A massive wildfire has erupted in Colorado, United States, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate their homes. The blaze, spreading rapidly southwest of Denver, has been intensified by strong winds in southern Colorado. The Aspen Acres Fire alone expanded by 44 square kilometers overnight, burning a total of 272 square kilometers and destroying more than 160 homes and structures. Authorities have ordered about 2,200 residents of Colorado City to leave, along with people in Beulah, Rye, and San Isabel.

Smoke from the fires has reduced visibility on parts of Interstate 25 to half a mile, complicating travel. Around 50 members of the Colorado National Guard have been deployed to assist with road checkpoints and restrict boat traffic on Pueblo Reservoir, where firefighters are collecting water to combat the flames. The Division of Fire Prevention and Control has issued smoke alerts across the state and canceled many fireworks events due to extreme fire risk.

The National Weather Service has maintained red flag warnings across most of Colorado, citing hot, dry, and windy conditions. Meteorologists said weekend rainfall could reduce fire danger but might trigger flash floods in burned areas.

The government of Bangladesh approved the Padma Barrage Project at an ECNEC meeting on May 13, 2026. The project, to be implemented by the Bangladesh Water Development Board under the Ministry of Water Resources, will begin in July 2026 and is targeted for completion by June 2033. The barrage will be built at Pangsha in Rajbari district, spanning 2.1 kilometers with 78 spillway gates and 18 under-sluice gates. Covering 26 districts across four divisions, it is expected to directly benefit about 70 million people and indirectly the entire country.

The project aims to mitigate the long-standing water scarcity caused by India’s Farakka Barrage, which restricts dry-season water flow into Bangladesh. By storing 2.9 billion cubic meters of water, the Padma Barrage will revive several rivers, expand irrigation to 2.9 million hectares, and increase annual rice and fish production. It will also include a 113-megawatt hydropower plant and improve navigation, agriculture, and environmental conditions.

The estimated total cost is Tk 504.43 billion, with Tk 344.97 billion allocated for the first phase, fully funded by the government.

Nesarabad upazila in Pirojpur has become a growing hub for shipbuilding, with 21 dockyards established along the banks of the Sandhya River and its tributaries. These facilities produce world-class vessels including cargo ships, oil carriers, and steel-bodied launches. Around 25,000 workers are directly or indirectly employed in this sector, contributing to both local livelihoods and national industrial growth.

Shipbuilders and local stakeholders say that with government support, training, and access to affordable loans, the industry could expand significantly. Skilled craftsmen are already producing ships that meet domestic and international standards, and some vessels built here are operating on international routes. The area’s low production costs and efficient construction processes attract business owners from across the country.

Officials note that some dockyards lack complete documentation required for government assistance, but efforts are underway to address this. Observers believe that with proper policy support and modern training, Nesarabad’s shipbuilding industry could become a major source of foreign exchange and national revenue.

In Jamalpur town, a small mobile clothing shop run by 21-year-old Akijul Islam Saurav has drawn attention for its colorful display of T-shirts, shirts, and jerseys. Saurav, a second-year HSC student at Government Ashek Mahmud College, manages the business alongside his studies. With an initial investment of 70,000 taka from his father, he built a mobile sales cart and stocked it with clothes. Each day, after classes, he travels around the city selling garments and stores his cart at a relative’s home at night.

Saurav, from Sharifpur Union’s Byapari Para village, was inspired by his businessman father and motivated by the struggles of educated youths seeking jobs. He aims to become an entrepreneur who can create employment for others. His mobile shop allows him to reach customers directly in busy areas, and the earnings cover his educational expenses while enabling him to save money.

Development worker Jahangir Selim noted that such self-employment initiatives could positively influence the local economy and inspire other young people to pursue entrepreneurship.

In Shibchar upazila of Madaripur, the modern and eco-friendly mulching method is rapidly gaining popularity among vegetable farmers. The technique, which uses plastic sheets to cover soil beds with holes for planting, allows for higher yields at lower cost and in less time. Farmers are increasingly shifting from traditional methods to this technology-based cultivation, opening new opportunities for safe and pesticide-free vegetable production.

Field visits show that crops such as cucumber, bitter gourd, chili, bottle gourd, tomato, okra, and sponge gourd are being grown using mulching. The method helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and reduce pest attacks, cutting down on irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticide use. Although initial setup costs are slightly higher, the same beds can be reused for multiple harvests, and crops reach markets 10 to 15 days earlier, increasing profits.

