Latest news with #WorldPopulationDay2025
Business Recorder
12-07-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
"Made it possible by family planning": Building Momentum based on Experiences of Women and Men.
By: Lashari Pakistan is one of the largest five countries in the world with its 241 million population. These high population numbers are growing at an alarming rate of 2.55% per anum. Besides other reasons, this high rate of population growth is one of the factors in increasing poverty which stands at 25.3% (2024) and is 7 percentage points higher than 2023. The population of Sindh - a second largest province - is also increasing at the same level currently having 55.69 million fast growing population is more of a challenge than opportunity. One of the major and cost effective ways to address this challenge is voluntary and right based family planning. The FP2030 Secretariat - a leader in spearheading the global commitments on family planning - has launched a campaign in 2024 during United Nations General Assembly under the title "Made it Possible by Family Planning". This campaign simply means that accounting for stories and experiences of those individual women, men and girls who used family planning and subsequently were able to become high achievers in their lives in terms of education, employment, economic empowerment, health etc. The campaign very well coincides with the theme of the World Population Day 2025 calling for "empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world". The "Made it Possible" campaign aims to advocate that family planning generates economic empowerment for women and girls; and is key to sustainable development. It also ensures maternal and health outcomes. The FP2030 Asia and Pacific regional hub intends to launch this campaign from Pakistan which is a great opportunity for the country to advocate for political and general public support; raising financing for family planning; and engaging main stream media and social media platforms. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hans India
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
'India's population at crossroads, not a crisis'
New Delhi: An NGO, Population Foundation of India, has urged a shift away from fear-driven debates on overpopulation or fertility decline, calling instead for policies that centre on dignity, rights, and opportunities, particularly for women, youth, and the elderly. The NGO, in a statement on World Population Day 2025 on Friday, asserted that India's population challenges are not about numbers but about justice, equity, and investment in human potential. "India's population story is not a crisis, it's a crossroads," Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India, said during a function marking the occasion. The first is realising the gender dividend; family planning must move beyond female sterilisation to a range of contraceptives, with both men and women sharing responsibility. The second is harnessing the demographic dividend, with over 250 million young people. India has a unique opportunity to drive inclusive growth by investing in education, skill development, reproductive health, and mental well-being, especially for adolescent girls. The third is to prepare for the silver dividend, noting that by 2050, nearly one in five Indians will be over 60, the foundation called for immediate investments in elder care, pensions, healthcare, and age-friendly infrastructure and see older adults as vital contributors and not as dependents.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Top news of the day: July 11, 2025
India hit nine terrorist bases of Pakistan in Operation Sindoor: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval The National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, on Friday (July 11, 2025), said in Chennai that India hit nine terrorist targets criss-crossing Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. 'We missed none,' he said at the 62nd convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology — Madras. 'We hit nowhere else except that. It was precise to the point where we knew who was where. The entire operation started at five minutes past one and it was over at 28 minutes past one — 23 minutes,' he elaborated, amid loud applause from the audience. Thereafter, the foreign press had carried several reports saying Pakistan did this or that. 'You show me any photograph, any imagery – you know, these days these imageries are from satellites all over the world – which show any Indian damage being done, even a glass pane having been broken,' he remarked. Structural failure caused Vadodara bridge collapse, says Gujarat Minister A preliminary investigation into the collapse of the Mujpur-Gambhira bridge in Padra taluka of Gujarat's Vadodara district has identified structural failure — specifically the crushing of pedestals and articulation joints — as the primary cause, Gujarat Health Minister and government spokesperson Rushikesh Patel said on Friday (July 11, 2025). During his visit to the accident site, Mr. Patel said that the high-level probe was ordered by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and is being conducted by the Roads and Buildings Department. 'As per the committee's initial findings, the collapse occurred due to pedestal and articulation crushing,' he said. The Minister further informed that the committee will submit a comprehensive report within 30 days, covering both technical and administrative aspects of the tragedy. 'The report will be handed over to the Chief Minister, based on which further decisions will be taken,' Mr. Patel said. Gurugram tennis player murder: Court sends accused father Deepak to police custody for a day A court in Gurugram on Friday (July 11, 2025) sent Deepak Yadav, arrested for killing his daughter and tennis player Radhika Yadav, to police custody for a day. 'We have to recover the ammunition of his licensed revolver (used in the crime). We have to verify how much ammunition he had procured,' he said. Asked from where the recovery has to be made, the official said, 'The accused owns land in Kasam village near Rewari. We have to get the ammunition from there. India's population at crossroads, not a crisis: Population Foundation of India An NGO, Population Foundation of India, has urged a shift away from fear-driven debates on overpopulation or fertility decline, calling instead for policies that centre on dignity, rights, and opportunities, particularly for women, youth, and the elderly. The NGO, in a statement on World Population Day 2025 on Friday (July 11, 2025), asserted that India's population challenges are not about numbers but about justice, equity, and investment in human potential. 