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The Moscow Times
Aug 20, 2026, 03:58 PM
Karnataka's Special Intensive Revision Exercise: Notices Served to Over 43 Million Citizens

Karnataka's Special Intensive Revision Exercise: Notices Served to Over 43 Million Citizens

In the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Karnataka, will serve notices to 43,80,740 citizens in Karnataka, seeking information. Of this, 24,05,990 are from Bengaluru's four districts alone. This list comprises of 20,35,312 citizens who have anomalies in their enumeration forms (6,24,171 are from Bengaluru's four districts) and 23,45,428 electors who were unable to share mapping data (information of their 2002 SIR exercise) during the enumeration phase. In the no mapping category, 17,81,819 are from Bengaluru's four districts. Data from Election Commission of India (ECI) showed, Karnataka had the least notices compared to other states where SIR is ongoing- Gujarat- 1.11crore, Madhya Pradesh- 1.01crore, Uttar Pradesh-3.26 crore, Tamil Nadu- 1.64crore, West Bengal- 1.51crore and Odisha-58.36 lakh.
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The Moscow Times
Aug 20, 2026, 03:51 PM
UAE Suspends Trade with Iran Amid Regional Tensions

UAE Suspends Trade with Iran Amid Regional Tensions

DUBAI: The UAE this week announced it was suspending trade with Iran, heaping pressure on its major trading partner at the same time that the US declared "economic warfare" on Tehran. It is unclear when the suspension came into place or exactly what prompted it, with the UAE only citing "regional escalations". Experts have said that the UAE is sending a message to Iran, which has ramped up attacks on Emirati tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, while also signalling alignment with the United States -- although halting trade is expected to do little in the way of curbing illicit flows of sanctioned oil money. The United Arab Emirates is a significant trading partner for Iran and its top source of imports. In the 10 months preceding the war, Iran's trade with the UAE totalled $21 billion according to official Iranian figures. In 2024, Iran relied on the UAE for 30.6 percent of its imports totalling roughly $21 billion according to the World Trade Organization. The UAE is also Iran's third largest export destination, making up 12 percent of its exports, totalling more than $7 billion. The vast majority of UAE trade with Iran consists in re-exports, according to official Emirati data, including everything from phones to meat and other foodstuffs. These figures do not take into account smuggling and illicit flows, which are difficult to assess.
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The Moscow Times
Aug 20, 2026, 03:26 PM
Union Cabinet Approves Establishment of Jammu & Kashmir High Court Bench in Ladakh

Union Cabinet Approves Establishment of Jammu & Kashmir High Court Bench in Ladakh

SRINAGAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday announced that the Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of a bench of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court in Ladakh, a move aimed at improving access to justice in the remote Union Territory. Shah, in a post on X, said the decision was taken by the Cabinet under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the new bench would significantly improve access to legal services for people living in the geographically challenging region by reducing the time and distance involved in seeking judicial relief. “The government is fully committed to the all-round development of Ladakh and to ensuring constitutional safeguards,” Shah said. The proposed bench is expected to ease the difficulties faced by residents who currently have to travel long distances for matters requiring access to the High Court. Ladakh’s vast mountainous terrain and limited connectivity can make such journeys particularly difficult, especially for litigants, lawyers and those seeking legal assistance. The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court is currently a common High Court for the two Union Territories. According to the Department of Justice, its principal seats are located in Jammu and Srinagar. The establishment of a bench in Ladakh would bring High Court services closer to residents and is expected to reduce the need for them to travel outside the Union Territory for judicial proceedings. Ladakh became a separate Union Territory on October 31, 2019, following the reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The decision comes as part of the Centre’s broader focus on strengthening administrative and constitutional mechanisms in Ladakh and improving access to public services in the strategically important Himalayan region.
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Amar Ujala
Aug 20, 2026, 03:23 PM
Congress Party Embroiled in Controversy Over Comments on Chief Minister

Congress Party Embroiled in Controversy Over Comments on Chief Minister

Meanwhile, Konda Surekha's daughter Konda Sushmita Patel's comments about Chief Minister Revanth Reddy have sparked a controversy within the Congress. The party's disciplinary committee had sent a notice to minister Konda Surekha. She has now written a letter to committee chairman and Congress MP Mallu Ravi stating her stand. Celebrations and service activities were held at several places in the state on Adhikonda Surekha's birthday on 19 August. The events were attended by well-wishers and Congress workers of the'Konda'family. At a function held in Surekha's home turf Geesukonda, her daughter Konda Sushmita Patel was the chief guest. Local supporters and party workers had organised the event. The matter reached the Congress disciplinary committee after Sushmita's comments about Chief Minister Revanth Reddy during the adalat ceremony. Congress MP and Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee disciplinary committee chairman Mallu Ravi had summoned minister Konda Surekha in the matter. Surekha's six-year-old homework teacher Surekha Surekha Surekha's family had sent a letter to the hospital alleging that Ravi was not treated properly.
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The Moscow Times
Aug 20, 2026, 02:56 PM
US Envoy's Statement on Jammu and Kashmir Draws Mixed Reactions

US Envoy's Statement on Jammu and Kashmir Draws Mixed Reactions

SRINAGAR: A day after US envoy to India Sergio Gor described Jammu and Kashmir as an “important part of India” during his visit to Kashmir, the remarks drew sharply divergent reactions from political parties in the Union Territory. While the BJP and Apni Party welcomed the comments as a diplomatic boost for India and a setback to Pakistan’s narrative on Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the matter was now between the US and Pakistan. The Congress questioned why J&K needed recognition from a foreign country, while PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said there was no need to take the US “seriously”. Gor, during his visit to Kashmir on Wednesday, described Jammu and Kashmir as an “important part of India” and said the US would reconsider its travel advisory for the region in view of the improved security situation. J&K Congress president Tariq Hamid Karra said Jammu and Kashmir had always been, and would remain, an integral part of India, and questioned the need for any foreign country to certify its importance. “I don’t know why he should have said this. What importance he is trying to give to J&K, I think it is a failure of the present dispensation,” Karra said. “Anyone saying it has an importance, it has nefarious designs behind it,” he added. Karra also invoked the Simla Agreement, saying neither India nor Pakistan needed third-party intervention on Kashmir. “After the Simla Agreement, none of the countries had to have third-party intervention. And it is only during the BJP’s regime that we are seeing third-party interventions,” he said. Karra further alleged that several decisions were being “forced” on India and said the country was moving towards a “colonial style of functioning”. “Many decisions are being forced on us, many such things which have no international ramifications like taxation and other things are being imposed on us. Today India under such intervention seems to be going back to the colonial style of functioning,” he said.
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The Daily Guardian
Aug 20, 2026, 02:55 PM
Congress Hits Back at Amit Shah Over Vande Mataram, Education Reforms

