Society News

F-16 fighter jet crashes in Maryland

An F-16 fighter jet went down in flames just south of Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on April 5. The pilot ejected and was taken to the hopital. 

Apr 7, 2017

Distraught father cries for entire family killed in Syria gas attack

Youssef Abdel Hamid, a resident of Khan Sheikhoun, Syria, lost more than 20 members of his extended family in the 4 April chemical attack, including his wife Dalal and their two infant children Aya and Ahmed.The use of a chemical agent was confirmed on 6 April by Turkish autopsies of the bodies.

Apr 6, 2017

‘Impregnate the rivals’: Burundi men sing song inciting rape

Burundi men belonging to the youth wing of the ruling CNDD-FDD party were attending an event organised by the party in the commune of Ntega, in Kirundo province which borders Rwanda on 1 April. This has been confirmed by both the government and human rights groups.

Apr 6, 2017

Exiled activists pelt Syrian diplomatic outposts in Paris with eggs and flour over chemical attack

A group of exiled Syrian activists pelted the Syrian Cultural Center and the Syrian Embassy in Paris with eggs and flour on 5 April. The protest was in response to the suspected chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun that killed at least 70 and wounded more.

Apr 6, 2017

No change in fee structure or word limit in Right To Information queries

Ministry of Personnel, Public grievances and Pensions has denied media reports.

Apr 5, 2017

Madras HC directs Tamil Nadu government to waive farmers' loans in cooperative banks

Madras High Court also directed officials not to initiate any penal or recovery proceedings against farmers who defaulted on crop loans.

Apr 4, 2017

Iraqi army continues battle against Isis, nears Mosuls Old City

Iraqi forces continue their fight against Isis on the edge of the Old City in Mosul. The neighbourhood around the al-Nuri mosque is the focus of the advance. Three years ago, Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed a caliphate there.Narrow streets in this densely populated area have slowed down the army’s advance. Residents say Isis militants use them as human shields. According to the UN, several hundred civilians have been killed in the past month.

Apr 1, 2017

Satyam Babu acquitted after 8 years for a crime he did not commit; here are 3 other Indians who were wrongly convicted

Satyam Babu acquitted after eight years for a rape and murder he had never committed; But will life be the same for him even if he has been acquitted by law?

Apr 2, 2017

100 years of transgender rights

IBTimes UK looks back at the past century of developments for trans people, from the development of the Institute of Sexual Research in 1919, to the popularity of figures such as Laverne Cox and Caitlyn Jenner in modern times.

Mar 31, 2017

Trees are polluters too: Tree trunks release methane into the atmosphere

Forests are generally thought to absorb methane rather than emit it, but research in Maryland, US, has shown that tree trunks are slowly releasing the potent greenhouse gas into the environment.

Mar 31, 2017

Penis seat on train challenges sexual harassment on public transport

A campaign by UN Women and Mexico City’s government wants to raise awareness about sexual violence against women on public transport. For the campaign, a mould of an erect penis was installed on a train seat to let men experience what women go through on a daily basis.A YouGov poll has ranked the city’s metro as the worst for verbal and physical harassment and 9 out of 10 women have experienced physical or verbal abuse there.

Mar 31, 2017

Outrageously transphobic moments in films and TV

Trans representation on-screen is now improving – but there have been setbacks. From Friends to Family Guy, here are some of the most outrageous moments of transphobia ever seen in mainstream TV and films.

Mar 30, 2017

Activists close Stanstead airport runway after surrounding ‘deportation plane’

Activists from the organisation End Deportations laid on the ground, chained to each other, at Stansted Airport on 28 March as they formed a blockade on the runway to stop a flight they said was deporting asylum seekers to Nigeria and Ghana.Flights were suspended at the airport, with a spokesperson telling the Guardian that eight flights were diverted to other airports in the London area.

Mar 29, 2017

Suicide is no longer a crime; mental healthcare is every person's right, says Mental Healthcare Bill 2016

Besides decriminalising suicide, the Mental Healthcare Bill 2016 which was approved by the parliament on Monday has also ensured every person's right of access to mental healthcare.

Mar 28, 2017

Watch the moment daring rescuers pull freezing fisherman from Estonian lake

Estonian rescuers managed to help a stranded fisherman to safety at Lake Harku on 23 March after he fell through the ice. The rescuers pushed their board over the thawing spring ice to reach him, falling in themselves. They managed to pull the freezing fisherman onto the board and push him off the lake to safety.

Mar 27, 2017