Adviser on Foreign Affairs to Prime Minister Tariq Rahman Humayun Kobir has stressed on the ‘Bangladesh first policy’ while maintaining ties with major global powers including India, China and the US, saying Bangladesh will not become a “football” between India and China. His comments come as Dhaka is looking to balance bilateral relations with several countries, especially those in its neighbourhood, through cooperation in various sectors including infrastructure, trade, energy.“We can act as referees from time to time to ensure fair play, but we will not be football,” Kobir said at a roundtable discussion on Saturday. Asked about his relations with China and India, Kobir pointed to Dhaka’s intentions to play a bigger role in the region. Describing China as an “important development partner” for Bangladesh, he said, “Bangladesh will maintain balanced relations with both countries while firmly protecting its interests.”Humayun Kobir, advisor on foreign affairs to Bangladesh PM Tariq Rahman, stressed that Dhaka will continue to pursue “balanced global engagement” as a strategic policy option. “Balance is not a weakness. Balance is a strategy,” he said.He said the BNP-led government will pursue the “Bangladesh first” foreign principle based on pragmatism, strategic balance and national interest. Responding to questions from diplomats, academics and policy experts, Humayun said the government would avoid excessive dependence on any one country and instead adopt a “flexible and multi-pronged” diplomatic strategy.Humayun also questioned the relevance of the traditional foreign policy slogan “friendship towards all, malice towards none” and argued that a more strategic and realistic approach is required in today’s volatile geopolitical environment. The new principle does not mean separatism. Rather, Bangladesh’s sovereignty, development and national interests should be given priority, he said.He also argued that the democratic legitimacy of the new government strengthens Bangladesh’s position on the global stage. “We are a legitimately elected government with the mandate of the people. This gives us a position of strength in negotiations,” he said.On South Asian diplomacy, Kabir said the government wants to revive regional cooperation frameworks including SAARC and BIMSTEC, adding that he believes stronger engagement will amplify Bangladesh’s voice.

Kolkata: Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and his five Cabinet colleagues will hold their first meeting in Nabanna around noon on Monday and discuss issues including the implementation of the centrally funded health insurance scheme in Bengal, Ayushman Bharat and the closure of Bengal’s 569 km unfenced border with Bangladesh, government sources said.Sources said the five ministers who took oath along with Adhikari on Saturday – Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Nisith Pramanik, Ashok Kirtaniya and Khudiram Tudu are likely to get their portfolios on Monday. Cabinet expansion is expected later this week.The CM will hold his first meeting with the entire Bengal administration on Monday at Nabanna Assembly Hall and explain the BJP government’s roadmap for the next five years.

PM Narendra Modi had announced at a pre-poll rally in Bengal that the BJP cabinet in the state will approve the implementation of Ayushman Bharat in its first meeting. The scheme, which was opposed by the Mamata Banerjee administration, allows eligible families to receive up to Rs 5 lakh in annual health insurance coverage.Sources said another issue on which the new government will give top priority is fencing of the open 569 km border with Bangladesh. The state shares a 2,216.7 km long border with Bangladesh.The officer is likely to meet all IAS officers including District Magistrates at 4 pm. He is scheduled to meet police officers at 5 pm. Director General of Police SN Gupta had on Saturday night sent an “urgent” message to all police unit heads and asked them to attend a 5 pm meeting, where he said “law and order and related matters” would be discussed.CAPF cover will continue for CMThe government took several decisions before the cabinet and administrative meetings. The CAPF security cover provided to the officer by the Center will continue, though Bengal Police will also be part of it, an official said on Sunday. While the CM’s security is the responsibility of the state, the killing of Adhikari’s aide Chandranath Rath may have prompted the government to hand over his “closest security” to the CAPFs.Two IAS officers – P Promotho and Navneet Mittal – were appointed joint secretaries in the CM office on Sunday. Seven WBCS officers – Samrat Chakraborty, Amartya Chakraborty, Ayan Duttgupta, Rajarshi Nath, Surjit Roy, Pramit Das and Deep Bhaduri – were appointed senior deputy secretaries in the CMO. An official of the Lands and Land Reforms Department, Roy was the returning officer in Bhawanipur during the assembly elections. Adhikari won from Bhawanipur by defeating former CM Mamata Banerjee.16 officers who worked as CMO in the previous government were transferred on Saturday.“The previous government never cared for the brilliant IAS and IPS officers of the state. This often forced them to leave Bengal,” the officer told reporters on Saturday. “But this government needs these officers to implement policy decisions.”At least 46 WBCS (Executive) officers, who served as private secretaries and officers on special duty to ministers in the Trinamool government, have been assigned new responsibilities in the state administration.

