INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(8296, 8296, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">European Union’s Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore has said they will talk to other countries about what more needs to be done to resolve the Rohingya crisis, and they are particularly conscious about the reductions in food rations that are being made this year.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It has to be resolved and it has to be resolved in Myanmar. The resolution of that crisis has to happen. And the circumstances need to be created whereby the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh can voluntarily go home safely, with their rights respected and in full dignity,” he told UNB in an exclusive interview.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gilmore, who recently spent five days in Bangladesh, said the food rations for the Rohingya refugees in Cox’s bazar have been cut from $12 to $10 (per person per month) and then $8 due to funding reductions by international donors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He spent a full day in Cox’s Bazar and met the Rohingyas who fled from Myanmar over the past six years, and heard their experiences and problems.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gilmore, who also visited Rohingya camps four years ago, assured them that the European Union has not forgotten them despite the current crises around the world.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We are working with countries in the neighbourhood and with the ASEAN countries,” he said, appreciating the government of Bangladesh and the office of the Refugee, Relief and Repatriation Commissioner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During his meeting with RRRC Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Gilmore appreciated the government\'s and Rahman’s “valiant” work. “I credit what the Bangladesh government and the RRRC have been doing,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gilmore said they are talking to other governments about what more needs to be done. “Because we recognize that there is a need for support. And we will continue to work on that. We will continue to keep it on the international agenda. “</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to a question on the security aspect in the Rohingya camp, the EU Special Representative said he was very impressed when he was in touch with the representatives of the government and the people who were living there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“They want to see more to be done to see more security, to see a greater degree of safety and they\'re very willing to work with the authorities to achieve that,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the past, Gilmore had discussions with the then government in Myanmar about what was needed to ensure “safe, dignified and voluntary” return to Myanmar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“They were engaging in that. But of course, what has happened since is that the military has taken over. Now, we have a new situation with the internal situation that has gotten much worse,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gilmore said, “You have conflict situations in many parts of the country and some of the conditions in the country are much worse now than they were at that time. We have imposed seven rounds of sanctions on the Myanmar regime.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier this year, the EU released over €43 million to address the humanitarian needs of people in Myanmar, as well as those of Rohingya refugees and their host communities in Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The EU says it will also continue to support the efforts of Bangladesh in responding to the Rohingya refugee crisis by providing over €23 million, part of which will also contribute to implement disaster preparedness programmes in the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This month, the EU released an additional €12.5 million to address the humanitarian needs of people in Myanmar, as well as those of Rohingya refugees and their host communities in Bangladesh and the broader region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The EU has been providing humanitarian aid to people in Myanmar since 1994 and in Bangladesh since 2002.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar district and Bhasan Char.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-30 21:20:00', '2023-07-30 21:20:00'),
(8297, 8297, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The rainy season brings the challenge of keeping clothes fresh and dry. Due to the high humidity levels in monsoon, damp clothes bear an unpleasant, and musty smell. Furthermore, wearing these can lead to infection and cold. Let’s take a look into some effective ways to protect clothes from moisture and germs on the wettest of days.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Tips to Keep Laundry Clean and Hygienic in Rainy Season</div><div><br></div><div>Washing Clothes Immediately</div><div>It’s recommended to wash clothes immediately after exposure to rain. Prompt washing prevents dirt, bacteria, and musty odors from setting in, ensuring clothes stay fresh and clean throughout the damp weather.</div><div><br></div><div>Prioritizing Clothes for Laundry</div><div><br></div><div>During the rainy season, it’s better to prioritize important clothes for laundry. Washing essential items promptly ensures fresh and clean clothes when one needs them the most. This keeps important clothes ready to wear, regardless of the weather outside.</div><div><br></div><div>Pre-soaking Before Washing</div><div><br></div><div>Pre-soaking clothes before washing is like a game changer during the rainy season. One needs to fill a bucket with water and a little detergent, then soak clothes for 30 minutes. This helps remove dirt, sweat, and odors, keeping them fresh and clean.</div><div><br></div><div>Using Scented Detergent</div><div>One may opt for scented detergent while washing clothes during the rainy season. The pleasant fragrance will help combat any musty odor caused by dampness, leaving clothes smelling fresh and clean even in the rainy weather.</div><div><br></div><div>Using Fabric Conditioner</div><div><br></div><div>Using fabric conditioner during the rainy season is one of the best tips to keep clothes fresh and soft. It not only adds a delightful fragrance but also helps to reduce static and make clothes more comfortable to wear. Additionally, it ensures that clothes stay in great condition throughout the damp weather.</div><div><br></div><div>Using Vinegar in the Wash</div><div><br></div><div>Adding a cup of white vinegar to laundry can work wonders for eliminating odors from clothes. Apart from acting as a natural fabric softener, vinegar is also an effective antibacterial agent. The result is fresh-smelling and sanitized garments, ensuring optimal hygiene during the monsoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Washing in Small Batches</div><div><br></div><div>It’s clever to avoid washing clothes in big batches during the rainy season. Washing smaller loads allows for better cleaning and drying, preventing dampness and musty smells. Moreover, it helps clothes to stay fresh.</div><div><br></div><div>Removing Clothes Fast from Washing Machine</div><div><br></div><div>To keep clothes fresh, it would be wise to promptly remove them from the washing machine when the cycle ends. Leaving wet clothes sitting can lead to mildew and musty odors. By taking them out immediately, one can prevent dampness and ensure clothes stay clean and smell fresh. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p>Rainy Season<br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-30 21:27:59', '2023-07-30 21:27:59'),
(8298, 8298, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">India currently has an estimated population of 4,000 tigers, representing an annual growth rate of 6.1 percent, said an official statement issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Saturday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The statement, released on International Tiger Day, said 3,167 tigers are living in the country\'s camera-trapped areas, but an analysis of data done by the Wildlife Institute of India from both camera-trapped and non-camera-trapped tiger presence areas revealed that the upper limit of the tiger population in the country was estimated to be 3,925, reflecting an annual growth rate of 6.1 percent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"India currently harbors almost 75 percent of the world\'s wild tiger population. With significant changes in the spatial patterns of tiger occurrence and an increase in unique tiger sightings from 2,461 in the year 2018, to 3,080 in the year 2022, now more than three-fourth of the tiger population is found within protected areas,\" said the official statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Various tiger reserves have shown remarkable growth, while others face challenges. Approximately 35 percent of the tiger reserves urgently require enhanced protection measures, habitat restoration, ungulate augmentation, and subsequent tiger reintroduction,\" it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The federal ministry emphasized the importance of eco-friendly development, minimizing mining impacts, rehabilitating mining sites, intensifying anti-poaching measures, and addressing human-wildlife conflict to protect the tiger populations. XINHUA/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-30 22:03:51', '2023-07-30 22:03:51'),
(8299, 8299, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Indian High Commission in Singapore on Sunday said the launch of 7 satellites by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) marks another milestone in the Space partnership between the two countries, reports NDTV.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“India-Singapore space partnership marks another milestone with the launch of 7 Singaporean satellites by Indian space agency ISRO today,” the Indian High Commission in Singapore tweeted on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday launched PSLV-C56 carrying seven satellites, including the primary satellite DS-SAR and six co-passenger satellites, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.</div><div><br></div><div>The launch vehicle lifted off from Sriharikota at 6.30 am on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>\"PSLV-C56/ DS-SAR Mission: The mission is successfully accomplished. PSLV-C56 vehicle launched all seven satellites precisely into their intended orbits. Thanks to @NSIL_India and Singapore, for the contract,\" tweeted ISRO.</div><div><br></div><div>This PSLV flight marks the 58th overall and the 17th using the Core Alone configuration. The upper stage of the rocket was placed in lower orbit after injecting all the satellites to assure its shorter orbital life.</div><div><br></div><div>The PSLV-C56, according to ISRO was launched from the First Launch Pad (FLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota.</div><div>PSLV-C56 / DS-SAR is the Dedicated Commercial Mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) for ST Engineering, Singapore. DS-SAR, a Radar Imaging Earth Observation satellite is the primary satellite for the mission. In addition to this, there were 6 co-passenger customer satellites also belonging to Singapore.</div><div><br></div><div>All satellites would be injected into a 535 km circular with 5 orbital inclination, the ISRO stated in a release earlier.</div><div><br></div><div>DS-SAR satellite has been developed under a partnership between DSTA (representing the Government of Singapore) and ST Engineering. Once deployed and operational. It will be used to support the satellite imagery requirements of various agencies within the Government of Singapore.</div><div><br></div><div>ST Engineering will use it for multi-modal and higher responsiveness imagery and geospatial services for their commercial customers. DS-SAR carries a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), According to NDTV reports.</div><div><br></div><div>This allows the DS-SAR to provide for all-weather day and night coverage, and is capable of imaging at 1m resolution at full polarimetry, the ISRO added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-30 22:06:31', '2023-07-30 22:06:31'),
(8300, 8300, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League has postponed its peace rally scheduled to be held at old trade fair ground in Agargaon of the capital on Monday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Proloy Samaddar Bappi, office secretary of Dhaka metropolitan north unit of the party, said on Sunday that they suspended the peace rally but not cancelled it.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that the date and venue of the peace rally will be announced later.</div><div><br></div><div>He, however, said thana-level AL leaders and activists were asked to remain vigilant.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, the party announced the rally to protest the killing, terrorism and anarchy by the BNP-Jamaat across the country. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-30 22:20:51', '2023-07-30 22:20:51'),
(8301, 8301, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least 700 people have been arrested in connection with the clashes with police, violence and arson attacks during BNP’s sit-in programme at the key entry points of Dhaka, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There are CCTVs everywhere in the capital and we are taking support of those. If police fail to arrest the attackers, people catch them and bring them before police. We are not sparing anyone,” he said while talking to reporters at the secretariat on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have achieved Bangladesh’s independence through the Liberation War. The people of this country will not tolerate violence here,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Replying to a question about an allegation that three people torched a bus in front of police, the home boss said “Police caught the arson attackers red-handed.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“BNP got detached from people following the arson attacks carried out in 2014-2015 and if they (BNP) does it again they will again be detached from the people of the country,” the minister added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to the remarks of BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir that Awami League released BNP leaders Gayeshwar Chandra and Aman after detention due to new US visa policy, the Awami League leader said, :the Prime Minister spoke clearly about the US Visa policy and we have nothing to say. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-30 22:53:12', '2023-07-30 22:53:12'),
(8302, 8302, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A powerful bomb ripped through a rally by supporters of a hard-line cleric and political leader in the country’s northwestern Bajur district that borders Afghanistan on Sunday, police and health officials said. At least 40 people were killed and more than 100 wounded.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Senior police officer Nazir Khan said the workers convention of Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema Islam party was taking place on the outskirts of Khar, the capital of Bajur district, when the explosion took place.</div><div><br></div><div>AP video showed wounded people being carried from the scene in the chaotic aftermath of the explosion.</div><div><br></div><div>Adam Khan, 45, was hit by splinters in his leg and both hands. He said it was around 4 p.m. when the the explosion knocked him to the ground.</div><div><br></div><div>“There was all dust and smoke around and I was under the some injured people from where I hardly (could stand) up but only to see chaos and some scattered limbs,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Islamic State group operates across the border in Afghanistan.</div><div><br></div><div>Initially, police said 10 people were killed but later more bodies arrived at a local hospital bringing the death toll to 40. Khan said some of the wounded were in critical condition and the death toll could rise.</div><div><br></div><div>The JUI workers convention was arranged in a hall close to a market but later tents were added because of the large number of supporters who turned out. The venue was being guarded by party volunteers dressed in camel-colored traditional garb called Shalwar Qameez and holding batons.</div><div><br></div><div>Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief Akhtar Hayat Gandapur said an initial investigation suggested a suicide bomber sneaked into the venue despite the security provided by party volunteers. He said explosives experts were combing the scene to preserve evidence.</div><div><br></div><div>District health officer Dr. Faisal Khan said 40 bodies and 150 wounded from the blast were at Khar\'s main hospital. Some of the wounded were in critical condition and were being transferred to a facility in Peshawar and the adjoining district of Dir.</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Shabaz Sharif, President Arif Alvi and other leaders condemned the attack and asked officials to provide all possible assistance to the wounded and the bereaved families.</div><div><br></div><div>Maulana Ziaullah, the local chief of Rehman\'s party, was among the dead. Senator Abdur Rasheed and former lawmaker Maulana Jamaluddin were also on the stage but escaped unhurt. Party officials said Rehman was not at the rally.</div><div><br></div><div>Rasheed, the regional chief of the party, said the attack was an attempt to remove JUI from the field before parliament elections in November but he said such tactics will not work.</div><div><br></div><div>Rehman is considered to be a pro-Taliban cleric and his political party is part of the coalition government in Islamabad. Meetings are being organized across the country to mobilize supporters for the coming elections.</div><div><br></div><div>“Many of our fellows lost lives and many more wounded in this incident. I will ask the federal and provincial administrations to fully investigate this incident and provide due compensation and medical facilities to the affected ones,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Mohammad Wali said he was listening to a speaker address the crowd when the huge explosion temporarily deafened him.</div><div><br></div><div>“I was near the water dispenser to fetch a glass of water when the bomb exploded throwing me away to the ground,\" he said. \"We came to the meeting with enthusiasm but ended up at the hospital seeing crying wounded people and sobbing relatives taking bodies of their loved ones.”</div><div><br></div><div>Bajur, once used to be a tribal region but now a district, has been a safe haven for Islamic militants until recent years when Pakistani military carried out massive operations to eliminate militancy from the tribal region. Militants still strike attacking security forces and civilians often. Source: AP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 02:28:31', '2023-07-31 02:28:31'),
(8303, 8303, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today said all the law enforcement agencies are ready for holding fair and conflict-free elections in the country.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“Our law enforcement agencies are ready to deal with any kind situation centering the national elections,” he told the Election Monitoring Forum (EMF) delegation while exchanging views with them at his office.</div><div><br></div><div>A six-member election monitoring delegation comprising members from the US, China, Japan, and Ireland held the meeting with the home minister over the upcoming parliamentary election in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>The members are US citizen Terry L Islay, founder of Tenet Finance International Group, Nick Paul, a senior journalist from Ireland, Park Chung Chung of Korea, Usuki Sugu of Japan, Michel John Sherif of the UK and Andy Lin of China.</div><div><br></div><div>The home minister said the delegation wanted to know whether the Home Ministry got prepared for holding fair elections.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have said that our police force, BGB, Ansar, Coast Guard and other law enforcement forces are ready to conduct a fair and conflict-free election. They are capable of and efficient for holding the polls with professionalism,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Kamal said, “We have played the right role in all the elections since 1971. The most important matter is that the ministry will not have any role here. The Election Commission (EC) will play the key role. Security forces and administration will be under their control during the polls period.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said the Ministry of Home Affairs will not be able to transfer any officials after announcement of the election schedule by the EC.</div><div><br></div><div>The home minister said the EMF delegation expressed satisfaction over the preparations. Basically they came to know about preparation of the home ministry, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, the EMF delegation came to Bangladesh on July 28 to observe the environment and political situation before the national elections. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 02:55:32', '2023-07-31 02:55:32'),
(8304, 8304, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ukraine\'s President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned war is coming back to Russia after a drone attack on the capital Moscow.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Zelensky said attacks on Russian territory were an \"inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process\" of the war between the two countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia\'s defence ministry said three Ukrainian drones were downed on Sunday, with two crashing into offices.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Vnukovo Airport, southwest of the city centre, was also briefly shut.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The drone attack in the early hours of Sunday is the latest that Moscow has blamed on Kyiv.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And in a video address on Sunday from the western Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk, Mr Zelensky said that Ukraine was getting stronger.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Today is the 522nd day of the so-called \'Special Military Operation\', which the Russian leadership thought would last a couple of weeks,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Gradually, the war is returning to the territory of Russia - to its symbolic centres and military bases, and this is an inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This characterisation is certainly a level up from Kyiv\'s normal approach of not admitting responsibility for attacks inside Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It may be far from a confession, but President Zelensky clearly feels confident enough to pile on the pressure, and not just on the Kremlin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Drone attacks like these are also an opportunity for him to address the Russian population, the majority of whom appear to believe Moscow\'s invasion is just and righteous.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If they connect explosions close to home with what\'s going on in Ukraine, as per Mr Zelensky\'s suggestion, it makes it that bit harder for Vladimir Putin to justify his invasion, which he is only looking to expand.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officials said there were no injuries following the drone attack, and the city\'s mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the facades of two office buildings were slightly damaged.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Photos from the scene show that several windows have been damaged at the corner of the buildings, with debris scattered on the ground below.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One eyewitness, who only gave her first name as Liya, told Reuters news agency she could see fire and smoke.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We heard an explosion and it was like a wave, everyone jumped,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Then there was a lot of smoke and you couldn\'t see anything. From above, you could see fire.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Flights were briefly suspended from Vnukovo Airport, southwest of the city centre, and incoming planes were redirected to other airports.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a statement, the defence ministry said the \"attempted terrorist attack\" had been \"thwarted\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moscow, located about 500km (310 miles) from the Ukrainian border, has rarely been targeted since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Russia has accused Ukraine of launching a series of drone strikes on its territory in recent months, including several on the capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The most notable was in May, when Russia claimed Ukraine used two drones to attack the Kremlin - the heart of the city. Ukraine denied attacking the Kremlin or targeting President Vladimir Putin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia\'s defence ministry says Ukraine also carried out an overnight drone attack on Crimea - territory which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Officials say 16 drones were destroyed and a further nine were suppressed, Tass news agency reports.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials say a Russian missile attack on the city of Sumy, in the north east of the country, has left one person dead and five injured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A building was destroyed in an explosion at about 20:00 local time (17:00 GMT), according to public broadcaster Suspilne.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officials also say two people were killed in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia on Saturday. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 13:45:26', '2023-07-31 13:45:26'),
(8305, 8305, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least 44 people have been killed in an explosion in Pakistan during a rally organised by an Islamist party.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 100 people were also injured in the explosion in north-west Bajaur district, where Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) was holding a meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police told the BBC that they have found evidence suggesting the explosion was a possible suicide attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A rescue operation has been completed and all injured have been taken to hospital, officers said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officials have warned the death toll may rise further, as 15 people are in a critical condition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The motivation behind the attack is not yet clear. Security forces have cordoned off the area and an investigation into the explosion is taking place.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hundreds of people were attending the JUI-F workers\' convention on Sunday in the town of Khar, in the Pakistani tribal district of Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the border with Afghanistan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pictures showed hundreds of people gathered under a canopy when the blast happened close to the stage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One eyewitness said the tent collapsed, trapping people who were desperately trying to escape.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Images broadcast on local TV show ambulances ferrying injured people to hospital, while police confirmed those with serious injuries have been flown by military helicopters to nearby Peshawar for urgent medical treatment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Authorities have declared a health emergency at the district hospital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some badly injured people have been waiting in the hallways of health clinics struggling to cope with the high number of casualties.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A regional leader of the JUI-F, Maulana Ziaullah, was killed in the blast, local officials told the BBC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">JUI-F is a major religious political party and forms part of the government coalition in Pakistan\'s parliament.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan\'s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifcondemned those responsible as being terrorists who have \"targeted those who speak for Islam, the Quran and Pakistan\" and said they would face \"real punishment\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The terrorists are enemies of Pakistan, we will eliminate them from the face of existence,\" the PM said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The political gathering was an opportunity for the JUI-F to rally its support, ahead of an election expected to take place later this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While no-one has yet said they carried out the attack, the local branch of Islamic State group (IS) in Pakistan claimed to be behind several attacks this year in Bajaur and has previously claimed targeting JUI-F.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In June, the militants said they were behind the assassination of a party official in the village of Inayat Killi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">IS issued the claim in the name of its \"Khorasan Province\" branch (ISKP), which operates in Afghanistan and north-west Pakistan. The group also claims attacks in Pakistan in the name of its \"Pakistan Province\" branch. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 13:48:19', '2023-07-31 13:48:19'),
(8306, 8306, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka\'s air quality is ‘moderate’ this morning.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 82 at 8:45 am, Dhaka ranked 15th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Malaysia’s Kuching, Pakistan’s Lahore and UAE’s Dubai occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 161, 157 and 156, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka\'s air quality \'moderate\' this morning</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 51 and 100 is considered \'moderate\', AQI between 101 and 150 is considered ‘unhealthy\', and between 201 and 300 is said to be \'very unhealthy\', while a reading of 301+ is considered \'hazardous\', posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 15:16:17', '2023-07-31 15:16:17'),
(8307, 8307, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Denmark\'s foreign minister said Sunday the government will seek to make it illegal to desecrate the Quran or other religious holy books in front of foreign embassies in the Nordic country.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said in an interview with the Danish public broadcaster DR that the burning of holy scriptures \"only serves the purpose of creating division in a world that actually needs unity.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"That is why we have decided in the government that we will look at how, in very special situations, we can put an end to mockery of other countries, which is in direct conflict with Danish interests and the safety of the Danes,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A recent string of public Quran desecrations by a handful of anti-Islam activists in Denmark and neighboring Sweden have sparked angry demonstrations in Muslim countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Løkke Rasmussen said the Cabinet of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is determined to find \"a legal tool\" to prohibit such acts without compromising freedom of expression, but he acknowledged that would not be easy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There must be room for religious criticism, and we have no thoughts of reintroducing a blasphemy clause,\" he told DR. \"But when you stand up in front of a foreign embassy and burn a Quran or burn the Torah scroll in front of the Israeli embassy, it serves no other purpose than to mock.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His comments followed a statement issued late Sunday by the Danish government saying freedom of expression is one of the most important values in Danish society.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But, it added, the descreation of the Muslim holy book in Denmark has resulted in the nation being viewed in many places around the world \"as a country that facilitates insult and denigration of the cultures, religions, and traditions of other countries.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government repeated its condemnation of such descecrations, say they are \"deeply offensive and reckless acts committed by few individuals\" and \"do not represent the values the Danish society is built on.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Sweden, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Sunday on Instagram that his government is analyzing the legal situation regarding desecration of the Quran and other holy books, given the animosity such acts are stirring up against Sweden.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We are in the most serious security policy situation since the Second World War,\" Kristersson said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has called an emergency remote meeting Monday to discuss the Quran burnings in Sweden and Denmark. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 15:18:58', '2023-07-31 15:18:58'),
(8308, 8308, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Borussia Dortmund punished Manchester United\'s defensive lapses on Sunday as the English Premier League giants wrapped up their North American tour with a 3-2 defeat to the Bundesliga side in Las Vegas.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A second-half strike by Dortmund substitute Youssoufa Moukoko proved the difference in an entertaining clash at the Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL\'s Las Vegas Raiders.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">United manager Erik ten Hag named a virtual reserve team to start, leaving the likes of Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and new signing Mason Mount on the bench.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yet United\'s makeshift starting XI were more than a match for Dortmund in the first half, dominating for long periods before Diogo Dalot handed the Red Devils the lead on 24 minutes with a long-range strike.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Dortmund turned the game on its head in the closing minutes of the first half, with two goals in a minute from Netherlands international forward Donyell Malen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The first came when United\'s defense failed to close down Karim Adeyemi\'s burst down the right.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite the attention of a cluster of United defenders, Adeyemi was able to square for Malen, who hooked in from close range.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Malen grabbed his second a minute later, this time seizing on a United howler when Victor Lindelof lost possession inside the area trying to pass out from the back.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">United were lucky not to go 3-1 down in the opening minutes of the second half, when another defensive slip, this time by Harry Maguire, allowed Sebastien Haller a shot on goal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">United goalkeeper Andre Onana saved and then watched in relief as Adeyemi blasted the follow-up wide with the goal gaping.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">United did get back on level terms in the 52nd minute, when Brazilian forward Antony swept home a low shot from inside the area after a botched clearance by Dortmund veteran Mats Hummels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ten Hag rang in the changes with 30 minutes remaining, with Rashford instantly providing more of an attacking threat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But it was Dortmund who scored the decisive goal, with veteran Marco Reus working a clever opening to set up Moukoko for the winner. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 15:21:35', '2023-07-31 15:21:35'),
(8309, 8309, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Authorities have lost hope of finding survivors after a military helicopter crashed into the sea during exercises over the weekend, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said Monday.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The loss of these four men is as significant and meaningful as the loss of anyone who has worn our nation\'s uniform,\" he said, as Australia called off the search and rescue operation. AFp</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 15:23:50', '2023-07-31 15:23:50');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(8310, 8310, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least 44 people were killed and more than 100 others wounded Sunday by a suicide bombing at a political gathering of a leading Islamic party in northwest Pakistan, officials said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The blast targeted the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) party -- a government coalition partner led by an influential firebrand cleric -- as hundreds of supporters congregated under a canopy in the town of Khar, near the Afghan border.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The tent had collapsed on one side, trapping people who were desperately attempting to escape,\" said Abdullah Khan, who tried to help the victims.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There was utter confusion, with human flesh, limbs, and body parts scattered throughout the area, alongside lifeless bodies.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sabeeh Ullah, a 24-year-old party supporter who had his arm fractured by the blast, said the scale of injuries was horrifying.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I found myself lying next to someone who had lost their limbs. The air was filled with the smell of human flesh,\" he told AFP by phone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As the toll kept rising, Riaz Anwar -- the health minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province -- told AFP late Sunday 44 people had been confirmed killed and over 100 wounded.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It was a suicide attack, with the bomber detonating himself in close proximity to the stage,\" he told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistani media said there were some 400 people in the tent at the time of the explosion, and that multiple emergency crews were working the scene.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Images from the blast site circulating on social media showed bodies strewn around, and volunteers helping blood-soaked victims to ambulances.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan\'s national assembly is due to dissolve in the next few weeks ahead of elections expected in October or November, and political parties are already preparing to campaign.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The blast coincides with a visit to the country by a senior delegation of Chinese officials, including Vice Premier He Lifeng, who arrived in the capital Sunday evening.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the blast Sunday on social media, offering condolences to the victims and vowing to punish those responsible.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Local Islamic State active -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the local chapter of the Islamic State (IS) group has recently carried out attacks against JUI-F.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last year, IS said it was behind violent attacks against religious scholars affiliated with the party, which has a huge network of mosques and madrassas in the north and west of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The jihadist group accuses JUI-F of hypocrisy for being an Islamic group while supporting hostile governments and the military.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The party\'s leader, cleric Fazlur Rehman, started political life as a firebrand Islamist hardliner but has softened his public image over the years in a bid to forge alliances with secular parties on the left and right.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With the ability to mobilise tens of thousands of madrassa students, his party never musters enough support for power on its own, but is usually a key player in any coalition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in militant attacks since the Afghan Taliban surged back to power in neighbouring Afghanistan in 2021.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan\'s home-grown Taliban group, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has largely directed its campaign against security officials, including police officers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In January, a suicide bomber linked to Pakistan\'s Taliban blew himself up in a mosque inside a police compound in the northwestern city of Peshawar, killing more than 80 officers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The militant assaults have been focused in regions abutting Afghanistan, and Islamabad alleges some are being planned on Afghan soil -- a charge Kabul denies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan was once plagued by almost daily bombings, but a major military clearance operation in the former tribal areas starting in 2014 largely restored order.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The seven remote districts that border Afghanistan, of which Bajaur is one, were later brought under the control of Pakistani authorities after the passage of legislation in 2018.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Analysts say militants in the former tribal areas have become emboldened since the return of the Afghan Taliban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One security analyst suggested Sunday\'s attack was more likely linked to the election rather than having a sectarian motive.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This is part of terrorism violence that seems to be ramping up in Pakistan ahead of elections to create a sense of instability that could eventually lead to a delay in the elections,\" said Imtiaz Gul, executive director of the Center for Research and Security Studies. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 15:58:56', '2023-07-31 15:58:56'),
(8311, 8311, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Actor Ranveer Singh has reacted to veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar\'s review of his latest film Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. Helmed by Karan Johar, the film stars Ranveer, Alia Bhatt, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan and Shabana Azmi in the lead roles. It hit the theatres on July 28.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Taking to Instagram Stories on Monday, Ranveer shared Javed\'s review of the film. The actor wrote, “Thank you, Javed Sahab! Means the world coming from a Giant of Indian Cinema as Your esteemed self! Was an honour watching it in your presence!”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, after watching the film, Javed Akhtar had shared on Twitter or X, \"Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is one of the most entertaining Hindi films I have seen in recent years. If you love wit, humour, and strong emotions, here is a must-watch.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Actor Raveena Tandon shared a photo with Karan Johar and Manish Malhotra on her Instagram Stories. She wrote, \"Karan you are a genius! Rocky and Rani is a master stroke! I laughed, cried, clapped and whistled! A roller coaster ride of emotions touching on all on the world we live in! Take a bow.\" Responding to her, Ranveer wrote, \"Just the kind of movie-going experience we hoped to deliver! So glad that you enjoyed it, ma\'am! Thank you for the love!\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rocky aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani\'s team ahead of its release held a special screening from celebrities. Ranveer Singh, Alia, Ranbir Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Jaya Bachchan, and Abhishek Bachchan attended the screening. Gauri Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Katrina Kaif, Sara Ali Khan, Ananya Panday, Malaika Arora, Karisma Kapoor were also seen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rocky aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani opened in theatres last week in a grand way. The film earned ₹11.1 crore on day one of its release, ₹16.05 crore on day two and ₹19 crore on day three. Its total earning so far is ₹46 crore. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 17:35:57', '2023-07-31 17:35:57'),
