NOTHING SHORT OF GENOCIDE: 10,000 Migrant Kids Missing in EU

Fate of the migrant kids who don’t drown at sea…

At least 10,000 migrant children may have disappeared in Europe over  the past 24 months, said the EU’s police intelligence unit (Europol).

“We estimate that at least 26,000 unaccompanied children entered Europe last year – children who have risked everything to flee war, persecution and extreme poverty alone. They come from Afghanistan, Syria, Eritrea, Somalia and Iraq, among other places, seeking sanctuary,” said Save the Children’s CEO, earlier this month.

On Friday, IOM said an estimated that 55,528 migrants and refugees had crossed the Mediterranean to enter Europe during the first 28 days of 2016 – a rate of nearly 2,000 per day. The daily average is nearly equivalent to the total numbers for the month of January as recently as two years ago.

During the same period IOM has recorded some 244 deaths at sea [global total of 361 fatalities,] as well as at least a dozen more deaths of migrants and refugees who died either after reaching Europe or traveling to a launch point in Turkey. By comparison, total deaths on Mediterranean Sea routes were 12 in 2014 and 82 last year.

Just hours after IOM released its latest statement, 39 more migrants and refugees including 10 children drowned on Saturday trying to cross the Aegean Sea from Turkey to Greece.

In May 2015, Italian authorities warned that about 5,000 children had disappeared from asylum reception centers since the previous summer.

In Sweden, about 1,000 unaccompanied refugee children and teens had gone missing by October last year, within a month of arriving in the southern town of Trelleborg, officials have admitted.

In 2015, a total of 1,047,844 refugees and migrants arrived in Europe [Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Malta, as well as Cyprus] including 1,011,712 by sea, with at least 5,394 fatalities recorded globally, said IOM’s Missing Migrants Project.

Severe Weather Events Plague Australian Continent

Australia battered by strong winds, heavy precipitation, deadly flooding, a cyclone, mini-tornado, wildfires… and  country-wide rainfall

Severe weather systems are pummeling multiple regions of Australia, with deadly  flash-flooding in Queensland, a destructive “mini-tornado” in New South Wales, ex-cyclone STAN in Western Australia, damaging heavy rain and flooding in eastern Tasmania, while up to 100 wildfires in western Tasmania consume about 75,000 hectares.

Cyclone STAN made landfall about 120 km northeast of Port Hedland, early Sunday morning, reported the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said a unique set of weather patterns were responsible for the nation-wide wet weather event, not expected to be repeated anytime soon. [ABC]

“It’s quite unusual to see this sort of pattern develop right across that broad section of states,” BoM meteorologist told the ABC.

“It is unlikely we would see the same extent again like what we have seen in the past few days.

“This was a unique weather set up.”

In southeast NSW, destructive winds during thunderstorms destroyed several homes at Forbes Creek, about an hour east of Canberra.

Storms lashed South Australia and Victoria on Saturday, cutting power to homes and businesses and causing flash flooding in multiple areas, while in the Northern Territory, a weak monsoon dumped up to 100mm of rain in some areas, causing numerous road closures in Darwin.

Storms also wreaked havoc on Sydney and other parts of New South Wales on Saturday, with major roads flooded and power out several regions.

Floodwaters in southern Queensland killed a man near Bundaberg.

Tropical Cyclone STAN: Red Alert Issued in WA

Destructive winds, storm surges, flooding threaten towns as cyclone approaches Western Australia

Tropical Cyclone STAN threatens northwest Pilbara region in Western Australia (WA) with potentially destructive wind gusts and heavy rain when the system makes landfall early on Sunday morning.

• The storm, currently a category 2 system, is forecast to intensify to category three cyclone before landfall.

• Red alert has been issued for coastal communities between Port Hedland and Wallal, including Pardoo, Eighty Mile and Wallal.

•  Storm surges may pose additional threats of damaging waves and dangerous flooding due to the tide, said Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).

• For the latest updates visit the BOM website

 

Powerful Quake Jump-Starting the Kamchatka Fire Engine

M7.2 earthquakes strikes Kamchatka Peninsula

Centered at 54.03ºN, 158.54°E the event occurred at a depth of 158km, EMSC reported.

Aftershock
At least two significant aftershocks have occurred, as of posting.

EQ Details
Magnitude: 7.2Mw
Location 54.03ºN, 158.54°E (Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia)
Depth: 158km
Date time: 2016-01-30 03:25:09.7UTC
Distances:

• 94km N of Yelizovo, Russia [ pop: 40,692]
• 110km N of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Russia [pop: 187,282]
• 1,751km NE of Sapporo, Japan [pop: 1,883,027]

Source: The European-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC)

ZIKV: Additional Information on Transmission

 Microcephaly:  Zika virus or Guillain-Barré syndrome?

ZIKV is transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (1,7). Aedes albopictus mosquitoes also might transmit the virus. Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes are found throughout much of the Americas, including parts of the United States, and also transmit dengue and chikungunya viruses.

In addition to mosquito-to-human transmission, Zika virus infections have been documented through:

• Intrauterine [in mother’s womb, or uterus] transmission resulting in congenital infection
• Intrapartum [during the act of birth] transmission from a viremic mother to her newborn
• Sexual transmission
• Blood transfusion
• Laboratory exposure

There is a theoretical concern that transmission could occur through organ or tissue transplantation, and although Zika virus RNA has been detected in breast milk, transmission through breastfeeding has not been documented.

The Brazil Ministry of Health has reported a marked increase in the number of infants born with microcephaly in 2015, although it is not known how many of these cases are associated with Zika virus infection. Guillain-Barré syndrome also has been reported in patients following suspected Zika virus infection. Studies are under way to evaluate the risks for Zika virus transmission during pregnancy, the spectrum of outcomes associated with congenital infection, and the possible association between Zika virus infection and Guillain-Barré syndrome.

There is no commercially available test for ZIKV. The virus testing is performed in the United States at CDC and four state health department laboratories.

