Society News

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

Marine Le Pen: The European Union will die

The European Union will “die”, French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen told a rally on 26 March, promising to shield France from globalization as she sought to fire up her supporters in the final four weeks before voting gets underway.Buoyed by the unexpected election of Donald Trump in the United States and by Britains vote to leave the EU, the leader of the eurosceptic and anti-immigrant National Front (FN) party, told the rally in Lille that the French election would be the next step in what she called a global rebellion of the people.

Mar 27, 2017

Dozens arrested at anti-corruption protests in Russia

Dozens have been arrested at anti-corruption protests across Russia. Protesters in Moscow, Novosibirsk and Vladivostok amongst others demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was arrested during a protest in central Moscow. The Kremlin called the protests illegal and riot police attempted to disperse protesters.

Mar 26, 2017

Canadian teacher Maggie MacDonnell wins $1m prize for work in remote Artic communities

Canadian teacher Maggie MacDonnell spent six years working with children in a remote Arctic Inuit community has won a $1m (£810,000) prize at a ceremony in Dubai.

Mar 19, 2017

Govt, private firms have to now frame equal opportunity policy for the differently-abled

Differently-abled people may get equal opportunity to work in both government and private organisations with the new policy.

Mar 17, 2017

For the women, by the women: Manju Warrier campaigns for Kerala Police Pink Patrol initiative [VIDEO]

Pink Patrol has been deployed in Kerala to improve women's security in the state.

Mar 14, 2017

Gloria Steinem speaks about the womens movement

Gloria Steinem, writer and feminist activist explains the significance of the day without women protest.  She explains, It is an opportunity to call attention to how crucial womens labour is.  Whether its at home or whether its in the paid labour force, what women do is often less visible than what men do.   Steinem also discusses global health and the impact of the reinstated abortion gag rule.  She explains, In this country it would be illegal because its a restriction on free speech.  We are imposing on people in other countries something which in the past has resulted in the death of a woman every five minutes.  That is our shame here.      

Mar 10, 2017

Manipur election results: Irom Sharmila to quit politics after getting only 90 votes; what next for her?

Irom Sharmila forfeited her deposit as she lost to incumbent Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh from the Thoubal constituency.

Mar 11, 2017

Amal Clooney urges Iraq and UN to investigate Isis war crimes

International human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and Nadia Murad, a Yazidi victim of Isis, spoke at a United Nations event calling for Iraq to launch an investigation into war crimes committed by Isis. Clooney demanded for the UN to take action should Iraq fail to ask for help.

Mar 10, 2017

Women hail new maternity Bill: 'Women will no longer resign before delivery'

The Maternity Benefit Bill also makes it mandatory for every establishment with more than 50 employees to provide creche facilities within a prescribed distance.

Mar 10, 2017

Maruti Suzuki factory violence case: 31 convicted for manager's death

The riot that had broken out at the factory in Manesar, Haryana, led to the death of one manager at the premises who was beaten up and later burnt to death.

Mar 10, 2017