Professor Dr. Md. Ilyas Mollah, described as a Jamaat MP, spoke with students about their career ambitions and told them that their dreams were also the dreams of his group. Students said they wanted to become doctors, lawyers, software engineers, programmers, teachers, university teachers, psychologists, police officers, fashion designers, pilots and army chief. The location and date of the interaction were not provided.

Mollah asked students why they wanted to pursue their chosen careers, including a student who said they wanted to become army chief to serve the country. He said working for the country required protecting it and safeguarding its sovereignty. His light-hearted question to a student aspiring to join the administration cadre drew laughter, while he praised another student’s ambition to become a psychologist.

Addressing the students, Mollah said they must remain honest, love the country and work for people regardless of their profession. He urged them not to loot national resources or oppress people, saying public administration should serve rather than persecute citizens. He said Bangladesh’s future was connected to their ambitions and wished them success in fulfilling their dreams.

The United States formally removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism on Monday, a decision implemented by the Trump administration nearly 47 years after Syria was added in 1979. The move opens new prospects for international investment and trade for Syria, which has faced long-standing US sanctions and financial restrictions.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Syria’s new government had taken positive steps to distance itself from international terrorism, and that these measures were considered in removing the designation. President Donald Trump had already moved in July to lift broad economic sanctions on Syria.

The United States also withdrew its terrorist designation for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a former rebel group once linked to al-Qaeda and led by current Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Al-Sharaa welcomed the decision as historic, while Damascus hopes it will accelerate reconstruction and economic recovery. Iran, North Korea and Cuba remain on the US list.

Bangladesh registered 934 murder cases nationwide between May and July this year, averaging more than 10 cases a day, according to Police Headquarters data. Concern has intensified following the killing of four members of a teacher’s family at their home in Rangpur, while murders have also been reported in Dhaka and other parts of the country. From January through July, police recorded 2,076 murder cases.

Political and mob violence have added to concerns over public security. Ain o Salish Kendra said 134 people were killed in mob violence and at least 77 in political violence during the first seven months of the year. It recorded 400 political violence incidents, leaving 2,974 people injured. Analysts cited struggles for power, political conflict, drugs, family disputes and the spread of illegal weapons as factors behind violence.

Police said robberies, dacoities and thefts have declined, but murders have not fallen significantly, and operations to arrest suspects continue. Police recorded 1,789 murder cases from February to July, nine more than in the preceding six months. Rights advocate Elina Khan called on the government and law-enforcement agencies to restore security, while police said they were working independently without government pressure.

The administration of US President Donald Trump has announced a broad sanctions programme called “Operation Economic Outcast,” aimed at fully isolating Iran from the global economy and cutting off its main revenue sources. The US Treasury Department formally announced the measure on Monday, August 24. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the initiative as an “economic D-Day.”

Bessent said the operation seeks to halt all Iranian sources of income, including the oil sector, and deter other countries and companies from doing business with Tehran. He said Washington’s global objective is to sever every economic lifeline sustaining Iran’s ruling authorities and leave Tehran isolated.

The US warned countries and entities continuing oil trade or other commerce with Iran that they would be targeted if they facilitate such transactions. Bessent said countries would have to choose between the United States and Iran, adding that no one was beyond the reach of US sanctions. The announcement came amid heightened Middle East tensions, while shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply, raising concern in international markets.

Dhaka University professor Tariq Manzur said employment opportunities for young people in Bangladesh are likely to expand in technology-related fields over the next five to 10 years. He also identified medical, agriculture, energy and defence as specialized sectors where demand for young workers could increase. The comments came in an interview on career preparation, unemployment and future job-market prospects.

Manzur said unemployment is linked not only to academic education but also to applicants’ skills, government planning and global market conditions. He said skill-based education has not yet been effectively implemented and urged students to strengthen analytical ability, decision-making, leadership, computer use, language skills, research knowledge and practical experience.

He described lack of experience as a major barrier for young job seekers, particularly in private-sector recruitment. He called for university-industry collaboration and advised students to pursue internships or supporting roles in relevant fields. He also said recruitment processes should be transparent, application fees should not exceed 200 taka, and aspiring entrepreneurs need access to banking support.

Canada is considering several ways to pressure the United States as their trade dispute intensifies, including dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs proposed by Prime Minister Mark Carney. The preliminary list could cover steel, dairy products, household appliances, farm machinery, electronics, pulp and paper, although it has not been finalized. Canada sends about 70 percent of its goods to the United States, while Canada is a major market for products from 26 US states and among the top three buyers for 45 states.

