by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | government, news, politics, politics and government, politics and law
Islamabad [
Pakistan
On March 24 (ANI): The
Islamabad High Court
(
IHC
) has reinstated biweekly meetings for
Pakistan
‘s former Prime Minister
Imran Khan
in
Adiala Jail
According to The Express Tribune, the court has instructed visitors not to make political statements after these meetings.
The High Court directive handed down on Monday permits
Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder
Imran Khan
To meet with his family and legal team on Tuesdays, whereas he can see his friends on Thursdays. Nonetheless, attendance is limited to those who have been approved.
Imran Khan
‘s coordinator, lawyer
Salman Akram Raja
will have the opportunity to meet Khan.
At the hearing, the court expressed worries about visitors utilizing jail visits to convey political messages. The Acting Chief Justice of
Islamabad High Court
Sarfaraz Dogar
mentioned that guests ought to “arrive and depart” and stressed that interacting with journalists was not required.
The court instructed visitors to sign a document guaranteeing that they wouldn’t make any public comments after the meetings. Authorities at the jail justified earlier actions by referring to security concerns and mentioned that they combined Khan’s visitations into a single day from two days to mitigate these risks. However, the court dismissed this reasoning, emphasizing that visits should occur every other week.
Imran Khan
were authorized in an earlier decision.
Meanwhile,
Imran Khan
His legal representatives asserted that planned meetings were being unjustly refused.
PTI founder
The attorney for ‘s lawyer, Zaheer Abbas, mentioned that the planned meeting on March 20 didn’t occur, even though they requested it multiple times, according to The Express Tribune.
Justice Dogar directed
Imran Khan
Lawyers for ‘s attorneys may request separate proceedings at the trial court if they wish to obtain permission for his children to visit him. This ruling from the court emerges amidst ongoing legal struggles.
Imran Khan
Who has been imprisoned since August 2023 following conviction in corruption cases. After transitioning from an under-trial detainee to a convicted inmate, Khan’s rights within the prison have been altered.
The jail administration mentioned that visits ought to be limited for security purposes. Nevertheless, the court underlined that discussions of a political nature should not take place before or after these visitations.
Imran Khan
.
Imran Khan
The attorneys informed the court that visitors would adhere to the new limitations imposed by the judge.
Following the court’s ruling,
Imran Khan
His legal advisors and backers will have the opportunity to meet with him two times each week. Nevertheless, breaching the media blackout could lead to additional legal proceedings, according to The Express Tribune.
The directive released by the authorities
Islamabad High Court
is seen as minor respite from the
PTI founder
Moreover, limitations placed on making political declarations indicate judicial efforts to prevent jail gatherings from turning into venues for political communication. (ANI)
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).
by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | government, government regulations, news, politics, politics and government
Elena Lasconi, the presidential candidate and head of the pro-reform Save Romania Union (USR) opposition party, stated that it would be highly beneficial for the government to close down TikTok prior to the upcoming presidential elections in May.
During her visit to Slatina, which is located in southern Romania, Lasconi expressed these views. She also mentioned that the widely used Chinese social network would be temporarily shut down to avoid external interference.
“If we cannot get such assurances from them, I think it would be wise to close it for at least one or two weeks prior to the presidential elections and then restart operations,” Lasconi stated to reporters.
The contender who secured the second position in the
canceled presidential elections scheduled for 2024
, barely edging out Social Democratic Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, stated that “incompetence” has led Romania to a critical juncture where shutting down TikTok would be necessary.
“I am an advocate for free speech and democratic principles, however, considering the potential risks posed by both governmental and non-governmental interference, which has been brought to our attention, I think we can proceed with making this decision,” stated Elena Lasconi during a press briefing, according to reports.
Agerpres
.
Lasconi additionally mentioned that false information spreads unchecked on TikTok, and he pointed out that the nine government bodies responsible for safeguarding the digital space are not fulfilling their duties effectively.
“We have specific proposals, such as a legislative initiative presented to Parliament, which mandates that false information must be removed within a maximum of 15 minutes, and content with potential manipulation should not reach more than 150 individuals. Although there is a proposed bill, I notice that it remains untouched in a drawer,” she said.