Source: Hennessey M, Fischer M, Staples JE. Zika Virus Spreads to New Areas — Region of the Americas, May 2015–January 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65:55–58. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6503e1

What is Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)?

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare disorder in which a person’s own immune system damages their nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. GBS can cause symptoms that usually last for a few weeks. Most people recover fully from GBS, but some people have long-term nerve damage. In very rare cases, people have died of GBS, usually from difficulty breathing.

• The background rate for GBS in the U.S. is about 80 to 160 cases of GBS each week, regardless of vaccination.

What causes GBS?

Many things can cause GBS; about two-thirds of people who develop GBS symptoms do so several days or weeks after they have been sick with diarrhea or a respiratory illness. Infection with the bacterium Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most common risk factors for GBS. People also can develop GBS after having the flu or other infections (such as cytomegalovirus and Epstein Barr virus). On very rare occasions, they may develop GBS in the days or weeks after getting a vaccination.

 

NOTHING SHORT OF GENOCIDE !

Submitted by a reader

Genocide is being committed against people of Syria by all those who destabilized the country

In 2010, there were no Syrian refugees drowning in the Mediterranean while escaping the Wahhabi block terrorists. Even polio had long been eradicated across the country…

When President Barack Obama secretly authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to begin arming Syria’s embattled rebels in 2013, the spy agency knew it would have a willing partner to help pay for the covert operation. It was the same partner the CIA has relied on for decades for money and discretion in far-off conflicts: the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. —Mark Mazzetti and Matt Apuzzo

U.S. officials have not disclosed the amount of the Saudi contribution, which is by far the largest from another nation to the program to arm the rebels against President Bashar Assad’s military. But estimates have put the total cost of the arming and training effort at several billion dollars.

Statement to the Security Council on Syria, New York, 27 January 2016

Since 2011, more than 250,000 people have been killed, well over a million injured, and 6.5 million internally displaced within Syria. About 4.6 million refugees, and most of the remaining population – some 13.5 million people – are in dire need of humanitarian assistance, said the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien.

At least 24 migrants including 10 children drowned in the Mediterranean on Wednesday, after their boat capsized near Greece.

In 2015, some 3,811 people were reported dead or missing in the Mediterranean, most all were migrants trying to escape war zones, poverty or persecution in their homelands, reported the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

At least 224 similar deaths have occurred so far this year, said IOM.

Highlights of a U.N. Report Last Week

• ISIL launches an offensive on GoS controlled areas of Deir-Ez-Zor city causing the displacement of 3,200 families;
• Unconfirmed reports of 300 civilians killed by ISIL and 400 civilians abducted
• Already limited supplies of foods and other commodities are likely to diminish soon putting 200,000 individuals at risk of increased malnutrition
• Those living in GoS controlled areas also face serious protection risks should ISIL take full control of the area
• On 19 January, the Government of Russia announced that they dropped 40 MT of relief supplies from the air.

Meanwhile, several European countries, which feel threatened by the influx of refugees, threaten to deport tens of thousands of asylum-seekers:

• Sweden to deport up to 80,000 asylum-seekers
• Denmark passes controversial bill to take migrants’ valuables
• Germany confiscates more from refugees than Denmark
• Migrants: Norway ‘sending us to death’ in Russia

ZIKV: Media Sensationalism Forcing WHO to Overreact?

If WHO believes ZIKV outbreak is that serious, WHY wait until WHEN?

The WHO announced today it will convene Emergency Committee on Zika virus (ZIKV) and observed increase in neurological disorders and neonatal malformations on February 1, 2016.

Statement by WHO:

WHO Director-General, Margaret Chan, will convene an International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on Zika virus and observed increase in neurological disorders and neonatal malformations.

The Committee will meet on Monday 1 February in Geneva to ascertain whether the outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Decisions concerning the Committee’s membership and advice will be made public on WHO’s website.

Outbreak in the Americas

In May 2015, Brazil reported its first case of Zika virus disease. Since then, the disease has spread within Brazil and to 22 other countries and territories in the region.

Arrival of the virus in some countries of the Americas, notably Brazil, has been associated with a steep increase in the birth of babies with abnormally small heads and in cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a poorly understood condition in which the immune system attacks the nervous system, sometimes resulting in paralysis.

A causal relationship between Zika virus infection and birth defects and neurological syndromes has not been established, but is strongly suspected.

WHO action

WHO’s Regional Office for the Americas (PAHO) has been working closely with affected countries since May 2015. PAHO has mobilized staff and members of the Global Outbreak and Response Network (GOARN) to assist ministries of health in strengthening their abilities to detect the arrival and circulation of Zika virus through laboratory testing and rapid reporting. The aim has been to ensure accurate clinical diagnosis and treatment for patients, to track the spread of the virus and the mosquito that carries it, and to promote prevention, especially through mosquito control.

The Organization is supporting the scaling up and strengthening of surveillance systems in countries that have reported cases of Zika and of microcephaly and other neurological conditions that may be associated with the virus. Surveillance is also being heightened in countries to which the virus may spread. In the coming weeks, the Organization will convene experts to address critical gaps in scientific knowledge about the virus and its potential effects on fetuses, children and adults.

WHO will also prioritize the development of vaccines and new tools to control mosquito populations, as well as improving diagnostic tests.

A “news” outlet said:

“Three to four million people will be infected with Zika in the Americas this year, the World Health Organization says.” [They have provided NO link to the person saying this.]

“Most cases result in no symptoms and it is hard to test for, but WHO officials said an estimated 1.5 million people had been infected in the country.” [Again, no one in WHO is aware of any source for this statement.]

The only statement made in this regard is the following:

FIRE-EARTH Models show more than one million incidences of ZIKV infections may have occurred worldwide since October 2015.

Neither WHO (PAHO), nor CDC currently has a working model for predicting the “explosive” growth of ZIKV.

“Zika virus spreading in Europe”

Earlier this week, another “news” outlet predicted that the virus would be spreading in Europe rapidly because a Danish traveler had been found infected with the disease.

