A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Crete, Greece, early Friday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake occurred at a depth of about 13 kilometers and was centered roughly 11.5 kilometers southeast of the coastal city of Ierapetra. No immediate reports of casualties or damage have been received so far.

The tremor was recorded at 6:18 a.m. local time on April 24, 2026. Greece, known for its numerous islands and popularity among tourists, has experienced several earthquakes in recent years. In June 2025, a 5.3-magnitude quake in northern Greece damaged at least three centuries-old monasteries on Mount Athos, a major religious site.

Authorities have not yet released further details on the latest quake’s impact, and monitoring continues for possible aftershocks or damage assessments.

Bangladesh continues to experience intense heat and humidity as no rainfall was recorded across the country except in Kurigram’s Rajarhat during the past 24 hours, according to the national weather office on Friday, April 24, 2026. The Meteorological Department reported that the ongoing heatwave may persist through Saturday, with temperatures expected to rise further. Dhaka recorded its highest temperature of the season at 37°C, while the country’s highest temperature was 38°C in Jashore.

Meteorologists said that high humidity has intensified the discomfort, and power outages have worsened living conditions. The heatwave, which affected 27 districts earlier in the week, has now reduced to 20 districts, mainly in Khulna, Dhaka, and Rajshahi divisions. The weather office’s five-day forecast predicts that from Sunday, rain or thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds may occur in parts of Rangpur, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions, easing the heatwave.

The forecast suggests that the rainfall trend could continue for several days, gradually reducing the heat intensity across the country.

International oil prices rose sharply as shipping disruptions in the Hormuz Strait intensified. The benchmark Brent crude price exceeded $106 per barrel early Friday, reaching $106.80 by 1 a.m. GMT, about 5 percent higher than Wednesday’s closing price. The closure of the strait and vessel seizures by the United States and Iran have complicated the situation.

On Wednesday, oil prices had crossed the $100 mark for the first time in two weeks. The Hormuz Strait, a key global energy route, typically handles about one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas shipments. The current halt in maritime traffic has raised concerns about supply stability and market volatility.

Meanwhile, U.S. stock markets declined overnight, with the S&P 500 index down 0.41 percent and the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite falling 0.89 percent, reflecting broader investor unease linked to the energy market turmoil.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has issued a warning for Dhaka, forecasting a further rise in temperatures after several days of intense heat across the country. According to the department’s Friday morning update, the capital recorded 28.2 degrees Celsius at 6 a.m. with 85 percent humidity, causing severe discomfort. Thursday’s maximum temperature in Dhaka was 37 degrees Celsius, and meteorologists expect it to climb higher later in the day.

The six-hour forecast for Dhaka and surrounding areas indicates mainly dry weather with little chance of rain. Although skies may remain partly cloudy, the intensity of sunlight is unlikely to decrease. Mild to moderate heatwaves are sweeping across several regions, including Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, Faridpur, Madaripur, Feni, Lakshmipur, Rangamati, Bandarban, Patuakhali, and the entire Khulna division.

Meanwhile, temporary thunderstorms with lightning and isolated hail may occur in parts of Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions. River ports in these areas have been advised to hoist cautionary signal number one due to possible gusty winds of 45 to 60 kilometers per hour.

Bangladesh is experiencing a widening electricity shortfall as rising demand during intense heat coincides with a fuel supply crisis. Despite official estimates of a 2,500-megawatt deficit, actual shortages have at times exceeded 4,000 megawatts. To maintain supply in Dhaka, rural areas are facing up to 10 hours of load-shedding daily. The shutdown of the 525-megawatt Barapukuria coal power plant and reduced imports from India’s Adani Power have further strained the national grid. The government has approved over 2,067 crore taka in payments to private power producers to stabilize supply.

Officials from the Power Division and related agencies said fuel shortages are preventing plants from meeting demand, with gas-based plants producing around 4,500 to 5,000 megawatts and oil-based output halved in one day. The Power Development Board (PDB) owes about 46,000 crore taka to power producers and has requested 20,000 crore urgently to sustain summer and irrigation season supply. Severe load-shedding has hit eight northern districts after Barapukuria’s two main units failed.

State Minister for Power Anindya Islam Amit announced that load-shedding will also occur in cities to reduce rural-urban disparities and ensure electricity for farmers’ irrigation needs.

