Latest news with #Madia
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Devoted mum killed by falling tree branch after ‘pushing daughter, 5, out of way' on walk with husband & son is pictured
Her husband was said to be just a few feet away HERO MUM Devoted mum killed by falling tree branch after 'pushing daughter, 5, out of way' on walk with husband & son is pictured A HERO mum who was killed in front of her two young children when a tree branch fell on her has been pictured for the first time. Madia Kauser, who was named locally today, is said to have pushed her five-year-old daughter out of the way of the falling branch. Advertisement 5 Madia Kauser, 32, has been pictured for the first time Credit: facebook/@ 5 The mum was hailed as a 'hero' after pushing her daughter out of the way of a falling branch Credit: facebook/@ 5 Nearby trees have had their branches trimmed back Madia was sadly killed while taking her daughter and son for an evening stroll near Witton Country Park in Blackburn, Lancashire on Monday. The little girl was reportedly in a push chair that the brave mother managed to shove out of the way before being crushed by the falling branch. Madia's young daughter thankfully survived unharmed because of her mum's noble actions. Former mayor and local councillor Zamir Khan MBE, an uncle in the family, told the Daily Mail that her body was still with the coroner. Advertisement He added: "Her little girl told me her mother pushed her out of the way as the branch fell. "The older boy was walking with his father in front and could not believe what happened. "It is very hard for the children. I do not think they will ever walk in that park again." Madia's husband was said to be just a few feet away with the couple's son when the tragedy unfolded. Advertisement He rushed to offer aid to his wife but nothing could be done to save the woman. She was sadly pronounced dead at the scene after paramedics battled to save her. The remainder of the tree has since been removed by Blackburn with Darwen council, the local authority has also trimmed back nearby tree branches. Tributes have begun to pour in for the hero mother who "would do anything for her children." Advertisement Social media tributes have described the heroic mum as a "lovely person" with the local Muslim community coming together to remember her. A gathering was held at Blackburn's Madina mosque on Wednesday where condolences were offered for the tragic mum and her family. Family members from across the country travelled to attend the gathering. A local social media group hosted a message for the mum, reading: "Please keep this mother and her young children in your prayers. Advertisement "May Allah give them Sabrun Jameel. Condolences can be paid to the family at Madina Masjid on Oak St from 11am." The local authority said: "Blackburn with Darwen borough council is deeply saddened to confirm that a member of the public has tragically died following an incident in Witton Park, when a large tree branch fell.' A Lancashire Police spokesman said the woman's death was not being treated as suspicious and a file would be prepared for the coroner. 5 Her young daughter thankfully survived unharmed Advertisement
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Devoted mum killed by falling tree branch after ‘pushing daughter, 5, out of way' on walk with husband & son is pictured
Her husband was said to be just a few feet away HERO MUM Devoted mum killed by falling tree branch after 'pushing daughter, 5, out of way' on walk with husband & son is pictured Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HERO mum who was killed in front of her two young children when a tree branch fell on her has been pictured for the first time. Madia Kauser, who was named locally today, is said to have pushed her five-year-old daughter out of the way of the falling branch. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Madia Kauser, 32, has been pictured for the first time Credit: facebook/@ 5 The mum was hailed as a 'hero' after pushing her daughter out of the way of a falling branch Credit: facebook/@ 5 Nearby trees have had their branches trimmed back Madia was sadly killed while taking her daughter and son for an evening stroll near Witton Country Park in Blackburn, Lancashire on Monday. The little girl was reportedly in a push chair that the brave mother managed to shove out of the way before being crushed by the falling branch. Madia's young daughter thankfully survived unharmed because of her mum's noble actions. Former mayor and local councillor Zamir Khan MBE, an uncle in the family, told the Daily Mail that her body was still with the coroner. He added: "Her little girl told me her mother pushed her out of the way as the branch fell. "The older boy was walking with his father in front and could not believe what happened. "It is very hard for the children. I do not think they will ever walk in that park again." Madia's husband was said to be just a few feet away with the couple's son when the tragedy unfolded. He rushed to offer aid to his wife but nothing could be done to save the woman. She was sadly pronounced dead at the scene after paramedics battled to save her. The remainder of the tree has since been removed by Blackburn with Darwen council, the local authority has also trimmed back nearby tree branches. Tributes have begun to pour in for the hero mother who "would do anything for her children." Social media tributes have described the heroic mum as a "lovely person" with the local Muslim community coming together to remember her. A gathering was held at Blackburn's Madina mosque on Wednesday where condolences were offered for the tragic mum and her family. Family members from across the country travelled to attend the gathering. A local social media group hosted a message for the mum, reading: "Please keep this mother and her young children in your prayers. "May Allah give them Sabrun Jameel. Condolences can be paid to the family at Madina Masjid on Oak St from 11am." The local authority said: "Blackburn with Darwen borough council is deeply saddened to confirm that a member of the public has tragically died following an incident in Witton Park, when a large tree branch fell.' A Lancashire Police spokesman said the woman's death was not being treated as suspicious and a file would be prepared for the coroner. 5 Her young daughter thankfully survived unharmed