Other political leaders in Romania have repeatedly rejected banning the popular social media platform, which has amassed around 9 million users in Romania, roughly 47% of the population. Experts say Romania is especially vulnerable to fake news, as it has the lowest digital literacy skills in the EU, at around 1 in 2, compared to the Union average of 71%.
radu@romania-insider.com
(Photo source: Inquam Photos | Adriana Neagoe)
by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | controversies, funding, government, healthcare and medicine, news
Letters canceling funding, which abruptly halts millions of rand worth of HIV and TB research grants sponsored by the U.S. government at South African universities, began arriving over the weekend. According to an impacted researcher, it’s expected that more than 300 such grants will be terminated by the end of Sunday. This situation has significant repercussions for higher education and research institutions, including substantial job cuts.
Certain specialists approximate that around 70% of South Africa’s medical research funding, equivalent to approximately $400 million (roughly R7.2 billion) including both primary and subsidiary grants from the previous fiscal year, originates from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH comprises numerous components supporting this significant contribution.
27 institutes and centres
Each initiative targets a particular field of study. The NIH funds roughly seventy-five percent of global biomedical research.
On Friday night, the University of the Witwatersrand hosted an event.
Wits Health Consortium
The unit responsible for managing the institution’s clinical trials and donor-funded initiatives has received termination notices for all parts of a $2.5 million (approximately R460 million) grant, which concludes in November 2027. This particular grant was provided via the NIH.
National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
.
Letters canceling funding, issued on behalf of the chief grants management officer at USAID, Emily Linde, appear to follow a typical format. These letters inform researchers that their projects “fail to advance understanding of biological processes, yield minimal financial benefits, and do not improve public well-being, longevity, or disease reduction.” Additionally, they suggest these initiatives may negatively impact “the wellbeing of American citizens.”
The Wits project was conducted
by lead researchers Helen Rees, who heads the
Wits Reproductive Health Institute
, with Ian Sanne leading the Clinical HIV Research Unit and now also contributing to the international development organization,
Palladium
as its
chief medical officer
.
Ironically, our grant concluded on Human Rights Day, a time meant for aiding and protecting those who are most susceptible,” Sanne said to Bhekisisa. “Now, however, the U.S. government is compelling us to act contrary to these principles. Abruptly halting study participation could place trial volunteers in harm’s way. Does this align with global ethical standards for human research?
The study, ongoing since 2007, came under the
The Wits Research Group Clinical Trials Unit,
and carried out HIV and TB prevention and treatment studies, along with clinical trials for hepatitis and HIV-associated cancers.
Letters of termination were received on Human Rights Day
Other grants that have apparently been terminated up until now encompass research initiatives at the
Center for AIDS Research Program in South Africa
, Caprisa,
headed up
by Salim and Quarraisha Abdool Karim
Several South African universities, which received sub-grants for health research from U.S. institutions like Columbia University in New York, received cease-and-desist directives on Friday following the loss of funding by the American entities. At present, these South African organizations wish to remain unnamed.
Science magazine
reports
The ex-leader of the South African Medical Research Council, Glenda Gray was informed that her $3.1 million (approximately R56.5 million) grant for a clinical trial unit in Soweto [operated via Wits] has shifted from an approved to a pending status.
The
Center for AIDS Research Program in South Africa
, Caprisa,
headed up
By Salim and Quarraisha Abdool Karim, who receive substantial funding from the NIH, is currently on high alert. “So far, we haven’t gotten any notices of termination for our NIH grants,” said Salim Abdool Karim to Bhekisisa early Sunday morning.
TB funding ends as the US confronts TB outbreaks.
Throughout the years, certain HIV prevention research conducted within Sanne’s and Rees’s initiative has focused on populations more susceptible to contracting HIV. These include adolescent girls and young women in Africa, transgender individuals, and female sex workers.
The cancellation email mentioned that their “award no longer aligns with agency goals” and noted that “research programs focused mainly on artificial and nonscientific criteria, such as vague equity aims, go against scientific exploration, fail to broaden our understanding of living organisms, yield minimal benefits for investments made, and ultimately do not improve health outcomes, extend lifespan, or decrease illnesses.”
Worst of all, the note said, “so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) studies are often used to support unlawful discrimination on the basis of race and other protected characteristics, which harms the health of Americans. Therefore, it is the policy of NIH not to prioritise such research programmes.
