India gets first woman president

Amidst controversy, Pratibha Devisingh Patil became India’s the first woman President when she was sworn in by the Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan in the Central Hall of Parliament on Wednesday.

The position, though largely ceremonial, has earned India the distinction of being the largest country to have a female head of state. However, critics say Patil is not deserving of the honor. She was elected through ballots cast by federal and state legislators and succeeded President Abdul Kalam.

“India is an ancient civilization, but a young nation. We look back to the past with pride,” Patil said, noting that the United Nations dedicated October 2, Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, as the international day of non-violence.

Indira Gandhi was India’s first woman prime minister.

South Florida colleges reeling from tax cuts

Both Broward Community College and Miami-Dade College are faced with the real possibility of cutting back their budgets, in response to a directive from state governor, Charlie Crist’s directive for all state agencies to cut their budgets by 4 percent, and possible 10 percent of the state’s revenue collection does not improve.

The 4 percent cuts mean that at BCC the budget would be cut by $3 million and $7.6 million at MDC. At BCC these cuts could likely result in wage freeze, limit to traveling and set back in the upgrading of equipment, and at MDC, a hiring freeze and a hold on some new classes that were planned.

President Bush rejects health plan for children

Stating that providing health coverage for poor children would enlarge the role of the federal government at the expense of private insurance, President George Bush last week rejected an appeal by his fellow Republicans to compromise with Democrats in renewing health coverage for these children.

Bush said that based on philosophical grounds, he objects to a bipartisan Senate proposal to input $35 billion into the State Children’s Health Insurance program over five years. Instead the president has proposed a $5 billion increase in funding. He has threatened to veto the Senate compromise, as well as a more costly proposal for expanding the fund expected from the House of Representative. Bush said that expanding eligibility makes it possible for people to switch from private insurance to the government.

Business green card being processed

Changing its earlier decision of July 2 to suspend the processing of business-sponsored green card applications, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the State Department has announced that processing is being reinstated.

The earlier decision to suspend the processing of the applications had left thousands of employer-sponsored green card applicants in a jam, resulting in weeks of complaints by angry immigration attorneys and their clients who are mainly skilled immigrants. Now individuals who submitted applications prior to July 1 (now extended to August 17) will have their applications processed.

Emilio Gonzalez, head of USCIS is reported to have said that the public’s reaction to the suspension made it clear that the federal government’s management of the process needed further review.

Nelson Mandela celebrates 89^th birthday

On July 18thy, former South Africa President Nelson Mandela celebrated his 89^th birthday. He celebrated the day by joining with other Nobel peace laureates, politicians and development experts to form a humanitarian alliance called the “Council of Elders.” The council is dedicated to fostering peace and resolving global crisis.

Included in the approximately 250 guests at the event were former American president, Jimmy Carter and South African Archbishop, Desmond Tutu. The gathering sang Happy Birthday to a smiling Mandela, who took the stage leaning on a cane, accompanied by an aide. Tutu told Mandela that he bowled over the country with his graciousness, magnanimity and generosity of spirit. “How God must love South Africa to have given us such a priceless gift, said Tutu.