Breaking News Archives - Page 101 of 205

May92025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Baglihar Dam Gates Open Amid Heavy Rainfall, Flood Risk Grows in Jammu & Kashmir

The Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River has opened two spillway gates following intense rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir, prompting flood alerts in downstream areas. Rising water levels in the Chenab are now threatening low-lying settlements, raising concerns about potential inundation. The heavy rainfall has also triggered landslides along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, disrupting one of the region’s most vital transport corridors. A major slide in the Chamba area has forced authorities to suspend vehicular movement along the route. Road-clearing operations are currently underway, with the highway expected to reopen once debris is removed and conditions stabilize. The developing weather emergency comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions following the recent terror attack in P...

May92025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Searing Autumn: Australia Sweats Through Record Heat as Winter Fades into Haze

Breaking News, Climate Actions

As winter approaches Australia remains gripped by an unrelenting autumn heatwave, with vast regions of the country experiencing temperatures more typical of midsummer. The southern half of the continent, particularly Victoria and parts of New South Wales, is enduring one of its warmest autumns on record. March 2025 became Australia's hottest ever, and the unusual heat has stretched well into May. Melbourne and Hobart have reported their warmest May nights in recorded history while some areas have seen daytime temperatures surge over 10°C above seasonal averages. The primary driver is a prolonged high-pressure system over southern and southeastern Australia. Known as "blocking highs," these systems have stalled the usual west-to-east flow of weather, trapping dry and warm air masses o...

May92025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Nepal Cry from the Mountains: Melting Glaciers, Dying Forests and Nation on the Edge

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Nepal is one of the least contributors to global carbon emissions, is emerging as one of the most affected nations in the world due to the accelerating impacts of climate change. The Himalayan nation is witnessing a sharp increase in climate-induced disasters as glaciers melt rapidly, rainfall becomes erratic, and extreme weather events intensify. Between mid-2018 and mid-2024, Nepal recorded 32,375 disaster incidents, 91.2% of which were climate-related, according to the Nepal Disaster Report 2024. These events resulted in 3,672 deaths, 446 missing persons, and over 11,700 injuries. Infrastructural damage was extensive, with more than 57,000 homes affected and over 43,000 public infrastructure units destroyed. The primary factors contributing to Nepal’s vulnerability include its rel...

May82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Mosquitoes, Money & Heat: Why West Nile Virus Thrives in America’s Wealthiest Neighborhoods

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

Each summer as warm evenings descend on American cities, a silent danger begins to stir: West Nile virus. Though often associated with tropical or rural areas, this mosquito-borne illness has quietly taken root in urban landscapes especially in the most affluent neighborhoods. In 2012, an unprecedented outbreak scorched Park Cities, a wealthy enclave within Dallas. The virus sickened 225 people, triggered 173 neuroinvasive cases like encephalitis and meningitis, and claimed 19 lives. Other major cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Sacramento have also developed persistent West Nile hot spots. Why cities? Why the rich? The key vector is Culex quinquefasciatus, the Southern house mosquito. These mosquitoes don’t travel far and breed in stagnant water found in lawns, drains, flower...

May82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Wealthiest 10% Cause Two-Thirds of Global Warming Since 1990: Study Links Climate Crisis to Income Inequality

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Global warming refers to the long-term rise in Earth's average surface temperature due to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) in the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, mainly released from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas, along with emissions from deforestation, industrial processes, and high-consumption lifestyles. A new study published in Nature Climate Change sheds light on who is most responsible for this climate disruption and the answer points directly to the world’s wealthiest individuals. According to researchers the richest 10% of people globally are responsible for nearly two-thirds of global warming since 1990, with the top 1% alone causing 26 times more heatwave-related climate extr...

May82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Monsoon 2025 to Bring Bounty and Risk for South Asia, Says SASCOF

Breaking News, Climate Actions

The 2025 Southwest Monsoon forecasted to bring above-normal rainfall across much of South Asia, is being hailed as both a potential blessing and a looming challenge for the region. According to the latest outlook by the South Asian Climate Outlook Forum (SASCOF) the June–September season could witness significantly higher-than-average rainfall in most areas, excluding parts of the north, east, and northeast which may face drier conditions. Monsoon: Lifeline for South Asia The monsoon season is the dominant climatic force shaping the livelihoods, agriculture, and economies of South Asia. Countries like India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan depend on it for up to 90% of their annual rainfall. The water it delivers is crucial for irrigating crops, generating hydropower, and repleni...

May82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Mudslide disrupts traffic as heavy rain lashes North India

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

A fresh spell of intense rain has triggered a mudslide in the Chamba Seri region of Ramban, Jammu and Kashmir, forcing the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and halting vehicular movement on both sides. The disruption follows the Indian Meteorological Department’s (IMD) yellow alert, issued for several northern and central Indian states, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and potential travel hazards. Highway closure and travel advisory issued Traffic authorities in Jammu and Kashmir urged people to avoid NH-44 travel on Thursday morning due to the dangerous road conditions caused by the mudslide. The highway, a vital link connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India, remains blocked until further notice. Rain warnings across multiple states The IMD's yello...

May82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

April alarming heat signals accelerating global warming

Breaking News, Climate Actions

April 2025 was the second-hottest April ever recorded, with average global surface air temperatures reaching 14.96°C—0.60°C higher than the 1991–2020 average, and just 0.07°C below the record set in April 2024. The data, released by Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, provides another stark reminder of the intensifying climate crisis. Global temperatures 1.51°C above pre-industrial levels Last month’s global temperatures were 1.51°C warmer than pre-industrial levels (1850–1900), underscoring the continued warming trend driven by greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels. This warming surpasses the 1.5°C threshold set as a critical limit in the Paris Agreement, which aims to avoid the most severe consequences of climate change. H...

May82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India emission trading success: Gujarat scheme cuts air pollution by up to 30%

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

India has implemented a pioneering solution to address air pollution the world’s first particulate emission trading scheme (ETS). Initiated in Gujarat, this market-based program has led to a 20–30% reduction in emissions from coal-burning industries since its launch in 2019, while also reducing pollution control costs by over 10%. A new market for cleaner air The pilot scheme was developed through a collaboration between leading economists and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board. It functions on a cap-and-trade model, where industries are assigned pollution limits and can buy or sell emission permits based on their performance. This incentivizes companies to lower their emissions and save costs, creating a dynamic balance between environmental regulation and economic efficiency. S...

May72025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Nepal bolsters disaster preparedness with global-standard alert systems and flood resilience initiatives

Breaking News, Climate Actions

In a major step toward enhancing its climate resilience, Nepal has advanced its early warning systems through a series of workshops and collaborations under the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) – Early Warnings for All (EW4All) Accelerator initiative. Partnering with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), and the Center for Applied Research and Development (CARD), Nepal is aligning itself with international standards like the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) and piloting community-based flood management systems to reduce disaster risk across vulnerable regions. Nepal adopts CAP for smarter, faster alerts Held on April 24–25, the first workshop introduced over 35 stakeholders to the Common Alerting Protocol, a global...