Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has travelled to Iran as discussion grows over whether Iran-Pakistan dialogue could reshape security arrangements around the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian journalist Reza Afzal Samir said Pakistan holds an important place in Iran’s strategic calculations because it has the capacity to take effective action and help create a practical path toward peace.

Samir said Pakistan should use its influence rather than remain silent and inactive. He said progress in Hormuz discussions could accelerate following Munir’s visit, adding that a deadline for a final agreement between Iran and Oman on the strait may be approaching.

Samir said that if Munir succeeds in bringing Iran back to the negotiating table, Iran and Oman could issue a new announcement on the strait soon afterward. Andreas Krieg, an associate professor of defence studies at King’s College London, was more cautious, saying a meaningful outcome would be assurances that Iranian security agencies comply with any Hormuz agreement and restrain escalation through Yemen or Iraq if Qatar can secure reciprocal steps from the United States.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is working mainly from the official residence beside the Prime Minister’s Office, using it as a regular workplace to increase working time and efficiency. She moved into the residence last December and says its location allows her to respond quickly in emergencies without losing time travelling. Built in 1929, the building once served as Japan’s prime ministerial office.

Takaichi said office facilities at the residence have been expanded, allowing in-person and online meetings with officials. She also works there after office hours when necessary and takes documents home to read, describing the residence as another workplace. She spends much of her time there at night and on holidays.

Her long working hours have drawn criticism after she said she sometimes sleeps from zero to three hours a night while managing work pressure and household duties. Critics say this may send a wrong message on work-life balance and gender equality. Her popularity has also fallen amid criticism over a proposed imperial-law change and delayed economic measures despite rising living costs.

Akklpur উপজেলা BNP has permanently expelled Raykali Union BNP joint general secretary Mizanur Rahman Babu over allegations that he forcibly occupied the home of Belal Hossain, general secretary of the local Awami League unit. The expulsion order was published on Sunday night in Akklpur, Joypurhat, following allegations of house occupation and other activities deemed contrary to the organisation.

The order said Babu had been given seven days from July 21 to vacate the house but did not do so. Local sources and the complaint say Belal Hossain’s two-storey brick house stands on about four decimals of land in Raykali village. He had mortgaged the house to Agrani Bank’s Jianganagar branch for a Tk12 lakh loan. After August 5, 2024, Belal went into hiding and his wife later left the house, after which Babu allegedly took possession.

Belal’s wife Shahnaz Begum submitted a written complaint to Akkelpur police station. Police visited the site and spoke with Babu, who denied forcibly occupying the home and claimed the land was his family’s ancestral property. The officer in charge said an SI was assigned to investigate, while the SI said Babu did not attend a proposed meeting at the police station.

Oman has announced that expatriate workers aged over 60 will no longer receive new work permits or renewals of existing permits. Several expatriates said employers’ renewal applications had been rejected in recent weeks, while a senior official confirmed that permits are currently not being issued to foreign workers above the age threshold.

The decision has created uncertainty for many expatriates who have worked in Oman for a long time. In January 2022, the Omani government had allowed work permits for expatriates to be renewed after they turned 60, with retaining experienced and skilled workers among the stated aims of that policy.

The latest move effectively reverses that earlier approach. Although Oman’s Labour Ministry website continues to offer a work-permit renewal service for expatriate workers, it currently provides no clear information about an age limit. The report cited Gulf News as its source.

Two suspects arrested over the killings of four members of a family in Rangpur city gave confessional statements before a court, police said. Mugdha Das, 23, and Siddhartha Das, 19, were produced before the Rangpur Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court at about 5pm on Sunday. Judge Md Rafiqul Islam recorded their statements under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and ordered that they be sent to jail.

Investigating officer Milon Chatterjee said the two suspects admitted their involvement in the killings, eliminating the need for further remand. Both are residents of the area around the victims’ home and are related to each other. Police recovered the bodies of retired Rangpur Zilla School teacher Ganapati Chakraborty, his wife Pritilata Chakraborty, their school-age son and postgraduate student daughter from their home in Kamal Kachna Machhuapara on Saturday night.

Police said the suspects were detained from the Machhuapara area early Sunday. At a news conference, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Mabud described an alleged sequence of events involving the suspects entering the home’s roof via a neighbouring building. The investigation officer said the defendants described the alleged killings in their court statements.

Bangladesh’s High Court on Monday ordered the removal of judicial powers from Mamunur Rashid, the then judge of Feni’s Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, over his handling of the widely discussed Nusrat murder case. The bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja also directed that he be attached to the Law Ministry.

