Page 41 - Social Issues
Enough resources for development, lack of funds just an excuse: Aruna Sharma
There can be no sustainable development and lasting peace in a society which has a widening gap between the rich and the poor, author Aruna Sharma has said. The retired IAS officer in her book "You @ Game Changer for Inclusive Growth" lists a litany of challenges that hamper sustainable growth and development in villages, smaller towns and urban slums in India. Sharma, who retired last year as Secretary Steel, argues that the "paucity of funds", which is quite often cited as a reason for poor development, is merely an "excuse" offered by the public representatives for failing to deliver the goods. "There are enough financial resources available. Each district gets around Rs 1,200 crore annually under various government schemes. There is no reason why you cannot plan or target big infrastructure," she told PTI. "Many a time the intent is there, but there is no awareness about these resources," Sharma said. The book not only offers an insight into the available money for infrastructure .
Hong Kong government defends gay marriage ban in court
Hong Kong's government is defending the city's ban on same-sex unions at a landmark court challenge days after neighbouring Taiwan legalised gay marriage in an unprecedented first for Asia. Despite growing public support for gay marriage in the international financial hub, campaigners have made little headway against staunch opposition from the city's successive pro-Beijing governments and religious conservatives. A Hong Kong woman, known only as MK, is suing the government for denying her right to enter into a civil partnership with her female partner, arguing the ban is unconstitutional. The case is currently being heard by the Court of First Instance. Defending the current ban, government lawyer Stewart Wong told the court Wednesday that marriage would be "diluted and diminished" and "no longer special" if that right was granted to same-sex couples. Not all differences in treatment are unlawful. You are not supposed to treat unequal cases alike," Wong said, adding that Hong Kong's .
Violence in Pakistan after Hindu veterinary doctor accused of blasphemy
Mobs set ablaze shops belonging to the Hindus after a veterinary doctor from the minority community allegedly tore pages of a holy book and wrapped medicines in them in Pakistan's Sindh province, according to a media report. The Hindu veterinary doctor, identified as Ramesh Kumar, was arrested on Monday under the country's strict blasphemy laws after a local cleric filed a police complaint accusing him of committing blasphemy. Under Pakistan's blasphemy laws, anyone accused of insulting Islam can be sentenced to death. The doctor was taken into custody while angry protestors set fire to shops owned by Hindus and burnt tyres on road in Phuladyon town in Mirpurkhas district in the province, The Express Tribune reported. Protesters set ablaze a doctor's clinic, a medical store, and two shops belonging to the members of the Hindu community. They also blocked roads by burning tyres, the report said. There were reports that the protesters also looted some shops. With the situation spiraling
Jenelle Evans and David Eason loose custody of their children
American TV star Jenelle Evans and husband David Eason who were fighting for the custody of their 3 children, suffered a major court defeat on Tuesday. The judge ruled out the verdict that the couple will not regain the custody of their children.An insider close to Jenelle told E- News that, "A judge temporarily ruled that the 'Teen Mom 2' star will not regain custody of her three children Jace, 9, Kaiser, 4, and Ensley, 2. Jenelle was stunned that the judge did not give her back the kids. They are all for the time being remaining with their respective caregivers."Barbara Evans confirmed to E-News that she has custody of Jace and Ensley. She adds, "Of course I would like for Jenelle to get them all back eventually, but certain things have to happen first."As for David Eason's daughter, Maryssa, she remains in custody with his ex-wife Whitney Johnson.David and Jenelle, along with their kid's current caregivers, will return to court next Tuesday to "see what the next steps are as this ..
HC issues notice to Centre on plea to curb population
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the central government to file a response on a plea seeking implementation of a proposal by the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC) on population control and a 'two-child norm' as a criteria for government jobs, aid and subsidies.
Ellen DeGeneres recounts assault by her stepfather
Comedian-host Ellen DeGeneres has recalled being sexually assaulted by her mother's then-husband when she was a teen.
UN dedicates Aug 22 to victims of religious violence
The UN General Assembly has declared August 22 as the International Day for Victims of Religious Violence to combat hate crimes and persecution on the basis of beliefs.
