INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(7520, 7520, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">When the government is looking for foreign loans here and there to run the country, BNP senior leader Khankader Mosharraf Hossain on Friday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tried to hide the reality by telling the international community that Bangladesh’s economy has a dignified position.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Going to Geneva, our usurper Prime Minister said that our country\'s economy is in a dignified position… the truth can never be suppressed for long with hollow words this way. As we know the economy of Bangladesh, the whole world also knows it,\" he said</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking at a discussion meeting, the BNP leader said the government is ‘begging’ foreign loans from different countries and international lending agencies to run the country while the import is being halted for lack of dollars.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mosharraf, also a BNP standing committee member, said that the people have been facing terrible load-shedding as the government is unable to import fuel and energy for running the power plants.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Everyone knows the condition of our economy. Inflation is growing, the dollar crisis is acute, commodity prices are continuously going up, and export earnings and remittances are dwindling amid the forex reserve crunch. These are the realities. Then how can the PM claim that the economy of Bangladesh is now in a dignified position?” he observed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking at an event of the World Economic Forum at its office in Geneva on Thursday, PM Hasina said Bangladesh now holds an economically dignified position in the world due to the continuation of democracy and stability in the country since 2009.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP Media Cell arranged the discussion at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), marking the ‘Black Day of Newspapers’.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On 16 June 1974, the then Awami League government shut down all the newspapers, except four loyal to it. A group of journalists has long been observing the day as a ‘Black Day’ commemorating the closure of the newspapers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mosharraf said there is no other alternative to ousting the current Awami League regime from power through a strong movement to get rid of the current economic and political crises.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There will never be a free and fair election in Bangladesh if the current regime stays in power. BNP has already announced it would not go to elections under this government. The people of Bangladesh also believe that just as there were no fair elections in the past under the Awami League government, there won’t be any in the future either,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP leader also said their party will not fall into any trap of the government this time no matter how hard the ruling party tries. “We must unseat this regime by creating a mass upsurge.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also said the ruling party leaders are making contradictory remarks on various issues as they have got nervous in fear of losing power. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-16 23:33:33', '2023-06-16 23:33:33'),
(7521, 7521, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak today said pro-people leader Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ensured good governance in the country.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is maintaining development spree in the country side by side ensuring good governance in the country,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The state minister said this while addressing the ceremony of giving incentives to small and marginal farmers, medical assistance from the Ministry of Social Welfare, grants from the Ministry of Disaster Management and distribution of ducks and chicken houses among ethnic group at Singra Upazila Auditorium in Natore as the chief guest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Highlighting PM\'s development activities for the country, Palak said that in the last 14 years there has been unprecedented development in various sectors of the country and as a result, no family remains landless and homeless in the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Almost every family is getting benefit under the Social Safety Net programme, he said, adding that the economy of the village has become active by receiving electricity and internet facilities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A green revolution has taken place in agriculture because of giving incentives and subsidies, he said, adding that education and health care programmes are making people\'s lives better and safer nowadays.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About the current development works of the present government, he said the construction works of four institutions including hi-tech park are going on in Singra.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, \'Chalanbil Smart City\' will be built through these installations, said Palak.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mahmuda Khatun presided over the event. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-16 23:37:07', '2023-06-16 23:37:07'),
(7522, 7522, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Britain\'s Competition and Markets Authority regulator said Friday it has approved Amazon\'s $1.7-billion purchase of iRobot, the US maker of robotic vacuum Roomba.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The CMA \"has now concluded that the deal would not lead to competition concerns in the UK\", it announced in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The transaction, announced in August 2022, aims to expand the US retail titan Amazon\'s artificial intelligence and smart home ambitions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Massachusetts-based iRobot builds robots and \"intelligent home\" innovations, having introduced the Roomba self-operating vacuums a decade ago.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Amazon\'s deal to buy iRobot for $61 per share along with acquiring the company\'s debt was subject to approval of shareholders and regulators.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">iRobot has a 30-year track record in robotics, and underlying software such as mapping and navigation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Amazon has meanwhile invested smart home and automation technologies with acquisitions such as Ring doorbells, Kiva warehouse robots and self-driving startup Zoox.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Friday\'s decision comes after the CMA had in April decided to block Microsoft\'s $69-billion takeover of \"Call of Duty\" video games giant Activision Blizzard, arguing it would harm competition in cloud gaming. That decision will be appealed by both companies. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-16 23:44:38', '2023-06-16 23:44:38'),
(7523, 7523, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Cyclone Biparjoy tore down power poles and uprooted trees Friday after pummelling the Indian coastline, but the storm was weaker than feared and there were only two confirmed deaths.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 180,000 people in the Indian state of Gujarat and Pakistan\'s neighbouring Sindh province fled the path of Biparjoy -- which means \"disaster\" in Bengali -- before it made landfall on Thursday evening.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The storm packed sustained winds of up to 125 kilometres (78 miles) per hour as it struck -- but weakened overnight, with Indian forecasters expecting it to calm into a moderate low-pressure system by late Friday.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two men in Bhavnagar district died on Thursday evening after drowning in flood waters, the Gujarat state government said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Relief director C.C. Patel had earlier told AFP there had been no deaths reported in Gujarat but 23 people had been injured in the storm.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Driving rain and howling winds continued to lash the state\'s coast on Friday despite the worst of the danger receding.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I\'ve never seen anything like this before,\" Mukesh Pattni, 22, told AFP from the concrete shophouse where he and 10 other family members took shelter.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I haven\'t eaten anything since yesterday. Trees are falling, everything is falling apart.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State relief commissioner Alok Pandey told reporters that nearly 500 homes had been partially damaged after Biparjoy made landfall.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 1,000 villages around the coast were without electricity on Friday as the force of the storm knocked down power lines.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rescue crews were working to clear trees knocked onto roads and restore access to villages.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Gujarat, more than 100,000 people had been moved from the storm\'s path before it struck, the state government said, as well as 82,000 others in Pakistan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan climate change minister Sherry Rehman said \"no human lives were lost\" on her side of the border.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Thank God it did not directly hit the coastal areas of Pakistan,\" she told broadcaster Dunya.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'So far, so good\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Friday, shops and markets gradually reopened under drizzling skies and a cool ocean breeze in Thatta, a city around 50 kilometres inland.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"So far, so good,\" said 40-year-old government worker Hashim Shaikh. \"We were pushed into a state of fear for the past several days, but now it seems to be over.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the fishing port of Keti Bandar -- forecast to be hardest hit by the storm -- \"there was zero damage\", according to engineer Rahimullah Qureshi from the provincial irrigation department.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cyclones are a regular and deadly menace on the coast of the northern Indian Ocean, where tens of millions of people live.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2021, the coast of Gujarat was hit by the more powerful Cyclone Tauktae, which killed more than 150 people and caused large-scale destruction.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 4,000 people died in India when another cyclone hit the same coastline in 1998.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Scientists have warned that storms are becoming more powerful as the world gets warmer with climate change.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate researcher at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, said cyclones derive their energy from warm waters, and that surface temperatures in the Arabian Sea were 1.2 to 1.4 degrees Celsius (34 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than four decades ago. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-16 23:53:41', '2023-06-16 23:53:41'),
(7524, 7524, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said many BNP leaders are secretly taking preparation for the next general elections.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"BNP will participate in the next national elections, too. Many parties will join the polls and there will be no shortage of parties. No matter how BNP gets involved in plot, the polls will be held in this country,\" he told a rally in the capital\'s Mirpur this afternoon.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka North City unit of the AL organised the rally protecting the anti-state conspiracy of BNP-Jamaat.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said BNP leaders know that they will be defeated in the next general elections and that is why they want to make the polls questionable.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"BNP recruits lobbyists spending huge money. Where do they get so much money?\" he questioned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The road transport and bridges minister said the elections of Bangladesh could not be prevented with anyone\'s visa policy and sanctions.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We do not interfere with anyone. We do not want interference of any foreign country in our elections. We are going to hold the elections as per law. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will remain the head of the government during the elections,\" he said.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Which country\'s parliament is dissolved before the elections? Why will we do it in Bangladesh? Parliament will be dissolved after the elections. We have a constitution. We will conduct everything in line with the constitution. We do not follow anyone\'s advice. You can send election observers to see how the polls are held,\" he added.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Quader said the country\'s people have confidence about the elections and they will not be confused by BNP\'s statements over elections.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP is now holding road march after getting imbalanced and this road march will finally turns into a fall march, he said, adding that the BNP has no path way.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AL general secretary said BNP has no control over its own party men while its activists became candidates in many city elections ignoring the command of BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Now many of BNP leaders have started running from one place to another to participate in the upcoming national elections,\" he said.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Claiming that BNP has started conspiracy and terrorism again, Quader said BNP swallowed democracy and the rule of law, stole votes and made Bangladesh champion in graft when it was in power.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If they (BNP) come to power again, they will swallow Bangladesh and the spirit of Liberation War,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">AL joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, organising secretary Afzal Hossain, Dhaka North City AL president Sheikh Bazlur Rahman, general secretary SM Mannan Kochi and Swechchhasebak League president Gazi Mejbaul Hossain Sacchu, among others, spoke. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-17 02:06:39', '2023-06-17 02:06:39'),
(7525, 7525, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh Narionalist Party’s rally for youth came under fire after a group of \"unruly activists\" who converged at the rally vandalised several murals that symbolise Father of the Nation and Liberation War in the port city of Chattogram.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to CTTV footages, armed with sticks and roads, BNP activists can be seen attacking murals in Chattogram.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With the emergence of CCTV footages, netizens mostly youth came down heavily on BNP raising questions about the party’s stance on liberation war ideals that formed bedrock of this youngest nation of South Asia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Looking at the video footage, I demand exemplary punishment to find the culprits and bring them under the law,\" wrote Khandakar Hossain.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Petrol bombing on innocent citizens, destroying legacies of liberation war, orchestrating attack on minorities, are these cards how BNP intends to attack the youths,” questioned another netizen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since it’s birth as midwifed by the first military dictator, BNP has been opposed to liberation war ideals and reportedly whitewash legacy of war criminals as Gen Ziaur Rahman embraced war criminals,&nbsp; promoted them on political landscape and introduced a culture of religion based political doctrine observed&nbsp; eminent researcher Syed Badrul Ahsan in an earlier piece.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, Bangladesh Awami League on a Facebook post came down heavily with footages of vandalism, pulled up BNP calling the act another manifestation of glorifying the Pakistani ideals that raped and murdered millions in 1971.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Now five decades down the line if the party seeks to allure gen next voters with glorifying war criminals then it’s an irony and a strategy surely would led to defeat,” added Rahul, a Dhaka University Student.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chittagong University unit of Chhatra League has strongly condemned and protested against the vandalism of documents of Liberation War and portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Jamal Khan Square from BNP rally in Chittagong.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP-Jamaat\'s political policy is to harm people\'s lives and property and harm the common people by creating fire terror and anarchy in the country, protesters said from a rally of Chattogram North District Awami Jubo League. UNB&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-17 02:11:00', '2023-06-17 02:11:00'),
(7526, 7526, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Mahmudul Alam Babu, chairman Sadhurpara UP in Jamalpur who is a suspect in the murder of Banglanews24.com journalist Golam Rabbani Nadim, was detained from Debiganj upazila of Panchagarh district early Saturday (June 17, 2023).</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Members of Rapid Action&nbsp; Batallion (RAB) detained Babu and two others around 5 am in Chilahati union of the upazila, said Jamal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Debiganj Police Station.</div><div><br></div><div>They were trying to flee the country by crossing the border, RAB sources said.</div><div><br></div><div>RAB will later brief the media on this detention.</div><div><br></div><div>Golam Rabbani\'s wife, Monira Begum, alleged that her husband was killed on the orders UP chairman Mahmudul Alam Babu due to his news reporting.</div><div><br></div><div>Golam Rabbani was returning home on June 14 when he was attacked by a group of terrorists in Bakshiganj upazila. The assailants physically assaulted him before fleeing the scene, leaving him unconscious. He died at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital the following day.</div><div><br></div><div>Monira claimed that her husband had been subjected to various forms of harassment before the incident, and it was the chairman\'s associates who carried out the killing. She demanded exemplary punishment of those involved in the incident. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p>Journalist murder<br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, '<p><br></p>', '2023-06-17 20:42:56', '2023-06-17 20:42:56'),
(7527, 7527, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Around 40 people, mostly students, have been killed at a school in western Uganda by rebels linked to the Islamic State group.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>A further eight people remain in a critical condition after the attack on Lhubiriha secondary school in Mpondwe.</div><div><br></div><div>Boys who were staying in dormitories at the school are among the dead.</div><div>The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) - a Ugandan group based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - have been blamed for Friday\'s attack.</div><div><br></div><div>Many of the bodies were transferred to Bwera Hospital, national police spokesperson Fred Enanga said.</div><div><br></div><div>The attack happened at around 23:30 local time (20:30 GMT) on Friday at the school in the Kasese district in western Uganda.</div><div><br></div><div>Over 60 people are educated at the school, most of whom live there</div><div><br></div><div>ADF rebels burnt a dormitory and a food store was also looted during the incident, Mr Enanga said.</div><div><br></div><div>Some of the boys were burnt or hacked to death, Major General Dick Olum from the Ugandan army told the media.</div><div><br></div><div>Others at the school, mostly girls, have been abducted by the group, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Some of the bodies are said to have been badly burnt and DNA tests will need to be carried out to identify them.</div><div><br></div><div>The attackers are said to have torched the students\' mattresses and are also thought to have detonated bombs in the region.</div><div><br></div><div>Members of the wider community are possibly among the dead. A number of students remain unaccounted for.</div><div><br></div><div>Soldiers are pursuing ADF insurgents towards the DRC\'s Virunga National park - Africa\'s oldest and largest national park which is home to rare species, including mountain gorillas.</div><div><br></div><div>Militias including the ADF also use the vast expanse, which borders Uganda and Rwanda, as a hideout.</div><div><br></div><div>The attack on the school, located less than two kilometres (1.25 miles) from the DRC border, is the first such attack on a Ugandan school in 25 years. - BBC</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p>Uganda school attack&nbsp; &nbsp;<br></p>', 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-17 21:36:56', '2023-06-17 21:36:56'),
(7528, 7528, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam has exchanged views on different bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interests and concerns with the cross-party Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Swedish Parliament Riksdag in Stockholm.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The two sides, on June 16, also exchanged views on Swedish development cooperation support to Bangladesh, bilateral trade and investment cooperation, and Bangladesh’s National Action Plan on the labour sector.</div><div><br></div><div>They also discussed possible cooperation between the two countries in IT and fintech sectors and green transition, Bangladesh-EU 50 years of partnership, Rohingya crisis, climate change, war in Ukraine, and Indo-Pacific, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div><br></div><div>The State Minister briefed the Swedish Parliamentary Committee on the socio-economic development of Bangladesh, particularly over the last 14 years, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her ‘Vision 2041’.</div><div><br></div><div>Committee Chairman Aron Emilsson (Sweden Democrats), Deputy Chairman Morgan Johansson (Swedish Social Democratic Party), and members Margareta Cederfelt (Moderate Party), Jacob Risberg (Green Party) and Magnus Berntsson (Christian Democrats) from the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riksdag joined the views exchange meeting while the State Minister was accompanied by Bangladesh Ambassador to Sweden, Mehdi Hasan, and Director General (West Europe &amp; EU) of MOFA Kazi Russel Pervez. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-17 22:10:44', '2023-06-17 22:10:44'),
(7529, 7529, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged all governments to eliminate legal barriers to women owning land, and to involve them in policymaking.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“Support women and girls to play their part in protecting our most precious resource. And together, let’s stop land degradation by 2030,” he said in a message marking the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought that falls on June 17.</div><div><br></div><div>The UN chief said unsustainable farming is eroding soil 100 times faster than natural process can restore them. “We depend on land for our survival. Yet we treat it like dirt.”</div><div><br></div><div>And, he said, up to 40% of our planet’s land is now degraded: imperiling food production; threatening biodiversity; and compounding the climate crisis.</div><div><br></div><div>“This hits women and girls the hardest. They suffer disproportionately from the lack of food, water scarcity, and forced migration that result from our mistreatment of land. Yet they have the least control,” said the UN chief.</div><div><br></div><div>In many countries, he said, laws and practices block women and girls from owning land. “But where they do, they restore and protect it: increasing productivity; building resilience to drought and investing in health, education and nutrition.”</div><div><br></div><div>Guterres said equal land rights both protect land and advance gender equality; and that is why this Desertification and Drought Day puts the focus on “her land, her rights”. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-17 23:40:40', '2023-06-17 23:40:40'),
(7530, 7530, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh Bank is ready to announce a contractionary monetary policy statement tomorrow, withdrawing the single-digit interest cap to combat rising inflation, the central bank sources said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Usually, contractionary monetary policy is used to contain inflation and reduce the level of money circulating in the economy.</div><div><br></div><div>Governor of Bangladesh Bank, Abdur Rouf Talukder, will release the policy statement for the first half (July-December) of FY 2024 at a press conference in Bangladesh Bank tomorrow.</div><div><br></div><div>The chief of BFIU, deputy governors, Chief Economist, executive director of the Research Department, and concerned officials of Bangladesh Bank will be present at the event.</div><div><br></div><div>The central bank formulates monetary policy to create a balance between inflation and achieving the desired growth.</div><div><br></div><div>When asked about the new monetary policy, Bangladesh Bank Executive Director and Acting Spokesperson, Abul Bashar, told reporter that the central bank governor will officially announce the monetary policy tomorrow. “This monetary policy will focus more on controlling inflation, and the introduction of a single currency exchange rate,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, there will be new announcements on interest rates and the current 9 percent cap will be waived and rationalized, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>According to Bangladesh Bank sources, the central bank will introduce a new system by removing the existing 9 percent interest rate limit on loans. The interest rate will be effective from July 1, the first month of the new fiscal year. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-17 23:49:45', '2023-06-17 23:49:45'),
(7531, 7531, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A high school student from Philadelphia who graduated from Philadelphia High School for Girls was denied a diploma on the stage for dancing during the graduation ceremony on June 9, as per a report in ABC News.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The video, which has gone viral on social media, shows a group of girls sitting on stage when Hafsah Abdur-Rahman, carrying a bouquet of flowers, starts dancing on the stage as she proceeds to receive her degree once her name is called. As she approaches the principal who is holding her diploma, the principal raises her arm and suggests the student go back to her seat. The headmaster then puts the diploma in a basket lying on the ground next to her.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking about the incident, Ms Rahman told the outlet, \"She stole that moment from me. I will never get that again.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The teenager stated that their Principal Lisa Mesi had warned the students beforehand that their families or friends \"could not cheer or clap when they walked on stage.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"I understood the rules because I was saying \'shh\' in the video. Do not say nothing because I want my diploma. I knew and understood what we were supposed to do,\" she added.</div><div><br></div><div>\"If they thought that I shouldn\'t do \'The Griddy\' across the stage and do the Girls\' High traditions, nobody should have been able to wave or blow kisses or do period signs because I feel like that\'s the same thing. I feel like that\'s unfair,\" Ms Rahman told ABC News.</div><div><br></div><div>The student said that the moment was special as it was in honour of her sibling, who was killed at the age of 14. \"I was so embarrassed. I couldn\'t even enjoy the rest of the graduation,\" she remarked.</div><div><br></div><div>The School District of Philadelphia said in a statement to the outlet, \"The District does not condone the withholding of earned diplomas based on family members cheering for their graduates. We apologize to all the families and graduates who were impacted and are further looking into this matter to avoid it happening in the future.\"</div><div><br></div><div>According to the student, the Deputy Superintendent of the school also contacted her and her mother to express regret for their experience. - ABC News&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', '<p>\'So Embarrassed\'<br></p>', 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-17 23:59:39', '2023-06-17 23:59:39'),
(7532, 7532, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The maiden flight of Spain\'s first rocket was aborted Saturday after countdown ended because of a last-minute technical problem, the start up PLD Space said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The launch of the Miura 1 in the southwestern provence of Huelva was \"automatically aborted\" as some of the umbilicals -- which are used to provide power and fuel to rockets -- did not release as it should, Raul Torres, a co-founder of PLD Space, tweeted.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We will analyse the data to have more information,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The launch of the Miura 1, named after a breed of fighting bulls, had initially been scheduled for May 31 but was postponed due to high winds.</div><div><br></div><div>Standing just 12 metres (40 feet) tall, the small reusable rocket was to fly 100 kilometres (62 miles) above Earth.</div><div><br></div><div>While that distance would put it in outer space, the rocket is not powerful enough to reach orbit.</div><div><br></div><div>Saturday\'s sub-orbital launch had been slated to bring a payload with micro-gravity experiments.</div><div><br></div><div>Companies are rushing to develop launchers to address a growing satellite market.</div><div><br></div><div>Around 18,500 small orbiters weighing less than 500 kilos (1,100 pounds) are projected to be launched in the coming decade, according to analysts from Euroconsult. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 00:14:53', '2023-06-18 00:14:53'),
(7533, 7533, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Severe heat wave is sweeping Rajshahi, Pabna and Bogura districts, according to Bangladesh Metrological Department .</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping Khulna division,&nbsp; parts of Rajshahi division and Tangail, Faridpur &amp; Dinajpur districts and it may continue, said a bulletin of BMD on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>The country’s highest 41.3 degree Celsius temperature was recorded in Rajshahi district on Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>The Met office also predicted rains or thundershowers in parts of country as monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh and moderate over North Bay.</div><div><br></div><div>“Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely at most places over Mymensingh&nbsp; and Sylhet divisions; at many places over Rangpur and Dhaka divisions and at a few places in Rajshshi, Khulna, Barishal &amp; Chattogram divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy falls at places over Mymensingh&nbsp; and&nbsp; Sylhet divisions,” said the bulletin.</div><div><br></div><div>Highest 116 mm rainfall was recorded in Sylhet district in 24 hours till 6 am on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>Day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over Rajshahi &amp; Khulna divisions and it may fall slightly elsewhere over the country. Night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 01:52:21', '2023-06-18 01:52:21'),
(7534, 7534, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Eight people have died in the third heatwave to hit Mexico since mid-April, the country\'s health ministry said on Friday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Temperatures reached a record high of 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) in the capital Mexico City this week.</div><div><br></div><div>Seven of the victims died of heatstroke and one of dehydration between April 14 and June 12, the ministry said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>In the northeastern city of Monterrey, temperatures exceeded 40C, while water pressure was reduced in homes and an increased demand for electricity</div><div>including air conditioning led to power cuts.</div><div><br></div><div>Wendy Tijerina, a Monterrey resident, said the heat is more intense because the city lies in an industrial zone.</div><div><br></div><div>\"There is a lack of water, you can\'t bathe the children or even use a fan because they cut the power,\" she told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>She said her family tries to drink a lot of water to protect themselves from heatstroke.</div><div><br></div><div>The government of Nuevo Leon state, where Monterrey is located, has limited the time children attend school to two hours a day to avoid sun.</div><div><br></div><div>Last year, Mexico declared a drought emergency in parts of the country as a heatwave and dearth of rain depleted reservoirs.</div><div><br></div><div>Authorities in some cities, including Monterrey, allowed households to access running water for only a few hours a day for several weeks. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 02:13:51', '2023-06-18 02:13:51'),
(7535, 7535, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Litton Das, the stand-in Test captain of Bangladesh, applauded the pace-bowling department for their exceptional performance in the recently concluded Test match against Afghanistan.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Bangladeshi pace-bowling lineup claimed 14 wickets in this match, marking the first instance of Bangladeshi pacers taking such a tally in a Test match.</div><div><br></div><div>In the first innings, Ebadot Hossain secured four wickets, contributing to Bangladesh\'s significant lead by dismantling Afghanistan for just 146 runs. Taskin Ahmed also impressed in the second innings, taking four wickets to dismiss Afghanistan for a mere 115 runs.</div><div><br></div><div>The pacers\' outstanding performance led to a massive 546-run victory for Bangladesh, their largest-ever win by runs in Test cricket. This victory also stands as the largest margin of victory by runs in Tests in the current century.</div><div><br></div><div>Acknowledging this historic achievement, Litton described the pacers as the main architects behind Bangladesh\'s remarkable win.</div><div><br></div><div>\"As a captain, I\'m extremely delighted,\" Litton expressed during the post-match press conference. \"Playing with three pacers in Mirpur is not something we usually do. I believe the spin-friendly nature of the wicket was a contributing factor.\"</div><div><br></div><div>However, this time, the wicket displayed friendliness towards the pacers, offering some assistance. The interim captain of Bangladesh attributed the pacers\' success to the wicket conditions.</div><div><br></div><div>Litton also mentioned that as the pacers continue to perform well in international matches, they face increasing challenges while practicing against their own bowlers in the nets.</div><div><br></div><div>Emphasizing the importance of sporting wickets, Litton stressed the need for creating an ideal environment that boosts the bowlers\' confidence and allows them to showcase their skills.</div><div><br></div><div>Afghanistan is set to return to Bangladesh in July for a three-match ODI and two-match T20 series. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has already announced the ODI squad for the series, which will take place in Chattogram from July 5 to 11. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 02:24:00', '2023-06-18 02:24:00'),
(7536, 7536, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Sony\'s latest Spider-Man animation will not hit the silver screen in the United Arab Emirates, a cinema company said Friday, following backlash over an expression of support for transgender rights.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse\" was originally scheduled to screen across the UAE as of June 22, but it has since been scrapped from lists of upcoming films on the websites of major cinema operators in the Gulf state.</div><div><br></div><div>\"\'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse\' will not be releasing in the UAE,\" VOX Cinemas said in response to an enquiry on Facebook.</div><div><br></div><div>The cinema company, which operates in the UAE and much of the Gulf region, did not provide a reason for the decision.</div><div><br></div><div>Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment, which owns VOX Cinemas, did not respond to a request for comment.</div><div><br></div><div>The superhero film, which premiered late last month, has sparked controversy online in the UAE for a scene featuring a flag with the writing \"protect trans kids\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"Warning to mothers and fathers, Disney\'s new Spider-Man movie that will screen in cinemas on the 22 promotes homosexuality and gender transformation. Protect your children,\" said one social media post that was shared hundreds of times.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2021, the UAE said it would stop censoring cinematic releases.</div><div><br></div><div>On Monday, the UAE Media Council said \"it will not allow the circulation or publication of content contrary to the values and principles of the UAE\".</div><div><br></div><div>The regulatory body did not elaborate on the reasons for the statement and did not respond to a request for comment.</div><div><br></div><div>Last year, Disney\'s animated movie \"Lightyear\", which features a kiss between two women, was banned across much of the Middle East including the UAE.</div><div><br></div><div>In neighbouring Saudi Arabia, the body that vets films declined to comment about whether \"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse\" would show in cinemas.</div><div><br></div><div>VOX Cinemas has also removed the film from \"coming soon\" pages of its websites in Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 02:28:00', '2023-06-18 02:28:00'),
