World Oceans Day 2024, celebrated on June 8th, aims to raise awareness about the importance of oceans and their conservation. The theme, “Awaken New Depths,” focuses on the impact of human activity on marine environments and promotes sustainable ocean management. Events and campaigns worldwide support this cause, with the United Nations hosting the main celebration at its New York Headquarters.

Nine trekkers from Karnataka tragically lost their lives near Sahastra Tal in Uttarakhand, part of a 22-member group, due to bad weather while returning from the trek. The state government is coordinating rescue efforts, and families of the deceased are notified. Sahastra Tal Trek, a high-altitude trail at 15,000 feet in Uttarkashi district, is flanked by Bhagirathi and Bhilangana Valleys, with the Kush Kalyan Plateau north. Locals perform annual rituals around the lake for auspiciousness.

The Netherlands became India’s third largest export destination in 2023-24, following the U.S. and UAE, despite a 3% dip in India’s overall merchandise shipments. Key exports to the Netherlands included petroleum products ($14.29 billion), electrical goods, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Consequently, India’s trade surplus with the Netherlands rose to $17.4 billion, up from $13 billion in 2022-23, according to the Commerce Ministry data .

The Sundhnukagigar Volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted for the fifth time since December 2023. Iceland, known as the Land of Fire and Ice, sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where Eurasian and North American plates diverge, making it volcanically active. Hotspots, like the Reunion hotspot, and divergent plate margins, such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, contribute to volcanic activity. Volcanoes, vents in the Earth’s crust, release gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide upon eruption.

A team from the Karnataka State Department of Archaeology Museums and Heritage has discovered rock shelter paintings estimated to be 2,500 years old near Pampa Lake in the Hampi World Heritage Area. Pampa Lake, located in Karnataka’s Koppal district near Hampi, is one of the five sacred lakes in Hindu mythology. Surrounded by hills and temples, it holds cultural and religious significance, featuring prominently in Hindu epics like the Ramayana.