Page 117 - Social Issues
NZ PM Ardern calls for global fight against racism
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has called for a global fight to root out racist right-wing ideology following last week's deadly attack on two mosques here.
Protest shutdown hampers life in Valley
Life across the Kashmir Valley was adversely affected on Wednesday following a shutdown called by separatists to protest against the death of a youth in police custody on Monday.
Normal life affected in Kashmir due to strike called by separatists
Normal life in Kashmir was affected Wednesday due to a strike called by separatists to protest against the custodial death of a youth. Schools, colleges and universities remained closed due to the strike called by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), an amalgam of separatist groups, to protest against the death of Rizwan Pandit in police custody on the intervening night of March 18 and 19, officials said. Shops and other business establishments also remained closed while public transport remained off the roads but a few private vehicles could be seen plying on the city roads, they said. The state administration has ordered a magisterial probe into Pandit's death while police have ordered a separate inquiry into the matter.
Facebook to curb discrimination in housing, job ads
In a bid to avoid discrimination in ads related to housing, jobs and credits, Facebook has announced new changes where anyone who wants to run such ads will no longer be allowed to target by age, gender or zip code.
Philippines seizes drugs in upscale area, arrests 4 Chinese
Philippine authorities have seized methamphetamine concealed in tea wrappers and biscuit cans in their second-largest drug haul this year in a sign of how the problem has persisted despite the president's bloody anti-drug crackdown. Three Chinese nationals and a Chinese-Filipino interpreter were arrested late Tuesday in "buy-bust" raids in an upscale residential enclave and outside a shopping mall in Alabang village in the Manila metropolis, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Aaron Aquino said Wednesday. The drugs with a street value of 1.1 billion pesos (USD 20.7 million) were concealed similarly to seizures in Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar, indicating an international drug syndicate was behind the trafficking, Aquino said. Last month, anti-narcotics agents raided a house in Tanza town in Cavite province south of Manila and where they killed two suspected Chinese drug dealers in a gunbattle and seized 1.9 billion pesos (USD 36 million) worth of methamphetamine, a powerful ...
Japan urged to stop requiring transgender sterilisation
Human Rights Watch is urging Japan to drop its requirement that transgender people be sterilised to have their gender changed on official documents. A 2004 law states people wishing to register a gender change must have their original reproductive organs removed and have a body that "appears to have parts that resemble the genital organs" of the gender they want to register. The Supreme Court in January rejected an appeal by a transgender man who wanted legal recognition without undergoing surgery. Human Rights Watch said the compulsory sterilisation requirement is abusive and outdated. A report the international rights group released Wednesday said requiring invasive and irreversible medical procedures violates the rights of transgender people who want their gender identity legally recognised.
Minority members stage walkout after anti-Hindu remarks by Pak lawmaker
Members representing minorities at a provincial legislature in northwest Pakistan Tuesday walked out of the assembly session to protest against anti-Hindu remarks by a lawmaker in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, that has led to the escalation of tensions with India. Remarks by Sher Azam Wazir, the member of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, against India and Hindus in Pakistan irritated lawmaker Ravi Kumar. Kumar said though India is hostile towards Pakistan but not the Hindu community of Pakistan. Wazir later apologised over his remarks and clarified that he meant to say that India is enemy of Pakistan not the Hindu community of Pakistan. Speaker Mushtaq Ghani expunged remarks of Sher Azam Wazir from the assembly proceedings. There are three minority members in the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Tensions escalated between India and Pakistan following the February 14 Pulwama attack that left 40 CRPF personnel dead.
TMC complains to poll panel over PM's photo in rail tickets
Citing railway tickets having photos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Trinamool Congress Tuesday lodged a complaint against the BJP with the Election Commission over alleged violation of the model code of conduct. The TMC claimed that photograph of Modi on railway tickets is part of an advertisement by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and it was in violation of the mode code of conduct. In a letter to the Election Commission, the party said, "We are shocked to notice that even during the currency of the Model Code of Conduct, the railway tickets issued by the Indian Railways contain achievements of the party in power at the Centre (BJP) with regard to Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and photographs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which is being displayed at the cost of public exchequer and obviously to influence minds of the voters." The TMC urged the EC for directions to stop printing the railway tickets with such ads and take action against the BJP.
Over 9 cr voters in Maha, Thane seat largest with over 23 lakh
As many as nine crore Maharashtra voters will exercise their franchise in the April-May Lok Sabha polls, with Thane parliamentary constituency having the highest number of electors. The state has 48 Lok Sabha seats, of which nine are reserved for SC and ST communities. There are 8,73,30,484 voters in Maharashtra comprising 4,57,02,579 men, 4,16,25,819 women and 2,086 transgender voters, an election official said. "Thane constituency has 23,07,232 voters, which is the highest in the state. Mumbai South Central has the lowest number of voters at 14,15,605," he said. Most of the Lok Sabha seats have more men voters than women, except in Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency, which has 14,40,956 voters, of which 7,05,350 are men and 7,35,597 are women, he said. The ECI has enrolled around six lakh government staff for election duty, he informed. Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra will be held in four phases between April 11-29.
Max Life Insurance announces partnership with Royal Challengers Bangalore
Max Life Insurance Tuesday announced its partnership with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for the upcoming T20 season. As a part of the partnership, Max Life Insurance will be the official life insurance partner of the Bengaluru team for Indian Premier League (IPL), Max Life Insurance said in a statement. "The cricketing ground has often witnessed fatal injuries to players and over the years, cricketing gear has become more sophisticated to provide on-ground protection to the players. However, there is a need to bring in greater awareness about protecting against the risks these players face in their personal lives," it said. This partnership between Max Life Insurance and RCB will not only inspire their cricketers but also their large fan base to consider protection against risks in their lives, it added.
