Page 187 - Social Issues
Literacy essential to battle poverty: Aditi Rao Hydari
Actress Aditi Rao Hydari says education is essential to break the cycle of poverty.
Delhi HC dismisses plea seeking SIT or CBI probe into sexual abuse in Catholic churches
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a PIL seeking directions to the Centre and Delhi government to hold a SIT or CBI investigation under the supervision of the court into incidents of sexual abuse of children and nuns allegedly by Catholic clergies.The court said, "There are no specific allegations in the plea. We are not going to look into it. Kerala matter is before the Supreme Court".The plea had also sought directions to the Delhi Police to set up clergy abuse Hotline Number so that Catholic churches, sexually abused victims and survivors may come forward to seek justice by registering their grievance and any person may give leads/tips to the law enforcement agency.The plea also sought directions to churches (dioceses) in the national capital and all over India to display the clergy abuse Hotline Number and email id for the victims.
Delhi HC dismisses plea seeking CBI or SIT probe into allegations of sexual abuse involving Catholic priests
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed the PIL seeking directions to the Centre and Delhi state to hold a thorough investigation in the incidents of sexual abuses of children and nuns by catholic clergies, by a SIT or Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the supervision of this Court.The court said, "There are no specific allegations in the plea. We are not going to look into it. Kerala matter is before the Supreme Court."The plea also sought directions to the Delhi police to set up clergy abuse Hotline Number so that Catholic Church, Sexually Abused Victims and Survivors may come forward to seek justice by registering their grievance and any person may give leads/tips to the law enforcement agency.Plea also mentioned and sought directions to Churches (dioceses) in Delhi and all over India to display the clergy abuse Hotline Number and email id so that victims may come forward to report (anonymously if they wish so) sexual abuse incidents.
Fernandes was fighter for working class: Naidu
Describing socialist leader George Fernandes as a "fighter" for the working class, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Tuesday condoled his death. The veteran socialist passed away Tuesday morning following a prolonged illness. Naidu's office said in a tweet, "Shri Fernandes was a fighter for working class, a trade unionist, an upright politician, an able administrator, a great parliamentarian and above all was a good human being". Fernandeswas a multi-faceted personality, Naidu said.
India hailed for giving refuge to Jews fleeing Nazi genocide
India has been hailed for giving refuge to Jews fleeing the Nazi genocide, keeping with its tradition of being a haven for those escaping religious persecution around the world as the UN observed the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
U.S. delays fourth-quarter GDP report after government shutdown
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis said on Monday it was delaying the release of advance fourth-quarter gross domestic product data scheduled for Wednesday because of the just-ended five-week partial government shutdown.
Book says Trump adviser spoke dismissively about refugees
The author of a new tell-all book about the White House under President Donald Trump says one of Trump's top policy advisers spoke dismissively about refugees. Stephen Miller, who has pushed Trump to adopt stricter immigration policies, is quoted as saying, "I would be happy if not a single refugee foot ever again touched American soil," according to Cliff Sims, a former White House communications aide and author of "Team of Vipers: My 500 Extraordinary Days in the Trump White House," due in stores Tuesday. The Associated Press obtained a copy Monday. Miller did not respond to an emailed request for comment. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said during a rare televised briefing Monday, "I'm not aware of any statement like that that Stephen Miller has ever made." The White House has reviewed Sims' book but has tried to avoid being drawn into public discussion to avoid bringing more attention to Sims' accounts. Sims writes that, any time a refugee or immigrant committed a ...
Territorial Army aspirants forced to sleep on pavements due to lack of basic facilities
A shocking incident has come to the fore in Telangana, wherein individuals who arrived for being recruited into the Territorial Army are forced to sleep on pavements owing to lack of basic facilities. Hailing from poor or lower-middle-class families, most of the young aspirants say they cannot afford to stay in hotels or rented accommodations. However, these individuals are determined to overcome these hardships to be part of the Territorial Army."We can do anything for getting into the Army. We will face all odds but our aim is to get in the Army," said Akhilesh, who came along with his friends from Washim in Maharashtra.Laxman Singh, a native of Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan, said: "I am staying here since last two-three days and the recruitment is tomorrow morning. Though aspirants are sleeping under the sky in the cold, our passion to join Army helps overcome all odds. We are ready to face any hardship." Similarly, another aspirant Rajkumar claimed that no facility has been provided by ..
