Latest news with #Food
New Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Distribution of smart ration cards across Andhra from August 25
VIJAYAWADA: Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Nadendla Manohar on Tuesday announced that smart ration cards will be distributed free of cost statewide from August 25 to 31. Speaking at the Secretariat, the minister said that 1,45,97,486 beneficiaries would receive the new cards, with distribution events organised in every constituency under the supervision of local legislators and district ministers. Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan will lead the programme at the State level. Nadendla said that Andhra Pradesh had become the first State in India to achieve 96.05% KYC completion for ration cards. Of the 16,08,612 applications received for changes and additions, 15,32,758 were approved, enrolling 9,87,644 new beneficiaries. The total number of beneficiaries now stands at 4,29,79,897, with 2.68 crore receiving supplies from the Centre and 1.61 crore from the State. He said the government had digitised old ration cards and introduced secure, debit card-style smart cards with QR codes to improve transparency and accountability. The cards will carry the head of the family's photo and names of all members, with each transaction digitally logged through a Dynamic Key Register linked to the central office. No political images will be printed on the cards. From September, ration distribution will take place at 26,796 fair price shops between 8 am and 12 pm and again from 4 pm to 8 pm between the 1st and 15th of each month. Home delivery will continue for those above 65 and the differently-abled from the 26th to the 30th. Regarding the Deepam 2 free gas refill scheme, Nadendla said that 97.59 lakh cylinders worth Rs 764 crore were distributed free during phase one and 93.46 lakh cylinders worth Rs 747 crore in phase two. A pilot project in NTR and Krishna districts is testing direct digital payments to gas agencies through Punjab National Bank's wallet system, with 1,384 beneficiaries so far.
The Hill
16 hours ago
- Health
- The Hill
FTC eyes trans youth care providers, seeking input on alleged deceptive practices investigation
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Monday launched a public inquiry into whether providers of gender-affirming health care are violating federal consumer protection laws. In a news release, the FTC said it opened the inquiry 'to better understand how consumers may have been exposed to false or unsupported claims about 'gender-affirming care', especially as it relates to minors, and to gauge the harms consumers may be experiencing.' The agency said it is investigating whether medical professionals who provide transition-related care are violating federal law against deceptive business practices and false advertising by failing to disclose risks associated with treatment or making unsubstantiated claims about its benefits or effectiveness. The request for information issued by the FTC asks for the public's response to four questions about their experience with gender-affirming care and the doctors who administer it. The request, which opens a 60-day comment window, does not specify an exact age range but says the agency is interested in information related to care for minors in particular. Major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, say gender-affirming care for transgender adults and minors is medically necessary and can be lifesaving, claims disputed by the Trump administration. In January, President Trump signed an executive order aimed broadly at ending federal support for transition-related care for adolescents under the age of 19, which he called 'a stain on our Nation's history.' He has also pressed Congress to send legislation ' permanently banning and criminalizing' gender-affirming care for minors to his desk. The FTC's announcement follows an earlier memo from the Department of Justice (DOJ) this month that it sent more than 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics 'involved in performing transgender medical procedures on children' in investigations of 'healthcare fraud, false statements, and more.' Chad Mizelle, the DOJ's chief of staff, said during a July 9 FTC event in Washington that the department also issued subpoenas to major manufacturers of 'the drugs used in trans-related medical interventions' in investigations related to companies' marketing of prescription drugs and the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The event, a workshop titled 'The Dangers of 'Gender-Affirming Care' for Minors,' featured testimony from doctors, advocates and de-transitioners, individuals who once identified as transgender but have since 'de-transitioned' to live according to their birth sex, who oppose gender-affirming care. 'That testimony indicated that practitioners of 'gender-affirming care' may be actively deceiving consumers,' the FTC said Monday. The agency's workshop did not include testimony from anyone who supports care or said they had benefited from it. Roughly half the nation has banned gender-affirming care for minors since 2021, according to the Movement Advancement Project, a nonprofit tracking LGBTQ laws. In June, the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee's ban, which a group of transgender children and their families had challenged as unconstitutional. In 14 states and Washington, D.C., 'shield laws' protect access to gender-affirming care for youth, though some hospital systems in those states have still suspended or discontinued care because of Trump's order and threats from the administration to their federal funding.
