SOÚDA, Greece, March 23, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier that has been part of Middle East war operations, on Monday returned to a naval base in Crete, an AFP photographer said. The vessel, which took on food, fuel and ammunition at Souda Bay in February, reported a laundry fire on March 12 which injured two crew members. The United States and Israel launched a massive air campaign against Iran in late February following a major US military buildup in the Middle East that included the Ford and another aircraft carrier, the Abraham Lincoln. "Taking the Ford off the board for any significant length of time means less US support to war efforts," said Daniel Schneiderman, director of global policy programs at Penn Washington. Senator Mark Warner, the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has sharply criticised the extended deployment of the ship.

General Daily Insight for March 23, 2026 Fresh ideas buzz around routine conversations. Leo July 23 – August 22 Your warmth rallies friends around shared hopes. Virgo August 23 – September 22 Structure helps ideas turn into real progress. Libra September 23 – October 22 A bigger picture is coming into focus. Scorpio October 23 – November 21 Truth gains power when shared with care.

LAGOS, March 23, 2026 BSS/(AFP) - Nigeria's Dangote mega-refinery says it has begun exporting fuel to other African countries, after global oil prices soared due to the Middle East war. "By supplying neighbouring and other economies, the Dangote Refinery is expected to contribute to enhance energy security in west, east and central Africa," it added. A refinery spokesman told AFP the principal reason for the decision was the Middle East war and said it had received more demands from other countries. At the start of the war Dangote had pledged to prioritise the domestic market to help prevent fuel shortages and limit the impact on prices. Before the Dangote refinery opened in 2024, Nigeria had to import almost all its fuel and shortages were recurrent.

DUBAI, March 23, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - ADNOC Gas, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, said Monday it had made "temporary operational adjustments" to production due to disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, while continuing operations despite Iranian strikes across the Gulf. "Operations are continuing safely across ADNOC Gas plc's asset base. The firm said it had "made temporary operational adjustments to production of Liquefied Natural Gas and Export Traded Liquids", in response to ongoing shipping disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively blocked by Tehran. "The Company is actively collaborating with customers and partners on a transaction-by-transaction basis to fulfill commitments wherever possible," it added. Strikes last week on the world's largest liquefied natural gas site at Ras Laffan in Qatar sent gas prices soaring and revived fears of a global supply crisis.

Photo: CollectedDHAKA, March 23, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted that rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind and lightning flashes is likely to occur at one or two places over Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions in the next 24 hours from 9am today. In a weather bulletin, it said weather may remain mainly dry with partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country. Yesterday’s maximum temperature was recorded 33.2 degree Celsius at Teknaf while today’s minimum temperature is 16.2 degree Celsius at Dinajpur and Srimangal. Today’s sunset is at 6.11 pm and tomorrow’s sunrise at 5.59 am in the capital.

MOSCOW, March 23, 2026 (BSS?AFP) - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Monday, after US President Donald Trump revealed Washington and Tehran had held "very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities." Russia's Lavrov called for an "immediate cessation of hostilities and a political settlement that takes into account the legitimate interests of all parties involved, above all Iran," the Russian foreign ministry said in a readout of the call, which it said was initiated by Tehran.

A visit to the site on Sunday, the second day of Eid, revealed that from noon to afternoon, the confluence was packed with people. These vessels can take visitors to a place known as “Mini Cox’s Bazar” on the western side of the Meghna River. As a result, people gather at the river confluence during festivals or leisure time. Special attention is being given to ensure that visitors at the river confluence face no problems. Officer-in-Charge of Chandpur Naval Police Station, AKMS Iqbal, said naval police are maintaining round-the-clock patrols in the Chandpur river area, including the launch terminal, with special monitoring of the confluence during Eid.

KISHOREGANJ, March 23, 2026 (BSS) - The death toll from a tragic road accident in Kuliarchar upazila of the district has risen to three, following a head-on collision between a pickup van and a motorcycle on Sunday.The accident occurred in Dariyakandi area along the Kishoreganj–Bhairab highway on Sunday afternoon, according to police sources. Police and local witnesses said the three friends were traveling together on a motorcycle toward Dariyakandi when a pickup van coming from the opposite direction collided with them. Bijoy and Zakir died instantly at the scene, while Jeet sustained critical injuries after being thrown off the road. As his condition worsened, he was being transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, but he died on the way. Suman Kumar Chowdhury, in-charge of the Kuliarchar Highway Outpost, confirmed the fatalities and said that the driver of the pickup van fled the scene immediately after the crash.

One sent to jail in TikToker Rakib murder casePhoto: BSSDHAKA, Mar 23, 2026 (BSS) - A Dhaka court today sent to jail one Salahuddin Sagor in a case filed over the murder of TikToker Rakibul Islam Rakib in front of the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital on March 15. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Fahmida Khandaker Anna passed the order as police produced him before the court and pleaded to keep him behind bars till the end of probe. Earlier on March 19, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Nazmin Akter placed Sagor on a four-day remand in the case. According to the case documents, Rakib, an honours second-year student of Shaikh Burhanuddin Post Graduate College, was shot and stabbed indiscriminately in front of the Central Shaheed Minar while hanging out with friends on the night of March 15. Rakib’s father Tarikul Islam Khokon filed the case with Shahbagh Police Station on March 16.

“I am very happy and proud to be present at this holy Namjoggo ceremony. Faridul Islam said this Namjoggo ceremony is not just a religious ritual, it is a unique means of purifying the soul of the people, establishing peace in the society and awakening the sense of brotherhood. Bangladesh is a country of non-communal spirit, where people of all religions have been living together in harmony for ages, he said. The state minister said the government is always committed to ensuring the security and rights of people of all religions. “Let us all strengthen this bond of harmony and build a peaceful, developed and humane Bangladesh,” he said.

Iran threatens to deploy 'naval mines' in Gulf if US, Israel attack its coasts, islandsTEHRAN, March 23, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran on Monday threatened to deploy "naval mines" in the Gulf if the United States and Israel were to attack any of its coasts or islands. "Any attempt by the enemy to attack Iranian coasts or islands will naturally, and in accordance with established military practice, lead to all access routes and communication lines in the Persian Gulf and coastal areas being mined with various types of naval mines, including drifting mines deployable from the coasts," said the country's defence council in a statement carried by state media. The defence council -- which operates under the Supreme National Security Council -- was formed after Iran's 12-day war with Israel in June 2025.

MOSCOW, March 23, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Russia on Monday called for "political and diplomatic" settlement to the Middle East war after US President Donald Trump's ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. "We believe that the situation should have transitioned to a political and diplomatic settlement," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists, including from AFP, at a briefing. "This is the only thing that can effectively contribute to defusing the catastrophically tense situation that has now developed in the region," Peskov said.

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Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan spoke to journalists during an Eid greeting exchange programme in Tangail. Photo: BSSTANGAIL, March 23, 2026 (BSS) - Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan today said there is no shortage of fuel oil in the country but a section of dishonest businessmen is trying to create an artificial crisis by increasing the prices of petrol, octane, diesel, and edible oil to make extra profit. The minister said this while replying to a question of journalists during an Eid greeting exchange programme with officials of various government offices and freedom fighters in Sakhipur upazila of the district. Azam Khan said the government will not tolerate any kind of dishonest activity like creating an artificial crisis. He assured that there is no reason for concern among those operating vehicles regarding fuel availability.

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