days in a sulk over not getting a chance to seek re-election from his Nawada seat - tweeted. "I am going to lodge a ...
Giriraj blames Jignesh Mevani for attacks on migrants in
Union minister Giriraj Singh Saturday trained his guns at Jignesh Mevani, who has been canvassing for his CPI rival Kanhaiya Kumar in Begusarai, blaming the young Dalit leader from Gujarat for the attacks on migrants from Bihar in the western state last year. An indignant Mevani hit back saying he would sue the BJP leader for defamation and alleged that in the backdrop of the "silence" of the ruling BJP in Gujarat, during the anti-migrant violence, Girirajs outbursts were tantamount to "ulta chor kotwal ko daante" (the thief reprimanding the policeman). "What is this Jignesh Mevani doing here in Begusarai. He was involved in attacks on Biharis who were forcibly driven out of Gujarat. He abetted those responsible for the dishonour that our mothers and sisters had to suffer in that state," Singh who reached Begusarai on Friday after spending several days in a sulk over not getting a chance to seek re-election from his Nawada seat - tweeted. "I am going to lodge a ...
Giriraj blames Jignesh Mevani for attacks on migrants in
Union minister Giriraj Singh Saturday trained his guns at Jignesh Mevani, who has been canvassing for his CPI rival Kanhaiya Kumar in Begusarai, blaming the young Dalit leader from Gujarat for the attacks on migrants from Bihar in the western state last year. An indignant Mevani hit back saying he would sue the BJP leader for defamation and alleged that in the backdrop of the "silence" of the ruling BJP in Gujarat, during the anti-migrant violence, Girirajs outbursts were tantamount to "ulta chor kotwal ko daante" (the thief reprimanding the policeman). "What is this Jignesh Mevani doing here in Begusarai. He was involved in attacks on Biharis who were forcibly driven out of Gujarat. He abetted those responsible for the dishonour that our mothers and sisters had to suffer in that state," Singh who reached Begusarai on Friday after spending several days in a sulk over not getting a chance to seek re-election from his Nawada seat - tweeted. "I am going to lodge a ...
US state passes bill banning first-heartbeat abortion
The governor of the southern US state of Georgia was expected to sign a bill banning abortion as soon as a heartbeat is detected, after legislators on Friday approved the text which Hollywood celebrities vowed to fight. Abortion is one of the most politically divisive issues in the United States and numerous states have tried to limit access to abortions. Georgia's lower house approved the "heartbeat bill" which prohibits abortions as soon as the first beats of the fetus are heard -- from six weeks -- something that happens when most mothers still don't know they are pregnant. "Georgia values life. We stand up for the innocent and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves," Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican, wrote in a statement congratulating legislators. The country's major human rights group, the American Civil Liberties Union, vowed a legal challenge. "If Gov. Kemp signs this abortion ban bill into law, the ACLU has one message: we will see you in court," said Andrea Young, .
US state passes bill banning first-heartbeat abortion
The governor of the southern US state of Georgia was expected to sign a bill banning abortion as soon as a heartbeat is detected, after legislators on Friday approved the text which Hollywood celebrities vowed to fight. Abortion is one of the most politically divisive issues in the United States and numerous states have tried to limit access to abortions. Georgia's lower house approved the "heartbeat bill" which prohibits abortions as soon as the first beats of the fetus are heard -- from six weeks -- something that happens when most mothers still don't know they are pregnant. "Georgia values life. We stand up for the innocent and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves," Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican, wrote in a statement congratulating legislators. The country's major human rights group, the American Civil Liberties Union, vowed a legal challenge. "If Gov. Kemp signs this abortion ban bill into law, the ACLU has one message: we will see you in court," said Andrea Young, .
US state passes bill banning first-heartbeat abortion
The governor of the southern US state of Georgia was expected to sign a bill banning abortion as soon as a heartbeat is detected, after legislators on Friday approved the text which Hollywood celebrities vowed to fight. Abortion is one of the most politically divisive issues in the United States and numerous states have tried to limit access to abortions. Georgia's lower house approved the "heartbeat bill" which prohibits abortions as soon as the first beats of the fetus are heard -- from six weeks -- something that happens when most mothers still don't know they are pregnant. "Georgia values life. We stand up for the innocent and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves," Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican, wrote in a statement congratulating legislators. The country's major human rights group, the American Civil Liberties Union, vowed a legal challenge. "If Gov. Kemp signs this abortion ban bill into law, the ACLU has one message: we will see you in court," said Andrea Young, .
Libyan authorities rescue 117 immigrants off its western coast
Libyan authorities rescued 117 immigrants, including children, off the coast of Al-Khoms on Friday."Coast guards patrol rescued 117 immigrants of different African nationalities on a rubber boat," Xinhua quoted the Libyan authorities as saying.The rescued people include 84 men, 15 women, and 18 children, according to the authorities. They were provided with medical and humanitarian assistance upon rescue.The internal strife in Libya has led to scores of people leaving the region to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe.Until now, thousands of immigrants have lost their lives after undertaking dangerous sea travel on overcrowded rubber boats in a bid to escape turmoil in their own countries.The death of a three-year-old Syrian boy, Alan Kurdi - whose body washed up on a beach in Turkey - brought the plight of the refugees to the forefront, leading to an international outcry.The UN Human Rights Council launched a social media campaign '#WithRefugees' after the little boy's picture ...