Congress Hits Back at Amit Shah Over Vande Mataram, Education Reforms

New Delhi, Aug 20: Amid the ongoing controversy over the rendition of Vande Mataram and Union Home Minister Amit Shah targeting the Congress alleging it of indulging in appeasement politics, the grand old party on Thursday hit back saying that it is an emotional issue for it and the BJP is seeking political gains only. Earlier in the day speaking to the media, Shah targeted Congress by saying the its decision to sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram was “anti-national” and in open defiance of the law. He also alleged that its decision to render only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram reflected appeasement politics, disrespected martyrs and undermined national unity. During the Congress Working Committee, party’s highest decision making body meeting on Wednesday, some leaders raised the issue of Vande Mataram and party president Mallikarjun Kharge clearly stated the grand old party position, senior leader Jairam Ramesh said. Hitting back at the Home Minister, Ramesh on Thursday said, “BJP tried to create a controversy on Vande matram. But this is a emotional issue for Congress party.” The Congress leader said, “What Home Minister said today shows that they are only seeking political gains out of it.” He asserted that the issue today is paper leak, unemployment, Chanda Chori. “But on these issues the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Home Minister are silent. Through Vande Matram, they are trying to divert the attention. BJP ke paas nakali or jhootha rashtravaad hai (they are fraudulent nationalists),” he added. Targeting Shah, he also said, “How can they say that it was an insult? Did we raised slogans against it?” Earlier in the day, Shah termed the CWC’s move on Wednesday to feature only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at party functions, in line with the All India Congress Committee resolution of 1937, as “anti-national”. “I want to remind the entire country that in 1937, the Congress party, for the sake of Muslim appeasement, split Vande Mataram into two pieces, laying the foundation for the country’s Partition, and from there, the two-nation theory gained strength. Ultimately, the country was partitioned, and Pakistan was born,” Shah said. The “historic mistake” was corrected in the 150th year of the emergence of the National Song by the Narendra Modi government, in an effort to “strengthen national integration by singing Bankim babu’s (Bankim Chandra Chatterjee) immortal creation in full”. “A decision was made to sing it completely in all government programmes, and this decision has also been given legal backing,” the Minister said. The Congress chose to disregard the initiative, Shah said, confirming its “extreme policy of appeasement”. “For the sake of vote banks, they have not only disrespected Bankim babu’s immortal creation but also insulted those millions of martyrs who went to the gallows for the country’s freedom while chanting the slogan of Vande Mataram,” he said. “Today, the Congress is adhering to its 1937 resolution and rejecting the Parliament’s Act. Under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, the party is once again vigorously advancing the politics of appeasement,” Shah added. Ramesh also targeted the government on NCERT inclusion of BJP-RSS affiliated in political science committee. He said, “On June 17, Rahul Gandhi identified three ills of Indian education system- privitazation, centralisation, Sanghification. Earlier, in an op-ed, CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi said that Indian education system suffers with three Cs- Centralisation, commercialization and communalisation. “What NCERT has done, this is being happening from last 12 years. But the real sutradhar is RSS. On one hand, they are doing Shuddhikaran, which is a sin and on the other hand, they are doing Sanghikaran, which is a curse,” he added. Meanwhile, top a Congress source said that during the CWC meeting yesterday, Rahul Gandhi instructed all the Congress led state Chief Ministers to bring in reforms in education system. The source said that the instructions from bringing the academic calendar was also given along with the recruitment calendar as well as the Rohit Vermula act must be implemented. The source said that exams conducted by state agencies, need new law. “And by September end, all these reports will be presented to the Congress President,” the source said. The source also said that commercialization has started in private investment schools as well. “The way in which schools are getting shut in many states, what steps can be taken by the state governments,” the source said. The source also said that ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ campaign of the party won’t be restricted in just the big cities but it will be done at 800 places. “Rahul Gandhi and Kharge will also participate in many of these programmes,” the source said. The source further said that yesterday, it has been decided that protests on Ram Mandir Chanda Chori issue should not be restricted to Uttar Pradesh only. The source also pointed out that during th CWC meeting, KC Venugopal said that it is not Chanda Chori, it is “Ghar Ghar Chori” as donations came from all across the country. The source also said that when it was discussed that a Supreme Court monitored probe should be done in Chanda Chori issue, a senior lawyer and CWC member suggested that It should be Supreme Court judge with “unimpeachable integrity”. The source also said that the Congress governments will approach the Supreme Court against Mines and Minerals Act as they will file a petition in the top court against the Act in the next few days. The source said that Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala will challenge Mines and Minerals act. Even as the Congress president was deeply hurt by the purification of the Haldwani ground where he addressed a public meeting just few days back, the source said that Kharge praised Uttrakhand Congress.unit and Chandrakant Handore for raising the issue but he stated that it should have been raised in a more aggressive manner. Kharge, the source said that also said that those who write in media, should have written something about this ‘Shuddhikaran’ issue as well.
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Siasat News✓
Aug 20, 2026, 02:54 PM
Houthis Claim Drone Attacks on Saudi Airport and Aramco Facility

Houthis Claim Drone Attacks on Saudi Airport and Aramco Facility

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Thursday, August 20, claimed they had targeted a Saudi airport and an Aramco facility in the southern Najran region in two drone attacks. In a post on Telegram, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group carried out two drone operations against targets in the kingdom. He said one operation targeted a site at Najran Airport, while the second targeted an Aramco facility in the region. The Houthis did not provide details about any damage or casualties resulting from the alleged attacks. There was no immediate confirmation from Saudi authorities. The claims come amid growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warning that Riyadh would be unable to contain the Yemeni group as it steps up attacks against the kingdom. Yemen has been gripped by a civil war for more than a decade. The Houthis became involved in the wider Middle East conflict in July after ending a 2022 truce with Yemen’s Saudi-backed government. A Yemeni minister told AFP earlier this week that the Houthis were preparing to capture territory along the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Such a move could increase the group’s ability to threaten one of the world’s key maritime trade routes. The latest claims follow an August 9 Houthi claim that the group had attacked a gas facility in Saudi Arabia’s Jubail region. Reuters reported the claim, citing Saree.
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Siasat News✓
Aug 20, 2026, 02:42 PM
Bangladesh Elects New President in First Contested Poll in 35 Years

Bangladesh Elects New President in First Contested Poll in 35 Years

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, a long-time secretary general of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a close ally of former premier Khaleda Zia, was on Thursday, August 20, elected as the country’s new President in the first contested poll for the post in 35 years. The 78-year-old BNP stalwart defeated his lone rival, Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed, the 84-year-old Liberal Democratic Party chairman and the nominee of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party Opposition alliance, Chief Election Commissioner and also Election Returning Officer AMM Nasir Uddin, announced after the counting of votes. Of the total 349 registered voters, 343 voted in the election. Six lawmakers didn’t vote, he said. Alamgir secured 255 votes while Oli Ahmad bagged 88 votes. He will take the oath as Bangladesh’s 23rd President on Friday evening at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban. It is the first contested presidential election in Bangladesh since 1991, as the office had largely been filled through consensus and uncontested polls in recent decades. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman congratulated Alamgir on his victory in the presidential polls. Lawmakers also congratulated the President-elect by thumping their desks. As Opposition lawmakers, including Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman and Deputy Leader Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, approached the treasury bench, Alamgir came forward and embraced Rahman, the state-run BSS news agency reported. The presidential election was necessitated after Mohammed Shahabuddin, a close aide of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, resigned last month on health grounds before completing his five-year tenure. Under the Constitution, a new President is required to be elected within 90 days of the office falling vacant. Parliamentary Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad is currently serving as acting president, as required under the Constitution following a vacancy in the office. The president is elected by Members of Parliament under Bangladesh’s constitutional system. The BNP, which was voted to power in the February 12 elections, currently commands a two-thirds majority in Parliament. A day earlier, Alamgir pledged that he would never compromise on the country’s independence and sovereignty. He had been one of the BNP’s most prominent leaders for more than two decades, having served as acting secretary general from 2011 before formally taking over the post in 2016. He played a prominent role in leading the BNP during the imprisonment of its then-chairperson and former prime minister Zia and the absence of Rahman, who was abroad at the time. The president is largely a ceremonial head of state under Bangladesh’s parliamentary system, with key constitutional powers, including appointing the prime minister and the chief justice. Though the President is the supreme commander of the armed forces, those powers are generally exercised on the advice of the Prime Minister. Political analysts, however, said the presidency could assume greater significance under the caretaker government system recently reintroduced to oversee general elections, when the president’s power would increase significantly in commanding the armed forces during such a period. The analysts also opine that Alamgir’s election could be a well-calculated move of the BNP, which in its election manifesto had promised to equip the president with more power by amending the Constitution. An economist by training, Alamgir made his political debut as a left-leaning student activist when Bangladesh was still East Pakistan. Bangladesh was liberated from Pakistan with India’s help in 1971. After joining the BNP in the early 90s, Alamgir served as state minister for agriculture and civil aviation. When the BNP returned to power in the February 12 elections this year, Alamgir was made the local government minister.
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Siasat News✓
Aug 20, 2026, 02:18 PM
Congress Leader Challenges BJP to Sing National Anthem at RSS Shakhas Amid Vande Mataram Controversy

Congress Leader Challenges BJP to Sing National Anthem at RSS Shakhas Amid Vande Mataram Controversy

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president BK Hariprasad stepped up his attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) amid the ongoing political debate over Vande Mataram on Thursday, August 20, challenging the Hindutva leaders to sing the national anthem at shakhas instead of the organisation’s traditional prayer. Welcoming the Congress Working Committee’s decision on singing two stanzas of Vande Mataram, Hariprasad said the Congress would stick to the resolution and continue singing only the specified two stanzas. “If the BJP has the courage, let its leaders sing the national anthem at RSS shakhas. Let them sing the national anthem there instead of the Sangh prayer,” he said. Hariprasad alleged that the BJP was deliberately using Vande Mataram as a political weapon and attempting to create controversy around an issue concerning national pride. He said the Congress had no objection to Vande Mataram and maintained that the Congress Working Committee (CWC) had taken an appropriate decision. “They can put us in jail or even hang us, but we will sing only the two stanzas,” he said. The Congress leader also accused the BJP of repeatedly disrupting proceedings in the legislature instead of participating in meaningful debates. He challenged BJP leaders to issue notices and raise the matter according to established legislative procedures. Hariprasad also criticised the BJP’s response to the controversy involving Congress leader Sonia Gandhi during Independence Day celebrations. He alleged that an ordinary issue had been deliberately presented as an insult to Vande Mataram. He said Gandhi had only asked that an error in the rendition be corrected. Hariprasad also defended Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge , pointing out that the veteran leader, who is 84, has health-related difficulties and cannot stand for extended periods. According to Hariprasad, the controversy was part of a political strategy by the BJP and RSS to target the Congress leadership. He questioned the BJP’s own record on national symbols and asked its leaders to explain how often they sing Vande Mataram and the national anthem after the RSS prayer, “Namaste Sada Vatsale”. The remarks are likely to intensify the political confrontation between the ruling Congress and BJP over Vande Mataram, patriotism and the role of the RSS.
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Aaj Tak
Aug 20, 2026, 01:43 PM
Uttar Pradesh: Congress Leader's Son-In-Law Joins Samajwadi Party After Family Election Decision

