Israeli army gunfire targeting civilian homes in parts of Mariah, a rural village in Syria’s southern Daraa province, forced some residents to leave their homes, Syrian state media reported. The report, published on August 15, 2026, said the shooting came from an area under Israeli control in southern Syria. No immediate casualties were reported following the incident.

Syrian state television channel Al-Ikhbariya said civilian houses in several parts of the village were targeted. The source did not provide details on the timing of the shooting, the number of homes affected, or how many people left the village. It said residents moved elsewhere because of the sound of gunfire and the attack.

The report said Israeli forces have carried out incursions and attacks in southern Syria for several months, including operations, searches and arrests. It stated that Israeli activity increased after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024. According to the report, Israel then declared the 1974 disengagement agreement void and took control of Syria’s buffer zone, with operations and attacks continuing in southern Syria afterward.

Gas supplies have been fully shut off to 171 industrial factories in Habiganj, Bangladesh, halting production and leaving more than 150,000 workers idle, the report said. Supplies had been limited for the previous 20 days before being cut completely from Wednesday. The disruption is causing reported daily losses of more than Tk1,000 crore, while foreign orders are being cancelled or face cancellation because export shipments cannot be completed on time.

Managers at Jamuna Industrial Park, Badsha Pioneer, SM Spinning, Sayham Group, Habiganj Industrial Park and Square Denim said their factories had stopped operating after gas supplies ended. Several companies are fully export-oriented and rely on captive power systems for electricity, meaning production and internal power generation have both been affected. Officials cited idle workers, stopped output and risks to existing orders.

Jalalabad Gas T&D System Limited Deputy General Manager Md Ruhul Karim Chowdhury said the shortage is a national problem that began in late July. He said gas supply to power-generation centres was increased to maintain electricity production, forcing supplies to industries to be curtailed. He said the problem could be resolved within three to four days.

The Ruthiya family of Madhya Pradesh, India, has asked the UK government to repay, with interest, a claimed 35,000-rupee loan made by its ancestor Jummalal Ruthiya during the First World War. The family says a certificate dated June 4, 1917 documents the transaction, which it says was intended to support Indian soldiers serving with British forces. It has not yet set the total amount it will seek after calculating present value, interest, compound interest and related costs.

According to the family, the money was provided through a British government official working at the Bhopal Agency. Gautam Ruthiya said the UK Debt Management Office requested relevant documents and said the matter had been sent for investigation. British authorities have not confirmed that they will accept the claim, and the document request is part of a verification process.

The family says it found the document in February while reviewing old records for another case and then contacted the UK government through a lawyer. Authorities have sought family records, genealogy, old certificates, details of the loan amount and information on forms used at the time. The family says the loan was never repaid or settled and may consider legal action or arbitration after original documents are verified.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem said Israel understands only the language of force, according to a report published on August 15, 2026. He made the remarks in a speech marking the anniversary of Hezbollah’s claimed victory over Israel in the 2006 war.

Qassem said the 2006 war began after Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers. He described the stated purpose of that action as securing the release of Lebanese people held in Israeli prisons.

According to Qassem, the capture of the Israeli soldiers came after all communication and diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Lebanese prisoners had failed. He said the step was necessary to fulfill a commitment not to abandon prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan marked the 25th anniversary of the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AK Party, in Ankara on Friday, saying the party’s work is not finished. Addressing supporters at an anniversary event in the capital’s National Garden, he described the occasion as a very special and historic day and declared, “We have just begun.”

The AK Party was founded under Erdogan’s leadership on August 14, 2001, after he had served as Istanbul mayor. Erdogan said the party’s governments had carried out major investments and development projects in the economy, health, education and transport over the past 25 years. He also credited ordinary voters’ trust for the party’s long political success, saying the party used the responsibility and resources entrusted to it to strengthen and develop the country.

Erdogan said the party would not stop after a quarter-century in power and urged supporters not to expect it to become tired. He said the AK Party would work toward Turkey’s long-term goals for 2053 and 2071 and take a more active role in shaping the country’s future. At a meeting of the party’s founding board, Erdogan was unanimously elected party chairman.

