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World Lake Day is being observed for the first time across the globe today.

According to the United Nations, there are more than 117 million lakes on earth, covering some four percent of land surface.

The lakes are reliable sources of fresh water to the entire planet, but it is worrying that the quality of lake water is declining fast for some years.

"If we continue to put pressure on them, lakes will face a serious decline. By 2050, their ecosystem value could drop by 20 percent; pollution could more than double, and methane emissions may surge—fueling both environmental damage and economic loss. Freshwater species have declined by 85 percent over the past 50 years," UN stated.

The observation of the World Lake Day is expected to create public awareness on present threats to the world's lakes and promote initiatives for the preservation, restoration and sustainable management of lakes.

The UN had organized an event, zeroing in on the importance of lakes, thereby passing the Resolution A/RES/79/142 that determined August 27 as the World Lake Day. The UN Environment Program has been designated as the chief agency facilitating the observation of the Day.

The UN Resolution passed in 2024 had emphasized, "Water ecosystems, including lakes, energy, food security and nutrition are linked and that water is indispensable for health, well-being and human development, and a vital element of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and other relevant goals in the social, environmental and economic fields."

It further recognized the urgency to revive fast declining quality and quantity of lake water in the world.

The SDG Knowledge Hub has described contaminants, fertilizers, and solid waste as major pollutants to the lakes.

US and Russian officials discussed potential energy deals this month as incentives to advance peace in Ukraine, sources familiar with the talks said. Proposals included allowing Exxon Mobil to rejoin Russia’s Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project, supplying US equipment for Russian LNG projects, and purchasing Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker vessels, according to Reuters.

The discussions took place during US envoy Steve Witkoff’s visit to Moscow, where he met President Vladimir Putin and investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev, and were also raised in White House meetings with President Donald Trump. The talks coincided with the Alaska summit on August 15.

A White House official said Trump’s team continues engaging with both sides to end the war but declined to comment further on negotiations, Reuters reported.

The Trump administration asked the US Supreme Court to lift an injunction forcing it to continue billions in foreign aid payments. The move follows a DC Circuit panel ruling favoring the administration, though the full appeals court kept the injunction in place, according to Reuters.

The freeze, ordered by Trump on January 20, targeted all foreign aid and included plans to restructure USAID. Nonprofits receiving US funds, including the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition and Journalism Development Network, challenged the freeze as unlawful. The administration warned that without court intervention, tens of billions in funds could be spent against its policy judgments.

A manhunt is underway in Victoria, Australia, after a gunman allegedly shot dead two police officers and injured another while serving a warrant at his rural property in Porepunkah. The suspect, 56-year-old Dezi Freeman, known as “Filby,” is heavily armed and skilled in bushcraft, Reuters reported.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush confirmed Freeman remains at large, urging locals to stay indoors. Freeman’s partner and children are safe. Authorities said he has a history of anti-government actions, including opposing COVID-19 lockdowns. Police continue searching in challenging winter conditions.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff announced that President Donald Trump will chair a White House meeting on Wednesday to discuss a comprehensive plan for Gaza, aiming to end the ongoing conflict by the end of the year. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also scheduled to meet Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in Washington, according to Reuters.

Trump, who pledged a swift resolution to the war during his 2024 campaign, has faced challenges as violence continues. Since October 2023, Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed over 62,000 Palestinians, triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, and displaced the entire population, while Hamas’ initial attacks on Israel killed around 1,200 people and left 250 hostages.

Witkoff said Israel and Hamas are open to continued discussions, but offered few details on the US plan, Reuters reported.

Ukrainian forces have stopped a Russian push into Dnipropetrovsk, marking the first large-scale attack in the region. Fighting continues in key villages, though Russia has made limited progress.

The region, Ukraine’s second-largest industrial hub, remains a potential morale target, even as diplomatic efforts falter. President Trump met both Putin and Zelenskiy, but a peace summit remains uncertain, with Moscow resisting negotiations, BBC reported.

Western leaders warn against ceding territory. Meanwhile, Ukraine eased travel rules for men aged 18–22, allowing them to go abroad while avoiding conscription, keeping young citizens connected to their country.

SpaceX has scored a major milestone with the first successful test flight of its Starship rocket, breaking a streak of fiery failures, BBC reported.

The world’s largest and most powerful rocket blasted off from Texas and completed a tense 60-minute flight, soaring nearly 200km above Earth before returning damaged but intact. Parts of the engine appeared to explode and flaps caught fire during descent, but the mission proved the rocket’s resilience.

NASA has contracted Starship to carry astronauts to the Moon under its Artemis programme, officially set for 2027 though delays are widely expected. According to BBC, Elon Musk praised the achievement, saying it reflects SpaceX’s “fail fast, learn fast” approach as the company pushes toward reusable rockets and future crewed missions to Mars.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised major tax cuts to soften the blow of new US tariffs that threaten millions of Indian jobs. Speaking on Independence Day, he pledged a simplified goods and services tax (GST) system and urged citizens to back his “Made in India” call for self-reliance, according to BBC.

The reforms, paired with earlier income tax cuts, are expected to boost consumption by putting more money in people’s hands. Analysts say this could lift demand for everyday goods, cars, housing and support economic growth despite global headwinds.

Markets have reacted positively, with India also securing its first sovereign rating upgrade in 18 years. But experts warn that strained US-India trade ties and slowing growth remain serious challenges, BBC reported.