Weather – Page 8 – NewzIntel.com

Microsoft knew of SharePoint security flaw but failed to effectively patch it, timeline shows

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

A security patch Microsoft released this month failed to fully fix a critical flaw in the U.S. tech giant’s SharePoint server software, opening the door to a sweeping global cyber espionage effort, a timeline reviewed by Reuters shows.

On Tuesday, a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed that its initial solution to the flaw, identified at a hacker competition in May, did not work, but added that it released further patches that resolved the issue.

It remains unclear who is behind the spy effort, which targeted about 100 organisations over the weekend, and is expected to spread as other hackers join the fray.

In a blog post Microsoft said two allegedly Chinese hacking groups, dubbed “Linen Typhoon” and “Violet Typhoon,” were exploiting the weaknesses, along with a third, also based in China.

Microsoft and Alphabet’s Google have said China-linked hackers were probably behind the first wave of hacks.

Chinese government-linked operatives are regularly implicated in cyberattacks, but Beijing routinely denies such hacking operations.

In an emailed statement, its embassy in Washington said China opposed all forms of cyberattacks, and “smearing others without solid evidence.”

The vulnerability opening the way for the attack was first identified in May at a Berlin hacking competition organised by cybersecurity firm Trend Micro that offered cash bounties for finding computer bugs in popular software.

It offered a $100,000 prize for so-called “zero-day” exploits that leverage previously undisclosed digital weaknesses that could be used against SharePoint, Microsoft’s flagship document management and collaboration platform.

The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration, charged with maintaining and designing the nation’s cache of nuclear weapons, was among the agencies breached, Bloomberg News said on Tuesday, citing a person with knowledge of the matter.

No sensitive or classified information is known to have been compromised, it added.

The U.S. Energy Department, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and Microsoft did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment on the report.

A researcher for the cybersecurity arm of Viettel, a telecoms firm run by Vietnam’s military, identified a SharePoint bug at the May event, dubbed it “ToolShell” and demonstrated a way to exploit it.

The discovery won the researcher an award of $100,000, an X posting by Trend Micro’s “Zero Day Initiative” showed.

Participating vendors were responsible for patching and disclosing security flaws in “an effective and timely manner,” Trend Micro said in a statement.

“Patches will occasionally fail,” it added. “This has happened with SharePoint in the past.”

In a July 8 security update Microsoft said it had identified the bug, listed it as a critical vulnerability, and released patches to fix it.

About 10 days later, however, cybersecurity firms started to notice an influx of malicious online activity targeting the same software the bug sought to exploit: SharePoint servers.

“Threat actors subsequently developed exploits that appear to bypass these patches,” British cybersecurity firm Sophos said in a blog post on Monday.

The pool of potential ToolShell targets remains vast.

Hackers could theoretically have already compromised more than 8,000 servers online, data from search engine Shodan, which helps identify internet-linked equipment, shows.

Such servers were in networks ranging from auditors, banks, healthcare companies and major industrial firms to U.S. state-level and international government bodies.

The Shadowserver Foundation, which scans the internet for potential digital vulnerabilities, put the number at a little more than 9,000, cautioning that the figure is a minimum.

It said most of those affected were in the United States and Germany.

Germany’s federal office for information security, BSI, said on Tuesday it had found no compromised SharePoint servers in government networks, despite some being vulnerable to the ToolShell attack.

(Reuters)

July 23, 2025

MIL-OSI Africa: Malaria Surge in Southern Africa

Source: APO – Report:

.

Malaria is on the rise in southern Africa, with several countries – including Botswana, eSwatini, Namibia and Zimbabwe – reporting new outbreaks, underscoring the ongoing challenges in eradicating the disease in Africa.

Data from the Surveillance and Disease Intelligence Division of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reveals a dramatic spike in Zimbabwe, where suspected cases have increased in 2025. As of epidemiological week 23, of 2025, Zimbabwe has reported 111,998 cases and 310 deaths (case fatality rate [CFR]: 0.27%) as compared to 29,031 cases with 49 deaths (CFR: 0.17%) in the same period in 2024.

“This surge is no coincidence,” says Dr Memory Mapfumo, an epidemiologist at the Africa CDC. “Prolonged rains have fuelled mosquito breeding, while activities like gold panning, fishing and artisanal mining are exposing more individuals to risk, especially during peak mosquito activity hours.” A contributing factor is the interconnectedness of the countries, which drives transmission.

