A massive wildfire that spread across Japan’s Iwate region has finally been brought under control after 11 days of continuous efforts by firefighters and military personnel. Officials said it was the country’s second-largest wildfire in 30 years, burning about 1,600 hectares of mountainous forest—roughly five times the size of Central Park. According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, at least eight buildings were damaged and two people sustained minor injuries, while thousands were evacuated for safety.

Otsuchi Mayor Kozo Hirano stated that the fire was contained through extensive aerial and ground operations combined with heavy rainfall, though he warned that small pockets of fire might still remain. Kyodo News also described the blaze as Japan’s second-largest in three decades.

Experts noted that increasingly dry winters are heightening wildfire risks. Scientists have long warned that climate change driven by fossil fuel use is intensifying droughts, potentially leading to more severe wildfires in the future.

Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain has emphasized the importance of citizen awareness in resolving the city’s waterlogging problem. During an inspection of the month-long canal and drain cleaning campaign in East Madarbari, West Madarbari, and Pathantuli wards, he said that a clean city cannot be achieved by the corporation alone and that residents must act responsibly.

The mayor noted that indiscriminate dumping of plastic, polythene, and waste undermines cleaning efforts. He mentioned that a sluice gate is under construction by the Water Development Board in Gulzar Khal, and temporary embankments have caused short-term waterlogging in nearby areas, including Agrabad Commercial Area. He expressed regret for the inconvenience and said the Bangladesh Army’s 34 Engineering Brigade and the Water Development Board have been instructed to complete the work quickly.

Dr. Hossain added that once the sluice gate and canal renovation projects are completed, waterlogging will significantly decrease. He urged citizens, local representatives, and political activists to maintain cleanliness and build a culture of weekly cleaning to make Chattogram more livable.

Titas Gas authorities have announced a temporary suspension of gas supply in several areas of Dhaka, including Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and nearby localities. The company issued a statement on Sunday, May 3, expressing regret for the disruption and explaining the cause of the outage.

According to the statement, a pipeline of Titas Gas was damaged during work by Dhaka Wasa on the Gulshan-Badda Link Road. To prevent possible damage to life and property, the gas valves were closed and repair work on the leakage is underway. As a result, gas supply in the affected areas remains suspended.

The company has not specified when the repair work will be completed or when gas supply will resume in the affected neighborhoods.

Heavy rainfall and upstream water flow have caused severe waterlogging in Valuka upazila of Mymensingh, submerging 260 hectares of Boro paddy fields. Many farmers are unable to harvest their crops despite offering higher wages, while some have abandoned hopes of saving their harvests. The flooding has left local farmers in distress as their nearly ripe paddy fields remain underwater.

Farmer Fayez reported that his 21 decimals of paddy land were almost completely submerged, and he had to pay 5,000 taka in wages to harvest what little could be saved. Another farmer, Mostufa, said his 1.5 acres of paddy were fully underwater just a week before ripening, after investing 45,000 taka in cultivation. He expressed despair over how to sustain his family after the loss.

According to Agriculture Officer Nusrat Jaman, Boro paddy was cultivated on 18,670 hectares in Valuka this year. Of that, 3,174 hectares have been harvested, while 260 hectares are completely destroyed by flooding.

Bangladesh’s Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid announced that 12,333,840 animals are available for sacrifice ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. The figure includes 5,695,878 cows and buffaloes, 6,632,307 goats and sheep, and 5,655 other species such as camels and dumba. The announcement was made at a press conference held on Sunday at the Secretariat, attended by State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku.

According to the minister, the national demand for sacrificial animals this year is estimated at 10,106,334, leaving a surplus of 2,227,506 animals. Last year, the total availability was 12,447,337 animals, with 9,136,734 slaughtered, resulting in a surplus of 3,310,000. The minister said the data shows Bangladesh has no shortage of sacrificial animals and can meet national demand without imports.

He added that consistent government policy support and the growth of the livestock sector have made the country self-sufficient, benefiting local farmers through fair prices and contributing to economic strength.

Seven member countries of the OPEC Plus alliance are meeting today to determine new oil production quotas. This is the first meeting since the United Arab Emirates (UAE) officially withdrew from both OPEC and the broader OPEC Plus group last Friday. The meeting follows the UAE’s decision, announced on April 28, to leave the alliance due to dissatisfaction with production limits.

The UAE, one of the world’s major oil producers, had long expressed discontent over the quotas set by the alliance. Analysts cited this ongoing disagreement as the main reason behind its departure. The current meeting is expected to address production adjustments among the remaining members.

