The Kremlin said on Friday that the ongoing United States-Israeli war on Iran has led to a significant rise in global demand for Russian oil and gas. The announcement came a day after the US Treasury granted India a 30-day waiver to purchase Russian oil stranded at sea. The conflict, now in its seventh day, has nearly closed the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off access to about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia remains a reliable supplier capable of maintaining all contracted deliveries but declined to disclose potential export volumes to India.

International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol warned that turning back to Russian gas would be economically and politically misguided, emphasizing Europe’s past overreliance on Russian energy. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged to present options to address rising energy prices at an upcoming EU summit. Meanwhile, Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi told the Financial Times that Gulf producers may halt exports if the conflict persists, potentially driving oil prices to $150 a barrel and gas to $40 per million British thermal units.

Benchmark US crude rose 4.1 percent to $84.36 per barrel, while Brent crude climbed 1.7 percent to $87, nearing its highest level since April 2024.

Ukraine is bracing for a potential shortage of US-made Patriot air defence missiles as Washington’s Middle Eastern allies use large quantities of the same systems to intercept Iranian attacks. Experts told Al Jazeera that Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to exploit the shortfall, which could occur within weeks, by intensifying missile assaults on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. The Patriots, first deployed in Kyiv in 2023, have been crucial in intercepting Russian ballistic missiles, including the Kinzhal, but their limited supply and high cost have constrained Ukraine’s defences.

Analysts warn that the shortage highlights broader weaknesses in Ukraine’s protection of energy and transport infrastructure. Moscow’s strategy of using drones and decoy missiles to exhaust Ukrainian air defences has already proven effective. European and Israeli reluctance to release additional Patriot stocks further complicates Kyiv’s situation. Ukraine currently operates fewer than a dozen Patriot batteries, far below the 25 it says are needed.

While France and Italy’s SAMP/T systems offer some backup, their effectiveness against Russia’s modified missiles remains untested. Experts caution that Russia may soon launch large-scale raids to deplete Ukraine’s remaining missile reserves.

The United States has granted India a temporary waiver allowing it to increase imports of Russian oil, reversing months of pressure on New Delhi. The license, issued late Thursday, permits transactions for Russian crude and petroleum products loaded before March 5, provided they are delivered to India and purchased by Indian firms. The waiver expires on April 4 at 12:01 a.m. Washington time. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the 30-day measure aims to keep oil flowing into global markets without providing significant financial benefit to Russia.

The decision comes as escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf disrupts energy flows, threatening supplies to major importers. The move offers immediate relief to India, one of the economies most affected by the turmoil, by allowing refiners to secure stranded Russian cargoes and stabilize operations. It also represents a policy shift by the Trump administration, which had previously imposed tariffs and sanctions to curb India’s Russian oil purchases.

Analysts noted that while the waiver is short-term, it could reshape Russian crude pricing and trade flows in the coming weeks as competition for supply intensifies.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on diplomats stationed in Dhaka to support Bangladesh’s candidate, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, for the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The appeal was made on Friday, March 6, during an iftar reception hosted at the state guesthouse Jamuna in honor of the diplomatic community.

During the event, the Prime Minister emphasized his government’s commitment to protecting human rights, ensuring freedom of expression, and fostering a culture of tolerance. He also stated that firm measures would be taken to combat corruption at all levels of government.

The iftar gathering was attended by the Prime Minister’s family members, including his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman and daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman, who were seated beside him at the event.

The Comilla Education Board has suspended teaching and academic recognition for 13 educational institutions under its jurisdiction due to poor performance in the 2025 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination. The decision was confirmed through a letter signed by Exam Controller Professor Runa Nasrin on March 5, 2026. Board Chairman Professor Md. Shamsul Islam stated that the institutions failed to meet operational conditions and showed unsatisfactory results, prompting the suspension.

According to the board’s examination committee meeting held on January 7, 2026, institutions with pass rates between zero and five percent were deemed to have unsatisfactory outcomes. The suspended institutions include schools and colleges from Brahmanbaria, Lakshmipur, Comilla, and Chandpur districts. College Inspector Professor Md. Nurunnabi Alam said the suspension is temporary and that institutions may resume academic activities upon fulfilling required conditions.

