Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia is preparing to assemble at least 300,000 additional troops to continue its war against Ukraine. He said the mobilization could begin after Russia’s parliamentary elections in September, according to the report published on August 24, 2026.

Zelenskyy said Russia may also seek to recruit about 500,000 more personnel in 2027. He said Russian forces are trying to advance in Donetsk and other areas of eastern Ukraine, but have not captured major territory despite suffering heavy losses of troops and equipment.

He also said Russia is increasing missile production while Ukraine faces a shortage of Patriot missiles used in its air-defence system. Zelenskyy warned that Russian forces could launch major attacks on Ukraine’s electricity and energy infrastructure during winter. He called for additional air-defence systems and missiles for Ukraine, and said agreements on the issue had been reached with France and Germany. Moscow had not immediately confirmed his claim of a planned 300,000-person mobilization.

A court in Cumilla has sentenced a father-in-law, mother-in-law and brother-in-law to life imprisonment for the murder of housewife Mariyam Begum in Nangalkot. Additional District and Sessions Judge Fourth Court Judge Md. Shamsul Alam delivered the verdict at 1pm on Sunday. Each convicted person was also fined Tk20,000, with an additional six months of rigorous imprisonment if the fine is not paid.

The court acquitted Mariyam’s husband, Abdul Matin, after the allegation against him was not proven. The three convicted defendants are her father-in-law Abdul Momin, mother-in-law Fatema Begum and brother-in-law Md. Nizam Uddin. They were present in the dock when the verdict was announced.

According to court sources and case records, Mariyam was strangled to death at her home in Chhafua village of Nangalkot on the night of September 24, 2005, following a family dispute. Her father, Md. Soleman, filed a murder case the next day. Police submitted the charge sheet on October 28, 2006, and the court heard testimony from 12 witnesses before finding the three defendants guilty. The prosecution lawyer and Mariyam’s relatives expressed satisfaction with the judgment.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday that US President Donald Trump’s planned new campaign to isolate Iran’s economy would ultimately harm American taxpayers and businesses. In a post on X, Ghalibaf criticised Trump’s approach and shared a video arguing that economic pressure on Iran and instability in energy markets could also negatively affect the US economy.

Referring to recent efforts by the Trump administration to control prices of goods in the United States, Ghalibaf mocked the idea of importing frozen meat to reduce meat prices. He questioned what plans the administration had for other economic problems, including bonds, housing and wages, and said that a “frozen foreign policy” creates a stagnant economy.

Trump has announced what the report described as a “most severe” economic campaign against Iran and called on allied countries to join a new effort to isolate the Iranian economy. Tehran has rejected the initiative, calling it “US economic terrorism.” Ghalibaf warned Trump that Iran’s “boomerang” was now moving and would return to strike him.

The United Kingdom is preparing to test whether small changes to aircraft flight paths can reduce contrails that contribute to global warming. The trial will take place in the busy Shanwick airspace over the North Atlantic, west of Ireland, involving scientists, air traffic controllers and relevant British government officials.

Aircraft engines release warm exhaust and water vapour, which can mix with moist conditions at high altitude to form tiny ice particles. Scientists have long warned that these particles can remain in the sky and form cloud-like layers that trap heat in the atmosphere. The planned effort is among the largest tests of its kind globally.

The project will use weather data and artificial intelligence analysis to identify altitudes where long-lasting contrails are less likely to form. Selected flights will then be instructed to fly with slight altitude adjustments. The test is intended to assess whether such operational changes can lower the formation of persistent contrails in a heavily used air corridor.

Chinese-made humanoid robot Lightning completed a 100-meter run in 9.32 seconds during a preparatory trial for the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday, according to Chinese state media. The time was lower than Usain Bolt’s 2009 100-meter world-record time of 9.58 seconds. Lightning reached a top speed of 14.5 meters per second during the run.

The robot lost control during the high-speed run and crashed forcefully into a wall, an incident shown in a video published by CNN. While its speed has been presented as an example of advancing humanoid-robot capabilities, the crash raised questions about the machine’s stability and control at high speed.

Built by a Chinese smartphone manufacturer, Lightning is viewed as an example of China’s progress in humanoid robotics. China is working to expand potential humanoid-robot use in logistics and other consumer-facing applications through advances in artificial intelligence and robotics. Lightning previously ran the Beijing Half Marathon in April, completing 21 kilometers in 50 minutes and 26 seconds. Researchers later increased its leg length by 10 centimeters to 1.05 meters before the Games trial.

