Smoke was seen rising over the area surrounding the United States Embassy in Kuwait on March 2, 2026, according to reports from Reuters and AFP. Firefighters and ambulances were present at the scene, though no further details about the cause of the smoke were provided. Following the incident, the US Embassy issued an alert advising people not to approach the embassy and to remain indoors.

In a notice published on its website, the embassy instructed residents to take shelter on the lowest floor of their homes, stay away from windows, and avoid going outside. It also urged US citizens in Kuwait to remain where they are, review their security plans, and stay alert for possible additional attacks. Embassy staff were reported to have taken shelter in place as well.

The situation prompted heightened caution among US nationals in Kuwait, though the source did not specify the origin or extent of the incident.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdur Muktadir has expressed commitment to further strengthen and expand bilateral trade relations with India. He made the remarks on Monday, March 2, after a courtesy meeting with the Indian High Commissioner at the Secretariat in Dhaka. The Indian envoy also emphasized India’s interest in deepening ties with Bangladesh’s new government and enhancing people-to-people connections.

During the meeting, both sides discussed mutual cooperation in digital infrastructure and technology exchange to boost the existing trade volume of around 11 billion dollars, including 9.5 billion in imports and 1.5 billion in exports. They also focused on reopening closed border haats and improving land border infrastructure. India showed interest in using the newly built land port at Sabroom, while discussions were held on making operations at Benapole and other ports more efficient.

The minister added that Bangladesh has applied to the United Nations to extend its LDC graduation timeline and that the process is ongoing. He also noted that while there are concerns about possible disruptions in the Hormuz Strait, there is currently no threat to essential imports or fuel supplies.

Iran’s state-run Fars News Agency has released a new video showing thousands of drones lined up inside underground tunnels built deep beneath Tehran. The footage depicts drones mounted on rocket launchers, with Iranian flags and images of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei displayed on the tunnel walls. The video appears intended to showcase the country’s military capabilities.

The report did not provide specific details such as the time, location, or types of drones featured in the footage. However, the release is believed to have come amid heightened regional tensions. The publication of the video follows a series of recent developments involving Iran and its regional activities, as noted in related news items.

The timing and content of the video suggest an effort by Iran to project strength, though the absence of technical or operational details leaves key aspects of the footage unverified.

A total of 39 international flights from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka were canceled on Monday, March 2, 2026, due to the ongoing closure of airspace across several Middle Eastern countries. The affected destinations included the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, the cancellations followed the temporary airspace shutdown announced by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan on February 28 amid heightened security concerns.

In the past three days, a total of 102 flights have been canceled, including 23 on February 28, 40 on March 1, and 39 on March 2. Airlines affected include Qatar Airways, Emirates, Gulf Air, Flydubai, Kuwait Airways, Air Arabia, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and US-Bangla Airlines. Flights to destinations other than Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Dubai have resumed.

Thousands of Bangladeshi migrant workers and business travelers have been stranded at the airport, with uncertainty remaining over when normal flight operations will resume.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has announced that MPO-listed teachers will receive their festival allowance ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr 2026. In a notice signed by Professor B M Abdul Hannan, the acting Director General of DSHE, all educational institutions were instructed to submit their festival allowance bills by March 4.

The directive, issued on March 2, aims to ensure timely disbursement of the Eid bonus for teachers under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme. The DSHE emphasized that heads of institutions must comply with the submission deadline to facilitate smooth processing of the payments.

This announcement brings relief to thousands of MPO-affiliated teachers who were awaiting confirmation of their Eid bonus payments.

Bangladesh’s export earnings declined by 12 percent in February, according to data released by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) on Monday. The fall contributed to a 3.15 percent drop in total export income during the first eight months of the 2025–26 fiscal year compared with the same period last year. Total exports from July to February stood at 31.91 billion US dollars, down from 32.92 billion dollars a year earlier.

EPB attributed the overall decline to disruptions in port operations, the national election, and reduced demand in major global markets. The ready-made garment sector, which remains the country’s largest export earner, brought in 25.8 billion dollars during the period, marking a 3.73 percent decrease year-on-year. Within this sector, knitwear products continued to outperform woven garments.

Despite the overall downturn, several sectors including leather and leather goods, jute and jute products, home textiles, light engineering, and frozen fish recorded positive year-on-year growth. The United States remained Bangladesh’s largest export destination, with shipments totaling 5.87 billion dollars, up 0.74 percent, while exports to China rose by 19.12 percent.

Nurul Islam, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Member of Parliament from Barguna-2 constituency, has been appointed as the Chief Whip of the 13th National Parliament. The announcement was made through a gazette notification issued by the National Parliament Secretariat on Monday, March 2, 2026.

In a separate notification, the names of six other BNP lawmakers were declared as whips. They are G K Gaus from Habiganj-3, Rakibul Islam from Khulna-3, Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu from Shariatpur-3, M Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu from Natore-2, Akhtaruzzaman Mia from Dinajpur-4, and A B M Ashraf Uddin Nizan from Lakshmipur-4.

The appointments mark the formal organization of BNP’s parliamentary leadership structure for the 13th National Parliament, as confirmed by the official gazette notifications.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that two Bangladeshi nationals were killed and seven others injured in recent missile and drone attacks across the Middle East. The attacks followed Iran’s retaliatory strikes on US bases in several countries. One of the deceased, identified as Saleh Ahmed from Sylhet’s Barlekha, died in Ajman, United Arab Emirates, after a civilian facility was hit. Another Bangladeshi was killed in Bahrain, where three others were also injured. Four more Bangladeshis were wounded near Kuwait’s civilian airport.