The allusions in the letter to diversity, equity, and inclusion probably pertain to the work conducted at Wits regarding transgender individuals and female sex workers—categories of people disapproved of by the Trump administration.
On the evening of his inauguration, which took place on January 20, the president
signed an executive order
banning people’s right to identify as transgender or non-binary individuals. There are only two genders, the executive order declared: male and female.
However, Sanne argues that the mentions of DEI in their letter are not logical. Despite having conducted some studies on communities like transgender individuals and sex workers, much of their work centers around developing efficient treatments for pediatric tuberculosis and improving medications for those with multi-drug resistant TB, along with focusing on preventative measures against TB.
In numerous aspects, our work aligns perfectly with President Trump’s vision of ‘making America great.’ It enhances American safety, strength, and prosperity by safeguarding citizens from tuberculosis-related illnesses. Moreover, a significant portion of the patents and intellectual property for the novel medications we evaluate belong to U.S.-based firms.
SUBHEAD: Experts weigh in
Linda-Gail Bekner, who leads the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation at the University of Cape Town and also obtains NIH funding, cautions that this further setback to our clinical research sector occurs when new TB infections are ”
are at their peak levels in many years within the USA
”.
Kansas is presently experiencing the biggest tuberculosis outbreak that the United States has witnessed in this period.
past 30-40 years
(TB is a condition that has been well-managed in the U.S. for many years.) Furthermore,
60TB of data related to disease cases, along with two fatalities, have been reported.
.
By Saturday, Bekker hadn’t gotten a cancellation letter regarding her grant, yet she states: “Reducing the impact of HIV and TB epidemics to the point where they no longer pose a major public health risk is a matter of worldwide importance. South Africa has taken considerable steps and made notable contributions toward advancing this cause.”
Yogan Pillay, who leads HIV and TB initiatives at the Gates Foundation – an organization that also supports HIV andTB research and stands to be affected by U.S. government budget reductions – cautions: “These cuts will halt progress in both prevention and treatment of HIV. As a result, eradicating or even controlling AIDS has become nothing more than an illusion, with HIV continuing to proliferate.”
“It’s absolutely tragic.”
Trump stated, “Corrective action cannot be taken here.”
The Wits project conducted significant TB research. One
study
Published in February and featured on the NIH website, this study examined the effectiveness of administering double doses of the antiretroviral medication dolutegravir in TB patients.
Previous trials looked at
How secure was it for expectant mothers with HIV to use preventative tuberculosis medication?
, at how effective long-acting, injectable versions of antiretroviral therapy are
worked for teens
And how effective this bi-monthly HIV injection is
worked
.
Sanne states, “It’s unimaginable that [the alleged] Elon Musk-led governmental office for efficiency doesn’t grasp that there is more going on beyond merely DEI initiatives through HIV and various other research endeavors.”
The email stated: “While NIH typically opts for suspending (instead of outright terminating) a grant and provides the recipient a chance to undertake necessary corrective actions prior to making a final termination decision, such measures cannot be taken in this instance.”
The essence of this award is at odds with the agency’s goals, and no changes to the project would bring it in line with these priorities.
Terminations not unexpected
However, the termination of the grants was not unforeseen — or at least not since last week.
On March 12,
Science magazine reported
Matthew Memoli, who was serving as the acting director of the NIH, requested officials at the institute to assemble lists of grants related to South Africa. This email mirrored the phrasing used in previous NIH inquiries that resulted in the cancellation of numerous grants focused on areas such as transgender health, vaccine hesitance, and others not supported by the current administration.
At least
300 US university projects
have also had their grants revoked by the Trump administration, with numerous institutions being US universities.
resulting in demonstrations throughout the United States
.
These terminations are part of what the Trump administration views as cost-saving measures or research that doesn’t align with their beliefs, and such cuts are expected to keep happening globally.
SA researchers have initiated discussions with philanthropic foundations and the government to provide financial support, according to Sanne, who notes that “there haven’t been definite results” yet.
Projects in South Africa that received cancellation notices were informed that they had the opportunity to “contest and submit data and documents refuting” their termination decisions.
