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Category: Daily News

  • Taiwanese couple choose a mountain of garbage as wedding shoot location

    A Taiwanese couple, dressed in formal attire, posed in front of a pile of garbage in an unconventional wedding photo aimed at encouraging their guests to be more environmentally conscious. Iris Hsueh, a Greenpeace campaigner, and her fiancé are planning an “environmentally friendly wedding” in January. They’ve requested guests to bring their own containers for leftover food. To vividly convey their message, the couple traveled three hours south for a photo shoot in Nantou county’s Puli township, where the local dump has seen a steady increase in trash over the years.

    “I would show them the photograph” Iris Hsueh said and asked them if they would reconsider. “I didn’t think it would create such a big sensation.” Taiwan has had a recycling program since 1987, with over 50 percent of household waste processed through the system, ranking among the world’s highest rates. However, garbage in Puli township has been growing despite a decreasing population. The couple’s photos went viral, prompting friends and relatives to reevaluate their daily waste generation. Hsueh hopes her photos will spark conversations about the importance of reducing waste and avoiding single-use plastics.

    Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/news/world/news/til-trash-do-us-part-taiwan-couple-embraces-garbage-wedding-shoot-3448876

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  • Argentina hopes to face Bangladesh football team in the big stage

    In a heartwarming gesture, the official page of the Argentina National Football Team recently extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Bangladesh Football Team for their remarkable qualification to the second round of the FIFA World Cup 26 qualifiers. The social media post, which was posted in both Bengali and Spanish, read, “বিশ্বকাপ বাছাইপর্বের দ্বিতীয় রাউন্ডের কোয়ালিফাই করায় বাংলাদেশ কে অভিনন্দন! আমরা আশা করি কোন একদিন বড় মঞ্চে দেখা হবে।”

    The Bangladesh Football Team’s journey to the second round of the FIFA World Cup 26 qualifiers has undoubtedly been an outstanding achievement. Their resilience and dedication have not only garnered praise from their fans but also caught the attention of the football world. This heartfelt message from the Argentina National Football Team further solidifies the importance of this milestone for the Bangladeshi football community.

    Argentina, known for its rich footballing history and world-class talent, expressed their hope of one day facing the Bangladesh Football Team on the grand stage of international football. This sentiment not only showcases the respect that Argentina has for Bangladesh’s progress but also ignites the dreams of Bangladeshi football enthusiasts who dream of competing against football giants.

    The post has sparked excitement and enthusiasm within the Bangladeshi football community, who see it as a symbol of international recognition and an affirmation of their hard work and dedication. It is also a reminder of the global nature of the beautiful game, where countries from different corners of the world can come together through the universal language of football.

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  • Original 1977 ‘Star Wars’ X-Wing model sells for over $3 Million in auction

    An original 1977 ‘Star Wars’ X-Wing model, considered lost for decades, was sold at auction for an astounding $3.13 million, far exceeding its $400,000 starting bid.

    The 1:24 scale model, one of four “hero” models made for close-up shots in the original film, was rediscovered in the collection of the late Hollywood modelmaker, Greg Jein. Jein’s friends found it in his garage among numerous Hollywood memorabilia items. The winning bidder, who remained anonymous, competed with another collector, and the X-wing’s sale price exceeded the previous year’s record of $2.4 million for a similar model.

    Source: https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/original-1977-star-wars-x-wing-model-sells-for-over-3-million-in-auction-4492268

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  • Bangladesh to observe state mourning on Saturday for Palestinians killed by Israel

    Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has declared a one-day state mourning on Saturday to honour the Palestinians who lost their lives in recent Israeli attacks. She also called for prayers in mosques and places of worship across the country on Friday to remember the victims, highlighting that those affected by the Israeli attacks include Muslims, Christians, and Jews.

    The prime minister made these announcements during an event to inaugurate newly constructed bridges and overpasses in various districts. Sheikh Hasina expressed Bangladesh’s commitment to supporting the rights of the Palestinian people and emphasized the need to end the ongoing conflict and ensure the return of occupied lands to the Palestinians.

    Source: https://www.newagebd.net/article/215385/bangladesh-to-observe-state-mourning-on-saturday-for-palestinians-killed-by-israel?fbclid=IwAR3_TAxPE_goHs9P2dvyzFy0iyaBKsCfVlU9ZdLznevc8OwriX9DozMsXPQ

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  • X introducing $1 yearly-fee for new customers in New Zealand and Philippines.

    X, formerly known as Twitter, is introducing a $1 per year subscription for new users in New Zealand and the Philippines as part of a “Not A Bot” program aimed at reducing spam and bot activity.

    It’s not clear why this subscription is limited to web users and these two countries. Existing users can continue to use the platform for free or subscribe to X’s main $8 per month subscription. Elon Musk, who oversees X, believes that charging a fee will deter bot activity on the platform.

