Reconstruction has begun at Sakhlanpara Private Primary School in the remote hills of Noyapara ইউনিয়ন, Alikadam, Bandarban, after sustained heavy rain in early July completely destroyed its building and halted classes. The Prime Minister’s Office initiated a project estimated at Tk10 lakh to rebuild the school and its hostel. The new building is expected to be completed this month, according to the report.

Established in 2022 in Ward 8 of Noyapara Union, the school serves about 50 to 60 students with two teachers and previously provided residential facilities. One of the school’s founders said Alikadam উপজেলা Chhatra Dal convener Md Nurul Safa informed the prime minister’s special assistant, Md Sayed Bin Abdullah, about the collapse. Following the prime minister’s direction, the Bandarban district administration passed the matter to the Alikadam উপজেলা administration.

Construction began on July 23 and about 20 percent of the work has been completed. The school and hostel are planned in a hill architectural style under the supervision of Alikadam Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Manjur Alam. Parents, village representatives, teachers and local social workers welcomed the rapid rebuilding effort. Alam said the aim is to complete quality construction within the scheduled time and restore a normal learning environment quickly.

Local firefighters and residents have accused the Israeli military of deliberately causing wildfires in southern Lebanon through attacks and shelling. The Guardian reported on August 12, 2026, that fires have spread through forests, olive groves and farmland despite a ceasefire, allegedly due to drones, incendiary shells and flares.

Hussein Fakih, head of Civil Defense in the Nabatieh area, said most recent operations had become limited to firefighting. He said about 30 to 40 percent of land in border areas had been damaged by fire. Environmentalists described the fires as part of a long-running pattern of environmental destruction in southern Lebanon.

They said damage to forests, ancient olive trees and wildlife habitats threatens biodiversity and local livelihoods. Hafez Ghasham of Yaroun alleged that after Israeli forces destroyed most homes in his village, they also set fire to remaining olive trees and fruit orchards. Local residents say the actions seek to make the area uninhabitable and erase signs of their history, culture and livelihoods. The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment on the recent fire allegations.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir has called on Bangladesh to reduce reliance on conventional export products and pursue the halal economy as a major new opportunity. Speaking as chief guest at a Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies seminar titled “Halal Ecosystem in ASEAN Region: Prospects for Bangladesh,” he urged the country to use ASEAN experience to build a strong, internationally compliant halal ecosystem.

The minister said the halal economy now extends beyond food and beverages to pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, modest fashion, tourism, logistics, technology, finance and international certification. He stressed that higher exports require greater domestic production capacity, domestic and foreign investment, and a safe, attractive environment for investors. He also said Bangladesh is pursuing FTA, PTA and EPA initiatives to retain export benefits after LDC graduation.

Speakers highlighted the need for an internationally accepted national halal assurance framework, specialized halal industrial clusters with modern laboratories and logistics, and upgrades to existing production sectors. Malaysia’s integrated approach to production, research, certification, marketing and exports was cited as a relevant example for Bangladesh.

Wildfires across Indonesia have burned more than 107,000 hectares and sent smoke into neighboring Malaysia, where air pollution has reached unhealthy levels in parts of Sarawak. In the small Sarawak town of Serian, the air pollution index measured 195 on Wednesday morning, according to the report published on August 12. At least nine areas of Sarawak recorded unhealthy air quality as haze from the Indonesian fires spread across the border.

Indonesian authorities are using aircraft for cloud seeding to create artificial rainfall as they struggle to contain the fires. Response efforts are being prioritized in six provinces: Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and Riau. These regions contain extensive peatlands that can burn easily during dry seasons. Schools in several fire-hit provinces have been closed for three days.

In Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, resident Darwin Romi said fires had persisted for more than a month, with dense smoke causing eye irritation and a strong odor. A water shortage has also hampered firefighting. About 550 hectares burned in East Java’s Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park before the fire was controlled on Monday, while the area has remained closed to tourists since August 8 amid renewed fire concerns.

Lebanon's parliament approved a law abolishing the death penalty on Tuesday, making the country the first in the Middle East to eliminate capital punishment, according to a report published on August 12, 2026. The new law replaces death sentences with life imprisonment and hard labor. A majority of lawmakers in the 128-member parliament voted for abolition after several amendments were introduced.

The Hezbollah-backed parliamentary bloc did not vote in favor of abolishing the death penalty. Lebanon has not carried out an execution since 2004, although courts had continued issuing death sentences. Amnesty International said that, as of January this year, at least 85 people in the country were on death row.

