INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(8015, 8015, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Iranian police are resuming controversial patrols to ensure women obey dress codes and cover their hair in public, state media reports.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The \"morality police\" will return to the streets to enforce Iran\'s hijab laws, a spokesman said on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It comes 10 months after a young woman, Mahsa Amini, died in custody following her arrest in Tehran for allegedly breaking the dress code.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Her death triggered massive national protests and the patrols were paused.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, Islamic hardliners have been demanding that the patrols be resumed for some time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under Iranian law, which is based on the country\'s interpretation of Sharia, women must cover their hair with a hijab (headscarf) and wear long, loose-fitting clothing to disguise their figures.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The morality police unit is tasked with ensuring those rules are respected, and detaining people who are perceived to be \"improperly\" dressed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the patrols, officers will first warn women who are not complying with the rules, police spokesman Saeed Montazerolmahdi said, as quoted by hardline Tasnim news agency.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If they disobey orders, police may then opt for \"legal action\", he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mahsa Amini, 22, was visiting the capital Tehran with her family last September when she was arrested by morality police and accused of wearing her hijab \"improperly\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She collapsed after being taken to a detention centre to be \"educated\". At the time, there were reports that officers beat Ms Amini\'s head with a baton and banged her head against one of their vehicles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It enraged millions of Iranians - leading to months of violent anti-government protests across the country, that saw nearly 600 protesters killed, including several state executions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the months following the protests, many women stopped wearing hijabs altogether. It was the biggest outright challenge to the rule of the clerics in Iran since the 1979 revolution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Videos posted on social media suggest that, until recently, the sight of women not wearing hijabs was becoming more commonplace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But in turn, the Iranian authorities brought in stiffer punishments, including forcing businesses to close if they did not comply with the hijab laws.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although the protests drew out huge numbers of Iranians, some people still staunchly support the strict dress code.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier this year, a video emerged showing a man throwing a tub of yoghurt in the face of two unveiled women. His action was met with outrage by male and female bystanders, and he was later arrested - but so were the women.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iran has had various forms of \"morality police\" since the revolution. This latest version, known formally as the Guidance Patrol (Gasht-e Ershad), began their patrols in 2006.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is unclear how many men and women work for the force, but they have access to weapons and detention centres, as well as what are called \"re-education centres\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In response to Iran\'s violent crackdown on protesters, the UK and other Western countries imposed sanctions on the morality police and other top security figures last year. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-17 12:24:34', '2023-07-17 12:24:34'),
(8016, 8016, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Rescuers working to reach passengers trapped in a flooded tunnel in the central South Korean city of Cheongju have recovered 13 bodies.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Saturday night, flood water from a burst river bank poured into the underpass, quickly trapping people in their cars and commuters on a bus.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officials are yet to disclose how many got stuck in the 685m (2,247ft) tunnel, but said there were 15 vehicles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At least 39 people have died in torrential rains the past week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea has been hit by extreme rainfall which caused floods, landslides and power cuts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As of Monday morning, at least nine people were still missing after a weekend deluge, authorities said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the suburb of Osong, where the tunnel flooded, several of the bodies were recovered from inside a bus. Nine survivors were rescued on Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The victims\' families say the deaths might have been prevented had the local authorities responded effectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Several local media outlets reported that a few hours before the tragedy, the river flood control office had issued a warning about the alarming water levels, and therefore the traffic around the tunnel area should have been diverted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Most of the other fatalities were in the mountainous North Gyeongsang region, where landslides swept away whole houses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Almost 300mm (11.8in) of rain is reported to have fallen across South Korea on Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The country typically sees 1,000mm (39.4in) to 1,800mm (70.9in) a year, according to the Korean Meteorological Association - although much of that does fall during the summer months.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Aerial pictures from flood-affected areas show brown mud and flood waters so deep, only the tops of roofs can been seen sticking out.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thousands of people have been affected by evacuation orders issued by various local governments and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has asked the military to help with the rescue efforts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Early on Saturday morning local time, some 6,400 residents were evacuated after the Goesan Dam, also in North Chungcheong, began to overflow, the agency said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A number of low-lying villages near the dam as well as many of the roads connecting them were submerged, leaving some residents trapped in their homes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Deadly floods sweep Asia in intense monsoon season</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Four ways climate change is affecting the weather</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Late on Friday, a landslide caused a train to derail in North Chungcheong. One engineer was injured, but the train was not carrying passengers at the time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Korail, the country\'s national rail operator, has announced the suspension of all slow trains and some bullet trains, and said other bullet services would be disrupted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast more rainfall through to Wednesday next week. It warned that the weather conditions pose a \"grave\" danger.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Extreme rain has caused floods and landslides across several countries - including India, China and Japan - over the past fortnight.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While many factors contribute to flooding, scientists say a warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The warmer it becomes, the more moisture the atmosphere can hold, resulting in more droplets and heavier rainfall, sometimes in a shorter space of time and over a smaller area. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-17 12:29:23', '2023-07-17 12:29:23'),
(8017, 8017, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Rescuers recovered four bodies late Sunday night from the Buriganga River, where a waterbus carrying around 100 passengers sank after being hit by a sand-laden bulkhead earlier in the evening.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased are a woman, two men, and a minor boy. Their identities could not be known immediately.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Brig. Gen. Dr. Quazi Md Rashid-Un-Nabi, director of Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital, confirmed the development saying that the bodies were kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy. They were brought in dead.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Eight people were rescued alive from the river and admitted to the hospital, with three of them undergoing treatment in unconscious condition while the rest were released after receiving treatment.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The waterbus sank around 8:15pm, said Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters media cell.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On information, three firefighting units from Sadarghat and Siddik bazar fire stations rushed to the spot to carry out rescue operations. Moreover, divers from the Coast Guard joined the fire service workers to accelerate the rescue operation.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As it capsized close to the river bank, most passengers managed to swim ashore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">UNB’s Keraniganj correspondent adds: a sand-laden bulkhead hit the waterbus carrying over 100 passengers in the middle of the river.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The waterbus was heading towards Keraniganj’s Nagarmahal from Waizghat for its last trip of the day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dakshin Keraniganj police station’s OC Mohammad Shah Zaman said they believe most passengers managed to swim ashore. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-17 14:47:41', '2023-07-17 14:47:41'),
(8018, 8018, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Long the hottest place on Earth, Death Valley put a sizzling exclamation point Sunday on a record warm summer that is baking nearly the entire globe by flirting with some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded, meteorologists said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Temperatures in Death Valley, which runs along part of central California\'s border with Nevada, reached 128 degrees Fahrenheit (53.33 degrees Celsius) on Sunday at the aptly named Furnace Creek, the National Weather Service said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 134 F (56.67 C) in July 1913 at Furnace Creek, said Randy Ceverny of the World Meteorological Organization, the body recognized as keeper of world records. Temperatures at or above 130 F (54.44 C) have only been recorded on Earth a handful of times, mostly in Death Valley.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“With global warming, such temperatures are becoming more and more likely to occur,” Ceverny, the World Meteorological Organization’s records coordinator, said in an email. “Long-term: Global warming is causing higher and more frequent temperature extremes. Short-term: This particular weekend is being driven by a very very strong upper-level ridge of high pressure over the Western U.S.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Furnace Creek is an unincorporated community within Death Valley National Park. It\'s home to the park\'s visitor center, which includes a digital thermometer popular with tourists. On Sunday afternoon, dozens of people gathered at the thermometer — some wearing fur coats as a joke — hoping to snap a picture with a temperature reading that would shock their friends and family.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That digital thermometer hit 130 degrees at one point on Sunday, but it\'s not an official reading. The National Weather Service said the highest temperature recorded on Sunday was 128 F (53.3 C) — a high that was unlikely to be surpassed as the sun went down.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A few miles away at Badwater Basin — the lowest point in North America at 282 feet (85.95 meters) below sea level — tourists took selfies and briefly walked along the white salt flats ringed by sandy-colored mountains as wisps of clouds crawled overhead. Meteorologists say that thin cloud cover most likely kept temperatures from reaching potential record highs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">William Cadwallader lives in Las Vegas, where temperatures reached 116 F (46.67 C) on Sunday, nearing the all-time high of 117 degrees. But Cadwallader said he\'s been visiting Death Valley during the summer for years just to say he\'s been to the hottest place on Earth.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I just want to go to a place, sort of like Mount Everest, to say, you know, you did it,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The heat wave is just one part of the extreme weather hitting the U.S. over the weekend. Five people died in Pennsylvania on Saturday when heavy rains caused a sudden flash flood that swept away multiple cars. A 9-month-old boy and a 2-year-old girl remained missing. In Vermont, authorities were concerned about landslides as rain continued after days of flooding.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Death Valley’s brutal temperatures come amid a blistering stretch of hot weather that has put roughly one-third of Americans under some type of heat advisory, watch or warning. Heat waves are not as visually dramatic as other natural disasters, but experts say they are more deadly. A heat wave in parts of the South and Midwest killed more than a dozen people last month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Residents in the western U.S. have long been accustomed to extreme temperatures, and the heat appeared to prompt minimal disruptions in California over the weekend. Local governments opened cooling centers for people without access to air conditioning to stay cool. The heat forced officials to cancel horse racing at the opening weekend of the California State Fair as officials urged fair-goers to stay hydrated and seek refute inside one of the seven air-conditioned buildings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Temperatures in Phoenix hit 114 F (45.56 C) on Sunday, the 17th consecutive day of 110 degrees or higher. The record is 18 days, set in June 1974. Phoenix is on track to break that record on Tuesday, said Gabriel Lojero, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Heat records are being shattered all over the U.S. South, from California to Florida. But it’s far more than that. It’s worldwide, with devastating heat hitting Europe along with dramatic floods in the U.S. Northeast, India, Japan and China.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For nearly all of July, the world has been in uncharted hot territory, according to the University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">June was also the hottest June on record, according to several weather agencies. Scientists say there is a decent chance that 2023 will go down as the hottest year on record, with measurements going back to the middle of the 19th century.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Death Valley dominates global heat records. In the valley, it’s not only hot, it stays brutally warm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some meteorologists have disputed how accurate Death Valley’s 110-year-old hot-temperature record is, with weather historian Christopher Burt disputing it for several reasons, which he laid out in a blog post a few years ago.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two hottest temperatures on record are the 134 F in 1913 in Death Valley and 131 F (55 C) in Tunisia in July 1931. Burt, a weather historian for The Weather Company, finds fault with both of those measurements and lists 130 F (54.4 C) in July 2021 in Death Valley as his hottest recorded temperature on Earth.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“130 degrees is very rare if not unique,” Burt said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In July 2021 and August 2020, Death Valley recorded a reading of 130 F (54.4 C), but both are still awaiting confirmation. Scientists have found no problems so far, but they haven’t finished the analysis, NOAA climate analysis chief Russ Vose said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are other places similar to Death Valley that may be as hot, such as Iran’s Lut Desert, but like Death Valley are uninhabited so no one measures there, Burt said. The difference was someone decided to put an official weather station in Death Valley in 1911, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A combination of long-term human-caused climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is making the world hotter by the decade, with ups and downs year by year. Many of those ups and downs are caused by the natural El Nino and La Nina cycle. An El Nino cycle, the warming of part of the Pacific that changes the world’s weather, adds even more heat to the already rising temperatures.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Scientists such as Vose say that most of the record warming the Earth is now seeing is from human-caused climate change, partly because this El Nino only started a few months ago and is still weak to moderate. It isn’t expected to peak until winter, so scientists predict next year will be even hotter than this year. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-17 14:51:38', '2023-07-17 14:51:38'),
(8019, 8019, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka\'s air quality continued to be in the ‘moderate’ zone this morning.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 83 at 9:25 am, Dhaka today ranked 22nd on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’ with an acceptable air quality. However, there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Qatar’s Doha, Iraq’s Baghdad and South Africa’s Johannesburg occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 165, 157 and 156, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered ‘unhealthy’, particularly for sensitive groups.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Similarly, an AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be ‘poor’, while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered ‘hazardous’, posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants – Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-17 14:55:50', '2023-07-17 14:55:50'),
(8020, 8020, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Voting for the by-election in Dhaka-17 constituency and election in seven municipalities of seven districts are underway today.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Voting started at 8 am, and it will continue till 4 pm without any break.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Voting will be held with the use of traditional ballot papers in the parliamentary by-election, unlike the recent city corporation polls where electronic voting machines were used.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tight security measures have been taken to ensure peaceful voting, authorities said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the Dhaka-17 constituency, eight candidates are running in the race to be elected member of the parliament. The seat comprising Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and part of Dhaka Cantonment fell vacant after the death of popular actor and freedom fighter Akbar Hossain Pathan Farooque on May 14 this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The contestants are Mohammad Ali Arafat of Bangladesh Awami League (with boat symbol), Sikder Anisur Rahman of Jatiya Party (plough), independent candidate Ashraful Hossain Alam (monochord), Kazi Rashidul Hasan of Zaker Party (rose), Akter Hossain of Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijote (cane), independent candidate Tariqul Islam Bhuiyan (truck), Rezaul Karim Swapan of Bangladesh Congress (green coconut) and Sheikh Habibur Rahman of Trinamul BNP (golden fibre).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The number of voters is 325,205 under 125 polling stations in the Dhaka-17 constituency, which comprises wards 15,18,19 and 20 of Dhaka North City Corporation as well as Dhaka cantonment area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On June 1, the Election Commission announced the by-election schedule for Dhaka-17 which fell vacant following the death of ruling Awami League MP Akbar Hossain Pathan alias Farooque. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-17 14:59:03', '2023-07-17 14:59:03'),
(8021, 8021, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Election Commission (EC) is observing the Dhaka-17 by-polls and elections of Pirojpur Bhandaria and Jashore\'s Benapole municipalities through CCTV cameras today (July 17, 2023) from the control room in Dhaka.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The Election Commission has set up 1,058 CCTV cameras, including 853 for Dhaka-17 constituency, to monitor the elections, said EC sources.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibur Awal; Election Commissioners Brigadier General (retd) Ahsan Habib Khan, Rasheda Sultana, Md Anisur Rahman; Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath; NID Director General AKM Humayun Kabir; and IDEA-2 Project Director Brigadier General Abul Hasnat Mohammad Sayem have been monitoring the polls since this morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Election monitoring is being done by installing two CCTV cameras in each polling station.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">No untoward incident has been reported in the election so far.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Voting in Dhaka-17 constituency and election in seven municipalities of seven districts started at 8 am, and it will continue till 4 pm without any break.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">In the Dhaka-17 constituency, eight candidates are running in the race to be elected member of the parliament. The seat comprising Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and part of Dhaka Cantonment fell vacant after the death of popular actor and freedom fighter Akbar Hossain Pathan Farooque on May 14 this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">A total of 33 mayoral candidates are running for seven posts, while 102 female contestants for 21 reserve seats and 364 contenders for 63 general councillor posts in the seven municipalities. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-17 15:40:56', '2023-07-17 15:40:56'),
(8022, 8022, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United States would not be surprised if North Korea conducts another nuclear test, following the regime\'s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile this past week, a senior White House official said Sunday.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I have been concerned for some time that North Korea would conduct what would be its seventh nuclear test going back multiple administrations. And I remain concerned about that,\" National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told CBS talk show \"Face the Nation\" in an interview.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I don\'t see any immediate indications that that\'s going to happen,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"But it would not come as a surprise if North Korea moved forward with another nuclear test with respect to its intercontinental ballistic missile capability.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sullivan stressed that Pyongyang had begun testing its nuclear capacity several years ago and \"they have continued to test it.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea said Thursday it successfully test-fired the reclusive country\'s newest ICBM, with leader Kim Jong Un personally overseeing the launch.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The missile, a solid-fuel Hwasong-18 that had reportedly been test-fired only once before, flew 1,001 kilometres (622 miles) at a maximum altitude of 6,648 kilometres before splashing into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Relations between North and South Korea are at a low point. Last year, Kim declared his country an \"irreversible\" nuclear power, and has called for ramped-up weapons production, including of tactical nukes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United Nations, the United States and its allies including France strongly condemned Wednesday\'s launch, which violated multiple UN Security Council resolutions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sullivan nevertheless reiterated Washington\'s offer of negotiations with Pyongyang, saying President Joe Biden\'s administration is \"prepared to sit down and talk without preconditions about their nuclear program.\" AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-17 15:44:57', '2023-07-17 15:44:57'),
(8023, 8023, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, on the small Magdalen islands, foot paths are caving in, cliffs are receding and the sand dunes are disappearing, leaving homes vulnerable to the lashing waves.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The archipelago, part of Quebec province in eastern Canada, is in a race against time -- and the elements -- to survive global warming. Residents are feeling the effects of climate change on a daily basis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The Magdalen islands are in the front row when it comes to the changes taking place. We are miniscule faced with the immensity of it all,\" says Mayka Thibodeau from CERMIM, a research center focused on sustainable development.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The changes seem to be coming fast and furious, leaving the roughly 13,000 residents reeling, as they realize their island home will need to adapt quickly and radically in the decades to come if it is to survive.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The islands\' picturesque shores have already been eroded, receding by an average of half a meter (1.6 feet) a year, according to a study by the University of Quebec at Rimouski (UQAR).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It\'s a figure that concerns Diane Saint-Jean and her partner -- they live on the coast and worry the next big storm could sweep their home into the water.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We were rather naive, we were sure there would be a solution. But nature proved us wrong,\" says Saint-Jean, her voice shaky as she stares at the nearby cliffs, which are slowly disappearing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two women live in La Martinique, a slim band of territory that links the archipelago\'s two main islands.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They have spent thousands of dollars to reinforce the cliff at the foot of their yard, but in September 2022, Hurricane Fiona struck with brute force, quickly washing away the giant rocks meant to protect their property.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We woke up one morning and realized we\'d thrown away our money. But what can we do?\" rues Saint-Jean, a retired nurse.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Costly emergency work -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Erosion is a bit of a sensitive topic for most residents on the Magdalen islands, which were first populated in the 18th century and are located more than five hours by boat from continental Canada.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Everyone here remembers spots that are now gone -- especially houses that had to be moved because of the risk of flooding.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The situation is a headache for local authorities, who must invest millions of dollars for emergency work.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Cap-aux-Meules, in the center of town, part of the pedestrian walkway collapsed in 2018, leaving the hospital, a retirement home and a cemetery in the direct path of dangerous waves.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last year, local authorities built a huge gravel beach, using 143,000 tonnes of stones along an 800-meter (half-mile) stretch to raise the shoreline. It was not the first time the tactic had been used.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Solutions exist but they are extremely expensive and these projects have to be maintained. So each time we intervene, it\'s a tax burden for the future,\" explains Jasmine Solomon, who monitors erosion for the local government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We likely won\'t be able to protect everything. There are spots that are going to need to change, that\'s for sure.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Vanishing ice -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In recent years, extreme weather events have become more frequent and more devastating as a result of climate change.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Magdalen islands are notably losing one of their most important defenses in winter: ice. It has always served as a sort of shield, but without it the coasts are completely exposed when rough storms hit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With each cycle of freezing and thawing, the red sandstone cliffs crumble more easily.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"One storm can erase a dune, a cliff, or even open up a breach\" in the coastline, says Marie-Eve Giroux, the director of local environmental organization Attention Fragiles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In addition to raising awareness about ecological issues in local schools, her group works on dune restoration, especially by replanting them with beachgrass, which helps keep the sand in place as its roots create a natural net.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many times, the dunes are the shoreline\'s only defense against the waves.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The islands are in danger of being lost to rising waters, a fate shared by other low-lying areas around the world. They are also gradually sinking.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We must look at all realistic scenarios and not bury our heads in the sand,\" says Thibodeau. \"We don\'t just want to endure what is to come. We want to be part of the solution.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She explains the many projects undertaken by CERMIM to restore the beaches including the use of mollusk shells to make concrete. The idea is to turn the islands into a sort of living laboratory in the global battle against climate change.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For Marianne Papillon, a doctor and public health advisor, the time to act is now.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Papillon has taken up a relatively new job -- tackling climate change-related issues.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We must do something collectively. Individual action won\'t make sense if everyone is not on board, \" she explains.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Faced with the storms we are seeing, people must make the mental link with climate change. They must feel more involved, and personally invested, without becoming too stressed about it all.\" AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-17 15:58:39', '2023-07-17 15:58:39'),
(8024, 8024, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Santiago Gimenez scored the game-winner minutes after entering the match Sunday as Mexico beat Panama 1-0 to win a record-extending ninth CONCACAF Gold Cup crown.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The final of the regional championship for North and Central America and the Caribbean was a fast-paced physical affair between a Mexico team eager to move on from recent disappointments and a Panama side seeking a first Gold Cup crown in their third final appearance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gimenez started on the bench in favor of Henry Martin and with the match deadlocked was brought on in the 85th minute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Three minutes later the 22-year-old Feyenoord striker became an instant hero.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After Ivan Anderson\'s cross into the Mexico penalty area was blocked, Mexico\'s Orbelin Pineda came away with the ball and passed to Gimenez at midfield.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gimenez raced into the penalty area, spinning away from one defender and beating another before slotting a left-footed shot past Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His fourth goal in 18 international appearances sparked frenzied celebrations among the largely pro-Mexico crowd of nearly 73,000 at SoFi Stadium, home of the NFL\'s Los Angeles Rams and one of the venues tabbed for the 2026 World Cup to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mexico added a ninth Gold Cup title to those it won in 1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2019.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States own seven titles, but were stunningly eliminated by Panama in a penalty shootout in the semi-finals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The victory, with interim coach Jaime Lozano at the helm, was especially sweet for a Mexico side trying to move past a disastrous World Cup in Qatar last year followed by a disappointing Nations League campaign.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lozano, who coached Mexico to Olympic bronze at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, was brought in to replace Diego Cocca, who was sacked last month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have said it from day one. Jaime understands very well what it means to represent Mexico, he understands the player very well, he gets the best out of each player and that is reflected on the field,\" said Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who won a fifth Gold Cup title.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mexico thought they\'d seized the lead in the 33rd minute when an attack launched by a long clearance from goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa ended with Martin skipping onto a cross from Luis Romo and firing a left-footed shot from the center of the box into Mosquera\'s net.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It took several minutes before a VAR review deemed Martin was offside.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ten minutes later Mosquera kept the score level as he came up with two saves in rapid succession, one from Pineda and one from Martin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Panama threatened in first-half injury time, but Anibal Godoy\'s shot went just wide of the left post.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Panama avoided a damaging reduction to 10 men in the 63rd minute when Harold Cummings was shown a second yellow card for tripping Pineda only for referee Said Martinez to quickly rescind it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After Antuna tested Mosquera with a header in the 66th minute, Panama responded with a header from Jose Fajardo that Ochoa controlled.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Panama\'s Ismael Diaz then fired over the crossbar in the 75th and Edgar Barcenas came close with a long-range shot through traffic in the 87th, but Thomas Christiansen\'s Canalmen had no answer to Gimenez\'s strike. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-17 16:04:12', '2023-07-17 16:04:12');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(8025, 8025, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">South Korea\'s president vowed Monday to \"completely overhaul\" the country\'s approach to extreme weather from climate change, after at least 39 people were killed by recent flooding and landslides during monsoon rains.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rescue workers waded through thick mud as they drained a flooded underpass in central Cheongju, searching for more victims after vehicles were trapped in the tunnel by flash floods, the interior ministry said, with nine people still missing nationwide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea is at the peak of its summer monsoon season and days of torrential rain have caused widespread flooding and landslides, with rivers bursting their banks and reservoirs and dams overflowing -- and there is more rain forecast this week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This kind of extreme weather event will become commonplace -- we must accept climate change is happening, and deal with it,\" President Yoon Suk Yeol said Monday, ahead of a visit to flood-hit North Gyeongsang province.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The idea that extreme weather linked to climate change \"is an anomaly and can\'t be helped needs to be completely overhauled\", he said, calling for \"extraordinary determination\" to improve the country\'s preparedness and response.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea will \"mobilise all available resources\" including the military and police to help with rescue efforts, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The rainy season is not over yet, and the forecast is now that there will be torrential rain again tomorrow,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The majority of the casualties -- including 19 of the dead and eight of the missing -- were from North Gyeongsang province, and were largely due to massive landslides in the mountainous area that engulfed houses with people inside.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some of the people who have been reported missing were swept away when a river overflowed in the province, the interior ministry said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Stay inside -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korean police said they would launch an investigation into the fatal flooding of the underpass in Cheongju, some 112 kilometres (70 miles) south of Seoul, Yonhap reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The underpass flooded early Saturday when a nearby river overflowed and an embankment collapsed, leaving 16 vehicles, including a bus, trapped inside, with at least 12 people killed and rescue workers warning the toll could rise as they searched the area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast more heavy rain through Wednesday and urged the public to \"refrain from going outside\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea is regularly hit by flooding during the summer monsoon period, but the country is typically well-prepared and the death toll is usually relatively low.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Scientists say climate change has made weather events around the world more extreme and more frequent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea endured record-breaking rains and flooding last year, which left more than 11 people dead.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They included three people who died trapped in a Seoul basement apartment of the kind that became internationally known because of the Oscar-winning Korean film \"Parasite\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government said at the time that the 2022 flooding was the heaviest rainfall since Seoul weather records began 115 years ago, blaming climate change for the extreme weather. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-17 16:06:28', '2023-07-17 16:06:28'),
(8026, 8026, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">China\'s economy grew 6.3 percent year on year in the second quarter, a figure that belies the country\'s slowing post-pandemic recovery and one that analysts warn is inflated given the low base of comparison with lockdown-wracked 2022.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Beijing\'s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released the growth data on Monday, saying in a statement that the economy \"showed a good momentum of recovery\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"By quarter, the GDP grew by 4.5 percent year on year in the first quarter and 6.3 percent in the second quarter,\" NBS spokesman Fu Linghui said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Market demand gradually recovered, production supply continued to increase, employment and price were generally stable, and residents income grew steadily,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But China\'s recovery, which has been slow to take hold in some sectors, appears to already be running out of steam.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Analysts polled by AFP ahead of the data release had predicted a 7.1 percent year-on-year rebound, while warning that the figure would not accurately reflect the state of the economy given the comparatively sorry state of affairs in 2022.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A year ago, with restrictions such as sudden lockdowns, travel curbs and factory closures the norm, China posted 0.4 percent on-year growth, one of its lowest quarterly readings in recent years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In quarter-on-quarter terms -- considered a more realistic basis for comparison -- Monday\'s data showed the world\'s second-largest economy only grew 0.8 percent in April through June.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That is down from the 2.2 percent growth seen from January through March, after lukewarm activity from October to December last year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And additional data released Monday showed the post-pandemic recovery petering out, likely to boost growing calls for greater economic stimulus.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Retail sales, a key gauge of consumption, edged up 3.1 percent in June from a year earlier, according to the NBS, slowing from the 12.7 percent rise in May.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was in line with expectations of analysts polled by Bloomberg, but signalled shaky consumer confidence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Consumption remains a driving force for the economic recovery,\" Erin Xin, Greater China Economist at HSBC, told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"In some areas, particularly in services, the revival has been particularly strong,\" she said, adding that consumption levels had not recovered to pre-pandemic levels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Unemployment among Chinese youth also jumped to a record 21.3 percent in June, up from 20.8 percent in May, the NBS said on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Low demand means companies are hesitating to hire, taking a \"wait-and-see\" attitude before expanding operations, said Harry Murphy Cruise, an economist at ratings agency Moody\'s.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Memories of 2022\'s repeated lockdowns and suddenly shifting policies were adding to their hesitancy, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Unfortunately... a revival in business activity is needed for broader demand to lift. That stalemate is keeping business activity weak,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China is aiming for about five percent growth this year, one of the lowest targets set by the Asian giant in decades.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Last year, China\'s GDP grew 3.0 percent, well below the official target of 5.5 percent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-17 16:11:40', '2023-07-17 16:11:40'),
