India’s Parliament has passed a new bill granting Vande Mataram legal status equal to the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, prompting nationwide debate. Published on August 7, 2026, the report says the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 extends legal protection to all six stanzas of Vande Mataram. Intentional insult or disruption of the song could carry imprisonment of up to three years under penalties set out in the 1971 law.

Opposition parties and Muslim organisations say the measure seeks to impose an ideology and interferes with religious freedom. The report cites a 1937 Congress Working Committee decision supporting use of only the first two stanzas, while excluding later verses that invoke Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. It also notes that although President Rajendra Prasad spoke in 1950 of equal status for Vande Mataram, the Constituent Assembly did not adopt all six stanzas.

The report refers to the Supreme Court’s 1986 Bijoe Emmanuel ruling, which held that standing silently during the national anthem was sufficient respect and that refusing to sing was not necessarily disrespect. Courts have treated deliberate and intentional disruption as central under the 1971 law, while silent non-participation has not been considered an offence. Analysts cited in the report argue the new provision could alter that setting.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party are placing greater emphasis on Instagram Reels and short videos to reach young voters after Gen Z protests over limited job and education opportunities. The Reuters report, published on August 7, says Modi’s messaging has shifted from tightly prepared political content toward lighter, more natural and less edited videos. Recent clips show him in a biker jacket and sunglasses with rap music, while a vertical video released on July 31 featured him looking into the camera and saying, “Hi, friends.”

The protests, triggered by an exam paper leak, grew as thousands of students and job seekers took to the streets, and India’s education minister resigned. Protesters used Reels and short videos to challenge Modi’s image and question the government’s control over public political messaging. Political columnist Asim Ali and University of Michigan professor Joyojeet Pal said Instagram rewards spontaneity, humour and authenticity, while overly staged political messaging can appear artificial to younger audiences.

After a cabinet meeting following the protests, Modi instructed ministers to become more active on youth-focused platforms and keep videos less polished. Ministries and government departments have released lighter edited clips, and the foreign ministry plans to become active on Snapchat. With the 2029 general election ahead, the BJP is seeking to reach more than 400 million Gen Z voters, though observers question whether the generation will embrace or mock the campaign.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday amid continuing tensions between the United States and Iran, according to the report. The leaders discussed recent developments in the Middle East, also described as West Asia, and reviewed progress across areas of the India-Israel special strategic partnership. Modi disclosed the conversation in a post on X after the call.

India's Prime Minister's Office said the two leaders expressed satisfaction with continued progress in bilateral relations. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest and to deepen ties between the two countries. The call cited notable progress in cooperation on emerging technologies, cybersecurity, agriculture, water management, health, entrepreneurship development, defence and security.

Modi and Netanyahu agreed to take the special strategic partnership to new heights with peace, innovation and prosperity as priorities, the report said. They also agreed to remain in regular contact. Modi visited Israel for two days with a high-level delegation in February at Netanyahu's invitation. A joint statement issued on February 26 said both prime ministers had reaffirmed their commitment to shared goals of peace, security and prosperity through technological innovation and entrepreneurship development.

Bangladesh has expressed strong anger over ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s remarks to journalists in New Delhi, saying India allowed a political platform for a “convicted genocidaire.” In a statement issued Wednesday night, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry renewed its demand that Hasina be extradited. The report, published on August 7, said the episode has added fresh tension to already strained Bangladesh-India relations.

The ministry said Hasina and her associates made hostile remarks against Bangladesh and its people, and described such comments from Indian soil as an affront to Bangladesh’s sovereignty. India said it had no role in organizing the press conference and would not support political statements made there. Hasina, 78, addressed the event through an audio link during a programme marking the second anniversary of the 2024 student-led movement.

Hasina said she intends to return to Bangladesh in December despite possible imprisonment or death. She called the criminal cases against her politically motivated and accused the new government of mismanagement and repression. Former national cricket captain Shakib Al Hasan attended the event; hours later, unidentified attackers threw petrol bombs at and vandalized his home in Bangladesh. Police said no one was injured.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry has expressed deep anger after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina held a virtual press conference from New Delhi on August 5, saying the event created fresh strain in relations with India. In a statement issued Wednesday night, Dhaka described the gathering as an affront to Bangladesh’s sovereignty and an insult to those killed during the July Revolution, according to the report.

The ministry said India had been informed in advance about the possible implications of the event, but it was still allowed to proceed. India had earlier told a parliamentary committee that Hasina had not been permitted to conduct political activities from Indian territory. India’s External Affairs Ministry also said Bangladesh’s extradition request was being reviewed by relevant authorities under applicable laws and procedures.

