Early warning rise of civilization

The number of new coronavirus cases rose in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe last week, while the number of deaths globally dropped by 16%, according to the World Health Organization's latest weekly pandemic report issued on Wednesday. The WHO said there were 3.3 million new COVID-19 infections last week, marking a 4% decrease, with more than 7,500 deaths. But cases jumped by about 45% in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and by about 6% in Europe. Southeast Asia was the only region to report a slight 4% increase in deaths, while figures fell elsewhere. Globally, the number of new COVID-19 cases has ben falling after peaking in January. Salim Abdool Karim, an epidemiologist and vice-chancellor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, said the recent fall in COVID-19 numbers had reached “trough” levels and had not been seen much in the last two and a half years. He warned, however, that some countries, including Britain, were starting to see a slight … [Read more...] about COVID-19 cases rise in Southeast Asia, Middle East and Europe

The flood situation in Assam further deteriorated as over 22 districts have been affected, especially in the lower and middle regions of the state. In the newly-formed Bajali district of lower Assam, where the severity of flood has been intense, charging mobile handsets has been a major concern for the affected people. With no electric supply for last couple of days as flood water submerged electric poles and entered power stations, people stuck in villages are facing a harrowing using their mobile phones. A local youth in a remote marooned hamlet of Bajali has risen above the situation by helping villagers charge their mobile phones for Rs 20. Villagers are now thronging to this particular house to get their mobile handset charged. In a video that has gone viral, the youth has used a portable generator set to charge mobile handsets. The generator is to charge more than 50 mobiles phones plugged into extendable charge points at a given point of time. People are given a numbered … [Read more...] about Rs 20 for Charging Phone, Essentials in Plantain Raft: Assam Rises Above Adversity Amid Severe Floods

The number of new coronavirus cases rose in Southeast Asia , the Middle East and Europe last week, while the number of deaths globally dropped by 16%, according to the World Health Organization 's latest weekly pandemic report issued Wednesday. The WHO said there were 3.3 million new COVID-19 infections last week, marking a 4% decrease, with more than 7,500 deaths. But cases jumped by about 45% in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and by about 6% in Europe. Southeast Asia was the only region to report a slight 4% increase in deaths, while figures fell elsewhere. Globally, the number of new COVID-19 cases has ben falling after peaking in January. Salim Abdool Karim, an epidemiologist and vice-chancellor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, said the recent fall in COVID-19 numbers had reached “trough” levels and had not been seen much in the last two and a half years. He warned, however, that some countries, including Britain, were starting to see a … [Read more...] about COVID cases rise in Southeast Asia, Middle East and Europe

A top civil servant today told MPs there is nothing more the Home Office loves "than a good crisis", before apologising for using "overly flippant words". Matthew Rycroft was quizzed by the Commons Home Affairs Committee, and asked why there "always seems to be a crisis going on" in the department. He confidently told MPs: "You may recall when the Home Secretary and I set up a transformation programme for the Home Office, called One Home Office, one of the things that we were seeking to unlock was the sense in the department that we do go from crisis to crisis. “You know, there’s nothing that the Home Office loves better than a good crisis. And of course, responding well to crises is an important part of the functioning of a department of state. But there is a lot more to it than that. “And what I am seeking to do is to get us better at dealing with business as usual, and preventing things from becoming crises.” Home Secretary Priti Patel ( Image: PRU/AFP via Getty … [Read more...] about Top civil servant apologises for saying Home Office ‘loves a good crisis’

New tensions between Moscow and the West are rising after Lithuania decided to halt the transport of some goods through its territory to the Russian region of Kaliningrad as part of European Union sanctions on the Kremlin. The Kremlin warns it will retaliate against the sanctions, stemming from its invasion of Ukraine, in a way that will have a “significant negative impact” on the Lithuanian people, raising fears of a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO. A look at why tensions are rising over Kaliningrad, a part of Russia on the Baltic Sea that is separated from the rest of the country: RUSSIA’S WESTERNMOST TERRITORY The Kaliningrad region once was part of the German province of East Prussia, which was taken over by the Soviet Union after World War II in line with the 1945 Potsdam agreement among the Allied powers. East Prussia’s capital of Konigsberg was renamed Kaliningrad, for Mikhail Kalinin, a Bolshevik leader. An estimated 2 million of Germans fled the … [Read more...] about NEWS18 EXPLAINS: Why Russia-Lithuania Tensions Are Rising

