INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(6283, 6283, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Normal livelihood of the region, particularly in the vast Barind tract, is being affected badly due to the ongoing sultry weather that has been experienced by the people for the past couple of days.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The dismayed people are thronging marketplaces to buy glucose, oral saline, watermelon and other fruit to get relief to some extent as an uneasy situation is prevailing everywhere in the region.</div><div><br></div><div>The Local Meteorological Office has recorded the highest temperature of 38.1 degrees Celsius at 3pm today, which is the season\'s highest temperature in the region against 38 degrees Celsius on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>The met office also recorded only 3.3 millimeters of rainfall since March 31 last. Abdus Salam, Observatory Staff of the Met Office, said they have not seen any significant rainfall in the region for the last couple of weeks because of the adverse impact of climate change.</div><div><br></div><div>He said mild heat weather is sweeping into the region that may continue for the next couple of days. The temperature may also rise.</div><div><br></div><div>Mostly, people whose livelihood depends on manual labour are the worst sufferers. Their daily income has been reduced as they are compelled to take a rest during the working hours in the daytime, creating a negative impact on their lives and livelihood.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, demand for seasonal fruits like pineapples, watermelons and green coconut has increased in the city because of the extreme heat.</div><div><br></div><div>Doctors at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) have advised everyone to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.</div><div><br></div><div>Professor Redwanur Rahman of the Institute of Environmental Sciences at Rajshahi University (RU) opined that the prolonged rainless conditions have created a detrimental condition on the overall public health in terms of drinking water as well as the ecosystem and biodiversity.</div><div><br></div><div>Illustrating his academic and research expertise on the issue, Prof Rahman said global warming has been escalating gradually due to various reasons including carbon emissions resulting in climate change.</div><div><br></div><div>Massive emissions can be the effective means of substantial and sustainable reduction of carbon emissions, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the utmost importance should be given to transforming the existing irrigation system in the Barind region into surface water-based instead of the groundwater ones to mitigate the existing water-stressed condition. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-09 22:25:11', '2023-04-09 22:25:11'),
(6284, 6284, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Sunday said that Bangabazar traders, whose businesses burned down in the recent fire at the market, will be able resume business by setting up temporary benches from next Wednesday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We are hoping that by Wednesday they can set up the temporary bench there and start their business. The place will be cleaned and leveled soon. The entire arrangement will be executed by the Dhaka South City Corporation,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The mayor made these remarks while speaking with journalists after a meeting with trader-leaders regarding the Bangabazar fire at Nagar Bhaban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We will start the cleaning programme tomorrow morning with full vigor. So that business environment can be created there in the next one to two days,” he said, adding that he hopes the complete list will be prepared by tomorrow.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mentioning that the corporation has been receiving positive response from all sides about the trader’s rehabilitation, Taposh said, “Tk 2 crore has already been deposited in the fund. We have a corporation meeting next Tuesday. We will make a decision there. We will also participate in this fund.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Calling upon the people from all walks of life to come forward in support of the affected traders, the mayor said, “The Prime Minister said she will arrange adequate donations for the affected traders. As we are getting responses, we are hoping that we will be able to give the full form of the fund soon.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President of Bangladesh Shop Owners Association Md. Helal Uddin said that we are happy today talking with the mayor. “We didn’t expect that we would get a decision so quickly.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka-8 Constituency parliament member Rashed Khan Menon, Kishoreganj-5 Constituency parliament member Afzal Hossain, Chief Executive Officer of the corporation Md. Mizanur Rahman and many 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, '2023-04-10 09:21:14', '2023-04-10 09:21:14'),
(6285, 6285, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A lot of responsibility lies at the feet of Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos, who is aiming to fire his side past Inter Milan and into the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 1990.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The striker is growing used to the pressure, shooting into the global football consciousness during the World Cup in December when he was picked to start for Portugal ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in the last 16 against Switzerland.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ramos hit a hat-trick as his country thrashed their opponents 6-1, leaping into the limelight having made his international debut just a few weeks earlier, in a friendly.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In March the striker dazzled against Club Brugge in the Champions League last 16 second leg, scoring a brace in the 5-1 win to guide Benfica into the quarter-finals for the second season running.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Inter\'s visit to Lisbon on Tuesday is an opportunity for the forward to put himself in the shop window, as many other young Benfica talents have done over the years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The latest was midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who joined Chelsea in January for a stratospheric 121 million euros ($133 million) fee after winning the World Cup with Argentina, following the likes of Joao Felix, Ruben Dias and Ederson.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ramos\'s development took a step forward at Benfica after Liverpool signed Darwin Nunez last summer for an initial 75 million euros ($82 million), leaving a void up front, which he willingly filled.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 21-year-old forward became the focal point of the attack, having played a supporting role to Nunez and others since making his debut in 2020.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ramos came through Benfica\'s admired Seixal academy after joining the club at 12 years old, and nearly a decade later many of Europe\'s giants are chasing him.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The forward has been linked with Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea of late, while Patrick Kluivert recommended his former side Barcelona to sign him.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I am very satisfied with GonOalo Ramos, but not only for what he did against Club Brugge,\" said Benfica coach Roger Schmidt in March.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I love his attitude, which he gives to the team. He is young, he is scoring goals in the Champions League and it is normal for him to attract the attention of other clubs.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Extraordinary\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ramos\'s 17 goals in 23 appearances in the Portuguese top flight have helped Benfica open up a seven-point lead at the top of the table.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They did stumble to a 2-1 defeat against rivals Porto, second, on Friday, although it was Ramos hitting the bar which forced Diogo Costa\'s own goal to open the scoring.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The striker has also netted seven times in 12 appearances in Champions League, including the qualifying rounds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Goncalo has had an extraordinary season at his club,\" admitted new Portugal coach Roberto Martinez in March, although for now he is relying on the veteran Ronaldo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ramos has formed a strong link on the pitch with Joao Mario, who is enjoying the best goalscoring season of his career.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The former Inter Milan and West Ham midfielder is benefitting from Ramos\'s build-up play and well-rounded game, honed over his seasons as a support striker.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Above all, he is a team player,\" said former Braga coach and current Celta Vigo boss Carlos Carvalhal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"He has an unusual mix -- he works, runs, he fights -- and he\'s a good finisher. He shoots well with his head and both feet.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some have compared Ramos to Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller, a parallel the forward enjoys, although he is stronger in the air.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I think I have some similarities to him, and he is also an example for me. I like being compared to him,\" said Ramos.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Muller, 33, has won the Champions League on two occasions, the same number as Benfica have in their history -- while Ramos is yet to lift a trophy in his fledgling career.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Team-mate Rafa Silva, who was officially given the man-of-the-match award in the 5-1 quarter final second leg romp over Club Brugge, gave the trophy to Ramos after his brace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Benfica are undefeated in Europe this season and have a strong defence, but are fully aware their best chance of reaching the semi-finals hinges on Ramos and his superior finishing. 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, '2023-04-10 09:46:18', '2023-04-10 09:46:18'),
(6286, 6286, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United States is assessing how the apparent leak of a trove of highly classified documents could impact national security, the Pentagon said on Sunday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The breach -- which is being investigated by the Justice Department -- appears to include assessments and secret intelligence reports that touch not only on Ukraine and Russia but also highly sensitive analyses of US allies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While the Defense Department is still reviewing the validity of photographed documents circulating online, they \"appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material,\" Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"An interagency effort has been stood up, focused on assessing the impact these photographed documents could have on US national security and on our allies and partners,\" Singh said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Justice Department said Saturday it has been in touch with the Defense Department about the issue and had opened an investigation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A steady drip of dozens of leaked documents and slides have made their way onto Twitter, Telegram, Discord and other sites in recent days, and new documents continue to surface.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US officials told the Washington Post that some documents appeared to have been manipulated but many were consistent with CIA World Intelligence Review reports that are shared at high levels within the White House, Pentagon and State Department.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Defense analysts say any breach of internal classified US documents would be both damaging and potentially embarrassing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In addition, the leak would prove valuable to Moscow by showing how deep US intelligence has penetrated parts of the Russian military apparatus, US media said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other documents include apparent information about internal debate within the governments of US allies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among the documents, for example, were discussions about South Korea\'s debate on whether to provide the United States with artillery shells for use in Ukraine, The New York Times 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, '2023-04-10 09:52:38', '2023-04-10 09:52:38'),
(6287, 6287, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 194 at 9:15 am today (April 10, 2023), Dhaka ranked 4th in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi, and Thailand’s Chiang Mai, occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 238, 231 and 204, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered “unhealthy” while between 201 and 300 is “very unhealthy”, and 301–400 is “hazardous”, posing severe 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 as a result of 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, '2023-04-10 11:29:34', '2023-04-10 11:29:34'),
(6288, 6288, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least two migrants have died and around 20 others are missing after their vessel sank in the Mediterranean between Tunisia and Italy, German aid group ResQship told AFP Sunday.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The group\'s ship, the Nadir, rescued another 22 people and took them to the Italian island of Lampedusa, said Stefen Seyfert of ResQship. Their boat sank overnight Saturday to Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among those rescued were men, women and children from Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Mali, Ingo Werth, captain of the Nadir, told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A pregnant woman was among those saved, while the boat\'s crew also recovered the bodies of two men.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In all, around 40 migrants were on the boat when it left Sfax in Tunisia, said Seyfert.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We did everything we could to save more people, but didn\'t manage to,\" he added. He acknowledged the \"good cooperation\" with the Italian coastguard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the Italian news agency ANSA, nine women were among the survivors. It put the number of missing at 18.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The migrants are believed to have paid 3,000 Tunisian dinars (about $980) each to get passage on the vessel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Describing their operation earlier Sunday on Twitter, ResQship said that when they arrived at the scene of the wreck, the migrants had already been in the water for about two hours.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- An \'unspeakable tragedy\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As well as rescuing 22 people, they had recovered two bodies, they said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This is an unspeakable tragedy that could -- and should -- have been prevented by a humanitarian approach to migration instead of barb-wiring the European borders,\" the group added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the last few days, thousands of migrants have landed on Lampedusa, which lies only about 150 kilometres (90 miles) from the Tunisian coast.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This incident is the latest in a series of disasters in the Mediterranean Sea, where dozens of migrants attempting the crossing have drowned and dozens more have had to be rescued from flimsy vessels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They are increasingly being used as a springboard for the perilous attempts by West Africans, Sudanese and others to reach safety and better lives in Europe.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Italy has been complaining for some time about the numbers of migrants arriving on its shores.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to interior ministry figures, more than 14,000 migrants have arrived in Italy since the beginning of the year -- significantly more than the 5,300 who had arrived over the same period in 2022 and the 4,300 who arrived in 2021. 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, '2023-04-10 11:37:43', '2023-04-10 11:37:43'),
(6289, 6289, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md. Shahab Uddin stressed the need for strengthening the transboundary collaboration with India for the conservation of tigers and leopards in Bangladesh as the two countries have shared tiger and leopard habitat.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Considering the conservation importance of seven big cat species on earth and two critically endangered big cat species in Bangladesh, we in principal support the creation of the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) with a membership of the range of countries harboring these species,” he said. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The minister said this at an event organized on the occasion of the International Conference on Tiger Conservation as part of 50 years of Project Tiger held on Sunday at Mysuru University in Mysuru, Karnataka, India after the inauguration of the event by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sahab Uddin said Bangladesh government is working with the determination to double the number of wild tigers by achieving zero poaching target with the active participation of local community.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It’s a matter of hope that wild tiger numbers are starting to tick upward he said adding that government has taken several remarkable initiatives for conserving the national animal and other wild species.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shahab Uddin said Bangladesh government is implementing National Tiger Recovery Program (2022 to 2034) and second-generation Bangladesh Tiger Action Plan (2018-2027) which include tiger survey; genetic study; SMART patrolling and monitoring by drone inside the Sundarbans; capacity building programs for frontline staffs of the Forest Department as well as local community to ensure protection & conservation of the Sundarbans and Bengal tiger.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Minister said, a protocol was signed between Bangladesh and India for strengthening collaboration for the Conservation of Royal Bengal Tiger in  the Sundarbans in 2011.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Minister said to mitigate tiger human conflicts, our government has engaged the local community in tiger conservation activities by forming Village Tiger Response Team, Co-management Committee and Community Petrol Group.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wildlife Victim Compensation Rules, 2021 has the provision to give compensation up toTk 3 lakh for person killed by tiger, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wildlife Crime Control Unit has been established under Forest Department to combat illegal wildlife trade and to strengthen the capacity of wildlife education, research and training, Sheikh Kamal Wildlife Center has been established which is working as a center of excellence, said the minister. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi launched the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA)  which will focus on protection and conservation of seven major big cats of the world such as tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar, and cheetah in collaboration with the countries concerned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Environment and Forest Ministers of the countries harboring these species were  present on the occasion. 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, '2023-04-10 12:51:37', '2023-04-10 14:23:33'),
(6290, 6290, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The World Bank and International Monetary Fund\'s spring meetings get underway later this week with an ambitious reform and fundraising agenda likely to be overshadowed by concerns over high inflation, rising geopolitical tension and financial stability.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Growth remains historically weak -- now and in the medium term,\" IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said during a speech last week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fund now expects global growth to fall below three percent this year, and to remain at close to three percent for the next half a decade -- its lowest medium-term prediction since the 1990s.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Close to 90 percent of the world\'s advanced economies will experience slowing growth this year, while Asia\'s emerging markets are expected to see a substantial rise in economic output -- with India and China predicted to account for half of all growth, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Low-income countries are expected to suffer a double shock from higher borrowing costs and a decline in demand for their exports, which Georgieva said could fuel poverty and hunger to increase.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Updated growth projections published in the IMF\'s World Economic Outlook on Tuesday will provide a broader look at how different countries are coping, with additional publications to detail fiscal and financial challenges to the global economy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Tackling inflation remains a priority -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This year\'s spring meeting will be held against the backdrop of high inflation and ongoing concerns about the health of the banking sector following the dramatic collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Georgieva told AFP last week that central banks should continue battling high inflation through interest-rate hikes, despite concerns that it could further inflame the banking sector.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We don\'t envisage, at this point, central banks stepping back from fighting inflation,\" she said during an interview on Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Central banks still have to prioritize fighting inflation and then supporting, through different instruments, financial stability,\" she said.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ahead of the spring meetings, the IMF and World Bank also called on wealthier countries to help plug a $1.6-billion hole in a concessional lending facility for low-income countries that was heavily-used during the Covid-19 pandemic.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many low-income countries are now facing mounting debt burdens due in part to the higher interest-rate environment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- US pushes for World Bank reforms -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The spring meeting also provides an opportunity to make progress on an ambitious US-backed agenda to reform the World Bank so it is better-prepared to tackle long-term issues like climate change.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told AFP in an interview that she expects member states will agree to update the World Bank\'s mission statement to include \"building resilience against climate change, pandemics, and conflict and fragility,\" to its core goals.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yellen said she also expects an agreement to \"significantly\" stretch the World Bank\'s financial capacity, which \"could result in an additional $50 billion in extra lending capacity over the next decade.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The changes will likely fall to the bank\'s next president to implement, with current World Bank president David Malpass due to step down early from a tenure marked by concerns over his position on climate change.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Malpass is widely expected to be replaced by US-backed former Mastercard chief executive officer Ajay Banga, who was the only person nominated for the position. 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, '2023-04-10 12:55:54', '2023-04-10 12:55:54'),
(6291, 6291, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Northern Ireland on Monday marks the 25th anniversary of its landmark 1998 peace accords, with the UK province mired in political dysfunction and security concerns which threaten to overshadow the historic milestone.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">No large-scale public events are planned for the day itself, but British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden will arrive Tuesday to launch several days of high-profile commemorations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The territory has been significantly reshaped since pro-UK unionist and pro-Irish nationalist leaders struck an unlikely peace deal on April 10, 1998 -- Easter Good Friday -- following marathon negotiations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Brokered by Washington and ratified by governments in London and Dublin, the Good Friday Agreement largely ended three decades of devastating sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland and intermittent terrorist attacks on mainland Britain.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The so-called \"Troubles\" killed more than 3,500 people. They pitted the province\'s majority Protestant unionists, wanting continued British rule, against Catholic republicans demanding equal rights and reunification with the Republic of Ireland.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But a quarter-century on, Northern Ireland is struggling to consolidate the gains of its hard-earned peace, with post-Brexit trade arrangements prompting political instability, and violence by dissident republicans on the rise.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"While it is time to reflect on the solid progress we have made together, we must also recommit to redoubling our efforts on the promise made in 1998 and the agreements that followed,\" Sunak said in a statement marking Monday\'s anniversary.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"As we look forward, we will celebrate those who took difficult decisions, accepted compromise, and showed leadership.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Potential\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UK leader will participate in a commemorative conference at Queen\'s University in the capital, Belfast, and host a gala dinner to honour the anniversary, his Downing Street office has said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden will \"mark the tremendous progress since the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement,\" White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters ahead of his visit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It will \"underscore the readiness of the United States to support Northern Ireland\'s vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities,\" she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Irish-American president will then travel south on Wednesday to Ireland, spending three days in his ancestral homeland, in part tracing his family history.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While there he will \"deliver an address to celebrate the deep, historic ties\" the country shares with the US, according to the White House.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The following week, Northern Ireland will continue its peace accord commemorations with a three-day conference starting April 17 hosted by former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Her husband, Bill Clinton, played a pivotal role in securing the 1998 deal as US president from 1993 to 2001.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The upcoming events will celebrate Northern Ireland\'s subsequent transformation, but focus will undoubtedly be drawn to its present woes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the years after 1998, Northern Irish paramilitaries were disarmed, its militarised border dismantled and British troops departed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, the peace process is perhaps more precarious now than it has been at any other point since then.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Up and down\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Power-sharing institutions created by the accords have been paralysed for more than a year over bitter disagreements on post-Brexit trade.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite Britain and the European Union agreeing in February to overhaul the arrangements, that new deal -- the Windsor Framework -- is yet to win the support of the pro-UK Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It has boycotted Northern Ireland\'s devolved government for 14 months over the issue, crippling the assembly, and is showing no sign of returning to power-sharing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Sunday that Dublin, London and Belfast were \"working towards having the institutions up and running in the next few months\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, the security situation has deteriorated, with Britain\'s security services last month raising the province\'s terror threat level to \"severe\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police last week warned of \"strong\" intelligence that dissidents were planning attacks against officers in the city of Londonderry on Easter Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It follows the attempted murder in February of police officer John Caldwell, the latest act of violence claimed by republican dissidents which served as a stark reminder of Northern Ireland\'s dark past and fragile peace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, it also united its often-divided political leaders in condemnation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And in a flurry of recent interviews and public appearances, those behind the 1998 accords have hailed its importance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The last 25 years have been up and down... but one thing is for certain, we are all in a better place,\" former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said Friday at a commemorative event.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Despite current challenges, the future is bright.\" 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, '2023-04-10 12:59:39', '2023-04-10 12:59:39'),
(6292, 6292, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A case has been filed against 22 leaders and activists of BNP including its Fultola upazila unit convener under the Explosives Act.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sub-inspector Rafiqul Islam of Khulna Sadar Police Station filed the case on Saturday naming 17 and 4/5 unnamed people for obstructing government work.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP called a sit-in programme in cities, thanas and upazilas across the country on Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As part of the programme, BNP men gathered on Jamira Road at 11:30 am under the leadership of upazila unit onvener Prof Gazi Abdul Haque.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At that time, police stopped them as they did not have permission to hold the programme, police said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, nine BNP leaders and activists including Khulna Metropolitan BNP Joint Convener Kazi Md Rashed have been released from jail on bail in various cases filed by the police.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They were released from prison on Sunday afternoon. 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, '2023-04-10 13:02:37', '2023-04-10 13:02:37'),
(6293, 6293, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">People working from home became younger, more diverse, better educated and more likely to move during the worst part of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In many respects, the demographic makeup of people working from home from 2019 to 2021 became more like workers who were commuting, while the share of the U.S. labor force working from home went from 5.7% in 2019 to 17.9% in 2021, as restrictions were implemented to help slow the spread of the virus, according to a report released last week based on American Community Survey data.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The increase in homebased workers corresponded with a decline in drivers, carpoolers, transit riders, and most other types of commuters,” the report said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The share of people working from home between ages 25 and 34 jumped from 16% to 23% from 2019 to 2021. The share of home-based workers who are Black went from 7.8% to 9.5%, and it went from 5.7% to 9.6% for Asian workers. It remained flat for Hispanic workers, the report said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The share of home-based workers with a college degree also jumped from just over half to more than two-thirds, and people working from home were more likely to have moved in the past year than commuters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two industry groups that saw the greatest jumps in people working from home were in information, where it went from 10.4% to 42%, and finance, insurance and real estate, going from 10.8% to 38.4%. Professional and administrative services, also went from 12.6% to 36.5%.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The smallest gains were in agriculture and mining; entertainment and food services; and armed forces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While every income level saw jumps in people working from home, those in the highest income bracket were most likely to work from home. While it doubled from 2019 to 2021 for workers in the lowest income bracket, it tripled for those in the highest, the report said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Home-based work also varied by region. By 2021, it was more prevalent in the West and Northeast, making up about a fifth of the workforce, compared to 16.2% in the South and 15.8% in the Midwest. The variation may have been caused by the availability of Internet access, the cluster of information technology jobs on the coasts and the way people commute, whether by car or public transportation, the report said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tech-heavy San Francisco and San Jose metro areas had more than a third of their labor force working from home in 2021 — the largest share among metros with more than 1 million residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since most pandemic restrictions have been lifted since the 2021 survey was taken, it is unknown at this point if the growth in work-from-home is permanent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“If only temporarily, the COVID-19 pandemic generated a massive shift in the way people in the United States related to their workplace location,” the report said. “With the centrality of work and commuting in American life, the widespread adoption of home-based work was a defining feature of the pandemic era.” AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 13:47:25', '2023-04-10 13:47:25'),
(6294, 6294, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Self-proclaimed film critic Kamaal R Khan (KRK) has shared an old video of Ranbir Kapoor in which the actor had said that he is against remakes. Sharing the video on Monday, KRK tweeted, “It’s a brilliant statement of Ranbir Kapoor.\"</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the video, Ranbir said that he wants to create something original and why he would not like to be a part of someone else\'s film. Ranbir also said he would instead want people to remake his films.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I feel new directors are coming in. We are at a time in the film industry where everyone is becoming brave, taking risks, actors are approaching characters which probably they would never approach early on. Every leading hero is thinking like a character. It is such a wonderful change that has come in the film industry. Why should I do a film that somebody has already done which is a big success. I want to create something new, something original. I want people to remake my film, why should I be a part of somebody else\'s,” Ranbir had told Komal Nahta in an interview in 2013.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last month, Ranbir had again voiced his opinion on remakes. He had told Times Now Digital, \"I think very early on in my career also, I was very against remaking a film, even remaking a song. I remember that one song I did, Bachna Ae Haseeno, I also had a little issue but I was also very new at that time, I didn\'t have a say into it. I believe I am in a position where I can create original content, I always believe that if there is a film that has been made, it has been made to the best abilities and it is very hard to kind of recreate it and do a better version of it.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He had also said that if told to do so, he would like to play Anthony\'s part in Amar Akbar Anthony. Amitabh Bachchan had played Anthony in the film which also starred Ranbir\'s father Rishi Kapoor as Akbar and Vinod Khanna as Amar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ranbir is currently working on his next, titled Animal. He has been sporting a heavy beard for the film since several months. His latest release Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, opposite Shraddha Kapoor, earned more ₹100 crore. 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, '2023-04-10 14:03:00', '2023-04-10 14:03:00'),
(6295, 6295, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A man was killed, allegedly by his younger brother, in Singaire upazila of Manikganj on Sunday.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased Abu Raihan, 27, was son of Shahjahan Fakir and a resident of Vakum Fakirpara village of Joymontop union.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">According to family members, Roman, 24, the younger brother, slit Raihan\'s throat while he was asleep around 12 am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Family members rescued and rushed Raihan to upazila health complex where the duty doctor declared him dead.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Roman might have killed his brother over family dispute and fled immediately, said Syed Mizanur Islam, officer-in-charge of Singair police station.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The body was sent to the morgue of Manikganj General Hospital for an autopsy, said the OC. 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, '2023-04-10 14:22:59', '2023-04-10 14:22:59');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(6296, 6296, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">When the kitchen is redolent with the aroma of fragrant peele chawal and the smokey maa-ki-daal, you know it is Baisakhi. A festival that marks the beginning of harvest season, Baisakhi is an ode to all things new. The Punjabi and Sikh communities ring in the festivities with an assortment of delectable and nourishing dishes. Ahead of the festival, we take a look at the non-mainstream delicacies integral to the celebration.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>As kirtans and langars take over the streets, the aroma of dal makhani, maa-ki-daal, chole-bhature, matar-paneer, pinni, etc. takes over the homes! The celebration is incomplete without yellow-hued saffron rice or zarda, phirni and jalebi.</div><div><br></div><div>However, there are quite a few culinary treasures that are still being made in some homes but have been largely forgotten over the course of history. Chef and author Monish Gujral elaborates on this: “My grandmother, who hailed from the North-West Frontier, used to make dishes like Multani rarah paneer (stuffed paneer made in tomato rarah gravy); moti makai pulao (rice cooked with makai and black chana), achari kasturi methi aloo, Multani chawal wari and papad. And my all time favourite is roh ki kheer.”</div><div><br></div><div>Langarwali dal, pakodewali Punjabi kadhi with chawal, aam di meethi lassi, Amritsari meethi pedewali lassi, and gur da halwa are some other festive favourites.</div><div><br></div><div>Quintessentially Punjabi</div><div><br></div><div>“Baisakhi reminds me of childhood. It was the day when we would make the traditional meethe peele chawal or sweet saffron rice,” says chef Sanjeev Kapoor.</div><div><br></div><div>There are some dishes that originate from different parts of the state and are still made at some homes for Baisakhi. Phulkari pulao, which derives its name from the Phulkari art, is one such dish. “Made with four types of fragrant rice and cooked with desi ghee, milk, mawa, poppy seeds, saffron and vegetables, it is a vibrant and wholesome dish,” shares chef Reetu Uday Kugaji.</div><div><br></div><div>Chef Nishant Choubey adds about the unbelievable mirchi ka halwa that is made from fresh green or red chillies cooked in ghee. Jaggery or sugar is used as a sweetener.</div><div><br></div><div>Recalling Punjabi dishes that are rarely made by city folk, Chef Barun Pratap Singh shares: “Gur ganne ke chawal, a dish made with jaggery and sugarcane juice mixed in rice, cooked till the rice is sticky and sweet. Gajar till ki kheer, a delicious dessert made with grated carrots, milk, and sesame seeds, garnished with chopped nuts are some other baisakhi specials.”</div><div><br></div><div>Ingredients</div><div><br></div><div>1 cup boiled rice</div><div><br></div><div>4 cups sugar cane juice</div><div><br></div><div>1/2 cup fried almonds and pistachio</div><div><br></div><div>1 tbsp raisins</div><div><br></div><div>Method</div><div><br></div><div>In a pan add boiled rice and sugar cane juice and cook till the juice thickens.</div><div><br></div><div>Add raisins and stir for a minutes.</div><div><br></div><div>Remove from heat and pour in serving dish.</div><div><br></div><div>Garnish with some fried nuts.</div><div><br></div><div>Serve chilled or warm as desired, and dig in. HT</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 14:33:50', '2023-04-10 14:33:50'),
(6297, 6297, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">China said it was simulating \"sealing off\" Taiwan in a third day of drills as it appeared to use an aircraft carrier to launch jets towards the island.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Taiwan said it had detected jets to its east while China said its Shandong aircraft carrier had taken part.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Beijing began the exercises on Saturday after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met the US House Speaker in California.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">So far however the drills are not as big as those that followed Nancy Pelosi\'s visit to Taipei last August.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state. China sees it as a breakaway province that will eventually be brought under Beijing\'s control - by force if necessary.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Monday Taiwan said it had spotted another 70 warplanes and 11 ships in its surrounding waters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A map of flight paths released by Taiwan\'s defence ministry showed four J-15 fighter jets to the island\'s east - suggesting that the Chinese military is for the first time simulating strikes from the east rather than the west where China\'s mainland lies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Analysts said it was likely the jets had come from China\'s Shandong aircraft carrier - one of two such carriers it possesses - which is currently deployed in the western Pacific ocean, about 320km (200 miles) from Taiwan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Chinese military confirmed on Monday in a statement that the Shandong had \"participated\" in Monday\'s exercises. It said fighter planes loaded with live ammunition had \"carried out multiple waves of simulated strikes on important targets\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Japan\'s defence ministry said on Monday that the Shandong had also conducted air operations in the preceding days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jet fighters and helicopters took off and landed on the carrier 120 times between Friday and Sunday, the Japanese ministry said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Also on Monday the US sent the USS Milius, a guided-missile destroyer, through part of the South China Sea about 1,300km (800 miles) south of Taiwan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China said the ship had \"illegally intruded\" into its waters, while the US maintained the operation was consistent with international law.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Washington had repeatedly called for China to exercise restraint following President Tsai\'s meeting with Kevin McCarthy, the third most senior US government figure. Beijing meanwhile had warned the US and Taiwan of \"resolute counter-measures\" if Ms Tsai met Mr McCarthy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China announced the drills after top foreign leaders it was hosting - including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen - left the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Macron later urged Europe not to get dragged into a confrontation between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan in remarks that have attracted some criticism.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On his flight out of China he told reporters Europe risked getting \"caught up in crises that are not ours\" and this would make it harder to build \"strategic autonomy\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China\'s drills began on Saturday after Ms Tsai had returned from her 10-day trip to the US and Central America.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former US House Speaker Ms Pelosi\'s high-profile visit to Taiwan last August was followed by four days of unprecedented military drills, which saw China fire ballistic missiles into the seas around Taiwan. Ms Pelosi was the highest-ranking US official to land in Taiwan since the 1990s.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However some analysts say such military exercises may have diminishing impact over time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"To maintain the same fear factor, [China will] have to ramp it up bigger and bigger each time as their actions will have a normalising effect after a while,\" said Ian Chong, a non-resident scholar at Carnegie China.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Taiwan\'s status has been ambiguous since 1949, when the Chinese Civil War turned in favour of the Chinese Communist Party and the country\'s old ruling government retreated to the island.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China\'s President Xi Jinping has said \"reunification\" with Taiwan \"must be fulfilled\". BBC&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 14:47:37', '2023-04-10 14:47:37'),
