Gayathri Kallukaran is a Junior Journalist with Eastern Eye. She has a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from St. Paul’s College, Bengaluru, and brings over five years of experience in content creation, including two years in digital journalism. She covers stories across culture, lifestyle, travel, health, and technology, with a creative yet fact-driven approach to reporting. Known for her sensitivity towards human interest narratives, Gayathri’s storytelling often aims to inform, inspire, and empower. Her journey began as a layout designer and reporter for her college’s daily newsletter, where she also contributed short films and editorial features. Since then, she has worked with platforms like FWD Media, Pepper Content, and Petrons.com, where several of her interviews and features have gained spotlight recognition. Fluent in English, Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi, she writes in English and Malayalam, continuing to explore inclusive, people-focused storytelling in the digital space.
Air pollution is a silent killer, claiming millions of lives annually and leaving nearly every corner of the globe gasping for clean air. According to the latest annual report by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, only seven countries worldwide met the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines for safe levels of PM2.5 pollution in 2024. These countries- Australia, New Zealand, Estonia, Iceland, and a handful of small island states- stand as rare exceptions in a world where dirty air has become the norm.
The report, now in its seventh year, paints a grim picture of global air quality, with countries like Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and India bearing the brunt of extreme pollution. In these nations, PM2.5 levels were found to be at least 10 times higher than the WHO’s recommended limit of 5 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) annually. Chad, the most polluted country, recorded levels 18 times higher than the guideline.
What is PM2.5, and why does it matter?
PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, tiny enough to penetrate the bloodstream and wreak havoc on the human body. These particles are emitted from vehicles, industrial processes, burning fossil fuels, and even natural sources like wildfires. Once inhaled, they can cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, damage organs, and contribute to premature death.
Doctors stress that there is no safe level of PM2.5 exposure. However, adhering to the WHO’s guidelines could save millions of lives each year. Air pollution is now the second-biggest risk factor for death globally, trailing only high blood pressure.
“Air pollution doesn’t kill us immediately; it takes maybe two to three decades before we see the impacts on health, unless it’s very extreme,” said Frank Hammes, CEO of IQAir. “Avoiding it is one of those preventative things people don’t think about till too late in their lives.”
Progress amid the crisis
Despite the overwhelming challenges, the report highlights some areas of progress. The share of cities meeting WHO PM2.5 standards rose from 9% in 2023 to 17% in 2024, indicating that efforts to curb pollution are yielding results in certain regions.
India, home to six of the world’s 10 most polluted cities, saw a 7% reduction in air pollution between 2023 and 2024. This improvement, though modest, is a step in the right direction for a country grappling with severe air quality issues. Similarly, China has made remarkable strides in tackling its pollution crisis. Between 2013 and 2020, the country reduced its extreme PM2.5 pollution by almost half. Beijing, once notorious for its smog-filled skies, now has air quality comparable to Sarajevo, the most polluted city in Europe.
Disparities within regions
While progress in countries like India and China is encouraging, the report also reveals stark disparities within regions. In Europe, eastern European and non-EU Balkan countries suffer from significantly worse air quality than their western counterparts. Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was named the most polluted city in Europe for the second consecutive year.
Sarajevo- The most polluted city in Europe istock
“Huge disparities are seen even within one of the cleanest continents,” said Zorana Jovanovic Andersen, an environmental epidemiologist at the University of Copenhagen. “Citizens of eastern European and non-EU Balkan countries breathe the most polluted air in Europe, and there is a 20-fold difference in PM2.5 levels between the most and least polluted cities.”
The data gap
One of the challenges in addressing air pollution is the lack of comprehensive monitoring, particularly in low-income countries. The IQAir report relies on ground-level data collected from government-run and independent monitoring stations. However, many parts of Africa and West Asia have insufficient monitoring infrastructure, leaving their populations in the dark about the quality of the air they breathe.
Roel Vermeulen, an environmental epidemiologist at Utrecht University, noted that while the report’s findings for Europe align with previous research, data biases are likely in regions with few monitoring stations. “Virtually everyone globally is breathing bad air,” he said. “What brings it home is that there are such large disparities in the levels of exposure.”
The path to cleaner air
The report underscores the urgent need for governments to take decisive action to improve air quality. Policies such as investing in renewable energy, expanding public transport networks, and promoting walking and cycling infrastructure can significantly reduce pollution levels. Additionally, banning harmful practices like burning farm waste and enforcing stricter emissions standards for industries and vehicles are critical steps.
Public awareness also plays a vital role. Many people remain unaware of the long-term health risks associated with air pollution, often dismissing it as an unavoidable consequence of modern life. Educating communities about the dangers of dirty air and the importance of preventive measures can drive demand for cleaner policies and technologies.
