INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(9160, 9160, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the Indian government could be behind the fatal shooting of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.</span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Mr Nijjar was shot dead outside a Sikh temple on 18 June in British Columbia (BC).</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Mr Trudeau said Canadian intelligence has identified a \"credible\" link between his death and the Indian state.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">He raised the issue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the recent G20 summit, he said.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,\" Mr Trudeau said on Monday in the House of Commons.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"It is contrary to the fundamental rules by which free, open and democratic societies conduct themselves.\"</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">India has previously denied any involvement with Mr Nijjar\'s murder.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Canada also expelled an Indian diplomat, Pavan Kumar Rai, on Monday over the case, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly told reporters following Mr Trudeau\'s remarks.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The BBC has contacted the Indian embassy in Canada for comment.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Ms Joly said Canadian officials are limited in what they can say in public about the case due to the ongoing homicide investigation into Mr Nijjar\'s death.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Investigators have previously categorised the 45-year-old\'s death as a \"targeted incident\".</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Mr Nijjar was shot dead in his vehicle by two masked gunmen on a mid-June summer evening in the busy car park of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, a city about 30km (18 miles) east of Vancouver.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">He was a prominent Sikh leader in the western-most province of British Columbia and publicly campaigned for Khalistan - an independent Sikh homeland in the Punjab region of India. His supporters have said that he was a target of threats in the past because of his activism.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">India has previously described him as a terrorist who led a militant separatist group - accusations his supporters call \"unfounded\".</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Mr Trudeau said Canada has expressed its concerns about Mr Nijjar\'s death to high-level security and intelligence agencies in India.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">He also raised it with US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"I continue to ask with a great deal of firmness that the government of India co-operate with Canada to shed light on this situation,\" he said.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Mr Trudeau said that Mr Nijjar\'s shooting has angered Canadians, leaving some fearful for their safety.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Some Sikh groups in Canada, including the World Sikh Organisation, welcomed the prime minister\'s statement, saying Mr Trudeau confirmed what was already widely believed in the community.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">There are an estimated 1.4 to 1.8 million Canadians of Indian origin. The country has the largest population of Sikhs outside the state of Punjab in India.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Mr Trudeau\'s remarks come after his tense meeting with Mr Modi last week during the G20 summit in India.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">During that meeting, according to a statement from the Indian government, Mr Modi accused Canada of not doing enough to quell \"anti-India activities of extremist elements\", referring to the Sikh separatist movement in the country.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Canada also recently suspended negotiations for a free trade agreement with India. It gave few details on why, but India cited \"certain political developments\".</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Mr Nijjar is the third prominent Sikh figure to have died unexpectedly in recent months.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">In the UK, Avtar Singh Khanda, who was said to be the head of the Khalistan Liberation Force, died in Birmingham in June under what has been described as \"mysterious circumstances\".</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Paramjit Singh Panjwar, who was designated a terrorist by India, was shot dead in May in Lahore, the capital of Pakistan\'s Punjab province. BBC</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 02:19:58', '2023-09-19 02:19:58'),
(9161, 9161, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Elon Musk has suggested that all users of X, formerly called Twitter, may have to pay for access to the platform.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the billionaire said a payment system was the only way to counter bots.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'re moving to having a small monthly payment for use of the system,\" the Tesla and SpaceX boss said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BBC approached X for further details but has not yet received a statement from the company.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is unclear whether this was just an off-the-cuff comment, or a signal of firmer plans that have yet to be announced.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Musk has long said that his solution for getting rid of bots and fake accounts on the social media platform is charging for verification.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since taking over Twitter last year he has looked to incentivise users to pay for an enhanced service, which is now called X Premium.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This has been done by giving paid subscribers more features, like longer posts and increased visibility on the platform.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, users can currently still use X for free.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although there is a clear financial interest for the company to charge users, Mr Musk insisted that getting people to pay for the service is aimed at tackling bots.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"A bot costs a fraction of a penny\" to make he said. \"But if somebody even has to pay a few dollars or something, some minor amount, the effective cost to bots is very high\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">X Premium currently costs $8 (£6.50) a month in the US. The price differs depending on which country a subscriber is in.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The world\'s richest person said that he was now looking at cheaper options for users.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'re actually going to come up with a lower tier pricing. So we just want it to be just a small amount of money,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This is a longer discussion, but in my view, this is actually the only defence against vast armies of bots,\" Mr Musk added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, a risk is that by putting X behind a paywall it may lose a large chunk of its users. That in turn, could drive down advertising revenue, which currently accounts for the vast majority of the company\'s income.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Musk\'s conversation with the Israeli prime minister also touched on antisemitism on X.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The platform has been accused by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) campaign group of not doing enough to stop antisemitic content.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a statement, the organisation said that Mr Musk was \"engaging with and elevating\" antisemites.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier this month, he said that the company would sue the ADL to \"clear our platform\'s name\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the conversation with Mr Netanyahu, Mr Musk reiterated that he was \"against antisemitism\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Netanyahu accepted the balance between free speech and content moderation was a challenge but urged Mr Musk to get the balance right.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I hope you find within the confines of the First Amendment, the ability to stop not only antisemitism... but any collective hatred of people that antisemitism represents,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I know you\'re committed to that\", Mr Netanyahu added. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"5\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 02:23:39', '2023-09-19 02:23:39'),
(9162, 9162, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">China\'s top diplomat Wang Yi is visiting Russia as it seeks continued support for its war on Ukraine.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Any bid to end the war must take into account Moscow\'s interests, Mr Wang and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov were quoted as saying after a meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A close ally of Moscow, Beijing is accused of supporting Russia indirectly during the war, which it denies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian media said Mr Wang\'s trip would also pave the way for President Vladimir Putin\'s visit to China soon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This comes after Mr Putin met North Korea\'s Kim Jong Un amid US fears they could strike an arms deal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China\'s foreign ministry said Mr Wang is in Russia for four days for \"strategic security consultations\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After Monday\'s talks between Mr Wang and Mr Lavrov, the Russian foreign ministry said they discussed the Ukraine war \"and noted the futility of attempts to settle the crisis without taking account of Russia\'s interests and, more particularly, its participation\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China has put out its own Ukraine peace plan, unveiled during a whirlwind of diplomacy undertaken by Mr Wang earlier this year when he last visited Moscow and met Mr Putin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While China is keen on seeing an end to the Ukraine war so it can repair its relations with Europe, it also wants to \"separate that outcome from determining who is to blame for the war\", since it is sympathetic to Russia, noted Rorry Daniels, managing director of the Asia Society Policy Institute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China has been accused by the US of aiding Russia economically and supplying key technology since the war began.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A US intelligence report released in July said Beijing is \"pursuing a variety of economic support mechanisms for Russia that mitigate both the impact of Western sanctions and export controls\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It cited China\'s increased purchases of Russian energy exports, the increased use of its currency in transactions with Russia, and the \"probable\" supply of dual technology - items which could be deployed for both civilian and military purposes such as drones - for use in Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China has consistently denied such allegations and insists it maintains an objective position on the war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Inviting Putin to China is a way to show support for Russia but that support must also be framed as a legitimate attempt to get Russia to the negotiating table so that China doesn\'t worsen its position with the Europeans,\" said Ms Daniels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier this month Mr Putin said he expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, but did not say when.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some observers believe he is likely to attend the Belt and Road Forum next month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He has not travelled abroad since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him in March over war crimes in Ukraine. Mr Putin last ventured onto foreign soil in December 2022 when he visited Belarus and Kyrgyzstan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Wang\'s visit comes as Mr Kim wrapped up his highly controversial visit to Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Korean Central News Agency said on Monday. He is heading home with presents including a Russian-made rifle, a cosmonaut\'s glove, a bulletproof vest, a fur hat and military drones, according to Russian media.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US alleged Mr Kim\'s visit was to discuss the selling of North Korean arms to Russia. Moscow is thought to be facing a shortage of weapons and ammunition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia and North Korea have said they talked about \"military co-operation\" and aid for Pyongyang\'s satellite programme. 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, '2023-09-19 02:26:34', '2023-09-19 02:26:34'),
(9163, 9163, '<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Debris from a stealth jet that went missing after the pilot ejected has been found, the US military said Monday, after a day in which failure to track the $80 million aircraft drew amazement and ridicule in equal measure.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The debris field from the F-35 was found in Williamsburg County, South Carolina, two hours northeast of Joint Base Charleston (JBC), officials said in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Members of the community should avoid the area as the recovery team secures the debris field,\" the statement read.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When the jet disappeared over South Carolina on Sunday, JBC issued a plaintive call on social media asking for anyone who had information about it to call in.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Flight tracking sites showed several search aircraft focused on a wooded and farmland area near Stuckey, which is in Williamsburg County, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of Charleston, late Monday afternoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The F-35 Lightning II jet is coveted by US allies around the world, especially Ukraine, with its distinctive shape and features that shield it from radar detection.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The pilot ejected for unknown reasons and parachuted safely into a North Charleston neighborhood on Sunday -- leaving the jet flying in what some called a \"zombie state.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 1989 the pilot of a malfunctioning Soviet MiG-23 ejected over Poland and the jet continued to fly on autopilot until it crashed in Kortrijk, Belgium, more than 900 kilometers (560 miles) away.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The disappearance of a highly advanced aircraft sparked incredulous comments online.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"How in the hell do you lose an F-35? How is there not a tracking device and we\'re asking the public to what, find a jet and turn it in?\" said Nancy Mace, a member of Congress representing the Charleston area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Hard for radar to detect -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some posted manipulated photographs of lost signs on trees, offering rewards to find the missing jet.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One post showed Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky posing in front of an F-35, suggesting he took it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since Russia invaded his country last year, Zelensky has been pressing the United States to supply his air force with advanced US jets to give his military an advantage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US has begun training Ukraine pilots on F-16s.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The missing aircraft was an F-35B, a variation operated by the Marines that has short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The shape of its airframe, including two angled stabilizers on the back, and the use of special materials make it harder for traditional radar to detect.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">JBC spokesman Jeremy Huggins told the Washington Post that the jet\'s transponder was not working, and that its stealth capabilities added to the challenges of tracking it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At least seven F-35s have been destroyed in previous crashes, due to a range of causes. 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, '2023-09-19 03:18:43', '2023-09-19 03:18:43'),
(9164, 9164, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A bus plummeted from the edge of a narrow mountain road in southeastern Peru on Monday, killing 25 people including two children, according to authorities.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The accident occurred before dawn when the bus traveling between two Andean towns careened down a 200-meter (656-foot) ravine in the region of Huancavelica, a police official told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The toll is 25 dead and 34 injured,\" Defense Minister Jorge Chavez said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Images of the site showed the battered bus lying on its side near a river, with debris and personal items strewn around.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police and rescue workers combed the scene, while onlookers watched from the narrow dirt road up above.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Dina Boluarte, in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, conveyed her condolences to the victims\' loved ones.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An accident in the same region last month left 13 people dead and five seriously injured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Accidents frequently occur along Peruvian highways due to speeding, poor road conditions, lack of signage and poor enforcement of traffic rules.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The World Health Organization estimated 4,414 road fatalities in Peru in 2019, or 13.6 per 100,000 inhabitants. 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, '2023-09-19 03:21:15', '2023-09-19 03:21:15'),
(9165, 9165, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Striking Spanish internationals called up to the women\'s team reiterated their desire not to form part of the squad in a statement late Monday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">New coach Montse Tome called up 15 of the Women\'s World Cup winners, most of whom had said they did not want to play for their country until more changes had been made at the Spanish football federation (RFEF).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Federation president Luis Rubiales resigned three weeks after he kissed midfielder Jenni Hermoso following Spain\'s triumph in Sydney on August 20, after receiving unprecedented worldwide pressure and criticism.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Over 80 Spain players went on strike after the incident and despite Rubiales\' resignation and controversial coach Jorge Vilda being sacked, 39 players maintained their stance, demanding further changes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Those called up by Tome who were in the 39 all published a statement on social media, including two-time Ballon d\'Or winner Alexia Putellas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"(We made) clear ... our firm will not to be summoned for justified reasons. These statements are still fully valid,\" said the Spain players in their statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The players said they would study the potential legal actions they would be exposed to because of the RFEF selecting them -- Spanish media reports say players could lose their licenses to play for multiple years if they do not obey the call-up.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also noted in the statement that they believe the squad not being named soon enough according to FIFA regulations meant the federation \"would not be able to demand\" that players are called up.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We regret that once more our federation has put us in a position in which we never wanted to be in,\" added the players. 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, '2023-09-19 04:04:56', '2023-09-19 04:04:56'),
(9166, 9166, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Days before potentially crossing paths with Russia’s top diplomat at the United Nations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested Monday that the world body needs to answer for allowing his country\'s invader a seat at the tables of power.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"For us, it’s very important that all our words, all our messages, will be heard by our partners. And if in the United Nations still — it’s a pity, but still — there is a place for Russian terrorists, the question is not to me. I think it’s a question to all the members of the United Nations,” Zelenskyy said after visiting wounded Ukrainian military members at a New York hospital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He had just arrived in the U.S. to make his country’s case to the world and to Washington for continued help in trying to repel Russia’s invasion, nearly 19 months into what has become a grinding war. Russia says it is justified.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine’s Western allies have supplied weapons and other assistance, and the U.S. Congress is currently weighing President Joe Biden’s request to provide as much as $24 billion more in military and humanitarian aid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.S. lawmakers are increasingly divided over providing additional money to Ukraine. Zelenskyy is scheduled to spend some time Thursday on Capitol Hill and meet with Biden at the White House.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Before that, Zelenskyy is due to address world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday and speak Wednesday at a U.N. Security Council meeting about Ukraine. Russia is a permanent, veto-wielding member of the council, and Foreign Minister Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to make remarks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked whether he\'d stay in the room to listen, Zelenskyy said, “I don\'t know how it will be, really.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zelenskyy has taken the United Nations to task before — even before the war launched by a neighbor that, as a Security Council member, is entrusted with maintaining international peace and security. In one memorable example, he lamented at the General Assembly in 2021 that the U.N. was ”a retired superhero who\'s long forgotten how great they once were.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Traveling to the U.S. for the first time since December, he began his trip with a stop at Staten Island University Hospital. The medical facility has, to date, treated 18 Ukrainian military members who lost limbs in the war, said Michael J. Dowling, the CEO of hospital parent company Northwell Health.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With help from a New Jersey-based charity called Kind Deeds, the injured have gotten fitted for prostheses and are undergoing outpatient physical therapy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zelenskyy greeted several injured troops as they exercised in a rehab gym. He asked about their wounds, wished them a speedy recovery and thanked them for their service.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“How are you doing? Is it difficult?” Zelenskyy asked one military member, who paused and then said it was OK.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Stay strong,” Zelenskyy replied, later telling the group their country was grateful and proud of them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, in a hospital conference room, he awarded medals to the injured, posed for photos, signed a large Ukrainian flag and thanked medical personnel and the injured troops.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We all will be waiting for you back home,” he said. “We absolutely need every one of you.” 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, '2023-09-19 04:06:00', '2023-09-19 04:06:00'),
(9167, 9167, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen reiterated his government determination to hold free, fair elections in Bangladesh as he briefed media about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s daily engagements on 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session’s sidelines here on Monday.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“To hold a free, fair and non-violent election, all irrespective of political affiliation should exhibit topmost sincerity. InshaAllah, we will be able to hold a free and fair election if everything goes accordingly,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Replying to a question, Momen said that they are taking all preparations to set an example holding the next general election in a free and fair manner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To hold the polls in a neutral manner, he said that the Election Commission (EC) was given absolute authority.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The foreign minister said the EC is constituted under a law and the prime minister doesn’t appoint election commissioners.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Even, the president and the prime minister can’t remove the election commissioners. The EC can suspend, terminate or punish any government employee if they are found involved in irregularities,” he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In case of vote rigging, the EC can also cancel the vote of a polling station, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The Election Commission has been given absolute authority (regarding election),” he added. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 04:18:53', '2023-09-19 04:18:53'),
(9168, 9168, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today said World Health Organization (WHO) Director General (DG) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highly praised the Bangladesh government’s measures for overall development of health sector to ensure health services to all.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The WHO director general highly lauded government’s steps to develop overall health system and ensure health services for all in Bangladesh,” he said in a media briefing about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s daily engagements on 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session’s sidelines here.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;The foreign minister said the community health clinics are an innovation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from where people are getting over 30 medicines free of cost.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The community clinic has helped reduce child and mother mortality rates sharply in Bangladesh. So, the average life expectancy has gone up much,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen said they told the WHO director general that Bangladesh wants to share its experiences and expertise with other countries. 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, '2023-09-19 05:39:01', '2023-09-19 05:39:01'),
(9169, 9169, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) countries decided to meet in Tokyo on November 7-8, the Japanese Foreign Ministry told reporters.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"At the G7 foreign ministers\' talks [in New York], Japan announced that the next meeting of the G7 foreign ministers will be held on November 7-8 in Japan,\" the ministry representative said, emphasizing that the meeting will take place in person.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At their most recent meeting in New York the G7 foreign ministers once again condemned Russia\'s activities in Ukraine, pledged to continue complete support for Ukraine, and emphasized the importance of resuming the grain agreement as soon as possible. They also accused Russia of \"nuclear rhetoric,\" which they described as unacceptable. Such allegations have been repeatedly refuted by the Russian side. TASS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 06:41:12', '2023-09-19 06:41:12'),
(9170, 9170, '<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Allu Arjun celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi with his family on Monday. He shared a glimpse of the celebrations at home on Instagram Stories. While he decked up in a white kurta-pyjama, his wife Sneha Reddy and kids Ayaan and Arha wore yellow ensembles for the festival. They brought the Ganpati home and set up a floral podium for the deity.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His wife Sneha Reddy also shared a couple picture as she decked up in a saree. However, soon Allu deleted his kids\' picture, which could be seen on Sneha\'s Instagram Stories, as well. A video showed his daughter Arha, in a yellow tulle outfit, performing the puja. Another picture showed his daughter posing with her brother, who wore a yellow kurta and white dhoti.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Allu Arjun\'s daughter\'s debut</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Allu Arha made her acting debut this year with the Samantha Ruth Prabhu-starrer Shaakuntalam. Directed by Gunasekhar Karri, the film had Arha as Prince Bharata, Shakuntala\'s son.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Allu Arjun\'s award, upcoming film Pushpa: The Rule</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last month, Allu Arjun won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in the film Pushpa: The Rise. It also won the award for Best Music Direction (Songs) for Devi Sri Prasad. Directed by Sukumar, the action-thriller is set against the backdrop of red sandalwood smuggling and follows the violence which erupts between the smugglers and cops.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Arjun will now reprise his role for its sequel Pushpa: The Rule which is set to hit the screens on August 15, 2024. He is currently working on the film, the first poster of which shows him in a never seen before avatar. He was seen wearing gold jewellery and a garland of lemons and had a gun in his hand. A poster was unveiled on September 11 as well and it featured him sitting on a chair in his Pushpa style with his hand adorned with rings and bracelets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A promo video was also release which had a voice-over referring to the character of Pushpa Raj escaping from Tirupati jail. At the end of the video, Allu Arjun was seen as Pushpa, wrapped in a shawl and going to hide in a jungle. The voice-over was heard saying, “When an animal takes two steps backwards, it is because of a tiger but when a tiger moves backwards, it is because of Pushpa.” HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 06:47:38', '2023-09-19 06:47:38'),
(9171, 9171, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Researchers discovered that incorporating almonds into a low-energy diet not only helped participants lose weight but also improved their cardiometabolic health. The study was published in the journal Obesity.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When it comes to weight reduction, nuts often get a poor rap: while they\'re high in protein, they\'re also heavy in fat, which often puts people off. However, recent research from the University of South Australia indicates that you can eat almonds and lose weight at the same time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Researchers showed that when energy-restricted diets were supplemented with Californian almonds or carbohydrate-rich snacks, both diets successfully lowered body weight by roughly 7kg.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 1.9 billion persons worldwide are overweight (650 million are obese). In Australia, two out of every three persons (about 12.5 million adults) are overweight or obese.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to UniSA researcher Dr Sharayah Carter, the study shows how nuts can help with weight control and cardiometabolic health.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Nuts, like almonds, are a great snack. They’re high in protein, and fibre, and packed with vitamins and minerals, but they also have a high fat content which people can associate with increased body weight,” Dr Carter said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Nuts contain unsaturated fats – or healthy fats – which can improve blood cholesterol levels, ease inflammation, and contribute to a healthy heart.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“In this study, we examined the effects of an almond-supplemented diet with a nut-free diet to identify any influence on weight and cardiometabolic outcomes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Both the nut and nut-free diets resulted in approximately 9.3 per cent reduction in body weight over the trial.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Yet the almond-supplemented diets also demonstrated statistically significant changes in some highly atherogenic lipoprotein subfractions, which may lead to improved cardiometabolic health in the longer term.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Additionally, nuts have the added benefit of making you feel fuller for longer, which is always a pro when you’re trying to manage your weight.” HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 06:52:33', '2023-09-19 06:52:33'),
(9172, 9172, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today said World Health Organization (WHO) Director General (DG) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highly praised the Bangladesh government’s measures for overall development of health sector to ensure health services to all.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The WHO director general highly lauded government’s steps to develop overall health system and ensure health services for all in Bangladesh,” he said in a media briefing about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s daily engagements on 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session’s sidelines here.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;The foreign minister said the community health clinics are an innovation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from where people are getting over 30 medicines free of cost.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The community clinic has helped reduce child and mother mortality rates sharply in Bangladesh. So, the average life expectancy has gone up much,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen said they told the WHO director general that Bangladesh wants to share its experiences and expertise with other countries. 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, '2023-09-19 07:21:59', '2023-09-19 07:21:59'),
(9173, 9173, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya met Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen in New York on Monday and discussed issues of mutual interest.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States has reiterated its desire to see free and fair elections in Bangladesh during the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She described her meeting with the foreign secretary as a “productive conversation”, on the margins of UNGA 78.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Appreciated meeting again to discuss the importance of free &amp; fair elections, freedom of expression, and continued humanitarian support for Rohingya and communities that host them,” US Under Secretary Uzra Zeya tweeted after the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 07:57:54', '2023-09-19 07:57:54'),
(9174, 9174, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">National Identity Card (NID) server of the Election Commission (EC) has been down since this morning.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The services of the NID server will not be available until 2 pm Wednesday (September 20, 2023) due to maintenance work, Aminul Islam, assistant programmer of Information System Management Wing (NID) of the Election Commission, said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on August 16, the NID server was down due to the same reason.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The EC initially embarked on the task of compiling a comprehensive voter list with photographs in 2007. Subsequently, voter information was updated through door-to-door visits in the years 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2019. The entirety of this vital voter data is stored on the Election Commission’s servers. 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, '2023-09-19 08:10:55', '2023-09-19 08:10:55');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(9175, 9175, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday reiterated his call to the global community to urgently act for solving Rohingya issue as he opened 7th Partnership Meeting-2023 of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) in a city hotel.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Bangladesh is hosting around 1.2 million forcibly displaced Myanmar people with shelter, food and other necessities . . . . I call upon the international community to urgently act on the issue,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The President said it is imperative to understand that the burden of this issue (Rohingya influx) should not fall solely upon Bangladesh\'s shoulder.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He urged the international community to find a durable solution to this issue in its place of origin in Myanmar, apprehending that further delay to commence safe, voluntary, and sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas and shortage of humanitarian support may put the entire region at risk.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shahabuddin, however, asked all concerned to remain aware of the ongoing development as it (development) requires support and collaboration of all as a shared responsibility.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman, BDRCS Chairman Major General (retd) ATM Abdul Wahab, Asia Pacific Regional Director of the IFRC and Red Crescent Society Alexander Matheou, Head of Bangladesh Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross Agnes Dhur and BDRCS Secretary General Kazi Shofiqul Azam spoke.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BDRCS Vice-Chairman Md Nur-Ul-Rahman, Treasurer Md Abdus Salam, Managing Board Member and Lawmaker Aroma Dutta, and Director (legal affairs) Enatullah Akram, diplomats, representatives of the IFRC, ICRC, the UN, International Organizations and corporate sectors were also present.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The President said this year\'s partnership meeting is a unique juncture in history as the world is now facing challenges with the recent COVID-19 pandemic, being the most prominent, and climate change.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Terming the climate change as a global crisis, the Head of the State urged the international community to comply with their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide support to vulnerable nations like Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BDRCS, as an auxiliary to the government in the humanitarian field and a member of the International Federation Red Cross Society (IFRCS) and Red Crescent Movement, is conducting disaster response capacity building, disaster preparedness expansion, and healthcare activities with the aim of achieving disaster risk reduction and building resilience in vulnerable communities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since 2017, BDRCS has also been carrying out various humanitarian assistance programmes for forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in Ukhia and Teknafe of Cox\'s Bazar district and later in Bhasanchar of Noakhali district.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Calling BDRCS a beacon of hope, compassion and selflessness that represents the essence of humanity, the President said, \"In the face of countless challenges, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society played an invaluable role in building resilience in different times, including after the devastating cyclone in 1970 and during the recent global pandemic Covid-19 outbreak as well.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Noting that Bangladesh has come a long way on its journey of development, he said Bangalee nation, keeping poverty and adversity behind, has made remarkable strides in various sectors, including healthcare and education.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also said Bangladesh\'s overall development under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina\'s visionary leadership began in January, 2009 and the current government took strategies like \"Digital Bangladesh\", \"Vision-2021 and \"Vision 2041\" and \"Smart Bangladesh\" which acted like the catalyst of development and growth.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shahabuddin, also BDRCS President, expressed his gratitude to all the partners, both national and international, who have stood by the Red Crescent in their mission.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also thanked the delegates for joining the productive and fruitful partnership meeting with an aim of collectively building a brighter and more resilient future for Bangladesh and for humanity as a whole.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A documentary entitled \"Who We Are\" based on different humanitarian and development-oriented activities of the BDRCS was screened on the occasion. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 08:38:09', '2023-09-19 08:38:09'),
(9176, 9176, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has told the world leaders that there are huge gaps in global partnership to implement the SDGs and called for commitments under the Doha Programme of Action for LDCs to be kept.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at the Roundtable Discussion as part of the two-day SDG Summit at the UN Headquarters on Monday, he also highlighted Bangladesh’s concerted efforts to implement the SDGs claiming that the country has made famines a matter of the past.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’re continuing our efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs. Bangladesh is working to achieve the goals with the participation of all or the \'whole-of-society\',” the minister said.</div><div><br></div><div>Calling the SDGs “the Magna Carta” of the present time, he said Bangladesh has made various efforts to reduce poverty and hunger. “We have made famines a matter of the past,”</div><div><br></div><div>As a result, he recalled that the country reduced extreme poverty to 5.6 per cent in 2022 — down from 25.1 per cent in 2006.</div><div><br></div><div>“But there’re huge gaps in the global partnership to implement the SDGs. We want the implementation of commitments under the Doha Programme of Action for LDCs,” Momen said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Bangladesh wants a rules-based global trading system.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister laid emphasis on imposing minimum conditions for concessional loans and for life-saving technology.</div><div><br></div><div>“We believe that there needs to be sufficient incentives for the private sector so that it comes forward alongside the public sector to implement the SDGs,” he observed.</div><div><br></div><div>Momen spoke at the programme on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, the world leaders at the summit deplored that progress on most of SDG targets is moving much too slowly and warned of the peril the world faces unless it acts with urgency to rescue a set of 2030 development goals to eliminate hunger and extreme poverty and to tackle climate change.</div><div><br></div><div>They also adopted a political declaration to accelerate action on implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.</div><div><br></div><div>The adoption of the 10-page document, by the Heads of State and Government and high representatives gathered at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, came at a critical juncture as global crises — including armed conflict, adverse climate impacts and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic — threaten the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.</div><div><br></div><div>The high-level 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly began Monday along with the 2023 SDG Summit.</div><div><br></div><div>It reviewed the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and provided high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions for achieving the goals.</div><div><br></div><div>“Now is the time for a global plan to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are woefully off-track halfway towards their 2030 deadline,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his opening remarks to the SDG Summit, known formally as the high-level political forum on sustainable development.</div><div><br></div><div>He said only 15 per cent of the targets are on track and many are going in reverse. “Instead of leaving no one behind, we risk leaving the SDGs behind.”</div><div><br></div><div>UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis noted that despite commitments, 1.2 billion people were still living in poverty as of 2022, and roughly eight per cent of the global population, or 680 million people, will still be facing hunger by the end of the decade. The international community cannot accept these numbers, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"With concerted, ambitious action, it is still possible that, by 2030, we could lift 124 million additional people out of poverty and ensure that some 113 million fewer people are malnourished,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The political declaration \"can be a game-changer in accelerating SDG progress,\" Francis said.</div><div><br></div><div>It includes a commitment to financing for developing countries and clear support for his proposal for an SDG Stimulus of at least $500 billion annually, as well as an effective debt-relief mechanism.</div><div><br></div><div>It further calls for changing the business model of multilateral development banks to offer private finance at more affordable rates for developing countries, and endorses reform of the international finance architecture which he has labelled \"outdated, dysfunctional and unfair.\" According to UNB reports </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas<span style=\"white-space:pre\">		</span></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 09:29:05', '2023-09-19 09:31:29'),
