The pilot was “captured alive,” said Jalalabad’s police spokesman Tayeb Hammad and the military spokesman in eastern Afghanistan, Wahidullah Mohammadi. The Taliban government said its forces began a border offensive late on Thursday in response to Pakistani strikes. Pakistan’s information minister said on Saturday that 37 locations across Afghanistan had been hit by air strikes since its operation began. Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against militant groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban government denies. Several rounds of negotiations between Pakistan and Afghanistan last year followed a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey.

US President Donald Trump announced a large-scale military assault on Iran on Saturday, vowing to “annihilate” its navy, missile sites, and urging Iranians to overthrow their government. In a video address posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the United States’ aim was the destruction of Iran’s military capabilities and toppling of authorities in power since the 1979 revolution. It will be yours to take.”The operation, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury” by the Pentagon, comes after coordinated US and Israel strikes on Iranian targets. He also addressed Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards, demanding surrender and offering immunity to those who lay down their arms, while threatening “certain death” for noncompliance. The escalation marks a sharp turn in US-Iran relations amid heightened regional tensions, with Trump’s administration deploying the largest Middle East military buildup in years.

Warplanes and missiles were seen flying through Iraqi airspace as Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran, witnesses and a military source told AFP. “We saw several missiles flying at a low altitude” near the district of Daquq in Kirkuk, two witnesses said. A soldier in the city of Ramadi in western Iraq told AFP he saw warplanes flying overhead. Resident Saman Zelwan, 20, told AFP he saw “more than 10 missiles flying over the Dokan district towards the Iranian border” in Sulaimaniyah province in the autonomous Kurdistan region. Earlier Saturday, the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran, with US President Donald Trump vowing to “annihilate” the country’s navy and missile sites.

ISTANBUL, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Turkish Airlines on Saturday suspendedflights to 10 Middle East nations after Israel and the United States launchedstrikes on Iran, with many nations closing their airspace. "Flights to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Jordan have been cancelled untilMarch 2," spokesman Yahya Ustun wrote on X, while flights to Qatar, Kuwait,Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Oman were only suspended for the day.

The headquarters of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain has been “subjected to a missile attack,” the Bahrain News Agency reported on Saturday, citing an official statement from the National Communication Centre. The statement did not attribute responsibility for the strike but said further details would be released later. Authorities urged the public to follow official instructions and rely on verified information only, reports Al Jazeera. Bahrain hosts the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, whose area of responsibility covers the Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. However, the US Embassy in Bahrain had earlier advised American citizens to shelter in place amid reported threats involving missiles and drones over the country.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Irgc) has confirmed it launched missiles and drones towards Israel in retaliation for recent US-Israeli strikes. United States President Donald Trump announced that the US has begun “major combat operations” in Iran following the missile attacks claimed by Israel, reports Al Jazeera. Russia suspended all flights to Iran and Israel. There is no public evidence Iran is pursuing intercontinental missiles, although the US has raised concerns over its space program. Explosions rock northern IsraelHours after the Iranian strikes, northern Israel reported explosions as air defense systems attempted to intercept incoming missiles.

State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, CanadaZip Code

DHAKA, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh batter Sobhana Mostary was named ICC Women's Player of the Month for January following her outstanding performance in the recently concluded ICC Women's T20 World Cup Global Qualifiers. "Sobhana Mostary's stunning performance in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Global Qualifier has earned her the ICC Women's Player of the Month for January 2026," the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on its website today. The star batter was nominated alongside Ireland captain Gaby Lewis and American left-arm pacer Tara Norris. At the Global Qualifier last month, Sobhana scored 229 runs in the first six matches at an average of 45.80 and a strike rate of 145.85. Bangladesh secured their spot for the marquee event in June and July with a 39-run win over Thailand, in which Mostary scored her tournament high of 59 and was adjudged Player of the Match.

The Israeli military said its strikes on Iran, in coordination with the United States, targeted dozens of military sites and followed months of joint planning between the allies. The statement came as AFP journalists heard a renewed series of loud blasts and air raid sirens over Jerusalem, after the military said earlier that it had identified multiple missile barrages launched from Iran. “The strike (on Iran) targeted dozens of military targets and was carried out as part of a broad, coordinated, and joint operation against the regime,” the Israeli army said in a statement. “The Israeli Air Force is currently conducting a broad strike on a number of military targets belonging to the Iranian regime in western Iran,” the Israeli military said in a statement. A statement from Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency services just before 11am (0900 GMT) said that no reports of impact had been received.

Iran has targeted United States forces across multiple Gulf countries, including Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, sharply escalating tensions in the Middle East. In Qatar, the Defense Ministry said an Iranian missile was intercepted by the Patriot air defense system, preventing damage. Following the developments, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates announced the closure of their airspace as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, a loud explosion was reported in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, according to Reuters. Authorities in the UAE have not immediately disclosed details on the cause of the explosion.

Photo: PMODHAKA, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today sought the cooperation of government officials and employees to implement the commitments made in his party's election manifesto, including those in health and education, women's education, employment and sports. Through a fair election, the people have given their mandate in favor of implementing the election manifesto of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He expressed hope that officials and employees would extend full cooperation in eliminating corruption from the country. "(Since) we consider this country our first and last destination, we must work to change the destiny of the country's people," Tarique Rahman added. During the meeting, the Prime Minister instructed officials and employees to maintain confidentiality in matters concerning the interests of the country and the state.

Head coach Casey Jones ’90 had some words for his players after St. Lawrence — which entered Friday night’s game against No. 11 men’s hockey sitting in 10th place in the ECAC — put Cornell in a 1-0 hole in the second period. “They always say the shift after a goal is one of the bigger shifts of the game,” said junior forward Ryan Walsh. It would be the Saints, on just its seventh shot on goal — Cornell had 13 up to that point — that drew first blood. Cornell finished the game having allowed St. Lawrence just 15 shots on net.

Photo: BSSCHANDPUR, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS) - The government has imposed a two-month ban onall types of fishing, including Hilsa, in the Padma-Meghna rivers in Chandpurdistrict to boost Hilsa production and conserve Jatka, the juvenile form ofthe national fish. Chandpur Sadar upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Mirza Omar Faruk said thatdistrict and upazila task forces will strictly enforce the government'sdirective within the sanctuary area. Legal action will be taken under the Fisheries Actagainst anyone found catching Jatka within the naval jurisdiction, he added. He urged all stakeholders to cooperate in thenational interest by refraining from illegal fishing. Hilsa researcher Dr. Anisur Rahman emphasized the importance of collectiveefforts to protect Jatka, noting that "Today's Jatka is tomorrow's Hilsa."

Photo: CollectedBAGHDAD, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Warplanes and missiles were seen flying through Iraqi airspace as Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran, witnesses and a military source told AFP. The military source said on condition of anonymity "our forces detected warplanes from the direction of Israel that crossed the airspace over Baghdad" and other provinces, adding that missiles were also seen flying over the northern province of Kirkuk. "We saw several missiles flying at a low altitude" near the district of Dakuk in Kirkuk, two witnesses said. A soldier in the city of Ramadi in western Iraq told AFP he saw warplanes flying overhead.

Trump says US 'may have casualties' in Iran attackUS President Donald Trump.Photo: CollectedWEST PALM BEACH, United States, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - President Donald Trump warned Saturday that US forces could take casualties in what he called a massive attack on Iran to destroy the country's military and spark a popular revolt against the government. "The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties," Trump said in his video address announcing the start of the bombing campaign.