At the press conference, Hasina called the 2024 uprising an organised political conspiracy, reiterated that she would return to Bangladesh by December, and sought removal of restrictions on the Awami League and withdrawal of cases against its members. The report said uncertainty has emerged over Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s attendance at the BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.

National Citizens Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam met British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cook on Thursday at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Dhaka. The meeting addressed Bangladesh’s changing political situation and issues of mutual interest between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.

NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan attended the meeting, along with joint member secretary and Global Diaspora Cell head Alauddin Mohammad. Navid Nowroz Shah, convener of the National Professionals Alliance, the NCP’s professionals’ organisation, was also present.

According to Alauddin Mohammad, discussions covered democratic governance, institutional reform and the protection of fundamental rights. Participants also stressed the importance of constructive engagement with international partners in building a democratic, accountable and inclusive Bangladesh. The NCP said the two sides exchanged views on matters of mutual interest concerning Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.

An Amardesh report said Indian officials have become frustrated with Sheikh Hasina’s alleged inflexibility. It said expectations arose after she reached Delhi following Bangladesh’s 2024 student-public uprising that India would help rehabilitate the Awami League in Bangladeshi politics. The report said India was not entirely unwilling, citing what it described as historic state-level ties between India and the Awami League.

According to the report, Hasina did not accept proposals made by Delhi over the past two years. It said Indian officials indicated that advice on the Awami League’s strategy before Bangladesh’s February general election did not suit her. The report also alleged that she rejected even minor or temporary changes to party leadership and would not accept leadership moving briefly away from herself or a family member.

The report described India’s sheltering of trusted foreign friends in danger as a long-standing policy. Comparing Hasina’s situation with the Dalai Lama and the family of former Afghan president Muhammad Najibullah, it said Delhi observers viewed her more as a liability than an asset. Her precise location in India was said to be unconfirmed, although the report stated that she is being kept with respect.

Ajit Doval has largely stepped back from regularly briefing Sheikh Hasina during her stay in India, according to a report published by Amar Desh Online on August 6, 2026 and updated early the following day. The report says India has a practice of holding regular “debriefing sessions” for foreign guests who arrive under special circumstances, citing the Dalai Lama’s arrival in 1959 as an example.

Such sessions are intended to inform guests about the overall situation, explain India’s perspective on different issues, and clarify what is expected of them, the report says. Doval initially performed this role himself for several months after Hasina arrived in India. It says his announced and unannounced visits to Dhaka had helped establish a positive personal equation with Hasina, making the process smoother.

The report says responsibility has shifted to Intelligence Bureau chief Tapan Deka, or to current chief Mahesh Dixit after Deka’s retirement last month. It attributes Doval’s reduced involvement to his workload or other reasons. Some observers cited in the report view the change as evidence that Hasina no longer holds the same level of importance in Delhi’s eyes.

Bangladesh’s Liberation War Affairs Ministry has expressed regret over controversy surrounding a documentary on the July mass uprising shown at its reception and discussion meeting for July martyrs’ families and July fighters. The ministry said several important events and contributions were not properly presented. In a press release issued on August 6, it pledged to correct the documentary and make it public again after considering relevant opinions.

The ministry said it would examine complaints about the film, make necessary revisions and release it as quickly as possible. It stated that it remains committed to preserving the history of the July mass uprising accurately, inclusively and on the basis of facts.

The release said citizens have the right to raise complaints, but urged that they do so in a refined and orderly manner. It alleged that disruption in front of the president, foreign diplomats, media and invited guests harmed Bangladesh’s image and mentally hurt invited martyrs’ families and injured July fighters. The ministry also called on those concerned to refrain from spreading what it described as misleading and defamatory information involving the prime minister.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Nurul Haque Nur alleged that the National Citizen Party, or NCP, could not have established itself politically without support from the interim government and that Jamaat-e-Islami has strategic influence within it. He made the remarks on Thursday at a remembrance and discussion event at the Dhaka Reporters Unity organized by the Bangladesh Lawyers’ Rights Council.

Criticizing the NCP, Nur said no political party survives through state patronage and predicted that its fate would resemble that of the Freedom Party. He also alleged that Jamaat is seeking political advantage by infiltrating different political parties. He said the spirit of July had been harmed by forming new parties rather than preserving broader national unity after the mass uprising.