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Woman killed when tree fell on her in Blackburn park named as 'beloved wife'
The woman killed in front of two children when a tree branch fell on her this week has been identified. Madia Kauser, from Blackburn, has been named as the woman who died yesterday after the freak accident at Witton Country Park in Blackburn around 8.30pm on Monday. She is understood to have been walking with her two children at the time of the tragedy. Madia death was announced by a local funeral director. The local Muslim community is said to be holding prayers for Madia today. In a statement, Funeral Director Fahid Abbas wrote: "It is with a heavy heart to inform you that Madia Kauser, beloved daughter [...], beloved sister [...] and beloved wife [...] sadly departed from this temporary abode, of [...] Blackburn." Her brother also took to social media to express his grief, saying: "My beautiful sister has been called back to our Creator." He also asked for the community to pray for her. Emergency responders rushed to the scene and found Madia, 32, unresponsive and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Blackburn with Darwen Council felled the beech tree from which the branch fell shortly after. A council statement said: 'Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is deeply saddened to confirm that a member of the public has tragically died following an incident in Witton Park yesterday, when a large tree branch fell.' Denise Park, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's chief executive, said: 'Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the family and friends of the person who has lost their life at this very difficult time. Emergency services, including paramedics and the air ambulance, attended the scene. Council staff also supported by cordoning off the area to ensure public safety. 'As part of precautionary safety measures, the tree involved was being felled this morning. Witton Park is a much-loved community space, and the safety of everyone who visits is of the utmost importance to us. 'A cordon was put in place in the park, from the Buncer Lane entrance at Big Clover Wood through to the Pavilion Café. While this work is carried out, we ask visitors to respect the cordons and follow the advice of staff on site. 'We know this news will be deeply upsetting for many in our community. Our thoughts remain first and foremost with the family at this very sad time.'
Euractiv
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Euractiv
EU staff could strike over Gaza
Welcome to the Capitals by Eddy Wax. Get in touch. Were you forwarded this newsletter by a friend? Sign up here. In today's edition: Civil servants push for Gaza action Budget rift: Merz vs von der Leyen Trump threatens EU with 35% levy Diplomat investigated over sexist blog 'Endemic' police abuse in Kosovo In the capital As the hunger crisis in Gaza deepens, a growing chorus of EU staffers are contemplating strike action, contending that their institutions have failed to exert sufficient pressure on Israel to let vital humanitarian aid into the besieged region. The proposal is still in its early stages, and key trade unions, whose support is essential, have so far hesitated to back the move, according to four civil servants involved. Oreste Madia, a policy officer in the European Commission, has sent an open letter to President Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas, the bloc's foreign policy chief, warning that Europe's moral authority is at stake. The letter – which Madia says has already garnered over 1,300 signatures from staffers across various institutions – calls for 'bold and principled action now', urging the EU to leverage its position as Israel's largest trading partner to demand compliance with international humanitarian law. Madia has set a target of 6,000 signatures, and warned that if EU leadership fails to respond, strikes may follow. 'We are talking to lawyers to see if there are unions we can connect with and call a strike,' he said. 'We are fighting for the very soul of the EU,' Madia declared. 'If I am complicit in a genocide, what am I doing here?' The accusation of genocide hits a sensitive chord for Israel, a nation born in the wake of the Holocaust. As defined in international law, it refers to acts committed with the intent to partially or wholly destroy a group. To substantiate such a charge, international law requires proof of intent – which Israeli leaders fiercely deny, insisting that Hamas wants to ruin the Jewish state. Meanwhile, EU Staff for Peace, a collective that supports but did not initiate the letter, has been staging weekly protests outside European institutions in Brussels, banging pots and pans and fasting in solidarity with Gaza. According to a letter seen by Euractiv, their pressure tactics have included challenging staff representatives over the presence of an Israeli military attaché in the Berlaymont, as well as the 'intimidation' and 'interrogation' they've faced in advocating for Palestinian rights. Tensions within the EU are palpable. Two signatories likened Israel's actions with Nazism before immediately retracting their comments. All four civil servants I spoke to stressed that their aim is simply to make the EU comply with its own stated values and international law, as they are obligated to do as civil servants. In the political sphere, Socialists, Greens and Left-wing lawmakers have