US Vice President JD Vance said pressure on Iran will continue unless Tehran agrees to make long-term changes aimed at improving relations with Washington. In an interview with Fox News on Saturday, Vance said the United States was assessing whether Iran was prepared to make the changes needed for better relations between the two countries.

Vance said the United States had substantially weakened Iran’s nuclear and conventional military capabilities. He also said that Washington had destroyed Iran’s nuclear programme and its conventional military capacity.

If Iran does not want to improve relations, the United States will keep applying as much pressure as it can, Vance said. He added that the United States would seek to extract as much oil and gas as possible from the Middle East so that American citizens could obtain gas and energy at lower prices.

An article adapted from Middle East Eye alleges that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is intensifying efforts to influence elections in Europe, South America and elsewhere to bring pro-Israel governments to power. Author Antony Loewenstein links those claims to Israel’s arms and surveillance-technology sector, arguing that private companies operate closely with the state and advance its interests internationally.

The article cites reporting by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project and two other media outlets on NSO Group, maker of Pegasus spyware. It says NSO co-founder Shalev Hulio played a central role in selling Pegasus to Panama in 2012 and used a diplomatic passport when entering Panama in 2013. The article argues that surveillance companies’ access to mobile-phone data could provide information usable for political influence.

It further alleges that Israeli companies have used bot farms, disinformation against pro-Palestinian candidates and social-media manipulation in places including Scotland, France, Colombia and Honduras. The piece describes alleged efforts to weaken left-wing or governments considered unfriendly to Israel and the United States in Latin America. Its suggestion of possible Israeli assistance to a Brazilian campaign is presented as the author’s inference rather than a documented finding.

In a commentary published on August 9, 2026, Amar Desh joint editor M Abdullah examines competing claims of credit for Bangladesh’s July-August 2024 mass uprising and argues that the army played a decisive role. Citing a Reuters report, he says the army chief and senior officers decided on August 4 not to fire on civilians, and that the army chief told Sheikh Hasina the following day that troops could not enforce a nationwide curfew.

The writer says the army’s restrained posture during the August 5 “March to Dhaka” changed the course of events. He claims barriers at Dhaka entry points were eased, while blank fire near Uttara BNS Centre was intended to give Hasina time to leave Ganabhaban. He argues that a full military crackdown could have led to civil war or extensive casualties.

The article also credits students, the anti-discrimination movement’s leaders, student groups and opposition parties including BNP and Jamaat. It alleges that junior and mid-level officers rejected firing on unarmed citizens at an August 3 meeting. The writer calls for recognition of the armed forces’ role while saying accountability is needed over the reported escape of more than 600 people who had taken shelter in cantonments.

At least five Bangladeshi universities have formed inquiry committees after allegations that 404 teachers from 22 public universities were secretly working to create conditions for Sheikh Hasina’s return and to revive Awami League politics. The report alleges that the activities were coordinated through an encrypted Telegram group called “Bangladesh Public University Progressive Teachers Society.” The allegations remain under investigation.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ABM Obaidul Islam said the 404 teachers were being monitored and that those involved in wrongdoing should face action. Professor Dr Mohammad Bilal Hossain of the University Teachers Link said any teacher genuinely involved should face an investigation and trial, while warning against deliberate harassment. Islamic University’s Green Forum also called for a fair inquiry and necessary measures.

Jagannath University gave its four-member committee until August 13 to report on allegations against 68 teachers. Islamic University set an August 12 deadline for its committee examining 44 teachers. Rajshahi University formed a fact-finding panel concerning 42 teachers, while Begum Rokeya University and Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University also created committees to verify whether their teachers were involved and to determine responsibility.

Bangladesh’s Parliament Secretariat faces allegations of major irregularities in a newly gazetted seniority list for officers, published on July 23. Disadvantaged officers claim that the revised list ignored an earlier, corrected list prepared during the interim government period and elevated several junior officials above senior colleagues. The allegations concern promotions to deputy secretary and equivalent fifth-grade posts under the National Pay Scale 2015.

According to the report’s review of the lists, Senior Committee Officer Rahat Ara Imam moved from 11th place in the draft list to first place in the final version. Officers alleged that a June 11 notification brought forward her sixth-grade joining date from March 29, 2023 by two years, while her ninth-grade joining date was shown as December 24, 2013 instead of June 22, 2015. Imam said the Human Resources Division prepared the list and said she had not received promotion on time in the past.

