After the 5-run defeat against India, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan had a weird encounter with a journalist at the post-presser. Listen in to what he had to say!

'Were you discussing about rivers of Bangladesh?' Reporter's weird question to Shakib Al Hasan

Wild salmons have been the latest casualties of British Columbia's month-long drought&nbsp;with thousands of their carcasses scattered along the river's banks.

Pink and chum salmon carcasses were stacked up nearby in a video shared online. Biologists said over 70 per cent of the dead fish on the creek bed did not reproduce.&nbsp;

Wild salmon often wait for rainfall as their cue to go up creeks and rivers since it means that the water levels will rise and make it easier to access their natal streams&nbsp;

In a conversation with The Guardian, William Houston said, "It’s just devastating to see this happen. River levels [are] low everywhere right now—not just in Heiltsuk territory. This drought is coast-wide right now. " He further added, "We see pre-spawn mortality on [an] annual basis. But never to this degree."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/human-induced-climate-change-made-summer-drought-at-least-20-times-more-likely-study-finds-523077">Also read |&nbsp;Human-induced climate change made summer drought ‘at least 20 times’ more likely, study finds</a>

The footage was captured last week. Hosuty claims that approximately 10 days ago, a light afternoon shower and a high tide gave the salmon a false signal to start. The creek dried up when there was no water, leaving the fish stranded.

Wild Pacific salmon must always die after travelling up winding creeks and streams. The remains are then redistributed or consumed by scavenger bears, birds, wolves, or any other animals that benefit the jungle.

Recent years have seen a drop in the population and a larger decline in wild salmon.

Since there hasn't been any rain along British Columbia's western shores in the last few weeks, numerous areas there are at level four of the drought, which the province believes will likely have an impact on society and the environment.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Wild salmons have been the latest casualties of British Columbia's month-long drought with thousands of their carcasses scattered along the river's banks. Pink and chum salmon carcasses were stacked up nearby in a video shared online.

Wild salmons have been the latest casualties of British Columbia's month-long drought with thousands of their carcasses scattered along the river's banks. Pink and chum salmon carcasses were stacked up nearby in a video shared online. Biologists said over 70 per cent of the dead fish on the creek bed did not reproduce. Wild salmon often wait for rainfall as their cue to go up creeks and rivers since it means that the water levels will rise and make it easier to access their natal streams In a conversation with The Guardian, William Houston said, "It’s just devastating to see this happen. River levels [are] low everywhere right now—not just in Heiltsuk territory. This drought is coast-wide right now. " He further added, "We see pre-spawn mortality on [an] annual basis. But never to this degree." Also read | Human-induced climate change made summer drought ‘at least 20 times’ more likely, study finds The footage was captured last week. Hosuty claims that approximately 10 days ago, a light afternoon shower and a high tide gave the salmon a false signal to start. The creek dried up when there was no water, leaving the fish stranded. Wild Pacific salmon must always die after travelling up winding creeks and streams. The remains are then redistributed or consumed by scavenger bears, birds, wolves, or any other animals that benefit the jungle. Recent years have seen a drop in the population and a larger decline in wild salmon. Since there hasn't been any rain along British Columbia's western shores in the last few weeks, numerous areas there are at level four of the drought, which the province believes will likely have an impact on society and the environment. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Thousands of wild salmon found dead as British Columbia's river dries out

A local Egyptian environmental group built a huge pyramid with pressed plastic bottles, on the banks of the Nile river. VeryNile is an environmental initiative to clean the Nile river.

Plastic collected from the Nile river makes a 'pyramid' in Cairo

Sacred, revered and increasingly toxic, concerns rise over pollution and contamination of Nigeria's Osun river

World of Africa: Nigeria's 'sacred' Osun river turns toxic

A huge number of dead fish washed up on the banks of the Oder river which flows along the border of Germany and Poland. Conservationists have called for an investigation into this mysterious and tragic event.

WION Climate Tracker: Huge numbers of dead fish wash up off German-Polish river

As England appears to be entering a drought for which some experts claim the nation is unprepared, the source of the River Thames has dried up lower downstream than ever before.

Is River Thames going to run dry amid Drought fears in Britain?

On Sunday, August 7, the Italian army detonated a World War Two bomb that had been found in the low water after the Po, the nation's longest river, dried up. Italy, which has been experiencing the worst drought in 70 years, declared a state of emergency last month for districts around the Po, which produces about a third of the nation's agricultural output.

An old World War Two bomb weighing 1,000 pounds was exploded by the army near the little northern village of Borgo Virgilio, which is close to Mantua. Colonel Marco Nasi said, "The bomb was found by fishermen on the bank of the Po river due to a decrease in water levels caused by drought."&nbsp;

In a statement, the army claimed that around 3,000 residents of the Borgo region had to be evacuated in order for the operation to be carried out safely. In addition, the area's airspace was closed, and transportation on a nearby state road and train as well as along that section of the river was restricted.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-what-life-in-afghanistan-looks-like-after-one-year-of-taliban-rule-504576">IN PICS | What life in Afghanistan looks like after one year of Taliban rule?</a>

Borgo Virgilio mayor Francesco Aporti said, "At first, someone said they would not move, but in the last few days, we think we have convinced everyone." Between 0700 and 0900 GMT, bomb disposal specialists pulled the fuse from the U.S.-made device, which was packed with 240 kilogrammes of explosive.

The device was then moved by the bomb squads and destroyed in a quarry in the municipality of Medole while being escorted by local police. The army stated that the decontamination process was completed around 1400 GMT.

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

On Sunday, August 7, the Italian army detonated a World War Two bomb that had been found in the low water after the Po, the nation's longest river, dried up. Italy, which has been experiencing the worst drought in 70 years, declared a state of emergency last month for districts around the Po, which produces about a third of the nation's agricultural output.

On Sunday, August 7, the Italian army detonated a World War Two bomb that had been found in the low water after the Po, the nation's longest river, dried up. Italy, which has been experiencing the worst drought in 70 years, declared a state of emergency last month for districts around the Po, which produces about a third of the nation's agricultural output. An old World War Two bomb weighing 1,000 pounds was exploded by the army near the little northern village of Borgo Virgilio, which is close to Mantua. Colonel Marco Nasi said, "The bomb was found by fishermen on the bank of the Po river due to a decrease in water levels caused by drought." In a statement, the army claimed that around 3,000 residents of the Borgo region had to be evacuated in order for the operation to be carried out safely. In addition, the area's airspace was closed, and transportation on a nearby state road and train as well as along that section of the river was restricted. Also read: IN PICS | What life in Afghanistan looks like after one year of Taliban rule? Borgo Virgilio mayor Francesco Aporti said, "At first, someone said they would not move, but in the last few days, we think we have convinced everyone." Between 0700 and 0900 GMT, bomb disposal specialists pulled the fuse from the U.S.-made device, which was packed with 240 kilogrammes of explosive. The device was then moved by the bomb squads and destroyed in a quarry in the municipality of Medole while being escorted by local police. The army stated that the decontamination process was completed around 1400 GMT. (with inputs from agencies)

Italian army detonates World War II bomb found in dried-up river Po

Effects of climate change are being felt around the world. Now, Italy's longest river, the Po, is drying up as climate change is affecting Italy's major rivers too.

Italy's longest river, the Po, is drying up as climate change is affecting Italy's major rivers

Seven Indian Army soldiers were killed after a truck carrying them skidded off the road and fell into Shyok River in northern Ladakh on Friday morning. While 14 soldiers are critically injured.

According to reports, there were 26 soldiers in the vehicle, which was moving from the Transit Camp in Partapur to a forward location in Sub Sector Hanif.

The accident took place in Tuktuk sector around 9 am. It is being said that the vehicle fell to a depth of around 50-60 feet.

