China has evacuated more than 20,000 people from its southern region as powerful Super Typhoon Noul rapidly approaches the coast, state media reported, citing AFP. China’s National Meteorological Center said the storm could make landfall in coastal areas from Hong Kong to Guangdong province between Saturday evening and Sunday morning. The weather office maintained its second-highest, orange alert under a four-tier warning system on Saturday.

The meteorological center warned of strong winds and heavy rainfall in parts of Guangdong and neighboring Fujian province. CCTV said that by Friday night, more than 20,000 people in Guangdong had been moved to safe shelters. All fishing vessels at sea were ordered to return to safe ports, and they have returned.

Transport and school activities have also been disrupted. Several train services in Guangdong were suspended on Saturday morning, while all rail services in the province are due to be suspended on Sunday, according to CCTV. Local media said schools in Chaozhou city, Guangdong, were instructed to temporarily halt educational and other activities. Extreme weather has already caused extensive damage in southern and central China this month.

University of Rochester professor Adam Frank and NASA scientist Gavin Schmidt developed the “Silurian Hypothesis” to examine whether an advanced civilization could have existed on Earth before humans and left detectable traces. Their discussion began in 2017, and they published a paper in 2018. The researchers say the project was not intended to prove such a civilization existed, but to identify what subtle evidence scientists should seek if one had existed and disappeared millions of years ago.

The inquiry links Earth’s unusual climate episodes with present-day human-driven warming. About 55 million years ago, during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, carbon emissions were associated with a global temperature increase of up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, though the precise cause remains unknown. Texas Tech University climate researcher Katharine Hayhoe, who was not involved, called the idea a thought experiment that highlights humanity’s potential vulnerability.

The researchers argue that surface structures and fossils may be difficult to preserve because of tectonic shifts, volcanic eruptions and erosion. They therefore consider chemical changes in sedimentary layers as possible evidence. Plastic, synthetic agricultural hormones, toxic chemicals and heavy metals used in electronics could remain as future markers of human civilization. Geologist Jan Zalasiewicz said cities, metal smelting and plastic waste would leave a clear footprint, and rejected the prior existence of a similarly energy-intensive civilization.

Iran says it sold $18 billion worth of oil during its war with the United States and the subsequent ceasefire, according to a report citing Al Jazeera. Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said the revenue from those sales has made a significant contribution to the oil-income target set in the country’s current fiscal-year budget.

Paknejad said proceeds from oil sales have met more than 60 percent of the budget’s planned oil-revenue target for the current fiscal year. He attributed increased Iranian oil exports to a reduction in risks associated with the movement of oil tankers.

The minister also said Iran was able to sell part of its stockpiled crude oil and gas condensate, estimated at about 100 million barrels. The report did not specify the buyers, export destinations, the precise period of the conflict or ceasefire, or a breakdown between crude oil and gas-condensate sales.

Wildfires burning for several days in France and Spain have forced more than 250,000 people to move to safety, according to a report published on July 25. In southwestern France, strong winds are rapidly spreading flames toward Bordeaux, where officials said the fire remained out of control. Residents of seven towns west of Bordeaux were ordered to evacuate urgently on Saturday night.

Nearly 200,000 people have been evacuated from France's Gironde and Landes regions. The French government deployed the military to help contain the crisis, with troops clearing brush and building firebreaks to limit the flames' spread. By Saturday morning, the wildfire was about 40 to 50 kilometres from Bordeaux, while wind carried smoke toward the city and residents reported a strong burning smell.

A state of emergency remains in force in Spain. Improved weather outside Madrid brought some relief to firefighters, but an elderly man in his seventies died in a Valencia-region wildfire and was found inside his car, local media reported. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said difficult times lay ahead. Tourist Spencer Randall, who fled with his family from the fire near Bordeaux, described it as terrifying.

State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Lion Dr Sheikh Faridul Islam warned that strict legal action will be taken against those involved in destroying the Sundarbans, looting forest resources, fishing with poison or carrying out environmentally damaging activities. He made the remarks on July 25 at a daylong citizens’ dialogue in Mongla, Bagerhat, on protecting the Sundarbans and coastal livelihoods for sustainable development.

He said the forest is vital to the livelihoods of millions in southwestern Bangladesh, disaster protection and environmental balance. The minister said action would also be taken if specific evidence links any Forest Department officer or employee to poison fishing. Speakers at the dialogue called for stronger public awareness, strict enforcement of environmental laws and alternative jobs for forest-dependent people.

The minister said wood will not be allowed as fuel in brick kilns and that there are no plans for new coal-based power plants. He said future power generation would prioritize renewable energy, particularly solar and wind. He also said 661 metric tons of rice have been allocated for 8,271 coastal fishing families for the first time.

