Iran has demanded compensation for pollution accumulated over recent decades in the Persian Gulf and nearby waters. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei made the demand in a post on X on August 13, saying parties that profit from commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have legal and moral responsibility to address environmental damage in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

On Wednesday, a thick black layer of oil washed onto a beach on Iran’s Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz. A CNN video verified through geolocation showed the oil spreading. Baghaei described the incident as only one visible example of pollution, saying the waters and marine ecosystem of the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman have suffered extensive and long-term contamination for decades.

Baghaei said damage to Iran’s coastal areas has reached trillions of dollars. He questioned whether compensation should come from countries using cheap energy, shipping insurance companies, or countries and allies he said had turned the two waterways into sites for military operations and tests of weapons of mass destruction. Oman’s environmental authority said oil from a sanctioned tanker carrying Russian crude had also reached beaches in Ras Madrakah.

Muhammad Faizul Azim Noman, the officer in charge ordered withdrawn from Daganbhuiyan police station, was denied a meeting with Feni’s Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal judge A N M Morshed Khan on Wednesday, August 12. A court-related source said Noman suddenly entered the courtroom and saluted three times in an apparent effort to draw the judge’s attention. After learning his identity, the judge said there was no personal relationship between them and that the court’s withdrawal order remained in force. Noman then left the courtroom.

The source said Noman had sought to meet the judge before the hearing began but was told that no meeting could take place without permission. Public Prosecutor Advocate Sahab Uddin Ahmed said he had heard that the officer entered the judge’s courtroom. Witnesses said Noman appeared disappointed while leaving and received help from several people after feeling unwell.

A court order issued on August 9 directed his removal and departmental action over alleged refusals to register two cases. The court cited allegations involving dowry-related assault against Marjahan and an alleged dowry-related killing of Tania Akter. Police Superintendent Pratyush Kumar Majumdar said a police inquiry committee has been formed and further action will follow its report.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party has named its secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, as its candidate for president. He resigned from both the party’s secretary general post and its standing committee immediately after becoming a candidate, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said at a Thursday press conference at the Secretariat. The decision to nominate him was made at a party committee meeting led by BNP chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Rizvi is expected to become BNP’s secretary general following Fakhrul’s resignation. Fakhrul had served as secretary general since March 30, 2016, after five years as acting secretary general. He was elected a member of parliament from Thakurgaon-1 in 2001 and served as state minister for agriculture and for civil aviation and tourism between 2001 and 2006.

Under the Election Commission schedule, presidential nomination papers can be submitted on Thursday from 10am to 4pm. The commission will scrutinize nominations on August 16, while August 18 is the deadline for withdrawal. If more than one candidate remains, voting will take place on August 20. BNP and an 11-party alliance led by Jamaat have fielded candidates, creating the prospect of multiple contenders.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs said an “unusual” cyberattack using artificial intelligence targeted multiple government agencies from a foreign source beginning on July 20. The country’s cybersecurity monitoring unit detected the operation, while the National Institute of Cyber Security issued several alerts during the investigation. Israeli AI company Dream said attackers used open-source AI agents to build an automated hacking tool that operated like a coordinated cyber team.

Dream said the attackers accessed at least 85 government user accounts and collected information on more than 2,500 employees. The operation was later expanded to target Taiwan’s nuclear safety agency and at least seven energy companies. Dream described the case as unprecedented, though cybersecurity researcher Chris Thomas cautioned that AI should not be viewed as a fully autonomous hacking weapon because humans still determine targets, objectives and instructions.

The ministry said its investigation into the attack’s source, methods and impact had concluded, and affected agencies had taken necessary measures. Taiwan has prepared defensive guidance and strengthened monitoring to detect and stop attacks earlier. Authorities did not directly blame China, while reports cited suspicions of China-linked hackers and Dream noted simplified Chinese in internal communications connected to the attack.

Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have signed a new aviation memorandum that raises the approved number of weekly passenger flights between the two countries from 49 to 84. Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq announced the details during a media meeting at the CAAB headquarters on August 13. The agreement also permits 21 weekly cargo flights and includes fifth freedom traffic rights, code-sharing, co-terminalization and aircraft leasing opportunities.

The chairman said designated airlines from both countries can operate up to 84 passenger flights a week, creating capacity for 35 additional weekly services. He said the arrangement would help address passenger pressure and seat shortages during the Hajj season and benefit Umrah travelers. About 4 million Bangladeshis living and working in Saudi Arabia would also gain greater travel options. Increased airline competition could give passengers access to comparatively lower fares.

