Scientists have identified a new species of giant, long-necked dinosaur named 'Nagatitan' from fossils discovered in northeastern Thailand. The species, officially called 'Nagatitan chayaphumensis', lived between 100 and 120 million years ago, predating the Tyrannosaurus rex by about 40 million years. Measuring 27 meters in length and weighing around 27 tons, it is the largest dinosaur ever found in Southeast Asia and belongs to the herbivorous sauropod family.

The fossils were unearthed a decade ago near a pond in Thailand’s Chaiyaphum province by a team of researchers from the United Kingdom and Thailand. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, was led by Thai PhD researcher Thitiot Sethapanisakul of University College London. Researchers believe Nagatitan may represent Thailand’s “last titan,” as the fossils were found in the youngest rock layers containing dinosaur remains.

The discovery is expected to shed light on how ancient climate changes influenced the evolution of large dinosaurs. Scientists noted that Nagatitan lived during a period of global warming and rising carbon dioxide levels, when giant sauropods adapted to high temperatures and changing vegetation.

Dubai Taxi Company will recruit 6,000 skilled drivers from Bangladesh this year, according to information shared during a courtesy meeting between the company’s delegation and Bangladesh’s Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, in Dhaka on Sunday. Interviews for driver recruitment will begin tomorrow at the Bangladesh-Korea Technical Training Center.

During the meeting, the minister thanked the delegation for prioritizing Bangladeshi drivers and assured full cooperation from the ministry. He urged the company to provide salaries and allowances during the training period in Dubai and requested that doctors, nurses, and other professionals also be recruited from Bangladesh. The company representatives said they currently employ about 15,000 drivers from 27 countries, including around 8,000 Bangladeshis, and plan to screen 1,500 candidates in the initial phase.

State Minister Md. Nurul Haque called for reducing migration costs to within 100,000 taka, noting that many drivers take loans to work abroad. Representatives from Al Anas Overseas, an approved recruiting agency, expressed interest in hiring cleaners, technicians, and mechanics from Bangladesh as well.

The US Treasury Department has withdrawn the temporary waiver that allowed limited purchases of Russian crude oil after the expiry of its one-month term. The waiver had permitted the purchase of Russian oil stranded at sea, but that special allowance has now ended. The measure was originally introduced to stabilize the global energy market amid severe supply disruptions caused by war-related shocks.

According to reports, following US and Israeli attacks that led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, global energy prices surged sharply. Major buyers, including India, used the stranded Russian oil to ease the crisis. With the waiver now lifted, analysts warn that global oil supplies could tighten further, potentially pushing international prices higher.

Experts suggest that the end of this waiver may increase pressure on fuel prices in the United States, where gasoline is already near $4.50 per gallon. India, which had been importing around 2.3 million barrels of Russian oil daily during the waiver period, will now need to seek alternative sources.

Popular Bangladeshi content creator and actress Karina Kaiser has died in Chennai, India, after suffering from liver complications and other health issues. Her body was flown to Dhaka on Friday afternoon via a US-Bangla Airlines flight. According to family sources, three funeral prayers were scheduled in the capital: the first after Maghrib at Banani DOHS Jame Mosque, the second at 8 p.m. at Banani Darbar Sharif Mosque, and the third at 10 p.m. at the Central Shaheed Minar, where fans and colleagues could pay their respects.

A fourth funeral prayer will be held on Monday morning in Abdullahpur, Gazaria upazila of Munshiganj, followed by burial at the family graveyard. Karina gained wide popularity among young audiences through her lively social media presence and realistic content. She also worked in OTT productions and television dramas, earning recognition as both an actress and screenwriter. Her notable works include the web series “Internship” and the film “36-24-36.”

Her untimely death has cast a shadow over the cultural community, with colleagues, directors, and fans expressing grief and condolences online.

Heavy rainfall hit Dhaka early Sunday, May 17, 2026, after dark clouds covered the sky from dawn. The city recorded 24 millimeters of continuous rain by around 7:45 a.m., leading to waterlogging in several neighborhoods. Commuters faced difficulties as streets and alleys became inundated.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, a low-pressure area remains over the southwest and west-central Bay of Bengal, with an associated trough extending into West Bengal and nearby regions. The agency forecast light to moderate rain or thundershowers with temporary gusty or squally winds in many parts of Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions, and at a few places in Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, and Chattogram divisions through Sunday evening.