The Coastal Public Library in Khudukkhali, Chhanua Union of Banshkhali, Chattogram, has grown from 20 books in 2010 into a community library holding nearly 9,000 books. Located 17 kilometres from Banshkhali upazila headquarters, it offers free reading access to students and young people from four surrounding unions. The library operates in its own building on 22 decimals of land purchased in its name. Founder Saifi Anwarul Azim established it to spread access to books in an area affected by poor communications and poverty.

Its collection includes philosophy, history, religion, psychology, literature, Liberation War, language, research, economics and translated works. Readers may borrow books for 15 days. More than 150 readers are registered, 95 percent of them women, while 30 to 35 women visit daily. Library staff said counselling helped women overcome fears about reading, and three former female readers now work in its daily operations.

The Coastal Science Club, registered in 2025 by the National Museum of Science and Technology, keeps science books, experimental materials and a telescope. The library has been damaged by the 2014 tornado, Cyclone Roanu in 2016, Cyclone Hamun in 2023 and floods in 2026, but reading activities continued. Officials said a durable permanent building is needed to protect rare books. It opens from 2pm to 6pm.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said work has begun to open one 200-bed specialized children’s hospital each in Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions, and Cumilla district. He said the five facilities could be launched simultaneously in October. Rahman made the announcement on Saturday at the inauguration of Building-2 of the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital in Agargaon, Dhaka.

At the event, he also inaugurated the new 500-bed building of the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital. He said the facility, with modern intensive care units, operating theatres, diagnostic services and specialized wards, would expand treatment capacity for neurological conditions and support medical research and higher education. He noted that former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia laid the hospital’s foundation stone on October 23, 2006.

Rahman said the government has started work on an e-health card-based referral system and full primary health-care units in every union to bring services closer to people. He also said every upazila hospital would be upgraded gradually to 151 beds during the government’s term. He stressed trust, respect and compassion among doctors, patients and relatives.

US President Donald Trump said he would never apologize for attacks on Iran, speaking at an event in New York on Friday local time. The remarks were reported on August 15, 2026, as he addressed the financial costs faced by Americans because of the Iran war.

Trump described those economic losses as insignificant and urged US citizens to accept higher oil prices. He said the increased cost was necessary to prevent Iran from continuing its nuclear program and, in his words, to ensure that an “extremely evil country” does not obtain nuclear weapons.

He said Americans were paying slightly more for petrol, but argued that the cost should be understood in that context. Trump also said the United States was acting not only for itself but for the world, calling its actions a noble and very good undertaking. He reiterated that he would never apologize for the attacks on Iran.

Three separate investigation committees have been formed after an accident during ship cutting at Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Industries in Bhatiari, Sitakunda, Chattogram, left multiple workers dead or injured. The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. on Friday while work was underway inside a ship at the Station Road shipbreaking yard. The Ministry of Industries, Chattogram district administration and the Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association formed the committees.

BASBRA member secretary Nazmul Islam confirmed the formation of the three bodies. Following an application from the yard authorities, BASBRA formed a five-member technical committee on August 14, chaired by technical adviser Captain Anam Chowdhury. Nazmul Islam is its member secretary. The committee was instructed to quickly inspect the site, determine the specific cause of the accident and submit an urgent report.

The inquiry is expected to examine gas testing, verification of gas-free certificates, ventilation in enclosed areas, workers' use of personal protective equipment and safety supervision during cutting. Former BNP joint secretary general Professor Aslam Chowdhury called for treatment for injured workers and proper assistance and compensation for families of those killed. Stakeholders said anyone responsible for safety violations or negligence should be held accountable and recommendations should be implemented.

Two people died in separate snakebite incidents in Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari, while relatives of a deceased young man attempted to revive him through rituals and spiritual healing. The effort involving chants and exorcism-like practices took place on Friday afternoon in Jurabandha Malipara village of Barabhita union. The deceased youth, Bijoy Roy, 20, had been declared dead by doctors, but relatives continued the attempt for about two hours before his cremation was completed.

Locals said Roy was bitten while putting a snake into a box after displaying snake-related performances at a Manasa song stage. He was admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital after developing severe pain at night and died on Thursday night. After his body was brought home on Friday, reports that a snake had appeared near it to remove venom drew hundreds of onlookers.

