Beyond Infrastructure: China’s New Environmental Footprint in Central Asia

By Yunis Sharifli Uzbekistan’s economy is expanding at one of the fastest rates in Central Asia, creating new opportunities for businesses and citizens alike. Yet this rapid growth also brings challenges that the country must learn to manage. Among them, one of the most pressing issues is the growing problem of waste management, which has […]

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Is the ‘Big One’ coming? Earthquake mania grips Philippines as fears mount

By Sam Beltran A spate of powerful earthquakes across the Philippines has triggered widespread panic, sparked a flood of misinformation and prompted officials to take decisions that experts warn could undermine long-term disaster readiness. Analysts say the anxious public reaction – from mass hysteria in schools to viral conspiracy theories about “The Big One” – […]

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Homeless and fearful, Afghan quake survivors sleep in the open

DARA-I-NUR, Afghanistan: Families huddled hungry and homeless days after a deadly earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan, not daring to set foot in the few remaining buildings for fear an aftershock could bring them down. The initial powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck remote regions along the border with Pakistan, killing more than 1,400 people, with at least six […]

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Uzbekistan Approves Controversial ‘Sea Breeze Project’ at Charvak Reservoir

By Sadokat Jalolova The Uzbek government has approved the contentious “Sea Breeze Uzbekistan” project at the Charvak reservoir in Tashkent region, despite vocal opposition from environmental activists and mounting public concern. Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov signed Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 490, granting “Sea Breeze Uzbekistan” LLC a 25-year direct lease on 577 hectares of […]

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India’s lion numbers soar: Why are some conservationists worried?

By Nikhil Sreekandan On May 21, the forest department of the western Indian state of Gujarat released results of the country’s first lion population estimation since 2020. According to the census, India’s wild lion population – exclusively concentrated in Gujarat – has risen by 32 percent over the past five years to 891 lions. India’s […]

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UAE tops 50c in highest May temperature on record

The United Arab Emirates registered a sizzling 50.4 degrees Celsius on Friday, the highest on record for May, following weeks of sweltering temperatures in the desert nation acutely vulnerable to climate change. Worshippers at Friday prayers reported feeling faint and some residents appeared unsteady on their feet, even in a country that is accustomed to […]

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29 dead due to hail, rain in Afghanistan: officials

Twenty-nine people died in two provinces in Afghanistan due to hail and heavy rain, officials said on Tuesday. “Twenty-one people were killed and six others were injured” because of hail in western Farah province, said Mohammad Israel Sayar, head of the province’s Disaster Management Department. The victims are members of two families who had gone […]

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Climate change in Afghanistan is causing glaciers to shrink faster than ever

Climate change is shrinking glaciers faster than ever, with 7 trillion tons lost since 2000. Climate change is accelerating the melting of the world’s mountain glaciers, according to a massive new study that found them shrinking more than twice as fast as in the early 2000s, Associated Press reported. The world’s glaciers lost ice at […]

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Maldives aims to plant 2 million trees in 2025

The Maldivian government is aiming to plant 2 million trees before the end of 2025 as part of its Five Million Tree Plantation Program. The tree plantation program, launched by President Mohamed Muizzu, aims to combat climate change, enhance biodiversity and protect endangered native tree species. The initiative focuses on planting native tree varieties that […]

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