Vietnam stood sixth in the annual Global Climate Risk Index for 2017 released last week, one rank down from 2016. The index, developed by Germanwatch, an environmental policy group based in Bonn, analyses quantified impacts of extreme weather events – both in terms of fatalities as well as economic losses incurred. The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico was ranked the hardest-hit and the island of Dominica came in third place after both were battered by Hurricane Maria in September last year. Sri Lanka has took the second spot in the 2017 index due to the serious impacts of heavy landslides and floods that occurred in May last year that killed 200 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless. The rest of the top 10 nations comprised Nepal, Peru, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Bangladesh and Thailand. Vietnam was struck by a record-breaking number of 16 tropical storms last year that killed more than 390 people and injured 668 others, mostly in northern and central regions. Natural … [Read more...] about Vietnam among 10 countries hardest hit by weather disasters in 2017
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Rich and poor struggle to shoulder losses from devastating storms
Propelling Caribbean islands to the top of a global index of countries most severely affected by weather disasters last year, researchers said on Tuesday. The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico was ranked as the hardest-hit and the island of Dominica came in third place after both were battered by Hurricane Maria last September, according to an annual climate risk index from Germanwatch, an environmental policy group. The United States ranked 12th in the 2017 index, with 389 fatalities and nearly $175 billion in losses from extreme weather. "Recent storms with intensity levels never seen before have had disastrous impacts," said the index’s lead author David Eckstein. Such weather disasters are likely to worsen further in coming years, the United Nations’ humanitarian agency warned on Tuesday, creating significant new humanitarian needs. Floods, storms and droughts all are expected to strengthen, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said … [Read more...] about Rich and poor struggle to shoulder losses from devastating storms
VN contestant wins Miss Earth costume round
Nguyễn Phương Khánh (centre) won gold for Asia & Oceania in the national costume round. — Photo zing.vnViet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Nguyễn Phương Khánh, representing Việt Nam at the Miss Earth contest, has won gold for the Asia & Oceania region in the national costume round on October 11 in Manila, the Philippines. The contestant from Guyana won for South America, Mexico won for Central America, Sierra Leone won for Africa and Spain for Europe. Designer Linh San designed Khánh’s costume, drawing inspiration from the Sun Goddess of Greek mythology. The designer combined the image of the Sun Goddess with traditional Vietnamese long dress. The headwear was also a reflection of Greek goddesses, while the over coat was taken from an ancient story of a famous female Vietnamese general. “The costume has embroidered images of endangered animals such as rhinos and flamingos, as well as images of … [Read more...] about VN contestant wins Miss Earth costume round
Refugee team to take part at Tokyo 2020 Olympics: IOC
IOC President Thomas Bach asked members of the Olympic body at its session in Buenos Aires to support the creation of a refugee team, along the lines of the one that competed at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. The members responded with applause. * The cities of Calgary and Stockholm and an Italian bid involving Cortina D'Ampezzo and Milan officially became candidates for the 2026 Winter Olympics on Tuesday after the International Olympic Committee ratified their bids. The IOC Executive Board last week recommended the three as candidates for the Olympics in eight years time, dropping Turkey's Erzurum. * Brooks Koepka added another accolade to a sensational season on Tuesday when, as had been widely expected, he was named PGA Tour Player of the Year following a 2017-18 campaign highlighted by two major victories. Koepka landed the coveted honour despite missing nearly three months with a wrist injury as he would go on to become the first repeat US Open winner in 29 years and then … [Read more...] about Refugee team to take part at Tokyo 2020 Olympics: IOC
Julius Maada Bio wins Sierra Leone presidential runoff
Julius Maada Bio sworn in as President of Sierra Leone (Photo: AFP/VNA)Accordingly, Mr. Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) won 51.8% of a total of over 2.5 million ballots cast in the March 31st vote, beating out the ruling All People’s Congress candidate Samura Kamara, who garnered 48.2 percent. Dressed in traditional white robes, Maada Bio was sworn in just before midnight at a hotel in the capital Freetown. Mr. Bio thanked the people of Sierra Leone for taking the country in a "new direction". “This is the dawn of a new era. The people of this great nation have voted to take a new direction,” Mr. Julius Maada Bio said in a speech following the short ceremony in which he made an appeal for national unity. “We have only one country, Sierra Leone, and we are all one people.” Mr. Bio succeeds President Ernest Bai Koroma, who is stepping down after serving a second five-year term. The election was the fourth since … [Read more...] about Julius Maada Bio wins Sierra Leone presidential runoff