Carney said Canada supplies a large share of US imported natural gas and electricity, as well as about 60 percent of US crude-oil imports. Energy is not currently on Canada’s retaliation list, but political leaders say the option remains open. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has raised a possible energy surcharge and also cited Canada’s importance as a supplier of potash and critical minerals such as lithium, nickel and graphite.

Canadian provinces have already removed US alcohol from many store shelves, with official data showing US wine exports to Canada fell 78 percent annually. Carney said a threatened 50 percent US tariff on Canadian vehicles and parts after January 1 would hurt American workers dependent on Canadian buyers.

Sadikur Rahman Khan, a young photographer from Rayer Bakai village in Melandaha, Jamalpur, has developed a photographic career from early experiments with rented film cameras and a basic button phone. After completing studies in agricultural economics and rural sociology at Bangladesh Agricultural University, he continued pursuing photography alongside academic life. In 2015, he and friends formed the Bangladesh Agricultural University Photographic Society, helping turn his hobby into a profession.

Khan’s images have gained attention on social media and in international media. His photograph titled “Narir Tane, Barir Pane,” showing Eid travellers crowded on a train roof, was published as a lead photograph on the front page of India’s The Telegraph. He has also taken photographs in risky conditions, including during the Bangabazar fire. Mentorship from photographers Latif Hossain and Majed Chowdhury helped him develop technical skills.

Since 2019, Khan has pursued thematic book photography, creating backgrounds and scenes aligned with a book’s content. He also sells photographs to support people affected by floods and cares for injured birds before releasing them. Working as a graphic designer, he aims to travel through every upazila in Bangladesh’s 64 districts and present the country’s natural beauty to global audiences.

At least seven people were injured in a clash between two groups over the installation of a rural electricity transformer in Durgapur village of Barakashi-Birampur Union, Mohanganj upazila, Netrokona. The incident began around 1:30pm on Monday when Rural Electrification Office workers went to install the transformer in Ward No. 9.

Local and complaint sources said Azizul, 30, and Iman, 25, opposed the installation work and obstructed it. An argument and alleged misconduct involving the electricity office workers followed. When Ibrahim and Jahangir Alam intervened, they were allegedly attacked with locally made weapons.

The injured include Manjura Akhtar, 75, Jahangir Alam, 45, Ibrahim, and Madina Akhtar, 71. Ibrahim suffered a serious head injury and Madina sustained a serious injury to her hand; the injured were admitted to Mohanganj উপজেলা Health Complex. Khodeja Akhtar filed a written complaint at Mohanganj police station on Monday. Officer-in-Charge Hafizul Islam Harun said a case was registered that night and police would take legal action. Residents reported tension and fear in the area and sought swift administrative intervention.

Shipping through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz fell sharply on Monday, when only one cargo vessel was recorded crossing the narrow waterway. The figure was the lowest daily level since May 7, according to preliminary data from shipping-monitoring firm Kpler. A large gas carrier entered the strait from the Gulf of Oman, while six vessels had moved through the route on Sunday.

Traffic has declined substantially in recent weeks amid worsening security conditions around the strait, one of the world’s most important energy transport routes. Vessel movements had already fallen into single digits on several occasions this month. Before the war began, nearly one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed through the Strait of Hormuz, raising concern over international energy supplies.

Kpler said its data remains preliminary because some ships travel with their transponders, or Automatic Identification System signals, switched off for security reasons. Actual traffic may therefore be higher than the published figure. Iran has also recently blacklisted 45 tankers and threatened them with fines, detention or cargo seizure, increasing risks for commercial shipping.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) helped create more than 430 job opportunities for students at 31 Chinese companies through the Sino-Bangla Day 2026: Chinese Enterprise Job Fair. The daylong event was held on August 17 at the Teacher-Student Centre premises of Dhaka University, with the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh and the university jointly involved, and DUCSU and the Confucius Institute organizing it. Thousands of job seekers attended and submitted CVs at company booths.

The fair ran from 10:30am to 5pm and featured Chinese firms from technology and other sectors. Organizers said they initially received more than 400 CVs. Participating companies will conduct preliminary screening, followed by interviews and other recruitment procedures for qualified candidates. Organizers said the initiative sought to build longer-term links among students, universities and institutions in Bangladesh and China, beyond a single job fair.

DUCSU Vice President Sadiq Kayem said the plan followed a recent DUCSU delegation visit to China and subsequent contact with the Chinese Embassy. During the event, the Confucius Institute and Huawei Technologies Limited signed a memorandum of understanding, while the Huawei AI Training Program was formally launched, offering year-round free AI training for students.