(9177, 9177, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladeshi cricketer Tanzim Hasan Sakib has offered apology, vehemently asserting that he is not a misogynist, in response to severe backlash over some of his older social media posts.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Tanzim, a right-arm pacer, recently made his debut for the Bangladesh national cricket team and played a pivotal role in their first victory against India in the Asia Cup in over a decade.</div><div><br></div><div>In a now-deleted social media post, Tanzim suggested that if a woman works outside, she may struggle to fulfil her duties to her husband and children. In another post, which is also currently inaccessible, he implied that a coeducational environment at educational institutions makes it difficult to find a “shy” wife.</div><div><br></div><div>Both posts ignited fierce debate on social media due to their strongly prejudiced nature against women.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have engaged with Tanzim,” stated Jalal Younus, chairman of cricket operations of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). “He admitted to posting those remarks, but he clarified that it was never his intent to offend anyone.”</div><div><br></div><div>Jalal further mentioned that Tanzim asserted that he harbours no disrespect towards women, saying that his mother is a woman and he “cannot be a misogynist.”</div><div><br></div><div>“We have cautioned him about the posts that sparked controversy,” Jalal added. “We have advised him to exercise caution while posting on social media, as his behaviour on these platforms may be subjected to monitoring by the board.”</div><div><br></div><div>Tanzim conveyed his regrets for the posts through the board, affirming that he will refrain from making similar statements in the future.</div><div><br></div><div>“Tanzim Sakib’s family is also concerned about his posts,” noted Jalal. “He is a young player, and that’s why we felt it necessary to caution him,” according to UNB reports&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 11:21:00', '2023-09-19 11:21:00'),
(9178, 9178, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Greece’s armed forces declared three days of national mourning after five members of a military rescue team were killed in a road accident in flood-hit Libya.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The bodies of the five — three military officials and two civilians — were flown back to a military base near Athens early on Monday, together with 13 injured team members who were taken to military hospitals in the Greek capital.</div><div><br></div><div>A bus transporting the Greek team crashed on Sunday en route to the city of Derna, which has suffered devastating flood damage. The bus hit an oncoming car, also killing three Libyan passengers, according to Libyan officials.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are all shocked by the deaths of rescuers who were participating in a humanitarian mission to show solidarity to the suffering Libyan people,” Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou said. “I am deeply saddened by their unexpected death.”</div><div><br></div><div>Heavy rains from Mediterranean storm Daniel caused massive flooding across eastern Libya a week ago. It overwhelmed the two dams, sending a wall of water through the coastal city of Derna, killing at least 11,000 people. More than 10,000 people are missing, and presumed dead. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed as flood waters swept bridges, cars and people out to sea.</div><div><br></div><div>Before crossing the Mediterranean, the storm caused extensive damage in central Greece, where many areas remain flooded. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 12:00:39', '2023-09-19 12:00:39'),
(9179, 9179, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A 54-year-old Delhi Police sub-inspector on duty was killed and the driver of a pick-up van was seriously injured after an allegedly speeding car hit them on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway in East Delhi’s Pandav Nagar on Tuesday morning.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The driver of the car bearing a Delhi registration number fled the spot, leaving the damaged vehicle behind. The crash caused a traffic jam on a carriageway of the expressway and the parallel road of National Highway 24 in the same direction. Additional police personnel were deployed to regulate the flow of traffic.</div><div><br></div><div>Deputy police commissioner (East) Amrutha Guguloth said sub-inspector Ganga Saran was checking the pick-up van loaded with plants in grow bags while its driver Ram Gopal stood next to him when the speeding car going towards Sarai Kale Khan from Ghaziabad hit the two.</div><div><br></div><div>Guguloth said the two were rushed to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, where Saran succumbed to his injuries. “Gopal was referred to Safdarjung Hospital for further treatment. Forensic experts have inspected the mishap spot.”</div><div><br></div><div>Guguloth said they registered a case of rash and negligent driving causing death and injury and that efforts were on to identify and arrest the person driving the speeding car.</div><div><br></div><div>Police said Saran is survived by his wife and five children. Source: Hindustan Times</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 12:16:24', '2023-09-19 12:16:24'),
(9180, 9180, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ukraine said Tuesday its air defence systems had downed 27 Shahed drones launched overnight in Russia\'s latest aerial barrage.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"A total of 30 attack UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) were launched... As a result of combat work, 27 Shaheds were shot down by air defence units,\" the Ukrainian air force said on social media. According to AFP reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 12:21:11', '2023-09-19 12:21:11'),
(9181, 9181, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Over 1,200 children have died in Sudan refugee camps since May, while thousands of newborns are likely to die across the war-torn country by year-end, the UN said Tuesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The United Nations sounded the alarm over the impact the crisis in Sudan is having on the health situation for children.</div><div><br></div><div>\"On the back of a cruel disregard for civilians and the relentless attacks on health and nutrition services, UNICEF fears many thousands of newborns will die between now and the end of the year,\" UN children\'s agency spokesman James Elder told reporters in Geneva.</div><div><br></div><div>He pointed out that 333,000 children are due to be born in the country between October and December.</div><div><br></div><div>At the same time, nutrition services in the war-ravaged country have been \"devastated\", he said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Every month 55,000 children require treatment for the most lethal form of malnutrition, and yet in Khartoum less than one in 50 nutrition centres is functional. In West Darfur it\'s one in 10,\" Elder said.</div><div><br></div><div>The UN refugee agency, for its part, said its teams in Sudan\'s White Nile state had determined that between May 15 and September 14, more than 1,200 children under the age of five had died across nine refugee camps.</div><div><br></div><div>Those camps were hosting mainly refugees from South Sudan and Ethiopia, Allen Maina, UNHCR chief of public health told reporters in Geneva.</div><div><br></div><div>Another 3,100 suspected cases of measles were also reported in the same period, and more than 500 suspected cases of cholera have been reported in other parts of the country, along with outbreaks of dengue and malaria, the agency said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The world has the means and the money to prevent every one of these deaths from measles or malnutrition,\" UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We can prevent more deaths, but need money for the response, access to those in need, and above all, an end to the fighting.\"</div><div><br></div><div>UNICEF also said it sorely lacked funds, noting that it had received just a quarter of the $838 million (784 million euros) it had requested to help 10 million children in Sudan, Elder said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Such a funding gap will mean lives lost.\" - BSS</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 14:06:13', '2023-09-19 14:06:13'),
(9182, 9182, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Seven more deaths were reported from dengue in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, raising the fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 846 this year.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>During the period, 3,027 more patients were hospitalised with the viral fever, according to the DGHS.</div><div><br></div><div>Of the new patients, 849 were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rest outside the capital--indicating a worsening situation across the country, DGHS said.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 10,102 dengue patients, including 3,814 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>So far, the DGHS has recorded 173,795 dengue cases and 162,447 recoveries this year.</div><div><br></div><div>In the first two weeks of September, the Aedes mosquito-borne Dengue has claimed the lives of 174 people across the country. 33,336 cases were reported during the same period. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 15:08:34', '2023-09-19 15:08:34'),
(9183, 9183, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The mayor\'s home in the Libyan city of Derna has been burnt to the ground, as hundreds of protesters demanded answers for last week\'s catastrophic flood.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>They gathered on Monday night at the city\'s landmark Sahaba Mosque, many chanting for top officials in Libya\'s eastern government to be sacked.</div><div><br></div><div>Derna\'s whole city council has now been dismissed.</div><div>More than 10,000 people are officially missing after two old and dilapidated dams burst, flooding the city.</div><div><br></div><div>Close to 4,000 people are known to have died, according to the UN.</div><div><br></div><div>The home of Derna\'s mayor, Abdulmenam al-Ghaithi, has become a focal point for people\'s anger.</div><div><br></div><div>Residents say they were not sufficiently warned by officials, who they believe must have known a huge amount of rainfall was coming.</div><div><br></div><div>They say they were also given a stay-at-home warning rather than told to evacuate, although officials deny this.</div><div><br></div><div>Since the ousting of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has been riven by power struggles and currently has two governments - a UN-recognised one based in Tripoli, and another in the country\'s east backed by warlord Gen Khalifa Haftar.</div><div><br></div><div>He has been calling the flooding a natural disaster but many analysts disagree, saying the eastern government failed to maintain the dams despite prior warnings about their fragile condition.</div><div><br></div><div>On Tuesday, the day after the protests, a minister in eastern Libya\'s government announced that all journalists had been asked to leave Derna, and accused them of hampering the work of rescue teams.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition to a large international aid effort, parts of Libya where, until recently, militias had been fighting each other are now sending volunteers and their own private vehicles with food, water, medicine and bedding.</div><div><br></div><div>But demonstrators say they need more aid.</div><div><br></div><div>And with their most vital possessions washed away by the water, they also want processing facilities set up to replace lost passports and identity documents.</div><div><br></div><div>Monday\'s rally was the biggest seen since the floods hit, and there are suggestions it has some institutional backing.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The location of the protest, the Sahaba Mosque, is normally cordoned off as part of the rescue area - so how come all of a sudden all the public was allowed to go [there]?\" Claudia Gazzini of International Crisis Group in Libya told BBC Newsday.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It makes me think that it wasn\'t necessarily just a spontaneous outburst of anger.\" Source: BBC</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 15:41:44', '2023-09-19 15:41:44'),
(9184, 9184, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Chandrayaan-3\'s lander and rover - called Vikram and Pragyaan - spent about 10 days in the region, gathering data and images to be sent back to Earth for analysis.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Earlier this month, scientists put them to bed as the Sun began to set on the Moon - to be able to function, the lander-rover need sunlight to charge their batteries. The country\'s space research agency Isro said it hoped that they would reawaken \"around 22 September\" when the next lunar day breaks.</div><div><br></div><div>Isro has provided regular updates on their movements and findings and shared images taken by them.</div><div><br></div><div>These updates have excited many Indians, but others have been asking about the significance of these discoveries.</div><div><br></div><div>The BBC asked Mila Mitra, a former Nasa scientist and co-founder of Stem and Space, a Delhi-based space education company, to pick some of Chandrayaan-3\'s major findings and explain their significance.</div><div><br></div><div>The distance covered - and craters avoided</div><div>Hours before the rover was put to bed on 2 September, Isro said Pragyaan \"has traversed over 100m [328 feet] and is continuing\".</div><div><br></div><div>That\'s quite a long way to travel for the six-wheeled rover, which moves at a speed of 1cm per second.</div><div><br></div><div>What is also significant, Ms Mitra says, is that it has been able to stay safe and avoid falling into the craters that dot the Moon\'s little-explored south pole region.</div><div><br></div><div>The rover, she says, has a special wheel mechanism - called rocker bogie - which means that all its wheels don\'t move together, helping it traverse up and down, but it may not be able to climb out if it falls into a deep crater. So it\'s important to make it go around the craters or even retrace its steps. And that, Ms Mitra adds, is done by scientists at the command centre who are \"watching the Moon through the rover\'s eyes\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"The rover is not automated and its movements are controlled from the command centre which acts on the basis of the pictures it sends.</div><div><br></div><div>\"There\'s a slight delay before they reach the command centre because of the circuitous route they take - Pragyaan sends them over to the lander which sends them on to the orbiter to pass them on to Earth.\"</div><div><br></div><div>So, by the time the command reaches the rover, it\'s a few steps closer to the threat.</div><div><br></div><div>But the fact that it has managed to navigate safely around two craters shows that it\'s able to communicate really quickly with the command centre, Ms Mitra adds.</div><div><br></div><div>Blowing hot and cold</div><div>The first set of data collected from the lunar topsoil and up to the depth of 10cm (4 inches) below the surface from a probe onboard the Vikram lander showed a sharp difference in temperatures just above and below the surface.</div><div><br></div><div>While the temperature on the surface was nearly 60C, it plummeted sharply below the surface, dropping to -10C at 80mm (around 3 inches) below the ground.</div><div><br></div><div>The Moon is known for extreme temperatures - according to Nasa, daytime temperatures near the lunar equator reach a boiling 120C (250F), while night temperatures can plunge to -130C (-208F). And temperatures of -250C (-410F) have been recorded at craters which never receive any sunshine and remain permanently in shadows.</div><div><br></div><div>But, Ms Mitra says, this wide variation in temperature is significant because it shows that Moon\'s soil - called lunar regolith - is a very good insulator.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This could mean it could be used to build space colonies to keep heat and cold and radiation out. This would make it a natural insulator for habitat,\" she says.</div><div><br></div><div>It could also be an indicator of the presence of water ice below the surface.</div><div><br></div><div>A clue into the Moon\'s evolution</div><div>When a laser detector mounted on the rover measured the chemicals present on the lunar surface near the south pole, it found a host of chemicals such as aluminium, calcium, iron, chromium, titanium, manganese, silicon and oxygen.</div><div><br></div><div>But the most important of the findings, scientists say, relate to sulphur. The instrument\'s \"first-ever in-situ - in the original space\" measurement \"unambiguously confirms\" the presence of sulphur, Isro said.</div><div><br></div><div>Sulphur\'s presence on the Moon has been known from the 1970s, but scientists say the fact that the rover has measured sulphur on the lunar surface itself - and not inside a mineral or as part of a crystal - makes it \"a tremendous accomplishment\".</div><div><br></div><div>Ms Mitra says the presence of sulphur in the soil is significant on a number of counts.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Sulphur comes usually from volcanoes so this will add to our knowledge of how the Moon was formed, how it evolved and its geography.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It also indicates the presence of water ice on the lunar surface and since sulphur is a good fertiliser, it\'s good news as it can help grow plants if there\'s habitat on the Moon.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Was it really a Moonquake?</div><div>The Vikram lander carries an instrument that measures vibrations emanating from its own studies and experiments as well as those from the rover and its activities.</div><div><br></div><div>Isro said while the Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (Ilsa) had its ear to the ground, it also recorded \"an event, appearing to be a natural one\" and was investigating its source.</div><div><br></div><div>This event had much larger amplitude which means it was much stronger, Ms Mitra says, adding that there could be several explanations for this.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It could be some space debris - such as a meteorite or an asteroid - hitting the surface. Or it could be seismic which would make it the first Moonquake recorded since the 1970s. In that case, this could lead to an explanation of what\'s under the Moon\'s surface and its geography.\"</div><div><br></div><div>What\'s lunar plasma?</div><div>When Isro posted on X (formerly Twitter) that a probe on the lander had done the \"first-ever measurements of the near-surface lunar plasma environment\" of the south polar region and found it to be \"relatively sparse\", many wondered what it meant.</div><div><br></div><div>Ms Mitra explains that plasma refers to the presence of charged particles in the atmosphere which could hinder the radio-wave communication that Chandrayaan-3 is using.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The fact that it\'s very sparse or thin is good news as it means it will disrupt the radio communication a lot less.\"</div><div><br></div><div>When the lander hopped</div><div>The last thing the Vikram lander did before being put to bed in early September was what Isro called a \"hop experiment\".</div><div><br></div><div>The agency said the lander was \"commanded to fire its engines, it rose up by about 40cm [16 inches] and landed at a distance of 30-40cm\".</div><div><br></div><div>This \"successful experiment\" means the spacecraft could be used in future to bring samples back to the Earth or for human missions, it added.</div><div><br></div><div>Now, could this short hop mean a giant leap for India\'s future space plans?</div><div><br></div><div>Ms Mitra says the \"hop tested restarting the engine after a lunar landing to make sure it is still operating fine\".</div><div><br></div><div>It also demonstrated that the craft has the \"capacity for lift-off in a lunar soil environment since so far the testing and real lift-off has only been from Earth\", she adds. - BBC</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"18\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 15:53:17', '2023-09-19 15:53:17'),
(9185, 9185, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Bangladesh Judicial Service Association on Tuesday expressed deep concern about the resolution of the European Parliament on the human rights situation in Bangladesh, saying that its attempt is to interfere with the judicial proceedings of an independent country.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“We are deeply concerned about the Resolution as it is an attempt to interfere with the judicial proceedings of an independent sovereign country, which is both unwanted and unwarranted,” according to a media statement of the association.</div><div><br></div><div>The statement was signed by the organisation’s President AHM Habibur Rahman Bhuiya and Secretary General, Md. Majibur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>The statement involves a recent verdict jailing two officials of Bangladeshi human rights body Odhikar for two years each in an ICT Act case.</div><div><br></div><div>On September 14, a court in Dhaka sentenced Odhikar Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan, who was a deputy attorney general under the BNP regime in 2001-2006, and its Director ASM Nasiruddin Elan.</div><div><br></div><div>The case was filed for running “a distorted report and doctored images” about the May 5-6 police action in 2013 involving Hefajat-e-Islam rally in Dhaka’s Motijheel area.</div><div><br></div><div>Odhikar\'s report said that 61 people died in the wee hours of May 6 when the law enforcers flushed thousands of Hefajat activists out of the Shapla Chattar in Motijheel after daylong mayhem. Authorities said 13 people died and challenged Odhikar’s report, asking it to prove it. Odhikar’s report had tarnished the image of the country across the world, according to the prosecution proceedings.</div><div><br></div><div>On Tuesday (September 19), Bangladesh Judicial Service Association said in its statement that the tribunal conducted the case of Odhikar and its two officials “impartially and diligently, relying solely on factual evidence and adhering strictly to the applicable laws.”</div><div><br></div><div>The verdict was rendered without any external influences or inducements, whether direct or indirect, from any source or for any other reason, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>The release also stated that the organisation views the European Parliament’s resolution as a ‘blatant interference’ in the country’s judicial functions and condemns it unequivocally.</div><div><br></div><div>“We find it paradoxical that, on the one hand, the judiciary is criticised for its substantial backlog of cases, and yet, on the other hand, it is vilified for resolving a long-standing case through the due judicial process,” it said.</div><div><br></div><div>“We do hereby regret and reject the sweeping generalizations and abrupt condemnation of the Judiciary of Bangladesh by the European Parliament,” it said.</div><div><br></div><div>The judicial association, however, said that the Digital Security Act, 2018 (DSA) has been replaced by the Cyber Security Act, 2023 following consultations with relevant stakeholders, including international organizations and development partners.</div><div><br></div><div>The association said the judiciary in Bangladesh is independent.</div><div><br></div><div>“It is imperative to emphasise that the Judiciary of Bangladesh operates with absolute independence, having been separated from the Executive since November 1, 2007. There is no intermingling of judicial proceedings and executive functions,” it added.</div><div><br></div><div>The European Parliament moved a joint resolution expressing concerns over the deterioration of the human rights situation in Bangladesh and called for adherence to international standards to ensure civil and political rights on 14 September.</div><div><br></div><div>The statement voiced deep concern regarding the detention of opposition figures and the deployment of force against demonstrators in Bangladesh. It also urged the government to establish a favourable atmosphere that enables open, equitable, and all-encompassing elections in 2024.RT/JA. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 16:21:18', '2023-09-19 16:21:18'),
(9186, 9186, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that because of the current government\'s fascist attitude, journalists feel impelled to resort to self-censorship.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He voiced his concerns over the state of democracy and freedom of the press in Bangladesh, saying, “It\'s a shame, and it hurts to see some media personalities and owners speaking in favour of this terrible government.”</div><div><br></div><div>He was addressing the golden jubilee celebration organised by a faction of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) at the National Press Club this afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul also said, “Today the media is divided. On the one hand, there are beneficiaries of this dreadful government, and on the other hand, some are struggling to reinstate democracy and freedom of speech and they are oppressed today. Many of them do not have jobs today, and many media outlets are closed for the ‘crime’ of telling the truth.”</div><div><br></div><div>He criticized the government, saying, “The state is no longer a state. It has now become a factory of suffering. They have destroyed the soul of Bangladesh. Today it is the judges who are destroying the justice system.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Today, national leader Khaleda Zia is seriously ill, and Tarique Rahman is leading from exile. Let\'s remove this monstrous government and establish a democratic state,” the BNP leader added.</div><div><br></div><div>The event, presided over by president of a faction of DUJ, Shahidul Islam, saw the presence of BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, central publicity secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, Jamaat-e Islami Assistant Secretary General Advocate Moazzem Hossain Helal, Ganasamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki, poet Abdul Hai Sikder, and journalist leader Ruhul Amin Ghazi, among others. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 16:25:42', '2023-09-19 16:25:42'),
(9187, 9187, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>US President Joe Biden has told&nbsp; world leaders at the annual UN General Assembly in New York that they must stand together against Russia.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"We have to stand up to this naked aggression today and deter other would-be aggressors tomorrow,\" he tells delegates.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukrainian President Zelensky is also at the meeting of nearly 200 countries - he is due to speak later.</div><div><br></div><div>On climate, President Biden says he\'s treating it as an existential threat, and the world needs to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.</div><div><br></div><div>With so many important figures in one space, there is also an opportunity for leaders to hold meetings on the sidelines.</div><div><br></div><div>But French President Emmanuel Macron, China\'s President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and UK PM Rishi Sunak are not there. Source: BBC</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-19 16:58:22', '2023-09-19 16:58:22'),
(9188, 9188, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">\"Evil cannot be trusted,\" Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has told the UN General Assembly, as he urged the world to unite to end Russian aggression against his country.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a passionate speech in New York, Mr Zelensky said a nuclear-armed Moscow must be stopped from \"pushing the world to the final war\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also accused Russia of weaponising everything from food to energy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia\'s full-scale invasion has prompted widespread condemnation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a speech which focused heavily on the danger Russia poses to the world, he argued that other common challenges such as climate change can only be properly addressed after Moscow had been pushed back.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"While Russia is pushing the world to the final war, Ukraine is doing everything to ensure that after the Russian aggression no-one in the world will dare to attack any nation,\" Mr Zelensky said to world leaders attending the annual General Assembly.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also said Russia simply had \"no right to hold nuclear weapons\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Weaponisation must be restrained, war crimes must be punished, deported people must come back home, and the occupier must return to their own land.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We must be united to make it, and we will do it!\" Mr Zelensky said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also accused Moscow of carrying out \"genocide\" by abducting Ukrainian children.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In March, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the alleged unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moscow has repeatedly denied Ukraine\'s accusations - but a number international experts and organisations point to a growing evidence that Russia has committed war crimes in Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ukrainian president went on to warn against \"shady deals\" to try to end the war - the biggest in Europe since World War Two - on unfair terms.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But his key point was to warn the international community that the outcome of the war would affect everyone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia\'s goal, he said, was to turn Ukraine into \"a weapon against you, against the rules based international order\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The peace formula that he had been outlining for months was, he said, not just for Ukraine, but also the rest of the world.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">So the pitch was clear and aimed squarely at countries - many of them in the so-called \"Global South\" including Brazil and India - which have thus far stayed on the side lines.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A number of nations have even strengthened their economic ties with the Kremlin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Western powers have been rushing around the UN trying to address those countries\' wider concerns about development issues and climate change.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier in the day, the Ukrainian leader applauded Joe Biden\'s speech, in which his US counterpart warned of grave consequences if Russia\'s aggression was not stopped.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Russia believes that the world will grow weary and allow it to brutalise Ukraine without consequence. If we allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure?\" Mr Biden said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi - whose country has provided combat drones to Russia and is seen as Moscow\'s key ally - accused Washington of escalating the war in Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The United States of America has fanned the flames of violence in Ukraine in order to weaken the European countries. This is a long-term plan, unfortunately,\" he told the gathering in New York. 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, '2023-09-20 01:32:23', '2023-09-20 01:32:23');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(9189, 9189, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Azerbaijan has launched \"anti-terror\" operations in Nagorno-Karabakh, and said it will not stop until ethnic-Armenian separatists surrender.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tensions in the South Caucasus have been high for months around the breakaway enclave, recognised internationally as part of Azerbaijan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Azerbaijan and Armenia last went to war three years ago.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Baku ordered \"illegal Armenian military formations\" to hand over arms and dissolve their \"illegal regime\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Azerbaijan and Armenia first went to war in the early 1990s after the fall of the Soviet Union. Then in 2020 Azerbaijan recaptured areas in and around Nagorno-Karabakh before a truce was agreed and monitored by Russian peacekeepers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ethnic Armenians in Karabakh appealed on Tuesday for a ceasefire and for talks to start. But it was clear from the Azerbaijani ultimatum that Baku\'s aim was to complete its conquest of the mountainous enclave.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accused Azerbaijan of starting a ground operation aimed at \"ethnic cleansing\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But hundreds of Armenian protesters, frustrated by their country\'s response, clashed with police outside parliament in Yerevan, condemning their leader as a traitor and calling on him to resign.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Azerbaijan said talks could start in the town of Yevlakh, some 100km (60km) north of the Karabakh regional capital of Khankendi, called Stepanakert by ethnic Armenians.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since the end of 2020, 3,000 Russians have monitored the fragile truce but Moscow\'s attention has been diverted by its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An estimated 120,000 ethnic Armenians live in the mountainous enclave. Russia said its soldiers had moved almost 500 civilians from the most at-risk areas, while separatists said they had helped move a total of 7,000.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Why has fighting broken out in Nagorno-Karabakh?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For the past nine months, Azerbaijan has imposed an effective blockade on the only route into the enclave from Armenia, known as the Lachin Corridor.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Azerbaijan said it had launched its operation in response to the deaths of six people, including four police officers, in two landmine explosions on Tuesday morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air raid sirens then rang out and the sound of artillery and gunfire could be heard in Karabakh\'s main city. Residential buildings were damaged and journalist Siranush Sargsyan described seeing a building next door being hit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Karabakh officials said five people had been killed and dozens more wounded, including women and children.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Defence officials in the breakaway region said the Azerbaijani military had \"violated the ceasefire along the entire line of contact with missile-artillery strikes\". Other Karabakh representatives spoke of a \"large-scale military offensive\" although later reports said that the intensity of fire had decreased.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Azerbaijan defence ministry insisted it was not targeting civilians or civilian buildings, and that \"only legitimate military targets are being incapacitated by the use of high-precision weapons\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It accused Armenian forces of \"systematic shelling\" of its army positions and said it had responded by launching \"local, anti-terrorist activities... to disarm and secure the withdrawal of formations of Armenia\'s armed forces from our territories\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a brief televised address, Armenia\'s prime minister rejected claims that his military was involved.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia\'s foreign ministry said it had been warned of the Azerbaijani offensive only minutes in advance and urged both countries to respect a ceasefire signed after the war in 2020. The EU\'s regional special representative, Toivo Klaar, said there was \"urgent need for immediate ceasefire\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both Russia\'s Foreign Ministry and the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, called for Mr Aliyev to cease military action in the area immediately.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Caucasus commentator Laurence Broers said on Tuesday the Armenian population in Karabakh had been weakened by the blockade and the Azerbaijan operation had been launched \"seemingly to retake Armenian-populated Karabakh in its entirety\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nikol Pashinyan said recently that Russia was \"spontaneously leaving the region\". Azerbaijan has meanwhile had strong support from its ally Turkey.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hikmet Hajiyev, special adviser to Azerbaijan\'s President Aliyev, called on the separatist ethnic-Armenian administration to \"dissolve itself\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Azerbaijan has always said we are ready to provide rights and security of Karabakh Armenians under the constitution,\" he told BBC News.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Azerbaijan had denied building up troop numbers in the region. On Monday, it allowed aid from the International Committee of the Red Cross into Karabakh on two roads, one via the Lachin Corridor from Armenia and the other on Azerbaijan\'s Aghdam road.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Before Tuesday\'s offensive began there had been hopes that tensions might subside.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Azerbaijan defence ministry released images of a vehicle which it said were destroyed by a land mine, but ethnic Armenian officials said it was Azerbaijan\'s military that had violated the ceasefire. 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, '2023-09-20 02:09:02', '2023-09-20 02:09:02'),
(9190, 9190, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Britain\'s interior minister on Wednesday warned tech giant Meta that rolling out end-to-end encryption on its platforms must \"not to come at a cost to our children\'s safety\".</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Suella Braverman and security minister Tom Tugendhat have called on the company, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, to \"work with us\" and ensure police can access data.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The use of strong encryption for online users remains a vital part of our digital world and I support it, so does the government, but it cannot come at a cost to our children\'s safety,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Meta has failed to provide assurances that they will keep their platforms safe from sickening abusers,\" she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The minister demanded that Meta develop robust safeguards as part of their plans for end-to-end encryption.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Messaging app WhatsApp already offers the service, which allows only the sender and recipient of a message to access its contents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meta is now planning to extend the feature to both Facebook Messenger and Instagram Direct.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The National Crime Agency\'s (NCA) director of general threats, James Babbage, warned the plans could \"massively reduce our collective ability\" to protect children.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We are not asking for new or additional law enforcement access, we simply ask that Meta retains the ability to keep working with us to identify and help prevent abuse,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meta said in a statement that \"the overwhelming majority of Brits already rely on apps that use encryption to keep them safe from hackers, fraudsters and criminals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We don\'t think people want us reading their private messages so have spent the last five years developing robust safety measures to prevent, detect and combat abuse while maintaining online security.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US firm said it was publishing updated safeguarding measures, including restricting people aged over 19 from messaging teenagers who don\'t follow them and using technology to \"identify and take action against malicious behaviour\". AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"5\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-20 02:13:41', '2023-09-20 02:13:41'),
(9191, 9191, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">US President Joe Biden stressed the \"territorial integrity\" of Central Asia on Wednesday after meeting regional leaders, adding that he may soon visit one of the nations in what Moscow views as its backyard.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This is a historic moment,\" Biden told the leaders of the so-called \"C5\" -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan -- after their first meeting together on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I look forward to seeing you soon, possibly in one of your countries.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In an apparent swipe at Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, Biden said the former Soviet republics and the United States had a \"shared commitment to sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"These principles matter more than ever, in my view.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added: \"I genuinely believe the world is safer when we stand together.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In an earlier UN speech, Biden warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin\'s invasion of Ukraine could undermine the global body\'s principles of national sovereignty, and embolden further land grabs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Putin did not travel to New York to attend the annual summit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ukraine war has prompted global powers like the United States to seek a greater role in Central Asia at a time when many in the region are questioning their long-standing ties with Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky had earlier accused Russia of \"obviously threatening Kazakhstan\" in a speech to the UN General Assembly in which he urged the world to stand firm against Russia. 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, '2023-09-20 02:20:37', '2023-09-20 02:20:37'),
(9192, 9192, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The UK is set to backtrack on policies aimed at achieving net zero emissions by 2050, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suggested on Tuesday, setting up a possible rift in his party.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sunak is due to make a major speech on Friday, but said Tuesday in a statement that while the government was committed to the target, it will try to achieve it \"in a better, more proportionate way\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His comments follow British media reports that he was set to water down plans to phase out gas boilers from 2035 and delay the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars due in 2030.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sunak said politicians \"of all stripes have not been honest about costs and trade-offs\" and that he would \"put the long-term interests of our country before the short-term political needs of the moment\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The move would trigger dissent within his Conservative Party, with former Cop26 president Alok Sharma warning that \"for any party to resile from this agenda will not help economically or electorally\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other reports suggested that some MPs may even be preparing letters of no confidence should he go ahead with the move.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Labour\'s shadow energy secretary Ed Miliband called it a \"complete farce from a Tory government that literally does not know what they are doing day to day.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, Jess Ralston, Head of Energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said the U-turn \"would speak of chaos at the heart of government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"All of this would leave us more dependent on foreign oil and gas, less energy independent and with investors spooked, putting jobs in the industries of the future in jeopardy,\" she 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, '2023-09-20 02:48:58', '2023-09-20 02:48:58'),