(7537, 7537, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">An army soldier was killed and another injured in an explosion of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Ruma upazila of Bandarban on Friday, ISPR said in a media statement on Saturday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The deceased is Monnaf Hossain Raju, 21, and injured Md Rezaul, 24.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the ISPR, the explosion happened around 1:30 pm on Friday when the soldiers were going to distribute pure drinking water and oral saline from Silopi Para TOB (Temporary Operating Base),&nbsp; leaving them critically injured.</div><div><br></div><div>They were sent to Chittagong Combined Military Hospital by Air Force helicopter on an urgent basis. Later, soldier Monnaf Hossain Raju died while undergoing treatment at the hospital, added the release.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed expressed his deep shock and condolences to the bereaved family of the martyred army man. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 02:34:03', '2023-06-18 02:34:03'),
(7538, 7538, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said Bangladesh is not concerned about the new US visa policy.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We can have our own visa policy as well. We are capable of implementing it too. Just wait and see,” he said while briefing the media after observing a 4.5 km section of a BRT project in Tongi.</div><div><br></div><div>“The United States has said, the new visa policy will be applicable to those responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh. We’ll observe whether this visa policy is realistic or blind and deaf,” the minister said.</div><div><br></div><div>He mentioned that a significant project worth around Tk 5,000 crore – aimed at ensuring safer roads – is currently underway in collaboration with the World Bank.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the BRT project, he said, “This project has progressed quite far considering the timeframe. However, there is a dilemma and doubt surrounding its completion. It would have been better if the project had been thoroughly evaluated before its initiation in Gazipur.”</div><div><br></div><div>He raised concerns that the road infrastructure projects could exacerbate traffic congestion and adversely affect the entire capital.</div><div><br></div><div>Addressing the challenges faced in the transportation sector, the minister stressed the importance of maintaining order and discipline.</div><div><br></div><div>He acknowledged the obstacles and stated that they must be overcome.</div><div><br></div><div>He assured that the entire project is scheduled to be completed by September or October, and preparations are underway for its inauguration, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Furthermore, plans are in motion to construct elevated expressway to Tejgaon before the upcoming election, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Metro Rail project is also progressing, with the goal of reaching Motijheel by September or October,” Quader added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p>we can have our own policy too<br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 03:02:11', '2023-06-18 03:04:53');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(7539, 7539, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday met with a group of leaders of African countries who traveled to Russia on a self-styled “peace mission” the day after they went to Ukraine, but the meeting ended with no visible progress.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The seven African leaders — the presidents of Comoros, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia, as well as Egypt’s prime minister and top envoys from the Republic of Congo and Uganda — visited Ukraine on Friday to try to help end the nearly 16-month-old war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The African leaders then traveled to St. Petersburg on Saturday to meet with Putin who was attending Russia\'s showpiece international economic forum.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Details about the delegation\'s proposals were thin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after the three-hour meeting that the Africans\' peace plan consisted of 10 elements, but “was not formulated on paper.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The peace initiative proposed by African countries is very difficult to implement, difficult to compare positions,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. But ”President Putin has shown interest in considering it.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“He spoke about our position. Not all provisions can be correlated with the main elements of our position, but this does not mean that we do not need to continue working,” Peskov said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The main conclusion, in my opinion, from today’s conversation is that our partners from the African Union have shown an understanding of the true causes of the crisis that was created by the West, and have shown an understanding that it is necessary to get out of this situation on the basis of addressing these underlying causes,” Lavrov said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia says that it was effectively forced to send troops into Ukraine because it was threatened by Ukraine\'s desire to join NATO and by the country\'s support from the United States and Western Europe.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking at the economic forum on Friday, Putin declared that the first Russian tactical nuclear weapons have been deployed to Belarus, describing the move as a deterrent against Western efforts to defeat Russia in Ukraine. He previously said that the deployment would begin in July.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked if he could order the use of battlefield nuclear weapons in Ukraine, Putin said that there was no need for that but noted that Moscow could use its nuclear arsenals in case of a “threat to the Russian statehood.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“In that case, we will certainly use all the means that the Russian state has. There should be no doubt about that,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The mission to Ukraine, the first of its kind by African leaders, comes in the wake of other peace initiatives — such as one by China — and carries particular importance for Africa, which relies on food and fertilizer deliveries from Russia and Ukraine. The war has impeded exports from one of the world’s most important breadbaskets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“This conflict is affecting Africa negatively,” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said at a news conference alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and four other African leaders after their closed-door talks on Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ramaphosa and others acknowledged the intensity of the hostilities but insisted all wars must come to an end and emphasized their willingness to help expedite that.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I do believe that Ukrainians feel that they must fight and not give up. The road to peace is very hard,” he said, adding that “there is a need to bring this conflict to an end sooner rather than later.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The delegation, including Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal and Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, represent a cross-section of African views on the war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Africa, Senegal and Uganda have avoided censuring Moscow over the conflict, while Egypt, Zambia and Comoros voted against Russia last year in a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning Moscow’s invasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many African nations have long had close ties with Moscow, dating back to the Cold War when the Soviet Union supported their anti-colonial struggles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking during Friday\'s news conference, Comoros President Azali Assoumani floated the idea of a “road map” to peace, prompting questions from Zelenskyy who sought a clarification and insisted he didn’t want “any surprises” from their visit with Putin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chances for peace talks look dim as Ukraine and Russia take sharply different stands. Ukraine demands that Russia withdraws its troops from all its occupied territories as a condition for peace talks. The Kremlin, in turn, wants Ukraine to recognize the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, as part of Russia and acknowledge other land gains it has made.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China presented its own peace proposal at the end of February. Ukraine and its allies largely dismissed the plan, as the warring sides look no closer to a cease-fire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The African peace mission comes as Ukraine launches a counteroffensive to dislodge the Kremlin’s forces from occupied areas, using Western-supplied advanced weapons in attacks in several sections of more than the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the village of Blahodatne, taken by Ukrainian forces in the counteroffensive six days ago, soldiers said they have orders to keep advancing and not retreat, indicating long grueling battles ahead in the direction where Russians have built up dense lines of fortifications.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Morale is really strong because the guys know they’re moving forward to liberate their lands,” said a Ukrainian soldier with the callsign Skripal (Violinist). “We have an order not to retreat and to move forward, so we’re trying.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Village roads are punctured with craters, buildings are caved in and bullet holes peppered nearly every residence. Inside a cultural center, a Ukrainian commander with the call sign “Lermontov” said that they’d captured many Russian soldiers during the liberation of the village and showed journalists four bodies whom he said were Russian fighters who had been recruited from prisons. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 14:16:20', '2023-06-18 14:16:20'),
(7540, 7540, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Joe Biden delivered an unapologetically economic populist message Saturday during the first rally of his reelection campaign, telling an exuberant crowd of union members that his policies had created jobs and lifted the middle class. Now, he said, is the time for the wealthy to “pay their fair share” in taxes.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden spotlighted the sweeping climate, tax and health care package signed into law last year that cut the cost of prescription drugs and lowered insurance premiums — pocketbook issues that advisers say will be the centerpiece of his argument for a second term.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I\'m looking forward to this campaign,\" Biden said to cries of “four more years!” before adding, \"We\'ve got a record to run on.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His choice of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania — and a friendly union audience — as his first official campaign stop reflected their crucial role in his reelection effort. The city was the site of his 2020 campaign headquarters and the state was one of a handful that had voted for Republican Donald Trump in 2016 but flipped back to Democrats four years later.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Until the rally, Biden’s primary reelection campaign activity had been fundraising as the campaign tries to amass an impressive fundraising haul before the year’s second quarter concludes at the end of the month. The president raised money at a private home in Greenwich, Connecticut, on Friday and soon will hold fundraisers in California, Maryland, Illinois and New York.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 1,000 union workers representing professions from carpenters and airport service workers to entertainers and heavy service equipment engineers — most wearing T-shirts bearing their union\'s logos — began chanting “Let\'s go, Joe!\" and “We want Joe” and blowing whistles hours before the president arrived.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden did not mention any of his potential Republican opponents by name, but said many in the GOP “oppose everything I\'ve done.” Pointing to high inflation rates, Republicans have criticized “Biden-omics” a term the president tried to turn back his opponents on Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I don\'t know what the hell that is,” he said, “but it\'s working.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The event, which organizers said included unions representing 18 million workers nationwide, recalled then-candidate Biden opening his 2020 presidential campaign at a union hall in Pittsburgh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Several of the nation\'s most powerful unions — including the AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees — officially endorsed Biden\'s campaign on Friday. The first-of-its-kind joint endorsement among the unions, and the backdrop of hundreds of workers are part of a meticulously choreographed effort to show the support of labor behind what Biden himself calls the most pro-union president in history.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The union endorsements followed Wednesday\'s joint endorsement from major environmental groups, a back-to-back backing by design, according to a campaign official, meant to demonstrate that tackling climate change through green jobs does not threaten workers\' rights.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden claimed in his remarks that if Wall Street bankers went on strike, no one would notice. But if unions members walked off the job, \"the whole country would come to a grinding halt.” He also criticized those worth more than $1 billion for paying, he said, as little as 8% in federal taxes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That prompted a man in the audience to shout, “What do you pay?” to which Biden responded, “I pay a hell of a lot more than that.\" He said repeatedly that the wealthy must “pay their fair share.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Before addressing the union gathering, Biden took a helicopter tour over the collapsed section of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia that has complicated traffic along one of the nation\'s most crowded highways.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Michael Smith, a 62-year-old retired electrician and is a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said he liked Biden\'s chances next year because of his administration\'s championing green jobs and construction.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jennifer McKinnon, 53, a grade school librarian and member of the National Education Association, said she felt that Biden had a personal commitment to education because his wife, Jill, was a teacher who continued to teach English at a Northern Virginia community college as first lady. Jill Biden, an NEA member, addressed the union rally, too.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I fear that the Republicans are going to get caught in their cycle that they did last time and people aren\'t going to buy it this time, so Joe\'s going to sweep right in,” McKinnon said of the 2024 election, alluding to Trump, the early front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden said his economic policies can lift all Americans regardless of economic status, an argument that could help him counter the kind of economic populism that buoyed Trump with some rank-and-file union members during his first two presidential campaigns.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Clark Hamilton, a 63-year-old retiree and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers member, said Biden embraced union values but also noted that the president sometimes “plays it like most politicians, in the middle.” He referenced Biden\'s urging Congress to helped prevent a rail strike last year, which the president said could cripple commerce nationwide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“That’s a shame,” Hamilton said. “But he was trying to save the economy.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Still, Hamilton said he\'s confident that Biden\'s record will secure him a second term next year “especially if it\'s against Trump.” AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 14:20:33', '2023-06-18 14:20:33'),
(7541, 7541, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on Saturday said that the Bangladesh Police has the capability to face any challenges in the future.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The IGP made the statement while addressing at the monthly crime review meeting for the month of May, 2023 at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) headquarters as the chief guest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The Bangladesh Police has already demonstrated its ability to control terrorism, extremism and militancy by following the policy adopted by the honorable Prime Minister,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Appreciating the activities of DMP, he said today they have created a place of trust with the tireless work of all the policemen. The overall development of the country has taken place as the law and order situation has remained normal in the country. To maintain this order, all policemen must perform their responsibilities with sincerity, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Additional IGP (Administration) Md Kamrul Ahsan, DMP Additional Commissioner of Police (Admin) AKM Hafiz Akhtar, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime and Operations) Dr. Kh. Mahid Uddin, Additional Commissioner of Police ( Logistics, Finance and Procurement) Muha.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ashrafuzzaman, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Md Munibur Rahman, Joint Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners of Police and officers of various ranks were also present at the event. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 14:23:44', '2023-06-18 14:23:44'),
(7542, 7542, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka\'s air quality is in the \'unhealthy\' zone this morning (June 18, 2023).</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 121 at 9 am, the capital of Bangladesh ranked eighth in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chile’s Santiago, Indonesia’s Jakarta, Pakistan’s Karachi and Lahore occupied the first four spots on the list, with AQI scores of 207, 163, 159 and 156, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 151 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be \'very unhealthy\', while a reading of 301+ is considered \'hazardous\', posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants — particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. 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, '2023-06-18 15:13:18', '2023-06-18 15:13:18'),
(7543, 7543, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Tens of thousands of people protested against the government in the Serbian capital Saturday, the latest such rally since mass shootings claimed the lives of 18 people.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thousands turned out at similar marches, dubbed \"Serbia against violence\", went ahead in the Balkan country\'s three other major cities, Novi Sad, Kragujevac and Nis, local media reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The rallies have become the largest gatherings since widespread demonstrations triggered the fall of late strongman Slobodan Milosevic over two decades ago.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They were triggered by two mass shootings in May that claimed 18 lives and left several people wounded.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The dead included nine students at a Belgrade elementary school who were gunned down by a 13-year-old peer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The demonstrations, organised by several pro-European opposition parties, have tapped into simmering anger at the ruling party over a perceived culture of violence fanned by the government and the media outlets it controls.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Either violence will stop or Serbia will stop,\" journalist Smiljan Banjac told the crowd in Belgrade.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This is not radicalisation, this is our cry to protect children, to ensure that they grow up safely.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The protesters want the government to revoke the broadcasting licences of television channels promoting violent content, and a ban on pro-government newspapers that target political dissidents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They are also seeking the resignations of the interior minister and the head of the intelligence service.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Critics have for years accused President Aleksandar Vucic of increasingly relying on autocratic measures to disrupt the opposition and control media outlets and state institutions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Vucic dismissed the protests as a political stunt, and repeated claims about foreign powers allegedly orchestrating the rallies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saturday\'s protests ended without incident. Their organisers said that if their demands were not met, the next rallies would be held in 10 more cities across the country. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 15:20:22', '2023-06-18 15:20:22'),
(7544, 7544, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Beijing early Sunday on a high-stakes diplomatic mission to try to cool exploding U.S.-China tensions that have set many around the world on edge.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Blinken was to begin two days of talks with senior Chinese officials in the afternoon. He is the highest-level American official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office and the first secretary of state to make the trip in five years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The trip comes after he postponed plans to visit in February after the shootdown of a Chinese surveillance balloon over the U.S.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yet prospects for any significant breakthrough on the most vexing issues facing the planet’s two largest economies are slim, as already ties have grown increasingly fraught in recent years. Animosity and recriminations have steadily escalated over a series of disagreements that have implications for global security and stability.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Blinken plans to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Sunday, top diplomat Wang Yi, and possibly President Xi Jinping on Monday, according to U.S. officials.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden and Xi agreed to Blinken’s trip early at a meeting last year in Bali. It came within a day of happening in February but was delayed by the diplomatic and political tumult brought on by the discovery of what the U.S. says was a Chinese spy balloon flying across the United States that was shot down.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The list of disagreements and potential conflict points is long: ranging from trade with Taiwan, human rights conditions in China to Hong Kong, as well as the Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea to Russia\'s war in Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.S. officials said before Blinken\'s departure from Washington on Friday that he would raise each of them, though neither side has shown any inclination to back down on their positions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shortly before leaving, Blinken emphasized the importance of the U.S. and China establishing and maintaining better lines of communication. The U.S. wants to make sure “that the competition we have with China doesn’t veer into conflict” due to avoidable misunderstandings, he told reporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden and Xi had made commitments to improve communications “precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications,” Blinken said Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Xi offered a hint of a possible willingness to reduce tensions, saying in a meeting with Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates on Friday that the United States and China can cooperate to “benefit our two countries.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I believe that the foundation of Sino-U.S. relations lies in the people,” Xi said to Gates. “Under the current world situation, we can carry out various activities that benefit our two countries, the people of our countries, and the entire human race.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden told White House reporters Saturday he was “hoping that over the next several months, I\'ll be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have, but also how ... to get along.” Chances could come at a Group of 20 leaders\' gathering in September in New Delhi and at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November in San Francisco that the United States is hosting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since the cancellation of Blinken\'s trip in February, there have been some high-level engagements. CIA chief William Burns traveled to China in May, while China’s commerce minister traveled to the U.S. And Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Wang in Vienna in May.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But those have been punctuated by bursts of angry rhetoric from both sides over the Taiwan Strait, their broader intentions in the Indo-Pacific, China’s refusal to condemn Russia for its war against Ukraine, and U.S. allegations from Washington that Beijing is attempting to boost its worldwide surveillance capabilities, including in Cuba.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And, earlier this month, China’s defense minister rebuffed a request from U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for a meeting on the sidelines of a security symposium in Singapore, a sign of continuing discontent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Austin said Friday he was confident that he and his Chinese counterpart would meet “at some point in time, but we’re not there yet.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Underscoring the situation, China rejected a report by a U.S. security firm, that blamed Chinese-linked hackers for attacks on hundreds of public agencies, schools and other targets around the world, as “far-fetched and unprofessional”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson repeated accusations that Washington carries out hacking attacks and complained the cybersecurity industry rarely reports on them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That followed a similar retort earlier in the week when China said Qin had in a phone call with Blinken urged the United States to respect “China’s core concerns” such as the issue of Taiwan’s self-rule, and “stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, and stop harming China’s sovereignty, security and development interests in the name of competition.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, the national security advisers of the United States, Japan and the Philippines held their first joint talks Friday and agreed to strengthen their defense cooperation, in part to counter China\'s growing influence and ambitions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This coincides with the Biden administration inking an agreement with Australia and Britain to provide the first with nuclear-powered submarines, with China moving rapidly to expand its diplomatic presence, especially in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific island nations, where it has opened or has plans to open at least five new embassies over the next year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The agreement is part of an 18-month-old nuclear partnership given the acronym AUKUS — for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking before Blinken\'s departure, two U.S. officials downplayed hopes for major progress and stressed that the trip was intended to restore a sense of calm and normalcy to high-level contacts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We’re coming to Beijing with a realistic, confident approach and a sincere desire to manage our competition in the most responsible way possible,” said Daniel Kritenbrink, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia and the Pacific.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kurt Campbell, the top Asia expert at the National Security Council, said \"intense competition requires intense diplomacy if we’re going to manage tensions. That is the only way to clear up misperceptions, to signal, to communicate, and to work together where and when our interests align.” AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 15:33:13', '2023-06-18 15:33:13'),
(7545, 7545, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">South Africa\'s president, in Russia as part of a delegation pushing for peace between Kyiv and Moscow, told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday that the fighting had to stop.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His delegation put forward a set of principles that the Kremlin deemed \"very difficult to implement\", a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ruled out talks with Moscow.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The delegation brought the voice of a continent that has badly suffered from repercussions of the Ukraine conflict, particularly with rising grain prices.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This war must be settled... through negotiations and through diplomatic means,\" South Africa\'s Cyril Ramaphosa said after talks in the suburbs of Saint Petersburg.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian authorities have effectively banned the word \"war\" to describe their military operation in Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ramaphosa added that his delegation, which has leaders and senior officials from seven African countries, \"would like this war to be ended\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ramaphosa listed 10 principles, which included de-escalation, the recognition of countries\' sovereignty, security guarantees for all countries, unimpeded grain exports through the Black Sea and sending prisoners of war and children back to their countries of origin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The mission included the presidents of South Africa, Senegal, Comoros and Zambia, as well as top officials from Uganda, Egypt and Congo-Brazzaville.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Difficult to implement\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Any initiative is very difficult to implement,\" Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by the state-run agency RIA Novosti.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"But President Putin has shown interest in considering it,\" Peskov said after the leaders held a meeting behind closed doors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia\'s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the plan was \"not formulated on paper\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Putin had praised the delegation\'s \"balanced\" approach and said he was \"open to a constructive dialogue with all those who want to implement peace based on the principles of justice and respect for the parties\' legitimate interests\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moscow has in the past repeated that any negotiations would need to take into account \"new territorial realities\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zelensky, speaking on Friday after Ramaphosa called for de-escalation following their talks in Kyiv, repeated his position that Ukraine must recover territories lost to Russia to achieve peace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When an air raid siren sounded in Kyiv shortly after the delegation\'s arrival earlier on Friday, forcing it to take shelter, Zelensky said it showed that Putin either did not control his army or was \"irrational\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Focus on the battlefield -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">African countries have been divided over their response to the fighting. While some have sided with Ukraine, others have remained neutral or gravitated towards Moscow.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Efforts to secure peace appear increasingly perilous, analysts told AFP, with both Kyiv and Moscow convinced they can win on the battlefield.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine launched a long-awaited counteroffensive earlier this month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian officials -- including Putin -- have insisted the counteroffensive is failing despite Kyiv claiming some gains.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kyiv said Friday evening that its units were having \"tactical success\" in nearly all areas where they were fighting in the south.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Russian army, meanwhile, said it had repelled all assaults from Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Negative impact\' on Africa -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If analysts doubted the African mission could secure a concrete peace, there had been hope it would achieve some concessions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Securing the future viability of a deal allowing grain from Ukraine to reach the global market would be one potential goal of the delegation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This war is having a negative impact on the African continent and indeed on many other countries around the world,\" Ramaphosa said ahead of formal talks with the Russian president.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Putin said \"the crisis on the global food market is by no means a consequence\" of the Ukraine conflict.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia accuses the West of blocking its exports of fertilisers and threatens to pull out of a deal -- due to expire on July 17 -- that has allowed vital Ukrainian grain exports to resume through the Black Sea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We do not believe that shipments of Ukrainian grain supplies can solve the problems of poverty and hunger,\" Putin said during the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zelensky had asked the African leaders to \"please, let them release our political prisoners. I think this will be an important result of your mission.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to prisoners of war, Putin said on Saturday: \"We are ready to continue this process.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Ukraine, Russian and Ukrainian officials in the area devastated by flooding from the destruction of a Russian-held dam announced revised death tolls Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The toll in Russian-held areas had risen to 29, officials there said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kyiv said the number killed in its territory had risen to 16, with 31 still missing, and warned that the threat of air strikes \"remains high across Ukraine\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The enemy continues to focus its main efforts on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Maryinka axes and heavy battles continue,\" the defence ministry said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Washington, US President Joe Biden warned that the United States would not make special arrangements for Ukraine to join the NATO military alliance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"They\'ve got to meet the same standards,\" he told reporters. \"So we\'re not going to make it easy.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Next week, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will call on investors and businesses at a two-day summit in London to match Ukraine\'s \"bravery on the battlefield\" with support to get the country back on its feet. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 16:09:31', '2023-06-18 16:09:31'),
(7546, 7546, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least 11 people were killed and 20 were missing after a cyclone tore through southern Brazil, local authorities said Saturday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"According to the state branch of Protection and Civil Defense, 11 people died from the effects of the cyclone,\" the government of Rio Grande do Sul state, which borders Argentina and Uruguay, said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Eighteen people are still missing in Caraa and two in Tres Forquilhas,\" it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A total of 2,330 people were left with damaged houses and 602 were evacuated from areas at risk due to the passage of the cyclone between Thursday and Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rio Grande do Sul governor Eduardo Leite visited the worst-affected areas by helicopter on Saturday together with government and rescue officials.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Caraa, one of the worst-hit towns, the governor visited a community center used to shelter hundreds of people whose homes were damaged by the storm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The situation in Caraa worries us deeply. It is essential that we can, in an integrated manner, quickly map the main affected areas and identify the people who need support,\" the governor said in the statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Leite said state firefighters had rescued about 2,400 people in the past two days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Our main objective at this moment is to protect and save human lives. Rescue people who are isolated, locate the missing and support families,\" Leite said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Brazil has been hit by a series of deadly weather disasters in recent years, which experts say are being made worse by climate change.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At least 65 people died in February when torrential rain triggered floods and landslides in the southeastern state of Sao Paulo. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 16:36:14', '2023-06-18 16:36:14'),
