Saudi Arabia celebrated its Founding Day on Sunday, commemorating the establishment of the first Saudi state, the Emirate of Diriyah, in 1727 by Imam Mohammed bin Saud. The annual event, held on February 22, highlights the kingdom’s historical roots, cultural heritage, and leadership legacy. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud declared the day a national holiday in 2022.

The Founding Day is distinct from Saudi National Day, which is observed on September 23 to mark the unification of modern Saudi Arabia in 1932. Citizens and expatriates across the country enjoyed an extended holiday, with colorful events and celebrations organized nationwide.

In Riyadh, the municipality installed over 5,000 decorative lights across major roads, intersections, and public spaces. More than 25,000 flags of Saudi Arabia and the first Saudi state were displayed throughout the Riyadh region, including 8,000 in the capital and 17,000 in other governorates. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the decorations created a festive atmosphere reflecting pride in nearly three centuries of heritage.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh announced on Sunday that it will soon release revised election schedules for the Bogura-6 by-election and the Sherpur-3 constituency poll. Both elections are expected to be held before April 14. The EC stated that the schedules will be declared very soon to ensure compliance with constitutional requirements.

The Bogura-6 seat became vacant after BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, who was elected from both Bogura-6 and Dhaka-17 in the February 12 general election, expressed his intention to vacate one seat as per the Representation of the People Order (RPO), which prohibits holding multiple constituencies simultaneously. Meanwhile, voting in Sherpur-3 was postponed due to the death of a valid candidate during the same election.

According to the EC, previously valid candidates in Sherpur-3 will not need to resubmit nomination papers. Only new candidates will be allowed to submit nominations under the revised schedule.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has conducted the first test of the Sayyad-3G air defense missile in the Strait of Hormuz. The missile, with a range of 150 kilometers, was launched as part of a naval exercise. Iranian authorities stated that the new system will enhance regional air defense capabilities. The IRGC released footage of the launch on Saturday, showcasing the naval version of the previously land-based Sayyad-3G system.

According to the report, Iran had earlier tested the long-range, land-based Sayyad-3 missile on December 28, 2016. That version had a range of 120 kilometers, a length of six meters, and a weight of 900 kilograms. The recent test took place during the “Smart Control” exercise, which began on February 16 and lasted three days.

The development marks Iran’s continued effort to expand its air defense technology and adapt existing systems for naval use, as reported by Middle East Monitor.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has claimed that, according to the Bible, Israel holds rightful authority over the entire Middle East. His remarks, made during an interview with host Tucker Carlson, included references to territories such as Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and parts of Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The statement has triggered widespread condemnation across the Muslim world.

A joint declaration issued by the United Arab Emirates’ Foreign Ministry and signed by the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine, as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League, and the Gulf Cooperation Council, denounced Huckabee’s comments. The statement said the remarks undermine the UN Charter and efforts to end the Gaza war. Iran accused the United States of supporting Israel’s expansionist policies.

Saudi Arabia called the comments extremist and unacceptable, demanding clarification from the US State Department. Jordan described them as an attack on regional sovereignty, while Kuwait, Oman, and Egypt labeled them violations of international law and threats to peace and stability. The Arab League warned that such baseless claims could inflame religious and national sentiments.

The White House has confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump will visit China from March 31 to April 2, marking the first visit by an American president to Beijing since 2017. A White House official confirmed the schedule last Friday. Trump previously visited China during his first presidential term in 2017. Both Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have recently described communication between the two countries as “excellent” and “good.”

Trump said the upcoming trip would be a “grand” one, emphasizing that the U.S. presence and arrangements should surpass any previous events in Chinese history. The visit comes as the U.S. Supreme Court has annulled tariffs Trump had imposed on several countries. Trump had earlier described tariffs as a tool to push other nations to support his policies.

Trade tariffs and China’s response are expected to be key topics during the meetings. Due to tariff impacts, China has reportedly stopped purchasing soybeans from the United States, one of its top import items. The visit follows recent trips to Beijing by several Western leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who discussed trade and electric vehicle restrictions.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman has expressed optimism that the friendly relations between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia will reach new heights in the future. The statement came during a courtesy meeting with Saudi Ambassador Dr. Abdullah Zafar H. Bin Abiya at the Cabinet Division in Dhaka Secretariat on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 11 a.m. Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Prime Minister’s Adviser Humayun Kabir were also present at the meeting.