A global call to action
The IQAir report serves as a wake-up call for governments, businesses, and individuals alike. While the progress in countries like China and India offers a glimmer of hope, the overall picture remains bleak. With only seven countries meeting WHO guidelines, the vast majority of the world’s population continues to breathe air that poses serious risks to their health.
As the global community grapples with the dual challenges of climate change and air pollution, the need for coordinated action has never been greater. Clean air is not a luxury; it is a fundamental human right. The time to act is now, before the toll of dirty air becomes even more devastating.
In the words of Frank Hammes, “We have the tools and the knowledge to tackle air pollution. What we need is the will to make it a priority.” The question is: Will we rise to the challenge?
A FORMER West Yorkshire Police officer has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison after being convicted of misconduct in a public office.
Wasim Bashir, 55, who worked as a detective constable in Bradford District, was found guilty of one count of misconduct in a public office for forming a sexual relationship with a female victim of crime. He was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday, 29 August.
Bashir retired from the force while under investigation but will still face misconduct proceedings.
The charge related to an incident of abuse of position for a sexual purpose, with Bashir engaging in a sexual relationship with a woman who had reported to West Yorkshire Police that she had been the victim of a sexual offence. He was involved in investigating her case.
The conviction followed an investigation by West Yorkshire Police’s Counter Corruption Unit under the direction of the Independent Office for Police Conduct. During the trial, the judge directed the jury to find Bashir not guilty of a second count of misconduct in a public office.
Detective Superintendent Natalie Dawson, Deputy Head of West Yorkshire Police’s Professional Standards Directorate, said: “For a police officer to pursue a sexual relationship with a vulnerable woman who had come forward to report being victim of a sexual offence is nothing short of abhorrent.
“I want to reassure victims of crime and the wider public that this former officer is not representative of our organisation. One of the Force’s key purposes is to protect vulnerable people, and our officers and staff work tirelessly to protect people from harm and to safeguard victims.
“Former DC Bashir has retired from the organisation, but we will still continue with misconduct proceedings with a view to him being banned from gaining any further employment in the policing profession.”
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Protesters calling for the closure of The Bell Hotel, which was housing asylum seekers, gather outside the council offices in Epping on August 8, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)
Court of Appeal has overturned injunction blocking use of Epping hotel for asylum seekers.
Judges say human rights obligations outweigh local safety concerns.
At least 13 councils preparing legal action despite ruling.
Protests outside the Bell Hotel lead to arrests and police injuries.
MORE than a dozen councils are moving ahead with legal challenges against the use of hotels for asylum seekers despite the Home Office winning an appeal in the Court of Appeal.
Judges ruled that meeting the human rights of asylum seekers by providing accommodation outweighed local safety concerns.
The injunction was secured by Epping Forest District Council after protests following the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl by an Ethiopian asylum seeker.
The man has been charged and denies wrongdoing. A full hearing on the planning dispute over the Bell Hotel will take place in October.
At least 13 councils are preparing similar legal action, The Times reported, including Labour-run Wirral, Stevenage, Tamworth and Rushmoor. Epping Forest Council said it may appeal to the Supreme Court.
Asylum minister Dame Angela Eagle said the government remained committed to ending hotel use by 2029 and argued the appeal was needed to move migrants “in a controlled and orderly way”.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the government for prioritising “the rights of illegal immigrants above the rights of British people” and urged councils to continue legal action.
Reform leader Nigel Farage said the government had used the European Convention on Human Rights “against the people of Epping”.
Councils including Broxbourne and Spelthorne confirmed they were pressing ahead with enforcement action on planning grounds.
Protests outside the Bell Hotel on Friday led to the arrest of three men, while two police officers sustained minor injuries.
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Protesters from the group Save Our Future & Our Kids Future demonstrate against uncontrolled immigration outside the Cladhan Hotel on August 16, 2025 in Falkirk, Scotland. (Photo: Getty Images)
UK appeals court overturns ruling blocking hotel use for asylum seekers
Judges call earlier High Court decision “seriously flawed”
138 asylum seekers will not need to be relocated by September 12
Full hearing scheduled at the Court of Appeal in October
A UK appeals court has overturned a lower court order that had temporarily blocked the use of a hotel in Epping, northeast of London, to house asylum seekers.
A three-judge panel said the High Court ruling that set a September 12 deadline to move migrants from the Bell Hotel contained "a number of errors".
The case followed protests outside the hotel after a resident was charged with sexually assaulting a local girl. Demonstrations have continued for weeks and at times turned violent, triggering debate on immigration policy.
The Court of Appeal said the earlier ruling was "seriously flawed in principle" and could act as an "impetus or incentive for further protests". It added that it failed to consider the "obvious consequence that the closure of one site means capacity needs to be identified elsewhere in the system".
