Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Photo: CollectedTEHRAN, March 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged other countries on Sunday to refrain from any action that could widen the scope of the war with Israel and the United States. In a phone call with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Araghchi called on other countries to "refrain from any action that could lead to escalation and expansion of the conflict", according to an Iranian foreign ministry statement. His remarks came after US President Donald Trump called for other nations' warships to help protect world oil supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been virtually blocked by the threat of Iranian attacks.

It’s bad enough what the vulture capitalists at Alden Global Capital have done to the Denver Post, to its readers and to journalism as we once knew it. That’s $5 million that would at least have paid the one-time, severance-pay price for the laid-off city workers, which, coincidentally, cost the city, yes, $5 million. Here’s the thing: The Denver Post logo may still stand across the top of the 11-story building, but it’s just a mirage. I know something about the building, which opened in 2006, having worked there for both the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post. According to CBS Colorado, which had filed an open records request from the city, Denver has stopped making its $166,000 monthly payment.

But at age 74, he still wakes early every winter morning to record his weather and wildlife observations and measurements. SUBSCRIBESki resorts are limping through the worst snow season in memory. Over his half-century of counting and measuring around 210 days of winter annually, he’s tracked about four weather records every season. billy barr logs weather data into a computer at his home. In the winter, barr tends a greenhouse garden heavy with tomatoes and leafy greens that thrive in the low-angle sunshine.

A court has granted police two days to question Abul Kalam Azad Mintu, former councillor of Ward 40 of Dhaka South City Corporation (DNCC), in custody in a case filed over an attack on the convoy of former prime minister Khaleda Zia in Dhaka in 2015. Metropolitan Magistrate Md Jewel Rana passed the order on Sunday, after the investigating officer sought a seven-day remand. Additional Public Prosecutor Muhammad Shamsuddoha Suman said the defence counsel filed a petitioned seeking the cancellation of the remand plea. When the convoy reached the Bangla Motor intersection around 5:30 pm, a “pre-planned attack” was launched on the convoy. A number of vehicles were vandalised and several people were beaten up and injured during the attack.

DHAKA, March 15, 2026 (BSS) - Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi won thetoss and sent Bangladesh into bat first in the third and final ODI at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today. The outcome of the match will decide the course of the three-match seriesafter both teams won one match each. The hosts remained unchanged from the second ODI while Pakistan made threechanges from the winning playing XI, including two debutants for the crucialgame. Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, however, looked happy to get thechance to bat despite losing the toss. In thelast two matches we have bowled well, but still I'm confident that if we getthe score, definitely it's a very good score on this wicket," he told thebroadcaster after the toss.

BEIRUT, Lebanon, March 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Overnight strikes in southern Lebanon killed at least four people, Lebanese state media and the government said on Sunday, as Israel said it was pressing its campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah. Israel is fighting a second front in the war in the Middle East in southern Lebanon, against Hezbollah, alongside the air campaign against Iran it launched with the United States more than two weeks ago. To the southeast of Sidon, in the village of Al-Qatrani, three people were killed in an overnight Israeli strike, according to Lebanon's health ministry. Hezbollah said Sunday it was targeting several Israeli troop positions in villages close to the border. According to Lebanon's health ministry, Israeli air strikes have killed 826 people in Lebanon since the start of the latest war, which began March 2 with Hezbollah firing missiles at Israel.

Ukraine will work with any Hungarian leader who is 'not a Putin ally': ZelenskyKYIV, Ukraine, March 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Ukraine would be happy to work with any Hungarian leader who is not a tool of Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in comments released on Sunday. "We will work with any leadership in Hungary... We are ready to work amicably, provided this person is not an ally of Putin, specifically the aggressor state," the Ukrainian leader told journalists.

