A powerful earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale struck Mexico’s southern Pacific coast on Friday local time. Following the quake, the U.S. Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami alert for coastal regions of Mexico and neighboring Guatemala. The agency warned that waves between 30 centimeters and one meter above normal tide levels could occur, urging residents in coastal areas to remain cautious.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake’s epicenter was near the fishing port city of Puerto Madero, about 15.2 kilometers below the surface. Salomón Jara Cruz, governor of Oaxaca state, said the quake was felt from moderate to strong intensity but no major casualties or significant damage had been reported so far. Local authorities are monitoring the situation closely.

Reuters reported that tremors were also felt in neighboring Guatemala and El Salvador, prompting residents in Guatemala City to rush outdoors as buildings shook. Officials said assessments of potential damage and ongoing monitoring are continuing.

Germany could face annual economic losses exceeding €20 billion if extreme heatwaves become a regular occurrence, according to a study by the economic research institute Prognos. The analysis, prepared for the business newspaper Handelsblatt, found that each day with temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius costs Europe’s largest economy around €1 billion.

The study reported that the late-June heatwave alone caused an estimated €6.32 billion in losses. Prognos warned that if three to four similar heatwaves occur each year, the total annual damage could surpass €20 billion. The manufacturing sector is the most affected, followed by health and social services, retail, construction, and the food industry.

Researchers noted that their calculations did not include factors such as high electricity prices, equipment failures, supply chain disruptions, or long-term infrastructure damage. Including these could significantly increase the total losses. The report concluded that climate change-driven extreme weather poses growing risks to industrial economies like Germany’s.

In Bogura district, 19 out of 21 installed lightning arresters have been found inoperative, heightening public safety concerns amid rising lightning-related deaths. Over the past five years, 73 people have died in lightning strikes across the district, including five this year. The devices were installed in March 2021 across six upazilas under the district relief and rehabilitation department, each costing 680,000 taka. However, due to lack of maintenance, most have become nonfunctional, leaving only two operational units in Shibganj upazila.

Engineers noted that the effectiveness of lightning arresters depends on proper installation, grounding, and annual maintenance, especially before the monsoon. The devices in Bogura have not been inspected in the past five years, according to officials. A recent technical inspection, prompted by a directive from the disaster management department in April, confirmed that 19 units were out of order.

Local officials have informed higher authorities about the malfunctioning equipment and requested further action. Experts suggest that at least 120 devices are needed to adequately cover the district and protect farmers working in open fields.

An international team of about 80 scientists and crew members is embarking this week on a research expedition to Greenland aboard the polar vessel RSS David Attenborough. The mission, led by the British Antarctic Survey, aims to determine whether the rapid melting of Greenland’s glaciers could disrupt the Atlantic Ocean’s major current systems and influence Europe’s climate. The five-to-six-week voyage is part of the £20 million Greenland Ice Sheet to Atlantic Tipping Point (GIANT) project.

The study follows record-breaking heat across the United Kingdom and Western Europe in June, which caused power disruptions, school closures, and excess deaths. Researchers warn that even small climate shifts are proving difficult for societies to adapt to. The expedition will deploy a high-tech submersible, nicknamed “Boaty McBoatface,” to collect data from depths of up to 1,500 meters where glaciers meet the sea.

The collected data will support the development of next-generation climate models and early warning systems for glacier collapse, according to the research team.

The government has imposed a fishing ban to protect fish stocks, leaving thousands of fishermen in Netrokona’s Mohanganj, Madan, and Khaliajuri areas facing severe hardship. The first phase of the ban ran from May 28 to June 28, followed immediately by a second phase. With no alternative employment or food assistance, many families are living in hunger, and local authorities are finding it difficult to enforce the restrictions.

According to the Department of Fisheries, Netrokona has 49,378 registered fishermen and an additional 30,000 to 40,000 unregistered or seasonal ones, most of whom depend entirely on fishing. On June 3, government ministers visited the area, released 16 tons of fish fry, and announced the new ban. However, fishermen say no measures were taken to support their livelihoods. On July 12, police seized four large nets from Dingapota Haor, but the next day, hundreds of fishermen retrieved them, leading to a case against over 800 people.

