Natalie Harp, 35, has emerged as one of US President Donald Trump’s closest and most trusted aides, according to the report published on August 20, 2026. Her duties include typing posts for Trump’s Truth Social account, printing news and information for him, and accompanying him on trips. Her proximity to the president has prompted renewed discussion over her influence inside the White House.

Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff recently raised questions about Harp’s closeness to Trump. He criticized Trump’s travel with Harp on what he described as an unprotected “flying palace” gifted by the Emir of Qatar. The report says Harp was among a small group of aides who accompanied Trump when he secretly left Turkey on a smaller aircraft in July because of threats from Iran.

Born in California and raised in a conservative Christian family, Harp gained prominence after saying Trump had saved her life. She received treatment for bone cancer after experimental-treatment access was expanded during Trump’s first term. Harp later joined a 2020 Trump reelection advisory board and his subsequent 2022 presidential campaign. Formally an executive assistant, she is seen as influential over information reaching Trump and his social-media posts.

Amar Bangladesh Party, or AB Party, congratulated BNP Secretary General and veteran politician Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir after his election as Bangladesh’s 23rd president. The party’s chairman, Mojibur Rahman Manju, and general secretary Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad issued the message on August 20, 2026, extending their greetings and best wishes to the president-elect.

In their statement, the leaders described his assumption of the presidency as an important political and constitutional development in Bangladesh’s new post-fascism political reality. They said his long political experience, democratic practice and understanding of state affairs could contribute positively to institutionalising democracy. They also thanked opposing presidential candidate Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram for what they called his courtesy and empathy in keeping with democratic norms.

AB Party said people expect Mirza Fakhrul to rise above party and political identities and serve as a guardian for all citizens. It expressed hope that he would protect the rule of law, constitutional institutions’ independence, citizens’ rights, political pluralism and national unity while preserving the office’s dignity, neutrality and traditions.

Nahid Islam, opposition chief whip in the national parliament and convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), accused the BNP of saying one thing and doing another. He made the remarks to journalists while entering the parliament building on Thursday before voting began in the presidential election.

Islam said he had expected the presidential election to be held through implementation of a referendum verdict, but that had not happened. Referring to reform of Article 70 of the constitution, he said reform had been discussed but was not carried out. He added that the presidency would have been more dignified if legislators had been able to vote independently.

The NCP convener alleged that the BNP government speaks of implementing the referendum and the July Charter but is not doing so. He said his party participated in the presidential election as part of competitive democratic practice. Islam also alleged that the BNP was working against the July Charter and the referendum, and called for prompt implementation of the July Charter.

BNP has appointed its standing committee member Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi as the party’s acting secretary general. The appointment was announced in a BNP press release on Thursday, published on August 20, 2026. The party said the nomination takes effect immediately.

According to the release, Rizvi was nominated in line with the BNP constitution. It identified him as a member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s national standing committee before his appointment to the acting secretary general position.

The announcement was signed by BNP joint office secretary Muhammad Munir Hossain. The source did not provide further details on the reason for the appointment, the tenure of the acting role, or any additional responsibilities attached to the post.

Ruling BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was elected president with 255 votes, according to the reported results of the presidential election. National Parliament Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said the new president will take the oath at Bangabhaban at 7pm on Friday. The report was published on August 20, 2026.

His opponent, Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram, the candidate of the 11-party alliance, received 88 votes. Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin announced the result after voting was held from 2pm to 5pm on Thursday.

There were 349 eligible voters in the election. Three lawmakers were absent: Mirza Abbas of the Dhaka-8 constituency, Mostafa Kamal Pasha of Chattogram-3, and independent Brahmanbaria-2 member Rumin Farhana. The chief whip’s statement sets the inauguration ceremony for Friday evening at Bangabhaban.

Former interim government chief adviser and Nobel laureate Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus sent a message of congratulations to Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir after his election as Bangladesh’s 23rd president. The message was issued by the Yunus Centre on Thursday and reported on August 20, 2026.

Yunus said Alamgir’s political career spans more than five decades and is closely connected with Bangladesh’s political history. He cited Alamgir’s organisational ability, wisdom, leadership during crises and experience of working closely with grassroots people as qualities that have established him in a distinct position in national politics.

The congratulatory message described Alamgir as an educator, an experienced politician and a decent person. Yunus said taking on the new responsibility would further uphold the dignity of the country’s highest constitutional office. He expressed hope that Bangladesh would advance toward greater prosperity, justice and democracy under President Alamgir’s leadership, while wishing him good health, long life and success in carrying out his duties.

Acting President Hafizuddin Ahmed Bir Bikram has extended sincere congratulations and best wishes to newly elected President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, according to acting presidential deputy press secretary Rahat Hasnat on Thursday, August 20, 2026. Fakhrul, the ruling BNP candidate, was elected president after receiving 255 votes in a parliamentary election held at the National Parliament Building.

Voting began at 2pm on Thursday and continued until 5pm. Colonel (retd.) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram, the candidate of the 11-party alliance, received 88 votes. The report said the vote was held 35 years after the previous presidential election.

The presidential post became vacant after then-president Md Shahabuddin resigned on July 24, citing health reasons. Under Article 54 of the constitution, Hafizuddin Ahmed, as speaker of the National Parliament, assumed duties as acting president and had performed the role for nearly a month before the process to elect a new president began.

Israeli Democrats Party leader Yair Golan has described Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an extremist and untrustworthy figure while criticizing Israel’s recent attacks in Syria. Golan made the remarks in a post on social media platform X, according to a report published on August 20, 2026.

