As fatal rains batter parts of the north Indian hill state of Uttarakhand, following a summer that also saw hundreds of deaths from heat waves, a new assessment out on June 19 from the World Bank warns of increasingly difficult effects of climate change on several parts of South Asia in the next 20-30 years. It argues that extreme weather events are likely to get more frequent, as temperatures rise. The...
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Uttarakhand floods may increase vegetable prices
-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The prices of vegetables and fruits are likely to go up in Delhi as supplies from Uttarakhand and neighbouring areas have been affected due to the recent floods. The Yamuna flood plain - a major source of vegetables and fruits in the capital - has been washed away completely. "We get 7-8 tempos of watermelons, cauliflower, spinach and bottle gourds from farmers in the Yamuna belt...
More »Rising temperatures, Excessive rainfall, heat extremes no longer distant risks: World Bank -Urmi A Goswami
-The Economic Times NEW DELHI: Rising temperatures on account of checked climate change would lead longer warm spells, heat extremes by as much as one-fifth of South Asia's land mass, and a higher incidence of excess rainfall. These are no longer distant risks according to the World Bank. By 2040, unprecedented heat could affect more than 5% of South Asia's land mass. And if efforts to counter rising temperatures are not...
More »New mental health bill bans electric shocks without anaesthesia, gives right to treatment
-IANS The right of mentally-ill patients to decide their mode of treatment, decriminalising suicide for them and a ban on electric shock treatment without anaesthesia are some of the progressive provisions of the new mental health bill proposed by the government. "The bill was passed by the union cabinet last week," Health Secretary K. Desiraju told IANS. Once passed by parliament, the bill will repeal the Mental Health Act, 1987. If passed, it will...
More »Sex and marriage: Madras HC clarifies order, objects to criticism
-PTI Chennai: The Madras High Court took strong objection to criticism of its verdict holding sexual relations between a woman and man of marriageable age, prior to tying the knot, as "a valid wedding" and stoutly defended the order saying it "protected Indian culture and welfare of women." Two days after he delivered the judgement, which has evoked disapproval and criticisms from various quarters, including on social media, Justice C S Karnan...
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