Month: November 2025

Antarctica - A hidden world beneath the Antarctic ice has been revealed, following the calving of the massive A68 iceberg from the Larsen C Ice Shelf. Using an underwater robot, scientists have discovered thousands of highly organized fish nests stretching across the seafloor, likened to a vast underwater city. The remarkable discovery was made in a remote part of the Western Weddell Sea, an area previously sealed beneath a 200-meter-thick ice shelf. The opportunity to study this environment arose when the 5,800 square kilometer A68 iceberg broke away in 2017. Structured Nests in the Exposed Seabed The team, operating from the South African polar research vessel SA Agulhas II during the Weddell Sea Expedition of 2019, deployed a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) into the newly acces...

London, UK - A ban on the sale of plastic wet wipes has been signed into law in England, aiming to tackle the persistent problem of sewer-clogging fatbergs. The new legislation, set to take effect in 2027, aligns England with the rest of the UK in outlawing wipes made of plastic, which fail to disintegrate in the sewage system. The move has been broadly welcomed by water companies, which estimate that clearing fatbergs congealed masses of fat, oil, and wet wipes costs them approximately £200 million a year. Plastic wipes, which can last for hundreds or even thousands of years, are a major contributor to these blockages. The New Dilemma: Are Non-Plastic Wipes Safe to Flush? While the ban removes the primary culprit, a new debate is emerging over the non-plastic wipes now dominating...

The Congo Basin, the world's second-largest tropical rainforest, is a vital planetary asset that remains alarmingly overlooked in global climate policy and funding, despite being one of the Earth's most critical carbon sinks. Spanning six countries across Central Africa and home to approximately 130 million people, the basin is often referred to as the "lungs of Africa" and plays an indispensable role in maintaining biodiversity and continental climate stability. Ecologically, the basin is unique, sheltering thousands of rare species, including forest elephants, okapis, mountain gorillas, and bonobos. Its flora is exceptional, with about 30\% of its 10,000 plant species found nowhere else. Furthermore, the basin's rainfall feeds main river systems, circulating water across the continent...

RANIPET, November 19 — The Forest Department successfully seized 31 wooden logs of red sanders valued at approximately ₹15 lakh from the Ammoor Reserve Forest (RF) near Arakkonam town on Sunday. The recovered consignment weighed around 390 kg. Based on alerts received from local residents, a team of forest officials led by S. Tamilarasan, Forest Range Officer (Arakkonam), conducted a patrol inside the reserve. The team discovered the valuable red sanders logs dumped and hidden within the bushes. Forest officials revealed that the operation quickly utilized technology and local assistance to track the suspects. Subsequent analysis of CCTV cameras fixed along the route revealed footage of the culprits entering the forest. With assistance from the local police, the team managed to locat...

NEW DELHI, November 18, 2025 — The Supreme Court of India, in a far-reaching judgment arising from ecological violations in the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve, has mandated a uniform national compensation of ₹10 lakh for every human death caused by wild animals. The Court further strongly urged all States to consider classifying human-wildlife conflict as a "natural disaster" to ensure faster relief and administrative mobilization. The landmark ruling, In Re: Corbett (2025 LiveLaw SC 1112), presided over by Chief Justice BR Gavai, rejected contentions by State authorities regarding financial flexibility, stating that uniformity in compensation is mandatory to uphold the principles of equality and humane governance. Addressing Systemic Failures The case, which began by scrutinizing ille...

KATRA, November 18 — The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has mandated a significant upgrade in disaster management and security protocols following a comprehensive review meeting held on Monday. The review, chaired by CEO Sachin Kumar Vaishya, involved officials from the Board and security and administrative heads from Reasi district. The directives aim to enhance pilgrim safety through better coordination, modernized equipment, and stricter compliance with safety measures. The CEO issued several key instructions focused on disaster preparedness, underscoring the necessity of swift and effective response. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was instructed to organize frequent mock drills to ensure Shrine Board teams and stakeholder agencies are fully prepared and in...

WASHINGTON, November 18 — The Chief of the Indian Navy, Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, visited the Centre for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DMHA) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii as part of his official visit to the U.S., signaling a focus on enhancing joint capabilities in humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR). The visit underscores the shared commitment between India and the U.S. to strengthening regional preparedness and humanitarian partnerships across the Indo-Pacific. Focus on Disaster Resilience and Maritime Operations Admiral Tripathi received a comprehensive briefing on the CFE-DMHA's vision, lines of efforts, and initiatives related to HADR capacity building and regional cooperation. According to the Indian Navy, disc...

NEW DELHI, November 18, 2025 – While Delhi's overall air quality registered a marginal improvement on Tuesday morning, moving to an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 341 (Very Poor) at 6 am, several key hotspots, including Jahangirpuri, continued to reel in the life-threatening 'Severe' category. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Sameer app, Jahangirpuri recorded a toxic AQI reading of 414 by 6 am on Tuesday. This placed it firmly in the 'Severe' zone (AQI 401-500), along with Wazirpur (410) and Bawana (419), indicating an air quality that "affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases." Fifth Day of Toxic Air Tuesday marked the fifth consecutive day the national capital and its adjoining areas have been blanketed by 'very poo...