US President Donald Trump on Wednesday named “Rocky” star Sylvester Stallone and country music great George Strait among the recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors, as he pursues a controversial overhaul of the storied arts venue. Since returning to office in January, the Republican leader has declared war on what he calls “woke” viewpoints espoused in the nation’s cultural institutions, including a fresh probe of content at several Smithsonian museums. The Kennedy Center, a living monument to the late John F. Kennedy that opened in 1971, has long enjoyed bipartisan support but has been in the president’s crosshairs, and he…
Author: diplomaticjourna_diplomaticjourna
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday easing regulations for the private space industry, including eliminating some environmental reviews, in a move likely to please his erstwhile advisor Elon Musk. The executive order, which said it aimed to “substantially” increase the number of space launches in the United States, was described by an environmental group as “reckless.” Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has talked up several space missions including sending humans to the Moon and Mars. The Moon and Mars missions are planned to get a ride on the massive Starship rocket of Musk’s…
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today urged Malaysia’s leading conglomerates to invest in Bangladesh’s affordable housing, ports, healthcare, and education sectors. The call came during a series of meetings in Kuala Lumpur with some of Malaysia’s most prominent business leaders. Prof Yunus invited Jeffrey Cheah, chairman and founder of the Sunway Group, to invest in affordable housing in Bangladesh — particularly for the growing number of factory workers living near industrial parks and economic zones. “It is time to invest in Bangladesh,” said Prof Yunus, highlighting the reforms undertaken by his government to create a more business-friendly environment. Bangladesh Investment…
Almost one lakh taxpayers have submitted their income tax returns online within the first 10 days of launching the e-return system in current tax year (2025-2026), the National Board of Revenue (NBR) said today. Following the inauguration of the 2025-26 e-return submission process by Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed on August 4, 2025, a total of 96,945 taxpayers filed their returns online till August 13. In comparison, last year only 20,523 taxpayers submitted e-returns in the first 10 days of the filing season, which began on September 9, 2024. This year’s daily average submission rate is almost five times higher…
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has returned home tonight concluding his three-day state visit to Malaysia. Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called the Chief Adviser by mobile phone when Prof Yunus and the Bangladesh delegation arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Anwar Ibrahim exchanged pleasantries with his Bangladesh counterpart, saying that he would now discuss the bilateral issues they have discussed in the delegation level meeting in the Malaysian cabinet. The Chief Adviser thanked his long time friend Prime Miniser Anwar Ibrahim for hosting him for the landmark visit.…
National Citizen Party (NCP) Convenor Nahid Islam today said there will be no compromise regarding the July Charter — not even one percent — despite the party having made some earlier concessions on issues such as the July Declaration. “For the last one year, we have made concessions; we compromised on the July Declaration. But there will be no compromise regarding the July Charter — not even one percent,” he said. The NCP Covenor was addressing the Youth conference organized by the NCP youth wing, Jatiya Juboshokti at the Krishibid Institute in the city marking the International Youth Day-2025. Nahid…
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today called upon all to cast their votes for the sheaf of paddy in the next general election to build the nation. “I call upon all men and women, students, the young generation, and people from all walks of life of the country to vote for the sheaf of paddy in the upcoming general election to give BNP a chance to build the nation,” he said. He made the call while addressing a discussion titled “The Future Bangladesh in the Expectations of the Youth and BNP’s Plan” at Bangladesh China Friendship International Conference Center (BCFICC)…
Malaysia is likely to introduce Graduate Plus visas for Bangladeshi students studying in the country, enabling thousands to access high-skilled jobs in its expanding economy. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus raised the matter during a meeting with Malaysian Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. “We had productive discussions with the minister. In principle, he has agreed to issue Graduate Pass visas to Bangladeshi students in Malaysia. However, both sides need to complete certain formalities before the policy can take effect,” said Law, Justice and Overseas Recruitment Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul. Adviser Asif Nazrul…
Bangladesh has sought Malaysia’s assistance in developing a halal industrial park, aiming to tap into the rapidly expanding global halal products market. “Let’s make a move on this,” said Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus during a meeting with Malaysian halal industry officials at his hotel in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. The Malaysian delegation was led by Datin Paduka Hajah Hakimah binti Mohd Yusoff, Coordinator of Halal Affairs under the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Department. Among those present were Sirajuddin Bin Suhaimee, Director General of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), and Hairol Ariffein Sahari, Chief Executive Officer of the Halal…
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), the national university of Malaysia, conferred an honorary doctorate degree on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today. Prof Yunus received the honorary doctorate degree from the university’s chancellor at a function held at the UKM auditorium in Kuala Lumpur. The university authorities said the honourary degree was conferred upon Prof Yunus in recognition of his unique contribution to the promotion of social entrepreneurship. The Bangladesh Chief Adviser then delivered a commemorative lecture to the students of the university. When Prof Yunus arrived at the venue this morning, the university’s chancellor welcomed him. Prominent Malaysian academics, policymakers,…
