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International Youth Day 2021: Date, Significance, History And This Year's Theme

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Youth Day 2021: In 1999, the UN decided to commemorate it every year on August 12 (File)
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Every year, International Youth Day is observed on August 12. On this day, governments and citizens across the world come together to recognise and bring attention to the problems faced by the youth. In 1999, the United Nations decided to commemorate International Youth Day every year on August 12. It was based on a recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in Lisbon to the UN General Assembly. The day is celebrated through various awareness campaigns, community concerts, and events to bring to notice the socio-economic and socio-political issues that the youth in every nation face.
Theme For International Youth Day 2021
Each year, the United Nations decides a theme that is relevant to all global communities and citizens. This year's theme is "Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health". According to the United Nations, this year's theme highlights the crucial need for "inclusive support mechanisms that ensure youth continue to amplify efforts collectively and individually to restore the planet and protect life while integrating biodiversity in the transformation of food systems." Along with this, other challenges -- climate change, healthcare, social inclusion, and conservation of biodiversity -- will also be addressed.
UN Secretary-General's message for International Youth Day 2021
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that youngsters were on the "frontlines of the struggle to build a better future for all". In a video message, he said that the highlight of this year's International Youth Day will be on "solutions developed by young innovators to address challenges to our food systems". Mr Guterres, however, added that "young people cannot do it on their own. They need allies to make sure they are engaged, included and understood." Before ending his message, he urged everyone "to guarantee young people a seat at the table as we build a world based on inclusive, fair, and sustainable development for all".
Watch the video here:
[embedded content]
<a href="https://www.un.org/en/observances/youth-day">On its website, the United Nations also stated,</a> "Through youth education, engagement, innovation, and entrepreneurial solutions, this year's International Youth Day aims to provide a platform for young people to continue the momentum from the ECOSOC Youth Forum in the lead up to the high-level Food Systems Summit."
The theme for last year's International Youth Day was 'Youth Engagement for Global Action'. The main areas highlighted in last year's theme were engagement at the community level, engagement at the national level (formulation of laws and policies along with their implementation), and engagement at the global level.
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/international-youth-day-2021-date-significance-history-and-this-years-theme-2507914">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/international-youth-day-2021-date-significance-history-and-this-years-theme-2507914</a>

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Youth Day 2021: In 1999, the UN decided to commemorate it every year on August 12 (File) Every year, International Youth Day is observed...

Indonesian Army Says Has Stopped 'Virginity Tests' On Female Cadets

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The military previously said the tests were important in determining recruits' morality.
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Jakarta:
The Indonesian army has ended a controversial practice of virginity tests on women who apply to become cadets, according to its chief of staff, a move welcomed by activists who have long campaigned against it.
"Two-finger tests", where doctors check the hymen of female recruits to try to determine their virginity, was systematic, abusive and cruel, according to the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), which conducted investigations in 2014 into the practice and in 2017 renewed calls for it to end.
The military previously said the tests were important in determining recruits' morality. The World Health Organization has said they have "no scientific validity" and the appearance of a hymen was not a reliable indicator of intercourse.
Andika Perkasa, the Indonesian army chief of staff, told reporters on Tuesday that such tests no longer took place in the army.
"Whether the hymen was ruptured or partially ruptured was part of the examination ... now there's no more of that," he said, in comments that were confirmed by a military spokesman.
Andika last week said that the army selection process for male and female recruits must be equal.
The navy conducted pregnancy tests on women applicants, but no specific virginity tests, its spokesperson Julius Widjojono said on Wednesday, adding "both men and women undergo the same examinations".
Indan Gilang, an air force spokesperson, said female reproduction tests were undertaken to check for cysts or other complications that could impair recruits' ability to serve, adding that "virginity tests" did not exist in the force's terminology.
Human rights groups welcomed the announcement that the army had ceased the practice.
"There was never any need for the tests," said Andy Yentriyani, head of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan).
Andreas Harsono, Indonesia researcher at HRW said it was "the right thing to do", adding the practice was "degrading, discriminatory, and traumatic".
He said HRW had spoken to more than 100 female military recruits who underwent the tests, one of whom said she was subjected to it in 1965.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/indonesian-army-says-has-stopped-virginity-tests-on-female-cadets-2507850">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/indonesian-army-says-has-stopped-virginity-tests-on-female-cadets-2507850</a>

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The military previously said the tests were important in determining recruits' morality. Jakarta: The Indonesian army has ended a c...

