Tag: Switzerland

  • Denmark Latest To Mandate Compulsory Military Service To Women: List Of Nations Where 'Armed Service' Is A Must For Females | world news

    COPENHAGEN: In a significant move towards gender equality and national security, Denmark has embarked on a journey to mandate military service for women, making it the latest nation to do so. This decision, announced by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, aims to bolster the country's defense capabilities and ensure parity between genders in the realm of armed forces participation. Frederiksen emphasized that the extension of conscription to women and the elongation of service duration from four to eleven months for both genders signify Denmark's commitment to peace and preparedness rather than an inclination toward conflict.

    Denmark's Strategic Move

    Denmark, as a member of the NATO alliance and a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, has underlined the importance of a robust defense posture in the face of evolving geopolitical challenges. Despite Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen's assertion that Russia does not pose an immediate threat to Denmark, the government remains steadfast in its determination to fortify national security. With only 9,000 professional troops complemented by 4,700 conscripts currently undergoing basic training, Denmark seeks to augment its military strength by enlisting more individuals into its armed forces.

    Policy Reforms

    The proposed changes in Denmark's military conscription system entail a comprehensive restructuring of the recruitment and training process. Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen outlined the legislative adjustments required to implement the new system, with the anticipated timeline set for enactment in 2026. Under the revised framework, conscripts will undergo five months of basic training, six months of operational service, and supplementary training. This revamped approach aims to foster a more inclusive and comprehensive defense mechanism that is adaptable to contemporary security threats.

    International Comparisons: Mandatory Military Service For Women

    Denmark's decision to mandate military service for women aligns with global trends toward gender mainstreaming in defense policies. Countries such as Sweden and Norway have already embraced the concept of compulsory military service for both men and women, reflecting a broader shift towards gender parity in armed forces recruitment. Israel, despite its longstanding conscription policy, exempts certain segments of the population, highlighting the complexities inherent in balancing national security imperatives with individual rights and religious considerations. Eritrea's contentious conscription practices, characterized by forced military training for both genders, underscore the challenges associated with coercive recruitment strategies and their implications for human rights.

    Beyond Denmark, several other nations have either active or inactive policies regarding military service for women:

    Sweden: In 2017, Sweden reinstated conscription for both men and women amid concerns over regional security threats. This decision reflects Sweden's proactive approach to strengthening its defense capabilities.

    Norway: Since 2015, Norway has mandated national service for both men and women, making it a trailblazer in gender-inclusive military policies among NATO members.

    Israel: Military service is compulsory for Israeli citizens, with exceptions for certain groups, including ultra-Orthodox and Arab Israelis. While women are not obliged to serve, many choose to do so voluntarily.

    Eritrea: Eritrea has drawn international attention for its controversial conscription practices, which require both boys and girls to undergo military training. Despite legal limitations on service duration, many Eritrean youth face prolonged conscription periods.

    South Korea and North Korea: Both Koreas have longstanding traditions of compulsory military service, with recent adjustments to include women in mandatory conscription. In South Korea, women can now fulfill their military obligations alongside men, reflecting evolving societal norms.

    Switzerland: While military service is compulsory for men in Switzerland, women have the option to serve voluntarily. However, discussions are underway to potentially revise this policy and introduce mandatory conscription for women.

    Poland: Poland allows women to volunteer for military service, with certain professions requiring compulsory service. This approach reflects Poland's recognition of the valuable contributions women can make to national defense.

    Cuba: In Cuba, military service is mandatory for men, while women can choose to serve voluntarily. This distinction underscores Cuba's approach to gender roles within its armed forces.

    These diverse examples illustrate the varying approaches to female conscription worldwide, reflecting each nation's unique security challenges, cultural norms, and historical contexts. While some countries have embraced gender-inclusive military policies, others continue to grapple with questions of equality and national defense.

  • Harry Styles and other stars raising cash for WHO in Ukraine

    By AFP

    GENEVA: British music stars Harry Styles and Ed Sheeran, US basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal and other celebrities will donate personal objects for a campaign launched on Saturday to support healthcare in Ukraine.

    Seven months into Russia’s war, the WHO Foundation — an independent organisation that works to raise funds to support the UN health agency’s work addressing global health crises — launched the “Human Kind” e-store, where fans can try to win items donated by their favourite celebrities.

    The funds raised will go towards supporting WHO’s actions in war-ravaged Ukraine and neighbouring countries, the foundation said, adding that it aimed to raise USD 53.7 million.

    Harry Styles has donated a signed vinyl, while Shaquille O’Neal, Ukrainian footballer Vitaliy Mykolenko and other sports legends have donated signed shirts and jerseys.

    Wladimir Klitschko, a former heavyweight boxing champion and brother of Kyiv’s mayor, has donated a boxing glove.

    The star-studded line-up also includes British singer Ellie Goulding and American artist Shepard Fairey.

    A combination of pictures made available on September 23, 2022 in Geneva shows clockwise: a signed vinyl by British singer and actor Harry Styles, a signed glove by Ukrainian former boxing world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, a signed print by US street artist Obey aka Sherpard Fairey and a signed jersey by US basket legend Shaquille O’Neal. (Photo | AFP)

    British pop legend Annie Lennox, who donated a pair of iconic sunglasses, said images from Ukraine, including of women giving birth in basements, were “profoundly shocking.”

