The Union Environment Ministry reviewed major wildlife conservation programmes in Gujarat, focusing on the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), grassland restoration and Project Cheetah. The Gujarat Action Plan for GIB Conservation was prepared by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in collaboration with the Gujarat Forest Department. Kachchh supports an important but small and isolated population of the Critically Endangered Great Indian Bustard. The action plan aims to establish a minimum viable population of more than 30 GIBs and secure 200–500 sq. km. of safe, contiguous habitat. The immediate focus is the Lala–Rawa landscape, covering about 200 sq. km.

South Asian countries have pledged stronger coordinated action against illegal wildlife trade. The commitment was made through the Kathmandu Declaration. The declaration was adopted at the first General Assembly of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) in Kathmandu. SAWEN is a regional intergovernmental mechanism for cooperation against wildlife crime. SAWEN comprises 8 countries: India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bhutan. Member countries reaffirmed their political commitment to combat illegal wildlife trade and transnational organised crime.

The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) has been awarded the ‘Rajbhasha Utkrishtta Sammaan’ for 2025–26. The award was conferred by the Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs. It recognises DARPG’s outstanding and consistently excellent performance in the implementation of the Official Language. The Sammaan was conferred on the occasion of Hindi Diwas on 14 September 2026.

Researchers from Ravenshaw University and Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Netherlands have identified a new species of tiny bivalve from Odisha. The new species has been named Deltachion ravenshaw (D. ravenshaw). The species was named after Ravenshaw University in recognition of its role in the research. It belongs to the Donacidae family of bivalves, generally found in shallow, sandy marine habitats. The species was discovered during a macrobenthic survey at Astaranga, near the mouth of the Devi River in Puri. It was found in the sandy intertidal stretches of the Devi estuary.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have captured the strategic Mayun Island, also known as Perim Island. The island is located in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, at the entrance to the Red Sea. Mayun lies approximately 3.5 km off Yemen’s western coast. The island is a small, barren volcanic island with major strategic importance because of its location along a key maritime route. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.