Once the world’s most populous nation, China now grapples with a shrinking future. Alarmed by a birth rate collapse, authorities are launching campaigns to convince women to have larger families – a far cry from the coercive one-child era that defined the late 20th century. January statistics reveal the scale of the problem: 2025 saw 7.92 million births, a sharp 1.62 million drop from 2024’s 9.54 million. The fertility rate sank to 5.63 per 1,000, the lowest in over 75 years. This follows policy U-turns – from one-child in 1979, to two in 2016, and three by 2021 – none…
Author: News Analysis India
In a crushing pre-tournament development, Australia has lost Josh Hazlewood to injury for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The event begins this weekend across Sri Lanka and India, but the star fast bowler won’t feature after failing to shake off fitness niggles. The injury timeline traces back to a hamstring tear in Sheffield Shield action pre-Ashes, forcing him out of the England Tests. An Achilles issue emerged during recovery, derailing his World Cup preparations. Matchless since mid-November, Hazlewood was a squad wildcard who trained separately in Sydney upon team arrival in Sri Lanka. Selectors pulled the plug five days…
Meghalaya’s High Court unleashed a strong crackdown on rogue coal operators, ordering their instant arrests after a catastrophic mine explosion killed 18 workers in East Jaintia Hills. The Thangskhu blast exposes deep-rooted issues in the state’s battle against banned mining practices. A division bench of Justices H.S. Thangkhul and W. Diengdoh flagged alarming media coverage of the January 14 precursor incident, slamming ongoing violations of court orders and national mining bans. ‘How can this continue?’ the court questioned, demanding accountability. Directives flew thick and fast: East Jaintia Hills DC and SP to pinpoint culprits—owners, operators, laborers—and haul them in. Raids…
Cricket fever grips the subcontinent as the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 begins February 7 across India and Sri Lanka. In a major announcement, ICC has revealed its elite commentary lineup, featuring over 30 global icons to cover 55 thrilling encounters. Ravi Shastri headlines alongside Nasser Hussain, Ian Smith, Ian Bishop, and a host of T20 specialists like Aaron Finch, Dinesh Karthik, and Kumar Sangakkara. Expect sharp analysis from Samuel Badree, Robin Uthappa, Carlos Brathwaite, Eoin Morgan, and Wasim Akram. Active players like Temba Bavuma and veterans such as Sunil Gavaskar, Matthew Hayden, and Dale Steyn add depth. Defending…
Security forces achieved a decisive victory in Gadchiroli’s Abujhmad jungles, eliminating three hardcore Maoists in a prolonged gunbattle that raged across the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh frontier. Friday’s discoveries of two more bodies—one male, one female—elevated the toll, following an initial casualty. From the encounter site, forces seized a sophisticated AK-47 and an SLR rifle, crippling the insurgents’ firepower. The three Maoists’ identities are yet to be established amid the operation’s fluid dynamics in thick foliage. The price of victory was steep: 38-year-old C-60 jawan Deepak Chinna Madavi from Aheri lost his life to severe wounds after airlift to Bhameragad hospital. Fellow commando…
The world mourned the loss of Lata Mangeshkar on February 6, 2022, but her voice endures as Hindi cinema’s greatest gift. Spanning over seven decades, her career featured songs in over 38 languages, amassing awards that spotlighted her from India to abroad. The 1950s through 1980s marked her peak, with chart-topping tracks in Bollywood and beyond. Her record-breaking feat came in 1974 when Guinness World Records listed her for the highest number of recorded songs, a testament to her tireless artistry. International recognition poured in. The US granted her honorary citizenship in 1987 for her extraordinary vocal prowess. In 1980,…
Debunking persistent myths, a large-scale Swedish investigation has confirmed that COVID-19 vaccines do not impair women’s fertility or increase miscarriage risks. The study, tracking 60,000 women, offers solid evidence against social media scares. Fertility fears exploded during the pandemic, fueled by anecdotal claims and a noticeable drop in births in vaccinated nations. Was the vaccine to blame? Linköping University’s Professor Thomas Tempka led the charge to find out. Published in the prestigious Communications Medicine journal, the analysis compared vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. Key metrics – live births, pregnancies, and miscarriages – showed zero disparities. “We found no difference in birth…
Manoj Bajpayee’s ‘Ghuskhor Pandit’ is caught in a storm of backlash, forcing Netflix to yank all marketing content following a Delhi High Court mandate. The ruling stems from a public interest litigation by lawyer Vineet Jindal, accusing the title of maligning the Brahmin community’s honor by linking ‘Pandit’ with bribery. Since the teaser’s debut, Brahmin organizations have mobilized, urging a nationwide halt to the film’s rollout. Protests in multiple states amplified calls for accountability, claiming the name was crafted to provoke and demean. Director Neeraj Pandey, known for hits like ‘A Wednesday,’ defended his project online. In a candid Instagram…
Political voices in Jammu and Kashmir are buzzing over the latest budget, dissecting its promises for employment, agriculture, and regional growth. Leaders from across the spectrum shared candid views, highlighting both anticipation and concerns. Waheed-ur-Rehman Para of PDP painted an hopeful picture, expecting the budget to soothe longstanding grievances. He spotlighted youth employment opportunities and the resolution of stalled unemployment benefits and farmers’ wage issues, pending for a year. Para’s faith hinges on these deliverables materializing swiftly. In contrast, BJP’s Vikram Randhawa adopted a pragmatic stance. With public hopes running high for over a year and a half without full…
The postpartum window is a make-or-break period for new moms and their babies, yet it’s often sidelined amid the excitement of a newborn. Health professionals warn that neglecting maternal recovery jeopardizes not just the mother but the infant’s future health too. Understanding and acting on these care essentials can prevent complications down the line. Childbirth exhausts the body, stripping away strength, iron levels, and essential vitamins. Mothers need uninterrupted rest, a calm atmosphere, and active family involvement to rebound effectively. Pushing through chores, skipping sleep, or facing stress stalls progress and disrupts breastfeeding hormones, as noted in ancient Ayurvedic practices.…