Protesters called on Prime Minister Hasina to step down and form a caretaker government to lead the country during next year's elections. Several Western countries have condemned Hasina's government over rights abuses.

July's general election produced a hung parliament in which no clear ruling majority has been formed. The king now decides who will go on to form a new government.

As Pakistan waits for elections, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar's alleged proximity to the country's powerful military has raised concerns.

Property mogul-turned-politician Srettha Thavisin will lead a coalition government of former archrivals, while the winner of the election will remain in opposition.

Conservative leader Nunez Feijoo had asked the Socialist Sanchez to back his government formation for two years. Spain faces the threat of remaining in political deadlock, since the July general election.

The leaders of Germany's ruling coalition sought to project unity during a two-day retreat outside Berlin. Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a major tax cut.

On 17 August 2023, popular protests over the high inflation rate and deteriorating economic situation in Syria erupted in the Druze majority city of Al-Suwayda, with hundreds of participants. These grew, and by 20 August, thousands of protesters chanted slogans demanding the downfall of Assad regime.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government has seen its lowest approval ratings since coming to power in 2021. The far-right continues to see a surge in support.

In a renewed attempt to broker peace, Colombia's leftist President Petro agreed on a ceasefire with an armed dissident group. The EMC is a splinter group that rejected the 2016 deal broadly honored by the larger FARC.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has extensively revised secondary school curricula, removing all mention of the country's Mughal and Muslim history, which spanned some six centuries, as well as the identity of the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi and even Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

Hundreds of millions of dollars are pledged to boost African carbon credit production at the opening day of a landmark climate summit for the continent, despite protesters in Nairobi warning the approach is flawed. Also, Gabon's new leader promises elections to restore civilian rule as he is sworn in as president less than a week after toppling his predecessor.

Families of killed activists are under pressure as authorities crack down on any sign of protest a year after the death of a young woman in police custody sparked an Iran-wide civil disobedience movement.