When the Himalayas Warn Us

When the Himalayas Warn Us: Balancing Ecology, Development and Human Security

The disasters at Kedarnath and Nepal should therefore be read not simply as tragedies of the past or isolated episodes of extreme weather. They are warnings from a changing mountain system. The question before South Asia is whether we will continue to respond to each disaster after it occurs, or whether we will listen to what the mountains are telling us beforehand.

Months Ahead of the Monsoon: Can AI Give Us an Earlier Warning About El Niño?

AI may genuinely extend the horizon over which seasonal climate risk can be estimated.  For communities across South Asia living under the influence of the monsoon, a longer view could mean the difference between a farmer adjusting her planting in time and a family receiving a flood warning too late to act.

Livelihoods, Employment and Environmental Management in South Asia’s Hilly Regions: Lessons from ADB’s New Investment in Bangladesh

The broader lesson for South Asia is equally important. Hilly regions cannot be developed simply by transferring lowland infrastructure models into mountainous terrain. Investment has to respond to local economic systems, geography and environmental risks. 

Ethanol, AI and Agriculture: India's Triangular Chokehold Centred on a Depleting Resource

The UN's 2026 report warns that “long-term water use has exceeded renewable inflows and safe depletion limits,” leaving some water supplies beyond recovery. As the world’s largest groundwater extractor, India sits at the centre of this reckoning

More on Climate, Sustainability and Energy

India’s call for urgent adoption of anti-terrorism treaty it proposed 30 years ago; will Pakistan change its stance?

“Terrorist groups have enormously increased their capabilities by acquiring new and cutting-edge technologies, including drones and unmanned aircraft systems with cameras”, she said. 

UN looks for hope in Gandhi’s vision

Gandhi's idea of satyagraha influenced Nelson Mandela in South Africa, and Martin Luther King Jr in the US were deeply influenced by Gandhi’s concept of Satyagraha “which teaches that truth and justice are not achieved through violence but through moral courage and peaceful dialogue”, Yang said in the message delivered by his chef de cabinet Ivor Fung at a meeting on Gandhian Values and UN Charter.

UN's relevance in jeopardy in the absence of reforms

The UN membership has undergone a sea change since 1945 and the new realities need to be reflected in the permanent membership.  Any proposal that does not address the issue of representation of the Global South, including Africa, Asia and Latin America, in the permanent category does a grave injustice to the aspirations of developing countries for equality.

Cross-border terrorism will have consequences, Pakistan warned at UNGA

“A premier example is our neighbour, Pakistan”, he said of the consequences it faces internally as a result of promoting terrorism. But “unfortunately, their misdeeds affect others as well, especially the neighbourhood”, he said

Is India playing a peacemaker’s role in the Ukraine war?

New Delhi, which has historically had close diplomatic and strategic ties with Moscow, is forging an independent path open to the West giving it room to be a conduit between the two countries for peace diplomacy.

UN chief warns that world is edging towards 'powder keg'; underlines urgent need for reform of global institutions

The Cold War had some rules, but today “we are in a purgatory of polarity” where the world has not reached a state of multi-polarity and “more and more countries are filling the spaces of geopolitical divides, doing whatever they want with no accountability”’

US calls for text-based negotiations for UNSC reform; backs India, Japan and Germany for permanent seat

India and several countries have been pushing for the adoption of the negotiating text and the the US adding its weight gives it added impetus.

India presses for Africa's participation in UNSC, says discord hampering peacekeeping

“It is now time to move forward with the establishment” of the memorial honouring the more than 4,000 UN Peacekeepers who have made the supreme sacrifice”, he said, noting that 182 Indian peacekeepers have died “upholding the cause of international peace and security”.

UN team to visit Dhaka to discus human rights violations during recent unrest

The report said that “according to available public reports by media and the protest movement itself, between July 16 and August 11, more than 600 people were killed. Of these, nearly 400 deaths were reported from July 16 to August 4, while around 250 people were reportedly killed following the new wave of protests between August 5 and 6 August”.

Africa's permanent membership essential to make UN Security Council effective, says India; Pakistan, China oppose expansion

Munir Akram, the permanent representative of  Pakistan which is also a member of UfC, opposed expanding permanent membership but said that Africa can be considered a special case and be given long-term seats in the Council

Bangladesh interim government should be inclusive, consider voices of minorities, respect human rights:UN chief

According to Rana Dasgupta, a leader of the minorities organisation Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad, about 100 Hindus have been injured and two killed. Anti-Hindu violence took place at 97 places last week, and at least 10 temples were attacked, according to him.

Afghanistan must be prevented from again becoming terrorism hotbed: Top UN counter-terrorism official

While China has been providing an umbrella from sanctions for some Pakistan-based terrorists like Lashkar-e-Tayiba leader Sajid Mir, its Permanent Representative Geng Shuang spoke out at the meeting against double standards.

Simla agreement also to be basis in settling Kashmir dispute

Although Pakistanis and their supporters cite the Security Council resolution asking for a plebiscite to be held in Kashmir, they ignore the Council’s demand that Pakistan and Pakistani nationals completely withdraw from the occupied areas.

As world temperatures soar, UN chief calls for global action

“All countries must deliver by next year nationally determined contributions – or national climate action plans – aligned to limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius”, he said

India facing ‘completely unjustified’ pressure over Russia ties, says Lavrov; attacks West for criticising "Asian giants"

Bracketing China with India, Lavrov attacked the West’s criticism of these “Asian giants”. He said, “A multipolar world is a reality. It's not just a made-up of fiction”.