Around 50,000 demonstrators joined a pro-Palestinian march in Auckland, New Zealand—one of the largest rallies since the Gaza war began, organizers claimed. Police estimated the turnout closer to 20,000.

Protesters carried Palestinian flags and banners, demanding that New Zealand impose sanctions on Israel. Organizers had planned to block a key city bridge but abandoned the move due to stormy weather. Police confirmed that no arrests were made.

The Palestinian Authority says at least 64,756 people have been killed in the Gaza conflict so far. New Zealand’s government is reportedly considering whether to officially recognize Palestine as a state.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump hosted a private dinner in New York with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. Trump’s top adviser, Steve Witkoff, also attended the dinner.

The meeting came just two days after Israel launched airstrikes in Doha targeting Hamas leaders. Trump reportedly expressed displeasure over the strikes in a call with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and assured Qatar that such actions would not be repeated.

Before the dinner, Al-Thani met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for nearly an hour. On social media, a Qatari envoy described the dinner as “fantastic.”

A massive 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ). The quake’s epicenter was 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) beneath the surface.

However, the U.S. Geological Survey reported a slightly stronger magnitude of 7.4 and placed the depth at 39.5 kilometers (24.5 miles). The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has warned of a possible tsunami threat, though no alerts have been issued for Japan, located southwest of Kamchatka.

Nepal’s president has dissolved parliament following the recommendation of interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki. A new election has been scheduled for March 5, 2026. Sushila took office Friday night as head of an interim government, which will serve for six months and is led by a small cabinet.

The appointment followed talks among representatives of the Jan-Jir protesters, the president and the head of the armed forces, after which consensus was reached to make Sushila prime minister. Sushila Karki served as Nepal’s chief justice from 2016 to 2017 — the country’s first woman to hold that post — and is widely regarded for her tough stance against corruption, a stance that has earned her popularity with the Jan-Jir movement.

Adviser Mahfuz Alam was the target of an attempted assault by activists affiliated with the Awami League while leaving a seminar at Swansea University in London on Friday, witnesses reported. According to bystanders, members of the party lay down in front of a vehicle belonging to the Bangladesh High Commission and later threw eggs at the car.

Police intervened promptly to control the situation and to move the vehicle to safety. The High Commission stated that Mahfuz Alam was not inside that particular car; he reportedly left the event by a different route in another vehicle.

Police have arrested the main suspect in the fatal shooting of prominent hardline activist Charlie Kirk, authorities disclosed Friday. Utah Governor Spencer Cox identified the arrested individual as 22-year-old Taylor Robinson.

Local jail officials said Robinson is being held on preliminary allegations including premeditated murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and obstruction of justice. Formal charges have not yet been filed; the governor stated prosecutors are preparing an indictment that will detail the potential motives and charges in the coming days.

At least 65 people were killed across the Gaza Valley on Friday in a series of indiscriminate attacks, including 14 members of a single family, according to Gaza’s health authorities. The ministry reported that 48 people were killed in Gaza City and the northern areas alone on that day, with many more wounded.

The strikes included air raids and a ground offensive involving tanks and infantry in Gaza City. Multiple multi-story buildings were destroyed in the attacks, which affected an area populated by nearly one million people. The report noted that roughly two years into Israeli military operations in Gaza, the death toll has reached approximately 63,000.

A large group of local residents blocked the highway on Friday afternoon to demand the withdrawal of the transfer order for Laksam Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Kawsar Hamid and his reinstatement at the workplace. Protesters, led by student activists and locals, staged a road blockade and held a demonstration.

UNO Kawsar Hamid appeared at the site and appealed to the crowd to vacate the road, but protesters rejected her request. Overcome with emotion, the UNO began to cry and embraced several demonstrators, saying, “The love I have received from you all is the greatest treasure of my career. I want everyone in the upazila to be well.” She also explained the realities of government service, noting that transfers prevent permanent settlement in any one place and acknowledging both the support she received from colleagues, elected representatives and community leaders and the possibility that her work may have upset some people. “If I have unknowingly hurt anyone or treated anyone unfairly, I apologize,” she said.

The demonstrators warned they would maintain the blockade and continue protests unless the transfer order was withdrawn. About two hours after the blockade began, at around 6:00 pm, the arrival of military personnel prompted the protesters to disperse.

At a memorial event for student martyr Farhan Faiyaz, Advisor Sharmin S. Murshid paid tribute to the young lives lost during the July 24 uprising.
“We remember Farhan and all the children who sacrificed their lives. They remain eternal in our hearts,” she said.
Sharmin praised children with autism who participated in a football match in Farhan’s memory, encouraging them to dream of reaching international stages like the Olympics.
She added: “Next time, we will commemorate not just Farhan, but all the children of this nation who gave their lives, and rebuild our country with them in our hearts.”

The Bangladesh Rural Electrification Association has suspended its ongoing mass leave program and requested all officers and employees to return to work.
In a statement, the association said its reform movement, launched in January 2024, aimed to eliminate rural-urban disparities in electricity supply and build a sustainable distribution system.
While acknowledging government assurances of a solution, the association said it was unfair to label workers—who serve tirelessly in sun, storm, and rain to light up 140 million homes—as “anti-national.”
The decision to suspend the program follows discussions with the government’s power adviser, who expressed commitment to resolving the issues.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has directed officers who faced discrimination during their service between 2009 and August 4, 2024, to submit formal applications.

According to the notice, complaints must be filed to the Armed Forces Division’s committee chairman by September 21.

In a historic development, Nepal’s former Chief Justice Sushila Karki has taken oath as the country’s first female interim Prime Minister. She was sworn in Friday evening at the presidential residence Shital Niwas by President Ram Chandra Poudel.

Karki’s appointment under Article 61 of the constitution marks a significant departure from previous governments formed under Article 76. Political analysts view the move as a major constitutional and political shift for Nepal.

The Shapla Memorial Society has initiated financial support for families of those killed in the May 5, 2013 Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Square. The announcement came Friday, with the group pledging monthly stipends ranging from Tk 10,000 to Tk 15,000 per family, depending on need.

General Secretary Md. Kamal Uddin said families listed as “martyr households” would receive continuous assistance. Hefazat has so far released a draft list of 93 names, though the number could rise after verification.

Tensions flared ahead of the much-anticipated football final in Cox’s Bazar, as clashes broke out between spectators and law enforcement officers. The unrest left at least 20 people injured, including the local Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).

According to reports, the final between Ramu and Teknaf upazilas was scheduled for the afternoon. The stadium filled beyond capacity, prompting many fans to storm the gates. Security personnel from the army, police, and RAB attempted to control the situation, sparking anger among the crowd. Spectators began hurling stones at the galleries and security forces. By 5 p.m., authorities managed to bring the situation under control.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard rescued nine fishermen who were being held hostage by the notorious Ranga gang in the Sundarbans. During the operation, two members of the gang were arrested along with weapons and ammunition.

The detainees were identified as Nasir Molla (31) and Mintu Sardar (40). According to officials, they had long supported the Ranga gang in robbery operations by supplying arms, ammunition, and provisions.

The rescue mission was launched early Friday after intelligence reports indicated fishermen were being held captive in the Adachgi area. Witnesses said the fishermen were abducted on Thursday night while fishing and crabbing, after arriving in the forest on September 3. The gang had demanded ransom before Coast Guard intervention forced them to flee.