INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(7183, 7183, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A combination of intravenous and periarticular corticosteroids did not enhance pain control in patients having total knee arthroplasty (TKA), but may improve important measures of functional recovery in the days after surgery, according to a study.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The trial was published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. The journal is part of the Lippincott portfolio and is published in collaboration with Wolters Kluwer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Intravenous (IV) plus periarticular (PA) steroids \"yielded more significant improvements in the rehabilitation parameters,\" such as knee movement and walking distance, according to the report by TCW Chan, MBBS, of Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, and colleagues. \"Thus, there was more robust evidence that corticosteroids enhanced functional recovery in the patients who received both PA and IV corticosteroids than in those who received intravenous corticosteroids only.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trial compares two routes of corticosteroid administration for TKA</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">TKA is a widely performed and cost-effective procedure, but many patients experience substantial postoperative pain. Previous studies have reported effective pain relief and improved mobilisation after TKA with either IV or PA corticosteroid administration.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chan and colleagues aimed to assess whether a combination of IV and PA corticosteroids could provide further improvement. In the new study, 178 patients undergoing initial TKA were randomly assigned to receive IV, PA, or IV plus PA corticosteroids. A fourth group received inactive placebo injections. All patients received standard opioid medications for pain.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pain relief and key rehabilitation parameters were compared across groups. Patients and the researchers evaluating outcomes were both blinded to the treatment the patients received.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In first few postoperative days, pain scores at rest and during movement were significantly lower for patients who received IV corticosteroids, with or without PA corticosteroids, as compared with the placebo group. Patients who received PA corticosteroids alone had no reduction in pain scores compared with the placebo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The combined use of IV plus PA corticosteroids led to improvement in several physical measures during rehabilitation. At three days, flexion in the operated knee was better for patients who received IV plus PA corticosteroids compared with the placebo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The IV plus PA corticosteroid group also had greater quadriceps muscle strength and longer walking distances during the first three postoperative days, as well as higher scores on an elderly mobility scale. Some parameters, but not all, were also improved for patients who received IV or PA corticosteroids alone, as compared with the placebo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Patients who received IV plus PA corticosteroids were also more likely to be discharged home from the hospital, rather than to a rehabilitation facility (67% compared with 38% in the placebo group). Rates of discharge to home were 55% with IV corticosteroids alone and 59% with PA corticosteroids alone. 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, '2023-05-29 12:47:26', '2023-05-29 12:47:26'),
(7184, 7184, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh\'s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (May 29, 2023) said maintaining peace in the world has now become more difficult than in the past as evil forces are using advanced technology against it.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“With the recent development and advancement of technology, new threats of evil forces are increasing,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister was addressing a programme marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers-2023 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC).</div><div><br></div><div>She said that technology is giving people opportunities in all fields including socioeconomic development.</div><div><br></div><div>“…but we also see that the evil forces are also using technology creating confusion among the people and is taking away the peace of people’s lives,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that peacekeepers in UN peacekeeping missions have to deal with complex multidimensional situation.</div><div><br></div><div>“Hence the need to enrich peacekeeping missions with advanced technology has increased manifold,” she stated.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina mentioned that her government has always prepared Bangladeshi peacekeepers with the latest training to deal with complex situations in the world\'s most challenging and dangerous regions.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are ensuring the supply of clothing, other essential items, and modern military equipment compatible with the mission area\'s environment, weather, and terrain,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>In this connection, she mentioned that the government incorporated added modern mine-resistant and ambush-protected vehicles to the Bangladesh contingents and state-of-the-art technology for peacekeeper communications. </div><div><br></div><div>“Incorporating modern technology and training are an ongoing process that we will continue in the future,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister reiterated that Bangladesh believes in peace and would do whatever is required for peace.</div><div><br></div><div>“We believe in peace, not in conflict. Bangladesh always believes in peace and it would do  whatever is required to establish peace,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said that her government\'s efforts will continue so that the peacekeepers of Bangladesh can respond to the UN’s call with more confidence.</div><div><br></div><div>“I hope Bangladeshi peacekeepers will keep the country\'s honour and image bright by working with their skills, professionalism, courage, and dedication,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that peacekeepers of the country work tirelessly to prevent conflict, protect civilians, ensure human rights and establish peace.</div><div><br></div><div>“Because of your sincere work, the people of all those countries have given you unconditional love,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She mentioned that Local citizens of many countries associated with the Bangladeshi contingent have learned Bengali culture and language from them.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladeshi peacekeepers have set an exemplary example in maintaining world peace and brighten the image of the country, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Currently, 7,436 peacekeepers of Bangladesh are engaged in the UN peacekeeping missions and activities, and the number is about 9.8 percent of the total number of peacekeepers deployed worldwide. This includes 572 Bangladeshi women peacekeepers.</div><div><br></div><div>“We continue our efforts to increase the number of women peacekeepers,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The UN secretary-general has requested to send more female peacekeepers, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that Bangladesh’s peacekeepers have successfully completed 63 UN missions in 40 countries worldwide.</div><div><br></div><div>Currently, Bangladeshi peacekeepers are engaged in 14 UN missions and activities. 20 contingents of the Bangladesh Army, two of the Bangladesh Navy, four of the Bangladesh Air Force, and three of the Bangladesh Police are working in these missions.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said that Bangladesh has deployed a Force Protection Battalion in Abyei of South Sudan, while added a mechanised infantry company as a Quick Reaction Force in Mali, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Platoon in the Congo, and a Level-2 Hospital Contingent in the Central African Republic.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, she said, deployment of a new Armed Utility Helicopter Unit of the Bangladesh Army, a new Mechanized Infantry Company as the Base Defense Contingent, and an Airfield Support Unit of the Bangladesh Air Force is underway in Mali.</div><div><br></div><div>She added that high-ranking officers of the Bangladesh Armed Forces are engaged in several missions as Force Commanders, Deputy Force Commanders, and Sector Commanders.</div><div><br></div><div>“Apart from peacekeeping missions, we actively participate and contribute to other international forums,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Today, Bangladesh is a responsible and reliable name in international efforts to maintain peace and security,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>At the end of the function, the prime minister virtually talked with the members of Bangladeshi peacekeepers deployed in different countries including South Sudan, Mali, Lebanon, Central African Republic and D R Congo.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas </div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-29 16:48:00', '2023-05-29 17:27:37'),
(7185, 7185, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said Bangladesh believes in peace and would do whatever is required for peace.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"We believe in peace, not in conflict. Bangladesh always believes in peace and it would do all possible things whatever is required to establish peace,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Premier made this remark while addressing an event organised marking International Day of UN Peacekeepers-2023 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC).</div><div><br></div><div>\"We want peaceful solution to any conflict,\" she said, adding \"We don\'t want arms race because women, children and each family suffer the most for it. Therefore, our goal is to protect them from the sufferings.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina said ensuring peace in the world is now more difficult than in the past, as the evil forces are using the advantages of technology is taking away the peace of people\'s lives.</div><div><br></div><div>\"With the recent development and advancement of technology, new threats of evil forces are increasing,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that technology is giving people opportunities in all fields including socioeconomic development, but \"we also see that the evil forces are also using technology creating confusion among the people and is taking away the peace of people\'s lives\".</div><div><br></div><div>So, peacekeepers in UN peacekeeping missions have to deal with complex multidimensional situations, she noted.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Hence, the need to enrich peacekeeping missions with advanced technology has increased manifold,\" she opined.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina mentioned that her government has always prepared Bangladeshi peacekeepers with the latest training to deal with complex situations in the world\'s most challenging and dangerous regions.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We are ensuring the supply of clothing, other essential items, and modern military equipment compatible with the mission area\'s environment, weather, and terrain,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>In this connection, she mentioned that the government incorporated added modern mine-resistant and ambush-protected vehicles to the Bangladesh contingents and state-of-the-art technology for peacekeeper communications.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Incorporating modern technology and training are an ongoing process that we will continue in the future,\" she added.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed and the United Nations Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis also spoke at the programme.</div><div><br></div><div>At the outset of the event, one minute silence was observed to pay tributes the lives of the heroes sacrificed for establishing peace.</div><div><br></div><div>A video documentary \"Bangladesh in Global Peace\" was screened in the ceremony.</div><div><br></div><div>The Prime Minister handed over awards to five deceased peacekeepers and their family members received it. She also handed over awards to five injured peacekeepers.</div><div><br></div><div>The Premier, later, unveiled International Peacekeeper Journal. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-29 17:27:08', '2023-05-29 17:27:08'),
(7186, 7186, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Shanghai recorded its hottest May day in 100 years on Monday, the city\'s meteorological service announced, shattering the previous high by a full degree.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Scientists say global warming is exacerbating adverse weather, with many countries experiencing deadly heatwaves and temperatures hitting records across Southeast and South Asia in recent weeks.</div><div><br></div><div>\"At 13:09, the temperature at Xujiahui station hit 36.1 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit), breaking a 100-year-old record for the highest temperature in May,\" a post on the service\'s official Weibo account read, referring to a metro station in the centre of China\'s largest city.</div><div><br></div><div>The temperature at the bustling station climbed even higher to 36.7C (98F) later in the afternoon, Shanghai\'s meteorological service said.</div><div><br></div><div>That put it a full degree above the old record, 35.7C, which has been recorded four times previously, in 1876, 1903, 1915 and 2018, according to the weather service.</div><div><br></div><div>Shanghai residents sweltered under the early-afternoon sun, with some apps showing a \"feels like\" temperature estimate of more than 40C (104F).</div><div><br></div><div>\"I headed out at noon to pick up a delivery, and got a headache after coming back,\" read one post from Shanghai on Weibo.</div><div><br></div><div>Another said: \"I almost got heatstroke, it\'s really hot enough to explode.\"</div><div><br></div><div>- Deadly heat -</div><div>Parts of India saw temperatures above 44C (111F) in mid-April, with at least 11 deaths near Mumbai attributed to heat stroke on a single day.</div><div><br></div><div>In Bangladesh, Dhaka suffered its hottest day in almost 60 years.</div><div><br></div><div>The city of Tak in Thailand recorded its highest-ever temperature of 45.4C (114F), while Sainyabuli province in Laos hit 42.9C (109F), an all-time national temperature record, the study by the World Weather Attribution group said.</div><div><br></div><div>A recent report from the UN\'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that \"every increment of global warming will intensify multiple and concurrent hazards\".</div><div><br></div><div>In May, the United Nations warned that it is near-certain that 2023-2027 will be the warmest five-year period ever recorded, as greenhouse gasses and El Nino combine to send temperatures soaring.</div><div><br></div><div>There is a two-thirds chance that at least one of the next five years will see global temperatures exceed the more ambitious target set out in the Paris accords on limiting climate change, the UN\'s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said.</div><div><br></div><div>The 2015 Paris Agreement saw countries agree to cap global warming at \"well below\" two degrees Celsius above average levels measured between 1850 and 1900 -- and 1.5C if possible.</div><div><br></div><div>The global mean temperature in 2022 was 1.15C above the 1850-1900 average.</div><div><br></div><div>The WMO said there was a 66 percent chance that annual global surface temperatures will exceed 1.5C above pre-industrial levels for at least one of the years from 2023-2027. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-29 18:07:27', '2023-05-29 18:07:27'),
(7187, 7187, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The number of patients, infected with dengue, is five times higher than previous year in the past five months, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“A total of 1704 people have been infected with dengue in the past five months till May 28 and during this period 13 people died,” he said while speaking at a press briefing over Covid-19 vaccine at the Secretariat.</div><div><br></div><div>The Director General of Health Services has taken steps to control dengue as the authorities concerned are conducting dengue surveys and reports of the survey have been submitted to the two city corporations, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Already a separate ward and corner has been created for dengue patients in hospitals and 2500 physicians and nurses were given training to tackle dengue, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have engaged different people including teachers, students and military personnel to make people aware about dengue. Already, steps have been taken to make people aware through posters, banners and advertisements in televisions,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He also urged all to keep their respective houses clean, keep spraying chemicals for eliminating mosquitoes and maintain a healthy life.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking about the Covid-19 vaccine, the minister said already 30 lakh doses of variant containing vaccines (VCV) under COVAX facilities reached in Bangladesh and it will be administered as 3rd and 4th dose to the people from this week in all city corporations, districts, upazilas and municipality levels across the country, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>About 88.51% people have been brought under the first dose, 82.18 % under the second dose, 39.62% under 3rd dose and 1.85% under 4th dose, said Maleque.</div><div><br></div><div>There are no side effects in VCV vaccination and the World Health Organisation (WHO) also gave a positive opinion about it, claimed the minister.</div><div><br></div><div>The 3rd dose will be administered to people above 18 years while the 4th dose will be given to the people above 60 years or people who have been suffering from long-term diseases, pregnant women and frontline fighters, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The 3rd dose will be given after four months of receiving the second dose while the 4th dose will be given four months after receiving the 3rd dose, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Prof Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Nazmul Haque Khan, additional secretary (hospital) and high officials of the ministry were present there. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-29 20:53:54', '2023-05-29 20:53:54'),
(7188, 7188, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Sai Sudharsan propelled Gujarat Titans to a score of 214/4 by smashing 96 off just 47 balls. The 23-year-old Chennai lad smashed eight fours and six sixes in his innings as he made the most of the death overs.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, Wriddhiman Saha scored 54 off 39 on a day when his prolific opening partner Shubman Gill was limited to a score of 39 off 20. Only slight drizzles appeared throughout the reserve day which was nowhere close enough to cause any kind of stoppage in the match.</div><div><br></div><div>This stands in stark contrast to what was the case on Sunday, when unrelenting rainfall forced the final to be pushed to the reserve day.</div><div><br></div><div>This is the fourth highest score of all-time in an IPL final. The top three all put up 50-plus partnerships for GT, just the second time this has happened in an IPL after the CSK vs RR final in 2021.</div><div><br></div><div>Saha and Gill put up an opening stand of 67 off 42 balls, Saha and Sudharsan then put up 64 off 42 for the second after which Sudharsan and Pandya put up 81 runs off 33 balls for the third wicket.</div><div><br></div><div>Pathirana has ended that over quite well. Dismisses Rashid Khan off the last ball of the innings. All eyes were on Gill but the names that have shone out are Saha first and then, especially, Sudharsan. Pandya ends unbeaten on 21 off 12.</div><div><br></div><div>No century but who cares, this is one of the all-time great innings in IPL finals. He is struck in front of middle stump and goes for the review. Three reds and he is gone for 96 off 47. Source: Hindustan Times&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-29 22:18:52', '2023-05-29 22:18:52'),
(7189, 7189, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP will observe the 42nd death anniversary of its founder and former president Ziaur Rahman on Tuesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The party and its different associate bodies have chalked out a 13-day programme to observe the death anniversary across the country with due respect.</div><div><br></div><div>The observance of Zia\'s death anniversary programmes began today (Monday) through a discussion programme at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, and will end on June 10.</div><div><br></div><div>The programmes include arranging discussion meetings, seminars, photo exhibitions, wearing black badges, publishing posters and supplements in newspapers and distributing food and relief materials among the destitute.</div><div><br></div><div>Ziaur Rahman who founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978 was assassinated by a group of disgruntled army officers at Chittagong Circuit House on 30 May, 1981.</div><div><br></div><div>In observance of the day, black flags will be hoisted and party flags kept at half-mast atop the offices of the party and its associate bodies, including Nayapaltan headquarters at 6:00am on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, BNP senior leaders, led by party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, will place wreaths at Zia\'s grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the morning.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP and its associate bodies will arrange discussions on Zia’s activities until June 10 as part of the death anniversary programmes.</div><div><br></div><div>The leaders of the party’s Dhaka south and north city units will distribute food and relief materials among the destitute in different parts of the city on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>All of the party\'s district, city and thana units will also observe the day by holding various programmes, including discussions, to be participated by senior BNP leaders. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-29 22:22:52', '2023-05-29 22:22:52'),
(7190, 7190, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Crime thriller \"Drishyam 2\" was crowned best picture as Bollywood glossed over its recent struggles with a high-octane International Indian Film Academy Awards show in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Director Abhishek Pathak\'s gritty remake of a Malayalam film took the top honour at the end of a four-hour ceremony of pumping dance routines that showcased the Hindi-language movie industry.</div><div><br></div><div>Best director went to Ranganathan Madhavan for \"Rocketry: The Nambi Effect\". Hrithik Roshan won best actor for his role in \"Vikram Vedha\" and Alia Bhatt took best actress for \"Gangubai Kathiawadi\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva\" picked up a number of prizes including best supporting actress for Mouni Roy and best female playback singer for star vocalist Shreya Ghoshal.</div><div><br></div><div>The IIFA awards, intended to reach an international audience, were held for the second year running in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates where more than a third of the 10 million population is Indian.</div><div><br></div><div>The Hindi-language film industry was worth $2.5 billion in 2019. India also releases hundreds of films in its 21 other official languages, churning out about 1,600 each year total.</div><div><br></div><div>But Mumbai-based Bollywood, the world\'s most prolific producer of movies, has been mired in crisis since the pandemic with ticket sales remaining low since cinemas reopened.</div><div><br></div><div>The rise in streaming services, competition from other parts of India and demand for meatier fare than Bollywood\'s trademark song-and-dance routines have all contributed to the slump, experts say.</div><div><br></div><div>However, superstar Shah Rukh Khan\'s \"Pathaan\" smashed Indian box office records in January, in a positive sign for the industry.</div><div>- Shiny gold shirt -</div><div><br></div><div>Indian cinema also received a boost in March when viral dance hit \"Naatu Naatu\" won an Oscar for best song, a first for a film from the country.</div><div><br></div><div>\"What does IIFA mean for (Indian) cinema? I think opening up to the global stage and also bringing us to the global stage as well, so it\'s exciting both ways,\" said actress Jacqueline Fernandez, wearing an Arab-inspired head covering.</div><div><br></div><div>Among the highlights, heart-throb Varun Dhawan, wearing a shiny gold shirt, rode onto the stage on a mini-dune buggy, and ceremony host Vicky Kaushal drew screams from the audience when he launched into a dance number.</div><div><br></div><div>Actor and eco-activist Dia Mirza reminded the crowd about pressing environmental concerns months before the UAE, one of the world\'s biggest oil producers, hosts the COP28 United Nations climate talks in November and December.</div><div><br></div><div>Veteran actor Kamal Haasan was awarded for his outstanding achievement in Indian cinema and Anil Kapoor won best supporting actor for his role in \"Jugjugg Jeeyo\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"Darlings\" took best original story, and best female debut was Khushali Kumar in \"Dhokha: Round D Corner\".</div><div><br></div><div>The IIFA show, one of a number of Indian awards ceremonies, has been held in several countries since its debut in London in 2000. Voting is done online by fans. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-29 22:47:29', '2023-05-29 22:47:29'),
(7191, 7191, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Three Bangladeshi peacekeepers were injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in Mali on Sunday morning.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The blast took place on Sunday at around 9:30 am local time in Mali, when a motorcade of a patrol team under Bangladesh Formed Police Unit (BANFPU-2) reached the remote desert road along the mountains of Gundam-Tongka-Niaphungke Highway, some 15 km off from the Gundam Super Camp in Mali\'s Timbuktu Region, according to a press release issued from Police headquarters here on Monday evening.</div><div><br></div><div>The Armoured personnel Carrier (APC), which was carrying the policemen, was also damaged in the incident, says the press release.</div><div><br></div><div>The Police headquarters did not disclose identities of the three injured Bangladeshi police peacekeepers.</div><div><br></div><div>The patrol team was part of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).</div><div><br></div><div>According to the press release, the peacekeepers on patrol duty spotted a suspicious hole in the middle of the road. The IED exploded as they maneuvered past the hole.</div><div><br></div><div>“Due to the intelligence of the police peacekeepers and the APCTs\' capability to withstand the high-level explosions, they escaped from greater danger,” said the press release.</div><div><br></div><div>It is also to be noted that MINUSMA authorities have highly appreciated the members of BANFPU-2, MINUSMA, and Mali as they have performed their peacekeeping duties with utmost professionalism and vigilance.</div><div><br></div><div>IED blasts are common in this region of Mali. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-29 22:54:45', '2023-05-29 22:54:45'),
(7192, 7192, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday said the Rohingyas’ better life and future can be ensured only in their own country and it is better for them to start returning to their homes in Myanmar.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"For Rohingyas, better future is only possible in Myanmar, not in Bangladesh. Confidence building measures are being taken. It is better they start returning to Myanmar,\" he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div><br></div><div>Momen said the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister came to Bangladesh to discuss the Rohingya, not the issues that media raised.</div><div><br></div><div>\"He (Chinese Vice Minister) was not even close that issue,\" said the Foreign Minister while responding to a question on Global Development Initiative (GDI) of China.</div><div><br></div><div>Momen said China is facilitating the Rohingya repatriation efforts.</div><div><br></div><div>On Sunday, Bangladesh and China reviewed the ongoing efforts for repatriation of the Rohingyas back to their homeland in Myanmar smoothly and on an expeditious basis.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Momen thanked the Chinese government for making \"sincere efforts\" for the safe and quick return of the Rohingya people from Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Asked when the Rohingyas will start returning to Myanmar, he said he does not have any idea about any specific date.</div><div><br></div><div>Both Foreign Minister Dr Momen and Vice Foreign Minister of China Sun Weidong expressed similar views that the problem needed an urgent solution, because if left unaddressed for any longer, it could potentially evolve as a tangible threat to the regional security and stability.</div><div><br></div><div>\"There are trilateral efforts. Our priority is to see repatriation of the Rohingyas,\" Momen said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said many Rohingyas are willing to return while some Rohingyas raised issues like citizenship.</div><div><br></div><div>During his meeting with Dr Momen on Sunday, the Vice Foreign Minister of China highly lauded the remarkable socio-economic transformation of Bangladesh under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The Chinese Vice Minister visited Padma Bridge. He acknowledged that Bangladesh made things possible over the last 10 years that looked impossible,\" Momen said.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Momen highly appreciated the substantial contributions made by China towards the developmental journey of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question, Momen said the Chinese Vice Minister invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit China but Dhaka conveyed that the Prime Minister will be in New York at that time. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-29 23:01:59', '2023-05-29 23:01:59'),
(7193, 7193, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ravindra Jadeja hit a four off the last ball as Chennai Super Kings equalled Mumbai Indians\' record for most IPL titles. Sai Sudharsan had propelled Gujarat Titans to a score of 214/4 by smashing 96 off just 47 balls. The 23-year-old Chennai lad smashed eight fours and six sixes in his innings as he made the most of the death overs.&nbsp;</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, Wriddhiman Saha scored 54 off 39 on a day when his prolific opening partner Shubman Gill was limited to a score of 39 off 20. Only slight drizzles appeared throughout the GT innings which didn\'t cause stoppages of any kind.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, the stoppage came eventually after the third ball of the first over of the CSK innings with heavy rain pouring down at the stadium. While the rain itself didn\'t last long, it was the wet outfield, particularly a problematic practice pitch at the edge of the square that caused the biggest delay. Finally, the match got reduced to 15 overs and CSK\'s target was revised to 171. The match eventually resumed and it has been a see-saw affair ever since.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Big hits from Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube and Ambati Rayudu helped CSK\'s cause but Mohit Sharma came in with the important wickets whenever it looked like the opposition was running away with it. Mohit bowled the last over as well and brought it down to CSK needing 10 to win off the last two balls. But Ravindra Jadeja ended up smashing the second last ball for a six and the last ball for a four to lead CSK to a five-wicket win and their fifth title.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Confetti everywhere after Dhoni, Jadeja and Rayudu receive the trophy from BCCI president Roger Binny. Dhoni was standing sheepishly behind Binny initially as he asked Jadeja and Rayudu to receive the trophy first before finally joining in. Then, after a brief, fleeting moment with that cup, he gives it to his teammates and disappears into the background.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But he can\'t really do that, can he? He is MS Dhoni after all, try as he might he will never really be in the background. Just this time though, it is other yellow shirts who dominate the camera frame and lay their hands on that coveted trophy that Dhoni has lifted five times now.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A great way to bid farewell to Ambati Rayudu. Dhoni himself started off in his interview sounding like he is about to announce his retirement but really, all he wanted to say was that he intends to return the love shown towards him by every city in the country this year by working his backside off and getting back next year. That stumping of Shubman Gill showed that he remains one of the most potent wicketkeepers in this tournament and he is also a lightning between the wickets.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let\'s hope the next one year is easy on him and he can take his place back at the helm for the yellow brigade. An incredible season has come to an end today - one that was filled with last-ball thrillers and yet rather surprisingly, no Super Overs. Of course it had to end with a six and a boundary off the last two balls of a final that stretched into a third day. The CSK players are posing with the trophy one by one.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ground staff, meanwhile, is posing for a photo that will probably be a trophy in their respective homes for the rest of their lives and that is a photo with MS Dhoni as the CSK captain goes to them and then takes a lap around the ground to thank the fans. We, meanwhile, are signing off at the end of an epic final that fittingly ended an epic IPL season. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-30 07:24:00', '2023-05-30 07:24:00'),
(7194, 7194, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Nato has condemned as \"totally unacceptable\" attacks by demonstrators in Kosovo that left some 25 of its peacekeepers injured.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police and Nato troops clashed with Serb protesters in the north where there has been unrest over the installation of ethnic Albanian mayors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tear gas and stun grenades were used to deter protesters in Zvecan, after they tried to invade a government building.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nato soldiers also formed a security cordon around two other town halls.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The crisis dates back to April when Kosovo Serbs boycotted local elections, allowing ethnic Albanians to take control of local councils with a turnout of less than four per cent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both the EU and US have criticised the Kosovan authorities for destabilising the situation in north Kosovo, and warned against any actions that could inflame ethnic tensions there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008, after years of strained relations between its Serb and mainly Albanian inhabitants.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It has been recognised by the United States and major European Union countries, but Serbia, backed by its powerful ally Russia, refuses to do so, as do most ethnic Serbs inside Kosovo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While ethnic Albanians make up more than 90% of the population in Kosovo as a whole, Serbs form the majority of the population in the northern region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Peacekeepers from Italy and Hungary were among those hurt in the latest violence on Monday, with three of them left in a serious condition, Nato said. Five people have been arrested in relation to the attacks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Serbian President Aleksander Vucic said more than 50 Serbs had needed hospital treatment and that even more were injured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Protesters were outraged not just that ethnic Albanian mayors had taken office, but by the heavy-handed actions of Kosovo police, who turned up with rifles and armoured vehicles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Further provoking them was the fact Serbian flags had been removed from municipal buildings and replaced with Kosovo flags.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kosovo\'s prime minster, Albin Kurti, insisted the security forces were merely ensuring that democratically elected mayors could represent their constituents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But he has been accused of trying to create chaos for everyone in the region by trying to install leaders who do not have a credible mandate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Do not allow those fake mayors to enter here because they won 50 votes,\" said Igor Simic, the deputy head of the Serb List, the biggest Kosovo Serb party backed by the government in Belgrade.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Even Albanians are not voting for it.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The worst incidents of violence on Monday were in Zvecan. A crowd gathered at the municipal building early in the morning. They were hoping to prevent the new, ethnic Albanian mayor from entering the building.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Nato-led troops at first tried to separate protesters from the police, but later dispersed the crowd using shields and batons, AFP news agency reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Several protesters threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at the soldiers, the agency said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kosovo police said one of their cars was set on fire and that \"provocative captions with Serbian and Russian symbols\" were written on other vehicles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nato called the attacks \"totally unacceptable\", adding in a statement that it called on all sides to \"refrain from actions that further inflame tensions, and to engage in dialogue\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Vucic put the army on the highest level of combat alert in response to the fresh protests. He moved army units close to Kosovo\'s border on Friday, following similar clashes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The recent disorder began after Kosovo Serbs - who account for about 5% of the country\'s 1.8 million population overall - boycotted April\'s local elections in four northern municipalities that are majority Serb. This allowed ethnic Albanians to take control of the councils.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Belgrade backed the boycott - resulting in a turnout of just 3.47% - which was sparked after the Serb community demanded the establishment of a promised association of Serbian municipalities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite its support for Kosovo, Both the EU and US have criticised Pristina for destabilising the situation and urged the authorities to \"de-escalate\". This advice appears to have fallen on deaf ears. 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, '2023-05-30 07:27:02', '2023-05-30 07:27:02'),
(7195, 7195, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">China launched a new three-person crew for its orbiting space station on Tuesday, with an eye to putting astronauts on the moon before the end of the decade.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Shenzhou 16 spacecraft lifted off from the Jiuquan launch center on the edge of the Gobi Desert in northwestern China atop a Long March 2-F rocket just after 9:30 a.m. (0130 GMT) Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The crew, including China’s first civilian astronaut, will overlap briefly with three now aboard the Tiangong station, who will then return to Earth after completing their six-month mission.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A third module was added to the station in November, and space program officials on Monday said they have plans to expand it, along with launching a crewed mission to the moon before 2030.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China built its own space station after it was excluded from the International Space Station, largely due to U.S. concerns over the Chinese space programs’ intimate ties with the People’s Liberation Army, the military branch of the ruling Communist Party.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China’s first manned space mission in 2003 made it the third country after the former Soviet Union and the U.S. to put a person into space under its own resources.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the this latest mission, payload expert Gui Haichao, a professor at Beijing’s top aerospace research institute, will join mission commander Maj. Gen. Jing Haipeng, who is making his fourth flight to space, and spacecraft engineer Zhu Yangzhu. 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, '2023-05-30 08:57:25', '2023-05-30 08:57:25'),
(7196, 7196, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A group of migrants, including women and children, are stuck on Poland\'s border with Belarus, Poland\'s border guard said Monday as activists accused the officers of blocking them from seeking asylum.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The group has been forced to camp for four days in the forest near Bialowieza, at the border fence erected by Warsaw to prevent irregular crossings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a statement sent to AFP, the Polish border guard said the group of \"around 20-30 people\" was \"outside the jurisdiction\" of Poland.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Therefore any administrative activities, including the possible acceptance of an application for international protection, if the intention of these people is to obtain protection in Poland, is not possible,\" it added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the activists, the group at the border includes people from Syria, Iraq, and Congo, with 11 children.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"They\'re certainly very tired, stressed... as they\'re in a very difficult and uncertain situation,\" activist Ola Chrzanowska told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The activists said they had sought to raise the group\'s spirits and had devised games for the children.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"They can see and feel that they\'re being treated like human beings, that they matter to someone. That not everyone is indifferent to their fate,\" Chrzanowska said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The rights body Grupa Granica claimed that the migrants, despite not having crossed the fence, had already entered Polish territory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also warned the migrants were not allowed back into Belarus, with the country\'s border guards threatening them with dogs, and claimed at least two people had been beaten or injured by officers on the Belarus side.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chrzanowska said that on Monday, activists filed a request with the European Court of Human Rights for \"interim measures\" requiring Poland to receive the group\'s asylum requests.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Polish border guard -- which has supplied water, food and medication to the migrants -- said it asked the Belarusian side to support the group, but the calls went unanswered.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"They only sent a person documenting the whole situation, certainly to use it for their own propaganda,\" the statement said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Saturday, Poland\'s deputy ombudsman intervened, issuing an \"urgent request for information\" about the status of the migrants. 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, '2023-05-30 09:03:34', '2023-05-30 09:03:34');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(7197, 7197, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">France will launch its first battery factory for electric cars on Tuesday, taking a big step in its race to build up a sector dominated by China.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Building up the battery industry is at the heart of President Emmanuel Macron\'s \"reindustrialisation\" plan for France, with a clutch of factories set to emerge in the north of the country over the next three years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The \"gigafactory\" opening in Billy-Berclau is owned by Automotive Cells Company, a partnership between French energy giant TotalEnergies, Germany\'s Mercedes-Benz and US-European automaker Stellantis, which produces a range of brands including Peugeot, Fiat and Chrysler.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire and the country\'s energy transition and industry ministers will attend the inauguration, along with German and Italian officials.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The heads of Mercedes, Stellantis and TotalEnergies will also be at the event.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The factory is the length of six football pitches. Production is due to begin this summer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Elected officials and business leaders hope to turn the Hauts-de-France region into \"Battery Valley\" -- the electric car industry\'s answer to Silicon Valley.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sino-Japanese group AESC-Envision is building a plant near the city of Douai which will supply French automaker Renault from early 2025.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">French startup Verkor is scheduled to begin production at a facility in Dunkirk from mid-2025 while Taiwan\'s ProLogium has also chosen the coastal city for its first European factory, with output to start in 2026.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- China, US competition -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Europe is racing to step up its production of batteries and electric vehicles as the European Union has set a 2035 deadline to phase out the sale of new fossil fuel cars.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Around 50 battery factory projects have been announced in the EU in recent years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The French government has set a target of producing two million electric vehicles per year by 2030, according to the economy ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ministry said the ACC plant will supply 500,000 vehicles per year by then.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China is the world leader in electric car battery production and also dominates the production of the raw materials needed to make them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Europe also faces stiff competition from the United States, which is heavily subsidising the sector through the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes $370 billion in clean energy incentives. 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, '2023-05-30 12:32:13', '2023-05-30 12:32:13'),