World Elephant Day 2021: Know The Date, History And Significance

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Elephant Day 2021: The World Elephant Day was initiated on August 12, 2012 (File)
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Watching the 1971 movie Haathi Mere Saathi could be a dip into nostalgia. But our love for elephants and awareness of their exploitation should stretch beyond just a Hindi movie. World Elephant Day, which is observed every year on August 12, is one way of recognising the importance of the animal in our ecosystem and focussing on their preservation and protection. The first World Elephant Day was launched on August 12, 2012, to highlight the plight of Asian and African elephants. Poaching, habitat loss, conflict with humans and being mistreated in captivity are just some of the threats to African and Asian elephants.
History
The World Elephant Day was initiated on August 12, 2012, when Thailand-based <a href="https://worldelephantday.org/about/elephant-reintroduction-foundation">Elephant Reintroduction Foundation</a> teamed up with Canadian filmmaker Patricia Sims. This is not just a day but a movement in itself. Since 2012, Ms Sims has been leading World Elephant Day. The World Elephant Society, of which she is the founding president, manages World Elephant Day. Ms Sims' charitable organisation has, over the years, reached out to many people educating them on the plight of elephants and spreading awareness.
Significance
The <a href="https://worldelephantday.org/about/our-story">website of World Elephant Day</a> suggests that the purpose of this day is to bring together help and support for elephants. This day is meant to spread awareness about the threats that elephants face due to exploitation and poaching. The goal is to look for solutions to help elephants survive in a better way.
Ms Sims is quoted as saying on the website, "World Elephant Day is a rallying call for people to support organisations that are working to stop the illegal poaching and trade of elephant ivory and other wildlife products, protect wild elephant habitat, and provide sanctuaries and alternative habitats for domestic elephants to live freely."
While World Elephant Society works in partnership with 100 elephant conservation organisations, it also urges individuals and organisations to mark this day with their own events across the globe.
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/world-elephant-day-2021-date-history-and-significance-2507824">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/world-elephant-day-2021-date-history-and-significance-2507824</a>

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Elephant Day 2021: The World Elephant Day was initiated on August 12, 2012 (File) Watching the 1971 movie Haathi Mere Saathi could be a...

Justin Trudeau Condemns "Unacceptable And Unjust" Jailing Of Canadian Spavor In China

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Justin Trudeau condemned the jailing of Canadian businessman Michael Spavor in China
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Ottawa, Canada:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the jailing of Canadian businessman Michael Spavor in China on Wednesday as "unacceptable and unjust."
"China's conviction and sentencing of Michael Spavor is absolutely unacceptable and unjust," Trudeau said in a statement after a Chinese court sentenced Spavor to 11 years in prison.
"The verdict for Mr Spavor comes after more than two-and-a-half years of arbitrary detention, a lack of transparency in the legal process, and a trial that did not satisfy even the minimum standards required by international law."
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/justin-trudeau-condemns-unacceptable-and-unjust-jailing-of-canadian-spavor-in-china-2507716">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/justin-trudeau-condemns-unacceptable-and-unjust-jailing-of-canadian-spavor-in-china-2507716</a>

news world Justin Trudeau Condemns "Unacceptable And Unjust" Jailing Of Canadian Spavor In China

Justin Trudeau condemned the jailing of Canadian businessman Michael Spavor in China Ottawa, Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cond...

