Month: April 2023

As India surpassed China’s population on Wednesday to become the most populous country in the world, the spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang Wenbin, took a sharp dig at New Delhi saying that while assessing a country’s demographic dividend, it is also important to look at not just its size but also quality.

Responding to media queries on India overtaking China as the world’s most populous country by the middle of this year, the Chinese spokesperson said it is the talent resources that matter the most.
“When assessing a country’s demographic dividend, we need to look at not just its size but also its quality. Size matters, but what matters more is talent resources. Nearly 900 million of the 1.4 billion Chinese are of working age and on average have received 10.9 years of education,” Wang Wenbin said.

Notably, the UN world population dashboard stated that India now has 1428.6 million people, surpassing the Sino population, which is currently at 1425.7 million. This is for the first time that India has topped the United Nations’ list of most populated countries, ever since the UN began collecting population data in 1950.

With an estimated 340 million people, the United States occupies the third spot.

Wenbin, who also spoke about the workforce in China, noted that the average length of education for those who have recently entered it has increased to 14 years. This is because China has implemented a national strategy to address population ageing, which includes a third-child policy and supporting measures to address demographic changes.

“China has implemented a national strategy to respond to population ageing, including a third-child policy and supporting measures to address demographic changes. As Premier Li Qiang pointed out, China’s demographic dividend has not disappeared, and our talent dividend is in the making,” the Chinese spokesperson added.

He further added that the driving force for China’s development remains strong.

The year before, China’s population shrank for the first time since 1960. In 2016, Beijing ended its strict “one-child policy”, imposed in the 1980s amid overpopulation fears, and began letting couples have three children in 2021.

As India last conducted a census in 2011, there are no current, official figures on the exact size of its population.

India’s once-every-ten-year census, which was supposed to take place in 2021, was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. (ANI)

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At least 85 people were killed while over 322 others were injured in a stampede that broke out during a charity distribution event in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa on Thursday, according to the Houthi-run health authority, reported ChinaDaily.com.cn.

At least “85 were killed and more than 322 were injured” after the stampede in the Bab al-Yemen district of Sana’a, a Houthi security official said.
The latest tragedy to strike the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest country came days ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of the holy month of Ramzan.

Hundreds of people had crowded into a school to receive the donations, which amounted to 5,000 Yemeni riyals (USD 13), reported abc.net.au.

The dead and injured have been moved to nearby hospitals and those responsible for the distribution were taken into custody, the interior ministry said in a statement by the rebel’s Saba news agency.

The Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported that the interior ministry of the group claimed the disaster was caused by a stampede during the random distribution of cash by local merchants, without organization or collaboration with the ministry.

Abdul Khaliq Al-Ajri, a spokesman with the ministry, was quoted by the TV as saying that the authorities have arrested two merchants responsible for the uncoordinated distribution of money and are investigating the incident.

Videos circulated on social media platforms showed bodies lying on the ground at a large complex as people clamoured around them.

Many Yemenis, impoverished by years of conflicts, flocked to the charity center for basic needs as Eid al-Fitr, one of the most important festivals for Muslims, is approaching.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government out of the capital Sanaa.

The war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 4 million, and pushed Yemen to the brink of starvation. (ANI)

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Fresh 12,591 Covid-19 infections were recorded across the country in the last 24 hours, marking a significant jump from Wednesday’s tally of 10,542 cases, the Union health ministry said on Thursday.

Earlier last week, the country had seen a declining graph in the past five days from April 15 to April 18 when 11,109 and 7,633 cases were reported respectively. India recorded 7,633 on April 18, 9,111 on April 17, 10,093 on April 16, and 10,753 on April 15.
According to the Union Health Ministry, the country’s active cases increased to 65,286 which was 63,562 yesterday.

Presently recovery rate stands at 98.67 per cent with a daily positivity rate of 5.46 per cent, the Health Ministry stated further in its release.

Further, 10,827 recoveries in the last 24 hours to the overall count of people cured of the infection to 4,42,61,476, the bulletin stated, adding that the overall recovery rate is currently at 98.67 per cent.

