Health

Behind Delhi’s floods is a history of encroachment and diminishing wetlands

Of Delhi’s 1,040 wetlands and waterbodies, none have been officially notified, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. The city’s drainage plan and system have not been updated since the 1970s. This along with encroachment of the Yamuna floodplains by settlements and large development projects make the city vulnerable to flooding. Experts strongly recommend reviving the city’s water bodies and desilting its existing drains to help mitigate flood effects. Mongabay India writer Simrin Sirur reports 

India’s tiger reserves have helped fight climate change

Enhanced conservation management of tiger reserves in India has helped avoid forest loss, preventing one million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. This represents $93 million in ecosystem services from the avoided social cost of emissions.  The researchers suggest that biodiversity conservation programmes could generate revenue from carbon credits that could be traded in voluntary carbon markets. Mongabay-India writer Neha Jain reports

Report reveals 2022 broke recorded as hottest, driest year in Italy

Spike in dengue cases due to global warming, alerts WHO

New York: Global warming marked by higher average temperatures, precipitation and longer periods of drought, could prompt a record number of dengue infections worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday.

Study estimates diagnostic errors are linked to nearly 795,000 deaths or cases of permanent disability in America each year

An estimated 795,000 Americans die or are permanently disabled by diagnostic error each year, as per a study released by scientists at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

New Delhi: ASEAN conference emphasises on achieving sustainable development goals for good health and well-being

New Delhi: The Ministry of Ayush, in association with the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian Mission to ASEAN organized a conference of India and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) on traditional medicines at New Delhi on Thursday.

Raigad landslides: Death toll rises to 10, several injured

Mumbai/IBNS/UNI: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said ten people have lost their lives so far and more than 21 have received severe injuries after landslide incidents in Raigad district of Maharashtra.

Chandrayaan-3 Orbit raised further, moves a step closer to Moon

Chennai/IBNS: India Thursday celebrated International Moon Day-2023 by propelling its third Moon Mission Chandrayaan-3--to explore the hitherto unexplored Lunar south pole--a step closer to the moon by raising its orbit for the fourth time.

Unitaid: Close to a million deaths by 2035 if TB prevention is not acted on

New York: UN health innovation initiative Unitaid warned on Wednesday that the failure to implement tuberculosis contact tracing and prevention could lead to close to one million deaths by 2035.

Himachal cloudburst washes away 20 vehicles near Sangla

Shimla/UNI: Nature's fury from heavy monsoon rain continues in Himachal Pradesh, as there are reports of the washing away of around 20 vehicles in Kamru village of Kinnaur district, five km from Sangla, on Thursday morning.

Mumbai schools to remain shut on Thursday amid heavy rainfall

Mumbai: Mumbai experienced heavy rainfall on Wednesday, forcing the state government to declare an early closure of government offices in the city.

India fights COVID-19: Centre removes testing requirements for international travellers

The Indian government on Wednesday said RT-PCR based coronavirus testing requirements for international travellers will be dropped from Thursday.

Health risks on the rise as heatwave intensifies across Europe: WMO

New York: The dangers associated with the heatwave that’s engulfing the northern hemisphere aren’t over yet, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned on Tuesday.

Assam based org, 'Pedal for a Change' calls for sustainable urban transport action in Guwahati

Assam-based organization Pedal for a Change has called for urgent action to promote sustainable urban transport in Guwahati, citing the detrimental effects of pollution and traffic congestion on the city's livelihood and health of its citizens.

Global immunisation rates show sign of post-pandemic rebound

New York: New data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Children’s Fund UNICEF, reveal signs of immunisation services rebounding in some countries, but coverage still falls short of pre-pandemic levels, particularly in low-income countries, putting children at grave risk of disease outbreaks.

Nagaland: Government reinforces total ban on single-use plastic

The Nagaland government has reinforced the total ban on the use of single-use plastic, a move that has been taken by keeping the environment concerns in mind.

‘Low risk’ for humans, as cats in Poland test positive for avian influenza

Polish authorities are investigating all potential sources of infection after some 29 cats were found to be infected with the influenza A virus, similar to those found in birds, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Sunday.

Unyielding Valour: Stories of heroism emerge as floodwaters recede in Punjab

In the aftermath of receding floodwaters in Majha, tales of unwavering determination and courage have emerged, highlighting the indomitable spirit of the villagers. Among these stories, one stands out—the account of a revenue official who risked his own life to rescue both BSF jawans and civilians from the treacherous currents of Ujh.

Itanagar Zoo welcomes two Royal Bengal tigers, 3 Gharials from Odisha's Nandankanan

Itanagar/UNI: The Itanagar Biological Park, popularly known as Itanagar Zoo, on Monday ‘welcomed’ a pair of adult Royal Bengal Tigers and three freshwater Gharials from Nandankanan Zoo in Odisha.

Sarbananda Sonowal makes major announcements for capacity building of National Institute of Homoeopathy at Kolkata

Kolkata: The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal made major announcements to build capacity at the National Institute of Homoeopathy (NIH) in Kolkata during an event on Monday.

Greenhouse effect: Google doodles to mark Eunice Newton Foote's 204th birthday

New York: Popular search engine Google on Monday paid tributes to  American scientist and women’s rights activist Eunice Newton Foote.

Bangladesh: Dengue hospitalisation crosses 20,000

Bangladesh has witnessed the admission of  1,424 dengue patients in recent times, taking the total number of admissions in the country since the start of the year to over 20,000.

South Korea: 49 dead or missing as heavy downpour continues

Continuous rainfall in central South Korea has left 49 people dead or missing in the country, media reports said.

IT employees suffer from kidney stones due to work conditions, warns expert

Hyderabad: A lot of the IT employees spend time in air conditioned offices and lack proper hydration, due to which they suffer from kidney stones and even have signs prostate cancer",  a health expert has warned.

IT employees suffer from kidney stones due to work conditions, warns expert

Hyderabad: A lot of the IT employees spend time in air conditioned offices and lack proper hydration, due to which they suffer from kidney stones and even have signs prostate cancer",  a health expert has warned.

Spain: 4,000 evacuated from Canary Islands due to wildfires

Madrid: Over 4,000 people have been evacuated on Spain's Canary Islands due to raging wildfires, Spanish media reported on Sunday.

Heatwave conditions to prevail in US, Europe and Japan; mercury to go above 40 degrees Celsius

New Delhi: People in several parts of the United States, Europe, and Japan have been warned against heatwave conditions with temperatures soaring 40 degrees Celsius and above, media reports said.

7.4-magnitude quake hits US's Alaska, tsunami warning issued

Washington/IBNS: A 7.4-magnitude earthquake jolted 106 km south of Sand Point in Alaska on Sunday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Delhi floods: Fresh rains create more panic amid slow Yamuna water retreat

New Delhi/IBNS: Heavy rain battered Delhi once again even as the national capital is battling with a severe flood situation following record showers and the release of water from HathniKund Barrage in Haryana owing to swelled water levels in the Yamuna.  

Manipur: Ukhrul introduces waste collection cards to combat garbage disposal issue

The town of Ukhrul in Manipur is set to implement waste collection cards for every household, aiming to foster a clean and eco-friendly environment. The unanimous decision was reached during a joint meeting led by Ukhrul's deputy commissioner, Kengoo Zuringla, at the DC conference hall.