Florida: A 32-year-old Bangladeshi national, identified as Raiyan Abdul Baten, has been arrested by local police in Florida, USA, on serious charges including the filming, distribution, and possession of images and videos depicting sexual activity with an animal. Baten serves as an assistant professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of South Florida’s (USF) Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing.

According to public booking records from Hillsborough County, Florida, the Tampa Police Department (TPD) took Baten into custody on October 28, 2026. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has listed a total of 13 specific counts against him under the title: “Film, Distribute, Or Possess Image Or Video Of Sexual Activity With An Animal”.

Following his arrest, Baten was booked into the local Falkenberg Road Jail in Florida. Initial court records indicate his bail status as “No Bond”. This status ensures that he will remain in custody pending further legal proceedings or an official arraignment hearing.

The news of his arrest has reverberated through academic circles. Baten completed his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 2016. He then moved to the United States for higher education, earning a Master of Science (MS) in 2018 and a Ph.D. in 2022 in Human-Computer Interaction from the University of Rochester. In 2023, he received the prestigious AAAC Oi Trust Award for his outstanding doctoral dissertation and was recently serving as a lab director at USF.

Due to the recent nature of the arrest, the Tampa Police Department and the local court have not yet disclosed details regarding the progress of the investigation or any seized digital evidence. Cases involving digital forensics typically require extensive investigative procedures.

Under the United States criminal justice system, an arrest or the filing of charges does not constitute definitive proof of guilt. Raiyan Abdul Baten is legally presumed innocent unless proven guilty through a formal court trial.

Brooklyn, New York – The Brooklyn Children’s Museum will celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, on Thursday, November 12, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., in collaboration with The Culture Tree. The special family-friendly program will introduce children and families to the traditions and cultural significance of Diwali through interactive activities and creative experiences.

Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy puppet storytelling about the history and meaning of Diwali, make traditional Indian sweets known as mithai, and create their own traditional diya lamps at the museum’s ColorLab art studio. The celebration will take place during the museum’s free Community Access Thursday hours, held every Thursday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The program is sponsored by Amazon, Citizens Philanthropic Foundation, and Investors Foundation. Families interested in attending can find additional information and RSVP through the Brooklyn Children’s Museum website: https://www.brooklynkids.org/programs/celebrate-diwali/

LONDON — A special musical presentation marking the centenary of Rabindranath Tagore’s 1926 European tour was held at Pinter Studio, Queen Mary University of London, on October 31. The programme, organized jointly by Geetbeena, Swadhinata Trust and Queen Mary University of London, celebrated the literary and musical legacy of the Nobel laureate through a specially curated presentation combining research, narration and Rabindra Sangeet.

The event brought together artists, researchers and members of the Bengali community to commemorate Tagore’s historic journey across Europe and reflect on the continuing relevance of his work. Tagore undertook his European tour in 1926, when he was 65 years old. The journey was an important chapter in his international engagement with literature, music, culture and intellectual exchange.

The musical presentation explored aspects of the poet’s journey through selected songs, narration and historical context. It also highlighted the enduring influence of Tagore’s creative work across generations and national boundaries.

The programme featured contributions from a group of artists and cultural figures, including Batirul Haque Sardar, Alastair Owens, Sunita Chowdhury, Rumi Haque, Valentine Harding, Dr. Shyamal Chowdhury, Arijit Chowdhury, Pitam Sengupta, Mitali Banowari, Budhaditya Bhattacharya, Sandeep Chakraborty, Jules, Dr. Ansar Ahmed Ullah, Jamil Iqbal, Sadek Ahmed Chowdhury, Mrinmoy Roy Chowdhury, Mozammel Hossain and Afrin.

The event sought to reconnect contemporary audiences with Tagore’s European experience and demonstrate how his songs and ideas continue to inspire cultural dialogue between communities. Through music, historical reflection and collective participation, the centenary programme paid tribute to Tagore’s enduring contribution to Bengali literature and world culture.