Typhoon Dolphin struck eastern China on Sunday evening, prompting authorities to move more than one million people to safety from Shanghai and other areas. China’s weather authority said the storm first made landfall in Yuhuan, Zhejiang province, at about 5:30 p.m. local time, with maximum winds of 150 kilometres per hour. About an hour later, it made a second landfall in the city of Wenzhou.

Transport across the region was severely disrupted after the typhoon hit the coast. About 1,400 flights were cancelled in Shanghai alone. Authorities had earlier issued the highest-level red alert for Dolphin, but downgraded the warning to a tropical storm on Monday morning.

The storm is moving farther inland, while authorities have maintained warnings through Wednesday over risks of torrential rain, severe flooding and landslides. Heavy rain is forecast on Monday in Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, as well as Shanghai. Local administrations urged residents to stay indoors unless necessary. Parts of Shanghai Disneyland and Legoland, along with several tourist sites and observation platforms in the Bund area, were closed.

Bangladesh’s Meteorological Department said a new low-pressure area may form over the central Bay of Bengal on August 13 or the following day, potentially bringing heavy to very heavy rain across the country from August 14. Rainfall is expected to increase in the northeast from Monday and shift toward southern areas from Wednesday after several relatively drier days.

Meteorologist Tariful Newaz Kabir said rain may increase from Monday in Rangpur, Mymensingh, Sylhet and Chattogram divisions before moving southward. Meteorologist Dr Abul Kalam Mallik said rainfall could rise again from August 12 or 13, with heavy to very heavy showers potentially beginning nationwide from August 15 and continuing for several days. Heavy rain is considered unlikely in Dhaka before August 15.

The evening forecast said light to moderate rain or thunderstorms with gusty winds are likely in multiple divisions on Monday and Tuesday, with moderate heavy to heavy falls possible in places. Rangamati recorded 99 millimetres of rain on Sunday, while Rajshahi recorded the highest temperature at 36.0 degrees Celsius. Water at the Fenchuganj station on the Kushiyara River is flowing above the danger level.

Hong Kong recorded a temperature of 36.9 degrees Celsius at 3:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, its highest since weather records began in 1884, according to the Hong Kong Observatory cited by China’s state media Xinhua. The record was reported as a heatwave gripped the city.

The Observatory said the unusual heat was caused by descending airflow associated with Typhoon Dolphin. The temperature reading surpassed all previous records in Hong Kong’s weather history since systematic records were first kept 142 years ago.

Intense heat may continue over the next several days, with temperatures in some areas expected to exceed 37 degrees Celsius, the Observatory said. Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in China’s eastern Zhejiang province on Sunday afternoon.

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, or BAPA, called for waste to be treated as a resource, energy source and economic opportunity rather than a burden at a seminar at the National Press Club’s Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah Hall on August 9. Speakers said Bangladesh needs integrated, low-cost and locally manageable solutions for municipal waste management. The seminar was chaired by BAPA President Professor Dr Nur Mohammad Talukdar.

In the keynote paper, waste-management specialist Dr Nasir Uddin Khan said the existing system is largely based on collection, transport and dumping, leaving recycling, resource recovery and energy generation opportunities underused. Large volumes of waste end up in open spaces, wetlands and water bodies, increasing pressure on the environment and economy. He cited methane emissions, pollution of rivers and water bodies, waterlogging, air pollution, dengue and other public-health risks.

Speakers stressed simple technology, domestic investment and local participation. A Dhaka North City Corporation official said its waste-to-energy project could receive 3,000 tonnes of waste daily when fully operational and could generate 42 to 45 megawatts of electricity. BAPA also called for a national roadmap for overall waste management.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is pursuing sustainable rather than cheap development, citing an initiative to plant 250 million trees across Bangladesh over the next five years. Swapan made the remarks on Sunday morning while inaugurating a tree-planting campaign and tree fair at Bells Park field in Barishal city. The plan calls for planting 50 million trees annually, with tree fairs being organised nationwide to support the target.

The minister said people in the southern region understand the effects of climate change, pointing to changes in rainfall, sunshine, temperature and water levels. He described Bangladesh as one of the world’s most vulnerable countries and said coastal areas would face the greatest risks. He also said the problem requires a global solution.

Swapan warned that temperatures could become unsuitable for habitation if people are not conscious about energy use. He urged public cooperation with Forest Department initiatives and called for greater recognition of afforestation and greening. He later visited nurseries participating in the fair, where 50 nurseries from different districts are taking part. The Barishal divisional tree fair will run daily from 9am to 10pm.

