Saudi Arabia restores 1 million hectares of land, plants more than 159 million trees under green initiative/Representative Image

Saudi Arabia has achieved a major environmental feat by converting barren land into green cover on a large scale. This progress reflects a long-term national effort to restore ecosystems, expand vegetation, and combat desertification.Saudi Arabia has restored one million hectares of degraded land and planted more than 159 million trees, a significant milestone under the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) launched in 2021 by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The initiative aims to plant 10 billion trees, which is equivalent to rehabilitating 40 million hectares across the state.Abdulrahman Alfadli, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, said the achievement reflects the leadership’s commitment to environmental sustainability under Saudi Vision 2030. He said restoration efforts started with just 18,000 hectares, then expanded to 250,000 hectares by 2024, before reaching the one million hectare mark in early 2026.Highlighting the initiative’s role in conserving biodiversity and native flora, he said progress has been driven by coordination between government entities, the private sector and the community. He also pointed to the importance of royal reserves and modern water harvesting techniques in sustaining these efforts. “This success is a symbol of a unified national effort,” Alfadale said. He said this work is strengthening wildlife conservation and ecosystem resilience.Current progress sets the stage for the next target of 25 lakh hectares by 2030, supported by projects such as dam water utilization and rain harvesting, which is expected to support long-term expansion of green cover.Deputy Minister Eng. Mansour Almushtaiti described the milestone as a “qualitative leap” towards the state’s ambitious goals. He said this is in line with SGI’s goal of planting 10 billion trees and rehabilitating 40 million hectares, while also highlighting special programs such as the National Cloud Seeding Programme, which has boosted rainfall and contributed to a 50 percent reduction in dust storms in 2025 compared to the previous year.This achievement has also received international recognition. Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts, saying it reflected a unified approach and clear political will. “This achievement proves that land restoration is possible even in the most challenging environments,” he said.He also said the Kingdom’s efforts contribute to strengthening international cooperation on land restoration through the Middle East Green Initiative and its hosting of UNCCD’s COP16.

The desert doesn’t usually give things back easily. Wind scratches the surface, heat bends the horizon, and whatever once stood there is buried forever. Yet something unexpected has emerged in the dry hills of Peru. Discovered in 2025, the site known as Penico is already driving the conversation about early civilizations in the Americas. It’s not just its age, some 3,800 years, but the story it seems to tell. One of adaptation, of survival without violence. Experts suggest it could force a rethink of how complex societies developed in this part of the world.

Penico Archaeological Site Organized life revealed in Peru’s harsh Supe Valley

Penico is located in the Supe Valley, a few hours north of Lima, in a landscape that seems almost hostile to life. The dry slopes stretch endlessly, and dust hangs in the air. This is not the type of place where you would expect a structured settlement to exist.According to BBC report, archaeologists led by Ruth Shady unearthed about 18 structures here. Temple. housing complex. Open grounds where meetings or rituals were held. The layout seems deliberate. Thought carefully. Not chaotic. There is a sense that this was a space created for shared purpose rather than control.

Penico reveals links to 5,000-year-old Caral civilization in Peru

To understand Penico, it helps to look back. Long before the Inca civilization or the Maya civilization, the region was home to the Caral civilization. One of the oldest known in the Americas. Its main centre, Caral-Supe, is about 5,000 years old. This places it with the early urban societies of Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. Carol seems to have developed differently. No defensive walls. No obvious signs of weapons. Instead, researchers found evidence of trade networks extending from the Pacific coast to the Andes and even the Amazon. Cotton, crops, marine resources were exchanged in different areas.

Penico provides insight into ancient climate survival without war

About 4,000 years ago, the climate changed. There was a drought in this area for a long time. The rivers dried up. Fields failed. Food became scarce. For many ancient societies, this is where things break down. It appears that Carroll has taken another route. Evidence suggests that people did not attack each other. Instead, they left. Well Adjust. Customised. Penico appears to be part of that response, having been built above and close to glacier-fed water sources.What stands out about Penico is what is missing. No strong walls. No weapon has been recovered yet. This is not absolute proof of peace, but it is effective, especially during times of crisis. Researchers say the community may have focused on solidarity. Trade relations continued. The culture did not fade away. Artifacts found at the site indicate this. Clay statues. Beaded jewellery. Carved bones. One statue reportedly shows the head of a woman with an elaborate hairstyle, painted red with mineral pigment. It feels expressive. Almost personal.Excavations are still ongoing at Penico. Large parts of the site are buried beneath the desert. What has been received so far is just a glimpse.

Saudi Arabia issues helpline 992 for queries related to expired visa status/Image: File

Saudi Arabia’s Directorate General of Passports has directed visa holders to a single helpline to resolve status-related queries as the deadline for the first relief measure for expired visas approaches.