(8027, 8027, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Celina Jaitly opened up about her journey in the fashion industry in Kolkata and how she wouldn’t get paid even after working hard. Taking to Instagram on Monday, Celina penned a long note recalling how she faced \'constant criticism and rejection\'. She said she had to \'hear many derogatory things about all the things that made me unique\'.&nbsp;</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Celina shared the note after clocking 22 years of becoming a runner-up at the Miss Universe pageant. She also posted an old video as took part in the contest. Dressed in a saffron bikini, Celina also posed with Miss Curacao and Miss Dominican Republic in a photo. Sharing the post, she captioned it, \"This year marks 22 years since I became a runners up at the @missuniverse pageant held in SanJuan, Peurto Rico in 2001 right after India’s great triple wins at Ms Universe, Ms World &amp; Miss Asia Pacific the year before (@LaraDutta @priyankachopra @deespeak).\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She continued, \"Amongst 103 contestants at only 5 ft 6 inches (I was one of the shortest contestants that year) yet I went on to become a runners up, a moment of great pride for me, upholding my country’s and my predecessor’s legacy. I entered the fashion industry at a very young age (15) after being scouted at an army party. The struggles that one went through in a new and upcoming fashion industry in a not-so-open-minded Kolkata was not easy, plus the pressure of studies and competitive exams made my entire teenage a journey of hard work and toil. I also suffered from severe acne and very severe endometriosis and had to be hospitalised almost every month during my Menstruation due to severe dysmenorrhea and blood loss so it was an incredibly intense life for a child who had many dreams and aspirations.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Celina recalls being rejected several times</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"While others would enjoy weekends I would take up shoot and ramp show offers in Kolkata and work for meagre amounts of monies. Many a times I wouldn’t even end up getting paid for my hard work and unauthorised use of images due to lack of industry regulations. Then there was the constant criticism and rejection either I was too white, too thin, not tall enough or too tall etc. For many years I had to hear many derogatory things about all the things that made me unique and go on despite that. For a child in her teens it was truly overwhelming hence the journey to the crown was a very intense one,\" Celina also added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Celina talks about beauty</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She concluded, \"Crowns... after all are not made of sparkling stones, they are made of sheer determination, strength, dedication, devotion, struggle and immense courage too. Beauty is a \'powerful tool of persuasion\' and I am so thankful for having the opportunity represent my country on various platforms since as an actor, brand ambassador UN equality champion and an activist. Having said that: Being beautiful is not being \'born beautiful\'. It is striving, lifelong to live &amp; achieve your maximum potential as a human being. #celinajaitly #missuniverse.\" HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-17 16:16:41', '2023-07-17 16:16:41'),
(8028, 8028, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Four swimmers have been injured in dolphin attacks on a beach in central Japan, officials say.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One man, in his 60s, suffered broken ribs and bites to his hands after a dolphin rammed him a few metres off Suishohama beach in the town of Mihama, Fukui prefecture, early on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another man, in his 40s, sustained arm bites in a separate incident on the popular beach the same morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two more people were injured by the mammals later in the day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fukui has now recorded six such attacks this year, local police say.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Signs have been put up telling swimmers to avoid approaching or touching the mammals. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-17 16:36:56', '2023-07-17 16:36:56'),
(8029, 8029, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Tariqul Islam Bhuiyan, an independent candidate contesting the Dhaka-17 by-polls, boycotted the election this morning amid allegations of irregularities.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tariqul made the announcement after voting began around 8 am this morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“A fair election is not possible under the current government,” Tariqul told media at Dhaka’s Banani Model School polling centre.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said that he withdrew from the polls as his polling agents were “obstructed” from entering polling stations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“None of my agents were allowed to enter polling stations. Awami League leaders and activists have created a hostile situation outside the centres; even police are obstructing my people from entering the polling centres,\" he claimed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Voting in Dhaka-17 constituency started at 8 am, and it will continue till 4 pm without any break. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-17 16:45:08', '2023-07-17 16:45:08'),
(8030, 8030, '<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ashraful Alam, better known as “Hero Alam”, an independent candidate contesting Dhaka-17 by-election, was physically assaulted while leaving a polling centre in Banani area today.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hero Alam was attacked in the afternoon while he was entering the Banani Bidyaniketan School polling centre, UNB photographer reported from the spot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, in the day, Hero Alam alleged that his agents were being “barred from entering the polling stations” and that several of them were “harassed by AL activists and leaders.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The ruling party’s activists have resorted to intimidating tactics to oust my agents. They physically assaulted some of our agents, including women, and barred them from entering the polling centres,” said the independent candidate at Banani Model School centre this morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked which polling centres his agents faced trouble entering, he mentioned Bhashantek Govt Primary School, Adamji Cantonment College, Matikata High School, and Jamia Madrasa centres.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“However, I’m determined to remain in the electoral race until the end,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Voting for by-election in Dhaka-17 constituency and election in seven municipalities of seven districts began at 8 am and ended at 4 pm today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the Dhaka-17 constituency, eight candidates are running in the race to be elected member of the parliament. The seat comprising Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and part of Dhaka Cantonment fell vacant after the death of popular actor and freedom fighter Akbar Hossain Pathan Farooque on May 14 this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka-17 by-polls: Hero Alam physically assaulted in Banani area&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The contestants are Mohammad Ali Arafat of Bangladesh Awami League (with boat symbol), Sikder Anisur Rahman of Jatiya Party (plough), independent candidate Ashraful Hossain Alam aka “Hero Alam” (monochord), Kazi Rashidul Hasan of Zaker Party (rose), Akter Hossain of Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijote (cane), independent candidate Tariqul Islam Bhuiyan (truck), Rezaul Karim Swapan of Bangladesh Congress (green coconut) and Sheikh Habibur Rahman of Trinamul BNP (golden fibre). UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-17 22:13:19', '2023-07-17 22:13:19'),
(8031, 8031, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh\'s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (July 17, 2023) received Kalabati sarees and handicrafts made from banana plant fibre.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Yasmin Parveen Tibriji handed over three such sarees and two jewellery boxes to the PM at the cabinet room of the Prime Minister\'s office, according to the PM’s press wing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Manipuri design Kalabati sarees,&nbsp; first ever in Bangladesh, have been created by weaver Radhavati Devi of Moulvibazar using the fibre of banana plant.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Anjali Devi and Dutta Singh, weavers from Bandarban, made the 3 sarees that were gifted to the prime minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, a special Machang model of residential shelter in hilly areas, district brand calendar and brand book were also presented to the prime minister by the DC of Bandarban. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-17 22:17:49', '2023-07-17 22:17:49'),
(8032, 8032, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The income tax department found ₹ 24 lakh cash during a raid at a YouTuber\'s house in Uttar Pradesh. Officials said that Taslim, who is being probed, had been running a YouTube channel for years and had earned nearly ₹ 1 crore.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The YouTuber is accused of earning money through illegal means, a claim that the family denies.</div><div><br></div><div>Taslim, who stays in UP\'s Bareilly, makes videos related to share market and even pays income tax on his income, claims his brother. Feroze said that his brother manages the YouTube account \'Trading Hub 3.0\'.</div><div><br></div><div>He claimed that they have already paid ₹ 4 lakh in taxes over their total YouTube income of ₹ 1.2 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We do not do any wrong work. We run our YouTube channel, from which we earn a good income, this is the truth. This raid is a well-planned conspiracy,\" Feroze said.</div><div><br></div><div>Taslim\'s mother also claims that her son is being wrongly framed. Source: NDTV</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p>UP YouTuber earns ₹ 1 crore through videos<br></p>', 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-17 22:46:12', '2023-07-17 22:46:12'),
(8033, 8033, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Election Exploratory Mission (ExM) from the European Union (EU) today wanted to know from reporters about professional challenges the media might face while covering the next general election in Bangladesh.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The issue of media freedom came up for discussion during interactions with a small group of senior reporters at the EU embassy in Dhaka.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The reporters shared their experiences in covering elections in the past and challenges that journalists in remote areas might face.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the discussion, a reporter wanted to know why Jamaat was invited for discussion considering the European Parliament in a resolution in 2014 urged BNP to “cut ties” with Jamaat and said that political parties associated with “terrorist acts” should be banned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Before the meeting with reporters, the EU delegation members had a separate meeting with four editors at the same venue.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The reporters encouraged the delegation to support sending observers regardless of what the next election may look like.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The daily Jugantor Chief of Correspondents and former DCAB President Masud Karim, Channel i special correspondent Pantho Rahman, Jamuna Television special correspondent Mahfuz Mishu, UNB special correspondent AKM Moinuddin and Channel 24 senior reporter Morshed Hassib Hasan were present at the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The visiting delegation began their activities in Bangladesh on July 2 to assess the situation on the ground ahead of the country’s upcoming national election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Delegation leader Riccardo Chelleri and his team held over 70 meetings so far.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The EU delegation will be in Bangladesh till July 23 to assess the situation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A technical team of the mission will further discuss the relevant issues with the Election Commission (EC) on July 18,19.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The main objective of the Election Exploratory Mission is to assess the “advisability, usefulness and feasibility” of a possible EU Election Observation Mission for the upcoming parliamentary election, according to the EU Mission in Dhaka. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-17 22:49:46', '2023-07-17 22:49:46'),
(8034, 8034, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League nominated candidate Mohammad Ali Arafat was unofficially declared winner in the by-election to Dhaka-17 constituency held on Monday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Arafat bagged 28,816votes while his nearest rival Independent&nbsp; candidate Ashraful Alam, better known as “Hero Alam”, secured 5,609 votes.</div><div><br></div><div>Senior District Election Officer Md Munir Hussain Khan, returning officer of the Dhaka-17 by-election, announced the results of all 124 centres.</div><div><br></div><div>Among other candidates, Jatiya Party’s candidate Sikder Anisur Rahman (Plough) got 1,328votes, Zaker Party candidate (Rose) Kazi Rashidul Hasan got 923 votes, Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijote (Cane) candidate Akter Hossain bagged 64 votes, independent Tariqul Islam Bhuiyan (Truck) got 52 votes, Swapan of Bangladesh Congress (Green coconut) candidate Rezaul Karim bagged 43, Trinamul BNP (Golden fiber) candidate Sheikh Habibur Rahman got 202 votes.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 37, 420 voters cast their votes in Dhaka-17 by-polls.</div><div><br></div><div>The voter turnout in Dhaka-17 by-polls was recorded at 11.51%, according to the returning officer.</div><div><br></div><div>Voting in the Dhaka-17 by-election began at 8 am and continued till 4 pm without any break.</div><div><br></div><div>The seat comprising Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and part of Dhaka Cantonment fell vacant after the death of popular actor and freedom fighter Akbar Hossain Pathan Farooque MP on 14 May this year.</div><div><br></div><div>However, Tariqul Islam Bhuiyan, an independent candidate contesting the Dhaka-17 by-polls, boycotted the election this morning amid allegations of irregularities. Tariqul made the announcement after voting began around 8 am on Monday morning.</div><div><br></div><div>In the evening, “Hero Alam” was physically assaulted while leaving a polling centre in the Banani area.</div><div><br></div><div>Hero Alam was attacked by some miscreants in the afternoon while he was leaving the Banani Bidyaniketan School polling centre, UNB photographer reported from the spot.</div><div><br></div><div>The Election Commission (EC) observed the Dhaka-17 by-polls through CCTV cameras from the control room in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>The Election Commission set up 853 CCTV cameras for Dhaka-17 constituency to monitor the election, said EC sources.</div><div><br></div><div>On June 01, the Election Commission announced the by-election schedule for Dhaka-17 which fell vacant following the death of ruling Awami League MP Akbar Hossain Pathan alias Farooque. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 03:06:49', '2023-07-18 03:06:49'),
(8035, 8035, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Monday said, “What a funny scenario they have created in Bangladesh! It’s a mockery of democracy. They (AL leaders) again will say loudly that democracy is the safest in their hands and they arranged good elections in the past.”</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He said that the attack on Hero Alam, an independent candidate in the by-election to Dhaka-17 constituency, was a mockery of democracy, saying that it has demonstrated how Awami League has become politically bankrupt.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that the incident of attack has also manifested once again that no fair and impartial election can be held under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“It can’t imagine how bankrupt Awami League has become. This party can’t even tolerate Hero Alam,” he told the rally.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said Alam went to a polling station during the voting though there was hardly any presence of voters.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Then the notorious cadres of the Awami League have driven him away from there. Not only that, they beat him mercilessly throwing him on the street outside the polling station. He bemoaned that a non-political candidate like Hero Alam was admitted to a hospital after being beaten by the ruling party activists.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said Mohammad Ali Arafat, a professor, Dr (Phd) and head of a think-tank, was the high-voltage candidate of the Awami League there while there was no strong political candidate.</div><div><br></div><div>He said independent candidate Hero Alam was not a political personality and people of Bangladesh know him a bit differently through social media.</div><div><br></div><div>Even after the incident in the Dhaka-17 by-polls, the BNP leader said Awami League will say the next national election will be held in a free, fair, and credible manner. \"Our statement is straight, no election will be held in the country under the current regime.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said the Awami League regime must step down by handing over power to a non-party neutral government to arrange the next election in a credible manner.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul also said the current Election Commission must be reconstituted as it will not be able to hold a fair election. \"It has failed to ensure security for a candidate like Hero Alam.\"&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He said the nation is going through the most critical time as the Awami League has destroyed all the achievements of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP’s associate bodies Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, arranged the rally on Sonali Bank premises in Khulna city. Thousands of opposition activists joined the youth rally titled ‘Tarunner Samabesh’ amid the allegation of obstruction by the ruling party.</div><div><br></div><div>Khulna Metropolitan BNP Convenor Shafiqul Alam Mona alleged that the ruling party leaders and activists obstructed the youth from joining the rally and forced the bus owners to suspend services in Koira and Paikgacha upazilas from Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, Ashraful Alam, better known as “Hero Alam, was physically assaulted while leaving Banani Bidyaniketan School polling station in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, Mohammad Elias, chief election agent of Hero Alam, said, “Hero Alam was physically assaulted in front of the law enforcers, leaving him injured and unconscious.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 03:29:26', '2023-07-18 03:29:26'),
(8036, 8036, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Five people were killed and eight others were injured Monday when a Cessna 208 plane crashed into a hangar at a sky diving center during bad weather, authorities said.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The plane\'s pilot and four people sheltering in the hangar from stormy weather died in the afternoon crash in Chrcynno in central Poland, firefighters spokesperson Monika Nowakowska-Brynda said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An additional eight people were injured, two of them seriously, police said. A child was among the injured, the provincial governor, Sylwester Dabrowski, said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chrcynno is about 45 kilometers (28 miles) northwest of Warsaw.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Firefighters and airborne ambulances took the injured to hospitals in the Nowy Dwor Mazowiecki area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rescuers were still checking the hangar for additional victims, said Katarzyna Urbanowska, another spokesperson for local firefighters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prosecutors and police were investigating the cause of the accident.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was the worst accident related to sky diving in Poland since 2014, when 11 people were killed in a crash of a small plane in Topolow, near the southern city of Czestochowa.AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 13:39:30', '2023-07-18 13:39:30'),
(8037, 8037, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The bridge linking Russia to Crimea has partially reopened a day after it was attacked, the Russian government says.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Vehicles were using a single lane of the bridge across the Kerch Strait, an official said, posting clips.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A holidaymaking couple were killed and their daughter injured in the attack on the bridge which Russia blamed on seaborne drones launched by Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia refused to extend a deal to export grain from Ukrainian ports but denied this was retaliation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Condemning the attack on the bridge as an act of terrorism against a critically important transport link, Russian President Vladimir Putin did however vow that the Russian military would respond.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine\'s air force has warned of overnight drone strikes by Russia on Odesa and other southern cities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Posting video appearing to show cars crossing the bridge at night, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said he hoped two-way traffic could be restored by mid-September.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia\'s transport ministry says the bridge\'s supports were not damaged in the attack, which ruptured the span.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Kerch Bridge was opened in 2018 and enables road and rail travel between Russia and Crimea - Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia in 2014 after an internationally unrecognised referendum.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bridge\'s parallel railway line seems not to have been damaged.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine has not officially said it carried out the attack but a source in its security service told BBC Russian it was behind it and that water-based drones had been used.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As yet, the BBC not seen any visual evidence to confirm the reports.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bridge is an important resupply route for Russian forces occupying parts of southern Ukraine since they invaded on 24 February of last year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The new attack is the second major incident on the Kerch Bridge in the past year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In October the bridge was partially closed following an attack. It was fully reopened in February. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of attacking the Kerch bridge with the \"direct participation\" of the UK and the US, but provided no evidence to back up the assertions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was no connection between the incident and Russia\'s decision to suspend its participation in a deal allowing Ukraine to ship out grain through the Black Sea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said hundreds of millions of people facing hunger around the world would \"pay the price\" for Russia\'s withdrawal from the deal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He promised the UN would continue efforts to \"facilitate the unimpeded access\" to global markets of food and fertilisers from Ukraine and Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US National Security Council Co-ordinator, John Kirby, accused of Russia of resuming an \"effective blockade of Ukrainian ports\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Russia will be fully and solely responsible for the consequences of this military act of aggression,\" he said on Monday. \"Indeed, we are already seeing a spike in global wheat, corn and soybean prices just today as a result of Russia\'s suspension.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine\'s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said Russia\'s decision was deplorable. \"I call on all UN member states to firmly demand that Russia resume its participation in the deal in good faith and stop its \'hunger games\',\" he said. \"Russia must keep politics out of global food security.\" BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 13:46:17', '2023-07-19 01:32:52'),
(8038, 8038, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United States has encouraged the government of Bangladesh to investigate any report of violence thoroughly, transparently, and impartially, and to hold the perpetrators of violence to account.&nbsp;</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I would say that this type of political violence has no place in democratic elections,\" US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told in a regular briefing in Washington on July 17 when the assault on Hero Alam during yesterday’s Dhaka-17 by-election was raised.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Miller also said they would expect the government of Bangladesh to hold free and fair elections. “And we continue to monitor it closely,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mohammad Ali Arafat, who won the Dhaka-17 by-polls, said what happened “just 20 minutes before the end of the election is uncalled for.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I strongly condemn it. The involved parties could not be Awami League’s well-wishers. It was done with the intention of maligning the election,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The culprits should be arrested and brought to justice, Arafat said.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ashraful Alam, better known as “Hero Alam”, an independent candidate contesting the Dhaka-17 by-election, was physically assaulted while leaving a polling centre in Banani area on July 17.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hero Alam was attacked by some miscreants in the afternoon while he was leaving the Banani Bidyaniketan School polling centre. He returned home after receiving treatment at a hospital. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 14:46:16', '2023-07-18 14:46:16'),
(8039, 8039, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The overall number of global Covid-19 cases is gradually nearing 692 million.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the latest global data, the total Covid-19 case count is 691,684,315, while the death toll reached 6,899,861 this morning (July 18, 2023).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US has reported 107,397,990 Covid-19 cases so far, while 1,168,914 people have died from the virus in the country — both highest counts globally.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India recorded 43 new Covid-19 infections in a day while the tally of active cases has increased to 1,441 from 1,432 a day ago, according to Health Ministry data updated on Monday. The death toll has been recorded at 5,31,915.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">France and Germany have registered 40,138,560 and 38,428,685 Covid-19 cases so far, occupying the third and fourth positions in the world number-wise, and 167,642 and 174,352 people have died in the European countries, as per Worldometer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh reported one more Covid-19-linked death and 80 fresh cases in 24 hours till Monday morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With the new numbers, the country\'s total fatalities rose to 29,465 and caseload to 2,043,657, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The daily case test positivity rate stood at 4.16 percent as 1,925 samples were tested. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 14:49:18', '2023-07-18 14:49:18'),
(8040, 8040, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ambassador of China to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Monday said Bangladesh and China should focus on peace, stability and development in the future and scale new heights in the China-Bangladesh strategic relationship of cooperation.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He delivered a lecture upon invitation at the Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shah Ahmed Shafi, Director General of FSA and&nbsp; trainee diplomats from Bangladesh and other five countries were present at the lecture.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yao pointed out that China and Bangladesh share close historical relations, comparable national conditions, like-minds in governance and well-connected national dreams.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two countries have always firmly supported each other on issues of core interests and the bilateral practical cooperation has benefited the two peoples, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Going through major changes unseen in a century, the envoy said China adheres to peaceful development, pursues modernization along a path with Chinese characteristics, and proposes GDI, GSI and GCI initiatives.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under the mediation of China, Saudi Arabia and Iran reconciled with each other and resumed diplomatic relations, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The envoy said China also facilitates Bangladesh and Myanmar to repatriate the displaced people from Rakhine State and actively participates in UN peacekeeping operations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"China and Bangladesh joined efforts in contributing to the cause of world peace and development,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the end of the lecture, Ambassador Yao had friendly interactions with the trainees on China-America relations, China-India relations, the \"Indo-Pacific Strategy\", China-Bangladesh cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, and the issue of South China Sea. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 14:52:27', '2023-07-18 14:52:27');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(8041, 8041, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The deal allowing Ukraine to safely export grain to global markets via the Black Sea expired at midnight in Istanbul (2100 GMT) after Russia refused an extension.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deadline was set when the arrangement, brokered by the UN and Turkey in July 2022 to avoid food shortages in vulnerable countries, was last extended for two months in May.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Kremlin on Monday said it was exiting the deal, having complained about its implementation for months.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The grain deal has ended. As soon as the Russian part (of the agreements) are fulfilled, the Russian side will immediately return,\" said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">But President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine was prepared to keep exporting grain via the Black Sea despite Russia\'s exit from the deal.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We are not afraid. We have been approached by companies that own ships. They said that they are ready\" to continue shipments, Zelensky said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moscow\'s announcement came hours after drones struck the only bridge connecting Russia\'s mainland to the annexed Crimea peninsula, a key supply line for Russian forces in the south of Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kyiv\'s navy and SBU security service carried out the \"special operation\" using seaborne drones, a security service source told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian authorities said a civilian couple was killed and their daughter wounded in the attack on the Kerch bridge, which was also damaged last year in a blast Moscow blamed on Kyiv.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moscow said the attack had nothing to do with its withdrawal from the grain deal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp; - Crimea bridge blast -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Local officials said traffic across the bridge had been halted and encouraged holidaymakers stranded in Crimea to drive home through occupied Ukraine.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned a \"senseless crime\" in televised remarks, vowing a \"response\" and calling for tighter security at the bridge.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Over the last year, the Black Sea Grain Initiative has enabled the export in cargo of more than 32 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moscow\'s withdrawal could see Russian ships preventing grain exports by blockading Ukrainian ports, which occurred in the conflict\'s early months and helped drive up global food prices.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">&nbsp;\"The applications have not been approved by all parties,\" said a statement from the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) that oversees the agreement. \"No new ships have been approved to participate since 27 June.\"</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp; The UN said a final ship carrying Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea was inspected in Istanbul on Monday, a few hours before the deal expired.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp; Putin repeatedly threatened to pull out of the arrangement, arguing that elements of the deal allowing the export of Russian food and fertilisers had not been honoured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp; Moscow had notified Turkey, Ukraine and the UN that it was against extending the deal, Russian news agencies reported Monday, citing the foreign ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp; - \'Weaponising food\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp; UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said hundreds of millions of people facing hunger around the world would \"pay the price\" for Russia\'s withdrawal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp; EU chief Ursula von der Leyen condemned a \"cynical\" decision, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia\'s \"unconscionable\" action was \"weaponising food\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp; Guterres added that Russia\'s decision would not stop the United Nations\' efforts to \"facilitate the unimpeded access\" to global markets of food and fertilisers from Ukraine and Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp; According to data from the JCC, China and Turkey are the main beneficiaries of the grain shipments, as well as developed economies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp; The deal has helped the UN World Food Programme bring relief to countries facing critical food shortages such as Afghanistan, Sudan and Yemen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp; The news had a limited impact on international wheat prices, which are down by nearly a quarter from one year ago.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp; Guterres had been working hard to get the deal renewed and supported removing hurdles to Russia exporting its fertilisers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp; - Fierce fighting -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp; Meanwhile, Ukraine was pushing ahead with its counteroffensive, with Kyiv on Monday saying its forces had retaken several square kilometres of territory around the eastern city of Bakhmut, which Russian forces seized in May.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp; Bakhmut, once home to 70,000 people and known for its sparkling wine and salt mine, has been destroyed by the longest and bloodiest battle of the conflict.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp; Kyiv last month began its highly anticipated fightback against entrenched Russian troops after stockpiling Western weapons and building up its offensive forces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp; But it has acknowledged slow progress and called on the United States and other allies to provide more long-range weapons and artillery.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp; \"People should understand what price we pay for (advancing),\" a commander on the ground, \"Bulat\", told AFP. \"There are a lot of enemies. We need time to grind them down.\" AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 15:26:11', '2023-07-18 15:26:11'),
(8042, 8042, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Tokyo shares opened higher Tuesday as investors monitored the yen\'s relative strength ahead of corporate earnings season, which starts later this month.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The benchmark Nikkei index rose 0.37 percent, or 121.09 points, to 32,512.35, while the broader Topix index added 0.38 percent, or 8.49 points, to 2,247.59.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The positive start came as the Tokyo market returned from a national holiday and attempted to catch up with New York shares, which advanced Monday with the Nasdaq rising 0.9 percent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The market is focused on the next meeting of the Federal Reserve to see whether the US central bank would stop its rate hikes in the future as speculated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The market is also monitoring the yen\'s relative strength against the dollar, online brokerage Monex said in a note.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The Tokyo market is expected to remain cautious with the dollar-yen rate moving in the 138-yen range,\" it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The dollar stood at 138.71 yen, nearly flat from 138.70 yen in New York but lower from 140.74 yen seen in Tokyo a week ago.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US rate hikes and the Bank of Japan\'s easy money programmes have made the yen-denominated assets less attractive and have driven down the value of the yen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The yen\'s weakness also often weighs on the Tokyo market as it makes Japanese exports relatively less competitive overseas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Still, hopes are high for further improvement of Japanese corporate earnings as businesses regain normality after the end of strict Covid rules.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Domestic demand is recovering, thanks partly to the return of international tourists, Rakuten Securities said in a note.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Our view is that Tokyo shares will continue their upswing unless the US economy takes a hard-landing and experiences a rapid slowdown,\" the brokerage</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among major shares, Toyota rose 1.15 percent to 2,243.5 yen. SoftBank Group added 0.35 percent to 6,979 yen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sony Group rose 1.90 percent to 13,115 yen after X-Box producer Microsoft said it will keep releasing the popular \"Call of Duty\" game series on the PlayStation console.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Semiconductor-related shares also increased.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tokyo Electron, which makes tools to produce chips, jumped 2.58 percent to 20,710 yen. Advantest, which makes tests for semiconductors, rose 2.46 percent to 22,255 yen. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 15:39:34', '2023-07-18 15:39:34'),
(8043, 8043, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The UN in Bangladesh has expressed concern over the attack on independent MP candidate Ashraful Alam (Hero Alam) during yesterday’s Dhaka-17 by-polls.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The fundamental human right of everyone to participate in elections without violence should be guaranteed and protected,” UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka, Gwyn Lewis, tweeted today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States has also encouraged the government of Bangladesh to investigate any report of violence thoroughly, transparently, and impartially, and to hold the perpetrators of violence to account.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mohammad Ali Arafat, who won the Dhaka-17 by-polls, said what happened “just 20 minutes before the end of the election is uncalled for.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I strongly condemn it. The involved parties could not be Awami League’s well-wishers. It was done with the intention of maligning the election,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The culprits should be arrested and brought to justice, Arafat said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ashraful Alam, better known as “Hero Alam”, an independent candidate contesting the Dhaka-17 by-election, was physically assaulted while leaving a polling centre in Banani area on July 17.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hero Alam was attacked by some miscreants in the afternoon while he was leaving the Banani Bidyaniketan School polling centre. He returned home after receiving treatment at a hospital. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bndb24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 16:45:09', '2023-07-18 16:45:09'),
(8044, 8044, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">As part of their one-point movement, BNP has started a march towards Old Dhaka from Gabtoli Bus Station.&nbsp;</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir formally started the march around 11:20 am this morning. It will end at Roy Saheb Bazar intersection at 4 pm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A similar programme is supposed to be held in all metropolitan cities and district towns.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This is the first programme of the opposition’s one-point movement with the goal to “remove Awami League from power” and hold the upcoming national election under a “neutral” government</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Alongside the BNP, Ganatantra Mancha, 12-party alliance, Jatiyatabadi Samomona Jote, the Liberal Democratic Party, Gonoforum, People’s Party, Labour Party, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Gonotantrik Bam Oikya, Samomona Gonotantrik Peshajibi Jote and Shadharon Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad are also scheduled to stage marches in the city’s different areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on July 12, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir formally announced a ‘one-point’ movement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As part of the first programme to realise the one-point demand, he also announced a two-day countrywide march programme for July 18 and 19.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP will also march on July 19 (Wednesday) from Uttara’s Abdullahpur to Jatrabari — from 10 am to 4 pm. The other opposition parties and alliances will also observe the programme in the capital the same day.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The opposition’s one-point demand includes the resignation of the current Awami League government, dissolution of the existing parliament, formation of a polls-time “impartial” government and reconstitution of the Election Commission for arranging a free, fair and inclusive election, the release of all “political prisoners”, including BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, withdrawal of all “false” cases, including those against Tarique Rahman, and annulment of all “false convictions”. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bndb24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 17:43:53', '2023-07-18 17:43:53'),
