Latest news with #AIDS
Canada News.Net
an hour ago
- Health
- Canada News.Net
"Govt maintaining zero tolerance against drug trafficking": Tripura CM Manik Saha
Agartala (Tripura) [India], June 26 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Wednesday said that drug traffickers will not be tolerated under any circumstances and that strict action is being taken against them under a zero-tolerance policy. CM Saha said that the central and state governments are taking a firm stance against drugs, and people from all sections of society must unite and fight against the menace. The Chief Minister made these remarks at a motorcycle rally held at Umakanta Maidan in Agartala today on the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. A blood donation camp was also organised for the Drug-Free India campaign. On the occasion, Dr. Saha, who also holds the Home portfolio, said that the United Nations declared this day as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in 1987 to prevent drug abuse and raise awareness about illegal drugs. 'This issue is very relevant today. Tripura is geographically surrounded by international borders on three sides and shares boundaries with Assam and Mizoram. In such a situation, Tripura's children are being targeted, and the state is being used as a corridor to traffic drugs into Bangladesh. Today's slogan--'Say No to Drugs'--is extremely important. Drug traffickers are smuggling drugs for money, and our children are falling prey to it. But it is not their fault. When it comes to Tripura, they become victims. These victims are in dire need of treatment,' he said. He added that the state government decided in the last budget to open drug de-addiction centres in all eight districts. About Rs 20 crore has been allocated for each centre, and the Ministry of Donor has sanctioned an additional Rs 198 crore to set up a larger drug de-addiction centre in Tripura. The foundation stone for the facility has already been laid at Bishramganj. The Chief Minister further informed that two drug de-addiction centres currently operate in the state, and private initiatives manage several others. 'It has been observed that those who use injectable drugs are mostly affected by HIV/AIDS. We try to provide treatment to such individuals if detected early. The AIDS Control Society in the state has been carrying out various initiatives to prevent HIV/AIDS. OST (Opioid Substitution Therapy) arrangements have also been made. The state government is firmly committed to a zero-tolerance policy against drugs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have made it clear that drug peddlers will not be spared under any circumstances,' Dr. Saha added. He said that drug seizures in Tripura have increased by 104% from 2023-24 to 2024-25, while drug destruction has seen a rise of 132%. Police, security forces, and other concerned agencies are actively working against drug trafficking. Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, Director General of Police Anurag, DDG of the Narcotics Bureau (North Eastern Region) R. Sudhakar, Head of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force of Tripura A.R. Reddy, Secretary Abhishek Singh, Additional Director of the Narcotics Bureau (Guwahati) Prakash Ranjan Mishra, West District Magistrate Dr. Vishal Kumar, Superintendent of Police Dr. Kiran Kumar K., and other senior officials were present as distinguished guests at the event. (ANI)
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
Idaho doctor and patients sue over new law halting public benefits to immigrants in US unlawfully
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho doctor and four residents are challenging a new state law that halts some of the few public benefits available to people living in the U.S. unlawfully, including a program that provides access to lifesaving HIV and AIDS medication for low income patients. The ACLU of Idaho and the National Immigration Law Center filed the federal lawsuit Thursday night on behalf of Dr. Abby Davids and four people with HIV who are not named because they are immigrants without lawful permanent residency. They want a judge to bar the state from requiring immigration status verification from people who receive the federal HIV treatment benefits while the lawsuit moves forward in court. The complaint says the new law is vague, contradicts federal law and makes it impossible for health care providers to determine exactly what kind of immigration status is excluded and how to verify that status for patients. They want a judge to grant them class-action status, expanding any ruling to other impacted people. 