The death toll from an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 118, authorities have said, with three children among the recent victims.

The outbreak was first detected on August 1, with the health ministry confirming the latest toll on Tuesday and saying seven new cases had been confirmed, six of them in Beni, not far from the Ugandan border.

More than 15,000 people have now been vaccinated against the virus, it said.&nbsp;

This latest outbreak -- the 10th in DR Congo since Ebola was first detected there in 1976 -- emerged in a highly-restive northeastern region home to a clutch of armed groups which lies near the border with Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan.

The authorities in Beni have announced measures to protect health workers from attacks after a number of incidents where response teams were assaulted.

Ebola response teams will be able to "call on law enforcement officers for safe and dignified collections and burials," the ministry said.

Red Cross volunteers were injured during the burial of a suspected Ebola victim last week.&nbsp;

Traditional healers should also "refer all suspicious cases to the Ebola treatment centre or face... being banned from practising any form of medicine," the ministry said. 
In late September, the World Health Organization said it had revised its Ebola risk assessment in DR Congo from high to "very high".

The WHO cited transport links and population movements as potential risk factors, while stressing that the global risk remained low.

The death toll from an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 118, authorities have said, with three children among the recent victims.

The death toll from an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 118, authorities have said, with three children among the recent victims. The outbreak was first detected on August 1, with the health ministry confirming the latest toll on Tuesday and saying seven new cases had been confirmed, six of them in Beni, not far from the Ugandan border. More than 15,000 people have now been vaccinated against the virus, it said. This latest outbreak -- the 10th in DR Congo since Ebola was first detected there in 1976 -- emerged in a highly-restive northeastern region home to a clutch of armed groups which lies near the border with Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan. The authorities in Beni have announced measures to protect health workers from attacks after a number of incidents where response teams were assaulted. Ebola response teams will be able to "call on law enforcement officers for safe and dignified collections and burials," the ministry said. Red Cross volunteers were injured during the burial of a suspected Ebola victim last week. Traditional healers should also "refer all suspicious cases to the Ebola treatment centre or face... being banned from practising any form of medicine," the ministry said. In late September, the World Health Organization said it had revised its Ebola risk assessment in DR Congo from high to "very high". The WHO cited transport links and population movements as potential risk factors, while stressing that the global risk remained low.

Ebola death toll rises in DR Congo

Death toll in Indonesia crosses 1,400 after earthquake and tsunami

Guatemalan officials warned of falling ash from the Fuego volcano late on Thursday and urged caution with flights as the Central American country recovers from devastating eruptions that have killed at least 109 people.

The seismological, volcanic and meteorological institute Insivumeh advised the civil aviation authority to take precautions with flights amid renewed activity from the peak, which produced a massive eruption on Sunday.

The death toll from Fuego's most violent eruption in four decades has been gradually rising and now stands at 109, Guatemala's disaster and forensic agency Inacif said earlier on Thursday.

Authorities have said a communication breakdown between CONRED and volcanologists in Guatemala delayed evacuations from the surrounding area.

Guatemala's public prosecutor said on Thursday it would open an investigation into whether protocols were followed to inform proper decision-making in the handling of the disaster.

Rescue teams have been searching frantically for survivors and victims in the ravaged landscape, which is covered in ash and lava.

The eruptions have showered volcanic ash over a vast area and spewed deadly, fast-moving pyroclastic flows through nearby towns.

The US&nbsp;government expressed its "deepest condolences" to the victims on Thursday and said it was sending emergency aid at Guatemala's request, including an unspecified amount of financial resources to help with food, water, and sanitation.

The White House said in a statement it was also dispatching aircraft to transport burn victims for treatment in Florida.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) raised concerns about the economic cost of the disaster in the poor country.

"We should not underestimate the scale of this disaster. Critical, emergency needs are still enormous, and affected communities will need sustained and long-term support," IFRC President Francesco Rocca said in a statement on Thursday.

Rocca noted that ash had fallen across more than half of Guatemala, covering areas where agriculture is crucial.

"We hope it will not mean a secondary disaster," he said.

The IFRC has pledged more than 250,000 Swiss francs ($253,000) to support rescue efforts and said those worst hit would need at least a year to recover.

The suspension of rescue efforts around the volcano may be lifted if conditions on the ground improve, CONRED said.

Volcan de Fuego, which means "Volcano of Fire" in Spanish, lies about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of the capital, Guatemala City.

The death toll from Fuego's most violent eruption in four decades has been gradually rising and now stands at 109

Guatemalan officials warned of falling ash from the Fuego volcano late on Thursday and urged caution with flights as the Central American country recovers from devastating eruptions that have killed at least 109 people. The seismological, volcanic and meteorological institute Insivumeh advised the civil aviation authority to take precautions with flights amid renewed activity from the peak, which produced a massive eruption on Sunday. The death toll from Fuego's most violent eruption in four decades has been gradually rising and now stands at 109, Guatemala's disaster and forensic agency Inacif said earlier on Thursday. Authorities have said a communication breakdown between CONRED and volcanologists in Guatemala delayed evacuations from the surrounding area. Guatemala's public prosecutor said on Thursday it would open an investigation into whether protocols were followed to inform proper decision-making in the handling of the disaster. Rescue teams have been searching frantically for survivors and victims in the ravaged landscape, which is covered in ash and lava. The eruptions have showered volcanic ash over a vast area and spewed deadly, fast-moving pyroclastic flows through nearby towns. The US government expressed its "deepest condolences" to the victims on Thursday and said it was sending emergency aid at Guatemala's request, including an unspecified amount of financial resources to help with food, water, and sanitation. The White House said in a statement it was also dispatching aircraft to transport burn victims for treatment in Florida. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) raised concerns about the economic cost of the disaster in the poor country. "We should not underestimate the scale of this disaster. Critical, emergency needs are still enormous, and affected communities will need sustained and long-term support," IFRC President Francesco Rocca said in a statement on Thursday. Rocca noted that ash had fallen across more than half of Guatemala, covering areas where agriculture is crucial. "We hope it will not mean a secondary disaster," he said. The IFRC has pledged more than 250,000 Swiss francs ($253,000) to support rescue efforts and said those worst hit would need at least a year to recover. The suspension of rescue efforts around the volcano may be lifted if conditions on the ground improve, CONRED said. Volcan de Fuego, which means "Volcano of Fire" in Spanish, lies about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of the capital, Guatemala City.

Guatemala warns of falling ash as volcanic activity picks up

Nearly 200 people are missing and at least 73 people were killed since Guatemala's Fuego volcano began erupting over the weekend, officials said today.

Seven communities in already devastated areas were evacuated as the volcano's activity increased, with rescue operations halted.

In the city of Escuintla, near the summit, panicked locals rushed to their cars to escape, causing chaotic traffic.

An AFP photographer witnessed a large plume of ash rise into the sky, prompting an evacuation of everyone authorities could find before the police, the military and rescuers were stood down.

And a total of 192 people remain missing since the weekend eruptions, disaster relief agency chief Sergio Cabanas told reporters.

The search for bodies in mountain villages destroyed by the eruption was progressing slowly, officials said earlier, given the nature of the terrain and the way the volcano released large amounts of boiling mud, rock and ash down the mountain.

"We will continue until we find the last victim, though we do not know how many there are. We will probe the area as many times as necessary," Cabanas said.

However, the prospects of finding any more survivors were poor, he said.

"If you are trapped in a pyroclastic flow, it's hard to come out of it alive," he said, adding that people who may have been caught in the flow may never be found. The latest of the 73 victims was a 42-year-old woman who died in hospital having lost both legs and an arm in the eruption.

The previous toll was given as 72. Some 46 people were injured, around half of whom are in serious condition, it said.

The 3,763-metre volcano erupted early Sunday, spewing out towering plumes of ash and a hail of fiery rock fragments with scalding mud.

Authorities said more than 1.7 million people had been affected by the disaster, including more than 3,000 ordered evacuated, many living in shelters in Escuintla, Sacatepequez and Chimaltenango since Sunday's eruption.

The speed of the eruption took locals by surprise, and could be explained by it producing pyroclastic flows, sudden emissions of gas and rock fragments, rather than lava, said volcanologist David Rothery of Britain's Open University. President Jimmy Morales, who has declared three days of national mourning, has visited the disaster zone.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was deeply saddened by the "tragic loss of life and the significant damage caused by the eruption," and said the UN was ready to assist national rescue and relief efforts.

The 3,763-metre volcano erupted early Sunday, spewing out towering plumes of ash and a hail of fiery rock fragments with scalding mud.

Nearly 200 people are missing and at least 73 people were killed since Guatemala's Fuego volcano began erupting over the weekend, officials said today. Seven communities in already devastated areas were evacuated as the volcano's activity increased, with rescue operations halted. In the city of Escuintla, near the summit, panicked locals rushed to their cars to escape, causing chaotic traffic. An AFP photographer witnessed a large plume of ash rise into the sky, prompting an evacuation of everyone authorities could find before the police, the military and rescuers were stood down. And a total of 192 people remain missing since the weekend eruptions, disaster relief agency chief Sergio Cabanas told reporters. The search for bodies in mountain villages destroyed by the eruption was progressing slowly, officials said earlier, given the nature of the terrain and the way the volcano released large amounts of boiling mud, rock and ash down the mountain. "We will continue until we find the last victim, though we do not know how many there are. We will probe the area as many times as necessary," Cabanas said. However, the prospects of finding any more survivors were poor, he said. "If you are trapped in a pyroclastic flow, it's hard to come out of it alive," he said, adding that people who may have been caught in the flow may never be found. The latest of the 73 victims was a 42-year-old woman who died in hospital having lost both legs and an arm in the eruption. The previous toll was given as 72. Some 46 people were injured, around half of whom are in serious condition, it said. The 3,763-metre volcano erupted early Sunday, spewing out towering plumes of ash and a hail of fiery rock fragments with scalding mud. Authorities said more than 1.7 million people had been affected by the disaster, including more than 3,000 ordered evacuated, many living in shelters in Escuintla, Sacatepequez and Chimaltenango since Sunday's eruption. The speed of the eruption took locals by surprise, and could be explained by it producing pyroclastic flows, sudden emissions of gas and rock fragments, rather than lava, said volcanologist David Rothery of Britain's Open University. President Jimmy Morales, who has declared three days of national mourning, has visited the disaster zone. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was deeply saddened by the "tragic loss of life and the significant damage caused by the eruption," and said the UN was ready to assist national rescue and relief efforts.

Guatemala volcano eruption: Nearly 200 missing as death toll rises to 73

At least fourteen people have reportedly lost their lives and 17 others got injured in an explosion which took place near the Polytechnic University in Kabul.

At the time of the incident, a group of 2,000 religious scholars or clerics had gathered at the university to issue a fatwa against suicide attacks in the on-going war in Afghanistan, reports Sputnik news agency.

Kabul police confirmed that it was a suicide bombing.

"The suicide attack happened outside the (Loya Jirga) tent when religious scholars were leaving the gathering," Kabul Police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai was quoted as saying by Tolo News.

Prior to the incident, the clerics had announced that the Afghan war is "illegitimate and has no roots in the Sharia law".

Taliban has denied any involvement in the attack.&nbsp;

Prior to the incident, the clerics had announced that the Afghan war is "illegitimate and has no roots in the Sharia law

At least fourteen people have reportedly lost their lives and 17 others got injured in an explosion which took place near the Polytechnic University in Kabul. At the time of the incident, a group of 2,000 religious scholars or clerics had gathered at the university to issue a fatwa against suicide attacks in the on-going war in Afghanistan, reports Sputnik news agency. Kabul police confirmed that it was a suicide bombing. "The suicide attack happened outside the (Loya Jirga) tent when religious scholars were leaving the gathering," Kabul Police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai was quoted as saying by Tolo News. Prior to the incident, the clerics had announced that the Afghan war is "illegitimate and has no roots in the Sharia law". Taliban has denied any involvement in the attack.

Death toll in Kabul suicide attack rises to 14

The death toll from a ship packed with migrants that sank off the Tunisian coast last weekend has risen to 60, the United Nations migration agency said late on Monday, one of the worst migrant boat disasters in recent years.

The boat went down near the southern island of Kerkenna, overnight on Sunday. The victims were Tunisians as well as other nationalities, Tunisian authorities said.

"Among the 60 victims transferred to the forensic department at Habib Bourguiba hospital in Sfax, 48 are Tunisians ... 12 are non-Tunisian the identifications are in progress", Lorena Lando, chief of mission at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Tunisia.

Tunisian authorities, which on Sunday said they had recovered 48 bodies, provided no new figures on Monday but said the coast guard is still searching for dozens of missing migrants. 
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Human traffickers increasingly use Tunisia as a launch pad for migrants heading to Europe as Libya's coast guard, aided by armed groups, has tightened controls.

The IOM said 1,910 Tunisian migrants reached Italy's coasts between Jan. 1 and April 30, including 39 women and 307 minors - 293 of whom were unaccompanied - compared to only 231 for the same period in 2017.

Security officials said the boat was packed with about 180 migrants, including 80 from other countries in Africa.

Survivors said the captain had abandoned the boat after it started sinking to escape arrest by the coast guard.