(8045, 8045, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Two people were killed and 9 were injured in head-on collision between a bus and a truck in Dinajpur\'s Nawabganj upazila early today.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased were truck driver Akram, of Pabna\'s Santhia upazila, and a passenger of the bus, Jannatun Ara, 13, daughter of Ziarul from Dinajpur\'s Phulbari upazila.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Identities of the injured could not be ascertained immediately.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tauhidul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Nawabganj police station, said the accident occurred around 3:30 am when the Dinajpur-bound bus collided with a sand-carrying truck coming from the opposite direction, leaving the duo dead on the spot and 9 others injured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The injured were taken to Birampur Upazila Health Complex, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the health complex, some of the injured received first aid and the seriously injured were sent to M Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital in Dinajpur. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 17:48:23', '2023-07-18 17:48:23'),
(8046, 8046, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The ruling Awami League\'s two-day ‘peace and development procession’ programme is set to start from the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh this afternoon.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The programme will be held in response to the BNP\'s \'one-point\' movement for the government’s resignation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Awami League will take out processions to resist the BNP\'s “attempts to create an unstable situation,” it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">No force can thwart elections: Razzaque</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader will deliver a speech as chief guest at the brief inauguration while President of Dhaka South City Awami League will preside over the event.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The procession will start outside the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh at 3 pm. Following that, the Dhaka South City unit of Awami League will march towards Road No. 32 in Dhanmondi. The rally will pass Shahbagh, Kataban, Science Laboratory, Kalabagan to reach Dhanmondi 32.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Those attacking Hero Alam were trying to make Dhaka-17 by-polls controversial: Arafat condemns incident</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Wednesday, the rally will be held at Tejgaon\'s Satrasta intersection, followed by a procession led by the Dhaka North City unit of Awami League to Mohakhali.&nbsp; The rally will pass Satrasta, Tibet, Nabisco, Mohakhali Bus Terminal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Dhaka District Awami League will hold the procession outside the metropolis on both days. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 18:34:27', '2023-07-18 18:34:27'),
(8047, 8047, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russian forces have downed 28 Ukrainian drones over Crimea overnight, Moscow\'s defence ministry and a local official said on Tuesday.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Seventeen drones sent by Ukraine\'s forces overnight were \"destroyed\" and another 11 were \"suppressed\" by electronic means, Russia\'s defence ministry said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It said there were no casualties or damage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Crimea\'s Russian-installed governor Sergei Aksyonov said on Telegram that 28 drones had been downed or destroyed during the night.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There are no victims,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Drone attacks in Crimea have increased in recent weeks as Ukraine wages a counter-offensive against Russian forces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, a move not recognised by the international community.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kyiv has repeatedly said it plans to take back the peninsula.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Waterborne drones struck the sole bridge connecting Russia to Crimea on Monday, in a deadly attack on a vital supply route claimed by Ukraine\'s security services.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The explosion hit the Kerch bridge, a major conduit for Russia\'s troops in Ukraine, just hours before a crucial deal to export Ukrainian grain was to expire. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 18:41:42', '2023-07-18 18:41:42'),
(8048, 8048, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP\'s Dhaka march for its one-point demand came under attack near Mirpur\'s Govt Bangla college today.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As part of their one-point movement, BNP started a march towards Old Dhaka from Gabtoli Bus Station around 11:20 am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP’s Dhaka march comes under attack near Mirpur Bangla college </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When the march reached near the college in Mirpur around 11:45 am, some youths attacked them, resulting in a clash, witnesses said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, brickbats were thrown targeting each other. A motorcycle and a bicycle were also burned during the clash.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, BNP\'s road march during the tense situation continued on its path. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 19:33:20', '2023-07-19 01:30:17'),
(8049, 8049, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh football team captain Jamal Bhuiyan has joined as brand ambassador of National STEAM Olympiad 2023.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The much awaited opening ceremony of the Olympiad will be held on July 23 at 3 pm at the auditorium of International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The initiative of iTesseract nationwide STEAM Olympiad will be organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Education while Education Minister and chief patron of the program Dr Dipu Moni will inaugurate it as chief guest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Education Minister to inaugurate National STEAM Olympiad on July 23</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The National STEAM Olympiad will bring together students from six levels across Bangladesh to showcase their exceptional talent in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">National Steam Olympiad convenor and chief advisor, UGC member Professor Dr. Sazzad Hossain, will preside over the ceremony. Professor Sazzad said that the effort of organizing the National STEAM Olympiad competition is a timely step for the promotion of innovative education ecosystem and STEAM education.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Winners of 1st International Astronomy Olympiad receive awards at Russian embassy</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chief Coordinator of the Olympiad Mohammad Abdul Hamid said, “The Olympiad will mark a new journey where students of all levels will have an opportunity to showcase their innovative projects, problem-solving abilities and expertise in various STEAM subjects. This platform not only encourages academic learning but also competition, creativity and intellectual spirit.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">National STEAM Olympiad 2023 is an extraordinary event to unleash the talent of the youth. Apart from this, various academicians expressed the opinion that organizing such competitions is necessary to develop a culture of innovation and intellectual practice.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Students of six different levels can participate in the competition in a total of eight categories. For more information and to register for the National STEAM Olympiad competition, interested individuals can visit https://nationalsteamolympiad.com</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The grand opening event will be open to all. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 19:47:37', '2023-07-18 19:47:37'),
(8050, 8050, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Varun Dhawan has opened up on the makers\' decision to skip the theatrical release of his next film Bawaal, and premiere it directly on streaming. Bawaal, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and also starring Janhvi Kapoor, will be released on Prime Video on July 21.&nbsp;</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bawaal is not Varun\'s first direct-to-OTT release. Back in 2020, Coolie No 1, the comedy directed by his father David Dhawan, starring him and Sara Ali Khan in lead roles, also skipped the theatrical release and debuted directly on Prime Video India. While that was the first year of the pandemic, it\'s no longer as major a concern now. Varun is also gearing up for his series debut, the Indian instalment of Citadel, directed by Raj &amp; DK and co-starring Samantha Ruth Prabhu, that will also drop on Prime Video India.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Varun on streaming</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a new interview to Variety, Varun said, “You have to make sure that you have a good film because here (streaming), I don’t think a bad film can survive, to be honest. You have to be a very good film to thrive, because it’s so democratic. The way things function here the word-of-mouth plays in even more.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Varun further added how the OTT release would help Bawaal. “The whole idea was to pitch this film on a global level, our producer Sajid Nadiadwala had that vision. Him releasing it himself, I don’t think he thought he can do that. But with partners like Amazon, it became much easier,” he said in the same interview.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking about the film, director Nitesh Tiwari said in a statement, “Great love stories deserve to be experienced and they always find a medium to reach an audience. Over the years, some of these stories have become true epics, not because of a grandiose scale but because of the heart-stringing, gut-wrenching essence that makes the audience feel every emotion. Bawaal is an Indian film which will appeal to audiences across the world. It will make you feel the jitters of nervousness, the joy of togetherness, the pain of separation, and so much more. Varun and Janhvi have brilliantly portrayed the roles of Ajju and Nisha, taking you on a journey from small-town India to Europe, that will leave an indelible mark on your hearts and mind. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 19:53:10', '2023-07-18 19:53:10'),
(8051, 8051, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">More than fifty people were injured as activists of Awami League and BNP locked in clashes in Khagrachhari early today.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The clash broke out at Shapla Chattar area around 10:30 am when local BNP leaders and activists were bringing out their procession as part of the party’s central program.</div><div><br></div><div>AL’s local unit had also planned a procession around the same time.</div><div><br></div><div>The two groups locked in clashes and chased each other for over an hour in the Shapla Chattar and nearby areas, locals said.</div><div><br></div><div>Some 25-30 AL activists including district Awami League Deputy Secretary Nurul Azam, Md Almas, Kyajri Marma and some 20-25 BNP activists including district BNP’s coordinator secretary Md Hossain Babu were injured.</div><div><br></div><div>Police brought the situation under control by using tear shells. Additional police have been deployed in the area.</div><div><br></div><div>Local AL and BNP leaders have blamed each other for initiating the clash.</div><div><br></div><div>Khagrachhari AL General Secretary Nirmalendu Chowdhury said, “The BNP cadres attacked us with sticks when we were on the way to take part in the ‘development procession’. They vandalised numerous commercial buildings, including the municipality building of Khagrachhari.”</div><div><br></div><div>Khagrachhari BNP General Secretary MN Absar said, “More than 50 leaders and activists were hurt as Awami League activists attacked us when we attempted to march in accordance with the central program.”</div><div><br></div><div>Some of the injured were taken to the Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 20:45:39', '2023-07-18 20:45:39'),
(8052, 8052, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Taylor Swift now has more number one albums than any other female artist in history following the recent release of \"Speak Now (Taylor\'s Version),\" Billboard said Monday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The record debuted at the top of the Billboard charts, becoming the pop queen\'s 12th number one album and surpassing Barbra Streisand for the most among women.</div><div><br></div><div>For male performers, Jay-Z and the Beatles both have over a dozen number one albums, though Billboard notes it has changed its album ranking system over the decades to include anthologies.</div><div><br></div><div>Swift, 33, has also become the first living artist in nearly 60 years to have four albums in the top 10 at the same time, the organization added.</div><div><br></div><div>They include \"Midnights,\" \"Lover\" and \"Folklore.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Billboard said Swift had also become the first living artist to have 11 albums in the top 200 simultaneously.</div><div><br></div><div>Swift\'s record-breaking feats come as she performs many of her best hits on the fan-frenzied \"Eras\" tour.</div><div><br></div><div>The 106-date stadium concert series kicked off in March and is within striking distance of becoming the first billion-dollar tour.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Speak Now\" was originally released in 2010. Swift has vowed to re-record her first six albums so she can control their rights -- a process she was contractually allowed to begin in November 2020.</div><div><br></div><div>She has also re-recorded \"Fearless\" and \"Red.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Last October, Swift became the first artist ever to simultaneously nab all 10 spots on the top US song chart after the release of her tenth studio album \"Midnights.\" According to AFP reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 21:42:14', '2023-07-18 21:42:14'),
(8053, 8053, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Leaders, activists and followers of the ruling Awami League have started gathering to join their ‘peace and development procession’.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The first phase of the two-day rally is set to start at 4 pm today at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>The programme will be held in response to the BNP\'s \'one-point\' movement demanding the government’s resignation.</div><div><br></div><div>AL leaders and activists started gathering in front of the venue at around 1:30 pm from different areas of Dhaka, ignoring the heat.</div><div><br></div><div>Most of them were seen waiting in Ramna Park, taking refuge from the heat under shades of trees.</div><div><br></div><div>Awami League leaders earlier said they will bring out processions to resist BNP\'s “attempts to create an unstable situation.”</div><div><br></div><div>Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader will deliver a speech as chief guest at the brief inauguration while the president of Dhaka South City Awami League will preside over the event.</div><div><br></div><div>The procession will start outside the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh at 3 pm. Following that, the Dhaka South City unit of Awami League will march towards Road No. 32 in Dhanmondi. The rally will pass Shahbagh, Kataban, Science Laboratory, and Kalabagan to reach Dhanmondi 32.</div><div><br></div><div>On Wednesday, the rally will be held at Tejgaon\'s Satrasta intersection, followed by a procession led by the Dhaka North City unit of Awami League to Mohakhali. The rally will pass Satrasta, Tibet, Nabisco, and Mohakhali Bus Terminal.</div><div><br></div><div>The Dhaka District Awami League will hold the procession outside the metropolis on both days. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 21:46:21', '2023-07-18 21:46:21'),
(8054, 8054, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Saud Shakeel hit an attacking century and, along with overnight partner Agha Salman, helped Pakistan take the lead against Sri Lanka on the third day of the rain-hit first Test on Tuesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The tourists reached 313-6 at lunch, one run ahead of Sri Lanka\'s first innings total, after a delayed start to the day due to rain and a wet outfield in Galle.</div><div><br></div><div>Left-hander Shakeel, who started the day on 69, was batting on 119 alongside Noman Ali on 13.</div><div><br></div><div>Shakeel, playing in his sixth Test, hit a boundary and took three runs to raise his second Test ton in a 177-run stand with Salman, who soon fell stumped to off-spinner Ramesh Mendis on 83.</div><div><br></div><div>The pair rescued Pakistan from a precarious 101-5 on day two as they took on the Sri Lankan spinners led by left-armer Prabath Jayasuriya, who rattled the visitors on Monday with three top-order wickets including skipper Babar Azam.</div><div><br></div><div>Both Shakeel and Salman scored runs briskly and hit regular boundaries but the run rate dipped after Salman\'s departure. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 22:04:26', '2023-07-18 22:04:26'),
(8055, 8055, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A Dhaka court today set September 7 to submit a probe report in an assault case lodged against three including former vice-president (VP) of Dhaka University Central Students\' Union (DUCSU) Nurul Haque Nur.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury set the date after accepting the first information report in the case.</div><div><br></div><div>One Tarek Rahman, joint member secretary of Nur\'s Gono Odhikar Parishad, filed the case with Paltan Police Station on July 17 against Nur, Saiful Islam and Mahbubul Haque Shipon. Another four to five unnamed people were made accused in the case.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the case documents, Tarek, belonging to the opposite faction in the party, was allegedly attacked by Nur\'s followers in their party office building and was brutally beaten. He was later admitted to Kakrail Islami Bank Central Hospital. According to BSS reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 22:14:04', '2023-07-18 22:14:04'),
(8056, 8056, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh and India are likely to start the operation of the Moitree Super Thermal Power Plant-II, Khulna-Mongla Port Railway Line and Akhaura-Agartala Railway Link is in next September during the G-20 summit in New Delhi.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the summit as a guest at the invitation of India, the forum\'s current president.</div><div><br></div><div>The Moitree Super Thermal Power Plant-II and Khulna-Mongla Port Railway Line are being implemented under Indian Line of Credit (LOC) while Akhaura-Agartala Railway Link is being built under an Indian grant.</div><div><br></div><div>The information on the opening of the vital projects was conveyed when Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma called on the prime minister at her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div><br></div><div>PM\'s press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the call on.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the prime minister thanked the Indian government for allow Bangladesh to bring 40MW power from Nepal through Indian grid and hoped India will also allow import of power from Bhutan through their grid.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding Taka-Rupee exchange system, the Indian High Commissioner mentioned that two types of cards like credit cards will be issued. One will be Rupay Card and other will be Taka Card.</div><div><br></div><div>“Both sides will issue these cards so that people of the two countries could use these cards for their payments,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said a huge number of Bangladeshis visit India for various purposes and they can use the card.</div><div><br></div><div>During the meeting, both sides have expressed satisfaction with the state of the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India, said the press secretary.</div><div><br></div><div>The meeting also dwelt on connectivity, ongoing projects under the Indian LoCs and grants, among others.</div><div><br></div><div>The Indian high commissioner highly praised the prime minister\'s initiative Vision-2021 and Vision-2041 to transform Bangladesh into a smart one.</div><div><br></div><div>\"They have created a very positive vive,\" he was quoted as telling PM Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina hoped that India will raise its voice particularly for the Global South alongdide the entire world during the G20 summit.</div><div><br></div><div>The Indian envoy said his country looks forward to PM Hasina\'s playing an important role at the summit.</div><div><br></div><div>PM\'s Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin, PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin and Indian Deputy High Commissioner Dr. Binoy George, were present during the meeting. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-18 23:50:20', '2023-07-18 23:50:20'),
(8057, 8057, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A Turkish firm will provide drones to Saudi Arabia, Riyadh said Tuesday following a visit by Turkey\'s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that aims to attract foreign investment.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Several contracts including the drone deal were signed during a meeting between Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Red Sea port of Jeddah on Monday, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.</div><div><br></div><div>Erdogan, who in May elections won another five-year term, was in Saudi Arabia to kick off a Gulf tour seeking to drum up support for Turkey\'s faltering economy.</div><div><br></div><div>The Turkish leader is expected in neighbouring Qatar later on Tuesday.</div><div>After attending a Saudi-Turkish business forum in Jeddah on Monday, Erdogan and Prince Mohammed discussed \"prospects for joint cooperation\" in their meeting, SPA reported.</div><div><br></div><div>The two leaders signed cooperation agreements in the fields of energy, direct investment, defence and media, the report said.</div><div><br></div><div>It added that Saudi officials also signed \"two contracts with the Turkish company Baykar\", a drone manufacturer which is co-run by one of Erdogan\'s sons-in-law.</div><div><br></div><div>Drones developed by the privately-owned firm have been used in Azerbaijan, Libya and Ukraine.</div><div><br></div><div>Saudi Arabia \"will acquire drones with the aim of enhancing the readiness of the kingdom\'s armed forces and bolstering its defence and manufacturing capabilities\", Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>He did not specify the value of the deal or the type of drone the kingdom is looking to procure.</div><div><br></div><div>An Arab diplomat in Riyadh, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the press, said it was Baykar\'s TB2 model.</div><div><br></div><div>Last month, Kuwait said it struck a $367-million agreement to procure TB2 drones.</div><div><br></div><div>This week\'s visit is Erdogan\'s second to Saudi Arabia since a recent rapprochement between Ankara and Riyadh, whose ties were strained by the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom\'s Istanbul consulate.</div><div><br></div><div>Turkey angered Saudi Arabia by vigorously pursuing the case at the time, opening an investigation and briefing international media on the gory details of the killing.</div><div><br></div><div>But with ties on the mend, Erdogan visited Saudi Arabia in April 2022, and Prince Mohammed travelled to Turkey in June last year.</div><div><br></div><div>Erdogan\'s current Gulf trip comes as Turkey battles a currency collapse and soaring inflation that has battered its economy.</div><div><br></div><div>In March, Saudi Arabia deposited $5 billion in Turkey\'s central bank. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-19 01:23:16', '2023-07-19 01:23:16'),
(8058, 8058, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Thirteen more deaths were reported from dengue in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, the highest number of deaths in a day from the mosquito-borne disease this year, raising the fatalities in Bangladesh to 127 in 2023.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>During the period, 1,533 more patients were hospitalised with viral fever, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).</div><div><br></div><div>Of the new patients, 779 were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rest outside it, according to DGHS.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 5,569 dengue patients, including 3,443 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>So far, the DGHS has recorded 24,000 dengue cases, 18,304 recoveries this year.</div><div><br></div><div>The country logged 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019. Also, it recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries last year. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-19 01:29:05', '2023-07-19 01:29:05'),
(8059, 8059, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today said all the attackers of independent candidate Ashraful Alam alias Hero Alam in the Dhaka-17 by-election, will be brought to the book.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"If there is any negligence of police regarding the attack on Hero Alam, it will also be investigated,\" he told journalists after a meeting with UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis at his ministry office.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;Replying to a question regarding the wearing of a boat badge by an attacker, the minister said that if there was negligence by police, police would have to answer.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;\"Police were deployed to ensure a peaceful environment for voters. If there was any negligence by the police, we will definitely look into it. We have already asked the police to share their observations to find out the real story,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;Citing the meeting, Kamal said, \"We have told him (Gwynne Lewis) about the arrest of eight people in connection with the attack. We will arrest all the attackers after scrutinizing the video footage of the closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs).\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"We will also investigate the matter and find out who was responsible for the incident during the peaceful atmosphere of the by-election voting,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister said that she (Gwynn Lewis) wanted to know whether Hero Alam was physically assaulted or not, reports BSS</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have informed the UN Coordinator, but we cannot say why the attack took place. All arrangements were made by the government to ensure a peaceful atmosphere during the voting. But why did the incident take place at the end of the voting? We saw that Hero Alam got into an argument with some people. Later, some young men attacked him,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, Kamal told, \"It is necessary to know who wanted to create a chaotic situation by doing such work (attack) and what their intention behind the scene was? We are trying to find out. Statements of the detained people will be taken. We will look into everything.\"&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-19 01:50:12', '2023-07-19 01:50:12');

INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(8070, 8070, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United States has said it engages directly with Bangladeshi officials to discuss \"shared priorities\" for the two countries.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking to reporters during a regular briefing at the US State Department on July 18, its Spokesperson Matthew Miller said US Under Secretary Uzra Zeya emphasized in her trip the importance of the United States and Bangladesh working together to achieve Bangladesh’s goal of \"free and fair elections\" as well as the crucial role of civil society, human rights defenders, journalists, and labor activists, and accountability for human rights abuses.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"These are important issues in our bilateral relationship,\" he said, adding that senior officials from the United States regularly travel to Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Miller said the US Under Secretary also emphasized the importance of continuing to support the Rohingya refugees.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She visited Rohingya refugees as well as humanitarian partners and Bangladesh senior government officials in Cox’s Bazar and announced $74 million in additional humanitarian assistance to support Myanmar and Bangladesh response efforts.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I will just say finally that the United States is dedicated to partnering with the government and civil society to address the scourge of human trafficking in the region,\" Miller said. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-19 16:33:06', '2023-07-19 16:33:06'),
(8071, 8071, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Extreme heat was forecast across the globe on Wednesday, as wildfires raged and health warnings were in place in parts of Asia, Europe and North America.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Firefighters battled blazes in parts of Greece and the Canary Islands while Spain issued heat alerts and some children in Italy\'s Sardinia were told to stay away from sports.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">From California to China, authorities warned of the health dangers brought by searing temperatures, urging people to drink water and shelter from the sun.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"You can\'t be in the street, it\'s horrible,\" said Lidia Rodriguez, 27, in Madrid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Temperature records tumbled around the world, with new heat streaks set in China and the United States, and fresh highs in France.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Beijing broke a 23-year-old record with 27 consecutive days of temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit), forecasters said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Phoenix broke a similar record, in place for 49 years, with its 19th consecutive day of temperatures of 43.3 Celsius or higher, weather officials said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In southern France, a record 29.5C was recorded in the Alpine ski resort of Alpe d\'Huez, while 40.6C had been recorded for the first time in Verdun in the foothills of the Pyrenees.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a stark reminder of the effects of global warming, the UN\'s World Meteorological Agency (WMO) said the trend showed \"no signs of decreasing\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"These events will continue to grow in intensity, and the world needs to prepare for more intense heatwaves,\" John Nairn, a senior extreme heat adviser at the WMO told reporters in Geneva.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Heatwave on horizon -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Northwest of the Greek capital Athens, columns of smoke loomed over the forest of Dervenohoria, where one of several fires around the capital and beyond was still burning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fire spokesman Yannis Artopios called it \"a difficult day\", with another heatwave on the horizon for Thursday, with expected temperatures of 44C.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A forest fire by the seaside resort of Loutraki, where the mayor said 1,200 children had been evacuated Monday from holiday camps, was still burning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the Canary Islands, some 400 firefighters battled a blaze that has ravaged 3,500 hectares of forest and forced 4,000 residents to evacuate, with authorities warning residents to wear face masks outside due to poor air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Temperatures were unforgiving in Italy and in Spain, where three regions were put under hot weather red alerts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily have been forecast to possibly surpass a continent-wide record of 48.8C recorded in Sicily in August 2021.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At Lanusei, near Sardinia\'s eastern coast, a children\'s summer camp was restricting beach visits to the early morning and forbidding sports, teacher Morgana Cucca told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the Sardinian capital of Cagliari, pharmacist Teresa Angioni said patients were complaining of heat-related symptoms.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"They mainly buy magnesium and potassium supplements and ask us to measure their blood pressure, which is often low,\" Angioni said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many throughout Italy sought escape by the sea, including outside Rome, where the midday heat hit 40C.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Certainly it\'s better at the beach, you can at least get a little wind from the sea. It\'s not even possible to remain in the city, too hot,\" said Virginia Cesario, 30, at the Focene beach near the capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Climate change impact -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tens of millions of Americans experienced dangerous heat levels on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the town of San Angelo, Texas, where temperatures were expected to reach 104-108F (40-42C), the National Weather Service said it was \"running out of ways to say that it\'s gonna be hot out there today.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"With temperatures across the area likely topping the 105 mark yet again, we implore you to continue to practice heat safety and try to stay cool,\" the agency said on Twitter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And in Arizona, the mercury at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport again reached 110F on Tuesday, breaking the previous record of 18 consecutive days at or above that temperature, set in 1974.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The heat waves across Europe and the globe are \"not one single phenomenon but several acting at the same time\", said Robert Vautard, director of France\'s Pierre-Simon Laplace climate institute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"But they are all strengthened by one factor: climate change.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The record-setting heat came as US climate envoy John Kerry met with Chinese officials in Beijing, with the world\'s two largest polluters reviving stalled diplomacy on reducing planet-warming emissions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking Tuesday at Beijing\'s Great Hall of the People with China\'s top diplomat Wang Yi, Kerry called for \"global leadership\" on climate issues. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-19 17:09:03', '2023-07-19 17:09:03'),
(8072, 8072, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">US President Joe Biden and a Vatican envoy discussed the Russian invasion of Ukraine and deportation of Ukrainian children Tuesday, the White House said.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden and Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi discussed the papacy\'s efforts to provide \"humanitarian aid to address the widespread suffering caused by Russia\'s continuing aggression in Ukraine, as well as the Vatican\'s advocacy for the return of forcibly deported Ukrainian children,\" a White House statement said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, came to the White House at the request of Pope Francis, the Biden administration said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden, only the second Roman Catholic to become US president, also delivered \"his wishes for Pope Francis\'s continued ministry and global leadership and welcomed the recent nomination of a US archbishop as cardinal,\" the White House said. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-19 17:11:52', '2023-07-19 17:11:52'),
(8073, 8073, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Reformist Pita Limjaroenrat will again ask Thailand\'s parliament to endorse him as prime minister Wednesday but with little chance of wooing the military-appointed senators who scuttled his first bid.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pita\'s Move Forward Party (MFP) won the most seats in May elections, buoyed by the hopes of young and urban Thais wearied by nearly a decade of army-backed rule, but its efforts to form a government have stumbled.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thailand\'s conservative establishment vehemently opposes the party\'s pledge to soften the kingdom\'s strict royal defamation laws, and Pita\'s first tilt at the premiership fell 51 votes short last week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Parliament opened to weigh his candidacy again on Wednesday but few believe the 42-year-old Harvard graduate has managed to turn the numbers in his favour.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He has vowed to step aside to make way for a coalition partner to form a government if his second attempt fails.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Pita is less likely to get the vote passed,\" Napisa Waitoolkiat, a political analyst with Naresuan University, told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thailand\'s senate is stacked with military appointees -- a reliable brake on the kind of liberal reforms sought by MFP and its progressive voter base.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Only 13 of 249 serving senators voted for Pita last week and Napisa said his only likely pathway to power was to successfully court many more members of the chamber.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"And I don\'t think the senate is going to be brave and courageous enough to do that,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pita was optimistic on Monday that several MPs who missed the vote could be persuaded to rally behind him.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We still are talking to find more support,\" he told reporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'You cannot allow that\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But other roadblocks have been thrown in front of his candidacy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A possible motion by military-aligned lawmakers could see parliament rule Pita ineligible to be considered a second time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Constitutional Court will be in session as parliament meets, and may decide to proceed with a case about whether Pita should be disqualified from parliament entirely for owning shares in a media company.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Doing so is prohibited by Thailand\'s constitution, even though the station has not broadcast since 2007. Pita, wealthy from a family-run agrifood business, has said the shares were inherited from his father.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If the case does proceed, Pita could be given an interim suspension from parliament while his candidacy for prime minister is being considered.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court has also agreed to hear a case alleging that MFP\'s campaign promise to amend Thailand\'s royal defamation law is tantamount to a plan to \"overthrow\" the constitutional monarchy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pita\'s party has ignored strident opposition to its pledge to revise the law, which can allow convicted critics of the monarchy to be jailed for up to 15 years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Napisa said MFP\'s reformist platform also posed a threat to powerful, family-owned business monopolies that play an outsized role in the kingdom\'s economy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If you are those people, you cannot allow that,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Justification for crackdown\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If Pita\'s next bid fails, the coalition backing him is expected to fall in line behind property tycoon Srettha Thavisin, potentially relegating MFP to serve in opposition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Srettha\'s Pheu Thai party is seen as a vehicle for the Shinawatra political clan, whose members include two former prime ministers ousted by military coups in 2006 and 2014.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But as a successful entrepreneur liked by business leaders among the Thai elite, the 60-year-old is seen as a potential compromise that would smooth the way for the coalition to take office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prawit Wongsuwan, 77, a former Thai army chief who served as number two in the junta that took power in 2014, has also been floated as a candidate by parliament\'s military bloc.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thai voters roundly rejected army-backed parties in May\'s election, and political analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak said the prospect of a Prawit premiership could spark a backlash in a country that is no stranger to political unrest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If Move Forward is excluded, there will likely be protests... if protesters overreact, a Pheu Thai-led government would have some justification for a crackdown.\" AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-19 17:21:38', '2023-07-19 17:21:38'),