Authorities in Canada’s western province of British Columbia declared a state of emergency after rapidly spreading wildfires forced more than 20,000 people to move to safety. The fire intensified on the night before Saturday. Strong winds late Friday caused the Bald Range wildfire to spread quickly, reaching the Summerland area and affecting communities in surrounding valleys.

British Columbia Premier David Eby said Saturday that several homes and properties had suffered significant damage. He said some people had also been trapped as conditions changed rapidly. Kelly Greene, the province’s minister of emergency management and climate readiness, declared the emergency as the situation worsened. CTV News reported that more than 50 people from the Fouldar area were evacuated by air as the fire advanced quickly.

Eby said air evacuations were under way to rescue people isolated within the fire perimeter. The first wildfire report emerged early Friday evening, and Eby warned that the blaze remained highly active on Saturday, with major challenges still ahead. Prime Minister Mark Carney thanked firefighters and frontline emergency workers and said the federal government was ready to provide necessary support and assistance to the British Columbia government.

A firefighting helicopter crashed while working to contain a severe wildfire in Utah, killing the pilot and one crew member. The crash occurred at about 10 a.m. local time on Friday near the Three Creeks Reservoir area, southwest of Richfield.

The National Interagency Fire Center confirmed the deaths of the two crew members on Saturday. Rescue personnel could not reach the crash site for more than 24 hours because of the remote mountainous terrain and intense fire conditions. Their bodies were later recovered.

Authorities ordered local residents to move to safety because of the wildfire and imposed travel restrictions on several roads. Firefighting operations were temporarily suspended after the crash but later resumed. More than 111,000 acres have already burned in the wildfire.

A recent study has found high levels of microplastics and toxic heavy metals in sediment from the Kushiyara River in Beanibazar, Sylhet. Reported on August 9, researchers from the Environmental Science and Technology Department collected samples down to 30 centimetres deep from nine populated points along the river. Tests found up to 4,300 microplastic particles per kilogram of sediment, with an average of 2,800 particles per kilogram.

Microplastics were detected at depths of 10 to 30 centimetres, alongside high toxicity levels of chromium, nickel, copper, lead and cadmium. The river sediment was classified as having “very high” pollution, or Class V, under the environmental risk index. The report said fish and other aquatic animals consume microplastics, allowing toxic metals to enter the human food chain and potentially contribute to cancer and other complex illnesses.

Waste from riverbank areas and connected canals is entering the Kushiyara, the report said. Fisherman Javed said catches have declined and water quality has worsened. Fisheries officer Hasibul Hasan called for scientific waste management and pollution-free river flow. Water Development Board engineer Amir Hossain Khan said reduced current has lowered the river's erosion, transport capacity and depth, urging waste removal, public awareness and an end to dumping.

Bangladesh’s Meteorological Department said Saturday that a new low-pressure system has formed over the Bay of Bengal, with rainfall likely to increase nationwide after August 12. Another low-pressure system could bring heavy to very heavy rain across the country from August 15 for several days. The system was located over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Odisha coast.

Meteorologist Dr Abul Kalam Mallik said rainfall may remain relatively limited for the next three to four days under the influence of monsoon winds and the low pressure, before increasing on August 12 or 13. He said rain in the capital is unlikely before August 15, apart from occasional light showers. In the 24 hours ending 6pm Saturday, Dhaka recorded one millimetre of rain, while Bhola recorded the highest total, 74 millimetres.

The Kushiyara River was flowing above the danger level at Fenchuganj in Sylhet, although flooding in adjacent low-lying areas may remain stable over the next 24 to 48 hours. Water levels in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna are rising and may cross warning levels in several districts, prompting authorities to urge caution in river basins.

State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad said work on a pilot project under the Teesta Master Plan will begin within a short time. He made the announcement to journalists at Chilmari Port on Saturday afternoon after visiting river erosion-affected areas in Chilmari, Ulipur, Roumari and Rajibpur of Kurigram. A technical committee has started work on implementing the master plan, while advice is being sought from specialists from different countries.

Azad said the Teesta project is large and cannot be implemented in a single day. He noted that the government is only five months old and asked for some time. He said work on the master plan would soon start as a pilot project.

The minister also said two projects have been taken up in Kurigram for permanent embankment construction and river erosion prevention. Emergency work is already under way in nearly 100 erosion-affected locations in the district. He said no partisan consideration would be applied in efforts to prevent river erosion. Local lawmakers, district administration officials, a Water Development Board engineer and political leaders were present during the visit.

Bangladesh’s Forest Department rescued and released an olive ridley sea turtle that had become stranded on a new sandbar in Magdhara Union beside the Sandwip Channel in Chattogram. The turtle was released into the channel at 7 pm on Saturday after a video circulated on social media. Forest officials and the upazila administration acted following instructions from Upazila Nirbahi Officer Amzad Hossain.