(7547, 7547, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Due to active monsoon, all divisions in Bangladesh may witness light to moderate rain or thundershowers in 24 hours, starting from 9 am today.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Light to moderate rain or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty wind, are likely to occur at most places in Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions; at many places in Rajshahi, Chattogram and Dhaka divisions; and at a few places in Khulna and Barishal divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy falls at places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions,” said a regular bulletin of the Met Office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, a mild to moderate heatwave is sweeping over Rajshahi division and the districts of Tangail, Jashore, Kushtia, and Chuadanga, and it may abate in some places.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged across the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The highest temperature was recorded at 39.3 degrees Celsius in Rajshahi, while the lowest temperature was recorded at 21 degrees Celsius in Rajarhat upazila of Kurigram in the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The weather office recorded the highest rainfall of 126mm in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A trough of low pressure lies over India\'s West Bengal to north Bay across the southern part of Bangladesh. Monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh and moderate over north Bay. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 17:27:43', '2023-06-18 17:27:43'),
(7548, 7548, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Experts in a function have said providing Vitamin A Plus Capsule to under-five children is crucial to increase their disease resistant capacity for normal growth, prevent night blindness and many other ailments.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They made the observation at the inaugural ceremony of the National Vitamin A Plus Campaign 18 June-2023 at City Bhaban premises.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The campaign is being conducted under the auspices of the Public Health and Nutrition Institute and National Nutrition Services under the Ministry of Health and Family Planning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Md. Habibur Rahman launched the campaign by administering Vitamin \'A\' Plus Capsules to some under five babies as the chief guest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Panel Mayor-1 of Rangpur Md Mahbubar Rahman Monju presided over the function.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Divisional Director (Health) Dr ABM Abu Hanif, Deputy Commissioner Dr Chitralekha Nazneen, Civil Surgeon Dr Jahangir Kabir, Secretary of Rangpur City Corporation Ummey Fatima, its Executive Magistrate Mahmudul Hassan Mridha and Chief Health Officer Dr Md Kamruzzaman Ibn Taj were present.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr Kamruzzaman narrated the importance of continuation of Vitamin A supplementation for the under-five babies to strengthen their immune system and disease resistance capacity for their healthier growth.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Some 594 health workers and volunteers under supervision of 44 supervisors are expected to provide Vitamin A Plus capsules to 1,29,500 under-five babies at 297 outreach centers in all 33 wards of the city from 8 am to 4 pm today,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Civil Surgeon said 3,60,295 under five children (6 to 59 months) are expected to be brought under the campaign in all eight upazilas and three municipalities except Rangpur city of the district today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some 4,547 volunteers, health workers and family welfare assistants are working at 1,831 outreach centres in the district except Rangpur city. Steps have been taken at bus stands, hats, bazaars and other places during the campaign.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Vitamin A Plus Capsule has no side effects in general and asked parents not to become afraid and contact the health officials concerned if their babies would show vomiting tendency after taking the capsules,\" he said. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 18:48:33', '2023-06-18 18:48:33');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(7549, 7549, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The British government will allocate 25 million pounds (about $32 million) in the next two years for reinforcement of cybersecurity in Ukraine, the British Prime Minister\'s Office said in its statement Saturday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the statement, the funding will make it possible to protect the critical Ukrainian infrastructure and essential services by reinforcing Ukrainian cybersecurity capabilities, which will make it possible to detect potential cyber threats from Russia and to respond to them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ukraine Cyber Programme (UCP) is a British project, announced by the UK, which initially allocated about $8.14 million, last year. The second stage of funding implies that the UK will provide 16 million pounds, while other western allies of Kiev will provide 9 million pounds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, cited in the statement, Russia allegedly attempts to attack Ukrainian cyber-infrastructure, which performs critically important functions: from banking operations to power supply. TASS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 18:50:46', '2023-06-18 18:50:46'),
(7550, 7550, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russia will continue developing relations with Arab states and Persian Gulf states in particular, including in energy area, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview for RT.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Russia will continue its cooperation with many states of the Arab world - first and foremost, Persian Gulf states - in the efforts on ensuring fair prices for energy, mainly oil. I am talking about the OPEC+ format. And we are, in general, are very satisfied with how our relations develop, and we will continue doing that,\" the spokesman said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He noted that \"the world is much bigger than the West and is much richer than the West.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The majority of the global GDP is currently being generated no in the West, but in the rest of the world. And the rest of the world develops much more dynamically than Western states,\" Peskov continued.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his opinion, now is the period of a very serious transformation, when rules of the game change in economy, in politics and in international law.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"And they change towards the rejection by the majority of states - Arab states included - of this mentorship in international relations, these attempts to impose conditions, to impose will. And rejection of what used to be called colonialism,\" the spokesman added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"In this regard, Russia will support Arab states. Both Russia and China are united in this regard and have very similar or close positions,\" he concluded. TASS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 18:54:36', '2023-06-18 18:54:36'),
(7551, 7551, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today made it clear that as an independent and sovereign country, Bangladesh will never bow down to any external interference.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'ll not bow down to interferences of anyone. It is our decision,\" she said while addressing a special Darbar (assembly) arranged at her office here, marking the 37th founding anniversary of the Special Security Force (SSF).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'re an independent nation. We\'ve achieved our country through a war,\" said Sheikh Hasina, mentioning that Bangladesh is an independent and sovereign country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh is following the foreign policy, framed by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, \"Friendship to all and malice towards none,\" she said her government has been working to make friendship with imperative ones and doing whatever necessary to develop the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said Bangladesh is progressing fast and will do further defying many obstacles and conspiracies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh faced obstacles and conspiracies time and again, but it has successfully overcome these, said the premier, adding, \"So, still many obstacles and conspiracies continue. The reason is that when a country makes rapid progress, many may not tolerate it. So, they start making various disturbances.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There is nothing to be unnerved with these (disturbance),\" she said urging all the people of the country to move with self-confidence and self-esteem, keeping the heads high as an independent and victorious nation in the world stage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister\'s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah was also present.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">SSF Director General (DG) Major General Md Majibur Rahman, in his welcome speech, presented the different activities of the force.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the outset of the ceremony, a video documentary on SSF and its activities was screened.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the function, the Prime Minister unveiled the cover of a book titled \" Durnitir Biruddye Bangabandhur Ukti\" with 75 excerpts of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman compiled by SSF DG Major General Md Majibur Rahman.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On June 15 in 1986, the Presidential Security Force (PSF) was formed, which was later renamed as Special Security Force (SSF) in 1991 following the restoration of the parliamentary system of government in the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The force was originally intended to provide \"physical security\" both to the president wherever he may be and to VIPs, including any head of the state or government or any person declared to be a VIP by the government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Following the restoration of the parliamentary system, its primary function is to protect the President, the Prime Minister and other VIPs. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 19:38:07', '2023-06-18 19:38:07'),
(7552, 7552, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">For over three decades, Canada went into clashes with the United States as the clear underdog against their bigger and better resourced neighbor. Not any longer.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Sunday, the pair meet in the final of the CONCACAF Nations League at Allegiant Stadium with the Canadians looking to follow-up their top spot in the region\'s World Cup qualifying with their first trophy in 23 years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US lineup turned in one of its most impressive displays in recent years with a 3-0 dismantling of Mexico in Thursday\'s semi-final, which saw two red cards for each side, while Canada had little trouble in getting past Panama 2-0.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On paper, the Americans still look to have a stronger squad but the last time they met, in a World Cup qualifier last January, the Canadians ran out 2-0 winners in Hamilton, having drawn on the road in Nashville in September 2021.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Canada right-back Alistair Johnston, who plays for Scottish club Celtic, says John Herdman\'s side are happy if some still consider them outsiders despite ending a 36-year wait to get to the World Cup with last year\'s appearance in Qatar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"For me, it\'s perfectly fine sticking with the underdog story. Do we truly feel like underdogs? I don\'t think so. On paper, yeah, maybe. But at the same time, I think that we\'ve earned the respect of everyone in this region,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"They don\'t view us potentially how they previously viewed us. But (being underdog) does help. We probably don\'t have the same media pressure as Mexico or the US. We\'ll get there eventually. So while we\'re still at that lower level of pressure, to a degree, we\'re going to enjoy it.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Englishman Herdman has injected a refreshing self-belief into the Canada squad and that, says Johnston, means they generate their own high expectations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We put that pressure internally on ourselves,\" he said. \"We expect ourselves to go out there and win every match. And we do believe that we have the talent and the system to beat anyone.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Americans, however, benefit from a return to form by Christian Pulisic, who scored twice against the Mexicans, and look fired up and determined to retain their title.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pulisic and Tim Weah ripped Mexico apart down the flanks with new addition Folarin Balogun in the middle and Gio Reyna hovering behind the front three.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was a high-octane game in front of a largely Mexican-supportive crowd and featured a number of mass scuffles, with red cards for midfielder Weston McKennie and fullback Sergino Dest meaning they will be suspended.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Weah doesn\'t expect Sunday\'s clash to have the same level of needle but hopes to see greater discipline if temperatures do rise again.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Obviously, every game there is a lot of passion,\" he said. \"But I think against Mexico there is always a bit more due to the history. We just have to stay focused, focus on the goal, not do anything, not get sucked in and just play our game.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US squad will again be led by interim head coach B.J. Callaghan despite the announcement on Thursday that Gregg Berhalter, whose contract ran out at the end of last year, had been re-appointed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'We\'re here to stay\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While the Americans strength is on the wings and in attack, the same can be said of Canada with Bayern Munich winger Alphonso Davies and Lille forward Jonathan David particular dangers in a three-pronged attack with the team\'s all-time top scorer, Cyle Larin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The last time Canada raised a trophy was in claiming the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2000 and veteran skipper Atiba Hutchinson says the team relishes the chance to end that barren run.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'ve already put messages out there that we\'re here now, we\'re here to stay,\" he said. \"Qualifying for a World Cup was huge for us, but now it\'s just that we\'re missing trophies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We want to start winning trophies. This is our first chance at winning one for a very long time.\" AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 19:45:15', '2023-06-18 19:45:15'),
(7553, 7553, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Yoga, the powerful ancient practice, can serve as a bridge between mind and body making one feel connected with their inner being. As we become more aware of our thoughts and are more mindful in leading our lives, stress is eliminated, we become more productive and a sense of purpose is achieved. </span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><br></span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Heart health is on decline in young people and many of them are suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Apart from classic risk factors like obesity, smoking, drinking, family history, high cholesterol, a rising number of people are reporting high levels of stress which is making them susceptible to heart attack. Both chronic and acute stress can lead to cardiac arrest.&nbsp;</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"According to data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are to blame for 31% of all fatalities globally. CVDs are thought to be the leading cause of mortality worldwide, claiming the lives of an estimated 17.9 million people each year. Coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease, and other illnesses are among the category of heart and blood vessel disorders known as CVDs,\" says Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, Yoga and Spiritual Leader, Founder Akshar Yoga Institutions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the occasion of International Day of Yoga (June 21), Yoga expert Akshar shares tips to beat stress, improve mindfulness and boost heart health.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>How to manage stress</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stress is one of the main causes of heart disease, among a number of other variables like diet and lifestyle. The finest tools for reducing unwanted stress and anxiety from your life are Yoga and spirituality. Yoga is a comprehensive discipline that fosters mindfulness.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Yoga leads to mindful living</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This aspect of mindfulness can support you in making life-changing decisions. Because it is primarily beneficial to your physical and mental health, mindfulness has shown to have a significant impact in one\'s well-being in several studies conducted throughout the world.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Yoga asanas and techniques</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yoga nurtures you from the inside out by fusing movement with breathing. A minimum of three times a week of consistent practise benefits one\'s physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. Use these basic asanas as part of your everyday workout practise. Hold each position for up to 30 seconds, then do the set three times.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Keep moving and stay healthy</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Daily physical activity in the form of exercises like walking, jogging, yoga, etc. has been shown to lessen anxiety, sadness, and other unpleasant feelings. Positive feelings are encouraged, such as improved wellbeing, life satisfaction, self-efficacy, self-compassion, and a sense of personal progress. Maintaining good physical health adds value to all aspects of your life by fostering creativity and improving your sense of fulfilment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Using meditation to promote calmness</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The capacity to control thoughts and behaviours is increased through the use of easy-to-learn and powerful meditation techniques including Ropan Dhyan, Sthithi Dhyan, Super Power Meditation, Aarambh Dhyan, and Swaas Dhyan. It improves coping mechanisms, motivation, planning, and problem-solving when you incorporate the practise of meditation, even for just 5 to 10 minutes a day. You can have better mental and physical health by avoiding stress.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Build your health through asanas</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>1. Sukhasana (Happy Pose)</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the Dandasana pose, sit up straight with your legs extended. The left leg should be folded and tucked within the right thigh. The right leg should then be folded and tucked behind the left thigh. Your palms should be on your knees. Sit upright, back straight.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>2. Dandasana (Staff Pose)</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stretch your legs out in front of you while sitting down. Keep your back straight while joining your legs and pulling your heels together. Your thighs, calves, and pelvic muscles should all be tightened. To support your spine, place your palms on the ground next to your hips.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>4. Santolanasana (Plank Pose)</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Your palms should be tucked beneath your shoulders when you lay on your stomach. Knees, pelvis, and upper body should all be raised. Make sure your spine, pelvis, and knees are all in alignment. Your arms must be straight and your wrists must be directly below your shoulders.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Keep your heart happy</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The main causes of CVDs include smoking, eating poorly, drinking too much alcohol, and not exercising enough. Heart-related disorders can also be brought on by physiological variables such high blood pressure (hypertension), high blood sugar or glucose, and high blood cholesterol. Living a disciplined life, maintaining a clean environment, adopting healthy routines, and paying to your diet and sleep can make all the difference,\" concludes Akshar. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-18 19:59:30', '2023-06-18 19:59:30'),
(7554, 7554, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh Bank (BB) on Sunday announced a tight monetary policy statement (MPS) for July-December of FY24, lifting the interest rate cap and giving priority to taming inflation and stabilising the exchange rate.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder announced the new monetary policy in a press conference at Jahangir Alam Conference Hall, at 3pm. Chief Economist Dr Md Habibur Rahman gave a presentation on the new MPS highlighting the different measures relevant to the macroeconomy.</div><div><br></div><div>The governor said, “The BB adopted a contractionary monetary policy to bring down the rate of inflation to a desired level, while remaining supportive to investment and employing generating.”</div><div><br></div><div>The central bank has finally removed the lending interest rate cap along with increasing the policy rate (repo rate) by 0.5 percent from July this year from the present 6 percent, in order to control money flow and reduce consumptions, said the BB governor.</div><div><br></div><div>Though it is a contractionary monetary policy, the central bank will ensure money flow for agriculture and rural credit to ensure food production and employment, Rouf said.</div><div><br></div><div>These measures are usually adopted to control inflation to bring macroeconomic stability and cut demand.The interest rate cap of 6 percent on deposits and 9 percent on lending(deposit-lending) ended, replacing it with a market-driven smart reference rate, which will be regulated by the average treasury bills rate.</div><div><br></div><div>As per the smart rate formula, adopted in the monetary policy, the reference rate will be calculated as the six-month moving average rate of treasury bills with a 3 percent margin for banks and a 5 percent margin for non-bank financial institutions.</div><div><br></div><div>Currently, the rate of the 6-month treasury bills stands at 7.10 percent, so the maximum lending rate for bank loans will be 10 percent plus, and for NBFIs 12 percent plus.</div><div><br></div><div>Governor Abdur Rouf said the monetary policy focused on interest rates in order to control the growing inflation, which was created by external effects.</div><div><br></div><div>In reply to a query, he said a stable exchange rate and standard foreign exchange reserves are the challenges of this monetary policy.</div><div><br></div><div>The MPS has projected private sector credit growth of 11 percent in FY24 from 14 percent in FY23, and public sector credit growth to 30 percent from 37.7 percent.</div><div><br></div><div>Deputy Governors, executive directors, and different department heads were also present at the press conference. ‍Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-19 02:42:40', '2023-06-19 02:42:40'),
(7555, 7555, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held \"candid\" talks with his Chinese counterpart at the start of two days of meetings with officials in China, the US state department says.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Blinken emphasised the need for diplomacy and keeping \"open channels of communication\", a statement added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His trip is the first by a top US diplomat to China in almost five years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A planned Blinken visit in February was called off after a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew in US airspace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US officials say the main goal of the Beijing talks is to stabilise a relationship that has become extremely tense.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China\'s Foreign Minister Qin Gang told Mr Blinken that Beijing was committed to building a stable, predictable and constructive relationship with the US, state media said. US officials said he had agreed to a visit to Washington at the talks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Qin said Taiwan was the \"most prominent risk\" for China-US relations and described the Taiwan issue as one of \"China\'s core interests\", state media said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China sees self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province that will eventually be under Beijing\'s control, but Taiwan sees itself as distinct from the Chinese mainland with its own constitution and leaders. US President Joe Biden said last year that the US would defend Taiwan in the event of an attack from China, a move condemned by Beijing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Qin greeted Mr Blinken on Sunday morning at the Diaoyutai State Guest House, a lavish estate that typically hosts visiting dignitaries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two shook hands as they stood before their respective flags, then sat down with their delegations at long tables to begin their meetings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The greeting was business-like, underscoring the chilly relations that have developed between the two superpowers in recent years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US had been lowering expectations for the trip and both sides have made clear they do not expect any major breakthrough.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The war in Ukraine, trade disputes over advanced computer technologies, the fentanyl drug epidemic in the US and Chinese human rights conduct are all topics the Americans were expecting to be discussed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chinese officials have reacted coolly to Mr Blinken\'s visit, questioning whether the US is sincere in its efforts to mend relations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is not clear whether he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Blinken is the highest-ranking US government official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If we want to make sure, as we do, that the competition that we have with China doesn\'t veer into conflict, the place you start is with communicating,\" Mr Blinken told reporters on Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later he said he hoped to meet President Xi in the next few months.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A meeting between President Biden and Xi Jinping in Bali in November briefly eased fears of a new Cold War, but since the balloon incident high-level communication between the two leaders has been rare. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-19 12:49:46', '2023-06-19 12:49:46'),
(7556, 7556, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Pupils in Uganda were singing gospel songs before a deadly attack by Islamist militants on Friday, a woman who lives opposite the school says.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Then I heard screaming,\" Mary Masika told the BBC. The vicious attack in Mpondwe left about 40 people dead.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Islamic State-linked militants have been blamed for the attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) was created in the 1990s and took up arms against President Yoweri Museveni, alleging persecution of Muslims.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They are largely based in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Mpondwe Lhubiriha Secondary School attacked on Friday is close to the border.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ms Masika says she and other residents have been left terrified by the attack which lasted about 90 minutes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The students usually sing before bedtime - and at first she and her daughter thought the noise that interrupted their songs at around 22:00 (20:00 GMT) suggested that they were having a bit of fun.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But it soon became clear that something horrific was under way at the school, which had around 60 boarders living in a small compound.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">ADF rebels had entered dormitories, setting fire to them and using machetes to kill and maim students.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One family in Mpondwe held the funerals on Sunday for a father and son killed in the attack - 47-year-old security guard Elphanas Mbusa and 17-year-old Masereka Elton.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Their other son, 15-year-old Brian Muhindo who was also attending the school, is missing. They do not know if he is amongst the six boys kidnapped or one of those whose bodies cannot be identified because they have been so badly burned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hurubana Kimadi Onesmus told the BBC he found it difficult to understand how the attackers were able to infiltrate the school where his son, the security guard, worked and where his grandsons were studying.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There is a very heavy military presence in the area,\" the 69-year-old said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Now there is a lot of security at the school - and the BBC team was given only a few minutes to take some photos of the burnt buildings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was a devastating and upsetting scene.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lots of dried blood is still on the ground outside the girls\' dormitory - they had been attacked by machetes and others shot dead as they ran away.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The boys\' dormitory had been locked - they had either refused to open it to the rebels or they were locked inside by them. The militants poured fuel on the building and set it alight.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Inside the smell of death is unmistakeable - beds have been reduced to wire mesh with pieces of flesh still stuck to them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They were talking in Swahili - the lingua franca in the region - and afterwards began shouting \"Allahu Akbar\", meaning \"God is greatest\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said after these chants one of them added: \"We have succeeded in destabilising Museveni\'s country.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In response, President Museveni vowed to send more troops to Rwenzori Mountains, which are along the border between Uganda and the DR Congo, saying: \"Their action... the desperate, cowardly, terrorist action... will not save them.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The area around Mpondwe seems to be a mix of Christians and Muslims. Some of those attending the funerals on Sunday were dressed in traditional Muslim attire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other funerals for the pupils killed in the attack were held in villages across the region, with most people dumbfounded and pained by the brutality of the assault. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-19 12:56:21', '2023-06-19 12:56:21'),
(7557, 7557, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">World leaders will gather in Paris this week with ambitions to reimagine global financing for a new era shaped by climate change, as a cascade of crises swamps debt-burdened countries.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">French President Emmanuel Macron has said the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact is aimed at building a \"new consensus\" to meet the interlinked global targets of tackling poverty, curbing planet-heating emissions and protecting nature.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ideas on the table range from taxation on shipping, fossil fuels or financial transactions, to innovations in lending and a structural rethink of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">France says the two-day summit, which begins on Thursday and will bring together some 50 heads of state and government, was more of a platform for ideas sharing ahead of a cluster of major economic and climate meetings in the coming months.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In particular, the French Presidency said on Friday it wanted to give \"political impetus\" to the idea of an international tax on carbon emissions from shipping, with hopes of a breakthrough at a meeting of the International Maritime Organization later in June.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With trust in short supply over broken climate financing promises from richer countries, developing nations are looking for tangible progress.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The V20 group of countries on the climate frontlines, which now includes 58 member nations, has said restructuring the global financial system to align with climate targets must be completed by 2030.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s great we are talking about the international financial architecture, but we have to see timelines and we have not seen those timelines,\" Sarah Jane Ahmed, V20 global lead and finance adviser, told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If we\'re starting to do this stuff in the 2030s, it\'s going to be so much more expensive and the trade-offs are going to be far steeper.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Leaders arriving in Paris to champion that message include Kenyan President William Ruto and Ghana\'s President Nana Akufo-Addo, as well as Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who has become a powerful advocate for reform and will speak at the summit opening on Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other attendees include Chinese Premier Li Qiang, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ajay Banga is also expected in Paris, in his first international meeting since taking the helm of the World Bank, promising to embrace change.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With fewer leaders from wealthier countries attending, Friederike Roder of Global Citizen said the conference could fall short of hopes for a show of unity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We need everyone coming together,\" she told AFP, stressing that major economies are needed to agree reforms.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Failed\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Economies have been battered by successive shocks in recent years, including Covid-19, Russia\'s invasion of Ukraine, spiking inflation and the increasingly expensive impacts of weather disasters intensified by global warming.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has said the pandemic and its aftermath amounted to a \"stress test\" for a financial system that was set up nearly eight decades ago.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It largely failed,\" he said earlier this month, adding that 52 developing countries are in, or near, debt distress.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The World Bank plans to increase its lending capacity by $50 billion over 10 years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last week it also called for drastic reform to rechannel trillions of dollars in harmful and unnecessary subsidies for fossil fuels, agriculture and fishing into action on climate and nature.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Currently the world is far off track in its aims to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures, risking enormous costs for nature, human societies and the global economy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last year, a UN experts committee said developing countries other than China will need to spend more than $2 trillion a year by 2030 on development and to respond to the climate and biodiversity crises.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Ambition \'gap\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Roder said one key signal from the Paris summit would be for richer nations to show they can fulfil existing promises, like the still-unmet pledge of $100 billion annually by 2020 to help developing nations cut emissions and boost climate resilience.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Increasing the money available -- potentially using hundreds of billions of the IMF\'s liquidity-boosting \"special drawing rights\" -- is among the calls from emerging economies, as well as a new lending strategy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One idea championed by Barbados is a disaster clause so loan repayments can be paused for two years in the wake of a climate disaster or pandemic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another key point of debate is the scale of existing debts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That will also focus attention on China, which has become a significant lender to African countries, but has been reluctant to participate in the common framework for debt restructuring.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Paris summit can bring a lot of issues \"out of their niche\", said Louis-Nicolas Jandeaux of Oxfam, noting, however, \"a gap between the initial stated ambition of the summit and the reality\". AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-19 14:58:23', '2023-06-19 14:58:23'),