(8074, 8074, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Gigi Hadid was arrested and charged with possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia after she flew to the Cayman Islands from the US recently. Amid recent reports of her arrest and subsequent bail, the model looked radiant in new pictures from her Cayman Islands trip. On Wednesday, Gigi took to Instagram to share a series of sun-kissed photos and videos of her holiday.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The model shared an Instagram post spotlighting her many vacation looks from the Cayman Islands. She also shared a glimpse of the food she gorged on during her holiday with friends. In some of the solo and group pictures she posted, Gigi soaked up the sun in bright swimsuits.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This is Gigi\'s first Instagram post after reports of her arrest surfaced on Tuesday. Seemingly reacting to the buzz around her recent trip, she wrote in her caption, “All’s well that ends well (sunset emoji).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many said Gigi was unbothered after making headlines on drug charges. One commented on her post, \"She couldn’t care less (laughing emoji).\" Another wrote, \"Girl after being arrested for drugs and released with money.\" One joked, \"My level of recklessness after being arrested and bailed.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Defending Gigi, a fan wrote, \"You all, she got the weed legally in New York and with a medical prescription for it. Cayman Islands have allowed medical use of weed since 2017. She only got a fine because her prescription wasn’t from there.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gigi Hadid\'s arrest</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gigi and one of her friends were charged with drug possession after marijuana was found in their luggage as they arrived in Cayman Islands last week, said a report.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the Washington Post, although the marijuana was purchased legally in New York City (and has been legal in the Cayman Islands since 2017), Gigi and her friend Leah Nicole McCarthy were both taken to a detention center before being released on bail. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-19 17:48:23', '2023-07-19 17:48:23'),
(8075, 8075, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The dengue situation might worsen in the months of August and September, according to health experts.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite the government\'s visible preventive measures, the numbers of cases and fatalities from dengue fever are rising day by day as a record number of dengue cases and deaths were reported in the country in the first six months of this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to experts, the pattern of Aedes mosquitoes has changed as it has now become much “smarter” than before.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prof. Dr. Kabirul Bashar, Entomologist of Jahangirnagar University, said, “The dengue situation may worsen in the running month. During our research in the laboratory, we make a model after analyzing some factors, including the density of Aedes mosquito population, number of dengue patients, temperature, humidity and rainfall. It is clear that the dengue situation may worsen in the coming days. It could take a serious turn in the months of August and September.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“At this moment it is important to manage dengue hotspots and use fogging to combat Aedes mosquitoes in those areas where dengue has already spread. In that case, the authorities can detect the infected people through their address and kill the mosquitoes through fogging machines, because as long as these mosquitoes remain alive, dengue will spread in all the areas,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also urged city dwellers to combat dengue and ensure that Aedes mosquitoes do not accumulate in their homes and yards.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to a survey conducted in 98 wards — under Dhaka North and South city corporations — by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), from June 18 to 27, 55 wards are at high risk of dengue.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the survey in 40 wards of Dhaka North City Corporation and 58 wards in South City Corporation, Aedes larvae were found in 43.53% multipurpose buildings, 21.31% houses and 18.21% under construction buildings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The wards which are at high risk of dengue under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) are: No 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35, 37 and 38. The areas include Mirpur, Pallabi, Mazar Road, Pirer Bagh, Monipur, Shewrapara, Kafrul, Ibrahimpur, Khilkhet, Kuril, Joar Shahara, Banani, Gulshan, Baridhara, Mohakhali, Rampura, Khilgaon, Malibagh, Karwanbazar, Tejturi Bazar, Agargaon, Mohammadpur, Baitul Aman, Moghbazar, Iskaton and Badda.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The wards which are at high risk of dengue under Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC)are: No 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 26, 33, 34, 36, 41, 44, 46, 48, 50, 51, 54, 55 and 57. The areas include Goran, Meradia, Basabo, Sabujbagh, Mugda, Madartek, Fakirapool, Arambagh, Shahjahanpur, Rajarbagh, Old Paltan, Baitul Mukarram, dhanmondi, Rayerbazar, Nilkhet, Science Laboratory, Elephant Road, Minto Road, Kakrail, Hazaribagh, Lalbagh, Azimpur, Palashi, Bongshal, Siddiquebazar, Shakharibazar, Wari, Sutrapur, Mill Barrack, Sayedabad, North Jatrabari, Mirhazaribagh, Dholaipar, Gendaria, Jurain and Kamrangirchar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Public health expert Dr Lelin Chowdhury said the country has recorded the highest death toll from dengue in the first six months this year. There are some reasons behind it. First, most of those who were infected with dengue this year, have had dengue once or twice before. When they again became infected with the disease, the severity increased.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Most of them failed to identify whether they were infected with dengue or not and some people were in a dilemma. When they delay in seeking medical attention, they develop a condition of complications or shock syndrome, he said, adding, “This is another reason for deaths behind dengue.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, the behaviour pattern of Aedes mosquitoes has changed as they bite people throughout the day and night, and can remain active in artificial light outside, which is playing a vital role in dengue infection.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We are afraid that if no immediate program is taken against the Aedes mosquito to control dengue, a terrible disaster might be upon us in the coming days,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Replying to a question on why the authorities concerned have not yet managed to control dengue, Dr Lelin said, “The authorities concerned of the city corporations have not taken effective measures as we see. Secondly, it is not possible for the city corporations alone to combat dengue. For this, the public representatives and people should be involved as well.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prof. Dr Nazmul Islam, director of disease control and line of DGHS, said during a survey conducted on 3149 houses in 40 wards of DNCC and 58 wards of DSCC, Aedes larvae were found in 549 houses, which is an alarming sign.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also blamed people’s unawareness behind the spread of dengue.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prof Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Director General of the DGHS, said, “This year, as monsoon has started late, there is a possibility that the dengue season may prolong. We have taken steps to minimize the manpower crisis and dengue treatment is going on in all hospitals in the capital.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Additional director of DGHS, Dr. Rasheda Sultana, told UNB that dengue corners have been opened in all hospitals and an information desk is available in the hospitals. Sufficient beds are available for providing treatment to dengue patients.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are 800 beds in DNCC’s dedicated dengue hospital while there are 600 beds in Mugda General Hospital, 120 in Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, 195 in Salimullah Medical College and Hospital, 44 in Shishu Hospital, 120 in Suhrawardy Hospital, 250 in Kurmitola General Hospital, and 72 in Kuwait Maitree Hospital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to DGHS report till July 18, thirteen deaths were reported from dengue in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, the highest number of deaths in a day from the mosquito-borne disease this year, raising the fatalities in Bangladesh to 127 in 2023.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the period, 1,533 more patients were hospitalised with the viral fever, it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Of the new patients, 779 were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rest outside it, according to DGHS.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A total of 5,569 dengue patients, including 3,443 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">So far, the DGHS has recorded 24,000 dengue cases and 18,304 recoveries this year. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-19 18:11:54', '2023-07-19 18:11:54'),
(8076, 8076, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Denmark today expressed interest to invest US$ 1.3 billion for producing offshore wind energy in Bangladesh as its Ambassador Winnie Estrup Petersen paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;\"Denmark is keen to invest US$ 1.3 billion in Bangladesh for producing offshore wind energy,\" Prime Minister\'s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim quoted the ambassador as telling the Bangladesh premier at the meeting in Prime Minister\'s Office (PMO) here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the meeting, Karim in a media briefing said the prime minister seeks assistances from the friendly countries like Demark for Bangladesh\'s development.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this regard, Sheikh Hasina mentioned that Bangladesh has established 100 special economic zones across the country where both foreign and domestic investments are required.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;The Bangladesh premier and the Danish envoy, as well, appreciated the 50 years\' development partnership between Bangladesh and Denmark.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;During the meeting, the ambassador lauded the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in socioeconomic development of Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Sheikh Hasina said that her government has substantially reduced the poverty level in the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Referring to the development of women, she said that her government has put emphasis on the development of sports of women.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Regarding the development of democracy in the country, the prime minister said, \"We\'ve long struggle for democracy in the country.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;The Danish envoy said her country is the sixth largest exporter in the ICT sector globally. In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said that ICI sector of Bangladesh is also growing first.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Petersen said that the two countries can extend cooperation in several fields including human development. \"We\'ve achieved many things through cooperation,\" she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;The outgoing ambassador said she has spent a good time in Bangladesh living with good friends.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;The envoy presented books to the premier marking the 50-year of development partnership.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin was present. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-19 18:36:34', '2023-07-19 18:36:34'),
(8077, 8077, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP has started their second march from Uttara’s Abdullahpur to Jatrabari as part of their one-point movement with the goal to remove Awami League from power to hold the upcoming national elections under a neutral government.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas formally inaugurated the programme in front of Polwel Market at Uttara’s Abdullahpur around 11:05 am on Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies joined the march programme for the second day in a row under the scorching sun.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A similar programme is supposed to be held in all other metropolitan cities and district towns today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a brief address, Abbas said the ruling party leaders and workers are creating chaos in the name of “peace procession” countering BNP’s peaceful programmes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He alleged that the Awami League cadres attacked BNP’s peaceful march programme in different parts of the country on Tuesday, killing a man and injuring many others.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Abbas said their party leaders and activists have been subjected to repression for 15 years. “We’ll no longer tolerate the repressive acts. We’ll come up with a fitting reply.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also said they will restore the voting rights of people and force the current regime to hold the next election under a neutral interim government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The party’s Tuesday’s march was marked by violent clashes with police and Awami League activists across the country that left at least one man dead and several hundred people injured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP\'s march also came under attack near Mirpur\'s Govt Bangla college in the capital, resulting in a clash between the supporters of the ruling and opposition parties.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Alongside the BNP, Ganatantra Mancha, 12-party alliance, Jatiyatabadi Samomona Jote, the Liberal Democratic Party, Gonoforum and People’s Party, Labour Party, Gono Odhikar Parishad Gonotantrik Bam Oikya, Samomona Gonotantrik Peshajibi Jote and Sadaran Chhatra Odhikar Sanrakshan Parishad are also scheduled to stage marches in the city’s different areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on July 12, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir formally announced a ‘one-point’ movement with the goal to remove Awami League from power to hold the upcoming national elections under a neutral government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As part of the first programme to realise the one-point demand, he also announced a two-day countrywide march programme for July 18 and 19.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP and 36 other parties are likely to announce fresh programmes of their one-point movement today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The opposition’s one-point demand includes the resignation of the current Awami League government, dissolution of the existing parliament, formation of a polls-time “impartial” government and reconstitution of the Election Commission for arranging a free, fair and inclusive election, the release of all “political prisoners”, including BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, withdrawal of all “false” cases, including those against Tarique Rahman, and annulment of all “false convictions”. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbdd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-19 18:56:03', '2023-07-19 18:56:03'),
(8078, 8078, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked the government officials to ensure accountability and work sincerely up to the grassroots level for the sake of the advancement of the country.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"Any tough situation can be overcome or even impossible things can also be made possible, if we go forward showing sincerity towards work, having a sense of self-esteem, ensuring accountability, and staying away from corruption. Today our Bangladesh has proven it,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The premier said this while addressing the signing ceremony of Annual Performance Agreements (APAs) for the FY2023-24 at her office here in the city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The ministries and divisions signed the APAs with the Cabinet Division.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The PM received the APAs from the secretaries of the ministries and divisions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">In the function, the APA Award for FY2021-22 and Integrity Award for FY2022-23 were distributed among the government offices and officials for their excellent performance in APA implementation and rendering services.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Pointing at the ministries and divisions, Hasina asked them to ensure accountability by signing APAs with their subordinate offices.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">“You (ministries) will sign the APA with your other offices so that communication and accountability is ensured (in government offices) up to the grassroots level. If we could work in this way, we can turn Bangladesh into a developed-prosperous country by 2041,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The prime minister asked the top government officials to prepare their predecessors as competent ones to build the country as a developed, prosperous, smart and golden Bangladesh by 2041 by implementing the government\'s action plans.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">She hoped that the government can take Bangladesh forward by overcoming both the natural and manmade disasters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"The man-made disasters may come alongside natural calamities. We\'ll be able to take the country forward by overcoming all sorts of disasters. I believe it,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The PM asked all to boost food production and not to leave a single inch of land uncultivated so that Bangladesh won\'t be required to depend on others in case of food shortages amid the current global situation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain spoke on the occasion, while Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain delivered the welcome speech.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Planning Division Secretary Satyajit Karmakar, who received the Integrity Award 2022-23, and Public Administration Secretary Mohammed Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury also spoke at the event.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The Public Administration Ministry has attained the first Award in the APA implementation for 2021-2022, while the Power Division and the Agricultural Ministry gained the second and third position respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The ministries and divisions that attained fourth to tenth position in the implementation of APA are finance division, ICT division, IMED, energy and mineral resources division, ministry of water resources, planning division, rural development and cooperatives division. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">nbbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-19 20:01:55', '2023-07-19 20:01:55'),
(8079, 8079, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A case has been filed against 380 leaders and activists of BNP in connection with Tuesday\'s clash with police at Circuit House in Pirojpur district town.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police also arrested 15 people in this connection.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sub-inspector Maksudur Rahaman of Sadar Police Station filed the case against 80 identified and 300 unidentified people on Tuesday night, said officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station Abir Mohammad Hasan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Convener of Pirojpur district unit BNP Alamgir Hossain and member secretary Gazi Wahiduzzaman Lavlu were among the accused.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the case statement, seven policemen were injured as some BNP men attacked police during their march programme in sadar upazila on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The injured are now taking treatment at Sadar Hospital. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-19 20:16:28', '2023-07-19 20:16:28'),
(8080, 8080, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Outgoing Navy Chief Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal met President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>President\'s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin briefed reporters after the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>During the meeting at Bangabhaban, the outgoing Navy chief expressed his gratitude to the president for providing cooperation and guidance in carrying out his duties.</div><div><br></div><div>He also informed the president about the implementation and progress of the programme taken by the government for the development of the Navy and its upcoming action plan.</div><div><br></div><div>Mentioning that the Navy has now become a three-dimensional force, the president said that efforts should be continued to make the Navy a modern and smart force in order to protect the independence and sovereignty of the country as well as ensure the security of the maritime area.</div><div><br></div><div>The president thanked the outgoing Chief of Naval Staff for performing his duties with devotion and sincerity, saying that his talent and wisdom contributed positively to the development of the Navy.</div><div><br></div><div>Secretaries concerned of the president\'s office were also present at this time. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-19 20:51:43', '2023-07-19 20:51:43'),
(8081, 8081, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least 15 people, including a police subinspector and five home guards, died after getting electric shock at a Namami Gange project site on the banks of river Alkananda in Uttarakhand\'s Chamoli on Wednesday. A transformer exploded at the project site and many people are feared to be trapped. Police and rescue teams have reached the spot and started relief operations.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Chamoli SP Parmendra Doval said 10 people died and several others were injured after the transformer exploded. The injured have been admitted to the district hospital. The side railing of the river dam had current and the caretaker of the project site Ganesh Lal died first. All those who died subsequently touched the railing.</div><div><br></div><div>“It is a sad incident. District administration, police, and SDRF have reached the spot. The injured are being referred to higher centre and are being shifted to AIIMS Rishikesh via helicopter. Orders have been given to conduct a Magisterial inquiry,” chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said.</div><div><br></div><div>State health minister Dhan Singh Rawat, who is in Chamoli, confirmed that 15 people have died so far and seven are injured. He said the injured are being airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh. A magisterial inquiry has also been instituted in the incident, the minister said.</div><div><br></div><div>The mishap occurred as continuous rain battered Uttarakhand for the past few days. The water level of Alakananda rose as a result of the incessant rain. About 3,000 cusecs of additional water were released from the dam of the GVK hydroelectric project at Srinagar in the Pauri district as Alakananda\'s water level rose.</div><div><br></div><div>The State Emergency Operation Center directed the district magistrates of Pauri, Tehri, Haridwar and Dehradun to exercise caution in their respective areas due to the release of water. In Haridwar, Rishikesh and other places, people were told to stay away from the river banks and to take care of their safety. Source: Hindustan Times</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-19 21:21:04', '2023-07-19 21:21:04'),
(8082, 8082, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy said Awami League (AL) brought back democracy in the country by confronting the violent claws of dictator-extremists.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>He wrote this in a facebook post from his verified account today along with uploading a video content.</div><div><br></div><div>“After wresting victory from the Pakistanis in 1971, Bangladesh struggled to establish democracy for many more years. After the assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, the Pakistani-style dictatorship began in the country,” Joy wrote.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He said: “Mushtaq, Zia and Ershad misled the country\'s democracy by adopting Ayub-Yahia\'s method to legitimize their misrule.”</div><div><br></div><div>Since independence, the anti-independence force, Jamaat-e-Islami, has been given the opportunity to do politics in the country with the support of the country\'s head of state, he said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>As the days went by, the desire to enslave the people of Bangladesh purged the country, he mentioned, reports BSS</div><div><br></div><div>“Awami League brought back democracy in the country by confronting the violent claws of those dictator-extremists,” Joy said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-19 22:07:55', '2023-07-19 22:07:55');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(8083, 8083, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Early in \"The Deepest Breath,\" an underwater drone follows free diver Alessia Zecchini as she plunges 100 meters down into the ocean\'s dark depths, and back up, all on a single breath.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The heart-pounding, claustrophobic three-and-a-half-minute sequence is as difficult to watch as it is mesmerizing.</div><div><br></div><div>As she ascends to the shallows, Zecchini\'s body begins to twitch. Rescue divers seize her and drag her up to the surface, her unconscious eyes rolling grotesquely backward as she is resuscitated.</div><div><br></div><div>It may seem shocking, but \"blacking out\" from lack of oxygen is a common occurrence in free diving, an extreme sport in which athletes compete to go as deep as they can without any breathing apparatus.</div><div><br></div><div>\"You can watch all the videos in the world. It doesn\'t really prepare you for seeing a human being just pass out like that,\" said director Laura McGann, director of the Netflix documentary, out Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It\'s scary to see.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Through archive footage, interviews and a handful of re-enactments, McGann\'s film explores what drives these men and women to repeatedly risk their lives and push the limits of human endurance in pursuit of new competitive records.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Seeing a human being behave more like a seal or a dolphin in the water, with no tanks, was kind of like learning that there was a group of people in part of the world that knew how to fly,\" she told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>- \'In the moment\' -</div><div>Specifically, the film focusses on the relationship between record-breaking diver Zecchini and Stephen Keenan, a nomadic young Irishman who becomes one of the sport\'s top safety experts.</div><div><br></div><div>Free divers, if not actively courting death, do not appear to fear it. Indeed, Zecchini airily claims in the movie\'s opening scene that she does not even think about death.</div><div><br></div><div>Yet it quickly becomes apparent that some sort of tragedy has occurred.</div><div><br></div><div>Neither Zecchini nor Keenan appear among the film\'s present-day interviews, leaving the question of their fates hanging for much of the movie -- at least, for those able to resist a quick Google search.</div><div><br></div><div>That structure was criticized as being somewhat manipulative in early reviews at January\'s Sundance Film Festival, where the movie premiered, having already been acquired by Netflix days earlier.</div><div><br></div><div>But McGann decided \"really early\" that her film would remain \"in the moment\" with its characters throughout their journeys.</div><div><br></div><div>Death \"was always going to be towards the end of the film,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>- Love and death -</div><div><br></div><div>\"The Deepest Breath\" is the latest documentary to explore dangerous obsessions through the lens of a love story.</div><div><br></div><div>Last year\'s Oscar-nominated \"Fire of Love\" followed a husband-and-wife scientist couple as they risked their lives to explore the craters of erupting volcanoes.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2019, \"Free Solo\" profiled death-defying climber Alex Honnold, as he juggled his obsession with climbing a notorious rockface without ropes, and his relationship with his understandably terrified girlfriend.</div><div><br></div><div>For McGann, the relationship between Zecchini and Keenan was \"a yin and a yang,\" like \"they were each other\'s missing piece,\" even before they connected as celebrities in the small free diving community.</div><div><br></div><div>It emphasizes that free diving is as much a mental sport as it is a physical one, requiring very specific personality types that not only stay calm, but actively enjoy being 100 meters under water, beyond rescue.</div><div><br></div><div>\"What the free diver is feeling is definitely close to the complete opposite to what we the audience are feeling,\" explained McGann.</div><div><br></div><div>While viewers might struggle for breath just watching, divers speak of a \"serene, quiet, peaceful silence,\" as they quieten their minds and reduce their heart rates to \"that of a Tibetan monk.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"You\'re almost in a meditative state,\" said McGann.</div><div><br></div><div>\"But you need to keep a little bit of your subconscious aware of what you\'re doing -- so that you remember that you have to come back up.\" ‍Source: AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-19 22:17:21', '2023-07-19 22:17:21'),
(8084, 8084, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The second day\'s program of Awami League\'s two-day \'peace and development procession\' started at 4 pm today at Dhaka\'s Satrasta intersection area.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka North City unit of Awami League is organising the second day\'s programme.</div><div><br></div><div>The programme is being held in response to the BNP\'s \'one-point\' movement calling for the government’s resignation.</div><div><br></div><div>Awami League will bring out processions to resist BNP\'s “attempts to create an unstable situation,” it said.</div><div><br></div><div>Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader will deliver a speech as chief guest at the brief inauguration, while President of Dhaka North unit of Awami League Bazlur Rahman will preside over the event; General Secretary SM Mannan Kochi is conducting the procession.</div><div><br></div><div>A procession will pass Satrasta, Tibet, Nabisco, and Mohakhali Bus Terminal.</div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka district Awami League is holding the procession outside the city too.</div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka South city unit of Awami League organised a procession yesterday that passed through Shahbagh, Kataban, Science Laboratory, and Kalabagan to reach Dhanmondi 32 from outside the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-19 22:58:53', '2023-07-19 22:58:53'),
(8085, 8085, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud today said that Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has not yet moved away from “destructive politics”.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He made the remark while talking to journalists on current affairs at the ministry’s meeting room in the Secretariat.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasan Mahmud, also joint general secretary of the Awami League, criticized BNP’s recent activities, saying, “BNP has once again demonstrated its engagement in conflicting and destructive politics. Yesterday, they organized a march program across the country. Meanwhile, our party brought out ‘peace and development processions’. It has become evident that BNP’s main objective with their program is to create chaos in the country.”</div><div><br></div><div>He pointed out instances where clashes occurred between BNP and the police or Awami League activists at nine locations in the country, and said, “They burnt a Chhatra League leader’s bike near Mirpur Bangla College in Dhaka, and the national flag was also set on fire. Several Awami League activists were attacked and injured in Khagrachhari. They also vandalized the municipality building.”</div><div><br></div><div>“In Bogura’s Satmatha junction, BNP activists started throwing bricks at police, and law enforcers had to resort to using tear gas. At the same time, BNP activists tore down the festoons and banners of Awami League leaders in front of Samad Academy in Lakshmipur, inciting clashes at various locations. It is evident that BNP’s intention is to create a tense situation in the country through these confrontations, but we will not let it happen,” he went on.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the attack on Hero Alam and subsequent response, the information minister said, “I am surprised at the promotion of tweets by the resident coordinator of UN and Amnesty International Bangladesh as ‘official statements’ from the respective organizations. A tweet cannot be considered an official statement. This is ‘misinformation’ and ‘yellow journalism’.”</div><div><br></div><div>“As the Information Minister and joint general secretary of the party, I request everyone to refrain from promoting such tweets as official statements,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>On Tuesday, the UN resident coordinator in Dhaka, Gwyn Lewis tweeted, “The UN in Bangladesh is concerned over the attack on independent MP candidate Ashraful Alam during the Dhaka-17 by-poll. The fundamental human right of everyone to participate in elections without violence should be guaranteed and protected”. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-19 23:22:01', '2023-07-19 23:22:01'),
(8086, 8086, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend a BRICS nations summit in South Africa next month, the country\'s presidency said on Wednesday, ending months of speculation he could be detained.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Putin\'s potential visit has been a thorny diplomatic issue for Pretoria.</div><div><br></div><div>The Russian leader is the target of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant -- a provision that South africa as an ICC member would be expected to implement were he to set foot in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>\"By mutual agreement, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation will not attend the summit,\" Vincent Magwenya, a spokesman for President Cyril Ramaphosa, said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will instead represent Russia, Magwenya said.</div><div><br></div><div>The decision follows \"a number of consultations\" held by Ramaphosa in recent months, the most recent of which took place last night, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>South Africa is the current chair of the BRICS group, a gathering of heavyweights that also includes Brazil, Russia, India and China, and which sees itself as a counterweight to Western economic domination.</div><div><br></div><div>Putin was formally invited to a BRICS summit due to take place in Johannesburg between August 22 and 24, but Pretoria has been under heavy domestic and international pressure not to host him.</div><div><br></div><div>The other countries\' leaders will all be in attendance, Magwenya said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"President Ramaphosa is confident that the Summit will be a success and calls on the nation to extend the necessary hospitality to the many delegates who will arrive from various parts of the continent and the globe,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Putin is sought by the ICC over accusations that Russia unlawfully deported Ukrainian children.</div><div><br></div><div>In court papers released on Tuesday, Ramaphosa wrote that arresting him would have amounted to a declaration of war on Russia.</div><div><br></div><div>The assessment was given in an affidavit responding to an application by the country\'s leading opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), which aimed at forcing the government\'s hand and ensuring the Kremlin leader was handed over to the ICC if he were to arrive.</div><div><br></div><div>- Neutral -</div><div>Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked if the war wording was used in talks between the two nations.</div><div><br></div><div>\"No, it did not sound that way,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"In this world, it is absolutely clear to everyone what an attempt to encroach on the head of the Russian state would mean.</div><div><br></div><div>\"That is why there is no need to explain anything to anyone on this,\" Peskov added.</div><div><br></div><div>The affidavit revealed South Africa was seeking an exemption under ICC rules, arguing that enacting the arrest could have threatened the \"security, peace and order of the state\".</div><div><br></div><div>Pretoria has long said it wants to stay neutral over the war in Ukraine but has been accused by critics of tilting towards Moscow.</div><div><br></div><div>Some feared hosting Putin could have been read as a signal of support for Russia and jeopardised South Africa\'s strong economic and trade relations with the United States and Europe.</div><div><br></div><div>Trade with Russia is much smaller, but their ties date back decades to when the Kremlin supported the ruling African National Congress party during the struggle against apartheid.</div><div><br></div><div>In recent local media interviews, South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile said the government had been trying to persuade Putin not to come. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 01:12:38', '2023-07-20 01:12:38'),
(8087, 8087, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least 34 people were killed when an Algerian passenger bus collided head-on with a commercial vehicle and burst into flames in the country\'s southern desert Wednesday, officials said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>One of the North African country\'s deadliest road crashes in years also left 12 others injured, many with burn wounds, Algeria\'s civil defence agency said.</div><div><br></div><div>Unverified media images showed the mangled and charred hull of the bus after the accident which occurred at around 4:00 am (0300 GMT) near Tamanrasset, about a 2,000-kilometre (1,250 miles) drive south from the capital Algiers.</div><div><br></div><div>Local media reported burnt bodies were recovered from the bus wreck, near the town of Outoul, 20 kilometres west of Tamanrasset, deep in the Sahara.</div><div><br></div><div>The civil defence agency said the bus was carrying passengers between Tamanrasset and Adrar, a town of about 2,000 residents to the northwest.</div><div><br></div><div>Footage broadcast by local media showed the bus going up in a massive ball of flames.</div><div><br></div><div>Other images shared by Algerian media show rescuers at the scene, near the two burnt vehicles that were involved in the accident.</div><div><br></div><div>Authorities did not immediately elaborate on the circumstances of the deadly crash or what had caused it.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Speed is the main cause of road accidents in the country, according to a government road safety agency.</div><div><br></div><div>There was no official comment on the accident. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is currently in China for a state visit.</div><div><br></div><div>Mohamed Boudraa, the governor -- or wali -- of Tamanrasset, visited the local hospital where the 12 injured were being treated, the official APS news agency reported.</div><div><br></div><div>It said they suffered serious burns.</div><div><br></div><div>Provincial officials also arrived at the site of the accident to oversee rescue operations, APS said.</div><div><br></div><div>Algeria recorded nearly 23,000 road accidents in 2022, leaving 3,409 people dead and more than 30,000 injured, according to the country\'s road safety chief Nacef Abdelhakim.</div><div><br></div><div>Tamanrasset is an important transport hub for the movement of people and goods from Algeria\'s far south to the coastal north.</div><div><br></div><div>The region, near the borders of Mali and Niger, is also a key transit point for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa hoping to reach Europe via Algeria.</div><div><br></div><div>In December 2020, a car crash near Tamanrasset killed 20 people and injured 11 others, most of them African migrants. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 01:48:56', '2023-07-20 01:48:56'),
(8088, 8088, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Nineteen more deaths were reported from dengue in 24 hours till Wednesday morning, the highest number of deaths in a day from the mosquito-borne disease this year, raising the fatalities in Bangladesh to 146 in 2023.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>During the period, 1,792 more patients were hospitalised with viral fever, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).</div><div><br></div><div>Of the new patients, 922 were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rest outside it, according to DGHS.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 5,552 dengue patients, including 3,370 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>So far, the DGHS has recorded 25,792 dengue cases, 20,094 recoveries this year.</div><div><br></div><div>The country logged 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019. Also, it recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries last year. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 01:52:59', '2023-07-20 01:52:59'),
(8089, 8089, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh Bank (BB) issued a cyber attack warning in banks and other financial institutions after leakage of a large number of private information of citizens.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The central bank recently issued the warning asking them to enhance malware surveillance&nbsp; and apply different security tools to secure financial information of banks.</div><div><br></div><div>Though the BB has not mentioned any specific area, the malware like the banking Trojan TrickBot, which can steal financial details, account credentials and personally identifiable information should be under check.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The BB asked banks to notify it of any recent incidents of malware attacks and the actions taken by July 13. It also sought a detailed account of the preventive and reactive measures from cyberattacks by July 20.</div><div><br></div><div>BB Spokesman Md Mezbaul Haque acknowledged sending the letters, which was part of the central bank\'s general housekeeping. \"Banks are taking proactive measures,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>After Bangladesh Krishi Bank\'s server came under a malware attack last month, the central bank gave warning letters to the banks.</div><div><br></div><div>Notorious ransomware group ALPHV, also known as BlackCat, broke into the state bank\'s servers and made way with more than 170 GB of crucial information.</div><div><br></div><div>The break-in went undetected for 12 days, giving the hackers ample time to study internal documentation and steal valuable data with impunity. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 03:01:20', '2023-07-20 03:01:20'),
