You have permission to edit this article.

You have permission to edit this article.

You have permission to edit this article.

BAGHDAD, March 24, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A strike in western Iraq on Tuesday killed a commander and 14 fighters from the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi, a statement from the group said, updating the toll and blaming the United States. The fighters from the Hashed al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), were killed in a "treacherous American attack that targeted the operation headquarters" in western Anbar province, the statement said. An earlier toll put the toll at seven. The PMF is now part of Iraq's regular army, but also includes some pro-Iranian groups.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Asian Champions League last-16 ties postponed by the war in the Middle East will now take place over one leg in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, the continental football body said Tuesday. Two-legged knockout games in the East segment of the Champions League went ahead but four home-and-away ties in the West were postponed. They will now take place as one-off matches on April 13 and 14 at King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City stadiums in Jeddah, the Asian Football Confederation said. Saudi teams Al Ittihad and Al Ahli, the title-holders, will enjoy home advantage. The finals of the competition, which has been rebranded the Asian Champions League Elite, are still scheduled to be held in Jeddah on April 16-25.

Rajshahi University VC meets Ritsumeikan officials to boost research collaboration, exchanges, and academic cooperation initiatives. Photo : BSSRAJSHAHI, Mar 24, 2026 (BSS) - Vice-Chancellor of University of Rajshahi Professor Faridul Islam on Monday held a courtesy meeting with Wakayama Suhoi, Director of the Department of International Relations at Ritsumeikan University, Japan. Both sides expressed interest in strengthening cooperation, particularly in joint research initiatives and the exchange of teachers, researchers, and students. Among others, Professor Muhammad Sajjadur Rahim, Director of the Office of International Affairs, Dr. Abdul Quddus, Senior Researcher at Ritsumeikan University, and Professors Abu Bakar Md. Ismail, Babul Islam and Zaker Hossain of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department were present.

NATORE, March 24, 2026 (BSS) - Two people were killed and five others injured in a tragic road accident in Lalpur upazila of the district this morning. The deceased were identified as Jahidul Islam, 50, son of Joha Master and Monir Hossain, 27, son of Sekender Ali. Both were residents of Chhotobatkoya village in Lalpur upazila. According to local sources, a man died on the spot, while six others, including the easy bike driver, sustained injuries. Police have seized the truck involved in the accident, and further legal action is underway , OC added.

Banks have reopened after a week-long holiday, with the festive mood of Eid still lingering on the first working day. Attendance among bankers, however, was relatively low as many extended their break ahead of Independence Day at the end of the week. On the first day back, bankers exchanged Eid greetings with colleagues, while customers also greeted bank employees as they completed their work. A similar atmosphere was seen at Bangladesh Bank, where Governor Mostaqur Rahman arrived at the head office around 10am. In the final trading session before Eid, the index stood at 5,353 points.

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, Mar 24, 2026 (BSS) - University of Dhaka will observe 'Genocide Day' tomorrow to commemorate the victims of the brutal atrocities committed on the night of March 25, 1971 genocide in Bangladesh. To mark the day, a programme has been organised at Smriti Chirantan Chattar, adjacent to the Vice-Chancellor's residence on the campus. The programme will begin at 7:15 pm with candle lighting, followed by paying homage to the martyrs. A documentary will be screened at 7:20 pm, while a discussion will commence at 7:35 pm. B. M. Obaidul Islam will preside over the discussion.

BEIRUT, Lebanon, March 24, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - An Israeli strike on Bshamoun, south of Beirut, killed two people on Tuesday, Lebanon's health ministry said, while strikes on the capital's southern suburbs continued throughout the night. Located in the mountainous, Druze-majority Aley district southeast of Beirut, Bshamoun lies outside of Hezbollah's traditional strongholds. Separately, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that Israel's overnight attacks on Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah holds sway, had targeted seven areas. "Enemy warplanes launched seven raids overnight on the southern suburbs, targeting the areas of: Bir al-Abed, Al-Ruwais -- outskirts of Al-Manshiyya, Haret Hreik, Sayyed Hadi Nasrallah Highway, Saint Therese, Burj al-Barajneh and Al-Kafaat," NNA said on Tuesday. The Israeli military on Monday renewed its calls for residents of the southern suburbs to evacuate.

The price of jet fuel has soared since the start of the conflict more than three weeks ago, which has sent oil prices soaring and sparked fears of fuel shortages. "The limited supply of aviation fuel (Jet A-1) due to the conflict in the Middle East has put domestic airlines at risk of fuel shortages," prompting the flight cuts, the authority said. Major domestic routes and international flights are being maintained, it said. Airlines in Vietnam were working on adding fuel surcharges on international routes that may be applied in April, it added. Elsewhere in the region, Myanmar's national carrier announced on Sunday that it would also cancel some domestic flights "due to unavoidable circumstances", without providing details.

SYDNEY, March 24, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck off the Pacific island nation of Tonga on Tuesday, the United States Geological Survey said. The quake hit at a depth of 237 kilometres (147 miles) roughly 150 kilometres west of Tonga's second-largest town of Neiafu, the USGS said. It did not trigger a tsunami alert.

IMF Director for Asia and Pacific Department Krishna Srinivasan paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka on Tuesday. Photo: PMODHAKA, March 24, 2026 (BSS) - Director of the Asia and Pacific Department (APD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Krishna Srinivasan today paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The IMF official met the premier at Cabinet Division in the Bangladesh Secretariat here this morning, Prime Minister's Press Secretary Saleh Shibly said.

Fifty years later, memories of the torture, hunger and the screams of fellow prisoners still come to the fore as if the so-called "Dirty War" were yesterday, three of them told AFP. "They said, 'We know you want to die, but we are going to keep you alive to keep on torturing you.'" "I thought with the intensity of the torture my baby would be dead," but one day "I felt it move. More than 5,000 political prisoners were taken to ESMA, which is now a museum and place of remembrance. Lewin said she was subjected to "electric shocks, dry submarine" -- suffocation using a plastic bag -- "Russian roulette, gropings" and other abuse.