According to the Shibchar Agriculture Office, around 200 bighas of land are now under mulching cultivation, mainly for chili, bitter gourd, and cucumber. Officials and experts say the expansion of this technology could lower production costs, boost farmers’ income, and positively impact the agricultural economy.

The Rangpur District Postal Employees Union has warned of an indefinite strike to press for two key demands. The announcement came during a meeting held on Friday afternoon at the Rangpur District Collectorate ground, attended by members of the Bangladesh Postal Employees Union, Bangladesh Branch Post Office Employees Association, and Bangladesh Branch Post Office Employees Unity Council. Earlier, the workers had observed a hunger strike in front of the Directorate of Posts and later announced a three-day work stoppage. They stated that if their demands remain unmet, a full strike would be held on the 6th and 7th of the month.

The extra-departmental (ED) employees said they have long been working for a daily wage of only 150 taka. They are demanding a threefold increase in pay and official recognition as departmental employees. Speakers at the meeting, including union leaders and representatives from various upazilas, emphasized that the movement would continue until the demands of about 23,000 workers nationwide are fulfilled.

Union leaders urged the government to consider their demands, stressing that postal workers deliver letters to people’s doorsteps but do not receive fair compensation for their service.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku announced that the government will take all necessary measures to protect the fish resources of the Haor region. Speaking on Friday afternoon at the inauguration of a fish fry release program at Uchipur playground in Madan upazila of Netrakona, he urged local residents to stop catching mother and juvenile fish and to remain patient as development initiatives are implemented.

Tuku stated that 16 tons of fish fry have already been released into the Haor and warned against destroying future resources for short-term profit. He assured that infrastructure development, including roads, will proceed gradually for the benefit of local people. Railways and Road Transport State Minister Habibur Rashid Habib, attending as a special guest, said that large-scale fish fry release will continue and that refraining from fishing for four months could significantly increase production and reduce local hardship.

The event was chaired by Madan Upazila BNP President Nurul Alam Talukdar and attended by officials from the Fisheries Department, the ministry, and local administration.

Consumers across Bangladesh are facing severe electricity shortages despite a record price hike announced on June 4, 2026. Residents in areas such as Dhamrai, Nasirnagar, and Faridpur report power cuts lasting 8 to 18 hours daily, disrupting households, hospitals, and industries. Farmers say crops like onions and potatoes are rotting due to lack of power for storage, while students struggle to prepare for exams amid heat and darkness. Many consumers complain of receiving electricity bills double the previous amounts despite worsening supply.

Officials from the Power Division admit that 66 percent of the country’s power plants remain idle due to fuel shortages, leaving only 13,000–14,000 megawatts available against higher demand. Experts and government sources blame mismanagement, corruption, and past policy failures for the crisis. The current administration acknowledges inherited debts and fuel dependency from the previous government and says it will take time to stabilize the sector.

Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud stated that new gas exploration tenders have been issued to reduce import dependence, but full recovery may take three to four years.

Hilsa production in Bangladesh has fallen to its lowest level in eight years, leading to soaring prices and growing hardship for fishermen. According to official data, production dropped to 500,000 tons in the 2024–25 fiscal year, down from 529,000 tons the previous year. Despite government reports claiming steady growth, fishermen and traders in Chandpur say the actual catch has declined sharply, with many struggling to recover fuel and labor costs. Large hilsa now sells for 3,500–4,000 taka per kilogram, while smaller fish cost 2,000–3,000 taka.

Fishermen blame climate change, reduced river flow, and the rise of sandbars in the Padma and Meghna rivers for disrupting breeding and migration routes. Pollution from industrial waste and illegal fishing nets have further worsened the situation. Local fish traders report that daily hilsa supply at Chandpur’s market has dropped from over 1,000 maunds in 2020 to just 200–300 maunds today.

Experts warn that without effective dredging, pollution control, and enforcement against illegal nets, the national fish could face an even deeper crisis in the coming years.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku announced that the government will ensure unrestricted fishing rights for genuine fishermen in all open water bodies across the country. He made the statement on Friday while speaking to journalists at the Netrakona Circuit House, emphasizing the government’s commitment to protecting the livelihoods of fishermen in the haor regions.

The minister said the government is determined to uphold the fair rights of real fishermen under the principle of “Jal jar, jala tar,” meaning those who own the nets should have access to the waters. He noted that the lease system had allowed influential groups to occupy water bodies and prevent ordinary fishermen from fishing, but the government is taking legal steps to remove such obstacles. He also mentioned ongoing initiatives for dredging rivers and canals to maintain navigability and improve fishery management.