(8090, 8090, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh Test and T20 skipper Shakib Al Hasan, senior batter Mushfiqur Rahim and pacer Taskin Ahmed left the country on Tuesday night to play in different franchise leagues.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>All three players boarded a Dubai-bound flight. From Dubai, Shakib would go to USA before joining the Global T20 tournament in Canada while Taskin and Mushfiqur will head to Zimbabwe to play the first ever Afro T-10 tournament.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, Liton Das left the country for Canada to play GT20 tournament for Surrey Jaguars. Shakib will play for Montreal Tigers, who had picked him as icon player for the third edition of the tournament. The GT20 tournament was last held in 2019 before being halted by Covid-19 pandemic.</div><div><br></div><div>Shakib obtained an NOC for July 20-30 from BCB. But Liton was allowed to stay till August 6 from July 20.</div><div><br></div><div>Taskin, meanwhile, features for Bulawayo Braves in the Zim-Afro T10 League and Mushfiqur, on the other hand, was directly signed by Joburg Buffaloes. Taskin and Mushfiqur are the only two cricketers from Bangladesh to play in the league.</div><div><br></div><div>The Tigers have no international cricket scheduled for now as their next assignment is the Asia Cup which will get underway on September 5. Source: BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 03:12:22', '2023-07-20 03:12:22'),
(8091, 8091, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today expressed displeasure over the joint statement, regarding the assault on Hero Alam, issued by foreign missions in Dhaka. He wondered whether such incidents happening in other countries result in similar reactions.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"That’s not acceptable. They create noises when something happens in Bangladesh only. But don\'t do the same as a group when similar things happen in the US, UK, France or in other countries,\" Momen said when a reporter asked for his comments on the issue.</div><div><br></div><div>Momen wanted to know from reporters whether these countries say anything about the investigation progress when Bangladeshi citizens are killed abroad.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Ask them (foreign diplomats). Why don\'t you ask them? Why don\'t they give statements then?\" — he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Momen said the perpetrators who assaulted Hero Alam need to be identified as this could have been done to create uncertainty ahead of the next national election. \"We don\'t know. You never know… whether to foil the election, these misdeeds are staged.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"Give me an investigative report on which countries issued such statements when similar things happen in their own countries,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign minister told reporters that it is time to stop publishing or broadcasting such statements.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question, Momen said US President Joe Biden wants to strengthen the relations with Bangladesh and for that reason, senior officials keep coming here.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, foreign missions in Dhaka called for a full investigation and accountability of the perpetrators involved in the assault on Hero Alam.</div><div><br></div><div>In a joint statement, the foreign missions said, “We condemn the July 17 attack on Dhaka-17 constituency candidate Ashraful Alam, popularly known as Hero Alam. Violence has no place in the democratic process.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Everyone involved in the upcoming elections should ensure that they are free, fair, and peaceful,” said the diplomatic missions in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>The joint statement was signed by the embassies/high commissions of Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States and the delegation of the European Union.</div><div><br></div><div>Mohammad Ali Arafat, who won the Dhaka-17 by-polls, said what happened “just 20 minutes before the end of the election is uncalled for.”</div><div><br></div><div>Amnesty International condemns attack on Hero Alom</div><div><br></div><div>“I strongly condemn it. The involved parties could not be Awami League’s well-wishers. It was done with the intention of maligning the election,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The culprits should be arrested and brought to justice, Arafat said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hero Alam, an independent candidate contesting the Dhaka-17 by-election, was physically assaulted while leaving a polling centre in Banani area on July 17. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 03:39:50', '2023-07-20 03:39:50'),
(8092, 8092, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A shooting has left two people dead in the centre of Auckland, New Zealand, hours before the city is due to open the Fifa Women\'s World Cup.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Six other people, including police officers, were injured and the gunman is also dead after the incident at 07:22 (19:22 GMT) on a construction site in the central business district.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM Chris Hipkins said the attack was not being seen as an act of terrorism.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tournament would go ahead as planned, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The public, he added, could be assured police had neutralised the threat and there was no ongoing risk after the incident on Queen Street.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">No political or ideological motive for the attack had been identified, the prime minister said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The gunman, he said, had been armed with a pump-action shotgun.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Hipkins thanked \"the brave men and women of the New Zealand police who ran into the gunfire, straight into harm\'s way, in order to save the lives of others\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"These kinds of situations move fast and the actions of those who risk their lives to save others are nothing short of heroic,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, all Fifa personnel and football teams are safe and have been accounted for.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The opening match is to be held between New Zealand and Norway in the city\'s Eden Park.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sport Minister Grant Robertson said there would be extra police in the area to provide reassurance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ninth Women\'s World Cup is being co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, the mayor warned people should stay home and avoid travelling into the city. Mr Brown said it was a \"dreadful thing to happen\" in his city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police say they heard reports of a person discharging a firearm inside the construction site, and the gunman moved through the building and continued to fire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The man then went into a lift shaft and police attempted to engage with him.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Further shots were fired by the man and he was found dead a short time later, police say.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Following the shooting there was a large armed police presence in the central business district not far from the waterfront and the fan park.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tatjana Haenni, chief sporting director for National Women\'s Soccer league USA, is staying close to where the shooting happened.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She told BBC News she had woken up to sounds of police cars arriving and was told to stay inside. \"So far we feel safe,\" she said. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 12:40:00', '2023-07-20 12:40:00'),
(8093, 8093, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Wheat prices have risen sharply on global markets after Russia said it would treat ships heading for Ukrainian ports as potential military targets.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moscow pulled out of a deal this week that had guaranteed safe passage for grain shipments through the Black Sea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A White House spokesperson accused Russia of planning to blame Ukraine for attacks on civilian ships.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia\'s President Vladimir Putin said he would return to the grain agreement immediately if his demands were met.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They include reconnecting Russia\'s agricultural bank to a global payment system.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A Russian air strike on the Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv killed an unknown number of people on Wednesday night, according to a local official. Other air strikes were reported on the port of Odesa.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Following previous air strikes around Odesa this week, Ukraine\'s President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of deliberately targeting grain export infrastructure and putting vulnerable countries at risk.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kyiv urged other countries in the Black Sea region to intervene to assure the safe passage of cargo ships.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"From 00:00 Moscow time on 20 July 2023 [21:00 GMT Wednesday], all vessels sailing on the Black Sea to Ukrainian ports will be regarded as potential carriers of military cargo,\" the Russian defence ministry said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Flag states of such vessels will be considered to be involved in the Ukrainian conflict on the side of the Kyiv regime,\" it added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wheat prices on the European stock exchange soared by 8.2% on Wednesday from the previous day, to €253.75 (£219.78) per tonne, while corn prices were up 5.4%.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US wheat futures jumped 8.5% on Wednesday, their highest daily rise since just after Russia\'s invasion of Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Mykola Solskyi said strikes had destroyed 60,000 tonnes of grain and damaged considerable parts of grain export infrastructure.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia began targeting Ukraine\'s ports in the early hours of Tuesday within hours of its withdrawal from the grain deal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Marex Capital analyst Charlie Sernatinger said the threat of this kind of escalation could \"cut all of the waterborne grain shipments off from the Black Sea, both Russian, and Ukrainian\" which would cause a similar situation to that at the start of the war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jim Gerlach, president of A/C Trading, said: \"Things got heated back up over in Ukraine. There is some real shooting going on over there and nobody is going to get in the middle of that.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"That is the bread basket of Europe and shippers are pulling out.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Wednesday Mr Putin accused the West of using the grain deal as \"political blackmail\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moscow also accused Ukraine of using the Black Sea grain corridor for \"combat purposes\". It struck at Ukraine\'s Black Sea ports after a suspected seaborne drone attack damaged its sea bridge to Crimea on Monday. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 14:23:33', '2023-07-20 14:23:33'),
(8094, 8094, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Women\'s World Cup teams in Auckland said they were shocked but safe after a deadly shooting in the centre of the New Zealand city on the opening day of the tournament Thursday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A gunman opened fire at a building site just hours before the opening game at the city\'s Eden Park between hosts New Zealand and Norway. Two people, plus the shooter, were dead and six wounded.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the showpiece match would go ahead as scheduled but the incident left teams rattled with at least one squad staying nearby.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"New Zealand Football are shocked by the incident in Auckland this morning,\" NZ Football said. \"We can confirm that all of the Football Ferns team and staff are safe.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Norway\'s team hotel was close to where the shooting unfolded but they were unharmed and said \"everything is calm in the squad\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Captain Maren Mjelde said they were woken up by a helicopter and \"a large number of emergency vehicles\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"At first we didn\'t know what was going on, but eventually there were updates on TV and the local media,\" she said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We felt safe the whole time. FIFA has a good security system at the hotel and we have our own security officer in the squad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Everyone seems calm and we are preparing as normal for the game tonight. Then we may have to adapt if there are any instructions from the authorities.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Defending champions the United States are also based in Auckland for the tournament, which is also being co-hosted by Australia, and similarly said \"all of our players and staff are accounted for and safe\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Our security team is in communication with local authorities and we are proceeding with our daily schedule,\" they added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Americans are chasing an unprecedented third World Cup crown in a row and face outsiders Vietnam to open their title defence in Auckland on Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hipkins told reporters there was no ongoing risk and he had spoken with football\'s governing body FIFA.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Clearly with the FIFA World Cup kicking off this evening there are a lot of eyes on Auckland. The government has spoken to FIFA organisers this morning and the tournament will proceed as planned,\" he said at a press conference.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I want to reiterate that there is no wider national security threat. This appears to be the actions of one individual.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former New Zealand player Maia Jackman was reportedly in a fan zone as the drama unfolded and told The New Zealand Herald: \"It\'s pretty scary actually.\" AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 14:28:58', '2023-07-20 14:28:58'),
(8095, 8095, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United States said Wednesday it has no fresh news on the US soldier who left a tour of the demilitarized zone and ran into North Korea, in a bizarre incident that has baffled authorities in Washington.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US officials have identified the soldier as Private Second Class Travis King, who broke away from a South Korean orientation visit in the border Panmunjon truce village on Tuesday and raced over the frontier where it is believed he was taken into custody by North Korean officials.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Little is known about the serviceman\'s motive or present status in the reclusive nation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We here at the State Department, and the UN, are all continuing to work together on this matter to ascertain information about the well-being and whereabouts of Private King,\" said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">King, who earlier was in the process of being sent back to the United States over disciplinary problems, somehow got to Panmunjon and crossed the border \"wilfully and without authorisation\", US officials said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Miller said the State Department was continuing to gather information on the case, but knew nothing of his current condition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I want to be very clear that the administration has and will continue to actively work to ensure his safety and return him home to his family,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the Pentagon has reached out to contacts in the North Korean military for information on King\'s situation, but there had not been a response.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Miller said Washington, which does not have diplomatic relations with Pyongyang, has other channels to communicate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He mentioned that the State Department is engaging counterparts in South Korea and Sweden to find out information on King.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US media said King broke away at an airport as he was being escorted home for disciplinary reasons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to South Korean police, King had spent around two months in a local prison on assault charges, and was released on July 10. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bndb24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 14:32:22', '2023-07-20 14:32:22'),
(8096, 8096, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russia is considering attacking civilian ships on the Black Sea and then putting the blame on Ukrainian forces, a senior White House official said Wednesday.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The Russian military may expand their targeting of Ukrainian grain facilities to include attacks against civilian shipping,\" National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the allegation was based on newly declassified intelligence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It came in the wake of a missile and drone attack by Russia against the port city of Odesa, as well as the Kremlin\'s decision to pull out of an international deal allowing safe passage of massive Ukrainian grain exports across the Black Sea to world markets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moscow said its missiles targeted military objectives in Odesa but Hodge backed Ukrainian accusations that the attack destroyed \"agricultural infrastructure and 60,000 tons of grain\" lying ready for export.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the White House official, those kinds of attacks could now expand to civilian ships. And Russia is mounting an operation to make such attacks look like they were carried out by Ukraine, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hodge cited Russia\'s release of a video showing its forces detecting and destroying an \"alleged Ukrainian sea mine\" on Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the same time, \"our information indicates that Russia laid additional sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports. We believe that this is a coordinated effort to justify any attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea and lay blame on Ukraine for these attacks.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Russian defense ministry said all vessels sailing to Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea from now on will be regarded as potential carriers of military cargo and its flag states \"will be considered to be involved in the Ukrainian conflict on the side of the Kyiv regime.\" AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 14:36:39', '2023-07-20 14:36:39'),
(8097, 8097, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP is set to hold nationwide “mourning rallies,” including in Dhaka, today, protesting the killing of a Krishak Dal leader in Laxmipur on Tuesday during the party’s road march.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Today’s rallies are also meant for registering the party’s protest against attacks on the road marches brought out by the party and its alliance partners on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies will bring out a mourning rally in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office in Dhaka at 3 pm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas announced the programme while concluding the second-day’s march from Uttara’s Abdullahpur towards Jatrabari in the capital on Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the mourning rallies will be brought out in all metropolitan cities and district towns.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Dhaka, he said, they will bring out a mourning rally from Nayapaltan at 3pm and it will end at Moghbazar after going through Shantinagar, Malibagh and Mouchak.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, he said their party leaders and activists will give out leaflets among Muslim devotees in mosques across the country after Juma prayers on Friday, to press home their one-point demand, including the resignation of the government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As part of their one-point movement, BNP staged countrywide marches, including in the capital, on Tuesday and Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The party’s march on Tuesday was marked by violent clashes with police and Awami League activists in different parts of the country, leaving at least one man dead and several hundred people injured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP\'s march also came under attack near Mirpur Govt Bangla college on the same day in the capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On July 12, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir formally announced a ‘one-point’ movement with the goal to remove Awami League from power and hold the upcoming national election under a “neutral” government. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 14:52:57', '2023-07-20 14:52:57'),
(8098, 8098, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Heavy rains on Wednesday complicated the search for nine people still missing after a landslide that killed at least 20 in central Colombia, authorities said.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 400 military troops, firefighters and other government rescue workers searched for survivors under intense downpours, two days after Monday\'s disaster in the Cundinamarca department.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have at this time a toll of 20 fatalities\" including five minors, fire department chief Alvaro Farfan told reporters Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Several homes were destroyed and a major trade artery blocked after torrential rains hit the Quetame municipality late Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fifteen bodies, four of them children, had been recovered from the mud and rubble on Tuesday before the search was temporarily called off due to bad weather.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The other five victims were discovered Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The operation had previously been suspended due to rainfall that Farfan said \"poses a risk for the personnel.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He did not rule out the possibility of more landslides due to the ongoing storms. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 15:01:39', '2023-07-20 15:01:39');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(8099, 8099, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka\'s air quality continued to be in the ‘moderate’ zone this morning.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 87 at 9:12 am, Dhaka ranked 18th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chile’s Santiago, the United Arab Emirates\' Dubai and South Africa’s Johannesburg occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 194, 184 and 155 respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI score between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’ with acceptable air quality. However, there may be a health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">AQI score between 150 and 200 is considered \'unhealthy\', between 201 and 300 is said to be \'very unhealthy\', and a reading of 301+ is considered \'hazardous\', posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long grappled with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in the winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 15:20:37', '2023-07-20 15:20:37'),
(8100, 8100, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">South Korean, US and Japanese leaders will meet in August in America, Seoul\'s presidential office said Thursday, as the three nations increase military cooperation to counter North Korea\'s growing nuclear threats.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul are at one of their lowest points ever, with diplomacy stalled and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un calling for increased weapons development, including tactical nukes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In response, President Yoon Suk Yeol has pulled South Korea closer to long-standing ally Washington, and even sought to bury the hatchet with former colonial power Japan in a bid to contain North Korea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In April, Seoul and Washington said that if Pyongyang ever used its nuclear weapons against the allies, it would face a nuclear reaction and the \"end\" of its regime.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The Korea-US-Japan trilateral summit is scheduled to be held in the United States in August,\" Seoul\'s presidential office said Thursday, adding the specific date and location would be \"announced later\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Yonhap News Agency reported the meeting will take place on August 18 at Camp David near Washington, citing unnamed sources.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The announcement comes days after Seoul and Washington held their first Nuclear Consultative Group meeting in the South Korean capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Tuesday, a nuclear-armed American submarine made a port visit to Busan for the first time since 1981.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pyongyang last week said it had successfully tested the Hwasong-18, its new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, for the second time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Analysts say the tests represent a major breakthrough for North Korea\'s banned weapons programmes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The announcement also comes as Washington confirmed Tuesday that a US soldier -- who had been jailed in the South on assault charges -- is believed to have been detained by North Korea after crossing the border.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pyongyang has a long history of detaining Americans and using them as bargaining chips. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 17:02:41', '2023-07-20 17:02:41'),
(8101, 8101, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Inter Miami on Wednesday brought in Paraguayan international midfielder Diego Gomez, as it continued rebuilding its squad, following the signing of Lionel Messi.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 20-year-old joins Miami on a two and a half year deal from Paraguayan club Libertad, where Miami\'s new head coach Gerardo Martino had two spells.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gomez is the third player to join Inter, bottom of Major League Soccer, in this transfer window, joining Messi and Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A third former Barcelona player, Spanish left-back Jordi Alba, is expected to complete his move to Miami in the coming days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Diego is a well-rounded midfielder that we believe will contribute in all phases of the game,\" said Miami\'s sporting director Chris Henderson.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We believe in his ability and potential, and feel he will be a strong addition to our squad as we enter this next phase of growth at Inter Miami.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gomez made 51 appearances for Libertad and was part of two domestic title winning teams. He captained Paraguay\'s Under-20 national side and has gone on to make four appearances for the full national team.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas said on Tuesday that further signings were expected in this window.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another young South American, 20-year-old Argentine midfielder Facundo Farias has a verbal agreement to join the club, said Mas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Miami owner added that talks are also underway with two young talents from the Argentine league -- Tomas Aviles, a central defender with Racing Club, and striker Brian Aguirre, of Newell\'s Old Boys.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mas also suggested that former Barcelona and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, the 36-year-old Uruguay international, could be another arrival, if he is able to free himself from his contract with Brazilian club Gremio.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I don\'t know how Luis Suarez can leave Gremio. But if he does we are free to talk to Luis and bring him to Inter Miami. That possibility would be there,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Messi and Busquets could make their debut for their new club on Friday against Mexico\'s Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 17:11:00', '2023-07-20 17:11:00'),
(8102, 8102, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The lack of progress on the Russian part of the grain deal was one of the key reasons why it was terminated on Monday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said on Wednesday at a meeting with Turkish Ambassador to Russia Mehmet Samsar.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The Russian side once again stressed that the lack of progress in the implementation of the Russia-UN memorandum was one of the key reasons behind our principled decision to terminate the Black Sea Initiative on exporting Ukrainian food after its expiration on July 17,\" the Russian foreign ministry said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The sides reiterated Russia and Turkey\'s commitment to continue coordinated efforts in the interests of ensuring global food security, paying special attention to the assistance to the poorest countries in Africa,\" it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the ministry, the meeting was held in furtherance of Tuesday\'s telephone talks between Russian and Turkish Foreign Ministers, Sergey Lavrov and Hakan Fidan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A package of documents geared to resolve the problem of food and fertilizer supplies on global markets was signed on July 22, 2022 in Istanbul and extended several times since then before ultimately expiring on July 17.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia refused to extend it again because the part of the deal envisaging the removal of obstacles for Russian agricultural exports has never been implemented.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Apart from that, Moscow has repeatedly stressed that the bulk of grain that was meant to be supplied to the poorest counties was shipped to Western countries. Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is ready to resurrect the deal but only after its part related to obligations to Moscow is fulfilled. TASS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 17:14:41', '2023-07-20 17:14:41'),
(8103, 8103, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least six people, including a woman, were dead and two were injured when a microbus and a CNG-run auto-rickshaw collided and fell into a roadside ditch on Sylhet-Bholaganj Road at Salutikor under Gowainghat upazila of Sylhet district today (July 20, 2023).</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One of the deceased was identified as Kazi Amir Uddin, a teacher of Anwar High School and College, while identities of the others could not be known immediately.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">KM Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Gowainghat Police Station, said the accident occurred around 8:30 am when the microbus and CNG-run auto-rickshaw fell into the road side ditch after a head-on collision, leaving five people dead on the spot and three injured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Of the injured, one died on the way to Sylhet Osmani Medical College and Hospital. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 17:26:39', '2023-07-20 17:26:39'),
(8104, 8104, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Moscow would \"consider\" returning to the Ukraine grain deal if its demands were \"fully\" met, saying the agreement had \"lost all meaning.\"</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was the first time the Russian leader commented since Moscow this week exited the landmark deal, which allowed the safe passage of cargo ships from Black Sea ports.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The continuation of the grain deal in its current form has lost all meaning,\" Putin said at a government meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Of course we will consider the possibility of returning to it -- but only under one condition: if all principles under which Russia agreed to participate in the deal are fully taken into account and fulfilled.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He named the \"withdrawal of sanctions on supplies of Russian grain and fertilisers to world markets\" as one of the main conditions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moscow had for months complained that a related agreement on allowing the export of Russian food and fertilisers had not been honoured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Putin said Russia had shown \"miracles of poise and tolerance\" by extending the deal several times.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But he accused Western countries of using the deal for \"political blackmail\". \"Instead of helping countries in real need, the West used the grain deal for political blackmail and... turned it into a tool to enrich transnational corporations and speculators in the global grain market,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Putin spoke shortly after the Russian army said that cargo ships heading for Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea would be regarded as possibly carrying military cargo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The grain deal, brokered by the UN and Turkey, had enabled the export of more than 32 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain over the last year. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 18:06:28', '2023-07-20 18:06:28'),
(8105, 8105, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The United States on Wednesday announced a new $1.3 billion military aid package for Ukraine featuring air defense systems, anti-tank missiles, drones and other equipment.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The package is part of US efforts to meet \"Ukraine\'s pressing requirements by committing critical near-term capabilities while also building the enduring capacity of Ukraine\'s armed forces,\" the Defense Department said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The assistance will not immediately arrive on the battlefield, as it falls under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), under which Washington procures equipment from the defense industry or partners, rather than drawing it from US stocks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The package includes four NASAMs air defense systems and related munitions, TOW anti-tank missiles, 152 mm artillery shells, drones as well as counter-drone systems, and various vehicles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The announcement comes as Ukrainian forces are fighting to advance against invading Russian troops in a slow-moving counteroffensive that Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior aide to Ukraine\'s president, said Wednesday \"will be quite difficult, long and will take quite a lot of time.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Podolyak also said that Kyiv\'s forces need two to three hundred tanks as well as 60 to 80 F-16 warplanes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Netherlands and Denmark are leading a plan to train Ukrainian pilots on using the US-made aircraft as part of an 11-nation coalition, but the effort is still in its early stages.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The pace of Ukraine\'s advance in the counteroffensive has raised questions about whether it will be successful, but US officials have highlighted the tough obstacles Kyiv\'s forces must overcome when asked about the pace of advance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukrainian troops are facing heavily fortified Russian positions that include complex minefields, tank obstacles, barbed wire and trenches, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley told journalists on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also said that Ukraine has \"a significant amount of combat power not yet committed.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Right now, they are preserving their combat power, and they are slowly and deliberately and steadily working their way through all these minefields, and it\'s a tough fight.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States has spearheaded the push for international support for Ukraine, quickly forging an international coalition to back Kyiv after Russia invaded and coordinating aid from dozens of countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Washington has committed to providing tens of billions of dollars in military aid to Kyiv since Russia invaded in February 2022. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 18:28:21', '2023-07-20 18:28:21'),
(8106, 8106, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">On July 21 (India time), the team of Project K will unveil the film\'s first glimpse at San Diego Comic-Con, which is taking place in the US from July 20-23. On Wednesday, a day before the Project K launch, the film\'s lead actor Prabhas was spotted at a bash in the US, where he met fans. The makers reportedly offered fans a look at the film as part of an opening night party on July 19.&nbsp;</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pictures of Prabhas looking dapper in blue and black at the event were shared on fan pages. Reacting to which, a person wrote, \"Looking cool anna (brother).\" Another said, \"Time to dominate the world. All the best for Projeck K.\" Moreover, ahead of the first glimpse of Project K at the San Diego Comic Con, the first look of Prabhas from the film was unveiled on Wednesday. The film also stars Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone and Amitabh Bachchan, among others.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Project K at Comic-Con</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">According to Variety, the film\'s makers will unveil exclusive footage at the event. On July 20 (US time), the film\'s team will host a panel titled \'This is Project K: First Glimpse of India\'s Mytho-Sci-fi Epic\'. The stars will be seen in a stage performance at the event.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking about the event, Nag Ashwin had earlier said in a statement, \"India is the home of some of the greatest lore and superheroes ever written. We feel that our film is an attempt to bring out and share this with the world. And Comic-Con gives us the perfect stage to introduce our story to a global audience.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>About Project K</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Project K is set to become the first-ever Indian film to debut at the San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2023. At the event, Kamal Haasan, Prabhas and the team of Project K will unveil the film\'s title, trailer, and release date. Project K is a multi-lingual sci-fi film produced by Vyjayanthi Movies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It has been reported that Deepika Padukone will miss the event due to the ongoing strike by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (SAG-AFTRA) in the US. The actor is a member of SAG-AFTRA. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 18:34:49', '2023-07-20 18:34:49'),
(8107, 8107, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the countrymen to protect themselves from the clasp of BNP-Jamaat, saying that they only know how to destroy, make corruption and plunder but don\'t know how to serve people.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"They (BNP-Jamaat) know how to destroy, don\'t know how to create anything, they don\'t know how to serve people, they only know how to do corruption and plunder as well as fulfill self interest. . .,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier said this while opening train movement on the newly constructed 72-km dual-gauge double rail line built under the Akhaura-Laksam Double Track Project.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She joined the inaugural function at Laksam in Cumilla through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganabhaban here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina said the government won\'t impede political programmes of BNP-Jamaat but won\'t spare them if they repeat any destructive activity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We will not obstruct them in doing politics and are not doing so as well. But, they won\'t get spared if they set fire to rail again or make any damage to the people,\" she said referring to the violence unleashed by BNP-Jamaat clique during the 2013-2015 period.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said there will be cameras everywhere and the culprits will be identified and punished properly if they carry out any destructive activity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister urged the people to remain alert so that they can stay protected from the hands of terrorist BNP-Jamaat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We want the country to be protected from their hands,\" she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With the newly constructed 72-km dual-gauge double track, the entire 321-km Dhaka-Chattogram corridor has turned into a double lined one increasing its operational capacity, which will save travelling time by 30 minutes to one hour.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan in the chair from Laksam end, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Tazul Islam (also local MP from Laksam-Monohargonj) and Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq (also local MP from Akhaura-Kashba) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) country director for Bangladesh Edimon Ginting spoke on the occasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin conducted the function while Railways Secretary Dr Humayun Kabir delivered the welcome speech.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the outset of the function, an audio-visual documentary on the development of Bangladesh Railway under the present Awami League government was screened.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said, \"BNP is a terrorist party. BNP doesn\'t understand anything except terrorism,\" referring to the misdeeds and brutality of its founder military dictator Ziaur Rahman.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that Ziaur Rahman was involved in the killing of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and national four leaders in jail alongside killing freedom fighter officers of armed forces and ordinary people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She added that when her wife (Begum Khaleda Zia) assumed power, she also didn\'t understand anything but killing people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She continued: \"Over 21,000 leaders and activists of Awami League were killed by them (BNP) while huge numbers were tortured and repressed during her (Khaleda Zia) regime.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina went on saying that, \"This terrorist party’s (BNP) only job is to destroy.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this connection, she mentioned that over 3,824 vehicles including buses and trucks with passengers, drivers and helpers were burnt down by BNP during 2013-2015.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said the BNP-Jamaat set fire to railways in 29 places during their arson violence to thwart the 2014 general election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said many train operations were suspended during the BNP-Jamaat regime, but the AL government took massive steps to improve the sector considering that train journeys are comfortable and cheap for the common people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina said her government formed a separate ministry for railways to increase allocation for the sector.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"In the last 14 and a half years, we constructed 740 km new rail lines, converted 280 km meter-gauge rail tracks into dual-gauge, and reinstalled or reconstructed 1,308 km rail lines,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, the AL government has constructed 126 new station buildings, reconstructed 223 stations buildings, constructed 732 new railway bridges and reinstalled or reconstructed 774 railway bridges during the period, she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier said her government collected 111 locomotives, 588 passenger carriages and 516 wagons (for carrying goods) since 2009.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'ve commissioned 143 new trains on different routes,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also said the government is implementing several mega projects to enhance the regional and local railway communication and networks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'ve taken initiative to collect 46 new broad-gauge locomotives, 460 new broad-gauge passenger carriages, 150 new meter-gauge passenger carriages, 125 new modern luggage vans and 1,310 new wagons,\" she added. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 19:42:29', '2023-07-20 19:42:29'),