News18
17 hours ago
- Business
- News18
Punjab govt to bring OTS scheme for arhtiyas
Chandigarh, Jul 29 (PTI) Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Tuesday said the Punjab government will bring One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme to reduce the burden of interest and penalties on shops and plots allotted to the 'arhtiyas' (commission agents) in mandis (grain markets) across the state. Khudian, who is also the head of the Group of Ministers (GoM) constituted to further streamline paddy and other Kharif crops procurement to ensure a hassle-free experience for farmers, said the Punjab Mandi Board's OTS scheme is expected to benefit a large number of 'arhtiyas', enhancing their financial stability and contributing to the overall growth of the agricultural sector in Punjab. The 'arhtiyas', who were also present on the occasion, said the payment rate of loading the produce in the mandis has not been increased since many years. They demanded an increase in the payment rate to which Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Director Varinder Kumar Sharma replied that an approval with regard to the same has been given by the Government of India and the notification would be issued soon. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab government has constituted a GoM, comprising Agriculture Minister Khudian as the chairman, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar and Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal as members to ensure smooth procurement of Kharif crops, said an official statement. PTI SUN AS AS view comments First Published: July 29, 2025, 22:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Middle East Eye
a day ago
- Health
- Middle East Eye
Gaza death toll since dawn rises to 62
Israeli forces have killed at least 62 Palestinians across Gaza since dawn today, including 19 aid seekers, sources in Gaza hospitals have told Al Jazeera. Health officials have said that the dead include people who were trying to access humanitarian aid when they were targeted. Israel has struck several areas in the enclave, pushing hospitals already under strain to their limits. Casualty figures are expected to rise as rescue teams continue to search through the rubble left by ongoing Israeli strikes. Conditions in Gaza have deteriorated as Israel has completely blocked all aid from entering Gaza. Global hunger watchdog Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has warned that famine is already unfolding across Gaza.
The Spinoff
6 days ago
- Business
- The Spinoff
The cost of being: A television producer working ‘in a dying industry'
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a TV producer near the end of their career shares their financial situation. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here. Gender: Male. Age: 61. Ethnicity: NZ European. Role: Television producer in a dying industry. Salary/income/assets: $75k PA, KiwiSaver, mortgage-free Auckland home. My living location is: Suburban. Rent/mortgage per week: $0. It took a lot of hard work over the years. Student loan or other debt payments per week: $0. It took even more hard work! Never get a car loan, they're a scam. Typical weekly food costs Groceries: $300 a week for my wife and myself. Combo of My Food Bag and supermarket. Eating out: $0, not a regular event for us. Takeaways: $25 (actually $50 a fortnight, we'd do dumplings or Thai once a fortnight). Workday lunches: $15 a week, only buy lunch once a week. Cafe coffees/snacks: $0, free coffee machine at work. Savings: Still saving couple hundy a month, have had it set as an automatic payment for years. Always put a little something aside, even when you think you can't afford it. I worry about money: Rarely. Three words to describe my financial situation: Lucky, secure, worked hard to get to where I am now (yes it's more than three words). My biggest edible indulgence would be: Dumplings via Uber. And sweet bread. Yum! In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $20 just a bottle a week. Hmm, that sounds worse than I thought. In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: $10. Drive an EV because of rising petrol prices. Will probably shift to the train if congestion charges come into effect in Auckland. I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: $2,000. My most expensive clothing in the past year was: $200 shirt for a wedding. I've put on weight so the shirt doesn't fit anymore. My last pair of shoes cost: $90 Skechers. Very comfy and will buy again. Good bargains to be had at Manawa Bay shops. My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: $300. Just haircuts. $50/haircut every 2 months. My exercise expenditure in a year is about: $0 outside of sneakers for walking, don't do the gym. My last Friday night cost: $20, with the aforementioned red wine. Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: Cheap shoes. Not worth the pain. Most indulgent purchase (that I don't regret) in the last 12 months was: A new hobby has made me open my wallet. But having a hobby is essential, so thoroughly worth it. One area where I'm a bit of a tightwad is: Using electricity. We have solar and an EV so buying expensive electricity annoys me. Five words to describe my financial personality would be: When spending, make it count – don't fritter away on crap. I grew up in a house where money was: Available. No overseas holidays as a kid, but we had a warm house, new clothes and loads of food. Mum and Dad both worked, so we had money, they just weren't overly flash with it. The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Never, I keep a good tally of what's in the account and don't try to buy anything if it's empty (yes, sometimes it's at $0 just before payday). In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Starting to tuck into my KiwiSaver, hopefully retired. But I wish I had started KiwiSaver when I was younger, it's a no-brainer and anyone not contributing into their account while working is a fool. I would love to have more money for: Overseas travel. Have travelled the globe in my 20s and 30s, now I'd like to go to France for two months to chill. Or Spain. I'm not fussy. Describe your financial low: Was facing redundancy at 60 last year. There's just no work out there for us aged experienced people. From good income to the dole? It was a sobering moment. Have worked all my life, raised good kids… but I have my roof over my head, so I appreciate how lucky I am. But it was a tough 30 years that came with a high toll, so don't begrudge me for what I have now. I give money away to: Cancer Society, because F$#! cancer. Starship, because they're awesome. The odd Givealittle that tugs at the heartstrings. It's a shame my tax dollars don't give enough to these areas instead of perks to politicians.
