South Asia

Chinese authorities announced on Friday that a lake created by debris from the glacier collapse which caused catastrophic flooding along the China-Nepal boundary has started to 'overflow. This forced rescue operations to stop. China and Nepal?both warned of new?risks for flooding in the Himalayas on Thursday, as a 'debris dam' created a lake that was threatening to collide. China has been rushing to reduce the threat of further flooding at the border crossing connecting its Tibet region with Nepal after a deadly flash flood occurred on Wednesday. The state broadcaster CCTV reported on Friday that the risks of the lake...

China is racing to reduce a risk of a barrier-lake bursting that could cause more flooding along the border crossing between its Tibet region and Nepal. This could exacerbate the catastrophe which has claimed hundreds of lives since Wednesday. Both Nepal and China warned of new risks of flooding as a newly formed lake across their borders threatens to collapse. The region is still dealing with the catastrophic floods of this week. According to CCTV, the Chinese authorities mobilized an eight-member team of engineers to conduct aerial surveys as well as 3D modelling for the barrier?lake. Chen Hanxiao, one of...

Authorities fear that more people will be killed by a flash flood caused by a glacial collapse in the Himalayan border areas of Nepal and adjacent Tibet. At least 270 people have been killed, but authorities are concerned about further casualties. These are the most deadly glacial disasters of?history. 1941 -- HUARAZ (PERU) In the northern Andes, a glacial 'lake outburst' flood inundated one-third of Huaraz. It killed an estimated 5,000. This remains one of the most deadly glacier-lake outbursts in history. 1962 -- RANRAHIRCA (PERU) Mount Huascaran in Peru is the tallest mountain. A massive block of ice separated...

Experts citing Planet Labs satellite images said that a deadly flash flood on Wednesday near Nepal's Tibet border may have been triggered by the lower part of a glacier breaking off and crashing on to the valley floor hundreds of meters below. The cause of the collapse was unclear, but Nepali officials pointed out that an earthquake had occurred in the area minutes earlier. Both sides are concerned that the number of deaths will far exceed the 100 bodies recovered so far. Nepal's government said that more than 300 travelers were missing. Satellite imagery from Planet Labs was reviewed by...

Authorities are 'fearing' more casualties after a massive flash flood swept through the Himalayan border areas of Nepal, and adjacent Tibet on Wednesday. The flood washed away villages and damaged roads, bridges, and power projects. Some analysts blame climate change and development for the worst disasters that have occurred in the Himalayas during the past 12 years. AUGUST 2025 In the Indian state Uttarakhand, sudden floods and landslides have killed four people, while dozens are missing. SEPTEMBER 20, 2024 As a result of persistent rains and flooding, at least 66 people have died in Nepal. NOVEMBER 20,23 A collapse trapped?41...

Authorities warned against the possibility of fatalities after a massive flash flood in Nepal's Himalayan region washed away villages and damaged roads, bridges, and power projects. Officials said that the areas of Syapru Besi, Timure, and the surrounding mountainous district, Rasuwa with a combined population of around 50,000 people, were heavily affected. They also urged those who live on the Bhote-Koshi river's banks to move higher ground. District administrator Narendra Pariyar said that he had received reports of villages being washed out and infrastructure projects being destroyed, but no estimates of property or casualties were immediately available. He added, "There...

A government order issued on Wednesday showed that India is attempting to control'record-high sugar prices by ordering that no bulk consumers using more than 10 tons of sweetener per month should hold their stocks for longer than 15 days. The notification stated that the order would come into effect on?September 1, and will remain in place until November 30. Tuesday,? On Tuesday,? India's sugar demand usually increases from August to November, as the country celebrates festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and Dussehra. Bulk consumers, such as confectionery and biscuit makers, build up inventories before the festival season. India, which is the...

A government order issued on Wednesday showed that India is attempting to control'record-high sugar prices by ordering that no bulk consumers using more than 10 tons per month of the sweetener should hold their stocks for longer than 15 days. The notification stated that the order would come into effect on September 1st and continue to be in force until November 30th. On Tuesday, '? On Tuesday,? India's sugar demand usually rises between August and November, as the country celebrates major holidays such as Ganesh chaturthi, Dussehra, and Diwali. Bulk consumers, such as biscuit and candy makers, build up inventories...