According to reports, the seven participating countries may decide to increase daily oil output by about 188,000 barrels. Such a move could influence global oil supply and prices, depending on how markets respond to the new quotas.

NASA has released new satellite images showing that Mexico City is sinking at an alarming rate of nearly ten inches per year. The sprawling metropolis, covering about 7,800 square kilometers and home to roughly 22 million people, was built on the surface of an ancient lake. Many of its central streets were once canals, and the city’s foundation is now suffering from severe subsidence.

According to NASA’s latest report, some areas, including the main airport and the Angel of Independence monument, are sinking at an average rate of 0.78 inches per month. Geophysicist Enrique Cabral from the National Autonomous University of Mexico noted that the city has sunk more than 39 feet in less than a century due to excessive groundwater extraction and urban development. The shrinking aquifer has also caused a persistent water shortage.

For decades, authorities have largely ignored the problem except for stabilizing foundations under landmarks such as the Metropolitan Cathedral. Recently, as the water crisis worsens, the government has begun funding further research into the issue.

The historic saline Jhorjhari canal flowing through the southern part of Sitakunda municipality in Chattogram has become nearly dead due to encroachment, pollution, and mismanagement. Once a vital natural drainage route carrying mountain runoff from Chandranath Hill to the sea, the canal has lost its navigability and flow, causing severe waterlogging across the area during monsoon rains.

Local residents report that influential groups have occupied sections of the 7.5-kilometer canal, constructing shops, warehouses, and houses along its banks. Unplanned dumping of waste has filled the canal bed, blocking water flow and leading to prolonged flooding in low-lying areas such as Chaudhurypara, Hasan Gomosta Mosque area, Amirabad, and West Mirabad. Homes, roads, and even government offices, including the Upazila Executive Officer’s residence, have been inundated, raising concerns over damage to official documents.

Farmers say hundreds of acres of crops are destroyed annually due to waterlogging, harming the local economy. The Upazila Executive Officer stated that proposals have been sent under the national canal excavation program to restore the Jhorjhari and other canals once funding is approved.

Heavy and prolonged rainfall across Bangladesh has submerged vast areas of ripe Boro paddy fields, leaving farmers in distress over crop losses and loan repayments. In several districts including Sunamganj, Habiganj, Netrakona, Mymensingh, Jamalpur, and others, floodwaters have inundated low-lying lands and haor regions, damaging both ripe and half-ripe crops. Many farmers, who cultivated Boro paddy with borrowed money, are now forced to harvest immature crops to minimize losses. District administrations have formed emergency monitoring cells to address the disaster, while local agricultural offices are preparing lists of affected farmers.

In Sunamganj alone, about 20,000 hectares of farmland have been damaged, with 2,000 hectares completely destroyed, affecting over 20,000 farmers. Similar devastation has been reported from Habiganj, Naogaon, Mymensingh, and Jamalpur, where continuous rain and flash floods have caused widespread crop submersion. Farmers are struggling to dry harvested paddy due to lack of sunlight, and many have lost hope as floodwaters continue to rise.

Officials have begun assessing the extent of damage, but persistent rain and waterlogging continue to threaten remaining crops and delay recovery efforts.

A newly built bridge on the Majhigacha–Nindapur Ronger Bazar connecting road in Kachua, Chandpur, has started collapsing before its official inauguration. The approach to the 12-meter RCC girder bridge, built under the ‘Program for Supporting Rural Bridges’ project funded by the Bangladesh government and the World Bank, has partially caved in. The project, costing about 23.17 million taka, was implemented by contractor firm Messrs Harun & Sons. Field inspection revealed soil erosion under the guardwalls and large cracks and holes on the connecting road.

Local residents, including Abul Kalam Shikdar, Hazrat Ali, and Jilani, accused the contractor of using substandard materials and ignoring proper construction schedules. They claimed to have repeatedly complained to the Upazila Engineer and Assistant Engineer without any response. Residents demanded intervention from higher authorities of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED).

Upazila Engineer Abdul Alim Liton stated that parts of the structure were damaged by rain and that the issue is under investigation. He added that the contractor has not yet received full payment, and the final bill will be settled after quality verification.

The Tk 232 crore Muhuri Irrigation Project, completed in June 2024 across Feni and Chattogram’s Mirsarai areas, has failed to deliver expected benefits to local farmers. The project, approved in 2014 under the government’s Irrigation Management Improvement Project with Asian Development Bank support, aimed to irrigate 18,000 hectares through 850 underground pipeline schemes. However, only 338 schemes are operational, and just 3,000 hectares have received irrigation so far.

