BEIRUT, Lebanon, March 20, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - An Israeli warplane broke the sound barrier over Beirut on Friday morning, state media said, as AFP journalists heard loud booms reverberate across the city and in distant mountains. Lebanon's official National News Agency said "a strong sonic boom, in two successive waves, shook the skies over Beirut and its suburbs" on the morning of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the Ramadan fasting period. The incident set social media abuzz. "On a day without shelling -- so far -- the Israelis are greeting the people of Beirut and its suburbs with two sonic booms," one internet user, Salah Halawi, wrote on X.Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2 when Iran-backed Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel after the killing of the Islamic republic's supreme leader. Last week Israeli warplanes also caused loud booms in the skies of the Lebanese capital, as they dropped propaganda leaflets on the city, terrifying residents.

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BELGRADE, March 20, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Serbia's sanctioned oil firm had its temporary operating licence extended by the United States on Friday, Serbia's minister said,as a potential deal on the Russian exit from the company nears its end. The decision avoids another shutdown of the country's only oil refinery, after US sanctions hit it as part of a crackdown on Russia's energy sector. Negotiations over the sale of a Russian-majority stakeholding in the Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIS) have been ongoing for months with Hungarian energy giant MOL. Serbia sold a majority stake in NIS to Gazprom in 2008 for 400 million euros ($460 million). It is now 45 percent owned by Gazprom Neft, which is under US sanctions, while Gazprom transferred its 11.3 percent stake in September to its affiliated firm, Intelligence.

PANAMA CITY, March 20, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Panama's president denied Thursday that officials failed to respond to an arbitrage lawsuit by the Hong Kong firm opposing the takeover of its Panama Canal operations, saying the government would "strongly" defend itself. The dispute stems from a Panama court ruling in January striking down the contract that let Panama Ports Company (PPC), a unit of CK Hutchison, to manage the canal's Pacific port of Balboa and the Atlantic port at Cristobal. This week the company accused Panama officials of ignoring the arbitration proceedings, saying the country had not hired lawyers and "needed time to develop a plan." China had threatened Panama with payback after the court's decision in January, and CK Hutchison said this month it had intensified its legal actions over the takeover of the two Panama Canal ports it controlled. Panama has always denied any Chinese control over the 80-kilometer (50-mile) waterway, which is used mainly by the United States and China.

Reading time: about 8 minutesPresident Michael Kotlikoff and Provost Kavita Bala spoke to the Faculty Senate about the Student Code of Conduct, the upcoming Faculty Senate resolution on Policy 6.4, the Committee on the Future of the American University and Resilient Cornell during its March 11 meeting. They also fielded questions ranging from Cornell’s financial challenges to the October settlement between Cornell and the Trump administration. Following this period, Kotlikoff will review the comments and the revisions will be implemented beginning on July 1. Kotlikoff also mentioned his support for an upcoming Faculty Senate resolution which would create an ad hoc committee to evaluate and recommend revisions to Policy 6.4. Following Kotlikoff’s remarks, Bala discussed the progress of the FAU committee and Resilient Cornell.

DUBAI, March 20, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Emirati and Kuwaiti air defences were responding to missile fire early Friday, authorities in the Gulf states said, while Saudi Arabia intercepted drone attacks. Elsewhere in the Gulf, Bahrain's interior ministry said that shrapnel from an "Iranian aggression" caused a fire at a warehouse, which was brought under control and resulted in no injuries. In Kuwait, an army statement said air defences were "responding to hostile missile and drone threats", while the UAE's interior ministry reported "a missile threat". On Thursday, drones struck a Saudi oil refinery on the Red Sea and caused fires at two others in Kuwait, as Iran stepped up attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure. Those attacks followed major damage at the world's biggest gas hub, Qatar's Ras Laffan, on Wednesday as Iran retaliated for Israeli strikes on its South Pars gas field.

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PLUG Investors with Losses in Excess of $100k Have Opportunity to Lead Plug Power Inc. Securities Fraud Lawsuit

INDRA AND SYNAPTIC AVIATION ENHANCE EFFICIENCY WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AT AIRPORTS IN BARCELONA, MADRID AND PALMA DE MALLORCA

MP Maulana Abu Talib distributes sarees and cash among poor at Kaliganj college ground ahead of Eid celebrations. Photo : BSSJHENAIDAH, March 19, 2026 (BSS) - Sarees and cash assistance were distributed among poor and destitute people in Kaliganj upazila of the district on the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr from the Prime Minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund. Member of Parliament from Jhinaidah-4 constituency, Maulana Abu Talib, attended as the chief guest and handed over the gifts. The items distributed included 700 sarees and cash amounting to Taka 10 lakh. These were given to underprivileged and disadvantaged people in the Jhinaidah-4 constituency.

LONDON, March 20, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Relegation-haunted Tottenham face a crunch clash against fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest as the fight for Premier League survival reaches boiling point. Tottenham will slump into the relegation zone if they lose to Forest and third-bottom West Ham win at Aston Villa on Sunday. Chelsea chase Champions League returnEliminated from the Champions League in chastening fashion by Paris Saint-Germain this week, Chelsea cannot afford to lick their wounds for long as they aim to secure a place in next season's tournament. Slot urges Liverpool to stay focusedRevitalised by their demolition of Galatasaray in the Champions League, Liverpool travel to Brighton on Saturday with Arne Slot insisting they must maintain the standards of that 4-0 rout. Fixtures (all times GMT)FridayBournemouth v Manchester United (2000)SaturdayBrighton v Liverpool (1230), Fulham v Burnley (1500), Everton v Chelsea (1730), Leeds v Brentford (2000)Sunday (1415 unless stated)Newcastle v Sunderland (1200), Aston Villa v West Ham, Tottenham v Nottingham Forest

SEOUL, March 20, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - K-pop megastars BTS released a new album Friday billed as reflecting the maturing boy band's Korean roots and identity, as buzz built ahead of their open-air comeback concert in the heart of Seoul. "We gave deep thought to our identity -- and how best to express ourselves authentically -- across the entirety of our music and performances," BTS member Jimin, 30, said ahead of the release of the group's album, their fifth studio release. At the concert, BTS is expected to perform the new album, which the group reportedly spent time in Los Angeles recording. BTS are "coming back stronger and ready to continue their journey," Greek fan Loukia Kyratzoglou gushed to AFP. This new album "feels like a love letter to their home country," said Jeff Benjamin, Billboard's K-pop columnist, told AFP.

SYDNEY, March 20, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A tropical cyclone lashed Australia's northern tip on Friday, hitting remote coastal towns with the strongest winds seen for a "long, long time", authorities said. Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle made landfall at the northern point of Queensland state, battering the coast with strong winds, driving rain and pounding surf. "In many cases it will be the strongest wind people have experienced in this part of the state for a long, long time," Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said. The cyclone hit land as a category four storm system -- the second strongest classification -- but was soon downgraded to a category three. "Residents should prepare for heavy rain, strong winds and possible flash flooding.

WASHINGTON, United States, March 20, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The United States and Japan announced Thursday a $40 billion project to build nuclear reactors in Tennessee and Alabama, after a meeting of the two countries' leaders in Washington. Thursday's joint statement on the so-called small modular reactors (SMRs) also announced a $33 billion investment in natural gas power generation facilities in Pennsylvania and Texas. The countries announced the first tranche of projects under the new investment fund in February, with $36 billion in commitments in three infrastructure projects. Both sides also released an action plan on developing critical mineral supply chains, amid concerns about China's dominant role in the sector. It includes discussing coordinated trade policies and mechanisms, such as border-adjusted price floors, "focusing in the first instance on select critical minerals."