(6298, 6298, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday came down heavily on the Prothom Alo saying that the Bengali language daily is the enemy of her ruling Awami League party, democracy and the people of the country.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“The name of the paper is Prothom Alo (first light), but it lives in darkness. Prothom Alo is the enemy of Awami League, democracy and the people of the country,” she told the parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier made the remarks, joining the discussion on a motion placed by her in the House, marking the 50 years (Golden Jubilee) of the Bangladesh National Parliament. This was also her valedictory speech in the 22nd session of the current parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the newspaper asked a 7-year old child to tell a lie, handing him Tk 10. They recorded his remark –-‘We want freedom of rice, fish and meat’--- and published it.</div><div><br></div><div>“I am very sorry to say that they never want the stability to remain in this country,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said the newspaper was very glad in 2007 when the emergency was declared and two newspapers got engaged wholeheartedly at that time.</div><div><br></div><div>Without mentioning the name, she also criticised the USA saying that the country talks against corruption, but they’ve been advocating for convicted persons in graft charges.</div><div><br></div><div>“They want to bring such a government here, scraping democracy, which would have no democratic existence –-- (that means) undemocratic trend,” she said, adding that “some local (so-called) intellectuals who live on selling their intellects obey them.” According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 16:21:45', '2023-04-10 16:21:45'),
(6299, 6299, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Describing the Election Commission’s plan to hold elections to five city corporations by June this year as a trap of the government, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said their party will not be lured into the plot.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“This time people and BNP won’t step into any trap of the government…we’ll overturn their trap,” he said while talking to reporters at a hospital in the city’s Rampura area.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader also said their party has been on a movement with a clear stance that no parliamentary elections can be held under the current government and no election will be held without a caretaker government.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul also said BNP has not been participating in local body elections under the Awami League government for a long time.</div><div><br></div><div>He, however, parried journalists’ question about what action their party will take if its leaders take part in the city polls as independent candidates.</div><div><br></div><div>The Election Commission at a recent meeting decided to hold elections to five city corporations -- Barishal, Gazipur, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Sylhet -- between May 23 and June 29.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul went to Delta Care Hospital to visit Natore Sadar Upazila BNP general secretary Abul Hossain who was critically injured in Natore’s Alaipur area by the ruling party activists while observing the party’s sit-in programme on Saturday last.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the Awami League government has become completely isolated from the country’s people. “If a fair election is held now under a neutral government, then you will see that Awami League won’t get even thirty seats. This is the reality.”</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader alleged that Awami League wants to hang onto power by resorting to terrorism, ‘false’ cases and using the state machinery to foil the opposition’s democratic programme.</div><div><br></div><div>He warned that there will be no national election in the country until the current regime steps down by handing over power to a non-party caretaker government.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said the ruling party ‘cadres’ swopped on Abul Hossain in Natore while observing BNP’s sit-in programme and brutally stabbed him in a bid to kill him. “In fact, he could have been killed if the police had not rescued him. They (AL cadres) tried to kill him.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said such terror attacks have repeatedly taken place in Natore. “They’ve created a reign of terror not only in Natore but also in Khulna, Habiganj, Jashore and across the country.”&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said the ruling party ‘cadres’ with the help of police also attacked their party’s sit-in programme in different parts of the country, including in Dhaka, on Saturday, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“Awami League is basically a terrorist party and the current government has turned into completely a terrorist regime. The country’s people will give it a befitting reply through the movement,” he observed.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 17:30:22', '2023-04-10 17:30:22'),
(6300, 6300, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Dalai Lama has apologised after outrage over a video of him kissing a child on the lips and asking him to \"suck my tongue\" at a public event.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The 87-year-old spiritual leader apologised to the boy and his family, with his team saying he \"often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"A video clip has been circulating that shows a recent meeting when a young boy asked His Holiness the Dalai Lama if he could give him a hug. His Holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused. His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident,\" said an official statement on the exiled Tibetan leader\'s Twitter account, which has 19 million followers.</div><div><br></div><div>The viral video, which has one million views on Twitter, showed the Dalai Lama kissing a young boy on the lips and touching foreheads with him as an audience claps and laughs. Then the leader sticks out his tongue and says: \"Can you suck my tongue?\"</div><div><br></div><div>The video triggered a huge backlash, with Twitter users denouncing it as \"disgusting\" and \"unbecoming\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"So the Dalai Lama is kissing an Indian boy at a Buddhist event and even tries to touch his tongue. He actually says \'suck my tongue\'. Now why would he do that?\" tweeted user Joost Broekers.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Why is the Dalai Lama fondling this young boy and asking him to \'suck his tongue\'?\" questioned Stew Peters.</div><div><br></div><div>The Nobel Peace Prize winner had earlier apologised in 2019 for controversially saying if his successor were to be a woman, \"she should be attractive\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"If a female Dalai Lama comes, she should be more attractive,\" he said to the BBC in an interview.</div><div><br></div><div>Last month, the Dalai Lama named an eight-year-old US-born Mongolian boy as the 10th Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche, the third highest rank in Tibetan Buddhism.</div><div><br></div><div>Beijing has accused the Dalai Lama of fomenting separatism in Tibet and it does not recognise the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), which represents about 100,000 exiled Tibetans living in around 30 countries including India, Nepal, Canada and the US. Source: NDTV</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 18:07:01', '2023-04-10 18:07:01'),
(6301, 6301, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Rajshahi University (RU) is scheduled to go on a 21-day vacation on the occasion of the Pohela Boishakh, Shabe Qudr, Eid-Ul-Fitr and historic May Day from April 14 next.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Prof Prodip Kumar Pandey, Administrator of RU Public Relation Office, confirmed the matter saying their varsity will remain closed for 15 days on the occasion of Shab-e-Qadr, May Day and Eid-ul-Fitr according to the academic calendar.</div><div><br></div><div>He, however, said all sorts of academic activities will remain suspended for the scheduled occasions and the weekends from April 14 to May 4.</div><div>But this time, all the 17 students\' dormitories will remain open during the Eid holidays.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, the resident students appreciated the RU decision for keeping their halls remain open during the long vacation and termed it as wise.</div><div><br></div><div>Jamal Uddin Abrar, a student of the university, said tests of various jobs, including Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) and banks, are in the offing. Preparations for the upcoming tests may be disturbed due to staying in their houses, reports BSS</div><div><br></div><div>So, the university authority will get appreciation for the time-fitting decision, he added.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 19:34:17', '2023-04-10 19:34:17'),
(6302, 6302, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said although BNP is yet to show interest to join the next parliamentary elections, many BNP leaders are secretly taking preparations for the polls.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"Many BNP leaders and workers are communicating about the elections. Among you (BNP leaders), there are many leaders like Ukil Abdus Sattar. Many leaders are looking for a way to participate in the elections and are communicating secretly. Wait and see,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, made the remarks while speaking at peace rally, organised by Dhaka South City AL, in front of the party\'s central office at Bangabandhu Avenue here.</div><div><br></div><div>Blaming that the BNP participates in elections wearing a veil, he said the BNP is unwilling to join polls sensing its defeat.</div><div><br></div><div>Many BNP leaders are participating in elections as independent candidates, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Confirming that all the local government elections, including city polls, will be held in time, Quader said there will be no result by hatching conspiracy as the elections will be held in time in line with the country\'s Constitution.</div><div><br></div><div>\"No matter who joins polls or not, the elections will not be halted for anyone, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL general secretary said sensing the inevitable victory of AL President Sheikh Hasina in the national elections, BNP is hatching plot over the polls and the BNP leaders want to make elections questionable without participating in it.</div><div><br></div><div>About the BNP\'s movement, he said BNP launched various kind of movement including road march and human chains, but there was no people\'s participation in its movement.</div><div><br></div><div>Stating that BNP is walking towards a political accident in Bangladesh, Quader said the movement of BNP could not get any response from commoners and will remain the same in the future too.</div><div><br></div><div>AL presidium members Advocate Qumrul Islam and Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, organising secretary Afzal Hossain and central committee member Anwar Hossain, among others, spoke at the rally with Dhaka South City AL acting president Nurul Amin Ruhul in the chair.</div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka South City AL general secretary Humayun Kabir conducted the rally. Source; BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 20:55:18', '2023-04-10 20:55:18'),
(6303, 6303, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Mashrafe Bin Mortaza led Legends of Rupganj became the third team to confirm the super league of Dhaka Premier League (DPL) after Abahani Limited and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club following a five-wicket victory over Prime Bank Cricket Club at BKSP-4 ground today.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The victory helped Rupganj achieve&nbsp; 14 points in nine matches, that guaranteed a place in super league.</div><div><br></div><div>Little know pacer Abdul Halim was instrumental in the victory, grabbing three wickets for 34 runs.</div><div><br></div><div>Halim was complemented by his captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza who scalped 2-25 as Rupganj bundled Prime Bank out for just 128 in 36.2 overs after putting them into bat first.</div><div><br></div><div>Nasir Hossain was the top-scorer for the side with 31 while national player Yasir Ali Chowdhury made 28 when he needed a big score to boost his confidence.</div><div><br></div><div>Legends for Rupganj couldn’t make it cakewalk but still raced to the victory in 24.4 overs, making 129-5 for their seventh victory. Fardeen Hasan Oney made team-high 47 while Irfan Shukkur added 31 ball-34 to hasten the victory.</div><div><br></div><div>Offspinner Mahedi Hasan and pacer Rejaur Rahman Raja bagged two wickets apiece. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 21:35:02', '2023-04-10 21:35:02'),
(6304, 6304, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Both treasury and opposition lawmakers on Monday said the anti-liberation force is the main barrier to the constitutional form of government.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"The anti-liberation force under the umbrella of BNP is the main obstacle to the constitutional form of government\", they said.</div><div><br></div><div>The lawmakers were participating in the discussion on a motion brought under section 147 of the rules of procedure of the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) marking its golden jubilee at the Sangsad Bhaban here.</div><div><br></div><div>Deputy Leader of the House Matia Chowdhury said the emergence of the parliament and the existence of the nation are closely related as Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made a huge sacrifice for development of the nation.</div><div><br></div><div>Praising the current development of the country, the deputy leader said Bangabandhu had liberated the country and his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working to fulfill the dream of Bangabandhu.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had introduced parliamentary form of government for the welfare of the people while the anti-liberation force is working to destabilize the country through neglecting constitutional consistency\", said Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan.</div><div><br></div><div>The present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina established accountability in the Jatiya Sangsad, said Chief Whip Nur-E Alam Chowdhury.</div><div><br></div><div>He said, \"The members of parliament are now the chairmen of the parliamentary standing committees instead of the concerned ministers and question-answer session is also relevant with the parliamentary procedure.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Opposition leader of the Jatiya Sangsad Begum Raushan Ershad termed the Jatiya Sangsad as the centre of all the expectations and ambitions of the people.</div><div><br></div><div>She said as the whole activities of the government are being mobilized in the Jatiya Sangsad, that\'s why political unity is crucial for well functioning of the legislative house.</div><div><br></div><div>Treasury bench lawmaker Social Welfare Minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed, Jatiya Party deputy leader GM Kader, among others, also participated in the discussion.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, the discussion under the proposal was moved to the house and then it was unanimously adopted after being okayed by the lawmakers with Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 22:01:06', '2023-04-10 22:01:06'),
(6305, 6305, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun on Monday said that there is no threat of sabotage on the upcoming Bengali New Year Pahela Baishakh, which will be celebrated in the country on April 14.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He said that Mongol Shovajatra will come out on the Pahela Baishakh in the city.</div><div><br></div><div>“So far there is no threat of any kind of sabotage,” he said.</div><div>He said that plainclothes police will be on duty in the field alongside regular police teams on the day.</div><div><br></div><div>The IGP came up with the remarks responding to reporters\' questions after inspecting security measures of Bashundhara Shopping Mall in the capital on Monday afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>The IGP said security measures have been taken considering maximum security, no matter, whether there is any threat or not.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that special security measures have already been taken in in all the shopping malls of Dhaka city during Ramadan. Security zones at various levels have also been created.</div><div><br></div><div>He claimed that traffic management system has been strengthened so that people can come and go to the shopping malls easily.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our traffic policemen are on the roads round the clock so that the city dwellers will not need to take iftar on the streets during Ramadan, and they can reach their homes on time,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition to Dhaka city, security has also been strengthened in various markets across the country so that people can do shopping before Eid and Pahela Baishakh.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have strengthened security in all markets. All units of the police are working together to provide security to the people,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>DMP Commissioner Khandkar Ghulam Faruq, Additional Commissioner (DB) Mohammad Harun-ur Rashid and other senior officials were also present during his briefing. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 22:10:23', '2023-04-10 22:10:23'),
(6306, 6306, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh is expected to receive 800-MW more electricity from Adani Power Limited in June.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Indian company started supplying over 700 MW to the national grid on Sunday from its first 800-MW ultra-super-critical thermal power generation unit at Godda in Jharkhand of India.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking to BSS, Director General of Power Cell Engineer Mohammad Hossain said Bangladesh\'s grid generation capacity rose to 23,000 MW, while the present demand is over 14000 MW.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We\'re fulfilling the current electricity demand from our own generation alongside imported power from India. Now around 1700 MW power is being imported from neighbouring country,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>According to a statement of Adani power issued on Sunday, as per Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) annual report for the financial year 2021-22, the total tariff of HFO-based plants is around Taka 22.10/kWh (USC 21/KWh) and total tariff of HSD-based power plants is around Taka 154.11/kWh (USC 149/KWh), which is far higher than the tariff of Godda Power Plant (Energy cost estimated to be around 9 cents/KWh).</div><div><br></div><div>Though at present, Bangladesh has long-term PPA ties with three other imported coal-based generators, total tariff of Godda TPP is competitive compared to peers.</div><div><br></div><div>It said Adani commissioned its first 800 MW unit at Godda in Jharkhand of India and began supplying of power to Bangladesh with 748 MW of power.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The Godda Power Plant is a strategic asset in the India-Bangladesh\'s long-standing relationship,\" said SB Khyalia, CEO, Adani Power Limited.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It will ease the power supply in Bangladesh, making its industries and ecosystem more competitive. It is going to be the most efficient and environment-friendly thermal power plant installed in India and entire South-East region and also one of the best in class in the world. It is the first power plant in the country, which has started its operations from Day One with 100 percent Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD), SCR and Zero Water Discharge,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The statement said in November 2017, Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) executed a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with APL\'s wholly-owned subsidiary Adani Power Jharkhand Limited (APJL) to procure 1,496 MW net capacity power from 2X800 MW ultra-supercritical power project at Godda. India\'s largest power producer in the private sector is expected to commission its second 800 MW unit soon.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This is to inform that Unit 1 of 800 MW capacity of the 2x800 MW ultra-supercritical power project of Adani Power (Jharkhand) Limited (\"APJL\"), situated in Godda district in Jharkhand, has achieved commercial operations.</div><div><br></div><div>Subsequently, the requisite transmission evacuation system on the Bangladesh side was commissioned in March 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>Accordingly, APJL again synchronised the unit 1 on March 20, 2023. The Reliability Run Test, including Commercial Operation Tests, was completed on April 5, 2023 in the presence of competent authority from BPDB and Power Grid Corporation of Bangladesh (PGCB).</div><div><br></div><div>The Godda Power Plant comprises two units of the latest technology available in the world, which is \"Ultra Super Critical Technology\" with latest techniques for controlling emissions and consumption of coal and water. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 22:24:22', '2023-04-10 22:24:22'),
(6307, 6307, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A shooting at a bank in downtown Louisville killed at least four people and wounded at least eight others Monday, police said. The suspected shooter was also dead.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The shooting, the 15th mass killing in the country this year, comes just two weeks after a former student killed three children and three adults at a Christian elementary school in Nashville, about 160 mile (260 kilometers) to the south.</div><div><br></div><div>Police arrived as gunshots were still being fired inside the Old National Bank and exchanged fire with the shooter, Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said at a news conference. It wasn\'t clear whether the shooter killed himself or was shot by officers.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We believe this is a lone gunman involved in this that did have a connection to the bank. We\'re trying to establish what that connection was to the business, but it appears he was a previous employee,\" Humphrey said.</div><div><br></div><div>Humphrey said that at least eight people were being treated at a hospital for wounds, including two police officers, one of whom was in critical condition.</div><div><br></div><div>An emotional Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he lost friends in the shooting in the building on East Main Street not far from the Louisville Slugger Field and Waterfront Park.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This is awful,\" he said. \"I have a very close friend who didn\'t make it today. And I have another close friend who didn\'t, either. And one who\'s at the hospital that I hope is going to make it through.\"</div><div><br></div><div>It was the second time that Beshear was personally touched by a mass tragedy since becoming governor.</div><div><br></div><div>In late 2021, one of the towns devastated by tornadoes that tore through Kentucky was Dawson Springs, the hometown of Beshear\'s father, former two-term Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear. Andy Beshear frequently visited Dawson Springs as a boy and has talked emotionally about his father\'s hometown.</div><div><br></div><div>Humphrey, the deputy chief, said the actions of responding police officers in Louisville on Monday morning had undoubtedly saved lives.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This is a tragic event,\" he said. \"But it was the heroic response of officers that made sure that no more people were more seriously injured than what happened.\"</div><div><br></div><div>This year\'s 15 mass shootings is the most during the first 100 days of a calendar year since 2009, when 16 incidents had occurred by April 10, according to a mass killings database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.</div><div><br></div><div>Going back to 2006, the first year for which data has been compiled, the years with the most mass killings were 2019 and 2022, with 45 and 42 mass killings recorded during the entire calendar year. The pace in 2009 slowed later in the year, with 32 mass killings recorded that year. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 22:31:47', '2023-04-10 22:31:47'),
(6308, 6308, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">China has again been staging military drills around Taiwan - but some experts say Beijing has dialled them down as the island will hold a presidential election in nine months, and it is in China\'s interest to see a victory by the opposition Kuomintang party (KMT).</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">No missiles have been fired near the island, the drills only lasted three days and the US politician who met President Tsai Ing-wen - House Speaker Kevin McCarthy - has not been sanctioned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Beijing\'s response when ex-speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei last August was harsher.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The drills have become part of China\'s \"standard operational procedure\" after Ms Pelosi\'s trip, says Professor Chen-shen Yen of Taiwan\'s National Chengchi University. \"They need to make their position known, but their reactions cannot be overboard.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Timing is key.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Chinese Communist Party defeated the KMT in a civil war that ended in 1949, forcing the latter to flee to Taiwan. But in recent decades, the former rivals have found common ground in the 1992 Consensus, a vaguely worded understanding that says there is only \"One China\" which includes Taiwan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If Beijing continues its hard-line rhetoric, it risks becoming the best campaigner for the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the election, Prof Yen says.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The KMT won big in last year\'s local elections, but analysts say the China factor weighs much more in presidential elections.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China has adopted a carrot-and-stick strategy, says Professor Fang-yu Chen of Taiwan\'s Soochow University. On one hand China promises exchanges - including economic and cultural - if Taiwan agrees on the \"One China\" principle. At the same time it continues its military build-up.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Beijing wants to tell the Taiwanese people that there will be a war if they vote for the DPP, but there will be peace if they vote for the KMT,\" he adds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is an uneasy balance to strike. However, China also faces internal pressure to act tough towards Taiwan, especially given that China has been stoking nationalism among its citizenry, he says.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If China\'s military exercises aim to deter US and Taiwanese politicians from getting too close, it has achieved some success - Taiwan appears to have taken steps to reduce tensions around the Tsai-McCarthy meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last July, Mr McCarthy said he would like to lead a congressional delegation if he became the house speaker. The Tsai administration managed to convince him to meet in the US instead because of Taiwan\'s security concerns, the Financial Times reported, quoting sources.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US also tried to downplay the meeting, pointing out that it was Ms Tsai\'s seventh transit since taking power. Both the US and Taiwan have described it as a stopover or transit, rather than a \"visit\".&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The US and Taiwan have developed a tacit understanding that they should take a low profile,\" says Prof Chen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is still a win for Taiwan, he says, as Mr McCarthy was the highest-ranking US official any Taiwan president has ever met on American soil since 1979, when the US severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Taiwan issue is the biggest flashpoint in the US-China relations. China sees the democratic self-governing island as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to take control of it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As the US shows greater support for Taiwan, China has accused it of hollowing out its longstanding One China policy. the diplomatic acknowledgement of China\'s position that there is only one Chinese government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under the policy, the US recognises and has formal ties with China rather than the island of Taiwan, which China sees as a breakaway province to be unified with the mainland one day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But this is distinct from the One China principle, whereby China insists Taiwan is an inalienable part of one China to be unified one day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US policy is not an endorsement of Beijing\'s position and indeed as part of the policy, Washington maintains a \"robust unofficial\" relationship with Taiwan, including continued arms sales to the island so that it can defend itself. 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, '2023-04-11 09:25:28', '2023-04-11 09:25:28'),
(6309, 6309, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Five people died when an employee opened fire at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, and livestreamed the attack on Instagram, police say.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The victims were aged between 40 and 64. Among nine others injured was a rookie police officer who had graduated to the force just two weeks ago.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The officer was shot in the head and is still critical after brain surgery.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police responded within three minutes, and fatally shot the attacker in an exchange of gunfire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The shooting took place at the Old National Bank in the city centre at about 08:30 local time (12:30 GMT).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Caleb Goodlett told local media his wife, an employee at the bank, locked herself inside the vault when the attack began.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other witnesses described seeing the shootout between police officers and the lone attacker.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said an \"incredible friend\" of his, Tommy Elliot, a senior vice-president at the bank, was among the victims.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad,\" said Mr Beshear.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">City Councilman Anthony Piagentini told the Courier-Journal newspaper that Mr Wilt graduated from the academy on 31 March, and that his brother is enrolled in the police academy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg called the attack \"an evil act of targeted violence\". The mayor noted that he himself was the victim of a recent gun attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last year he was shot at by a mentally disturbed man who had burst into his campaign office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two survivors told WHAS-TV that Monday\'s gunshots first broke out in a ground-floor conference room at the bank.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Whoever was next to me got shot - blood is on me from it,\" said one man, pointing to his shirt.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The suspect was named as 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon, who police said used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle during the incident and was broadcasting the shooting online.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"That\'s tragic to know that that incident was out there and captured,\" said Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Instagram\'s owner Meta said it had \"quickly removed the livestream of this tragic incident this morning\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The attacker is described in an online profile as being a syndications associate and portfolio banker at Old National Bank. He had joined the company as a full-time employee last year after spending three summers as an intern there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officials say he had no previous contact with law enforcement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to US media, he had recently been told by the bank that he was going to be fired and had written a note describing his plans for the mass shooting before going to work on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Data compiled by the Gun Violence Archive shows that there have been at least 146 mass shootings - defined as those in which at least four people were shot - so far in 2023, including at least 15 since April began.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Joe Biden demanded Congress pass gun control measures as he tweeted on Monday: \"Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kentucky is one of 26 states that allow most adults over 21 years old to purchase and carry a firearm without a licence. 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, '2023-04-11 09:30:42', '2023-04-11 09:30:42'),
(6310, 6310, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Barcelona missed the chance to go 15 points clear at the top of La Liga as they were frustrated at home by Girona.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Robert Lewandowski had a golden chance to open the scoring after four minutes, but put his effort onto the roof of the net.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Girona keeper Paulo Gazzaniga, on loan from Fulham, made a number of good saves, including one to deny Raphinha at his near post.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Taty Castellanos also shot wide when through on goal for the visitors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is only the third time this season that Barcelona have dropped points at home.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But despite the disappointment of failing to win, Xavi\'s side increased their advantage over Real Madrid to 13 points after their title rivals were beaten by Villarreal on Sunday. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 09:34:53', '2023-04-11 09:34:53'),
(6311, 6311, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 199 at 9:20 am today (April 11,2023), Dhaka ranked 5th in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China’s Beiijng, India’s Delhi, and Pakistan’s Lahore occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 482, 359 and 263, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered “unhealthy”, while between 201 and 300 it is considered “very unhealthy”, and 301–400 is “hazardous”, posing severe 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 as a result of 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, '2023-04-11 10:51:58', '2023-04-11 10:51:58');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(6312, 6312, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United States has reiterated its desire to see a free and fair election in Bangladesh, noting that the world will be observing Bangladesh’s next national election.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Of course, we’re looking – the world is looking – to Bangladesh for its next election, to make sure that they set a strong example of free and fair election for the region and for the world,” US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken said during his meeting with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen in Washington on Monday afternoon (US time).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Appreciating Bangladesh’s engagement with the USA, Blinken said they are committed to work together to find ways to further “strengthen and deepen” the robust relationship, and to address economic development and human rights as well.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the US deeply appreciates Bangladesh’s remarkable generosity in hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in the country.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While briefing the media after the meeting, Momen said Bangladesh, like the US, also wants a free, fair and ideal election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Democracy is in our blood. People gave blood to uphold democracy, justice and human dignity,” he said, seeking help from the US for a free and fair election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen highlighted the independent Election Commission and measures taken for holding the election transparently.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said Bangladesh welcomes US observers but not any “partisan observers”. “All opposition parties must come forward to help in holding a free and fair election. We are creating an environment for a free fair election.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen said he handed over a letter from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina — addressed to US President Joe Biden — to Secretary Blinken.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We are proud of the partnership,” he said, adding that he is in Washington to strengthen and solidify the relationship.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen said Bangladesh wants to improve its ties with the United States towards a stronger trade relationship in the next 50 years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Bangladesh has a multifaceted, dynamic and wide ranging relationship with the US. Over the last 50 years we have done very well. We look forward to the next 50 years,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We achieved all with your support and active partnership and we are proud of your partnership and we look beyond, so that we can have better days in future. I am here to strengthen and solidify our relationship,” Momen added.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh raised the issue of Rashed Chowdhury, a convicted killer of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is moving freely in the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen hoped that the US will not be a shelter for killers and will hand over Rashed to Bangladesh as it wants to establish the rule of law in the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Blinken said the relationship between Bangladesh and the United States has grown tremendously over the last 50 years, particularly in the economic aspect.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also mentioned people-to-people ties and said the two countries have been doing more together recently — from climate change to health.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two sides also focused on their ongoing cooperation to deal with the climate crisis, meet the needs of Rohingyas and their safe return to Myanmar, and promote regional security through UN peacekeeping operations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On April 4 last year, Blinken met with Momen to celebrate and reflect on the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-US relations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They discussed the \"tremendous economic potential\" of the relationship and reflected on the ways the two countries collaborated over the last half century – including in growing people-to-people ties with vibrant Fulbright exchanges.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While talking to reporters last Wednesday in Dhaka, Momen said: \"I\'d say we\'re lucky because the American secretary of state doesn\'t give invitations frequently. We got three in a row. America is paying much attention to our journey on the highway of development.\" 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, '2023-04-11 10:56:00', '2023-04-11 10:56:00'),
(6313, 6313, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">U.S. spies caught Russian intelligence officers boasting that they had convinced the oil-rich United Arab Emirates “to work together against US and UK intelligence agencies,” according to a purported American document posted online as part of a major U.S. intelligence breach.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.S. officials declined to comment on the document, which bore known top-secret markings and was viewed by The Associated Press. The Emirati government on Monday dismissed any accusation that the UAE had deepened ties with Russian intelligence as “categorically false.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the U.S. has had growing concerns that the UAE was allowing Russia and Russians to thwart sanctions imposed over the invasion of Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The document viewed by the AP includes an item citing research from March 9 with the title: “Russia/UAE: Intelligence Relationship Deepening.” U.S. officials declined to confirm the document\'s authenticity, which the AP could not independently do. However, it resembled other documents released as part of the recent leak.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Justice Department has opened an investigation into the possible release of Pentagon documents that were posted on several social media sites. They appear to detail U.S. and NATO aid to Ukraine and U.S. intelligence assessments regarding U.S. allies that could strain ties with those nations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some of the documents may have been altered or used as part of a misinformation campaign, U.S. officials said. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Monday urged caution, “since we know at least in some cases that information was doctored.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to the main successor agency of the Soviet-era KGB, the document seen by the AP says: “In mid-January, FSB officials claimed UAE security service officials and Russia had agreed to work together against US and UK Intelligence agencies, according to newly acquired signals intelligence.\" Signals intelligence refers to intercepted communications, whether telephone calls or electronic messages.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The UAE probably views engagement with Russian intelligence as an opportunity to strengthen growing ties between Abu Dhabi and Moscow and diversify intelligence partnerships amid concerns of US disengagement from the region,” the assessment concluded, referring to the UAE capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It’s not clear if there was any such agreement as described in the UAE-Russia document, or whether the alleged FSB claims were intentionally or unintentionally misleading.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But American officials are speaking out increasingly about a surge in dealings between the UAE and Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A U.S. Treasury official, Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Rosenberg, in March singled out the UAE as a “country of focus.\" She said businesses there were helping Russia evade international sanctions to obtain more than $5 million in U.S. semiconductors and other export-controlled parts, including components with battlefield uses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.S. intelligence officials in recent years have pointed to possible links between the UAE and the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary group closely associated with the Kremlin and active in Ukraine and several African countries. In 2020, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency assessed “that the United Arab Emirates may provide some financing for the group’s operations.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Andreas Krieg, an associate professor at King’s College in London, on Monday called the UAE “the most important strategic partner for Russia in both the Middle East and Africa.” The head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergey Naryshkin, held extensive meetings with UAE leaders in Dubai in 2020.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia and the UAE share similar outlooks in some key conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, and the influx of Russians into the UAE since Russia launched its war in Ukraine also has strengthened ties between the two, said Kristian Ulrichsen, a Middle East expert at Rice University\'s Baker Institute. But the reference to teaming up against U.S. and British intelligence agencies is surprising, said Ulrichsen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian intelligence officials “probably have an interest in describing something in those terms,” he said. “If that was the way the UAE was describing it, I\'d certainly take it ... quite differently.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A U.S. official separately has told the AP that the United States also was worried about Russian money coming into Dubai\'s red-hot real estate market.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And in October, federal prosecutors in New York announced charges against two Dubai-based Russian men and others accused of stealing military technology from U.S. companies, smuggling millions of barrels of oil and laundering tens of millions of dollars for the oligarchs surrounding Russian President Vladimir Putin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prosecutors in that case quoted one of the Dubai-based Russians as assuring his partners “there were no worries” about using a UAE financial institution for the transactions. “This is the (worst) bank in the Emirates,” he was quoted as saying, using an expletive. “They pay to everything.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a statement Monday to the AP about the apparent intelligence document, the United Arab Emirates said UAE officials had not seen the document and claims regarding the FSB were “categorically false.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We refute any allegation regarding an agreement to deepen cooperation between the UAE and other countries\' security services against another country,” the statement said. “The UAE has deep and distinguished relations with all countries, reflecting its principles of openness, partnership, building bridges, and working to serve the common interests of countries and peoples to achieve international peace and security.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The leak of the purported document comes as Emirati officials have recalibrated their foreign policy in the Middle East after a series of attacks attributed to Iran. Attacks claimed by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels hit Abu Dhabi in 2022, killing three people and leading locally stationed American forces to respond with Patriot missile fire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the time since, and as Emiratis perceived America’s presence waning in the region after its chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, the UAE reached a détente with Iran. That’s even as the United States maintains multiple military bases and stations thousands of troops and weaponry in the region, including at Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra Air Base. Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port remains the busiest U.S. Navy port of call outside of the continental U.S.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UAE also remains one of the few places still running daily, direct flights to Moscow after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. That has seen money, megayachts and Russian citizens come into the UAE, an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. However, it hasn’t been a full embrace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Relations between the U.S. and the UAE have seesawed over the past decade, as Abu Dhabi ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan cemented his power. Under the Trump administration, the UAE diplomatically recognized Israel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the deal\'s wake, the UAE sought but has yet to receive advanced American F-35 fighter jets under President Joe Biden. Meanwhile, the Emirates has criticized Israel over the escalating violence between Israel\'s hard-right government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Palestinians. 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, '2023-04-11 11:00:40', '2023-04-11 11:00:40'),