Several senior officers were pushed down the final ranking, the report said. Experienced Public Administration Ministry rules officials said seniority in feeder posts should guide promotion seniority. Parliament Secretariat Secretary Barrister Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan declined comment without reviewing documents. TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said departures from genuine seniority would constitute administrative irregularity and any improper influence should be investigated.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has decided to participate in the upcoming presidential election, the party said in a notice issued Saturday night. The decision was made at a meeting of its central executive council at the party’s central office in the capital at 7pm Saturday, chaired by Jamaat chief and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman.

The meeting was attended by the party’s secretary general and former MP Mia Golam Parwar, along with other council members. According to the notice, Jamaat has called a top-level meeting of the 11-party alliance for Sunday as part of its preparations to take part in the presidential election.

The issue of nominating an opposition candidate will be finalized at the 11-party alliance meeting, the notice said. The central executive council also discussed the country’s overall political situation, the issue of constitutional reform, and political programmes announced by the 11-party alliance.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement in Mecca, declaring that an armed attack on any one member would be treated as an attack on all three. The report, published on August 8, 2026, says the pledge resembles NATO’s Article 5 and signals a potentially significant shift in Middle Eastern security and geopolitics. The joint statement, however, does not specify the scope of military cooperation or how assistance would be delivered in particular situations.

Analysts cited in the report view the pact as part of a growing regional effort to build security arrangements beyond the long-standing US-led framework. Conflict and tensions involving Iran, attacks on Saudi territory, and disruptions to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea have raised concerns for the three countries. Pakistan’s military and nuclear deterrent, Saudi financial strength, and Turkish defense technology are described as complementary assets.

Iran has sharply criticized the agreement, while India’s foreign ministry said it is closely monitoring developments. Analysts say Pakistan could seek investment, energy benefits and financial support through defense diplomacy, but the pact also carries risks of deeper involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts, strain in ties with Iran and possible sectarian tensions at home.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman urged Islamic scholars to take a responsible leading role in social transformation at a national ulema representatives’ conference in Kakrail, Dhaka, on August 8. Speaking as chief guest, he said their responsibilities should extend beyond mosque leadership, sermons and religious advice, particularly during a critical period for the nation. The conference was held under the slogan, “Not division of opinion, but unity to build the Bangladesh of tomorrow.”

Rahman said scholars should centre their learning on the Quran and Sunnah, speak for truth and justice, and convey religious messages with wisdom, good counsel and respectful language. He urged them not to insult others over differences of opinion and to respond to provocation with patience and restraint. He also said both Alia and Qawmi streams of madrasa education were necessary and should receive respect and support.

The conference presented seven proposals, including stopping reductions in Islamic education at madrasas and colleges, nationalising Ebtedayee madrasas, and promptly implementing service rules and pay scales for imams and muezzins. Other proposals called for ending the denigration of religious scholars and ending killings and persecution of Muslims in Palestine and other countries.

Inqilab Moncho convener Abdullah Al Jaber announced that gatherings will begin at Shahbagh in the capital from December 13, demanding justice for the killing of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi. He also demanded that the government make a clear decision on the case by December 18. Jaber made the announcement on Saturday, August 8, at an event in Rajganj, Cumilla city, organised by the Comilla University branch of Inqilab Moncho.

Jaber said the government must decide by December whether it will pursue justice, adding that his group would not accept unclear or evasive discussion on the issue. He described justice for Hadi’s killing as linked to Bangladesh’s independence. He said that if the mystery behind the killing is not uncovered, it could continue to be described through references to a “deep state” or other explanations.

He said the movement plans to tour all 64 districts during December and expressed a commitment to hold what he described as the largest gathering in Dhaka’s history. Jaber said a movement requires an organised environment, rather than repeated statements alone, and called for unity around the demand for justice. Inqilab Moncho members, invited guests, student leaders and university students attended the event.

Islami Chhatra Shibir central president Nurul Islam Saddam said campus halls cannot be occupied and turned into safe havens for non-students and terrorists. In a Facebook post on Saturday, August 8, 2026, he appeared to address the government, saying it has a fundamental responsibility to maintain a proper educational environment on every campus.

His remarks followed recent clashes between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir at Begum Rokeya and Jagannath University and Dhaka Alia. At Dhaka Alia Madrasa in the capital's Bakshibazar, Chhatra Dal took control of a hall after counter-chases and clashes that drove Shibir out, according to the report. Shibir activists have since made several attempts to enter the hall.

At about 2pm on Saturday, Shibir activists again tried to enter the hall from Bakshibazar intersection, but police stopped them with barricades. They had also attempted entry on Wednesday and were blocked by police then. On Saturday, they waited from noon until 2:30pm before leaving, after which police removed the barricades.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque said Bangladesh’s relations with neighbouring countries should be guided by mutual respect, respect for sovereignty and diplomatic etiquette. He made the remarks while chairing the party’s regular monthly central executive council meeting at its central office in Paltan, Dhaka, on August 8. Secretary General Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad conducted the meeting.