(7198, 7198, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Three people died Tuesday in a fire at a hospital just south of Austria\'s capital, a spokeswoman said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The cause of the fire could not yet be determined with certainty,\" said the spokeswoman for the hospital in Modling, about 14 kilometres (9 miles) from Vienna.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fire broke out at the hospital at around 1:00 am local time (2300 GMT on Monday), according to a statement from the regional health agency.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Authorities said 33 vehicles, 170 firefighters and a Red Cross team were dispatched to put out the blaze, which was brought under control after two hours.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Uninjured patients were transferred to other facilities and an investigation has been launched, they 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, '2023-05-30 12:42:55', '2023-05-30 12:42:55'),
(7199, 7199, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken to the newly re-elected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and invited him to visit Berlin, the government said Monday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Islamic-rooted conservative Erdogan -- Turkey\'s longest-serving leader -- won a historic run-off election on Sunday, extending his two-decade rule.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The Chancellor emphasised the close ties between Germany and Turkey, not least as joint allies in NATO,\" the German government said in a statement, adding that \"both agreed to approach the cooperation between the two governments with fresh impetus and to agree on common priorities.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It added that Scholz had invited Erdogan for \"an inaugural visit\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Among other things, they want to work together on a good development in the Eastern Mediterranean, on the decisions currently pending in NATO and on Turkey\'s relationship with the European Union,\" the statement said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Observers expect Erdogan to continue playing a bridging role between Russia and Western partners for Turkey\'s benefit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Erdogan\'s personal relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin has survived the Kremlin\'s war on Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And NATO partners are anxiously waiting for Ankara to approve Sweden\'s stalled bid to join the US-led defence alliance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Erdogan has blocked the application, accusing Stockholm of sheltering Turkish opposition figures with alleged links to outlawed Kurdish militants. 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, '2023-05-30 12:45:34', '2023-05-30 12:45:34'),
(7200, 7200, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Israelis started reviving a flashpoint outpost settlement in the occupied West Bank on Monday, AFP journalists said, constructing a building at the site which has drawn international attention.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Using a truck, diggers and an earth roller, work got underway to erect a portable building at the northern West Bank site.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">AFP journalists saw Israeli soldiers guarding around 20 people carrying out construction work at the Homesh site, which Israel evacuated nearly two decades ago.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The latest development comes weeks after the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged his government had no plans to reconstruct the site, after a parliamentary vote on the matter sparked ire abroad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was hailed as a \"moving historic moment\" by Israel\'s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir -- an extreme-right settler.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lawmakers in March voted to annul part of a law which banned Israelis from living in areas of the West Bank which the state evacuated in 2005, the same year Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The government has no intention of establishing new communities in these areas,\" Netanyahu\'s office said in March.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel\'s military occupation of the West Bank has been in force since the 1967 Six-Day War.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Neither the army nor the defence ministry commented on their role in Monday\'s developments at Homesh when contacted by AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The civilians at the site refused to discuss the matter when approached by AFP journalists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States, Israel\'s top ally, said this month it was \"deeply troubled by the Israeli government\'s order that allows its citizens to establish a permanent presence in the Homesh outpost\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Washington and the wider international community view Israeli settlements built in the Palestinian territories as illegal and a barrier to peace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The European Union last week pressed Israel to \"cease the policy of settlement expansion\" and condemned increased settler violence against Palestinians. 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, '2023-05-30 12:49:30', '2023-05-30 12:49:30'),
(7201, 7201, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Three Bangladeshi peacekeepers were injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in Mali on Sunday (May 28, 2023) morning.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The blast took place on Sunday at around 9:30 am local time in Mali, when a motorcade of a patrol team under Bangladesh Formed Police Unit (BANFPU-2) reached the remote desert road along the mountains of Gundam-Tongka-Niaphungke Highway, some 15 km off from the Gundam Super Camp in Mali\'s Timbuktu Region, according to a press release issued from Police headquarters here on Monday evening.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Armoured personnel Carrier (APC), which was carrying the policemen, was also damaged in the incident, says the press release.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Police headquarters did not disclose identities of the three injured Bangladeshi police peacekeepers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The patrol team was part of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the press release, the peacekeepers on patrol duty spotted a suspicious hole in the middle of the road. The IED exploded as they maneuvered past the hole.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Due to the intelligence of the police peacekeepers and the APCTs\' capability to withstand the high-level explosions, they escaped from greater danger,” said the press release.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is also to be noted that MINUSMA authorities have highly appreciated the members of BANFPU-2, MINUSMA, and Mali as they have performed their peacekeeping duties with utmost professionalism and vigilance. 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, '2023-05-30 12:52:02', '2023-05-30 12:52:02'),
(7202, 7202, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh topped the list of cities around the world with the worst air quality for the third consecutive day.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 166 at 9:50am today (May 30, 2023), Dhaka ranked first among cities with the most polluted air. The air was classified as \"unhealthy\", according to the air quality and pollution city ranking.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered \'unhealthy\' while 201-300 is \'very unhealthy\', and 301+ is considered \'hazardous\', posing severe health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">United Arab Emirates\' Dubai, South Korea\'s Incheon and India\'s Delhi occupied the second, third and fourth spots in the list, with AQI scores of 161, 159 and 158, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five 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;\">As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly 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, '2023-05-30 12:54:26', '2023-05-30 12:54:26'),
(7203, 7203, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday (May 29, 2023) said the government has softened its tone on talks to resolve the political crisis over the next election through talks as its overenthusiasm has waned following the US visa policy for Bangladesh.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking at a discussion, he also said their party wants a peaceful transfer of power through a credible election under a non-party caretaker government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In an oblique reference to the US visa policy, the BNP leader said, “They (AL) wanted to establish a one-party Baksal rule again under a different cover. But man proposes God disposes.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also said the ruling party leaders were trembling with very much excitement just a few days back for holding the next polls under the current government. “But now their excitement has started to wear off. Their tone has come down. They’re now saying the problem has to be resolved through talks as they don’t want unrest.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP arranged the discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh marking the 42nd death anniversary of its founder Ziaur Rahman.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government does not want any more unrest and conflict rather it wants to improve the quality of people\'s lives.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fakhrul said the government is inciting violence by attacking different peaceful programmes of the opposition. “But we (BNP) are not obstructing their programmes.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the movement that their party has been carrying out for a long time has come to the final stage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP leader reiterated their party’s demand that the next election must be held under a non-party caretaker government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP leader said the government must step down, and dissolve parliament by handing over power to a non-party neutral government for holding a credible election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“You (PM) must quit as the country’s people don’t think the election will be fair keeping you in power. The election must be held under a caretaker government. “Our political culture and previous experiences suggest elections can never be held in a free and fair manner under a partisan government, especially under the Awami League government,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP leader said there is nothing new to see the elections under the Awami League government as the nation witnessed what happened in the 2014 and 2018 polls.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We would like to say it clearly that we want the transfer of power peacefully. We want to establish a government of people through an election in a peaceful manner. We want to restore the system where people will be able to cast their votes,” Fakhrul said.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said they also want the election to be held under a neutral caretaker government to be conducted by an impartial election commission so that people can exercise their right to franchise freely to elect their representatives by themselves.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP leader also warned his party colleagues not to fall into the trap to be set by the government by conducting various propaganda and unleashing violence.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“They (govt) will try to shift the blame onto us after carrying out the arson violence by them. They also did the same thing in the past. So, everyone should be very careful. We’ll carry out our movement in a peaceful and democratic manner,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About the media reports on the sudden rise in the flow of remittance from the US, Fakhrul said it is surprising. “What magic is behind the rise in remittances from America? People are saying the thieves are bringing back the money that they have stolen and siphoned off America.” 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, '2023-05-30 13:10:25', '2023-05-30 13:10:25'),
(7204, 7204, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least one person was killed Monday night in a \"massive attack\" by Russian drones on the Ukrainian capital, the city\'s mayor said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rescuers evacuated three injured people and 20 others from a multi-storey building in a southern area of Kyiv after falling debris caused a fire, Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"One person died, three were injured. The two upper floors are destroyed, there may be people under the rubble,\" Klitschko said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, the mayor had said a 27-year-old woman in the same area of Holosiivskyi had been hospitalised with \"moderate\" injuries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Massive attack! Stay indoors!\" Klitschko said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The city\'s military administration said the nighttime attack was carried out using drones.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Falling debris caused a fire at a house in the city\'s southern Darnytskyi district, and three cars in the centrally located Pechersky district were also up in flames, the administration said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air raid sirens rang out overnight in Kyiv and in the central Cherkasy, Kirovohrad and Mykolayiv regions as well as the southern Kherson region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian forces fired a barrage of missiles at Kyiv earlier on Monday, sending panicked residents running for shelter in an unusual daytime attack on the Ukrainian capital following overnight strikes. 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, '2023-05-30 13:40:27', '2023-05-30 13:40:27'),
(7205, 7205, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The High Court on Tuesday upheld the jail term of BNP standing committee member Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku and BNP leader Amanullah Aman and his wife Sabera Aman in separate corruption cases.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court upheld the nine-year jail term of Tuku, 13 years’ imprisonment of Aman and three years’ imprisonment of his wife.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the same time, the convicts have been asked to surrender before the concerned trial court within two weeks of receiving the copy of the verdict.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Advocates AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon and Nazmul Huda appeared for Aman and his wife in the court. Barrister Azmalul Hossain KC and Advocate Saifullah Mamun appeared for Tuku.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan stood for the Anti-Corruption Commission while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin represented the state.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On March 6 in 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed a graft case against&nbsp; Aman and his wife Sabera with the Kafrul police station in the capital. On June 21, 2007, the Special Judge’s Court sentenced Aman to 13 years imprisonment for amassing illegal wealth beyond his known source of income and his wife was awarded with three years of imprisonment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">ACC filed an appeal as a High Court bench acquitted them from the corruption charges on August 16, 2010.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later on May 26, 2014, the High Court struck down the verdict and ordered to rehear the case.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the other hand, in March 2007, ACC Deputy Director Shahriar Chowdhury filed a case with Mohammadpur Police Station against former State Minister for Power Tuku for concealing his assets and source of income worth Tk 4.96 crore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On November 15, 2007, a trial court sentenced Tuku to nine years in prison. Tuku appealed against the verdict and was acquitted by the High Court on June 15, 2011.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On January 21, 2014, the Appellate Division dismissed the acquittal verdict and ordered a rehearing as ACC appealed against the verdict. 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, '2023-05-30 14:08:27', '2023-05-30 14:08:27'),
(7206, 7206, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">While one may think celebs sharing glimpses from their day-to-day lives on social media is just for the love of their fansthe reality goes beyond that. Did you know celebs and influencers earn huge amounts for every activity. they do on social media? Case in point: cricketer Virat Kohli who reached the 250-million-followers mark on Instagram recently charges about ₹3.5 to 5 crore for one post on Instagram.&nbsp;</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A source says that the fee varies for different elements on the social media platform: “A story is cheaper than a post, because a post stays foreverA story with a link to the brand’s page is expensive. Even a post with a link is pricey. The most expensive is when a celebrity’s page does a collab with a brand’s page.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">MOST FOLLOWED INDIAN CELEBS ON INSTA (in millions) and EARNINGS PER POST</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Virat Kohli- 250- 3.5-5 CRORES</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Priyanka Chopra Jonas- 87.7- 2 CRORES</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shraddha Kapoor- 80.8- 1.5 CRORES</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Alia Bhatt- 77.4- 1.5- 2 CRORES</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Deepika Padukone- 74.1- 2 CRORES</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Katrina Kaif- 72.8- 1 CRORE</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shrenik Gandhi, CEO and Co-founder, White Rivers Media, who has worked with a host of both Indian and international talents on the digital space, tells us, “Social media contributes a lot to a celeb’s financial department. Social media is the only two way medium, it acts as a strong validator or unvalidator for a brand, which is priceless. Secondly, let’s assume before I sign a deal with an actor. It acts as a great research tool for me. If a sneaker brand approaches me and says ‘3 crore spend karne hain’, social media becomes my mining tool to search for a sneaker head. The brands benefit a lot by collaborating with the celeb. About 20-30 percent of revenue in a celeb’s life in a year is from social media deals, which is a huge pie.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another insider who works very closely with celebs but wants to remain anonymous, says it is not necessary that a celeb becomes the brand ambassador in order to do a post, there are deals cut for specific posts too. “If you see, Audi had done a campaign, Virat was also a part of it, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Hrithik Roshan too. Campaign to campaign basis bhi hoti hain deals,” we are told.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And such is the impact of social media, that sometimes brands prefer to shoot less ads with the celeb but ask them to post more. “The brand tells us in the beginning we will need say, four social media posts in a year, and not just Instagram, but Insta plus Twitter, or plus Facebook. Basis that a star’s contract is worked upon. The star also sees how much time they require from them for a shoot. Sometimes the brands prefer that they not shoot for eight hours but four instead, and do 1-2 extra social media posts. That’s how important it has become,” adds our source. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-30 14:12:06', '2023-05-30 14:12:06'),
(7207, 7207, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder today said the main target of the incumbent government is to protect the growers\' interest as they are the life of the country.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We must have to protect the interest of the growers as the present government is a farmers\' friendly government\", he said while inaugurating mango procurement and marketing at godown para orchard at Sapahar upazila in the district.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About bumper boro production, the food minister said the country witnessed bumper aman and boro production with the time befitting initiatives by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, saying that \"even the country also witnessed bumper mango production...the farmers are getting fair price in rice production and hopefully it will happen in mango production as well\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To ensure fair price, he said, \"We want to ensure fair price for the farmers while everyone want to buy products in cheaper price as nobody want to feel the hardship of the growers\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As the country has an opportunity to export local fruits abroad as now authentic certification is the main barrier in carrying out mango exports continuously, said the food minister, adding that, \"the government has a plan to export mango with a hygienic certification issued by Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA).\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chaired by Assistant Commissioner (land) of Sapahar Sharmin Jahan, the programme also was attended by Upazila Parishad Chairman M Shahjahan Hossain, Upazila Awami League President M Shamsul Alam Shah Chowdhury</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">and other local officials. 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, '2023-05-30 14:51:06', '2023-05-30 14:51:06'),
(7208, 7208, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged the Muslim community to set aside their differences and work together to regain the glorious heritage the Islamic world once had in science, philosophy, medicine and other fields of enlightenment.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Today, Muslims are in possession of a significant amount of wealth. We can bring back our lost heritage by using this resource for the development of science and modern technology. I believe it,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier was addressing as the chief guest at the 35th Convocation Ceremony of Islamic University of Technology (IUT) held on its campus here.&nbsp; IUT Chancellor and also OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha presided over the function.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Hasina said Muslim scholars had reached the pinnacle of success in the fields of science, history, literature, philosophy, chemistry, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, geography, and in many other branches during the golden age of the Islam.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said Muslim scholars of that era dominated the world in culture, knowledge acquisition, scientific discoveries, and contemporary literature.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM stressed the need for analyzing the reasons behind the fall of the Muslims who once had the glorious heritage. Internal conflict, lack of mutual respect and harmony between Muslim countries, lack in knowledge and science and many other issues have factored in the collective fall of the Muslim Ummah, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“To regain this lost glory, I think we the Muslim Ummah will have to work united, forgetting differences,” she said adding that the Muslim countries will particularly have to invest more in the education and science for the students of the Muslim countries and thus to develop science and modern technology.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this modern era, three Nobel prizes have been awarded to Muslim recipients that sadly are the true reflection of the contribution of the Muslim Ummah in the fields of research and development, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said the Muslim nations need stronger endeavors in the fields of science and technology so that they can contribute more. The Muslim community should not fall behind in tackling the challenges presented by the 4th Industrial Revolution especially in the sectors of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Internet of Things, Quantum Computing and others, she 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, '2023-05-30 14:55:05', '2023-05-30 14:55:05'),
(7209, 7209, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">China will send three astronauts to its Tiangong space station on Tuesday, putting a civilian scientist into space for the first time as Beijing pursues plans to send a manned mission to the Moon by the end of the decade.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The world\'s second-largest economy has invested billions of dollars in its military-run space programme, trying to catch up with the United States and Russia.</div><div><br></div><div>The Shenzhou-16 spacecraft will take off atop a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China at 9:31 am (0131 GMT), the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said.</div><div><br></div><div>It will be carrying mission commander Jing Haipeng on his fourth extra-terrestrial trip, as well as engineer Zhu Yangzhu and Beihang University professor Gui Haichao, the first Chinese civilian in space.</div><div><br></div><div>The Tiangong is the crown jewel of China\'s programme, which has also seen it land robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon and made it the third country to put humans in orbit.</div><div><br></div><div>The mission is the first to the Tiangong space station since it entered its \"application and development\" stage, Beijing said.</div><div><br></div><div>Once in orbit, the Shenzhou-16 will dock at the space station\'s Tianhe core module, before the crew meet three colleagues from the previous manned Shenzhou-15 flight, who have been at the space station for six months and will return to Earth in the coming days.</div><div><br></div><div>The mission will \"carry out large-scale, in-orbit experiments... in the study of novel quantum phenomena, high-precision space time-frequency systems, the verification of general relativity, and the origin of life,\" CMSA spokesperson Lin Xiqiang told reporters on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>The space station was resupplied with drinking water, clothing, food and propellant this month in preparation for Shenzhou-16\'s arrival.</div><div><br></div><div>One expert told AFP that Tuesday\'s flight represented \"a regular crew rotation flight as one crew hands over to another\", but even that was significant.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Accumulating depth of experience in human spaceflight operations is important and doesn\'t involve new spectacular milestones all the time,\" said Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer and astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.</div><div><br></div><div>- \'Heavenly palace\' -</div><div>Plans for China\'s \"space dream\" have been put into overdrive under President Xi Jinping.</div><div><br></div><div>China is planning to build a lunar base, and CMSA spokesman Lin reaffirmed on Monday Beijing\'s plan to land a manned mission on the Moon by 2030.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The overall goal is to achieve China\'s first manned landing on the Moon by 2030 and carry out lunar scientific exploration and related technological experiments,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The final module of the T-shaped Tiangong -- which means \"heavenly palace\" -- successfully docked with the core structure last year.</div><div><br></div><div>The station carries several pieces of cutting-edge scientific equipment, state news agency Xinhua reported, including \"the world\'s first space-based cold atomic clock system\".</div><div><br></div><div>The Tiangong is expected to remain in low Earth orbit at between 400 and 450 kilometres (250 and 280 miles) above the planet for at least 10 years.</div><div><br></div><div>It is constantly crewed by rotating teams of three astronauts.</div><div><br></div><div>China has been effectively excluded from the International Space Station since 2011, when the United States banned NASA from engaging with the country -- pushing Beijing to develop the Tiangong.</div><div><br></div><div>China\'s space agency reiterated on Monday it is actively seeking international cooperation in the project.</div><div><br></div><div>China \"is looking forward to and welcomes the participation of foreign astronauts in the country\'s space station flight missions\", Lin said.</div><div><br></div><div>Beijing plans to send two manned space missions to the space station every year, according to the CMSA.</div><div><br></div><div>The next will be Shenzhou-17, which is expected to be launched in October. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-30 16:10:42', '2023-05-30 16:10:42'),
(7210, 7210, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Mohammed Shahabuddin today asked the authorities concerned to impart various professional trainings with active participation of the Ansar and Village Defense Party (VDP) members for the country’s overall development.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"Social stability is a prerequisite&nbsp; to the development. This force is providing its all-out cooperating with other professional forces in maintaining the law and order across the country,\" he told Director General (DG) of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Major General AKM Aminul Haque when he paid a courtesy on him at Bangabhaban this afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>The Head of the State hoped that the Ansar and VDP members would positively contribute to ensure a peaceful environment in the society, President’s press secretary Md Joynal Abedin told BSS later.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>With about 6.1 million active and reserved forces of the Bangladesh Ansar popularly known as the Ansar Bahini is a paramilitary auxiliary force responsible for maintaining internal security and law enforcement in country.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>President Shahabuddin highly appreciated the role of Ansar and VDP members in the country’s socio-economic development after the Liberation War and Independence.</div><div><br></div><div>During the meeting, the President was apprised of the force’s (Ansar and VDP) overall activities, including various steps taken for socio-economic development, by the Bangladesh Ansar chief, the Bangabhaban spokesman added.</div><div><br></div><div>President\'s Office Secretary Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salahuddin Islam, Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin and Secretary (Attachment) Md Wahidul Islam Khan were present there. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-30 16:33:21', '2023-05-30 16:33:21'),
(7211, 7211, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A Dhaka court placed BNP district unit convener Abu Sayeed Chand on three-day fresh remand in a case filed on charges of giving death threat to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a public rally in Rajshahi.</b></span><br></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Judge Mahbub Alam of Judicial Magistrate Court-5 passed the order of fresh remand today when the BNP leader was produced before his court on completion of a five-day remand.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Prosecutor Jalal Uddin confirmed the matter, saying police produced him in the court seeking a 10-day remand again in the case filed with Puthia Police Station.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, the court accepted three days of remand after hearing both sides.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Earlier, police arrested the BNP leader Abu Sayed Chand, who gave death threat to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a public rally a couple of days back.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>A joint team of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) and district police arrested him from a private car at Veripara crossing under Rajpara Police Station in the metropolis on May 25 last.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>At a rally on Shibchar High School playground in Rajshahi\'s Puthia upazila on May 19, the BNP leader said that there will be no 27 points or 10 points. The only demand is to send Sheikh Hasina to the grave.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Abu Kalam Azad, a local Awami League leader in Rajshahi, filed the case against him with Puthia Police Station on May 20 last. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-30 17:35:23', '2023-05-30 17:35:23');
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(7212, 7212, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal will place a national budget of over Taka 7.61 lakh crore for the next fiscal year (FY24) at the Jatiya Sangsad on June 1 (Thursday) with a major focus on containing inflation, generating jobs, efforts towards building a ‘Smart Bangladesh’ and addressing the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR).</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The possible budget size of Taka 7,61,785 crore would mainly aim at taming inflation alongside the higher GDP growth trajectory, said a Finance Ministry official.</div><div><br></div><div>The official also said that the budget would not be ambitious one nor expansionary.</div><div><br></div><div>The Finance Minister is set to deliver his budget speech with a possible title “Unnayner Derdoshok: Smart Bangladesher Abhimukhe.”</div><div><br></div><div>The budget speech will feature 11 chapters while the Finance Minister is likely to begin and end his budget speech citing verses of the Holy Quran.</div><div><br></div><div>AHM Mustafa Kamal will be placing the last budget of the present Awami League government\'s five-year term on June 1 at 3:00 pm at the Jatiya Sangsad at a time when people are finding it a bit hard to cope with the price hike of commodities owing to the global inflationary pressure following the onslaught of the Russia-Ukraine war.</div><div><br></div><div>Finance ministry officials said Kamal would present his vision on how to make a ‘Smart Bangladesh’ in his upcoming budget speech. The speech will cover building a smart country to cope with the 4iR.</div><div><br></div><div>The government this time is eying to attain a growth rate of 7.5 percent in the next fiscal year (FY24) while to contain the inflation rate around 6.5 percent. The total investment target in the next year will be 33.8 percent of the GDP.</div><div><br></div><div>The provisional estimate of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) shows that the GDP has grown by 6.03 percent in the outgoing fiscal year (FY23) and the inflation rate was 8.4 percent till April.</div><div><br></div><div>The budget speech has been prepared with emphasis on ensuring people’s employment through business expansion. The government will take initiatives to increase the investment of state-owned enterprises to create new jobs.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In his budget speech, the finance minister will reassure the countrymen about improving the country and transforming it into a smart one with visions to make smart roads to smart intellectuals.</div><div><br></div><div>Particularly, focus will be on the ICT sector, power sector, and making smart citizens.</div><div><br></div><div>The next budget will be 12.34 percent bigger than the current one.</div><div>It will be 15.21 percent of the projected GDP of Taka 50,06,682 crore, compared to 15.27 percent in the current fiscal year. This shows that the next budget is not ambitious.</div><div><br></div><div>Officials said the government targets a possible revenue collection of Taka 5 lakh crore, around Tk 67,000 crore more than that in FY23.</div><div><br></div><div>Out of the overall revenue collection target, the NBR is likely to be tasked with a revenue collection target of Taka 4.30 lakh crore while Taka 20,000 crore is likely to come from the non-NBR sources. Besides, the budget also eyes to collect Taka 50,000 crore as non-tax revenue.</div><div><br></div><div>The government has already approved a Taka 2.63 lakh crore Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the next fiscal year (FY24) of which Taka 1.69 lakh crore (64.26%) will come from the local sources while the rest of Taka 94,000 crore (35.74%) will come from the foreign sources. Considering the allocations against the autonomous bodies and corporations, the overall estimated development expenditure in the next fiscal year would stand at Taka 2,77,582 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;Out of the major expenditure, Taka 4,84,203 crore will likely to be kept as operating cost of which Taka 94,378 crore will be spent for interest payment, Taka 80,000 crore for bearing the salaries and expenses of the public servants, Taka 1.10 lakh crore for subsidies, and Taka 1,26,272 crore for the social safety nets.</div><div><br></div><div>Finance Ministry officials hoped that an amount of Taka 1,27,019 crore would be available as net foreign loan alongside Taka 3,000 crore as grants. The target for realizing net foreign loan in the outgoing fiscal year was Taka 95,458 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>The government will also likely to borrow Taka 1,32,395 crore from the banking sector in the next budget to meet the deficit financing of which most of the amount will be short-term loan. The target for borrowing from the banking sector in the current fiscal year was Taka 1,06,334 crore.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The target for realizing net loan from the savings certificates in the next budget is likely to be set at Taka 23,000 crore which was Taka 35,000 crore in the original budget of the current fiscal year. This target has been downsized since there is a downtrend in the sales of savings certificates.</div><div><br></div><div>The overall size of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the next fiscal year is likely to be set at Taka 50,06,672 crore which was Taka 44,49,959 crore in the outgoing fiscal year.</div><div><br></div><div>The overall deficit in the next budget is likely to be Taka 2,61,785 crore, which is 5.2 percent of the GDP.</div><div><br></div><div>To meet the deficit, the government plans to borrow Taka 1,50,785 crore from domestic sources, including Taka 1,32,395 crore from the banking system, and Taka 1,10,785 crore from foreign sources.</div><div><br></div><div>Higher allocations will be made for subsidies, more than Taka 1.10 lakh crore, and for interest payments, around Taka 1.02 lakh crore. In the current fiscal year, the allocation for subsidies was around Taka 81,000 crore and for interest payment around Taka 80,000 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>The allocations are being raised to soften the blows of high prices of commodities in the international market and the depreciation of Taka.</div><div><br></div><div>The government will also likely to continue the austerity measures in the next fiscal year to reduce pressure on foreign reserves.</div><div><br></div><div>To achieve the revenue collection goal, several measures, including recruitment of private agents across the country, have been taken to increase the number of taxpayers.</div><div><br></div><div>The agents will go door to door to convince people to come under the tax net, and help people open tax files and submit returns, but the agents would not collect taxes.</div><div><br></div><div>People, who have tax identification numbers (TINs) and are below the taxable income ceiling, must submit their returns and pay a minimum tax of Taka 2,000.</div><div><br></div><div>The taxable income ceiling is likely to be raised to Taka 3.50 lakh from the current Taka 3 lakh. The minimum tax on taxable income will remain the same at Taka 5,000.</div><div><br></div><div>The official said people with no taxable income will have the option to cancel their TINs.</div><div><br></div><div>There are around 88 lakh TIN-holders, but only around 30 lakh submit their returns. Many of those who submit returns do not pay tax as their incomes are not taxable.</div><div><br></div><div>Another finance ministry official said they will install more electronic fiscal devices (EFDs) to ramp up revenue collection.</div><div><br></div><div>Over the next three years, three lakh EFDs will be set up. At present, 9,000 EFDs are in operation.</div><div><br></div><div>The budget will also focus on income tax as the source of revenue to meet the expenditure of the government. Also, to increase the income of non-NBR sources, government fees will be increased in all areas.</div><div><br></div><div>The finance minister will also announce the increase in the allocation and number of beneficiaries in the social security sector following instructions of the prime minister. Source: BSS&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-30 17:59:14', '2023-05-30 17:59:14'),
(7213, 7213, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh spin coach Rangana Herath stressed on the variations to help the spinners get better as he knew that the bowlers won\'t get their desired wicket in the biggest stage like World Cup.</b></span><br></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Generally Bangladeshi spinners get wicket particularly to their likings always at home series but in the World Cup, the organizers try to give a wicket which will be more favourable for the batters than the bowlers.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"I always think that when the condition is tough for the spinners, there will be challenge. That\'s why we are going to be prepared before we go to the World Cup. This is part of the preparation. We worked on variation and tactic. If you don\'t get assistance from the pitch, this is the thing we need to apply,\" Herath said here today as Bangladesh players continued their practice session for the series against Afghanistan at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"There are many variations like creating some angles, bowling over the wicket, round the wicket, pace variation. If you name it like cross seam, carrom ball. We are working on them. We need to do these things very often.\"</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Herath wants the spinners to use those variations at the domestic cricket and enhance the skill as he would like to see.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"These guys are keen to learn. I am so happy. Once they go back to their club or team, they will continue these works,\" he said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The former Sri Lankan spinner however is elated to see the spin resources of Bangladesh. Considering the shortage of legspinner in the pipeline, he wants to help them hone their skill in a bid to survive in the International level.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Bangladesh got some legspinner of late but none of them could cement their place. The Tigers are now trying with Rishad Hossain, who Herath thinks could be a good weapon.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"Rishad played the last game against Ireland. There\'s another wrist spinner and Biplob is there. Those are the resources we have at the moment. We are trying to find best out of them. They will get more confidence with opportunities,\" he said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>At the same time, Herath wants batters like Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid be ready to bowl some overs regularly in a bid to create more bowling options.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"If the batters can bowl a few overs, like Shanto, it gives you more options for the bowling side. When you have more options, you have the right combination. I always like to see Hridoy, Shanto get involved with bowling,\" he added.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>While Bangladesh are always a spin-heavy side, the rise of the country\'s fast bowling unit was a treat to watch.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"When you have a proper bowling unit, when you have fast bowlers and spinners...that\'s a proper, proper bowling unit. That\'s what we need to work on. We are trying to get the best bowling unit,\" Herath revealed.</div><div><br></div><div>But pacers\' rise doesn\'t mean that the spinners\' job will be easier, Herath said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"This is not about working easier or anything. This is all about team. If someone is doing well, we need to appreciate all that. If it is someone not doing well, we need to find out where we need to improve. We are trying to improve as a team,\" he pointed out.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Herath also spoke on head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, saying that Hathurusingha under whose guidance he also played in Sri Lankan team, is actually a fighter and the term \'strict headmaster\' which Bangladesh media often used to tag him is not an ideal adjective, reports BSS.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"I don\'t know how you measure those things (strict headmaster). When you work hard and on your goals, when you are competitive, I don\'t think he is strict. He is always there as a fighter. I like that attitude,\" Herath concluded.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-30 19:11:41', '2023-05-30 19:11:41'),
