In Saghata upazila of Gaibandha, several illegal brick kilns have been established in violation of national regulations, severely affecting the lives of residents in five nearby villages. Two unlicensed kilns, MSB Bricks and TAB Bricks, operate side by side in the Kathaltali area, producing thick black smoke that damages farmland, roads, and the local environment. Residents report that around 30 tractors and power trolleys transport topsoil from fertile fields to the kilns, causing road collapse and soil degradation.

Farmers and villagers from Satitola, Kathaltali, Baraikandi, Nashirarpra, and Gargaria complain of declining crop yields, damaged roads, and worsening air quality. The kilns operate within densely populated and agricultural zones, despite the 1989 Brick Burning Control Act (amended 2013) prohibiting such activity within one kilometer of farmland or residential areas. None of the kilns have environmental clearance.

Local agricultural officials confirm that crop yields, including Boro rice, are decreasing due to the kilns’ pollution. The Saghata Upazila Executive Officer stated that legal action will be taken once formal requisition is received from the Department of Environment.

Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) reported that recent heavy snowfall and rain have killed 61 people across multiple provinces. According to a report by Tolo News, 110 others were injured and 458 houses were damaged or destroyed. The affected provinces include Kabul, Parwan, Panjshir, Bamiyan, Daikundi, Maidan Wardak, Ghazni, Herat, Ghor, Badghis, Faryab, Sar-e Pol, Balkh, Samangan, and Nuristan.

Residents in several areas said that blocked roads and severe weather have made it difficult to reach hospitals and emergency services. They appealed to the government for urgent assistance. Locals described worsening conditions due to extreme cold and unemployment, with many lacking warm clothing and basic supplies.

Experts warned that Afghanistan needs long-term planning, stronger infrastructure resilience, and improved early warning systems to better handle such disasters, which threaten thousands of lives each winter.

More than 8,000 flights scheduled for the weekend were cancelled as a major winter storm swept across the United States, bringing heavy snow and dangerous ice from east Texas to North Carolina. According to FlightAware, at least 3,400 flights were delayed or cancelled on Saturday and over 5,000 were called off for Sunday. Roughly 140 million people from New Mexico to New England were under winter storm warnings, with forecasters warning that ice damage could rival that of a hurricane.

Snow began falling in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas on Friday as the storm combined with Arctic cold to engulf much of the country. Meteorologist Jacob Asherman described it as the season’s most intense storm, with wind chills dropping below minus 45 degrees Celsius in the Dakotas and Minnesota. The worst conditions were expected in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, where ice could reach an inch thick.

Governors in more than a dozen states declared emergencies or urged residents to stay home. President Donald Trump said federal agencies were coordinating with local officials, while New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani mobilized the city’s sanitation department for large-scale snow removal.

A landslide in Indonesia’s West Bandung region of West Java province has killed seven people and left 82 others missing, according to Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the country’s disaster management agency. The incident occurred in a village in the region following reports of heavy rainfall across Java. Search and rescue operations are being intensified to locate the missing individuals.

The Indonesian Meteorological Department had earlier issued a one-week weather warning for West Java, forecasting heavy rain and adverse conditions starting from Friday. Local officials confirmed that the landslide was triggered by persistent rainfall in the area.

Last month, severe landslides and floods in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh provinces claimed more than 1,170 lives, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of Indonesia’s regions to extreme weather events.

Chuadanga district is experiencing severe cold weather, with temperatures recorded at 10.5 degrees Celsius at 9 a.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2026. The humidity level stood at 94 percent, while at 6 a.m. the temperature was 10.7 degrees Celsius with 96 percent humidity. The cold intensified overnight, disrupting normal life across the district as people struggled to cope with the biting chill and cold northern winds.

Low-income residents were seen lighting straw fires at street corners and tea stalls to stay warm. The cold wave has caused significant hardship for day laborers and outdoor workers. Hospitals in the district have reported an increase in cold-related illnesses, with elderly people and children suffering from pneumonia and diarrhea.

According to the acting officer of the Chuadanga first-class observatory, the temperature and humidity levels confirm the persistence of severe winter conditions in the region.

