Twenty-one former cricket captains from several countries have urged Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to ensure medical care for jailed PTI founder Imran Khan. In a letter reported on August 24, 2026, they said a Supreme Court-directed examination by an independent medical board, in the presence of Khan’s personal doctor and sister, had not been fully implemented.

The former captains said Khan was returned to prison after spending several hours in hospital and being declared medically fit. They called for a comprehensive, independent health assessment, regular family visits and prompt treatment in line with doctors’ recommendations. They also asked that reports of reduced vision in Khan’s right eye be examined seriously.

The letter requested a medical board under Supreme Court directions that includes Khan’s personal physicians, weekly family meetings without administrative obstacles, and no delay in providing recommended treatment. It said Khan is 73 and has been in custody for more than three years. Signatories include Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Allan Border, Sunil Gavaskar, David Gower, Clive Lloyd, Arjuna Ranatunga and Steve Waugh.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that holding an election while the war with Russia continues could divide and “destroy” Ukraine. His comments were his first response to former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov’s call last week for an election during the conflict. Zelenskyy said moving toward elections in such conditions would be a way to destroy the country.

Ukrainian law prohibits elections during wartime, and analysts say conducting a vote under current conditions would be extremely difficult. Many Ukrainians are abroad because of the war, others live in Russian-occupied areas, and millions are serving on the front line, making broad voter participation difficult. Zelenskyy’s support remains around 60 percent, while pollsters say Ukrainians may want new political faces but have little interest in voting now.

A Kyiv International Institute of Sociology poll dated August 5 found that 57 percent of Ukrainians want elections only after the war ends. Zelenskyy said an election could be possible during the war if allies provided security guarantees, but no allied country has proposed such a plan. He said his strategy is to end the war and preserve Ukraine as an independent, sovereign state.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday that US President Donald Trump’s planned new campaign to isolate Iran’s economy would ultimately harm American taxpayers and businesses. In a post on X, Ghalibaf criticised Trump’s approach and shared a video arguing that economic pressure on Iran and instability in energy markets could also negatively affect the US economy.

Referring to recent efforts by the Trump administration to control prices of goods in the United States, Ghalibaf mocked the idea of importing frozen meat to reduce meat prices. He questioned what plans the administration had for other economic problems, including bonds, housing and wages, and said that a “frozen foreign policy” creates a stagnant economy.

Trump has announced what the report described as a “most severe” economic campaign against Iran and called on allied countries to join a new effort to isolate the Iranian economy. Tehran has rejected the initiative, calling it “US economic terrorism.” Ghalibaf warned Trump that Iran’s “boomerang” was now moving and would return to strike him.

Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaysar Kamal said development should not be limited to constructing brick-and-mortar buildings, stressing that better education and people with humane qualities are key measures of genuine progress. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon as chief guest at a reception for outstanding students in Durgapur, Netrokona.

The Durgapur Upazila administration organized the event at the auditorium of the Small Ethnic Groups Cultural Academy in Birishiri. Students receiving Ebtedayee fifth-grade, eighth-grade or equivalent junior scholarships, and those who secured GPA-5 in the 2026 SSC or equivalent examinations, were honoured. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ahmed Sadat chaired the programme, while Additional Deputy Commissioner for Education and ICT Mun Mun Jahan Liza attended as special guest.

Kamal praised female students, saying 21 of 28 GPA-5 recipients in the general stream were girls. He urged students to listen attentively and emphasized technical education, saying graduates of technical schools and colleges do not remain unemployed. He also called for honesty and dedication in work, advised students in classes eight to ten to read with a dictionary, and apologized for joining the event late.

Bangladesh’s National Parliament has formed an eight-member committee to compile a list of Secretariat officers and employees allegedly involved in illegal, unethical or partisan activities during the previous “fascist and authoritarian” rule. The committee, chaired by ruling-party whip ABM Ashraf Uddin Nizan, was established by a Secretariat order on August 16, 2026, following consultation with government and opposition whips.

The panel includes Chief Whip Nurul Islam, Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam and other whips. It may summon officers and employees and obtain documents, information, floor plans and reports. Secretariat officials said some staff have been attempting to label colleagues as “fascist” after the political transition, while some alleged beneficiaries of the former government have sought to present themselves as aligned with the current ruling party.

The committee will also examine the allocation and necessity of offices in Parliament’s main building, including space used by the Public Works Department. It will recommend relocations, consolidation or redistribution of rooms. Officials said the building was designed for 400 rooms but now has more than 500, with large rooms divided into smaller spaces.

