Page 23 - Social Issues
Investors throng jewellery store as owner 'disappears'
Hundreds of investors thronged a prominent city jewellery store Monday after an audio clip surfaced where a person alleged to be the owner is heard saying he is going to commit suicide as he was fed up with corruption. The owner was also into the chit fund business. As soon the audio went viral, investors including a large number of women with their children started gathering at the IMAJewellers headquarters at Shivajinagar near here demanding action against Mohammed Mansur Khan, the owner. The person is heard addressing police that he was committing suicide as he was fed up withcorruption in the state and central government. In the audio, he is also heard accusing central and state officials ofharassing him, compelling him to take the extreme step. He also asks police to sell all his wealth and jewellery topay investors and is heard accusing a politician of taking Rs 400 crore from him and not returning it. Investors claimed they had invested crores in the firm. Police ..
LG-chaired panel submits report to Centre on Delhi's unauthorised colonies
A committee headed by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal for recommending the process for granting ownership and transfer rights to the residents of Delhi's unauthorised colonies submitted its report to Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday. The committee was formed by the Centre in March, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, and was asked to submit its report within 90 days. "I am delighted to announce that Hon'ble LG Shri Anil Baijal Ji has handed over the report of the committee to me today in the stipulated time frame of 90 days. We will now proceed for necessary approvals," Puri said in a tweet. There are over 1,650 unauthorised colonies in the national capital, where the migrant population plays a vital role in deciding the fate of any political party during elections.
Saudi youth, arrested at 13, faces possible execution
Amnesty International says a young Saudi man, arrested when he was 13, could get the death sentence for taking part in protests by minority Shiites demanding greater rights. The rights group says Murtaja Qureiris, now 18, is on trial for offenses that involve taking part in protests when he was just 10, including a rally that erupted at his older brother's funeral who was killed while protesting. Saudi prosecutors sought capital punishment for Qureiris back in 2018, but details of his case emerged after CNN reported he faces charges of joining a "terror group" and "sowing sedition." Saudi Arabia has intensified a crackdown on critics. In April, it carried out a mass execution of 37 men, which Amnesty says included a young Shiite male arrested at 16.
Mother collects USD 50,000 by begging online in UAE
An European woman in the UAE has been arrested for conning people into giving her USD 50,000 on various social media platforms by posing as a victim of a failed marriage who was trying to support her children, according to a media report. The woman was apprehend after duping many people with her posts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and made the money in just 17 days, a Dubai police official said Sunday. Dubai police, however, did not disclose the woman's nationality or age. Brigadier Jamal Al Salem Al Jallaf, Director of Criminal Investigation Department of the Dubai Police, said the woman established online accounts and posted pictures of her children to beg for living expenses "to raise" them, the Gulf News reported. "She was telling people that she was divorced and supporting her children on her own. But her former husband reported her through (the) e-Crime platform and proved the children were living with him," Brigadier Al Jallaf said. "The husband realised his children's ...
ASSOCHAM Says Basic Exemption Limit For Individual Taxpayer Should Be Raised To Rs 5 lakh
The basic exemption limit for an individual income tax payee should be raised to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 2.50 lakh at present, in the backdrop of the inflationary impact over the years, the ASSOCHAM has proposed in its pre-Budget memorandum to the Government. Considering the inflation over the years, tax exemption limit should be increased from Rs. 250,000 to Rs. 500,000, the chamber's memorandum to the Finance Ministry stated. The new government would present its first full Budget to Parliament on July 5, for the current financial year.
'Online beggar' in UAE makes $50,000 in 17 days
A woman in the UAE has been arrested here for conning people into giving her $50,000 (183,500 dirhams) by promoting herself as a victim of a failed marriage on social media platforms and asking for money to support her children, officials said.
North 24 Parganas: BJP's hold state bandh over alleged killing of party workers
With the 12-hour long bandh called by Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) witnessing strong protests being organised by party workers, the daily life has been adversely affected in the district.Protest against the alleged killing of party workers in Basirhat region of the district, BJP workers stopped a train by sitting on the railway tracks.A road of the city was also blocked by party workers holding a sit-in on the middle of the road.Most shops and even banks in Basirhat remain closed, fearing law and order the situation, in the district during the bandh.BJP has on Sunday called a 12-hour 'bandh' in the state over the alleged killings of party workers.On Sunday, BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha had said that his party will be observing a "black day" in West Bengal tomorrow in the wake of the killings of BJP workers.Yesterday, West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi also expressed his concern over the violent clashes between BJP and TMC workers in the state, Press Secretary to ...