The memorandum allows expanded Saudi connections from Chattogram and Sylhet alongside Dhaka. Weekly cargo services could speed exports including garments, fresh vegetables and fruit. Designated Bangladeshi airlines may operate cargo services via Saudi Arabia to specified destinations including Spain and Germany.

Pakistan has strongly criticized Israel’s refusal to withdraw troops from Gaza, calling it a serious setback for a peace plan. At a press conference in Islamabad on August 13, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the refusal would hinder peace efforts and urged Israel to honor its commitments.

Andrabi reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the establishment of a Palestinian state. He said such a state is founded under international law and United Nations resolutions and possesses established international legitimacy as a state. He argued that Israel’s refusal cannot alter the legal and diplomatic realities surrounding the Palestinian statehood issue.

According to Andrabi, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s refusal to withdraw Israeli troops from Gaza would create a major obstacle to implementing decisions adopted by the peace board. He said Hamas’s disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza were two joint commitments. Pakistan said it hopes Israel will comply with those commitments.

The World Health Organization has warned that a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo could become the deadliest in the disease’s history. In a report published on August 13, the outbreak was said to have caused more than 4,300 infections and over 2,000 deaths, with health authorities struggling to keep pace with transmission.

The Congolese government formally declared the outbreak on May 15, although genetic analysis indicated that transmission began in February. The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which no vaccine or treatment has yet been approved. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the current pace could surpass the death toll of the 2014-16 West African Ebola epidemic, which killed more than 11,000 people.

Remote terrain, continuing conflict near the borders with South Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda, weak infrastructure and limited resources are obstructing access to affected communities. Misinformation and strikes by unpaid health workers have also slowed response efforts. WHO official Abdirahman Mahamud said a moderate forecast projects a peak within six months, while a worse scenario could last nine to 12 months.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey have signed a military agreement in Mecca, prompting fresh debate over Middle East security and whether the arrangement could become an “Islamic NATO.” The pact says an attack on one country would be treated as an attack on all members, a provision compared with NATO’s Article 5. Analysts consider the alliance strategically significant, but question whether it can develop into an effective integrated military structure.

Turkey brings a strong military and advanced aircraft, drone and missile technology, while Saudi Arabia contributes major economic capacity and Pakistan is a nuclear-armed state using Chinese military equipment. Officials have indicated possible cooperation in military training, management costs and intelligence sharing. Alliance leaders say the initiative is not directed against any specific country and is intended to counter terrorism and strengthen regional security.

The agreement does not explicitly require Pakistan and Turkey to deploy troops if Saudi Arabia is attacked. Turkey’s NATO membership and Pakistan’s reliance on Chinese equipment could complicate coordination. The report says the alliance’s effectiveness will depend on how members act during an actual attack, how they share intelligence and technology, and whether their forces can operate together.

A meeting between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and representatives of 25 US companies was highly productive and effective, according to Dr Mahdi Amin, an adviser to the prime minister and spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office. He made the remarks after a US-Bangladesh Business Council delegation met at the Prime Minister’s Office at 9:30am on Thursday.

The meeting discussed Bangladesh-US trade relations and their potential, the report said. Amin said Bangladesh was moving toward a future as a self-reliant and prosperous country. He did not provide details of any agreement, investment commitment, or specific project arising from the discussion.

The delegation was led by Oliver Simpson, senior vice president of the Business Council and chief commercial officer of Excelerate Energy, and Atul Keshap, president for South Asia at the US Chamber of Commerce. Former US ambassador Peter Haas, diplomat Nisha Desai and Business Council members also attended. On August 12, the delegation paid a courtesy call on Humayun Kabir, the prime minister’s foreign affairs adviser.

Students in India’s Jharkhand state have continued protests for 20 days over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. The protesters said they would maintain the movement until their demands are met. They are seeking transparency in recruitment tests, cancellation of several examinations, and an independent inquiry by the CBI or a panel of retired judges from outside Jharkhand.

A march toward the state assembly on Monday led to clashes between protesters and police. Police used baton charges, water cannons and tear gas to control the situation. The BJP called a statewide shutdown in protest and accused the state government of suppressing the movement. The ruling Congress countered that the BJP was using the protests for political gain.

Former chief minister Raghubar Das warned that he would begin a hunger strike if the demand for a CBI inquiry was not accepted within a week. JLKM leader Devendranath Mahato is receiving hospital treatment after falling ill during a hunger strike, while four student hunger strikers are also hospitalized. Six rounds of talks between the government and student representatives have not ended the deadlock. Chief Minister Hemant Soren promised recruitment-exam reforms and assured cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination.

Sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have faced severe mental strain during an extended Middle East deployment, according to complaints from their families. The report, published on August 13, 2026, said the US aircraft carrier, carrying about 5,000 sailors and Marines, has been deployed for more than eight months. Its mission was expected to end under the original plan, but has been extended several times because of ongoing US military operations against Iran. No specific return date has been announced.

Families said prolonged time at sea, sustained workloads and inadequate rest were worsening personnel’s mental and physical condition. Reports have also indicated that several sailors attempted to jump into the sea, prompting renewed concern about mental health conditions on board. Families further alleged food shortages, broken toilets, hygiene-related problems and other mismanagement, saying members had become exhausted and discouraged under prolonged difficult conditions.

Several members of the US Congress have expressed concern and called for scrutiny of living conditions, mental health care and the extended deployment. The US Navy said necessary support and mental health services are available to personnel. Families, however, said sailors need prompt opportunities for rest and a clear decision on the deployment timeline.

Iran wants to take its bilateral relationship with Pakistan to a new level, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Major General Mohsen Rezaei said during a Wednesday meeting with Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Rezaei said Tehran is committed to further strengthening security ties and mutual cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

He said the peoples of Iran and Pakistan have deep ties and that the two countries should work more closely to reinforce regional security and unity in the Muslim world. Rezaei also called on Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Indonesia to play important roles in establishing Muslim unity.

The Iranian official emphasized expanding trade and political relations between Iran and Pakistan many times over. In response, Naqvi said Iran-Pakistan relations had reached an unprecedented level in recent months. He expressed hope that the strong will of the two countries’ leaderships would further increase security, peace and mutual cooperation.

Palestinian digital rights group 7amleh, working with a Utrecht University research team, alleges that Meta has reduced the reach of Palestinian advocacy content, suspended accounts and limited live broadcasts on Facebook and Instagram. The Al Jazeera report, published on August 13, 2026, cites “The Platformside of Palestine 2021–2025,” which analyzed more than 3,500 verified incidents documented through 7amleh’s 7or monitoring system.

Researchers say the cases indicate a structural trend limiting Palestinians’ digital presence, visibility and participation rather than isolated technical errors. From January 2021 through December 2025, only 32.5 percent of documented incidents specified a policy violation. Among cases where a reason was identified, 57.2 percent cited Meta’s Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy; the figure was 71.1 percent for journalists.

Meta said reported content is now routed to moderators who understand relevant Arabic dialects and that its policy has been revised to allow more social and political speech in certain cases. But 7amleh said it filed 2,828 appeals for affected users over five years and received no response in nearly half. The report also warns that removed Gaza videos and testimony could be lost as potential evidence for future war-crimes investigations.

Bangladesh’s National Identity Registration Wing has instructed officials to process applications to correct birth dates on national identity cards under Category A when supported by online-verifiable JSC, secondary, or equivalent educational certificates. The directive was issued on Thursday. Relevant upazila or police-station election officers, senior district and district election officers, and NID Wing officials from assistant director to director level may settle these applications.

The instruction says existing standard operating procedures must be followed when accepting other supporting evidence alongside educational certificates. Processing must follow a notification issued on December 24, 2025. Director (Operations) Md Saiful Islam said officials may decide such applications under the prescribed category, but must properly follow procedures and verify evidence before approval or rejection. Officials must also enter a mandatory note in CMS when electronically approving or rejecting an application.

Regional and additional regional election officers were told to regularly monitor subordinate staff. Each month, at least three applications handled by every deciding officer must be randomly checked and reported to the Director (Operations). Applications based on Open University certificates, and applications seeking complete changes to birth date, personal name, and parents’ names, must be settled at director general level.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the disputed Kuril Islands, prompting a strong protest from Japan. Russian state media reported the visit on Thursday, saying Putin traveled to an island in the chain claimed by both Moscow and Tokyo. The island he visited is known as Iturup in Russia and Etorofu in Japan.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said in a statement on social media platform X that the islands are historically Japanese territory and belong to Japan under international law. He said the Japanese government was strongly protesting Putin’s visit.

The Kuril Islands dispute has persisted between Russia and Japan for decades. The disagreement was the main reason Moscow and Tokyo did not sign a peace treaty after World War II. The source did not provide further details about Putin’s activities during the visit or any response from Russian officials to Japan’s protest.