However, they must initially go through a “first-level grant appeal process” which needs to be completed before they can proceed to “file an appeal with the departmental appeals board.”
If projects decide to contest the decision, they must file an appeal within 30 days of receiving their termination notice.
Sanne mentions his intention to utilize the appeals process, and should those efforts not succeed, he aims to negotiate an ethical and responsible method for terminating the trials. “Our research saves lives, and the NIH has supported us in this endeavor,” he states. “Now, what we must do is persuade them of the importance of continuing our work instead of ending decades of investment which could lead to the loss of many lives.”
The Gates Foundation is referenced in this piece. Although Bhekisisa receives financial support from the Foundation, it maintains its independence in editing and content decisions.
This tale was crafted by the
Bhekisisa Center for Health Journalism
. Register for the
newsletter
.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).
by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | controversies, government, politics, politics and government, politics and law
-
Former Governor Kawira Mwangaza of Meru has sharply criticized President William Ruto and his supporters.
-
She alleged that Meru officials supporting Ruto were focusing more on her removal from office rather than delivering services.
-
Mwangasa mockingly proposed that the leaders of Meru should ask the president to initiate her own impeachment proceedings, presenting it as their sole accomplishment.
The LIFEHACK.co.ke correspondent Ivan Mboto boasts more than three years of expertise in covering political and contemporary issues within Kenya.
The former governor of Meru, Kawira Mwangaza, has launched a scathing critique against President William Ruto and his political associates, with particular focus on individuals hailing from Meru County.
Mwangaza issued a sharply-worded statement accusing the area’s chosen officials of neglecting their duties as outlined in the constitution and instead focusing on removing her from power.
She mourned that for more than two and a half years, their main concern had been her impeachment, leaving crucial developmental issues impacting locals unresolved.
On her official Facebook page, Mwangaza didn’t mince words as she accused the region’s entire leadership of being involved in an unrelenting effort to remove her from office.
According to her, the combined effort of all these leaders had yielded only one tangible result: her impeachment.
“I specifically highlight that the 11 Members of Parliament, along with a Senator, present and past Cabinet Secretaries, Permanent Secretaries, and 47 Members of County Assembly, working together for two and a half years, have managed to accomplish just one initiative—the impeachment process of Governor Kawira Mwangaza,” she stated.
Her comment seemed to directly address Ruto’s forthcoming development visit to the Mount Kenya area, encompassing Meru County.
With a touch of sarcasm aimed at the county’s leaders, she quipped that the sole achievement they felt confident enough to offer the president for inauguration was her impeachment.
“As we anticipate President Ruto’s developmental visit to the Mount Kenya region, specifically Meru County, the sole initiative that leaders can confidently showcase for his inauguration and endorsement is my impeachment process,” she stated additionally.
What were the reasons for Kawira Mwangaza’s impeachment?
Following her impeachment, Mwangaza commented on the persistent deep political divides that have existed in Meru County since she took office.
During her term, she frequently clashed with the County Assembly, resulting in two impeachment efforts; the second attempt was successful in removing her from office.
During her tenure in office, she consistently claimed that she was a target of a political witch hunt, frequently accusing prominent individuals of engineering her demise.
After a majority of members in the County Assembly sided with her impeachment, Mwangaza was ousted from office. Among the 69 Members of County Assembly, 49 backed the motion, 17 were against it, and three chose not to vote.
She faced allegations of abusing her position, engaging in serious misconduct, and breaching the Constitution along with other statutes. This motion, proposed by Deputy Majority Leader Zipporah Kinya, represented the fifth bid to remove her from office and stood as the third time a governor had been successfully impeached within the county’s timeline.
Mwangaza claims Ruto was involved in her dismissal.
Previously, Kawira Mwangaza asserted that the Kenya Kwanza administration was involved in her dismissal, describing it as politically driven. She alleged that her ousting was masterminded by male adversaries and high-ranking politicians who were retaliating against her refusal to submit to political exploitation.
She claimed that the administration meddled with the judicial proceedings, making sure that the concerns of Meru inhabitants were disregarded. Mwangaza stated that even the judiciary was swayed to impede her from obtaining justice.
Pointing to the swearing-in of her former deputy, Isaac Mutuma, she claimed those behind her ouster were present. She also suggested gender bias played a role in her removal.
