Saturday marks the first founding anniversary of the youth-based political party, the National Citizen Party (NCP). According to the party, top leaders from different political parties and distinguished individuals are expected to attend. As a new political party, it secured registration from the Election Commission ahead of the recently concluded national parliamentary election. Ariful Islam Adib, convener of the party’s anniversary celebration implementation committee, outlined the anniversary programs. Families of July movement martyrs, leaders of various political parties, professionals, fellow activists of the anti-fascist movement, friends, and journalists will participate.

An analysis of 190 suicide cases involving school students has found that issues related to pride were the leading cause, accounting for 32.61% of the incidents. According to the data, academic pressure was the second most significant factor, responsible for 23.69% of the cases. Depression accounted for 19.47% of the suicides, indicating a high prevalence of untreated or unaddressed mental health concerns among students. Researchers noted that a lack of emotional regulation, limited coping skills and inadequate family support systems significantly contributed to suicidal behaviour at the school level. Five recommendations from Aanchal FoundationIn response to the findings, Aanchal Foundation has put forward five key recommendations to address student suicides and strengthen mental health support systems:

LA PAZ, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - At least 20 people were killed when a Bolivian military cargo plane carrying banknotes crashed while landing near the capital city La Paz, police said Friday, as crowds attempted to loot the site. Authorities were later seen setting the money alight in a bonfire at the scene of the crash. It was not immediately known what caused the crash but witnesses told AFP that the weather had been treacherous. Colonel Rene Tambo, head of the police homicide division in El Alto, told reporters late Friday that "there are about 20, maybe a few more," casualties. - Money grab 'a crime' -Fatalities were recorded both at the airport and on the busy avenue where the plane crashed and struck several vehicles.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - NASA on Friday said it would revise its Artemis lunar program that has suffered multiple delays in recent years, in a bid to ensure Americans can return to the Moon's surface by 2028. That means Artemis 3, which was meant to send astronauts to the Moon's surface, will now have the alternate goal of "rendezvous in low-Earth orbit" of at least one lunar lander. The next phase, Artemis 4, will aim for a lunar landing in early 2028. -The revised architecture announcement comes in the wake of repeated delays to the Artemis 2 mission, which now will not launch before April. President Donald Trump announced he wanted Americans to once again set foot on the lunar surface in his first term.

The Bangladesh Jewellers Association (Bajus) has once again announced an increase in gold prices in the domestic market. Under the new rates, the price of 22-carat gold has been set at Tk265,414 per bhori, marking a significant rise from the previous rate. On Monday, the price of 22-carat gold was Tk261,040 per bhori. The price of 22-carat hallmarked gold ornaments (cadmium) has been set at Tk22,755 per gram, while 21-carat (cadmium) gold costs Tk21,720 per gram. The continued rise in gold prices is affecting both wedding purchases and investment decisions.

S.Leone says soldiers and police held by Guinea releasedFREETOWN, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Sierra Leone on Friday announced the release of its soldiers and police officers who had been detained this week by the Guinean army, following a flare-up in border tensions. The neighbours each accused the other's military of crossing the border, with Freetown claiming that Guinean troops seized Sierra Leonean soldiers and police after clashes. Guinea's Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah confirmed to AFP that the authorities in Sierra Leone "came this morning". Guinea and Sierra Leone share a border more than 700 kilometres long (435 miles). Sierra Leone claims it but Guinean soldiers are still on the ground there.

Member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will actively campaign worldwide in support of Bangladesh's candidature for the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman said on Saturday. Dr Rahman said extensive discussions were held with OIC partners to assess the overall situation and devise strategies to secure Bangladesh's victory in the election. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir described the response from OIC countries as highly encouraging. Bangladesh last held the position in 1986-87, when then foreign minister Humayun Rashid Chowdhury was elected President of the 41st General Assembly. On regional issues, the foreign minister expressed concern over escalating tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, saying war would bring no benefit to anyone.

MUNICH, Germany, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Bayern Munich defender Hiroki Ito is set for another spell on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury, the club announced Friday. Sporting director Christoph Freund confirmed the Japan centre-back would miss "two to three weeks", ruling him out of Saturday's trip to Borussia Dortmund and putting him in doubt for Bayern's Champions League tie with Atalanta in March. Ito, 26, has had a torrid time with injuries since arriving at Bayern from Stuttgart in 2024. He played just six Bundesliga games in his first season after fracturing a bone in his foot and missed the first 10 games of this campaign with another foot injury. Ito has played 26 matches for Japan, scoring once.

