Heavy rains across Southeast Asia have triggered deadly landslides, killing dozens in Indonesia and Vietnam. In Indonesia’s Central Java province, at least 18 people died and several remain missing after landslides buried homes in Cilacap and Banjarnegara. Rescue teams are struggling to recover victims buried under thick mud, with excavators deployed to clear debris. In Vietnam, six people were killed and 19 injured when a passenger bus was buried by a landslide on the Khanh Le Pass between Da Lat and Nha Trang. The incident, caused by torrential rain, trapped passengers as rescuers battled blocked roads and continuing downpours. Scientists warn that climate change is intensifying Southeast Asia’s rainy season, increasing the frequency and severity of floods and landslides. Both Indonesia and Vietnam are among the world’s most flood-prone nations, with large populations living in high-risk areas. The recent disasters follow Typhoon Kalmaegi, which earlier devastated parts of the region, underscoring growing climate-related vulnerabilities.

The Department of Environment (DoE) in Bangladesh has filed a case against 11 named individuals, including Erfanul Haque, joint coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP) Chattogram Metropolitan unit, and 300–400 unidentified persons for obstructing an official raid against illegal brick kilns and hill cutting in Lama upazila of Bandarban district. The case was lodged on November 17 by DoE inspector Mohammad Nur Uddin at Lama Police Station. The accused allegedly blocked roads and staged protests when an executive magistrate-led team attempted to dismantle illegal brick kilns on November 16. During the protest, workers lay on the road wrapped in shrouds, claiming their livelihoods depended on the kilns and demanding alternative employment before demolition. DoE officials stated that those obstructing the operation were not local residents but hired workers and associates of illegal kiln operators. Authorities have affirmed that legal action will proceed under environmental protection laws.

A 60-year-old woman named Jharna Chakma was killed and three others were injured after a herd of wild elephants attacked vehicles on the Asambasti-Kaptai connecting road in Rangamati’s Kamilachhari area on Sunday evening. The deceased was a resident of Chairman Para in Jibtali Union under Rangamati Sadar upazila. According to forest officials, two separate attacks occurred around 5:20 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., damaging two CNG-run auto-rickshaws and a motorcycle. Forest department teams, assisted by the army and fire service, rushed to the scene and evacuated travelers and tourists from the area by 7:00 p.m. The injured were taken to Rangamati General Hospital, where Jharna Chakma died on the way. Officials confirmed that two elephant herds, each consisting of six to seven elephants including calves, were involved in the incidents. Authorities have urged locals to remain cautious as elephant movement in the region has recently increased.

Japan’s Sakurajima volcano, located in the southwestern Kyushu region, erupted early Sunday, sending a massive plume of ash and smoke up to 14,436 feet into the air. The eruption began around 12:57 a.m., marking the first time since October last year that the volcano’s ash cloud exceeded 4,000 meters in height. No casualties or property damage have been reported so far. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued ashfall forecasts for Kagoshima, Kumamoto, and Miyazaki prefectures, advising residents to use umbrellas or masks to protect themselves from falling ash and to drive cautiously. Sakurajima is one of Japan’s most active volcanoes, connected to the Osumi Peninsula on Kyushu’s southern tip. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as minor eruptions persist, though no evacuation orders have been issued yet.

Bangladesh is experiencing a mild winter atmosphere with little change in temperature compared to Saturday. On Sunday, November 16, the country’s lowest temperature was recorded in Tetulia, Panchagarh, at 14.7°C, up from 14°C the previous day. In Dhaka, the temperature increased slightly from 18.7°C to 19.4°C, with humidity measured at 86% at 6 a.m. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the weather across the country is expected to remain mostly dry with partly cloudy skies. Day and night temperatures are likely to remain nearly unchanged. Winds from the north and northwest are expected to blow at speeds between 6 and 12 kilometers per hour in Dhaka and surrounding areas. The forecast suggests stable weather conditions with no significant temperature variations in the coming hours.

According to Swiss-based air quality monitoring organization IQAir, India’s capital Delhi has once again topped the global list of cities with the most polluted air. On the morning of November 16, Delhi recorded an air quality index (AQI) score of 559, placing it in the 'hazardous' category. Kolkata followed in second place with a score of 211, while Pakistan’s Lahore ranked third with the same score. Egypt’s Cairo took the fourth spot with a score of 202, and Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka ranked fifth with a score of 181, categorized as ‘unhealthy’. IQAir’s scale classifies air quality from ‘good’ (0–50) to ‘hazardous’ (above 300). The top ten most polluted cities recorded AQI scores between 160 and 180, reflecting widespread poor air quality across major urban centers in South Asia and beyond.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has called on all universities in Bangladesh to declare their campuses plastic-free. Speaking virtually at an event organized by Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology on sustainable marine environments, she emphasized that student involvement, awareness campaigns, and accessible alternatives are key to achieving this goal. Hasan noted that reducing single-use plastic requires long-term institutional commitment and behavioral change among consumers. She highlighted that plastic dependency stems from misconceptions about convenience and cost, while its hidden environmental price is significant. Hasan also warned that recycling, though popular, is energy-intensive and chemically complex. She urged prioritizing reduced plastic use, promoting reusable products, and ensuring producer responsibility. Expressing concern over the Bay of Bengal being the ninth most plastic-polluted marine region, she attributed it to poor waste management and upstream waste flow rather than excessive domestic use.

