TEHRAN, March 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iranian authorities have arrested at least 20 people in the country's northwest on suspicion of cooperating with Israel, local media reported on Sunday, more than two weeks into the Middle East war. The arrests took place during raids on networks linked to Israel in the West Azerbaijan province, the Fars news agency said, quoting provincial prosecutor Hossein Majidi. "Twenty people were arrested and detained" after they were found to be "sending details of military, law enforcement and security locations to the Zionist enemy", it added. Authorities have carried out sweeping raids across Iran, arresting in recent days hundreds of people suspected of cooperating with Israel and the United States, local media reported. The conflict began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sparking Iranian retaliation.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, March 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Pakistan said on Sunday itsforces had attacked military facilities in southern Afghanistan, as well as"terrorist hideouts", in the latest strikes between the two sides. Local residents in Kandahar told AFP they saw jet planes flying over the cityand heard explosions during the night. "Military planes flew over the mountain where there is a military facility,and an explosion followed," one said, adding flames could be seen. Islamabad launched a military operation against Afghanistan last month,targeting what it said were Islamist extremists following attacks inPakistan. The UN mission in Afghanistan said on Friday that at least 75 civilians havebeen killed and 193 injured in Afghanistan as a result of the clashes sinceFebruary 26.

Rajshahi Silk Factory showroom sells pure silk fabrics nationwide as Eid demand grows for traditional Rajshahi silk. Photo : BSSRAJSHAHI, Mar 15, 2026 (BSS) - Cloth made from silk yarn is now being sold at the Rajshahi Silk Factory's showroom. Fabrics are produced directly at the Rajshahi Silk Factory and sold through its own showroom. Within a few years, silk yarn production is expected to increase significantly, enabling the country to produce silk entirely from domestic yarn. The goal is to spread 100 percent silk products across the country and reestablish Rajshahi silk as a well-known national brand.

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DHAKA, Mar 15, 2026 (BSS) - The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has decided to lift all restrictions, including rationing, imposed on the sale of fuel oil. Therefore, the government has decided to lift all restrictions, including rationing, on the distribution of fuel oil to ensure smooth Eid journey of home-goers and considering the demand of farmers' demand during the Boro season, the press release said. Until further orders, fuel oil distribution will continue from today at all distribution points as per demand. The rationing system was introduced on the sale of fuel oil on March 6. Later, the limit for selling oil on motorbikes for ridesharing drivers was increased from two litres to five litres.

DHAKA, March 15, 2026 (BSS) – The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has extended the deadline for filing online Value Added Tax (VAT) returns for the month of February 2026 to March 29, 2026. The revenue authority issued the directive in the public interest to facilitate taxpayers following a period of technical congestion and system latency within the electronic filing infrastructure. According to an official notification issued today from the E-VAT Unit, the extension was necessitated by a reduction in the processing speed of the E-VAT system services. The NBR explained that the recent long public holidays observed for Holy Eid-ul-Fitr and the Great Independence Day impacted the system's performance, leading to the decision to provide additional time for taxpayers to complete their submissions smoothly.

BRAZZAVILLE, March 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Congo-Brazzaville holds elections Sunday in a vote expected to extend 82-year-old President Denis Sassou Nguesso's more than four decades in power in the oil-rich central African country. Six candidates are standing against Sassou Nguesso but the main opposition is divided and largely absent, leaving him set to win another five-year term. The president has toured the country during the election campaign, which ended Friday, backed by the ruling Congolese Workers' Party (PCT), urging voters to come to the ballot box. - Corruption -Sassou Nguesso stressed the issue of security during his final election meeting in Brazzaville Friday, attended by thousands of enthusiastic supporters. During his election campaign, the president underlined his economic record, having pushed to modernise the country's infrastructure and develop the gas and agriculture sectors in a bid to make Congo self-sufficient.

SAARC Agriculture Centre unveils books on food safety and agroecology at Ekushey Book Fair Dhaka. Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Mar 15, 2026 (BSS) - SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) has unveiled two publications at Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 highlighting key regional priorities in agricultural development and sustainable food systems in South Asia. Dr Md Harunur Rashid, Director of the SAARC Agriculture Centre, presided over the event. He noted that stronger cooperation among researchers and policymakers can help improve food safety systems and support sustainable agricultural development across the SAARC region. Speaking as the chief guest, Dr Chandra Shekara highlighted the growing need for harmonised food safety standards to facilitate agricultural trade within South Asia.

After Noma abuse allegations, Maryland chefs reflect on kitchen culture Some recall verbal abuse, intimidation and threats at their earliest jobs but say work atmospheres have improved

TEHRAN, March 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran's Revolutionary Guards vowed on Sunday to target Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the war with Israel and the United States continues. "If this child-killing criminal is alive, we will continue to pursue and kill him with full force," said the Guards on their website Sepah News.

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Two weeks after the United States and Israel attacked Iran, the Gulf region remained in the grip of the conflict, sending oil prices soaring as Iran has choked off the vital Strait of Hormuz and attacked Gulf energy facilities. The world's number-four economy is the fifth-biggest importer of oil -- 95 percent of it from the Middle East and 70 percent passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which is now effectively closed. Sending its Self-Defense Forces abroad is politically sensitive in the officially pacifist Japan, as many voters support the US-imposed, war-renouncing 1947 constitution. Last week, Takaichi said at a parliament session "nothing has been decided" over whether to send Japanese warships to the Middle East to escort tankers. Kobayashi said he would like to see Takaichi "ascertain what President Trump's true intentions are" over his call for reinforcements.

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ATHENS, March 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - France has loaned to Greece a painting by Eugene Delacroix depicting the fall of Missolonghi, one of the most famous episodes of the Greek war of independence, officials said Saturday. "Greece on the Ruins of Missolonghi" was created in 1826, just months after the end of the siege of Missolonghi, one of the bloodiest episodes of the 1821-1830 war. It has been loaned to the city's Archaeological Museum by the Museum of Fine Arts of Bordeaux for an exhibition running from April to November. "Even today, the Philhellenic movement still holds the sacrifice at Missolonghi in its collective conscience," Culture Minister Lina Mendoni told a news conference in the western Greek city. The Paris subway station Botzaris honours one of the Greek leaders who fell in the Missolonghi campaign, the Souliot chief Markos Botsaris.

LONDON, March 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Police are investigating claims by Everton striker Thierno Barry that friends of his were "attacked" during his side's 2-0 defeat to Arsenal on Saturday. I bring my friends to enjoy a game, and it gets ruined by a few silly people," Barry wrote in a post alongside the video. This type of attitude has no place in the game and is simply not tolerated in football. "My friends and the people who were attacked had to be escorted by the Arsenal club's security staff as well as the police because of fears of retaliation from our supporters." Arsenal won the game with two late goals to close in on a first Premier League title in 22 years.