Across Zimbabwe, 115 out of 1,705 health facilities have been affected, highlighting the widespread impact of the disease on healthcare infrastructure. Since the start of 2025, Mashonaland Central Province has accounted for 32% of all malaria cases, while Manicaland reported 25% of the malaria-related deaths.

The situation is worsened by the low use of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs), leaving communities exposed and placing further strain on already stretched health systems. This reflects a broader challenge across southern Africa, where shifting climate patterns and expanding high-risk livelihoods are driving a growing malaria threat, necessitating quicker, more targeted and sustained responses.

However, malaria is endemic across sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in regions with high temperatures and rainfall, which create ideal breeding grounds for Anopheles mosquitoes, the vector that transmits the malaria parasite. The central part of the continent – both north and south of the equator – experiences the highest malaria incidence. Other factors include the tropical climate, as well as displacement and limited access to preventive measures.

Southern Africa, although comparatively less affected, remains vulnerable to the disease due to climatic conditions that favour mosquito breeding, cross-border population movements and localised outbreaks in high-risk areas. The region’s malaria burden fluctuates with rainfall patterns, human activities such as mining and agriculture, and gaps in healthcare access, making sustained intervention crucial for reducing transmission.

“As climate change accelerates, we are witnessing shifts in temperature and rainfall that are expanding the range of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, introducing vectors into previously unaffected regions,” said Dr Merawi Aragaw, head of Africa CDC’s Surveillance and Disease Intelligence.

He emphasised that this is not only a regional issue but a global challenge that calls for coordinated international efforts. “Sustained vector control measures – including environmental management, strengthening surveillance, drug and diagnostic resistance monitoring, and fostering cross-border collaboration – will be critical in mitigating the growing threat of vector-borne diseases, especially malaria,” said Dr Merawi.

The regional surge underscores a broader global trend, with malaria cases worldwide climbing to 263 million in 2023, up from 252 million the previous year, and Africa accounting for 95% of all malaria-related deaths. Despite these alarming figures, there have been significant successes: Cabo Verde was certified malaria-free in 2023, and Egypt is poised to achieve the same in 2024.

Yet for many countries in southern Africa, the road to elimination remains steep, with outbreaks threatening to reverse years of progress.

Take Botswana, which since epidemiological weeks 1–23 of 2025 has recorded 2,223 cases and 11 deaths, compared to 218 cases and no deaths in the same period in 2024. Okavango has been hit hardest, accounting for 69% of the cases. Since the outbreak began in November 2024, a total of 2,344 cases have been reported, with sporadic outbreaks appearing in non-endemic districts.

Flooding caused by heavy rains has contributed significantly to the outbreak by creating favourable conditions for mosquito breeding. Furthermore, many local residents remain unaware of the risks, contributing to delayed responses when symptoms first appear. To counter this, Botswana’s Ministry of Health has intensified case management and surveillance, launched community engagement campaigns, and distributed ITNs. However, efforts have been hindered by inadequate funding and community resistance to the interventions.

Although the Kingdom of eSwatini is in the malaria elimination phase, eSwatini, too, is grappling with an upsurge in malaria cases. The Ministry of Health recently issued a press notice to draw attention to the issue. From July 2024 to March 2025, the kingdom has recorded 187 malaria cases. Children under 15 years account for 15% of the reported cases, which has led to increased school absenteeism.

Twenty per cent of cases have been among farmers, especially those involved in illegal farming activities in the mountains. These farmers often work at night, guarding their crops without any protective measures, leaving them exposed to mosquito bites. The majority of cases are concentrated in the Hhohho and Lubombo regions, prompting the Ministry of Health to increase its response efforts, including indoor residual spraying (IRS) and the distribution of ITNs.

Despite these interventions, eSwatini’s malaria elimination programme faces significant hurdles. There are challenges in achieving complete coverage of IRS and ITN distribution, and many individuals still fail to adopt protective behaviours. Nonetheless, the government remains committed to eliminating malaria and addressing the underlying causes, such as illegal farming and inadequate community awareness.

Namibia is another country witnessing a significant rise in malaria cases, with over 89,959 cases and 146 deaths reported since November 2024 from 37 of 121 districts. Of these cases, 18% (15,954 cases) are imported from neighbouring countries experiencing malaria outbreaks, and 82% are local.

