Scientists at Peking University in China report that melting Antarctic ice is continuously releasing toxic mercury into the ocean. The study, led by environmental scientist Chengzhen Zhou, was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers identified the concern while analysing sediment samples from the Antarctic Peninsula, an area they describe as among the fastest-melting parts of Antarctica due to environmental pollution.

Mercury is listed among the World Health Organization's 10 chemicals of major public-health concern and is toxic even at low levels. Scientists say fossil-fuel burning for industry and mining have sharply increased environmental mercury. Antarctic ice has long acted as a mercury sink, absorbing pollution from the environment, but greenhouse gases from the same industries are accelerating ice melt and releasing stored mercury. Mercury accumulation in the peninsula increased by 160 percent after the Industrial Revolution, the researchers said.

The study said melting ice increased mercury release onto land by 550 percent and atmosphere-to-ocean mercury exchange by 350 percent. Mercury discharge from the peninsula into open waters through currents rose by 400 percent. Researchers also observed rising mercury levels in Southern Ocean animals, often exceeding previous records.

Date workers in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province say extreme heat is making harvesting and boiling dates increasingly difficult during the season that began in July. In Khairpur district, where more than half of Pakistan’s dates are produced, workers collect fruit from trees, transport it by trolley, boil it over fires and dry it in the sun. Temperatures regularly reach 40 degrees Celsius, and were at 42 degrees when AFP spoke to worker Idris on August 14.

Workers begin before sunrise and divide their day into short shifts, but say the heat quickly overwhelms them. Some start in date orchards at about 2 a.m. to avoid the hottest part of the day, take breaks and continue until evening. Several workers told AFP they often suffer heatstroke, fainting and fever. Idris, who has harvested dates for more than a decade, said the heat has become unbearable and that workers seek medical treatment before returning to work.

Thousands of farmers and seasonal workers depend on Khairpur’s date sector. Idris said he earns about 1,200 Pakistani rupees a day. Grower Shah Nawaz Phulpoto said heavier seasonal rainfall linked to changing weather has disrupted yields and caused financial losses, while heat is the immediate main challenge.

At least six people have died in unprecedented heavy rain in eastern Japan, disrupting roads and rail services and stranding thousands at Narita Airport. The report, published on August 14, said continuous heavy rain on Thursday night prompted landslide warnings. Weather authorities issued their highest-level heavy-rain alert for the Chiba region for the first time. About 26,000 households in Chiba were without electricity as of Friday morning, according to the disaster management office.

Chiba Prefecture's disaster management office said one victim, a man in his 60s or 70s, was found floating in floodwater on a road. A 66-year-old woman died after becoming trapped inside a submerged vehicle. A total of 45 homes were flooded in cities including Ichikawa, Kashiwa and Sakura, while water entered beneath the floors of another 39 homes.

About 7,000 people were stranded overnight at Narita, one of Tokyo's two main airports. Many trains to and from the airport were cancelled until Friday afternoon, while hundreds were also stranded at Chiba Station. Hundreds of people spent the night in shelters in different areas. Social media users said airport authorities provided stranded passengers with free water, food and sleeping bags.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green declared a state of emergency as Tropical Storm Lala strengthened in the Pacific, with forecasters warning it could bring strong winds, flooding and landslides over the weekend. The National Weather Service said the storm could become a hurricane as it approaches the Big Island. The report was published on August 14, 2026.

Lala currently has winds of about 50 mph, or 80 kph, with stronger gusts. Weather officials said some areas of the Big Island could receive up to 25 inches, or 63.5 centimeters, of rainfall. The emergency declaration enables faster deployment of funding, equipment and personnel if needed to respond to damage.

Green called the storm a serious threat, particularly for Hawaii Island, and urged residents to secure their homes, gather essential supplies, review family emergency plans and follow updates from reliable official sources. About 210,000 people live on Hawaii Island. The storm's exact path remains uncertain, although forecasts indicate it may remain offshore near the coast. It could be the first tropical storm to make a direct hit on the Hawaiian Islands since 2018.

A 30-metre earthen section of the Hasnapara Spur collapsed into the Jamuna River in Hatserpur Union of Sariakandi upazila, Bogura, early Thursday. Strong river currents and a vortex caused the damage at the spur, according to the Bangladesh Water Development Board. The river level at the Sariakandi point has remained close to the danger mark for the past several days.

The Water Development Board said a newly emerged char upstream of Hasnapara No. 2 Spur, on the riverside, altered the water flow toward the country side. The redirected current struck the spur and created a vortex, leading to the collapse of its earthen base. Residents living in the area are reported to be worried by the erosion.