During the meeting, the Saudi ambassador congratulated Tareq Rahman on assuming office as prime minister and assured that the Saudi government would continue all forms of cooperation with Bangladesh. Earlier that morning, at 9:05 a.m., Tareq Rahman began his official duties at the Cabinet Division, where Chief Secretary A.B.M. Abdus Sattar welcomed him.

The meeting underscored the mutual commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation, with both sides expressing confidence in advancing the long-standing friendship between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.

On Sunday, February 22, 2026, the Bangladesh Secretariat experienced an unusually high number of visitors as people came to meet and congratulate newly appointed ministers. Many visitors brought flowers to offer their best wishes, while officials from various government departments and organizational representatives also joined the visits. The increased presence of people and vehicles was noticeable throughout the morning.

Members of the Bangladesh Government Primary Teachers’ Association said they came to greet the new education minister and state minister with flowers. Assistant Sub-Inspector Barek, who was on duty at the Secretariat, confirmed that the crowd was larger than usual but assured that security arrangements remained adequate. Entry procedures were being managed according to ministry requests.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived at the Secretariat’s Cabinet Division office at 9:05 a.m. and was received by Chief Secretary A.B.M. Abdus Sattar. The day’s activity reflected heightened public and administrative engagement following the formation of the new cabinet.

A Dhaka court has postponed the submission of the investigation report in the Salman Shah murder case against 11 accused, including his former wife Samira Haque and actor Don. Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana set the new date for April 9, 2026, after the investigating officer, Atiqul Islam Khandaker of Ramna Model Police Station, failed to submit the report on the scheduled day. The decision was made following a hearing on Sunday.

The case, originally filed as an unnatural death case after Salman Shah’s body was found at his Eskaton residence on September 6, 1996, has undergone multiple investigations and legal revisions. It was later reclassified as a murder case following a court directive on October 20. Over the years, CID and judicial inquiries have alternately described the death as suicide or unnatural, leading to repeated legal challenges by the actor’s family.

The case was revived in 2022 after a revision petition was filed against a previous court order that had accepted the Police Bureau of Investigation’s report. The next hearing is now scheduled for April 9, 2026.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Sunday ordered the start of trial proceedings against 11 accused in the murder of Imam Hasan Taim, son of a police officer, during the July uprising in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area. The tribunal also set March 29 for the presentation of opening statements and recording of the first witness testimony. Two arrested accused, former Jatrabari police officers Abul Hasan and Zakir Hossain, were produced before the court, while several others, including former senior DMP officials, remain absconding.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tazul Islam earlier presented arguments for framing charges, outlining the alleged involvement of each accused. He stated that on July 20, 2024, Taim was shot dead at close range under the direction of senior police officials, including the then DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman. The prosecution charged the accused with murder, incitement, and crimes against humanity.

The tribunal’s order marks the formal beginning of a high-profile case involving multiple former police officials, with further hearings scheduled for late March.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that 32,000 people were killed in recent protests in Iran. In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has urged Washington to present concrete evidence supporting the claim, according to Al Jazeera. Araghchi stated that if there is any doubt about the figures, the United States should make its proof public.

The Iranian minister asserted that his government has maintained full transparency by releasing a comprehensive list of those affected. According to data provided by Tehran, the list includes 3,117 civilians and 200 security personnel. The Iranian government’s figures sharply contrast with Trump’s claim, highlighting a significant discrepancy between the two sides.

Meanwhile, for the first time since last month’s deadly crackdown, large-scale anti-government demonstrations have resumed in Iran. University students across several campuses in Tehran held protests and sit-ins on Saturday, signaling renewed unrest in the capital.

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced on Saturday that it had captured the border town of Al-Tina near Chad. The RSF, which has been fighting the Sudanese army since April 2023, shared a video on social media showing its fighters celebrating under a banner reading “Al-Tina District.” The town was previously believed to be under the control of army-aligned joint forces. The army has not yet issued any immediate comment on the claim.

