European centre for disease prevention and control

Flood-affected people stand on a road damaged by the flood waters after heavy rains in Nagaon district, Assam, on May 19, 2022. (Photo: Anuwar Hazarika/Reuters) Large swathes of Northeast India, especially Assam and Meghalaya, are experiencing extreme weather this year, as unusually heavy rain in May and June cause heavy flooding and deadly landslides, which experts say can be linked to some extent to climate change. In Assam, at least 108 people have died so far as flood waters triggered by torrential rain inundated towns, villages, paddy fields, forests and wildlife sanctuaries. Millions have been affected or marooned across the state. Meghalaya has fared no better, with landslides and flash floods caused by heavy rain blocking roads, washing away bridges and snapping power supply. Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Manipur have also reported landslides and floods. IMD data show Assam received 398.7 mm of rain from May 1-31, against a normal of 286.7 mm. (Photo: AFP) … [Read more...] about Climate change concerns rise as heavy rain batters Assam, Meghalaya

Representative image (Image: Shutterstock) Amid reduced flows of Russian gas supply, European nations are left scrambling for alternative choices buoyed by inflationary pressures and supply chain disturbances. Gas prices have hit record levels in Europe, adding to challenges for policymakers trying to haul Europe back from an economic slowdown. Also Read: What are Europe's options in case of Russian gas disruption? EU relied on Russia for 40 percent of its gas needs before war: The European Union (EU) relied on Russia for as much as 40 percent of its gas needs before the Russia-Ukraine war — rising to 55 percent for Germany, leaving a huge gap to fill in an already tight global gas market. According to experts, coal is the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel in terms of emissions, yet the most important target for replacement to alternative energy sources, reported Reuters. Close Coal as an alternative choice: The energy disruption has prompted some … [Read more...] about What is the EU gas crisis? Here’s all you need to know

Indian oncologists welcomed the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) proposal to limit nicotine levels in cigarettes in that country but said India’s battle against tobacco is far more complex and challenging. Ganesh Nagarajan, Director - HPB Surgery & Gastrointestinal Oncology, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mumbai, said capping the level of nicotine will directly reduce the incidence of cancer given that nicotine is a highly addictive substance and that reducing its levels could reduce dependence on the carcinogenic substance, but added that would be of limited use in India. “It’s a welcome step, a lot of cancer specialists have been lobbying a lot to reduce the accessibility of cigarettes, but in semi-urban and rural India, apart from bidis (tobacco wrapped in tendu leaves, which are much cheaper than cigarettes and more easily available in rural areas, chewable tobacco is the reasons behind oral and laryngeal cancer,” he said. Also read: CBI apprehends … [Read more...] about Oncologists welcome FDA’s proposal to limit nicotine in cigarettes, but say India has a long road ahead

Xi'an is the capital of Shaanxi province, famed for the Terracotta Warriors and other imperial relics. Representative Image: AP) Beijing on Saturday said it would allow primary and secondary schools to resume in-person classes and Shanghai’s top party boss declared victory over COVID-19 after the city reported zero new local cases for the first time in two months. The two major cities were among several places in China that implemented curbs to stop the spread of the Omicron wave during March to May, with Shanghai imposing a two month-long city-wide lockdown that lifted on June 1. The efforts, part of China’s adherence to a zero-COVID policy that aims to eradicate all outbreaks, have brought case numbers down but many of the heavy-handed measures have fuelled anger and even rare protests and taken a heavy toll on the economy. Beijing shut its schools in early May and asked students to move to online learning amid a spike in locally transmitted COVID cases. Senior year … [Read more...] about Beijing to reopen schools, Shanghai declares victory over COVID

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The Supreme Court on Friday overturned the nationwide right to abortion in its landmark Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling, causing major uncertainty about the future of abortion access in the United States. Here are answers to some of the biggest questions: What did the Supreme Court’s ruling say? In a decision by Justice Samuel Alito, the court upheld a Mississippi law banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. A majority of justices also voted to strike down Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), effectively ruling abortion is no longer a nationwide right and giving states the power to ban the procedure. Alito called Roe v. Wade “an abuse of judicial authority” that relied on “egregiously wrong” reasoning, and argued the right to abortion is not expressly mentioned in the Constitution and isn’t “deeply rooted in this Nation's history and tradition.” Four other conservative … [Read more...] about Roe V. Wade Overturned: The Ultimate Explainer On What It Means

Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Photo by Zahid Izzani Mohd Said/The Edge) - A + A KUALA LUMPUR (June 26): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Sunday expressed concern over the increasing number of bankrupts among youths. In view of the situation, Ismail Sabri said he will hold discussions with Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus on measures to curb the problem. Talks will also be held with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to review relevant legislation. "I am concerned when looking at the latest statistics on bankruptcy among youths and I am also concerned that the numbers will rise further. "The government has previously raised the threshold. We also delayed legal action involving bankruptcy during the pandemic… the future of youths is a priority agenda," he said when officiating at the closing of Barisan Nasional Youth's Career Fair at the World … [Read more...] about PM concerned over bankruptcy among youths, to hold talks with BNM governor