IIT-Madras student commits suicide
A student of IIT-Madras allegedly committed suicide in his hostel room on Monday, police said. Gopal Babu, a first year student of M.Tech programme, belonged to Uttar Pradesh. He committed suicide in his room in Brahmaputra hostel, they said. "The institute informed us about the incident on Monday night. The body has been sent for post mortem," a senior officer told PTI. Earlier this month, a woman PhD scholar from IIT-M's metallurgy department allegedly committed suicide in her hostel room.
NGO denounces 'extra-judicial executions' by Venezuela police
Eight people were killed in "extra-judicial executions" by Venezuelan special forces following last week's protests against President Nicolas Maduro, a non-governmental organization said on Monday. Rafael Uzcategui, director of the Venezuelan Program for Education-Action in Human Rights, also said that another 35 people have been killed since the protests began last Monday. Speaking at a press conference, Uzcategui said the extra-judicial executions happened in operations conducted by the police special forces unit, FAES, in socially deprived areas. "We have the corroborated figure, with first name, surname, place and presumed guilty parties, of 35 people murdered in the context of the protests" since Monday last week, said Uzcategui. Protests broke out last week after a group of soldiers rose up against Maduro on Monday to support parliament president Juan Guaido's call to disavow the socialist leader. Guaido proclaimed himself acting president on Wednesday during a mass street rally
Greek bishop sentenced for inciting violence against gays: Report
A Greek Orthodox bishop has been sentenced on appeal to seven months in prison for inciting violence against homosexuals and abuse of his office, Greek media reported Monday. Bishop Amvrosios, whose name is Athanassios Lenis, labelled gay people the "dregs of society" and called on his followers to "spit on" and "blacken" them in a written address in 2015. The 79-year-old cleric had been charged with public incitement to violence and abuse of ecclesiastical duties, but was found not guilty and released by a court in the Peloponnesian town of Aigio in March last year. The case was the first of its kind in Greece for a representative of the influential Orthodox church. Prosecutors appealed the original verdict to the criminal court in Aigio which handed down Monday's sentence of seven months in prison, with three months suspended. The bishop has been known to publicly appear alongside leaders of Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn and his release sparked criticism from human rights groups .
Arrested IRS officer's remand extended by two days: ACB ASP
IRS officer Sahiram Meena's custody with the Anti-Corruption Bureau was extended Monday by a Kota court by two more days, said an ACB official. A 1997-batch IRS officer, posted as an additional commissioner at Kota Narcotics Bureau was arrested by ACB sleuths Saturday while accepting a bribe of Rs one lakh, said ACB Additional Superintendent of Police Chandrasheel Thakur. Thakur said Meena's custody was extended by the court after it was submitted to it that he was not cooperating with the investigative agency and proving to be a "hard nut to crack." The court also extended the custody of middleman Kamlesh, who too was arrested along with Meena while giving him the bribe. Thakur had earlier told reporters that Meena was arrested in a case of collusion between Kota Narcotics Bureau officials and village heads for licensed opium cultivators. A man among licensed opium cultivators is appointed as head by the narcotics bureau for better coordination. We had received reports of various ...
Govt taking several measures for economic & social development
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Monday said his government was taking several measures for economic and social development of the farmers. The present state government since coming to power has made elaborate plans for the growth of agriculture as this sector contributes nearly 19 per cent to the states GDP, Sonowal said while launching Farmers Credit Subsidy Scheme here. Schemes like Chief Minister Sammagra Grammya Unnayan Yojana Farmers Credit Subsidy Scheme have been launched so that the farmers of the state become economically self- sufficient and also to help them to educate their children using latest technology and empower them technologically, he said. The scheme has been launched to double the income of farmers by 2022. "This scheme has been launched today on the day of Krishak Swahid Divas to honour the martyrdom of nearly 140 peasants who laid their lives in 1894 protesting against the increasing land tax rate and other exploitation by the British ...