Bangladesh has experienced a sharp increase in fuel prices, rising by 15 to 20 taka per liter, triggering market instability. Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman criticized the move as an additional blow to citizens, while Energy Minister Iqbal Mahmud Tuku defended it as a necessary step due to global oil price surges and wartime conditions. The article notes that the current crisis mirrors the 1973 oil embargo, with Iran’s closure of the Hormuz Strait now disrupting 20 percent of global supply.

The report highlights that Bangladesh has historically maintained fuel subsidies and adjusted prices multiple times since independence, with 40 recorded increases and three reductions. The International Energy Agency (IEA) and IMF data show that Bangladesh remains among the leading countries providing direct fuel subsidies. In response to the global shortage, IEA member states have agreed to release 400 million barrels from reserves, though experts deem it insufficient.

The author urges the government to form a unified national energy taskforce with opposition participation, warning that the current crisis is more about eroding public trust than fuel scarcity itself.

Bangladesh’s export earnings have fallen for eight consecutive months through March 2026, marking the longest and steepest decline in the country’s history. Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data show March exports dropped over 18 percent year-on-year to USD 3.48 billion, down from USD 4.25 billion a year earlier. Overall, exports in the first nine months of fiscal year 2025–26 fell 4.85 percent to USD 35.39 billion. The apparel sector, which contributes more than 80 percent of total exports, saw an 8‑month slump, with March earnings down 19.35 percent.

Analysts attribute the downturn to the Middle East conflict, rising fuel import costs, and global market disruptions. Bangladesh has also lost its position as the world’s second-largest apparel exporter to Vietnam. Exporters cite high raw material import dependence, energy shortages, and delayed shipments due to closed airspace and disrupted sea routes. Industry leaders warn that foreign buyers are shifting orders to India and Vietnam amid concerns over Bangladesh’s power stability.

Economists caution that unless Middle East tensions ease and transport routes normalize, Bangladesh’s export recovery will remain uncertain, threatening foreign currency reserves and overall economic stability.

New peace talks have begun amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran over control of the Hormuz Strait, a vital route for global oil and gas shipments. As part of a ten-point peace proposal, Iran has introduced a plan to charge up to two million dollars per vessel passing through the strait, claiming the funds will be used for reconstruction. Some ships have already been charged at least one dollar per barrel, resulting in about two million dollars per transit.

The initiative directly conflicts with international maritime law under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which prohibits imposing fees or restrictions on major waterways. Although neither Iran nor the United States has signed the convention, Washington has rejected Tehran’s claim of control. Analysts estimate that a one-dollar increase per barrel could add twenty million dollars in daily costs, raising expenses for shipping, insurance, and crew wages.

Experts warn that the plan could disrupt global energy supply and market stability. The International Energy Agency has described the situation as one of the largest energy crises in history, with potential long-term economic impacts if tensions persist.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits increased last week, according to data released Thursday by the US Department of Labor. Initial jobless claims rose by 6,000 to reach 214,000, exceeding market expectations of 211,000. The previous week’s revised figure stood at 208,000. The four-week moving average also climbed slightly to 210,750 from the prior week’s revised 210,000.

Despite the uptick in claims, the broader labor market showed signs of resilience. In March, the United States added 178,000 new jobs, significantly higher than the expected 65,000. The unemployment rate also edged down from 4.4 percent in February to 4.3 percent in March, indicating continued strength in employment conditions.

The data suggest a mixed picture for the US labor market, with short-term fluctuations in jobless claims but sustained job creation and a modest decline in unemployment.

Registration has begun for parents of students admitted in 2026 to grade six in schools and madrasas, and to the first year of higher secondary and Alim courses for the 2025–26 academic year, to receive stipends from the Prime Minister’s Education Assistance Trust through the mobile financial service Nagad. The registration process will continue until May 7, 2026, through the official portal where guardians must log in and enter student and socioeconomic information accurately.

For stipend disbursement, the selected guardian’s National ID must be used to register the SIM and open a Nagad account, which will bear the name of the parent chosen as guardian. Nagad has previously distributed these stipends successfully. According to Nagad’s Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Md. Samsul Islam, the service has been effectively delivering various government allowances and stipends under social safety programs, earning public trust for its accessibility and low cash-out charges.