    “I encourage everyone to do what they can to support the people of Ukraine through this crisis,” she said in the foundation’s statement, insisting that “healthcare is a human right that all deserve access to.”

    Raffle tickets for the items cost between £5-10 ($5.40-10.90) on the humankind.who.foundation website from September 24 to October 24, with winners set to be drawn on October 31, the foundation said.

    “Seven months into this tragic war, people are ever more in need of urgent medical care across the country,” foundation chief Anil Soni said in the statement.

    “We must address the immediate and long-term health needs of those affected.”

    Since Moscow invaded its western neighbour on February 24, the WHO has verified 550 attacks on healthcare in Ukraine. More than 5,900 civilians have died, and more than 8,600 have been injured, while over 12 million Ukrainian refugees are currently in Europe as a result of the war, the WHO said.

    Meanwhile, some 17.7 million people — over a third of Ukraine’s population — need humanitarian assistance.

    The WHO said it has so far helped deliver 1,300 metric tonnes of medical supplies to Ukraine, including kits for blood transfusions, essential medicines, ambulances, oxygen, and surgical equipment.

    GENEVA: British music stars Harry Styles and Ed Sheeran, US basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal and other celebrities will donate personal objects for a campaign launched on Saturday to support healthcare in Ukraine.

    Seven months into Russia’s war, the WHO Foundation — an independent organisation that works to raise funds to support the UN health agency’s work addressing global health crises — launched the “Human Kind” e-store, where fans can try to win items donated by their favourite celebrities.

    The funds raised will go towards supporting WHO’s actions in war-ravaged Ukraine and neighbouring countries, the foundation said, adding that it aimed to raise USD 53.7 million.

    Harry Styles has donated a signed vinyl, while Shaquille O’Neal, Ukrainian footballer Vitaliy Mykolenko and other sports legends have donated signed shirts and jerseys.

    Wladimir Klitschko, a former heavyweight boxing champion and brother of Kyiv’s mayor, has donated a boxing glove.

    The star-studded line-up also includes British singer Ellie Goulding and American artist Shepard Fairey.

    A combination of pictures made available on September 23, 2022 in Geneva shows clockwise: a signed vinyl by British singer and actor Harry Styles, a signed glove by Ukrainian former boxing world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, a signed print by US street artist Obey aka Sherpard Fairey and a signed jersey by US basket legend Shaquille O’Neal. (Photo | AFP)

    British pop legend Annie Lennox, who donated a pair of iconic sunglasses, said images from Ukraine, including of women giving birth in basements, were “profoundly shocking.”

    “I encourage everyone to do what they can to support the people of Ukraine through this crisis,” she said in the foundation’s statement, insisting that “healthcare is a human right that all deserve access to.”

    Raffle tickets for the items cost between £5-10 ($5.40-10.90) on the humankind.who.foundation website from September 24 to October 24, with winners set to be drawn on October 31, the foundation said.

    “Seven months into this tragic war, people are ever more in need of urgent medical care across the country,” foundation chief Anil Soni said in the statement.

    “We must address the immediate and long-term health needs of those affected.”

    Since Moscow invaded its western neighbour on February 24, the WHO has verified 550 attacks on healthcare in Ukraine. More than 5,900 civilians have died, and more than 8,600 have been injured, while over 12 million Ukrainian refugees are currently in Europe as a result of the war, the WHO said.

    Meanwhile, some 17.7 million people — over a third of Ukraine’s population — need humanitarian assistance.

    The WHO said it has so far helped deliver 1,300 metric tonnes of medical supplies to Ukraine, including kits for blood transfusions, essential medicines, ambulances, oxygen, and surgical equipment.

  • Bengaluru woman approach Delhi HC to stop her friend from going abroad to undergo euthanasia

    By Online Desk

    CHENNAI: A 49-year-old Bengaluru woman approached the Delhi High Court on Wednesday seeking to stop her male friend from travelling to Switzerland to undergo euthanasia.

    According to Bar and Bench, the HC has been informed that the 48-year-old man from Noida was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – a complex, debilitating, long-term neuro inflammatory disease – in 2014, and since then, his condition has worsened so much so that he is now completely bed-ridden.

    The petitioner has said that the patient was undergoing Fecal Microbiota Transplantation treatment in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for his condition, but faced “donor availability issues” during the pandemic, due to which he could not continue the same.

    The friend in her writ petition to the high court claims that the 42-year-old patient is allegedly planning to undergo euthanasia through Zurich-based organisation Dignitas, which provides assistance to foreign nationals, The Quint reports.

    The petition, Bar and Bench added,  thus sought a direction to the Union Minister of External Affairs (MEA) to reject emigration clearance to the man since he has made false claims before Indian as well as foreign authorities for getting travel clearance.

    The petitioner also sought a direction to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to constitute a medical board to examine the man’s health and provide necessary assistance, considering his peculiar health condition, the report said.

    The petition filed through Advocate Subhash Chandran KR is likely to be heard next week.

