Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.
A severe hailstorm battered Zhangpu, Fujian Province, on March 2–3, 2025, unleashing hailstones reportedly as large as 14 cm (5.5 inches) in diameter. If confirmed by the China Meteorological Administration, this could rank among the largest hailstones ever recorded in China.
A large rockslide struck National Highway 154-A near Khadamukh in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district on March 1, 2025, disrupting traffic and forcing a temporary highway closure.
A large avalanche buried 54 workers at a Border Roads Organisation construction site near Mana village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on February 28, 2025, killing eight. Rescue teams worked for over 60 hours in heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures, saving 46 survivors from collapsed metal shelters at an altitude of 3 200 m (10 500 feet) near India’s border with China.
At least 24 workers are missing, and 16 have been rescued after a massive avalanche buried a BRO project site near Mana village in the Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, on February 28, 2025.
A massive forest fire has burned approximately 1 400 ha (3 460 acres) in Akasaki Town, Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, since it broke out on February 26, 2025. This is now the largest wildfire in modern Japan history, surpassing the previous record of 1 030 ha (2 545 acres) set in Kushiro, Hokkaido, in 1992.
An increase in volcanic tremor accompanied by lava overflow from the North crater area has been observed at Stromboli volcano on February 28, 2025. The activity includes a modest lava fountain at vent N2, with the lava flow confined to the upper portion of the Sciara del Fuoco.
A new degassing pit crater was identified at 3.1 km (10 170 feet) a.s.l. on the southern flank of Etna’s Bocca Nuova Crater on February 28, 2025. A modest lava overflow was also observed from the Southeast Crater at 07:00 LT (06:00 UTC), producing a lava flow on the upper southern flank of the crater.
Torrential rainfall and flash floods have washed away multiple vehicles in Himachal Pradesh over the past two days.
A rare celestial event will take place on Friday, February 28, 2025, when seven planets, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will align in the evening sky.
A large forest fire broke out in the Akasakicho area, in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, on February 26, 2025, marking the third wildfire in the city this month. It left one dead, destroyed at least 84 buildings, and forced the evacuation of more than 2 100 residents.
