China’s plan to raise retirement age triggers public resentment
Beijing, July 26: The ruling Chinese Communist Party’s plan to raise the retirement age of the working population to cope with the rapidly ageing population has created ripples of resentment among the public.
According to the present structure, the retirement age for male workers in urban areas is 60 years while that for female workers is 50 or 55 depending on their occupation.
The recently concluded third plenum of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has unveiled comprehensive reforms to advance the modernisation of the economy — plagued by a deepening demographic crisis, sluggish growth and mounting local government debt.
The powerful body also discussed plans to raise the country’s retirement age in a “voluntary and flexible” manner.
The World Population Prospects 2024 report released on July 11 said that China’s population, currently 1.41 billion in 2024, will fall to 1.21 billion in 2054 and further decline to 633 million by 2100.
“It is anticipated that China, the country currently with the world’s second-largest population, will likely experience the largest absolute population loss between 2024 and 2054 (204 million),” the report said, adding, “Longer-range population projections are more uncertain for China.” The population and its composition by the end of year 2023, according to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, states that the population aged 60 and above was 21.1 per cent (296.97 million) of the total and of which, aged 65 and above was 15.4 per cent (216.76 million). The population in the working age bracket, i.e. between 16 and up to 60 years is 61.3 per cent. (PTI)
Philippines denies entry to 69 sex offenders
Manila, July 26: The Philippines has prevented entry of 69 registered sex offenders, mainly Americans, into the country from January to June this year, the Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration said on Friday.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that 58 of the excluded passengers are registered sex offenders or persons convicted for sex crimes in their countries, Xinhua news agency reported.
The remaining 11 are facing pending complaints or are under investigation or prosecution for various sex offences, he added. Tansingco said 48 Americans account for the bulk of the excluded sex offenders, followed by four Britons and two Australians. In 2023, the bureau said it barred the entry of 171 registered sex offenders, including 129 Americans, into the Southeast Asian country. (IANS)
Mongolia reintroduces marmots to preserve ecological balance
Ulan Bator, July 25: Twenty-five marmots have been recently reintroduced in the northern Mongolian province of Darkhan-Uul, the provincial Department of Environment and Tourism said Thursday.
The move is part of the country’s efforts to preserve ecological balance and protect natural resources, reported Xinhua news.
Prior to the work, volunteers of Khongor soum (an administrative subdivision) in the province have reintroduced a total of 35 individuals of Siberian or Mongolian marmot during the last two years having brought them from Khustai Nuruu National Park. (IANS)
Indian-origin man charged with stealing lottery ticket
New York, July 26: An Indian-origin man has been charged with stealing a $1 million-winning lottery ticket from the buyer at the petrol bunk he was working in, according to local officials.
Meer Patel, 23, was arrested and charged with the theft on Monday and the buyer of the ticket was notified of his winning, Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office said. The alleged theft had taken place in the petrol bunk in Murfreesboro in Tennesee state where Patel was employed.
When the man who bought the ticket asked him to check if the ticket had won anything by scanning it, he allegedly said it had won a lower amount, which he paid the customer and threw in the trash, according to Detective Steve Craig quoted by Cheatham County Exchange newspaper. After the man left the store, Patel picked it out of the trash, scratched the hidden part to find the winning amount on the ticket, and took it to the lottery office, where the staff became suspicious, the publication said quoting officials.
Investigators from the state lottery seized the videos in the petrol bunk’s cameras which showed him picking the ticket out of the trash and “celebrating in the store after scratching off the front of the ticket and learning it was a $1 million winner,” Investigator Vic Donoho, told the publication. (IANS)
Fiji plans to introduce drug testing kits in schools
Suva, July 26: Fiji’s Education Ministry is working with other ministries and departments to introduce drug testing kits in schools.
Education Minister Aseri Radrodro said this will help mitigate drug issues in schools, where drugs have been a big topic, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation reported on Friday.
Over 3,000 drug-related cases involving students were recorded in Fiji in the past 12 months, according to the minister, Xinhua news agency reported. (IANS)