English हिन्दी
Connect with us

Gadgets

Climate change biggest health threat, cost India 7,500 crore labour hours in 2017

Published

on

Climate change biggest health threat, cost India 7,500 crore labour hours in 2017

Heat and extreme weather events and impact on health from climate change make it the biggest global health threat of the 21st century, says a report by The Lancet medical journal on Wednesday, November 28.

Scientists said climate change impacts – from heatwaves to worsening storms, floods and fires – were surging and threatened to overwhelm health systems, with hundreds of millions more people already suffering in the last two decades.

According to the Lancet Countdown 2018 on Health and Climate Change report, globally each person was exposed to an additional 1.4 days of heat wave between 2000 and 2017 compared to the baseline period of 1986 to 2005. In 2017, an additional 157 million heat wave exposure events took place, which is 18 million more heat exposure events than in 2016.

India is one of the countries worst hit by heat stress and labour hours lost.

From 2014-2017, the average length of heatwaves in India ranged from 3-4 days compared to the global average of 0.8-1.8 days, and Indians were exposed to almost 60 million heatwave exposure events in 2016, a jump of about 40 million from 2012, the report released Thursday showed.

India also lost nearly 75,000 million labour hours in 2017 (equivalent to a year’s work for 7% of the working population), compared to about 43,000 million hours in 2000, an increase of more than 30,000 million labour hours lost in less than two decades.

In India, average temperatures are set to rise alarmingly, the Lancet Countdown report on health and climate change says. By the end of the 21st century, Northern, Central and Western India may witness temperature rise averaging 2.2 to 5.5°C.

The impacts, the authors on India policy brief note, vary with different sectors with the agriculture being most vulnerable as compared to the industrial and services sector.

“For India, whose large agriculture economy makes up 18% of the country’s GDP and employs nearly half the population, this translates into substantial climate-related impacts on the workforce and economy,” said Dr K Srinath Reddy an author of the India policy brief of the Lancet report, according to a report in The Times of India (TOI).

For the agriculture sector alone, the labour hours lost increased from about 40,000 million hours in 2000 to about 60,000 million hours in 2017, says a briefing paper for Indian policy makers by the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) based on the Lancet Countdown report.

The report comes ahead of the 24th UN Climate Change Conference, also known as COP (Conference of Parties) – annual meetings held to assess and negotiate ways to deal with climate change. Issues likely to be discussed at this year’s conference are transfer of climate funds from developed countries to developing nations for adaptation to climate change impacts, and how nations can keep global temperature rise under 1.5 degree Celsius.

The report was authored by people from 27 organisations, including doctors, academics and policy professionals, who relied on written works and primary data reports from various countries.

“What we saw in the data shared is that the number, duration and intensity of heat waves has been increasing in India, particularly in the last decade. There are spikes in heat wave related morbidity and mortality. Lancet had shared summary data sets with us,” said Dr Poornima Prabhakaran, associate professor and deputy director of the Centre for Environmental Health at PHFI, co-author of the briefing paper.

Mortality rates for malignant melanoma have increased significantly in Europe, the Americas, and the Western Pacific.

Low and middle-income countries, India included, are likely to be worst affected by climate change, given weaker health systems and poorer infrastructure, experts said, adding that this may lead to further widening of existing health and economic inequities.

Heatwaves are associated with increased rates of heat stress and heat stroke, exacerbation of heart failure and acute kidney injury from dehydration. Children, the elderly and those with pre-existing morbidities are particularly vulnerable.

Dr Reddy was quoted by The Times of India (TOI) as saying that identifying local heat hot spots through appropriate tracking and modelling of meteorological data is needed to tackle the crisis.

Observing that a recent report “places India amongst the countries who most experience high social and economic costs from climate change”, the study makes several recommendations. These include identifying “heat hot-spots” through appropriate tracking of meteorological data and promoting “timely development and implementation of local Heat Action Plans with strategic inter-agency co-ordination, and a response which targets the most vulnerable groups.”

The report prepared jointly with the Public Health Foundation of India also urges a review of existing occupational health standards, labour laws and sectoral regulations for worker safety in relation to climatic conditions.

Gadgets

Amazon launches new Kindle Paperwhite with 16 GB storage

The global e-reader market continues to grow, with readers increasingly embracing digital platforms that blend convenience with expansive content libraries, a trend Amazon leverages with this launch.

Published

on

Amazon headquarters with workforce restructuring news

On Wednesday, Amazon introduced the latest Kindle Paperwhite in India, elevating the e-reading experience with cutting-edge upgrades. The U.S.-based tech leader announced that the new model boasts 25% faster page turns, ensuring a seamless and immersive reading journey for book enthusiasts.

The Kindle Paperwhite features a 7-inch waterproof display with a crisp 300 ppi resolution, powered by an oxide thin-film transistor for a sharper contrast ratio that enhances text clarity. Its improved keyword touch-response system makes navigation intuitive, catering to users who value speed and precision. Readers can personalize their experience with adjustable warm light settings and a dark mode option, ideal for day or night reading.

