Tsunami to hit

(CNN) Drug overdoses in the United States were deadlier than ever in 2021, according to provisional data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 108,000 people died of drug overdoses in 2021, and about two-thirds of those deaths involved fentanyl or another synthetic opioid. Overdose deaths have been on the rise for years in the US, but surged amid the Covid-19 pandemic: Annual deaths were nearly 50% higher in 2021 than in 2019, CDC data shows. The spike in overdose deaths in the second year of the pandemic wasn't as quite as dramatic as in the first year: Overdose deaths were up about 15% between 2020 and 2021, compared with a 30% jump between 2019 and 2020. But the change is still stark. In 2021, about 14,000 more people died of overdose deaths in than in 2020, the CDC data shows. States prepare for summer launch of new 988 suicide prevention number Read More "This is indeed a continuation … [Read more...] about In 2021, US drug overdose deaths hit highest level on record, CDC data shows

JAKARTA, May 14 (Bloomberg): Indonesia, which eradicated the foot-and-mouth disease in cattle in the 1970s, is producing its own vaccine for cattle to halt an outbreak that has spread to six regencies in Aceh and East Java provinces. The virus that infected thousands of cattle has been identified as stereotype O of IND2001, a strain that is common in the South-East Asian region, Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo said in a virtual briefing on Wednesday. The local vaccines are currently in production and should be ready within 20 days, said Limpo. In the meantime, the government will use imported vaccines on infected livestock, he said, without giving details of the shots. The outbreak, which hit during the religious Eid festivities, could boost Indonesia’s imports of beef that the government forecast will reach 193,223 tons this year. Beef produced in the country with the world’s largest Muslim population can only meet about 70% of its annual consumption. The rest is … [Read more...] about Indonesia to vaccinate herds as foot-and-mouth hits provinces

Colombo, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka's new prime minister said on Monday the crisis-hit nation was down to its last day of petrol, as the country's power minister told citizens not to join the lengthy fuel queues that have galvanized weeks of anti-government protests. Ranil Wickremesinghe, appointed prime minister on Thursday, said in an address to the nation the country urgently needed $75 million in foreign exchange to pay for essential imports. "At the moment, we only have petrol stocks for a single day. The next couple of months will be the most difficult ones of our lives," he said. "We must prepare ourselves to make some sacrifices and face the challenges of this period." Surgery by mobile phone light and reusing catheters: Sri Lanka's economic woes push hospitals to the brink of disaster Two shipments of petrol and two shipments of diesel using an Indian credit line could provide relief in the next few days, he added -- but … [Read more...] about Sri Lanka down to last day of petrol, Prime Minister tells crisis-hit nation

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin It might be hard to imagine that the world's number one visited country has places that are still off the beaten track, but it does—places that the locals love. Then there are the places that have been revitalised, the too-cool-for-school destinations that need to be rethought. Here's the hit list for Provence 2022—the top two places that should be tacked onto an existing itinerary or worthy enough of planning a trip in its entirety. What's more, France's current travel restrictions are at their lightest since the pandemic began. Arles and its new Luma Foundation Arles is Provence’s 2022 capital of culture and one of the main reasons is LUMA —in addition to its Roman amphitheatre, medieval alleys and achingly hip world-renowned photography exhibitions between July and September during Les Rencontres de la Photographie . Luma is a new arts quarter packed with multimedia exhibitions and art … [Read more...] about France Travel: The Très Chic Provençal Hit List For 2022

The downward trend continued on Dalal Street for the fourth consecutive session on May 11. More than 260 stocks on the BSE hit 52-week low and the number of stocks at lower circuit were significantly higher than the stocks that hit upper circuit. Endless Ukraine-Russia war igniting inflation concerns and growth worries, faster policy tightening approach adopted by several central banks, including Federal Reserve, the beginning of rate hike cycle in India, consistent FII selling, rupee depreciation, and inflation concerns visible in corporate earnings are some of the reasons for the nervousness among the investors. The BSE Sensex fell below 54,000-mark in the morning but later pared losses to trade 276 points lower at 54,088. Meanwhile, the Nifty50 briefly traded below the psychological 16,000-mark but recouped some of losses to trade at 16,167, down 73 points. The benchmark indices have now fallen more than 10 percent each from the closing high of April 4. Meanwhile, the BSE … [Read more...] about More than 260 stocks hit 52-week low, 450 stocks hit lower circuit today

