Afghanistan to tour India for one Test and three ODIs in JuneNEW DELHI, March 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Afghanistan's cricket team will tour India in June this year to play one Test and a three-match one-dayinternational series, the Indian board said on Monday. Afghanistan's tour starts soon after this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) ends on May 31. The IPL, the world's most lucrative domestic T20 league, features some of the biggest global cricketing stars, including from Afghanistan. The Afghanistan team used India as a cricketing base for several years because of political and security challenges at home before shifting to theUnited Arab Emirates. They bowed out of the ongoing T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, in the group stage.

Under the programme, around 1,12,720 farmers in Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira and Narail districts will plant drumstick saplings from June to September. District-wise, Khulna has set a target of producing 5,469 tonnes on 357 hectares, with an expected yield of 15.32 tonnes per hectare. Bagerhat aims to produce 2,280 tonnes on 120 hectares with a projected yield of 19 tonnes per hectare. Satkhira's target stands at 1,639 tonnes on 159 hectares with an expected yield of 10.31 tonnes per hectare, while Narail aims to produce 456 tonnes on 58 hectares with a projected yield of 7.86 tonnes per hectare. Farmers said drumstick cultivation requires minimal cost and almost no pesticide use.

Israeli, US strikes kill 27 in northwest Iran over two days: officialTEHRAN, March 2, 2026 (AFP) - An Iranian official said Monday that US and Israeli strikes over two days have left at least 27 people dead in Iran's northwest. "The number of martyrs who have fallen over the past two days in the province as a result of Israeli and American attacks reached 27," said Majid Farshi, director general of the East Azerbaijan province crisis management department, as quoted by the official IRNA news agency.

KUWAIT CITY, March 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - An AFP correspondent saw black smokerising from the US embassy in Kuwait on Monday, with the diplomatic missiontelling people not to come to the premises as Iran pressed on with a thirdday of Gulf attacks. The embassy did not announce it had been hit, but issued a security alerturging people to stay away. "There is a continuing threat of missile and UAV attacks over Kuwait. The Iranian attacks have so far killed five people in the Gulf, according toauthorities, including one person in Kuwait. Earlier on Monday, AFP correspondents and residents heard loud explosionsacross the Gulf cities of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Manama and Kuwait.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Riyadh's King Fahd Sport City Stadium will host the opening and closing matches of next year's Asian Cup, officials announced Monday, the football showpiece seen as a precursor for the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia was awarded the World Cup but first will host the Asian Cup from January 7 to February 5, 2027. Asian Cup matches will also be played in Jeddah and Al Khobar. Match pairings and kick-off times will be confirmed at the AFC's final draw on April 11 in Riyadh, the AFC said. Qatar, the 2022 World Cup host, staged and won the Asian Cup two years ago.

Iran "will not negotiate with the United States", Ali Larijani, the powerful head of Tehran's Supreme National Security Council, said on Monday. In a post on X, Larijani denied media reports that Iranian officials had sought to initiate talks with the Trump administration following a wave of US-Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend, which came after Tehran and Washington held nuclear negotiations.

US President Donald Trump has warned that additional American casualties are likely as US military operations against Iran continue until all objectives are achieved, amid a rapidly escalating regional conflict. Trump acknowledged the growing human cost, noting that the campaign would continue despite the risks. Iranian authorities reported that at least 153 people, including children, were killed after a strike hit a school inside Iran. The Gulf Cooperation Council condemned the attacks, accusing Iran of violating international law and warning it would take necessary measures to defend member states. Meanwhile, Iran launched strikes on targets in Iraq, including areas near Erbil’s international airport, which US Central Command said was among the intended targets.

Business leaders, understandably, always want to engage with future policymakers. The question, however, is not whether business leaders should engage with politics, but how and when they do so. This raises an uncomfortable but necessary question: Did business leaders exercise adequate diligence and ethical judgment in this engagement? Equal access: All recognized political parties should be offered equal opportunities to hear business concerns and present their economic visions. Bangladesh’s business leaders have an important role to play in shaping a future built on accountability and the rule of law.