    Source: https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/17/23921752/x-not-a-bot-charge-new-users-elon-musk

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  • Bangladesh to send urgent medical aid to Gaza

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    Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has issued an urgent order for the quick delivery of medical supplies, including medications, to Palestinian hospitals. Zahid Maleque, the health minister, received this instruction over the phone on Wednesday.

    This action is in response to an Israeli bombing on a Gaza hospital that caused a large number of Palestinians injured. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasized the need of giving the Palestinian people medical help while expressing her sorrow for the pain and anguish that people experience.

    source: https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/328394/pm-orders-health-minister-to-send-medical-aid-to

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  • Man dressed as beggar buys iPhone 15 with coins; video goes viral

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    A recent social experiment on Instagram by the user “Experiment King” looked at how stores would respond if a man dressed as a hobo tried to buy an iPhone 15 with a bag full of coins. At first, many shops in Jodhpur wouldn’t let him in because of how he looked, and others wouldn’t take cash as payment. But in the end, one shop agreed to the unusual way of paying.

    In a video that went viral, the “beggar” threw all of his coins on the ground and gave them to the seller and staff. The store workers counted the coins, and the man left with an iPhone 15 Pro Max. He even took a picture with the owner, who looked surprised. The video received over 34 million views and received varied reviews from viewers.

    Source: https://unb.com.bd/category/World/viral-video-man-dressed-as-beggar-buys-iphone-15-with-coins/123894

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  • Grameenphone to provide ‘Cholo Bangladesh’ fan T-Shirt for free with recharge

    Grameenphone, Bangladesh’s leading telecom provider, is delighting its customers with an exciting offer. From October 1st to 14th, 2023, or while stocks last, GP customers (excluding Skitto & ERS numbers) who purchase the 15GB+500 Minutes pack for Tk 699 are eligible to receive a complimentary ‘Cholo Bangladesh’ fan t-shirt.

    Customers can acquire this exclusive offer by purchasing the Tk 699 combo pack from retail stores, MyGP, or digital channels. Those who choose retail channels must collect their fan t-shirt from the same outlet, following a confirmation SMS from GP, within 10 working days.

    Alternatively, customers who purchase the pack via digital channels will receive a home delivery of the fan t-shirt. To facilitate this, customers must provide their complete mailing address within the specified timeline, as mentioned in the SMS notification. Failure to do so will result in disqualification from the t-shirt offer.

    The ‘Cholo Bangladesh’ fan t-shirts, available only in ‘L’ size, will be delivered to customers’ provided addresses within 30 working days from the date of submitting the correct information via the SMS link.

    Apart from this enticing offer, customers availing the Tk 699 combo pack will also enjoy 15GB of data and 500 minutes of talk time, valid for 30 days.

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  • Dhaka Underground Gains Momentum as Legends Return to Shake Things Up in ‘Back to the Underground’ on August 26th

    The underground scene is a place of emotion for most of the bands hailing from this country. Making music here was never an easy trip for any of the bands that are currently doing well.

    Powered by Bangladesh Metal Alliance, Trident Of Chaos, Coup de Grâce, and Cloven Hoof BD, Back To The Underground brings back these fantastic bands that formerly ruled the underground music scene.

    This will be a celebration of Bangladesh’s underground heavy metal and rock music scene and the bands that sprang from it and are today driving the nation’s music industry.

    Listeners will be able to observe the raw vitality they used to exude when they were younger.

    This is the debut installment of this concert series, which will only focus on producing an immersive, participatory audience experience for concertgoers. Alongside, there are bands who are currently doing great in the underground scene as well.

    Cryptic Fate, Mechanix, Thrash, Naive, Conclusion, and Torture Goregrinder are among the acts on the bill. Not only that, The Joint Family, after a long hiatus, are back to rock the stage and reconnect with their devoted fanbase.

    And in addition to a daylong music performance, the festival will have a variety of small companies that correspond to the festival concept, notably product and lifestyle stalls.
    Back To The Underground will be held on August 26th (Saturday) at the National Library Auditorium. The tickets are live and available to purchase from Get Set Rock.

    Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1006202834037754

    Ticket Link: https://getsetrock.com/buy-ticket/back-to-the-underground

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  • Bangladesh ranks first among South Asian countries in terms of ‘gender equality’

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    Source: The Daily Star

    According to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) latest Global Gender Gap Report 2023, Bangladesh ranks first among South Asian countries in terms of gender parity.

    Bangladesh ranks 59th in the world with a score of 72.2%, demonstrating strong progress toward gender parity. Women across the country witnessed an increase in overall gender parity this year, as evidenced by a higher score and index ranking compared to 2022. Bangladesh will be ranked 71st in the world in 2022, with a gender parity score of 71.4%.

    The Global Gender Gap Index assesses the current condition and evolution of gender parity in four major areas: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.

    The parity score (the level of advancement toward gender parity) for each indicator is computed as the ratio of the value of each indicator for women to the value for men. A parity score of one shows complete parity.