Stop tobacco brands' promotion in Filmfare Awards ceremony: Delhi govt official to Centre
A senior official of the Delhi government has written to the Union Health Ministry, the Maharashtra public health department and the organisers of the Filmfare Awards to "stop the advertisement, promotion and sponsorships" of tobacco brands in the 64th edition of the awards to be held this Saturday in Mumbai. Additional Director in Delhi Health Department Dr S K Arora, who was earlier heading Delhi State Tobacco Control cell, wrote the letters in his personal capacity saying such kind of advertisements and promotions were violation of COTPA (Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act) and the Food Safety and Standard Act. "The main sponsor of the 64th Film Fare Award Ceremony is the leading brand of tobaccos. The advertisements for the same are going on in various medias through out India," he said. He further said that timely action can save lakhs of people especially the youngsters from getting influenced from such advertisements of tobaccos and hence can be saved from the menace. "I .
UK boosts mosque protection fund in wake of NZ attack
The UK government on Tuesday announced a 1.6-million pound boost to a protection fund aimed at mosques and other places of worship across the country to reassure communities in the wake of last Friday's terrorist attack on two mosques in New Zealand that claimed 50 lives. The Places of Worship Fund, established in 2016 as part of the government's Hate Crime Action Plan, provides financial support for physical protective security such as fencing, lighting and CCTV around places of worship. With more than a third of the grants under the scheme being awarded to mosques, the additional funds injection is expected to benefit even more mosques around the UK but will also be open totemples, gurdwaras, synagogues and other places of worship. "The horrific events in New Zealand are a direct attack on the values of tolerance and freedom of worship that unite us all. I know many Muslim communities are feeling vulnerable and anxious but they should seek comfort from knowing we are doing ...
Transgender named Maharashtra Election Icon
For a second time since 2014, a transgender activist - Gauri Sawant - has been appointed one of Maharashtra's 12 'Election Icons' for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, an official said here on Tuesday.
Life insurance sector premium collection jumps 32.7% in February 2019
Life insurance policy sales up 3.8% in February 2019
Kafeel Khan of Gorakhpur's BRD Medical College launches health campaign ahead of polls
Dr Kafeel Khan, whose name surfaced in the death case of 63 children at Gorakhpur's BRD Medical College, launched a campaign on Tuesday along with health activists from across the country to pursue political parties to give priority to health issues in their manifestos for the Lok Sabha elections. Khan said he will be meeting all political parties with health policy proposals and will support the party which would promise to work for those. The campaign, 'Health For All', focusses on access to good quality healthcare services without anyone having to face financial hardship irrespective of age, caste, religion, region, gender, disability or economic status, he said. "The government should provide affordable, adequate health services that are new and acceptable for its citizens. These services include free consultation, drugs, diagnostics and free emergency care services in all public hospitals. Public health expenditure should be increased to 3 per cent of the GDP. The total health ...
Youth's death: NIA says it did not arrest him
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday denied having arrested or ever called for questioning a youth who died in police custody on Monday in Srinagar.
Tally Solutions aims to empower SMEs in Tamil Nadu with tech
: Tally Solutions, a business software provider, Tuesday announced its plan to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Tamil Nadu with its technology for transparency and efficiency. The company aims to also support seamless transition to automation of daily business operations like cash flow management, managing stock, compliance and accounting with the help of automation, a press release from the Bengaluru-based firm said. To create technical literacy and encourage automation among the SMEs, Tally Solutions has been educating them on optimising ways of conducting business through various industry associations, partner organisations and trade fora, the release said. This was being done in association with influencers in the SME sector -- chartered accountants and tax practitioners, the release quoted zonal head-South of Tally Solutions Bhuwan Ranjan as saying. "The adoption of technology in daily business operations in the South is one of the highest as ...
DMK manifesto: Party assures scrapping of NEET, bringing quota in pvt sector
The DMK Tuesday promised to do away with the National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions and usher in quota in the private sector in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections. "The NEET for medical admissions will be scrapped," DMK chief M K Stalin said, unveiling the salient features of his party's manifesto. Addressing a press conference, he termed the manifesto as both the "hero and heroine and definitely not a villain," and assured steps for waiver of all educational loans taken by students. Stalin also promised waiver of crop loans of small and marginal farmers and supply of farm inputs, including seeds and fertilisers in subsidy. Opposition to NEET in Tamil Nadu from major political parties and students had taken emotive overtones in the past. In 2017, a 17-year-old Dalit girl of Ariyalur district, S Anitha, who scored 1176 marks out of 1200 in her Class XII exam committed suicide as she could not get a good NEET score. Daughter of a daily wage earner ...
Pakistan, China meddling with demography of Gilgit Baltistan: Sering
Gilgit-Baltistan must re-integrate with India as all documents from history prove that it was a part of this country, said an activist of the province which is under illegal occupation of Pakistan.Senge H. Sering, Director of Institute for Gilgit Baltistan Studies in Washington, said here on Tuesday that Pakistan is changing the demography of Gilgit-Baltistan region and even China is helping in that process.Pakistanis have taken all the jobs in the region and there are massive human rights violations taking place in the region, he said at a seminar on 'Recent Developments in Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir'."All documents from history prove that Gilgit Baltistan was a part of India and it is in the interest of the GB to integrate with India...We need to build bridges with India and the international communities. We have to integrate with India and become part of Ladakh," he said.Later, speaking to ANI, he said, "Pakistan does not have a legal right to control and rule GB. It is a .
148 sexual abuse cases against peacekeeping forces
As many as 148 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse relating to personnel in peacekeeping and special political missions of the United Nations and 111 relating to non-UN related entities were reported in 2018 against 138 in 2017 and 165 in 2016.