(6314, 6314, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Three top Twitter executives who were sacked by Elon Musk last year when he took over the social media company filed suit on Monday, seeking to be reimbursed for costs of litigation, investigations and congressional inquiries related to their former jobs.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ex-CEO Parag Agrawal, along with the company\'s former chief legal and financial officers, claim in the suit that they are owed a total of more than $1 million, and that Twitter is legally bound to pay them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Twitter responded to an AFP request for comment with a poop emoji, as has become its practice.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court filing outlined numerous expenses related to inquiries by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), but does not include details on the nature of the investigations or whether they are still ongoing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Agrawal and then-chief financial officer Ned Segal provided testimony to the SEC last year and \"have continued to engage with federal authorities,\" according to court documents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The SEC is investigating whether Musk complied with securities rules when he amassed Twitter shares.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former Twitter chief legal officer Vijaya Gadde was called on to take part in a US congressional hearing about big tech and free speech following Musk\'s release late last year of so-called \"Twitter Files\" related to the site\'s content moderation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gadde was also named as a defendant in a lawsuit by a man who claimed he was \"doxed\" at Twitter as a white supremacist, the filing said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Musked terminated Agrawal, Gadde and Segal from their posts in late October after closing his contentious $44 billion takeover of Twitter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The three former executives argue that Twitter is bound by agreements to reimburse them, but has done no more than acknowledge it received their invoices.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After taking over Twitter, Musk quickly slashed the ranks of employees, with the cuts so broad it raised concerns about the platform\'s stability and its ability to fight misinformation and other abuse.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Complaints have also been filed accusing Twitter of not paying rent or other bills as Musk follows on a vow to \"cut costs like crazy.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, market trackers say advertising revenue has plunged at Twitter due to concerns over misinformation and hateful content flourishing as Musk dials back moderation efforts. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"18\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 11:42:54', '2023-04-11 11:42:54'),
(6315, 6315, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Reality TV star Kim Kardashian is swapping her domestic drama for something scripted with an appearance on cult show \"American Horror Story.\"</b></span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The socialite and billionaire businesswoman posted an eerie video Monday to her 352 million Instagram followers, confirming that she will be joining the series with regular Emma Roberts.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The brief video includes an off-key rendition of \"Rock-a-bye Baby\" and the whispered line: \"Emma and Kim are delicate.\"</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The showbiz news outlet Variety reported that Kardashian will have a lead role in Season 12, playing a character that was written specifically for her.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Kardashian first came to public attention as a member of heiress Paris Hilton\'s entourage, but gained global notoriety with the release of a sex tape.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">That was followed by the long-running \"Keeping Up with the Kardashians\" series and its spin-offs, in which viewers get insights into the lives of the uber-wealthy family.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">As well as a now-dissolved high profile marriage to Kanye West, Kardashian has also built a business empire selling lingerie and beauty products.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">She appeared in a handful of films in the late 2000s, and recently voiced a character in \"PAW Patrol: The Movie.\"</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">But \"American Horror Story\" will be her first scripted on-screen venture in a decade.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"American Horror Story\" is an anthology piece revolving around different characters and locations.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">It is known for its high-profile cast, which changes frequently.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Previous stars have included Lady Gaga, Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett. AFP</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 12:59:25', '2023-04-11 12:59:25'),
(6316, 6316, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A fire that broke out at a ceramic warehouse in Old Dhaka\'s Chawkbazar area this morning, was brought under control around 12:05 pm.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fire originated around 10:45 am at the warehouse located on the 5th floor of a 5-storey building next to Chawkbazar Bismillah Tower.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A total of 6 fire fighting units rushed to the spot and are working to douse the fire. No casualty has been reported in the incident yet. 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, '2023-04-11 13:03:36', '2023-04-11 13:03:36'),
(6317, 6317, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Actor Salman Khan has yet again received a death threat, this time from a man in Rajasthan. As per Mumbai Police, the man threatened to kill the actor on April 30. An investigation is currently underway. The threat reportedly came on the same day Salman attended the trailer launch event of Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan in Mumbai along with the cast of his upcoming film.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This isn\'t the first time that Salman has received a death threat. Last month, a 21-year-old man was arrested in connection with sending a threat mail to Salman. A Mumbai court had sent the accused to police custody.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"In a call received at Police Control Room yesterday, a man who identified himself as Roki Bhai from Rajasthan\'s Jodhpur threatened to kill actor Salman Khan on April 30. Further investigation underway,\" news agency ANI reported on Tuesday quoting Mumbai Police.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In March, Dhakadram Ramlal Siyag was held from Jodhpur by a Bandra Police team after a probe into the threat mail showed it was sent from his mobile phone, a police official told news agency PTI. \"Our probe has found he also sent a threat mail to the father of late singer Sidhu Moosewala. A case has been registered in this connection in Mansa police station in Punjab. Siyag also has an Arms Act case against his name in Sardarpura police station,\" PTI had quoted the official.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We will probe if he has any role in previous threats received by (Salman) Khan, including a case registered in 2022 against gangsters Goldy Brar, Lawrence Bishnoi and others,\" he had said. Lawrence and Goldy are alleged masterminds in the killing of Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moose Wala, in Punjab\'s Mansa district in May last year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The case was registered at Bandra Police station. The accused had allegedly sent a threat mail to Salman stating that he will \"end up like Sidhu Moose Wala\". In March, Mumbai Police booked jailed gangsters Lawrence, Goldie and Rohit Garg for allegedly sending threatening emails to Salman\'s office. Bandra Police registered a case under sections 506(2),120(b) and 34 of IPC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The actor has been provided with Y-category security by the Mumbai police. The Maharashtra government took this step after the actor received a threat letter from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang earlier. 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, '2023-04-11 13:13:57', '2023-04-11 13:13:57'),
(6318, 6318, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) is set to launch Eid special bus service on April 14 to ensure smooth journey of the homebound passengers on the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"BRTC will start Eid special bus service on April 14 and it will continue till April 23,\" an official release said today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The advance ticket selling already started on April 9 from concerned BRTC bus depots, it confirmed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The release also said the advance bus tickets for different routes across the country will be sold from city\'s various BRTC bus depots including Mothijheel, Joarsahara, Kalyanpur, Gabtoli, Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Jatrabari, Gazipur and Narayanganj bus depot at Chasara.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The advance bus tickets will be sold from Mothijheel BRTC depot for traveling to Khulna, Daudkandi, Damuddya, Khasherhat, Dinajpur, Rangpur and Netrokona.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka to Bhang, Rangpur, Panchagarh, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Khustia, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Netrokona, Ranishankail, Thakurgaon and Dinajpur routes\' tickets will be sold from Kallyanpur bus depot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka to Bhanga, Gopalganj, Barishal, Dasmina (Patuakhali), Aricha, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Aricha and Paturia and Jashore routes\' passengers can collect tickets from Gabtoli bus depot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka-Paisarhat, Bishawroad-Patchdona and Dhaka to Rangpur, Naogaon, Jaipurhat, Tangail, Mymensingh and Bogura routes\' passengers will get tickets from Joarshahara bus depot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka to Barishal, Rangpur, Khustia, Bogura, Kurigram, Dinajpur, Mymensingh and Naogaon routes\' travelers can collect tickets from Mirpur bus depot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka to Shariatpur, Faridpur, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Bogura and Naogaon rotes\' tickets are available from Mohammadpur bus depot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bishawroad to Patchdona, Tangail, Netrokona, Mymensingh, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Kurigram routes\' tickets are available from Gazipur bus depot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Even the passengers who will travel from Dhaka to Rangpur and Shariatpur route will get ticket from Jatrabari bus depot while Narayanganj bus depot will sell tickets for Dhaka-Goshairhat, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Nilpahmari, Naogaon, Bogura, Gaibandha and Pabna routes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The homebound passengers who will travel from Narshingdi to Madaripur, Charmuguria and Rangpur routes have been asked to collect tickets from Narshigdi bus depot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To operate special bus services, a total of 60 buses will remain standby at different city bus depots including Sayedabad bus terminal, Mirpur section-12 bus depot, Kallyanpur bus depot, Nabinagar, Mothijheel bus depot, Mohakhali bus terminal, Joarshahara bus depot, Mohammadpur bus depot, Gazipur chowrasta, Hemayetpur bus stand and Chandra bus stand. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 13:20:58', '2023-04-11 13:20:58'),
(6319, 6319, '<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The leak of highly sensitive US documents -- many of them related to the Ukraine conflict -- presents a \"very serious\" risk to US national security, the Pentagon said Monday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The breach is being investigated by the Justice Department and appears to include secret information on the war in Ukraine as well as sensitive analyses of US allies, whom American officials are now seeking to reassure.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A steady drip of dozens of photographs of documents have been found on Twitter, Telegram, Discord and other sites in recent days, though some may have circulated online for weeks, if not months, before they began to receive media attention last week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The documents circulating online pose \"a very serious risk to national security and have the potential to spread disinformation,\" said Chris Meagher, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, without confirming their authenticity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'re still investigating how this happened, as well as the scope of the issue. There have been steps to take a closer look at how this type of information is distributed and to whom,\" Meagher told journalists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many of the documents are no longer available on the sites where they first appeared, and the United States is reportedly continuing to work to have them removed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meagher said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was not initially briefed on the issue until the morning of April 6 -- the day a New York Times story on the documents was published.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">White House national security spokesman John Kirby told journalists that President Joe Biden was briefed on the leak \"late last week,\" but did not provide a specific date.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many of the documents relate to Ukraine, such as one that provides information on the country\'s air defenses or another on international efforts to build up its military forces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Reassuring allies -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But other documents point to US surveillance of its allies, such as one that states that leaders of Israel\'s Mossad intelligence agency advocated for domestic protests against a controversial judicial reform plan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US officials have been in touch with Washington\'s allies over the issue, the State Department said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They \"are engaging with allies and partners at high levels over this, including to reassure them on our commitment to safeguarding intelligence and ability to secure our partnerships,\" spokesperson Vedant Patel told journalists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Pentagon also said relevant congressional committees have been informed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meagher said a Pentagon team is working to determine if the documents are genuine, but noted that images circulating online seemed to show sensitive information.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Photos appear to show documents similar in format to those used to provide daily updates to our senior leaders on Ukraine and Russia-related operations, as well as other intelligence updates,\" he said, but some \"appear to have been altered.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This includes a document that seems to have been altered to make it show that Ukraine had suffered higher casualties than Russia, when the apparent original version said the reverse was true.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kirby said the US government is worried that there may be more documents to come.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We don\'t know who\'s responsible for this. And we don\'t know if they have more that they intend to post,\" Kirby said, adding: \"Is that a matter of concern to us? You\'re darn right it is.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fallout from the apparent leak could be significant -- even deadly -- potentially putting US intelligence sources at risk while giving the country\'s foes valuable information.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Disclosure of sensitive classified material can have tremendous implications not only for our national security, but could lead to people losing their lives,\" Meagher 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, '2023-04-11 13:26:16', '2023-04-11 13:26:16'),
(6320, 6320, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \">UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">arrived in Mogadishu on Tuesday at the start of a brief visit to Somalia, a</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">country scarred by protracted armed conflict and climate disasters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Guterres was given a red carpet welcome at the capital city\'s airport by&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Somalia\'s Foreign Minister Abshir Omar Huruse who posted pictures of the event on Twitter.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Somalia has imposed a security lockdown on Mogadishu for the visit, with most roads closed and public transport restricted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Guterres\'s trip comes as the country is in the grip of a calamitous drought&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">that has driven many to the brink of famine, while the government is also&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">engaged in a major offensive to put down a bloody Islamist insurgency.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United Nations has launched a $2.6 billion appeal for humanitarian aid for the troubled Horn of Africa nation, but it is currently only 13 percent funded.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Five straight failed rainy seasons in parts of Somalia as well as Kenya and&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ethiopia have led to the worst drought in four decades, wiping out livestock and crops and forcing at least 1.7 million people from their homes in search of food and water.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While famine thresholds have not been reached in Somalia, the United Nations says about half its population will need humanitarian assistance this year, with 8.3 million affected by the drought.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"The crisis is far from over -- needs remain high and urgent,\" the UN\'s&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">resident coordinator for Somalia, Adam Abdelmoula, said last week in Geneva.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Some of the most affected areas continue to face the risk of famine.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Adding to the woes, seasonal rains in March led to flooding that claimed the lives of 21 people and displaced more than 100,000, he said, while warning that the rains were unlikely to be enough to improve the food security outlook for many.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Offensive against Al-Shabaab -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Somalia was hit by a famine in 2011 which killed 260,000 people, more than half of them children under six, partly because the international community did not act fast enough, according to the UN.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A report by the UN and the Somali government released in March said that drought may have led to 43,000 \"excess deaths\" last year, with children under the age of five accounting for half the victims.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">One of the poorest countries on the planet, Somalia has been wracked by&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">decades of civil war, political violence and a bloody insurgency by the Al-</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Qaeda affiliate Al-Shabaab.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud last year declared \"all-out war\" against the Islamist militants and sent in troops in September to back an uprising&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">against Al-Shabaab launched by local clan militias in central Somalia.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">In recent months, the army and the militias known as \"Macawisley\" have&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">retaken swathes of territory in an operation backed by an African Union force known as ATMIS and US air strikes.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The government claimed late last month that more than 3,000 Al-Shabaab&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">fighters had been killed since it launched the offensive.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">It also said in a statement issued by the information ministry that 70 towns&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">and villages had been \"liberated\" from Al-Shabaab, which has been fighting against the fragile central government for more than 15 years.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was not possible to independently verify the claims.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Al-Shabaab has frequently retaliated against the offensive with bloody&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">attacks, underlining its stability to continue to strike civilian, political&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">and military targets despite the government\'s advances.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a report to the UN Security Council in February, Guterres said that 2022 was the deadliest year for civilians in Somalia since 2017, largely as a result of Al-Shabaab attacks. 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, '2023-04-11 13:56:45', '2023-04-11 13:56:45'),
(6321, 6321, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The government of Bangladesh has raised the prices of Urea, TSP, DAP and MOP fertilisers by Tk 5 per kg at both farmer and dealership levels.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The new rates came into effect on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The agriculture ministry issued an order in this regard on Monday following a letter sent by the finance department of the finance ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prices have been refixed aiming to keep the fertilizer import at a rational level amid the hike in its prices at the international level and ensure optimum utilization of fertilizers, said the order.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the farmers’ level, the price of per kg Urea has been raised to Tk 27 from Tk 22, DAP to Tk 21 from Tk 16, TSP to Tk 27 from Tk 22 and MOP to Tk 20 from Tk 15.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Similarly, at the dealers’ level, the Urea price has been re-fixed at Tk 25 instead of Tk 20, DAP at Tk 19 instead of Tk 14, TSP at Tk 25 instead of Tk 20 and MOP at Tk 18 instead of Tk 13.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The current price of Urea, DAP, TSP and MOP fertilisers in the international market is Tk 48, Tk 70, Tk 50 and Tk 60 per kg respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As a result, the government is still giving a subsidy of Tk 21 in Urea, Tk 49 in DAP, Tk 23 in TSP and Tk 40 in MOP per kg even after the latest price hike, said a media release of the agriculture ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fertilizer prices were raised by 3-4 times in the global market in the last three years, resulting in hike in government subsidy in the country four times, it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the fiscal year 2020-21, the amount of subsidy was Tk 7,420 crore while it increased to TK 28 crore in 21-22 FY and in the running 2022-23 fiscal year, about Tk 46,000 crore will be required for subsidy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">From 2008-09 to 2022-23 fiscal years, Tk 1,19,837 crore was spent as fertiliser subsidy. 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, '2023-04-11 15:17:33', '2023-04-11 15:17:33'),
(6322, 6322, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>While reiterating that any abuser of human rights should be held accountable, Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the US Department of State Vedant Patel has said, “Broadly, the U.S. supports the principle of free and fair elections in Bangladesh and around the world, but I’m not here to endorse one political candidate or party versus another.”</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He was speaking at a regular briefing in Washington.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It’s our immense hope that the Bangladesh Government does look into the contents of this article and video (DW documentary on RAB),\" Patel said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said as per their assessment, the Digital Security Act is \"one of the world’s most draconian laws\" for journalists.</div><div><br></div><div>World Press Freedom Index ranked Bangladesh 162 out of 180 countries, a drop of 10 places from the previous year, Patel said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"And we have made our concerns about this law quite clear. A free press and an informed citizenry are key for any nation and its democratic future,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The US Embassy in Dhaka shared updates on the briefing today.</div><div><br></div><div>Petal said they want to and are looking forward to deepening their relationship with Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>That’s why, he said, Secretary Blinken met Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>\"We, again, are looking forward to deepening our relationship with Bangladesh as a whole,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 15:55:06', '2023-04-11 15:55:06'),
(6323, 6323, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Hundreds of South Koreans were forced to flee a wildfire fueled by strong winds that burned parts of an eastern coastal city Tuesday, destroying dozens of homes.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>More than 700 firefighters and 300 vehicles were dispatched to fight the fire that started on a mountain in a central part of Gangneung, according to the Gangwon Province Governor Kim Jin-tae and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.</div><div><br></div><div>At least 44 homes were destroyed and more than 300 residents evacuated to facilities that included an ice-skating arena and a middle school gym. There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths, according to the ministry.</div><div><br></div><div>It wasn’t immediate clear how long it would take firefighters to bring the flames under control as the high winds made it difficult to deploy aircraft. Kim during a televised briefing said firefighters are establishing barriers while focusing on preventing the fire from spreading to more populated areas of Gangneung.</div><div><br></div><div>Photos showed firefighters spraying water toward burning homes and buildings and large, orange flames engulfing a pine forest near a seaside resort hotel.</div><div><br></div><div>South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol instructed officials to deploy “all available equipment and personnel” to swiftly extinguish the wildfire and evacuate residents to prevent the loss of life. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 17:09:22', '2023-04-11 17:09:22'),
(6324, 6324, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>There seems to be no respite from the sizzling heat as Bangladesh Metrological Department (BMD)&nbsp; has predicted that the prevailing mild to moderate heat wave condition in the country will continue&nbsp; in the next seven days.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The BMD issued an alert message in this regard on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>The people of the country continue to experience the scorching heat with maximum temperature recording 39.2 degree Celsius in Chuadanga and 16.5 degree Celsius minimum temperature in Tentulia today. Dhaka’s temperature has been recorded at 37.5 degree Celsius.</div><div><br></div><div>According to a Met office bulletin, “ Mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal &amp; Chattogram divisions and Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram and Nertakona districts and it may continue.”</div><div><br></div><div>Day temperature may rise slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, it added.</div><div><br></div><div>The Department of Agricultural Extension has provided guidelines to protect crops and fruit amidst the ongoing mild heatwave across the country. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 17:23:01', '2023-04-11 17:23:01');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(6325, 6325, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP on Tuesday accused the government of trying to create a climate of fear by using the Digital Security Act (DSA) to muzzle the voice of people ahead of the next national election to ‘usurp’ power again.&nbsp; &nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a seminar, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged the government to repeal the DSA as it has now become a demand of mass people.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“The government has enacted such laws to hang onto power by force. The national election is nearing. They have made these laws so that no one can put up a resistance against them and register protest against their wrongdoings ahead of the election,” he said</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said the citizens of the country are being prevented from speaking up and lodging their complaints while the journalists are being obstructed from writing by abusing the DSA.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the government also wants to cross the election hurdle by keeping their opponents completely out of the race using the DSA and other ‘black’ laws.</div><div><br></div><div>“All the black laws must be abolished. First of all, the Digital Security Act should be repealed. It’s now the demand of the country and its mass people,” Fakhrul observed.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP arranged the seminar titled “Digital Security Act, Democracy &amp; Constitutional Scheme” at a city hotel.&nbsp; Advocate Asaduzzaman, the human rights affairs secretary of BNP, presented the keynote paper at the programme.”</div><div><br></div><div>Some people who were reported to be the victims of the DSA and ICT Act also spoke about their ordeal at the programme.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said the government has enacted the DSA and many other laws so that the citizens of the country are afraid to speak up.</div><div><br></div><div>He said there is a film titled 1984 depicting how authoritarian rule was established in North Korea by intimidating its citizens and creating a climate of fear to enslave that nation.&nbsp; “Its reflection has now started in Bangladesh through the arrest and jailing of Prothom Alo journalist Shamsuzzaman and the filing of cases under the DSA against him and many other journalist brothers.”</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said many journalists and cyber activists were jailed and tortured and made disappeared by the government.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He also slammed the government for arresting Nafiz Mohammad Alam who was interviewed in a Deutsche Welle documentary on RAB.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said Nafiz was arrested with liquor in cases filed under the Pornography Act “This is their (govt’s) old practice. It’s also their weapon. They have many such weapons and they are using those weapons one after another with a goal to muzzle the voice of the citizens and snatch the rights of the citizens and thus they’re establishing a monarchy in their own way.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said it has become now a matter of luck to get justice in the judiciary while the administration has been fully politicisied and the education and health sectors have been destroyed.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said the current Awami government is an unelected, illegal, and usurper regime. “It has been working completely as an occupation regime and taking the country to dire consequences. It is destroying the basic characteristics of Bangladesh and pushing a democracy-loving nation toward conflict.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said the most grievous crime the Awami League government has committed by destroying the country’s democratic soul in a deliberate and planned way to stay in power.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said Awami League’s main goal is to establish a one-party fascist rule under cover of democracy.&nbsp; “There’s no alternative to ousting the incumbent regime to get rid of the current situation of the country and establish a pro-people government and parliament.”</div><div><br></div><div>BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the DSA must be revoked as it contrary to the country’s constitution, democracy, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights-1948.</div><div><br></div><div>In the keynote paper, Asaduzzaman said the DSA is undoubtedly a controversial law that is being used to suppress the dissenting voices and political opponents of the government. “The application of this law affects and touches not only the fundamental rights of the citizens but also the democratic fabric of the country which is the basic structure of our Constitution.”</div><div><br></div><div>He urged the global community to be vocal demanding that the DSA should be repealed immediately not only to protect the citizens, and their fundamental rights, but also to ensure democracy and restore voting rights.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Bangladesh Gono Odhikar Parishad Convenor, Dr Reza Kibria, Biplobi Workers Party general secretary Saiful Haque, Jatiya Party ( Zafar) chairman Mostafa Jamal Haider,&nbsp; National People\'s Party (NPP) chairman Fariduzzaman Farhad and Dhaka University teacher Prof Lutfor Rahman, among others, spoke at the seminar. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 19:31:21', '2023-04-11 19:31:21'),
(6326, 6326, '<div><br></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Myanmar’s military has launched air attacks on a central town known to be a bastion of opposition to the coup carried out two years ago.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Witnesses and local media said dozens of people were killed and wounded in the attack on Tuesday – one of the worst since the military seized control of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Citing residents in the Sagaing area – about 110km (45 miles) west of the main city Yangon – news reports said ­ at least 30 people, including civilians, had died in the barrage on the town of Pazigyi.</div><div><br></div><div>The air raids occurred as residents gathered for the inauguration of an administrative office, Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng reported, from Thailand’s capital Bangkok.</div><div><br></div><div>“At 7:35am the crowd was attacked by jets and those were followed by Mi-35 helicopters,” said Cheng, citing one rescuer at the scene.</div><div><br></div><div>“He confirmed 40 dead but he suspects the death toll will rise considerably – the carnage there was terrible. All the reports we’re seeing is that these were civilians, and far from being a legitimate military target.”</div><div><br></div><div>No immediate response from Myanmar’s military rulers was available.</div><div><br></div><div>Myanmar’s military has been accused of indiscriminate killings of civilians as it engages in major offensives to suppress armed resistance to its takeover.</div><div><br></div><div>Last month, Myanmar’s coup leader Min Aung Hlaing pledged to deal decisively with “terrorists” fighting against his rule.</div><div><br></div><div>On February 1, 2021, the military toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, prompting peaceful protests that security forces suppressed with bloody violence that escalated since then and has been been characterised by United Nations experts and others as a civil war.</div><div><br></div><div>More than one million people have been displaced as the military steps up artillery attacks and air raids.</div><div><br></div><div>A military spokesperson told Al Jazeera recently that previously reported attacks blamed on its forces have been “misreported”.</div><div><br></div><div>Western countries have rolled out sanctions against the ruling generals in a bid to choke off revenue and access to military equipment from key allies and suppliers such as Russia. Source: Al Jazeera</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 21:13:54', '2023-04-11 21:13:54'),
(6327, 6327, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasian has directed the authorities concerned to take strong efforts to unlock the potentials of blue economy in the vast sea area of the country.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>She made the directive while chairing the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) at the NEC conference room in the city’s Sher-e Bangla Nagar area on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said the premier asked the authorities concerned to take cogent efforts to unlock the potential sof blue economy.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>She also directed the authorities concerned to reduce the number of sluice gates gradually and not to construct permanent roads in Haors rather construct culverts in important places to pass flood water, said the minister.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM stressed the need for recognizing the contribution of women in the GDP for their household chores.</div><div><br></div><div>The Ecnec cleared 11 projects involving the overall estimated cost of Tk 13,655.98 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>Among these, seven are new projects, while the remaining four are revised ones.</div><div><br></div><div>Among the projects, Bangladesh Environmental Sustainability and Transformation (BEST)’ project got its nod with Tk 2,995.88 crore mainly to enhance the government’s capacity to check pollution and promote green investment.</div><div><br></div><div>Of the total estimated cost, Tk 10,526.11 crore – 77 percent -- will come from the external sources as foreign loans, while the rest Tk 3,129.87 crore will be drawn from the fund of Government of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>In terms of cost, the largest three fresh projects are ‘Sylhet-Charkhai-Shewla Highway Development’ project with the cost of Tk 4,257.07 crore; ‘Accelerating Transport and Trading Connectivity in Eastern South Asia (ACCESS)-Bangladesh Phase-1 (BLPA Component)’ project with Tk 3,457.15 crore; and ‘Bangladesh Environmental Sustainability and Transformation (BEST)’ project with Tk 2,995.88 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>As per project factsheet,&nbsp; ‘Sylhet-Charkhai-Shewla Highway Development’ project will be implemented in four upazilas – Sylhet Sadar, Dakkhin Surma, Golapganj and Beanibazar-- by December 2027.</div><div><br></div><div>The ACCESS-Bangladesh Phase-1 (BLPA Component) project will be implemented by June 2027. The Land Port Authority under the Shipping Ministry will execute the project.</div><div><br></div><div>The BEST project will be executed by June 2028 in 37 upazilas of 36 districts under eight divisions mainly to enhance the government’s capacity to check pollution and promote green investment through green credit guarantee scheme (GCGS).</div><div><br></div><div>The four other new projects are ‘Rehabilitation of the 2022 Flood-affected Rural Infrastructures with ADB Emergency Assistance’ project with Tk 1,123 crore; ‘Flood Management Reconstruction Emergency Assistance’ project with Tk 699.81 crore; ‘Emergency Assistance for Reconstruction of Flood-affected Water Supply and Sanitation System’ project with Tk 343.91 crore; and ‘Reinstallation of the 2022 flood-affected Sylhet Chhatakbazar Section (Meter gauge) of Bangladesh Railway’ project with Tk 241.59 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>The four old projects are ‘Construction of 34 Buffer Warehouse in the Country’s Different Places to Preserve and Distribute Fertilizers (1st Revised)’ project with additional cost of Tk 365.43 crore (now the total cost has risen to Tk 2,348.47 crore; ‘Export Competitiveness for Jobs (EC4J) (2nd revised)’ project with additional cost of Tk 93.15 crore (now cost is Tk 1,105.27 crore);&nbsp; ‘Development of Bangladesh Land Survey Education (1st revised)’ project with additional cost of Tk 61.43 crore (now cost is Tk 340.28 crore); and ‘Construction of Bangladesh Chancery Complex in Islamabad of Pakistan ( 4th revised)’ project with additional cost of Tk 17.56 crore (now cost is Tk 97.42 crore). Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 21:37:50', '2023-04-11 21:37:50'),