President Ghani Flies Into Mazar To Rally Forces As Taliban Inches Closer

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<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="President Ghani Flies Into Mazar To Rally Forces As Taliban Inches Closer" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2021-08/sjoc893k_ashraf-ghani-650-_625x300_11_August_21.jpg" title="President Ghani Flies Into Mazar To Rally Forces As Taliban Inches Closer" /></div>
"The Taliban have captured the city now," said Zabihullah Attiq.
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Kabul, Afghanistan:
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani flew to the besieged northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif Wednesday to rally his beleaguered forces, with Taliban fighters having now taken more than a quarter of the country's provincial capitals in less than a week.
His visit was immediately overshadowed by the mass surrender of hundreds of Afghan soldiers in nearby Kunduz, along with the overnight capture of another provincial capital -- the ninth city to be overrun since Friday.
One army officer who asked not to be identified said they had endured withering mortar fire at Kunduz airport, and were left with no choice but to surrender.
"There was no way to fight back," he told AFP.
"My unit, with 20 soldiers, three humvees and four pick-up trucks just surrendered. We are now all waiting to get our pardon letter. There is a big queue."
In Mazar, Ghani held talks with long-time local strongman Atta Mohammad Noor and infamous warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum about the defence of the city, as Taliban fighters inched closer to its outskirts.
The loss of Mazar would be a catastrophic blow to the Kabul government and represent the complete collapse of its control over the north -- long a bastion of anti-Taliban militias.
Hours before Ghani arrived, pictures posted on official government social media accounts showed Dostum boarding a plane in Kabul en route to Mazar, along with a contingent of commandos.
After arriving in the city, Dostum issued a warning to the approaching Taliban.
"The Taliban never learn from the past," he told reporters, vowing to kill the jihadists.
"The Taliban have come to the north several times but they were always trapped. It is not easy for them to get out."  
Dostum stands accused of massacring hundreds, if not thousands, of Taliban prisoners of war during the US-backed operations in 2001 that toppled the hardline Islamists' rule over the country.
Fighting in Afghanistan's long-running conflict has escalated dramatically since May, when the US-led military coalition began the final stage of a withdrawal set to be completed before the end of the month.
Further to the east of Mazar, in Badakhshan province's capital Faizabad, a local lawmaker told AFP that security forces had retreated after days of heavy clashes.
"The Taliban have captured the city now," said Zabihullah Attiq, confirming the latest city to fall.
Kunduz remains the Taliban's largest prize to date, with the mass surrender at the airport making a potential counterattack to retake the provincial capital highly unlikely for the time being.
An unknown number of government forces were still holding out at an army barracks outside the city.
The insurgents appeared to be consolidating their hold over captured cities in the north, with rifle-toting militants patrolling the streets of Kunduz on foot and in armoured humvees as smoke rose from smouldering shops destroyed during the fight for the city.
- No regrets -
Government forces were also battling the hardline Islamists in Kandahar and Helmand, the southern Pashto-speaking provinces from where the Taliban draw their strength.
In Kandahar, fierce clashes erupted between Taliban insurgents and security forces, with heavy fighting reported near the city's prison, which the militants have been trying to reach for weeks.
The Taliban frequently target prisons to release incarcerated fighters and replenish their ranks.
But even as the Taliban routed government forces, US President Joe Biden gave no hint of delaying his deadline to withdraw all American troops by August 31, instead urging Afghan leaders to "fight for themselves" on Tuesday.
And as fighting raged, US diplomats were desperately trying to breathe life back into all-but-dead talks between the Afghan government and Taliban in Doha, where Washington's special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was pushing the hardline Islamists to accept a ceasefire.
The Taliban have appeared largely indifferent to peace overtures, and seem intent on a military victory to crown a return to power after their ouster 20 years ago in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
After conquering most of the north, the Taliban have now set their sights on Mazar -- long a linchpin for the government's control of the area -- after capturing Sheberghan to its west, and Kunduz and Taloqan to its east.
Mazar saw some of the bloodiest fighting during the Taliban's scorched-earth rampage through the country in the 1990s, with rights groups accusing the jihadists of massacring up to 2,000 civilians -- mostly Shiite Hazaras -- after capturing the city in 1998.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/afghan-leader-flies-into-besieged-northern-city-as-taliban-extend-gains-2507690">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/afghan-leader-flies-into-besieged-northern-city-as-taliban-extend-gains-2507690</a>