Nur said the fall of Sheikh Hasina and the July mass uprising were not sudden, but resulted from long-running movements, struggles and sacrifices. He linked the foundation of the uprising to the 2018 quota reform movement and subsequent student and youth participation in several political movements. He said Gono Odhikar Parishad joined an alliance with the BNP to help ensure political stability and urged people to avoid misinformation and hate speech on social media.

A latest opinion poll in the United States found that most Americans oppose President Donald Trump’s decision to wage war against Iran. The report, published on August 6, 2026 and citing Al Jazeera, said the findings further clarify a continuing trend that has emerged in recent times.

Nearly 60 percent of voters identifying as Republicans also opposed Trump’s decision, according to the report. Poll participants were additionally asked which political party they considered more capable of dealing with war and terrorism. In the latest survey, 38 percent placed Democrats ahead on that issue, while 37 percent considered Republicans more capable.

Support for Republicans on the same question had been about 10 percentage points higher in 2024. Analysts said the shift in voter views on national security, war and counterterrorism signals a significant turn in the US political landscape. With midterm elections scheduled for November, the poll result is being viewed as an important political message for Trump and the Republican Party.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman said the forces of fascism and their allies fled the country on August 5, 2024, but their “black shadow” remains. Speaking on Thursday afternoon at the Engineers Institution auditorium in Ramna, Dhaka, he called for countering that influence through culture. He was the chief guest at the July Cultural Festival 2026, organised by Deshiya Sangskritik Sangsad.

Rahman described the July 2024 mass uprising as a historic milestone for Bangladesh’s democratic aspirations, cultural consciousness and national dignity. He said the spirit of July must be sustained and that all people should work together to build the country. While acknowledging differences of opinion and ideology, he urged unity on national interests and said those seeking to divide the nation are enemies of the country.

Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer ANM Shamsul Islam and Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan MP attended as special guests. The programme featured Quran recitation, recitation, jari, music, qawwali, gambhira and acting. A special play, Raktakto July, portrayed the sacrifices, struggle and mass awakening of the July movement.

Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after the student-led 2024 uprising, expressed a firm desire to return to Bangladesh despite the risk of arrest, imprisonment or death. In an audio address to journalists from New Delhi on August 6, the 78-year-old said fear could not determine her duty to the people. The address marked the second anniversary of the end of her 15-year rule and was hosted by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia.

The report says Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Hasina to death last November after finding her guilty of crimes against humanity over more than 1,400 deaths during the 2024 uprising. Bangladesh has repeatedly requested her extradition from India, while New Delhi says the request is being examined. Protesters burned her effigy in Dhaka, and an angry crowd attacked former cricketer Shakib Al Hasan’s ancestral home in Magura after his attendance at the New Delhi event.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government voiced strong anger over permission for the event, warning it could worsen diplomatic ties. Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry called India’s provision of territory for attacks on the Bangladeshi state an affront to sovereignty. Indian spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Indian government was not involved in the event and did not agree with the remarks made there.

The Cockroach Janata Party, or CJP, has announced a nationwide public outreach programme following its recent protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Founder Abhijit Deepke announced the initiative, titled “Kya Bolti Public,” on Thursday in his hometown of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. He said the programme was intended to understand people’s problems.

CJP had begun its Jantar Mantar protest in June and July this year, demanding the resignation of then education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET question-paper leak. The protest ended after Pradhan resigned on July 25. Deepke outlined the party’s future strategy alongside spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.

Deepke said education would be a priority in the campaign, citing rising fees at schools, colleges and coaching centres. He also raised concerns about declining public trust in institutions and questioned accountability in the Election Commission and judiciary. Ranka said the party stood with students protesting alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s JPSC and JSSC examinations, and that a delegation would visit Ranchi to meet them.

State Minister for Social Welfare Barrister Farzana Sharmin said anti-fascist forces are attempting to make the July mass uprising controversial. She made the remarks on Thursday in Dhaka while speaking as chief guest at the opening of the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Debating Society’s Inter-Hall Debate Competition 2026.

Sharmin said the uprising was the outcome of a collective effort by pro-democracy political parties, students and the public, and that no individual could claim sole credit. She said competition over credit was harming the uprising’s momentum. She also said fascism had been removed but its roots had not been fully uprooted, and called for respect for the government elected by public vote.

Debate for Democracy chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron said democracy’s strength lies in accepting others’ views to reach correct decisions. He described the July uprising as an expression of accumulated grievances and a symbol of unity, warning that divisions could allow hostile forces to re-emerge. University vice chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Latif and other officials also addressed the event.