(8108, 8108, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least 10 people were killed after a landslide triggered by heavy rains smashed into their village in India\'s Maharashtra state with dozens more feared trapped, officials said Thursday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rescue teams were battling lashing rain in the remote, hilly and forested Raigad district, with people scrambling at mounds of earth and rubble.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra\'s deputy chief minister, said 10 people had died in the landslide, which overwhelmed the village overnight.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"More than 200 people reside there, we have rescued about 70 people so far -- out of those, 21 are injured,\" Fadnavis said on Thursday morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police officer Harish Kalsekar told AFP that nearly 50 people were feared still buried under the debris.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It is raining and the terrain is hilly, so heavy equipment can\'t be moved there,\" Kalsekar said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Interior Minister Amit Shah said the priority was \"to evacuate people from the scene and treat the injured immediately\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India has been battered by rains since the start of the annual monsoon season in June, and flooding and landslides have killed scores of people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Monsoon rains are vital to replenishing rivers and groundwater, but the deluge also causes widespread destruction every year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Experts say climate change is increasing the number of extreme weather events around the world, with damming, deforestation and development projects in India exacerbating the human toll. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 19:48:27', '2023-07-20 19:48:27'),
(8109, 8109, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Awami League General Secretary and Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that BNP\'s condition for participating in the next general election is unconstitutional.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Foreigners have said nothing about the caretaker government or the party\'s one-point agenda,” the minister said while briefing reporters at Setu Bhaban in Dhaka’s Banani.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul’s statement indicates the “intent of violence” and makes it clear that the party is “walking on the path of unrest.”</div><div><br></div><div>“They want to disrupt peaceful elections. They are moving forward with the goal of terrorizing and foiling elections,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL general secretary reiterated his party’s stance on the upcoming election.</div><div><br></div><div>“Awami League’s one point is clear: Election will be held as per the constitution – under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina and the (supervision of) Election Commission,” Quader said.</div><div><br></div><div>“BNP\'s demand is strange, bizarre and absurd. They have decided not to participate in elections unless they are guaranteed to win,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Catherine Cook paid a courtesy call on the minister at the Setu Bhaban.</div><div><br></div><div>During the meeting, discussions were held on how the next national election will be held in the country, and the responsibilities of the election-time government.</div><div><br></div><div>The British High Commissioner stressed on free, fair, peaceful and participatory election. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 20:57:08', '2023-07-20 20:57:08'),
(8110, 8110, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A group of attackers from a road march brought out by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the port city today allegedly vandalised the main election camp of Mohiuddin Bachchu, Awami League (AL) nominated candidate for Chattogram-10 consistency by-polls.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>A video posted on Awami League’s verified Facebook page shows men from the road march attacking the office designated for AL candidate Mohiuddin Bachchu.</div><div><br></div><div>On Wednesday evening, a group of activists from BNP and its associate bodies brought out a procession and as they reached Lalkhan Bazar area, some of them started throwing brick chips targeting the AL election camp, local AL activists said.</div><div><br></div><div>The attackers also tore down banners and posters at the AL election camp.</div><div><br></div><div>The video shows men armed with sticks and rods throwing brick chips and stones while another group is seen vandalising the office.</div><div><br></div><div>The caption with the video posted on AL’s verified Facebook page reads: “Is this a peaceful protest? Should the people of this country allow BNP to carry out such violent activities? We condemn such acts of terror.” Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 22:16:52', '2023-07-20 22:16:52'),
(8111, 8111, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least nine people have been killed and 16 injured after an explosive device accidentally detonated in a field in conflict-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, local sources said on Thursday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The blast occurred on Wednesday evening in Lubwe Sud in North Kivu province\'s Rutshuru territory.</div><div><br></div><div>Justin Mwangaza, a local civil-society figure, told AFP that a civilian had picked up a bomb in a field and given it to a militiamen when it subsequently exploded.</div><div><br></div><div>Nine people were killed and 16 injured, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>A nurse at a nearby clinic confirmed the toll, explaining that two people died on the spot and seven later succumbed to their wounds.</div><div><br></div><div>Some of the 16 wounded people are in critical condition, the nurse said.</div><div><br></div><div>AFP was unable to independently confirm the death toll.</div><div><br></div><div>Armed groups have plagued much of eastern DRC for decades, a legacy of regional wars that flared in the 1990s and 2000s.</div><div><br></div><div>One such group, the M23, has captured swathes of territory in North Kivu since taking up arms again in late 2021 after years of dormancy.</div><div><br></div><div>The rebel campaign has displaced over one million people, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).</div><div><br></div><div>Independent UN experts, the DRC government and several Western nations including the United States and France accuse Rwanda of actively backing the M23, despite denials from Kigali. Accoridngt to AFP reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 23:19:40', '2023-07-20 23:19:40'),
(8112, 8112, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A Dhaka court set August 14 for submitting probe report in a case filed against Grameen Telecom Chairman and Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus and 12 others for allegedly embezzling Taka 25 crore from the company.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Today was fixed for submitting the report but the investigation agency Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) failed to do it. Taking the matter into consideration, Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Asaduzzaman set a new date in this regard.</div><div><br></div><div>ACC deputy director Md Gulshan Anwar on May 30 filed the case with its integrated district office Dhaka-1.</div><div><br></div><div>The other accused in the case are- Grameen Telecom Managing Director Nazmul Islam, directors Ashraful Hasan, Naznin Sultana, Parvin Mahmud, Md Shahjahan, Nurjahan Begum and SM Huzzatul Islam Latifee, Sramik-Karmachari Union President Md Kamruzzaman and General Secretary Firoz Mahmud Hasan, lawyers Zafrul Hasan Sharif and Yusuf Ali and representative Md Mainul Islam.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the case documents, a decision was made on the company\'s 108th board meeting, presided over by Dr Yunus on May 9, 2022, to open a bank account at Gulshan branch of Dhaka Bank Limited. But it was found that the account was opened a day before the decision was even made.</div><div><br></div><div>More than Taka 26 crore was transferred to the account on different occasions, as per \'fake settlement agreements\' and decision of the board. But before even distributing the share of the company\'s profit to the workers, and letting them know, the accused embezzled around Taka 25 crore from the fund. According to BSS reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-20 23:36:29', '2023-07-20 23:36:29'),
(8113, 8113, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United Arab Emirates is interested in making investments in the energy sector of Bangladesh, particularly renewable energy, said a visiting minister of the oil-rich Gulf country on Thursday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber expressed this eagerness during a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div><br></div><div>“They are very interested in the energy sector, especially renewable energy alongside conventional energy,” PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said while briefing reporters after the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Ahmed, also the chairman of ‘Masdar’ (an energy company) and Managing Director of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), said that they will send two teams to Bangladesh from UAE -- one is to discuss renewable energy and another one to discuss business.</div><div><br></div><div>During the meeting, mainly the climate change and bilateral issues including economic cooperation were discussed, said the press secretary.</div><div><br></div><div>Ahmed, also the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change and President-Designate for the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) praised the leadership of PM Hasina on the climate change issue and expected her further support on this issue.</div><div><br></div><div>He sought support from the prime minister on climate change and food security issues. “We want to be a game changer,” he said, adding that they are exerting pressure on collection of climate funds to solve the problem before the COP28.</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that UAE is going green, the minister said they want to get a positive impact from the COP28 in the UAE.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said the COP28 is of crucial importance since it will involve a global stocktake of the Paris Agreement.</div><div><br></div><div>“We hope the UAE presidency will help make a realistic assessment of the progress made and the huge gaps that remain to accelerate climate actions globally to maintain the 1.5 degree temperature,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking about the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and UAE, the PM said “We’ve many things in common.”</div><div><br></div><div>PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, PM’s ambassador-at-large Mohammad Ziauddin and PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin and Environment Secretary Farhina Ahmed and UAE ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah Ali Al Hamoudi were present. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-21 00:03:43', '2023-07-21 00:03:43');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(8114, 8114, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Iraq\'s prime minister ordered the expulsion of the Swedish ambassador from Iraq and the withdrawal of the Iraqi charge d\'affaires from Sweden on Thursday as a man desecrated of a copy of the Quran in Stockholm.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The diplomatic blowup came hours after protesters angered by the planned burning of a copy of the Quran stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad, breaking into the compound and lighting a small fire.</div><div><br></div><div>The Swedish Embassy announced it had closed to visitors. Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani said that Iraqi authorities will prosecute the arsonists as well, referring \"negligent security officials\" for investigation.</div><div><br></div><div>The man kicked and stood on the Quran during his protest at the Iraqi Embassy in Stockholm as Swedish police stood by.</div><div><br></div><div>Protesters angered by the planned burning of a copy of the Quran stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad early Thursday, breaking into the compound and lighting a small fire and setting off a diplomatic furor.</div><div><br></div><div>Online videos showed demonstrators at the diplomatic post waving flags and signs showing the influential Iraqi Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr ahead of a planned burning of the Islamic holy book Thursday in Stockholm by an Iraqi asylum-seeker who burned a copy of the Quran in a previous demonstration last month.</div><div><br></div><div>Following the incident, the Swedish Embassy announced it had closed to visitors without specifying when it would reopen. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani convened a meeting with security officials and said in a statement afterwards that Iraqi authorities will prosecute those responsible for the arson as well referring \"negligent security officials\" for investigation.</div><div><br></div><div>However, the statement also said that the Iraqi government had informed its Swedish counterpart on Wednesday that Iraq would cut off diplomatic relations should the Quran burning go forward.</div><div><br></div><div>The videos showed dozens of men climbing over the fence at the complex, with the sound of them trying to break down a front door. Another showed what appeared to be a small fire being set. Other footage showed men, some shirtless in the summer heat, inside what appeared to be a room at the embassy, an alarm audible in the background.</div><div><br></div><div>Others later performed predawn prayers outside of the embassy.</div><div><br></div><div>As dawn broke, police and other security officials gathered at the embassy as small plumes of smoke still rose. Firefighters tried to douse the flames from the ladder of a fire truck. Some demonstrators still stood at the site, holding placards showing al-Sadr\'s face, apparently left alone by police.</div><div><br></div><div>The Swedish Foreign Ministry said in a statement that \"our embassy staff are in safety,\" without elaborating. In a statement posted on its website Thursday, the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad said it is closed to visitors, but didn\'t specify how long the closure would last.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We condemn all attacks on diplomats and staff from international organizations,\" the ministry said. \"Attacks on embassies and diplomats constitute a serious violation of the Vienna Convention. Iraqi authorities have the responsibility to protect diplomatic missions and diplomatic staff.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström called the attacks \"completely unacceptable\" in a statement and said the ministry will summon Iraq\'s charge d\'affaires in Stockholm, slamming Iraqi authorities for \"seriously failing\" in their responsibility to protect the embassy and its personnel.</div><div><br></div><div>The Finnish embassy in Baghdad is adjacent to the Swedish embassy, in an area enclosed by blast walls. Finland\'s ambassador to Iraq, Matti Lassila, told the Finnish public broadcaster YLE that the staff of the Swedish and Finnish embassies were proactively evacuated Wednesday and were uninjured.</div><div><br></div><div>Iraq\'s Foreign Ministry also issued a statement condemning the attack, without explaining how it allowed the breach to happen or identifying who carried out the assault.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The Iraqi government has instructed the competent security authorities to conduct an urgent investigation and take the necessary security measures in order to uncover the circumstances of the incident and identify the perpetrators of this act and hold them accountable according to the law,\" the Foreign Ministry said.</div><div><br></div><div>Iraqi police did not immediately acknowledge the attack.</div><div><br></div><div>Stockholm police spokesman Mats Eriksson confirmed that police had granted permission for a demonstration involving two people outside the Iraqi Embassy in Stockholm on Thursday. He could not say whether the protesters were planning to burn the Quran.</div><div><br></div><div>The right to hold public demonstrations is strong in Sweden and protected by the constitution. Blasphemy laws were abandoned in the 1970s. Police generally give permission based on whether they believe a public gathering can be held without major disruptions or risks to public safety.</div><div><br></div><div>However, for Muslims, the burning of the Quran represents a blasphemous desecration of their religion\'s holy text. Quran burnings in the past have sparked protests across the Muslim world, some turning violent. In Afghanistan, the Taliban have suspended all the activities of Swedish organizations in the country in response to the recent Quran burning.</div><div><br></div><div>An Iraqi Christian immigrant last month burned a Quran outside a Stockholm mosque during the major Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, triggering widespread condemnation in the Islamic world. According to Swedish news agency TT, the same man was one of those who planned to burn the Quran on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>A similar protest by a far-right activist was held outside Turkey\'s Embassy earlier this year, complicating Sweden\'s efforts to convince Turkey to let it join NATO.</div><div><br></div><div>In June, protesters who support al-Sadr stormed the embassy in Baghdad during daylight hours over that Quran burning. Another day of protests saw thousands of demonstrators on the streets in the country. Protesters then, as well as early Thursday, called on Iraqi officials to expel Sweden\'s ambassador to Iraq.</div><div><br></div><div>Al-Sadr, the chameleonic son of a prominent Shiite cleric assassinated in a 1999 attack believed to be organized by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, quickly organized Shiite dispossessed under Saddam against the American occupation after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.</div><div><br></div><div>Saddam loyalists and Shiite extremists alike would soon fight an insurgency against the American forces. Al-Sadr\'s Mahdi Army militia fought American forces throughout much of 2004 in Baghdad and other cities. Al-Sadr\'s forces are believed to have later taken part in the sectarian killings between Shiites and Sunnis that plagued Iraq for several years after the bombing of one of the holiest sites in Shiite Islam.</div><div><br></div><div>Since that time much has changed.</div><div><br></div><div>Al-Sadr\'s followers have taken part in Iraqi military offensives against the Islamic State group in Tikrit and other cities. He has organized rallies against government corruption, including breaching the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, the highly secure area housing government offices and many foreign embassies.</div><div><br></div><div>He claimed he would bow out of politics last August, following a nearly yearlong deadlock in the formation of a new Cabinet. His party won the largest share of seats in the October 2021 parliamentary elections, but not enough to secure a majority government. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-21 02:15:05', '2023-07-21 02:15:05'),
(8115, 8115, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP on Thursday told British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke that a fair election is not possible here without a neutral government as the current regime has been moving ahead with its scheme of rigging votes.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Though the election is six months away, the scheme of stealing votes is actively going on...that’s why it’s not possible to have a fair election in Bangladesh without an impartial government,” said BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Briefing reporters about the outcome of their meeting with the British envoy, he said that the only way to break the vote-stealing scheme is holding the election under a non-partisan government. “This discussion is now going on everywhere and it has come up in our discussion today (Thursday).\"</div><div><br></div><div>Explaining the political developments and context over the last week, the BNP leader said one of their party leaders was killed, many others were injured,&nbsp; arrested, and implicated in false cases while DCs, UNOs and police officers were transferred and given new postings. “These all are parts of the scheme to steal votes in the election.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said all the democratic countries and organisations across the world have concerns that human rights the rule of law, and the security of public life are at stake amid widespread corruption as an ‘unelected’ government has been in power.</div><div><br></div><div>“The only way to change this situation is a fair, acceptable and participatory election and that is the same expectation of the democratic countries like the people of Bangladesh,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the global community has also concerns whether a credible, participatory and impartial election will be held in Bangladesh paving the way for people to elect their parliament and the government. “The British government has always had this concern as we follow Westminster. This issue was also discussed in the meeting.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Asked whether the UK support BNP’s demand for holding a fair and participatory under a non-partisan government, he said not only Great Britain but also many other countries are extending support to it.</div><div><br></div><div>“Why are the (delegations of) democratic countries coming to Bangladesh? What messages are they sending?&nbsp; Why are they talking about a representative and participatory and acceptable election? Are they going to any other country in South Asia?” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>Had there been a fair election in Bangladesh, he said these questions would not have been raised and the British High Commissioner would not have come to the BNP Chairperson’s office to discuss these issues.</div><div><br></div><div>Khosru said the people of Bangladesh want to get back democracy, their voting rights, the rule of law, democratic politics, and constitutional rights, and they also want a level-playing field and security of life. “These are not the demands of BNP, these are the demands of crores of people in this country.\"</div><div><br></div><div>After a meeting with Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, the British High Commissioner&nbsp; went to the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office around 3pm and had around one hour and fifty minutes of meeting with a BNP delegation, led by its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir,</div><div><br></div><div>BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Organising Secretary Shama Obaed also attended the meeting, according to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-21 02:46:43', '2023-07-21 02:46:43'),
(8116, 8116, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">North Korea\'s defence minister said Thursday the current port visit of a US nuclear-capable submarine to South Korea could meet the legal conditions under which Pyongyang would use its nuclear weapons.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points ever, with diplomacy stalled and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un calling for increased weapons development, including tactical nuclear weapons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States and South Korea have stepped up displays of military muscle in response, and a US nuclear-capable submarine made a port call to South Korea this week for the first time since 1981.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pyongyang\'s defence minister Kang Sun Nam said the arrival in Busan port of a US Ohio-class submarine \"may fall under the conditions of the use of nuclear weapons specified in the DPRK law on the nuclear force policy\", referring to North Korea by its official name.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea last year adopted a sweeping nuclear law, setting out an array of scenarios in which it could use its nukes, including pre-emptive nuclear strikes if threatened.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kang said the presence of the sub was an \"undisguised and direct nuclear threat to the DPRK\", and meant that \"strategic nuclear weapons have been deployed on the Korean peninsula for the first time after 40 odd years\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The US military side should realise that its nuclear assets have entered extremely dangerous waters,\" he said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the Ohio-class submarine Wednesday, and warned Pyongyang that were it to use nuclear weapons against the South, \"it will lead to the demise of its regime\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ohio-class subs can carry up to 20 Trident II ballistic missiles. The US Navy typically does not confirm if a submarine is carrying nuclear weapons before it goes out to sea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The allies also held their first Nuclear Consultative Group meeting in Seoul Tuesday, to improve their joint response to any nuclear attack by North Korea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Direct, outright threat\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It appears that the deployment of the submarine has rattled the North, Hong Min, a researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Pyongyang\'s message is that the US and South Korea are acting in a manner that is bringing the North closer to consider invoking its nuclear weapons use guidelines,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Yoon\'s comment during his visit to the submarine mentioning the end of the North Korean regime appears to have rattled Pyongyang a lot, prompting it to react much more aggressively.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea has conducted a string of banned weapons tests this year, including twice launching its newest solid fuel Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Seoul and Washington have ramped up defence cooperation in response, staging joint military exercises with advanced stealth jets and US strategic assets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Washington first announced it would deploy a submarine capable of launching ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads to the Korean peninsula in April, while Yoon was on a state visit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea baulks at having US nuclear assets deployed around the Korean peninsula.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kang said that for Washington and Seoul, \"any use of their military muscle against the DPRK will be their most miserable choice by which they will have no room to think of their existence again\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pyongyang\'s statement comes as an American soldier, Travis King, is believed to be in North Korean custody after crossing the border during a tourist trip to the Joint Security Area in the Demilitarised Zone on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pyongyang has a long history of detaining Americans and using them as bargaining chips in bilateral ties. It has not yet issued any comment on King.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US-led United Nations Command has said it is working with North Korea\'s military to \"resolve this incident\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But with relations between Pyongyang and Washington at one of their lowest points in years, experts say it will be difficult to gain consular access to King.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In addition, nearly all foreign embassies in Pyongyang withdrew foreign staff after North Korea closed its borders in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That includes Sweden, which handles US consular affairs in the North Korean capital. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-21 16:44:41', '2023-07-21 16:44:41'),
(8117, 8117, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">China has laid emphasis on stronger people to people relations between Dhaka and Beijing to help learn from each other and move forward together towards common development and prosperity.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To help understand each other better and foster deeper friendship between the two sides, the Chinese government has invited a ten-member media delegation which arrived in Xinjiang on Thursday evening to interact with the people of all walks of life here and the officials.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Journalists play a vital role to tell the truth to world,\" an official here told UNB, adding that now it is very easy and convenient to travel to China and learn from each other.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Now all travel related restrictions have been lifted in China following recovery from Covid-19.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The media delegation members from Bangladesh visited Xinjiang Museum on Thursday evening.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This Museum receives around 10 thousand visitors every day from all over the world. But the domestic visitors dominate the number,\" an official at the Museum told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Located in Urumqi, capital of northwest China\'s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the expansion area of the museum covers more than 12,000 square meters, bringing the total area of the museum to nearly 50,000 square meters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The renovated museum is expected to receive 2 million visitors every year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The media delegation members are Daily Jugantor Chief Reporter Masud Karim, The Business Standard Deputy Editor Titu Das Gupta, The Financial Express Special Correspondent Mir Mostafizur Rahaman, The Daily Star Diplomatic Correspondent Porimol Palma, UNB Special Correspondent AKM Moinuddin, Independent TV Special Correspondent Nafiza Dawla, ATN News Chief Reporter Ashiqur Rahman Apu, Daily Samokal Diplomatic Correspondent Tasnim Mohsin Mishu, Jamuna TV Senior Reporter Ahmed Reza and Somoy TV Diplomatic Correspondent Tajwar Mahmid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During this visit, the media delegation will get knowledge of the true Xinjiang from multiple perspectives, such as religious policy, ethnic equality and unity, education development, traditional cultural protection and inheritance, health care development, rural revitalization, literary and artistic creation, protection of women and children\'s rights, and assurance of human rights by the legal system.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Before the departure from Dhaka, Ambassador of China to Bangladesh Yao Wen said the friendly relations and practical cooperation between Bangladesh and China have made fruitful achievements.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"By recording and spreading the stories of China-Bangladesh friendship by pens and cameras, the press have always played a key role in promoting our bilateral relations and people-to-people exchanges,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The embassy hoped that Bangladeshi media will take the initiative to encourage friends from all walks of life in Bangladesh to work with the embassy to dig out and tell more touching stories of China-Bangladesh friendship, so as to enhance the bridge of understanding and friendship between the two countries and the two peoples.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When the Covid situation eased, the embassy immediately invited representatives of local media houses to visit China.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The charm of the \"Colorful Yunnan\" was felt all across the country,” said Ambassador Yao.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, a separate delegation for Yunnan, China, had in-depth exchanges with government officials and media and university representatives.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They visited industries of local characteristics, ethnic and cultural legacies and spots of Belt and Road cooperation, through which they experienced in persons the achievements of ecological civilization construction and rural revitalization in Yunnan Province.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“You will be indulged with the mysterious Xinjiang,” said Yao.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While appreciating the elegance of the ancient Silk Road, they would also deepen the understanding of the profound spirit core of the Belt and Road Initiative today, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ambassador Yao also said in the future, the embassy will facilitate more friends from the press to visit the vast land of China and experience the infinite vitality of Chinese modernisation. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-21 17:13:53', '2023-07-21 17:13:53'),
(8118, 8118, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Gold Jewellers became costlier and marked its price over Tk1,00,000 per bhori for the first time in the country.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Jewellers Samity (Bajus) on Thursday announced the price hike, said a press release.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The price of good quality 22 carat gold has been increased by Tk2333 per bhori.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This price is the highest ever in the country.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The press release has been signed by MA Hannan Azad, Chairman of Bajus Price Determination and Price Monitoring Standing Committee on Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the notification, the price of acidic gold has increased in the local market. Considering the overall situation, Bajus has fixed the new price of gold. It will be implemented from Friday (July 21).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The price of 21 carat solid gold is Tk96228, 18 carat is Tk82464 and the traditional gold price is Tk68701. The price of gold has been increased but the price of silver has been kept unchanged. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-21 17:22:29', '2023-07-21 17:22:29'),
(8119, 8119, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Jamaat-e-Islami has not been given permission to hold a public rally in Sylhet city on Friday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The rally has not been allowed due to the fear of violence, Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Elias Sharif told journalists on Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said police received Jamaat\'s application and scrutinised it and decided not to permit them to hold the rally.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On July 16, the Sylhet city unit of Jamaat applied to the Sylhet Metropolitan Police, seeking permission to hold the rally at the Registry Ground in the city on Friday (July 21). UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-21 17:25:48', '2023-07-21 17:25:48'),
(8120, 8120, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave Dhaka for Italy on Sunday at an invitation of the United Nation Secretary-General to attend the UN Food Systems Summit to be held in Rome on July 24-26.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The summit titled ‘United Nations Food Systems +2 Stocktaking Moment’ (UNFSS+2) will be held at the Headquarters of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with the theme of ‘Sustainable Food Systems for People, Planet and Prosperity: Diverse Pathways in a Shared Journey.’</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina and her entourage will leave Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 5:00am on Sunday and she is scheduled to reach Rome at 2:00pm local time after a stopover in Doha.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During her stay in Italy, she will also sit in a bilateral meeting with her Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The premier is expected to pass busy time during her stay in Italy,” said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at a press conference on Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On July 24, the Bangladesh Prime Minister will address the inaugural session of the summit as a special guest. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres, among others, is expected to speak at the event, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Then Sheikh Hasina will attend a plenary session on food systems and climate action at FAO headquarters, join a regional envoy conference, which will be held with participation of 15 Bangladeshi envoys stationed in Europe on the same day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On July 25, the Bangladesh prime minister will have a bilateral meeting with her Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on ‘cooperation in the field of energy’ and ‘cultural exchange programme’ are expected to be signed between the two countries during her visit to Italy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, the Prime Minister is expected to hold talks with the executive chiefs of FAO, International Fund of Agricultural Development (IFAD) and World Food Programme (WFP).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier will be accompanied, among others, by Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder and PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salam Fazlur Rahman during the visit. Sheikh Hasina is expected to return home on July 26. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-21 17:31:00', '2023-07-21 17:31:00'),
(8121, 8121, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday reiterated that the upcoming general election will be held as per the provision of the constitution.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Apart from this, Awami League will not allow anyone\'s conspiratorial ambitions to be implemented,” he told a meeting at the party\'s central office on Bangabandhu Avenue this morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Quader, also the road, transports and bridges minister said, “BNP\'s only demand is Sheikh Hasina’s resignation which is a gross violation of the Constitution. We cannot violate the Constitution.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Quader asserted that the opposion group consists of communal forces, which are friends of both Pakistan and Afghanistan, and are patrons of militancy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Should we surrender to the activities of these conspirators?&nbsp; Should we sacrifice the soil of this country, Bangabandhu\'s leadership, independence, Sheikh Hasina\'s leadership, political victory and development journey?\" Quader asked.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Awami League general secretary said the BNP is engaged in killing AL members across the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Awami League leaders and activists are being killed. And BNP is habitually misleading the nation with baseless information,” Quader said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The violence that is taking place in many parts of the country is highly well-planned. BNP, the mastermind of political evil forces, is trying to attract the attention of foreigners by making isolated incidents. They are conspiring to sabotage the election.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Regarding the attack on Ashraful Alom, popularly known as “Hero Alom” during the Dhaka-17 by-election in Gulshan,&nbsp; Quader said whoever the candidate is, the government is looking at him as a candidate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“So far 10 people have been arrested in connection with the incident. The government has taken action,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Awami League Presidium Members Matia Chowdhury, Mofazzal Hossain Maya, Kazi Zafarullah, Abdur Razzaque, Kamrul Islam, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretary Afzal Hossain, Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan, Office Secretary Biplab Barua, Publicity and Publication Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Abdus Sabur among others were present at the meeting. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-21 20:24:20', '2023-07-21 20:24:20'),
