World indoor athletics championships: five stand-out events
TORUN, Poland, March 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Armand Duplantis and Keely Hodgkinson headline the world indoor athletics championships that kick off in Torun, Poland, on Friday. AFP Sport looks at five stand-out events from the March 20-22 champs:- Women's 800m -All eyes will be on Keely Hodgkinson after the Briton smashed the indoor 800m world record last month. - Men's pole vault -A fourth world indoor title -- to match Sergey Bubka -- beckons for Sweden's Armand Duplantis, fresh from setting a 15th world record, of 6.31m, last week. The 26-year-old, who set his first ever world record in Torun in 2020, has won the past three world indoor titles with the three highest vaults in world indoor history: 6.20m in 2022, 6.05m in 2024 and 6.15m in 2025. - Women's high jump -World record-holder and Olympic champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh will be aiming to regain the world indoor title she last won in Belgrade in 2022.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
March 19, 2026 04:01 UTC
The Museum of the Earth Features the Blaschka Glass Invertebrates Collection
Reading time: about 6 minutesThe Blaschka Glass Invertebrates Collection was recently moved from Corson-Mudd Hall to the Museum of the Earth due to construction in Corson-Mudd Hall. The collection of glass models of soft-bodied organisms were made in the late 1800s by father and son Leopold Blaschka and Rudolf Blaschka, who created between 10,000 to 15,000 glass models of invertebrates in their careers. Samantha Miculinich A shelf of Jellyfish glass models, part of the Cornell Collection of Blaschka Invertebrate Models on display in Mann Library. Samantha Miculinich A collection of glass Sea Anenome models from the Cornell Collection of Blaschka Invertebrate Models in Mann Library. Visitors can view the Blaschka Glass Invertebrates Exhibit in the Museum of the Earth, or a permanent, small collection of around 50 glass models in Mann Library open to the public.
Source:Daily Sun
March 19, 2026 03:34 UTC
Iran condemned as UN maritime body holds emergency talks on Mideast shipping
LONDON, March 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Gulf states and Western nations strongly criticised Iran at an emergency meeting Wednesday of the UN's maritime body, convened amid growing fears for thousands of stranded ships and seafarers. Numerous nations used opening statements at the International Maritime Organization gathering to lambast Tehran's response to US-Israeli strikes, which has seen Iran target Gulf countries and commercial shipping. "Qatar resolutely condemns the attacks and threats from ... Iran perpetrated against merchant vessels and seafarers as well as shipping infrastructure in the region," the Gulf state's IMO delegate told the meeting. - 'Unlawful' -In response, Iran blamed "the recent unlawful use of force and military aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime". - 'Maritime corridor' -Maritime industry bodies have echoed that, urging a "coordinated international approach to security" while demanding that "seafarer welfare must be taken into account".
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
March 19, 2026 03:16 UTC
Trump attends return of US aircrew killed in Iran war crash
DOVER, United States, March 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump attended the return Wednesday of six crew members killed when their refueling aircraft crashed during the Iran war. The KC-135 plane crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, bringing the number of US troops killed in the joint US-Israeli operation to at least 13. "Their courage will never be forgotten," the White House said on X after the event, which was closed to the media at the request of the families. Trump, wearing a black overcoat, saluted as flag-draped coffins were removed from the back of a transport plane, according to photographs released by the White House said. At the time the White House accused Trump's critics of "disgustingly playing partisan politics."
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
March 19, 2026 03:11 UTC
Another conflict in the Middle East
So what happens in the Middle East simply cannot be ignored. Given the fractious nature of the Middle East countries, with no dominant power, it is only human nature that a tyrant and his henchmen attempt to control the great riches of the Middle East oil reserves. We saw that with Saddam Hussein, a cruel man who ruled by terror and murder, who eventually invaded Iran and Kuwait until the United States finally intervened and stopped his march to Middle East domination. This was a clear sign that Iran strove to dominate and conquer the Middle East. Whether Iran would ever use a bomb is unknown, but clearly, they would use the bomb as leverage over the oil-rich Middle East.
