An internal UK military investigation has revealed that British soldiers stationed in Kenya have engaged in transactional sex, rape, and abuse of local women, violating Kenyan laws against sexual exploitation. Allegations span years, including the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru. Despite a 2022 ban on paying for sex abroad, abuses persist. The UK Ministry of Defence is investigating recent cases, including a rape charge. Army Chief General Roly Walker vowed action, saying such conduct is incompatible with British military values.

Bangladesh will launch its first pipeline-based fuel supply from Chattogram to Dhaka on Saturday, aiming to cut costs, prevent theft, and modernize distribution. Energy ministry officials will inaugurate the 250 km pipeline at Padma Oil’s Chattogram terminal. The system, equipped with SCADA control, optical fiber monitoring, and automated depots, will serve Chandpur, Brahmanbaria, and nearby regions. With no manual handling, operations will be fully computerized, marking a major leap in the country’s energy infrastructure and efficiency.

Extending warm greetings to the Hindu community on the occasion of Janmashtami, the Chief Adviser emphasized Sri Krishna’s lifelong message of justice, love for humanity, and peace.

The adviser urged citizens to remain vigilant so that no one disrupts the nation’s harmony, unity, and communal brotherhood. He affirmed the interim government’s commitment to preserving this spirit of togetherness.

Highlighting Sri Krishna’s legacy, the adviser said, “Whenever injustice and tyranny emerged, Sri Krishna appeared to protect righteousness.” He noted that Bangladesh has long upheld communal harmony, with people practicing their faiths side by side.

He expressed hope that Sri Krishna’s ideals would further strengthen mutual respect and fraternity, calling for united efforts to build a discrimination-free Bangladesh rooted in peace and inclusivity.

In an exclusive interview with Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus clarified, “I am not someone with any prospect of joining politics. My primary focus is on implementing the reform agenda.”

Yunus noted that the youth-led mass uprising brought down Sheikh Hasina, ending her 15-year authoritarian rule. “We have made significant progress within a year,” he said, highlighting the formation of a Consensus Commission tasked with implementing the recommendations of 11 reform commissions.

The commission’s final report is expected by the end of this month, marking a major step toward a more inclusive, participatory, and credible electoral system. Its mandate also includes building consensus on the constitution and political framework.

“The country has been steered back on the right path, and the upcoming February elections will be the first credible elections in decades,” Yunus asserted, pointing out that all previous elections under Sheikh Hasina were marred by allegations of rigging, controversy, and voter suppression. Currently, Bangladesh has around 126.1 million registered voters, including approximately 4.5 million new voters.

Authorities in Sylhet have recovered approximately 100,000 cubic feet of stolen stone, though the total looted volume is estimated to be over 1.5 crore cubic feet.

On Friday, the district administration launched raids on crusher mills in Companyganj, seizing large stones and measuring the stockpile. Officials reported that the mills were deserted during the operation. Processed stone already in the supply chain will also be confiscated.

The latest recovery comes after 40,000 cubic feet of stone was seized in Dhaka’s Demra area on Thursday night, and another 60,000 cubic feet was retrieved from Sylhet over the past two days.

In an unusual diplomatic exchange, former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly asked Norway’s finance minister for a Nobel Prize during a phone call meant to discuss trade tariffs.
Norwegian daily Dagens Næringsliv reports that last month, Trump phoned Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg while Stoltenberg was walking through the streets of Oslo. The former president allegedly shifted the conversation from tariffs to his desire for the prestigious award.
Stoltenberg stated that the call, which took place before Trump’s separate conversation with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, also covered economic cooperation. Several senior White House officials, including the U.S. Treasury Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative, were reportedly on the call.

Delhi’s iconic 16th-century Mughal monument, Humayun’s Tomb, has partially collapsed, sparking fears that several people may be trapped under the debris. Authorities confirmed that 12 people have been rescued so far, with five fire engines deployed to the scene.
The collapse occurred at the historic mausoleum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and popular tourist destination. Humayun, the second emperor of the Mughal Empire, ascended the throne in 1530 after the death of his father, Babur.
According to Indian media reports, at least 10 people were initially believed to be trapped. The Delhi Fire Service received an emergency call around 4:30 p.m., and rescue operations are ongoing.

Bangladesh has received over $1.05 billion in remittances in the first 12 days of August, according to Bangladesh Bank — a sharp rise from $721 million during the same period last year. In the 2024–25 fiscal year just ended, remittance hit a record $30.33 billion. July alone saw $2.47 billion, marking a 29% year-on-year growth. The surge has strengthened foreign exchange reserves, now standing at $30.24 billion as of August 10, and eased pressure on the dollar market.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has declared that the upcoming national election will be held in February, as announced by the Chief Adviser, and no force can delay it. Speaking in Magura after visiting the graves of martyrs Rabbi and Al Amin, he said the entire nation and all election-related institutions are already preparing. Once the monsoon ends, election fervor will spread to every neighborhood, he added.

On the occasion of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s birthday, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus sent a floral tribute to her residence in Firoza on Friday afternoon. His private secretary Sajib M. Khairul Islam and office director Mohammad Nazmul Islam delivered the bouquet, which was received by Khaleda’s personal secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, who later conveyed thanks on her behalf.

Malaysian authorities have charged two Bangladeshi nationals — Mamun Ali and Refat Bishat — over alleged links to the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group. Prosecutors claim Mamun, between July 28, 2023, and April 30, 2024, used a Facebook account under the name “Sahifullah Islam” to support IS. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment or up to 30 years in jail plus fines. Refat, 27, is accused of possessing IS flag images on his mobile phone at a house in Larkin Industrial Estate on July 10. This offense carries up to seven years’ imprisonment or fines, along with confiscation of related materials.

Comilla’s Muradnagar upazila was rocked on Thursday after a video showing students brandishing knives during class at Kamalla DRS High School went viral. Authorities expelled four tenth-grade students — Obaidullah (16), Faysal (16), Saim (16), and Ananda Roy (16). The alarming footage quickly sparked panic among locals. School officials first learned of the video on Wednesday night. The next day, three of the accused students were discreetly detained on campus and handed over to Muradnagar police. Officer-in-Charge Zahidur Rahman confirmed that the students were released to their guardians after signing undertakings, while efforts are underway to recover the knives seen in the video.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has stated that Adviser Farida Akhter “spoke incorrectly” regarding the government’s decision not to disclose the draft tariff agreement with the United States. Earlier, Akhter had voiced concern over the lack of public disclosure.

Alam clarified that withholding draft texts of bilateral agreements is a “long-established diplomatic practice.” He emphasized that the interim government remains committed to transparency and will request the US to lift confidentiality restrictions once the agreement is finalized.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that if peace talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin fail, India could face additional secondary tariffs.
The US has already imposed a 25% fine and a 25% tariff on India for purchasing oil and weapons from Russia. Bessent urged European nations to join in on secondary sanctions, saying they should “stand together” in pressuring Russia. Today’s Trump-Putin meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, will focus on a Ukraine ceasefire.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has condemned an incident in Noida where a man and his child were denied hotel accommodation for speaking Bengali.
“This man was not from Bangladesh, but from West Bengal. Yet he was refused a room,” Banerjee said, questioning why respect for languages is not mutual. She praised the sweetness of the Bengali language and urged people never to forget their mother tongue or Bengal’s historic role in India’s independence and social reforms.