The United States has come under widespread criticism following its recent military offensive against Iran, initiated under President Donald Trump. The conflict, which began without a clear justification or defined objectives, has caused severe humanitarian and economic fallout across the Middle East and beyond. Reports from The New York Times and CNN indicate that the war has disrupted global trade, driven up oil and gas prices, and intensified inflationary pressures worldwide. Regional governments, particularly Gulf monarchies, have expressed frustration at being drawn into a conflict they did not support. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi condemned Washington’s actions, accusing the US of seeking to reshape the region and block the creation of a Palestinian state. He announced that Oman would reject diplomatic ties with Israel and withdraw from the so-called “Board of Peace” overseeing Gaza. His remarks reflect growing disillusionment among traditional US allies. Analysts suggest that while these alliances may not collapse immediately, the war has prompted many partners to question whether continued alignment with Washington remains in their national interest.

A ship was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy supply routes, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO) on Thursday. The agency reported that the vessel was struck by an unidentified object, causing damage and a fire onboard. The incident occurred east of Khor Fakkan city in the United Arab Emirates. UKMTO, which monitors distress signals from ships worldwide, issued an advisory urging all vessels to navigate the area with caution. The organization continues to assess the situation and provide updates to maritime operators. The report added that Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a major global oil transit corridor, leaving many ships and sailors stranded. The closure and attack have raised concerns about disruptions to international energy transport through the region.

Barcelona advanced to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals after a dominant 7-2 victory over Newcastle United at Camp Nou on Wednesday night. The first half was tightly contested, with both sides exchanging goals. Raphinha and Marc Bernal twice put Barcelona ahead, but Newcastle’s Anthony Elanga equalized both times. In first-half injury time, Lamine Yamal converted a penalty to restore Barcelona’s lead. The second half turned one-sided as the hosts took full control, adding four more goals through Fermín López, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha. Raphinha and Lewandowski each scored twice, while Yamal, Bernal, and López added one goal apiece. The win followed a 1-1 draw in the first leg, where Barcelona had conceded late. Under coach Hansi Flick, the Catalan side displayed attacking dominance and secured their place among Europe’s top eight teams. The result marks a strong statement of intent from Barcelona as they continue their Champions League campaign, showing renewed form and confidence after earlier struggles in the competition.

A police officer went missing after a speedboat sank following a collision with a passenger launch named Karnaphuli-12 on the Meghna River in Lalmohan, Bhola. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Wednesday near the Mangal Sikdar launch terminal. The missing officer, Md. Fakhrul, was stationed at the Sikdar Police Investigation Center in Lalmohan and is a resident of Bakerganj, Barishal. Five others, including three police constables and two fisheries department staff, were injured in the accident. According to eyewitnesses, the team was conducting an operation to enforce a government fishing ban when their speedboat malfunctioned and drifted into the river. The launch, arriving from Dhaka, was unloading passengers at the time. The drifting boat was pulled under the launch by the current, and when attempts were made to move it, the propeller’s whirlpool overturned the vessel. Most passengers swam to safety, but Fakhrul went missing. Lalmohan Police Station’s officer-in-charge Md. Oliul Islam said a rescue operation is underway to locate the missing constable and that legal measures will follow.

Recovery work for the derailed coaches of the NilSagar Express in Santahar, Bogura, was completed on Thursday morning. The derailment occurred near Bagbari in Adamdighi upazila, about two kilometers north of Santahar, on Wednesday afternoon. Following the incident, the assistant station master of Santahar was temporarily suspended, and a four-member investigation committee was formed. Station officials said partial train operations could resume by noon, while full service on the Ishwardi-Parbatipur route might take another four to five hours. According to local accounts, the train driver allegedly failed to heed signals and was driving at high speed, leading to the derailment. Panic among passengers caused some to jump from the train roof, resulting in injuries. Fire service units and local residents jointly carried out rescue operations, sending 50 to 60 injured passengers to nearby hospitals. Four fire service units participated in the rescue, and a relief train from Ishwardi Junction was dispatched to lift the nine derailed passenger coaches. Train movement in the northern region was halted for several hours but was expected to gradually return to normal later in the day.