(9193, 9193, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">China and the United States, the world\'s top two emitters, will be absent from speakers at a UN climate summit Wednesday after promises only to include the most ambitious.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, announcing the summit in December, said he would make the summit \"no nonsense\" and include only leaders of countries with concrete plans to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A list released by the United Nations showed 41 speakers that did not include China or the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US President Joe Biden is in New York for the United Nations and has launched sweeping legislation to reduce carbon emissions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He has set a goal of a net-zero emissions economy by 2050 but critics say the United States has not yet taken enough action to reach the goal, especially with political opposition on climate from the rival Republican Party.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The \"Climate Ambition Summit,\" however, will include California, represented by Governor Gavin Newsom.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Countries invited to participate include Brazil, Canada and France as well as the European Union. Speakers include London Mayor Sadiq Khan but not the United Kingdom as a whole.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Guterres, addressing the General Assembly on Tuesday, pointed to record-breaking climate chaos and said he did not want the \"same old broken record\" of countries waiting for others to go first.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"To all those working, marching and championing real climate action, I want you to know that you are on the right side of history and that I am with you,\" he 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, '2023-09-20 03:07:22', '2023-09-20 03:07:22'),
(9194, 9194, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today stressed the need for reorganising international financial mechanism to address the ongoing global economic crisis.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She came up with the importance at a high-level roundtable titled “Towards a Fair International Financial Architecture” in UN headquarters here convened by Spain and the European Council on the sidelines of 78th UNGA session.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier also called for reviewing the global credit rating system as the current one has restricted access to the funds for many low- and middle-income countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We agree with the UN Secretary General that the global credit rating system must be reviewed. The current rating system further restricts access to funds for many low- and middle-income countries,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The limits on their voting rights, quotas, and representation in Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and International Financial Institution (IFIs) also undermine their bargaining power, she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We often find international public finances to be costly and out-of-reach. We try to stay clear of high-interest-rate loans to avoid debt distress. Bangladesh has never defaulted on its loan repayment, and we hope to maintain that record,” she continued.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is critical for the international financial architecture to be inclusive and representative of the Global South, Sheikh Hasina said, adding that development narratives from countries like Bangladesh demonstrate that “we can do our part”.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It is time for the international financial system to respond to our expectations,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She continued: “We recognize that the international financial architecture needs urgent reforms. But agreement on the nature and extent of the reforms remains lacking. Political will is important.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to the words of the UN secretary general, the prime minister said, \"A fundamental shift is required\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also has put forth five points to this end as she said in her first proposal that the MDBs, IFIs, and private lending agencies must re-align their priorities and mobilize additional funds for SDG implementation and climate action.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Secondly and thirdly, she said funds need to be made available for developing countries at low-cost, concessional rates, and preferably in higher quantities of grants and all lending instruments should have disaster clauses to allow vulnerable countries to absorb shocks during crises.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Fourthly, fair and effective debt relief measures need to be given priority based on coordination and transparency among creditors,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the fifth proposal, the prime minister said instead of quotas, SDR borrowing limits should be based on needs and vulnerability, supported by easy lending processes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said Bangladesh has long been credited for its sound macroeconomic management.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Our economy grew by 8.15 percent just before the pandemic. Due to COVID-19 and Ukraine war, our economy was put under stress,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Despite, we’re still maintaining 6-7pc GDP growth, we are trying to curb inflation, manage the balance of payments, and maintain our development expenditures,\" she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We reduced our poverty level from 41.9pc to 18.7pc and the extreme poverty level from 25.5pc to 5.6 percent,\" she went on saying.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina thanked the prime minister of Spain and the president of the European Council for convening the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thematic Ambassador of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Saima Wazed and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen were present. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-20 03:27:56', '2023-09-20 03:27:56'),
(9195, 9195, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Paris Saint-Germain got their Champions League campaign off to a winning start on Tuesday as a Kylian Mbappe penalty set them up for a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund at the Parc des Princes.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The French champions had dominated the first half without overly troubling the Dortmund defence, but they went ahead four minutes after the break when Mbappe scored a spot-kick awarded for a Niklas Suele handball.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Achraf Hakimi added a memorable second, and PSG could have won the Group F encounter by a far more handsome margin in the end.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The result immediately puts them in control of the group, after AC Milan and Newcastle United drew 0-0 earlier, and coach Luis Enrique will hope they can build on this performance when they visit the English side next in a fortnight.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It was an almost perfect evening,\" said Luis Enrique.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I enjoyed practically everything about it, our intensity from the very beginning, the way we controlled the game for the first 75 minutes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We could have scored at least another goal but this win gives us confidence going forward. This is going to be a difficult group for everyone.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dortmund, meanwhile, were nowhere near their best and must improve when they entertain Milan next in what is an unforgiving section.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They are still adapting to life without Jude Bellingham and coach Edin Terzic also dropped Sebastien Haller here, with the big striker enduring a difficult start to the campaign.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PSG are in the early weeks of a new era following the departures of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Marco Verratti, and Luis Enrique\'s arrival.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The former Spain coach, who won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2015, insisted on the eve of this game that he needs time to get his ideas across to his players, many of whom also arrived over the summer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There were five new signings in PSG\'s line-up here, including Ousmane Dembele and Randal Kolo Muani in attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Helping hand -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Preferred to Goncalo Ramos, Kolo Muani was starting for the first time since joining from Eintracht Frankfurt.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With him, PSG controlled the first half, while Dortmund and their five-man defence sat back and offered little going forward.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Vitinha hit the upright in the 19th minute and Dembele later forced a save from goalkeeper Gregor Kobel at his near post, but PSG had precious little to show for a share of possession that reached almost 80 percent going into the break.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, they got the breakthrough just after half-time, thanks to a helping hand from Suele, and the referee.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Barely 60 seconds of the second half had been played when a shot by Mbappe struck the Dortmund defender at close range.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Suele survived a VAR check when the ball struck his arm in the area late in the first half but this time Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano immediately pointed to the spot, although the award seemed harsh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mbappe stepped up to stroke in the penalty for his eighth goal this season, and the home side had done the hard part.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The handball rule is not really clear,\" lamented Terzic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"PSG naturally will say it was a handball and we will say it was not but in the end what annoys me the most is that we were just not aggressive enough.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The home side scored again on 58 minutes as Vitinha and Hakimi combined for the latter to run through and prod home from close range.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was a great goal, although Hakimi was helped by Mats Hummels throwing himself to the floor rather than standing up and trying to make a block.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dortmund sent on Marco Reus and recent signing Niclas Fuellkrug up front, but it was another substitute who came closest to pulling one back with London-born teenager Jamie Bynoe-Gittens hitting the post with 11 minutes left.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PSG squandered several chances to score again and substitute Ramos had an effort ruled out for offside at the death. 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, '2023-09-20 04:16:41', '2023-09-20 04:16:41'),
(9196, 9196, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today was accorded special honour by the Brown University as the United Nations recognised her brainchild community clinic model to reach healthcare services to the Bangladesh people\'s doorsteps.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr. Mukesh K. Jain, Senior Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean of Medicine and Biological Sciences of The Warren Alpert Medical School of the Brown University handed over a citation to the prime minister at her palace of residence, The Lotte New York Hotel here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The Warren Alpert Medical School of the Brown has conferred a special honour on the premier in recognition of her community clinic model initiative by the United Nations,\" Prime Minister\'s Deputy Press Secretary Md Noorelahi Mina told a news briefing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The citation conferred on Sheikh Hasina read: \"Congratulations to her Excellency Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the People\'s Republic of Bangladesh on the recent recognition by the United Nations of the ‘Sheikh Hasina Initiative’.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"A successful model of Community-based Primary Health Care: A Participatory and Inclusive Approach to Universal Health Coverage by promoting primary health care, women\'s empowerment, and community engagement,\" the citation also read.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the meeting with the prime minister, Dr Jain discussed Bangladesh-Brown Biomedical Research and Education Initiative as a potential platform to exchange knowledge and experience in the field of public health and research.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister appreciated the initiative and expressed her support to it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also stressed the need for improving medical and clinical research in Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'re always giving importance on research. It can play a great role in medical science research,\" she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Brown University has been screening cervical cancer at different parts of Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr Jain also said they can help Bangladesh introduce electronic data management in the community clinics to keep records of the patients.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Brown University has also expressed its desire to sign an agreement to forge a partnership with Bangladesh in the field of research and education. 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, '2023-09-20 05:50:14', '2023-09-20 05:50:14'),
(9197, 9197, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Five Americans freed by Iran in a high-stakes prisoner swap landed back in the United States on Tuesday to a joyous reunion with family members.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The five arrived aboard an executive jet at a military airfield in Fort Belvoir southwest of Washington.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Relatives waved US flags and hugged the freed prisoners as they disembarked from the aircraft, then posed for a group photograph, grinning widely.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Welcome home,\" National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan posted on X, formerly Twitter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The former prisoners, including one held for eight years, were part of a rare prisoner exchange between Washington and Tehran, a deal that included the unfreezing of $6 billion in funds frozen by US ally South Korea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The swap marked a slight thaw in relations between the two countries over a host of issues, including Iran\'s advances in its nuclear program, although some observers urged caution in viewing the release as a sign of change.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prisoners arrived on a flight from the Gulf state of Qatar, which helped facilitate the exchange, negotiated over several months. They will receive a medical checkup in the Washington area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iran, which does not recognize dual nationalities, is still holding a number of European nationals including Jamshid Sharmahd, a German citizen sentenced to death.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the United Nations, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Tuesday met Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and voiced the bloc\'s \"strong condemnation\" over continued detentions, an EU statement said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Joe Biden\'s administration says that no further US citizens are known to be in Iranian prisons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It has rejected criticism at home that it was paying \"ransom,\" insisting the money will be used only for humanitarian purposes, with a threat to re-freeze the funds if not.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It insists that it is not relieving sanctions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Iran demands end to sanctions -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iran has insisted it has full access to the funds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said that sanctions reimposed by the United States were a \"political tool on people\" that had failed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"These sanctions have not yielded the desired results. It is time now for the United States to bring a cessation to its wrong path and choose the right side,\" Raisi said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But in his own speech at the United Nations, Biden vowed to work with allies to \"address Iran\'s destabilizing activities that threaten regional and global security.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States remains \"steadfast in our commitment that Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon,\" Biden said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Unlike European powers, the United States maintains no diplomatic relations with Iran\'s clerical state, established after the overthrow of the pro-Western shah in 1979.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the prisoner issue was a separate track from moribund talks on reviving a 2015 nuclear deal trashed by former president Donald Trump.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One of the freed prisoners praised Biden for ignoring the domestic political backlash and taking the \"incredibly difficult decisions\" that released them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Thank you, President Biden, for ultimately putting the lives of American citizens above politics,\" Siamak Namazi, a businessman held by Iran since 2015, said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other freed prisoners include wildlife conservationist Morad Tahbaz and venture capitalist Emad Sharqi, both of whom were held at the notorious Evin Prison but placed under house arrest last month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two other US prisoners involved in the swap have not been publicly identified.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The five Iranian prisoners released by the United States were convicted or charged with nonviolent crimes, with one already set to be released soon, officials said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">France, which backs the nuclear agreement and considers four of its nationals to be arbitrarily detained by Iran, warned against drawing a link.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I think we need to be extremely careful to distinguish this from the nuclear issue,\" French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told reporters. 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, '2023-09-20 05:52:30', '2023-09-20 05:52:30'),
(9198, 9198, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday he was willing to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, seeking a diplomatic path as tensions soar over Pyongyang\'s weapons programs.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kishida reiterated the public offer at the UN General Assembly days after his government publicly announced his willingness for a summit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a speech from the UN rostrum, Kishida said that Japan was willing to resolve all issues with North Korea -- including Pyongyang\'s past kidnappings of Japanese civilians to train its spies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"From the perspective of opening up a new era together, I would like to convey my determination to meet with President Kim Jong Un face to face at any time without any conditions,\" Kishida said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said he would \"like to hold high-level talks under my direct supervision to realize a summit meeting at an early time.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Japan\'s former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi paid a landmark visit to Pyongyang while in office in 2002, meeting Kim\'s father Kim Jong Il and setting out a path to normalize relations in which Japan would offer economic assistance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The trip led to the return of five Japanese nationals and a follow-up trip by Koizumi but the diplomacy soon broke down, in part over Tokyo\'s concern that North Korea was not coming clean on the abduction victims.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea carried out a nuclear test in 2006, setting a more confrontational phase. Tensions have soared in recent months as Pyongyang carries out a series of missile tests.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States under President Joe Biden has also offered talks but North Korea has shown little interest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden\'s predecessor Donald Trump took an unusually personal approach with Kim, meeting him three times and voicing admiration for him.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The historic summits led to a reduction of tension but no long-term agreement between the United States and North Korea, which have never technically ended their 1950-53 war. 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, '2023-09-20 05:54:47', '2023-09-20 05:54:47'),
(9199, 9199, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Asian Development Bank (ADB) has projected Bangladesh’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth to be 6.5 percent in the fiscal year 2024, compared to an estimated growth of 6 percent in fiscal 2023.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The projection was made in the latest ADB report, ‘Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2023,’ released today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ADB in a press release said that the growth forecast reflects an improvement in domestic demand and better export growth due to economic recovery in the Eurozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ADB also mentioned that inflation in Bangladesh is projected to ease from 9 percent in FY2023 to 6.6 percent in FY2024.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The current account deficit is expected to slightly narrow from 0.7 percent of GDP in FY2023 to 0.5 percent of GDP in FY2024 as remittance growth improves.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The main risk to this growth projection is a further deterioration in export growth if global demand is weaker than expected, the press release said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">ADB Country Director Edimon Ginting said that the government is managing relatively well against the external economic uncertainties, while advancing infrastructure development and critical reforms to improve the investment climate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“These key structural reforms include to strengthen public financial management, enhance domestic resource mobilisation, improve logistics, and deepen financial sector, which are critical for private sector development, export diversification and productive job creation in the medium term,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He mentioned that continued high oil prices also provide a good incentive to accelerate reforms to expand domestic renewable energy supply and achieve the country’s climate change goals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ADO September 2023 states that moderate inflation and an increase in remittances will contribute to reviving private consumption, while the completion of a number of major government infrastructure projects will boost investment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Private investment, however, may be dampened by the initial higher interest rates following the enhancement in the country’s monetary policy framework.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Inflation is expected to ease in FY2024 with some fall in global non-fuel commodity prices, expected higher agricultural production, and the initial tightening of monetary policy under the new framework. 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, '2023-09-20 07:16:34', '2023-09-20 07:16:34'),
(9200, 9200, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh Bank is working to take disciplinary action against the treasury heads of 10 commercial banks over selling US dollars at prices higher than the fixed rate.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The central bank sent letters to these banks mentioning the offence with instructions of punishment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Bank stated in the letter that the treasury chief cannot ignored the responsibility of such offence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Banks’ treasury departments handle the demand and supply of money and dollars. In some banks, there is also an officer, of deputy managing director rank, as the head of the treasury department.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to information from various sources, the 10 concerned banks are: Mercantile Bank, Premier Bank, BRAC Bank, Madhumati Bank, Midland Bank, Exim Bank, Social Islami Bank, Al-Arafah Islami Bank, Shahjalal Islami Bank and Trust Bank.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sources said this number of banks may increase.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In August last year, Bangladesh Bank removed the heads of the treasury departments of six domestic and foreign banks based on the same complaint. But in the end, the regulatory body could not uphold that decision.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chairman of Association of Bankers, Bangladesh (ABB) and Managing Director (MD) of BRAC Bank, Salim RF Hossain, said that this is a bilateral issue between the central bank and the respective scheduled banks. “Such letters come regularly. Therefore, I do not want to make any specific comments on this issue,” 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, '2023-09-20 07:48:07', '2023-09-20 07:48:07');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(9201, 9201, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A resident student of Dhaka University’s Ziaur Rahman Hall died after falling from the 6th floor of Jamuna block of Bijoy Ekattor Hall.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officer-in-charge of Dhaka Medical College Hospital police outpost Bacchu Mia confirmed the death.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased Kazi Firoz was a student of Chinese language, of 2019-20 academic session.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He stayed in room 203 of Ziaur Rahman Hall of Dhaka University.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to Firoz’s roommate, Bin Yamin, “Firoz had been frustrated for a while. We always tried to cheer him up. Yesterday, he came to room around 10:30 pm, prayed, and asked if he owed us money.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“When he was leaving the room, he seemed quite depressed. I was determined to talk to him after his return. But after five minutes, I heard from nearby Bijoy Ekattor Hall that someone had committed suicide,” he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We immediately rushed there, and it was Firoz,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Firoz was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital but doctors there declared him dead.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A note was also recovered from his table.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The note reads: “Human beings live for dignity. If there is no dignity, life is meaningless... Mother, I’m sorry that I couldn’t keep my words.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Firoz’s body is now at DMCH morgue. After post-mortem, the body will be sent to his hometown Gopalganj.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">DU Proctor Prof Maksudur Rahman said, “The incident is heart-breaking. Hall authorities will primarily look into the case.” 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, '2023-09-20 08:29:40', '2023-09-20 08:29:40'),
(9202, 9202, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Just two weeks before the ICC Men\'s Cricket World Cup 2023, the official anthem, \"Dil Jashn Bole,\" has been released, ICC said on Wednesday.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This collaboration features Bollywood star Ranveer Singh and music by Pritam, a prominent composer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The anthem offers a cinematic journey across India on the One Day Express, showcasing a celebration leading up to the largest Cricket World Cup ever.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Available on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, fans can soon tune in to Big FM and Red FM.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ranveer Singh, a devoted cricket fan, expressed his elation at being a part of this anthem launch, celebrating the sport he loves. Pritam, equally enthused, stated that composing music for this event was a tremendous honour.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 will run from October 5 to November 19. A total of 10 teams will participate in this year’s World Cup, five of them from South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-20 08:49:13', '2023-09-20 08:49:13'),
(9203, 9203, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh Bank is working to take disciplinary action against the treasury heads of 10 commercial banks over selling US dollars at prices higher than the fixed rate.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The central bank sent letters to these banks mentioning the offence with instructions of punishment.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Bank stated in the letter that the treasury chief cannot ignored the responsibility of such offence.</div><div><br></div><div>Banks’ treasury departments handle the demand and supply of money and dollars. In some banks, there is also an officer, of deputy managing director rank, as the head of the treasury department.</div><div><br></div><div>According to information from various sources, the 10 concerned banks are: Mercantile Bank, Premier Bank, BRAC Bank, Madhumati Bank, Midland Bank, Exim Bank, Social Islami Bank, Al-Arafah Islami Bank, Shahjalal Islami Bank and Trust Bank.</div><div><br></div><div>Sources said this number of banks may increase.</div><div><br></div><div>In August last year, Bangladesh Bank removed the heads of the treasury departments of six domestic and foreign banks based on the same complaint. But in the end, the regulatory body could not uphold that decision.</div><div><br></div><div>Chairman of Association of Bankers, Bangladesh (ABB) and Managing Director (MD) of BRAC Bank, Salim RF Hossain, said that this is a bilateral issue between the central bank and the respective scheduled banks. “Such letters come regularly. Therefore, I do not want to make any specific comments on this issue,” he said. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-20 09:50:50', '2023-09-20 09:50:50'),
(9204, 9204, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The World Bank yesterday approved $102 million to help Bangladesh improve riverbank protection and navigability in the Jamuna River, saving people from being displaced, protecting their livelihoods and spurring economic activities.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Jamuna River Sustainable Management Project 1, the first among a series of proposed projects, will help improve navigation channels with adequate depth that can accommodate large cargo vessels year-round.</div><div><br></div><div>This will help revive inland water transport and boost regional connectivity and trade. It will also help protect about 2,500 hectares of land from riverbank erosion and flooding, safeguarding the livelihoods and assets of the local people and creating new economic opportunities, said a press release.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"Jamuna is one of the largest and most dynamic rivers in the world. It provides a lifeline to millions of people. Yet, river erosion, aggravated by climate change and rising water levels, displaces thousands of people every year, pushing them to poverty,\" said Abdoulaye Seck, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Sustainable and climate resilient management of the Jamuna River will bring enormous economic benefits for the country and its people. The World Bank is helping Bangladesh to develop and implement a multi-phased program to protect sections of riverbanks and improve navigation channels and we will continue working closely with our multilateral and bilateral development partners,\" added Seck.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The project, for the first time in Bangladesh, will pilot nature-based solutions and innovative river structures and navigation at two channels of Jamuna, crossing Phulchhari, Gaibandha, and Kalihati.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The improved navigation channels will benefit about 100,000 people by providing better safety and cheaper transportation for those switching from buses to passenger ferries.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"The project will be the major first multi-sectoral investment under the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100,\" said Ahmed Shawky, World Bank senior water resources management specialist and team leader for the project.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The pilot activities will help improve climate resilience while protecting the environment and will not interfere with the river\'s natural course. Success and lessons learned from this phase will inform the design and scope of the subsequent projects,\" Shawky added.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The project will also focus on reducing the risks of disaster and displacement for the vulnerable people living along the Jamuna River. About 1.2 million people will be brought under an insurance scheme and more than one-third of beneficiaries will be women.</div><div><br></div><div>The insurance-holders will receive the payments digitally when insurance triggers are activated. Moreover, about 120,000 people will also benefit from the community protection fund.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The World Bank was among the first development partners to support Bangladesh. Since independence, the World Bank has committed about $40 billion in grants, interest-free and concessional credits to the country. Currently, Bangladesh has the largest IDA program in the world with a total of $16.06 billion commitment to 55 ongoing projects. According to BSS reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-20 10:48:20', '2023-09-20 10:48:20'),
(9205, 9205, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Tuesday) attended a reception hosted by American President Joe Biden.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Biden hosted the banquet at The Metropolitan Museum of Art here in the evening in honor of the heads of state and government who arrived in New York to take part in the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Session.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen informed newsmen about the reception at a press briefing on the Prime Minister\'s engagements here.</div><div><br></div><div>PM\'s daughter and Thematic Abmassador of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Saima Wazed accompanied the premier.</div><div><br></div><div>During the banquet, the Prime Minister exchanged pleasantries with the heads of the government and state from various countries. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-20 11:35:07', '2023-09-20 11:35:07'),
(9206, 9206, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>After many dramatic ups and downs, popular film actor couple Pori Moni and Shariful Razz are apparently divorced, according to their family sources.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Pori Moni posted a status on her verified Facebook page that raised rumours of divorce on social media.</div><div><br></div><div>“Tomorrow (September 17) is a very important day in my life! A... (signature emoji)... Trust in Allah,” the actress wrote.</div><div><br></div><div>However, there have been no direct comment from either Pori Moni or Razz on the subject so far.</div><div><br></div><div>Razz and Pori got married on October 17, 2021. The star couple then completed the formalities in January 2022. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-20 11:56:52', '2023-09-20 11:56:52'),
(9207, 9207, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A Brazilian fitness and health influencer Adriana Thyssen has died at the age of 49 due to a \'\'mystery illness\'\', New York Post reported. Ms Thyssen, also known as Drika, was reportedly found dead in her Uberlandia apartment in Sao Paulo on Sunday but her exact cause of death is unknown. Her family has not disclosed the cause of death.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The fitness influencer regularly shared tips and updates on her weight-loss journey on Instagram and she notably lost over 100 pounds (45 kg) in just over a year.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“It is with deep sadness and regret that we, the Drika Blog and Drika Store team and family announce the death of our dear Drika. In this moment of pain, we ask for everyone\'s prayer and compassion,\'\' Ms Thyssen\'s cousin wrote on the Instagram page of her plus-size sportswear boutique, Drika Store.</div><div><br></div><div>Ms Thyssen had gained a substantial following of over 600,000 on Instagram, where she routinely documented her weight loss efforts, and shared workout regimes and healthy diet tips.</div><div><br></div><div>She had previously admitted that she had struggled with being overweight since she was a teenager. At 39, the health influencer weighed over 220 pounds (around 100 kg). She shared how she decided to get in shape after struggling with drug addiction and depression.</div><div><br></div><div>In a post welcoming new followers, she wrote, \"I started the fight on 02/18/13, I weighed 107kg. I wasn\'t pregnant and I didn\'t have bariatric surgery. I was unemployed and with my husband I was in debt at the bank.\"</div><div><br></div><div>From there onwards, she started her weight-loss journey by adhering to a balanced diet and a rigorous exercise regimen. She initially lost 80 pounds in eight months and 20 pounds in the next seven months.</div><div><br></div><div>She has been buried at a private funeral at Cemitério Bom Jesus in Araguari in her native state of Minas Gerais. Source: NDTV</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-20 13:32:51', '2023-09-20 13:32:51'),
(9208, 9208, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The United States has conveyed to Bangladesh that working with trading partners to support workers’ rights, including freedom of association and collective bargaining, is a top priority for the Biden-Harris Administration.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The United States emphasized the importance of combatting violence against workers and union organizers, as well as anti-union discrimination and other unfair labour practices.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh and the US on Wednesday held the seventh meeting of the Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA) Council.</div><div><br></div><div>The meeting was co-chaired by Brendan Lynch, Acting Assistant United States Trade Representative for South and Central Asia and Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Commerce Secretary.</div><div><br></div><div>Both delegations included officials from trade, labor, intellectual property, and other relevant agencies.</div><div><br></div><div>During the TICFA Council meeting, the United States and Bangladesh discussed a range of issues impacting the bilateral trade relationship, most notably labour reforms, as well as policies impacting the investment climate and digital trade, intellectual property protection and enforcement, and bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector.</div><div><br></div><div>The United States noted that a tripartite labour law review committee is reviewing the amendments to the Bangladesh Labour Act (BLA) and encouraged Bangladesh to extend freedom of association and collective bargaining to Bangladesh’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and the Export Processing Zones (EPZs).</div><div><br></div><div>The United States recognized that Bangladesh had undertaken some efforts to address hurdles workers face when registering unions, and stressed the importance of ensuring a simplified and impartial trade union registration process that allows for applications to be registered within the legal timeframe.</div><div><br></div><div>Additionally, the United States urged Bangladesh to dedicate more resources to labor inspections and enforcement.</div><div><br></div><div>The United States appreciated the Government of Bangladesh’s consistent dialogue over the past year on Bangladesh’s Data Protection Act (DPA).</div><div><br></div><div>Both sides affirmed their commitment to the protection of personal data and ensuring that Bangladesh’s digital sector continues to thrive while ensuring trust in the digital economy.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh’s newest version of the DPA draft incorporated improvements from earlier versions, including the removal of criminal penalties, restricting the scope of the DPA to personal data, and limiting application to firms that process personal data within the territory of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>The United States applauded Bangladesh’s actions to remove cotton fumigation requirement on U.S. cotton exports, a long-standing issue that had persisted for over twenty years.</div><div><br></div><div>The United States and Bangladesh cooperated on agricultural biotechnology dialogue and look forward to deepening their engagement this year.</div><div><br></div><div>Both countries recognized the importance of the protection and enforcement of intellectual property (IP) for protecting innovation across economies.</div><div><br></div><div>The United States also reiterated its interest in engaging with Bangladesh on ongoing processes for amendments to IP-related laws and regulations, including the Copyright Act Amendments, Industrial Designs Act, Patent Bill, and Implementing Regulations and IPR Enforcement (Import and Export) Rules.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition, the United States discussed actions needed to address concerns with Bangladesh’s ranking as one of the top five source economies for counterfeit clothing globally, as noted in USTR’s 2023 Special 301 Report.</div><div><br></div><div>Both delegations planned to continue dialogue on these important bilateral trade issues before the next TICFA Council Meeting, which will be held in Washington, D.C. in 2024. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-20 14:03:14', '2023-09-20 14:03:14'),
(9209, 9209, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Ekushey Padak winning dancer and television actress Zeenat Barkatullah died of old-age complications at her own residence in the city\'s Dhanmondi area this afternoon.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The news was confirmed by her daughter Bijori Barkatullah, who is also a noted television actress and dancer in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Zeenat Barkatullah left behind two daughters and a host of relatives and admirers to mourn her death.</div><div><br></div><div>Barkatullah was awarded the Ekushey Padak, the second most important award for civilians in the country, in 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of Zeenat Barkatullah.</div><div><br></div><div>In a message of condolence, he, also Awami League joint general secretary, prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-20 15:54:38', '2023-09-20 15:54:38'),
(9210, 9210, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday allowed the export of 3,950 tonnes of Hilsa in India on the occasion of the Durga Puja festival.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The ministry issued a notification allowing 79 exporters&nbsp; &nbsp;to export Hilsa. They can export 50 tonnes of Hilsa within October 30, 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>The commerce ministry has allowed Hilsa export under eight conditions: the customs authority will conduct a manual inspection of the products permitted to be exported, all export documents must be sent to the Ministry of Commerce after each shipment is done, more than the permitted quantity cannot be exported, the permit is not transferable in any way and Hilsa cannot be exported through subcontracting.</div><div><br></div><div>The businessmen of West Bengal has informed about the demand of 5,000 tonnes of Hilsa ahead of Durga Puja.</div><div><br></div><div>On September 1, 2023, the Kolkata Fish Importers Association submitted this application to the Bangladesh Mission in Kolkata. The commerce ministry got the application on September 4.</div><div><br></div><div>The ministry sources said that 2900 tonnes of Hilsa were allowed to be exported last year on the occasion puja festival. However, 1300 tonnes of Hilsa were exported.</div><div><br></div><div>The same incident happened in previous years as well. Exports were exported 30 to 40 percent less than the allowed quantity. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-20 15:57:59', '2023-09-20 15:57:59'),