(8312, 8312, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was holding talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Monday in a sign of improving ties after a stormy period between the EU and his predecessor over human rights.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Von der Leyen arrived in Manila Sunday night for the first such top-level visit in nearly six decades of relations with the Philippines. Her visit is aimed at strengthening diplomatic, trade, security and overall relations, European and Philippine officials said, adding that she came at Marcos’s invitation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The talks between von der Leyen and her delegation with Filipino officials were also expected to cover the Philippines’ chances of retaining special trade incentives depending on its adherence to international conventions on human and labor rights and good governance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In February, a group of European parliamentarians said Manila’s chances of retaining those incentives, including slashed tariffs for a wide array of products, would increase if a long-detained opposition leader is freed and the Philippines rejoins the International Criminal Court.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The European Union trade incentives under the so-called Generalized Scheme of Preferences, or GSP Plus, for the Philippines and seven other developing countries are anchored on their adherence to more than two dozen international conventions on human and labor rights, environmental protection and good governance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The trading incentives, which the Philippines started to enjoy in 2014, would end in December and the government could reapply within a two-year period to retain them, the European lawmakers said then.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the Philippines came under intense EU criticism during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s six-year term, mainly because of the bloody anti-drugs crackdown he oversaw that left more than 6,000 mostly petty suspects dead. Marcos succeeded Duterte in June last year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The killings sparked an International Criminal Court investigation as a possible crime against humanity. Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2018, but its prosecutor has proceeded to investigate the widespread deaths that occurred in the years when the country was still part of the court based in The Hague.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Duterte then often lashed at the EU’s criticisms of his brutal anti-drugs crackdown with profanity-laced outbursts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">European parliamentarians have also repeatedly demanded the release of opposition leader and former senator Leila de Lima, Duterte’s most vocal critic who was arrested and detained in 2017 on drug charges she said were fabricated by Duterte and his officials to stop her from investigating the killings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hannah Neumann, who led the European delegation in a visit to the Philippines in February, told a news conference then that rights conditions under the Marcos administration were “better than it was under Pres. Duterte” in reply to a question. “There are a lot of announcements that could indeed improve things if they’re implemented.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The delegates then welcomed Marcos’ “commitment to change the focus of the ‘war on drugs’ away from a punitive approach towards prevention and rehabilitation.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But they said extrajudicial killings have reportedly persisted and underscored the need for all the killings to be investigated and the perpetrators held to account to fight impunity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked if a decision to release de Lima and rejoin the ICC would boost the Philippines’ chances of continuing to enjoy the EU trading incentives, Neumann said that would be “a strong sign in which direction the country wants to move.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The European Parliament has been quite clear that whoever wants to have preferential access to the European market needs to uphold social standards, human rights standards, environmental standards,” she said. “This is not going to go away.” AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 17:57:47', '2023-07-31 17:57:47'),
(8313, 8313, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen hosted a dinner on Sunday in honour of the newly arrived and outgoing diplomats stationed in Dhaka.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It was a farewell and welcome for outgoing and newly arrived ambassadors,” one of the diplomats familiar with the event told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, it could not be known whether the current political situation came up for discussion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh Anne Gerard van Leeuwen paid a farewell call on Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Sunday afternoon at the State Guest House Padma.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Recognizing the Dutch-Bangladesh bilateral relations as solid, the Foreign Secretary thanked the Ambassador for his contributions towards building it and keeping it on an upward trajectory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He stated that the Netherlands is an important country for Bangladesh and underscored that the partnership and investment in the areas of agriculture and agro-processing, supply chain management, IT and ITES, climate change and renewable energy would be beneficial for both the economies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Foreign Secretary praised the Dutch leadership in the circular economy, modern sustainable agriculture, green energy and delta plan for a sustainable future and sought Dutch support for skill development in these sectors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He thanked the Dutch government for humanitarian assistance to the forcibly displaced Rohingyas, temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh, and urged more support of the Netherlands towards sustainable repatriation to their homeland Myanmar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ambassador Leeuwen expressed satisfaction for receiving all-out support of the Bangladesh government during his tour of duty in Bangladesh. He underscored the need for more knowledge-to-knowledge (K2K) and business-to-business (B2B) connections for the prosperity of both countries and highlighted ‘Orange Corners’ established by the Dutch government to promote start-ups, skill development and private sector cooperation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ambassador thanked Bangladesh for hosting 1.1 million Rohingyas and hoped for a peaceful solution to the crisis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Foreign Secretary hosted a lunch in honour of the departing Ambassador at the end of the meeting and handed over a gift as memento. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 18:11:07', '2023-07-31 18:11:07'),
(8314, 8314, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Twenty-eight government officials and two departments on Monday received the \'Bangabandhu Public Administration Award-2023\' from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier conferred the award at a function in the city’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium on the occasion of the National Public Service Day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The award under different categories has been in practice&nbsp; since 2016 in a bid to encourage efficiency, mindfulness and innovative efforts of the officials of the public administration in various fields.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Food Ministry was conferred the award in the category of \'Policy and Administrative System Reform\' and the National Heart Institute and Hospital in the category of \'Research and Its Use for Human Welfare\'.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former Deputy Commissioner of Laxmipur Anwar Hossain Akand, Civil Surgeon of Laxmipur Dr Ahmed Kabir, former Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Laxmipur Noor-e-Alam, former Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Laxmipur Sadar Upazila Imran Hossain and UNO of Raipur Upazila Anjan Das received the award in the \'General Administration and Management\' category.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former Deputy Commissioner of Khagrachhari Pratap Chandra Biswas, former ADC of Khagrachhari KM Yasir Arafat, former Assistant Commissioner of Khagrachhari Basudeb Kumar Malo and former Assistant Commissioner of Khagrachhari Sheikh Naushad Hasan got the medal in the \'Development Administration\' category.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Four officers ---Former Deputy Commissioner of Shariatpur Parvez Hasan, former Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension Department of Shariatpur Matlubar Rahman, UNO of Zajira Upazila (Shariatpur) Kamrul Hasan Sohel and Agriculture Officer of Zajira Upazila Jamal Hossain – were given the award in the \'Economic Development\' category.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Five officials received the awards in the \'Environmental Development\' category. They are Former Deputy Commissioner of Habiganj Ishrat Jahan, ADC (General) of Habiganj Mintu Chowdhury, Former Executive Engineer of Habiganj District Water Development Board Shahnewaz Talukder, Habiganj Assistant Commissioner Navid Sarwar and Habiganj Municipality Assistant Engineer Dilip Kumar Dutta.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Five other officials were conferred with the award in the \'Human Resource Development\' category. They are Gaibandha Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) Deputy Director Abdus Sabur, Gaibandha Sadar Upazila Rural Development Officer Tahajul Islam, Sundarganj Upazila Rural Development Officer Abul Kamal Azad, Gobindaganj Upazila Rural Development Officer Enamul Haque and Palashbari Upazila Rural Development Officer Hasanuzzaman.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gazipur Civil Surgeon Dr Md Khairuzzaman was given the award in the category of \'Disaster and Crisis Management.\'</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former Intelligence Officer and Commander of RAB-11\'s Anti-Terrorism Unit Mirza Salahuddin received the award in the \'Crime Prevention\' category, while Panchagarh\'s Tetulia UNO Sohag Chandra Saha in the category of \'Innovation in Public Service\'.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the \'Science and Technology\' category, Naogaon’s Badalgachi Upazila Livestock Officer Dr. Nazmul Haque got the Bangabandhu Public Administration Award.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, Bishwambarpur UNO of Sunamganj Saadi Ur Rahim Jadid was given the award in the category of social development and management.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The recipients of the awards can use the title ‘BPAA’ at the end of their names. Each recipient was provided with a gold medal (weighing 15 grams) and a certificate with a state monogram as prizes. Tk 2 lakh was given for individual contribution, while Tk 5 lakh for team contribution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain, Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Administration Ministry HN Ashequr Rahman and Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain spoke on the occasion, while Public Administration Senior Secretary Mohammed Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury delivered the welcome speech.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The National Public Service Day is celebrated every year on July 23. This year, the theme of the day was ‘Good Governance First, Innovation in Public Service.’ UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 18:22:30', '2023-07-31 18:22:30'),
(8315, 8315, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The new US visa policy should be effective on BNP as they are trying to obstruct election through violence and anarchy, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under the policy, the US can impose “visa restrictions on individuals and their immediate family members if they are responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Read: ‘Which party do they belong to?’: AL Facebook post responds to Fakhrul’s claim with photo of Chhatra Dal leader during yesterday’s clash</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"BNP\'s recent political programmes were nothing but obstruction to the upcoming national election,” Quader, also road, transport and bridges minister, said at a press conference at his Secretariat office today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We don\'t want clashes and we won\'t go on the streets for that. Police will handle the situation and it is their responsibility,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Read: Be alert so that anti-liberation forces cannot rise: Law Minister</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“BNP leaders and activists will block all important entry points of Dhaka and try to disconnect the capital from other parts of the country. In this situation, should the police stay inactive? Police will definitely take action and it is their duty to protect people\'s lives and property,” said the minister. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 18:42:02', '2023-07-31 18:42:02'),
(8316, 8316, '<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Nuclear fuel for the Rooppur nuclear power plant (RNPP) will arrive in the country in September, ROSATOM Director General (DG) Alexey Likhachev today said as he paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban.</span><br></p><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The work of RNPP has progressed overcoming hundreds of obstacles and nuclear fuel for this plant will reach Bangladesh in September,\" PM\'s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim quoted Likhachev as telling the premier at their meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While briefing the reporters after the meeting, Karim said, the ROSATOM DG apprised the premier of the overall progress of RNPP and discussed the project.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also talked about the opening celebration of the RNPP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister thanked all concerned for taking forward the work of RNPP despite the Covid-19 pandemic and the global crisis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also expressed her gratitude to Russia for providing technology and financial assistance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Recalling Russia\'s support and assistance in the great War of Liberation and in the reconstruction of Bangladesh after the war, Sheikh Hasina hoped that Russia\'s cooperation will continue in the future.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Science and Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman, Ambassador-at-large Mohammad Ziauddin, PM\'s Principal Secretary M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Senior Secretary of Science and Technology Ministry Ziaul Hasan, PM\'s Special Assistant Dr. Shaheed Hossain and Bangladesh Ambassador to Russia Kamrul Ahsan were present. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 19:36:50', '2023-07-31 19:36:50'),
(8317, 8317, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">One of the deadliest cancers, lung cancer begins when cells grow abnormally in the crucial respiratory organ. As per National Cancer Institute, lung and bronchus cancer are responsible for most deaths with 127,070 people expected to die from this cancer.&nbsp;</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Lung cancer was estimated to be 1,03,371 cases in 2022 and it featured in the top five leading sites for both males and females. Lung cancer affects smokers the most and over 80% of people who get lung cancers smoke frequently. Second-hand smoke, radon, air pollution, family history of lung cancer, could be other risk factors. A persistent cough, difficulty in breathing, coughing blood, chest pain, fatigue are all signs of lung cancer people should watch out for.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Date of World Lung Cancer Day</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">World Lung Cancer Day is observed every year on August 1 since 2012 when it was first marked to raise awareness around the deadly disease, encourage more research on it and break the stigma around the disease.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>History of World Lung Cancer Day</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The campaign for World Lung Cancer Day gained spotlight in the year 2012 though the momentum was set in the preceding years. The campaign was organised by the Forum of International Respiratory Societies in collaboration with the International Association for the study of Lung Cancer and the American College of Chest Physicians. Since then, the awareness around lung cancer picked pace most of which centred around being aware of the cough that lasts for more than 3 weeks along with other symptoms of lung cancer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Significance of World Lung Cancer Day</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">In India, the incidence of cancer cases may grow from 1.46 million in 2022 to 1.57 million in 2025. Lung and breast cancers in males and females, respectively, are considered as leading locations of cancer. Major types of lung cancer classified on the basis of appearance of cancer cells under the microscope are: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer can spread at a faster rate than non-small lung cancer. It is important to dedicate a day to spread awareness around the deadly cancer so that it can be diagnosed at an early stage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Symptoms of lung cancer</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Symptoms of lung cancer usually may not be detected in the early stages. Therefore, it is advisable to seek medical attention if you develop certain symptoms such as cough continuing more than 2 weeks, change in a chronic cough or \'smoker’s cough\', coughing up blood (even if small amounts), difficulty in breathing, chest pain, wheezing, hoarseness, unexplained weight loss, bone/joint pain, fatigue, headache, Inflammation on face or arms and facial paralysis,\" says Dr Sunny Jain, HOD and Sr. Consultant Oncology, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Faridabad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"In cancer we have been able to tailor made approach in lung cancer treatment by recognising various mutations and their pathways and by targeting the pathway we are able to block the same thereby treating cancer to name a few- The most common genetic mutations detected in lung cancer are in the genes EGFR, KRAS, and ALK. The first therapies targeting mutated forms of the EGFR protein were given approval for people suffering from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Osimertinib forces specific mutated forms of EGFR proteins, comprising one known as T790M associated with resistance to other EGFR-targeted drugs. Osimertinib fights tumours with the same EGFR activating mutations (called exon 19 deletions and exon 21 L858R) targeted by the other EGFR-targeted drugs,\" says Dr Jain. 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, '2023-07-31 19:51:13', '2023-07-31 19:51:13'),
(8318, 8318, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A mild heat wave is sweeping parts of the country including Dhaka.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“ It is sweeping Rajshahi , Sylhet divisions, Dhaka, Tangail, Madaripur, Rangpur, Netrakona, Rangamati, Cumilla, Feni, Jashore and&nbsp; Kushtia districts and it may abate from some places,” said a bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Country’s highest temperature was recoded at 37 degree Celcius in Feni and Rangpur districts on Sunday while Dhaka’s temperature was recorded at 36.7 degree Celcius.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BMD also forecast light to moderate rain/thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind at most places over Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions ; at many places over Rajshahi &amp; Dhaka divisions and at a few places over Rangpur,Mymensingh &amp; Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over the country in 24 hours coomecing 9am on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Day and night temperature may fall slightly over the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It also predicted that rainfall may increase during the period.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The low pressure area over Gangetic West Bengal coast &amp; adjoining area has intensified into a well-marked low over central part of North Bay and adjoining area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The axis of monsoon trough runs through Punjab, Haryana,Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gangetic West Bengal, center of the well-marked low to Assam across southern part of Bangladesh, said the bulletin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh and moderate elsewhere over North Bay. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">&nbsp; &nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 19:56:10', '2023-07-31 19:56:10'),
(8319, 8319, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday reiterated her firm conviction that no one would be allowed to play ducks and drakes with the fate of the countrymen, saying there is no reason to be worried about movement.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"Don\'t be scared of seeing a little movement; there is nothing to fear as long as the people are with us ... we will not tolerate the arson-terrorism anymore. It will never be accepted,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier made this remark while addressing a function organized to distribute the \"Bangabandhu Public Administration Award-2023\" in the city\'s Osmani Memorial Auditorium on the occasion of National Public Service Day, reports BSS</div><div><br></div><div>She said, \"We have no objection to any movement. But, we will not allow anyone else to play ducks and drakes with the fate of the people of our country.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"Remember one thing, those who didn\'t support us in our Great War of Liberation, the enmity in their minds has not yet disappeared,\" said Sheikh Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>\"But, we\'re moving forward and Bangladesh will continue to move ahead,\" she added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 21:11:49', '2023-07-31 21:11:49'),
(8320, 8320, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A Japanese man named Toco has transformed himself into a canine after shelling out more than $14,000 (Rs 12 lakh) for a custom-made collie costume. </b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The creators took 40 days to make the unusual garment but it has helped the man realise his dream of \"becoming an animal.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The man has shared several videos on his Youtube channel, where he boasts nearly 33,000 subscribers. The footage shows Toco rolling on the floor and playing fetch.</div><div><br></div><div>The man recently posted a video of himself stepping out in public for the very first time. Bystanders were in awe of the human collie. In the five-minute video, Toco can be seen interacting with people and other dogs. Toco said that the video was filmed last year during an interview with German TV station RTL.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Thankfully, I received permission to use the videos, so I am releasing them to the public! On the day of the interview, they were very kind to me,\" Toco wrote in the description.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Do you remember your dreams from when you are little? You want to be a hero or a wizard,\" he wrote in the clip.</div><div><br></div><div>In the video, Toco can be seen behaving like a four-legged furball. Some dogs initially showed fear after approaching the human dog.</div><div><br></div><div>Toco has chronicled his journey on his YouTube channel. He has not revealed his identity yet in public.</div><div><br></div><div>In a video uploaded last year, Toco answered a series of questions. He admitted he always \"had a vague dream of becoming an animal\" ever since he was a child, New York Post reported.</div><div><br></div><div>According to local Japanese news outlet news.mynavi, Zeppet provides a large number of sculptures for movies, commercials, and amusement facilities and also produces costumes that have been seen on TV and costumes of famous mascot characters in Japan.</div><div><br></div><div>The entire costume is estimated to have cost more than ₹ 12 lakhs (2 million Yen) and took 40 days to make. - NDTV</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p> transform into dog<br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 22:43:12', '2023-07-31 22:43:23'),
(8321, 8321, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A delegation of the Election Commission (EC), led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal, paid a courtesy call on Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique at the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The delegation also included Election Commissioner Rasheda Sultana, EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam and Joint Secretary Mahbubur Rahman at the meeting which lasted for around half an hour, beginning at 1:30 pm.</div><div><br></div><div>However, no officials from the SC administration were present at the closed door meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>After the meeting, the CEC told journalists, “The chief justice administered (my) oath. He (chief justice) will retire in the coming days, hence I came here to pay a courtesy call.”</div><div><br></div><div>Asked whether any other issue was discussed, the CEC expressed reluctance, saying that his office (EC) will talk about the rule being issued by the High Court on the election.</div><div><br></div><div>Upon his arrival, officials of the SC and HC welcomed the CEC at around 1:25 pm. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 23:04:41', '2023-07-31 23:04:41'),
(8322, 8322, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A public rally of BNP has begun at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan to protest the “oppression” on the party leaders and workers during their Saturday’s sit-in programme at different entrances of the capital.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The rally formally began around 3pm on Monday with the recitation from the holy Quran.</div><div><br></div><div>As part of the party’s countrywide programme, BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units have arranged the rally at the historic venue.</div><div><br></div><div>A temporary stage has been set up on four trucks keeping them side by side and around 50 loudspeakers have been installed around the rally venue.</div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka South City unit BNP convener Abdus Salam said they have completed the necessary preparation at the shortest notice to hold the rally.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I am hopeful that there will be a large gathering of people in the rally,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will address the rally as the chief guest.</div><div><br></div><div>The party leaders and activists from different city areas have started thronging the rally venue since 1 pm.</div><div><br></div><div>A huge number of law enforcers have been deployed around the rally venue to fend off any untoward incident.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on Saturday, Mirza Fakhrul announced that their party would hold rallies in all cities and district towns to protest the oppression on the party leaders and workers during their Saturday’s sit-in programme at different entrances of the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, BNP’s sit-in programme at the key entry points of Dhaka on Saturday was marred by clashes and violence, leaving an unspecified number of people injured.</div><div><br></div><div>Several vehicles were torched in different areas, including Matuail and Shyamoli, during the clashes between BNP activists and police. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 23:32:02', '2023-07-31 23:32:02'),
(8323, 8323, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Newly appointed Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral M Nazmul Hassan on Monday paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban in the capital.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>During the meeting, they discussed different issues, said Prime Minister\'s Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the premier congratulated the new navy chief by presenting a bouquet and wished his success.</div><div><br></div><div>Hassan also greeted the prime minister by presenting a bouquet and sought her blessing. According to BSS reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-07-31 23:57:15', '2023-07-31 23:57:15'),
(8324, 8324, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The month of mourning begins on Tuesday commemorating the brutal assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members on August 15, 1975.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The August 15 carnage is the ugliest chapter of the nation\'s history as the self-confessed killers not only assassinate the nation\'s founding father alone, but also killed 16 other members of his family, friends and relatives.</div><div><br></div><div>The nation observes with heavy heart the month of August as the month of mourning to recall the barbaric killing on 1975\'s 15 August.</div><div><br></div><div>The August 15 carnage martyrs included Bangabandhu\'s wife Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, his sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal, Bangabandhu\'s brother Sheikh Naser, brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, nephew and eminent journalist Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, Moni\'s pregnant wife Arzoo Moni and Bangabandhu\'s military secretary Colonel Jamil.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangabandhu\'s two daughters - incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana - escaped the planned assassination as they were visiting Germany at that time.</div><div><br></div><div>With the killing of Bangabandhu, the greatest Bangalee of all times, a pall of gloom descended and a sense of deep sadness spread among the people in the country and across the globe.</div><div><br></div><div>The world protested and condemned the killing, saying it is an irreparable loss to millions of people of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>The month of August is also black marked with another conspiracy of assassination. The nation cannot ever forget the heinous attempt of killing Sheikh Hasina through grenade attacks in 2004.</div><div><br></div><div>The vested quarter, who assassinated Bangabandhu in 1975, also tried to destroy Awami League (AL) by killing its president Sheikh Hasina with grenades on an anti-terrorism rally at Bangabandhu Avenue here on August 21 in 2004.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina narrowly escaped the attack suffering splinter injuries when 24 of her party men, including Awami League\'s women affairs secretary Ivy Rahman, were killed and 500 others injured.</div><div><br></div><div>Like in the previous years, different political and socio-cultural organisations, including ruling Awami League (AL) and its associate bodies have chalked out month-long programmes to observe the month of mourning. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-01 02:54:14', '2023-08-01 02:54:14');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(8325, 8325, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Hinata Miyazawa scored twice and set up another as Japan stunned Spain 4-0 at the Women\'s World Cup on Monday to set up a clash with Norway in the knockout stage.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The Japanese delivered a lesson in clinical counter-attacking and led 3-0 at half-time to issue a World Cup warning against one of the title favourites.</div><div><br></div><div>The 2011 champions Japan topped the group to play another former winner in Norway while Spain will face Switzerland in the last 16.</div><div><br></div><div>Miyazawa\'s brace took her to four goals for the tournament while Riko Ueki and Mina Tanaka bagged the others for a hugely impressive Japan.</div><div><br></div><div>Boasting a host of European club stars, Spain dominated possession in front of a crowd of 20,957 in Wellington.</div><div><br></div><div>But they didn\'t create a single clear chance as Japan soaked up pressure and broke with pace, with lethal effect.</div><div><br></div><div>It was a tactical masterclass from Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda, whose team denied space and time to Barcelona stars Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The Spanish team, with that kind of offence, we decided to respond with a compact defence,\" Ikeda said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Once we recovered the ball, we tried to attack to the maximum at speed.\"</div><div>Japan\'s three first-half attempts resulted in three blistering goals as their speedy front line took advantage of a disorganised Spanish defence missing injured captain Ivana Andres.</div><div><br></div><div>It was Japan\'s first win in five attempts over Spain.</div><div><br></div><div>Their 11 goals is the most by any team at the tournament while they\'re one of four sides yet to concede a goal.</div><div><br></div><div>Miyazawa is also the tournament\'s leading scorer, although she was denied a chance to add to her four goals when replaced at halftime.</div><div><br></div><div>A beaming Miyazawa said leading the race for the golden boot was a surprise and a \"great pleasure\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"I never imagined it. All of the goals are because of the other players giving me the right passes. So it\'s everybody\'s goal, not just me,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>With both teams having already qualified after coasting past pool opponents Zambia and Costa Rica, sixth-ranked Spain were considered the favourites to top the group.</div><div><br></div><div>Only needing a draw to do so, the Europeans controlled the ball for long periods but they had few answers when their opponents broke with speed.</div><div><br></div><div>- Spain in shock -</div><div><br></div><div>Spain coach Jorge Vilda conceded he\'d been out-thought tactically.</div><div><br></div><div>\"As the head coach I\'m responsible for this defeat,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Yes I was surprised, they were exerting a lot of pressure.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We had to break this low block that they had but we were not able to get past their lines to attack... and little by little they started scoring goals.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have not seen the best Spanish team yet and I\'m convinced that against Switzerland the team will react positively.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The opener came in the 12th minute when Miyazawa outpaced the defence to reach Jun Endo\'s curling pass from halfway before slotting low past Misa Rodriguez.</div><div><br></div><div>Miyazawa turned provider in the 29th minute, driving forward before finding Ueki, whose shot took a giant deflection and snuck inside the top corner.</div><div><br></div><div>Another lightning quick counter gave Miyazawa space and the striker blasted powerfully past Rodriguez five minutes before the interval.</div><div><br></div><div>Substitute Tanaka\'s sensational 82nd minute goal came after a sizzling solo run from the touchline that turned the defence inside out.</div><div><br></div><div>Ikeda has quality at his disposal, having made five changes to his side who beat Costa Rica, including the selection of forwards Miyazawa and Ueki over in-form Tanaka and Aoba Fujino. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-01 02:57:08', '2023-08-01 02:57:08'),
(8326, 8326, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>August, the month when the nation lost its greatest leader, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, begins today.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The August 15 carnage is the darkest chapter in the nation\'s history, as some disgruntled army personnel not only assassinated the nation\'s founding father but also killed most of his family members.</div><div><br></div><div>The self-confessed killers did not even spare 10-year-old Sheikh Russel on the dark night.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangabandhu\'s daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana survived as they were in Germany at the time.</div><div><br></div><div>The nation, with a heavy heart, observes the month of August as the month of mourning, recalling the barbaric killings.</div><div><br></div><div>Different political and socio-cultural organisations, including the ruling Awami League (AL) and its associate bodies have chalked out a month-long programme to observe the month of mourning. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-01 15:50:28', '2023-08-01 15:50:28'),
(8327, 8327, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Seventeen workers were killed and three injured as a crane fell on a bridge slab during construction of the third phase of Samruddhi Expressway in Indian Maharashtra’s Thane district on Tuesday, an official said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Three to five persons are still feared trapped and efforts are on to rescue them,” an NDRF official said. The injured have been shifted to nearby hospital, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>It was a special-purpose mobile gantry crane used in bridge construction and to install precast box girders in highway construction projects.</div><div><br></div><div>The accident took place shortly after midnight on Tuesday near Sarlambe village in Shahpur tehsil, around 80 km from Mumbai, the official said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Samruddhi Mahamarg, named Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, is a 701-km-long expressway connecting Mumbai and Nagpur.</div><div><br></div><div>It traverses ten districts including Nagpur, Washim, Wardha, Ahmednagar, Buldhana, Aurangabad, Amravati, Jalna, Nashik, and Thane.</div><div><br></div><div>The construction of the Samruddhi Mahamarg is being carried out by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation.</div><div><br></div><div>The first phase, connecting Nagpur to the temple town of Shirdi, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2022. It covers a distance of 520 km.</div><div><br></div><div>Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the 80 km long second phase of the Samruddhi Mahamarg stretch from Bharvir village in Igatpuri taluka to Shirdi on May 26.</div><div>Shinde said in May that the third and last phase would be completed by the end of December this year.</div><div><br></div><div>As many as 88 people have lost their lives in road accidents in the last six months on Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra, including 25 last month as a private bus caught fire after hitting a divider, an official said.</div><div><br></div><div>Road hypnosis is cited as one of the causes of the accidents on the six lane wide access-controlled expressway, the state highway police official said.</div><div><br></div><div>Highway hypnosis or driving hypnosis is a condition when a driver zones out while driving a vehicle without remembering what occurred in that specific period. - PTI</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-01 15:52:29', '2023-08-01 15:52:29'),
(8328, 8328, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday came down heavily on BNP leaders for comments that Awami League won’t get the way to flee the country.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"Sheikh Hasina or Awami League never runs away,\" she said at a blood donation programme in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>“We hear from our opposition party - though they can’t be called an opposition party as they are not in Parliament - that we (Awami League) won’t get the way to flee. I would like to remind the leader, who made this remark, that Sheikh Hasina or Awami League never runs away and never did,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier was addressing a voluntary blood donation programme and discussion at the auditorium of Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in the city’s Farmgate area.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Krishak League arranged the blood donation programme, discussion and Doa Mahfil ahead of the National Mourning Day to be observed on August 15.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina, the President of Bangladesh Awami League, said their master, Ziaur Rahman, had made efforts to annihilate the Awami League, but failed. Then Ershad and Khaleda Zia tried without any syccess.</div><div><br></div><div>She said during her rule Khaleda carried out massacre like the genocide committed by Pakistani occupation force in 1971. Some 21,000 AL leaders and activists were killed, many others tortured, houses were burnt and occupied. But they finally didn’t sustain despite such misdeeds, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that Khaleda’s son Tarique Rahman fled the country in 2007 giving a bond that he won’t do politics anymore, the premier said now they, whose party’s leader is a convicted, are making big remarks.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina said she returned home despite threats and strong obstructions from the then caretaker government.</div><div><br></div><div>“You (BNP leaders) already remain fugitives. How come they can make such big remarks under the supervision of a convicted fugitive?” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>PM Hasina said her government believes in democracy and is showing tolerance.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to the arson violence carried out in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and the repression unleashed by BNP on AL leaders and activists, she said, “If we took one percent revenge (of these misdeeds), now your whereabouts can’t be found. We don’t believe in revenge.”</div><div><br></div><div>At the beginning, one-minute silence was observed to pay tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his family members and others who were martyred on August 15, 1975.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Awami League’s (AL) presidium members Engr Mosharraf Hossain, Begum Matia Chowdhury and Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, its joint general secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim also spoke at the discussion.</div><div><br></div><div>Krishak League president Samir Chanda presided over the event moderated by its general secretary Umme Kulsum Smriti. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-01 20:38:24', '2023-08-01 20:38:24'),
(8329, 8329, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least 20 people were killed and 19 were missing after heavy rains lashed Beijing and surrounding provinces, state media said Tuesday, in downpours that have submerged roads and deluged neighbourhoods with mud.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Storm Doksuri, a former super typhoon, swept northwards over China after hitting southern Fujian province on Friday, following its battering of the Philippines.</div><div><br></div><div>Heavy rains began pummelling the capital and surrounding areas on Saturday, with nearly the average rainfall for the entire month of July dumped on Beijing in just 40 hours.</div><div><br></div><div>Swaths of suburban Beijing remain badly hit by the rains -- some of the city\'s heaviest in years.</div><div><br></div><div>On the banks of the Mentougou river, one of the worst affected areas, AFP reporters saw muddy debris strewn across the road.</div><div><br></div><div>One man told AFP he had not seen flooding this bad since July 2012, when 79 people were killed and tens of thousands evacuated.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This time it\'s much bigger than that,\" he said, declining to give his name.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It\'s a natural disaster, there\'s nothing you can do,\" a 20-year-old man surnamed Qi, who was waiting for a taxi with his grandmother outside a hospital, told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>\"(We) still have to work hard and rebuild.\"</div><div>On Tuesday, state broadcaster CCTV said that the rains had killed at least 11 people in Beijing, two of whom were workers \"killed on duty during rescue and relief\".</div><div><br></div><div>Thirteen people were still missing, but another 14 had been found safe, the broadcaster said.</div><div><br></div><div>In neighbouring Hebei province, nine people were killed and six were missing, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>Another two casualties were reported in northeastern Liaoning province over the weekend.</div><div><br></div><div>President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for \"every effort\" to rescue those \"lost or trapped\" by the rains.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 100,000 people deemed at risk across Beijing have been evacuated, according to state-owned Global Times newspaper.</div><div><br></div><div>Authorities have allocated 110 million yuan ($15.4 million) for disaster relief work in the capital and surrounding provinces, CCTV said.</div><div><br></div><div>- \'Endure what we can\' -</div><div>Florist Wang Yongkun, 62, had piled sandbags around the door of his shop, but the floor inside was still coated in mud.</div><div><br></div><div>He said in 15 years working there he had never experienced anything like the last few days.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We started cleaning up in the afternoon yesterday... and woke up again at seven today to continue,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"You just have to deal with it... We will endure what we can.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Further south in Fangshan district, the Dashi River had overflowed, with trees along the riverbank partially submerged, and some sections of the road cordoned off.</div><div><br></div><div>Roads were caked in mud, foliage and various debris, including an upturned armchair.</div><div><br></div><div>AFP reporters saw collapsed bridges at two locations, with locals saying the damage had happened during the rains.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier social media videos tagged in Fangshan had shown multiple cars being swept along roads turned into fast-flowing streams.</div><div><br></div><div>Live images from broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday morning showed a row of buses half submerged in floodwater.</div><div><br></div><div>In the parking lot of a high-rise apartment complex, cars were piled on top of each other, alarms still sounding, while people lined up with buckets and other containers to collect fresh water.</div><div><br></div><div>- Chaotic scenes -</div><div>Local media on Monday published footage of chaotic scenes aboard high-speed rail trains stranded on tracks for as long as 30 hours, with passengers complaining that they had run out of food and water.</div><div><br></div><div>Authorities \"must properly relocate affected people, work quickly to repair damaged transportation, communication, and electricity infrastructure, and restore the order of normal production and life as soon as possible\", Xi said on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>The capital activated a flood control reservoir on Monday for the first time since it was built in 1998, the Beijing Daily said.</div><div><br></div><div>Parts of Hebei remain under red alert for rainstorms, with authorities warning of potential flash floods and landslides.</div><div><br></div><div>In Handan, Hebei province, rescuers lifted by crane reached a man trapped on top of his car in floodwaters, lifting him to safety before the car was flipped and washed away by the current.</div><div><br></div><div>China has been experiencing extreme weather and posting record temperatures this summer, events that scientists say are being exacerbated by climate change.</div><div><br></div><div>The country is already preparing for the arrival of typhoon Khanun, the sixth such storm of the year, as it nears China\'s east coast. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-01 21:20:44', '2023-08-01 21:20:44'),
