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The Indus Basin lifeline for millions across north India and Union Territories such as Jammu and Kashmir Ladakh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, is showing alarming signs of stress under climate change a new study has revealed. Researchers found contrasting trends across the basin: while the western part is witnessing higher river discharge from increased glacial melt and precipitation, the eastern section is becoming wetter due to intensified monsoons and shifting rainfall patterns. The study examined river discharge across High Mountain Asia (HMA) often called Asia’s “water tower” which feeds major rivers including the Yangtze, Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra, Mekong, and Irrawaddy. Using computer models and satellite data covering over 114,000 river reaches between 2004 and 2019, ...

Sweeping reforms to the global food system could restore half of the world degraded land, curb climate change, and revive biodiversity by mid-century, according to a new study published in Nature. A team of 21 scientists warned that land degradation is accelerating worldwide, with severe consequences for food security, water resources, and ecosystems. The study sets out a package of reforms that, if adopted, could protect or recover 43.8 million square kilometres of land between 2020 and 2050 an area larger than Africa. At the core of the recommendations are three shifts: restoring 50 per cent of degraded land, reducing food waste by 75 per cent, and replacing 70 per cent of red meat consumption from unsustainable sources with sustainably produced seafood. The researchers stressed...

Heavy monsoon rains continue to batter Himachal Pradesh, leaving behind a trail of destruction across the hill state. The Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA), in its latest report released Friday morning, confirmed that 455 roads including three national highways remain blocked due to landslides and flash floods. Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla districts are the worst affected, with dozens of key routes snapped. A major landslide in Kullu has choked NH-305, adding to travel woes. Power supply has also been hit hard, with 681 distribution transformers out of service, while several water supply schemes, especially in Mandi, Kangra, and Shimla, are struggling to function. Although no new casualties were reported in the last 24 hours, the overall toll from this monsoon...

Scientists have discovered the oldest known water on Earth, locked away deep within the Kidd Creek Mine in Ontario, Canada. Estimated to be between 1.5 and 2.6 billion years old the water has remained sealed off from the surface, offering an unparalleled glimpse into the planet’s distant geological past. The discovery was led by Professor Barbara Sherwood Lollar and her research team, whose work has major implications for understanding early Earth conditions, subterranean life, and even the potential for extraterrestrial life in extreme environments. A Journey Three Kilometres Underground The team made the discovery at a depth of about three kilometres inside the mine. Using isotopic analysis, they determined the water’s age, surpassing all previous records for ancient water anywh...

Global efforts to secure the world first treaty on plastic pollution have collapsed for the second time in eight months, after 10 days of intense negotiations in Geneva ended without consensus. Talks broke down over deep divisions on the scope and ambition of the treaty. Nearly 100 countries in the “high-ambition coalition” led by the EU, UK, Norway and Panama pushed for binding curbs on plastic production, chemicals of concern, and recognition of health impacts. Opposing them were oil and petrochemical producers, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran and Russia, backed by China and India, who argued that production cuts threatened trade and development needs. India, while already banning several single-use plastics domestically, opposed any global phase-out lists and resisted treaty ...

India is grappling with significant river pollution with 311 polluted stretches identified across 279 rivers in 30 states and Union territories. The data, based on the Central Pollution Control Board Polluted River Stretches report of November 2022, was shared in the Rajya Sabha on August 11, 2025. Among ongoing clean-up efforts the rejuvenation of Pune Mula-Mutha river is a major project under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). It is being implemented at a cost of ₹990.26 crore, with the Centre funding 85% and the rest contributed by the Maharashtra government and Pune Municipal Corporation. The project includes the construction of 11 sewage treatment plants with a combined capacity of 396 million litres per day, along with supporting infrastructure. With a completion target ...

A massive cloudburst in the Chashoti area of Paddar, Kishtwar district, has left at least 46 people feared dead and dozens more injured. The incident, which occurred late Wednesday night, triggered flash floods that swept away structures, including a community kitchen serving pilgrims of the Machail Yatra. Local authorities, along with the Army, NDRF, SDRF, and police, have launched extensive rescue and relief operations. Approximately 180 NDRF personnel equipped with modern rescue equipment were dispatched from Udhampur, while the Air Force has been placed on standby for possible evacuations. Rescue teams are prioritizing aid to the elderly, women, and children displaced by the disaster, providing temporary shelters, food, and medical assistance. Officials warn that the death toll m...

The United Arab Emirates is preparing for one of the hottest stretches of the summer, with temperatures expected to soar to 46°C in Dubai and Abu Dhabi by Friday. The heatwave, accompanied by high humidity and dusty winds, is set to push discomfort levels to extreme highs across the country. According to meteorological forecasts, daytime highs will remain well above 40°C throughout the week, peaking at 46°C in coastal cities. Humidity is expected to surge, especially in the evenings and early mornings, making conditions feel hotter than the actual temperature. The oppressive heat index is likely to create hazardous conditions for outdoor workers, commuters, and vulnerable groups such as the elderly and young children. Dust storms to reduce visibility Strong winds, reaching speeds of...

Parts of Delhi Noida, and Gurgaon woke up to chaos on Thursday as an early morning drizzle quickly escalated into a downpour flooding even the city most upscale neighborhoods. By mid-morning, cars were submerged, roads resembled rivers, and traffic across the National Capital Region came to a grinding halt. Red Alert Issued The India Meteorological Department (IMD) upgraded its yellow alert to red after rain intensity increased rapidly, warning of moderate to heavy showers for several more hours. The morning bulletin predicted light to moderate rainfall in most places with heavier spells at isolated locations in Delhi and NCR. Popular weather trackers reported up to 100 mm rainfall in certain pockets, with forecasts suggesting continued showers across Faridabad, Gurgaon, and Delhi...

A new study warns that coastal flooding driven by rising sea levels could submerge parts of Easter Island,l endangering its iconic moai statues by 2080. The threat poses not only a cultural loss for the island Rapa Nui community but also a severe economic challenge, as the statues are central to its tourism industry. Easter Island, located in the eastern Pacific and forming one corner of the Polynesian Triangle along with Hawaii and New Zealand, is home to hundreds of monolithic statues carved between 1250 and 1500 CE. Most stand on stone platforms, or ahu, along the island’s perimeter. In 1995, the Rapa Nui National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Researchers from the University of Hawaii Mānoa created a high-resolution digital model of the coastline and simulated fu...