(7214, 7214, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least 17 people were killed by extremist rebels in eastern Congo\'s North Kivu province, local authorities said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Civilians were killed by fighters with the Allied Democratic Forces - believed to be linked with the Islamic State group - in the Bambuba-kisiki area in Beni territory, said Sabiti Njiamoja, a deputy to the local governor, on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We buried 10 bodies on Sunday. The victims are civilians killed by ADF between Thursday and Friday in Kainana. Seven others were found on Monday,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Conflict has been simmering for decades in eastern Congo, where more than 120 armed groups are fighting. Most are vying for land and control of mines with valuable minerals, while some groups are trying to protect their communities.</div><div><br></div><div>Since last April, ADF attacks have killed at least 370 civilians and several hundred people have been abducted, including a significant number of children, according to the UN. The group also extended its area of operations to Goma and into the neighboring Ituri province.</div><div><br></div><div>In March, the group claimed responsibility for killing more than 35 people and wounding dozens in Mukondi village, also in North Kivu province.</div><div><br></div><div>The fighting is exacerbating eastern Congo\'s dire humanitarian crisis. Almost 6 million people are internally displaced in Congo with more than 450,000 displaced in North Kivu province.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Hundreds of thousands are facing extreme food insecurity, and disease is spreading, aid groups say. According to AP reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-30 19:21:09', '2023-05-30 19:21:09'),
(7215, 7215, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Almost three people were murdered every hour in South Africa during the first three months of the year, according to police statistics released on Tuesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Some 6,289 people were killed in the country -- which has one of the world\'s highest murder rates -- between January and March, up 3.4 percent on the same period last year.</div><div><br></div><div>Yet, Police Minister Bheki Cele, who has long been under fire over the rampant crime, said the overall picture was improving.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We are gradually gaining back the ground from criminals,\" Cele told a press conference.</div><div><br></div><div>Child murders were down 20 percent, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Rapes also saw a slight 2.8 percent decline, with a still staggering 10,500 cases reported in the first quarter of 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>Cash-in-transit robberies instead experienced a \"stubborn increase\" of more than 20 percent, with 64 cases reported, Cele said.</div><div><br></div><div>Common robberies, assaults and attempted murders were also on the up.</div><div><br></div><div>The leading opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), reiterated calls for Cele to be fired.</div><div><br></div><div>Crime is \"spiralling out of control,\" the party said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>The new figures \"paint a bloody picture of violence tearing away at our social fabric while our citizens cower in fear in their own homes.\" - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-30 20:41:50', '2023-05-30 20:41:50'),
(7216, 7216, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">North Korea has said an accident occurred as it planned to send up its first space satellite, causing it to crash into the sea.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The rocket launch prompted Japan to warn residents in Okinawa but it later reported there was no danger of its territory being hit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea announced earlier it planned to launch a satellite by 11 June to monitor US military activities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It now says it will attempt a second launch as soon as possible.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said North Korea appeared to have fired a ballistic missile and that the government was analysing the details.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added that there were currently no reports of damage following the launch. Japan said previously it was ready to shoot down anything that threatened its territory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There was chaos and confusion in Seoul, the South Korean capital, on Wednesday morning local time, as people awoke to the sound of an air raid siren and an emergency message telling them to prepare for an evacuation - only to be told 20 minutes later it had been sent in error.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The stakes are high on the Korean Peninsula, where tensions have existed between the two countries for 70 years, and this false alarm could seriously damage people\'s trust in the alert system.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea poses a threat to South Korea, and if there is an alert in the future one question being asked is whether it will be taken seriously, or brushed off as another mistake.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea\'s military said the projectile might have broken up in mid-air or crashed after it vanished from radar early, adding that analysis was being conducted, Yonhap news agency reports.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Tuesday, Ri Pyong Chol, vice chairman of North Korea\'s ruling party\'s central military commission, announced the launch plan, saying it was in response to \"reckless military acts\" by the US and South Korea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He accused the countries of \"openly revealing their reckless ambition for aggression\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Before Wednesday\'s launch, the US state department said any North Korean launch that used ballistic missile technology would violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea\'s foreign ministry also condemned the launch plan earlier this week, calling it a \"serious violation\" of security council resolutions \"banning all launches using ballistic missile technology\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If North Korea eventually goes ahead with the launch, it will have to bear the price and pain it deserves,\" it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has identified the development of military satellites as a key component of his country\'s defence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said the North Korean government \"likely sees itself in a space race\", and that whether or not its current satellite mission is a success it \"can be expected to issue political propaganda about its space capabilities\". 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, '2023-05-31 07:38:34', '2023-05-31 07:38:34'),
(7217, 7217, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The US has announced measures against Kosovo for ignoring its advice to avoid raising tensions in majority-Serb northern areas.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It has criticised Kosovo\'s decision to install ethnic Albanian mayors in northern Kosovo \"by forcible means\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kosovo has been expelled from participating in an ongoing American-led military exercise in Europe.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police and Nato troops clashed with Serb protesters in Zvecan, north Kosovo, on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Protesters had tried to invade a government building amid unrest over the installation of ethnic Albanian mayors in areas where Serbs make up the majority of the population.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nato is to deploy an additional 700 troops to Kosovo after saying 30 of its peacekeepers and 52 protesters were hurt in the clashes in Zvecan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The crisis dates back to April, when ethnic Serbs boycotted local elections in north Kosovo - allowing ethnic Albanians to take control of local councils with a turnout of less than 4%.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Like the US, the European Union has accused the Kosovan authorities of destabilising the situation in north Kosovo, and warned against any actions that could inflame ethnic tensions there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008, after years of strained relations between its Serb and mainly Albanian inhabitants.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It has been recognised by the US and major EU countries. But Serbia, backed by its powerful ally Russia, refuses to do so - as do most ethnic Serbs inside Kosovo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While ethnic Albanians make up more than 90% of the population in Kosovo as a whole, Serbs form the majority of the population in the northern region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The American ambassador in Pristina, Jeffrey Hovenier, said that the US \"foresaw the consequences\" of the decision to forcibly install ethnic-Albanian mayors in four majority-Serb municipalities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US - a strong ally of Kosovo - said it had \"strongly advised\" Prime Minister Albin Kurti to change his course of action, but the advice was ignored.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As a result, Kosovo\'s participation in a Nato exercise, Defender Europe 23, has been cancelled.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Hovenier said the US was considering other measures and currently \"has no enthusiasm\" to assist Kosovo in its efforts to gain wider international recognition or progress towards membership of the EU and Nato.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Serbia and Kosovo\'s leaders have traded accusations over the violent scenes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Kosovan PM Albin Kurti \"alone is responsible\" for the disturbances.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In return, Mr Kurti claimed the protesters in Zvecan were \"a bunch of extremists under the direction of official Belgrade\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The alliance\'s chief Jens Stoltenberg said the violence \"must stop\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He strongly condemned \"the unprovoked attacks against Kfor troops\" - referring to Nato\'s peacekeeping force in Kosovo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But ethnic Serbs in north Kosovo have criticised Kfor for failing to prevent armed Kosovo police from forcing their way into municipal buildings and removing Serbian flags.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tuesday\'s announcement from Nato provides a significant boost to Kfor\'s numbers. The 700 additional troops will join the 3,800 who are already on duty in Kosovo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An additional reserve battalion has been placed on standby and will be ready to deploy within seven days, if required.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kfor\'s mission is to guarantee the safety and freedom of movement of everyone in Kosovo, regardless of their ethnicity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">So the new troops will face considerable expectations from both sides after this week\'s disturbances.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former Nato chief Lord Robertson has accused Serbia of stoking tension in Kosovo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The idea that we would withdraw completely from Kosovo can\'t happen until Serbia begins to acknowledge reality,\" he told BBC Radio 4\'s World Tonight programme after returning from a visit to Kosovo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Noting the \"salutary warning\" from the Americans to the Kosovan authorities, he said a \"degree of common sense and a degree of cool diplomacy should\'ve been the order of the day\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I think the Kosovan authorities should\'ve handled it much better,\" he said. \"The fact that their close friends, like the Americans, are giving them very pointed warnings should make them rethink what they are doing.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He chided both Kosovo and Serbia, saying both had to \"sit down carefully and think through what future they want for the people of both countries\". 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, '2023-05-31 07:41:22', '2023-05-31 07:41:22'),
(7218, 7218, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha reiterated OIC’s relentless support in resolving the Rohingya crisis, while visiting the Rohingya Camps in Cox’s Bazar on Monday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mentioning Rohingya issue as an important agenda of OIC, the Secretary General highlighted OIC’s firm support to The Gambia led initiative of taking legal recourse for ensuring justice for the forcibly displaced Rohingya people from Myanmar at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), a foreign ministry’s press release said here tonight.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Appreciating the support of the OIC Member States for the Rohingya case, the OIC Secretary General expressed concern about the insufficient funding for the case.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He further assured that OIC will continue to encourage its Member States to contribute to the funds for the Rohingya case filled by The Gambia in the ICJ.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The OIC is also working at the international level for ensuring sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh, to Myanmar, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Recognizing the Government and people of Bangladesh’s immense generosity shown to the large number of forcibly displaced Rohingya from Myanmar, the OIC Secretary General underscored that burden-sharing is crucial to solve this long-standing crisis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He appealed to the international community to take more responsibility to ensure favourable conditions for the safe, dignified and sustainable return of all Rohingyas to their homeland, Myanmar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The OIC Secretary General and his entourage visited Rohingya Camps in Kutupalong, Cox’s Bazar today. The Refugee, Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) welcomed him in the Rohingya Camp in Cox’s Bazar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During his visit to the Rohingya Camps, the OIC Secretary General exchanged views with the representatives from the Rohingya community.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Rohingya representatives apprised him of their strong desire to return to their ancestral home safely.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The OIC Secretary General took note of their concerns and assured them of OIC’s support to continue to work closely with Bangladesh to end this humanitarian crisis.&nbsp; 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, '2023-05-31 09:23:38', '2023-05-31 09:23:38'),
(7219, 7219, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday called for more Swedish investment in various sectors of Bangladesh, particularly in ICT and Economic Zones, and reap the benefits.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Prime Minister made the call when a Swedish Delegation led by CEO and President of world-renowned clothing company H&amp;M, Helena Helmersson, called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexandra Berg Von Linde and Chief Financial Officer of H&amp;M Adam Karlsson were also in the delegation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister\'s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the reporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh has its own economic policy and targeted plan on poverty reduction, food security, healthcare and on creating employment opportunities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She mentioned that the government wants to expand the export basket to further strengthen the economy of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the meeting, Helena Helmersson mentioned that Sweden has had special relations with Bangladesh for the last three decades and said, they want to carry forward the business with Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The CEO and President of H&amp;M highly appreciated the socio-economic development of Bangladesh and lauded the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for successfully tackling the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In response, the Prime Minister also appreciated the Swedish Company as they did not cancel their orders during the pandemic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As Helena Helmersson pointed out the climate change issue describing it as very important, Sheikh Hasina said, her government is carrying out mitigation programmes on its own fund.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this regard, the Prime Minister noted that her government is aware about climate change and is working on this issue.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina also highlighted her government’s achievements in women empowerment and gender equality in the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister’s Adviser on Private Industry and Investment Salman F Rahman and Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Tofazzel Hossain Miah were 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, '2023-05-31 09:35:18', '2023-05-31 09:35:18'),
(7220, 7220, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The capital city\'s air quality continued to be in the \'unhealthy\' zone on Wednesday morning.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 166 at 8:41 am on Wednesday, Dhaka ranked second in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered ‘unhealthy\'.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Indonesia’s Jakarta and Chile’s Santiago occupied the first and third spots in the list, with AQI scores of 173 and 157, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be \'very unhealthy\', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered \'hazardous\', posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues.</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, '2023-05-31 09:38:20', '2023-05-31 09:38:20'),
(7221, 7221, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi expressed hope that he will visit Kiev and the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and also possibly Moscow soon.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I\'m planning to try to go to Kiev ... and to Zaporozhye. ... Probably, in Moscow,\" he told reporters after Tuesday\'s session of the UN Security Council.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Grossi expressed hope that he would travel to Ukraine soon, but gave no exact timeframes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said he expected to visit Russia as well, because he needs to maintain contact with both sides. TASS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-31 10:53:02', '2023-05-31 10:53:02'),
(7222, 7222, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet US President Joe Biden in Washington next week for talks, Downing Street announced on Tuesday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden invited Sunak to the White House when the British leader was in San Diego in March for the launch of a nuclear submarine deal with Australia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Next week\'s meeting will build on talks the pair have had about closer cooperation on economic challenges such as supply chain security and net zero transition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It will also be an opportunity to discuss issues including sustaining our support for Ukraine,\" Sunak\'s official spokesman told reporters in London.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sunak has carried on Boris Johnson\'s staunch support for Kyiv since Russia\'s invasion last year, announcing the supply of long-range missiles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden followed up by supporting the provision of advanced F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine at the recent G7 leaders\' summit in Japan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Overshadowing the talks will be the unresolved issue of a free-trade deal between the two countries, which London sees as a key prize since leaving the EU.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sunak\'s spokesman said that was not on the agenda. The UK has already signed trade agreements with North Carolina, South Carolina and Indiana.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is also seeking closer trading partnerships with US powerhouses California and Texas, and is in discussions with Utah and Oklahoma.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Before the G7, Sunak last met Biden when the US leader visited Northern Ireland for the 25th anniversary of the 1998 peace deal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden has criticised the UK for its stance on post-Brexit trading rules in Northern Ireland, warning it could undermine the hard-fought peace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sunak, who hosted Biden\'s wife Jill at a Downing Street coronation tea-party, is expected to be at July\'s NATO leaders summit with the US president. 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, '2023-05-31 10:56:59', '2023-05-31 10:56:59'),
(7223, 7223, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">China\'s manufacturing activity shrank in May for the second successive month, official figures showed Wednesday, the latest sign that the country\'s economic recovery is losing steam.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The official manufacturing purchasing managers\' index (PMI) -- a key measure of factory output -- fell to 48.8 this month, below the 50-point mark that separates expansion and contraction, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The figure followed an unexpected fall to 49.2 in April, which reversed three consecutive months of growth. It was lower than the median estimate of 49.5 in a Bloomberg survey of economists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The drop \"indicates the economic recovery faces challenges\", said Zhiwei Zhang, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They include a cooling property market and a burgeoning second wave of Covid-19 that has weakened domestic demand, Zhang said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But there is \"no sign of imminent policy response\", he said, adding the government \"may continue to take a \'wait-and-see\' stance for now\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China\'s economy expanded 4.5 percent in the first quarter of the year as the country rapidly reopened after ditching years of strict health controls that hammered businesses and international supply chains.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But a host of other headaches are bedevilling the world\'s second-largest economy, including its debt-laden property sector, limp consumer confidence and the risk of recession elsewhere.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The country is also grappling with a new Covid-19 outbreak, but official data on the scale of it is scarce and there is little sign that containment policies will be reimposed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Senior health adviser Zhong Nanshan said the current wave may peak at around 65 million infections per week by the end of June, state-backed Shanghai media outlet The Paper reported last week. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-31 11:45:25', '2023-05-31 11:45:25'),
(7224, 7224, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Commuters can use the metro rail for 12 hours from 8 am to 8 pm from Wednesday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nazmul Ahsan Bhuiya, deputy project director (DPD) of Metro Rail, said from today the metro rail will operate from 8 am to 8 pm on the Uttara-Agargaon route.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the new schedule, Dhaka Metro Rail will not operate on Friday instead of Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the new schedule, Dhaka Metro Rail will leave the station every 10 minutes during the peak hours (from 8 am to 11 am and from 3:01 pm to 6 pm). During off-peak hours (from 11:01 am to 3 pm and from 6:01 pm to 8 pm), the metro rail will leave the station every 15 minutes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, the operating hours of Dhaka Metro Rail was 8 am to 2 pm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On December 28, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the country’s first elevated metro rail, setting a milestone in the communication history.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to DMTCL, Dhaka Metro Rail operation till Motijheel may start by the end of 2024, and till Kamalapur by 2025. By December 2024, metro rail will start operation from Agargaon to Kamalapur with 24 trains. 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, '2023-05-31 11:48:04', '2023-05-31 11:48:04'),
(7225, 7225, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Aamir Khan has said that he is currently on a break, and is making the most of his free time by spending it with his family. He added that he needs to be ‘emotionally ready’ before he gets back to working in movies. Aamir was speaking at the trailer launch of Carry On Jatta 3.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked about his upcoming films, Aamir urged everyone to focus on the Punjabi film he had come to support. Then he added, \"Since you all must be curious, let me quickly give you an answer. I haven\'t decided to do any film as of now. I want to spend time with my family right now. I\'m feeling good about it because that\'s what I want to do right now. I\'ll do a film when I\'m emotionally ready, for sure.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Aamir\'s recent films</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Aamir was seen in last year\'s Laal Singh Chaddha – a film that tanked at the box office when it released in theatres, but got a better reception later, when it landed on Netflix. The film was an official Hindi adaptation of the Hollywood hit Forrest Gump and also featured Kareena Kapoor Khan and Mona Singh in important roles. Aamir also made a special appearance in Kajol and Revathy\'s Salaam Venky,. which was released in December 2022. Aamir is yet to announce his next project.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking at the Carry On Jatta 3 trailer launch, Aamir also praised actor Kapil Sharma, who hosts the comedy show The Kapil Sharma Show. He said, “I have become such a big fan of him. Meri itni shaamon ko inhone rangeen banaya hai (he has kept me entertained for so many evenings), I have laughed so much, he is so entertaining that I called him a few weeks back to tell him, ‘Thank you so much for entertaining so many people. It’s such a big thing to entertain people’. I am one of your biggest fans Kapil. But I also want to ask why haven’t you invited me to the show ever? I am asking this before he can say anything. I am a step ahead of Kapil.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Carry On Jatta 3 is directed by Smeep Kang, and features Gippy Grewal, Binnu Dhillon, Sonam Bajwa, Gurpreet Ghuggi, and Jaswinder Bhalla. The film will hit the theatres on June 29, 2023. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-31 12:05:38', '2023-05-31 12:05:38'),
(7226, 7226, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The budget session of the 11th Jatiya Sangsad(JS) will begin this afternoon.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The session will begin at 5 pm with Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair, according to a JS press release.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Mohammed Shahabuddin convened the 23rd session of the parliament exercising the power bestowed upon him as per the clause (1) of article 72 of the constitution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal will present the national budget for the next fiscal year (FY24) on June 1. The parliament is expected to pass the proposed budget on June 25.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;The possible budget size of Taka 7,61,785 crore would aim at taming inflation and maintaining the higher GDP growth trajectory, said a Finance Ministry official.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;The government this time is eying to attain a growth rate of 7.5 percent in the next fiscal year (FY24) while to contain the inflation rate around 6.5 percent. The total investment target in the next year will be 33.8 percent of GDP. 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, '2023-05-31 12:19:14', '2023-05-31 12:19:14');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(7227, 7227, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">World No Tobacco Day is an annual awareness campaign observed on May 31st, organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners. This day aims to raise awareness about the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption worldwide. Smoking is a detrimental behaviour that not only poses risks to our internal organs but also has visible consequences on our external appearance.&nbsp;</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As research progresses, the alarming correlation between smoking and its damaging effects on our skin, hair, and eyes becomes increasingly evident. Let us delve into this unsettling relationship to gain a deeper understanding of the adverse impacts of smoking.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking about the impact of smoking on skin, Dr Bhooshan Zade, Director Radiation oncology, Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, revealed to HT Lifestyle, \" Smoking is not good for your skin\'s health. The damaging chemicals in cigarette smoke disrupt the skin\'s natural balance, hastening the ageing process and degrading its general quality. Regular smoking is a factor in the development of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin. Collagen and elastin, which are crucial for preserving skin\'s suppleness and firmness, are destroyed by the carcinogens in tobacco smoke.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"As a result, smokers frequently have dull, uneven skin tones and have slower wound and skin injury recovery times. Smoking also makes common skin problems like eczema, psoriasis, and acne worse. The chemicals in tobacco smoke cause the body to swell, causing flare-ups and escalating pre-existing skin conditions. Smoking also narrows blood vessels, which reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients that reach the skin. Smokers appear older than non-smokers due to the deprivation that causes a pale, sallow complexion,\" says Dr Bhooshan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Impact on hair:</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">He further shared, \"Smoking has a negative impact on our hair in addition to our skin. Smoking\'s harmful vapours and chemicals can weaken and shrink hair follicles, resulting in hair loss and thinning. Because smoking disrupts the production of melanin, which gives hair its colour, studies have demonstrated a direct link between smoking and premature greying of hair. As a result, smokers could struggle with brittle, lifeless hair that lacks vitality and volume.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Impact on eyes:</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"The damaging effects of smoking extend to the eyes, which are frequently referred to as the \"windows to the soul\". Numerous eye diseases, including cataracts, macular degeneration, and dry eye syndrome, can be exacerbated by long-term smoking. Due to the build-up of oxidative stress brought on by smoking, smokers are more prone to develop cataracts, a clouding of the natural lens of the eye. Smokers are also more likely to develop macular degeneration, one of the main causes of blindness, because smoking damages the retina\'s fragile cells with hazardous chemicals.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Additionally, smoking irritates the eyes, resulting in dry eye syndrome by causing redness, itching, and increased tear production. Smoking has obvious long-term impacts on our skin, hair, and eyes,\" says Dr Bhooshan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added, \"There is a bright spot, though: stopping smoking can help undo some of the harm. According to studies, people who stop smoking see changes in the texture of their skin as well as fewer wrinkles and a healthier complexion. Along with eye problems, hair loss can be considerably reduced and, in some circumstances, even partially reversed.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"In conclusion, smoking not only causes a serious risk to our internal health but also permanently alters the way we look. The negative effects of smoking on our skin, hair, and eyes are undeniable and far from desirable, ranging from early ageing and dull skin to hair loss and eye disorders. Knowing these adverse effects serves as a powerful reminder to break the habit, look after our health, and conserve the natural beauty that resides inside each of us,\" concludes Dr Bhooshan. 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, '2023-05-31 12:30:11', '2023-05-31 12:30:11'),
(7228, 7228, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least five people were killed and 19 wounded in a night bombardment in Ukraine\'s Lugansk region, its Russian administrators said, blaming the Ukrainian army for the attack.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The strike on the village of Karpaty by Ukrainian armed groups... killed five and wounded 19 -- and was carried out by HIMARS systems according to preliminary information,\" Russian security authorities in the Lugansk region posted on Telegram, referring to US-provided long-range missiles. 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, '2023-05-31 13:08:15', '2023-05-31 13:08:15'),
(7229, 7229, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">State Minister for Foreign Md. Shahriar Alam on Wednesday hoped that the United States would take note of the threats being passed by their friends in Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to obstruct elections as per the constitution.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There of course speeches, comments and commentaries passed on by our friends in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) threatening that police officers, administration, electoral officials whoever will participate in the election will be dealt with. That’s a serious threat. I hope the US is taking good note of that,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The State Minister was responding to questions at an interaction titled “Bangladesh at the Crossroads” held at a hotel in Dhaka.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Daily Ittefaq hosted the conversation with the state minister. The Daily Ittefaq Executive Director and Publisher Tareen Hossain delivered welcome remarks.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shahriar Alam said demanding a caretaker government is an “illegitimate demand” as per the present constitution and also the verdict passed on by the judges.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The state minister said such demand by BNP itself goes on to qualify as an “obstruction” for free and fair election</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to a question on pressure on the government, Shahriar Alam posed a counter question, “Do you really think even if someone wants to put pressure they can move Sheikh Hasina?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said she (PM Hasina) is the daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. “That is her pride and that is what drives her. Please do some justice to this legacy and do not invite such weaker observations.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to a question, he said there is no reason to see new sanctions and the government is absolutely not under any pressure from anywhere.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Regarding a political question, he said free and fair election requires equal political commitments from all political parties.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shahriar hoped that all political parties will take part in the election demonstrating their commitment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking about the relations with the US, the state minister referred to what he said on Tuesday at EMK Center.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He mentioned that the friendship between Bangladesh and the United States has deepened and broadened to the length that allows them to frankly debate on the differences.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Shahriar, however, acknowledged that there are some irritants in the relations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The long-pending repatriation of Rashed Chowdhury, a self-confessed, convicted killer of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman finding refuge in a friendly country like the USA remains a source of deep regret. “That is a source of irritation.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When his attention was drawn regarding a reported letter by six congressmen to US President Joe Biden, the state minister said, “I don’t know whether it is true.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He reminded that BNP has a history of using and falsifying comments of foreign friends in the past and also referred to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s article in the Washington Times seeking withdrawal of GSP facilities for Bangladesh. 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, '2023-05-31 14:48:57', '2023-05-31 14:48:57'),
(7230, 7230, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The mild to moderate heat wave sweeping the country is likely to continue for the next four to five days, said Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Wednesday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Weather may remain mainly dry with the temporary partly cloudy sky over the country, having chances of light rain/thundershowers at one or two places over Chattogram division,” said the daily weather bulletin of BMD.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Day and night temperatures may rise slightly over the country.&nbsp; &nbsp;Southwest monsoon may advance up to Teknaf coast, in 24 hours, starting from 9 am on Tuesday.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The lowest temperature in the country was recorded at 23.3 degrees Celsius in Tetulia upazila of Panchgarh district on Wednesday and the highest temperature was recorded at 38.6 degrees Celsius in Rajshahi district on Tuesday. 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, '2023-05-31 15:07:23', '2023-05-31 15:07:23'),
(7231, 7231, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Finance Minister AHM Mustaf Kamal is set to place the biggest ever national budget of Tk 7.61 lakh crore for FY2023-24, in the parliament on Thursday afternoon.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>This will be the 5th consecutive budget presented by the finance minister and last of the current Awami League government.</div><div><br></div><div>The budget will focus on driving the country on an incremental economic-growth matching Bangladesh’s LDC-graduation route and fulfilling the conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a loan of USD $4.7 billion.</div><div><br></div><div>Though the government tried to make a balance between revenue collection and public expenditure along with austerity measures, the government’s foreign loans dependency is likely to increase in backdrop of revenue shortfall, experts and budget officials said.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the finance ministry, the budget is likely to set the revenue collection target at Tk 5 lakh crore with a deficit at Tk 2.61 lakh crore for FY24. Of which Tk 1.02 lakh crore will be borrowed from external sources while Tk1.55 crore would come from domestic sources.</div><div><br></div><div>The finance minister hopes to getTk1.32 lakh crore from banking system, Tk18000 crore from saving certificate, Tk 23000 crore from non-bank sources.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the government’s operating expenditure is expected to be fixed at Tk 4.75 lakh crore and total development cost Tk 2.77 lakh crore.</div><div><br></div><div>Economists and analysts warned that the budget for the next fiscal year may be exceptional at the time of ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and its adverse impact on the global economy that troubles the domestic economy also.</div><div><br></div><div>The finance minister estimated Tk 2.77 lakh crore for development spending. In the next fiscal year the government will spend Tk 82000 crore for payment of domestic interest and Tk 12376 crore as interest on foreign loans.</div><div><br></div><div>Some Tk 39000 crore will be spent as capital expenditure while Tk 502 crore will go for food-sector spending while some Tk 8402 crore will remain earmarked as loans and advances.</div><div><br></div><div>The 2023-24 budget will have Tk 2.63 lakh crore for financing annual development programme (ADP), Tk 7986 crore for non-ADP special project, Tk 2828 crore as non-ADP food-for-works recipe and transfers, and Tk 3768 crore for schemes which includes some development programmes that are financed from own source revenue but not included in the ADP.</div><div><br></div><div>In the upcoming fiscal the government targets to generate Tk 5 lakh as revenue of which Tk 4.5 lakh crore will come as tax-revenue and Tk 50,000 crore as non-tax revenue. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will be given a task to realise Tk 4.3 lakh crore while non-NBR tax is targeted at Tk 20,000 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>The government estimates that Tk 3900 crore will come as foreign grants. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-31 20:35:00', '2023-05-31 20:35:00'),
(7232, 7232, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A SpaceX capsule carrying two Saudi astronauts has splashed down off the coast of Florida, completing the second private mission to the International Space Station.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Rayyanah Barnawi, the first Saudi woman to go to space, compatriot Ali Al-Qarni, and Americans Peggy Whitson and John Shoffner waved happily to cameras after the hatch was opened on their Crew Dragon late Tuesday night.</div><div><br></div><div>They were then helped out of the spacecraft, slightly unsteady on their feet after spending eight days on the orbital outpost, as seen on a video stream provided by Axiom Space, which chartered the mission with NASA.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Welcome back to Earth!\" tweeted NASA chief Bill Nelson.</div><div><br></div><div>The four member crew conducted more than 20 research experiments and served as research subjects to better understand the impacts of microgravity on the human body and to develop technologies that can assist future human spaceflight, Axiom Space said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>The Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) crew took off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral on May 21.</div><div><br></div><div>The company carried out its first private mission to the ISS in April last year, with each of its three paying crew members reported to have paid tens of millions of dollars for their tickets.</div><div><br></div><div>The company has not disclosed how much the government of Saudi Arabia spent on sending its two nationals on Ax-2, nor the amount paid by Shoffner, an entrepreneur. Whitson is a former NASA astronaut now contracted by Axiom.</div><div><br></div><div>The mission has been something of a publicity coup for Saudi Arabia, whose ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been keen to project a softer global image since taking power.</div><div><br></div><div>Axiom is one of several companies working on a commercial space station to replace the ISS once it retires after 2030.</div><div><br></div><div>NASA has made it a goal to stimulate a commercial economy in the region of space called low Earth orbit, leaving it to focus on missions deeper into space, such as returning to the Moon with humans and then going on to Mars. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-31 21:43:08', '2023-05-31 21:43:08'),
(7233, 7233, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid on Wednesday said that the government does not directly give any subsidy to fuel oil.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In reply to a tabled question from AL MP&nbsp; Haji Selim, the state minister said the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) incurred a loss of about Tk 2705 crore in 2021-22 fiscal year, following increasing of prices of all types of fuel oil due to the Ukraine-Russia war, even after the government adjusted the prices.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The BPC incurred this loss from its earlier profits without taking any subsidy from the government, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The state minister said that due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, there is a risk of loss of the BPC in 2022-23 financial year as well. The BPC has not received any subsidy from the government in this financial year either, and it is bearing the losses from its previous profits.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to the question of AL MP elected from Chattogram M Abdul Latif, Nasrul said that seven foreign companies have invested $3,483.59 million in Bangladesh in the last 14 years for the development of the gas sector.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-05-31 22:15:22', '2023-05-31 22:15:22'),
