It’s a do-or-die dilemma for two-time champions Argentina as they take on Poland at 01:00 am on Thursday. On the following day, Germany will face Costa Rica with the same equation. Five-time champions Brazil already bagged qualification to the last 16 courtesy of consecutive victories against Serbia and Switzerland.

Messi's magic helps Argentina rise from the ashes, Morocco puts down Belgium, defending champions France brush aside the champion’s curse, and the Spain-Germany encounter delivers an end-to-end thriller; All in all the group-stage of the World Cup has satiated the thirsts of all football fans. To discuss all the latest updates of the World Cup, The Daily Star brings you its special segment, Qatar Chronicles.

The news of the organisations taking loans from banks using the fake names and addresses is being published in the media. There are rumorus of banks going bankrupt. Similar rumours are going on that the economy will be restored by taking a loan from the IMF.

Every day crowds gather in huge numbers to take part in live World Cup match-screenings at Dhaka University. Current and former students of the University along with people from all walks of life from across the city make their way to the university’s campus to watch the games.

What impacts will the recent electricity price hike bring, in the context of the ongoing inflation?

In Chattogram, from Mirsharai to Cox’s Bazar and Moheshkhali, several mega projects of thousands of billion takas in total, are in different stages of development.

For defaulting Tk25,000 to Tk50,000 loan each, at least 12 farmers were arrested, before they got bail. And a total 37 farmers have been accused in a case. But on the other hand, the big guns with accusations of defaulting thousands of crores taka worth of loans are far from being prosecuted.

On the occasion of Mujib Borsho at Sarishabari in Jamalpur, the prime minister's initiative of allocating house for the homeless has become a safe haven for drug abusers. There are no employment opportunities nearby, no living environment, and not even a road to travel. Hence, most of the houses lie vacant, without any people living in them.

The Qatar World Cup is heating up as groups are starting to shape up with qualification in mind. Five-time champions Brazil got off to a scintillating start with a 2-0 drubbing over Serbia where Richarlison scored a brace, including a scissors kick.

The construction work of the south tube of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River has been completed. As a result, two parts of Chattogram city have been united through the underground tunnel for the first time.

In continuation of our reports on the drug trade in the border areas, the destination this time is Brahmanbaria. Only 104km from Dhaka, the district has a wide availability of drugs, which makes substance abuse virtually a common practice there.

Sri Lanka, which is known for its quality education, healthcare, and migration policies and practices, has, however, experienced one of the worst financial crises as a nation in recent history.

What kind of reforms are necessary to use the universities for the national interest and to increase our national capabilities?

The World Cup in Asia has left nothing in the tank providing a string of upsets. Lionel Messi’s Argentina were humbled by Saudi Arabia in their very first match following a streak that lasted a whopping 36 matches. Four-time champions Germany too were stunned in the same fashion by Japan. But that didn’t have a ripple effect on some of the other teams as England and Spain went on a goal-scoring frenzy in their opening fixtures. Defending champions France got off to a scintillating start.

Sitting on chairs and eating on tables with plates and glasses in restaurants, or even being treated humanely seem to be a privilege when it comes to these children – children of the Horijon people, who are a socially and economically marginalized community in Moulvibazar.

Currently, show business is recognising Shahnaz Sumi. In her first film, Shahnaz captivated everyone's interest.

Hiralal Sen, the first filmmaker from the Indian subcontinent, was born in Manikganj in 1866.

Why is the amount of default loans increasing day by day?

After the snatching of two death-row militants from the court premises in Dhaka yesterday, numerous questions have been raised over the security at the court area.

There’s an X-ray machine in Kulaura Upazila Health Complex, Moulvibazar, which was bought in 1995. But the authorities never hired an operator for the machine -- and the patients who need an X-ray are being referred to the Sadar hospital or some other private hospital.