Passengers from the Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius are finally being evacuated from Spain’s Canary Islands. After days of uncertainty, passengers on the MV Hondius are finally leaving the cruise ship. Spanish authorities launched a major evacuation in the Canary Islands over fears of the spread of the deadly hantavirus linked to the ship.The cruise ship showed up in Teneriffe on Sunday, after a tense spell dodging closed ports and increasing health restrictions, according to Reuters. The outbreak has already killed at least three people and sickened many more. As international attention focused on the situation, Spain worked closely with World Health OrganizationThe US Centers for Disease Control, and other European governments to manage the crisis. All eyes were on the American passengers as they finally disembarked the ship and boarded the flight to America. Reports say that once they land they will be kept in isolation and monitored for symptoms.This entire episode has become one of the most watched cruise ship health emergencies since COVID-19. Despite the outcry, health officials have said the risk to the broader public is still low.

hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius: How it unfolded

The cruise ship MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, in early April for a South Atlantic and Antarctic voyage, AP News reported. En route, passengers began feeling ill, showing symptoms of hantavirus infection. When deaths and serious illnesses occurred, concern spread to health agencies around the world.Investigators believe the Andes strain of Hantavirus is behind this epidemic. This rare variant, although rarely, can be passed between people, which has raised international concerns. Still, experts say this kind of transmission is far from common.When Hondius approached Europe, many ports refused to take the ship, concerned about how they would handle containment and quarantine. Ultimately, Spain said yes, calling it a humanitarian move and ensuring things were coordinated with global health authorities.Images from Tenerife show passengers disembarking under strict biosecurity procedures, with staff in protective suits monitoring the operation. Charter planes and government jets were immediately ready to fly people home, and efforts were made to limit any exposure.

Results: How’s the withdrawal going?

ABC News reports that the American passengers departed Spain on a repatriation flight after landing in Tenerife. Officials say none of them have tested positive yet, but it may take a while for hantavirus to appear, so they are still considered at risk.Americans are expected to go to the national quarantine unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, one of the few places set up for high-level infectious disease containment. Authorities plan to keep a close eye on everyone for weeks.The first people to leave the ship were Spanish civilians, who were sent to Madrid for medical care and quarantine in military hospitals. Meanwhile, travelers from the UK, France, Germany, Canada and other countries are being sent home under strict health monitoring.The World Health Organization (WHO) is still tracing all those who had contact with the Hondius, especially those who left the ship at earlier, remote stops before the outbreak spread.

What will happen next?

Despite all the headlines, health experts insist that hantavirus does not spread like COVID-19. Most cases come from direct contact with contaminated rodent feces, saliva or urine. The Andes strain is unusual for its rare person-to-person spread, previously reported only in South America. US health officials are repeating the message: The risk to the public is low. But for anyone potentially exposed to it, quarantine is strict.As for the ship, it should head to Rotterdam for a deep clean soon after all passengers have disembarked. Some crew members are staying on to help get it there.The Indian Embassy in Spain says the two Indian crew members are safe and asymptomatic, but are in quarantine in the Netherlands.How it all started is still a big question mark. Investigators believe the original exposure probably occurred before people boarded the ship — perhaps during a voyage to Argentina or Chile, where the virus exists naturally. Till now no one knows whether there was live transmission among the passengers during the journey or not.