The hardest-hit districts in Namibia include Katima Mulilo, Nkurenkuru, Andara, Outapi and Rundu. Malaria continues to have a severe impact on children above five years and pregnant women, who represent 11% and 3% of the reported cases, respectively. Most cases reported were among males (58%).

Of major significance is the interconnectedness of southern Africa, which complicates malaria control efforts, especially in border regions.

In Botswana, districts bordering Namibia and Zimbabwe are particularly vulnerable to cross-border transmission, with malaria spreading easily between neighbouring countries with ongoing outbreaks. This highlights the importance of regional cooperation and cross-border surveillance in combating the disease. Efforts to enhance case management, improve surveillance and increase the use of ITNs are critical in curbing transmission in these high-risk areas.

According to Africa CDC, the increase in malaria cases in the region highlights the pressing need for continued vigilance and investment in malaria control. Governments need to enhance their efforts to improve the use of ITNs, strengthen community engagement, and address the environmental and social factors driving the outbreaks, such as illegal farming and exposure to mosquito breeding grounds.

Equally important is the need for a concerted effort to address delays in reporting, ensuring the timely and accurate collection of data to inform public health interventions. Yet, while the fight against malaria remains an uphill battle, the successes in Cabo Verde and Egypt offer hope that with the right strategies, the elimination of malaria in southern Africa is possible.

– on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

MIL OSI Africa –

July 23, 2025

MIL-OSI Africa: Central African Republic Innovates with Nature-Based Solutions and Reaffirms Commitment to Urban Climate Resilience

Source: APO – Report:

.

The World Bank approved today an additional grant financing in the amount of $9.175 million (just over CFAF 5.3 billion) from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the Inclusive and Resilient Cities Project in the Central African Republic (PROVIR). This additional financing aims to improve access to climate-resilient infrastructure in the cities of Bangui and Berbérati by financing Nature-based Solutions, including the regeneration of urban forests and the planting of avenues and public spaces.

With this funding, about 300,000 people in Bangui and Berberati—including vulnerable groups such as refugees, internally displaced persons, returnees, women, and youth—will benefit from improved living conditions with improved access to flood-safe and erosion-protected infrastructure.

“The Central African Republic, which is ranked second in the world in terms of high vulnerability to climate change, is exposed to numerous natural disaster risks exacerbated by deforestation and climate change,” said Guido Rurangwa, World Bank Country Manager for the Central African Republic. “Nature-based solutions have great potential for the country. By combining these with grey infrastructure in Bangui and Berberati, they will increase rainwater retention capacity, reducing the risk of flooding and soil erosion. Their multi-purpose nature will also provide many livelihood opportunities ranging from forest products to fishing opportunities.”

PROVIR is part of the World Bank’s programmatic support to the urban development sector in the Central African Republic and adopts an integrated approach. It supports the World Bank Group’s climate change and resilience agenda, including the Climate Change Action Plan (2021-2025), which aims to promote green, resilient, and inclusive development and competitive cities.

Project preparation benefited from technical assistance and grants from the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), City Climate Finance Gap Fund (Gap Fund), and NBS Invest.

– on behalf of The World Bank Group.

MIL OSI Africa –

July 23, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ20: Nurturing environmental, social and governance talents

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ20: Nurturing environmental, social and governance talents
Question:

In recent years, environmental, social and governance (ESG) has become a core strategy for global development, and Hong Kong has also been actively promoting Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050 (Plan) and the development of green and sustainable finance. It has been reported that according to a study, only 27 per cent of the secondary schools in Hong Kong have included references to matters relating to sustainable development, climate and biodiversity in their school development plans, reflecting that there are still inadequacies in the nurturing of ESG talents and civic awareness in Hong Kong. According to the Report on 2023 Manpower Projection, the Labour and Welfare Bureau has also envisaged that ESG will be deemed essential knowledge in the future employment market. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) as it is stated in the Plan that the authorities will broaden school teachers’ knowledge about climate change, and that schools may strengthen the relevant learning materials in different subjects, but the findings of the aforesaid study have revealed that such efforts seem to have failed to achieve the intended results, whether the authorities have assessed the effectiveness of schools’ education on climate change and biodiversity, etc;

(2) whether the authorities have considered further strengthening education on ESG (e.g. climate actions and social responsibilities) in secondary schools, and formulating interdisciplinary teaching guidelines; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) as the Plan has mentioned the need to incorporate learning materials relating to climate change, low-carbon technologies and green finance, etc, into the curricula in tertiary institutions, whether the authorities have assessed if the relevant curricula in the institutions can satisfy the need to train ESG talents; how to ensure that students are equipped with ESG literacy to meet the needs of the future job market, thereby facilitating the development of Hong Kong into a regional green finance centre; and