Amazon touts an impressive battery life of up to 12 weeks on a single charge, making the device a reliable companion for avid readers. With 16 GB of storage, the Kindle Paperwhite accommodates a vast library, supported by features like X-Ray, which offers instant insights into characters, places, or terms within a book. The built-in dictionary provides quick word lookups and translations, while Word Wise displays simple definitions above challenging words, aiding language learners.

The device grants access to over 1.5 crore titles across genres, including eBooks in regional languages like Hindi, Tamil, and Marathi. Kindle Unlimited subscribers can explore more than 20 lakh eBooks, while Amazon Prime members enjoy a rotating selection of titles at no extra cost. The global e-reader market continues to grow, with readers increasingly embracing digital platforms that blend convenience with expansive content libraries, a trend Amazon leverages with this launch.

Priced at ₹16,999, the Kindle Paperwhite is available in Black and can be purchased on Amazon’s platform. This release underscores Amazon’s commitment to refining e-reader technology, blending user-friendly design with robust functionality. As digital reading gains traction in India, the new Kindle Paperwhite is poised to capture the attention of both casual readers and literary aficionados, offering a gateway to a world of stories in a sleek, portable package.

Continue Reading

Gadgets

HP launches new range of Copilot+ AI laptops in India

This enables AI functionalities to operate offline, ensuring faster processing and enhanced data privacy—a boon for users in India’s fast-evolving digital landscape.

Published

on

HP has unveiled an exciting new lineup of Copilot+ PCs in India, introducing four laptops crafted to deliver cutting-edge AI experiences directly on the device. Launched under the HP EliteBook, ProBook, and OmniBook series, these models cater to a wide range of users, from corporate professionals to creative minds like graphic designers and content creators.

Powered by processors from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm, these laptops feature dedicated Neural Processing Units (NPUs) that perform 40 to 55 trillion operations per second. This enables AI functionalities to operate offline, ensuring faster processing and enhanced data privacy—a boon for users in India’s fast-evolving digital landscape.

The laptops come loaded with HP’s AI-driven tools, including the AI Companion, myHP software, and Poly Camera Pro, designed to streamline productivity and elevate communication. These tools offer real-time file analysis, crystal-clear voice output, and smart camera features for seamless video calls, making them ideal for both professional and creative tasks.

The EliteBook series, starting at Rs 87,440, targets business users with models like the EliteBook 8 and 6 series, alongside the ProBook 4. These machines boast extended battery life, robust security features, and noise-cancellation technology for distraction-free meetings. Meanwhile, the OmniBook series, priced from Rs 78,999, is tailored for content creators and collaborative professionals. This range includes the OmniBook Ultra 14, 5 16, 7 Aero 13, and X 14, offering versatility for dynamic workloads.

HP’s AI Companion enables offline file searches, saving time for busy users. The Poly Camera Pro transforms video calls with multi-camera support, background effects, and streaming-ready features, while Poly Audio ensures clear conversations by filtering out background noise and balancing volume levels.

“India is poised to lead the global AI revolution, with its vibrant talent pool and dynamic growth,” said Ipsita Dasgupta, Managing Director of HP India. “Our expanded Copilot+ portfolio empowers everyone—from entrepreneurs to students—with AI tools to thrive in this new era.”

These Copilot+ PCs will soon be available through HP’s online store and retail partners across India, promising to redefine how Indians work and create.

Continue Reading

Gadgets

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE may skip chip upgrade, could reuse Exynos 2400e

Samsung’s next Fan Edition smartphone, the Galaxy S25 FE, is likely to feature the same Exynos 2400e processor as last year’s model, according to new leaks.

Published

on

Samsung

Samsung appears to be following a conservative route for its upcoming Galaxy S25 FE, with reports suggesting that the smartphone will feature the same Exynos 2400e chipset used in last year’s Galaxy S24 FE. While the tech giant has not officially confirmed the device’s launch, leaks hint that the handset—codenamed R13—is already under development.

According to internal code seen by the media, the Galaxy S25 FE carries the codename siop_r13s_s5e9945, confirming its chipset as Exynos 2400/2400e. This is the same processor seen in the Galaxy S24 FE, indicating that Samsung may skip a processor upgrade this year.

If accurate, this decision places the S25 FE behind newer premium chipsets like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, Snapdragon 8 Elite, and MediaTek Dimensity 9400, potentially making the device less powerful in comparison to flagship competitors in 2025.

The Galaxy S25 FE is expected to launch towards the end of Q3 or early Q4 2025, as a more affordable variant of the Galaxy S25 series. Much like its predecessor, it will likely aim to strike a balance between performance and price, appealing to cost-conscious consumers.

Last year’s Galaxy S24 FE, launched in September 2024, came at a price of Rs. 59,999 for the 8GB + 128GB model. It featured a 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, 50MP triple rear camera, 10MP selfie camera, 4700mAh battery, and support for Galaxy AI features. If Samsung follows suit, the S25 FE could retain many of these specifications, making only minor hardware or software tweaks.

The report also mentions that the Indian variant of the Galaxy M36 5G may be powered by the Exynos 1380 chipset, the same one used in the Galaxy M35 5G. This suggests Samsung might be keeping things uniform across its mid-range portfolio for 2025.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com