After a stellar performance at the box office for almost two months, Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar 2’ is all set for its OTT debut. Reportedly, the digital premiere of the espionage drama directed by Aditya Dhar is scheduled for May 14, 2026. Ahead of the much-awaited OTT screening, ‘Dhurandhar 2’ is also making news for its massive success at the box office. The film is expected to get good figures in the 8th week also. As per trade reports, the film came close to Rs 1,795 crore worldwide during its 8th weekend, but missed it by a slight margin. Scroll down for more details on the box office performance of ‘Dhurandhar 2’

Box office collection of ‘Dhurandhar 2’ on 53rd day

According to Sacknilk, Ranveer Singh’s spy drama ‘Dhurandhar’, released on March 19, 2026, has earned Rs 1,143.09 crore nett in India. The film earned Rs 1.10 crore on 53rd day (8th Sunday) in 733 shows. This marks an increase of 22.2 percent from Saturday’s net collection of Rs 0.90 crore. After this, India’s gross collection has become Rs 1,368.10 crore.Now if we talk about the gross worldwide collection of ‘Dhurandhar 2’, it was Rs 1,794.65 crore on Sunday. This includes the total overseas earnings of Rs 426.55 crore, which comes after the addition of Rs 0.05 crore to the film’s overseas earnings on the 53rd day.

Day/week wise collection of ‘Dhurandhar 2’

First week: Rs 674.17 croreWeek 2: Rs 263.65 croreWeek 3: Rs 110.60 croreWeek 4: Rs 54.70 croreWeek 5: Rs 19.52 croreWeek 6: Rs 12.45 croreWeek 7: Rs 5.58 croreDay 51 (8th Friday): Rs 0.42 croreDay 52 (8th Saturday): Rs 0.90 croreDay 53 (8th Sunday): Rs 1.10 croreTotal: Rs 1,143.09 crore

What is the status on ‘Dhurandhar 3’?

“We are not done with Dhurandhar yet. We hope to have a surprise for the audience later this year. We have something up our sleeve,” the film’s co-producer Jyoti Deshpande told Bollywood Hungama during a recent interaction. His words have heightened anticipation among audiences, pointing towards the creation of a possible threequel.Disclaimer: The box office numbers and data in this article are compiled from a variety of public and industry sources. Unless explicitly noted, all figures are approximate, representing a fair representation of the film’s box office performance. These totals may change as official studio data is updated or additional international market reports are finalized. This data is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi waves before a friendly soccer match against Zambia in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

For almost two decades, Lionel Messi Seen by many fans as the greatest footballer of the modern era, the Argentinian has won a record eight Ballon d’Or awards and built a legacy that includes one World Cup title, four Champions League and 10 La Liga trophies during his legendary career. Now 38 and currently representing Argentina at international level playing for Inter Miami CF, Messi has admitted that the next generation is already preparing to take over the top of world football. Speaking during a recent Adidas event, as reported brandMessi was asked which young player reminds him the most and who he believes can become the best player in the world in the coming years. Argentina immediately pointed to Lamine Yamal.“There is a new generation of football players who are very good and have many years ahead of them, but if I had to pick one because of his age, what he has done so far, and what he can do in the future, it is Lamin [Yamal]. No doubt, for me he is the best.“He reminds me of when I was little.”

Why is Yamal already being compared to Messi?

The comparison has added significance as Yamal is following a similar path to Messi at FC Barcelona. Messi spent 17 years in Barcelona’s senior team, wearing the famous number 10 shirt and becoming the club’s greatest player, while dominating European football alongside stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo During one of the sport’s greatest rivalries.

Xavi and Lionel Messi (Image via Getty)

Ronaldo won five Ballon d’Or awards during that era, second only to Messi’s eight. Messi was also just 22 years and 160 days old when he won his first Ballon d’Or in 2009, making him the third-youngest winner in history behind Michael Owen and Brazilian striker Ronaldo Nazario. Yamal is now becoming the face of Barcelona’s next generation, while he is already wearing the club’s iconic number 10 shirt and electrifying supporters at the Camp Nou in the same way Messi once did.

