JAKARTA, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - An April summit of the D-8 bloc of Muslim-majority developed countries that includes Iran has been postponed due to the war in the Middle East, host Indonesia said Friday. No new date was announced for the meeting that was to have stretched over four days, culminating in a leaders' summit on April 15. Apart from Iran and Indonesia, the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation also includes Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey. Refering to "developments since February 28" when the US-Israeli attacks on Iran started, Indonesian foreign ministry official Tri Tharyat said it was decided to hold the D-8 meeting at a later date. "Last night, the foreign minister signed a letter addressed to his counterparts announcing the postponement of the D-8 summit," added Tri.

Clad in a brown Banarasi saree and with bright henna on her hands, Marzia Akhter Mitu of Naksa village in Khulna’s Koyra Upazila was prepared for a new chapter in her life. But, on the way to her in-laws’ house in Bagerhat’s Mongla Upazila, dreams of a happy conjugal life shattered in tragedy. A Navy bus and the microbus carrying Mitu, her husband Abdur Rahman Sabbir, and others of their family crashed head-on, killing 14 people in Bagerhat’s Rampal Upazila on Thursday afternoon. Mitu's paternal grandmother Rashida Begum was laid to rest in her village home, he said. Hundreds of people had gathered at the family’s home in Naksa village to see the four bodies.

Jalloh had pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to aid the Islamic State and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Shooter’s Guard service and Islamic State tiesJalloh is a naturalized U.S. citizen from Sierra Leone. Authorities launched the 2016 operation after Jalloh made contact with Islamic State members in Africa earlier that year. Jalloh later told the informant that the Islamic State group had asked if he wanted to participate in an attack. He tried to donate $500 to the Islamic State, but the money actually went to an account controlled by the FBI, according to court documents.

Reading time: about 2 minutesThe men’s lightweight rowing team’s temporary suspension, announced 34 days ago, has been lifted with a “phased return,” announced by Cornell Athletics Director Nicki Moore in a Tuesday email to the Cornell rowing community. The team’s suspension was issued after the University became aware of an “incident,” according to an email Moore sent to the team in February. In the Tuesday email, Moore explained that under “close collaboration” with head coach Tyler Nase, the phased return was established. The Sun previously reported that the team’s next meet was the National Collegiate Lightweight Invitational, scheduled for March 28 in Overpeck County Park, New Jersey. The National Collegiate Lightweight Invitational has since been removed from the team’s posted schedule.

DHAKA, March 13, 2026 (BSS)-Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz won thetoss and sent Pakistan into bat first in the second ODI at Sher-e-BanglaNational Cricket Stadium today. Pace sensation Nahid Rana claimed a 5-24 to bowl out Pakistan for just 114, atotal which Bangladesh gunned down in emphatic fashion, leaving 209 ballsunused. Bangladesh, however, are unchanged from the squad of the first ODI whilePakistan, aiming to keep the series alive, brought in pacer Haris Rouf,replacing spinner Abrar Ahmed. It is not easy, it has been challenging," Mehidy Hasan Miraz said after thetoss. Tanzid Tamim was excellent in the last matchand it is a great opportunity for the batters.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today visited his political adviser and BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed, who is currently undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the city. Afroza Abbas, wife of Mirza Abbas and President of the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, and concerned physicians were present during the visit. Earlier in the day, the BNP said that an air ambulance from Evercare Hospital would carry Mirza Abbas to Singapore at 6:00 pm today for advanced treatment. Mirza Abbas fell ill suddenly on Wednesday evening while drinking water during iftar and lost consciousness. As his condition did not improve, he was admitted to Evercare Hospital late that night.

Water Resources Minister Md Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee spoke to reporters after inspecting Rahmatkhali, Wapda, Joksin and Mandari canals in Lakshmipur Sadar Upazila today. Anee assured that all welfare-oriented efforts would be realized through the sincerity and active cooperation of the citizenry. Providing details on the upcoming national rollout, he announced that a comprehensive canal excavation programme is scheduled to commence on March 16. Following the inauguration, the Minister noted, the excavation programme will be expanded across the entire country in phases to restore essential water flow and drainage capacities. He reminded the public that a similar canal excavation programme launched during President Zia's tenure yielded transformative economic results for the country.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. File PhotoDHAKA, March 13, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate a nationwide programme on March 16 to excavate and re-excavate rivers, canals and water bodies aimed at improving irrigation, boosting agricultural production and strengthening water management across the country. The prime minister will formally launch the programme by initiating canal excavation work at Kaharole upazila in Dinajpur district, said a handout today. In the first phase, the initiative will be implemented in 54 districts across the country. The initiative is expected to play an important role in improving irrigation facilities, boosting agricultural production and creating employment opportunities for rural people.