Golan called the Israeli strikes in Syria a provocative and dangerous move. He said the attacks risked pushing Israel toward conflict with Turkey, and alleged that military force was being used for political considerations.

The opposition leader said Netanyahu’s actions were undermining confidence in Israel. He argued that the country needs leadership that uses power and military strength to ensure security, rather than starting another war to preserve political survival.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi said New Delhi is awaiting a visit by Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He made the remark on Thursday after a courtesy meeting with Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain at the Secretariat, according to the report published on August 20, 2026.

Sakhawat Hossain said the meeting was strictly a courtesy call and that no discussion took place on the prime minister’s prospective India visit. He said, however, that the Indian high commissioner conveyed that New Delhi was waiting for the Bangladeshi prime minister’s visit. The meeting also included courtesy discussions on bilateral relations and cooperation.

At the start of the meeting, Trivedi expressed deep sorrow and condolences over the deaths of nine Bangladeshi citizens in a hotel fire in Kolkata. He said the Indian government would take the necessary measures to provide compensation and other required assistance in response to the incident.

Bangladesh Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman said Rohingyas are becoming involved in various forms of crime, including drug smuggling, and that their presence is contributing to environmental destruction. He made the remarks on Thursday at the closing ceremony of a three-week Capstone Course at the National Defence College in Mirpur Cantonment.

Speaking as chief guest, the army chief said course participants could play a role in addressing the Rohingya and border crises. He also identified challenges in the hill region and the energy sector as areas where participants could contribute to solutions.

Senior military and civilian officials from the armed forces, government and private institutions attended the concluding event. National Defence College faculty members and other distinguished guests were also present at the ceremony.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr Shafiqur Rahman congratulated Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir after he was elected Bangladesh’s 23rd president on August 20, 2026. In a Facebook post published after the result was announced, Shafiqur Rahman offered his sincere congratulations to the newly elected president.

The Jamaat leader said the 23rd presidential election was held on August 20, 2026. He expressed hope that Mirza Fakhrul, as guardian of the state in the coming days, would use his highest competence and wisdom in carrying out his responsibilities.

Shafiqur Rahman said he hoped the president would work to establish justice, uphold democracy, and protect the country’s independence and sovereignty. The report did not provide further details about the election result or any response from Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman congratulated newly elected President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir with red roses, according to an Amar Desh Online report published on August 20, 2026. Mirza Fakhrul, the ruling BNP candidate, won the presidential election with 255 votes.

His opponent, Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmad Bir Bikram, the candidate of the 11-party alliance, received 88 votes. Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin announced the result after voting was held from 2pm to 5pm on Thursday.

There were 349 eligible voters in the election. Three members of parliament were absent: Mirza Abbas of Dhaka-8, Mostafa Kamal Pasha of Chattogram-3, and independent Brahmanbaria-2 MP Rumin Farhana. The report identified Mirza Fakhrul as the candidate of the ruling BNP.

Ruling BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was elected Bangladesh’s 23rd president after receiving 255 votes in the presidential election. His opponent, Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmad Bir Bikram, the candidate of the 11-party alliance, received 88 votes. Voting was held on Thursday from 2pm to 5pm, and Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin announced the result.

There were 349 eligible voters in the election. Three members of parliament were absent: Mirza Abbas of Dhaka-8, Mostafa Kamal Pasha of Chattogram-3, and independent lawmaker Rumin Farhana of Brahmanbaria-2. The reported vote totals for the two candidates were 255 and 88 respectively.

The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for the day after the election. National Parliament Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said preparations had been made for the elected president to take the oath at Bangabhaban at 7:30pm on August 21.

Bangladesh Student Union alleged that activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal attacked its members after they protested the alleged harassment of three female Fine Arts students at Dhaka University. The incident occurred near TSC and behind the Raju Sculpture on Wednesday night, August 19. The three students later submitted a written complaint to the university proctor, while Student Union members held a protest march toward the proctor’s office at about 11pm.

According to the students and the Student Union, several youths made offensive remarks as the women were getting into a rickshaw. Union members who came forward for their safety were allegedly assaulted after an argument. The group said its central general secretary Shimul Kumbhakar, private university unit president Ontu Orindom and Dhaka University unit general secretary Md Mustakim were injured. Kumbhakar was taken to the National Institute of Ophthalmology for treatment.

Assistant Proctor Israfil Ratan said the political identities of those present could not be confirmed. He said CCTV footage had been reviewed initially and legal and administrative procedures would be followed. Chhatra Dal leaders said they did not know details and would investigate whether the attackers were affiliated with the organisation.

India’s central government told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that several Bengali-speaking people previously sent from West Bengal to Bangladesh had been brought back to India. Following the submission, the court disposed of the related cases, saying there was no immediate need to continue them because the individuals had returned. The court, however, left unresolved broader legal questions concerning citizenship and deportation.

The Calcutta High Court had earlier ruled illegal the central government’s decision to label several people, including Sunali Khatun and Switi Bibi from Birbhum district, as “illegal immigrants” and send them to Bangladesh. It ordered their return within one month. Families alleged that Sunali, her husband and child were detained and sent to Bangladesh, while similar allegations concerned Switi and her children. Some were reportedly detained by local police after arriving in Bangladesh.

On May 22, the government said it would verify the returned individuals’ claims to Indian citizenship under special circumstances and said the move would not set a precedent. Their lawyer said all had returned following the solicitor general’s intervention. The Supreme Court said it could address the legal issues later.