Lamine Yamal. (Photo Courtesy-X)

The Spain international has already helped Barcelona sail towards another La Liga title this season, while also winning the 2024 European Championship with the Spain national football team.

Yamal’s surprising growth in terms of numbers

Despite still being only 18 years old, Yamal’s rise has become one of the most rapid and statistically impressive successes seen in football in years.The winger has already made 154 appearances at club level and scored 49 goals, while also breaking a remarkable number of records at FC Barcelona.Yamal became the youngest player to reach 40 goals for Barcelona in all competitions, surpassing Paulino Alcantara’s record since 1915. Earlier this year, he also became the youngest player to score 10 or more goals in the Champions League.He is already Barcelona’s youngest debutant, youngest goalscorer and fastest player to reach 100 matches, and despite being only 18 years old he already holds 16 different club records. Messi’s output at the same stage of his career was still a little stronger in terms of goals-per-game ratio, but Yamal has managed to reach many of these milestones at a younger age than the Argentine during his rise through Barcelona’s first team. At international level, Yamal has already scored six goals in 25 matches for Spain and played a major role in their European Championship win in 2024.

Spain’s Lamin Yamal smiles with his medal next to the Euro 2024 trophy. (AP Photo)

His personal honors are also already increasing rapidly. Yamal has twice won the Copa Trophy, an award given to the world’s best under-21 player, and was also most recently runner-up to Ousmane Dembélé in the Ballon d’Or voting.

Messi believes Yamal can create his own legacy

There is still a huge gap between Yamal’s current achievements and the career that Messi ultimately built at Barcelona, ​​Argentina and now Inter Miami.

Lionel Messi (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Messi’s era included four Champions League titles, 10 La Liga trophies and ultimately World Cup glory with Argentina in 2022, achievements that cemented his place among the greatest players in football history. But Messi’s public support of Yamal is significant as very few young players have received that level of support from the Argentine icon. With Barcelona continuing to rebuild around the teenager and Spain already eyeing him as one of the faces of their future, Yamal’s rise looks less like a promising start and more like the beginning of football’s next superstar era.

Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya has appointed Himanta Biswa Sarma as the Chief Minister of Assam, marking the NDA’s third consecutive term. After being unanimously elected as the leader of the BJP-led NDA legislature party, Sarma staked his claim with the support of 102 MLAs. He will take oath on May 12, which Prime Minister Modi is expected to attend.

Guwahati: Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya on Sunday appointed BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma as the chief minister. AssamPaving the way for the third consecutive NDA government in the state.After being unanimously elected leader of the BJP-led NDA legislature party, Sarma along with alliance leaders met the Governor at Lok Bhawan and formally staked claim to form the government.A notification signed by Chief Secretary Ravi Kota said, “In exercise of the powers conferred under clause (1) of Article 164 of the Constitution of India, the Governor of Assam is pleased to appoint Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma as the Chief Minister of Assam.” It said Sarma will take oath on May 12 at 11.40 am at the Veterinary College Field, Khanapara.The NDA comprising BJP, Assam Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) secured a sweeping mandate in the assembly elections and won a record 102 seats in the 126-member House. BJP won 82 seats, while AGP and BPF won 10 seats each.Sarma, who became the chief minister for the first time in 2021, is the first non-Congress leader to serve as CM in Assam for two consecutive terms.This will be the NDA’s third consecutive term in the state as the BJP-led alliance first came to power in 2016 under the leadership of then CM Sarbananda Sonowal. Earlier, a statement from Lok Bhawan had said that the Governor has invited Sarma to form the new government, and he will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the elected CM and members of the new Council of Ministers.Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP President Nitin Nabin, among others, are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony.“I have been elected the leader of the BJP legislature party. NDA parties, BPF and AGP have also elected me as their leader,” Sarma said while reading out the letter submitted to the Governor.“I have the support of 102 NDA MLAs. I have the signatures of all of them,” he said. AGP chief Atul Bora and BPF leader Rihon Daimary also submitted letters of support to the Governor.Union minister JP Nadda and Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, who were appointed BJP’s central observers and co-observers, accompanied Sarma and other alliance leaders to Lok Bhawan.Speaking to reporters, Nadda said the election results show public support for PM Modi’s development policies. PTI

