White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump is keeping all options open regarding Iran. In an interview with Fox News, Leavitt said the United States had conducted “Operation Epic Fury” to destroy Iran’s military and was now pursuing “Operation Economic Outcast” to destroy its economy.

Leavitt said there are currently no talks with Iran. She said pressure would continue until Trump believes Iran is prepared to engage in meaningful negotiations.

According to Leavitt, Iran has so far shown no interest in entering meaningful talks. She said the Trump administration is therefore considering every type of option for its next steps concerning Iran.

US Senator Mark Kelly said President Trump is struggling to find a way out of the conflict with Iran. Speaking to ABC News, Kelly said ordinary Americans are paying the cost of the war as petrol and food prices rise. The source does not specify when or where the remarks were made beyond the ABC News interview.

Kelly said Trump faces limited options: escalating the conflict by sending ground troops, fully withdrawing from the war, or applying economic pressure while seeking to rebuild alliances with European partners. He warned that deploying ground forces could result in the deaths of thousands of Americans.

Calling the situation a crisis of Trump’s own making, Kelly said the president’s belief that he knows more than others had left him with few good choices. He also said bombing, which he stated has in some cases killed innocent Iranian children, was not a good plan. Kelly described economic measures and rebuilding alliances as comparatively better than sending ground forces.

The draw for the league phase of the revamped 36-team Champions League has been completed, placing defending champions Paris Saint-Germain and record 15-time winners Real Madrid in demanding schedules. PSG will host Luis Enrique’s former club Barcelona and travel to Manchester City and Aston Villa. Real Madrid will host Inter Milan and face Arsenal away in London.

Barcelona will host Manchester City and travel to PSG in another set of high-profile fixtures. Four teams are making their first appearance in this edition: Italy’s Como, coached by Cesc Fabregas, Austria’s LASK, Norway’s Viking and Azerbaijan’s Sabah.

Each of the 36 teams will play eight different opponents selected from four seeding pots, with four home and four away matches. The top eight teams will advance directly to the March round of 16, while teams ranked ninth through 24th enter February playoffs. The league phase begins on September 8-10 and ends on January 27, with the final scheduled for June 5, 2027.

Three journalists and senior officials at the US military newspaper Stars and Stripes have sued the Trump administration, alleging they were dismissed to undermine the publication’s editorial independence. Publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin and Middle East reporter Lara Korte filed the case against the Defense Department and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The case is due to be heard in a federal court in Washington, DC.

The plaintiffs received dismissal notices on August 21. Their lawsuit alleges that an interview in which Korte and Slavin discussed the importance of independent journalism at Stars and Stripes on CBS Sunday Morning was cited as one reason for action against them. They say the alleged censorship effort violates freedom of expression.

The Pentagon had previously said it planned to modernize the newspaper and focus its coverage on military operations, weapons, warfighting capability and troop welfare. Critics contend this could restrict its independence. The lawsuit also cites reporting on food and supply shortages and sailors’ mental stress during the prolonged deployment of USS Abraham, reports that President Donald Trump and Hegseth rejected as false.

Pakistan and Kuwait signed a joint defence agreement in Islamabad on Thursday during a visit by Kuwaiti Defence Minister Sheikh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. The accord is intended to strengthen defence and military cooperation between the two countries.

The Kuwaiti minister met Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, with the two sides discussing ways to expand defence and military ties. They also exchanged views on the regional situation and initiatives aimed at strengthening security and stability in the region.

A Kuwait Army statement described the agreement as an important step in bilateral defence and military cooperation. It provides for stronger coordination in military activities, exchanges of experience and expanded joint activities between the countries’ armed forces. Kuwait Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Khaled Al-Shuraian and Kuwait’s ambassador to Pakistan, Nasser Al-Mutairi, attended the signing ceremony.

In West Bengal, 75,443 of 82,782 resolved appeals linked to the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, have resulted in voters’ names being restored to electoral rolls ahead of assembly elections. The figure represents 91 percent of decided cases, while 7,339 names remained excluded. The information emerged in response to a Right to Information application filed by Congress MP Isha Khan Choudhury.

The SIR process and the exclusion or inclusion of names have been under debate for several months. Election Commission data show that 3,810,620 appeals had been filed by August 7, but only 82,782 had been decided, or about 2.17 percent. A total of 3,727,838 appeals were still awaiting resolution.