Sub-divisional engineer Sohel Rana said the shifted flow was hitting the spur's soil foundation because of the upstream char formation. To contain the erosion, authorities are placing sand-filled geobags and geotubes at the affected location.

Bangladesh’s Meteorological Department on Friday morning asked four seaports to display local caution signal No. 3 as a land depression could bring squally winds to coastal areas. The system, previously over West Bengal and nearby areas, has moved west-northwest and is now located over India’s Jharkhand and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal. The warning applies to Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra seaports.

A notice signed by meteorologist Dr Md Omar Faruk said the depression may move further west-northwest before gradually weakening. The department said squally winds may pass over the northern Bay of Bengal and adjacent coastal areas of Bangladesh because of the system.

Squally weather is also possible around the seaports, according to the notice. Fishing boats and trawlers operating in the northern Bay of Bengal have been advised to remain close to the coast and move cautiously until further instructions are issued.

Gen Z students are expanding campus-based climate action through research, innovation and practical projects, according to a report published on August 14, 2026. Initiatives include recycling paper and other waste, developing alternatives to plastic, using renewable energy, and conserving water and electricity. The report says young people are using digital platforms, social media and technology to build environmental awareness and pursue workable solutions.

The report describes climate change as a major global crisis, citing rising temperatures, floods, droughts, sea-level rise and pollution as threats to lives and economies. Experts say government and international action alone is insufficient, and that universities can serve as important spaces for climate-related ideas and technologies. They argue that supporting student research and innovation could produce effective responses to local environmental problems.

The Green Terry Foundation, Smart Campus Cloud Network and Yango Energy have jointly developed University Determined Contributions, or UDCs, modeled on Nationally Determined Contributions. They plan to launch a global movement involving Gen Z students at universities and higher education institutions. Analysts stress the need for research funding, training, laboratory facilities and opportunities to implement successful initiatives.

Iran has demanded compensation for pollution accumulated over recent decades in the Persian Gulf and nearby waters. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei made the demand in a post on X on August 13, saying parties that profit from commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have legal and moral responsibility to address environmental damage in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

On Wednesday, a thick black layer of oil washed onto a beach on Iran’s Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz. A CNN video verified through geolocation showed the oil spreading. Baghaei described the incident as only one visible example of pollution, saying the waters and marine ecosystem of the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman have suffered extensive and long-term contamination for decades.

Baghaei said damage to Iran’s coastal areas has reached trillions of dollars. He questioned whether compensation should come from countries using cheap energy, shipping insurance companies, or countries and allies he said had turned the two waterways into sites for military operations and tests of weapons of mass destruction. Oman’s environmental authority said oil from a sanctioned tanker carrying Russian crude had also reached beaches in Ras Madrakah.

Europe is now about 2.5 degrees Celsius warmer than in the pre-industrial era, nearly twice the global average warming rate, according to a report published on August 13, 2026. The article says climate change and fossil-fuel emissions are trapping additional heat in the atmosphere, while heatwaves during the current summer have killed thousands of people across Europe.

The report identifies four main factors behind Europe’s faster warming: changing weather patterns, proximity to the Arctic, declining snow cover and reduced air pollution. Shifts in atmospheric circulation have increased the frequency of intense, prolonged summer heatwaves, including a severe heatwave linked to a “heat dome” in June 2026. Europe is also strongly affected by rapid Arctic warming because of its geographic proximity.

Snow loss reduces the reflection of sunlight that helps keep land cool; in March 2025, European snow cover was about 1.3 million square kilometres below its long-term average. Lower air pollution has also reduced the cooling effect of particles that reflect sunlight. Scientists have not yet determined each factor’s precise contribution. UN climate chief Simon Stiell called for emissions cuts, a rapid transition to renewable energy and urgent protection from heatwaves.

Residents of nine villages in Mirzapur Union of Sherpur upazila, Bogura, have faced persistent waterlogging for about five years after mills, factories and blocked culverts disrupted drainage. The report, published on August 13, 2026, said suffering has intensified during the current monsoon, with mosques, homes, schools and rural roads submerged. Many residents have left ancestral homesteads after water entered their houses.

At least 5,000 people are waterbound in Mirzapur, Ramcharanmukund, Darimukund, Kanaikandar, Rajbari, Hatigara, Arangshail, Madanpur and Krishnapur. Children have stopped going to school, while stagnant dirty water has been linked to skin and waterborne diseases. About 5,000 bighas of farmland remain uncultivated; the land previously produced 20 to 25 maunds of boro rice per bigha.

Local farmers said 60 bighas of their land have remained underwater for four years, causing annual losses of about Tk25 lakh. Union Parishad chairman Jahidul Islam acknowledged blocked water flow. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Saiduzzaman said officials inspected the area and would take effective steps, including through a government project, to address the waterlogging.