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  • Wagner groups shocking betrayal as they shot down Russian chopper, Putin calls it a ‘stab in the back’

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    Source: The Daily Star

    Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged on Saturday to quell what he called an armed rebellion after rogue mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin announced he had taken control of a southern city in an attempt to destabilize the military leadership.

    The rapid change, with many specifics unclear, appeared to be the most serious internal issue Putin has faced since ordering a full-scale invasion of Ukraine – dubbed a “special military operation” – in February last year.

    Putin claimed in a televised address that “excessive ambitions and vested interests have led to treason,” adding that the mutiny was a “stab in the back.” “It is a setback for Russia and our people.” And our responses to such a threat to the Fatherland will be stern.”

    “All those who deliberately chose the path of betrayal, who planned an armed insurgency, who used blackmail and terrorist methods will face unavoidable punishment, and will answer both to the law and to our people,” Putin stated.

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  • Boat carrying up to 750 migrants overturned in the sea near Greece

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    Source: America THE JESUIT REVIEW

    It will go down as one of the deadliest migrant disasters in recent Mediterranean history, second only to the April 2015 collision of a smuggling vessel and a cargo off the Libyan coast, which killed over 1,000 people.

    On June 14, two hours after midnight, an overloaded fishing boat capsized in international waters near Greece. More than 500 people are thought to have died with the ship, including women and up to 100 children who had been imprisoned in its hold. Only 104 people were rescued from the sea that morning, with no women or children among them, and 81 bodies have been retrieved thus far.

    The cause of the boat’s capsize is unknown; some survivors claim the smuggling boat was being pulled by the Greek coast guard when it capsized.

    However, Greek officials claim that the ship was never towed by a Greek vessel, and that the migrants, who were aiming to land in Italy, had turned down repeated offers of aid.

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  • Women surrenders herself to police after murdering husband who beat her for dowry

    Source: Dhaka Tribune

    After slashing her husband to death over being beaten by him for dowry, a lady surrendered to police.

    The incident occurred early Thursday on Rayerbagh Sadiq Khan Road in the Mohammadpur police station region of the capital.

    According to National Emergency Service 999 Police Inspector (Public Relations) Anwar Sattar, Banu Begum, 31, dialed 999 and reported the incidence of hacking her husband Md Shahin Mia, 40. He stated that the woman contacted and said she had killed her husband with a sharp object and wanted to turn herself in to police.

    The police inspector further stated that Banu Begum, who was arrested during the initial interrogation, stated that she is the dead Shamim Mia’s second wife. They were having marital problems. Her husband frequently abused her for dowry. She eventually killed herself because she was fed up with her husband.

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  • Neymar jr. apologizes publicly after cheating on pregnant girlfriend

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    Source: SportsKeeda

    Neymar has apologized publicly for cheating on his partner, Bruna Biancardi. He has previously spoken to her and declared that he cannot picture his life without her.

    Neymar and Bruna are expecting their first child this year, as they announced earlier this summer. According to the Brazilian footballer, the couple has been together for a few months and had a ‘wavering’ start to their relationship.

    Neymar has now publicly apologized on Instagram after the texts were released there.

    Fernanda Campos has accused Neymar of cheating on his partner. She claims that the two have been communicating since the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, but she had no idea he was dating.

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  • Elon Musk says he is up for a ‘Cage Fight’ with Mark Zuckerberg who replied “send me location”

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    Source: The Verge

    After Elon Musk recently stated that he would be “up for a cage fight” with Zuckerberg, the Meta CEO responded by screenshotting Musk’s tweet and captioning it “send me location.”

    I’ve established that Zuckerberg’s Instagram post was not a prank, which means the ball is now in Musk’s court. “The story speaks for itself,” Iska Saric, a Meta representative, told me. Musk replied with two words: Vegas Octagon.

    Musk versus Zuckerberg would be the epitome of tech billionaire CEOs literally battling. Musk, 51, has the physical advantage over Zuckerberg, and he has spoken about becoming involved in “real hard-core street fights” while growing up in South Africa. Meanwhile, Zuckerberg, 39, is an aspiring MMA fighter who has already won Jiu-Jitsu competitions. He also claims to have just finished the rigorous “Murph Challenge” workout in under 40 minutes.

    Regardless of who wins, I believe we can all agree that a Musk-versus-Zuckerberg fight would be one of the most exciting ever. It has to happen. Musk, don’t back down now.

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  • Wednesday overtakes Stranger Things to become Netflix’s most watched show of all time

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    Source: UNILAD

    Wednesday has surpassed Stranger Things season four as Netflix’s most-watched English-language series. Netflix has published its Top 10 list of TV series and movies by total number of hours viewed since 2021.

    However, whereas the more hours viewed meant that longer television episodes and films had an advantage, the streaming behemoth has changed how it picks its most popular material.

    The length of the show or movie will now be considered, with popular titles being judged based on their views rather than the amount of hours viewed.