The court said the trial court had imposed death sentences indiscriminately, causing a devastating effect on each family. After hearing death references, appeals and jail appeals, the High Court upheld death sentences for former Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Degree Madrasa principal Siraj Ud Daula and Shahadat Hossain Shamim.

Four accused—Umme Sultana Popy, Mohammad Nuruddin, Shahadat Hossain Javed and Iftekhar Hossain Rana—received life imprisonment. The High Court acquitted 10 accused, including Mohammad Shamim, Ruhul Amin, Afsar Uddin, Maksud Councillor, Hafez Abdul Kader, Abdur Rahim Sharif, Imran Hossain Mamun, Mohiuddin Shakil and Kamrun Nahar Moni. Senior lawyers represented the accused, while Attorney General Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajal and Deputy Attorney General Syed Ejaj Kabir appeared for the state.

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) said Bangladesh’s economy has seen some positive changes during the new government’s first six months, but negative trends remain more pronounced overall. At a Monday media dialogue titled “The New Government’s First Six Months: An Economic Review,” CPD projected a revenue shortfall of Tk130,000 crore to Tk140,000 crore in the current fiscal year. It also reported that 95 factories permanently closed in three major industrial zones between January and August 2026, costing 61,881 jobs.

CPD distinguished fellow Debapriya Bhattacharya said the government took office amid structural economic problems and an unfavourable global environment. He said the absence of a consolidated, data-based document on the economy inherited by the government makes it difficult to assess official claims and progress. CPD said expectations of economic recovery, inflation control, investment growth, job creation and improved governance have faced some discomfort.

The report said the Tk695,000 crore revenue target requires nearly 42 percent growth, while NBR revenue growth fell to 11.1 percent. Total tax revenue growth declined to 4.9 percent, government reliance on bank borrowing rose to 53.8 percent, and net foreign aid fell to $734.3 million. Industrial and manufacturing growth both fell to zero.

BNP Acting Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi warned party leaders and activists not to engage in unethical activities in the party’s name. He made the remarks on Monday afternoon after paying tribute at the graves of former president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. Rizvi visited the graves with party members after taking charge as acting secretary general.

He said his main responsibility would be to run the party in an orderly and coordinated manner and ensure that organizational activities directed by party chairman Tarique Rahman are completed properly. Rizvi said those involved in wrongdoing using the party’s name after August 5 had faced strict action from the chairman.

Rizvi urged activists to remain involved in constructive work, strengthen the party and work as representatives of the public. He said activists should help implement and explain government programmes to people, describing them as focused on public interest, welfare, social protection and infrastructure development. He also said accountability had been ensured in implementing every government programme and that BNP would not work outside the public interest.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moin Khan met US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen at the minister’s office this morning to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation. The meeting focused on partnership opportunities in local government and development sectors, with State Minister Mir Shahe Alam also present.

The minister expressed interest in using US experience and technical expertise for improved water management, waste management, renewable energy and agricultural cold storage. He said exchanges of experience and joint programmes in these areas could make Bangladesh’s development activities more effective and sustainable. He also said the government was working with special emphasis on the country’s economic prosperity.

Christensen congratulated Khan on assuming his new responsibilities and highlighted the importance of the local government ministry’s work for ordinary people in Bangladesh. He expressed interest in continued US support in the sector. Officials said the government is taking initiatives to strengthen local institutions, while waste management is a priority for urban management and environmental protection. Both sides voiced hope that longstanding friendly ties could create new opportunities in the local government sector.

The Islamic Foundation will begin a fortnight-long Siratunnabi (SM) programme on Tuesday, 25 August, to mark Eid-e-Miladunnabi 1448 Hijri. President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is scheduled to inaugurate the programme at 7:30pm after Maghrib at the eastern courtyard of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaykobad will preside over the opening event.

According to an Islamic Foundation press release issued on Monday, Eid-e-Miladunnabi will be observed in the country on Wednesday, 26 August. The programme aims to present the life, work, ideals, human values, and teachings of peace, equality, justice and harmony of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SM) to the public.

Planned events include religious sermons, Quran recitations, Hamd-Naat sessions, a joint seminar with Bangladesh Betar, poetry recitals, student cultural competitions, publications, a calligraphy exhibition and a month-long Islamic book fair. Prominent scholars and pirs will deliver sermons daily from Tuesday to 8 September, after Maghrib until 10pm.

Residents in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur have alleged that substandard construction materials are being used in an LGED road development project worth Tk 27,191,846. The work, under the 2025-26 “Prabhati” project, covers about 2.5 kilometres from Purba Nabonidas Government Primary School to Burirhat Road.

