LOS ANGELES -- New Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 accounted for over 35 percent of COVID-19 cases in the United States this week, according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

BQ.1.1 made up nearly 19 percent of circulating variants and BQ.1 was estimated to make up 16.5 percent of circulating cases this week, according to a report released by the CDC on Friday. (U.S.-Coronavirus-Variant)

- - - -

GENEVA -- Climate change is dramatically affecting vulnerable people across the globe, particularly those who live in conflict situations or do not have sufficient access to basic health care, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned on Friday.

In a joint statement issued with Doctors Without Borders, ICRC said that of the 25 countries most vulnerable to climate change, the majority are also experiencing armed conflict and a lack of access to basic healthcare. (IRCR-UN-Climate Change)

- - - -

CARACAS -- At least four people were killed by heavy rains and mudslides that hit the northeastern Venezuelan state of Anzoategui, Governor Luis Jose Marcano said Friday.

The Anzoategui governor's office posted on its Twitter account that the rains affected the Guanta and Sotillo municipalities in the northern part of the state, while heavy rains also caused road closures to the state of Sucre. (Venezuela-Rains)

- - - -

DAR ES SALAAM -- At least 100,000 hectares of trees were razed by wildfires in Tanzania's southern highlands region of Njombe between 2020 and October 2022, an official said on Friday.

Anthony Mtaka, the Njombe regional commissioner, made the revelations in a meeting with relevant officials that discussed the best ways to control outbreaks of fires in forest reserves. (Tanzania-Wildfires) Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)