President Trump announced a 25% tariff on foreign-made cars and light trucks, set to take effect on April 2. Targeting imports from countries like Japan, South Korea, Canada, and Mexico, the move aims to boost US automotive industry. Wall Street responded negatively, with automaker stocks sliding. Trump calls it “Liberation Day” for the economy, while trade partners seek balanced negotiations.READ FULL
The IMF has agreed on a new $1.3 billion loan program for Pakistan and is reviewing an existing bailout that could unlock an additional $1 billion. The 28-month deal aims to support climate change adaptation and economic recovery. Pakistan narrowly avoided default in 2023 and continues implementing strict financial reforms.READ FULL
President Trump endorsed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s criticism of European nations, agreeing they are “freeloading” during a leaked Signal app chat. The conversation, which included Vice President JD Vance, expressed frustration about U.S. support for Europe, with Hegseth calling European behavior “PATHETIC.”READ FULL
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to temporarily suspend strikes on critical infrastructure, including oil refineries, pipelines, nuclear power stations, and energy transmission facilities. The 30-day moratorium, starting March 18, was discussed with U.S. officials. Either side can end the agreement if the other breaches the terms.READ FULL
A United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai was forced to return after a pilot boarded without a passport. The aircraft landed in San Francisco, delaying the journey by nearly six hours. United provided passengers with meal vouchers and compensation, and deployed a new crew to complete the trip.READ FULL
US President Donald Trump appointed his longtime attorney Alina Habba as interim Attorney for the District of New Jersey. A prominent legal figure in Trump’s legal team, Habba has defended him in multiple high-profile cases and serves as Counselor to the President. She expressed her honor and commitment to “end the weaponisation of justice.”READ FULL
Emraan Hashmi announced “Awarapan 2”, a sequel to his 2007 cult classic, set to release on April 3, 2026. Directed by Nitin Kakkar and written by Bilal Siddiqi, the film continues the story of a hitman’s destiny. Hashmi shared a teaser video highlighting the original film’s themes and dramatic moments.READ FULL
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department predicts mostly dry conditions with a partly cloudy sky for the next 72 hours. Temperatures are expected to rise slightly, with no significant rainfall anticipated for the remainder of this month and early next month.READ FULL
Starlink must route its commercial broadband through a local gateway in Bangladesh, following the country’s NGSO policy. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has directed authorities to ensure Starlink’s launch within 90 days, aiming to expand internet access in remote areas and improve regulatory oversight.READ FULL
Garment workers clashed with police near the Secretariat while protesting for overdue wages, Eid bonus, and leave benefits. The confrontation at noon resulted in injuries to both police and workers, with bricks and stones thrown. Workers continue to demonstrate at Shromo Bhaban, demanding justice for what they describe as an unfair police attack.READ FULL
The UN and partners have launched a $934.5 million appeal to support 1.48 million Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh throughout 2025. With dwindling resources and the crisis entering its eighth year, the UN warns that funding shortfalls could have dire consequences for this vulnerable population, potentially forcing refugees to undertake dangerous journeys seeking safety. Over half the refugees are women and girls, with a third aged 10-24.READ FULL
After regaining party registration through a High Court order, a JAGPA delegation met with Chief Election Commissioner Nasir Uddin. Led by President Tasmia Pradhan, they urged the EC to simplify registration rules for unregistered political parties. Pradhan emphasized their desire for free and fair elections without foreign interference. The party’s registration had been revoked in 2021 but was restored following a court ruling on March 19.READ FULL
Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney called early elections for April 28, positioning the vote as a response to threats from US President Donald Trump. Carney cited Trump’s trade actions and sovereignty threats as “the most significant crisis of our lifetimes.” Previously trailing in polls, the Liberal Party has gained ground as Trump’s aggressive rhetoric toward Canada has shifted the election focus to who can best handle US relations. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre promises to focus on economic issues.READ FULL