Flooding in 2024 severely damaged pumps, pipelines, prepaid meters, and electrical systems, halting irrigation despite formal handover to farmers. The project also faced disruptions from local extortion groups, theft of equipment, and corruption allegations, including claims of inflated costs and substandard materials. Farmers’ declining interest in irrigation-based crops and theft of electrical components have further hindered operations.

Project Director Md. Rafius Sajjad stated that a group has been deliberately obstructing the project, while flood damage and transformer theft have worsened the situation. Authorities continue to face challenges in restoring full functionality and ensuring the intended agricultural benefits.

A global energy crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict has severely disrupted Bangladesh’s industrial sector, with gas, electricity, and fuel shortages putting immense pressure on production. Export earnings have fallen for eight consecutive months, marking an unprecedented decline in the country’s history. In March 2026, export income dropped by over 18 percent year-on-year to 3.48 billion dollars, compared to 4.25 billion dollars in March 2025.

Business leaders and economists attribute the downturn to reduced production capacity, rising costs, and shipment delays that have eroded foreign buyers’ confidence. The ready-made garment sector, which accounts for over 80 percent of export earnings, saw a 5.51 percent decline in the first nine months of the fiscal year. Vietnam has overtaken Bangladesh as the world’s second-largest apparel exporter, earning 82 million dollars more in 2025.

Industry associations report that many factories in Gazipur, Savar, Ashulia, and Narayanganj have lost up to 30 percent of production capacity due to power and fuel shortages. Economists warn that unless the energy crisis eases soon, Bangladesh’s export-dependent economy could face deeper challenges.

U.S. low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines announced an immediate shutdown of its global operations on Saturday after last-minute talks with lenders and the White House collapsed. The airline canceled all flights and suspended customer service, citing a severe financial crisis driven by rising fuel costs and other business pressures. American Airlines, Delta, United, and JetBlue quickly launched rescue efforts, offering discounted fares and additional flights to accommodate stranded passengers. Some airlines also began assisting and recruiting Spirit’s employees.

Spirit, which had about 7,500 employees by the end of last year, had faced multiple bankruptcy proceedings since 2024. The company promised refunds to affected passengers. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said President Donald Trump made every effort to keep the airline afloat but noted that the outcome depended on lenders’ decisions. Labor unions criticized the shutdown, warning that the burden would fall on pilots, cabin crew, and mechanics.

Analysts said the airline’s collapse could reshape the U.S. low-cost travel market, as rising jet fuel prices following Middle East tensions delivered the final blow to an already weakened carrier.

After a 14-year hiatus, Iraq has resumed crude oil exports through Syria via the Al-Yarubiyah border crossing. A convoy of 70 oil tankers entered Syrian territory en route to the Baniyas refinery on the Mediterranean coast, according to Syria’s state news agency SANA. Syrian border official Feras Rustam described the reopening as a strategic step to strengthen economic ties between Iraq and Syria.

Rustam added that the decision is expected to make trade and energy supply more efficient and foster long-term partnership between the two nations. The move comes as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed due to the ongoing Israel-United States conflict with Iran, prompting Iraq to seek alternative export routes.

The Al-Yarubiyah crossing, known as Rabia on the Iraqi side, was closed in 2011 following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war and later seized by ISIS in 2014. It was reopened after Kurdish forces regained control of the area, restoring a key link between the two countries.

Bangladesh’s economy is increasingly pressured by global energy market volatility and internal structural weaknesses, according to experts speaking at a webinar titled “Economy Trapped in Energy Crisis,” organized by the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) on Saturday. Participants said rising fuel prices, a prolonged dollar shortage, and import dependence are affecting production, agriculture, transport, and daily life. They questioned whether the situation is a temporary shock or a sign of a deeper energy trap.

Speakers including former energy secretary A.K.M. Zafar Ullah Khan, former Bangladesh Agricultural University vice-chancellor Sattar Mandal, and industry leaders discussed the severity of the crisis and possible solutions. They noted that supply constraints, panic buying, and limited storage capacity have worsened the situation. Khan emphasized the need for uninterrupted supply despite price fluctuations, while Mandal highlighted growing diesel demand in agriculture. Trade Services International chairman Syed Mahmudul Haque warned of rising national financial pressure from global oil price hikes.

Participants suggested expanding renewable energy use and accelerating gas exploration. PPRC executive chairman Hossain Zillur Rahman cautioned that bureaucratic delays could hinder timely policy action.