    CHENNAI: A 49-year-old Bengaluru woman approached the Delhi High Court on Wednesday seeking to stop her male friend from travelling to Switzerland to undergo euthanasia.

    According to Bar and Bench, the HC has been informed that the 48-year-old man from Noida was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – a complex, debilitating, long-term neuro inflammatory disease – in 2014, and since then, his condition has worsened so much so that he is now completely bed-ridden.

    The petitioner has said that the patient was undergoing Fecal Microbiota Transplantation treatment in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for his condition, but faced “donor availability issues” during the pandemic, due to which he could not continue the same.

    The friend in her writ petition to the high court claims that the 42-year-old patient is allegedly planning to undergo euthanasia through Zurich-based organisation Dignitas, which provides assistance to foreign nationals, The Quint reports.

    The petition, Bar and Bench added,  thus sought a direction to the Union Minister of External Affairs (MEA) to reject emigration clearance to the man since he has made false claims before Indian as well as foreign authorities for getting travel clearance.

    The petitioner also sought a direction to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to constitute a medical board to examine the man’s health and provide necessary assistance, considering his peculiar health condition, the report said.

    The petition filed through Advocate Subhash Chandran KR is likely to be heard next week.

  • INX Media case: Court allows CBI to probe documents received from Switzerland

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A Delhi court Monday allowed the CBI to investigate certain documents received from the Switzerland authorities in execution of Letter Rogatory (LR) in relation to INX Media corruption case allegedly involving former Union Minister P Chidambaram.

    Special Judge M K Nagpal also permitted the agency to prepare a working copy of the data stored in the data carrier in encrypted form, so that it can be used for the day to day investigation of the case.

    “However, the working copy of the data be prepared after taking all the requisite precautions and all the requisite formalities as per law to ensure that the evidentiary value of the said evidence/documents may not be destroyed or diminished,” the court said.

    CBI told the court that during the course of investigation of the case, one LR to the competent authorities of Switzerland was issued by the court on July 13, 2018 on the request of CBI seeking mutual legal assistance in the matter of investigation in Switzerland.

    It added that the “LR stands already executed by the concerned authorities of Switzerland” and it furnished the “evidence/documents collected by them during the course of execution of the said LR” that also included a sealed packet containing an encrypted electronic data carrier.

    Letters Rogatory is a formal communication in writing sent by the Court in which action is pending to a foreign court requesting judicial assistance.

    The most common remedies sought by letters rogatory are service of process and taking of evidence.

    In August 2019, the CBI had arrested former finance minister P Chidambaram.

    Subsequently, it had filed a Chargesheet against him and 13 others.

    CBI had registered its case on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in a Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance granted to INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram’s tenure as finance minister.

  • Switzerland Says 91-year-old’s Death After COVID-19 Vaccination ‘was A Coincidence’

    Switzerland’s medical authorities have categorically rejected any ‘correlation’ between the Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine and the death of the 91-year-old just days after it was administered on her. The Swiss authorities said on December 30 that there is no indication that the death occurred due to the vaccine dosage and said that “it is highly unlikely” if Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is responsible for the incident. 

    A 91-year-old person who was also among the first individuals to be inoculated in Switzerland last week. The report confirmed by Swissmedic regulatory authority and regional authorities in the central canton of Lucerne. Swissmedic said that neither the person’s medical history nor the acute course of their illness indicates that there is a direct causal link between immunisation and their death. It said, “ The detailed information available indicates that the person died of natural causes. This was also noted on the death certificate.”

    While Swissmedic made it evident that “no unknown side effects have occurred as a result of vaccinations” against COVID-19, another remarkable case emerged from the United States where a nurse tested positive for the disease just a week after being inoculated by Pfizer vaccine. 

    According to media reports, Matthew W., a San Diego’s hospital nurse received the jab of the vaccine on December 18 and six days later after working his shift at a COVID-19 ward, he started to feel uneasy. A COVID-19 test later confirmed that he was positive for the disease. Dr Christian Ramers, an infectious disease specialist at the Family Health Centers in San Diego, told KGTV that from the trial results of the vaccine that it is known that patients do not develop protection immediately. 

  • Karima Baloch, Activist And Thorn In Pakistan’s Side, Found Mysteriously Dead In Canada

    Karima Baloch, an activist and former chairperson of Baloch Students Organisation – Azad who had been vocal about Pakistan Army and government atrocities in Balochistan, has been found dead in Toronto Canada, according to Balochistan Post.

    Karima was a Canadian refugee and named as one of the world’s 100 most “inspirational and influential” women in 2016 by the BBC. She had gone missing on Sunday and was last seen at approximately 3 pm on the same day. Toronto Police had requested for public assistance in locating her. However, now her family has confirmed that Karima’s body has been found.

    Karima Baloch, a famous personality in Balochistan, is believed to be the pioneer of women activism there. She has also raised the issue of Balochistan in the United Nations sessions in Switzerland. In an interview in May 2019, she had accused Pakistan of taking away the resources and eliminating the people of Balochistan, the province with immense geo-strategic importance and huge untapped natural resource reserves.