Drought roiling China’s already evaporating economy

 Factories in southwestern Sichuan are expected to close until Thursday because of the heat and drought expected from the country's recent global supply chain crisis.

Overseas manufacturers such as Apple and Toyota and Chinese solar power producers plan to resume production on Sunday after a six-day shutdown. But local authorities declared a Level 1 emergency and forced the factory to close on Sunday due to bad weather.

About 16,500 businesses in Sichuan province were affected by the power outage. Some Chinese media said the problem could cause factory shutdowns in industrialized cities on the East Coast, but scientists believe last September's nationwide blackout will not be repeated this year. Over the past two decades, China has developed hydro, wind and solar power in the western region to provide cheap electricity to industrial cities in the eastern region. Sichuan Province, located along the Yangtze River, has about 1,400 branches, so several hydroelectric plants were built to supply 80% of the electricity consumed, and the surplus electricity was sold to neighboring provinces. Reservoirs in Sichuan were down 40% in July and 50% in August from last year, and many parts of the world were affected by July's hot and dry weather. State-owned Sichuan Power recently announced that its capacity had been cut in half due to heat and drought. The National Meteorological Center of the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) has issued a red high temperature warning for four provinces that have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius for 28 consecutive days in the past 48 hours. .. Between July 20 and August 17. From June 1 through August, the national average high temperature was 12 years, the highest since 1961. Usually this indicator is about 7 days. On August 14, the Sichuan government ordered the shutdown of all factories and air conditioners in shopping malls and public facilities from August 15 to 20. On Sunday, he extended this period until August 25. Factories hit last week included Taiwanese iPod and Apple Watch maker Foxconn and BOE Technology Group Co Ltd, which supplies Apple with flat-panel LCD and OLED panels. Toyota Japan has announced that sales in mainland China will be affected until production resumes. In an article on Saturday, IT analyst Yuan Xilai said Sichuan solar power producers Tongwei, Contemporary Amperex Technology, JinkoSolar and GCL New Holding could disrupt global supply chains. Yuan Sichuan said it is difficult to diversify or expect coal energy in a short time. Lee Junfen, a member of the China.com Energy Research Association of Yica.com.com, is not normal for Yangz water level, not from the beginning of August. From November and April. . Lee said it was the fastest dry season since records began in 1951. He said it would be difficult to bring power back to Sichuan from other regions because the grid was designed and built to transmit surplus power from Sichuan to other provinces. In places that rely heavily on wind, solar and hydropower, energy can easily influence the weather, he said. He said that in order to supply power to Sichuan Province, more energy storage units must be built. Sichuan Province and the neighboring city of Chongqing experienced another extreme weather event in the summer of 2020 when the Yangtze River overflowed. The storm hit several residential and agricultural areas downstream and damaged 2.4 km of the Three Gorges Dam across the Yangtze River in Hubei Province. Water Minister Li Guiying said on Saturday that the drought in the southwestern region and warmer weather in China will continue until next week. He said the government has formed a drought response task force to provide water to cities along the Yangtze River. He said: There will also be flooding in the northwest and upstream of the Zard River during heavy rains. According to media reports last week, parts of Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces ordered factories to partially shut down production to conserve electricity. It is unclear whether the order will be extended. Jin Xiangdong, a spokesman for the National Development and Reform Commission, said on August 16 that the decline in hydropower will increase demand for coal-fired power plants. Currently, China fights coal and produces 60%of electricity. In July, electricity production increased by 4.5%and charcoal -5.3%. In September last year, China resisted the national energy crisis, and the power plant was placed in the middle of the coal and power plants, which was dislocated without irritating the market. In a few months, the central government stabilizes internal coal reserves and grows. The university is a member of Jiangsu University, Renmin University, the National Energy Commission and the National Energy Commission, said the government should continue to increase the number of coal suppliers after the power shortage problem in Sichuan.

Europe’s drought could have a long afterlife

 Europe is burning. That summer, extreme drought and record heat devastated the continent, withering crops and ravaging wildfires. Storms bring cooling but do not stop drought and can also create new problems such as flooding and falling trees.

The apocalyptic weather is unprecedented, as evidenced by the reappearance of ancient "hunger stones" in continental riverbeds. However, as climate change makes these crises more frequent, it is important to remember one important fact. Historical episodes of weather chaos have exacerbated the chaos, igniting everything from social unrest to epidemics.

