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    Scientists are sounding the alarm over a little-known but potentially deadly group of microorganisms that may be quietly spreading through water systems around the world. Environmental and public health researchers have warned that free-living amoebae, resilient microbes found naturally in soil and water, are emerging as a growing global health concern due to climate change, weakening water infrastructure and limited monitoring systems. In a recent perspective published in the journal Biocontaminant, researchers highlighted how these microscopic organisms are capable of surviving in environments that typically eliminate other harmful microbes. While most amoebae are harmless, a small number can cause severe and often fatal infections in humans. Among the most dangero...

    A video shared by Indian Forest Service officer Parveen Kaswan has sparked widespread concern over the growing problem of waste and irresponsible tourism in the Himalayan region. Shot during the Manimahesh Yatra in Himachal Pradesh, the footage shows snow-covered hills and a frozen water body strewn with plastic bottles and other garbage, highlighting how even remote and sacred landscapes are not spared from pollution. Posting the video on Instagram, Kaswan questioned the popular idea that “the hills are calling”, pointing instead to the visible human footprint left behind by visitors. “Do you really think hills are calling us? This is the view from Manimahesh Yatra, HP. Even at 13,000 feet, we are leaving our marks,” he wrote, tagging environmental organisation Heal...

    India’s two largest metropolitan cities experienced sharply contrasting weather conditions as the country stepped into 2026, with Delhi battling severe air pollution and an intense cold spell, while Mumbai woke up to unexpected early morning rainfall on New Year’s Day. In the national capital, thick smog reduced visibility across several areas, including India Gate and Kartavya Path, during the early hours of Thursday. According to official data recorded at 8 am, Delhi’s Air Quality Index stood at 371, placing it firmly in the “very poor” category. The deteriorating air quality once again highlighted the capital’s persistent pollution crisis during the winter months. Delhi also emerged as the most polluted city in the country on Thursday morning. Neighbouring Noid...

    The Supreme Court of India has put on hold its recent order that approved a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges, citing serious concerns over the way the definition was being interpreted and its possible impact on the fragile ecosystem. The court has now directed the formation of a high-powered, independent expert committee to reassess the definition and provide a fresh scientific opinion, while ordering that all mining activity in the Aravalli region remain suspended until the review is completed. The decision follows widespread protests in Rajasthan and Haryana, where environmental groups and local communities warned that the new definition could weaken protections for one of the world’s oldest mountain systems and open large areas to mining. Taking...

    Delhi experienced its coldest December day since 2020 as biting winter conditions settled over the national capital, accompanied by dense fog and deteriorating air quality. The India Meteorological Department said the cold spell is likely to continue, with the possibility of light rain on New Year’s Day, which could bring the city its first rainfall of the season. On Wednesday, the maximum temperature in Delhi dropped sharply to 14.2 degrees Celsius, around 6.2 degrees below the seasonal average. This marked the lowest daytime temperature recorded in December in the last five years. The minimum temperature stood at 6.4 degrees Celsius, marginally below normal, intensifying the chill felt across the city. Weather data from various IMD stations showed consistently l...

    Saudi Arabia has launched one of the world’s most ambitious environmental experiments: an effort to green its largely desert landscape by planting 10 billion trees. In a country where nearly 95 per cent of the land is arid, the initiative marks a significant shift in how the Kingdom views its environment, economic future and long-term resilience. The idea is rooted in history as much as climate science. Long before oil transformed the region, parts of the Arabian Peninsula were far greener, receiving higher rainfall and supporting vegetation and wildlife. Scientists refer to this period as “Green Arabia.” Saudi Arabia’s current push does not aim to recreate that past, but it draws inspiration from it, seeking to make today’s harsh landscape more stable and livable. ...

    Gurgaon continued to grapple with deteriorating air quality as the city’s Air Quality Index remained in the “very poor” category for the second consecutive day, prompting the Haryana State Pollution Control Board to issue an advisory to hundreds of residential and commercial establishments. On Friday, the city recorded an AQI of 315, showing a marginal improvement from 353 a day earlier but still posing serious health concerns. In response, the pollution control board advised housing societies, high-rise apartments, commercial complexes and plotted developments to install smog guns or water-sprinkling systems to curb dust pollution, particularly during the winter months when air dispersion is low. The advisory was sent to more than 180 group housing societies, condom...

Bhubaneswar witnessed a troubling contradiction in 2025 as significant conservation achievements by the Odisha Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department were overshadowed by a series of corruption cases involving forest officials across ranks. From foresters and deputy rangers to divisional forest officers, multiple arrests and vigilance raids exposed what officials described as deep-rooted corruption within a department otherwise credited with notable wildlife protection successes. The most recent case emerged on December 27, when forester Niranjan Satpathy, aged 59, was arrested just five months before his retirement. Satpathy, who began his career in 1988 with a modest salary, was posted in Koraput at the time of his arrest. Vigilance officials alleged that he had amassed ass...

    Large parts of India welcomed the New Year with sharply contrasting weather conditions, as biting cold gripped north India, fresh snow covered the higher reaches of Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, and heavy rainfall swept across Mumbai. The first day of 2026 highlighted the intensity and spread of winter systems influencing different regions of the country. In north India, severe cold conditions dominated the morning as Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region continued to reel under low temperatures and poor air quality. The national capital remained enveloped in dense smog, with air quality staying in the “very poor” category. Delhi had ended 2025 by recording its coldest December day in six years, with the maximum temperature plunging to 14.2 degrees Celsiu...

The year 2025 emerged as a defining and difficult chapter for Bangladesh, as political uncertainty, economic strain and climate-related disruptions converged to test the country’s resilience. From tense domestic politics to persistent cost-of-living pressures and mounting environmental risks, the year underscored the fragility of stability in one of South Asia’s most densely populated nations. Politics remained at the centre of national attention throughout the year. In the wake of the general elections, Bangladesh saw prolonged political tension, with opposition parties raising questions over democratic space and governance. Protests, arrests of political activists and restrictions on dissent kept the political climate charged. Concerns expressed by international rights organisations o...