United Nations International Organization for Migration as saying that over 200 people were killed and thousands of houses were destroyed or damaged in Baghlan.
The death toll in storms and flash floods in north Afghanistan’s Baghlan and Takhar provinces rose to 150, local officials said.
In Baghlan, the natural mishap hit Gozargah-e-Noor, Jelgah, Nahrin, Baghlan-e-Markazi and Barka districts, as well as the provincial capital of Pul-e-Khumri, Hedayatullah Hamdard, provincial director for the disaster management authority, said Friday, reports Xinhua news agency.
Meanwhile, foreign media quoted the United Nations International Organization for Migration as saying that over 200 people were killed and thousands of houses were destroyed or damaged in Baghlan.
Storms and floods also killed 20 people and injured 14 in Namak Ab, Ishkamish, Farkhar and Kafgan districts of Takhar province, Ahmad Sir Sajid, head of Takhar’s disaster management authority, said Saturday.
He added that 300 houses, along with electricity and communications facilities, were seriously damaged.
Afghanistan has been experiencing heavy rain and floods in the past month. Storms and floods also hit most parts of other northern provinces, including Badakhshan and Samangan, leading to casualties and property damage.
A man refreshes himself at a water fountain in Rome, Italy, July 22, 2022. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua/IANS)
Excess deaths associated with the heat in Europe exceeded 15,000 in total across Spain, Germany, the UK, France, and Portugal.
Temperatures in Europe have increased in the past few years – the highest of any continent in the world resulting in 15,700 deaths across Europe linked to heatwaves in 2022, according to the World Meteorological Organization report.
Record-breaking heat waves affected Europe during the summer. In some areas, extreme heat was coupled with exceptionally dry conditions. Excess deaths associated with the heat in Europe exceeded 15,000 in total across Spain, Germany, the UK, France, and Portugal. The global mean temperature in 2022 was 1.15 (1.02 to 1.28)°C above the 1850-1900 average. The years 2015 to 2022 were the eight warmest in the instrumental record back to 1850. 2022 was the 5th or 6th warmest year. This was despite three consecutive years of a cooling La Nina – such a “triple-dip” La Nina has happened only three times in the past 50 years, said the report.
WMO provides information on rising temperatures, land and marine heatwaves, extreme weather, changing precipitation patterns, and retreating ice and snow.
The State of the Global Climate 2022 shows the planetary scale changes on land, in the ocean and in the atmosphere caused by record levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. For global temperature, the years 2015-2022 were the eight warmest on record despite the cooling impact of a La Nina event for the past three years. Melting of glaciers and sea level rise – which again reached record levels in 2022 – will continue for up to thousands of years, added the WMO report.
Visitors tour the square in front of Louvre Musuem in Paris, France. (Xinhua/Gao Jing/IANS)
“While greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise and the climate continues to change, populations worldwide continue to be gravely impacted by extreme weather and climate events. For example, in 2022, continuous drought in East Africa, record-breaking rainfall in Pakistan and record-breaking heatwaves in China and Europe affected tens of millions, drove food insecurity, boosted mass migration, and cost billions of dollars in loss and damage,” said WMO Secretary-General Prof Petteri Taalas.
As the climate continues to change, European people’s health is expected to be impacted in many ways, including death and illness from increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
Increases in zoonoses, where diseases are transmitted to humans from animals, are also expected along with food, water and vector-borne diseases, and a rising incidence of mental health disorders.
The deadliest extreme climate events in Europe come in the form of heat waves, particularly in western and southern countries.
The combination of climate change, urbanization and population ageing in the region creates, and will further exacerbate, vulnerability to heat.
A man refreshes himself at a fountain in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua/IANS)
The WMO State of the Global Climate report was released ahead of Earth Day 2023. Its key findings echo the message of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for Earth Day.
“We have the tools, the knowledge, and the solutions. But we must pick up the pace. We need accelerated climate action with deeper, faster emissions cuts to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. We also need massively scaled-up investments in adaptation and resilience, particularly for the most vulnerable countries and communities who have done the least to cause the crisis,” said Guterres.
As the warming trend continues, exceptional heat, wildfires, floods and other climate change impacts will affect society, economies and ecosystems, according to a report released Wednesday by WMO.
Rainfall has been below average in five consecutive wet seasons, the longest such sequence in 40 years. As of January 2023, it was estimated that over 20 million people faced acute food insecurity across the region, under the effects of the drought and other shocks.
Record-breaking rain in July and August led to extensive flooding in Pakistan. There were over 1 700 deaths, and 33 million people were affected, while almost 8 million people were displaced. Total damage and economic losses were assessed at USD 30 billion, added the report.
As of 2021, 2.3 billion people faced food insecurity, of which 924 million people faced severe food insecurity. Projections estimated 767.9 million people facing undernourishment in 2021, 9.8 per cent of the global population. Half of these are in Asia and one-third are in Africa.
Climate change is also affecting recurring events in nature, such as when trees blossom, or birds migrate. Climate change has important consequences for ecosystems and the environment. For example, a recent assessment focusing on the unique high-elevation area around the Tibetan Plateau, the largest storehouse of snow and ice outside the Arctic and Antarctic, found that global warming is causing the temperate zone to expand. (ANI)
India’s overall tally of Covid-19 cases now stands at 2,67,52,447 with 27,20,716 active cases and 3,03,720 deaths so far, reports Asian Lite News
With 4,454 new deaths due to Covid-19, India on Monday crossed three-lakh mark of fatalities due to the coronavirus infections, thus becoming world’s third country after the US and Brazil to cross three-lakh deaths.
On Monday, with 2,22,315 fresh cases in 24 hours, India witnessed the lowest rise in infection since April 21, according to the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.
