Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state will approach the Centre within two months to seek a reduction in Kaziranga National Park’s Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) from the default 10-km limit to 1 km. Sarma said the 10-km buffer automatically came into effect because Kaziranga has not received its final notification, restricting infrastructure and urban development in areas including Bokakhat. He said a scientifically based 1-km ESZ would ease restrictions on projects such as a proposed modern stadium and town infrastructure upgrades. Sarma argued the move would balance conservation with development and reduce difficulties faced by residents. The proposal comes amid an ongoing debate over Assam’s conservation policies and ecological connectivity. (PC: Bout India)

The world’s oceans recorded their hottest July temperatures ever, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. Average sea surface temperatures reached 20.96°C outside polar regions. This was higher than the previous July record of 20.89°C set in 2023. Scientists said developing El Niño conditions in the Pacific are helping push temperatures higher. Western Europe also faced record heat, drought and severe wildfires. Warmer oceans can raise sea levels and fuel stronger marine heatwaves. They can also increase moisture in the air and worsen storms and heavy rain. Scientists warned that human-caused global warming is making extreme heat more frequent and severe. (PC: Getty Images)

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on Monday morning, shaking large parts of the country, including capital Bogota. The earthquake hit around 7:34 am local time. Its epicentre was near San Jose del Palmar in Choco province. Tremors were also felt in Ecuador, Panama and areas near Venezuela. Buildings were damaged in several cities, including Cali, Manizales and Pereira. Some people were seen running into the streets as buildings shook. Officials in Bogota said there was no major damage reported in the capital. Authorities in Choco reported injuries and building damage in Quibdo. Officials are checking the full extent of the damage.

Typhoon Dolphin has battered eastern China, forcing more than one million people to evacuate amid torrential rain, flooding and landslide risks. Zhejiang’s Wenzhou relocated over 900,000 residents, while more than 215,000 people were moved from vulnerable areas in Shanghai. Parts of Shanghai recorded nearly 400mm of rain, the city’s heaviest rainfall in more than 150 years. The storm caused widespread flooding and disrupted transport, with over 1,300 flights cancelled in Shanghai. Although Dolphin weakened to a tropical storm, authorities warned of continued heavy rain and flooding through Wednesday. (PC: X)

The UK has broken its record for the number of days with temperatures of 30°C or higher in a year. Frittenden in Kent reached 30.6°C on Sunday, taking the total to 35 days in 2026. The previous record was 34 days, set in 1995. Forecasters expect temperatures to rise to 36°C in parts of East Anglia and southeast England next week. Health alerts have been issued across several parts of England. The hot weather has also increased drought and wildfire risks. Meanwhile, parts of northwest Scotland received more than 100mm of rain over two days, causing a sharp weather contrast.  

A fast-moving wildfire in British Columbia, Canada, has doubled in size and forced more than 20,000 people to leave their homes. The Bald Range fire has spread across more than 136 square kilometres near Summerland and Peachland. British Columbia has declared a state of emergency as the fire continues to grow. Officials said the flames are so intense that they are creating their own weather systems and lightning. Some homes and properties have been destroyed. Several people were trapped and had to be rescued. Residents of care homes, including senior citizens, were also moved to safer areas. Authorities continue to battle hundreds of wildfires across Canada.  

Heavy rain brought Delhi-NCR to a standstill on Friday, triggering widespread waterlogging, severe traffic snarls and commuter distress as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert till 8 pm. Many office-goers reported being unable to book cabs for hours. Congestion hit key routes including Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, ITO, Wazirabad Road, Patel Road, Rohtak Road, Shankar Road, Kirti Nagar, Delhi-Jaipur Highway, Peeragarhi and Shaheen Bagh. Waterlogging was reported in Chhatarpur, Mehram Nagar near Terminal 1, Shakarpur and Mandawali, while traffic crawled on NH-48 and the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. IMD attributed the disruption to multiple active weather systems, warning of continued heavy rain, flooding and traffic disruption.

Heavy rain continues to batter Kerala, with the death toll from rain-related incidents rising to 15, Chief Minister VD Satheesan said on Monday. Seven people remain missing across Kollam, Kannur, Malappuram, Idukki and Muvattupuzha. Kottayam reported 3 deaths, including 2 in Poonjar and a child who drowned after falling into a water tank. Ernakulam recorded 2 deaths, while Kollam and Malappuram reported 2 and 4 deaths respectively. One death each was reported from Idukki, Muvattupuzha, Kannur and Kozhikode. As of 9 am, 316 relief camps were sheltering 11,018 people displaced by flooding. (PC: NDTV)

Kerala continues to reel under relentless monsoon rains, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan confirming that eight people have died, 13 were injured, and eight remain missing in rain-related incidents across the state. Torrential rainfall has triggered floods, landslides, and widespread disruption, forcing evacuations and damaging homes, roads, and public infrastructure. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for several districts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall and heightened risk of disasters. Rescue and relief operations are underway, while authorities have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and strictly follow safety advisories as severe weather persists. (PC: The Hindu)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across the Northeast and the Himalayan foothills over the next 4 to 5 days, with a flash flood warning for parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Uttarakhand. Heavy rain is also expected in several northeastern states, including Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. Kerala and parts of Karnataka remain at risk of localised flooding due to continued rainfall. The IMD has advised people in vulnerable areas to stay alert and follow instructions issued by local authorities. (PC: Mint)