In the box office battle of the sequels, ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ got a slight lead over ‘Mortal Kombat II’ in North American theaters this weekend. “The Devil Wears Prada 2” earned US$43 million in its second weekend, while “Mortal Kombat II” earned US$40 million in its first weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.

tough competition at the box office

There were a variety of newcomers starring in wide release this weekend, including the family-friendly whodunit ‘The Sheep Detectives’ and a Billie Eilish concert film co-directed by James Cameron.But it was the grip that won. ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’, which has grossed US$433.2 million worldwide in its first 12 days of release, has helped Walt Disney Studios earn more than US$2 billion globally for the year. It has also surpassed the total gross of the first film, which, without taking inflation into account, had grossed US$327 million globally in 2006.Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at comScore, said Mother’s Day may have helped ‘Prada’ gain the lead over the newcomer and led to a modest 44% decline in the second weekend.

‘Mortal Kombat II’ box office collection

‘Mortal Kombat II’ provided some gendered counterprogramming in the second weekend of Hollywood’s summer movie season. Warner Bros. screened the film in 3,503 locations where it attracted an overwhelmingly male audience. According to Posttrack, 75% of ticket buyers were men. ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ had an almost diametrically opposed opening weekend.The first film in the series, ‘Mortal Kombat’, was released simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max in April 2021 as part of Warner Bros.’ Pandemic-era day-to-day strategy. Reviews for the sequel have been mixed, as was its B CinemaScore. It grossed US$23 million internationally from 78 markets, for a global gross of US$63 million.

‘Michael’ achieved third highest collection

‘Michael’ dropped to third place with $36.5 million in its third weekend, down only 33% from the previous weekend. The Michael Jackson biopic has now grossed US$240.5 million in North America, surpassing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’s total domestic gross and US$577.4 million globally.

‘The Sheep Detective’ grosses US$15.9 million

Fourth place went to Amazon MGM Studios’ The Sheep Detectives, which earned US$15.9 million in its first weekend in 3,457 theaters. This quirky, all-ages murder mystery stars the voices of Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson and Nicholas Braun, as well as Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Regina Hall and Patrick Stewart as sheep who try to figure out who murdered their shepherd. Audiences gave it an A- CinemaScore. The film reportedly cost US$75 million to produce.

Billie Eilish’s tour film debuts with US$12.6 million

Rounding out the top five was ‘Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard & Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)’, an immersive concert experience that Cameron shared co-directing credit with Eilish. Paramount released the film in 2,613 theaters, where it grossed US$7.5 million in North America and US$12.6 million internationally. The film was very well reviewed by critics (93% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences, who gave it a CinemaScore of A.‘Project Hail Mary’, in its eighth weekend, and ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’, in its sixth weekend, are still going strong – which is a significant increase from the same weekend last year. Dergarabedian said that films that are performing well and attracting new and repeat viewers week after week are those that provide “pure, escapist entertainment”.“It’s going very well for movie theaters right now,” he said.

Top 10 films at domestic box office

This list takes into account estimated ticket sales at US and Canadian theaters from Friday to Sunday, with final domestic figures released on Monday, according to comScore:1. The Devil Wears Prada 2 – US$43 million.2. Mortal Kombat II – US$40 million.3. Michael – US$36.5 million.4. Sheep Detective – US$15.9 million.5. Billie Eilish-Hit Me Hard & Soft: The Tour – US$7.5 million.6. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie – US$6.6 million.7. Project Hail Mary – US$6.1 million.8. Spades – US$3.3 million.9. Deep Water – USD 780,274.10. Animal Farm – USD 663,624.