(7234, 7234, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Approval in the House is a huge step forward - but it is not the end of this process.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bipartisan debt ceiling agreement is now headed to the 100-member Senate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Unlike the House, the Senate is controlled by Democrats, albeit by a one-seat majority.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One conservative Republican, Mike Lee of Utah, has threatened to use \"every procedural tool\" to slow consideration of the bill.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lee and other recalcitrant Republicans may be mollified if Senate leadership allows the chamber to vote on changes to the deal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has said he would like to fast-track this bill without allowing amendments - which, if passed, would require it being sent back to the House once again.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Add to that the fact we could see other defections, including from left-wing Senator Bernie Sanders, who said today he cannot \"in good conscience\" support the measure.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Monday is the day the US government will hit its borrowing limit - and Senate leadership will be hoping they can get this bill over the line by Friday for President Joe Biden to sign into law at the weekend.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you needed any proof the debt ceiling has turned into a political theatre, just listen to the remarks by certain Republicans before the vote.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They took a huge victory lap in the chamber with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy claiming the deal he negotiated with the president is the largest savings ever in American history. It isn’t.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And he blamed Biden for not joining the negotiating table earlier.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For McCarthy, this is about saving face. The Republican\'s political reputation and role as House Speaker is on the line.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Remember, it took him 15 rounds of voting to even get the job back in January.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If McCarthy had taken the podium today and said that Democrats got what they wanted out of the deal, it would have made it near impossible for him to sell it to many Republicans.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He needed to show that he can get the deal done but also satisfy the demands of the more ultra-conservative Republican members of the House.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his speech on the House floor a few minutes ago, Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy took a dig at President Joe Biden for not coming to the table earlier to negotiate on the debt ceiling bill.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In April, congressional Republicans put forward a bill that raised the debt ceiling in exchange for significant spending cuts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That proposal was pared down in negotiations with the Democratic administration in the White House, but McCarthy still claims victory on several fronts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He touted the bill\'s successes for Republicans in his speech - from \"structural reforms\" to clawing back unspent pandemic funds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also signalled that he is confident the bill has the votes it needs to pass tonight.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I\'m an optimist,\" he said. \"I watched division in this House, but tonight we might come together and do something very big for this country.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Don\'t mistake this as the solution. It\'s the beginning.\" 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, '2023-06-01 07:45:56', '2023-06-01 07:45:56'),
(7235, 7235, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Platforms remove graphic videos, often using artificial intelligence - but footage that may help prosecutions can be taken down without being archived.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meta and YouTube say they aim to balance their duties to bear witness and protect users from harmful content.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Alan Rusbridger, who sits on Meta\'s Oversight Board, says the industry has been \"overcautious\" in its moderation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The platforms say they do have exemptions for graphic material when it is in the public interest - but when the BBC attempted to upload footage documenting attacks on civilians in Ukraine, it was swiftly deleted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Artificial intelligence (AI) can remove harmful and illegal content at scale. When it comes to moderating violent images from wars, however, machines lack the nuance to identify human rights violations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Human rights groups say there is an urgent need for social media companies to prevent this information from vanishing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"You can see why they have developed and train their machines to, the moment they see something that looks difficult or traumatic, to take it down,\" Mr Rusbridger told the BBC. The Meta Oversight Board that he sits on was set up by Mark Zuckerberg and is known as a kind of independent \"supreme court\" for the company, which owns Facebook and Instagram.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I think the next question for them is how do we develop the machinery, whether that\'s human or AI, to then make more reasonable decisions,\" Mr Rusbridger, a former editor-in-chief of the Guardian, adds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">No-one would deny tech firms\' right to police content, says US Ambassador for Global Criminal Justice Beth Van Schaak: \"I think where the concern happens is when that information suddenly disappears.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ihor Zakharenko, a former travel journalist, encountered this in Ukraine. Since the Russian invasion he has been documenting attacks on civilians.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BBC met him in a suburb of Kyiv where one year ago men, women and children had been shot dead by Russian troops while trying to flee occupation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He filmed the bodies - at least 17 of them - and burnt-out cars.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He wanted to post the videos online so the world would see what happened and to counter the Kremlin\'s narrative. But when he uploaded them to Facebook and Instagram they were swiftly taken down.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Russians themselves were saying those were fakes, [that] they didn\'t touch civilians, they fought only with the Ukrainian army,\" Ihor said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">We uploaded Ihor\'s footage on to Instagram and YouTube using dummy accounts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Instagram took down three of the four videos within a minute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At first, YouTube applied age restrictions to the same three, but 10 minutes later removed them all.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">We tried again - but they failed to upload altogether. An appeal to restore the videos on the basis that they included evidence of war crimes was rejected. 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, '2023-06-01 07:48:54', '2023-06-01 07:48:54'),
(7236, 7236, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Two children and an adult died, and more than a dozen people were injured, in a new night-time missile attack on Kyiv, Ukrainian officials say.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia has been subjecting the Ukrainian capital to regular aerial attack with missiles and drones.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The latest attacks occurred in the eastern Desnyanskyi and Dniprovskyi districts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukrainian officials said details of the dead and injured were based on preliminary information.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The attack was the fourth this week, and comes after 17 attacks were launched on the Ukrainian capital throughout May - most took place at night, although at least one occurred during the day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Images shared by military authorities showed teams of rescuers attending to people, as well as damaged buildings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a number of early morning posts on Telegram, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a \"series of explosions\" had taken place in the city, and that rescuers had been dealing with fallen debris and fires.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said 14 people had been injured - nine of whom were taken to hospital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, Russian-backed officials in the occupied part of Ukraine\'s eastern Luhansk region said five people had been killed and 19 injured by Ukrainian shelling at a farm on Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In recent weeks, Russia - which launched its full-scale invasion on Ukraine in February 2022 - has been using kamikaze drones as well as a range of cruise and ballistic missiles to attack targets in Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kyiv has been heavily targeted, and analysts believe Moscow is trying to deplete and damage Ukraine\'s air defences ahead of a long-expected counter-offensive, which the Ukrainian government has been planning for months. 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, '2023-06-01 09:48:33', '2023-06-01 09:48:33'),
(7237, 7237, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">European leaders meet Thursday at a summit held on one of the most vulnerable points on the continent\'s strategic frontline, in a show of diplomatic force designed to pressure Moscow.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The European Political Community (EPC), which groups 27 EU members with 40 of their allies and excludes Russia and Belarus, chose Ukraine\'s tiny neighbour Moldova for its second summit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Less than an hour\'s drive from a Russian-backed breakaway Moldovan region and not much further from war-torn Ukraine, they will try to send a message to Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">First and foremost, holding the summit outside Chisinau shows solidarity with Moldova in the face of Russian destabilisation operations and support for its EU membership bid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is also an opportunity for European states -- whether EU members, recent leaver Britain or candidates for future membership like Ukraine -- to work together on regional crises.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We must also think of a wider Europe,\" France\'s President Emmanuel Macron, who first promoted the EPC, told reporters in Bratislava on the eve of the summit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We must think of our Europe not simply from a security point of view within the framework of NATO and not simply within the framework of the European Union.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky\'s travel plans are never announced in advance, for security reasons in the wake of Russia\'s invasion of his country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Security guarantees\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But if he takes up his invitation to the EPC, he will be seeking not just solidarity but progress on Ukraine\'s parallel bids to join NATO and the European Union.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Moldova summit also came as NATO ministers, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, met to discuss the agenda of the alliance\'s next summit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The NATO summit in Vilnius on July 11 will debate how formal a promise to give Kyiv on how and when to join the alliance, but in the interim Europe is keen to show support.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Macron acknowledged that Ukraine\'s forces battling Russian invaders in the east and south of their country are \"protecting Europe\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And he said the allies should find a way to offer \"tangible and credible security guarantees to Ukraine\" while the eventual questions of EU and NATO membership are pending.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, whose country left the European Union but remains in NATO, said, \"Putin\'s utter contempt of other countries\' sovereignty\" showed the need for unity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We cannot address these problems without Europe\'s governments and institutions working closely together,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">NATO member Turkey\'s newly re-elected leader President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is preparing his formal inauguration at home and is not expected at the meeting, diplomats said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With up to 47 heads of state and government invited, not much time has been set aside for a general group discussion, but diplomats hope side meetings will deal with practical issues.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Macron and Germany\'s Chancellor Olaf Scholz will convene a meeting between foes Armenia\'s Prime Minister Nikol Pachinian and Azerbaijan\'s President Ilham Aliyev.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yerevan and Baku have fought for decades over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh, but have both been invited to the EPC as Washington and Brussels push for a peace deal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another long-standing European conflict, the standoff between Serbia and Kosovo will be on the agenda, with leaders from Pristina and Belgrade under pressure to dial down tensions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Big progress\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Finally, for Moldova itself, the summit will mark a crucial step on its route from being a former Soviet republic part-occupied by Russian \"peacekeepers\" towards a European future.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Summit host President Maia Sandu wants -- as do Ukraine and Georgia -- to begin formal EU membership negotiations this year, to \"save our democracy\" from Russian interference.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She received powerful backing on the eve of the summit from European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, who hailed Moldova\'s \"big progress\" in EU-requested reforms.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Moldova is at the heart of Europe. Moldova is Europe. And today and tomorrow, the whole of Europe is Moldova,\" von der Leyen 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, '2023-06-01 09:52:51', '2023-06-01 09:52:51'),
(7238, 7238, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The World Meteorological Organization, which chooses its next leader on Thursday, is today at the forefront in monitoring climate change.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the United Nations\' specialised agency for weather and the climate can trace its roots back 150 years to the early days of shipping forecasts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>- Remit -</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The WMO is dedicated to meteorology, operational hydrology and climatology -- weather, water and the climate. It covers related geophysical sciences such as oceanography and atmospheric chemistry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>- IMO forerunner -</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The WMO was preceded by the International Meteorological Organization founded in 1873.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The shortcomings in using Morse Code to transmit weather reports and the lack of a uniform system for observations became the rationale behind setting up the IMO.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Now 150 years on, operations have moved from telegraphs and shipping forecasts to supercomputers and space technology. The average global temperature is more than one degree Celsius higher than when the IMO began.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The organisation reformed as the WMO in 1950 and became the UN\'s meteorological agency the following year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is the second-oldest agency in the UN fold after the International Telecommunication Union, set up in 1865.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>- WMO -</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The WMO issued its first statement on climate change in 1976, voicing concern that greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere by human activities would lead to major changes in the climate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was co-founded by the WMO and the UN Environment Programme. The WMO hosts the IPCC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2007, the IPCC was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, along with former US vice president Al Gore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Much of the WMO\'s work is in bringing together the work of national meteorological agencies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 230 satellites, 10,0000 surface weather stations, 1,000 upper air stations, 7,000 ships, 1,100 buoys and 3,000 specially-equipped commercial aircraft measure key parameters of the atmosphere, land and ocean.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">These observations are shared freely through the WMO system.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The WMO says today\'s five-day forecasts are as reliable as the two-day forecasts of 25 years ago, translating into \"billions of dollars in economic gains\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>- Headquarters -</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The IMO was first based in Utrecht in the Netherlands, then in Lausanne from 1939.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After becoming the WMO, it moved to Geneva, where it was first housed in a modernist building now belonging to the World Intellectual Property Organization.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Its current glass-clad new headquarters, a 120-metre-long, elliptical nine-storey building, was inaugurated in 1999.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">It is down the slope from the UN\'s Palais des Nations, overlooking Geneva\'s botanical gardens and the World Trade Organization.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>- Members, budget and bosses -</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The WMO has 193 member states and territories. The latest to join are South Sudan (2012), Andorra (2018) and Nauru (2019).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The WMO\'s budget for 2024-2027 is 278 million Swiss francs ($304.4 million). The United States and China have been the biggest contributors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The agency had 315 people on the payroll by the end of 2021.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The WMO has only had six secretaries-general since 1952, including Britain\'s David Arthur Davies (1956-1979) and Nigeria\'s Godwin Obasi (1984-2003), the first African to run a UN body.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Four senior figures from within the WMO are running to replace the current secretary-general, Petteri Taalas of Finland, after his second four-year term -- now the maximum.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>- Top future projects -</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The WMO wants everyone in the world covered by weather hazard early warning systems by the end of 2027.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This week it made the cryosphere -- the frozen world -- a top priority, given the impact of melting on sea levels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It also said it would boost greenhouse gas monitoring with a new system integrating space- and surface-based observations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And it wants to ramp up the tracking of where greenhouse gases emerge and end up, something it says could be possible on a one-square-kilometre grid within a decade.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>- Records archive -</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The WMO has a Weather and Climate Extremes Archive, containing a variety of records including temperature, air pressure, rainfall, wind speed, hail and lightning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The four latest records, dating from 2020, were for the longest distance and longest duration lightning flash, and for the highest temperatures in the Antarctic region and above the Arctic Circle. 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, '2023-06-01 09:57:19', '2023-06-01 09:57:19');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(7239, 7239, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Sevilla found their Europa League magic formula on Wednesday, beating Roma 4-1 on penalties in Budapest to make it a perfect seven out of seven in finals in the competition.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The game finished 1-1 following extra-time after Paulo Dybala\'s opener was earlier cancelled out by an own goal from Roma defender Gianluca Mancini.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A bad-tempered but gripping match went to a shootout at a raucous Puskas Arena, with Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou proving the hero with two saves.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gonzalo Montiel, who scored the winning penalty in the 2022 World Cup final, netted the decisive spot-kick after Mancini and Roger Ibanez had failed to convert for Roma.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The win is a remarkable achievement for 62-year-old Jose Luis Mendilibar, who only took over at Sevilla in March and is now celebrating his first major trophy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We are going to enjoy this because it has cost a lot and right now I don\'t know if I will renew or not and I don\'t care,\" said the Spaniard, who is not certain to be at the club next season.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The veteran coach was brought in to save the club from relegation and has led them to safety as well as European glory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"When I arrived I told the players that they were very good but that they were not mentally in the right place and that was my job,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"They have shown me in the end that they are very good.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Defeat spells heartbreak for Roma boss Jose Mourinho, who has lost a European final for the first time after five successes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fans created a crackling atmosphere before kick-off but the early stages of the game did not match the colour in the stands.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Dybala strike -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dybala repaid Mourinho\'s gamble on his fitness in the 35th minute when he latched onto Mancini\'s through ball from the centre circle, coolly slotting his shot past Bounou.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sevilla, finally finding some fluency, came agonisingly close to levelling deep into the seven minutes of added-on time when Ivan Rakitic drilled a fierce left-footed strike from distance that cannoned back off an upright.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mendilibar brought on forwards Suso and Erik Lamela for Oliver Torres and Bryan Gil at the break and the Spanish side began the second period on the front foot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They were level after 10 minutes when Mancini bundled a Jesus Navas cross from the right into his own net from close range.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Roma seemed certain to re-take the lead against the run of play midway through the second half but the Sevilla defenders somehow scrambled the ball away after several stabs at goal from close range.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dybala, starting a match for the first time since mid-April, was withdrawn, with midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum coming on to replace him.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sevilla thought they had a penalty with 15 minutes to go after referee Anthony Taylor ruled that Ibanez had brought down Lucas Ocampos but the decision was overturned by VAR.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Roma squandered a glorious chance to go back in front when substitute Andrea Belotti failed to keep his shot on target with only the goalkeeper to beat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Extra-time was largely uneventful as tempers flared between the two benches but Roma defender Chris Smalling almost snatched the win when he hit the woodwork with a looping header from a corner in the dying seconds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There were 13 yellow cards awarded, the most ever in a UEFA Europa League game.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The first three spot-kicks were converted but when man-of-the-match Bounou saved penalties from Mancini and pushed Ibanez\'s effort onto the post, the Spanish side had a 3-1 lead and appeared certain winners.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But there was more drama to come.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Montiel\'s effort was saved by Rui Patricio but the kick was ordered re-taken after an encroachment by the goalkeeper and this time the Argentine made no mistake.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sevilla, 11th in La Liga with one match to play will play in the Champions League next season.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Roma\'s campaign could end with a whimper after the highs of winning the inaugural Europa Conference League last year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Italian team are sixth in Serie A with one game remaining and there are major doubts over whether Mourinho, 60, will still be manager next season.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We felt pressure against a team that has more talent than us,\" said the Portuguese. \"We lost a game but not dignity. I\'ve never gone home prouder than today, even when I won.\" 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, '2023-06-01 10:00:30', '2023-06-01 10:00:30'),
(7240, 7240, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Firefighters on Wednesday faced a grueling uphill battle against wildfires in Canada\'s Nova Scotia province, including one threatening suburbs of Halifax.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Federal help was coming, officials said, along with firefighters from the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'re in a crisis in the province and we want and we need and we will take all the support we can get,\" Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston told a news conference. \"These fires are unprecedented.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Already, additional kit have been shipped in from Ontario, and a dozen water bombers from neighboring regions and the Coast Guard joined efforts to douse the flames and assist with evacuations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Houston said he has also asked for the military to help out.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the wildfires \"heartbreaking,\" and vowed unlimited support.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As of Wednesday, 14 wildfires were burning in Nova Scotia, including three out of control. They\'ve so far destroyed or damaged more than 200 homes and other structures including a wooden bridge, but no injuries have been reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One couple described to public broadcaster CBC having lost both their home and their childcare business. \"That\'s my life,\" a tearful Terri Kottwitz said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Others said they saw trees on fire in their backyard as they fled with just a moment\'s notice.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Evacuee Janis Churchill-Moher told CBC that she didn\'t know if her home in the picturesque rural south of the province was still standing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Our neighbors have working farms and they just had to pack up their kids, pack up as many animals as fast as they could and run,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 2,000 residents of the area were ordered to evacuate earlier in the week as fires swept through the area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s a devastating situation for everybody,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>- \'Frustrated and frightened\' -</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Smoke from the wildfires blew down the Atlantic coast, prompting air quality alerts for the US state of New Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania, including the Philadelphia area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">David Meldrum of the Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency, pointing to record-high temperatures forecast this week, warned of \"a prolonged operation\" to bring under control a large fire northwest of the port city that has displaced more than 16,000 residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"People are understandably tired, frustrated and frightened,\" said Halifax Mayor Mike Savage, adding that \"some have no home to return to.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Houston announced a ban on all activities in Nova Scotia forests, including hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, the use of off-road vehicles and logging.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"For God\'s sake, stop burning. Stop flicking cigarette butts out of the car window. Just stop it. Our resources are stretched incredibly thin right now fighting existing fires,\" he pleaded after several illegal burns were reported by conservation officers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Government data shows a decline in the number of wildfires in Canada since the 1980s, likely due to improved fire prevention.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the past decade also saw more disastrous wildfires scorching a lot more land and displacing many more people -- problems set to worsen with climate change.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In recent years western Canada has been hit repeatedly by extreme weather, including floods and mudslides, forest fires that destroyed an entire town, and record-high summer temperatures that killed more than 500 people in 2021.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Tuesday, 800 residents of Fort Chiepwyan in northern Alberta had to be airlifted to safety as fires beared down on the remote hamlet.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier this month, wildfires in Alberta burned nearly one million hectares of forests and grasslands, and at one point displaced 30,000 people. 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, '2023-06-01 10:11:36', '2023-06-01 10:11:36'),
(7241, 7241, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reiterated his stance for working with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to take the existing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Turkey to a new height.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The re-elected president of Turkey said this during a telephone call to PM Hasina at around 11:15 pm on Wednesday,</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two leaders exchanged greetings and spoke to each other for 10 minutes, according to a press release from PMO Press Wing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina congratulated Erdogan on securing victory at the second round election, where the voter turnout rate was above 86 percent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She expressed her happiness over her confidence that the people of Turkey would make the right choice, which was proved after the runoff election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM Hasina reiterated that the People of Bangladesh would remain steadfast to stand by the brotherly people of Turkey at any time of need, as during the February 2023 earthquake.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Erdogan expressed his gratitude that the brotherly people of Bangladesh mentally joined the jubilant people of Turkey at his victory in the second round election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To this end, he thanked the people of Bangladesh and wished to further strengthen the ties between the two peoples.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina conveyed her best wishes to Erdogan and his family members and wished continued peace, progress, and prosperity through him to the people of Turkey. UNB&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-01 10:49:18', '2023-06-01 10:49:18'),
(7242, 7242, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Accompanying Naomi Campbell on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival last week was one of cinema\'s most powerful men -- and he represents a country where cinemas were banned until five years ago.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mohammed Al Turki, 36, heads Saudi Arabia\'s Red Sea Film Foundation, his name splashed all over posters and movie credits at the world\'s biggest cinema gathering on the French Riviera.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The foundation, formed two years ago, holds its own annual festival and has already financed 168 movies, including eight in the official selection at Cannes this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among them was festival opener \"Jeanne du Barry\" about a French prostitute falling in love with King Louis XV, played by Johnny Depp.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Others seemed equally at odds with traditional Saudi values -- female-focused films such as \"Four Daughters\" about the religious radicalisation of Tunisian girls, or \"Goodbye Julia\" about a Sudanese woman and her overbearing conservative husband.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have learned to respect other cultures,\" Emad Iskandar, director of the Red Sea Film Foundation, told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the foundation focuses on Arab and African filmmakers, though the precise definition seems flexible: the French director of \"Jeanne du Barry\", Maiwenn, qualified thanks to her Algerian father.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"As long as we have the resources, we want to serve the region, but also take the opportunity to learn more,\" Iskandar added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Al Turki\'s foundation also sponsored a gala for women, attended by Catherine Deneuve, Katie Holmes and supermodel Campbell.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"MO!! Proud of all your doing @redseafilm creating history of many 1st\'s and Changing the narrative,\" Campbell wrote of Al Turki on her Instagram.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Whitewashing? -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saudi largesse for the arts has boomed under the kingdom\'s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with billions pouring into previously taboo areas such as music, fashion and sports.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Human Rights Watch says this is designed to \"whitewash its dismal rights record\" and that, despite recent reforms, Saudi Arabia continues to repress civil society, execute dissidents, discriminate against women and bury the investigation into the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But most Saudis back the reforms, and its officials say it is absurd to expect the kingdom to turn into a liberal paradise overnight.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Accusations of whitewashing \"sadden us more than anything else,\" said Iskander.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Come to visit and get to know Saudi Arabia and then talk about us. The West has arrived where it is after years of wars and debates. We are a 90-year-old state -- be patient.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In any case, the relentless PR campaign is working. The Saudi presence at Cannes felt less controversial than that of Depp, still widely branded as toxic since his court battle with ex-wife Amber Heard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cannes director Thierry Fremaux celebrated the kingdom\'s interest in \"producing films and allowing artists to emerge\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Saudi Arabia is evolving,\" he told Variety.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'More and more present\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">All over Cannes were adverts calling on producers and directors to shoot in Saudi Arabia, while its pavilion showed off the work of its own young directors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Every year Saudi Arabia asks for a bigger pavilion, more facilities, to be more and more present,\" said Guillaume Esmiol, head of the Cannes Film Market that runs alongside the festival.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saudi Arabia is not the only country in the region investing massively in cinema: rival Qatar financed 13 films at Cannes this year, including three in the main competition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some have little or no connection to the Middle East.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have a lot of French productions,\" Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Doha Film Institute CEO, told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We don\'t want to be insular, we want our filmmakers to be open to other regions and other filmmakers and work with them.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She had no qualms that such investments were aimed at spreading Qatar\'s soft power.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Who doesn\'t do that? The US does that with their Hollywood films... At least we are doing what we believe in, and we are not losing our identity at the same time.\" AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-01 11:47:30', '2023-06-01 11:47:30'),
(7243, 7243, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 154 at 8:30am on Thursday (June 01, 2023), Dhaka ranked 4th on the list of cities worldwide having the worst air quality.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China’s Beijing, India\'s Delhi and Chile’s Santiago occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 170, 160, and 155, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The air was classified as \'unhealthy\', according to the air quality and pollution city ranking.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered \'unhealthy\' while 201-300 is \'very unhealthy\', and 301-400 is considered \'hazardous\', posing severe health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five 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;\">As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly 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, '2023-06-01 11:55:22', '2023-06-01 11:55:22'),
(7244, 7244, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">North Korean leader Kim Jong Un\'s powerful sister said Thursday that Pyongyang would \"correctly\" place a spy satellite into orbit soon, a day after their first attempt crashed.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pyongyang has pitched its military satellite as a necessary counterbalance to the growing US military presence in the region, pointing to Washington\'s ongoing joint drills with Seoul as one example of many.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea\'s new Chollima-1 rocket lost thrust and plunged into the sea with its satellite payload on Wednesday, state media said in a rare same-day announcement following the failed launch.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kim Yo Jong, who also serves as a spokesperson for the regime, said a second attempt would soon be made.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It is certain that the DPRK\'s military reconnaissance satellite will be correctly put on space orbit in the near future and start its mission,\" she said Thursday, referring to North Korea by its official name.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pyongyang also released photographs of what it said was the new Chollima-1 rocket taking off from a seaside launch site surrounded by flames and smoke.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The rocket -- named after a mythical winged horse that often appears in Pyongyang\'s propaganda -- featured a bulbous nose, apparently used to carry the satellite payload.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States, South Korea and Japan slammed the launch, saying it violated UN resolutions barring Pyongyang from any tests using ballistic missile technology.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kim Yo Jong said such critiques were a \"self-contradiction\", given that the United States and other nations have already launched \"thousands of satellites\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The US is a group of gangsters who would claim that even if the DPRK launches a satellite in space orbit through balloon, it is illegal and threatening,\" she said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Analysts warn that if North Korea succeeds, the satellite\'s monitoring capabilities would be a major issue, enabling Pyongyang to target US and South Korean forces more accurately.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The use of a satellites for military purposes includes reconnaissance (intelligence collection), global positioning information and the attacking of opponent\'s satellites. Space warfare,\" Chun In-bum, a retired South Korean army general, told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since diplomatic efforts collapsed in 2019, North Korea has ramped up military development, conducting a string of banned weapons tests, including test-firing multiple intercontinental ballistic missiles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Leader Kim declared last year that his country was an irreversible nuclear power and called for an exponential increase in weapons production, including tactical nukes. 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, '2023-06-01 12:00:32', '2023-06-01 12:00:32'),
(7245, 7245, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Amazon agreed Wednesday to pay a $25 million civil penalty to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations it violated a child privacy law and deceived parents by keeping for years kids\' voice and location data recorded by its popular Alexa voice assistant.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Separately, the company agreed to pay $5.8 million in customer refunds for alleged privacy violations involving its doorbell camera Ring.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Alexa-related action orders Amazon to overhaul its data deletion practices and impose stricter, more transparent privacy measures. It also obliges the tech giant to delete certain data collected by its internet-connected digital assistant, which people use for everything from checking the weather to playing games and queueing up music.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Amazon’s history of misleading parents, keeping children’s recordings indefinitely, and flouting parents’ deletion requests violated COPPA (the Child Online Privacy Protection Act) and sacrificed privacy for profits,” Samuel Levine, the FCT consumer protection chief, said in a statement. The 1998 law is designed to shield children from online harms.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya said in a statement that “when parents asked Amazon to delete their kids’ Alexa voice data, the company did not delete all of it.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The agency ordered the company to delete inactive child accounts as well as certain voice and geolocation data.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Amazon kept the kids\' data to refine its voice recognition algorithm, the artificial intelligence behind Alexa, which powers Echo and other smart speakers, Bedoya said. The FTC complaint sends a message to all tech companies who are “sprinting to do the same” amid fierce competition in developing AI datasets, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Nothing is more visceral to a parent than the sound of their child’s voice,” tweeted Bedoya, the father of two small children.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Amazon said last month that it has sold more than a half-billion Alexa-enabled devices globally and that use of the service increased 35% last year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the Ring case, the FTC says Amazon\'s home security camera subsidiary let employees and contractors access consumers\' private videos and providing lax security practices that enabled hackers to take control of some accounts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Amazon bought California-based Ring in 2018, and many of the violations alleged by the FTC predate the acquisition. Under the FTC\'s order, Ring is required to pay $5.8 million that would be used for consumer refunds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Amazon said it disagreed with the FTC’s claims on both Alexa and Ring and denied violating the law. But it said the settlements “put these matters behind us.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Our devices and services are built to protect customers’ privacy, and to provide customers with control over their experience,” the Seattle-based company said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In addition to the fine in the Alexa case, the proposed order prohibits Amazon from using deleted geolocation and voice information to create or improve any data product. The order also requires Amazon to create a privacy program for its use of geolocation information.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The proposed orders must be approved by federal judges.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">FTC commissioners had unanimously voted to file the charges against Amazon in both cases. 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, '2023-06-01 12:15:52', '2023-06-01 12:15:52'),