    As a result, Tim Burton’s Wednesday has surpassed Stranger Things’ fourth season, which clearly profited from its 13-hour run period, raking in 1.838 billion hour views. Wednesday saw 1.718 billion hours of viewing.

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  • Badshah refers BTS as ‘pretty women’ in his new song, gets slammed by BTS Army

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    Source: The Daily Star

    The BTS Army has attacked rapper Badshah for reportedly mocking BTS with his controversial lyrics in the song “Issa Vibe” from Shahid Kapoor’s film “Bloody Daddy.”

    The song includes lyrics such as “Tujhe Handle Nahi Kar Sakta, Koyi Mere Siva.” Playlist BTS Biba, Bad Bunny.” According to Indian BTS fans, the phrase ‘Biba’ means ‘beautiful woman,’ which enraged the BTS Army, prompting them to publicly criticize him.

    “Badshah has nothing against BTS,” one fan said. Another fan commented, “Badshah added BTS in his lyrics to create clout and hype for his illogical songs.”

    BTS’s “Take Two” on the other hand, topped the Billboard Global 200 with 60.2 million streams and 64,000 sales worldwide.

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  • Homeless hero rescues 25 dogs from burning building in Peru

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    Source: New York Post 

    In a heartwarming act of bravery, a man named Sebastian Arias became a true hero in La Victoria, Peru, as he fearlessly rescued numerous stray dogs from a devastating fire that engulfed an animal refuge. This incredible rescue mission, caught on dramatic video, has captured the admiration and applause of people worldwide.

    As flames roared through the animal refuge, Sebastian Arias, displaying remarkable courage and determination, scaled the building with unwavering focus. With every step, he symbolized hope and compassion, embodying the belief that every life, no matter how small or forgotten, deserves saving.

    It is estimated that Sebastian’s swift actions saved the lives of 25 dogs that would have otherwise perished in the devastating inferno.

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  • Shakib Khan unveils jaw-dropping look from ‘Priyotoma’

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    Source: The Daily Star

    Shakib Khan, the king of Dhallywood, has once again wowed fans with a stunning look from his highly anticipated film, “Priyotoma.”

    Shakib Khan’s stunning transition into an elderly persona, replete with a wrinkled face and a long, white beard, is showcased in the recently released look. He sits with expectation, his eyes eagerly waiting for his loves, dressed in a white punjabi and trouser.

    Shakib Khan posted the intriguing photo on his Facebook account with the remark, “Waiting for you.” The message drew a lot of attention and produced a lot of discussion among his millions of followers.

    Shakib Khan has already set social media ablaze with a hot video from “Priyotoma” revealing his youthful look. The overwhelmingly positive reaction to his involvement in the film hints that audiences will be in for a pleasant surprise this Eid.

    “Priyotoma,” directed by Himel Ashraf, promises to be an enthralling romantic-action drama. Faruk Hossain, the film’s skilled writer, has created an entertaining and innovative scenario.

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  • Man from Pakistan walks 5400 km to perform Hajj

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    Source: ARY NEWS

    A Pakistani man trekked 5400 kilometers from Okara to Makkah to fulfill Hajj.

    According to reports, Usman Arshad of Pakistan traveled 5400 kilometers in six months and thirteen days. He arrived in Saudi Arabia after passing through Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain.

    Usman Arshad was granted his Hajj visa thanks to the efforts of the Pakistan Hajj delegation. Usman Arshad, according to DG Pakistan Hajj mission Abdul Wahab Soomro, is a role model for the younger generation.

    He was entertained in the official housing of hajj pilgrims and was supplied with all of the same amenities as other pilgrims.

    Previously, the Ministry of Religious Affairs said that 40,781 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia on 158 aircraft.

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  • Andrew Tate charged with rape and human trafficking

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    Source: BBC

    Andrew Tate, a controversial influencer, has been accused with rape, human trafficking, and organizing an organized crime ring to sexually exploit women in Romania.

    Tristan, his brother, and two associates have all been charged. The charges have been refuted by everybody.

    In 2022, the Tate brothers were detained at their Bucharest house for the first time. Following a judgement by a Romanian judge, they were transferred from detention to house arrest on March 31.

    According to the accusation filed with the Bucharest court, the four defendants formed an organized criminal cell in 2021 to commit human trafficking not only in Romania, but also in other countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom.

    It cites seven claimed victims, alleging that the Tate brothers lured them in with false promises of love and marriage.

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  • Auto rickshaw on the wrong way of Padma Bridge; driver jumps into river fearing security chase

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    Source: Dhaka Tribune Bangla

    The driver of a battery-powered rickshaw jumped off the bridge into the Padma river after “chasing security personnel” after climbing the Padma bridge in the opposite way at the Mawa end of Munshiganj.

    The event happened around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 18. So far, the cops have not been able to help the person.

    Alamgir Hossain, who is in charge of the Padma North Police Station, said that the rickshaw came in from the wrong way. When the security staff noticed after a while, they went up to the car driver. When the driver saw them, he sped up and drove the autorickshaw faster. At one point, the rickshaw ran into a broken Corvadvan and crashed to the ground. After that, the driver ran away from the security staff and jumped into Padma from pole number 21.