The idiots who make up such silly stories about the virus outbreaks have ZERO to NO idea how the disease is transmitted, or how fast it could spread.

Related Links

• ZIKV: CDC Adds Two More Countries to Travel Warning List  January 27, 2016

Native Hawaiian Severely Beaten by ‘Chinese’ Cop for Trying to Heal Monk Seal

Submitted by a reader

‘Chinese’ policeman attacks native Hawaiian after he uses his mana to ‘heal’ a seal

“Jamie Kalani Rice, a native Hawaiian, has filed a federal complaint against Honolulu police for an unprovoked beating he received from Officer Ming Wang, which was captured on videotape,” according to a report.

Rice, satisfied with his healing ceremony, walks away from the seal. However, the cop follows him making demands.

He picks up his belongings, and tries to leave the beach, but the crazy policeman decides to punish him, anyway.

“Wang runs from behind Rice and pepper sprays him in the face, and then strikes Rice’s hand repeatedly at full force with his baton. Rice stands there without flinching, calmly taking the beating from this maniacal cop,” said the report.

“This lack of reaction infuriates Wang even further, as he pepper sprays Rice again and again. Then he strikes Rice’s other hand at full force with the baton, causing him to drop his bag. Wang continues striking Rice with the baton until Rice collapses in the sand. Wang gives him a final blow to the back and then stomps on the limp man’s body.

“Rice suffered broken bones in his right hand from this beating. He rightly claims that Wang used excessive force, and the defendants “took steps to write reports that altered the events as they actually took place so as to justify Wang use force [sic] against the plaintiff to effectuate his arrest.” Wang deceptively attempted to charge Rice with resisting arrest too.”

Read more…

New MERS-CoV Cases Reported in Arabia and UAE

Saudi respiratory syndrome crown virus (MERS-CoV) infect more people

Disease Outbreak News: Jan. 26, 2016

The National IHR Focal Point for Saudi Arabia has notified WHO of 138 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection including about 30 deaths [Sept 2015 – Jan 2016].

• The cases were reported in various cities including Madinah, Bisha, Aloyoun, Onizah, Najran, Alqweiyha, Buridah, Jeddah and Riyadh.

• Many of the victims are females, including several non-national health workers, in the 21 – 30 age range.

The National IHR Focal Point of the United Arab Emirates has notified WHO of 2 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 1 death.

• Both cases were reported in Abu Dhabi.

Thailand has confirmed MERS-CoV disease in a traveler, the second such case in the country in the last seven months.

• A man from Oman, who arrived in Bangkok, Thailand for treatment on 22 January, and was admitted to a private hospital, tested positive for MERS-CoV.

Globally, since September 2012, WHO has been notified of 1,632 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including at least 587 related deaths.

The first confirmed case of the MERS-CoV infection was reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012. It’s believed that the virus has been present in bats for several decades and had spread to camels by early 1990s. The virus seems to have spread from camels to humans in 2010.

 

Countries with Confirmed MERS-CoV

To date, 26 countries have reported cases of deadly infection, with Saudi Arabia accounting for more than 85 percent of all cases:

• Middle East: Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia , United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

• Africa: Algeria, and Tunisia; in Europe: Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

• Asia: China, the Republic of Korea , Malaysia Philippines and Thailand.

• North America: The United States of America

Key Facts [WHO]

• Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

• Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

• Typical MERS symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is common, but not always present. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhoea, have also been reported.

• Approximately 36% of reported patients with MERS have died.

• Although the majority of human cases of MERS have been attributed to human-to-human infections, camels are likely to be a major reservoir host for MERS-CoV and an animal source of MERS infection in humans. However, the exact role of camels in transmission of the virus and the exact route(s) of transmission are unknown.

• The virus does not seem to pass easily from person to person unless there is close contact, such as occurs when providing unprotected care to a patient.

Symptoms [WHO]

The clinical spectrum of MERS-CoV infection ranges from no symptoms (asymptomatic) or mild respiratory symptoms to severe acute respiratory disease and death. A typical presentation of MERS-CoV disease is fever, cough and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is a common finding, but not always present. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhoea, have also been reported. Severe illness can cause respiratory failure that requires mechanical ventilation and support in an intensive care unit. Approximately 36% of reported patients with MERS-CoV have died. The virus appears to cause more severe disease in older people, people with weakened immune systems, and those with chronic diseases such as cancer, chronic lung disease and diabetes.

Source of the virus [WHO]

MERS-CoV is a zoonotic virus that is transmitted from animals to humans. The origins of the virus are not fully understood but, according to the analysis of different virus genomes, it is believed that it originated in bats and was transmitted to camels sometime in the distant past.

Related Links

• MERS Alert in S.K: 1,200 Schools Closed, 1,600 People Quarantined June 4, 2015
• MERS Deaths Surge to 282 in Saudi Arabia  June 4, 2014
• MERS Infection Kills More People  May 17, 2014
• Saudi MERS Death Toll Reaches 102 April 28, 2014

ZIKV: CDC Adds Two More Countries to Travel Warning List

ZIKV outbreaks spreading in Dominican Republic and US Virgin Islands

The Dominican Republic and the US Virgin Islands have been added to the list of countries that pregnant women should avoid traveling to as the ZIKV outbreaks spread.

The current travel warning list now includes 24 countries throughout the Americas, Oceania/ Pacific Islands and Africa.

Countries and territories with active Zika virus transmission

• AMERICAS: Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican, Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Suriname, U.S. Virgin Islands, Venezuela

• OCEANIA/PACIFIC ISLANDS: Samoa

• AFRICA: Cape Verde

Countries and territories with active Zika virus transmission. Prior to 2015, Zika virus outbreaks have occurred in areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. In May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert regarding the first confirmed Zika virus infections in Brazil. Currently, outbreaks are occurring in at least 24 countries.

ZIKV Hot Spots

Current ZIKV Hot Spots include Brazil and Colombia and Panama, according to FIRE-EARTH Models.

