SHANGHAI: With the looming demographic crisis of stalling birth rates and a fast-ageing population, a city has taken a direct call to action aimed at young government officials to lead the way and have a second child. The government of Yichang city in central Hubei has issued an open letter calling for young cadres to have more children to stem a slide in birth rates in the city, which has begun to hit the economic growth. "Young cadres have to take the lead having a second child, while elder cadres should urge them on," the letter read, citing the need to boost the city's working population and raise the fertility rate. "If things continue as they are, it will bring huge risk and damage to our city's economic and social development, as well as the livelihood of our families," the letter read. .
Quit or risk being killed, brother warns Zuma
JOHANNESBURG: South President Jacob Zuma has received yet another call for resignation, this time, from his own brother. Zuma's younger brother Michael has urged him to quit or risk being killed. "My brother is having a very difficult time and I have never seen such difficulty, Michael said. The South African leader has faces several calls to quit amidst accusations of corruption. Even members of the African National Congress have asked for him to quit following heavy losses in the municipal elections in August. Presidential spokesman Bongani Ngqulunga said he could not comment on family matters, while state security minister David Mahlobo said he could not comment on Zuma's safety. "We never discuss any security details of the president," he said.
Afghan-born man charged for NY, NJ attacks
NEW YORK: The United States has charged an Afghan-born American restaurant worker with detonating and planting bombs in New York and New Jersey. Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, reportedly carried out twin bombings in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, and along the route of a US Marine Corps run in New Jersey. A 13 page indictment slapped the man with four charges, including use of weapons of mass destruction, bombing a place of public use, and destruction of property by means of fire or explosives. Rahami was captured with a handwritten journal hailing Osama bin Laden. Meanwhile, the Sikh-American who helped capture the man said he feared of being mistaken as the perpetrator because of the misconceptions regarding his faith. Harinder Singh Bains, 51, said he wouldn't want to be called a hero for identifying Rahami.
Warrants issued against Musharraf
ISLAMABAD: Permanent arrest warrants have been issued against former Pakistani president general Pervez Musharraf, by a sessions court in Islamabad, in connection with the murder of Lal Masjid deputy cleric Abdur Rashid Ghazi, who was killed in a military operation in July 2007. Additional District and Sessions Judge Pervaiz-ul-Qadir Memon has directed the Aabpara police to make all out efforts to arrest Musharraf, as per media reports. Also, Islamabad Senior Superintendent of Police, and the deputy commissioner has been given orders to seize all properties of Musharraf. The court has also confiscated surety bonds of Rs 2,00,000; submitted by the former leader's guarantors when he was granted bail by a sessions court in November 2013.
US honours Indian-origin physician
WASHINGTON: Physician and author of Indian-American origin, Abraham Varghese has received the National Humanities Medal, from US President Barack Obama, for his contribution in the field of medicine. Varghese received America's highest humanities award at the White House. The citation of the medal read, "The 2015 National Humanities Medal to Abraham Verghese for reminding us that the patient is the center of the medical enterprise." Currently a professor of medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine, Varghese has authored several acclaimed books including 'My Own Country', and 'Cutting for Stone'. "All of today's honorees work in an age where the stories we tell and the technologies that we use to tell them are more diverse than ever before, and as diverse as the country that we love," Obama said.