The injured were evacuated to the 403 Field Hospital at Partapur and surgical teams from Leh have moved to Partapur.

An Army statement said that dedicated efforts were being made to ensure that the best medical care is provided to the injured, including requisition of air effort from the Air Force to shift the more serious casualties to Western Command.

A rescue operation was carried out swiftly and all the soldiers were evacuated to a field hospital in Partapur, the officials said.

"Seven individuals have been declared fatal so far. There are grievous injuries to others as well. Dedicated efforts are underway to ensure that the best medical care is provided to the injured, including requisition of air effort from the Air Force to shift the more serious casualties to Western Command," PTI news agency quoted an Army official as saying.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the loss of lives and assured that all possible assistance&nbsp;is being given to the injured soldiers.&nbsp;

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Anguished by the bus accident in Ladakh in which we have lost our brave army personnel. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I hope those injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being given to the affected.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1530170693903470592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Seven Indian Army soldiers were killed after a truck carrying them skidded off the road and fell into Shyok River in northern Ladakh on Friday morning. While 14 soldiers are critically injured.

Seven Indian Army soldiers were killed after a truck carrying them skidded off the road and fell into Shyok River in northern Ladakh on Friday morning. While 14 soldiers are critically injured. According to reports, there were 26 soldiers in the vehicle, which was moving from the Transit Camp in Partapur to a forward location in Sub Sector Hanif. The accident took place in Tuktuk sector around 9 am. It is being said that the vehicle fell to a depth of around 50-60 feet. The injured were evacuated to the 403 Field Hospital at Partapur and surgical teams from Leh have moved to Partapur. An Army statement said that dedicated efforts were being made to ensure that the best medical care is provided to the injured, including requisition of air effort from the Air Force to shift the more serious casualties to Western Command. A rescue operation was carried out swiftly and all the soldiers were evacuated to a field hospital in Partapur, the officials said. "Seven individuals have been declared fatal so far. There are grievous injuries to others as well. Dedicated efforts are underway to ensure that the best medical care is provided to the injured, including requisition of air effort from the Air Force to shift the more serious casualties to Western Command," PTI news agency quoted an Army official as saying. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the loss of lives and assured that all possible assistance is being given to the injured soldiers. Anguished by the bus accident in Ladakh in which we have lost our brave army personnel. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I hope those injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being given to the affected. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 27, 2022 × (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

7 Indian soldiers killed after truck carrying them falls into Ladakh’s Shyok River

In the picturesque city of Rio de Janeiro, here's a home built from scrap wood, plastic & metal. Luiz Fernando Barreto’s home floats atop the river. Barreto even has a swimming pool & a van onboard. Baretto’s main aim is to make politicians pay attention to environmental issues.

Home built from scrap floats atop river in Rio de Janeiro

Scattered showers were falling across the Pacific Northwest early Monday as meteorologists expected an “atmospheric river” to bring heavy rain and flooding across the region through the middle of the week.

The brunt of the storm system, which was described as a stream of water vapor, was expected in the mountains of northern Oregon and western Washington, where up to 7 inches of rain might flood the rivers that flow off the mountain ranges, said Dustin Guy, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Seattle.

“Amounts like that combined with pretty high snow levels can push our rivers up significantly,” Guy said.

Flood warnings were issued for parts of the Grays and Skokomish rivers in Washington, the weather service said.

A flood watch was in effect from late Monday through Wednesday afternoon for parts of northwest Washington and west central Washington, including the cities of Everett, Olympia and Seattle.

Drivers should not attempt to drive around barricades or attempt to cross flooded areas, meteorologists said, adding that most flood deaths occur in vehicles.

Sections of the Washington Cascades from the Canadian border to the Columbia River were also under an avalanche warning through Monday evening.

Parts of Oregon and western Washington were under a winter weather advisory as heavy rain was expected into Tuesday morning, according to the weather service in Seattle. Lighter rainfall was forecast through Wednesday, with possible flooding beginning late Monday or Tuesday.

Gusty winds and “distant energetic ocean waves” were expected along the coast, according to the weather service in Portland, Oregon. That station also advised commuters to slow down and allow for extra time Monday morning, when rain was expected to be heavy or moderate.

“Y’all thought winter was over didn’t you?” the weather service in Seattle said on Twitter on Sunday. “Well it’s not.”

It is “definitely not unheard-of” to have an atmospheric river in the West at this time of year, with the end of the wet season just weeks away, Guy said.

An atmospheric river is a trail of water vapor that moves through the sky much the way a river moves over land, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Think of it as “a long ribbon of very moist air being aimed right at us,” Guy said.

The atmospheric river this week will be at least the second to pummel the Western United States in the past several months.

In October, an atmospheric river converged with a bomb cyclone to unleash heavy rains in the San Francisco Bay Area. About 100,000 customers lost power as landslides and dangerous road conditions were reported in areas across Northern California.

Scattered showers were falling across the Pacific Northwest early Monday as meteorologists expected an “atmospheric river” to bring heavy rain and flooding across the region through the middle of the week.

Scattered showers were falling across the Pacific Northwest early Monday as meteorologists expected an “atmospheric river” to bring heavy rain and flooding across the region through the middle of the week. The brunt of the storm system, which was described as a stream of water vapor, was expected in the mountains of northern Oregon and western Washington, where up to 7 inches of rain might flood the rivers that flow off the mountain ranges, said Dustin Guy, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Seattle. “Amounts like that combined with pretty high snow levels can push our rivers up significantly,” Guy said. Flood warnings were issued for parts of the Grays and Skokomish rivers in Washington, the weather service said. A flood watch was in effect from late Monday through Wednesday afternoon for parts of northwest Washington and west central Washington, including the cities of Everett, Olympia and Seattle. Drivers should not attempt to drive around barricades or attempt to cross flooded areas, meteorologists said, adding that most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Sections of the Washington Cascades from the Canadian border to the Columbia River were also under an avalanche warning through Monday evening. Parts of Oregon and western Washington were under a winter weather advisory as heavy rain was expected into Tuesday morning, according to the weather service in Seattle. Lighter rainfall was forecast through Wednesday, with possible flooding beginning late Monday or Tuesday. Gusty winds and “distant energetic ocean waves” were expected along the coast, according to the weather service in Portland, Oregon. That station also advised commuters to slow down and allow for extra time Monday morning, when rain was expected to be heavy or moderate. “Y’all thought winter was over didn’t you?” the weather service in Seattle said on Twitter on Sunday. “Well it’s not.” It is “definitely not unheard-of” to have an atmospheric river in the West at this time of year, with the end of the wet season just weeks away, Guy said. An atmospheric river is a trail of water vapor that moves through the sky much the way a river moves over land, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Think of it as “a long ribbon of very moist air being aimed right at us,” Guy said. The atmospheric river this week will be at least the second to pummel the Western United States in the past several months. In October, an atmospheric river converged with a bomb cyclone to unleash heavy rains in the San Francisco Bay Area. About 100,000 customers lost power as landslides and dangerous road conditions were reported in areas across Northern California.

‘Atmospheric river’ begins soaking Pacific northwest

An oil production vessel having the capacity to carry up to 2 million barrels of oil exploded off the coast of Nigeria with 10 crew members on board.

According to reports, the Trinity Spirit blew up on early Wednesday at the Ukpokiti oil field off Nigeria’s coast, near the Escravos terminal close to the Niger delta.

A video of the dramatic incident went viral on social media purportedly showing the ship on fire as it sinks into the sea, with thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

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Trinity FPSO explosion, this oil and gas jobs that don't pay well anymore, with high risk😪😪 <a href="https://t.co/fj5iV9qVlt">pic.twitter.com/fj5iV9qVlt</a>
— Jaguda_rated (@franz411) <a href="https://twitter.com/franz411/status/1489126662335836163?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The vessel is a floating production storage vessel (FPSO), owned by Nigeria's Shebah Exploration &amp; Production Company Ltd (SEPCOL).