Mumbai doctor suicide: 2 doctors arrested
Mumbai Police have arrested two of the three doctors for abetting the suicide of postgraduate medical student Payal Salman Tadvi, their junior colleague at a state-run hospital here, by harassing her over her social identity.The three accused doctors -Bhakti Mehar, Hema Ahuja and Ankita Khandilwal- had denied the charges levelled against them by Payal's mother Abeda Tadvi who claimed that her daughter had committed suicide after being unable to bear months of torture by the trio.On Tuesday, police arrested Bhakti Mehar from the Session Court in Mumbai and nabbed Hema Ahuja from the Andheri railway station. According to the CrPC 46 (4), with permission from the Sewadi Court, Hema was arrested in the night, police said.The third accused doctor is likely to be arrested today, police said, adding that the accused will be presented in the Session Court later in the day.The accused will be presented in the Sessions Court later in the day.The Agripada Police Station on Sunday had lodged ...
Missouri to become first US state without an abortion clinic
Missouri could become the first state in the United States without an abortion clinic, authorities warned.Al Jazeera quoted nonprofit organisation, Planned Parenthood, claiming that Missouri's only abortion clinic expects to be shut down this week after the state health department refused to renew its license, which would make it the only US state without a legal abortion clinic."This is not a drill," said Leana Wen, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, which runs the clinic."This is not a warning. This is real and it's a public health crisis," she added."More than a million women of reproductive age in Missouri will no longer have access to a health centre in the state they live in that provides abortion care," Wen was quoted as saying.Planned Parenthood said in a statement that the clinic would sue the state health department to preserve access to legal abortions in the state.Last Friday, Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed a bill into law that bans ...
Pence calls on US Supreme Court to take up 'selective' abortion
US Vice President Mike Pence has urged the Supreme Court to take up a case about abortions based on sex, race or potential disability of the fetus, after the high court sidestepped the issue. While serving as governor of Indiana, Pence had signed into law a ban on so-called "selective" abortions. A lower court struck it down, and earlier Tuesday, the US Supreme Court opted not to weigh in until lower courts do so. Pence's office released a statement saying it remained "hopeful that at a later date the Supreme Court will review one of numerous state laws across the US that bar abortion based on sex, race, or disability." "Countries across the globe prohibit selective abortion - and the United States should do the same," said the statement from Pence's press secretary Alyssa Farah on Tuesday. Pence's remarks follow moves by legislatures in several Republican-led states to restrict access to abortion in a bid to eventually challenge the 1973 US Supreme Court ruling in Roe vs Wade, which .
NRIs in US support PM Modi's re-election, give thumbs up to MEA's performance: survey
Non-Resident Indians living in the US overwhelmingly supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi's re-election in the recently-concluded general elections and gave a near-perfect score to the Ministry of External Affairs for addressing their issues, according to a survey. The survey, carried out by the US-based public and international policy platform Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), states that as many a 93.9 per cent of the Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) living in the US supported the re-election of Modi as prime minister. In the opinion poll held early this month, the questions were mostly based on the Modi-led government's performance on various programmes, aspects and issues. The survey found that NRIs voted highest (95.5 per cent) on the performance of the Ministry of External Affairs in handling their issues. As many as 92 per cent of the NRIs feel that India is better respected now than before 2014. Over 93 per cent believe that the Modi government has done ...
Activists in Argentina launch new bid to legalize abortion
Activists and lawmakers in Argentina have relaunched a bid to legalise abortion with a new bill before Congress and a major demonstration planned, resuming a battle that has divided the homeland of Pope Francis ahead of October's general election. Last year, a bill to decriminalise abortion up to the 14th week of pregnancy was narrowly adopted by the Chamber of Deputies but defeated in the Senate, under strong pressure from the still-powerful Catholic Church. The new bill is being put forward by 15 lawmakers from a range of parties, including President Mauricio Macri's ruling center-right Cambiemos coalition and left-wing opposition parties. Thousands of women planned to hold a major demonstration outside the Congress building in central Buenos Aires to mark the revival of their campaign, hoping for a better ending than they experienced last year. Victoria Tesoriero, leader of the Campaign for the Right to Legal, Safe and Free Abortion, said activists would keep the pressure on ...
No. of married girls in India in age group 15-19 yrs down 51 pc since 2000: Report
The number of girls in India in the age group of 15-19 years who are currently married is down 51 per cent since 2000, and the country's average performance across a set of indicators related to child health has improved, a new report has said. According to the Global Childhood Report released by UK-based NGO Save the Children, India, with its score on Childhood Index up 137 points, from 632 to 769, has also cut teen births by 63 per cent since 2000 and 75 per cent since 1990. The index score reflects the average level of performance across a set of eight indicators related to child health, education, labour, marriage, childbirth and violence. "This reduction has resulted in over 2 million fewer teen births in India now compared to 2000 (3.5 million v/s 1.4 million), meaning progress in India alone accounts for nearly three-quarters of the global reduction in adolescent births during this period," the report said. The number of girls in India in the age group of 15-19 years who are ...