China: Five killed after explosion at factory in Shandong
Five people were killed while three were injured after an explosion at a Perlite factory in Qingzhou here on Friday night, according to Chinese state media.The owner of the factory has been taken into police custody as initial investigations revealed that the accident was caused by a leak in a liquefied gas tank.This comes after 64 people lost their lives due to a deadly blast at a chemical plant in Yancheng earlier this month. Further investigations are underway in the incident.
I-T Dept raids DMK treasurer Durai Murugan's Vellore residence
Income Tax department and Election Commission officials are conducting raids since last night at Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) treasurer Durai Murugan's residence in Vellore, officials said on Saturday.Kingston Engineering College and Durai Murugan B.Ed College, which are owned by Murugan's son Kadhir Anand, are also being raided by officials in Katpadi.The DMK has fielded Kadhir Anand from Vellore Parliamentary constituency against AIADMK leader AC Shanmugam.When the officials reached Katpadi, they were not allowed to enter Murugan's house by his advocate and DMK members, stating that the officials have no valid documents to carry out raids.After an hour of delay, Assistant Commissioner of the I-T department Vijay Deepan arrived at the residence, following which a heated argument broke out between officials and DMK cadres.The officials had come to search the house based on Section 131 of the Income Tax Act, which empowers the I-T authorities to conduct inquiries.Meanwhile, ...
House Democrats to vote against Obamacare repeal
House Democrats will vote on April 2 on a resolution condemning President Donald Trump's decision to call for the elimination of the entire Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare.
Ballot paper in braille for visually impaired Meghalaya voters
The Election Commission has made arrangements to issue braille-enabled ballot papers at all polling booths in the state, as part of its efforts to ensure wider participation of voters in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Chief Electoral Officer F R Kharkongor said. The EC initiative, a first in Meghalaya, will facilitate more than 800 visually impaired electorates to vote by a secret ballot, he said. "We are making preparations to make the election more inclusive We have already mapped over 4,500 persons with disabilities to ensure that they get priority at the polling booths," Kharkongor told PTI on Friday. The ballot paper pasted on the electronic voting machines (EVMs) will have the names and symbol of candidates in braille alphabets, he added. Welcoming the move, the visually challenged voters in the state said the initiative will ensure that they get to cast votes independently, without having to depend on anyone. Bertha Dkhar, who has "never let her disability come
Sindhis call on UN to send fact finding team to Sindh, seek UN intervention in deteriorating human rights situation in Pakistani Province
The World Sindhi Congress (WSC), which represents the interest of the Sindhi People, has formally asked the United Nations to send a fact-finding team to Pakistan to investigate the ongoing human rights violations in Sindh province of Pakistan and to clear the way for formal United Nations intervention in the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in Sindh.Lakhu Luhana, the secretary general of London-based World Sindhi Congress said, "Sindhi people are currently facing the worst atrocities in their history. Enforced disappearances are occurring on an average of 10 persons per month, violence against religious minorities has reached unprecedented levels - in last 2 months 13 underage girls from the most vulnerable Sindhi Hindu community have been abducted and forcibly converted".He laid stress on an urgent visit of UN fact-finding mission to Sindh where the people are facing persecution in the hands of state agencies.Lakhu Luhana added, "The resources of Sindh, rather ...
Trump threatens to close US-Mexico border
US President Donald Trump has threatened to close the country's border with Mexico to trade for a "long time" and insisted that America has run out of detention space for undocumented immigrants.
Trump threatens to close US-Mexico border next week
US President Donald Trump threatened to close the nation's southern border with Mexico next week, amid feud over illegal immigration.
Harassed, cluster bus conductor commits suicide
A 27-year-old man, working as a conductor with a cluster bus, allegedly committed suicide by jumping in front of a running train here at the Ghevra railway crossing, a police officer said on Friday.
SC bats for family planning of cars -- 'hum do mamare do'
The Supreme Court on Friday batted for the family planning of the cars possessed by a household on the lines of 'Hum Do Hamare Do' as it expressed concern over one person having as many as five cars.
Farmer kills himself in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district
A 52-year-old farmer allegedly committed suicide in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district due to crop failure and debt burden, police said Friday. The purported suicide note of Dhanraj Baliram Navhate, resident of Pahapal in Pandharkawda tehsil, blamed the BJP-Shiv Sena government in the state for his plight, police said. Navhate had four acres of agricultural land and owed Rs 2 lakh to a private money lender, a police official said. According to his family, he had faced repeated crop failures in the recent years. Navhate left house Wednesday morning to visit his married daughter in Vani, but did not return till late in the evening next day. His body was found in a pit in his farm. Preliminary examination suggested that he had taken poison. A suicide note found on the body said the present government should be condemned, and the earlier Congress government was better as it took everyone along. However, it was yet to be verified if the note was written by Navhate, the police ...