(7246, 7246, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Senegalese capital Dakar braced for potential clashes on Thursday as a court prepared to issue a verdict in the trial of firebrand opposition leader Ousmane Sonko on rape charges.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two-year case has deeply polarised the West African country with a reputation for tolerance and stability, igniting accusations of political meddling in the judiciary and sparking violent confrontations between Sonko\'s supporters and the security forces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sonko, the 48-year-old leader of the PASTEF-Patriots party, has leapt to national prominence on the back of attacks against President Macky Sall.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Throwing down the gauntlet, he declared Tuesday that he was being \"illegally held\" after security forces swooped on his motorcade at the weekend, urging the public to take to the streets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Everyone should rise up as one,\" he said on social media. \"Power should remain with the people.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When Sonko was arrested on the charges in 2021, several days of clashes left at least 12 people dead.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Several more have died in sporadic violence this year, including a fatality that occurred at the weekend when police detained Sonko ahead of Thursday\'s hearing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sall promised to stand firm in the face of potential violence while calling for a \"national dialogue\" to ease the tensions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the heart of the trial are allegations by 23-year-old beauty salon worker Adji Sarr, who accuses Sonko of raping her and making death threats.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sonko denies any wrongdoing, saying that he went to the salon for a massage for chronic back pain and that the case against him is politically motivated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Conviction for rape in Senegal carries a jail term of 10 to 20 years, a sentence that would bar Sonko from running in next year\'s presidential election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sonko surged to national prominence in the 2019, when he came third in the presidential elections after a feisty campaign against Sall and a perceived corrupt elite.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The aftermath of a guilty verdict against Sonko remains unclear.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is not known whether Sonko would be arrested immediately if convicted, or whether he would be able to mobilise crowds to protest such a verdict.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The \"dialogue\" announced by Sall has driven a wedge into the opposition front, with Sonko saying he would boycott such a meeting while Khalifa Sall, another opposition candidate, has said he will attend.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Dictatorship\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sonko accuses Sall of plotting a third term in office in defiance of the constitution in order to install a \"dictatorship.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also rails against France, the former colonial power, while presenting himself as a defender of religion and traditional values as a father of six and husband of two wives, calling for example for tougher penalties against same-sex relations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sall\'s supporters say Sonko is a rabble-rouser who has poisoned the political climate and sown instability.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The trial, whose first two hearings were boycotted by Sonko, has riveted and divided the public in the conservative Muslim country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Media outlets have focused overwhelmingly on the trial\'s political consequences and salacious elements in Sarr\'s testimony, to the dismay of some feminists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They accuse Sonko of using language that normalises sexual violence and denigrates his accuser.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If I wanted to rape a woman, I wouldn\'t choose a brain-damaged monkey,\" he has 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, '2023-06-01 12:39:46', '2023-06-01 12:39:46'),
(7247, 7247, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The mild to moderate heat wave sweeping parts of the country is likely to continue for next four to five days, said Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Thursday (June 01, 2023).</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal and Sylhet divisions and Chattogram, Rangamati, Cumilla, Chandpur, Noakhali &amp; Feni districts and it may continue,” said a bulletin of BMD.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Weather may remain mainly dry with the temporary partly cloudy sky over the country, having chances of light rain or thundershowers at one or two places over Dhaka, Barishal, Sylhet and Chattogram divisions, it said.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Day temperature may rise slightly in Rangpur, Rajshahi and Khulna divisions and it may remain nearly unchanged elsewhere the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country in 24 hours&nbsp; starting from 9 am on Thursday.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The lowest temperature in the country was recorded at 24 degrees Celsius in Rangamati and Bandarban on Thursday and the highest temperature was recorded at 40 degrees Celsius in Syedpur on Wednesday. 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, '2023-06-01 15:07:10', '2023-06-01 15:07:10'),
(7248, 7248, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday said he would visit Ankara \"in the near future\" to push the ratification of Sweden\'s membership, after the re-election of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I\'m confident of course that Sweden will be a member, and then we\'re working for that to happen as early as possible,\" Stoltenberg said at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Oslo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stoltenberg said he had already spoken to Erdogan by phone earlier this week to \"highlight the importance of making progress\" on Sweden\'s membership.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO countries that have yet to ratify Sweden\'s membership bid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Finland formally joined the alliance in April.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Erdogan, who was re-elected Sunday for another five-year term as Turkey\'s president, has accused Sweden of being a haven for \"terrorists\", especially members of the Kurdistan Workers\' Party (PKK).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said Stockholm had fulfilled \"all the commitments\" to join NATO and urged Turkey and Hungary to allow his country into the alliance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It is time for Turkey and Hungary to start the ratification of the Swedish membership to NATO,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This was never a sprint, it\'s a marathon, and we now see the end of it.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Billstrom pointed to the entry into force on Thursday of new terror legislation in Sweden as the last step under an accord signed with Turkey last year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Billstrom said he hoped to see a big step made towards membership at a meeting with representatives of Turkey in the coming weeks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Following that meeting, the ratification will happen,\" Billstrom insisted. 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, '2023-06-01 15:16:22', '2023-06-01 15:16:22'),
(7249, 7249, '<div><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Mohammed Shahabuddin today authenticated the proposed national budget for FY 2023-24 and the revised budget for FY 2022-23 for placing before the Jatiya Sangsad by Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal.</b><br></div><div><b>&nbsp;</b></div><div>The Head of the State authenticated the proposed national budget of over Taka 7.61 lakh crore for the next fiscal year (FY24) at his Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban office (parliament complex) at about 2.45pm.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and Senior Secretary of Internal Resources Division (IRD) Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem and Finance Division\'s Senior Secretary Fatima Yasmin were present, among others.&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>This is the country\'s 52nd budget and the 24th ones of the Awami League government in five terms. This budget for FY24 is the 5th consecutive budget of incumbent finance minister.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Earlier, on his arrival at the Sangsad Bhaban, Jatiya Sangsad Deputy Speaker Advocate Md Shamsul Hoque Tuku, Chief Whip Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury and Senior Secretary of Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat Md Ashraful Moqbul received the President.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>On his first arrival in parliament after taking office on April 24,</div><div>2023 as the head of the state, Shahabuddin exchanged greetings with the officials and employees of the Jatiya Sangsad. BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-01 15:19:27', '2023-06-01 15:19:27'),
(7250, 7250, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal in his budget speech on Thursday proposed to increase the tax-free income limit to Tk 3.5 lakh from the existing Tk 3 lakh for individual taxpayers for the fiscal year 2023-24.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He also proposed the threshold for women and senior citizens above 65 years of age to Tk 4 lakh from Tk 3.5 lakh.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, proposals have been placed for the physically challenged persons and third-gender taxpayers to extend their tax-free income limit to Tk 4.75 lakh from Tk 4.5 lakh and Tk 3.5 lakh respectively.</div><div><br></div><div>The tax-free income ceiling for the war-wounded, gazetted freedom fighters will be Tk 5 lakh, up from Tk 4.75 lakh.</div><div><br></div><div>The proposed tax rates and tax slabs for all categories of individual taxpayers except companies and local authorities are: no tax on first Tk 3.5 lakh, 5 percent tax on next Tk 1 lakh; 10 percent on next Tk 3 lakh; 15 percent on next Tk 4 lakh; 20 percent on next Tk 5 lakh and 25 percent income tax on the balance of total income. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-01 17:40:55', '2023-06-01 17:40:55'),
(7251, 7251, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Thursday said they are working out a strategy to transform Bangladesh into a developed nation envisioned by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina bearing in mind the outline of ‘Smart Bangladesh’.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Strategies to deal with sustainable transition and post-transition realities from LDCs in the days ahead need to be determined now,” he told Parliament while placing the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2023-2024.</div><div><br></div><div>The finance minister said the dreams of a ‘Smart Bangladesh’ will be realised based on four main pillars - smart citizens, smart government, smart society and smart economy.</div><div><br></div><div>The Perspective Plan (2021-2041), the 8th five-year plan (2021-2025) and the Delta Plan-2100 have been prepared.</div><div><br></div><div>“These plans are at the implementation stage now which will lay the foundation of a developed and smart Bangladesh by 2041,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The finance minister said overall the current challenge is to control inflation, improve the current account balance situation and stabilise the foreign exchange rate.</div><div><br></div><div>In particular, he said, tariff rationalisation, domestic resource mobilisation to meet fiscal deficit, withdrawal of subsidy or cash assistance or exploring alternatives should be considered now.</div><div><br></div><div>Adequate growth in revenue as percentage of GDP, ensuring efficiency in government spending and facilitating bilateral and multilateral financing and attracting domestic and foreign investment should be focused on for the provision of necessary resources to meet social security expenditure and carry out essential development activities, said the finance minister. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-01 19:49:24', '2023-06-01 19:49:24'),
(7252, 7252, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has slashed by Tk 13.42 per kg to Tk 89.48 from the previous price of Tk 102.9 for the month of June.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced the new price, saying that a 12kg LPG cylinder’s price has reduced by Tk 161.</div><div><br></div><div>A retail consumer will get it now at Tk 1,074 instead of Tk 1235 (including VAT).</div><div><br></div><div>Prices of other sizes of LPG cylinders – from 5.5kg to 45kg – will go down rationally, Md Nurul Amin, newly appointed chairman of BERC, said at a press briefing on Thursday at the BERC office in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>The new prices will be effective from 6 pm today (June 1, 2023).</div><div><br></div><div>BERC officials said the LPG price witnessed a rise in the local market due to the decrease in the prices of Saudi CP (contract price).</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladeshi LPG operators normally import their products from the Middle-East market on the basis of Saudi CP.</div><div><br></div><div>As per the BERC decision, the price of “auto gas” (LPG used for motor vehicles) also dropped to Tk 50.09 (including VAT) per litre from previous Tk 57.52, down by 7.43 per litre.</div><div><br></div><div>The price of LPG, marketed by state-owned LP Gas Company, will remain the same as it is locally produced with a market share of less than 5 percent.</div><div><br></div><div>LPG witnessed the highest price at Tk 1,498 (per 12kg cylinder) in the local market in February this year following the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February last year. -&nbsp; UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-01 20:05:50', '2023-06-01 20:05:50');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(7253, 7253, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The allocation for the Defence Ministry in the proposed budget for fiscal year 2023-24, has been increased by Tk 1735 crore, a&nbsp; 4.29 percent increase, from that of the outgoing fiscal 2022-23.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Tk 42,095 crore has been proposed for the Defence Ministry and other services under the ministry in the national budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>An amount of Tk 40,360 crore was proposed for the Defence Ministry and other services under the ministry in the national budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal made the announcement during his budget speech at the National Parliament Bhaban on Thursday.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, he also proposed Tk 45 crore for Armed Forces Division which was unchanged from the outgoing fiscal’s budget. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-01 20:47:25', '2023-06-01 20:47:25'),
(7254, 7254, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Thursday said he is highly optimistic about improving country’s foreign exchange reserves in a short period of time.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“Hopefully, the reserve situation will improve in a short period of time,” he said at Parliament while placing the proposed budget for FY2023-24, his fifth consecutive as the finance minister.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister said that the growth in imports that declined in recent times has started returning to normal.</div><div><br></div><div>“Concurrently, we are carrying out export promotional activities to augment our export income. Steps are being taken for disbursement of foreign loans in the pipeline,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He mentioned that while achieving high growth is the goal of the government, it wants to lay greater emphasis on maintaining macroeconomic stability at the same time.</div><div><br></div><div>Already following the adoption of time-befitting strategy of the government, Kamal said, the instability in the balance of payment has lessened.</div><div><br></div><div>“We will remain cautious and adopt an accommodative policy in the coming financial year as well,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that the gap between the existing multiple exchange rates is being brought to a minimum level with the aim of making the exchange rate gradually market-oriented.</div><div><br></div><div>To rebuild the foreign exchange reserves, the minister said that the current initiatives of verifying the accuracy of the price of imported items along with implementation, and monitoring of procedural requirements on LC opening, disposal and related issues shall continue in future.</div><div><br></div><div>“To encourage the use of formal channels in sending remittances, a 2.5 percent incentive is provided and remitter-friendly processes are being promoted including the mobile financial services,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He also mentioned that all fees required for sending remittances through the Bangladeshi banks and exchange houses have been exempted.</div><div><br></div><div>“Thanks to these initiatives, our remittance income is on the increase.” According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-01 21:07:36', '2023-06-01 21:07:36'),
(7255, 7255, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Severe heat wave is sweeping over the districts of Rangpur, Dinajpur, Rajshahi and Sayedpur and mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Dhaka, Mymensingh and Khulna divisions and the rest parts of Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions and the districts of Sylhet, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Chandpur, Noakhali and Feni and is likely to continue.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy skies elsewhere over the country, according to BMD’s morning bulletin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country, it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prevailing heat wave condition over the country is likely to continue for the next 72 hours. 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, '2023-06-02 19:02:24', '2023-06-02 19:02:24'),
(7256, 7256, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">WASHINGTONFending off a U.S. default, the Senate gave final approval late Thursday to a debt ceiling and budget cuts package, grinding into the night to wrap up work on the bipartisan deal and send it to President Joe Biden\'s desk to become law before the fast-approaching deadline.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The compromise package negotiated between Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy leaves neither Republicans nor Democrats fully pleased with the outcome. But the result, after weeks of hard-fought budget negotiations, shelves the volatile debt ceiling issue that risked upending the U.S. and global economy until 2025 after the next presidential election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Approval in the Senate on a bipartisan vote, 63-36, somewhat reflected the overwhelming House tally the day before, relying on centrists in both parties to pull the Biden-McCarthy package to passage — though Democrats led the tally in both chambers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said ahead of voting that the bill\'s passage means “America can breathe a sigh of relief.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Afterward he said, “We’ve saved the country from the scourge of default.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden said in a statement following passage that senators from both parties “demonstrated once more that America is a nation that pays its bills and meets its obligations — and always will be.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said he would sign the bill into law as soon as possible. “No one gets everything they want in a negotiation, but make no mistake: this bipartisan agreement is a big win for our economy and the American people,” the president said. The White House said he would address the nation about the matter at 7 p.m. EDT Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fast action was vital if Washington hoped to meet next Monday\'s deadline, when Treasury has said the U.S. will start running short of cash to pay its bills, risking a devastating default. Raising the nation’s debt limit, now $31.4 trillion, would ensure Treasury could borrow to pay already incurred U.S. debts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the end, the debt ceiling showdown was a familiar high-stakes battle in Congress, a fight taken on by McCarthy and powered by a hard-right House Republican majority confronting the Democratic president with a new era of divided government in Washington.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Refusing a once routine vote to allow a the nation\'s debt limit to be lifted without concessions, McCarthy brought Biden\'s White House to the negotiating table to strike an agreement that forces spending cutbacks aimed at curbing the nation\'s deficits.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Overall, the 99-page bill restricts spending for the next two years, suspends the debt ceiling into January 2025 and changes some policies, including imposing new work requirements for older Americans receiving food aid and greenlighting an Appalachian natural gas line that many Democrats oppose.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It bolsters funds for defense and veterans, cuts back new money for Internal Revenue Service agents and rejects Biden’s call to roll back Trump-era tax breaks on corporations and the wealthy to help cover the nation’s deficits. It imposes automatic 1% cuts if Congress fails approve its annual spending bills.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the House overwhelmingly approved the package late Wednesday, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell signaled he too wanted to waste no time ensuring it became law.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Touting its budget cuts, McConnell said Thursday, “The Senate has a chance to make that important progress a reality.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Having remained largely on the sidelines during much of the Biden-McCarthy negotiations, several senators insisted on debate over their ideas to reshape the package. But making any changes at this stage would almost certainly derail the compromise and none were approved.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Instead, senators dragged through rounds of voting late into the night rejecting the various amendments, but making their preferences clear. Conservative Republican senators wanted to include further cut spending, while Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia sought to remove the Mountain Valley Pipeline approval.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The energy pipeline is important to Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and he defended the development running through his state, saying the country cannot run without the power of gas, coal, wind and all available energy sources.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But, offering an amendment to strip the pipeline from the package, Kaine argued it would not be fair for Congress to step into a controversial project that he said would also course through his state and scoop up lands in Appalachia that have been in families for generations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Defense hawks led by Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina complained strongly that military spending, though boosted in the deal, was not enough to keep pace with inflation — particularly as they eye supplemental spending that will be needed this summer to support Ukraine against the war waged by Russian President Vladimir Putin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Putin’s invasion is a defining moment of the 21st century,” Graham argued from the Senate floor. “What the House did is wrong.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They secured an agreement from Schumer, which he read on the floor, stating that the debt ceiling deal “does nothing” to limit the Senate\'s ability to approve other emergency supplemental funds for national security, including for Ukraine, or for disaster relief and other issues of national importance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">All told, most of the Democratic senators voted for the package, while most of the Republicans opposed it. The tally was 46 Democrats and 17 Republicans in favor; 31 Republicans along with four Democrats and one independent who caucuses with the Democrats opposed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For weeks negotiators labored late into the night to strike the deal with the White House, and for days McCarthy had worked to build support among skeptics.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tensions had run high in the House the night before as hard-right Republicans refused the deal. Ominously, the conservatives warned of possibly trying to oust McCarthy over the issue.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Biden and McCarthy assembled a bipartisan coalition, with Democrats ensuring passage on a robust 314-117 vote. All told, 71 House Republicans broke with McCarthy to reject the deal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We did pretty dang good,” McCarthy, R-Calif., said afterward.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As for discontent from Republicans who said the spending restrictions did not go far enough, McCarthy said it was only a “first step.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The White House immediately turned its attention to the Senate, its top staff phoning individual senators.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Democrats also had complaints, decrying the new work requirements for older Americans, those 50-54, in the food aid program, the changes to the landmark National Environmental Policy Act and approval of the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline natural gas project they argue is unhelpful in fighting climate change.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the spending restrictions in the package would reduce deficits by $1.5 trillion over the decade, a top goal for the Republicans trying to curb the debt load.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a surprise that complicated Republicans\' support, however, the CBO said their drive to impose work requirements on older Americans receiving food stamps would end up boosting spending by $2.1 billion over the time period. That\'s because the final deal exempts veterans and homeless people, expanding the food stamp rolls by 78,000 people monthly, the CBO said. 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, '2023-06-02 19:27:34', '2023-06-02 19:27:34'),
(7257, 7257, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Two youth were killed in separate road accidents in the capital’s Jatrabari area early Friday, police said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased are Md. Miraz Mia, 25, a garment worker, and Md. Selim, 23, a bus driver.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In one accident that occurred around 4:45 am at Jatrabari Chourasta Mor, a bus hit Miraz and fled the scene.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) where the duty doctor declared him dead on arrival.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In another accident that took place in Matuail area, Selim was on his way to Sonirakhra when a bus hit the rickshaw he was riding at around 2 am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The rickshaw puller and another passenger suffered minor injuries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The local police station has been informed of this matter, said Inspector Md Bachhu Miah, in charge of the DMCH police outpost. 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, '2023-06-02 20:14:36', '2023-06-02 20:14:36'),
(7258, 7258, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Thursday placed the proposed national budget for FY2023-24 in Parliament with a deficit of  Tk 2,61,785 crore with a focus on making a Smart Bangladesh and annual growth target of 7.5 percent.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his 252-page budget speech, presented through audio-visual medium, the finance minister hoped to bring down the inflation rate to around 6 percent from the over existing 9 percent, a target economists described as ambitious.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kamal, presenting his fifth budget in a row, proposed to spend Tk7,61,785 crore, while the total revenue has been estimated at Tk 5 lakh crore – of which 430,000 crore will come through National Board of Revenue and Tk 70,000 crore from other sources. The proposed size of the budget represents 15.2 percent of the GDP. He allocated Tk 4,36,247 crore to operating and other sectors, while Tk 2,63,000 crore to Annual Development Programme (ADP).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deficit in the proposed budget is estimated at 5.2 percent of GDP, down from 5.5 percent in the outgoing FY2022-23, the finance minister said. The deficit is proposed to be financed from domestic sources of Tk1,55,395 crore, while external sources will bring in Tk1,2490 crore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The proposed FY2023-24 budget is also the last budget of the current Awami League government before the next general election is held in December this year or in January next year. Keeping the election in mind the finance minister proposed to raise the tax-free individual income tax to Tk3.5 lakh besides withdrawing taxes on several commodities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also highlighted the challenges that the government faces in the days ahead.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Overall, our current challenge is to control inflation, improve the account balance situation and stabilise the foreign exchange rate,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also stressed the need for adopting the strategies to deal with “sustainable transition and post-transition realities from the LDCs…”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“In particular tariff rationalisation, domestic resources mobilisation to meet fiscal deficit, withdrawal of subsidy or cash assistance or exploring alternatives.. should be considered now,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ruling Awami League hailed the proposed budget as “people friendly” and a document that will help the country come back from crisis  ad global economic downturn.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The main opposition BNP denounced it as a “smart budget to plunder the public money.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader termed the budget impractical and said that the government could use the public money to overcome election hurdles. 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, '2023-06-02 20:50:02', '2023-06-02 20:50:15'),
(7259, 7259, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Mohammed Shahabuddin this morning reached Turkey\'s capital Ankara on a six-day visit to attend the installation ceremony of Turkish President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdogan, slated for June 3.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"A VVIP aircraft (Flight No-BG 207) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the President along with his spouse Dr Rebecca Sultana and his entourage members, landed at Ankara Esenboga Airport, Ankara at about 4:30am (Turkey local time),\" President\'s press secretary Md Joynal Abedin, who is now accompanying the President, told BSS over phone this afternoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On his arrival at the airport, the President was received by Bangladesh ambassador to Turkey M Amanul Haq and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs including, Ambassador Oya Tunga Cagli, Head of Department G\"nenO Agaciklioglu, DG for Protocol Mert Can Yazici, Third Secretary and DG for South Asia, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, Mohammed Shahabuddin left Hazrat Shahjalal (R) International Airport for Ankara at about 11pm on Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;The President, at the invitation of the Turkey government, will attend the oath-taking ceremony of his Turkish counterpart at the Presidential Complex in Ankara at 5 pm (Turkey local time) there, according to President tour schedule.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Head of the State will attend several programmes, including official engagements with high-level dignitaries and an official dinner hosted by his Turkish counterpart Erdogan at Cankaya Palace, Ankara, during the visit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The President is expected to return home on June 6. 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, '2023-06-02 21:10:43', '2023-06-02 21:10:43'),
(7260, 7260, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that the widespread use and mismanagement of single-use plastic products are destabilising ecosystem.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“Globally, over the past 70 years, multipurpose and uncontrolled use of plastics, especially over-production of single-use plastic, its widespread use and mismanagement are causing waterlogging and destabilising ecosystems ranging from fertile agricultural lands to waterbodies,” she said in a message on the eve of the World Environment Day to be observed tomorrow (June 5).&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina said from marine fish to other marine animals, livestock and humans, the micro-plastics are entering through the food chain.</div><div><br></div><div>As a result, she said, the number of marine animals is decreasing and various living creatures, including human, are suffering from cancer and various chronic diseases.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Therefore, now is the right time to reduce the production and use of plastics, increase the reuse and recycling of plastics and develop viable alternatives to plastics,\" the premier said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) has already formed an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) giving greatest importance to plastic pollution and its solution and it is working to draft a Legally Binding Agreement by 2024 with the aim of stopping plastic pollution.</div><div><br></div><div>The Prime Minister said the Awami League-led government has taken multifaceted initiatives to reduce plastic production and ensure proper management.</div><div><br></div><div>The government has adopted the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (Amended 2010), Environmental Conservation Rules-2023 and the Mandatory Jute Packaging rules 2013, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>To achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals-2030, the government is implementing various programmes with utmost importance on nature and environment conservation, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier said special emphasis is being given to set up new economic zones and industrial establishments to ensure compliance with environmental and environmental regulations.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have adopted the Blue-Economy Action Plan to mainstream marine environment conservation, prevention of marine pollution and sustainable management of marine resources,\" she added.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier said also, the government has already formulated the \'National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023-50, Updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 2021 and \'Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan (MCPP) 2022-41\' as part of a comprehensive response to climate change.</div><div><br></div><div>She hoped through the celebration of World Environment Day, public awareness and public involvement in environmental conservation and sustainable management of the environment will increase, according to BSS reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-05 01:42:34', '2023-06-05 01:42:34'),
(7261, 7261, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Indian Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today said that a technical glitch has been identified as the cause of train crash in Balasore district of Indian eastern state of Odisha.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Talking to media in Balasore, he said the Friday\'s terrible train crash that claimed 288 lives and injured more than 1000 was caused by a \"change in electronic interlocking\", according to reports published in India\'s different national media.</div><div><br></div><div>The electronic interlocking system, a safety measure designed to prevent conflicting movements between trains, malfunctioned, leading to the fatal incident.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The root cause of the horrifying incident has been identified... I do not want to go into details. Let the report come out. I will just say that the root cause and the people responsible have been identified,\" Vaishnaw added.</div><div><br></div><div>The railway minister denied claims that the accident had anything to do with the anti-collision system \"Kavach\". He refuted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee\'s allegations that the accident could have been prevented with the Kavach device.</div><div><br></div><div>The three-way crash, which involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train, occurred near the Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore. The passenger trains were reportedly carrying around 2,500 passengers at the time.</div><div><br></div><div>The railway minister Vaishnaw told reporters that restoration efforts are going on in full-swing, with tracks already laid on one of the main lines. The minister expects the affected tracks to be fully operational by Wednesday as manpower of over 1,000 people engaged in the restoration process.</div><div><br></div><div>The railway ministry has compensated the families of approximately 300 accident victims. Special trains are also being run from various cities, including Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ranchi, and Kolkata to facilitate the return of patients to their homes after treatment.</div><div><br></div><div>However, citing preliminary investigation, Indian Railway Board said that \"there were some issues with the signaling and only Coromandel Express met with the accident\" and the train was a speed of around 128 km/h.</div><div><br></div><div>\"According to the preliminary findings, there have been some issues with the signaling. We are still waiting for the detailed report from the Commissioner of Railway Safety,\" said Jaya Varma Sinha, Member (Opps and Business Development) of Indian Railway Board.</div><div><br></div><div>Addressing a press conference in the national capital today, she said the goods train did not get derailed since it was carrying iron ores and had maximum damage on Coromandel Express.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the derailed bogies of the Coromandel Express hit the last two bogies of the Yashwantpur Express. Source: BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-05 02:05:55', '2023-06-05 02:05:55'),
(7262, 7262, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced on Sunday the squad for the upcoming Test match against the Afghanistan cricket team in Dhaka this month.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The solitary Test is scheduled to commence in Dhaka on June 14th.</div><div><br></div><div>In the absence of regular captain Shakib Al Hasan, right-handed wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das will assume the leadership role for this match.</div><div><br></div><div>Batter Shahadat Hossain Dipu and pacer Mushfik Hasan have been included in the national team for this Test.</div><div><br></div><div>Shahadat, a 21-year-old right-handed middle-order batter, made his first-class debut in 2021. He has amassed 1265 runs from 20 first-class games, including two centuries and 10 half-centuries.</div><div><br></div><div>Mushfik, on the other hand, rose to prominence following his debut in the 2022 first-class season. The 20-year-old fast bowler has claimed 49 wickets in 13 matches, featuring three five-wicket hauls. Both players were part of the Bangladesh A side in the recently concluded unofficial Test series against West Indies A.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh squad: Litton Das (Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Mushfik Hasan. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-05 02:16:05', '2023-06-05 02:16:05'),
(7263, 7263, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq has said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will decide when the election-time government will be formed.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“According to the Constitution, our state is governed in the Westminister model of parliamentary system. Therefore, the prime minister will decide when to form a small government or an election-time government,” the law minister said while responding to a question from reporters after inaugurating a training workshop at the Judicial Administration Training Institute on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM has already provided an outline of who can participate in the election-time government, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, referring to a UN special rapporteur’s remarks on Digital Security Act, the law minister said the government understood the necessity of amending the act long before the UN special rapporteur’s opinion.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the Digital Security Act will be amended by September this year to stop the misuse and abuse of the act, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“Some amendments to the Digital Security Act will be required to stop the abuse of it, and we have already discussed that,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He added, “The amendment doesn’t depend on anyone\'s prescription. We have already acknowledged the misuse of the act, and are now taking steps to prevent it.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-05 02:36:38', '2023-06-05 02:36:38'),
(7264, 7264, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh earned $4.85 billion by exporting goods in May, which saw an increase of 26.61 percent year-on-year.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The country had earned $3.83 billion from exporting goods in May 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>Amid the foreign exchange crisis, the export sector brought good news for forex reserves.</div><div><br></div><div>In April this year, worries surfaced about the export of goods because suddenly the export decreased by 16.5 percent to $3.96 billion. But in May exports increased by $890 million, according to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) report released on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>The report revealed that in the first 11 months (July-May) of the current fiscal year 2022-23, products worth $50.52 billion were exported.</div><div><br></div><div>This export is 7.11 percent higher than the same period of last financial year. In the first 11 months of the last financial year, the exports were worth $47.17 billion.</div><div><br></div><div>According to EPB data, exports of leather and leather products, non-leather footwear and plastic products have so far increased in the current fiscal year, along with ready-made garments.</div><div><br></div><div>However, exports of jute and jute products, home textiles, frozen food, agro-processed food, and engineering products declined.</div><div><br></div><div>In the first 11 months of the current financial year, exports of ready-made garments were worth $42.63 billion. This income is 10.67 percent higher than the same period of the last financial year 2021-22.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, the second highest export item was leather and leather products worth $1.12 billion.</div><div><br></div><div>In this case, the growth is 42 percent. The third highest exported products are home textile products worth $1.02 billion. The export of this sector decreased by 30 percent. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-05 02:42:59', '2023-06-05 02:42:59'),
