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Pakistan’s population growing rapidly with annual fertility rate of 3.6: Report

(Photo/The Express Tribune)

New Delhi (NVI): With an annual fertility rate of 3.6 children per couple, Pakistan’s population is growing rapidly as the country is among the top two fastest-growing in the South Asian region, according to a world population report.

Pakistan’s total population is estimated at 220.9 million at present. The 2020 World Population Data Sheet, released recently by the US Population Reference Bureau, has also estimated the current global population at 7.8 billion.

India, with 1.4 billion people has the second largest population in the world but has reduced fertility rate, as compared to Pakistan, at 2.2, according to the report.

The report has also referred to the Covid-19 crisis in its estimates, warning that “population density in urban areas, household size, and population aging contribute to our vulnerability to pandemics”.

Meanwhile, the report marks Afghanistan and Pakistan as the fastest-growing populations. Although Afghanistan has a faster growth rate than Pakistan at 4.5 per couple, with high death rates and low life expectancy the country’s population is still at 38.9 million.

As per the report, at Pakistan’s growth rate — 3.6 — a population doubles in 19.4 years. A country needs to bring its growth rate down to 2 per cent a year to reduce its population. The replacement fertility rate is 2.1, the average number of children a couple needs to have to replace themselves.

Bangladesh’s total population in 2020 is estimated at 169.8 million, with an annual growth rate of 2.3.

On the other hand, China with a total of 1.424 billion people, still has the largest population in the world but has been able to reduce its fertility rate to 1.5. China’s population is projected to decrease by 2050, says the report.

The United States has an estimated 329.9 million inhabitants and between 2020 and 2050 its population is projected to increase, but at a much slower pace than in recent decades. The US has an annual fertility rate of 1.7, which forces it to allow immigrants to strengthen its workforce, says the report.

However, total replacement rates are below replacement level in 91 countries and territories, which account for nearly 45 per cent of the world’s population.

The report further finds that Middle Africa is the youngest region where 46 per cent of the population is under the age of 15 years. Southern Europe is the world’s oldest region with 23 per cent of the population aged 65 or above.

-ARK

Atleast 85 dead in Assam floods

New Delhi (NVI): Six more people have lost their lives due to floods in Assam, taking the death toll to around 85 in the state.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda has informed that over 70 lakh people have been affected due to Assam floods and heavy rains.

In addition to this, as many as 108 animals, inluding 9 rhinoceroses have died at the Kaziranga National Park. About 136 animals have also been rescued.

About 80 percent area of the national park was inundated with flood waters due to heavy rainfall. According to park authorities, among the animals that died, there are 9 rhinos, 4 wild buffaloes, 7 wild boars, 2 swamp deer and 82 hog deer.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to CM Sonowal over phone to take stock of the situation and assured all support to the state.

-CHK

13 Afghan forces killed in Taliban attacks in Kunduz

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New Delhi (NVI): At least 13 Afghan forces including nine policemen and four soldiers were killed, while ten others were injured in Talian attacks in northern province of Kunduz in Afghanistan early this morning, reports TOLOnews.

The Taliban terrorists attacked security checkpoints in PD2 of Kunduz city and on the Kunduz-Ali Abad district highway, the news portal quoted the country’s security forces source as saying.

“The clashes started at 1:00 am and ended after three hours when security forces pushed back the insurgents,” one such source told the portal.

He said that the Taliban have also suffered casualties but there is no exact information yet. However, the Taliban have not yet commented on the attacks, TOLOnews reported.

Yesterday, the Afghan news website reported that Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission has recorded 17 targeted and suicide attacks on worshippers, imams of mosques and worshippers over the last nine months in which 170 people have lost their lives.

The report covers data from October 17, 2019 to July 13, 2020. To recall, in one such dastardly attack in March, 27 Sikhs including women and small children were killed at a gurdwara in Kabul.

Just a week ago, 10 people were killed after Taliban militants clashed with security forces, following a car bomb blast at a government compound in northern Afghanistan. A dozen others were wounded in the attack as northern Afghanistan witnesses a surge in such attacks, adding to despair over the faltering Afghan peace process.

-RJV/ARK

Covid-19: Sikkim to impose complete lockdown from July 21-27

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New Delhi (NVI): In view of recent surge in coronavirus cases, Sikkim government has decided to impose complete lockdown of one week effective from July 21 to 27.

In addition to this, the state government has also announced night curfew on a daily basis between 7:30 pm to 6 am.

During the lockdown, all activities and movement of persons, goods and passenger vehicles have been restricted.

Besides, all government offices, shops, commercial establishments, institutions, markets and factories will also remain closed, except where a specific exemption is granted.

Movement of people and vehicles required for supply of essential goods has been allowed.

While shops selling essential goods, ration and food items, have been allowed to remain open from 8 am to 5 pm, medical shops can operate till 7 pm.

Apart from this, all educational, training and coaching institutions shall remain closed till August 31.

Notably, Sikkim was the last state in India to report COVID-19 cases. This was largely attributed to the strict pre-emptive measures taken by the government in order to curb the spread of the contagion.