In a statement on Thursday, SEPCOL said that flames had engulfed the Trinity Spirit floating production, storage and offloading vessel following the blast.

“But we can confirm that there were 10 crewmen onboard the vessel prior to the incident and we are prioritising investigations with respect to their safety and security,” SEPCOL Chief Executive Ikemefuna Okafor said in the statement.

The statement however did not give additional duties on the casualties, or the quantity of oil spilt into the sea.

The Nigerian government has described the impact of the spill as being “like Hiroshima”, with the leaking oil causing the death of marine life and damage to mangroves and waterways.

The explosion of the Trinity Spirit is reportedly the fourth major oil spill this year, after disasters in Peru, Ecuador and Thailand.

Nigeria is the 15th biggest oil-producing country in the world, producing more than 1.9m barrels a day, according to 2016 figures.

(With inputs from agencies)

An oil production vessel having the capacity to carry up to 2 million barrels of oil exploded off the coast of Nigeria with 10 crew members on board. According to reports, the Trinity Spirit blew up on early Wednesday at the Ukpokiti oil field off Nigeria’s coast, near the Escravos terminal close to the Niger delta.

An oil production vessel having the capacity to carry up to 2 million barrels of oil exploded off the coast of Nigeria with 10 crew members on board. According to reports, the Trinity Spirit blew up on early Wednesday at the Ukpokiti oil field off Nigeria’s coast, near the Escravos terminal close to the Niger delta. A video of the dramatic incident went viral on social media purportedly showing the ship on fire as it sinks into the sea, with thick black smoke billowing into the sky. Trinity FPSO explosion, this oil and gas jobs that don't pay well anymore, with high risk😪😪 pic.twitter.com/fj5iV9qVlt — Jaguda_rated (@franz411) February 3, 2022 × The vessel is a floating production storage vessel (FPSO), owned by Nigeria's Shebah Exploration & Production Company Ltd (SEPCOL). In a statement on Thursday, SEPCOL said that flames had engulfed the Trinity Spirit floating production, storage and offloading vessel following the blast. “But we can confirm that there were 10 crewmen onboard the vessel prior to the incident and we are prioritising investigations with respect to their safety and security,” SEPCOL Chief Executive Ikemefuna Okafor said in the statement. The statement however did not give additional duties on the casualties, or the quantity of oil spilt into the sea. The Nigerian government has described the impact of the spill as being “like Hiroshima”, with the leaking oil causing the death of marine life and damage to mangroves and waterways. The explosion of the Trinity Spirit is reportedly the fourth major oil spill this year, after disasters in Peru, Ecuador and Thailand. Nigeria is the 15th biggest oil-producing country in the world, producing more than 1.9m barrels a day, according to 2016 figures. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Oil vessel capable of carrying 2 million barrels explodes off Nigeria coast

To promote river health and restore fish stocks, a dam blocking the Tromsa River in Norway was blown using dynamite. This comes in as an attempt to remove barriers that litter Europe’s water bodies.

The dam was blown after a small team drilled five holes deep into the dam and then packed 20 kg of dynamite into each one.&nbsp;

The destruction of the dam was a part of the Open Rivers Programme, which is a €42.5 million project. This project aims at providing grants to support the removal of small dams and restore the river flow all across Europe.&nbsp;

Tore Solbakken of Norwegian angling club Gudbrandsdal Sportsfiskeforening deemed the destruction of the dam as "a big step."

He has campaigned for 5 years to have the dam removed. “I’m very happy. It’s all about restoring healthy rivers and fish populations," he said in a report by The Guardian.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-one-of-the-priciest-real-estate-sales-new-york-apartment-sells-for-190-million-444848">Also read |&nbsp;In one of the priciest real estate sales, New York apartment sells for $190 million</a>

The dam was built nearly 100 years ago and has not been used in the last 50 years. As per campaigners, removing the dam will help fish in the area.&nbsp;

Elaborating on the same, Solbakken said, "Fish barriers, hydropower dams, roadbuilding and the way we secure rivers against flooding are all big problems for big brown trout and other fish. It is important to take care of all the small rivers. If we do that, we can have a positive future for our area.”

As per estimates, there are at least 1.2 million instream barriers in Europe. These have become a prominent factor for the dip in the number of migratory freshwater fish across the continent.&nbsp;

Herman Wanningen, founder of the World Fish Migration Foundation and Dam Removal Europe said, "Some fish species, such as Atlantic salmon, eels and sturgeon, travel thousands of kilometres to complete their lifecycle. Dams also impede important sediment and nutrient transport, and drastically change the natural flow of rivers. Breeding places are lost.”

(With inputs from agencies)

To promote river health and restore fish stocks, a dam blocking the Tromsa River in Norway was blown using dynamite. This comes in as an attempt to remove barriers that litter Europe’s water bodies.

To promote river health and restore fish stocks, a dam blocking the Tromsa River in Norway was blown using dynamite. This comes in as an attempt to remove barriers that litter Europe’s water bodies. The dam was blown after a small team drilled five holes deep into the dam and then packed 20 kg of dynamite into each one. The destruction of the dam was a part of the Open Rivers Programme, which is a €42.5 million project. This project aims at providing grants to support the removal of small dams and restore the river flow all across Europe. Tore Solbakken of Norwegian angling club Gudbrandsdal Sportsfiskeforening deemed the destruction of the dam as "a big step." He has campaigned for 5 years to have the dam removed. “I’m very happy. It’s all about restoring healthy rivers and fish populations," he said in a report by The Guardian. Also read | In one of the priciest real estate sales, New York apartment sells for $190 million The dam was built nearly 100 years ago and has not been used in the last 50 years. As per campaigners, removing the dam will help fish in the area. Elaborating on the same, Solbakken said, "Fish barriers, hydropower dams, roadbuilding and the way we secure rivers against flooding are all big problems for big brown trout and other fish. It is important to take care of all the small rivers. If we do that, we can have a positive future for our area.” As per estimates, there are at least 1.2 million instream barriers in Europe. These have become a prominent factor for the dip in the number of migratory freshwater fish across the continent. Herman Wanningen, founder of the World Fish Migration Foundation and Dam Removal Europe said, "Some fish species, such as Atlantic salmon, eels and sturgeon, travel thousands of kilometres to complete their lifecycle. Dams also impede important sediment and nutrient transport, and drastically change the natural flow of rivers. Breeding places are lost.” (With inputs from agencies)

Norway blows 100 years-old dam which was hampering river health and fish stocks

A bus travelling to a wedding in Kenya was swept away by fast-flowing river water drowning at least 20 people. The incident took place at a bridge in the Enziu river, which is about 200km east of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. As per reports by local media, the driver was not familiar with the route and the bridge over the river.

The bus was hired to take a church choir and several other revellers to the ceremony in Kitui County. While most people plunged into the river, many managed to make a last-minute escape.&nbsp;

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This afternoon tragedy has struck Kitui County. A bus carrying Catholic faithfuls was swept away while attempting to cross a swollen river Enziu in Nguni, Mwingi. Rescue efforts are ongoing. So far there are 17 survivors and regrettably 21 bodies have been recovered. <a href="https://t.co/1VqF5U6g3z">pic.twitter.com/1VqF5U6g3z</a>
— Charity Ngilu (@mamangilu) <a href="https://twitter.com/mamangilu/status/1467153803166298119?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Deeming it as a "terrible" incident, Kitui governor Charity Ngilu said, "The bodies that have already been retrieved right now are over 23. We have more bodies in the bus."&nbsp;

She visited the site along with the Red Cross community. "Personnel and law enforcement agencies doing everything possible to search and rescue as well as recovery," she said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blast-heard-in-irans-natanz-where-nuclear-site-is-located-report-434210">Also read |&nbsp;Blast heard in Iran's Natanz where nuclear site is located: Report</a>

"We pray for God’s strength and compassion to comfort the affected families and friends," Ngilu further added.