Choudhury said the high rate of restored names raises questions over whether genuine voters were initially removed. He also highlighted a discrepancy between 2,728,500 voters identified as ineligible during the SIR review and the 3,810,620 appeals filed, a difference of 1,082,120. He sought an explanation from the Election Commission, alleging that some appeals may have been filed by the commission or other parties to remove names.

Authorities in Bakshiganj, Jamalpur, fined trader Dulal Mia Tk20,000 and seized 72 sacks of fertiliser from his shop and warehouse over allegations of storing fertiliser without a licence and selling it at inflated prices. The operation took place at about 10:30pm on Thursday in the Okuler Mor area of Bogarchar ইউনিয়ন.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Aminul Islam said the raid was conducted following information that Dulal Mia had long been storing fertiliser illegally without a licence and selling it at higher prices. Officials seized 64 sacks of DAP fertiliser and eight sacks of urea fertiliser, amounting to about 3.5 metric tonnes.

The seized fertiliser will later be sold to farmers in the upazila at fair prices, according to the agriculture office. Bakshiganj Assistant Commissioner (Land) Asma Ul Husna and Agriculture Officer Aminul Islam led the operation. Asma Ul Husna said the administration would continue drives against illegal stockpiling and attempts to create artificial shortages in the interest of farmers.

Nepal’s police confirmed that the death toll from devastating flash floods in the country’s north has risen to 469 after rescuers intensified searches for bodies and survivors in river basins and downstream areas. The disaster struck on Wednesday morning after severe mud and ice slides in Rasuwa and neighboring districts triggered sudden flooding in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers. Many people remain missing.

The torrent swept away homes, bridges, roads and other infrastructure within moments, cutting off broad areas and many travellers from the rest of the country. Authorities said the full scale of destruction remains unclear as casualty and missing-person reports continue to be collected and coordinated across districts.

The Nepal Tourism Board said at least 667 tourists and travellers, including 127 Nepalis, remain missing in flooded areas. Thirty-one foreign nationals were rescued alive. The Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force are conducting rescue and evacuation operations with helicopters and ground teams, though severe damage to roads and infrastructure is hindering aid delivery. The cause of the sudden flooding remains under investigation.

A Shariatpur district BNP joint general secretary, Arifuzzaman Molla, filed a written extortion complaint against several journalists at Palang Model Police Station on Wednesday night. The complaint came as journalists submitted written allegations that three reporters were beaten and others were threatened by phone. Police said both sets of allegations are being examined, and no case or general diary had been recorded from the journalists’ complaints nearly 24 hours later, according to the reporters.

The dispute began after Shariatpur Press Club’s boundary wall was demolished on Saturday night without written notice, prompting conflict between journalists and the district administration. Time Television journalist BM Israfil was allegedly attacked the following morning and suffered a fractured right wrist. Journalists later protested outside the district commissioner’s office, while a BNP-linked group organized a subsequent demonstration against journalists.

Three reporters alleged they were assaulted while covering Tuesday’s protest, naming Molla and others. Journalists also said an audio recording contains threats attributed to Molla. BNP vice-president Sirajul Haque Molla denied having information that party leaders beat journalists, but called one leader’s remarks regrettable and said organizational action would follow an investigation. Police said legal action would depend on verified findings.

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) plans to invest $1 billion to modernise and expand Eastern Refinery, Bangladesh’s only state-owned oil refinery, amid an acute fuel crisis. IsDB Chairman Dr Mohammed Al Jasser is scheduled to visit Dhaka for three days from September 2, when major energy-sector investment agreements are expected to be discussed.

During the visit, Al Jasser will meet Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, and Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku. An agreement may also be signed for a 220-megawatt solar power and livelihood development project in Sonagazi, Feni, valued at $143 million.

Bangladesh’s annual fuel-oil demand is about 7 million tonnes, with 95% dependent on imports, according to the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation. Eastern Refinery receives about 1.5 million tonnes of crude oil for processing, while 5-5.2 million tonnes of refined diesel, furnace oil and octane are imported directly. The refinery normally processes 4,500 tonnes of crude daily, but output has been reduced because of the crisis.

Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb general convicted of genocide and sentenced to life imprisonment, has died while receiving treatment at a hospital in The Hague, Netherlands. He was 83. The UN’s International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals confirmed the death, saying he died early in the day. Judge Graciela Gatti Santana ordered a full investigation into the circumstances of his death.