Local resident Mizan found the large turtle on land on Friday morning while taking cattle to the sandbar. Fearing it could die without water, he moved it to a water-filled pit inside a nearby keora forest. Another resident, Nuruzzaman, recorded and shared a video calling for the animal to be returned quickly to the sea.

Sandwip Range Officer Nizam Uddin said the department took immediate action after receiving the information. Experts identified the animal as an olive ridley, listed globally as endangered by the IUCN. Professor Mohammad Moslem Uddin said the species may weigh 50 to 100 kilograms. The local administration praised residents for helping save the turtle.

A new low-pressure system has formed over the Bay of Bengal, and Bangladesh’s Meteorological Department says rainfall may increase after August 12. Another low-pressure system could bring heavy to very heavy rain across the country for several days from August 15, according to a forecast published on August 8. The system is located over the southwest Bay of Bengal and the adjacent north Odisha coast.

Meteorologist Dr Abul Kalam Mallik said rain activity may remain lower over the next three to four days before increasing again from August 12 or 13. He said Dhaka has little chance of rainfall before August 15, apart from occasional light rain. In the 24 hours ending 6pm Saturday, Dhaka recorded one millimetre of rain, while Bhola recorded the highest total, 74 millimetres.

The Kushiyara River was flowing above the danger level at the Fenchuganj station in Sylhet. Water levels in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna system are rising and may cross warning levels in parts of several districts within 24 hours, temporarily flooding low-lying areas. Authorities advised caution in river basins as they monitor river and flood conditions.

Typhoon Dolphin left more than 50,000 buildings without electricity in Japan’s southern Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures and injured at least six people, according to a report published on August 8. Five elderly people were injured in Okinawa on Saturday, including three who fell in strong winds, while one other person was hurt in Kagoshima. Local authorities said none of the injuries was serious.

About 39,000 buildings lost power in Kagoshima and just over 12,000 in Okinawa. The typhoon’s maximum sustained winds reached 162 kilometres per hour, with gusts up to 216 kilometres per hour. ANA and Japan Airlines cancelled several flights to and from Okinawa, while Okinawa and the Amami Islands in Kagoshima were expected to be among the areas most affected.

China issued its second-highest orange typhoon warning and raised its emergency response to Level 3 ahead of a possible landfall between Sunday night and Monday morning. Zhejiang closed port operations and suspended 162 passenger ferry routes, while Ningbo Lishe International Airport suspended all Sunday flights. Taiwan cancelled 78 international flights, and heavy rain and strong winds may affect eastern China through August 12.

Capital Development Authority (RAJUK) Chairman Engineer Md Riazul Islam said authorities are identifying defects in Dhaka buildings and taking action in phases to reduce earthquake risk. He made the remarks on Saturday morning at a discussion titled “Country at Earthquake Risk: What We Should Do,” organized by the Dhaka Utility Reporters Association at the National Press Club. He said building collapse risks stem not only from height, but also flawed designs, soil conditions and construction irregularities.

Because Dhaka has a large number of buildings, RAJUK cannot assess all risks at once, he said. The authority plans rapid visual assessments, preliminary engineering assessments and detailed engineering assessments in stages. It is also pursuing a research institution for pre-earthquake risk assessment, public awareness and future research. Riazul Islam said unauthorized additions, such as raising an approved six-storey building to 10 storeys, or construction after design changes, would not be allowed.

He called for coordinated work by city corporations, disaster management authorities, the fire service and other agencies. Fire Service Deputy Director Saleh Uddin said 41 fire stations around Dhaka have been airmarked and special response teams are prepared, while stressing that preparedness remains insufficient. Speakers emphasized compliance with the Bangladesh National Building Code, regular drills, oversight and public awareness.

Agriculture and Fisheries-Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said the government plans to establish freshwater fish sanctuaries in haors, beels, rivers and water bodies to increase the breeding and production of native freshwater fish. He made the announcement after inspecting Achmita George Institute Stadium in Katiadi on Saturday, ahead of the prime minister's scheduled Kishoreganj visit on August 16.

Under the plan, large pits and channels will be created in haor and wetland areas and reserved for brood fish. Guards will be assigned to prevent fishing inside the sanctuaries. The minister said native freshwater fish production has declined as pesticide and chemical fertilizer use in agriculture has increased and breeding grounds for brood fish have been damaged.

The programme, named “Freshwater Fish Sanctuary,” is due to begin implementation from the next season. Its plan has already been finalized and a budget has been set, the minister said. He added that secure shelter for brood fish would expand breeding opportunities and egg production, gradually increasing native fish output. Relevant stakeholders believe the initiative could also help conserve fish species facing extinction risks in haor regions.