Latest news with #1974
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Election Commission appoints Returning Officer, Assistant ROs to elect Vice-President
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India on Friday appointed a Returning Officer and two Assistant Returning Officers for the conduct of Vice-Presidential polls. Commission stated that the requisite Gazette Notification in this regard specifying the schedule of the election would be issued separately later in the day. The Commission in an official statement said that in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice and with the consent of the Hon'ble Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, has appointed the Secretary General, Rajya Sabha, PC Mody as Returning Officer for the ensuing Vice-Presidential Election, 2025. ECI has also appointed Ms. Garima Jain, Joint Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat and Shri Vijay Kumar, Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat as Assistant Returning Officers during the Vice-Presidential Election, 2025'. The Election Commission of India, under Article 324, is mandated to conduct the election to the office of the Vice President of India. The election to the office of the V-P is governed by The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952 and the rules made there under, namely 'The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974'. Under Section 3 of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952, the Election Commission, in consultation with the Central Government, appoints a Returning Officer, who shall have his office in New Delhi, and may also appoint one or more Assistant Returning Officers. 'As per convention, either Secretary General, Lok Sabha or Secretary General, Rajya Sabha is appointed as the Returning Officer by rotation. During the last Vice-Presidential election, the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha was appointed as the Returning Officer,' the poll panel said.
Medscape
10-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
50 Years of Vaccines: How EPI Saved 154M Lives Globally
In 1974, at the request of member states, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) to make life-saving vaccines universally accessible. Marking 50 years of the EPI, an analysis using advanced modeling — published in The Lancet — estimated that the program has prevented 154 million deaths since 1974, including 146 million in children under 5 years of age and 101 million in their first year of life. According to the authors, every region of the world has seen substantial improvements in child survival, with EPI making the largest contribution to these improvements over the past 50 years. Disease Impact Using mathematical and statistical models, researchers evaluated the global and regional impact of vaccination against diphtheria, Hemophilus influenzae type B, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, measles, meningococcal A, pertussis, pneumococcal disease, polio, rotavirus, rubella, tetanus, tuberculosis, and yellow fever across 194 countries from 1974 to 2024. This study compared real-world immunization coverage with the results of a hypothetical scenario without vaccines by integrating cohort models, literature reviews, and estimates of the Global Burden of Disease. This approach evaluated both the direct effectiveness on vaccinated subjects and the indirect benefits to the community and the impact on different demographic groups. Measles vaccines alone have saved 94 million lives, accounting for over 60% of the total. Tetanus and pertussis vaccines have prevented an estimated 28 million and 13 million deaths, respectively. On average, each life saved added 66 years of healthy living. Vaccination drove 40% of the global decline in childhood mortality and up to 52% in Africa. In 2024, a child under 10 years of age has a 40% greater chance of surviving until their next birthday than in a world without historic immunization. An increased probability of survival was also observed in the older age groups. Program Evolution After eradicating smallpox in 1980, the WHO launched a global initiative in 1990 with the initial goal of vaccinating all children against tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, and measles. The EPI has expanded to include more diseases, adapt to country-specific needs, and cover all age groups. The global coverage of the third diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis dose, a key performance indicator, rose from less than 5% in 1974 to 86% in 2019 (pre-pandemic), and is currently at 84%. EpiCentro reported that by 24 months of age, vaccine coverage in Italy reached 94.76% for polio, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis; 95.1% for H influenzae type B; 94.64% for measles and rubella; 94.61% for mumps; and 93.76% for varicella. Physicians' Role Physicians are key to promoting vaccination, countering vaccine hesitancy, and ensuring timely booster doses. Adequate coverage provides strong individual protection and herd immunity, helping to reduce or stop the spread of pathogens. Many vaccines offer lasting protection, leading to lower rates of severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths, while easing the burden on health systems. 'In the context of strengthening primary health care, our results show that equitable universal access to immunization remains crucial to sustain health gains and continue to save future lives from preventable infectious mortality,' the authors concluded.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