'India's population story is not a crisis; it's a crossroads,' Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India, said during a function marking the occasion. Non-cognisable case being filed against Shiv Sena MLA in canteen worker assault incident: Police A non-cognisable offence is being filed against Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad in the MLA hostel canteen worker assault case, Mumbai Police said on Friday (July 11, 2025). "The process to file the offence is underway at the Marine Drive police station," a police official told PTI. After the incident, which happened on Tuesday (July 8, 2025) night, sparked a furore, the two-time Buldhana MLA refused to express regret and said he would repeat his actions if needed. In a viral video of the assault, Mr. Gaikwad was seen punching and slapping the canteen worker, claiming that he was served stale food. RSS chief's remarks on stepping aside at 75 stir political row Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's recent remarks suggesting that leaders should step aside at the age of 75 has sparked a political controversy, with Congress and other Opposition leaders interpreting it as a veiled message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who turns 75 in September this year. Speaking at the launch of a book on senior RSS leader Moropant Pingle in Nagpur on July 9, Mr. Bhagwat recalled an instance from RSS meeting held in Vrindavan, where Mr. Pingle was felicitated on attaining the age of 75. Quoting Mr. Pingle from the event, Mr. Bhagwat said, 'People started laughing at me when I stand... Because I feel that people are not taking me seriously... you gave this shawl to me at the age of 75, but I know its meaning. When a shawl is draped at the age of 75, it means that you have grown old; just move aside and let us do it.' Elon Musk's Tesla to open first India store in Mumbai on July 15 Tesla will open its first India showroom in Mumbai next week, having imported $1 million worth of cars and merchandise, marking its entry into the world's third-largest car market despite CEO Elon Musk's complaints about high import tariffs. In an invitation to media, the carmaker said the July 15 event was the 'launch of Tesla in India through the opening of the Tesla experience centre at Bandra Kurla Complex', located in the city's leading commercial business district. Grappling with excess manufacturing capacity at its other factories and falling sales, Tesla has pivoted to selling imported cars in India on which it will need to pay about 70% import duty and other levies. Ironical that an atheist nation like China wants to interfere in Dalai Lama succession: BJP MP Parliamentarians across party lines are petitioning the Union government to accord the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, to the Dalai Lama, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday. BJP MP in the Rajya Sabha, Sujeet Kumar had harsh words for the Chinese government's statement that it was in that government's remit to regulate the choice of successor by the Dalai Lama. 'It is highly ironical that an atheist nation would express such strong opinions on what is purely a religious issue,' he said. He added that the procedure for the recognition of the successor to the Dalai Lama was 'many centuries old' and the Indian government's stance on not running interference was a correct one and not different from Mr. Rijiju's statement. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has 'positive' meeting with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday (July 11, 2025) he had a 'positive' meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of ASEAN talks in Malaysia, where Washington's tariffs are in sharp focus. Mr. Rubio and Mr. Wang's first face-to-face meeting since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office came as Washington and Beijing are locked in disputes ranging from trade to Taiwan — and both powers vie for greater influence in the region. 'I thought it was a very constructive and positive meeting,' Mr. Rubio told reporters after the hour-long talks but stressed, 'it was not a negotiation'. South Korea, Japan, U.S. hold aerial drill in demonstration of strength against North Korea Top South Korean, U.S. and Japanese military officers urged North Korea to cease all unlawful activities that threaten regional security, as the three nations flew advanced warplanes for a joint exercise in a show of force against North Korea. The development came on Friday (July 11, 2025) as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was to travel to North Korea amid booming military and other cooperation between the two countries that have raised concerns among their neighbours. 'They urged the DPRK to immediately cease all unlawful activities to destabilise the Korean Peninsula, the Indo-Pacific and beyond, and pledged to continue working together to respond to the DPRK's threats,' the three top military officers said in a joint statement. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's formal name. Trump puts 35% tariff on Canada from August 1, eyes 15%-20% tariffs for others U.S. President Donald Trump said in a letter that he will raise taxes on many imported goods from Canada to 35%, deepening a rift between two North American countries that have suffered a debilitating blow to their decades-old alliance. The letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is an aggressive increase to the top 25% tariff rates that Mr. Trump first imposed in March after months of threats. Mr. Trump's tariffs were allegedly in an effort to get Canada to crack down on fentanyl smuggling despite the relatively modest trafficking in the drug from that country. Mr. Trump has also expressed frustration with a trade deficit with Canada that largely reflects oil purchases by America. EU says it will 'assess' France-U.K. migrant deal The European Commission said Friday (July 11, 2025) it would examine a deal between Paris and London on returning migrants arriving in the U.K., as other EU countries fret over the impact. Commission spokesman Markus Lammert said the rising number of migrants smuggled across the English Channel was 'alarming' and a 'robust response' was required to deter the dangerous journeys. 'On the specific envisaged cooperation between France and the United Kingdom, the commission will assess the concrete modalities of this cooperation,' Mr. Lammert told reporters in Brussels.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