(9211, 9211, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Azerbaijan\'s president has declared that his country\'s sovereignty has been restored over Nagorno-Karabakh after a 24-hour military offensive against ethnic-Armenian forces.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ilham Aliyev praised the heroism of Azerbaijan\'s army hours after Karabakh forces agreed to surrender.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some 120,000 ethnic Armenians live in the South Caucasus enclave, recognised internationally as part of Azerbaijan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Azerbaijan now intends to bring the breakaway region under full control.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Its military launched an \"anti-terror\" operation on Tuesday, demanding that Karabakh\'s forces raise a white flag and dissolve their \"illegal regime\". With no means of support from neighbouring Armenia, and after an effective nine-month blockade, the ethnic Armenians soon gave in.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Armenian officials reported that at least 32 people were killed, including seven civilians, and another 200 wounded. However according to a separatist Armenian human rights official, at least 200 people were killed and more than 400 wounded. The BBC has not been able to verify any of the figures.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Wednesday evening, Armenian officials accused Azerbaijan of opening fire on troops near the town of Sotk on the border between the two countries after the ceasefire had been agreed, but Azerbaijan immediately denied the claims.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier in the day, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Yerevan, the Armenian capital, to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for his handling of the crisis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Azerbaijan\'s army said it had captured more than 90 positions from the ethnic Armenians before both sides announced that a complete cessation of hostilities had been agreed through Russian peacekeepers, starting at 13:00 local time (09:00 GMT) on Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under the terms of the truce, outlined by Azerbaijan and Russia, which has peacekeepers on the ground, local Karabakh forces must commit to being completely disbanded as well as disarmed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There is also a commitment to Armenian forces pulling out, even though its government denies having any military presence there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Azerbaijan\'s presidency said officials would meet Karabakh\'s Armenian representatives for talks on \"issues of re-integration\" in the Azerbaijani town of Yevlakh on Thursday. President Aliyev said Azerbaijanis had nothing against the population, only their \"criminal junta\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yevlakh is some 100km (60 miles) north of Karabakh\'s regional capital, Khankendi, known as Stepanakert by Armenians.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Civilians flee to airport</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Marut Vanyan, a journalist in Karabakh, said many families had spent Tuesday night in basements: \"I didn\'t sleep and I didn\'t eat. It\'s calm now but it\'s a strange feeling. Right now, what we need to do is stop this bloodshed and understand what to do next.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia said its peacekeepers had evacuated 2,000 people from Karabakh villages since the offensive had begun.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As the ceasefire was announced, Karabakh officials appealed to residents to remain in shelters and not to leave for the local airport, adjacent to a Russian peacekeeping base. However, a crowd of civilians had soon gathered close to the airport and as darkness fell hours later it was unclear what support they would have.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Caucasus specialist Thomas de Waal of Carnegie Europe said the terms of the ceasefire and the coming talks were very much on Azerbaijan\'s terms and left ethnic Armenians looking unprotected.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This looks like the end of a 35-year-old project, some would say a century-old project, of the Armenians of Karabakh to secede from Azerbaijan,\" he told the BBC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'re probably, unfortunately, seeing a project whereby the Azerbaijanis offer so little to the Karabakh Armenians that most if not all of them will leave.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made clear his government was not involved in the ceasefire text and demanded that Russian peacekeepers take full responsibility for the safety of the local population. On Tuesday he accused Azerbaijan of \"ethnic cleansing\" in Karabakh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Azerbaijan\'s presidential envoy Elchin Amirbekov told the BBC that Russian peacekeepers had helped facilitate the ceasefire: \"I think they have to be counted on for the implementation part.\" 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, '2023-09-21 02:04:03', '2023-09-21 02:04:03'),
(9212, 9212, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Wednesday) said here that women must be in a leadership position to influence decisions to make positive impacts in the lives of other women.&nbsp;</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"We need to elevate our narrative from participation to leadership... And the UN must lead by example. It is regrettable that no woman has so far been appointed as the UN Secretary General. Time has come; we will have one soon,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She was addressing the Annual Meeting of the UNGA Platform of Women Leaders on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session at the Delegation Dining Room in the UN Headquarters here.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We must enhance our partnership base to make gender equality a norm across all sectors. The private sector needs to come forward to advance women\'s participation at a higher level. As leaders, we need to engage with them and encourage them to take bold initiatives in that regard,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Prime Minister said every country is different; they have different challenges and different social and cultural dynamics, adding that however, when all adopt the historic Agenda 2030, they should be committed to achieving gender equality.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We cannot back out of that commitment under any circumstances. As women leaders, we have a responsibility to stand by all women and create examples that can guide others. We must leverage our position and power to achieve a gender-equal world,\" she opined.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thematic Ambassador of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Saima Wazed was present at the meeting.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the outset, Sheikh Hasina thanked the PGA and the Executive Director of UN Women for convening the meeting.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since its inception in 2021, she said, she has found this platform very useful, where \"we share our experience and learn from each other how to tackle global challenges with local solutions.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Our efforts to achieve peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability would yield no result if half of the world\'s population were left behind. Gender equality is not an option rather an imperative to achieve a fair and just world,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sharing experiences of her own country, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh was born out of a devastating war that left the country with no resources, except for the people.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"So, we decided to make use of our entire human capital and include women as equal partners in our pursuit of a prosperous country. Guided by our constitutional commitment, we adopted the necessary laws and policies to ensure women\'s equal participation in all walks of national life,\" she said.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier said her government invested heavily in girls\' education and women\'s economic empowerment.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She mentioned that girls\' education has been made free up to the 12th grade alongside providing stipends and free books to students up to the secondary level.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier said they have ensured that 60 percent of the school teachers at the primary level are women while the country\'s ready-made garment industry employs over 4 million women.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have taken specific policy actions to encourage women\'s entrepreneurship and help them access financing. We have ensured concessional loans for women entrepreneurs,\" she said.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Prime Minister said her government has established the Joyeeta Foundation to promote and support women in business initiatives and opened the doors for women in higher positions in government bodies.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Women are now becoming judges of the highest court, ambassadors, vice chancellors of public universities and getting higher positions in civil administration, the armed forces, law-enforcing agencies, and so on. On the political spectrum, women are represented at all levels, from the top to the lowest tier of the government, she continued.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said they ensured women\'s and girls\' access to ICT and digital platforms.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier went on saying that they have 12,292 union and municipal digital centres that were run by a woman and a man while the government is providing training to women to work as freelancers.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Our target is to achieve gender parity in the ICT sector, including tech start-ups and the e-commerce sector. We are one of the first countries to introduce gender-responsive budgeting. Thirty percent of our budget is allocated for women\'s development activities,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Prime Minister said women in Bangladesh have also been an integral part of their continued efforts to achieve sustainability.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Our gender-equal disaster response plan has earned us global recognition. Our investments in women\'s development have given us dividends. Today, women\'s contribution to GDP has reached 34 percent. Economic empowerment has also enabled women to play a greater role in decision-making, both in their families and in society,\" she said. 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, '2023-09-21 02:59:56', '2023-09-21 02:59:56'),
(9213, 9213, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Ekushey Padak winning renowned dancer and actress Zeenat Barkatullah.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a condolence message, the prime minister said that Zeenat Barkatullah was a renowned cultural personality, adding her death was an irreparable loss to the cultural arena of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep symphony to the bereaved family members.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zeenat Barkatullah passed away on Wednesday due to old-age complications. She was 72 years old.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She is survived by two daughters- actress Bijori Barkatullah and Nusrat Barkatullah Kajori. 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, '2023-09-21 03:11:24', '2023-09-21 03:11:24'),
(9214, 9214, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday confronted Russia directly at the UN Security Council, denouncing the Kremlin\'s invasion of his country as \"criminal\" and urging the United Nations to strip Moscow of its veto power.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Clad in his trademark military fatigues, Zelensky for the first time since the February 2022 invasion sat in the same room as a Russian official, who responded by scrolling through his smartphone with a look of conspicuous disinterest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Most of the world recognizes the truth about this war,\" Zelensky said. \"It is a criminal and unprovoked aggression by Russia against our nation aimed at seizing Ukraine\'s territory and resources.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zelensky called on the United Nations to vote to end Russia\'s veto power on the Security Council, where Moscow joins only Britain, China, France, and the United States in being able to block any resolution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ukrainian leader said this move could be among wide-ranging reforms at the Security Council that would include giving permanent representation to nations in the developing world, where support for Ukraine\'s cause has been lukewarm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Veto power in the hands of the aggressor is what has pushed the UN into a deadlock,\" Zelensky said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It is impossible to stop the war because all efforts are vetoed by the aggressor or those who condone the aggressor,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zelensky repeated the Ukrainian stance that Moscow\'s veto power belonged to the former Soviet Union -- one of the victors of World War II after which the United Nations was created -- and not to President Vladimir Putin\'s Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Unfortunately, this seat on the Security Council, which Russia occupies illegally through backstage manipulations following the collapse of the Soviet Union, has been taken by liars whose job it is to whitewash the aggression and the genocide,\" Zelensky said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Russia scoffs -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Taking away Russia\'s veto power would be exceedingly difficult, with Zelensky acknowledging that Moscow will not \"give up this stolen privilege voluntarily.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There is, however, precedent: the General Assembly in 1971 transferred China\'s veto-wielding seat from Taiwan, then considered the country\'s representative, to the communist government on the mainland.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, showing up at the Security Council after Zelensky left, scoffed at the idea of ending Russia\'s veto and described it as a way to check Western power.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The use of the veto is an absolutely legitimate tool laid out in the (UN) Charter,\" Lavrov said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lavrov denounced Zelensky, who is seeking to win back all territory occupied by Russia, for not negotiating.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia\'s top diplomat then turned to the onlooking US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, and suggested the United States could \"give a command for Zelensky to lift the decree\" against negotiations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Blinken, who had met Lavrov before the war to warn against an invasion, has largely avoided him since the war and no talks were planned in New York.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his own remarks as Lavrov entered the room, Blinken recalled a recent visit to Ukraine where he visited a town where bodies of Ukrainian civilians were stacked among the living in a school basement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Russia is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine on an almost daily basis,\" Blinken said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said the Security Council meeting should show Russia that \"almost all states\" want the war to end.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Changing tone with Lula -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The war has brought mixed feelings in parts of the developing world, where some nations have been aghast by the billions of dollars dedicated by Western nations to arming Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has outraged Ukraine by saying it shared blame for the war, met for the first time with Zelensky since the war and said he heard out his views.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lula said he told Zelensky it was \"important to build an atmosphere for negotiations to end the war.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Negotiating around a table is much cheaper than wire. There are no victims, no deaths and no shooting,\" Lula told reporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But speaking before the Security Council, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected calls by other nations for an immediate ceasefire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I acknowledge their good intentions. We all want an end to the killing -- today rather than tomorrow,\" Scholz said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But he rejected imposing a \"diktat,\" saying that peace \"means respecting the territorial integrity and political independence of Ukraine.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tensions erupted even before Zelensky addressed the Security Council, with the Russian side questioning the decision by current Security Council president Albania, represented by Prime Minister Edi Rama, to allow the Ukrainian to go first.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, repeatedly asking to speak, told Rama that letting Zelensky, a former comedian, appear first risked turning the Security Council into \"a one-man stand-up show.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rama responded calmly but with growing annoyance, telling the Russian envoy, \"There is a solution here -- you stop the war, and President Zelensky will not take the floor.\" 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, '2023-09-21 03:55:05', '2023-09-21 03:55:05');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(9216, 9216, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Saudi Arabia and Israel voiced optimism Wednesday that they were moving closer to a historic normalization of ties as Iran -- their common foe -- accused the kingdom of betraying the Palestinians through the US-led effort.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US President Joe Biden is hoping to transform the Middle East -- and score an election-year diplomatic victory -- by securing recognition of the Jewish state by Saudi Arabia, the guardian of Islam\'s two holiest sites.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Biden quipped that he had \"Irish optimism\" on securing a deal with Saudi Arabia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If you and I, 10 years ago, were talking about normalization with Saudi Arabia, I think we\'d look at each other like, \'Who\'s been drinking what?\'\" Biden -- himself a teetotaler -- said of Israel and the strictly dry kingdom.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Netanyahu, who has had rocky relations with Biden, said he believed a deal was \"within our reach\" and credited him.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I think that under your leadership, Mr. President, we can forge a historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia,\" Netanyahu said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden has publicly criticized Netanyahu for overhauling Israel\'s judiciary, a step seen by domestic critics as undermining democracy, and alluded to the concerns again as he received him in New York rather than at the White House.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Closer \'every day\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden\'s relationship has been even worse with Saudi Arabia\'s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom the president once vowed to treat as a \"pariah\" over human rights.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US intelligence says the crown prince, known by his initials MBS, ordered a 2018 operation to kill and dismember journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a US resident.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In an interview with Fox News, MBS said talks were moving forward with Israel, denying a media report that the process was suspended.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Every day we get closer,\" the prince said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But he noted the kingdom was seeking more progress on ensuring the rights of the Palestinians, as Netanyahu\'s hard-right government continues to pursue controversial settlements in the occupied West Bank.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"For us, the Palestinian issue is very important. We need to solve that part,\" he said. \"We need to ease the lives of the Palestinians.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also warned that Saudi Arabia was closely watching Iran, whose Shiite clerical leaders are arch-foes both of the conservative Saudi kingdom and Israel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked how the kingdom would react if Iran develops a nuclear weapon, MBS said, \"If they get one, we have to get one.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saudi Arabia has also been seeking security guarantees, including reportedly a treaty, with the United States in return for normalizing with Israel, the region\'s only nuclear weapons state -- even if an undeclared one.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Iran warning -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iran denies seeking a nuclear weapon and has repaired relations with Saudi Arabia in recent months through talks led by China and through the easing of a proxy conflict in Yemen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But relations remain fraught and memories are fresh over 2019 drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities blamed on Iran.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, addressing reporters Wednesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, said that any deal that aims \"to bring security for the Zionist regime\" -- Israel -- \"will certainly not do so.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We believe that a relationship between regional countries and the Zionist regime would be a stab in the back of the Palestinian people and of the resistance of the Palestinians,\" Raisi said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel normalized relations decades ago with neighboring Egypt and Jordan and in 2020 added three more Arab states -- the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco -- in what then US president Donald Trump considered a towering foreign policy achievement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The so-called \"Abraham Accords\" also included sweeteners from Trump, including a promise to sell top-of-the-line F-35 jets to the United Arab Emirates.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in an interview with ABC News on Wednesday, said normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel would be a \"transformative event.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"To bring these two countries together in particular would have a powerful effect in stabilizing the region, in integrating the region, in bringing people together, not having them at each other\'s throats,\" Blinken said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But he acknowledged it remained \"hard to get there.\" 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, '2023-09-21 03:57:03', '2023-09-21 03:57:03'),
(9217, 9217, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Three South African navy divers died after being swept away from their submarine in choppy waters near Cape Town on Wednesday, the country\'s military said.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The incident occurred off the coast of the town of Kommetjie, as an army submarine en route to Cape Town staged a refuelling operation at sea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The operation involved a helicopter dropping off supplies, but that went awry when strong waves lashed the submarine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"High waves swept away seven crew members out to sea,\" said the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The rough conditions adversely affected rescue attempts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"All seven members were recovered but sadly there were three fatalities with one senior officer in critical condition,\" said the army in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The South African National Defence Union, a trade union for the military, also confirmed the \"navy exercise\" incident and the casualties.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Cape Peninsula is home to South Africa\'s largest naval base, Simon\'s Town.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The South African navy is to hold a series of parades and exercises in Cape Town from Saturday to Monday, with the public invited to board ships and a submarine. 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, '2023-09-21 03:59:31', '2023-09-21 03:59:31'),
(9218, 9218, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Air pollution still remains one of the top-most challenges for Bangladesh and Dhaka ranked as the fifth most polluted city in the world with ‘unhealthy’ air quality this morning.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka’s air quality index (AQI) score was 141 at 9:02 am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United Arab Emirates’ Dubai, Pakistan’s Lahore and Indonesia’s Jakarta occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 160, 155, and 155 respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be \'very unhealthy\', while a reading of 301+ is considered \'hazardous\', posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants — particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-21 04:01:49', '2023-09-21 04:01:49'),
(9219, 9219, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">China\'s Xi Jinping will attend the Asian Games opening ceremony in host city Hangzhou and meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad along with other visiting leaders there, state media said Thursday.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Xi \"will attend the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou from September 22 to 23, and hold a welcome banquet and bilateral activities for foreign leaders visiting China\", state broadcaster CCTV said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foreign guests in attendance will include Assad -- on his first visit to China since war erupted in Syria in 2011 -- as well as leaders from ally Cambodia, Kuwait, and Nepal, among others, CCTV said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Games were supposed to take place last September but were postponed because of China\'s strict zero-Covid regime, before the ruling Communist Party abruptly abandoned the policy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 19th edition of the Games, which were first held in New Delhi in 1951, brings together athletes from 45 countries and territories across Asia and the Middle East. 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, '2023-09-21 04:23:58', '2023-09-21 04:23:58'),
(9220, 9220, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the world major economies should exercise honesty about climate change to avoid impending crisis.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We expect the world’s major economies to remain honest about climate change and do their fair share to avert the impending crisis,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister made the remarks in a\" High Level Thematic Session of Climate Ambition Summit on “Delivering Climate Justice: Accelerating Ambition and Implementation on Adaptation and Early Warnings for All\" at ECOSOC Chamber here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She arrived in New York on September 17 to attend the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier said Bangladesh’s experience demonstrated that investing in adaptation and early warning makes perfect sense.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We hope our development partners will seize these opportunities to deliver climate justice,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh has joined this session to lend support to two initiatives by the UN secretary general.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As a climate justice advocate, she said Bangladesh stands ready to align with any constructive move that advances the agenda.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said that Bangladesh has requested the UN system to conduct a table-top exercise on nation-wide earthquake modeling.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said they are working on Bangladesh\'s second satellite, Bangabandhu II, as an Earth Observatory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Bangladesh is willing to share its expertise with other vulnerable countries through South-South and triangular cooperation,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also expressed her hope that “early warnings for all” will be able to encourage MDBs and IFIs to join such efforts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier mentioned that Bangladesh had reduced fatalities to a single digit compared to the millions that perished during the Bhola Cyclone in 1970.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have one of the world’s largest community volunteer programmes comprising 65,000 coastal people,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh\'s latest National Plan for Disaster Management has adopted an integrated multi-hazard early warning approach, the prime minister said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We are using mobile technology to provide regular updates on weather forecasts,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thematic Ambassador of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Saima Wazed was present. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-21 05:14:17', '2023-09-21 05:14:17'),
(9221, 9221, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Bank of England is expected to raise its key interest rate for a 15th straight time Thursday but the possibility of a pause has surfaced after a surprise dip in UK inflation.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BoE had been widely tipped to raise borrowing costs again heading into this week\'s monetary policy meeting until official data Wednesday on consumer prices in August clouded the outlook.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UK central bank is announcing its decision a day after the US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady but has said another hike is likely in 2023, with fewer cuts in 2024.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thursday also sees rate decisions from the central banks of Norway, Sweden and Switzerland -- all expected to hike as inflation remains relatively high in the three European nations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BoE could still join them by raising its rate to 5.5 percent from 5.25.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, \"what had seemed like a sure thing is cast into doubt\", noted Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Moments after the shock inflation number was released, the market expectation of a Bank of England rate rise began to plummet.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Consumer Prices Index eased to 6.7 percent last month from 6.8 percent in July.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That was the lowest since February 2022 and confounded expectations for an acceleration to 7.1 percent on higher energy prices.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Following the data, a Bloomberg survey of analysts showed another rate hike was a 50-50 chance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Interest-rate decisions were due Thursday also from Indonesia, South Africa and Turkey.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Cost-of-living crisis -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A fresh BoE hike would put its borrowing cost at the highest level since the start of the global financial crisis more than 15 years ago.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Central banks have tightened borrowing costs to multi-year highs as worldwide inflation soared following Russia\'s invasion of Ukraine, with energy and food prices surging.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The European Central Bank has carried out 10 straight rate rises but is now signalling that eurozone borrowing costs may have reached a peak.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It comes as data this week showed eurozone inflation slowed slightly in August.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">UK inflation struck a 41-year peak at 11.1 percent in October 2022, while the BoE is tasked by the British government with keeping the level at about two percent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a bid to cool prices, the BoE began lifting its key interest rate from a record low of 0.1 percent at the end of 2021, when inflation started to creep higher as economies slowly emerged from lockdowns.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The increases have worsened a cost-of-living crisis, with retail banks following suit by significantly hiking mortgage rates.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Landlords, faced with higher repayments, have in turn pushed up rents by sizeable amounts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the same time, banks are offering higher returns on savings, for those who can afford to set money aside. 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, '2023-09-21 05:18:11', '2023-09-21 05:18:11'),
(9222, 9222, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Singapore will upgrade its consulate in Dhaka to a high commission from October 1.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The upgrade reflects the enhanced economic and people-to-people relations between Singapore and Bangladesh, said the government of Singapore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The development was shared by Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, to Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on September 20 during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The high commission’s operating hours will be from 9 am to 5 pm, Sundays to Thursdays (closed on Bangladesh’s public holidays and Singapore’s National Day).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foreign Minister Dr Momen had earlier requested the Singapore Foreign Minister to set up a full-fledged mission in Dhaka that would benefit both countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen called for more investment from Singapore in Bangladesh and said that Singapore can take the opportunity to invest in Bangladesh’s special economic zones. 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, '2023-09-21 05:51:31', '2023-09-21 05:51:31'),
(9223, 9223, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed left Dhaka today for China to attend the opening of the 19th Asian Games.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He will join as the president of Bangladesh Olympic Association to observe different games and sports events at the Asian Games in Hangzhou China On September 23.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During his visit in China, he will also exchange views with the presidents of the Olympic associations and general secretaries of different countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After completing the China visit, the Army Chief will attend the Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs\' Conclave (IPACC) in India’s Delhi, to be held on September 25-27.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Army chiefs of different countries will join the meeting and discuss how to work together in strengthening the training cooperation among them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The army chief is expected to return home on September 28. 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, '2023-09-21 06:25:26', '2023-09-21 06:25:26'),
(9224, 9224, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">NOVOAIR, one of the leading private airlines, has received the Gold Award as the best airline in the category of “Best On time performance airline- 2023” for on-time flight operations in domestic routes.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The airline has also won silver award in Best domestic airline, Most customer friendly Airline (Domestic) and Best In-flight service (Domestic) categories, said a release issued on Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Sharetrip-Monitor Airline of the Year-2023\" event held at a prominent hotel in the capital on Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mes-Bah-Ul Islam, Head of Marketing and Sales of NOVOAIR, received those awards from State minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Mahbub Ali.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The award was awarded based on the online survey of regular passengers organized by the prominent Travel and Tourism publication “The Bangladesh Monitor”.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mes-Bah-Ul Islam, Head of Marketing and Sales of NOVOAIR said, this recognition will encourage us in our future steps.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">NOVOAIR is committed to provide the highest level of service since its beginning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">NOVOAIR has earned passengers trust for safe air travel and on time flight operation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Our commitment to complete passenger satisfaction and superior service will continue at all levels of our operations,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">NOVOAIR currently operating daily flights from Dhaka to Chattogram, Cox\'s Bazar, Saidpur, Jashore, Sylhet, Rajshahi and Kolkata. 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, '2023-09-21 07:03:29', '2023-09-21 07:03:29'),
(9225, 9225, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has signed the Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) to protect the world\'s oceans and rivers from the damage due to fragile marine environment by overfishing and other human activities.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The agreement was signed on Wednesday under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea at the Ground Floor, General assembly Building, Treaty Event area here, said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen while briefing newsmen about the Prime Minister’s engagements on the sidelines of the 78th UNGA session.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The treaty gave consent to management and preservation of the genetic resources describing those as the common heritage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Foreign Minister said he held several bilateral meetings with Foreign Minister of Singapore Vivian Balakrishnan and Netherlands Foreign Trade Affairs and Development Cooperation Minister Liesje Schreinemacher alongside attending several high level events that included Breakfast Summit on Climate Mobility and 18th Asia Cooperation Dialogue.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Joining the climate summit, Momen said, “Bangladesh has become a role model for the rest of the countries to face the impact of climate change.”&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the rich countries are mainly responsible for carbon emission while the contribution of the developing countries is only 0.47 percent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Foreign Minister called upon the rich countries to walk on their pledges to give $100 billion&nbsp; every year to the climate fund.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“But unfortunately the rich countries don’t comply with their promises. They should keep their promises,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh has got a nominal amount of the money from the climate fund to overcome the loss and damages caused by the climate change.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said, “Political commitment is a must to comply with the promises made by the rich countries.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thematic Ambassador for Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Saima Wazed and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, among others, were present. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-21 07:14:05', '2023-09-21 07:14:05'),
(9226, 9226, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bowl first in the opening match of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand in Dhaka on Thursday.&nbsp;</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Immediately after the toss, rain interrupted play, leading groundsmen to cover the wickets. But within a few minutes, the sun came out, and the covers were removed.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Regular Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan is absent from this series. Litton Das is leading the side in his place.</div><div><br></div><div>In this match, Bangladesh included Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah Riyad, Soumya Sarkar, and Nurul Hasan, none of whom were part of the Bangladesh team in the Asia Cup held in Bangladesh and Pakistan.</div><div><br></div><div>Lockie Ferguson is captaining New Zealand in this series.</div><div><br></div><div>This series presents an opportunity for Bangladesh to fine-tune their World Cup squad. It\'s particularly significant for Mahmudullah and Soumya, who have a chance to showcase their capabilities for the upcoming World Cup.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh XI: Litton Das, Tamim Iqbal, Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah Riyad, Towhid Hridoy, Mahedi Hasan, Nurul Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>New Zealand XI: Finn Allen, Will Young, Chad Bowes, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Cole McConchie, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Lockie Ferguson (capt), Trent Boult. UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-21 08:16:22', '2023-09-21 08:16:22'),
(9227, 9227, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas on Thursday (September 21, 2023) said it is the collective responsibility of the entire world to make sure that the conditions are in place in Myanmar so that the Rohingyas can return to their homeland with dignity.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"They need to be protected, educated, and they need to enjoy the dignity where they are living,\" he said while attending an event as a keynote speaker.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US ambassador said the Rohingyas should not be punished for the action taken by Myanmar and they should be treated well without any discrimination towards them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ambassador Haas laid emphasis on constant collective pressure on Myanmar, noting that the solution to the crisis unfortunately is not so easy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said they are also exploring the option of resettlement, but it offers very limited opportunity as it is meant for only the most vulnerable people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ambassador also highlighted the importance of holding people responsible for the genocide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He appreciated Bangladesh’s generosity in providing shelter to the Rohingyas; otherwise, he thinks the situation would have been far worse.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Center for Peace Studies (CPS) of the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) and the Office of External Affairs (OEA) of North South University jointly organized the event to observe the International Day of Peace 2023 at North South University.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The theme of this year\'s Peace Day event is \"Actions for peace: Our ambition for the #GlobalGoals\". 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, '2023-09-21 08:27:02', '2023-09-21 08:27:02'),
(9228, 9228, '<div><div><b>India has suspended issuance of visas to Canadian citizens \"till further notice.”</b></div><div><br></div><div>BLS International — a private service provider hired for initial scrutiny of visa applications — published a notice on its website saying the visa services have been suspended till further notice “due to operational reasons,” reports NDTV.</div><div><br></div><div>This comes as India and Canada are locked in a diplomatic row over Ottawa\'s claim that it has \"credible” evidence linking New Delhi to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan Sikh separatist.</div><div><br></div><div>The Indian foreign ministry has rejected the allegation as \"absurd\" and \"motivated\".</div><div><br></div><div>It is not yet clear if the suspension of visas is linked to that row, according to NDTV.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-21 10:01:11', '2023-09-21 10:01:11'),
