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.

A large natural lake formed near the confluence of the Chochhen Khola and Purepu Sangpo rivers in Nepal’s Rasuwa district has breached, raising fears of another sudden surge in the Bhotekoshi River. Rasuwa Chief District Officer Narendra Pariyar confirmed the development on Friday, citing the Nepali Army. The lake is located near the Nepal-China border.

Chinese authorities had warned on Thursday that water was overflowing from the lake and that it could collapse at any time. Nepal’s disaster management authority said water levels in the Bhotekoshi River had risen. Helicopters stationed in Dhunche and Rasuwa were being prepared for an aerial survey of the river and surrounding areas.

China’s Ministry of Water Resources estimated that the lake held about 2 million cubic metres of water on Thursday morning, with a further 3 million cubic metres expected to enter over the following three days. Flooding on Wednesday damaged roads, bridges and other structures in Timure and Syafrubesi, while many people remain missing. Authorities have not yet confirmed how much water was released by the breach.

Thieves stole most of the Treasure of Villena, a major Bronze Age collection, from a museum in Villena, Spain, early Thursday. The alarm sounded at 5:20 a.m., and the intruders left the building four minutes later, at 5:24 a.m. Authorities said the group likely entered through a window after arriving near the museum in several vehicles.

The collection contains more than 50 objects, including 29 bracelets, 11 bowls and three bottles. Mostly made of gold, it also includes silver, iron and amber artifacts dating to about 1000 BC. Archaeologist Jose Maria Soler discovered the treasure in 1963 in a buried vessel beneath a dried-up riverbed in Villena. The mayor estimated the gold alone at about $2 million, while its historical value was described as nearly impossible to determine.

Mayor Fulgencio Cerdan said the thieves took “most of the collection” and called the loss devastating for Villena’s heritage. Officials said all security systems activated and denied a museum security failure. Investigators are examining whether an earlier alarm at a city sports center was intended to distract security staff. The theft has renewed debate over museum security across Europe.

A magnitude 5 earthquake struck northern Tibet around midnight on Thursday, as the region was still dealing with the effects of a severe glacier collapse and sudden flooding. Germany’s Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) confirmed the tremor and said its origin was about 10 kilometres below the surface.

According to GFZ, the epicentre was several hundred miles north of areas near the Nepal-China border. The quake followed another earthquake of magnitude 4.7 that hit Tibet’s Nagqu area on Wednesday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center, with Xinhua confirming that report.

Authorities are also concerned that a naturally formed barrier lake in Tibet could breach. China has activated a level-four flood response to prepare for rising water. The Ministry of Water Resources instructed local authorities to monitor the lake’s water level and rainfall around the clock, while an expert team was sent to Gyirong County to assess conditions and provide necessary support.

The article alleges that India’s South Block is pressuring Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit India, claiming Indian diplomats have used both warnings and incentives. It cites former diplomat Veena Sikri as saying that Tarique has little time, and references Vidya Bhushan Soni as suggesting that communication and opportunities could end if he does not visit.

The author argues that Bangladesh’s energy arrangements with India, including power purchases from Adani and diesel imports, are shaped by binding contracts made by a previous government. The article says the Adani agreement requires Bangladesh to buy a specified volume of electricity for 25 years or pay capacity charges, while cancellation would require compensation for plant construction costs.

It further claims India is uneasy about Bangladesh potentially joining a defence arrangement involving Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, said to have been concluded in Mecca in August 2026. The article alleges the arrangement includes mutual support, defence-industrial cooperation, drone production and technology exchange. It says Bangladesh’s army chief recently visited Turkey and argues that increased Indian pressure could push Bangladesh toward formally joining the alliance.

An opinion article argues that Bangladesh needs institutional political education and training to develop responsible, skilled and forward-looking leaders. It says political debate has long centred on individuals, parties and elections, while democratic stability also requires capable workers, ethical leadership and sustained preparation. The article cites former president Ziaur Rahman’s emphasis on training BNP workers and prospective leaders after the party’s establishment.

It highlights a training workshop for newly elected BNP lawmakers after the 1979 second national parliamentary election, saying the programme covered parliamentary conduct, lawmaking rules and the responsibilities of representatives. The article also says Tarique Rahman, identified as prime minister and BNP chairman, inaugurated a workshop for newly elected BNP legislators covering parliamentary practices, bills, budget documents and committee roles.

The article proposes an inclusive, neutral leadership school for young political workers, local representatives, student leaders and promising social organisers. Suggested subjects include the constitution, public finance, climate change, technology and artificial intelligence, foreign policy, human rights and disaster management. It says practical exercises could include simulated parliaments, draft budgets, public hearings and policy proposals.