Breaking News

The Malabar Pied Hornbill a spectacular black-and-white forest bird typically confined to the dense canopies of the Western Ghats, is now making regular appearances in the urban heart of Udupi, creating a buzz among local residents and naturalists. The hornbills have been spotted in city areas like Brahmagiri and Ambalpady, perched on tall trees an unusual sight that experts view as both a sign of adaptation and a potential warning signal about vanishing forest habitats. Forest Giants Shift to the City Known for their large, curved yellow-and-black beaks and striking plumage, Malabar Pied Hornbills thrive in evergreen and moist deciduous forests. While the species is native to the broader Udupi district, their increasing presence within city limits is a noteworthy shift. “Malab...

Punjab, often called India rice bowl has re-emerged as the primary source of crop residue fires this season accounting for nearly 62 percent of incidents reported between September 15 and 29. Provisional government data shows a worrying resurgence of farm fires in the state even as the early pollution risk to the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi begins to escalate. A notable shift however is the growing contribution from Uttar Pradesh (UP), whose share of stubble burning has climbed to 27 percent in 2025 up significantly from just 3 percent in 2020. Delhi's Air Quality Signals Early Trouble The return of extensive farm fires comes as Delhi's air quality shows persistent signs of distress. September 2025 was the first September since 2016 where the average Air Quality Inde...

DEHRADUN, UTTARAKHAND — A recent wave of devastating landslides across the Doon Valley, triggered by torrential downpours, has intensified warnings from geologists over reckless construction practices in Uttarakhand’s capital. Experts are cautioning that development, particularly in the foothills of Mussoorie, is dangerously encroaching upon highly unstable geological zones. Main Boundary Thrust: A 10-Million-Year-Old Threat The primary source of the region vulnerability is the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) a 10-million-year-old active fault line that runs through the area. Research by the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology and HNB Garhwal Central University has specifically identified the stretch from Maldevta to Bidhouli as a highly sensitive zone. Professor M.P.S. Bisht, Head...

JAISALMER, RAJASTHAN — A perfect symbol of the arid Thar Desert, the ker berry (Capparis decidua) a vital part of local cuisine and a key source of income for rural women is facing a serious threat from changes in agriculture, rising water usage, and erratic weather patterns. Once found in abundance across farm boundaries and barren lands, the ker bush, which can survive temperatures up to 50 and minimal rainfall, is showing signs of decline. This reduction is directly impacting the livelihoods of thousands of women who depend on harvesting the thorny fruit. A Desert Delicacy and Economic Lifeline The ker berry along with sangri and kumtia, is a staple in the arid climate where fresh vegetables are scarce. Historically, the income generated from ker harvesting has been a signif...

HANGZHOU, CHINA — India has secured a significant environmental distinction, with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on September 27, 2025, designating the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve as part of its World Network of Biosphere Reserves. This announcement, made during the fifth World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Hangzhou, China, brings India's total number of UNESCO-recognised reserves to 13. The Cold Desert is India first high-altitude cold desert biosphere reserve and is now one of the coldest and driest ecosystems in UNESCO global network, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Man and the Biosphere programme. Globally, 26 new sites were added. A High-Altitude Haven for Biodiversity Spanning a massive 7,770 square kilometres ...

KOLKATA — A Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata is grabbing attention for its striking design and urgent environmental message. The Lalabagan Nabankur Durga Puja Pandal has been constructed using over 3 lakh plastic bottles to spotlight the growing crisis of plastic pollution and its devastating effect on aquatic life. The pandal's theme is "Karagar" (Cage), and it has been designed as a man-made aquarium that even includes real fish swimming inside. This symbolic "cage," according to organizers, is a direct representation of how fish and other underwater creatures feel when they are engulfed by the vast amounts of plastic waste humans dump into the seas. “There is an urgent need to recycle, reuse, and repurpose our products so we can reduce plastic waste production. If we reduce prod...

CHANDIGARH — Farmers bodies in Punjab on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, sharply criticised the State government's action against paddy growers for stubble burning, demanding a cash incentive and machinery to help manage crop residue. The protests come as a ban on crop residue burning remains in place, a practice often blamed for the spike in air pollution in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) during October and November. The quick turnaround time between the paddy harvest and the sowing of the next Rabi crop, particularly wheat, compels some farmers to burn the stubble to rapidly clear their fields. Enforcement and Penalties Mount Despite a commitment by Punjab and Haryana to "eliminate" stubble burning this winter, enforcement actions have ramped up. According to data from...

NEW DELHI — The withdrawal of the Southwest Monsoon is set for a delay this year, with a new low-pressure system forming over the Bay of Bengal expected to keep rainfall active across parts of India well into the first week of October. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that conditions for the further retreat of the monsoon may only become favourable around October 9. This delay is linked to the fresh system, which is predicted to intensify into a depression and cross the south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coast. IMD Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra confirmed, "Rainfall activity will continue over northeast and central parts of the country till around Oct 9-10 because of the low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal." Heavy Rain Forecast Across East and Centr...

NEW DELHI — India reported a sharp increase in environment-related crimes in 2023, with the total number soaring to 68,994, marking an over 30% rise from the 52,920 cases recorded in 2022. The latest 'Crime in India' report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) highlights that the majority of these offences are linked to non-core environmental issues. Nearly 86% (59,279) of the reported environment-related crimes pertain to a single offence: the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA), which governs the advertising, trade, and distribution of tobacco products. Top Offences and State Rankings Excluding the tobacco linked cases, the second and third most reported environment-related offences are: • Noise Pollution Act: 6,640 cases • Forest Act and...

BOSTON, MA — The critical link in the global supply chain, the Panama Canal, faces a growing risk of shipping disruptions due to increasing drought frequency and severity driven by climate change, according to a new paper by Northeastern University professor Samuel Munoz. The canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, relies on the freshwater from its feeder, Gatun Lake, to operate the locks that raise and lower ships. Munoz’s research, published in Geophysical Research Letters, warns that this vulnerability will increase unless significant steps are taken toward emissions mitigation or proactive adaptation. "The canal is vulnerable to drought. That vulnerability increases with climate change," Munoz stated. "The models think that the more we warm things, the more severe ...