    On the other hand, sources from Padma Bridge South Police Station said that when the auto-rickshaw got on the bridge going the other way, some people rushed to stop it with the bridge’s police car. But the autorickshaw was going fast, and it came close to the 21st bridge post. The driver of the autorickshaw quickly stopped it and climbed the fence to jump into the river.

    Sub-Inspector Feroz Al Mamun of the Padma Bridge South Police Station told the reporters, “It was an accident. The naval cops are trying to save the driver of the autorickshaw. No one can figure out why he did such a bad thing late at night.

    Sub-Inspector Ruhul Amin of the Shivchar Charjanajat naval police station said in the afternoon, “The Padma river is being searched to find the missing autorickshaw driver. But they haven’t found the driver yet.”

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  • Proposed Tk 2000 minimum Tax for TIN holders withdrawn amid controversy

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    Source: The Financial Express

    The Tk 2000 minimum tax for eligible citizens to receive government services is set to be discarded in the final cobbling of new fiscal measures, according to sources. Instead, the amount would be adjusted against tax at source during return filing, as citizens already pay taxes at source. The government has decided not to impose Tk 2000 as minimum tax on people not having taxable income by “honoring opinion of cross-sections of people.” Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal proposed the new measure while placing the national budget for fiscal year 2023-24 in parliament on June 1, 2023.

    The provision has been incorporated into the Income Tax Bill 2023, placed in parliament on June 8. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Finance submitted amendments to the draft Income Tax Bill 2023 on Thursday to the parliament with recommendation for the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to scrap the provision.

    Currently, people with annual incomes up to Tk 0.3 million are exempt from payment of income tax. In the proposed budget, the threshold has been increased to Tk 350,000. A report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Finance has placed a set of recommendations, including exempting bank depositors having up to Tk 1.0 million deposits from mandatory submission of tax returns. Instead, the committee has proposed making return submission mandatory for bank depositors having term or fixed deposits in the bank of the said amount.

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  • Mahila Anjuman demands fingerprints instead of face photos on NID cards for veiled women

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    Source: Dhaka Tribune Bangla

    The Mahila Anjuman Darbar Sharif Razarbagh has demanded that veiled women be handed National Identity Cards (NIDs) based on fingerprints rather than facial photographs.

    This demand was expressed by Mahila Anjuman spokeswoman Sharmin Yasmin during a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Monday (June 19) morning.

    In a press conference, it was proposed in the “Identity Registration Act 2023” to make face masks optional for NID, to introduce fingerprint identification and appearance to prevent crime, corruption, and proxy in all places throughout the state, such as offices, courts, factories, educational institutes, or exam halls, and to use a woman’s face if necessary. If any collaboration is necessary, including seeing, six items are required, including arranging for women’s cooperation in different locations.

    According to the press conference, now that the Ministry of Home Affairs is in charge of NID, Mahila Anjuman is hopeful that the Ministry of Home Affairs will prioritize the issue of veiled women and provide NID facilities while respecting their religious rights.

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  • Bangladesh Bank to launch ‘Taka-Rupee’ debit card that can be used in both India & Bangladesh

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    Source: The Daily Star

    Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder announced today that the central bank will create the country’s own debit card by August, allowing holders to make payments both at home and in India.

    Currently, travelers must purchase US dollars prior to their trip to India and convert them into rupees once they arrive in the neighboring nation.

    As a result, they face a double exchange rate loss, which may be as high as 6%, according to the governor.

    Holders of the unique debit cards will be able to make payments in both India and Bangladesh, he said, adding that the cards will be issued by banks and other institutions.

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  • 3M people to leave Dhaka, adjacent districts on waterways ahead of Eid-ul-Azha

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    Source: Dhaka Tribune

    According to a report by the non-governmental organization National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads, and Railways, approximately 3 million people from Dhaka and its neighboring districts will travel home by waterways ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

    In a news release released to the media on Sunday, NCPSRR President Haji Mohammad Shahid Mia and General Secretary Ashish Kumar Dey detailed the report.

    Around 300,000 Eid visitors would travel through Narayanganj river port. The remaining 2.7 million passengers will be routed through other ports, notably the Sadarghat terminal. So Sadarghat will be under a lot of strain this time as well.

    During Eid, over 15 million people depart the greater Dhaka region, which includes Dhaka, Gazipur, and Narayanganj, according to the research. 20% (3 million) of them depart Dhaka via waterways. The coastal districts of Barisal, Pirojpur, Jhalkathi, Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Chandpur, Shariatpur, and Madaripur receive nearly all of them.

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  • Budget allocation for education in Bangladesh lowest in 15 years, at the bottom among South-Asian countries

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    Source: Bangladesh Posts English

    The proposed budget for the next fiscal year 2023-24 allocates 1.76 percent of GDP to the education ministry, which is the lowest allocation in the last 15 years. UNESCO advises investing 4 to 6% of GDP to education, which is significantly more than the planned budget.

