WASHINGTON, United States, March 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump said Friday "Cuba is next" in his latest threat against the Caribbean island, as he dismissed concerns that recent American military actions would cost him political support. Cuba's communist government has faced mounting pressure from Trump, who imposed a de facto oil blockade in January and mused about "taking" the country. "I built this great military. Trump did not specify what he planned to do with Cuba, telling the media to "disregard that statement" before repeating "Cuba's next" to laughter from the audience. In his Friday speech, the Republican president also made a teasing comment dubbing the Strait of Hormuz the "Strait of Trump."

Govt to consider restoring any of suitable previous police uniform: Home MinisterHome Minister Salahuddin Ahmed spoke as the chief guest at the passing-out parade of the 43rd BCS (Police) batch, held at the Bangladesh Police Academy parade ground in Sardah, Rajshahi. Photo: BSSRAJSHAHI, March 28, 2026 (BSS) - Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said that the government is considering revising the current police uniform, acknowledging dissatisfaction within the force. "The police force is not satisfied with the current uniform. The Home Minister inspected the parade and received a formal salute before distributing medals among officers who excelled in different training categories. Among others present were Land Minister Md.

Acting on directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, BGB personnel began operations on March 25, covering 19 depots across nine districts, according to a BGB press release. Each camp is ensuring strict administrative and security measures. BGB members are actively monitoring depot activities, preventing illegal fuel storage and sales, and strengthening surveillance to address any potential sabotage or disruption. In parallel, BGB has intensified border security measures to curb fuel smuggling. Authorities reaffirmed that these proactive measures are essential to maintaining order in the fuel market and safeguarding national energy security amid global volatility.

BEIRUT, Lebanon, March 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Israel carried out dawn airstrikes on several towns in southern Lebanon on Saturday, state media reported, while Hezbollah announced attacks on Israeli forces, a month into the Middle East war. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported "a series of strikes" at dawn on the town of Majdal Selm and "successive strikes" on the towns of Kafra, Hanniyeh, Touline and Adloun. It added that several Israeli strikes also targeted the city of Nabatiyeh, hitting "residential and commercial buildings and a fuel station". At the same time, the agency reported strikes on border towns, particularly Taybeh, along with "an attempt by enemy forces to advance toward the Litani area". Hezbollah also announced it targeted the Israeli military's Northern Command headquarters, north of the city of Safed in northern Israel, with a volley of rockets.

DHAKA, March 28, 2026 (BSS)- Bangladesh hockey team will depart for Thailand on Tuesday (March 31) by US-Bangla Air lines to take part in the Men’s Asian Games Qualifier, set to take place from April 2-10 in Bangkok. National teams from across Asia will compete in this prestigious tournament for qualification to the Asian Games. The Pool A consists with Oman, Hong Kong China, host Thailand, Kazakhstan and Indonesia. The Asian Games qualifying tournament was originally scheduled to be held in Muscat, Oman from March 28. But the Middle East turmoil due to the Iran-US war, the Asian Hockey Federation has shifted the venue and date of the tournament from Oman to Thailand.

DHAKA, Mar 28, 2026 (BSS) - Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) today launched a special cleanliness and mosquito extermination campaign across 536 educational institutions to prevent dengue infections among students. DNCC Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan inaugurated the campaign titled "Clean School, No Mosquito" this morning at Dhaka Residential Model School and College. The initiative comes as the risk of Aedes mosquito breeding and spread has increased significantly in various buildings and courtyards, including offices, courts, schools, and colleges, following the extended Eid holidays. This programme has been undertaken with special focus on preventing Aedes mosquito breeding in these premises," he said. A target has been set to complete the cleanup of all 536 schools, colleges, and madrasas under DNCC within three days.

RSSP holds its 1257th literary meeting in RangpurRangpur literary meeting highlights poetry, culture, harmony through recitations, music and scholarly discussion. Photo : BSSRANGPUR, Mar 28, 2026 (BSS): The 1257th literary meeting of Rangpur Sahitya-Sangskriti Parishad (RSSP) was held at its Town Hall office on FridayThe meeting, chaired by the organization's president and educationist Dr Nasima Akter. Professor Atahar Ali Khan recited and analyzed his poems, while Advocate Masum Hasan recited poems of Rabindranath Tagore. Several poets recited their self-composed poems, and Sharif Ahmed performed his own music. Poet Sufi Zahid Hossain gifted his poetry book "Tumi, Ami, Prem" to the organization.

