Lionel Messi was knocked to the ground as fans invaded the pitch during chaotic scenes at a match in Puerto Rico on Thursday. Messi was playing for Inter Miami in a friendly against Ecuador's Independiente del Valle when supporters raced onto the field in the game's 88th minute. While one fan demanded a selfie with the Argentine great and another asked for his shirt to be signed, a third rushed to embrace Messi from behind. A security guard tackled the fan, who dragged the World Cup winner to the floor. Nearly 20,000 spectators in Bayamon, on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, a US territory, gave the Argentine idol a standing ovation when he finally entered the game.

Air pollution continues to worsen across major cities worldwide, with South Asia experiencing particularly severe conditions during the dry season. According to the air quality monitoring platform IQAir, Dhaka ranked third among the world’s most polluted cities at 8:30am on Saturday, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 222. Although the level has slightly decreased over the past week, air quality in the capital remains at a level considered harmful to health. A score of 151–200 is labelled “unhealthy,” 201–300 “very unhealthy,” and 301–400 “hazardous,” posing serious health risks to the general population. Experts say that while short-term precautionary measures are important, sustainable urban planning, stricter emission controls and effective monitoring mechanisms are essential for long-term improvement in air quality.

Though already through to the semi-final, England came up with a resilient performance to beat New Zealand by four wickets and notch their third straight win in the Super Eights. Asked to bowl first, England spinners had a field day as they restricted New Zealand to 159/7. All New Zealand batters fell to spinners as England deployed 16 overs by spin, their most ever in T20I cricket. New Zealand made a roaring start to their defence as Matt Henry got a wicket in his first over yet again. Having absorbed pressure through the innings, Jacks turned the tide in the 18th over, as he took 22 runs off Phillips, New Zealand's main man up until that point.

Amid the ongoing war between two SAARC countries - Afghanistan and Pakistan- Bangladesh has decided not to make any public comments but stressed that such a war does not bring anything good. We are not saying anything in public, but we are trying to make our friends understand that such war is not good for anyone," he told reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport upon his return from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia early Saturday. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir was also present at the media briefing. Pakistan then carried out airstrikes in Kabul and two other Afghan provinces early Friday, saying it targeted military installations. The foreign ministers of Bangladesh and Pakistan reaffirmed their commitment to deepening ties and agreed to work closely together to promote 'peace, stability, and shared prosperity' in the region, according to the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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ACCRA, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Some 55 Ghanaians have been killed while fighting in Ukraine, the country's foreign minister said on Friday, promising a crackdown on illicit recruitment schemes luring citizens to Russia under false pretences. His Ukrainian counterpart, Andriy Sybiga, told him that more than 1,780 Africans from 36 countries were fighting Ukraine as part of Russia's forces. "We were informed that 272 Ghanaians are believed to have been lured into battle since 2022 for which an estimated 55 have been killed and two captured as prisoners of war," he wrote on X. AFP reporters met prisoners of war from Kenya, Togo, Cameroon and Nigeria during a visit to detention centre in Ukraine late last year. "The recruitment scandal makes clear that the Ukraine war is no longer a distant geopolitical issue for African governments," the International Crisis Group said in a new report published on Friday.

In high pressure environments, self-loathing is normalized, even attributed to a desperate scavenge for identity. The sheer dominance of self-loathing dawned on me during a furniture bonfire, built at some Thread Magazine party in the fall of ’24. Now I’m not saying to ignore criticism or external opinions — appealing to public awareness is a key component of developing empathy. Our lives’ work constructing identity revolves around attaching those concepts, interests and categories we appreciate to the nature of our being. Kira Walter Kira Walter '26 is an opinion columnist and former lifestyle editor.