Countries that have past or current evidence of Zika virus transmission

AMERICAS: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Suriname and Venezuela.

OCEANIA/PACIFIC ISLANDS: Cook Islands, Easter Island, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

ASIA: Cambodia, India*, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan*, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam*.

AFRICA: Angola*, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt*, Ethiopia*, Gabon, Gambia*, Kenya*, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone*, Somalia*, Tanzania*, Uganda and Zambia*.

[*For these countries, the only evidence of Zika virus transmission is from studies that detected Zika virus antibodies in healthy people.  These studies cannot determine where the people were infected or if they were infected with Zika virus because the antibodies may have resulted from infections with other closely related viruses, such as dengue virus.]

ZIKV Found in Australian Travelers Returning from S. America

Submitted by a reader – Edited by FEWW

Australians authorities echo warning to travelers planing to visit 22 countries affected by ZIKV

Australian health experts report mosquito-borne Zika virus (ZIKV), linked to brain damage in thousands of babies in Brazil, has already been discovered in Australia in travelers returning from South America, said a report.

For the virus to spread, however, it would require specific species of mosquitoes to act as a vector. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, one such vector, is currently found only in far north Queensland.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has issued new advice warning Australians, particularly pregnant women, to reconsider plans to travel to 22 countries affected by the virus, including many in South and Central America, and the Pacific island nation Samoa.

[FIRE-EARTH Models show more than one million incidences of ZIKV infections may have occurred worldwide since October 2015. —Editor]

The new travel advice comes in response to a warning by the World Health Organisation that Zika virus is now likely to spread to all countries in South, Central and North America except Canada and Chile. [Blog Moderators have not found any evidence to confirm either PAHO or WHO has issued a warning to this effect. This appears to be media sensationalism at best, or a desperate ruse designed for phishing more information from independent sources. —Editor]

At least 3,893 suspected cases of microcephaly had occurred in Brazil as of January 22, 2016, or over 30 times more than in any year since 2010 and equivalent to 1 to 2 per cent of all newborns in the state of Pernambuco, one of the worst-hit areas, said WHO.

ZIKV was first detected in a monkey in Zika forest near Lake Victoria, Uganda, in 1947.

Microcephaly is a birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly. Microcephaly is not a common condition. State birth defects tracking systems have estimated that microcephaly ranges from 2 babies per 10,000 live births to about 12 babies per 10,000 live births in the Unites States.

• Zika and pregnancy [CDC]

Countries that have past or current evidence of Zika virus transmission

AFRICA: Angola*, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt*, Ethiopia*, Gabon, Gambia*, Kenya*, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone*, Somalia*, Tanzania*, Uganda and Zambia*.

AMERICAS: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Suriname and Venezuela.

OCEANIA/PACIFIC ISLANDS: Cook Islands, Easter Island, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

ASIA: Cambodia, India*, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan*, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam*.

[*For these countries, the only evidence of Zika virus transmission is from studies that detected Zika virus antibodies in healthy people.  These studies cannot determine where the people were infected or if they were infected with Zika virus because the antibodies may have resulted from infections with other closely related viruses, such as dengue virus.]

Related Links

• ZIKV Emergency: New Warnings Issued by Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador & Jamaica January 23, 2016

Additional Links

ZIKV

• CDC Issues Travel Warning as Zika Virus Epidemic Continues to Spread January 16, 2016
• Zika Virus: Coming to a Place Near You…  January 5, 2016
• Disasters/ Significant Events – Dec 25, 2015 Posted on December 25, 2015
• Most Dangerous Pathogens  December 12, 2015
• ZIKV – Emerging Virus May Cause Severe Birth Defects  December 4, 2015

DENGUE

• Latest Dengue Fever Outbreaks January 20, 2016
• Top Emerging Diseases Likely to Cause Major Epidemics December 12, 2015
• ZIKV – Emerging Virus May Cause Severe Birth Defects December 4, 2015
• Dengue Fever Kills 204 in Taiwan  December 16, 2015
• State of Emergency Declared in East Java  January 26, 2015
• Dengue Fever Outbreak Prompts State of Emergency in Brazil City  January 21, 2013
• State of emergency in Marshall Islands as dengue outbreak spirals  October 29, 2011
• Chikungunya Makes West Nile Look Like Nappy Rash  September 19, 2009

What went wrong with the humans?

Submitted by a reader

Racism in Australia more prevalent than ever before

If you thought Australia was a multicultural safe haven of equal opportunity, think again!

 

Record Low Temps. Reported across Asia

Deadly cold spell kills dozens of people in Taiwan Japan, Vietnam, China, S. Korea…

Taiwan. Record cold over the weekend has killed about 100 people.

• A sudden drop in Taipei city temperature plunged the mercury to a record low of 4ºC (39F)on Sunday.

South Korea. About 1,000 flights were cancelled, stranding more than 90,000 tourists on Jeju  island, as temperatures fell to record lows.

• Seoul temperature fell to -18ºC, the lowest since Jan. 15, 2001, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said.
• Temperature in North Korea’s northeastern tip fell to -37.5ºC on Saturday night, said the South Korean weather agency.
• Pyongyang temperature fell from -15ºCon Saturday to -19ºC early Sunday.
• Radio Free Asia reported Saturday that more than 40,000 North Korean workers had been withdrawn from construction sites due to big freezing, said the report.

Vietnam and Thailand. Record or near-record low temperatures affected much of the two countries.

Southern and eastern China.  First snow in fifty years blanketed Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong Province, over the weekend.

• “China’s national observatory on Sunday evening renewed its orange alert for a cold wave as most parts of the country experienced the coldest weather in decades in the weekend.”
• At least four fatalities have been reported.
• In Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the fisheries authorities reported the loss of 54 tons of product as of Sunday due to the cold.

Hong Kong. Temperature fell to a record low of

Japan. Snowstorms hammered large portions of Japan, killing at least 8 people, leaving hundreds injured, and forcing scores of flight cancellations.

