Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, has announced the new council of advisors and taken control of 27 key ministries. Yunus, who was sworn in as chief advisor—a role similar to a prime minister—on Thursday, has assumed responsibility for a broad range of portfolios, including defense and public administration.

Key Appointments

• Foreign Ministry: Mohammad Touhid Hossain, a former foreign secretary, will lead the foreign ministry.
• Home Ministry: Retired Army Brigadier General M Sakhawat Hossain will oversee the home ministry.
• Finance and Planning Ministries: Salahuddin Ahmed, the former Bangladesh Bank governor, has been appointed.
• Local Government Ministry: A F Hassan Arif, a former attorney general, will manage this ministry.
• Telecommunications and IT: M Nahid Islam, a student leader, will be in charge.
• Youth and Sports: Asif Mahmud, another student leader, will take this role.

Background

Muhammad Yunus, 84, took over from Sheikh Hasina, who resigned and fled to India amid violent protests against her government’s controversial quota system for jobs. The unrest led to the formation of Yunus’s interim government, which has been visibly supported by the military.

Yunus has decided to personally manage several key ministries, including:

• Defense
• Public Administration
• Education
• Energy
• Food
• Water Resources
• Information

Unfilled Positions

Three members of the advisors’ council, primarily from civil society, were unable to take their oaths due to their absence from the capital. It is anticipated that Yunus might redistribute some of the 27 ministries to these members.

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has confirmed he will debate his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris on September 10, hosted by ABC. Trump has also proposed additional debates on September 4 and September 25, which would be aired on Fox and NBC, respectively. This will be the first direct face-off between Trump and Harris, highlighting a highly competitive race.

Polls Overview

Ipsos Poll

• August 9 Survey:
  • Kamala Harris leads Donald Trump 42% to 37% for the upcoming November 5 elections.
  • This marks a rise in Harris’s popularity compared to the July 22-23 Reuters/Ipsos survey, where she led Trump 37% to 34%.
• Seven Key States:
  • Harris leads Trump 42% to 40% in states pivotal in the 2020 election: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

YouGov Poll

• August 4 Findings:
  • Harris has overtaken Trump with a 1% lead nationwide, reversing Trump’s previous five-point advantage over Biden.
  • The poll indicates a tie between Harris and Trump in key swing states.
  • Mental Competence Perception:
    • 51% of respondents view Trump as mentally capable of the presidency, compared to 64% for Harris.

Marist Poll

• NPR/PBS News/Marist Survey:
  • Harris has a narrow 51% to 48% lead over Trump among crucial demographics including Black voters, white women with college degrees, and political independents.
  • Independent Women Voters:
    • Harris leads by 9 points (53% to 44%) among independent women, a key swing voter group.
  • Suburban and White Voters:
    • Harris has made notable gains in these groups, improving her standing.

Issue-Based Polling

• Economic Issues:
  • Trump leads Harris by 3 points (51% to 48%).
• Immigration:
  • Trump has a 52% to 46% advantage over Harris.
• Abortion:
  • Harris holds a significant lead with a 15-point advantage over Trump.

Kamala Harris, who joined the presidential race on July 21 after President Joe Biden’s endorsement, has selected Tim Walz, the Governor of Minnesota, as her running mate. Biden exited the race following a challenging debate performance against Trump on June 27.

U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Democratic opponent Kamala Harris will face off in their first debate on September 10, airing on ABC. The matchup comes as polls indicate a tight race between the two contenders.

Key Points

• Debate Schedule
  • The initial debate between Trump and Harris is set for September 10 on ABC. This will be the first direct confrontation between the two candidates.
  • Trump has expressed interest in additional debates on September 4 and September 25, suggesting that these could be held on Fox and NBC.
• Campaign Reactions
  • Kamala Harris welcomed the upcoming debate, noting that Trump’s participation is a step forward. She also expressed willingness to discuss additional debates but confirmed that the Harris campaign has rejected the proposed September 4 debate on Fox. The campaign prefers a network that hosted recent primary debates for both parties.
• Trump’s Stance
  • Trump had previously hinted at the possibility of not participating in the ABC debate. This debate was originally agreed upon between Trump and President Joe Biden. However, with Biden recently replaced by Harris as the Democratic candidate, the debate plan was adapted.
• Polls and Impact
  • Recent Ipsos polling shows Harris leading Trump 42% to 37%, an increase from her previous 37% to 34% lead. This shift reflects recent changes in the race dynamics following Biden’s replacement by Harris.

Background

• Debate Context
  • The debate on September 10 will be crucial as both candidates seek to sway undecided voters. The proposed additional debates are seen as a way for Trump to further engage with voters and challenge Harris on various issues.
• Future Negotiations
  • The Harris campaign’s stance on the additional debates will largely depend on the outcome of the September 10 debate. The official position is that any future debates should be hosted by networks that have recently sponsored primary debates.