Iran launched another attack on several liquefied natural gas (LNG) installations in Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City early Thursday, according to a statement from QatarEnergy. The state-owned energy company reported that the assault triggered a major fire and caused extensive damage to the facilities, though no casualties have been confirmed so far. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed to contain the situation. Qatar’s Ministry of Defense earlier stated that Iran had fired missiles targeting Ras Laffan, which is recognized as the world’s largest LNG production and export hub. Following the incident, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement urging calm and calling for de-escalation, accusing Iran of violating its territorial boundaries. The renewed attack underscores rising regional tensions and potential risks to global energy supply chains centered around Qatar’s LNG infrastructure.

Qatar has accused Iran of crossing limits following an attack on the Ras Laffan gas facility. In a statement issued by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country called for efforts to reduce tensions and protect the region from the consequences of what it described as Iran’s brutal assault. The statement said that by targeting civilians, civilian infrastructure, and vital installations, Iran’s actions had violated all boundaries. It emphasized the need to work toward de-escalation to safeguard regional and international security and stability. The remarks came after reports of the Iranian strike on the Qatari gas site, which has raised concerns about further instability in the region.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that any renewed attack on Qatar’s energy facilities would trigger a severe response. Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated that if Iran refrains from attacking Qatar, Israel will not strike the South Pars gas field. However, he cautioned that if such attacks resume, the entire South Pars field could be destroyed with unprecedented force. Trump added that he does not wish to authorize such violence due to its long-term impact on Iran’s future, but he would not hesitate if Qatar’s LNG infrastructure is targeted again. He also clarified that neither the United States nor Qatar had prior knowledge of Israel’s earlier strike on the South Pars gas field. According to Trump, Israel will not conduct further attacks on the field unless Iran decides to assault Qatar. The statements were reported by Al Jazeera and reflect heightened tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States over regional energy security.

Tourist destinations across Bangladesh are gearing up for a surge of visitors during the upcoming Eid holidays. From the hills of Rangamati to the beaches of Cox’s Bazar and the tea gardens of Sylhet, resorts and hotels are reporting high booking rates. The Rangamati Tourism Holiday Complex has already booked 80 percent of its rooms for March 22–28, while Cox’s Bazar expects over one million visitors. In Sylhet, 60–70 percent of hotel and resort rooms are already reserved as tourists plan to enjoy the region’s waterfalls, hills, and tea estates. Tourism operators are decorating sites and expanding services to welcome travelers. In Rangamati, special Eid meals and cultural foods will be offered, while in Cox’s Bazar, popular spots such as Inani, Himchari, and Marine Drive are being prepared for heavy crowds. Authorities in Sylhet have strengthened security with tourist police and local administration support. Additionally, the government is launching the Carnival Cruise from Shimulia to Ilisha on March 19, offering a new river tourism experience with modern facilities and entertainment, aimed at boosting domestic tourism.

Police in Ramu, Cox’s Bazar, have arrested brick kiln owner Shafiul Azam, also known as BK Azam, for allegedly brandishing a firearm and threatening staff at a petrol pump near the Morichya BGB checkpoint. The arrest took place late Wednesday night following reports of the incident, which occurred on Tuesday when Azam allegedly raised a shotgun and caused a disturbance at the pump. According to the petrol pump manager, Nurul Haque, Azam demanded fuel beyond his allocated quota. When Haque refused to supply extra fuel outside the government’s rationing system, Azam reportedly threatened him with the shotgun and created chaos at the site. The manager later filed a written complaint with the local police station. Ramu Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monirul Islam Bhuiyan stated that authorities took the matter seriously after it was reported in the media and have initiated legal action. Police have also seized Azam’s licensed shotgun as part of the investigation.

More than a hundred unfit passenger buses are being repaired in Cumilla workshops to operate on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway ahead of Eid, aiming to handle the expected surge of travelers. Many of these vehicles, long out of service or mechanically faulty, are being refurbished and repainted to appear roadworthy. Workers are reportedly working day and night to complete repairs by the 26th of Ramadan so that the buses can start operating before the holiday. Authorities, including the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and the Cumilla Motor Association, have warned that operating unfit or unregistered buses is illegal and will face strict legal action. Highway police officials have also announced special drives to prevent such vehicles from entering the highway network. Despite these warnings, some transport owners continue to prepare old buses to meet high passenger demand. Passengers have expressed concern that many of these buses are only cosmetically repaired, leaving critical components like engines and brakes unsafe. Officials emphasized that preventing unfit vehicles from operating is essential to avoid accidents and traffic congestion during the Eid travel period.