In a commentary published by Amar Desh on August 24, 2026, journalist Khaja Main Uddin argues that the National Citizen Party, or NCP, risks missing a major political opportunity despite emerging from the 2024 uprising. The article says the party was formed by young activists before the first anniversary of the mass uprising and later won six seats in the 300-member parliament after contesting 30 seats in alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami.

The writer says NCP has lost strength on campuses, citing poor results for anti-discrimination alliance candidates in student union elections at major public universities, while Jamaat-backed Islami Chhatra Shibir performed strongly. He also says NCP has not persuaded the ruling BNP to rapidly prioritize reforms agreed in the July National Charter, which was reached through mediation by Muhammad Yunus's interim government.

The commentary contends that NCP still has an opening among people, especially those under 35, who do not want to align with BNP, Jamaat or the banned Awami League. It urges the party to build a broader social base, explain the importance of the July Charter, involve experienced figures and develop transparent, sustainable fundraising practices.

Leaders of the 11-party alliance, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, are scheduled to meet the inspector general of police at Police Headquarters on Monday at 7pm. The meeting will discuss the planned Dhaka-Chattogram long march set for September 5.

The alliance said it will seek discussions with the IGP to ensure that the long march is held peacefully, in an orderly manner and without disruption. The planned engagement concerns arrangements for the upcoming programme rather than an announcement of changes to it.

After the meeting, the alliance will brief journalists in front of Police Headquarters. Hamidur Rahman Azad, coordinator of the 11-party alliance and an assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, provided the information to the media.

Election experts and critics fear President Donald Trump could declare a national security emergency before the November midterm elections, potentially seeking greater federal control over voting. The concern follows administration document releases, claims involving non-citizen voting and foreign interference, and Trump’s refusal to rule out an emergency declaration. Former strategist Steve Bannon said preparations should be made for the final week of August and argued an emergency declaration was needed.

Experts say an emergency declaration would not override constitutional limits on presidential authority over election administration, and no US president has previously tried to directly control voting through such a declaration. Lawyer Aria Branch said the administration appeared to be seeking a legal basis for centralized election control, while voter-rights leader Santiago Mayer urged preparation for possible actions. Democratic lawmakers and civic groups are also considering risks including AI-generated fake videos and ICE personnel at polling places.

The administration has released records about voting systems and alleged foreign interference while promoting claims about non-citizen voters. The White House declined to discuss hypothetical emergency scenarios and backed the proposed Save America Act, which would expand federal access to voter rolls and tighten voting rules. Branch said legal challenges could block measures that exceed executive authority.

Debate over the practical application of Bangladesh’s dual citizenship rules has intensified after Humayun Kabir was sworn in as state minister for foreign affairs in a cabinet reshuffle last Friday. The report says questions arose because he had been a British citizen, while differences between the eligibility and responsibilities of advisers and ministers have renewed uncertainty over whether dual nationals can hold senior state posts.

Article 66(2)(c) of the constitution says a person who acquires foreign citizenship or declares allegiance to a foreign state is disqualified from becoming or being elected a member of parliament. However, the 15th constitutional amendment added an interpretation that a person regarded as a Bangladeshi citizen under law may contest elections, creating questions about dual citizens who also retain Bangladeshi citizenship.

The issue has repeatedly surfaced during parliamentary elections, with returning officers applying differing standards to candidates seeking to renounce foreign citizenship. Some accepted nomination papers based on evidence that renunciation applications had been submitted, while others required formal approval from the relevant foreign authority. Governance analysts cited in the report call for clearer rules and equal enforcement across all cases.

The United States is preparing new sanctions against Iran, though the Treasury Department has not formally announced the measures or specified what they will cover. The report, published on August 24, 2026, says Washington is seeking to increase pressure on countries and entities that maintain trade or other economic ties with Iran.

The US treasury secretary warned that countries maintaining economic relations with Iran could also face US economic isolation. The secretary said last week that allies and other parties with ties to Iran would have to choose a position either with or against the United States. Other US officials said Central Command was working to strictly enforce a blockade at Iranian ports.

The treasury secretary also said Iran's current governing system was moving toward collapse, indicating that maximum economic pressure may aim at changing the country's governing system as well as its policies. This contrasts with the US administration's earlier statement when the war against Iran began that regime change was not among its main objectives. With sanction details still unpublished, their scope and practical enforcement remain unclear.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington aims to cut every economic relationship that helps sustain Iran’s economy, according to an opinion article published in the Financial Times. The remarks were reported on August 24, 2026, after President Donald Trump announced economic sanctions against Iran last week.