Britain is helping Ukraine expand its domestic weapons production capacity as the country fights Russia, aiming to make Kyiv more self-reliant. As part of the effort, Britain is providing technology and information for advanced missile production. The support is expected to reduce Ukraine’s future dependence on weapons supplies from Western countries.

Britain recently shared confidential information related to important components of the French-made SCALP missile, according to the report. Ukraine could use the information to manufacture and assemble similar cruise missiles on its own territory. The initiative is being viewed as a major step in the transformation of Ukraine’s weapons industry.

Ukraine has long relied on arms supplied by the United States and European countries, but political decisions, stock shortages and delivery delays have sometimes forced Kyiv to wait. It is also seeking to produce missile-defence systems domestically, while depending heavily on US-made Patriot systems against Russian ballistic missiles. Britain and European countries are seeking to help Ukraine sustain its defence even if political conditions change in Western states.

Police and local accounts cited drug use and extortion as the alleged motives behind the killing of former Rangpur Zilla School teacher Ganapati Chakraborty Jewel and three family members in Machhuapara, Rangpur city. Ganapati, 65, his wife Pritilata, 50, daughter Prarthi, 25, and son Ayush Priyam, 12, were killed on Saturday night. Their bodies were sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examinations.

The report says investigators found no political or religious motive. Residents alleged that suspects Siddhartha and Mugdha regularly used drugs on the teacher’s roof and developed hostility after he objected. Locals also said the family had faced demands for extortion money during construction of their house. Some residents described open drug sales and use in local lanes.

The Metropolitan Detective Branch is investigating under a court order. Police said two arrested suspects voluntarily gave statements before a magistrate under Section 164, and officers recovered gold jewellery allegedly looted from the house based on their information. Police have also collected CCTV footage from nearby homes for review. Teachers and students of Rangpur Zilla School held a protest and mourning rally on Monday, demanding a fair investigation and swift exemplary punishment.

Global ocean surface temperatures reached a record high on Saturday, with the average sea surface temperature rising to 21.1 degrees Celsius, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. The reading is described as the highest recorded ocean temperature and is especially concerning because global sea surface temperatures usually peak in March and April, not August.

The previous record for the highest daily average temperature was 21.09 degrees Celsius, recorded in March 2024. Scientists say long-term human-caused climate change has been raising ocean temperatures, while a strong El Niño condition in the Pacific Ocean has added to the warming. They caution, however, that El Niño alone cannot explain the record.

Oceans absorb more than 90 percent of Earth’s excess heat, so warming waters place added strain on the climate system. Higher ocean temperatures can raise sea levels and intensify storms and marine heatwaves, while threatening coral, seagrass and fish species. Experts say rapid cuts in fossil-fuel use and carbon emissions are necessary to limit the situation and protect marine ecosystems.

The Trump administration plans to revoke temporary visas held by nearly 200,000 foreign nationals who entered the United States for short stays and later applied for asylum. The measure, part of a broader immigration crackdown, could affect B-1 business and B-2 tourist visas, according to an Associated Press report cited in the source. A State Department spokesperson said on Monday that the department has begun working jointly with the Department of Homeland Security to identify the affected applicants.

The State Department did not provide an exact number of visas expected to be cancelled. However, AP, citing State Department records and two US officials, reported that B-1 and B-2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 would fall under the process. If nearly 200,000 visas are revoked, it would be the largest simultaneous visa cancellation in US history, the report said.

Visa cancellation would not immediately require affected people to leave the United States. Most people with pending asylum cases could have their status shifted to a new category, but would lose their temporary business or tourist visa status. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said the immigration system had long been filled with “baseless or fraudulent asylum claims.” Human rights groups criticized the broader campaign, alleging harm to free expression, legal rights, and ethnic minorities.

Climate change impacts are becoming increasingly visible worldwide, including record temperatures, drought, crop losses and wildfires in the United Kingdom, while some political debate remains focused on the cost of implementing climate policies. A BBC Radio 4 discussion examined whether it is already too late to address the crisis.

Guardian columnist Joe Williams said there is still no reason to lose hope and argued that collective action is needed regardless of how much global temperatures rise. Participants also said some climate-related losses may already be irreversible, citing concerns over the survival of birch trees in southern and eastern England.

Williams criticized comments by Conservative MP Nigel Huddleston, saying it conflicts with reality to emphasize the expense of cutting carbon emissions and reaching net zero amid visible climate impacts. He also rejected the argument that the UK should avoid responsibility because it accounts for about 1 percent of global carbon emissions, warning that waiting for countries including China to act would deepen the crisis. The article says political statements should align with the reality of climate change as time to respond rapidly narrows.