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.

In Dubai, widespread job losses have followed the outbreak of war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Migrant workers, including domestic helpers and accountants, are struggling to find employment as the city’s tourism- and aviation-driven economy suffers from Iranian missile and drone attacks. Many wealthy expatriates have left, while low- and middle-income workers face layoffs and pay cuts. The government has released little data on the economic damage, though the UAE’s economy and tourism minister described the disruption as temporary.

Workers from countries such as the Philippines, India, Egypt, and Cameroon report severe financial strain, with some unable to send remittances home. A ManpowerGroup survey found that one in four employers plans to reduce staff in the third quarter of 2026. Dubai Investments’ CEO expressed confidence in the city’s resilience, citing its history of recovery from crises. However, the downturn’s impact is extensive, threatening livelihoods and remittance flows across Asia and Africa.

Although a ceasefire between the United States and Iran has been reached, uncertainty over renewed conflict continues to weigh on Dubai’s labor market and economic outlook.

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.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said the government is tirelessly distributing relief to flood-affected people, but ensuring their rehabilitation will be the biggest challenge. He made the remarks on Friday, July 17, 2026, while speaking to journalists after distributing relief at West Amirabad Government Primary School field in Lohagara, Chattogram. The minister stated that around 700,000 people in Chattogram district have been affected by the floods, and relief has already reached about 100,000 individuals through coordinated government efforts.

He emphasized that the government is focusing on agriculture, fisheries, livestock, housing, and health sectors to restore livelihoods. Efforts are underway to assist farmers, fish farmers, and poor families whose crops, livestock, and homes were damaged. Measures are also being taken to ensure medical treatment for those suffering from flood-related diseases.

The minister praised charitable individuals, social organizations, and voluntary institutions for their contributions and urged everyone to continue supporting rehabilitation activities as part of their humanitarian responsibility.

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.

Badiur Rahman has been elected chairman of the board of directors of Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC, while Selim Rahman has been chosen as chairman of the bank’s executive committee. The decisions were made unanimously at the bank’s 464th emergency board meeting held on Thursday.

Badiur Rahman, one of the founding directors of the bank, previously served as chairman from 2008 to 2016, during which the bank achieved notable growth. He is also a director of several business and social organizations, including AIBL Capital Market Services Limited, Central Hospital Limited, and Hardco International School. Upon assuming his new role, he noted that the appointment comes at a challenging time, as Bangladesh Bank has again appointed an observer to the institution, and he expressed hope for renewed progress with collective effort.

Selim Rahman, the newly elected executive committee chairman, is the managing director of KDS Group and has previously served two terms as chairman of Al-Arafah Islami Bank in 2021 and 2024. He is also the first vice president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

An amateur metal detectorist in northern Poland has discovered a remarkably well-preserved bronze sword estimated to be 2,700 years old. The weapon was found standing upright beneath clay soil in the Gdańsk Forest District near the Baltic Sea coast. The Pomeranian Provincial Heritage Conservator confirmed the discovery in early June through a Facebook post, describing it as an exceptional Bronze Age find dating between 900 and 700 BCE.

Archaeologists and heritage officials retrieved the artifact following proper excavation procedures. Photos released by the conservator show the sword intact and in excellent condition. The discoverer, Marcin Wiśniewski, had previously found Bronze Age treasures in the same region and promptly reported this find to authorities. Officials noted that similar swords were last uncovered in the 1920s but were lost during World War II.

The sword will be transferred to a museum for laboratory analysis before experts release detailed findings. The specific museum has not yet been decided, according to the provincial heritage office.

A team of astronomers has discovered a rocky exoplanet named LHS 1140b that shows clear evidence of an atmosphere, marking the first confirmed detection of such a feature on a potentially habitable rocky planet. The finding, published in the journal Science, indicates that the planet, located several light-years from our solar system, possesses a helium-rich atmosphere. Although no direct evidence of life has been found, researchers say the planet contains essential conditions for life, including a rocky surface, suitable temperature for liquid water, and an atmosphere.

