Swift revealed the new version will have a bonus track titled "The Black Dog" during the second of six shows at the Singapore National Stadium on Sunday night. Taylor Swift won't be shaking off Singapore any time soon! On Sunday night, the "All Too Well" singer, 34, took the stage in Singpore to perform for about 55,000 fans and made a surprise announcement. During her second show at the Singapore National Stadium, Swift, while sitting at her piano, revealed the fourth and final version of her upcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department. A fan post on X (formerly known as Twitter) showed that an image of the new version of the album appeared behind her on stage, revealing the bonus track for this edition is titled "The Black Dog." Previously unseen artwork of Swift running her hands through her hair was also included. The pop superstar also shared the news on Instagram, alongside an image of the same artwork that appeared during her show. “'Old habits die screaming…' File Name: The Black Dog

State Department says US will continue to engage with the government, opposition, civil society, and other stakeholders to urge them to work together for the benefit of the Bangladeshi people to ensure free and fair elections. The United States has reiterated its desire to see free and fair elections in Bangladesh, saying that it does not want to speculate the outcome of the upcoming general election.  "I'm not going to speculate on the outcome of the elections," US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters during a regular media briefing on 4 December. "I will say what we have said a number of times before," he added.  Miller said the US will continue to engage with the government, opposition, civil society, and other stakeholders to urge them to work together for the benefit of the Bangladeshi people to ensure free and fair elections. He said the US also wants to see that elections are conducted in a peaceful manner. The next national election is scheduled to be held on 7 January 2024. A fraction of BNP, the major opposition political party, has resorted to burning private and public properties, blockades, and hartals, and are boycotting the upcoming election although many of its own leaders are participating, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Election Commission received a total of 2,711 nomination papers against 300 constituencies across the country.  The nomination papers were scrutinized on December 1-4, 2023, and candidatures can be withdrawn by 17 December 2023.  The schedule for the 12th national parliamentary election was announced by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on 15 November 2023.    Source: The Business Standard

Prime Minister’s Adviser for Private Industry and Investment, Salman F. Rahman, held a meeting with the US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya on Friday, October 27.  The meeting was held at the US Department of State in Washington DC.   In that meeting, Adviser Rahman and Under Secretary Zeya discussed a wide range of bilateral issues including further enhancing the existing excellent economic partnership between Bangladesh and the USA. They also discussed recent conflicts in the Middle East, Rohingya issue and Bangladesh’s election.   Uzra Zeya praised Bangladesh’s generosity for hosting over 1.2 million Rohingya population and assured continued US support for them.   On the election issue, both acknowledged that in democracy, the only means to changing the government is through elections. Adviser Rahman reiterated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's firm commitment to ensure that the upcoming elections are held in a free, fair and peaceful manner. Under Secretary Zeya reaffirmed that the US does not support any particular political party, instead is keen to see the continuation of democracy in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Mr. Muhammad Imran, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Ms. Afreen Akhter and senior officials of Bangladesh Embassy and US State Department were present at the meeting.

The head constable of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of police was killed after unknown assailants opened fire at him on Quetta's Jail Road late on Sunday night, Pakistan-based Dawn reported. According to officials, head Constable Saeed Ahmed, posted in the CTD, was sitting with his friends outside a shop in the Jail Road area when armed men riding motorcycles opened fire and fled from the spot, Dawn reported. Police said that the head constable received multiple gunshot wounds, which resulted in his death. Later, Frontier Corps (FC) personnel and police rushed to the site of the incident after receiving information regarding the incident. The FC personnel shifted the body to the civil hospital for medico-legal formalities. On September 9, a soldier was killed in an exchange of fire with terrorists in the North Waziristan area of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dawn reported citing the military wing. On September 6, four soldiers were killed and 12 terrorists were killed in an operation to repulse terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Chitral district, Dawn reported. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in the press release said that the exchange of fire took place in the Mir Ali area. In the statement, ISPR said that Lance Naik Jamshed Khan was killed during his exchange of fire. It further said that the area was being sanitised to eliminate any terrorists found in the region. ISPR said, "Security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve." Notably, Pakistan has witnessed a rise in terrorist activities in recent months, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan after the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November last year. Earlier in July, a think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies said that 389 people died in terror and suicide attacks in half of the current year, according to Dawn. In the report, the data revealed that a total of 271 attacks had taken place in Pakistan during the period under review, which took 389 lives and injured 656 others, according to Dawn. Last year, in the same period, Pakistan witnessed 151 attacks, causing 293 deaths and 487 injuries. The figures depict a staggering 79 per cent increase in attacks during the first half of 2023 in comparison to the period last year.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Tuesday, predicted that the country is likely to experience rainfall for three consecutive days starting from tomorrow as monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh. "Due to the monsoon, there is possibility of rainfall in Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, Dhaka and Sylhet divisions for three days from Wednesday, lessening the current intensity of hot weather ," Meteorologist AKM Nazmul Haque. The remaining parts of the country, however, are likely to experience light to moderate rain during the period, he added. Earlier, a met release said mild heat wave is sweeping over Sylhet division and the district of Feni and it may abate Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, at a few places over Dhaka, Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions in next 24 hours from 9am today, it said.  Moderately heavy to heavy falls may occur at some places over the country, it added. A low pressure area has also formed over north-west Bay adjoining west central Bay of Andhra-Odisha coast. Country's maximum temperature on Monday was recorded 37.2 degrees Celsius at Sylhet, while today's minimum temperature was 21.5 degrees Celsius at Khepupara. The highest rainfall in the last 24 hours till 6am today was recorded 45 mm at Hatiya. The sun sets at 6:13pm today and rises at 5:42am tomorrow in the capital.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary Mira Resnick arrived in Dhaka on Monday, September 4, 2023. Ahead of Bangladesh and the United States ninth annual bilateral security dialogue in Dhaka, she arrived today. Representatives from both sides will discuss Indo-Pacific regional issues, security and human rights, military cooperation, peacekeeping, security assistance, and counterterrorism, among other topics, said the US Embassy in Dhaka in a media note on Sunday. The United States and Bangladesh have a strong security partnership and share many interests in the Indo-Pacific region, said the embassy. Both countries share a vision to ensure the Indo-Pacific region is free, open, peaceful, and secure.  At the 8th Security Dialogue held between the two countries at US Department of State in April last year, the two sides had “constructive discussions” on defence agreements like GSOMIA and ACSA as the US is keen to enhance security cooperation with Bangladesh. 