Taking to her Twitter, she wrote, "Rescue efforts are ongoing. So far there are 17 survivors and regrettably 21 bodies have been recovered."

She further added that efforts to recover the corpses will resume on Saturday.&nbsp;

As of now, it is unclear as to how many people were on the bus at the time.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A bus travelling to a wedding in Kenya was swept away by fast-flowing river water drowning at least 20 people. The incident took place at a bridge in the Enziu river, which is about 200km east of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

A bus travelling to a wedding in Kenya was swept away by fast-flowing river water drowning at least 20 people. The incident took place at a bridge in the Enziu river, which is about 200km east of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. As per reports by local media, the driver was not familiar with the route and the bridge over the river. The bus was hired to take a church choir and several other revellers to the ceremony in Kitui County. While most people plunged into the river, many managed to make a last-minute escape. This afternoon tragedy has struck Kitui County. A bus carrying Catholic faithfuls was swept away while attempting to cross a swollen river Enziu in Nguni, Mwingi. Rescue efforts are ongoing. So far there are 17 survivors and regrettably 21 bodies have been recovered. pic.twitter.com/1VqF5U6g3z — Charity Ngilu (@mamangilu) December 4, 2021 × Deeming it as a "terrible" incident, Kitui governor Charity Ngilu said, "The bodies that have already been retrieved right now are over 23. We have more bodies in the bus." She visited the site along with the Red Cross community. "Personnel and law enforcement agencies doing everything possible to search and rescue as well as recovery," she said. Also read | Blast heard in Iran's Natanz where nuclear site is located: Report "We pray for God’s strength and compassion to comfort the affected families and friends," Ngilu further added. Taking to her Twitter, she wrote, "Rescue efforts are ongoing. So far there are 17 survivors and regrettably 21 bodies have been recovered." She further added that efforts to recover the corpses will resume on Saturday. As of now, it is unclear as to how many people were on the bus at the time. (With inputs from agencies)

Kenya: Over 20 people drown after bus with church choir plunges into Enziu river

'An epidemic in Amazon': Gold rush attracts hundreds of dredging rafts to Amazon river

Dams, irrigation projects, settlements in the past few decades, the natural course of rivers have been altered due to rapid infrastructural developments but some rivers stay wild, take a look!

Europe: Vjosa river untouched by infrastructure projects

A thick layer of toxic foam has covered Sao Paolo's longest river. Aquatic animals are dying and environmentalists are blaming nearby industries for the hazard.

Brazil: Tiete river becomes a dumping ground for industrial waste

The NASA Perseverance rover has sent its first images of a 3.7-billion-year-old ancient river delta. The discovery will help in guiding scientists in their search for evidence of ancient life.&nbsp;

NASA's Perseverance rover landed in the Jezero crater on February 18 this year. The scientists had suspected a long-gone river once fed a lake, depositing sediment in a fan-shaped delta.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-perseverance-rover-succeeds-in-drilling-rocks-from-mars-410354">Also read |&nbsp;NASA's Perseverance rover succeeds in drilling rocks from Mars</a>

A recent study has analysed high-resolution images captured by Perseverance. Layers within the cliffs show how its formation took place.

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From space, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and other spacecraft gave us tantalizing hints about Jezero Crater's watery past. Now that the <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAPersevere?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASAPersevere</a> rover is providing close-ups from the ground, scientists have encountered some geological surprises: <a href="https://t.co/9tXmiFNsDS">https://t.co/9tXmiFNsDS</a> <a href="https://t.co/ern4PqRkV6">pic.twitter.com/ern4PqRkV6</a>
— NASA Mars (@NASAMars) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAMars/status/1446225090270482432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The images also reveal the watery life cycle of the now dried-out lake at Jezero Crater.&nbsp;

The findings could be helpful for Perseverance to achieve its scientific mission of finding signs of life. It can also help in collecting samples for future return to Earth.&nbsp;

Co-lead author on the paper Professor Sanjeev Gupta, of Imperial College London’s Department of Earth Science and Engineering said, "These results have an impact on the strategy for the selection of rocks for sampling. The finest grained material at the bottom of the delta probably contains our best bet for finding evidence of organics and biosignatures, and the boulders at the top will enable us to sample old pieces of crustal rocks. Both are main objectives for sampling and caching rocks before the Mars Sample Return - a future mission to bring these samples back to Earth."

Meanwhile, earlier in September, the rover succeeded in drilling rocks from Mars after a perplexing failure.&nbsp;The rover's chief engineer Adam Steltzner described it as “one beautifully perfect cored sample.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/did-nasas-perseverance-rover-just-capture-a-rainbow-on-mars-image-inside-375618">Also read |&nbsp;Did NASA's Perseverance rover just capture a 'rainbow' on Mars? Image inside!</a>

The US space agency can use these rocks for future analysis by scientists on Earth by&nbsp;using state-of-the-art instruments in their laboratories.

According to Jennifer Trosper, project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, "The team determined a location, and selected and cored a viable and scientifically valuable rock.''

The NASA Perseverance rover has sent its first images of a 3.7-billion-year-old ancient river delta. The discovery will help in guiding scientists in their search for evidence of ancient life.

The NASA Perseverance rover has sent its first images of a 3.7-billion-year-old ancient river delta. The discovery will help in guiding scientists in their search for evidence of ancient life. NASA's Perseverance rover landed in the Jezero crater on February 18 this year. The scientists had suspected a long-gone river once fed a lake, depositing sediment in a fan-shaped delta. Also read | NASA's Perseverance rover succeeds in drilling rocks from Mars A recent study has analysed high-resolution images captured by Perseverance. Layers within the cliffs show how its formation took place. From space, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and other spacecraft gave us tantalizing hints about Jezero Crater's watery past. Now that the @NASAPersevere rover is providing close-ups from the ground, scientists have encountered some geological surprises: https://t.co/9tXmiFNsDS pic.twitter.com/ern4PqRkV6 — NASA Mars (@NASAMars) October 7, 2021 × The images also reveal the watery life cycle of the now dried-out lake at Jezero Crater. The findings could be helpful for Perseverance to achieve its scientific mission of finding signs of life. It can also help in collecting samples for future return to Earth. Co-lead author on the paper Professor Sanjeev Gupta, of Imperial College London’s Department of Earth Science and Engineering said, "These results have an impact on the strategy for the selection of rocks for sampling. The finest grained material at the bottom of the delta probably contains our best bet for finding evidence of organics and biosignatures, and the boulders at the top will enable us to sample old pieces of crustal rocks. Both are main objectives for sampling and caching rocks before the Mars Sample Return - a future mission to bring these samples back to Earth." Meanwhile, earlier in September, the rover succeeded in drilling rocks from Mars after a perplexing failure. The rover's chief engineer Adam Steltzner described it as “one beautifully perfect cored sample.” Also read | Did NASA's Perseverance rover just capture a 'rainbow' on Mars? Image inside! The US space agency can use these rocks for future analysis by scientists on Earth by using state-of-the-art instruments in their laboratories. According to Jennifer Trosper, project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, "The team determined a location, and selected and cored a viable and scientifically valuable rock.''

First images from Mars rover show ancient river delta in Jezero crater

Twelve people have died and thousands have fallen ill after a river in southern DR Congo was polluted by toxic waste from a diamond mine, the government said.