put out a statement calling Israel's actions in Gaza 'genocide' and demanding urgent action from EU leadership. The EU's top socialist, Commissioner Teresa Ribera, has described Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to occupy Gaza as an unacceptable provocation. Since Hamas' attack on 7 October 2023, about 1,200 Israelis including over 700 civilians were killed, and 251 hostages were taken to Gaza, according to Reuters. Since then, Israel's military response has devastated the densely packed enclave, claiming the lives of more than 61,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, whose figures have been deemed reliable by the UN and other international bodies. On Tuesday, Belgium confirmed it would vote in favour of the Commission's proposal to partly suspend Israel from the EU's flagship Horizon research programme. The move could be green lit as early as 13 August if a qualified majority emerges – though that remains elusive. As global crises reshape our world... Chris Kremidas-Courtney, senior visiting fellow at European Policy Centre, believes the need for divergent thinkers has never been more urgent. He argues that it's not conventional expertise but polymaths – those who can see new paths and connect knowledge across disciplines – that will guide us forward. In an era of chaos, as the old order crumbles, we must learn to walk without a clear path, and that requires embracing the very minds we've too often sidelined, Kremidas-Courtney writes in his latest op-ed. Budget rift: Merz vs von der Leyen Late on budget reveal day, German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius sharply criticised the Commission's proposal as 'not sellable' in the current climate of fiscal restraint. His blunt remarks – which came hours after von der Leyen's unveiling of the proposal in July – reflect the growing chasm between Berlin and Brussels. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has long been frustrated by what he sees as the Commission's failure to tackle deregulation and competitiveness. Despite a personal rapport with von der Leyen, this policy rift signals tough battles ahead, particularly with the German elections looming. Read more. Trump threatens EU with 35% levy Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to slap the EU with a blanket 35% levy if Brussels fails to fulfill its pledge to invest $600 (€518) billion in American infrastructure. 'They gave us $600 billion that we can invest in anything we want,' the US president told CNBC. 'I can do anything I want with it.' The promised investments are part of last month's EU-US trade deal, which also includes a flat 15% tariff on most EU goods. Read more. Diplomat investigated over sexist blog Austria is reeling from the resignation of its EU ambassador, Thomas Oberreiter, after allegations surfaced that he authored a graphically misogynistic sex blog. Foreign minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger has ordered a sweeping review of IT security, led by her security policy advisor Thomas Starlinger, the ministry said. According to Austria's Der Standard , Oberreiter's emails could have been hacked. The capitals BERLIN | In a rare move, the Commission directly rebuffed German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil's criticism that the EU is 'too weak' on trade policy, stating its decisions were aligned with signals from member states, including Berlin. Klingbeil's remarks, made during a US visit, were seen as a jab at the executive, which holds exclusive control over trade policy. French President Emmanuel Macron made similar remarks last week. The Commission has suspended retaliatory tariffs, with hopes that the US will honour a pledge to reduce car tariffs. Read more. WARSAW | PiS-backed Karol Nawrocki will be sworn in as Poland's president today after a narrow victory in June. The inauguration will open with a mass, followed by a secular ceremony. Nawrocki faced scrutiny during the race for alleged ties to the criminal underworld, a dubious property deal, and participation in a football-hooligan brawl, which he did not deny. Despite reported irregularities in the vote count, the Supreme Court upheld the election. Read more. MADRID | Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares criticised the EU's response to Israel's aid blockade in Gaza, calling it 'too little too late' in an interview on Onda Cero, a national radio network. Albares echoed PM Pedro Sánchez's call for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, condemning Israel's 'heinous crimes' and reaffirming Spain's refusal to recognise the 'illegal annexation' of Gaza and the West Bank. The remarks reflect the nation's increasingly vocal stance on the ongoing conflict. STOCKHOLM | Sweden will send €238 million in military aid to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles and High Mobility Artillery Rocket ammo, as part of a €433 million joint package with Denmark and Norway. The initiative, backed by NATO and the US, aims to quickly deliver air defence systems from European stockpiles to bolster Ukraine's defences. Read more. BUCHAREST | Ion Iliescu, Romania's first post-Communist president, passed away yesterday at 95, leaving a legacy that mingles democratic promise with state violence. A central figure in the country's post-1989 transition, Iliescu guided Romanians through the fragile early years of democracy, but later faced charges of crimes against humanity over the brutal 1990 'Mineriada' crackdown. Read more. PRAGUE | Czech NGOs, in an open letter, pressured the conservative government to criticise Israel's 'indiscriminate and disproportionate' military operations in Gaza. But foreign minister Jan Lipavský declined, saying it will avoid making declaratory gestures and stick to quiet diplomacy and aid instead. Read more. VILNIUS | Lithuania has renewed calls for NATO to enhance air defences in the Baltic region following a series of suspected Russian drone incursions into its airspace. Despite growing attention on European air defence, officials warn of persistent gaps, urging the full implementation of NATO's rotational air defence model. Read more. Also on Euractiv