(6328, 6328, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Election Commission (EC) announced the names of a dozen political parties out of the 93 parties that had applied for registration with the Commission in the preliminary selection process.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam made the announcement at the Nirbachon Bhaban in the city\'s Agargaon on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the commission, led by Kazi Habibul Awal, initiated the selection process at the field level while the registration for these parties will be finalised by next June.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said a committee headed by the joint secretary scrutinised these applications who applied for fresh registration.</div><div><br></div><div>The 12 parties emerging after the primary selection are: AB Party (Amar Bangladesh Party), Bangladesh Nationalist Movement (BNM), Bangladesh Humanist Party (BHP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesh Sanatan Party (BSP), Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP), Bangladesh Labour Party, Bangladesh Minority Janata Party (BMJP), Bangladesh People\'s Party (BPP), Democratic Party and Bangladesh Liberal Democratic Party (BLDP).</div><div><br></div><div>Jahangir said that in the first stage, the concerned committee recommended the cancellation of the applications of 14 out of 93 parties, while two parties withdrew their applications. Later, the remaining 77 parties were given 15 days to provide additional documents. From that group, the Election Commission selected the 12 parties.</div><div><br></div><div>The commission decided to collect information at the field level about these 12 parties. The commission will reach a final decision after verification at the field level, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the commission-announced roadmap, the finalization process will be completed by June.</div><div><br></div><div>The Representation of the People Order (RPO) in Bangladesh requires political parties to register with the commission to contest elections. Without registration, parties can take part in different political and social activities but are not allowed to take part in elections.</div><div><br></div><div>To register, a party has to deposit Tk 5,000 as a fee, and is required to meet at least one condition out of the following three with supporting documentation-</div><div><br></div><div># A new party needs to have an active central office, a central committee, offices in at least one-third of the administrative districts, and a memorandum of endorsement from a minimum of 200 voters as its members in each Upazila/metropolitan area.</div><div><br></div><div># Having at least one member of the party who had won in a previous general election took place after the independence of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div># Securing at least five percent of total votes cast in the constituencies in which its candidates took part in any of the post-independence general elections.</div><div><br></div><div>At present, the number of registered parties with the EC stands at 39.</div><div><br></div><div>The newly formed commission, led by Kazi Habibul Awal, is contemplating scheduling the 12th parliamentary general elections between Dec 2023 and Jan 2024. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 21:42:14', '2023-04-11 21:42:14'),
(6329, 6329, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The body of Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury will be taken to the Central Shaheed Minar at 10 am on Thursday so that people from all walks of life can pay tribute to him.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Altafunnessa Maya, chairman of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, announced this at a press conference at Dhanmondi Gonoshasthaya Kendra Hospital on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>He will be given guard of honor by the state on the premises of Central Shaheed Minar and then his first namaz-e-janaza will be held at Suhrawardy Uddyan in the city around 2:30 pm, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Currently, Dr. Zafrullah\'s body is kept in the cold storage of Birdem Hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;His body will be taken to Savar\'s Gono Bishwabidyalay’s campus at 10 am on Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>After Jum’a prayers, the second namaz-e-janaza will be held on the university campus.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury passed away on Tuesday night at the age of 82. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 14:21:11', '2023-04-12 14:21:11'),
(6330, 6330, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A team of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is due to arrive in Dhaka on April 25 to discuss the progress in the use of the first tranche of its US$4.7 billion loan programme for Bangladesh and the release of the second installment.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Ministry of Finance sources told UNB on Wednesday that during its April 25 to May 2 visit the mission will hold meetings with the officials of the Ministry of Finance\'s Finance Division, Financial Institutions Division, Economic Relations Division (ERD), Bangladesh Bank, and National Board of Revenue (NBR).</div><div><br></div><div>IMF Asia and Pacific Division Head Rahul Anand will lead the team comprising three to four members, the ministry sources said speaking on condition of anonymity.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh received the first tranche of US$476.2 million of the $4.7 billion loan approved by the IMF on January 30.</div><div><br></div><div>The entire amount of the loan will be paid in seven installments in three and a half years until 2026. As such there are six more installments left.</div><div><br></div><div>A senior official of the ministry said the IMF usually reviews various aspects of compliance before disbursing each tranche. Accordingly, an IMF team will come next September to review the fulfillment of loan conditions before disbursing the second tranche.</div><div><br></div><div>Usually before each budget announcement, an IMF mission comes to Dhaka to discuss budget assistance. Now that the loan programme is going on with them, besides the budget assistance, the issues of fulfilling the loan conditions will also come up for discussion, said the sources. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 15:30:01', '2023-04-12 15:30:01'),
(6331, 6331, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A trader was killed as a truck hit his bicycle at Jagla in sadar upazila on Magura-Jeshore road on Wednesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The deceased is Sushanto Shiker, 60, a resident of the village.</div><div><br></div><div>Magura sadar thana officer-in-charge Jabbarul Islam said when Shushanto was heading to his shop at Jagla bazar on a bicycle a Jeshore-bound truck hit him, leaving him critically injured.</div><div><br></div><div>Locals rushed him to Magura sadar hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.</div><div><br></div><div>A case was filed with Magura police station. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 18:16:03', '2023-04-12 18:16:03'),
(6332, 6332, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Wednesday that the movement of&nbsp; trucks, long vehicles or trailers carrying construction materials&nbsp; will be prohibited for three days prior to Eid</b>.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We have decided that movement of cargo trucks carrying construction materials such as rods, cement, sand will be stopped from three days before Eid. Apart from these, other trucks carrying goods will run”, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“At the same time, long vehicle travel will also be closed. They will resume from the day after Eid”, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister made the remarks while speaking with journalists at the ministry\'s conference room after a meeting to review the overall law and order situation, ensure payment of workers\' salaries and allowances and keep highways safe and free from traffic jams during Eid-ul-Fitr.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister said that the representatives of BGMEA, BKMEA and relevant organisations have pledged to pay the salary and bonus for the month of March before the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday begins, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>If they can, they will pay the salary of April too, said the minister.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 20:32:50', '2023-04-12 20:32:50'),
(6333, 6333, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Traditional three-day-long Boisabi festival of the people of different ethnic communities in Khagrachhari began on Wednesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The first day of the festival, known as ‘Phul Biju’, is celebrated by Chakma, Tripura, Marma communities by decorating their houses with flowers and also immersing them in rivers seeking blessings from the Mother Ganga.</div><div><br></div><div>The celebration began through immersing flowers in Chengi river in the town’s Khabangpuria area by the local Tripura community.</div><div><br></div><div>Deputy Commissioner Md. Sahiduzzaman, Superintendent of Police Md. Naimul Haque and Municipal Mayor Nirmalandu Chowdhury came to the river bank in the morning to enjoy the event.</div><div><br></div><div>Baisabi is considered to be the major cultural festival of 14 ethnic minority communities who speak in 11 languages.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, the Tripura community will also celebrate their ‘Boisu’ festival on Thursday on the day of Chaitra-Sankranti and the Marma community will celebrate traditional ‘Sangrai’ or ‘pani khela’ on April 14. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 20:38:02', '2023-04-12 20:38:02'),
(6334, 6334, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Elon Musk has described running Twitter as \"quite painful\" and \"a rollercoaster\" in a live interview with the BBC.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The multibillionaire also said if the right buyer came along, he would sell the company.</div><div><br></div><div>Twitter was purchased by Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, last October for $44 billion.</div><div><br></div><div>The interview took place at the company\'s headquarters in San Francisco and addressed his work habits, misinformation, and the huge layoffs.</div><div><br></div><div>Musk acknowledged that the only reason he followed through with the Twitter takeover was because a judge was about to order him to buy the company.</div><div><br></div><div>During the conversation with BBC, Musk tried defending his running of the company.</div><div><br></div><div>When asked if he regretted purchasing Twitter, the second-richest man in the world said the \"pain level has been extremely high, this hasn\'t been some kind of party\".</div><div><br></div><div>Talking about his time at Twitter, Musk said: \"It\'s not been boring. It\'s been quite a rollercoaster.\"</div><div><br></div><div>It has been \"really quite a stressful situation over the last several months,\" he added, but he admitted that buying the company was the right decision.</div><div><br></div><div>Around the beginning of 2022, Musk increased his stake in Twitter and offered to buy the company. However, after he attempted to back out of the agreement, Twitter sued him.</div><div><br></div><div>Musk told the BBC that things are \"reasonably well\" and that \"the site works\" and that usage is growing.</div><div><br></div><div>Due to his workload, he admitted, \"I sometimes sleep in the office\", and he also has a sofa area in a library \"that nobody goes to.\"</div><div><br></div><div>He also addressed his controversial tweets saying, \"Have I shot myself in the foot with tweets multiple times? Yes.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"I think I should not tweet after 3am,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Twitter is now \"roughly breaking even\" Musk said while discussing its finances, as majority of the advertisers have returned.</div><div><br></div><div>It had not been easy cutting the workforce from just under 8,000 at the time he bought the firm to about 1,500, Musk added.</div><div><br></div><div>He acknowledged that he did not personally fire everyone, saying, \"It\'s not possible to talk with that many people face to face.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The exit of many Twitter engineers following Musk’s purchase of the company has raised questions about the platform\'s stability.</div><div><br></div><div>He admitted certain issues, such as site outages, but claimed that they had only lasted a brief period of time and that everything was presently great.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 20:52:38', '2023-04-12 20:52:38'),
(6335, 6335, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>After fasting for a month during Ramadan, the biggest religious festival for Muslims, Eid-ul-Fitr, arrives. Along with the celebrations, the occasion also brings new hopes and excitement to the entertainment and film industry of Bangladesh.</b> </span></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><br></span></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Every year, filmmakers target this festive season to release their big-budget movies, featuring top stars and promising storylines. Eid-ul-Fitr 2023 is no exception. With a lineup of much-awaited movies, Dhallywood and Bangla OTT platforms are all set to entertain their audiences. From action thrillers to romantic dramas, this year\'s Eid releases promise to cater to a diverse range of tastes. Here\'s a look at the upcoming Bangladeshi movies that will hit the theaters during Eid-ul-Fitr.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>6 Most Anticipated Bangladeshi Movies Releasing on Eid-Ul-Fitr 2023</div><div>Leader: Amie Bangladesh</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladeshi film enthusiasts have been waiting for months for the release of \"Leader: Amie Bangladesh.\" Directed by Topu Khan, the movie features popular actors Shakib Khan and Shobnom Bubly. Directed by Topu Khan, the film is his first directorial venture, and it has been produced by Syed Ashik Rahman, director of Bengal Multimedia.</div><div><br></div><div>Though started in February 2021, the film’s shooting was halted due to the pandemic. The movie\'s production was finally wrapped up in October 2022. After getting clearance from the Censor Board, the film is now ready for release.</div><div><br></div><div>The movie\'s first look poster was unveiled in May 2021 at a press conference, and a 51-second teaser was released on National Film Day on April 3, 2023. The film is now set to be released during the upcoming Eid ul Fitr in 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>Jinn</div><div>Jinn, an upcoming Bangladeshi psycho-thriller film, is finally set to hit the theaters after multiple attempts to release it. Directed by Nader Chowdhury and co-produced by Abdul Aziz and Alimullah Khokon under the banner of Jaaz Multimedia, the film features a star-studded cast including Puja Cherry, Ziaul Roshan, Shajal, Jannatun Nur Moon, and Shahid un Nabi in important roles.</div><div><br></div><div>The story of the film, penned by Abdul Aziz, revolves around the lives of Rafsan, a professional photographer portrayed by Shajal, and his wife Monalisa, played by Puja Cherry.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The film’s shooting began in August 2019, and after numerous delays, it is now scheduled to release in the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr 2023. With Saiful Shahin behind the camera, Mohammad Kalam handling the editing, and Javed Ahmed Kislu composing the music, Jinn promises a gripping cinematic experience for Bangladeshi moviegoers.</div><div><br></div><div>Kill Him</div><div>Fans of Bangladeshi cinema can look forward to the release of the action-thriller film \"Kill Him\" in 2023, featuring popular actors Ananta Jalil and Afiea Nusrat Barsha in lead roles. Directed and produced by Mohammad Iqbal under the banner of Sunan Movies, the film promises to be an exciting addition to the Dhallywood film industry.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In the film, the intense action sequences of Ananta and Rubel will entertain the audience. Fans were recently given a sneak peek of what\'s to come, as Ananta unveiled the poster of \"Kill Him\" on 10 April 2023. The film is expected to hit theaters on Eid-ul-Fitr this year. This film marks the first film of Ananta and Barsha outside of their own productions.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;Eid 2023 Bangladeshi films</div><div>Bangladeshi films targeting Eid-ul-Fitr 2023</div><div><br></div><div>Adam</div><div>Adam is another Bangladeshi film releasing on Eid-ul-Fitr 2023. Directed by Abu Tauhid Heron, the film features Yash Rohan and Jannatul Ferdous Oishee as the main leads. The film portrays the harsh reality of rural life during the 1980s, exploring the good and evil sides of human beings and their impact on society. \"Adam\" received the censor certificate in November 2022, and the first look poster was revealed on March 1, 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>The trailer was released on April 2, 2023, generating excitement among fans. The film is set to be released on the upcoming Eid ul Fitr in 2023, promising to be a must-see for those interested in hard-hitting dramas. With a talented cast that includes Allen Shuvro, Raisul Islam Asad, Shahiduzzaman Selim, and Monira Mithu, \"Adam\" is expected to deliver a powerful cinematic experience.</div><div><br></div><div>Paap: First Move</div><div>It is another awaited Bangladeshi film directed by Saikat Nasir and produced by Jaaz Multimedia. The film stars Eamin Haque and Ziaul Roshan in the lead roles, with Amaan Reza, Zakia Maha, and Ariyana Zaman in supporting roles. The film\'s shooting began on March 10, 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>The story, dialogue, and screenplay are penned by Abdul Aziz. \"Paap: First Move\" is the first part of the \"Paap\" franchise, with the second part set to release next year during the Eid festival. The film received its censor certificate on March 5, 2023, and the first official poster was revealed on April 5, 2023. The teaser was released on March 30, 2023, and the film is scheduled to be released in theaters on Eid-ul-Fitr this year. Fans are very curious about this film.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Kuhelica</div><div>Binge, the popular OTT platform, has recently released an original crime-thriller web film \'Kuhelika\' for the 2023 Eid-ul-Fitr. The film is directed and written by Samiur Rahman and produced by Good Company in association with Indie Reels. Binge released the trailer of this film on their official Facebook page.</div><div><br></div><div>The web film stars Safa Kabir, Yash Rohan, Nazia Haque Orsha, Shafayet Mansoor, Sharif Siraj, Rakib Hossain Evon, and Abu Hurayra Tanvir. The trailer showcases the characters navigating the criminal underworld. Fans of the genre can now watch the film on the Binge platform.</div><div><br></div><div>Conclusion</div><div>Eid-ul-Fitr 2023 is expected to bring some exciting new Bangladeshi movies for audiences to enjoy. From action thrillers to dramas exploring the realities of rural life, there is something for everyone to look forward to. With talented directors and cast members attached to each film, expectations are high. Fans are eagerly waiting for the release of these movies and can\'t wait to see what surprises they have in store. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 21:07:48', '2023-04-12 21:07:48'),
(6336, 6336, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday alerted her party members that many conspiracies might be hatched nationally and internationally against the country in the future as vested quarters can’t tolerate the rapid progress of Bangladesh.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“There’ll be many conspiracies nationally and internationally (in the coming days). Because those who don’t want a country to make so much development have been working against Bangladesh,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League (AL), made this remarks when leaders and activists of different district units of AL met her at the PM’s official residence Ganabhaban here.</div><div><br></div><div>She asked AL leaders to make the party stronger as an organization and work keeping the next general election in their minds.</div><div><br></div><div>“You will have to work keeping it in your mind so that the progress of Bangladesh would continue,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier said her government has relentlessly been working for the welfare of the people. “So, the people vote for us. It is the reality. So, we don’t need to rig votes. AL comes to power gaining the confidence of the people by serving them….AL always came to power through votes,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>Focusing her government’s success in the development of Bangladesh, the PM said it connected the country’s southern region with the capital through recent construction of Padma Bridge, and earlier connected the northern region through construction of Bangabandhu Bridge over Jamuna River during its rule from 1996-2001.</div><div><br></div><div>The scope for connectivity in the entire Bangladesh has been created. So, the country is witnessing the socio-economic development and will witness it further, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>PM Hasina said her government has reached electricity to 100 percent houses, is ensuring healthcare services, raised the literacy rate and reduced the child and maternal mortality rates.</div><div><br></div><div>She said her government has successfully been able to do whatever is essential for the development of a country.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to the outcome of the recent Household Income and Expenditure Survey, the PM said the poverty rate declined to 18.7 percent now from 41 percent in 2006 while the extreme poverty rate to 5.6 percent from 25 percent in 2006.</div><div><br></div><div>“No person will remain an extreme poor in the country,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said her government proved that AL in power means the fate of the people gets improved.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL President said the BNP and Jatiya Party were born from the pockets of military dictators.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The parties like BNP and Jatiya Party did not emerge from the soil and the people,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Since the two parties came to power with guns, the people rejected them.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM criticized the BNP leaders and their like-minded people for not seeing the huge development of Bangladesh.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“They continue telling lies everyday using loudspeakers. I can’t understand why they continue telling lies even on Ramadan days!” she said, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>She recalled that the BNP-led 20-party alliance won only 29 out of 300 seats in 2008 parliamentary polls, though none could raise any question about that election. The position of BNP still remains unchanged, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 21:20:45', '2023-04-12 21:20:45'),
(6337, 6337, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">After four decades, Bangladesh got back about one acre of disputed land on Naogaon border, thanks to the initiative of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has been obstructing Bangladeshi farmers since 1977 from cultivating around one acre of land — located at Ramchandrapur under Dhamoirhat upazila of Naogaon district, inside Bangladesh territory, some 100 yards from border pillar 257/20-R.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The disputed area is under the jurisdiction of Agradigun BOP of BGB Patnitala Battalion (14 BGB).</div><div><br></div><div>A flag meeting was held between BGB and BSF at the battalion commander level on the call of Patnitala Battalion (14 BGB) near border pillar 257/20-R from 11 am to 1:15 pm (Bangladesh time) today.</div><div><br></div><div>At the flag meeting, Patnitala Battalion (14 BGB) Commanding Officer Lt. Col Md. Hamid Uddin led an 8-member BGB member delegation, while Commandant of India\'s Patiram battalion (164 BSF Battalion) Sanjay Kumar Mishra led a 6-member BSF delegation.</div><div><br></div><div>Due to BGB initiative, after 4 decades Bangladesh gets back 1 acre of disputed land on Naogaon border&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>During the flag meeting, land surveyors of Bangladesh and India scrutinized various documents of the disputed land and also conducted survey work in presence of the two battalions\' commanders. After the surface survey, it appeared that the disputed land is in the territory of Bangladesh. In this regard, the BSF Battalion Commander assured that the results of the survey will be communicated to Bangladesh very quickly through a letter, Lt. Col Md. Hamid Uddin said.</div><div><br></div><div>Finally, both the commanders expressed their determination to work together to ensure the safety of the frontier people and maintain peace and order along the border.</div><div><br></div><div>Through today\'s flag meeting, Bangladesh got back the ownership of about one acre of land after four decades in a peaceful way. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 21:32:23', '2023-04-12 21:32:23'),
(6338, 6338, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">All secondary schools and colleges across the country have been asked to celebrate Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla calendar.</span><br></b></div><div><b>&nbsp;</b></div><div>\"The educational institutions across the country must organise students\' rallies in the morning as part of the celebration of Pahela Baishahk,\" said the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) today.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>DSHE director Prof Shahedul Kabir said that they sent an order to all schools and colleges on Tuesday regarding the Pahela Baishakh celebration following a directive from the Ministry of Education.</div><div><br></div><div>The DSHE has directed that the students must sing the national anthem, as well as \"Esho He Baishakh,\" a popular song by Rabindranath Tagore, to welcome the Bangla New Year on that day as part of the celebrations.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>About \'Mangal Shobhajatra\', the DSHE has also asked the authorities concerned to bring out the \'Mangal Shobhajatra,\' which was declared an \"intangible cultural heritage\" by Unesco in 2016. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 21:42:37', '2023-04-12 21:42:37'),
(6339, 6339, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said that the government has increased fertiliser prices “abnormally” to meet the conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“The prices of commodities are going up unusually since the government is raising the tariffs of electricity and gas — accepting conditions of the IMF to stay in power. Now the prices of fertilisers farmers must use have been hiked unusually,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul made the remarks at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office while presenting Eid gifts to family members of opposition leaders and activists who were “victims of enforced disappearance under the current government.”</div><div><br></div><div>BNP sources said the party, on behalf of its acting chairman Tarique Rahman, will provide Eid gifts to “1,000 families of the victims of killings, repression, and enforced disappearance across the country.”</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said the government urged the farmers to accept the raised prices of fertilisers for the sake of development. “What development and whose development is it? This development is the ruling party’s own development.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said discrimination has widened in Bangladesh since the ruling party leaders are “making money, buying houses, and cars, and living a luxurious life by indulging in plundering while the common people are struggling to eat and make ends meet.”</div><div><br></div><div>“The prices of all things have gone beyond their purchasing capacity,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul also alleged that the Awami League government has been trying to hang onto power by “resorting to killing, repression, and enforced disappearance after getting isolated from the people.”</div><div><br></div><div>\"The entire country has now become a killing ground. If you open the newspapers, you’ll only see reports on murder and disappearance,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said people of Bangladesh did not know the term “enforced disappearance” before the Awami League government came to power in 2009.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Awami League has “introduced the culture of enforced disappearance in Bangladesh to eliminate its political opponents.”</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader claimed that around 700 leaders and workers of their party were disappeared, and over 1,000 were killed during the tenure of the current government. “A horrible situation has been prevailing in the country for the last 14/15 years. The victims’ relatives said here (at the programme) that they could not see their fathers and brothers for 10/11 years.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said they send Eid gifts to the victims’ families every year to remind them that BNP has not forgotten them. “We want to remind them that we are with them.”</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said the people of Bangladesh have now decided that they will no longer remain silent after being subjected to killing, enforced disappearance, and torture. “People are starting to wake up.”</div><div><br></div><div>Stating that their party’s “17 leaders and activists were killed by police on the streets in the recent movement,” he said the blood of the slain democracy-loving people and the cries of their family members and children can never go in vain. “Victory will be ours. We must be able to establish a government of people by removing the current repressive and fascist regime.”</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said their party wants to build a truly free and independent democratic country where no one will be subjected to enforced disappearance and where people can live freely with security. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 21:55:36', '2023-04-12 21:55:36'),
(6340, 6340, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Wednesday that the movement of trucks, long vehicles or trailers carrying construction materials will be prohibited for three days prior to Eid.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We have decided that movement of cargo trucks carrying construction materials such as rods, cement, sand will be stopped from three days before Eid. Apart from these, other trucks carrying goods will run”, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“At the same time, long vehicle travel will also be closed. They will resume from the day after Eid”, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister made the remarks while speaking with journalists at the ministry\'s conference room after a meeting to review the overall law and order situation, ensure payment of workers\' salaries and allowances and keep highways safe and free from traffic jams during Eid-ul-Fitr.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister said that the representatives of BGMEA, BKMEA and relevant organisations have pledged to pay the salary and bonus for the month of March before the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday begins.</div><div><br></div><div>If they can, they will pay the salary of April too, said the minister. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 22:02:38', '2023-04-12 22:02:38'),
(6341, 6341, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Ex-US President Donald Trump is suing his former lawyer for $500m (£400m), alleging breach of contract.</b></span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He says Michael Cohen breached his duty as attorney to act in his client\'s best interests.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The lawsuit comes amid escalating attacks from Trump allies on Cohen, who is a key witness in a New York investigation into the ex-president.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">A Manhattan prosecutor last week charged Mr Trump with fraud in relation to hush money payments to a porn star.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Cohen\'s spokesman and lawyer, Lanny Davis, told the BBC he was confident the lawsuit against his client would fail.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The legal action, filed in a Florida federal court, also accuses Cohen of making \"improper, self-serving, and malicious statements about his former client, his family members, and his business\".</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Cohen worked as Mr Trump\'s attorney for over a decade. He was also a vice-president at the Trump Organization, and was often described as Mr Trump\'s fixer.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">But the two had a major falling out after the 2016 election, as investigators began looking into several of Mr Trump\'s aides.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">In 2018, Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison and a fine after pleading guilty to charges of fraud and campaign finance violations.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Now out of prison, Cohen has become a high-profile critic of Mr Trump, and a frequent guest on news programmes.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">He has written a book and hosts a podcast, both of which Mr Trump cites in the lawsuit.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Cohen\'s lawyer, Mr Davis, said in a statement to the BBC: \"Mr Trump appears once again to be using and abusing the judicial system as a form of harassment and intimidation against Michael Cohen.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"It appears he is terrified by his looming legal perils and is attempting to send a message to other potential witnesses who are co-operating with prosecutors against him.\"</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"Mr Cohen will not be deterred and is confident that the suit will fail based on the facts and the law.\"</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">New York prosecutors have charged Mr Trump with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, in what they say was an effort to cover up payments intended to keep a porn star, Stormy Daniels, quiet about her alleged affair with Mr Trump.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">On 4 April, Mr Trump appeared in Manhattan criminal court - the first former US president ever indicted on criminal charges. He pleaded not guilty.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Cohen has admitted that as Trump\'s fixer, he facilitated a $130,000 pay-out to Ms Daniels.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">As Mr Trump\'s court date approached, Cohen made numerous appearances on major network news programmes and criticised his former boss.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"He\'s not thick-skinned,\" Cohen told CNN after Mr Trump\'s indictment. \"He\'s actually very thin-skinned, and he has a very fragile ego.\" BBC</p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-13 08:44:23', '2023-04-13 08:44:23');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(6342, 6342, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">North Korea launched a ballistic missile on a high angle that landed between the Korean Peninsula and Japan early Thursday, continuing its provocative run of weapons tests. The launch prompted Japan to issue an evacuation order that was later retracted for a northern island, showing the vigilance of North Korea\'s neighbors over its evolving missile threats.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea\'s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile launched from near the North Korean capital Pyongyang flew toward the waters off the North\'s east coast. The statement described the missile as having a medium or longer range but didn\'t say how far it flew.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters that North Korea launched a possible intercontinental ballistic missile at a high angle. Hamada said the missile did not reach Japan\'s exclusive economic zone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters he planned a National Security Council meeting to discuss the launch. Asked over the accuracy of Japan\'s information dissemination about future North Korean launches, Kishida said the government is checking related information including alerts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea commonly test-launches missiles toward the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. All its past ICBM launches were made in the area, but on elevated trajectories to avoid neighboring countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea and Japan typically don\'t issue evacuation orders for North Korea launches unless they determine weapons flew in the direction of their territories.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But after Thursday\'s launch, the Japanese government urged people on the northernmost island of Hokkaido to seek shelter. The government then corrected and retracted its missile alert, saying its analysis showed there was no possibility of a missile landing near Hokkaido.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was unclear why Japan issued the order for a missile that didn\'t fall near the island, but the incident suggested it was being cautious about North Korea\'s evolving missile threats.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last October, Japanese authorities issued a similar evacuation order when a North Korean intermediate-range missile flew over Japan in a launch that demonstrated the potential to reach the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam. At the time, Japanese authorities alerted residents in its northeastern regions to seek shelter and halted trains, although no damages were reported before the weapon landed in the Pacific.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thursday\'s launch came days after its leader Kim Jong Un vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal in more \"practical and offensive\" ways.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea has launched about 100 missiles this year and in 2022, many of them nuclear-capable weapons that place the U.S. mainland, South Korea and Japan within striking distance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many were in response to South Korea-U.S. military drills that it views as a rehearsal for an invasion. Some observers say North Korea wants to use its rivals\' drills as a pretext to modernize its weapons arsenal and pressure Washington and Seoul to make concessions such as the lifting of economic sanctions. South Korean and U.S. officials say their drills are defensive in nature and were arranged to respond to North Korea\'s growing nuclear and missile threats.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During a military meeting Monday, Kim reviewed the country\'s frontline attack plans and various combat documents and stressed the need to bolster his nuclear deterrent with \"increasing speed on a more practical and offensive\" manner, according to North Korea\'s official Korean Central News Agency.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are concerns that North Korea could conduct its first nuclear test in more than five years since it unveiled a new type of nuclear warhead earlier this month. Foreign experts debate whether North Korea has developed warheads small and light enough to fit on its more advanced missiles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korean officials say North Korea has not been responding to South Korean calls on a set of cross-border inter-Korean hotlines for about a week. The North\'s alleged suspension of communications on those channels could be worrisome because they are meant to prevent accidental clashes along the rivals\' disputed western sea boundary.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Tuesday, South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Youngse, Seoul\'s point man on the North, expressed \"strong regret\" over North Korea\'s \"unilateral and irresponsible attitude\" over the hotlines. Kwon also warned of unspecified legal action over the North\'s use of South Korean assets at a now-stalled inter-Korean factory park in North Korea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea pulled its companies out of Kaesong in North Korea in 2016 following a North Korean nuclear test, removing the last remaining major symbol of cooperation between the rivals. North Korean state media recently showed what appeared to be South Korean commuter buses running in the streets of Kaesong and Pyongyang.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea\'s advancing nuclear arsenal is expected to be a major topic during a summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden later this month in Washington. Yoon\'s government has been seeking stronger U.S. assurances that it will surely and swiftly use all its military capabilities, including nuclear, to protect South Korea in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea\'s weapons testing spree has also raised the urgency for Seoul and Tokyo to strengthen their defense postures in conjunction with their alliances with the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Experts say the discussions between world leaders at next month\'s Group of Seven meetings in Japan could also be crucial for maintaining diplomatic pressure on North Korea given the dysfunction at the U.N. Security Council. Permanent members China and Russia have blocked tighter sanctions on North Korea in recent months, underscoring a divide deepened by Russia\'s war on Ukraine. 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, '2023-04-13 09:09:10', '2023-04-13 09:09:10'),
(6343, 6343, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique has drawn a direct relationship between the number of judges, needed to dispense justice in the country, and the high number of cases pending in the judicial system.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the number of judges in the country is very low compared to the cases. As a result, the average length of the cases is increasing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He assured his listeners though that the judges are trying their best to reduce the backlog. The process of appointing new judges is underway.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said for the 40 lakh cases (approximately the number of cases pending) in the country\'s judicial system, from the lower judiciary all the way up to the Supreme Court, there are only 2,000 judges. But work is already underway to appoint 102 judges, he informed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Chief Justice made his remarks after laying the foundation stone for the construction of \'Naykunja\', which will be a restroom of the justice-seekers who come to the nearest district court, at the Jhenaidah court premises on Wednesday morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We are working to alleviate the sufferings of the justice seekers coming to the court. For this, Naykunja is being built in the district. The government has allocated Tk 35 crore for this purpose. At least Tk 50 lakh will be given in each district for the construction of Naykunja,” said the Chief Justice.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique also said 82,000 cases were filed in the Supreme Court last year. Of these, 79,000 cases have been disposed of. That means 95 percent were settled.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We are hopeful that the judges will be able to solve the case by working hard,\" he said. “In that case, lawyers have to help the court. So that everyone can reduce the litigation together.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Supreme Court Registrar Tofail Hasan, Jhenaidah District and Sessions Judge Md Nazimuddoula, Deputy Commissioner SM Rafiqul Islam, were present at the time, among others. 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, '2023-04-13 09:53:07', '2023-04-13 09:53:07'),