(7558, 7558, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Australia captain Pat Cummins starred with both bat and ball as the Ashes-holders had the better of a rain-marred third day in the first Test against England in Birmingham on Sunday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The lower-order batsman made a useful 38 in a total of 386 that left Australia just seven runs behind on first innings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And the fast bowler then dismissed Ben Duckett before England also lost their other opener, Zak Crawley, in a dramatic 20-minutes\' play between the showers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">England were 28-2 in their second innings, a lead of just 35 runs, at stumps after a huge downpour at 1450 GMT had sent the players from the field.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They had made steady progress when an initial rain delay stopped play for an hour-and-a-quarter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But after the match resumed in overcast skies, with the Edgbaston floodlights piercing the gloom, conditions were now hugely in favour of World Test champions Australia\'s pace attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And they made the most of a brief 22-ball session by taking two wickets for no runs as England slumped from 27-0 to 27-2.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cummins led the way, with Duckett edging the 30-year-old low to all-rounder Cameron Green, who dived forward to hold his latest excellent catch in the gully.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Three balls later, Scott Boland had Crawley caught behind off a superb full-length delivery that angled in and straightened to take the edge.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Evenly poised\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ollie Pope and star batsman Joe Root, whose unbeaten 118 was the cornerstone of England\'s first-innings 393-8 declared, were both yet to get off the mark when the umpires finally abandoned play for the day at 1713 GMT.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s nice to have two wickets overnight,\" said Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey. \"It\'s pretty evenly poised...It was an exciting 20 minutes, the lights canme on and the ball was moving around a bit more.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">England seamer Ollie Robinson, who took 3-55, insisted the hosts had no complaints about a tough batting stint.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"That\'s the game,\" he said. \"If the umpires say it\'s fit to play, it\'s fit to play. You won\'t hear any excuses from us.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Khawaja\'s epic innings -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, England finally saw the back of Usman Khawaja but only after his painstaking 141 had effectively turned the first of a five-match series into a one-innings showdown.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Australia, bidding for a first Ashes series win in England in 22 years, resumed on 311-5.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khawaja was then 126 not out, having ended his decade-long wait for an Ashes hundred in England, with Alex Carey on 52 after Australia had recovered from 67-3.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both batsmen should have already been out, with Khawaja bowled off a Stuart Broad no-ball on 112 and Carey dropped by opposing wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow on 26.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bairstow had made a run-a-ball 78 in England\'s first innings, but his bad time behind the stumps continued with just the fourth ball of Sunday\'s play as he gave Carey another reprieve by dropping a one-handed chance off James Anderson.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Anderson, the most successful fast bowler in Test history, took matters into his own hands as the 40-year-old bowled Carey between bat and pad for his first wicket of the series.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">New batsman Cummins launched off-spinner Moeen Ali for two sixes and later hoisted Broad high over the rope as Australia moved closer to drawing level.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Broad had labelled the pitch \"soulless\' on Saturday, but the innovative tactics that have characterised the leadership of England captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum helped wrap up the Australia innings quickly.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khawaja was finally bowled by Ollie Robinson trying to pierce an unusual \"umbrella field\" as an impressive 321-ball innings, including 14 fours and three sixes, finally came to an end.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The final four Australian wickets fell for just 14 runs in 23 balls, Robinson ending the innings when he had Cummins caught in the deep by Stokes. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-19 15:00:42', '2023-06-19 15:00:42'),
(7559, 7559, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A new Kuwaiti government led by Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was formed on Sunday, the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was appointed Prime Minister on July 24, 2022, this new government is the fifth one formed by him which has 15 ministers, including five new ones.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The new government witnessed the return of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, while Sheikh Talal Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah remains the first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah still serves as Minister of Foreign Affairs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On June 7, the previous Kuwaiti government submitted its resignation to the country\'s emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, according to KUNA.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A royal decree was issued on June 13 to reappoint Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as Kuwait\'s prime minister. XINHUA</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-19 15:04:27', '2023-06-19 15:04:27');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(7560, 7560, '<div><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United Nations accused Russia on Sunday of continuing to block humanitarian aid deliveries to Moscow-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine that have been impacted by the recent Kakhovka dam rupture.</b><br></div><div><br></div><div>The breach of the dam on June 6 inundated huge swathes of the Kherson region under Russian and Ukrainian control, forcing thousands to flee and sparking fears of an environmental disaster.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The Government of the Russian Federation has so far declined our request to access the areas under its temporary military control,\" the UN humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown, said in a statement Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The UN will continue to do all it can to reach all people -- including those suffering as a result of the recent dam destruction -- who urgently need life-saving assistance, no matter where they are,\" Brown said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We urge the Russian authorities to act in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law,\" she added.</div><div><br></div><div>On Saturday, officials in the Russian-held areas announced that the death toll from the dam breach had risen to 29, while Kyiv said the number killed in its territory rose to 16, with 31 still missing.</div><div><br></div><div>Kyiv has accused Moscow of blowing up the dam on the Dnipro River, while Russia has blamed Ukraine. AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-19 15:15:02', '2023-06-19 15:15:02'),
(7561, 7561, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">British MPs vote Monday on a damning report that found ex-prime minister Boris Johnson deliberately lied to parliament about lockdown-breaking parties, in what the government hopes will be the final chapter in the damaging \"Partygate\" scandal.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The parliamentary vote is being held on Johnson\'s 59th birthday as the wounded former leader ponders his next move, with allies predicting a future return to the electoral fray.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It also comes at a time of mounting political problems for Rishi Sunak\'s Conservative government as stubbornly high inflation and constantly rising interest rates inflict economic pain on voters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The populist architect of Brexit, Johnson led the Conservative party to a landslide victory at the last general election in December 2019.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But he was forced to quit as prime minister last July due to Partygate and a string of other scandals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Johnson has rejected the report by parliament\'s Privileges Committee, claiming he has been the victim of a stitch-up by political opponents and a \"kangaroo court\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The committee in a scathing 106-page report on Thursday found him guilty of \"repeated contempts (of parliament) and... seeking to undermine the parliamentary process\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Indefensible\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The contempt was all the more serious because it was committed by the prime minister, the most senior member of the government,\" the report said, adding there was \"no precedent for a prime minister having been found to have deliberately misled the house\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Even as the vote looked set to draw a line under the Partygate scandal, another video emerged Sunday of Tory party officials partying in December 2020 during lockdown.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove apologised for the Covid rule breach at a time when the public was banned from socialising or meeting loved ones.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He told the BBC the footage was \"terrible\" and \"indefensible\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Johnson could have faced a 90-day suspension and the humiliation of having to run for re-election in his constituency had he not quit as a lawmaker on June 9 after receiving an advance copy of the report.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A few of his close allies are expected to vote against the report, but they are said to be unconcerned about the recommended sanction of removing his parliamentary pass.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Johnson has reportedly privately urged supporters not to vote against the report, arguing the sanctions have no practical effect.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Conservative MP and Johnson loyalist Jacob Rees-Mogg predicted that the ex-premier might eventually stage a comeback.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Perhaps, after the next election, Boris Johnson will return to the fray with a new electoral mandate,\" he wrote Saturday in the right-leaning Daily Telegraph.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"His undimmed ebullience and joie de vivre, with a renewed sympathy from the electorate, many of whom think the privilege committee over-egged its pudding, leave him as a powerful force in politics,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Boris come-back? -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Liz Truss, who briefly succeeded Johnson as prime minister last September, said on Thursday she would \"never, ever, ever write Boris off\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I am sure we will hear more from him,\" she said, adding that she viewed the proposed blocking of his parliamentary pass as \"very harsh\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under-fire Sunak is now facing four potential by-elections -- three linked to the Johnson fall-out.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">These will give voters an opportunity to voice discontent over the government\'s failure to tame inflation and the cost of living crisis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While MPs have been caught up in the Johnson affair, commentators have repeatedly warned of a \"mortgage time bomb\" due to interest rates hikes that show no sign of ending.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former Conservative minister Justine Greening told the BBC on Sunday it would be easier to persuade the public that the government had moved on if MPs backed the report on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I think they should be decisive about supporting the privileges committee\'s work,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Essentially, it\'s important to recognise that MPs, and especially prime ministers, cannot mislead parliament and be allowed to get away with that,\" she added. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-19 15:18:09', '2023-06-19 15:18:09'),
(7562, 7562, '<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 81 at 9:15 am, Dhaka ranked 22nd in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Africa\'s Johannesburg, China’s Beijing, and Qatar’s Doha occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 181, 159 and 143, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 150 and 200 is considered \'unhealthy\', AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be \'very unhealthy\', while a reading of 301+ is considered \'hazardous\', posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants — Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. <span style=\"white-space:pre\">	</span>UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-19 16:36:13', '2023-06-19 16:36:13'),
(7563, 7563, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The overall number of Covid-19 cases around the world has now surpassed 690 million.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the latest global data, the total Covid-19 case count is 690,481,202, while the death toll reached 6,892,593 this morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US has reported 107,243,887 Covid-19 cases so far, while 1,167,334 people have died from the virus in the country — both highest counts globally.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India recorded 108 new coronavirus cases, raising the tally to 4.49 crore, while the active cases decreased to 1,983, according to the Union health ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The death toll due to the viral disease stood at 5,31,893, the data showed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">France and Germany have registered 40,124,619 and 38,428,685 Covid-19 cases so far, occupying the third and fourth positions in the world number-wise, and 167,548 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 two more Covid-19-linked deaths and 230 fresh 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 29,457 and caseload to 2,041,470, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The daily case test positivity rate increased to 7.75 per cent from Saturday’s 5.41 as 2,967 samples were tested. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-19 16:39:25', '2023-06-19 16:39:25'),
(7564, 7564, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Kamau, the African lion who was a star attraction at California\'s Sacramento Zoo, has died at age 16, officials said.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The zoo said Kamau was euthanized Saturday, a day after the big cat was pulled off an exhibit because of declining health due to his advanced age.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The lion was considered elderly with worsening gastrointestinal problems, \"and the difficult decision to proceed with humane euthanasia was made when medical treatment options failed to provide sufficient relief from his condition,\" the zoo said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The statement called Kamau one of the zoo\'s “most charismatic and iconic animals.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He came to Sacramento from the San Diego Zoo in 2008 and in the years since attracted crowds who hoped to hear his impressive roar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2014, the lion sired a litter of cubs. A few years later, his habitat doubled in size, and a glass viewing wall allowed guests to get “nose-to-nose” with both Kamau and his mate, Cleo, the zoo said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cleo, now 18, is in good health. African lions typically live 10 to 15 years, the zoo said, but they can live up to 25 years in captivity. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-19 17:33:22', '2023-06-19 17:33:22'),
(7565, 7565, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A total of 718,030 pilgrims of different nationalities reached Madinah so far arriving through air and land ports to perform Hajj this year.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"> The statistics of Hajj and Visit Committee, which monitors the arrival and departure of pilgrims in Madinah, indicated that the total arrivals for Saturday amounted to 29,090 pilgrims, of whom 25,962 arrived at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah through 105 flights. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Immigration Center received 65 flights carrying 2,099 pilgrims and the Land pilgrims center received 22 flights carrying 924 pilgrims.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"> Also, the statistics showed that the number of pilgrims departing on Saturday on their way to the holy sites in Makkah amounted to 556,953 pilgrims, while the number of pilgrims staying in Madinah until yesterday reached 161,021 pilgrims, and the occupancy rate of housing in Madinah was 54 percent, while 32,631 pilgrims benefited from the medical services provided to them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has said there will be no limits on the numbers of pilgrims from around the world for the upcoming Hajj season, reversing earlier restrictions prompted by the global pandemic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the past two years, Saudi Arabia curtailed the numbers of Muslims allowed to perform Hajj to prevent spread of COVID-19.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Around 2.5 million Muslims used to attend Hajj annually in the pre-pandemic times.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saudi Arabia on Sunday announced that on June 19, is the first day of Dhu Al-Hijjah and Eid-ul Azha will fall on June 28.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Arafat Day falls on June 27, and June 28 will be the first day of Eid-ul-azha,\"  according to a Saudi Supreme Court statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pilgrims will flock at the beginning of Monday, June 26, to Mina holy site to spend the day of Tarwiyah (water provision) in pursuit of the Prophetic Sunnah, in preparation to stand in the Arafat holy site, on Tuesday, June 27, which marks the climax of the annual pilgrimage of Hajj. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hajj, one of Islam\'s five pillars, is the pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia that every Muslim must perform at least once in their lifetime if they are able. SPA</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"7\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-19 17:35:56', '2023-06-20 03:15:34'),
(7566, 7566, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Bridges Division on Monday paid Tk 316.02 crore as third and fourth installments of the loan taken for construction of&nbsp; Padma Bridge</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bridges Division Secretary Manjur Hossain handed over a cheque of Tk 316,02,69,093 to the Senior Secretary of Finance Division around 10 am&nbsp; in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said a press release of Road Transport and Bridges Ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Road Transport and Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader, cabinet members, secretary, principal secretary to the prime minister were also present at that time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With this, the Bridges Division paid a total of Tk 632,93,36,6142 to the government in installments.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on April 5, the Bridges Division began the repayment of the loan with Tk 316,90,97,049 from the revenue it earned as toll collection from the bridge.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The loan was taken from Bangladesh Bank at a low interest rate under an agreement signed between the Finance Division and the Bangladesh Bridge Authority.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In line with a revised agreement with the finance division on 26 July 2022, the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) will repay the loan in 35 years through 140 installments (four installments each year). The repayment will continue up to the fiscal year 2056-57.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The authority collected tolls worth Tk 779,75,87,000 from the bridge&nbsp; till June 18,2023. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-19 18:13:47', '2023-06-19 18:13:47'),
(7567, 7567, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Israeli forces on Monday killed two Palestinians and wounded more than two dozen others during a raid in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Two martyrs and 28 injured as a result of the ongoing (Israeli) aggression on Jenin,\" a statement from the Palestinian health ministry said, without elaborating on the identity of those killed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jenin\'s deputy governor, Kamal Abu al-Rub, told AFP the Israeli forces had launched the raid at around 04:00 am (0100 GMT).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The army stormed the (Jenin refugee) camp and the city after the dawn prayer in large numbers, and there was intense gunfire,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Israeli army did not immediately provide any information on the raid in the northern West Bank city when contacted by AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AFP photographer in Jenin confirmed that fighting was ongoing as of 08:40 am (0540 GMT).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War and its forces regularly launch incursions into Palestinian cities, which are nominally under the control of President Mahmud Abbas\'s Palestinian Authority.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since the start of the year, at least 161 Palestinians, 21 Israelis, a Ukrainian and an Italian have been killed in violence linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The figures include combatants as well as civilians and, on the Israeli side, three members of the Arab minority. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-19 18:37:47', '2023-06-19 18:37:47'),
(7568, 7568, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at 4:30 p.m. Monday, the State Department said, as America\'s top diplomat wrapped up a two-day visit to Beijing aimed at easing soaring tensions.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A Blinken-Xi meeting had been expected, but neither side had confirmed it would happen until just an hour before the talks, which are seen as key to the success of the trip. A snub by the Chinese leader would have been a major setback to the effort restore and maintain communications at senior levels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Blinken is the highest-level U.S. official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office, and the first secretary of state to make the trip in five years. His visit is expected to usher in a new round of visits by senior U.S. and Chinese officials, possibly including a meeting between Xi and Biden in the coming months.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The encounter with Xi comes on the second and second and final day of Blinken\'s critical meetings with senior Chinese officials. The two sides have thus far expressed willingness to talk but have showed little inclination to bend on hardened positions that have sent tensions soaring.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Blinken met earlier Monday with China\'s top diplomat Wang Yi for about three hours, according to a U.S. official.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Neither Blinken nor Wang made any comment to reporters as they greeted each other and sat for their discussion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China\'s Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote in a statement that Blinken\'s visit \"coincides with a critical juncture in China-U.S. relations, and it is necessary to make a choice between dialogue or confrontation, cooperation or conflict,\" and blamed the \"U.S. side\'s erroneous perception of China, leading to incorrect policies towards China\" for the current \"low point\" in relations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It said the U.S. had a responsibility to halt \"the spiraling decline of China-U.S. relations to push it back to a healthy and stable track\" and that Wang had \"demanded that the U.S. stop hyping up the \'China threat theory\', lift illegal unilateral sanctions against China, abandon suppression of China\'s technological development, and refrain from arbitrary interference in China\'s internal affairs.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite Blinken\'s presence in China, he and other U.S. officials had played down the prospects for any significant breakthroughs on the most vexing issues facing the planet\'s two largest economies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Instead, these officials have emphasized the importance of the two countries establishing and maintaining better lines of communication.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The State Department said Blinken \"underscored the importance of responsibly managing the competition between the United States and the PRC through open channels of communication to ensure competition does not veer into conflict.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the first round of talks on Sunday, Blinken met for nearly six hours with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang after which both countries said they had agreed to continue high-level discussions. However, there was no sign that any of the most fractious issues between them were closer to resolution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two sides both said Qin had accepted an invitation from Blinken to visit Washington but Beijing made clear that \"the China-U.S. relationship is at the lowest point since its establishment.\" That sentiment is widely shared by U.S. officials.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Blinken is the highest-level American official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office and his two-day trip comes after his initial plans to travel to China were postponed in February after the shootdown of a Chinese surveillance balloon over the U.S.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden and Xi had made commitments to improve communications \"precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications,\" Blinken said before leaving for Beijing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His talks could pave the way for a meeting in the coming months between Biden and Xi. Biden said Saturday that he hoped to be able to meet with Xi in the coming months to take up the plethora of differences that divide them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That long list incudes disagreements ranging from trade to Taiwan, human rights conditions in China and Hong Kong to Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea and Russia\'s war in Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his meetings on Sunday, Blinken also pressed the Chinese to release detained American citizens and to take steps to curb the production and export of fentanyl precursors that are fueling the opioid crisis in the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Xi offered a hint of a possible willingness to reduce tensions Friday, saying in a meeting with Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates that the United States and China can cooperate to \"benefit our two countries.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since the cancellation of Blinken\'s trip in February, there have been some high-level engagements. CIA chief William Burns traveled to China in May, while China\'s commerce minister traveled to the U.S. And Biden\'s national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with senior Chinese foreign policy adviser Wang Yi in Vienna in May.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But those have been punctuated by bursts of angry rhetoric from both sides over the Taiwan Strait, their broader intentions in the Indo-Pacific, China\'s refusal to condemn Russia for its war against Ukraine, and U.S. allegations from Washington that Beijing is attempting to boost its worldwide surveillance capabilities, including in Cuba.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And, earlier this month, China\'s defense minister rebuffed a request from U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for a meeting on the sidelines of a security symposium in Singapore, a sign of continuing discontent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, the national security advisers of the United States, Japan and the Philippines held their first joint talks last week and agreed to strengthen their defense cooperation, in part to counter China\'s growing influence and ambitions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This coincides with the Biden administration inking an agreement with Australia and Britain to provide the first with nuclear-powered submarines, with China moving rapidly to expand its diplomatic presence, especially in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific island nations, where it has opened or has plans to open at least five new embassies over the next year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The agreement is part of an 18-month-old nuclear partnership given the acronym AUKUS — for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-19 19:47:16', '2023-06-19 19:47:16'),
(7569, 7569, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, Laxman Utekar\'s small-town romantic comedy starring Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan, continues its impressive run at the box office, despite fresh, formidable competition in the form of Adipurush.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The film, bankrolled by Dinesh Vijan\'s Maddock Films, raked in ₹1.89 crore and ₹2.34 crore on its third Saturday and Sunday, respectively. The third weekend\'s collection stands at ₹5.31 crore, which is a commendable feat despite the grand opening figures of Adipurush.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Latest figures</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Film trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted the latest figures and added that Zara Hatke Zara Bachke is likely to hit the ₹70 crore mark during weekdays and it\'s possible that it also crosses the ₹75 crore mark eventually.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Adipurush, Om Raut\'s interpretation of the epic Ramayana, starring Prabhas, Kriti Sanon and Saif Ali Khan in key roles, opened to ₹37.25 crore for its Hindi version on Friday, June 16. While the film had a solid advance booking for the opening weekend, the harsh reviews and underwhelming word-of-mouth may not see it retain its hold on the box office. On the other hand, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke has been thriving on good word of mouth even in its third week since release on June 2.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>About Zara Hatke Zara Bachke</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Co-produced by Maddock Films and Jio Studios, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke also stars Inaamulhaq, Sushmita Mukherjee, Neeraj Sood, Rakesh Bedi and Sharib Hashmi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Box office trajectory</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zara Hatke Zara Bachke made ₹ 37.35 in its opening week and the second week has fared fairly well too, with a total of ₹25.65 crore. Adipurush is the only competition to Zara Hatke Zara Bachke at the box office for the next 10 days. Its next big challenge is Satyaprem Ki Katha, yet another romantic comedy, starring Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani, that\'s slated to release during the extended Eid weekend on June 29.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Vicky on Zara Hatke Zara Bachke</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">As quoted by news agency PTI, Vicky had said, “The film was narrated to us right after the second wave of Covid-19 when the situation was a lot more tense. It was like, \'What will happen to Bollywood? What kind of films are coming, not coming?\' Then a simple story like this came to me. I just knew this will connect with people.” HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-19 19:51:53', '2023-06-19 19:51:53'),
(7570, 7570, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A short-term flood may hit the low-lying areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj districts as major rivers in the region may swell further due to heavy rainfall&nbsp; in the North-Eastern region and adjoining upstream, said Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre on Monday.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Brahmaputra-Jamuna and The Ganges-Padma rivers are maintaining a trend of rising water level at different places, which may continue in next 72 hours, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>Due to heavy rainfall in the North-Eastern region and adjoining upstream, all major rivers of this region are rising rapidly.</div><div><br></div><div>“According to the weather forecasting agency, there is a possibility of heavy to very-heavy rainfall in the North-Eastern region and adjoining upstream region of the country in the next 24 hours. Due to heavy rainfall forecast in the Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar basin and adjoining upstream region in the next 24 hours, these rivers may swell rapidly at times,” said the morning bulletin of FFWC.</div><div><br></div><div>As a result, the major rivers of this region including Surma, Kushiyara, Sarigowain, Jhalukhali, Bhugai-Kangsha, Someswari and Jadukata may rise rapidly.</div><div><br></div><div>The Teesta River at Dalia point may cross respective danger level in next 24 hours, it predicts.</div><div><br></div><div>Incessant rains trigger fear of flood in Sylhet</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile flood situation in bordering Assam state of India worsened on Sunday as incessant rains inundated new areas in the state, reports Indian media.</div><div><br></div><div>UNB Sunamganj correspondent reports:&nbsp; The Surma River was flowing 54 cm above its danger level at Chhatak point while it was flowing 75 cm below the red level at Shologhor point in Sunamganj district&nbsp; Monday noon.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the Sunamganj Water Development Board , the water level of all major river in the district are in rising trend due to heavy showers in Cherapunji of India.</div><div><br></div><div>The Shaktierkhola main road in Bishambharpur upazila was submerged due to flood.</div><div><br></div><div>Executive Engineer of Sunamganj Water Development Board&nbsp; Md Mamun Hawladar&nbsp; said the Surma River was flowing 75 cm below the danger mark in Sunamganj in the past 24 hours and&nbsp; the Indian authorities recorded 26mm of rainfall in Cherapunji in the past 24 hours.</div><div><br></div><div>Deputy Commissioner Didar Alam Mohammad Maksud Chwodhury said&nbsp; the shelter centers have keep prepared to tackle the flood. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-19 21:16:33', '2023-06-19 21:16:33'),