(8330, 8330, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Myanmar reduced ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi\'s 33-year prison sentence by six years in a partial pardon on Tuesday, as the junta struggles to quell bloody resistance to its rule.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The country has been ravaged by violence in the two years since Suu Kyi was deposed in a coup and hit with 19 criminal cases ranging from corruption to breaching Covid-19 rules.</div><div><br></div><div>There have been concerns for the 78-year-old Nobel laureate\'s health and the junta moved her from prison to a government building last week.</div><div>\"Six years imprisonment will be reduced,\" junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told reporters after it was announced she had been pardoned in five cases.</div><div><br></div><div>Suu Kyi still faces 14 cases despite the pardon. Rights groups have condemned the legal battle against her as a sham designed to remove a popular democratic leader from the public eye.</div><div><br></div><div>Former Myanmar president Win Myint, who was also removed in the 2021 coup, was granted a four-year reduction in relation to two cases, the junta spokesman said.</div><div><br></div><div>- \'Cruel games\' -</div><div><br></div><div>\"She couldn\'t be freed completely, although some sentences against her were pardoned. She still has to face 14 cases. Only five cases out of 19 were pardoned,\" a legal source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.</div><div><br></div><div>Tuesday\'s announcement was part of an amnesty of more than 7,000 prisoners to mark Buddhist Lent, including 125 foreigners who are to be released and pardoned.</div><div><br></div><div>An unspecified number of prisoners facing the death penalty also had their sentences reduced to life imprisonment, the announcement said.</div><div><br></div><div>David Mathieson, an independent analyst on Myanmar, said the partial pardon was a \"cynical ploy to tell the world that there might be some kind of political resolution coming. When we know that there is not\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"I think they are just playing cruel games with a political prisoner,\" Mathieson told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>\"All the charges against her are absurd and shaving six years off 33 isn\'t mercy.\"</div><div><br></div><div>- Still popular -</div><div><br></div><div>Suu Kyi was detained on the night of the coup in February 2021 and has only been seen once since -- in grainy state media photos from a bare courtroom in the military-built capital Naypyidaw.</div><div><br></div><div>She was required to attend almost daily hearings in the junta court to hear cases against her ranging from corruption to possession of illegal walkie-talkies and flouting coronavirus restrictions.</div><div><br></div><div>In July, Thailand\'s foreign minister met Suu Kyi, the first known meeting with a foreign envoy since she was detained, although details of what they discussed are not known.</div><div><br></div><div>She remains popular in Myanmar, even after her international image was tainted by a power-sharing deal with the generals and her failure to speak up for the persecuted Rohingya minority.</div><div><br></div><div>But many of those fighting for democracy since the coup have abandoned her principle of non-violence and taken up arms to try and permanently root out military dominance of Myanmar\'s politics and economy.</div><div><br></div><div>As a result, much of the Southeast Asian country is in armed conflict, with thousands killed since the coup, more than a million displaced according to the United Nations, and the army struggling to assert its dominance.</div><div><br></div><div>According to a local monitoring group, more than 3,800 people have been killed since the coup, a figure the junta puts at 5,000.</div><div><br></div><div>With unrest raging, the junta announced on Monday it would extend a state of emergency by six months, which is likely to delay elections promised for August.</div><div><br></div><div>The military cited alleged widespread voter fraud during elections in November 2020 as a reason for its coup, which sparked huge protests and a bloody crackdown.</div><div><br></div><div>Those polls were won resoundingly by Suu Kyi\'s National League for Democracy, with international observers saying at the time the polls were largely free and fair.</div><div><br></div><div>Myanmar regularly grants amnesties to thousands of prisoners to commemorate holidays or special Buddhist dates.</div><div><br></div><div>The junta released some 23,000 prisoners after the 2021 coup in a move that human rights groups feared at the time was aimed at freeing up space for military opponents.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 24,000 people have been arrested since the military booted Suu Kyi\'s government from power, according to a local monitoring group.</div><div><br></div><div>Almost 20,000 remain behind bars, according to the latest figures. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-01 21:28:13', '2023-08-01 21:28:13'),
(8331, 8331, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Madonna over the weekend praised the support of friends and family one month after she was hospitalized with a bacterial infection that forced her to postpone her tour.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"Love from family and friends is the best Medicine,\" the 64-year-old wrote on Instagram.</div><div><br></div><div>\"As a Mother you can really get caught up In the needs Of your children and the seemingly endless giving... But when the chips were down my children really showed up for me,\" Madonna continued. \"I saw a side to them I had never seen before. It made all the difference. So did the love and support from my friends.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier this month the Grammy-winning icon behind hits including \"Like a Prayer\" and \"Material Girl\" had said she was on \"the road to recovery.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The illness required Madonna to postpone her nearly sold out, 84-date \"Celebration\" tour that was due to start July 15.</div><div><br></div><div>She said her current plan was to begin the European leg of her tour -- due to start October 14 in London -- as scheduled, and rebook the earlier US shows for later dates.</div><div><br></div><div>Touring giant Live Nation has said a new calendar is forthcoming.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Thank you to all my angels who protected me and let me Stay to finish doing my work!\" Madonna said. According to AFP reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-01 22:05:28', '2023-08-01 22:05:28'),
(8332, 8332, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas is holding a meeting today with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal at the Election Commission building in Dhaka\'s Agargaon area.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The meeting began at 11:10 am in the CEC\'s office room.</div><div><br></div><div>The US ambassador was accompanied by Deputy Political and Economic Counsellor at the embassy, Arturo Hines. Election Commissioner Md Ahsan Habib Khan and EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam were also present at the meeting. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-01 22:53:50', '2023-08-01 22:53:50'),
(8333, 8333, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that the Awami League government has turned Bangladesh into a \'deep state\' by using the state machinery to cling to power.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“They (AL) are using the state machinery, including the law enforcement forces, the judiciary, and the administration. That means they have already turned Bangladesh into a deep state,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a human chain programme, the BNP leader also said Awami League is a terrorist party by birth as it beat its founder and a national leader like Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani and drove him out of the party.</div><div><br></div><div>“They (AL) themselves are terrorists. That is why they turned the country into absolutely a terrorist state.&nbsp; Awami League is the party that sustains by resorting to terrorism. There’s nothing but terror in their body language,” he observed.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP’s Keraniganj south unit arranged the programme in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office to protest the attack on party standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy during the party’s sit-in programme at Dholaikhal on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>About arranging lunch for BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy at the office of the Detective Branch (DB) of Police and sending gifts for party leader Amanullah Aman by the Prime Minister after their detention, Fakhrul said the government did it to divert people’s attention to a different direction from the movement for the restoration of democracy, voting rights and human rights.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Awami League has become so much bankrupt politically that they have to do these things now and spread videos. Does Awami League know etiquette? They don\'t know it. Awami League was never a party of gentlemen. So, there is no reason to expect politeness from them,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Aman Ullah Aman need not prove their patriotism afresh. “They proved their patriotism with their lifelong politics and struggle for democracy.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said the government has got scared seeing the gathering of lakhs of people at BNP’s grand rally at Nayapaltan on July 28, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He said it is Awami League not BNP indulging in arson violence. “BNP will establish democracy through a justified and peaceful movement.”</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul called upon the government to step down and dissolve parliament to hold the election under a non-party caretaker government. He said, “This is the only way to overcome the crisis.”&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-01 23:17:31', '2023-08-01 23:17:31'),
(8334, 8334, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Hubble Space Telescope captured an unexpected observation of a nearby planet that’s having its atmosphere blasted away by energetic outbursts from its star. It’s a dramatic change from the last time Hubble checked up on the planetary system and saw nothing amiss.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The red dwarf star, called AU Microscopii, or AU Mic, is located outside of our solar system 32 light-years from Earth, which is relatively close (astronomically speaking). It’s home to one of the youngest planetary systems ever observed, and the star is less than 100 million years old, a mere fraction of the age of our 4.6-billion-year-old sun.</div><div><br></div><div>The system was discovered by NASA’s now-retired Spitzer Space Telescope and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite during observations in 2020, as a slight dip in the star’s brightness revealed the presence of a gaseous world orbiting in front of it.</div><div><br></div><div>When the Hubble Space Telescope observed one orbit of the exoplanet, which takes 8.46 days, everything seemed normal. Then, the telescope revisited the system for another look a year and a half later.</div><div><br></div><div>Astronomers were surprised to see that AU Mic b, the closest planet to the star, is bearing the brunt of the star’s radiation, which is evaporating the planet’s hydrogen atmosphere. There are at least two known exoplanets in the system, and more may await discovery.</div><div><br></div><div>The findings are part of a study that has been accepted for publication in a future edition of The Astronomical Journal.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’ve never seen atmospheric escape go from completely not detectable to very detectable over such a short period when a planet passes in front of its star,” said study author Keighley Rockcliffe, a doctoral candidate in physics and astronomy at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, in a statement. “We were really expecting something very predictable, repeatable. But it turned out to be weird. When I first saw this, I thought ‘That can’t be right.’</div><div><br></div><div>A strange observation</div><div>Red dwarfs are the most common type of stars in the Milky Way, and many have been found to host planets. These stars are smaller and cooler than our sun, but they are known to release strong stellar flares for much longer than sun-like stars.</div><div><br></div><div>These damaging waves of radiation are smacking into AU Mic b, which is located just 6 million miles from the star — a tenth of distance between our sun and its closest planet, Mercury.</div><div><br></div><div>As the planet is blasted by radiation, its atmosphere heats to the point that it escapes the planet’s gravity and puffs out into space.</div><div><br></div><div>“This frankly strange observation is kind of a stress-test case for the modeling and the physics about planetary evolution,” Rockliffe said. “This observation is so cool because we’re getting to probe this interplay between the star and the planet that is really at the most extreme.”</div><div><br></div><div>The stellar flares come from tangling within the star’s magnetic field that occur due to the motions of the stellar atmosphere. If the magnetic fields become too tangled, they break and reconnect. The breaks release flares between 100 and 1,000 times more energetic than outbursts from our sun.</div><div><br></div><div>The planet gets hit with flares, X-rays and stellar wind, or a charged stream of particles released from the star.</div><div><br></div><div>“This creates a really unconstrained and frankly, scary, stellar wind environment that’s impacting the planet’s atmosphere,” Rockcliffe said.</div><div><br></div><div>The chance for habitable planets</div><div>Given how many red dwarf stars are known to host planets, astronomers are trying to determine whether the planets closely orbiting them have a chance of retaining their atmospheres in the face of such radiation — and if they can be habitable for life.</div><div><br></div><div>“We want to find out what kinds of planets can survive these environments. What will they finally look like when the star settles down? And would there be any chance of habitability eventually, or will they wind up just being scorched planets?” Rockcliffe said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Do they eventually lose most of their atmospheres and their surviving cores become super-Earths? We don’t really know what those final compositions look like because we don’t have anything like that in our solar system.”</div><div><br></div><div>Astronomers are trying to determine whether the differences in the planet’s atmospheric loss between Hubble observations are due to the star’s variability or if the stellar wind is causing the evaporating atmosphere to be visible at certain times and hidden from view at others.</div><div><br></div><div>The brightness of the star prevents direct observations of the planet by Hubble, but the telescope can measure changes in the star’s luminosity as hydrogen escapes the planet and causes the starlight to dim.</div><div><br></div><div>Astronomers will conduct more follow-up observations of the system with Hubble to track how the planet changes in the future. - CNN</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-02 01:48:52', '2023-08-02 01:48:52'),
(8335, 8335, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh received inward remittances of $1.97 billion in July, the first month of Fiscal year 2023-24, which saw a decline on year-on-year basis by 5.86 percent.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>According to Bangladesh Bank (BB) data, the expatriates sent $2.19 billion remittance in June last month of FY23, saw a fall by 10.27 percent in July.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite the fall in remittance inflow in July, the central bank officials described it as better than other months.</div><div><br></div><div>Md Sarwar Hossain, a spokesman of the BB, told UNB that the expatriates sent a higher volume of remittances in June thanks to&nbsp; Eid-ul-Azha.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladeshi expatriates sent $21.61 billion in remittance in the last fiscal year FY23 (June-July). In the previous FY it was $21.03 billion. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-02 02:11:42', '2023-08-02 02:11:42'),
(8336, 8336, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Maritime port of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal no 3 as the monsoon depression over North West Bay and adjoining area moved North-Northwestwards and intensified into a monsoon depression over the same area.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>At noon, it was centred about 110 kms south of Chattogram port, 65 kms south of Cox’s Bazar port, 240 kms southeast of Mongla port, 145 kms southeast of Payra port, said a special bulletin of Met office.</div><div><br></div><div>It is likely to move in a northwesterly direction and cross Bangladesh coast near Khepupara by evening on Tuesday.</div><div>Maximum sustained wind speed within 48 kms of the deep depression centre is about 50 kph rising to 60 kph in gusts or squalls.</div><div><br></div><div>Sea will remain rough near the system centre.</div><div><br></div><div>All fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-02 02:16:14', '2023-08-02 02:16:14'),
(8337, 8337, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>After days of silence, NASA has heard from Voyager 2 in interstellar space billions of miles away.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Flight controllers accidentally sent a wrong command nearly two weeks ago that tilted the spacecraft’s antenna away from Earth and severed contact.</div><div><br></div><div>NASA\'s Deep Space Network, giant radio antennas across the globe, picked up a “heartbeat signal,\" meaning the 46-year-old craft is alive and operating, project manager Suzanne Dodd said in an email Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>The news “buoyed our spirits,” Dodd said. Flight controllers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California will now try to turn Voyager 2’s antenna back toward Earth.</div><div><br></div><div>If the command doesn’t work — and controllers doubt it will — they’ll have to wait until October for an automatic spacecraft reset. The antenna is only 2% off-kilter.</div><div><br></div><div>“That is a long time to wait, so we\'ll try sending up commands several times\" before then, Dodd said.</div><div><br></div><div>Voyager 2 rocketed into space in 1977, along with its identical twin Voyager 1, on a quest to explore the outer planets.</div><div><br></div><div>Still communicating and working fine, Voyager 1 is now 15 billion miles (24 billion kilometers) from Earth, making it the most distant spacecraft.</div><div><br></div><div>Voyager 2 trails its twin in interstellar space at more than 12 billion miles (19 billion kilometers) from Earth. At that distance, it takes more than 18 hours for a signal to travel one way. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-02 02:19:57', '2023-08-02 02:19:57'),
(8338, 8338, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Former US President Donald Trump has been criminally charged over his alleged efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He is accused of four counts, including conspiracy to defraud the US, tampering with a witness and conspiracy against the rights of citizens.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The indictment caps an inquiry into events surrounding the January 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Trump, 77, who is running for president again, denies wrongdoing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He is already charged in two other cases: with mishandling classified files, and falsifying business records to cover up a hush-money payment to a porn star.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The election investigation has focused on Mr Trump\'s actions in the two-month period between his loss and the riot in Washington DC, where his supporters stormed Congress as lawmakers certified Democratic President Joe Biden\'s victory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The man leading the inquiry, US justice department-appointed special counsel Jack Smith, said on Tuesday evening: \"The attack on our nation\'s capital on January 6, 2021 was an unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"As described in the indictment it was fuelled by lies.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Smith wrapped up his brief statement by pledging to seek \"a speedy trial\", while emphasising that the former president \"must be assumed innocent until proven guilty\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Trump is due to appear in court on Thursday in Washington DC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 45-page indictment lists six unnamed co-conspirators: four lawyers, a justice department official and a political consultant.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court document accuses Mr Trump of a \"conspiracy to impair, obstruct, and defeat the federal government function through dishonesty, fraud and deceit\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rioters clash with police at the front doors of the Capitol on 6 January 2021</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Addressing Mr Trump\'s allegations of voter fraud in 2020, prosecutors say: \"These claims were false and the defendant knew that they were false.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also say Mr Trump tried and failed to convince Vice-President Mike Pence to attempt to block Mr Biden\'s certification as president on January 6.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"As violence ensued, the Defendant and co-conspirators exploited the disruption by redoubling efforts to levy false claims of election fraud and convince members of Congress to further delay the certification based on those claims.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The indictment also lists the numerous US officials and senior Trump campaign workers who, it says, informed the outgoing president that he had lost and that there was no evidence of voter fraud.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Trump, who now faces 78 criminal counts overall in three different cases, is currently the frontrunner in the Republican party\'s contest to pick its next presidential candidate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Whoever wins will challenge the Democratic nominee, expected to be President Biden, in November 2024.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Trump campaign said in a statement that Tuesday\'s indictment amounted to election interference.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The lawlessness of these persecutions of President Trump and his supporters is reminiscent of Nazi Germany in the 1930s, the former Soviet Union, and other authoritarian, dictatorial regimes,\" said the campaign.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It added: \"These un-American witch hunts will fail.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dozens of top Trump administration officials and advisers were interviewed as part of the investigation, including former Vice-President Pence and former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani. 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, '2023-08-02 13:05:16', '2023-08-02 13:05:16'),
(8339, 8339, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The US government\'s credit rating has been downgraded following concerns over the state of the country\'s finances and its debt burden.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fitch, one of three major independent agencies that assess creditworthiness, downgraded it from the top rating of AAA to AA+.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fitch said it had noted a \"steady deterioration\" in governance over the last 20 years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called the downgrade \"arbitrary\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was based on \"outdated data\" from the period 2018 to 2020, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Investors use credit ratings as a benchmark for judging how risky it is to lend money to a government. The US is usually considered a highly secure investment because of the size and relative stability of the economy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, this year saw another round of political brinkmanship over government borrowing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In June the government succeeded in lifting the debt ceiling to $31.4 trillion (£24.6 trillion) but only after a drawn-out political battle, which threatened to push the country into defaulting on its debts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The rating downgrade of the United States reflects the expected fiscal deterioration over the next three years, a high and growing general government debt burden, and the erosion of governance\" relative to peers, said Fitch in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"In Fitch\'s view, there has been a steady deterioration in standards of governance over the last 20 years, including on fiscal and debt matters, notwithstanding the June bipartisan agreement to suspend the debt limit until January 2025,\" the rating agency said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ms Yellen said she \"strongly\" disagreed with Fitch\'s decision.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Treasury securities remain the world\'s preeminent safe and liquid asset, and... the American economy is fundamentally strong,\" she said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The timing and rationale behind the downgrade has taken many economists by surprise.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers said Fitch\'s decision is \"bizarre and inept,\" particularly as the US economy \"looks stronger than expected,\" he said in a post on Twitter, now known as X.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mohamed El-Erian, the chief economic adviser at financial services giant Allianz, said the Fitch announcement was \"a strange move\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This announcement is more likely to be dismissed than have a lasting disruptive impact on the US economy and markets,\" he posted on the Threads social media platform.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fitch also said it expects the US to slip into a mild recession later this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman said \"the biggest economic news over the past year has been America\'s remarkable success at getting inflation down without a recession\". 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, '2023-08-02 13:09:49', '2023-08-02 13:09:49');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(8340, 8340, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Torrential rain in areas around China\'s capital, Beijing, killed at least 20 people and left 27 missing, the government reported Tuesday, as flooding destroyed roads, uprooted trees and knocked out power.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thousands of people were evacuated to shelters in schools and other public buildings in suburban Beijing and in the nearby cities of Tianjin and Zhuozhou.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The severity of the flooding took the Chinese capital by surprise. Beijing usually has dry summers but had a stretch of record-breaking heat this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other areas, especially China\'s south, have suffered unusually severe summer flooding that caused scores of deaths. Other parts of the country are struggling with drought.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Muddy water surging down streets washed away cars in the Mentougou district on Beijing\'s western edge.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The cars parked on the street floated and got washed away,\" said a resident, Liu Shuanbao. \"A couple of cars parked behind my apartment building disappeared in just one minute.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Emergency workers used bulldozers on Tuesday to clear streets while residents waded through mud.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Neither officials nor ordinary people expected the rain to be so heavy,\" said another Mentougou resident, Wu Changpo. \"There were a lot of landslides and flooded villages. I cried repeatedly seeing these reports.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Eleven deaths were reported in Beijing and authorities were looking for 27 missing people, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. Nine deaths were reported in Hebei province, which surrounds the capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Power to some 60,000 homes in the capital\'s Fangshan district was knocked out, Phoenix TV reported on its website.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Zhuozhou, southwest of Beijing, some 125,000 people from high-risk areas were moved to shelters, Xinhua said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Xi Jinping issued an order for local governments to go “all out” to rescue those trapped and minimize loss of life and property damage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government of Tianjin, a port east of Beijing, said 35,000 people were evacuated from near the swollen Yongding River.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As much as 500 millimeters (almost 20 inches) of rain has fallen in some places since Saturday, according to the Hebei province weather agency. Some areas reported as much as 90 millimeters (3 1/2 inches) of rainfall per hour.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some 13 rivers exceeded warning levels in the Haihe Basin, which includes Beijing, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang, Xinhua said, citing the Ministry of Water Resources.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About 42,000 people were evacuated from areas of Shanxi province to Hebei\'s west, it reported, citing emergency officials.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In early July, at least 15 people were killed by floods in the southwestern region of Chongqing, and about 5,590 people in the far northwestern province of Liaoning had to be evacuated. In the central province of Hubei, rainstorms trapped residents in their vehicles and homes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China’s deadliest and most destructive floods in recent history were in 1998, when 4,150 people died, most of them along the Yangtze River.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">In 2021, more than 300 people died in flooding in the central province of Henan. Record rainfall inundated the provincial capital of Zhengzhou on July 20 that year, turning streets into rushing rivers and flooding at least part of a subway line. 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, '2023-08-02 14:16:39', '2023-08-02 14:16:39'),
(8341, 8341, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Tunisian President Kais Saied has dismissed Prime Minister Najla Bouden, the first woman to lead a government in the North African country, according to a video from the presidency on Tuesday evening.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">No explanation was given.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saied immediately appointed in her place Ahmed Hachani, who until now worked at the Tunisian central bank and studied law at the University of Tunis, where Saied taught, according to Hachani\'s Facebook profile.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The new head of government, a figure unknown to the general public, was immediately sworn in before the president, according to the presidency video.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bouden was appointed by Saied on October 11, 2021, two and a half months after the president granted himself sweeping powers on July 25 by dismissing his then-prime minister and suspending parliament.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since his power grab, Saied has ruled by decree.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The constitution, which he had amended by referendum in the summer of 2022, greatly reduced the powers of parliament and granted the president\'s office unlimited powers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A new assembly took office in the spring of 2023 following legislative elections at the end of 2022, which were boycotted by the opposition parties and shunned by voters with a turnout rate of around 10 percent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On several occasions in recent months, the president has ordered the dismissal of various ministers, including the foreign minister, without giving a reason.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since last February, about 20 opposition, media and business figures have been imprisoned in a wave of arrests that also affected Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party and one of the president\'s highest-profile critics.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They are accused of \"plotting against state security\" and Saied has called them \"terrorists\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Amnesty International has labelled the roundup a \"politically motivated witch hunt\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ennahdha dominated coalitions in the decade since the 2011 democratic revolution that culminated in the downfall of dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and kicked off the Arab Spring uprisings across the region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The political crisis Tunisia has been going through for two years is compounded by serious economic difficulties.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The country is heavily indebted, at 80 percent of GDP, while growth is a sluggish two percent, added to which poverty levels are rising and unemployment is very high at 15 percent. 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, '2023-08-02 14:44:27', '2023-08-02 14:44:27'),
(8342, 8342, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Niger\'s land and air borders with five neighbouring countries have been reopened, nearly a week after they were closed following a coup that overthrew elected President Mohamed Bazoum, one of the putschists announced Tuesday on national television.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The land and air borders with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali and Chad are reopened\" from \"today\", he declared, hours after a first French evacuation flight took off and five days before a deadline to restore constitutional order issued by a bloc of West African countries. 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, '2023-08-02 14:46:21', '2023-08-02 14:46:21'),
(8343, 8343, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka\'s air quality was marked \"moderate\" this morning due to rain in the capital city.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 57 at 9:06 am, Dhaka ranked 35th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered to be “good” while between 50 and 100 it is considered “moderate”.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan’s Lahore, the United Arab Emirates’ Dubai and Malaysia’s Kuching occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 153, 152 and 151, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered “unhealthy”, particularly for sensitive groups.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Similarly, an AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be “poor\'”, while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered “hazardous”, posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, is used by government agencies to inform people how safe 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;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-02 15:04:58', '2023-08-02 15:04:58'),
(8344, 8344, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh received inward remittances of $1.97 billion in July, the first month of Fiscal year 2023-24, which saw a decline on year-on-year basis by 5.86 percent.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to Bangladesh Bank (BB) data, the expatriates sent $2.19 billion remittance in June last month of FY23, saw a fall by 10.27 percent in July.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite the fall in remittance inflow in July, the central bank officials described it as better than other months.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">$21.61 billion remittances in FY23, second highest ever</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Md Sarwar Hossain, a spokesman of the BB, told UNB that the expatriates sent a higher volume of remittances in June thanks to&nbsp; Eid-ul-Azha.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladeshi expatriates sent $21.61 billion in remittance in the last fiscal year FY23 (June-July). In the previous FY it was $21.03 billion. 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, '2023-08-02 15:10:36', '2023-08-02 15:10:36'),
(8345, 8345, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Donald Trump was indicted on felony charges Tuesday for working to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the run-up to the violent riot by his supporters at the U.S. Capitol, with the Justice Department acting to hold him accountable for an unprecedented effort to block the peaceful transfer of presidential power and threaten American democracy.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The four-count indictment, the third criminal case against Trump, provided deeper insight into a dark moment that has already been the subject of exhaustive federal investigations and captivating public hearings. It chronicles a months-long campaign of lies about the election results and says that, even when those falsehoods resulted in a chaotic insurrection at the Capitol, Trump sought to exploit the violence by pointing to it as a reason to further delay the counting of votes that sealed his defeat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Even in a year of rapid-succession legal reckonings for Trump, Tuesday’s indictment, with charges including conspiring to defraud the United States government that he once led, was stunning in its allegations that a former president assaulted the “bedrock function” of democracy. It’s the first time the defeated president, who is the early front-runner for next year\'s Republican presidential nomination, is facing legal consequences for his frantic but ultimately failed effort to cling to power.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trump pleads not guilty to federal charges that he illegally kept classified documents</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The attack on our nation’s Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was an unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy,” said Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, whose office has spent months investigating Trump. “It was fueled by lies, lies by the defendant targeted at obstructing a bedrock function of the U.S. government: the nation’s process of collecting counting and certifying the results of the presidential election.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Trump campaign called the charges “fake” and asked why it took two-and-a-half years to bring them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trump was the only person charged in Tuesday\'s indictment. But prosecutors obliquely referenced a half-dozen co-conspirators, including lawyers inside and outside of government who they said had worked with Trump to undo the election results. They also advanced legally dubious schemes to enlist slates of fake electors in battleground states won by Democrat Joe Biden to falsely claim that Trump had actually won them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The indictment accuses the defeated president and his allies of trying to “exploit the violence and chaos” by calling lawmakers into the evening on Jan. 6 to delay the certification of Biden’s victory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trump arrives in Florida as history-making court appearance approaches in classified documents case</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It also cites handwritten notes from former Vice President Mike Pence that give gravitas to Trump’s relentless goading to reject the electoral votes. Pence, who is challenging Trump for the GOP presidential nomination, declined overtures from a House panel that investigated the insurrection and sought to avoid testifying before the special counsel. He appeared only after losing a court fight, with prosecutors learning that Trump in one conversation derided him as “too honest” to stop the certification.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trump is due in court Thursday, the first step in a legal process that will play out in a courthouse situated between the White House he once controlled and the Capitol his supporters once stormed. The case is already being dismissed by the former president and his supporters — and even some of his rivals — as just another politically motivated prosecution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trump set for first public appearances since federal indictment, speaking in Georgia, North Carolina</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yet the case stems from one of the most serious threats to American democracy in modern history.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The indictment centers on the turbulent two months after the November 2020 election in which Trump refused to accept his loss and spread lies that victory was stolen from him. The turmoil resulted in the riot at the Capitol, when Trump loyalists violently broke into the building, attacked police officers and disrupted the congressional counting of electoral votes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In between the election and the riot, Trump urged local election officials to undo voting results in their states, pressured Pence to halt the certification of electoral votes and falsely claimed that the election had been stolen — a notion repeatedly rejected by judges. Among those lies, prosecutors say, were claims that more than 10,000 dead voters had voted in Georgia along with tens of thousands of double votes in Nevada. Each claim had been rebutted by courts or state or federal officials, the indictment says.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prosecutors say Trump knew his claims of having won the election were false but he \"repeated and widely disseminated them anyway — to make his knowingly false claims appear legitimate, to create an intense national atmosphere of mistrust and anger, and to erode public faith in the administration of the election.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The document carefully outlined arguments that Trump has been making to defend his conduct, that he had every right to challenge the results, to use the courts, even to lie about it in the process. But in stark detail, the indictment outlines how the former president instead took criminal steps to reverse the clear verdict voters had rendered.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The indictment had been expected since Trump said in mid-July that the Justice Department had informed him he was a target of its investigation. A bipartisan House committee that spent months investigating the run-up to the Capitol riot also recommended prosecuting Trump on charges, including aiding an insurrection and obstructing an official proceeding.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The indictment includes charges of conspiring to defraud the U.S., conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding, obstructing an official proceeding and violating a post-Civil War Reconstruction Era civil rights statute that makes it a crime to conspire to violate rights that are guaranteed by the Constitution — in this case, the right to vote.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The mounting criminal cases are unfolding in the heat of the 2024 race. A conviction in this case, or any other, would not prevent Trump from pursuing the White House or serving as president, though Trump as president could theoretically appoint an attorney general to dismiss the charges or potentially try to pardon himself.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In New York, state prosecutors have charged Trump with falsifying business records about a hush money payoff to a porn actor before the 2016 election. The trial is set to begin in March.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Florida, the Justice Department has brought more than three dozen felony counts, accusing him of illegally possessing classified documents after leaving the White House and concealing them from investigators. That trial begins in May.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prosecutors in Georgia are also investigating efforts by Trump and his allies to reverse his election loss to Biden there. The district attorney of Fulton County is expected to announce charging decisions within weeks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Smith\'s team has cast a broad net as part of his federal investigation, with his team questioning senior Trump administration officials, including Pence, before a grand jury in Washington. Prosecutors also interviewed election officials in Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan and other battleground states won by Biden who were pressured by the Trump team to change voting results.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rudy Giuliani, a Trump lawyer who pursued post-election legal challenges, spoke voluntarily to prosecutors. Giuliani was not named in the indictment, but appears to match the description of one of the co-conspirators. A spokesman for Giuliani said Tuesday night that Trump had a “good-faith basis” for the actions he took.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Attorney General Merrick Garland last year appointed Smith, an international war crimes prosecutor who also led the Justice Department’s public corruption section, as special counsel to investigate efforts to undo the election as well as Trump’s retention of classified documents at his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago. Although Trump has derided him as “deranged” and called him politically motivated, Smith’s past experience includes overseeing significant prosecutions against high-profile Democrats.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Justice Department’s investigations began well before Smith’s appointment, proceeding alongside separate criminal probes into the rioters themselves. More than 1,000 people have been charged in connection with the insurrection, including some with seditious conspiracy. 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, '2023-08-02 15:27:50', '2023-08-02 15:27:50'),