COLOMBO, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Sri Lanka's president has cleared investigators to detain the country's former intelligence chief for up to three months of questioning over his alleged role in the 2019 Easter bombings that killed 279 people, police said Saturday. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake signed an order under the tough Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to hold retired army major general Suresh Sallay for 90 days for questioning by detectives. Criminal investigators arrested Sallay on Wednesday, making him the most high-profile official netted in the long-running investigation into the bombings, which wounded about 500 people. "The President signed the DO (detention order) last night to keep Sallay in custody for 90 days after the initial three-day period he was held," a police spokesman said. The church had earlier accused former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa of sabotaging police investigations into the bombings after coming to power on the back of them.

MALMO,, Sweden, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Sweden's prime minister on Friday ruled out hosting French nuclear weapons there in peacetime, but said a war could change the situation. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson set out his country's position during a visit to the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which is visiting Sweden. Asked about the possibility of his country hosting French nuclear arms, he told reporters: "We have a clear doctrine in Sweden, which we most recently reiterated when we joined NATO. "This states that we do not have permanent foreign troops or nuclear weapons stationed on Swedish soil in peacetime," he added. "As long as Russia has nuclear weapons in our immediate vicinity, it is good that two European democracies also have nuclear weapons," Kristersson told reporters.

One killed, around 20 injured as tram derails in Milan: policeMILAN, Italy, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A tram derailed and smashed into a building in Milan Friday, killing one person and injuring around 20 others, the police told AFP. It was not yet known why the tram came off the tracks near the centre of the northern Italian city, a business hub currently hosting its Fashion Week. Several ambulances could be seen at the scene, an AFP journalist said.

Later, it was expanded to include Legal Aid offices at the Supreme Court, labour legal aid cells in Dhaka and Chattogram, and services in prisons across the country. The report showed that Taka 322,37,58,375 has been realized as compensation for indigent litigants combining both pre-case and post-case settlements. Of the amount, Taka 315,40,46,459 was realized through NLASO offices in 64 districts, while Taka 6,97,11,916 was realized through labour legal aid cells in Dhaka and Chattogram. From 2009 to December 2025, a total of 13,74,133 beneficiaries received government-funded legal assistance under the National Legal Aid Services Organization. The programme is being implemented under the Legal Aid Services Act to provide legal assistance at the government's expense to financially insolvent and incapable justice seekers.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Argentina's Congress on Friday adopted President Javier Milei's flagship labor reform, handing victory to the libertarian leader in his push to boost hiring by loosening rules on working hours, dismissals and overtime. The so-called "labor modernization law" allows working days of up to 12 hours, reduces severance pay, limits the right to strike and lowers employer taxes, among other provisions. He insists that Argentina's labor laws are outdated, too restrictive and discourage formal hiring. Opposition parties and unions have poured scorn on Milei's claim that the reform will spur a hiring bonanza. For Matias Cremonte, President of the Latin American Association of Labor Lawyers, the reform is "regressive" and "based on a false premise."

Joao Gomes grabbed his first league goal this season in the second half before Rodrigo Gomes finished off lacklustre Villa at rain-lashed Molineux. Sitting 14 points from safety with only nine matches left, Wolves' first win in nine league games is unlikely to spark a late escape from relegation. The west midlands derby victory was still a sweet moment for the Wolves faithful as it dented their rivals' bid to qualify for next season's Champions League. It also ensured Wolves would avoid setting a new record-low Premier League points total. Just moments later, Rodrigo Gomes delivered the knockout blow, slotting home after Joao Gomes' shot was blocked with Villa's defence in disarray.

Benfica announced on Friday they had provisionally suspended five supporters for allegedly making racist comments during this month's Champions League first leg loss to Real Madrid. The February 17 defeat to Madrid was marred by alleged racial abuse aimed at the Spanish club's Vinicius Junior by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni. Vinicius scored the winner before the alleged abuse led to the game being stopped for around 10 minutes. Madrid reached the last 16 with a 3-1 aggregate success over the Portuguese outfit on Wednesday. "Benfica reaffirm it does not tolerate any form of discrimination or racism and will continue to act firmly whenever behaviours that undermine the values of the club, sport and society are involved," the two-time European Cup winners added.