A liquefied petroleum gas tanker paid a record $5.3 million to secure priority passage through the Panama Canal before restrictions linked to El Niño take effect. Panama Canal deputy administrator Ilya Espino de Marotta gave the information to AFP on Thursday. Bloomberg reported that South Korean company SK Gas paid the amount for its G. Spirit tanker to transit the canal on September 1.

Two days later, the canal authority will reduce the number of vessels allowed to pass daily because drought has lowered water levels. Panama declared an emergency on Tuesday, becoming the latest Central American country to do so amid severe regional drought. El Niño raises surface-water temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, affecting wind patterns and rainfall worldwide.

From September 3, daily canal transits will fall from 36 to 34, before declining further to 32 later in September. Unbooked vessels typically wait about five days, while auctions offer last-minute transit opportunities. The authority said average auction prices from October 2025 to February 2026 were about $55,000. In April, an LNG vessel paid $4 million to avoid waiting.

India has responded to discussion over Bangladesh potentially joining the Mecca defence alliance. At a Friday press briefing, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi was closely monitoring regional developments that could affect India’s security and was taking all necessary measures to safeguard it.

The question cited remarks attributed to Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, who said any decision on whether Bangladesh joins the alliance would be entirely Bangladesh’s own and should not cause discomfort to others. The question was raised by The Hindu journalist Kulachi.

Jaiswal also said it was the Bangladesh government’s responsibility to manage the country’s law-and-order situation and ensure the security of its citizens. He said the Bangladesh government needed to perform this responsibility more strictly. The source did not provide further details on the alliance, Bangladesh’s position, or any decision on membership.

Eight months after US forces detained Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelans are expressing relief at his removal but growing impatience over continuing economic hardship. The interim government led by former vice president Delcy Rodriguez has pursued reforms, yet households still face uncertain incomes, soaring food prices, hyperinflation and recurring power cuts. Pastry shop owner Marbelis Daliz said expectations after Maduro’s removal had been replaced by disappointment.

Annual inflation measured in bolivars is now about 575 percent, while the currency’s sharp depreciation has left the economy effectively dollar-dependent since 2019. Rights activist Zaida Mujica said removing Maduro had not removed authoritarianism or produced benefits for ordinary people. Rodriguez, described as operating under Washington’s effective control, has opened several sectors to foreign and private investment; official figures say daily oil output has risen about 29.8 percent since January.

Two earthquakes struck northern Venezuela one minute apart on June 24, killing more than 6,500 people, injuring many others and destroying hundreds of buildings. Daliz said people are less afraid to discuss politics than under Maduro. The government says 1,046 political prisoners have been released since January, while Foro Penal says about 400 remain jailed.

The International Monetary Fund forecasts that Bangladesh’s economy could reach $677 billion within the next five years, potentially surpassing Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand in gross domestic product by 2030. The projections were cited in a Visual Capitalist report titled “The $150 Trillion Global Economy in 2030,” based on IMF forecasts.

According to the report, Malaysia’s economy could reach $672.5 billion in 2030, followed by Vietnam at $667.5 billion and Thailand at $647.5 billion. Denmark’s GDP is projected at $589.2 billion. The comparison is based on the overall size of national GDPs.

The IMF also forecasts that the global economy will expand by about $25 trillion between 2026 and 2030, taking total output above $150 trillion by 2030. The United States is expected to remain the world’s largest economy at about $37.7 trillion, while China is projected to rank second at nearly $26 trillion.

Local residents detained a police constable named Mursalin in Hetimganj Bazar of Golapganj, Sylhet, on Thursday evening on suspicion of attempting to steal a motorcycle. They handed him over to Golapganj police after he took a motorcycle for what was described as a test ride. A man accompanying him, Oliur Islam, was also taken into police custody for questioning.

Residents said Mursalin came to the market claiming he wanted to buy a motorcycle and became suspicious when he rode away after examining one. They chased and detained him, during which he identified himself as a police member. Mursalin denied stealing the motorcycle, saying he had gone there to purchase it and was beaten after residents mistakenly suspected him of theft.

Oliur Islam said he was Mursalin’s grandfather and had accompanied him because Mursalin intended to buy a motorcycle. Police said Mursalin was a constable posted at Beanibazar police station and had not returned to duty after leave earlier this month. Officers are investigating whether the motorcycle was taken with theft intent and whether Oliur Islam was involved.

Khulna Deputy Commissioner Mij Hure Jannat called for public awareness to prevent electricity waste, promote efficient consumption and expand solar power use. She made the appeal as chief guest at a public awareness meeting at KDA New Market in Khulna on Friday at 5:30 pm. The event was jointly organised by the Khulna district administration and West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited, Khulna.