BJP-called shutdown in Bengal's Basirhat, normal life affected
Train services were disrupted and normal life in West Bengal's Basirhat sub-division was affected on Monday due to a 12-hour general strike called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in protest against the killing of their party workers in Sandeshkhali.
MLAS defection: Vikramarka'sindefinite fast foiled
The city police Monday foiled the indefinite fast of senior Congress leader M Bhatti Vikramarka, in protest against the "illegal" merger of 12 party MLAs with the ruling TRS in Telangana, and shifted him to a hospital in view of his "failing health". Congress Legislature Party leader Vikramarka had Saturday launched his 36-hour fast, which was subsequently changed to 'fast-unto-death' at the Dharna Chowk here. He has been shifted to the state-run NIMS hospital "in view of his failing health" and also for holding protest beyond the permitted time, police said. "He had obtained permission for holding a 36-hour dharna and it was granted. But, he continued to hold the protest even after the permitted time. After getting him checked by a medical team, he has been shifted", DCP (Central Zone) P Viswa Prasad told PTI. In a dramatic turn of events, Telangana Assembly Speaker P Srinivas Reddy Thursday last recognised 12 MLAs of Congress as members of TRS, hours after they moved ...
ising misery as Ethiopia struggles to stem ethnic tensions
More than a year after his house in southern Ethiopia was razed to the ground, his coffee plantation destroyed and cattle stolen, Teketel Memheru is still too terrified to return home. The 22-year-old is one of hundreds of thousands of people uprooted from their homes by ethnic clashes in a burgeoning domestic crisis the Ethiopian government is battling to contain. "I witnessed a neighbour of mine hacked to death and another neighbour was burnt alive in his house. I'm scared to go to farm my agricultural plot for fear of attacks," said Teketel, an ethnic Gedeo who says he came under attack by Oromos -- the country's largest ethnic group. Officials insist that what became the world's biggest internal displacement crisis in 2018 is under control, and that more than a million people have returned to their homes. However those working on the ground -- speaking anonymously to avoid a government backlash -- say the displaced are being forcibly returned. They warn that the dire humanitarian .
Trump slams NYT for 'false report' on Mexico immigration deal
US President Donald Trump on Sunday hit out at The New York Times over the "shockingly false and untrue" report on the immigration deal reached with Mexico."The Failing @nytimes story on Mexico and Illegal Immigration through our Southern Border has now been proven shockingly false and untrue, bad reporting and the paper is embarrassed by it. The only problem is that they knew it was Fake News before it went out. Corrupt Media!" he tweeted.On Saturday, The New York Times had reported that Mexico had already promised to take many of the actions agreed to in Friday's immigration deal with the US."Friday's joint declaration says Mexico agreed to the deployment of its National Guard throughout Mexico, giving priority to its southern border," the Times report read."But the Mexican government had already pledged to do that in March during secret talks in Miami between Kirstjen Nielsen, then the secretary of homeland security, and Olga Sanchez, the Mexican secretary of the interior," it ...
Odisha: Malkangiri administration, police initiate 15-day training program for surrendered Naxals, transgenders
Malkangiri district administration in Odisha with the help of state police has initiated a 15-day long training program for surrendered Naxals and transgenders in an attempt to make them self-dependent.The Naxals and transgenders are undergoing the training program for building their physical strength and enhancing their skills.The district administration and police have organised this training program in Malkangiri under the Government's social security and disability department order for surrendered Naxals and transgenders with an aim of holistic development and rehabilitation."District administration has organised this camp for surrendered Naxals and transgenders for their rehabilitation. We are encouraging them to join it and will try to give all possible ways to help them," District Social Security Officer (DSSO), Radha Mani Dalai said.The administration has identified 15 transgenders and 10 surrendered Naxals for this training program. Apart from building their physical strength
US should no longer need tariff threat with Mexico: Trump
US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that it would likely not be "necessary" to threaten Mexico with tariffs again because that country's government was now helping to contain the flow of migrants to the country.
Violence erupts during Hong Kong protest against China extradition bill
Scenes of violence between police forces and demonstrators were witnessed outside Hong Kong's Legislative Council on Sunday during a protest march against the recently proposed extradition rules by the Chinese government.After nearly ten hours of peaceful protest, demonstrators charged police barriers to force their way into Legislative council building shortly after midnight. The police responded with batons and pepper spray on the mob, reported South China Morning Post.In what could be the biggest march in the city in the past 15 years, demonstrators had gathered in central Hong Kong on Sunday afternoon, to protest against the China extradition bill that would allow criminal suspects in the city to be sent to mainland China for trial.On April 3, Hong Kong had proposed this bill, which, critics believe, will leave anyone on Hong Kong soil vulnerable to being grabbed by the Chinese authorities for political reasons or inadvertent business offences.They further reason that the newly ...