Cong dubs as 'manufactured controversy' reports on inviting Kanhaiya Kumar for party event
The Congress on Monday dubbed as "manufactured controversy" the reports that it had withdrawn invites to former JNU students Kanhaiya Kumar and Shehla Rashid to an event organised by the party's minority cell. Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari, when asked about the media reports and BJP's criticism over the the issue, said the AICC Minorities department had organised the event to commemorate the 72nd death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, and it was its prerogative who to invite or not invite. Tewari slammed the reports as "manufactured controversy", without elaborating on whether the invite to Kumar and Rashid was extended and later withdrawn. Responding to a question on the issue, BJP minister Prakash Javadekar said the Congress, which was once a mainstream party, has become a "narrow-minded party" that even the SP and the BSP were not ready to forge an alliance with it. Tewari, while apparently referring to the chargesheet against former JNU student leader Kumar and 9 others, ...
Tribals take out march against development near Patel statue
Thousands of tribals took out a protest march against the proposed development around the Statue of Unity in Narmada district of Gujarat Monday. The statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel near Sardar Sarovar Dam was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last October. The foot-march started from Kevadiya in the morning and ended at Rajpipla, 21 km away. Apart from opposing the proposed development around the 182-meter tall statue, the protesters also demanded that the land acquired by the Gujarat government for Sardar Sarovar Dam fifty years ago be returned to them. "We are not against development. But tribals are being displaced in the name of this so-called development surrounding the statue. Our land is being acquired without our consent," said Shantikar Vasava, a tribal leader. Praful Vasava, another leader, claimed that around 5,000 tribals and activists took part in the march. Bharatiya Tribal Party MLA Mahesh Vasava also took part in the protest. He alleged that ...
AASU's black flag protest across Assam against "attack by BJP"
The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) Monday staged 'black flag' protests across Assam against the alleged attack on its members by BJP workers in Nalbari district on Sunday. The organisation would continue with the protest on Wednesday when its members block National highways across the state for an hour from 12 noon, AASU Chief Advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya said. Effigies of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and state BJP president Ranjit Dass were also burnt across the state on Monday. BJP workers had allegedly attacked AASU activists at Ghograpar in Nalbari district when members of the students' body were protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The BJP had arranged a motorbike rally to escort the health minister and Industry Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary who had gone there for the inauguration of a hospital by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. The AASU alleged that its members were allegedly stopped and attacked by
Rahul's income guarantee scheme may not be UBI of former CEA
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday promised a minimum income guarantee scheme for the poor if voted to power in the next general election.
Srijan scam: CBI arrests former Bihar officer
The CBI arrested a former land acquisition officer of Bihar on Monday in connection with the Srijan scam, officials said here. The agency arrested Jayshree Thakur, a former additional district magistrate-rank officer who was absconding, from Patna, they said. She was produced before a special court which sent her to judicial custody, they said. Thakur, who was posted as a land acquisition officer at Banka in Bhagalpur division, was sacked by the Bihar government in 2017. In August 2017, the CBI had taken over the probe into the Srijan scam, in which government funds worth about Rs 1,000 crore were allegedly diverted to the accounts of a non-government organisation. It is suspected that Thakur had deposited government funds into Srijan NGO's account and had also taken a loan from it.
Esha Gupta apologises for racist comment on Nigerian footballer
Actress and Arsenal supporter Esha Gupta, who has been called out on social media for making racist remarks against Nigerian footballer Alexander Iwobi, has apologised by saying that she did not "realise it was directed towards racism".
Suu Kyi seeks investment for Myanmar, ignores Rohingya crisis
Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday reaffirmed her country's commitment to undertake political and economic reforms to attract foreign investment but skirted the issue of multiple conflicts raging in the country, including a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya Muslim minority.