(8346, 8346, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A Russian court will deliver its verdict on Friday in the trial of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who is facing extremism charges that could keep him behind bars for decades.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his closing statement to the court, the 47-year-old criticised Russia\'s military operation in Ukraine, which was followed by an unprecedented crackdown on critics of President Vladimir Putin\'s government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia was \"floundering in a pool of either mud or blood,\" Navalny said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Around it lie tens of thousands of people killed in the most stupid and senseless war of the 21st century,\" he told the court.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prosecutors have requested a jail term of 20 years on charges that include the financing of extremist activity, publicly inciting extremist activities and \"rehabilitating Nazi ideology\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Navalny is serving a nine-year prison sentence on embezzlement charges that his supporters see as punishment for his political work.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The feisty government critic built a huge following on social media with videos exposing the alleged corruption of the Russian elite, and mobilised massive anti-government protests.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He was arrested in 2021 on his arrival in Moscow from Germany, where he had been recovering from a poisoning attack he blames on the Kremlin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The trial is being held behind closed doors at the IK-6 penal colony, a maximum security prison some 250 kilometres (155 miles) east of Moscow where Navalny is jailed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Punishment cell -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Navalny\'s last days before the verdict will be spent in a punishment cell, where he is regularly kept over minor infringements of prison rules, his spokesperson said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In all, he has spent almost 200 days in the cell, according to his team, which has denounced harassment from prison authorities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Navalny said prison officials forced him to share a cell with a sickly inmate and subjected him and other prisoners to \"torture by Putin\", making them listen to the Russian president\'s speeches.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He has also complained of health problems and suffering weight major loss since being jailed in a strict regime penal colony.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prosecutors have requested Navalny serve his additional sentence in an even more restrictive, special regime prison.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In April, Navalny said he could be separately judged over terrorism charges and face life in prison.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His campaign offices around the country were declared extremist organisations in 2021 by authorities, putting employees, volunteers and supporters at greater risk of prosecution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Over the summer two heads of regional offices, Lilia Chanysheva and Vadim Ostanin, were sentenced to seven-and-a-half and nine years respectively on extremism charges.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thousands of Russians have been detained for protesting against Moscow\'s offensive in Ukraine, and some of the most high-profile activists including Vladimir Kara-Murza and Ilya Yashin are now behind bars. 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, '2023-08-02 16:02:34', '2023-08-02 16:02:34'),
(8347, 8347, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will reveal her dream centering the country\'s northern region at tomorrow\'s public rally in the city.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said this while talking to journalists after visiting the rally venue at Rangpur Zila School ground here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Huge enthusiasm has been created among the people all over Rangpur marking Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina\'s visit. It seems that the public rally will turn into a human sea... Rangpur will witness the largest ever gathering tomorrow,\" said Quader.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP is spreading propaganda and hatred and creating chaos in the name of movement, he said, adding that this terrorist acts will bring no result.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Quader said 70 percent of people of the country, including Rangpur, are eagerly waiting to cast their votes for Sheikh Hasina in recognition to the development taking place across the country during her regime.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We did not come to power using arms. So, we are not dependent on arms. We do not believe in arson terrorism. The country\'s people are source of our strength,\" said AL general secretary.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said: \"We cannot let Bangabandhu\'s Bangladesh, which was liberated in exchange of an ocean of blood through the Liberation War in 1971, go at the hands of miscreants. We cannot hand over our motherland to the tyrants, money-launderers, communal and militant forces. This is our promise\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">AL central leaders were present on the occasion. BSS&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, '2023-08-02 16:30:26', '2023-08-02 16:30:26'),
(8348, 8348, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Germany coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg has urged her team to be more creative as they look to bounce back from a shock defeat when they meet South Korea in a crunch Women\'s World Cup clash on Thursday.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2003 and 2007 champions were one of the pre-tournament favourites, but a stunning 2-1 upset at the hands of Colombia on Sunday threw a spanner in the works after they thumped Morocco 6-0 to open their account.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A win in Brisbane would guarantee passage to the last 16 and a point would also be sufficient unless Morocco beat Colombia. If Germany lose and Colombia win, it would come down to goal difference.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Voss-Tecklenburg felt they should have been \"smarter\" at the end against Colombia and settled for a draw. But instead they pressed for the win and were beaten by a stoppage-time header.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said patience would again be key against a South Korea side that must win to keep their slim hopes alive, with the coach wary about what formation the Asian nation might adopt.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Their system is flexible, technically they are very well trained and they can play at high speed for 90 minutes or more,\" said Voss-Tecklenburg, who has been in charge since 2018 and led Germany to the final of last year\'s Euros.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"(South Korea coach) Collin Bell has brought in more intensity and made them more courageous.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"They press a lot and we know it could give us some space. It\'s about courage and creating spaces,\" she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wolfsburg defender Lena Oberdorf, who played in Germany\'s run to the final at the 2022 Euros, said she was confident the team would handle the pressure and not slip up again.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Since we lost 2-1, we have to win, but pressure is part of it and can make you better,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have a lot of experienced players who have been in this situation before. It\'s a fantastic stage and we\'re all looking forward to it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There are some nerves, but it won\'t hinder us.\" 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, '2023-08-02 16:40:40', '2023-08-02 16:40:40'),
(8349, 8349, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Hrithik Roshan and Saba Azad are currently on a holiday in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Hrithik has now shared his first post from their vacation on Instagram. He called Saba a ‘winter girl’ as he clicked a selfie with her.&nbsp;</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hrithik captioned the picture, “Winter girl (snowflake emoji) #buenosaires #staycurious #adventureon.” While Saba is seen in a black overcoat with her curly hair on both sides, Hrithik is seen in an unshaved look, wearing a cap.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hrithik\'s Koi... Mil Gaya co-star Preity Zinta commented on his post, “We miss you guys.” A fan teased Hrithik, saying, “Looks like someone is into girls with curly hair.” Another called Saba “Lucky Girl.” One more commented, “Hrithik looks genuinely happy.” “So beautiful @hrithikroshan ull make such a lovely couple,” said yet another fan. A comment also read: “Everything is temporary but Hrithik sir cap is permanent.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hrithik and Saba Azad have been together since quite some time and are often spotted together at film parties, events as well as lunch and dinner outings. His ex-wife Sussanne Khan and her boyfriend Aly Goni also bond well with Saba.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Hrithik\'s upcoming films</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hrithik will next be seen in Siddharth Anand\'s Fighter. On Monday, he wished Siddharth on his birthday by sharing a picture from the sets. Taking to Twitter, Hrithik wrote along with the picture, “Here’s to a filmmaker, friend and my favourite ‘fighter’ to have creative arguments with. Happy birthday Sid!\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Siddharth Anand, fresh from the success of Pathaan, is collaborating with Hrithik for the third time after their 2019 film War and 2014 film Bang Bang. The aerial action thriller also stars Deepika Padukone, Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover and Akshay Oberoi. The film is all set to hit the theatres on January 25 next year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hrithik will also be seen in War 2 but the film will not be directed by Siddharth Anand but is helmed by Ayan Mukerji. It also stars Jr NTR and Kiara Advani. 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, '2023-08-02 17:08:36', '2023-08-02 17:08:36'),
(8350, 8350, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal will hold a meeting with a Facebook delegation on Thursday (August 3, 2023), on preventing propaganda on social media.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The meeting will be held at Election Commission building in Dhaka’s Agargaon at 11 am tomorrow.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When contacted, Election Commission (EC) Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath said, the Facebook delegation sought time for the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked about the reason behind the meeting, he said, “The national election is approaching. With that in mind, there can be a discussion on how to prevent propaganda on social media.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Three officials from Facebook\'s Singapore office will meet the CEC. The delegation will be led by head of public policy for Bangladesh at Facebook\'s parent company Meta, Ruzan Sarwar, the EC official said. INB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-02 17:59:00', '2023-08-02 17:59:00'),
(8351, 8351, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Nuts or dry fruits can provide invaluable nutrients to your body which can keep deficiencies at bay and keep you full and energetic throughout the day. The tiny superfoods have been part of our diet since time immemorial and supply the body with essential vitamins and minerals, ALA omega-3 fatty acids and other healthy fats that can lower cholesterol levels and prevent from diseases like arthritis, Alzheimer\'s and dementia.&nbsp;</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Eating a handful of nuts which is around 30 grams or 1/3 of a cup is part of a healthy and balanced diet and can keep immunity strong. Almonds, walnuts, cashews, groundnut, pistachio, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts, are among some of the healthy nuts that should be added in daily diet.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nuts should be eaten in the right amount, right time and right way for reaping maximum benefits. Ideally eaten in the morning, nuts can also your evening snack, but one must be mindful to not have more than a handful to avoid indigestion, bloating and side effects of excess fats. Soaking many of the nuts overnight is recommended to get rid of phytates and tannins which inhibit nutrient absorption and disrupt digestive process. If not possible to soak, one should dry roast to improve their digestibility. It is not recommended to deep-fry your nuts and eat them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">National Grab Some Nuts Day is celebrated in US every year on August 3 and emphasises on importance of adding nuts to your diet for overall health. On this occasion, Susmita N, Clinical Nutritionist, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals-Bellandur, Bengaluru shares a list of 7 healthy nuts and the right way of eating them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Nuts are not only calorie dense foods but are a great source of good fats, protein, fibre, and antioxidants. We do not need to eat a lot of them to tap into their power. Just a small handful a day will deliver a healthy dose of omega-3’s, melatonin, copper, manganese, and the hard-to-find gamma-tocopherol form of vitamin E which helps protect our heart. It’s advised that all adults, especially pregnant and lactating mothers and children from the age of one year include important nuts in their food on daily basis,\" says Sushmita N.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>NUTS FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>1. ALMONDS</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Badam or almonds are known to lower LDL (bad cholesterol) and help improve HDL (good cholesterol). They are also high on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties, source of good fats, proteins and Vitamin E. Almonds protect the body from free radicals that cause cancer. They slow the ageing process and reduce the risk of heart disease.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>How to eat them</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Almonds can be eaten in raw form. Soak about 5-6 almonds overnight in water, peel it and have it in the morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Edible almond oil cannot be cooked. Hence it can be used to drizzle only on salads or in vegetable dips.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">• Dry-roasted powdered almond powder can be added to smoothies, porridges, and salad bowl.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Almond milk can be a vegan replacement for cowmilk and for people with lactose intolerance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>2. WALNUTS</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Walnuts, super rich in Omega 3, protect your brain and help slow the onset of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Walnuts are also known to help reduce LDL and risk of heart disease. By soaking 2 whole walnuts overnight in water, it helps in digestion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>How to eat them</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Add chopped walnuts to vegetable salad or to fruit bowl.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Overnight soaked walnuts in water can be included as a part of daily nuts portion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Add walnuts to fruit smoothies to increase the nutrient density.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Dry roast, grind and store them in airtight containers. A spoon of this can be added to porridges, parathas, rotis and sandwiches.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>3. CASHEWS</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cashews were previously known to have a bad name as they were considered high in calories and fats. However, research shows that Stearic acid present in cashew nuts are known to reduce LDL levels. Cashews are good with protein, good fats and minerals like manganese, zinc, magnesium that help to reduce the risk of ischemic heart disease.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Be mindful of portions when it comes to cashew. About 5-6, raw or simple roasted cashews can be eaten daily.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>How to eat them</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Raw/plain unsalted cashew can be eaten as a snack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Chopped cashew can be topped on salads, fruit bowl, smoothies, and oatmeal to get a crunchy texture.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Make Puree and use a spread on the bread while making sandwiches.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Cashew milk is a good alternative to cow milk. Milkshakes and smoothies can be made with cashew milk.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>4. PISTACHIOS</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Eating about 5-6 unsalted pista daily helps to improve heart health, haemoglobin levels, boost immune system, and improve blood sugar levels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">How to eat them</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Best way to eat pista is having them unsalted as a snack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Plain roasted or chopped pista can be added to salads or can be pureed and added to salad dressings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Pista grounded into paste can be used in dips and sauces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Add unsalted pista to smoothies and milkshakes to elevate the nutrients.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>5. PEANUTS/GOUNDNUTS</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Groundnuts can boost energy levels and it contains monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Omega 3 fatty acids lowers the risk of heart diseases and fights cancers, degenerative nerve disease, Alzheimer’s disease, viral and fungal infections due to the presence of the antioxidant called Resveratrol. Avoid using groundnut oil for cooking at high temperatures.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>How to eat them</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Peanuts can be made into oil and used in cooking.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Plain roasted unsalted and boiled groundnuts are a healthy snack. Eating the raw peanuts with skin helps to retain antioxidants.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Puree the roasted nuts to make into peanut butter, a healthy bread spread for sandwiches.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>7. PECAN NUTS</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pecan nuts are a good source of antioxidants and various vitamins and have anti-inflammatory properties, along with omega 3 fats. Eating 15-20 pecans are beneficial to health.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>How to eat them</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Pecans are eaten raw as a snack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• Adding chopped pecans to salads, oatmeal and yogurt will increase the protein and healthy fats.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">• They can also be added as topping on salads, smoothies, and pasta.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">People with nuts allergy, stomach related problems, kidney problems must check with a qualified nutritionist before consuming any nuts. 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, '2023-08-02 18:05:24', '2023-08-02 18:05:24');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(8352, 8352, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived here this afternoon on a daylong visit to attend a number of programmes including addressing a grand rally.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After a helicopter carrying her landed at Rangpur Cantonment at 1:13 pm, the premier was escorted to the Circuit House where she is holding a meeting with Rangpur divisional government officials.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She is expected to arrive in the Rangpur Zilla School around 3pm to attend the grand rally which the Awami Leaders said will be the largest over gathering in the district with a participation of one million of people of all strata of life.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A large boat-shaped stage was built by the workers of Dhaka and Rajshahi where 300 leaders and activists can sit together.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Awami League president later will address a mammoth public rally from the venue, her first in 12 years to be organised by Rangpur Zilla Awami League.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A festive mood has been prevailing among Awami League and its front and associate bodies leaders and activists, and common people for a couple of days over the prime minister’s visit in Rangpur district after around five years since she visited Pirganj and Taraganj on December 23 in 2018.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The entire Rangpur wore a new look with decoration and lighting all over. The city roads have also been decorated to welcome the prime minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Posters inscribed with pictures of the Father the Nation and PM Hasina are seen on most of the high-rises, important roads, medians and walls with colourful banners and festoons</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">while arches and welcome gates have been erected on roads.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Awami League and its associate bodies are serious to turn today’s rally into the biggest-ever one in the history of Rangpur and thus to show strength and public support in favour of it ahead of the next parliamentary elections. 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, '2023-08-02 18:43:17', '2023-08-02 18:43:17'),
(8353, 8353, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The grand rally of the ruling Awami League started at Rangpur Zilla School ground on Wednesday afternoon.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina is due to address.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thousands of people, including AL leaders and activists, started assemling at the venue since early in the morning and the ground and its surrounding 10 kilometer radius areas have been filled to the brim&nbsp; by 12pm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Leaders and activists of the AL and its associates bodies are coming to the venue in processions carrying colourful banners, posters, placards, small boats, national and party flags.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They are chanting various slogans describing various development activities of the government that had been taken in the last 14 and a half years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also requested the voters to vote for boat, the electoral symbol of Awami League, in the next election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To welcome their beloved prime minister the entire Rangpur was decorated with several hundreds of makeshift gates (torons), festoons, banners, placards and posters with pictures of the Father of the Nation&nbsp; and the prime minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Every lanes and by-lanes of the divisional city were also decorated in the similar way.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A festive mood had been prevailing among Awami League and its front and associate bodies leaders and activists, and common people for a couple of days over the prime minister’s visit in Rangpur district for the first time in five years since she last visited Pirganj and Taraganj on December 23 in 2018.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The entire Rangpur wore a new look with decoration and lighting all over.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The city roads have also been&nbsp; decorated to welcome the prime minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Posters inscribed with pictures of the Father the Nation,&nbsp; PM Hasina and Sajeeb Wazed Joy with covering most of the high-rises, important roads, medians and walls with colourful banners and festoons while arches and welcome gates have been erected on roads.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A procession of 390 transgenders under the banner of Nya Odhikar Transgender Unnayan Sangstha came to the venue from different parts Rangpur district&nbsp; wearing colorful dresses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A transgender woman Nusrat, a resident of 26 no ward said that she came to join the rally to welcome the prime minister and show respect to her aw the premier gave them recognition as third gender and took various measures to include them in the mainstream of the society.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We are now becoming chairpersons and members just because of the prime minister,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A 63-year old Selim Mia who came from 8 no ward under Mahiganj Thana joining a procession of over 3000 men and women, said they strated journey from their locality at 8am by a bus to join the rally. He said they are very happy as the prime minister and daughter-in-law of the district will speak to them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Men wore blue t shirts and blue caps while the women wore cloroful sarees and blue caps.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 73 year old Fazlur Rahman, who came from ward no -1 wearing white T shirt and white and a small national flag in hand like his fellow party colleagues, told this correspondent that the people must repay PM\'s controbution to the overall development of Rangpur. 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, '2023-08-02 19:29:46', '2023-08-02 19:29:46'),
(8354, 8354, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Thirty-two people, including 24 Buet students, were today granted bail in a case filed after police arrested them when they were on a trip to Sunamganj\'s Tanguar Haor, according to media reports.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Judge Farhan Sadik of Judicial Magistrate Court-4 in Sunamganj passed the order.</div><div><br></div><div>A team of Tahirpur police picked up 34 persons including 24 current students of Buet, its seven former students, two boys and a man on July 30. They had gone on the trip from Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>Police filed a case against them under the Anti-Terrorism Act on charges of planning a \"secret conspiracy\" against the government.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, the guardians of the students protested the move, saying the law enforcers implicated them in a false case to harass them. They held a press conference on Buet campus in this regard yesterday.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-02 21:08:32', '2023-08-02 21:08:32'),
(8355, 8355, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman was sentenced to nine years\' imprisonment and his wife Zubaida Rahman was handed a three-year jail sentence in a graft case.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on September 26, 2007, filed the case against Tarique Rahman, his wife Zubaida Rahman and mother-in-law Iqbal-Mand Banu for amassing illegal wealth.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Asaduzzaman announced the verdict.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 43 witnesses out of 56 testified in the case. The court on April 13, 2013, framed charges against the two fugitive accused as it scrapped a petition to allow them to appoint lawyers to defend them in absentia.</div><div><br></div><div>The High Court after holding final hearing on the matter, cancelled the plea of Zubaida on April 12, 2017. It had also asked her to appear before the trial court concerned within eight weeks. Zubaida later filed a leave to appeal petition against the High Court order.</div><div><br></div><div>The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on April 13, 2022, scrapped Zubaida\'s leave to appeal petition and upheld the High Court order.</div><div><br></div><div>On the ther hand, on November 1, 2022, the lower court concerned issued arrest warrants against the couple after accepting the charges pressed against them.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p><font color=\"#0000ff\">Graft case</font><br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-02 21:31:22', '2023-08-02 21:31:22'),
(8356, 8356, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday inaugurated 27 development peojects and laid foundation stones of five others including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novotheatre here in the district.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister unveiled the plaques of the completed projects from a grand rally at the Rangpur Zilla School ground here this afternoon. From the same venue she laid the foundation stones of five other projects. </div><div><br></div><div>The new projects will be implemented under different ministries and divisions and Rangpur City Corporation at a cost of over Tk 2000 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novotheatre is seen as an important one among these.</div><div><br></div><div>The 10-storey Novotheatre is being built on 10 acres of land at a cost of Tk 417 crore in Rangpur Upshohor around six kilometre away from the city.</div><div><br></div><div>Officials say this will help ensure more socio-economic upliftment of the locality.</div><div><br></div><div>Students will gain knowledge about the space science in the easiest way and would be encouraged to study science, they said.</div><div><br></div><div>The government has already built Banagabandhu Novotheatre in Dhaka while four others are being built in Barishal, Rangpur, Rajshahi and Khulna.</div><div><br></div><div>Work on the Novotheatre in Rajshahi has almost completed and likely to be oppened in one or two months.</div><div><br></div><div>Each of the division will get a Novetheatre to fulfill PM Hasina\'s  pledge.</div><div><br></div><div>The Prime Minister also laid foundation stones of Rangpur Regional office of Bangladesh Public Service Commission Secretariat, Bitac Center of Rangpur district, women hostel for Rangpur Medical College and regional office of BMDA.</div><div><br></div><div>The projects under Youth and Sports Ministry which were inaugurated are- Sheikh Russell Media Center, Sheikh Russell Indoor Stadium, Sheikh Russell Swimming Pool, Rangpur Palichara Stadium, Divisional Women Sports Complex.</div><div><br></div><div>The projects under Rangpur City Corporation are- Rangpur City Central Bus Terminal, Rangpur City Asphalt Plant and Store Yard.</div><div><br></div><div>The projects under Agriculture Ministry are- Nalaya River Re-excavation (19.14 kilometre), Alaikumari River Re-excavation (19.24 kilometre), Noimulla Beel Re-excavation (14.57 acre), Chithli Feel Re-excavation (19.63 acres), Varardaha and Patuakamri Beel Re-excavation (22.89 acres).</div><div><br></div><div>The projects under Local Government and Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry are- development works of road from Pirgacha upazila Chowdhurani GC to Shathibari R&H, Rehabilitation works of road from Pirgacha upazila Vendabari to Khalashpir GC, Rehabilitation works of road from Kaunia upazila Tepamdhupur GC to Paotana GC, construction of 96 meter bridge over Ghaghat river at Gopalganj Ghat in Mithapukur Upazila, construction of 40 meter bridge on Burirhaat GC- Kakina R&H road in Gangachara upazila and construction works of Pallimari government primary school cum shelter in Kaunia upazila.</div><div><br></div><div>The projects under Health Engineering Department are- Rangpur Medical College Multipurpose Building, Helencha 10-bed Mother and Child welfare center at Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur, office of divisional health health director of Rangpur Division, Matharganj 10-bed Mother and Child welfare center at Pirganj upazila in Rangpur, 14 No Chatra 10-bed Mother and Child welfare center at Pirganj upazila in Rangpur, 10 bed Begum Rokeya Modern Hospital of Payraband union of Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur and Khalashpir 10-bed Mother and Child welfare center at Pirganj upazila in Rangpur.</div><div><br></div><div>The other projects are- The preservation of 2540 meter river banks in Pirganj upazila and office building of inspection of Rangpur Factories and Organisations. According to UNB reports </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-02 22:41:16', '2023-08-03 01:38:27'),
(8357, 8357, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday repeated her call to the people to vote for ‘boat’ – the election symbol of her ruling Awami League –and give the party another chance to serve the country.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“By casting your votes in favour of ‘boat’, please give the Awami League another chance to serve you again. I’m ready to sacrifice my life for your betterment,” she told a grand rally here amid cheers and thunderous slogans.</div><div><br></div><div>The rally, organised by Rangpur City and District Awami League at Rangpur Zila School ground, turned into a human sea as tens of thousands of AL leaders, activists and enthusiastic people filled the ground and its adjoining 10-km area.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking from a large boat-shaped stage Hasina, also the president of Awami League, said only when the boat wins the country gets development.</div><div><br></div><div>“It brings changes in the condition for farmers, it provides electricity to every houses, it advances the country,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said that she had lost her father, mother, brothers and all, and now people of Bangladesh her family.</div><div><br></div><div>“If necessary like my father I will lay down my life to change the fate of the people of Bangladesh,” she vowed.</div><div><br></div><div>She asked the banner-waving and slogan-chanting crowd: “Will you cast your votes for boat? Please tell me.”</div><div><br></div><div>The crowd raised their hands chanting “Yes” and the PM thanked them.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister declared that the government will implement the Teesta Master Plan. But she did not elaborate on this plan.</div><div><br></div><div>She also said that Rangpur Sugar Mills which is closed for a long time will be opened and the government has taken initiative regarding this.</div><div><br></div><div>“We will hand over this mill to the private sector so that this could be opened for production,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Briefly describing various development programmes for the Rangpur region, the PM said that the prime task of her government is to change the fate of the people of the country and develop their status.</div><div><br></div><div>“I can say firmly this region there will be no more famine in this region and we are developing Rangpur division like that way,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Awami League chief said that there is a vested quarter in the country which always plays with the fate of the people.</div><div><br></div><div>“By killing the Father of the Nation, that play had been started and after that grabbing of the power and the politics of killing, coup and conspiracy started,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that after a long way of struggle and movement the Awami League has returned democracy in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>“People now can cast their votes peacefully,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>In this connection, sheikh Hasina said that the government has introduced voter list with picture and transparent ballot box and taken steps to ensure that people can exercise their voting rights peacefully.</div><div><br></div><div>“This has been done as we need to change the fate of the people of this country,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>In his speech Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that games will be played in the roads.</div><div><br></div><div>“We will face them (opposition BNP) on the roads, we are on the roads and in the elections,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He also mentioned that Awami League will not run away from the country as its base is deep rooted in the soil of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Rangpur district Awami League Convener AKM Sayadat Hossain Bokul, Awami League Treasure HN Ashequr Rahman, Awami Organising Secretary and Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad Abu Saeed Al Mahmud Swapan and Awami League Publicity and Publication Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap also spoke at the rally. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-03 01:35:24', '2023-08-03 01:35:24'),
(8358, 8358, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has been increased to Tk 94.96 per kg for the month of August from Tk 83.25 in July.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced the new price, saying that the retail consumer will now get a 12kg LPG cylinder at Tk 1,140 including VAT instead of previous price of Tk 999.</div><div><br></div><div>Prices of other sizes of LPG cylinders – from 5.5kg to 45kg – will go up rationally, Md Nurul Amin, the chairman of BERC, said at a press briefing on Wednesday at the BERC office in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>The new prices will be effective from 6 pm today (August 2, 2023).</div><div><br></div><div>As per the BERC decision, the price of “auto gas” (LPG used for motor vehicles) also increased to Tk 52.17 per litre (including VAT) from Tk 46.59 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>BERC officials said the LPG price witnessed a decline 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>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. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-03 02:54:31', '2023-08-03 02:54:31'),
(8359, 8359, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bongo BD, one of the leading OTT platforms in the country, has once again raised the bar in entertainment offerings with the release of the highly-anticipated Bangla-dubbed version of the hit Chinese web series \"Put Your Head on My Shoulder\".&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Bangla title of the hit show is \"Ei Mon Tomake Dilam\". Adored by viewers globally and recognised as one of the top 10 web series at the esteemed Golden Bud - The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival, the romantic drama is set to captivate Bangla-speaking audiences.</div><div><br></div><div>Based on the popular Chinese novel of the same name, \"Put Your Head on My Shoulder\" follows the heartwarming journey of two young university students, Gaurav and Sejuti Mou. Gaurav, an exceptionally brilliant physics student, exudes a serious and contemplative demeanour, while Senjuti Mou, an accounting student with aspirations in advertising, charms with her simplicity, intelligence, and sweetness.</div><div><br></div><div>The series beautifully unfolds their encounter and the blossoming intimacy between the two opposite characters, said a media release.</div><div><br></div><div>Chinese actors Xing Fei, Lin Yi, and Tang Xiaotian deliver stellar performances, adding depth to the compelling narrative.</div><div><br></div><div>The acclaim received by the show at the Golden Bud Festival extends beyond being listed among the top 10 web series. The series was also honoured with awards for Best Producer, Best Newcomer, and Best Promising Actress, solidifying its position as a global sensation.</div><div><br></div><div>Additionally, the series earned nominations in prestigious categories at China\'s 26th Huading Awards and China Entertainment Industry Summit (Golden Pufferfish Awards), including Best Screenplay, Best Actor &amp; Actress (Modern Drama), and Best Marketing. Garnering an impressive rating of 8/10 stars on IMDB, the series has captivated audiences worldwide.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking of the momentous release, Naimul Newaz, head of growth at Bongo BD, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, \"Bongo BD has always been committed to delivering the finest entertainment to the people of this country. Following our successful introduction of official dubbed versions of popular South Korean and Chinese series, we are thrilled to present the beloved Chinese series \'Put Your Head on My Shoulder\'. We firmly believe that its enchanting storyline, exceptional performances, and breathtaking scenes will mesmerise the audience.\"</div><div><br></div><div>While \"Put Your Head on My Shoulder\" has been previously dubbed in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, and Chinese, this marks the first-ever full Bangla dubbing, promising an enthralling experience for viewers here. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-03 02:57:49', '2023-08-03 02:57:49'),
(8360, 8360, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP will hold a rally in the capital on Friday to protest against a lower court verdict against party acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman in a graft case.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>BNP’s Dhaka south city unit convener Abdus Salam announced the programme on Wednesday after a demonstration in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the rally will start at 2pm on Friday at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, hundreds of BNP leaders and activists staged a demonstration in the Nayapaltan area protesting the court verdict against Tarique and Zubaida.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leaders and activists started gathering in the area since 1pm on Wednesday amid huge presence of law enforcers.</div><div><br></div><div>As the court delivered the verdict, the BNP followers along with party senior leaders, including its vice chairman Barkatullah Bulu, chairperson’s advisers Amanullah Aman, Abdus Salam, and senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, brought out a procession towards Nightingale crossing from Nayapaltan around 4:05pm.</div><div><br></div><div>They shouted a slogan that they don’t accept the \"verdict of Sheikh Hasina\".&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Later, they held a rally in front of the BNP office with Abdus Salam in the chair.</div><div><br></div><div>Addressing the rally, Barkatullah Bulu said the verdict against Tarique and his wife was a ‘dictated’ one.</div><div><br></div><div>“Common people will not accept this verdict. You (Sheikh Hasina) will be removed from power and tried on the soil of Bengal. You (Sheikh Hasina) get ready for it,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier in the day, a Dhaka court sentenced BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman to nine years imprisonment and his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman to three years in a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in 2007.</div><div><br></div><div>Judge Md Asaduzzaman of Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge\'s Court handed down the verdict against Tarique and Zubaida who have long been staying in London.</div><div><br></div><div>The court also fined Tarique Tk 3 crore and Zubaida Tk 45 lakh.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, a group of pro-BNP lawyers staged a demonstration in the Dhaka Court area in protest against the verdict.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on Tuesday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir feared that their acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman could be sentenced in the graft case by a ‘dictated’ verdict as per a blueprint of the government. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-03 03:03:33', '2023-08-03 03:03:33'),
(8361, 8361, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Speakers at a roundtable today observed that climate adaptive technology, innovation must for development of agro based industries.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The climate change impact is posing a severe threat to the country\'s agriculture as well as to the overall economy as annual GDP set to shrink by 1.0 to 2.0 per cent for its consequences, they mentioned.</div><div><br></div><div>And required investment is crucial as investment of US $ 1.2 billion within 2030 could save $11.6 billion by 2030, while the savings will be $59 billion by2050, they added.</div><div><br></div><div>The observations were made by the speakers at the roundtable styled \"Climate Adaptation: Opportunities for Bangladesh in Development of Agro-based Industries,\" organised by the</div><div><br></div><div>International Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh (ICCB), UN\'s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Standard Chartered Bank at a city hotel, said a press release.</div><div><br></div><div>ICCB President Mahbubur Rahman chaired, while Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, attended the roundtable as the chief guest and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin was special guest.</div><div><br></div><div>Standard Chartered Chief Executive Officer Naser Ezaz Bijoy FAO Representative Bangladesh Dr Nur Khondaker, CIRDAP Director General Dr Cherdsak Virapat also spoke.</div><div><br></div><div>Panelists also said a close collaboration between the private and public sector is needed to formulate policy to combat the climate change impacts for ensuring future food security of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>In his address, Dr Razzaque pointed out that a vast area of the country might unfortunately be inundated by sea water within next few decades.</div><div>He said the National Adaptation Plan of Bangladesh 2023-2050 lists development of agro food processing industries based on climate sensitive crop-zoning as a core intervention area.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Promotion of mini-processing factories close to the production area, will contribute to building the capacity of our large majority of small holder farm men and women, promote local agrifood value chain development and contribute to lowering the global carbon footprint,\" said the minister.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Use of digital technology in all stages of the agrifood value chain from production to post harvest management will help to enhance efficiency. The use of ICT for agriculture and market linkages is being expanded to enable critical flow of information and advisory services to farmers in rural and urban areas for fair price with profit margin\", he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Shahab Uddin said agroforestry plays an essential role in climate adaptation by promoting biodiversity, enhancing soil health, and reducing the impacts of natural disasters.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Integrating agroforestry practices into our agricultural landscape can foster resilience and sustainability while addressing climate change challenges,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Mahbubur Rahman emphasized on the dynamic expansion of a sustainable agro-processing industry to keep economy as well as agriculture vibrant in a changing climatic condition.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Bangladesh is responsible for only 0.4 percent to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which is insignificant compared to other mega industrial economies, but Bangladesh is high on the list of countries most vulnerable to climate change.</div><div><br></div><div>Given the current trajectory, the rapidly changing climate conditions will trigger annual GDP losses, in the range of 1.0 to 2.0 per cent. Beyond these macro implications, there are lasting consequences for food security due to the loss of arable land (up to 1.75 per cent every year), for education due to the breakdown of school infrastructure, for health due to high salinity and water logging, and for livelihood due to loss of income and assets, said Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>He also mentioned that the agricultural exports from Bangladesh have been growing over 18 per cent for the last five years.</div><div><br></div><div>The global demand for agricultural product is also expected to grow by 15 per cent between 2019-2028 which provides a great opportunity to the Bangladesh processed food industry to expand its exports and help the country in its effort to diversify export, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said ICC has established Agri-Food Hub (AFH), a collaborative ecosystem within the ICC network , bringing together businesses, institutions, experts, and academia in the agribusiness sector. It promotes multilateralism, sustainable development, and responsible practices to enhance global trade in the agri-food industry. - BSS&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-03 03:31:34', '2023-08-03 03:31:34'),
