Latest news with #officials
NHK
2 hours ago
- Climate
- NHK
Dangerous, record-high heat forecast for locations in Japan
Japan's weather officials say that temperatures across the country on Wednesday may reach record highs, posing a danger to people in eastern Hokkaido, including areas near the Sea of Okhotsk. The Japan Meteorological Agency says the heat wave is expected to intensify across the country as a high pressure system blankets the archipelago. The mercury has topped 38 degrees Celsius in several places, including in the town of Bihoro in Hokkaido. Similar readings were seen in the prefectures of Fukushima and Kyoto. In Hokkaido's Shari Town, a woman in her 90s died after suffering from suspected heatstroke. Heatstroke alerts have been issued across Japan, from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa Prefecture in the south. High temperatures during the day and cold air above are expected to cause extremely unstable atmospheric conditions. Weather officials say that inland areas may see sudden changes on Wednesday afternoon, including the possibility of heavy rainfall.
CBS News
2 hours ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Heat advisory for Chicago area starts today; humidity adds to dangerous temperatures
A Heat Advisory is in effect for the entire Chicago area Wednesday, lasting through Thursday night, as high temps and humidity combine to make a heat index well into the triple digits. While actual temperatures today and tomorrow are in the mid- to high-90s, the humidity will make it feel like anywhere from 105 to 115 degrees. The humidity is driven at least in part by what's commonly called "corn sweat," an agricultural phenomenon formally called transpiration in which plants release water from their leaves to help them move water. Corn, soybeans, alfalfa and sugarcane are crops with high levels of transpiration, which releases more moisture into the air; Illinois leads the country in corn growth with about 11 million acres planted. The Heat Advisory was issued for Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, Kankakee, LaSalle, Kendall and McHenry counties in Illinois and Benton, Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter counties in Indiana until 10 p.m. Thursday night. In such extreme heat, anyone going outside should make sure they drink water before leaving the house and continue to drink water as often as possible while outside. Doctors recommend drinking water every 20 minutes if possible. It's also advisable to wear light-colored clothing which reflects the sun instead of absorbing heat. Cooling centers are open in Chicago and Cook County to help people who don't have air conditioning or access to reliable air conditioning, and officials are asking residents to make sure they check on their elderly or health compromised neighbors to ensure they're staying safe in the dangerous temperatures. All Chicago public pools are also open, most from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., as are city splashpads and water features in parks. Still, in such extreme heat and humidity, experts recommend staying inside as much as possible, and seeking shade when you do leave the house. Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are major risks during these weather events, especially with high humidity. It is easy to become overheated and dehydrated in high temperatures, so it is essential to make sure you are drinking enough water. Heat exhaustion is milder than heat stroke. Heatstroke is a serious illness that happens when the body begins to lose its ability to regulate its own temperature and functions, and can result in permanent disability or death if not treated as quickly as possible. Heat exhaustion symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, thirst, heavy sweating, high body temperature and decreased urine output. If you or someone you know is experiencing heat exhaustion move into a cool indoor space or shade immediately, give them liquids to drink, remove unnecessary clothing including shoes and socks, used cold water or a cold compress to cool the person down on their head, face and neck, and frequently sip cold water. The CDC also encourages calling 911 or taking the person to an urgent care clinic or the emergency room for treatment. Heatstroke symptoms include confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech, hot and dry skin or profuse sweating, very high body temperature, loss of consciousness, and very high body temperature. If treatment is delayed, it can quickly become fatal, the CDC says. If you are with someone experiencing heat stroke, call 911 immediately and stay with that person until help arrives. Move them into a shaded, cool area and remove their outer clothing then work to cool them down as quickly as you can with cold water or an ice bath if possible. Wet the skin or place cold, wet clothes on the skin, or soak their clothing with cold water. You should also circulate the air around them by fanning to help cool them off. The CDC also recommends placing cold wet cloth or ice on the head, neck, armpits and groin to help cool them faster.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Chinese officials accused of hiding nursery lead poisoning
Dozens of Chinese officials and hospital staff attempted to cover up a lead poisoning case that made hundreds of children sick, an official investigation has found. The officials tampered with the blood tests of students who were poisoned at Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui city, north-west China, authorities said in a report on Sunday. City officials were also found to have accepted bribes from an investor in Peixin while overlooking food safety inspections across multiple pre-schools, the report said. In a bizarre attempt to attract more kindergarten students, chefs at Peixin had used inedible paint to 'enhance the look' of its mealsm the report added. A fortnight ago, investigators found 'abnormal' levels of lead in the blood of 235 children. Food samples were later found to contain lead 2,000 times in excess of the national safety limit. Initially, eight people were detained for their involvement in producing the toxic date cakes and corn rolls. The report confirmed that of the eight detained, six of them - including the kindergarten's principal, cooks, and an investor - have been arrested. Ten other officials are set to face 'formal accounting procedures' while another 17 people are under disciplinary action. Authorities in Tianshui revealed on July 8 that 235 children from the privately-owned kindergarten were being treated in hospital after eating the poisonous snacks. The cake, served at breakfast, returned a reading of 1,052 milligrams of lead per kilogram and the roll, served at another meal, was found with 1,340 milligrams per kilogram. The nationwide limit for lead in wheat and starch is 0.5 milligrams per kilogram, according to Chinese government records. A parent told state-run Jimu News tabloid last week that children had been experiencing stomach pain and nausea, and that some of their teeth turned black. On Sunday, 234 of them had been discharged. The Gansu Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention was ordered to test 267 students and staff at Peixin after some showed symptoms of lead poisoning earlier this month, but officials 'did not take the work seriously', the report stated. The person in charge of the tests 'seriously violated operating procedures, which distorted the results', according to the report. Sunday's report named several people under investigation and revealed the lead concentrations found in various food samples, among other details. It also accused staff at the Tianshui No. 2 People's Hospital of 'serious dereliction of duty' and described the institution's management of the case as 'chaotic'. Authorities in Tianshui have also announced that children suffering from lead poisoning can receive free treatment at designated hospitals and legal assistance will be made available to affected families.
Washington Post
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
How strategists think about keeping the peace in the Taiwan Strait
ASPEN, Colo. — Catastrophic wars don't really catch us by surprise. We usually see them coming but don't act quickly or decisively enough to avert them. To try to avoid that mistake, several dozen top former defense- and foreign-policy officials gathered here last weekend to discuss the risk of war between the United States and China over Taiwan.
CTV News
9 hours ago
- CTV News
Sudbury vacant building fire causes $500K damage, no injuries
Firefighters battled a house fire on Whittaker Street in Greater Sudbury Tuesday morning. The blazed caused $500,000 in damage but officials say no was was hurt. The building, previously damaged in an April fire, sustained heavy smoke and water damage. The cause remains under investigation, with police are now handling the case.