Imagine a drought in central Europe in 69 AD. The Roman historian Tacitus remains the best source of this disaster. He wrote that the legions sent that year to fight the sick Germanic tribes were "in a bad mood" because "the Rhine was difficult to navigate due to an unprecedented drought in this climate". He explained that the soldiers' other complaints were "lack of pay and lack of food". Tacitus reported that superstitious Germans took the "lack of water" as proof that "those rivers, the ancient defenses of the empire, had left us" of the "wrath of the Rhine god" against the Romans. According to what happened in Rome in 69 AD, the god of the Rhine was very angry. It was the "Year of the Four Emperors" when the undernourished legions were involved in civil wars between different factions fighting for supremacy in Rome. The Germans met their stubborn opponent, Vitellius, who was killed in a bloody battle. Not only Vitellius, but also tens of thousands of civilians and soldiers were killed. The relationship between bad weather and rebel soldiers was not limited to this episode. In 2018, an economist compared the weather data of ancient Rome with the murder of a Roman emperor. He found a strong statistical correlation between drought in the northern border region and the assassination of emperors in Rome. Watch out king! Other studies of the climate of ancient Rome have suggested a link between a drought-induced famine and later disease outbreaks, such as the Plague of Justinian. Bad weather may have sown the seeds of famine, leaving the population vulnerable to predation by new pathogens.

The hypothesis that extreme weather conditions could pave the way for an epidemic has also been put forward to explain the severity of the Black Death. In the 1330s, unusual weather conditions devastated Europe and there was no food. Several groups of researchers believe that the resulting lack of crops made the local population particularly vulnerable to the Yersinia pestis bacteria that devastated the area in 1341. Just over 100 years later, another bout of extreme weather caused very different problems. In the early 1470s, after several years of extreme heat (a Belgian chronicler called "the unprecedented and abnormal drought that grips the world"), rivers dried up, crops failed and many died. Spain's political leaders blamed the bad weather on 'conversos', a Jewish convert to Christianity, and burned them at the stake. It is neither the first nor the last time that bad weather has fueled anti-Semitism. The most severe "drought" of the last millennium occurred in the summer of 1540 of the following century. Rivers, springs and springs have dried up. Lake Constance, one of the deepest and largest lakes in Europe, has lost so much water that people have walked to the former islands.

Forest fires, buildings on fire

The temperatures must have been terrible. In France, city dwellers used to go to cellars shortly after dawn to escape the heat. The French chronicles report that the grapes "were roasted and the vine leaves fell to the ground like a heavy frost". As things stand, wildfires have erupted across the continent. A Swiss report from the end of July 1540 indicates that “all those who complain of a lack of water are unbearably hot. "Forests are burning everywhere."

Buildings also caught fire. Thanks to careful German records, we know the vague distinction that 1540 saw more fires in the city than any peaceful year since the year 1000. Anecdotes from other countries show that Germany does not was not alone. The fire lent an eerie glow, and many observers claimed the sun and moon were in a red storm. A few centuries have passed since the Takitus era, but Germans and other Europeans have welcomed the sign with similar superstitions, considering it an evil. Soon, many were convinced that the murderous arsonist "Mordenbrunner" was lighting the fire. Then the search for the suspect began. In some places, Protestant rotations question the pope's plot in a deadly fire. In other places, the local authorities arrested several traditional victims: Baglon, beggar and foreigners -that they have not actually heard. In classical late medieval style, authorities tortured suspects to "confess" to treason.

Relentless fires, red skies, heat waves, failed crops and collective paranoia terrified farmers. In addition to the cruel situation, he did not return until 1921 with pity.

Climate changes were implemented in a new era. Europe has experienced the worst heatwave and drought since 2003 and 2022 is projected to be the worst on record. Historical records tell us to be careful. Whatever the cause, extreme weather wreaks havoc. It is a truly fantastic convenience.

Irish Kidney Association appoints Westmeath man as chairman

 Eddie Flood from Killucan is the new Honorary President of the Irish Kidney Association.

He will take over this new role from the outgoing Colin McKenzie for a two-year term. Mr Flood has lived in Killucan since 2000 but is originally from South Dublin.

He has been a volunteer for the Irish Kidney Association for over 14 years and received a kidney transplant in May 2011. Eddie has volunteered to chair the IKA Westmeath for the past 8 years.

Since 2012 he has served on the organization's National Board of Directors and in 2019 was elected National Honorary Treasurer. In 2007 he was diagnosed with hereditary polycystic kidney disease (PCD).

I started dialysis in 2009 and it took me almost two years to get a kidney transplant that changed my life. Eddie's two brothers both received kidney transplants from deceased organ donors.

Their mother, who died aged 65, also had kidney failure. Welcoming this new role, Eddie said: “I am delighted to take over from outgoing chairman Colin McKenzie.