(7265, 7265, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Considering the health safety of children due to the heat wave sweeping the country for the last few days, the government has decided to suspend classes at primary schools from June 5 to 8.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Primary and Mass Education Ministry issued a notice in this regard on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>A severe heat wave is sweeping Rajshahi, Naogaon, Nilphamari and Dinajpur districts and it is likely to continue.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, a mild to moderate heatwave is sweeping over Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna and Barishal divisions, the rest of Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions, and the districts of Moulvibazar, Chandpur and Noakhali, according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department\'s morning bulletin. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-05 02:50:37', '2023-06-05 02:50:37'),
(7266, 7266, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday apprehended that the present volatile world situation might deteriorate further.&nbsp;&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“…no one can say how long this unusual situation of the world will continue. Maybe the situation will worsen further,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister made the statement while participating in a condolence motion on ruling party lawmaker Afsarul Amin in parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that food shortages, inflation, operating and transportation costs, electricity shortages have made everyone\'s life unbearable&nbsp; in the world.</div><div><br></div><div>The leader of the House said that the government has provided electricity to people\'s homes as promised.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>She mentioned that crisis of fuel oil, coal or gas is going on worldwide.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Now it is very difficult to buy. It has become impossible to buy. Still our efforts will continue.”</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;Hasina said that the government has signed agreements with Qatar and Oman to purchase fuel.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>She also said that the government also have taken measures to import hydropower.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Steps have already been taken to purchase coal. So that we can restart the power plants,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said that the benefits of Independence are reaching people\'s door as the country is advancing socioeconomically.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>She mentioned that Ukraine-Russia war, sanctions, counter-sanctions, global inflation and fuel oil crisis for which not only Bangladesh, but also developed countries are struggling.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“There is a shortage of fuel in various countries including Europe and America. There is load shedding or limiting power consumption. The price of everything from food has gone up. Many people are losing their jobs even in developed countries.”</div><div><br></div><div>She said that an unusual situation is persisting worldwide.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“I don\'t know if this has ever happened before. Maybe after World War I. After the Second World War, there was a famine,” she said&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina reiterated her call to maintain austerity in using electricity.</div><div><br></div><div>“We also need to increase food production. We have to try. No one can say how long this unusual situation in the world will last.&nbsp; But for the food safety of the people of our country, we are doing everything to ensure food security.”</div><div><br></div><div>She said that the food crisis, inflation, operating and transportation costs, electricity shortage in the whole world as a result of the corona virus epidemic and then the Ukraine-Russia war have made the life of every human being unbearable.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“We are doing our best in Bangladesh,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>Remembering Afsarul Amin, the PM said that he was involved with BCL since his student life.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He played a role in every struggle. He was a devoted soul. His devotion and honesty towards the party was incomparable.</div><div><br></div><div>“He also showed great success as a minister.”</div><div><br></div><div>Awami League Lawmaker Tofail Ahmed, Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, Deputy Minister for Education Muhibul Hasan Chowdhury, ruling party MPs Waseqa Ayesha Khan , Motahar Hossain, Nurul Islam Nahid, Mujibul Haque Chunnu and Masiur Rahman Ranga spoke on the condolence motion.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, the House unanimously adopted the condolence motion expressing profound grief over the death of the ruling party lawmaker.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury moved the condolence motion.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>A minute of silence was observed and munajat was offered. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-05 02:55:35', '2023-06-05 02:55:35'),
(7267, 7267, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Sunday (June 4, 2023) said the country’s people, not the Prime Minister, will decide whether they will go to the USA or not.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“It is her (PM’s) personal matter whether she will go to any particular country or not. It’s also a matter of their decision whether the 17 crore people of Bangladesh will go to that country or not,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking to reporters after a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, Khosru also said the people of Bangladesh will decide whether they will go to the USA for their personal, business, professional, family and educational purposes.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Prime Minister can’t take a decision in this regard,” Khosru, also the chairman of BNP’s foreign affairs committee, observed.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on Saturday (June 3, 2023), Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said it does not matter at all if someone does not go to the USA crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a 20-hour- plane journey.</div><div><br></div><div>“There are other oceans and other continents in the world and we’ll make friends with those continents crossing the other oceans. Our economy will be stronger and more developed and vibrant,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM also said Bangladesh will run on its own feet and the government will build the country. “We will not be dependent on others, who will not give us visas, who will impose sanctions on us.”</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the Prime Minister is not worried about the US sanctions or visa restrictions but a neutral election.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Prime Minister becomes ill and suffers from headache when any country talks about fair elections under a neutral caretaker government,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a food distribution programme arranged by Jatiyatabadi Tanti Dal’s Dhaka south city unit on the ground floor of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office marking party founder’s 42nd death anniversary, Rizvi said the Prime Minister said it matters little if anyone does not go to the USA.</div><div><br></div><div>“Then why don\'t you keep your son in the country? Why do your sons and daughters live abroad? Why did you keep your son in the United States instead of any other friendly country of yours?” he questioned.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Sheikh Hasina will not take any steps for holding a fair election and establishing a caretaker government as she considers the country’s people as her enemies, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“If an impartial caretaker government is established, the people of the country will be able to vote freely and fairly. She knows people won’t ‘vote for her party. So, doesn’t want a neutral caretaker government to come,” the BNP leader added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-05 03:09:05', '2023-06-05 03:09:05'),
(7268, 7268, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>This year\'s HSC and equivalent exams may begin on August 17. Secondary and higher education boards are already preparing according to the target. Multiple sources of Inter Education Board and Dhaka Education Board said that the final date of the exam may be decided later this week.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this regard, the coordinator of the inter-education board and the chairman of the Dhaka education board, Professor Tapan Kumar Sarkar told reporters that preparations have been made for the start of the HSC examinations on August 16 or 17. In the meantime, the Ministry of Education has proposed to fix the final date. The examination will start from the day that the Ministry finalizes between these two days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the Education Board\'s Office of the Controller of Examinations, the public examinations usually start on Sunday or Thursday. This practice has been going on for many years. As such, it has been proposed to start the HSC examination on Thursday, August 17.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, on August 16, an alternative was proposed. Nevertheless, there is a high possibility that the HSC exam will start on August 17.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Madrasa and technical board exams will also start on the same day, along with 9 general education boards.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since 2010, the SSC exam was generally held in the first week of February and the HSC exam was scheduled for the first week of April. However, due to the coronavirus epidemic, the HSC exam 2021 starts on December 2 and 2022 exam starts on November 6.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/khotib</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-05 13:03:41', '2023-06-05 13:03:41'),
(7269, 7269, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russia has said its forces thwarted a major Ukrainian offensive in the Ukrainian region of Donetsk, killing 250 Ukrainian troops and destroying tanks and armoured vehicles.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">“On the morning of June 4, the enemy launched a large-scale offensive in five sectors of the front in the South Donetsk direction,” the Russian defence ministry said on its Telegram channel early on Monday.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There was no update from Ukraine on the alleged offensive. In its evening update on June 4, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said Moscow was focusing its military efforts on the full occupation of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Donetsk is one of four Ukrainian territories that Russia annexed last September, along with Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“During the day, the occupiers made 23 attacks, but all of them were repulsed by units of the defence forces,” it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was not possible to immediately verify the Russian or Ukrainian claims.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Russian defence ministry said Ukraine had launched the attack using six mechanised and two tank battalions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The enemy’s goal was to break through our defences in the most vulnerable, in its opinion, sector of the front,” the defence ministry said. “The enemy did not achieve its tasks, it had no success.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine has been preparing for a counteroffensive to take back territory occupied by Russia since it began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as as well as the Crimean Peninsula it seized in 2014.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But it has given mixed signals about what the counteroffensive would involve — preliminary, limited attacks to weaken Russian forces and military facilities, or a large scale simultaneous assault across the entire 1,100-kilometre (684-mile) front line.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia said its forces killed 250 Ukraine soldiers and also destroyed 16 tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles and 21 armoured combat vehicles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ministry added that Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov “was at one of the forward command posts” at the time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made no mention of the alleged assault in his evening video address on Sunday night. He said earlier that Kyiv was ready to act. Aljazeera</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-05 14:44:47', '2023-06-05 14:44:47');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(7270, 7270, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russia\'s military said Monday it had repelled \"a large-scale offensive\" by Ukrainian forces in Moscow-annexed Donetsk.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kyiv has for months said it is preparing a major counteroffensive, hoping to reclaim territory lost since Russia launched its military operation in February 2022.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Donetsk is one of four Ukrainian territories that Russia annexed in September, along with Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia\'s Ministry of Defence reported that on Sunday, in the south of the region, \"the enemy launched a large-scale offensive in five sectors of the front\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"A total of six mechanised and two tank battalions of the enemy were involved,\" it said in a Telegram post, adding that Ukrainian troops had hit \"the most vulnerable, in their opinion, sector of the front\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The enemy did not achieve their tasks, they had no success.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ministry posted what it said was a video of the battle, showing Ukrainian armoured vehicles coming under heavy fire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The conflict, which has dragged on for more than 15 months, escalated this week with increased attacks on both sides of the border.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a video published Sunday, the Ukrainian army appeared to call on soldiers to stay silent and said there would be no announcement on the start of the long-awaited offensive.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The same day, the governor of Russia\'s Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine said fighting was ongoing on his side of the frontier and acknowledged that pro-Ukrainian forces had taken Russians prisoner during cross-border clashes. 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, '2023-06-05 14:47:28', '2023-06-05 14:47:28'),
(7271, 7271, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Zlatan Ibrahimovic brought the curtain down on a long, trophy-packed career on Sunday when he unexpectedly announced his retirement from football.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Veteran striker Ibrahimovic revealed his decision to quit the game during an on-pitch ceremony following AC Milan\'s 3-1 win over Verona which ended their Serie A campaign.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s the moment to say goodbye to football, not just to you,\" said Ibrahimovic on the San Siro pitch.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There are too many emotions for me right now. Forza Milan and goodbye.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 41-year-old had been expected to simply bid farewell to Milan fans after his departure from the seven-time European champions was announced on Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He returned to Milan in late 2019 for a second spell after a previous two-year period in which he won the Serie A title in 2011.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The first time I came here you gave me happiness, the second time you gave me love,\" said Ibrahimovic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"You welcomed me with open arms, you made me feel at home, I will be a Milanista for the rest of my life.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ibrahimovic was a key figure in Milan\'s resurgence to the top of Italian football after his return to the club, helping to bring them back from the doldrums and eventually win the Scudetto last season.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I used to be scared when journalists asked by about my future, but now I can accept it, I\'m ready,\" Ibrahimovic told reporters after his announcement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I\'ve been doing this all my life, football made me a man. It allowed me to know people I otherwise would never have known, I\'ve travelled the world thanks to football. It\'s all thanks to football.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Over the course of his career Ibrahimovic won league titles in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and France, although his only major European trophy was the 2017 Europa League with Manchester United.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Making his announcement at the San Siro was appropriate as he also won three straight league titles with Inter Milan between 2006 and 2009 before a turbulent spell at Barcelona.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His retirement comes after a season in which he has hardly featured for Stefano Pioli\'s side after being plagued with injuries, returning in February following surgery on his left knee in May.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In July he signed a deal which netted him around one million euros ($1.02 million) in fixed salary, with large bonuses linked to appearances and achievements.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But after agreeing that deal the 41-year-old only started one match and netted once for Milan, a 3-1 win at Udinese in March in which he became the oldest goal scorer in Serie A history.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He then picked up a calf injury in a pre-match warm up in April and ended his career sidelined, scotching rumours that he was set to move to Monza and targeting Euro 2024 with Sweden. 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, '2023-06-05 14:50:35', '2023-06-05 14:50:35'),
(7272, 7272, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Awami League mayoral candidate in Gazipur City Corporation election Azmat Ullah Khan has been appointed as the chairman of Gazipur Unnayan Kartripakkha.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to section 7 (1) and 7 (2) of the Gazipur Unnayan Kartripakkha Act, 2020\', a notification was issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Sunday regarding the appointment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He has been appointed for three years from the date of joining on condition of working relations with other institutions and organisations. 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, '2023-06-05 14:52:52', '2023-06-05 14:52:52'),
(7273, 7273, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">All 19 people caught in a landslide in southwestern China\'s Sichuan province on Sunday have been confirmed dead, state media reported, announcing the end of rescue efforts.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Part of a mountain collapsed at around 6 am (2200 GMT Saturday) near a state-owned forestry station in Jinkouhe, near the city of Leshan, state broadcaster CCTV said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The disaster sent mud and debris hurtling towards a construction site operated by a local mining company, where it \"struck and buried parts of the production and living facilities at the mineshaft platform\", CCTV reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nineteen people were confirmed dead as of 8 pm, the broadcaster said, adding that \"search and rescue work has currently ended, and the cause of the... collapse is under investigation\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Footage broadcast by CCTV showed rescuers and excavators picking through a tract of mud that had flattened a wooded hillside and strewn it with twisted metal and smashed masonry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Jinkouhe government earlier said the landslide had killed 14 people and left five missing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An unspecified number of other mine workers \"have been evacuated to a safe location\", according to CCTV.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Authorities sent more than 180 people and over a dozen pieces of rescue and recovery equipment to the site, the broadcaster added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Contacted by AFP earlier Sunday, an official in Jinkouhe\'s publicity department declined to give further details.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The settlement of around 40,000 people lies in a mountainous region about 240 kilometres (150 miles) south of the provincial capital Chengdu.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Frequent danger -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Landslides are a frequent danger in rural and mountainous parts of China, particularly during the rainy summer months.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Remote and densely forested, much of Sichuan is particularly prone to disasters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Extreme weather triggered a series of landslides in the province in 2017, including one that completely buried the mountain village of Xinmo, entombing more than 60 homes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2019, massive rains again caused a slew of landslides, including one that buried a section of railway under repair and those working on it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The province is also seismically active and periodically experiences deadly earthquakes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A 7.9-magnitude quake in 2008 left more than 87,000 people dead or missing, including 5,335 school pupils.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although China has strengthened safety protocols in its extractive industries in recent years, accidents still frequently occur.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 50 people were declared \"missing or dead\" after a slope collapsed at a mine in the northern Inner Mongolia region in February.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And around 40 people were working underground when a gold mine in the northwestern Xinjiang region collapsed in December. 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, '2023-06-05 14:55:54', '2023-06-05 14:55:54'),
(7274, 7274, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Senior officials from Saudi Arabia\'s Al Hilal football club have flown to Paris to seal a mega-deal with departing superstar Lionel Messi, two sources with knowledge of the matter told AFP on Sunday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Saudi delegation plans to meet Messi\'s father and agent, Jorge, with the aiming of completing the signing as soon as possible, the sources said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Messi\'s departure from Qatar-owned Paris-Saint Germain was confirmed on Saturday and he was jeered by a section of the club\'s fans in his final appearance, a 3-2 defeat by Clermont.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There is a Saudi delegation in Paris with one goal: to return with Messi official approval to the Saudi offer,\" a source close to the club said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another official, who is close to the negotiations, said: \"We are in the final stage of the deal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If everything goes well, Messi will sign his new contract and Al-Hilal will announce it before the weekend.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Messi, 35, arrived in Paris two seasons ago from Barcelona but was unable to help PSG win an elusive Champions League title, as the club suffered last-16 defeats in both campaigns with the Argentine maestro.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Along with oil-wealthy Saudi Arabia -- where Cristiano Ronaldo has been playing since January -- the seven-time Ballon d\'Or-winner has also been linked with a return to Barcelona and with David Beckham\'s Inter Miami.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He is not the only star being courted by Saudi Arabia, which is attempting to improve its austere image and attract tourists and investment, partly through the vehicle of sport.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Saturday, Saudi state television channel Al-Ekhbariya said French striker Karim Benzema, who is leaving Real Madrid, had signed with Jeddah-based Al-Ittihad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to Al-Ekhbariya, the Saudi champions\' president and his deputy were in the Spanish capital to sign Benzema in a \"record transfer with Real Madrid\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saudi-Arabia, the world\'s biggest oil exporter, has thrown hundreds of millions at sports deals including Ronaldo\'s signing, Formula One and the divisive LIV Golf tour, drawing frequent claims it is \"sportswashing\" its human rights record.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last month, a source close to the negotiations in Saudi Arabia told AFP that Messi\'s signing was a \"done deal\", describing the contract as \"huge\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Messi, who lifted the World Cup in Qatar in December, was suspended by Qatari-owned PSG last month for an unauthorised mid-season trip to Saudi, where he is a tourism ambassador. 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, '2023-06-05 16:32:58', '2023-06-05 16:32:58'),
(7275, 7275, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Karim Benzema and Lionel Messi are expected to move to Saudi Arabia, reports said on Sunday after the ex-France attacker\'s departure from Real Madrid was confirmed.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saudi state television channel Al-Ekhbariya claimed 35-year-old Benzema had signed with Jeddah-based Al-Ittihad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Senior officials from Al Hilal have flown to France to try and seal a deal for Messi after the 35-year-old played his last game for Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Saudi delegation plans to meet Messi\'s father and agent, Jorge, with the aiming of completing the signing as soon as possible, sources told AFP on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Messi arrived in Paris two seasons ago from Barcelona but was unable to help PSG win an elusive Champions League title, as the club suffered last-16 defeats in both campaigns with the Argentine maestro.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Benzema and Messi are in line to join Cristiano Ronaldo in the Gulf kingdom after the Portugal attacker moved to Al Nassr from Manchester United following last year\'s World Cup.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to Al-Ekhbariya, the president of Saudi champions Al-Ittihad and his deputy were in the Spanish capital \"to officially sign\" Benzema in a \"record transfer with Real Madrid\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The broadcaster said Benzema had agreed a two-year deal with the club, based on the Red Sea shores of the Gulf kingdom.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Benzema scored a penalty in his final Madrid game as they drew 1-1 with Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Over the past week, Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti -- as well as Benzema himself -- had said the striker would not leave his contract at Santiago Bernabeu early, with one year left of it to run.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Benzema lifted five Champions Leagues, four La Liga titles and three Copas del Rey with Madrid and is the holder of the Ballon d\'Or for the world\'s best player.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Leaving Lyon -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Benzema joined Madrid in 2009 from Ligue 1 side and hometown outfit Lyon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Benzema established himself as a key player alongside Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in the vaunted \"BBC\" attacking trident, before developing into the team\'s leader when the Portugal striker left in 2018.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He is Real Madrid\'s second top scorer of all-time, with 354 goals for Spaniard, behind only Ronaldo on 450.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Benzema battled with Gonzalo Higuain for a regular starting spot in his early days at Madrid, and was once derided by then-coach Jose Mourinho for being a \"cat\" instead of the \"hunting dog\" he wanted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While playing alongside Ronaldo, Benzema took the role of supplier and worked hard to provide for his team-mate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The forward greatly increased his goal output after Ronaldo left, playing centrally, and scored 44 in 46 games last season, a performance that earned him the 2022 Ballon d\'Or.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Benzema\'s most recent conquest was the Copa del Rey in May, with Real Madrid beating Osasuna to lift the title for the first time since 2014.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Benzema may cherish last season\'s Champions League triumph the most of all his successes because he played a crucial role in winning it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The forward scored a stunning hat-trick to help Madrid come from behind against Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 and progress.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Benzema netted another treble at Stamford Bridge in the quarter-finals against Chelsea and scored the extra-time goal in the second leg which sent his team into the semi-finals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The forward also scored three goals over two games against Pep Guardiola\'s Manchester City to help Madrid reach the final, which they won against Liverpool in Paris -- his first Champions League triumph as the team\'s figurehead. 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, '2023-06-05 16:35:54', '2023-06-05 16:35:54'),
(7276, 7276, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least 30 people were killed in attacks by armed men on several villages in Nigeria\'s northwestern state of Sokoto on Saturday, police said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police in Sokoto said the people killed belonged to a vigilante group in the Tangaza local government area. Prior to the attacks, some members of the vigilante group went to the Azam village of the area to warn the community there against possible violence</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"However, the vigilante members overreacted and ended up beating some villagers,\" it said in a statement. Consequently, the villagers called for assistance, and the assistance came from armed men suspected to be bandits on board 20 motorcycles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"On getting the information that assistance was coming, the vigilantes withdrew to their various villages,\" it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, the gunmen went after the vigilante members and killed eight in Raka, seven in Bilingawa, six in Jaba, four in Dabagi, three in Raka Dutse, and two in Tsalewa villages, the statement said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Armed attacks have been a primary security threat in parts of Nigeria, leading to deaths and kidnappings in recent months. Xinhua</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', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-05 17:11:18', '2023-06-05 17:11:18'),
(7277, 7277, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russia will continue to provide notifications of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) launches under the relevant 1988 agreement to avoid dangerous escalations, an official said on Saturday.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have certainly taken note of the U.S. intention, at least in words, to continue fulfilling the 1988 agreement on notifications of ICBM and SLBM launches,\" Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Accordingly, within the framework of New START (New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty), notifications will not be transmitted, but within this (1988) agreement, the relevant procedures will be maintained from our side,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States and the former Soviet Union signed Ballistic Missile Launch Notification Agreement in 1988.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Therefore, a certain level of transparency and predictability will remain in this area, allowing us to avoid further dangerous escalations,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Feb. 21 that Moscow would suspend its participation in New START but would not withdraw from it. On March 1, Putin signed a law to officially suspend Russia\'s participation in the treaty.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Our decision to suspend New START is unshakable, irrespective of any measures or countermeasures from the American side. Furthermore, our condition for the treaty\'s full-fledged functioning is the U.S. renouncing its fundamentally hostile policy towards Russia,\" Ryabkov said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US State Department had previously announced that starting from June 1, Washington would stop providing Moscow with data on the status and location of its missiles and launchers covered by New START. 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, '2023-06-05 18:49:49', '2023-06-05 18:49:49'),
(7278, 7278, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday urged the people to plant trees in a bid to protect Bangladesh from the adverse impacts of climate change.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;“I would like to urge all to save the environment because it is our duty to offset the impacts of climate change in Bangladesh,” she said after three saplings on the Ganabhaban premises to mark the World Environment Day 2023.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">She also inaugurated the Environment Fair-2023, National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair-2023 on the occasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Since today is World Environment Day, I planted trees. I hope all (the people) of Bangladesh follow it (to plant trees),” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said they have been implementing the tree plantation programme on a massive scale so that Bangladesh would be more beautiful and developed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Plant trees to shield Bangladesh from climate change: PM Hasina&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I want Bangladesh to face no sort of damage from climate change. So, I ask all to plant trees,” she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She asked the people to plant trees in every available place and to bring every area under production to grow fruits, vegetables and others amid the global price hike of commodities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Noting that many developed countries are also struggling due to the global high inflation, she said the government will continue efforts to protect the people of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I would like to request each of the citizens to plant three trees and if not possible, plant at least one tree,” said the prime minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She asked the students to plant trees on the premises of their schools, colleges and universities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Hasina said her party –Bangladesh Awami League— started a tree plantation programme in 1985, taking its decision in 1984.&nbsp; Bangladesh Krishak League has been implementing the programme too. Every AL leader and activist was given an order to plant at least three trees of wood, fruit and herbal, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Plant trees to shield Bangladesh from climate change: PM Hasina. The AL president said her party will start the tree plantation campaign on the first day of Bangla month Ashar as it did in the previous years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Law Minister Anisul Huq, Environment Minister Md Shahab Uddin, Deputy Minister for Environment Habibun Nahar, Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry Saber Hossain Chowdhury, PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin and Environment Secretary&nbsp; Farhina Ahmed were present at the event.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Read: Committed to addressing environment, climate-related issues: US Embassy</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The environment fair is being held at Sher-e Bangla Nagar adjacent to Bangabandhu International Conference Centre from June 05 to 11. The fair is open for visitors from 10am to 8pm every day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tree fair 2023 is being held from June 5 to June 26 and July 1 to July 12, keeping a 4-day break due to Eid-ul Azha.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The World Environment Day 2023 is being celebrated with the theme of “Solutions to plastic pollution” throughout the globe. 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, '2023-06-05 18:54:38', '2023-06-05 18:54:38'),
(7279, 7279, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">An Odisha government statement revised the death toll to 275 after a top state officer put the number at over 300 on Sunday morning. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to reporters.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jaya Verma Sinha, a senior railway official, said the preliminary investigations revealed that a signal was given to the high-speed Coromandel Express to run on the main track line, but the signal later changed, and the train instead entered an adjacent loop line where it rammed into a freight loaded with iron ore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The collision flipped Coromandel Express’s coaches onto another track, causing the incoming Yesvantpur-Howrah Express from the opposite side also to derail, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The passenger trains, carrying 2,296 people, were not overspeeding, she said. Trains that carry goods are often parked on an adjacent loop line so the main line is clear for a passing train.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Verma said the root cause of the crash was related to an error in the electronic signaling system. She said a detailed investigation will reveal whether the error was human or technical.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The electronic interlocking system is a safety mechanism designed to prevent conflicting movements between trains. It also monitors the status of signals that tell drivers how close they are to a next train, how fast they can go and the presence of stationary trains on the track.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The system is 99.9% error free. But 0.1% chances are always there for an error,” Verma said. To a question whether the crash could be a case of sabotage, she said “nothing is ruled out.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Sunday, a few shattered carriages, mangled and overturned, were the only remnants of the tragedy. Railway workers toiled under the sun’s glare to lay down blocks of cement to fix the broken tracks. A crew with excavators was removing mud and the debris to clear the crash site.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At one of the hospitals nearly 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the site, survivors spoke of the horror of the moment of the crash.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pantry worker Inder Mahato could not remember the exact sequence of events, but said he heard a loud bang when the Coromandel Express crashed into the freight. The impact caused Mahato, who was in the bathroom, to briefly lose consciousness.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moments later when he opened his eyes, he saw through the door that was forced open people writhing in pain, many of them already dead. Others were frantically trying to get out from the twisted wreckage of his rail car.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For hours, Mahato, 37, remained stuck in the train’s bathroom, before rescuers scaled up the wreckage and pulled him out.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“God saved me,” he said, lying on the hospital bed while recuperating from a hairline fracture in his sternum. “I am very lucky I am alive.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mahato’s friends weren’t so lucky. Four of them died in the crash, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, many desperate relatives were struggling to identify the bodies of their loved ones because of the gruesomeness of the injuries. Few others were searching hospitals to check whether their relatives were alive.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the same hospital where Mahato was recovering from his injuries, Bulti Khatun roamed outside the premises in a dazed state, holding an identity card of her husband who was onboard the Coromandel Express and traveling to southern Chennai city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khatun said she visited the morgue and other hospitals to look for him, but was unable to find him.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I am so helpless,” she said, sobbing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fifteen bodies were recovered on Saturday evening and efforts continued overnight with heavy cranes being used to remove an engine that settled on top of a rail car. No bodies were found in the engine and the work was completed on Sunday morning, said Sudhanshu Sarangi, director-general of fire and emergency services in Odisha.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The crash occurred at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is focusing on the modernization of the British colonial-era railroad network in India, which has become the world’s most populous country with 1.42 billion people. Despite government efforts to improve safety, several hundred accidents occur every year on India’s railways, the largest train network under one management in the world.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Modi visited the crash site on Saturday and talked to rescue officials. He also visited a hospital to inquire about the injured, and spoke to some of them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Modi told reporters he felt the pain of the crash victims. He said the government would do its utmost to help them and strictly punish anyone found responsible.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 1995, two trains collided near New Delhi, killing 358 people in one of the worst rail accidents in India. In 2016, a passenger train slid off the tracks between the cities of Indore and Patna, killing 146 people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Most such accidents in India are blamed on human error or outdated signaling equipment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">About 22 million people ride 14,000 trains across India every day, traveling on 64,000 kilometers (40,000 miles) of track. 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, '2023-06-05 19:00:58', '2023-06-05 19:00:58'),
(7280, 7280, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A Bangladeshi man was shot dead by members of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along Kalirhat border in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat district early Monday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased was identified as Yusuf Ali, 27, son of Shah Jamal of Meser Danga village of Jagatab union of the upazila.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Quoting locals, Omar Faruk, officer-in-charge of Patrgram police station, said the BSF troops&nbsp; opened fire on a group of Bangladeshis while they were trying to bring Indian cattle through the main pillar number 857 of the border area, leaving Yusuf dead on the spot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On information, police were sent to the house of the victim, added the OC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lieutenant Colonel Sheikh Mohammad Musahid Masum, commander at the BGB-61, confirmed the incident saying that they have already contacted the BOP camp over the incident.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, a flag meeting between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Indian Security Forces (BSF) will be held in this regard, he added. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-05 19:24:51', '2023-06-05 19:24:51'),