LHS 1140b, first discovered in 2017, orbits a relatively quiet red dwarf star within its habitable zone, allowing the possibility of liquid water on its surface. The planet is larger and colder than Earth and completes an orbit in less than 25 days, always showing the same face to its star. Observations made in 2024 at Chile’s Las Campanas Observatory revealed helium escaping from its upper atmosphere, but this was not observed in 2025.

Scientists believe this discovery is a major step toward understanding planetary atmospheres and the search for life beyond Earth.

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.

Bangladesh’s position in the European Union’s apparel export market has weakened significantly in early 2026. According to Eurostat data, from January to May 2026, Bangladesh recorded the steepest decline among the EU’s top ten garment suppliers. The country’s apparel exports to the EU fell by 18.89 percent to 7.28 billion euros, with export volume down 10.46 percent and average unit price dropping 9.41 percent. In May alone, export earnings declined 17.12 percent, reflecting both lower demand and falling prices.

The overall EU apparel import market contracted by 9.96 percent year-on-year to 33.84 billion euros, driven by a 6.46 percent drop in import volume and a 3.74 percent fall in average prices. While Bangladesh suffered the most, competitors such as China and Vietnam showed more resilience. China’s export value fell only 4.20 percent while its shipment volume rose 1.96 percent, and Vietnam maintained higher income through increased unit prices.

Analysts cited in the report view Bangladesh’s simultaneous decline in both export volume and price as a sign of deeper structural challenges in competitiveness, product diversification, and market strategy. They warned that prolonged weakness in the EU market could negatively affect the country’s overall economy unless efficiency and product value are improved.

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.

Global crude oil prices increased following continued retaliatory attacks between the United States and Iran. On Friday, the international benchmark Brent crude rose by more than one percent, surpassing 85 dollars per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed to nearly 80 dollars. The gains erased the previous day's losses in the oil market.

Throughout the week, both Brent and WTI prices rose by about 12 percent. Brent marked its third consecutive week of price increases, and WTI recorded its second straight week of gains. The rise in oil prices also affected stock markets in Asia, where trading turned downward on Friday morning. Japan’s main stock index, the Nikkei 225, fell by more than three percent at the start of the day’s trading.

The report links the oil price surge directly to geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran, which have intensified through ongoing reciprocal attacks.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced that discussions with Bangladesh on a potential new loan will continue over the next few months. The talks will focus on the size of the loan, the scope of the program, and the reform commitments tied to it. The statement followed a five-day visit to Dhaka by an IMF mission led by Ivo Krznar, which concluded on Thursday. The mission reviewed Bangladesh’s recent economic and financial conditions and discussed the government’s reform priorities.

According to the IMF, Bangladesh’s economic growth may slow to 3.5 percent, and could fall below 3 percent in the medium term if fiscal and banking sector pressures persist. The mission noted that inflationary pressures, rising subsidy costs, and external balance challenges have intensified due to higher global commodity prices and supply disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict. However, remittance inflows remain strong. The IMF emphasized the need for stronger revenue collection, rational subsidy reforms, and targeted social protection to support vulnerable groups.

The IMF also recommended maintaining tight monetary and prudent fiscal policies to control inflation and rebuild reserves, and implementing the 2025 crawling peg exchange rate system to enhance external stability.

Prime Minister’s Special Assistant (Health) Dr. S.M. Ziauddin Haider announced that separate development projects worth about Tk 800 crore have been undertaken for Jhalakathi district. The plan includes construction and improvement of rural roads, bridges, culverts, and other infrastructure. He made the announcement on Thursday morning at a development and assistance distribution meeting held at the Jhalakathi Sadar Upazila Parishad auditorium.

Dr. Haider said that Tk 150 crore has been allocated for building the country’s first Cultural Village in Jhalakathi. Land acquisition has started for a modern sports complex, which has been included in the Annual Development Programme. The complex aims to promote youth sports participation, reduce drug abuse, and create employment opportunities through trainer recruitment. He also mentioned that steps are being taken to protect the Sarengal Bazar area of Keora Union from river erosion and that the process to upgrade Jhalakathi Sadar Hospital to 250 beds is progressing.

At the end of the event, assistance was distributed among people with disabilities, farmers, and families affected by fire incidents.

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.