Unemployed Tunisians and other Africans have often tried to cross in makeshift boats from Tunisia to Sicily in southern Italy. The North African country is in the middle of a deep economic crisis since the toppling of autocrat Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011 threw Tunisia into turmoil with unemployment and inflation soaring.

Also on Monday, Italy's newly installed interior minister Matteo Salvini said Italy will no longer be "Europe's refugee camp", as he promised tough action to reduce migrant arrivals and send back those who have already arrived.&nbsp;

Security officials said the boat was packed with about 180 migrants, including 80 from other countries in Africa.

The death toll from a ship packed with migrants that sank off the Tunisian coast last weekend has risen to 60, the United Nations migration agency said late on Monday, one of the worst migrant boat disasters in recent years. The boat went down near the southern island of Kerkenna, overnight on Sunday. The victims were Tunisians as well as other nationalities, Tunisian authorities said. "Among the 60 victims transferred to the forensic department at Habib Bourguiba hospital in Sfax, 48 are Tunisians ... 12 are non-Tunisian the identifications are in progress", Lorena Lando, chief of mission at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Tunisia. Tunisian authorities, which on Sunday said they had recovered 48 bodies, provided no new figures on Monday but said the coast guard is still searching for dozens of missing migrants. Advertisement Human traffickers increasingly use Tunisia as a launch pad for migrants heading to Europe as Libya's coast guard, aided by armed groups, has tightened controls. The IOM said 1,910 Tunisian migrants reached Italy's coasts between Jan. 1 and April 30, including 39 women and 307 minors - 293 of whom were unaccompanied - compared to only 231 for the same period in 2017. Security officials said the boat was packed with about 180 migrants, including 80 from other countries in Africa. Survivors said the captain had abandoned the boat after it started sinking to escape arrest by the coast guard. Unemployed Tunisians and other Africans have often tried to cross in makeshift boats from Tunisia to Sicily in southern Italy. The North African country is in the middle of a deep economic crisis since the toppling of autocrat Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011 threw Tunisia into turmoil with unemployment and inflation soaring. Also on Monday, Italy's newly installed interior minister Matteo Salvini said Italy will no longer be "Europe's refugee camp", as he promised tough action to reduce migrant arrivals and send back those who have already arrived.

Death toll in Tunisian migrant ship accident rises to 60: International Organization for Migration

The toll from the eruption of a highly active volcano near Guatemala`s capital rose to 69, a government agency has said.

Only 13 of the dead have been identified so far, Mirna Zeledon, a spokeswoman for Guatemala's National Institute of Forensic Sciences told Reuters.

The eruption of Fuego - Spanish for "fire" - on Sunday was the biggest in more than four decades, forcing the closure of Guatemala's main international airport and dumping ash on thousands of acres (hectares) of coffee farms on the volcano's slopes.

David de Leon, a spokesman for Guatemala's disaster management agency, said several more bodies had been recovered in the rubble of villages on the volcano's southern flank, which bore the brunt of the disaster.

Authorities had warned the death toll could rise as a number of people had been reported missing.

De Leon said some 1.7 million people had been affected when the volcano erupted on Sunday, shooting a dense cloud of ash into the sky and sending a hail of fiery rock fragments and scalding mud down the mountainside, burying homes.

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My aunt took this video in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Guatemala?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Guatemala</a> ?? <a href="https://t.co/6UPzCFZqDb">pic.twitter.com/6UPzCFZqDb</a>
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&nbsp;

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25 dead and 300 injured from the volcano that erupted in Guatemala BUT OF COURSE whatever news that’s based on Hispanics is always ignored. My prayers go out to the family’s and children that lost there loved ones ?? ? ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GuatemalaVolcano?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GuatemalaVolcano</a> <a href="https://t.co/Lnt1KeN4cF">pic.twitter.com/Lnt1KeN4cF</a>
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Fuego has been erupting since 2002 and was continuously active in 2017. There were explosions and ash plumes on May 19-21 as well as a volcanic mudflow on May 17.

The last emergency occurred in September 2012, causing the evacuation of some 10,000 people from villages on its slopes.

(With inputs from Reuters)

The death toll in the eruption of Guatemala's Fuego volcano rose to 62 today as rescue workers recovered more bodies from devastated villages.

The toll from the eruption of a highly active volcano near Guatemala`s capital rose to 69, a government agency has said. Only 13 of the dead have been identified so far, Mirna Zeledon, a spokeswoman for Guatemala's National Institute of Forensic Sciences told Reuters. The eruption of Fuego - Spanish for "fire" - on Sunday was the biggest in more than four decades, forcing the closure of Guatemala's main international airport and dumping ash on thousands of acres (hectares) of coffee farms on the volcano's slopes. David de Leon, a spokesman for Guatemala's disaster management agency, said several more bodies had been recovered in the rubble of villages on the volcano's southern flank, which bore the brunt of the disaster. Authorities had warned the death toll could rise as a number of people had been reported missing. De Leon said some 1.7 million people had been affected when the volcano erupted on Sunday, shooting a dense cloud of ash into the sky and sending a hail of fiery rock fragments and scalding mud down the mountainside, burying homes. My aunt took this video in #Guatemala ?? pic.twitter.com/6UPzCFZqDb — J.Iquique (@_Iquique) June 4, 2018 × 25 dead and 300 injured from the volcano that erupted in Guatemala BUT OF COURSE whatever news that’s based on Hispanics is always ignored. My prayers go out to the family’s and children that lost there loved ones ?? ? ?#GuatemalaVolcano pic.twitter.com/Lnt1KeN4cF — Right word (@abcdaee198) June 4, 2018 × Fuego has been erupting since 2002 and was continuously active in 2017. There were explosions and ash plumes on May 19-21 as well as a volcanic mudflow on May 17. The last emergency occurred in September 2012, causing the evacuation of some 10,000 people from villages on its slopes. (With inputs from Reuters)

Guatemala volcano eruption: 69 dead and hundreds injured as lava surge sweeps through villages

The deadly Nipah virus has claimed one more life in Kerala taking the death toll to 15 today. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, a soldier in Kolkata died due to suspected Nipah virus infection, reports said.&nbsp;

As per reports, the soldier was from Kerala and was posted at Fort William. He was admitted to the hospital on April 20.&nbsp;

The brain-damaging infection first broke out in Kerala. The state government has also issued an advisory, asking travellers to avoid visiting the four districts of Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad, and Kannur.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kerala?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kerala</a>: Death toll due to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NipahVirus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NipahVirus</a> rises to 15.
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No confirmed cases of the virus have been found outside the state. However, Goa, Maharashtra, Himachal, Chhatisgarh and many other states have issued a health advisory.&nbsp;

The virus scare has wreaked havoc for fruit sellers in the state. Fruit sellers in Kerala have faced the brunt of the deadly Nipah virus. They say their incomes have been reduced as customers fear that fruits might be infected with the virus.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has banned imports of fresh vegetables and fruits from Kerala where the Gulf state said on Tuesday.

The UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment also notified other local authorities, including the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority and the municipalities of its emirates, to prevent the entry of any fresh produce from Kerala, it said in a statement.

No confirmed cases of the virus have been found outside the state

The deadly Nipah virus has claimed one more life in Kerala taking the death toll to 15 today. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, a soldier in Kolkata died due to suspected Nipah virus infection, reports said. As per reports, the soldier was from Kerala and was posted at Fort William. He was admitted to the hospital on April 20. The brain-damaging infection first broke out in Kerala. The state government has also issued an advisory, asking travellers to avoid visiting the four districts of Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad, and Kannur. #Kerala: Death toll due to #NipahVirus rises to 15. — ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2018 × No confirmed cases of the virus have been found outside the state. However, Goa, Maharashtra, Himachal, Chhatisgarh and many other states have issued a health advisory. The virus scare has wreaked havoc for fruit sellers in the state. Fruit sellers in Kerala have faced the brunt of the deadly Nipah virus. They say their incomes have been reduced as customers fear that fruits might be infected with the virus. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has banned imports of fresh vegetables and fruits from Kerala where the Gulf state said on Tuesday. The UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment also notified other local authorities, including the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority and the municipalities of its emirates, to prevent the entry of any fresh produce from Kerala, it said in a statement.

Nipah virus scare: One more dead, death toll mounts to 15 in Kerala

As the death toll from deadly Nipah virus in Kerala has <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/kerala-death-toll-from-nipah-virus-rises-to-14-140144">mounted to 14</a>, samples of fruit-eating bats from Perambra would be sent for lab testing. Perambra town, located in the Kozhikode district of Kerala, is believed to be the epicentre of the Nipah virus. Fruit-eating bats are known as the primary hosts of the virus.&nbsp;

According to reports, samples of fruit-eating bats will be sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal.

Experts from the National Institute of Virology, Pune and departments of Animal Husbandry and Forest have begun collecting the samples which would be sent to NIHSAD to test for the presence of the virus in the fruit-eating bats, Dr N N Sasi, Director Animal Husbandry, told PTI.

Earlier, samples of three bats -- caught from an unused well of the Moosa family which lost three members to Nipah virus -- were sent to the Bhopal laboratory for testing. Other samples from pigs, goats and cattle in the 5-kilometre radius of the affected area were also sent; all samples were tested negative.

"We are trying to catch fruit-eating bats from the Perambra region now," Sasi said.

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According to an official, the droppings, urine and secretions of the bats will also be sent for testing.

A Union Health Ministry advisory has said that the virus, which commonly affects animals such as bats, pigs, dogs, and horses, can spread to humans and cause serious illness. Spread of the virus to humans may occur after close contact with other Nipah infected people, infected bats, or infected pigs.

Meanwhile, Bihar, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, among other states, have issued advisories for people.&nbsp;

Fruit sellers in Kerala have <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/fruit-sellers-in-kerala-pay-a-price-for-the-deadly-nipah-virus-140178">faced the brunt of the deadly Nipah virus</a>. They say their incomes have been reduced as customers fear that fruits might be infected with the virus.

A fruit seller, Sulfi, told ANI, "Even though we are selling at half of the usual price, no one is willing to buy."

The death toll from the deadly Nipah virus on Sunday rose to 14 in Kerala after one more person died in Kozhikode. Most of the deaths reported are from Kozhikode and Malappuram districts.

The state government has also issued an advisory, asking travellers to avoid visiting the four districts of Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Samples will be sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal

As the death toll from deadly Nipah virus in Kerala has mounted to 14, samples of fruit-eating bats from Perambra would be sent for lab testing. Perambra town, located in the Kozhikode district of Kerala, is believed to be the epicentre of the Nipah virus. Fruit-eating bats are known as the primary hosts of the virus. According to reports, samples of fruit-eating bats will be sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal. Experts from the National Institute of Virology, Pune and departments of Animal Husbandry and Forest have begun collecting the samples which would be sent to NIHSAD to test for the presence of the virus in the fruit-eating bats, Dr N N Sasi, Director Animal Husbandry, told PTI. Earlier, samples of three bats -- caught from an unused well of the Moosa family which lost three members to Nipah virus -- were sent to the Bhopal laboratory for testing. Other samples from pigs, goats and cattle in the 5-kilometre radius of the affected area were also sent; all samples were tested negative. "We are trying to catch fruit-eating bats from the Perambra region now," Sasi said. × According to an official, the droppings, urine and secretions of the bats will also be sent for testing. A Union Health Ministry advisory has said that the virus, which commonly affects animals such as bats, pigs, dogs, and horses, can spread to humans and cause serious illness. Spread of the virus to humans may occur after close contact with other Nipah infected people, infected bats, or infected pigs. Meanwhile, Bihar, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, among other states, have issued advisories for people. Fruit sellers in Kerala have faced the brunt of the deadly Nipah virus. They say their incomes have been reduced as customers fear that fruits might be infected with the virus. A fruit seller, Sulfi, told ANI, "Even though we are selling at half of the usual price, no one is willing to buy." The death toll from the deadly Nipah virus on Sunday rose to 14 in Kerala after one more person died in Kozhikode. Most of the deaths reported are from Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. The state government has also issued an advisory, asking travellers to avoid visiting the four districts of Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur. (With inputs from agencies)

Nipah virus: Sample of fruit-bats sent for testing as death toll mounts to 14 in Kerala

According to reports, Chhattisgarh has been put on a Nipah virus alert after death toll climbed to 11 in Kerala on Thursday. <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/health-ministry-issues-advisory-for-public-on-nipah-virus-139517">The Central government</a>&nbsp;issued a health advisory on Friday stating that the virus commonly affects animals like bat, pigs, dogs, horses etc. The virus can spread from animals to humans and can sometimes cause serious illness among humans.

In Kerala, about 160 samples have been sent for testing at the virology institute and 13 cases have been found to be positive. Of the 13 confirmed cases, 11 people have died so far.

Kerala government also issued an advisory, asking travellers to avoid visiting the four districts of Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur.

"Travelling to any part of Kerala is safe. However, if travellers wish to be extra cautious, they may avoid the four districts," Health Secretary Rajeev Sadanandan said.

The government has also called for an all-party meeting at Kozhikode today to discuss the issue.