• Snow reported in Okinawa for the first time ever.

M6.3 Earthquake Strikes Strait of Gibraltar

Alboran Sea rippled by strong earthquake, significant aftershocks

Centered at 35.70ºN, 3.71°W (56 km NE of Tirhanimîne, Morocco) the strong quake occurred at a depth of 10km, reported Euro-Med earthquakes.

Magnitude:  6.3Mw
Location: 35.70ºN, 3.71°W
Depth: 10km
Region: STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR
Date/time: 2016-01-25 04:22:02.6 UTC
Distances:
156 km E of Gibraltar, Gibraltar [pop: 26,544]
83 km NW of Melilla, Spain [pop: 73,460]
56 km NE of Tirhanimîne, Morocco [ pop: 55,827 ]

Aftershocks
At least 8 aftershocks have occurred, as of posting, the largest of which registered 5.3Mw.

The M7.2 December 28, 1908 Messina earthquake is the deadliest documented European earthquake. The combination of severe ground shaking and a local tsunami caused an estimated 60,000 to 120,000 fatalities. [USGS/EHP]

Extreme Weather Events Destroy Crops in Georgia & the Carolinas

Crop disasters declared in 37 counties across three U.S. states

Lingering excessive heat, excessive rain and moisture have destroyed or damaged crops in at least 37 counties across three states: Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 20 counties in Georgia as crop disaster area due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain and moisture that occurred from Aug. 24, 2015, and continues. Those counties are:

Appling, Brantley, Bulloch, Burke, Emanuel, Glynn, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, Long, McIntosh, Montgomery, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, Treutlen, Treutlen and Wayne.

USDA has also designated 17 counties across the Carolinas as crop disaster area due to damages and losses caused by drought and excessive heat that occurred from April 25, 2015, and continues. Those counties are:

North Carolina. Cabarrus, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Rowan, Stanly, Surry, Union, Wilkes and Yadkin.

South Carolina. Lancaster and York.

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Jan. 20, 2016.

Crop Disasters 2015

USDA declared crop disasters in at least 4,017 counties and county equivalents across 46 States [as well as Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands] in 2015. Those states are Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

• About 99 percent of the 2015 crop disaster designations were due to drought last year.

Crop Disasters 2014

In 2014, USDA declared crop disasters in at least 2,904 counties across 44 states. Most of the designations were due to drought.

Those states were:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan. Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. [FIRE-EARTH has documented all of the above listings. See blog content.]

Notes:
i. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.

ii. The counties designated as agricultural disaster areas, as listed above, include both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

iii. Some counties may have been designated as crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.

iv. The U.S. has a total of 3,143 counties and county-equivalents.

Related Links

• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Three U.S. States January 9, 2016
• Crop Disasters Declared in Five U.S. States December 24, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in North Carolina, Virginia December 19, 2015

• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Montana December 19, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Alabama, Florida, Georgia December 10, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in the Carolinas December 3, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Kansas December 3, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Michigan and Ohio November 26, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Six U.S. States November 22, 2015
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Powerful Earthquake Strikes Iniskin Bay, Alaska

M7.1 earthquake strikes SW of Anchorage, Alaska

Centered at 59.658°N, 153.452°W the event occurred at a depth of 127.8 km (79.4 mi), reported USGS/EHP.

EQ Details
Magnitude: 7.1Mw
Location: 59.658°N 153.452°W
Depth: 127.8 km
Time: 2016-01-24 10:30:30 UTC
Nearby Cities:

• 83km (52mi) E of Old Iliamna, Alaska
• 261km (162mi) SW of Anchorage, Alaska
• 295km (183mi) SW of Knik-Fairview, Alaska
• 648km (403mi) SSW of College, Alaska

Tsunami Evaluation: This earthquake did not generate a destructive tsunami.

Aftershocks: At least 8 aftershocks have occurred in and around the Iniskin Peninsula, as of posting.

Tremors were felt in Anchorage, about 260km NE of the epicenter.

Regional Impact: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us10004gqp#impact_dyfi

 

ZIKV Emergency: New Warnings Issued by Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador & Jamaica

One million cases of ZIKV infections worldwide: FIRE-EARTH Models

FIRE-EARTH Models show more than one million incidences of ZIKV infections may have occurred worldwide since October 2015.

Link to Microcephaly

Researchers suspect a possible link between Zika virus infection and microcephaly, a severe birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly.

Microcephaly can occur as a result of changes in babies genes, as well as other causes that can include the following exposures during pregnancy:

• Infections, such as rubella, toxoplasmosis, or cytomegalovirus
• Severe malnutrition
• Exposure to harmful substances, such as alcohol, certain drugs, or toxic chemicals

Microcephaly is a birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly. Microcephaly is not a common condition. State birth defects tracking systems have estimated that microcephaly ranges from 2 babies per 10,000 live births to about 12 babies per 10,000 live births in the Unites States.

Latest Health Warnings

Authorities in four countries—Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador and Jamaica—have warned women to avoid pregnancy as cases of microcephaly, believed to be caused by Zika virus (ZIKV), continue to multiply.

Brazil. Authorities say the number of babies born with suspected microcephaly has now reached about 4,000 since October, 2015.

Colombia. Health Minister has urged women to delay pregnancies for about eight months.

Ecuador, El Salvador and Jamaica. Authorities have told women to delay pregnancies by up to two years.

U.S. Last week, explosive outbreaks of ZIKV, a dangerous tropical disease linked to birth defects, prompted the  U.S. health officials to issue a travel alert for people traveling to regions and countries where the virus transmission is spreading: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Countries that have past or current evidence of Zika virus transmission

AFRICA: Angola*, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt*, Ethiopia*, Gabon, Gambia*, Kenya*, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone*, Somalia*, Tanzania*, Uganda and Zambia*.

AMERICAS: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Suriname and Venezuela.

OCEANIA/PACIFIC ISLANDS: Cook Islands, Easter Island, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

ASIA: Cambodia, India*, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan*, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam*.

