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India is increasing its military presence in Lakshadweep with a new naval detachment on Bitra Island becoming fully operational next year. Air Force facilities are also being expanded on Agatti and Minicoy islands. Bitra Island is located in the northern region of Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea and is the smallest inhabited island of the Union Territory. The island holds strategic importance due to its key position in the Arabian Sea. Bitra will become the third island in Lakshadweep with a defence establishment, joining INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti and INS Jatayu in Minicoy.

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Scientists recently captured rare footage of sharks living inside the Kavachi volcano near the Solomon Islands, providing new insights into marine survival in extreme volcanic environments. Kavachi Volcano is a shallow submarine volcano located in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the remote Vangunu Island in the Solomon Islands. The volcano is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for high tectonic activity, making Kavachi both geologically and volcanically significant. It is one of the world’s few active and visible undersea volcanoes, regularly erupting and occasionally forming temporary islands.

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The US Geological Survey (USGS) shared footage of mud erupting from the Black Diamond Pool in Yellowstone National Park, indicating renewed hydrothermal activity. Yellowstone National Park is the world’s first national park, located in the northwestern United States. The park spans about 8,992 sq km (3,472 sq miles) and is globally renowned for geothermal activity, volcanic landscapes, wildlife, and intact ecosystems. Yellowstone lies above a volcanic hotspot, with magma chambers driving geysers, hot springs, fumaroles, and mud pots. The park experiences hundreds of minor earthquakes annually, reflecting active tectonic processes.

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Recently, Indonesian authorities raised the alert level for Mount Bur Ni Telong due to increased volcanic activity and frequent earthquakes. Mount Bur Ni Telong is an active stratovolcano located in Aceh, the westernmost province of Indonesia. It is one of the most popular climbing destinations in the Aceh region. The volcano rises to about 2,624 metres above sea level. It is situated at the southern base of the large Bur Ni Geureudong volcanic complex in northern Sumatra. The volcano has a conical shape formed by layers of lava and eruptive material.

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Southbound ship traffic will resume in Turkey’s Dardanelles Strait after a tanker recently had engine failure. The Dardanelles Strait is a narrow but very important waterway in northwestern Turkey. It links the Aegean Sea (part of the Mediterranean Sea) to the Sea of Marmara. It separates Asia (east) from Europe (west). It is named after the ancient city of Dardanus, it was once called Hellespont, meaning “Helle’s sea”.

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Recently, a large phytoplankton bloom surrounded the Chatham Islands during the austral summer and was visible from satellites. The Chatham Islands are a group of islands located in the South Pacific Ocean, about 800 kilometers east of New Zealand. They are New Zealand’s easternmost territory and consist of 10 mainly volcanic islands. Only Chatham Island and Pitt Island are inhabited. Chatham Island has cliffs in the south and lowlands, peatlands, and beaches in the north. Pitt Island is forested with rugged cliffs and sandy coasts.

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A Chinese reconnaissance drone recently flew over the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the northern South China Sea, which Taiwan described as “provocative and irresponsible.” The Pratas Islands, also called the Dongsha Islands, consist of three islands, with Dongsha Island being the only one above sea level; the other two are submerged. The islands have a circular atoll structure made mainly of clastic coral and reef flats.

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Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula is facing record-breaking snowfall due to powerful winter storms. It is located between the Sea of Okhotsk to the west and the Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea to the east. Kamchatka is part of Kamchatka Krai in Russia. It is one of the world’s largest peninsulas and a major zone of geothermal activity. The region lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire and has over 150 volcanoes, including 29 active ones. The “Volcanoes of Kamchatka” is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.

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Nine workers and engineers were rescued after their boat malfunctioned while working on a bridge across Mir Alam Tank in Hyderabad. The rescue operation was carried out by the Hyderabad Disaster Management and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA). Mir Alam Tank is a historic reservoir located in Hyderabad, Telangana, situated to the south of the Musi River. Before the construction of Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar, it served as the main source of drinking water for Hyderabad. The tank is named after Mir Alam Bahadur, Prime Minister during the reign of Asaf Jah III, the third Nizam of Hyderabad.

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The Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) government is considering diverting water from the Ravi River in Punjab to the Jammu region. This move comes amid the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) between India and Pakistan. J&K is also pushing to revive the Tulbul Navigation Barrage Project, also called the Wular Barrage. The barrage is a navigation lock-cum-control structure at the outlet of Wular Lake in J&K. It was designed to facilitate navigation on the Jhelum River during lean winter months. The project regulates Wular Lake water to maintain minimum river draft up to Baramulla in winter.