The project includes road improvement, four RCC U-drains, four culverts, one box culvert, one 3.5-metre culvert and guide walls at different locations. Locals alleged that brick chips made from salt, jhama and third-grade bricks are being used instead of materials meeting prescribed standards. They also alleged that chips measuring about five to six inches have been used in some places.

Resident Rafiqul Islam called for officials to inspect the site and assess the work quality, while Ala Mia said inferior materials could reduce the road’s durability. LGED office staff said they did not have information on the main contractor, though they mentioned Emdadul Haque; Mahabbat Ali is currently carrying out field-level work. An assistant engineer declined comment, while acting upazila engineer Tarun Kumar Sarkar said he would investigate and respond the next day.

Rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and robots is reshaping China’s labour market, with workers reporting job losses and growing anxiety about further displacement. In Beijing, computer programmer Fei Zhaojun was among about 160 employees dismissed two weeks after his employer asked whether AI could soon perform coding work instead of people.

AI use is expanding beyond programming into scriptwriting, translation, media and physical work, creating uncertainty over jobs and incomes. Robots are also increasingly being used for food delivery, raising questions about the livelihoods of millions of delivery workers. The Chinese government is promoting wider AI deployment through its “AI Plus” initiative and its plans through 2030, aiming to improve productivity and economic capacity.

Some economists warn that while AI can raise productivity, it could put heavy pressure on employment, particularly in jobs limited to specific skills. China’s overall urban unemployment rate is about 5 percent, while unemployment among people aged 16 to 24 is nearly three times higher. Experts also say automation may help address future labour shortages as the population ages and the working-age population declines. Some displaced workers are using AI to start businesses or work independently.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced on Monday an initiative to legislate a ban on social media use by children and teenagers under 16. Under the proposed law, social media companies could face fines of up to 10 percent of their global revenue if they fail to enforce the restriction.

The proposal would require platforms to take necessary steps to verify users’ ages. It would allow the use of digital identity documents, facial-recognition technology and information from users’ existing accounts. Luxon said the measure was needed to protect young people from harmful content, addiction and social pressures they are not yet prepared to handle.

Luxon also claimed that social media negatively affects children’s family life, mental health, sleep and studies. Passage of the bill remains uncertain after coalition partner New Zealand First opposed it. Its leader and Foreign Minister Winston Peters said such legislation could take the country in an undesirable direction, called Australia’s similar ban a failure, and stressed parents’ role in regulating children’s social media use. Luxon acknowledged enforcement would not be easy or completely effective.

Chattogram Customs House will begin an online auction this August to sell goods from 442 unclaimed and auctionable containers, according to a National Board of Revenue notice issued on Monday. Special e-auction No. 9/2026 will cover goods in 152 containers, while special e-auction No. 10/2026 will cover 290 containers. The auction also includes 86 old empty containers.

Items listed for sale include chemicals, machinery and parts, PVC flex banners, plastic waste or scrap, chest freezers, pipes, yarn, fabric, solar modules, air-conditioner parts, tiles, stainless-steel coils, scanners, badminton rackets, elevators, salt, paper and household products.

Participants must register through Chattogram Customs' e-auction portal. Bids for auction No. 9/2026 will be accepted from August 27 to September 16, while bids for No. 10/2026 will be accepted until 3pm on September 17. A scanned copy of a security deposit worth at least 10 percent of the proposed bid must be uploaded. The NBR said the initiative should improve port capacity, reduce container congestion, protect assets and prevent waste of state resources.

Indonesian police have arrested 72 people accused of setting fires in forests and peatlands, as severe blazes across central and western parts of the country produced widespread haze that crossed into neighbouring Malaysia. The fires are affecting areas on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, where authorities are investigating 89 suspected forest and land-fire cases across nine provinces.

Mohammad Irhamni of Indonesia’s police special crime investigation division said most suspects are accused of deliberately burning land to clear it cheaply for farming or plantations. Police are also examining whether companies financed the fires. Irhamni said authorities would not only act against people on the ground, but would seek to identify those who benefited and those behind the burning. The accused could face up to 15 years in prison.

Indonesia’s environment ministry identified more than 3,700 fire hotspots in Borneo and over 1,700 in South Sumatra on Sunday. Visibility in some areas fell to 10 metres. Drought and El Niño have worsened conditions, while underground peatland embers risk reigniting fires. Indonesia has begun artificial-rain operations in Kalimantan and deployed 30 helicopters there and 22 in Sumatra. In Malaysia’s Sarawak, haze shut nearly 600 schools, affecting about 200,000 students.