Trump, Kamala Harris engage in heated presidential debate
Washington, D.C.: In a highly anticipated face-off, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris engaged in a fiery debate on September 10, 2024, ahead of the upcoming U.S. presidential election. The debate, held in Philadelphia and moderated by ABC's David Muir and Linsey Davis, began with a handshake but quickly descended into heated exchanges on key issues like abortion, immigration, and the economy.
Trump, the Republican nominee, and former president, attacked Harris for her association with the Biden administration, stating that she offered no new leadership. He criticised her stance on healthcare, claiming she had "no plan" for improving the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Harris, in turn, accused Trump of lacking any clear policy direction on healthcare, asserting that she would strengthen the ACA and focus on protecting citizens' access to affordable care.
The debate saw Trump repeating claims about the U.S. economy under his presidency, while Harris presented herself as a leader of a new generation, distancing herself from both Trump and Biden. Trump also leveled accusations against Harris, claiming she "hates Israel," without providing evidence. Harris defended her positions and rebutted Trump’s claims, particularly around issues of foreign policy, trade with China, and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The topic of abortion further fueled tensions, with Trump celebrating the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, stating that the issue should be left to individual states. Harris, however, pledged to restore federal protections for abortion rights.
The debate, set against the backdrop of a closely contested election, saw both candidates seeking to win over undecided voters. Trump, who faces multiple criminal charges, dismissed them as "politically driven," while Harris attacked his record, particularly on issues related to law enforcement and criminal justice.
As the debate concluded, it remained unclear which candidate gained the upper hand. The U.S. presidential elections are scheduled to be held on November 5, 2024.
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Maharashtra sets up state vaccination task force to strengthen immunisation programme
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.
The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.
The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.
Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.
The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.
"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.
To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.
"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.
The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.
The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.
It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.