A steep rise in the number of cases of a deadly strain of meningitis in the U.K. has prompted health officials to encourage school leavers to ensure they are vaccinated. In 2009 there were just 22 cases of meningitis W (or "Men W") but last year the figure had risen to 209, officials said. Figures from Public Health England (PHE) also showed that between 2009 and 2012, Men W caused around four deaths each year, but provisional figures for 2014/15 show 22 deaths linked to Men W . What are the dangers of Men W? Cases of meningitis and septicaemia due to Men W have been increasing in England, from 22 cases in 2009 to 117 in 2014. The increase seems to have sped up in 2015, caused by an aggressive strain of the bug. With early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment, most people with meningococcal disease make a full recovery. But it is fatal in about 1 in 10 cases and can lead to long-term health problems, such as amputation, deafness, epilepsy and learning difficulties. Men … [Read more...] about A deadly strain of meningitis W is on the rise—but what is it?

Downing Street today warned an across-the-board real pay rise for Brits would be “reckless” as Boris Johnson dug in his heels despite facing a “summer of discontent”. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman hit back as he indicated 5.5million public sector workers will see their pay rise by less than inflation. Inflation hit 9.1% this morning in a new 40-year high - meaning nurses, teachers and other workers would need a 9.1% hike just to stand still. But Boris Johnson’s spokesman said that would “chase inflation with wages”, push inflation up further, and therefore make the hike “worthless”. The NEU teachers’ union today wrote to the government threatening strikes from October if they do not get an “inflation-plus” rise. Rail staff have already walked out, and Royal Mail workers and criminal barristers are among other groups threatening to strike this summer. But the PM’s spokesman said: “We will keep explaining to the public why we think this is the right approach. … [Read more...] about No10 brands a real pay rise for 5million Brits ‘reckless’ as Summer of Discontent looms

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 15 GAYAN, Afghanistan (AP) — Tents, food and medical supplies rolled into the mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan where thousands were left homeless or injured by this week’s powerful earthquake, which state media said killed 1,150 people. A new aftershock Friday took five more lives and deepened the misery. Among the dead from Wednesday’s magnitude 6 quake are 121 children, but that figure is expected to climb, said Mohamed Ayoya, UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan. He said close to 70 children were injured. Overstretched aid agencies said the disaster underscored the need for the international community to rethink its financial cut-off of Afghanistan since Taliban insurgents seized the country 10 months ago. That policy, halting billions in development aid and freezing vital reserves, has helped push … [Read more...] about Aftershock in Afghanistan as quake toll rises to 1,150 dead

Rising cost of insulin has been resulting in non-compliance in patients with diabetes mellitus, finds an Indian study published in the journal Science Direct. While rising cost of insulin poses a challenge in controlling the disease, the study said the introduction of biosimilar insulin has enabled wider access of insulin with a reduced price of about 20%-40%. According to the study published in the peer-reviewed science journal, the rapid increase in burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) poses a huge medico-economic challenge, especially when the cost of care is funded by out-of-pocket expenses. The issue is of great concern as India is referred to as the ‘Diabetes Capital of the World’ and it accounts for 17% of the total number of diabetes patients in the world. There are around 80 million people with diabetes in India and the number is expected to increase to 135 million by 2045. “The aim of this review is to highlight various issues associated with rising cost of … [Read more...] about Rising Insulin Cost Leading to Non-Compliance in Diabetics, Cheaper Options May Improve Access: Study

ROME, June 22 (Xinhua) -- COVID-19 cases are again surging in Italy, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday, fueling fears of a fresh wave of the pandemic during the summer tourist season. The government reported on Wednesday nearly 54,000 new infections over the previous 24 hours. A day earlier, there were 62,704 new infections. Accordingly, the past two days produced the highest back-to-back figures in the country since late April. Italy's seven-day case count is set to increase for the third consecutive week after eight weeks of decline. The daily infection figures are still far below the peaks of more than 200,000 cases registered in January. The country recorded 50 new deaths from COVID-19 on Wednesday, down from 62 on Tuesday. Despite the recent increase in infections, health officials said they do not expect mortality or intensive-care patient rates to shoot higher given that Italy's vaccination campaign has been largely successful. As of Wednesday, 90.1 percent of … [Read more...] about Italy fears summer COVID-19 wave as cases rise