Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian congratulated Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day, saying the interests and destinies of Iran and Pakistan are more closely intertwined than ever. In the message, published on August 14, he said this reality had doubled the need for closer coordination and cooperation between Tehran and Islamabad.

Pezeshkian described the anniversary as a valuable opportunity to recall the achievements of Pakistan’s great nation. He also called it a new juncture for deepening the long-standing and strategic relationship between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Iranian president said the countries’ deep historical, cultural, civilizational and people-to-people ties were valuable assets for opening a brighter horizon in bilateral relations.

The president said Iran remained firmly determined to strengthen relations with Pakistan. He said Tehran was prepared to take more effective steps to reinforce bilateral ties and safeguard the common interests of both nations, based on mutual trust and respect and by using the extensive capacities already available between the two countries.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi described the late Begum Khaleda Zia as a “symbol” of the 1990 anti-autocracy movement and the struggle of students and the public. He made the remarks at a press conference held on Friday at the BNP central office in Nayapaltan, Dhaka.

Rizvi said BNP would hold special prayer gatherings on Saturday in Dhaka and across the country to mark Khaleda Zia’s birth anniversary. He said the gatherings would take place simultaneously at party offices in every district and upazila.

A special prayer gathering has also been arranged at the BNP central office in Nayapaltan. Rizvi further said another special prayer gathering would be held at 11 a.m. at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office. Leaders and activists from different levels of BNP attended the press conference.

Hard-right leader Nigel Farage won the by-election held in Clacton, United Kingdom, according to results announced shortly after 6 a.m. local time on Friday. Farage received 22,239 votes, while Count Binface, who finished second, received 9,455 votes. The vote was held on Thursday, and Farage defeated his rival by a wide margin.

Farage declared himself the winner before counting had finished while speaking to supporters on Friday, although he was not present for the official result announcement. His victory was widely expected because he had already been the constituency's MP. None of the country's main political parties fielded a candidate in the seat, according to the report.

Farage and Count Binface finished ahead of a range of independent candidates and candidates from marginal or less influential political parties. Counting took place at Clacton Leisure Centre, where candidates on stage were seen congratulating one another after the result. Many candidates received fewer than 100 votes. Turnout was 44 percent, compared with 59 percent in the constituency during the 2024 general election. Officials had said the long ballot paper could make counting take longer than usual.

Many mosques in Kolkata and adjoining areas did not broadcast the Friday call to prayer on August 14, according to the report, which said some worshippers were unable to join prayers properly. The report linked the situation to alleged removal of mosque loudspeakers and said fear and frustration had spread among Muslims. It also alleged that the BJP government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had stopped road prayers.

An imam from Park Circus alleged that loudspeakers were being taken away and urged people to raise the national flag at home on Independence Day, August 15. At the Calcutta High Court, lawyer Kalyan Banerjee alleged that police assistance was used to remove loudspeakers from about 4,000 mosques without written notice, acting only on verbal instructions.

The state’s Additional Advocate General disputed the case’s basis, saying police had issued no such removal order and that no specific evidence or officer had been identified. The court sought detailed information on affected districts and mosques and asked whether sound rules for the call to prayer were being followed. The next hearing is scheduled for August 18, with the state directed to state its position beforehand. The chief minister said 4,200 mosques and 1,096 temples had their loudspeakers removed under 2020 guidelines.

Pakistan marked its 79th Independence Day on August 14 with ceremonies across the country, including a 31-gun salute in Islamabad and 21-gun salutes in provincial capitals. A changing-of-the-guard ceremony was held at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi. The country’s top leadership emphasized stability, economic and institutional reforms, and the pursuit of regional and global peace.

President Asif Ali Zardari said independence was not only a historic achievement but also a responsibility for future generations. He called for a stronger economy, employment and skills development for young people, good governance, and institutional reform. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s position on Kashmir and alleged that terrorist activities were being conducted from Afghan territory.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said Pakistan had made significant progress toward economic stability over the past two and a half years, with remittances rising by $11.3 billion in two years. He identified information technology, innovation, industry, agriculture and skills development as priorities. Sharif described every drop of water as a red line for Pakistan, warned India, and pledged continued support for regional peace and the people of Palestine and Kashmir.