    Economists and educationists feel that Bangladesh will have difficulties in shifting from a less developed country due to inadequate educational funding.

    According to data provided at the Center for Policy Dialogue’s post-budget debate, Bangladesh’s average spending on education as a proportion of GDP from 2016 to 2022 was the fifth lowest among 41 least developed countries.

    According to economists, this declining trend will make it impossible to meet the Eighth Five Year Plan aim of boosting education allocation to 3% of GDP by 2024-2025.

    Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of CPD said, “among underdeveloped countries, Bangladesh has the lowest budget in the education sector.”

    For the coming fiscal year, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, the Department of Secondary and Higher Education, and the Department of Technical and Madrasah Education have each been granted 88 thousand crores.

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  • Donald Trump offers ‘food for everyone’ at restaurant, leaves without paying

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    Source: Mint

    On Tuesday, former US President Donald Trump waltzed into a Miami eatery and left patrons cheering after promising “food for everyone.”

    The offer, on the other hand, appears to be rather open to interpretation. As fans and well-wishers wished him a happy birthday and diners at the famed Cuban restaurant Versailles completed their dinners, the Republican leader discreetly left without topping him the tab.

    The event occurred shortly after Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 felony counts in federal court in Miami. After leaving the courts, Trump and his entourage went straight to the bakery in Little Havana, according to the Miami New Times.

    “It turns out that no one received anything. There wasn’t even a cafecito to-go. According to a knowledgeable source, Donald Trump’s trip at Versailles lasted approximately ten minutes, leaving no time for anyone to eat anything, let alone place an order.”

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  • PM Sheikh Hasina takes regular Biman flight from Geneva, surprises passengers with greetings

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    Source: The Daily Star

    Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, surprised passengers on a regular commercial flight of the state-owned Biman Bangladesh Airlines today.

    She wandered around the plane on her way back from Geneva, exchanging pleasantries with people.

    Passengers on Biman’s fully filled commercial flight were shocked when she went to their seats and inquired about their well-being.

    “Many of them were surprised and astonished having their prime minister beside their seats on the flight,” M Nazrul Islam, the PM’s speechwriter, said.

    PM Sheikh Hasina also posed for photos with them. She spoke with much tenderness to youngsters. Some of the passengers conveyed their views to the prime minister on a variety of themes, including the country’s development over the last 14 and a half years.

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  • LinkedIn bans 14y/o Bangladeshi-American SpaceX engineer hired by Elon Musk

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    Source: INDEPENDENT

    Elon Musk has hired a 14-year-old “wonder kid” as a SpaceX software engineer.

    Kairan Quazi will join the billionaire’s organization after graduating from Santa Clara University in California later this month with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Computer Science, and Engineering.

    The adolescent has already completed an internship at Intel and will be part of SpaceX’s Starlink team, which is constructing the world’s largest satellite internet network.

    “I will be joining the coolest company on the planet as a software engineer on the Starlink engineering team,” he announced last week on LinkedIn.

    “One of the few companies that did not rely on my age as an arbitrary and out-of-date proxy for maturity and ability.”

    His LinkedIn profile has now been deleted since members must be at least 16 years old to join the professional networking site.

    In a response to the ban, Quazi wrote on Instagram that his removal from the network was “illogical, primitive nonsense” that amounted to discrimination.

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  • Netflix opens its first restaurant, featuring British-Bangladeshi chef Nadiya Jamir Hussain

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    Source: The Daily Star

    Netflix is bringing its content “from screen to table” with the June 30 launch of their new popup restaurant “Netflix Bites” in Los Angeles.

    The menu will include dishes from renowned cooking series such as “Chef’s Table,” “Iron Chef,” “Is It Cake?” and “Drink Masters.”

    Michelin-starred chefs Dominque Crenn and Curtis Stone are among those taking part. The cuisine for the limited-time pop-up features East-West fusion master Ming Tsai and baker Nadiya Hussain.

    Sixth series winner of “Great British Bake Off” Nadiya Hussain’s BBC cookery series “Nadiya’s Simple Spices” will be released on BBC Two and iPlayer later this year.

    Throughout the series, Nadiya will employ eight simple spices to transform bland dishes into delectable feasts. She’ll demonstrate how to cook with spices effortlessly by fusing her childhood Bangladeshi influences with British flavors.

    On June 30, Netflix Bites will be accessible for a limited time at Short Stories Hotel. Through July 12, the pop-up restaurant will be open daily from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

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  • Bangladesh to reportedly generate electricity from waste material for the first time ever

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    Source: Dhaka Tribune

    In an effort to ease power shortages and turn waste into a resource, the Bangladeshi government has unveiled its plans to produce electricity for the first time from rubbish.

    Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is due to officially launch the construction of the first of these power plants on July 20. Local Government Minister Md Tajul Islam announced this on Thursday at a meeting to prepare for the project.