Forecasters have said that El Nino is intensifying and could become a "very strong" event, which would increase temperatures, disrupt rainfall patterns and pose risks to crops around the world. Why are soft commodities (commodities grown in tropical areas) called "especially vulnerable" and what is El Nino? EL NINO El Nino occurs when trade winds weaken, causing a periodic increase in sea surface temperature. El Nino occurs in nature every two to seven year and lasts between nine and twelve months. Weather patterns typically result in warmer temperatures around the world, droughts in some regions, such as Australia, South and...

A revival of monsoon rainfall has led to a rapid increase in the planting of summer-sown grains such as rice, cotton and soybeans across a large part of India. This has helped reduce a?earlier deficit in sowing caused by?below normal rainfall. India is the largest rice exporter in the world, with about 40% of the global total. It's also the biggest importer for vegetable oils like palm oil, sunflower oil and soyoil. Indian farmers usually sow summer crops between June and July, after the annual'monsoon' reaches Kerala in the south. The monsoon was three days late this year and its...

Treasury released a statement saying that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had met with Pakistan's Finance Minister on Tuesday. Treasury welcomed the country's efforts to 'implement' economic reforms and to prepare for its return to international capital market. First reported by. Sources say that the request was made by Pakistani Finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb during the meeting. John Jovanovic, President of the U.S. EXIM Bank, was also present during his Washington visit. Treasury reported that during his meeting with the Pakistani representative, Bessent stressed the importance of Islamabad working to advance its reforms and become more "economically independent", boost growth,...

India's coal-fired plants have enough?coal to operate for two weeks at higher rates. This eases concerns about fuel shortages due to a?rising demand for electricity and a?lower-than-average rainfall during the monsoon season. The power ministry said in a response to the parliament that coal stocks at power stations stood at 42,8 million tonnes on July 12. This is enough for 14 full days of operation with an 85% load factor. It added that utilities are also able to obtain enough coal to meet their daily needs. The peak demand for power in India increased last week by nearly 270.1 gigawatts,...

The 'Red Cross' said that more than 90,000 people are directly affected by the Himalayan land slide and urgently need humanitarian assistance. Officials from the aid sector expressed their fears about further flooding. David Fisher, the head of the delegation of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for Nepal, said at a Geneva press briefing: "We think that 93,000 people are affected, and they're in a lot of need." He added, "We are of course concerned about the second flood." Fisher stated that the organisation's trucks containing relief supplies had been?blocked by a lake? formed by the...

Both Nepal and China?warned Thursday of new risks of flooding in Himalayas as two lakes have formed on either side of the border, which threaten to?burst into a region that is still coping with this week's devastating?flood. Nearly 1,000 people are still missing, and search and rescue operations continue in the debris-strewn hillsides and valleys. The flood that struck Nepal's border region with China's Tibet on Wednesday killed at least 362. Both countries blame the flood on glacier collapses that sent rock, ice and debris into mountain river systems. Nepal's disaster agency issued a warning on Thursday that a lake...

Both Nepal and China warned of new 'risks of floods in the Himalayas on Thursday, as two lakes that have formed on either side their border are threatening to 'burst. This is a region still coping with last week’s devastating?flood. Nearly 1,000 people are still missing, and search and rescue operations continue in the debris-strewn hillsides and valleys. The flood that struck Nepal's border region with China's Tibet on Wednesday killed at least 362. Both countries blame the flood on the collapse of a glacier that sent rock, ice and debris into mountain river systems. Nepal's disaster authority issued a...

Nepal has begun receiving 'cash','relief supplies and other aid from countries and organizations around the world as it responds to a flash flood which killed over 160 people and left many more missing. Here is the list of all aid and assistance that has been announced, as well as delivered: China has coordinated emergency supplies as well as?cash aid to Nepal. China's ambassador to Nepal stated this in a post on the social media website X. EUROPEAN UNION : European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X that the EU was ready to "mobilise additional European assistance". India's...