The weather office further indicated that this pattern of thunderstorms and moderate to heavy rainfall may continue across all divisions until Thursday, May 21, with northern regions likely to experience sustained precipitation over the following five days.

At a daylong training workshop held on Saturday at the YWCA training center in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, speakers said that road safety in Bangladesh is no longer just a transport issue but a critical development concern tied to public health, urban management, rule of law, economy, social security, and citizens’ rights. They emphasized that deaths, injuries, disabilities, and financial losses from road accidents are undermining both family stability and national development.

The event, titled “Role and Partnership of Media in the Draft Integrated Road Safety Act,” was organized by the Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC). Speakers highlighted that Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.6 aims to halve global road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030, while SDG 11.2 stresses safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport for all, particularly for women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable groups.

They further noted that ensuring road safety requires coordinated efforts across transport, health, police, education, local government, infrastructure, and media sectors. A comprehensive road safety law could bring these sectors under a unified framework to ensure responsibility, coordination, and accountability.

Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury has called on citizens to become self-reliant by engaging in productive activities rather than depending solely on government assistance or family cards. He made the remarks on Saturday at the second phase of the family card distribution ceremony held at the Jaintapur Upazila auditorium, presided over by District Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam. A total of 465 women from Nijpat Union received family cards during the event, which was also connected online to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s family card distribution program in Chandpur.

The minister emphasized the importance of agricultural work, poultry farming, and cattle rearing to improve living standards and stated that the government is taking various initiatives to develop skilled manpower. He also announced that a special expatriate card distribution program will begin within two months to help expatriates access government services more easily.

Earlier in the day, the minister inaugurated a flood shelter construction project at Towakul College and launched canal re-excavation work from Piyain Natar Khal Isti Bridge to Sakerpokar Khal in Gowainghat Upazila.

Employment Bank inaugurated its 289th branch in Tongibari, Munshiganj, on Friday at the Institute of Marine Technology conference hall. The event was chaired by the bank’s chairman and former secretary Dr. A.F.M. Matiur Rahman, with Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary A.B.M. Abdus Sattar attending as chief guest. Other guests included the secretaries of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Financial Institutions Division, and local MP Abdus Salam Azad, who officially opened the branch.

In his remarks, Abdus Sattar praised the bank’s strong position in the national banking sector and urged continued efforts toward financial inclusion and job creation. Dr. Matiur Rahman described the new branch as a milestone, encouraging youth, women entrepreneurs, and small business owners to pursue self-employment. MP Abdus Salam Azad highlighted Tongibari’s potential in agriculture, fisheries, and small enterprises, while Secretary Nazma Mobarek noted that the new branch would create employment opportunities, especially for women.

At the end of the ceremony, guests handed over loan checks to local entrepreneurs, marking the branch’s operational launch.

The Society for Asian Circular Innovation Network (SACHIN) officially launched in Dhaka with the goal of promoting circular economy practices across Asia. The inauguration ceremony took place at the BCI Conference Room in Tejgaon, where founder president Preeti Chakraborty said the organization aims to drive sustainable development through research, innovation, policy engagement, and regional cooperation. SACHIN’s slogan, “Think Circular. Innovate Regionally, Impact Globally,” reflects its vision of positioning Asia as a global leader in circular economy and sustainability.

Initially focusing on Bangladesh’s garment industry, SACHIN plans to expand into agriculture, manufacturing, construction, healthcare, plastics, energy, finance, water, and shipbuilding. EuroCham Bangladesh Chairperson Nuria Lopez emphasized that adopting circular economy principles is vital for Bangladesh’s competitiveness and environmental stability. The organization announced future initiatives including an Asian Sustainability Data and AI Portal, Circular Tech Marketplace, SACHIN Academy, and an Asian Circular Economy and Climate Summit.

SACHIN stated that its work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 12, 13, and 17, and called for collaboration among governments, industries, researchers, and youth to build a sustainable and inclusive future for Asia.

International experts have called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the climate crisis a global public health emergency. The appeal came through a report by the independent Pan-European Commission on Health and Climate, which warned that without swift and coordinated action, millions more people could face premature death and severe health risks. The report will be presented to European ministers on Sunday, ahead of the WHO World Health Assembly starting Monday.

The commission stated that climate change has reached a stage requiring classification as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). It cited the spread of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya, heatwaves, floods, food insecurity, and air pollution as major threats. The report also urged an end to fossil fuel subsidies, noting that fossil fuels cause about 600,000 premature deaths annually in Europe while receiving €444 billion in subsidies.