[*For these countries, the only evidence of Zika virus transmission is from studies that detected Zika virus antibodies in healthy people.  These studies cannot determine where the people were infected or if they were infected with Zika virus because the antibodies may have resulted from infections with other closely related viruses, such a; s dengue virus.]

Ae. aegypti Mosquitoes: The Principal Vectors of ZIKV

Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus are the principal vectors of dengue (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4), chikungunya (CHIKV), yellow fever (YFV), and Zika (ZIKV) viruses. Of these seven arboviruses, DENV, YFV and CHIKV have caused outbreaks within the United States and its territories in the past 110 years.

With a newly-obtained fiery red blood meal visible through her transparent abdomen, the now heavy female Aedes aegypti mosquito took flight as she left her host’s skin surface. Photo Credit: James Gathany/ CDC

Approximate distribution of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes in the United States. -CDC-

ZIKV in Brief [CDC]

Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon.

Outbreaks of Zika have occurred in areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Americas. Because the Aedes species mosquitoes that spread Zika virus are found throughout the world, it is likely that outbreaks will spread to new countries. In December 2015, Puerto Rico reported its first confirmed Zika virus case. Locally transmitted Zika has not been reported elsewhere in the United States, but cases of Zika have been reported in returning travelers.

There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika. Travelers can protect themselves from this disease by taking steps to prevent mosquito bites. When traveling to countries where Zika virus (see map) or other viruses spread by mosquitoes have been reported, use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants, and stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens.

Zika and pregnancy

Related Links

ZIKV

• CDC Issues Travel Warning as Zika Virus Epidemic Continues to Spread January 16, 2016
• Zika Virus: Coming to a Place Near You…  January 5, 2016
• Disasters/ Significant Events – Dec 25, 2015 Posted on December 25, 2015
• Most Dangerous Pathogens  December 12, 2015
• ZIKV – Emerging Virus May Cause Severe Birth Defects  December 4, 2015

DENGUE

• Latest Dengue Fever Outbreaks January 20, 2016
• Top Emerging Diseases Likely to Cause Major Epidemics December 12, 2015
• ZIKV – Emerging Virus May Cause Severe Birth Defects December 4, 2015
• Dengue Fever Kills 204 in Taiwan  December 16, 2015
• State of Emergency Declared in East Java  January 26, 2015
• Dengue Fever Outbreak Prompts State of Emergency in Brazil City  January 21, 2013
• State of emergency in Marshall Islands as dengue outbreak spirals  October 29, 2011
• Chikungunya Makes West Nile Look Like Nappy Rash  September 19, 2009

Major Disaster Declared for Alabama

Alabama declared Federal Disaster Area

Alabama Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4251)

• Incident period: December 23, 2015 to December 31, 2015
• Major Disaster Declaration declared on January 21, 2016

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Alabama in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of December 23-31, 2015.

The areas that were hardest hit by the disasters include the counties of Autauga, Barbour, Blount, Bullock, Butler, Chambers, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Coffee, Colbert, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, DeKalb, Elmore, Escambia, Fayette, Franklin, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Lamar, Lawrence, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marion, Marshall, Monroe, Perry, Pike, Russell, St. Clair, Walker, and Winston.

Federal Disaster Declarations (2015)

The federal government proclaimed 43 Major Disaster Declaration [DR 4205-4247] for a U.S. state/tribal area/territory in 2015, two Emergency Declarations, EM-3372 and EM-3373 and 34 Fire Management Assistance Declarations [FM-5084 to FM-5117.]

Major Disaster Declarations 2016

• Major Disaster Declared for Missouri [DR-4250] January 22, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration for Washington [DR-4249] January 16, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Mississippi [DR-4248] January 5, 2016
• Federal Emergency Declared for Missouri [EM-3374] January 3, 2016
• Federal Disaster Declarations
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Historic Nor’easter: Dozen Dead; NJ Declares State of Emergency

UPDATES:

About 72cm of snow recorded in parts of West Virginia as of 15:00UTC

New York Gov. declares a State of Emergency

State of Emergency declared in New Jersey as nor’easter threatens massive snow dump, coastal flooding

One in seven Americans should expect at least 6 inches of snow by Sunday as historic winter storm moves north

Warnings, Watches or Advisories have been issued for up to 90 million people across at least 21 states, as the historic winter storm continued to move north.

Blizzard Warning, Winter Storm Warning, High Wind Warning, Storm Warning, Coastal Flood Warning, Flood Warning, Gale Warning, and Freeze Warning in effect across multiple States.

At least a dozen people have been killed, multiple states have declared states of emergency, and thousands of flights have been cancelled across a large portion of the U.S. from Arkansas in the south to Massachusetts in the northeast.

States of emergency are currently in effect across North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia and portions of several other states, as well as in the District of Columbia.

Major To Historic Winter Storm Will Impact The Middle Atlantic To Southern New England Into Sunday

A powerful low pressure system will bring heavy snow and blizzard conditions from the Middle Atlantic Region all the way through southern New England. The heaviest snow is expected to fall over the Middle Atlantic Region including the Washington DC and Baltimore metro areas west to the Blue Ridge mountains. In addition, moderate coastal flooding is expected. The storm will taper off by Sunday. -NWS-

 

Monster Storm: States of Emergency Declared across US East

Threat of ‘potentially crippling winter storm’ prompts states of emergency in and GA, NC, TN, VA, PA, MD, DC…

Deadly winter storm could impact 80+ million people – Blizzard Warnings issued

An area of low pressure centered over the southeastern U.S. will continue developing into a major winter storm which will impact a large portion of the East Coast from the southern Appalachians through the Mid-Atlantic states from Friday into the weekend. Snowfall totals may exceed 2 feet in portions of these areas, including the Baltimore and Washington D.C. metropolitan areas. -NWS-

Previous Bulletin:

A potentially crippling winter storm is anticipated for portions of the mid-Atlantic Friday into early Saturday. Snowfall may approach two feet for some locations, including the Baltimore and Washington, DC, metro areas. Farther north, there is uncertainty in snowfall for the New York City-to-Boston corridor. Farther south, significant icing is likely for portions of Kentucky and North Carolina. -NWS-

 

• NOR`EASTER TO IMPACT THE AREA WITH SNOW AND WIND LATE FRIDAY INTO SUNDAY MORNING

• IMPACTS: EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TRAVEL DUE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL AND STRONG WINDS WITH WHITEOUT CONDITIONS LIKELY. SECONDARY AND TERTIARY ROADS MAY BECOME IMPASSABLE. STRONG WINDS MAY DOWN POWER LINES AND TREE LIMBS.

