Santa Cruz, United States (AFP) Jan 15, 2023 Soggy Californians on Sunday wearily endured their ninth successive storm in a three-week period that has brought destructive flooding, heavy snowfalls and at least 19 deaths, and forecasters said more of the same loomed for another day. “Rain and heavy mountain snow to continue across the West,” the National Weather Service (NWS) said. One to three feet … Continue reading More rain, snow pelt California as Biden declares disaster to speed aid

Tokyo (AFP) Jan 13, 2023 Japan plans to start releasing more than a million tonnes of treated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean this year, a top government spokesman said Friday. The plan has been endorsed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but the government will wait for “a comprehensive report” by the UN watchdog before the release, chief … Continue reading Japan to start releasing treated water from Fukushima this year

Geneva (AFP) Jan 14, 2023 The World Health Organization on Saturday called on China to provide more data on its Covid situation, after Beijing reported almost 60,000 Covid-related deaths there in just over a month. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the request in a conversation with Ma Xiaowei, director of China’s National Health Commission, said a statement from the organisation. “Dr Tedros also reiterathttp://dlvr.it/SgvtJz Continue reading WHO calls for more Covid data from China

Manila (AFP) Jan 15, 2023 At least 27 people have died in storms across the Philippines this month, authorities said Sunday, as forecasters warned of continued heavy rains in the disaster-prone country. Heavy downpours and flooding have plagued the nation’s southern and central islands since the Christmas weekend, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. Since the start of the year, at least three … Continue reading Death toll in Philippine storms rises to 27

Miami (AFP) Jan 13, 2023 The body of an 82-year-old woman missing since Hurricane Ian slammed the United States in September has been found, Florida officials have announced. Ilonka Knes was one of two people still reported as missing since Ian brought surging waters and Category 4-strength winds to Florida’s low-lying west coast. Her body was found Tuesday by debris removal workers “deep within the … Continue reading Body of US hurricane victim, 82, discovered three months on

Beijing (AFP) Jan 14, 2023 China on Saturday reported almost 60,000 Covid-related deaths in just over a month, the first major toll released by authorities since Beijing loosened virus restrictions in early December. The government has been widely accused of underreporting the number of coronavirus fatalities since the abandonment of its zero-Covid policy. Only a few dozen deaths had been recorded officially in Dhttp://dlvr.it/SgvtGc Continue reading China reports almost 60,000 Covid-related deaths in a month

Bangkok (AFP) Jan 14, 2023 A mother and her toddler were among five people killed in a military air strike in Myanmar’s east, Karen rebels and an aid group said Saturday. Myanmar has been in turmoil since Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government was toppled in a military coup almost two years ago, ending the southeast Asian nation’s brief period of democracy. Four junta fighter … Continue reading Myanmar air strike kills five, including mother and toddler

Geneva (AFP) Jan 12, 2023 The past eight years were the hottest since records began, the United Nations confirmed Thursday, despite the cooling influence of a drawn-out La Nina weather pattern. Last year, as the world faced a cascade of unprecedented natural disasters made more likely and deadly by climate change, the average global temperature was about 1.15 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the World … Continue reading UN confirms 2022 among eight hottest years on record

Beijing (AFP) Jan 12, 2023 A Chinese company presented a cloned horse to the public on Thursday that is the first of its kind born in the country and approved for equestrian sport. The cloning of competition and thoroughbred horses has been practised in several countries since the early 2000s, particularly for genetic improvements. Born last June from a surrogate mother, “Zhuang Zhuang” was produced … Continue reading Cloned horse raises hopes for equestrian sports in China

Sydney (AFP) Jan 12, 2023 Flood-hit swathes of Western Australia faced a long path to recovery Thursday as muddy waters receded to expose the full scale of recent damage to homes, roads and livestock. In the deluged town of Fitzroy Crossing – home to about 1,000 people – the waters collapsed the main bridge, swept away road surfaces and damaged homes over the last week. … Continue reading Western Australia struggles back from huge floods