Commission leaders emphasized that climate change poses a direct threat to human survival and health. They called for stronger climate-health assessments, combating misinformation, and making hospitals more resilient and environmentally sustainable.

At a press conference held at the Economic Reporters Forum in Dhaka on Saturday, owners of 26 export-oriented garment factories accused Premier Bank’s Narayanganj branch of creating around Tk 10,500 crore in fake loans using forged sales contracts, falsified back-to-back letters of credit, and illegal foreign currency transactions. The owners alleged that former chairman HBM Iqbal and several bank officials misappropriated funds through these irregularities, which were not detected in previous audits or Bangladesh Bank inspections.

The affected business owners said that since 2017, some bank officials used fake IDs to open multiple back-to-back LCs without importing raw materials, later showing the liabilities as loans under the companies’ names. They claimed that forced and demand loans were created without consent, violating Bangladesh Bank’s foreign exchange guidelines. Many factories have since shut down, and the owners demanded an independent forensic audit and intervention from Bangladesh Bank and the finance ministry.

Premier Bank’s current chairman, Arifur Rahman, stated that a forensic audit is underway and nearing completion, after which the actual liabilities and responsible parties will be identified.

Prime Minister’s Economic and Planning Adviser Professor Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir has rejected claims that the government is printing money, calling such allegations baseless. Speaking on Saturday at a pre-budget shadow parliament at FDC focused on inflation control, he said the government is prioritizing investment and employment and has taken special initiatives to reopen closed factories.

Titumir stated that during the previous administration, income levels fell sharply, pushing many lower-middle-class families below the poverty line and causing social fragmentation. He accused the former government of borrowing heavily under the guise of infrastructure development and engaging in corruption, while manipulating data to portray false progress. He added that the current administration will ensure transparency by making all Bureau of Statistics data publicly accessible.

He emphasized that the government aims to democratize the economy and avoid handing over sectors to syndicates. At the same event, Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron said the government is moving toward a universal social protection program to improve the lives of marginalized groups.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Textiles and Jute, Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, emphasized that sustaining the long-term competitiveness of the country’s ready-made garment and textile industry requires prioritizing sustainable production, innovation, research, and product diversification. Speaking as chief guest at the inauguration of the Textile Innovation Exchange held at Le Méridien in Dhaka on Saturday, he said sustainability is no longer a slogan but a necessity for the industry’s survival and future.

The minister noted that Bangladesh’s natural resources are limited, making efficient use of energy, water, and raw materials essential through circular production and effective management. He warned that the country’s export base remains narrow and must expand into high-value segments such as sportswear, man-made fiber apparel, and technical textiles to remain globally competitive. He also highlighted the need for research, design development, skill enhancement, and modern technology adoption.

Muktadir added that the government will repurpose closed factories through industrial parks, public-private partnerships, or leasing to attract new investment. He said other promising sectors like leather, light engineering, and shipbuilding will be revitalized through technology, skills, and international collaboration.

Iraq announced that it exported around 10 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz in April, according to Oil Minister Bassem Mohammed. The report highlights that despite recent war-related tensions and concerns over maritime security in the region, oil shipments through this vital route have continued without disruption.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy transport corridors. Analysts noted that even amid ongoing instability in the Middle East, the strait continues to serve as a stable and indispensable route for global energy supply. Iraq’s oil minister also indicated that the country is in discussions with OPEC to increase both production and exports.

The continued flow of oil through the strait suggests resilience in global energy logistics despite regional security challenges, reinforcing the strategic importance of this maritime passage for international trade.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury stated that it will take another two years to restore Bangladesh’s fragile economy, which was left in a deteriorated state by previous governments. He made the remarks on Saturday morning while inaugurating a new building of the Mother and Child Hospital in Agrabad, Chattogram.

The minister explained that the current government faced a major global crisis immediately after taking office due to the war in the Middle East. He said the energy sector alone required Tk 40,000 crore in the upcoming fiscal year, while an additional Tk 50,000 crore was spent within two months on the power sector and foreign loan repayments. He acknowledged that the national economy remains in a difficult position.

Amir Khosru also criticized past administrations for misusing health sector allocations and pledged that the current government would ensure proper monitoring of funds. He emphasized that the government would not interfere in medical colleges or other professional institutions to preserve their integrity and educational standards.