Italy-based Bangladeshi footballer Fahamedul Islam has left the Bangladesh football team and returned to Italy after falling short of head coach Javier Cabrera’s expectations. The 18-year-old, who plays for fourth division club Olbia Calcio 1905, was included in Bangladesh’s preliminary squad for the Asian Cup Qualifier against India on March 25. Team manager Amer Khan confirmed Fahamedul’s departure, hinting he may be called up to the youth team in the future.READ FULL
President Trump announced that his administration will release remaining government files on John F. Kennedy’s assassination on Tuesday. Trump signed an executive order in January calling for declassification of documents related to JFK’s assassination, as well as those of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. Trump indicated the release would be complete and unredacted. Currently, 97% of the five million pages of Kennedy records have been made public.READ FULL
Israel conducted “extensive strikes” on Hamas targets across Gaza, killing at least 66 people and injuring about 150 during Ramadan. The Israeli military said the strikes came after Hamas repeatedly refused to release hostages and rejected proposals from mediators. Netanyahu’s office stated Israel would now act with “increased military strength.” Hamas condemned Israel for violating the January 19 ceasefire and said the strikes put remaining hostages at risk.READ FULL
Air Canada apologized after some Boeing 737 MAX planes displayed “Palestinian Territories” instead of Israel on in-flight entertainment maps. The airline disabled the faulty maps on 40 aircraft while updates are made. Air Canada and Thales, the entertainment system provider, attributed the issue to a third-party map supplier. They’re working to reprogram the fleet. JetBlue faced a similar issue in 2024, prompting them to change map providers.READ FULL
Metro rail staff in Bangladesh briefly went on strike after some colleagues were allegedly beaten by metro police for checking their passes. Trains continued running but stations including Mirpur 10 and Secretariat operated unstaffed, allowing passengers free rides. Staff ended their protest after management promised action against responsible officers. DMTCL Managing Director reported operations were 95% normal by 9:00am.READ FULL
Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed two attacks on a US aircraft carrier group within 24 hours, calling it retaliation for deadly US strikes that killed 53 people, including women and children. The US conducted “large scale operations” against the Houthis over the weekend, with President Trump warning that “hell will rain down” if attacks on Red Sea shipping continue.READ FULL
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards chief Hossein Salami threatened a “decisive” response to any attack following US President Trump’s airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Trump warned Iran to stop backing the Houthis immediately. Salami insisted Iran won’t wage war but will respond appropriately to threats, adding that the Houthis make their own decisions independently. Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the US strikes that reportedly killed 31 people, calling them a violation of UN principles. Foreign Minister Araghchi stated the US has no authority to dictate Iran’s foreign policy.READ FULL
Intel’s new CEO Lip-Bu Tan will receive a $1 million base salary with potential bonuses up to $2 million annually. His compensation package includes approximately $66 million in performance-tied stock options and grants. Tan, who replaces Pat Gelsinger, must maintain or increase Intel’s stock price to receive equity awards. He’s also committed to personally purchasing $25 million in Intel shares. Intel’s stock has risen nearly 20% in 2025 following Tan’s appointment.READ FULL
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres concluded his four-day Bangladesh visit, departing Dhaka this morning. During his stay, he met with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and other officials to discuss the Rohingya crisis and climate change. Guterres visited refugee camps, shared iftar with Rohingya refugees, and participated in roundtable discussions with various stakeholders including political leaders, youth, and civil society representatives.READ FULL
Mymensingh’s historic Purobi Cinema Hall is being demolished to make way for a commercial market, with potential plans for a future cineplex. The demolition comes earlier than expected, just before Eid-ul-Fitr film releases. Purobi was one of five original cinema halls in the city and survived a deadly 2002 bombing by militant group JMB that killed 17 people. Only one cinema hall, Chayabani, will remain in Mymensingh.READ FULL
A fire damaged twelve shops at Rajshahi New Market early today, likely caused by an electrical short circuit. Seven firefighting units responded to the blaze, which started around 12:30am and was controlled by 1:50am. One firefighter fell ill during the operation and is receiving treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, according to assistant director Md Didarul Alam of Rajshahi Fire Service.READ FULL
Christopher Nolan’s upcoming adaptation of Homer’s “The Odyssey” has generated excitement after photos emerged showing filming on a real wooden ship in Greece. The film stars Tom Holland alongside an all-star cast including Matt Damon, Zendaya, and Robert Pattinson. Fans are praising Nolan’s commitment to practical effects over CGI. The highly anticipated epic is scheduled for release on July 17, 2026.READ FULL