(8122, 8122, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith has said they deeply condemn the repeated incidents of the public burning of Holy Quran in a few countries as they insult the sacred values of Muslims worldwide.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He met the UN Secretary-General António Guterres today at his office in his capacity as the Acting Chair of the OIC CFM.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He was accompanied by representatives of other OIC countries including Egypt, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mauritania and Pakistan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the meeting, Ambassador Muhith told the secretary-general that such despicable acts of Holy Quran\'s desecration not only inflames the sentiments of Muslims worldwide but also goes against the principles of freedom of expression, religious tolerance and individual beliefs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He further stated that inaction against this form of religious hatred may lead to incitement of violence and thus destabilize the peace and security in many countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka calls on UN Secretary-General to convey OIC’s deep condemnation on burning of Holy Quran&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Photo: Collected</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this context, he also referred to the case of Rohingya Muslims who were forced to take shelter in Bangladesh owing to the consequences of religious and ethnic hatred in Myanmar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Muhith urged the UN secretary general to request all UN member states to take appropriate legal measures at the national level to combat religious intolerance including Islamophobia, hate speech and desecration of Holy Quran and other religious symbols.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Secretary-General Guterres expressed his solidarity with the OIC members and strongly condemned this heinous act of religious hatred.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also assured the OIC representatives that he would do his best in his capacity as the UN secretary-general to support the global efforts in preventing the recurrence of such anti-religious hatred in future.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier led by Ambassador Muhith, OIC representatives called on the President of the General Assembly Csaba Kőrösi on 14th July and President of the Security Council for the month of July Ambassador Dame Barbara Woodward on 20th July to express the similar concerns. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-21 20:27:12', '2023-07-21 20:27:12'),
(8123, 8123, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Attributing restoration of democracy to Awami League, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina\'s ICT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed recalled the dark times when the government was led by military rulers and fundamentalist forces that put democracy in the back seat for a long time.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A video posted yesterday from his verified Facebook page made the observation that Bangladesh had to undergo an agonizing wait for democracy over the years even after achieving independence through the Liberation War in 1971.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 1975 assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman paved the way for Pakistani-style autocracy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The governments of Mostaq, Zia, and Ershad “followed the course of Ayub Khan and Yahya Khan to destroy democracy and validate their own misrule,” said the video.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They paved the way for the return of Jamaat-e-Islami, which strongly opposed the independence of Bangladesh and with the Pakistan army committed crimes against humanity during the Liberation War, into the country\'s political landscape.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The video also highlighted the role of Awami League in advancing freedom and democracy since the party’s inception to this day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When the fear of autocrats hushed all the political parties in 1958 and prompted them to refrain from political activities, it was Bangabandhu who carried forward the struggle for restoring democracy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Following the 1981 homecoming of Sheikh Hasina, she was not allowed to enter her own residence as the country was then governed by a military dictator.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In February 1983, the then military ruler kept her under house arrest, a feat repeated in the coming years of 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, and 1990. On January 24, 1988, police fired bullets targeting Sheikh Hasina and her supporters in front of Chattogram Court Building, killing around 30 Awami League activists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Contrasting Awami League\'s pro-democratic approach to BNP\'s politics, the video said that Khaleda Zia “demanded halting the trial of her son Tarique Rahman and sending him abroad; otherwise, she would refrain from taking part in the election.”&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Moreover, BNP and Jamaat carried out widespread subversive activities to threaten democracy in 2013 and 2014,” the video posted by Sajeeb Wazed said. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-21 20:29:35', '2023-07-21 20:29:35'),
(8124, 8124, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Police have arrested a man in connection with the assault on the independent candidate for the Dhaka-17 by-election, Ashraful Alom alias Hero Alom.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Also read: EC wants to form judicial inquiry committee to investigate attack on Hero Alam</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talukder Masud, president of the Karwanbazar Pick-up Owners Association, was arrested on Thursday afternoon, said Sub-inspector Nur Uddin of Banani Police Station.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"So far, we have arrested 10 people in connection with the incident. Efforts are on to nab the rest through video footage,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hero Alam was attacked by some miscreants while he was leaving the Banani Bidyaniketan School polling centre on July 17. He returned home after receiving treatment at a hospital. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-21 21:59:21', '2023-07-21 21:59:21'),
(8125, 8125, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday dismissed the country\'s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Vadym Prystaiko, after he criticised the president\'s response to a row over British military aid.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prystaiko\'s dismissal came after he criticised Zelensky\'s sarcastic response to suggestions from British defence minister Ben Wallace that Ukraine should show more gratitude for arms supplies from its allies. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-21 22:01:43', '2023-07-21 22:01:43'),
(8126, 8126, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud today said parliamentary polls will be held as per the constitution of the country and current government will perform duties of poll-time government.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will discharge duties of the premier during the polls. There is no chance to go beyond the constitution for an inch,\" he told journalists at Circuit House here before addressing the extended meeting of district unit of AL as the chief guest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In India, the UK, Australia, Japan, France and Germany in the continental Europe and other democratic countries, existing government perform duties of poll-time government and in the USA, existing president doesn\'t resign before elections of president, he referred.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP is demanding caretaker government system which also exists in Pakistan, he mentioned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"My question is that why they (BNP) only follows Pakistan. Mirza Fakhrul (BNP secretary general) few days ago said Pakistan (period) was better. So, it is natural that they would follow Pakistan,\" Hasan said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About BNP\'s movement, the AL joint general secretary said: \"Now BNP\'s situation is as like as confined lion. It is as like as too much talks end in nothing. They have nothing to do anything else.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If BNP tries to destroy the country\'s peace and order, the government will deal them in iron hand and the AL along with people will resist them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Reply to a question about visit of delegations of the European Union (EU) and the USA, the minister said the EU delegation came at the invitation of the Election Commission, not others.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As they came at the EC\'s invitation, they held talks with the commission, ruling party and opposition party and others and their visit was very much positive one, the minister said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They invited them for holding a free, fair and proper elections and the EU sent its delegation at the invitation and so, it is positive one, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About the US under-secretary and high-level officials, Hasan said Bangladesh has very good multidimensional relations with the USA. \"They are our development partner. Few days ago, we celebrated the 50 years of our diplomatic relations. In light with that, their visit was to further strengthen the ties,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave shelter to over 12 lakh Rohingya people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US delegation visited the Rohingya camps, he said, adding before leaving Bangladesh, they said the relations between the two nations will go ahead.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Their visit also strengthened our ties,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kurigram district unit AL President Md Zafar Ali chaired the meeting at Zila Parishad Hall while General Secretary Aman Uddin Ahmed Manju moderated it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Zakir Hossain, AL Joint General Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Central Members Advocate Safura Begum Rumi and Advocate Hosne Ara Lutfa Dalia addressed the meeting, among others. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-21 22:05:32', '2023-07-21 22:05:32');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(8127, 8127, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Attributing restoration of democracy to Awami League, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina\'s ICT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed recalled the dark times when the government was led by military rulers and fundamentalist forces that put democracy in the back seat for a long time.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A video posted yesterday from his verified Facebook page made the observation that Bangladesh had to undergo an agonizing wait for democracy over the years even after achieving independence through the Liberation War in 1971.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 1975 assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman paved the way for Pakistani-style autocracy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The governments of Mostaq, Zia, and Ershad “followed the course of Ayub Khan and Yahya Khan to destroy democracy and validate their own misrule,” said the video.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They paved the way for the return of Jamaat-e-Islami, which strongly opposed the independence of Bangladesh and with the Pakistan army committed crimes against humanity during the Liberation War, into the country\'s political landscape.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The video also highlighted the role of Awami League in advancing freedom and democracy since the party’s inception to this day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When the fear of autocrats hushed all the political parties in 1958 and prompted them to refrain from political activities, it was Bangabandhu who carried forward the struggle for restoring democracy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Following the 1981 homecoming of Sheikh Hasina, she was not allowed to enter her own residence as the country was then governed by a military dictator.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In February 1983, the then military ruler kept her under house arrest, a feat repeated in the coming years of 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, and 1990. On January 24, 1988, police fired bullets targeting Sheikh Hasina and her supporters in front of Chattogram Court Building, killing around 30 Awami League activists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Contrasting Awami League\'s pro-democratic approach to BNP\'s politics, the video said that Khaleda Zia “demanded halting the trial of her son Tarique Rahman and sending him abroad; otherwise, she would refrain from taking part in the election.”&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Moreover, BNP and Jamaat carried out widespread subversive activities to threaten democracy in 2013 and 2014,” the video posted by Sajeeb Wazed said. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-21 23:04:04', '2023-07-21 23:04:04'),
(8128, 8128, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ed Westwick is currently in Mumbai, and took to Instagram to share pictures from his sightseeing in the city. He was accompanied by his actor-girlfriend Amy Jackson, as they shared a kiss in front of the Gateway of India.&nbsp;</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ed Westwick shared a bunch of pictures on his Instagram where he was seen having a gala time. Amy Jackson accompanied him for the day as they both smiled for a selfie, clicked in front of the Gateway of India. In another picture, Ed was seen busy scrolling through his phone. Ed captioned the post with a short and sweet note, and wrote: \"Gateway 2 India.\" Amy reacted to the post and commented with a red heart emoticon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ed also replied to a bunch of fans who commented on his post. One asked, \"Yaay what do you like the most about India so far?\" To this, Ed said, \"I had street food. Unreal.\" Another asked, \"Omg CHUCK, what are you doing in India?\" To this, the actor replied, \"killin it.\" A second fan said, \"u r the gateway 2 my heart (red heart emoticon)\" and Ed replied, \"cutie.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, Amy also posted the same pictures a small video of the food served for breakfast on her Instagram. She captioned it, \"Namaste ya lil tinker\" Reacting to the post, Ed commented back, “Bloody tinker tots everywhere.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">It was on Wednesday when Ed was spotted by the paparazzo exiting the Mumbai airport. In the small video that was soon posted on Instagram, the actor was seen walking out of the airport with the paparazzo following him from the front. Ed looked cool in a deep blue tee paired with a blue jacket and green shorts. At the airport, the actor posed for the shutterbugs and then made his way out.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Amy and Ed\'s relationship</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ed and Amy Jackson confirmed their relationship when Amy made an Instagram post in June last year. She was earlier engaged to George Panayiotou. They welcomed their son Andreas in September in 2019. Their split was confirmed in 2021 when Amy deleted all photos of George, including the post in which they announced the birth of Andreas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ed is known for playing playboy Chuck Bass on the CW Network\'s Gossip Girl from 2007 to 2012. The show also starred Blake Lively, Leighton Meester and others. Ed also played the lead in the sitcom White Gold. Ed had made his film debut with Children of Men (2006). HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-21 23:33:13', '2023-07-21 23:33:13'),
(8129, 8129, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh reported one more COVID-19-linked death and 32 fresh cases in 24 hours till Friday morning.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With the new numbers, the country\'s total fatalities rose to 29,467 and caseload to 2,043,913, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The daily case test positivity rate declined to 4.31 per cent from Thursday’s 4.35 as 743 samples were tested.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, the recovery and death rates remained unchanged at 98.38 and 1.44 percent, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 in 2021 and highest number of fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-21 23:36:16', '2023-07-21 23:36:16'),
(8130, 8130, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least 17 people including seven children and five women were killed and 35 others injured when a bus plunged into a roadside pond at Chhatrakanda in Sadar upazila of Jhalakathi district on Saturday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Five of the deceased were identified as Sumaiya, 5, Samad Molla, 60, Tarik, 55, Shahin Molla, 33 and Abdullah, 7 while the identities of the others could not be known immediately.</div><div><br></div><div>The Barishal-bound bus from Bhandaria in Pirojpur district carrying around 70 passengers fell into the pond near Union Parishad office around 9:55 am, leaving 17 people dead and 35 others injured, said Sub-inspector of Sadar Police Station Shakhawat Hossain.</div><div><br></div><div>The driver might have lost control over the steering, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The injured were taken to Sadar Hospital. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-22 20:13:54', '2023-07-22 20:13:54'),
(8131, 8131, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said people\'s trust and confidence are crucial factors for army and the military in Bangladesh earned that with their performance.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"Trust and confidence are very important for any army. If there is no trust and confidence, independence and sovereignty cannot be protected. Today, I can say that people have their trust and confidence in our army,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier was addressing the opening ceremony of Army Selection Board (First Phase)-2023 at Senakunja in Dhaka Cantonment here.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>She said Bangladesh Army is a people\'s army, which always stands beside the country\'s people and plays very effective role during any disaster.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Referring to the engagement of the army with the country\'s development activities directly, she said the army is working everywhere from infrastructure development.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"As the army is implementing many big projects, we are sure that the work will be done quickly ensuring quality,\" she added.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;Mentioning a quote of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the premier said, \"Bangabandhu told the army that our army will be people\'s army\".</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;In this perspective, Sheikh Hasina also hoped that Bangladesh Army would pull the country ahead as people\'s army.&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>She asked Bangladesh Army Selection Board-2023 to pick qualified and prudent officers for promotion through a neutral evaluation.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"You should do it considering professional competence, drawing comparative evaluation in logical and scientific ways,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Besides, you need to pay attention to whether the officers have the skills of giving command or the ability of taking quick decisions (in special situations),\" she added.&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The prime minister expressed hope that the selection board will perform the sacred duty with honesty and proper judgement to pick the qualified officers for promotion.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>She added: \"Consider their experience in field work and the ability of taking instant decisions and using resources instantly.... We want you to promote the officers for future leadership (in Bangladesh Army) through neutral evaluation.\"&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Describing the Bangladesh Army as the vigilant sentinels of the country\'s independence and sovereignty, the head of government said Bangladesh doesn\'t want to engage in a war with anyone as it believes in peace.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"A peaceful environment is a prerequisite for development,\" she said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Praising the Bangladesh Army, Sheikh Hasina said the army has been playing a praiseworthy role standing beside the people in any disaster and critical time, reports BSS</div><div><br></div><div>\"Our patriotic army always stands by the people of the country,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-22 20:52:01', '2023-07-22 20:52:01'),
(8132, 8132, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Lionel Messi scored on his debut for Inter Miami in the final seconds of stoppage time as his team beat Cruz Azul 2-1.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>On as a 54th minute substitute in the Leagues Cup game, Messi was given the chance for the perfect debut when he won a free-kick on the edge of the box and curled the game-winner into the top corner. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-22 21:02:09', '2023-07-22 21:02:09'),
(8133, 8133, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Right-handed opener Fargana Hoque Pinky made history on Saturday (July 22, 2023) by becoming the first Bangladeshi woman to score a hundred in women\'s ODI.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>She achieved this milestone during the third match of the three-match ODI series against India at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>Prior to Fargana\'s century, the highest individual score by a Bangladeshi woman in ODIs was 75, achieved by former captain Salma Khatun against India in 2013.</div><div><br></div><div>Winning the toss in Saturday\'s match, Bangladesh chose to bat first and posted a total of 225 for four wickets in 50 overs.</div><div><br></div><div>Fargana led the batting with a remarkable 107 runs off 160 balls, including seven fours. She had a solid opening partnership with Sharmin Sultana, and together they added 93 runs — the highest opening stand by the Bangladesh team against India in ODIs so far.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh had already secured a historic victory in the series opener against India, marking their first-ever ODI win against their rivals. However, in the second match, the visitors managed to bounce back and level the series. According to UNB reports </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-22 23:06:26', '2023-07-22 23:13:54'),
(8134, 8134, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The BNP will hold a grand rally in the capital on Thursday (July 27) to press home their one-point demand, including the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and holding the next national election under a neutral government.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programme from a mammoth ‘youth rally’ at historic Suhrawardy Udyan on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the rally will be held in the capital at 2pm as part of their simultaneous movement.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul, however, did not mention the name of the rally venue.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader called upon people from all walks of life to join the rally spontaneously to hasten the fall of the current regime.</div><div><br></div><div>The other like-minded parties and alliances also announced to hold rallies on the same day in different parts of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>The youth rally arranged by three BNP associate bodies--Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal, and Swechchasebak Dal--formally began around 3:28pm with the recitation from the holy Quran.</div><div><br></div><div>The main objective of the programme was to involve the young generation in the street movement for establishing their rights.</div><div><br></div><div>The rally started 90 minutes late as the makeshift stage set up for the programme collapsed apparently due to extra load.</div><div><br></div><div>The incident occurred when Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal President Sultan Salahuddin Tuku was formally opening the rally around 1:50pm. Later, party activists with the help of the employees of the decoration company repaired the cracked stage.</div><div><br></div><div>Youth leaders and activists from various parts of Dhaka wearing different coloured caps and carrying banners, festoons, placards and portraits of the party’s top leaders started gathering at the venue in processions in the morning.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from the main rally venue, the BNP loyalists took a position on the nearby roads, disrupting traffic in the adjoining areas.</div><div><br></div><div>A large number of members of law enforcement agencies have been deployed around the rally venue to fend off any untoward incident.</div><div><br></div><div>The three organizations earlier held five youth rallies and got a huge response from the young people.</div><div><br></div><div>On June 2, three BNP associate bodies announced six youth rallies in Chattogram, Bogura, Khulna, Barishal, Sylhet, and Dhaka to drum up the young generation’s support for the ongoing movement demanding holding the next polls under a caretaker government. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 01:03:53', '2023-07-23 01:03:53'),
(8135, 8135, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Eleven more deaths were reported from dengue by the Directorate General of Health Services on Saturday, raising the fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 167 this year. The July death toll alone rose to 120, smashing the previous highest for deaths from dengue in a single month.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Previously, the deadliest month had been November 2022, when 113 people died from the disease, according to DGHS records in the public domain.</div><div><br></div><div>Also on Saturday, DGHS reported 2,242 hospitalisations - easily the highest this year in a single day.</div><div><br></div><div>Of the new patients, 1,239 were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rest outside it.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 6,656 dengue patients, including 3,839 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>So far, the DGHS has recorded 30,685 dengue cases and 23,862 recoveries this year.</div><div><br></div><div>The country logged 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019. Also, it recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries last year. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 03:13:52', '2023-07-23 03:13:52'),
(8136, 8136, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The World Health Organization warned on Friday that cases of dengue fever could reach close to record highs this year, partly due to global warming benefiting mosquitoes that spread it.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dengue rates are rising globally, with reported cases since 2000 up eight-fold to 4.2 million in 2022, WHO said.</div><div><br></div><div>The disease was found in Sudan’s capital Khartoum for the first time on record, according to a health ministry report in March, while Europe has reported a surge in cases and Peru declared a state of emergency in most regions.</div><div><br></div><div>In January, WHO warned that dengue is the world’s fastest-spreading tropical disease and represents a “pandemic threat”.</div><div><br></div><div>About half of the world’s population is now at risk, Dr. Raman Velayudhan, a specialist at the WHO’s control of neglected tropical diseases department, told journalists in Geneva on Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>Reported cases to WHO hit an all-time high in 2019 with 5.2 million cases in 129 countries, said Velayudhan via a video link. This year the world is on track for “4 million plus” cases, depending mostly on the Asian monsoon season. Source: Gulf Insider&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 03:31:58', '2023-07-23 03:31:58'),
(8137, 8137, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Australia and Bangladesh want to take the relationship between the two countries to a new height by strengthening partnership and expanding trade and investment in potential areas.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Both sides are also keen to explore opportunities and turn them into reality through collaboration in order to derive reciprocal benefits.</div><div><br></div><div>The willingness was expressed during a meeting between Australian Assistant Minister for Trade Senator Tim Ayres and Bangladesh High Commissioner to Australia M Allama Siddiki and BGMEA President Faruque Hassan at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Office in Sydney on July 21.</div><div><br></div><div>During the meeting, they had discussions about general trade issues, investment opportunities and areas of collaboration, BGMEA said on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>They also stressed on the need for finding ways to enhance trade and investment flow for adding dynamism in economic ties.</div><div><br></div><div>The issue of Bangladesh’s economic development, LDC graduation and its associated challenges and preparations to overcome them was also discussed.</div><div><br></div><div>Australian Assistant Minister for Trade Senator Tim Ayres assured that Australia would continue duty free facility for Bangladesh’s exports even after graduation out of LDC in 2026.</div><div><br></div><div>BGMEA President Faruque Hassan expressed thanks to Australia for supporting Bangladesh in its journey towards development, particularly for the decision of continuation of duty free market access in the post-LDC period.</div><div><br></div><div>Highlighting the trade potential, Faruque Hassan said Bangladesh considers Australia as a promising market for apparel exports, especially high-end fashion items.</div><div><br></div><div>He also pointed to Bangladesh’s interest in enhancing exports of cotton and wool from Australia for its RMG sector, emphasizing the need for enhancing industry connections between Australian exporters of raw materials like cotton, wool and importers and manufacturers in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>It would create a win-win situation for both countries, he further said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BGMEA President sought cooperation of Australia in developing knowledge and skills of the students of BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT) in textile, apparel, fashion, design and business through collaboration with leading Australian universities and fashion institutes.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh High Commissioner to Australia M Allama Siddiki recalled with gratitude Australia\'s prompt recognition of Bangladesh after it achieved independence in 1971, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>Since then Australia has remained a committed development partner of Bangladesh, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 03:34:47', '2023-07-23 03:34:47'),
(8138, 8138, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Sheikh Hasina\'s government is needed again, said Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Saturday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>He said this while addressing a peace and development rally organized by the district Awami League at the district school ground in Maijdi of Noakhali.</div><div><br></div><div>Presided over by District Awami League President Khairul Anam Selim, the rally was addressed, among others, by Awami League\'s Chattogram divisional organising secretary Whip Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan.</div><div><br></div><div>At the rally, the minister said Tarique Rahman moved to London 16 years ago on a bond that he will not do politics.</div><div><br></div><div>“You (Tarique) have laundered crores of taka from this country. Sheikh Hasina government has been able to recover Tk 40 crore from abroad and bring it back to the country, people all over the world know that. Where did all this money come from Tarique Rahman? People under the leadership of Tarique Rahman will agitate to topple the government by smuggling thousands of crores of taka through corruption,” said Quader.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader said, “The faces of BNP leaders have dried up and there is no movement anymore. The people of Bangladesh know Tarique Rahman and his leadership Noakhali BNP\'s base is over and they have tried to mislead the people of Noakhali by thinking they are fools. The people of Noakhali are with Bangabandhu\'s base.”</div><div><br></div><div>Quader said there is a lack of honest, efficient and courageous leaders and workers in politics. “We need good people in politics. Sheikh Hasina is not sleeping due to the rise in the prices of essential commodities in the country, she is trying her best to alleviate the sufferings of the poor people.”</div><div><br></div><div>Local parliamentarians, district and upazila Awami League leaders also spoke at the rally. District Awami League General Secretary Shahid Ullah Khan Sohel moderated the rally. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 03:48:59', '2023-07-23 03:48:59'),
(8139, 8139, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The International cricket council (ICC) on Thursday unveiled the first promo of the upcoming ICC Men\'s World Cup 2023 featuring actor Shah Rukh Khan.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Taking to Twitter, ICC dropped unveiled the news campaign and wrote, \"History will be written and dreams will be realised at the ICC Men\'s Cricket World Cup 2023 All it takes is just one day.\"</div><div><br></div><div>At the end of the video, the \'Chak De India\' actor appears with the coveted Cricket World Cup 2023 trophy, and said, \"For everything ever dreamed for, pushed for, lived for, it takes one day.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Soon after the ICC dropped the video, fans flooded the comment section with red hearts and fire emoticons. \"KING KHAN IN THE BUILDING,\" a fan wrote. Another fan commented, \"#ShahRukhKhan Representing India at Global level.\" \"Chak De! India theme playing in our mind,\" a user wrote. The video also featured renowned cricketers like JP Duminy, Shubman Gill, , MS Dhoni, current World Cup winning captain , Muttiah Muralitharan, Jonty Rhodes and Jemimah Rodrigues.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the ICC release, the campaign displays the journey of raw emotions experienced by both players and fans collectively over One Day, with the film connecting the nine \'Navarasa\' emotions - anguish, bravery, glory, joy, passion, power, pride, respect and wonder - and explores how it takes one day to experience this rollercoaster.</div><div><br></div><div>ICC CEO Geoff Allardice was thrilled to launch the campaign and is eagerly awaiting the commencement of the World Cup in Ahmedabad on October 5. \"This campaign is a true celebration of One Day International cricket and builds a sense of anticipation of what we can expect when the ICC Men\'s Cricket World Cup 2023 returns to India.</div><div><br></div><div>The emotions, or Navarasa, are felt by fans and players alike during One Day and this campaign brings to life that shared experience,\" Allardice said. \"Cricket and cinema are at the heart of Indian psyche, and we\'ve infused the two to create appeal far and wide.</div><div><br></div><div>The involvement of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan together with an exceptional line-up of cricketers will only help us deepen our connect in this country, while captivating the attention worldwide,\" as per ICC release. The opening match of the ICC Men\'s Cricket World Cup 2023, featuring defending champions England and runner-up New Zealand, is set to commence on October 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.</div><div><br></div><div>Ten teams will feature in this biggest Cricket World Cup ever, to be played across 10 venues from October 5 to November 19, with the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad hosting the tournament opener and the final. The event will feature 48 matches to be played across 46 days.</div><div><br></div><div>India\'s World Cup campaign will begin with a match against Australia on October 8 in Chennai. The venues other than Ahmedabad and Chennai are Bengaluru, Delhi, Dharamsala, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and Pune. While Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram will join Hyderabad in hosting the practice games. Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will square off at the ICC Men\'s Cricket World Cup 2023 on October 15 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Source: Times of India</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 03:55:38', '2023-07-23 03:55:38'),
(8140, 8140, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Thousands of people have been evacuated from homes and hotels on the Greek island of Rhodes after wildfires engulfed large parts of the island.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The country\'s fire service has described the fires as the most difficult it is currently facing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is estimated more than 3,500 people have been moved by land and sea to safer locations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The island has been battling wildfires fanned by strong winds since Tuesday, amidst a heatwave in Europe.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">No injuries have been reported, according to the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection in Greece.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It said visitors are being evacuated safely from the affected areas of Rhodes - which represent less than 10% of the island\'s tourist accommodation - and are being redirected to other hotels on the island.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Five helicopters and 173 firefighters were operating in the area, with three hotels in the Kiotari area reported to have been damaged by fire. The areas of Laerma, Lardos and Asklipio were also affected.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Private boats joined the Greek coastguard in helping to pick up people from beaches on the east of the island. Greek navy vessels were also reported to be heading to the area, which is popular with tourists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Deputy fire chief Ioannis Artophios said a ferry is available to accommodate people. Others are being housed at an indoor stadium on the island, according to the island\'s deputy mayor.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Artophios added that firefighters often struggle on Rhodes because of how green it is, which is what makes it an attractive tourist destination.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Greek television showed long queues of tourists with suitcases being taken to safety, with smoke in the background.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One British woman said she was evacuated from the hotel she was staying at with her sister and daughter, but was then stuck on a beach with hundreds of others in the severe heat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There\'s just a small shack here and there\'s so many of us,\" Becky Mulligan told the BBC. \"There\'s children, it\'s the middle of the day, we are just stuck here with no help, it\'s disgusting.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Katie Piercefield-Holmes, who arrived on the island on Thursday, described the situation as \"chaotic\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Today was normal up until about lunchtime when the sky turned orange. It was like a sunset in the middle of the day,\" she told the BBC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Hundreds of people were filing down to the beach asking for water, wet towels, but we were being told to stay at that point.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She says firefighters have told her she is safe in her hotel, despite other guests evacuating.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Simon Wheatley said ash had begun falling onto his pizza when he was eating.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The hotel said this was normal and there was no need to worry as they were in contact with the authorities about the situation,\" he told the BBC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His hotel was later evacuated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We saw that a beach bar that we were at just the day before had burnt down. The smoke was so bad. We had to leave two bags of luggage.\" BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 13:38:06', '2023-07-23 13:38:06'),
(8141, 8141, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The UN secretary-general on Saturday voiced \"great concern\" surrounding elections in Guatemala and called on the Central American nation to respect the will of voters in free and fair balloting.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Guatemalan voters go to the polls August 20 for a runoff presidential election that will veer the country to the political left, unsettling right-wing powerbrokers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A brief statement on behalf of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called \"on the Guatemalan authorities to respect the human rights of its population, including the right to vote at genuine periodic elections which guarantee the free expression of the will of the electors.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Voters, he said, \"should be protected from any form of coercion and from any unlawful or arbitrary interference with the voting process.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the first round elections in June, Guatemalans sent two center-left candidates to a runoff, marking the first time the nation will have a leftist leader in more than a decade.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But since then, a prosecutor has sought to suspend the party of one of the candidates, Bernardo Arevalo, and state agents on Friday raided his party offices allegedly in pursuit of documents showing irregularities in its formation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Arevalo\'s shock arrival in the runoff has distressed right-wing parties and led to efforts to scuttle the electoral process.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prosecutors have twice sent agents to search the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, prompting the nation\'s highest court to issue an injunction to protect the vote.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Guterres said UN member states \"are responsible for ensuring transparent, free and fair elections, free of intimidation and coercion.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Arevalo, son of a reformist former president, finished second behind Sandra Torres, a former first lady who leads a social democratic party.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Efforts to disqualify Arevalo\'s Semilla (Seed) Party have drawn stern rebukes from the United Nations, the United States and the European Union. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 13:47:32', '2023-07-23 13:47:32'),
(8142, 8142, '<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A man who was thrown out of a bar in Mexico for improper behavior toward women went back and set fire to it, killing 11 people, authorities said Saturday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The arson attack happened overnight Friday into Saturday in the town of San Luis Rio Colorado, in the northern state of Sonora, which borders the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fire killed seven men and four women and wounded six others, the state prosecutor\'s office in Sonora said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The attacker was expelled from the bar \"for treating women disrespectfully,\" and then returned and threw a flaming object into it, presumably a Molotov cocktail, the prosecutor\'s office said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The mayor of San Luis Rio Colorado, which abuts the border south of Yuma, Arizona, said later in the day that a suspect had been arrested in the fatal attack on the Beer House bar. He did not identify the man. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 14:07:26', '2023-07-23 14:07:26'),
