Mohini Barman

New York State has introduced the SUNY Reconnect initiative—offering free community college education for adults aged 25–55 without prior degrees. The program, launching in Fall 2025, covers tuition, fees, books, and supplies in high-demand fields across the SUNY system. With information sessions starting this summer, the goal is to remove financial and logistical barriers for adult learners seeking upward mobility. This initiative is inspiring education advocates across South Asia—particularly in Delhi, Dhaka, and Kathmandu—where similar models could significantly increase skills training and workforce inclusion among older students.

Scotland’s Human Tissue (Authorisation) Act 2019 has come into force, making every resident an organ donor by default unless they opt out. This aligns Scotland with many European nations using presumed consent to increase organ availability. The model offers a reference point for Bangladesh, Nepal, and India, where organ donation rates remain low. A culturally tailored opt-out system, with adequate safeguards and public awareness, could enhance lives saved across the region.

Saudi Arabia's Sudair Solar PV Project in Sudair Industrial City has gone fully operational. At 1.5 GW capacity, it stands among the world’s largest solar farms. Equipped with bi-facial panels and tracking tech, it's expected to power approximately 185,000 homes while offsetting 2.9 million tons of CO₂ annually. The project's $924 million investment aligns with Saudi Vision 2030’s drive to derive 70% of energy from renewables by 2030. The model has implications for Nepal and Bangladesh, where solarization of remote or rural areas could harness abundant sunlight to support decentralized electrification.

Two U.S. airlines are partnering with electric aviation startups to pilot zero-emission regional aircraft on short-haul routes in California, aiming for full certification by 2027. These small ePlanes promise silent, emission-free flights between cities like Sacramento and San Francisco. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted test licenses, and the project is backed by clean energy funding as part of the green infrastructure push. Industry analysts predict these aircraft could revolutionize commuter travel by drastically reducing carbon footprints. Airline executives in India and Bangladesh are closely observing the progress. Regional aviation could benefit from similar low-emission technology on short domestic…

In a bold bid to tackle student debt and boost economic opportunity, U.S. President Biden has unveiled a proposal offering free community college education for students from households earning under $80,000 annually. The plan also includes expanded Pell Grants and emergency student financial aid through partnerships with community colleges and nonprofits. The initiative is expected to increase high school graduation incentives and funnel skilled workers into trade sectors. Education advocates in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh are observing closely—engaging in discussions about similar models to reduce dropout rates in rural areas. This push could reshape workforce development and inspire region-wide reforms…

The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is gearing up for its presence at London Climate Action Week 2025, focusing on sustainable finance models, insurance underwriting transformation, and climate risk strategies in financial systems. Sessions will showcase how to de-risk climate investments and integrate resilience into financial structures, with global bankers, insurers, and policymakers participating. Finance professionals in South Asia—especially in Bangladesh’s Dhaka and India’s Mumbai—are using this as a roadmap to strengthen their own climate-responsive financial frameworks.