A severe cold wave has intensified in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar, where the minimum temperature dropped to 10 degrees Celsius on Saturday morning. The biting cold and dense fog have disrupted normal life in both urban and rural areas, affecting daily activities and mobility. The Sreemangal Weather Observation Center recorded the temperature between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.

According to the center’s acting officer, Anisur Rahman, the cold conditions are expected to persist for the next few days. The ongoing chill has led to a rise in cold-related illnesses, with tea garden workers, children, and the elderly suffering the most. The situation has particularly affected laborers who depend on outdoor work for their livelihood.

Local residents are struggling to cope with the cold, and health concerns are mounting as the temperature remains low. Authorities have not yet indicated any immediate relief measures, while forecasts suggest the cold spell may continue.

Road widening and four-lane development work on the Shariatpur–Dhaka highway is continuing despite eight electric poles remaining in the middle of the road. The situation has raised serious safety concerns among drivers, passengers, and local residents, who fear major accidents could occur at any time. The project, approved in 2020 to improve connectivity between Shariatpur and Dhaka via the Padma Bridge, covers 27 kilometers and costs Tk 1,682 crore. Work has progressed slowly over seven years due to various complications.

According to the district Roads and Highways Department, the Rural Electrification Board was formally requested a month ago to remove the poles, followed by several verbal reminders. However, no visible action has been taken, forcing road authorities to proceed with construction. Local residents and drivers have criticized the lack of safety measures, calling the situation dangerous. Officials said the poles were supposed to be removed by contractors who have since absconded, and a new contractor has been appointed to complete the task.

Authorities stated that pole removal work is now in process, but until completed, the highway remains at risk of accidents.

Electricity supply will remain suspended for eleven consecutive hours in multiple areas of Sylhet city on Saturday, January 24, due to transformer repair and transmission line improvement work. The Sylhet Power Development Board’s Sales and Distribution Division 3 announced the outage in a notice signed by its executive engineer. Power will be cut from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. under the 11 kV Police Line and Industry feeders.

The affected areas include the railway station, Kadamtali, Gotatikar, Alampur, the Divisional Commissioner’s office, DIG office, BSCIC industrial area, Bypass Road, South Surma Police Station, Pirijpur, Chandipul, Gaharpur, North East Medical College, Bangabir Road, Baldi, Tetultala, Latipur, Baneshwarpur, Daroga Bari, Lalarchak, Khidirpur, Ahmedpur, Telibazar, Tetli, Atirbari, and Laxmipur, along with nearby localities.

According to the notice, electricity supply will be restored immediately if the maintenance work is completed before the scheduled time.

A landslide triggered by heavy rainfall struck a popular campsite on New Zealand’s North Island, leaving six people, including two teenagers, missing. The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. local time on Thursday near Mount Maunganui on the island’s eastern coast. Rescue operations are underway, with emergency teams using three mechanical excavators to search through mud and debris that buried the site.

Officials warned on Friday that the search could take several days due to the difficult conditions caused by the heavy rain. Witnesses and emergency personnel reported hearing cries for help immediately after the collapse, but no further sounds were heard afterward. Fire and Emergency Assistant National Commander David Guard said debris removal was being carried out slowly and cautiously, describing the area as complex and high-risk.

Authorities confirmed that the search will continue until all missing persons are located. Mount Maunganui is a popular summer destination for hikers and beachgoers, making the disaster particularly concerning for local tourism.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has decided to move all chemical warehouses from the cargo house of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to a safer distance outside the terminal area. The decision follows a devastating fire last year that caused losses worth Tk 900 crore. To implement the relocation, a coordination meeting involving all relevant agencies has been called for January 24.

According to the source, multiple investigation reports submitted after the fire recommended relocating the chemical storage facilities to ensure safety. A CAAB-formed committee reviewed these reports and presented its findings, which were discussed in a meeting chaired by the CAAB chairman on December 4. The committee was instructed to identify two alternative sites for the warehouses and finalize proposals for their development.

Officials said storing hazardous cargo near passenger terminals violates international safety standards and poses risks to flight operations and human lives. The upcoming meeting will evaluate proposed sites based on safety, transport access, and compliance with global standards, aiming to strengthen overall airport safety and prevent future incidents.