Uttar Pradesh: Congress Leader's Son-In-Law Joins Samajwadi Party After Family Election Decision

In Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur, senior Congress leader and MP Imran Masood has suffered a major political setback. His son-in-law Shayan Masood has left the Congress party forever. Shayan Masood has joined the Samajwadi Party after breaking ties with the Congress. Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav has given him membership of the party in the capital Lucknow. In fact, this whole political development has changed rapidly after a recent statement was made by MP Imran Masood. He had made it clear during a press conference. No member of his family will contest in the upcoming assembly elections. His son-in-law Shayan Masood had a change of heart since the statement that no member of the family will contest the elections. Since then, there was a discussion in the political corridors that Shayan Masood could leave the Congress and go to another party. Imran Masood's son-in-law Shayan Masood joined the SP in Lucknow.
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The Moscow Times
Aug 20, 2026, 01:43 PM
Pakistan's Protest Over US Ambassador's Remarks on Jammu and Kashmir: A Matter Between Two Countries, Says Chief Minister Omar Abdullah

Pakistan's Protest Over US Ambassador's Remarks on Jammu and Kashmir: A Matter Between Two Countries, Says Chief Minister Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said Pakistan’s summoning of US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker over US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor’s remarks was a matter between the two countries. Pakistan on Wednesday summoned the US chargé d'affaires and lodged a "strong demarche" over remarks by Gor regarding Jammu and Kashmir during his visit to the Union territory. Gor said Jammu and Kashmir is an important part of India and that US will reconsider the advisories on travel to the place as central government and Abdullah have taken steps to make it a safer place. "That (the demarche) is a matter between Pakistan and the US. Neither you nor I can do anything about it. Whatever the US Ambassador (to India) said, he has said it. It is now between those two countries," Abdullah told reporters here when asked about Pakistan's protest. The chief minister also refused to be drawn into the war of words with his alliance partner Congress, which said there should not be a third-party intervention on Jammu and Kashmir as it is an integral part of India. "I am not getting into this. Congress has their point of view; they are a political party, the largest opposition party. They have a point of view and are entitled to it. I am not going to get into a war of words over this. What can I say on that?" he said. To a question about whether any celebrities from Bollywood or Hollywood were expected for the Kashmir International Film Festival taking place next month, the chief minister said the objective behind the festival was to expose local audiences to diverse kinds of cinema.
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Amar Ujala
Aug 20, 2026, 01:37 PM
Bangladesh President Mirza Fakhrul Elected by Parliament in Historic First

Bangladesh President Mirza Fakhrul Elected by Parliament in Historic First

But Mirza Fakhrul's identity is not just that of a president. His political journey began decades ago with student politics. At one point, he was associated with a left-leaning student organisation. He then took up a government job, became a teacher, joined local politics and then became one of the top leaders of the BNP. How did his long journey to the presidency end? In Bangladesh, the president is not directly elected by the general public. The president is elected by the parliament according to the constitution. This time 343 out of a total of 349 registered voters voted. Alamgir received 255 votes and Oli Ahmed received 88 votes. This was the first competitive election for the presidency in nearly 35 years. Oli Ahmed is the president of the Liberal Democratic Party and was supported by the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party opposition alliance. Alamgir, on the other hand, was a candidate of the ruling BNP.
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The Moscow Times
Aug 20, 2026, 01:29 PM
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Elected Bangladesh's President

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Elected Bangladesh's President

DHAKA: Bangladesh's parliament Thursday elected longtime BNP secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the country's president, elevating to the highest constitutional office a veteran who entered politics in the late 1960s as a left-leaning student activist. Ahead of his election as president, the 78-year-old political leader was serving as the local government, rural development and cooperatives minister while also discharging his role as secretary general of the centre-right Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership. During his student life at Dhaka University, Alamgir joined the East Pakistan Students' Union, a left-leaning organisation, and eventually became president of its Dhaka University unit during the 1969 mass uprising against the then Pakistani military-backed government. The political upheaval of the late 1960s was followed by Bangladesh’s independence movement and the 1971 Liberation War. Back then, Alamgir functioned as an organiser for left-leaning freedom fighters, taking refuge in India, helping facilitate their mobilisation. BNP was founded seven years after the Bangladesh Liberation War. Before getting into mainstream politics, Alamgir held a government job. He became a teacher of economics after joining the civil service’s education cadre in 1972. Since then, he worked with the government in various capacities. Alamgir quit the government job in 1986 to start a career in politics. Two years later, he was elected chairman of the municipality in his hometown, Thakurgaon, located in northwestern Bangladesh, as an independent candidate. The son of Muslim League leader and former East Pakistan Provincial Assembly member Mirza Ruhul Amin, Alamgir joined the BNP in the early 1990s, during the mass movement against the autocratic regime of then-President Hussain Muhammad Ershad.
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Aaj Tak
Aug 20, 2026, 01:26 PM
UP Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar Attends Foundation Ceremony, Takes Jibes at Opposition Leaders

UP Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar Attends Foundation Ceremony, Takes Jibes at Opposition Leaders

Om Prakash Rajbhar, national president of the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party and a cabinet minister in the Uttar Pradesh government, was in Mau on Thursday. Rajbhar came to attend the foundation stone-laying ceremony of development works and the inauguration ceremony of the 51-feet national flag at Ratanpura Bazar in the Sadar assembly constituency here. Rajbhar answered several questions during the interaction with reporters. Rajbhar took a jibe at Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi.
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Aaj Tak
Aug 20, 2026, 01:25 PM
Pakistan's Political Landscape Undergoes Changes Again, Raising Questions About Leaders' Comebacks

Pakistan's Political Landscape Undergoes Changes Again, Raising Questions About Leaders' Comebacks

Imran Khan was then the prime minister of Pakistan. It was 2018. Then Nawaz Sharif was arrested after being convicted in several corruption cases. A year later, the three-time prime minister got interim bail on medical grounds. The Lahore High Court then allowed him to go abroad for treatment. Nawaz went to London and stayed there till 2023. By then, Pakistan's political landscape had changed. Imran had stepped down as PM. He went to jail after being arrested in a corruption case. Nawaz Sharif's exile ended with this. Is the same political script being repeated in Pakistan again? Speaking to India Today, senior Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir says, "Anything can happen in Pakistan. Things are clear." Mir insists that Pakistan's tumultuous history has shown how such relief from the court has rejuvenated the leaders politically. Referring to Imran's relief from the court, Mir said, "This is not a new beginning in Pakistan's political history."
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Aaj Tak
Aug 20, 2026, 01:23 PM
Bangladesh Elects New President: BNP's Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Wins Presidential Election

Bangladesh Elects New President: BNP's Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Wins Presidential Election

The results of the presidential election held in Bangladesh after 35 years have come. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has been elected as the 23rd President of the country. He won by defeating the opposition alliance candidate Oli Ahmed with a huge margin of votes. Chief Election Commissioner and Returning Officer AMM Nasir Uddin announced the results on Thursday. He said that 343 out of 349 registered MPs voted, while 6 MPs did not vote. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir of BNP got a total of 255 votes. While his rival and Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party opposition alliance candidate Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed got only 88 votes in 1991. Before being elected as the President, Alamgir was holding the post of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister in the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The newly elected President will take oath on Friday evening at the Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban. After being elected as the new President of Bangladesh, Mirza Fakhrul, BNP has made Rizvi the General Secretary of the party for the first time in its direct contest for the post of the President of Bangladesh.
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The Moscow Times
Aug 20, 2026, 01:23 PM
Pakistan's Supreme Court Returns Government Petition Seeking Modification of Order on Imran Khan's Hospital Transfer

Pakistan's Supreme Court Returns Government Petition Seeking Modification of Order on Imran Khan's Hospital Transfer