Pollution of the Kasai River came to light in July, when local residents said its waters had turned red and dead fish were seen floating at the city of Tshikapa, near the Angolan-owned mine.&nbsp;

In addition to 12 fatalities, whose cause of death is unknown, 4,502 cases of diarrhoea and skin-related illness have been recorded, Environment Minister Eve Bazaiba said late Thursday.

"This catastrophe was caused by an Angolan mining company, which has acknowledged the facts," she said, reporting on the findings of an expert bilateral commission of inquiry.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/women-protest-in-afghanistans-herat-over-right-to-education-work-410216">Also read |&nbsp;Women protest in Afghanistan's Herat over right to education, work</a>

In July, Bazaiba linked the pollution to a "spill of toxic substances by an Angolan factory specialising in industrial diamond mining".

Local officials also saw dead hippos in the Kasai, a major tributary to the Congo, the second longest African river after the Nile.

Four out of the five administrative territories in Kasai province have been affected by the disaster, totalling 968,000 people, the probe found.

The provincial authorities banned consumption of the river water, but it was too late to avoid some people falling sick.

The government said 40 tonnes (88,000 pounds) of medication to the area and the national water company is taking steps to increase supplies to those affected.

"Compensation should be paid to those who are victims, on the basis of the polluter-pays principle," the government said.

Twelve people have died and thousands have fallen ill after a river in southern DR Congo was polluted by toxic waste from a diamond mine, the government said. Pollution of the Kasai River came to light in July, when local residents said its waters had turned red and dead fish were seen floating at the city of Tshikapa, near the Angolan-owned mine.

Twelve people have died and thousands have fallen ill after a river in southern DR Congo was polluted by toxic waste from a diamond mine, the government said. Pollution of the Kasai River came to light in July, when local residents said its waters had turned red and dead fish were seen floating at the city of Tshikapa, near the Angolan-owned mine. In addition to 12 fatalities, whose cause of death is unknown, 4,502 cases of diarrhoea and skin-related illness have been recorded, Environment Minister Eve Bazaiba said late Thursday. "This catastrophe was caused by an Angolan mining company, which has acknowledged the facts," she said, reporting on the findings of an expert bilateral commission of inquiry. Also read | Women protest in Afghanistan's Herat over right to education, work In July, Bazaiba linked the pollution to a "spill of toxic substances by an Angolan factory specialising in industrial diamond mining". Local officials also saw dead hippos in the Kasai, a major tributary to the Congo, the second longest African river after the Nile. Four out of the five administrative territories in Kasai province have been affected by the disaster, totalling 968,000 people, the probe found. The provincial authorities banned consumption of the river water, but it was too late to avoid some people falling sick. The government said 40 tonnes (88,000 pounds) of medication to the area and the national water company is taking steps to increase supplies to those affected. "Compensation should be paid to those who are victims, on the basis of the polluter-pays principle," the government said.

12 dead after mining pollution in DR Congo river

Each morning, a group of Filipinos rakes up piles of&nbsp;trash&nbsp;on the banks of one of the world's most polluted rivers, filling sacks in an endless pursuit to clean a waterway that is also a major source of ocean plastics.

These "river warriors" are a decade-old group of about 100 people who work to clear the glut of garbage floating or washed up along Manila's notorious Pasig River.

The 27 km (16.8 mile) river cutting through the&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;capital was once a vital trade route. But urbanisation and poor sewage planning have left the river all but dead.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/deaths-outnumber-births-in-britain-for-the-first-time-since-1976-393790">Also Read |&nbsp;Deaths outnumber births in Britain for the first time since 1976</a>

"There's never a time without garbage here. It's unlimited," said Angelita Imperio, a river warrior for six years.

The warriors wear rubber boots and elbow-length gloves, using rakes and handmade tools to scoop rubbish from stagnant waters in different locations.

The warriors started off as volunteers but now receive a basic income from a local government and operate in small groups at different parts of the river.

Dexter Opiana, another river warrior with six years of service, says she and about 19 others work shifts of about seven hours and collect an average of 80 to 100 sacks a day, more during monsoon season.

Most of it is plastic wrappers, single-use sachets, and packaging materials. Since the pandemic began, surgical face masks are sometimes mixed in among the other floating garbage.

Pasig's&nbsp;trash&nbsp;isn't just a&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;problem.

A 2021 report by Oxford University's Our World in Data estimated 81% of global ocean plastic comes from Asian rivers and the&nbsp;Philippines alone contributes a third of that total.

The Pasig River alone provides up to 6.43% of ocean plastic originating from rivers, the report said.

Despite the&nbsp;warriors'&nbsp;Sisyphean task, they are optimistic of better days ahead.&nbsp;

"This has been our advocacy, to have the river cleaned for the sake of our children, our parents, our nation and mother nature," Imperio said.

Joan Lagunda, assistant secretary at the environment department, said authorities were coordinating with local governments to establish proper waste segregation practices and want informal settlers on the riverbanks to be moved.&nbsp;

Marian Ledesma, a campaigner with Greenpeace&nbsp;Philippines, said the government should reduce single-use plastics and strengthen law enforcement on waste disposal and sewage.

"I've seen it done in other cities, in other countries, so I don't think it's impossible to revive and clean up Pasig River," she said.

"It will need a collective action."&nbsp;

Each morning, a group of Filipinos rakes up piles of trash on the banks of one of the world's most polluted rivers, filling sacks in an endless pursuit to clean a waterway that is also a major source of ocean plastics.

Each morning, a group of Filipinos rakes up piles of trash on the banks of one of the world's most polluted rivers, filling sacks in an endless pursuit to clean a waterway that is also a major source of ocean plastics. These "river warriors" are a decade-old group of about 100 people who work to clear the glut of garbage floating or washed up along Manila's notorious Pasig River. The 27 km (16.8 mile) river cutting through the Philippine capital was once a vital trade route. But urbanisation and poor sewage planning have left the river all but dead. Also Read | Deaths outnumber births in Britain for the first time since 1976 "There's never a time without garbage here. It's unlimited," said Angelita Imperio, a river warrior for six years. The warriors wear rubber boots and elbow-length gloves, using rakes and handmade tools to scoop rubbish from stagnant waters in different locations. The warriors started off as volunteers but now receive a basic income from a local government and operate in small groups at different parts of the river. Dexter Opiana, another river warrior with six years of service, says she and about 19 others work shifts of about seven hours and collect an average of 80 to 100 sacks a day, more during monsoon season. Most of it is plastic wrappers, single-use sachets, and packaging materials. Since the pandemic began, surgical face masks are sometimes mixed in among the other floating garbage. Pasig's trash isn't just a Philippine problem. A 2021 report by Oxford University's Our World in Data estimated 81% of global ocean plastic comes from Asian rivers and the Philippines alone contributes a third of that total. The Pasig River alone provides up to 6.43% of ocean plastic originating from rivers, the report said. Despite the warriors' Sisyphean task, they are optimistic of better days ahead. "This has been our advocacy, to have the river cleaned for the sake of our children, our parents, our nation and mother nature," Imperio said. Joan Lagunda, assistant secretary at the environment department, said authorities were coordinating with local governments to establish proper waste segregation practices and want informal settlers on the riverbanks to be moved. Marian Ledesma, a campaigner with Greenpeace Philippines, said the government should reduce single-use plastics and strengthen law enforcement on waste disposal and sewage. "I've seen it done in other cities, in other countries, so I don't think it's impossible to revive and clean up Pasig River," she said. "It will need a collective action."

Philippine 'river warriors' fight tide of trash for cleaner future

At least 17 people were killed after a passenger van they were travelling in plunged into a river in Pakistan's mountainous Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

The vehicle was heading from Chilas to Rawalpindi when it fell into the Indus River in the Paniba area of Kohistan district, Dawn newspaper&nbsp;reported.

The van, privately hired by the family for a visit, had 17 people, including the driver.&nbsp;The accident took place when the driver lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a sharp turn.