'We are still reviewing the lawsuit and will respond in court after we have had a chance to fully review the complaint and other documents filed,' Damon Sidur, the communications director for Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, said Friday in an email to The Associated Press. The lawsuit names Labrador as well as several officials in the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Dozens of patients treated by one Boise-area clinic stand to lose access to HIV and AIDS medication under the law, according to the complaint, including several cared for by Davids. 'Withdrawing HIV treatment from her patients will not only have devastating consequences on their health, it raises the public health risk of increased HIV transmission,' the ACLU wrote in the lawsuit. 'When her patients are undetectable, they cannot transmit the virus. Without HIV treatment, however, they cannot maintain an undetectable viral level and therefore are able to transmit the virus to others.' The new Idaho law takes effect July 1, and appears to be the first limiting public health benefits since President Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to enhance eligibility verification and ensure that public benefits aren't going to ineligible immigrants. The law requires people to verify that they are legal U.S. residents to receive public benefits like communicable disease testing, vaccinations, prenatal and postnatal care for women, crisis counseling, some food assistance for children and even access to food banks or soup kitchens that rely on public funding. Federal law generally prohibits immigrants in the U.S. illegally from receiving taxpayer-funded benefits like Medicare, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Social Security. But there are some exceptions for things like emergency medical care and other emergency or public health services. Idaho's law still allows for emergency medical services. But in a June 18 letter to health care providers, Idaho Division of Public Health administrator Elke Shaw-Tulloch said HIV is a long-term condition and not an emergency — so people must verify their lawful presence in order to get benefits through the federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. The HIV patients challenging the new law include a married couple from Columbia with pending asylum applications, a man who was brought to the U.S. when he was just 4 years old and has Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status until next year, and a man from Mexico who has been living and working in Idaho since 2020. One of the patients said she and her husband were diagnosed with HIV in 2019 and immediately started antiretroviral therapy, receiving the medications at no cost through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. The medication has lowered the viral load in her body enough that it is now undetectable, she wrote in a court filing, ensuring that she won't transmit the virus to others. 'My medication protected my daughter while I was pregnant because it prevented me from transmitting HIV to her during pregnancy,' she wrote. The treatment allows her to be with her child, watching her grow, she said. Davids has been trying for weeks to get clarity from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare about exactly what kind of verification her patients will have to show, and exactly which kinds of immigration status are considered 'lawful.' But the state has yet to provide clear direction, according to the complaint. 'I am really scared about what this means for many of our patients. Their lives will now be in jeopardy,' Davids wrote in a May 30 email to the Department of Health and Welfare.
Toronto Star
2 hours ago
- Health
- Toronto Star
Idaho doctor and patients sue over new law halting public benefits to immigrants in US unlawfully
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho doctor and four residents are challenging a new state law that halts some of the few public benefits available to people living in the U.S. unlawfully, including a program that provides access to lifesaving HIV and AIDS medication for low income patients. The ACLU of Idaho and the National Immigration Law Center filed the federal lawsuit Thursday night on behalf of Dr. Abby Davids and four people with HIV who are not named because they are immigrants without lawful permanent residency. They want a judge to bar the state from requiring immigration status verification from people who receive the federal HIV treatment benefits while the lawsuit moves forward in court.