Indian Express
10-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
One roof for all: Tribal women in Gadchiroli's Sitatola join hands to end menstrual stigma
Tribal women from Sitatola in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district have come together to end the centuries-old practice of isolating themselves in menstruation huts, locally known as kurma ghars. Rejecting the taboo that treated menstruation as impure, women of all ages in the village have collectively built a space they call mawa askan lon which translates from the Madia dialect as 'our rightful home as women'. The structure now serves not only as a shelter but also as a community centre for meetings and support groups. The initiative was spearheaded with support from Sparsh, a Gadchiroli-based NGO that has been working on eradication of the kurma ghar custom for over a decade. 'Our philosophy is simple: no woman should be forced out of her home due to menstruation,' said Dr Dilip Barsagade, president and executive director of Sparsh. 'This is a natural biological process. The emotional and physical support women need during this time can only come from family, not isolation.' Barsagade said the NGO initially focused on sensitising male community members and traditional faith leaders. 'It seemed impossible at first, but through honest dialogue, mindsets began to shift. The women themselves were clear they didn't want to step into kurma ghars even for a minute.' Over time, the duration of isolation reduced from five days to three, then two. Still, many households resisted allowing menstruating women into the home. That is when the women proposed an alternative: menstruating and non-menstruating women staying together under one roof. 'They believed this would naturally break the taboo,' Barsagade said. When the women asked for a space, Sparsh agreed on the condition that it would not resemble a kurma ghar. The women offered to build it themselves through voluntary labour, constructing the mawa askan lon with support from nearby villages and minimal external assistance. 'Today, all the women stay together, menstruating or not. The stigma is slowly fading. Some still spend the day at the centre but return home at night. The space is now used for regular meetings and has become a symbol of ownership and pride,' Barsagade added. To manage the centre, one woman from each of the 21 households forms a committee. They collect small contributions of Rs 10 to Rs 20 to cover electricity and maintenance expenses. Boards in Madia language have been installed, educating visitors about the harms of isolation and reinforcing the message: 'I belong in my home, not in isolation.' The kurma ghar system Kurma ghars are small huts, often worse than cattle sheds, used in several tribal villages in Gadchiroli to isolate menstruating women. Many lack toilets, running water, or beds, and during monsoons, women are sometimes forced to stay in cow sheds as the huts become uninhabitable. Touching food, water, or household items during this time can result in social penalties, including fines or being forced to arrange a village feast. Shakuntala Madavi, an ASHA worker in Ranipodur village, said the tradition remains widespread among the Madia tribe. 'Women eat alone, bathe in rivers, and are forbidden from interacting with others. Some government interventions have led to better-built kurma ghars, but many still use makeshift ones.' Baby Madkame, an ASHA worker from Nelgunda village and a member of the Madia tribe, said the huts often lack basic facilities. 'Many women go into the jungle or rivers to relieve themselves. Even where proper huts were built like in Hitapadi – where 15 were constructed – they were never used. Roofs blew off in storms, and the huts were abandoned,' she said. A doctor associated with the Jana Sangharsha Samiti in Gadchiroli added that in many villages, menstruating girls are not even allowed to touch rivers. 'In Binagunda, I saw girls barred from sitting in boats during their periods because the river was considered sacred. In Gondi areas, similar restrictions apply, though less strictly,' she said. She recalled girls bathing only on the third or fifth day of their periods and being told not to touch anything in the house. 'We kept telling them this could cause infections, but the elders were adamant,' she said. Are kurma ghars dangerous? In 2011, Sparsh conducted a survey across 223 kurma ghars and identified 28 cases in which girls had died due to isolation – ranging from causes like snake bites and wild animal attacks to untreated medical emergencies like excessive bleeding. 'These deaths were never officially linked to the practice. But in each case, it was clear that isolation had a role. Nearly 70 per cent of the victims were between 11 and 37 years of age,' said Barsagade. A more structured survey in 2012 reached 4,227 women and girls and further confirmed the dangers. The NGO submitted a report to the district administration, calling for urgent intervention. When no action was taken, the matter was taken to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). A year later, the NHRC admitted the case and asked the Maharashtra chief secretary for a report. Subsequently, the Tribal Research and Training Institute (TRTI) sent a team to Gadchiroli. Their 2014 report confirmed the risks and recommended coordinated interventions by departments like health, tribal affairs, and education, including awareness drives, block-level committees, and regular ASHA and Anganwadi worker visits to such huts. 'Despite the report, the recommendations were not implemented. That is when we decided to take direct action in 50 villages,' Barsagade said.
