The Daily Star - Bangladesh News, Political News, Bangladesh Economy & Videos, Breaking News
‘Devil’s Breath’: The world’s ‘scariest’ drug
Imagine walking down a quiet street, minding your own business, when a stranger approaches. They offer you a seemingly harmless business card, and you take it without thinking twice. Little did you know that the card was soaked in a drug, which would be absorbed by your skin within minutes.
The Daily Star Investigation / A councillor and his illicit tobacco trade
A significant share of Bangladesh’s illegal cigarette market is controlled by two companies where Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Councillor Abdus Sabur Liton and his brother have the majority stakes, an investigation by The Daily Star has found.
Swelling Surma worsens flood situation in Sylhet city
The flood situation in Sylhet city worsened further today with the rise in water level in the Surma river
Cyclone Remal: 2cr trees on Patuakhali, Barguna forest land destroyed
Cyclone Remal destroyed around two crore trees and plants on 27,300 hectares of forest land in Patuakhali and Barguna, according to forest department
Light to moderate rain likely across country
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) forecast light to moderate rains across all divisions, including Dhaka, in 24 hours commencing 9:00am today
Opinion
How to protect the world from the next pandemic
“History teaches us that the next pandemic is a matter of when, not if,” warned World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus earlier this year.
Earth: Our only home, our responsibility
It is crucial for us to acknowledge that our actions have profound consequences on this planet
Uncertainty over student evaluation must be resolved soon
Implementation of new school curriculum limps along even after one and a half years
Business
ACU recommends examining prospect of using local currencies in cross-border trade
The board of directors of the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) has advised its member countries to examine the possibility of using domestic currencies to facilitate cross-border payments
Sports
Bangladesh-India T20 WC Warm-up / Tigers’ last chance to build momentum before T20 WC
The warm-up fixture between Bangladesh and India is slated to begin at 8:30 PM Bangladesh time today
Real Madrid against the world!
Come June 1, when Real Madrid players line up for the UEFA Champions League’s grand finale at the iconic Wembley Stadium, they will not only be up against the yellow army of Borussia Dortmund but against the entire footballing world -- and there are ample reasons for that.
Real gunning for 15th UCL, Dortmund dreaming of second: Who will win the final showdown?
History beckons for Real Madrid as they chase a record-breaking 15th UEFA Champions League title. Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund, who are hoping to put an end to a 27-year wait for the trophy, stand in Real's way as determined underdogs. Will Real's experience prevail, or can Dortmund pull off a stunning upset? Tune in to The Daily Star's podcast 'Pitch Perfect' for an in-depth take on this epic showdown.
News
Trump campaign announces $53m raised after conviction
Donald Trump's campaign said Friday it had raised nearly $53 million in online small-dollar donations after he was convicted in his New York hush money trial, boasting that the verdict had galvanized his support "like never before
Cyclone Remal: Animal death toll rises to 100 in Sundarbans
The death toll of animals from the flooding in the Sundarbans has climbed to 100 after Cyclone Remal hit the world’s largest mangrove forest on Sunday.
Hamas says Israel's Gaza ceasefire proposal 'positive'
Hamas on Friday said it "considers positively" an Israeli roadmap towards a full Gaza ceasefire announced by US President Joe Biden, who urged an end to the almost eight-month war
Lok Sabha Polls Phase 7: Voting begins for 57 constituencies
Voting in the final phase of Indian parliamentary elections, the world's largest, began today covering 57 constituencies in seven states and one union territory
Biden presents new Israel ceasefire plan, calls on Hamas to accept
US President Joe Biden on Friday said Israel had proposed a Gaza ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages, and called on Hamas to agree to the new offer, saying it was the best way to end the conflict
5 reasons why Dhaka is so rude
Let’s neither beat about the bush nor indulge in sugar-coating because we neither have the time nor the empathy for any of that. The plain fact is -- Dhaka is an impatient, mean, rude, cruel, and...
One act of kindness a day keeps sadness away
An act of kindness a day is what mental health counsellors suggest we do; we, the ones who find it difficult to navigate through life’s unforeseen situations. It can be something as trivial as...
Entertainment
Bhabna ‘Cannes’ do it
The usual scenario of attending any film festival is that artistes go to showcase their films. An unusual scenario took place when Bangladeshi actress Ashna Habib Bhabna returned from the 77th Cannes International Film Festival, after scoring a Malaysian movie.
BTS unveils mysterious 2024 Festa timeline for 11th anniversary
BTS, the beloved K-pop seven-member group, is about to celebrate its 11th anniversary this month! Fans are eagerly looking forward to the potential reunion of the members next year. To alleviate some of the longing, the oldest member, Jin, is set to return from his military service in just two weeks.
‘Moana 2’ trailer sets new Disney benchmark with 178 million views in 24 hours
Disney is gearing up for a huge Thanksgiving box office comeback as indicated by their “Moana 2” trailer, which dropped on Wednesday, and has smashed records to become the studio’s most-watched animated movie trailer ever.