Authorities warned of heavy casualties as they urged people living along river banks to move higher ground. Government officials have said that the areas of Syapru Besi, Timure, and the mountainous district Rasuwa are severely affected. They also called for residents to be extra vigilant along the Bhote-Koshi River. District administrator Narendra Pariyar said that he had received reports of villages and infrastructure projects being washed out, but that a number of deaths or damage to property were not immediately known. He said, "There could have been a lot of casualties or property loss." "But I can't say for certain?now."...

China's?exports of electric trucks to other Asian nations have soared. This is in addition to an increase in domestic sales, as the?higher fuel costs as a result of the Iran War accelerate regional electrification. China's rapid adoption of etrucks - from lighter vehicles to tractors-trailers - has shielded the 'world's largest auto market' from the conflict. Other countries are now scrambling for a chance to catch up. China's heavy etruck exports have more than doubled in the last four months since the U.S. and Israel started the war, on February 28. They now total 16,823 vehicles. The majority of the...

The global food system is more resilient than ever to the "super" El Nino this year, thanks to the near-record inventories and technological advancements as well as the growth of important exporters like Brazil and Russia. UN Food and Agriculture Organization and analysts claim that since 1980, world farm production has exceeded consumption and population growth. Changes have been driven by the use of higher-yielding crop varieties, fertilisers, improved irrigation, and crop protection. These changes have led to increased yields in staple crops such as rice, wheat corn, and soybeans. Andrew Whitelaw, Australian agricultural consultancy Episode 3, said that even...

In July, the share of coal in India's power generation mix fell to its lowest level?in an entire year as renewable energy production surged?to a new record high. The data revealed that renewable power has risen to 20% of India's total mix. The data showed that the number of kilowatt hours (kWh) consumed in July was 36.25 billion, up 30% on last year. Grid-India, the state-run regulator, calculated that coal-power generation dropped to 65.7% from 69% in July. India's clean energy generation has risen as solar and wind output have exceeded 100 gigawatts. This is the first time that this...

The rising temperatures are affecting household budgets as well as factory floors Heat is forcing Bangladeshi workers to spend a larger share of their wages Experts warn that the true cost of heat is not well-measured. Tahmid Zami Tahmid Zami Begum can't spare much money, but staying cool to her is a must. It is a matter of survival. Begum, 32 is one of Bangladesh’s 4 million garment and textile workers, who must set aside a part of their meager income to cope with the rising heat. According to a World Bank report released in 2025, the average summer temperature...

Heat can cause garment factories to lose up to 10% of their productivity The heat is costing some workers a portion of their wages for health Heat could harm India's manufacturing drive, say experts By?BhaskerTripathi Researchers say that relying on garment workers' resilience to 'endure' the withering effects climate change is likely to undermine India’s ambition to become a global leader in garment manufacturing. This will also hinder India's efforts to boost exports of the garment sector from $40 billion currently to $100 billion by the year 2030. The Indian garment industry is estimated to employ around 45 million workers...

Health experts have warned that dengue cases could increase sharply in Bangladesh over the next two month due to wet weather conditions and poor mosquito control. In recent weeks the spread of the disease has accelerated, raising concern after the country's deadliest outbreak ever in 2023. According to data from the health ministry, dengue deaths increased from one in May to 18 at the end June. Meanwhile, reported infections increased by more than eightfold from 714 to 5,924. Professor Kabirul bashar, an entomologist from Jahangirnagar University, said that he expects dengue cases to double in 'Dhaka in July compared to...

Flash floods strike key rice crops at peak harvest Some people benefited from pre-flood money, but thousands lost out The problems are money, logistics and forecasting By Md. ?Tahmid Zami He managed to save less than half of his crop. He said, "I couldn't?get?enough farmworkers or harvester machines?to cut the whole yield and bring it home." Since a decade, the government has alerted vulnerable farmers and families to impending flooding and provided them with cash in order to minimize their losses. Forecasting and support depth are the main problems. The forecasting behind early support is just as important as the...