“Diversity Programs Vanish from US Campuses Amid Cultural Controversy”

Republican White House candidate Donald Trump is advocating for federal-level reforms. These proposed changes aim to address various issues across different sectors and aspects of governance, reflecting Trump’s vision for the nation’s future.

“In Washington, the Culture War Shifts to University Campuses as Diversity Programs Face Restrictions Across US States”
The debate pits those on the left, who advocate for boosting minority students victimized by deep-rooted inequality, and those on the right who say people should be judged on individual merit, not skin color.

“The idea of present discrimination being the remedy for past discrimination… is inherently wrong,” said Jordan Pace, a Republican member of the House of Representatives in the state of South Carolina.

“We don’t like the idea of judging people based on immutable characteristics, whether it be gender or race or height or whatever,” he said, calling the United States a “hyper-meritocratic society.”

“Universities in the United States have frequently implemented “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) programs, aiming to address historical disparities, especially among minority groups such as Black, Hispanic, and Native American students. These initiatives have sought to provide special support and opportunities to underrepresented communities, striving to rectify systemic inequalities within higher education.”

Last June, the country’s conservative-majority Supreme Court put an end to affirmative action in university admissions, reversing one of the major gains of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

Now, Pace is urging his state to follow the lead of Florida and about a dozen other states that have scrapped campus DEI programs.

“Former Surgeon General Faces Massive Bill for Dehydration Treatment”

Following his experience with a staggering bill for dehydration treatment, former Surgeon General [Name] is advocating for reforms to the country’s market-based healthcare system. Among the proposed reforms are measures aimed at enhancing transparency around healthcare costs and implementing an independent arbitration process. These reforms aim to address issues of affordability, accessibility, and fairness within the healthcare system, ultimately striving to improve healthcare outcomes for all citizens.

Washington: 

Former US surgeon general Jerome Adams was stuck with an eye-watering medical bill of nearly $5,000 after being treated for a simple case of dehydration following an overnight stay at an Arizona hospital last January.

Now he’s calling for reforms to the country’s market-based health care system, including greater transparency around costs and an independent arbitration process — while using his bully pulpit to speak out for the 100 million Americans saddled with medical debt.

“While the number of uninsured Americans has been decreasing, The Commonwealth Fund reports that 43% of working-age adults are considered ‘underinsured.’ This status significantly restricts their access to healthcare and places them at risk of financial devastation with just one major medical event.”

He took along a bottle of water, more than enough, he thought, for a 60 degree Fahrenheit (16 degree Celsius) day.

But by the time he was heading out for dinner he started feeling dizzy and lightheaded — and his fellow doctors advised him it was best to get it checked out, especially as a middle-aged Black man at higher risk of cardiovascular complications.

“We called an ambulance because I was out of town. I got IV fluids on the way. And by the time I got there, it was pretty clear that it was dehydration,” he said in an interview in Indiana, where he now works at Purdue University.

He took medics’ advice and stayed overnight, and two months later received a bill for $4,800. Threats of being sent to collections agencies soon followed.

Adams said he was well aware his situation was all too common in a country where nearly 66 percent of all bankruptcies are directly tied to medical expenses.

“Adults Permitted to Carry Up to 25g of Cannabis in This Country”

“Netherlands Shifts to Stricter Stance on Cannabis Tourism Amid Permissive Reputation”

Germany made headlines on Monday as it became the largest European Union member state to legalize recreational cannabis. This decision came despite strong opposition from certain quarters, including opposition politicians and medical associations.

The newly enacted law marks the first step in a highly debated process. Under its provisions, adults aged 18 and above are now permitted to possess up to 25 grams of dried cannabis. Additionally, individuals are allowed to cultivate up to three marijuana plants within their own homes.

Germany’s move towards legalization positions it among the most progressive nations in Europe regarding cannabis laws. This development aligns it with countries like Malta and Luxembourg, which legalized recreational cannabis in 2021 and 2023, respectively.

This significant shift in policy reflects changing attitudes towards cannabis across Europe, with an increasing number of countries moving towards more liberal regulations surrounding its use.

The Netherlands, known for its permissive attitude to the drug, has in recent years taken a stricter approach to counter cannabis tourism.