(7571, 7571, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday expressed displeasure over the misinformation in the six Congressmen’s letter regarding Bangladesh’s Hindu and Christian.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The ruling Awami League party has been criticising their recent letter for its content, saying that they mimicked nothing but the BNP.</div><div><br></div><div>The Foreign Minister said that the content regarding the religious minorities in the country does not represent facts.</div><div><br></div><div>“It’s not true,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday referring to the letter’s content that contains what he said was wrong information.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister said such letters need proper verification before sending.</div><div>Momen said exchange of such letters is the headache of those who are involved, but people including journalists should question the wrong information.</div><div><br></div><div>“For God’s sake, don’t destroy the country. This country belongs to all,” he said referring to political parties that are involved in engaging lobbyists to run smear campaigns against the country. But he did not name any.</div><div><br></div><div>Momen advised them to deploy lobbyists for the welfare of the country like how the energy supply can be increased to Bangladesh and how employment opportunities can be boosted.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the next national election, the Foreign Minister said the government remains very transparent to hold a free and fair election in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>He said all political parties need to demonstrate sincerity and commitment to ensure a fair election free from violence.</div><div><br></div><div>US President Joe Biden will host Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an official state-level visit to the US, which will include a state dinner on June 22.</div><div><br></div><div>Asked whether the Bangladesh issue will be there, Momen said they will discuss what they will feel good about.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister said he has nothing to talk about that meeting. “India is a mature democratic country. India has a very strong leadership.”</div><div><br></div><div>Asked about PM Sheikh Hasina’s likely visit to China, the Foreign Minister said it is a wrong statement that PM Hasina is going to China.</div><div>He said the Chinese side invited the PM in September, but Bangladesh conveyed that the PM will be occupied in New York at that time.</div><div><br></div><div>Asked about any rescheduling of the visit, Momen said, “I don’t know about rescheduling.”</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question, the Foreign Minister said he had a very good meeting with his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar in India recently, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have discussed many issues. I am so happy. We are working at the same level. I am very pleased. They have shown much respect to us,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 00:37:59', '2023-06-20 00:37:59'),
(7572, 7572, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>UK’s landmark Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) has come into effect that scheme simplifies trading rules and cuts tariffs on products entering the UK from 65 developing countries, including Bangladesh.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The DCTS will help grow trade, boost jobs, and drive sustained economic growth. This new scheme demonstrates the UK’s commitment to a modern and mutually beneficial partnership with Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh is due to graduate from Least Developed Country status in 2026.</div><div><br></div><div>Changes made to the DCTS mean Bangladesh will retain duty-free access for 98% of exports, including readymade garments, said the British High Commission in Dhaka on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>It is more generous than the European Union’s scheme the UK was previously a member of, said the High Commission.</div><div><br></div><div>The British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, said the DCTS will support Bangladesh’s manufacturing capacity, increase long term economic growth and resilience, and allow it to access global supply chains.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It benefits the UK through greater consumer choice and competitive prices. This announcement underscores our commitment to a modern and mutually beneficial partnership with Bangladesh, based on deeper, economic and trade ties and global standards”.</div><div><br></div><div>The scheme will contribute to developing countries’ integration into the global economy, creating stronger trade and investment partners for the future, and strengthening supply chains.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The DCTS makes it easier to produce goods using components from other countries without losing duty free status.</div><div><br></div><div>Under the new scheme, Bangladesh will be able to participate in global value chains involving raw materials from 95 countries to export their final products to the UK duty-free, provided they meet certain requirements.</div><div><br></div><div>The DCTS promotes free and fair trade, human rights, and good governance.</div><div><br></div><div>Retention of DCTS preferences is based on respect for human and labour rights and compliance with relevant international conventions, including those on civil and political rights, anti-corruption, climate change and the environment. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 01:13:34', '2023-06-20 01:13:34'),
(7573, 7573, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of Muslims, will be celebrated in the country on June 29.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The National Moon Sighting Committee announced the decision at a meeting held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital after the moon of the holy month Zilhaj was sighted in the sky of Bangladesh territory this evening.</div><div><br></div><div>Religious affairs ministry secretary MD A Hamid Zamadder presided over the meeting.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th day of Zilhaj. According to BSS reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 01:33:53', '2023-06-20 01:33:53'),
(7574, 7574, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday called for resolving any dispute peacefully and extended Bangladesh’s support to this end saying this principle should be followed universally.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Prime Minister made the call while having a telephonic conversation with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal this afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>“Bangladesh is respectful towards sovereignty and regional integrity according to the objectives and principles of the United Nations,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Pointing to the Russia-Ukraine war, Sheikh Hasina expressed sorrow over the death of common people and children due to the ongoing war.</div><div><br></div><div>“We also emerged from war, war does not bring any good for any side, we believe in the principle of peace,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>In this regard, the Prime Minister said that Bangladesh wants immediate stop of the Russia-Ukraine war so that food grains could easily be transported from Ukraine-widely known as ”Bread Basket”.</div><div><br></div><div>During the time, she hoped uninterrupted transportation will be maintained for imports of food grains from Ukraine.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina extended full support of Bangladesh to the “Black Sea Grain Initiative” under the UN and thanked all involved in such initiatives.</div><div><br></div><div>In this connection, she expressed her optimism that such noble steps would continue in the days ahead.</div><div><br></div><div>During the telephone conversation, the Ukrainian Prime Minister renewed his stance to work together with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for taking the existing bilateral relations between the two countries to a new height.</div><div><br></div><div>Denys Shmyhal requested Hasina to stand beside Ukrane in the international arena particularly at the UN and in other fora. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 03:00:45', '2023-06-20 03:00:45'),
(7575, 7575, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>State-owned Petrobangla, the oil gas and mineral corporation of Bangladesh, signed another agreement with OQT, Oman to import more liquified natural gas (LNG) from the Middle-east country.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>As per the new agreement, the OQT, the Omani state-owned company, will supply LNG 0.25-1.5 million metric ton per annum (MTPA) to Bangladesh over 10 years from 2026.</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister’s Energy Advisor Dr. Tawfiq-e- Elahi chowdhury, who was present at the singing ceremony at Sonargaon Hotel on Monday, said it will play a vital role in ensuring Bangladesh energy security.</div><div><br></div><div>“It’s a way forward to ensure energy supply to the country”, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>However, no prices or financial details of the deal was disclosed in the function. “It’s a confidential matter between the two sides”, said the Omani ambassador in Bangladesh Abdul Ghaffar Albulushi.</div><div><br></div><div>The function was also addressed by chief executive of OQT Said Al Maawali, and Petrobangla chairman Janendra Nath Sarker while Energy Secretary Dr Khaituzzanan Majumder presided over it.</div><div><br></div><div>Under the existing Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) of LNG signed with Petrobangla and Oman Trading International (now known as OQ Trading Limited-OQT) on 06 May 2018, Oman has been supplying 1.0 to 1.5 MTPA of LNG on a G2G basis for a period of 10 years.</div><div><br></div><div>Under new agreement, the OQ Trading Limited (OQT) will supply more LNG over 10 years on G-to-G basis.</div><div><br></div><div>It will supply 4 cargoes of LNG in 2026, 16 cargoes of LNG per year from 2027 to 2028 and 24 cargo LNG per year from 2029 to 2035.</div><div><br></div><div>Currently 3.5-4.0 MTPA of LNG is being imported under the two existing contracts.</div><div><br></div><div>“This will be in addition to the existing deal with Oman to increase the import by another 1 million MT under a 10-year agreement”, said the Petrobangla chairman.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh has been desperately looking for increasing its import of LNG under a long-term agreement to sustain the volatility due to the frequent price fluctuation in the global energy market.</div><div><br></div><div>As part of the move, recently Bangladesh signed a new deal with Qatar to get an additional 1.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for the next 15 years from 2026.</div><div><br></div><div>The Petrobangla signed the new agreement with Qatar’s state-owned Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Ltd., (Qatargas).</div><div><br></div><div>Under the new deal, Qatar will supply an additional about 1.5 MTPA of LNG per year from 2026 to 2040. Of this, Bangladesh will get 12 LNG cargoes in 2026 and 24 cargoes in 2027.</div><div><br></div><div>The country\'s total natural gas production is about 3000 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) against a demand of 4000 MMCFD leaving a shortfall of about 1000 MMCFD. Of the total production, 700 MMCFD is imported while 2300 MMCFD. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 03:19:17', '2023-06-20 03:19:17');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(7576, 7576, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">With the slogan ‘Smart Bangladesh, Smart Haat’, Dhaka North City Corporation has taken an initiative for sellers and buyers of sacrificial animals ahead of the holy Eid-Ul-Azha at eight haats (temporary or makeshift markets) to transact digitally.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>DNCC Mayor Md Atiqul Islam said this at a press conference on digital transactions for sacrificial animals at Banani Sheraton Hotel in the capital on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>As the country is advancing gradually, the transaction between sellers and buyers on sacrificial animals will be held digitally at the eight temporary haats designed by the DNCC, the mayor said.</div><div><br></div><div>Addressing the positive sides of cashless transactions, the mayor said they have already opened 10, 000 bank accounts for sacrificial animals’ growers for safer transactions. The buyers don’t need to take the money to the haats while the sellers will feel safer to go home without cash on them.</div><div><br></div><div>He said one more temporary haat will be allowed within one to two days along with the permanent haat in the city’s Gabtoli area.</div><div><br></div><div>Manual transactions will be held at the 9th temporary haat and Gabtoli, he said. No other haats except those will be allowed to set up in areas under the DNCC.</div><div><br></div><div>Atiqul also requested police administration to take rapid actions so that no one can set up haats on roads.</div><div><br></div><div>The mayor announced that the waste of sacrificial animals upon slaughter will be removed from the areas under the DNCC within eight hours, breaking its previous record of 12 hours, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He said 11, 000 workers of the DNCC will be engaged in removing waste of sacrificial animals from houses on the Eid day. He will also join the work.</div><div><br></div><div>Nine lakhs of biodegradable polythene (environment-friendly) will be distributed among people who will slaughter animals for keeping the waste to keep the environment protected from pollution, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 03:22:59', '2023-06-20 03:22:59'),
(7577, 7577, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A journalist who travelled aboard a tourist submersible that has now gone missing during a Titanic wreck dive says it would be impossible for those inside it now to escape without help.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The craft went missing in the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday, prompting a major search and rescue operation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">CBS correspondent David Pogue made the trip last year and wrote an account of his experience.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said it would be challenging for rescuers to find the vessel in time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking to the BBC on Monday, Pogue explained that passengers were sealed inside the main capsule by several bolts that were applied from the outside and had to be removed by an external crew.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He told The Context programme that the craft, which is believed to be OceanGate\'s Titan submersible, had seven different functions to allow it to resurface and that it was \"really concerning\" none of these had so far worked.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, Pogue said the vessel\'s resurfacing capabilities would be irrelevant if the sub became trapped or sprang a leak.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There\'s no backup, there\'s no escape pod,\" he said. \"It\'s get to the surface or die\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rescuers are racing against time to locate the missing sub, which normally carries around four days-worth of oxygen for a crew of five, according to the US Coast Guard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Government agencies, the US and Canadian navies and commercial deep-sea firms are helping the rescue operation, officials said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Titanic\'s wreck lies some 435 miles (700km) south of St John\'s, Newfoundland, though the rescue mission is being run from Boston, Massachusetts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among those aboard the submersible is the British billionaire businessman and explorer Hamish Harding, according to his family.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The missing craft is believed to be OceanGate\'s Titan submersible (pictured)</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Further complicating the recovery mission is the fact that GPS does not work underwater, nor does radio - meaning there is currently \"no way\" to communicate with the vessel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"When the support ship is directly over the sub, they can send short text messages back and forth. Clearly those are no longer getting a response,\" Pogue said, adding that Titan had got lost for about three hours during the expedition he was on last year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He described being initially hesitant about going aboard the sub at all because some of the components appeared \"off the shelf, sort of improvised\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"You steer this sub with an Xbox game controller, some of the ballast is abandoned construction pipes.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pogue said he had been reassured by Titan\'s inventor and OceanGate\'s CEO, Stockton Rush, that the carbon-fibre main capsule had been co-designed with Nasa and the University of Washington and was \"rock solid\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a statement on Monday, OceanGate said its \"entire focus [was] on the crewmembers in the submersible and their families\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The company added that it was \"deeply thankful\" for the \"extensive assistance\" it had been given from government agencies and companies involved in deep sea operations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Titanic, which was the largest ship of its time, hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in 1912. Of the 2,200 passengers and crew onboard, more than 1,500 died.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Its wreckage has been extensively explored since it was discovered in 1985. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 13:11:04', '2023-06-20 13:11:04'),
(7578, 7578, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka has once again topped the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality, with an AQI of 156 at 9:10 am today (June 20, 2023).</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka’s air was classified as \'unhealthy\'.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered \'unhealthy\' while 201-300 is \'very unhealthy\', and 301+ is considered \'hazardous\', posing severe health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan\'s Lahore, India\'s Delhi and Pakistan\'s Karachi occupied the second, third and fourth spots in the list, with AQI scores of 152, 152 and 121, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 14:59:59', '2023-06-20 14:59:59'),
(7579, 7579, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Mass shootings and violence killed and wounded people across the United States this weekend, including at least 60 shot in the Chicago area alone. Four people were found shot to death in a small Idaho town, a Pennsylvania state trooper was killed in an ambush, and bullets struck 11 teenagers, killing one, at a party in Missouri.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The shootings happened in cities and rural areas alike, following a surge in homicides and other violence over the past several years that accelerated during the coronavirus pandemic. Officers responded to mass shootings in Washington state, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Southern California, Milwaukee and Baltimore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There’s no question there’s been a spike in violence,” said Daniel Nagin, a professor of public policy and statistics at Carnegie Mellon University. “Some of these cases seem to be just disputes, often among adolescents, and those disputes are played out with firearms, not with fists.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Researchers disagree over the cause. Theories include the possibility that violence is driven by the prevalence of guns in America, or by less aggressive police tactics or a decline in prosecutions for misdemeanor weapon offenses, Nagin said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Only the Idaho killings fit the definition of a mass killing in which four or more people die, not including the shooter. However, the number of injured in most of the weekend cases matches the widely accepted definition for mass shootings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Here\'s a look at some of the shootings this weekend:</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">CHICAGO</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Five people were shot, two fatally on the city\'s South Side on Sunday evening when someone opened fire from a car that pulled up to a gathering, according to police.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another four men were shot, one fatally, during an altercation in a garage in the West Side neighborhood of Austin around 3 a.m. Sunday, police said. Five others including a teenage girl were shot early Saturday near Lincoln Park Zoo, and two dozen more were shot in other incidents since Friday evening, city data shows.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile in the suburbs, at least 23 people were shot, one fatally, early Sunday in a parking lot where hundreds of people had gathered to celebrate Juneteenth, authorities said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The White House issued a statement calling the violence a tragedy and saying the president was thinking of those killed and injured. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement that he was monitoring the investigation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">KELLOGG, IDAHO</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police in Idaho arrested a suspect in a shooting that killed four people on Sunday at an apartment complex behind a church.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding officers found four people, all dead from gunshot wounds, at a residence in Kellogg that\'s behind the Mountain View Congregational Church, according to the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office and news reports. Idaho State Police said a 31-year-old man was detained, KXLY-TV reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">ST. LOUIS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An early Sunday shooting in a downtown St. Louis office building killed a 17-year-old and wounded 11 other teenagers, the city’s police commissioner said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">St. Louis Metropolitan Police Commissioner Robert Tracy identified the victim who was killed as 17-year-old Makao Moore. A spokesman said a minor who had a handgun was in police custody as a person of interest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Teenagers were having a party in an office space when the shooting broke out around 1 a.m. Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The victims ranged from 15 to 19 years old. A 17-year-old girl was trampled as she fled, seriously injuring her spine, Tracy said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">WASHINGTON STATE</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two people were killed and two others were injured when a shooter began firing “randomly” into a crowd at a Washington state campground where many people were staying to attend a nearby music festival on Saturday night, police said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The suspect was shot in a confrontation with law enforcement officers and taken into custody, several hundred yards from the Beyond Wonderland electronic dance music festival.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One state trooper was killed and a second critically wounded just hours apart in central Pennsylvania on Saturday after a gunman attacked a state police barracks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The suspect drove his truck into the parking lot of the Lewistown barracks about 11 a.m. Saturday and opened fire with a large-caliber rifle on marked patrol cars before fleeing, authorities said Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lt. James Wagner, 45, was critically wounded when he was shot after encountering the suspect several miles away in Mifflintown. Later, Trooper Jacques Rougeau Jr., 29, was ambushed and killed by a gunshot through the windshield of his patrol car as he drove down a road in nearby Walker Township, authorities said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The suspect was shot and killed after a fierce gunbattle, said Lt. Col. George Bivens.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“What I witnessed ... was one of the most intense, unbelievable gunfights I have ever witnessed,” Bivens said, lauding troopers for launching an aggressive search despite facing a weapon that “would defeat any of the body armor that they had available to them.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A motive was not immediately known.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A shooting at a pool party at a Southern California home left eight people wounded, authorities said Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Authorities were dispatched shortly after midnight in Carson, California, south of Los Angeles, KABC-TV reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The victims range in age from 16 to 24, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BALTIMORE</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Six people were injured in a Friday night shooting in Baltimore. All were expected to survive.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officers heard gunshots in the north of the city just before 9 p.m. and found three men with numerous gunshot wounds. Medics took them to area hospitals for treatment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police later learned of three additional victims who walked into area hospitals with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. The wounded ranged in age from 17 to 26.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">SAN FRANCISCO</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Six people were injured after a “car-to-car” shooting in the streets of San Francisco on Sunday evening, police said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two victims sustained gunshot wounds, one with life-threatening injuries, in the moving shootout beginning shortly before 7 p.m., San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said at a news conference Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Suspects in two cars, a black SUV and a white sedan, “drove very recklessly and chased each other while engaged in gunfire” near the northern waterfront, Scott said. The area includes Fisherman’s Wharf, one of the city’s busiest tourist areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Three victims were injured by glass shards caused by “errant gunfire,” Scott said, with none of the injuries considered to be life-threatening.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two girls, ages 10 and 16, were struck by one of the two vehicles while walking their bicycles across the street. The younger girl was injured and transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries while the older girl was not injured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PHILADELPHIA</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A 4-year-old boy was among five victims of a shooting in south Philadelphia Saturday night.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police responded to the block shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday and found a 58-year-old woman with gunshot wounds to the legs, a 54-year-old woman with gunshot wounds to her wrist and leg, and the boy, who was brought to Presbyterian Hospital with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A 30-year-old man also arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound to the wrist and a 40-year-old man was brought in with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The last victim was listed in critical condition; all others were said to be in stable condition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">MILWAUKEE</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At least six teenagers were shot Monday afternoon around where Milwaukee’s Juneteenth celebration had just wrapped up.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said among the wounded was a 17-year-old who may have been a gunman himself and is in custody. Police were still seeking additional suspects who hadn’t yet been identified.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police said the victims, four girls and two boys, ranged in age from 14-19.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Norman said the shooting may have stemmed from a fight among a number of girls and young women, but he didn’t know what sparked the dispute. The injuries of those wounded varied but did not appear life-threatening, the chief said. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 15:03:57', '2023-06-20 15:03:57'),
(7580, 7580, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">US and Canadian coast guard teams were racing Monday to locate and rescue a submersible tourist vessel with five people aboard that went missing on a dive to the Titanic\'s wreckage in the North Atlantic.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 21-foot (6.5-meter) craft, operated by OceanGate Expeditions, began its descent early Sunday and lost contact with the surface less than two hours later.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One of those on board is believed to be a British aviator, after he posted on social media about joining the expedition beforehand.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US Coast Guard said it has launched a sweeping search approximately 900 miles (1,450 kilometers) east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, while the Canadian Coast Guard said it too is taking part in the effort with fixed wing aircraft and a ship sent to the search zone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It is a challenge to conduct a search in that remote area, but we are deploying all available assets to make sure that we can locate the craft and rescue the people on board,\" US Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger told reporters in Boston, where he was overseeing the operation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We work very very hard\" in the search effort, \"and our crews take this personally,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Time is a critical factor. The vessel has a range of 96 hours for a crew of five, and Mauger said Monday afternoon he believed it still had 70 or more hours of remaining oxygen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On its website OceanGate Expedition says a dive expedition to the Titanic site was \"currently underway.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The company uses a submersible named Titan for its dives to a maximum depth of 4,000 meters (13,100 feet).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a statement quoted by CBS News and other media outlets, OceanGate Expeditions said: \"Our entire focus is on the crewmembers in the submersible and their families.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">British billionaire and aviator Hamish Harding had on Sunday posted on his Instagram account that he was \"proud to finally announce\" he had joined the OceanGate Expedition \"for their RMS TITANIC Mission as a mission specialist on the sub going down to the Titanic.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Due to the worst winter in Newfoundland in 40 years, this mission is likely to be the first and only manned mission to the Titanic in 2023,\" added the 58-year-old aviator.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"A weather window has just opened up and we are going to attempt a dive tomorrow.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Admiral Mauger would not confirm the identity of any of those onboard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Harding wrote that \"the team on the sub has a couple of legendary explorers, some of which have done over 30 dives to the RMS Titanic since the 1980s.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">OceanGate was not immediately reachable, and Harding\'s company Action Aviation, contacted by AFP, declined to comment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- On surface or underwater? -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US Coast Guard has launched two C-130 planes to survey the surface, while Canada has deployed aircraft \"which utilizes sonar technology with buoys,\" Chief Petty Officer Robert Simpson told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said that \"after the expected time of return\" for the submersible, the OceanGate ship \"conducted an initial search and were unable to find anything or any sign of the submarine and they contacted the Coast Guard.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">OceanGate said in its statement it was \"deeply thankful for the extensive assistance we have received from several government agencies and deep sea companies in our efforts to reestablish contact with the submersible.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Titanic hit an iceberg and sank in 1912 during its maiden voyage from England to New York with 2,224 passengers and crew on board. More than 1,500 people died in the tragedy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The wreckage is in two main pieces 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, some 13,000 feet underwater. It was found in 1985 and remains a source of fascination and a lure for nautical experts and underwater tourists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Without having studied the craft itself, Alistair Greig, professor of marine engineering at University College London, suggested two possible theories based on images of the vessel published by the press.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said if it had an electrical or communications problem, it could have surfaced and remained floating, \"waiting to be found.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Another scenario is the pressure hull was compromised -- a leak,\" he said in a statement. \"Then the prognosis is not good.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An underwater rescue While the submersible may still be intact during its dive, \"there are very few vessels\" able to go to the depth to which the Titan might have traveled. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 15:43:50', '2023-06-20 15:43:50'),
(7581, 7581, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Pakistan\'s seafood exports surged by over 17 percent in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year starting from July 2022 to June 2023, compared to the same period of the last fiscal year, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) said.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;The seafood exports were recorded at 456.67 million U.S. dollars in July-May of the ongoing fiscal year as against the exports of 389.87 million U.S. dollars in July-May of the last fiscal year 2021-2022, showing a growth of 17.13 percent, the PBS said on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;In terms of quantity, the exports increased by 32.65 percent from 148,354 metric tons in July-May last fiscal year to 196,785 metric tons in July-May this fiscal year, the PBS statistics showed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;On a year-on-year basis, the seafood exports surged by 25.06 percent to 50.58 million U.S. dollars in May 2023 from 40.44 million U.S. dollars during May 2022, according to the data.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;However, on a month-on-month basis, the seafood exports decreased by 0.93 percent in May 2023 when compared to the exports of 51.052 million U.S. dollars in April 2023, the PBS said. Xinhua</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 15:45:36', '2023-06-20 15:45:36'),
(7582, 7582, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Former US president Donald Trump, facing dozens of charges of mishandling classified government secrets, defended himself Monday in an unusually tough interview on conservative-leaning Fox News, saying he had been too \"busy\" to sort through the documents.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trump appeared last Tuesday before a judge in Miami to be formally presented with 37 charges brought by the federal government following an FBI search of his Florida mansion last August.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Department of Justice accuses Trump -- who is vying to win back the White House next year -- of violating the Espionage Act and other laws when he removed classified documents upon leaving office and failed to give them up to the National Archives.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 77-year-old told Fox News host Bret Baier, in an interview broadcast Monday evening, that as he quickly left the White House in January 2021, his personal belongings were mixed in with government documents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"In my case, I took it out pretty much in a hurry, but people packed it up and we left. And I had clothing in there, I had all sorts of personal items in there -- much much stuff.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I have every right to have those boxes,\" he claimed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When Baier asked why he did not just hand over documents when asked by officials, Trump said: \"Because I had boxes -- I want to go through the boxes and get all my personal things out. I don\'t want to hand that over... yet.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added: \"I was very busy as you\'ve sort of seen.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In its indictment, the Justice Department described evidence including an audio recording from a July 2021 meeting that Trump, who was no longer president, had with an author, a publisher and two of his staff -- none of whom had a US security clearance -- in which Trump showed them what he called a \"secret\" and \"highly confidential\" document.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This is secret information... See as president I could have declassified it,\" Trump said according to the indictment. \"Now I can\'t, you know, but this is still a secret.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When pressed by Baier about the exchange, Trump claimed the thing he had been showing the others \"wasn\'t a document.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I had copies of newspaper articles. I had copies of magazines,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"That was a massive amount of papers and everything else talking about Iran and other things. And it may have been held up or may not, but that was not a document.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Baier also pushed Trump over the many Republicans who served under him and are now either challenging him for the White House or harshly criticizing him, including Bill Barr who as attorney general refused to wade into his claims of election fraud.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When Trump repeated those unfounded claims, Baier said bluntly: \"You lost the 2020 election,\" and legal challenges even in front of judges he had appointed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fox News, which had largely backed Trump throughout his presidency, agreed in April to a $787.5 million settlement in a lawsuit launched by voting technology company Dominion which accused the news behemoth of promoting Trump\'s election fraud claims while knowing they were untrue. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 15:47:39', '2023-06-20 15:47:39'),