In the 2024–25 fiscal year, the government distributed social safety allowances worth 9,000 crore taka through Nagad, and the amount is expected to increase in the current fiscal year.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canada is not yielding to pressure in its trade discussions with the United States, emphasizing that the talks are being conducted on an equal partnership basis. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Carney said that negotiations involve two sides and Canada is not merely following U.S. directives. He noted that Canada understands the U.S. position while identifying areas of mutual benefit.

Carney highlighted that Canada recognizes its own interests and seeks to strengthen joint interests with the United States. He also underlined his government’s ability to manage multiple issues simultaneously. Differentiating between manageable trade disputes and direct violations, Carney cited U.S. tariffs of 50 percent on steel and aluminum, 25 percent on automobiles, and duties on forest products as violations rather than ordinary trade issues.

He further noted that the United States is Canada’s largest trading partner, while Canada ranks as the second-largest for the U.S., underscoring the mutual dependence between the two economies.

Bangladesh Bank has announced that the country's total foreign exchange reserves stood at 35,117.50 million, or 35.11 billion US dollars, as of Thursday, April 23. The information was shared with the media by Arif Hossain Khan, Executive Director and Spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank.

According to the central bank, the gross reserve figure was 35,117.50 million dollars, while under the International Monetary Fund’s BPM6 calculation method, the reserve stood at 30,484.01 million dollars. Two days earlier, on April 21, the gross reserve was 35,125.90 million dollars, and the BPM6-based reserve was 30,459.01 million dollars.

The report also noted that net reserves are calculated following the IMF’s BPM6 method, which determines the actual reserve amount by deducting short-term liabilities from the total reserve.

Spain’s Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, announced that the government is considering regulatory measures on online book sales to protect independent bookstores across the country. Speaking on World Book Day, April 23, during an interview with Cadena SER radio, Urtasun said one proposal involves requiring large online platforms to impose a minimum delivery charge on book purchases, effectively ending free shipping. The minister noted that similar rules already exist in France, where a minimum delivery fee applies to low-cost online book orders.

Urtasun emphasized that thousands of small bookstores in Spain are at risk and described them as not only retail spaces but also cultural centers. He said the government already provides direct support to these independent shops. Comparing the experience of buying books online and in-store, he highlighted the personal interaction and advice available in physical bookstores.

He added that reading habits in Spain have grown significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching record levels, particularly among women and young readers. Urtasun also underscored the cultural importance of World Book Day, celebrated in Catalonia as “Sant Jordi,” which promotes reading and strengthens the publishing industry.

Land registration and deed processing have been suspended for more than one and a half years in seven mouzas of Shambhupur Union under Tazumuddin upazila in Bhola district due to persistent server complications. The issue has left thousands of residents unable to buy or sell land, causing severe inconvenience and social tension. The information was confirmed by Tazumuddin’s acting Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Rezaul Islam.

According to the local land office, the problem arose because Shambhupur Union, previously under Borhanuddin upazila, has not yet been updated online under Tazumuddin in the DLRS system. As a result, the system still shows the union as part of Borhanuddin. Despite multiple letters sent to the Bhola Deputy Commissioner and the Ministry of Land, no resolution has been achieved. Residents report that the inability to complete land transfers has disrupted social and family matters such as marriages.

Officials from the Land Management Automation Project have attributed responsibility to the Tazumuddin land office, stating that the issue could be resolved locally if the office took necessary steps.

The Power Division of Bangladesh has announced that the country may face a shortfall of 3,000 megawatts of electricity on Thursday due to an ongoing fuel crisis. The information was shared by Joint Secretary Umme Rehana at a press conference held at the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources in Dhaka. She stated that the maximum electricity demand for the day was estimated at 17,000 megawatts, while production was expected to reach only 14,000 megawatts.

According to the official, the country’s generation capacity is sufficient, but inadequate fuel supply has caused a production deficit. On Wednesday, electricity generation stood at 13,681 megawatts against a demand of 15,767 megawatts, resulting in over 2,000 megawatts of shortage and widespread load-shedding across the country. The crisis has been attributed to the fuel shortage, increased demand due to intense heat, technical problems at Adani’s power unit, and complications at one unit of the Banshkhali IPP plant.

The Power Division did not specify how long the shortfall or load-shedding might continue.