Most of the deaths reported are from Kozhikode and Malappuram districts from where 11 deaths have now been reported and 18 are undergoing treatment in various hospitals, including one in Wayanad.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In Kerala, about 160 samples have been sent for testing at the virology institute and 13 cases have been found to be positive

According to reports, Chhattisgarh has been put on a Nipah virus alert after death toll climbed to 11 in Kerala on Thursday. The Central government issued a health advisory on Friday stating that the virus commonly affects animals like bat, pigs, dogs, horses etc. The virus can spread from animals to humans and can sometimes cause serious illness among humans. In Kerala, about 160 samples have been sent for testing at the virology institute and 13 cases have been found to be positive. Of the 13 confirmed cases, 11 people have died so far. Kerala government also issued an advisory, asking travellers to avoid visiting the four districts of Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur. "Travelling to any part of Kerala is safe. However, if travellers wish to be extra cautious, they may avoid the four districts," Health Secretary Rajeev Sadanandan said. The government has also called for an all-party meeting at Kozhikode today to discuss the issue. Most of the deaths reported are from Kozhikode and Malappuram districts from where 11 deaths have now been reported and 18 are undergoing treatment in various hospitals, including one in Wayanad. (With inputs from agencies)

Nipah virus scare: Chhattisgarh on alert after death toll in Kerala climbed to 11

The death toll due to Nipah rose to 11 in Kerala, with one more person succumbing to the deadly virus here this morning.

The deceased, V Moosa (61), had been battling for life since the past few days in a private hospital here and was on ventilator support, Kozhikode district medical officer, Dr Jayasree E, told reporters.

About 160 samples have been sent for testing at the virology institute and 13 cases have been found to be positive, she said.

Of the 13 confirmed cases, 11 people have died so far.

The official further said confirmation is awaited with regard to one more death in Kozhikode.

This is the fourth death in Moosa's family.Moosa's sons Mohammed Saliah (28), Mohammed Sadiq (26) and a relative Mariumma had died earlier.

While two of the deaths have been confirmed due to Nipah, the blood samples of one of his sons had not been tested for the virus, sources said.

Nurse Lini Puthussery, who had initially treated members of Moosa's family who had been affected at Perambra Taluk hospital in the district, also died after being infected by the virus.

The state government has also issued an advisory, asking travellers to avoid visiting the four districts of Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur.

"Travelling to any part of Kerala is safe. However, if travellers wish to be extra cautious, they may avoid the four districts," Health Secretary Rajeev Sadanandan said.

The government has also called for an all-party meeting at Kozhikode on&nbsp;May 25&nbsp;to discuss the issue.

Most of the deaths reported are from Kozhikode and Malappuram districts from where 11 deaths have now been reported and 18 are undergoing treatment in various hospitals, including one in Wayanad.

Isolation wards have also been set up in Thalassery government hospital in Kannur, according to media reports.

In Kozhikode, from where seven deaths have been reported, District Collector U V Jose has ordered temporary stoppage of all training programmes and summer camps in affected areas such as Changaroth, Koorachund, Kottur, Cheruvannur, Chekyad, Chakkittapara and Olavanna.

The anganwadis in these regions too have been asked to close down to avoid spread of the virus among children.

However, no decision has been taken yet on reopening of schools after the summer vacation.

The administration is hoping that the situation will be under control by the time schools reopen after a week.

In neighbouring Malappuram, where three persons have died due to the virus, orders have been issued in four panchayats to stop Anganwadi classes for the time being.

A crisis management group has been constituted to coordinate the response of government agencies following the deaths in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts.

An expert team from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), including its director, Dr Sujeet Kumar Singh and Head of Epidemiology, Dr S K Jain, and a high-level team from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) are camping in Kerala to take stock of the situation.

Surveillance has been increased in all districts.

The outbreak of the virus infection, which is a newly emerging zoonosis that causes severe disease in both animals and humans, is suspected to be from an unused well which was infested with bats.

The natural host of the virus is believed to be fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family, Pteropus genus.&nbsp;

The deceased, V Moosa, 61, had been battling for his life for the past few days and was on ventilator support, Kozhikode district medical officer, Dr Jayasree E, told reporters

The death toll due to Nipah rose to 11 in Kerala, with one more person succumbing to the deadly virus here this morning. The deceased, V Moosa (61), had been battling for life since the past few days in a private hospital here and was on ventilator support, Kozhikode district medical officer, Dr Jayasree E, told reporters. About 160 samples have been sent for testing at the virology institute and 13 cases have been found to be positive, she said. Of the 13 confirmed cases, 11 people have died so far. The official further said confirmation is awaited with regard to one more death in Kozhikode. This is the fourth death in Moosa's family.Moosa's sons Mohammed Saliah (28), Mohammed Sadiq (26) and a relative Mariumma had died earlier. While two of the deaths have been confirmed due to Nipah, the blood samples of one of his sons had not been tested for the virus, sources said. Nurse Lini Puthussery, who had initially treated members of Moosa's family who had been affected at Perambra Taluk hospital in the district, also died after being infected by the virus. The state government has also issued an advisory, asking travellers to avoid visiting the four districts of Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur. "Travelling to any part of Kerala is safe. However, if travellers wish to be extra cautious, they may avoid the four districts," Health Secretary Rajeev Sadanandan said. The government has also called for an all-party meeting at Kozhikode on May 25 to discuss the issue. Most of the deaths reported are from Kozhikode and Malappuram districts from where 11 deaths have now been reported and 18 are undergoing treatment in various hospitals, including one in Wayanad. Isolation wards have also been set up in Thalassery government hospital in Kannur, according to media reports. In Kozhikode, from where seven deaths have been reported, District Collector U V Jose has ordered temporary stoppage of all training programmes and summer camps in affected areas such as Changaroth, Koorachund, Kottur, Cheruvannur, Chekyad, Chakkittapara and Olavanna. The anganwadis in these regions too have been asked to close down to avoid spread of the virus among children. However, no decision has been taken yet on reopening of schools after the summer vacation. The administration is hoping that the situation will be under control by the time schools reopen after a week. In neighbouring Malappuram, where three persons have died due to the virus, orders have been issued in four panchayats to stop Anganwadi classes for the time being. A crisis management group has been constituted to coordinate the response of government agencies following the deaths in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. An expert team from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), including its director, Dr Sujeet Kumar Singh and Head of Epidemiology, Dr S K Jain, and a high-level team from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) are camping in Kerala to take stock of the situation. Surveillance has been increased in all districts. The outbreak of the virus infection, which is a newly emerging zoonosis that causes severe disease in both animals and humans, is suspected to be from an unused well which was infested with bats. The natural host of the virus is believed to be fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family, Pteropus genus.

Nipah virus claims one more life in Kerala, death toll now at 11

The death toll in one of Cuba's worst air disasters rose to 111 on Monday while Mexico suspended the operations of the Mexican company that had leased the 39-year old Boeing 737 to Cuba's flagship airline.

Grettel Landrove, a 23-year old Cuban student who loved to dance flamenco, died in a Havana hospital from "severe traumatic lesions", Cuban state-run media reported.

Two Cuban women remained in critical condition due to burns and other trauma, with a high risk of complications, media reports said. Their progress is being closely followed by many Cubans through regular hospital updates.

The airliner crashed shortly after takeoff on a domestic flight from Havana to the eastern city of Holguin on Friday in one of Cuba's worst air disasters.

The accident has killed 100 Cubans, 7 Mexicans, two Argentines and two Sahrawis from a disputed area in Western Sahara known as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

The plane was a Boeing 737 built in 1979 and leased to Cuba's flagship carrier Cubana by a little-known Mexican company Damojh.

Mexico's civil aviation authority said on Monday it had temporarily suspended Damojh's operations while it made sure the firm adhered to regulations and gathered information to help investigators find the cause of the crash.

Damojh, which owned three 737s before the accident, has been suspended twice before during regulatory compliance reviews, the authority said.

Operations were halted for about a month in 2010 after a Damojh plane made an emergency landing in the Mexican beach resort of Puerto Vallarta due to a problem with its landing gear.

The authority investigated again in 2013 after receiving a complaint from Marco Aurelio Hernandez, who was identified on the weekend by Mexican media as a former Damojh pilot.

Hernandez was quoted by Mexican newspaper Milenio as criticizing Damojh for a lack of adequate maintenance on its planes.

The 2013 probe led to a suspension for about two months.

Most aircraft accidents take months to investigate. Cuban investigators have so far recovered the cockpit voice recorder and are still looking for the flight data recorder.

Cuba will lead the probe, with the aid of Mexican and US&nbsp;investigators, Cuban state-run media said. It will receive technical assistance from Boeing and Pratt & Whitney, part of US-based industrial group United Technologies, which manufactured the engines of the plane that crashed.

Friday's crash was the worst in Cuba since a Soviet-built Ilyushin-62M passenger plane came down near Havana in 1989, killing all 126 people on board and another 14 on the ground.

Most aircraft accidents take months to investigate. Cuban investigators have so far recovered the cockpit voice recorder and are still looking for the flight data recorder

The death toll in one of Cuba's worst air disasters rose to 111 on Monday while Mexico suspended the operations of the Mexican company that had leased the 39-year old Boeing 737 to Cuba's flagship airline. Grettel Landrove, a 23-year old Cuban student who loved to dance flamenco, died in a Havana hospital from "severe traumatic lesions", Cuban state-run media reported. Two Cuban women remained in critical condition due to burns and other trauma, with a high risk of complications, media reports said. Their progress is being closely followed by many Cubans through regular hospital updates. The airliner crashed shortly after takeoff on a domestic flight from Havana to the eastern city of Holguin on Friday in one of Cuba's worst air disasters. The accident has killed 100 Cubans, 7 Mexicans, two Argentines and two Sahrawis from a disputed area in Western Sahara known as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The plane was a Boeing 737 built in 1979 and leased to Cuba's flagship carrier Cubana by a little-known Mexican company Damojh. Mexico's civil aviation authority said on Monday it had temporarily suspended Damojh's operations while it made sure the firm adhered to regulations and gathered information to help investigators find the cause of the crash. Damojh, which owned three 737s before the accident, has been suspended twice before during regulatory compliance reviews, the authority said. Operations were halted for about a month in 2010 after a Damojh plane made an emergency landing in the Mexican beach resort of Puerto Vallarta due to a problem with its landing gear. The authority investigated again in 2013 after receiving a complaint from Marco Aurelio Hernandez, who was identified on the weekend by Mexican media as a former Damojh pilot. Hernandez was quoted by Mexican newspaper Milenio as criticizing Damojh for a lack of adequate maintenance on its planes. The 2013 probe led to a suspension for about two months. Most aircraft accidents take months to investigate. Cuban investigators have so far recovered the cockpit voice recorder and are still looking for the flight data recorder. Cuba will lead the probe, with the aid of Mexican and US investigators, Cuban state-run media said. It will receive technical assistance from Boeing and Pratt & Whitney, part of US-based industrial group United Technologies, which manufactured the engines of the plane that crashed. Friday's crash was the worst in Cuba since a Soviet-built Ilyushin-62M passenger plane came down near Havana in 1989, killing all 126 people on board and another 14 on the ground.

Cuba plane crash: Death toll rises to 111, Mexico suspends lease company

As many as 71 people lost their lives in five states, including 42 in Uttar Pradesh, due to lightning and thunderstorms since Sunday, the Home Ministry said today.

Among the dead, 42 were in Uttar Pradesh, 14 in West Bengal, 12 in Andhra Pradesh, two in Delhi and one in Uttarakhand, a ministry spokesperson said.

Altogether 83 people were injured in Uttar Pradesh, 11 in Delhi and two in Uttarakhand.

A total of 24 districts in Uttar Pradesh, six in West Bengal, three in Andhra Pradesh, two in Delhi and one in Uttarakhand were hit by the lightning and thunderstorms, the spokesperson said.

Dust storms and thunderstorms wreaked havoc since Sunday in Delhi and parts of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, leaving behind a trail of destruction.

High-velocity winds uprooted trees and affected road, rail and air services last evening in several places in north India, including the national capital.

Thunderstorms also occurred at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had said Sunday.&nbsp

The devastation comes over 12 days after storms hit Uttar Pradesh (UP), Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand and Punjab, killing 134 people and injuring over 400. UP was the worst affected, accounting for 80 deaths, most of them in Agra district in the western part of the state.

Subsequently, on May 9, several parts of Uttar Pradesh were struck by a severe storm that left 18 dead and 27 others injured.

Among the dead, 42 were in Uttar Pradesh, 14 in West Bengal, 12 in Andhra Pradesh, two in Delhi and one in Uttarakhand, a ministry spokesperson said

As many as 71 people lost their lives in five states, including 42 in Uttar Pradesh, due to lightning and thunderstorms since Sunday, the Home Ministry said today. Among the dead, 42 were in Uttar Pradesh, 14 in West Bengal, 12 in Andhra Pradesh, two in Delhi and one in Uttarakhand, a ministry spokesperson said. Altogether 83 people were injured in Uttar Pradesh, 11 in Delhi and two in Uttarakhand. A total of 24 districts in Uttar Pradesh, six in West Bengal, three in Andhra Pradesh, two in Delhi and one in Uttarakhand were hit by the lightning and thunderstorms, the spokesperson said. Dust storms and thunderstorms wreaked havoc since Sunday in Delhi and parts of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, leaving behind a trail of destruction. High-velocity winds uprooted trees and affected road, rail and air services last evening in several places in north India, including the national capital. Thunderstorms also occurred at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had said Sunday. The devastation comes over 12 days after storms hit Uttar Pradesh (UP), Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand and Punjab, killing 134 people and injuring over 400. UP was the worst affected, accounting for 80 deaths, most of them in Agra district in the western part of the state. Subsequently, on May 9, several parts of Uttar Pradesh were struck by a severe storm that left 18 dead and 27 others injured.

