Hanan Zaffar

Nov 27, 2024 | india.mongabay.com | Hanan Zaffar

Residents of India’s urban areas are cultivating crops on rooftops, balconies, and vacant lots, which is quietly leading to an urban farming movement. Research shows that urban agriculture on a small scale can alleviate environmental issues such as air pollution and the urban heat island effect. To protect their plants from extreme temperatures, urban farmers are experimenting with shade netting and drip irrigation.

Oct 28, 2024 | dw.com | Danish Pandit |Hanan Zaffar

Danish Pandit | Hanan Zaffar10/29/2024October 29, 2024In India's Punjab state, where farms sustain families, pesticides are poisoning local residents. Farmers and their families face chronic health problems and lack of access to medical care.

Sep 9, 2024 | dw.com | Hanan Zaffar |Danish Pandit

Hanan Zaffar | Danish Pandit09/10/2024September 10, 2024Surat has seen a spate of suicides as its famous diamond industry suffers a recession, driven in part by sanctions on Russian diamonds.

Sep 5, 2024 | fairplanet.org | Hanan Zaffar

September 04, 2024After a surprising outcome in India’s recent election, where the Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not secure an outright parliamentary majority, there were high hopes for reduced religious extremism. However, Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a third term with the help of allied parties and formed the government in June. Shortly after, India witnessed a disturbing rise in anti-Muslim violence, with mobs lynching dozens of Muslims.

Jul 31, 2024 | fairplanet.org | Hanan Zaffar

July 31, 2024 This year’s annual Islamic pilgrimage of Hajj in Saudi Arabia witnessed over a thousand deaths due to a harsh heatwave. At least 1,300 people on the pilgrimage lost their lives, with fatalities reported from countries including Egypt, India, Pakistan, and others.