NGT seeks Ahmedabad district collector's response on vanished lakes
1 2 3 Ahmedabad: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought responses from the pollution control boards and the Ahmedabad district collector regarding 37 lakes that were among the 172 waterbodies in the city and have now vanished. NGT's principal bench took suo motu cognizance of a news report based on a finding by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), which concluded that the waterbodies disappeared primarily because they were not recognised in the statutory development plan, allowing for their encroachment and conversion. NGT also noted the high-level committee's observation that the total area of water bodies around four major lakes — Vastrapur, Memnagar, Thaltej, and Sola — decreased by nearly 46%. This significant shrinkage is attributed to unchecked urban expansion and the inadequate integration of natural water systems into city planning. A comparison of aerial imagery taken between 2000 and 2022 revealed a significant loss of blue cover in Ahmedabad city. AMC's report reflected that a lake in the Thaltej area was overtaken not only by a residential society but also by a water distribution centre operated by the civic body itself. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brain tumor has left my son feeling miserable; please help! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad After recording these details, NGT stated, "The matter above seems to attract the provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974…The news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance with environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactment." The tribunal issued notice to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), and the district collector, asking them to file their response by way of affidavit before the Western Zonal Bench of the tribunal at Pune. The replies were sought a week before the next hearing, which is scheduled for Aug 28. Meanwhile, the Gujarat high court has ordered the state authorities to map all the waterbodies across the state – before and after the monsoon.
Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
NGT takes suo motu cognisance of Indian Express report on Ahmedabad's disappearing lakes, issues notices to Central, state pollution bodies
Taking cognisance of an Indian Express report regarding the disappearance of lakes in Ahmedabad city, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and the District Magistrate of Ahmedabad in the matter. On July 4, the principal bench coram of Chairman Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert Member Justice A Senthil Vel registered the suo motu on the basis of The Indian Express report '37 of 172 water bodies in Ahmedabad have vanished: Civic Body report', published on June 9. The Original Application (OA) stated, 'The news item relates to a report by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), revealing that 37 out of 172 water bodies in the city have disappeared. According to the report, these water bodies vanished primarily because they were not recognised in the statutory development plan, which allowed for their encroachment and conversion.' According to the NGT, 'The article further cites the High Level Committee (HLC), which addresses a range of urban development challenges across Gujarat, noting that the total area of water bodies around four major lakes — Vastrapur, Memnagar, Thaltej, and Sola have decreased by nearly 46%. This significant shrinkage is attributed to unchecked urban expansion and the inadequate integration of natural water systems into city planning.' Further quoting The Indian Express report, the OA, number 317/2025, stated, 'The article further highlights the importance and challenges of managing urban water systems, as the report includes a case study of Vastrapur Lake and smaller surrounding lakes. A comparative analysis of aerial imagery from 2000 and 2020 shows a sharp decline in blue cover, indicating the rapid loss of water bodies due to unregulated urban development. The HLC report also emphasises that the mapping of streams should be 'integral to plan-making'.' The OA pointed out that as per the article in the AMC's internal report, 'an unnamed lake in Thaltej has been overtaken not only by a residential society but also by a water distribution centre operated by the civic body itself.' The Principal Bench of NGT found that the matter 'seems to attract the provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.' It further said that the news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance of the environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactment. After impleading CPCB, GPCB and the DM (Collector) in the case, the OA was transferred to the Western Zonal Bench in Pune and the matter was listed for hearing on August 28. The NGT asked all respondents to file affidavits in reply to the notices a week before the hearing.
Washington Post
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Embeth Davidtz drew on her childhood in Africa to adapt Alexandra Fuller's memoir
In 1974, when it seemed as though everyone was leaving South Africa, Embeth Davidtz's family was going back. Davidtz, a familiar presence in films and television for over 30 years with memorable roles in everything from 'Schindler's List' to 'Matilda,' was born in the United States to white, South African parents. When she was 8, they decided to return during a time of upheaval.