The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health has warned that the world has entered an era of 'global water bankruptcy,' as freshwater reserves are being depleted faster than they can be replenished. The report highlights severe water crises already unfolding in cities such as Tehran and Kabul, as well as in many African and Asian countries where natural disasters have damaged sources of safe drinking water.

According to the report, 75 percent of the global population lives in countries where water is unsafe or severely insecure, and around two billion people reside in regions where groundwater levels have dropped so low that land subsidence is occurring. Researcher Professor Kaveh Madani noted that many human-made water supply systems have already reached post-crisis collapse, with several key systems effectively bankrupt. Climate change, melting glaciers, and extreme weather events are accelerating the problem by reducing water storage and intensifying droughts and floods.

The report warns that billions of people will be affected as the crisis deepens, though it remains unclear when the global water system might fully collapse.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Office reported that the intensity of cold has decreased across the country in the latter half of January 2026. Although the first 14 days of the month saw continuous cold waves, no such conditions have been present in recent days. Meteorologist Afroza Sultana stated on Thursday, January 22, that reduced fog, weaker northwesterly winds, and increased humidity have caused temperatures to rise, making the cold less perceptible.

She explained that with less fog, sunlight is reaching the ground more directly, raising daytime temperatures. The flow of cold and dry air from the northwest has been very weak, preventing the formation of new cold waves. While Dhaka and other regions have experienced milder weather, northern areas still feel colder in the early mornings. Currently, mild cold waves persist in Panchagarh and Kurigram districts.

According to the forecast, widespread cold waves are unlikely for the rest of the month, though isolated mild cold spells may occur in a few places. A brief mild cold wave could return in early February.

A massive winter storm named 'Winter Storm Fern' is forecast to strike large parts of the United States this week, potentially affecting around 170 million people with heavy snowfall, power outages, and travel disruptions. The storm is expected to stretch from Texas through the Mid-Atlantic to the northeastern states, bringing freezing air that could push temperatures far below zero in several regions.

Cities including Memphis, Nashville, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York may be blanketed in snow, with some areas possibly experiencing temperatures as low as 40 degrees Celsius below freezing. The Rocky Mountain states are expected to see significant snowfall by Friday, with meteorologists predicting accumulations exceeding 12 inches in some locations. Virginia and Maryland are projected to be among the hardest-hit states.

Emergency declarations have already been issued in several states, including Texas, North Carolina, and South Carolina, as authorities prepare for the storm’s severe impact.

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) suspended the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Japan’s Niigata Prefecture just hours after operations began late Wednesday. The company confirmed Thursday that the reactor remains stable and poses no radioactive risk. The restart followed final approval from Japan’s nuclear regulator, marking the first TEPCO-operated plant to resume since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

TEPCO spokesperson Takashi Kobayashi said an alarm in the monitoring system triggered the precautionary shutdown, and the cause is under investigation. Earlier in the week, the restart had already been delayed due to a technical fault that TEPCO claims has since been resolved. Only one of the plant’s seven reactors was being restarted.

Local opposition remains strong, with about 60 percent of Niigata residents reportedly against the restart. Seven civic groups recently submitted a petition with around 40,000 signatures to TEPCO and regulators, citing earthquake risks and past damage to the facility. Japan is seeking to reduce energy imports and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through renewed use of nuclear power.

A large-scale forest destruction is reportedly taking place in the Inani Range of Ukhia under the Cox’s Bazar South Forest Division. Local sources allege that forest officials, in collaboration with a land-grabbing syndicate, are involved in illegal hill cutting, tree felling, and forest land sales. The syndicate, allegedly led by Range Officer Firoz Al-Amin, has been active for three years, while higher authorities remain silent despite being aware of the situation.

Reports indicate that in areas such as Monkhali, Rajapalong, Jaliapalong, and Choyankhali, trees are being cut and sold, hills leveled, and new houses built on forest land. At least four workers have died during hill cutting, and two elephants have been killed due to deforestation. Locals claim that officials are profiting from illegal land sales and construction, while some officers remain inactive despite witnessing irregularities.

Range Officer Firoz Al-Amin denied direct involvement, stating that minor irregularities occurred alongside development work. The divisional forest officer Abdullah Al-Mamun said an investigation would be launched, and action taken if evidence of involvement is found.