Bessent described the US campaign against Iran as entering its “final stage” and said Tehran faced an “economic D-Day.” He said Washington would pursue what he called the largest financial attack yet undertaken against an adversary. The stated objective, he said, is to isolate all economic routes supporting Iran’s governing system until Tehran is left alone.

The Treasury secretary said countries and companies maintaining any relationship with Tehran could face greater economic isolation, whether those links were deliberate or knowingly overlooked. He had previously warned that the United States could impose additional secondary sanctions on other countries and companies doing business with Iran. His comments indicate Washington is preparing to intensify economic pressure, including possible measures affecting third countries and institutions with commercial ties to Iran.

Iraq plans to gradually bring weapons held by armed groups under state control after the international coalition’s scheduled departure on September 30. National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji announced the plan in an interview with the Iraqi News Agency on Sunday, describing it as a strategic Iraqi decision. He said Baghdad would pursue the process through dialogue rather than conflict.

Al-Araji said the government is working seriously to sever links between political parties and brigades of the Popular Mobilization Forces, or PMF, and that ongoing discussions have produced positive results. He said the weapons of armed groups would become part of state power and would not be handed to any external party. He added that all political forces agree that only the state has the right to decide questions of war and peace.

Several armed groups close to Iran oppose the initiative. Kataib Hezbollah has linked disarmament to the departure of US and other foreign troops from Iraq, while also demanding Turkish troop withdrawal from northern Iraq and the dissolution of Kurdish Peshmerga forces. Al-Araji called conflict a red line and said Baghdad would guarantee PMF fighters’ rights.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has alleged that a Malaysia-bound labour recruitment arrangement limited to 25 agencies would effectively hand the labour market to a syndicate. In a statement sent to media on Sunday, Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar condemned the arrangement and said it could undermine national interests and harm Bangladeshi migrant workers who contribute remittances.

Parwar said the Malaysian labour market is highly important for Bangladeshis and that the government has a moral responsibility to protect workers’ interests, ensure safe working conditions, stop harassment and provide financial security. He alleged that an unscrupulous group within the government had brought several overseas recruitment agencies under a syndicate, creating concern and frustration among general members of BAIRA.

He said the two governments selected only 25 agencies to send workers, warning that past syndicate-based arrangements involving limited agencies led to excessive charges and harmed thousands of workers. Jamaat fears migration costs could reach Tk600,000 to Tk700,000 per worker. Parwar called for transparent and equal access for qualified agencies, action against fraud and exploitation, and measures to ensure lower-cost, safe overseas employment.

Mongla Port Authority Employees’ Union, or CBA, will hold its biennial election by secret ballot on September 15 after a break of nearly five years. The election schedule was announced on August 23 at the Mongla Port CBA office by election management committee chairman Md. Zulfikar Ali, who is also president of Mongla municipal BNP and a former mayor.

The announcement has generated interest among port workers and employees, with discussion already under way about potential candidates, panels and union leadership. The presence of figures known in local political circles on the election management committee has also prompted discussion about possible political dynamics surrounding the vote. Several BNP-linked local leaders and former CBA leaders attended the schedule announcement.

Under the timetable, the draft voter list will be published on August 23, objections accepted on August 25, and the final list released on August 30 after hearings. Nomination papers will be sold on August 31, submitted on September 2 and scrutinized on September 3. Withdrawals close September 6, symbols will be assigned September 7, and the final candidate list will be published September 8. Zulfikar Ali said the election would be free, fair and participatory.

The launch of Bangladesh’s special “Prabashi Card” has been postponed to September 15 after organisers were unable to secure Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s schedule, according to a reliable source at the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment. The event had previously been planned for the final week of August. While a new date has been set, the venue has not yet been finalised.

Testing and preparation for distribution have been completed despite the change in the launch schedule. Test printing and the user acceptance test trial were completed successfully, while trials of the card application process are continuing. An unnamed ministry official said the September 15 launch has been included in the expatriates’ welfare minister’s official work schedule.

Technical committee member and focal person Md Mahbubul Islam said authorities want to add more services before distributing the card to a larger number of expatriates. The initiative, linked to an election pledge of the BNP government, will initially offer 11 facilities. Officials plan to distribute cards to 200,000 expatriates in three phases by June next year before expanding coverage gradually.