(8362, 8362, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Health officials and experts have stressed coordinated efforts and a national plan to battle the current onslaught of dengue.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) adviser and infectious disease expert Dr Mostaq Hossain said it is not possible to control dengue without concerted efforts.</div><div><br></div><div>“To eliminate the breeding ground of Aedes mosquitoes in Dhaka and across the country, a coordinated initiative has to be undertaken,” he told UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have a directive from the inter-ministerial task force. There are many initiatives that can be handled individually and many that have to be done in coordination. To clean your flat, you need the coordination of experienced city corporation workers, flat owners association volunteers and local public representatives,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Hossain warned that preaching would not work if there is no concerted effort to destroy Aedes mosquitoes\' breeding grounds.</div><div><br></div><div>He also cautioned that fines won’t solve issues related to public health.</div><div><br></div><div>“When the city corporation workers come, people will not open the door, they will not allow them to enter. Because they knew if they open the door they would be fined,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Fines can be imposed in general matters,” he said, adding: “But you shouldn’t drive people away by imposing fines on public health matters. Follow the framework of community engagement outlined in the local government department\'s guidelines.”</div><div><br></div><div>The IEDCR adviser stressed on increasing infrastructure and workforce under the city corporations to efficiently tackle the dengue outbreak.</div><div><br></div><div>Jahangirnagar University entomologist Dr Kabirul Bashar told UNB that a national plan should be prepared to protect the people of the country from dengue.</div><div><br></div><div>“In the coming days, a national plan should be prepared with all stakeholders by discussing, analyzing what can be done to control the dengue outbreak in Bangladesh,” he said. “If necessary, a national institution called the Institute of Vector Control should be established.”</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Bashar warned that the dengue situation could worsen in the next two months.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The next two months (August and September) are very worrying for us as the death and dengue infection rate might surpass the previous records,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“In the next two months, we will see 7-8 times more dengue patients than July. That\'s why we have to be more careful.”</div><div><br></div><div>He urged the authorities to identify and destroy Aedes breeding grounds in a bid to control the outbreak.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;\"So far, we were talking about dengue in the two city corporations of Dhaka. Now we are seeing Aedes mosquitoes spreading all over the country. Dengue has spread in other upazilas. No one knows why dengue is spreading in areas outside Dhaka,” he said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Bashar called on the government to fund research to determine how the onslaught of dengue is spreading to other areas outside Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>Kabirul Bashar said that earlier 40 percent of Aedes mosquitoes in Dhaka city used to breed in under-construction buildings which has now come down to 19 percent due to the city corporation\'s drive.</div><div><br></div><div>“But this time, in the study, we found 43 percent of mosquitoes in multipurpose buildings. We have seen that the city corporation officials and residents do not go to the multipurpose buildings where the vehicles are parked. As a result, aedes larvae are growing in accumulated water there,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Director (MIS) of the Directorate General of Health Services Prof. Md. Shahadat Hossain said the total number of dengue patients in the country in June was 5,056, compared to 38,429 dengue patients in July -- a staggering seven-fold rise in Dengue cases.</div><div><br></div><div>“In this situation, DGHS has urged the general public to come forward along with strengthening the mosquito eradication program of the city corporation to tackle the outbreak,” he told UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“At present, many hospitals in the capital have been filled with patients infected by the mosquito-borne disease. We are making all efforts from the Department of Health to control the situation so that dengue patients can come to the hospital and get proper medical care.”</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the Department of Health is carrying out various awareness activities to make people aware, the DGHS director added. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-03 22:16:39', '2023-08-03 22:16:39'),
(8363, 8363, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday alleged that the government has been using the judiciary as the biggest weapon to establish fascism by suppressing and oppressing the opposition.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“This fascist government is using the judiciary as its main and biggest weapon,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also said the government is completely taking away the basic, democratic, and constitutional rights of people using the judiciary.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Democracy-loving people are being subjected to extreme harassment, suppression and oppression by this judiciary to stop their democratic movement and the struggle,\" the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>He bemoaned that the government has been pushing the nation into unending violence and uncertainty with its obstinacy to hang onto power.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said a ‘dictated’ court verdict was given against their acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman with a motive to put his leadership into question and thwart the ongoing movement.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“But the movement can never be suppressed or stopped in this way. People will not go back home until their demands are met,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul also lamented that though Zubaida Rahman has no involvement with politics, she was also convicted in the ‘false’ case.</div><div><br></div><div>He claimed that Awami League leaders have been acquitted in similar cases in which Tarique was convicted.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader also recalled that 15 graft cases filed against Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina during the 1/11 political changeover in 2007 were withdrawn by using the judiciary.</div><div><br></div><div>“That is why we’re saying they (govt) are actually using the courts and judiciary as a weapon to establish their fascism,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul alleged that BNP Chairperson Khaleda was convicted completely unfairly and sent to jail by framing a ‘false’ case.</div><div><br></div><div>“It’s surprising that the trial court sentenced her (Khaleda) to 7 years, and while the high court extended it to 10 years. However, many Awami League leaders got bail in similar cases and they were acquitted and they even discharged their responsibilities as ministers,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from the judiciary, Fakhrul alleged the government has been using the media as a weapon to suppress the truth and establish their statements as the truth.</div><div><br></div><div>He strongly condemned the attack on Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur by Bangladesh Chhatra League activists on the Dhaka University campus on Wednesday</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said Nur was attacked horribly and inhumanely by the ‘cadres’ of Chhatra League in front of TSC of Dhaka University, leaving him injured.</div><div><br></div><div>He also protested the police raid on Nur’s residence by the Detective Branch of Police and said this cannot continue in any civilised country.</div><div><br></div><div>After the press conference, Fakhrul visited Nurul Haque Nur at Universal Medical Hospital in Mohakhali where the Gono Odhikar Parishad leaders was undergoing treatment.</div><div><br></div><div>He talked to Nur and inquired about his treatment from the doctors. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-03 23:49:51', '2023-08-03 23:49:51'),
(8364, 8364, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday offered lands to the Netherlands for investments in the shipbuilding sector of Bangladesh.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“If you (Netherlands) wish, we can give you places for drydocks (in Bangladesh),” she told&nbsp; outgoing Netherlands Ambassador to Bangladesh Anne Van Leeuwen.</div><div><br></div><div>The Dutch envoy paid his farewell call on the premier at the latter’s office in the city, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told reporters after the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>During the meeting, both the PM and the envoy expressed satisfaction over the existing bilateral relations between the two countries and hoped that the cooperation would continue between Bangladesh and Netherlands for economic development.</div><div><br></div><div>Different issues including Delta Plan-2100, climate change issue and the global economic situation came up for the discussion, said the press secretary.</div><div><br></div><div>The outgoing envoy said he was happy to work here. “Bangladesh will remain in my heart,” he was quoted as saying.</div><div><br></div><div>Leeuwen said Delta Plan is a wonderful idea and the Netherlands will give support to Bangladesh for its implementation.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Bangladesh can be benefited from the sharing of experiences over water management, agricultural development and ICT as the Netherlands have enough expertise in these sectors.</div><div><br></div><div>The Dutch ambassador hoped that the bilateral ties between the two countries would be deepened and stronger in the coming days.</div><div>&nbsp;Hasina said Bangladesh wants to reclaim lands as the Netherlands has done.</div><div><br></div><div>During the discussion on the climate change issue, she said Bangladesh will have to sustain amid cyclones and floods. “We’ve to handle climate changes effectively.” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>In this context, the prime minister said a huge number of people died in the 1991 cyclone. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman constructed cyclone shelters first in Bangladesh and later her government expanded the programme.</div><div><br></div><div>About the global situation, the PM said countries like Bangladesh are under tremendous economic pressure due to the Ukraine war.</div><div><br></div><div>PM’s Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin and PM’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-03 23:58:50', '2023-08-03 23:58:50'),
(8365, 8365, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The throat-slit body of a woman was recovered from Baluchar village in Companyganj upazila of the district on Thursday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The deceased was identified as Salekha Begum, 52, wife of Abdur Rauf. They have four daughters and two sons.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Companyganj Police Station Hillol Roy said neighbours found the door of her house open in the morning and her body lying in a room.</div><div><br></div><div>On information, police went to the spot and recovered the body, he said adding that police is investigating the incident.</div><div><br></div><div>The body was to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-04 00:27:13', '2023-08-04 00:27:13'),
(8366, 8366, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh\'s trade deficit in the fiscal 2022-23 (FY23) narrowed amid a raft of measures, including import controls.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The country\'s trade deficit has decreased to -$17,155 million ( around 48 percent) in FY23 - down from -$33,250 million in the previous fiscal year - due to the tightening of imports, according to data from the Bangladesh Bank (BB).</div><div><br></div><div>The country\'s imports went down by 15.76 percent to $69.49 billion in the year ending on 30 June, while exports rose by 6.28 percent to $52.34 billion, helping the country reduce its trade gap. According to BSS reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-04 01:00:24', '2023-08-04 01:00:24'),
(8367, 8367, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A total of 59,273 pilgrims have returned home by 168 post hajj-flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines from Saudi Arabia after performing the holy Hajj this year.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Among the 168 flights, the last dedicated flight-3612 of Biman Bangladesh Airlines landed at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport here carrying 358 pilgrims this morning, a press release said on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, a scheduled flight-BG-336 reached the airport here with 50 other pilgrims today, the release added.</div><div>The post-hajj flight started on July 2.</div><div><br></div><div>Biman airlines safely carried a total of 61,168 pilgrims through 160 flights after the Hajj. Apart from Dhaka, Hajj flights were also operated from Sylhet and Chattogram.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the directives of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, like in previous years, the Hajj flights were given utmost importance this year too.</div><div><br></div><div>Biman Bangladesh Airlines organized the closing ceremony of Hajj flight today at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport where State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali was present as the chief guest. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-04 01:06:20', '2023-08-04 01:06:20'),
(8368, 8368, '<div><b>As of Wednesday, North China\'s Hebei province has detained about 1.8 billion cubic meters of floodwater after it put into use seven flood detention areas in the past few days, according to the emergency management department of Hebei province, reports chinadaily.com.cn.&nbsp;</b></div><div><br></div><div>To prevent flooding disasters in flood-prone areas, more than 850,000 residents surrounding the detention reservoirs including Xiaoqing River, Langouwa and Dongdian, have been relocated to safe areas, the department said, adding that another 370,000 people have also been evacuated from other regions.</div><div><br></div><div>The province had been hit by heavy rainfalls for about 144 hours since Thursday (July 27) and the rain stopped on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>During that period, the province\'s average rainfall reached 146.2 millimeters, amounting to about 27.5 billion cubic meters of water, which is equivalent to more than twice the total storage capacity of large and medium-sized reservoirs in the whole province, chinanews.com reported.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The flood detention reservoirs that we used turned out to be effective,\" Li Na, deputy head of the Department of Water Resources of Hebei Province, said in a television interview for China Media Group on Wednesday night.</div><div><br></div><div>In particular, two detention reservoirs near Zhuozhou city have played an important role in the Daqing River flood control engineering system.</div><div><br></div><div>According to Li, the floodwaters run through a series of reservoirs and rivers, starting from the Baigo River and Nanjuma River and ending in the Bohai Sea via Tianjin\'s Duliujian River.</div><div><br></div><div>\"If not for the two areas alleviating floodwaters, the pressure on downstream flood control in Xiong\'an and Tianjin would be very heavy,\" she said, adding that the use of flood detention reservoirs has played a substantial role in supporting and guaranteeing flood control for downstream rivers and other important areas.</div><div><br></div><div>Since the rain stopped, the water level in the river bodies has started to drop and thus the amount of water in the flood detention reservoirs will gradually reduce at various paces depending on location and size, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>Some villages located above the reservoirs will see the waterline receding within about a week, while some others may need a month, Li said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-04 01:45:44', '2023-08-04 01:45:44');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(8369, 8369, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh has described “encouraging and significant” the recent recommendation made by India\'s Parliamentary Standing Committee regarding Teesta water sharing agreement.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“It is surely encouraging and meaningful; specially MPs from all political parties of India are there in this committee. That is why such a recommendation generated hope among us,” spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Seheli Sabrin told reporters at the weekly media briefing on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>She said they noticed through the Bangladesh Mission in New Delhi that the committee recommended reaching consensus on Teesta water sharing through meaningful dialogue to strengthen the relations between the two countries.</div><div><br></div><div>Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs in India unanimously has recently recommended to the government to resolve the pending Teesta water sharing issue at the earliest \'to improve the bilateral relation further\' with Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Recalling earlier discussions, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated Bangladesh’s long pending request for concluding the interim agreement on the sharing of the waters of the Teesta River, the draft of which was finalised in 2011.</div><div><br></div><div>In September last year, PM Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi also directed the officials to work together to address issues such as pollution in rivers and to improve riverine environment and river navigability in respect of common rivers.</div><div><br></div><div>When Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma met PM Hasina at Gonobhaban recently, the prime minister said that she was looking forward to attending the G20 Summit in India in September, according to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>The standing committee composed of all parties’ lawmakers submitted the report on \'India\'s Neighborhood First Policy\' in both the houses of the Parliament –Rajyasabha, upper house and Loksabha, lower house, on July 25.</div><div><br></div><div>P.P. Chaudhary, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs is from BJP.</div><div><br></div><div>Important members of the parliament like former Home Minister of Congress P Chidambaram, Abhishek Banerjee of TMC, BJP MP Swapan Dasgutpa and other 27 members of Parliament of Rajyasabha and Loksabha are the members of the committee, media reported.</div><div><br></div><div>The report contains a special chapter on the bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The Committee is aware of the long outstanding issue between India and Bangladesh on sharing of Teesta River water and desires that this important issue be worked out at the earliest for improved bilateral relations with Bangladesh. The Committee also urges the Ministry to initiate meaningful dialogues with Bangladesh on a regular basis to arrive at a consensus in the matter and the progress and outcome may be informed to the committee on the issue of pending disputes between India and Bangladesh and the fresh initiatives and meaningful dialogues proposed to be taken to resolve such disputes,” according to media reported.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-04 01:49:22', '2023-08-04 01:49:22'),
(8370, 8370, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Venezuelan beauty queen Ariana Viera, who fought for life in a hospital after sustaining injuries in a car accident, has died, according to New York Post. She was 26. Ms Viera\'s car collided with a truck in Orlando on July 13 after she fell asleep behind the wheel, the outlet further said.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Nearly 10 days after the accident, Ms Viera\'s mother told a Venezuelan television channel that her daughter had been suffering fatigue and fell asleep while driving near Lake Nona.</div><div><br></div><div>\"They revived her, but when they were going to take her to trauma care, she stayed there,\" her mother Vivian Ochoa said.</div><div>The model and current Miss Venezuela reportedly suffered a heart attack after being revived.</div><div><br></div><div>She was due to represent her home country at the Miss Latin America of the World 2023 competition in the Dominican Republic in October.</div><div><br></div><div>Ms Viera\'s death has sparked a lot of discussion on social media with users pointing out that just two months ago, she had made a chilling video about her funeral.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Recording myself for my future funeral because it\'s always me who takes the videos no one takes them of me,\" she said in the caption of the video posted on her Instagram handle in May.</div><div><br></div><div>It showed Ms Viera doing day-to-day activities like waking up, drinking water and just hanging around the house.</div><div>The model worked in real estate sector and ran Full House Cleaning Service, according to her Instagram page.</div><div><br></div><div>Ms Viera\'s father, who lives in Peru, applied for a humanitarian visa to attend his daughter\'s funeral, but it wasn\'t approved till the day after the service, the Post report said. Source: NDTV</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-04 01:53:31', '2023-08-04 01:53:31'),
(8371, 8371, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Lionel Messi made it five goals in three appearances for Inter Miami as he scored twice in a 3-1 win over Orlando City in the Leagues Cup round-of-32 on Wednesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Both finishes came from close range from the Argentine who made it three wins out of three at a team which was winless in 11 league games before his arrival.</div><div><br></div><div>Messi opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Robert Taylor cut in from the left and chipped a perfect ball into the path of the on-running Argentine who cushioned the ball his chest before volleying home from six yards out.</div><div><br></div><div>But Orlando responded strongly, drawing level ten minutes later when a low shot from Ivan Angulo was pushed out by Miami keeper Drake Callender and Uruguayan Cesar Araujo pounced on the edge of the box to drive a low shot into the corner.</div><div><br></div><div>Miami restored their lead thanks to a 51st minute penalty from Josef Martinez and then Messi made sure of the victory, again from close range, after a clever chip to him from Martinez.</div><div><br></div><div>Another former Barcelona star Jordi Alba made his debut for Miami, coming on as a 64th minute substitute as Gerardo Martino\'s team earned a last 16 meeting away to FC Dallas on Sunday. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-04 01:56:50', '2023-08-04 01:56:50'),
(8372, 8372, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A court here today sentenced six people to death sentence and two others to life-term imprisonment for murdering a man in 2018.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Additional District and Sessions Judge Sabrina Ali handed down the verdict.</div><div><br></div><div>The convicts awarded death sentence are Mobarok Member, Tofazzel Hossain, Rubel Mia, Selim, Shohag and Edris Ali.</div><div><br></div><div>The convicts who got life-term imprisonment are Mofazzel Hossain Rubel and Dulal Mia.</div><div><br></div><div>The court also fined each of the convicts awarded death sentence Tk 50000 and convicts got life term Tk 20000. If they are unable to pay the amount they will have to serve more three months in jail.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the prosecution on July 3 in 2018, Mothbari Union Awami League President and veteran freedom fighter Abdul Motin Master left his home for his fish farm. Later, people recovered his floating body on the next day in the fisheries.</div><div><br></div><div>Following the murder, Abdul Motin\'s son filed a case accusing a few unnamed people. Police pressed the charge sheet on February 25 in 2019 accusing eight people. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-04 02:09:57', '2023-08-04 02:09:57'),
(8373, 8373, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>India on Thursday said election and the democratic process in Bangladesh have to be determined as per how people of the country choose to do so.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"The whole world may comment on it but India is India and we have a very special relationship with Bangladesh,\" India\'s Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters while responding to a question at a weekly briefing in New Delhi.</div><div><br></div><div>This was the first time India officially commented on the current situation in Bangladesh, centering the national election scheduled to be held in December this year or January next year.</div><div><br></div><div>The ministry of external affairs spokesperson said what happens in Bangladesh impacts them.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Look, I think there are multiple activities going on, people are perhaps commenting on it,\" Bagchi said.</div><div><br></div><div>Of course, he added, India is closely monitoring the situation, and mentioned that they have a high commission in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We hope that there is peace and no violence, and the elections are held as per plans,\" said the spokesperson.</div><div><br></div><div>On the issue of caretaker government, he said, \"I certainly don\'t have any comment on it.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Countries including the US have been commenting on elections in Bangladesh and expressed their desire for a free, fair and peaceful election in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>The government of Bangladesh says it is also committed to holding a free, fair and peaceful election. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p>MEA Spokesperson<br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-04 02:22:36', '2023-08-04 02:22:36'),
(8374, 8374, '<div><br></div><div>At least 18 people were killed and at least 23 injured Thursday when a bus carrying foreign migrants and locals plummeted into a ravine in northwestern Mexico, authorities said.</div><div><br></div><div>Three minors were among the dead, the civil protection agency in Nayarit state reported.</div><div><br></div><div>The bus, with around 40 people on board, was traveling from Mexico City to northwestern Tijuana, which borders San Diego, from where numerous migrants attempt to seek refuge in the United States.</div><div>\"Most of the passengers are foreigners and originating from countries such as India, the Dominican Republic and from the African continent, among others, some of whom were heading to Tijuana to cross into the United States,\" the civil protection agency said.</div><div><br></div><div>The driver has been detained on suspicion of speeding, causing him to lose control and plunge down an embankment near the state capital Tepic, the agency reported.</div><div><br></div><div>Deadly road accidents are common in Mexico, usually due to high speeds, poor vehicle conditions or driver fatigue.</div><div>Such crashes are a leading cause of deaths among migrants making the dangerous journey overland to the United States. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-04 18:28:26', '2023-08-04 18:28:26'),
(8375, 8375, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today paid rich tributes to the memory of Shaheed Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on the occasion of his 74th birth anniversary to be observed tomorrow.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>In separate messages on the eve of the anniversary, the President and Prime Minister prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul of Sheikh Kamal, who was a shining star in the country\'s sports and cultural arenas.</div><div><br></div><div>The President in his message said: \"On the 74th birth anniversary of valiant freedom fighter and Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Father of the Nation, I pay my deepest respect to his memory.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The head of the state welcomed the initiative taken by the Ministry of Youth and Sports to celebrate the day nationwide with due dignity.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that it is undoubtedly a commendable initiative to give the \'Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council Award-2023\' to eminent sportspersons of the country for their successful contribution in the field of sports to commemorate and show respect to the accomplished sports organizer and talented sportsperson Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The heroic freedom fighter martyred Captain Sheikh Kamal is not with us today, but he has left behind his principles, ideals, methods and directions, which are undoubtedly the path we are on today,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>For establishing Abahani Krira Chakra, he will be forever remembered in the sports arena of Bangladesh, the President continued.</div><div><br></div><div>In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said assassins killed Bangabandhu\'s eldest son Sheikh Kamal at first on the black night of August 15, 1975 after storming Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi-32 number.</div><div><br></div><div>Though the group of coward assassins killed Sheikh Kamal physically, the path he showed, his principles and guidelines in reaching the country\'s sports arena at international level still remain as model to be followed, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Kamal still remains as a source of inspiration to the people and will remain in future, too, she mentioned.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Today on his 74th birth anniversary, I am recalling him with profound love and affection,\" the premier said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said Sheikh Kamal was a shining star in the field of sports in independent Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Before the country\'s independence, Kamal founded Abahani Samajkalyan Sangstha and after returning from the Liberation War, he founded Abahani Krira Chakra, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from football, he also formed teams for hockey, cricket and table tennis under Abahani Krira Chakra, she said, adding that Sheikh Kamal used to provide modern dresses and sporting equipment to players.</div><div><br></div><div>Kamal appointed British coach for ensuring advanced training in sports for the first time in independent Bangladesh, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>At one stage, Kamal decided to establish district branch of Abahani Krira Chakra, the premier said, adding that he also took steps to provide retirement allowances to players apart from taking up various initiatives to make them self-reliant.</div><div><br></div><div>As per the goal, he set up \'Kheloyar Kalyan Tohobil\' after receiving Taka 10 lakh donation from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Kamal was a multitalented person and a role model of youth, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>He was the country\'s best sports organizer, a sportsperson and a very meritorious student as well, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said Kamal used to practice and foster native culture from his heart apart from studying.</div><div><br></div><div>He had remarkable contributions to every sphere including sports, music, acting, debate and extempore speech, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina said Kamal remained immortal in the cultural arena by forming Spondon Shilpi Gosthi.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Kamal, who was a very polite, decent and good-natured person, used to communicate with common people as a very simple person, she said, adding that Kamal used to extend his helping hand to anyone in their need.</div><div><br></div><div>The Prime Minister extended his best wishes and congratulations to all the recipients of the prestigious award \'Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council Award-2023\'.</div><div><br></div><div>She believed that this award will further encourage all individuals and organizations involved in sports and accelerate the ongoing progress in the field of sports.</div><div><br></div><div>Both the president and the premier wished a success of all programmes taken on the occasion of the 74th birth anniversary of Sheikh Kamal. - BSS</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-04 22:49:32', '2023-08-04 22:49:32'),
(8376, 8376, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Being born into a misogynist society with little to no incentives and daily obstacles for playing a ‘men’s game’ - nothing could stop the fierce girls from the coastal district of Khulna.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Despite being subjected to verbal abuse frequently, they always held their ground like Bengal tigresses. Until one day, at least four members - Sadia Nasrin, Mangali Bagchi, Hajera Khatun, and Jui Mondal of the under-17 Khulna divisional football team were attacked for ‘wearing shorts’ and ‘playing football’.</div><div><br></div><div>The girls are now passing each day fearing for their lives. Given how the situation unfolded at Tentultala village of the Batiaghata upazila, even stepping out of their home is a safety concern now.</div><div><br></div><div>At least 30 players used to join the daily practice session on the Super Queen Football Academy’s field every morning.</div><div><br></div><div>After the incident, barely 10-15 players come for practice, said footballer Hajera Khatun - who was a victim of the attack.</div><div><br></div><div>Tentultala Super Queen Football Academy’s President Islam Howladar said that the attack has caused dread among the footballers.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have to call the players for coming to practice sessions every day now,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Torturing the young footballers in a medieval way didn’t stop the attackers. Adding to the terror, the accused also threatened to harm the footballers\' families, file false cases against them, and even with acid attacks, said the victims.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“They said we can’t play football wearing shorts in our village. They even threatened us with acid attack. I can’t sleep at night. I’m paranoid to the point it feels like they are going to attack me again any time soon or resort to acid attack,” said seriously injured player Mangali Bagchi.</div><div><br></div><div>Sadia Nasrin, the captain of the team, who filed a case accusing six people, said they have been subjected to multiple threats by the attackers.</div><div><br></div><div>“One of the attackers threatened to kill us after we started taking legal action. He threatened acid attack, false cases against our families if we don’t withdraw the case,” she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The footballers called for protection and demanded justice.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>It all started when some of the footballers were photographed without consent while they were practising.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Sadia Nasrin recounted that the incident unfolded when a neighbour girl named Nupur Khatun took their picture while they were practising at the academy on July 27. Nupur shared the photo with Sadia\'s parents and made derogatory comments about her.</div><div><br></div><div>When Sadia confronted Nupur on July 29, she was verbally abused, and when she protested, she was subjected to a brutal beating, including slaps, punches, and injuries to her face and chest.</div><div><br></div><div>Disturbed and distressed, Sadia informed her parents, coaches, and teammates about the incident, leading to a confrontation at Nupur Khatun\'s house. The situation escalated when Nupur\'s father, Noor Alam Khan, her brother Salauddin, and mother Ranji Begum attacked the footballers with iron rods and threatened to kill them with Chinese axes, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Mangali Bagchi, one of the injured teenage footballers, revealed the extent of the violence and said that Nupur and her family members mercilessly beat her, cracking her head with a rod, and kept her tied up for about two hours.</div><div><br></div><div>After the case was filed, police arrested Noor Alam Khan, but the other accused obtained bail on Tuesday. Sadia filed another complaint on July 31 regarding the acid threat, and the police said they are conducting investigations in both cases.</div><div><br></div><div>Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Batiaghata Police Station, Shawkat Kabir, said that police officers are actively patrolling the village to ensure the safety of the footballers.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We informed the girls and their parents to report any issues immediately,\" he said. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-05 01:00:55', '2023-08-05 01:00:55'),
(8377, 8377, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP in some cases is deadlier than dengue, according to Information Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Dengue mosquitoes bite people and BNP burns living people with fire, burning cars. Therefore, like dengue, BNP has to be prevented, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He was speaking as the chief guest at Bangladesh Krishak League\'s Aedes mosquito eradication and awareness programme at Khamarbari roundabout in the capital on Friday morning.</div><div><br></div><div>\"BNP never does politics for the people and its top leaders want BNP to remain a stick force,” said Hasan.</div><div><br></div><div>\"BNP never stands by the people in dengue prevention or flood-disaster, even during corona, they have only done photo sessions and their politics is only for Begum Zia and Tarique Rahman. Now they are talking about the punishment of Tarek and Zubaida.</div><div><br></div><div>“And their top leaders do not allow anyone from the party to hold any election, even if they stand for the post of union council or municipal councillor. Why should people do a party that cannot be elected? In other words, those leaders want BNP to remain a ‘lathial’ force and that is why they take sticks to the procession,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan joined the programme as special guest.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Krishak League General Secretary Advocate Umme Kulsum Smrity moderated the programme. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-05 01:04:29', '2023-08-05 01:04:29'),
(8378, 8378, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">US superstar Taylor Swift announced Thursday several Toronto dates for her much-hyped world tour after a plea from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau not to skip Canada.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Concert sponsor Rogers Communications said in a statement that Swift will perform six shows as part of her \"Eras Tour\" in Canada\'s largest city, and that tickets would soon go on sale for the November 2024 dates.</div><div><br></div><div>Swift herself also posted on Instagram: \"Turns out it\'s NOT the end of an era.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"Miami, New Orleans, Indy and Toronto: The Eras Tour is coming to you in 2024,\" she said, with a photo listing the Canada stops as November 14-16 and 21-23.</div><div><br></div><div>US singer Gracie Abrams, the daughter of film director J.J. Abrams, will also be performing, Swift added.</div><div><br></div><div>Swift\'s initial snub of Canada when the tour schedule was first announced had greatly disappointed her Canadians fans, and Trudeau apparently could not shake it off.</div><div><br></div><div>In a tweet referencing the lyrics of Swift\'s songs, Trudeau last month urged her to fill the blank space and perform in America\'s neighbor to the north.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It\'s me, hi. I know places in Canada would love to have you,\" Trudeau said in a message on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that quickly went viral. \"So, don\'t make it another cruel summer. We hope to see you soon.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The artist had just announced the addition of new dates through 2024 to her consistently sold-out tour, which began in March in Arizona.</div><div><br></div><div>She\'d planned more than 100 concerts in the United States, Mexico, Europe, Asia and Australia, but not Canada. The bad blood risked turning Swift into something of an anti-hero in famously nice Canada.</div><div><br></div><div>In June, a conservative lawmaker also lamented what he called the singer\'s lack of respect for the country and similarly implored her to save some dates for Canada.</div><div><br></div><div>Swift\'s turnaround was the top story in most Canadian media on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>She last came to Canada in 2018. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-05 01:11:22', '2023-08-05 01:11:22'),
(8379, 8379, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram is getting ready for traffic as its 98 percent construction work is finished so far.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“Now the finishing touch is going on because Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the tunnel in September,” Project Director (PD) Md Harunur Rashid Chowdhury told journalists.</div><div><br></div><div>He said workers and engineers concerned are working round the clock for opening the much awaited tunnel in September.&nbsp;</div><div>“Already 98 percent of the tunnel work has been completed. The remaining two percent works will be completed soon. However, the project tenure will end on December 30,” he said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The project director said there is no major work in the tunnel, while both tubes are ready, adding, “If everything goes well, then we can finish the work by August. However, the ministry will decide when it will be inaugurated.”</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader at a function said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will open the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel.</div><div><br></div><div>According to project details, the tunnel will actually turn Chattogram into \"one city with two towns\". It is being constructed beneath the Karnaphuli River and it is expected to be opened for vehicular movement in September this year.</div><div><br></div><div>The multilane tunnel will directly connect the Chattogram Port with Anwara upazila, which will directly connect Cox\'s Bazar with Chattogram.</div><div><br></div><div>The project details said, two tubes have been constructed within an 11-metre gap so that heavy vehicles can pass through the tunnel easily.</div><div>The length of the tunnel is 3.40 kilometres with an approach road of 5.35 kilometres alongside a 740-metre bridge linking the main city, port and the western side of the river with its eastern side.</div><div><br></div><div>As part of the project, bridges, totaling 740 metres in length have been built, linking the main port city and western side of Karnaphuli River with the heavily industrializing eastern side of the river and Anwara upazila.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangabandhu\'s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the boring work of the first tunnel tube on February 24, 2019.</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping jointly laid the foundation stone of the Bangabandhu Tunnel on October 14, 2016. China Communications Construction Company Ltd is working as the contractor of the project.</div><div><br></div><div>The tunnel will connect the proposed Asian Highway with Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox\'s Bazar Highway along with reducing the distance by 40 km. Vehicles in this tunnel will run at a speed of 80 km per hour.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangabandhu Tunnel is being built at a cost of Taka 10,374 crore. The tunnel project is being implemented with joint funding from the governments of Bangladesh and China. The Exim Bank of China is giving a loan of Taka 5,913 crore at two per cent interest while the Bangladesh government is funding the remaining portion.</div><div><br></div><div>Newly elected president of Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries and former president of Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industries Mahbubul Alam recently told BSS that once the tunnel is opened, it will be a game changer for the southeast region of Bangladesh, presenting a solution to connectivity issues to the rest of the country. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-05 01:18:13', '2023-08-05 01:18:13'),