(9229, 9229, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Actor Akhil Mishra, known for playing librarian Dubey in 3 Idiots, has died. ETimes reported that his wife-actor Suzanne Bernert was in Hyderabad for a shoot when the incident took place.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>As per the report, the actor was working in his kitchen and slipped. His body has been sent for post-mortem. Suzanne rushed home after hearing the news. ETimes quoted Suzanna as saying, \"My heart is broken, my second half is gone.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Akhil featured in many films as well as television serials. Apart from 3 Idiots, he was part of Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain, Mere Dost Picture Abhi Baki Hai, Radio, Blue Oranges, Don, Kram, Well Done Abba, Gandhi My Father, Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin, Shikhar, Calcutta Mail, Kareeb, Dhat Tere Ki, Kamla Ki Maut and Hamari Shaadi among others.</div><div><br></div><div>He was seen in television serials such as Bhanwar, Yum Hain Hum, Pradhanmantri, The Adventures of Hatim, Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se, Uttaran, Udaan, Mera Dil Dewaana, Pardes Mein Mila Koi Apna, Hatim, Kadam, Sea Hawks, Shrimaan Shrimati, Grihalakshmi Ka Jinn and Rajani among others.</div><div><br></div><div>Akhil and German actor Suzanne Bernert tied the knot on February 3, 2009. They again married on September 30, 2011, in a traditional way. He had worked with Suzanne in Kram and Mera Dil Dewaana. In 2019 they shot a short film titled Majnu ki Juliet, which Akhil wrote, acted in and directed. Source: Hindusthan Times</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-21 10:57:04', '2023-09-21 10:57:04'),
(9230, 9230, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The European Union will not send its full-fledged election observation team to Bangladesh during the upcoming national election due to ‘budget constraint’, said Election Commission (EC) secretary Md Jahangir Alam on Thursday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Alam said this while talking to reporters at the EC secretariat.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He said the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) received an email from the European Union over their decision.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The EU informed that they will keep communicating with the EC. They visited our country and talked to many people. They have financial limitations at the time of the election. They will not send a full-fledged polls observation team for this reason. But there is a small team in the country now, the EU hasn\'t said anything about whether they will do it with the people who are in our country,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Alam also said that the EU has not expressed any concern about the elections. They also said that they will continue to be in touch with the CEC, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Election Commission received a letter from the European Union (EU) on Wednesday as follow up to the recent visit by the Election Exploratory Mission (ExM).</div><div><br></div><div>In July this year, the mission from the European Union (EU) had a series of meetings including with the Election Commission and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div><br></div><div>Based on the information received from the fact-finding mission, the European Union was supposed to take a final decision on sending a full-fledged Election Observation Mission before the next national election.</div><div><br></div><div>The main objective of the Election Exploratory Mission was to assess the “advisability, usefulness and feasibility” of a possible EU Election Observation Mission for the upcoming parliamentary election, according to the EU Mission in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>The task of this mission was assessing the scope, planning, budget, logistics and security of the main election observation mission.</div><div><br></div><div>The EU delegation met with government representatives, election-related authorities, representatives of the international community, officials of various law enforcement agencies, political leaders, civil society and media representatives during their stay in Bangladesh. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-21 12:04:46', '2023-09-21 12:04:46'),
(9231, 9231, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Chief of Air Staff of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan left Dhaka today for the United Arab Emirates, along with two other officials, on an official visit.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>During his visit, the Air Chief will visit the helicopter repair, maintenance and overhaul plant of MRO facility of AAL Group Ltd located in Sharjah on the invitation of the AAL group, a press release of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said here.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Air Force chief will also visit the training center of the institution.</div><div><br></div><div>It is expected that the existing cordial relations between the two countries will be strengthened through this visit of the Air Force Chief. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-21 13:24:27', '2023-09-21 13:24:27'),
(9232, 9232, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday arrived in Washington to hold talks on securing more US weapons, saying \"air defence\" is Kyiv\'s priority, as Moscow hit Ukraine with another barrage of missiles.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Zelensky is set to hold talks with President Joe Biden on his second visit to the US during the Russian invasion. Russia hit cities across Ukraine with a barrage of missiles ahead of the talks.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"Today there are important negotiations in Washington. Air defence for Ukraine is among the top issues,\" Zelensky said on Telegram as he arrived from New York.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"More air defence, more support for Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines.\"&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Zelensky slammed Moscow\'s \"massive\" overnight attack that killed several people in the southern city ofKherson and wounded many in various regions.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"Most of the missiles were shot down. But only the majority. Not all,\" Zelensky said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>He thanked those countries that had \"provided Ukraine with anti-missile systems.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We are working to completely rid Russia of its terrorist potential,\" he added. \"We have to come to this result.\"&nbsp; - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-21 13:33:33', '2023-09-21 13:33:33'),
(9233, 9233, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A 22-year-old man in Nepal who went to the hospital with stomach pain was shocked to discover a 15-cm knife blade lodged inside his abdomen. According to Newsweek, he had been stabbed in a fight the day before, after which a local healthcare worker stitched up the wound.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>However, no one suspected that the knife blade was still inside his abdomen as there was no visual clue of the weapon entering his body. As the wound was closed well, he was sent home.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Moreover, he did not remember much about other events as he was in an intoxicated state with alcohol when the incident happened.</div><div><br></div><div>The next day, he experienced continuous abdominal discomfort and went to the hospital. His abdomen wasn\'t tight, he didn\'t experience any nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, or constipation, and his blood levels looked normal, doctors said in the report.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>However, when doctors took a closer look at his body, they found a line of stitches on his right side and enquired what happened. He told them about the stabbing incident following which he underwent various laboratory tests, including an X-ray.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>When X-ray imaging came back, the doctors found the free-floating knife blade in the abdominal cavity. The blade had \"wandered\" from one side to the other, yet none of the surrounding organs were severely injured, his doctors reported.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He then underwent a laparotomy for the removal of the knife blade. Once his body was open, surgeons found the knife wrapped up in omentum, a tissue that hangs down from the stomach and connects it to the other abdominal organs.</div><div><br></div><div>Doctors said the man was expected to make a full recovery, but he did not return to the hospital for his follow-up appointments.</div><div><br></div><div>The complete details of the case have been mentioned in the journal Cureus. Source: NDTV</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-21 13:44:35', '2023-09-21 13:44:35'),
(9234, 9234, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The National Board of Revenue (NBR) reported a shortfall of TK 4870 crore in July-August revenue collection in the current fiscal year, according to the government agency.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>According to NBR, the revenue collection in July-August stood at Tk46,233 crore, against the target of Tk50,321 crore. Despite the shortfall, revenue collection in these two months saw a growth of 14.74 percent.</div><div><br></div><div>The highest revenue in the first two months of FY2023-24 came from Value Added Tax (VAT). However, it was not possible to achieve the target of VAT and income tax sectors.</div><div><br></div><div>The target of VAT collection in July-August was Tk19,085 crore, where Tk17,940 crore has been collected. Although the growth has been 19.34 percent, there is a shortfall of Tk1,144 crore compared with the target.</div><div><br></div><div>At the same time, income tax and travel tax collection fell by Tk 2958.16 crore in July-August. The target was Tk15,059 crore, and the collection was Tk12,100.84 crore. Despite a shortfall of the target, there is a 16.39 percent growth in tax collection.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite the foreign exchange crisis, the customs duty collection from imports and exports has increased comparatively.</div><div><br></div><div>In the first two months of FY2023-24, the target of customs duty was Tk16,177.5 crore. Tk16,192.12 crore has been collected in July-August. The growth in this sector was 8.94 percent and Tk14.5 crore more revenue came from customs duty.</div><div><br></div><div>NBR\'s revenue collection target for the current financial year is set at Tk 4.30 lakh crores. Out of which Tk1 lakh 59 thousand 100 crore from VAT, Tk1 lakh 54 thousand 800 crore from income tax, and Tk1 lakh 16 thousand 100 crore from import-export duty have been fixed. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-21 13:52:23', '2023-09-21 13:52:23'),
(9235, 9235, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Persistent rain forced the abandonment of the first ODI between Bangladesh and New Zealand on Thursday in Dhaka.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The match saw multiple interruptions due to rain, ultimately concluding without a result.</div><div><br></div><div>Rain initially halted play at 2:22 pm, leading to a pause of over two hours.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, when New Zealand was at 136 for five with Cole McConchie and Tom Blundell each not out at eight, rain returned.</div><div><br></div><div>On a sluggish Dhaka pitch, Will Young notched up a fifty for the tourists. He made 58 off 91 balls.</div><div><br></div><div>For Bangladesh, Mustafizur Rahman claimed three wickets, while Nasum Ahmed secured two.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite attempts to resume play, rain persisted after the final interruption at 6:30 pm, denying any further opportunity to continue the match. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-21 15:06:37', '2023-09-21 15:06:37'),
(9236, 9236, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Senior Joint Secretary General of BNP Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Thursday warned that if the government does not get the message from peaceful programmes they will paralyse the country by enforcing stricter programmes such as hartal and blockade.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We are holding a peaceful movement by involving people… If the government fails to get or understand any message of people\'s participation in our road marches, precessions, then the country will be paralysed by enforcing hartals and blockades. The government will be forced to resign,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi came up with the comments while addressing as the chief guest at a discussion meeting to demand the release of Khaleda Zia and better medical treatment abroad. The programme was organised by the Nurses Association of Bangladesh at Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia would be freed and given better medical treatment after removing the government.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has created a society of fear and panic to return to power.</div><div><br></div><div>“It has become clear that she is taking steps to become prime minister herself and form the government by holding another election. We understand that by looking at the court proceedings,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Former acting convener of Bangladesh Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad and senior journalist Ruhul Amin Gazi, health affairs secretary of BNP Dr. Rafiqul Islam, vice president of Dhaka Journalist Union (DUJ-faction) Rashedul Haque, Juba Dal leader Mehbub Masum Shanto, Omar Faruk Kawsar were present in the programme, chaired by President of Nurses Association of Bangladesh Jahanara Khatun. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-21 15:10:12', '2023-09-21 15:10:12');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(9237, 9237, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Media mogul Rupert Murdoch says he is stepping down as chairman of Fox and News Corp, with his son Lachlan to head both companies.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In a memo to employees, Murdoch said \"the time is right\" for him to take on \"different roles\".</div><div><br></div><div>Murdoch, 92, launched Fox News in 1996. It is now the most watched TV news channel in the US.</div><div><br></div><div>Murdoch said he will transition to the role of Chairman Emeritus of both firms in mid-November.</div><div><br></div><div>It comes months after the mogul ditched a plan to merge Fox and News Corp, which would have reunited two major media assets.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Our companies are in robust health, as am I. Our opportunities far exceed our commercial challenges,\" he wrote. \"We have every reason to be optimistic about the coming years - I certainly am, and plan to be here to participate in them.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The announcement of Murdoch\'s transition comes during a turbulent year for Fox, which in April agreed to pay a $787.5m (£634m) settlement after being sued by voting machine company Dominion over its reporting of the 2020 presidential election. The network is still facing a second, similar lawsuit from another voting technology firm, Smartmatic, seeking an even larger sum of $2.7bn.</div><div><br></div><div>On 25 April, the company also announced it would \"part ways\" with Tucker Carlson, the network\'s highest rating TV host.</div><div><br></div><div>The Murdoch transition comes a year before the US presidential election. The right-leaning network has significant influence in US politics and is hosting a number of debates between Republicans competing to be the party\'s White House candidate.</div><div>In his memo to staff, the conservative Murdoch vowed to continue to be involved in the \"contest of ideas\".</div><div><br></div><div>He also criticised other media outlets as being \"in cahoots\" with a \"rarefied class\" of elites who he accused of \"peddling political narratives rather than pursuing the truth\".</div><div><br></div><div>In a statement, Lachlan Murdoch - who returned to the family business in 2014 after an abrupt departure nearly a decade earlier - said that his father \"will continue to provide valued counsel to both companies\".</div><div><br></div><div>The elder Murdoch began his career in his native Australia in the 1950s, eventually buying the News of the World and The Sun newspapers in the UK in 1969.</div><div><br></div><div>He later purchased a number of US publications including the New York Post and Wall Street Journal. Through News Corp, he remains the owner of hundreds of local, national and international media outlets.</div><div><br></div><div>Until today\'s announcement, Lachlan Murdoch had served as the executive chair of Fox Corporation and Nova Entertainment.</div><div><br></div><div>Fox shares rose almost 2% following the announcement that Murdoch was stepping down.</div><div><br></div><div>Professor Anat Alon-Beck, a corporate law expert, said that ultimately market reaction to Lachlan\'s promotion will depend on whether Fox has a \"solid and smart\" plan that ensures \"that the company\'s leadership isn\'t jeopardised just because the most powerful person CEO leaves the role\". - BBC</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-21 16:19:40', '2023-09-21 16:19:40'),
(9238, 9238, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The allegation of India\'s involvement in the killing of a Sikh Canadian is based on surveillance of Indian diplomats in Canada, including intelligence provided by a major ally, a Canadian official told The Associated Press on Thursday.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The official said the communications involved Indian officials and Indian diplomats in Canada and that some of the intelligence was provided by a member of the \"Five Eyes\" intelligence-sharing alliance, which includes the U.S., Britain, Australia and New Zealand, in addition to Canada.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The official did not say which ally provided intelligence or give details of what was contained in the communications or how they were obtained. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation first reported the intelligence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The revelation came as India stopped issuing visas to Canadian citizens and told Canada to reduce its diplomatic staff as the rift widened over allegations by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of suspected Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a 45-year-old Sikh separatist.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ties between the two countries have plunged to their lowest point in years after Trudeau told Parliament Monday there were \"credible allegations\" of Indian involvement in the assassination on Canadian soil.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nijjar, a plumber who was born in India and became a Canadian citizen in 2007, had been wanted by India for years before he was gunned down in June outside the temple he led in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking Thursday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, Trudeau acknowledged the complicated diplomatic situation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The decision to share these allegations on the floor of the House of Commons was not done lightly,\" he said. \"There is no question that India is a country of growing importance and a country that we need to continue to work with.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We are not looking to provoke or cause problems but we are unequivocal around the importance of the rule of law and unequivocal about the importance of protecting Canadians.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bombshell allegation set off an international tit-for-tat, with each country expelling a diplomat. India called the allegations \"absurd.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Canada has yet to provide public evidence to back Trudeau\'s allegations, and Canada\'s U.N. ambassador, Bob Rae, indicated that might not come soon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This is very early days,\" Rae told reporters Thursday, saying that while facts will emerge, they must \"come out in the course of the pursuit of justice.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"That\'s what we call the rule of law in Canada,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, the company that processes Indian visas in Canada announced services had been suspended. Canadians are among the top travelers to India, with 277,000 Canadian tourists visiting the country in 2022, according to India\'s Bureau of Immigration.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi blamed the visa suspension, which includes visas issued in third countries, on safety issues.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Security threats being faced by our High Commission and consulates in Canada have disrupted their normal functioning,\" Bagchi told reporters. He gave no details on the alleged threats.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The announcement quickly rippled across Canada, especially among people with ties to India.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Maitreyi Bhatt, a 27-year-old Indian citizen whose partner is Canadian and needs a visa, was distraught because her wedding is scheduled for late October in India, when he was to meet her family for the first time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I\'ve been crying all day,\" she said. \"It\'s so difficult. I was just so excited for him to meet my family.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said the venue is booked and the couple has non-refundable flights. She said her partner went to the Indian Consulate in Toronto but was escorted out by security.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"People like me are just caught up in this and it\'s just not fair,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sukhwinder Dhillon, a 56-year-old grocery store owner in Montreal, said he had a trip planned to India to see family and sort out his deceased father\'s estate. Dhillon, who came to Canada in 1998, makes the trip every two or three years and has lost two family members since he was last home.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"My father passed, and my brother passed,\" Dhillon said. \"I want to go now. ... Now I don\'t know when we\'ll go.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bagchi, the Indian foreign ministry spokesman, also called on Canada to cut its diplomatic corps in India, saying they outnumbered Indian diplomats in Canada.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Canadian High Commission in New Delhi said Thursday that its consulates in India were open and continue to serve clients. It said some of its diplomats had received threats on social media, adding that Canada expects India to provide security for its diplomats and consular officers working there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Wednesday, India warned its citizens to be careful when traveling to Canada because of \"growing anti-India activities and politically condoned hate-crimes.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India\'s security and intelligence branches have long been active in South Asia and are suspected in a number of killings in Pakistan. But arranging the killing of a Canadian citizen in Canada, home to nearly 2 million people of Indian descent, would be unprecedented.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India has criticized Canada for years over giving free rein to Sikh separatists, including Nijjar. New Delhi had accused him of links to terrorism, which he denied.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nijjar was a local leader in what remains of a once-strong movement to create an independent Sikh homeland, known as Khalistan. A bloody Sikh insurgency shook north India in the 1970s and 1980s until it was crushed in a government crackdown in which thousands of people were killed, including prominent Sikh leaders.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While the active insurgency ended decades ago, the Indian government has warned that Sikh separatists are trying to stage a comeback and pressed countries like Canada, where Sikhs comprise over 2% of the population, to do more to stop them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the time of his killing, Nijjar was working to organize an unofficial Sikh diaspora referendum on independence from India.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">New Delhi\'s anxieties about Sikh separatist groups in Canada have long been a strain on the relationship.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In March, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi\'s government summoned the Canadian high commissioner in New Delhi, its top diplomat in the country, to complain about Sikh independence protests in Canada.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Signs of a broader diplomatic rift emerged at the summit of the Group of 20 leading world economies hosted by India earlier this month. Trudeau had frosty encounters with Modi, and a few days later Canada canceled a trade mission to India planned for the fall. A trade deal between the two is now on pause. 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, '2023-09-22 06:13:34', '2023-09-22 06:13:34'),
(9239, 9239, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh has urged all OIC Member States to contribute a voluntary fund to bear the legal expenses incurred by the legal farm and support the efforts of The Gambia.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The Rohingya issue is a matter of continuous concern for Bangladesh, OIC and the world,\" said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen while speaking at the annual coordination meeting in New York on September 21.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In pursuant to the relevant CFM resolution, the OIC could bring the Myanmar government to the International Court of Justice in December 2019 for the allegation of violating human rights against Rohingyas under the Genocide Convention whereby the Court unanimously issued provisional measures against Myanmar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen said the law firm has issued invoices of around US$ 6.5 million against an estimated total cost of US$12 million.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">So far a contribution of US$ 2.775 million has been paid where Bangladesh, with its limited capacity, has already contributed 0.7 million US dollar to this cause.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I appreciate the voluntary contribution and pledge of some countries but this sum is far from the amount to be paid to the legal firm as the first installment. I urge all Member States to commit to contribute generously to this cause,\" Momen said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen extended deep sympathy of his government for the victims of the devastating earthquake in Morocco and flood in Libya prayed for the quick recovery of the injured victims.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The foreign minister said the acts against Islam particularly the incidents in Sweden and Denmark are based on ignorance and fanatic thoughts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh appreciates the official position expressed by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Sweden and Denmark to the OIC Secretary General including their condemnation of the incident that had occurred in their countries and hope that such engagement will continue which might help prevent the occurrence of similar incidents in the future, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"As the members of the Muslim Ummah our destiny is one as are our burdens and responsibilities. Staying true to the teachings of the Holy Quran, we should embark on a path of showing better understanding and tolerance,\" said the Foreign Minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We should encourage dialogue and communication among nations and create an environment of peaceful coexistence exhibiting mutual respect,\" 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, '2023-09-22 06:16:18', '2023-09-22 06:16:18'),
(9240, 9240, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka\'s air quality continued to be in the ‘moderate’ zone Friday morning.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 74, the capital of Bangladesh ranked 19th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality at 8:37 am today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan’s Lahore, the United Arab Emirates’ Dubai and India’s Delhi occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 181, 166 and 157, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’, 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, '2023-09-22 06:18:21', '2023-09-22 06:18:21'),
(9241, 9241, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United States will provide more than $116 million in additional humanitarian assistance to support vulnerable populations in Bangladesh, Myanmar and the region.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The aid includes more than $74 million to support Rohingya refugees and their host communities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With this new funding, the United States’ total assistance for those affected by the crisis in Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the region totals more than $2.2 billion since August 2017, when over 740,000 Rohingya fled genocide, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing in Myanmar’s Rakhine State for safety in Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This funding provides life-sustaining support to nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, many of them survivors of a campaign of genocide, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing, and 540,000 members of Bangladeshi communities that generously host Rohingya refugees,\" said Antony J. Blinken, US Secretary of State.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This assistance includes safe drinking water, health care, protection, education, shelter, and psychosocial support, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States recognizes the generosity of the government and people of Bangladesh and other Rohingya-hosting countries in the region and urges other donors to contribute to the humanitarian response in Bangladesh, increase support to those driven from and affected by violence in Myanmar, and work towards lasting solutions to the refugee crisis, Blinken 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, '2023-09-22 06:49:34', '2023-09-22 06:49:34'),
(9242, 9242, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya has discussed the \"importance of free and fair\" elections with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States is committed to advancing democracy and free elections all over the world and, as a partner to Bangladesh, seeks to support PM Hasina’s public calls for free and fair elections in Bangladesh that are carried out in a peaceful manner, said the US Embassy in Dhaka on Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zeya met with Hasina on September 21 on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Honored to reconnect with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina before co-hosting a high-level side event on the Rohingya crisis on the margins of UNGA78. We discussed the importance of free and fair elections, US-Bangladesh partnership, and US appreciation for Bangladesh’s continued generous hosting of 960,000 Rohingya refugees,\" Zeya wrote on X, formerly known as twitter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the meeting,&nbsp; Zeya thanked PM Hasina for the generosity of the Bangladeshi Government in their humanitarian assistance to nearly one million Rohingya refugees.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US-Bangladeshi cooperation on this response is a powerful example of the partnership between the United States and Bangladesh, said the embassy. 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, '2023-09-22 08:46:20', '2023-09-22 08:46:20'),
(9243, 9243, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said the government can’t give the guarantee of violence-free election without sincere cooperation from all stakeholders.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He made this remark at a press briefing, replying to a question about the next election-related discussion that took place in the meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It is clear that we want to make the next election free and fair. They (US) said for (making it) peaceful as well. Then we said that we can’t guarantee it,” said Momen, adding that the arrangement of a peaceful election doesn’t depend on the government alone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There is such an environment in our country where sincere cooperation from all political parties and people irrespective of their views is required to make sure that the election will be free from violence,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To make the election peaceful, the USA can assist Bangladesh so that the people from all parties and views will cooperate for a peaceful election, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“In our country, the election will be held in line with our country’s constitution. We believe in people. We don’t think anyone can come to power without the mandate of the people. If anyone comes to power through vote-rigging, the government will not last long. We’ve such instances,” said Momen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In reply to a question regarding the election observers, Momen said Dhaka welcomes foreign observers in the next general election, but many countries like India, the USA and the UK don’t allow election observers to their countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He doesn’t think if the foreigners describe anything well then it will be fine otherwise it will be wrong. “We don’t want to run the country by taking certificates from foreigners,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, the Rohingya issue was also discussed in the meeting, said the Foreign Minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina who is now in New York to attend the 78th United Nations General Assembly, said Bangladesh has attached priority to send back Rohingyas to their homeland Myanmar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Our priority is to repatriate the forcibly displaced Rohingyas who have taken shelter in Bangladesh to their homeland,\" the PM was quoted as telling Zeya.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zeya stressed the need for creating a conducive environment in Myanmar and ensuring safety and security before the repatriation of the Rohingyas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She put emphasis on creating employment for Rohingyas to ensure their better livelihood.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said the repatriation process should start as early as possible otherwise the region will fall into security threats as the Rohingyas have been engaging in criminal activities that included killings, firearms smuggling and trading.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said Rohingyas have become frustrated with their long stay here and get involved in criminal activities and they are sensing no future there.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina also sought international support to the case filed with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) by Gambia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Uzra Zeya informed the prime minister that they have decided to allocate $116 million for the displaced Rohingya.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, Under Secretary-General and Special Adviser of the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide Alice Wairimu Nderitu met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the UN headquarters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the meeting, the prime minister urged the United Nations to give recognition of the mass killings during the 1971 Liberation War as genocide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also sought cooperation from the UN to continue the trial proceedings of the genocide in Myanmar. 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, '2023-09-22 08:49:20', '2023-09-22 08:49:20'),
(9244, 9244, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of eminent filmmaker and former director general of Bangladesh Television, Syed Salahuddin Zaki.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a condolence message, Sheikh Hasina said, the death of this renowned artist has caused an irreparable loss to the country in terms of culture.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He will be remembered by his countrymen through his creative work, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family. 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, '2023-09-22 08:51:07', '2023-09-22 08:51:07'),
(9245, 9245, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been shifted to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) from the cabin of the Evercare Hospital in the capital Friday on the advice of her medical board.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khaleda Zia\'s personal physician AZM Zahid Hossain said she was shifted at 11:30 am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP held special prayers for her at the metropolitan, district, upazila, municipality, union and ward levels across the country after Jum\'a prayers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 78-year-old former prime minister has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since her conditional release in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving treatment at the hospital under a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years\' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with the condition that she stay in her Gulshan house and not leave the country. 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, '2023-09-22 10:17:20', '2023-09-22 10:17:20'),
(9246, 9246, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Friday urged Vietnamese companies to invest in Bangladesh, particularly in the special economic zone.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The president made this call when the visiting President of the National Assembly of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue called on him&nbsp; at Bangabhaban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Welcoming the president of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Shahabuddin said that there is a very good relationship between Bangladesh and Vietnam, President\'s press secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to the visit of the President of Vietnam to Bangladesh and the visit of the Prime Minister and President of Bangladesh to Vietnam, he said that through this the relationship between the two countries has been strengthened.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The president also urged Vietnam to import world-class products including medicines, ready-made garments, leather and leather goods, ceramics from Bangladesh to increase bilateral trade.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Alongside, he sought Vietnam\'s support and cooperation for Bangladesh as a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Shahabuddin hoped that Vietnam will play a major role in the dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas from Bangladesh to their homeland Myanmar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;During the meeting, Vuong Dinh said that his country is deeply interested in increasing trade and investment relations with Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Appreciating the socio-economic development of Bangladesh, he said that his country will cooperate in the implementation of the government\'s goal to make Bangladesh a developed and smart Bangladesh by 2041.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President\'s Office Secretary Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, Secretary ( attached) Md. Wahidul Islam Khan and the visiting entourage members of the President of the National Assembly of Vietnam were also present. 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, '2023-09-22 10:20:10', '2023-09-22 10:20:10'),
(9247, 9247, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested Md Nurul Amin Howlader, a convicted Razakar, who was sentenced to death by International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 in absentia for his crime against humanity in 1971.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ICT-1 on July 20, 2023, convicted and sentenced four Razakars, including Nurul Amin Howlader from Bhandaria upazila in Pirojpur to death. The other three convicts are -Abdul Mannan Howlader, Ashraf Ali alias Asrab Ali Howlader and Md Moharaj Howlader alias Hatkata Moharaj.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Acting on a tip-off, a team of RAB-2 conducted raid in Dhaka Udyan area in Mohammadpur around 8 pm and arrested Howlader,\" senior ASP Shihab Karim told BSS.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The convict has been sent to court after primary interrogation, RAB sources said. 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, '2023-09-22 10:22:56', '2023-09-22 10:22:56'),
(9248, 9248, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">India on Friday lodged a strong protest with Beijing over the “deliberate and selective” blocking of three athletes from Arunachal Pradesh from participating in the Asian Games at Hangzhou even as the sports minister Anurag Thakur cancelled his scheduled visit to China over the development.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Three women wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh, which is claimed by China, couldn’t travel to Hangzhou as they were unable to download travel documents from an official Chinese website. The rest of the wushu squad – comprising a total of 10 players – faced no such issues and boarded a flight on Wednesday for Hong Kong, from where they had a connecting flight to Hangzhou.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This was the second time in about two months that the same three players were barred by Chinese authorities from a sports event in China.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“A strong protest has been lodged in New Delhi and Beijing against China’s deliberate and selective obstruction of some of our sportspersons,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Further, as a mark of our protest against the Chinese action, minister of information and broadcasting and youth affairs and sports of India has cancelled his scheduled visit to China for the games,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bagchi said Chinese authorities discriminated against some Indian sportspersons from Arunachal Pradesh in a “targeted and pre-meditated manner” by denying them accreditation and entry to the Asian Games.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China’s action “violates both the spirit of the Asian Games and the rules governing their conduct, which explicitly prohibits discrimination against competitors from member states”, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Indian government reserves the “right to take suitable measures to safeguard our interests”, Bagchi said, without giving details.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The development comes at a time when India-China relations are at a six-decade low over the dragging military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). India has linked the normalisation of relations to the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“In line with our long-standing and consistent position, India firmly rejects differential treatment of Indian citizens on the basis of domicile or ethnicity. Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India,” Bagchi pointed out.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China claims Arunachal Pradesh as “south Tibet” and recently announced a list of its own names for locations and geographic features in the strategic border state. Arunachal Pradesh was also depicted within China’s borders in a “standard map” released recently by Beijing. The map was rejected by India and several other countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The three wushu players – Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu – received their accreditation cards, which also act as an entry visa from the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (HAGOC). The athletes were required to download their travel documents, which would to be validated upon arrival in China.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, the three players could not download their travel documents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Once the athletes received the accreditation cards from the organising committee, it meant that they have been cleared to travel for the Asian Games. But surprisingly, only these three players could not download their documents and they could not board the flight,” said an Indian official.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the last week of July, the same players could not compete at the World University Games in Chengdu (July 18-Aug 8) because they were given stapled visas by China.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stapled visas are meant to indicate that China doesn’t recognise India’s sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh. India has consistently rejected China’s claim that the northeastern state is a disputed territory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The eight-member Indian wushu team had then withdrawn from the event in Chengdu in protest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The three wushu players also recently met cabinet minister Kiren Rijiju and requested him to look into the issue. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-22 10:51:49', '2023-09-22 10:51:49'),