"I want to commend him for his incredible leadership and wisdom during the great challenges of Covid-19. “I look forward to working with IKA CEO Carol Moore and the Donor House staff and supporting and overseeing the excellent work made possible by the Irish Kidney Association's valued membership of over 3,000 people, including volunteers across 25 branches.

“I am also looking forward to working with the newly appointed Honorary National Secretary, Marie Foley from Sligo and Joan Gavan, Honorary National Treasurer from Tipperary. "It is an honor to oversee the completion of the Irish Kidney Association's second state-of-the-art center at Cork University Hospital during my tenure."

Carol Moore, chief executive of the Irish Kidney Association, said:

"We know we are in good hands and look forward to working under his leadership." The Irish Kidney Association offers many forms of help and support, including financial, emotional and practical support to all kidney patients, their families and carers.

The organization is responsible for the promotion and distribution of the organ donor card in Ireland and coordinates organ donor awareness on behalf of Organ Donor Transplant Ireland (ODTI). Those wishing to apply for organ donation are encouraged to have an organ donation card, display code 115 on their driver's license or install the digital organ donation card app on their smartphone.

Organ donation cards can be requested by visiting the IKA website at www.ika.ie/get-a-donor-card or by calling the Irish Kidney Association (01 6205306). You can also text DONOR to 50050 for free.

Read more: https://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/2022/08/20/irish-kidney-association-appoints-westmeath-man-as-chairman/

Joules shares scorched as UK heatwave compounds cost-of-living woe

 Shares in Joules Group PLC fell on Friday after it warned that warmer weather in Britain would dampen sales of winter clothing and cause weaker-than-expected annual earnings.

Joule shares were down 36% each in London on Friday morning at 28.30 pence. By 2022, its share has dropped to 80%.

Record warm weather in the UK in recent weeks has hit sales of winter clothing, including "cloaks, knitwear and boots". Joules warns that the unprecedented weather "has caused a continued decline in consumer demand due to a well-documented cost of living crisis".

He warned that trade was "significantly relaxed" in the five weeks leading up to August 14. Margins have been hit and Joules now expects a "significant loss" in the first half. A rural lifestyle retailer in Leicestershire, UK, is benefiting from self-employment and expects to improve in the second half of the year. "In light of this, the board currently expects the group to make a full-year loss before tax and adjustment, which is significantly below current market expectations," he said.

In addition, the number of more than 2 million active customers is up 10 percent from last year, Joules said. "There is sufficient liquidity to manage our working capital needs, including the repayment of the expansion facility in November 2022," the company added. It is seeking waivers to some conditions on the form and is currently in "positive discussions" with the bank.

Earlier this week, Joules appointed Jonathon Brown as their new CEO, effective September 30. Brown will join as CEO on September 7 and take over at the end of this month. He was most recently CEO of Compare Market, part of financial services firm BGL Group, and held positions at retailers such as Kingfisher PLC and John Lewis. The new appointment comes after Joules said it was in talks with Next PLC to acquire Total Platform Services under pressure. If passed, Next will put around £15m on the line. Joules said on Friday, "the group remains the following positive discussions about the total platform service to support the long -term growth plans and the potential investments of the stocks. Will be done with the case in the report. ”

Read more: https://www.lse.co.uk/news/joules-shares-scorched-as-uk-heatwave-compounds-cost-of-living-woe-p7v2psps6yv18eu.html

Tolar Texas Storm Knocks Out Electricity Indefinitely, Causes Severe Damage

 The town of Tulare in Hood County, Texas, was completely without power after a strong storm caused heavy rain Wednesday night, officials said, has been postponed until 10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. The neighborhood had been warned that the bus would arrive two hours late.

City officials 10 miles west of Granbury described the damage caused by direct winds and torrential rains, according to the WFAA. Several trees were uprooted, power lines were damaged and buildings such as a school, post office and several houses were destroyed by the storm. The degree of destruction has not yet been assessed. The Hood County Sheriff's Office told the outlet that the crew are working to restore power to the city. However, it is unclear how long the recovery process will take. The city is warning residents to conserve water to avoid shortages if power outages take time to resolve.

Sheriff Roger Deese said the windows were shattered after the storm hit around 6 p.m. ET, CBS reports. Volunteer firefighters from Tulare and Granbury are working together to remove debris from the roads.

Read more: https://www.ibtimes.com/tolar-texas-storm-knocks-out-electricity-indefinitely-causes-severe-damage-3603304

Torrential New Zealand rains, floods force evacuation of 200 homes

 Torrential rains hit New Zealand's South Island on Wednesday, August 17, flooding rivers, homes and roads and forcing about 200 households to evacuate, according to media reports. canopy. 