Death toll rises to 71 due to lightning, thunderstorm in 5 states

Mine operator Sibanye-Stillwater said on Friday that 10 of 13 miners trapped underground at its South African gold mine were rescued but four of the 10 have died from their injuries.

The miners were trapped at the company's Masakhane mine west of Johannesburg on Thursday after an earthquake caused a cave-in.

Five of 13 miners were rescued on Thursday but one of them had died.

Sibanye-Stillwater said in an updated statement that six of the rescued employees are in hospital and another has been located, while two employees remain unaccounted for.

A further update will be provided when more information is available, it said.

South Africa is home to the world's deepest mines.

More than 1,000 mineworkers were rescued after being trapped underground for more than 24 hours after a storm knocked out power lines supplying electricity to Sibanye-Stillwater's Beatrix gold mine in February.

The miners were trapped at the company's Masakhane mine west of Johannesburg on Thursday after an earthquake caused a cave-in

Mine operator Sibanye-Stillwater said on Friday that 10 of 13 miners trapped underground at its South African gold mine were rescued but four of the 10 have died from their injuries. The miners were trapped at the company's Masakhane mine west of Johannesburg on Thursday after an earthquake caused a cave-in. Five of 13 miners were rescued on Thursday but one of them had died. Sibanye-Stillwater said in an updated statement that six of the rescued employees are in hospital and another has been located, while two employees remain unaccounted for. A further update will be provided when more information is available, it said. South Africa is home to the world's deepest mines. More than 1,000 mineworkers were rescued after being trapped underground for more than 24 hours after a storm knocked out power lines supplying electricity to Sibanye-Stillwater's Beatrix gold mine in February.

South Africa: Death toll rises at gold mine

At least 10 were killed in a building collapse in Madhya Pradesh's Indore last night. According to reports, a four storeyed-building in Sarwate area collapsed around 9:20 pm last night.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPDATE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UPDATE</a> Indore building collapse: Death toll rises to ten. Rescue operations continue. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadhyaPradesh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadhyaPradesh</a> <a href="https://t.co/mg19KodZEA">pic.twitter.com/mg19KodZEA</a>
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Indore's Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Harinarayan Mishra noted that&nbsp;a car rammed into the building after which the building collapsed.

He stated that the building was too old to bear the intensity of the collision. The building hosted a hotel and lodging facility.&nbsp;

According to the local police, at least three are critically injured with nearly 20 feared trapped under the debris.

Rescue operations are underway, further details are awaited.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indore?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indore</a> building collapse: Collector orders magisterial inquiry into the incident that claimed 10 lives. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadhyaPradesh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadhyaPradesh</a>
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Meanwhile,&nbsp;Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each for the next kin of those killed in the Indore building collapse.

He also granted a compensation of Rs 50,000 for those injured in this incident.

A team of police and fire brigade personnel have been carrying out rescue operations. Locals here describe the building to be at least 50 years old that housed a hotel and accommodated its staff.&nbsp;

Most of the deceased and injured are suspected to be the staff and guests of the hotel.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Police said three people are critically injured and that as many as 20 are feared trapped in the debris

At least 10 were killed in a building collapse in Madhya Pradesh's Indore last night. According to reports, a four storeyed-building in Sarwate area collapsed around 9:20 pm last night. #UPDATE Indore building collapse: Death toll rises to ten. Rescue operations continue. #MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/mg19KodZEA — ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2018 × Indore's Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Harinarayan Mishra noted that a car rammed into the building after which the building collapsed. He stated that the building was too old to bear the intensity of the collision. The building hosted a hotel and lodging facility. According to the local police, at least three are critically injured with nearly 20 feared trapped under the debris. Rescue operations are underway, further details are awaited. #Indore building collapse: Collector orders magisterial inquiry into the incident that claimed 10 lives. #MadhyaPradesh — ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2018 × Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each for the next kin of those killed in the Indore building collapse. He also granted a compensation of Rs 50,000 for those injured in this incident. A team of police and fire brigade personnel have been carrying out rescue operations. Locals here describe the building to be at least 50 years old that housed a hotel and accommodated its staff. Most of the deceased and injured are suspected to be the staff and guests of the hotel. (With inputs from agencies)

4-storey Indore building housing hotel collapses after car crashes into it, 10 dead

New air strikes on the Syrian rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta on Saturday took the civilian death toll from seven days of devastating bombardment to more than 500 after the United Nations again delayed a vote on a ceasefire. 
 
A total of 127 children figure among the 510 dead in the bombing campaign that the regime launched last Sunday on the enclave just outside Damascus, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. 
 
The Britain-based monitor of the war said at least 32 civilians were killed in Saturday&#39;s strikes, including eight children. A night of heavy bombardment sparked fires in residential districts, it said. 
 
The Observatory has said the air strikes are being carried out by Syrian and Russian forces. Moscow, which intervened militarily in support of its Damascus ally in 2015, has denied any direct involvement in the Eastern Ghouta bombardment. 
 
US President Donald Trump on Friday said Russia&#39;s recent actions in Syria were a &quot;disgrace&quot;.

The UN Security Council on Friday&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/un-security-council-to-vote-on-syria-ceasefire-today-33806">delayed to 19:30 GMT</a>&nbsp;a vote on a draft resolution demanding a 30-day ceasefire in Syria, diplomats said.

Negotiations were continuing to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russia-blocks-un-resolution-on-ceasefire-in-syria-33759">avoid a Russia veto of the text&nbsp;</a>that would establish a truce to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and medical evacuations.

Turkey urged the international community to end the bloodshed in Eastern Ghouta. &quot;The world should say stop to this massacre,&quot; Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan&#39;s spokesman said on Twitter. 
 
Control of Eastern Ghouta is shared between two main Islamist factions, while Syria&#39;s former Al-Qaeda affiliate is also present, and Russia insists there can be no ceasefire with the jihadists or their allies. 
 
Russia has been pressing for a negotiated withdrawal of rebel fighters and their families like the one that saw the government retake full control of second city Aleppo in December 2016. But all three rebel groups have refused.

During a council meeting called by Russia, Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia presented a new raft of amendments to a draft resolution that would allow deliveries of humanitarian aid and medical evacuations during the pause.

Negotiations on the draft presented by Sweden and Kuwait on February 9 have dragged on as hundreds of Syrians have died in a fierce government air campaign in the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta.

World leaders have expressed outrage at the plight of civilians in Eastern Ghouta, which UN chief Antonio Guterres called &quot;hell on earth&quot;, but have so far been powerless to halt the bloodshed. 
 
The enclave is completely surrounded by government-controlled territory and its 400,000 residents are unwilling or unable to flee the deadly siege. 
 
In one of the many unfolding dramas at a Douma field hospital, a young woman amputated from the knee breastfed a 40-day-old infant who had lost his entire family in the bombings. 
 
&quot;She doesn&#39;t know yet that her own daughter has been killed,&quot; a nurse said. 
 
Food supplies have been running dry, with bread no longer available on local markets. 
 
&quot;I haven&#39;t eaten since the day before yesterday,&quot; said a mother in a shelter with her two children in Douma, Eastern Ghouta&#39;s main town. &quot;They haven&#39;t stopped crying for three days.&quot; 
 
The cornered rebels in Eastern Ghouta have been firing back into Damascus, where six civilians were wounded on Saturday, state media said. 
 
Around 20 people have been killed in eastern districts of the capital since Sunday, according to state media, and many residents have sought temporary accommodation elsewhere for fear of a further intensification of the fighting. 
 
At the United Nations, US ambassador Nikki Haley expressed dismay as negotiations dragged on to secure Russian approval for a ceasefire resolution. 
 
&quot;Unbelievable that Russia is stalling a vote on a ceasefire allowing humanitarian access in Syria,&quot; Haley posted on Twitter. 
 
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron wrote to Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Friday to ask him to back the ceasefire. 
 
Negotiations have stumbled over a key provision of the draft resolution that specifies when the ceasefire will begin. 
 
Following hours of tough negotiations, an amended draft was circulated that demands a 30-day ceasefire &quot;without delay,&quot; while stopping short of specifying the timing. &nbsp; 
 
A previous draft had said the ceasefire would go into force 72 hours after the adoption, but that was dropped from the text in a bid to reach compromise with Russia. 
 
In another concession to Russia, the draft also specifies that the ceasefire will not apply to operations against the Islamic State group or Al-Qaeda, along with &quot;individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated&quot; with the blacklisted terror groups. 
 
The text would demand the immediate lifting of all sieges in Syria, including that on Eastern Ghouta, and order all sides to &quot;cease depriving civilians of food and medicine indispensable to their survival&quot;.

A total of 127 children figure among the 510 dead in the bombing campaign that the regime launched last Sunday on the enclave just outside Damascus, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said

New air strikes on the Syrian rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta on Saturday took the civilian death toll from seven days of devastating bombardment to more than 500 after the United Nations again delayed a vote on a ceasefire. A total of 127 children figure among the 510 dead in the bombing campaign that the regime launched last Sunday on the enclave just outside Damascus, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Britain-based monitor of the war said at least 32 civilians were killed in Saturday's strikes, including eight children. A night of heavy bombardment sparked fires in residential districts, it said. The Observatory has said the air strikes are being carried out by Syrian and Russian forces. Moscow, which intervened militarily in support of its Damascus ally in 2015, has denied any direct involvement in the Eastern Ghouta bombardment. US President Donald Trump on Friday said Russia's recent actions in Syria were a "disgrace". The UN Security Council on Friday delayed to 19:30 GMT a vote on a draft resolution demanding a 30-day ceasefire in Syria, diplomats said. Negotiations were continuing to avoid a Russia veto of the text that would establish a truce to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and medical evacuations. Turkey urged the international community to end the bloodshed in Eastern Ghouta. "The world should say stop to this massacre," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman said on Twitter. Control of Eastern Ghouta is shared between two main Islamist factions, while Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate is also present, and Russia insists there can be no ceasefire with the jihadists or their allies. Russia has been pressing for a negotiated withdrawal of rebel fighters and their families like the one that saw the government retake full control of second city Aleppo in December 2016. But all three rebel groups have refused. During a council meeting called by Russia, Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia presented a new raft of amendments to a draft resolution that would allow deliveries of humanitarian aid and medical evacuations during the pause. Negotiations on the draft presented by Sweden and Kuwait on February 9 have dragged on as hundreds of Syrians have died in a fierce government air campaign in the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta. World leaders have expressed outrage at the plight of civilians in Eastern Ghouta, which UN chief Antonio Guterres called "hell on earth", but have so far been powerless to halt the bloodshed. The enclave is completely surrounded by government-controlled territory and its 400,000 residents are unwilling or unable to flee the deadly siege. In one of the many unfolding dramas at a Douma field hospital, a young woman amputated from the knee breastfed a 40-day-old infant who had lost his entire family in the bombings. "She doesn't know yet that her own daughter has been killed," a nurse said. Food supplies have been running dry, with bread no longer available on local markets. "I haven't eaten since the day before yesterday," said a mother in a shelter with her two children in Douma, Eastern Ghouta's main town. "They haven't stopped crying for three days." The cornered rebels in Eastern Ghouta have been firing back into Damascus, where six civilians were wounded on Saturday, state media said. Around 20 people have been killed in eastern districts of the capital since Sunday, according to state media, and many residents have sought temporary accommodation elsewhere for fear of a further intensification of the fighting. At the United Nations, US ambassador Nikki Haley expressed dismay as negotiations dragged on to secure Russian approval for a ceasefire resolution. "Unbelievable that Russia is stalling a vote on a ceasefire allowing humanitarian access in Syria," Haley posted on Twitter. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron wrote to Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Friday to ask him to back the ceasefire. Negotiations have stumbled over a key provision of the draft resolution that specifies when the ceasefire will begin. Following hours of tough negotiations, an amended draft was circulated that demands a 30-day ceasefire "without delay," while stopping short of specifying the timing. A previous draft had said the ceasefire would go into force 72 hours after the adoption, but that was dropped from the text in a bid to reach compromise with Russia. In another concession to Russia, the draft also specifies that the ceasefire will not apply to operations against the Islamic State group or Al-Qaeda, along with "individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated" with the blacklisted terror groups. The text would demand the immediate lifting of all sieges in Syria, including that on Eastern Ghouta, and order all sides to "cease depriving civilians of food and medicine indispensable to their survival".