The board emphasized that repeated poor performance and failure to improve despite prior warnings led to this action. Authorities also indicated that similar measures will be taken against other institutions if their results remain unsatisfactory.

Lionel Messi has come under criticism after meeting United States President Donald Trump and applauding his comments about the ongoing US and Israeli military attacks on Iran. The event, held at the White House in Washington, DC, on Thursday, was organized to honor Messi and his Inter Miami teammates for winning the Major League Soccer title in December. Trump praised Messi’s achievements and welcomed him to the White House, but his remarks began with a boast about the Iran conflict, claiming US and Israeli forces were demolishing the enemy. Messi, standing beside Trump, joined others in applauding the president’s statements.

The applause drew swift backlash on social media, where users accused Messi of being drawn into politics and endorsing Trump’s military rhetoric. Palestinian-American writer Ali Abunimah called the participants “vacuous selfish people,” while Spanish journalist Leyla Hamed described the players’ actions as “bizarre” amid reports of civilian deaths in Iran. Other fans expressed shock at seeing Messi and teammate Luis Suarez present during Trump’s war-related comments.

Trump used the occasion to blend sports celebration with political messaging, while Messi, who did not speak publicly, presented a signed football to the president.

Heavy airstrikes struck Tehran and several Iranian cities on the seventh day of the US-Israel war on Iran, with explosions reported across the capital and other regions. Israel’s military said it had entered a new phase of operations targeting regime infrastructure, while the US confirmed its B-2 bombers dropped dozens of penetrator bombs on buried missile launchers. Al Jazeera correspondents in Tehran described the bombardment as the most intense so far, with strikes hitting military, political, and residential areas, including near Tehran University and Pasteur Street. Iran’s Foreign Ministry reported that an elementary school in Niloufar Square was hit, and UNICEF said at least 181 children were among more than 1,300 people killed.

Attacks were also reported in Shiraz, Qom, Isfahan, and Kermanshah, with the Iranian Red Crescent confirming at least 1,332 deaths since the conflict began. Israel claimed to have destroyed missile launchers and defense systems, while the US military said Iranian targets were being “decimated.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged mediation directed at Washington and Tel Aviv, asserting Iran’s right to defend its sovereignty. Iran’s military later announced it had attacked a US-owned oil tanker off Kuwait’s coast.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that the bombardment would intensify, signaling a possible escalation in the coming days.

Iran’s armed forces have claimed responsibility for an attack on a US-owned oil tanker near the coast of Kuwait, according to a report by Al Jazeera. The announcement was made on Friday through Iran’s state radio, which cited the country’s wartime military command, Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters, as the source of the information. The report stated that the vessel was hit and caught fire following the strike.

As of now, no detailed information has been released regarding the extent of the damage or any possible casualties resulting from the incident. The report did not include any official confirmation or response from other parties involved.

The incident adds to a series of recent claims by Iran involving attacks on US-linked facilities in the region, though independent verification of these claims remains unavailable.

European Union Commissioner for Defense and Space Andreas Kubilius has warned that the United States is struggling to maintain adequate missile supplies amid the ongoing Middle East instability and the war in Ukraine. In a statement on Friday, he said the recent crisis centered on Iran has made it urgent for Europe to increase production of air defense and anti-ballistic missiles.

Kubilius explained that the U.S. is finding it difficult to meet the simultaneous demands of its own military, Gulf allies, and Ukraine, posing a major challenge for Europe. The warning comes as Ukraine continues to face Russian missile attacks and Gulf nations remain on high alert over possible Iranian strikes.

Reports indicate that Washington’s stockpiles of key weapons, including Tomahawk land-attack missiles and SM-3 interceptors, have fallen sharply. Pentagon sources say heavy use of Patriot missiles during the four-year Ukraine conflict has worsened the shortage. The EU commissioner called for urgent steps to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities and accelerate missile production.

The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has set daily fuel purchase limits for vehicles across the country following global energy supply disruptions caused by attacks in Iran. In a notice issued on March 6, 2026, BPC said the measure aims to prevent panic buying and ensure stable fuel distribution. Motorcycles can buy up to 2 liters of petrol or octane per day, private cars 10 liters, SUVs and microbuses 20–25 liters, pickups and local buses 70–80 liters, and long-distance buses and trucks 200–220 liters of diesel.