(6344, 6344, '<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ukraine launched an investigation Wednesday into a gruesome video that purportedly shows the beheading of a Ukrainian soldier, in the latest accusation of atrocities said to have been committed by Russia since it invaded in February 2022.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The video spread quickly online and drew outrage from officials in Kyiv, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as international organizations. The Kremlin called the footage \"horrible\" but said it needed to be verified.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Associated Press was not able to independently verify the authenticity of the video or the circumstances of where and when it was shot. The AP is not distributing the video or using frame grabs due to its extremely graphic nature.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, a Russian defense official claimed that fighters from Russia\'s paramilitary Wagner group have seized three districts of Bakhmut, the embattled city that for months has been the focus of Moscow\'s grinding campaign in the east.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The video circulating online appears to show a man in green fatigues wearing a yellow armband, typically donned by Ukrainian fighters. His screams are heard before another man in camouflage uses a knife to decapitate him.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A third man holds up a flak jacket apparently belonging to the man being beheaded. All three men speak in Russian.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since Russia\'s forces invaded on Feb. 24, 2022, they have committed widespread abuses and alleged war crimes, according to the United Nations, rights groups and reporting by The Associated Press. Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of targeting apartment buildings and other civilian structures and equipment in its strikes, and images of hundreds of dead civilians in the streets and in mass graves in Bucha after Russian forces withdrew from the city have horrified the world.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Kremlin denies it has committed war crimes or that it has targeted civilians.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukrainian troops have also been accused of abuses, and last year Kyiv said it would investigate video circulating online that Moscow alleged showed Ukrainian forces killing Russian troops who may have been trying to surrender.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zelenksyy said the violence in the latest video would not be forgotten, and that Russian forces would be held responsible.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Everyone must react, every leader. Do not expect that it will be forgotten, that time will pass,\" he said in a video.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In it, he used strong language to describe Russian soldiers, calling them \"beasts.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later Wednesday, at a roundtable of IMF and World Bank meetings, Zelenskyy called in a video for a moment of silence for the Ukrainian soldier killed in the apparent beheading.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the video was \"horrible\" but must be verified.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"In the world of fakes we live in, the authenticity of the footage must be checked,\" he said in a conference call with reporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine\'s state security service opened an investigation, according to a statement from Vasyl Maliuk, the head of the agency, known as the SBU. Officials are studying the video to identify those responsible, as well as the victim, according to Hanna Maliar, the deputy head of the Defense Ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Posters on pro-Kremlin Russian Telegram channels, while not confirming the video\'s authenticity, did not dispute it. Some sought to justify it by saying combat has hardened Russian troops.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Andrei Medvedev, a Russian state TV journalist and a member of the Moscow city legislature, speculated that the video\'s release was \"fairly opportune\" for the Ukrainian army, saying it could help \"fire up personnel ideologically\" ahead of a planned major counteroffensive.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskyy, also linked the video\'s release to the expected offensive but said it was meant to \"demoralize the public mood or at least change the psychological perception of the war right now.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine\'s human rights chief said he will request that the U.N. Human Rights Committee investigate. Dmytro Lubinets said he has also written to the U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights, the U.N. Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the International Committee of the Red Cross.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He wrote on Telegram that \"a public execution of a captive is yet another indication of a breach of Geneva Convention norms, international humanitarian law, a breach of the fundamental right to life.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said it had previously documented \"serious violations of international humanitarian law, including those committed against prisoners of war,\" adding that \"the latest incidents must also be properly investigated and the perpetrators must be held accountable.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Guterres \"had also seen the video and was horrified by it and supports the call for the perpetrators to be held to account,\" said U.N. spokesman, Stephane Dujarric.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The video provoked an outcry among Ukrainians.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This is horrifying,\" said Mykola Drobot, 44, of Kyiv. \"Such things cannot happen without the consent -- silent or not -- of the military and political leadership.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another Kyiv resident, Yuliia Sievierina, 40, speculated the video was meant as \"moral pressure on us to consider ourselves even more oppressed and emotionally torn.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It doesn\'t work,\" she told the AP. \"It only creates more anger and thirst for resistance.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The war\'s front lines have been largely frozen for months, with much of the fighting focused around the city of Bakhmut.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Wagner forces had made progress there. Ukrainian officials did not immediately comment, but Zelenskyy has said before that his troops could pull out if they face a threat of encirclement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Konashenkov did not specify which neighborhoods of Bakhmut are under Russian control, or how much of the city remains in Ukrainian hands.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Elsewhere, at least four civilians were wounded as Russian forces shelled a Ukrainian-held town near the shut-down Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, said regional Gov. Serhii Lysak.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said in a Telegram post that \"people are being pulled out from under the rubble\" after Russian shelling destroyed 13 houses and cars in Nikopol, across the Dnieper River from the plant.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko alleged Russian forces attacked a town in the eastern Donetsk province with cluster munitions — banned by an international treaty — wounding one person. An AP and Frontline database called War Crimes Watch Ukraine has cataloged how Russia has used cluster bombs. 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, '2023-04-13 09:58:06', '2023-04-13 09:58:06'),
(6345, 6345, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said the goals set out for the Indo-Pacific region are not much different from Bangladesh’s, but the only concern is about its defence aspect, if any.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;“Only thing we are afraid of — if it is designed for a defence pact, because we are a peace-loving country. We don’t have any intention (to fight against anyone). We would like to see development in the whole region. We want security (in the region) but no defence pact,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen made the remarks while responding to a question during a conversation on economic diplomacy with a focus on growth and development.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Onero Institute partnered with the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center for the session held at the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University this week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The dialogue was moderated by the senior director of the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center, Irfan Nooruddin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The foreign minister said Bangladesh does not have any disagreements on the issue and it also wants open, free, secure and freely navigable Indo-Pacific under the international laws.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said Bangladesh wants economic development in the whole Indo-Pacific region and finds many things in common with the goals set up. “We don’t have much difference. We believe the next century is for Asia and the Indo-Pacific provides an opportunity and potential.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to a question on India-US-China, Momen said the US and China have their own tensions. “The US is our old friend while we have rock-solid relations with India. China became our development partner as they have money,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the western countries including the US “do not come up with money but they come up with advice except for some exceptions.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We are very prudent in accepting loans from China. We signed agreements on a big amount but we took a very small amount. It can’t influence our policies,” Momen said while responding to another question.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The foreign minister said Bangladesh is a “hub of connectivity” and maintains very good relations with all its neighbours.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have resolved all critical issues with India peacefully through dialogue and discussion,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Though Myanmar is a difficult case, we don’t have any quarrel with them. We have only one difficult problem (Rohingyas),” Momen added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He highlighted issues related to emerging Bangladesh, its socioeconomic achievements, economic partnership and prospects with the USA, economic and public diplomacy, regional development and navigating relations with major powers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said regional peace and stability are essential for development and those countries developed where there is peace and stability.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“For example, Singapore. It is peace and stability that has made Singapore an attraction for the whole of Asia,” Momen said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants to see development in the whole region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“If we develop together, we can go much further. To make our achievements sustainable, we need regional development,” Momen said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said Bangladesh is a land of opportunity and any country can invest in Bangladesh. “If we work together, we will achieve a lot.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On climate issues, Momen said Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries on the climate front and sought cooperation and collaboration to address the common challenges.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Climate issue is a global issue. We all have to work together in partnership and collaboration to save this planet for our future generation. There has to be a political commitment,” he said, highlighting the initiatives that Bangladesh has taken on the adaptation front.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The foreign minister said they are lucky that they have a remarkably dynamic and pragmatic leader like Sheikh Hasina who brought development miracles with her commitment despite many challenges.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">IRI Officials Keen to Observe Bangladesh Polls</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, Foreign Minister Momen joined a meeting as the chief guest at the International Republican Institute (IRI) in Washington DC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the meeting, he talked about Bangladesh’s political landscape, its electoral process and preparedness for a free, fair and participatory general election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">IRI officials expressed their interest to observe the general election which was cordially welcomed by the foreign minister. President of the Institute Daniel Twining moderated the event.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Muhammad Imran, Director General (North America) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Khandker Masudul Alam and officials of Bangladesh Embassy were present at the two events.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foreign Minister Momen also visited Washington University of Science and Technology (WUST) in Virginia founded by a Bangladeshi entrepreneur.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He delivered a speech as the chief guest at a discussion session organised by the university authorities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The foreign minister highly praised the authorities for establishing such a higher educational institution in the USA and wished for its overall success.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President of the University Hasan Karaburk and Chancellor and founder Engineer Abubokor Hanip, among others, spoke at the event, while faculty members and students of the university and officials of Bangladesh Embassy were present on the occasion. 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, '2023-04-13 10:55:09', '2023-04-13 10:55:09'),
(6346, 6346, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Stefano Pioli said that AC Milan should have given themselves more than a one-goal lead in their Champions League quarter-final derby with Napoli after their fellow Italians finished the first leg with 10 men.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Milan had a quarter of an hour to extend their advantage earned from Ismael Bennacer\'s first-half strike when Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa was sent off for two quick-fire bookings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s the only regret we have, we should have been more clear-headed,\" Pioli told reporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s a shame but they gave a lot. It\'s a good result after a good&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">performance, let\'s hope for the next one.\"</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Milan now have to defend a slim lead at the Stadio Maradona in Naples, with the prospect of a semi-final clash with local rivals Inter after they handily won at Benfica on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It will be difficult match, Napoli are a good team with a lot of quality,&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">the team which up to now had scored the most goals in the Champions League,\" added Pioli.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We had a lot of difficult moments tonight... We\'re expecting Napoli to come at us and we need to put everything out there on the pitch. We won\'t get our approach wrong... no one here thinks we\'ve already won.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti said he would quit if the fans didn\'t create</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">an intimidating atmosphere for the second leg after tensions between fans and the owner Aurelio De Laurentiis bubbled over in recent weeks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Protests from hardcore supporters against De Laurentiis over what they</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">believe are his attempts to remove them from the stadium has left home games flatter than one would expect after such a brilliant season for such a&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">passionate fanbase.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Napoli\'s four-goal home hammering at the hands of Milan in the league earlier this month was played in a bizarre atmosphere, with little chanting and even fights breaking out between home supporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If it happens again for the second leg I will quit. For what we\'re&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">contending, for the sensitivity these players have because... these players&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">are sensitive to what goes on around them,\" said Spalletti.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We played in an atmosphere which did not help us. It\'s inexplicable not</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">helping the team in that moment.\" 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, '2023-04-13 11:05:24', '2023-04-13 11:05:24'),
(6347, 6347, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Five people were dead and one person was injured after a bus and a CNG-run auto-rickshaw collided in Chattogram\'s Boalkhali upazila today, police said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The identities of the victims could not be known immediately. They were passengers of the auto-rickshaw.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Abdur Razzak, officer-in-charge of Boalkhali police station said four of them were dead on the spot while another died on the way to the hospital. The injured were taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two vehicles, involved in the collision, were seized from the spot. 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, '2023-04-13 11:37:21', '2023-04-13 11:37:21'),
(6348, 6348, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka\'s air quality remained unhealthy for sensitive groups this morning.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 125 at 9 am, Dhaka ranked 19th in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China’s Beijing, Thailand’s Chiang Mai, and China’s Shenyang occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 502, 260 and 200, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 101 and 150 is considered \'unhealthy\', AQI 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 as a result of 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, '2023-04-13 11:41:01', '2023-04-13 11:41:01'),
(6349, 6349, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The country is set to celebrate Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bengali New Year-1430, tomorrow upholding the rich cultural values and rituals of the Bangalees.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\'The Bangla Nabobarsho festival\' is also going to be celebrated at its traditional venue Ramna Batamul here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This year, the first day of the Bangla calendar, will be celebrated following its all rituals at the venue along with bringing out the traditional \'Mangal Shovajatra\' (procession) organized by the Fine Arts Faculty of Dhaka University.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But, due to the ongoing holy month of Ramadan, it will be celebrated on a limited scale.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">People are expected to join the \"Nabo Barsho\" festivities across the country, particularly in the capital city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pahela Baishakh is one of the most colourful festivals through which the Bangalees bid farewell to the old year and welcome the New Year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On this occasion, people from all walks of life wear traditional Bengali dresses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Young women wear white sarees with red borders and adorn themselves with bangles, flowers, and tips, while men wear white pyjamas and panjabi or kurta.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government has drawn up an elaborate programme. The Mongol Shovajatra will be brought out at divisional, district and upazila levels to reach the traditional programme to the grassroots as it has earned the international recognition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, business communities, especially in the rural areas, are ready to open their traditional \'Halkhata\', new account books. On the day traders also offer sweets to customers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are expected to issue separate messages greeting the countrymen on the eve of the Pahela Baishakh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">All secondary schools and colleges of the country are asked to celebrate Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla calendar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The educational institutions across the country must organise student rallies in the morning as part of celebration of Pahela Baishahk,\" said the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) on Wednesday (April 12).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">DSHE director Prof Shahedul Kabir said that DSHE sent an order to all schools and colleges on Tuesday regarding Pahela Baishakh celebration following a directive of the Ministry of Education.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">DSHE directed that the students must sing the national anthem, as well as \"Esho He Baishakh,\" a popular song by Rabindranath Tagore, to welcome the Bangla New Year on that day as part of the celebrations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About \'Mangal Shobhajatra\' the DSHE also asked the authorities concerned to \"publicise\" the\' Mangal Shobhajatra,\' which was declared an \"intangible cultural heritage\" by Unesco in 2016.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Awami League (AL), one of the country\'s oldest political parties, has drawn up programmes to celebrate the Pahela Baishakh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To observe the day, Dhaka South City unit of AL will bring out a colorful procession in the city on April 14.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The procession will start from Bahadur Shah Park in the capital on Friday at 7 am where AL central leaders including the party\'s General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader will participate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The procession will parade different areas of the city and end at AL\'s central office on Bangabandhu Avenue.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, a discussion will also be held in front of Bahadur Shah Park in Old Dhaka at 7 am on the same day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka South City AL Acting President Nurul Amin Ruhul, MP, will preside over the discussion while Dhaka South City unit of AL General Secretary Humayun Kabir will conduct it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Different government and non-government organisations, socio-cultural platforms, including Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Bangla Academy, Department of Public Libraries, the National Museum, Kabi Nazrul Institute, Copyright Office, National Book Centre, Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), the Department of Archives and Library and Dhaka University will hold various programmes along with seminars, exhibitions and quiz, essay and art compositions to observe the day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As part of the Bengali New Year celebrations, Baishakhi rallies will be organized in all districts, upazilas and unions of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, local administration will organize quiz competitions, cultural programmes and folk fairs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The programmes of the day usually begin in the city with the musical soiree of Chhayanat, a leading cultural organisation of the country, at Ramna Batamul at dawn.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private television channels will live broadcast the programmes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The city people usually start the day with the traditional breakfast of \'panta bhat\' (soaked rice), green chili, onion and fried fish at Ramna Park, Suhrawardy Uddyan, Dhaka University Campus, Rabindra Sarobor at Dhanmondi and other amusement places. But, on the month of Ramadan, this traditional way of celebrating Pahela Baishahk might not widely be followed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Graffiti are expected to be painted in the walls signifying the arts, culture and heritage of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the occasion, all museum and archaeological sites will remain open for all while children, students, people with disabilities and autism will be allowed to visit the museum free of cost.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Improved traditional food will be distributed to jail inmates, patients in hospitals and orphanages on the occasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh missions abroad will also organise different programmes to welcome the New Year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The law enforcement agencies will take extensive security measures across the country so that people could celebrate the day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The day is a public holiday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Different national dailies will publish colourful supplements while Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and other private TV and radio channels will air special programmes highlighting the significance of Pahela Baishakh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some historians attribute the Bengali calendar to the 7th century king Shashanka, which was later modified by Mughal emperor Akbar for the purpose of tax collection.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the Mughal rule, land taxes were collected from Bengali people according to the Islamic Hijri calendar. This calendar was a lunar calendar, and its new year did not coincide with the solar agricultural cycles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Akbar asked the royal astronomer Fathullah Shirazi to create a new calendar by combining the lunar Islamic calendar and solar Hindu calendar already in use, and this was known as Fasholi shan (harvest calendar). 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, '2023-04-13 12:28:37', '2023-04-13 12:28:37'),
(6350, 6350, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Airport Armed Police Battalion has launched a special operation to prevent smuggling on the occasion of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The battalion seized 973 grams of gold, 104 mobile phones, 50 cartons of cigarettes, 35 kg of beauty creams, two laptops and 600 grams of liquor in a day-long special drive on Wednesday (April 12), Mohammad Ziaul Haque, additional superintendent of the force, said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The market value of the seized goods is around Tk 1.5 crore, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The goods were seized from Ismail Hossain, Zaker Ullah, Nazrul Islam, Mohammad Forkan, Abdullah Al Faruk, Jahidul Islam Nayan, Mohammad Hossain, Helal Uddin, Abu Sufian, Mohammad Hasan Mahmud, Shahidul Islam, Mohammad Ayat Ullah and Md Amran Hossain. They returned home from Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Oman, according to the Airport Armed Police.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ziaul Haque said: “A smuggling&nbsp; group has been very active on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. We’ll be conducting regular drives based on information.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The seized items have been handed over to the customs authorities and legal action has been taken, he 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, '2023-04-13 12:40:39', '2023-04-13 12:40:39');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(6351, 6351, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The BBC in India has been asked to provide financial details in a new probe linked to alleged foreign exchange violations. Britain\'s public broadcaster had faced a tax investigation earlier this year.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BBC\'s foreign remittances are being scrutinised by the Enforcement Directorate, sources said today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Enforcement Directorate has registered a case against BBC India under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The probe agency has asked the BBC to furnish its books of accounts and financial statements.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This comes months after the Income Tax department surveyed the BBC and sent its teams to the broadcaster\'s offices in Delhi and Mumbai over allegations of irregularities in taxes, diversion of profits and non-compliance with rules.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the survey, senior BBC staff had to stay in the office overnight to respond to questions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the administrative body for the Income Tax department, had said the income and profits shown by various BBC group entities were \"not commensurate\" with the scale of their operations in India and tax had not been paid on certain remittances by its foreign entities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tax searches came weeks after the British broadcaster aired a documentary that was critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi\'s leadership of Gujarat during the 2002 sectarian riots. The BBC\'s two-part series titled \"India: The Modi Question\", examined allegations that PM Modi, as Chief Minister of Gujarat, didn\'t do enough to stop the riots - allegations that were dismissed by the Supreme Court. The government used emergency powers to take down posts sharing the documentary in January.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, in an interview, said the timing of the BBC documentary is \"not accidental\" and denounced the narrative in the foreign media. NDTV</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-13 12:52:19', '2023-04-13 12:52:19'),
(6352, 6352, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">People from all walks of life paid their last respects to Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder and freedom fighter Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury at the Central Shaheed Minar today.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His body was brought to the Central Shaheed Minar from Birdem Hospital’s mortuary at 10:05 am and was kept there till 1 pm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr Zafrullah was given a guard of honour by the state at Central Shaheed Minar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His first namaz-e-janaza will be held at Suhrawardy Udyan around 2:30 pm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His body will be taken to Savar\'s Gono Bishwabidyalay campus at 10 am tomorrow. After Jum\'ah prayers, the second namaz-e-janaza will be held on the university campus.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury passed away on Tuesday night at the age of 81. 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, '2023-04-13 13:53:38', '2023-04-13 13:53:38'),
(6353, 6353, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Donald Trump filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against his former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, a likely star witness in the criminal case facing the former US president in New York.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The suit, filed in a US District Court in Florida, seeks $500 million from Cohen over his alleged breach of attorney-client privileges and a confidentiality agreement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cohen was among the witnesses who testified before the grand jury that ultimately indicted Trump, making him the first former or sitting US president to face criminal charges.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cohen says he arranged the $130,000 payment in exchange for her silence about a tryst Daniels says she had with Trump in 2006.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges in a Manhattan court on April 4.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his lawsuit, Trump accuses Cohen of \"spreading falsehoods\" about him and claimed to have suffered \"vast reputational harm.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Such continuous and escalating improper conduct by (Cohen) has reached a proverbial crescendo and has left (Trump) with no alternative but to seek legal redress,\" the suit said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trump is seeking a jury trial and compensatory and punitive damages of more than $500 million.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 76-year-old former real estate tycoon has been embroiled in scores of lawsuits over the past decades and has a long history of attacking his opponents in court.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cohen, 56, is expected to be a star witness for the prosecution if the criminal case against Trump in Manhattan ever comes to trial.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He has acknowledged paying Daniels on Trump\'s behalf and was sentenced to three years in prison for various crimes, including the hush-money case and tax evasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trump has denied any wrongdoing and claims he is the victim of a political \"witch hunt\" by the Manhattan district attorney, a Democrat, intended to derail his 2024 White House campaign. 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, '2023-04-13 14:27:48', '2023-04-13 14:27:48'),
(6354, 6354, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General M Khurshid Hossain today (Thursday) said the letter threatening attack on Mangal Shovajatra was sent to a Fine Arts Institute’s student to create panic and it is not a threat from militants.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“The letter was sent to create panic. It has nothing to do with politics,” he said while talking to reporters at the Ramna Batamul in the capital after inspecting the security arrangements at the venue for the Bangla New Year celebrations on Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the security for Pahela Baishakh celebrations, he said the Rab commando team is ready to deal with any kind of situation that may arise, as well as each Rab battalion has started special intelligence surveillance across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Special security measures have been taken by setting up adequate checkposts, observation posts in different places of the capital, including TSC, Shahbagh, Suhrawardy Udyan and Ramna Batamul, where the new year celebration events are organized.</div><div><br></div><div>Rab\'s Bomb Disposal Unit and Dog Squad are ready to deal with any situation, Khurshid said adding that the venue will be under Rab’s CCTV coverage.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq said there will be three tiers of security arrangements along with the police and various units during the Pahela Baishahkh celebration.</div><div><br></div><div>“Those who want to enjoy the New Year will be able to celebrate it safely,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the incident of militant escape, the commissioner said two militants were kidnapped but 10 militants were arrested.</div><div><br></div><div>“The two escapees have been kept under surveillance. They will be arrested soon,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to another query, The DMP commissioner said there is no immediate threat from terrorists, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“But we will remain vigilant and ready so that no one can dare to cause any disturbance,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-13 15:41:27', '2023-04-13 15:41:27'),
(6355, 6355, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The government has set a target to procure 4 lakh tonnes of paddy, 12.50 lakh tonnes of boiled rice and one lakh tonne wheat in the upcoming Boro season.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The procurement of Boro paddy and rice will start from May 7 and continue till August 31, 2023.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The procurement price of Boro paddy has been fixed at Tk 30 per kg, boiled rice at Tk 44 and wheat at Tk 35 per kg. In 2022, the price of paddy was Tk 27 per kg, boiled rice Tk 40 and wheat Tk 28.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The price was fixed at a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee (FPMC) at the cabinet meeting room on Thursday. Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder presided over the meeting, according to a press release of the food ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tajul Islam, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi and Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim attended the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Secretaries to different ministries, including the cabinet secretary, were present in 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, '2023-04-13 15:47:09', '2023-04-13 15:47:09'),
(6356, 6356, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A Dhaka court on Thursday framed charges against BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman in a graft case filed against them for acquiring wealth beyond their known sources of income and concealing information in their affidavits.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With charge framing the formal trial in the case against them began.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special judge Md Asaduzzaman passed the order in absence of both the accused.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court also ordered that Tarique and Zubaida will not be allowed to fight the legal battle through a lawyer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, on November 01, 2022, a Dhaka court issued arrest warrants for Tarique and Dr Zubaida in the graft case.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court also ordered to give notice in the newspaper to appear before the court on January 19.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On June 26, the High court ordered the judicial court to dispose of the case as soon as possible.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The HC also rejected the couple’s writ petitions, challenging the corruption case against them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As both of them remain fugitives, the court rejected the writ petitions – saying these are not acceptable.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court also withdrew the stay order on the trial proceedings of the case filed against them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On September 26, 2007, ACC lodged a complaint with Kafrul police against Tarique Rahman, Zubaida and her mother Iqbal Mand Banu for amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 4.81 crore and concealing the information.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the same year, the High Court issued a rule suspending the trial proceedings in the case after hearing a petition filed by Zubaida.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2008, a charge sheet was filed against three people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The HC rejected the rule in 2017 and asked her to surrender before the court within eight weeks. 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, '2023-04-13 15:57:53', '2023-04-13 15:57:53'),
(6357, 6357, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting the countrymen on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bengali New Year 1430, to be celebrated tomorrow.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>President Abdul Hamid, in his message, wished all Bangladeshis living in the country and abroad a happy Bengali New Year.</div><div><br></div><div>The advent of Baishakh comes to people\'s lives with ever new messages, the head of the state said, adding that forgetting sorrow, decay and failure, everyone wakes up with great joy.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Pahela Baishakh is the main part of the eternal tradition of the Bengali nation.</div><div><br></div><div>The counting of the year, which started during the Mughal period as the crop year (Fasali shan), has become a commemorative festival imbued with non-communal spirit among all Bengalis over time.</div><div><br></div><div>At that time, Pahela Baishakh was the main force in the development, self-control and liberation of Bengali culture, he continued.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>With the emergence of Bangladesh, this power of culture strengthened and accelerated the political spirit, Hamid said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the traditional Mangal Shovajatra, a procession brought on the first day of Bengali New Year, got UNESCO recognition in 2016 as world heritage.</div><div><br></div><div>This international recognition of national culture is an absolute pride and dignity for Bengalis as a nation, he said, adding that one of the foundations of the philosophy and ideology of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the development of native culture and development of national spirit.</div><div><br></div><div>This consciousness was active in the Bengali New Year that Bangabandhu celebrated with his fellow prisoners while he was confined to prison, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He urged all to build a happy and prosperous Smart Bangladesh free from hunger and poverty by embracing this liberal spirit, Bangabandhu\'s philosophy of state, the ideal of establishing Bangladesh and the flame of state-language spirit.</div><div><br></div><div>In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Pahela Baishakh is the day of harmony and the great reunion of Bengalis.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier called upon all, irrespective of religion and caste, to wake up with new joy forgetting the sorrows and failures of the past year.</div><div><br></div><div>The search for the identity and roots of Bengalis can be found through its celebration, Sheikh Hasina said, adding that Pahela Baishakh is a reflection of the Bangalees.</div><div><br></div><div>During the Pakistan period, the colonial power wanted to destroy the Bengali tradition, the premier said, adding that the Bengalis resisted it with the strength of self-identity and their own culture.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Bengalis joined the struggle for liberation by holding that power, she continued.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the combined flow of culture and politics has been turned into a struggle for independence and freedom.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"This is how independent sovereign Bangladesh emerged in the world,\" she added.</div><div><br></div><div>Following this, the traditional Mangal Shovajatra has been recognized as world heritage by UNESCO, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The international recognition of it is undoubtedly a great achievement. Following this path, the Bangalees will become the best nation in the world community,\" Hasina said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bengali nation cannot be suppressed as the achievements and progress of the Bangalee heroes will be remembered ages after ages, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Ethnic heritage and pride are also the key to the lifelong struggle of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in establishing the ideologies such as secularism, liberalism, nationalism and democracy, the premier added.</div><div><br></div><div>She hoped that this year\'s Baishakh will be a great inspiration for the nation to fight against militancy, fundamentalism, extremism and anti-liberation forces and to build a society free from hunger and poverty and a golden Bangladesh cum smart Bangladesh as dreamt by Bangabandhu. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-13 19:47:37', '2023-04-13 19:47:37'),
(6358, 6358, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandkar Golam Faruq has said three-tier security measures have been taken on the occasion of the Pahela Baishakh.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We have taken adequate security measures throughout Dhaka ahead of Pohela Baishakh celebrations – the Bangla new year,” he said this, briefing journalists after inspecting the security arrangements on the occasion of Pohela Baishakh celebrations at Ramna Batamul today.</div><div><br></div><div>DMP Additional Commissioners AKM Hafiz Akhter, Dr Kha Mahid Uddin, Muha Ashrafuzzaman, chief of the CTTC Md Asaduzzaman, Md Munibur Rahman and chief of Detective Branch (DB) Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid, Joint Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and officers of various units were present.</div><div><br></div><div>Faruq said every year the ‘Barshabaran’ ceremony begins with the music of Chayanat at Ramna Batamul, adding, “The Bangla New Year celebrations will start tomorrow in the same way. Three-tier security measures have been taken on this occasion.”</div><div><br></div><div>He greeted all, including journalists, saying that in 2001, the militants had bombed the mass gathering at Ramna Batamul to destroy and disrupt the Bangali cultural heritage.</div><div><br></div><div>“Many innocent people lost their lives. Since then, the DMP provides flawless security at every place where Pahela Baishakh is celebrated in Dhaka city, including Ramna,” the DMP commissioner said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said sweeping is being done with DMP\'s dog squad and bomb disposal unit at Ramna\'s Batamul and surrounding areas.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The DMP Commissioner said 27,00 policemen, including plainclothes ones, will remain alert at Ramna Batamul, Dhaka University campus and Rabindra Sarobar areas to make the efforts a success.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>During the Pahela Baisakh celebrations, some youths create public nuisance by using loud instruments, he said and requested everyone not to use such instruments and not to enter Ramna Park with bags.</div><div><br></div><div>The DMP chief said a total of nine gates will be installed for entering and exiting Ramna Batamul, of which four gates will be used for entering into the venue.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Each gate will have an archway. None will be allowed to enter with bags. Apart from this, visitors can stay from 6am to 4pm,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Replying to a question, Faruq said, “As a Bangali, I think that the New Year celebrations cannot be stopped with two-one bombs. In 1971, the Pakistani forces along with their collaborators could not suppress these Bangalis with their cannons and guns. So, any terrorist will not be able to suppress us by throwing a bomb or two,” reports BSS</div><div><br></div><div>“We are not such a fearful nation. We are a nation of heroes... the police are ready to deal with any situation,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-13 20:36:47', '2023-04-13 20:36:47'),
(6359, 6359, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Thursday said that the business community will be happy with the upcoming budget of FY 2023-24.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The government has the sympathy of the people including the business community as they are providing a large portion of revenue, which contributes much to the development of the country, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Kamal said this while speaking at the 43rd consultation meeting of the National Board of Revenue and The Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), at a hotel in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>The finance minister also appreciated the people\'s excellent contribution&nbsp; to&nbsp; economic growth of the country overcoming several barriers including Covid-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the global economic growth projection is estimated at 2.9 percent this year down from 3.5 percent last year, while Bangladesh’ economic growth is over 7 percent. It has been possible for the outstanding resilience of the people.</div><div><br></div><div>He expected that Bangladesh would emerge as one of the world\'s 20 largest economies by 2031.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In response to different issues raised by businesses, the NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Muneem said the revenue board does not want to confine the tax-revenue in the legal frame, or file a case against the businesses.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are keeping the door open for negotiating any issue related to tax, and&nbsp; please come to NBR to solve the problems, ” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>He also urged the businesspeople to provide tax and VAT as part of their responsibility&nbsp; to make a developed Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Abu Hena also urged businesses not to be frightened in facing the challenges of the LDC graduation issue, rather it is better to improve adoption in technology and production of domestic industries.</div><div><br></div><div>He acknowledged that NBR did not get desired success in collecting retail VAT and taxes so far, but is trying to develop a smart system through reforming the total sector.</div><div><br></div><div>The FBCCI president Md Jasim Uddin gave seven-point recommendation for the budget of FY 2023-24 including a safeguard measure of CMSMEs, tax exemption, bond facility to expand exports, keep a stable supply chain of essential goods, modernisation NBR, reduce economic discrimination by employment and preferring technical as well as employment oriented education.</div><div><br></div><div>President of shop owners’ association Helal Uddin urged the government and businesses to extend the hand of financial assistance to the fire-affected small traders of Bangabazar.</div><div><br></div><div>Leaders of different sectors, professionals, economists, ministry of finance and revenue board officials participated in the budget consulting meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>The FBCCI president&nbsp; also handed over a written proposal of businesses to the finance minister for consideration those in the upcoming budget. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-13 22:36:28', '2023-04-13 22:36:28'),