(7281, 7281, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">One of the most refreshing and hydrating summer fruits, watermelon can instantly make you feel better on a hot and sunny day. With 92% water and 8% sugar, the summer superfruit can help satisfy your sweet tooth apart from keeping dehydration at bay. Watermelon isn\'t just juicy and delicious, but it can also work wonders for your mental health. Many people report dip in moods or a spike in anxiety levels when the mercury climbs up. Summer months can leave you distressed in several ways.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"> Watermelon can help reduce anxiety in a couple of ways, says Dr Uma Naidoo, Harvard trained psychiatrist, Professional Chef and Nutrition Specialist in her recent Instagram post. Let\'s understand how.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Watermelon is a storehouse of Vitamin B6, a nutrient that assists the body to produce brain chemicals which relieve stress, anxiety and panic attacks. Without much effort, one is able to relax their blood vessels that enjoy the feel-good rush. An excellent source of Vitamin C, A and E, watermelon can also reduce your anxiety levels as the deficiency of these nutrients could be one of the anxiety triggers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"A sure sign that summer is almost here is the appearance of watermelon at picnics, barbecues, and gatherings with family and friends. Watermelon is not only juicy and delicious, but it may also help to reduce anxiety in a couple of ways,\" says Naidoo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr Uma Naidoo lists ways watermelon can help ease your anxiety.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>1. Vitamin C in watermelon can ease anxiety</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Watermelon is a good source of vitamin C, and a 2012 study from Gautam and colleagues found that vitamin A, C, and E levels were significantly lower in patients with generalized anxiety disorder and/or depression when compared to healthy controls. After six weeks of supplementation, though, the researchers reported “a significant reduction in anxiety and depression scores” (Gautam et al., 2012).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>2. Improved gut health can help with anxiety disorder</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Watermelon contains polyphenols, which promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. This increase in beneficial bacteria may simultaneously help improve digestion and anxiety. There is a strong correlation between anxiety and bowel disorders, so we should not be surprised that as one condition improves, the other may as well.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>3. Good hydration can help with anxiety</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As its name suggests, watermelon is an excellent source of water. An often-overlooked aspect of a nutritional approach to anxiety is ensuring adequate hydration. More evidence is needed to confirm this recommendation, but as I describe in my book, “I have had patients who experience worsening of anxiety or even full-blown panic attacks when they are dehydrated and do not realize it.” 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, '2023-06-05 19:34:15', '2023-06-05 19:34:15'),
(7282, 7282, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Payra Thermal Power Plant\'s operation shut down completely at 12:05 pm today, worsening the already severe load shedding in Dhaka city and elsewhere, according to BPDB officials.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They said that due to the shutdown of the 2nd unit of Payra power plant, the country’s load shedding increased to 2675 MW at 12 pm today, which was 2287 MW on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">It means the country had to experience 388 MW of added load shedding due to the closure of Payra power plant\'s operations, said an official of BPDB referring to the data of the National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the country generated 12099 MW of electricity against a demand of 14900 at 12 pm today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">NLDC’s evening forecast shows that the country’s demand will go up to 15800 MW when generation is expected to be 14,400 MW.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, officials said the country may experience more than 3500 MW of load shedding in the evening peak period. 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, '2023-06-05 20:01:34', '2023-06-05 20:01:34'),
(7283, 7283, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said the Awami League government has established the rule of law in the country, ending the culture of lawlessness that existed during the rule of BNP.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The premier made these remarks when the newly elected leaders of Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association paid a courtesy call on her at her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div><br></div><div>She congratulated the newly elected leaders of the Supreme Court Bar Association.</div><div><br></div><div>She said BNP introduced the culture of forced disappearance, killings and lawlessness through the indemnity ordinance proclaimed after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, said did not have right to seek and get justice after the assassination of the Father of the Nation. “It was a gross violation of human rights. Today, we’ve been able to free the country from the phenomenon of not getting justice. The Awami League government always believes in justice,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the AL government has made arrangements for people to get justice. “Our government has digitized the judicial system so that people can get justice in a short time without facing sufferings,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said her government has made it (trial proceedings) virtual during the Corona pandemic so that people can get justice in a short time, staying at home.</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that the people are suffering due to electricity amid the ongoing heat wave, she said, “We’ve trying out best and taking necessary measures in this regard.”</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said Bangladesh has witnessed impressive development thanks to the continuation of democracy for the last 14 and half years in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>She said Bangladesh has graduated to a developing country due to dedicated efforts of the Awami League government. “We’ve been working to make Bangladesh a developed and prosperous country,” the PM said.</div><div><br></div><div>Law Minister Anisul Huq and AL advisory council member and senior lawyer Yusuf Hossain Humayun were present at the meeting. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-05 20:15:54', '2023-06-05 20:15:54'),
(7284, 7284, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least four people were killed as a truck hit a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in Mohadevpur upazila of Naogaon.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The identities of the deceased could not be known yet.</div><div><br></div><div>The accident took place in Hat Choukgari area on Naogaon-Rajshahi Regional Highway around 1:30 pm.</div><div><br></div><div>Mohadevpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mozaffar Hossain confirmed this matter to media.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-05 22:27:41', '2023-06-05 22:27:41');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(7285, 7285, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>RRR is the movie that made the whole world look towards telugu cinema.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Directed by SS Rajamouli, this action movie has made a worldwide impact and has raked in crores of rupees. Along with achieving sensational success, telugu cinema has maintained its stamina at the international level.</div><div><br></div><div>The song \'Naatu Naatu\' from the movie rrr, composed by two big heroes of Tollywood, ntr and ram Charan, has also shown the effect of making everyone in the world go crazy and take steps.</div><div><br></div><div>So this song has become a part of everyone\'s celebrations. That\'s why this Naatu Naatu song also got an oscar award.</div><div><br></div><div>Even though the movie rrr (Raudram Ranam Rudhiram) has been released for many days, its impact is still visible. Most notably, the song \'Naaatu Natu\' is still trending in many areas. In this order, the army of ukraine recently danced to this song with moving steps.</div><div><br></div><div>The song Naatu Naatu from the movie rrr was used for this. They all danced to this song and flew drones with remotes. Along with men, ladies also participated in this.</div><div><br></div><div>This video was tweeted by celebrities in the country. Meanwhile, most of the shooting of the movie rrr (Raudram Ranam Rudhiram) was shot in Ukraine. Members of this film unit interacted very closely with the army there at that time. This has been revealed by many army personnel themselves. That is why it is known that ram Charan also helped some soldiers. Source: India Herald</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-05 22:38:30', '2023-06-05 22:38:30'),
(7286, 7286, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>\"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,\" Sony\'s newest chapter in the webslinger series, soared to North American box office domination in its weekend debut, Sunday estimates showed, cementing the resilience of one of Hollywood\'s biggest superhero juggernauts.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The animated offering featuring the voices of Shameik Moore, Haille Steinfeld and Issa Rae netted a cool $120 million domestically for the Friday-through-Sunday period, and another $88 million internationally, according to industry watcher Exhibitor Relations.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This is an exceptionally good opening for an animation follow-up sequel,\" said analyst David A. Gross, adding the sequel has an \"entirely fresh\" look and is an example of \"inspired commercial filmmaking.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The film picks up the story of half-Black, half-Latino Miles Morales, using an eye-popping blend of decades-old 2D comic book drawing techniques with the latest computer-generated visual effects.</div><div><br></div><div>Spidey dethroned Disney\'s live-action version of \"The Little Mermaid,\" which raked in a similar amount in its debut the previous weekend and followed up with $40.6 million.</div><div><br></div><div>The remake of the 1989 animated tale of an underwater princess who gives up her voice in pursuit of true love on land stars pop singer Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, and Melissa McCarthy as the villainous Ursula.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The Boogeyman\" debuted in third with $12.3 million. The 20th Century Studios horror/mystery feature is the latest in a long line of films adapted from a Stephen King book, and one of its producers shepherded the hit show \"Stranger Things\" onto the small screen.</div><div><br></div><div>Slipping one spot to fourth was Disney\'s \"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3\" which added $10 million to its cumulative worldwide total of some $780 million.</div><div><br></div><div>Universal\'s action film \"Fast X,\" part of the \"Fast &amp; Furious\" franchise, held fifth spot, earning $9.2 million.</div><div>Rounding out the top 10 were:</div><div><br></div><div>\"The Super Mario Bros Movie\" ($3.3 million)</div><div><br></div><div>\"About My Father\" ($2.1 million)</div><div><br></div><div>\"The Machine\" ($1.7 million)</div><div><br></div><div>\"You Hurt My Feelings\" ($770,000)</div><div><br></div><div>\"Kandahar\" ($765,000) ‍Source: AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-05 23:09:21', '2023-06-05 23:09:21'),
(7287, 7287, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Families of the victims of India’s deadliest train crash in decades filled a hospital in Bhubaneswar city on Monday to identify and collect bodies of relatives, as railway officials recommended the country’s premier criminal investigating agency to probe the crash that killed 275 people.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Distraught relatives of passengers killed in the crash Friday lined up outside the eastern city’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Meanwhile, survivors being treated in hospitals said they were still trying to make sense of the horrific disaster.</div><div><br></div><div>Outside the hospital, two large screens cycled through photos of the victims, their faces so bloodied and charred that they were hardly recognizable.</div><div><br></div><div>Each body had a number assigned to it, and relatives stood near the screen and watched as the photos changed, looking out for details like clothing for clues.</div><div><br></div><div>Many of them said they had spent days on desperate journeys from neighboring states, travelling in multiple trains, buses or rented cars to identify and claim bodies, a process that stretched into a third day due to the gruesome nature of the injuries.</div><div><br></div><div>So far only 45 bodies have been identified, and 33 have been handed over to relatives, said Mayur Sooryavanshi, an administrator who was overseeing the identification process at the hospital in the capital of Odisha state, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) south of the site of the train crash in Balasore.</div><div><br></div><div>Upendra Ram began searching for his son, Retul Ram, Sunday, after traveling some 850 kilometers (520 miles) from neighboring Bihar state. The day-long journey in a rented car, which cost him 35,000 rupees ($423), was exhausting for Ram, who said Retul, 17, had been on his way to Chennai to find work.</div><div><br></div><div>After spending hours looking at photographs of the dead, Ram identified his son around noon Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>“I just want to take the dead body and go back home. He was a very good son,” said Ram, adding that Retul had dropped out of school and wanted to earn money for the family.</div><div><br></div><div>“My wife and daughter can’t stop crying at home. They are asking me to bring the body back quickly,\" he said, wiping tears from his eyes with a red scarf he had tied around his head.</div><div><br></div><div>Friday\'s crash was one of the worst rail disasters in India\'s history. Investigators said that a signaling failure might have been the cause of the disaster, in which a passenger train hit a freight train, derailing on the tracks before being hit by another passenger train coming in the opposite direction on a parallel track.</div><div><br></div><div>The collision involved two passenger trains, the Coromandel Express traveling from Howrah in West Bengal state to Chennai in Tamil Nadu state, and the Yesvantpur-Howrah Superfast Express traveling from Bengaluru in Karnataka to Howrah, officials said.</div><div><br></div><div>Many people had to make arduous journeys to reach the hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>At least 123 trains scheduled to pass through Odisha were either cancelled or delayed after the accident, Indian railways said Sunday. The disruption led air fares to Odisha to spike, prompting India’s civil aviation ministry to warn airlines over abnormal surges in pricing.</div><div><br></div><div>Usman Ansari, who came from Bihar to collect the body of his brother-in-law, Kasim Mia, said he took one train to Howrah in West Bengal state, and then another to Kharagpur, in the same state. From there he, along with two other friends, took a bus to the site of the crash, where they were told the bodies had been moved to Bhubaneswar.</div><div><br></div><div>The three of them rented a car to drive to the hospital, where Ansari was finally able to identify and collect his brother-in-law’s body after a 24-hour journey.</div><div><br></div><div>“Kasim used to say he wanted to do everything for his children,” he said, adding that compensation promised by the federal government would help take care of Kasim’s four young children.</div><div><br></div><div>Authorities recommended on Sunday that India’s Central Bureau of Investigations, which probes major criminal cases in the country, open an investigation into the crash.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile Sunday evening, some train traffic was restored on the tracks where the crash happened, after two days of repair work in which hundreds of workers with excavators removed mangled debris of the trains.</div><div><br></div><div>The crash in Balasore occurred as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is focusing on the modernization of India\'s colonial-era railroad network.</div><div><br></div><div>The South Asian nation has one of the world’s most extensive and complicated railway systems with more than 40,000 miles (64,000 kilometers) of track, 14,000 passenger trains and 8,000 stations.</div><div><br></div><div>Spread across the country from the Himalayas in the north to tropical ports in the south, it has been weakened by decades of mismanagement and neglect. Despite efforts to improve safety, several hundred accidents happen every year.</div><div><br></div><div>Most train accidents are blamed on human error or outdated signaling equipment.</div><div><br></div><div>In August 1995, two trains collided near New Delhi, killing 358 people in one of India\'s worst-ever train accidents.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2016, a passenger train slid off the tracks between the cities of Indore and Patna, killing 146 people.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 22 million people ride trains across India every day. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-06 01:19:27', '2023-06-06 01:19:27'),
(7288, 7288, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh will get $12.40 million as grant for the Fourth Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP-4).</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>In this regard, a grant agreement was signed today between the government of Bangladesh and the ADB.</div><div><br></div><div>Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Sharifa Khan and ADB country director, Bangladesh resident mission, Edimon Ginting signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides, said an ERD press release.</div><div><br></div><div>The grant proceeds from Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, Qatar Fund will be used through ADB to facilitate achieving an efficient, inclusive, and equitable primary education system delivering effective and relevant child-friendly learning to all children from pre-primary to grade 5.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education is the executing agency of the programme while the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) is the implementing agency. The implementation period of the programme is 2019-2024.</div><div><br></div><div>The release said the ADB is one of the largest multilateral development partners of Bangladesh extending assistance to the country since it became a member of ADB since 1973. ADB\'s total loan to Bangladesh till now is approximately $28,074 million and the total grant is about $553.4 million.</div><div><br></div><div>The development assistance mainly focused on power, energy, local government, transport, education, agriculture, health, water resources, governance, and financial sectors of Bangladesh. According to BSS reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-06 01:47:11', '2023-06-06 01:47:11'),
(7289, 7289, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said the upcoming general election is a challenge as various conspiracies are being orchestrated before the polls.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“The next election is a challenge. Different types of conspiracies and plots are being hatched,” she said while exchanging views with the leaders and activists of ruling Awami League and its associate bodies at her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh is likely to hold a general election in December this year or in January next year.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP, the country\'s main opposition party, has vowed to boycott the polls unless the government steps down in favour of a non-partisan caretaker administration to make it free and fair.</div><div><br></div><div>The government has rejected the demand as unconstitutional.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina, also the AL president, said whenever the life of the country’s people improves to some extent, some black sheeps are here in the country, who speak against Bangladesh and spread lies everywhere.</div><div><br></div><div>Some people raise false narratives about Bangladesh before foreigners to get international donations, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said those who didn’t believe in the independence of Bangladesh, committed genocide and other offenses including plundering, rape and repression during the Liberation War, as well as their generations have relentlessly been carrying out propaganda against Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Citing that vote-rigging is a habit of BNP, the PM said they have a record of vote-rigging and snatching democracy. “But we now hear (the lesion of) democracy from them,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Now we’re to hear the lesson on democracy and vote from a party which was formed in the hands of a military dictator. Stealing votes is their habit. So, what do the people of Bangladesh learn from thieves?” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL chief asked her party members to work to strengthen their party further. “Our party is strong enough. We’ll have to take steps so that the organisation will stay stronger,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Focusing on the development of Bangladesh, Hasina said this development has been possible as her party has been in power for 14 years in a row after the 2008 general election and maintained a stable democratic environment in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>“We had wanted to change Bangladesh. Today we’ve successfully been able to change,” she said, adding that Bangladesh has graduated into a developing country.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our biggest achievement is that the poverty rate declined in the rural area. The poverty rate is high in Dhaka city, but lower in the rural areas. None could think of it in the past,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>PM Hasina said her government kept its pledge by providing electricity to every house. But Bangladesh is to face difficulties as the commodity prices, transport cost, prices of gas, fuel and coal soared up globally following the Ukraine war.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the interest rates of foreign loans were increased, which created a pressure on the country’s reserve of foreign currencies. However, there is still a reserve which is enough to procure food for five months, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM asked to boost agricultural production by not keeping any piece of land uncultivated in the country, in order to meet the local demand and also export these.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the food prices increased throughout the world and also in Bangladesh. Actually the people are suffering from the commodity price-hike, but the goods are available (in the market) and there is no scarcity of any item.</div><div><br></div><div>She said Bangladesh has witnessed a good yielding of rice and other crops this time as well. Everything – vegetables, fish and meat-- is being produced, though the prices of goods increased, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier said her government has recently had a record biggest national budget of Tk 761,785 crore. None could give such a big budget in the past. The most important matter is that the government has been able to give such a budget during this tough time, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>She said both the number of beneficiaries and the size of allowance under different social safety net programmes were increased in the budget. Besides, the government has arranged a card system so that the low-income people can purchase some essential commodities including rice, pulse and edible at subsidized prices to ease their sufferings, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-06 02:27:40', '2023-06-06 02:27:40'),
(7290, 7290, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Communication is the art of listening and responding, keeping in mind the situation. A safe and happy relationship is based on the ability to communicate things, being transparent and finding ways to understand each other through healthy communication.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Therapist Israa Nasir added a few ways by which we can improve our communication skills; they are as follows:</div><div><br></div><div>Understanding the difference: Spme situations need us to speak out for ourselves, while some require us to be silent and opt out of things. We need to understand the difference and choose what our actions should be.</div><div><br></div><div>Curious: Being curious about others helps us in seeking out to understanding them. This helps in creating the base for healthier communication to follow.</div><div><br></div><div>Regulating emotions: Learning to regulate our emotions helps us in controlling our emotions and not being overwhelmed by a situation. This further helps us to empathise with others.</div><div><br></div><div>Think before speaking: Before we let the words out, we need to understand the impact that our words can have on someone else, and then articulate our emotions accordingly.</div><div><br></div><div>Avoid focusing on winning: Every conversation is not an argument, and we need to understand that. The urge to win a conversation puts us in attack mode.</div><div><br></div><div>Let people be wrong: Sometimes the healthy way to leave a conversation is to stop explaining ourselves and giving the liberty to others to things about us, whichever way they want.</div><div><br></div><div>Distraction: While communicating, let no distraction come in the way, such as checking the phone or watching the TV.</div><div><br></div><div>Listen: The problem with most people is that they listen to respond – instead, we should listen to understand. Source: Hindustan Times</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-06 03:21:50', '2023-06-06 03:21:50'),
(7291, 7291, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Monday said that the University Grant Commission (UGC) may now take into account allowing PhD degrees in those private universities which are at the forefront of education and research.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“There are some private universities in the country that have capabilities, I believe. This is high time for UGC to think about enabling those to provide PhD degrees. Otherwise m, we can’t encourage research,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister made the remarks while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the country’s largest education expo organised by Education Reporters Association Bangladesh (ERAB) at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the city.</div><div><br></div><div>Urging the students to become good human beings and to dedicate themselves to nation building, Dipu Moni said, “The government is increasing the allocation for the country’s education sector every year. Though it is poor in terms of GDP, it’s increasing as a whole.&nbsp; Now the allocation for our research has also been increased.”</div><div><br></div><div>In her address as chief guest of the programme, the minister called upon the students to adroit themselves for enrolling in the job market. “Along with Bangla, English, we have to make our youth skilled in all fields including linguistics,&nbsp; soft skills, problem solving skills, communication skills.”</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Dipu Moni said it will take time like 2025 to implement the new curriculum. The benefits will be visible in the next seven or eight years and that\'s why we all have to work together.</div><div><br></div><div>Presided by ERAB President Mir Mohammad Jasim and moderated by General Secretary Faruk Hossain, the inaugural function was attended, among others, by Bangladesh Accreditation Council Chairman Prof Dr Mesbah Uddin Ahmed, University Grants Commission (UGC) member Professor Dr Biswajit Chandra, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Vice Chancellor&nbsp; Prof Dr Satya Prasad Majumder, Jessore University of Science and Technology Vice Chancellor&nbsp; Prof Dr Anwar Hossain and National University Vice Chancellor&nbsp; Prof Dr Mashiur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 60 public and private universities, polytechnic institutes and other educational institutions have come up with their research, publications and innovations. The fair started at 9 am and will continue till 8 pm. It will be open to all. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-06 03:43:23', '2023-06-06 03:43:23'),
(7292, 7292, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ukrainian forces have advanced around Bakhmut, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar has said, describing the eastern city as the \"epicentre of hostilities\".</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She did not say whether a long awaited counter-offensive had begun.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Separately, Russia\'s military said it had repelled a new attack in the eastern Donetsk region on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bakhmut has for months been at the heart of fierce fighting. It has little strategic value - but is important symbolically both for Kyiv and Moscow.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Monday\'s claims by Ukraine and Russia have not been independently verified.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the early hours of Tuesday, air raid sirens were activated all over Ukraine, with officials in Kyiv reporting that air defence systems were in operation in the capital region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a post on social media on Monday, Ms Maliar said that \"despite stiff resistance and the enemy\'s attempts to hold the their positions, our military units advanced in several directions during the fighting\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said in Orikhovo-Vasulivka and Paraskoviivka, Ukrainian troops gained from 200m to 1,600m (656-5,250ft), while in Ivanivske and Klishchiivka they advanced between 100m and 700m (330-2,300).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">All four villages are located within several kilometres of Bakhmut. The battle for the city in the Donetsk region has been the longest and bloodiest of the war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a video address late on Monday, President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Ukrainian fighters for delivering \"the news we are expecting\" on the Bakhmut direction.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The enemy knows that Ukraine will win,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier in the day, Ukrainian military sources told the BBC that a series of small-scale armoured offensive operations were under way.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Russian paramilitary group Wagner had claimed to have captured the city in late May. In recent weeks, some analysts have suggested Kyiv\'s forces are attempting to encircle Bakhmut and trap Russian units.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A major Ukrainian counter-offensive has been long expected but Kyiv has already said it would not give advance warning of its start.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There has been a notable increase in military activity, with Ukraine claiming to have made marginal gains elsewhere on the front line.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The latest reports are being seen as a fresh sign that the expected Ukrainian push may have begun.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, the Russian defence ministry said on Monday that a new attack by Ukrainian forces in the Donetsk had been repelled.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a statement quoted by state-run media, It said the attacking side suffered heavy casualties, and that 28 tanks - including eight German-made Leopards - were destroyed. This has not been verified by the BBC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wagner boss Yevgeniy Prigozhin publicly mocked the Russian defence ministry, describing its statement as \"wild fantasy\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This comes a day after Moscow said a Ukrainian \"large-scale offensive\" in the Donetsk region had begun on Sunday - but was unsuccessful. Ukraine\'s military said it had no information about such a major attack in the region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Video of what Russia said was the battle in Donetsk showed military vehicles under heavy fire in fields. Russia claims it killed 300 troops and destroyed 16 tanks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We do not have such information and we do not comment on any kind of fake,\" a Ukrainian army spokesperson told Reuters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There has been a significant increase in Ukrainian messaging on when and how their counter-offensive could take shape.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine has been planning such a move for months. But it has wanted as much time as possible to train troops and to receive military equipment from Western allies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said his country now had enough weapons for a counter-offensive but would not comment on whether it had begun, Reuters reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officials in Kyiv have warned against public speculation over the offensive, saying it could help the enemy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Plans love silence. There will be no announcement of the start,\" the defence ministry said in a recently posted video. It featured masked and well-armed troops holding their fingers against their lips.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It will take Ukraine time to achieve its goal of liberating territory taken by Russia as far back as nine years ago.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And Moscow has had time to prepare. It means if Ukraine is able to mount a counter-offensive, it is going to take a while.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Much is at stake because the government in Kyiv needs to show the people of Ukraine - and Western allies - that it can break through Russian lines, end the effective military deadlock and recapture some of its sovereign territory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Elsewhere, fighters opposed to the government in Moscow say they have captured some Russian soldiers in Belgorod, near the border with Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The claim was made by the Liberty of Russia Legion (FRL), which described the announcement as a joint statement with the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both groups want to topple Russian President Vladimir Putin and oppose the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that he launched in February last year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia has blamed Ukraine for recent attacks in its border territories, but Kyiv denies being directly involved.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, President Zelensky met UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in Kyiv on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Zelensky said the pair discussed expectations from the upcoming Nato summit in Vilnius in July and Ukraine\'s peace proposals. 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, '2023-06-06 12:59:19', '2023-06-06 12:59:19'),
(7293, 7293, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A judgement in a landmark defamation trial says Australia\'s most-decorated living soldier lied to cover up his misconduct and threatened witnesses.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It also found Ben Roberts-Smith \"complicit in and responsible for\" the murder of four Afghans.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last week, he lost a defamation suit against three Australian newspapers over war crimes allegations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It has raised the spectre of a possible wider reckoning over claims of war crimes by Australian forces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Thursday, Federal Court Judge Anthony Besanko threw out the former special forces corporal\'s case against The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Canberra Times.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Roberts-Smith claimed the papers ruined his life with their reports that he had broken the moral and legal rules of war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The judge delayed releasing the reasons for his judgement until Monday, to allow Australian authorities time to ensure it did not inadvertently divulge national security secrets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Judge Besanko found the claims that Mr Roberts-Smith had murdered unarmed prisoners and civilians while serving in Afghanistan were \"substantially true\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saying that the 44-year-old was \"not an honest and reliable witness\", he added: \"I have difficulty accepting the applicant\'s evidence on any disputed issue\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He further found that the Victoria Cross recipient invoked a special forces code of silence to intimidate witnesses, and also smeared and threatened others.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Roberts-Smith had used a private investigator to mail threats to those considering testifying against him, something Judge Besanko said may constitute a criminal offence - either perverting the course of justice or using a postal service to menace, harass or cause offence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More articles from the reporters at the centre of the trial, published in the days following the judgement, also allege further intimidating behaviour.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Roberts-Smith went to the extent of sending a legal threat to Gina Rinehart, Australia\'s richest woman, warning that an ex-soldier - Ms Rinehart\'s relative - would be sued for speaking ill of him, Nine Newspapers reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also used his private detective to investigate another former soldier and his family, and was captured on tape lambasting soldiers who break the code of silence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"A few people [in the special forces] had done what we don\'t do, and that\'s talk out of school,\" he said, according to the report.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Roberts-Smith has not commented since the ruling, but he is expected to appeal to the full bench of the federal court.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 110-day defamation trial cost up to an estimated A$25m ($16.3m, £13.2m).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Roberts-Smith had been considered a national hero for having single-handedly overpowered Taliban machine-gunners who were attacking his Special Air Service (SAS) platoon, earning him Australia\'s highest military honour.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He was appointed to high-profile executive positions and received a string of accolades, even being crowned Father of the Year in 2013.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But while he has not been charged with any offences, the father of two is currently the subject of an Australia Federal Police inquiry into alleged war crimes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2020, a landmark investigation known as the Brereton Report found \"credible evidence\" that elite Australian soldiers unlawfully killed 39 people in Afghanistan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It recommended that 19 current or former soldiers should be investigated over alleged killings of prisoners and civilians from 2009-13. 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, '2023-06-06 13:02:08', '2023-06-06 13:02:08'),
(7294, 7294, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Four Rohingya refugees who were abducted from Teknaf in Cox\'s Bazar have been released in exchange for a ransom of Tk 5 lakh.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The abducted Rohingyas are: Mohammad Yunus, 32, son of Nur Hossain; Mohammad Sultan, 24, son of Mohammad Rafiq; Abdullah, 16, son of Abdur Rahman; and Anwar Islam, 18, son of Mohammad Syed. They are all residents of Alikhali Rohingya Camp-25, Block D/22, under Hnila union of Teknaf.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The abducted Rohingyas returned home on Monday evening, said Jamal Pasha, superintendent of police and deputy commander of 16 Armed Police Battalion (APBn).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They were given first aid at the NGO hospital. Later, the APBn members handed them over to their families, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on Friday night, five Rohingyas were abducted by miscreants from Alikhali camp in Teknaf.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Of them, Jahangir Alam was dropped off, with his hands cut off, near the camp on Sunday evening. Later, locals rescued him and took him to the hospital. He is now receiving treatment at the hospital. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-06 15:40:34', '2023-06-06 15:40:34'),
(7295, 7295, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Onions from India have started arriving in the country through land ports on the border as the government announced resumption of onion import after over two months of restriction.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The agriculture ministry took the decision to allow importing onions on Sunday considering the unusual price hike.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two trucks loaded with 40 metric tonnes of Indian onions entered through Hili land port in Dinajpur at 5:45 pm today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shahidul Islam, an importer, said, “There has been a shortage of imported onions in the country since mid-March. As a result, the price of local onions skyrocketed in both retail and wholesale markets after Eid-ul-Fitr.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“In this situation, importers have been demanding that the government allow them to import onions from India, to keep the price stable. Keeping the traders and consumers in mind, the Ministry of Agriculture has given permission to import onions from India on Sunday,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although the imported onions are yet to reach the market, prices have already started to go down as the news broke.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moinul Haque, a retail trader at Hili Bazar, said onions were being sold at Tk 80 per kg this evening – Tk 5 less compared to this morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We may see a fall in onion prices in the coming days,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, 57 onion-carrying trucks from India have entered the country through Sonamasjid land port in Chapainawabganj.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prabhat Kumar Singh, assistant commissioner of customs at Sonamasjid land port, said the trucks carrying 1,097 metric tonnes of onions have entered Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Trucks are allowed to enter the port only after receiving IP approved documents,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government stopped importing onions from India from March 16 this year to ensure fair prices for onions produced by local farmers. 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, '2023-06-06 15:50:32', '2023-06-06 15:50:32'),
(7296, 7296, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The government would take appropriate steps if any foreign diplomat crosses the line, said Bangladesh\'s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Monday (June 5, 2023).</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There was such a phase six months ago. If it (crossing line) happens again, we will take steps taking that into cognisance. However, I am not aware of anything as of now,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The State Minister made the remarks when a reporter drew his attention about Japanese Ambassador Iwama Kiminori’s visit to the Election Commission and his meeting with a political party.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, former Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki made comments on Bangladesh\'s last national election, and Bangladesh described Naoki\'s comments on Bangladesh\'s election \"unexpected.\" 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, '2023-06-06 15:53:24', '2023-06-06 15:53:24'),
(7297, 7297, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 139 at 9:10 am this morning (June 6, 2023), Dhaka ranked 4th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Africa\'s Johannesburg, Qatar\'s Doha and Indonesia\'s Jakarta occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 166, 153, and 152, 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 151 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. 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, '2023-06-06 15:56:58', '2023-06-06 15:56:58'),
(7298, 7298, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Microsoft will pay a fine of $20 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it illegally collected and retained the data of children who signed up to use its Xbox video game console.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The agency charged that Microsoft gathered the data without notifying parents or obtaining their consent, and that it also illegally held onto the data. Those actions violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, the FTC stated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a blog post, Microsoft corporate vice president for Xbox Dave McCarthy outlined additional steps the company is now taking to improve its age verification systems and to ensure that parents are involved in the creation of child accounts for the service. These mostly concern efforts to improve age verification technology and to educate children and parents about privacy issues.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">McCarthy also said the company had identified and fixed a technical glitch that failed to delete child accounts in cases where the account creation process never finished. Microsoft policy was to hold that data no longer than 14 days in order to allow players to pick up account creation where they left off if they were interrupted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The settlement must be approved by a federal court before it can go into effect, the FTC said. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"5\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-06 16:02:54', '2023-06-06 16:02:54'),