Students and environmental advocates at Jagannath University have raised concerns after concrete was poured up to the bases of several old trees during modernization and beautification work at the university’s TSC area. The report, published on July 25, 2026, said the construction has prompted fears over the trees’ normal growth and long-term survival.

On-site observations found that concrete had been laid around several trees with almost no exposed soil remaining near their roots. This could obstruct rainwater from entering the soil, limit air circulation, and disrupt the supply of oxygen and nutrients to roots. Students said the campus has only a small number of large trees, which provide shade, comfort and a natural environment, and argued that development should protect them.

Dr. Md. Moniruzzaman of the Geography and Environment Department said trees may be unable to absorb water and mineral salts if soil is absent around their bases, hindering growth and potentially causing death over time. Proctor Professor Dr. Mohammad Nasir Uddin said workers had poured the concrete by mistake and that it would be corrected the following day.

Bangladesh’s Meteorological Department issued local warning signal No. 3 for the seaports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra after a low-pressure area formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining West Bengal-north Odisha coast. The forecast, published on July 25, said rough seas could bring heavy rain to coastal areas from Sunday night.

The monsoon trough extends from Rajasthan through Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to the low-pressure centre, southern Bangladesh and Assam. The system may move slowly westward and cross the coast. Light to moderate rain is forecast for central areas, including the capital, while northern areas may remain dry initially before rainfall increases after the system crosses the coast.

Meteorologist Tariful Newaz Kabir said the system was unlikely to intensify into a depression and its effects could remain largely confined to coastal districts. Fishing boats and trawlers in the northern Bay of Bengal were advised to stay near the coast and move cautiously. Reduced rainfall has significantly improved the overall flood situation, though the Kushiyara River remains above danger level at two points.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called for greater emphasis on research, innovation and productive activities instead of political debate. Speaking as chief guest at the opening of the 36th Annual Planning Conference 2026 at the Rural Development Academy in Bogura on Saturday, he said research outcomes must reach farmers to raise their incomes and further strengthen the rural economy.

Before the event, the minister visited an RDA-developed green technology exhibition and planted a lotkon sapling. He said research and innovation achievements do not receive adequate attention despite frequent discussions of politics. Technologies developed by researchers can play an important role in increasing farmers’ productivity, he said, urging the media to give wider coverage to such successes.

Alamgir said farmers’ main problem is not production but ensuring fair prices for their goods. He stressed more research to improve cold storage, preservation and marketing systems, alongside encouragement for private investment in those sectors. He also urged young people to pursue agriculture-based enterprises, preservation and marketing rather than focusing only on jobs, saying this would increase employment and benefit farmers.

Bangladesh-based Abul Khair Steel has received Guinness World Records™ recognition for the “Most Steel Rebars Produced in One Minute,” according to a report published on July 25, 2026. Under the stipulated Guinness verification process, AKS produced 52 steel rebars in one minute. Each rebar measured 108 metres in length, the report said.

The company attributed the record to the capability of what it described as the world’s fastest rebar rolling mill, advanced technology, skilled engineering and improved production management. Electric Arc Furnace, or EAF, technology is a core part of AKS’s production system and is used to produce 100% refined steel.

Abul Khair Steel Melting Limited Chief Executive Officer Imran Momin said the achievement was an international recognition of both AKS and Bangladesh’s manufacturing potential. The company also said it uses Zero Water Discharge technology to treat and reuse industrial water, alongside solar power, a Fume Treatment System for emission control, material recycling and an in-house power plant for energy management.

Veteran South Asian singer and composer Runa Laila performed her first solo concert at the main auditorium of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, on the evening of July 24. Although she had sung at the academy two or three times during her 62-year professional music career, this was her first appearance there for a solo musical programme.

Culture Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, State Minister Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam, academy Director General Sheikh Rezauddin Stalin and Secretary Mohammad Zakir Hossain presented her with an honourary memento. Hosted by actor Afzal Hossain, the programme featured about 10 modern, film and patriotic songs over roughly an hour and a half, including a Nazrul song performed in observance of Nazrul anniversary.

Laila opened with a song dedicated to those who gave their lives for the country and ended the evening with “Damadom Mast Kalandar.” She said audiences’ love, respect and prayers were the greatest achievements of her musical life. Organisers said all ticket-sale proceeds would be deposited in the Prime Minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund to support flood-affected people.

Sohel Rana Bayati’s film Noya Manush will open the first three-day New York Bangla Film Festival in New York, United States, on July 30. The screening is scheduled for 7 pm local time at RTV Theatre on the festival’s opening day. The festival will feature selected Bangladeshi short films, documentaries and feature films.