Death toll in Syria enclave tops 500 after UN delays truce vote

The death toll of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/two-killed-over-200-injured-in-64-magnitude-taiwan-earthquake-32045">earthquake of magnitude 6.4 </a>which struck near the coastal city of Hualien in Taiwan late on Tuesday has risen to 15, local media reported on Saturday.&nbsp;

At least two are still missing and 280 people have been injured, reports said. Rescuers combed through the rubble of collapsed buildings on Wednesday, some using their hands as they searched for the missing victims.&nbsp;

Two more bodies were found in a building in Hualien more than 80 hours after it partially collapsed in a magnitude 6.4 earthquake, bringing the death toll to from the Tuesday night quake to 14.

The magnitude 6.4 quake, which hit near the coastal city just before midnight (1600 GMT) on Tuesday, officials said.&nbsp;

The worst-hit<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/64-magnitude-quake-shakes-eastern-taiwan-32041"> Marshal Hotel </a>partly crumpled into the ground, leaving it slanting on its side, as rescuers on cranes attempted to free people from its upper floors.

&quot;It&#39;s the biggest quake I&#39;ve experienced in Hualien in more than 10 years,&quot; resident Blue Hsu told media, who said his home shook violently.

Five more buildings including a hospital have also been damaged with roads strewn with rubble, cracks along highways and damaged buildings tilted at angles.

At least two are still missing and 280 people have been injured, reports said. Rescuers combed through the rubble of collapsed buildings on Wednesday, some using their hands as they searched for the missing victims

The death toll of the earthquake of magnitude 6.4 which struck near the coastal city of Hualien in Taiwan late on Tuesday has risen to 15, local media reported on Saturday. At least two are still missing and 280 people have been injured, reports said. Rescuers combed through the rubble of collapsed buildings on Wednesday, some using their hands as they searched for the missing victims. Two more bodies were found in a building in Hualien more than 80 hours after it partially collapsed in a magnitude 6.4 earthquake, bringing the death toll to from the Tuesday night quake to 14. The magnitude 6.4 quake, which hit near the coastal city just before midnight (1600 GMT) on Tuesday, officials said. The worst-hit Marshal Hotel partly crumpled into the ground, leaving it slanting on its side, as rescuers on cranes attempted to free people from its upper floors. "It's the biggest quake I've experienced in Hualien in more than 10 years," resident Blue Hsu told media, who said his home shook violently. Five more buildings including a hospital have also been damaged with roads strewn with rubble, cracks along highways and damaged buildings tilted at angles.

Taiwan earthquake: Death toll rises to 15

Authorities in southern California raised the death toll from mudslides that battered the region to 19 on Saturday as rescue workers continued the search for victims.

Five people are still missing after the mudslides, according to an update on the County of Santa Barbara&#39;s website, which warned people to &quot;anticipate the numbers of missing persons to fluctuate significantly.&quot;

&quot;Crews continue to search buildings and debris flows for trapped victims. The unstable environment remains a critical threat to civilians and responders,&quot; it said.

&quot;The large amounts of mud and debris are making access and progress challenging.&quot;

Heavy rain on Tuesday, which followed 10 months of drought, sent sticky mud and debris flowing down the hills into Montecito.

In addition to the dead and injured, 65 homes have been destroyed while another 462 sustained damage.

Terrifying wildfires in the area forced evacuations in December, and the mudslides struck just two weeks after people returned.

The fires burned most vegetation, leaving perfect conditions for the latest disaster to unfold.

Five people are still missing after the mudslides

Authorities in southern California raised the death toll from mudslides that battered the region to 19 on Saturday as rescue workers continued the search for victims. Five people are still missing after the mudslides, according to an update on the County of Santa Barbara's website, which warned people to "anticipate the numbers of missing persons to fluctuate significantly." "Crews continue to search buildings and debris flows for trapped victims. The unstable environment remains a critical threat to civilians and responders," it said. "The large amounts of mud and debris are making access and progress challenging." Heavy rain on Tuesday, which followed 10 months of drought, sent sticky mud and debris flowing down the hills into Montecito. In addition to the dead and injured, 65 homes have been destroyed while another 462 sustained damage. Terrifying wildfires in the area forced evacuations in December, and the mudslides struck just two weeks after people returned. The fires burned most vegetation, leaving perfect conditions for the latest disaster to unfold.

Death toll from California mudslides rises to 19

Cold wave conditions continued in North&nbsp;India on Thursday as the death toll rose to 143.&nbsp;

Several parts of North India, as well as NCR, witnessed heavy fog and a dip in temperature on Thursday leading to low visibility.

Around 22 trains were cancelled, nine reschedules and 30 were delayed on Thursday.&nbsp;

Flights were also grounded as visibility levels dropped to below 100 metres.

&nbsp;&quot;There will be mist or shallow fog in the morning,&quot; an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Many places in Jammu and Kashmir are facing sub-zero temperatures. The Dal Lake in Srinagar city froze at many places.

Kargil in Ladakh recorded bone-chilling night temperature at minus 23.6 degree Celsius, lowest in Jammu and Kashmir this season.

Leh was the second coldest town in the state with the minimum temperature recorded at minus 17.4 degrees Celsius.

Several reports claimed people dying of cold in India with D<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/over-100-people-die-due-to-the-harsh-cold-in-north-india-29071" target="_blank">elhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board</a> denying&nbsp;reports of deaths in the capital saying that &quot;such deaths happen in summer also and it would be unfair to connect it with cold&quot;.

(with inputs from ANI)

Several parts of North India, as well as NCR, witnessed heavy fog and a dip in temperature on Thursday leading to low visibility

Cold wave conditions continued in North India on Thursday as the death toll rose to 143. Several parts of North India, as well as NCR, witnessed heavy fog and a dip in temperature on Thursday leading to low visibility. Around 22 trains were cancelled, nine reschedules and 30 were delayed on Thursday. Flights were also grounded as visibility levels dropped to below 100 metres. "There will be mist or shallow fog in the morning," an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said on Wednesday. Many places in Jammu and Kashmir are facing sub-zero temperatures. The Dal Lake in Srinagar city froze at many places. Kargil in Ladakh recorded bone-chilling night temperature at minus 23.6 degree Celsius, lowest in Jammu and Kashmir this season. Leh was the second coldest town in the state with the minimum temperature recorded at minus 17.4 degrees Celsius. Several reports claimed people dying of cold in India with Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board denying reports of deaths in the capital saying that "such deaths happen in summer also and it would be unfair to connect it with cold". (with inputs from ANI)

Death toll rises to 143 as cold wave continues in North India

California rescuers worked through the night plucking stranded Santa Barbara residents from mudslides that have killed at least 15 people and devastated the coastal community after it was drenched by rain, authorities said on Wednesday.

The death toll could go higher still as rescuers continued searching for victims, mostly in the upscale enclave of Montecito - where mudslides slammed into homes, covered highways and swept away vehicles - officials warned.

&quot;We don&#39;t know how many additional people are still trapped,&quot; Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said on the &quot;CBS This Morning&quot; program. &quot;We know there are some, and we&#39;re still making our way into certain areas of Montecito and the adjacent areas to determine if anyone is still there and still alive.&quot;

The mudslides followed an ordeal of fire and water for the area northwest of Los Angeles. A torrential downpour on Tuesday soaked the area, which was left vulnerable after much of its vegetation burned in the state&#39;s largest wildfire last month.

Forecasters were calling for clear skies on Wednesday.

Emergency workers began their task on Tuesday using search dogs and helicopters to rescue dozens of people stranded in mud-coated rubble in the normally pristine area, sandwiched between the ocean and the sprawling Los Padres National Forest.

A 14-year-old girl was found alive on Tuesday after firefighters using rescue dogs heard cries for help from what was left of her Montecito home, the Los Angeles Times reported.

&quot;I thought I was dead there for a minute,&quot; the teenager Lauren Cantin, covered in mud, told NBC News after workers spent six hours rescuing her.

Rescuers worked through the night, searching for victims amid the dozens of homes that were destroyed, and using helicopters to lift more than 50 stranded residents from the mud.

&quot;We&#39;re finding people continuously,&quot; said Yaneris Muniz, spokeswoman for the Santa Barbara County Joint Information Center. &quot;We had a helicopter and several crews out all night, and now that it&#39;s day, we&#39;ll be able to intensify those searches.&quot;

Officials have ordered residents in a large swath of Montecito to stay in their homes so that rescuers can better go about their work.

About 300 people were stranded in a canyon. Local rescue crews, using borrowed helicopters from the U.S. Coast Guard, worked to airlift them out, officials said.

The county initially ordered 7,000 residents to evacuate and urged another 23,000 to do so voluntarily, but only 10 to 15 percent complied with mandatory orders, said Amber Anderson, a spokeswoman for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

The county set up an evacuation shelter at Santa Barbara City College, where some people showed up drenched in mud, and also provided a place for people to take their animals.

The number of fatalities surpassed the death toll from a California mudslide on Jan. 10, 2005, when 10 people were killed as a hillside gave way in the town of La Conchita, less than 20 miles south of the latest disaster.

Last month&#39;s wildfires, the largest in California history, left the area vulnerable to mudslides. The fires burned away grass and shrubs that hold the soil in place and also baked a waxy layer into the earth that prevents water from sinking deeply into the ground.

Some local residents had to flee their homes due to the fires last month and again this week because of the rains.

Emergency workers began their task on Tuesday using search dogs and helicopters to rescue dozens of people stranded in mud-coated rubble

California rescuers worked through the night plucking stranded Santa Barbara residents from mudslides that have killed at least 15 people and devastated the coastal community after it was drenched by rain, authorities said on Wednesday. The death toll could go higher still as rescuers continued searching for victims, mostly in the upscale enclave of Montecito - where mudslides slammed into homes, covered highways and swept away vehicles - officials warned. "We don't know how many additional people are still trapped," Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said on the "CBS This Morning" program. "We know there are some, and we're still making our way into certain areas of Montecito and the adjacent areas to determine if anyone is still there and still alive." The mudslides followed an ordeal of fire and water for the area northwest of Los Angeles. A torrential downpour on Tuesday soaked the area, which was left vulnerable after much of its vegetation burned in the state's largest wildfire last month. Forecasters were calling for clear skies on Wednesday. Emergency workers began their task on Tuesday using search dogs and helicopters to rescue dozens of people stranded in mud-coated rubble in the normally pristine area, sandwiched between the ocean and the sprawling Los Padres National Forest. A 14-year-old girl was found alive on Tuesday after firefighters using rescue dogs heard cries for help from what was left of her Montecito home, the Los Angeles Times reported. "I thought I was dead there for a minute," the teenager Lauren Cantin, covered in mud, told NBC News after workers spent six hours rescuing her. Rescuers worked through the night, searching for victims amid the dozens of homes that were destroyed, and using helicopters to lift more than 50 stranded residents from the mud. "We're finding people continuously," said Yaneris Muniz, spokeswoman for the Santa Barbara County Joint Information Center. "We had a helicopter and several crews out all night, and now that it's day, we'll be able to intensify those searches." Officials have ordered residents in a large swath of Montecito to stay in their homes so that rescuers can better go about their work. About 300 people were stranded in a canyon. Local rescue crews, using borrowed helicopters from the U.S. Coast Guard, worked to airlift them out, officials said. The county initially ordered 7,000 residents to evacuate and urged another 23,000 to do so voluntarily, but only 10 to 15 percent complied with mandatory orders, said Amber Anderson, a spokeswoman for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. The county set up an evacuation shelter at Santa Barbara City College, where some people showed up drenched in mud, and also provided a place for people to take their animals. The number of fatalities surpassed the death toll from a California mudslide on Jan. 10, 2005, when 10 people were killed as a hillside gave way in the town of La Conchita, less than 20 miles south of the latest disaster. Last month's wildfires, the largest in California history, left the area vulnerable to mudslides. The fires burned away grass and shrubs that hold the soil in place and also baked a waxy layer into the earth that prevents water from sinking deeply into the ground. Some local residents had to flee their homes due to the fires last month and again this week because of the rains.

California mudslide death toll up to 15 as rescues continue

The death toll from the explosion at the NTPC power plant in Unchahar has risen to 32.

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Death toll in Unchahar <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NTPCExplosion?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NTPCExplosion</a> rises to 32.
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A boiler had burst at the plant on Wednesday.&nbsp;

News reports said there were as many as 100 workers around the boiler when it burst.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ntpc-boiler-explosion-it-started-shaking-then-there-was-a-blast-recalls-worker-23351" target="_blank">Also</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ntpc-boiler-explosion-it-started-shaking-then-there-was-a-blast-recalls-worker-23351" target="_blank"> read -- NTPC boiler explosion: &#39;It started shaking, then there was a blast,&#39; recalls worker</a>

News reports added that the explosion took place as workers stood under the massive boiler trying to de-choke it manually, and that safety guidelines were probably violated.&nbsp;

The state and central governments have since announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 for the injured.&nbsp;

Rahul Gandhi, who visited Rae Bareily -- where the accident took place and his mother&#39;s parliamentary constituency -- has demanded a judicial probe into the incident government jobs for the injured.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-to-visit-raebareli-after-ntpc-plant-explosion-23337" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;Rahul Gandhi to visit Rae Bareli after NTPC plant explosion</a>

&nbsp;

A boiler had burst at the plant on Wednesday

The death toll from the explosion at the NTPC power plant in Unchahar has risen to 32. Death toll in Unchahar #NTPCExplosion rises to 32. — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 3, 2017 × A boiler had burst at the plant on Wednesday. News reports said there were as many as 100 workers around the boiler when it burst. Also read -- NTPC boiler explosion: 'It started shaking, then there was a blast,' recalls worker News reports added that the explosion took place as workers stood under the massive boiler trying to de-choke it manually, and that safety guidelines were probably violated. The state and central governments have since announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Rahul Gandhi, who visited Rae Bareily -- where the accident took place and his mother's parliamentary constituency -- has demanded a judicial probe into the incident government jobs for the injured. Also read: Rahul Gandhi to visit Rae Bareli after NTPC plant explosion

NTPC blast: Death tolls rises to 32

At least&nbsp;27&nbsp;people died in a massive wave of&nbsp;wildfires&nbsp;raging in central and northern Portugal&nbsp;on Sunday (October 15) and Monday (October 16) in the worst such calamity since a blaze killed 64 people in June, civil protection told a news briefing.