Residents from North Carolina to New York have been told to stay indoors, and stock up on food and other necessities, as the monster storm arrives.

The National Weather Service put Washington DC and Baltimore under blizzard warnings from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning.

Blizzard warnings also issued for the following areas:

THE FIVE BOROUGHS OF NEW YORK CITY, COASTAL PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY, AND LONG ISLAND

At least four weather-related fatalities were reported, with two drivers killed in North Carolina, one in Tennessee and a pedestrian killed in Maryland, as of posting.

Deadly Swine Flu Sweeps Much of Russia, Neighboring Countries

Deadly swine flu hits 49 Russian regions

Dozen of swine flu cases, including fatalities, have been registered in 49 Russian regions including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Crimea and Sevastopol and in neighboring countries, said a report.

Report Highlights

At least 14 lethal swine flu cases have reportedly been registered across Russia since December 2015.

Swine flu (subtype H1N1 of influenza A virus) is common among pigs. Transmission of the virus from animals to humans is not common and does not always lead to human flu, often resulting instead in the production of antibodies only. However, when it does develop in humans, it carries a higher risk of fatality than the common flu.

Moscow. Swine flu in Moscow in the current epidemic season is responsible for 21 percent of all influenza cases in the city.

• 147 people in Moscow were confirmed as infected with the swine flu virus, as of January 20.

Other Regions. New cases of swine flu were registered in seven Russian regions:  Kaliningrad, Samara, Vologda, Sakhalin, Novgorod, Yaroslavl and Primorye.

• In Kostroma, the only registered case was fatal.
• Four people were diagnosed with swine flu in the westernmost Russian region of Kaliningrad, regional authorities announced on Thursday.
• Seven people infected with the H1N1 (swine flu) virus in Crimea.

As of January 18, at least 27 fatalities caused by swine flu have been registered across Russia.

Ukraine. Authorities will impose a quarantine, starting January 23, in an attempt to stem the spread of swine flu across the country.

Georgia. The infection has killed at least three people in the mountainous Caucasus region. Georgia’s health workers were put on high alert on Wednesday, following a surge in influenza and acute viral respiratory infection cases.

Armenia. As of January 20, at least 18 fatalities have occurred from complications of swine flu. However, the Armenian health authorities do not consider the spread of swine flu in the country as an epidemic outbreak, said the report.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160122/1033527252/swine-flu-russia.html

Major Disaster Declared for Missouri

Missouri declared Federal Disaster Area

Missouri Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4250)

• Incident period: December 23, 2015 to January 09, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration declared on January 21, 2016

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Missouri in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of December 23, 2015 to January 9, 2016.

The areas that were hardest hit by the disasters include the counties of Barry, Barton, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Cole, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Lawrence, Lincoln, Maries, McDonald, Morgan, Newton, Osage, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, Scott, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster, and Wright.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, federal officials said.

Federal Disaster Declarations (2015)

The federal government has proclaimed 45 Major Disaster Declaration [DR 4205-4249] for a U.S. state/tribal area/territory for 2015 disasters including three for Washington. Additionally, three Emergency Declarations, EM-3372 and EM-3374 including one for WA, and 34 Fire Management Assistance Declarations [FM-5084 to FM-5117] including 12 for the state have been issued.

Major Disaster Declarations Since October 2015

• Major Disaster Declaration for Washington [DR-4249] January 16, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Mississippi [DR-4248] January 5, 2016
• Federal Emergency Declared for Missouri [EM-3374] January 3, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Oklahoma [DR-4247] December 30, 2015
• Major Disaster Declared for Idaho [DR-4246] December 28, 2015
• Major Disaster Declared for Texas [DR-4245] November 26, 2015
• Major Disaster Declared in Alaska [DR-4244] October 31, 2015
• 2ND Major Disaster Declaration for Washington [DR-4243] October 22, 2015
• Major Disaster Declared for Washington [DR-4242] October 16, 2015
• Major Disaster Declared in South Carolina [DR-4241] October 6, 2015
• Federal Disaster Declarations
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Strong Quake Strikes Pacific Coast of Mexico

M6.6 earthquake occurs SW of Guadalajara

Centered at 18.841°N, 106.954°W [420 km SW of Guadalajara, Mexico; pop: 1.7 million] the event occurred at a depth of 10.0 km, reported USGS/EHP.

EQ Details
Magnitude: 6.6Mw
Location: 18.841°N 106.954°W
Depth: 10.0 km
Time: 2016-01-21 18:06:59
Nearby Cities:

215km (134mi) SW of Tomatlan, Mexico
255km (158mi) W of Cihuatlan, Mexico
267km (166mi) SW of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
275km (171mi) SW of Ixtapa, Mexico
825km (513mi) W of Mexico City, Mexico

Turkish Offensive on Kurdish Areas Threatens 200,000 Lives

Democracy cannot exist without freedom of expression

Onslaught on Kurdish areas in Turkey putting tens of thousands of lives at risk —Amnesty

“The Turkish government’s onslaught on Kurdish towns and neighborhoods, which includes round-the-clock curfews and cuts to services, is putting the lives of up to 200,000 people at risk and amounts to collective punishment,” says Amnesty International.