So far, the state has reported 283 cases of COVID-19, of which, 193 are active cases, 90 have been cured and two have migrated to other states.

-RJV

UGC guidelines for final year exams challenged in SC by students

New Delhi (NVI): The guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) have been challenged in the Supreme Court by more than a dozen students from various universities in 13 states and one union territory.

The UGC guideline dated July 6, stated that all the universities/ colleges have been instructed to conduct final year Examinations by September 30, 2020.

The petition has sought cancellation of final-year examinations for universities across the country, according to media reports.

Results should be declared on the basis of past performance and internal assessment of a student, the petition states.

The petitioners, which include a COVID-19 positive student, have pointed out that there are many final year students, who themselves or their family members are COVID-19 positive.

Furthermore, the petitioners have also sought awarding of marksheets and degrees to successful students by July 31, 2020. They have also demanded adoption of CBSE mechanism and providing of another chance to those dissatisfied with their marks.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had permitted the conduct of exams by Universities and Institutions vide a notification dated July 6, 2020 and had ordered the universities to compulsorily conduct examination of final year students as per UGC guidelines and Standard Operating Procedure.

-CHK

Lashkar module busted in Jammu, 1 held with Rs 1.5 lakh cash

Terrorist arrested
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Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir police today said that in a joint operation with the Army, a Lashkar-e-Taiba module was busted in Jammu that was involved in “terror funding” and cash worth Rs 1.5 lakh rupees was recovered from a person who was supposed to deliver it to Lashkar militants and Over Ground Workers (OGWs) operating in Jammu region.

A police spokesman in a statement issued here said that the person arrested by the police had concealed the Hawala money in a tiffin box. “On the basis of information received from reliable sources, a special operations group of police, Jammu and Army busted a terror funding module of the Lashkar-e-Toiba,” the spokesman said.

He said that initial information revealed that banned organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) had activated a module of its members for carrying out militant activities in J&K, particularly in the Jammu region and in furtherance to it, delivery of funds was to take place in Jammu.

“Acting on the information, a team of SOG Jammu and the Army apprehended one Mubashir Bhat S/O Farooq Ahmed Bhat R/O Sazan, Doda who is a part of the same module and had been tasked by the handlers from across to visit Jammu and collect a consignment of Hawla money for further use by the militants and their supporters,” the police statement read.

It said that during a bag containing 1.5 lakh rupees was recovered, with the tiffin box containing cash. “Initial questioning revealed that the money was sent by Haroon; self-styled commander of LeT from Pakistan to be delivered to the militants through their over ground workers in Doda district of Jammu,” the statement said.

A case has been registered in Peer Mitha Police Station under sections 17, 18, 20, 21, 38 and 40 of UAP Act (1967) and further investigation of the case is going on to unearth its linkages, modus operandi, etc, the statement further read.

-ARK

Consumer Protection Act 2019 comes into force from today

New Delhi (NVI): The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, comes into force from today, replacing the more than 3-decade old Consumer Protection Act 1986.

The new law aims to enforce and protect the rights of consumers, and provide an effective mechanism to address consumer grievances.

While addressing a virtual media conference, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan said, “This new Act will empower consumers and help them in protecting their rights through its various notified Rules and provisions like Consumer Protection Councils, Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions, Mediation, Product Liability and punishment for manufacture or sale of products containing adulterant / spurious goods.”

He further added that the Act includes establishment of the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers.

Notable, the CCPA will be empowered to conduct investigations into violations of consumer rights and institute complaints/prosecution, order recall of unsafe goods and services, order discontinuance of unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements, impose penalties on manufacturers/endorsers/publishers of misleading advertisements.

Paswan also said that the rules for prevention of unfair trade practice by e-commerce platforms will also be covered under this Act.

The Consumer Protection Bill, 2019, was introduced in the Upper House of Parliament by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan, on July 8, 2019. It was passed by the Lok Sabha on July 30, 2019 and Rajya Sabha on August 6, 2019. The Bill was then signed into law by President Ram Nath Kovind on August 9 last year.

It has taken almost a year for the new Act to be notified, despite the President’s nod in August 2019. Until now, the Consumer Protection Act (1986) has been in force.

Under the aegis of the new Consumer Protection Act, 2019, a product manufacturer and seller will be liable to provide compensation for injury or damage caused by a defective product or service.

The Act provides for a simplified dispute resolution mechanism, with a provision for mediation and e-filing of cases. The consumers can file complaints at a district or state consumer commission closest to their residence, rather than the location where the service or products were sold. Consumers can drag manufacturers and sellers of adulterated and spurious products to court and claim compensation, as is applicable.

In his concluding remarks, Paswan stated, “The new Act has been introduced after many amendments to provide protection to buyers not only from traditional sellers but also from the new e-commerce retailers/platforms. He said that this Act will prove a significant tool in protecting consumer rights in the country.”