McLaren’s Lando Norris won the rain-soaked Australian Grand Prix, fending off Max Verstappen in a chaotic race filled with crashes. Mercedes’ George Russell took third place on the slippery Albert Park circuit, where only 14 cars completed the race. Norris’s teammate Oscar Piastri finished ninth after going off-track, while Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari debut ended in a disappointing 10th place finish.READ FULL
Alia Bhatt has confirmed she will make her debut at the 78th Cannes International Film Festival, scheduled for May 13-24, 2025. During a recent press conference, she expressed her excitement with a brief statement: “I am looking forward to it.” This marks another prestigious international appearance for Bhatt, who has previously attended the Met Gala and made her Paris Fashion Week debut in 2024. Other Indian celebrities who regularly attend Cannes include Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, and Deepika Padukone.READ FULL
After meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that his party wants election-related reforms completed before holding swift elections. Fakhrul noted that while reforms are necessary, they should be implemented quickly, with additional reforms possible through parliament later. The UN chief did not comment on reforms as it’s Bangladesh’s internal matter, but the UN has suggested all parties work together to hold elections aligned with citizens’ wishes.READ FULL
Today at around 2:30 PM, a collision occurred between Dhaka-bound Dhumketu Express and Panchagarh-bound Banglabandha Express trains near the wash pit at Rajshahi Station. The accident happened due to signal point problems, causing the Dhumketu Express to derail after hitting the Banglabandha Express. Multiple bogies were damaged in both trains, with Banglabandha Express suffering the most damage. Recovery operations are underway, delaying the Dhumketu Express’s scheduled 4 PM departure.READ FULL
Charles Leclerc topped second practice at the Australian Grand Prix, outpacing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Lewis Hamilton finished fifth, over four-tenths behind his new Ferrari teammate. Defending champion Max Verstappen was only seventh fastest. The day saw multiple incidents involving rookies, including Oliver Bearman’s session-ending crash in his Haas and several newcomers struggling with track limits.READ FULL
Around 300 ready-made garment factory workers blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Gazipur this morning, demanding Eid-ul-Fitr bonuses and other benefits. Their 14-point demands include overtime pay, maternity leave, night and meal allowances, minimum salary of Tk 12,500, and job security. The four-hour blockade ended at noon after discussions between workers, factory owners, and police.READ FULL
UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus arrived in Cox’s Bazar to visit Rohingya refugee camps. They’ll meet with refugees, inspect facilities, and join an Iftar with approximately 100,000 Rohingyas. Guterres will also participate in events marking Bangladesh-UN relations in Dhaka before departing Sunday.READ FULL
Filmmaker Jon Bolerjack’s upcoming documentary exposes the troubling final years of Marvel legend Stan Lee, who died in 2018 at age 95. The film contrasts Lee’s energetic public persona with his private struggles, showing him physically exhausted while maintaining a grueling schedule. Bolerjack, who became part of Lee’s inner circle, documents the comic creator’s battles with betrayal and financial issues, presenting what he calls a cautionary tale about fame’s dark side.READ FULL
India’s Border Security Force handed over two Bangladeshi nationals to Border Guard Bangladesh during a flag meeting at Maheshpur border in Jhenaidah last night. Shyamal Biswas, 66, and Ratan Sarkar, 58, were detained by BSF on Tuesday while attempting to illegally enter Bangladesh from India. The transfer took place at Baghadanga Border Outpost around 10:00pm following communication between the two border forces.READ FULL
Intel has appointed semiconductor industry veteran Lip-Bu Tan as its new CEO, effective March 18. Tan, former CEO of Cadence Design Systems and a previous Intel board member, will lead the struggling chipmaker through a critical turnaround period. He faces declining market share, falling stock prices, and fierce competition. In a letter to employees, Tan committed to restoring Intel’s position while maintaining its integrated design and manufacturing operations.READ FULL
Pakistani security forces freed over 340 train passengers after a 30-hour hostage situation in Balochistan. The Baloch Liberation Army attacked the train on Tuesday, killing 27 off-duty soldiers. During the rescue operation, more than 30 terrorists were killed. The separatist group had targeted passengers from outside Balochistan province as part of their ongoing insurgency against what they claim is exploitation of the region’s resources.READ FULL
SpaceX postponed today’s Falcon 9 rocket launch carrying four astronauts to the International Space Station due to a hydraulic system problem with a ground support clamp arm. The crew safely exited the Dragon spacecraft. Additional launch windows are available Thursday and Friday. The mission was intended to eventually return NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the ISS.READ FULL
