Manipal student explores Antarctica second time

DHNS
April 27, 2018

Udupi, Apr 27: Avani Awasthee, has successfully completed her second expedition to Antarctica in February 2018, when she visited as the mentor for the new group.

Avani Awasthee, is a second-year mass communication student studying in School of Communication, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE).

Awasthe said that she is a founder of ‘The Recycle Army,’ an initiative which focusses on environmental awareness. She has been the youngest Indian girl to embark on an expedition to Antarctica and in February 2018, she visited again as a mentor, as a part of the 2014 Foundation.

She chose environmental awareness to quench her thirst. She was 14 years old when she made a two-minute video on saving Antarctica and guess what? She not only stood third in the competition initiated by The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI), but was crowned as one of the 26 ambassadors for the Swedish food packaging giant, TETRA PAK.

Eager to contribute more, Avani continued to be a part of TERI as an environmental crusader and she also went on to adapt the eco-lifestyle by making changes to her home, which soon turned out to be environmental-friendly.

Not just that, she also started an initiative called, ‘The Recycle Army’, through which she managed to pull out a crowd of people, who cycled to places and created awareness about recycling. Thanks to her ideologies, she went on to run some successful campaigns like waterless Holi, crackerless Diwali and cleaning the tiny hilltops.

Well, her idea of cycling to value recycling was not just successful, but also garnered a great amount of attention from the mainstream media and yes, also from Robert Swan, the only human who covered the North Pole and the South Pole on foot and has also relentlessly worked all his life to voice against the environmental crisis.

Her dream of getting things done was nearing reality, as she was handpicked by Robert Swan after seeing her interest in the subject, which he is been involved for years.

She was pre-selected for the ‘Leadership of the Edge’ expedition and her trip was partially funded by Robert Swan’s Foundation. She joined the team of 143 participants hailing from 30 different nations and embarked on a trip to Antarctica.

Right from climate change, sustainability, effective use of renewable energy to how Antarctica can be protected, Avani’s 15-day trip gave her all the insights about the same and she was also part of the leadership lectures that hoarded the topics such as wildlife, history, geography and the threats faced by the Antarctic ice conflict.

Not only did she gain a massive amount of insight on the subject, but also got an opportunity to visit again for the second time as a mentor.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: Public transport in Mangaluru is set for a state-led transformation as the government moves to deploy 100 new electric govt buses to replace unreliable private services. The initiative aims to provide a dependable alternative to private operators who have been frequently "cutting trips," leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV during a public phone-in session. The move specifically targets routes where private bus service has become erratic, ensuring that citizens no longer have to rely on a fluctuating private sector for their daily commute.

Restoring the Govt Presence

The transport crisis was brought to the forefront by Ramayya, a resident of Bajal, who highlighted a growing trend of private buses skipping morning and night trips. With the previous KSRTC (govt) services discontinued, residents have been left without a fallback option.

To fix this, the DC confirmed that the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will bring 100 government-owned electric buses to the city:

•    Phased Deployment: The first 50 of the new 100 government buses are scheduled to arrive by March 2026.

•    State Infrastructure: Two new government depots, including one at Mudipu, are being prepared for operations.

•    Recruitment: The state has already begun training a new batch of government bus drivers to ensure the fleet is operational the moment it arrives.

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News Network
December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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