A new fire has spread across half a kilometer in the Shaplar Beel area of Sundarbans, described as more intense than the previous Kolomteji blaze. Six firefighting units from Bagerhat and Khulna are working to control the scattered flames. Officials have created firebreaks and begun water spraying operations. The fire’s cause remains unknown, and a three-member committee has been formed to investigate the damage.READ FULL
Russian and Ukrainian delegations are meeting separately with US officials in Saudi Arabia to discuss a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. The White House hopes for a resolution by April 20, though expectations differ. Putin rejected a full 30-day pause, instead proposing to halt attacks on energy facilities only. Ukraine seeks a broader ceasefire as drone strikes continue on both sides, with recent civilian casualties reported.READ FULL
Shiv Sena workers vandalized a Mumbai hotel after comedian Kunal Kamra mocked Deputy CM Eknath Shinde as a “traitor” during a show. The party demanded Kamra’s arrest, with MP Naresh Mhaske threatening serious consequences and claiming Kamra was paid by former CM Uddhav Thackeray. Meanwhile, opposition leader Aaditya Thackeray questioned the state’s law and order situation as Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel announced plans to file a police complaint.READ FULL
Israel conducted multiple waves of airstrikes on Lebanon Saturday after rocket fire from across the border, killing at least eight people, including strikes on the coastal city of Tyre. Hezbollah denied responsibility for the initial rocket attack. The escalation follows Israel’s resumed offensive in Gaza, where airstrikes killed several Palestinians, including Hamas political official Salah al-Bardawil and his wife.READ FULL
Tencent officially released its Hunyuan T1 reasoning model on March 21, featuring faster response times and improved processing of lengthy texts. Built on the Turbo S foundational language model, T1 promises enhanced clarity and structural coherence with low hallucination rates. Tencent claims the model outperforms rival DeepSeek R1 on select knowledge and reasoning benchmarks, marking another advancement in China’s competitive AI landscape.READ FULL
Nvidia and Disney unveiled AI-driven robots inspired by Star Wars at Nvidia’s GTC conference. The droids, named Besh and Grek, can express emotions through movements learned via reinforcement learning in simulations. Powered by the new Newton physics engine co-developed with Google DeepMind, these robots will debut at Disney parks starting in 2026, though they’ll remain under human control rather than operating autonomously.READ FULL
Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar told a committee that India knew about the growing opposition to Sheikh Hasina before her ousting in August 2024, but lacked leverage to intervene. He described China as “a competitor, not adversary” while noting its growing regional influence. Jaishankar also suggested SAARC regional cooperation might be revived in the future after being “paused” since 2016.READ FULL
Columbia University has agreed to several demands from the Trump administration to potentially regain federal funding that was pulled over allegations of campus antisemitism. The university will reform its disciplinary process, hire security officers with arrest powers, and appoint an official to review Middle East studies departments. The decision has drawn criticism as an unprecedented government intrusion into academic freedom.READ FULL
Mustafa Zahid, known for hit Bollywood songs like “Toh Phir Aao” and tracks in “Aashiqui 2,” will perform in Dhaka on April 11. The concert is organized by Melody and Mind Communication, with venue and ticket details pending. The lead singer of Pakistan’s Roxen band, who has over 5.5 million Spotify followers, confirmed his appearance through a Facebook video message to Bangladeshi fans.READ FULL
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecasts rain and thunderstorms across multiple districts, including Dhaka, for today and tomorrow. The highest rainfall in the past 24 hours was 10mm in Bogura. Temporary gusty winds, scattered hailstorms, and moderately heavy to very heavy falls are expected in several divisions. After these two days, rainfall is anticipated to decrease, with temperatures likely rising from Monday.READ FULL
BTS member J-Hope has released a new single “Mona Lisa,” co-produced with Blake Slatkin. The track quickly topped iTunes charts in 67 regions and entered YouTube’s Top 10 Trending Videos in 22 countries. Inspired by the famous painting, the song celebrates individuality over external beauty. J-Hope is currently on his “Hope on the Stage” tour, which concludes in Japan in June 2025.READ FULL
A major electrical substation fire has forced London’s Heathrow Airport to close for the entire day on Friday. About 70 firefighters are battling the blaze, which has caused a complete power outage at Europe’s busiest airport. Dozens of flights have been diverted worldwide, with some U.S. flights turning back mid-journey. Officials expect significant disruption to continue for several days.READ FULL
