Mohini Barman

The Sri Lankan Ministry of Environment has announced a $25 million mangrove restoration project, aiming to revive over 10,000 hectares of degraded coastal ecosystems by 2028. The plan focuses on Puttalam, Batticaloa, and Hambantota districts. Mangroves are crucial in protecting coastlines from erosion and acting as nurseries for marine life. The initiative is expected to boost local fishing communities and serve as a natural barrier against future cyclones. Environmentalists in West Bengal, Odisha, and Bangladesh — regions with shared mangrove heritage — are watching the program closely, with calls to launch similar restoration efforts across the Sundarbans delta.

The state of California has declared a state of emergency as multiple wildfires rage across the northern and central regions, threatening homes and critical infrastructure. Over 120,000 acres have already been consumed by fire, prompting the evacuation of more than 40,000 residents. Governor Gavin Newsom announced the deployment of National Guard units and aerial firefighting support. The largest blaze, dubbed the Sierra Complex Fire, has destroyed homes in Butte and Plumas counties and is only 15% contained. Experts link the intensifying fire season to climate change and extreme drought, urging other wildfire-prone regions — including parts of Australia and Uttarakhand,…

In a historic move, Health Canada has granted licenses to three clinics in Toronto and Vancouver to offer psilocybin-assisted therapy for treatment-resistant depression. The psychedelic compound, found in magic mushrooms, will be administered under clinical supervision. This marks a shift in mental health care, where traditional antidepressants have failed for many. Experts say the therapy offers potential breakthroughs, though critics caution about regulation and misuse. Mental health professionals in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh are watching closely. While psychedelics remain illegal in South Asia, growing interest in alternative psychiatric treatments is sparking debates on policy flexibility and clinical trials.

Sri Lanka’s iconic Ceylon Tea industry is embracing artificial intelligence to compete with China and Kenya. A pilot project in Nuwara Eliya and Kandy has introduced AI-powered leaf graders that analyse moisture, colour, and aroma to enhance export quality. Tea is one of Sri Lanka’s top foreign exchange earners, and the country hopes this tech-driven shift will improve global rankings. Exporters in Bangladesh’s Sylhet and India’s Darjeeling are watching the development closely as similar automation trials are being considered. The Sri Lankan government says it plans to roll out AI-backed monitoring to smallholder tea gardens by 2026.

In a major push to regulate emerging technology, the White House has issued new executive orders instructing leading tech firms to clearly label and watermark AI-generated content to fight misinformation and election interference. The move comes as the U.S. enters its critical pre-election period. The rules, part of a broader AI Governance Framework, aim to hold companies accountable for the potential misuse of deepfakes, especially in political propaganda and synthetic news. The new policy also mandates independent audits of large language models, a trend many countries—including India and the UK—are observing closely as they update their own digital safety laws.

Kenya has inaugurated East Africa’s largest data centre in Nairobi, a $200 million investment aiming to transform the country into a major digital services hub. The centre, powered by renewable energy, will serve regional governments and businesses with secure data storage and cloud solutions. The launch has drawn attention from international tech giants, including companies from India, South Korea, and the UK, who are exploring partnerships and expansion in the region. Kenya’s ICT Minister said the move would create thousands of jobs and boost connectivity across the continent. The digital leap in East Africa has prompted renewed interest in India-Africa…