(7583, 7583, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Six people were killed and eight wounded Monday in an apparent gang shootout in Guayaquil, a port city in Ecuador terrorized by a wave of violence blamed on a spiraling drug war, authorities said.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police Colonel Marcelo Castillo told AFP that six people had died in Guayaquil\'s second mass shooting this month, which appeared to have been a settling of scores between rival gangs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prosecutor\'s office later said eight others had been wounded and taken to local hospitals, while no one had so far been arrested.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Such attacks have become ever-more frequent in Ecuador, especially in Guayaquil, as rival gangs ramp up the fight for drug markets and routes in the country\'s overcrowded prisons and on the streets -- leaving a trail of corpses in their wake.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 420 prisoners have died in vicious fighting between rival criminal groups in Ecuadoran prisons since February 2021, many beheaded or burned alive.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Widespread corruption among guards has allowed inmates to obtain guns and explosives.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As the lawlessness spreads, there have been several car bomb explosions in Ecuadoran cities, and bodies discovered hanging from pedestrian bridges -- some without heads.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The country is also increasingly plagued by sadistic kidnappings, with criminals sending hostages\' fingers to their loved ones to pressure them into paying more ransom.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Monday\'s shooting, Castillo said the attackers arrived in a black vehicle in a populated neighborhood in the early hours. \"Four or five got out\" and opened fire, despite several people being in the street.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It is pure retaliation for previous acts of violence,\" the police colonel said. \"They kill each other without mercy.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added that one of those killed had a record of \"criminal association\" and one of the wounded was known for involvement in drug trafficking.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some 132 spent cartridges were found at the scene, said Castillo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Terrorists\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Guayaquil, on Ecuador\'s southern Pacific coast, is the country\'s largest city, biggest port and economic hub, but in recent years has become the increasingly bloody center of a turf war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The location of the city, home to three million of Ecuador\'s 18 million people, makes it a strategic launch point for shipments of drugs to the United States and Europe.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ecuador is located between Colombia and Peru, the world\'s top producers of cocaine. The country also, conveniently for cartels, uses the US dollar as its currency.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">So far this year, authorities have seized 100 tons of drugs in operations. For 2022, the haul was just over 200 tons, and in 2021, a record 210 tons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The country\'s murder rate almost doubled between 2021 and 2022, from 14 to 25 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, according to official figures.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In April this year, about 30 armed men on motorcycles and boats opened fire indiscriminately on a crowd at a fishing port in Esmeraldas, killing nine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the same month in Guayaquil, a dozen people, including a 5-year-old girl, were shot while watching a football game.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two weeks ago, a police officer and four other people were killed and eight injured when three men opened fire on a house in the city, which is located in the South American country\'s southwest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The authorities estimate that Ecuador counts more than 13 organized crime groups within its borders, some with several thousand members.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some are believed to have links to the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, both in Mexico.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since taking office in May 2021, President Guillermo Lasso has issued repeated states of emergency in order to mobilize the military in the streets and implement curfews in the face of high crime rates.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In April, the government declared members of organized crime groups to be terrorists, a distinction that allows the military to pursue them with fewer restrictions. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 15:50:29', '2023-06-20 15:50:29'),
(7584, 7584, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A Kylian Mbappe penalty gave France a 1-0 victory over 10-man Greece on Monday that maintained their perfect record in qualifying for Euro 2024.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Paris Saint-Germain superstar, and France captain, had his initial kick saved early in the second half but was allowed a second attempt because of encroachment into the area by a Greek defender.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He made no mistake second time around and France could have gone on to win by a greater margin after Greece defender Konstantinos Mavropanos was sent off for barging Randal Kolo Muani to the ground, denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">France\'s win in their last outing this season follows their 3-0 defeat of minnows Gibraltar last Friday and leaves them clear on top of qualifying Group B with 12 points from four games.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They have not conceded a goal so far and are six points clear of Greece, albeit having played a game more.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It has been a very long season for the players. They have been waiting for their holidays but we did what we needed to do to win the match,\" coach Didier Deschamps told broadcaster TF1.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This is a team with less experience than six months ago, but there is plenty of quality.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Having already opened their campaign with wins against the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland in March, last year\'s World Cup runners-up appear certainties to qualify for next year\'s finals in Germany.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Their next match is against Ireland in September, by which time it will be clear where Mbappe will be playing his club football next season.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 24-year-old, who took over as skipper of Les Bleus when Hugo Lloris quit international football following the World Cup, last week confirmed he would not extend his contract at PSG, which expires next year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That has raised the prospect of the Qatar-backed club selling him in this transfer window, even if he has said he intends to stay with the French champions next season.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mbappe put the talk of his future to one side to score a penalty against Gibraltar and he was the matchwinner here in what was not a vintage French display.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Griezmann\'s bloodied head -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He had been frustrated in the first half before a sell-out Stade de France crowd as Spanish referee Mateu Lahoz dismissed his appeals for a penalty when he went down under a George Baldock challenge.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kolo Muani and Jules Kounde both came close for the hosts in the first half, with the latter seeing his shot saved by goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos just before the interval.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">France got the chance to go in front when Mavropanos caught Antoine Griezmann in the head with a high boot four minutes after the restart.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A spot-kick was awarded and VfB Stuttgart stopper Mavropanos was booked with Griezmann needing his bloodied head bandaged.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Vlachodimos saved Mbappe\'s penalty the first time but he could not repeat his heroics when a retake was ordered, despite diving the right way.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was Mbappe\'s 13th goal in 13 games for France this season, to go with 41 in all competitions for PSG.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He now has 40 goals in 70 games for his country and needs just one more goal to equal Michel Platini\'s tally in a France shirt.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Greece, the 2004 European champions, have been enjoying something of a revival under their Uruguayan coach Gustavo Poyet, but their chances of claiming anything from this game died when Mavropanos was dismissed in the 69th minute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kolo Muani was sent through on goal by a Kingsley Coman pass only to be bundled over by Mavropanos. Already on a yellow card, this time the defender saw a straight red.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, France could not add to their lead with the extra man, with substitute Ousmane Dembele just unable to get on the end of Mbappe\'s low centre.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This is the hardest match we have had to play since I came here,\" admitted Poyet, who became Greece coach in February last year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The difference between France and us is incredible. I don\'t like to lose but we learned a lot today.\" AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 16:40:22', '2023-06-20 16:40:22');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(7585, 7585, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The government has decided to extend Eid-ul-Azha holidays of this year by a day with announcing June 27 a holiday through an executive order.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With the holiday of June 27, this year the government employees will enjoy five-day holidays for Eid-ul-Azha as pre-scheduled holidays are on June 28-30 and July 1 is a Saturday, a weekly holiday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The decision was taken today in a cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain briefed the decisions of cabinet meeting in a press conference at the Secretariat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;\"We got many advantages as holiday for the last Eid-ul-Fitr was extended by a day. It has been possible to conduct the traffic management smoothly in the last Eid. In light with the previous experience, the premier extended the Eid holidays by a day,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mahbub Hossain said the prime minister asked officials concerned to find new markets for exporting agricultural products abroad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During unscheduled discussion of the cabinet meeting, the premier gave directives to give special attention on Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries in this regard, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The cabinet secretary said there is demand of Bangladeshi products specially fruits and vegetables in OIC countries where Bangladeshis are living.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That is why, the prime minister gave the directives, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Replying to a question, Mahbub Hossain said special importance should also be given to those countries where agricultural products are being exported now.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the cabinet approved a draft law titled \"Balumahal and Soil Management Act, 2023\" to safeguard agricultural land by prohibiting the extraction of sand, mud, and soil from crop fields.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, crop field was out of purview of the ban on sand extractions, he mentioned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The cabinet secretary said the law will empower the government officials to confiscate any tools or equipment used in illegal sand mining activities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the draft law, if any roads and establishments get damaged due to transportation of sand, leaseholder will have to pay the compensation while lease activities will be operated online, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The cabinet also approved the draft of \'Land Crime Prevention and Remedy Act, 2023\' in principle.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the draft law, he said, curbing land-related forgeries and offences has been stressed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Provision of punishment for different terms has been kept in the law, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The cabinet also gave nod to draft of Lakshmipur Science and Technology University Act, 2023.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If the law is passed, it will be the country\'s 57th public university while 113 private universities have so far been approved, Mahbub Hossain said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the last week, the cabinet approved two draft acts with a view to establishing universities in Shariatpur and Thakurgaon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The cabinet today also cleared drafts of Bangladesh Homeopathic Treatment Education Act, 2023, National Library Policy 2023 and Agriculture and Food-Processing Industry Development Policy 2023.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It also approved drafts of an agreement between Bangladesh and Canada on aviation and proposal for ratification of BIMSTEC Charter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mahbub Hossain said Padma Bridge authorities have paid Taka 316 crore as 3rd and 4th installments of loan taken for the construction of Padma Bridge while metro-rail authorities paid Taka 55 crore as first installment of loan taken for construction of metro-rail. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 16:44:33', '2023-06-20 16:44:33'),
(7586, 7586, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is, on many counts, a curious choice for President Joe Biden to honor with a state visit.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Since Russia\'s Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine 16 months ago, India has boosted its economy by purchasing increasing quantities of cheap Russian oil.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Human rights groups and political opponents have accused Modi of stifling dissent and introducing divisive policies that discriminate against Muslims and other minorities. And India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, has espoused a worldview in which there are no allies or friends, only “frenemies.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Biden, who will welcome Modi to the White House on Thursday for a state visit, has made clear he sees U.S. ties to India — the world\'s biggest democracy and one of its fastest growing economies — as a defining relationship. New Delhi, as Biden sees it, will be essential to addressing some of the most difficult global challenges in coming years, including climate change, disruptions related to artificial intelligence, and China’s growing power in the Indo-Pacific.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Now, we know that India and the United States are big, complicated countries,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the U.S.-India Business Council in Washington ahead of Modi\'s visit. “We certainly have work to do to advance transparency, to promote market access, to strengthen our democracies, to unleash the full potential of our people. But the trajectory of this partnership is unmistakable, and it is filled with promise.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Much is at stake for both sides in the Indian leader\'s three-day visit to the U.S., which begins Wednesday with a stop in New York, where Modi will lead an international yoga day event at the United Nations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden wants to bring India closer to the United States as the administration tilts its foreign policy toward Asia and looks to build partnerships in the region in the face of an ascendant China.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Modi, for his part, is trying to usher in a more prosperous era for his nation of 1.4 billion, delivering on a promise he made when he swept into office more than nine years ago.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Indian prime minister hopes to strengthen U.S.-India economic and military ties. He also has his own worries about Chinese military activities, along the Himalayan border and in the Indian Ocean. India has been locked in a long-running standoff with China in the rugged mountainous area of Ladakh, where each side has stationed tens of thousands of military personnel backed by artillery, tanks and fighter jets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“As China has risen, India and the U.S. both need one another and the U.S. needs more partners in the Indo-Pacific,” said Jitendra Nath Misra, a professor of diplomatic practice at the O.P. Jindal Global University and a former Indian ambassador. “They can’t do it alone anymore because China is catching up with the U.S., and the Chinese economy is significantly larger than India’s. So, there is a congruence of geopolitical interests here.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are plenty of signs that the relationship already has taken a leap forward.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trade between the U.S. and India in 2022 climbed to a record $191 billion. The Indian diaspora i n the U.S. stands at nearly 5 million and has become an economic, cultural and political powerhouse. Biden has sought to reinvigorate the Quad, an international partnership of the U.S., Australia, India and Japan. And U.S. defense sales to India have risen from near zero in 2008 to over $20 billion in 2020.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Still, the state visit comes with some problematic aspects for Biden, who as a presidential candidate pledged that human rights would be a driving force in his foreign policy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Elaine Pearson, Asia director for the group Human Rights Watch, urged Biden in a letter not to shy away from confronting Modi on India\'s “worsening human rights situation.” Her organization plans a Tuesday screening in Washington of a BBC documentary critical of Modi that was banned by the Indian government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The documentary delves into Modi\'s oversight as chief minister of Gujrat during the deadly 2002 anti-Muslim riots that left more than 1,000 dead. In 2005, the U.S. revoked Modi\'s visa to the U.S., citing concerns that he did not act to stop the communal violence. An investigation approved by the Indian Supreme Court later absolved Modi, but the stain of the dark moment has lingered.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More recently, Modi has faced criticism over legislation amending the country’s citizenship law that fast-tracks naturalization for some migrants but excludes Muslims, a rise in violence against Muslims and other religious minorities by Hindu nationalists, and the recent conviction of India’s top opposition leader, Rahul Gandhi, for mocking Modi\'s surname.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Modi’s government has also demonstrated blatant bias in protecting BJP supporters and affiliates accused in a range of crimes, including murder, assault, corruption, and sexual violence,” Pearson wrote, using the initials for Modi\'s Bharatiya Janata Party. “At the international level, Modi’s government has often proven unwilling to stand with other governments on key human rights crises, abstaining or refraining from condemning grave human rights violations elsewhere.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Indian government has continually defended its human rights record and insisted that India’s democratic principles remain robust.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Modi has offered only limited criticism of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, urging Putin during a meeting last September to “move onto a path of peace.” The New Delhi-Moscow relationship dates back decades, with Moscow offering key cooperation on defense, nuclear energy and other issues.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Biden White House has privately pressed India to cut its reliance on Russian oil, but has largely avoided publicly criticizing New Delhi’s stance. In 2021, Russian oil accounted for just 2% of India’s annual crude imports. That figure now stands at more than 19%.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden is expected to again raise India\'s reliance on Russian oil as well as human rights in his private talks with Modi, according to a senior Biden administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss preparations for the visit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The White House sees indications that Modi\'s government has been moving away from Russia since the start of the war, noting a subtle shift in tone in Modi\'s public comments about Ukraine, a growing desire by India to diversify its sources of military hardware, and an increasing awareness by the Indian government about China and Russia\'s tightening relationship and what it could mean for India.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Richard Rossow, chair of U.S.-India Policy Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said the Biden White House has made the calculation to keep its \"powder dry” despite its disappointment with India\'s ballooning oil purchases.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We don’t want to risk severing the relationship with India,” Rossow said of the administration\'s careful approach. “Find small and modest ways to nudge, but don’t make that a deciding factor.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The official state visit portion of Modi\'s trip starts Thursday and includes an Oval Office meeting with Biden, an address to a joint meeting of Congress and a lavish White House dinner hosted by Biden and first lady Jill Biden.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Modi also is to be honored at a State Department luncheon on Friday hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris and Blinken, and he is scheduled to address members of the Indian diaspora before departing Washington.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden and Modi are expected to make announcements on cooperation in higher education, space and more. High on the agenda is deepening defense cooperation. India has sought to reduce its reliance on Russian military hardware by buying from the U.S., France, Germany and other countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But it will likely take decades or more for India to completely wean itself off Russian military hardware, said Rudra Chaudhuri, director of Carnegie India, the New Delhi arm of the international think tank.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Keep in mind that 65% of India’s defense kit is still Russian,\" Chaudhuri said. “Let’s say India reduces purchases from Russia to one third over 25 years, that’s still a big part of your defense ecosystem.\" AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 17:19:36', '2023-06-20 17:19:36'),
(7588, 7588, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Two inmates of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj, including a convict, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Monday night.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased were identified as Ataur Rahman, 70, son of late Lokman Ali and Jewel, 28, son of Abdur Rahim.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Inspector Bachhu Mia, in-charge of DMCH police camp, said the two inmates were brought to DMCH around 8 pm last night from Dhaka Central Jail, Keraniganj as they fell ill.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The on-duty doctor declared Ataur Rahman dead after his arrival at the emergency department of the hospital, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prison guard Md. Nayan Kazi said that Jewel, who is under trial, died around 12 am while undergoing treatment at the hospital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bodies have been kept at DMCH morgue for autopsies, Inspector Bachhu Mia added. 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, '2023-06-20 17:55:43', '2023-06-20 17:55:43'),
(7590, 7590, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted rain or thundershowers in different parts of the country, including Dhaka, over 24 hours, starting from 9 am today.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind are likely to occur at most places in Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions; at many places in Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna and Barishal divisions; and moderately heavy to very heavy falls at places in Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions,\" the Met Office said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The highest 125 mm rainfall was recorded in Sylhet district in the country in 24 hours till 6 am on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rain may continue across the country over the next 72 hours, BMD also said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, a trough of westerly low lies over India\'s West Bengal to north Bay across the southern part of Bangladesh. Monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh and moderate over north Bay, the BMD weather bulletin reads.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged across the country, it added. The country’s highest temperature was recorded at 35.3 degree Celsius on Monday in Rajshahi. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 18:16:07', '2023-06-20 18:16:07'),
(7591, 7591, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russian forces launched a major drone assault on Kyiv overnight as well as attacking other regions, Ukrainian officials said early Tuesday, but there were no immediate reports of casualties.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"New massive air attack on the capital,\" wrote the Kyiv City Military Administration, adding that it was the first attack on the city in 18 days to use Iranian-made Shahed explosive drones.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"According to the usual tactics for mass UAV attacks, drones entered the capital in waves, heading from different directions. The air alert lasted more than three hours,\" it said on Telegram.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Almost two dozen enemy targets were detected and destroyed by the forces and means of our air defence in the airspace around Kyiv.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There is no information regarding casualties or destruction at this time\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Lviv to the west, \"critical infrastructure\" was hit by drones, the head of the regional administration Maksym Kozytski wrote on Telegram, without giving further details.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">No injuries were reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The military administration of Zaporizhzhia said the southern city and its surroundings had been the target of a \"massive attack\" aimed at civilian targets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Three Shahed drones were also shot down over the southern region of Mykolaiv, governor Vitaliy Kim said on Telegram.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ukrainian General Staff later said that, of the 30 drones launched by Russian forces overnight, 28 were shot down by Ukrainian air defences. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 19:00:10', '2023-06-20 19:00:10'),
(7592, 7592, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A five-tier security measures have been taken for making the tomorrow\'s Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) polls free, fair, participatory, peaceful and acceptable to all as around 4,500 law enforcers will work for maintaining law and order.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Security officials said around 3,500 members of police, 400 personnel of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), 200 of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and 1,860 of Ansar will discharge election duties.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Meanwhile, BGB and RAB personnel have already started patrolling the city areas to ward off any tense situation since yesterday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;BGB sources said they have already deployed 10 platoons of BGB to avert any untoward incident and maintain peace in the metropolis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BGB members as the striking force have started patrolling different city areas to ensure overall security.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Lt Col Riaz Shahrier, Commanding Officer of RAB-5, said more than 400 RAB members have started performing duties since yesterday and they will continue their duties till June 22.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Anisur Rahman, Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP), said more than 3,514 policemen will remain in the election duty till the next three days after polls, adding that Ansar will also be deployed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said all the policemen were kept on high alert so none can violate the election code of conduct. Foolproof security has been ensured in all the polling centres.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;\"We have taken all sorts of security measures to make the election proper and successful,\" asserted Rahman.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;He said additional security measures will be arranged for the risky centres.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Meanwhile, restriction has been imposed on the staying of outsiders and carrying firearms including the licensed ones and traffic movement here on the election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Possessing and carrying of all sorts of firearms has been banned from June 20 to June 23 in the city corporation area. However, the restriction will not be applicable for the law enforcers and other institutional security men.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to the vehicular movement, RMP Commissioner Rahman said plying of taxicab, microbus, jeep, pickup van, car, bus, truck, tempo, baby-taxi, auto-rickshaw, easy-bike and all other mechanized vehicles will be restricted from July 20 midnight to June 22 midnight.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Besides, plying on motorbikes will remain suspended from June 20 midnight till the morning of June 22, he continued.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, vehicles can be used by officers and employees engaged in election duties and other law enforcers agencies and ambulances and vehicles engaged in emergency and utility services will remain outside of the purview of the restriction. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 19:33:16', '2023-06-20 19:33:16'),
(7593, 7593, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Students of seven Dhaka University-affiliated colleges on Tuesday blocked Nilkhet intersection to press home their 7-point demand.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They put up barricade and staged demonstrations at Nilkhet intersection around 12 pm, triggering huge traffic jam on the adjacent roads, said witnesses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stopping harassment of students of seven colleges at DU register building, revising CGPA conditions for promotion to next stage and publishing&nbsp; results within the 90 days of examination, formation of a clear policy and authority and taking proper steps to solve teachers shortage and classroom space scarcity are among the demands of the students .</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Students of 7 DU-affiliated colleges block Nilkhet intersection in Dhaka&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Taslim Chowdhury, coordinator of the movement, said, \"Earlier we met Supriya ma\'am, principal of Eden Mohila College, she assured us of fulfilling our demands.&nbsp; There is a meeting about this today.&nbsp; We hope that the decision will resolve our problems.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Passengers going to different destinations have suffered&nbsp; a lot amid the traffic jam. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 19:51:31', '2023-06-20 19:51:31'),
(7594, 7594, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ram Charan and Upasana Konidela became parents to a baby girl on June 20. On Tuesday, Ram\'s father, veteran actor Chiranjeevi, welcomed Ram and Upasana\'s baby girl with a cute nickname. Taking to Twitter, Chiranjeevi expressed his joy at the arrival of his granddaughter. In a press statement, the actor reportedly also shared details about the baby\'s birth and \'amazing horoscope\'.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hours after Chiranjeevi and wife Surekha were spotted at Hyderabad\'s Apollo Hospital after they met their granddaughter for the first time, the actor tweeted, \"Welcome Little Mega Princess!! You have spread cheer among the Mega Family of millions on your arrival as much as you have made the blessed parents @AlwaysRamCharan and @upasanakonidela and us grandparents. Happy and Proud!!\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chiranjeevi also spoke to the media in Hyderabad about Ram and Upasana\'s baby. He reportedly also shared the finer details of his granddaughter\'s birth. As per a Mirchi9 report, he said, \"The baby was born at 1:49 am. Happy to have a baby on our favourite Tuesday. It is said that she was born in auspicious time and the baby’s horoscope is also amazing. That effect can be seen in our family from the beginning. Charan’s (Ram Charan) career growth, Varun’s (Varun Tej) engagement, everything is going well in our family.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ram Charan and Upasana Kamineni welcomed their first child on Tuesday. Confirming the news, a medical bulletin released by Apollo Hospital read, “Miss Upasana Kamineni and Ram Charan Konidela had a baby girl on 20th June 2023, at Apollo hospital Jubilee Hills Hyderabad. The baby and mother are doing well.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Upasana and Ram\'s relationship</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ram and Upasana tied the knot on June 14, 2012. The two announced her pregnancy in December 2022. “With the blessings of Shri Hanuman ji, we are delighted to share that Upasana and Ram Charan are expecting their first child. With love and gratitude Surekha and Chiranjeevi Konideli, Shobana and Anil Kamineni,” the couple and family said in the pregnancy announcement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan\'s recent projects</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chiranjeevi was last seen in the Telugu film Waltair Veerayya directed by Bobby Kolli. In the coming months, he will be seen Bholaa Shankar. Directed by Meher Ramesh, the film also features Tamannaah Bhatia in the lead role.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ram Charan, on the other hand, will be seen in director Shankar\'s upcoming action film Game Changer opposite actor Kiara Advani. It will release in three languages – Telugu, Tamil and Hindi. The film also stars SJ Suryah, Jayaram, Anjali, and Srikanth. The official release date of the film is still awaited. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 20:01:14', '2023-06-20 20:01:14'),