Russian President Putin has issued a decree requiring Ukrainians without legal status to leave Russia or obtain citizenship by September 10. The order affects residents of occupied regions including Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea. Ukraine has condemned Russia’s “passportization” as illegal. Meanwhile, ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine are set to begin in Jeddah following recent phone calls between Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy.READ FULL
Hollywood star Tom Cruise will be honored with the prestigious BFI Fellowship on May 12, 2025, in London. The award recognizes his 40+ years of filmmaking in the UK. BFI Chair Jay Hunt praised Cruise’s contributions to British film industry, including his work on the Mission: Impossible series. The latest installment, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” releases May 23, 2025.READ FULL
Australian Home Minister Tony Burke announced that visa applications for Bangladeshi citizens will now be processed at Australia’s High Commission in Dhaka, rather than New Delhi. The change takes immediate effect following a request made by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus during Burke’s visit to Bangladesh last October. Burke informed Bangladesh’s Home Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury of the decision via phone.READ FULL
Turkish authorities detained 37 people for making “provocative posts” following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Erdogan’s main rival. Officials identified 261 social media accounts after 18.6 million posts were shared about Imamoglu within 24 hours of his detention. Authorities also seized construction company co-owned by Imamoglu, who was arrested on charges including graft and aiding a terrorist group.READ FULL
The Meteorological Office predicts temporary gusty winds, lightning, rain, and thunderstorms in Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions over the next 24 hours. Scattered hailstorms may occur in some areas. Day temperatures are expected to decrease slightly while night temperatures may rise. According to meteorologist Afruza Sultana, this sporadic Nor’wester weather pattern will continue until March 23.READ FULL
Workers from Utah Knitting & Dyeing Ltd in Gazipur halted production and blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway Thursday morning. Over 100 employees demanded their holiday match the government’s five-day Eid-ul-Fitr break starting March 29. The protest caused severe traffic congestion as police negotiated with workers and factory management to resolve the situation.READ FULL
21 Bangladeshis returned home through Benapole border after serving two-year sentences in India. They had entered India illegally through brokers promising better opportunities but were arrested in Kolkata. Following their release, both countries’ home ministries coordinated their repatriation. Local NGOs received the returnees from various districts and will help reunite them with their families.READ FULL
India has significantly reduced medical visa issuance to Bangladeshis – from 5,000-7,000 to fewer than 1,000 daily – amid worsening relations after Sheikh Hasina fled to India. This reduction has created an opportunity for China, which is increasing medical cooperation with Bangladesh, including organizing treatment visits and considering opening a friendship hospital in Dhaka. Relations between Bangladesh and China are strengthening as Muhammad Yunus prepares to meet President Xi.READ FULL
Three people died and two were injured in a head-on collision between an ambulance and a human haulier (nosimon) on the Benapole-Jashore highway in Bangladesh. The accident occurred around 6:00am when the ambulance traveling to Benapole collided with the vehicle. Police confirmed all victims were passengers of the nosimon, with the injured being treated at Jashore General Hospital.READ FULL
Director Carl Erik Rinsch was arrested for allegedly defrauding Netflix of $11 million meant for his sci-fi show “White Horse.” Prosecutors claim Rinsch diverted funds to cryptocurrency investments and personal purchases, including multiple Rolls-Royces, a Ferrari, luxury furniture, and designer goods. After losing half the money in investments, he reportedly used crypto profits to fund his lavish spending spree.READ FULL
US Judge James Boasberg temporarily halted deportations under Trump’s invocation of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act against Venezuelan gang members. Two flights proceeded despite the order, prompting the judge to demand details. Trump called for Boasberg’s impeachment, drawing criticism from Chief Justice John Roberts. Venezuelan officials condemned the deportations while families of migrants struggle to locate their loved ones.READ FULL