(8380, 8380, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Several areas of Chattagram have been inundated by continuous rainfall, resulting in widespread waterlogging across the city.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>According to Assistant Meteorologist Suman Saha of the Patenga Meteorological Office, 36 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in the last 24 hours until Friday afternoon (August 4). The city experienced intermittent rain since midnight on Thursday (August 3), exacerbating the situation and leading to severe waterlogging.</div><div><br></div><div>The unrelenting rain caused flooding in numerous locations, disrupting vehicular traffic and affecting the daily lives of residents. The city\'s drainage system has proven inadequate to cope with the downpour, resulting in water entering many homes and shops, leaving the citizens to endure considerable hardship.</div><div><br></div><div>Some of the worst-affected areas include Chaktai-Khatunganj, Baklia Miyakhan Nagar, Masterpole, Chawkbazar, Sholshahar, Halishahar, Bahaddarhat, Commerce College, Choto Pole, and Boro Pole.</div><div><br></div><div>Salamat Ullah, a small businessman from Baklia, explained that the canal\'s obstruction prevented rainwater from draining away, resulting in the entire area being submerged.</div><div><br></div><div>Low-lying areas, including Agrabad, CDA residential area, Shanti Bagh residential, Chandgaon, Riaz Uddin Bazar, have also been heavily affected during high tide, with water levels reaching knee-deep on roads.</div><div><br></div><div>Haji Yakub, a resident of Bahaddarhat, reported flooding in the area starting from midnight on Thursday, leading to submerged roads and halting vehicular movement. As a consequence, traffic jams have become a common sight on Bahaddarhat main road and flyovers due to water underpasses.</div><div><br></div><div>The relentless rain has also caused damage to businesses in Chaktai-Khatunganj, with water entering several establishments, raising concerns among traders about the extent of the losses.</div><div><br></div><div>The residence of Chittagong City Corporation Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury in Bahaddarhat could not escape the waterlogging. The mayor\'s house and surrounding areas have been affected, with water levels knee to waist-deep, according to mayor\'s personal assistant Mustafa Jamal Chowdhury.</div><div><br></div><div>Assistant Meteorologist Suman Saha warned that the rainfall recorded is due to low pressure, and the city may experience more rain for another day or two, posing a risk of landslides in areas with heavy rainfall. However, he mentioned that the tide would start receding from 2:30 pm onward, offering some respite to the inundated city. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-05 01:21:19', '2023-08-05 01:21:19'),
(8381, 8381, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">PTI Chairman Imran Khan, shortly after an Islamabad trial court declared him guilty of \"corrupt practices\" in the Toshakhana case, was arrested by Punjab police on Saturday afternoon from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore.&nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>PTI\'s Punjab Chapter confirmed the reports with a tweet: \"Imran Khan is being moved to Kot Lakhpat Jail.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, a little after noon, an Islamabad trial court sentenced Imran to three years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on him for concealing details of Toshakhana gifts.</div><div><br></div><div>Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Humayun Dilawar ruled that charges against the former prime minister — who skipped the hearing today — in the case were proven.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Imran Khan deliberately submitted fake details [of Toshakhana gifts] to the ECP and is found guilty of corrupt practices,\" he stated and sent the PTI chief to jail for three years under Section 174 of the Election Act.</div><div><br></div><div>ADSJ Dilawar also directed that a copy of the order should be sent to the Islamabad police chief for the execution of the court orders.</div><div><br></div><div>Ahead of today\'s proceedings, a large contingent of police was deployed outside the court premises with only lawyers allowed inside the courtroom. However, neither Imran nor his lawyers were present during the hearing.</div><div><br></div><div>Toshakhana case</div><div><br></div><div>The case, filed by ruling party lawmakers, is based on a criminal complaint filed by the ECP.</div><div><br></div><div>The case alleges that Imran had \"deliberately concealed\" details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana — a repository where presents handed to government officials from foreign officials are kept — during his time as the prime minister and proceeds from their reported sales.</div><div><br></div><div>According to Toshakhana rules, gifts/presents and other such materials received by persons to whom these rules apply shall be reported to the Cabinet Division.</div><div><br></div><div>Imran has faced a number of legal issues over his retention of gifts. The issue also led to his disqualification by the ECP.</div><div><br></div><div>On Oct 21, 2022, the ECP [concluded][2] that the former premier had indeed made \"false statements and incorrect declarations\" regarding the gifts.</div><div><br></div><div>The watchdog\'s order had said Imran stood disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution.</div><div><br></div><div>Subsequently, the ECP had approached the Islamabad sessions court with a copy of the complaint, seeking proceedings against Imran under criminal law for allegedly misleading officials about the gifts he received from foreign dignitaries during his tenure as the prime minister.</div><div><br></div><div>On May 10, Imran had been indicted in the case, rejecting his petition to declare the Toshkhana case inadmissible. However, on July 4, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had overturned the said ruling, reports DAWN.</div><div><br></div><div>On July 8, an Islamabad district and sessions court had declared the Toshakhana case against Imran to be maintainable. Subsequently, the former premier challenged the session court\'s verdict in the IHC.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-05 20:28:34', '2023-08-05 20:28:34'),
(8382, 8382, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A flood protection embankment along the Bhairab River at Bhadrapara in sadar upazila was washed away by the tidal surges on Friday, rending 300 families of three villages trapped.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>A vast portion of Bhadrapara, Boitpur and Bemorta villages have been flooded with fish of 20-25 enclosures washed away.</div><div><br></div><div>The residents of the three villages demanded immediate steps to repair the collapsed embankment.</div><div><br></div><div>Mashiur Rahman Badsha, owner of a fish enclosure at Bhadrapara village, said when the flood protection embankment collapsed in the afternoon water entered his fish enclosure and washed away all fish, causing him loss of Tk 10 lakh.</div><div><br></div><div>Alamgir Hossain, a resident of the village said, “We&nbsp; have been suffering amid the knee-deep water in the houses. Even we could not cook properly as the yards of the houses were submerged.”</div><div><br></div><div>Md Masum Billah, executive engineer of local Water Development Board, said Dartana and Bhairab rivers were flowing 12 cm above their danger marks while the water level of different canals and water bodies also increased.</div><div><br></div><div>“We were informed that low-lying areas of different villages have been flooded and steps will be taken to build ring dam after the recession of the tidal water. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-05 21:26:37', '2023-08-05 21:26:37'),
(8383, 8383, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter, Suhana Khan, shared screenshots of messages and comments criticising her complexion, adding translations for the benefit of non-Hindi speakers. She said that she has been called ugly since she was the age of 12 and added that it was sad, as Indians were brown by default, and ‘hating on your own people just means that you are painfully insecure’.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The comments said that Suhana’s skin tone was ‘too dark’ and called her ‘not beautiful at all’. She shared a powerful message about the need to end colourism and said that she was extremely happy with her complexion and height.</div><div><br></div><div>In her Instagram post, Suhana wrote, “There’s a lot going on right now and this is one of the issues we need to fix!! this isn’t just about me, it’s about every young girl/boy who has grown up feeling inferior for absolutely no reason. Here are just a few of the comments made about my appearance. I’ve been told I’m ugly because of my skin tone, by full grown men and women, since I was 12 years old.” Source: Hindustan Times</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-05 21:49:40', '2023-08-05 21:49:40'),
(8384, 8384, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the private sector to patronise the sports saying the sector demand their support for its development.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"I believe that alongside the government\'s patronage, private sponsorship is needed for the evolvement of the country\'s sports and culture,” she said while addressing the Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council (NSC) Award-2023 distribution ceremony at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here.</div><div><br></div><div>The event coincided with the birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s eldest son Shaheed Sheikh Kamal, a 1971 veteran who is also known for his extra ordinary role in the development of newborn country’s sports and cultural fields.</div><div><br></div><div>She said despite limited facilities Bangladeshi players were bringing glory and reputation for the country and the enhanced patronage could enable them to earn more pride for the nation.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina said under her government’s initiatives football tournaments were being organised in primary school, college and university levels alongside other sports competitions at grassroots.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that the government was now constructing Sheikh Russel Mini Stadium in each Upazila so the children could concentrate on sports round the year.</div><div><br></div><div>\"(You should) search the local talents and patron them . . . You will see that they will take Bangladesh ahead and increase the glory and reputation of the country,\" Sheikh Hasina added.</div><div><br></div><div>The Ministry of Youth and Sports organised the ceremony on the occasion of the 74th birth anniversary of Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal, a military officer as well.</div><div><br></div><div>At the ceremony, the premier handed over the Sheikh Kamal (NSC) Award-2023 to 10 sports personalities and two organizations in recognition of their outstanding contribution to sports.</div><div><br></div><div>Abdus Sadek, the legendary hockey player and the first captain of the Bangladesh national hockey team, was given the lifetime achievement award.</div><div><br></div><div>Women\'s football team captain Sabina Khatun, cricketer Taskin Ahmed and South Asian gold medalist weightlifter Ziarul Islam got the award in the sportsman category.</div><div><br></div><div>Table tennis player Muhtasin Ahmed Hridoy and hockey player Amirul Islam received the emerging athlete award, while grassroots hockey organiser Fazlul Islam and Kalsindur Govt. School and College\'s principal Mala Rani Sarker were given the awards in sports organiser category.</div><div><br></div><div>Khandakar Tarek Md Nurullah received the sports journalist award, while Bangladesh Archery Federation received the sports association/federation/organisation award, and Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB) got the sports sponsor award.</div><div><br></div><div>On behalf of BAB, Md Nazrul Islam Mazumder and Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat received the award.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition, the ministry, for the first time, included the sports commentator category in the Sheikh Kamal NSC award. Former national cricketer and cricket commentator Atahar Ali Khan received the sports commentator award.</div><div><br></div><div>Each of the awardees received Taka one lakh, a crest, and a certificate.</div><div><br></div><div>With State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Zahid Ahsan Russel in the chair, its Secretary Dr Mohiuddin Ahmed delivered the welcome address.</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister\'s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman also spoke reminiscing the life and activities of Sheikh Kamal.</div><div><br></div><div>On behalf of the award recipients, Abdus Sadek and Sabina Khatun spoke at the function.</div><div><br></div><div>Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Youth and Sports Abdullah Al Islam Jakob was present.</div><div><br></div><div>At the outset, an audio-visual on life and activities of Freedom Fighter Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal was screened.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier also unveiled the cover of a book \"Sheikh Kamal: Khanajonma Ek Nakhkhatra.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on August 3, the names of the 10 sports personalities and two organizations in eight categories were announced for the prestigious Sheikh Kamal NSC Award-2023.</div><div><br></div><div>The recipients for this award have been finalized after being scrutinized by the concerned committee in light of specific criteria in recognition of outstanding contributions to sports.</div><div><br></div><div>The Ministry of Youth and Sports introduced the Sheikh Kamal NSC Award for the first time in 2021 on the occasion of Sheikh Kamal\'s 72nd birth anniversary.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister also distributed \"Bangabandhu Sports Scholarship\" at the ceremony.</div><div><br></div><div>The scholarship is being given by the Bangabandhu Krirashebi Kalyan Foundation in fiscal year 2023-24.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 500 students is being provided with the scholarship, where students in classes V-X is getting Taka 12,000 annually, Taka 1,000 each month, while students in classes XI to honors level is getting Taka 24,000 annually, Taka 2,000 each month.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, before joining this ceremony, the premier, at her official residence, Ganabhaban released a commemorative postage stamp of Taka 10, a souvenir sheet comprising three stamps of Taka 40, first day cover of Taka 10, a data card of Taka 5, and used a canceller on the occasion of Sheikh Kamal\'s birth anniversary.</div><div><br></div><div>The Prime Minister said that the nation will always remember the contribution of Sheikh Kamal in the sports arena of Bangladesh, as he was involved in various sports like football, cricket, badminton, and hockey.</div><div><br></div><div>“Sheikh Kamal has specially contributed to the excellence of the country\'s football game by establishing Abahani Limited,” she noted.</div><div><br></div><div>Alongside sports, Sheikh Hasina said, Sheikh Kamal was also involved in various cultural activities.</div><div><br></div><div>Mentioning that Sheikh Kamal formed the Spandan Band group, she said Sheikh Kamal popularized various folk songs of the country by using modern instruments like the electric organ.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to Sheikh Kamal\'s skill in acting, she said Sheikh Kamal used to perform well in drama.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangabandhu\'s elder daughter, Sheikh Hasina, praising her brother Sheikh Kamal, said that Sheikh Kamal\'s organizing skills were very strong.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“But he never tried to be a leader or to go for&nbsp; any position. The thought of making money through trading and business was never on his mind. Rather, he was very careful about this.”</div><div><br></div><div>Stating that Sheikh Kamal had a sense of responsibility from his childhood, Sheikh Hasina said that Sheikh Kamal was originally a versatile talent.</div><div><br></div><div>In terms of family and social aspects, she said that \"Sheikh Kamal was very responsible.&nbsp; Because most of the time my father&nbsp; was&nbsp; in jail. From a small age, Kamal always stayed beside his mother for household work. A sense of responsibility was developed in him from an early age.”</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina said that Sheikh Kamal was very focused on his studies, although their house was always full of people, but he continued his studies.</div><div><br></div><div>“ if Sheikh Kamal were alive today,&nbsp; &nbsp;she might not have&nbsp; &nbsp;to take such a big responsibility today,” the Prime Minister said in an emotional voice. According to BSS reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-05 22:00:32', '2023-08-05 22:00:32'),
(8385, 8385, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 jolted Santiago Del Estero Province, Argentina at 0720 GMT on Saturday, the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences said. According to AFP reports&nbsp;</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-05 22:11:39', '2023-08-05 22:11:39'),
(8386, 8386, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal No 3 as deep convection is taking place over North Bay due to strong monsoon.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Squally weather may affect the maritime ports, North Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh, said a Met office bulletin on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution till further notice. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-05 22:37:09', '2023-08-05 22:37:09');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(8387, 8387, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Nasa is back in full contact with its lost Voyager 2 probe months earlier than expected, the space agency said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In July a wrong command was made to the spacecraft, sent to explore space in 1977, changing its position and severing contact.</div><div><br></div><div>A signal was picked up on Tuesday but thanks to an \"interstellar shout\" - a powerful instruction - its antenna is now back facing Earth.</div><div><br></div><div>Nasa had originally pinned hopes on the spacecraft resetting itself in October.</div><div><br></div><div>It took 37 hours for mission controllers to figure out if the interstellar command had worked as Voyager 2 is billions of miles away from Earth.</div><div><br></div><div>Staff used the \"highest-power transmitter\" to send a message to the spacecraft and timed it to be sent during \"the best conditions\" so the antenna lined up with the command, Voyager project manager Suzanne Dodd told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>After communications were lost, the probe had been unable to receive commands or send back data to Nasa\'s Deep Space Network - an array of giant radio antennas across the world.</div><div><br></div><div>But the space agency confirmed on 4 August that data had been received from the spacecraft and it was operating normally.</div><div><br></div><div>Nasa expects the spacecraft laden with science instruments to remain on its planned trajectory through the universe.</div><div><br></div><div>On Monday, the space agency said its huge dish in Australia\'s capital, Canberra, was trying to detect any stray signals from Voyager 2. This was when the first faint \"heartbeat\" signal was heard.</div><div><br></div><div>The antenna had been bombarding Voyager 2\'s area with the correct command, in the hope of somehow making contact, Nasa\'s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which manages the Voyager missions, said.</div><div><br></div><div>The probe is programmed to reset its position multiple times each year to keep its antenna pointing at Earth. The next reset is due on 15 October, which Nasa had rested its hopes on if all other attempts had failed.</div><div><br></div><div>Voyager 2 and its twin Voyager 1 are the only spacecraft ever to operate outside the heliosphere, the protective bubble of particles and magnetic fields generated by the Sun. They reached interstellar space in 2018 and 2012 respectively.</div><div><br></div><div>The probes were designed to take advantage of a rare alignment of outer planets, which occurs about every 176 years, to explore Jupiter and Saturn.</div><div><br></div><div>Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft ever to fly by Neptune and Uranus, while Voyager 1 is now nearly 15 billion miles away from Earth, making it humanity\'s most distant spacecraft.</div><div><br></div><div>Once both spacecraft run out of power - expected sometime after 2025 - they will continue roaming through space. According to BBC reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-05 22:42:57', '2023-08-05 22:42:57'),
(8388, 8388, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday urged public servants and the state institutions to discharge their duties as per the constitution since the government is trying to usurp power again by controlling state apparatus.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a rally of professionals, he also said the government’s all efforts to cling power will go in vain as the country\'s people and all opposition political parties are now united to oust it.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said Awami League has been in power by force by destroying the entire election system and holding two completely ridiculous consecutive national elections in 2014 and 2018.</div><div><br></div><div>“They’re again dreaming that they will go to power by holding the polls in the same way. When you open the newspaper every day you’ll see news on transfers of DCs, SPs, new postings, and the promotions of thousands of people in the administration. They’re doing these as they’re thinking to cross the election hurdle again by regulating the administration as before. This won’t happen again,” Fakhrul said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said their party together with other opposition parties has been in a movement&nbsp; to restore the voting rights and freedom of people.</div><div><br></div><div>“We urge our brothers who are in administration, in law enforcement agencies, and in the Judiciary to discharge your specific responsibilities in light with the constitution and the specific code of conduct. Do not bow down to injustice. Take a side in favour of people,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>He called upon the professionals to involve with the opposition’s ongoing movement for the restoration of democracy and people’s voting and other lost rights.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Sammilita Peshajibi Parishad arranged the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club in protest against the ‘prescribed’ verdict of a lower court against BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman in a graft case. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-05 23:39:43', '2023-08-05 23:39:43'),
(8389, 8389, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid&nbsp; on Saturday said that the next two years will be critical for the energy sector of the country.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“In next two years, we have to be leapfrog in ending all our plans and there will be huge challenges,” he said while addressing a seminar titled,&nbsp; “Highest Utilisation of Natural Resources of Bangladesh: Philosophy of Bangabandhu” at Federation Bhaban in the city.</div><div><br></div><div>Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce &amp; Industries (FBCCI) organised the seminar with its president Jashim Uddin in the chair.</div><div><br></div><div>The State Minister also said that the country will come out of the gas crisis in the next two years.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’ll bring unutilised gas from Bhola to Dhaka while the huge underground gas pipelines will be replaced with new ones ,”he said adding, the pipeline project will require about Tk 12,000 crore to implement.</div><div><br></div><div>About the power sector, Nasrul Hamid said that after achieving cent percent electricity coverage, now the government’s target is to provide uninterrupted and affordable electricity.</div><div><br></div><div>Echoing the junior minister, Energy Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Majumder said that industries will not face any gas crisis from January, 2026.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have already signed long term contracts with Qatar and Oman and efforts are on to sign three more long term deals,”he said adding, at the same time, preparation is at the final stage to sign more contracts to set up LNG terminals to increase storage and unloading capacity.</div><div><br></div><div>Making a presentation on the topic, eminent energy expert Dr Badrul Imam said that the country’s two-third area still remains unexplored while the country is experiencing a huge gas crisis.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the best way to address the current gas crisis is to enhance local gas exploration.</div><div><br></div><div>But unfortunately exploration works are not getting due importance, he observed.</div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka Chamber president Sameer Sattar said that the initiatives should be taken immediately for gas exploration across the country with due importance.</div><div><br></div><div>Former vice president of FBCCI Dewan Sultan Ahmed said the Titas Gas authority often moves to remove illegal gas connections. But they never disclose how long these illegal consumers are using such gas without any payment.</div><div><br></div><div>FBCCI advisor Abdul Haque said that despite different initiatives there is no major progress in gas exploration and what is the gap that should be identified.</div><div><br></div><div>Businessman Abul Hasnat said that it is very unfortunate that many businessmen submit files for renewable energy projects at the ministry. But files do not move at the necessary pace. Even some files are kept for more than six months at one place. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-06 02:49:33', '2023-08-06 02:49:33'),
(8390, 8390, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said the Rangpur public rally is proof that the Awami League can achieve the impossible if it stays united.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The minister, also Awami League Joint General Secretary, said this while addressing a meeting with Rangpur division lawmakers, presidents and general secretaries of district, upazila and municipal Awami League units at Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>“On August 2, the biggest public meeting in the history of Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Rangpur, which turned into a sea of people across the city, proved two things: Rangpur is the stronghold of Awami league and if Awami League is united, it can do the impossible, make the impossible possible. We need to keep this crowd going,” said the minister.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujon, Social Welfare Minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed, AlL Organising Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Rangpur Division AL MPs and leaders of different units also addressed the meeting, According to UNB reports.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-06 03:17:40', '2023-08-06 03:17:40'),
(8391, 8391, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed solidarity with the female footballers who were tortured in Khulna\'s Batiaghata.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel, lawmaker from Khulna-2 constituency, conveyed the message while talking with the footballers.</div><div><br></div><div>“The prime minister said the ground where female footballers train will be renovated and a football academy will be built there,” said Jewel.</div><div><br></div><div>“The prime minister directed the authorities to take necessary measures to ensure the safety of women footballers and bring the culprits to book,” said Sadia Nasreen, the captain of the team.</div><div><br></div><div>Salauddin Jewel was accompanied by Khulna administration officials.</div><div><br></div><div>On July 29, the female footballers were tortured for practicing wearing shorts at Batiaghata’s Tetultola village.</div><div><br></div><div>Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Batiaghata Police Station, Shawkat Kabir, said that police officers are actively patrolling the village to ensure the safety of the footballers, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>\"We informed the girls and their parents to report any issues immediately,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-06 03:37:04', '2023-08-06 03:37:04'),
(8392, 8392, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">When the question of who will become the next ODI captain of Bangladesh surfaces within the cricketing fraternity of the country, the president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Nazmul Hasan, said that Shakib Al Hasan is an obvious choice for the hot seat.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Tamim Iqbal, who had been captaining Bangladesh in the 50-over format, recently stepped down due to his injury-related complexities. With only two months left before the next World Cup, BCB is under pressure to appoint the next captain.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have to carefully consider the decision to appoint a new captain,\" he said in programme held in Dhaka to celebrate the birthday of Sheik Kamal, the son of the founding father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. \"But it\'s true that Shakib is an obvious choice for the role.\"</div><div><br></div><div>When Tamim was the regular captain, Litton Das, the top-order batter in fine form, was his deputy. Tamim had announced an abrupt retirement during the last home series against Afghanistan. In his absence, Litton led the team in the two remaining matches of that series.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Leading the team in a series and leading a team in the World Cup are different,\" Nazmul said while expressing his views on Litton\'s potential as a new captain. \"It\'s a big responsibility, and it may impact his batting as well. We don\'t want to rush into appointing a new captain; we need to take more time.\"</div><div><br></div><div>While discussing the possible names for the new captain, Litton\'s name is also popping up, alongside Shakib. Mehidy Hasan Miraz\'s name is also on the table.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have many things to consider,\" Nazmul said, expressing the complexity of the scenario. \"We have to appoint a captain for the long term, and we also have to think about the World Cup. If we appoint a relatively new guy, can he handle the pressure of the World Cup? And if we appoint an experienced player, will he be able to continue playing for a long time? We have to consider everything.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Shakib is now 36 years old, and no one can assure that he will continue playing for at least the next two years, which makes it challenging to consider him as the new captain, according to Nazmul.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Can you assure that Shakib will play two more years?\" Nazmul asked the question to a journalist. \"We don\'t know! So we have to sit with him and understand his plans for the future.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh\'s new assignment is to take part in the Asia Cup later this month, followed by a home series against New Zealand. As a result, the BCB will soon have to make a crucial decision regarding the appointment of a new captain who will undoubtedly face significant pressure in quick succession. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-06 04:04:55', '2023-08-06 04:04:55'),
(8393, 8393, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A Russian guided air bomb has hit a blood transfusion centre in north-eastern Ukraine, killing and injuring people, Ukraine\'s president has said.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Volodymyr Zelensky said rescuers were now trying to tackle a blaze after the strike on the Kupiansk community in the Kharkiv region on Saturday night.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Defeating terrorists is a matter of honour for everyone who values life,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia has so far not publicly commented on the reported attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a post on social media, Mr Zelensky described the perpetrators as \"beasts\" who were seeking to \"destroy everything that simply allows to live\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This was crime alone says everything about Russian aggression,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He did not say how many people were killed and injured in the attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BBC has not been able to immediately verify the report.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The city of Kupiansk and nearby settlements were seized by Russian troops in the first few days of Moscow\'s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The area was liberated during a lightning-quick Ukrainian counter-offensive last September.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Zelensky also said that on Saturday Russia separately carried out a missile attack, targeting an aeronautical company run by group Motor Sich in the western Khmelnytskyi region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Russian strikes come after Moscow accused Ukraine of hitting a Russian tanker with 11 crew members in the Black Sea - the second such sea drone attack in as many days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian maritime officials said the engine room of the Sig tanker was damaged in the attack in the Kerch Strait. No-one was injured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Kerch Strait connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, separating Crimea - Ukraine\'s peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014 - and Russia\'s Taman peninsula.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine has not publicly commented. But a Ukrainian security service source told the BBC a sea drone had been used. 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, '2023-08-06 12:39:02', '2023-08-06 12:39:02'),
(8394, 8394, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The British government on Saturday announced a new partnership between law enforcement and social media companies to crack down on online content encouraging migrants to arrive in the UK illegally using small boats.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Conservative government, struggling in the polls a year before the general election, has promised to end dangerous cross-Channel journeys from northern France in small boats but experienced a number of setbacks in delivering its plans.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Plans to controversially send illegal migrants to Rwanda have become bogged down in the courts, while the housing of asylum seekers on a barge in southern England to reduce accommodation costs has experienced several delays.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The announced partnership between Britain\'s National Crime Agency and companies including Meta, TikTok and X (former Twitter) will target content linked to people smuggling, such as offers of false documents, group discounts, free spaces for children and false claims of safe passage, Downing Street said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"To stop the boats, we have to tackle the business model of vile people smugglers at source,\" UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"That means clamping down on their attempts to lure people into making these illegal crossings and profit from putting lives at risk.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This new commitment from tech firms will see us redouble our efforts to fight back against these criminals, working together to shut down their vile trade,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the main opposition Labour party\'s home affairs spokeswoman, Yvette Cooper, said the action was \"too little, too late\", accusing the government of having \"no idea how to fix the mess they created\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Immigration -- both legal and illegal -- has long been a key political issue in Britain and was one of the main battlegrounds of the Brexit referendum in 2016, which saw the country leave the European Union.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 45,000 migrants arrived on the shores of southeast England on small boats in 2022 -- a 60-percent annual increase -- on a perilous route that has been used by more people every year since 2018.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sunak\'s government last month passed a controversial law, criticised by the United Nations, barring asylum claims by anyone arriving via the Channel and other \"illegal\" routes. 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, '2023-08-06 14:53:29', '2023-08-06 14:53:29'),
(8395, 8395, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Helene Carrere d\'Encausse, a widely respected historian of Russia who in 1999 became the first woman to lead the Academie Francaise, died on Saturday aged 94, her family said.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"She died peacefully surrounded by her family,\" they told AFP in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Carrere d\'Encausse was the author of biographies of Lenin and Stalin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But she is also credited with having predicted before most the breakup of the former Soviet Union and Russia\'s subsequent difficulties with ethnic minorities</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She wrote about those issues in her 1978 work, \"The Shattered Empire\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She was born in Paris on July 6, 1929, to a Georgian father and a Russian mother, in a family that had roots in Austria, Germany, and Italy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She obtained French nationality in 1950, when she was 21 years old.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A former political science professor in Paris, she once described herself as \"French from head to foot. A case of perfect integration\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Carrere d\'Encausse was also elected to the European Parliament on a right-wing list in 1994, a seat she held until her election as permanent secretary of the French Academy in 1999.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">French President Emmanuel Macron hailed her as \"a major historian, the first woman to be permanent secretary of the Academie Francaise -- like it, her legacy is immortal\". 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, '2023-08-06 14:57:45', '2023-08-06 14:57:45'),
(8396, 8396, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Firefighters from Spain and France succeeded on Saturday in containing a wildfire near the countries\' shared Mediterranean coastal border, after winds dropped enough to allow water bomber planes to fly.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But officials in the souther region of Andalucia, further to the west, said firefighters were battling another blaze Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 130 people had been evacuated from several villages overnight as strong winds fanned the flames around Portbou, a hilly forested area on the Spanish side of the border that is popular with tourists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Spanish forestry rangers said the fire, which started on Friday, had destroyed around 573 hectares (1,400 acres) of land around Portbou, which has a cross-border rail service to France.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An official from the Catalonia regional government said on Saturday afternoon the fire had stopped spreading and the evacuation order hand been lifted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Residents should still stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel, officials said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Around 300 firefighters from Catalonia and a dozen French fire engine crews teamed up to tackle the blaze.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They said winds had dropped sufficiently to allow water bombers and helicopters to intervene but could not say how long it could take to bring the fire completely under control.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Weather forecasters said winds would pick up again in the evening, after gusting at up to 100 kilometres (60 miles) per hour on Friday night.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Fire in Andalusia -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on Saturday the flames had come dangerously close to houses in the Llanca area south of Portbou.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rail services were restarted between Portbou and Figueras to the south and power was restored to up to 4,000 homes on Saturday, Catalan civil protection officials said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Regional authorities said an investigation was underway into the cause of the fire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But authorities in the southern region of Andalusia along the Mediterranean coast said 150 firefighters were battling a new blaze Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They were contending with high temperatures and strong winds that had forced around 70 people to evacuate, Spanish media reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other residents near the city of Huelva are being urged to remain in their homes, as 17 planes and helicopters were deployed to help fight the blaze in the wooded area, where two main roads had been closed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last year, some 500 wildfires laid waste to more than 300,000 hectares in Spain, a record for Europe, according to data from the European Forest Fire Information System (Effis).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To date this year has seen some 70,000 hectares destroyed, according to Effis. 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, '2023-08-06 15:01:59', '2023-08-06 15:01:59'),
(8397, 8397, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A sea of 1.5 million pilgrims packed a riverside park near Lisbon on Saturday for a vigil held by Pope Francis as part of a global Catholic youth festival.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Worshippers cheered as the 86-year-old pontiff slowly drove by on his \"popemobile\" to the stage at the Parque Tejo on the outskirts of the Portuguese capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We are the pope\'s youths!\" they chanted as national flags fluttered in the crowd estimated at around 1.5 million people according to the Vatican, citing local officials.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Argentine pope urged the crowd to \"pick themselves up\" whenever they suffer a setback in life.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Those who remain on the ground have retired from life, have lost their hopes and dreams,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Drones formed the words \"rise up\" and \"follow me\" in the sky above the stage as the pope spoke.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many waited for hours under a blazing sun for the start of the vigil, singing, dancing and playing cards to pass the time at the park, which was built for the occasion on a former landfill site.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There was little shade, and worshippers protected themselves from the sun with umbrellas or makeshift tents made from sheets, or tried to cool off by pouring water over their heads.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Powerful moments\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Portugal\'s state weather office has put Lisbon on alert for scorching temperatures that reached nearly 36 degrees Celsius (97 Fahrenheit) on Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Charlotte Bordas, a 26-year-old who came from Mont-de-Marsan in southwestern France, said she was moved to see people from around the world at the event.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We hear all languages spoken and we see the same joy on people\'s faces,\" she told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Gathering around the pope and praying together are very powerful moments that give hope and strengthen our personal faith.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The vigil is part of World Youth Day festivities, which is actually a week of religious, cultural and festive events held every three years in a different city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Santi Salvador, a 19-year-old Spanish student, said he walked to Lisbon from Barcelona to attend the event, a distance of some 1,300 kilometres (800 miles).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We left 40 days ago... It\'s a pilgrimage to see the pope,\" he told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The leader of the world\'s 1.3 billion Roman Catholics will deliver a final open-air mass on Sunday morning at the Parque Tejo before returning to Rome.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many pilgrims who attended Saturday\'s vigil planned to sleep in the park to be there for the service.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Everyone can enter\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier Saturday, Francis visited the shrine of Fatima, a revered site north of Lisbon devoted to the Virgin Mary, where he was welcomed by around 200,000 people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He recited the rosary with sick and disabled youths at the chapel built on the spot where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to three shepherd children in 1917.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In an address to the crowd, the pontiff reinforced calls made many times during his trip for an inclusive Church.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This little chapel where we find ourselves, is like a beautiful image of the Church, welcoming, without doors,\" he said in improvised remarks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The Church does not have doors, so that everyone can enter,\" he added to applause from the crowd.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The pope prayed in silence for several minutes before a statue of the Virgin Mary in the chapel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a text published later on Twitter, recently rebranded as X, the pontiff said he had prayed for the \"church and the world, especially for countries at war\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The pontiff, who now uses a wheelchair or walking stick to get around, arrived in Portugal on Wednesday for the World Youth Day jamboree.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">World Youth Day, created in 1986 by John Paul II, is the largest Catholic gathering in the world and features a wide range of events, including concerts and prayer sessions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This edition, initially scheduled for August 2022 but postponed because of the Covid pandemic, will be the fourth for Francis after Rio de Janeiro in 2013, Krakow in 2016 and Panama in 2019. 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, '2023-08-06 15:04:40', '2023-08-06 15:04:40'),
