HUNTR/X: “Golden”This song from the Netflix powerhouse film KPop Demon Hunters became the anthem of 2025. The Shirelles: “Soldier Boy”Featured in Best Picture nominee One Battle After Another, this 1950s hit will remind you of love and war, while giving some much-needed girlband spunk. Even if F1 is the underdog in the Best Picture race, this song is definitely a winner. Hailing from crowd-favorite movie Marty Supreme, this ’80s jam is anachronistic for a film set in the 1950s but a great song for this year’s Oscars playlist. ‘Solar Flare’ is a weekly playlist column where Sun contributors spotlight a slice of musical taste with the campus community.

For decades, he held ultimate political and religious authority over a theocratic regime that continues to oppress Iranians at home. As for Donald Trump, there is little reason to believe that he and his team have a strategically sound plan for Iran. Lindsey Graham, a US Senator and longtime Trump ally, said as much in a recent appearance on NBC. It has been thousands of years since we left the cave, and in that time, we have built machines that split atoms and reach the stars. You see, we haven’t actually quite left the cave yet.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan spoke at a roundtable titled 'Tobacco Control in Public Health Protection: Government's Success, Promise and Public Expectation' at National Theatre seminar room of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Photo: BSSDHAKA, Mar 9, 2026 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan today said he will move a proposal in national parliament to include the words - 'ban on use in public' instead of the word 'control' in the existing anti-tobacco law. He said the word 'control' has a reluctant connotation, which can be established as a strict legal offense inserting the words ‘ban on use in public'. He made the remarks while speaking at a roundtable titled 'Tobacco Control in Public Health Protection: Government's Success, Promise and Public Expectation' at National Theatre seminar room of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy here this morning. I will propose to replace the word 'control' in the law with 'ban on use in public’.

The domestic political fallout of his Iran war could therefore be serious for Trump. “But since the Vietnam War, major wars — before Donald Trump’s time — were always authorized [by Congress],” says SWP researcher Thimm. “George W. Bush got approval for the Iraq war and Afghanistan war.” Current operations against Iran should be seen as a major war, even without troops on the ground, Thimm adds. MAGA pundit Tucker Carlson even accused the Trump administration of having been dragged into the war by Israel. The grounds for waging this war will therefore come under close scrutiny and could pile extra pressure on the Trump administration.

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 9, 2026--For decades, security screening forced a tradeoff: stronger protection meant slower lines, intrusive searches, and frustrated visitors. Since launching Evolv Express ® in 2019, Evolv has pioneered a modern approach to weapons screening that provides strong weapons detection capabilities balanced with visitor experience. "With Evolv Express screening this magnitude of people worldwide since launch, it reinforces that Evolv is a solution proven at real scale,” said Ryan Cothran, Director of Safety & Emergency Services, Spartanburg School District Five. Evolv®, Evolv Express®, Evolv Insights®, Evolv Visual Gun Detection™, Evolv eXpedite™, and Evolv Eva™ are registered trademarks or trademarks of Evolv Technologies, Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions. Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

The paramilitaries have also targeted US bases and airports around Iraq, including in the semiautonomous northern Iraqi Kurdistan region. Iranian Kurdish opposition parties have offices in Iraqi Kurdistan — Iran has already bombed these — but those parties denied that fighters were crossing the border into Iran. “[This risks] prolonged domestic instability, with potential wider implications for regional security dynamics.”All that puts Iraqi Kurdish leaders in a difficult position. They have been quick to stress Iraqi Kurdistan would not be part of this conflict. He is tied to a sacred system.”Albasha said Khamenei fulfilled the same spiritual role for some Shia groups that the pope does for most Catholics.

Bangladesh’s historic debut campaign in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 ended in disappointment as they suffered a 4-0 defeat to Uzbekistan women's national football team in their final Group B fixture at Perth Rectangular Stadium on Monday. The result knocked Bangladesh out of the tournament, while Uzbekistan secured qualification for the quarter-finals as one of the two best third-placed teams. Uzbekistan continued to press high and threatened again in the sixth minute, but Bangladesh goalkeeper Mile Akter rushed off her line to deny Diyorakhon Khabibullaeva from close range. Bangladesh threatened again in the 42nd minute when Kohati Kisku’s shot from inside the box was blocked following a defensive error. Bangladesh finished their maiden Asian Cup campaign without a point, having earlier lost 2-0 to defending champions China PR women's national football team and 5-0 to three-time champions North Korea women's national football team.