Thousands of residents in northern Tehran gathered at Imamzadeh Saleh Mosque on Friday, November 14, to pray for rain as Iran faces one of its worst droughts in decades. Local officials reported that rainfall in the capital has dropped to its lowest level in a century, with half of the country’s provinces experiencing months without precipitation. The government has begun rationing water supplies for Tehran’s 10 million residents, implementing periodic shutdowns to conserve resources. President Masoud Pezeshkian recently warned that if rain does not arrive before winter, authorities might need to consider relocating residents, though officials later clarified he intended only to highlight the severity of the situation. Five major dams supplying Tehran are nearly empty, with one completely dry and another below 8% capacity. Nationwide, rainfall this year has reached only 152 millimeters—40% below the 57-year average—raising fears of worsening water shortages across Iran.

The COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, has faced significant logistical and financial challenges, preventing many delegates from smaller, low-budget nations from attending. Accommodation shortages and skyrocketing hotel prices, reaching up to $60,000 for ten nights, have made participation unaffordable for numerous representatives. Some attendees have been forced to stay more than an hour away from the main venue. To address the shortage, a floating community housing project, known locally as 'Vila da Barca', was created to host around 200 young participants. The absence of several world leaders and senior officials, particularly from major countries, has further reduced attendance. Observers note that the combination of high travel expenses, infrastructure limitations, and declining political engagement has dampened the scale of this year’s global climate gathering.

In Brazil’s Amazonian port city of Belém, around 50,000 visitors have arrived for the UN Climate Conference (COP30), overwhelming the city’s limited hotel capacity of 18,000 rooms. To address the accommodation crisis, the Brazilian government converted two large cruise ships, Costa Diadema and MSC Seaview, into floating hotels anchored at the newly built Outeiro Cruise Terminal. Together, they provide about 4,000 additional rooms for over 10,000 guests. The $45 million terminal upgrade also improved local infrastructure. However, environmentalists criticized the use of diesel-powered ships for a climate summit, citing high fuel consumption and carbon emissions. While some attendees appreciate the unique experience, others complain about small cabins and long commutes to the conference venue. Despite the controversy, the floating hotels remain the only viable solution for the city’s accommodation shortage during the event.

Winter has started to settle across Bangladesh, with the lowest temperature recorded at 14°C in Tetulia, Panchagarh, on Friday, November 14. According to the Bangladesh Weather Observatory Team (BWOT), if sea conditions remain stable, the country's first cold wave of the season is expected in December. Although cooler weather will be felt nationwide before then, temperatures are unlikely to drop enough to trigger a cold wave. The BWOT noted that the current mild chill will persist throughout November, allowing people to enjoy a pleasant, crisp atmosphere before the onset of harsher winter conditions next month.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast that the country's weather will remain mostly dry with partly cloudy skies over the next five days. The subcontinental high-pressure ridge is currently extending over West Bengal and adjacent areas, while the seasonal low lies over the South Bay of Bengal, stretching northward. According to daily forecasts from Friday through Tuesday, no significant rainfall is expected across the country. Temperatures are likely to remain nearly unchanged for the first two days, with a slight rise expected from Sunday onward. Night temperatures may increase slightly by Tuesday, while daytime temperatures are expected to remain steady. The overall weather pattern suggests stable and dry conditions across Bangladesh during this period.

In Valuka upazila of Mymensingh, Bangladesh, over 336 acres of farmland have remained uncultivated for more than 15 years due to severe water pollution from nearby textile dyeing factories. Farmers report that toxic waste from the Multazim and Experience Textile Mills has contaminated local wetlands, killing crops and aquatic life, and causing skin diseases among residents. A government investigation confirmed the damage, estimating total losses at around Tk 332.8 million and recommending that 25% of compensation be paid by Multazim Mill and 75% by Experience Mill. However, the factories have yet to pay. Despite multiple hearings and fines by the Department of Environment, pollution persists, leaving farmers unable to grow rice or access safe water. Local authorities say discussions with mill owners are ongoing to find a solution.

In Mymensingh’s Bhaluka upazila, over 336 acres of farmland have remained uncultivated for more than 15 years due to severe water pollution caused by industrial waste from nearby textile and dyeing factories, including Multazim Mill and Experience Textile Mill. Farmers report that the contaminated water has destroyed crops, killed aquatic life, and caused skin diseases. A government investigation confirmed the damage, estimating total losses at around Tk 33.28 crore, and recommended that the two mills compensate affected farmers. However, the factories have yet to pay. Local authorities say discussions with mill management are ongoing, while environmental officials note that the mills’ effluent treatment capacity is inadequate and waste is being discharged indiscriminately into nearby water bodies.

New research from William & Mary graduate student Bryce Donaghue suggests that solar farms can support local ecosystems if managed with biodiversity in mind. Donaghue studied bat activity around solar panels and found that vegetation supporting pollinators attracted more insects, which in turn drew bats to feed. Traditional solar farms often have cleared or turf-covered land, limiting insect and bat activity. However, Donaghue’s preliminary data, based on over 70,000 sound recordings, indicate that pollinator-friendly habitats under and around solar panels increase bat presence. The findings could reshape how renewable energy developers design and maintain solar farms, turning them into dual-purpose sites that generate clean energy while supporting wildlife. The study highlights the potential for solar infrastructure to coexist with and even enhance local flora and fauna.