    Atiqul Islam, the mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation, Nasrul Hamid, the local government secretary Muhammad Ibrahim, and other senior members of the Dhaka North City Corporation and the Local Government Division were also present at the meeting.

    According to the LGRD minister, the waste-to-energy plant, scheduled to begin operations in October 2025, is anticipated to produce 42.5 megawatts of electricity daily from 3,000 tons of mixed waste, and the Bangladesh Power Development Board will purchase the generated electricity for 25 years at a set price.

    To keep the atmosphere clean and pleasant, Md. Tajul Islam continued, it was decided to eliminate waste by generating electricity using incineration techniques.

    “The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), the Local Government Division, and the Power Development Board are jointly working on this initiative,” he claimed.

    He noted that China Machinery Engineering Corporation will participate as a sponsor in the electricity-generating incineration plant.

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  • Tom Holland says he, Tobey and Garfield have a group chat called ‘The Spider Boys’

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    Source: Hola

    Tom Holland has spoken up about his friendship with ‘Spider-Man’ stars Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire, who both played the iconic superhero before him. The 27-year-old actor expressed his admiration for the two stars and discussed their friendship after filming the 2021 picture ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home.’

    During a recent Vanity Fair interview, the actor stated that they still communicate after working together. “We have a great group chat and check in on a regular basis.” When asked about their friendship, Tom answered, “It’s called the Spider-Boys.” “Myself, Andrew, and Tobey—we have this amazing bond as three people who have been through something so unique that we really are like brothers.”

    He also expressed guilt for not reaching out to Andrew before portraying ‘Spider-Man’ for the first time in 2015, one year after his depiction of the superhero. “I was 19 years old when I was cast. “I was so focused on getting the role that I never stopped to consider what it must have been like for him,” he remarked, alluding to Andrew’s Spider-Man’s poor reaction. “If I’d made my second film and it didn’t necessarily deliver as well as it should have, and they recast me, I’d have a hard time coming back.”

    “Andrew recovered in the most incredible way. “I just wish I’d called him and said, ‘You know I can’t pass up this opportunity,’” she says. Tom went on to say that he is “a little apprehensive” about the franchise’s fourth movie, which is currently on hold due to a writer’s strike.

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  • Fire hydrants set to be installed every 1 km in Dhaka, says Home Minister

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    Source: Bangladesh Posts English

    Asaduzzaman Khan, the Home Minister, has announced plans to put fire hydrants (special panicles used in firefighting) every one kilometer throughout the capital to improve the availability of water for firefighting.

    This was said by the Home Minister today in the National Parliament in answer to a question from M. Abdul Latif, a member of parliament from the ruling party. He stated that there are currently no street fire hydrant points in Dhaka. However, multi-story structures and some organizations have their own fire hydrant locations on the private level.

    Given the necessity of receiving water during a fire, the Home Minister stated that the Directorate of Fire Service and Civil Defense has requested that Dhaka Wasa, Dhaka North, and Dhaka South City Corporations take the initiative in building street fire hydrants. In light of this, the local government agency was asked to take the appropriate steps to establish fire hydrants in Dhaka on September 6, 2022.

    He stated that on February 2, 2021, an agreement was reached between Dhaka Wasa and the Fire Service to assure the provision of water during a fire.

    —

  • Property owners to getProperty owners to get 10% tax discount for rooftop gardening, declares govtProperty owners to get

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    Source: The Financial Express

    The government is giving property owners who produce rooftop gardens in city corporations and municipal districts around the country a 10% tax break.

    On Wednesday, Local Government Minister Tazul Islam unveiled the idea at the secretariat and stated that a circular will be released within a week.

    He informed reporters that the Dhaka North City Corporation had earlier asked to the ministry for a 10% refund for rooftop gardening.

    With this in mind, Tajul reports that the administration has decided to extend the discount to all city corporations and municipal districts in the country.

    —

  • Johnny Depp donates all of Amber Heard $1M settlement money to charity

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    Source: CNN

    According to a source close to Johnny Depp, he has decided which charity would receive the $1 million compensation he is due from Amber Heard as a result of their widely publicized defamation trial.

    The Make-A-Film Foundation, The Painted Turtle, Red Feather, Marlon Brando’s Tetiaroa Society charity, and the Amazonia Fund Alliance are the five charities Depp has selected to receive the settlement monies. According to the source, the “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor intends to give $200,000 to each of the five charity.

    In June 2022, a Virginia jury determined that Heard and Depp were both guilty of slander. Heard agreed to pay Depp $1 million in damages as part of the deal the ex-couple reached in December.

    Depp promised to give the money from the Heard settlement to charity, according to a statement from his attorneys at the time.

    Depp received a $10 million compensation damage award and a $5 million punitive damage award from the Virginia jury in June 2022. Heard received a $2 million compensatory damages award but no punitive damages compensation.