The government plans to pass the Smoking and Tobacco Products Use Control (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 as a law in the upcoming session of Parliament, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan said on Monday. “To fulfill the election commitment, the Tobacco Control Ordinance will be passed as an Act in the upcoming session of Parliament,” he said. He said the painful stories of victims show why stronger tobacco control measures are necessary. It bans the production, import, marketing and use of e-cigarettes, vaping devices and heated tobacco products. It also introduces a complete ban on the display, advertisement and promotion of tobacco products and sponsorship by tobacco companies.

The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) at American International University–Bangladesh (AIUB) organized a webinar titled “Messy Data, Big Questions: Social Science in the Computational Age” on March 5, 2026. The webinar was attended by Prof Dr Abdur Rahman, Pro-Vice Chancellor of AIUB, Prof Dr AJM Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan, Adviser to the JMC Department, and Prof Dr Pradip Kumar Panday, Head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, along with faculty members and students. Prof Dr AJM Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan noted that introducing journalism and communication students to new ideas and approaches such as computational research is essential for their academic and professional development. In her presentation, Dr Christina Monzer discussed the promises and challenges of Computational Social Science (CSS). The webinar concluded with an interactive discussion session where students and faculty engaged with the speaker on the future of computational methods in journalism and communication research.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today spoke after attending a Law and Order Committee meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Cox's Bazar. Photo : BSSCOX’S BAZAR, March 9, 2026 (BSS) – Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said that the government is making strong efforts to bring back the main accused in the Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Osman Hadi murder case and his accomplice, who were recently arrested in West Bengal, India. He said that in order to promote Cox’s Bazar beach nationally and internationally, garbage and unauthorized structures on the beach must be removed immediately. The meeting was chaired by Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Abdul Mannan and attended by officials from various government departments and political leaders, including Cox’s Bazar Police Superintendent NM Sajedur Rahman. Earlier on Sunday afternoon, the Home Minister arrived in his hometown Cox’s Bazar on a two-day visit.

DHAKA, March 9, 2026 (BSS)- Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson expressedconfidence about ending the upcoming three-match ODI series againstBangladesh on a winning note, despite arriving with a relativelyinexperienced squad. The ODI series will be the first between the two sides on Bangladesh soilsince 2015. However, Pakistan toured Bangladesh last year for a three-matchT20 series, which they lost 2-1. Bangladesh also whitewashed Pakistan in a two-match Test series on Pakistanisoil. Pakistan defeated South Africa 2-1 in an ODIseries and also whitewashed Sri Lanka in a three-match series.

DHAKA, Mar 9, 2026 (BSS) - The European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) has expressed thanks and gratitude to the Election Commission (EC) for cooperating in observing the 13th National Parliamentary Election in Bangladesh. In a letter sent by the EU EOM today, the commission’s overall support, professionalism and effective coordination were praised. The EU EOM specifically acknowledged the contributions of several officials and expressed gratitude to them. In the letter, the EU EOM expressed gratitude to the entire Election Commission team and hoped that mutual cooperation and communication would continue in the future. It may be noted that, in line with international standards for evaluating election processes, the EU EOM, like other international organizations, participated in this year’s national election and observed election activities in different parts of the country.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Monday sought greater Turkish investment in Bangladesh and expressed readiness to facilitate such engagement. The issues were discussed when Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Ramis Şen paid a courtesy call on the state minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He congratulated the state minister on her recent appointment and reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to further deepening the longstanding friendship and partnership between the two countries. The state minister expressed appreciation to the Turkish government for its humanitarian support to the forcibly displaced Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh and for its consistent support to Bangladesh in international forums. He proposed the establishment of a full-fledged cultural institute in Bangladesh to further promote Turkish heritage.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman -File PhotoDHAKA, Mar 9, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate the government’s landmark “Family Card” programme tomorrow aimed at strengthening women’s empowerment, ensuring their rights, dignity and economic independence. Under the programme, each eligible household will receive a modern “Family Card” equipped with a contactless chip, QR code and NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, ensuring security, durability and ease of use. The Family Card Pilot Implementation Guideline-2026 has already been prepared and uploaded on the website of the Ministry of Social Welfare. The Social Welfare Minister said the government’s new “Family Card” programme will be provided completely free of cost and will not involve any financial transaction. Zahid Hossain said the Family Card programme will initially be launched on a pilot basis.

The Bangladesh government has changed the rules regarding the Independence Awards after debate surrounding Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury receiving the honour for a second time. An order from the Cabinet Division on Sunday amended Article 7.11 of the Independence Awards guidelines to add the provision. The amended article states, "No person/institution who has received the Independence Award will be considered for the Independence Award or any other national-level award again. According to the list of Independence Award recipients published on the website of the Cabinet Division, Zafrullah received the award in the first year of the introduction of the Swadhinata Award in 1977 for his contributions to population control. This sparked discussion of whether the same person can receive the Independence Award twice.