Two elephants, including Raju Bahadur, died at Gazipur Safari Park in Sreepur, Gazipur. Park acting officer Tarek Rahman confirmed the deaths on the evening of August 12. Raju Bahadur died on the morning of August 7 after about two and a half months of treatment. Another adult elephant, which had been ill for a long time after bacterial infection, died a day earlier on August 6.

According to park authorities, Raju Bahadur was seriously injured on May 24 when another elephant attacked him while he was chained in the elephant shed. He fell to the ground, and examinations found one broken leg and severe injuries to another leg. Treatment began under domestic and foreign specialist doctors. As his condition became critical, specialist wildlife veterinarians were brought from Thailand on June 4, while several medical boards also advised on his care.

Samples from both dead elephants have been sent to a laboratory for testing. With Forest Department permission, the animals were buried inside the park. Forest Department and park sources said Raju Bahadur was rescued in January 2025 from Narayanganj, where he was allegedly used to collect extortion money from people on roads and in markets. The park now has eight elephants.

Residents, civil defense workers and environmental groups have accused Israeli forces of deliberately setting fires that are damaging forests, farmland and homes in southern Lebanon. Local officials said Israeli forces fired flares into woodland outside Khiam on Tuesday, after which a fire spread. Nabatieh civil defense chief Hussein Fakih said firefighters responding to blazes had come under drone attack and were forced to withdraw for safety.

Although a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel took effect on June 17, rescue workers and video footage indicate that fires have continued in southern Lebanon. Fakih estimated that about 30 to 40 percent of land near the border and combat zones had been affected, while noting he had no precise figures. He alleged the use of incendiary bombs, small drones dispersing flammable material, white phosphorus shells and illumination flares. The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment.

Kfarchouba civil defense chief Samir Hardan said permission restrictions also limited firefighting operations. Environmental advocates warned of long-term damage to biodiversity and livelihoods. Yaroun Mayor Hafez Ghasem said satellite images bought by displaced residents showed 880 of the village's 900 homes had been bulldozed, and alleged that olive and fruit orchards were also set on fire.

The Jhenaidah district administration conducted a mobile court operation against the stockpiling and sale of banned polythene in T Bazar on KPBosu Road in Jhenaidah town on Wednesday afternoon. The operation fined two traders a total of Tk2,000 and seized an estimated 32 kilograms of illegal polythene shopping bags.

Nazneen Sultana, assistant commissioner (land) of Jhenaidah Sadar Upazila and executive magistrate, led the operation. The two traders were found guilty and fined under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, according to the report.

Muntasir Rahman, assistant director of the Jhenaidah district Department of Environment, served as prosecutor during the operation. Assistant Engineer Ahsanul Kabir of the Roads and Highways Department and a team from Jhenaidah district police provided overall assistance.

A severe storm on Monday night flattened most of a 30-decimal sugarcane field owned by farmer Md Jahangir Alam in Balikhara village of Burichang upazila, Cumilla. Alam said the damage has shattered his hopes of a good harvest after a year of work and borrowed investment. He fears losses exceeding Tk 100,000 after finding much of his crop lying on the ground the following morning.

Alam said he had taken loans of more than Tk 100,000 to cultivate the sugarcane, expecting crop sales to repay the debt and cover family expenses. On Tuesday afternoon, he was trying to raise the fallen stalks in his field. Local farmers Solaiman and Sohel Rana said he would face substantial losses because the crop had been planted with borrowed money, and called for government support.

Burichang Upazila Agriculture Officer Afrina Akter said officials would inspect the damaged field and assess the losses. She said the relevant authorities would be informed about providing agricultural advice and bringing the affected farmer under government assistance, depending on the situation. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tanvir Hossain also said the administration would seek information about the farmer and try to provide necessary assistance.

Local firefighters and residents have accused the Israeli military of deliberately causing wildfires in southern Lebanon through attacks and shelling. The Guardian reported on August 12, 2026, that fires have spread through forests, olive groves and farmland despite a ceasefire, allegedly due to drones, incendiary shells and flares.

Hussein Fakih, head of Civil Defense in the Nabatieh area, said most recent operations had become limited to firefighting. He said about 30 to 40 percent of land in border areas had been damaged by fire. Environmentalists described the fires as part of a long-running pattern of environmental destruction in southern Lebanon.

They said damage to forests, ancient olive trees and wildlife habitats threatens biodiversity and local livelihoods. Hafez Ghasham of Yaroun alleged that after Israeli forces destroyed most homes in his village, they also set fire to remaining olive trees and fruit orchards. Local residents say the actions seek to make the area uninhabitable and erase signs of their history, culture and livelihoods. The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment on the recent fire allegations.