Page 13 - Social Issues
Mexico's crackdown on migrants sends some heading south
Mexico's efforts to slow Central American migration across its territory showed some bite Monday as some people turned around to head south in the face of increased enforcement, while government officials said they would target human smuggling rings. One government official announced Monday that the 6,000 National Guard members who officials had repeatedly said would be sent to the southern border will actually be distributed across the northern border and other areas as well, while another suggested measures were showing results. A senior Mexican official, who requested anonymity to discuss negotiations with the US, said that three weeks ago about 4,200 migrants were arriving at the US border daily and that now that number has dropped to about 2,600 per day. The official warned it was too early to draw conclusions from such a small window, but that Mexico was optimistic its measures would work. On the Suchiate river that forms part of Mexico's southern border with Guatemala, usually .
Turkey: 12 dead, 31 rescued after migrant boat sinks
A boat carrying migrants to Greece sank off the Turkish coast on Monday, leaving at least 12 migrants dead, Turkey's coast guard said. The coast guard said 31 other migrants were rescued after the boat capsized in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Bodrum. The region is close to the Greek island of Kos. The 12 bodies were found inside the wreck of the boat at a depth of 32 meters (105 feet), the coast guard said in a statement. It said the search-and-rescue operation involving two coast guard boats, a helicopter and a team of divers, is continuing. It was not immediately clear why the boat sank. There was no immediate information on the migrants' nationalities. Although the number of people heading to the Greek islands from the Turkish coast has decreased since the height of the refugee crisis in 2015, hundreds continue to make the crossing each week. In Spain, the maritime rescue service said it rescued 292 migrants Monday who were attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe ...
India to overtake China as world's most populous nation by 2027: UN
India is projected to overtake China as the world's most populous country around 2027, a UN report said on Monday.
Pakistan's top court halts execution of mentally ill inmate
A rights group says Pakistan's Supreme Court has halted the execution of a mentally ill prisoner. In a statement, the Justice Project Pakistan said Monday's court order halting the execution of Ghulam Abbas, 36, was announced by the Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa. The development came a day after the group said Abbas was being treated with strong anti-psychotic drugs by prison authorities and that the man had a family history of mental illness. Abbas was sentenced to death in 2006 for fatally stabbing a neighbor in 2004. He was scheduled to be hung Tuesday at a jail the city of Rawalpindi. Pakistan is a signatory to international conventions that bar the execution of mentally ill prisoners.
Cong slams Centre, Bihar govt over death of children in Bihar
The Congress Monday hit out at the Centre and the Bihar government over the deaths of 103 children in the state due to suspected Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), saying better preparedness could have saved lives. Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also posted a video on Twitter in which Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey is heard at a meeting asking for the score of the India versus Pakistan World Cup cricket match on Sunday. "Bihar's Health Minister Mangal Pandey seems more worried about cricket score than the death of children due to Encephalitis," Surjewala tweeted and tagged the video. Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said the central and state governments should do everything possible to control the situation. "It is unfortunate that in 2019, in the 21st century, so many children have died. There are some shortcomings on the part of the government and administration because they know that in the summers encephalitis hits Bihar so the health department should ...
UK petition urges Sajid Javid to grant visas to blind Indian musicians
Hundreds have signed an online petition addressed to UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid urging him to grant visitor visas to two blind musicians from India, who were due to perform in Scotland as part of a UK-India cultural exchange programme. Prem Bhagavan Nagaraju, 25, and Jyothi Kalaiselvi, 19, were scheduled to travel to the UK with a group of people from the disability organisation Devasitham Charitable Foundation (DCF) based in Chennai. However, the organisers say that while their non-disabled colleagues who were supporting them on the trip were granted entry, their own visa application was declined by the UK Home Office. "The Home Office refused the visa applications of these two young disabled people due to their economic and family circumstances, stating that it is 'not satisfied that you have sufficient ties in India that will act as an incentive for you to leave the UK at the end of your trip'," reads the petition, started by Ninian Perry, Creative Director of Paragon Music, the
Encephalitis: NHRC notice to Centre, Bihar govt over rising deaths of children in Muzaffarpur
The National Human Rights Commission Monday sent notices to the Union Health Ministry and Bihar government over reports of increasing deaths of children due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Muzaffarpur, a senior official said. A total of 103 children have died of suspected Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in Bihar, where doctors strike has paralysed medical and health services. Most of these victims are from Muzaffarpur. "The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports about the rising number of deaths of children due to acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar in the past few days," the official said. The commission has issued notices to the secretary, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the chief secretary of Bihar, seeking a detailed report, including on the status of implementation of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Japanese Encephalitis Virus/Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (NPPCJA) and other steps taken to deal ...