DHAKA, March 13, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to inaugurate a programme for providing monthly honorarium to religious leaders of different religions tomorrow. The inauguration ceremony will be held at 10:00am at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital, according to an official release of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Under the programme, monthly honorariums will be provided to imams, muezzins and khadems of mosques, priests and sebaits of temples, principals and vice-principals of Buddhist monasteries, and priests and assistant priests of churches. The Prime Minister will formally launch the initiative at the ceremony.

China confirms top economic official to meet US counterpart in ParisBEIJING, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - China's top economic official will leave on Saturday for talks with his US counterpart in France, less than three weeks before President Donald Trump's expected summit with President Xi Jinping. The Paris gathering is seen as setting the stage for Trump's expected visit to China later this month. - New probes -China and the United States have navigated a rocky economic relationship since Trump began a second term in January 2025. There are hopes that tensions could cool, although newly unveiled probes by Washington into international trade practices have again threatened more instability. China's commerce ministry criticised the latest US probes as "a typical act of unilateralism that severely undermines the international economic and trade order".

BAGHDAD, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Two drones fell near a major southern Iraqi oil field, two oil ministry officials told AFP on Friday, as the war in the Middle East causes unprecedented upheaval in the sector. "Two drones hit communications towers near the Majnoon oil field, without causing casualties or material damage," one official told AFP. The oil field had already paused operations prior to the incident. Oil ministry spokesperson Saheb Bazoun said it was the first time the field had been targeted, adding that one drone exploded after crashing. Several oil fields and facilities in Iraq have been hit by drones since the Middle East war began on February 28.

Sri Lanka to repatriate remains of 84 Iranians killed in US attackCOLOMBO, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Sri Lanka is repatriating on Friday the remains of 84 Iranian sailors killed when their frigate was sunk nine days ago by a US submarine, the Foreign Ministry said. The seamen were killed when IRIS Dena was torpedoed on March 4 just off the coast of Sri Lanka, in a move that extended the Middle East war to the Indian Ocean. "All domestic procedures have been completed, and the Iranians are bringing a chartered aircraft for the repatriation," spokesman Thushara Rodrigo told AFP. "The 32 sailors who were rescued by our navy will remain in Sri Lanka." The embalmed remains, in sealed boxes, are to be flown out of Sri Lanka from the Mattala International Airport in the south of the country, officials said.

Kapila Chandrasena, who was CEO of SriLankan Airlines during a 2013 deal to purchase 10 aircraft worth $2.3 billion, was arrested on Thursday and remanded in custody, officials said. Chandrasena was previously arrested and released on bail in February 2020 in a similar but separate case. At that time, the United States, Britain and France named him in a joint investigation into Airbus business deals. Investigators in Britain accused Airbus of failing to prevent persons associated with the company from bribing directors or employees of SriLankan Airlines to "obtain or retain business or advantage". In June 2025, Nishantha Wickramasinghe, who was chairman of SriLankan Airlines when the carrier contracted to buy the 10 aircraft in 2013 -- was arrested in an unrelated corruption case.

SYDNEY, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - History-making Uzbekistan are targeting a major upset against South Korea in the Women's Asian Cup quarter-finals, with coach Kotryna Kulbyte on Friday urging her players to keep dreaming big. The two sides clash in Sydney on Saturday with direct qualification to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil guaranteed for the winner. While South Korea -- the 2022 Asian runners-up -- are making their fourth consecutive appearance in the knockout rounds, it is a first for the Uzbeks. "Now it is about achieving our next dream, but to dream without putting in the work does not work. South Korea scored nine times through eight different players in their group games against Australia, Iran and the Philippines.

Greece arrests Pole on charges of spying on US baseATHENS, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Greek police have arrested a Polish man on charges of spying on the military base used by US forces in Crete, according to the ANA news agency. Thursday's arrest came 10 days after a Georgian man was detained on the same charges. The 58-year-old Polish citizen, who has denied the charges, was allegedly taking pictures of ships entering the Souda military base on the island, according to police sources quoted by the agency. On March 2, a Georgian man was arrested on charges of spying at the same base. The man, a 36-year-old Georgian national of Azerbaijani origin, has denied the spying charges.