External Affairs Minister Jaishankar toured the Philippines March 25-27, meeting President Ferdinand Marcos and his Foreign and Defence Secretaries and discussing bilateral and strategic ties, counter-terrorism, defence cooperation and maritime domain awareness.
If the attacks on Opposition parties and leaders continue on the pretext of correcting economic wrongs, the fig leaf covering the truth of India’s democracy would wither and drop off.
The punitive actions by India’s tax authorities and the Enforcement Directorate against Opposition political parties and leaders, especially after the general elections have been notified, amount to election interference. The statutory body charged with holding free and fair elections is the Election Commission of India. It has powers to issue directives to the executive to act in a manner conducive to the conduct of free elections. Failure to check the intimidation of Opposition parties and leaders by agencies of the central government amounts to abdication of its responsibility by the Commission. If the Commission does not realise this and make amends, the Supreme Court should, suo motu, direct the Commission to act.
In a globalising world, where alternative power centres emerge and grow, US cannot continue to turn a blind eye to humanitarian crisis created by Israel in Gaza.
Gender-based violence casts a long and dark shadow over societies worldwide, permeating every facet of life and leaving deep scars on survivors. Within this complex tapestry of violence, the intersectionality of mental health and gender dynamics emerges as a critical focal point for advocacy and intervention. At the Gender and Mental Health certificate program organized by the Impact and Policy Research Institute, Ms. Sangeeta Rege delivered a profoundly insightful address, shedding light on the nuanced interplay between gender-based violence and mental health care. Ms. Rege articulated a compelling narrative that underscores the urgent need for gender-sensitive approaches within healthcare settings and systemic reforms to ensure equitable access to mental health services for all survivors.
Farmers’ unions in India are demanding higher wages and minimum price support, among other provisions. The Indian government’s approach to agriculture, including non-legally-binding minimum price support for crops and loan waivers have been met with mixed reactions from farmers and experts.
The two nations have had a history of cooperation, support, and mutual growth.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Bhutan last week marks his third visit to the country. The visit closely follows Bhutan’s newly-elected PM Tshering Tobgay’s official visit to India between March 14 and 18. These back-to-back visits demonstrate the special relationship between both countries and the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between them. India-Bhutan relations are the epitome of a win-win relationship between two neighbours who vastly differ in size. PM Modi’s recent visit intends to build on this special relationship, especially as Bhutan confronts its internal and external challenges.
Day 3 of the Gender and Mental Health Training Programme, organized by the Impact and Policy Research Institute, featured an enlightening address by Professor Vibhuti Patel on. Her comprehensive analysis of the intersectionality between gender, mental health, and societal structures provided profound insights into the challenges faced by women in accessing mental health support and the imperative for gender-sensitive approaches to mental health care.