Mohini Barman

The U.S. Gulf Coast is reeling after Hurricane Isaac made landfall late Wednesday, bringing winds of over 140 km/h, torrential rain, and widespread flooding. More than 300,000 homes have lost power, while emergency shelters in Louisiana and Mississippi are operating at full capacity. Authorities have urged residents to remain indoors as rising water levels threaten low-lying towns. President Donald Trump, who was visiting Florida, assured federal support, saying disaster relief funds will be released immediately. Local officials have expressed concern about oil refineries in the Gulf region, which supply nearly 15% of U.S. fuel demand. Any prolonged disruption could impact…

The 82nd Venice Film Festival officially opened on August 27 in the Sala Grande at the Palazzo del Cinema with the world premiere of La Grazia, directed by Paolo Sorrentino and starring Tony Servillo. The festival's opening night marked the beginning of a major international cinematic event celebrating creativity, culture, and cinematic excellence.

Britain’s energy regulator Ofgem has announced a 2 percent lift in the energy price cap, raising annual household bills by £35 to about £1,755, starting this October. The price revision reflects rising operational and wholesale costs linked to government policies and expanded support schemes like the warm home discount. Charitable organisations have raised alarms about the impact on low-income, elderly, and disabled households, warning of deepening fuel poverty as winter approaches . Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, US–India tensions are escalating. Former President Trump has imposed a hefty 50 percent tariff on Indian imports, responding to New Delhi’s continuing purchases of…

According to MapBiomas data, the area burned in Brazil's Amazon rainforest fell by 65% in July compared to the same period last year—a promising improvement in forest protection efforts. Conservationists across South Asia—especially in Nepal’s Terai, Bhutan’s subtropical zones, and Bangladesh’s Sundarbans—are taking note, hopeful this trend signals enhanced fire management and ecological resilience strategies applicable to their own forest landscapes.

On August 27, the U.S. implemented a punitive 25% tariff, adding to an existing 25% duty on imports from India—pushing total tariffs up to 50% on key products including clothing, gemstones, footwear, furniture, and chemicals. The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) is warning of steep cost burdens affecting around 55% of Indian exports worth $47–48 billion, advising the government to urgently support exporters.This move complicates trade dynamics, drawing interest from markets across South Asia, such as Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, as exporters reconsider supply chain strategies and tariff impacts.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is under scrutiny after announcing plans to repeal the Clean Power Plan, a key piece of climate legislation from 2015. Environmental groups have swiftly filed a lawsuit, arguing the rollback will increase carbon emissions and harm public health—especially in communities already vulnerable to air pollution. The court case brings attention to the mounting conflict between environmental safeguards and regulatory rollback, especially during global climate discussions. Environmental planners in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal say such developments might impact overseas climate finance flows and international negotiation dynamics.

A recent study conducted in California’s Sierra Nevada reveals that timber plantations—dense, single-species forests—are nearly 50% more likely to fuel megafires than traditional, mixed forests. The startling analysis has pushed Canadian authorities to re-evaluate plantation practices, especially in provincial logging zones. This could lead to ecosystem-based silviculture reforms and stricter oversight over forestry practices. South Asian countries with plantation economies—like Bangladesh and parts of India—stand to benefit from this research when considering forest resilience and fire risk in plantation planning.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has unveiled a proposal to repeal the Endangerment Finding, a 2009 regulation that led to the introduction of strict greenhouse gas standards for vehicles and trucks. The move promises to reduce perceived “hidden taxes” of up to $1 trillion on businesses, according to EPA officials. The proposal is framed as a restoration of regulatory clarity for automakers and revives debates over balancing climate goals against economic competitiveness. South Asian environmental strategists—especially in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal—will watch closely, as impacts could ripple into global auto markets and emissions norms.