Jannat said electricity demand is continuously rising alongside national development and economic activity, making it essential to stop unnecessary consumption. She said greater use of solar power, a renewable energy source, could reduce pressure on conventional electricity supplies. She stressed that electricity conservation is not solely the government’s responsibility and that citizens must use power responsibly.

Speakers urged households, businesses and public and private establishments to use electricity according to need and turn off lights, fans, air conditioners and other devices when unnecessary. They said solar power could reduce conventional electricity demand and lower energy costs over the long term. Police Superintendent Sarker Omar Faruk and KDA New Market Shop Owners Association president Alhaj Abdul Gaffar Biswas attended as special guests.

China and Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday to establish the China-Bangladesh Vocational Education, Training and Research Centre. The agreement was signed at the China-Bangladesh Education Exchange Conference, organised by the Jiangxi provincial government and Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University. Technical and Madrasah Education Division Secretary Md Daud Miah signed for Bangladesh, while Professor Zheng Pengwu signed for the Chinese side.

The cooperation framework covers technical training programmes, bilingual learning materials, education-industry links, research centres, industrial training, visits to China and specialised training. The conference also inaugurated three platforms: the China-Bangladesh Vocational Teachers Training Centre, the Bangladesh Vocational Education Research Centre, and the Bangladesh Chinese Language+ Skill Development Cooperation Centre.

Officials said the initiatives are expected to expand teacher training, practical student training, industrial experience, curriculum development, research cooperation, exchanges and employment-oriented skills. Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon said vocational education must be closely linked to industry and employment needs. Prime Minister’s education adviser Mahdi Amin said the aim is to implement the cooperation in practice and create employment and opportunities for young people.

Native freshwater fish species are declining in the haors, canals and beels of Mohanganj, Madan and Khaliajuri upazilas in Netrokona, according to the report. Several species have disappeared, while others are nearing extinction as their breeding has steadily decreased. Threatened large fish include chital, baghair, banehar, beush, shilong and rita; smaller species include rani, kajli, gilachaki, bacha and shrimp.

These fish were caught in rivers and beels in Netrokona and nearby Sunamganj areas 8 to 10 years ago, then sold through Mohanganj’s fish market to traders from Dhaka and elsewhere. Their numbers have fallen over the past 12 years, leaving people more dependent on farmed fish. Fishers attribute the decline partly to reduced water depth and sediment filling rivers, canals and wetlands.

Market representatives and fisheries officials cited illegal nets, gas tablets, pesticide use and drying rivers to catch fish as additional causes. Officials said such practices are prohibited and reported seizing and burning China duari and current nets worth Tk 5 million in several drives this year. They called for continued enforcement, awareness, training and dredging to protect breeding grounds.

Members of the Haldigram and Barmari camps of the 39 BGB Mymensingh Battalion detained 12 Bangladeshi nationals while they were allegedly returning from India through an illegal route in Nalitabari, Sherpur. The detentions took place around 4am on Friday near border pillar 1111 in the Burunga Kalapani hilly area. Three Hiace microbuses sent to transport them and their three drivers were also detained.

Haldigram BGB Camp Commander Nayek Subedar Nurul Islam said the detainees, from Godagari in Rajshahi, had travelled to India illegally about a year earlier and worked there as labourers. He said they planned to return through brokers because they feared arrest amid increased activity by Indian police.

According to BGB, 30 Bangladeshis entered the country near pillar 1111 as planned. Acting on confidential information, separate BGB patrol teams detained 12 people, while the others fled into different parts of the hills. BGB said the detainees and the drivers would be handed over to Nalitabari police station after cases are filed under the Passport Act.

Iran has prepared new weapons and what it described as “surprising” measures for use on future battlefields, according to Defence Ministry spokesperson Brigadier General Reza Talaei-Nik. Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported his comments, which said the preparations include weapons, equipment, technology and tactics for potential future conflicts.

Talaei-Nik said recent wars, despite causing damage, had created opportunities for progress in Iran’s military and defence industries. He linked the claimed advances to the conflict described as the “12-day war,” which began after Israeli air strikes on Iran in June 2025.

According to Talaei-Nik, Iran’s weapons production doubled after that conflict. He said the newly prepared capabilities would appear as surprises on the battlefield if another war occurs. The report did not provide details about the weapons, equipment, technologies or tactics cited by the Defence Ministry spokesperson.

Bangladesh has expressed a positive view of the Mecca Joint Defense Treaty involving Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, but has not decided whether to join. Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman told parliament that Bangladesh would positively consider membership if the current members extend an invitation. The agreement, signed by the three leaders in Mecca, has drawn attention for its military dimension and has been described by some as a “Muslim NATO.”

