Germany’s trade deficit with China widened to nearly €55 billion in the first half of 2026, despite China becoming Germany’s top trading partner. Preliminary data from Germany Trade & Invest, reported by Reuters, showed German exports to China fell by more than 12% from January through June to below €37 billion. China has dropped to ninth place as a market for German goods.

Chinese companies have reduced their reliance on European imports, contributing to the decline in German exports. Around 2021, China was Germany’s second-largest export market, when Germany sold €104 billion in goods there despite the effects of the pandemic. In 2026, several smaller economies, including Austria and Switzerland, bought more German goods than China.

German imports from China rose 8.9% to €91.8 billion during the period, taking total bilateral trade above €128 billion, €3 billion more than Germany’s trade with the United States. The deficit was €40 billion in the first half of last year. Germany’s manufacturing sector is also facing pressure from US tariffs and Chinese competition, with major industrial companies such as Volkswagen seeing substantial job cuts.

A leak in an underwater gas pipeline in Kendurbag, Begumganj upazila of Noakhali, has halted gas supplies across Lakshmipur district and to Begumganj’s industrial area and two CNG stations in Noakhali. The leak was detected on Friday afternoon beneath a bridge beside the Lakshmipur-Noakhali highway. Gas flow through the line was stopped from Saturday night as a safety measure.

About 7,000 residential customers, 150 commercial customers and four CNG stations in Lakshmipur and Begumganj have been affected. Household consumers in Lakshmipur have faced disruption to cooking, while the closure of gas-dependent CNG stations has caused difficulties for transport drivers and passengers. Affected customers have called for repair work to be completed quickly and gas service restored.

Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Limited began repair work on the morning of August 9. Noakhali office Deputy General Manager engineer Shah Alam said the pipeline lies 10 feet underwater, making the work complicated. The company is installing a bypass line with new pipe instead of repairing the damaged section. He said service could resume by 11 pm if work proceeds smoothly, though complications could extend the work through the night.

National Students’ Power, the student wing of the National Citizen Party, has demanded that the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum be developed into an inclusive repository of sacrifices from people across the country. In a statement sent by its general secretary Abu Bakar Majumdar on Sunday, the group said the museum risks becoming an account of a specific political party’s history.

The organisation described the 2024 July mass uprising as a universal awakening of students and the public against fascism. It said the museum was meant to document repression during the previous 15 years of authoritarian rule while preserving the universal memories of the uprising. However, it alleged that no significant memory of the movement’s main platform, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has been retained there.

National Students’ Power also alleged that memorial items related to killings at the Indian border and the anti-Modi movement were removed. It said the museum largely presents Dhaka-centred events while overlooking contributions and memories from districts and marginal areas, as well as distinctive programme names that inspired the Gen-Z generation. The group urged that the museum not be used for narrow partisan interests.

International Crimes Tribunal-1 issued an arrest warrant on Sunday for Wing Commander Saifur Rahman over the disappearance of BNP central leader M Ilias Ali on April 17, 2012. The order followed an application by the prosecution, according to the report.

Prosecutor Shaikh Mahdi said preliminary investigation findings and witness statements had found evidence of Saifur Rahman’s direct involvement in Ali’s abduction. He said social media claims that Saifur had been arrested and kept in Air Force custody were not found to be true. The prosecution then sought the warrant, which the tribunal granted.

Prosecution sources said investigators learned that Ali was taken away in a second attempt led by former army officer Ziaul Ahsan after an initial attempt failed. Saifur, then a Squadron Leader, worked in RAB’s intelligence branch, while Ziaul was its director. Saifur’s name also emerged in warrant officer Imrul Kayes’s June 21 statement in a crimes-against-humanity case involving more than 100 disappearances and killings. Ziaul remains arrested in that case.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh presented a nine-point set of demands to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at a meeting in Babunagar Madrasa in Fatikchhari, Chattogram, on Sunday afternoon. The demands were raised during a meeting and exchange of views with the group’s ameer, Allama Muhibbullah Babunagari. They include legislation carrying the maximum punishment for insulting Allah, Prophet Muhammad, the Quran and Islam, and a call not to pass laws conflicting with the Quran and Sunnah.

The organisation also sought exemplary trials over killings at Shapla Chattar on May 5, 2013, during the 2021 anti-Modi movement, and in July-August 2024. It called for implementation of master’s-equivalent recognition for Dawra-e-Hadith qualifications from Qawmi madrasas, including their recognition in government recruitment notices for religious teachers. It further demanded compulsory Islamic religious education for Muslim students from primary through higher secondary levels.

