File PhotoDHAKA, March 14, 2026 (BSS) - The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment has issued a public notice regarding the extension of visa validity for Bangladeshi migrant workers who returned home on leave from various Middle Eastern countries in the context of the Iran-Israel war situation. According to the notice, many Bangladeshi migrant workers who came to the country on leave have already seen their visas expire or are about to see them expire while staying in Bangladesh. Due to the current situation, it is not possible for them to travel to the concerned countries to renew their visas. For workers who returned to Bangladesh from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Bahrain, visa renewal must be processed through their employer, sponsor or kafeel by contacting them or by submitting applications online. Meanwhile, the governments of Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have already extended by one month the validity of entry visas that have expired or are about to expire.

Two weeks after the United States and Israel attacked Iran, the entire Gulf region remained in the grip of a conflict that has sent shockwaves through the global economy. Oil prices have surged 40 percent as Iran has choked off the vital Strait of Hormuz and attacked Gulf energy facilities. He later said that although the United States had "beaten" Iran, countries dependent on the strait for oil "must take care of that passage, and we will help." AFP journalists heard blasts over Jerusalem after the military detected missiles launched from Iran on Saturday. The war has also begun disrupting global sport, with motorsport's governing body cancelling April's Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Formula One races.

MANAMA, March 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Explosions rang out over Bahrain's capital of Manama early on Sunday, two AFP journalists said, as Iran continued its strikes across the Gulf. Bahrain said it has intercepted 125 missiles and 203 drones since the start of Iran's attacks, which have killed two people in the kingdom and 24 others in neighbouring Gulf nations.

JOS, Nigeria, March 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Gunmen killed 20 people and stole cattle from a village in central Nigeria in a "bandit" attack, a local development organisation said on Saturday. Kidnap gangs, referred to as "bandits" by locals, regularly carry out mass kidnappings for ransom and loot villages in Nigeria. The latest attack took place in the country's central Plateau state on Friday, the Kanam Development Association (KADA) said in a statement, when gunmen ambushed soldiers on a routine patrol. The gunmen then stormed a nearby community and stole property, including cattle. "This further compounds the suffering of already vulnerable rural communities," KADA said, adding villages in the area had been subject to repeated attacks and kidnappings in recent years.

“Pretty complete game for us, good response by our guys in terms of some urgency.”On Friday night, Harvard looked faster, stronger and, quite frankly, like the better team. “Just eat, flush out and kind of just go on autopilot [to] get ready for that game,” Kraft, who had two goals on Saturday, said. “You don't want to play from behind in a do-or-die game,” Jones said. That, to me, was a big part of the game,” Jones said. With Harvard yielding the sixth-fewest penalty minutes per game in the country, Jones emphasized making its few-and-far-between chances count.

Corsicana, TX (75110)TodayClearing and windy. SSW winds shifting to WNW at 25 to 35 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 50 mph..TonightPartly cloudy skies with gusty winds. Winds N at 25 to 35 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

While the world's attention is focused on the US-Israeli war with Iran, the Israeli-occupied West Bank has experienced a surge in deadly settler violence. Israeli human rights group B'Tselem said the increase in bloodshed "indicates the intensification of Israel's ethnic cleansing efforts under cover of the war with Iran". "It seems that when the Iran war began, the settlers saw it as a golden opportunity," Ibrahim Hamayel, a resident of Abu Falah who tried to push back the settlers, told AFP. The UN says 180 Palestinians have been displaced since the war with Iran started on February 28, and 1,500 since the start of 2026. "The level of violence in the West Bank is unacceptable," the European Union said in a recent statement, adding that many Palestinian communities "have been attacked, (their) properties damaged and livelihoods destroyed" since the Iran war began.

BAGHDAD, March 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iraq will travel to Mexico for a 2026 World Cup playoff match despite calls for it to be postponed due to the Middle East war, the country's football association said Saturday. "We succeeded in communicating with some of the clubs of our professional players to facilitate their joining the national team." Iraq is scheduled to face either Suriname or Bolivia in an intercontinental playoff final. The conflict had also cast doubt on the participation of Iraq, which neighbours Iran, due to travel disruption concerns, with its manager calling for FIFA to postpone the country's playoff match. Iraq's head coach, Australian Graham Arnold, said many of the team's players and technical staff were stranded in the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict.

