Photo: Dr. Rajendra Shende

Beyond Earth Overshoot Day: Why Humanity Needs an Earth Budget Framework

If Earth Overshoot Day falls on 30 July in 2026 , humanity is currently effectively requiring nearly one and three-quarter Earths to sustain its present patterns of production and consumption.

Climate Security Becoming South Asia’s Biggest Strategic Threat: Need for Regional Framework for Risk Assessment and Mitigation

Climate change is reshaping national security in South Asia. Military preparedness, though important, cannot make up for decaying infrastructure, failing water systems, or recurrent economic disruptions brought on by extreme weather. Governments must expand the definition of security to incorporate climate resilience as a central strategic goal.

Indus Waters Treaty and the Limits of Control: India Cannot Restrict Flow to Pakistan, Only Optimise Use

Even full development of India’s permitted hydropower and storage rights under the Indus Waters Treaty expands utilisation, but does not translate into control over downstream flows into Pakistan. The debate, therefore, is not about the ability to stop water. It is about how effectively each side uses what geography and law already permit.

India's Net-Zero Commitment and Energy Transition: Need to Avoid Disruptions in Job Security and Livelihood Opportunities

A just transition in India therefore requires targeted, context-specific strategies—supporting coal-dependent regions, strengthening reskilling and social protection (especially for informal workers), and aligning sectoral decarbonisation with employment generation. Ultimately, the transition’s success will depend not only on reducing emissions, but on its ability to protect livelihoods and enable inclusive, equitable growth.

More on Climate, Sustainability and Energy

UN concerned about human rights violations against Ahmadiyyas in countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka

United Nations human rights experts have expressed deep concern over the lack of attention to the human rights violations perpetrated against the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community around the world, including three countries in South Asia – Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka

UN chief ‘concerned’ about increasing threats to journalists in Afghanistan

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “grieves” the death of Reuters‘ Indian photographer Danish Siddiqui who was killed while covering the Afghanistan security forces operation against the Taliban, and is “concerned” about the “increasing threat to journalists” in Afghanistan, his spokesman said

As India prepares to head UNSC, its top diplomat says India will leave its mark

As India prepares to take up the presidency of the Security Council for a month long August, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla met with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other international diplomats to explain New Delhi's priorities while leading the UN's top decision-making body and underscore that it establishes the right to be a permanent member of the 15-nation body

UN official says Sri Lanka should not use quarantine rules to suppress protests

The top United Nations official in Colombo has said Sri Lanka should not use quarantine rules to suppress peaceful protests which are part of the right of assembly and freedom of expression

Devastating impact of COVID on human trafficking victims, reveals UN report

A new study released on Thursday by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) illustrates the devastating impact of COVID-19 on victims and survivors of human trafficking and highlights the increased targeting and exploitation of children during the course of the pandemic

Child mental health crisis ‘magnified’ by COVID, warns UN chief

Half of the world’s children experience violence on and offline in some form every year, with “devastating and life-long consequences” for their mental health, the UN chief warned a symposium on the issue on Thursday

UNDP donates digital equipment for Maldives’ judiciary

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the British High Commission have gifted digital equipment to the Maldives’s magistrate courts in order to perform better judicial services and bridge the gap between the justice system and communities

UN chief condoles death of Indian film legend Dilip Kumar

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condoled the death of Bollywood star Dilip Kumar who he said had "legions of fans throughout the world"

'US regularly raised human rights advocate Stan Swamy's detention with India'

Father Stan Swamy, the Jesuit priest who died Tuesday while a court heard his bail plea, worked to “make the world a more just place”  and the United States regularly took up with the Indian government his continued detention, according to a State Department spokesperson

UN human rights chief 'saddened, disturbed' by Father Stan Swamy's death

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet is “deeply saddened and disturbed” by the death of Stan Swamy, her spokesperson Liz Throssell said

Alongside COVID lies an ‘equally horrific pandemic’ threatening women: UN chief

As the world grapples unevenly with the effects of COVID-19, “a parallel and equally horrific pandemic” has threatened half the world’s population, the UN chief said on Tuesday, in the lead up to the Generation Equality Forum in France

India warns of cross-border terror via cyberspace

India has called for international action to achieve a framework for global cybersecurity, raising an alarm about the emergence of cyberspace as a vehicle for cross-border terrorism by nations and terror organizations

Worrying trend of more children being recruited for terrorism-related activities, says India

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has voiced his concern that the world is witnessing a dangerous trend of an increase in the number of children being recruited and involved in terrorism-related activities

No place for children in conflict, UN chief tells Security Council

The disregard for children’s rights amid war and upheaval “is shocking and heartbreaking”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday during a high-level open debate in the Security Council, held virtually

UN rights office highlights policing reforms to address systemic racism

Radical policing reforms are needed to address systemic racism affecting people of African descent around the world, UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said on Monday, as her Office published a series of recommendations prompted by the killing of George Floyd in the United States