Fuel shortages continued across Dhaka on Wednesday, with long queues forming at many petrol pumps despite the government’s withdrawal of the rationing system and assurances that supply would normalize. Field visits to areas including Khilkhet, Airport, Uttara, Mohakhali, and Moghbazar showed that nearly half of the filling stations had suspended operations, while others faced heavy demand and long waiting times. Many drivers reported spending hours searching for octane, with some returning home empty-handed. Petrol pump owners said fuel was being prioritized for long-distance buses ahead of Eid, leaving private vehicle owners with limited supply. The Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers, Agents, and Petrol Pump Owners Association blamed poor coordination between the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) and the ministry for the ongoing disruptions. BPC officials, however, denied any shortage, attributing the problem to panic buying triggered by misinformation and the ongoing Middle East conflict. The government had earlier imposed and then lifted fuel rationing due to global instability. Despite official claims of sufficient reserves, the situation on the ground remained strained, with consumers facing significant inconvenience.

Ahead of Eid, Dhaka’s markets are witnessing heavy crowds as consumers rush to buy essentials like semai, sugar, meat, and spices. Field visits show that prices of polao rice, edible oil, chicken, beef, and several spices have increased, while onion, vegetables, and fruits have become cheaper. Traders report that semai and sugar prices remain mostly stable, with sugar selling at Tk 100–105 per kg and local sugar at Tk 140. According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), sugar prices are lower than last year, but soybean oil, palm oil, lentils, cloves, and broiler chicken have become costlier. Broiler chicken now sells for Tk 220–230 per kg, up from Tk 170–180 a week earlier, while beef prices have risen to Tk 800–850 per kg. In contrast, egg prices have fallen to Tk 90–100 per dozen, and vegetable prices have dropped due to reduced demand as many residents leave the city for Eid. Retailers also report a shortage of bottled soybean oil, with limited supply forcing customers to buy larger bottles. Fish prices have increased by Tk 20–30 per kg amid lower supply before Eid.

Civil rights icon Dolores Huerta has publicly accused her late colleague and labor leader Cesar Chavez of sexual violence, joining several other women who shared similar experiences. In a statement released Wednesday, Huerta said she decided to speak out after being contacted for a New York Times investigation that uncovered allegations of abuse involving minors as young as 12. Huerta, now nearly 96, said she had kept silent for six decades to protect the farmworker movement she helped build with Chavez, who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association and died in 1993. The New York Times report included accounts from multiple women describing sexual abuse by Chavez, including Huerta’s claim that she was manipulated and later raped by him, resulting in pregnancies she kept secret. Other women, including Ana Murguia, Debra Rojas, and Esmeralda Lopez, also described assaults or coercion by Chavez when they were minors or young adults. The United Farm Workers, which evolved from the organization Chavez co-founded, announced it would not participate in Cesar Chavez Day events and pledged to create an independent reporting channel for survivors. Lawmakers from both parties called for Chavez’s name to be removed from public honors, describing the revelations as shocking and a betrayal of civil rights values.

Oil analysts are increasingly warning that crude prices could surge toward $200 a barrel as the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran disrupts global energy flows. Since the February 28 attacks on Iran, Brent crude has climbed above $100 and reached nearly $120 by March 9. An Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars gasfield on March 18 and subsequent Iranian attacks on regional energy facilities have further tightened supply. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, only limited shipping continues, and emergency stockpile releases have failed to offset a daily shortfall estimated at 10 million barrels. Experts told Al Jazeera that the duration of the strait’s closure will determine how high prices climb. Some Middle Eastern crude benchmarks have already exceeded $150, and Iran has warned that $200 oil is possible. The International Monetary Fund estimates that sustained price increases would raise global inflation and slow growth. While some analysts see $200 as plausible, others argue that rising production from countries such as the US and Brazil, along with alternative pipelines, could moderate prices. If the disruption persists, analysts caution that oil above $150 would heavily strain the global economy, affecting inflation, employment, and industrial supply chains.