The Daily Star - Bangladesh News, Political News, Bangladesh Economy & Videos, Breaking News
IMF suggests raising power, gas and fertiliser prices
The International Monetary Fund yesterday recommended reducing government subsidies by hiking prices of power, gas and fertiliser, and spending the saved money on society safety net programmes.
India votes in second phase of mammoth polls
After a high-octane campaign, India today goes into the second phase of voting in the marathon seven-phase general election as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks a rare third term on the back of issues such as growth, welfare and Hindu nationalism.
Spinners help Bengaluru defeat Hyderabad
Hyderabad could only score 171-8 as RCB registered only their second win in nine games and are still languishing at the bottom of the 10-team table.
Opinion
Will corporations finally be held accountable?
EU’s new law on corporate responsibility a step in the right direction
EVMs, the EC, and waste of public money
Why did the EVM experiment fall on its face?
Rana Plaza tragedy: Why is justice being put on hold?
Dragging on the cases filed over the Rana Plaza disaster is a disservice to the victims.
Business
Reckitt Benckiser revenue down 3pc
Reckitt Benckiser (Bangladesh), whose brands include Dettol, Mortein and Harpic, witnessed a drop in revenue of around 3 percent year-on-year in the last January-March period, citing that it was due to a drop in sales.
Sports
Courtois can return next week: Ancelotti
"He's well, I think he will be available to travel with us next week (to Munich) and he can play against Cadiz," Ancelotti told a news conference.
Mohammedan prolong Abahani’s wait
Rony struck a career-best 141 off 131 deliveries while Mahidul Islam Ankon’s 50 and Mehedi Hasan Miraz’s brisk cameo, a 29-ball 53, helped Mohammedan to 317 for six
Coach told me two matches would suffice, chief selector said better to play three: Shakib
Bangladesh star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan put an end to speculations about his availability in the upcoming five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe at home, reassuring that he will indeed play the series.
News
‘My son is on the bulldozer’
Palestinian woman Reem Zidan had been searching for her son for months, and finally found his body on Wednesday as a bulldozer unearthed human remains outside a Gaza hospital.
India election: POLLS CODE VIOLATION / EC seeks response from Modi, Rahul
India’s Election Commission (EC) said yesterday it has sought responses from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress on alleged violations of polls rules by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi.
India election / ‘Not one vote’
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s response to the Calcutta High Court order scrapping the job of 26,000 teachers, was a resounding election message.
US human rights report ‘deeply biased’: India
New Delhi said yesterday it does not attach any value to a US State Department report critical of human rights in India, and called it deeply biased.
PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTS / Over 100 arrested at US universities
More than 100 people were arrested Wednesday at two universities in California and Texas, officials said, after pro-Palestinian protests erupted across US campuses this week.
My Dhaka / Savoury Summer Delights: Green mango season is here
Mango is known as the king of fruits and justifiably so!
My Dhaka / The dynamic duo of DIYer Studio
When your university courses come to an end and you are left with a few bundles of quality, loose sheets of paper, what do you do with it? Give it away, forget about it, or do you make a bespoke...
Entertainment
A new chapter for Tareen
Bangladeshi actress Tareen, widely acclaimed for her roles in television dramas over the years, is set to make her debut in Indian Bengali cinema with the film “Eta Amader Golpo”. Tareen's popularity spans generations, and adding to her repertoire, she is also a skilled dancer. Last year, she received applause for her role in the film “1971 Shei Shob Din”.
Badhan sets example, wins battle over custodial rights
In a resounding declaration of victory for maternal rights, the name of actress Azmeri Haque Badhan echoed through the courtroom once more, but this time with resolute pride. Recently, Badhan achieved a significant milestone– full guardianship of her child. This monumental event took place on Monday (April 22), marking a triumph not just for Badhan personally, but for all mothers striving for recognition of their inherent rights.
Black reunion: A one-off?
Music in Bangladesh was never the same after Black launched “Amar Prithibi” in 2002. Taking off the much harder edge brought in by the rock bands of the ‘90s, it was Black who arguably popularised alternative rock in the country, along with acts like Nemesis and Stentorian.
Life & Living
Beat the heat: AC shopping demystified
You will be stuck with your purchase for at least a decade, so it is best to do your research before you take the plunge.