DHAKA, Mar 15, 2026 (BSS) - The Chattogram Custom House has initiated the process to auction some 378 containers of unclaimed and auctionable goods through an electronic auction (e-auction) system in March 2026 in a move to reduce container congestion at Chattogram Port. According to the Custom House, a total of 180 containers will be auctioned under E-Auction-2/2026 in 49 lots in line with Special Order No. Interested bidders have been allowed to physically inspect the goods throughout March, while online bidding facilities have also been made available. The highest bidders will be required to clear the goods in compliance with the relevant provisions of the Import Policy Order 2021–2024. Authorities said such auction initiatives will continue in order to keep Chattogram Port free from container congestion.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The Prime Minister will formally launch excavation of 53 canals across the country by initiating the excavation work of a canal at Kaharole upazila in Dinajpur district. Prime Minister's Press Secretary Saleh Shibly today told BSS that the premier will visit Dinajpur district tomorrow to inaugurate the nationwide canal excavation and re-excavation programme. The government has taken the canal re-excavation programme as per the BNP's election promise. Arrangements will be made to use the canal water scientifically, so that agricultural production increases and the economic condition of the local people improves, he added.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. File PhotoDHAKA, March 15, 2026 (BSS) - Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed is set to visit Vienna to participate in the two-day Global Fraud Summit 2026, scheduled to be held on March 16-17. The summit will take place at the Vienna International Conference Center, where the Minister will lead a five-member Bangladesh delegation. In addition to attending the opening and plenary sessions, the Home Minister will participate as a panelist in the high-level roundtable discussion titled "Global Fraud Response Mechanism." On the sidelines of the summit, the Minister is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with John Brandolino and the UK Home Secretary Lord Hanson.

State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin. We’ll try to provide different allowances (under the social safety net) to the eligible people. She said the government has taken a decision to form the upazila-level committees to review and verify the beneficiary lists under different social safety programmes. She also mentioned that the various social safety net beneficiary lists prepared during the fascist regime would surely be scrutinized and thus they would go towards a solution. “We’re taking feedbacks so that we can go towards a solution after addressing the irregularities exist in the different social safety net allowances,” she added.

JERUSALEM, March 15, 2026 (AFP) - Israel's military said it began a broad wave of strikes on western Iran on Sunday, more than two weeks into the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic. "A short while ago, the IDF began a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime in western Iran," the army said in a statement.

Not exactly festive baggage, but it was the only thing she owned that was roomy enough for her clown paraphernalia. When Boza swept into a bow and said, “Boza the Clown, at your service,” the girl only nodded, swinging open the door. “I should check on him.”As she turned to go inside, Boza said, “Hey, um…what’s your name?”The girl pivoted. Boza remembered reading about that in The Rocky Mountain News, but she hadn’t connected it with her gig today. When I was young, I, um…I lost my mother, too.”Nodding, the girl again pressed her hand to her collarbone.

SunLit: Tell us the backstory behind this short story collection – what’s it about and what inspired you to write it? Plus, I love the short form, so it was a natural fit to keep writing and publishing stories as I began writing novels. All along, I was also writing short fiction. That being said, writing short fiction is a great exercise for novelists, because learning to write tightly helps you discipline yourself during the revision stage of novel writing. Today, the novel writing is going very well, with a clear focus about what I need to do.

PARIS, France, March 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - French voters went to the polls onSunday to pick mayors and councillors in elections widely seen as a barometerof France's political mood ahead of the high-stakes 2027 presidential race. While nearly 90 percent of the French communes are small rural constituencieswhere local elections are traditionally depoliticised, the races couldnonetheless reveal key trends and dynamics, said political scientist NonnaMayer. By contrast, Le Pen's far-rightNational Rally, the hard-left party of firebrand Jean?Luc Melenchon andMacron's centrists have struggled to establish a strong local footprint. Following a record low turnout during the last local elections, held underthe shadow of the coronavirus pandemic, analysts will closely scrutinise the2026 races for possible signs of voter fatigue. The week between the two rounds is expected to see political partiesnegotiating deals with rivals and joining forces against strong opponents.