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday returned a review petition filed by the government seeking modification of its order to shift jailed former premier Imran Khan to a private hospital for treatment . The apex court on Tuesday directed that 73-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder be taken to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad “within the next two days”, and he shall remain there until the next hearing on September 16. The government first announced it would implement the order but later filed a petition in the apex court, seeking a review and recall of its order. According to reports, the court's registrar's office returned the petition, citing incomplete paper books as the reason. The government is expected to file a fresh plea after making changes and addressing the deficiencies, according to informed sources. However, PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja said the state withdrew the review petition after objections. “There is no excuse whatsoever for not complying with the SC order of Aug 18. Imran Khan sahib must be transferred to Shifa International Hospital forthwith. Today is the day,” he said. A three-member bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed issued the interim directions and the deadline to shift Khan would expire at midnight.
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The Moscow Times
Aug 20, 2026, 01:06 PM
Bangladesh Elects New President: Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Wins Contested Poll

Bangladesh Elects New President: Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Wins Contested Poll

DHAKA: Ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was on Thursday elected as the country's new President in the first contested poll for the post in 35 years. The 78-year-old BNP stalwart defeated his rival Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed, the Liberal Democratic Party chairman and the nominee of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party opposition alliance, Chief Election Commissioner and also Election Returning Officer AMM Nasir Uddin said. Alamgir secured 255 votes while Oli Ahmad bagged 88 votes, he said. Of the total 349 registered voters, 343 voted in the election. Six lawmakers didn't vote, he added. The president-elect will take the oath as Bangladesh's new President on Friday evening at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban. It is the first contested presidential election in Bangladesh since 1991, as the office had largely been filled through consensus and uncontested polls in recent decades. The presidential election was necessitated after Mohammed Shahabuddin , a close aide of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, resigned last month on health grounds before completing his five-year tenure.
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The Moscow Times
Aug 20, 2026, 12:58 PM
Congress Escalates Attack on BJP Over Vande Mataram Controversy

Congress Escalates Attack on BJP Over Vande Mataram Controversy

The Congress on Thursday escalated its attack on the BJP amid the ongoing row over Vande Mataram, calling its leaders “fraudulent nationalists” and accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of using the controversy to divert attention from their failure to address people’s issues. The opposition party's attack came after Shah criticised the Congress by saying the party's decision to sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram was anti-national and in open defiance of the law. During a CWC (Congress Working Committee) meeting on Wednesday, some leaders raised the issue of Vande Mataram and party president Mallikarjun Kharge clearly stated the Congress position, senior leader Jairam Ramesh said. The Congress president read out a resolution passed by the CWC on October 28, 1937 by the likes of Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Govind Vallabh Pant and Acharya Narendra Dev, on the advice of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Ramesh said, describing BJP leaders as "fraudulent and fake nationalists". On January 25, 1950, in the last meeting of the constituent assembly, Rajendra Prasad announced that the national anthem would be Jana Gana Mana and the national song would be Vande Mataram, Ramesh recalled. The national anthem comprises just one of the five stanzas of Jana Gana Mana, he pointed out. The Congress president said great leaders such as Gandhi, Patel, Bose, Azad and Pant passed the resolution on the advice of Tagore and for 90 years the party had been singing that part as the national song. "There can be no two ways that we will abide by the resolution of 1937," Kharge was quoted as saying at the meeting.
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The Moscow Times
Aug 20, 2026, 12:53 PM
Putin's Regional Tour Sparks Diplomatic Row with Japan Over Disputed Kuril Islands

Putin's Regional Tour Sparks Diplomatic Row with Japan Over Disputed Kuril Islands

Hello and welcome to Regions Calling , your guide to developments from beyond the Russian capital by The Moscow Times. President Vladimir Putin last week wrapped up a tour of major cities across Siberia and the Far East, including his first-ever visit to the disputed Kuril Islands. The latter move triggered a diplomatic flare-up between Moscow and Tokyo, which claims the Soviet Union illegally seized the four islands during World War II. Beyond its impact on Russia’s foreign relations, the tour marked the first time this year that Putin visited a city other than his native St. Petersburg or Tatarstan’s capital Kazan. (Putin’s previous lack of travel has been linked to his alleged fear of assassination, according to a European intelligence report cited by CNN and the Financial Times .) For this week’s edition, we spoke with experts in Russia’s regional politics to unpack hidden messages and meanings behind the itinerary and topics discussed during Putin’s latest trip. But first, a look at the latest news from the regions: President Vladimir Putin’s rare tour of Russia’s regions ended with a bang last week by sparking a diplomatic row with Japan, whose Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi slammed the Russian president’s visit to the disputed as “offensive” and “unacceptable.” Putin visited the town of Kurilsk on the island of Iturup (or "Etorofu" in Japanese) last Thursday after overseeing naval exercises of the Russian Pacific Fleet off the coast of . The western Pacific islands marked the final leg of Putin’s three-week tour that began in the Siberian city of on July 24 and included subsequent visits to , , the ’s capital Ulan-Ude and . Before this tour, Putin had not been seen outside of Moscow since the Russia-ASEAN summit in in June. While the Kremlin likely intended to use the president’s appearance on the Kuril Islands as a provocative show of power, the choice of Siberian cities was dictated by both security concerns over long-range Ukrainian attacks and next month’s nationwide elections , experts in regional politics told The Moscow Times. “This was a legitimation-focused tour,” said András Tóth-Czifra, an expert on Russia’s domestic politics and political economy. “I think we need to separate Iturup from the rest of the trip. To me, the Iturup visit seemed like muscle-flexing with relatively low associated costs.” Tóth-Czifra said the presidential administration focused Putin’s visit on the protest-prone regions of Siberia and the Far East — which also suffered disproportionate economic and human losses in the Ukraine war — to diffuse potential discontent ahead of the State Duma elections. Doubts “about the limits of loyalty of local elites” could also play a role, Tóth-Czifra said. Irina Busygina, an expert in comparative federalism, said Putin “must have had reasons” to travel to the regions after mostly avoiding that duty ever since the Covid-marred spring of 2020. “I think the idea originated in the presidential administration, and they then convinced Putin of its usefulness,” said Busygina, a researcher at Harvard University’s Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies. “United Russia rolled out its ‘main weapon’ at [this year’s] party congress, declaring itself the ‘party of the president.’ Putin’s visit to the regions is intended to strengthen United Russia,” she added. Busygina believes cities for the tour were chosen based on the number of potential voters and relative importance for the upcoming elections, while Buryatia played the mandatory role of an “ethnic” addition to the tour. Buryatia, a Mongolia-bordering republic with a population of less than 1 million, has more than 5,200 verified war casualties and has ranked in the top 10 regions by war deaths per capita since 2022. The resource-rich republic has long faced some of the highest levels of poverty and unemployment in the country. A lack of job opportunities pushed some Buryatians to join the Russian military in search of income, though many were sent to the front lines in Ukraine by force during the nationwide mobilization campaign. This disproportionate call-up helped fuel an unprecedented rise of Indigenous-led anti-war and pro-democracy movements in the region, though most of them were pushed into exile and outlawed as “terrorist” or “extremist” by the Kremlin. Instead of war-related discussions, Putin’s visit to Buryatia’s capital Ulan-Ude largely focused on urban planning and public transport accessibility — something that may ring with irony for residents of a city known for its poor environmental record and infrastructural problems. “Local officials' reports about a ‘comfortable urban environment’ couldn’t be farther from the truth” as the city consistently suffers from a lack of urban green spaces, poor water drainage systems and dilapidated roads, said Anna Zueva, a now-exiled veteran journalist from Ulan-Ude. “While a meeting with Putin was underway, a minibus from Ulan-Ude was unable to reach the village of Bagdarin some 70 kilometers (43 miles) away because rain had washed out the stretch of road with no settlements or mobile service within a 150-kilometer (93-mile) radius,” said Zueva. “Five people were unable to leave the scene and were forced to spend the night in the stuck minibus.” For Zueva, the most notable part of Putin’s visit was the opening of the beryllium mining and processing plant some 160 kilometers (99 miles) south of Ulan-Ude, which the president attended via videoconference. “Beryllium is an important strategic metal used in the defense, aviation, space and nuclear industries,” Zueva explained. “It saddens me that Buryatia’s unique natural resources will continue to be barbarically extracted from the earth solely to serve the Russian dictatorship, fuel the war and line the pockets of the elite.” Zueva said that Putin’s latest visit to her home region “gave a persistent feeling of déjà vu,” reminding her of the president’s April 2013 tour that she covered as part of a local press pool. “I was young, just 26, didn't yet fully understand how the system worked, and was thrilled to be sent to such an event. I thought I'd get to see the president with my own eyes,” Zueva recalled. “Ultimately, we journalists were locked in a separate building, simply watching Putin on a live TV screen for hours. No questions were allowed, and no one ever saw Putin himself.” To maintain his image of a strongman of the people, Putin’s trip was laden with carefully orchestrated meetings with war veterans, schoolchildren, factory workers and young scientists. To expert Busygina, the “meaningless format” of Putin’s tour is “very reminiscent of Soviet practices of the Brezhnev era,” when the country’s leader also “loved to take pictures while sitting surrounded by pioneers.” Putin has already spent more time in office than Brezhnev, but whether he has been equally successful at pacifying the masses and orchestrating elections is up for debate. “The purpose of such tours is usually to narrow the gap between the popularity of the ruling party and the president,” analyst Tóth-Czifra said. “But judging from popular reactions to the visits…it is questionable whether these will have any major organic positive impact on United Russia’s result in September.” Veteran opposition politician Lev Shlosberg pictured during his sentencing hearing in the city of Pskov in western Russia on Monday. Shlosberg, 63, was sentenced to 11 years and one month in prison for “discrediting” and spreading “fake news” about the Russian military. “I am an innocent man, against whom criminal charges have been unlawfully brought, who was unlawfully deprived of liberty pending a court verdict, and who is being unlawfully deprived of liberty following a court verdict,” Shlosberg said in his final statement in court. “Putin Revealed His True Intentions With Japan by Visiting Disputed Islands” by James D. J. Brown “Tokayev’s Warning to Putin Was About More Than Ukraine” by Zarina Akhmatova “Russia’s State Duma Elections Are for Show. But They’re Still Worth Paying Attention To” by Dan Storyev Thank you for reading Regions Calling. Our newsletter will be going on a short break and will return to your inbox on Sept. 10.
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DD News✓
Aug 20, 2026, 12:41 PM
US Ambassador Sergio Gor Arrives in Leh, India After Visiting Kashmir