The government will now not be required to relocate 138 asylum seekers from the hotel by September 12. The decision also weakens local efforts to challenge the use of other hotels to house asylum seekers.
The Home Office is legally required under a 1999 law to house "all destitute asylum seekers whilst their asylum claims are being decided".
The case will return for a full hearing at the Court of Appeal in October. Both the Home Office and the hotel’s owner, Somani Hotels, are opposing Epping Forest District Council’s bid to prevent the hotel being used for asylum accommodation.
The council argued that the hotel posed a public safety risk and that its use breached planning rules.
The hotel became the focus of national attention after resident Hadush Kebatu was accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. He has denied the charges, which include sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, and harassment without violence. His trial began this week.
Protests in Epping have since spread to other parts of Britain, as small boat arrivals across the Channel continue.
HOME OFFICE minister Seema Malhotra has ordered the removal of UK government job advertisements for roles such as a balloon craft tutor, which were being offered to migrants held at a detention centre in London.
The intervention followed a report in The Sun newspaper highlighting job listings worth over £30,000 a year at the Heathrow Immigration Removal Centre (HIRC).
The roles appeared on the official “Find a Job” government website. Malhotra said the outsourcing company responsible had been told to withdraw “unnecessary” positions.
“We don’t believe all these roles are necessary and have told the Home Office to speak to Mitie to remove them,” Malhotra said.
One listing still online, with applications closing on September 21, is for a Hospitality and Floristry Tutor. The role involves promoting and delivering creative workshops in floristry, cake decorating, balloon craft, and other activities. Another advert seeks a Hairdressing Tutor to provide cutting, dyeing, and braiding services in line with industry standards.
The Sun report drew criticism from the opposition Conservative party, which accused the Labour government of mishandling illegal migration.
“The government has lost the plot. They’re so addicted to providing freebies that they’re even handing them out to foreign criminals when they’re about to be removed from the country. It’s insane,” shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick told the paper.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp added: “Labour are pouring taxpayers’ money into perks when every effort should be on deportations. Hiring gym managers and balloon craft tutors for people due to be deported is indefensible and must be stopped immediately.”
Migrants who enter the UK illegally, along with some asylum seekers, can be held at removal centres while awaiting deportation or a decision on their immigration claims. According to Home Office figures, around 1,808 people are currently detained across the UK.
Mitie defended the roles, pointing to a recent report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP). “The impact of these activities was highlighted in the HMIP report, which said they contributed to helping individuals manage the stresses of detention,” the company said in a statement.
Other vacancies at HIRC include a part-time Hindu Chaplain, responsible for providing worship and study opportunities, and maintaining a stock of religious artefacts to support detainees’ faith practices.
Detention Action, a charity advocating for asylum seekers’ rights, said the government had a duty to support detainees’ wellbeing.
“The government should only use immigration detention as a last resort, and for the shortest time necessary. They are failing spectacularly on both counts,” said James Wilson, the charity’s director.
“In the last year, the Home Office detained thousands of people for months or even years, and more than 60 per cent were later released. Until a time limit on detention is introduced, the government has a duty to support the mental health and wellbeing of the people it detains."
(PTI)
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The Department of Health said the rollout would reduce missed days at nursery and school, cut time parents take off work, and save the NHS about £15 million a year. (Representational image: iStock)
CHILDREN in England will be offered a free chickenpox vaccine for the first time from January 2026, the government has announced.
GP practices will give eligible children a combined vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) as part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule. Around half a million children each year are expected to be protected.
The Department of Health said the rollout would reduce missed days at nursery and school, cut time parents take off work, and save the NHS about £15 million a year. Research estimates chickenpox in childhood leads to £24 million in lost income and productivity annually.
Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, said: “We’re giving parents the power to protect their children from chickenpox and its serious complications, while keeping them in nursery or the classroom where they belong and preventing parents from scrambling for childcare or having to miss work. This vaccine puts children’s health first and gives working families the support they deserve. As part of our Plan for Change, we want to give every child the best possible start in life, and this rollout will help to do exactly that.”
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director of Immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Most parents probably consider chickenpox to be a common and mild illness, but for some babies, young children and even adults, chickenpox can be very serious, leading to hospital admission and tragically, while rare, it can be fatal. It is excellent news that from next January we will be introducing a vaccine to protect against chickenpox into the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme – helping prevent what is for most a nasty illness and for those who develop severe symptoms, it could be a life saver.”
Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England, said: “This is a hugely positive moment for families as the NHS gets ready to roll out a vaccine to protect children against chickenpox for the first time, adding to the arsenal of other routine jabs that safeguard against serious illness.”
The eligibility criteria will be set out in clinical guidance, and parents will be contacted by their GP surgery if their child is eligible.