In a make-or-break contest against West Indies, the defending champions came up with a solid performance to cruise to a five-wicket win in Kolkata on Sunday. On a batter-friendly track at the Eden Gardens, West Indies batting depth was put to the test as they survived a mid-innings wobble to post 195/4. Put into bat, West Indies were uncharacteristically watchful in the beginning and finished powerplay at 45/0. West Indies stepped in a newly-minted opening partnership of Shai Hope and Roston Chase. After West Indies slipped from 102/2 to 119/4, Jason Holder and Rovman Powell took the attack to India.

Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked fifth among the world’s most polluted cities on Tuesday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 178 at 9:28 am. The city’s air was classified as “unhealthy,” indicating a serious health threat, according to the AQI report. AQI levels of 101–150 are ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, 151–200 is ‘unhealthy’, 201–300 is ‘very unhealthy’, and readings above 301 are considered ‘hazardous’, posing severe health risks. The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution.

The Israeli military launched strikes on Lebanon, including the capital Beirut it said on Monday, after Tehran-backed Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei. The Israeli military said that "in response to Hezbollah's projectile fire "Israeli forces had "begun striking targets of the Hezbollah across Lebanon". Israel has since carried out regular strikes on Lebanon, which it usually says have targeted the militant group. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli strikes across Lebanon, starting with Beirut's southern suburbs where Hezbollah holds sway. The Israeli military in a later statement confirmed it had struck Hezbollah in the Beirut area and in southern Lebanon.

The AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 kicked off on Sunday with an unforgettable Opening Ceremony at the stunning Perth Stadium, where a staggering 44,379-strong crowd, the highest ever attendance in the competition’s history, gathered to witness the start of the Continent’s premier women’s national team competition. The attendance at Perth Stadium on Sunday night spectacularly eclipsed the previous record of 18,000, which was recorded at the 2014 edition of the competition in Vietnam, underscoring the palpable excitement and anticipation surrounding the latest iteration of Asia’s flagship women’s competition. Before the highly anticipated curtain-raiser between hosts Australia and the Philippines, the stadium showcased an evening steeped in world-class musical performances, befitting the grandeur of the Continental showpiece. Another historic moment of the ceremony was the live debut of the Official Tournament Anthem, ‘That’s How We Win’, performed by rising R&B artist ZIPPORAH. As the performance unfolded, individual heartbeats came to represent the dreams and aspirations of all 12 participating nations, ultimately merging into a single, powerful rhythm.

Lionel Messi scored twice as Inter Miami fought back from 2-0 down to complete a 4-2 victory over Orlando City in Major League Soccer's Florida derby on Sunday. Reigning MLS champions Miami, beaten in their season-opener last week, looked to be heading for another defeat after dominant Orlando raced into a 2-0 first-half lead in front of their home fans. Miami rallied and both Messi and Argentina international team-mate Rodrigo DePaul went close to pulling a goal back midway through the first half. De Paul saw his rasping long-range effort parried away from Orlando's Canadian international goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau in the 28th minute. Messi then put the icing on the comeback in the 90th minute, his low, long-range free-kick sneaking beneath Crepeau to make it 4-2.

What you need to know about China's new Five-Year PlanBEIJING, March 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - China's new Five-Year Plan -- a roadmap outlining its economic and social strategy to 2030 -- is expected to be formally approved during the annual Two Sessions political conclave, which begins Wednesday. Here's what you need to know:- What is the Five-Year Plan? -Originally a feature of the Soviet Union, five-year plans (FYPs) were initiated in China in 1953 by leader Mao Zedong. It set targets for economic growth, strengthening technological capabilities and promoting rural revitalisation, amongst other objectives. Beijing has to work to foster new drivers of economic growth including quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen and nuclear fusion power, brain-computer interfaces, and embodied artificial intelligence, it read.

Members of the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) gathered on campus Sunday night to hold an absentee funeral prayer (gayebana janaza) and protest march following the reported death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Around 10:30pm, students and union leaders assembled near the Vice Chancellor's courtyard and began the funeral prayer at approximately 10:40pm. The prayer was led by Ducsu Vice President Abu Shadik Kayem. Speaking at the rally, Shadik Kayem said: “The reason Muslims around the world are facing oppression, persecution, and brutality today is that the Muslim world has become far too divided.” He called on youth and heads of state across the Muslim world to unite. If we stay silent, the same attacks being carried out today against Iran and Palestine will one day be carried out against our country, against Muslims everywhere.”