Signs of the Times

1. Eight dead, thousands displaced as flood ravages Zambian capital

At least eight people have been confirmed dead following floods caused by days of heavy rainfall in the Zambian capital, Lusaka. Lusaka District Commissioner, Christa Kalulu, who addressed journalists at press conference on Tuesday, said the torrential rains that caused serious flooding in the city also affected thousands of residents whose houses were destroyed by the floods. Kalulu said the heavy rains started in February and caused rivers to burst their banks, flooding tens of thousands of homes and forcing people to live in makeshift shelters." She added that the floods also caused a cholera outbreak in the city with about 14 people currently receiving treatment in hospitals.

2. Ghana - Accra floods cause damage and fatalities

A heavy downpour lasting several hours caused flooding in parts of Accra, the capital of Ghana, on 07 March 2023. Ghana Meteorological Agency wanted that, "Southeastern Ghana has been engulfed by a rain-bearing cloud. This is producing rain of varying intensity within the Volta region. Areas within the Greater Accra and Eastern will be affected before drifting to the Central, Western and parts of the Ashanti." Roads were swamped severely disrupting traffic in a city regularly impacted by flooding. State broadcaster, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporations said the floods had dumped large amounts of garbage on streets around Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

3. Ecuador - Fatalities after floods and landslides in Manabí Province

At least 3 people died after heavy rain caused flooding and landslides in the Manabí Province of Ecuador on 07 March 2023. The worst of the flooding struck in Chone city and areas of Chone canton after several small rivers and streams - tributaries of the Chone River - broke their banks. Flood water, mud and debris swept through parts of Chone city and the parishes of Santa Rita, Canuto, Ricaurte and San Antonio. Dozens of homes were severely damaged or destroyed. Teams from the Fire Department, National Police and the Secretary of Risk Management (SGR) helped families evacuate to safer areas. SGR reported around 2,000 families were affected and one person died. A hospital was also damaged.

4. Strikers block refineries in France over pension reforms

Over a million people in France went on strike Tuesday to protest against the government's unpopular pension reforms which would raise the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64 years. Some 320 demonstrations have been organized across France and police are expecting between 1.1 and 1.4 million people to take part. The strikes have paralyzed much of France's transport system, with only 20% of high-speed trains running, suspending several international routes, while air traffic controllers also joined the action, leading to cancellations at airports in Paris, Beauvais, Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Nantes, Marseille, Montpellier, Nice and Toulouse.

5. Man killed after being attacked by 4 dogs in Jurupa Valley, California

A man was killed on Tuesday after he was attacked by four dogs while reportedly working on a property in Jurupa Valley, according to Riverside County Animal Services. After a 911 call reported screaming at a property on the corner of Bellegrave Avenue and Martin Street, Riverside County Sheriff's deputies responded to the property around 7:30 a.m. and requested assistance from Animal Service officers. The victim, whose identity has not been released, had reportedly worked on the property previously without incident, said Riverside County Animal Services representative John Welsh. "It's a tragedy. Our thoughts are with him and his family," said Welsh.

6. Senior journalists at The New York Times being harassed and threatened by unholy alliance of woke celebrities and their own younger colleagues, refuse to cave in

The imposing headquarters of The New York Times was built of glass, supposedly to highlight the fact that the august newspaper has nothing to hide. But last month, something happened there that the management would have very much preferred to go unnoticed. An electronic billboard lorry parked outside the building bearing the message: 'Dear New York Times: Stop questioning trans people's right to exist & access medical care.'