As hosts, defending champions and after recent bilateral success against their opponents, India could well be considered slight favourites for the March 8 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Final against New Zealand. However, there is history that weighs in the Black Caps' favour: New Zealand is yet to lose to India in tournament history. 2016: New Zealand spinners overshadow India adversaries in ragging NagpurA square turner meant a low-scoring thriller was on the cards, though the Black Caps were emphatic in a defense of 126, bundling out India for just 79 with nine wickets claimed between three spinners. Mitch Santner, despite not picking up a wicket (0/15), was a clear threat in the eyes of India, bowled 11 dot balls to continue the unrelenting Black Caps push. Mitchell finished with 49 (35), dismissed with his side needing just 15 runs from 44 balls with eight wickets in hand by the time he was dismissed.

BNP Chairperson and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended a training workshop for newly elected MPs of the BNP, who won the 13th national parliamentary election, on its second day at the party’s Gulshan office in Dhaka. On Saturday morning, MPs from Dhaka district, Mymensingh, Faridpur and the remaining areas of Dhaka division joined the workshop. The training also highlights the responsibilities of MPs, parliamentary conventions for cabinet members and strategic approaches to effectively run ministries. Additional Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Atiqur Rahman Ruman said the initiative was taken because many newly elected MPs lack experience in parliamentary rules and procedures. The intensive training programme has been arranged ahead of the session to prepare newly elected MPs and ministers.

A total of 20 flights were cancelled at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday, due to the security situation in the Middle East. Since February 28, a total of 268 flights have been cancelled. As a result, flights from Shahjalal International Airport had to be effectively cancelled. According to Biman sources, the number of flights cancelled from Shahjalal International Airport are: February 28 – 23 flights, on Sunday – 40 flights, Monday – 46 flights, Tuesday – 39 flights, Wednesday – 28 flights, Thursday – 36 flights, Friday – 34 flights, and Saturday – 20 flights. This brings the total number of cancelled flights to 268.

Hezbollah on Saturday said it confronted Israeli troops that infiltrated an east Lebanon town overnight, with Lebanese authorities reporting at least 16 killed in Israeli strikes on the area. In a statement, Hezbollah said its fighters had “observed the infiltration of four Israeli enemy army helicopters from the Syrian direction.”After landing and disembarking, the advancing troops “were engaged” by a group of Hezbollah fighters as they reached a cemetery in the town of Nabi Sheet, Hezbollah said. “The clash escalated after the enemy force was exposed,” it added, saying the Israeli troops launched intense strikes before evacuating. Lebanon’s east, where Hezbollah holds sway, was subjected to heavy Israeli strikes on Friday, particularly Nabi Sheet, which was struck at least 13 times, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA). The Nabi Sheet raid would be the deepest Israeli forces have reached inside Lebanon since special unit troops apprehended Hezbollah operative Imad Amhaz from the northern city of Batroun in November 2024.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed Saturday that his country would never surrender, as Israel announced a fresh blitz led by 80 fighter jets which set one of Tehran’s main airports on fire. AFP photos showed fire and smoke billowing from Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport, one of two that serve the capital. Iran’s enemies “must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves,” Pezeshkian said, in a speech broadcast on state TV. Dubai airport, the world’s busiest for international traffic, briefly suspended all operations on Saturday after an aerial interception in the area. Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, said the United States would have no role in selecting Khamenei’s successor.

This will be Secretary-General Botchwey’s second meeting with Commonwealth foreign affairs ministers at CFAMM. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has nominated Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman for the position. Commonwealth DayMeanwhile, Commonwealth Day 2026 will be celebrated across the Commonwealth on Monday. The theme for Commonwealth Day 2026 aligns with the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) theme, "Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth." The foreign minister and the prime minister’s adviser on Foreign Affairs are expected to return home on Thursday.

TEHRAN, March 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkianapologised on Saturday to neighbouring countries for attacks launched duringthe Islamic republic's war with Israel and the United States. "I apologise... to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran,"said Pezeshkian in a speech broadcast by state TV.