-CHK

India’s Covid fatality rate among the lowest in the world at 2.46%

COVID
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New Delhi (NVI): The Case Fatality Rate (CRF) in India continues to register a steady downfall and dropped to 2.46 percent today, which is one of the lowest in the world, Union Health Ministry said.

In an official statement, the ministry said that effective clinical management of the moderate and severe cases through a well executed Standard of Care protocol has ensured high rate of recovery among COVID-19 patients.

The ministry further added that over 7 lakh people have been cured of COVID-19 and discharged so far. This has further expanded the difference between those who are active COVID-19 patients and the recovered people (7,00,086) by 3,09,627.

In the last 24 hours, 22,664 COVID patients have recovered from COVID-19. With this, the recovery rate now stands at 62.62 percent in the country.

Currently, there are 3,90,459 active cases in the country and all are under active medical attention in hospitals and home isloation, it said.

Meanwhile, the Centre is handholding and supporting the state and UT governments in collectively combating COVID-19.

In addition to this, one such initiative is e-ICU program of AIIMS, New Delhi, which is aimed at reducing the mortality rate. AIIMS has mentored and supported 43 big hospitals in 11 states through shared experiences and technical advice from domain experts in clinical management of ICU patients.

This has, substantially boosted their capacity in treatment of critical care patients, the ministry added.

-RJV

‘Hope Probe’: UAE launches its first-ever mission to Mars

Before the launch of the Hope Probe at Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan. (Pic: @HopeMarsMission )

New Delhi (NVI): In a first for the Arab world, the United Arab Emirates has launched ‘Hope Probe’ mission to Mars as a UAE spacecraft blasted off to the red planet from Japan today.

The mission was originally scheduled to leave Earth on July 14 but was delayed due to bad weather. Finally, the Hope Probe was launched early today from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center aboard a Mitsubishi H-2A rocket, for a seven-month voyage.

According to the Gulf News, two-way communication has been established between the mission and Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in the country. The Mars orbiter has been named ‘Amal’, or Hope.

“Two-way communication established. The ground segment has received and communicated the first signals with the Hope Probe,” read a tweet from @HopeMarsMission.

The Arab country first had announced plans for the mission in 2014. It launched a National Space programme in 2017 to develop expertise.

As the Hope Probe separated from the rocket about an hour after the liftoff, there was a jubilant atmosphere at the UAE Space Agency amid thunderous applause from controllers and engineers.

Nasa administrator Jim Bridenstine also congratulated the team at UAE Space Agency for the successful launch of the first-ever mission. “Congrats to the team that worked on @HopeMarsMission. It’s truly amazing what @uaespaceagency & @MBRSpaceCentre have accomplished in such a short time. Hope is exactly what the world needs and thank you to the UAE & @mhi for inspiring all of us,” he tweeted.

The mission will cost UAE USD 200 million, according to minister for advanced sciences Sarah Amiri. It will analyse the Martian atmosphere for the first time, studying daily and seasonal changes.

The Hope Probe is expected to reach Mars orbit in February 2021 during the 50th anniversary of UAE unification, according to foreign media reports. It will not land on the planet but will instead orbit it for an entire Martian year, or 687 days.

China and the United States also plan to launch their missions to the red planet this month. While China intends to send a Martian orbiter, lander, and rover on the 23 July, the US plans to launch the Perserverence Rover to look for signs of Martian life.

-ARK

New gene mutation may contribute to higher rates of lung cancer among non-smokers: Study

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New Delhi (NVI): According to a new study by Taiwan’s Academia Sinica, a pattern of newly identified genetic changes may contribute to a higher rate of lung cancer among non-smokers in East-Asia, particualry in younger women.

The recently published study in journal Cell, tumor samples in 103 lung cancer patients were analyzed in Taiwan, majority of whom were non-smokers.

According to the analysis, a pattern of newly identified genetic changes may contribute to the higher rates of lung cancer.

According to Chen Yu-ju, director of the Academia Sinica’s Institute of Chemistry, researchers have already observed that around 60 percent of lung cancer cases in East Asia are related to mutations of the EGFR gene, compared to only 20 percent in Western countries, where the disease is most common among smokers.

He further added that, “In Taiwan, non-smokers account for over 50 percent of lung cancer patients, which rises to 93 percent among women.”

It is a feature shared by many other East Asian countries, but the reason remains unclear. The study was the first in East Asia to unravel the mystery.

The study’s new finding, however, involves mutations to a separate set of genes — known as APOBEC — which were found in many of the study’s female patients.

In Taiwan, up to 74 percent of female never-smokers (younger than 60 years old) showed higher mutation signatures of APOBEC — a family of proteins related to RNA editing.

Furthermore, the study’s authors believe these findings could have implications both for the detection and treatment of lung cancer.

APOBEC testing could help identify those at risk of the disease and lead to its detection at earlier stages, Chen said.

Through the study, the team hopes to raise public awareness of the potential carcinogenesis of food additives, such as nitrosamine, which is used in fermented tofu and preserved radish, nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs) found in vehicle exhaust, cooking and secondhand smoke, as well as hereditary factors.

-CHK

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