The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a stark warning: there is a 70% chance that the average global temperature from 2025 to 2029 will exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, raising fresh concerns about the accelerating pace of climate change.

The findings are part of the WMO’s annual Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update, released on Wednesday. The report also highlights an 80% likelihood that at least one year between 2025 and 2029 will surpass 2024—the current warmest year on record.

“We have just experienced the 10 warmest years on record. Unfortunately, this WMO report provides no sign of respite over the coming years,” said Ko Barrett, WMO Deputy Secretary-General.
“There will be a growing negative impact on our economies, our daily lives, our ecosystems and our planet. Continued climate monitoring and prediction is essential to provide decision-makers with science-based tools and information to help us adapt.”

Key Findings from the WMO Report

• 2024 marked the first calendar year in which global average temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above the 1850–1900 baseline, the reference period before widespread industrialisation.
• The 1.5°C threshold, established under the Paris Agreement (2015), is intended to limit the most catastrophic impacts of climate change. However, the report notes that a “permanent breach” refers to sustained long-term warming over 20 to 30 years.
• The report estimates an 86% chance that at least one year between 2025 and 2029 will see temperatures above 1.5°C compared to the 1850–1900 average.
• There is a 70% chance that the five-year average (2025–2029) will exceed the 1.5°C threshold, underscoring an accelerating trend of global warming.

Regional and Seasonal Impacts

• South Asia has seen wetter-than-normal conditions in recent years (excluding 2023), a trend the WMO expects to continue between 2025 and 2029.
• In India, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported above-normal monsoon rainfall in four of the last five years, and forecasts above-normal monsoons again in 2025.
• The Arctic is projected to warm 2.4°C above average in upcoming winters (November–March), which is over 3.5 times the global average. As a result, sea ice is likely to shrink further in key regions such as the Barents Sea, Bering Sea, and Sea of Okhotsk.
• From May to September during 2025–2029, regions like the Sahel, northern Europe, Alaska, and northern Siberia may see increased rainfall, while the Amazon is expected to experience drier-than-normal conditions.

Global Climate Action and Future Targets

Countries are scheduled to submit updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs)—their official climate action plans—for the 2031–2035 period to the UN climate change office this year. These plans are central to achieving the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

Despite alarming trends, the WMO stresses that early warnings, scientific modelling, and adaptation strategies remain key tools for mitigating future impacts.

In a significant judicial reshuffle, the Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, has recommended the transfer of Chief Justices of Rajasthan, Tripura, Jharkhand, and Madras High Courts.

The decision was taken during a collegium meeting held on May 26, with a resolution later uploaded on the apex court’s official website.

According to the resolution:

• Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, has been recommended for transfer to the Madras High Court.
• Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court, is proposed to be transferred to the Telangana High Court.
• Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao, Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, is to be transferred to the Tripura High Court.
• Justice K.R. Shriram, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, will be shifted to the Rajasthan High Court.

In addition, the collegium has also recommended the transfer of Justice Tadakamalla Vinod Kumar from the Telangana High Court to the Madras High Court.

Justice Tadakamalla Vinod Kumar: A Brief Profile

Born on November 17, 1964, Justice T. Vinod Kumar hails from Suryapet in Nalgonda district, Telangana. He pursued his early education in Suryapet and later in Hyderabad. Justice Kumar completed his Bachelor of Arts and LL.B. degrees from Osmania University.

He enrolled as an advocate in 1988 with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh, beginning his legal career under the mentorship of senior advocate Ravi.

Justice Kumar held important positions as:

• Senior Standing Counsel for Income Tax (2015)
• Special Standing Counsel for Commercial Tax (2016)

He continued in these roles until his elevation to the Bench.

Justice Vinod Kumar was appointed as a Judge of the Telangana High Court and was sworn in on August 26, 2019.

These judicial transfers are part of routine administrative reshuffles aimed at maintaining institutional efficiency and ensuring broad regional experience for High Court judges. The implementation of the recommendations now rests with the Union Government.

In an ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration, Delhi Police has apprehended 92 Bangladeshi nationals during a special drive in the Southwest district, an official said on Tuesday. With this, the total number of Bangladeshi nationals detained since December 26, 2024, has reached 142.

According to police, a 10-day-long special operation was recently launched to identify and detain foreign nationals residing in India without valid documentation.

“Acting on intelligence inputs and with assistance from local informers, our teams conducted door-to-door verifications in several high-risk areas,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Surendra Choudhary in an official statement.

Areas Covered and Findings

As part of the drive, 88 Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended from various localities including:

• Sarojini Nagar
• Kishangarh
• Safdarjung Enclave
• Vasant Kunj (North and South)
• Kapashera
• Palam Village
• Delhi Cantonment
• Sagarpur

“During interrogation, none of the detainees could produce valid documents to justify their stay in India,” the DCP added.

Many were found in possession of Bangladeshi identity documents, and after verification, they were confirmed to have entered the country illegally.

