Bangladesh has linked Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s proposed visit to India with its demand for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Dhaka said a “propitious environment” must be created before Rahman’s bilateral visit can proceed. Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry said officials from both countries have been discussing the visit for several weeks, but Hasina’s August 5 public interaction in New Delhi affected the process. Dhaka has urged India to expedite Hasina’s extradition, along with other fugitives, and is awaiting New Delhi’s response. The development highlights continuing diplomatic tensions and the sensitive nature of India-Bangladesh relations. (PC: AP)

Bihar-born chef Nand Kishor Yadav has been invited to King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s Royal Garden Party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. The invitation recognises his culinary career, Indian heritage and community work in the UK. Chef Nand, who has spent 25 years working across India, the US and UK, called the occasion a proud and humbling moment. Born in Motihari, Bihar, he began his career in 1999 and later worked with international chefs before moving to Britain in 2007. He has also worked under celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and now runs The White Hart near London. (PC: X)

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Indonesia’s Flores island early Saturday, killing at least 51 people and displacing thousands. The shallow quake damaged more than 900 homes and hundreds of other buildings, while 341 aftershocks were recorded, officials said. Manggarai was among the worst-hit areas, with 24 deaths reported, followed by 17 in East Manggarai. More than 5,000 people have been evacuated across affected areas. Rescue teams are searching damaged buildings for survivors, while landslides have blocked access to some villages. A tsunami warning was issued after the quake but was lifted about 3 hours later after no significant sea-level rise. (PC: BBC)

Ukraine reportedly launched one of its largest aerial attacks on Russia on August 16, with hundreds of drones targeting several regions, including Moscow. Russia’s Defence Ministry said it destroyed 822 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said around 600 were detected heading toward the capital. A Ukrainian drone strike sparked a major fire at a Wildberries warehouse in Podolsk, sending huge columns of black smoke into the sky. Fires were also reported at warehouses and industrial sites. At least 6 people were killed in the attacks, including 5 in Rostov and an 83-year-old man in the Moscow region. (PC: HT)

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari said on Independence Day that the country “tolerates” its Hindu population, which he claimed is 3–4%. He also said Hindus are free in Pakistan and referred to India’s belief in “Akhand Bharat”. However, Pakistan’s 2023 census records about 5.2 million Hindus, or 2.17% of the population. Zardari’s remarks have drawn attention to Pakistan’s treatment of religious minorities. Rights groups have documented cases involving forced conversions, abductions, discrimination and violence against minorities. Pakistan’s Constitution formally guarantees religious freedom, but critics say its record raises questions about whether minorities receive equal rights and protection. (PC: Indian Today)

At least 3 people have been killed and more than 10 injured in the latest Russian aerial attacks across Ukraine, officials said. Russian missiles and drones struck several areas, including a book market in Kyiv, where firefighters battled a major overnight fire. Ukraine said it had shot down 3 Russian missiles and nearly 100 drones. In Zaporizhzhia, 2 people were killed after a guided bomb destroyed a house, while Dnipropetrovsk reported 1 death and 14 injuries. Meanwhile, Moscow said around 600 Ukrainian drones targeted the capital overnight, injuring 3 people and hitting a Wildberries warehouse. (PC: BBC)

At least 47 people have died after a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Indonesia’s Flores island early Saturday, with rescue teams searching for survivors trapped under rubble. The quake struck shortly before 05:00 local time at a depth of 15km, according to Indonesia’s meteorology agency. More than 900 homes and hundreds of other buildings were severely damaged, while 341 aftershocks were recorded. More than 5,000 people have moved to evacuation shelters, and thousands of aid packages have been sent to affected areas. A tsunami warning was issued after the quake but was lifted about 3 hours later after no significant sea-level rise. (PC: BBC)

The USS George Washington, the last US aircraft carrier operating in the western Pacific, is leaving the region for the Middle East, where it is expected to replace the long-deployed USS Abraham Lincoln amid the ongoing Iran conflict. The redeployment will temporarily leave the western Pacific without a US aircraft carrier, raising concerns among American allies as China expands military activity in the region. The Lincoln has remained at sea for more than 240 days, prompting concerns over crew welfare, supplies and mental health. The US Navy could deploy another carrier to the Pacific within months, but maintenance pressures may limit availability. (PC: X)

Iran has demanded that Qatar release three Iranian pilots it says were captured alive after their aircraft were shot down during a March military operation. Iran’s Missing Persons Search Committee asked the International Committee of the Red Cross to investigate and secure access to the pilots. Qatar, however, categorically denied detaining any Iranian pilots, calling Tehran’s claims misleading. Doha said its forces had conducted search-and-rescue operations after Iranian aircraft violated Qatari airspace and that the remains of one pilot were recovered. The dispute adds another layer of tension between Iran and Qatar amid ongoing regional conflict and diplomatic efforts. (PC: X)

At least 11 people were killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday, Lebanese authorities said. Seven people, including three children and two women, were killed when a house near Ansar was hit. Four others died in another strike on Deir al-Zahrani. Israel’s military said it targeted Hezbollah commander Ali Samir al-Haj Hassan after an attack on Israeli soldiers. The IDF said Hassan was a lawful target and accused him of using family members as human shields. Lebanon’s leaders condemned the strikes and called for an end to the escalation. Hezbollah also warned that Israeli attacks would face a response.