(8398, 8398, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A shallow 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck eastern China in the early hours of Sunday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, with state media reporting at least 10 people injured and dozens of buildings collapsed.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Videos on social media showed shaking light fixtures, trembling ground and people evacuating their buildings, with one clip showing people walking past bricks scattered on the ground.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The quake, which struck at 2:33 am (1833 GMT Saturday), hit 26 kilometres (16 miles) south of the city of Dezhou in Shandong province, at a depth of 10 kilometres, USGS said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The tremor was so strong... during the earthquake my head was shaking on the pillow, I thought I was having a nightmare,\" one person posted on social media platform Weibo from Shandong\'s neighbouring Hebei province.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">USGS\'s PAGER system, which provides preliminary assessments on the impact of earthquakes, issued a red alert -- estimating extensive damage and some casualties were probable based on previous quake data.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Citing Shandong authorities, state broadcaster CCTV said there were at least \"10 injured\" and 74 houses or buildings had \"collapsed\" from the earthquake, which was followed by 52 aftershocks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China\'s Ministry of Emergency Management launched a level four emergency response and dispatched a team to Shandong province to lead the rescue work, according to state news agency Xinhua.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The quake was felt as far away as the cities of Beijing and Tianjin, as well as in Shanghai, about 800 kilometres from the epicentre</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I can\'t say anything except that it\'s scary,\" another Weibo user said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earthquakes are not uncommon in China but it is rare for them to hit the eastern part of the country where most of the population and big cities are located.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An official from the Shandong Seismological Bureau said the possibility of a larger earthquake is \"very small\", according to local media. 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, '2023-08-06 15:07:44', '2023-08-06 15:07:44'),
(8399, 8399, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A search operation is underway to find the missing persons after a trawler capsized when it collided with a bulkhead in a tributary of the Padma river near Munshiganj’s Louhajang upazila.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BIWTA Deputy Director Obaidul Karim Khan said the search and rescue team is trying to rescue the capsized trawler.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, the Coast Guard as well as Fire Service and Civil Defence divers are searching for missing people in the area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Eight bodies have been recovered so far from the trawler that sank with 46 passengers on board after colliding with a bulkhead on Saturday evening.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At least five people, including two children and three women, are still missing, said Munshiganj Deputy Commissioner Md. Abu jafar Ripon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The trawler carrying picnic-goers was returning from Khidirpara union in Sirajdikhan upazila to the Padma Bridge area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The district administration has formed a five-member inquiry to identify the cause of the accident, DC Ripon said. The bulkhead – involved in the incident – has been seized. 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, '2023-08-06 17:12:29', '2023-08-06 17:12:29'),
(8400, 8400, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Pakistan\'s former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested Saturday after a court handed him a three-year jail sentence for corruption, a development that could end his future in politics.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court ruled that Khan, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote in April 2022 but remains the country\'s leading opposition figure, had concealed assets after selling state gifts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police moved quickly to take the former cricket star from his home in the eastern city of Lahore to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, senior police officer Ali Nasir Rizvi said. Later Saturday, he was transferred to a high-security prison notorious for its harsh conditions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Critics say efforts to put the divisive politician behind bars are politically motivated and have intensified ahead of general elections to be held later this year. They argue that Khan\'s popularity and a large support base, combined with his ability to mobilize massive crowds, pose a threat to the ruling coalition and its backers in Pakistan\'s powerful military that has been the final arbiter of the country\'s politics since independence from Britain in 1947.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This is the second time this year that Khan has been detained, joining other former Pakistani prime ministers who have been arrested and seen military interventions over the years. He has been slapped with more than 150 legal cases since his removal from office, including several on charges of corruption, terrorism and inciting people to violence over deadly protests after his arrest in May when his followers attacked government and military property across the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prison sentence could bar Khan from politics ahead of this year\'s elections under a law that says people with a criminal conviction cannot hold or run for public office. His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, said it will challenge the decision.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan\'s ex PM Imran Khan moved to high-security prison&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A Supporter of Pakistan Muslim League -N distributed sweets among people, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb denied Khan\'s arrest had anything to do with upcoming elections and said Khan had been given every opportunity to defend himself against the asset concealment charges.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Instead Imran Khan used the time to delay the court proceedings and went back and forth to the high court and supreme court to halt this case,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Aurangzeb added that Khan has been \"proven guilty of illegal practices, corruption, concealing assets and wrongly declaring wealth in tax returns.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PTI spokesman Rauf Hasan described the asset concealment trial as the \"worst in history and tantamount to the murder of justice.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khan\'s party released a video message showing him at his Lahore home behind a desk with the Pakistani and PTI flags in the background. It wasn\'t immediately clear when the recording was made.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He told his supporters that he would be in jail by the time the message reached them and that they should not stay quietly in their homes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I am not doing this for my freedom,\" he said. \"I am doing it for my nation, you, your children\'s future. If you don\'t stand up for your rights, you will live the life of slaves and slaves do not have a life.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He urged people to peacefully protest until they get their rights, namely a government of their choice through voting and \"not the one like today\'s occupying power.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Lahore, a group of pro-Khan lawyers reached his Zaman Park home and chanted slogans protesting his conviction and arrest. In the same city, supporters of a rival political party handed out sweets to celebrate the detention.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khan was shifted Saturday evening to a high-security jail in Punjab\'s Attock district that is known for its harsh conditions. Its inmate population includes convicted militants and militants awaiting trial.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khan is the seventh former prime minister to be arrested in Pakistan. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was arrested and hanged in 1979. The current prime minister\'s brother, Nawaz Sharif, who also served as prime minister, was arrested several times on corruption allegations. 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, '2023-08-06 17:17:10', '2023-08-06 17:17:10'),
(8401, 8401, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka\'s air quality continued to be unhealthy for sensitive groups this morning.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 108 at 9:00 am, Dhaka ranked 7th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality, according to IQAir.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iraq’s Baghdad, Qatar’s Doha and Indonesia’s Jakarta occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 165, 164 and 162, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’ with acceptable air quality. However, there may be a health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long grappled with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in the winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’ with acceptable air quality. However, there may be a health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long grappled with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in the winter and improves during the monsoon. 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, '2023-08-06 17:22:40', '2023-08-06 17:22:40'),
(8402, 8402, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russian forces struck a blood transfusion centre in the Kharkiv region of northeast Ukraine, the country\'s President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday, adding that \"dead and wounded are reported\".</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A \"guided air bomb\" hit the centre in Kupiansk, a city a few dozen kilometres from the Russian border, Zelensky said on social media.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Rescuers are extinguishing the fire,\" he said, adding: \"This war crime alone says everything about Russian aggression.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The reported strike came shortly after Zelensky said Russian missiles had hit a facility of the Ukrainian aeronautics group Motor Sich, one of several companies requisitioned by the government since Moscow\'s invasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Motor Sich site was near Khmelnytskyi in western Ukraine, around 300 kilometres (190 miles) southwest of Kyiv.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Khmelnytskyi region, hundreds of kilometres from the front lines of the fighting and home to a major Ukrainian airbase, has been regularly targeted by Russian strikes in recent months.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Russian attacks came after Ukraine carried out a drone strike overnight on a Russian tanker in the Kerch Strait, a day after another Russian ship was hit in the Black Sea. 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, '2023-08-06 17:26:38', '2023-08-06 17:26:38');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(8403, 8403, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The electricity situation has improved further in the district as country\'s largest solar power plant the Teesta Solar Limited has gone to production recently.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the plant located at Latshalar Char under Sundarganj upazila of the district as she addressed a mammoth public rally on Rangpur Zila School ground on Wednesday.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister also witnessed the plant from the helicopter on her way back to Dhaka.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The construction work of the plant started in 2017. Beximco Group and its subsidiary Beximco Power Limited constructed it. Around five lakh solar panels were installed in the plant&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The plant has been supplying power to the national grid experimentally since December 2022.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This 200-megawatt plant is expected to play a significant role in the solution of power crisis in the northern region including Gaibandha district.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To connect the plant to the national grid via Rangpur, a 35-kilometre long 132-kilovolt transmission line has been set up with 122 towers. Substations and inverters have also been set up.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and Teesta Solar Limited have signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy electricity from this plant.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The people of the district already started getting the benefit of the plant. 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, '2023-08-06 18:52:26', '2023-08-06 18:52:26'),
(8404, 8404, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said that the ruling Awami League has no other masters other than the mass people of the country.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The people are our masters and we are accountable to the people only,” she said in categorical terms while delivering her introductory speech at the special extended meeting of the Awami League at her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also said that her party Awami League works for the welfare of the people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The president of the Awami League asked leaders and workers of her party to highlight the achievements in the last 14 and half years to the grassroots.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the same time, she also directed them to strengthen the organisation as the next general election is approaching, saying they will have to earn the trust and confidence of the common people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Around 5,000 party leaders and elected public representatives from the AL took part in the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Members of AL central committee, central working committee, advisory council, presidents and general secretaries of district, metropolitan, upazila and municipality units of AL, members of parliament, district and upazila parishad chairmen, city corporation and municipality mayors, presidents and general secretaries of AL associate organisations were present at the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Before every national election, the AL organises such meetings to give guidelines to the party leaders. Last such meeting was held on June 23, 2017 ahead of the 2018 parliamentary polls.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The next general election in the country is due in next December or first week of January.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Awami League has been in power since 2009 after winning three consecutive national elections. 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, '2023-08-06 18:55:17', '2023-08-06 18:55:17'),
(8405, 8405, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina today said people’s power is the strength of her party while it was accountable to the people alone.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"People\'s power is the strength of Awami League. Awami League has no master other than the people. We are only accountable to the people,” she told a special extended meeting of the party.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina said Awami League only works for the countrymen’s welfare in line with its electoral commitment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“How much we have been able to do and what we will do in future; we tell the people alone, not to anyone else,” she told the meeting held at the premier’s official Ganabhaban residence during her introductory speech.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I want everyone to work together keeping this in mind.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">AL central working committee and advisory council members, party MPs, presidents and general secretaries of district, municipal and upazila units, metropolitan cities, district and upazila parishad chairmen, mayors, presidents and general secretaries of AL associate organisations were present in the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The number of attendees was around 5,000.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina, however, directed the AL leaders and activists to highlight the government achievements in the last 14 and a half years before the people at grassroots.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Simultaneously, she asked them to strengthen the party ahead of the upcoming elections saying they would have to earn the trust and confidence of the masses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Party official said Awami League calls such extended meetings months ahead of every general elections and a nearly identical meeting was held on June 23, 2017 ahead of the 2018 parliamentary polls.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said Bangladesh is now attaining the status of a \"developing nation\" by the United Nations as Awami League is in power and it has worked with a long plan for it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mentioning that Bangladesh will begin its journey as a developing nation in 2026, she said, \"I would like to know from the people of the country that whether they want Bangladesh to move forward with the status of a developing country”.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also directed the AL leaders and activities to ask people about the journey of the developing nation of Bangladesh, as they (the people) are the owners of the votes.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If they want Bangladesh to go ahead with the status of a developing nation and to be established, then they should vote for Awami League\'s electoral symbol boat,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"And it (implementation of a developing nation) will be possible if AL is voted to power, and no one else can do it,\" she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina said AL is working to change the fate of people of all professions, including blacksmiths, potters (Kumar), weavers, and fishermen, adding, \"We are committed to working for everyone.\"&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">AL has worked for every person, the premier said, adding, \"No one else has ever thought or acted for people before\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She as well asked her party leaders and activists to convey these messages to the people and strengthen the organization at the same time.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We will build the Golden Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,\" she said. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-06 19:59:07', '2023-08-06 19:59:07'),
(8406, 8406, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The High Court on Sunday asked the authorities concerned to investigate the allegations brought against S Alam Group over \"transferring money abroad and investing in foreign countries without permission from Bangladesh Bank\" and submit the report within two months.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the sue moto rule when Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman, a prominent lawyer of the Supreme Court, drew the attention of the court after attaching a report published by The Daily Star with the headline \"S Alam\'s Aladdin\'s lamp\".</div><div><br></div><div>The HC also asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to submit a report to Bangladesh Bank and Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit after inquiring into whether there is any money laundering issue or whether S Alam Group took permission from Bangladesh Bank.</div><div><br></div><div>It also issued a rule asking the government to explain why the failure of the respondent to prevent the money laundering issue should not be declared illegal.</div><div><br></div><div>The HC issued another rule asking the government to explain why directives should not be given to investigate the allegations against S Alam Group and why necessary steps should not be taken against the person and organisation involved in the incident.</div><div><br></div><div>Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman was present, while senior lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan stood for ACC and Deputy Attorney General Saifuddin Khaled represented the state.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, on August 4, The Daily Star published a report titled \"S Alam\'s Aladdin\'s lamp\".</div><div><br></div><div>According to the report, S Alam Group owner Mohammed Saiful Alam has built a business empire in Singapore worth at least about USD 1 billion, although there is no record of him taking permission from Bangladesh Bank to invest or transfer any funds abroad.</div><div><br></div><div>The central bank has so far allowed 17 companies to invest outside the country, and the Chattogram-based business giant is not on that list, says the report. Yet in Singapore, Alam bought at least two hotels, two homes, one retail space, and other properties over the last one decade, all the while seeking to remove his name from the paper trails, it adds.</div><div><br></div><div>\"As of January 10, 2023, the central bank has cleared roughly about USD 40.15 million to be invested abroad globally, a Bangladesh bank document shows. The figure is 10 times less than what Alam has spent just to buy two hotels and one retail space – worth over USD 411.8 million – in Singapore since 2009,\" the report says.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The Bangladesh Bank document also shows that just over USD 107,000 have so far been sent to Singapore legally by a number of companies, and none of them is owned by Alam,\" The Daily Star report says. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-06 21:05:01', '2023-08-06 21:05:01'),
(8407, 8407, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Several areas of Bandarban district have been inundated due to continuous rainfall in the past two days till Sunday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The low-lying areas of Hafez Ghona, Bus Station, Army Para and Islampur area of the two went under under 5-7 feet of water, causing suffering to local people.</div><div><br></div><div>Deputy Commissioner Shah Mojaheed Uddin said 192 temporary shelter centres have been opened and 41 medical team have been kept ready to deal with the situation.</div><div><br></div><div>In Lama upazila, 36 members of eight families who lived in vulnerable places that are prone to landslides have been shifted to shelter homes, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Dry food have been distributed among people in the shelters since noon, DC Mojaheed said.</div><div><br></div><div>Due to the incessant rains in the past two days, the district’s Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers are flowing close to danger mark.</div><div><br></div><div>The Deputy Commissioner said that the administration is fully prepared to deal with the disaster situation.</div><div><br></div><div>“There is no shortage of relief materials. Along with the administration, the army, police and fire service personnel have made all preparations to tackle the situation,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Mahbubur Rahman, chief scientific officer of Bandarban Soil Conservation and Watershed Management&nbsp; Centre said Bandarban recorded 165 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, people living in vulnerable places in all the upazilas of Bandarban are being asked to come to shelter homes as there is a possibility of landslides due to heavy rains.</div><div><br></div><div>Members of the fire service and civil defence are conducting drives in different areas with the help of the local administration.</div><div><br></div><div>Bandarban Cantonment Public School and College has postponed their examination from KG to Class VI.</div><div><br></div><div>Local administration has allocated 20 mts rice and Tk 1 lakh for the flood victims. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-06 21:28:12', '2023-08-06 21:28:12'),
(8408, 8408, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Water level in Rangamati\'s Kaptai Lake keeps rising as the region has been experiencing continuous heavy rainfall for the past four days, resulting in a significant increase in power generation.  </b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Currently, all five units of the Kaptai Hydroelectric Power Plant (KHPP) are now operational.  </div><div><br></div><div>The units are collectively producing 135 MW of electricity per day, all of which is being transmitted to the national grid.</div><div><br></div><div>Additionally, the onrush of water from the upstream has contributed to the swelling of the lake.</div><div><br></div><div>Superintendent Engineer of Karnafuli Hydroelectric Power Station ATM Abduz Zaher said that the increased water level in Kaptai Lake was the direct result of heavy rainfall in the region over the past few days.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the rule curve data, Kaptai Lake was initially expected to reach 90.60 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL) on August 6. However, the current water level has reached 82.90 feet MSL, indicating the significant impact of the ongoing rains.</div><div><br></div><div>The lake has a water storage capacity of 109 feet MSL.</div><div><br></div><div>As of 10 AM on Sunday (August 6), the individual power outputs from the five units are as follows: 33 MW from Unit 1, 32 MW from Unit 2, 26 MW from Unit 3, and 22 MW each from Unit 4 and Unit 5.</div><div><br></div><div>Engineer ATM Abduz Zaher also said that further increases in water level will lead to a proportional rise in power generation.</div><div><br></div><div>The power plant has faced water scarcity in recent months, resulting in the rationing of power generation to only two to three units. According to UNB reports </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-06 22:34:24', '2023-08-06 22:41:28'),
(8409, 8409, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least 15 people were killed when a train derailed in southern Pakistan on Sunday, according to local media.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"The Hazara Express was travelling from Karachi to Abbottabad, eight coaches have derailed,\" Mohsin Syal, a railway official, told HUM News.</div><div><br></div><div>At least 15 people were killed and more than 40 injured, Pakistan\'s state television channel reported, quoting railway officials.</div><div><br></div><div>The derailment happened near Sahara railway station in the city of Nawabshah in the southern Sindh province.</div><div><br></div><div>Ijaz Shah, a provincial railway official, told AFP that several passengers were killed and several others injured in the accident, and that a relief train has been dispatched to the site.</div><div><br></div><div>Images posted to local media show dozens of people at the site, with some smashing windows to help passengers clamber out of the twisted carriages and at least one coach overturned. According to AFP reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-06 22:46:03', '2023-08-06 22:46:03'),
(8410, 8410, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Five young boys and their father are missing believed dead after a house fire in Australia on Sunday, in what police described as a \"truly devastating\" tragedy.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The fire occurred in the early hours of Sunday on an island near Brisbane, destroying the family\'s house and damaging two others.</div><div><br></div><div>A 28-year-old woman who is said to be the mother of the children survived the fire and is being treated in hospital. Police said she is in an \"extremely distressed\" condition.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The house has been burnt to the ground,\" a police spokesperson said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have six people that are unaccounted for tragically, a 34-year-old male, five young boys aged 11, 10, twins that are aged four, and a three-year-old boy\" the spokesperson added.</div><div><br></div><div>The victims were described as \"young boys that could have become men into the future (and) a man just lost his life as well. Truly devastating for the community.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"At this point in time, a 28-year-old woman who was within the house as well is currently being treated,\" the police spokesperson said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"She\'s terribly emotionally distressed at the moment (but) doesn\'t have any actual injuries. She was in the house at the time of the fire and we managed to escape unharmed.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Nine people suffered minor injuries.</div><div>The cause of the fire is not yet known, but police are not treating the blaze as suspicious at this stage. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-06 23:09:37', '2023-08-06 23:09:37'),
(8411, 8411, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The death toll from a landslide in western Georgia has risen to 17 as of Sunday, the country\'s Interior Ministry said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The ministry told local media that 17 bodies have been found by rescuers so far. Over 200 people have been transported to safety during the ongoing rescue operation.</div><div><br></div><div>Local reports estimated that the victim number could increase further as nearly 20 people remain missing after the landslide.</div><div><br></div><div>On Saturday, Georgian Health Minister Zurab Azarashvili said dozens of heavy equipment entered the rescue operations. Various state agencies coordinated the disaster relief works, said Azarashvili, adding \"thousands of cubic meters of soil\" in the area were \"hindering the working process.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili signed a decree declaring Monday a day of mourning to honor the landslide victims. - Xinhua</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-06 23:12:28', '2023-08-06 23:12:28'),
(8412, 8412, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The general inflation remained virtually unchanged at 9.69 percent on a point-to-point basis for the month of July, having been 9.74 percent in June, said the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The inflation in Bangladesh saw a slow pace in decrease while the inflation of many South Asian countries is decreasing steadily. Economists said inadequate steps of the government failed to rein in inflation.</div><div><br></div><div>The country’s general inflation was 7.48 percent in July 2022, which jumped to 9.69 percent in July 2023. In May 2023 the inflation jumped to a decade-high 9.94 percent.</div><div><br></div><div>General non-food inflation dropped to 9.47 percent in July, down from 9.60 percent in June. However, food inflation experienced an increase to 9.76 percent in July, compared to 9.73 percent in June.</div><div><br></div><div>The general inflation in the rural areas decreased to 9.75 percent in July from 9.82 percent in June.</div><div><br></div><div>In urban areas, the general inflation has decreased to 9.43 percent from 9.45 percent in June.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Two independent sets of commodities (goods &amp; services) are used to compute the Consumer Price Index for rural and urban areas. The rural and urban baskets cover 383 items with 749 varieties of goods and services. This index has been rebased with 2021-22 as the reference index.</div><div><br></div><div>The CPI items for the national and sub-national indices are classified into 12 major categories such as food and nonalcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics, clothing and footwear, housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, furnishings, household equipment, and routine maintenance of the house, health, transportation, communication, recreation and culture, education, restaurants and hotels and miscellaneous goods and services. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-07 02:54:58', '2023-08-07 02:54:58'),
(8413, 8413, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) expressed optimism that the number of dengue cases could decrease if the disease is effectively dealt with during the month of August.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Professor Dr. Md. Shahadat Hossain, the Director of the DGHS addressed the ongoing dengue infection situation in the country during&nbsp; a virtual press briefing on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr. Hossain noted that disease outbreaks typically have a peak and then gradually subside, but the timing may vary each year.</div><div><br></div><div>“Last year, dengue cases started declining in October, but this year, there is hope it could be as early as August. Tackling the dengue outbreak in August would bring some relief and enable a more comfortable situation for the public,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Discussing the current situation, he highlighted that dengue cases increased continuously throughout July.</div><div><br></div><div>“However, in Dhaka, the number of cases has stabilized compared to the previous period. Although there is an increase in cases outside Dhaka, the rate of increase is not as high as before, providing a stable point for managing patients. The goal is to move from this stable point to a decline in cases, which would alleviate the burden on hospitals,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the City Corporation\'s introduction of a new drug to combat Aedes mosquitoes, Dr. Hossain said that he was not fully aware of the current situation in the City Corporation.</div><div><br></div><div>“The drugs introduced by the City Corporation undergo rigorous testing for their effectiveness before being used. I hope that the new drug\'s efficacy had also been thoroughly tested,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Amid the ongoing dengue situation, the scarcity of liquid saline in many hospitals has emerged as a concern. Patients are facing high costs in procuring and using saline for treatment, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr. Hossain said that the issue of saline shortage is not solely dependent on the DGHS.</div><div><br></div><div>“It involves collaboration with pharmaceutical companies, the Directorate General of Drug Administration and other organizations. Coordination among these entities is crucial to address the saline shortage effectively,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“The matter of saline does not solely rely on the DGHS. There is a substantial private sector involved, along with the Directorate General of Drug Administration. A high level of coordination is necessary, and our ministry is actively working towards achieving that goal,” he added.&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-07 03:16:17', '2023-08-07 03:16:17'),
(8414, 8414, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday asked her Awami League party leaders and activists to prepare for the upcoming national election.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“All have to work unitedly to ensure the win of the Awami League-nominated candidates in the next election,” she said while delivering concluding remarks at the special extended meeting of Bangladesh Awami League at her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div><br></div><div>In reply to the call of their party chief, all the leaders attending the meeting raised their hands and expressed their commitment to do so accordingly.</div><div><br></div><div>Issuing directives to all Awami League leaders and activists to prepare themselves for the upcoming national election, Hasina said “Our only strength is the people.”</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that the upcoming national elections are very important, she urged her party members to highlight and present to the people the development works&nbsp; that have been implemented in every area during the last 14 years and a half of the Awami League rule.</div><div><br></div><div>“All these developments in Bangladesh have been possible because Awami League has been in power,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Criticizing the activities of BNP and its leaders, the Awami League President said that the birth of BNP had been an outright sin.</div><div><br></div><div>“The birth of the BNP had happened through the illegal seizure of power, through the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and through terrorism,\" she asserted.</div><div><br></div><div>She mentioned that since the Awami League formed the government in 2009, BNP has carried out arson violence, killed people, staged blockade programmes, and committed many other misdeeds.</div><div><br></div><div>“But, no movement can harm the country and the people as Awami League is a strong organisation and we are accepted by the people.”</div><div><br></div><div>Rather, they (BNP) are gradually being questioned by people, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina called upon all to be vigilant against rumours and misinformation, saying Awami League never bow to anyone. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-07 03:59:48', '2023-08-07 03:59:48'),
(8415, 8415, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Niger\'s military rulers announced Sunday that they had closed the country\'s airspace, warning that any attempt to violate it would meet with an \"energetic and immediate response\".</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Faced with the threat of intervention, which is becoming clearer through the preparation of neighbouring countries, Niger\'s airspace is closed from this day on Sunday... for all aircraft until further notice,\" the country\'s new rulers said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The announcement came as the deadline from the West African bloc ECOWAS for them to hand back power to the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum was due to expire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">ECOWAS last Sunday issued Niger\'s new military rulers with an ultimatum to stand down within the week or face possible military intervention.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bazoum was overthrown on July 26 when members of his own guard detained him at the presidency. 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, '2023-08-07 14:52:18', '2023-08-07 14:52:18'),
(8416, 8416, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Iran\'s foreign minister visited Japan on Monday for the first time since 2019 to meet his opposite number, officials said, with a meeting with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also reportedly on the cards.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The purpose of the rare visit by Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to a G7 member country was not announced, but reports said Japan would press Iran to stop supplying Russia with arms.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Amir-Abdollahian will meet with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, the Japanese foreign ministry said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Amir-Abdollahian would also make a courtesy visit to Kishida, private broadcaster TBS reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">TBS, citing unnamed government sources, said Japan would raise the issue of arms exports to Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Japan and Iran have traditionally kept friendly ties despite key Tokyo ally Washington\'s tense relations with Tehran.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iran used to be a major oil exporter to resource-poor Japan, but volumes dropped sharply in recent years due to US economic sanctions on the Middle Eastern country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hayashi and Amir-Abdollahian have held telephone talks in the past, most recently in April this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the April talks, Hayashi expressed Japan\'s support for the 2015 nuclear accord and urged Iran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Amir-Abdollahian\'s visit to current G7 head Japan is the first visit by an Iranian top diplomat since December 2019 and the first under President Ebrahim Raisi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and six major powers -- including Russia and China -- was aimed at scaling down Iran\'s activities in that sector in order to allay fears it was developing atomic weapons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the United States pulled out of the deal under former president Donald Trump and efforts to revive it under President Joe Biden have faltered, while Tehran has expanded its nuclear work. 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, '2023-08-07 15:01:49', '2023-08-07 15:01:49'),
(8417, 8417, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Cambodia\'s king on Monday will appoint Hun Manet the country\'s new leader after his father Hun Sen calls time on nearly four decades of hardline rule.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Days after a landslide victory in July\'s election, Hun Sen -- one of the world\'s longest-serving leaders -- announced he was stepping down as prime minister and handing power to his eldest son.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The polls were widely decried as a sham after the opposition challenger Candlelight Party was barred from running over a technicality, with the ruling Cambodian People\'s Party (CPP) winning all but five seats in the 125-member lower house.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Monday, following a request from Hun Sen, King Norodom Sihamoni is set to issue a royal decree making four-star general Hun Manet the prime minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, to officially become the country\'s new leader the 45-year-old and his new cabinet must win a confidence vote in parliament set for August 22.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The incoming government will usher in a crop of young ministers -- with some taking posts vacated by their fathers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While insisting he would not interfere with his son\'s rule, Hun Sen has promised Cambodians he will continue to dominate the country\'s politics.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Having come to power in 1985, he helped modernise a country devastated by civil war and genocide, although critics say his rule has also been marked by environmental destruction, entrenched graft, and the elimination of nearly all political rivals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States, United Nations, and the European Union condemned last month\'s polls as neither free nor fair.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hun Sen rejected those allegations and said his handover, a dynastic succession compared by some critics to North Korea, was being done to maintain peace and avoid \"bloodshed\" should he die in office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also warned that should Hun Manet\'s life be seriously endangered, he would return as PM.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While groomed for the position for years, the eldest son of Cambodia\'s iron-fisted ruler remains untested in the political arena, analysts say.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And there are few expectations Hun Manet will chart a more liberal path than his father, despite being educated in England and the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A member of the ruling party\'s powerful permanent committee, he has been the Royal Cambodian Army\'s commander since 2018.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hun Manet has also met some world leaders including President Xi Jinping of China, Cambodia\'s main ally and a significant benefactor.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After stepping down, Hun Sen will become president of the Senate early next year and acting head of state when the king is overseas. 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, '2023-08-07 16:30:35', '2023-08-07 16:30:35'),
(8418, 8418, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Lionel Messi scored twice, including a brilliant late equaliser, as Inter Miami advanced past FC Dallas to the quarter-finals of the Leagues Cup on penalties after an enthralling 4-4 draw.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A trademark curling free-kick in the 85th minute, Messi\'s seventh goal in his fourth game for Miami, took the game to the shootout after Miami had trailed 4-2 with 10 minutes to go.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Leagues Cup, the tournament for clubs from Major League Soccer and Mexico\'s Liga MX, does not feature extra-time with drawn games going directly to penalties.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Messi put Miami ahead in the sixth minute with a clinical side-foot finish from a Jordi Alba pull-back.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was initially ruled out for offside but the decision was reversed after the referee, on review, ruled that Josef Martinez had not blocked the view of the goalkeeper.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dallas drew level in the 37th minute through Argentine Facundo Quignon, who connected with a fine pull-back from overlapping full-back Marco Farfan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The home side grabbed the lead on the stroke of half-time with an outstanding finish from Bernard Kamungo who left two defenders behind before burying the chance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another of Dallas\'s Argentine players, Alan Velasco, made it 3-1 in the 63rd minute with a free-kick from the left which flew untouched through a crowded box and into the far corner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Miami narrowed the deficit through teenage substitute Benjamin Cremaschi who slotted in a low ball from Alba, just a minute after coming off the bench.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An own goal from Robert Taylor, as he tried to intercept a Paul Arriola pass, restored the two-goal cushion for Dallas at 4-2.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Messi then chipped a free-kick into the box and Farfan, unchallenged, inexplicably headed into his own goal to keep Miami alive.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Five minutes from the end Messi strode up and curled a free-kick from 20 yards superbly into the top corner to take it to penalties.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Messi converted the first penalty in the shoot-out, Paxton Pomykal missed for Dallas and Cremaschi secured Miami\'s place in the last eight with the final spot-kick. 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, '2023-08-07 16:35:02', '2023-08-07 16:35:02'),
