Page 15 - Social Issues
UN counterterrorism chief makes controversy trip to Xinjiang
China says the UN counterterrorism chief has visited Xinjiang last week despite protests from the US and a rights group that the trip would be inappropriate in light of the human rights conditions in the far west region. The Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement Sunday that Vladimir Ivanovich Voronkov travelled to Beijing and Xinjiang from Thursday to Saturday last week, during which he and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng exchanged views on international counterterrorism efforts and reached "broad consensus." The US, researchers and rights groups estimate that as many as 1 million ethnic Muslims may be arbitrarily detained in Xinjiang, home to the Uighur and Kazakh minority groups. Human Rights Watch said Friday the UN should have sent a human rights expert instead of a counterterrorism official.
Pakistan to hang mentally ill convict on June 18
A Pakistan court has ordered the execution of a mentally ill convict on June 18, according to a human rights law firm.
'Men harassed by wives' celebrate 'Pimpal Purnima'
Demanding gender-neutral laws, an organization which champions the cause of husbands facing harassment from wives Saturday celebrated "Pimpal Purnima" here. Pimpal is Marathi for the peepal tree (ficus religiosa). The celebration by the Patni-Peedit Purush Sanghatna (organisation of men harassed by wives) came ahead of the Vat Purnima festival where married women tie threads around banyan trees seeking long life for the husband. Around a dozen members of the organisation celebrated 'Pimpal Purnima' by walking around a peepal tree. An office-bearer of the organisation claimed -- seeking anonymity -- that incidents of men facing injustice in marital disputes were on rise. "We want the law to be equal for men and women. The current laws favour women because they are considered the weaker sex, but on the contrary it is women who harass their husband more. The law is misused," he said.
Mumbai: Man accused under POCSO Act jumps to death from 6th floor dies while attempting to flee
A man accused under the POCSO Act died while attempting to flee from the Dindoshi Sessions Court here on Saturday.The accused died when he jumped off from the sixth floor of the court building in an attempt to evade the authorities.The POCSO Act is levied on the people accused of engaging in sexual assault and harassment of children, irrespective of their genders, who are below 18 years of age.The punishments meted out under the POCSO Act can range from a prison sentence for a minimum of three years to life imprisonment and fine.
Harsh Vardhan to visit Muzaffarpur to review situation in wake of child deaths
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan will visit Bihar's Muzaffarpur on Sunday to take stock of the situation there in view of rising cases ofAcute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) there. According to officials, 67 children have died this month in two hospitals -- the state-run Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) and the Kejriwal Hospital which is run by a trust "While the Centre is extending all support to the state for the containment and management of the recent surge of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) cases, I shall be going to Muzaffarpur tomorrow to take stock and review the situation at the site with the state government," Vardhan said. During his visit, the minister will interact with the multi-disciplinary teams deployed there and address a state-level review meeting. I shall discuss the management measures being recommended by the high level expert team of the Centre, and support that can be extended ...
SC: NOC mandatory from receiving country for inter-country adoption
The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that a foreigner can adopt a child from India only after acquiring NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the diplomatic mission of that country in India.
Children death: Union Health Minister to visit Muzaffarpur
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan will visit Muzaffarpur on Sunday to take stock and review the situation following the death of 67 children this month. The 67 children died due to hypoglycemia in two hospitals here -- the state-run Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) and the Kejriwal Hospital which is run by a trust, officials said. "While the Centre is extending all support to Bihar for the containment and management of the recent surge of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) cases, I shall be going to Muzaffarpur tomorrow to take stock and review the situation at the site with the state government," Vardhan, said as per the release issued by PIB. During his visit, the Union Health minister will interact with the multi-disciplinary teams deployed there and address the state level review meeting, it said. Vardhan said that the Union Health ministry is constantly monitoring the situation and supporting the state's health ...
Repatriation of refugees to Myanmar deferred: Official
Southern Mizoram's Lawngtlai district administration Saturday deferred the proposed repatriation of over 200 refugees to Myanmar on 'humanitarian ground', an official said. A team of officials, policemen, NGO leaders and Assam Rifles authorities went to Hmawngbuchhuah village and intended to repatriate the refugees numbering 219 people belonging to 54 families to Myanmar. The repatriation process was postponed due to rainfall as also fresh identification process was being undertaken during the visit, the official said. "We would have to make another arrangement at another time to push them back," the official said, adding that using force would not be advisable as all of them were poor people and not involved in any illegal activities. Over 1,700 refugees from Paletwa and surrounding villages in Myanmar fled the country during the later part of November in 2017, entered Mizoram and took shelter in four villages in Lawngtlai district along the Myanmar border areas due to
Centre seeks report on violence, doctors' stir from WB govt
In the backdrop of political violence in West Bengal, the Centre has sought a report from the state government on measures taken to contain political violence, and another on the ongoing strike by doctors.According to sources, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in an advisory issued to the state government said, "unabated violence over the years is evidently a matter of deep concern."The MHA pointed out the number of election-related incidents of political violence, as well as casualties over the last four years - from 2016 to 2019.With regards to the doctors' stir, the MHA said, "This Ministry is in receipt of a number of representations from doctors, health care professionals and medical associations from different parts of the country for their safety and security in view of the ongoing strike by doctors in West Bengal. It is requested that a detailed report be sent urgently on the representations and the ongoing strike by the doctors."Doctors have been protesting against rising ...
Woman kills daughter, self in Muzaffarnagar
A 35-year-old woman allegedly poisoned her daughter to death before committing suicide at Nara village under Mansurpur Police Station in the district on Saturday, police said. Minu, wife of Sushil Kumar, poisoned her seven-year-old daughter and later consumed poison herself over a family dispute, officials said. The bodies were sent for post-mortem.
