Latest news with #CPAP
Time of India
an hour ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Turkish city calls for help after heat tops 50 degree celsius
Representative Image A choking heatwave left astonished locals in southeastern Turkey calling for state help to pay their air conditioning bills after the temperature surged past 50 degree celsius. "We cannot cope with the heat," ice-cream maker Recep Esiyok, 59, told AFP in Silopi, where meteorologists measured 50.5C on Friday -- a national record. "I've been living in Silopi for about 30 years. I've never seen such heat... I've never seen such heat anywhere." He is getting through the heatwave thanks to the air conditioner in his shop, but is now worried about paying for the electricity. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Experience next-level CPAP comfort with Resmed AirSense 11 ResMed Enquire Now Undo "My bill last month was 59,000 lira (1,450 dollars). We are asking for state support on this issue." 'Incomparable' heat: Before Friday's record, the previous peak in Turkey had been 49.5 degree celsius in August 2023. Scientists agree that climate change caused by humans burning fossil fuels is increasing the likelihood, length and intensity of heatwaves. "The heat has reached a point where it's incomparable to previous years," said Halil Coskun, 52, a local reporter. The country is still in the grip of the heatwave and since Sunday temperatures overall have surged from six to 12 degrees above seasonal norms, according to the state meteorology directorate. Wildfire threat: Turkey has fought fires in several regions since the start of the summer. Last week, 10 people perished while fighting a fire in Eskisehir province. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday the country has experienced drier conditions than normal over the past five years as a result of global warming . "Extreme heat, low humidity, and strong winds are unfortunately increasing the risk of fire," he said. He said the state was using drones to monitor and protect forests. The streets were relatively empty and the atmosphere tense in Silopi, a Kurdish city whose main income is trade with Iraq across the border 10 kilometres (six miles) away. "When it's hot, there's no one outside during the day," said Esiyok. Deforestation complaints: Other locals complained at the lack of vegetation to provide relief around the town, which lies at the foot of a mountain. "Unfortunately, the forests here were burned in the past for security reasons," said Coskun. He said the Turkish army cleared them in the search for fighters from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a rebel group that recently disarmed. Turkey's parliament this month also passed a bill that opens certain agricultural lands including olive groves to mining activities, despite widespread opposition. "We could at least minimise the heat by planting trees, not by felling them," Coskun said. Electricity bills: Sweating in his kebab shop, another local, Cemil Seher, said that summers in Silopi last not three months, but five. For Seher, 51, air conditioning is no longer a luxury but a necessity. "AC is essential here as much as bread and water," he said. "When the air conditioners are running, the electricity bills are very high," he said, demanding authorities offer discounts for businesses. "I want a discount not only for Silopi but for the entire region from here to Sanliurfa" in the east, he said. "I am not making a profit because I've been working... to pay my electricity bill." Discover stories of India's leading eco-innovators at Ecopreneur Honours 2025
Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
KRIDL scam: Ex-clerk with Rs 15,000 salary amassed assets worth Rs 30cr
1 2 Koppal: Kalakappa Nidagundi, a former outsourced clerk at the Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL) office in Koppal, is alleged to have amassed assets approximately worth Rs 30 crore over two decades — despite earning a modest monthly salary of Rs 15,000. The corruption came to light on Thursday when Lokayukta officials carried out a raid at Nidagundi's residence in Pragati Nagar. The raid, as part of the investigation into the misappropriation of Rs 72 crore in KRIDL, unearthed massive assets including 24 houses, six plots, over 40 acres of agricultural land, more than 1kg of gold jewellery, and multiple vehicles, with documents pointing to further illegal assets. Following instructions from KRIDL MD Basavaraju, executive engineers Anil Patil (from Koppal office) and Anand Karlakunti (from the Nelogipura subdivision) filed complaints against former executive engineer Zaranappa M Chincholikar and Nidagundi. In response to the complaint, Lokayukta officials commenced their raid at Nidagundi's residence at 6am. The investigations also uncovered properties registered under the names of his wife and brother. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Experience next-level CPAP comfort with Resmed AirSense 11 ResMed Enquire Now Undo The accused parties allegedly fabricated documents and invoices for 96 projects — including sewerage, road, and drinking water initiatives across several villages in the district — from 2019 to 2025. The fraudulent projects include 19 in Kanakagiri, five in Gangavathi, four in Yelburga, and 68 in Koppal taluk, misappropriating grants worth Rs 72 crore. While Kalakappa was dismissed from service a few months ago, Chincholikar managed to retain his position following a court order, despite an earlier termination. Koppal MLA K Raghavendra Hitnal confirmed the involvement of Nidgundi and cement supplier Amaresh Yambaladinni in collusion with Chincholikar. He assured that the govt would thoroughly investigate all related works and take appropriate action against those found guilty.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Dowry: Kerala HC seeks govt stand on publication of data
Kochi: High court has sought instructions from the state govt regarding the publication of data on the number of complaints received and the action taken in relation to dowry demand incidents. The directive was issued by a bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the constitutional validity of Section 3 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, on the ground that it also penalises the giving or abetment of dowry. HC adjourned the matter to August 7. Section 3 of the Act prescribes penalties for giving, taking, or abetting the giving or taking of dowry. The petitioner, Tellmy Jolly of Ernakulam, contended that penalising the dowry giver, often the victim or a family member, acts as a deterrent to reporting dowry-related harassment due to fear of self-incrimination. She sought to strike down Section 3 to the extent that it criminalises the giving of dowry or its abetment. In support of her plea, the petitioner cited data from the Kerala Police website indicating that 102 dowry deaths were reported between 2016 and May 2025. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Experience next-level CPAP comfort with Resmed AirSense 11 ResMed Enquire Now Undo She also referred to recent cases of young women dying by suicide or under suspicious circumstances, allegedly due to dowry-related harassment. The petitioner further sought a directive to ensure the effective implementation of Rule 2 of the Dowry Prohibition (Maintenance of Lists of Presents to the Bride and Bridegroom) Rules, 1985, which mandates the examination and proper record-keeping of gift lists exchanged during marriage ceremonies.
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Health
- Forbes
The Risks Associated With Sleep Are Potentially Being Innovated Away
Austrian School eminence Ludwig von Mises once observed that any action outside the stationary state is a speculation on what's ahead. Looked at through the prism of sleep, it's not only good for us, it's also safe. While asleep we can't exit the very stationary state that could lead to monstrous error. Just the same, readers are increasingly aware that even sleep comes with risks. Think sleep apnea. The throat muscles of some narrow during sleep. The latter can cause people to snore all the while boosting the risk of higher blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, heart attack, and stroke. Even the good things can be risky, or so it seems. All of which speaks to the beauty of the profit motive. Problems generally rate solutions crafted by the profit-motivated, and it seems sleep apnea is the latest problem that is being met with a solution. This is important in the here and now in consideration of what's available to mitigate the health and irritability effects of fitful sleep born of sleep apnea. For now, snorers can put on a face mask at bedtime, and that is connected to a continuous positive pressure (CPAP) machine. The machine keeps the constricted airway open via air that's forced through the opening. It's known to work, but there's a discomfort quality to the machine that causes some to abandon the whole project of mitigating sleep apnea's challenges. The good news is that Cambridge, MA-based Apnimed has come up with a pre-bedtime pill that can do for sleep apnea sufferers what formerly could only be done by a mask. It's progress, which is the point. Particularly right now. Politicians, including President Trump, can't get beyond the crucial truth that market prices aren't to be lamented, rather they're to be treasured. Prices are what organized market economies, and they're in particular a crucial signal telling producers where their intrepid ways will be rewarded. The CPAP machines are quite simply not enough for sleep apnea sufferers, which explains the work being done by Apnimed to replace sleeping machines with an oral drug. For now, Apnimed's drug is in clinical trials. The New York Times