Al-Ahram Weekly
5 hours ago
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Jason Miller outlines Trump's Africa trade vision at Afreximbank meetings - Economy
Speaking before policymakers, financiers, and industry leaders, Miller said Africa's rise hinged on strategic choices. In a conversation with Viswanathan Shankar, CEO of Gateway Partners, he analyzed America's evolving trade posture and its implications for the continent. Miller began by stating that Africa will surpass Europe as the world's third-largest economic bloc by 2050. He added that Nigeria would rank among the top ten global economies. By 2100, sub-Saharan Africa will host four of the world's most populous nations, Miller predicted, positioning the continent as an economic superpower. "This is Africa's century," he declared, "but if these opportunities aren't seized strategically, Africa risks being taken advantage of again." Miller contrasted US engagement with that of other global players. He criticised decades of exploitative practices where outsiders "took, took, took, leaving broken promises." By contrast, America, he argued, aims for strategic partnerships anchored in private capital with no debt traps, military occupations, or hollow rhetoric. The distinction lies in market-driven investments, which demand mutual accountability, unlike what Miller termed "debt diplomacy." Miller outlined non-negotiables for nations seeking a partnership with the US. First, Africa must demand tangible value over empty deals, avoiding unsustainable debt disguised as aid. Partnerships should prioritise foreign direct investment in future-proof infrastructure: roads, ports, data centres, and clean energy. He highlighted Africa's critical minerals and youthful workforce as key factors in dominating the AI supply chain, the impact of which he likened to that of the Industrial Revolution. Second, accelerating business climate reforms is essential. Enforcing contracts, stabilising currencies, and rooting out corruption are not just suggestions but "the price of admission" for attracting trillion-dollar US pension funds and private capital. While praising Nigeria's "gutsy" currency reforms, Miller urged broader, faster action continent-wide. Third, Africa must choose allies wisely. Miller drew sharp contrasts between China's record of "unregulated fishing, environmental disasters, and crippling debt" and the US's contributions such as PEPFAR's HIV/AIDS support, security cooperation against groups like Boko Haram, and conflict mediation in hotspots like the DRC-Rwanda border. True friendship, he stressed, respects sovereignty and borders without exploitation. Furthermore, Miller decoded recent US moves. He explained that the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), set to expire in September 2025, faces an uncertain future. "Why renew one-way preferences," he noted, "if African nations impose tariffs on US goods or favour Chinese partners?" His solution: proactive renegotiation focused on reciprocity. Miller defended Trump's signature tariffs as multipurpose tools for protecting strategic industries such as auto manufacturing ("a US national security issue") while forcing fairer trade terms. Meanwhile, he emphasized that the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC) emerges as Africa's catalyst, deploying profit-driven investments in projects such as the Lobito Corridor and the Mozambique LNG project. "This is revenue-generating capital, not debt," Miller emphasised, urging reforms to unlock giants like BlackRock and CalPERS. Miller offered advice to African leaders on how to deal with the US. He stressed the importance of preparation before meetings. He also underlined identifying President Trump's priorities before meetings by following his Truth Social Platform. In addition, Miller advised African leaders to engage with specific asks and solutions, and shun "photo-ops." He urged them to emulate Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, whose investment commitments and peace-building efforts earned early presidential visits. Moreover, he encouraged them to push CEOs and investors, not just bureaucrats, to amplify Africa's economic narrative globally. In conclusion, Miller called for Africa's potential to be translated into provable partnerships through renegotiating AGOA terms for mutual benefit, fast-tracking business reforms to attract private capital, and demanding infrastructure-for-minerals deals to build AI capacity. He also urged African leaders to proactively engage the DFC on bankable projects and, above all, to champion stability, the bedrock of investment. In closing, Shankar revealed that Miller has been appointed Senior Adviser to Gateway Partners to "bring American capital to Africa's future industries." Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Axios
6 hours ago
- Axios
San Francisco's Pink Triangle is more than a Pride symbol
What began as a mark of hate now stands tall above San Francisco as a beacon of pride. State of play: For three decades, the Pink Triangle has adorned Twin Peaks every June in recognition of the persecution of LGBTQ+ people under the Nazi regime. The big picture: During World War II, the symbol was used to label gay prisoners in concentration camps — one of several color-coded patches sewn onto uniforms to publicly mark and shame inmates. Flashback: Activists reclaimed the marking as an emblem of pride and protest amid the AIDS crisis, most famously with ACT UP's " Silence = Death" posters challenging stigma and government inaction. The symbol first appeared on Twin Peaks in 1996, installed at night at just 60 feet wide. Today, it spans 240 feet. What they're saying: Patrick Carney, who co-founded the Friends of the Pink Triangle, told Axios it serves as a "warning and a reminder" and a "giant in-your-face educational tool to teach people where hatred can lead." The latest: Earlier this month, police arrested a 19-year-old on suspicion of vandalizing the installation, which Carney said would not be repaired. The bottom line: "Leaving it as it is sends a powerful message… we will wear this scar as a badge of resilience, courage and our continuing struggle for equality," he said.