US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "They support everyone’s right to freely exercise their role in a democratic society. We oppose any restrictions on human rights." on July 24, US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters during a regular media briefing. In that briefing, He added, "They (US) do not take a position with respect to any political party in Bangladesh or in other countries.But we believe that Bangladesh and all countries throughout the world should have free and fair elections."  "Visa restrictions would apply to anyone who undermines the democratic election process in Bangladesh", He also added this.   

Intense heat waves are flowing over three districts of the country. On the other hand, light to moderate rain and thundershower with gusty winds may occur temporarily in three divisions. The river ports in these areas have been asked to show warning signal number 1. The extension of depression is extending from West Bengal through southwest Bangladesh to North Bay of Bengal. Monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh and moderate over North Bay of Bengal. On Saturday, June 17 till 6 pm in the weather forecast, Bangladesh Meteorological Department said, "In several places of Chattogram, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions. Many places in Rangpur, Dhaka and Barishal divisions and one or two places in Khulna and Rajshahi divisions may experience light to moderate rain and thundershower with gusty winds temporarily. Also, there may be heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur in some parts of the country." The weather forecast added, "Intense heat wave is sweeping over Rajshahi, Pabna and Bogra districts. Mild to moderate heat wave is moving over Khulna division and rest of Rajshahi division and Tangail, Faridpur and Dinajpur districts and may continue.  Day and night temperature may remain almost unchanged across country. Rain may increase in the next two days. The weather conditions may change slightly for the next four days. In the last 24 hours, the highest temperature in the country was 41.3 degrees Celsius in Rajshahi and the lowest temperature was 21.8 degrees Celsius in Nikli. The highest rainfall was also recorded at Nikli of 115 mm."

The holy Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated in the country on April 22 or 23 depending on the sighting of the moon. On Eid day, scattered rain with thunder may occur across the country, said the Meteorological Department.  So, the heat wave that is currently blowing across the country can reduce. Apart from this, there is a possibility of scattered hailstorm in different parts of the country in the next three days from Eid day. Mentioning that it will rain on Eid day, meteorologist Shahinul Islam said that on Eid day there may be rain with thunder all over the country.  He said, as a result of this rain, the temperature of the whole country may decrease by 1 to 3 degrees. The weather forecast till 6 pm on Friday (April 21) has said that rain and thunder may occur temporarily at two places in Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions.  Along with that, there may be scattered hailstorm at some places. Apart from this, the weather across the country is likely to remain mainly dry with partly cloudy skies elsewhere in the country. Meanwhile, the highest temperature in the country in the last 24 hours was 42.8 degrees Celsius in Chuadanga.  Besides, 38 degrees Celsius was recorded in Dhaka, 42.5 degrees Celsius in Rajshahi, 37.4 degrees Celsius in Rangpur, 35.4 degrees Celsius in Mymensingh, 37.4 degrees Celsius in Sylhet, 37.3 degrees Celsius in Chattogram and 36 degrees Celsius in Barisal.

The Meteorological Department said, "As there is no chance of rain in the next three days, there is no possibility of immediate relief from the extreme heat throughout the country. On Sunday, April 16, Kazi Zebunnesa, the assistant meteorologist of Bangladesh Meteorological Department, said, "There is no chance of rain in the next three days and the ongoing heat wave will continue." According to the Meteorological Department forecast, "Severe heat wave will continue in some parts of the country like the last few days. Heat wave is prevailing in Dhaka, Faridpur, Manikganj, Pabna, Bagerhat, Jessore, Chuadanga and Kushtia districts and mild to moderate heat wave is prevailing across the country and may continue." Today, Sunday, April 16 till 6 am, the highest temperature of the country in the previous 24 hours was recorded at 42.2 degrees Celsius in Chuadanga and the lowest temperature was recorded at 19.4 degrees Celsius in Saidpur. "Day temperature may remain almost unchanged across the country and night temperature may increase slightly," the Meteorological Department said.