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The arrival of the monsoon may offer relief from summer heat, but health experts caution that the season can bring increased risks for heart patients. According to Dr. Nagendra Singh Chouhan, Senior Consultant in Cardiology at Medanta Hospital, Gurugram, the combination of high humidity, sudden temperature changes, and reduced sunlight can put additional strain on the cardiovascular system, particularly for those already living with heart disease. He explained that damp and humid conditions during the rains make it easier for infections to spread, which in turn can stress the heart. Fluctuating temperatures can cause sudden changes in blood pressure, while the lack of sunlight may contribute to mood changes such as anxiety and depression, indirectly impacting heart health. The season al...

Gurugram has been ranked the second most polluted city in India in 2024-25, with 156 days of bad air quality, according to data shared in the Lok Sabha. This includes 132 days of ‘poor’ air quality and 24 days of ‘very poor’ air quality. Only Byrnihat in Assam had more polluted days, recording 164 days in total. Patna matched Gurugram for the highest number of ‘poor’ days (132), but had fewer ‘very poor’ days. The data comes from the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), compiled by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. What the Numbers Mean •Poor AQI (201–300): Can cause breathing discomfort, especially with long exposure. •Very Poor AQI (301–400): Can lead to respiratory illness after extended exposure. In Haryana, Charkhi Dadri was the next worst-hit wit...

On the eve of Raksha Bandhan, several parts of Delhi-NCR witnessed heavy traffic congestion Friday evening as people rushed to their hometowns for the festival weekend. Long queues of vehicles were reported on major routes, including NH-9 near Chhajarsi, Noida-Akshardham Road towards Gandhi Nagar, Geeta Colony, and Shastri Park. Congestion was also seen on Delhi–Gurugram roads, South Delhi stretches, Jahangirpuri, and Indirapuram. Earlier in the day the Delhi Traffic Police issued an advisory warning of possible traffic jams on roads leading out of the city, especially on National Highway-44 and the Singhu border, as travellers head towards Karnal, Panipat, Sonipat, and Chandigarh. “Due to Raksha Bandhan coinciding with the weekend, a significant surge in vehicles is expected. Com...

  Varanasi, Aug 8, 2025 — For the past 20 days, boat services on the Ganga River in Varanasi have been shut down due to dangerously high water levels, leaving hundreds of boatmen without work and struggling to survive. Many, like Suresh Sahni, fear the closure could last another two months. “Our condition is very bad right now. We are somehow managing, but the government has not provided any support. No one has come to see our situation,” he said. With no income, boatmen are relying on loans and selling household items to make ends meet. “Between Assi Ghat and Namo Ghat, lakhs of people have lost their livelihoods,” said Ballu Sahni, adding that their calls for help have gone unanswered. The problem began after days of heavy rainfall caused the Ganga to overflow, flooding ...

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa’s second most populous province, is facing relentless climate-related disasters from deadly floods and severe droughts to heatwaves and wildfires leaving vulnerable communities struggling to survive. In Pietermaritzburg, four low-income urban and peri-urban settlements France, Swapo, Willowfontein, and Mpophomeni have endured years of extreme weather. A recent study of 378 households found residents unable to cope with the mounting impacts. Backyard farms that once grew maize, spinach, cabbage, and beans have withered under erratic rainfall and scorching heat, forcing families to buy increasingly expensive food. Women-headed households are hit hardest, earning less while carrying the burden of unpaid care work. Health has also suffered. Residents report mo...

A new study has found that for a wide range of earthquake scenarios in Alaska, an earthquake early warning (EEW) system could provide at least 10 seconds of advance notice before hazardous shaking begins enough time for people to take cover, halt surgeries, or slow trains. Researchers Alexander Fozkos and Michael West from the University of Alaska Fairbanks say that increasing the number and improving the spacing of seismic stations could extend warning times by an additional 5 to 15 seconds. Alaska, which experiences tens of thousands of earthquakes each year and has seen some of the world’s largest quakes, currently has no public EEW system in place. Their findings, published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, could help expand the U.S. ShakeAlert network, now...

In a landmark step to combat plastic pollution South Africa Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has unveiled draft regulations proposing a nationwide ban on plastic microbeads. The move aims to protect marine biodiversity, river systems, and even human health from the growing dangers posed by microplastics. The proposed rules, open for public comment, would prohibit the manufacture, sale, import, and export of microbeads and products containing them. These tiny particles, often less than five millimetres in size, are commonly used in cosmetics, cleaning agents, pesticides, and toiletries for their abrasive properties. But their environmental cost is steep they do not biodegrade, slip easily through water treatment systems, and accumulate in oceans, lakes...

Chennai, Aug 8, 2025 — Migratory birds that visit Tamil Nadu each year are changing their travel patterns due to unpredictable rainfall, experts say. Wetlands such as Pulicat Lake and Vedanthangal, which normally attract large numbers of flamingos, storks, and other species, are seeing fewer birds or shorter visits. In some cases, birds are arriving later than usual or appearing in unexpected places, including city lakes. Scientists say changing monsoon patterns are the main reason. Heavy rains in short bursts can flood wetlands, while long dry periods leave them without enough water or food. This disrupts the timing of migration, which depends on steady environmental signals. “Birds follow seasonal clues to know when to travel. When the rains come too early or too late, it confus...

Aug 8, 2025 — France is battling its worst wildfire in nearly 80 years, as flames continue to tear through the Aude region in the country south. The fire has destroyed more than 16,000 hectares of land an area one-and-a-half times the size of Paris. One person has died, three are missing, and two others, including a firefighter, are in critical condition. Hundreds of firefighters have been working around the clock for three days, but the blaze remains out of control. The fire started Tuesday near the Mediterranean, about 100 km from the Spanish border and spread quickly due to hot, dry winds. Drone footage shows blackened forests and thick smoke covering the skies. Officials say it is the largest wildfire France has seen since 1949. Christophe Magny leading the firefighting operat...

A national water quality survey conducted under the Central Pollution Control Board’s National Water Quality Monitoring Programme has revealed that nearly half of the wells tested in 10 districts across Kerala are contaminated. Of the 31 wells sampled in October 2024, 16 showed varying degrees of contamination, raising serious concerns over groundwater safety. Districts where the wells were tested include Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Palakkad, and Kannur. The Kerala State Pollution Control Board, which conducted the tests, flagged several wells for immediate investigation to ensure public health safety. Particularly alarming were a few samples with extremely high Most Probable Number (MPN) values ranging from 400 to 4000...