Iran president says country will not surrender to Israel, USTEHRAN, March 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that his country would never surrender to Israel and the United States, as Middle East war entered its second week. Israel and the United States launched strikes against Iran on February, 28 killing the Islamic republic's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggering a regional conflict. Iran has since responded with missile and drone strikes on Israel and US interests in regional countries, mainly in the Gulf. During the speech, Pezeshkian apologised to neighbouring countries for Iran's attacks across the region, saying that they would not be targeted unless attacks originated from them. "I must apologise on my own behalf and on behalf of Iran to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran," he said.

KATHMANDU, March 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Nepal's rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah held an unassailable lead against ousted prime minister KP Sharma Oli in the highly contested face-off in Nepal's southeastern district of Jhapa, according to data by the Election Commission. Shah led with more than 47,500 votes, with Oli trailing behind on 12,600. With about 70 percent of votes counted, AFP calculations show Shah has passed the winning threshold.

Google gives CEO new pay deal worth up to $692 millionNEW YORK, March 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The CEO of Google and its parent companyAlphabet could earn up to $692 million over the next three years under a newcompensation plan published Friday by the US Securities and ExchangeCommission. The deal would make Sundar Pichai, who has been chief executive of Googlesince 2015 and of Alphabet since 2019, one of the highest paid CEOs in theworld. Under the plan, Pichai's three-year salary of $6 million, or $2 million peryear, would remain unchanged. The SEC filing suggested Pichai could receive about $130 million from Waymoand $45 million from Wing. "Current and previous incentives in Mr Pichai's compensation have benefitedAlphabet and its stockholders significantly," the company said in the filing.

DUBAI, March 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Dubai airport, the world's busiest forinternational traffic, said on Saturday that it had suspended operationsafter an object was intercepted by air defence over the area. "For the safety of passengers, airport staff, and airline crew, operations atDubai International (DXB) have been temporarily suspended. All procedures arebeing managed in line with established safety protocols," the government'sDubai Media Office said.

Iran says will not target neighbours unless attacked from themTEHRAN, March 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday that the country's neighbours will not be targeted unless attacks are launched from them during the war with Israel and the United States. "The interim leadership council agreed yesterday that no more attacks will be made on neighbouring countries and no missiles will be fired unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries," said Pezeshkian in a speech broadcast on state TV. The leadership council has been leading Iran since last week's killing of the Islamic republic's supreme leader, in the US and Israel strikes which triggered a Middle East war.

DUBAI, March 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - An explosion was heard over Dubai airport on Saturday followed by a cloud of smoke in the air, a witness told AFP, as Iran pressed attacks across the Gulf. The Flightradar24 tracking website showed planes circulating above the airport in an apparent holding pattern. Limited flights resumed from Dubai's main airport, the world's busiest for international traffic, on Monday despite daily drone attacks on targets in the United Arab Emirates. Four staff were injured and a concourse damaged at Dubai airport last Saturday, as war erupted following US-Israeli strikes against Iran. Iranian attacks have also hit Abu Dhabi airport, the upmarket Palm Jumeirah development and the Burj Al Arab luxury hotel, while drone debris caused a fire at the US consulate in Dubai on Tuesday.

21-member Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP) Under-18 football team. Photo : BSSDHAKA, March 7, 2026 (BSS)- A 21-member Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP) Under-18 football team depart for Japan early tomorrow (Sunday at 1am) to take part in the Sanix Cup International Football League. The BKSP team will participate in the tournament for Bangladesh with the cooperation of Bangladesh Football Federation. Last year, the BKSP U-17 team participated in the Fukuoka Tokai University Swimming Soccer Festival held in Munakata City, Japan, and won one, drew one,and lost one game in three games. The organising committee invited BKSP to participate in the Sanix International Football Tournament this year, as the BKSP team showedcompetitive and spectacular performances in all three of their games and the games were of international caliber.

CAIRO, March 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The foreign ministers of the Arab League will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss Iranian attacks on several of the group's members, the bloc's assistant secretary-general told AFP. The meeting, which will be held via videoconference, was requested by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jordan and Egypt, Hossam Zaki said. Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit had earlier condemned the Iranian attacks, saying they are "fully reprehensible" and "not only a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter, but also an assault on the principles of good neighbourliness". He added that the attacks "create an unprecedented state of hostility between Iran and its Arab neighbours". "This is a grave Iranian strategic mistake, which I hope they will rectify by halting these attacks immediately."