Environment

WHO has launched updated data on the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators tracking the link between air pollution and health.

This development reflects evolving societal values in Sri Lanka, where animal welfare is increasingly seen not just as a moral imperative but as integral to sustainable development and compassionate governance.

Experts stress the need for sustained, multi-sectoral action: improved waste management, better urban infrastructure, public education, and research into vaccines or novel vector controls. Sri Lanka’s experience with malaria eradication shows what coordinated efforts can achieve.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced that conditions are highly favourable for the southwest monsoon to advance rapidly across large parts of north and central India over the coming days.

The approval sends a positive signal to markets and development partners amid global turbulence. For millions of Bangladeshis reliant on timely rains, affordable inputs, and stable prices, it offers reassurance that food security remains a national and international priority.

Climate change is amplifying these risks, as warmer baseline ocean and atmospheric temperatures can intensify extremes.

As Pakistan grapples with climate change, population growth, and water stress, every stalled dam represents a missed opportunity for resilience.

The centre has sounded an alarm over the likely impact of El Niño on India's 2026 southwest monsoon, warning that 315 districts across 12 states could face significant rainfall deficits during the crucial kharif cropping season.