DHAKA, Mar 28, 2026 (BSS) - The government has decided to appoint tag officers at all petrol pumps across the country. The decision was taken at an online meeting held on Friday with Energy and Mineral Resources Division Secretary Mohammad Saiful Islam in the chair. Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) will appoint tag officers in Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas. However, in districts and divisional cities, except Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas, the concerned deputy commissioners and upazila nirbahi officers will appoint a government official as a tag officer for every petrol pump under their jurisdiction. The tag officers will work in the prescribed manner of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division/BPC and submit daily reports, the handout said.

One killed in strikes on Ukraine residential buildings, maternity hospital: authoritiesKYIV, Ukraine, March 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - One person was killed and 11 others were wounded, including a child, after residential buildings and a maternity hospital were struck in Ukraine's Odesa region, authorities said Saturday. "Unfortunately, it is known that one person died... from their injuries," Sergiy Lysak, head of Odesa's city military administration, said. He added the maternity hospital's roof was struck and fires broke out at residential buildings.

Thai PM says reached deal with Iran for vessels to transit Hormuz StraitBANGKOK, March 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Thailand has reached an agreement with Iran to allow Thai oil vessels safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the Southeast Asian nation's Prime Minister said on Saturday. "An agreement has been reached to allow Thai oil tankers to transit safely through the Strait of Hormuz," Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said at a press conference, adding the development would alleviate concerns over fuel imports.

Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman spoke at a programme held at at Bangladesh Mission UN . Photo : PIDDHAKA, March 28, 2026 (BSS) - Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman has said Bangladesh has embraced multilateralism as a cornerstone of its foreign policy since joining the United Nations, reaffirming its commitment to global peace, security and cooperation. Speaking as the chief guest, the Foreign Minister highlighted Bangladesh's sustained engagement with the UN since 1974, noting its contributions to international peacekeeping missions and continued humanitarian support for the Rohingya people. In his welcome address, Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury said March 26 symbolizes not only the birth of the nation but also the enduring triumph of the people's will, dignity and freedom. Earlier in the day, the Mission organised a discussion session at its auditorium where messages from national leaders were read out, alongside screening of a special documentary highlighting the significance of Independence Day.

JERUSALEM, March 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Israel's military reported a first missile launch from Yemen since the Middle East war began on February 28, after Iran's Houthi allies threatened to join the fighting. A military statement said Israeli forces had "identified the launch of a missile from Yemen toward Israeli territory, aerial defence systems are operating to intercept the threat". It was the first such statement mentioning a launch from Yemen during the war with Iran, which has entered its second month. There were no reports of any casualties or damage in Israel, and media reports suggested the missile may have been intercepted. Yemen's Houthi movement warned on Friday it would join the war if US-Israeli attacks continue to hit its ally Iran or if more countries join the conflict.

WASHINGTON, United States, March 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The US Treasury Department said Friday that it had lifted more sanctions against Venezuela's gold and other mineral industries, as it pushes for greater access to the South American country's vast natural resources. Washington is eager for US firms to move into Venezuela since its forces captured president Nicolas Maduro in January, and is pushing to restore diplomatic and trade ties under interim leader Delcy Rodriguez. Besides gold and the world's largest oil reserves, Venezuela also produces diamonds, bauxite and rare earths such as coltan, crucial for a range of high-tech products. In a statement by the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, companies can now pursue contracts in the minerals sector, including with the state-owned gold miner Minerven. Much of Venezuela's minerals operations are concentrated in the Orinoco Mining Arc, a vast territory of around 112,000 square kilometers (43,000 square miles) where armed rebel groups and criminal gangs are active.

VIENNA, March 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A strike hit near Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant late Friday but caused no radiation leak or damage to the reactor, the UN atomic watchdog said, after Israeli strikes on the Islamic republic. Iran told the International Atomic Energy Agency that the plant was operating normally and had suffered no technical or structural impact, the agency said on X. The incident was the third in a series of reported strikes in Iran within the past 10 days, the IAEA said, as the war in the Middle East entered its second month. The Israeli military said Friday it had struck a heavy water reactor and a uranium processing plant in central Iran, but did not mention Bushehr. The Bushehr plant in southwestern Iran has the country's only operational nuclear power reactor and was first connected to the grid in 2011, according to the IAEA.

DUBAI, March 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - UAE authorities said fires broke out early Saturday at an industrial zones following an incoming missile and drone attack from Iran early Saturday, with no reports of casualties. The United Arab Emirates' defence ministry said air defences were responding to incoming cruise missiles and drones fired by Iran, as Tehran pressed strikes in the Gulf a month into the regional war. The Abu Dhabi government media office said in a statement posted online that authorities were dealing with two fires in the area of the emirate's Khalifa Economic Zones. The statement said the fires had broken out due to falling debris from a "successful interception" of a ballistic missile.