(7299, 7299, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Expatriates\' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed on Monday held talks with Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasutin Bin Ismail on the development and expansion of Bangladesh\'s labour market in Malaysia.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The meeting took place at the Ministry of Interior in Malaysia’s Putrajaya on Monday. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They discussed several key aspects, including the safety of workers and the recalibration of the labour market.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Present at the meeting were representatives from the Bangladesh High Commission, including Malaysian Deputy High Commissioner Khorshed Alam Khastagir, Minister (Labour) Nazmus Sadat Selim, Malaysian Immigration Department Director General Datuk Ruslin Jusoh, and senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs.  </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking at the meeting, Minister Imran Ahmed expressed his satisfaction with the warm and amicable relations between Bangladesh and Malaysia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He acknowledged Bangladesh\'s contributions to the development activities of various countries, including Malaysia, and emphasized the government\'s efforts to enhance the skills of employees.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Minister Ahmed said: \"Bangladesh is contributing efficiently and successfully to the development activities of various countries, including Malaysia. The government has taken various initiatives to improve the skills of the employees.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later in the day, the Expatriates\' Welfare Minister met Malaysia\'s Human Resources Minister, V Shivakumar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The focus of this meeting revolved around the potential influx of more Bangladeshi workers, including housemaids and security guards, into the Malaysian labour market.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both ministers emphasized the importance of ensuring fairness and safety for these workers, aiming to establish improved mechanisms that protect their rights. 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, '2023-06-06 17:01:26', '2023-06-06 18:32:09'),
(7300, 7300, '<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will urgently convene his Security Council on Tuesday after an explosion at the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam in the south of the country, a top adviser said.</span></p><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Kakhovka hydroelectric plant. Another war crime committed by Russian terrorists. The president has convened the National Security Council,\" the president\'s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, wrote on Telegram. 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, '2023-06-06 17:06:14', '2023-06-06 17:06:14');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(7301, 7301, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Australia coach Graham Arnold said Tuesday he wants \"revenge\" over Lionel Messi\'s Argentina when his side meet the world champions in a Beijing friendly next week.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Messi terrorised the Socceroos and scored a sublime goal in a 2-1 win in the last 16 at the World Cup in Qatar, before going on to lift the trophy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Arnold\'s unfancied team gave Argentina a scare and the Australia coach said they will be taking the match on June 15 in the Chinese capital seriously, even if it is a friendly.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I am getting goosebumps now that we can play the world champions so soon after the World Cup and get revenge,\" Arnold said, as he named a young squad missing numerous established players through injury, including Celtic\'s Aaron Mooy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Conditions will be humid and warm, but younger players have that energy and will run all day and fight.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added: \"It is a fantastic opportunity for all of us to go out there and give it everything we\'ve got -- the boys will have energy galore and I can\'t wait.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among those called up were 19-year-old Parma defender Alessandro Circati, who has represented Italy at youth level.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Arnold, who surpassed expectations in guiding Australia to the knockout rounds in Qatar, said that he already has one eye on qualification for the 2026 World Cup.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I don\'t feel there\'s any better way to test them out than against the world champions,\" he said of his youthful 23-man squad. 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, '2023-06-06 17:09:22', '2023-06-06 17:09:22'),
(7302, 7302, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United States has reiterated its call for holding a free and fair election in Bangladesh.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">“We’ve been consistent on the need for Bangladesh to hold free and fair elections,” said National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby at a media briefing at the White House.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kirby made the remarks when his attention was drawn to the much-discussed letter from six congressmen to US President Joe Biden, seeking measures for a free and fair election in Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Look, we’ve been consistent, and I’m aware of the communication,” Kirby said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To demonstrate that commitment, he said, the State Department recently announced a “3C” visa policy that would restrict visas to individuals who “undermine” Bangladesh’s elections.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Monday, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam said there are many “exaggerations, lack of information and inconsistency” in the letter from the six US congressmen to President Biden.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“But constructively, we will reach out to all these members,” he told reporters while responding to a question, noting that such activities might increase in the coming days as the election nears.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam said they saw such letters in the past, too.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Over the last seven days, I tried my best to explain where the relationship between Bangladesh and the United States stands today,” he said, adding that propaganda and misinformation against the government was also there earlier. 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, '2023-06-06 18:31:40', '2023-06-06 18:31:40'),
(7303, 7303, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Forty-three BNP leaders, including independent mayoral candidate Md. Salah Uddin Rimon, have been expelled for life from the party for contesting the upcoming Sylhet City Corporation election -- defying the party\'s decision to boycott all polls under the incumbent government.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Of those expelled, 38 are male and four are female councillor candidates.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi issued a notice in this regard on Monday night, Sylhet city unit President Nasim Hossain confirmed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said, \"The 43 leaders and activists have been permanently expelled for disobeying the party\'s decision to not take part in the upcoming Sylhet city polls.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Initially, show-cause notices were sent to 41 leaders and activists for their participation in the election, defying the party\'s directives on Saturday (June 3). However, they failed to provide a satisfactory response, prompting the central leadership to take further action. Later, two more names were added to the list.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to a part of the expulsion letter, \"Your (the expelled BNP leaders) decision to contest as a candidate in the SCC polls, disregarding the party\'s decision, is unacceptable. Your actions betray the aspirations of the pro-democracy community, including the families who have suffered enforced disappearances, murders, and government repression during the past 15 years of the democratic movement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"As per the provisions of the party constitution, you are expelled for life from all positions, including primary membership of BNP. Your name will be remembered as a dishonest, traitorous figure in the history of saving democracy, similar to Mir Jafar,\" it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury, president of Sylhet district BNP, said that the party had chosen not to participate in the elections under the current government and Election Commission (EC).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Those who disregarded the party\'s decision and became candidates have been expelled for life by the central BNP leadership,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since the establishment of Sylhet City Corporation in 2002, four elections have been held so far. Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran emerged as the winner in the inaugural election of 2003. 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, '2023-06-06 18:37:56', '2023-06-06 18:37:56'),
(7304, 7304, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Several villages have been \"completely or partially flooded\" following damage to the Russian-occupied Kakhovka dam in Ukraine and evacuations from the area have begun, a Ukrainian official said Tuesday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"About 16,000 people are in the critical zone on the right bank of the Kherson region,\" Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson miliary administration, said on social media, adding that there was flooding in eight areas along the Dnipro River. 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, '2023-06-06 18:41:04', '2023-06-06 18:41:04'),
(7305, 7305, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United States says it is looking forward to “deepening” its relationship with Bangladesh in a number of areas – addressing energy, climate issues and economy.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“That being said, we also will continue to push for the freedom of expression of religion and faiths of all people around the world,” Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said during a regular briefing at the US Department of State on June 5.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to a question on the recently held Gazipur City Corporation election, he said, “I’m not going to speak or get into specific election results in another country.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“What I will just say is what you just heard me say to your colleague, is that we are committed to the promotion of democracy and free and fair elections around the world,” Patel said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government, political parties, civil society, and the media in Bangladesh have all expressed their desire that the upcoming national election be free, fair, and peaceful, Patel said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In support of free, fair and peaceful election, the US announced a new policy that allows them to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals, including current or former officials, pro-government or opposition political party members, and others believed to be responsible for or complicit in “undermining the democratic election process” in Bangladesh, Patel 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, '2023-06-06 19:16:45', '2023-06-06 19:16:45'),
(7306, 7306, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Actor Ranbir Kapoor is all set to make a cameo appearance in Aryan Khan\'s directorial debut web show Stardom. Fans will see Lakshya Lalwani in the lead role in the six-part series. Aryan has already begun filming the series in Mumbai. He is the son of actor Shah Rukh Khan and interior designer Gauri Khan.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Aryan Khan\'s first-ever show</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For his directorial debut show Stardom, Aryan Khan has put a lot of effort from the writing to the casting. He also did extensive research and pre-production. The project is expected to go on floors in 2023.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Ranbir Kapoor roped in</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ranbir Kapoor recently paid a surprise visit to the sets of the series to check on Aryan\'s progress. He also offered encouragement and shot a cameo for the show. The OTT series will also explore the history of the Hindi cinema business and will feature various cameos.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Who else will be seen in the show?</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Apart from Ranbir, filmmaker Karan Johar has made a guest appearance in Aryan\'s series. His father Shah Rukh Khan also paid a surprise visit to the set on the first day of filming to cheer on his son as he began his career as a director.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Aryan announced his project last year</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In December 2022, Aryan confirmed as well as gave a glimpse of his first script. It is backed by Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan\'s production house, Red Chillies Entertainment. On Instagram, he had shared a photo of his hand on a script with a clapboard near him. He had written, \"Wrapped with the writing…can’t wait to say action.” Aryan had shared no other details. Reacting to the post, Shah Rukh had commented, \"Wow….thinking…believing….dreaming done, now onto dare….wish u the best for the first one. It’s always special….\" Gauri wrote, “Can’t wait to watch.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Aryan\'s earlier project</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier this year, Aryan shot the first-ever ad for his clothing brand D\'YAVOL X. The ad featured Aryan as well as Shah Rukh. Speaking with Harper\'s Bazaar, Aryan had said, “Working with my father is never challenging, because, with his experience and dedication, he makes everyone’s job easier on set. He also makes the entire crew feel at ease and has tremendous respect for everyone. When he’s on set I always make sure to pay extra attention, so I don’t miss out on anything I can learn.” HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-06 19:21:25', '2023-06-06 19:21:25'),
(7307, 7307, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Once in your lifetime, you’ve probably faced a morning when you looked into the mirror and realize your life is missing something. You’re off-purpose! You know you’ve so much in life to be grateful for, yet deep inside, you can sense a void in your life that hints you’re disconnected from the meaning of life because you lack a high purpose in life. What is Zakat and What is the Importance of Zakat in Islam?</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Again people spend their entire life with the wrong idea of true happiness because happiness is not attained through self-gratification but through dedication to a worthy purpose. When we lift up the lives of those drowned in poverty, sickness, or ones deprived of basic human rights, our quest for purpose and contentment comes to an end as we get what we were looking for too long.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To free ourselves from despair it’s important that we dedicate ourselves to free others from the pain and sufferings of life and therefore make charity or Zakat an obligatory everyday act. When each one of us will come forward and contribute a small proportion of their wealth for Zakat, what tremendous amounts of good we would be able to do for the society and its people!</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This is exactly what Islam teaches us. Islam is not only a religion but a complete way of life. To succeed in the motto of making the world a better place and helping others, Islam has always emphasized charity or Zakat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>What is Zakat?</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zakat refers to the purification of wealth in particular. Muslims who have wealth over a certain ratio are bound to pay Zakat on it and give it to those who are less fortunate and don’t have sufficient means to live their lives in a standard way parallel to human dignity. We are obliged to pay&nbsp; Zakat, from our earned money and wealth.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Charity holds a great place in Islam, therefore, it is made an obligation on Muslims in the form of Zakat. Zakat is one of the major five pillars of Islam that helps to frame a Muslim life. It is mandatory to give Zakat to those who are wealthy enough.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>&nbsp;In the Quran (verses:9:60), Allah the Almighty says,</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The alms are only for the Fuqara (the poor), and Al-Masakin (the needy) and those employed to collect (the funds); and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam), and to free captives; and for those in debt; and for Allah’s cause, and for the wayfarer (a traveler who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise.”&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Importance of Zakat In Islam</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zakat is an obligation and fulfillment as Zakat leads a Muslim to get the reward from Allah the Almighty and declining Zakat leads a Muslim to receive punishment from Him in both this life and in the life of Akhirah (life after death).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zakat is basically practiced to help those in society who are in the most need. If one class of society keeps on gathering all the money and does not provide anything to anyone else, then the rest would stay in the same plight and this is how society today is divided into so many sections. Therefore, when the rich give Zakat, it means that the ones, who are not -wealthy, get a chance to enjoy a better lifestyle. Zakat leads to the circulation of money. Zakat is a form of charity and any charitable deed means that the money gets out of the hands of the rich and circulates in the whole economy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>importance of zakat</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wealth is perhaps one of the major elements that people love the most. Therefore, when a person gives from his or her wealth, it actually means that he or she loves the order of Allah more than their personal likings and they are willing to sacrifice anything for the order of Allah. However, when it comes to paying Zakat, there are different misconceptions regarding it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">People often think Zakat is to be paid in the month of Ramadan only. Ramadan is a month of being charitable, however, it in no way means that a Muslim must pay Zakat in this month only. A Muslim can pay Zakat all year round if the individual has the stability to do so.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another misconception related to Zakat is that it is only liable for gold which is wrong. The gold mentioned in Quran and the Hadith is as a standard of a unit of measurement, therefore, anything whether it is cash, silver,&nbsp; property or other assets, worth the same amount as the gold mentioned by Islam, is liable for Zakat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many&nbsp; Muslims tend to think that they cannot give Zakat to their poor relatives as they are a part of their family. The relatives who are not in blood relation with us such as parents, spouse, children, and siblings but are eligible for Zakat, should be paid with it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Conclusion</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zakat is a mandatory practice of Islam and the purpose of it is to help society, share the endless boons of Allah and give the unfortunate ones a better life. Therefore, every person must ensure that Zakat is paid to the most deserving people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Our environment and the world in which we live and work are the mirrors of our attitudes, deeds, and what we are giving them back every day. Human life is not meant to be wasted in selfishness. It is meant to be dedicated to the good of others.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To lead a purposeful and worthy life it’s important we remain honest to ourselves and society. A person of high character is the one who serves the family,&nbsp; society, and its people and give charity or Zakat to empower others to have a better life. TH</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"7\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-06 19:45:27', '2023-06-06 19:45:27'),
(7308, 7308, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the authorities concerned to expedite the formulation and implementation of various projects under the Government to Government (G2G) initiatives.</span><br></b></div><div><b>&nbsp;</b></div><div>The Prime Minister gave the directive while chairing a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) as its chairperson held at the NEC conference room in the city\'s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that the Premier put emphasis on expediting the process of formulating and implementing G2G projects with different countries like India and China as Bangladesh has agreements with those countries under their Lines of Credit.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Sheikh Hasina said there should not be any delay or negligence in this regard as these initiatives would enhance the foreign currency flow to Bangladesh, said Mannan.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The Planning Minister said that the Prime Minister also asked the Planning Commission to prioritize foreign-funded projects considering the current situation.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>He said the day\'s ECNEC meeting approved a total of 18 projects involving an overall estimated cost of Taka 11,387.91 crore. \"Of the total project cost, Taka 7,445.34 crore will come from the government of Bangladesh portion, Taka 80.78 crore from the concerned organization\'s own fund while the rest of Taka 3,861.79 crore as project assistance,\" Mannan said.&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Of the 18 approved projects, nine are new while nine are revised projects. Besides, the meeting approved the timeframe extension of a project without raising its cost.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The Planning Minister said that the Premier reiterated her call to all concerned to maintain austerity in all spheres and boost domestic production side by side not keeping idle an inch of land.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Turning to the issue of containing inflation, Sheikh Hasina underscored the need for conducting research as there are differences in the price of commodities in various markets and kitchen markets.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The Premier also put emphasis on setting up regional storage arrangements for perishable items like onion and ginger.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The Planning Minister said the Prime Minister has acknowledged the current rising inflationary trend and the shortage of power and energy in the country resulting in load shedding.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>He said that the utmost priority of the government is now containing inflation and bringing the power and energy situation to a tolerable level.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Referring to his earlier prediction that inflation would come down, Mannan said, but unfortunately, it did not come down, rather increased, for which the government would do whatever necessary such as using its available instruments to contain it.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The Planning Minister said the very first strategy of the government to contain inflation would be not to let it increase further and then try to roll it back.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Answering a question, he said that it is not right that inflation is increasing in the country only because of the high exchange rate of US dollars, but there are some other reasons also.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>He said that efforts are going on to conduct trade with other currencies other than US dollars, adding, \"The foreign currency is now hovering over $30 billion, but it might again go up to $50 billion,\" he said.&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Referring to the budgetary target of containing inflation at 6 percent in the next fiscal year (FY24), Mannan said there might be some concerns about attaining this target, but having such a target ahead is not wrong.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"We\'ll have to take proper action in a speedy manner...we\'ll have to hold the trigger tight and take the necessary market intervention at the proper time,\" he said, citing an example of the recent decision of importing onion to tame the high price of onion in the local market.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Noting that inflation is gradually coming down in the EU, Mannan said although it would be hard to bring down inflation at around 6 percent in the coming days, sincere efforts would be there to bring down inflation.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"We\'ll have to keep the process (supply chain) smooth and ensure that no destructive element can hinder the process. Otherwise, it will be hard to contain it despite putting in the highest efforts,\" he added.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>At the very outset of the meeting, the ECNEC thanked the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister and the Finance Division and others concerned for placing such an excellent budget for the next fiscal year amid global uncertainties. Source: BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-06 23:36:28', '2023-06-06 23:36:28'),
(7309, 7309, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas at the ambassador’s residence in Gulshan on Tuesday afternoon.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>They discussed “free and fair elections and campaign processes, and additional important priorities the United States and Bangladesh share,” the US Embassy in Dhaka said in a twitter post.</div><div><br></div><div>A private car carrying the BNP secretary general entered the envoy’s residence at 1:20pm and the car came out at 2:24pm, said BNP chief\'s media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan.</div><div><br></div><div>However, BNP refused to comment on the visit.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on April 16, a 3-member delegation including BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, its standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and organising secretary Shyama Obaid met the US ambassador at his Gulshan residence.</div><div><br></div><div>Although the BNP had refused to comment on that meeting, the US Embassy in Dhaka in a Facebook post said they discussed the importance of free and fair elections and a nonviolent political process.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-07 00:01:49', '2023-06-07 00:01:49'),
(7310, 7310, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Severe load shedding continued across the country amid the sweltering heat.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>As a result of power generation between 12,000 MW and 13,000 MW against the demand of nearly 16,000 MW, the people in capital Dhaka and elsewhere have been experiencing frequent power cuts that makes their lives unbearable in this peak summer when temperatures are soaring to 38-42 degree Celsius.</div><div><br></div><div>In the daytime power cuts already crossed 2,600 MW and it is apprehended that the outage may go up to 3,500 MW in the evening peak.</div><div><br></div><div>It is alleged that power supply situation is worse in the rural areas as they get electricity for 3-5 hours a day while the rest of the time they have to remain without electricity.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Interestingly, the official data of the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) shows that the extent of load shedding reaches the highest peak at midnights when people remain in deep sleep.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The data also shows the country experienced 2610 MW while the demand for electricity was 14,900 MW and the generation output was 12,166 MW at 12 noon on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>The power generation forecast at the evening peak was projected to be 14,900 MW against a projected demand of 15,800 MW when load shedding was planned for only 900 MW.</div><div><br></div><div>“But the reality is totally different”, said a top official at&nbsp; state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board.</div><div><br></div><div>At the evening peak the extent of load shedding reaches 2700 MW to 3500 MW, he noted, saying the official data always does not reflect the ground reality.</div><div><br></div><div>However, the official data of PGCB, responsible for power transmission across the country, shows that the load shedding was 2815 MW at 4 pm, 2735 at 6 pm on Monday, 3266 MW at 1 am Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>The load shedding was 3215 MW at 1 am (midnight) and 3143 MW at 2 pm (midnight) on Tuesday.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>This means the extent of highest load shedding&nbsp; at midnight is a new phenomenon as though the country’s demand decreases at midnight, the power generation also decreases to a level of 11,000 MW.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Normally, no load shedding was seen in the midnights in the previous years. This year, load shedding at midnights has become regular.</div><div><br></div><div>No official from the BPDB was found to be willing to comment on the issue. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-07 00:56:19', '2023-06-07 00:56:19'),
(7311, 7311, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bonayan, an online & physical retailer of gardening & nursery, has started distributing five million saplings among various stakeholders across the country this year.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The private sector-driven afforestation programme kicked off the sapling distribution for the year on the World Environment Day on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>Bonayan initiated the campaign in line with the government’s National Tree Plantation Campaign.</div><div><br></div><div>‘Bonayan’ embarks on its 43rd year of legacy this year since its journey from 1980 paving the way to a ‘Greener Tomorrow’.</div><div><br></div><div>The afforestation programme has so far distributed 120 million fruit, forestry, and medicinal saplings free of cost to farmers and stakeholders to restore the ecosystem across different regions of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>These saplings are prepared in more than 18 nurseries across Bangladesh. To further ensure ecological conservation, Bonayan has also established 119 medicinal gardens with the help of farmers.</div><div><br></div><div>Currently, ‘Bonayan’ is operating its projects in 22 districts in Bangladesh, including Dhaka, Mymensingh, Manikganj, Tangail, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Lalmonirhat, Natore, Kushtia, Jhenaidah, Meherpur, Jessore, Chittagong, Bandarban, Khagrachari, Cox\'s Bazar, Rangamati and Noakhali (Bhasanchar).</div><div><br></div><div>Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, Rajshahi City Corporation, Border Guard Bangladesh and Bangladesh Agricultural University are a few of the notable institutions that Bonayan is collaboratively working with. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-07 01:48:05', '2023-06-07 02:09:34'),
(7312, 7312, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to boost cooperation Tuesday after an Egyptian policeman shot dead three Israeli soldiers before being killed, officials said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Sisi received a telephone call from Netanyahu about Saturday\'s deadly violence on the normally calm border, the spokesman for the Egyptian president said.</div><div><br></div><div>During the conversation, the two leaders stressed \"the importance of coordination between the two countries to clarify the circumstances\", he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Egypt has said the policeman crossed into Israel while chasing drug smugglers, leading to exchanges of fire with Israeli soldiers.</div><div><br></div><div>On Saturday, Netanyahu called the Egyptian shooter a \"terrorist\" although he has since mostly spoken of the shootings as an \"incident\".</div><div><br></div><div>Sisi offered Netanyahu his \"deep condolences\", the Israeli prime minister\'s office said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The two leaders expressed their commitment to further strengthening peace and security cooperation, which is an essential value for both countries,\" it added.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel\'s border with Egypt has been largely quiet since Egypt became the first Arab country to make peace with Israel following the Camp David accords of 1978.</div><div><br></div><div>In recent years, there have been exchanges of fire between smugglers and Israeli soldiers stationed along the border.</div><div><br></div><div>Questions have been raised about why the Egyptian assailant -- reported by Egyptian media to have been a 22-year-old conscript -- crossed into Israel and opened fire.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at the opening of a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said his government had sent a \"clear message\" to Egypt: \"We expect that the joint investigation will be exhaustive and thorough.\"</div><div><br></div><div>On Tuesday, his office said he had \"thanked the Egyptian president for... his commitment to an exhaustive and joint investigation of the incident\". - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-07 02:16:02', '2023-06-07 02:16:02'),
(7313, 7313, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Real Madrid\'s Ballon d\'Or winner Karim Benzema has signed for Saudi Arabia\'s Al-Ittihad for three years starting next season, a source in the Jeddah-based club told AFP on Tuesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"Benzema has signed a contract for his transfer to Al-Ittihad for a three-year period starting next season,\" the source said.</div><div><br></div><div>The announcement comes days after Real Madrid announced that the 35-year-old was leaving the club after 14 seasons, the day after coach Carlo Ancelotti had said there was \"no doubt\" Benzema\'s future was in the Spanish capital.</div><div><br></div><div>Benzema is in line to join Cristiano Ronaldo in the Gulf kingdom after the Portuguese five-time world player of the year moved to Al Nassr from Manchester United following last year\'s World Cup.</div><div><br></div><div>Lionel Messi, who is leaving Paris Saint-Germain after two seasons, has also been linked to a move to Saudi Arabia.</div><div><br></div><div>Senior officials from Saudi Arabia\'s Al Hilal have flown to France to try and seal a deal for Messi after the 35-year-old Argentinian played his last game for PSG at the weekend.</div><div><br></div><div>The Saudi delegation plans to meet Messi\'s father and agent, Jorge, with the aiming of completing the signing as soon as possible, sources told AFP on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>Benzema joined Madrid in 2009 from Ligue 1 side Lyon.</div><div><br></div><div>He made 647 appearances for Madrid and is the second on Real\'s all-time goalscoring list with 353 -- only Cristiano Ronaldo has more.</div><div><br></div><div>He has lifted five Champions Leagues, four La Liga titles and three Copas del Rey with Madrid and is the holder of the Ballon d\'Or for the world\'s best player.</div><div><br></div><div>But after a stellar 2021-22 season when he lead Real to the Champions League, he has been troubled by injuries in the just-completed season and had to miss France\'s World Cup campaign with a thigh problem. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-07 03:01:41', '2023-06-07 03:01:41'),
(7314, 7314, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The High Court (HC) on Tuesday granted bail to controversial e-commerce platform Evaly’s Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Md Rassel in a case filed under Digital Security Act.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>A joint bench of HC comprising Justice Mostafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Aminul Islam passed the order after hearing a bail petition.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The court also announced the rule issued regarding the bail as appropriate.</div><div><br></div><div>Deputy Attorney General Sarwar Hossain Bappi who stood for the state in the court said they will submit a petition seeking a stay order against the bail.</div><div><br></div><div>Defendant counsel Ahsanul Karim said though the HC granted bail to his client Rassel in the DSA case on Tuesday; he won’t be able to walk out of jail due to having more cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>On September 16, 2021, Rassel and His wife Shamima Nasrin were arrested in a raid from their home in the capital\'s Mohammadpur area.</div><div><br></div><div>The owners of Evaly were allegedly involved in embezzlement of several hundred crores of taka. They were arrested after a victim filed a case against them.</div><div><br></div><div>Though Nasrin is now out of jail on bail,&nbsp; Rassel has been in jail since his arrest.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div>The online platform’s customer Mohammad Alamgir Hossain filed a case against the couple and unidentified 15 to 20 individuals bringing the allegation of deception under the DSA on September 30, 2021.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the case statement, the plaintiff paid Tk 28 lakh to Evaly through bKash and Nagad for buying electronic appliances from January 1 to September in 2020.</div><div><br></div><div>Though it was supposed to deliver the products within 45 days of order, no produce was handed over to the customer despite elapsing seven months.</div><div><br></div><div>The case’s investigation officer Prodip Kumar Das, also a CID official, submitted the chargesheet against them on September 16 the past year.</div><div><br></div><div>On March 2 this year, Dhaka Cyber Tribunal Judge AM Zulfiqar Hayat ordered to begin the trial of the case through forming the charges. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-07 03:15:23', '2023-06-07 03:15:23'),
(7315, 7315, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Senior Awami League leader and coordinator of the 14-party grand alliance Amir Hossain Amu on Tuesday hinted at the possibility of talks between the government and the opposition with a view to resolving election issues.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"It is not possible to resolve the crisis through any other means than dialogue. And if they (BNP) try to come to power unconstitutionally, the people will resist,\" he said, while addressing a 14-party protest rally against domestic and international conspiracies against the country at Bangabandhu Avenue on Tuesday afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>He even held out the possibility of talks mediated by a UN representative, similar to the efforts of Fernandez Taranco in 2013.</div><div><br></div><div>\"There can be discussion on anything with the BNP. The door to dialogue is always open to continue the democratic trend. If necessary, talks can be held with the BNP with the mediation of an UN representative,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, the United States has announced a visa policy to ensure the free and fair conduct of the upcoming elections. At the same time, the country\'s multi-faceted activities regarding the upcoming elections are visible.</div><div><br></div><div>US Ambassador to Dhaka Peter Haas held a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina\'s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman and Law Minister Anisul Huq on Tuesday. He also held a meeting with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.</div><div><br></div><div>Two days ago, he held a meeting with Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-07 04:12:29', '2023-06-07 04:12:29'),
(7316, 7316, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Thousands of people are being evacuated downstream of a major dam which has collapsed in Russian-held Ukraine.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Volodymyr Zelensky said 80 towns and villages may be flooded after the destruction of the dam at Nova Kakhovka, which he blamed on Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Water is surging down the Dnipro river, and is said to pose a catastrophic flooding risk to the city of Kherson.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia has denied destroying the dam - which it controls - instead blaming Ukrainian shelling.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Neither Ukraine nor Russia\'s claim has been verified by the BBC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Kakhovka dam, downstream from the huge Kakhovka reservoir, is crucial to the region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It provides water to farmers and residents, as well as to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. It is also a vital channel carrying water south to Russian-occupied Crimea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine\'s state-owned hydropower plants administrator Ukrhydroenergo warned that the peak of a water spill downstream from the emptying reservoir was expected on Wednesday morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It said this would be followed by a period of \"stabilisation\", with the water expected to rapidly recede in four to five days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are concerns about the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant - Europe\'s largest - which uses reservoir water for cooling.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The situation there is said to be under control and there is \"no immediate nuclear safety risk\" for the plant, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Video footage shows a torrent of floodwater gushing through a breach in the dam. Several towns are already flooded, while people in areas further downstream have been forced to flee by bus and train.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Abound 40,000 people need to be evacuated, Deputy Prosecutor-General Viktoriya Lytvynova said on Ukrainian television - 17,000 people in Ukraine-controlled territory west of the Dnipro River and 25,000 on the Russian-controlled east.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Also speaking on Ukrainian television, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said about 1,000 people had been evacuated so far and 24 settlements had been flooded.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He accused Russia of shelling the southern region of Kherson, from where people were being evacuated, and issued a warning about the dangers posed by mines being exposed by the rising water levels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One local resident Andriy, who lives close to the dam - which was seized by Russian forces shortly after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022 - said he believed Russia wanted to \"drown\" his city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the Ukraine-controlled city of Kherson, a woman called Lyudmyla - who was loading her belongings including a washing machine onto a trailer that was attached to an old car - said: \"We\'re afraid of flooding. We\'re taking our things a little higher up.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She called for Russian forces to be \"kicked out of here... they\'re shooting at us. They\'re flooding us or doing something else\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another resident of the city, Serhiy, said he feared \"everything is going to die here\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"All the living creatures, and people will be flooded out,\" he said, gesturing at nearby houses and gardens.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the Russian-seized riverbank of Nova Kakhovka, the Moscow-installed mayor Vladimir Leontyev said the city was underwater and 900 people had been evacuated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said 53 evacuation buses were being sent by the authorities to take people from the city and two other settlements nearby to safety.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Water levels had risen to over 11m (36ft) and some residents had been taken to hospital, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The small town of Oleshky was also heavily flooded, Kremlin-appointed officials said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Kazkova Dibrova zoo on the Russian-held riverbank had been completely flooded and all 300 animals were dead, it said in a post on its Facebook page.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is not yet clear what caused the breach in the dam in the early hours of Tuesday, but Ukraine\'s military intelligence has accused Russia of deliberately blowing it up.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This seems plausible, as Moscow may have feared that Ukrainian forces would use the road over the dam to advance into Russian-held territory, as part of their counter-offensive.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For Russia, anxious to defend conquered territory in southern Ukraine, the dam represented an obvious problem.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Just as Ukrainian forces attacked road and rail bridges further downstream last autumn in a successful effort to isolate Russian forces in and around Kherson, Russia may have decided to destroy the dam to hold up Ukraine\'s counter-offensive, which it fears could come from multiple directions. 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, '2023-06-07 12:22:55', '2023-06-07 12:22:55');
