Wildfires rage in Amazon rainforest, 84% increase from last year
Brasilia, Aug 22: The Amazon rainforest in Brazil is experiencing a record amount of fires this year more than 74,000 outbreaks so far which is an 84 per cent increase from the same period in 2018, according to data from the country''s space agency.
The National Institute for Space Research (IPNE) said it detected more than 74,000 fires between January 1 and August 20 -- the highest number since records began in 2013. According to the agency, it observed more than 9,500 forest fires since last Thursday, mostly in the Amazon region.
In comparison, there were slightly more than 40,000 in the same period of 2018, IPNE said. However, the worst recent year was 2016, with more than 68,000 fires in that period.
The head of Brazil''s space agency was fired in July after President Jair Bolsonaro disputed the official deforestation data from satellites.
Greenpeace said that the wildfires were so intense that smoke loomed over the city of Sao Paulo, more than a thousand miles away.
The satellite images showed Brazil''s most northern state, Roraima, covered in dark smoke, while neighbouring Amazonas state declared an emergency over the fires. The hashtags #PrayforAmazonas and #AmazonRainforest were trending on Twitter on Wednesday.
US space agency NASA said: "Although it is not unusual to see fires in Brazil at this time of year due to high temperatures and low humidity it seems this year the number of fires may be record setting."
NASA satellite images showed that the wildfires in the Brazilian rainforest are creating cross country smoke.
The largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon is a vital carbon store that slows down the pace of global warming. It is also home to about three million species of plants and animals, and one million indigenous people.
Environmental activists blamed President Bolsonaro for the current situation, saying he encouraged loggers and farmers to clear the land. Scientists say the rainforest has suffered losses at an accelerated rate since he took office in January.
Bolsonaro, however, brushed off the latest data. He instead accused environmental groups of setting fires in the Amazon in a bid to deflect growing international criticism of his failure to protect the world''s biggest rainforest.
According to reports, there was a sharp spike in deforestation during July, which was followed by extensive burning in August.
Local newspapers said farmers in some regions were organizing "fire days" to take advantage of weaker enforcement by the authorities.
Since Bolsonaro took power the environment agency issued fewer penalties and Ministers made clear that their sympathies were with loggers rather than the indigenous groups who live in the forest, reports say.
An international outcry prompted Norway and Germany to halt donations to Brazil''s Amazon Fund, which supports many environmental NGOs as well as government agencies. There have also been calls for Europe to block a trade deal with Brazil and other South American nations.
Environmental activists said Bolsonaro's comments were an absurd attempt to deflect attention from the problem of poor oversight and tacit encouragement to illegal forest clearance.
Bolivia is also experiencing unusually large wildfires that have reportedly destroyed 5,180 sq km (2,000 sq miles) of forest.
(This photo was taken during Amazon rainforest fires in 1989)
This photo has been going viral in the social media as Amazon Rainforest fire rages, this image was taken by a photographer for Sipa Press, later acquired by Rex Features and published by The Guardian in 2007 for a report on deforestation in the Amazon.
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Visionary leader, scholar Dr. Muhammad Manzoor Alam passes away at 80
New Delhi: Dr. Muhammad Manzoor Alam, a noted scholar, educationist, and social thinker, passed away peacefully on the morning of January 13, 2026. He was 80. His death has left a deep void in academic, social, and religious circles in India and abroad, where he was widely respected for his lifelong work in education, minority empowerment, and ethical scholarship.
Dr. Alam was born on October 9, 1945, in Bihar, to the late M. Abdul Jaleel. From an early age, he showed a strong inclination towards learning and social issues. He pursued higher studies in economics and earned his PhD from Aligarh Muslim University. During his academic years, he developed a keen interest in Islamic social sciences, economic reform, and the role of knowledge in bringing positive change in society.
Dr. Alam had a long and distinguished professional career that took him across several countries. Over the years, he held key academic and advisory positions, including serving as an Economic Advisor at the Ministry of Finance in Saudi Arabia. He was also an Associate Professor of Islamic Economics at Imam Muhammad bin Saud University in Riyadh, where he taught and guided students from different parts of the world.
He played an important role in religious and scholarly work as the Chief Coordinator for the translation of the Quran at the King Fahd Printing Complex in Madinah. He also served as the Chief Representative of India at the International Islamic University in Malaysia and was an active member of the Islamic Development Bank Scholarship Programme Committee.
Dr. Alam was associated with several national and international bodies in leadership and advisory roles. These included the Institute of Objective Studies, the All India Milli Council, the Muslim Social Sciences Association, the Fiqh Academy, the Indian Association of Muslim Social Scientists, the Indo-Arab Economic Cooperation Forum, and other international advisory boards.
In 1986, Dr. Alam founded the Institute of Objective Studies in New Delhi. The institute was set up with the aim of building a strong research-based platform to address issues related to Indian Muslims and other marginalized communities. Under his leadership, IOS emerged as an important centre for academic research, policy studies, interfaith dialogue, and advocacy for minority rights.
Dr. Alam stressed the need for ethical scholarship, serious research, and practical solutions to real-life problems. During his tenure, the institute published several research works, organised national and international seminars, and supported young scholars and researchers. Many academics who worked with IOS credit Dr. Alam for shaping their intellectual and professional journeys.
Dr. Alam was closely connected with leading Muslim scholars and thinkers across the world. He worked and exchanged ideas with well-known intellectuals such as Prof. Ismail Raji Faruqi, Dr. Abdul Hamid AbuSulayman, and other scholars engaged in Islamic thought, economics, and social reform. His work helped strengthen global networks focused on education, research, and dialogue.
His areas of interest included Islamic economics, minority rights, interfaith understanding, education policy, and the broader project of linking knowledge with ethical and social responsibility. His contributions in these fields continue to be studied and discussed by scholars in India and abroad.
Dr. Alam wrote extensively on issues affecting Indian Muslims, global politics, media, education, and social justice. One of his notable works, The Final Wakeup Call, focused on media freedom, global narratives, and the need to amplify the voices of marginalized communities. Through his writings, he consistently argued for informed debate, intellectual honesty, and independent platforms for underrepresented groups.
Beyond his formal roles, Dr. Alam was known as a mentor to hundreds of students, researchers, and social activists. Those who worked closely with him often spoke about his calm approach, clarity of thought, and ability to connect ideas with action. He encouraged young scholars to think independently, work collaboratively, and remain grounded in ethical values.
Dr. Alam was widely admired for his leadership skills, organisational ability, and deep concern for the poor and the marginalized. He was known for his humility, discipline, and unwavering commitment to public service. Colleagues recall him as someone who combined strong principles with a practical understanding of social realities.
Dr. Muhammad Manzoor Alam leaves behind a rich legacy of scholarship, institution-building, and social engagement. The institutions he helped build and the people he mentored continue to carry forward his vision of knowledge-driven social change and justice.
He is survived by his family, students, and a wide circle of admirers across the world.
Condolence prayers have been offered, seeking Allah’s forgiveness for him, elevation of his status in Jannah, and the continuation of his work through future generations.