(4) regarding the workforce in the local employment market at present, whether the authorities have plans to promote the popularisation of ESG education, thereby assisting members of the public in enhancing their ESG knowledge to address the needs of the future employment market; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

Regarding the question raised by the Hon Chan Siu-hung, the consolidated reply, after consulting the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Labour and Welfare Bureau, and the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, is as follows:

(1) and (2) The Education Bureau (EDB) attaches great importance to promoting education for sustainable development (ESD). It has been encouraging schools to adopt a “multi-pronged and co-ordinated” approach to enhance students’ understanding of sustainable development (SD) and encourage them to practise green living through different subjects, cross-curricular learning and life-wide learning activities. The relevant learning elements, which include climate action, biodiversity conservation, renewable energy, energy saving and waste reduction, making good use of resources and corporate social responsibilities, have been incorporated in the curriculum guides of various subjects, such as Primary Humanities and Primary Science at the primary level, and Geography, Science, Biology, Business, Accounting and Financial Studies, Citizenship and Social Development as well as some Applied Learning courses at the secondary level.

ESD is an important component of values education across different subjects in primary and secondary school education. The Values Education Curriculum Framework (Pilot Version) lists “actively practising green living as well as encouraging and supporting joint efforts from people around” and “possessing a global perspective as well as being concerned about global environmental issues and the challenges in attaining sustainable development” as the expected learning outcomes, encouraging students to take responsibility for environmental conservation and nurturing in them proper values and attitudes, such as respecting, be thankful to and caring about nature.

To support teachers in implementing ESD, the EDB has organised various teacher professional development programmes. Field studies and seminars have been conducted to deepen teachers’ understanding of ESD and related topics as well as enhance their teaching capacity. Since the 2020/21 school year, the EDB has conducted nearly 200 relevant training activities with the number of teacher participation exceeding 12 300. The EDB has also collaborated with Radio Television Hong Kong Radio 3 to produce the “Savvy Earth Savers” segment featured in the English learning programme “In the Common Room”. The segment explores environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and provides teachers with English learning and teaching resources for promoting ESD.

The EDB has also organised diversified student activities, such as slogan and poster design competitions, drawing and photo-taking competitions and picture book creation competitions, to help students understand the rationale and importance of sustainable development as well as enrich their learning experiences. To further promote ESD, the EDB launched the “Achieving Carbon Neutrality Student Ambassador Training Scheme 2024/25” for the first time in this school year. Through the collaborative efforts with different government departments, green groups and the business sector in organising diversified experiential learning activities, such as bank visit, coral conservation field trips and green building tours, the EDB aims to deepen students’ understanding of green finance and intelligent green buildings and the importance of marine biodiversity. Building on the first year’s experience with the ambassador scheme, the EDB will continue to collaborate with different stakeholders to provide students with more learning opportunities to further increase their understanding of the efforts of the Government and various sectors of society in achieving the target of carbon neutrality in Hong Kong.

Under school-based management, when formulating the School Development Plan (SDP), schools have to set out a clear direction for development and focused priority tasks, which should be in line with the school’s vision and mission, the latest education development, as well as the school context. Schools have been promoting ESD for years with good progress, and have generally taken forward relevant work as the routine ones. If there are new development focuses, strategies or measures, they will be included in the SDP as appropriate.

Besides, the relevant bureaux and departments have also been actively implementing various education and publicity programmes to enhance students’ understanding of SD, including:

(i) The Environment and Ecology Bureau has organised a range of seminars, workshops, field trips and interactive dramas, etc, on various topics through the Sustainable Development School Outreach Programme (Outreach Programme) and the Sustainable Development School Award Programme, so as to promote the concept and practice of SD among secondary students, and at the same time recognise the efforts of schools and students in promoting SD in the community. In the 2024/25 school year, under the theme of Food Waste Reduction and Recycling, the Outreach Programme attracted the participation of 231 schools, encompassing about 82 000 teachers and students.
In 2024, the EPD also launched the “We-recycle@School” Activity (the Scheme). Through providing a variety of teaching materials, support and teacher training to primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, the Scheme assists schools and teachers in integrating waste reduction and recycling knowledge into daily teaching, encourage students to make good use of recycling facilities in schools and the community, and motivate their family members to practise resource separation and recycling together. Since its launch, the Scheme has received an overwhelming response, with the participation of about 350 000 students from around 550 primary and secondary schools. In addition, from January to May 2025, the EPD organised in collaboration with GREEN@COMMUNITY operators over 460 publicity activities on waste reduction and recycling involving or co-hosted by schools, thereby raising environmental awareness among students.