The United States now considers keeping oil and gas prices affordable its top priority, ahead of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, according to US Vice President JD Vance. In an interview with Fox News cited in a report published on August 14, 2026, Vance described the order of US objectives.

Vance said oil prices had fallen that day and were substantially below the high levels seen early in the conflict. He said the main goal was to keep oil and gas prices affordable for people across the country.

He said the second objective was to ensure that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons. The report did not provide further details on US policy measures, a timeline, or additional reactions regarding the stated priorities.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has warned that he will lead two million people in a march toward Islamabad on September 27 if he is not allowed to meet Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder and former prime minister Imran Khan. Afridi made the warning while speaking to journalists outside Adiala Jail on Thursday.

Afridi said he would return to Adiala only if the government itself confirmed the meeting. He said the prison situation suggested authorities had no intention of allowing him to meet Khan. He also announced nationwide road blockades from 10 p.m. Thursday under PTI's D-Chowk protest programme if permission for the meeting was not granted.

Afridi said the Islamabad High Court had instructed prison authorities on Tuesday to arrange meetings between Khan and family members and lawyers, and on the following day with party leaders. He alleged such court orders had not been implemented for months, including orders by three judges allowing two meetings weekly. PTI's media wing said protests had already taken place in several cities, while Afridi also announced a planned street programme in Bannu on Sunday.

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal president Md Rakibul Islam Rakib said he expects to begin a new phase of life after serving for a long time in the organisation’s central parliament and at Dhaka University. He made the remarks in a verified Facebook post after Chhatra Dal’s top five leaders met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday night at the BNP chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Dhaka.

Rakib thanked Tarique Rahman, late BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, BNP leaders and former Chhatra Dal leaders for giving him the opportunity to serve. He also acknowledged leaders and activists from universities, medical colleges, agricultural universities, Dhaka’s five colleges and four metropolitan units, saying their work helped run the central leadership and make street programmes successful.

He described coordinating programmes with the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement during the July mass uprising and playing an active role on the streets as a key success of the Rakib-Nasir committee. Rakib said leaders had faced situations in educational institutions after 5 August 2024 and persistent online bullying. He apologised for any mistakes or hurt caused by his conduct and asked all to welcome the new committee.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has asked US President Donald Trump to withdraw tariffs imposed on Australia, or at least not raise them further. Speaking to journalists on Friday, Albanese said he had discussed the matter with Trump and urged him to consider a full removal of the measures. The report was published on August 14, 2026.

The United States imposed a 12.5 percent tariff on Australian goods last month, citing concerns about forced labour. It also imposed tariffs on 59 other countries for the same reason. Albanese described his discussion with Trump as “warm and constructive” and said the US president had agreed to consider exempting Australia from the tariffs.

Albanese said Australia views tariffs as economic pressure and supports free and fair trade, arguing that tariffs also carry costs for the countries that impose them. Their discussion also covered progress on the AUKUS defence partnership involving Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. Under the arrangement, Australia is expected to receive at least three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the United States within 15 years. Albanese also reiterated Australia’s opposition to Iran possessing nuclear weapons and called for an end to conflict in the Middle East.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yaser Khan Chowdhury said criticism of the government and narratives against it would not trigger action, but narratives directed against the state would be suppressed strictly. He made the remarks on Thursday night at a discussion in the conference room of the Mymensingh deputy commissioner’s office on preventing misleading information and propaganda on social media.

Chowdhury said the government is working to amend the Cyber Security Act and has formed a high-level committee for that purpose. Discussions are under way on making the law more effective and stronger while giving top priority to the interests of Bangladesh’s people and the state. He said he had personally faced cyberbullying during the previous fascist period and stressed that the law was not being made against any party or individual.

The minister said new laws were being prepared to protect women and children, while the Information Ministry was taking measures to counter moral decline. He said people who knowingly like or comment on misinformation would come under the law. Deputy Commissioner Md Saifur Rahman called for a strict legal framework and greater awareness, saying schools had initiated weekly student-awareness efforts against misinformation and propaganda.

Dhaka South City Corporation is planning a new system to manage rickshaws, including battery-powered vehicles, in an effort to reduce congestion in the capital. The plan would divide Dhaka into several zones and allow rickshaws registered for a specific area to operate only within that area. DSCC Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Abdus Salam announced the proposal recently at Nagar Bhaban, saying a rickshaw from Demra would not be allowed to travel to New Market.