(9249, 9249, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader will return home tomorrow from Singapore after his routine health check-up at Mount Elizabeth Hospital.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He will reach Dhaka by a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight around 6 pm, a ministry press release said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On September 16, Quader left Dhaka for Singapore for his regular health check-up as he has long been suffering from heart and lung problems. 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, '2023-09-22 11:35:03', '2023-09-22 11:35:03'),
(9250, 9250, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said there is no scope now for anyone to grab power illegally in Bangladesh and the violators have to face the music.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“If anyone comes to power, creating trouble and violating the constitution, then s/he will face punishment. It should not be forgotten,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister made the remarks while addressing a press conference at Bangladesh Permanent Mission in UN here. She is now in New York to participate in the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said if anyone other than only elected representatives wants to come to power through an alternative way, they will have to face punishment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It will have to be kept in mind. They will have to face the music,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said she has been in power facing many obstacles emerging from&nbsp; inside of the country. If the people vote for Awami League, the party will come in power again.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pointing to those who are saying that they would impose sanctions, if an attempt is made to thwart the election, she said, “I would like to say that this attempt to thwart the election should not be made from outside the country as well.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said if it is spoiled (the election) from outside the country, the people of Bangladesh will also impose sanctions. “We would like to see that no attempt is made from outside the country as well,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Noting that she introduced the slogan that ‘I cast my vote on my choice’ in the country, she said her party was able to establish it. The people are now conscious enough over their voting rights, she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Focusing on the electoral reforms made by her government, the premier said now the ballot boxes are transparent and there is no scope for filling the boxes with fake votes. The electoral rolls are made including photographs. These (the electoral system) were reformed, she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said the law regarding constitution of the Election Commission was made by none other than Awami League. “We’ve made the electoral process transparent. We’ve given the Election Commission the absolute financial freedom,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said the EC was once under the control of the Prime Minister’s Office. “The Election Commission is now completely independent. It is the Awami League government that made it. It’ll have to be kept in mind,” she went on.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina said she would like to tell those who are becoming worried about the election of Bangladesh that the people are the source of power and the owners of the state as per the article-7 of its constitution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In reply to another question about the new visa policy announced by the USA in case of undermining the election in Bangladesh, the PM said the people voted spontaneously in many elections, by-elections and local body elections held during the regimes of Awami League.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said AL came in power, getting the mandate of the people in the election. “So, we also want the election to be free and transparent,” she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Noting that opposition (parties) was also mentioned in today\'s announcement, she said it is good from one perspective that BNP can’t go for thwarting the election like they unleashed arson violence to obstruct the 2014 election and resorted to violence and attacked&nbsp; police to spoil the 2018 election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said they should impose sanctions, considering who starts undermining the election first. “If only the Awami League is targeted, I’ve nothing to say,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to a question if Saima Wazed would be picked for the next leadership position, Sheikh Hasina said, “The possibility is very slim. The people of Bangladesh and my party (Awami League) will decide who will come to the leadership or not in future.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In reply to a question over corruption, she said many people now try to tarnish the image of Bangladesh by publishing news exaggerating tiny things. This evil-attempt is very harmful for the image of the country, she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said her government doesn’t spare anyone in case of even any small corruption.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She questioned how Bangladesh would have been able to witness such a huge development if such corruption had taken place.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM asked the Bangladeshi expatriates to send remittance through legal channels and not pay heed to rumours. 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, '2023-09-23 05:15:52', '2023-09-23 05:15:52');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(9251, 9251, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>All-rounder Nasir Hossain has been temporarily prohibited from participating in domestic cricket following allegations of corruption by the International Cricket Council (ICC).</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Sources within the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have confirmed that Nasir must await ICC clearance before resuming his domestic cricket career.</div><div><br></div><div>The players\' draft for the upcoming season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is slated for September 24th.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>However, Nasir\'s name does not appear on the list of players released by the BCB.</div><div><br></div><div>The right-handed all-rounder participated in a T20 league in the UAE in 2021, where he, along with other players, allegedly engaged in unethical practices, according to the ICC.</div><div><br></div><div>Nasir Hossain’s last international match dates back to 2018, after which he has been absent from the national squad. He represented the Tigers in a total of 19 Tests, 65 ODIs, and 31 T20Is. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-23 08:19:02', '2023-09-23 08:19:02'),
(9252, 9252, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Rains may continue across the country including Dhaka till September 25, according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Rain may continue across the country till Monday. There is a chance of heavy to very heavy falls in the northern parts of the country including Rangpur and Rajshahi in the next few days,” Monwar Hossain, a meteorologist told UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at most places over Rangpur, Rajshahi and Mymensingh divisions and at many places over Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy falls at places over the country,” said a Met office bulletin.</div><div><br></div><div>The met office recorded 2mm of rainfall in Dhaka in 24 hours till 6 am on Saturday while 10 mm of rainfall in six hours till 12 pm today, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country.</div><div><br></div><div>The low pressure area over Bihar and adjoining area weakened and merged with the monsoon axis. The axis of monsoon trough runs through Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal to Assam across northern part of Bangladesh. One of its associated troughs extends up to North Bay, said a the bulletin.</div><div><br></div><div>Monsoon is active over the northern part and fairly active elsewhere over Bangladesh and moderate over North Bay. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-23 08:29:22', '2023-09-23 08:29:22'),
(9253, 9253, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Ukraine claimed responsibility for a missile attack that struck the headquarters of Moscow\'s Black Sea fleet in annexed Crimea Friday, sparking a huge fire and leaving at least one Russian serviceman missing.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The strike on the symbolic heart of Russia\'s Black Sea fleet marks a major blow for Moscow, which has suffered a string of attacks on the strategically important port in recent months.</div><div><br></div><div>Plumes of thick smoke could be seen pouring out of the Russian naval headquarters, footage shared on social media showed, while officials said missile fragments had fallen close to a nearby theatre.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The headquarters of the fleet have been hit in an enemy missile attack,\" said Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-installed governor of Sevastopol, Crimea\'s largest city.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukraine confirmed the strike had hit Moscow\'s naval command base on the peninsula, which Kyiv has vowed to take back since it was annexed by Moscow in 2014.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Ukraine\'s defence forces launched a successful attack on the headquarters of the command of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol,\" the Ukrainian army said on Telegram.</div><div><br></div><div>A spokesman for the Ukrainian navy told AFP the attack appeared to be a \"missile hit\", but declined to confirm the navy\'s involvement.</div><div><br></div><div>\"These measures will continue in the future,\" the spokesman added.</div><div><br></div><div>Russia\'s defence ministry said one serviceman was missing following the attack, after having initially reported that a serviceman had been killed.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The historic headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet were damaged,\" it said, claiming air defence had shot down five missiles.</div><div><br></div><div>- Cyberattack -</div><div><br></div><div>The attack sparked a flurry of warnings from Russian-installed officials, who urged residents to stay indoors in case of more air raids and avoid taking photos from the scene.</div><div><br></div><div>Razvozhayev, who governs the city of some 500,000 people, said later Friday that firefighters had brought the blaze at the fleet headquarters under control.</div><div><br></div><div>The peninsula was simultaneously hit by an \"unprecedented cyberattack\" on its internet providers, said Oleg Kryuchkov, an adviser to the Crimea governor.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukrainian and Russian attacks in and around the Black Sea have increased since Moscow withdrew from an accord that allowed safe passage to civilian cargo ships from three Ukrainian ports.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukraine said this week it struck a military air base near the Crimean town of Saky, while Kyiv\'s forces have repeatedly targeted the only bridge that connects the peninsula to the Russian mainland.</div><div><br></div><div>Russian officials said Friday that traffic across the bridge had been temporarily halted, while maritime traffic was briefly stopped following the attack on Sevastopol.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who visited Washington this week, has urged his allies to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles so it can target positions deeper inside Russia-controlled territory.</div><div><br></div><div>Both France and the United Kingdom have supplied Kyiv\'s forces with the weapons.</div><div><br></div><div>And in a fresh boost for his diplomatic tour, Canada promised Ukraine another Can$650 million (US$482 million) after Zelensky met Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa.</div><div><br></div><div>- \'Energy terror\' -</div><div><br></div><div>Russian attacks on Ukraine continued Friday, with authorities reporting one person killed and 15 others injured following a missile strike on the central city of Kremenchuk.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Fifteen are known to have been injured, one of them is a child,\" said Dmytro Lunin, the governor of the central Poltava region which includes Kremenchuk.</div><div><br></div><div>\"One person died,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal warned that Russia had restarted its systemic campaign of attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure, but that air defences were better prepared for the onslaught than last year.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We understand that the stage of energy terror in this heating season has already begun,\" Shmygal said at an economic forum in Kyiv, one day after Moscow\'s forces fired more than 40 cruise missiles at Ukraine.</div><div><br></div><div>During winter last year Russian forces launched repeated attacks on Ukraine\'s energy grid that left millions without electricity, heating and water for extended periods.</div><div><br></div><div>This year Ukraine has bolstered its air defences with support from its allies in the West, but officials have warned of new hardship ahead, reports AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We are much better prepared and stronger than we were last year. For sure, winter will be difficult,\" Shmygal added.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-23 09:30:41', '2023-09-23 09:30:41'),
(9254, 9254, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh needs to have more choices in terms of any proposal, specially financial proposals that will give it a better bargaining point, according to a Japanese expert.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We have to be very robust in creating such proposals to make Bangladesh have much more free choices. It is better if you have two or more choices. In fact we both need to have more choices,” Dr Ken Jimbo, Managing Director, International House of Japan and Professor of Keio University told UNB in an interview recently.</div><div><br></div><div>Highlighting Japan’s new plan for Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), he said Japan is offering 51 items without any condition attached and Bangladesh can pick and choose which is attractive.</div><div><br></div><div>The Japanese expert who served as Special Advisor to the Minister of Defense Taro Kono, Japan Ministry of Defense (2020) and Senior Advisor, the National Security Secretariat (2018-20) said they are happy to consider Chinese proposals if those are rule-based and in line with international standards.</div><div><br></div><div>“If there is one proposal on the project finance coming from China which is very attractive and there is no alternative proposal to be made by Japan or any other countries, Bangladesh may have no choice but to take Chinese money,” he mentioned.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question, Prof Ken said the FOIP definitely has competitive elements together with cooperation elements.</div><div><br></div><div>“In Japanese version, you can find a lot of cooperation elements, almost predominantly in the many of the items that we have outlined,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The Japanese expert said they need to cultivate capabilities and capacity building in terms of defence and security.</div><div><br></div><div>“Let’s create the kind of platform of capability which enables us to resist if there is any kind of potential challenges that may arise so that we are able to jointly counter. That is the baseline,\" he observed.</div><div><br></div><div>Asked about the domestic scenario, Prof Ken laid emphasis on maintaining stability that will create the international community\'s confidence about the stable governance in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>“And this is, I think, truly the important thing for the investors’ mindset, and the people\'s mindset to engage in Bangladesh more actively,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Prof Ken said, “I think that to demonstrate Bangladesh as a stable nation, democracy is a costly process because you have to listen to people, you have to go through the different interests of the people to be represented in the government.”</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question on FOIP, he said the Japanese government has been promoting the concept of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific since a decade ago, officially since 2016.</div><div><br></div><div>Prof Ken has said various countries around the world are paying great attention to the Indo-Pacific concept and enhancing their engagements and collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region.</div><div><br></div><div>In this regard, he welcomed the announcement of “the Indo-Pacific Outlook\" of Bangladesh by the government of Bangladesh in April this year.</div><div><br></div><div>Prof Ken noted that the concept of Indo-Pacific emerged in the 2010s as the regional concepts of Asia had evolved since the 1980s.</div><div><br></div><div>Having said that, he explained that the first officialised version of the Indo-Pacific policy can be traced back to the speech of former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe which was made at the TICAD VI in Nairobi, Kenya in August 2016.</div><div><br></div><div>“So this remains to be an important Japanese regional engagement concept as of today,” said the expert, adding that the contestation of the US-China great power rivalry is expanding the influence in many other regions, as well.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Japan has been proposing the new plan with so many items on the economic connectivity, governance reform, security cooperation, and the rule-based international order by demonstrating there are so many items of the cooperation that Japan can offer without any strings attached.</div><div><br></div><div>“This is very important. So for many countries, they can really pick and choose - including infrastructure funds, connectivity investments. There are so many options,” said Prof Ken.</div><div><br></div><div>He said in Japan\'s vision of an open Indo-Pacific, it is an economic centric or a request to go for in the security dimensions. “I think it\'s much more balanced, predominantly that is economic.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking about the importance of Bangladesh, Prof Ken said Bangladesh has a huge growth potential and Bangladesh today and Bangladesh 15 years from now will be much different.</div><div><br></div><div>He said there are huge investment opportunities for Japanese companies, together with other nations. “And in my sense, those investment opportunities have not been fully exploited.”</div><div><br></div><div>At the current stage, he said, the scale is very small and items are very limited but Bangladesh can think about expanding those portfolios in the future.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Bangladeshi investment conditions are very famous for the business environment compared to other South Asian countries. “You can really demonstrate competitive advantage over it.”</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question on Bangladesh’s Indo-Pacific Outlook, Prof Ken said, “By reading the Bangladesh outlook on Indo Pacific, I was very much encouraged and heartened to see there are so many commonalities between the Japanese version and the Bangladesh version.”</div><div><br></div><div>“And commonality can be found on our three or four pillars about promotion of economic connectivity, rule-based economic order, and our huge commitments for the green economy, including the promotion of the SDGs, climate change, and so on,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Asked about the Rohingya crisis, he said logically speaking, they are also concerned about human rights and also the situation of the Rohingya in terms of how to help these Rohingya refugees, and their status inside Myanmar is the concern of Japan as well.</div><div><br></div><div>“And who is now helping most of the Rohingya issue is Bangladesh. And definitely, this is the case that Japan can collaborate,” said Prof Ken.</div><div><br></div><div>”At a time when the international community is at a history’s turning point, I would like to clarify the concept of FOIP once again to propose a guiding perspective to be shared by the international community which, if left unchecked, could drift towards division and confrontation,” said Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a visit to New Delhi in March this year.</div><div><br></div><div>“I believe that this vision, nurtured by the voices of different countries and which can be characterized as \"our FOIP\", is becoming more important than ever toward the goal of leading the international community,” said the PM. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-23 09:34:14', '2023-09-23 09:34:14'),
(9255, 9255, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Inter Miami head into Sunday\'s Florida derby against Orlando City with their Major League Soccer playoff destiny in their own hands but without star performer Lionel Messi.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Messi and his former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba both limped out of the first half of Wednesday\'s 4-0 win over Toronto and were immediately ruled out of the Orlando game by coach Tata Martino.</div><div><br></div><div>On Friday, Martino confirmed that Messi is coping with some old \"scars\" while Alba has \"muscle fatigue\".</div><div><br></div><div>Martino said that while Messi\'s problem is not serious, he cannot \"play freely\" in his current condition.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It\'s bothers him. I don\'t know if it hurts. I can\'t really explain as it\'s more a medical topic,\" said the Argentine coach.</div><div><br></div><div>Miami already won the Leagues Cup since Messi\'s arrival, the club has a US Open Cup final against Houston on Wednesday and will hope to have the seven-times Ballon d\'Or winner back for that game.</div><div><br></div><div>But without Messi, Finnish winger Robert Taylor made the most of his opportunity, scoring twice in a 4-0 win over Toronto.</div><div><br></div><div>The victory, along with other results going Miami\'s way, boosted the team\'s playoff hopes with six matches remaining in the regular season.</div><div><br></div><div>Put simply, if Miami, with games in hand, win all six matches, they will earn a place in the playoffs, regardless of how teams above them perform.</div><div><br></div><div>Orlando City still smarts from a 3-1 loss to Miami in the League Cup when coach Oscar Pareja blasted the refereeing, saying the game, Messi\'s third with Miami, had been a \"circus\".</div><div><br></div><div>Orlando, second in the East, are one of four teams in the conference to have secured a playoff berth, along with Columbus, Philadelphia and leaders Cincinnati.</div><div><br></div><div>Cincinnati rewarded Argentine playmaker Luciano Acosta with a new contract on Friday, tying him to the team until 2026 with an option for a further year.</div><div><br></div><div>The 29-year-old has 14 goals and 11 assists this season as the Ohio club is in a strong position to win the Supporters Shield for the best MLS regular-season record.</div><div><br></div><div>\"He\'s capable of things that others aren\'t,\" said head coach Pat Noonan.</div><div><br></div><div>\"When you find players like that and you\'re able to keep them on your team, it\'s positioning us to hopefully continue these successes as we move forward.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Cincinnati will host Charlotte on Saturday with the North Carolina team needing to turn promising performances into wins to make the post-season.</div><div><br></div><div>MLS newcomer St. Louis City have already exceeded expectations by securing a playoff spot in their maiden season but are in no mood to rest on their laurels.</div><div><br></div><div>- MLS Cup final rematch -</div><div><br></div><div>In the West, St. Louis head to Minnesota United on Saturday, five points clear at the top of the conference and staying on top will bring significant rewards.</div><div><br></div><div>MLS\'s playoff system this year features \'best of three\' games in the first round with top four teams guaranteed home field advantage.</div><div><br></div><div>A number one spot would also secure home-field advantage in the single game conference semi-finals and the final.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Now what\'s next for us? Can we now get a top-four finish? Once we get that box checked, then can we win the Western Conference? So it\'s all things in baby steps and stages,\" said St. Louis\' South African coach Bradley Carnell.</div><div><br></div><div>Saturday also sees a rematch of last year\'s MLS Cup final when the Philadelphia Union host champions Los Angeles FC.</div><div><br></div><div>LAFC, third in the West, also beat the Union in the semi-finals of this year\'s CONCACAF Champions League.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It\'s always a really tough game. They have great players, they\'re very well coached and organized.\" said Philly coach Jim Curtin.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The history between us is a real one, and I think we respect each other a great deal, but neither team gives an inch when we get together.\" - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-23 10:20:15', '2023-09-23 10:20:15'),
(9256, 9256, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reiterated that the country\'s next parliamentary election will be free, fair and credible.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“InshAllah, there will be a free, fair and impartial elections in Bangladesh,” she said here on Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said this while addressing a civic reception accorded to her at a hotel here.</div><div><br></div><div>New York Metropolitan Awami League organised the reception on Friday evening.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier is now in New York to attend the 78th UNGA session.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina, also the chief of ruling Awami League, said that BNP doesn’t want election.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Actually, does BNP want the election? How do they want the election? Who is their leader?,” she questioned.</div><div><br></div><div>“Fugitive convict, money thief, arms smuggler, murderer, grenade launcher of August 21 (is their leader);&nbsp; if this is the leader of a party then why should people vote for that party and him,” she wondered.</div><div><br></div><div>She mentioned that BNP didn’t get votes in the 2008 election as well as didn’t participate in the 2014 election.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>She mentioned that BNP killed people by arson attacks in the name of preventing the election.</div><div><br></div><div>“How many lives have been taken? If you still see the face of those burnt people; how terrible! It seems that those who did it despicable.”</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the upcoming elections due in first week of January, Hasina vowed to make it free, fair and impartial.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“People will vote correctly,\" she told the audience.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the people of Bangladesh have at least realised this that they got freedom by voting for boat (AL’s election symbol).</div><div><br></div><div>She mentioned that the fate of the people has changed as a result of voting for this symbol, boat.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“The image of Bangladesh has been brightened all over the world,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister called upon all not to pay heed to the false propaganda by vested quarters.</div><div><br></div><div>“When world leaders today recognise (the success of Bangladesh), we shouldn’t need to pay heed to what a few scumbags are saying,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She mentioned that those convicted, who committed various crimes, may have lost their jobs in different ways.</div><div><br></div><div>“Now they’ve taken shelter in different countries of the world and are spreading slanders through different social media and apps to cover up their misdeeds,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Urging all to unmask the faces of slanderers, Hasina said that their characters should be exposed when they spread lies. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-23 10:56:11', '2023-09-23 10:56:11'),
(9257, 9257, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>As the UN member nation approved a political declaration to end tuberculosis (TB) around the world by 2030, world leaders and experts have laid emphasis on finding out a new and effective vaccine against the world’s oldest and deadliest infectious diseases.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The UN member states formally adopted the declaration of the High-Level Meeting (HLM) on the Fight Against Tuberculosis at the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>The declaration lays out ambitious new targets for the next five years that include reaching 90 per cent of people with TB prevention and care services, providing social benefit packages to those who have the disease, and licensing at least one new vaccine.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the World Health Organization (WHO) TB is the second leading infectious killer worldwide after COVID-19 as it claimed the lives of 1.6 million people alone in 2021 although it is a preventable and curable disease. The only available vaccine against TB is more than a century old.</div><div><br></div><div>Addressing the meeting, Dennis Francis, President of the General Assembly, asked:&nbsp; “Why, after all the progress we have made — from sending a man to the moon to bringing the world to our fingertips — have we been unable to defeat a preventable but curable disease that kills over 4,400 people a day?”&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He called on stakeholders to use all tools at their disposal to advance science and innovation until a vaccine is found.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed called for action to tackle the main drivers of TB - poverty, undernutrition, lack of access to healthcare, the prevalence of HIV infections, diabetes, mental health, and smoking.</div><div><br></div><div>She pointed out that armed conflict, economic upheavals and climate disasters create a breeding ground for the spread of infectious diseases in a vicious cycle that perpetuates inequality, and urged States to prioritize tuberculosis in their national agenda.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Sharing her personal heart-breaking story of losing her 50-year-old father to tuberculosis 37 years ago this week, Amina stressed:&nbsp; “What we need is a vaccine.&nbsp; Let’s end tuberculosis now.&nbsp; It’s possible.”</div><div><br></div><div>Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, also emphasized the need for a new vaccine, noting that the only licensed vaccine was developed more than a century ago.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He said the WHO established a TB Vaccine Acceleration Council to facilitate the development, licensing and equitable use of new vaccines.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The WHO DG said many of the targets established at the first high-level tuberculosis meeting in 2018 were not met, mainly because of the COVID-19 pandemic.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said the goal of treating 44 million people with TB fell short by about 10 million people, and the goal of reaching 30 million people with preventive treatment fell short by about half.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, Tedros said there are also about 500,000 drug-resistant TB cases each year.</div><div><br></div><div>Bertrand Pfouminzhouer Kampoer, Executive Director of For Impacts in Social Health and Civil Society Taskforce, gave an overview of the Francophone Africa Regional Adaptation of Map TB Assessment.</div><div><br></div><div>In the ensuing discussion, speakers underscored the importance of implementing an inclusive and multisectoral approach to fighting TB, including drawing lessons from the COVID‑19 pandemic, with some sharing progress to that end, while others spotlighted challenges and identified key areas for action.</div><div><br></div><div>Many delegations spotlighted their successes in fighting TB, including Saudi Arabia’s representative who reported that, working with public and private partners and communicating the importance of early detection, his country was able to reduce TB incidents by 21 per cent and death rates by 12.3 per cent compared to 2018, putting it on track to achieve its goals in line with the global strategy.</div><div><br></div><div>Pointing out that “TB is a social disease”, the representative of the International Federations of Medical Students underlined that addressing the social, economic and environmental determinants of TB must be done with the meaningful engagement of all sectors. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Health Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-23 11:07:42', '2023-09-23 11:07:42'),
(9258, 9258, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Since the first shots were fired in February 2022, the war in Ukraine has affected the Bangladesh economy in a number of ways, and most of these can be described as supply chain disruptions.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The most direct impact was felt in the energy sector, as prices skyrocketed on the international energy markets. Global oil prices soared to more than $120 a barrel amid concerns about a shortfall in global supplies from Russia, up from $70 a barrel before the war.&nbsp; Although prices fell back again to pre-war levels by the end of 2022, they have been rising again over the summer, and are headed back towards the $100 mark.</div><div><br></div><div>Brent crude, the oil price benchmark, rose to a 10-month high last week of almost $94 a barrel, up from $72 a barrel at its lowest point in June – heading for its biggest quarterly increase since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.</div><div><br></div><div>The price of LNG had arguably the most direct impact on the Bangladesh economy. The war drove gas prices to historic highs, with spot prices in August 2022 up more than 640 percent over the price a year earlier. Thereafter though, prices fell and returned to their 2019-2021 average.</div><div><br></div><div>By June 2023, they sat 92 percent lower than the 2022 peak, even though the war persisted, and Bangladesh, having been forced to abandon purchases on the spot market, was able to resume LNG supplies on the spot market.</div><div><br></div><div>During the time that it was forced to go off the spot market for LNG, Bangladesh’s dependence on coal increased. But this traditionally cheap fuel has also seen prices rise through the war.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The Coal from Russia/Ukraine region in world market stopped due to the ongoing war resulting in world wide shortages and disruption in various Industries including Steel which uses large amount of Coal. Russia/Ukraine which were major exporters of Steel and alloying elements required for making higher grade steel used in various applications couldn’t supply due to war (Force Majeure) which resulted in disruptions in Steel availability.</div><div><br></div><div>Australian coal, that the country has been purchasing for its power plant in Godhra, India, soared to its highest closing price since the war in August of 2022, exceeding $400.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Imports of coal from Russia were completely halted under sanctions that came into effect on August 10 in 2022. Now however, they are back to pre-war levels.</div><div><br></div><div>Coal supplies for its power plants in Rampal and Godhra have both witnessed disruptions due to unpaid bills.</div><div><br></div><div>As a result of all this, the Bangladesh government had to raise both the gas and power prices as a major part of power generation depends on imported fuels.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the war had a negative impact on all kinds of imports due to shipping restrictions and increased insecurity on navigation routes.</div><div><br></div><div>The war also continues to disrupt the global trade of key foods such as wheat and vegetable oils, along with fertilisers, and the impact is falling heavily on countries such as Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Dependent on imports of those items to feed its large population, many poor and vulnerable to shocks, the country faces the prospect of rising food insecurity.</div><div><br></div><div>According to an International Food Price Research Institute study, the proportion of rural households facing moderate or severe food insecurity rose from 15% in early 2020 to 45% in Jan. 2021, then returned to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2021.</div><div><br></div><div>Now that 2021 recovery is in danger: Bangladesh saw a record rise in prices of staples in March 2022, along with volatility in the fertiliser market. In this post we discuss Bangladesh’s trade exposure to several commodities facing export restrictions, the fiscal impact of rising imports, and potential measures for easing food security pressures.</div><div><br></div><div>Eminent economist and CPD executive director Dr Fahmida Khatun pointed out that the Russian invasion of Ukraine took place at a time when the world was just starting to recover from the fallout caused by more than two years of the Covid-19 pandemic. While the world came out of COVID pandemic, China took much longer and the Chinese supplies were absent for various critical items.</div><div><br></div><div>But the recovery is facing inflationary pressure due to supply shortages in the face of higher demands as countries are beginning to expand economic activities.</div><div><br></div><div>While the impact of the pandemic was a once-in-a-century shock for the world economy, the ongoing war has come as a new shock. Supply disruptions and financial sanctions pose serious economic challenges. With no signs of reconciliation between Russia and Ukraine, the global economic implications will remain severe for some time to come, according to Dr Fahmida.</div><div><br></div><div>She said major countries including the US, the UK, Japan and the European Union (EU) have all suspended economic ties with Russia. Sanctions have been enforced on the Russian financial institutions with the objective to disrupt transactions with the country.</div><div><br></div><div>As Russia is the third largest oil-producing country in the world, the global economy is suffering as a result of high oil prices. Though developed countries are sourcing their requirements from other oil-producing countries, small and poor countries are finding it difficult with their limited financial abilities to meet their energy requirement. In addition, high oil prices have a knock-on effect on other prices, leading to further inflationary pressure.</div><div><br></div><div>The ramifications of these challenges are seen through higher commodity and oil prices. Food prices have skyrocketed.</div><div><br></div><div>The CPD executive director said the global sanctions on Russia implies that Bangladesh\'s trade with Russia is going to be affected.</div><div><br></div><div>Russia is a market for Bangladesh\'s ready-made garment (RMG) products. In FY2021, Bangladesh\'s export to Russia was to the tune of $550 million, and import from Russia was $480 million. Bangladesh imports wheat and maize from Russia. Sanctions mean Bangladesh will have to import these items from somewhere else.</div><div><br></div><div>Rampal 1320 MW Power Plant has been impacted due to Coal shortages. Russia is also implementing several projects in Bangladesh. The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) is a large project being implemented by Russia that involves USD 12.65 billion and is scheduled to be completed by 2025, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>The ongoing war and economic sanctions against Russia could delay this expensive project, which means cost escalation in Bangladesh. This implies higher loans and burden on the country, she observed.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-23 11:14:40', '2023-09-23 11:14:40'),
(9259, 9259, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A 6-month-old baby in the United States was nearly eaten alive by rats that bit him over 50 times while he slept in his crib last week, police said. According to USA Today, the incident took place in Indiana on September 13. Evansville Police Department officers responded to a home after the child\'s father called and said his 6-month-old son appeared to have suffered serious bite wounds.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The boy\'s parents, David and Angel Schonabaum, were arrested and charged with multiple counts of neglect and other criminal charges. The child\'s aunt, Delania Thurman, who lived in the same home, was also arrested on the same charge, the outlet reported. The baby boy, on the other hand, has been released from the hospital and placed in foster care.</div><div><br></div><div>The couple lived at the home with their three children, including the baby, and another family member and her two children. According to the cops, when they reached the home, they found the 6-month-old covered in blood, suffering from more than 50 bite wounds to his head and face.</div><div><br></div><div>\"All four of (the victim\'s) fingers and thumb on his right hand were missing the flesh from the top of them, exposing fingertip bones,\" police detective Jonathan Helm wrote in an arrest affidavit, as per USA Today. \"The damage to (the victim\'s) index and pinky fingers were the most severe, as they were missing the flesh halfway down each finger,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The baby boy was flown to a hospital in Indianapolis, where doctors gave him a blood transfusion after his temperature dropped to 93.5 degrees. Notably, as per Mayo Clinic, the average body temperature is 98.6 degrees. The boy\'s vitals show that he was suffering from moderate hypothermia as well as hypoxemia.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>According to the New York Post, the little boy\'s home was full of clutter, trash and rat feces, the police said. The boy\'s father told investigators that they began having a rodent issue in march and that the Terminix exterminators were treating the house. However, the cops also revealed that the rat\'s mauling of the baby was not the first time as the rodents snacked on other children in the home as well in early September.</div><div><br></div><div>Two kids in the house told their school teacher on September 1 that mice had bitten their toes while they were sleeping. Days later, when the Indiana Department of Child Services visited the home, their mother told officials that their house had a normal amount of rodents, and denied wounds to one child\'s feet were caused by rats. The department then went over a safety plan with the family and scheduled a return to the home just one day after the baby was bitten by rats.</div><div><br></div><div>Now, all children in the home have since been removed from their parent\'s care by the&nbsp; Department of Child Services. The baby boy\'s father has been jailed without bond on Friday and his wife is being held on a $10,000 bond. The aunt, who has also been booked into the jail Thursday, is charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent and remained jailed Friday on $2,500 bond. - NDTV</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-23 11:48:17', '2023-09-23 11:48:17'),