Other demands include declaring the Qadiani community non-Muslim, banning Hizb ut Towhid, and stopping what it described as missionary activities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Hefazat also demanded withdrawal of cases it called false against religious scholars and continued clerical oversight of Tablighi Jamaat activities and the Tongi Bishwa Ijtema.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque visited the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum on Sunday afternoon and said much important history of the anti-fascist movement had not been properly preserved. The museum was established to preserve memories of the July mass uprising and anti-fascist movement. Senior leaders of his party accompanied him. Speaking to journalists afterward, he said the exhibits portray a grim picture of oppression, killings and brutal treatment of bodies.

Haque described the museum as an educational institution for people from all walks of life, particularly state rulers. He also urged authorities to take swift effective measures to improve security and preservation, saying important equipment and memorabilia were being displayed in an ordinary manner and many valuable items were within visitors’ reach. He said history should be preserved on the basis of truth and reality rather than according to any side’s preferences.

He said the museum had not adequately recorded the 2013 killings, the 2015-16 movement, or the 2021 anti-Modi movement. He also called for preserving memories of border killings and Felani’s killing, warning that removing her image could create public anger. Haque alleged discrimination in recognition of participants and suggested depicting Shapla Chattar martyrs and events without facial images.

Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board has published a revised schedule for postponed 2026 Alim examinations, with the rescheduled tests set to begin on August 20. The examinations had been suspended because of floods and adverse weather. The timetable was posted on the board’s website on Sunday under the signature of Examination Controller Professor Md. Faruk Ahmed.

Under the revised schedule, Bangla second paper will be held on August 20, English first paper on August 22, English second paper on August 24 and Arabic second paper on August 27. Hadith and Usulul Hadith is scheduled for August 29, while Information and Communication Technology will be held on August 31. Several subjects are set for September 5, followed by Al Fiqh first and second papers on September 7 and 9.

The board said practical and oral examinations must be completed by August 18. Marks for both practical and oral examinations must be submitted online to the education board by August 25. Officials or their representatives have been instructed to submit practical answer scripts, signature sheets and other documents to the Alim branch. A separate notice said this year’s Dakhil examination results will be published on Monday.

An analysis published on August 9, 2026, citing Middle East Eye, argues that Israel’s military dominance in regional politics has not become leadership based on neighbouring states’ consent, trust and cooperation. It says prolonged wars, international criticism and reliance on the United States are weakening the foundations of Israel’s regional position despite its military capabilities.

Using Antonio Gramsci’s distinction between domination and hegemony, the report says Israel can compel others but has not built voluntary regional acceptance. It cites military actions since 2023, including damage to Hamas infrastructure, killings of Hezbollah leaders and military presence in parts of Gaza, Lebanon and Syria. The analysis also points to international legal proceedings, UN scrutiny and negative public opinion as evidence of a growing legitimacy problem.

The report further highlights Israel’s technology sector, its integration with US capital and security systems, and concerns over skilled workers leaving the country. It says the United States, rather than Israel, was the central link in regional air-defence coordination. Saudi Arabia and other regional states have not made their foreign policies dependent on Israel, the analysis says. It concludes that military dominance may endure with a strong patron, but has not made Israel an accepted regional leader.

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, or BAPA, called for waste to be treated as a resource, energy source and economic opportunity rather than a burden at a seminar at the National Press Club’s Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah Hall on August 9. Speakers said Bangladesh needs integrated, low-cost and locally manageable solutions for municipal waste management. The seminar was chaired by BAPA President Professor Dr Nur Mohammad Talukdar.

In the keynote paper, waste-management specialist Dr Nasir Uddin Khan said the existing system is largely based on collection, transport and dumping, leaving recycling, resource recovery and energy generation opportunities underused. Large volumes of waste end up in open spaces, wetlands and water bodies, increasing pressure on the environment and economy. He cited methane emissions, pollution of rivers and water bodies, waterlogging, air pollution, dengue and other public-health risks.

Speakers stressed simple technology, domestic investment and local participation. A Dhaka North City Corporation official said its waste-to-energy project could receive 3,000 tonnes of waste daily when fully operational and could generate 42 to 45 megawatts of electricity. BAPA also called for a national roadmap for overall waste management.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited the 1,200-megawatt ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plant at Matarbari in Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar, on August 9. He said Bangladesh needs to diversify energy sources while meeting rising electricity demand. The prime minister also said economic capacity, environmental impacts and the public’s long-term interests should receive the highest priority in power generation and management of major infrastructure.

He stressed integrated development around Matarbari, covering power, energy, a deep-sea port and related industrial infrastructure. Planned and effective use of these facilities could play an important role in energy security, industrialisation and overall economic activity, he said. Project officials briefed him on the plant’s current status, generation and operational activities, production capacity, fuel supply and management, operating efficiency, maintenance, safety arrangements and future plans.