US Ambassador Sergio Gor Arrives in Leh, India After Visiting Kashmir

The United States ambassador to India Sergio Gor arrived here on Thursday after concluding his trip to Kashmir, marking a key visit by a top US diplomat to the strategic frontier region since the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes and the subsequent military stand-off between India and China. Gor reached Leh Airport in the afternoon from Srinagar after morning flight operations were delayed due to adverse weather conditions, officials said. The initial delay in his flight from Srinagar Airport had triggered speculation that the scheduled visit to Ladakh might be cancelled. The visit carries immense geopolitical weight as the Union Territory shares sensitive borders with both China and Pakistan. In May-June 2020, skirmishes in the Galwan Valley had led to a major deployment of troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and heightened military readiness across the high-altitude region. Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who spends his summers in Leh and conducts regular religious discourses and meets followers, is also in the Himalayan town but it was not immediately clear whether a meeting between him and Gor would take place. The US has been maintaining engagement with the Dalai Lama. Gor, who also serves as the US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, is on his maiden official visit to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh after he assumed charge as the ambassador to India in January. Terming Jammu and Kashmir as an important part of India and an incredibly beautiful place, Gor indicated during a joint media briefing with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar on Wednesday that the US would review its travel advisories for the region. -PTI
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Amar Ujala
Aug 20, 2026, 12:18 PM
Bangladesh Elects New President: Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Wins Presidential Election

Bangladesh Elects New President: Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Wins Presidential Election

Chief Election Commissioner and Returning Officer of the presidential election AMM Nasir Uddin announced the results. According to him, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir received 255 votes, while his rival Oli Ahmed received 88 votes. That is, Alamgir won by a margin of 167 votes. A total of 349 voters were registered for the presidential election. Out of these, 343 MPs voted. Six MPs did not vote. The voting took place in the parliament building on Thursday. The votes were counted after the vote. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin declared the results and declared Alamgir as the elected president of Bangladesh. Fakhrul Ahmed is the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party. He was the candidate of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party opposition alliance. He was the candidate of the ruling BNP. He was elected the 23rd president of Bangladesh after winning the election. This presidential election had to be held due to a sudden vacancy. The then president of Bangladesh, Mohammad Shahabuddin Sheikh Hasina, had not yet completed her five-year term as prime minister.
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Siasat News✓
Aug 20, 2026, 12:12 PM
US-Iran Tensions: Economic Warfare and Isolation on Unprecedented Scale

US-Iran Tensions: Economic Warfare and Isolation on Unprecedented Scale

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday, August 20, dismissed US President Donald Trump’s newly announced economic pressure campaign against Tehran as a continuation of what he described as “failed policies”, warning that it would bring Washington “further defeat”. Trump had announced the campaign shortly before Araghchi’s remarks, describing it as “Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale”. He warned that any country whose financial institutions, businesses, airports or government entities provide a lifeline to Iran would face what he called “TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences”. In a post on X, Araghchi said the so-called “Economic D-Day” was a diversion from what he described as America’s “unprecedented debt” and surging interest costs. He warned that doubling down on failed policies would only bring further defeat and the “enmity of Iranians”. Araghchi also accused the United States of pursuing “economic terrorism”, saying it threatens the global economy and sovereignty worldwide. Oman said lasting security in the Strait of Hormuz requires permanent peace in the region and rejected further escalation or conflict. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi conveyed the position during a conversation with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi on Thursday. Al Busaidi said Oman remains committed to working with international partners to support dialogue, justice and peaceful solutions. He also stressed the importance of partnerships based on trust, realism and diplomacy amid uncertainty in the region and the wider world. An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesman said Iran was continuing to develop and produce weapons with greater precision, destructive power and technological capability. He said Iran had never stopped producing or developing weapons and was making progress every day. The spokesman warned that if another war broke out, Iran’s weapons would be different from those used previously, potentially involving changes to warheads, accuracy or missile range. At least 18 US military personnel have been killed and 757 wounded since the start of the war with Iran, according to Pentagon casualty data cited by CNN. The Pentagon recorded more than 50 additional wounded personnel in a database update on Wednesday, taking the number of injured US service members above 750. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi accused Washington of seeking help from its allies despite claiming that Iran was close to defeat. “They claim Iran is on the verge of defeat, hanging by a thread, yet they are begging all their allies to help them!” he said in a post on X. Gharibabadi also pointed to US public debt surpassing $40 trillion and argued that the military campaign had failed to achieve its objectives. “The military war didn’t yield results, so now they’ve named the next failure ‘economic war’,” he said. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said on Thursday that it had received a report of an incident involving a westbound tanker about 136 nautical miles, or roughly 252 kilometres, east of Yemen’s Mukalla. The tanker reported being approached by an unauthorised vessel in the Gulf of Aden. UKMTO provided no further details and did not say whether the vessel or its crew were safe. IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebi warned that Saudi Arabia would be unable to contain the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen or prevent attacks against the kingdom. Speaking to Defa Press, Mohebi said Saudi Arabia would not be able to contain Yemen and Ansar Allah, another name for the Houthis, or remain safe from their attacks. He said recent developments showed that the more Saudi Arabia attacks, the stronger the response would be. Trump expressed dissatisfaction with South Korea over Seoul’s reluctance to assist Washington in securing the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to reporters at the White House, he pointed to South Korea’s dependence on oil transported through the waterway. “I was not happy when South Korea said, no, they’re not interested in helping us with the Hormuz Strait, and yet they get 60 per cent of their oil from the Hormuz Strait,” Trump said. He also questioned the conduct of large-scale joint military exercises aimed at North Korea, highlighting wider friction over burden-sharing and regional security. Brig Gen Mohammad Reza Naqdi, an adviser to the IRGC, described Trump as “short-sighted” and “childish” and questioned the reliability of his statements. In a video circulated online, Naqdi said Trump lacked a long-term vision and claimed the US President’s statements had no foundation or consistency. He added that he would trust the word of a taxi driver more than Trump’s. Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz did not increase on Wednesday as the deadlock between Washington and Tehran continued. Reuters , citing Kpler data, reported that commodity vessel transits through the waterway totalled nine on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day. The US military has quietly established a shipping route through the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz to facilitate the movement of oil, Axios reported, citing two US officials. The operation, which reportedly began several weeks ago, has allowed between 15 and 20 oil tankers to enter and exit the strait through a southern channel along the coast of Oman. The officials said around 10 million barrels of oil a day — roughly half the volume transported before the war — were being moved towards global markets. The operation reportedly goes beyond escorting loaded tankers. US forces are also helping empty tankers enter the Gulf from the Arabian Sea, load oil from countries in the region and return through the strait. One US official claimed that American forces had controlled the southern passage for two months, while saying the IRGC did not control the waterway. CNN , citing Kpler data, reported that more than 80 per cent of ship crossings through the Strait of Hormuz during the previous two weeks used the Omani route, a UN-approved shipping lane strongly opposed by Iran. Separately, Al Jazeera ’s Open Source Unit monitored maritime traffic from Tuesday, August 18, until Wednesday morning, August 19. MarineTraffic data showed 10 crossings involving nine ships during that period. Four operations were directly linked to Iran, two crossings used the Omani route and seven operations were linked to China or Hong Kong.
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Aaj Tak
Aug 20, 2026, 12:01 PM
Speculations of Re-Alliance Between Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP Intensify Ahead of 2027 Punjab Assembly Elections

