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OWSA informs the global citizen on human development from across SouthAsia.
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Underweight: A Persistent Negligence

The gendered distribution of food within families continues to socialize girls to eat last and less, often surviving on leftovers after male family members had eaten. The practices persist as the girls are socially taught self-denial.

By Rashmi Sinha

One winter night in 2007, Rambha, a 14-year-old student at a Kasturba Gandhi Balika Awasiya Vidyalaya…

https://owsa.in/underweight-a-persistent-negligence/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral
Summit of the Future: Time to Rethink ‘Outdated and Ineffective’ International Financial Architecture

Only 44 delegations were present when the IMF was founded, compared to the current IMF membership of 190 nations. Yet developed countries continue to wield veto powers and outsized voting rights, while developing countries remain under-represented.

Some of the world’s poorest countries spend more on debt repayments than on health, education and infrastructure combined, severely…

https://owsa.in/summit-of-the-future-time-to-rethink-outdated-and-ineffective-international-financial-architecture/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral
Ozone Pollution Shrinks Tropical Forest Growth

Ozone formed at ground level is an invisible pollutant with detrimental impacts. It reduces tree growth causing potential losses in carbon absorption. This could mean tropical forest carbon sink function is less effective than estimated

By Claudia Caruana

While the ozone layer in the atmosphere protects the earth from the sun’s radiation, at the ground…

https://owsa.in/ozone-pollution-shrinks-tropical-forest-growth/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral
Sri Lanka: Slain Journalist Wickrematunge’s Family Appeals to New President for Justice

Ahimsa Wickrematunge, Lasantha’s daughter, expressed a renewed sense of hope for justice following Dissanayaka’s election, which marked a significant political shift as the first leftist president in Sri Lanka’s history.

The family of Lasantha Wickrematunge, the assassinated Sri Lankan journalist, made an emotional appeal on Tuesday to the newly elected president, Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, urging…

https://owsa.in/sri-lanka-slain-journalist-wickrematunges-family-appeals-to-new-president-for-justice/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral
Planting the Rainbow Flag Firmly in Thailand

In March 2024, Thailand’s House of Representatives approved a landmark marriage equality bill, later adopted by the Thai Senate in June. Expected to legalise same-sex marriage by the end of the year, Thailand will be the first Southeast Asian and third Asian country to do so.

By Peter A Newman and Holning Lau / East…

https://owsa.in/planting-the-rainbow-flag-firmly-in-thailand/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral
Greenpeace India Welcomes India’s Leadership in signing the Historic UN Ocean Treaty

This year, India has again suffered from extreme weather events causing too many casualties, meanwhile industrial overfishing, pollution and climate change impacts, such as rising sea levels and temperature, are dramatically affecting coastal fisheries and livelihoods.

Greenpeace India on Thursday welcomed India’s officially signing the Global Ocean Treaty, also known as the High Seas Treaty…

https://owsa.in/greenpeace-india-welcomes-indias-leadership-in-signing-the-historic-un-ocean-treaty/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral
India: Govt. Pushes for Unified Water Conservation Efforts

The meeting brought together senior officials from various ministries, emphasizing a coordinated approach to prioritize the construction of rainwater harvesting systems designed to enhance groundwater levels across the nation.

In a significant move to enhance water conservation efforts, Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, convened a…

https://owsa.in/india-govt-pushes-for-unified-water-conservation-efforts/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral
Sri Lanka’s New President to Expedite Foreign-Aided Energy Projects

Anura Kumara Dissanayake announces a new committee aimed at accelerating approvals for international funding in the energy sector.

In a bid to enhance energy infrastructure and development, newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake revealed plans on Thursday to fast-track the approval process for foreign-funded energy projects. This initiative was disclosed during a meeting with senior…

https://owsa.in/sri-lankas-new-president-to-expedite-foreign-aided-energy-projects/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral
Sri Lanka’s New President Revives Subsidy Schemes for Farmers and Fishermen

Dissanayake also announced a fuel subsidy for the fishing community, applicable to both multi-day and one-day vessels, ensuring that support extends to vital sectors of the economy.

In a significant move to support the agricultural and fishing sectors, Sri Lanka’s newly elected Leftist President Anura Dissanayake has instructed the treasury to reinstate subsidy programs halted…

https://owsa.in/sri-lankas-new-president-revives-subsidy-schemes-for-farmers-and-fishermen/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral
Global Unions File ILO Complaint to Recover Wages for Over 200,000 Palestinian Workers in Israel

A complaint against the Israeli government for violations of the International Labour Organization’s Protection of Wages Convention has been filed by a coalition of10 global trade unions, with members in over 160 countries representing 207 million workers.