As the law took effect at midnight, hundreds of people cheered by Berlin’s iconic Brandenbrug Gate, many of them by lighting up joints in what one participant, a very happy 25-year-old Niyazi, called “a bit of extra freedom”.

As the next step in the legal reform, from July 1 it will be possible to legally obtain weed through “cannabis clubs” in the country.

The new regulations in Germany allow regulated associations to have a maximum of 500 members each. These associations will also have the authority to distribute up to 50 grams of cannabis per person per month.

In the interim period before the full implementation of these regulations, consumers are advised not to disclose the source of their cannabis to the police during street checks. This advice was provided by Georg Wurth, director of the German Cannabis Association, to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

“Hong Kong Book Lovers Grieve as Store Closes Amid Persistent Complaints”

Mount Zero, renowned for its scenic outdoor area, became a beloved destination for cultural events, including engaging book talks. Its picturesque setting provided the perfect backdrop for these gatherings, attracting a dedicated following of book lovers and enthusiasts. Through its vibrant and diverse program of cultural activities, Mount Zero cultivated a sense of community and appreciation for literature, leaving a lasting impact on its attendees.

Hong Kong: In a quiet Hong Kong cul-de-sac, hundreds gathered over the weekend to say goodbye to an independent bookstore after weekly government inspections spurred by anonymous complaints forced it to put up the shutters.

Mount Zero said it would close at the end of March after constant complaints to authorities, which had accused it of illegally occupying government land by tiling a pavement in front of the store, with the threat of fines and jail time.

Since Hong Kong imposed a national security law in 2020 the city’s cultural sector has been hit by censorship fears, and the handful of bookstores that remain say they are operating in an environment of increasing pressure.

“Political Scientist Ivan Choy Remarks on Hong Kong’s Future Amid Closure of Independent Bookstore: ‘These Things Will Haunt Our Lives’

Hong Kong recently enacted a second national security law, which critics fear will further drive pro-democracy sentiments underground and chill cultural and artistic freedoms.

The city’s government has rejected allegations the laws curtail freedom of expression.

But Mount Zero has lived through dramatic political change since its founding six years ago and book lovers mourned that the liberal-minded bookstore had seemingly become a victim of that shift.

Leo, a 20-year-old student who declined to give his last name, said he worried “the categories of books allowed for sale would be restricted”, hurting other independent bookstores.

“Nehru Planned Surrender of Katchatheevu”: S Jaishankar Amid Escalating Tensions

“Jaishankar’s Comments Follow PM Modi’s Critique of Congress Over Katchatheevu Handover to Lanka”Doubling down on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charge at Opposition over the Katchatheevu island row, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar today said Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first Prime Minister, wanted to give away the island to Sri Lanka.

“In 1974, under the Indira Gandhi government, India accepted the 1.6 km long and over 300 m wide island of Katchatheevu as Sri Lankan territory through an Indo-Sri Lankan maritime agreement. The recent resurgence of the issue follows a media report based on an RTI reply received by Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai regarding the 1974 pact. Subsequently, in 1976, during the Emergency period, another agreement was made that restricted fishermen from both countries from fishing in each other’s waters. The ongoing harassment of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Lankan authorities remains a contentious issue in the state, particularly as the BJP raises it in anticipation of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.”

“Speaking to the media today, Dr. Jaishankar referenced former External Affairs Minister Swaran Singh’s 1974 parliamentary address. Quoting Singh, Jaishankar highlighted, ‘I feel confident that the agreement demarcating the maritime boundary in the Palk Bay will be considered as fair, just and equitable to both countries. At the same time, I wish to remind the honourable members that in concluding this agreement, the rights of fishing, pilgrimage and navigation, which both sides have enjoyed in the past, have been fully safeguarded for the future.’

In less than two years, Dr Jaishankar said, there was another agreement between India and Sri Lanka. “In this agreement, India proposed the following: with the establishment of the exclusive economic zones by the two countries, India and Sri Lanka will exercise sovereign rights over the living and non-living resources of their respective zones. The fishing vessels and fishermen of India shall not engage in fishing in the historic waters, the territorial sea and the exclusive zone of Sri Lanka,” he said.