Source:Daily Sun
March 19, 2026 03:06 UTC
Brazil lowers benchmark rate to 14.75%, first cut in nearly two years
Brazil lowers benchmark rate to 14.75%, first cut in nearly two yearsBRASÍLIA, March 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Brazil's Central Bank lowered its benchmark interest rate on Wednesday for the first time in nearly two years, though it urged caution due to fuel price volatility caused by the Iran war. The bank lowered the key rate, known as the Selic and currently one of the highest in the world, to 14.75 percent from 15 percent. "Such a situation demands caution on the part of emerging economies, in a context of increased price volatility for financial assets and raw materials," it added. Brazil's inflation slowed to an annual rate of 3.8 percent in February, within the range targeted by the central bank. But economists noted the decline was due in part to lower fuel prices -- which could again turn higher if the war in the Middle East drags on.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
March 19, 2026 03:06 UTC
Pro-Iran Iraqi armed group says will stop US embassy attacks, under conditions
Pro-Iran Iraqi armed group says will stop US embassy attacks, under conditionsBAGHDAD, March 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - An influential pro-Iranian armed group in Iraq pledged early Thursday to stop attacking the US embassy for five days, subject to several conditions including that Israel stop strikes on parts of Beirut. AFP reported no drone or rocket attacks so far on the US embassy in Iraq's capital Baghdad between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Strikes have targeted Iran-backed groups, which in turn have claimed near daily attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region. Kataeb Hezbollah said the group's secretary-general had "issued orders to suspend operations targeting the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad for a period of five days". The US embassy has been targeted by drone and rocket attacks several times in recent days, with air defences intercepting most of the projectiles.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
March 19, 2026 03:02 UTC
Iran targets Gulf energy sites after gas field strike
Tehran, following a strike on its South Pars field, said it would respond forcefully to any further attacks on its energy sector. "If it is repeated again, further attacks on your energy infrastructure and that of your allies will not stop until it is completely destroyed." Saudi Arabia also said it intercepted drones targeting energy infrastructure in the east, while debris from a ballistic missile landed near a refinery south of Riyadh. - 'Cowardly assassination' -French President Emmanuel Macron said he had spoken to his US counterpart Donald Trump and the Emir of Qatar, and called for a moratorium on strikes targeting civilian infrastructure. Strikes also hit multiple sites overnight, while Iranian media reported fresh bombardment across several regions, including Tehran.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
March 19, 2026 03:02 UTC
Abu Dhabi closes gas facility due to falling missile debris
DUBAI, March 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Abu Dhabi has shut down operations at a gas facility due to falling debris from missile interceptions, the Emirati capital's media office said on Thursday. "Abu Dhabi authorities are responding to incidents at the Habshan gas facilities and at the Bab (oil) field caused by falling debris from the successful interception of missiles," Abu Dhabi's media office posted on X. "The gas facilities have been shut down," it said, adding no injuries had been reported. The United Arab Emirates' foreign ministry expressed "strong condemnation" of the attack, which it blamed on Iran. "These attacks constitute a serious escalation and a violation of the principles of international law," the ministry said in a statement posted on X.Iran warned on Wednesday that it would destroy Gulf nations' oil and gas industries, which it considers American interests, if its own energy sector is harmed again following a strike on its South Pars field, the world's largest gas reserve.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
March 19, 2026 03:01 UTC
Trump vows to destroy Iran gas field if Qatar plant hit again
WASHINGTON, United States, March 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to destroy Iran's key South Pars gas field if there were further attacks against Qatar's main gas plant. Trump confirmed on his Truth Social platform that Israel had struck the South Pars field but said the United States "knew nothing" of the attack, which spurred Iran to launch an attack on Qatar's Ras Laffan facility. "NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field unless Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case, Qatar - In which instance the United States of America, with or without the help or consent of Israel, will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before," the US president wrote.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
March 19, 2026 02:56 UTC
Get to know: Briana Morton of Digital Promise
We came from a community known for strong schools, but Hoover City Schools have truly exceeded our expectations. Today, I serve as the Alabama director for Digital Promise, a global nonprofit focused on expanding access to high-quality learning experiences. While high school students are learning to become independent, they are still children, and most don’t yet have a clear vision for their future — or know which questions to ask to help shape it. Schools work hard to communicate through newsletters and other channels, and many do an excellent job. When families and schools work together to share knowledge and start conversations early, we open doors for students and help them make informed choices about their futures.
Source:Daily Sun
March 19, 2026 00:55 UTC
Beatrice Bakery, famed for its fruitcakes, is closing
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Source:Daily Sun
March 18, 2026 23:26 UTC
Second wave of explosions heard in Riyadh: AFP journalists
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, March 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A second round of loud explosions rang out over Riyadh on Wednesday, AFP journalists reported, after authorities previously said they intercepted four ballistic missiles headed towards the Saudi capital. The Gulf kingdom has been regularly targeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks since the Middle East war began, including some aimed at its massive energy installations and the capital's diplomatic quarter. Iran had threatened earlier on Wednesday to target regional energy facilities.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
March 18, 2026 18:56 UTC
Railway not collecting excess fare from passengers during Eid
DHAKA, MARCH 18, 2026 (BSS) – Bangladesh Railway collects fares at fixed rates, and there is no scope for travelling ticket examiners (TTEs) or ticket counters to charge excess fares during rail journeys. If any passenger is found travelling without a ticket, the railway authority can charge the actual fare along with a fine equal to the fare, according to railway rules, said a PID handout issued today. The railway authority realised Tk 820, including the regular fare of Tk 410 for the Dhaka-Sylhet route. The railway authority has instructed officials to stop selling short-distance tickets during Eid so that no passenger can travel long distances using a short-distance ticket. If there are any allegations of additional fare collection by railway employees, legal action will be taken against those responsible.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
March 18, 2026 18:41 UTC
Iraq's gas imports from Iran halted due to war
BAGHDAD, March 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iraq's gas imports from Iran were completely halted on Wednesday, authorities said, the latest blow to the country's battered economy reeling from the impact of the Middle East war. The country has been unwillingly drawn into the conflict triggered by the US-Israel attack on its neighbour Iran on February 28. News of the gas stoppage came after Tehran denounced a US-Israeli strike on Iranian facilities exploiting the vast South Pars/North Dome gas field. Despite its abundant oil and gas reserves, Iraq's power plants are highly dependent on gas imported from Iran, which supplies about a third of the country's needs. A strike near Iraq's western border with Syria on Wednesday killed three fighters from the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi, the alliance said.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
March 18, 2026 18:23 UTC