Wildlife & Land Use: Jammu & Kashmir’s plan to build a road right up to Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary has conservationists alarmed, warning it could fragment habitats and endanger the endangered markhor, a species native to the Pir Panjal and Kazinag ranges that also spans parts of Afghanistan. Extreme Weather & Disaster Risk: Afghanistan’s ANDMA reports floods, severe storms and landslides across multiple provinces, killing at least five people, damaging homes and shops, destroying roads and a bridge, and wiping out livestock and agricultural land—an impact aid groups link to worsening climate-driven hazards. Food Security & Health: MSF says severe acute child malnutrition in southern Afghanistan has surged, with children arriving late and in critical condition as drought, disrupted supplies, and funding cuts force health and nutrition services to scale back. Clean Water Need: UN figures cited in coverage say 16 million people in Afghanistan need clean water and sanitation support, underscoring how water stress and health risks are compounding. Governance & Inclusion: UNDP reiterates support for inclusive, sustainable economic development in Afghanistan, pointing to rising unemployment and restrictions—especially affecting women’s work—as key drivers of household hardship. International Context: A 5.9 quake struck Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region, causing panic but no immediate damage reported.