 About 70 homes in Nelson, on the north side of the South Island, and another 140  on the west coast have been evacuated, according to  local 1News estimates. 

 Media images from the area show flooded rivers, flooded roads and crews using lifeboats to inspect flooded areas. 

 New Zealand weather provider Metservice said  mountain ranges to the west and north of the South Island could receive up to 500mm of rain between Wednesday and Friday. 

 states of emergency have been declared in Nelson and on the west coast. 

 Buller West Coast District Civil Defense Comptroller Al Lawn said in a statement that some residents in the town of Westport should evacuate before  dark because the Buller River is at risk of reaching its maximum level on Thursday. . 

 However, the authorities did not evacuate the entire city because the forecast range of  river levels decreased. The latest storms followed weeks of unusually wet weather to hit New Zealand. 

 Severe weather warnings are currently  in place for parts of the South Island, while the North Island is also experiencing severe weather.

Read more: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/torrential-new-zealand-rains-floods-force-evacuation-of-200-homes

Korean flooding losses to hamper non-life insurers’ earnings

A report by Fitch Ratings estimates that insurance losses due to severe flooding in South Korea will put pressure on the financial performance of non-life insurers in the country. 

 Fitch Ratings Industry estimates indicate that flood insurance claims  are expected to exceed KRW 150 billion, or less than 0.2% of all written non-life direct premiums. in Korea in 2021. 

 Fitch expects direct insurers to recover part of their insured losses from flood reinsurers, based on structural reinsurance arrangements, coverage limits and exclusions. 

 According to the General Insurance Association of Korea, 12 auto insurers received more than 9,100 auto damage claims as of August 11, with losses estimated at 127 billion KRW. 

 The torrential downpour, which began on August 8, recorded its highest hourly rainfall  since  weather observations in South Korea began more than 100 years ago. 

 Heavy rains caused unprecedented flooding in various areas of Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, with the Gangnam area being one of the hardest hit. The flood  damaged  vehicles and property, and paralyzed train and metro services in the affected areas. 

 Fitch notes that it is becoming increasingly necessary for insurers and reinsurers to develop appropriate risk models or disaster management frameworks as climate models evolve to identify potential disaster losses for options, underwriting, premium pricing or capital management. 

 Flood losses primarily stemming  from motor vehicle damage will be significant for the non-life insurance industry as estimated claims continue to expand, Fitch suggests. Motor insurance accounts for about 21% of total non-life insurance premiums written in 2021. 

 The average risk retention rate for the motor business of  non-life insurers is 92% in 2021. The report indicates that direct insurers may have to take over. bigger claims if they don't provide disaster coverage in their wallet. 

 The average risk-based regulatory  capital ratio for the non-life sector was 210% at the end of March 2022, well above the regulatory minimum of 100%. The availability of a capital buffer varies from business to business and will also provide the relief needed to alleviate flood damage. 

 In addition, Fitch reports that the Korean government is considering providing financial assistance and personnel support to cities to accelerate recovery efforts. It will also require further improvements to existing flood management systems, including building better drainage systems and improving flood forecasting technology.

Read more: https://www.reinsurancene.ws/korean-flooding-losses-to-hamper-non-life-insurers-earnings-fitch/ 

How will drought declaration affect East Anglia's rain-starved farmers?

 Farmers already forced to eat and drink a vital supply of  irrigation water are facing further  restrictions that could come after a drought is officially declared in eastern England. 

 The Environment Agency has confirmed some areas are in a dry state after months without significant rainfall, including East Anglia's driest July on record. 

 Farmers in some basins have  been asked to voluntarily reduce river and groundwater withdrawals - and some have been ordered to stop in order to protect the environment. 

 So when reservoirs  dry up and permit withdrawals reach their limit, they are  forced to choose which crops get the required amount of water  from the depleted supply. 

 They therefore anticipate a  "significant" shortage of crops such as potatoes, carrots and onions, while sugar beet and maize  also show signs of heat stress. 

 While the updated status won't automatically trigger the new restrictions, it does mean "The Environment Agency and water utilities will step up action to manage  impacts". 

 Farmers wonder why the drought wasn't declared sooner - and why no household hose ban was put in place locally as food crops wilt in arid fields. 

 Anglian Water said that despite the drought declaration, it still does not need a sprinkler ban this summer due to investments in  infrastructure and resilience. 

 Jamie Lockhart, chief executive officer of  Frederick Hiam, a Brandon-based farm and agricultural products company, and president of the Norfolk division of the National Farmers Union (NFU).

Read more: https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/business/how-will-drought-declaration-affect-east-anglia-farmers-9201930