The ministry said Bangladesh’s embassies in the affected countries are in contact with local authorities and providing necessary assistance, including arrangements to repatriate the bodies once commercial flights resume. The Bangladeshi ship “Banglar Joyjatra” remains stranded at Jebel Ali Port in the UAE, though all crew members are safe.

Dhaka reiterated its deep concern over the escalating situation in the Middle East and stated that it is closely monitoring developments. The government emphasized that the safety of over six million Bangladeshi expatriates in the region remains its top priority and urged citizens to follow local advisories strictly.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Monday expressing deep sorrow over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The ministry said the government was shocked to learn of the assassination, which occurred during Israeli and US attacks on Iran. The statement conveyed condolences to the brotherly people of Iran.

The ministry emphasized that Bangladesh believes conflicts cannot bring solutions and that disputes should be resolved through dialogue, mutual respect, and adherence to international law. The new statement followed criticism of an earlier one issued on Sunday, which condemned violations of sovereignty in several Middle Eastern countries but did not mention the attack on Iran or Khamenei’s death.

According to the report, Israel and the United States launched a large-scale military operation across Iran on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of Khamenei, his daughter, son-in-law, and grandson.

Chevron has temporarily suspended production at Israel’s Leviathan gas field following joint U.S.-Israel airstrikes on Iran and subsequent Iranian retaliation. The Israeli Ministry of Energy ordered the shutdown as a precautionary measure, according to Al Jazeera. The Leviathan field, located in the Mediterranean Sea, is one of Israel’s largest natural gas sites.

The report states that expansion work was underway to raise the field’s annual production capacity to about 21 billion cubic meters as part of a $35 billion export agreement with Egypt. Chevron, the U.S. energy company operating the site, confirmed that its facilities at both Leviathan and the nearby Tamar gas field remain secure.

No further details were provided on the specific reasons for the temporary suspension or when production might resume.

The article discusses how algorithms on social media platforms such as YouTube and Facebook analyze user behavior to personalize content feeds. These systems track what users watch, like, and comment on, creating individualized digital environments designed to keep users engaged for longer periods. This personalization can lead to the formation of 'echo chambers,' where users are repeatedly exposed to similar viewpoints, limiting exposure to diverse perspectives.

The report highlights that algorithms also respond to emotional engagement, prioritizing content that provokes strong reactions because such posts generate more shares and interactions. As a result, emotional responses can overshadow factual information, potentially shaping public opinion. However, the article emphasizes that algorithms are not autonomous controllers but reflections of user behavior.

Experts cited in the piece call for greater digital literacy, urging users to understand how algorithms work, diversify their information sources, and customize their feeds. They also stress the need for transparency and accountability from platforms so users can recognize why certain content appears before them.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, was killed in a morning airstrike jointly conducted by the United States and Israel, according to reports published on March 2, 2026. The attack targeted a compound in central Tehran where Khamenei and several senior military and intelligence officials were meeting. The operation followed months of surveillance on Khamenei’s daily movements and was executed after receiving critical intelligence only hours earlier. Israeli jets reportedly dropped around 30 bombs on the compound at 9:40 a.m. local time.

The intelligence that enabled the strike reportedly originated from the CIA and was shared with Israel, which carried out the direct assault on Iranian leadership targets. The United States focused on military facilities. The attack also killed three senior Iranian defense officials, including Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, and IRGC Commander General Mohammad Pakpour. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed he was safe after strikes hit his office.

The long-term impact of Khamenei’s death on Iran’s internal stability and regional conflicts remains unclear, though reports suggest Iran had succession plans prepared in advance.

Iran’s military announced on Monday that it carried out attacks targeting the US air base Ali Al Salem in Kuwait and vessels operating in the northern Indian Ocean. The statement said the strikes were launched by Iran’s ground and naval missile units from separate positions.

According to the Iranian military’s statement, a total of 15 cruise missiles were used in the attacks. The announcement followed the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli strike, which the Iranian side linked to its retaliatory actions.

The report did not provide details about potential damage, casualties, or responses from the United States or other parties involved.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrault announced that France is prepared to defend Gulf countries and Jordan against Iranian missile and drone attacks. In a statement on Monday, he expressed full support and solidarity with allied nations that have become targets of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and risk being drawn into conflict. Barrault specifically named Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan as countries France stands ready to assist.

He emphasized France’s commitment to maintaining regional stability and ensuring the security of its allies. The minister also questioned the legitimacy of recent joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, suggesting that such use of force should have been discussed within international bodies like the United Nations. Speaking to reporters in Paris after a foreign ministry meeting, Barrault said decisions of this nature should be debated in collective frameworks such as the UN Security Council.

The statement reflects France’s dual stance of supporting regional allies while advocating for multilateral decision-making in international security matters.

Saudi Arabia’s largest oil refining company, Aramco, has temporarily shut down operations at its Ras Tanura refinery following a drone attack attributed to Iran. According to a Saudi defense ministry spokesperson quoted by Al Arabiya TV, two drones targeted the facility, causing a limited fire that was quickly brought under control. No casualties have been reported so far.

The incident comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, where Iran has recently carried out missile and drone strikes against Gulf countries and Israel. The Ras Tanura refinery, located in eastern Saudi Arabia, is one of the world’s major oil export hubs, processing over 550,000 barrels of crude oil daily. Its adjacent export terminal ships millions of barrels to global markets each day.

The temporary closure of Ras Tanura underscores the vulnerability of key energy infrastructure in the region and could heighten concerns about stability in global oil supply if attacks continue.