France says around 450 IS-linked nationals detained in Syria
Around 450 French nationals linked to the Islamic State are being held by Kurds or detained in refugee camps in northeastern Syria, the French foreign minister said Tuesday. "In the northeastern zone of Syria, we think that there are between 400 and 450 French people, some in camps, others held as prisoners, including children," Jean-Yves Le Drian told parliament's foreign affairs committee. He said only the children could be repatriated if they were orphans or if their mothers gave permission. France has long insisted that its adult citizens captured in Iraq or Syria must face trial locally, refusing to repatriate them despite the risk they could receive death sentences. "Our position is still the same and we will not shift: fighters must be judged where they have committed crimes," Le Drain said. A Baghdad court sentenced two more Frenchmen to death Tuesday for joining the Islamic State jihadist group, raising the number of French IS members on death row in Iraq to six. Since March .
UP ATS sends illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to 6-day police custody
Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Tuesday sent the six illegal Bangladeshi immigrants who were arrested on Sunday to six days of police custody.The Bangladeshi nationals were arrested on May 26 from Agra railway station for allegedly preparing fake identity documents for other illegal immigrants to help them get passports, an official said on Monday.The arrested Bangladeshi nationals were also planning to go Pakistan on the basis of these fake documents.On May 27, all arrested Bangladeshi nationals were presented before the court after which it ordered the ATS to send them to police custody for six days starting May 29.
Distraught over suicide by girlfriend, man ends life
Distraught over the suicide committed by his girl friend, a 21-year-old taxi driver allegedly hanged himself to death in his residence at Khichdipur in East Delhi, police said Tuesday. Deepak committed suicide in his room at Khichdipur near Kalyanpuri on Monday night, said police, adding they were informed about the incident by his neighbours. They said a few days back he had gone to Hathras, where his girl friend lived. He came to know there that his girl friend had committed suicide and returned to Delhi on Monday, they said, adding he ended his life the same night. The police, however, said it was yet to be confirmed whether his "girlfriend" indeed committed suicide. Meanwhile, the inquest proceedings have been initiated, police said.
1 arrested in Payal suicide case
One of the doctors accused of abetting the suicide of a junior female colleague by tormenting her with casteist slurs was arrested here on Tuesday, police said. The Agripada police arrested Bhakti Mehere after initial interrogation, an officer said. Mehere and two other doctors, Ankita Khandelwal and Hema Ahuja, were booked after the woman, Payal Tadvi committed suicide, the police said. All three moved an anticipatory bail application before the sessions court here on Tuesday and it is likely to come up for hearing on Wednesday. The trio has been booked under relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the Anti-Ragging Act, the IT Act and Section 306 (abetment to suicide) of the Indian Penal Code. Tadvi hanged herself last Wednesday, following which the 26-year-old's family alleged that the senior doctors tortured her by ragging and hurling casteist abuses as she belonged to a Scheduled Tribe. Tadvi's parents protested at the state-run ...
NHRC issues notice to Delhi Police over custodial death of man
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of a 58-year-old man's death inside the premises of Bawana police station, Delhi on May 26, 2019.The man was called for questioning regarding his wanted son. While the police claimed that the man himself jumped to death, his family alleged foul play.Citing media reports, the Commission asserted that if found true, it amounts to human rights violations of the victim. Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the Commissioner of Police, Delhi calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks. The Commissioner of Police, Delhi is also expected to submit as to why this custodial death in police custody has not been reported to the Commission as per its guidelines issued on the subject.The Commission has observed that the reported the allegations levelled by the family members appear serious in nature. "It is difficult to believe, as reportedly claimed by police, that a 58-year-old man after questioning went
Tgana govt hikes social security pension
The Telangana government Tuesday issued orders enhancing social security pension to senior citizens and other categories of people, fulfilling a poll promise. While the hike is Rs 3,016 from Rs 1,000 for disabled persons, it is Rs 2,016 for others from Rs 1,000. The enhancement of social security pension is a promise made by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi ahead of assembly elections in December last. "Government after careful examination of the matter hereby enhances the quantum of pension to the existing eligible pensioners and covered under various categories under Aasara scheme with effect from June, 2019 payable in July, 2019," a government order (GO) said. The categories of beneficiaries include senior citizens, widow, weaver, toddy tappers, persons with HIV-AIDS, beedi workers, single women and filaria patients, according to the order.
Migrant hides inside car dashboard to enter Europe
A migrant was found hiding inside the dashboard of a car on the border between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Melilla, trying to enter Europe illegally.