Justice Minister Adel Nassar described the measure as a historic decision after its passage. The United Nations, European Union and France welcomed the move. UN human rights chief Volker Turk urged other Middle Eastern countries that still retain the death penalty to follow Lebanon's example. Human rights groups called for commutation of all death sentences and ratification of an international treaty abolishing capital punishment.

Current and former Palestinian students and workers have sued Columbia University in a New York court, alleging discrimination against members of the Palestinian community since late 2023. The lawsuit says the university failed to protect Palestinian students and employees from harassment and imposed biased and unfair disciplinary measures against them.

The plaintiffs say students and workers who spoke for Palestinian rights or protested Israeli attacks in Gaza were subjected to particular surveillance and discipline. Columbia has previously denied discrimination allegations and condemned all forms of hatred, but did not immediately comment on the new lawsuit. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations spread across US universities, including Columbia, after the Gaza war began in October 2023.

Protesters had called for an end to US support for Israel and for universities to divest from Israel-linked companies. Columbia suspended more than 65 students after a pro-Palestinian protest last May that shut down its main library. The Trump administration halted federal funding over allegations that Columbia had not adequately addressed antisemitism during the protests. The university later reached a settlement involving more than $200 million to resolve the investigation and restore most federal funding.

The Rural Electrification Society in Netrokona has asked the district commissioner for stronger security at its offices and substations, citing customer anger over severe load shedding and fears of blockades and vandalism. The request was made in a letter signed by acting general manager Md Akram Hossain and sent to the district administration on August 10.

According to the letter, electricity from the Netrokona 132/33 kV grid substation is supplied through nine 33 kV feeders to 10 upazilas in Netrokona and two upazilas in Sunamganj. The society said total demand across those areas is 157 megawatts.

The society said that at 11 pm on August 8, it received only 60 megawatts against demand of 126 megawatts, putting actual load shedding at 79 percent. It said demand rises further when electricity returns after long outages, as refrigerators, water pumps, IPS units and other appliances are switched on simultaneously. The letter also cited abusive phone calls and threats to surround or vandalise offices, requesting administrative assistance until power supply becomes normal.

China plans to hold a navigation exercise with an Indonesian naval vessel at an undisclosed location east of Taiwan in mid-August, China’s defence ministry said. Taiwan condemned the plan as dangerous and a military provocation. Its Mainland Affairs Council said on Tuesday night that Beijing should immediately stop conduct that could undermine the regional status quo.

Taipei said China was trying to create a false impression internationally that it controls waters off Taiwan’s eastern coast. Taiwan has accused China of increasing its presence there through what it describes as regular law-enforcement patrols, and said exercises involving other countries could reinforce that claim. A senior Taiwanese military intelligence official told parliament the Indonesian warship was not coming specifically to exercise with China.

The official said the vessel was east of Taiwan while returning from Japan, about 70 to 80 nautical miles from the island’s eastern coast. The event was not expected to have a direct military impact on Taiwan, but carried geopolitical significance. Taiwan’s foreign ministry sought clarification from Indonesia on whether it would participate. Indonesia’s navy and defence ministry made no immediate comment.

A Saudi Arabia-led initiative to form a 14-country multinational maritime defence alliance around the Red Sea is signalling a possible shift in the Middle East’s US-dependent security system. The alliance’s founding declaration was signed in Riyadh on July 30. Plans call for its permanent headquarters, integrated command structure, joint command and control centre, maritime operations centre and permanent secretariat to be based in Saudi Arabia.

The alliance is not yet fully operational, and key issues remain unclear, including members’ military contributions, how operations would be conducted if needed, and whether the United States would formally participate. Saudi Arabia and Egypt are founding members, despite not joining the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian launched in December 2023 to protect Red Sea security. Analysts say regional states want a greater role in making their own security decisions.

Houthi activity around the Red Sea is seen as a major reason for the initiative, particularly after attacks on Israel-linked and Western commercial vessels in 2023 and 2024. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have increased the need for Saudi oil exports through Yanbu port. Concerns also include potential Houthi control or fees in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The alliance’s effectiveness will depend on military commitments, joint decision-making and crisis cooperation.

Venezuela and Israel have agreed to resume consular services in each other’s countries after 17 years, both governments announced on Tuesday. The move is seen as a major shift in Venezuelan foreign policy after Caracas severed diplomatic relations with Israel in 2009.

Venezuela broke ties in protest over Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip. The source says circumstances changed after President Nicolas Maduro was taken to the United States in January, and Venezuela strengthened relations with Washington, which it describes as close to Israel.