Illegal Entry and Occupations

According to police, several detainees admitted to having crossed the India-Bangladesh border using illegal methods — some waded through rivers, while others infiltrated through gaps in fencing.

Most of them had been residing in Delhi for several years, working primarily as daily wage laborers or domestic workers.

Separate Operation: Family Caught After 12 Years

In a separate operation, police detained a Bangladeshi family of four from the Delhi Cantonment area, including:

• Mohd Asad Ali (44)
• Nasima Begum (40)
• Son: Mohd Naim Khan (18)
• Daughter: Asha Moni (13)

The family had reportedly been living illegally in the area for the past 12 years. During questioning, they confessed to being residents of Farooq Bazar Ajwatari, Phulbari Kurigram in Bangladesh and admitted to entering India through unauthorized means.

None of them could present Indian citizenship documents, and procedures for their deportation are now underway via the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).

Crackdown to Continue

DCP Choudhary confirmed that the operation is part of a broader effort to tackle illegal immigration in the district. The police are expected to continue surveillance and verification activities in other sensitive zones in the coming weeks.

“This is a matter of national security and legal compliance. Further operations will continue as per intelligence inputs,” he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday highlighted the remarkable progress of India’s health infrastructure under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, contrasting it with what he described as the Congress governments’ longstanding neglect of the sector.

Speaking at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Nagpur after laying the foundation stone of “Swasti Niwas” — a residential facility for cancer patients and caregivers — Shah said the health sector’s budget has witnessed a significant leap under the Modi administration.

“The budget for the health sector under PM Modi has increased to ₹1.35 lakh crore, as against ₹37,000 crore during the UPA regime led by Manmohan Singh,” Shah said. He commended the private sector for partnering with the government in enhancing healthcare services across the nation.

The Union Minister noted that India records the highest percentage of oral cancer cases globally and reported that one person dies from cervical cancer every eight minutes. “Earlier, cancer treatment was considered inaccessible, but several quality institutions have emerged over the past 15 years,” he added.

Lauding the NCI’s contribution, Shah said the institute has provided exceptional service to patients not only from Maharashtra but also from neighboring states like Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh.

Referring to initiatives launched under PM Modi, Shah said that around 60 crore people now receive free medical treatment of up to ₹5 lakh through the Ayushman Bharat scheme, with state government support pushing the limit to ₹25 lakh in many cases.

He further noted that since 2014, the number of government medical colleges has doubled from 387 to 780. The annual MBBS intake has increased from 51,000 to 1.18 lakh, while postgraduate seats have surged from 31,000 to 74,000.

Highlighting wellness initiatives such as International Yoga Day, Fit India Movement, and Khelo India, Shah also praised programs providing clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, and LPG connections for smoke-free kitchens.

Shah assured Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of full support from the Centre for establishing a cutting-edge research facility at the NCI premises. He expressed confidence that NCI would emerge as India’s top cancer treatment center in the near future.

“Cancer treatment is a long and painful journey. Only those who have experienced this pain understand the spirit of service required to ease such suffering,” Shah said.

He acknowledged Fadnavis’s role in conceptualizing the cancer institute back in 2012 and said, “Today, he is a two-time Chief Minister because of his vision and dedication.”

Deputy CM Fadnavis, speaking on the occasion, described ‘Swasti Niwas’ as a compassionate initiative aimed at providing cancer patients and their families with a comfortable and dignified environment during treatment.

According to an official release, the residential facility will span 1.7 lakh square feet and include a convenience center, food court, and other essential amenities. The project is supported by multinational firm Pernod Ricard India as part of its CSR initiative and is being designed by JJ Consultants.

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a petition challenging the decision of the National Board of Examinations (NBE) to conduct the NEET-PG 2025 examination in two separate shifts.

The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Postgraduate courses (NEET-PG) is scheduled to be held on June 15, 2025, in two computer-based shifts. Results are expected to be declared by July 15.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Augustine George Masih took note of submissions made by the petitioner’s counsel and assured that the matter would be listed for hearing shortly. The lawyer, raising the urgency of the matter, pointed out that admit cards for the exam are to be issued on June 2.

“The bench said it would list the matter this week. It is extremely urgent,” the lawyer emphasized, urging the court to expedite the hearing.

Previously, on May 5, the apex court had sought responses from the National Board of Examinations, the National Medical Commission (NMC), and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding the issue. However, the case was not listed last week as expected.

The plea, filed by a candidate named Aditi and others, contends that holding the exam in two shifts could result in an unequal level of difficulty, thereby leading to potential unfairness. The petitioners have demanded that the examination be conducted in a single shift to ensure a “just, fair, reasonable and equitable” assessment for all candidates.

The development follows the Supreme Court’s recent directions aimed at curbing seat-blocking in NEET-PG counselling. The court had also mandated the publication of raw scores, answer keys, and the normalization formula used in the examination process.