(7596, 7596, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said his visit to the US will be an opportunity to enrich the depth and diversity of the Indo-US partnership and asserted that together the two countries stand stronger in meeting shared global challenges.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Modi said this \"special invitation\" from President Joseph Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for a state visit is a reflection of the vigour and vitality of the partnership between the democracies.</div><div><br></div><div>Modi emplaned for the US in the morning. He will head to Egypt from the US before returning to India.</div><div><br></div><div>In his departure statement ahead of his visit to the US and Egypt, Modi said his discussions with President Biden and other senior US leaders will provide an opportunity to consolidate bilateral cooperation as well as in plurilateral forums such as G20, Quad and IPEF (Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity).</div><div><br></div><div>\"I will commence my visit in New York, where I will celebrate the International Day of Yoga on June 21 at the United Nations Headquarters with the UN leadership and members of the international community,\" the prime minister said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I look forward to this special celebration at the very location that supported India\'s proposal in December 2014 to recognise an International Day of Yoga,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Modi said he will thereafter travel to Washington D.C.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister noted that President Biden and he have had the opportunity to meet several times since his last official visit to the US in September 2021.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This visit will be an opportunity to enrich the depth and diversity of our partnership,\" Modi said.</div><div><br></div><div>India-US ties are multifaceted with deepening engagements across sectors, he noted.</div><div><br></div><div>The US is India\'s largest trade partner in goods and services, and the two countries collaborate closely in the fields of science and technology, education, health, defence and security, the prime minister said.</div><div><br></div><div>The initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies has added new dimensions and widened collaboration in defence industrial cooperation, space, telecom, quantum, artificial intelligence and biotech sectors, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Our two countries are also collaborating to further our shared vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>In a tweet, Modi said that in the US, he will also get the opportunity to meet business leaders, interact with the Indian community and meet thought leaders from different walks of life.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We seek to deepen India-USA ties in key sectors like trade, commerce, innovation, technology and other such areas,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>In his departure statement, Modi said his discussions with President Biden and other senior US leaders will provide an opportunity to consolidate bilateral cooperation as well as in plurilateral forums such as G20, Quad and Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said he will also join President Biden and the First Lady for the state banquet along with a number of dignitaries.</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that the US Congress has always provided strong bi-partisan support to India-US ties, Modi said that during his visit, he will address a joint session of the US Congress at the invitation of the Congressional leadership.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Strong people-to-people linkages have been instrumental in developing the trust between our countries. I look forward to meeting the vibrant Indian-American community that represents the best of our societies,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I will also meet some of the leading CEOs to discuss opportunities for elevating our trade and investment relationship and for building resilient global supply chains,\" Modi said.</div><div><br></div><div>He expressed confidence that his visit to the US will reinforce ties between the two countries based on shared values of democracy, diversity and freedom.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Together we stand stronger in meeting the shared global challenges,\" Modi said in his statement.</div><div><br></div><div>On his visit to Egypt, the prime minister said, \"I will travel to Cairo from Washington D.C. at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. I am excited to pay a State Visit to a close and friendly country for the first time.\"&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"We had the pleasure of receiving President Sisi as the Chief Guest at our Republic Day celebrations this year. These two visits in the span of a few months is a reflection of our rapidly evolving partnership with Egypt, which was elevated to a \'Strategic Partnership\' during President Sisi\'s visit,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Modi said he looks forward to his discussions with President Sisi and senior members of the Egyptian government to \"impart further momentum to our civilisational and multi-faceted partnership\", reports PTI&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"I will also have the opportunity to interact with the vibrant Indian diaspora in Egypt,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p><b><font color=\"#9c00ff\">Modi leaves for US</font></b><br></p>', 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 21:12:15', '2023-06-20 21:12:15'),
(7597, 7597, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A farmer was killed in a lightning strike while cutting grass for cows in Shoulmari union of Rowmari Upazila under Kurigram district on Wednesday morning.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The deceased was identified as Amir Hamza, 52, son of late Nur Mohammad and resident of Shoulmari union of Rowmari Upazila.</div><div><br></div><div>Shoulmari Union Parishad (UP) member Sona Mia said a streak of lightning struck farmer Amir Hamza went to cut grass for cows near his house, leaving him dead on the spot.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, locals recovered his body.</div><div><br></div><div>Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Roumari Police Station Rup Kumar Sarkar said police were sent to the house of the deceased farmer, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Process is underway to file an unnatural death (UD) case , he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 22:28:29', '2023-06-20 22:28:29'),
(7598, 7598, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Cristiano Ronaldo said on Monday he would \"never give up\" playing for Portugal as he prepares to make his 200th international appearance against Iceland in Euro 2024 qualifying.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The 38-year-old set a new men\'s international record when he won his 197th cap against Liechtenstein in March.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I will never give up coming here (to the Portugal national team), because it\'s always a dream,\" he told a press conference in Reykjavik ahead of Tuesday\'s match.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Reaching 200 international matches isn\'t for just anyone, it shows the love I have for my country and my team.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Ronaldo has scored four goals in three games since Roberto Martinez took over as Portugal coach earlier this year, but failed to find the net in last week\'s 3-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It would be spectacular to crown my 200th international game with a goal,\" added Ronaldo, the all-time men\'s record international scorer with 122 goals.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I\'m not chasing records, they\'re chasing me. I\'m happy because it\'s part of my motivation to continue at the highest level with the team.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It\'s something I never thought I\'d accomplish.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Martinez confirmed that the striker, who now plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, would start the game.</div><div><br></div><div>\"A player reaching 200 matches, that\'s unique,\" said the former Belgium boss.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It\'s a source of pride for Portuguese football.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Portugal are already cruising towards a place at next year\'s Euro in Germany, sitting top of Group J after scoring 13 goals without reply in three straight wins. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 23:17:22', '2023-06-20 23:17:22'),
(7599, 7599, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Gynaecologist Dr Sangjukta Saha today blamed Central Hospital for the deaths of Mahbuba Rahman Akhi and her newborn due to \"wrong treatment\".</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Claiming that Akhi was not her patient, she said, “Central Hospital made false statements about me.”</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Saha made the remarks at a press briefing at her house.</div><div><br></div><div>\"They did not take any verbal or written consent from me at the time of Akhi’s admission,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I was not in Bangladesh during her operation…How could I be responsible if I was not there?\" -- she asked.</div><div><br></div><div>The hospital authorities gave a false statement about her presence at the time of Akhi’s operation, the doctor said.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Saha said that the hospital authority was proud of me until the incident. \"They are now spreading misleading information about me, to hide their negligence,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She affirmed that Mahbuba Rahman Akhi was not her regular patient.</div><div><br></div><div>Expressing grief over the deaths of Akhi and her baby, Dr Saha prayed for the eternal peace of their souls.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, on June 10, Yeakub Ali Sumon, Akhi\'s husband, filed a case against six identified individuals and several other unidentified people over \"wrong treatment\" by the physicians at Central Hospital that led to the death of their newborn.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the case statement, Akhi was under the supervision of Dr Sangjukta Saha of Central Hospital for the last three months, and her condition was stated to be normal.</div><div><br></div><div>The gynaecologist assured Akhi\'s family that she would give birth through a normal delivery.</div><div><br></div><div>Akhi was hospitalised with labour pain at the hospital under the supervision of the gynaecologist around 12:50 am on June 10.</div><div><br></div><div>Though Dr Saha was not present at the time of hospitalisation, her assistant said that she was working in the operation theatre.</div><div><br></div><div>Two physicians, Dr Shahjadi and Dr Munna, who were arrested later, allegedly conducted the delivery at the hospital, which caused the death of the newborn.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on June 16 ordered Central Hospital to suspend activities in its operation theatre until further orders due to dissatisfactory services at the intensive care unit (ICU) and emergency department. Besides, the hospital’s gynaecologist, Dr Sangjukta Saha, has been asked not to provide any specialist service at the organisation until written approval from the DGHS.</div><div><br></div><div>On June 18, Akhi passed away at Labaid Hospital in Dhaka\'s Dhanmondi. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-20 23:44:35', '2023-06-20 23:44:35'),
(7600, 7600, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Livestock department in Khulna division has set up a total of 163 traditional and makeshift cattle markets in all ten districts of the division to sell the sacrificial animals ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.</span><br></b></div><div><b>&nbsp;</b></div><div>Meanwhile, Bapperys (Cattle Traders) started to bring sacrificial animals to the cattle markets from their own farms though eight days left to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha, the second-largest religious festival of the Muslims.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>According to the Livestock department, all district Livestock departments in association with the district administrations have set up the cattle markets for eight days left of Eid-ul-Azha which will run till morning on Eid day.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Of the 163 traditional and makeshift cattle markets, at least 22 including KCCs Zoragate cattle market have been set up in Khulna while 27 in Bagerhat, 15 in Satkhira, 21 in Jashore, 25 in Jhenaidah, 19 in Magura, 9 in Narail, 13 in Kushtia and 6 each in Chuadanga and Meherpur.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Talking to BSS, acting director of Khulna Divisional Livestock Department Dr. Md. Lutfor Rahman said, the cattle markets have been set up at all 59 upazilas in 10 districts and Khulna City Corporation (KCC). A total of 159 medical teams have already been formed for the cattle markets.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"The demand for sacrificial animals in Khulna division this Eid-ul-Azha could be met almost entirely with locally-reared livestock,\" he said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Besides, Khulna City Corporation (KCC) will manage and monitor the Zoragate cattle market by installing CCTV cameras, setting up the medical team and fake note identifier under the supervision and management of Bangladesh Bank, said Laskar Tazul Islam, Chief Executive Officer of KCC.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>While talking to reporter, Mizanur Rahman, a cattle farm owner in Shirgati village under Rupsha upazila said, the price of cattle feed has been increased several times. As a result, cattle prices will be higher than last year.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>According to the Livestock Office, the demand for sacrificial animals in Khulna division this year stands at 8,28,998, but this year, farmers of the division reared 11,82,998 sacrificial animals targeting Eid-ul-Azha, 37.88 percent more than the demand.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>This year cow has been reared 4,51,137 while buffalo 5,056, goat 6,97,823, sheep 28,957 and other animals 25 in the division. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-21 00:50:45', '2023-06-21 00:50:45'),
(7601, 7601, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday cleared a total of 16 projects including a Tk 6,345-crore one to improve urban governance and infrastructure in 88 municipalities under 48 districts.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Among the approved projects, three other new projects involving&nbsp; Tk 8,160 crore were undertaken to improve important Upazila and Union roads in two divisions and important rural infrastructures in three districts.</div><div><br></div><div>The approval came from the Ecnec meeting presided over by Prime Minister and Ecnec chairperson Sheikh Hasina at the NEC conference room in the city’s Sher-e Banglanagar area.</div><div><br></div><div>“Today a total of 16 projects were approved. The overall estimated cost of the projects is Tk 24,362.14 crore (only additional costs of eight revised projects were counted here),” said Planning Minister MA Mannan while briefing reporters after the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>Of the total cost, the government will finance Tk 12,873.11 crore, while Tk 11,472.88 crore will come from foreign sources and the rest Tk 16.15 crore from the own funds of the organisations concerned.</div><div><br></div><div>In terms of cost, the largest fresh project is Improving Urban Governance and Infrastructure Project (IUGIP) involving Tk 6,345.08 crore, which will be implemented by June 2028.</div><div><br></div><div>The Local Government Engineering Department of the Local Government Division will execute the project in 88 municipalities of 87 upazilas under 48 districts of eight divisions, aiming to make planned, coordinated and sustainable urbanization and ensure services through infrastructural development of good governance.</div><div><br></div><div>The three new projects designed to important Upazila and Union roads in two divisions and important rural infrastructures in three districts are Widening and Strengthening of Important Upazila and Union Roads in Chittagong Division with the estimated cost of Tk 3,110 crore (to be implemented by June 2028); Widening and strengthening of important upazila and union roads in Rajshahi division with Tk 2,400 crore ( by March 2028); and Important Rural Infrastructure Development in Noakhali, Feni and Laxmipur Districts with Tk 2,650 crore (by June 2028).</div><div><br></div><div>Moreover, a project titled ‘Economic Acceleration and Resilience for NEET (EARN)’ involving Tk 3,348 crore was undertaken to promote the participation of the youths, who have no education, employment and training (NEET), in the economic activities.</div><div><br></div><div>The main operations of the project include enhancing scopes for alternative education and related skills and ensuring their earnings and increasing scopes of self-employment, creating proper environment for them to join works, enhancing institutional skills and project management skills. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-21 01:23:36', '2023-06-21 01:23:36');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(7602, 7602, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Nearly 20 months into its formation, Bangladesh Gono Odhikar Parishad is facing split as a group, led by Nurul Haque Nur, removed Reza Kibria from the position of convener of the party amid growing conflict in the party’s top leadership.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The followers of former Ducsu Vice Present Nur, member secretary of the party, made Rashed Khan their acting convener, replacing Kibria.</div><div><br></div><div>Kibria retaliated by expelling Nur and Rashed from the party.</div><div><br></div><div>Nur and his supporters held a meeting of the party central executive committee at its central office on Monday and unanimously nominated Rashed, a joint convenor, for the post of the party convenor levelling various allegations against Reza, said a press release issued by party office coordinator Shakil Uzzaman.</div><div><br></div><div>It said the meeting discussed the evolving situation caused by various political activities of Reza Kibria and the current situation of the country alongside the organizational issues.</div><div><br></div><div>“Under the emerging situation, the meeting also unanimously nominated the number one joint convener Md Rashed Khan as the convener of the party to conduct its organizational activities in an orderly manner,” the press release said.</div><div><br></div><div>A rift in the party\'s top leadership surfaced recently as both Reza and Nur gave posts on their Facebook accounts accusing each other of \'lack of transparency and lies\' in financial and organizational matters.</div><div><br></div><div>Contacted Reza, now in Cambodia, said the problem brewed in their party as he raised questions about party funding and Nur’s reported meeting with various intelligence agencies, including Mossad member Mendi N Safadi.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the source of income of Nur and Rashed is not visible and he thinks they lead their life based on extortion.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, he said Nur arrogantly declared himself as the chief of the party’s Probashi Odhikar Parisahd and he visited different countries, including Qatar, to raise funds for the party. “But he did not disclose how much money he raised.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Reza said they held an emergency meeting of the party on Sunday last in Gulshan where he sought an explanation from Nur about financial transparency and accountability and the reasons for communication with various anti-state intelligence agencies. “Later, an unexpected situation arose forcing him to adjourn the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>Following that meeting, he said, Nur and his supporters are trying to split the party.</div><div><br></div><div>Reza said 75 percent of party leaders and workers, including the senior ones, are with him.</div><div><br></div><div>He said they have already taken a decision to replace Nur and Rashed. “We’ll sit in a meeting again very soon and announce the name of a new member secretary of our party.”</div><div><br></div><div>Nur, however, said the allegations brought against him are false and fabricated.</div><div><br></div><div>He alleged that Reza brought the allegations to hide his own misdeeds, anti-party activities, and his connections with different intelligence agencies.</div><div><br></div><div>On October 26, 2021, Bangladesh Gono Odhikar Parishad was launched with Reza Kibria as its convenor and former Ducsu Vice Present Nurul Haque Nur as member secretary with the motto of restoration of democracy, establishment of justice, rights of people, and saving the national interests. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-21 01:39:17', '2023-06-21 01:39:17'),
(7603, 7603, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>European Union member states plan to train as many as 30,000 members of Ukraine\'s armed forces this year, including from territorial defence units, Kyiv said on Tuesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"In 2023, the EU Military Assistance Mission for Ukraine plans to train 30,000 Ukrainian armed forces personnel, including soldiers of the territorial defence forces,\" the defence ministry in Kyiv said.</div><div><br></div><div>The statement follows a pledge from EU officials in February this year that it would train 30,000 Ukrainian troops, building on an initial target of 15,000 personnel.</div><div><br></div><div>The announcement came as Brussels asked EU member states to back a 50-billion-euro ($55 billion) package to support Ukraine over the next four years. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-21 01:52:25', '2023-06-21 01:52:25'),
(7604, 7604, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A silent revolution is underway, as Bangladesh and India will start using Indian rupee and Bangladeshi taka for trade purposes from September 2023.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>At the same time, Bangladesh Bank will introduce a debit card called “Taka Pay Card”, through which people can withdraw taka or rupee. People who travel to India will get the facility of paying through this card, said the central bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder recently.</div><div><br></div><div>He said, people going for treatment, students, and businessmen will benefit from this system and they can avoid using the US dollar.</div><div><br></div><div>From September, India and Bangladesh will open LCs for import and export, using the Indian rupee and Bangladeshi taka.</div><div><br></div><div>Also read: “Use rupee, taka”: India asks exporters to refrain from trading in dollars with Bangladesh</div><div><br></div><div>Until now, rupee was converted into dollar, and that was converted again into rupee; the same was done with taka.</div><div><br></div><div>As a result, Bangladeshi and Indian citizens were losing at least six percent of rupee or taka. As the new system provides for the direct rupee to taka or taka to rupee conversion, no party will be affected, Bangladesh Bank sources said.</div><div><br></div><div>The offer was from the Government of India, and Bangladesh accepted it. This will eliminate use of US dollar from trade and personal travel purposes. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-21 03:46:34', '2023-06-21 03:46:34'),
(7605, 7605, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday said Bangladesh presented various steps, taken to reform its labour sector, to the world community by participating in the \'World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All\' held in Geneva recently.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"Overall, by participating in the \'World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All\', we have been able to present the various steps, taken by the government to reform the labour sector, to the world community,\" she told a press conference at Ganabhaban here.</div><div><br></div><div>Following is the full text of the written speech of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>Dear Journalists, Colleagues</div><div>Assalamu Alaikum.</div><div><br></div><div>I visited Geneva from June 13 to June 16, 2023 to attend the \'World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All\' at the invitation of the Director General of the International Labor Organization (ILO). The main objective of this summit was to take strong, coordinated and integrated actions towards global social justice. Besides, its object was to ensure the support of world leaders in the initiative of forming a global alliance titled \'Global Coalition for Social Justice\' proposed by the ILO Director General.</div><div><br></div><div>The inaugural session of the summit was held in the morning of June 14. Apart from the representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the owners\' and workers\' leaders participated in this session.</div><div><br></div><div>United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi paid a courtesy call on me in that morning.</div><div><br></div><div>During the meeting, I called on UNHCR to create a congenial environment in Myanmar for quick and safe repatriation of Rohingyas.</div><div><br></div><div>At the same time, I sought their support in expediting the temporary relocation of a section of Rohingya population to Bhasanchar. I expressed concern over the declining amount of international financial assistance, including food aid, for the Rohingya population and emphasised the importance of maintaining the attention of the international community to this end.</div><div><br></div><div>Then, Prince Rahim Aga Khan paid a courtesy call on me on behalf of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). During the meeting, views were exchanged on the ongoing activities of AKDN in the field of education in the country as well as the expansion of AKDN\'s activities in various fields, including nursing training, teachers training and climate adaptation.</div><div><br></div><div>In the afternoon, I had a bilateral meeting with His Excellency the President of the Swiss Confederation, Alain Berset. During the meeting, the Swiss President recalled his visit to Bangladesh in 2018. I called upon the Swiss government to continue special trade privileges for Bangladesh after its graduation from the list of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).</div><div><br></div><div>The Rohingya situation was discussed with the Swiss President and I called upon the international community, including Switzerland, to play an active role in resolving the crisis. In our presence, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on knowledge and skills development was signed between Bangladesh and the Swiss Confederation.</div><div><br></div><div>In the afternoon, I addressed the plenary session of the \'World of Work Summit 2023\' at the UN Office in Geneva. I highlighted the various initiatives taken to establish social justice with the spirit of the Great Liberation War as well as the various labour-friendly programmes and initiatives taken by our government. I specifically mentioned that a major industrialided country in the world ratified only two ILO fundamental instruments but Bangladesh has ratified eight out of 10 fundamental instruments.</div><div><br></div><div>I reiterated our government\'s firm commitment to creating a safe work environment, eliminating child labour, ending harassment of women at work places, promoting environment-friendly industries, etc. I also presented five-point recommendations to make fruitful the initiative of forming a global alliance for the establishment of social justice. Quoting the speeches of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, I said only social justice can lay the foundation for ensuring peace and sustainable development.</div><div><br></div><div>In the afternoon of the same day, I had a meeting with His Excellency the President of Malta George Vella. During the meeting, bilateral trade, safe, orderly and regular migration and increasing cooperation in the knowledge-based sector of blue economy were discussed.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, I had a meeting with Gilbert F Houngbo, Director General of the International Labor Organization (ILO). I informed the ILO Director General that I myself play the role of bargaining agent on behalf of the workers of Bangladesh. At this time, I reminded that the minimum wage of garment workers has been consistently increased in every term of our government. We have raised the minimum wage of garment workers from Taka 1,600 to Taka 8,000.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, I held a meeting with His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa. At this time, I paid my tributes to the memory of the late leader Nelson Mandela and recalled his visit to Bangladesh on the twenty-fifth anniversary of our independence.</div><div><br></div><div>President Ramaphosa lauded Bangladesh\'s socioeconomic and labour sector achievements and congratulated Bangladesh on becoming a member of the New Development Bank.</div><div><br></div><div>I conveyed to him, as the current chair of BRICS, that Bangladesh is interested to join the alliance. He said there is a possibility of taking a decision on increasing the number of members of the alliance at the BRICS summit to be held in Johannesburg in next August. I requested him to set up South Africa\'s Embassy in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>In the evening, I attended a dinner hosted by the ILO Director General at the ILO headquarters.</div><div><br></div><div>In the morning of June 15, Qatar\'s Minister of Labour and the president of this year\'s International Labour Conference Dr Ali Bin Samikh Al Mari paid a courtesy call on me. During the meeting, he praised the role of 3,70,000 Bangladeshi expatriates working in Qatar. Besides, he expressed interest in recruiting more Bangladeshi workers in Qatar.</div><div><br></div><div>After that, I joined the discussion titled \'New Economy and Society in Smart Bangladesh\' organised at the office of the World Economic Forum.</div><div><br></div><div>In my speech, I highlighted Bangladesh\'s development journey, \'Vision 2041\' to build a Smart Bangladesh, Bangladesh\'s readiness for the Fourth Industrial Revolution or 4IR, introduction of quality, inclusive and transformative education system and local adaptation efforts to face the impact of climate change.</div><div><br></div><div>I called for establishment of a 4IR Centre in Bangladesh. Then, I had a meeting with Professor Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum. In the meeting, we agreed to engage in a Virtual Reality initiative by the World Economic Forum. Besides, I gave consent in principle to Bangladesh\'s participation in the programme of planting and caring for one trillion trees around the world under the initiative of the Forum.</div><div><br></div><div>In the afternoon, I attended a luncheon hosted by the Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva. Heads of various UN agencies and other few agencies attended it. Among the participants:</div><div><br></div><div>1. Ms Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General, UNOG.</div><div><br></div><div>2. Ms Mia Seppo, Assistant Director-General, ILO.</div><div><br></div><div>3. Ms Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General, UNTAD.</div><div><br></div><div>4. Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman,</div><div><br></div><div> World Economic Forum.</div><div><br></div><div>5. Professor Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General, WMO.</div><div><br></div><div>6. Daren Tang, Director General, WIPO.</div><div><br></div><div>7. Doreen Bogdan, Secretary-General, ITU.</div><div><br></div><div>8.Prince Rahim Aga Khan, AKDN.</div><div><br></div><div>9. Mr Volker T?rk, High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR.</div><div><br></div><div>Our Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Secretary and senior officials were present.</div><div><br></div><div>While exchanging views, the guests who were present there assured us to be more creative and future-oriented in maintaining the activities of their respective organisations in the continued progress of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>In the evening, the Director General of the World Trade Organization, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala paid a courtesy call on me. During the meeting, various issues, including diversification of Bangladesh\'s exports, increasing the capacity of deep-sea fishing and agreement on subsidy in the fisheries sector, were discussed. She expressed hope for a favourable decision in the next ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization in favour of transitional least developed countries like Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, in the evening, I attended a reception organised by Bangladeshi expatriates in Switzerland.</div><div><br></div><div>In the morning of 16 June 2023, I left Geneva for Dhaka. I exchanged greetings with fellow passengers on the Bangladesh Biman flight.</div><div><br></div><div>Honorable Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Hon\'ble Minister for Foreign Affairs visited Geneva as my entourage. Besides, Hon\'ble Minister of State for Ministry of Labour and Employment and two honorable members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Labour and Employment, who were visiting Geneva to participate in the 111th International Labour Conference, joined as members of the Bangladesh delegation.</div><div><br></div><div>Overall, by participating in the \'World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All\', we have been able to present the various steps taken by the government to reform the labour sector to the world community. At the same time, we informed the international community about the various preparations and activities undertaken to build a \'Smart Bangladesh\' through the implementation of Vision 2041.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, I believe that discussions with His Excellency the President of the Swiss Confederation, Malta and South Africa will further accelerate our multidimensional relations with these friendly countries.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, I visited Doha to attend the 3rd Qatar Economic Forum at the invitation of His Highness the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani from May 22 to 24. The main objective of this forum was to find solutions through mutual discussions and exchange of views among the government policymakers, prominent economists, business leaders and journalists at the international level to face the multi-faceted challenges going on globally.</div><div><br></div><div>In the morning of May 23, I attended the opening ceremony of the 3rd Qatar Economic Forum. On the same day, I addressed university administrators, different faculty members and students at Qatar University Research Complex Auditorium in Lucille City. In my speech, I outlined the progress we have made in Bangladesh in the past fourteen and a half years in various fields, including economic development, poverty alleviation, education and knowledge-based society, and women\'s empowerment.</div><div><br></div><div>In the afternoon, I had a meeting with the Honorable Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Mohammad Bin Abdul Rahman Bin Jassim Al Thani, on the sidelines of the Qatar Economic Forum. During the meeting, we laid special emphasis on ensuring energy security.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, I had a meeting with His Excellency President Paul Kagame of Rwanda. During the conversation, he praised the socioeconomic development of Bangladesh. We put importance to speedy establishment of air services between the two countries under the recent Air Services Agreement. Besides, there was a discussion about enhancing cooperation between the two countries in the field of pharmaceuticals and ICT.</div><div><br></div><div>I informed about our readiness to engage in Contract Farming in Rwanda and adjoining other African countries under public-private partnerships in the light of our experience in agricultural research, extension and productivity growth.</div><div><br></div><div>On the same day, Qatar\'s Honorable Minister of State for Energy, Saad Bin Sherida Al Ka\'bi, met me. During the meeting, we had a fruitful discussion on the continued import of LNG from Qatar in continuation of the ten-year agreement executed in 2015.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, in the afternoon, Saudi Arabia\'s Honorable Minister of Investment Khalid Al Falih and Honorable Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al-Ibrahim jointly paid courtesy call on me. Very constructive discussions were held on various specific proposals related to expansion of trade and investment with Saudi Arabia.</div><div><br></div><div>Later in the afternoon, I was jointly met by the Honorable Minister of Investment Khalid Al Falih of Saudi Arabia and the Honorable Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al-Ibrahim. Very constructive discussions were held on various specific proposals related to expansion of trade and investment with Saudi Arabia.</div><div><br></div><div>In this context, we agreed to accelerate the construction of container terminals, establishment of special economic zones and solar parks with a capacity of 400 megawatts through Saudi investment. In addition, I urged the Saudi authorities to invest in increasing the capacity of Payra seaport.</div><div><br></div><div>The Saudi delegation expressed its interest in enhancing cooperation with Bangladesh in food production and processing, readymade garments and pharmaceuticals sectors. I welcomed the Saudi government\'s consideration of Bangladesh as a regional hub to expand their business in South and Southeast Asia.</div><div><br></div><div>In the morning of May 24, I took part in an interview with Haslinda Amin, a Bloomberg correspondent and presenter, at the main event of the 3rd Qatar Economic Forum.</div><div><br></div><div>At this time, I answered various questions related to the economic situation of Bangladesh in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war, the precautionary loan from the IMF and the possibility of importing energy from various countries, including Qatar and Russia, in the light of our friendly foreign policy, the environment and preparations for the upcoming national elections.</div><div><br></div><div>I reiterated my commitment that my government will do whatever is necessary to keep the development progress of the country going for the welfare of the people of Bangladesh. I also said that the IMF agreed to expedite the disbursement of loans to Bangladesh because we have the ability to repay the loan by meeting the conditions of IMF.</div><div><br></div><div>After that, I held a meeting with His Highness the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani at his office Amiri Dewan. He greeted me at the entrance with great sincerity. His Highness the Emir praised the contribution of Bangladeshi expatriates working in Qatar to the economic and infrastructural development of Qatar.</div><div><br></div><div>He mentioned that on my request, he will look into alternative employment for Bangladeshis who have become unemployed after FIFA World Cup 2022. Besides, he assured continued import of LNG from Qatar to Bangladesh on favorable terms.</div><div><br></div><div>During the meeting, I reiterated the invitation to His Highness the Emir of Qatar to visit Bangladesh this year and he responded positively. I called upon the Government of Qatar to continue their active and constructive role in the future development of the Muslim Ummah.</div><div><br></div><div>On the same day, I visited Awsaj Academy, a specialised school for children with special needs, run by the Qatar Foundation in Doha. During this short visit, I got to know about the activities of the academy and conveyed greetings from the children of Bangladesh to the students there.</div><div><br></div><div>In the afternoon of May 24, the representative of Bangladeshi citizens living in Qatar met me. On that night, I left Doha for Dhaka. As my entourage, the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honorable Adviser on Private Industry and Investment and the Honorable State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources visited Qatar.</div><div><br></div><div>Overall, my recent two visits to Qatar have added a new dimension to the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Qatar, which is reflected in the acceptance of invitation to visit Bangladesh by His Highness the Emir and the fruitful meetings held in Qatar. I am concluding my written speech. I request you to ask questions about this.</div><div>Khoda Hafez</div><div>Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu</div><div>May Bangladesh live forever. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-21 19:27:42', '2023-06-21 19:51:10'),
