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Three difficult choices to heal economy
Bangladesh yesterday made three major decisions to cushion the economy against critical risks such as stubborn inflation and depletion of foreign currency reserves.
‘Market-based interest rates will be painful for businesses’
CPD Distinguished Fellow Mustafizur Rahman says
Prolonged Middle East conflict to affect Bangladesh: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today told parliament that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, if escalates and gets prolonged, will affect Bangladesh socially, politically, and economically
Clean energy goal a far cry
Abantika's suicide: JnU assistant proctor released on bail
Jagannath University (JnU) assistant proctor Deen Islam, who was arrested in connection with student Abantika's suicide, walked out of jail on bail yesterday
Opinion
Israel’s diversionary attack on Iran has set off a new security crisis in West Asia
Netanyahu is unlikely to favour such a ceasefire since his unpopularity would lead to his overthrow, the revival of criminal cases against him, and his possible incarceration.
Strict oversight is vital to end the tree-cutting bonanza
Latest incident saw the startling transformation of Altadighi National Park
BIRTH CENTENARY OF KALIM SHARAFI / A life dedicated to cultural activism
“I firmly believe in the profound impact of music, dance, and acting on shaping people’s thoughts and emotions.
Business
IMF eases forex reserves target
Thanks to bold reform measures taken by the authorities, the IMF has drastically slashed the Net International Reserves (NIR) requirement for Bangladesh for the fourth tranche of the $4.7 billion loans.
Sports
Head, Abishek power Hyderabad to victory over Lucknow inside 10 overs
Openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma smoked half-centuries as Sunrisers Hyderabad crushed Lucknow Super Giants by 10 wickets on Wednesday to boost their play-off hopes in the IPL.
Real Madrid 1-2 Bayern Munich: What’s your prediction?
Record 14-time winners Real Madrid host European giants Bayern Munich in what promises to be a mouth-watering second-leg semifinal clash in the Champions League tonight at the Santiago Bernabeu. The match begins at 1:00 am on Wednesday (Bangladesh time).
Nadal welcomes unusual role of underdog
The 22-time Grand Slam singles champion has recently returned to the circuit after a long absence due to injury.
News
Patients, medics flee major Rafah hospital
Fearful medics and patients are fleeing a hospital in Rafah and transfers of the sick and injured via a border crossing with Egypt are at a standstill due to Israel’s military operation, doctors and residents said.
China, Serbia agree to follow a ‘shared future’
China and Serbia yesterday agreed to follow a “shared future” as President Xi Jinping visited the Balkan country, part of his bid to forge stronger relations with allies at the edge of the European Union.
HK court bans protest anthem
Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal yesterday granted an application by the government to ban a protest anthem called “Glory to Hong Kong”, overturning a lower court judgment that had rejected such a ban because of its possible “chilling effects” on free speech.
INDIA ELECTION / BJP deletes X post accused of targeting Muslims
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party yesterday deleted a cartoon video posted on social media platform X that was criticised for targeting Muslims during an ongoing national election.
Afghan blast kills 3 Taliban security personnel
Three Taliban security personnel were killed when a motorcycle carrying an explosive device blew up near a military vehicle in northern Afghanistan being used in opium poppy eradication operations, an interior ministry spokesman said yesterday.
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
Zohra Islam: An unwitting maestro
Zohra’s paintings are adorning walls of people around the world, and are a constant reminder of her cheerful nature. She moved into her Gulshan residence in the year 2000, and continued painting again, along with couple of friends engaging a new art teacher. She stopped painting in 2010.
Robert Downey Jr set for Broadway debut in new play ‘McNeal’
Hollywood superstar Robert Downey Jr is all set to play the role of Jacob McNeal in the upcoming play "McNeal", penned by Ayad Akhtar and helmed by Bartlett Sher ("To Kill a Mockingbird").
TV specials arranged for Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary
Every year public and private television channels prepare a broad arena of programmes to celebrate the poet laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
Life & Living
Say no to French Fries? Which foods to eat and to avoid this summer
Beat the summer heat by opting for a diet that keeps you cool and energised. These dietary changes not only help regulate body temperature but also prevent dehydration and bloating, ensuring you stay healthy and refreshed all summer long.