Speculations of Re-Alliance Between Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP Intensify Ahead of 2027 Punjab Assembly Elections

Speculations of a re-alliance between the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the BJP ahead of the 2027 assembly elections in Punjab have intensified. Senior Akali Dal leader and MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal hinted at a possible alliance between the two parties during a rally in Sangrur. She said that alliances keep happening and people will soon know what lies ahead. Addressing the public meeting, Harsimrat Badal said, "The demand you have placed for a skill university is very good. These are small tasks. Guru Sahib please. It is not necessary for me to speak, so I stop my speech here. You will find out for yourself." She added, "Guru Sahib please give us strength and strength. Such agreements were made from Delhi. Once again the foundation of development and progress should be laid in Punjab, which will benefit the people and Punjab." Harsimrat Kaur's statement comes days after her husband and Akali Dal president Narendra Modi met Sukhbir Badal in Parliament to support the Delhi government's monsoon session.
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The Financial Express
Aug 20, 2026, 12:00 PM
Silver Prices Surge 1% as US Treasury Yields Decline and Dollar Weakens

Silver Prices Surge 1% as US Treasury Yields Decline and Dollar Weakens

On 20 August 2026, the price of 1 gm of silver was ₹240, and the price of 1 kg of silver was ₹239,790, reflecting a gain of 1.00% compared to its previous close. Meanwhile, the 10 gm silver rate is at ₹2,398. Silver prices in India are largely influenced by international spot silver rates, US dollar fluctuations, and import duties on silver among other things. Silver prices are trading with a positive bias on the back of a sharp decline in the US Treasury yields, after the US Treasury Department announced it would double the size of its liquidity-support buyback operations for longer-dated bonds. A weaker dollar is also driving the momentum for silver, as a soft greenback usually makes the white metal less expensive for buyers in other currencies, thereby aiding demand. ALSO READ Silver shoots up 12%, Gold jumps 6%; Precious metals post best weekly gains since January However, the white metal continues to face pressure from the high probability of a rate hike later in the year, as minutes from the FOMC suggested that the US Federal Reserve may raise rates fueled by inflationary concerns. On the geopolitical front, uncertainties in the West Asia conflict keep inflationary risk in focus. Analysts suggest silver may remain range-bound in the near term, driven by a weak dollar and a retreat in US Treasury yields. For further cues, markets will watch out for global inflation data, geopolitical tensions, and monetary policy stance of central banks worlwide. Retail investors are advised to track not just domestic rates but also international trends before making buying decisions. ALSO READ Why are gold and silver prices surging? Treasury’s latest move holds the answer
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Siasat News✓
Aug 20, 2026, 11:54 AM
Students Protest Against NTA Exam Discrepancies, Demand Scrapping and Reform

Students Protest Against NTA Exam Discrepancies, Demand Scrapping and Reform

Two students’ organisations here came together on Thursday, August 20, to protest against severe discrepancies and paper leaks in examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), which have forced the re-conduct of UGC-NET exams for three subjects. Condemning the BJP government at the Centre for allowing the NTA to go unchecked, the Disha Students’ Organization and Naujawan Bharat Sabha held the protest at Dharna Chowk. Speaking at the protest, Hina from Naujawan Bharat Sabha said that the NTA must be scrapped immediately. Until a transparent and accountable system is established, the old examination system must be restored, she said. She highlighted the urgent need to build a countrywide mass movement against the privatisation and commercialisation of education. She also demanded a rollback of the National Education Policy, which she described as a blueprint for the privatisation and communalisation of education. Mahipal from the Disha Students’ Organization said that the NTA is not a constitutional body, despite handling massive national exams such as JEE, NEET, and NET. He criticised the government for outsourcing the entire exam-conducting procedure to private companies closely tied to the BJP-RSS nexus. This outsourcing has directly resulted in recurrent paper leaks and question paper mistakes, he said. He noted that the government prefers private players even in crucial matters such as conducting exams, showing that it refuses to take accountability for mistakes that make students’ lives difficult.
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The Moscow Times
Aug 20, 2026, 11:36 AM
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Softens Stance on Delimitation

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Softens Stance on Delimitation

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay appears to have softened his stand on delimitation within a week, moving from a demand to permanently freeze the Lok Sabha at 543 seats and retain the existing state-wise distribution to a broader demand that no State should lose its percentage share of parliamentary representation because of population stabilisation. In the resolution he moved in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on August 12, Vijay had sought the permanent retention of the Lok Sabha's strength at 543 seats and the permanent maintenance of the existing inter State distribution of seats. The resolution specifically said that the existing number of seats allocated to the States should be made permanent at the current level.
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Aaj Tak
Aug 20, 2026, 11:28 AM
BJP Celebrates PM Narendra Modi's 25 Years in Public Life with 'Seva Sankalp Mahotsav'

BJP Celebrates PM Narendra Modi's 25 Years in Public Life with 'Seva Sankalp Mahotsav'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is about to complete 25 years in public life. To commemorate this achievement, the Bharatiya Janata Party will celebrate'Seva Sankalp Mahotsav'across the country. The BJP says that this event is also a nationwide public relations campaign with respect to his leadership. Since 7 October 2001, when PM Modi took over as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for the first time, he has been active in politics without any break. He has been the Chief Minister of Gujarat for about 13 years and then the Prime Minister of the country for the last 12 years. The top leadership of the party is fully active to finalize the outline of this Mahotsav. The BJP President will conduct a detailed review of the preparations for this campaign on Saturday. All the state presidents, organization ministers, state in-charges and co-in-charges have been invited to this important meeting. The aim is to establish better coordination at the grassroots level. The party has entrusted the responsibility of the national coordinator to BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde for the efficient conduct of this national campaign. A seven-member team of state ministers, state ministers and other senior leaders will be involved in the implementation of its service-programme.
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Amar Ujala
Aug 20, 2026, 11:26 AM
Congress Stance on Vande Mataram Sparks Controversy: Mani Shankar Aiyar's Critique

Congress Stance on Vande Mataram Sparks Controversy: Mani Shankar Aiyar's Critique

He said the Congress and its leaders do things that hurt the majority community of the country. He questioned the Congress leaders and said that if 1937 is being talked about, then on what basis the partition of the country took place in 1947 should also be discussed. He said that the path of the Congress is not clear and it takes a stand on issues that hurt the majority community. On Thursday, the Congress made it clear that the party will stick to its tradition of singing only the first two verses of Vande Mataram. Congress leaders said that the party will walk on the path decided by the freedom fighters and not according to the new protocol of the central government. Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar alleged that the entire text of Vande Mataram has been made mandatory due to hatred towards Muslims. This stand of the Congress came a day after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) passed a resolution reiterating the decisions taken in 1937.
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The Moscow Times
Aug 20, 2026, 11:11 AM
NCERT Textbook Controversy: Opposition Parties Accuse Centre of Ideological Bias

NCERT Textbook Controversy: Opposition Parties Accuse Centre of Ideological Bias

The reconstitution of the National Council of Educational Research and Training’s (NCERT) Textbook Development Team for Class 11 and 12 Political Science has triggered a fresh political controversy, with opposition parties accusing the Centre of turning the premier educational body into an “ideological laboratory.” The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), along with the Congress and student organisation National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), has raised concerns over the composition of the newly formed 20-member panel. Opposition leaders allege that at least four members have direct or indirect links with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The controversy centres on fears that ideological affiliations could influence the way political science and constitutional issues are presented to school students. Critics have particularly expressed concern over the treatment of subjects such as secularism, federalism, fundamental rights, democracy and social justice. The Congress has described the move as “Sanghikaran”, alleging that educational content is being reshaped along ideological lines. Party leaders have also used the phrase “Nagpur Coterie for Educational Rewriting and Trouble-making”, referring to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur. The NCP (SP) and other opposition voices have similarly questioned whether the reconstituted panel will maintain academic neutrality while revising textbooks. They argue that political science textbooks have a particularly important role in shaping students’ understanding of India’s Constitution, democratic institutions and the country’s pluralistic traditions. The controversy comes amid wider political debates over revisions to NCERT textbooks and allegations by opposition parties that changes to educational material under the current government have sought to alter the interpretation of India’s modern history and political development.
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Trade Brains
Aug 20, 2026, 10:53 AM
Precious Metals Rally: Gold and Silver Prices Surge Amid Market Sentiment Shift