(9260, 9260, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The head of Sudan\'s army has told the BBC he is willing to talk to the commander of rebel forces whom he is battling for control of the country.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said he was ready in principle to sit down with Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).</div><div><br></div><div>The two men have been fighting a brutal internal war since April, which the UN says has left more 5,000 people dead.</div><div><br></div><div>It says that more than five million people have been displaced.</div><div><br></div><div>Gen Burhan - who seized power in a coup in 2021 - was speaking to the BBC in a rare interview after addressing the UN General Assembly in New York.</div><div><br></div><div>He heads the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and is on a global diplomatic tour seeking international support and some kind of legitimacy for his leadership, despite his failure to hand power to civilian authorities.</div><div><br></div><div>The general denied his forces were targeting civilians - despite the UN and charities saying there is evidence they are launching indiscriminate air strikes on residential areas.</div><div><br></div><div>He said he was confident of victory, but admitted he had been forced to relocate his headquarters to Port Sudan because the fighting in the capital Khartoum had made it impossible for government to continue.</div><div><br></div><div>Gen Burhan said he would sit down with Gen Dagalo - known as Hemedti - as long as he abided by commitments to protect civilians, made by both sides during talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in May.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We are ready to engage in negotiations,\" Gen Burhan said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"If the leadership of these mutinous forces has the desire to return to its senses and pull its troops out of the residential areas and return to its barracks, then we will sit with any of them... Whenever he commits to what was agreed in Jeddah, we will sit to resolve this problem.\"</div><div><br></div><div>In a video message this week, Hemedti also claimed he was ready for political talks.</div><div><br></div><div>Both generals have talked about ceasefires before - but so far that has not led to any lessening in the fighting.</div><div><br></div><div>Gen Burhan denied Sudan would become a failed state like Somalia - or a divided country like Libya.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Sudan will remain united. Sudan will remain a state intact, not a failed state. We don\'t want what happened in the other countries you mentioned. The Sudanese people are now united behind one cause, ending this mutiny peacefully or by combat,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The UN has said that neither warring party appears close to a decisive military victory.</div><div><br></div><div>Gen Burhan said he was \"definitely\" confident of defeating the RSF. But he admitted the fighting had forced him out of the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>\"In Khartoum, diplomatic missions, the ministries and all government organs cannot carry out their duties as normal,\" he said. \"Because it is a war zone, there are snipers and military operations taking place. That is why no entity can now work in Khartoum.\"</div><div><br></div><div>There is widespread evidence that civilians in Sudan are dying in indiscriminate air strikes carried out by Gen Burhan\'s forces in residential areas, particularly in Khartoum. But the general denied civilians were being deliberately targeted.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This is not correct,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"There are fabrications of some stories by the rebel forces, they bomb civilians and film it as if it was the armed forces. We are professional forces, we work with precision and select our targets in areas where only the enemy is present. We don\'t bomb civilians and we don\'t target residential areas.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The former UN special representative to Sudan, Volker Perthes, told the Security Council earlier this month that \"often indiscriminate aerial bombing is conducted by those who have an air force, which is the SAF\".</div><div><br></div><div>The war in Sudan has reignited bitter tribal conflict, especially in Darfur in the west, where the RSF and supportive militias have been accused of mass killings, rape and torture. According to BBC reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-23 11:58:18', '2023-09-23 11:58:18'),
(9261, 9261, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) governing council named a total of 203 local players and 443 foreign players in the players\' draft for the auction, which will be held tomorrow (Sunday) at a local hotel in the city.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Mushfiqur Rahim is the only player in the top category as the local players will be divided into six categories. The wicket-keeper batter will get highest payment of BDT 80 lakh from Category A.</div><div><br></div><div>Category B comprises four cricketers (BDT 50 lakh), 18 players in category C (BDT 30 lakh), 31 cricketers in D category (BDT 20 lakh), 75 cricketers in E category (BDT 15 lakh), 29 players in F category (BDT 10 lakh), and 45 cricketers in G category (BDT five lakh).</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign cricketers also were placed in six categories with the salary ranging from USD 80,000 to USD 20,000.</div><div><br></div><div>Global superstars like Rashid Khan, Wanindu Hasaranga, Babar Azam, Brandon King, Mohammad Nabi and others will play this edition of the BPL.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, the selectors didn\'t name national discard Nasir Hossain, who was the captain of Dhaka franchise in the last season, in the players draft.</div><div><br></div><div>Nasir is amongst eight players, officials, and team owners charged with breaching various counts of the Anti-Corruption Code during the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 League. The investigation is currently going on.</div><div><br></div><div>Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal will represent new teams this season. Shakib joined Rangpur Riders from Fortune Barishal. Tamim, who played for Khulna Tigers last year, meanwhile replaced Shakib in Barisahl.</div><div><br></div><div>The upcoming edition of the BPL will be held in January next year. According to BSS reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-23 12:09:10', '2023-09-23 12:09:10'),
(9262, 9262, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">India\'s top investigation agency confiscated Saturday the properties of a prominent Sikh separatist and close ally of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whose killing has sparked a diplomatic row between India and Canada.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a lawyer believed to be based in Canada, was designated as a terrorist by Indian authorities in 2020 and is wanted on charges of terrorism and sedition.</div><div><br></div><div>He is also the founder of the US-based group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), whose Canada chapter was headed by Nijjar before he was gunned down by masked assailants in June near Vancouver.</div><div><br></div><div>The group, which has been banned by India, has been a vocal advocate for the creation of an independent Sikh homeland called Khalistan.</div><div><br></div><div>A diplomatic firestorm erupted this week with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying there were \"credible reasons to believe that agents of the government of India were involved\" in Nijjar\'s death.</div><div><br></div><div>New Delhi dismissed Trudeau\'s allegations as \"absurd\", tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions followed, and India has stopped processing visa applications by Canadians.</div><div><br></div><div>Pannun jumped into the raging row and issued a video telling Canadian Hindus to \"go back to India\", claiming they had adopted a \"jingoistic approach\" by siding with New Delhi.</div><div><br></div><div>In an interview with an Indian news channel, Pannun said Nijjar had been his \"close associate\" for over 20 years and was like a \"younger brother\" to him. He also blamed India for Nijjar\'s killing.</div><div><br></div><div>- \'Heinous crimes\' -</div><div>Soon after his interview was aired, the Indian government issued an advisory to news networks asking them to refrain from giving a platform to people accused of \"heinous crimes\".</div><div><br></div><div>Armed with court orders, officials of India\'s National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday confiscated Pannun\'s house in Chandigarh, the capital of the Sikh-majority state of Punjab, it said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>The NIA also confiscated agricultural land belonging to him in Amritsar, it added.</div><div><br></div><div>It accused Pannun of \"actively exhorting Punjab-based gangsters and youth\" on social media \"to fight for the cause of independent state of Khalistan, challenging the sovereignty, integrity and security of the country\".</div><div><br></div><div>Sikhism is a minority religion originating in northern India that traces its roots back to the 15th century and drew influences from both Hinduism and Islam.</div><div><br></div><div>The Khalistan campaign was largely considered a benign fringe movement until the early 1980s, when a charismatic Sikh fundamentalist launched a violent separatist insurgency.</div><div><br></div><div>It culminated with Indian forces storming the Golden Temple, the faith\'s holiest shrine in Amritsar, where separatists had barricaded themselves.</div><div><br></div><div>India\'s prime minister Indira Gandhi was subsequently assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards.</div><div><br></div><div>The insurgency was eventually brought under control and the Khalistan movement\'s most vocal advocates are now among the large Sikh diaspora, particularly in Canada, Britain and Australia.</div><div><br></div><div>But memories of the violence -- in which thousands died -- still haunt India, which has outlawed the Khalistan movement and listed several associated groups as \"terrorist organisations\". - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-23 13:01:41', '2023-09-23 13:01:41');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(9263, 9263, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Saturday called upon everyone to be vigilant so that those who oppose the Liberation War and independence do not come to power.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The president made the call at the opening ceremony of the sixth national council of the Sector Commanders\' Forum Liberation War \'71 at Osmani memorial auditorium in the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>Freedom fighters from all over the country and their young generations joined the council.</div><div><br></div><div>Highlighting the contribution of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the great hero of the liberation war, to the independence and development of Bangladesh, President Shahabuddin</div><div><br></div><div>said that though Bangladesh gained the desired independence through a long struggle, the conspiracy of the anti-independence did not stop. They are still active.</div><div><br></div><div>Appreciating the role of the Sector Commanders Forum in raising voice for obtaining international recognition of the genocide of 1971, the President hoped that they will continue their effort to realize this demand in the future as well.</div><div><br></div><div>The President said demand for international recognition of genocide, rape, crimes against humanity committed in 1971 by Pakistani invading forces and their domestic allies is the demand of justice and human rights.</div><div><br></div><div>Mentioning that the defeated forces of the liberation war are still active, he said that this demand must be implemented in a united way.</div><div><br></div><div>“No matter how many obstacles the anti-liberation war forces create, we will resist them,” he emphasized.</div><div><br></div><div>Saying that the sector commander forum contributed a lot in organizing and training the peasants, labor and youth to make them fit for the battlefield, the President asked all who believe in the spirit of Liberation War to work for speeding up the progress of the country\'s development.</div><div><br></div><div>“Bangabandhu\'s killers; defeated forces in the Liberation War did this. After the assassination of Bangabandhu, the basic spirit of the constitution was destroyed,” the President also commented.</div><div><br></div><div>Highlighting the development and progress of the country in various fields under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, President said that Bangladesh is now sitting on the seat of dignity in the international arena.</div><div><br></div><div>\"In the last 15 years, the spirit of the liberation war has been sharpened. This government is the people\'s government. All the activities it has done are people-friendly,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The forum is working at the national and international levels to get international recognition of the 1971 genocide since its birth.</div><div><br></div><div>Executive President of Sectors Commanders Forum freedom fighter Md. Nurul Alam, advisor Sarwar Ali, vice-president M Hamid and general secretary Harun Habib spoke.</div><div><br></div><div>In the event, President Shahabuddin unveiled the book titled GENOCIDE 71 published by the Sector Commanders Forum on the international recognition of the genocide in Bangladesh. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-23 14:48:09', '2023-09-23 14:48:09'),
(9264, 9264, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Dengue has already claimed the lives of 300 people across the country in the first 23 days.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Fourteen more deaths were reported from dengue in 24 hours till Saturday morning, raising the fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 893 this year.</div><div><br></div><div>During the period, 2,865 more patients were hospitalised with the viral fever, according to the DGHS.</div><div><br></div><div>Of the new patients, 814 were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rest outside the capital--indicating a worsening situation across the country, DGHS said.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 10,572 dengue patients, including 3,794 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>So far, the DGHS has recorded 184,717 dengue cases and 173,252 recoveries this year, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>This month, a total of 60,909 cases were also reported during the same period, DGHS added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-23 14:50:30', '2023-09-23 14:50:30'),
(9265, 9265, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Azerbaijan\'s military has paraded heavy weapons captured in Nagorno-Karabakh, amid warnings thousands of civilians are without shelter after the surrender of Armenian separatists.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tanks, guns and RPGs were among the haul shown to the BBC, in the first access given to journalists since separatists agreed to disarm this week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ethnic Armenian leaders say thousands are without food or shelter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Only one aid delivery of 70 tonnes of food has been allowed through.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The convoy from the International Red Cross was the first to reach the disputed territory since Azerbaijan captured it in a lightning operation five days ago. Russia says it has also delivered aid, but it is not known how much.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nagorno-Karabakh - a mountainous region in the South Caucasus - is recognised internationally as part of Azerbaijan but large areas of it have been controlled by ethnic Armenians for three decades.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Saturday, Armenia urged the UN to send a mission to monitor the rights of ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, arguing that their very existence was now under threat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Azerbaijan denies the accusation, saying it wants to reintegrate the region\'s ethnic Armenian residents as equal citizens of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At least 200 ethnic Armenians died, including 10 civilians, as Azerbaijan\'s army swept into the enclave earlier this week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Now, displaced from villages and separated from relatives, several thousand people were sleeping in tents or the open air near the airport in the main city Stepanakert, known as Khankendi by Azerbaijan, Karabakh officials said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The airport is also near a base for Russian peacekeepers, five of whom were killed during the fighting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Saturday Azerbaijan said it was working with Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh to disarm ethnic Armenian forces - one of its key demands in return for a ceasefire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the courtyard of a military HQ in Susa, near the regional capital, Azeri military officials proudly laid out weapons given up by separatists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The haul included what appeared to be a T-72 tank, several BMP-2 armoured personnel carriers, machine guns, assault rifles, body armour and mines. The BBC estimates that the area filled was equivalent to half a football field.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia\'s defence ministry said six armoured vehicles, more than 800 guns and about 5,000 units of ammunition had been handed over so far.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is unclear what will happen to the 120,000 ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan says it wants to reintegrate the region and an Azerbaijani official told the BBC that \"no one is kicking anyone out\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If we didn\'t care about civilians, women and children, we would have simply entered Khankendi,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another official said that the military had prepared camps for refugees outside of Karabakh that were \"ready to accept civilians\" - but there is much mistrust on both sides and many ethnic Armenians may not be willing to move.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Azerbaijan has also told the UN that it will treat Karabakh Armenians as \"equal citizens\". But their destiny is in Azeri hands now.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It says it envisages an amnesty for those Karabakh fighters who hand over their weapons and they can leave for Armenia if they choose. 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, '2023-09-24 01:50:19', '2023-09-24 01:50:19'),
(9266, 9266, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ukraine says Friday\'s missile strike on the headquarters of Russia\'s Black Sea fleet in Crimea was timed to coincide with a meeting of naval officials.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a short statement, the Ukrainian military claimed the strike had caused deaths and injuries but did not provide more details.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Friday Moscow said one serviceman was missing after the attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fleet, based in the port city of Sevastopol, is seen as the best of Russia\'s navy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A Ukrainian military source told the BBC that Friday\'s attack was carried out using Storm Shadow missiles, which are supplied by Britain and France.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ukrainian military statement on Saturday asserted that it had left \"dozens of dead and wounded occupiers, including the top management of the fleet\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kyiv\'s intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, claimed that two Russian commanders were badly injured in the missile strike.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BBC is unable to independently verify many of the battlefield claims made by either side.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Western powers were \"de facto fighting against us, using the hands and bodies of Ukrainians\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He was speaking to journalists after delivering a speech at the UN General Assembly in New York, where he denounced the West as \"a real empire of lies\" unable to negotiate with the rest of the world.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, triggering international condemnation. Moscow had illegally annexed Ukraine\'s Crimea peninsula in 2014.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Sevastopol area came under renewed attack on Saturday. The city\'s Russian-installed governor, Mikhail Razvozhaev, said debris from a missile shot down by air defences had fallen near a pier.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also told residents he was ordering an inspection of bomb shelters following some complaints they were hard to access or in poor condition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We earnestly ask everyone: stop sowing panic and pleasing our enemies with this - panic is their main goal,\" he wrote on Telegram.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kyiv\'s forces have recently been launching near-daily strikes against Russian forces based in Crimea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last week, Ukraine\'s navy claimed to have knocked out an S-400 air defence missile battery covering the peninsula, degrading Russia\'s ability to defend against fresh attacks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A day earlier, a large Russian landing ship and submarine were damaged in an attack which Ukraine said also made use of Storm Shadow missiles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The attacks on Crimea are strategically and symbolically important.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As well as being a platform from which to attack Ukraine, the Black Sea fleet is a major symbol of Russia\'s centuries-old military presence in the region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was based in Crimea under a leasing deal even before Russia\'s 2014 annexation of the peninsula. 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, '2023-09-24 01:53:43', '2023-09-24 01:53:43'),
(9267, 9267, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Washington DC, the USA capital city, this afternoon after joining the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session and other high-level side and bilateral events in New York.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She reached Washington DC from New York by road at 6pm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On her arrival in Washington DC,Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Muhammad Imran received the premier with a flower bouquet.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, she left her Place of Residence, Lotte New York for Washington DC at 12:30pm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She arrived in New York on September 17.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister will leave Washington DC for London, the capital city of the United Kingdom, on September 29.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She will stay in London till October 3.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After wrapping up her visit, the prime minister will leave London for home and scheduled to reach Dhaka on October 4. 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, '2023-09-24 04:24:09', '2023-09-24 04:24:09'),
(9268, 9268, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Vice President Kamala Harris stepped out recently on the campus of a Pennsylvania university and was greeted by a troupe of cheerleaders.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"She\'s got that fever. She\'s got that heat. She\'s our VP. You can\'t compete,\" they chanted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Harris, 58, is hoping to whip up enthusiasm among younger voters, an age group that 80-year-old President Joe Biden has trouble reaching.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To that end, Harris was bestowed on Friday with a new role -- tackling the scourge of gun violence that has wreaked terror in schools across the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Alongside Harris and Biden during the White House announcement of her new role stood the first member of Congress from Generation Z, 26-year-old Democrat Maxwell Frost.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking about the shootings that have become a tragic fixture of American life, Harris, a former California attorney general who has sometimes struggled to connect with audiences, sought to hit a note of empathy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Young people and minorities -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"In today\'s world, on the first day of school, students, yes, learn the name of their teacher. Yes, they learn the location of their cubby and they learn how to quietly hide from an active shooter,\" said Harris, citing the common practice in US schools of teaching youngsters how to stay alive during an attack by a gunman.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gun violence is on a list of key issues including abortion rights, climate change and discrimination that Harris -- the first woman, Black person and person of South Asian descent to hold the vice president\'s office -- is addressing in a national tour of colleges entitled \"Fight for Our Freedoms.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The month-long tour will take her to universities where she will target African-American and other minority students, speaking on issues that concern them most.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She is working to mobilize two electoral groups who offered the keys to the White House to Biden in the last election, and whose vote will be vital again next year: young people and minorities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"When your generation starts voting in numbers, so many of these things will change,\" Harris told students Tuesday at a college in the small Pennsylvania town of Reading, according to local press reports.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"To make a difference in this world, of the many ways you can do it, one of the biggest ways is to vote,\" she said in an interview with a student, shared on X (the former Twitter), during a visit to a North Carolina campus.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On her tour, the vice president is greeted with choreography and cheers, in stark contrast to her gloomy poll numbers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the site FiveThirtyEight, which aggregates opinion surveys, a little less than 40 percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of the VP. Biden is more or less in the same range.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- West Coast rap -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Harris tries to hit a personal note to make herself more relatable to the young people she is addressing, talking about her love for music and, in particular, West Coast rap.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That can play both ways: pictures and video of her dancing at a reception celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip hop attracted flattering comments, but also ridicule.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And the White House still regularly has to contend with sometimes scathing articles about the Veep.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a recent, much-discussed piece, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius called not only on Biden, but also on Harris, not to run again.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Harris has many laudable qualities, but the simple fact is that she has failed to gain traction in the country or even within her own party,\" he wrote.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Republican White House hopeful Nikki Haley, also a woman of South Asian descent, has trained her sharpest attacks on the vice president.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A former ambassador to the United Nations under then-president Donald Trump, Haley regularly insists that because of Biden\'s age, it is the vice president -- who would succeed him if he died or was incapacitated -- who must be beaten.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The idea of a President Harris \"should send a chill up every American spine,\" said Haley. 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, '2023-09-24 04:27:38', '2023-09-24 04:27:38'),
(9269, 9269, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The climactic end of a seven-year voyage comes Sunday when a NASA capsule is due to land in the Utah desert, carrying to Earth the largest asteroid samples ever collected.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Scientists have high hopes for the sample, saying it will provide a better understanding of the formation of our solar system and how Earth became habitable.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Osiris-Rex probe\'s final, fiery descent through Earth\'s atmosphere will be perilous, but the US space agency is hoping for a soft landing, around 9:00am local (15H00 GMT), in a military test range in northwestern Utah.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Four years after its 2016 launch, the probe landed on the asteroid Bennu and collected roughly nine ounces (250 grams) of dust from its rocky surface.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Even that small amount, NASA says, should \"help us better understand the types of asteroids that could threaten Earth\" and cast light \"on the earliest history of our solar system,\" NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This sample return is really historic,\" NASA scientist Amy Simon told AFP. \"This is going to be the biggest sample we\'ve brought back since the Apollo moon rocks\" were returned to Earth.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the capsule\'s return will require \"a dangerous maneuver,\" she acknowledged.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Osiris-Rex is set to release the capsule -- from an altitude of more than 67,000 miles (108,000 kilometers) -- some four hours before it lands.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fiery passage through the atmosphere will come only in the last 13 minutes, as the capsule hurtles downward at a speed of more than 27,000 miles per hour, with temperatures of up to 5,000 Fahrenheit (2,760 Celsius).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Its rapid descent, monitored by army sensors, will be slowed by two successive parachutes. Should they fail to deploy correctly, a \"hard landing\" would follow.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If it appears that the target zone (37 by 9 miles) might be missed, NASA controllers could decide at the last moment not to release the capsule.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The probe would then keep its cargo and make another orbit of the sun. Scientists would have to wait until 2025 before trying a new landing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If it succeeds, however, Osiris-Rex would head toward a date with another asteroid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Japanese samples -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Once the tire-sized capsule touches down in Utah, a team in protective masks and gloves will place it in a net to be airlifted by helicopter to a temporary \"clean room\" nearby.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">NASA wants this done as quickly and carefully as possible to avoid any contamination of the sample with desert sands, skewing test results.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Monday, assuming all goes well, the sample will be flown by plane to NASA\'s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. There, the box will be opened in another \"clean room\" -- the beginning of a days-long process.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">NASA plans to announce its first results at a news conference October 11.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Most of the sample will be conserved for study by future generations. Roughly one-fourth of it will be immediately used in experiments, and a small amount will be sent to Japan and Canada, partners in the mission.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Japan had earlier given NASA a few grains from the asteroid Ryugu, after bringing 0.2 ounce of dust to Earth in 2020 during the Hayabusa-2 mission. Ten years before, it had brought back a microscopic quantity from another asteroid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the sample from Bennu is much larger, allowing for significantly more testing, Simon said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Earth\'s origin story -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asteroids are composed of the original materials of the solar system, dating to some 4.5 billion years ago, and have remained relatively intact.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They \"can give us clues about how the solar system formed and evolved,\" said Osiris-Rex program executive Melissa Morris.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s our own origin story.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">By striking Earth\'s surface, \"we do believe asteroids and comets delivered organic material, potentially water, that helped life flourish here on Earth,\" Simon said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Scientists believe Bennu, which is 1,640 feet in diameter, is rich in carbon -- a building block of life on Earth -- and contains water molecules locked in minerals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bennu had surprised scientists in 2020 when the probe, during the few seconds of contact with the asteroid\'s surface, had sunk into the soil, revealing an unexpectedly low density, sort of like a children\'s pool filled with plastic balls.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Understanding its composition could come in handy in the -- distant -- future.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For there is a slight, but non-zero, chance (one in 2,700) that Bennu could collide catastrophically with Earth, though not until 2182.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But NASA last year succeeded in deviating the course of an asteroid by crashing a probe into it in a test, and it might at some point need to repeat that exercise -- but with much higher stakes. 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, '2023-09-24 04:32:34', '2023-09-24 04:32:34'),
(9270, 9270, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Israeli army launched a drone strike on the Gaza Strip on Saturday after violent protests in which three Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire, sources on both sides said.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The early evening strike is one of a series that have come amid near-daily protests at the border by Palestinians after Israel closed the Erez crossing from Gaza.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A drone \"struck a military post belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation, adjacent to the area where a violent riot was taking place\", the army said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It added that \"shots were fired toward\" Israeli soldiers near the border during the strike, without reporting any casualties.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A Palestinian security source told AFP that an \"Israeli aircraft had targeted a Hamas surveillance site east of Gaza City\", without mentioning any casualties.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier in the day, Palestinian demonstrators faced off against Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, an AFP journalist reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Demonstrators set fire to tyres and threw stones at Israeli soldiers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Three Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire, according to the Gaza health ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel has imposed an air, land and sea blockade on the impoverished Palestinian enclave ever since the Islamist group Hamas seized control in 2007.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thousands of Palestinian workers from Gaza have been prevented from entering Israel by the closure of the Erez crossing, which an Israeli NGO, Gisha, condemned as \"collective punishment\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel has issued work permits to some 18,500 Gazans, COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body responsible for Palestinian civil affairs, said on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since September 13, six Palestinians have been killed and nearly 100 wounded during violence at the border, according to figures from the health ministry in Gaza.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Armed conflict sporadically erupts between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In May, an exchange of Israeli air strikes and Gaza rocket fire resulted in the deaths of 34 Palestinians and one Israeli. 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, '2023-09-24 04:35:04', '2023-09-24 04:35:04'),
(9271, 9271, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka\'s air quality was marked as \'unhealthy for sensitive groups\' this morning.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 141 at 8:40 am, Dhaka ranked fifth on the list of cities worldwide with worst air quality, according to the AQI.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan’s Karachi, India’s Delhi and Qatar’s Doha occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 168, 168, and 149 respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be \'very unhealthy\', while a reading of 301+ is considered \'hazardous\', posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants — particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-24 05:05:12', '2023-09-24 05:05:12'),
(9272, 9272, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Information shared by members of an intelligence-sharing alliance was part of what Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used to make public allegations of the Indian government\'s possible involvement in the assassination of a Sikh Canadian, the U.S. ambassador to Canada said.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There was shared intelligence among ‘Five Eyes’ partners that helped lead Canada to (make) the statements that the prime minister made,” U.S. Ambassador David Cohen told Canadian CTV News network.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">CTV News released some of Cohen\'s comments late Friday, and the network said that it would air the full interview with the U.S. envoy on Sunday. No further details were released about the shared intelligence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Thursday, a Canadian official told The Associated Press that the allegation of India’s involvement in the killing is based on surveillance of Indian diplomats in Canada, including intelligence provided by a major ally — without saying which one.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The “Five Eyes” intelligence-sharing alliance is made up of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The relationship between Canada and India reached its lowest point in recent history when Trudeau said there were “credible allegations” of Indian involvement in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a 45-year-old Sikh separatist, in June in a Vancouver suburb. Both countries have expelled some top diplomats.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India, which has called the allegations “absurd,” also has stopped issuing visas to Canadian citizens and told Canada to reduce its diplomatic staff.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Canada has yet to provide public evidence to back Trudeau’s allegations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nijjar, a plumber who was born in India and became a Canadian citizen in 2007, had been wanted by India for years before he was gunned down in June outside the temple he led in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver. 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, '2023-09-24 05:16:04', '2023-09-24 05:16:04'),
(9273, 9273, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Saturday said Awami League does not care about visa policy and restrictions because it wants free, impartial and fair elections anyway.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also stressed the importance of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina\'s selfies with world leaders over any recent developments.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Everything in Bangladesh politics has already been decided by two selfies in the span of a week,\" Quader said, adding: \"The selfies are causing BNP sleepless nights.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Those who want to obstruct fair elections, will be affected by the visa restriction policy,” the roads, bridges and highways minister told reporters this evening at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, after returning home from a routine health check-up at Mount Elizabeth Hospital of Singapore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Quader said that the people of the country will vote and the Election Commission will conduct the elections. Sending foreign observers is up to them. There is the Vienna Convention and they have to follow the rules to send observers, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Awami League general secretary said that there is no alternative to the Sheikh Hasina government for the continuation of democratic process in Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked if the BNP will not allow the election without a caretaker government, Quader said: \"Will the election be held according to BNP’s decision?\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If they want to boycott the election, they have the right to do so, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"However, if any anti-election conspiracy is made, people will resist them with iron hand,\" the senior AL leader 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, '2023-09-24 05:19:27', '2023-09-24 05:19:27'),
(9274, 9274, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel, running&nbsp; beneath the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram, is now awaiting inauguration, with the primary construction phase successfully concluded.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The main tunnel is fully equipped and prepared for vehicular movement. This historic project marks the country\'s first-ever underwater tunnel, and preparations for its grand inauguration are underway.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the tunnel in Chattogram on October 28. Marking the occasion, the prime minister will address a rally at the Anwara end of the tunnel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Commencing from the following day, the tunnel will be open for vehicular traffic, providing a significant transportation milestone for the region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this regard, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said the primary construction phase of the tunnel has been successfully concluded.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Presently, the focus is on resolving technical matters within the tunnel. The inauguration of this remarkable project heralds Bangladesh\'s entry into the era of underwater tunnels,” said Quader.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This ‘monumental achievement’ will usher in a new era of communication within the country, marking a source of immense national pride, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Bridges Division Secretary Md. Manzur Hossain told UNB that the primary tunnel is fully ready for vehicular traffic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Ongoing efforts encompass various aspects, including the establishment of essential infrastructure such as fire service and police station buildings. The overall progress of the tunnel project stands at 98 percent,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Our activities will continue even after the inauguration. It has been discussed to establish a police station, a dumping area, and a station, and the space is available for that. Those who are involved in the operation and those who will perform maintenance will have their own vehicles,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The secretary said that the traffic division has devised a dedicated plan for managing the flow of traffic both within and around the tunnel area, aiming to ensure seamless transportation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Inside the tunnel, vehicles will be able to run at a speed of 80 kilometres per hour.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It has been decided which vehicles will run in the tunnel. Tolls have also been fixed, said the Bridges secretary (see bolow).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The concept of the tunnel is new to us. That\'s why it has some challenges. It is different from other bridges or roads. In that case, we have to make sure that the tunnel will be safe and those who use it will also be safe,” said Hossain, adding, “From that perspective, I don\'t think it\'s safe for two- or three-wheelers at the moment.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Harun-ur-Rashid, project director of the tunnel, told UNB that the scope of Chittagong city will increase once the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman tunnel is opened.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Chittagong city marks one end of the tunnel, while the other end leads to Anwara Upazila. The development of tunnels is transforming Anwara into a burgeoning city. Concurrently, the land prices in Anwara Upazila have seen a substantial increase.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Numerous industries, both large and small, are emerging on both sides of the road leading to the tunnel\'s terminus in Anwara Upazila.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When the tunnel becomes operational, it will reduce the Karnaphuli River crossing time to just three minutes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As time is of the essence, the economy is expected to thrive. The tunnel is poised to bring about a transformative change in road connectivity between the capital, Dhaka, and Chittagong city, as well as the tourist destination of Cox\'s Bazar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The main tunnel spans a length of 3.32 kilometres, with each of the two four-lane tubes measuring 2.45 kilometres.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Additionally, there will be a 5.35 km link road at both the west and east ends of the main tunnel, along with a 727-metre-long flyover at the Anwara end.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tunnel is situated at a depth ranging from 18 to 31 metres beneath the Karnaphuli River.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina initiated the commencement of boring for the first or northern tunnel from Patenga to Anwara on February 24, 2019.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The loan agreement had been signed on June 30, 2015, following a feasibility study of the project in 2011 and a Memorandum of Understanding in 2014.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Construction work officially began on December 5, 2017, following the appointment of the contractor.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This project is jointly funded by the Governments of Bangladesh and China (G2G), with a total cost of Tk 10,698 crore. The construction work for the tunnel is being carried out by the China Communication and Construction Company Limited (CCCC).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Government of Bangladesh is executing this project with the aim of creating a \'One City Two Towns\' concept, similar to Shanghai in China, on either side of the Karnaphuli River.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A total of 12 types of vehicles will be subject to toll charges when using the 3.43 km long Bangabandhu Tunnel. The minimum toll fee has been set at Tk200, applicable to private cars. Pickup trucks will also be charged Tk200 for each crossing, while microbuses will be charged Tk250.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Buses with fewer than 31 seats will incur a toll of Tk300, while those with more than 32 seats will pay Tk400. Big buses with three axles will be charged a toll of Tk500.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The toll for trucks capable of carrying goods up to five tonnes has been fixed at Tk400. Eight-ton trucks will have to pay Tk500 and 11-ton trucks will have to pay Tk600. A three-axle container trailer will cost Tk800.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A four-axle trailer will cost Tk1,000. However, an additional Tk200 will have to be paid for each additional axle.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The toll rate will come into effect on the day the tunnel is opened for vehicular movement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-24 06:07:21', '2023-09-24 06:07:21');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(9275, 9275, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Three people were shot dead in a targeted attack in Atlanta, the southeastern U.S. state of Georgia, on Saturday afternoon, said local police.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Officers responded to a call reporting that someone had been shot in the city\'s West End neighborhood around 1:30 p.m. (1730 GMT), the Associated Press quoted police as saying.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;The shooting occurred near a mall, police said in a news release, adding that a preliminary probe showed a man opened fire at two people, one of whom fired back. All three were shot and died. Xinhua</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-24 06:46:16', '2023-09-24 06:46:16'),