In a significant action addressing labour rights violations, 10 global trade unions have filed a complaint against the…

https://owsa.in/global-unions-file-ilo-complaint-to-recover-wages-for-over-200000-palestinian-workers-in-israel/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral
Rising Temperatures Devastate Agricultural Eden of India’s Kashmir Region

Nearly 60 per cent of Kashmir’s agriculture relies on rainwater for irrigation, but this year the rainfall has been poor and the heat tremendous. With the hottest and driest seasons on record, how are farmers to survive?

By Umar Manzoor Shah

Abdul Hameed Sheikh sowed his crop, working tirelessly for days in his paddy field.…

https://owsa.in/rising-temperatures-devastate-agricultural-eden-of-indias-kashmir-region/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral
Nepal Floods and Landslides Claim 132 Lives, Rescue Efforts Intensify

Floods and landslides have inundated major highways, stranding thousands of passengers and disconnecting all road links to Kathmandu, the national capital. Hundreds of houses and bridges have been buried or swept away, displacing numerous families.

A devastating series of rain-triggered landslides and floods have resulted in the tragic deaths of 132 people and left 68…

https://owsa.in/nepal-floods-and-landslides-claim-132-lives-rescue-efforts-intensify/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral
UNFPA Reports 35 Per Cent of Women in Sri Lanka Lack Contraceptive Access

In Sri Lanka, the contraceptive prevalence rate stands at 65 per cent, with only 54 per cent of users relying on modern methods, according to the Sri Lanka Demographic Health Survey conducted in 2016.

A recent report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) highlights a troubling statistic: 35 per cent of women of reproductive…

https://owsa.in/unfpa-reports-35-per-cent-of-women-in-sri-lanka-lack-contraceptive-access/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral
Transparency International Bangladesh Raises Concerns Over Textbook Review Body Cancellation

The organization urged the interim government to remain steadfast in its commitment to reform and to resist all forms of communal and fundamentalist influence. TIB expressed hope for continued dedication to the core values of pluralism, inclusivity, and equality.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has issued a stark warning regarding the interim government’s recent decision to…

https://owsa.in/transparency-international-bangladesh-raises-concerns-over-textbook-review-body-cancellation/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral
Nations Vow to Cut Deaths From Drug-Resistant Bacteria

4.95 million deaths a year are associated with antimicrobial resistance. The problem is global but disproportionately affects the poorest. World leaders have met at the UN commit to funding action plans.

By Claudia Caruana

World leaders who met in New York have backed a new set of goals and pledged to find US$100 million in…

https://owsa.in/nations-vow-to-cut-deaths-from-drug-resistant-bacteria/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral
Sri Lanka to Draft New Constitution Following Upcoming Elections

Herath emphasized that the constitutional drafting is a key component of the National People’s Power party’s manifesto, which prioritizes equality, democracy, and participatory governance.

Sri Lanka’s newly elected government will embark on drafting a new constitution aimed at addressing the country’s longstanding ethnic issues, cabinet spokesman Vijitha Herath announced today. Speaking at the inaugural press…

https://owsa.in/sri-lanka-to-draft-new-constitution-following-upcoming-elections/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral
Shivraj Singh Chouhan Initiates Dialogue with Farmers to Address Key Issues

The discussion focused on a range of crucial topics, including reducing agricultural costs, ensuring profitable pricing, safeguarding crops from water-logging, and improving the availability of quality pesticides and seeds.

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, held a meeting with representatives from various farmers’ organizations in New Delhi today. This session is…

https://owsa.in/shivraj-singh-chouhan-initiates-dialogue-with-farmers-to-address-key-issues/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral
UN Rights Council Urged to Extend Monitoring Mandate for Sri Lanka

Despite recommendations from numerous domestic and international bodies, previous administrations have overlooked calls for reforms addressing serious violations of international law, including war crimes during the decades-long civil conflict involving government forces and the LTTE.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to adopt a resolution that would extend…

https://owsa.in/un-rights-council-urged-to-extend-monitoring-mandate-for-sri-lanka/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral
Afghan Delegation Heads to Iran to Address Migrant Issues Amid Rising Tensions

In August, a video surfaced showing an Afghan teenager being violently restrained by Iranian police, which ignited widespread outrage. Discrimination and harassment have long been a reality for Afghans in Iran, but many report that the pressure is intensifying.

An Afghan delegation, led by acting Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar, is set to visit Iran…

https://owsa.in/afghan-delegation-heads-to-iran-to-address-migrant-issues-amid-rising-tensions/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral
Nepal’s Prime Minister Calls for National Unity as Flood Death Toll Rises to 224

The floods, which began last Thursday and continued for 48 hours, have caused extensive damage across Nepal, particularly in the capital, Kathmandu, which experienced its heaviest rainfall in over 50 years.

Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged the public to support victims of devastating floods that have claimed 224 lives, including 35 children,…

https://owsa.in/nepals-prime-minister-calls-for-national-unity-as-flood-death-toll-rises-to-224/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=referral