Darfur’s army-aligned governor, Minni Minnawi, condemned the RSF, accusing it of repeatedly committing crimes against innocent civilians. The conflict, which began as a civil war, has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced 11 million people, according to the United Nations, which describes Sudan’s situation as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

A recent UN fact-finding mission reported that an RSF attack in El-Fasher last October showed signs of genocide. Since the fall of El-Fasher, the RSF has conducted several operations near the Chad border, where two Chadian soldiers were killed late last year.

The International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday ordered the publication of a newspaper notice to summon former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and five other accused in a case over the alleged killing of nine youths in Dhaka’s Kalyanpur area. The case accuses the defendants of crimes against humanity for allegedly staging a ‘militant drama’ before the killings. The other accused are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former Inspector General of Police A K M Shahidul Haque, former DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, Special Branch chief Monirul Islam, and former DMP Mirpur Division Deputy Commissioner Md Jasim Uddin Molla.

According to the case details, on July 26, 2016, law enforcement agencies conducted an operation at a building known as “Jahajbari” in Kalyanpur, where nine suspected militants were killed, one was arrested, and another escaped. Authorities at the time claimed the deceased were members of the neo-JMB group. A case under the Anti-Terrorism Act was filed the following day and remains under trial.

After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, alternative narratives about the incident emerged, leading to the filing of this new case on March 6 of the previous year.

A heated phone dispute between Bahubal Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Saiful Islam and Upazila BNP President Ferdous Ahmed Chowdhury Toshar has stirred widespread discussion in Habiganj. The controversy began after the arrest of a young man named Masuk Mia, which led to a leaked audio recording of Toshar allegedly threatening and verbally abusing the officer. The recording, whose date remains unverified, spread rapidly on social media, with Toshar reportedly saying that police must consult him to work in Bahubal.

According to local sources, Masuk Mia, a member of the local Union Jubo League committee from the 2019 session, was arrested by police. Some BNP leaders claimed he was a BNP activist and unsuccessfully tried to secure his release. District BNP member Mokhlesur Rahman also reportedly called the OC, urging him to release Masuk, but the officer refused, causing discontent among some BNP members.

OC Saiful Islam confirmed receiving abusive calls from Toshar, while the BNP leader later went live on social media accusing the OC of corruption and misconduct, claiming he had informed the police superintendent verbally.

At least 72 tigers have died from a viral infection at a zoo in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand, according to a statement issued Friday by the provincial livestock department. Tests confirmed that the animals were infected with the highly contagious canine distemper virus and also suffered from bacterial respiratory infections. The zoo, known as Tigers Kingdom, has been temporarily closed following the mass deaths.

Somchuan Rattanamungklanon, director of Thailand’s national livestock department, told local media that detecting illness in tigers is more difficult than in domestic animals such as dogs or cats, and by the time symptoms become apparent, it is often too late. The zoo, a popular tourist attraction, allowed visitors to hug and take photos with tigers.

Animal rights group PETA said in a statement to AFP that the tigers lived and died in distressing, confined, and fearful conditions. The organization added that if tourists stayed away, such facilities would quickly become unprofitable and tragedies like this would not occur.

In Assam’s Dhubri district, hundreds of Bengali-origin Muslim families have lost both their homes and voting rights following government-led evictions. Bodiyat Jamal, a 42-year-old mason from Chirakutha village, has been living under a tarpaulin for seven months after his house was demolished in July 2025 for a power project. Recently, Jamal and his family’s names were removed from the final voter list after a special revision, despite his claim of being a registered voter for 24 years. Similar exclusions have affected many others in the area.

According to Indian media outlet Scroll, around 5,700 Muslims from Dhubri and Uriamghat were evicted and simultaneously removed from voter rolls. Election officials said the deletions occurred because displaced voters changed their permanent addresses. However, affected residents allege that authorities have made no effort to reinstate their names. Opposition parties submitted a memorandum on January 25, 2026, urging the chief electoral officer to include genuine displaced voters.

Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel stated that no voter would be removed “voluntarily” and that a separate process exists for those unable to register new addresses. Yet, displaced residents claim their names remain excluded from all lists.