Life & Living
Painless period pointer: Period patches are your new must-haves!
Menstrual cramp patches, known as period pain relief patches are your new best friend during our dreaded week. When our least favourite uninvited guest Aunt Flo pays her visit, we can be prepared to deal with her unnecessary tantrums.
#Perspective / The importance of trees in Dhaka’s concrete jungle
Overurbanisation has destroyed the trees of Dhaka, leaving Dhaka dwellers in an environment where the air is too toxic to breathe in. Land clearing has made the already-hot summer season hotter and prolonged.
Cherishing the vogue from the golden era
Recently, a web-series reminded us subtly about the importance of elegance, detailing, and the finesse of traditional cuts and embroidery in the way we used to dress.
Youth
Panda diplomacy explained
How some of the laziest animals in the world became so important in international relations.
DIU students to represent Bangladesh at NASA
Team Diamonds from DIU won the NASA Space Apps Challenge 2022 with their project "Diamond in the Sky".
Getting into the Cambridge Rising Women Leaders Programme
The Cambridge Rising Women Leaders Programme is an opportunity tailor-made for competitive corporate women with leadership aspirations.
Tech & Startup
Nvidia expected to surpass Apple as the world's second-most valuable company
Nvidia, capitalising on the rapid adoption of AI applications, is poised to overtake Apple as the world's second-most valuable company. This potential shift threatens to displace Apple, which has dominated Wall Street's market value rankings for years.
AI could be a game changer for EV charging
New artificial intelligence (AI) tools could enhance the reliability of the power grid and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, according to a study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) and Utilidata, an AI-powered technology company.
Toyota unveils new 'adaptable' engines for both hybrid and biofuel cars
Toyota has recently unveiled a new line of compact 'adaptable' engines that are designed to work with both hybrid cars and those that run on biofuels. According to the company, these new engines are intended to reduce carbon emissions while catering to diverse customer needs.
Star Multimedia
Not clear if ex-IGP Benazir fled country or not: Quader
Says proper judicial process will determine arrest of former police chief
Cyclone Remal: Animal death toll in Sundarbans rises to 100
The death toll of animals from the flooding in the Sundarbans has climbed to 100 after Cyclone Remal hit the world’s largest mangrove forest on Sunday
US will not commemorate Raisi at the UN
The US will skip the event honouring Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash, at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday. Reuters reported this on Wednesday, quoting a US official
A look into Benazir’s corruption allegations
Former police chief Benazir Ahmed has now made headlines due to unprecedented corruption allegations against him
Thousands of cyclone-hit people suffering in Khulna
Around 14,000 people of 11 villages in Khulna's Deluti union have been marooned following Cyclone Remal. Also, there has been no electricity in the area for the last four days. See video for more.
Daily Star Books
Environment
Flash flood in Sylhet: 6.43 lakh people stranded in eight upazilas
At least 6.43 lakh people have been marooned in Sylhet’s eight upazilas as flash floods hit the district early Thursday, according to the local administration.
6 Southern Districts: Over 1,250 edn institutions hit hard by ‘Remal’
At least 1,259 educational institutions in six southern districts have been affected by Cyclone Remal, according to education offices.
Cyclone Remal: Over 600 educational institutions affected in Pirojpur, Jhalakathi
Over six hundred educational institutions have been affected by Cyclone Remal in Pirojpur and Jhalakathi..According to the district primary education office and district education office sources, a total of 174 primary schools, and 220 secondary and high schools, colleges, and madrasas hav
Cyclone Remal: Villages still under water in Khulna
Four days after the cyclone Remal's strike, several villages in coastal district of Khulna's Koyra, Dakop and Paikgasa upazilas remain underwater, causing immense suffering to residents and damages of valuables
Nature quest: Babbling away!
A chestnut-capped babbler, known as ‘Lal tupi chhatare’ in Bangla, spotted in Chattogram’s Hathazari upazila. This medium-sized passerine bird is native to many south and southeast Asian countries, including Bangladesh and India, where it prefers s
Petrol, octane prices to rise Tk 2.50, diesel 75p
Diesel and kerosene prices were set at Tk 107 per litre while the price of petrol will be Tk 127, and octane Tk 131 from June 1
Flash floods maroon 5 lakh people in Sylhet
More than five lakh people in Sylhet remain marooned as flash floods hit five upazilas. The floods were triggered by heavy rains in the border areas of the district and India’s Meghalaya.
Cyclone Remal: Crops on 1.53 lakh hectares affected
More than half of all standing crops across 48 districts have been affected by Cyclone Remal, according to a preliminary report prepared by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
Fact-check
Disinformation war engulfs Mexican presidential race
Internet users using old videos or footage taken out of context have repeatedly accused opposition candidate Xochitl Galvez of wanting to scrap outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's social programs.
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.
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