Precious Metals Rally: Gold and Silver Prices Surge Amid Market Sentiment Shift

Gold and silver have become the biggest winners on the back of the change in market sentiments recently. Traders are keeping an eye on interest rates, bond yields, the US dollar, and geopolitics, which are affecting the demand for precious metals. Given that a number of things have been working together, precious metals have witnessed a sharp rally over the past few weeks, garnering considerable interest from investors. The big question is what is behind the current rally and if the rally can continue Gold (XAUUSD) has surged 11 percent in the last two weeks from August 5, rising from $4,065 to a high of $4,524, while silver (XAGUSD) has gained 15 percent from a low of $58 to a high of $67 since August 4. The sharp rally highlights strong momentum in precious metals, supported by safe haven demand, weaker bond yields, a softer US dollar and expectations of easier monetary policy. A sharp retreat in US Treasury yields from 30 year highs has improved the appeal of non yielding assets such as gold. Lower bond yields reduce the opportunity cost of holding precious metals. The US Treasury Department plans to more than double repurchases of 10 year, 20 year and 30 year debt over the coming months. The move has pushed bond yields lower and supported demand for gold. The poor economic reports from the United States on job market figures as well as the low levels of inflation have resulted in expectations of no increase in interest rates in September. As the value of dollar declines, the price of gold for foreign buyers becomes cheaper, thus boosting demand. Spot gold rose by approximately 11 percent since the beginning of the month and traded above $4,500. High geopolitical tension in West Asia, where the confrontation between US and Iran continues, has added to demand for a safe haven. Additionally, crude oil prices have rallied to over $92 per barrel. Gold receives continued support from central bank purchases, while global gold ETFs are back from a losing streak, posting gains of around $3 billion worth of net purchases in July. Momentum for global ETF demand has continued into August. Demand for gold remains healthy in anticipation of the Indian festival season and weddings, while demand ahead of Christmas can add support as well. Short covering by speculative accounts and safe haven demand might have helped increase precious metal prices. Silver is also benefiting from the broader rally, while its longer term outlook remains linked to industrial demand from electronics, AI hardware, renewable energy infrastructure and solar power. The recent rally in gold and silver has been supported by lower US bond yields, a weaker dollar, easing rate hike expectations and rising geopolitical uncertainty. Strong central bank and ETF buying has further strengthened demand for precious metals. Going ahead, festival and wedding demand in India, safe haven buying and industrial demand for silver could support prices. However, elevated crude prices, inflation concerns and changing US interest rate expectations may keep precious metals volatile in the near term. Gourav is a financial analyst at Trade Brains with over two years of active stock market trading experience. He holds the NISM Series VIII certification, reflecting strong expertise in equity markets, financial analysis, and investment research.
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Aaj Tak
Aug 20, 2026, 10:52 AM
Indian Government Approves Appointment of Nine Lawyers as Judges in Punjab and Haryana High Court

Indian Government Approves Appointment of Nine Lawyers as Judges in Punjab and Haryana High Court

The central government of the BJP has taken a very important decision. The government has approved the appointment of nine lawyers as judges in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The official information in this regard has also been released in full from the Rashtrapati Bhavan. This step has been taken to fill the vacant chairs of judges in the court and to speed up the work. Earlier, the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended the names of a total of ten lawyers. All these names were thoroughly discussed at the highest level of the country. After this, the central government has given its approval to nine out of those ten names. After this seal of the government, now the way has been completely cleared for all these qualified lawyers to become judges. In exercise of the power conferred by the Constitution of India, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, the President is pleased to appoint the following advocates as Additional Judges in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
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Free Press Journal
Aug 20, 2026, 10:44 AM
Political Interference in Mumbai's BMC Engineer Transfers and Promotions Exposed

Political Interference in Mumbai's BMC Engineer Transfers and Promotions Exposed

Mumbai: Political interference in transfers, postings and promotions of BMC engineers has come under scrutiny after Right to Information (RTI) documents revealed recommendation letters from ministers, MPs and MLAs, including representatives from the ruling party and Opposition. The RTI records also showed that MPs and MLAs from outside Mumbai had issued recommendation letters. The FPJ tried to contact BMC chief Ashwini Bhide, but she did not respond till the time of going to press. RTI activist Santosh Daundkar obtained records showing that public representatives made recommendations concerning municipal engineers across various departments from 2024-26. The letters sought postings in key departments, including water engineering, civil, environment, health, storm water drains and infrastructure cells. Recommendations were also made for promotions to vacant posts and transfers of engineers who had served in the same position for several years. Some requests cited personal or family reasons. The engineers covered by the recommendations included junior engineers, sub-engineers and assistant engineers. The disclosures come against the backdrop of an earlier controversy involving transfers of 122 assistant and secondary engineers before an online examination. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had taken note of the matter, following which the then BMC Additional Commissioner was transferred. Daundkar has demanded that Fadnavis issue a notification prohibiting public representatives from recommending transfers and postings. He said he would submit a written complaint to the CM. To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/
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Siasat News✓
Aug 20, 2026, 10:38 AM
Sajjan Kumar, Convicted in 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots, Dies While Serving Life Sentence

Sajjan Kumar, Convicted in 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots, Dies While Serving Life Sentence

Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, who was serving a life sentence in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, died on Thursday, August 20, Safdarjung Hospital sources said. The hospital has not yet clarified the cause of his death. Kumar was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Delhi High Court on December 17, 2018, in a case related to the killing of five Sikhs and the burning of a gurdwara during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. He was lodged in Tihar Jail. He was also sentenced to life imprisonment by a Delhi court in February 2025 in another case relating to the killing of two Sikh men during the riots. Kumar, a three-time Lok Sabha member, represented the Outer Delhi constituency and had been a prominent Congress leader. He resigned from the party after his 2018 conviction.
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NorthEast Now logo
NorthEast Now
Aug 20, 2026, 10:37 AM
JNC Condemns Police Raid on KSU Office, Arrests Leaders Amid Controversy Over Shree Cement

JNC Condemns Police Raid on KSU Office, Arrests Leaders Amid Controversy Over Shree Cement

The Jaiñtia National Council (JNC) has condemned the police raid on the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) office and the arrest of its top leaders following violence during the KSU bike rally in Meghalaya, while saying it does not endorse violence or public disorder. In a statement, the JNC’s Central Executive Committee, led by president Bah Sambormi Lyngdoh, said democratic protests should remain peaceful and expressed concern that the arrests were made without what it described as a “proper and transparent investigation”. The JNC said incidents of unrest had occurred in different parts of the state in the past, but the raid on a student organisation’s office and the immediate arrest of its president, general secretary and vice-president raised questions about the police action. The organisation questioned why the KSU leaders were arrested before an impartial investigation into the events surrounding the rally. The JNC also linked the latest developments to the controversy surrounding Shree Cement’s entry into East Jaiñtia Hills . It alleged that the company’s activities had contributed to tensions and divisions among communities, including differences between Elaka Sutnga and Elaka Nongkhlieh. The organisation also raised concerns over the handling of public hearings held on the 30th and 31st, alleging excessive use of police force. It said some of its leaders were arrested on the 30th and alleged that vehicles and people travelling to the public hearing were attacked with stones. The JNC said individual police personnel should not be held solely responsible for such actions, as they operate under the authority and direction of the government. It said police officers could not undertake such actions without instructions from higher authorities. The organisation also questioned a statement by the Secretary and Dolloi of Elaka Nongkhlieh that both supporters and opponents had been invited to the public hearing. The JNC asked who had the authority to call people to the hearing and whether the Elaka had organised the process. On the KSU arrests, the JNC alleged that external influence or pressure could have played a role and said it feared the action was part of a wider attempt to suppress the voices of indigenous people. The organisation also alleged that those responsible for creating disorder during the bike rally may not have been KSU members. The JNC further criticised the NPP-led Meghalaya government and questioned whether political interests were being prioritised over the rights, land and concerns of indigenous communities. It also alleged that Shree Cement could have influence over the ruling party and that state machinery was being used to suppress opposition to the company’s activities. The JNC said its deadline for the government would expire on August 23. Its Central Executive Committee would then meet to decide on further “peaceful and lawful democratic actions” concerning the matter. The organisation appealed to the people of Hynñiewtrep to reflect on the developments and decide whether to remain silent or stand up for the rights, land and future of the indigenous people.
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Aaj Tak logo
Aaj Tak
Aug 20, 2026, 10:24 AM
Congress, BJP Engage in Heated Debate Over Vande Mataram