(6360, 6360, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Chhayanaut, the country’s esteemed cultural institution known for welcoming the Bengali new calendar year with its traditional flagship event on the morning of April 14,&nbsp; organised its traditional Pahela Baishakh cultural festivity at Ramna Park in the capital on Friday morning.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The festivity began at 6:15 am under the Banyan tree at Ramna (Ramna Batamul), with an eight-minute rendition of the tabour-based ‘Rag Aheer Bhairav’ melody on the sarangi before mesmerising audiences with songs, recitations and more.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A total of 12 solo songs, two recitations and 10 chorus were presented at the event featuring the themes of nature, love for humanity, self-purification and patriotism, performed by esteemed artists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Audiences from every part of the capital cued and gathered for the celebration even before dawn, singing and dancing to welcome the new Bengali calendar year heralding good tidings.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The event came to its closure with a group rendition of the national anthem.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar live telecast the event, and Chhayanaut also streamed the festivity live on its YouTube channel was also streaming the event at https://www.youtube.com/@ChhayanautDigitalPlatform.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Strict security measures were put in place at the venue by the security enforcement unit of the government and the volunteers of the 13th Hussars Open Rover Scout Group, alongside Chhayanaut workers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chhayanaut, founded in 1961, has earned global fame for organising the traditional, extravagant cultural festivity of Pahela Baishakh at Ramna Park every year since the year of 1967. The only exception was in 1971, during the Liberation War of Bangladesh, and then in 2020-2021 due to the global outbreak of COVID-19. Also, this has been the second time the event got celebrated in the month of holy Ramadan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One of the most coveted and long-awaited festivities in Bangladesh, the traditional cultural presentation of Chhayanaut marking the Pahela Baishakh has earned its fame as one of the grandest regular cultural celebrations in the world. 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, '2023-04-14 13:55:56', '2023-04-14 13:55:56'),
(6361, 6361, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The fire that broke out at a warehouse in Dhaka\'s Nawabpur on Thursday night was fully doused, the authorities said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fourteen firefighting units of the fire service responded to the blaze and extinguished the fire at 1:58 am on Friday, said Shahjahan Sikder, deputy assistant director (media) of Fire Service and Civil Defense Headquarters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fire broke out at Nawabpur Mohammadia Market-185. An estimated 20 shops and warehouses were damaged. No casualties were reported, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The blaze began around 10:10pm on Thursday. Locals alerted the fire department after thick smoke was coming out from Ayub Bhaban beside Nawabpur Tower in Suritola,\" said Shahjahan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The reason for the fire and the extent of the damage could not be confirmed immediately, he 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, '2023-04-14 14:35:32', '2023-04-14 14:35:32'),
(6362, 6362, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New year, is being celebrated with great enthusiasm and in a universal festive mood on Friday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The celebration started with Mangal Shobhajatra, headed by DU Vice Chancellor Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman at 9:00 am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The rally was brought out from the Fine Arts faculty of the university and moved around the campus.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State Minister for Culture KM Khalid participated in the procession.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Bengali New Year 1430 has appeared with a message of hope and success. Mangal Shobhajatra is our cultural heritage. It is listed in the UNESCO heritage list too. Our struggle for freedom started through cultural movement,\" said the VC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said, \"The procession is a cultural tradition of the Bengalees. Now it belongs to thr World Heritage. Thus, this cultural heritage belongs to the international community too.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It is a great resource for every person in the world. It is our collective responsibility of all to maintain, preserve and spread it among all. And it reflects inclusive vision and philosophy,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It is a humanitarian and non-sectarian call against all forms of extremism,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two main motifs in this year\'s rally are child in the mother\'s lap and blue bull (Nilgai). As the child is safe in the mother\'s arms there is symbolically the message of global peace. Apart from this, Nilgai has been kept as a symbol of endangered and lost animals. Apart from this, four other motifs have been displayed in the procession. They are tiger, peacock, sheep and deer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Personnel from special security forces ensured the security of Mangal Shovazatra by providing end-to-end protocol to the rally.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"You know there have been threats, a lawyer has even filed a case in the High Court to stop the Mangal Shobhajatra. From that point of view, we took every possible measure to ensure the safety,\" said state minister Khalid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Though the students of the fine arts faculty prepared the festive masks of owls for the Pahela Baishakh celebration, the masks were prohibited to use due to security reasons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To ensure security, movement of all kinds of vehicles except stickered vehicles of DU have been restricted in the campus area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Suhrawardy Udyan gate near TSC will also be locked till the evening of the first day of Bangla New Year but the gate near Ramana Kali mandir, Bangla Academy, Engineering Institute and Chobir hat gate of Suhrawardy Udyan Will be open for the visitors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Visitors can only enter the campus till 5 pm today then the area will be locked and no one can enter the campus after the specified time but they can exit. 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, '2023-04-14 14:38:30', '2023-04-14 14:38:30'),
(6363, 6363, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Foreign Minister&nbsp; AK Abdul Momen has said there is no need to hold political dialogue with the opposition BNP before the next general election and suggested that they follow the system that is in place in the election process.&nbsp;&nbsp;</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Why do you need a dialogue? Is it to come (to power) through the backdoor? No way. There is no need for discussion as there is a system and they (opposition parties including BNP) should come forward who are willing to take part in the election,” he told Voice of America Bangla service in an exclusive interview during his recent visit to the US.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen made a counter question to VoA journalists – “Do the Democratic Party and the Republican Party or other parties discuss before the election? No, never. Because, there is a system. They do follow the system.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The foreign minister said, “Those whom you are referring to began their journey through guns. They believe in guns not in ballots.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen said his party – Bangladesh Awami League – has trust in the people and that is why they want a “free, fair, transparent and credible election.” “Because we believe in people. We want a model election.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;The foreign minister said Bangladesh is the country where 30 lakh people sacrificed their lives to uphold justice, democracy, human dignity and human rights. “In each of our blood, democracy is there with the right to vote.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States has reiterated its desire to see a free and fair election in Bangladesh, noting that the world will be observing Bangladesh’s next national election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Read more: Want security in the region but no defence pact: Momen on Indo-Pacific Strategy</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Of course, we’re looking – the world is looking – to Bangladesh for its next election, to make sure that they set a strong example of free and fair election for the region and for the world,” US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken said during his meeting with Momen on April 10..</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I agree with Secretary Blinken. I am so happy that he also wants a model election which can be portrayed in the rest of the world. I want, too and we seek support from all,” Momen told VoA Bangla service</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To have a fair election, Momen said all parties should demonstrate sincerity and political commitment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said his party – AL – always came to power through election and never through coup or bullet. “Others are not even close to us in terms of the level of sincerity and commitment we have for democracy.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen said the BNP should participate in the election if they believe in democracy. He mentioned that the BNP boycotted elections in the past and carried out destructive activities to halt elections. “We don’t want to see that situation again.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen said he requested Secretary Blinken to send election observers as many as possible but they should be independent and must not be Bangladesh origin to avoid partisan observers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have nothing to hide. Because we have done an excellent job over the last 14 years and we are convinced that people will vote for us in spite of stories being cooked up and people will not believe those stories,” he 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, '2023-04-14 16:23:06', '2023-04-14 16:23:06'),
(6364, 6364, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Arab countries gathered in Jeddah on Friday to discuss ending Syria\'s long spell in the diplomatic wilderness, as regional relations shift following Saudi Arabia and Iran\'s decision to resume ties.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ministers and top officials from the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries -- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- plus Egypt, Iraq and Jordan were to meet at Saudi Arabia\'s request.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Up for discussion in the Red Sea city is Syria\'s suspension from the Arab League, imposed when President Bashar al-Assad\'s government launched a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2011.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Backed by Iran and Russia, Assad has been shunned by many Middle Eastern countries and is a Western pariah over the 12-year war, which has killed more than half-a-million people and forced about half of Syria\'s pre-war population from their homes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But on Wednesday, in the latest sign of an easing in tensions with Damascus, Syria\'s Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrived in Jeddah, the first such visit since the war began.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mekdad and his Saudi counterpart discussed \"the necessary steps\" to end Damascus\'s isolation, according to a Saudi statement on Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Any recommendation to reinstate Syria in the 22-member Arab League, whose next meeting is due to be held in Saudi Arabia in May, is likely to draw protests from Western capitals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Syria\'s rehabilitation sends \"a message to the opposition that Assad will triumph in the end and that their foreign backers will betray them\", Aron Lund of the Century International think tank told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"These bilateral engagements with Saudi Arabia and others are exactly what Damascus has been looking for,\" said Syria expert Sam Heller.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But late Thursday, the prime minister of Qatar -- an opponent of Assad\'s government -- poured cold water on talk of Syria\'s possible return to the Arab League.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There is nothing proposed, it is all speculation,\" Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani said in a television interview.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Overcome Gulf differences\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Jeddah meeting is one in a flurry of initiatives following Saudi Arabia and Iran\'s landmark, Chinese-brokered announcement on March 10 that they would resume ties, seven years after an acrimonious split.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on Friday, an exchange of nearly 900 prisoners from Yemen\'s civil war between the Iran-backed Huthi rebels and a Saudi-led coalition got underway when the first flight left the rebel-controlled capital Sanaa.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Saudi ambassador to Yemen this week held talks with Iran-backed Huthi rebels aimed at ending the devastating civil war that has raged since the Saudi-led military intervention started in 2015.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And late on Wednesday, gas-rich Qatar and its tiny but strategic Gulf neighbour Bahrain agreed to re-establish relations, putting aside a long-running diplomatic feud.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia, the world\'s biggest oil exporter, and Shiite theocracy Iran have long been vying for influence around the region, with Yemen and previously Syria among their proxy conflicts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But analysts say Saudi Arabia is now trying to calm the region to allow it to focus on ambitious domestic projects aimed at diversifying its energy-dependent economy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although the Arab League takes decisions by consensus, unanimous agreement is unlikely, said a Riyadh-based diplomat who declined to be identified.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The meeting aims to overcome the Gulf differences over Syria as much as possible,\" the diplomat told AFP, singling out Qatar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The Saudis are trying at least to ensure that Qatar does not object to Syria\'s return to the Arab League if the issue is put to any vote,\" the diplomat added. 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, '2023-04-14 16:37:17', '2023-04-14 16:37:17'),
(6365, 6365, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">People in most parts of the country are witnessing the scorching temperature as a mild to severe heat wave is sweeping over most parts of the country including Dhaka and it may continue in the next 24-hour period starting from 9am today, according to a Met Office bulletin.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) in the bulletin said severe heat wave is sweeping over the districts of Faridpur, Manikganj, Rajshahi, Pabna, Bagerhat, Jashore, Chuadanga and Kushtia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Barishal and Chattogram divisions and the rest part of Dhaka, Rajshahi and Khulna divisions and the districts of Mymensingh and Moulvibazar and it may continue, it also said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Day and night temperature may rise slightly over the country, it said, adding \"even weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trough of Westerly low lies over West Bengal and adjoining area. Seasonal low lies over South Bay.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Country\'s maximum temperature on Thursday was recorded by 41.0 degree Celsius at Chauadanga while minimum temperature today was recorded by 20.3 degree Celsius at Tetulia. 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, '2023-04-14 16:44:45', '2023-04-14 16:44:45');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(6366, 6366, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">People across the country are celebrating Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bengali New Year, upholding the rich cultural heritage of the Bengalees on Friday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chhayanaut, the country’s esteemed cultural institution known for welcoming the Bengali new calendar year with its traditional flagship event on the morning of April 14,&nbsp; kicked off the festivity at 6:15 am under the Banyan tree at Ramna (Ramna Batamul).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, the Dhaka University’ Fine Arts faculty brought out their Mangal Shobhajatra to celebrate the Bengali New Year 1430 this morning.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Outside the capital, the Bengali New Year is being celebrated across the country with a multitude of arrangements including Shobhajatra and other cultural festivities.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cumilla Victoria College brought out a colourful possession, led by AKM Bahauddin Bahar, lawmaker of Cumilla-6 constituency, to celebrate the Pahela Baishakh.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Leaders and students of different social, cultural and educational institutions participated in the procession.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The procession began at the college premises and ended at Cumilla Shilpakala Academy, where a cultural programme was organised.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">People in Khulna celebrated Pohela Boishakh with great enthusiasm and in a universal festive mood on Friday.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While inaugurating the ‘Mangal Shobhajatra’ Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque said, \"Pohela Boishakh is a Bengali tradition, a day of harmony and a universal festival.&nbsp; Bengali New Year is inextricably linked with Bengali folk culture.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Barishal, people are celebrating the first day of Bengali new year with various arrangements including folk culture exhibition, and a three-day fair.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The festival started at 6:30 am on Friday with a morning programme organised by Udichi Shilpi Gosthi Barisal at Brajmohan (BM) School.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A ‘shobhajatra’ was organised by Charukala, Barishal from BM college which ended in front of the Ashwini Kumar Hal of the college after going around the city.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, the Barisal district administration organised a procession from circuit house at 9 am, folk music and painting competitions were held at Shishu Academy at 10am. A cultural programme and prize distribution was held at Shilpakala Academy at 9:30am.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, the people of Narail celebrated the beginning of the Bengali New Year 1430 with a variety of cultural events.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The district administration and Sammilita Sangskritik Jote organised multiple events throughout the day at Sultan Mancha square of Narail Government Victoria College and district Shilpakala Academy to welcome the new year and bid farewell to the old one.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">People from all walks of life attended in a&nbsp; joyous and colourful procession which started from the Narail Govt. Victoria college and ended in the district\'s Shilapakala academy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Similar possessions were also organised in other parts of the country including Chattogram, Dinajpur, Sherpur, Brahmanbaria and Khagrachhari, including a wide range of cultural events. 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, '2023-04-14 17:05:58', '2023-04-14 17:05:58'),
(6367, 6367, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The highest temperature of the country this year was recorded in Chuadanga at 41.7&nbsp; degrees Celsius on Friday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The district has also recorded the highest temperature across the country for 13 consecutive days, according to Chuadanga Weather Observatory.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jaminur Rahman, in-charge of Chuadanga Weather Observatory, said: “Chuadanga recorded the highest temperature of the country this season at 41.7 degree celsius in Chuadanga at 3:00pm today. Besides, the highest temperature of the country was recorded here from April 2 to April 14.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There is currently no chance of rain. Consequently, this temperature will continue to rise. On top of that, a severe heat wave has begun today,” he said.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">People in Chuadanga are experiencing scorching temperatures as a mild to severe heatwave continues to batter the district for the past two weeks. The extreme heat has put the working population in great trouble. Due to the heat, people are unwilling to leave their homes unless it is an emergency.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many people are becoming ill as a result of the excessive heat. The number of patients of various ages, including children, has also increased in the upazila health complexes and district hospitals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shafiul of Kulchara village in Chuadanga Sadar said, \"It is difficult to tolerate such heat. I couldn\'t work long in the fields. I\'m sitting in the shadows now. There will be a delay in completing the work today. It\'s hot, and I don\'t know if I\'ll be able to work anymore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Emdadul Haque Emdad, a private employee living in Chuadanga Sadar Hospital Road area said: “I have to commute by motorcycle due to my marketing job. Although it\'s usually comfortable riding a motorcycle, it feels like my body is burning due to&nbsp; the intensity of the sunlight.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to Chuadanga Weather Observatory sources, the temperature in Chuadanga was recorded at 33.4 degrees Celsius on April 2, the highest temperature in the country. Since then, the highest temperature of the country has been recorded in this district for 13 consecutive days. 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, '2023-04-14 17:46:51', '2023-04-14 17:46:51'),
(6368, 6368, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">North Korea said Friday it flight-tested a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time, a possible breakthrough in its efforts to acquire a more powerful, harder-to-detect weapon targeting the continental United States.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea\'s official Korean Central News Agency issued the report a day after the country\'s neighbors detected a launch of a long-range missile from near Pyongyang, which extended a run of weapons displays involving more than 100 missiles fired into the sea since the start of 2022.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thursday\'s test did not appear to demonstrate the weapon\'s full capacity, and it remains unclear how far North Korea has come in mastering technologies to ensure the warhead would withstand atmospheric reentry and accurately strike targets. Still, analysts said the test was likely a meaningful advance in North Korea\'s goal to build a nuclear arsenal that could directly threaten the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">KCNA said the launch was supervised on site by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who described the missile — named Hwasong-18 — as the most powerful weapon of his nuclear forces that would enhance counterattack abilities in the face of external threats created by the military activities of the United States and its regional allies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kim pledged to further expand his nuclear arsenal to \"constantly strike extreme uneasiness and horror\" in his rivals and make them feel regret for their wrong choices.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea has justified its weapons demonstrations as a response to the expanding military exercises between the United States and South Korea, which the North condemns as invasion rehearsals while using them as a pretext to push further its own weapons development.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kim added that the Hwasong-18 would rapidly advance North Korea\'s nuclear response posture and further support an aggressive military strategy that vows to maintain \"frontal confrontation\" against its rivals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea has tested various intercontinental missiles since 2017 that demonstrated the potential range to reach the U.S. mainland, but the others use liquid fuel that must be added relatively close to the launch and they cannot remain fueled for prolonged periods.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An ICBM with built-in solid propellants would be easier to move and hide and fired quickly, reducing the opportunities for opponents to detect and counter the launch. It\'s not immediately clear how close the North is to having a functional solid-fuel ICBM capable of striking the U.S. mainland.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea\'s Defense Ministry in a statement described Hwasong-18\'s flight as a \"mid-phase test\" and said North Korea would need more time and effort to complete the system. It maintains that North Korea\'s technologies haven\'t reached the point where it can protect its ICBM warheads from the harsh conditions of atmospheric reentry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last month, South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-Sup also told lawmakers that North Korea likely hasn\'t yet acquired the technology to place nuclear warheads on its newer short-range missiles targeting South Korea, though he acknowledged the country was making considerable progress on it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Still, Thursday\'s test marked a \"significant breakthrough for the North Koreans, but not an unexpected one,\" said Ankit Panda, an expert with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The primary significance of solid-fuel ICBMs is in terms of what they\'ll do for the survivability of North Korea\'s overall ICBM force,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Because these missiles are fueled at the time of manufacture and are thus ready to use as needed, they will be much more rapidly useable in a crisis or conflict, depriving South Korea and the United States of valuable time that could be useful to preemptively hunt and destroy such missiles.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Advancing solid-fuel technology could also be useful in improving what the Kim regime claims are its tactical nuclear and submarine-based deterrents,\" said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korean state media published photos and videos of the missile blasting off from a launch vehicle at a test site inside a forest and the separation of the missile\'s first and second stages following liftoff. Kim watched from an observation post along with military officials and his wife, sister and daughter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">KCNA described the Hwasong-18 as a three-stage missile with the first stage tested at a standard ballistic trajectory and the others programmed to fly at higher angles after separation to avoid North Korea\'s neighbors. It wasn\'t immediately clear how the third stage, which would be the part where the warhead would be placed, was tested.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The agency said the first and second stages fell into waters off the country\'s eastern coast. The official Rodong Sinmun newspaper published an aerial photo of an object it described as the third stage following separation, but state media provided no further details.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said North Korea for the test likely designed the third stage as an empty device and simply let it fall after separation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He noted that North Korea didn\'t release details about how high the missile went, which suggests it wasn\'t tested at the weapon\'s full capacity and range, and said the North likely will test the system several more times.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Soo Kim, an expert with Virginia-based consultancy LMI and a former CIA analyst, said each successive test by North Korea \"seems to demonstrate greater options for the regime to provoke and threaten the region.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"With the Day of the Sun festivities coming up, and a U.S.-South Korean summit around the corner, the timing is also ripe for a North Korean provocation for (Kim Jong Un) to yet again remind us that his weapons are getting bigger, better, and all the more challenging for the U.S., South Korea, and the international community to deal with,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She was referring to the birth anniversary of Kim\'s state-founding grandfather, Kim Il Sung, which falls on Saturday, and a planned summit in Washington this month between President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Solid-fuel ICBMs highlighted an extensive wish list Kim announced under a five-year arms development plan in 2021, which also included tactical nuclear weapons, hypersonic missiles, nuclear-powered submarines and spy satellites.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The North has fired around 30 missiles this year alone over 12 different launch events as both the pace of its weapons development and the U.S.-South Korean military exercises increase in a cycle of tit-for-tat. The U.S. and South Korean militaries conducted their biggest field exercises in years last month and separately held joint naval and air force drills involving a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group and nuclear-capable U.S. bombers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea claimed the drills simulated an all-out war against North Korea and communicated threats against it. The United States and South Korea have said their exercises are defensive in nature and expanding them was necessary to cope with the North\'s evolving threats. AP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-14 17:54:02', '2023-04-14 17:54:02'),
(6369, 6369, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>General President of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and Prophet\'s Mosque Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Sudais declared that the total number of male and female worshipers who visited the Grand Mosque during the first 20 days of Ramadan amounted to more than 22 million people.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Dr. Al-Sudais stressed that the Presidency prepared the Grand Mosque through an operational plan and strategy that provided all means of convenience and facilitated all services for worshipers to perform their rituals with ease and tranquility, and also ensured the availability of safety means inside the Grand Mosque and communication with the relevant authorities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He hailed the Saudi leadership for supporting the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors and for creating the best conditions for worshippers to perform their rituals easily. SPA</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"7\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-14 19:16:07', '2023-04-14 19:16:07'),
(6370, 6370, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ending all speculations, Mohammedan Sporting Club finally moved to the Super League phase with a game to spare in Dhaka Premier League (DPL).&nbsp;</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After being winless in the first five matches, it looked highly likely that the traditional powerhouse won\'t secure a super league spot for the second consecutive time but the return of national players including Shakib Al Hasan boosted their confidence to such extent they won five straight matches.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But no big names, it was wicket-keeper Mahidul Islam Ankon who led the emphatic 52-run victory over Shinepukur Cricket Club today at BSKP-3 ground to help the side secure the spot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Also the defeat of Gazi Group Cricketers to Brothers Union contributed in their early entrance to the Super League. If Gazi Group won the match, Mohammedan would have to wait till the last game to know their fate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gazi Group who had nine points now in 10 matches, will take on Shinepukur in their last match and if they win, they will go through Super League.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If they fail to win, Brothers and City Club who had eight points each could give a shot to the super league as the sixth team. Brothers will take on Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club but City would have to face off more tougher opponents like Abahani Limited.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Abahani Limited (18 points), Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club (18 points), Legends of Rupganj (16 points) and Prime Bank Cricket Club (12 points) had already moved to the Super League. After winning today\'s game, Mohammedan moved to fifth position with 11 points.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Put into bat first, Mohammedan compiled 276-6 thanks to Ankon who blasted a run-a-ball-125 with six fours and seven sixes. Skipper Imrul Kayes made 69 off 86 with seven fours and two sixes while Shakib Al Hasan scored 30 off 25 with one four and two sixes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pacer Mehedi Hasan Rana and Masum Khan Tutul took two wickets apiece for Shinepukur.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However Shinepukur were bowled out for 224 in 43.2 overs with Shubham Sharma making highest 66. He indeed kept the Shinepukur hopes alive but Shakib Al Hasan claimed his wicket to dent the hopes. Opener Khalid Hasan made 56.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nazmul Apu was the best bowler for Mohammedan with 3-41 while Musfik Hasan and Jake Lintott grabbed two wickets apiece.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Brothers Union vs Gazi Group Cricketers</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim hammered a 114 ball-106 runs knock as Brothers Union chased down 306 runs target effortlessly to beat Gazi Group Cricketers by five wickets in at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thanks to a century of opener Mehedi Maruf, Gazi Group Cricketers piled up 305-7 after being asked to bat first. In form Maruf, struck 100 off 104 with eight fours and two sixes while Farhad Hossain made 85.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mahmudul Hasan hit a fluent 49 and Anamul Haque made 21 ball-39 not out toward the end to help Gazi Group propel past 300 runs mark.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Arafat Sunny Junior scalped 3-34 while Mahedi Hasan took 2-36 for Brothers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Tanzid made it cake-walk, hitting six fours and five sixes for his 106, which helped the side gun down the target in 49 overs. Anisul Islam Emon chipped-in-with 57 and Sabbir Hossain added 48 to complement Tanzid\'s effort. Saad Nasimw as 39 not out.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">City Clubs vs Rupganj</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An unbeaten 61-run partnership from the ninth wicket pair helped City Club to secure a two-wicket win over Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club in the last ball of the match at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">No. 9 batter Robiul Haque was 32 not out and No. 10 batter Irfan Hossain was 31 not out after securing the victory for the side which crushed Rupganj\'s hopes to stay alive for Super League.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rupganj had now just seven points in 10 matches while City whose Super League hope was also ended, had so far eight from 10 matches.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After being sent to bat first, Rupganj Tigers were restricted to 231-8 with opener Imranuzzmana top-scoring 43 and Shamim Patwary adding 39.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Robiul Haque and Rafsan Al Mahmud claimed two wickets apiece.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shahriar Komol set the platform with 69 before Robiul and Irfan\'s rearguard action helped the side clinch the last ball drama. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-14 19:19:30', '2023-04-14 19:19:30'),
(6371, 6371, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Awami League general secretary and Roads and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Friday said Baisakh will be celebrated as long as Awami League is in the country, as Pahela Baishakh is a day to express one\'s identity and non-communal spirit.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said these things while participating in the colorful procession organized by Dhaka Metropolitan South Awami League on the occasion of Bangla New Year 1430 celebration on Friday (April 14).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Obaidul Quader said Awami League was with the historical tradition of Bangladesh including Pahela Baishakh before and still is.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It is not our headache who is observing or not. But we will observe it,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pointing out that Bengalis are celebrating Pahela Baishakh in a festive atmosphere, he said Pahela Baishakh is the destination of Bengali spirit, history and tradition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Quader said that Sheikh Hasina is moving ahead with challenging decisions to deal with all the crises including the global economic crisis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Awami League General Secretary said&nbsp; communalism practice has grown under the leadership of BNP. They will be overthrown under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Those who prefer communal ideology and prefer bi-nationalism do not respect the history of celebrating Baisakh They will be resisted,\" he also said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The procession started from the capital\'s Bahadur Shah Park and ended in front of the Awami League\'s central office at Bangabandhu Avenue. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-14 22:07:21', '2023-04-14 22:07:21'),
(6372, 6372, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder and valiant freedom fighter Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury was laid to eternal rest at the Gonoshasthaya Kendra in Savar after Jumma prayers today.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Before that, Savar\'s public health center officials, employees, public university teachers, students, politicians and people from all walks of life, paid their last respects to him at Gonoshasthaya Kendra\'s PHA field from 10am to 12:30pm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Dr Zafrullah\'s wife, children and other well wishers were present at the time.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury breathed his last at Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital in Dhaka on Tuesday at the age of 81. 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, '2023-04-14 22:11:32', '2023-04-14 22:11:32'),
(6373, 6373, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Friday said the United States does not want caretaker government but they want the election in line with the country\'s existing laws.&nbsp;</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"US is very happy to see our development and they want to be part of our development journey,\" he told reporters after attending a programme in Sylhet.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen said the government wants a free and fair election.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"But it’s not only the government’s responsibility. It’s also a responsibility of the people and all the political parties to ensure a free and fair election,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The people of Bangladesh never forget to vote, Momen said.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He hoped for a secular and harmonious Bangladesh, noting that the Bangla New year will be a year of tolerance and harmony.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I hope the sense of tolerance and sense of respect will be strengthened,\" Momen said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"[We’ll] achieve a beautiful Bangladesh by stopping mudslinging,” he said, while attending a Mangal Shobajatra in Sylhet on the occasion of Pohela Boishakh on Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The celebration of Bengali new year in Sylhet started at 9 am this morning with a Mangal Shobhajatra from the district administration premises.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officials and employees of different socio-cultural organizations, different educational institutions and administration of Sylhet attended the possession.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, Sylhet Agricultural University, Shruti Sylhet, Anandalok, Charan Cultural Center, Pathshala, Shilpakala Academy and other organizations are celebrating Pohela Boishakh with cultural festivities. 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, '2023-04-15 08:53:58', '2023-04-15 08:53:58'),
(6374, 6374, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Black smoke filled the air as a pre-dawn fire engulfed the New Super Market in the capital, forcing fire service to mobiise 28 of their units at the scene and military, paramilitary and police joining their hands to extinguish the blaze.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fire service officials said the incident was reported to them at about 5.40 am and they immediately sent the units to the scene, one after another, and there had been no reported deaths from the blaze.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">TV footages showed army, navy, air force and paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel along with police joined hands to help the fire fighters while businessmen rushed to the market in their apparent futile efforts to save their belongings at the shops.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fire service could not ascertain immediately what might have caused the fire but the incident came just 11 days after a pre-dawn blaze in a near identical manner broke out and burned several thousand shops at Dhaka’s Bangabazar clothing market.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Bangabazar fire devastated the shop owners by the loss weeks ahead of the Eid since efforts of hundreds of firefighters and army personnel could do little to save their belongings as the inferno tore through the clothing market, turning it into a pile of ashes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The New Super Market today also went up in flames, before the daily businesses had opened. 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, '2023-04-15 10:35:32', '2023-04-15 22:24:20'),