Experts warn that without plans to protect both fish and people, the ban may remain ineffective on the ground.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid announced that the government has launched an emergency assistance program to restore agriculture, fisheries, and livestock sectors in five flood-affected districts of the Chattogram region. The initiative includes distribution of 327 metric tons of paddy seeds, vaccination of 151,599 livestock, and allocation of 3.5 million taka for animal feed. The announcement was made Thursday night at a press briefing held at the Chattogram Circuit House.

According to preliminary field data, the floods caused losses exceeding 2 billion taka in the fisheries sector and about 770 million taka in the livestock sector. The minister said data collection is ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage. He added that the government has sufficient seed reserves and will immediately supply seeds to farmers whose land is ready for planting, while emergency seedbeds are being prepared on government land for others.

Livestock vaccination will begin immediately and is expected to be completed within 15 days. The government has prioritized assistance for the most affected unions to ensure no farmer, fish farmer, or livestock owner is left out of the relief program.

A new low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal has prompted forecasts of widespread heavy rainfall across Bangladesh from July 20 to 25, according to the national meteorological department. Although the system may not intensify into a strong depression, it has already made the sea rough, leading authorities to issue local cautionary signals for maritime and river ports. Coastal areas including Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra have been advised to hoist signal number three.

Meteorologists said the low pressure has developed into a well-marked system over the northwest Bay and adjoining Odisha–West Bengal coasts, which could bring gusty winds and thunderstorms to southern and southwestern regions. Experts noted that monsoon activity will strengthen after July 20, causing heavy to very heavy rainfall across the country, particularly in Rangpur, Barishal, Chattogram, Mymensingh, and Sylhet.

Private weather observers warned that continuous rainfall could raise river levels above danger marks and trigger landslides in hilly areas of Sylhet and Chattogram. Authorities have been advised to take precautionary measures in advance.

Cumilla City Corporation conducted a demolition drive on July 15 to remove illegal shops built along the western bank of Dhoromsagar, a historic pond in Cumilla city. The action followed a June 6 report in the newspaper 'Amar Desh' highlighting the occupation of the area by unauthorized vendors. The operation was led by Executive Magistrate Nazia Hossain, who stated that the eviction aimed to preserve the beauty and accessibility of the site.

According to city officials, more than fifty vendors had been running unauthorized businesses by cutting through the protective railing around the pond. Allegations surfaced that a powerful syndicate had facilitated these setups and collected daily extortion payments from the shopkeepers. Visitors and local residents welcomed the eviction, saying the illegal shops had disrupted the environment and public movement.

City Corporation Administrator Yusuf Molla Tipu said the drive was part of a broader effort to beautify Cumilla and warned that all illegal roadside structures across the city would be removed. Local civic leaders urged continuous monitoring to prevent future encroachments.

Hamdard Laboratories (Waqf) Bangladesh has provided relief and medical assistance to flood-affected families in Pekua and Chakaria upazilas of Cox’s Bazar. The initiative, held on 14 July 2026, was part of the company’s social responsibility program. Relief materials, free prescriptions, and essential medicines were distributed in Ujantia Forkaner Dokan, Sonali Bazar, Sikdar Para, and Chiringa Union.

Local families expressed appreciation for Hamdard’s humanitarian support during the disaster, thanking the organization for standing by them in their time of need. Company officials stated that serving humanity is Hamdard’s core philosophy and that the organization is committed to alleviating suffering during national crises.

The program, overseen by Additional Managing Director and Head of Marketing Professor Kamrun Nahar Harun, was conducted under the guidance of Managing Director and Chief Motawalli Dr. Hakim Md. Yusuf Harun Bhuiyan. Hamdard announced plans to continue its health, education, and social welfare initiatives across the country.

After being closed for eight days due to adverse weather conditions, all tourist destinations in Sajek Valley and across Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati have reopened. The district administration announced the withdrawal of the travel ban through a public notice issued on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the notice, the earlier directive issued on July 7 was revised to allow tourists to visit Sajek Valley and other local attractions. The administration urged tourists, vehicle drivers, and residents to remain highly cautious while traveling during the current season and to strictly follow all official instructions.

The public notice was signed by District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi, confirming the formal reopening of the region’s tourism activities.

Thirteen people were killed in a severe wildfire that broke out last Thursday in Spain’s southern Andalusia region, with authorities confirming that twelve of the victims were foreign nationals. The confirmation came after autopsies were completed on Tuesday. According to officials, the victims included seven from the United Kingdom, three from Belgium, one from France, and one from the United States, while the remaining victim was a Spanish citizen. All were adults, comprising eight women and five men.