The film is based on A. M. M. Hasanuzzaman’s novel Bedonar Baluchore, with dialogue and screenplay by Masum Reza. Its cast includes A. M. M. Hasanuzzaman, Ashish Khandakar, Jhuna Chowdhury, Rawnak Hasan, Mousumi Hamid, Shikha Karmakar and Nilufar Wahid, among others. Bayati said Noya Manush has already been screened at film festivals in several countries.

The director said the festival is especially significant because only films by Bangladeshi filmmakers will be screened and awarded, adding that it could support the promotion of domestic cinema. The movie was filmed by Kamal Chandra Das in remote Kanudir Char in Chandpur during Super Cyclone Sitrang. The festival’s closing and award ceremony is scheduled for August 2.

A mobile court in Tongibari, Munshiganj, fined three people a total of Tk350,000 over allegations of illegally cutting and selling soil from agricultural land. According to a report published on July 25, the operation was conducted from 7:50am to 1:50pm on Saturday around Betka Bazar, the canal in the Chhatphatia area, and the bank of a Dhaleshwari branch river. Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Wazed Wasif led the drive.

Mobile court sources said the accused were loading soil cut from farmland onto trawlers within about one kilometre of Betka Bridge. Three people were detained along with soil-laden trawlers and soil-cutting equipment during the operation. The fines were imposed under the Sand Quarry and Soil Management Act.

Md Wazed Wasif said such operations would continue to protect agricultural land and stop illegal soil cutting. The report did not identify the three detainees or specify how the Tk350,000 penalty was divided among them.

A programme to plant 100,000 tree saplings within a year has been launched in Sreemangal upazila of Moulvibazar. Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, MP, inaugurated the initiative on Saturday morning at the Sreemangal Victoria High School field. He said the saplings would be planted across the upazila over the coming year.

Chowdhury said the initiative is part of the prime minister's announced programme to plant 250 million saplings over five years. The programme will be implemented through coordination among the upazila administration, elected representatives and political leaders. The launch was attended by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Ziaur Rahman, municipal executive engineer Md Zahurul Islam, officer-in-charge Abdullah Al Mamun and representatives of political and social organisations.

Under the plan, 10,000 saplings will be planted gradually in each of the upazila's nine unions. The programme will also be expanded to every ward, while saplings will be distributed free among members of the public. A similar initiative is planned for Kamalganj upazila. Chowdhury sought overall cooperation from Sreemangal residents and urged them to plant more trees.

Persistent rain and adverse weather have driven vegetable prices sharply higher across markets in Cumilla, with most items selling for Tk100 or more per kilogram on Friday morning. Retail green chilies were selling for Tk400 per kilogram, while shoppers, particularly low-income residents, said they were struggling to manage household food costs amid the increase.

Vendors said farmland, including areas around the Gomti char, had been submerged, damaging crops and preventing timely harvesting and transport to markets. Supply shortages have raised prices of eggplant, cucumber and other vegetables by Tk50 to Tk80 per kilogram within a week. Market prices included eggplant at Tk120, bitter gourd at Tk150 to Tk160, okra at Tk120, ridge gourd at Tk130 and tomatoes at Tk140 per kilogram.

Rajganj market seller Liton Mia said farmers were not bringing enough vegetables to market and retailers had to charge more after paying higher purchase prices. Cumilla consumer rights official Kawsar Mia said inspections were underway and action would be taken against attempts to charge excessive prices. Traders said prices could fall if weather normalizes and supplies increase, but may rise further if rain continues.

Several sections of an LGED road linking Rajabari and Jilbari in Baldia ইউনিয়ন of Nesarabad upazila, Pirojpur, have collapsed into a canal after several days of heavy rain. The report, published on July 25, said traffic by auto-rickshaws, vans and other light vehicles has completely stopped. At least 30,000 residents of five villages are facing severe disruption as a result.

Major subsidence was observed along roughly two kilometres of road, from in front of Mahiyuddin Chairman’s house in Rajabari through Binna Bazar to Jilbari. A significant portion of the road had already been lost to canal erosion over about 18 years, while recent rain created deep holes in the remaining sections. Residents have placed wooden planks and small temporary footbridges across damaged areas to allow limited motorcycle movement.

The route serves seven villages in Baldia Union and three villages in neighbouring Nazirpur upazila. Students, patients, older people and workers have been particularly affected. Union Parishad Chairman Md Saidur Rahman said an earlier repair tender was not implemented. Housing and Public Works Minister Ahammed Sohel Monjur Suman MP, after visiting the site, said repair work would begin soon.