Ukraine has accepted a US proposal for a 30-day comprehensive ceasefire and immediate negotiations with Russia following talks in Saudi Arabia. In response, the Trump administration has lifted its freeze on military aid to Ukraine. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated “the ball is now in Russia’s court,” while President Trump expressed hope for resolution “over the next few days” and mentioned upcoming discussions with Russia.READ FULL
Major billionaires who attended Trump’s January inauguration have lost a combined $209 billion in wealth over the past seven weeks, according to Bloomberg. Despite stock market gains between the election and inauguration, the S&P 500 has fallen 6.4% since Trump took office. Elon Musk lost $148 billion as Tesla shares dropped, while Jeff Bezos, Sergey Brin, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bernard Arnault have also seen significant losses.READ FULL
The number of seats in India’s 23 IITs has doubled to 1.35 lakh over the past decade, according to Education Minister Sukanta Majumdar. Five newer IITs will receive infrastructure upgrades to accommodate 6,500 additional students, with Rs 1,830 crore allocated for 2024-25. The government also plans to add 10,000 new medical college seats next year and establish an AI Centre of Excellence for education with Rs 500 crore funding.READ FULL
Police clashed with anti-rape protesters near Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka when demonstrators attempted to deliver a memorandum to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. The confrontation occurred when protesters tried breaking through police barricades en route to the CA’s residence. Both sides reported injuries in the incident. Protesters are demanding harsher punishment for rapists, legal reforms, and special tribunals for rape cases.READ FULL
The National Board of Revenue has eliminated advance tax on raw materials for cancer drug manufacturing, following a reduction in import tax from 5% to 2%. This government initiative aims to reduce production costs and make cancer treatments more affordable as prevalence rises in Bangladesh, where cancer accounts for 11.9% of annual deaths.READ FULL
The Bangladesh Army has clarified it never received direct communication from UN High Commissioner Volker Türk regarding human rights concerns he raised in a BBC interview. The military stated any such concerns were conveyed to the previous government, not army leadership. They defended their neutrality during the 2024 protests and highlighted their role as the second-largest UN peacekeeping contributor.READ FULL
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with prominent private sector leaders, including Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma, at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. The meeting, which included tech titans like Huawei’s Ren Zhengfei and BYD’s Wang Chuanfu, comes as China grapples with economic challenges. Ma’s presence signals a potential rehabilitation after years of regulatory scrutiny following his 2020 clash with authorities.READ FULL
South Korea has suspended new downloads of Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek over data privacy concerns. The app, which had gained over a million weekly users, remains accessible to existing users but unavailable for new downloads until it complies with local privacy laws. Several other countries, including Italy, Taiwan, and some US states, have also imposed restrictions on DeepSeek citing security risks.READ FULL
Dense fog triggered a multi-vehicle collision on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway in Bangladesh this morning, leaving at least 15 people injured. The accident occurred when a lorry hit a stationary pickup van, followed by two buses crashing in sequence. Emergency responders rescued victims from the wreckage and transported them to local hospitals. Traffic has since resumed normally on the expressway.READ FULL
Sharon Stone is reportedly in talks to join HBO’s “Euphoria” season 3, alongside new cast additions including Rosalia, Marshawn Lynch, and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. Production has resumed after a three-year hiatus, with Martha Kelly and Chloe Cherry promoted to regular roles. The new season will feature a time jump beyond high school years and is expected to premiere in 2026.READ FULL
In 2024, TikTok transformed beyond entertainment in Bangladesh, becoming a hub for education, business growth, and cultural expression. The platform launched initiatives like #LearnOnTikTok and #AmarBangladesh, hosted its first SMB workshop in Dhaka, and introduced business tools for entrepreneurs. According to Pooja Dutta, Head of Content Operations for South Asia, TikTok has evolved into a space offering inspiration, information, and exploration opportunities.READ FULL
Police used batons, water cannons, tear gas, and sound grenades to disperse protesters demanding reinstatement of 6,531 assistant teachers in government primary schools near Shikkha Bhaban in Dhaka. The demonstration, which began at Shahbagh’s National Museum, turned violent when protesters marched toward the Secretariat. Despite multiple injuries and police action, protesters continued their demonstration, marking their 11th day of protests.READ FULL