Conquering that stack: 5 ways to finish a book in a week
Let's face it. Our to-be-read piles have started to look like a leaning tower of literary Pisa now. If you are a bookworm, you will relate to this one much too well.
Cool fashion tips to keep in mind for summer
When it comes to summer fashion, there is a special challenge: how to look stylish while being comfortable. The searing heat and humidity may make summer clothing choices difficult as the scorching sun can make your life unpleasant.
Youth
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.
Decision to increase age limit for govt jobs up to PM: minister
Regarding the education ministry's recommendation to raise the age limit for government jobs, Public Administration Minister Farhad Hossain today said it is subject to government policy
Understanding religious scriptures and finding spirituality
In Muslim households, children are taught to read the Quran from start to finish. But that’s the thing, they are taught to read, not understand it
Tech & Startup
PRESS RELEASE / OnePlus to officially launch in Bangladesh
OnePlus plans to showcase its range, including the flagship models and the OnePlus Nord Series.
Asus launches 6 new laptops in Bangladesh
Asus has recently launched six new laptops in Bangladesh, including the new dual-screen Zenbook DUO (UX8406) model. The other laptops recently released are ZenBook 14 OLED (UX3405), ROG Zephyrus G14 (GA403), ROG Zephyrus G16 (GU605), ROG Strix G16 (G614), and ROG Strix SCAR 18 (G834).
Does keeping your AC at 27° with fan turned on really save money?
Dhaka's scorching summers inevitably lead to a surge in air conditioner (AC) usage. While escaping the heat is essential, the resulting spike in electricity bills can be a significant concern. Fortunately, a data-driven approach to AC settings, combined with the strategic use of fans, offers a solution that prioritizes both comfort and cost-effectiveness.
Star Multimedia
Is there an election going on?
Voters in the Chimbuk Hill area in the dark about the ongoing upazila polls
Upazila Polls: AL, BNP struggle to keep a grip on grassroots
The upazila election has exposed how neither of the two major parties, the Awami League and BNP, has full control over the grassroots leaders.
Myanmar conflict: Explosions from across the border rock Teknaf
Teknaf upazila in Cox's Bazar was once again rocked yesterday by sounds of explosions coming from across the border in Myanmar's Rakhine state
Israel plays down Hamas nod to ceasefire, hits Rafah
Israel played down the likelihood of a ceasefire in Gaza yesterday after Hamas said it had accepted a proposal from mediators, even as residents fled the city of Rafah in fear of an Israeli assault.
US pauses ammunition shipment to Israel for first time since Oct 7: reports
The Biden administration paused a shipment of US-made ammunition to Israel last week amid the latter's ongoing attack on Gaza, but the reasons for doing so were not clear, according to media outlets in the US and Israel
Daily Star Books
Environment
12 boats capsize due to nor'wester
At least 12 boats capsized near Moheshkhali, Banshkhali, and Anwara at the Bay of Bengal due to a nor'wester today
Offshore oil, gas exploration: 7 foreign firms bought tenders so far
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid today said seven international companies have so far bought tenders to participate in oil and gas exploration in the Bay of Bengal
So, how many donkeys are there in Bangladesh?
Do you know how many donkeys there are in Bangladesh? The answer is we don't know the numbers
Rain likely in all divisions: Met office
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted that rain or thundershowers in all divisions with hail at isolated places in 24 hours starting from 9:00am today
World sweltered as April smashed global heat records
April marked another "remarkable" month of record-breaking global air and sea surface temperature averages, according to a new report by the EU's climate monitor published on Wednesday
'Dishonest' forest officials responsible for Sundarbans fire: speakers
Environmental activists at an event today said "dishonest" forest officials were responsible for the repeated fires in Sundarbans
Pirojpur faces power outage after rain
Consumers of Pirojpur Palli Bidyut Samity (PBS) endured a prolonged power outage from yesterday evening till this noon due to rain.
Rain douses Sundarbans fire
The Sundarbans fire has been completely doused, almost four days since it started..It started raining on the affected location from 5:30pm yesterday, Khulna Circle Forest Conservator Mihir Kumar Doe said this evening. .Besides, members of the Forest Department and Fire Service and C
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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