India likely to add 273 million people between 2019 and 2050: UN report
India, projected to surpass China as the world's most populous country around 2027, is expected to add nearly 273 million people between now and 2050 and will remain the most populated country through the end of the current century, a UN report said on Monday. 'The World Population Prospects 2019: Highlights', published by the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, said the world's population is expected to increase by two billion people in the next 30 years, from 7.7 billion currently to 9.7 billion in 2050. The world's population could reach its peak around the end of the current century, at a level of nearly 11 billion, according to the study, which presents the main results of the 26th round of the UN's global population estimates, projections and global demographic patterns. The new report released here said that more than half of the projected increase in the global population up to 2050 will be concentrated in just nine countries, led by India .
NHRC seeks reports from Centre, Bihar govt over rising AES deaths
The NHRC on Monday sought detailed reports from the Union health secretary and the Bihar chief secretary after taking suo motu cognisance of media reports on the rising number of deaths in Muzaffarpur and other districts in the state due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).Issuing notice to the two officials, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said the reports should provide the status of implementation of National Programme for Prevention and Control of Japanese Encephalitis Virus/AES and other steps taken to deal with the painful situation."The Commission would also like to know about the status of the treatment being provided to the children, who are presently hospitalised and relief/rehabilitation provided by the State to the aggrieved families. The response is expected within four weeks," the notice said."The Commission has observed that in spite of reported measures taken by the government agencies, deaths of children in such a large number indicate towards a possible .
Kids in cages: Geneva protest urges UN action on Trump migration policy
Teenagers huddled in a cage outside the UN in Geneva Monday, as protestors demanded that the world body address the "unconscionable" US policy of separating migrant families crossing its southern border. Three teens wearing t-shirts with "#ClassroomsNotCages" scrawled across the front stood inside a small cage erected outside the gates of the United Nations's European headquarters, as dozens of demonstrators urged the UN Human Rights Council take on President Donald Trump's administration. "The action today is about creating more pressure and more exposure of just how terrible and dehumanising this policy of the American government is towards children," said Randi Weingarten, president of American Federation of Teachers, which helped organise the protest. "What the Trump administration is doing is both lawless and immoral, and because it is so focused on children, it is unconscionable," she told AFP. The union was among 15 labour organisations and rights groups that filed a complaint .
Will revisit the issue of framing central law to protect doctors: Union health minister
Amid protests by the medical fraternity across the country over violence against doctors in hospitals, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Monday said the government will "revisit" the issue of drafting a central law regarding the safety of medicos at healthcare facilities. Vardhan said he has already written to all states requesting chief ministers to consider enacting specific legislation for protecting doctors and medical professionals from any form of violence, along with suggesting a model law proposed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA). "We will revisit this problem and see if we can do something at the central level about drafting any such law. It was visited earlier by our law people," he told reporters outside parliament. The Union minister further said this is not a Centre versus state issue, while stressing that the safety of doctors was not debatable. "Doctors should not be beaten by anybody in the premises of the hospital or outside and there is no difference of ...
AES: NHRC notice to Health Ministry, Bihar govt over increasing deaths of children in Muzaffarpur
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Monday sent notices to the Union Health Ministry and the government of Bihar over reports of increasing deaths of children due to encephalitis in Muzaffarpur, a senior official said. Nearly 100 children have died of suspected acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in Bihar, where doctors strike has paralysed medical and health services. "The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports about the rising number of deaths of children due to acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar in the past few days," a senior official said. The commission has issued notices to the secretary, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the chief secretary of Bihar, seeking a detailed report, including on the status of implementation of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Japanese Encephalitis Virus/Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (NPPCJA) and other steps taken to deal with the painful situation, the NHRC said in a
Delhi: Protests held outside Bihar Bhawan after AES claims 100 lives in Muzaffarpur
People gathered outside the Bihar Bhawan here on Monday to protest against the dying of children due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar.Angry protesters, who demanded immediate action by the government, were seen shouting slogans and holding placards that read, "If lives of our kids don't matter, what will" and "Punish all the culprits".Annie Raja, wife of CPI National Secretary D Raja while talking to ANI said: "Bihar has seen the death of more than 100 children. However, the government is not taking any action or doing any investigation into the matter."The protesters alleged that the government is not working towards making the health care system more efficient."This is not the first time such a thing is happening. Even in 2014 more than 300 children died. There is still no preparedness by the government to control such an outbreak," she further said."Health minister of Bihar says it is the fate of the children. Ministers uttering such statements .
Muzzafarpur: Case filed against Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan
A case was filed against Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey on Monday by social worker Tamanna Hashmi for alleged failure to take adequate steps for spreading awareness about encephalitis disease."The death of children could have been minimised or prevented had the government taken steps to spread awareness about encephalitis when there was time. Being the Central and State ministers for Health, it is the responsibility of Harsh Vardhan and Mangal Pandey to spread awareness and prevent the spread of the disease," Hashmi told ANI here.He added that he was distraught by the deaths of so many children in Bihar due to the outbreak of the disease and therefore he had filed the case against the two."I am distraught by the death of so many children from the state and that is why I filed a case against the two in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM)," Hashmi said.Earlier, officials said the death toll due to encephalitis in Muzaffarpur has
33 Russians face new doping allegations
The Russian anti-doping agency says it plans to file doping cases against 33 athletes from a range of sports for using banned treatments from a doctor. The agency, known as RUSADA, says the suspects who used the unspecified "banned method" include 19 track and field competitors two of them athletes with disabilities as well as five cyclists, a boxer and a gymnast. All of them are from a sports academy in Chuvashia in central Russia, a region known for its track and field squads. RUSADA says it reported a sports doctor to law enforcement under a Russian law against inducing athletes to dope. However, RUSADA says the case was closed after authorities ruled her conduct wasn't a crime because she hadn't been officially informed the treatment was banned.
