Nirab’s Bollywood debut on October 11

The wait is almost over, Bangladeshi film actor Nirab Hossain is finally going to make his debut in Bollywood film industry. Nirab-starrer first ever Indian film titled ‘Sheitaan’ is going to be released on October 11 in India. ‘Sheitaan’ (also known as Raaz E Sheitaan) is a horror thriller film written by Faisal Saif and directed by Sameer Khan, which has been produced under Saif’s own banner Faith Pictures Inc.

Based on real life incidents, the film includes Kavita Radheshyam, Meera, Amita Nangia, Baby Tasmiya, Iti Acharya and Asif Basra in different characters. Earlier the film was known by its working title ‘Balaa’.

Nirab said about the film, “I am very optimistic about the film. I put my best effort in acting to meet the demand of the director.  Now the viewers will judge the rest.”

Coutinho, Dembele 'close' to battered Barca

Pep Segura, Barca's general manager, said negotiations with Liverpool for Brazilian playmaker Coutinho and Borussia Dortmund over a deal for promising French winger Dembele could be finalised within days.

"We have to help the team with reinforcements and they will be here in the coming days," Segura told Catalan TV station Esport3 after Barca lost the second leg of the Super Cup 2-0 at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu.

"We are discussing the conditions of Coutinho and Dembele...they are close.

"We hope they will be Barca players next season."

Barca's season has been thrown into turmoil by Neymar's world record 222 million euro ($261 million) move to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month.

New Barca coach Ernesto Valverde admitted Neymar's absence has affected the balance of the side.

Meanwhile, the Catalans have struggled to close deals for Coutinho and Dembele with Liverpool and Dortmund holding out for fees in excess of 100 million euros in the knowledge of Barca's desperation to land a replacement before the transfer window shuts on August 31.

Barca defender Gerard Pique denied reports there is a growing feud between club's players and under-pressure board.

However, Pique admitted Barca have plenty of work to do if they are to close they gap on Madrid, who have added to their crowns as European and Spanish champions by winning both the UEFA and Spanish Super Cups in style over the past week.

"We are not in the best moment. Not as a team or as a club," said Pique.

"We have to stick together and move forward.

"The season is long and it has just begun. Madrid were superior so we have to live with defeat, congratulate them and improve."

Advance train ticket sale for Eid-ul-Azha starts Aug 18

Advance train ticket sale for holidaymakers this Eid-ul-Azha will begin from August 18.

Bangladesh Railway will sell the tickets for August 27 on the first day, Rail Minister Mojibul Haque briefed the media at Rail Bhaban this afternoon.

Ticket sale will continue for five days until August 22 for tickets of sequencing days until August 31. The advance ticket sale for return tickets will begin August 25.

Seven pairs of special train services will be added for the purpose, which will start operation from four days before Eid and will continue till a week after.

Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival for Muslims, is likely to be held on September 2.

Local produce of sacrificial animals sufficient for Eid demand: Chief vet

Local produce of cattle and goats will be sufficient for the demand of sacrificial animals in Eid-ul-Azha this year, Bangladesh’s chief veterinary officer said today.

Over 115 cattle and goats were bred domestically to meet the market demand, Dr Md Abdul Halim, chief veterinary officer at Central Veterinary Hospital (CVH), said.

Also READ: Gabtoli Cattle Market - Anomalies taking toll on traders

He was providing a panaroma view of the animal market at a programme amid general concerns over cattle supply in the backdrop of a raging flood in the north.

Last year, around 105 lakh animals were sacrificed, Vet Halim said.

This year 44.57 lakh cattle and 71 lakh goats and sheep have been bred, he said. Over 11 lakh animals have been fattened in a scientific process.

A five-member veterinary team will be deployed to check animal health at each of the 24 cattle markets under both north and south city corporations in Dhaka, he said.

The teams will be equipped with steroid-detecting devices.

Dr Halim was addressing a workshop organised by Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) held at Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIIS) auditorium.

Sidharth Malhotra breaks silence on his 'break-up' with Alia Bhatt

While they have may not have confessed their relationship in public, Sidharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt's regular appearances can be a proof of to what is brewing between the two.

But there were reports that the duo has apparently called it quits with no sign of reconciliation.

However, when Sidharth, who was present at the song launch of his highly-anticipated movie 'A Gentleman', was asked about this rumoured break-up with Alia, the actor said, "Alia and I break up? For what? Breaking tables and chairs."

The 'Baar Baar Dekho' star was also asked what he did to impress his past girlfriends, he replied, "I used to do bad desi raps. As a true gentleman, I made fewer mistakes.

I treat them nicely especially my girlfriends."

Japan launches study into suspected Chinese coral poaching

Japan on Wednesday launched a study into whether precious coral was being illegally poached by Chinese fishermen off its shores to be sold for use in jewellery.

The Fisheries Agency investigation will use an underwater camera to check the condition of the coral off the southern island of Kyushu.

It also aims to find evidence such as traces of fishing nets possibly used for poaching precious coral, an official said.

Precious coral, a species of coral which is usually red, pink or white in colour, and takes years to grow, is popular in parts of Asia for use in ornaments and for jewellery.

In 2014, the Japan Coast Guard reported a surge in the number of Chinese boats fishing for coral in Japanese territorial waters, prompting a similar study the following year near the southern Ogasawara islands and Okinawa.

Authorities now fear the alleged poachers may have shifted to the Kyushu coast.

"We no longer see many Chinese poachers like we used to near the Ogasawara islands, but we're carrying out the study as we have still spotted some ships" near Kyushu, the official told AFP.

The study will take place off the western coast of the southern island of Kyushu until September 4.

To counter coral poaching, the government in 2014 revised laws on illegal fishing in the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and tripled the maximum fines to 30 million yen ($270,000).

Last month, Japan arrested a Chinese skipper off Nagasaki prefecture for allegedly violating the fisheries law after precious coral was found his ship, according to the agency.

Actor Soumitra Chatterjee receives France’s Legion of Honour

Exactly thirty years after auteur Satyajit Ray was honoured with France's highest civilian award, the coveted Legion of Honour, thespian Soumitra Chatterjee, arguably, the most prominent face of Ray's films, is set to receive the prestigious award.

"I believe I am probably the first Indian actor to be honoured with the award. To be honoured in the same league as my mentor (Ray) is unbelievable because one does not work keeping awards and prizes in mind. One works for the love of the job," Chatterjee told IANS.

Ray was awarded the Legion of Honour by then French President Francois Mitterrand in 1987.

The octogenarian, who worked with Ray in 14 of his films, says he is drawn to the "sensitive treatment of human characters" in cinema.

Chatterjee expressed gratitude to Indian cine-goers for their constant love and affection.

"There must be something in my work that won over hearts abroad. As a Bengali, I feel proud and as one who has been inspired by French art and cinema, I feel it's a special honour," he said.

He counted French novelists and playwrights Honore de Balzac and Emile Zola as his inspiration while he picked iconic French filmmaker Francois Roland Truffaut as a favourite.

He dedicated the award to his audiences and fans.

He said the Ambassador of France to India Alexandre Ziegler will be in the city to present the honour.

Congratulating the thespian, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called him the "hallmark of Indian and Bengali cinema".

"From Apu Sansar to Legion d Honour. The legendary Shri Soumitra Chattopadhay, hallmark of Indian and Bengali cinema. A tribute and honour to the great actor of Bengali cinema by France. This makes us very proud. Congratulations," Banerjee tweeted.

"When we, in public life, speak about icons of our nation and the world, we must always show utmost respect and sensitivity with language," she added.