According to the minister, these measures aim to ensure sustainable fishery resources, prevent waterlogging, and make water bodies more suitable for fish cultivation, thereby supporting rural livelihoods.

Five members of parliament have jointly taken an initiative to build a sustainable embankment along the left bank of the Jamuna River, stretching from Bhuyapur in Tangail to Manikganj. The announcement came from Amirul Islam Khan Alim, MP for Sirajganj-5 (Belkuchi-Chauhali), during his visit to the erosion-affected Char Salimabad area of Bagutia Union in Chauhali on Friday, July 3, 2026.

Before the announcement, the MP distributed free saplings under the government’s annual tree plantation program and provided relief to families affected by river erosion, including corrugated iron sheets, cash, and rice. He also inaugurated a geo-bag dumping operation aimed at temporarily controlling the ongoing erosion.

Alim stated that the geo-bag dumping is an emergency measure to curb the immediate damage, while the proposed embankment project seeks permanent protection for the region. He expressed optimism that once approved, the project would free local residents from the recurring threat of river erosion.

The United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that the ongoing El Niño event is expected to strengthen rapidly between July and September 2026. The agency said the phenomenon, which has already begun, could reach the “strong” category—the third-highest level in its classification system. WMO urged countries to prepare for potential impacts, including increased risks of extreme weather events across many regions.

El Niño is a natural climate pattern marked by rising sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, disrupting global wind, pressure, and rainfall patterns. The WMO’s Global Seasonal Climate Update indicated that sea surface temperature anomalies could exceed 2°C in key monitoring areas. The organization noted high confidence in forecasts showing continued warming, with effects expected to intensify through the Northern Hemisphere’s autumn.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said the strengthening El Niño could heighten risks of droughts, heavy rainfall, and heatwaves on land and at sea. The agency is expanding early warning support, particularly for climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture and health, to help reduce impacts on lives and economies.

Banks in Bangladesh are increasingly relying on loan rescheduling to reduce non-performing loans, but the strategy has not lowered defaults. According to the Bangladesh Bank’s Financial Stability Report 2025, total rescheduled loans stood at Tk 4.46 trillion, with the largest share in industrial term loans. About 39.87 percent of these rescheduled loans have again turned non-performing, highlighting persistent repayment challenges.

The report shows that industrial term loans accounted for 29.56 percent of all rescheduled loans, followed by the ready-made garments and textile sector at 17.56 percent. Private banks held 74.16 percent of the total rescheduled loans, while state-owned banks accounted for 23.27 percent. Experts cited weak loan assessment, political influence, and reduced down payment requirements as key reasons behind repeated defaults. They also noted that energy shortages and high dollar prices have strained manufacturing borrowers.

Economists and bankers emphasized that while rescheduling offers temporary relief, sustainable recovery depends on stronger loan monitoring, business revival, and export growth. They urged that rescheduling benefits be limited to genuinely distressed enterprises to prevent misuse.

Iran continues to face major obstacles in recovering billions of dollars in assets frozen across multiple countries, a long-standing issue in its strained relations with the West. The matter remains central even in the recent memorandum signed between the United States and Iran aimed at ending hostilities. Tehran has sought access to these funds for years, but sanctions and banking restrictions have kept much of the money beyond its reach.

Estimates suggest Iran’s frozen assets range from about 27 billion to over 100 billion US dollars, including oil revenues, export earnings, and foreign reserves held in overseas banks. Large sums are blocked in China, Iraq, India, South Korea, and other countries, while only a smaller portion lies under US jurisdiction. Experts note that even partial access could significantly ease Iran’s inflation, currency depreciation, and economic isolation, but warn that legal and political complexities will delay any real transfer.

The assets remain dispersed and entangled in decades-old disputes, with Washington’s approval seen as crucial for any release, leaving Tehran’s economic relief uncertain.

Amid widespread speculation about their possible wedding at Madison Square Garden in New York this weekend, American pop star Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce have donated 26 million dollars to various charities. Their representative confirmed the donation to The Guardian, noting that the funds were distributed among 20 organizations connected to meaningful places in their lives, including Nashville, Kansas City, and New York City.

The donation list includes City Harvest, Food Bank for NYC, Harvesters in Kansas, and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, as well as Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Feeding America, ASPCA, and Education Through Music. Although the announcement did not mention any wedding, preparations in New York suggest a major event. City officials confirmed a special permit for a pre-event celebration at Madison Square Garden, with the main ceremony expected to run from Friday evening to early Saturday morning.

Reports indicate that the city has issued permits costing up to 66,000 dollars per day for street closures around the venue, further fueling speculation about the couple’s anticipated celebration.