Mohsen Rezaei, the new head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned on social media that no oil would be exported through the Strait of Hormuz or from anywhere in the Persian Gulf if what he called an economic war continues. The warning was reported on August 24, 2026, by Amardesh Online, citing Press TV.

Rezaei said Iran would regard any country’s participation in or support for the United States’ economic war against the Iranian people as a war crime. His statement linked potential restrictions on oil exports directly to the continuation of the economic conflict described in his post.

Iran had previously said that regional security and management of the Strait of Hormuz must remain under the control of coastal countries. It also said countries that establish US bases or assist US activities would be held accountable. The source does not specify what measures Iran would take, or provide a timetable for any disruption to oil exports or shipping.

A fire at a residential hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street near New Market in central Kolkata killed nine people late on 19 August, including six Bangladeshi citizens and a child, according to the article. The victims had travelled to Kolkata seeking medical treatment. The article says the blaze has raised concerns over hotel fire safety, evacuation arrangements and conditions faced by Bangladeshi visitors.

It reports that smoke rapidly engulfed the building, while narrow access routes, insufficient exits, poor ventilation and alleged fire-safety shortcomings complicated rescue efforts. An air-conditioner explosion and an electrical short circuit are being considered in the preliminary inquiry, but the cause has not been conclusively determined. The five-storey building reportedly housed multiple hotels or guesthouses on different floors.

The article calls for an impartial investigation, examination of hotel licences and safety records, preservation of CCTV footage, and sharing of forensic and post-mortem information. It urges Bangladeshi authorities to provide legal and consular assistance to affected families, including support for compensation, insurance, medical costs and repatriation of bodies. It also calls for safety audits at hotels used by Bangladeshi medical travellers.

Iran is reviewing an invitation to join the Mecca defense agreement, according to Mehdi Rahimi, head of Iran’s parliamentary news agency Khaneh Mellat. Lebanon-based broadcaster Al Mayadeen reported his remarks on August 24, 2026. The reported invitation concerns a new security alliance involving Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan.

Rahimi said Iran had received the invitation and that the matter remained under review. He said countries in the region were moving toward creating a regional security umbrella, describing this as a victory for Iran because it had long called for such an arrangement.

The report, citing a senior Iranian official, said Iran had been invited to join the new security alliance. However, neither Iran’s Foreign Ministry nor any of the three agreement parties had officially confirmed the invitation. The Mecca agreement was signed on August 7 by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

China has postponed the uncrewed Chang’e-7 lunar mission, a research expedition linked to Beijing’s plan to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030. The China Manned Space Agency said after a comprehensive assessment that the Long March-5 rocket mission did not meet launch conditions and could not be launched within its scheduled window this year. The announcement was reported from Beijing on August 24, 2026.

The agency said the delay was based on principles of caution, reliability and ensuring mission success. It did not specify which launch requirements had not been met or announce a new launch date. Chang’e-7 had been intended to search for water at the Moon’s south pole, and media reports had said it could launch over the weekend or on Monday.

The spacecraft and rocket had been moved to the launch pad at Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern Hainan province. The postponement came less than two weeks after a Long March-7A rocket carrying a Zhongxing-4B communications satellite experienced an abnormality during flight and exploded. Authorities said the cause of that failure was under investigation.

Nine workers died on 14 August 2026 at Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Industries in Sitakunda, in an incident linked to the MT Rasi vessel. Subsequent inquiries found hydrogen sulfide, methane, carbon dioxide and ammonia gases at the site. The article questions why the deaths occurred despite the yard holding Hong Kong Convention compliance certification, ISO management certification and formal approval from the Bangladesh Ship Recycling Board.

According to NGO Shipbreaking Platform information cited in the article, the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments had taken legal action against Ferdous Steel a month earlier for repeated occupational safety failures. The article says hazardous-gas risks in enclosed spaces require isolation, waste removal, forced ventilation, air testing at multiple levels, written entry permits, protective equipment, supervision and trained rescue teams.

It calls for an independent investigation and publication of the full report, including scrutiny of yard managers, regulators and certifying bodies. Proposed measures include unannounced inspections, an online database of yard certificates and violations, review of certificates after fatal accidents, specialist rescue teams, hospital preparedness and protections for workers refusing unsafe work.

Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaysar Kamal said development should not be limited to constructing brick-and-mortar buildings, stressing that better education and people with humane qualities are key measures of genuine progress. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon as chief guest at a reception for outstanding students in Durgapur, Netrokona.

The Durgapur Upazila administration organized the event at the auditorium of the Small Ethnic Groups Cultural Academy in Birishiri. Students receiving Ebtedayee fifth-grade, eighth-grade or equivalent junior scholarships, and those who secured GPA-5 in the 2026 SSC or equivalent examinations, were honoured. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ahmed Sadat chaired the programme, while Additional Deputy Commissioner for Education and ICT Mun Mun Jahan Liza attended as special guest.

Kamal praised female students, saying 21 of 28 GPA-5 recipients in the general stream were girls. He urged students to listen attentively and emphasized technical education, saying graduates of technical schools and colleges do not remain unemployed. He also called for honesty and dedication in work, advised students in classes eight to ten to read with a dictionary, and apologized for joining the event late.

Bangladesh’s National Parliament has formed an eight-member committee to compile a list of Secretariat officers and employees allegedly involved in illegal, unethical or partisan activities during the previous “fascist and authoritarian” rule. The committee, chaired by ruling-party whip ABM Ashraf Uddin Nizan, was established by a Secretariat order on August 16, 2026, following consultation with government and opposition whips.

The panel includes Chief Whip Nurul Islam, Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam and other whips. It may summon officers and employees and obtain documents, information, floor plans and reports. Secretariat officials said some staff have been attempting to label colleagues as “fascist” after the political transition, while some alleged beneficiaries of the former government have sought to present themselves as aligned with the current ruling party.

The committee will also examine the allocation and necessity of offices in Parliament’s main building, including space used by the Public Works Department. It will recommend relocations, consolidation or redistribution of rooms. Officials said the building was designed for 400 rooms but now has more than 500, with large rooms divided into smaller spaces.

In a commentary published by Amar Desh on August 24, 2026, journalist Khaja Main Uddin argues that the National Citizen Party, or NCP, risks missing a major political opportunity despite emerging from the 2024 uprising. The article says the party was formed by young activists before the first anniversary of the mass uprising and later won six seats in the 300-member parliament after contesting 30 seats in alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami.

The writer says NCP has lost strength on campuses, citing poor results for anti-discrimination alliance candidates in student union elections at major public universities, while Jamaat-backed Islami Chhatra Shibir performed strongly. He also says NCP has not persuaded the ruling BNP to rapidly prioritize reforms agreed in the July National Charter, which was reached through mediation by Muhammad Yunus's interim government.

The commentary contends that NCP still has an opening among people, especially those under 35, who do not want to align with BNP, Jamaat or the banned Awami League. It urges the party to build a broader social base, explain the importance of the July Charter, involve experienced figures and develop transparent, sustainable fundraising practices.

Leaders of the 11-party alliance, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, are scheduled to meet the inspector general of police at Police Headquarters on Monday at 7pm. The meeting will discuss the planned Dhaka-Chattogram long march set for September 5.

The alliance said it will seek discussions with the IGP to ensure that the long march is held peacefully, in an orderly manner and without disruption. The planned engagement concerns arrangements for the upcoming programme rather than an announcement of changes to it.

After the meeting, the alliance will brief journalists in front of Police Headquarters. Hamidur Rahman Azad, coordinator of the 11-party alliance and an assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, provided the information to the media.

Bangladesh’s Department of Narcotics Control has identified 12 alleged drug “godfathers” and 225 listed wholesale drug dealers across 10 districts of Khulna Division, according to its divisional intelligence office. The report, published on August 24, 2026, says recent operations have also recovered firearms and ammunition alongside narcotics, raising concerns about possible links between drug and weapons trafficking. Authorities say couriers and retail sellers are more frequently arrested than the alleged main controllers.

Five of the 12 identified figures are in Bagerhat, three in Satkhira, two in Narail, and one each in Khulna and Jhenaidah. Officials said the suspects face multiple cases and have been arrested at different times. Drug orders and deliveries have shifted from fixed locations to mobile phones, WhatsApp and messaging applications, with couriers delivering consignments at designated times and places.

Officials said yaba is now the most commonly seized drug, followed by cannabis and phensedyl. Investigators are examining more than 12 people allegedly involved in arms trading, as well as drug-finance sources and transactions. The amended Narcotics Control Act, 2026 includes technology-enabled drug transactions and digital-payment-related activities as offences.