(iii) The Drainage Services Department (DSD) has been supporting schools in promoting environmental protection education through organising guided tours at sewage treatment facilities. For instance, students can learn about the sewage treatment process, energy efficiency design and the measures in combating climate change through visits to the DSD’s facilities such as the Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works and the Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works.

(3) The EDB has all along supported post-secondary institutions offering post-secondary programmes that meet the social and economic needs of Hong Kong, having regard to different policy bureaux’ and departments’ recommendations on manpower needs. In response to the ever-changing social needs for sustainable development, the University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities have offered various funded programmes relevant to “Environment, Society and Governance” in recent years, to nurture students to become talents in sustainable development and green finance. In the 2024/25 academic year, there are about 40 programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The EDB and the UGC will continue to encourage universities to nurture talents for growth, transformation and future challenges, and meet Hong Kong’s future development’s talent needs. Self-financing institutions also have the flexibility to develop programmes that meet market needs, and adjust the curricula and intake places of relevant programmes, in response to the ever-changing manpower needs of different sectors of society, and provide diversified articulation pathways.

(4) Bureaux and departments take forward sector-specific talent training programmes in response to the latest industry development and manpower situation to enrich the local human resources.

The Government launched in 2022 the Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme (Pilot Scheme) for application by local eligible market practitioners and related professionals as well as students and graduates of relevant disciplines. There are currently 94 eligible programmes and qualifications, including green and sustainable finance programmes and qualifications related to banking services, asset management, insurance industry, etc. These are provided by the professional and continuing education schools of local universities, professional institutions, international training providers, etc, and the list will continue to be updated. As of May 2025, over 7 200 reimbursement applications were approved, involving a total reimbursement amount of over $40 million. To continuously support local green finance talent training, we will extend the Pilot Scheme to 2028.

Besides, the Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group (Steering Group) formed by relevant Government Bureaux, financial regulators and the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited launched in October 2022 the Sustainable Finance Internship Initiative to create more relevant local internship opportunities for students. Members of the Steering Group also regularly offer training seminars and forums, at which representatives from financial regulators as well as experts from the academia and industry are invited to share insights to deepen university students and industry’s understanding of sustainable finance.

The EPD has all along been supporting the continuous development of environmental professions in Hong Kong, so that the standards and credibility of environment-related services and industries can be enhanced through professionalisation. The EPD is exploring collaboration with the Hong Kong Institute of Qualified Environmental Professionals to provide ESG-related training, with a view to addressing the rapid development and growing demand for talents in the ESG field. Besides, relevant courses are offered by course providers under the Continuing Education Fund in response to market development and needs, which are currently mainly provided by higher education institutions, and the Employees Retraining Board also provides relevant courses.
Issued at HKT 14:25

NNNN

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

July 23, 2025

Rains, floods and rising heat: South Asia’s growing climate crisis

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

People in India and neighboring countries eagerly await the monsoon rains, which signal the end of the scorching summer heat and bring much-needed water for crops that sustain crores of people. However, the increasing frequency, intensity, unpredictability and eccentricity of extreme rainfall events are making things increasingly difficult for the people. In 2024 alone, hundreds of people died in India due to heavy rainfall. Across South Asia, hundreds more have already died this year. Experts warn that soaring temperatures and intense rain are also accelerating glacier melt in the Himalayas, triggering catastrophic floods and landslides.

The recent monsoon rains claimed more than 110 lives across Pakistan and many more are left injured and missing. The heavy rains and unstable weather conditions cause much damage to life and property almost every year in the neighbouring country. The Met Department has further warned of possible flooding, disruptions and damages. However, at the same time, several cities in Pakistan are also experiencing a spell of intense heat.

Similarly, around 100 people died in April this year after unseasonal heavy rain lashed parts of Nepal and India, although monsoon-related torrential rain usually starts in June in this part of the world. 82 people were reported to have died in rain-related incidents in Bihar alone over just two days in April, 2025. Just a week earlier Bihar catastrophe, deadly floods in Nepal’s Bhote Koshi River killed several people and left dozens missing. It was said to have been triggered by the draining of a supraglacial lake in the Tibet region.