India's population at crossroads, not a crisis: Population Foundation of India
An NGO, Population Foundation of India, has urged a shift away from fear-driven debates on overpopulation or fertility decline, calling instead for policies that centre on dignity, rights, and opportunities, particularly for women, youth, and the elderly. The NGO, in a statement on World Population Day 2025 on Friday (July 11, 2025), asserted that India's population challenges are not about numbers but about justice, equity, and investment in human potential. "India's population story is not a crisis, it's a crossroads," Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India, said during a function marking the occasion. World Population Day is being observed under the global theme: 'empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world'. Human potential The NGO asserted that India's population challenges are not about numbers but about justice, equity, and investment in human potential. "We must stop oscillating between fears of 'overpopulation' and 'population collapse,' and instead focus on what really matters, gender equality, reproductive autonomy, and inclusive public investment," she added. The foundation's statement focused on three key areas for policymakers. The first is realising the gender dividend; family planning must move beyond female sterilisation to a range of contraceptives, with both men and women sharing responsibility. "We need men to be part of the solution as active participants, not merely as supporters. It's men's onus to ensure women's safety at home as well as at the workplace," Muttreja said. "Family planning has long been seen as a woman's responsibility, but reproductive health is a shared responsibility," she added. The second is harnessing the demographic dividend, with over 250 million young people. India has a unique opportunity to drive inclusive growth by investing in education, skill development, reproductive health, and mental well-being, especially for adolescent girls. The third is to prepare for the silver dividend, noting that by 2050, nearly one in five Indians will be over 60, the foundation called for immediate investments in elder care, pensions, healthcare, and age-friendly infrastructure and see older adults as vital contributors and not as dependents. Fertility rate India, now the world's most populous country, reflects the full range of demographic experiences, from high fertility and unmet reproductive needs in States like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to ageing populations and below-replacement fertility in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the statement added. While India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) stands at 2.0, more than 24 million married women still lack access to contraceptives and early marriages and unsafe abortions further restrict reproductive choices. The foundation urged policymakers to abandon fear-based narratives and called for strengthened care systems and a rights-based approach to the population. "If we centre people, especially women, youngsters, and the elderly in our policies, population trends will not be a crisis, but a path to a more just and resilient future," the statement concluded.
Borneo Post
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Minister Nancy calls for supportive ecosystem to help youth start families
Nancy says it is crucial to give due consideration to the voices of youth, as many of them wish to marry and have families, but are hindered by factors such as the cost of living, unstable employment, limited access to childcare and concerns about the future. – Bernama photo KUALA LUMPUR (July 11): Family-related policies must be anchored in an ecosystem that supports the needs of the younger generation, rather than merely urging them to marry and start families, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri. She said it is crucial to give due consideration to the voices of youth, as many of them wish to marry and have families, but are hindered by factors such as the cost of living, unstable employment, limited access to childcare and concerns about the future. 'The solution lies in creating a supportive ecosystem – not in simply encouraging them to start families immediately,' she said in a statement in conjunction with World Population Day 2025 today. Nancy said population issues must be viewed as a present-day crisis that requires inclusive and progressive policy action, in line with demographic shifts and the expectations of the younger generation. Malaysia's current total fertility rate stands at 1.7 children – well below the replacement level of 2.1 – while birth rates dropped by more than 11 per cent in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. This year's World Population Day, themed 'Empowering Young People to Create the Families They Want in a Fair and Hopeful World', underscores the importance of listening to and addressing the needs of the younger generation. The ministry, through the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN), remains committed to raising public awareness on population-related issues, including reproductive health rights, demographic shifts, family wellbeing and sustainable development. To this end, the ministry is focusing on implementing comprehensive strategies to support family planning among youth, including subsidies under the Infertility Treatment Assistance and Advocacy (BuAI) programme for 1,300 eligible couples, improved childcare facilities and more flexible parental leave. The highlight of the national-level celebration for World Population Day 2025 will take place on July 21 at Lanai Kijang, Bank Negara Malaysia, in collaboration with the Department of Statistics Malaysia, Universiti Malaya and the United Nations Population Fund. In addition, state-level celebrations will be held throughout July and August via seminars on population and family-related topics, organised by LPPKN state offices in collaboration with strategic partners nationwide. Further information on World Population Day 2025 is available at LPPKN's official website, and the Population and Family Research Hub at – Bernama