(6375, 6375, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated unhurt after a suspect threw what appeared to be a smoke bomb at an outdoor speech in western Japan on Saturday, domestic media reported.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A loud explosion was heard, but the premier took cover and was unharmed while police subdued a man at the scene, public broadcaster NHK said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The incident occurred at the Saikazaki fishing harbour in Wakayama prefecture, some 65 km (40 miles) southwest of Osaka city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the longest-serving leader of modern Japan, was assassinated with a homemade gun last July while campaigning for a parliamentary election, shocking the nation and prompting a review of security for politicians, who routinely press the flesh with the public.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kishida had just started to deliver the speech after touring the harbour when Saturday\'s incident occurred, NHK said. The speech was scheduled for 11:40 a.m. (0240 GMT), according to Kishida\'s ruling Liberal Democratic Party.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kishida was to continue his Saturday afternoon campaign schedule after the incident, the LDP confirmed via its Twitter account.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">NHK footage showed crowds running away as several police officers appeared to pin a man to the ground before removing him from the scene. The man appeared to be in his 20s or 30s, media said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A representative of Wakayama\'s prefectural police headquarters told Reuters he could not answer questions about the incident.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A woman on the scene told NHK that she saw an object flying overhead and \"it gave me a bad feeling, so we ran away unbelievably fast. Then we heard a really loud noise. It made my daughter cry.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kishida is to host a Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima next month. G7 foreign ministers are to meet on Sunday in the resort city of Karuizawa. Reuters</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-15 10:41:47', '2023-04-15 10:41:47'),
(6376, 6376, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Pakistan celebrated skipper Babar Azam\'s 100th international match in the shortest format with a clinical 88-run win in the first Twenty20 against New Zealand in Lahore on Friday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Azam failed with just nine runs but Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub scored 47 runs each and put on a 79-run partnership for the third wicket to anchor Pakistan to 182 all out in 19.5 overs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fast bowler Haris Rauf, one of five players who returned after being rested in Pakistan\'s last series against Afghanistan, took career best figures of 4-18 as New Zealand were 94 all out in 15.3 overs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim finished with 2-2 in his only over -- taking both his wickets off successive deliveries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mark Chapman top-scored with 27-ball 34 inclusive of four boundaries and a six while skipper Tom Latham made 24-ball 20.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rauf\'s previous best T20 figures of 4-22 had also come against New Zealand in Sharjah in 2021.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Azam praised his bowling unit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The pitch was assisting the bowlers so it was a good batting performance to get that total and then our complete bowling unit was excellent,\" said Azam, happy at reaching a personal landmark.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I had never expected this. I still remember the journey of starting off here as a ball-boy on the side-lines, and to now be here, it is a huge honour,\" said Azam of serving as a ball-boy during the 2007 series against South Africa.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Latham said his team did not adapted to the different conditions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We did not quite adapt to the conditions early enough,\" said Latham whose team are missing top eight players due to Indian Premier League.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"On that surface, the score was slightly above-par. We did not build partnerships with the bat.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, Zaman and Ayub lifted Pakistan from a poor start after they won the toss and batted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan lost both their openers -- Mohammad Rizwan leg-before for eight and then Azam bowled -- to pacer Adam Milne by the fifth over for just 30.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ayub lifted the tempo with two boundaries each off Milne and Ben Lister before he and Zaman hit a six each off spinner Ish Sodhi in the tenth over.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zaman struck four boundaries and two sixes in his 34-ball knock while Ayub\'s rapid 28-ball innings featured two sixes and six fours.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ayub was run out while taking a second run before Zaman was caught at deep square-leg off Sodhi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Faheem Ashraf hit a 16-ball 22 while Wasim scored 16 off 13 balls to help Pakistan add 47 runs in the last five overs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">New Zealand pacer Matt Henry took a hat trick in his figures of 3-32.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Henry dismissed Shadab Khan (five) and Iftikhar Ahmed (nought) off the last two deliveries of his third over and then Shaheen Shah Afridi with the first of his fourth.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lister had figures of 2-30 while Milne finished with 2-51.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The remaining four matches are in Lahore on April 15 and April 17 and Rawalpindi on April 20 and 24. 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, '2023-04-15 10:59:00', '2023-04-15 10:59:00'),
(6377, 6377, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A fire broke out at Dhaka’s New Supermarket — next to New Market — early today (April 15, 2023).</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">A total of 28 firefighting units and teams of Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force are working to control the blaze.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fifteen people including 9 firefighters have been admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital after they fell sick from the heavy smoke. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Twelve Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) units are also working on the spot. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fire broke out around 5:40 am and was still not under control at the time of filing this report.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shahjahan Sikder, deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters media cell said that the first firefighting unit reached the spot around 5:43 am. 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, '2023-04-15 11:03:34', '2023-04-15 15:56:09'),
(6378, 6378, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said the entire democratic world is now with Bangladesh for a creditable election, ensuring human rights and press freedom.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It’s not only the United States, but also the entire world consciences are now with the people of Bangladesh. All the democracy-loving and freedom-loving countries are closely monitoring human rights, rule of law, media freedom, and the election,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking at a discussion on Friday, the BNP leader also said US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken during his meeting with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen in Washington recently gave a message that the entire world is looking to Bangladesh for a neutral, acceptable, and inclusive election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“He (Momen) was also been given a message not to continue the repression on the media workers and to keep a close eye on the Digital Security Act through which freedom of expression is being disrupted,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khosru, also a BNP standing committee member, said the US has also asked the Bangladesh government to respect human rights.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He questioned why the global community and democracy-loving countries are only looking to the Bangladesh election instead of that of other countries in the South Asian region, including India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. “It has manifested how we have got humiliated before the world.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on Monday, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Mome met his US counterpart Antony J Blinken where they discussed a wide range of issues, including Bangladesh’s next election, the Digital Security Act, human rights, and the Rohingya crisis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sylhet Divisional Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Forum, in Dhaka, arranged the programme at Dhaka Reporters\' Unity demanding the trace and safe return of former BNP organising secretary M Ilias Ali.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former lawmaker Ilias Ali and his car driver Ansar Ali were reportedly been subjected to enforced disappearance at midnight on April 17 in 2012 from near Mohakhali railway crossing in the capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khosrul said the current government will no longer be able to stay in power by creating a climate of fear by resorting to the politics of enforced disappearance, falsehood, and the politics of false and ghost cases.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The people of Bangladesh have decided to defeat them (the AL regime) politically…the people of Bangladesh have also taken a decision to remove fascism,” he observed. 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, '2023-04-15 11:52:42', '2023-04-15 11:52:42');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(6379, 6379, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">France’s Constitutional Council on Friday approved an unpopular plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 in a victory for President Emmanuel Macron after months of mass protests that have damaged his leadership.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The decision dismayed or enraged critics of the pension plan. Hundreds of union activists and others gathered peacefully in Paris Friday evening before some groups broke off in marches toward the historic Bastille plaza and beyond, setting fires to garbage bins and scooters as police fired tear gas or pushed them back.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Unions and Macron’s political opponents vowed to maintain pressure on the government to withdraw the bill, and activists threatened scattered new protests Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Macron’s office said he would enact the law in coming days, and he has said he wants it implemented by the end of the year. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said Friday’s decision “marks the end of the institutional and democratic path of this reform,” adding that there was “no victor” in what has turned into a nationwide standoff and France’s worst social unrest in years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The council rejected some measures in the pension bill, but the higher age was central to Macron’s plan and the target of protesters’ anger. The government argued that the reform is needed to keep the pension system afloat as the population ages; opponents proposed raising taxes on the wealthy or employers instead, and said the changes threaten a hard-won social safety net.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a separate but related decision, the council rejected a request by left-wing lawmakers to allow for a possible referendum on enshrining 62 as the maximum official retirement age. The council will rule on a second, similar request, next month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Carl Pfeiffer, a 62-year-old retiree protesting outside City Hall, warned that the Constitutional Council’s decision won’t spell the end of tensions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The council members “are irresponsible, because the anger that will come right after in the country, it’s their fault,″ he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bartender Lena Cayo, 22, said she was disappointed but not surprised by the decision.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We are protesting for so many weeks and the government didn’t hear us,” she said. “Workers who have gone on strike or protested the legislation since January are fighting “for their rights, but nothing changes.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As tensions mounted hours before the decision, Macron invited labor unions to meet with him on Tuesday no matter what the Constitutional Council decision was, his office said. The unions rejected Macron’s invitation, noting that he had refused their previous offers of a meeting, and called for mass new protests on May 1, international workers’ rights day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Unions have been the organizers of 12 nationwide protests since January and have a critical role in trying to tamp down excessive reactions by protesters. Violence by pockets of ultra-left radicals have marked the otherwise peaceful nationwide marches.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The plan to increase the retirement age was meant to be Macron’s showcase measure in his second term.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The council decision caps months of tumultuous debates in parliament and fervor in the streets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Spontaneous demonstrations were held around France ahead of the nine-member council’s ruling. Opponents of the pension reform blockaded entry points into some cities, including Rouen in the west and Marseille in the south, slowing or stopping traffic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister was interrupted while visiting a supermarket outside Paris by a group of people chanting, “We don’t want it,” referring to the way she skirted the vote by lawmakers to advance the pension reform.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government’s decision to get around a parliamentary vote in March by using special constitutional powers heightened the fury of the measure’s opponents, as well as their determination. Another group awaited Borne in the parking lot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Union leaders have said the Constitutional Council’s decisions would be respected, but have vowed to continue protests in an attempt to get Macron to withdraw the measure.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The leader of the moderate CFDT, Laurent Berger, warned that “there will be repercussions.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Holding out hope to upend the decision, unions and some protesters recalled parallels with a contested 2006 measure about work contracts for youth that sent students, joined by unions, into the streets. That legislation had been pushed through parliament without a vote and given the green light by the Constitutional Council — only to be later scrapped to bring calm to the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Far-right lawmaker Marine Le Pen denounced the pension reform as “brutal and unjust.” In a statement, she said that once the reform is put into practice it “will mark the definitive rupture between the French people and Emmanuel Macron.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Polls have consistently shown that the majority of French citizens are opposed to working two more years before being able to reap pension benefits. The legislation also requires people to work 43 years to receive a full pension, among other changes to the system. 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, '2023-04-15 12:00:51', '2023-04-15 12:00:51'),
(6380, 6380, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A fire that broke out at Dhaka’s New Supermarket — next to New Market — early today, has been brought under control.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The blaze was brought under control around 9:10 am, said Shahjahan Sikder, deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters media cell.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Members of law enforcement agencies are assisting traders in evacuating the establishment with their goods.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A total of 28 firefighting units and teams of Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force are working to douse the blaze.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fifteen people including 9 firefighters have been admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital after they fell sick from the heavy smoke.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Twelve Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) units are also working on the spot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fire broke out around 5:40 am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The first firefighting unit reached the spot around 5:43 am. 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, '2023-04-15 12:04:31', '2023-04-15 12:04:31'),
(6381, 6381, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Pop diva Celine Dion announced the release of new music on Thursday -- her first since revealing last year that she was suffering from a rare neurological disorder that was affecting her singing.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The new album \"Love Again\" is the soundtrack for a film of the same name, and contains five new songs as well as past hits.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is the 55-year-old Canadian Dion\'s first since her 2019 album \"Courage.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I had a lot of fun doing this movie. And to have the privilege of appearing with the beautiful and talented actors Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Sam Heughan in my very first feature film is a gift that I will cherish forever,\" Dion said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I think it\'s a wonderful feel-good story, and I hope that people will like it, and like the new songs too,\" Dion said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The romantic comedy by director Jim Strouse is scheduled for release in theatres on May 5.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In December, Dion posted a tearful video on Instagram to say she had recently been diagnosed with Stiff-Person Syndrome and would not be ready to start a European tour in February as she had planned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said the disorder was causing muscle spasms and was \"not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I\'m used to.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The \"Courage World Tour\" began in 2019, and Dion had completed 52 shows before the Covid-19 pandemic put the remainder on hold.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She later cancelled the North American section of the tour due to her health problems.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Her spring dates in Europe, which were due to begin in the Czech Republic, were postponed to 2024, while eight of her summer shows were cancelled entirely.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This was to have been the Grammy-winning winner\'s first global concert tour in a decade and the first without her husband-manager Rene Angelil, who died from cancer in 2016. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-15 12:40:23', '2023-04-15 12:40:23'),
(6382, 6382, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Montana has become the first US state to pass legislation banning TikTok on personal devices.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">TikTok, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has been accused of posing a national security risk through data gathered from users.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte, the ban could come into effect in January.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The company has suggested that it would take legal action to fight the Montana bill.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bill, known as SB 419, passed by a vote of 54 to 43. It cites a number of concerns about TikTok, including alleged surveillance from the Chinese government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Violations of the bill could carry a penalty of up to $10,000 (£8,000), which would be enforced by Montana\'s Department of Justice. The penalties apply to companies, rather than individual users.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Gianforte, a Republican who previously banned the app on the devices of government employees, is expected to sign it. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"18\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-15 13:16:13', '2023-04-15 13:16:13'),
(6383, 6383, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked concerned authorities to look into whether “arson, terrorism by BNP-Jamaat” is behind the recent fire incidents.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It should be investigated whether they (BNP-Jamaat) are taking a different path by causing incidents like fire,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said this while talking at the Awami League Local Government Nomination Board meeting held at her official residence Gana Bhaban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She asked to investigate whether the recent spate of fire incidents in markets were part of a conspiracy or sabotage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said when the first fire incident occurred, everyone thought that it was an accident.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“…The fire incidents are occurring after 6am. Surveillance should be beefed up and markets have to remain alert,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Everyone should be more aware. Everyone has to make arrangements on their own initiative to guard (their establishments). All efforts by the government will continue,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that observing the recent fire incidents raises questions whether these are plain accidents or there is some manipulation behind these.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We know that some political parties want to wage a movement after Eid, cripple the economy, and oust the government. But what are the faults of the common people and businessmen?” – she asked.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also said that unnecessary gathering at sites of fire incidents must not be allowed when fire fighters are trying to douse the blaze, and strict action will be taken in case of any obstruction regarding this matter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Why will they (fire fighters) face obstacles when they try to extinguish the fire? Some people attacked the fire fighters… Who are these people?” – the PM asked.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that businessmen were the worst sufferers as they have been waiting for the Eid season. She also urged the countrymen to remain alert.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Recalling the arson, terrorism by BNP-Jamaat in the recent past, she expressed her concerns and stressed on proper investigations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“In the past, they burnt people, and now whether they have taken the path to cripple the economy needs to be looked into,” she 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, '2023-04-15 13:29:17', '2023-04-15 13:29:17'),
(6384, 6384, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is set to forge closer ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting in Beijing on Friday, a day after he lashed out at the power of the US dollar and the IMF.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The veteran leftist, whose government recently announced a deal with Beijing to trade in their own currencies -- ditching the dollar as an intermediary -- is in China to boost ties with his country\'s top trading partner and spread his message that \"Brazil is back\" as a key player on the global stage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lula also had strong words for the International Monetary Fund, alluding to accusations the IMF forces overly harsh spending cuts on cash-strapped countries like Brazil\'s neighbour Argentina in exchange for bailout loans.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lula, who took office in January, is looking to reposition Brazil as a global go-between and deal broker, seeking friendly ties across the board after four years of relative isolation under his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at Beijing\'s Great Hall of the People on Friday afternoon, followed by talks with Xi Jinping. Lula visited US President Joe Biden in February. 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, '2023-04-15 13:37:42', '2023-04-15 13:37:42'),
(6385, 6385, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Covid variant XBB.1.16, also known as Arcturus, has been dubbed as the \'variant under monitoring\' by WHO (World Health Organisation) after it was found to be spreading fast in many parts of the world. According to recent WHO data, a total of 712 XBB.1.16 sequences were found in 21 countries. XBB 1.16 is a subvariant of the Omicron variant, which emerged in late 2021 and has since then replaced delta as the dominant variant around the world.&nbsp;</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Carrying additional spike mutations, Arcturus variant is considered more transmissible and immune-evasive than its predecessors and may escape immunity acquired by previous infections or vaccines. While the symptoms of XBB.1.16 are not very different from the previous strains and the disease caused by it largely remains mild, in case of vulnerable population like children and elderly, it can cause slightly different symptoms.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"XBB.1.16 variant, a sub-lineage of Omicron variant, is believed to be the cause of recent concerning surge in number of Covid cases. According to available reports based on genome sequencing, XBB 1.16 has few additional spike mutations. As per the available data, it seems to more transmissible and immune evasive, i.e. causing infections in patients with pre-existing natural or vaccine induced immunity,\" says Dr Rohit Kumar Garg, Consultant, Department of Infectious Diseases, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Common symptoms of XBB.1.16 or Arcturus in adults</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Experts say the loss of taste and smell seen in the days of spread of Delta variant is uncommon now while symptoms like fever, sore throat, running nose, body ache, diarrhoea, fatigue are more common in Covid patients.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The symptoms of XBB 1.16 are not much different from previous variants. Some of the common symptoms in adults include fever, sore throat, running nose, cough, body ache, myalgia, fatigue, diarrhoea. Symptoms due to shortness of breath, low oxygen saturation, respiratory distress can be seen in patients who develop severe illness,\" says Dr Garg.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Infected adults may experience symptoms like fever, cough, cold, nasal discharge/running nose, blocked nose, sneezing, soreness and irritation in throat, scratchy throat, change of voice/hoarse voice, shortness of breath, headache, body aches, fatigue, nausea, diarrhoea, chest pain. Loss of taste and smell as seen with Delta variant of Covid-19 is not much seen now,\" says Dr Gurmeet Singh Chabbra, Director- Pulmonology, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Faridabad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Symptoms of XBB.1.16 or Arcturus in children</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Children in addition to sore throat, runny nose, blocked nose may have conjunctivitis or pink eye in this current surge of Covid infections.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"XBB.1.16 variant symptoms reported in children are high fever, cough, itchy conjunctivitis — or pinkeye — without pus, but with \'sticky eyes\'. Scratchy throat also leading to difficulty in swallowing, running nose, blocked nose seems to be more common symptoms in current Covid variant,\" says Dr Chabbra.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Infected adults may experience symptoms like fever, cough, cold, nasal discharge/running nose, blocked nose, sneezing, soreness and irritation in throat, scratchy throat, change of voice/hoarse voice, shortness of breath, headache, body aches, fatigue, nausea, diarrhoea, chest pain. Loss of taste and smell as seen with Delta variant of Covid-19 is not much seen now,\" says Dr Gurmeet Singh Chabbra, Director- Pulmonology, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Faridabad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Symptoms of XBB.1.16 or Arcturus in children Children in addition to sore throat, runny nose, blocked nose may have conjunctivitis or pink eye in this current surge of Covid infections.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"XBB.1.16 variant symptoms reported in children are high fever, cough, itchy conjunctivitis — or pinkeye — without pus, but with \'sticky eyes\'. Scratchy throat also leading to difficulty in swallowing, running nose, blocked nose seems to be more common symptoms in current Covid variant,\" says Dr Chabbra. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/\'kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-15 14:06:15', '2023-04-15 14:06:15'),
(6386, 6386, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">G7 allies kicked off two days of \"difficult\" climate talks in northern Japan on Saturday, facing pressure to show progress on key fossil fuel commitments in an example to other major economies including China.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Campaigners have warned climate and environment ministers from the group of developed countries against backsliding on pledges on the shift away from coal and gas at home and abroad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But a leaked third draft of a statement to be issued at the meeting in Sapporo has relieved some experts, who had feared a more ringing endorsement of the need for overseas gas investments as proposed by Japan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"All in, given low expectations, it now seems a better outcome than many expected,\" said Ed King from the climate-oriented communications firm GSCC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ministers want to show unity after a major UN climate report warned last month that 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming would be seen in about a decade. It called for \"rapid and far-reaching\" action to keep increases within relatively safe limits.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, as as the energy crisis sparked by the Ukraine war squeezes G7 countries, including this year\'s president Japan, divisions have arisen among the group.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A French government source said their minister was trying to \"avoid or put a stop to any form of reversal on fossil fuel\" commitments, while describing \"difficult\" discussions among the bloc.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The draft statement calls on nations to take action \"in this critical decade\", urging a peak in global greenhouse emissions by 2025 at the latest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Experts say this language is aimed at China, the world\'s largest carbon emitter, which is targeting a peak in its carbon emissions by 2030.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The draft also stresses the \"urgency\" of slashing global emissions by 60 percent by 2035 from 2019 levels, as recommended by the UN\'s IPCC panel of climate experts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Coal and gas promises -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other phrasing has been more contentious, with the final statement sure to be closely scrutinised for signs of the direction of talks at the G20 in New Delhi and the COP28 climate meeting in Dubai later this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ministers pledged at the last G7 climate ministerial in Germany in May 2022 to largely end fossil fuel use in their electricity sectors by 2035.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also agreed to stop new direct public support the same year for overseas fossil fuel projects that take no steps to offset carbon dioxide emissions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But this was watered down a month later when G7 leaders said the \"exceptional circumstances\" of Russia\'s war in Ukraine made gas investments \"appropriate as a temporary response\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Japan has sought language that would solidify that exception, and trade minister Yasutoshi Nishimura has said a one-size-fits-all approach is inappropriate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s necessary to work towards the common goal of net zero by taking various approaches according to the circumstances of each country,\" he said at the event\'s opening speech on Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The latest draft of the G7 climate statement, seen by AFP, recognises \"the primary need to accelerate the clean energy transition through energy savings and gas demand reduction\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And on coal -- another hotly debated topic -- the United States has proposed wording that acknowledges the need to \"call on international partners to end new unabated coal power generation projects globally\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Canada\'s environment and climate change minister Steven Guilbeault told AFP that \"in terms of phasing out fossil fuel from the electricity sector... we would be, as Canada, very comfortable with having strong language on that\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The draft also includes recognition of nuclear power\'s potential to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and supports the International Atomic Energy Agency\'s review of Japan\'s plan to start releasing treated water from its devastated Fukushima plant into the sea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Japan had sought G7 recognition for its controversial strategy of burning hydrogen and ammonia alongside fossil fuels to reduce carbon emissions -- which climate activists say only serves to extend the lifespan of polluting plants.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the draft statement simply notes that \"some countries are exploring\" the potential of the two fuels in the journey to net-zero emissions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And it says this should be \"aligned with a 1.5oC pathway and our collective goal for a fully or predominantly decarbonised power sector by 2035\". 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, '2023-04-15 14:28:27', '2023-04-15 14:28:27'),
(6387, 6387, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Japan\'s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida resumed campaigning on Saturday, shortly after being evacuated unharmed from the scene of an apparent \"smoke bomb\" blast, local media reported.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There was a loud blast sound at the previous speech venue. Police are&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">investigating details, but I\'d like to apologise for worrying many people and&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">causing them trouble,\" national broadcaster NHK quoted Kishida as saying at a&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">stop in western Japan\'s Wakayama.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"An election that\'s important to our country is taking place, and we must&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">work together and follow through on it.\" AFP</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-15 14:40:40', '2023-04-15 14:40:40'),
(6390, 6390, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The latest fire incidents in the capital are being investigated to see if there was any sabotage, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He said this while briefing the media after visiting the fire sight at New Super Market.</div><div><br></div><div>Intelligence surveillance will be strengthened, and at the same time, intelligence personnel in white clothes will be stationed in front of the markets, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, a massive fire broke out at Dhaka’s New Super Market — next to New Market around 5:40 am. The first firefighting unit reached the spot around 5:43 am and it was brought under control around 9:10 am.</div><div><br></div><div>At least 19 people fell sick from the heavy smoke while firefighters were trying to douse the blaze.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 28 firefighting units and teams of Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force are still working to douse the fire.</div><div><br></div><div>Twelve Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) units are also working on the spot. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-15 15:54:17', '2023-04-15 15:54:17'),
(6391, 6391, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>SpaceX has cleared the final regulatory hurdle standing before the inaugural launch of its Starship rocket — the most powerful rocket ever constructed.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Federal Aviation Administration, which licenses commercial rocket launches, announced Friday that it granted the company’s request for an uncrewed flight test of the rocket out of the SpaceX facilities in South Texas. The vehicle, which has already undergone preflight ground testing, is poised to take off as soon as Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>“After a comprehensive license evaluation process, the FAA determined SpaceX met all safety, environmental, policy, payload, airspace integration and financial responsibility requirements,” the agency said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier Friday, the FAA issued an air traffic restriction for the area surrounding the launch. The Notice to Air Missions, or NOTAM, orders planes and other air traffic to steer clear of the launch area — which lies due East of Brownsville, Texas — on Monday between 7 a.m. and 10:05 a.m. CT (8 a.m. and 11:05 a.m. ET).</div><div><br></div><div>This will be SpaceX’s first attempt to put Starship into orbit, building on a yearslong testing campaign to work out the design of the rocket.</div><div><br></div><div>SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has talked about Starship for about a decade, making elaborate presentations about its design and describing it as the vehicle that underpins SpaceX’s founding purpose: sending humans to Mars for the first time.</div><div><br></div><div>Additionally, NASA has already awarded SpaceX contracts and options — worth more than $3 billion — to use Starship to ferry government astronauts to the surface of the moon under the space agency’s Artemis program.</div><div><br></div><div>The inaugural flight test will not complete a full orbit around Earth. If successful, however, it will reach orbital speeds and travel about 150 miles above Earth’s surface, well into altitudes deemed to be outer space.</div><div><br></div><div>Starship consists of two parts: the Super Heavy booster, a gargantuan rocket that houses 33 engines, and the Starship spacecraft, which sits atop the booster during launch and is designed to break away after the booster expends its fuel to finish the mission.</div><div><br></div><div>On this flight, the rocket booster will be discarded into the ocean shortly after liftoff. In future flights, however, SpaceX plans to recover the vehicle by guiding it to an upright landing back at the launch site. The Starship spacecraft will complete nearly one full lap of the planet, ending its flight with a splashdown off Hawaii. - CNN</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-15 16:26:01', '2023-04-15 16:26:01'),
(6392, 6392, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Severe heat wave is sweeping over many places of the country and it may continue, said a weather forecast issued by the </span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh Metrology Department (BMD) here today.</span></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"Severe heat wave is sweeping over Khulna division and the districts of Dhaka, Faridpur, Manikganj, Rajshahi, Pabna and Patuakhali... Mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over remaining parts of the country and it may continue,\" said the bulletin valid for the next 24 hours commencing 9am today.</div><div><br></div><div>The day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, <span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">it added.</span></div><div><br></div><div>Country\'s maximum temperature on Friday was recorded 41.7 degrees Celsius at Chuadanga while today\'s minimum temperature 20.5 degrees Celsius was recorded at Rangamati.</div><div><br></div><div>However, no rainfall recorded across the country during the last 24 hours. </div><div><br></div><div>The sun sets at 6.20 pm today and rises at 5.37 am tomorrow in the capital. Source: BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-15 16:38:55', '2023-04-15 22:10:13'),
(6393, 6393, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least 27 people were injured and 12 lost their lives in a tragic accident in Maharashtra\'s Raigad district on the old Mumbai-Pune highway on Saturday. The incident occurred when a bus carrying about 40 passengers plunged into a gorge on its way from Pune to Mumbai.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The private bus was carrying members of a traditional music troupe from Pune to Mumbai when it fell into a gorge near Shingroba temple on the highway at around 4.50 am.</div><div><br></div><div>An unnamed police official gave details about the injured and deceased to news agency PTI, he said, “The bus was carrying members of \'Baji Prabhu Vaadak Group\' from Mumbai\'s Goregaon. They were returning to Goregaon after taking part in an event in Pimpri Chinchwad area in Pune district. The bus had left the venue around 1 am on Saturday,\"</div><div><br></div><div>The police official also informed that the incident occurred under the Khopoli police station limits which lies around 70 kilometers from Mumbai.</div><div><br></div><div>Raigad Superintendent of Police (SP) Somnath Gharge while informing about the people involved in the accident said that they belonged to Sion and Goregaon in Mumbai and Virar in neighbouring Palghar district.</div><div><br></div><div>Police officials confirmed that the injured passengers were in the age group of 18-25. They have now been admitted to Khopoli Rural Hospital for further treatment. Meanwhile, a rescue operation by a team of local police and trekkers is underway to find the missing passengers.</div><div><br></div><div>Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has also expressed grief over the accident and announced a relief of ₹5 lakh for the relatives of deceased passengers.</div><div><br></div><div>While sharing the information on Twitter, Maharashtra CMO tweeted in Marathi, “The Chief Minister@mieknathshinde has expressed deep grief over the horrific accident that took place on the old Mumbai-Pune highway when a private bus fell into a ravine. Expressing condolences to the deceased and their families, an aid of ₹5 lakh each has been announced to the relatives of the deceased.\"</div><div><br></div><div>“As soon as the information about the accident came, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde contacted Raigad Collector, Superintendent of Police over phone and inquired about the incident. While giving instructions to provide immediate help to the accident victims, the Chief Minister also directed to provide immediate medical treatment to the injured at government expense.\" the Maharashtra CMO added. Source: livemint.com&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-15 17:08:25', '2023-04-15 17:08:25'),
(6394, 6394, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Sultan Al Jaber, president of the COP28 climate talks, called on Saturday for \"available, accessible and affordable\" finance for the developing economies most vulnerable to the destructive impacts of a warming planet.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Al Jaber, who is also head of the United Arab Emirates\' national oil company, said he had urged G7 climate and environment ministers meeting in Japan this weekend to prioritise support for poorer countries.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The time has come for us to provide a fair deal for the Global South, especially when it comes to climate finance,\" he told AFP on the sidelines of the G7 talks in Sapporo.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I\'m fine with raising ambitions, even going for more ambitious plans and programmes\" to fight global warming, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>However, to boost trust worldwide \"this needs to be equipped and coupled and supported with real, pragmatic, actionable plans enabled by finance that is available, accessible and affordable\".</div><div><br></div><div>The choice of Al Jaber, chief executive of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), to head December\'s COP28 UN climate change conference in Dubai has angered activists who fear it will hold back progress on reducing emissions.</div><div><br></div><div>Al Jaber, 49, is also the UAE\'s minister for industry and advanced technology and founded the government-owned renewable energy company Masdar.</div><div><br></div><div>COP27, held in Egypt in November, brought a landmark agreement to create a \"loss and damage\" fund to cover the costs of the destruction that developing countries face from climate-linked natural disasters.</div><div><br></div><div>Floods that covered large swaths of Pakistan last year and drought in East Africa both bear the fingerprint of climate change.</div><div><br></div><div>Multi-billion-dollar investment plans have also been announced in recent months for countries such as South Africa and Indonesia to transition to clean energy from fossil fuels.</div><div><br></div><div>Al Jaber said climate finance for developing countries needs to be \"very high on the agenda\".</div><div><br></div><div>But he highlighted the need \"to strike a balance between passion and realism, in order for us to deliver a true, pragmatic, progressive, practical deal at COP28\".</div><div><br></div><div>In a closed-door address to the G7 climate ministers on Saturday, Al Jaber also called for developed countries to follow through on an unfulfilled promise to provide developing nations with $100 billion a year to fight climate change.</div><div><br></div><div>He also urged the world to triple the amount of money available for clean tech investment, adaptation finance and energy transition in developing countries by 2030, according to a transcript of his speech obtained by AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>The latest leaked draft of a G7 climate statement to be issued on Sunday reaffirms the bloc\'s commitment to the $100-billion pledge, which dates back to COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009.</div><div><br></div><div>In the draft, the G7 vows to work with other developed nations \"to fully meet the goal in 2023\". Source: AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-15 18:16:08', '2023-04-15 18:16:08'),
