The Himalayas Need a Common Language of Warning

The Himalayas Need a Common Language of Warning: Emergency Cooperation Must be Institutionalised Into Durable Regional Architecture

A genuinely regional approach could eventually include - besides Nepal, China and India - Bhutan and, where relevant, downstream institutions in Bangladesh. Organisations with established Himalayan expertise, particularly the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development in Kathmandu, could offer scientific and institutional support.

The Himalayas are Sending a Warning: Need for Timely Trans-Border Sharing of Environmental Information

The Himalayas are not collapsing because humanity exists, but humanity is creating a warmer world in which the Himalayas are becoming less predictable. The real question is no longer whether climate change will alter the mountains. It already is. 

When an Entire Village and Bazaar in Nepal Disappeared in an Instant

My eldest aunt was swept away. So was her son, my dai Madhu, and his wife. My other aunt — gone too, they told me. Her grandson Sijan and his wife, caught in the same water. His own son and daughter-in-law, unreachable, unaccounted for. My maternal uncle had gone out that morning to cut grass for the cattle. He never came back.

When the Mountain Moved: Nepal's Bhote Koshi Disaster and the Case for AI-Driven Early Warning

No technology can stop an avalanche. But the tragedy of events like Wednesday's is that the fatal interval between the trigger high in the mountains and the flood wave reaching villages downstream  is often 20 minutes to a few hours. That window is exactly where artificial intelligence, coupled with sensors and satellites, earns its keep.

More on Climate, Sustainability and Energy

Pakistan seeks to distract criticism of China's persecution of Muslims by attacking India; Sri Lanka, Maldives support Beijing

India denounced Pakistan's efforts to defend China's persecution of its Muslim minority by attacking India with “false and malicious propaganda.”

UN calls upon Bangladesh to protect minorities amid anti-Hindu violence

The United Nations urged the Bangladesh government to take measures to protect minorities amid widespread violence targeted at the country’s minority Hindu community

Taliban assures UN officials of allowing older girls in secondary schools

The Taliban, the new rulers of Afghanistan, has assured the UN  that they will “very soon” allow older girls to resume studies in secondary schools in the country, which was banned after the Taliban's takeover in the country

India re-elected unopposed to UN Human Rights Council

India was re-elected to the Human Rights Council on Thursday for another three-year term starting next year with a pledge to “to bring its pluralistic, moderate and balanced perspective to straddle various divides or differences in the Council.”

India criticises selectiveness on religious phobias, says 'anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist, anti-Sikh phobias' ignored

India on Tuesday hit out at double standards in fighting religious phobias that ignores “anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist and anti-Sikh phobias” and thus encourages those propagating those ideas

Terrorism will continue as most crucial threat for peace: India at UN

India on Tuesday said that terrorism will continue as the single most crucial threat for peace and security and one of the biggest obstacles to achieving the common agenda of the United Nations

UN signs deal with Bangladesh to provide basic services to Rohingya refugees in Bhasan Char island

Bangladesh has signed a deal with a UN refugee agency to help provide basic services to Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh’s Bhasan Char, an isolated island currently housing around 19,000 Myanmar refugees

UN seeking wheat from India for food-starved Afghanistan

The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) is in talks with India for wheat donation to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan that is facing a food crisis, according to the WFP official in that country

Bangladesh affirms a no-tolerance policy on terrorism; says it should not be associated with any religion or faith

Bangladesh, a country that has faced terrorism for several years, has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy against the menace in all its forms and manifestations, mentioning that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, race, faith, culture, ethnicity or society

India asks UN panel to condemn Pakistan for disrupting disarmament efforts

India has called on the UN committee dealing with disarmament to condemn Pakistan for its “nefarious and vicious” attempts to disrupt its work

UNSC reforms: UNGA President Abdulla Shahid to appoint reform negotiation heads soon

Abdulla Shahid, the Maldivian president of the UN General Assembly, has said he will appoint the leaders of the negotiating process for Security Council reforms before the Assembly debate next month on the topic to begin work early on the process

UNGA session ends without speech by Afghan delegate

The 76th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly ended on Monday without a speech by the representative of Afghanistan as Ghulam Isaczai, the UN-recognized Afghan envoy, decided not to speak

UN chief hopeful dialogue between India and Pakistan can still happen - despite public acrimony

Despite the strong exchanges between India and Pakistan at the high-level General Assembly session last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is hopeful that a dialogue between them is possible

Afghanistan representative of elected government drops out of UNGA; Myanmar also drops out

Ghulam Isaczai, the permanent representative of the elected government of Afghanistan, has withdrawn from speaking at the high-level General Assembly meeting, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed on Monday. No reason was given

Democracy has delivered in India: Modi at UN

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday described India as the “mother of democracy”, and said “democracy can deliver” and “has delivered”