news world President Ghani Flies Into Mazar To Rally Forces As Taliban Inches Closer

"The Taliban have captured the city now," said Zabihullah Attiq. Kabul, Afghanistan: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani flew to th...

PJW Live: UN Climate Alarmism & the Fall of France

The British government has claimed that it intends to send private security contractors to knock on the doors of anyone returning from holidays to make sure they are quarantining upon their return, as required by law.
Home Secretary Priti Patel <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9597685/Priti-Patel-reveals-plans-10-000-quarantine-checks-day.html">announced Wednesday</a> that those returning from destinations that have not been added to the government’s ‘green list’ should expect to be checked on at their homes.
The warning comes after the government lifted international travel restrictions on Monday, allowing people to go on holiday, but with extensive caveats.
Patel claimed that 10,000 checks will be conducted every day by private contractors hired <a href="https://www.mitie.com/all-services/security-fire/?filter-service=security-and-fire&filter-search=">via the firm Mitie</a>, and if people are found to be flouting quarantine or acting noncompliant, police will be called to deal with them, with the authorisation to issue fines of up to £10,000.
The government has decreed that a negative PCR test and ten day quarantine is required for anyone returning from countries it has not deemed to be completely safe to visit, including the popular destinations of The U.S., France, Spain and Greece.
Those returning will then have to take a further two PCR tests (at their own expense) and test negative to be allowed out of their houses after the ten day period.
“People will not go unchecked,” Patel threatened. adding “Significant resources have been put in place – millions of pounds – in terms of the follow-up checking of people around their testing and making sure they stay at home. It has been stepped up.”
Discouraging travel to so called ‘amber list’ countries, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-travel-expect-knock-on-the-door-when-you-return-from-amber-countries-priti-patel-warns-12311649">told Sky News</a> Thursday that “You’ve got to quarantine. People will come to your house to check your quarantine. It’s expensive. We’re not at the stage of saying to people, go to those places on holiday. Please don’t.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock also claimed that the door to door checks are already underway, with 30,000 being conducted last week.
Boris Johnson told MPs yesterday that visits to medium-risk destinations are only acceptable in ‘extreme circumstances’. 
The announcement came after millions of people had already booked trips to the destinations, and in many cases have already arrived there, prompting fury from travellers, airlines and booking agents.
Julia Lo Bue-Said, of Advantage Travel Partnership described the government’s actions as “typical nanny state tactics.”
She added “Surely the British public can make up their own mind if they wish to quarantine in order to visit an amber country. As long as protocols are followed, testing is in place and rules in the destination are adhered to we see no reason why we cannot be allowed to travel safely to amber destinations for leisure. Otherwise, make those amber countries red.”
In related news, it has been revealed that UK ‘Covid passports’ officially rolled out for use during international travel <a href="https://summit.news/2021/05/20/privacy-watchdog-uk-covid-passport-small-print-says-it-will-be-used-domestically/">will eventually be used domestically</a> to restrict the movement of the population, according to the small print on the NHS website.
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source <a href="https://summit.news/2021/08/10/pjw-live-un-climate-alarmism-the-fall-of-france/">https://summit.news/2021/08/10/pjw-live-un-climate-alarmism-the-fall-of-france/</a>

revolution summit PJW Live: UN Climate Alarmism & the Fall of France

The British government has claimed that it intends to send private security contractors to knock on the doors of anyone returning from holid...