(6395, 6395, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Relics of ancient viruses - that have spent millions of years hiding inside human DNA - help the body fight cancer, say scientists.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The study by the Francis Crick Institute showed the dormant remnants of these old viruses are woken up when cancerous cells spiral out of control.</div><div><br></div><div>This unintentionally helps the immune system target and attack the tumour.</div><div>The team wants to harness the discovery to design vaccines that can boost cancer treatment, or even prevent it.</div><div><br></div><div>The researchers had noticed a connection between better survival from lung cancer and a part of the immune system, called B-cells, clustering around tumours.</div><div><br></div><div>B-cells are the part of our body that manufactures antibodies and are better known for their role in fighting off infections, such as Covid.</div><div><br></div><div>Precisely what they were doing in lung cancer was a mystery but a series of intricate experiments using samples from patients and animal tests showed they were still attempting to fight viruses.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It turned out that the antibodies are recognising remnants of what\'s termed endogenous retroviruses,\" Prof Julian Downward, an associate research director at the Francis Crick Institute, told me.</div><div><br></div><div>Retroviruses have the nifty trick of slipping a copy of their genetic instructions inside our own.</div><div><br></div><div>• More than 8% of what we think of as \"human\" DNA actually has such viral origins</div><div><br></div><div>• Some of these retroviruses became a fixture of our genetic code tens of millions of years ago and are shared with our evolutionary relatives, the great apes</div><div><br></div><div>• Other retroviruses may have entered our DNA a few thousand years ago</div><div><br></div><div>Some of these foreign instructions have, over time, been co-opted and serve useful purposes inside our cells, but others are tightly controlled to stop them spreading.</div><div><br></div><div>However, chaos dominates inside a cancerous cell when it is growing uncontrollably and the once tight control of these ancient viruses is lost.</div><div><br></div><div>These ancient genetic instructions are no longer able to resurrect whole viruses but they can create fragments of viruses that are enough for the immune system to spot a viral threat.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The immune system is tricked into believing that the tumour cells are infected and it tries to eliminate the virus, so it\'s sort of an alarm system,\" Prof George Kassiotis, head of retroviral immunology at the biomedical research centre, told me.</div><div><br></div><div>The antibodies summon other parts of the immune system that kill off the \"infected\" cells - the immune system is trying to stop a virus but in this case is taking out cancerous cells.</div><div><br></div><div>Prof Kassiotis says it is a remarkable role reversal for retroviruses which, in their heyday, \"might have been causing cancer in our ancestors\" due to the way they invade our DNA, but are now protecting us from cancer, \"which I find fascinating\", he adds.</div><div><br></div><div>The study, published in the journal Nature, describes how this happens naturally in the body but the researchers want to enhance that effect by developing vaccines to teach the body how to hunt for endogenous retroviruses.</div><div><br></div><div>\"If we can do that, then you can think not only of therapeutic vaccines, you can also think of preventative vaccines,\" said Prof Kassiotis.</div><div><br></div><div>The research came out of the TracerX study which has been tracking lung cancers in unprecedented detail and this week showed cancer\'s \"near infinite\" ability to evolve. It led the researchers running the trial to call for more focus on preventing cancer as it was so hard to stop.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Claire Bromley, from Cancer Research UK, said: \"All of us have ancient viral DNA in our genes, passed down from our ancestors, and this fascinating research has highlighted the role it plays in cancer and how our immune system can recognise and destroy cancer cells.\"</div><div><br></div><div>She said \"more research\" was needed to develop a cancer vaccine but \"nevertheless, this study adds to the growing body of research that could one day see this innovative approach to cancer treatment become a reality.\" Source: BBC</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-15 19:14:03', '2023-04-15 19:14:03');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(6396, 6396, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Nearly 200 shops were gutted in a devastating fire in the New Super Market (South) building beside the New Market here, President of New Market Traders\' Association Dewan Aminul Islam Shaheen said at a press conference.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"According to preliminary estimates, each store had merchandise worth about Taka 20 lakh to one crore...Those goods were destroyed by fire and damaged by the water,\" he told the reporters this afternoon. </div><div><br></div><div>Besides, Mohammad Shahjahan Shikder, Media Cell (Officer-in-Charge) of \"The Life Saving Force Bahini\" told journalists that a total of 30 people, including one air force sergeant, three fire service officers, 21 fire fighters, two volunteers, two Ansar members and one scout were injured while extinguishing the fire.</div><div><br></div><div>He added: \"They are undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and burn unit of the hospital.\" </div><div><br></div><div>The third-floor shops sustained significant damage from a fire that broke out at 5:40am and was brought under control at 9:10am by 30 firefighting units and teams from police, army, navy and air force, RAB, BGB and Ansar with locals rescue campaigners. </div><div><br></div><div>Initially, the fire service official could not give any information about the cause of the fire, the amount of damage and casualties.</div><div><br></div><div>Affected businessmen and local people said there were 1275 shops in the building of Dhaka New Super Market (South) damaged by the devastating fire. </div><div><br></div><div>Owner of Bismillah Crockery Monir Hossain said, \"As far as I know, there are 1275 shops here. Although there are more clothe shops, at least 200 categories of business are done in this market.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The businessmen said the largest building in New Market had the largest number of clothing stores. However, they had at least two hundred categories of business in this three-storey market.</div><div><br></div><div>The third floor of the market had ready-made garments and others, including children\'s items, adults\' pants-shirts, t-shirts, jeans items, saree-lungis, three-pieces, travel bags, money-bags, belts and wallets, they added.</div><div><br></div><div>The second floor also has ready-made clothing, garment items and crockery on the south side, souvenir shops and on the ground floor curtains, bedsheets, seasonal fabrics, home furnishing items, stoves, microwaves, glassware, home furnishing items.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) public relations officer Shariful Islam told reporters that 12 platoon BGB brought the fire under control in the New Super Market (D.) building of Dhaka New Market.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, business leaders said after the fire in New Super Market, many markets including nearby Chandni Chowk, Gauchia, Hawkers Market were closed since morning. </div><div><br></div><div>This is done for the overall safety of New Market, they added.</div><div><br></div><div>About the frequent fire incidents in the capital, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun said the Bangladesh Police are investigating every incident of fire in the capital. </div><div><br></div><div>\"If there is any vandalism here, strict action will be taken against those involved in the different incidents in several markets of the capital,\" he told journalists while distributing iftar items and cash among the needy people on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Shop Owners Association organized the programme at Siddheshwari School and College ground here this afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>The IGP highly appreciated the initiative of the business leaders to provide assistance for needy people at the time of this moment as some workers has already lost their jobs due to some frequent fire incidents in the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>The police chief called upon the leaders of the Shop Owners Association to extend a helping hand to the helpless workers.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, Director General (DG) of Fire Service and Civil Defense Directorate, Brigadier General Md Main Uddin said after about three and a half hours of efforts, the fire in the capital\'s New Super Market was brought under control. However, it will take time to completely extinguish the fire as there are flammable materials in the market.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said the frequent fire incidents in the city markets should be investigated to know the exact reasons behind those.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Traders are suffering tremendous losses due to fire incidents in various markets just before the Eid... We would request the law enforcement and intelligence agencies to look into the matter as to whether these fire incidents are accidents or sabotage,\" he said at a press briefing in front of the New Super Market gate-4 this afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Black smoke filled the air as the pre-dawn fire engulfed the New Super Market in the capital, forcing the Fire Service to mobilize 30 of their units at the scene with military, paramilitary and police joining their hands to extinguish the blaze.</div><div><br></div><div>The Fire Service could not ascertain immediately what might have caused the fire but the incident came just 11 days after a pre-dawn blaze in a near identical manner that broke out and burned several thousand shops at Dhaka\'s Bangabazar clothing market.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bangabazar fire devastated the shop owners by the loss weeks ahead of the Eid since efforts of hundreds of firefighters and army personnel could do little to save their belongings as the inferno tore through the clothing market, turning it into a pile of ashes. According to BSS reports </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-15 21:49:11', '2023-04-15 22:22:57'),
(6397, 6397, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages congratulating the exporters selected for the National Export Trophy 2019-20.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>They will be given the award at a function in the city on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>In a message on the eve of this occasion, President Abdul Hamid said giving awards of \'National Export Trophy\' to meritorious exporters in recognition of their outstanding contributions to national exports during the financial year 2019-20 is a positive step to enhance trade and investment.</div><div><br></div><div>The president believed that such initiative will encourage exporters to expand their export and trade.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The head of the state extended his heartiest congratulations to all the exporting companies and businessmen who have won the Export Trophy.</div><div><br></div><div>In another message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League-led government is working tirelessly to develop the country\'s business and commerce by maintaining a business-friendly environment to build the golden Bangladesh as dreamt by of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Our government has been providing various incentives to businesses to strengthen the country\'s economy,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier said total export earnings were US $ 15.56 billion at the time of formation of the government in 2009, which increased several fold to US $ 60.97 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 due to continued policy support in previous years.</div><div><br></div><div>In the first July-February of the fiscal year 2022-23, the revenue earned by the commodity sector was US $ 37.07 billion, which is 9.56 percent higher than the export earnings of US $ 33.84 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal year.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have taken various initiatives to increase exports and increase new markets,\" she said, adding that the government is working closely with the business community to increase Bangladesh\'s ability to export goods as well as expand and export services.</div><div><br></div><div>The private sector is being considered as the main driving force in the economic development of the country, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Export trade plays an important role in bringing stability to the overall economy, the premier said.</div><div><br></div><div>Therefore, it is expected that entrepreneurs are encouraged to innovate new products and expand the market by recognizing those organizations that those have successfully faced all the challenges of export-trade and are earning a large amount of foreign currencies, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>Both the President and the Premier wished the National Export Trophy 2019-2020 a success. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-15 22:17:51', '2023-04-15 22:17:51'),
(6398, 6398, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun said that police are investigating every fire incident to see if there was any sabotage.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>He made the comment at an iftar and money distribution programme among the poor organised by Bangladesh Shop Owners Association at Siddheshwari School and College Ground in the capital this afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Appreciating the initiatives of the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association, the IGP called upon the leaders of the association to extend a helping hand to the jobless workers who lost their jobs due to the fire.</div><div><br></div><div>Chaired by Md Helal Uddin, president of Bangladesh Shop Owner Association, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq and Tourist Police Additional IGP Habibur Rahman spoke as special guests at the event, according to UNB reports.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-15 22:22:07', '2023-04-15 22:22:07'),
(6399, 6399, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Dhaka dwellers on Saturday experienced the hottest day since 1965, causing miserable sufferings to all.&nbsp; &nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The highest temperature recorded in the capital Saturday was 40.4 degrees Celsius which has been the maximum temperature since 1965, according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).</div><div><br></div><div>In 1965, the highest 42 degrees Celsius was recorded in the capital.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The highest temperature recorded in the capital Friday was 40.2 degrees Celsius, which was the same as that was recorded exactly nine years ago on April 14, 2014, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, Saturday’s highest temperature in the country was recorded in Chuadanga at 42.2 degrees Celsius.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-15 22:31:36', '2023-04-15 22:31:36'),
(6400, 6400, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A power struggle between Sudan\'s army and a notorious paramilitary force has rocked the country, with 27 reported dead and nearly 200 injured.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Residents dodged gunfire in the capital, Khartoum, as rival forces battled over the presidential palace, state TV, and army headquarters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among the dead were three UN workers, who were shot after the two sides exchanged gunfire at a military base.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The clashes erupted after tensions over a proposed transition to civilian rule.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both the army and its opponents, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), claimed they had control of the airport and other key sites in Khartoum, where fighting continued overnight.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Violence was also reported elsewhere in the country, including in cities in the Darfur region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The army said jets were hitting RSF bases, and the country\'s air force told people to remain in their homes on Saturday night while it conducted a full aerial survey of paramilitary activity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Residents of Khartoum told the BBC of their panic and fear, with one describing bullets being fired at the house next door.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At least 27 people have been killed and nearly 200 were injured in the violence, a Sudanese doctors\' union said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It said it did not know how many of the casualties were civilians. Earlier, the union said three civilians had been confirmed dead.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Three employees for the World Food Programme (WFP), a UN body that delivers food assistance to vulnerable communities, were killed after the RSF and armed forces exchanged fire at a military base in Kabkabiya, in the west of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two other staff members were seriously injured, and the RSF looted several WFP vehicles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Generals have been running Sudan since a coup in October 2021.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fighting is between army units loyal to the de facto leader, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Sudan\'s deputy leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo also known as Hemedti.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gen Dagalo said his troops would keep fighting until all army bases were captured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In response, Sudan\'s armed forces ruled out negotiations \"until the dissolution of the paramilitary RSF\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\'So much panic and fear\'</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Khartoum, people were filmed running away and taking cover as black smoke rose over the city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A Reuters journalist said there were armoured vehicles in the streets, while video showed a civilian plane ablaze at Khartoum airport. Saudi airline Saudia said one of its Airbuses came under fire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saudia and EgyptAir have suspended flights to Khartoum and neighbouring Chad has closed its border with Sudan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We don\'t have any electricity,\" a British-Sudanese doctor, who is visiting relatives in Khartoum, told the BBC. \"It is hot. We can\'t afford to open the windows, the noise is deafening.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another eyewitness speaking to the BBC via her Kenya-based sister said: \"Shooting is still ongoing and people are staying indoors - there is so much panic and fear.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Residents had not been expecting the clashes, she said, and many had been caught in transit, with bridges and roads closed and many schools in lockdown.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Duaa Tariq was speaking to the BBC when a military plane flew over her building. \"They\'re shooting live ammunition at the roof of the house next door and we\'re just now taking shelter,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UK, the US and the EU have all called for an immediate end to the fighting. The UN\'s secretary general has spoken to Gen Burhan and Gen Dagalo, urging them to end the violence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US Ambassador John Godfrey said he \"woke up to the deeply disturbing sounds of gunfire and fighting\", and that he was \"sheltering in place with the embassy team, as Sudanese throughout Khartoum and elsewhere are doing\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia\'s embassy was also concerned by the \"escalation of violence\" and urged a ceasefire, Reuters reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The RSF on Saturday claimed control of at least three airports, the army chief\'s residence and the presidential palace, but Gen Burhan denied this in an interview with al-Jazeera.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are also reports of clashes at the state TV station, which eyewitnesses say is now controlled by the RSF.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, the RSF had said that one of its camps in the south of Khartoum had been attacked. And on Saturday evening, Reuters reported that the army launched airstrikes on an RSF base in the north-west of the city, citing eyewitnesses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The army has said that RSF fighters have been attacking army camps and trying to seize the military headquarters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Clashes are ongoing and the army is carrying out its duty to safeguard the country,\" the AFP news agency quoted army spokesman Brig Gen Nabil Abdallah as saying.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Reuters news agency also cited witnesses as saying that there was gunfire in the northern city of Merowe.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The RSF released a video that it said showed Egyptian troops who had \"surrendered\" to them in Merowe. The Egyptian military said its soldiers were in Sudan to conduct exercises with their Sudanese counterparts and that it was co-ordinating with Sudanese authorities to guarantee the safety of its personnel. 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, '2023-04-16 08:40:26', '2023-04-16 08:40:26'),
(6401, 6401, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Sudan\'s military and a powerful paramilitary force battled fiercely Saturday in the capital and other areas, reportedly causing more than 200 deaths and injuries while dealing a new blow to hopes for a transition to democracy and raising fears of a wider conflict.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The country\'s doctors\' syndicate said late Saturday that at least 27 people had been killed and more than 180 wounded. But the Sudan Doctor\'s Syndicate added that there many uncounted casualties, including military and RSF personnel in the western Darfur region and the northern town of Merowe.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The clashes capped months of heightened tensions between the armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces group. Those tensions had delayed a deal with political parties to get the country back to its short-lived transition to democracy, which was derailed by an October 2021 military coup.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After a day of heavy fighting, the military ruled out negotiations with the RSF, instead calling for the dismantling of what it called a \"rebellious militia.\" The tough language signaled that the conflict between the former allies, who jointly orchestrated the 2021 coup, was likely to continue.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Sudan Doctor\'s Syndicate did not immediately release details of where the 27 deaths occurred, but it said at least six of them were in the capital Khartoum and its sister city Omdurman. At least eight dead and 58 wounded were in the vicinity of Nyala, the capital city of the South Darfur province in the southwest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fighting erupted early Saturday. The sound of heavy firing could be heard throughout the day across the neighborhoods in and near the capital, where the military and the RSF had massed tens of thousands of troops since the coup.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Witnesses said fighters from both sides fired from armored vehicles and from machine guns mounted on pick-up trucks in densely populated areas. Some tanks were seen in Khartoum. The military said it launched strikes from planes and drones at RSF positions in and around the capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The miliatry said in a statement late Saturday that its troops had seized all RSF bases in Omdurman, while residents reported heavy airstrikes on paramilitary positions in and around the capital continued into the night. Sounds of gunfire and explosions were still heard in several parts of Khartoum, they said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Those in Khartoum described chaotic scenes. \"Fire and explosions are everywhere,\" said Amal Mohamed, a doctor in a public hospital in Omdurman. \"We haven\'t seen such battles in Khartoum before,\" said resident Abdel-Hamid Mustafa.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One of the flashpoints was Khartoum International Airport. There was no formal announcement that the airport was closed, but major airlines suspended their flights.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saudi Arabia\'s national airline said one of its aircraft was involved in what it called \"an accident.\" Video showed the plane on fire on the tarmac. Another plane also appeared to have caught fire. Flight-tracking website FlightRadar24 identified it as a Boeing 737 for SkyUp, a Kyiv, Ukraine-based airline. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Sudan Doctors\' Syndicate said earlier in the day that two civilians were killed at the Khartoum airport. Another man was shot to death in the state of North Kordofan, it said. The BBC said one of its reporters was stopped by soldiers, taken to the military headquarters and beaten.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The leaders of the armed forces and the RSF traded blame over who started Saturday\'s fighting and offered conflicting accounts of who was in control of key installations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, commander of Sudan\'s military, told the Qatar-based satellite news network Al Jazeera that RSF troops first \"harassed\" the military south of Khartoum, triggering the clashes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Burhan accused the RSF of entering Khartoum airport and setting fire to some planes. He also said all strategic facilities including the military\'s headquarters and the Republican palace, the seat of Sudan\'s presidency, are under his forces\' control. He threatened to deploy more troops to Khartoum.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The head of the RSF, Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, accused Burhan of starting the battle by surrounding RSF troops. \"This criminal, he forced this battle upon us,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dagalo told Al Jazeera that he believed the fighting would be over in \"the next few days.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The RSF alleged that its forces controlled strategic locations in Khartoum and the northern city of Merowe some 350 kilometers (215 miles) northwest of the capital. The military dismissed the claims as \"lies.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fighting comes after months of escalating tensions between the generals and years of political unrest since the 2021 coup. The tensions stem from a disagreement over how the RSF, headed by Dagalo, should be integrated into the armed forces and what authority should oversee the process. The merger is a key condition of Sudan\'s unsigned transition agreement with political groups.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pro-democracy activists have blamed Burhan and Dagalo for abuses against protesters across the county over the past four years, including the deadly break-up of a protest camp outside the military\'s headquarters in Khartoum in June 2019 that killed over 120 protesters. Many groups have repeatedly called for holding them accountable. The RSF has long been accused of atrocities linked to the Darfur conflict.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other top diplomats expressed extreme concern over the outbreak of violence. \"We urge all actors to stop the violence immediately and avoid further escalations or troop mobilizations and continue talks to resolve outstanding issues,\" Blinken wrote on Twitter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres; the European Union\'s top diplomat, Josep Borrell; the head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat; the Arab League chief, Ahmed Aboul Gheit; and Qatar all called for a cease-fire and for both parties to return to negotiations. Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates called on those fighting in Sudan to exercise restraint and work toward a political solution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who was ousted in the 2021 coup, warned of a possible regional conflict if the fighting escalates. \"Shooting must stop immediately,\" he said in a video appeal to both sides posted on his Twitter account.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cameron Hudson, a senior associate with the Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank and a former U.S. diplomat, said the fighting could become wider and prolonged, calling on the United States to form a coalition of regional countries to pressure the leaders of the military and RSF to de-escalate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Volker Perthes, the U.N. envoy for Sudan, and the Saudi ambassador in Sudan, Ali Bin Hassan Jaffar, were in contact with Dagalo and Burhan to try to end the violence, said a U.N. official who asked for anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chad announced that it is closing its land borders with Sudan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The clashes also took place in other areas across the country including the Northern province, the conflict-ravaged Darfur region, and the strategic coastal city of Port Sudan on the Red Sea, a military official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media. 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, '2023-04-16 09:41:51', '2023-04-16 09:41:51'),
(6402, 6402, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Poland and Hungary on Saturday banned imports of grain and other food from Ukraine to protect local farmers, officials from both countries said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine\'s grain exports have been transiting through the European Union to other countries since the war-torn nation\'s traditional Black Sea routes were blocked by Russia\'s invasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But because of logistical issues, the grain had been piling up and driving down prices, which led to protests from farmers and the resignation of Poland\'s agriculture minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Today the government decided on a regulation to ban the entry, imports of grain into Poland, as well as of dozens of other kinds of food,\" the governing party\'s leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Otherwise \"it would lead to a far-reaching crisis of Poland\'s farming sector... We have to protect Polish agriculture,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking at a convention of his right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party in the northern village of Lyse, Kaczynski stressed that Poland remained a staunch supporter of neighbouring Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We remain, without even the slightest change, friends and allies of Ukraine,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a similar announcement, Hungarian Agriculture Minister Istvan Nagy in a Facebook message also said Hungary was banning the import of agricultural products from Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both Warsaw and Budapest said that their bans will last until June 30.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Poland the ban will apply to imports of grain, sugar, meat, fruits and vegetables, milk, eggs and other food items.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A Hungarian agriculture ministry statement sent to MTI news agency said grain, oilseeds and several other agricultural products would be banned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to Poland\'s announcement, Ukraine\'s ministry of agrarian policy said on Saturday that it \"regrets the decision\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Polish farmers are facing a difficult situation, but we emphasise that Ukrainian farmers are facing the most difficult situation\" given the war, it added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ministry proposed for the two countries to come to a new agreement in the coming days that would satisfy both sides.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Polish government spokesman Piotr Muller told the PAP news agency that \"we are open to other actions that could stabilise the situation.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Budapest said in its statement that, during the ban period \"the government expects a permanent solution and the adoption of EU measures\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hungary \"is committed to representing the interests of the Hungarian farming community,\" it added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last month, Poland and Hungary were among several European countries that requested help from the European Union to counter the impact of cheap Ukrainian grain. 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, '2023-04-16 09:48:00', '2023-04-16 09:48:00'),
(6403, 6403, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Real Madrid were made to wait, but eventually conjured a stylish 2-0 victory at Cadiz on Saturday in La Liga, ahead of their Champions League trip to face Chelsea.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nacho Fernandez and Marco Asensio struck to help champions Madrid cut Barcelona\'s lead at the top of the table to 10 points, before the Catalans visit Getafe on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both sides hit the woodwork in the first half but Madrid overran their opponents, with only Cadiz goalkeeper David Gil keeping them at bay.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Eventually, when it seemed they had tried everything, Nacho broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute with a drive from distance, with Asensio adding another four minutes later.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Good attitude, good commitment, good combinations, the team played very well,\" said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It was a game that could have been a trap -- the players were concentrating well, and we played well.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ancelotti rang the changes at the Nuevo Mirandilla to rest players for the visit to Stamford Bridge for the quarter-final second leg, including veteran midfielders Toni Kroos and Luka Modric and winger Vinicius Junior.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Madrid suffered a 3-2 home defeat by Villarreal last weekend before the 2-0 first leg win over Chelsea, and Ancelotti admitted his team were not motivated enough.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On this occasion they arrived with the right mindset and on another day would have ended the first half several goals in front.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gil made stunning saves to deny Karim Benzema, Rodrygo and Asensio.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Madrid were racking up the shots and, finally, their 26th effort of the night went in.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It came from an unlikely source, in veteran defender Nacho, who drove home from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With Cadiz\'s resistance broken, Madrid quickly added another.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fede Valverde carried the ball forward and fed Asensio, who finished clinically.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was a satisfying evening for Ancelotti and his team, leaving them in good shape to continue their European adventure, aiming to finish the job in London and reach the semi-finals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite his other rotations, Ancelotti left Benzema on the pitch for the full 90 minutes, a surprise given he has had fitness issues this season.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I saw him doing so well, he was so fresh,\" the coach told reporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I told him I\'ll start you and when you are tired, I\'ll take you off, but he was good until the end.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"He was a bit sad not to have scored, but he combined spectacularly with Rodrygo and it was a pleasure to watch him -- it was hard for me to take him off because I wanted to enjoy his quality on the pitch.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Defeat leaves Cadiz 15th, four points clear of the drop zone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Athletic avengers -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Elsewhere Inaki Williams scored twice as Athletic Bilbao beat Real Sociedad 2-0 in the Basque derby, giving a fiery San Mames something to celebrate after the team\'s Copa del Rey semi-final exit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">La Real had the chance to tighten their grip on fourth place after Villarreal, sixth, stumbled to a 2-1 home defeat by relegation-battling Real Valladolid, but fell short in Bilbao.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Real Betis beat struggling Espanyol 3-1 to move fifth, three points behind Imanol Alguacil\'s side.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro made good saves from brothers Nico and Inaki Williams, before the latter broke the deadlock when he stabbed home from a corner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Inaki smashed home his second goal after 70 minutes, driving into the box and rifling past Remiro from a tight angle.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Alexander Sorloth should have pulled one back for the visitors but inexplicably slammed over the bar from point-blank range.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Barrenetxea followed suit with another huge miss when completely unmarked in the box late on, leaving Athletic fans laughing in the stands at their luck.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Los Leones celebrated with their fans at the end, the victory making amends for their recent cup exit against Osasuna.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Athletic stayed seventh but ensured the race for European football grew tighter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It was important to win at home, after the cup day,\" said their coach Ernesto Valverde.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s a derby, we know the pressure there is in these type of games, it was a very tense match.\" 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, '2023-04-16 09:52:36', '2023-04-16 09:52:36'),
(6404, 6404, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A brilliant Lionel Messi goal helped Paris Saint-Germain to a 3-1 home win over Lens on Saturday to surely end any doubt about the outcome of this season\'s Ligue 1 title race, after an early sending-off left the visitors with a mountain to climb.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lens, who began the day six points behind league leaders PSG in second place, looked the better team until Ghana midfielder Salis Abdul Samed was dismissed for a dangerous challenge on Achraf Hakimi in the 19th minute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That changed everything, and by half-time the hosts were out of sight thanks to three goals in the space of 10 minutes from Kylian Mbappe, Vitinha and then Messi, with Przemyslaw Frankowski pulling one back for Lens from a penalty.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mbappe opened the scoring and Vitinha\'s long-ranger doubled PSG\'s lead in the 37th minute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both goals were good but Messi\'s that made it 3-0 was stunning, the Argentine finding a pocket out of space outside the area, feeding a pass to Mbappe and then receiving the France striker\'s backheel return before slotting beyond goalkeeper Brice Samba and into the far corner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The result leaves the reigning champions nine points ahead with seven games left, meaning it is surely just a matter of time until PSG secure a French record 11th league title.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We must not think that it\'s done and dusted,\" said coach Christophe Galtier.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We will need to remain serious and determined to maintain our lead and not give any hope to the teams chasing us.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The win comes at the end of a week overshadowed by allegations of racism against Galtier, who had already been under pressure since PSG\'s elimination from the Champions League last month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Galtier said on Friday that he was \"deeply shocked\" by accusations that he made racist and Islamophobic remarks about Nice players when he was in charge there last season.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The allegations surfaced in an email apparently sent by former Nice sporting director Julien Fournier and which have been reported by various French media. AFP has not been able to verify the message.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The affair looks set to hang over the coach and the club in the coming weeks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I was very determined and focused on the match, like my players,\" Galtier said of trying to stay concentrated on the game.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It was obviously an important match, if not decisive, and so it was important to get the result and enjoy it.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Mbappe on target –</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lens were hoping to take advantage of the leaders\' problems and extend a four-match winning run that had got the northern club\'s supporters dreaming of a first league title since 1998.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They triumphed 3-1 when the teams last met in Lens on January 1 and they started the better of the two sides at the Parc des Princes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yet their enterprising opening did not bring a goal and they were severely handicapped when Abdul Samed saw red for catching Hakimi with his studs above the ankle.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They were then torn apart with Mbappe firing in off the post on the turn from Vitinha\'s pass for his 20th league goal this season.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Vitinha then smashed in his first goal in a PSG shirt before Messi took centre stage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Argentine\'s 20th club goal of the campaign was also arguably his finest in two years in a PSG shirt, just as he comes towards what may be the end of his time in France.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lens regrouped in the second half and pulled a goal back when Frankowski converted from the spot after a Fabian Ruiz handball.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lois Openda remained a menace up front for Lens but they were left with too much to do to and will now focus on trying to hold onto a place in the top three and Champions League qualification.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I would have liked us to close the gap tonight but even had we done that it would have been very difficult,\" admitted Lens manager Franck Haise.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Of course the title is for Paris. There is not much doubt about that.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Marseille can move above Lens into second, and trim PSG\'s lead to eight points, with a win against Troyes on Sunday. 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, '2023-04-16 10:29:56', '2023-04-16 10:29:56'),
(6405, 6405, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 179 at 9:30 am today, Dhaka ranked 4th in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thailand’s Chiang Mai, Nepal’s Kathmandu and India’s Delhi occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 222, 192 and 190, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 101 and 150 is considered \'unhealthy\', AQI 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 as a result of 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><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-16 10:45:43', '2023-04-16 10:45:43');