Under the nationwide Vaccination Drive, India has so far administered 220,66,28,332 crore Covid vaccine doses (95.21 cr second doses and 22.87 cr precautionary doses), of which 574 doses were administered in the last 24 hours.

The ministry further stated that the weekly positivity rate currently stands at 5.32 per cent.

The total number of tests conducted so far currently stands at 92.48 crores with 2,30,419 tests conducted in the last 24 hours.

In wake of the spike in the number of COVID-19 cases across the country, Dr PK Mishra, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday to assess the situation.

The PMO informed in a statement that the focus of the meeting was on the status of preparedness of health infrastructure and logistics, drugs, vaccination campaign in the country and the key necessary steps as a response to the recent surge in Covid cases.

“Dr PK Mishra stressed that the time tested 5-fold strategy of Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination and adherence COVID Appropriate Behaviour must continue to be implemented and equally crucial to promote awareness within the community regarding COVID appropriate behaviour and caution citizens against complacency,” the PMO statement read.

During the meeting, a comprehensive presentation was made by Rajesh Bhushan, the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare providing an overview of the global COVID-19 situation.

Bhushan highlighted that India has been witnessing a rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases with the majority of cases being reported in eight states; Kerala, Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Rajasthan. Further, the sudden increase in positivity was also highlighted along with the status of tests being conducted in the country. A detailed analysis of active cases within these eight states was presented. It was highlighted that approximately 92 per cent of the cases are under home isolation.

The presentation also provided an overview of the Genome Sequencing of different variants since January 2023 and noted the proportion of circulating variants in India. The status of vaccination was discussed, followed by drug availability and infrastructure preparedness across the country, the PMO stated.

As per directions of the Prime Minister, a nationwide mock drill for the assessment of functional infrastructure was conducted and the status of the mock drill was presented to participants. Further, the expenditure of the COVID-19 vaccination programme and budget provisions for drugs and vaccine raw materials were also reviewed.

Health Secretary also informed that states have already been advised that they may take steps for procurement of requisite Covid vaccine doses directly from the manufacturers at their end without any prior approvals from the Union Ministry of Health. Private Hospitals situated in the States may also directly procure such Vaccines from the manufacturer These vaccines once procured may be administered as per the existing Covid vaccination guidelines.

He also advised the officials to maintain a strict vigil on the COVID-19 situation and take necessary actions to contain the COVID-19 spread. (ANI)

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Pamela Chopra, wife of renowned filmmaker Yash Chopra, passed away in Mumbai on Thursday. She was 74 years old.

The official social media handle of the Yash Raj films shared the news of her demise. The post read, “With heavy hearts, the Chopra family would like to inform that Pamela Chopra, 74, passed away this morning. Her cremation took place at 11 AM today in Mumbai. We are grateful for your prayers and the family would like to request for privacy in this moment of deep sadness and reflection.”

According to sources close to the Chopra family, she was being treated for Pneumonia for the past few days at the Lilavati hospital in Mumbai.

The industry insiders call her the ‘muse’ of Yash Chopra. She was an active collaborator in her husband’s creative pursuits. She was recently seen in the Netflix documentary ‘The Romantics’, in which, she talked about her husband’s way of film making, how Yash Raj studio evolved over the years.

Yash and Pamela got married in 1970 and they were blessed with two sons, Aditya and Uday. By virtue of being Aditya’s mother, Pamela was the mother-in-law of actor Rani Mukerji.

Pamela used to sing well and she lent her voice in many of Yash Chopra’s films. One of her most famous songs was ‘Main Sasural Nahi Jaungi’ (Chandni) and ‘Ghar Aaja Pardesi’ (Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge).

Pamela also wrote the story of Amitabh Bachchan and Rakhee starrer ‘Kabhi Kabhi’ and she was credited as the designer for the film ‘Silsila.’

The late filmmaker in many of his interviews used to talk about her wife’s creative inputs into his films. The couple got featured in the song ‘Ek Duje Ke Vaaste’ from the movie ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’. She even produced films independently.

The demise of Pamela Chopra left a void in the Hindi Film industry. (ANI)

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