Analyst Hasib Aziz said membership could expand Bangladesh’s joint military capabilities through cooperation with Turkey and Pakistan, including technology, AI partnerships and intelligence sharing. He said existing imports from Turkey, including Bayraktar drones and Otokar Cobra vehicles, could be broadened. Saudi Arabia’s development cooperation, remittance links and an existing naval defense arrangement with Bangladesh could also support stronger supply routes across the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea.

Risks include a collective-defense principle that could draw Bangladesh into conflict if another member is attacked, Aziz said. Concerns also surround India-Pakistan tensions because Pakistan is a member. Professor Lailufar Yasmin said Bangladesh should weigh trade and investment priorities, noting that it has never joined a military alliance since independence and that any first such move requires national discussion.

Daughters of a couple killed in Sylhet’s Raynagar triple murder held a human chain on Friday afternoon at Shahi Eidgah, demanding the swift arrest of the real perpetrators and justice. Organised by residents of Greater Shahi Eidgah, the programme warned of broader protests if authorities fail to show visible investigative progress and bring those responsible under the law within three days.

The victims’ daughters, Tahmina Sattar Eni and Selina Sultana Shikha, called for exemplary punishment for their parents’ killers. Family members said three people were brutally killed in the Mitali area of Raynagar on August 12, an incident that shocked Sylhet residents and Bangladeshi expatriates at home and abroad.

Speakers said law enforcement agencies had offered differing explanations for the killings, including a romantic relationship, alleged mistreatment, and efforts to obtain money from theft or house rent. They said these changing accounts had created serious doubts about the actual motive. The family demanded a fair, impartial and credible investigation, while urging that no innocent person be harassed or punished. They also alleged that no visible progress had emerged nearly three weeks after the killings.

Residents of flood-affected Banshkhali are calling for durable rehabilitation and permanent housing rather than relief alone after losing their belongings in severe flooding. The director general of the Prime Minister’s Office NGO Bureau, Dr Mohammad Zakaria, is scheduled to visit Banshkhali on Monday, 31 August, to formulate plans for rehabilitation. He will also inspect activities by several NGOs and distribute relief supplies to at least 1,500 affected families.

Thousands of affected people in Khan Khanabad, Gunagari, Baharchhara, Chhanua, Puichhari, Shekherkhil, Chambal, Gandamara, Jaldi, Saral, Sadhanpur, Pukuria and Bailchhari have sought permanent resettlement and house construction alongside temporary aid. Volunteer organisations, individuals and institutions have begun initiatives to distribute relief, build homes for those left homeless and pursue longer-term rehabilitation.

Upazila Executive Officer Md Ruhul Amin said authorities are prioritising rehabilitation as well as relief distribution, including repairing damaged homes, roads and culverts to restore normal life. Administrative sources said flooding inundated about 54 wards in 12 unions, damaging an initial estimated 11,110 homes.

Six months after the war began, Iran’s Supreme Leader Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly in photographs, videos or direct audio messages, according to the report. He was appointed supreme leader during the first week of the war after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in Israeli and US air strikes on 28 February. Mojtaba was seriously injured in the same attack and has remained out of public view.

Iranian officials say his location is being withheld for security reasons, citing fears of further attacks. They maintain that he receives major reports, meets senior officials and gives final approval on major decisions. President Masoud Pezeshkian said on 10 August that he held a seven-hour meeting with him, while a source close to Mojtaba said his health has improved.

Doubts persist among hardline supporters and reformists, who seek visible proof of his leadership. Sources said the Revolutionary Guard’s influence has increased, with decision-making centered more on the Supreme National Security Council. The report also cites mounting economic pressure from disrupted oil exports and war costs, alongside warnings that prolonged uncertainty could deepen leadership questions.

Nepal’s police have confirmed 552 deaths after sudden flooding on Wednesday, as authorities struggle to store the growing number of bodies. Strong currents carried many bodies into distant districts, and local hospital morgues no longer have enough space. Officials have designated a government building as a temporary location for keeping bodies.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said 221 bodies were recovered in Chitwan, about 186 kilometres south of Kathmandu. Another 134 bodies were found in the Nawalparasi East area, about 200 kilometres south of the capital. The continued recovery of bodies has added pressure to local authorities and hospitals.

Chitwan Chief District Officer Ganesh Aryal told the BBC that many bodies were not in good condition, making their preservation and management difficult. The shortage of morgue capacity could also make identifying victims and handing over bodies to relatives more challenging, according to the report.