(8143, 8143, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will undergo surgery to implant a pacemaker, his office said in a statement early on Sunday, just days after he was discharged from hospital following a health scare.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Prime Minister Netanyahu will tonight undergo a procedure to implant a pacemaker at Sheba Medical Centre at Tel Hashomer,\" the statement said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The procedure will be carried out under sedation, during which time Justice Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Yariv Lenin will stand in for him,\" it added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A week ago Netanyahu, 73, had been discharged from the same medical centre after a night of hospitalisaton following complaints of dizziness.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At that time as part of cardiological tests, the centre had decided to use Holter monitor to monitor his heart rhythm, Sheba\'s head of cardiology professor Amit Segev said last week. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 14:33:02', '2023-07-23 14:33:02'),
(8144, 8144, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday left Dhaka for Italy at an invitation of the United Nation Secretary-General to attend the UN Food Systems Summit to be held in Rome on July 24-26.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A regular flight of Qatar Airways, carrying the premier and her entourages, departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 05:05am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The flight is scheduled to land at Rome Fiumicino Airport at 02:05pm local time (06:05pm BST).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The summit titled ‘United Nations Food Systems +2 Stocktaking Moment’ (UNFSS+2) will be held at the Headquarters of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with the theme of ‘Sustainable Food Systems for People, Planet and Prosperity: Diverse Pathways in a Shared Journey.’</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During her stay in Italy, she will also hold a bilateral meeting with her Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni on July 25, according to her official schedule.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On July 24, the prime minister will address the opening ceremony of the summit as a special guest. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, among others, is expected to speak at the event.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM will then attend a plenary session on food systems and climate action at FAO headquarters, hold talks separately with FAO Director General Qu Dongyu and President of International Fund of Agricultural Development (IFAD) Alvaro Lario, join the inauguration ceremony of the Bangladesh-Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Room at the FAO headquarters and attend a reception to be hosted by the FAO Director General on the same day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on ‘cooperation in the field of energy’ and ‘cultural exchange programme’ are expected to be signed between the two countries during the visit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, Hasina will join a regional envoy conference, which will be held with participation of 15 Bangladeshi envoys stationed in Europe, and a community event on July 25.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier is being accompanied, among others, by Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder and PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman during the visit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina is expected to leave Rome for home on July 26. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 14:36:41', '2023-07-23 14:36:41'),
(8145, 8145, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka’s air is 6th most polluted among cities around the world this morning, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI).</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The air in Dhaka city was categorised as ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, with an AQI score of 125 at 8:30 am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">United Arab Emirates’ Dubai, Indonesia’s Jakarta and Brazil’s Sao Paulo occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 156, 152, and 140 respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be \'very unhealthy\', while a reading of 301+ is considered \'hazardous\', posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants — particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 16:32:22', '2023-07-23 16:32:22'),
(8146, 8146, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Two people, including a bus driver, were killed and 10 were injured in a collision between a passenger bus and a truck on Dhaka-Natore highway in Baraigram upazila of Natore early today.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The identities of the deceased could not be known immediately and the injured were admitted to several hospitals including Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Monir Hossain, sub-inspector of Jhalmolia Highway Police Station, said the accident happened around 1 am when a Dhaka-bound bus from Chapainawabganj collided with a truck heading from the opposite direction in Khejurtal area of the upazila, leaving the bus driver and another person dead on the spot and 10 others injured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On information, members of police and Fire Service and Civil Defence rushed to the spot, he said, adding that the injured were sent to several hospitals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bus passengers were residents of different areas of Chapainawabganj, the police officer added. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 16:35:28', '2023-07-23 16:35:28');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(8147, 8147, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">After a wildly successful first few days, Threads popularity has waned in the weeks since Meta launched its challenge to Twitter, which lives on despite its problems.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The average amount of time people spend on Threads daily has plummeted more than 75 percent since the platform made a rock star debut on July 6, according to data from Sensor Tower, a market analysis firm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Threads was quickly billed as a potential death knell for Twitter, a platform that has tumbled into chaos under the leadership of mercurial tycoon Elon Musk.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The launch saw sign-ups of more than 100 million users in less than five days, smashing the record of AI tool ChatGPT for fastest-growing consumer app and creating relief and excitement amongst early adopters fleeing Twitter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I actually closed down my Twitter account after starting Threads,\" said Brooklyn resident Lauren Brose, head of marketing at a tech start-up.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I used to love Twitter. After Elon Musk took over Twitter, I found that the entire environment just changed completely.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But weeks later, Threads has since seen a \"material decline in new sign-ups,\" Sensor Tower said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Twitter continues to dominate its space as a platform for online comment and news, and Musk \"would have to completely destroy it\" to drive away its audience for good, according to Silicon Valley investor and analyst Jeremiah Owyang.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Will Threads kill Twitter? Absolutely not. It\'s just not equivalent,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Threads went live on Apple and Android app stores in 100 countries at its launch, though it is not available in Europe because parent company Meta is unsure how to navigate the European Union\'s data privacy legislation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Twitter is thought to have around 200 million regular users but it has suffered repeated technical failures since Tesla tycoon Musk bought the platform last year and sacked much of its staff.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Musk, also the boss of SpaceX, has alienated users by introducing charges for previously free services and allowing banned right-wing accounts back on the platform.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There is little doubt that Threads had a major leg up compared to other wannabe Twitter alternatives.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Several rivals have emerged but most are niche platforms without the capacity to grow at the necessary scale to dethrone Twitter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Meta was able to easily prompt Instagram users to start Threads accounts, tapping into a base of at least a billion users at the image-focused social network.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Not about news? -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Threads has a lot to prove, and features to add, to become a formidable Twitter alternative, according to Insider Intelligence analyst Jasmine Enberg.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It needs to foster creators to engage users, and to find its own identity separate from Instagram and Twitter, Enberg said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Given that Twitter is in a state of disarray, the brilliant move that they did was using the existing social graph from Instagram for rapid and seamless adoption,\" Owyang said of Threads.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The downside is that\'s not the user base \"that you want to have chats with or to do microblogging,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Instagram users typically engage with the service for images or videos, not commentary or controversy, Owyang noted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It is a very different crowd on Instagram,\" Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi said of a comparison to Threads.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Twitter is known as a forum for news and politics, topics that Threads has no interest in spotlighting, according to a recent post by Threads and Instagram boss Adam Mosseri.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, Twitter is seen as an established home for posts by journalists, celebrities, athletes, politicians and others.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another roadblock to Threads growth is that Meta is holding it back from the European Union, Milanesi said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"You are missing a big chunk of the market,\" she said of Threads being absent from the EU.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Twitter \'diaspora\'? -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While people frustrated with Musk-owned Twitter are seeking alternatives, no single competitor has established itself as the ideal option.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Twitter quitters have become a \"diaspora\" of sorts, spread across Mastodon, Bluesky, Threads and other platforms in search of a new social media home, Owyang reasoned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Many people have left Twitter, and that will continue,\" Owyang said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"But the issue is where are they going? There\'s no one centralized place to go.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Threads app has been downloaded more than 184 million times globally since its launch, according to Data.ai Intelligence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"But, the app hasn\'t proved to be materially different from Twitter in terms of features/functionality,\" said Sensor Tower senior insights analyst Abe Yousef.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"What should dissuade people from remaining on Twitter, assuming they\'re comfortable with Twitter\'s content policies?\" Yousef added. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"5\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 16:41:47', '2023-07-23 16:41:47'),
(8148, 8148, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The 20-year-long master plan to transform the tourism city Cox’s Bazar into a modern and smart city is likely to be initiated next month.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Cox\'s Bazar Development Authority (CoxDA) is ready to prepare a masterplan for the tourism city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'re working to formulate a masterplan for 20 years — from 2023 to 2043 — to transform Cox\'s Bazar into a smart city. The formal work to this end will start next month,\" Chairman of the CoxDA, Commodore (retd) Muhammed Nurul Absar, told reporters in a views-exchange meeting held at his office on Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister\'s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher also spoke at the programme.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A detailed area plan is also being formulated to ensure a planned development for an attractive and environment-friendly Cox’s Bazar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier asked the authorities concerned to prepare a masterplan for Cox\'s Bazar, to develop it as a smart city with all the modern facilities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also asked the authorities concerned to keep the beauty of the “longest natural unbroken sea beach” in the world unharmed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina wants to transform Cox\'s Bazar into a global hub of tourism and aviation by developing a dedicated tourist attraction for foreigners, and a state of the art international airport with the longest and only marine runway in the country, the CoxDA chairman said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The CoxDA chairman also said they are formulating the masterplan following the directive of the prime minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It includes formulating strategic policy plan, detailed area plan of all the upazilas and beach areas of Cox\'s Bazar (690.67 sqkm), and tourism and regional development plans.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Disaster management, preparing a Smart City Model for Cox\'s Bazar, transport management, environment management, drainage and sanitation management, utilities and socio-economic development and sectoral plans are also the key features of the masterplan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To support the Vision 2041 announced by the Awami League government to turn Bangladesh into a developed country with high income, the CoxDA is undertaking several development projects.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The projects include cable car installation from Cox\'s Bazar to Sabrong and Cox\'s Bazar to Moheshkhali, introducing watersports and other amusement facilities on the sea beach, indoor amusement park, CoxDA Marina Bay Resort, CoxDA Condominium Project, Eco-resort in Moheshkhali, protecting lives and boosting marine tourism, preparing a roadmap to tap potential of the blue economy, renewable energy project, installation of central sewerage treatment plant (STP), water treatment plan and introducing sea-plane, cruise ship and helicopter service and preparing integrated costal zone management plan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">CoxDA chairman Commodore (retd) Muhammed Nurul Absar said they are working to set up the central STP in Cox\'s Bazar, otherwise the Bay of Bengal will be a dead zone with huge amounts of sewerage going into the sea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Once the projects are completed, they can immensely contribute to achieve the targets of sustainable development goals,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added that they have already completed several projects that include reforming and rehabilitating Cox\'s Bazar\'s traditional Laldighi, Goldighi, markets and ponds, and building a multi-storey building for CoxDA.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ongoing development schemes of the CoxDA are: building residential flats for CoxDA, sculpture and modern passenger shed at Moheshkhali, reforming and expanding the main road of Cox\'s Bazar (Holiday Crossing-Bazatghata-Larpara Bus Stand). UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 17:00:58', '2023-07-23 17:00:58'),
(8149, 8149, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The death toll from a massive landslide in India\'s Maharashtra state jumped to 27 on Sunday, with at least 50 people still missing as rescue teams struggle in lashing rain, officials said.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The landslide was triggered by monsoon rains on Thursday, smashing into a village in Raigad district, a hilly and forested site about 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Mumbai.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Emergency teams have been digging for bodies under the mounds of earth and rubble.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'ve so far counted 27 bodies, and about 50 to 60 people are still missing, but there are multiple challenges for rescue work at the site,\" Raigad official Yogesh Mhase told AFP on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mhase said the remote hamlet was about five kilometres from the nearest road.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"No heavy equipment can reach this site, we only have small machines and most work has to be done manually,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Non-stop heavy rains in the region are also making the entire operation much more challenging\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The top district official said he was not optimistic about finding survivors on the fourth day of the ongoing rescue.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Local media reports said that several families were entirely wiped out, while other survivors were the only ones left alive among their relatives.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India has been battered by rains since the start of the monsoon season in June, and flooding and landslides have killed scores of people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Monsoon rains are vital to replenishing rivers and groundwater, but the deluge also causes widespread destruction every year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Experts say climate change is increasing the number of extreme weather events around the world, with damming, deforestation and development projects in India exacerbating the human toll. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 17:07:00', '2023-07-23 17:07:00'),
(8150, 8150, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today ordered Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus to pay Tk 12 crore tax on donations to the National Bureau of Revenue (NBR) after dismissing a leave-to-appeal in this regard.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique, passed the order after hearing the leave-to-appeal submitted by Dr Yunus against a High Court verdict.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented the state during the hearing, while Fida M Kamal and Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun stood for Dr Yunus.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on June 21, a leave-to-appeal was filed against the High Court verdict. On July 9, the chamber court set July 17 for hearing in the Appellate Division.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On July 17, the Appellate Division adjourned till July 23 the hearing on the appeal against the High Court verdict.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the petition, NBR served three separate notices claiming Tk 12,28,74,000 tax against Tk 61.57 crore donation during 2011-2012 fiscal year, Tk 1.60 crore tax against Tk 8.15 crore donation in FY 2012-2013, and Tk 1.50 crore tax against Tk 7 crore donation in FY 2013-2014 as per the Donation Tax-1990.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr Yunus challenged the validity of NBR\'s notices and filed a case in the Appellate Tribunal. According to him, NBR cannot claim tax against donations as per law.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On November 20, 2014, his application was rejected. Then in 2015, he filed three income tax reference cases in the High Court.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After that, the High Court ruled on May 31 that the tax imposed by the NBR against the money that he had donated to three trusts was valid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the verdict on May 31, Attorney General AM Amin Uddin told reporters that Dr Yunus had donated Tk 77 crore to three institutions. “The petitions were dismissed. Now the tax demanded by the NBR will have to be paid. The NBR had demanded more than Tk 15 crore. He (Dr Yunus) has already given around Tk 3 crore. Now the remaining Tk 12 crore will have to be paid in taxes.” UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 17:10:44', '2023-07-23 17:10:44'),
(8151, 8151, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Australia and Bangladesh want to take the relationship between the two countries to a new height by strengthening partnership and expanding trade and investment in potential areas.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Both sides are also keen to explore opportunities and turn them into reality&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">through collaboration in order to derive reciprocal benefits.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The willingness was expressed during a meeting between Australian Assistant&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Minister for Trade Senator Tim Ayres and Bangladesh High Commissioner to&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Australia M Allama Siddiki accompanied by BGMEA President Faruque Hassan at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Office in Sydney yesterday, said a press release here today.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the meeting, they had discussions about general trade issues, investment opportunities and areas of collaboration.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also stressed on the need for finding ways to enhance trade and investment flow for adding dynamism in economic ties.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The issues of Bangladesh\'s economic development, LDC graduation and its&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">associated challenges and preparations to overcome them were also discussed.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Tim Ayres assured that Australia would continue duty free facility for&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh\'s exports even after graduation out of LDC in 2026.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Faruque Hassan expressed thanks to Australia for supporting Bangladesh in its&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">journey towards development, particularly for the decision of continuation of&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">duty free market access in the post LDC period.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Highlighting the trade potential, he said Bangladesh considers Australia as a&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">promising market for apparel exports, especially high-end fashion items.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The BGMEA President also pointed to Bangladesh\'s interest in enhancing&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">exports of cotton and wool from Australia for its RMG sector, emphasizing the&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">need for enhancing industry connections between Australian exporters of raw&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">materials like cotton, wool and importers and manufacturers in Bangladesh.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It would create a win-win situation for both the countries, he added. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 18:23:04', '2023-07-23 18:23:04'),
(8152, 8152, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In his first video appearance on social media since suffering medical emergency in April, Jamie Foxx seemed ultra emotional on Saturday. Teary-eyed Foxx informed fans about what he went through and refuted reports about him suffering blindness and getting paralysed. Hollywood stars like Will Smith, Dwayne Johnson, Justin Timberlake and others reacted to his video post.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the video clip, Foxx thanked his fans and said \"First of all I want to say thank you to everybody...praying man !, sending messages. I cannot even begin to tell you how far it took me and how it brought me back. I went through something that I thought I would never ever go through. Lot of people were waiting, wanting to hear updates but to be honest with you, I just don\'t want you to see me like that, man\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I want you to see me laughing, having a good time, partying, cracking a joke, doing a movie [or] television show. I didn\'t want you to see me with tubes running out of me and trying to figure out if I was going to make it through,\" Foxx continued.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Thank u a billion to everybody… been a long road but all the prayers great people and God got me through….,\" Foxx had captioned the video clip while narrating his health ordeal to his millions of fans.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Notably, the Oscar-winning star had got hospitalised on April 12 in Georgia where he was present for the filming of his Netflix movie, “Back in Action\". After his hospitalisation, Foxx\'s daughter Corinne had then taken to Instagram to inform his fans about the actor\'s health condition and requested privacy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foxx is still undergoing recovery from the undisclosed medical complication which he suffered. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 18:37:14', '2023-07-23 18:37:14'),
(8153, 8153, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Three people sustained severe burn injuries in a gas explosion at a house in Fatullah upazila of Narayanganj early today.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The injured Alam, 35; Ramjan, 22; and Rifat, 22 are house painters by profession and hail from Cumilla district.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Neighbours said they heard a big bang from the house, owned by one Khalil Munshi, in Bashmuli area around 12 am. The three men living in the house were found burned, and the tin roof of the house was blown off.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The three were rushed to the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka and are now undergoing treatment, said Md Bachhu Mia, inspector at Dhaka Medical College Hospital police outpost.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Quoting the person who brought the three injured men to the hospital, the inspector said the explosion could have happened due to a gas cylinder leak in the house.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr Tariqul Islam, resident surgeon of the burn institute, said that Alam sustained 72 percent burn injuries, Ramjan 58 percent, and Rifat 28 percent burn injuries, and they are in critical condition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nure Azam Khan, officer-in-charge of Fatullah Model Police Station, said that on information, a team was sent to the site and action will be taken based on investigation. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 19:32:48', '2023-07-23 19:32:48'),
(8154, 8154, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least 12 people were killed and up to 40 more are missing following a flash flood caused by torrential rain in central Afghanistan, a government spokesman said Sunday.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zabihullah Mujahid said urgent aid was being rushed to the disaster zone in the Jalrez district of Maidan Wardak province.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"With great sadness we have received the news that 12 of our compatriots have been martyred and 40 others are missing,\" he said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Some financial losses have also been incurred.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although Afghanistan lies on the western edge of the Asian monsoon footprint, flash floods happen regularly during the wet season as heavy rain courses down dry riverbeds. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 19:54:42', '2023-07-23 19:54:42'),
(8156, 8156, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today left here for Rome, Italy on a three-day official visit to attend UN Food Systems Summit+2 Stocktaking Moment.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A regular commercial flight of Qatar Airways, carrying the premier and her entourage members, took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 05:05am, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told BSS.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The flight is scheduled to land at Rome Fiumicino Airport of Italy at 02:05pm local time (06:05pm BST) after making around one hour stopover at Hamad International Airport in Doha of Qatar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is joining the United Nations Food Systems +2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2) conference at the invitation of the United Nations (UN) Secretary General António Guterres.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UNFSS+2 conference will be held at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy on July 24-26 with the theme “Sustainable Food Systems for People, Planet and Prosperity: Diverse Pathways in a Shared Journey”.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a media briefing on July 20, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said two Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) - “Cooperation in the Field of Energy” and “Cultural Exchange Programme” - are likely to be signed between Bangladesh and Italy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the prime minister is scheduled to address the official opening of the conference at the FAO Headquarters as the Special Guest Speaker on July 24.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Heads of state, heads of government, agriculture specialists, food producers, scientists, researchers and other stakeholders from different countries will attend the forum.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the opening ceremony, the premier will participate in the plenary session titled “Food Systems and Climate Action”.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the evening of the same day, she will also join the inaugural ceremony of Bangladesh-Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Room in FAO headquarters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">FAO Director General Qu Dongyu and President of International Fund of Agricultural Development (IFAD) Alvaro Lario will also pay courtesy call on the prime minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On July 25, the prime minister will attend the “Regional Envoys Conference” organised by Bangladesh ambassadors stationed in 15 European countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In addition, Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with her Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni and the MoUs will be signed there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She will also join a community reception hosted by the expatriate Bangladeshi in Italy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, members of parliament and government high officials will join the UNFSS+2 as prime minister\'s entourage members.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister is scheduled to leave Rome for home on July 26.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">UNFSS+2 is commencing with the aim of reviewing the progress of the implementation of the recommendations adopted at the “United Nations Food Systems Summit” held on September 23, 2021.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, the prime minister joined virtually and proposed five point recommendations. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 20:00:03', '2023-07-23 20:00:03'),
(8157, 8157, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Mild heat wave sweeping over&nbsp; Rajshahi, Dhaka, Panchagarh, Moulvibazar&nbsp; and Feni districts may continue for more days, according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>It also predicted rains and thundershowers in parts of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Light to moderate rain/thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely at many places in Rangpur, Mymensingh &amp; Sylhet divisions and at a few places over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal &amp; Chattogram divisions with moderately heavy falls at places over the country in 24 hours starting from 9 am on Sunday, said a BMD bulletin on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.</div><div><br></div><div>The axis of monsoon trough runs through Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal to Assam across southern part of Bangladesh. Monsoon is less active over Bangladesh and moderate over North Bay.</div><div><br></div><div>The axis of monsoon trough runs through Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal to Assam across southern part of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Monsoon is less active over Bangladesh and moderate over North Bay, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>Country’s highest temperature was recorded in Rajshahi at 36.8 degrees Celcius. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 20:46:58', '2023-07-23 20:46:58'),
(8158, 8158, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least 16 civilians were killed in exchanged bombardment between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Nyala, the capital of Sudan\'s South Darfur State on Friday, the Darfur Bar Association announced on Saturday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The professional lawyers\' organization said in a statement that \"16 citizens were killed in Nyala, South Darfur, due to the fall of projectiles on citizens\' homes during exchanged artillery bombardment between the army and the RSF on Friday.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"The battles in Nyala are taking place on the heads of citizens amid random shootings on streets and houses as well as killings with sniper bullets,\" according to the statement.</div><div><br></div><div>Nyala has been witnessing armed confrontations between the Sudanese army and the RSF over the past three days, the association said, adding that a number of the city\'s neighborhoods, including Al-Wohda and Karari, south of Nyala, were affected by the fighting on Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>The association called on the warring parties to immediately stop the war and avoid targeting the civilians.</div><div><br></div><div>Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas since April 15, resulting in over 3,000 deaths and more than 6,000 injuries, according to figures released by the Sudanese Health Ministry.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 3 million people have been forced into displacement, inside and outside Sudan, since the conflict broke out in the country, according to UN estimates. Source: XINHUANET</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 21:04:14', '2023-07-23 21:04:14'),
(8159, 8159, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A game of chess can turn any dull day into an invigorating and fun-filled one. The game not only engages but also makes sure you put your thinking cap on and provide the much-needed workout to your brain. Especially if age is not on your side, and you have reached a phase where your brain needs constant stimulation, chess is the perfect game to play to avoid age-related brain disorders like Alzheimer\'s disease.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dr. Neha Kapoor - Associate Director & Head-Neurology, Asian Hospital Faridabad on the occasion of International Chess Day (July 20), shares how the game can help improve cognitive abilities and boost overall well-being.</div><div><br></div><div>1. Improves memory</div><div>Playing chess can help you remember things better as while playing the game a player has to remember openings, strategies, and past moves, all the while anticipating future moves and planning. This mental exercise serves as a fantastic workout for the brain, enhancing both short-term and long-term memory. Regular chess practice can improve your ability to recall information, which prove to be beneficial in many aspects of life, such as academic pursuits and professional endeavours.</div><div><br></div><div>2. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills</div><div>Chess is renowned for its ability to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills. When playing chess, individuals must analyse the game’s current state, anticipate their opponent\'s moves, and devise effective strategies to outmanoeuvre them. This constant mental engagement strengthens one\'s ability to think critically, assess situations, and make informed decisions. These skills are transferable to real-life scenarios, helping individuals become better problem solvers in various domains.</div><div><br></div><div>3. Concentration and focus</div><div>Chess demands unwavering concentration and focus throughout the entire game. With numerous pieces on a board and countless possibilities at each turn, players must maintain their attention and avoid distractions. Regular chess practice can significantly improve concentration levels, making it easier to stay focused on tasks and goals in other areas of life. Enhanced concentration can also contribute to improved productivity and performance, whether at work, school, or personal projects.</div><div><br></div><div>4. Emotional intelligence</div><div>Chess is a game that teaches emotional intelligence and resilience. During a game, players experience a range of emotions, including excitement, frustration, and disappointment. Learning to manage these emotions and remaining composed under pressure is a valuable life skill that chess can help develop. By honing emotional intelligence, players can better cope with challenges and setbacks, both on and off the chessboard.</div><div><br></div><div>5. Stress relief and mental well-being</div><div>Engaging in chess can provide a welcome escape from the stresses of daily life. The intense focus required during a game diverts attention away from worries and anxieties, allowing players to experience a state of flow and relaxation. Chess has also been found to reduce stress levels and promote mental well-being by stimulating the production of dopamine and endorphins, the brain\'s \'feel-good\' chemicals. Additionally, chess can serve as a social activity, fostering connections and providing a sense of community among players.</div><div><br></div><div>6. Brain health and longevity</div><div>Research suggests that chess can have positive effects on brain health and contribute to cognitive longevity. Regular chess players have been found to exhibit higher brain activity and improved brain function compared to non-players. Chess engages multiple cognitive domains simultaneously, exercising memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and visualization skills. This mental workout may help reduce the risk of cognitive decline and age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Source: Hindustan Times</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p>mental health<br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 21:16:45', '2023-07-23 21:25:55'),
(8160, 8160, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday warned that action will be taken if anyone tries to break law and create public suffering.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“It is quite normal that action will be taken against those who don’t abide by law, and create public suffering,” he said while speaking at a programme on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association (Crab) at Dhaka Reporters Unity.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding arrest of BNP leaders and activists, he said those BNP leaders and activists have been arrested who were warranted in different cases.</div><div><br></div><div>People are not interested to see BNP in power and that’s why they failed to come to power, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to BNP’s political programmes, Asaduzzaman said police do not create any obstacle to their programmes anywhere, According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>Replying to a question about the death of an activist of BNP in Laxmipur, the Home minister also said “After talking to the law enforcers and local administration it was known that the slain person was not an activist of BNP, and the person died due to previous enmity between two groups.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 21:25:00', '2023-07-23 21:25:00'),
(8161, 8161, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Law enforcers have arrested 10 suspects from different areas of the capital in connection with the killing of Jubo League activist Oliullah Rubel in Dhaka’s Gulbagh area early Friday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The arrestees are Habib Ahsan, Md Alif Hossain, Md Rabiul Sunny, Md Mehedi Hasan, Md Shahjal, Md Rafiqul Islam, Nur Alam, Md Sumon Mir, Adnan Asif and Md Shakil.</div><div><br></div><div>Of them, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Asif and Shakil while Detective Branch (DB) rounded up the rest.</div><div><br></div><div>Both RAB and DB police disclosed these at separate press briefings in the capital on Sunday, two days after the murder.</div><div><br></div><div>Lt. Col Arif Mohiuddin Ahmed, commander of the RAB-3, at a press briefing at the force’s media center in the capital’s Karwan Bazar, said Rubel was killed following previous enmity with one Shahjalal over establishing supremacy in Shantibagh area.</div><div><br></div><div>Recently Rubel tried to start water supply business along with internet and egg businesses, he said adding, enmity with Shahjalal over establishing supremacy led to Rubel’s death .</div><div><br></div><div>Chief Md Harun-ur-Rashid at another press briefing at DMP media center said victim Rubel had a conflict with one Nibir and Shahjalal over establishing dominance in&nbsp; Shantibagh area.</div><div><br></div><div>Nibir and Shahjalal hired Habib to kill Rubel while Nibir gave Tk 4000 to Habib to buy machetes, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>As per the plan, Habib bought two machetes from Khilgaon Bazar, the DB officer said.</div><div><br></div><div>On the day of the killing, Habib Alif took position in front of the residence of Rubel on Malibagh Bazar road at Gulbagh and Mehedi and Sunny were on guard, Harun said.</div><div><br></div><div>Habib and Alif chased Rubel on his way home by a rickshaw and at one stage Alif chopped Rubel with a machete, the DB chief said, adding that Habib and Alif hacked him indiscriminately and left the scene immediately.</div><div><br></div><div>Victim’s wife Tajina Dewan filed a murder case with Shahjanpur police station in this connection, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>On Saturday, the DB chief said that they identified those involved in the killing of Rubel.</div><div><br></div><div>On Friday, Rubel was hacked dead at Gulbagh in Shahjahanpur in the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>Rubel was also former office secretary of Shahjahanpur Thana Chhatra League. He was involved with the local Jubo League without any official position. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-23 22:38:28', '2023-07-23 22:38:28');