(9276, 9276, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinians in a pre-dawn raid in the West Bank Sunday, the Palestinian health ministry said, as the army confirmed it carried out \"counter-terrorism\" activity in the occupied territory.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Two Palestinians were killed by live Israeli bullets to the head\" in the town of Tulkarem, the ministry said, while the army confirmed a soldier had been \"moderately injured by gunshot fragments\" during clashes in Nur Shams refugee camp near the town.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Palestinian health ministry identified the two killed as Osaid Abu Ali, 22, and Abd al-Rahman Abu Daghash, 32.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Troops dismantled an \"operational command centre\" inside a building in the camp and also uncovered a large number of explosive devices, the army said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"During the activity, suspects opened fire and hurled explosive devices at the forces who responded with live fire,\" the army 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, '2023-09-24 06:52:52', '2023-09-24 06:52:52'),
(9277, 9277, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to the stage at the House of Commons and made an explosive announcement by accusing “agents of Indian government” of killing a Canadian citizen – a prominent Sikh separatist whom India has accused of terrorism – on Canadian soil.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The accusation, swiftly condemned and denied by New Delhi, has torpedoed the Indo-Canadian diplomatic relationship.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Following Trudeau’s public accusations, the diplomatic confrontation between both countries has reached an all-time high.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As part of the confrontation, the North American country has expelled the “Canadian station chief of India’s intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW),” accusing him of interfering in Ottawa’s “internal affairs.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, in a tit-for-tat move, India has also expelled a senior Canadian diplomat and later suspended all visa services for Canadian nationals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Amid these diplomatic measures, one thing is very significant to note that both India and Canada are allies of the United States, or in other words, the West.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India is one of the most significant allies of the US and one of the important frontiers of Washington’s confrontation with Beijing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the midst of such cold geopolitical realities, one might wonder where Justin Trudeau stands on the world stage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the BBC, Trudeau has been facing the cold reality of geopolitics “alone” in the past week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“In the public eye at least, Trudeau has appeared to be left largely on his own as he goes toe to toe with India, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, with a population 35 times bigger than Canada’s,” BBC reports.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is worth noting that Canada has received the intelligence regarding New Delhi’s “spy ops” from Five Eyes intelligence alliance – made up of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, according to BBC, Trudeau’s allies in the intelligence network have provided “seemingly boilerplate public statements, all stopping far short of full-throated support.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said his country took “very seriously the things that Canada is saying.” Using nearly identical language, Australia said it was “deeply concerned” by the accusations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, Ottawa’s southern neighbour, the United States, said it expects Delhi to cooperate with Ottawa in investigating the assassination.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Citing experts, BBC noted that Canada’s interests currently pale in comparison to India’s massive strategic importance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The US, the UK, and all these Western and Indo-Pacific allies have built a strategy that largely focuses on India, to be a bulwark and counterweight to China. That’s something they can’t afford to toss out the window,” Xavier Delgado, a researcher at the Wilson Centre’s Canada Institute told BBC. “The fact that they haven’t come out and rushed to Canada’s defence is indicative of the geopolitical reality,” he added. 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, '2023-09-24 07:28:52', '2023-09-24 07:28:52'),
(9278, 9278, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Life is resuming back to normal and restrictions are easing in Kerala as Nipah virus cases decline in the state. For the past weeks, an outbreak of infections due to Nipah virus had led close to schools and educational institutions in Kerala. Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus and can spread from animals to humans as well as humans to humans. To prevent contracting it, people should avoid eating fruits that may be infected with bats and wash their hands frequently. While the infection is not rapidly spread, it can be deadly once contracted. It can affect lungs and brain, lead to seizures and disorientation and can even cause coma or death.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus that may transmit from animals to humans. It can also circulate through contaminated food or direct contact between people. Fruit bats are the main cause of transmission of this virus. People contracting this virus may undergo severe conditions such as acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. Unlike airborne infections, NiV spreads via bats and pigs. It may turn fatal not only to humans but also to animals,\" says Dr. Santosh Kumar Aggrawal, Sr. Consultant, Internal Medicine, Marengo Asia Hospitals Faridabad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>How Nipah affects the body</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nipah virus mainly attacks the lungs and brain. It may also lead to respiratory issues such as cough and sore throat, or even rapid breathing, fever, and gastrointestinal problems like nausea and vomiting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"In severe cases, it may give rise to encephalitis ( an acute inflammation or swelling of the brain tissue) leading to disorientation or seizures. Encephalitis may even be catastrophic and cause coma or death,\" says Dr Aggarwal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Nipah virus in children can be deadly</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nipah virus infection is rare but can be severe especially in children. They must follow appropriate preventive measures to avoid getting the virus.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"Children can be susceptible to the Nipah virus, can have symptoms similar to adults. However, they may experience a higher risk of severe complications owing to their developing immune systems. Due to weakened immune systems, Niv may affect elderly population severely, requiring hospitalization. Therefore timely medical attention should be given to children and elderly people infected with Nipah. Immediate medical attention and adherence to preventive measures are key to control its spread and minimize its impact,\" says Dr Aggarwal.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, '2023-09-24 08:13:46', '2023-09-24 08:13:46'),
(9279, 9279, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has ruled out any tension in Bangladesh-US relations following the State Department’s announcement of initiating visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have no tension with the US,” he told reporters in Manhattan on Saturday, noting that the US will not grant visas to those who will try to foil the upcoming election in Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The foreign minister said that US President Joe Biden wants to strengthen the existing friendly relations with Bangladesh in the next 50 years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I am confident our partnership will continue to flourish for the next 50 years and beyond,” Biden wrote in a letter sent to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina marking the 50-year milestone in the bilateral relationship between the US and Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya said the visa policy announcement affirms the United States’ commitment to “free, fair and peaceful” elections worldwide and supports efforts of partners in the Government of Bangladesh, civil society, and media to ensure democratic elections that reflect the will of Bangladeshis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam said that Bangladesh has nothing to lose and they are not worried about the visa restrictions issue, as they are doing nothing wrong.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking to reporters at his residence on Friday night, the state minister also said there is no reason to see further sanctions from the US before the next election as the government has received assurance from the US.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States has said it will not release the names or numbers of people in Bangladesh who would face visa restrictions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Visa records are confidential under US law,” Embassy Spokesperson Bryan Schiller told UNB on Friday. But, he said, the US government has looked very closely at incidents since they announced the visa policy. “After a careful review of the evidence, we have imposed visa restrictions on members of law enforcement, the ruling party, and the political opposition,” Schiller 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, '2023-09-24 08:42:32', '2023-09-24 08:42:32'),
(9280, 9280, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>In the upcoming edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Mushfiqur Rahim is set to don the colors of Fortune Barishal alongside Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah Riyad.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Barishal has successfully acquired Mushfiqur\'s services in this year\'s players\' draft, which took place at a Dhaka hotel today.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition to these three national stalwarts, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Khaled Ahmed, and Soumya Sarkar will also be part of the Barishal lineup in the BPL, scheduled to take place in January–February 2024.</div><div><br></div><div>Joining them are some prominent international acquisitions for Barishal, including Shoaib Malik, Fakhar Zaman, and Mohammad Amir from Pakistan, along with Dinesh Chandimal from Sri Lanka.</div><div><br></div><div>The other teams participating in this year\'s BPL include Chattogram Challengers, Comilla Victorians, Durdanto Dhaka, Khulna Tigers, and Sylhet Strikers. All teams will finalize their squads through the draft. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-24 11:27:52', '2023-09-24 11:27:52'),
(9281, 9281, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Deputy Commissioner (Media) Faruk Hossain has said the newly implemented US visa policy will not have any impact on police operations.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We have more than 2 lakh personnel in Bangladesh Police. My question is: How many of them actually want to go to America? The number is very low. From that perspective, we believe this visa restriction will not have any impact on the police,” Faruk said while talking to reporters at DMP’s media centre in the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>Deputy Commissioner Faruk said that police have not yet received any list of individuals targeted by the visa restriction.</div><div><br></div><div>“We believe the police force operates within the boundaries of law, adhering to human rights standards. We have done so in the past, and we will continue to do so in the future,” Faruk Hossain said. “Therefore, I have faith that this visa policy will not in any way hinder our operations.”</div><div><br></div><div>When asked about US concerns regarding the role of law enforcement agencies during the upcoming election, the DMP deputy commissioner said police will continue to work within the framework of law.</div><div><br></div><div>“The role of the police during the upcoming election is to provide security at polling centers. The responsibility that will be placed on us comes from the Election Commission. We will fulfil that responsibility,” the DMP deputy commissioner said. “In this regard, we do not think that the US visa policy will pose any obstacle to our duties.” According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-24 12:15:49', '2023-09-24 12:15:49'),
(9282, 9282, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The government has made mandatory the submission of tax return by November 30, according to the Income Tax Act 2023.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Income Tax Act, 2023 received the President\'s assent on June 22. The Income Tax Ordinance, 1984 was repealed and this new law was enacted.</div><div><br></div><div>For informing about the new to stakeholders, National Board of Revenue (NBR) has started to arrange public hearing.</div><div>In line of this, Tax Zone-2 today organised a programme at its commissioner office at Segunbagicha area in the city.</div><div><br></div><div>Representatives of various autonomous bodies participated at the programme.</div><div><br></div><div>At the programme, income tax officials informed that self-assessment returns have been made mandatory in the new law.</div><div><br></div><div>They mentioned that income tax returns must be filed by November 30 and if they fail to submit it within the deadline, then taxpayers will not get the expected rebate and have to pay late charge.</div><div><br></div><div>Income Tax Officer Md Zakir Hossain said that if the annual taxable income is less than Taka five lakh, one page income tax return must be submitted.</div><div><br></div><div>He informed that NBR has released a one-page form for the low income taxpayers. According to BSS reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-24 12:41:57', '2023-09-24 12:41:57'),
(9283, 9283, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bollywood actor Aamir Khan extended a helping hand to the families affected by the recent catastrophe in Himachal Pradesh, which resulted in devastating landslides, widespread damage, and collapse of several buildings.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>He has donated ₹25 lakh to the Aapda Rahat Kosh-2023 as a charitable gesture to help the families devastated by the current disaster.</div><div><br></div><div>Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while expressing his profound gratitude to Aamir Khan for his invaluable support, said that the assistance will undoubtedly assist in relief and rehabilitation efforts aimed at helping the affected families to recover from the aftermath of the disaster.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The Chief Minister said that the fund will be judiciously utilised to ensure that it reaches those in dire need. He said that his noble gesture of Hindi cinema icon was set to make a remarkable difference in the lives of those who have been adversely affected by monsoon fury in the State.</div><div><br></div><div>Persistent rainfall in Himachal Pradesh has resulted in multiple landslides and cloudbursts in various areas. Incessant rains in Himachal Pradesh have led to multiple landslides and cloudbursts in several places.</div><div><br></div><div>Coming back to Aamir Khan, his production Laapataa Ladies, which is directed by Kiran Rao, received a positive response at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).</div><div><br></div><div>Laapataa Ladies stars Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Chhaya Kadam, and Ravi Kishan in lead roles. The film was screened at the grand premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 8. Set in 2001, in rural India, Laapataa Ladies follows the jolly mess that ensues when two young brides get lost from a train.</div><div><br></div><div>Presented by Jio Studios, Laapataa Ladies is co-produced by Aamir and Jyoti Deshpande. The film has been made under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions and Kindling Productions, with the script based on an award-winning story by Biplab Goswami. Source: Hindustan Times</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-24 12:50:51', '2023-09-24 12:50:51'),
(9284, 9284, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP is set to hold its September 26 road march with participation of over five lakh people in Khulna city with different demands, including resignation of the government and dissolution of the parliament, to ensure a “fair” election.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>All kinds of preparations including setting up the event venue have been completed for the road march. A festive mood prevails among BNP leaders and activists from top to grassroots-level in the district.</div><div><br></div><div>Over 200 arches were erected at the entry points of Khulna city and a huge number of posters and banners featuring issues including price hike were put up.</div><div><br></div><div>Moreover, publicity through miking has been initiated since this morning with the call to join the road march to be held in the city’s Zia Hall. Over 10 lakh leaflets were handed out among general people in the city and district.</div><div><br></div><div>Local BNP activists hoped that over five lakh people would gather to express no-confidence in the ruling government.</div><div><br></div><div>Mizanur Rahman Milton, member secretary of Khulna division BNP’s media cell, said they are going to hold the road march to “save the countrymen from the misrule” of the Awami League government as they “snatched away all rights after coming to power.”</div><div><br></div><div>Khulna city unit BNP’s Member Secretary Shahifqul Islam Tuhin said the presence of general people at the previous divisional and youth rallies proved that they are not with the “illegal government”.</div><div><br></div><div>An enthusiasm is seen among the leaders and activists alongside the general people, he said, adding that the road march will begin from Jhenaidah and end at Zia Hall in Khulna city on September 26.</div><div><br></div><div>Khulna district BNP’s Member Secretary SM Manirul Hasan Bappi said people will join the road march on their own to realise their rights. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-24 15:17:16', '2023-09-24 15:17:16'),
(9285, 9285, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A huge banyan tree charred by the wildfires in Maui of Hawaii is sprouting new green leaves, giving hope all was not completely lost in the flames.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The 150-year-old cultural landmark dominates the courthouse square on Lahaina’s famous Front Street.</div><div><br></div><div>The tree was planted in 1873, and is the largest one of its kind in the US, raising more than 60 feet.</div><div><br></div><div>The historic tree, part of the fig family, gives the illusion of being multiple trees due to its ability to develop accessory trunks from its roots, allowing it to spread out. It currently has about 46 major trunks.</div><div><br></div><div>‘A sign of new beginnings’</div><div><br></div><div>It is commonly referred to as a gathering place for Lahaina residents, serving as a hub for tourists, festivals, and even wedding proposals.</div><div><br></div><div>Landscaping business owner Chris Imonti said the banyan Tree has been an iconic figure in Lahaina for more than a century, and seeing the leaves grow means a lot to the community.</div><div><br></div><div>“People see it as a sign of hope,” Imonti said. “A sign of new beginnings.”</div><div><br></div><div>Imonti has been working with Hawaii’s state arborist, Steve Nimz, along with a team of volunteers to help preserve the Banyan tree.</div><div><br></div><div>Maui\'s historical Banyan tree is growing new leaves after being charred in wildfires.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;“I would say about 75% of the tree right now is showing new growth, and we’re really happy about that,” Imonti said.</div><div><br></div><div>“The northeast corner of the tree got most of the heat so we’re still monitoring that part of the tree pretty closely,” he noted.</div><div><br></div><div>During the fire, the soil became extremely hot, which altered the ground’s ability to absorb water, according to the landscaper.</div><div><br></div><div>Volunteers and local contractors have been pouring more than 5,000 gallons of water on the tree daily, in an attempt to rehydrate the roots.</div><div><br></div><div>And compost tea, an organic liquid compost nutrient, is helping water penetrate the scorched dirt.</div><div><br></div><div>“We put that on the soil to stimulate root growth as well as create a very stable soil structure,” Imonti said.</div><div><br></div><div>‘The tree is like your only compass in town’</div><div><br></div><div>The wildfires destroyed most of Lahaina, leaving a community of more than 13,000 people with little or nothing to salvage. The flames burned down homes, businesses, and displaced more than half of Lahaina’s residents.</div><div><br></div><div>“Now, when you look around, you don’t have any landmarks,” Imonti told CNN. “The tree is like your only compass in town.”</div><div><br></div><div>The banyan tree isn’t the only tree local volunteers are working to save.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’re also taking care of a lot of other historical trees in Lahaina,” Imonti added.</div><div><br></div><div>One of them is the Kumu ‘ulu tree, which is connected to the legend of Ku, the Hawaiian god of farming and fishing, who transformed into a Kumu ulu tree to feed his family during a famine. The tree produces the breadfruit, ‘ulu, a popular island nutrient.</div><div><br></div><div>“But most of them have been charred pretty badly,” Imonti noted. “I mean, everything is gone,” he continued. “We’re running around watering a few trees in town and that’s all that’s left.”</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, residents are returning to the scorched grounds where their homes once stood.</div><div><br></div><div>“Everybody really has to rebuild their lives,” Imonti said, which comes with “a whole other wave of sadness for families.”</div><div><br></div><div>And while preserving the trees is important to the island’s culture and peace of mind, Imonti acknowledged it is not a top priority for many locals at the moment.</div><div><br></div><div>“I think the tree is the last thing on a lot of people’s minds right now,” the landscaper admitted.</div><div><br></div><div>But he hopes the tree “can be a good vehicle for change,” and continue to be a sign of hope for the long road of recovery that lies ahead of Lahaina.</div><div><br></div><div>The town “has to be redesigned and it’s gonna take years,” Imonti told CNN. “Give us time to heal and hopefully this tree will come back to life and we can start moving forward in a positive way.” According to CNN reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-24 15:58:14', '2023-09-24 15:58:14'),
(9286, 9286, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Seven years after launching to space, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft flew by Earth Sunday to deliver a pristine sample collected from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. It’s NASA’s first time returning an asteroid sample from space.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>NASA is providing a livestream of the delivery.</div><div><br></div><div>OSIRIS-REx, which stands for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer, lifted off in 2016 and began orbiting Bennu in 2018. The spacecraft collected the sample in 2020 and set off on its lengthy return trip to Earth in May 2021.</div><div><br></div><div>The spacecraft dropped the sample capsule — containing an estimated 8.8 ounces of asteroid rocks and soil — from a distance of 63,000 miles (102,000 kilometers) above Earth’s surface early Sunday, and entered the planet’s atmosphere at 10:42 a.m. ET while traveling at a speed of about 27,650 miles per hour (44,498 kilometers per hour).</div><div><br></div><div>Parachutes deployed to slow the capsule to a gentle touchdown at 11 miles per hour (17.7 kilometers per hour). The sample landed in the Defense Department’s Utah Test and Training Range about 10 minutes after entering the atmosphere.</div><div><br></div><div>OSIRIS-REx is continuing its tour of the solar system — the spacecraft has already set off to capture a detailed look at a different asteroid named Apophis.</div><div><br></div><div>What happens after landing</div><div><br></div><div>Four helicopters are transporting recovery and research teams to the landing site and will conduct aerial assessments to make sure the capsule isn’t damaged in any way, said Rich Burns, OSIRIS-REx project manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.</div><div><br></div><div>Recovery teams, which have been training for the event for months, will be standing by to retrieve the capsule once it is safe to do so, said Sandra Freund, OSIRIS-REx program manager at Lockheed Martin Space, which partnered with NASA to build the spacecraft, provide flight operations and help recover the capsule.</div><div><br></div><div>The initial recovery team, outfitted with protective gloves and masks, will ensure that the capsule is cool enough to touch, given that it will have reached temperatures up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 degrees Celsius) during reentry, Burns said. The team will also make sure the capsule’s battery didn’t rupture and leak any toxic fumes.</div><div><br></div><div>A science team will collect samples from the landing site, including air, dust and dirt particles.</div><div><br></div><div>“One of the key scientific objectives of OSIRIS-REx is to return a pristine sample and pristine means that no foreign materials hamper our investigation during sample analysis,” said Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator at the University of Arizona in Tucson. “As unlikely as it is, we do want to make sure any materials that are out there in the Utah range that may interact with the sample are well documented.”</div><div><br></div><div>A helicopter will carry the sample in a cargo net and deliver it to a temporary clean room near the landing site. Within this space, the curation team will conduct a nitrogen flow, called a purge, to prevent any of Earth’s atmosphere from entering the sample canister and contaminating it. The larger pieces of the capsule will be stripped away, said Nicole Lunning, OSIRIS-REx curation lead at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.</div><div><br></div><div>A team will prepare the sample canister for transport on a C-17 aircraft to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston on Monday. Scientists expect to remove the lid to see the sample for the first time on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>What the sample may reveal</div><div><br></div><div>Details about the sample will be revealed through a NASA broadcast from Johnson Space Center on October 11. While the science team will not have had time to fully assess the sample, the researchers plan to collect some fine-grained material at the top of canister Tuesday for a quick analysis that can be shared in October, Lauretta said.</div><div><br></div><div>Scientists will analyze the rocks and soil for the next two years at a dedicated clean room inside Johnson Space Center. The sample will also be divided up and sent to laboratories around the globe, including OSIRIS-REx mission partners at the Canadian Space Agency and Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency. About 70% of the sample will remain pristine in storage so future generations with better technology can learn even more than what’s now possible.</div><div><br></div><div>If a government shutdown occurs, “it will not endanger the curation and safe handling of the asteroid sample,” said Lori Glaze, director for NASA’s Planetary Sciences Division.</div><div><br></div><div>“Certain steps leading to this highly anticipated analysis will possibly be delayed, but the sample will remain protected and safe despite any disruptions to the schedule,” she said during a news conference Friday. “The sample has waited for more than 4 billion years for humans to study it and if it takes us a little longer, I think we’ll be OK.”</div><div><br></div><div>Along with a previously returned sample of the asteroid Ryugu from Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission, the rocks and soil could reveal key information about the beginning of our solar system. Scientists believe that carbonaceous asteroids such as Bennu crashed into Earth early during the planet’s formation, delivering elements like water.</div><div><br></div><div>“Scientists believe that the asteroid Bennu is representative of the solar system’s own oldest materials forged in large dying stars and supernova explosions,” Glaze said. “And for this reason, NASA is investing in these missions devoted to small bodies to increase our understanding of how our solar system formed and how it evolved.”</div><div><br></div><div>But the sample can also provide insights into Bennu, which has a chance of colliding with Earth in the future.</div><div><br></div><div>It’s crucial to understand more about the population of near-Earth asteroids that may be on an eventual collision course with our planet. A better grasp of their composition and orbits is key to predicting which asteroids may have the closest approaches to Earth and when — and essential to developing methods of deflecting these asteroids based on their composition. - CNN</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-24 16:07:05', '2023-09-24 16:07:05'),
(9287, 9287, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Sunday said that there are some legal complications in allowing BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for treatment and it might require permission from court.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“There may be a need for court approval as there are certain legal complications in allowing her to go abroad, and our ministry has nothing to do over the matter as it is under court’s jurisdiction. The law minister knows better about this,” he said these while talking to reporters at his ministry.</div><div><br></div><div>“It’s not about taking permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs. When applications are submitted to our ministry, they are forwarded to the Law Ministry. If the Law Ministry thinks that the matter falls within the court\'s jurisdiction, it is then sent to the court,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to queries about any pending applications regarding Khaleda Zia\'s travel, the minister said, “We have not received any such application so far. I am telling you the procedures in case such an application is submitted.”</div><div><br></div><div>When questioned about previous applications from the BNP, he said, “Every time they apply, we grant approval to the extent possible. Beyond that, they have to go to court.”</div><div><br></div><div>On the issue of the United States\' visa policy, the minister said, he is not aware of who fall under the US visa restriction.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have heard the declaration about the US visa policy, but they have not formally communicated it to us via letters,” he said, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“We don\'t know who fall under the restriction. Since we lack this information, I cannot comment on it,” he further said adding, “It is up to them to formulate their visa policy and decide who can enter their country. We have nothing to comment on it,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-24 16:25:23', '2023-09-24 16:25:23'),
(9288, 9288, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A passenger train collided with another already parked and carrying goods in eastern Pakistan on Sunday, injuring at least 30 passengers, five of them seriously, officials said.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Railway authorities suspended the driver of the Lahore-bound passenger train, his assistant and two of the ground staff for negligence as an investigation has been opened, said top railways official Shahid Aziz.</div><div><br></div><div>Aziz said the incident happened in Shaikhupura district near Qila Sattar Shah station early morning as the passenger train which left Mianwali for Lahore was directed to the track where the goods train was already parked.</div><div><br></div><div>He said most of the injured were treated at the train station, but those with serious injuries were moved to hospital and the tracks were quickly cleared.</div><div><br></div><div>Such accidents are common in Pakistan where railways suffer from decades-old signal systems and tracks. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-24 17:03:35', '2023-09-24 17:03:35'),
(9289, 9289, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has issued an ultimatum to the government to take necessary steps to send BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia abroad for better treatment within 48 hours, or be held responsible should anything happen to her.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“I have gone to the hospital to see her and I did not see her crying ever. She has turned so thin and she can\'t speak properly. The physician told me that if you have anything to do, do it, she is not in good condition,” said Fakhrul while addressing a rally in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office on Sunday, organised to demand the release of Khaleda Zia and for her to be sent abroad for treatment.</div><div><br></div><div>He also urged the government to take steps to ensure better treatment of Khaleda Zia.&nbsp; “If anything happens to her, it will be big damage for not only the BNP but also for people, democracy and country,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking about the US visa policy, the BNP leader said it is not an honour for the country.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Khaleda Zia, a leader who, being a housewife, took to the streets for democracy, for the needs of the country and brought back democracy through mass uprising by overthrowing Ershad, has been confined without adequate medical treatment,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Awami League enforced a 176-day hartal demanding the caretaker government and Khaleda Zia introduced the caretaker system after changing the constitution for the sake of democracy, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The people of the country are now saying that there is no possibility to hold the election freely and fairly under the government and none of the pro-democracy parties would not participate in the election under the government, said Fakhrul, adding “If this situation continues the future of the country will be destroyed.”</div><div><br></div><div>BNP Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moin Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, BNP Vice-Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia\'s special assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, BNP`s Publicity Secretary Shaheed Uddin Chowdhury Annie, among others, spoke at the rally. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-09-24 17:06:29', '2023-09-24 17:06:29'),
(9290, 9290, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Emmanuel Macron has said France will withdraw its ambassador and end all military co-operation with Niger following a coup.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"France has decided to withdraw its ambassador. In the next hours our ambassador and several diplomats will return to France,\" Mr Macron said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added that military co-operation was \"over\" and French troops would leave in \"the months to come\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The military junta which seized power in Niger in July welcomed the move.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This Sunday we celebrate a new step towards the sovereignty of Niger,\" the junta said, in a statement quoted by AFP news agency.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are about 1,500 French soldiers in the landlocked West African country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The decision by Paris follows months of animosity and protests against the French presence in the country, with regular demonstrations in the capital Niamey.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The move deals a hammer blow to France\'s operations against Islamist militants in the wider Sahel region and Paris\' influence there. But Mr Macron said France would \"not be held hostage by the putschists,\" speaking to France\'s TF1 and France 2 television stations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Macron said he still regarded ousted Niger President Mohamed Bazoum, currently held prisoner by the coup leaders, as the country\'s \"sole legitimate authority\" and had informed him of his decision. He described the deposed president as a \"hostage\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"He was targeted by this coup d\'etat because he was carrying out courageous reforms and because there was a largely ethnic settling of scores and a lot of political cowardice,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Niger is one of several former French colonies in West Africa where the military has recently seized control - it follows Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Chad. The latest coup was in Gabon in August.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Anti-French vitriol has flourished in the region in recent years, with many local politicians accusing Paris of carrying out neocolonialist policies - a charge denied by France.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There have also been concerns in the West over the growing role in the Sahel of Russia\'s Wagner mercenary group. It is accused of human rights abuses and has been helping some new military regimes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The regional Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), supported by France, has threatened military intervention in Niger to reinstate Mr Bazoum. But so far it has not acted. 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, '2023-09-25 01:44:22', '2023-09-25 01:44:22'),
(9291, 9291, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The highway runs through the forest like a black ribbon, down to the sea and to what must be one of the world\'s largest tourism projects.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fifteen years after it began, there is still not much to see of the Dara Sakor Seashore Resort in southern Cambodia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is a grandiose scheme by a Chinese company to build a self-contained tourist city. A Chinese colony, some have called it a venue for \"feasting and revelry\", according to the company, complete with international airport, deep-sea port, power stations, hospitals, casinos and luxury villas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The airport is still unfinished. A single casino, with an attached five-star hotel and apartments, sits alone near the sea, fronted by an unmade road, and surrounded by a construction site.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As a tourist business it has barely got started. But it has already had a damaging impact on one of Asia\'s richest natural environments, and on the thousands of people who live there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China\'s economic footprint in Cambodia now dwarfs that of any other country. It provides half of all direct investment and most of its foreign aid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cambodia is an enthusiastic partner in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), President Xi Jinping\'s strategy for expanding Chinese built-and-funded-infrastructure around the world. A lot of this is clearly beneficial. But a great deal of Chinese investment is speculative, rushed and poorly planned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The once quiet coastal town of Sihanoukville, for example, across the bay from Dara Sakor, was transformed in just a few years into a huge construction site to feed Chinese demand for casinos.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It fuelled a crime wave and then a collapse of the gambling economy during Covid, littering the town with half-built, empty tower blocks. There are good reasons to fear Dara Sakor may suffer similar problems.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s like baking without flour,\" says Sophal Ear, a Cambodian academic at Arizona State University. \"You cannot rely on unsustainable practices to achieve sustainable development. What about the Chinese real estate bubble? When China sneezes, Cambodia will catch a cold.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dara Sakor is the kind of development favoured by Cambodia\'s former prime minister Hun Sen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is on a massive scale, yet it was conceived in almost total secrecy. The BBC has found that there was minimal consultation or evaluation of the human and environmental cost.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Chinese companies involved provide very little information about themselves, and some have dubious track records. The project has also seeded international suspicion of what other goals China might have in this part of Cambodia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China\'s \"ask-no-questions\" approach to aid and investment appealed to Hun Sen, a self-styled strongman who, after bringing three decades of devastating war and revolution to an end in the 1990s, pushed for breakneck growth to help his country catch up with its neighbours.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But much of this growth has been achieved by giving generous concessions, in particular huge parcels of land, to favoured cronies and foreign companies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There are no institutions,\" says Sebastian Strangio, who has written what is perhaps the definitive book on Hun Sen\'s Cambodia. \"The system relies on keeping powerful people contented.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Dara Sakor project dates back to early 2008, when UDG, a private Chinese construction company based in the northern city of Tianjin, secured a 99-year lease - the maximum term allowed under Cambodian law - with a single deposit of $1m. This was for the right to develop 36,000 hectares initially, with 9,000 more added later.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">UDG was required to pay nothing more for 10 years, and after that only a paltry $1m a year - a breathtakingly generous arrangement for control of one-fifth of Cambodia\'s entire coastline.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As the land was inside the Botum Sakor national park, and greatly exceeded the legal limit of 10,000 hectares for any one project, it would have been very controversial - had anyone else known about it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But because there was no information published about the deal at the time, there was no discussion of it in the Cambodian media. 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, '2023-09-25 02:43:48', '2023-09-25 02:43:48');