In India, several regions are currently grappling with heavy rainfall and widespread flooding, resulting in major disruptions and extensive damages. States such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana have been severely impacted by the monsoon-triggered floods. The relentless downpours cause rivers to overflow, inundate large areas and damage critical infrastructure, especially in hilly states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Similarly, cloud burst, lightning and storm-related incidents in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and some other parts of the country also cause deaths almost every year. The situations become worse as, while some parts of India face flash floods, several other parts of the country confront heatwave-like conditions.

Here, the question arises as to why India and its neighbouring countries face these kinds of unwarranted and untimely extreme weather conditions, which invariably cause a great deal of damage. Are these extreme weather conditions directly related to climate change?

The answer is yes, the flooding across South Asia, especially in India, Nepal and Pakistan has sometimes been extensive and severe, affecting millions of people and causing widespread damage and destructions. Intense monsoon rains combined with glacial melt-water trigger floods and landslides in several parts, resulting in displacement, loss of lives and major damage to infrastructure.

Pakistan is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries with its 25.5 crore people increasingly being exposed to extreme weather events. In 2022, devastating monsoon floods submerged one-third of the neighbouring country and claimed the lives of over 1,700 people.

Experts attribute this inconsistency in weather conditions to changing climate patterns and increased urbanisation, which reduce natural drainage and increase vulnerability to flooding. This is the reason why residents are often found struggling with power outages and property damage, and local authorities are seen working around the clock to manage the crisis and provide relief in affected areas. But most of the time, things appear to be going out of control.

Floods are not an uncommon occurrence in India and across South Asia during this time of year as the region receives the bulk of its annual rainfall during this season only. However, climate change has made monsoon patterns increasingly unpredictable, bringing intense downpours within short periods, which are followed by extended dry spells that negatively impact crops, making things tougher for the farmers and also for the governments to manage things.

Adding to the challenge, scientists now warn that a weather phenomenon also known as an atmospheric river, which is some kind of storm only, is exacerbating the situation. Fueled by global warming, these storms carry significantly more moisture, which lead to heavier and more destructive rainfall events across the region.

These watery storms are also termed as flying rivers. These massive and invisible bands of water vapour are formed over warm oceans when seawater evaporates. They travel from the tropics to cooler regions and release heavy rain or snow that triggers floods and avalanches. Carrying about 90% of the water vapour moving across Earth’s mid-latitudes, these atmospheric rivers, experts say, can have nearly twice the flow of the Amazon River. As the Earth is warming more rapidly because of the climate change, scientists say that atmospheric rivers are becoming longer, wider, more intense and erratic, which significantly increase the flood risk for crores of people in this region and around the world.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports that in recent years, weather conditions involving heavy rainfall and strong winds have increasingly been triggered by Western Disturbances also, which affect various parts of the country during same or different months. Notably, the frequency of these disturbances has risen, a trend directly linked to rising global temperatures. A new analysis by Climate Trends, a Delhi-based climate research organization indicates that changes in the behaviour of these weather systems are leading to heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides in hilly states like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Moreover, major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and others are facing an increasing risk of urban flooding due to a combination of changing climate patterns, unplanned urbanisation and inadequate drainage systems. Intense and unseasonal rainfall events, often occurring within short durations, overwhelm city infrastructure, leading to severe waterlogging, traffic disruptions, and damages to property. Rising temperatures and the growing frequency of extreme weather events further compound the problem. Experts warn that without sustainable urban planning and climate-resilient infrastructure, these cities will remain highly vulnerable to frequent and more intense flooding in the years to come.

In May this year, heavy rains brought Bengaluru to a standstill. Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi have also experienced devastating flash floods in recent years, which highlight the growing impact of extreme weather on India’s urban centres. Without doubt, climate vulnerability in this part of the world including India, is a growing concern, driven by the increasing frequency of hydro-meteorological extreme events occurring throughout the year.

India receives 80% of its annual rainfall during the June-September monsoon, which is vital for farmers. However, the way weather conditions are becoming increasingly erratic and eccentric with unseasonal heavy rains, flash floods and heat-related droughts being often experienced in this part of world, make life miserable, which calls for urgent actions not only from the concerned governments but also from all stake-holders including people in general.