Clinton features prominently in the Epstein files but insists that he broke ties well before the disgraced billionaire’s 2008 conviction for sex offenses. Bill Clinton has acknowledged extensive interactions with Epstein but said he never visited the financier’s infamous private Caribbean island. Bill Clinton has acknowledged flying on Epstein’s private plane several times in the early 2000s for Clinton Foundation-related humanitarian work. “Jeffrey Epstein was in the White House 17 times while Bill Clinton was President. We know that Bill Clinton flew on Jeffrey Epstein’s plane at least 27 times.

TEHRAN, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran on Saturday closed its airspace until further notice, following multiple blasts in the capital Tehran andelsewhere, the civil aviation agency said. "The airspace of the entire country is cosed until further notice," announced the spokesman of Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation, quoted by Tasnim newsagency.

Pakistani officials said Afghan forces attacked border military posts, prompting Pakistan to hit Taliban targets in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar provinces. Pakistan’s Prime Minister spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi claimed 133 Taliban fighters were killed, over 200 wounded, and 27 Taliban posts destroyed. The Taliban, however, reported only eight fighters killed and 11 wounded, while Afghanistan claimed its forces killed 55 Pakistani soldiers and captured military posts. Pakistan accuses the Taliban of sheltering armed groups like the Pakistan Taliban (TTP), responsible for attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. The conflict is likely to continue along the border, with Pakistan retaining the upper hand due to superior military capabilities.

Md Sabur Khan, founder & chairman of the board of trustees of Daffodil International University (DIU), participated in the Ace 2026 Annual Conference held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Washington, DC. The panel discussion focused on global higher education leadership, international collaboration, and the evolving role of universities in fostering cross-border partnerships and innovation. In addition to his panel participation, Khan also attended the IAUP board meeting held during the Ace Conference in his capacity as Treasurer-Elect of IAUP. His engagement in the board meeting further reinforces Bangladesh’s growing presence in global higher education governance and leadership. Khan’s participation in Ace 2026 reflects DIU’s continued commitment to global engagement, academic diplomacy, and leadership in international higher education collaboration.

Pakistan has declared a state of emergency in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, restricting the use of certain vehicles following reports of potential sabotage. District Education Officer Abdul Malik also ordered a one-day closure of all government schools to ensure public safety, reports Al Jazeera. Bannu police have been placed on high alert, with security measures intensified across the district. District Police Officer Yasir Afridi said six attacks were successfully foiled, including attempts at the Kashoo Bridge check post and Kotka Muhammad Khan Domel area. Pakistan has rejected Afghan Taliban calls for talks.

JERUSALEM, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Israel's defence ministry announced Saturday it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and people across the country received phone alerts about an "extremely serious" threat. "The State of Israel has launched a preemptive strike against Iran. Defence Minister Israel Katz has declared a special and immediate state of emergency throughout the country," read a statement from his ministry.

Israel carried out a daytime assault on Tehran on Saturday, sending smoke billowing from the city center. He has not been seen publicly for several days amid escalating tensions with the United States. The strikes come as Washington has deployed a large fleet of fighter jets and warships to the region to pressure Iran into a nuclear deal. Authorities had closed roads leading to Khamenei's compound in central Tehran as other blasts were reported across the city. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the strikes as being carried out “to remove threats.” He did not provide further details.

JERUSALEM, Feb 28, 2026 (AFP) - Israel closed its airspace to civilian flights Saturday after announcing it had carried out "preventive strikes" on Iran and sounding sirens in Jerusalem. "Following the security developments, the Minister of Transportation has ordered the Director of the Israel Civil Aviation Authority to close the airspace of the State of Israel to civilian flights," the minister, Miri Regev, announced.

JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A Pakistani jet has crashed in Jalalabad city and the pilot captured alive, the Afghan military and police said Saturday, with residents telling AFP the man parachuted from the plane before being detained. "A Pakistani fighter jet was shot down in the sixth district of Jalalabad city, and its pilot was captured alive," police spokesman Tayeb Hammad said. Wahidullah Mohammadi, spokesman for the military in eastern Afghanistan, confirmed the Pakistani jet was downed by Afghan forces "and the pilot was captured alive".

POINTE-NOIRE, Congo, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The campaign for next month's presidential election in Congo-Brazzaville begins on Saturday, with 82-year-old President Denis Sassou Nguesso seemingly assured of extending his decades in power. He overthrew Lissouba in a civil war to return to power in 1997. - Contested elections -Congo-Brazzaville, a former French colony, is rich in oil but nearly half of its six million people live below the poverty line. They had strongly disputed the official results, which gave Sassou Nguesso 60 percent of the vote. The president is nonetheless reputed to have brought a degree of stability back to the country scarred by civil war in the 1990s and to a region plagued by conflict.

CHT Affairs Minister Dipen Dewan joins Rajban Bihar prayers, promoting peace, harmony, and national prosperity. Photo : BSSRANGAMATI, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS) - Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Minister Dipen Dewan joined a special religious programme at the historic Rajban Bihar here this morning, seeking blessings for the prosperity of the country and the nation. At the function, Dipen Dewan also offered prayers seeking eternal peace for his deceased parents, parents-in-law and departed relatives as well as for the happiness and peace of all living beings. Resident head of Rangamati Rajban Bihar and chief disciple of Banabhante, Srimat Praggyalankar Mahathera, delivered religious sermons at the programme. At the end of the programme, all present took part in special prayers for world peace and the welfare of the country.

The 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup, set to be held in Australia from March 1 to March 21, features a highly competitive field where Australia, Japan, and North Korea are the primary favourites to lift the trophy. Under coach Nils Nielsen, they boast a squad with 16 players based in England's WSL, including Manchester City's Yui Hasegawa and 2023 World Cup top scorer Hinata Miyazawa. They are highly favored due to their recent dominance in youth football, having won the U-17 and U-20 Women's World Cups in 2024. Key PlayersChoe Il-son (North Korea)At 19, she enters the tournament as a breakout star after winning both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot at the 2024 U-20 World Cup. Beyond continental glory, the stakes are high as the top four teams (semi-finalists) will qualify directly for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.

The US Embassy has warned travellers against using US government-funded healthcare assistance while visiting the United States. It said that receiving public health benefits during a visit would be considered misuse of a visa and could result in ineligibility for future travel to the US. In a message issued on Saturday, the US Embassy in Dhaka stated that foreign visitors who use Medicaid or other government assistance programs to pay for medical treatment in the United States are violating the terms of their visas. The cost of such services ultimately falls on American taxpayers. The embassy further cautioned that anyone found misusing US public benefits or becoming dependent on them may be deemed ineligible for future entry into the United States.

JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Two loud explosions rocked Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday morning, an AFP journalist said, a day after Pakistani air strikes hit other Afghan cities. The AFP journalist heard a jet overhead before blasts from the direction of the airport in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, which sits on the road between Kabul and the Pakistani border.

Bangladesh women’s football team sharpens tactics and fitness with intense training session at Sydney’s Jubilee Stadium. Photo : BSSDHAKA, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS)-Bangladesh women's national football team continued their preparations in Sydney with another focused training session at Jubilee Stadium today. The session concluded with individual shooting and finishing drills and post-training ice baths at the training venue. Later this afternoon, the team will undertake a recovery-focused yoga and stretching session at the team hotel to ensure optimal physical balance and flexibility. The team will resume training tomorrow (Sunday) at the same venue as preparations continue.