The title of the volume, taken from a poem by Kenneth McClane, was Like a Fragile Index of the World. The poem was not about climate change, but it was inspired by the struggle of a glowworm to climb a branch. The federal government, he stated, no longer has legal authority to control the pollution caused by burning fossil fuels. Climate change caused by the increased use of fossil fuels is endangering every plant, animal and human on earth. And as more species become extinct and others struggle to survive, even a glowworm inching up a branch becomes a fragile index of the world.

BEIJING, Feb 25, 2026 (AFP) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz landed in China on Wednesday for his first official visit to one of his country's biggest trading partners, an AFP journalist on board his plane reported. Merz, accompanied by a large delegation of business leaders, is scheduled to hold talks and have dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the evening, during the trip focused on economic issues and security policy.

MIAMI, Feb 25, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A man sentenced to death nearly 40 years ago for the murder of a grocery store owner was executed by lethal injection in Florida on Tuesday. Melvin Trotter, 65, was convicted of the 1986 murder of Virgie Langford, 70, during a robbery of her store in Palmetto, Florida. There have been three previous executions in the United States this year, one in Florida, one in Oklahoma and one in Texas. There were 47 executions in the United States last year, the most since 2009, when 52 inmates were put to death. Three were by firing squad and five by nitrogen hypoxia, which involves pumping nitrogen gas into a face mask, causing the prisoner to suffocate.

CAIRO, Feb 25, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Egypt said Wednesday that 18 of itscitizens were still missing after a migrant boat capsized, killing fourpeople, off the Greek island of Crete last week. The wooden boat was carrying 50 people, including four minors, when Greece'scoast guard was alerted late Friday. According to Greek public broadcaster ERT, an accident occurred when thecommercial vessel approached the migrants' boat. As the passengers tried to climb up ladders into the rescue vessel, a suddenmovement caused the wooden boat to capsize. Twenty migrants were rescued by the commercial vessel, according to the Greekauthorities, leaving several people still unaccounted for.

In a town hall Tuesday with staff at the Gates Foundation, a recording ofwhich was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Gates expressed regret thathis relationship with Epstein had affected the work of his philanthropicorganization. "It was a huge mistake to spend time with Epstein" and to also bring GatesFoundation executives into meetings with Epstein, he said. I saw nothing illicit," Gates told the town hall. "Knowing what I know now makes it, you know, a hundred times worse in termsof not only his crimes in the past, but now it's clear there was ongoing badbehavior," Gates told staff. The Gates Foundation did not immediately respond to a request from AFP forcomment on Gates's remarks.

However, handmade puffed rice, produced mostly by women in Tangail district, is drawing increasing attention countrywide for its unique taste. In Daulatpur village of Kalihati upazila, nearly 200 families are engaged in producing handmade puffed rice throughout the year. Using clay stoves, large iron works and wooden stirrers, families produce puffed rice in a traditional way. With assistance from her husband and son, she produces between 25 and 30 kilograms of puffed rice daily. Call for government supportDespite the growing demand, producers say they have yet to receive government assistance.

The government has divided portfolios between the two state ministers assigned to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, the Ministry of Railways, and the Ministry of Shipping. A notification issued Wednesday by the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges confirmed the allocation. According to the notification, Habibur Rashid will be responsible for the Road Transport and Highways Division as well as the Ministry of Railways. The cabinet, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, comprises 25 full ministers and 24 state ministers, in addition to the prime minister. Under the Rules of Business, the prime minister is responsible for assigning portfolios to ministers and state ministers.

Reading time: about 5 minutesThere is no feeling quite like nostalgia when watching films. I love watching movies and being hit by a wave of yearning for different, better days. However, I’ve realized that some of my favorite films involve a different type of nostalgia: longing to experience a time in which I’ve never lived. In modern films, producers use a variety of techniques to place films in past decades, from physical appearances to film grain and coloring. These production techniques create a haziness to films that bring the past to life, transporting contemporary viewers into past generations.

Photo: PMODHAKA, Feb 25, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said his government will further modernise and consolidate the border force so that its members can carry out their duties with patriotism and professional excellence. On issues concerning the country, we will further modernise and consolidate the border force. And our (border force) members will perform their duties with patriotism and professional excellence," he said. Referring to the historic roots of the border force, he said that they are embedded in the nation's independence. Later, the premier said, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman placed special emphasis on strengthening the border force through infrastructural development and reforms.

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Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend its iftar programme along with his family. The invitation was formally extended on Wednesday when Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar handed over the invitation letter to the prime minister at the Secretariat. The prime minister cordially accepted the invitation and assured that he would attend, according to party leaders. At one point, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman spoke over the phone with Jamaat Ameer and Leader of the Opposition, inquiring about his health. Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim was also present during the meeting and subsequent press briefing.

File PhotoDHAKA, Feb 25, 2026 (BSS) – This year the minimum fitra rate has been fixed at Taka 110, while and maximum at Taka 2,805 per person. The decision was taken at the National Fitra Fixation Committee meeting held in the conference room of the Islamic Foundation at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque here this morning. President of National Fitra Fixing Committee and Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Maulana Mufti Abdul Maleque presided over the meeting, an Islamic Foundation press release said. Last year, the minimum amount of fitra was also fixed at Taka 110 and maximum Taka 2,805 per person. The fitra has been fixed as per the current market price of flour, barley, dates, raisin and cheese collected from all the divisions.

Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Feb 25, 2026 (BSS) - Ambassador of the European Union to Bangladesh, Michael Miller, who led a delegation of EU representatives, met with Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir at his office at Bangladesh Secretariat today. During the meeting, the two sides discussed in details various aspects of trade, investment and economic cooperation between Bangladesh and the European Union. The Commerce Minister said the European Union is an important trading partner for Bangladesh and the government will continue working to further strengthen bilateral trade relations in the coming years, said a Commerce Ministry press release. Ambassador Michael Miller said the European Union is keen to further enhance trade relations with Bangladesh. The EU delegation included the Ambassadors of Spain, Denmark, France, Sweden, Italy and Germany, as well as EU Trade Adviser Abu Sayeed Belal.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Shinichi Saida today paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman at the Foreign Ministry. Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Shinichi Saida conveyed the invitation during a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman at the Foreign Ministry here on Tuesday, said a foreign ministry's press release today. During the meeting, the Ambassador congratulated Dr. Rahman on his assumption of office and reiterated Japan's commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation. Dr. Rahman underscored the importance of improving access to information and proposed the development of a digital matchmaking platform to facilitate recruitment of skilled Bangladeshi workers by Japanese employers. Earlier in the day, Ambassador Saida also paid a courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman -File PhotoDHAKA, Feb 25, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to distribute Ekushey Padak 2026 at a ceremony at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here at 11 am tomorrow. Earlier, the government announced the names of nine eminent citizens and one music band for the country's second-highest civilian award Ekushey Padak 2026 in recognition of their outstanding contribution in various fields. The recipients are: Farida Akhtar Babita (Film), Professor Md Abdus Sattar (Fine Arts), Marina Tabassum (Architecture), Ayub Bachchu (Music), Arthy Ahmed (Dance), Islam Uddin Palakar (Palagan), Shafik Rehman (Journalism), Professor Dr Mahbubul Alam Majumdar (Education), Tejosh Haldar Josh (Sculpture), and Warfaze (Music Band).