Congress, BJP Engage in Heated Debate Over Vande Mataram

The political slugfest between the Congress and the BJP over Vande Mataram has intensified. Congress MP Imran Masood, in a conversation with Aaj Tak, hit back at the BJP's allegations of what the BJP wants from the Muslims of this country. He questioned whether Muslims do not have the right to speak and act according to religious beliefs. Imran Masood defended the Congress's decision to sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram, saying it was taken in 1937 after consulting Guru Rabindranath Tagore and Subhash Chandra Bose. He said that you do not agree with Nehru-Tagore but what about Sardar Patel's decision? Two stanzas of Vande Mataram were made into a national song. Imran Masood also hit back at the BJP's allegations of the Congress allying with the Muslim League and promoting the two-nation theory. He said that the BJP has been the Muslim League's biggest supporter and brought the Muslim League to power. He also accused the BJP of strengthening the two-nation theory when it was passed in Parliament.
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Free Press Journal logo
Free Press Journal
Aug 20, 2026, 10:20 AM
Thane Forest Minister Slams Municipal Administration Over TDR Grant

Thane Forest Minister Slams Municipal Administration Over TDR Grant

Thane: Forest Minister Ganesh Naik launched a sharp attack on the municipal administration over the decision to grant Transferable Development Rights (TDR) in a land matter near the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) area. Questioning the municipal civic body's move, Naik asked why TDR should be granted for land that the Municipal Corporation cannot even utilize, and why citizens should bear this financial burden. "Why should Thanekars carry the burden of a ₹2,700 crore TDR on their heads?" he questioned. Referring to reports mentioning TDR worth ₹4,000 crore in the land case, Naik expressed full support for local residents planning to approach the Supreme Court. He also shared that a special meeting was convened at the Mantralaya regarding the TDR issue. These remarks were made during Naik's 'Janta Darbar' (public grievance hearing) held at Gadkari Rangayatan on Wednesday, where a large number of residents gathered to voice various grievances. Questions Raised Over Data Center Project Representatives from 'Wake Up Thanekar' along with Manoj Pradhan, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) Thane District President, met Naik during the event to submit a memorandum concerning the proposed data center and public land allocation issues. Naik noted that the proposed data center would require massive power and water resources, highlighting strong local opposition to the project in Thane. He affirmed that citizens are planning to challenge this matter in court and stated he would write to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding necessary action. Citing the SGNP land case, Naik alleged that certain decisions regarding land allocations were previously made while keeping then-Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule in the dark. Naik claimed that after Bawankule promised an inquiry, the land in question was returned last week. To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/
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The Financial Express logo
The Financial Express
Aug 20, 2026, 10:16 AM
Silver Prices Surge 0.89% as US Treasury Yields Decline and Dollar Weakens

Silver Prices Surge 0.89% as US Treasury Yields Decline and Dollar Weakens

On 20 August 2026, the price of 1 gm of silver was ₹240, and the price of 1 kg of silver was ₹239,520, reflecting a gain of 0.89% compared to its previous close. Meanwhile, the 10 gm silver rate is at ₹2,395. Silver prices in India are largely influenced by international spot silver rates, US dollar fluctuations, and import duties on silver among other things. Silver prices are trading with a positive bias on the back of a sharp decline in the US Treasury yields, after the US Treasury Department announced it would double the size of its liquidity-support buyback operations for longer-dated bonds. A weaker dollar is also driving the momentum for silver, as a soft greenback usually makes the white metal less expensive for buyers in other currencies, thereby aiding demand. ALSO READ Silver shoots up 12%, Gold jumps 6%; Precious metals post best weekly gains since January However, the white metal continues to face pressure from the high probability of a rate hike later in the year, as minutes from the FOMC suggested that the US Federal Reserve may raise rates fueled by inflationary concerns. On the geopolitical front, uncertainties in the West Asia conflict keep inflationary risk in focus. Analysts suggest silver may remain range-bound in the near term, driven by a weak dollar and a retreat in US Treasury yields. For further cues, markets will watch out for global inflation data, geopolitical tensions, and monetary policy stance of central banks worlwide. Retail investors are advised to track not just domestic rates but also international trends before making buying decisions. ALSO READ Why are gold and silver prices surging? Treasury’s latest move holds the answer
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The Moscow Times logo
The Moscow Times
Aug 20, 2026, 10:16 AM
Bangladesh PM's BRICS Summit Visit to India Remains Uncertain Amid Strained Ties

Bangladesh PM's BRICS Summit Visit to India Remains Uncertain Amid Strained Ties

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s possible visit to India next month for the BRICS Summit “remains slim” unless New Delhi creates an appropriate environment based on “mutual trust” and extends a “dignified invitation”, his Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun has Kobir said. He said Dhaka is in no hurry to arrange a top-level visit without clearly defined national interests. "There is no justification for rushing into a top-level visit by going beyond the national interest,” Kobir told the state-run BSS news agency in an interview published on Thursday. The interview was held on August 17. The comments came amid uncertainties over Rahman's visit to New Delhi for the BRICS summit on September 12-13 amid fresh strains in bilateral ties over Dhaka's demand for the extradition of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina. "The possibility of the Prime Minister visiting India ahead of the upcoming BRICS Summit remains slim unless an appropriate environment is created based on consensus between the two countries on specific issues and a dignified invitation," Kobir said. However, he said, Bangladesh could take a positive view of participating in the BRICS Summit if an "appropriate" bilateral environment is created based on "mutual trust" and consensus between the two countries. On Tuesday, Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed that the two leaders need to meet and that he wants his Bangladeshi counterpart Rahman's proposed visit to India to be "memorable". "Prime Minister Modi just mentioned one thing. We need to meet. And you can tell them on my behalf that you have the prime minister of India's assurance that when the honourable prime minister of Bangladesh visits India, he will have such an honourable reception as he deserves," he said at a reception hosted by the Indian High Commission for leading Bangladeshi business leaders and a visiting delegation of the Confederation of Indian Industry.
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Siasat News✓
Aug 20, 2026, 09:59 AM
Iran's President Stresses Defending Territorial Integrity Amid US Negotiations

Iran's President Stresses Defending Territorial Integrity Amid US Negotiations

Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that negotiating with the United States did not mean surrender. At a conference in Tehran on Wednesday, August 19, Pezeshkian stressed the need to defend Iran’s territorial integrity, according to a statement posted on his office’s website. “In the process of negotiations, we are moving forward step by step at the height of our power and while maintaining wisdom, dignity and expediency,” Pezeshkian said. “Our goals have been to end the war, lift the (anti-Iran naval) blockade, release the country’s frozen assets and, then, (hold) nuclear talks,” he noted. US President Donald Trump reportedly told top administration envoys to halt their conversations with Iran on Tuesday, local media reported, citing a US official, reports Xinhua news agency. On Wednesday, Trump announced a “crushing economic operation” on Iran, hours after saying that the situation with Iran is “so good.” Tehran and Washington signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on ending the war on all fronts on June 18. Yet, it remains unclear how the talks will proceed after a 60-day negotiating period under the MoU ended on Monday and tensions between the two sides escalated last month. Additionally, a senior Iranian lawmaker said Wednesday that a draft plan under review by Iran’s parliament to safeguard security in the Strait of Hormuz would bar hostile and espionage vessels from transiting the strategic waterway. In an interview with state-run IRIB TV, Ebrahim Rezaei, a member of the parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee, elaborated on the plan, whose general outlines have been approved by the committee. The plan stipulates that vessels deemed hostile or involved in espionage activities that could threaten Iran’s national security would not be allowed to pass through the strait, Rezaei said. He added that Israeli military or civilian vessels would also be prohibited from transiting the waterway, with enforcement to be supervised by Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces. Rezaei said the plan included provisions for charging passage fees in the Iranian rial or other currencies, as well as penalties for vessels violating the regulations. “If someone in another part of the world harms Iran’s interests or our citizens, we will deal with that government in the Strait of Hormuz,” he said, adding that the plan allows for measures including cargo confiscation and higher tariffs against governments that take hostile positions toward Iran. Rezaei said the Strait of Hormuz had become a national security concern for Iran following US and Israeli strikes against Iran, and that Tehran must maintain control of the waterway to prevent military threats. The parliamentary committee approved the general outlines of the plan earlier this month, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported.
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