BJP workers shot at in Bengal's Cooch Behar
A day after escalation of violence in West Bengal centering on a BJP-Trinamool Congress clash that killed at least five people, two more BJP workers were allegedly shot at by supporters of the state's ruling party in North Bengal's Cooch Behar district, local BJP leaders said.
Situation under control, says West Bengal govt in reply to Centre's advisory over violence
Stating that there were a few "stray post-poll clashes" in West Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee government Sunday claimed that situation in the state was "under control" in a letter to the Centre, which had issued an advisory earlier in the day after four people died in violence between workers of the Trinamool Congress and the BJP. State Chief Secretary Malay Kumar De wrote that "firm and appropriate actions" were initiated in all cases of violence without any delay. "There have been a few stray post-poll clashes in the state perpetrated by some anti-social elements, the law enforcement authorities have been taking firm and appropriate actions in all such cases without any delay," De wrote in the letter to the Union Home Ministry "The situation is under control and it may not be construed under any circumstance to be a failure on the part of the law enforcement machinery of the State to maintain the rule of law and impure confidence among the people," the letter read. Earlier in the day,
Drunk man found hanging in police lock up in dry Bihar
A 26-year-old man, who was arrested on the charge of drinking in dry Bihar, was found hanging in the lock-up of Kahalgaon police station of Bhagalpur district on Sunday, police said. Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Manoj Kumar Sudhanshu said Dilkhush Kumar has committed suicide by hanging in an inebriated condition in the lock up. Kumar used to drink and beat up his mother and family members, he said. He was brought to the police station on the written complaint of his mother, the SDPO said. Initial breath analyzer test and subsequent medical examination confirmed that he had consumed liquor, Sudhanshu said. Sale and consumption of liquor had been completely banned in Bihar by the Nitish Kumar government in April 2016. The body was sent for post-mortem examination at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital here. Sudhanshu said that he would personally inquire into the incident and will try to find out whether or not the incident is the result of any lapse ..
Trump refutes claims Mexico agreed to take border actions months before tariff deal
Refuting the claims made in a recent report by New York Times that Mexico had agreed to take border action months before Donald Trump announced tariff deal, the US President said on Sunday that much of what was in the recent deal signed on Friday was not accomplished by the previous administrations."Another false report in the Failing@nytimes. We have been trying to get some of these Border Actions for a long time, as have other administrations, but were not able to get them, or get them in full, until our signed agreement with Mexico," Trump wrote on Twitter"Additionally, and for many years not mentioned in yesterday press release, one in particular, were agreed upon. That will be announced at the appropriate time. There is now going to be great cooperation between Mexico & the USA, something that didn't exist for decades," he added.According to a report by The New York Times, Mexico had already promised to take many of the actions agreed to in Friday's immigration deal with ...
Bihar Health Minister meets Vardhan, rise in AES and JE cases discussed
Health Minister of Bihar Mangal Pandey Sunday called on Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan at his residence here. They discussed various health schemes operational in the state, according to an official statement. Vardhan also reviewed the reported rise in cases of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Muzaffarpur and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Gaya in Bihar. Vardhan has directed senior officers of the Health Ministry to discuss the situation with the state and districts authorities. He has directed the ministry to extend all support and assistance to the state government. "The Health Ministry is coordinating with the Ministry of Women and Child Development for distribution of nutritious food with glucose in the meals to prevent development of AES," Vardhan said. The health minister is closely monitoring the situation in the affected districts and will visit Bihar at an appropriate time in the future to review AES cases and the central health schemes in the state, the statement ...
WB: Scuffle breaks out between BJP workers, police over attempt to deface TMC MP's posters
A scuffle broke out between BJP workers and police after party cadres attempted to write "Jai Shri Ram" on posters of Trinamool Congress MP Prasun Banerjee here on Sunday.The incident took place near the local bus stand, where posters of Banerjee were pasted on a wall.BJP leader Umesh Rai told ANI, "If Didi (Mamata Banerjee) continues to get agitated when we chant 'Jai Shri Ram', then we will write it on walls in the state."Police dispersed BJP workers from the road, where they had gathered to protest against the increasing violence in the state. BJP workers also burnt tyres.The protest came after clashes erupted between BJP and TMC workers after former's flag was allegedly removed by TMC activists in Sandeshkhali Assembly constituency of North 24 Parganas district on Saturday.BJP leader Mukul Roy has alleged that four workers of his party were shot dead by the members of TMC.The state's ruling party, on the other hand, has alleged that a member of their party also died in the ...