Lead Story
Great Barrier Reef coral cover rebounds again, AIMS annual survey finds
The Australian Institute of Marine Science's 2025-26 long-term monitoring report, released in August, found hard coral cover has grown across much of the Great Barrier Reef, rising to 35.1% in the northern region and 31.6% in the central reef -- both above their long-term averages -- after a late-summer monsoon cooled ocean waters and helped the reef avoid the bleaching that has hit past years. Coral cover increased in more than a quarter of the 121 reefs surveyed from Cape York to Gladstone and held steady across over half of them; only the southern sector saw a slight decline, down two percentage points to 26.4%, and researchers flagged a developing crown-of-thorns starfish outbreak in the north as a risk to watch.
Read more →Lead Story
Great Barrier Reef coral cover rebounds again, AIMS annual survey finds
The Australian Institute of Marine Science's 2025-26 long-term monitoring report, released in August, found hard coral cover has grown across much of the Great Barrier Reef, rising to 35.1% in the northern region and 31.6% in the central reef -- both above their long-term averages -- after a late-summer monsoon cooled ocean waters and helped the reef avoid the bleaching that has hit past years. Coral cover increased in more than a quarter of the 121 reefs surveyed from Cape York to Gladstone and held steady across over half of them; only the southern sector saw a slight decline, down two percentage points to 26.4%, and researchers flagged a developing crown-of-thorns starfish outbreak in the north as a risk to watch.
Amazon pledges 42GW of new clean energy, extending its lead as world's largest corporate renewable buyer
Amazon used the UN General Assembly on September 19 to unveil a fresh 42-gigawatt push into clean energy, building on more than 40GW of carbon-free capacity it has already contracted across over 700 solar, wind and battery-storage projects in 28 countries. Independent analysis from BNEF again ranked Amazon the world's largest corporate buyer of clean power for a fifth straight year, a run that began after the company reached its goal of matching its global operations with 100% renewable electricity seven years ahead of schedule.
Read more →Amazon pledges 42GW of new clean energy, extending its lead as world's largest corporate renewable buyer
Amazon used the UN General Assembly on September 19 to unveil a fresh 42-gigawatt push into clean energy, building on more than 40GW of carbon-free capacity it has already contracted across over 700 solar, wind and battery-storage projects in 28 countries. Independent analysis from BNEF again ranked Amazon the world's largest corporate buyer of clean power for a fifth straight year, a run that began after the company reached its goal of matching its global operations with 100% renewable electricity seven years ahead of schedule.
India crosses 8 million HPV vaccinations in national drive to eliminate cervical cancer
India's Union Ministry of Health announced on September 16 that the country has crossed 80 lakh (8 million) HPV vaccinations under its nationwide campaign for girls aged 14 and above, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched from Ajmer, Rajasthan earlier this year. Health officials called it an "important milestone" in the drive against HPV infection and HPV-associated cancers, as India works toward eliminating cervical cancer, which remains one of the most common cancers among Indian women despite being largely preventable through vaccination and screening.
Read more →India crosses 8 million HPV vaccinations in national drive to eliminate cervical cancer
India's Union Ministry of Health announced on September 16 that the country has crossed 80 lakh (8 million) HPV vaccinations under its nationwide campaign for girls aged 14 and above, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched from Ajmer, Rajasthan earlier this year. Health officials called it an "important milestone" in the drive against HPV infection and HPV-associated cancers, as India works toward eliminating cervical cancer, which remains one of the most common cancers among Indian women despite being largely preventable through vaccination and screening.
Southern right whale mother and calf named and welcomed ashore by Northland iwi
A southern right whale and her calf spent four days resting off the Whangārei coast in early September after travelling up from the subantarctic islands, delighting watchers before continuing north past Auckland on their way to feeding grounds south of Australia. Local whale expert and tohunga Hori Parata named the calf Te Pāpunui after the culturally significant site in Pataua where the pair was first spotted, and Ngāti Kororā and Ngāti Takapari hapū thanked the community for monitoring the animals from shore. The Department of Conservation asked the public to keep enjoying the rare visitors from land rather than water, and not to publicise their live location, to avoid disturbing the resting pair.
Read more →Southern right whale mother and calf named and welcomed ashore by Northland iwi
A southern right whale and her calf spent four days resting off the Whangārei coast in early September after travelling up from the subantarctic islands, delighting watchers before continuing north past Auckland on their way to feeding grounds south of Australia. Local whale expert and tohunga Hori Parata named the calf Te Pāpunui after the culturally significant site in Pataua where the pair was first spotted, and Ngāti Kororā and Ngāti Takapari hapū thanked the community for monitoring the animals from shore. The Department of Conservation asked the public to keep enjoying the rare visitors from land rather than water, and not to publicise their live location, to avoid disturbing the resting pair.
India surpasses 300GW of non-fossil fuel power capacity, hitting 60% of its 2030 target
India's installed non-fossil fuel electricity capacity has crossed 300 gigawatts, government figures show, made up of 164.6GW of solar, 58.1GW of wind, 57.2GW of hydro, 11.8GW of bio-power and 8.8GW of nuclear -- more than 60% of the 500GW target the country has set for 2030. Non-fossil sources now account for over 54% of India's roughly 552GW total generation capacity, with solar alone growing from just 2.8GW in 2014 to 165GW today; the country added a record 55.3GW of non-fossil capacity in the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Read more →India surpasses 300GW of non-fossil fuel power capacity, hitting 60% of its 2030 target
India's installed non-fossil fuel electricity capacity has crossed 300 gigawatts, government figures show, made up of 164.6GW of solar, 58.1GW of wind, 57.2GW of hydro, 11.8GW of bio-power and 8.8GW of nuclear -- more than 60% of the 500GW target the country has set for 2030. Non-fossil sources now account for over 54% of India's roughly 552GW total generation capacity, with solar alone growing from just 2.8GW in 2014 to 165GW today; the country added a record 55.3GW of non-fossil capacity in the 2025-26 fiscal year.