12 more kids die as death toll from encephalitis in Bihar at 69
The death toll from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Bihar rose to 69 on Saturday as 12 more children died, health officials said.
Man held for abetting woman's suicide
A man was Saturday arrested in Palghar district of Maharashtra for allegedly abetting the suicide of an 18-year-old woman, whom he had promised to marry, police said. The accused, Mahesh Bhaga (28), was arrested from Dhanivari village in Dahanu taluka. "Bhaga, who is married and has three children, was in an illicit relationship with the victim. He had developed physical relationship with her on the promise of marriage. However, he later refused to marry her," police spokesperson Hemant Katkar said. Disappointed, the woman ended her life by consuming poison at her house in Dhanivari village on May 8. A case of accidental death had been registered at that time. "However, the victim's parents later lodged a complaint against Bhaga saying their daughter ended life due to him," Katkar said. A case was registered against him under IPC section 306 (abetment of suicide) at Kasa police station on Friday night, the official said.
Thousands of Swiss women protest for equal treatment
Thousands of women across Switzerland took to streets in protests demanding equal treatment and conditions compared with their male counterparts.
Discovery of minor's body in Arizona sheds light on illegal Indian immigration
The discovery of the body of a seven-year-old Indian girl in a treacherous desert area in the state of Arizona has put the spotlight on rising illegal immigrants from India trying to cross into the US through Mexico.
Mahesh Bhatt roots for better world for the disabled
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt is all for more opportunities for disabled citizens.
Minor Indian migrant girl died of heat stroke near US-Mexico border: Official
Gurupreet Kaur, the six-year-old Indian girl whose body was found near a remote and deserted US-Mexico border died of heat stroke after her mother left her to go in search of water, US officials said Friday as they blamed people smugglers for the tragedy. Kaur, who was a month shy of turning 7, was found by the US Border Patrol officials 27 kilometres west of Lukeville, Arizona on Wednesday, when temperature reached a high of 42 Celsius, the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner said. Gregory Hess, Pima County Chief Medical Examiner, identified the girl as Gurupreet Kaur and said that her death was accidental and caused by hyperthermia, CNN reported. However, Border Patrol blamed Kaur's death on people smugglers. Kaur was travelling with four other persons and dropped near the border by human smugglers who ordered the group to cross in the dangerous and austere location. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents got the information after encountering two women from ...
Mexico publishes Trump's 'secret deal' on migration
Mexico published the document Friday that Donald Trump earlier flaunted as a secret deal to curb migration, but denied it had capitulated to the US president's demands for a so-called "safe third country" agreement. Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard underwent a grilling in Mexico's Congress, where some lawmakers insisted otherwise and demanded more details on what exactly he agreed to in the last-minute deal brokered a week ago to dodge Trump's threat to impose tariffs on Mexican goods. Angry over a surge of Central Americans seeking US asylum, Trump is pushing Mexico to agree to a deal in which migrants entering Mexican territory would have to apply for refugee status there, not in the United States. The language in the "supplementary agreement" released by Mexico appears to resemble that. However Mexico's foreign ministry insisted the document -- signed by a deputy legal advisor to the ministry and his State Department counterpart -- was "not a binding bilateral agreement." Rather, it
Mexico immigration chief tenders resignation
Mexico's immigration Chief Tonatiuh Guillen on Friday submitted his resignation to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, as the country began its crackdown on illegal migration.According to Al Jazeera, Guillen thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the country. However, he did not give a reason for his resignation.His departure comes as Mexico is beefing up its security at the southern border to stop the flow of Central American migrants from entering the US and boost intelligence sharing with Washington.On June 7, US President Donald Trump had announced that his administration reached an agreement with Mexico over immigration, owing to which tariffs on the Central American country were "indefinitely suspended," after days of gruelling negotiations between the two sides.According to the deal, Mexico has agreed to strengthen its security presence at the southern border to stop the flow of Central American migrants from entering the US and boost intelligence sharing with ...
Brazil criminalises anti-LGBT discrimination
Brazil's Supreme Court has criminalised discrimination and hateful acts against gays and transgenders.The court on Thursday ruled with eight votes in favours out of 11 for the law. According to the court's ruling, the homophobic and transphobic violence falls under the existing anti-racism laws.Justice Carmen Lucia, who supports the new policy, said the court can't deny protection "to those who have at times been denied the right to life, and most often to the right to liberty and dignity, by the absence of legislation," the Hill reported.The court ruled unanimously in 2011 that every state in Brazil had to recognize same-sex civil unions. However, the country has not passed reinforcing legislation.Along with that, there is no provision to protect the LGBT community from harassment.Some gay groups have earlier said that they have faced more threats of violence and hostility following the election of the country's president, Jair Bolsonaro, last year.Brazil has one of the world highest
Sea of purple: Swiss women strike for equal pay
Purple-clad protesters blowing whistles, banging pots and pans and brandishing feminist slogans filled the streets of Swiss towns and cities Friday, as women across the country went on strike for equal pay. "I love badass women" and "Eliminate the patriarchy" figured among the messages on posters and banners, as women poured into the streets to vent their frustration with persistent gender discrimination and wage gaps in the wealthy Alpine nation. The action comes nearly three decades after women held the country's first nationwide strike for equal pay. Pram marches, whistle concerts and giant picnics were planned around the country, with the day's events set to culminate in giant demonstrations in several cities. Tens of thousands of women dressed in purple filled the square in front of the government and parliament buildings in Bern. Manu Bondi, 68, demonstrated alongside her daughter and granddaughter, and two friends who demonstrated with her in 1991. She said she was protesting ..