It veered off into the Indus River and got submerged soon after, the police said, adding that 17 people have died in the incident.&nbsp;Rescue teams were trying to locate the missing passengers but faced hurdles due to the difficult terrain and depth of the river.

The roads linking the northern regions of the country run through some of the most treacherous mountains, causing frequent mishaps.&nbsp;

At least 17 people were killed after a passenger van they were travelling in plunged into a river in Pakistan's mountainous Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. The vehicle was heading from Chilas to Rawalpindi when it fell into the Indus River in the Paniba area of Kohistan district, Dawn newspaper reported.

At least 17 people were killed after a passenger van they were travelling in plunged into a river in Pakistan's mountainous Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. The vehicle was heading from Chilas to Rawalpindi when it fell into the Indus River in the Paniba area of Kohistan district, Dawn newspaper reported. The van, privately hired by the family for a visit, had 17 people, including the driver. The accident took place when the driver lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a sharp turn. It veered off into the Indus River and got submerged soon after, the police said, adding that 17 people have died in the incident. Rescue teams were trying to locate the missing passengers but faced hurdles due to the difficult terrain and depth of the river. The roads linking the northern regions of the country run through some of the most treacherous mountains, causing frequent mishaps.

17 killed as passenger van falls into river in Pakistan

Nine people have drowned after their overloaded jeep fell into the Yarkhoon River in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to a media report on Monday. The accident occurred on the Onauch Suspension Bridge, near Yarkhoon Valley, on Sunday, the Dawn newspaper reported.

The jeep began its journey with 11 people aboard, including the driver, from Chitral city to the Yarkhoon Valley.

Assistant Commissioner, Mastuj tehsil, Shah Adnan told the newspaper that the vehicle was overloaded with cargo tied to the roof, which could have caused the vehicle to lose balance on the bridge and break through its railing.

Of the 11 travellers in total, 10 persons died, while one managed to swim to safety. Rescue teams are trying to retrieve the bodies from the sunk vehicle.

Nine people have drowned after their overloaded jeep fell into the Yarkhoon River in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to a media report on Monday. The accident occurred on the Onauch Suspension Bridge, near Yarkhoon Valley, on Sunday, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Nine people have drowned after their overloaded jeep fell into the Yarkhoon River in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to a media report on Monday. The accident occurred on the Onauch Suspension Bridge, near Yarkhoon Valley, on Sunday, the Dawn newspaper reported. The jeep began its journey with 11 people aboard, including the driver, from Chitral city to the Yarkhoon Valley. Assistant Commissioner, Mastuj tehsil, Shah Adnan told the newspaper that the vehicle was overloaded with cargo tied to the roof, which could have caused the vehicle to lose balance on the bridge and break through its railing. Of the 11 travellers in total, 10 persons died, while one managed to swim to safety. Rescue teams are trying to retrieve the bodies from the sunk vehicle.

Nine die after overloaded jeep plunges into river in Pakistan

Panama’s consul to Bogota Telma Deleise Barria Pinzon, her husband and another family member died when their car was swept away by a river in rural Colombia which was battered by heavy rains.

The 60-year-old diplomat&nbsp;was travelling with her husband and fellow diplomat Pedro Cantillo, another family member and two others&nbsp;when they ran into trouble trying to cross the Frio river in an official vehicle.

The events occurred around 7 pm on Monday and Barria’s body was recovered by rescue workers four hours later. Two more bodies were found on Tuesday morning. The other two people in the car were unharmed.

The five were on their way to a resting spot that could only be reached by crossing the river.

Colonel Diego Vasquez, commander of the Neiva Metropolitan Police, said the vehicle was trapped in the middle of rocks in the river.

"The victims tried to cross the river to reach the Carambolo Hotel where they were staying," he said.

The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent condolences over the consul's death.&nbsp;

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs regrets the death of the Consul of Panama in Colombia and her husband. We send our solidarity to their families, colleagues and friends at this difficult time," a statement from the Colombian government said.

Torrential&nbsp;rains have caused flooding and increased water levels in different parts of Colombia on Monday and Tuesday.

(With inputs from agencies)

Panama’s consul to Bogota Telma Deleise Barria Pinzon, her husband and another family member died when their car was swept away by a river in rural Colombia which was battered by heavy rains.

Panama’s consul to Bogota Telma Deleise Barria Pinzon, her husband and another family member died when their car was swept away by a river in rural Colombia which was battered by heavy rains. The 60-year-old diplomat was travelling with her husband and fellow diplomat Pedro Cantillo, another family member and two others when they ran into trouble trying to cross the Frio river in an official vehicle. The events occurred around 7 pm on Monday and Barria’s body was recovered by rescue workers four hours later. Two more bodies were found on Tuesday morning. The other two people in the car were unharmed. The five were on their way to a resting spot that could only be reached by crossing the river. Colonel Diego Vasquez, commander of the Neiva Metropolitan Police, said the vehicle was trapped in the middle of rocks in the river. "The victims tried to cross the river to reach the Carambolo Hotel where they were staying," he said. The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent condolences over the consul's death. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs regrets the death of the Consul of Panama in Colombia and her husband. We send our solidarity to their families, colleagues and friends at this difficult time," a statement from the Colombian government said. Torrential rains have caused flooding and increased water levels in different parts of Colombia on Monday and Tuesday. (With inputs from agencies)

Video: Panama consul Telma Deleise Barria dies in Colombia floods after car swept away

Evidence of a 'lost' river that ran through Thar Desert in India have been found. The river flowed though the desert 172 thousand years ago near present-day Bikaner. Researchers say that the river may have been a life-line to human population inhabiting the region.

The study was carried out by researchers from Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany along with Anna University in Tamil Nadu, and IISER Kolkata. The study indicates that Stone Age populations lived in Thar Desert landscape that was distinctly different than today.

The findings, published in the journal Quaternary Science Reviews, represent the oldest directly dated phase of river activity at Nal Quarry in the central Thar Desert.

The evidence indicates a river flowed with phases of activity dating to approximately up to 172 thousand years ago, nearby to Bikaner, Rajasthan, which is over 200 kilometres away from the nearest modern river.

These findings predate evidence for activity in modern river courses across the Thar Desert as well as dried up course of the Ghaggar-Hakra River, the researchers said.

The presence of a river running through the central Thar Desert would have offered a life-line to Paleolithic populations, and potentially an important corridor for migrations, they said.

The researchers noted that the potential importance of 'lost' rivers for earlier inhabitants of the Thar Desert have been overlooked.

"The Thar Desert has a rich prehistory, and we've been uncovering a wide range of evidence showing how Stone Age populations not only survived but thrived in these semi-arid landscapes," said Jimbob Blinkhorn from The Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.

"We know how important rivers can be to living in this region, but we have little detail on what river systems were like during key periods of prehistory," Blinkhorn said.

Studies of satellite imagery have shown a dense network of river channels crossing the Thar Desert, according to the researchers.

"These studies can indicate where rivers and streams have flowed in the past, but they can't tell us when," explained Professor Hema Achyuthan of Anna University.

"To demonstrate how old such channels are, we had to find evidence on the ground for river activity in the middle of the desert," Achyuthan said.

The team studied a deep deposit of river sands and gravels, which had been exposed by quarrying activity near the village of Nal.

The researchers were able to document different phases of river activity by studying the different deposits.

"We immediately saw evidence for a substantial and very active river system from the bottom of the fluvial deposits, which gradually decreased in power through time," Achyuthan said.

The researchers used a method called luminescence dating to understand when quartz grains in the river sands were buried.

The results indicated that the strongest river activity at Nal occurred at approximately 172 and 140 thousand years ago, at a time when the monsoon was much weaker than today in the region.