Haque said direct or indirect attempts to influence Bangladesh’s internal political affairs would not support good relations between the countries, adding that Bangladeshis would determine their own political future. He called for responsible conduct to protect the stability, independence and sovereignty of the “new Bangladesh” achieved through the blood of students and the public in July and August. He also said there should be no opportunity to influence domestic politics around Sheikh Hasina.

He raised allegations of ghost and excessive electricity bills, alongside extensive load-shedding in rural and district areas. Haque called for action against those involved in irregularities in the power sector, uninterrupted electricity supplies, and alternative fuel arrangements to address gas and energy shortages affecting households, industries and transport. Several other party leaders also spoke at the meeting.

Inqilab Mancha organiser Abdullah Al Jaber said failure to uncover the mystery behind the killing of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi could leave Bangladesh caught in theories including a “deep state” narrative for a long time. He made the remarks on Saturday, August 8, at an event in Rajগঞ্জ area of Cumilla city organised by the Inqilab Mancha’s Comilla University branch.

Jaber said the killing was connected to Bangladesh’s independence and that justice for Hadi must be delivered in Bangladesh. He said Hadi had not sought justice for personal benefit, but for Bangladesh’s independence. Jaber also said justice cannot be achieved merely through Facebook posts and requires an organised environment for a movement.

He demanded that the government clearly decide by December whether it will pursue justice in the case, rejecting what he described as equivocal statements. He said plans call for gatherings at শাহবাগ from December 13 and a government decision by December 18. Jaber also said the group plans to visit all 64 districts by December and hold a major gathering in Dhaka demanding justice for Osman.

The administration of US President Donald Trump is increasing pressure on Cuba while seeking potential alternative leaders to the current government, according to current and former US officials cited in a report published on August 8, 2026. Washington is also examining possible routes to change Cuba’s government if talks with Havana’s ruling authorities fail. Officials described the effort as a strategy for changing leadership from within the existing system rather than a direct plan to overthrow the government.

The US administration is looking for a current or former Cuban official considered pragmatic and willing to work with Washington. Intelligence assessments, however, indicate that Cuba more closely resembles Iran than Venezuela, with few officials able to cooperate closely with the United States after a sudden power shift. Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga, Raul Gonzalez Rodriguez Castro and Interior Minister Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas are among figures discussed as possible alternatives.

Washington has demanded that Havana open its economy further, allow US businesses into its market, buy oil from the United States, and reduce or end Russian and Chinese intelligence activity. It has reportedly offered humanitarian assistance and possible easing of some sanctions in return. CIA has secretly created a Cuba-focused task force, while Cuba has strengthened defensive measures amid concerns over a possible US military operation.

Former law adviser Dr Asif Nazrul said the Liberation War is Bangladesh’s greatest achievement and the July mass uprising is independent Bangladesh’s most glorious heroic saga. In a Facebook post on Saturday night, he said there is no conflict between the two. He described the July uprising as a self-sacrificing struggle to fulfil the true aspirations of the Liberation War.

Nazrul referred to several violent incidents from December 17 and 18, 1971, citing a writing by Humayun Ahmed and an eyewitness account by Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci. He also said that some Awami League members and people claiming to be freedom fighters committed brutal acts in the country between 1972 and 1975.

He argued that individual wrongdoing did not erase the Liberation War’s significance, and said displaying the underwear of a deposed prime minister on August 8 was inappropriate and condemnable but did not end July. Nazrul called efforts to question July or pit it against the Liberation War unjust. He said those who treat the Liberation War as freedom for the Sheikh family and Awami League’s arbitrariness oppose both the Liberation War and July.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman warned that a broader movement would be built against the government if the July Charter is not implemented swiftly. He made the remarks as chief guest at a discussion organised by Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party at the Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, on Saturday afternoon, August 8, 2026.

Rahman said martyrs of the July mass uprising, including Abu Sayed and Mugdha, gave their lives to free the people of the country. He said people could not return home until the aspirations for which students and ordinary citizens sacrificed their lives were realised. In his view, failure to implement the charter so far amounted to betrayal of the martyrs' blood.

Criticising the government, he alleged it was moving toward one-party rule and seeking to run the state in a fascist manner. He called for structural change, voting rights, justice, accountability and civic dignity to build an effective democratic state. LDP Chairman Oli Ahmed and Khelafat Majlish Ameer Mamunul Haque were among leaders who also addressed the meeting.