Anant Aditya Patro

Aviation crews remain stationed near their hangars, radar screens remain trained on western horizons, and some 30 million residents across the capital region wait to see whether engineered clouds can offer a rare gasp of clean air.

While a single monthly reading above 6 per cent does not constitute a formal policy failure, the persistent upward trajectory since early 2026 leaves monetary authorities with little room to manoeuvre.

Mining in Myanmar’s eastern borderlands has become a transboundary crisis. What was once framed as a potential engine for development now fuels armed conflict, weakens governance, and spreads toxic pollution through shared river systems into Thailand.