Unified helpline number for visa related queries

The Directorate General of Passports has said that persons seeking clarification on visa status can now contact the unified number 992.This applies to inquiries relating to:All types of visit visas

The helpline is specifically for cases involving visas that expired on February 25, 2026, allowing affected individuals to receive guidance on their status and next steps.

The announcement comes in the context of instructions previously issued by the Ministry of Interior under instructions from the Saudi leadership.These measures were introduced to address the situation of visa holders who were unable to leave the state due to the prevailing regional circumstances. As part of this initiative, authorities began improving the status of affected individuals in several visa categories.

Extension Window and Exit Flexibility

Under the earlier directive, Umrah, transit and final exit visas as well as all types of visit visas, which had expired by February 25, 2026, were made eligible for the extension. These extensions can be requested by visitor hosts through the Abser platform, after payment of a legally mandated fee, with the window open until April 18, 2026.Also, authorities allowed an alternative route for those who preferred to leave rather than extend their stay. Eligible visa holders are allowed to depart directly through international exit points without extending the period of their visa, and without paying any fees or delay penalties. This provision offers an immediate exit while avoiding penalties.

The deadline for compliance is approaching

Officials have reiterated that all beneficiaries must act before April 18, 2026.Individuals are expected to either complete the extension process through official channels or leave the state within the permitted time frame. Failure to comply within the time limit will result in enforcement of applicable rules against violators.The newly highlighted helpline aims to streamline communication and ensure that affected individuals can resolve their queries without any confusion as the deadline approaches.

Rivers have supported life for centuries by providing us with water, food and means of transportation. However, as cities grew in size, many of these rivers were modified to meet the increasing demands of infrastructure. Many of these rivers were diverted or completely covered by underground channels. Many of these rivers were completely covered with underground channels.This has affected their role in the ecosystem as well as their relationship with their natural environment. These rivers are flowing, but they are flowing within a limited space, which is quite different from their natural state. Let us now see the list of rivers flowing underground around the world.

underground rivers Hidden beneath cities around the world

Sanswick Creek, New York City

Sunswick Creek flowed through Queens and appeared on maps in the late nineteenth century. With continued urban construction, the bay was encroached upon and eventually buried under roads and buildings. It now runs through underground pipes without natural light or direct contact with the surrounding ecosystem.As infrastructure expanded, the impoundment of Sunsvik Creek occurred over an extended period. The waterway was gradually integrated into the city’s drainage network. Its current state reflects low ecological activity and limited biodiversity due to limited flow and entry of urban runoff into the system.

Tibet Brook, New York City

Tibet Brook begins in the north of the Bronx and passes through Van Cortlandt Park before entering an underground channel. From that point, it flows through a constructed sewer system beneath urban areas, only a small portion of which is visible above ground.Earlier, fishes, birds and small mammals lived in this spring. Urban development spreads pollution and alters water flows. Recorded contamination events affected aquatic life, reducing the presence of species. The enclosed sections now function primarily as part of the city’s water management system.

Sawmill River, Yonkers, New York

The Sawmill River extends from Chappaqua to Yonkers, where a portion was buried during early twentieth-century industrial expansion. This section was buried under infrastructure, removed from natural environmental conditions and increased exposure to urban pollutants.Restoration work in recent years has exposed parts of the river. These efforts have improved water circulation and made some ecological improvements possible. Despite these changes, the river continues to show the effects of long-term enclave and surrounding urban activity.

Park River, Hartford, Connecticut

The Park River was buried underground as part of a flood control and urban planning project in the 1940s. It now flows through tunnels beneath the city, including beneath major public buildings and infrastructure.Before its impoundment, the river carried sewage and industrial waste. The changes addressed surface-level concerns but altered the natural system. Underground channels continue to carry water, with limited ecological activity observed in the enclosed environment.

Neglinnaya River, Moscow

The Neglinnaya River once flowed through Moscow before being redirected into underground tunnels. It now runs for several kilometers beneath the city and empties into the Moskva River through controlled outlets.The enclosure was built to manage flooding and sanitation in the expanding urban area. The river serves as part of the city’s drainage system. Its natural features have been replaced by engineered channels designed for water control rather than ecological balance.