Patricia Gaspar, a civil protection service spokeswoman, told reporters firefighters were still battling 145 fires and 32 of the blazes were considered as serious. At least 51 people have been injured in the fires, she said.

Nine dead as&nbsp;wildfires&nbsp;ravage northern&nbsp;Portugal, Spain

The fires, some of which an official said had been started deliberately, were fanned by strong winds as remnants of ex-Hurricane Ophelia brushed the Iberian coast.

They had spread quickly over the weekend across a landscape left tinder-dry by a hot summer, and some blazes in the northwestern Spanish region of Galicia remained out of control on Monday, authorities there said.

Authorities in&nbsp;Portugal, where a huge fire killed 64 people in June, said the&nbsp;death&nbsp;toll&nbsp;was likely to rise. As many as 20 people could have been killed, television channel SIC said.

Patricia Gaspar, a civil protection service spokeswoman, told reporters firefighters were still battling 145 fires and 32 of the blazes were considered as serious. At least 51 people have been injured in the fires, she said

At least 27 people died in a massive wave of wildfires raging in central and northern Portugal on Sunday (October 15) and Monday (October 16) in the worst such calamity since a blaze killed 64 people in June, civil protection told a news briefing. Patricia Gaspar, a civil protection service spokeswoman, told reporters firefighters were still battling 145 fires and 32 of the blazes were considered as serious. At least 51 people have been injured in the fires, she said. Nine dead as wildfires ravage northern Portugal, Spain The fires, some of which an official said had been started deliberately, were fanned by strong winds as remnants of ex-Hurricane Ophelia brushed the Iberian coast. They had spread quickly over the weekend across a landscape left tinder-dry by a hot summer, and some blazes in the northwestern Spanish region of Galicia remained out of control on Monday, authorities there said. Authorities in Portugal, where a huge fire killed 64 people in June, said the death toll was likely to rise. As many as 20 people could have been killed, television channel SIC said.

Death toll in Portugal wildfires rises to 27

Early in the morning on <a href="https://www.loc.gov/wiseguide/sept09/independence.html">Sept. 16, 1810</a>, priest, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the bell of his church in the small town of Dolores, near Guanajuato, Mexico. His parishioners gathered round, and he <a href="https://books.google.com.sv/books?id=uuBVAAAAMAAJ&amp;source=gbs_navlinks_s">urged them</a> to revolt against Spain&rsquo;s two-year-old Napoleonic government.

Hidalgo&rsquo;s call to arms, which later became known later as the Grito de Dolores <a href="http://www.revistadelauniversidad.unam.mx/6709/carballo/67carballo.html">(Cry of Dolores)</a>, triggered the Mexican War of Independence. Every September 15, the president of Mexico takes to the balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City to <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=4Zn_nCFYY_4C&amp;pg=PA243&amp;dq=grito+de+Dolores+Hidalgo&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;redir_esc=y#v=onepage&amp;q=grito%20de%20Dolores&amp;f=false">reenact</a> it.

This year, just a week before Independence Day, a historic <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-seismologists-didnt-see-mexicos-deadly-earthquake-coming-83865">earthquake struck Mexico&rsquo;s southern coast</a>, killing <a href="https://elpais.com/internacional/2017/09/11/mexico/1505157398_686934.html">nearly 100 people</a>. So President Enrique Pe&ntilde;a Nieto added a poignant element to his Grito by including in the incantation a reference to the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/09/world/americas/mexico-earthquake-juchitan-de-zaragoza.html?mcubz=3&amp;_r=0">impoverished states that were most devastated</a> by the quake, crying &ldquo;Long live the solidarity of Mexicans with Chiapas and Oaxaca!&rdquo;

It was a nice twist on tradition, but these two states will need more than expressions of solidarity to recover. The <a href="https://twitter.com/SismologicoMX/status/906132423275986945">8.2 magnitude</a> quake is the <a href="https://twitter.com/EPN/status/906079206987194368">strongest</a> Mexico has experienced in 100 years, surpassing even the Sept. 19, 1985 earthquake that killed an estimated <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080610175800/http:/www.ssn.unam.mx/website/jsp/Carteles/sismo85.jsp">40,000 people</a> in and around Mexico City.

It was also significantly more powerful than the recent <a href="https://twitter.com/SSNMexico/status/910223086263336961">7.1 magnitude</a> earthquake that <a href="http://www.reforma.com/aplicaciones/articulo/default.aspx?id=1213679&amp;v=15">killed upwards of 200 people</a> in and around Mexico&rsquo;s capital on September 19.

Natural and man-made disasters

This latest quake shook Mexico City 32 years to the day after the 1985 &ldquo;big one.&rdquo; I was 11 years old when the quake hit, and I recall the government of President Miguel de la Madrid reacting with what can only be described as criminal apathy: In the first days after the disaster, he <a href="http://www.informador.com.mx/mexico/2012/367226/6/de-la-madrid-el-presidente-recordado-por-el-terremoto-de-1985.htm">prevented the army from rescuing victims</a> and rejected international aid.

The people of Mexico City, however, <a href="http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2005/09/11/mas-jesus.html">took to the streets</a>, distributing food, water and blankets among those who needed them and digging neighbors free from the rubble with their <a href="http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/articulo/metropoli/df/2015/09/13/terremoto-de-1985-la-solidaridad-en-su-maxima-expresion#imagen-1">bare hands</a>.

This time around, the death toll is significantly lower than it was in 1985: 78 fatalities in Oaxaca, 16 in Chiapas and four in Tabasco for the <a href="https://elpais.com/internacional/2017/09/11/mexico/1505157398_686934.html">first earthquake</a>, and more than 220 for the <a href="https://elpais.com/internacional/2017/09/19/actualidad/1505845600_736646.html">second</a>. In part, this reflects <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/25/world/mexicans-link-damage-in-quake-to-breaches-of-city-building-code.html?mcubz=3">improvements</a> in building regulations since 1985 and the creation of both a <a href="http://www.cires.org.mx/">Mexican Seismic Alert System</a> and a <a href="https://www.gob.mx/proteccion-civil">National Civil Protection System</a>.

Still, the damages are daunting. Scores of buildings in Mexico City have suffered <a href="https://twitter.com/Enrique_Acevedo/status/910227100896022528">catastrophic damage</a>.

But it was Oaxaca and Chiapas &ndash; Mexico&rsquo;s two poorest states &ndash; that took the harshest blow. More than 2,500 <a href="http://www.jornada.com.mx/ultimas/2017/09/18/dano-el-sismo-2-646-escuelas-en-oaxaca-y-chiapas">schools</a> have been severely harmed and 85,000 <a href="http://www.animalpolitico.com/2017/09/censo-danos-oaxaca-chiapas/">houses</a> have been affected &ndash; more than 17,000 of them beyond repair.

Poverty makes these disaster impacts worse in the south. On average, <a href="https://www.forbes.com.mx/los-10-estados-con-mas-pobres-en-mexico/">46 percent of Mexican households live in poverty</a>. But <a href="http://www.coneval.org.mx/coordinacion/entidades/Oaxaca/Paginas/Pobreza-2016.aspx">70 percent of Oaxaca&rsquo;s population</a> earns less than what&rsquo;s needed to satisfy basic family needs, according to the government&rsquo;s CONEVAL agency, and 77 percent of <a href="http://www.coneval.org.mx/coordinacion/entidades/Chiapas/Paginas/Pobreza-2016.aspx">Chiapas</a> households do.

In both states, the lowest-income families making as little as <a href="http://www.animalpolitico.com/2017/08/ingreso-menos-ganan-mayor-inegi/">37 pesos</a> (US$2) per day, less than half&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sat.gob.mx/informacion_fiscal/tablas_indicadores/paginas/salarios_minimos.aspx">the Mexican minimum wage</a>, which is 80.04 pesos, or around $4.50 a day.

The World Bank lists Mexico as the <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?year_high_desc=true">15th most powerful economy</a> in the world, but its wealth has not trickled down to the southern states.

That fact has left many on the ground wondering whether the <a href="http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/nacion/seguridad/garantizan-recursos-para-damnificados">16 billion Mexican pesos</a> ($901 million) in federal disaster assistance being offered to <a href="http://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5497237&amp;fecha=14/09/2017">283 municipalities in Oaxaca</a> and <a href="http://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5497236&amp;fecha=14/09/2017">97 in Chiapas</a> will get to where it needs to go.

Unequal development in Mexico is an ongoing challenge. A <a href="http://www.banxico.org.mx/publicaciones-y-discursos/publicaciones/informes-periodicos/reportes-sobre-las-economias-regionales/%7BF88DFFC0-499D-D23B-BB92-E8D9539B76D1%7D.pdf">recent report from the Bank of Mexico</a> showed that during the second trimester of 2017, the Mexican economy grew in north (0.9 percent), center-north (1.2 percent) and central zones (0.7 percent), home to such powerhouse cities as Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City, but contracted over 1 percent in the rural south.

If there&rsquo;s a silver lining to these twin earthquakes, it&rsquo;s that the post-disaster recovery analyses have finally shed some light on the <a href="http://cuentame.inegi.org.mx/monografias/informacion/chis/poblacion/default.aspx?tema=me&amp;e=07">historical neglect of Chiapas</a> and <a href="http://cuentame.inegi.org.mx/monografias/informacion/oax/poblacion/">Oaxaca</a>, together home to around nine million Mexicans.

What the earthquake unearthed

It is not incidental that many of those residents are of indigenous descent. Upwards of <a href="https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/121653/Infografia_INDI_FINAL_08082016.pdf">40 percent</a> of Mexico&rsquo;s indigenous peoples live in the southern states of <a href="http://www.cuentame.inegi.org.mx/monografias/informacion/oax/poblacion/diversidad.aspx">Oaxaca</a>, <a href="http://cuentame.inegi.org.mx/monografias/informacion/chis/poblacion/diversidad.aspx?tema=me&amp;e=07">Chiapas</a> and <a href="http://www.cuentame.inegi.org.mx/monografias/informacion/yuc/poblacion/diversidad.aspx?tema=me&amp;e=31">Yucat&aacute;n</a>.

Their economic exclusion dates back to the colonial era. In 1813, a Chiapas priest, Mariano Robles Dom&iacute;nguez de Mazariegos, testified in Spain to the &ldquo;<a href="http://weblioteca.uv.es/cgi/view7.pl?sesion=201709181948475512&amp;source=uv_im_b15136097&amp;div=34">violent humiliations</a>&rdquo; suffered by the indigenous inhabitants of Chiapas, who, he said, lived a life of &ldquo;<a href="http://weblioteca.uv.es/cgi/view7.pl?sesion=201709181948475512&amp;source=uv_im_b15136097&amp;div=41">agitation and continuous terror and distress</a>&rdquo; because they were treated with such &ldquo;<a href="http://weblioteca.uv.es/cgi/view7.pl?sesion=201709181948475512&amp;source=uv_im_b15136097&amp;div=41">contempt and hatred</a>.&rdquo;

More than 200 years later, on New Year&rsquo;s Day 1994, the <a href="http://hemisphericinstitute.org/hemi/en/su10-tourism/item/879-su10-brief-historical-background-zapatista-movement">Zapatistas</a>, whose ranks consist of largely of poor Mayans from Chiapas, used similar words to justify an indigenous rebellion against the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which had just been signed.

Condemning NAFTA as a death sentence for traditional agricultural methods still practiced on collectively owned indigenous lands, the <a href="http://schoolsforchiapas.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/1st-Declaration-of-the-Lacandona-Jungle.pdf">First Declaration of the Lacandona Jungle</a> asserted that Chiapas&rsquo; rural population had &ldquo;nothing&rdquo;: &ldquo;no land, no work, no health care, no food nor education&rdquo; &ndash; not even a roof over their heads.

As the recent earthquake reveals, the plight of indigenous Mexicans has not improved markedly over the past 200 years. Their homes offered tenuous shelter from the quake at&nbsp;best, and their food supplies, long delicate, are <a href="https://lasillarota.com/nacion/a-una-semana-del-sismo-padecen-hambre-e-incertidumbre/176692">now running short</a>.

The worst and the best of Mexico

Mexico is and always will be a land of earthquakes. Pre-Columbian records <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-seismologists-didnt-see-mexicos-deadly-earthquake-coming-83865">report</a> seismic activity attributed to the wrath of gods said to be unhappy about the state of human affairs.

