Month: July 2025

The Financial Stability Board (FSB), the G20’s financial regulatory arm, has scaled back its climate policy ambitions, despite unveiling a fresh roadmap to assess climate-related financial risks. The move comes as the United States retreats from multiple international groups dedicated to addressing how extreme weather events and climate policies impact global financial stability. In a report presented to G20 finance ministers during a meeting in South Africa, the FSB acknowledged progress made since the launch of its 2021 climate roadmap. It emphasized improved coordination and data sharing among its members but signaled a halt to any significant new policy initiatives. “While many members feel there is a need for more work, some members feel that the work completed to date is sufficien...

South Africa has launched a landmark campaign to rebuild its decimated white rhino population, drawing global attention with a high-tech, decade-long initiative known as the Rhino Renaissance Campaign. Unveiled at Kruger National Park by Minister Dr. Dion George, the plan aims to grow the park’s rhino numbers from just over 2,000 to 12,000, using a combination of modern technology, community engagement, and international partnerships. This ambitious effort comes as part of South Africa’s broader National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking, which aligns with the country’s Medium-Term Development Plan. It also serves as a flagship G20 Legacy Project under South Africa’s presidency, with the theme “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.” The campaign leverages real-ti...

A powerful storm swept through the northeastern United States on the night of July 14, 2025, unleashing torrential rains that submerged streets, halted transportation, and forced emergency declarations across New York and New Jersey. With rainfall totals reaching 10 to 17 centimeters in just a few hours the event overwhelmed urban drainage systems, stranding vehicles and flooding homes. The National Weather Service reported that up to two inches of rain fell within just 30 minutes making it one of New York City's most intense downpours since 1943. Flash flood watches and warnings were issued from central Virginia to the New York metro region, as the slow-moving system left a trail of waterlogged roads and disrupted public services. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of ...

Southern Madagascar is in the grip of what the United Nations has called the world’s first “climate change famine,” with tens of thousands suffering catastrophic hunger. New research from climate scientist Chris Funk and his team at the University of California, Santa Barbara, links this crisis directly to years of failed rains and increasing climate volatility tied to warming oceans. According to Funk, five of the last six rainy seasons in southern Madagascar have failed, pushing the region into prolonged drought. Satellite data from the Climate Hazards Group’s Infrared Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) system has recorded rainfall totals that rank in the lowest 10% since 1981. Warmer-than-normal air temperatures in recent years have also led to higher atmospheric water demand, acce...

As climate change intensifies food insecurity across Africa, a new study offers hope rooted not in technology but in history. Researchers have revealed how African communities survived over 10,000 years of climatic ups and downs not through rigid plans, but by developing highly flexible, mixed food systems adapted to their environment. This historical resilience offers critical insights for modern food policies. The study, conducted by a team of multidisciplinary scientists and published this week, is the first to use isotopic data from human and animal bones at 187 archaeological sites across Africa to reconstruct continent-wide livelihood strategies. The researchers found that communities from ancient Botswana to Egypt survived drastic climate changes by blending herding, farming, for...

Torrential rains continued to lash parts of South Korea, leaving at least one person dead and forcing the evacuation of more than 100 residents, as authorities scrambled to respond to mounting landslide risks and flash flood threats. The brunt of the damage has been felt in the South Chungcheong province, just south of the capital Seoul, where relentless downpours since Wednesday have dumped over 400 millimeters of rain, paralyzing daily life and prompting the highest level of weather alerts. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety confirmed that the powerful storm system has triggered landslide warnings across multiple areas, including steep, vulnerable terrain. Emergency response teams remain on high alert, with officials urging residents to avoid low-lying or unstable areas and to re...

A powerful lightning strike turned a peaceful evening into tragedy at a New Jersey archery range, claiming the life of a 61-year-old man and injuring 13 others, including a 7-year-old child. The incident occurred around 7:15 PM on Wednesday at the Black Knight Bowbenders archery range in Jackson Township, amid forecasted thunderstorms. Jackson Township Police Chief Matthew Kunz confirmed that emergency responders rushed to the scene after reports of a lightning strike. One man, who went into cardiac arrest, required immediate CPR but later succumbed to his injuries. Several of the injured sustained burns and other trauma from the strike and were promptly hospitalized. The current medical conditions of the victims have not yet been disclosed by authorities. The National Weather Servic...

In a welcome change for residents long accustomed to smog-filled skies, Delhi recorded its cleanest air in nearly two years on Tuesday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) slipping into the 'good' category a rare occurrence for the city. The 24-hour average AQI stood at 51 by 4 PM, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), a level not seen since September 10, 2023, when it dropped to 45. The significant improvement comes as persistent rain and steady winds helped flush out pollutants from the air. In the early part of the day, the AQI hovered between 48 and 50, comfortably within the 'good' range a classification the capital seldom achieves outside of the monsoon season. Meteorologists from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the clean air to continuous l...

South Korea faced another grim chapter in its battle with extreme weather as torrential rains triggered a landslide in South Chungcheong province on Thursday, raising fears that two individuals might be trapped beneath the rubble. The relentless downpour, which has battered the region for days, forced authorities to sound urgent alerts and scramble emergency teams to the site. According to reports the incident occurred amid continued monsoon activity, with rain saturating the soil to dangerous levels. Search and rescue operations are underway, with responders navigating treacherous terrain in hopes of locating the missing individuals. So far, no official confirmation has been made on their status, but rescue teams remain cautiously optimistic. The South Korean Meteorological Administ...

The latest textbooks introduced by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) aim to bridge ancient Indian knowledge with modern science while championing gender sensitivity and interactive learning for school students. From Acharya Kanad early atomic theory to India’s ISRO missions and women in leadership, the new curriculum is being hailed as both rooted and forward-looking. In the Class 8 science textbook titled Curiosity, a section named Our Scientific Heritage draws connections between age-old practices and present-day advancements. For instance, it explains how variolation, a traditional Indian method used to protect against smallpox, predates Edward Jenner’s invention of vaccination. The chapter also highlights India’s key role in the global COVID-19 vaccin...