The blaze began in the southeastern province of Almería, a Mediterranean coastal area popular among foreign residents. Strong winds and extreme heat helped the fire spread rapidly through forests and dried vegetation, turning once-picturesque villages into deserted zones. Authorities said the fire, one of Spain’s deadliest in recent years, burned about 7,000 hectares of land and was likely sparked by a fallen power line. The fire has since been brought under control, and residents began returning home on Sunday.

Officials noted that Spain has faced increasingly intense and prolonged heatwaves in recent years, creating conditions that make wildfires more frequent and destructive.

Continuous monsoon rains and hill runoff have triggered intense 'Aphal' waves across the haor regions of Sunamganj, causing widespread damage to homes, schools, and health facilities. Residents in areas such as Tahirpur, Bishwambharpur, and Dharmapasha reported collapsing houses and eroding homesteads. Local victims described losing land and income, with fishermen unable to work and families struggling without government aid.

Experts noted that the destructive waves, once common later in the season, are now appearing earlier due to reduced navigability and deforestation of protective vegetation. Teachers reported that education has been severely disrupted, while communication breakdowns have hindered access to healthcare. Local officials confirmed that several villages are at risk, and emergency measures including sandbag barriers and shelters have been activated.

Authorities have launched a special repair team under each Upazila Executive Officer and opened 1,311 shelters. A new project named CRILIP, with a budget of Tk 1,100 crore across five districts, is set to begin in fiscal year 2026–27 to protect haor residents from future 'Aphal' damage.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for unity beyond political divisions to address Dhaka’s long-standing waste and civic problems. Speaking as chief guest at a Dhaka North City Corporation seminar titled “Waste management of the city is everyone’s responsibility” on Wednesday, he said the capital’s condition cannot be improved by any single person or institution alone.

He noted that Dhaka ranks among the world’s least livable cities and cited poor coordination between RAJUK, WASA, and the power department as major obstacles. Fakhrul emphasized the need to bring the city corporation under a stronger governance structure to ensure control over other agencies. He also highlighted severe water shortages, river pollution, and weak medical waste management, urging restoration of the Buriganga, Turag, and Shitalakshya rivers.

Drawing from his experience as a former municipal chairman, Fakhrul stressed that awareness and civic responsibility must start from families and schools. He expressed a personal desire to see Dhaka clean and green again and urged citizens to take ownership of their city’s cleanliness.

An emergency closed-door meeting was held in Bandarban on Tuesday night to assess flood damage and discuss rehabilitation and infrastructure reconstruction. The session, chaired by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ahidul Islam, took place at the Bandarban Deputy Commissioner's conference room from 8:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. According to a district administration notice, the minister visited the district to review the ongoing flood situation and coordinate response efforts.

During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Saniul Ferdous presented detailed information on the extent of damage across seven upazilas, including roads, bridges, culverts, power infrastructure, agriculture, educational institutions, and homes. He also reported on the progress of rehabilitation activities and the need for government assistance. The state minister then discussed post-flood rehabilitation, infrastructure rebuilding, and restoration of electricity supply with officials from relevant departments.

District administration sources said the meeting emphasized accelerating rehabilitation in affected areas, rebuilding damaged infrastructure, restoring electricity and communication systems, and ensuring necessary support for affected residents. The session aimed to strengthen coordination among departments and determine next steps for managing the ongoing flood crisis.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre reported on Tuesday that water levels in the Surma and Kushiyara rivers of northeastern Bangladesh have begun to recede. The center expects the levels to remain stable for the next 24 hours and to fall further over the following two days, improving flood conditions in low-lying areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj within 24 to 48 hours. Despite this, four points in three rivers across four districts are still flowing above danger levels.

The Meteorological Department said rainfall has decreased nationwide, leading to improved weather conditions, though heavy rain may return to coastal districts and Sylhet from July 17. The government reported that eight districts in Chattogram and Sylhet divisions were severely affected by floods and landslides, impacting over 609,000 people and causing 54 deaths. Relief efforts include cash aid, rice, and dry food distribution, with the army, BGB, and Coast Guard engaged in rescue operations.

The agriculture ministry stated that Aman seedbeds suffered the most damage, and free seeds and fertilizer will be distributed once water recedes. Preparations are underway to create alternative seedbeds using flood-tolerant rice varieties by August 15.