Arriving by helicopter at 10:45am on Sunday, the prime minister attended a briefing from 11am to 12:15pm and planted a neem sapling in the project area. Officials also outlined a proposed solar power project and showed him sites earmarked for a proposed LNG-based power plant, a metrochemical project and a new refinery. He later inspected the coal jetty and observed the deep-sea port, LNG terminal and other plant facilities.

Residents of three villages in Tajpur union of Osmaninagar, Sylhet, say their main access road remains unpaved 55 years after independence. The route begins at the Rangia-Durajpur road near Gausul Alam’s house in West Kashikapan and connects with the Goashpur-Kashikapan road. Thousands of people face disruption as even light rain leaves the road muddy and waterlogged.

Students of schools, colleges and madrasas, teachers, traders, employees and other residents use the road daily. It becomes dusty in the dry season and muddy during rains, while large potholes in some sections make vehicle movement difficult. Patients, pregnant women, elderly people and those travelling for emergencies are particularly affected. Students must also cross mud to reach their educational institutions.

On July 1, a delegation led by Naser Bakht, Oliur Rahman and Mawlana Nazmul Islam met Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir to request paving of the road. The residents submitted a written application citing LGED road ID 691085323. Mawlana Nazmul Islam said the adviser accepted the application and assured necessary steps, raising hopes among residents of the three villages.

A human chain was held in Amtali, Barguna, demanding justice for Iman, a ninth-grade science student at Amtali AK Government Pilot Secondary School. Students, teachers, employees, parents and members of the public joined the programme at the Amtali AK School intersection at 10am on Sunday. Participants called for the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved in the killing.

Speakers included the school’s acting headteacher Mohammad Bazlur Rahman, physical education teacher Babu Putul Chandra, and students Mihad Khan, Oliullah and Junaid. Iman’s brother Imran, Rakib, Mushfiq Rashid Hira, president of the AK School Chhatra Dal branch, and Abdullah, vice-president of the Amtali Government College Chhatra Dal branch, also spoke at the event.

On July 29, Amtali police recovered an unidentified body in a sack beside the sluice gate of Pashurbunia canal in R Pangashia Union of Amtali upazila. Family members later identified the body from the shirt, trousers and shoes. Inspector Sagar Bhadra said police had initially found leads on people involved, but were withholding details for the investigation and hoped to make arrests quickly.

Former lawmaker Shamim Osman appeared publicly at an Awami League workers’ meeting in New York on August 9, 2026, nearly two years after he was last seen in a public political programme. His public whereabouts had been discussed following the July-August 2024 mass uprising, and he was not seen publicly after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5.

At the meeting, Osman spoke in a self-critical tone about his political role, saying, “I have failed.” He urged Awami League leaders and activists to overcome divisions and unite, saying the question of who is a big or small leader was not important. He also said his political focus had been on groups that do not accept Bangladesh’s independence, and commented on the BNP.

Osman said he met then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina on the night of August 2 and proposed withdrawing the army from the field, lifting the curfew, and holding a large gathering in Narayanganj. The report said serious allegations were raised against him over clashes and shootings in July. Trials involving Osman and Awami League leaders are ongoing at the International Crimes Tribunal over killings and violence linked to the uprising.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has raised the price of jet fuel used by aircraft in Bangladesh. The commission announced the revised rates in a notice issued on Sunday afternoon, August 9, 2026. Under the new pricing, jet fuel for domestic-route flights will cost Tk159.52 per litre.

For international-route flights, the new jet fuel price has been set at $1.0358 per litre. The revised rates are higher than the previously fixed prices for both domestic and international services. The notice reported the increase but did not state a reason for the adjustment or specify when the revised rates would take effect.

Previously, jet fuel for domestic flights was priced at Tk130.99 per litre. For international flights, the earlier price was $0.8556 per litre. The new BERC decision therefore increases the cost of aircraft fuel across both categories of flight routes.

Dhaka University held an awareness discussion on Bangla QR on August 6, aimed at supporting a cashless and smart Bangladesh. The university’s Accounting Department organized the event at the Professor Abdullah Faruq Multipurpose Conference Hall in the MBA Building, with support from Bangladesh Bank and Dutch-Bangla Bank. Teachers, students and staff were briefed on Bangla QR use, its benefits and interoperable digital payment systems.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman attended as chief guest, while Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A. B. M. Obaidul Islam inaugurated the programme. The governor said a single QR code can enable secure, simple and interoperable digital transactions among banks, mobile financial services and other payment providers. The vice-chancellor said such initiatives could increase student awareness of digital payments and help expand the use of digital financial services.

Dutch-Bangla Bank Managing Director and CEO Md Ehteshamul Haque Khan said digital transactions save both time and money. The event included a live transaction demonstration, an awareness presentation and a question-and-answer session. Organizers said such programmes are important for broadening awareness and use of safe, simple digital transactions.