Fresh efforts on to push Myanmarese refugees back
After the proposed deportation of over 200 Myanmarese refugees from Mizoram were deferred two days ago, the administration has taken up fresh initiative to repatriate them, state Home Minister Lalchamliana said Monday. A total of 219 Myanmarese refugees belonging to 54 families are staying in four villages of southernmost Mizoram's Lawngtlai district since November 2017. "The Centre instructed us to deport the foreigners who were in Lawngtlai district's Hmawngbuchhuah village and even use force if necessary," the minister said. Lalchamliana said identification of the refugees was being conducted again as the figures given by the Lawngtlai district administration and the Assam Rifles authorities did not tally. Inspector General of Police John Neihlaia told PTI that the government took firm stand on the issue of foreigners entering the state illegally and that stringent action would be taken against illegal immigrants. The district administration on Saturday deferred the ..
Doctors' strike hits medical services in U'khand too
Medical services were hit across Uttarakhand Monday as doctors throughout the state struck work in solidarity with the striking doctors in West Bengal. OPDs remained closed at both private and government hospitals throughout the state in response to the strike call by the Indian Medical Association, IMA state president DD Choudhury said. Emergency services, however, were kept out of the ambit of the strike which will go on till 6 am Tuesday, he said. OPDs remained closed at all hospitals in the state including Doon Medical College and Hospital, Coronation Hospital, AIIMS, Rishikesh and Rishikesh Government Hospital. Though the OPDs remained closed at AIIMS, Rishikesh, emergency services at the facility remained unaffected, its PRO Harish Thapaliyal said. Doctors at Rishikesh government hospital too struck work from 8 am to 10 am in the morning as a token of protest against the assault on doctors at NRS, Kolkata, IMA secretary (Rishikesh) US Kharola said.
Sri Lanka abusing UN law to make arrests: rights group
Media activists on Monday accused Sri Lankan police of using a UN convention on hate speech to crack down on media freedom and the country's Muslim minority. The Free Media Movement rights group said the police Special Task Force (STF) attempted to arrest a respected journalist for his writing on anti-Muslim riots and Buddhist extremists using the UN-backed law. The STF told a magistrate on Friday they were pursuing freelance writer Kusal Perera under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act. "The Free Media Movement strongly condemns the attempts to pursue legal action under the provisions of the ICCPR Act and urges all responsible stakeholders to draw their attention to avoid using the law unfairly," the group said. Police have also drawn criticism over the detention of a Muslim woman during anti-Muslim riots last month. She was wearing a T-shirt with a print of a ship's steering wheel which police mistook for the Dharma Chakra, a Buddhist symbol. The ...
NCST to convene meeting on alleged displacement of tribals from Chhattisgarh due to Maoist violence
The National Commission For Scheduled Tribes (NCST) will convene a meeting to discuss the issue of alleged displacement of tribals from Chhattisgarh due to Maoist violence with the Union ministries of home and tribal affairs. Besides the Union ministries, representatives from Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtara will be invited for the meeting that is likely to take place in June end or early next month, NCST Joint Secretary S K Rathore said. "We discussed the matter at the 115th meeting of the commission held on June 4. The claim is that a lot of people from Chhattisgarh have gone to Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra due to violence," he said. Some members of the commission opined that like Kashmiri Pandits fled Jammu and Kashmir due to violence, something like that happened in Chhattisgarh also because of Maoist violence and they wanted to seek ground reports from the four states, Rathore said. "We have called for feedback from these states. We have to ...
College girl dies, parents seek Siddha doctor's arrest
Over 100 people squatted in front of the government hospital here seeking immediate arrest of a Siddha practitioner for alleged misdiagnosis leading to the death of a college girl, police said Monday. The 20-year-old Sathyapriya, a student of Government Arts College here, had been suffering from menstrual problem for the last one year and approached the Siddha practitioner here for treatment, after failing to get a cure from different doctors. Since there had been no improvement in the condition, the parents had lodged a complaint against the practitioner Gurunathan a month ago for providing wrong treatment. As the condition of Sathyapriya started deteriorating last week, she was admitted to the Government hospital here, where she died in the early hours of Monday. The aggrieved parents, along with a large number of relatives, squatted in front of the hospital demanding immediate arrest of Gurunathan for providing the wrong treatment, and also against the police who ...