(8419, 8419, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Asian equities swung Monday following a mixed US jobs report that left investors weighing the chances of another Federal Reserve interest rate hike.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Global markets endured a volatile time last week, with traders spooked by a range of issues including a US rating downgrade, rising Treasury yields and a lack of concrete measures to boost Chinese growth.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While inflation continues to come down in the United States and parts of the economy are showing signs of slowing, there is plenty of speculation that the Fed will lift rates at least once more this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A much-anticipated jobs report Friday showed fewer-than-forecast new posts were created last month, playing into the view that the central bank could stand pat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The cheer was offset by a still-strong read on wage growth, which backed up the hawkish outlook for more tightening, with Bloomberg reporting traders see a 40-percent chance of another hike this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the medium term, they still see 1.25 percentage points of cuts by the end of 2024.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The debate was also taking place at the central bank, with Chicago Fed boss Austan Goolsbee saying officials had to be patient and that he was optimistic inflation can be brought down without sparking a recession.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added that the question should be how long borrowing costs are kept at elevated levels, pointing out \"if you hold at 5.25 percent, 5.5 percent, five-and-whatever while inflation goes down, that is a restrictive environment\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Holding is increasing restrictiveness in that sense.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, Governor Michelle Bowman said policymakers might need to lift again to achieve stability in prices.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And Win Thin, at Brown Brothers Harriman and Co, warned: \"As we\'ve pointed out before, the easy part is getting from eight percent (inflation) to four percent; the hard part is getting it from four percent to two percent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Because of this, we believe the markets continue to underestimate the Fed\'s capacity to tighten.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Investors will be keeping a close eye on fresh US inflation data this week as well as jobless claims figures, hoping for a better idea about the Fed\'s plans.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wall Street\'s three main indexes ended Friday in the red, having suffered a late pullback from the morning\'s rally.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And Asian investors struggled to get the week off to a positive start, with many markets fluctuating.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tokyo was flat, while Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney and Wellington slipped. Singapore, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta all rose.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Oil prices were barely moved but held Friday\'s rally after Ukraine carried out a drone attack on a Russian tanker in the Black Sea at the weekend, fuelling unease about supplies from the major producer, as well as rising costs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Freight rates will be ballooning next week as the risks of carrying anything across the Black Sea proliferate,\" Viktor Katona, at market intelligence firm Kpler Ltd, said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added that the price of transporting crude to India could surge by up to 50 percent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Key figures around 0230 GMT -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tokyo - Nikkei 225: FLAT at 32,190.31 (break)</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.1 percent at 19,514.74</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.5 percent at 3,270.35</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1000 from $1.1012 on Friday</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2745 from $1.2748</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.30 from 86.35 pence</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dollar/yen: UP at 142.03 yen from 141.77 yen</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.1 percent at $82.77 per barrel</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.1 percent at $86.20 per barrel</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">New York - Dow: DOWN 0.4 percent at 35,065.62 (close)</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">London - FTSE 100: UP 0.5 percent at 7,564.37 (close) 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, '2023-08-07 16:40:29', '2023-08-07 16:40:29'),
(8420, 8420, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">As rain continues, Dhaka\'s air quality is ‘moderate’ this morning.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 95 at 9:10 am, Dhaka ranked 9th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Indonesia’ Jakarta, the United Arab Emirates\' Dubai and South Africa\'s Johannesburg occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 193, 161 and 160, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 51 and 100 is considered \'moderate\', between 101 and 150 is considered ‘unhealthy\', and between 201 and 300 is said to be \'very unhealthy\', while a reading of 301+ is considered \'hazardous\', posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.&nbsp; 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, '2023-08-07 16:46:27', '2023-08-07 16:46:27');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(8421, 8421, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The overall number of global Covid-19 cases is gradually nearing 693 million.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the latest global data, the total Covid-19 case count is 692,636,689, while the death toll reached 6,905,365 this morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US has reported 107,564,390 Covid-19 cases so far, while 1,170,781 people have died from the virus in the country — both highest counts globally.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India logged 77 fresh Covid-19 cases while the active cases were recorded at 1,553, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Saturday. The country’s death toll has been recorded at 5,31,918.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">France and Germany have registered 40,138,560 and 38,428,685 Covid-19 cases so far, occupying the third and fourth positions in the world number-wise, and 167,642 and 174,352 people have died in the European countries, as per Worldometer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh reported one more Covid-19-linked death and 44 new cases in 24 hours till Sunday morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With the new numbers, the country\'s total fatalities rose to 29,4474 and caseload to 2,044,779, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The daily Covid-19 test positivity rate stood at 3.01 percent as 1,460 samples were tested in Bangladesh. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-07 16:50:16', '2023-08-07 16:50:16'),
(8422, 8422, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The 93rd birth anniversary of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, wife of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, will be observed tomorrow in a befitting manner across the country.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangamata, also known by her nick name Renu, was born on August 8 in 1930 at Tungipara village in Gopalganj. She was a paternal cousin of her husband Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Renu was only 8 years old when she was married to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who himself was just 18, in 1938.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangabandhu wrote in his autobiography “The Unfinished Memoirs” that Renu\'s mother died when she was five. Only her grandfather remained. He, too died when Renu was just seven years old. Then, she grew up with Bangabandhu\'s siblings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When Bangabandhu was just 13, he was betrothed to her. After Renu\'s father died, her grandfather called Bangabandhu\'s father and said, \"I have to marry off one of my granddaughters to your eldest son because I will leave all my property to them.\" Renu\'s grandfather was Bangabandhu\'s paternal uncle.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangabandhu wrote, when their marriage was fixed, he was a teenager. \"I heard I got married. I did not understand anything then. \"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Their wedding took place in 1938. Their family life started after Bangabandhu passed the entrance exam in 1942. That year he got admitted to Islamia College, Kolkata. His political career began there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangamata was killed brutally along with Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members at the fateful night of August 15 in 1975.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fazilatunnesa Mujib was under house arrest during Bangladesh Liberation War until December 17, 1971.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She was born to the Bengali Muslim Sheikh family in the village of Tungipara, Gopalganj.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Her father’s name was Sheikh Zahurul Haque and her mother’s name was Sheikh Husne Ara Begum.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She was of Iraqi Arab ancestry on both sides of family, her paternal grandfather Kashem Sheikh, was grandson of Sheikh Ekramullah, who was in turn descended from Sheikh Awwal Darwish of Baghdad, a dervish who had come to preach Islam in Bengal during the time of the later Mughal era of Bengal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Her father, Sheikh Zahurul Haque, and mother, Husne Ara Begum, died when she was three years old.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Marking the birth anniversary of Sheikh Fazilatunnesa, Awami League (AL) and its associate bodies have taken programmes to pay respect to her memory. Wreaths will be placed at her grave in city’s Banani area tomorrow.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last year in an award giving ceremony, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sketched Bangmata\'s key-shadow role in protracted independence struggle particularly in major turning points like the six-point demand, Bangabandhu\'s release issue and his March 7 speech.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh\'s emergence would have been impossible if Bangamata hadn\'t taken a bold step against proposed inclusion of two more points to the Six-Point Demand while Bangabandhu was in Pakistani military captivity during the Agartala conspiracy case.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier said several Awami League leaders was willing to accept Bangabandhu\'s release on parole while the trial of the case was underway, an idea that was strongly opposed by Bangamata who wanted his unconditional release.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina said if Bangabandhu had come out accepting parole conditions, no fierce mass movement would have been sparked forcing the then Pakistani junta to abandon the case, freeing the accused.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangamata feared in that situation all the accused would have been hanged on high treason charges, if not killed in captivity like their co-accused Sergeant Zahirul Haque during the trial.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If Bangabandhu got released on parole, Bangladesh would have never witnessed its independence, the premier said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While talking to BSS earlier noted academician and former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Professor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique said Bangamata had played a very crucial role in heartening Bangabandhu to pen the drafts of three invaluable autobiographic books which would always remain as precious asset in the history of Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We talked about Bangabandhu at different times. His speeches and statements have been preserved in different ways. But expressing his own memories in his own words is a rare one and it had been possible because of Bangamata,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prof Arefin, also a noted communication expert, said Bangabandhu in his own reminiscence in the ‘Unfinished Memoirs’ also mentioned how Bangamata inspired him to write the books.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said after the independence, Bangamata had taken the initiative for the first time to rehabilitate the Biranganas (war heroines), the women who were brutally tortured and repressed by Pakistani occupational forces and their local collaborators during the Liberation War.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under the leadership of Begum Mujib, the works of rehabilitating the repressed women began at Bangabandhu’s Dhanmondi 32 residence for the first time, he mentioned.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She gathered some distinguished women of society and held meetings at Dhanmondi 32 residence to decide how to cooperate with the government and extend support to Bangabandhu in rehabilitating the group of women, he said. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-07 17:07:47', '2023-08-07 17:07:47'),
(8423, 8423, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan\'s lawyers were on Monday attempting to launch legal challenges against his three year-sentence for graft that has ruled him out of contesting national elections.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The former international cricket star was arrested at his home on Saturday and taken to jail for charges he has previously said are politically motivated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His lawyers have so far been denied access to him at Attock Jail, established 100 years ago on the outskirts of historical Attock city, around 60 kilometres (40 miles) west of the capital, Islamabad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Monday, petitions were being filed in Islamabad and Lahore High Courts demanding power of attorney for the jailed former leader, which would allow lawyers to challenge his conviction.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A petition has also been filed to request that Khan be held in an \'A-class\' cell, more comfortable than other quarters and usually reserved for VIP inmates.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At a court hearing Khan did not attend Saturday, a judge found him guilty of graft in relation to gifts he received while prime minister and sentenced him to three years in jail.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Anyone convicted of a criminal offence is disqualified from contesting elections in Pakistan, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Sunday that parliament would likely be dissolved on Wednesday -- days ahead of the end of its natural term.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This would give the incoming interim government until mid-November to hold an election, but there is already speculation it could be delayed following the release Saturday of the country\'s latest census data.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told a local television channel that constituencies would have to be redrawn according to the new census, warning there could be a delay to polls of up to two and a half months.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khan\'s arrest and detention for three days in connection with the same case in May sparked deadly violence when his supporters took to the streets in the tens of thousands, clashing with police.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But a massive crackdown by the authorities that saw thousands of PTI supporters rounded up - some still in prison - and a muzzling of the press has vastly diminished his street power, even if his popularity remains high. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-07 18:17:49', '2023-08-07 18:17:49'),
(8424, 8424, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The third terminal of Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport will be partially opened by October this year, and it is set to be fully operational next year, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Mafidur Rahman told UNB on Sunday.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The construction of the terminal is currently in its final stage and over 85 percent work has been completed, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Once fully operational, the new Dhaka airport terminal, covering an area of 5,42,000 square metres,&nbsp; will be capable of serving more than one crore passengers annually, the CAAB chairman added. State of the art amenities will also be offered to passengers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“As construction is in its final stage, the magnificent architecture of the third terminal building is now visible. Currently, work on interior decoration and installation of various types of equipment is going on,” the CAAB chief informed UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The CAAB chairman said that currently 120-130 planes of over 30 airlines take off from and land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Every day about 20,000 passengers use the two terminals of the airport. As such, Dhaka airport serves around 80 lakh (8 million) passengers annually. It will be possible to serve an additional 1.2 crore passengers when the third terminal is opened,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the Civil Aviation Authority, the new terminal will feature a parking apron capable of accommodating 37 aircraft. It will also have 26 boarding bridges. Among them, 12 boarding bridges will be opened this October.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For arrivals, there will be a total of 59 counters including five automated ones to provide fast and better service to passengers. In addition, 16 baggage belts will be installed in the third terminal while there will be four separate belts for overweight baggage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Read: 77.5% work of Dhaka Airport\'s 3rd Terminal done, should be operational by 2024: CAAB Chairman</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For departure, the terminal will have 115 check-in counters, including 15 self-service ones, and 66 departure immigration counters with 10 automatic passport control counters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Multi-storeyed car parking with a capacity of accommodating 1,044 cars is also being constructed in the world class terminal, CAAB sources said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Regarding ground handling – one of biggest pain points at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport – the CAAB chairman said that the government has decided to give the task to Japan, known for their efficiency.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ground handling and maintenance of the new terminal will be carried out through the public-private partnership (PPP) model, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali told UNB that the third terminal boasts an exceptional, artistic design.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, work of import-export cargo complex – spanning an area of 63,000 square feet – is also going on, the junior minister said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On December 28, 2019, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the construction work of the Tk 21,398 crore project aimed at boosting Dhaka airport’s passenger and cargo handling capacity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Of the total cost, the government will provide Tk 5,257 crore and the rest will be funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The construction of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s third terminal in Dhaka is being done by Japan’s Mitsubishi, Fujita and South Korea’s Samsung. 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, '2023-08-07 18:22:25', '2023-08-07 18:22:25'),
(8425, 8425, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">India\'s Parliament on Monday reinstated top opposition leader Rahul Gandhi as a lawmaker three days after the country\'s top court halted his criminal defamation conviction for mocking the prime minister\'s surname.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His reinduction as a member of Parliament is likely to strengthen the opposition\'s effort to corner Narendra Modi\'s government ahead of a no-confidence motion this week over deadly ethnic violence that has roiled India\'s northeastern state of Manipur for more than three months.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A fierce critic of Modi and his main challenger in the 2024 polls, Gandhi was ousted from Parliament after his conviction by a magistrate\'s court in March. The Supreme Court stayed his conviction Friday, which means it is temporarily halted while the court goes into Gandhi\'s appeal in detail before issuing a final ruling.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court\'s order also means that Gandhi will be able to contest next year\'s general elections unless a final court decision goes against him.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The defamation case involved comments Gandhi made in a 2019 election speech. Gandhi asked, \"Why do all thieves have Modi as their surname?\" He then referred to three well-known and unrelated Modis: a fugitive Indian diamond tycoon, a cricket executive banned from the Indian Premier League and the prime minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The case was filed by Purnesh Modi, who is a member of Modi\'s Bharatiya Janata Party in Gujarat state but is not related to the prime minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gandhi was sentenced to two years in prison but the court suspended his prison sentence in April. The conviction was upheld by the Gujarat state High Court so he filed an appeal in the country\'s Supreme Court last month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The case against Gandhi, the great-grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru, India\'s first prime minister and scion of the dynastic Congress party, was widely condemned by opponents of Modi as the latest assault against democracy and free speech by a government seeking to crush dissent. The speed of his removal from Parliament shocked Indian politics.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India, with 1.4 billion people, is the world\'s largest democracy. However, Modi\'s critics say democracy has been in retreat since he came to power in 2014. They accuse his government of pursuing a Hindu nationalist agenda. The government denies that, saying its policies benefit all Indians.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Nehru-Gandhi family has produced two other prime ministers. Rahul Gandhi\'s grandmother, Indira Gandhi, was assassinated while in office, as was his father, Rajiv Gandhi, after he left office. 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, '2023-08-07 19:00:42', '2023-08-07 19:00:42'),
(8426, 8426, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ashraful Alom, popularly known as ‘Hero Alom’, filed a Tk 50 crore defamation case against BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi for making \"derogatory remarks\" about the YouTuber .</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He filed the case with the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court took the statement of the plaintiff and directed the Detective Branch of Police to investigate the allegations and submit a report, said Hero Alam\'s lawyer Abdullah Munsur Ripon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on Sunday, Hero Alam said he went to the DB office to lodge a complaint against the senior BNP leader but the DB chief advised him to file a case with the court.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi reportedly called him \"uneducated\" while addressing a march recently, Hero Alom said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Saturday (August 5, 2023), Hero Alom took to social media to condemn Rizvi’s comments on his “education.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The social media content creator said: “I do not want to speak against anyone. But this is very sad. I have seen the video of BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi calling me crazy. He has also questioned my educational qualifications.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“By calling me uneducated, you’re also calling yourself uneducated. Because, the leader of your party, BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaled Zia, completed education up to class 8. I have studied up to class 7,” Hero Alom 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, '2023-08-07 19:29:17', '2023-08-07 19:29:17'),
(8427, 8427, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A few months ago, \'a self-proclaimed Hindi film critic and journalist\' from Pakistan Umair Sandhu had shared derogatory tweets about actor Celina Jaitly, and claimed that she \'slept with both father (Feroz Khan) and son (Fardeen Khan) many times\'. In a new interview with India Today, Celina opened up about when and why she decide to file an official complaint with National Commission of Woman (NCW), and how Twitter (now X) \'did nothing\' to stop the man\'s \'baseless, untrue character assassination via his tweets\'.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Celina told India Today that on April 12, 2023 she filed an official complaint with NCW, adding, \"This person created the fake viral content maligning me, thousands of people, including myself, lodged a complaint with Twitter to ban his account. Twitter\'s auto-generated responses claimed no issues with all his tweets, encouraging him to go on a horrifying spree of baseless, untrue, character assassination via his tweets. He made multiple tweets at my expense, garnering him massive views the whole day, and Twitter still did not do anything... The height of stupidity is that some of the most reputable and credible media outlets report on the lies spread by a Pakistani imposter... He might as well be an ISI agent who is trying to infiltrate the Indian media outlets.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Celina said she had no idea who Umair Sandhu was until April 11, 2023, when her \'Twitter account blew up\' and she saw \'horrific and viral content\' about her that he had generated. Celina said she was tagged by hundreds of people, who brought her attention to Umair Sandhu’s \'bizarre claims\'. She slammed him for making content that \'is nothing short of online violence just for personal gain\'.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Celina on why she sought NCW\'s help</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Further speaking about how the self-proclaimed journalist \'was hiding in Pakistan\', taking legal recourse was not possible for her even as continued to \'assault her with verbal violence\'. Celina said that after much deliberation, she took the matter to the NCW in India. She added that she doesn\'t know what the laws in Pakistan are, but is hopeful that laws against cyberbullying are stringent there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Celina said in the same interview, “I am very grateful that MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) has responded with full support. We need to understand that all processes have their protocols and even my complaint must go through its due process. I have attached MEA’s response to Ms Rekha Sharma, Chairperson, NCW. I will wait for the process to take its due course. I do not know what the laws in Pakistan are, but I am sure the laws for protection of women against cyberbullying, verbal and mental abuse, character assassination are stringent and the Pakistan High Commission will act in accordance with their country’s laws against such crimes.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Umair Sandhu\'s tweets against Celina</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier this year, Umair Sandhu wrote in a tweet, “Celina Jaitley is the only actress in Bollywood who slept with both father (Feroz Khan) and son (Fardeen Khan) many times.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Late actor-filmmaker Feroz Khan gave Celina her big break alongside his son, Fardeen Khan in Janasheen, which released in 2003.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Celina had responded to Umair Sandhu\'s tweet in July, \"A few months ago, a self-proclaimed Hindi film critic and journalist from Pakistan named Umair Sandhu took to Twitter to make viral untrue horrific claims about me which included bizarre allegations like my relations with both my mentor Feroz Khan and his son Fardeen, in addition he made claims targeting me and my family’s safety and security even in Austria. My response to his harassment and fake claims from Pakistan went viral and garnered support from millions of Twitterati including Pakistani nationals who were appalled at his behaviour...” 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, '2023-08-07 20:46:20', '2023-08-07 20:46:20'),
(8428, 8428, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The government of Bangladesh has decided to replace the Digital Security Act with Cyber Security Act 2023, in which sections of the existing law will be amended.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq confirmed the development today (August 07, 2023).</div><div><br></div><div>The decision came after a meeting of the Cabinet Division chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina this morning, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The cabinet approved the draft in principle, the law minister said.</div><div><br></div><div>The name of the law has been changed, and some sections of the law have been amended, the minister added.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister further said that after the amendment, there will no longer be any provision for jail term; only the provision of fines will be kept.</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina\'s government is working for the people, he said, adding, \"We have taken measures to stop the misuse and abuse of DSA through some amendments.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on May 3, Anisul Huq said that Digital Security Act will not be repealed but necessary amendments will be made.</div><div><br></div><div>The DSA was enacted on October 8, 2018 with the aim of preventing the spread of sectarianism, extremism, terrorist propaganda, and hatred against religious or ethnic minorities through social media, print media or any other electronic media.</div><div><br></div><div>However, since its inception, DSA was criticized heavily for its misuse. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-07 21:07:43', '2023-08-07 21:07:43'),
(8429, 8429, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A Dhaka court on Monday fixed September 11 for submission of the probe report in the murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>With this, the deadline for submission of the probe report in the case was deferred for the 100th time.</div><div><br></div><div>Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) was supposed to submit the report today but as it failed to submit the report Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rashidul Alam fixed the new date for submitting it.</div><div><br></div><div>On March 2, 2021, RAB submitted a progress report in the Sagar-Runi murder case in affidavit form to the Attorney General’s Office.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the report, two unidentified people were involved in the murder.</div><div><br></div><div>Maasranga Television News Editor Sagar Sarowar and his wife ATN Bangla senior reporter Meherun Runi were found dead at their rented apartment in the city’s West Rajabazar area on 11 February 2012.</div><div><br></div><div>Nousher Ali Roman, brother of Runi, filed a case with Sher-e-Banglanagar Police Station on the following day.</div><div><br></div><div>Police arrested Tanvir Rahman in connection with the murder case on October 1, 2012. Later, he secured bail in 2014.</div><div><br></div><div>Law enforcers have so far arrested eight people, including Tanvir, in connection with the murder case.</div><div><br></div><div>The seven other suspects are Rafiqul Islam, Bakul Mia, Abu Syed, Mintu alias Baggira Mintu alias Masum Mintu, Quamrul Hasan alias Arun, security guard Enam Ahmed alias Humayun Kabir and Palash Rudra Pal. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-07 21:24:37', '2023-08-07 21:24:37'),
(8430, 8430, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Three-quarters of children in South Asia are already facing dangerously high temperatures, the highest level worldwide, as the impact of climate change grows, the United Nations warned Monday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>About 460 million children are exposed to extreme heat in South Asia, or 76 percent of children, compared to a third of children globally, the United Nations children\'s agency said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"With the world at global boiling, the data clearly show that the lives and well-being of millions of children across South Asia are increasingly threatened by heat waves and high temperatures,\" said Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia.</div><div><br></div><div>The UN warns children in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Pakistan are at \"extremely high risk\" of the impacts of climate change, defining extreme high temperatures as 83 or more days in a year over 35 degree Celsius (95 degree Fahrenheit).</div><div><br></div><div>Children cannot adapt as quickly to temperature changes, and are not able to remove excess heat from their bodies.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Young children simply cannot handle the heat,\" added Wijesekera. \"Unless we act now, these children will continue to bear the brunt of more frequent and more severe heatwaves in the coming years.\"</div><div><br></div><div>About 1.2 degrees Celsius of global warming since the late 1800s, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, has made heatwaves hotter, longer and more frequent, as well as intensifying other weather extremes such as storms and floods.</div><div><br></div><div>July was the hottest month ever recorded globally, with searing heat intensified by global warming affecting tens of millions of people in parts of Europe, Asia and North America.</div><div><br></div><div>Scientists say the world will need to adapt to the heat and other impacts already caused by emissions -- and that carbon pollution must be slashed dramatically this decade to avoid worse in the future. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-07 22:41:52', '2023-08-07 22:41:52'),
(8431, 8431, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Cabinet on Monday approved in principle the draft of Cyber Security Act 2023 with the provisions of maximum Tk 25 lakh in fine for publishing defamatory information through digital media, said Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“There will be no provision of jail sentence and the government will impose fine after abolishing the jail term in the Act,” he told reporters after the Cabinet meeting at the Secretariat.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that related provisions for cyber security included in the Digital Security Act will be retained in the Act without making any changes.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the Section 29 of the Digital Security Act, if any person publishes or transmits any defamatory information as described in section 499 of the Penal Code through Website or in any other electronic format, he shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 (three) years, or with fine of Tk 5 lakh.</div><div><br></div><div>As per the Cyber Security Act-2023, the government has planned to scrap jail terms and impose fines in this section, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“From now on the only punishment is fine in this section. But if anyone fails to pay the fine he would have to serve in jail for three-six months.”</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on Monday, the Cabinet decided to replace the Digital Security Act with the Cyber Security Act 2023, in which sections of the existing law will be amended. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting in the morning.</div><div><br></div><div>The name of the law has been changed, and some sections of the law have been amended, the minister added.</div><div><br></div><div>On May 3, the law minister said that the Digital Security Act will not be repealed but necessary amendments will be made.</div><div><br></div><div>The DSA was enacted on October 8, 2018 with the aim of preventing the spread of sectarianism, extremism, terrorist propaganda, and hatred against religious or ethnic minorities through social media, print media or any other electronic media.</div><div><br></div><div>But, since its inception, the DSA has been criticized heavily for its widespread misuse, especially against journalists. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-08 00:01:49', '2023-08-08 00:01:49'),
(8432, 8432, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The normal life of the residents of Dhaka city was disrupted badly on Monday due to the intermittent rainfall triggered by a depression in the Bay of Bengal and active monsoon in the country.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) recorded 12 mm of rainfall between 6 am and 12 pm on Monday in Dhaka city while 18 mm in the past 24 hours from 6 am Sunday till 6am Monday, meteorologist AKM Nazmul Haque told UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“The rainfall may continue for one more day and the intensity of the rainfall may fall from August 9 (Wednesday),” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Many people in the city walked to reach their workplaces for lack of vehicles due to rain.</div><div><br></div><div>Commuters in Dhaka remained stuck for hours in unusual traffic jam in the morning following the rains.</div><div><br></div><div>Students and officegoers suffered immensely due to traffic chaos at several points in Dhaka while vehicles got stranded for hours on the streets in parts of the city.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the regular bulletin of the Met office, light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at most places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with heavy to very heavy rainfall at places across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Day and night temperatures may fall slightly.</div><div><br></div><div>The axis of the monsoon trough runs through Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal to Assam and across the central part of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>The monsoon is active over Bangladesh and moderate to strong over the North Bay.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal no. 3 as deep convection is continuing over the North Bay due to strong monsoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Squally weather may affect the maritime ports, the North Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh, said a special bulletin of the Met office on Monday. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-08 00:35:34', '2023-08-08 00:35:34'),
(8433, 8433, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh in the current season has exported 2,700 tons of mangoes to 34 countries so far this year.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the mango export rose by 1000 tons this year compared to the previous year. A total of 1,757 tons of mangoes were exported to 28 countries last year.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the ministry, although there is a huge demand for mangoes in the global market, the amount of exports is low due to non-compliance with various international standards including good agricultural practices.</div><div><br></div><div>To increase the export of mangoes, the Ministry of Agriculture is implementing a project to increase the production of exportable mangoes, the ministry official said.</div><div><br></div><div>Project Director Arifur Rahman told UNB that mangoes will be exported for another 15-20 days this year.</div><div><br></div><div>Among 34 countries, 1,256 tons of mango were exported to the United Kingdom, 296 tons to Italy, 260 tons to Saudi Arabia, 137 tons to the United Arab Emirates, 111 tons to Qatar, 55 tons to Singapore, 14 tons to Switzerland, 70 tons in Germany, 85 tons in France, 65 tons in Sweden, 218 tons of mangoes were exported to Kuwait and 40 tons to Canada.</div><div><br></div><div>About 25 lakh tons of mangoes are produced in the country annually. But the amount of export is very low compared to production. Only 232 tons in the fiscal year (FY) 2017-18, 310 tons in FY 2018-19, 283 tons in FY 2019-20, 1632 tons in FY 2020-21, and 1757 tons in FY2021-22 were exported. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-08 01:36:11', '2023-08-08 01:36:11'),
(8434, 8434, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">“Sharey Showlo” starring Zakia Bari Mamo and Afran Nisho will be released on OTT platform Hoichoi on August 17.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Mamo will play Rini , a well-known television journalist who has ties to prominent individuals in the city.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Sharey Showlo is a complex and beautiful story. The series full of suspense,\" Mamo said while talking to UNB recently.</div><div><br></div><div>“I am thankful to the entire team of the series. Because&nbsp; when I read the script. I was even confused many times while shooting. But I had faith in the director and in the end he proved his talent (munsiana).\'\'</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the challenge of playing the role a sa&nbsp; journalist , Mom also said, “Actually, every role is a challenge for me. Because I don\'t play my role as Mamo. I always have to act to be someone else. So, I had to take the same challenge here.”</div><div><br></div><div>Directed by Yasir Al Haq, the series revolves around the story of a lawyer named Reza, played by Afran Nisho. The cast also includes Intekhab Dinar as corporate Manager Rakib Imtiaz Barshon as ADC Altaf, Shahed Ali as Gaffar, Afia Tabassum Borno as PR executive Natasha and Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed as Reza\'s wife Ayesha.</div><div><br></div><div>Recently, the trailer of the series has been released on the Hoichoi Bangladesh YouTube channel. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-08 02:18:22', '2023-08-08 02:18:22'),
(8435, 8435, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over 22,101 more houses under Ashrayan -2 project to landless and homeless families on Wednesday as 12 more districts are set to be declared homeless and landless- free.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>A total of 123 more upazilas in 41 districts will be declared homeless and landless- free under Asrayan-2 project totalling the number of upazilas 334 while the total number of completely homeless and landless free districts will stand at 21 with the 12 more districts.</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will make the announcement and open distribution of the houses to the homeless and landless families through a video-conference from her Ganabhaban residence.</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister\'s Principal Secretary Mohammad Tofazzel Hossain Miah disclosed the information at a press conference at Karabi Hall of Prime Minister\'s Office (PMO) here this afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Ashrayan Project is a unique one in the world as no other country in the world has distributed houses among landless and homeless families in such a huge numbers and totally free of cost.</div><div><br></div><div>PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin and Project Director of Ashrayan-2 Project Abu Saleh Mohammad Ferdous Khan were present on the occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>This is the second-stage under fourth phase of the Ashrayan-2 project while 39,365 houses were distributed in the first-round&nbsp; under the second phase on March 22, 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 63,999 houses were distributed under first phase on January 23, 2021, 53,330 under second phase on June 20, 2021 and 59,133 two-stages under third phase during the Mujib-Barshao.</div><div><br></div><div>With the distribution of 22,101 more houses, the total number will stand at 2,38,851 under the Ashrayan-2 Project.</div><div><br></div><div>The Principal Secretary said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over houses along with lands virtually joining the ceremonies in three upazilas from her official Ganabhaban residence.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier will directly exchange views with the beneficiaries of Barasat Sonar Bangla Palli Ashrayan project under Terokhada upazila in Khulna district, Chakla Ashrayan-2 project under Bera upazila in Pabna&nbsp; and Amanullahpur Ashrayan project under Begumganj in Noakhali.</div><div><br></div><div>Under the project, the landless and homeless people will get good quality tin-shed semi-pucca houses on two decimals of land.</div><div><br></div><div>Tofazzel Hossain Miah said the Prime Minister will also declare Manikganj, Rajbari, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon Naogaon, Natore, Pabna, Kushtia, Pirojpur and Jhalakathi as homeless-landless free districts while earlier she declared nine other districts as landless and homeless free including Panchagarh and Magura.</div><div><br></div><div>The principal secretary said if anyone of these areas becomes homeless and landless due to river erosion, natural disaster or any other reason, they will be given houses along with land.</div><div><br></div><div>He said ownership of land is given to both husband and wife and land registration and mutation are also given after the names of both husband and wife.</div><div><br></div><div>Tofazzel Hossain Miah said the government is not only building houses of the project on khas land rather lands are being bought from Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust to build houses.</div><div><br></div><div>Donations from individuals are also received to this end, he mentioned.</div><div><br></div><div>Replying to a question, when the government will start building houses for those who haven’t houses or better houses but lands, he said now the government is providing houses only to landless and homeless people under the project and after the end of this process, it will begin constructing houses for those who don’t have houses or whose houses are in dilapidated state.</div><div><br></div><div>Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman introduced the rehabilitation programme for homeless people in 1972.</div><div><br></div><div>Following the footprints of Bangabandhu, her daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took the initiative to provide ownership of houses and lands to homeless and landless people through the Ashrayan Project in 1997.</div><div><br></div><div>Under the Ashrayan project, a total of 829607 families have been rehabilitated so far since 1997. The number of rehabilitated people is 41,48,035 (estimated as five persons in a family).</div><div><br></div><div>Ashrayan Project of the PMO has already rehabilitated 5,55,617 families directly while 2,73,990 families were rehabilitated under different programmes of concerned government offices, including Land Ministry, Disaster Management and Relief Ministry and Liberation War Affairs Ministry. According to BSS reports&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-08-08 02:41:10', '2023-08-08 02:41:10');