The authority may completely prohibit rickshaws on some roads and impose restrictions on particular days on others, depending on need. Rickshaw operation in Dhaka would require licences and registration. The proposal also seeks to prevent rickshaws from Keraniganj or Demra from entering other areas and to limit unrestricted movement of Dhaka North City Corporation rickshaws into the southern city area.

Salam said the entry of battery-powered rickshaws into Dhaka from different parts of the country has increased since 5 August. Necessary laws and regulations are being drafted, and the city corporation will implement the system after receiving legislation from the relevant ministry. The local government division is also preparing an e-rickshaw policy and considering a unified licensing authority.

Bangladesh’s Home Ministry issued two separate notifications on the morning of August 14, compulsorily retiring 56 police officers from service. The officers include seven assistant superintendents of police and 49 police inspectors. The notifications said the orders were issued in the public interest and would take effect immediately.

The 49 retired inspectors had been serving in different police units, including district police, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, the Criminal Investigation Department, the Police Bureau of Investigation, Special Branch and railway police. The notifications stated that the officers concerned would receive retirement benefits in accordance with the rules.

The assistant superintendents named include Nur-e Alam Siddiqui of the Dhaka RAB headquarters, Nurul Mottakin of DMP, Kazi Wazed Ali of the Matiranga Circle and Md. Syeduzzaman of the Galachipa Circle. The list also includes Md. Golam Kibria of RAB-2 in Mohammadpur, Mohammad Mizanur Rahman of Dhaka RRF and Md. Rabiul Islam of Sirajganj district.

Discussion of a possible cabinet reshuffle is intensifying as the BNP-led government approaches its first six months in office on August 16. The report, published on August 14, said speculation grew in the Secretariat after BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was named the party’s candidate for the country’s 23rd president. Alamgir currently holds the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives portfolio, and sources said several ministries could receive new faces after the new president is sworn in.

Government sources said an assessment of ministers and state ministers is nearing completion, examining performance, ministry work pace, progress on election commitments and their role in the government’s image. The report said intelligence agencies and the Prime Minister’s Office collected information on ministry activities, decision-making, coordination with the administration, complaint handling, parliamentary attendance, accountability and political roles.

Former ministers Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan are among those discussed for the LGRD portfolio, while Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Selima Rahman are being considered as possible new ministers. The report also cited possible technocrat appointments and redistribution of portfolios held by ministers overseeing multiple ministries. A senior government member said the final decision remains with the prime minister.

India’s Narendra Modi government is seeking to bring Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to Delhi with his family for a bilateral visit this month, according to diplomatic sources cited by Amar Desh. The report says Delhi has signalled a willingness to help create a favourable atmosphere for ties, including by controlling Sheikh Hasina’s political activities and considering the handover of the suspected killer of martyr Osman Hadi. No final decision on the visit has been made.

Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi met Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on August 9 and paid a courtesy call on Tarique Rahman on August 10, conveying India’s strong interest in the trip. Bangladesh told India that Delhi must create conditions conducive to improved relations and take steps on returning convicted Hasina and Hadi’s killers, the report said.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam said no final decision had been reached and the timing would be decided through discussions at a convenient time for both countries. Analysts cited in the report urged tangible action on water sharing, push-ins and border killings before any visit. Bangladesh has also informally told Delhi that the prime minister will not attend the BRICS summit.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman said Allama Delwar Hossain Sayeedi is no longer alive but his voice, tafsir, work and the affection of countless people remain. In a Facebook post on Thursday night, Rahman described Sayeedi as a person who continues to live in people’s hearts long after leaving the world.

Rahman said Sayeedi spent more than half a century calling people across towns and villages in Bangladesh toward the Quran, while also maintaining activity beyond the country’s borders. He said Sayeedi’s religious gatherings became places of learning for many people. The post also said Sayeedi, as a member of parliament, spoke about religious values, Alia and Qawmi madrasa education, and public demands.

The post alleged that Sayeedi faced severe persecution and claimed that more than 150 people were killed during protests after his death sentence verdict. Rahman said that despite years of imprisonment, recordings of Sayeedi’s tafsir continued to be heard in many homes. He prayed for forgiveness of Sayeedi’s shortcomings, acceptance of his good deeds, and a high place for him in Jannatul Firdaus.