5 ways to keep the house cool without an AC
Don’t have an air conditioner at home? Beat the ongoing heatwave following these simple tips — from clever use of curtains to including homemade coolers and roof modifications for heat reduction, and more
Wanderlust on two wheels: Musdaque’s expedition across 10 countries
While the allure of the unknown beckons the adventurous spirit within us, only a few capture the essence of exploration like cross-country motorcycling. Riding through the heart of Asia, Musdaque Chowdhury, and his partner Maliha Chowdhury, embarked on a 197-day journey traversing 10 countries.
Youth
Five school students representing Bangladesh at NASA
Five high school students from Bangladesh have been selected as the global finalists at the Innovation Stage of the 2023-24 Conrad Challenge.
How to write a stellar personal statement
During college admissions season, hundreds of thousands of students across the globe scramble to get their applications in order.
How CHRF is redefining single-cell genomics in Bangladesh
For the first time in Bangladesh, Child Health Research Foundation (CHRF) has successfully generated single-cell genomic (SCG) data for the Human Cell Atlas (HCA).
Tech & Startup
India launches first multi-purpose green hydrogen pilot project in Himachal Pradesh
India's first multi-purpose (combined Heat & Power) green hydrogen pilot project at state-owned Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam’s 1,500 MW hydro power station (NJHPS) in Jhakri, Himachal Pradesh, was inaugurated today.
Dhruva Space partners with Indian government for space-grade solar array
In a step towards indigenisation in space sector, the Indian government’s Technology Development Board (TDB) has extended financial support for a fabrication of cutting-edge space-grade solar array and test facility by start-up Dhruva Space Private Limited in Hyderabad.
Who are Chief Heat Officers and what do they do?
Bushra Afreen, the Chief Heat Officer (CHO) for North Dhaka, has recently come under intense scrutiny and online trolling amidst a surge in heatwaves across the city. After her recent remarks in some interviews, Afreen has become a target of online trolling due to her high-profile role. This spotlight has led to confusion about what a Chief Heat Officer is, what their role entails, and whether they're a government-created position.
Star Multimedia
Youngsters who showed the world what our robots can do
Competing against 451 teams from 77 countries, the Bangladeshi robotics team "Robonium Bangladesh" clinched the 5th position in the World Robot Olympiad 2023 in the "Future Innovators (Senior)" category, held in Panama
How did Israel and Iran go from friend to foe?
Find out in today's Star Explains
'We will break their hands and throw them into the Jamuna'
An Awami League leader has warned that agents of candidates other than their own will not be allowed to enter any polling centres in the Sarishabari Upazila Parishad election in Jamalpur.
Rice in Dinajpur
This time, a sensation has been created in Dinajpur with an exceptional rice. Residents of Laldighi village in Eluari union of Phulbari upazila collect rice from bamboo flowers. Today's inside Bangladesh with Dinajpur's bamboo flower rice
11 years on, cries for justice remain unheeded
Marking the 11th anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse, Bangladesh's deadliest industrial disaster, survivors and relatives of the victims today gathered at the site in Savar demanding adequate compensation and maximum punishment for the culprits
Daily Star Books
Environment
Heatwave alert extended for 72 hours
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has issued a warning that the ongoing heatwave is likely to persist for 72 more hours starting this morning
Elephant lying dead on highway died of liver dysfunction: surgeon
An elephant that was found lying dead on the side of a highway in Rajendrapur Bhawal National Park area of Gazipur, died of liver dysfunction, said a veterinary surgeon
25kg venison seized in Barguna
Coast Guard has recovered 25kg venison from Barguna's Patharghata upazila yesterday
Nano, microplastics accumulating in our lungs: Study
Nanoplastics and microplastics have entered and accumulated in our lungs, potentially causing serious long-term respiratory damage, according to a new study
Children at ‘high risk’ amid heatwave: UNICEF
UNICEF expressed grave concern in a press release today over the health and safety of children in Bangladesh as a heatwave grips the country
Severe heatwave continues in parts of country
A severe heatwave is sweeping over several northern and southern districts as mild to moderate heatwave is sweeping over three divisions including Dhaka and other districts, said a Met office forecast today
Danger warning issued for Bangkok as extreme heat bites
Thai authorities issued an extreme heat warning for Bangkok on Wednesday, urging people to stay indoors for their own safety as temperatures soared
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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