The United States is preparing for a possible expansion of its military operations in Iran, with plans being drawn up ranging from limited, targeted ground raids to a broader deployment of troops, while the White House publicly says no decisions have been made. The evolving strategy reflects a growing disconnect between operational preparedness on the ground and cautious messaging from Washington, with officials signaling both restraint and the possibility of escalation in the same breath.According to a report in The Washington Post, Pentagon officials have spent several weeks developing options for ground operations that would prevent a full-scale invasion but could involve a combination of special operations forces and conventional infantry. The plans are being offered as contingency measures, offering President Donald Trump flexibility as the conflict with Iran enters a potentially destabilizing phase.At the center of the deliberations is a key strategic question: whether the US can achieve its military and political objectives through air power and limited strikes, or whether it will need to deploy troops on the ground, even in a limited capacity.

What is the Pentagon planning?

Officials familiar with the discussions said the military is not currently preparing for a large-scale offensive similar to previous conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan. Instead, the focus is on short-term, high-impact operations designed to neutralize specific threats.Among the options under consideration are:

One official indicated that the duration of such missions would likely be “weeks, up to months”, while another suggested a possible timeline of “a few months”, emphasizing that any ground activity would be limited in scope but potentially intense.A former defense official said the plans are comprehensive and have been studied in detail. “We have looked into it. It is war-based,” the official said, adding that it is not a last-minute preparation but part of a longer strategic assessment, according to the Post.

USS Tripoli deployment signals readiness

Amidst these discussions, the arrival of the USS Tripoli middle east has increased speculation about possible next steps.The ship, which serves as the flagship for a contingent of about 3,500 Marines and sailors, arrived in the area on Saturday, according to US Central Command. The group includes transport and attack aircraft, amphibious assault capabilities and strategic assets.Images released by the command show Seahawk helicopters, Osprey aircraft used for troop transport and F-35 fighter jets on the ship’s deck, indicating its readiness for a range of missions, including rapid deployment and amphibious operations.The movement of such assets is being seen as part of a broader effort to position forces for multiple contingencies.

Conflicting signals from Washington

Despite ongoing military preparations, the administration’s public stance remains unclear.Trump, speaking earlier this month, said: “I’m not putting the military anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you, but I’m not putting the military.”Additionally, multiple reports have revealed that the administration is considering deploying up to 10,000 additional troops to the Middle East, which would complement forces already deployed throughout the region.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated on Friday that Washington can meet its objectives without deploying ground forces and stressed that the conflict is “not going to last long”.However, the White House has also issued a warning of increasing tensions. Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt said that if Iran does not reduce its nuclear ambitions and threats, the President is “ready to raise hell.” “It is the Pentagon’s job to prepare to provide maximum flexibility to the commander in chief,” he said. This does not mean that the President has taken any decision.

Strategic goals and operational risks

Kharg Island has emerged as a focal point in military discussions due to its importance in Iran’s oil exports. Capturing the island or disrupting operations could give the US leverage in any future negotiations.However, experts warn that such a move carries substantial risks. It may be difficult to capture due to the limited geography of the island and Iran’s ability to deploy drones, missiles and artillery.“I wouldn’t want to be in that little spot where Iran has the ability to launch drones and maybe artillery,” said Michael Eisenstaedt, a defense analyst.He suggested that a more viable approach might involve agile operations, in which troops could conduct quick raids rather than occupying territory for extended periods. “Agility is part of protecting your force if they’re moving in and out and conducting raids,” he said.Other potential targets include Iranian coastal sites near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route over which tensions have risen in recent months.

Increasing risks for American personnel

Any ground attack would expose U.S. forces to a variety of threats, including drone attacks, missile attacks, ground fire, and improvised explosive devices.More than 300 US service members have already been injured in retaliatory attacks targeting US facilities in at least seven countries in the Middle East, officials said. At least 10 of these injuries were said to be serious.In the past month alone, 13 US soldiers have been killed in incidents including a plane crash in Iraq, a drone strike in Kuwait and an attack on a base in Saudi Arabia.These developments highlight the potential costs of escalation even without a formal ground offensive.

what lies ahead

For now, the Pentagon’s plans are dependent on political approval, with officials emphasizing that preparing for multiple scenarios is a standard part of military planning.The current stance suggests the US is trying to balance deterrence with restraint – keeping options open without committing to a defined course of action.Whether the situation evolves into limited special operations, widespread military deployment or continued reliance on air and naval power will depend on decisions taken in Washington in the coming weeks, as well as Iran’s response on the ground.

Pakistan’s bid to host US-Iran peace talks is being shaped by urgency as well as opportunity. Islamabad is increasingly concerned that its defense deal with Saudi Arabia could draw it deeper into a broader regional conflict.Pakistan is set to host a meeting of the four countries along with Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Islamabad on March 30. It is trying to position itself as a mediator between Washington and Tehran, trying to defuse a months-long conflict that threatens regional stability and its own fragile economy. All are trying to avoid being dragged into war through existing security commitments.