River activity continued at the site between 95 to 78 thousand years ago, after which only limited evidence for the presence of a river at the site, with evidence for a brief reactivation of the channel 26 thousand years ago, the study found.

The river was flowing at its strongest during a phase of weak monsoonal activity in the region, and may have been a life-line to human populations enabling them to inhabit the Thar Desert, the researchers said.

The timeframe over which this river was active also overlaps with significant changes in human behaviour in the region, which have been linked with the earliest expansions of Homo sapiens from Africa into India, they said.

"This river flowed at a critical timeframe for understanding human evolution in the Thar Desert, across South Asia and beyond," said Blinkhorn.

"This suggests a landscape in which the earliest members of our own species, Homo sapiens, first encountered the monsoons and crossed the Thar Desert may have been very different to the landscape we can see today," he added. 
&nbsp;

Evidence of a 'lost' river that ran through Thar Desert in India have been found. The river flowed though the desert 172 thousand years ago near present-day Bikaner.

Evidence of a 'lost' river that ran through Thar Desert in India have been found. The river flowed though the desert 172 thousand years ago near present-day Bikaner. Researchers say that the river may have been a life-line to human population inhabiting the region. The study was carried out by researchers from Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany along with Anna University in Tamil Nadu, and IISER Kolkata. The study indicates that Stone Age populations lived in Thar Desert landscape that was distinctly different than today. The findings, published in the journal Quaternary Science Reviews, represent the oldest directly dated phase of river activity at Nal Quarry in the central Thar Desert. The evidence indicates a river flowed with phases of activity dating to approximately up to 172 thousand years ago, nearby to Bikaner, Rajasthan, which is over 200 kilometres away from the nearest modern river. These findings predate evidence for activity in modern river courses across the Thar Desert as well as dried up course of the Ghaggar-Hakra River, the researchers said. The presence of a river running through the central Thar Desert would have offered a life-line to Paleolithic populations, and potentially an important corridor for migrations, they said. The researchers noted that the potential importance of 'lost' rivers for earlier inhabitants of the Thar Desert have been overlooked. "The Thar Desert has a rich prehistory, and we've been uncovering a wide range of evidence showing how Stone Age populations not only survived but thrived in these semi-arid landscapes," said Jimbob Blinkhorn from The Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. "We know how important rivers can be to living in this region, but we have little detail on what river systems were like during key periods of prehistory," Blinkhorn said. Studies of satellite imagery have shown a dense network of river channels crossing the Thar Desert, according to the researchers. "These studies can indicate where rivers and streams have flowed in the past, but they can't tell us when," explained Professor Hema Achyuthan of Anna University. "To demonstrate how old such channels are, we had to find evidence on the ground for river activity in the middle of the desert," Achyuthan said. The team studied a deep deposit of river sands and gravels, which had been exposed by quarrying activity near the village of Nal. The researchers were able to document different phases of river activity by studying the different deposits. "We immediately saw evidence for a substantial and very active river system from the bottom of the fluvial deposits, which gradually decreased in power through time," Achyuthan said. The researchers used a method called luminescence dating to understand when quartz grains in the river sands were buried. The results indicated that the strongest river activity at Nal occurred at approximately 172 and 140 thousand years ago, at a time when the monsoon was much weaker than today in the region. River activity continued at the site between 95 to 78 thousand years ago, after which only limited evidence for the presence of a river at the site, with evidence for a brief reactivation of the channel 26 thousand years ago, the study found. The river was flowing at its strongest during a phase of weak monsoonal activity in the region, and may have been a life-line to human populations enabling them to inhabit the Thar Desert, the researchers said. The timeframe over which this river was active also overlaps with significant changes in human behaviour in the region, which have been linked with the earliest expansions of Homo sapiens from Africa into India, they said. "This river flowed at a critical timeframe for understanding human evolution in the Thar Desert, across South Asia and beyond," said Blinkhorn. "This suggests a landscape in which the earliest members of our own species, Homo sapiens, first encountered the monsoons and crossed the Thar Desert may have been very different to the landscape we can see today," he added.

'Lost' river that flowed through Thar Desert 172k years ago found

Diesel fuel from a major spill in the Russian Arctic has reached the waters of a pristine lake that serves as the basin for a river flowing into the Arctic Ocean, a senior official said on Tuesday (June 9)

Fuel from Russian Arctic spill reaches large lake, says Governor

Rivers worldwide are polluted with antibiotics that exceed environmental safety thresholds by up to 300 times, according to research unveiled at a conference on May 27. Scientists found one or more common antibiotics in two-thirds of 711 samples taken from rivers in 72 countries, they told a meeting of environmental toxicologists in Helsinki.

‘World’s rivers loaded with antibiotics waste’

Union Road Transport, Highways and Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari today said that the problem of pollution in Ganga would be solved within the next 13 months.

He said Ganga is now flowing uninterruptedly due to various schemes implemented under Namami Ganga project during the last four years, the minister said inaugurating and announcing various projects for the welfare of the people in the region.

He said water transport facility had been provided from Allahabad to Farakka and up to the border of Bangladesh.

Cleaning Ganga was one of the major issues in the election manifesto of the BJP before the general elections in 2014. Several attempts by the previous government to make it clean had failed.

Gadkari thanked the MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy for taking a keen interest in these projects.

“In the next five years, you will be getting around (development projects worth) 1 lakh crore rupees,” Gadkari said.

Union Road Transport, Highways and Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari today said that the problem of pollution in Ganga would be solved within the next 13 months.

Union Road Transport, Highways and Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari today said that the problem of pollution in Ganga would be solved within the next 13 months. He said Ganga is now flowing uninterruptedly due to various schemes implemented under Namami Ganga project during the last four years, the minister said inaugurating and announcing various projects for the welfare of the people in the region. He said water transport facility had been provided from Allahabad to Farakka and up to the border of Bangladesh. Cleaning Ganga was one of the major issues in the election manifesto of the BJP before the general elections in 2014. Several attempts by the previous government to make it clean had failed. Gadkari thanked the MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy for taking a keen interest in these projects. “In the next five years, you will be getting around (development projects worth) 1 lakh crore rupees,” Gadkari said.

Ganga to be cleaned within 13 months: Nitin Gadkari

At least eight people died in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district after the boat they were travelling in capsized in Kosi river on Sunday, news agency ANI reported.

“Seven people were rescued and sent to Sadar Hospital for treatment,” an official said.

At least eight people died in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district after the boat they were travelling in capsized in Kosi river on Sunday, news agency ANI reported. “Seven people were rescued and sent to Sadar Hospital for treatment,” an official said.

8 feared dead as boat capsizes in Kosi river in Bihar's Bhagalpur

A 20-year old woman today allegedly committed suicide in Rajamahendravaram, Andhra Pradesh, by jumping into a nearby river along with her two minor children, police said.

The woman took the extreme step due to a family dispute, they added.

The bodies of the children, aged five and three, were fished out from the Godavari river while a search was on for the woman's body, police said.

According to Kovvur Town police Sub-Inspector Ramesh, the woman's husband, employed in a cloth merchant shop, was informed about the incident and helped identify the bodies.

The woman had written to her father-in-law before taking the decision to end her life and that of her children, the Sub-Inspector added.&nbsp

The woman took the extreme step due to a family dispute, they added

A 20-year old woman today allegedly committed suicide in Rajamahendravaram, Andhra Pradesh, by jumping into a nearby river along with her two minor children, police said. The woman took the extreme step due to a family dispute, they added. The bodies of the children, aged five and three, were fished out from the Godavari river while a search was on for the woman's body, police said. According to Kovvur Town police Sub-Inspector Ramesh, the woman's husband, employed in a cloth merchant shop, was informed about the incident and helped identify the bodies. The woman had written to her father-in-law before taking the decision to end her life and that of her children, the Sub-Inspector added.