And by one estimate, the war in Ukraine has caused more than 300 million tonnes of additional emissions -- equivalent to France's annual output. This estimate, by the Initiative on GHG Accounting of War, takes into account military operations and reconstruction efforts, forest fires, and longer flight routes. "From a purely economic standpoint... rising fossil fuel prices make decarbonization and electrification solutions more attractive," he said. He pointed to the rise in popularity of heat pumps in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which caused energy prices in Europe to rise sharply. "We have particular concerns around damaged oil infrastructure, military facilities and the sensitive marine environment of the Persian Gulf."

US star Tharp third all-time in 60m hurdles with winLOS ANGELES, United States, March 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Ja'Kobe Tharp became the third-fastest performer in 60m hurdles history on Saturday, lowering his 2026 world-best time to 7.32 seconds by winning at the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The 20-year-old American, who set this year's world-fastest time with a victory in 7.36 seconds in Friday's heats, won the title at the elite US collegiate meet. His time made him the third-best all-time 60m hurdles performer behind Britain's Colin Jackson, who ran a best of 7.30 in 1994, and American Grant Holloway, who set the world record of 7.27 in 2024. Tharp won the US 110m hurdles crown last year and was sixth at the World Championships in Tokyo last year. Tharp did not compete in the US trials earlier this month and will not compete at the World Indoor Championships next week.

The KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, bringing the number of US troops killed in operations against Iran to at least 13. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which is a loose alliance of Iran-backed Iraqi factions, claimed to have downed a KC-135. The KC-135 crash is at least the fourth US military aircraft lost during the war, after three F-15s were shot down by friendly fire over Kuwait. Early in the war -- which began on February 28 -- Kuwaiti forces mistakenly downed three American F-15E fighters, but all six crew members were able to eject, according to CENTCOM. That incident occurred during combat including "attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones," the military command said at the time.

SEOUL, March 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - North Korea tested nuclear-capable rocket launchers, state media reported on Sunday, a day after Seoul detected the launch of around 10 ballistic missiles. The test comes after South Korean and US forces kicked off their springtime military drills, due to run until March 19. It said the test involved 12 600mm-calibre ultra-precision multiple rocket launchers and two artillery companies. "The launch pattern... is closely synchronised with the schedule" of the joint drills, he said. This week, Kim Yo Jong, a powerful confidante of her brother Kim Jong Un, said the joint drills "may cause unimaginably terrible consequences".

Alcaraz, 22, became the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam with his Australian Open triumph this year. But Medvedev broke back immediately, and his control in the rallies had Alcaraz gasping after one long point in the ninth game. "In the second set, I started to feel much better. The Italian was delighted to finally punch his ticket to the final after falling to Alcaraz in the semis to Alcaraz in 2023 and 2024. Sinner broke him twice as the German's errors began to climb, and Zverev cut a dejected figure after Sinner pocketed the opening set.

China says no fear of hosts Australia in Women's Asian Cup semi-finalPERTH, Australia, March 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - China coach Ante Milicic declared his team has no fear of facing hosts Australia in front of a big crowd in their Women's Asian Cup semi-final, calling them "resilient and patriotic". Australia booked their spot in the final four a day earlier with a testing 2-1 win over North Korea. China are bidding for a record-extending 10th continental title and will have to get past Australia without their star player Wang Shuang. "Even without Wang Shuang, it doesn't bother us," insisted Milicic of the former Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham striker. "Wang Shuang has been excellent for us throughout this tournament.

She warned that, depending on how long the Iran war lasts, inflation could again soar past four percent. The United States unexpectedly lost 92,000 jobs in February, government data showed, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent. Analysts say a relatively steady unemployment rate has been masking churn beneath the surface. - 'Rock and a hard place' -Some Fed policymakers, however, have been cautious in describing the possible inflationary shocks of the war. To Daco, however, uncertainty means the Fed is more likely to hold rates steady "for a long period of time."