BPC explained that about 95 percent of Bangladesh’s fuel is imported, and recent global instability has delayed some shipments. Reports of hoarding and excessive withdrawals by dealers and consumers prompted the new restrictions. Filling stations must issue receipts showing quantity and price, and buyers must present previous bills for repeat purchases. Dealers are required to follow quotas and report depot stock and sales data.

BPC assured that fuel imports and nationwide distribution continue regularly and that sufficient buffer stocks will be built soon. It warned that selling fuel above government-fixed prices is a punishable offense.

An Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, sank in the Indian Ocean after being struck by a US submarine torpedo, triggering renewed regional tension and questions about India’s maritime security capacity. The vessel had departed from India’s Visakhapatnam port on February 26 after participating in the multinational naval exercise ‘Milan’ and was attacked in international waters about 44 nautical miles south of Sri Lanka on March 4. According to Al Jazeera, Sri Lanka’s navy recovered over 80 bodies and rescued 32 sailors, including the ship’s commander, while more than 100 remain missing.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that an American submarine torpedoed the Iranian vessel, calling it a “silent death.” Tehran condemned the attack as a serious crime, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warning that the United States would one day pay a heavy price. Iran emphasized that the Dena had been an invited guest of the Indian Navy returning home after the exercise.

India’s delayed official response drew criticism, and analysts said the incident undermined India’s image as a regional maritime security provider, exposing limits to its influence near its own waters.

Three young men were detained and handed over to police after being beaten by locals in Abhoynagar upazila of Jashore. The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday night, March 5, in Gopinathpur village under Shubharara Union. Locals seized a foreign-made 9mm pistol, six rounds of ammunition, and an empty magazine from the suspects. Their motorcycle was also set on fire during the confrontation.

According to Abhoynagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge SM Nuruzzaman, the three detainees are Riaz Sardar alias Surjo Sardar (28), Shakil Sardar (25), and Robiul Molla (23), all residents of nearby villages. Locals said they were conducting a night patrol when they stopped the suspects’ motorcycle for a search. One of the men allegedly tried to flee after showing a pistol, prompting the mob to capture and beat them before handing them to police.

Police recovered the burned motorcycle from the scene and filed a case under the Arms Act against the three detainees.

A passenger bus carrying attendees to a Hindu wedding lost control and fell into a roadside ditch in Bagerhat on Friday afternoon. The accident occurred around 1:30 p.m. on the Barakpur–Polerhat road near Fakir Bari area, leaving several passengers injured.

According to local sources, the bus was traveling from Jashore to the Kalibari area when it veered off the road and plunged into the ditch. Worshippers from a nearby mosque and local residents rushed to the scene and rescued the trapped passengers. Locals said the quick response of the mosque-goers and residents prevented a potentially serious loss of life.

The incident caused brief panic in the area, but the situation was brought under control through prompt rescue efforts.

A missile strike on a girls’ school in the southern Iranian city of Minab has killed nearly a hundred students, according to early reports. US military investigators suspect that American forces may have been involved in the attack, though the investigation remains ongoing and no final conclusion has been reached. The incident occurred on Saturday at a primary school in Minab, and officials have said the strike could have originated from either US or Israeli missiles.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva stated that 165 students were killed in the attack. Large-scale funeral and burial ceremonies were later held across the country to honor the victims. The tragedy has drawn growing international concern as observers await the outcome of the investigation to determine responsibility for the strike.

The final findings of the US investigation are expected to clarify whether American forces were directly responsible, a determination that could have significant diplomatic repercussions if confirmed.

The Bangladesh government has issued new directives to regulate fuel purchases at filling stations as global energy markets face disruption due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The directives, released by the Energy Division on Friday, aim to control panic buying and manage limited supplies in Dhaka, where long queues and disputes have been reported at fuel stations.

According to the new rules, filling stations must provide receipts specifying fuel type, quantity, and price for each purchase, and consumers must present previous receipts when refueling again. Dealers are required to follow allocation limits and supply guidelines, while fuel marketing companies must verify stock and sales data before releasing new allocations. The directives also set limits on how much fuel stations can draw from depots and how much consumers can buy.

The measures are intended to stabilize domestic fuel distribution and prevent hoarding as Bangladesh experiences the ripple effects of the global energy shortage.