Known as the “Butcher of Bosnia,” Mladic had been ill for a long time and suffered several strokes. A UN doctor had said earlier this month that he could die at any time or within weeks, while his renewed request for release was rejected. In 2017, a UN tribunal sentenced him to life for genocide and war crimes committed during the Bosnian war.

Mladic was convicted over the 1995 killing of at least 8,000 Muslims in the UN-declared safe area of Srebrenica. The source describes the massacre as Europe’s worst genocide since World War II. Munira Subasic of Mothers of Srebrenica expressed sorrow but said many Bosnian Serbs still deny his crimes, while Human Rights Watch said his death renewed the need for justice, truth and reparations in the Western Balkans.

Bangladesh is establishing its second ordnance production centre at Faujdarhat in Sitakunda, Chattogram, with plans to meet domestic demand before exporting surplus arms and ammunition. Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman outlined the defence-industry plan on Thursday during a land and facilities transfer agreement ceremony between Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation and the Bangladesh Army.

The facility will be developed as an expansion of Bangladesh Ordnance Factories on about 55 acres of land and structures formerly used by the long-closed Jalil Textile Mill. It is intended to produce military equipment for the army, navy and air force, as well as police, Ansar-VDP and other security and paramilitary forces. The army chief said reliance on imported arms and ammunition alone would not be sufficient for conducting war.

The site was selected for its surrounding hills, proximity to Chattogram seaport, and road and rail links. The cabinet committee on economic affairs gave in-principle approval on 1 July to transfer the land to the army at a symbolic price. Officials said export ambitions would require modern technology, skilled personnel, research, international-standard production and strict quality control.

A massive mud-and-rock collapse in the Himalayas triggered catastrophic flooding across Nepal and China’s Tibet region on Wednesday, killing more than 390 people and leaving over 1,500 missing. Nepalese authorities confirmed the recovery of 392 bodies, while at least three deaths were reported in Tibet. The collapse struck a river and rapidly swept away valleys and settlements.

Nepal’s tourism department said 668 foreign trekkers from 34 countries are missing, including 177 Indians, 90 Americans, 34 Australians, 33 Britons and 25 Canadians. China said 100 Chinese citizens were among those missing in Nepal. In Tibet’s Gyirong County, 558 people, including 260 foreigners, were reported missing.

Destroyed roads and bridges have hindered rescue access, with helicopters evacuating survivors and delivering supplies. More than 5,000 Nepal Army personnel are involved, and 350 workers and residents trapped in the Upper Trishuli hydropower project tunnel were rescued alive. At least 15 hydropower projects were damaged, stopping about 431 megawatts of generation. The United States, United Nations, Canada, Australia and India have announced or provided assistance.

The day’s live sports television schedule features the second day of the England-Pakistan Test at Lord’s, starting at 4pm on Sony Sports 2. Cricket coverage also includes Hong Kong versus Thailand in the Women’s Asia Cup at 8:30pm on Sony Sports, and Northern Territory versus Bangladesh HP in the Top End T20 Series at 1:30pm on T Sports.

In other cricket action, St Kitts face Jamaica in CPL 2026 at 5am, with coverage listed on Star Sports and FanCode. The schedule brings together international Test cricket, women’s regional competition, Bangladesh HP’s T20 fixture and Caribbean Premier League action across several broadcasters.

European football provides a late-night lineup. Crystal Palace play Manchester City in the English Premier League at 1am on Star Sports Select HD 1, while Chelsea meet Luton Town in the English League Cup at 12:40am on FanCode. Other listed matches include AC Milan versus Venezia, Bayern Munich versus Stuttgart, PSG versus Lille, and Racing Santander versus Elche.

Pakistan says new countries may join the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, but any formal request will be considered after consultations with Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi made the remarks during Thursday’s weekly briefing when asked about Bangladesh’s interest in the alliance, as well as questions concerning Syria and Iran.

Andrabi described the agreement as a defensive framework intended to preserve peace and promote regional stability. He said the emerging security arrangement is open to countries committed to shared security interests and collective obligations. He did not name any prospective new member or separately comment on reported interest from Iran and Syria. He also said implementation of the agreement remains at an early stage.

Bangladesh is discussing possible participation but has made no policy decision, according to State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obeid. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman told parliament that the government would positively consider an invitation from member states, though no proposal has been received. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the pact in Mecca on August 7, providing for collective defense, greater political and military coordination, joint exercises and defense-industry cooperation.