Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has declared that Tehran will never succumb to US pressure to engage in negotiations. This response follows former US President Donald Trump’s claim that he sent a letter to Iran’s leadership proposing talks on the nuclear deal. Trump had stated, "There are two ways to handle Iran: military action or an agreement preventing them from acquiring nuclear weapons." Khamenei dismissed this, saying Washington’s true intent is to impose its own terms on Iran, which will never be accepted.

Several Bangladeshi companies are forming partnerships with Starlink to provide uninterrupted high-speed internet services in Bangladesh. These local companies have signed agreements with Starlink to set up ground earth stations. According to the office of the Chief Adviser, a delegation from Starlink is currently visiting Bangladesh, where discussions are underway to identify potential installation sites, as well as matters related to land allocation, construction assistance, and infrastructure maintenance. The Bangladeshi companies plan to utilize land, including areas in high-tech parks, for this project. Efforts will continue to implement an effective model in collaboration with Starlink within the next 90 days.

Pakistan has instructed all Afghan nationals holding Afghan Citizen Cards to leave the country by March 31, 2025. Since November 2023, Pakistan has been sending Afghan nationals back to their homeland. Although plans to expel all Afghan nationals have been in place, this is the first time the Ministry of Interior has officially confirmed it. Over 800,000 Afghan nationals have already returned to Afghanistan, but an estimated 3 million Afghan nationals remain in Pakistan.

NATO has urged Europe to boost defense production to secure its borders. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the need for increased defense budgets and higher production of military equipment. He stated, “We must spend more to keep ourselves safe.” He also pointed out that the production of military supplies has been insufficient. After the U.S. halted military aid to Ukraine, its effects are already visible, as Russian forces have surrounded thousands of Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region.

Following the U.S. suspension of military aid to Ukraine, European Union leaders are planning an $860 billion increase in defense spending, a move welcomed by Ukraine. On March 3, European heads of state and government convened in Brussels to discuss strategies for supporting Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also attended the meeting. The discussions focused on how the EU could compensate for the halted U.S. assistance. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia would not relinquish any of its controlled territories, insisting that victory must lead to a “peace that suits us.” On the other hand, Trump urged Zelensky to strike a mineral resources deal.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Hamas leaders to leave Gaza immediately or face intensified destruction. He also demanded the release of all hostages held by Hamas. In a direct message to the people of Gaza, Trump stated, “A beautiful future awaits, but if you hold onto the hostages, you are dead!” Earlier, Trump had reaffirmed his strong support for Israel and approved billions of dollars in arms supplies following the ceasefire agreement.

Malaysia’s Immigration Department conducted a raid at an entertainment center in Selangor on Wednesday night, detaining 80 undocumented migrants, including Bangladeshis. Selangor’s Immigration Director Khairul Aminus Kamaruddin reported that among those arrested were 75 women and five men, aged between 17 and 45, from Bangladesh, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. The operation was launched at 10:30 PM following two weeks of intelligence gathering based on public complaints regarding illegal migrants in the area.

The Trump administration has temporarily halted the 25% tariffs imposed on most Canadian and Mexican goods on Thursday. In response, Canada has also delayed its retaliatory tariffs. However, this suspension is set to expire on April 2, after which Trump has threatened to impose counter-tariffs on all global trade partners. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated, “On April 2, reciprocal tariffs will be implemented. We hope Mexico and Canada take sufficient measures to curb fentanyl shipments into the U.S.” Earlier this week, Trump had imposed the 25% tariff on both nations.

The US State Department announced plans to use AI-powered monitoring to revoke visas of foreign students identified as Hamas sympathizers. The initiative, termed “Catch and Revoke,” will analyze social media accounts of thousands of student visa holders to detect potential affiliations with the Palestinian resistance group. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that individuals supporting Hamas or similar organizations pose a national security threat. Axios reported that the review will focus on accounts active since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack.

China has vowed to retaliate against U.S. tariffs, declaring its readiness to engage in any trade war. The Chinese Embassy in Washington issued a statement condemning the latest tariff hikes imposed by the U.S. government. Former President Donald Trump, in his first speech after securing a second term, announced additional tariffs, set to take effect on April 2. In response, China, along with Canada and Mexico, has threatened countermeasures. Analysts warn that the situation is escalating into a full-scale global trade war. On Tuesday night, the U.S. imposed a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, while Chinese goods were hit with an additional 10% tariff.

Danish beauty queen and Miss Universe 2024, Victoria Kjær Theilvig, is set to visit Bangladesh in May for humanitarian work, announced Bangladeshi Ambassador to Mexico, Mushfiqur Fazal Ansari. In a Facebook post, he expressed his delight at welcoming Theilvig and her team to the Bangladeshi Embassy. Theilvig made history by becoming the first Miss Universe from Denmark. Her upcoming visit aims to engage in philanthropic activities in Bangladesh.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has strongly criticized Donald Trump’s support for Russia regarding Ukraine, calling him a “thug.” Speaking on Thursday, De Wever said, “What Trump is doing is completely against Europe’s interests. He is a real thug.” Despite this, he reaffirmed Belgium’s unwavering support for Ukraine while maintaining diplomatic ties with the US. He emphasized that NATO remains a crucial alliance, and no single president can alter that.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude to European allies at the EU Summit on Thursday. “We are deeply thankful that we are not alone,” he said. He also accused former US President Donald Trump of aiding Russia in dismantling the global order, adding that Trump’s stance on Ukraine has left all of Europe anxious. EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen warned that Europe is facing an unprecedented threat and convened a special meeting of 27 EU countries in Brussels to discuss defense spending and the possibility of forming a military alliance.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that UN Secretary-General António Guterres will visit Dhaka from March 13 for a four-day trip, titled “Ramadan Solidarity Visit.” As a gesture of solidarity with the Muslim community, he will observe one day of fasting during his stay. Last year, Guterres visited Egypt and Jordan, where he also fasted in respect for Muslim traditions. This will be his second visit to Bangladesh, following his 2023 trip focused on the Rohingya crisis and climate change.

In a crackdown on illegal immigration, Malaysian authorities arrested 75 undocumented migrants, including 11 Bangladeshis, in Johor state on Wednesday. Acting on public reports about foreigners working without valid permits, immigration officials raided the Pandan wholesale market, inspecting 20 premises and screening 66 individuals, leading to the arrest of 35 foreign nationals. Later that night, another raid in Bandar Baru Permas Jaya covered nine shop premises, where 64 foreigners were screened, and 40 were taken into custody for further investigation.