has interviewed sleep doctors who believe the drug could 'transform the lives of many,' and crucially not just those who dislike the CPAP machines. Others take weight-loss drugs to fix the sleep apnea problem, not to mention the myriad other oral devices snorers purchase in hopes of snoring less while sleeping. Which is a comment that Apnimed's drug won't just potentially transform sleep health, it could also enhance life quality in the bargain. Side effects? Invariably there are some, and the Times lists dry mouth and insomnia as two. Which is yet another reason for politicians to cease trying to corrupt the brilliance of freely arrived at price signals. Figure that if Apnimed succeeds, and logically prospers by virtue of transforming sleep, health and life quality, its success will exist as a lure for others to enter the space. From this, it's no insight to suggest that increased investment will gradually not just be meant to improve on the existing drug, but erase some of the downsides of it. Investment is about improvement, and its profits that are a magnet for it. Which demands yet again that politicians stay out, and cease talk of 'most favored nations' drug prices, 'bending the cost curve' downward, or any other actions meant to obscure true prices. Market forces are routinely working to improve our health and wellbeing, so let's allow markets to work.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Five classes taught in one room: Grim reality of Kaimur and Rohtas govt schools
1 2 Sasaram: Imagine students from classes I to V learning the same lessons in one classroom! It might sound unbelievable, but it's the reality that hundreds of students have been living in Kaimur and Rohtas districts. At Beri Primary School in Mohania block of Kaimur and Middle School, Vishodihari, in Kargahar block of Rohtas, five different classes — I to V — are being taught simultaneously in single rooms. This was found during a visit by teams of education department last week, leaving the tall claims of reform only on paper, while on the ground, students and teachers navigate the chaos. At Beri Primary School, which has 90 students and five sanctioned teachers, all classes from I to V are crammed into a single functional room. On most days, 50 to 60 students are present, and they are forced to share not just space and teachers, but lessons as well. "When we ask a teacher to teach our class, students from other grades start shouting. Eventually, everyone ends up learning the same thing, and we don't understand anything," one student told the visiting officials. With only one room available, the school's administrative work also takes place there. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Experience next-level CPAP comfort with Resmed AirSense 11 ResMed Enquire Now Undo Basic facilities are shockingly absent: there is no dedicated kitchen for preparing mid-day meal, no drinking water and not even a hand pump on the campus. Meals are cooked under a temporary shed, exposing children to hygiene risks, the inspection report by the vsiting officials claimed. Vikas Kumar D N, the district programme officer of Kaimur, confirmed that the shortage of classrooms and deteriorating infrastructure has come to the administration's notice. "The matter has been raised at the district level. The Bihar govt is committed to improving school infrastructure, and construction work will be initiated soon," said Kumar. Similarly once considered a model institution after its establishment in 1956, Middle School, Vishodihari, in Rohtas now struggles to function. Despite having six sanctioned teaching posts and 158 enrolled students from classes I to VIII, only one teacher remains present. Villagers allege that while several teachers mark their attendance digitally through the govt app, they leave immediately after that, as a result, students from classes VI to VIII are left unsupervised. They often spend the school day playing instead of studying, said the villagers. Three rooms were built at the school in 2015, of which one serves as the headmaster's office, another accommodates classes I to V and the third is designated for class VIII. Students of classes VI and VII are squeezed into a decaying structure that leaks during rain, despite being relatively new. Toilets and urinals, constructed just last year, have already collapsed — posing serious sanitation issues, especially for girls and the lone woman teacher. With no drinking water facilities on the campus, students are forced to walk to a nearby higher secondary school to fetch water. Mid-day meals are irregular, adding to the disillusionment of parents who have begun transferring their children to better-managed schools. This has caused a noticeable drop in local enrolment. Manoj Kumar Ram, in charge block education officer, Karahagar, acknowledged receiving complaints regarding absentee teachers and poor infrastructure.