The interim government led by Delcy Rodriguez said an Israeli humanitarian assistance delegation visited Venezuela after a deadly earthquake in June. Senior officials from the two countries then held talks, leading to the agreement on restoring consular services. Venezuela’s government said both sides recognized the importance of ties between the State of Israel and Venezuela’s Jewish community, describing that community as an important historical bridge of friendship. Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued the same statement.

Afghanistan's intelligence agency has detained two Afghan male employees of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA said Tuesday. The General Directorate of Intelligence detained the staff members in western Herat province on Sunday, August 9, according to UNAMA. The UN said it had been unable to contact or visit the two employees for two days.

The office of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the detainees' special status and privileges to be respected. Spokesperson Farhan Haq said the UN had not been informed of any allegations against them and had not been granted permission to see them. The Afghan government did not immediately comment to AFP.

The detentions occurred days before the fifth anniversary of the Taliban's return to power after taking Kabul on August 15, 2021. UNAMA this week recommended that authorities clarify security agencies' use of force, arrests and detentions, while increasing accountability. Several UN agencies operate across Afghanistan in areas including health and humanitarian assistance.

Qatar has welcomed a new trilateral defense agreement signed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. At a weekly press conference in Doha on August 12, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said Qatar views positively any initiative that strengthens regional security, stability and defense cooperation.

Al-Ansari said Qatar welcomes initiatives that can ensure security and stability through greater regional cooperation. He said Qatar has strategic relations and fraternal bonds with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, built on shared interests and common concerns. He also described regional security as a collective responsibility requiring coordination and cooperation among the countries concerned.

The agreement was signed last Friday in Mecca by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. It covers stronger mutual security cooperation, expanded defense-industrial cooperation, and greater coordination and joint capabilities among their armed forces. Under the agreement, an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be considered an attack on all three. The parties said the arrangement is not directed against any specific country.

India’s relationship with Israel has gained a new dimension over the past decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the report says, extending beyond diplomacy and defence. Amnesty International’s recent investigation says India has become an important contributor to Israel’s arms production through joint ventures and manufacturing partnerships, rather than remaining primarily a major buyer of Israeli weapons.

According to Amnesty, Indian factories sent millions of weapons components to Israeli military suppliers between October 7, 2023, and November 30, 2025. The shipments included about 390,000 small-arms components and 565,000 parts for explosive weapons. The organisation said Indian state-owned enterprises were also involved in the supplies.

India has continued to buy substantial quantities of Israeli arms. From 2021 to 2025, India accounted for 29 percent of Israel’s total arms exports, making it Israel’s largest defence customer. India also sent more than 20,000 workers to Israel after the Gaza war. Foreign policy specialist Stanley Johny said India should restore greater balance to its West Asia policy while maintaining ties with Israel and more strongly advancing its national interests.

Saudi Arabia opposed including Egypt in the Mecca Joint Defense Pact signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, according to the report. Turkey made significant efforts to bring Egypt into the new defense alliance, but those efforts did not succeed. The leaders of the three countries signed the agreement in Mecca on August 7.

Egypt also had reservations about joining, the report said. An Ankara source claimed that Cairo’s sensitive relationship with Israel played an important role, with concern that Egypt could face Israeli pressure if it entered the alliance. The issue has emerged as discussions continue on strengthening regional cooperation through an R-4 framework involving Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

The three countries said the defense pact does not target any specific country and is intended to strengthen mutual security, defense cooperation and regional stability. Its core principle is that an attack on any one of the three members would be treated as an attack on all. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had previously raised the possibility of adding countries, while Egypt’s absence has renewed questions over whether the alliance will expand.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the proposed Uniform Civil Code would be implemented in the state very soon, followed by strict legislation to prevent forced religious conversion. He made the announcement at a meeting in Bankura on Tuesday. The chief minister also indicated that new legal restrictions could be imposed on land purchases and sales among different communities.

Adhikari said the Uniform Civil Code would be introduced to advance the goal of “one country, one law.” Laws would then be drafted to regulate conversion and land transactions. He did not specify what restrictions the proposed land sale and purchase law would contain. The report said his comments on conversion and land were consistent with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s longstanding political position.

The proposed Uniform Civil Code envisages a common civil framework for marriage, divorce, inheritance, transfer of inherited property and adoption. Under the proposal, a general law would replace religion-based personal laws in these matters. Exemptions or special protections provided under the constitution for certain classes would remain in place, according to the report.