    In the end, when the ex-couple reached a settlement agreement in December, the damages that Heard owed to Depp were decreased to $1 million.

    Heard announced the settlement at the time in a statement on her verified Instagram page, claiming that she had “made no admission” and that the agreement was “not an act of concession.”\

    “I make this decision having lost faith in the American legal system, where my unprotected testimony served as entertainment and social media fodder,” Heard wrote in her blog post.

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  • TikTok Influencers overtaking journalists as news source, report claims

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    Source: The Daily Star

    According to a survey released Wednesday by the UK-based Reuters Institute, TikTok influencers and celebrities are gradually replacing journalists as the primary source of news for young people.

    According to the survey, 55 percent of TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram users get their news from “personalities,” compared to 33-42 percent who get it from mainstream media and journalists on those platforms, which are most popular among young people.

    The results are based on 94,000 interviews done for the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, which is part of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

    “While mainstream journalists frequently lead news-related conversations on Twitter and Facebook, they struggle to gain attention on newer networks like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok,” according to the survey.

    Nic Newman, the lead author, singled out people like Britain’s Matt Welland, who uses TikTok to discuss current events and daily life with his 2.8 million followers.

    “Or it could be a celebrity like a footballer talking about a topical news event,” he said AFP, referring to midfielder Marcus Rashford’s 2020 push to win free school lunches for impoverished children.

    For young people, “news” means more than simply politics and international relations. It also means “anything new that is happening in any walk of life: sports, entertainment, celebrity gossip, current affairs, culture, arts, technology…” he added.

    Facebook is the most popular source of news among social networks worldwide, but its influence is waning, with only 28% reporting they use it to acquire news, down from 42% in 2016.

    This is most likely due to Facebook’s transition away from news-sharing and toward an emphasis on friends and family, as well as young people’s preference for video-based apps such as TikTok and YouTube.

    TikTok now reaches 44% of 18-24-year-olds, and 20% obtain their news from the app, up 5% from last year.

    The largest difficulty for traditional news organizations is the decreasing amount of people who go directly to their websites rather than depending on social media links (22 percent, down 10 points since 2018).

    —

  • Bangladesh to have its own ‘The Godfather,’ says Khijir Hayat

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    Source: The Daily Star

    Khijir Hayat Khan is getting ready to start work on his dream project, which is based on Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather.”

    The director has already begun writing the script. The director of “Ora 7 Jon” shared the news on his Facebook page.

    “I’m not sure if I’ll make a film or a web series.” For many years, though, I had a goal of adapting ‘The Godfather’ in the setting of Bangladesh. I’ve finally begun writing the script, and I was inspired by ‘The Godfather’ writers Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola for this project. Please pray for us,” he wrote in his article.

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  • Dhaka’s divorce rate reaches ‘one’ in every 40 minutes

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    Source: Prothom Alo

    The number of broken families in the country is increasing, with the highest number of divorces occurring in the capital. Last year, a divorce took place every 40 minutes in Dhaka. Additionally, separation rates are increasing outside of Dhaka.

    It has been observed that women are filing for divorce more frequently. Self-respecting women seek release from torture and choose to pursue divorce. However, settlements after filing for divorce are very low, with less than 5 percent resulting in satisfactory agreements. This information regarding divorce rates was obtained through an analysis of data from the two city corporations and the district registrar’s office in Dhaka.

    In matters of divorce, the Muslim Family Act of 1961 is still in force. According to this law, divorce applications in the capital must be sent to the mayor’s office of the two city corporations in Dhaka. The applications are initially registered there and then forwarded from the wife’s original place of residence to the regional office.

    According to data from the mayor’s office of the two city corporations in Dhaka, a total of 13,288 divorce applications were received in 2022. Out of these, 7,698 applications were received by the South City Corporation, and 5,590 applications were received by the North City Corporation. Based on this data, it can be deduced that approximately 37 marriages are breaking up in the capital every day, equating to one divorce occurring every 40 minutes. Furthermore, there were 2,488 divorce applications recorded in January and February of the current year.

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  • Every newborn to get a unique ID

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    Source: The Daily Star

    The Cabinet approved the draft “National Identity Registration Act 2022” today, which includes the provision of assigning a unique identity number to each birth, which will serve as his or her lifelong identity.

    There will be no need for any other number. This number will be assigned to him or her. And this figure is immutable, said Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain during a press conference at the secretariat.

    Every citizen under the age of 18 will be assigned a unique number. The primary goal of this initiative is to eliminate confusion. Citizens currently receive distinct numbers from several organizations, which causes confusion. He stated, “We want to overcome it.”

    Every individual will now have this one-of-a-kind number for the rest of his or her life. Various government services will be offered to him or her via this unique number, according to the cabinet secretary.

    The decision was made today in the Prime Minister’s Office at a cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The government will, however, determine when the act will take into effect.

    “Normally, an act takes effect after it is published in the gazette.” “However, the government will set the date for the implementation of this act,” Mahbub Hossain stated.

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