India’s overall tally of Covid-19 cases now stands at 2,67,52,447 with 27,20,716 active cases and 3,03,720 deaths so far.
In the last 12 days India has recorded over 50,000 deaths.
According to the Health Ministry, a total of 3,02,544 people have been discharged in the last 24 hours, with 2,37,28,011 being cured from Covid till date.
The Health Ministry said that a total of 19,60,51,962 people have been vaccinated so far in the country, including 9,42,722 who were administered vaccines in the last 24 hours.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 33,05,36,064 samples have been tested up to May 23 for Covid-19. Of these 19,28,127 samples were tested on Sunday.
Kerala
India registered record deaths due to Covid on Wednesday with 4,529 deaths — the highest number of fatalities from Covid infection in any country since the coronavirus outbreak was reported in China’s Wuhan in December 2019.
It surpassed 4,468 deaths in the US on January 12, and earlier 4,211 in Brazil on April 6. These three are the worst-hit by the pandemic. Now, India is behind US and Brazil with highest deaths due to Covid-19.
After battling a brutal second wave for weeks, fresh Covid cases came down below the three lakh-mark for the first time on May 17 after touching record high of 4,14,188 on May 7.
India to push for Covaxin recognition by WHO and EU
Faced with concerns that Indians receiving the Covaxin vaccine may face travel restrictions, the government has decided to help ensure that Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech receives clearances from both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and subsequently, the EU’s European Medicines Agency (EMA).
According to sources, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been tasked with studying the matter, given both the need for recognition for the Indian-made vaccine, as well as the desire to push for more export orders in the future, and a team led by Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla and officials from the Health Ministry are expected to meet with Bharat Biotech representatives on Monday.
A health worker looks at a vial of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine at a vaccination centre
“There is certainly an interest in getting Covaxin on WHO’s Emergency Use List (EUL),” said an official familiar with the matter, adding that the European regulatory procedures are likely to take longer but are also being pursued.
The decision comes as 27 EU member countries on Thursday approved a proposal to allow “fully vaccinated” tourists from countries outside Europe under certain criteria. While the Astra Zeneca vaccine Covishield would be included on the WHO and EU’s listings, if travel from India is accepted, those who have taken Covaxin would not.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi interacting with the doctors and officials of Varanasi through video conferencing, in New Delhi (PIB)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and members of the Cabinet are amongst those who have taken Covaxin doses. In addition, explained officials, getting Covaxin on the WHO’s EUL would be a big boost, and a first for an Indian-developed and produced vaccine.
Chief medical officers for England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales on Monday recommended Britain’s coronavirus alert level be downgraded from Four to Three as infections and deaths have fallen consistently, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
The three nations of UK – England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have reported zero daily COVID-19 deaths on Monday, the first time in a 24-hour period since July last year.
According to UK Health officials, 2,357 new cases and 4 deaths were reported on May 10 across the United Kingdom. But England, along with Scotland and Northern Ireland reported zero fatality. However, Wales reported four coronavirus-related deaths.
The numbers come as Chief medical officers for England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales on Monday recommended Britain’s coronavirus alert level be downgraded from Four to Three as infections and deaths have fallen consistently.
This means that the virus is not “rising exponentially but is instead in “general circulation.”
“Thanks to the efforts of the public and the vaccine programme, cases and deaths have fallen across the UK. The UK CMOs have recommended the COVID Alert Level move from 4 to 3. This steady progress relies on us remaining vigilant and careful as we unlock,” said Professor Chris Whitty, England’s Chief Medical Officer and the Department of Health and Social Care’s Chief Scientific Adviser.
A joint statement from the UK Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) said that thanks to the efforts of the UK public in social distancing and the impact they are starting to see from the vaccination programme, case numbers, deaths and COVID hospital pressures have fallen consistently.
“However COVID is still circulating with people catching and spreading the virus every day so we all need to continue to be vigilant. This remains a major pandemic globally,” the statement added.
“It is very important that we all continue to follow the guidance closely and everyone gets both doses of the vaccine when they are offered it,” they added.
During the peak of the pandemic in winter, Britain was put at the highest alert level of Five when there was a real risk of the NHS becoming overwhelmed.
By late February, as cases and hospitalisations started to fall, the alert was lowered to Four, which meant the epidemic “is in general circulation” and that “transmission is high or rising exponentially”.
UK
Level Three suggests the epidemic is “in general circulation”, but would mean a gradual reduction in social distancing measures and restrictions.
The COVID-19 alert level system is separate and independent from any government decisions on easing or tightening restrictions, according to the BBC.
According to the Johns Hopkins University dashboard, the UK has so far reported COVID-19 4,450,578 cases and 127,865 deaths.
Hugs with loved ones
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday said the people in England will be allowed to hug loved ones and enjoy indoor hospitality from next Monday, adding that people must “exercise caution and common sense”.
Speaking at a Downing Street news conference, the prime minister said this was the “single biggest step” to unlocking society but that people should remain vigilant, the BBC reported.
Indoor mixing and overnight stays in groups of up to six people or two households will also resume. Leisure venues such as cinemas, museums and children’s play areas will reopen.
Johnson said the further relaxation of England’s lockdown would go ahead on 17 May as the government had met its four tests for easing restrictions.
These tests relied on the success of the vaccine rollout, evidence that the jabs were reducing serious illness and death, infection rates remaining under control and the risks from new Covid variants not changing, it was reported.
The British government on Friday announced a “green list” of countries from which travellers are not required to quarantine upon return to England.
Portugal, Israel, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand are among 12 countries and regions on the “green list” of travel destinations from May 17 for people in England.
Experts have warned that despite progress in vaccine rollout, Britain is “still not out of the woods” amid concerns over new variants, particularly those first emerged in South Africa, Brazil and India, and the third wave of pandemic on the European continent. (with inputs from ANI)