Today, quakes still <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=vAF-9pNtpg8C&amp;printsec=frontcover&amp;source=gbs_ge_summary_r&amp;cad=0#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false">unearth</a> the best and the worst in Mexico.

It&rsquo;s not clear that Pe&ntilde;a Nieto, whose government is dogged by <a href="https://theconversation.com/for-many-mexicans-this-government-spying-scandal-feels-eerily-familiar-79981">scandals</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/governors-gone-wild-mexico-faces-a-lost-generation-of-corrupt-leaders-76858">wildly public corruption</a>, can make use of this crisis to bring social change to Oaxaca and Chiapas.

Other politicians are falling short of this high bar, too. In a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anahimusic/videos/10155462147581368/">Facebook video</a>, the wife of <a href="http://www.24-horas.mx/reconoce-manuel-velasco-a-enrique-pena-nieto-como-aliado-de-chiapas/">Chiapas Governor Manuel Velasco</a>, a member of Pe&ntilde;a Nieto&rsquo;s inner circle, toured a ruined Chiapas home to show the administration &ldquo;is helping&rdquo; but lamented her &ldquo;tousled&rdquo; hair.

The populace, at least, is coming to its own assistance. Right after the quake in Mexico City, people formed veritable <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/09/19/552141609/at-least-42-people-killed-as-powerful-earthquake-convulses-central-mexico">factory lines of diggers</a> to excavate their buried neighbors and lent out bicycles so stranded colleagues could make their way home.

Residents of Mexico&rsquo;s southern region have also shown the country what resilience looks like, even in the face of overwhelming historical odds. In the town of Juchit&aacute;n, Oaxaca, where the historic town hall pancaked after the earthquake, a man picked up a Mexican flag that had previously decorated its facade, shook off the dust and then, in an act that touched millions, he placed it atop the debris.

&nbsp;

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" nofollow="" rel="">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/twin-earthquakes-expose-mexicos-deep-inequality-84012" nofollow="" rel="">original article</a>.

Oaxaca and Chiapas, Mexico?s two poorest states, have taken the harshest blow in the recent earthquakes.

Early in the morning on Sept. 16, 1810, priest, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the bell of his church in the small town of Dolores, near Guanajuato, Mexico. His parishioners gathered round, and he urged them to revolt against Spain’s two-year-old Napoleonic government. Hidalgo’s call to arms, which later became known later as the Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores), triggered the Mexican War of Independence. Every September 15, the president of Mexico takes to the balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City to reenact it. This year, just a week before Independence Day, a historic earthquake struck Mexico’s southern coast, killing nearly 100 people. So President Enrique Peña Nieto added a poignant element to his Grito by including in the incantation a reference to the impoverished states that were most devastated by the quake, crying “Long live the solidarity of Mexicans with Chiapas and Oaxaca!” It was a nice twist on tradition, but these two states will need more than expressions of solidarity to recover. The 8.2 magnitude quake is the strongest Mexico has experienced in 100 years, surpassing even the Sept. 19, 1985 earthquake that killed an estimated 40,000 people in and around Mexico City. It was also significantly more powerful than the recent 7.1 magnitude earthquake that killed upwards of 200 people in and around Mexico’s capital on September 19. Natural and man-made disasters This latest quake shook Mexico City 32 years to the day after the 1985 “big one.” I was 11 years old when the quake hit, and I recall the government of President Miguel de la Madrid reacting with what can only be described as criminal apathy: In the first days after the disaster, he prevented the army from rescuing victims and rejected international aid. The people of Mexico City, however, took to the streets, distributing food, water and blankets among those who needed them and digging neighbors free from the rubble with their bare hands. This time around, the death toll is significantly lower than it was in 1985: 78 fatalities in Oaxaca, 16 in Chiapas and four in Tabasco for the first earthquake, and more than 220 for the second. In part, this reflects improvements in building regulations since 1985 and the creation of both a Mexican Seismic Alert System and a National Civil Protection System. Still, the damages are daunting. Scores of buildings in Mexico City have suffered catastrophic damage. But it was Oaxaca and Chiapas – Mexico’s two poorest states – that took the harshest blow. More than 2,500 schools have been severely harmed and 85,000 houses have been affected – more than 17,000 of them beyond repair. Poverty makes these disaster impacts worse in the south. On average, 46 percent of Mexican households live in poverty. But 70 percent of Oaxaca’s population earns less than what’s needed to satisfy basic family needs, according to the government’s CONEVAL agency, and 77 percent of Chiapas households do. In both states, the lowest-income families making as little as 37 pesos (US$2) per day, less than half the Mexican minimum wage, which is 80.04 pesos, or around $4.50 a day. The World Bank lists Mexico as the 15th most powerful economy in the world, but its wealth has not trickled down to the southern states. That fact has left many on the ground wondering whether the 16 billion Mexican pesos ($901 million) in federal disaster assistance being offered to 283 municipalities in Oaxaca and 97 in Chiapas will get to where it needs to go. Unequal development in Mexico is an ongoing challenge. A recent report from the Bank of Mexico showed that during the second trimester of 2017, the Mexican economy grew in north (0.9 percent), center-north (1.2 percent) and central zones (0.7 percent), home to such powerhouse cities as Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City, but contracted over 1 percent in the rural south. If there’s a silver lining to these twin earthquakes, it’s that the post-disaster recovery analyses have finally shed some light on the historical neglect of Chiapas and Oaxaca, together home to around nine million Mexicans. What the earthquake unearthed It is not incidental that many of those residents are of indigenous descent. Upwards of 40 percent of Mexico’s indigenous peoples live in the southern states of Oaxaca, Chiapas and Yucatán. Their economic exclusion dates back to the colonial era. In 1813, a Chiapas priest, Mariano Robles Domínguez de Mazariegos, testified in Spain to the “violent humiliations” suffered by the indigenous inhabitants of Chiapas, who, he said, lived a life of “agitation and continuous terror and distress” because they were treated with such “contempt and hatred.” More than 200 years later, on New Year’s Day 1994, the Zapatistas, whose ranks consist of largely of poor Mayans from Chiapas, used similar words to justify an indigenous rebellion against the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which had just been signed. Condemning NAFTA as a death sentence for traditional agricultural methods still practiced on collectively owned indigenous lands, the First Declaration of the Lacandona Jungle asserted that Chiapas’ rural population had “nothing”: “no land, no work, no health care, no food nor education” – not even a roof over their heads. As the recent earthquake reveals, the plight of indigenous Mexicans has not improved markedly over the past 200 years. Their homes offered tenuous shelter from the quake at best, and their food supplies, long delicate, are now running short. The worst and the best of Mexico Mexico is and always will be a land of earthquakes. Pre-Columbian records report seismic activity attributed to the wrath of gods said to be unhappy about the state of human affairs. Today, quakes still unearth the best and the worst in Mexico. It’s not clear that Peña Nieto, whose government is dogged by scandals and wildly public corruption, can make use of this crisis to bring social change to Oaxaca and Chiapas. Other politicians are falling short of this high bar, too. In a Facebook video, the wife of Chiapas Governor Manuel Velasco, a member of Peña Nieto’s inner circle, toured a ruined Chiapas home to show the administration “is helping” but lamented her “tousled” hair. The populace, at least, is coming to its own assistance. Right after the quake in Mexico City, people formed veritable factory lines of diggers to excavate their buried neighbors and lent out bicycles so stranded colleagues could make their way home. Residents of Mexico’s southern region have also shown the country what resilience looks like, even in the face of overwhelming historical odds. In the town of Juchitán, Oaxaca, where the historic town hall pancaked after the earthquake, a man picked up a Mexican flag that had previously decorated its facade, shook off the dust and then, in an act that touched millions, he placed it atop the debris. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Twin earthquakes expose Mexico's deep inequality

A woman devotee, who was&nbsp;injured in the deadly militant attack on Amarnath pilgrims last week, succumbed at a hospital early today, taking the death toll in the incident to eight.

47-year-old Lalita died due to her injuries at the&nbsp;SKIMS Hospital here, a police official told PTI.&nbsp;

On July 10, a&nbsp;bus bearing the registration number GJ09Z 9976 was attacked by terrorists at around 8:20 pm (local time) near Khanabal when it was on its way to Jammu.

According to the police, the bus was not a part of the&nbsp;yatra&nbsp;convoy which is being provided elaborate security. The terrorists first attacked a bullet-proof bunker of the police at Botengoo, a police official said.&nbsp;When the police retaliated, the terrorists fled, firing indiscriminately at the bus carrying the pilgrims.

Seven pilgrims, six of them women, were killed and 32 were injured.

&nbsp;

47-year-old Lalita succumbed to her injuries six days after the terror attack

A woman devotee, who was injured in the deadly militant attack on Amarnath pilgrims last week, succumbed at a hospital early today, taking the death toll in the incident to eight. 47-year-old Lalita died due to her injuries at the SKIMS Hospital here, a police official told PTI. On July 10, a bus bearing the registration number GJ09Z 9976 was attacked by terrorists at around 8:20 pm (local time) near Khanabal when it was on its way to Jammu. According to the police, the bus was not a part of the yatra convoy which is being provided elaborate security. The terrorists first attacked a bullet-proof bunker of the police at Botengoo, a police official said. When the police retaliated, the terrorists fled, firing indiscriminately at the bus carrying the pilgrims. Seven pilgrims, six of them women, were killed and 32 were injured.

Amarnath Yatra attack: Death toll rises to eight as woman succumbs to injuries

Syria&#39;s brutal conflict has now claimed the lives of more than 290,000 people, a monitoring group said on Monday, giving its latest death toll for the devastating five-year war. 
 
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 292,817 people had been killed between March 2011 - when the conflict erupted - and the end of July. 
 
The toll represents an increase of just over 10,000 people since the monitor gave its last account on May 26. Among the dead are 84,472 civilians, including 14,711 children and 9,520 women, it said. 
 
The Observatory also documented the deaths of 50,548 non-jihadist rebels and Kurdish militiamen. Another 49,547 extremist militants including non-Syrians were killed. A total of 104,656 pro-regime fighters were killed, among them 57,909 soldiers and 1,306 militants from the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, which is fighting on behalf of Damascus 
 
The monitor said that 3,594 of those killed have been unidentified 
 
The Britain-based Observatory depends on a network of sources inside Syria to gather its information on the conflict. It estimates that thousands&nbsp;of people are missing or have disappeared into detention centres run by various armed groups. 
 
(AFP)

The death toll represents an increase of over 10,000 people since the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights gave its last account on May 26

Syria's brutal conflict has now claimed the lives of more than 290,000 people, a monitoring group said on Monday, giving its latest death toll for the devastating five-year war. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 292,817 people had been killed between March 2011 - when the conflict erupted - and the end of July. The toll represents an increase of just over 10,000 people since the monitor gave its last account on May 26. Among the dead are 84,472 civilians, including 14,711 children and 9,520 women, it said. The Observatory also documented the deaths of 50,548 non-jihadist rebels and Kurdish militiamen. Another 49,547 extremist militants including non-Syrians were killed. A total of 104,656 pro-regime fighters were killed, among them 57,909 soldiers and 1,306 militants from the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, which is fighting on behalf of Damascus The monitor said that 3,594 of those killed have been unidentified The Britain-based Observatory depends on a network of sources inside Syria to gather its information on the conflict. It estimates that thousands of people are missing or have disappeared into detention centres run by various armed groups. (AFP)

More than 290,000 killed in Syria war, says rights group

A Baghdad bombing claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group killed at least 250 people, officials said, raising the toll of what was already one of the deadliest attacks in Iraq. 
 
A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-rigged vehicle in Baghdad`s Karrada district early on Sunday as it teemed with shoppers ahead of the holiday marking the end of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, sparking infernos in nearby buildings. 
 
Health Minister Adila Hamoud told AFP that the bombing killed 250 people and wounded 200. 
 
A police colonel and an interior ministry official both gave even higher death tolls for the attack. 
 
Hamoud said that DNA testing would be required to identify more than half of the bodies and that the process was expected to take from 15 to 45 days, meaning that relatives of the missing may have to wait weeks to learn the fates of their loved ones. 
 
The blast sparked widespread anger among Iraqis, some of whom have accused the government of not doing enough to protect them. 
 
It has also overshadowed what would normally be a joyful holiday, instead turning it into a time of mourning and sadness. 
 
IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces have since regained significant territory from the jihadists. 
 
In response to the battlefield setbacks, the group has hit back against civilians, and experts have warned there may be more bombings as the jihadists continue to lose ground. 
 