Woman kills her 2 kids, ends life by jumping into river

China's hydro ambitions are on the verge of killing Mekong River, says a report.

A report published by the Lowy Institute says that biodiversity and precious resources of the Mekong are increasingly under danger because of the rush to construct dams on one of the world's great rivers.

The Mekong River is the lifeblood of Southeast Asia and offers a glimpse into the long history and diverse cultures of the region. The 12th longest river in the world and the 7th longest in Asia, it flows through six countries: China, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

"A total of 11 mainstream dams and 120 dams on tributaries are planned, which scientists warn will imperil the already fragile river system. Recent studies call for a suspension and review of future projects," says the report authored by Tom Fawthrop.

It also cites a joint report by UNESCO and the Stockholm Environment Institute as saying that if all the dams proposed for the Lower Mekong Basin are developed, including the planned or ongoing 11 mainstream dams, it could prevent up to 94 per cent of the river's sediment load from being transported further downstream.

Sediment is critical to the health of the river and essential for replenishing fish life.

The Mekong ranks as one of the world's most productive inland fisheries. Its basin banks support a population of 60 million Thai, Laotians, Cambodians, and Vietnamese.

Fawthrop in his report titled 'Mekong: more dams, more damage' says that "the UNESCO report has warned that Chinese dams built on the upper sections, known as Lancang, have caused a 70 per cent reduction in sediment, which will adversely impact fisheries and rice production in Cambodia and Vietnam".

Few countries in the world are more dependent on fish consumption than Cambodia, where fish provide 80 per cent of the population's annual protein intake and account for approximately 12 per cent of GDP.

The Lowy Institute article says that scientific reports warning about the Mekong crisis have had little impact so far on regional policymakers, energy ministers, economists, and Chinese hydropower companies.

"These powers are so totally immersed in infrastructure development, energy supply, and GDP growth that they appear scarcely aware of (or perhaps just don't care about) the other side of the growth equation.&nbsp;

There is no social audit for the economic value of the erosion and loss of precious natural resources," says the article.

A study "Economic Evaluation of Hydropower Projects in the Lower Mekong Basin" says that if all 11 dams go ahead, the economy of the lower Mekong will be set back a staggering 7.3 billion US dollars over the next fifty years.

Fawthrop concludes his article by saying that since the alternative sources of energy are readily available, the call for a moratorium on dam-building is clearly the least risky policy option and the only way to protect both the fisheries and the riparian peoples of the Mekong.

A report published by the Lowy Institute says that biodiversity and precious resources of the Mekong are increasingly under danger because of the rush to construct dams

China's hydro ambitions are on the verge of killing Mekong River, says a report. A report published by the Lowy Institute says that biodiversity and precious resources of the Mekong are increasingly under danger because of the rush to construct dams on one of the world's great rivers. The Mekong River is the lifeblood of Southeast Asia and offers a glimpse into the long history and diverse cultures of the region. The 12th longest river in the world and the 7th longest in Asia, it flows through six countries: China, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. "A total of 11 mainstream dams and 120 dams on tributaries are planned, which scientists warn will imperil the already fragile river system. Recent studies call for a suspension and review of future projects," says the report authored by Tom Fawthrop. It also cites a joint report by UNESCO and the Stockholm Environment Institute as saying that if all the dams proposed for the Lower Mekong Basin are developed, including the planned or ongoing 11 mainstream dams, it could prevent up to 94 per cent of the river's sediment load from being transported further downstream. Sediment is critical to the health of the river and essential for replenishing fish life. The Mekong ranks as one of the world's most productive inland fisheries. Its basin banks support a population of 60 million Thai, Laotians, Cambodians, and Vietnamese. Fawthrop in his report titled 'Mekong: more dams, more damage' says that "the UNESCO report has warned that Chinese dams built on the upper sections, known as Lancang, have caused a 70 per cent reduction in sediment, which will adversely impact fisheries and rice production in Cambodia and Vietnam". Few countries in the world are more dependent on fish consumption than Cambodia, where fish provide 80 per cent of the population's annual protein intake and account for approximately 12 per cent of GDP. The Lowy Institute article says that scientific reports warning about the Mekong crisis have had little impact so far on regional policymakers, energy ministers, economists, and Chinese hydropower companies. "These powers are so totally immersed in infrastructure development, energy supply, and GDP growth that they appear scarcely aware of (or perhaps just don't care about) the other side of the growth equation. There is no social audit for the economic value of the erosion and loss of precious natural resources," says the article. A study "Economic Evaluation of Hydropower Projects in the Lower Mekong Basin" says that if all 11 dams go ahead, the economy of the lower Mekong will be set back a staggering 7.3 billion US dollars over the next fifty years. Fawthrop concludes his article by saying that since the alternative sources of energy are readily available, the call for a moratorium on dam-building is clearly the least risky policy option and the only way to protect both the fisheries and the riparian peoples of the Mekong.

China's ambitions are killing the Mekong River

Arunachal Pradesh&#39;s Siang river in&nbsp;Pasighar has suddenly become black, with&nbsp;massive amounts of mud and cement, due to a diversion of the river in Tibet, reports said.&nbsp;

Ninong Ering, Congress MP from the east Constituency said that the recent change in the water quality is very unusual during winters and could be because of&nbsp;construction of a 10,000-kilometer tunnel in China which has led to the diversion of&nbsp;water from Siang to &nbsp;Xinjiang province to the Taklamakan desert.&nbsp;

However, China has denied these claims, PTI reports.&nbsp;

Ering reportedly sent a letter to&nbsp;Prime Minister Narendra Modi,&nbsp;on Saturday,&nbsp;requesting him to take up the issue with the Chinese government, after stating&nbsp;that there could possibly be no other reason for the river to be in such a bad condition at this time of year other than due to a massive land excavation in China.

&quot;The reason for the river getting dirty is unknown. I have already put questions for discussions in Parliament under rule 377. But since it is not in session, I am requesting you to use your good office to seek the reason of the river being muddy in this season when the water is crystal clear,&#39; the letter said.&nbsp;

&ldquo;When I saw the water, it looked like it was mixed with cement. It is a very serious issue and the Centre must take it seriously&rdquo; the MP said.

Ering stated that a number of fish&nbsp;had died in the last one and a half months in Upper Siang district, close to the China border.

He has also put a request with the External Affairs Ministry and the Water Resources ministry to expedite measures to check the reported diversion. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from PTI)

Ering further stated that a number of fishes had died in the last one and a half months after getting confirmation from Tuting and Geling areas in Upper Siang district close to China border

Arunachal Pradesh's Siang river in Pasighar has suddenly become black, with massive amounts of mud and cement, due to a diversion of the river in Tibet, reports said. Ninong Ering, Congress MP from the east Constituency said that the recent change in the water quality is very unusual during winters and could be because of construction of a 10,000-kilometer tunnel in China which has led to the diversion of water from Siang to Xinjiang province to the Taklamakan desert. However, China has denied these claims, PTI reports. Ering reportedly sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, requesting him to take up the issue with the Chinese government, after stating that there could possibly be no other reason for the river to be in such a bad condition at this time of year other than due to a massive land excavation in China. "The reason for the river getting dirty is unknown. I have already put questions for discussions in Parliament under rule 377. But since it is not in session, I am requesting you to use your good office to seek the reason of the river being muddy in this season when the water is crystal clear,' the letter said. “When I saw the water, it looked like it was mixed with cement. It is a very serious issue and the Centre must take it seriously” the MP said. Ering stated that a number of fish had died in the last one and a half months in Upper Siang district, close to the China border. He has also put a request with the External Affairs Ministry and the Water Resources ministry to expedite measures to check the reported diversion. (With inputs from PTI)

Siang river in Arunachal turns black, MP suspects China's involvement

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