Police officer Abdul Gafur confirmed two snakebite deaths in separate locations and described the attempt to revive Roy through ritual healing as regrettable. On the same day, Rohana Akter Runa, 10, died after being bitten while asleep in Noyankhal Baidyapara of Bahagili union. Health official Dr. Nil Ratan Dev said the revival attempt reflected a lack of awareness.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Poland has issued urgent guidance urging Bangladeshis living in the country to use social media more responsibly. The guidance was posted on the embassy’s social media page on Friday, following a recent instruction from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It calls on residents to use online platforms prudently and responsibly.

The embassy specifically asked Bangladeshis to avoid statements, conduct, activities or campaigns that could be misleading, false, provocative, offensive or contrary to Poland’s existing laws and regulations. It said such actions could damage the image and reputation of the Bangladeshi community. Residents were also asked to comply properly with Polish laws and regulations.

The guidance advises people to verify the accuracy and possible impact of information, statements or content before publishing or sharing them. It also calls for responsible, restrained and lawful conduct both online and offline. Bangladeshis living, working or doing business in Poland were asked to follow the laws and instructions of relevant authorities and remain aware that personal actions should not undermine the community’s dignity and reputation.

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal held a procession at Dhaka University in support of BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s development vision and public welfare activities. The procession began at the Central Shaheed Minar at 4pm on Friday and was led by the organisation’s central joint general secretary, Md Tarikul Islam Tarik. It passed the Faculty of Arts and VC Chattar before ending at Raju Sculpture, where a brief rally was held.

Participants displayed placards carrying messages on Rahman’s development vision, youth employment, agriculture and rural development, public welfare and the country’s future. Organisers said the programme aimed to raise awareness among general students and young people about government development and welfare initiatives and convey those messages to the public. About 800 activists attended, while organisers also sought to involve general students.

At the rally, Tarik said development included farmers’ living standards, youth employment, public safety and dignity, rather than only large infrastructure. He referred to farmer cards, family cards, canal re-excavation, rural infrastructure improvement and skills development for women and youth. He said the group plans to continue awareness programmes on development, youth potential and public welfare activities.

Social media platform X plans to end its current Creator Earnings program and introduce a replacement called Original Content Rewards for content creators. Creators can continue earning under the existing system until September 7, while eligible users will be able to apply for the new program from September 8.

Applicants must have an X Premium subscription, at least 500 verified followers, and a minimum of 500,000 views from verified users during the previous 90 days. The program will prioritize original material, including creators’ own photos, videos, reports, analysis, comments, memes, and graphics.

Content that makes only minor changes to others’ material will not be treated as original. Users who copy posts from other accounts or download and repost content will not qualify for earnings. X said some incentives in the old system had become less effective than expected. Allegra Zakia said creators should focus on producing new, valuable content rather than only earning more money. X may revise the program’s rules later based on user experience and circumstances.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated a new 500-bed expansion building at the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Saturday at about 10:30am. The new facility is part of the hospital’s expanded infrastructure and will provide wards, operating theatres and diagnostic units across its upper floors.

The 15-storey building has three basement floors containing parking areas and service sections. Its remaining 12 floors include clinical facilities. The building has 40 intensive care unit beds, 24 post-operative beds and 112 cabins, according to the report.

Doctors said stroke patients make up the largest group seeking treatment at the hospital, followed by people injured in accidents involving brain and spinal trauma. The hospital also provides services for patients with Parkinson’s disease, dementia, GBS, epilepsy, hydrocephalus and other neurological conditions. Neurological treatment is available there for patients ranging from children to older adults.

Five people were killed in a shooting in northern Michigan, United States, on Friday, Michigan State Police said. Officers responded at about 11:40 a.m. local time to a report of gunfire at a home in Missaukee County, where they found three people dead and another person injured. The injured person was taken to hospital in critical condition.

Police initially identified 39-year-old Chad Hickman as a suspect. He had fled before officers reached the first scene, prompting a large search operation. During that operation, investigators found another body at a second home, according to police information reported by Reuters.

Police later located Hickman's vehicle near a wooded area by Whitlock Lake. Hickman and another person were found dead there. Authorities did not release the names, ages, or genders of those killed, and said the process of notifying relatives was continuing.