“Cuts to water and electricity supplies combined with the dangers of accessing food and medical care while under fire are having a devastating effect on residents, and the situation is likely to get worse, fast, if this isn’t addressed,” said Amnesty International’s Europe and Central Asia Program Director.“In some areas, crippling curfews that don’t allow people to leave their houses at all have been in place for more than a month, effectively laying siege to entire neighborhoods. It is imperative that the Turkish authorities ensure that affected residents are able to access food and essential services.”

Amnesty cites numerous reports of Turkish security forces preventing ambulances from entering areas under curfew. In one incident, body of a man killed during clashes in Silopi was left to decompose at the family’s home for 12 days before authorities allowed it to be collected.

Meanwhile the Turkish dictator has vowed to punish treasonous’ academics for defending human rights.

Turkish president vows ‘treasonous’ academics will pay the price

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has stepped up his harsh rhetoric against academics who called for an end to military operations in Turkey’s southeast, warning that they would pay the price for “falling into a pit of treachery,” said a report.

“I’m saying frankly: This mindset which gives a self-styled fatwa to the terror organization’s attacks on public servants, which simply says ‘it would be better if it didn’t do so’ in response to the killing of civilians, disgusts me,” Erdoğan said.

Prosecutors have launched a major investigation into more than 1,200 academics who signed a petition denouncing military operations in the southeast, with at least 18 being detained so far. The EU and the United States have both denounced the probes in unusually strong statements.

The Turkish dictator, speaking at his presidential palace, said the academics’ “masks have fallen off,” showing their “real and ugly faces.”

“They spit out hatred of our nation’s values and history on every occasion. The petition has made this clearer.”

“Do you think you can disrupt the unity of this nation? Do you think you can continue to have a comfortable life with a salary from the state, without paying a price?” Erdoğan said.

“In a state of law like Turkey, so-called academics who target the unity of our nation have no right to commit crimes. They don’t have immunity for this.”

All those detained in the probe into the petition last week have since been released but they still face investigation and eventual trial.

Academics support colleagues under probe in Turkey

Hundreds of Turkish academics have expressed solidarity with their colleagues suspected of terrorism crimes after signing a petition to call for an end to ongoing violence in southeastern Turkey in a statement sent to the Hürriyet Daily News.

“Democracy cannot exist without freedom of expression,” said the statement signed by 610 academics from various universities including some in the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria and Turkey.

“We, the undersigned academics, believe that freedom of expression is the core element of academic life… we think that the reaction of the government and the Higher Education Council [YÖK] toward the petition entitled ‘We shall not be a party to this crime’ signed by over 1,000 academics is wrong and disturbing,” the statement said.

The statement came amid a criminal complaint against a group of people, including 15 academics out of a total of 1,228 who signed the petition to call for peace, as well as overt death threats by ultranationalist mafia boss Sedat Peker that directly targeted the academics. The scholars also demanded state protection as they said “our lives are in danger” in a criminal complaint filed with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

“We will let your blood flow in streams and take a shower in your blood,” Peker, a well-known convicted criminal, said in a message posted on his personal website on Jan. 13. The message titled as “The So-Called Intellectuals, The Bells Will Toll for You First” was posted just a day after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called more than 1,000 Turkish and international academics as “poor excuses for intellectuals.”

The statement from the 610 also said public debate and criticism were the basic tenets of democracy, whereas silencing and persecuting dissent were the hallmarks of authoritarianism.

“The attempt to punish the academics who express their opinions regarding the burning problems which are currently affecting the country constitutes a blow to academic freedom. Social progress is bound to be impeded by such an attack,” it added.

At least 40,000 people have been killed in the Kurdish conflict since 1984, Turkish govt says.

2015 Earth’s Warmest Year by Widest Margin on Record

Warmest December makes 2015 warmest year on record: NOAA

The 2015 globally averaged temperature over land and ocean surfaces was the highest on record since 1880. The December combined global land and ocean average surface temperature was the highest on record for any month in the 136-year record, reported NOAA.

Global highlights: Calendar Year 2015

The 2015 average temperature across global land and ocean surfaces was 1.62°F (0.90°C) above the 20th century average.

• It is the warmest among all 136 years in the 1880–2015 record.
  • Fourth time a global temperature record has been set this century.
  • Largest margin by which the annual global temperature record has been broken.
  • Ten months had record high temperatures for their respective months during the year.
  • The five highest monthly departures from average for any month on record all occurred during 2015.

• During 2015, the globally-averaged land surface temperature was 2.39°F (1.33°C) above the 20^th century average. This was the highest among all years in the 1880–2015 record, surpassing the previous record of 2007 by 0.45°F (0.25°C). This is the largest margin by which the annual global land temperature has been broken.

• During 2015, the globally-averaged sea surface temperature was 1.33°F (0.74°C) above the 20^th century average. This was the highest among all years in the 1880–2015 record, surpassing the previous record of last year by 0.20°F (0.11°C).

• The 1901-2000 average combined land and ocean annual temperature is 13.9°C (56.9°F), the annually averaged land temperature for the same period is 8.5°C (47.3°F), and the long-term annually averaged sea surface temperature is 16.1°C (60.9°F).

• Overall, the global annual temperature has increased at an average rate of 0.07°C (0.13°F) per decade since 1880 and at an average rate of 0.17°C (0.31°F) per decade since 1970.

Global highlights: December 2015

December average temperature across global land and ocean surfaces was 2.00°F (1.11°C) above the 20^th century average of 12.2°C (54.0°F). This was the highest for December in the 1880–2015 record.

• The globally-averaged land surface temperature was 3.40°F (1.89°C) above the 20^th century average. This was the highest for December in the 1880–2015 record.

• The globally-averaged sea surface temperature was 1.49°F (0.83°C) above the 20^th century average, also the highest for December in the 1880–2015 record.

Sixteen Warmest Years (1880–2015)

All but one of the 16 warmest year on record (1998 tied with 2009 for the 6th warmest) have occurred this century.

Source:
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, State of the Climate: Global Analysis for Annual 2015, published online January 2016, retrieved on January 20, 2016 from http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201513.