A day after the United States and Iran held talks in Geneva, Trump said that the cleric-run state was "not willing to give us what we have to have." He later said he wants Iran to have "no enrichment" at all of uranium that could go toward a nuclear bomb, which Iran denies it is pursuing. Iran agreed to restrictions to low-level enrichment in a 2015 deal that Trump ripped up during his first term in office. - Issues beyond nuclear -Trump in his State of the Union address Tuesday alleged Iran was developing missiles that could strike the United States. In their capital Tehran, ordinary Iranians expressed distrust of the United States and hoped negotiations would lead to economic relief for their sanctions-hit nation.

"The drone was neutralised away from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier and in no way was the security of the aircraft carrier and its group threatened by this". "It is likely a Russian drone," Kristersson told reporters during a visit to the aircraft carrier. He did not believe it was a coincidence that the incident occurred while the aircraft carrier was visiting, he added. - Numerous drone sightings -The Swedish Armed Forces said Thursday that "no further drone sightings" had been made and that they were investigating the incident. NATO's easternmost countries have reported numerous drone sightings in recent months, with some pointing the finger at Russia.

The Costa Rican former vice-president said she wanted to rebuild global trust in the United Nations if she becomes its next secretary-general. I know the UN enough to reform it and enough to defend it," she told the UN correspondents' association ACANU. "I don't need any favours to be elected for the secretary-general; I just need people not to discriminate me for being a woman," the 70-year-old said. And I don't think we have that right now." - Leadership style -The UNCTAD chief said her leadership style revolved around being "direct, honest, and evidence-based...

SEOUL, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - North Korea released a rare image on Saturday of leader Kim Jong Un's teenage daughter firing a rifle at a shooting range, adding to speculation that she is being groomed as his successor. Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) released a photo of Ju Ae shooting a rifle at an outdoor shooting range, peering through a rifle scope with her finger on the trigger, smoke rising from the barrel. He then visited a shooting range with the officials, where he fired the rifle and took a group photo, it added. South Korea's spy agency said this month that Pyongyang appears to have started the process of designating Ju Ae as leader Kim's successor. KCNA also said Saturday that Kim Jong Un's powerful sister Kim Yo Jong will head the party's general affairs department -- a role analysts describe as akin to a party secretary-general.

WASHINGTON, United States, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - President Donald Trump told the US government Friday to "immediately" stop using Anthropic's technology after the AI startup rejected the Pentagon's demand that it agree to unconditional military use of its Claude models. Anthropic vowed to sue over the "intimidation" and insists its technology should not be used for the mass surveillance of US citizens or deployed in fully autonomous weapons systems. "I am directing EVERY Federal Agency in the United States Government to IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic's technology. "Mass surveillance of American citizens is unacceptable," Jeffries added in his statement late Friday. Anthropic's statement echoed those sentiments, and added that the company remains "ready to continue our work to support the national security of the United States."

COLOMBO, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - England bowled a team high 16 overs of spin to restrict New Zealand to 159-7 in their T20 World Cup Super Eights clash in Colombo on FridayNew Zealand, who need a win to guarantee a semi-final slot, won the toss and elected to bat against already qualified England and started well, reaching 53-0 in six overs. But England, who brought in an extra spinner in Rehan Ahmed to replace seamer Jamie Overton, regained control as captain Harry Brook employed five slow bowlers. Rashid was complemented by fellow wrist spinner Ahmed, who was making his T20 World Cup debut and took a wicket with his first ball before finishing with 2-28 from three overs. Glenn Phillips top scored with 39 off 28 including four fours and a six while opener Tim Seifert scored 35. Liam Dawson (1-32) and Jacob Bethell (0-13) were the other spinners employed by England.

US producer inflation higher than expected on services costsWASHINGTON, United States, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US producer prices rose more than analysts expected in January, government data showed Friday, boosted by services costs. "Producer prices rose more than expected in January as service-related costs and stronger pricing power push up margins received by wholesalers and retailers," said Nationwide senior economist Ben Ayers. Besides trade services, prices for transportation and warehousing services also climbed. While they have not caused a widespread consumer inflation surge, firms have flagged higher business costs and difficulties planning due to policy uncertainty. Prices for goods dropped 0.3 percent month-on-month on a decline in energy costs, the Labor Department said.

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