The Daily Star - Bangladesh News, Political News, Bangladesh Economy & Videos, Breaking News
Dhaka’s Toxic Air: High levels of cancer-causing elements found
The concentration of cancer-causing arsenic, lead and cadmium in Dhaka air is almost double the permissible limit set by the World Health Organization, a new study has found.
UN General Assembly backs Palestinian bid for membership
The United Nations General Assembly on Friday backed a Palestinian bid to become a full UN member by recognizing it as qualified to join and recommending the UN Security Council "reconsider the matter favorably."
UN sounds alarm over aid as Israel pushes assault into Rafah
The United Nations warned on Friday that aid for the Gaza Strip could grind to a halt in days, as Israeli troops took their ground war with Palestinian fighters into the crowded city of Rafah, a key aid corridor for the famine-threatened strip
Haider Akbar Khan Rono no more
Veteran leftist leader and Marxist theorist Haider Akbar Khan Rono passed away at a city hospital early today
Record-equalling partnership takes Gujarat to victory over Chennai
Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan both hit centuries in a record-equalling 210-run opening stand that helped Gujarat Titans defeat Chennai Super Kings by 35 runs in the Indian Premier League in Ahmedabad on Friday.
Opinion
IMF prescription to raise energy prices is anti-people, illogical
The IMF prescription for the public means increased gas, electricity and transport prices, and so on.
Children should feel safe in their schools
Why are so many primary school buildings in Barguna dilapidated?
Opinion / Why the hush-hush about MPs’ perks and privileges?
The accused in this case, against whom the opposition chief whip sought the speaker’s intervention, is none other than the populist lawyer Syed Sayedul Haque Suman.
Business
Will BB steps build up reserves? Not so soon
Bangladesh Bank’s steps to boost the country’s foreign currency reserves will not yield any positive results overnight.
Uttara: A city within a city
Sports
Mbappe says he will leave PSG at end of season
Kylian Mbappe confirmed on Friday that he will leave French champions Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season, with Real Madrid expected to be his next destination.
Soumya’s different gear aided by Tanzid’s approach
Soumya Sarkar had a different gear to his batting today on his return to the squad for the last two games of the Zimbabwe T20I series. He was content on playing second fiddle to other opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim and not only did it help the team’s cause but it allowed him to get in to score an important 41 for the side as Bangladesh won by five runs in the second T20I.
Soumya gets a jittery start upon return from injury
Bangladesh opener Soumya Sarker returned to the side as he replaced Liton Das at the top of the order in the fourth T2OI against Zimbabwe at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday.
News
Honouring a fallen son
It was around noon. The rotors of a special helicopter churned through the heavy gloom at Shaheed Miraj-Tapan Stadium in Manikganj.
Kitchen Markets: Veggie prices shoot up
Along with price hikes of chicken and fish, some vegetables also saw rising prices in the kitchen markets of the capital yesterday, adding to the never-ending burden on the pockets of low-income groups.
Boro Harvest in Rangpur Division: Farmers worry over fair price
With Boro paddy harvesting going on in full swing, farmers from eight districts under Rangpur division are now concerned whether they would get fair price for their produce so that they can recover their cost of production.
CDA’s debt burden gets heavier
With an aim to mitigate the sufferings of Chattogram residents from waterlogging and traffic congestion, as well as to facilitate tourism, the Chattogram Development Authority borrowed a total of Tk 1,698 crore from the government for implementation of four projects over the past decade.
Man to die for raping sixth-grader
A Rangpur court yesterday sentenced a man to death for raping a sixth-grader in Mithapukur upazila in 2021.
Rise of a Nation
“We hardly hear people talking about how lucky we are to be an independent nation. How incredible it is that we earned our freedom. Without understanding the trauma and struggles we endured to earn...
My Dhaka / The busy days of AC mechanics
As Dhaka continues to tackle the woes of summer heat, the business of selling air conditioners, stand fans, table fans, and coolers has seen an obvious rise.
Entertainment
Apu Biswas follows Bubly’s lead, files complaint against cyber harassment
Apu Biswas mentioned in the general diary that not only have these pages and channels made ill comments but they have also used still images of her family members, made inappropriate remarks, and made some unacceptable videos to post them on social media.
It’s imperative we support our local films: Dilruba Doyel
Doyel then urged the audience to go to theatres and watch the film. “It is very important that we support our local films, I would request the audience to keep this culture alive.”
Iranian director sentenced to prison, flogging for hijab violations in film
Producers of the film faced harassment from state police, as previously disclosed by Paknia on X, and actors were interrogated and barred from leaving the country.
Life & Living
Here’s why watermelons are good for you
Watermelons are not merely a symbol of summer refreshment. They are an excellent source of hydration and nutrition. Beyond its irresistible watery sweetness, the fruit is preferred for its ability to sustain good health and invigorate the body.
The healthiest diet around: Exploring Japanese cuisine
With an emphasis on unprocessed and fresh food, Japanese food can boast as one of the healthiest dietary choices in the world. Modern Japanese cuisine features all sorts of ingredients.
Iconic dresses from Met Gala 2024
The Met Gala 2024 dazzled under the theme "The Garden of Time," inspired by a short story with a similar title. Held on 6 May 2024, the gala saw fashion and film luminaries showcasing designs that married elegance and innovativeness with contemporary environmental consciousness.