(AFP)

A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-rigged vehicle in Baghdad`s Karrada district early on Sunday

A Baghdad bombing claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group killed at least 250 people, officials said, raising the toll of what was already one of the deadliest attacks in Iraq. A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-rigged vehicle in Baghdad`s Karrada district early on Sunday as it teemed with shoppers ahead of the holiday marking the end of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, sparking infernos in nearby buildings. Health Minister Adila Hamoud told AFP that the bombing killed 250 people and wounded 200. A police colonel and an interior ministry official both gave even higher death tolls for the attack. Hamoud said that DNA testing would be required to identify more than half of the bodies and that the process was expected to take from 15 to 45 days, meaning that relatives of the missing may have to wait weeks to learn the fates of their loved ones. The blast sparked widespread anger among Iraqis, some of whom have accused the government of not doing enough to protect them. It has also overshadowed what would normally be a joyful holiday, instead turning it into a time of mourning and sadness. IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces have since regained significant territory from the jihadists. In response to the battlefield setbacks, the group has hit back against civilians, and experts have warned there may be more bombings as the jihadists continue to lose ground. (AFP)

Baghdad blast death toll rises to 250

The death toll from flooding in the US state of West Virginia rose to 24 on Saturday, as President Barack Obama declared a major disaster, releasing federal aid for some of the hardest-hit areas. 
 
The president &quot;ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides,&quot; the White House said in a statement. 
 
Days of heavy rain have caused massive flooding in the state, where high waters have washed away cars, trapped hundreds and cut power to large areas. 
 
More than 21,300 people were without power across the state on Saturday evening, according to the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. 
 
Hundreds of homes had been severely damaged or destroyed and more than 60 roads remained closed, it said. 
 
Photos on the division&#39;s Facebook page showed a muddy, swollen river in the West Virginia town of Clendenin, that had spilled over its banks, and inundated a nearby neighborhood with floodwater. 
 
Obama&#39;s disaster declaration makes federal funding available to Greenbrier, Kanawha and Nicholas counties. 
 
The latest fatality from the flooding was reported Saturday in Greenbrier County, bringing the overall tally to 24 people dead, state spokeswoman Jessica Tice told AFP. 
 
Among the dead was an eight-year-old boy who was swept away while walking along a creek bank with his mother and sister, local news station WSAZ reported. His body was found after three hours of searching. 
 
West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin said on Saturday he expected 400 National Guard members to be deployed during the day to assist local emergency responders in their relief efforts. 
 
He said that support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that was released under the disaster declaration would &quot;provide much needed assistance to severely impacted regions.&quot; 
 
In five of the worst-hit counties volunteer centers were being set up, according to the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. 
 
It said that three Red Cross shelters and a number of community-based shelters had also been established across the state. 
 
&quot;We have so many businesses, individuals and churches really rallying together and gathering supplies,&quot; Tice said. 
 
The devastating flooding also forced the PGA Tour to cancel its Greenbrier Classic scheduled for July 7-10 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. 
 
The torrential rains that hit Greenbrier County especially hard caused extensive flood damage to the course beyond what could be repaired in time to stage the event, tour and resort officials said. 
 
(AFP)

Days of heavy rain have caused massive flooding, high waters have washed away cars, trapped hundreds and cut power to large areas

The death toll from flooding in the US state of West Virginia rose to 24 on Saturday, as President Barack Obama declared a major disaster, releasing federal aid for some of the hardest-hit areas. The president "ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides," the White House said in a statement. Days of heavy rain have caused massive flooding in the state, where high waters have washed away cars, trapped hundreds and cut power to large areas. More than 21,300 people were without power across the state on Saturday evening, according to the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Hundreds of homes had been severely damaged or destroyed and more than 60 roads remained closed, it said. Photos on the division's Facebook page showed a muddy, swollen river in the West Virginia town of Clendenin, that had spilled over its banks, and inundated a nearby neighborhood with floodwater. Obama's disaster declaration makes federal funding available to Greenbrier, Kanawha and Nicholas counties. The latest fatality from the flooding was reported Saturday in Greenbrier County, bringing the overall tally to 24 people dead, state spokeswoman Jessica Tice told AFP. Among the dead was an eight-year-old boy who was swept away while walking along a creek bank with his mother and sister, local news station WSAZ reported. His body was found after three hours of searching. West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin said on Saturday he expected 400 National Guard members to be deployed during the day to assist local emergency responders in their relief efforts. He said that support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that was released under the disaster declaration would "provide much needed assistance to severely impacted regions." In five of the worst-hit counties volunteer centers were being set up, according to the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. It said that three Red Cross shelters and a number of community-based shelters had also been established across the state. "We have so many businesses, individuals and churches really rallying together and gathering supplies," Tice said. The devastating flooding also forced the PGA Tour to cancel its Greenbrier Classic scheduled for July 7-10 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The torrential rains that hit Greenbrier County especially hard caused extensive flood damage to the course beyond what could be repaired in time to stage the event, tour and resort officials said. (AFP)

Obama declares disaster as West Virginia flood death toll climbs to 24

<div style="text-align: justify;">Last summer, temperatures as high as 45 degrees Celsius led to more than a thousand heat-related deaths in Karachi. This year, as it prepares for the peak of summer heat, the city has opened 179 heatstroke centres to try to hold down the death toll. 
 
Officials have also trained new ambulance drivers, and are working with utility companies to try to keep electricity and water flowing as the city&rsquo;s 24 million people battle summer heat during the month-long Islamic fast of Ramzan, when drinking water and eating is forbidden during daylight hours. 
 
Imams have said those whose lives&nbsp;are&nbsp;at risk due to a&nbsp;fast need not stick&nbsp;to it in extreme conditions. 
 
&ldquo;If a doctor says that your life is threatened due to the scorching heat, or you have a medical condition and it is going to get worse due to the fasting, then you can skip the daily fast,&rdquo; Muhammad Tahir Ashrafi, chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, an organisation of scholars and religious clerics, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview. 
 
If any area of Pakistan is hit by extreme heat during Ramzan, which began June 7, the council will remind followers of this&nbsp;flexibility in public service media announcements, Ashrafi&nbsp;said. 
 
In Pakistan&rsquo;s southern Sindh province, temperatures have already hit 52 degree Celcius&nbsp;in Larkana, with Jacobabad and Moenjodaro just slightly cooler, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department. 
 
In the port city of Karachi, where temperatures so far remain below 40 degrees Celsius, heat relief centres are open, providing drinking water to passersby. 
 
Last summer, more than 1,270 people died in Karachi, and nearly 36,000 were hospitalised or hit by water and electricity shortages during 13 consecutive days of scorching temperatures in June and July. 
 
Officials of the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority-Sindh and the health department say they are better prepared to deal with extreme heat this year, but experts warn deaths are still a risk unless new measures work. 
 
Ghulam Rasul, director general Pakistan Meteorological Department, said a new early warning centre set up in Karachi in April aims to release warnings to government bodies, media and other organisations three days in advance of expected heat waves this year. 
 
&ldquo;We have already identified the most vulnerable areas in Karachi, with help of the district administration, to convey the warnings instantly and keep the people safe from sizzling temperatures,&rdquo; he said. 
 
The Met Office is also in touch with K-Electric, the main provider of electricity to around 20 million people in Karachi, and with the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board to try to head off unscheduled water and power blackouts during heat waves. 
 
Such blackouts have already prompted near daily protests, including in slum areas, where the shortages are worst. 
 
In March and April, over 400 volunteers and ambulance drivers were trained to give first aid to heatstroke victims and get them to hospitals, said Ajay Kumar Sewani, assistant director for administration at the Provincial Disaster Management Authority-Sindh. 
 
He said that heat wave emergency first aid centres have been set up in almost all major cities of the province including Karachi, Hyderabad, Larkana, Mirpur and Sukkur. The centres offer oral rehydration solution, some medicines and ambulance services to nearby hospitals. 
 
The provincial disaster management authority has distributed a half million brochures and 6,000 banners in cities across Sindh in an effort to raise awareness about heat risks, he said. A radio and television advertisement campaign also is planned. 
 
The materials advise people to drink as much water as possible, avoid drinking dehydrating tea and coffee, try to stay inside or under a shade from 10 am to 4 pm and cover their heads with a cap during the daytime. 
 
It also offers advice on recognising the symptoms of heatstroke and heat exhaustion, and has telephone numbers for relief centres. 
 
&ldquo;Our aim is to ensure and guarantee zero deaths during the heat wave and we are prepared for it,&rdquo; Sewani said. 
 
Local media reported two heat wave-related deaths in Karachi during the last week of April, but they have yet to be officially confirmed. 
 
Some experts, however, say Sindh&rsquo;s plans are a good start but such measures need to be carried out effectively &ndash; and used throughout Pakistan. 
 
Heat-related deaths are preventable if the Met Office releases its forecast well in advance and district administrations have a proper management plan, said Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, chief executive officer of Lead Pakistan, a non-profit organisation in Islamabad. But so far that is not the case countrywide, he said. 
 
A crucial component of an effective heat wave management plan is a comprehensive institutional communication and coordination plan. &ldquo;This is important to prevent duplication of efforts and identify the most vulnerable areas,&rdquo; Sheikh&nbsp;said. 
 
Early users of Karachi&rsquo;s heat relief centres said they are already hugely helpful to students, commuters and pedestrians who stop by to drink water, rinse their faces and just cool off when temperatures soar. 
 
&ldquo;The district administration has made much better arrangements this time and we hope no one dies this Ramadan, unlike the last year,&rdquo; said Sumera Ambreen, 21, a medical student who stopped at a centre in North Nazimabad recently. 
(Reuters)</div>

Karachi rolls-out 179 heatstroke centres and trains ambulance drivers in attempt to control death toll due to the heat wave

Last summer, temperatures as high as 45 degrees Celsius led to more than a thousand heat-related deaths in Karachi. This year, as it prepares for the peak of summer heat, the city has opened 179 heatstroke centres to try to hold down the death toll. Officials have also trained new ambulance drivers, and are working with utility companies to try to keep electricity and water flowing as the city’s 24 million people battle summer heat during the month-long Islamic fast of Ramzan, when drinking water and eating is forbidden during daylight hours. Imams have said those whose lives are at risk due to a fast need not stick to it in extreme conditions. “If a doctor says that your life is threatened due to the scorching heat, or you have a medical condition and it is going to get worse due to the fasting, then you can skip the daily fast,” Muhammad Tahir Ashrafi, chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, an organisation of scholars and religious clerics, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview. If any area of Pakistan is hit by extreme heat during Ramzan, which began June 7, the council will remind followers of this flexibility in public service media announcements, Ashrafi said. In Pakistan’s southern Sindh province, temperatures have already hit 52 degree Celcius in Larkana, with Jacobabad and Moenjodaro just slightly cooler, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department. In the port city of Karachi, where temperatures so far remain below 40 degrees Celsius, heat relief centres are open, providing drinking water to passersby. Last summer, more than 1,270 people died in Karachi, and nearly 36,000 were hospitalised or hit by water and electricity shortages during 13 consecutive days of scorching temperatures in June and July. Officials of the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority-Sindh and the health department say they are better prepared to deal with extreme heat this year, but experts warn deaths are still a risk unless new measures work. Ghulam Rasul, director general Pakistan Meteorological Department, said a new early warning centre set up in Karachi in April aims to release warnings to government bodies, media and other organisations three days in advance of expected heat waves this year. “We have already identified the most vulnerable areas in Karachi, with help of the district administration, to convey the warnings instantly and keep the people safe from sizzling temperatures,” he said. The Met Office is also in touch with K-Electric, the main provider of electricity to around 20 million people in Karachi, and with the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board to try to head off unscheduled water and power blackouts during heat waves. Such blackouts have already prompted near daily protests, including in slum areas, where the shortages are worst. In March and April, over 400 volunteers and ambulance drivers were trained to give first aid to heatstroke victims and get them to hospitals, said Ajay Kumar Sewani, assistant director for administration at the Provincial Disaster Management Authority-Sindh. He said that heat wave emergency first aid centres have been set up in almost all major cities of the province including Karachi, Hyderabad, Larkana, Mirpur and Sukkur. The centres offer oral rehydration solution, some medicines and ambulance services to nearby hospitals. The provincial disaster management authority has distributed a half million brochures and 6,000 banners in cities across Sindh in an effort to raise awareness about heat risks, he said. A radio and television advertisement campaign also is planned. The materials advise people to drink as much water as possible, avoid drinking dehydrating tea and coffee, try to stay inside or under a shade from 10 am to 4 pm and cover their heads with a cap during the daytime. It also offers advice on recognising the symptoms of heatstroke and heat exhaustion, and has telephone numbers for relief centres. “Our aim is to ensure and guarantee zero deaths during the heat wave and we are prepared for it,” Sewani said. Local media reported two heat wave-related deaths in Karachi during the last week of April, but they have yet to be officially confirmed. Some experts, however, say Sindh’s plans are a good start but such measures need to be carried out effectively – and used throughout Pakistan. Heat-related deaths are preventable if the Met Office releases its forecast well in advance and district administrations have a proper management plan, said Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, chief executive officer of Lead Pakistan, a non-profit organisation in Islamabad. But so far that is not the case countrywide, he said. A crucial component of an effective heat wave management plan is a comprehensive institutional communication and coordination plan. “This is important to prevent duplication of efforts and identify the most vulnerable areas,” Sheikh said. Early users of Karachi’s heat relief centres said they are already hugely helpful to students, commuters and pedestrians who stop by to drink water, rinse their faces and just cool off when temperatures soar. “The district administration has made much better arrangements this time and we hope no one dies this Ramadan, unlike the last year,” said Sumera Ambreen, 21, a medical student who stopped at a centre in North Nazimabad recently. (Reuters)

Karachi opens heat relief centres

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