JAKARTA, May 14 (The Straits Times/ANN): Indonesian garment factory worker Praptiani has been hit hard by surging prices. The mother of two has had to pay more for everything from cooking oil, whose price has doubled from late last year due to a scarce supply, to detergent and dishwashing liquid, whose prices have surged since April due to a value-added tax hike from 10 per cent to 11 per cent. April was especially tough for Ms Praptiani, as the tax hike came amid the price of octane 92 Pertama gasoline rising by nearly 40 per cent. Ms Praptiani, 43, who rides a motorbike to her workplace in Tangerang, Banten, some 30km from her house in the same regency, told The Straits Times: "The transportation costs of my whole family soar, while my wage remains stagnant. "It is really burdening me. I was still adapting to the fuel price increase, but then, the tax rise took effect and affected most of my daily needs." The price upticks have not only made her spending balloon, but also … [Read more...] about Indonesians hit hard by rising inflation and soaring prices of essential goods

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin China this week reported a 47% plunge in auto sales in April from a year earlier as Covid-19 lockdowns wreaked havoc in the world’s largest auto market and a major global manufacturing hub for auto parts and electric vehicles. Amid business uncertainties in the wake of the country’s Covid policies, “one thing remains certain,” China’s state-run Xinhua news agency said yesterday. “China will stick to its dynamic zero-COVID policy.” So what’s ahead for the global auto industry? I spoke on Tuesday with Bill Russo, the founder and CEO of Automobility, a Shanghai-headquartered strategy and investment advisory firm. The 18-year China business veteran and former head of North East Asia at Chrysler had been on the ground in Shanghai through this year’s lockdowns until last week, when he returned home to the United States. Industry supply chains will remain constrained for the foreseeable future, fueling inflationary pressure, … [Read more...] about ‘Gigantic’ Impact From China Lockdowns To Hit Auto Industry Globally: Automobility’s Bill Russo

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Shanghai will gradually allow shopping malls, vegetable markets and hair salons to reopen starting tomorrow after weeks of closure to ward off Covid-19, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported today. “Shanghai has been vigorously promoting the opening of business outlets and the return of personnel to ensure supply of daily necessities,” the Xinhua report said, citing comments by Shanghai Vice Mayor Chen Tong at a media briefing. Lockdowns in the business hub of 26 million have disrupted supply chains, investment, staffing and transportation in the world’s second-largest economy. Foreign businesses with operations in the city include Tesla, Volkswagen and Johnson & Johnson; a government report last year said the city has 61,090 foreign-invested businesses. The city is home to U.S.-listed Chinese companies including Bilibili, Pinduoduo, Trip.com and Huazhu. Lockdown fallout has spilled over from Shanghai itself into the … [Read more...] about Covid-Hit Shanghai To Allow Gradual Reopening Of Malls And Markets, Xinhua Says

China's commercial capital of Shanghai was dealt a blow on May 2 as authorities reported 58 new COVID-19 cases outside areas under strict lockdown, while Beijing pressed on with testing millions of people on a May Day holiday few were celebrating. (Image: Reuters) Shanghai is tightening its already strict COVID-19 lockdown in a fresh push to eliminate infections outside quarantined areas of China's biggest city by late this month, people familiar with the matter said. Curbs will likely vary across the city's 16 districts as some have already hit the target, but the people said movement curbs will generally remain until the end of May due to fears of a rebound, despite recently falling case numbers in the country's worst coronavirus outbreak. Accounts from residents in several districts as well as social media posts showed the government of the city of 25 million accelerating and expanding an effort to transfer the close contacts of positive cases to central quarantines … [Read more...] about Shanghai tightens lockdown to hit zero-COVID goal by late May: Report

- A + A (May 16): China’s Covid Zero policy is having far-reaching effects on global companies, with automakers, tech firms, fashion houses and even breweries feeling the brunt as the country’s weeks-long lockdowns paralyze major industrial hubs and disrupt supply chains. More than 180 companies around the world have mentioned terms including “China” and “lockdowns” in their first-quarter earnings calls or financial statements, according to a Bloomberg News analysis of transcripts and filings. It’s a significant jump from fewer than 50 companies in the previous quarter, and the list is still growing as more firms report financial results in the days and weeks ahead. Automakers Toyota Motor Corp, based in Japan: Lowered May production plan to 700,000 vehicles from 750,000 due to lockdown impact; Suspended operations of some production lines in Japan from May 16-May 21 because of Shanghai lockdown. Tesla Inc, based in Texas: Shanghai plant closed … [Read more...] about More than 180 companies say they’ve been hit by China lockdowns