Youth
A conversation with the coach who led BUET to ICPC glory
Campus sat down with Sohel Rahman, a professor at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Fellow at the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, and the team coach of BUET Potatoes, to learn more about the process and experience of representing the nation as part of the BUET ICPC team.
Mongol-Tori Phoenix: BRAC University’s next-generation Mars rover
Mongol-Tori’s Phoenix, a next-generation Mars rover from BRAC University (BRACU), has secured a spot in the finals of the University Rover Challenge (URC) 2024.
What students should keep in their bags in this heat
Preparing for the sweltering heat is a must-do, especially for those who can't avoid going outdoors.
Tech & Startup
TikTok begins advertising in Bangladesh
TikTok has launched advertising options in Bangladesh, selecting Aleph as its regional sales partner.
British-Bangladeshi Kazi Abidur Rahman in Forbes 30 under 30 list
Kazi Abidur Rahman, the co-founder of Sunnamusk, a British perfume shop, has secured a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2024. He was listed in the 30 Under 30 list of Europe - Retail & Ecommerce 2024.
Here are the biggest announcements from Apple’s iPad event
Apple has unveiled a new line up of products at the Apple’s iPad event on May 7. Here are the announcements from Apple’s iPad event:
Star Multimedia
35th National Rabindra Sangeet Festival / National Rabindra Sangeet Festival to honour Kalim Sharafi and Sadi Mohammad this year
Two esteemed figures will be specially honoured during the festival and they are, Kalim Sharafi, marking his 100th birthday on May 8, and the late Sadi Mohammad.
Ceasefire talks end without agreement, Israeli attacks on Rafah continue
Israel launched a new attack on the Gaza Strip on Friday morning
Biden warns Israel to refrain from Rafah operation
The US opposes Israel's decision to attack Rafah in Gaza. US President Joe Biden has warned Israel to refrain from attacking the country
How the BAF trainer fighter jet crashed in Chattogram
A trainer fighter jet of Bangladesh Air Force has crashed into the Karnaphuli river in Chattogram due to mechanical failure. Divers and firefighters are working to retrieve the aircraft.
Is there an election going on?
Voters in the Chimbuk Hill area in the dark about the ongoing upazila polls
Daily Star Books
Environment
Country to see another spell of heatwave
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) predicts a spell of mild to moderate heatwave in the second half of May after the current pre-monsoon rains subside.
Rain likely in next 72 hours
Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at many places over five divisions including Dhaka and at a few places over other three divisions
Work-abstention: Teachers suspend movement
The Bangladesh Secondary Assistant Teachers' Association has opted to suspend its planned one-hour abstention from work programme scheduled for tomorrow
Nature quest: Giving colour to the seas
A sea slug, more specifically a dorid nudibranch or Goniobranchus reticulus, spotted around 12ft deep into the Bay of Bengal off Saint Martin’s Island
Untapped petroleum potential: Offshore areas of Bangladesh largely unexplored, says TGS
Petrobangla (Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation) initiated an international tender in March for offshore oil and gas exploration, following the approval of the revamped model production sharing contract (PSC)
Thailand closes island after coral bleaching found
An island in southern Thailand was closed on Thursday after the discovery of extensive coral bleaching, the national parks office said
Dhaka’s air quality ‘worst in the world’ this morning
Dhaka has topped the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 203 at 9:01 am today
School's out: how climate change threatens education
Asia is warming faster than the global average, and climate change is producing more frequent, longer, and more intense heatwaves
Fact-check
India sieves online deluge to stamp out disinformation in world's biggest election
Just last week, two AI-generated deepfake videos of Bollywood stars criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is seeking a rare third term, and asking people to vote for the opposition Congress went viral, drawing half a million views.
Deepfakes of Bollywood stars spark worries of AI meddling in India election
The two videos have been viewed on social media more than half a million times since last week, a Reuters review shows.
Fact check: Mossad did not describe deceased US airman as 'enemy'
More claims suggesting the remark came from Mossad spread across X and TikTok.
Meta to set up team to counter disinformation, AI abuse in EU elections
European Parliament elections will take place June 6-9. Its 720 lawmakers, together with EU governments, pass new EU policies and laws.
Misinformation and disinformation: A threat to democracy in Bangladesh
In today’s digital age, the spread of misinformation and disinformation has arisen as a major challenge to global democracy.
OpenAI to launch anti-disinformation tools for 2024 elections
The explosive success of text generator ChatGPT spurred a global artificial intelligence revolution but also triggered warnings that such tools could flood the internet with disinformation and sway voters.
Deepfake video targeting Gaibandha-1 candidate surfaces on Facebook
On the day of the National Election 2024, a fabricated video surfaced on Facebook featuring Nahid Niger, an independent candidate for the Gaibandha-1 seat, announcing her withdrawal from the election. Subsequent verification by Dismislab, an online platform specialising in media research and verification, confirmed that the video was a product of AI-based deepfake technology.
Podcast on fake news: Impact of Israel-Hamas conflict on Bangladesh's national election
Uncover the sources and intentions behind these circulating rumors.
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