Former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. File photoDHAKA, March 7, 2026 (BSS) - The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs will confer the 'Best Indomitable Woman in Advancing Democracy (Gonotantra er Ogrojatray Sreshtho Odommo Nari)' award on Begum Khaleda Zia. It will be given to her under the Indomitable Women Award programme marking International Women's Day 2026. As in previous years, five women will also be honoured as 'Best Indomitable Women' (Sreshtho Odommo Nari) in five different categories this year. Shamla Begum will receive the award for overcoming the trauma of violence and achieving success in life while Most.

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked 4th on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI index of 182 at 9:13am on Saturday. Dhaka’s air was classified as "unhealthy", according to the air quality and pollution city ranking. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.

Mohamed Ouahbi has replaced history-maker Walid Regragui as Morocco head coach just three months ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Belgium-born 49-year-old tactician will be tasked with leading Morocco at World Cup 2026, where the Atlas Lions have been drawn in Group C with Brazil, Haiti, and Scotland. Ouahbi made a name for himself on the international stage last year by winning the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2025. Ouahbi also coached at the prestigious RSC Anderlecht training centre, where he won the Belgian U-17 Championship in 2018. In African qualifying for World Cup 2026, meanwhile, Morocco soared to eight wins from eight games to emphatically book their ticket to North America.

Paris Saint-Germain suffered a damaging setback ahead of their crucial Champions League clash with Chelsea as AS Monaco secured a 3-1 victory in Ligue 1 at the Parc des Princes on Friday. The defeat comes at a difficult moment for PSG, who are preparing for a season-defining Champions League last-16 tie against Chelsea, with the first leg in Paris on Wednesday and the return scheduled for March 17. Monaco’s victory also carried an element of revenge after they were knocked out by PSG in the Champions League knockout play-offs last month. The principality side squandered a two-goal advantage across the tie, losing 3-2 in the first leg before a 2-2 draw in the return sent PSG through 5-4 on aggregate. “It is not the best result going into the Champions League.

Ferry services on the Aricha-Kazirhat and Paturia-Daulatdia river routes resumed on Saturday after a two-and-a-half-hour disruption caused by dense fog. Abdus Salam, Deputy General Manager of BIWTC Aricha Sector, said the ferry services remained suspended from 7:30 am due to poor visibility. Two ferries got stuck in the middle of the Padma River, causing immense suffering to the passengers. Several hundred vehicles, including goods-laden trucks, are waiting to cross the river. As the fog disappeared, the ferry services on the two routes were restored around 10am, respectively.

AFP journalists heard explosions in Dubai and Bahrain's capital Manama on Saturday, one week into Iran's retaliatory attacks on targets around the Gulf. Two blasts were heard in Dubai and one in Manama, where a warning siren sounded. "Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," Bahrain's interior ministry posted on X.

Although Sheikh Mujib had consulted party colleagues beforehand, there is no dispute that the speech he delivered was entirely his own. How a nation facing overwhelming military odds could unite behind a shared dream of liberation remains a subject worthy of deeper examination. In essence, he sought to give constitutional legitimacy to the people’s power that had emerged through the mass non-cooperation movement. Thus, beyond inspiring people at home, Sheikh Mujib remained firmly committed to the constitutional mandate given by the electorate. Through the March 7 speech, he planted the dream of a state in the hearts of the people.

Four dead, at least 12 injured after tornados hit Michigan: US mediaWASHINGTON, United States, March 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Tornados struck the midwestern US state of Michigan on Friday, killing four people and injuring at least a dozen others, US media reported. The Branch County Sheriff's Office said a tornado near Union City in the southern part of the state killed three people and left 12 injured, according to multiple media outlets. "Our thoughts are with those who have lost family, friends, and property during this incident," the Branch County Sheriff's Office said in a statement to local media. "Emergency Management personnel will be conducting damage assessments in the affected area as required by the State of Michigan," the local sheriff's office said in an emergency alert. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said Friday evening she was activating a state emergency operations center "to coordinate an all-hands-on-deck response to severe weather in southwestern Michigan."

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, March 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman urged Iran on Saturday to "avoid miscalculation", following missile and drone launches at the kingdom. Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, reported at least two drone attacks earlier this week that targeted the Ras Tanura refinery in the east. The official Saudi Press Agency later reported another missile attack at the same base, saying it was also intercepted, quoting a defence ministry spokesperson. The news agency also reported a series of drone attacks targeting the Shaybah oil field near the Emirati border. In a separate incident, a drone was intercepted east of Riyadh, according to the defence ministry.

INDIAN WELLS, United States, March 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - World number two Jannik Sinner overwhelmed Czech qualifier Dalibor Svrcina 6-1, 6-1 on Friday to launch his bid for a first Indian Wells hardcourt crown. After Svrcina held serve for 1-1 in the first set, Sinner won nine straight games before Svrcina managed another hold. After Sakatsume held serve to open the second, Sabalenka won five straight games, closing out the match without facing a break point. Rakhimova, ranked 88th, served for the second set three times, wasting one set point. "I think I got a little bit passive in the second set and a little lazy with the footwork," Gauff said.

Reading time: about 5 minutesHow will this affect LeBron’s legacy? For over a decade, this question has signified LeBron James’ status as one of the greatest NBA players of all time. Given the controversial nature of the conflict, one would think a man as media savvy as LeBron James would try to sidestep the question entirely. The incident sheds light on the important question of the value of holding athletes and celebrities like James accountable for what they say and do. If we continue to immortalize people, who in the end are fallible, then we only end up perpetually furthering harmful ideas.

KYIV, Ukraine, March 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Ukraine said three people were killed in Russian strikes on an apartment block early Saturday, triggering a nationwide air alert and prompting neighbouring Poland to scramble military planes. Kharkiv mayor Igor Terekhov said that rescuers had found the bodies of three people in the rubble of the residential building in the Kyivskyi district of Kharkiv. Ten people were wounded in the attack, including two boys aged six and 11, and a 17-year-old girl, regional military chief Oleg Synegubov posted on Telegram. NATO member Poland said it was scrambling military planes in response to the attack. In the city of Chuhuiv in the Kharkiv region, Mayor Galyna Minaeva said two people were wounded in an "enemy drone attack" on a house.

DUBAI, March 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - AFP journalists heard explosions in Dubai and Bahrain's capital Manama on Saturday, one week into Iran's retaliatory attacks on targets around the Gulf. Two blasts were heard in Dubai and one in Manama, where a warning siren sounded. "Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," Bahrain's interior ministry posted on X.

KYIV, Ukraine, March 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Ukraine issued a nationwide air alert early Saturday, as Russian strikes wounded 10 people in the Kharkiv region, authorities said. Kharkiv regional military chief Oleg Synegubov said at least three people were treated in hospital, including an 11-year-old boy, after a strike on a residential building. "According to preliminary information, five people are trapped under the rubble of the house," he posted on Telegram. Mayor Igor Terekhov said a search operation was underway to rescue them. In the city of Chuhuiv in the Kharkiv region, Mayor Galyna Minaeva said two people were wounded in an "enemy drone attack" on a house.

Since last week, US average domestic fuel prices have risen 11 percent, according to the AAA's fuel price gauge. Swonk warned that rising fuel prices added "insult to injury" for low-income Americans, who are already seeing higher healthcare costs and a tightening of welfare benefits under Trump. Trump, who has bragged about oil prices falling during his term, sought to address the political fallout on Friday, telling CNN he expected prices to come down quickly. Robinson, the schoolteacher, said he will be watching gas prices every day now. "The more you pay higher gas, higher groceries (costs)," he said, voters will "start to see" that the middle class is shrinking.