(7606, 7606, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday alleged that BNP wants to come to power by giving guarantee to sell Saint Martin’s island.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“BNP came to power in 2001 by giving undertaking to sell gas. Now they want to sell the country. They want to come to power by undertaking to sell St. Martin’s island,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier was addressing a press conference arranged at her official residence Ganabhaban over the outcomes of her recent visits to Switzerland and Qatar.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said she is the daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and doesn’t want to come to power by selling any resource of this country.</div><div><br></div><div>“Now if I say that I will lease out St. Martin’s island or our country, there will also be no problem for me to stay in power. I know that,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>But the PM said she would not allow anyone to play ducks and drakes with the fate of the people of Bangladesh. “We’ll not allow any act like carrying out terrorist activities in any place or attacking anyone by using the land of my country,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>“We believe in peace. We believe in peaceful cooperation,” said PM Hasina, adding that Bangladesh didn’t engage in quarrels with Myanmar even after some 11 lakh Myanmar refugees took shelter in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh continues negotiation with Myanmar on the issue, she said, adding that her government believes in the policy ‘Friendship to all and Malice towards none.’</div><div><br></div><div>“We didn’t go for engaging in fights or quarrels with them (Myanmar),” said the prime minister.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina visited Qatar from May 22 to 25 to attend the Qatar Economic Forum-2023 and visited Switzerland from June 13 to 16 to join the \"World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All,\" a summit of ILO. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-21 19:50:52', '2023-06-21 19:50:52'),
(7607, 7607, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A grisly riot at a women’s prison in Honduras Tuesday left at least 41 women dead, most burned to death, in violence the country\'s president blamed on “mara” street gangs that often wield broad power inside penitentiaries.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Twenty-six of the victims were burned to death and the remainder shot or stabbed at the prison in Tamara, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northwest of the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, said Yuri Mora, the spokesman for Honduras’ national police investigation agency. At least seven inmates were being treated at a Tegucigalpa hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>“The forensic teams that are removing bodies confirm they have counted 41,” said Mora.</div><div><br></div><div>Video clips shown by the government from inside the prison showed several pistols and a heap of machetes and other bladed weapons that were found after the riot.</div><div><br></div><div>Honduran President Xiomara Castro said the riot was “planned by maras with the knowledge and acquiescence of security authorities.”</div><div><br></div><div>\"I am going to take drastic measures!\" Castro wrote in her social media accounts.</div><div><br></div><div>Prisoners belonging to the feared Barrio 18 gang reportedly burst into a cell block and shot other inmates or set them afire.</div><div><br></div><div>Relatives awaiting news about inmates gathered outside the morgue in Tegucigalpa. They confirmed that inmates in the prison had told them they lived in fear of the Barrio 18 gang.</div><div><br></div><div>Johanna Paola Soriano Euceda was waiting for news about her mother Maribel Euceda, and sister, Karla Soriano. Both were on trial for drug trafficking, but were held in the same area as convicted prisoners.</div><div><br></div><div>Soriano Euceda said they had told her on Sunday that “they (Barrio 18 members) were out of control, they were fighting with them all the time. That was the last time we talked.”</div><div><br></div><div>Another group of dozens of anxious, angry relatives gathered outside the prison, located in a rural area about 20 miles (30 kilometers) from the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are here dying of anguish, of pain ... we don\'t have any information,” said Salomón García, whose daughter is an inmate at the facility.</div><div><br></div><div>Azucena Martinez, whose daughter was also being held at the prison, said “there are a lot of dead, 41 already. We don\'t know if our relatives are also in there, dead.”</div><div><br></div><div>Julissa Villanueva, head of the country\'s prison system, suggested the riot started because of recent attempts by authorities to crack down on illicit activity inside prisons and called Tuesday\'s violence a reaction to moves \"we are taking against organized crime.”</div><div><br></div><div>“We will not back down,” Villanueva said in a televised address after the riot.</div><div><br></div><div>Gangs wield broad control inside the country\'s prisons, where inmates often set their own rules and sell prohibited goods.</div><div><br></div><div>They were also apparently able to smuggle in guns and other weapons, a recurring problem in Honduran prisons.</div><div><br></div><div>“The issue is to prevent people from smuggling in drugs, grenades and firearms,” said Honduran human rights expert Joaquin Mejia. “Today\'s events show that they have not been able to do that.”</div><div><br></div><div>The riot appears to be the worst tragedy at a female detention center in Central America since 2017, when girls at a shelter for troubled youths in Guatemala set fire to mattresses to protest rapes and other mistreatment at the badly overcrowded institution. The ensuing smoke and fire killed 41 girls.</div><div><br></div><div>The worst prison disaster in a century also occurred in Honduras, in 2012 at the Comayagua penitentiary, where 361 inmates died in a fire possibly caused by a match, cigarette or some other open flame.</div><div><br></div><div>Tuesday\'s riot may increase the pressure on Honduras to emulate the drastic zero-tolerance, no-privileges prisons set in up in neighboring El Salvador by President Nayib Bukele. While El Salvador\'s crackdown on gangs has given rise to rights violations, it has also proved immensely popular in a country long terrorized by street gangs. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-21 20:53:07', '2023-06-21 20:53:07'),
(7608, 7608, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Election Commission (EC) is observing the Sylhet and Rajshahi city corporation elections today from the EC auditorium in Dhaka.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>A temporary control room has been set up to monitor the elections in the two cities.</div><div><br></div><div>Election Commissioners Brigadier General Md Ahsan Habib Khan, Md. Alamgir and Rasheda Sultana have been observing the overall situation since 6 am this morning.</div><div><br></div><div>They are monitoring the polls situation through 23 digital display boards, and 368 CCTV cameras in 2,520 voting rooms.</div><div><br></div><div>Voting in 345 polling centers is being monitored through the display boards with autorotation after every 10 seconds.</div><div><br></div><div>No untoward incident has been reported from the polling stations till the filing of this report at 10 am.</div><div><br></div><div>Voting in the elections to Rajshahi and Sylhet city corporations is underway today.</div><div><br></div><div>Voting started at 8 am, and it will continue till 4 pm without any break.</div><div><br></div><div>In Sylhet, a total of 4,86,605 voters will exercise their franchise in the polls while 3,51,982 people including 30,157 new voters are scheduled to exercise their franchise in the Rajshahi city polls.</div><div><br></div><div>Eight mayoral candidates, including Awami League-backed Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, are contesting the polls in Sylhet while four mayoral contenders, including Awami League-backed AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, are contesting in Rajshahi. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-21 21:20:59', '2023-06-21 21:20:59'),
(7609, 7609, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The black fedora worn by pop superstar Michael Jackson just before he dazzled the world with his moonwalk dance for the first time will be up for grabs in September during a Paris auction of music memorabilia.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The King of Pop whipped off the hat while breaking into his hit \"Billie Jean\" during a televised Motown concert in 1983.</div><div><br></div><div>A few minutes later Jackson, at the height of his fame, showed off what would become his trademark move -- a seemingly effortless glide backwards while appearing to move forward.</div><div><br></div><div>The hat, with an estimated value of 60,000 to 100,000 euros ($65,000-$110,000), will be the star attraction at an auction of rock-and-roll items by Drouot on September 26.</div><div><br></div><div>Other items include a guitar owned by the legendary bluesman T-Bone Walker that could fetch up to 150,000 euros; a suit worn by Depeche Mode\'s Martin Gore; and one of Madonna\'s gold records.</div><div><br></div><div>The sale is being organised by Artpeges and Lemon Auction, which last year made a splash with the 385,500-euros sale of the infamous guitar that broke up Oasis, the British band formed by the brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher.</div><div><br></div><div>A full list of the roughly 200 items will be published online by Hotel Drouot on July 4. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-21 21:39:21', '2023-06-21 21:39:21'),
(7610, 7610, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Building on its longstanding tradition of holding bilateral discussion with think tank partners in India, a CPD team will be joining “India-Bangladesh Strategic Dialogue” to be held in Delhi on June 22-23.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The discussion is being jointly organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and the Ananta Aspen Centre, New Delhi.</div><div><br></div><div>This is a Track-Two (non-government) initiative, said the civil society think-tank.</div><div><br></div><div>This will be the second dialogue under the CPD-Ananta Aspen collaboration, the first one was held (virtually) on 18 May 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>CPD along with its partners in India over the years has organised 16 such dialogues. The dialogues were held alternatively in Dhaka and Delhi.</div><div><br></div><div>The Delhi CPD-Ananta Aspen upcoming dialogue will discuss a range of bilateral issues having strategic and contemporary relevance.</div><div><br></div><div>Participants will deliberate speech on water sharing, multimodal connectivity including road, rail, water, coastal shipping, energy and digital connectivity.</div><div><br></div><div>Bilateral cooperation will be explored in novel areas such as monetary cooperation and technology transfer, according to CPD.</div><div><br></div><div>The evolution of bilateral relations will also be assessed in the context of emerging geo-strategic circumstances.</div><div><br></div><div>It is anticipated that at a time when the two countries stand at important crossroads and are heading towards national elections, the dialogue will be an opportunity to discuss how Indo-Bangladesh bilateral relationship could be reframed and reimagined in a way that meets the aspirations of both the countries and their people.</div><div><br></div><div>The dialogue in New Delhi will bring together high-level policy makers, experts and partners from both countries.</div><div><br></div><div>From the Bangladesh side, the participants include: Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD); Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD); Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD); Brig. Gen. (Retd) Dr. Sakhawat Hussain, former Election Commissioner, Bangladesh Election Commission; Md Shahidul Haque, former Senior Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Bangladesh; Dr. Amena Mohsin, Professor, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka; and Dr. M Tamim, Professor, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET); Shams Mahmud, President, Bangladesh-Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-21 23:40:45', '2023-06-21 23:40:45'),
(7611, 7611, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Two children died after being struck by lightning at Jalalabad village of Raninagar upazila in Naogaon on Wednesday noon.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The deceased were identified as Samiul Islam, 10, and Rifat Hossain, 3, sons of Lavlu Fakir of the village. Lavlu Fakir has no children except these two sons.</div><div><br></div><div>Selim Reza, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Raninagar Police Station, said the two brothers were playing at the courtyard of their house when a streak lightning struck them, leaving the duo critically injured.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Later, they were taken to the Upazila Health Complex where they died, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>The bodies were later handed over to the family, the officer added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-21 23:44:35', '2023-06-21 23:44:35'),
(7612, 7612, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>China and Pakistan have signed an MoU to construct a 1,200 MW nuclear power plant in Punjab province.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The \"Chashma V (C-5)\" facility will be built with Chinese investment of $3.48 billion, and the project will not incur additional costs despite inflation since the deal was signed in 2017.</div><div><br></div><div>The plant is part of Pakistan\'s \"energy security plan\" to diversify its energy mix and provide cheap electricity. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), connecting Xinjiang to Gwadar, is a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative. Source: sputniknewsindia</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-22 02:15:54', '2023-06-22 02:15:54'),
(7613, 7613, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said a \'movement\' is the only way to establish a non-partisan government for holding the next national election in a credible manner.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"There’s no alternative before the nation to carrying out a movement to force the current regime for holding the elections under a neutral government,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a seminar, the BNP leader said the entire nation is united for the restoration of democracy and voting rights of people by ousting the current government.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our position is clear that if Hasina (PM) remains in power, we won’t go to the election. It’s also a desire of the common people. That’s why we\'re making it very clear that we won\'t go to any election under this government,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader also said almost all the political parties want the Awami League government to step down and dissolve Parliament by handing over power to a caretaker or a non-partisan or a neutral government.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP organised the seminar titled “Constitutionality of the 15th Amendment” at a city hotel. Former Supreme Court registrar Iktedar Ahmed presented a keynote paper at the event.</div><div><br></div><div>Justifying BNP’s demand for holding the next election under an impartial government, Fakhrul said four/five elections were held under the caretaker government in the country in a fair and credible manner. “All those elections were acceptable to all of us. But Awami League brought the 15th amendment to the Constitution in a very planned and well-thought-out way to cling to power.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said the last two elections held after the annulment of the caretaker government system manifested that Awami League brought the 15th amendment to restore one-party Baksal rule in a different way under cover of democracy.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said BNP along with many other opposition parties have been on a movement to realise their demand for the election under an impartial government to empower people, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“There’s no other way to empower people except through elections. If the people\'s representatives are to come to power, then the election must be held under a neutral government. So, we must force the government to accept our demand through the unity of the people and through the movement,” he observed.&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-22 02:41:29', '2023-06-22 02:41:29'),
(7614, 7614, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh today urged city dwellers to complete the slaughtering of sacrificial animals by the second day of Eid-ul-Azha.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The mayor noted that after working for 72 hours to keep Dhaka clean and ensure that Eid is joyous and hassle-free for everyone, the city corporation manpower should get the opportunity to rest and enjoy the festival with their families as well.</div><div><br></div><div>The mayor made the call while talking to the media after inaugurating the Interim Waste Transfer Centre of Khilgaon Railway Kitchen Market in Ward-11. </div><div><br></div><div>“I would humbly request the city dwellers to complete the animal sacrifice within the first two days of Eid. We have a long-standing culture of sacrificing animals even on the third day,” Taposh said.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question on bringing the Aedes mosquito menace in the city under control, the Dhaka South mayor said, “We are aware of our responsibilities. Last year too, we successfully tackled the spread of Aedes mosquitoes. We have all the preparations, capabilities, and plans.”</div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka South City Corporation Secretary Akramuzzaman, Chief Property Officer Russell Sabrin, Chief Waste Management Officer Md Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, among others, were present at the time. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p>Eid-ul-Azha<br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-22 03:00:57', '2023-06-22 03:01:16'),
(7615, 7615, '<div><b>From 19th-century opera singers to the youngest modern pop superstars, \"divas\" are taking centre stage at a major new exhibition in London.</b></div><div><br></div><div>From Saturday until April 7 next year, the Victoria &amp; Albert Museum will be showcasing the stories of dozens of performers who have become feminist icons, anti-racism campaigners and LGBT champions.</div><div><br></div><div>\"DIVA\" includes more than 250 exhibits, including photographs, posters, magazines, film and video clips, as well as an accompanying soundtrack.</div><div>But the focus of the in-depth look at the mould-breaking talents on display is some 60 outfits that defined their distinctive image.</div><div><br></div><div>On show are Josephine Baker\'s sequinned costumes from the early 20th century as well as Stella McCartney\'s designs for the young American singer Billie Eilish.</div><div><br></div><div>There are also gowns by major designers worn on the red carpet of film premieres and at award ceremonies.</div><div><br></div><div>\"From the early 19th century opera singers that commissioned their own couture gowns to the kind of contemporary catwalk, from the Met Gala to the stage, the diva look and the diva expressing themselves through fashion is incredibly important\" curator Kate Bailey told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>The exhibition takes visitors on a journey across two centuries of female empowerment, from the first use of the Italian word meaning \"goddess\" to describe opera greats such as soprano Adelina Patti.</div><div><br></div><div>She was the best-known woman in 19th-century Britain after Queen Victoria.</div><div><br></div><div>Being classed as a diva allowed women rare independence at the time -- and made them pioneers in the struggle for equality with men.</div><div><br></div><div>The concept then evolved to the stage, with dancers such as the American Isadora Duncan and actresses such as France\'s Sarah Bernhardt.</div><div><br></div><div>\"My life has been a struggle to have my own way where I felt I was in the right,\" Bernhardt, who in the 1800s played male roles such as Shakespeare\'s Hamlet, once said.</div><div><br></div><div>- Equality to fluidity -</div><div><br></div><div>As technology developed, divas transferred to silent and then talking movies.</div><div><br></div><div>A major part of the exhibition is devoted to Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe, who was most famously depicted in Andy Warhol\'s pop art portrait.</div><div><br></div><div>Costumes used in films such as Taylor\'s in \"Cleopatra\" from 1963 or Monroe\'s in \"Some Like It Hot\" from 1959 are on display.</div><div><br></div><div>\"DIVA\" chronicles the struggle of these artists to make their way in a man\'s world and includes a chronology of the parallel evolution of feminism and the creative industries.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It\'s diva and power, diva and creativity... having a voice and using that voice and that platform to shift the needle, to do something different, to reinvent, to transform, to inspire,\" said Bailey.</div><div><br></div><div>The exhibition hails jazz singers Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald for breaking down racial barriers in the United States, alongside images from the recent Black Lives Matter movement.</div><div><br></div><div>Modern-day divas such as Tina Turner and Cher feature, with their most recognisable outfits designed by the American Bob Mackie.</div><div><br></div><div>But there are also counter-culture icons such as punk priestess Siouxsie Sioux and her non-conformist Pam Hogg creations.</div><div><br></div><div>The likes of Madonna, Bjork and Lady Gaga have repeatedly shown a chameleon-like ability to reinvent themselves or, like Annie Lennox, to push the boundaries of the feminine and masculine.</div><div><br></div><div>That has allowed other divas to be featured, such as Freddie Mercury, Elton John and Prince, who contributed to the LGBT struggle with their glamorous outfits. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-22 03:07:45', '2023-06-22 03:07:45');
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(7616, 7616, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">France\'s World Cup-winning midfielder N\'Golo Kante has joined Saudi Arabian champions Al Ittihad, the club said in a statement on Wednesday, joining up with compatriot Karim Benzema.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"Kante is an Ittihad player now!\" the club said on Twitter, while chairman Anmar al-Hailee tweeted: \"Welcome to our new tiger Kante,\" a reference to the team\'s nickname.</div><div><br></div><div>The 32-year-old becomes the latest in a line of European stars choosing to ply their trade in the desert kingdom, which is making big-money moves across elite sport.</div><div><br></div><div>A dynamic and industrious midfielder, Kante won the World Cup with France in 2018.</div><div><br></div><div>His club career also glitters. He won the Champions League and World Club Cup with Chelsea, as well as back-to-back Premier League titles with Leicester City and Chelsea.</div><div><br></div><div>Kante\'s contract with the London club was set to expire this month. He has signed a three-year deal with Al Ittihad, the Jeddah-based team said in a statement, though it gave no details of how much Kante will earn.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Kante\'s addition to Al-Ittihad is considered one of the most high-profile and impactful signings in the club\'s history,\" the statement added.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It is part of the club\'s efforts to establish itself as a top choice for world-class players in the Saudi Professional League.\"</div><div><br></div><div>He will wear the number seven shirt, which he also donned at Chelsea.</div><div>Current Ballon d\'Or holder Benzema joined Al-Ittihad earlier this month, after 14 seasons with Real Madrid in which he won five Champions Leagues, four La Liga titles and three Copas del Rey.</div><div><br></div><div>- \'Very excited\' -</div><div><br></div><div>In a video posted online by the club, the 35-year-old said in a message to his fellow Frenchman: \"One time I told you, you\'re the best player, box to box, in the world. Now I\'m happy to play with you again, and of course in the best team in Saudi.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Kante said he was \"very excited to play for the Tigers\".</div><div><br></div><div>The kingdom\'s league had already signed up five-time Ballon d\'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr in January.</div><div><br></div><div>His fellow Portuguese international Ruben Neves, currently of Wolves, is reportedly set to join Al Hilal.</div><div><br></div><div>Argentina legend Lionel Messi, widely considered the greatest player of all time, declined to make a similar move despite a lengthy Saudi courtship, and will instead join Inter Miami in the United States.</div><div><br></div><div>With its oil riches, Saudi Arabia -- a conservative monarchy frequently criticised over its human rights record -- has swiftly achieved a prominent role in world sports.</div><div><br></div><div>In football, the presumed goal is hosting the World Cup, which is intended to lift Saudi Arabia\'s profile and prestige as it tries to diversify its oil-reliant economy by attracting tourists and investors.</div><div><br></div><div>In the coming years, Saudi Arabia will organise the men\'s Asian Cup football, the Olympic-style Asian Games and even the Asian Winter Games in 2029.</div><div><br></div><div>The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), the state\'s sovereign wealth vehicle, holds an 80 percent stake in Newcastle United, who finished fourth in the Premier League last season.</div><div><br></div><div>In golf, the PIF has also ruffled feathers. It bankrolls LIV Golf, whose clash with the PGA Tour nearly caused a rupture in the sport.</div><div><br></div><div>A surprise merger between the rival tours earlier this month settled a legal battle, only a year after LIV Golf launched with several stars who had jumped from the PGA for big-money offers from the upstart series. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-22 03:12:08', '2023-06-22 03:12:08'),
(7617, 7617, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said an improvement in forex reserves is likely in the coming days as a number of measures such as discouraging unnecessary imports and encouraging remittance income have been taken by the government,.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said this in Parliament during her question-answer session while responding to a tabled question from ruling Awami League MP from Naogaon Shahiduzzaman Sarker.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that the foreign exchange reserve was 32.94 billion dollars in FY2017-18.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that due to inflationary pressures and post-Covid demand growth, imports have increased in the 2021-2022 financial year, creating some pressure on Bangladesh\'s trade balance.</div><div><br></div><div>“As a result, although foreign exchange reserves reached an all-time high of $48.06 billion in August 2022, it subsequently began to decline to cope with this pressure,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina, also Leader of the House said, the rate of decline in reserves increases when the central bank starts using foreign exchange reserves to maintain the value of the taka against the US dollar in order to control inflation.</div><div><br></div><div>“According to the latest statistics dated May 31, the amount of reserves is 29.87 billion dollars--with the help of which the import expenses of more than four months can be met,” she also said.</div><div><br></div><div>In reply to another query of ruling AL MP Noor Uddin Chowdhury from Laxmipur, the prime minister said that the success of her government in implementing the promises of the communication sector is now universally recognized and appreciated.</div><div><br></div><div>In her reply, the PM highlighted various projects and future plans in the communication sector.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that the Bridges Division has taken various&nbsp; plans for the development of the communication system of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>These include— the construction of 40 kilometer long Dhaka East-West Elevated Expressway, construction of 258 km subway in Dhaka city, construction of 86 km long Dhaka Inner Elevated Circular Road in Dhaka city and construction of about 2.25 km long bridge over Meghna river on Bhulta-Araihajar-Bancharampur-Nabinagar road in Dhaka and Brahmanbaria districts.</div><div><br></div><div>The&nbsp; plans also include: construction of 10.49 km long bridge over Tentulia and Kalabadar rivers on Barishal-Bhola road; construction of 1.59 km long bridge over Ariyal Kha river on Rahmatpur-Babuganj-Muladi Hijla-Mehendiganj road in Barisal district.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to a question from another AL MP Mahfuzur Rahman&nbsp; from Chattogram, PM Hasina said that about 55,000 hectares of unused land have already been brought under cultivation as a result of taking the initiative to cultivate those land.</div><div><br></div><div>Highlighting the various steps taken by the government in the agriculture sector, the prime minister said that as a result of the adoption and implementation of the government\'s agriculture-friendly policies, the production of rice, maize, potatoes, vegetables and fruits and other crops is continuously increasing.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh has risen to the third position in rice production in the world. Besides, 22 agricultural products are among the top 10 countries in the world, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that the government is trying to continue agricultural production to deal with the current crisis.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-22 03:15:50', '2023-06-22 03:15:50'),
(7618, 7618, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh Bank (BB) on Wednesday instructed banks to set up booths in the cattle markets ahead of Eid-ul-Azha to detect fake or forged notes amid the huge cash transaction.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The central bank issued a circular stating that banks have to assign dedicated officers as coordinators of respective banks and mail the designations and mobile phone numbers of the officers to Bangladesh Bank.</div><div><br></div><div>The scheduled banks have also been asked to coordinate with the branch offices of the central bank outside Dhaka to set up the booths.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, the banks will conduct the operation under the supervision of Sonali Bank where there is no central bank branch office, according to the circular.</div><div><br></div><div>To ensure smooth transactions, the banks will be able to contact the local authorities, including city corporations, district offices, municipalities and law enforcement agencies.</div><div><br></div><div>The banks will also ensure the counting of notes by setting up a cash counting machine at every booth, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>If any fake note is found, legal steps should be taken against the people involved in circulating them, the circular said.</div><div><br></div><div>The bank branches should also run videos on big screens highlighting the security features of bank notes until Eid. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-22 03:22:06', '2023-06-22 03:22:06'),
(7619, 7619, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>English is the most popular language in human history. As the world becomes more globalized, having English language skills is no longer an option, it’s a must for many job opportunities.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>It’s easy to learn the basics of English, only to stop improving. Since you don’t need total English proficiency for basic conversations, many learners of English forget to continually challenge themselves and improve their communications skills.</div><div><br></div><div>In this guide, you’ll learn how to improve your English communication using a series of eight simple tactics. Enroll in our 8 Secrets to English Success course and read on to get started mastering the art of communicating in English.</div><div><br></div><div>Dedicate 30 minutes each day to pronunciation</div><div>Pronunciation plays a huge role in English proficiency. Almost all non-native English speakers have an accent, whether they know it or not! Many people are ashamed of their accents, and feel that they need to eliminate them through practice.</div><div><br></div><div>Try not to fall into this mode of thinking. Having an accent is nothing to be ashamed of, as long as your pronunciation is clear and easy to understand. Dedicate about 30 minutes each day to pronunciation and you’ll quickly master the toughest words.</div><div><br></div><div>Pronunciation practice doesn’t need to be boring. One of the best ways to enhance your pronunciation is by reading aloud. Pick up your favorite English book and let yourself read it out loud with a focus on clear and consistent pronunciation.</div><div><br></div><div>Speak and interact with native English speakers</div><div>The most effective way to improve your English communication skills is by talking to native English speakers. Be direct and clear, and ask them to inform you of any pronunciation or grammar mistakes you make during conversation.</div><div><br></div><div>Ready to start? One of the best ways to practice with native English speakers is by traveling to a country where English is the official language. Enroll in our course, Travel English, to master the basics of English for traveling the world.</div><div><br></div><div>Read English books, newspapers, and magazines</div><div>There’s more to English communication than just speaking clearly. With email and online messengers playing such an important role in modern business, it’s now just as important to write English fluently as it is to speak it.</div><div><br></div><div>One of the best ways to improve your written English is by reading English books, magazines, and newspapers. Start by reading the news online in English, and then try reading short books and English magazine articles.</div><div><br></div><div>If you’re not confident in your written English, start by reading material you already know. Books you’ve already read – particularly children’s books – are excellent tools for mastering written English.</div><div><br></div><div>Chat with English speakers using an instant messenger</div><div>Do you struggle with written English? Just like talking to native English speakers is the best way to improve your spoken English, communicating with native speakers via text is the best way to improve your written English.</div><div><br></div><div>Make friends with native English speakers and keep in touch with them using an instant messenger like Skype, Yahoo!, or Facebook Chat. The short sentences and rapid-fire communication will force you to think on your feet when responding.</div><div><br></div><div>Record yourself speaking to discover your strong and weak points</div><div>Are you afraid of making a mistake in conversation? Does your accent make you feel embarrassed or shy when you speak in English? These are common issues for non-native English speakers, and they’re easy to combat using one simple tactic.</div><div><br></div><div>Record yourself speaking – either at home or in the workplace – and listen to your own voice in your free time. You’ll quickly notice your strong points – from tone of voice to pronunciation – and your weaknesses. - udemy</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-22 03:30:20', '2023-06-22 03:30:20'),
(7620, 7620, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Authorities of Chattogram Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) have suspended dialysis services for kidney patients at the hospital from this morning, causing immense suffering to the patients.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dialysis services provider, Sandor Dialysis Services Bangladesh Pvt Ltd, has told the CMCH authorities that they will not be able to provide dialysis services.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The CMCH authorities already issued a notice at the hospital on Wednesday. Soon after the news spread, hundreds of kidney patients and their relatives expressed anger and frustration.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mostakim arrested for protest over dialysis fee hike at CMCH gets bail</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the notice, Sandor Dialysis Services will no longer be involved in providing dialysis services to kidney patients from Thursday and they took the decision due to delay in payment from the Directorate General of Health Services (Finance) and non-cooperation of the authorities concerned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The notice also requested patients to take alternative steps until the settlement of the issue.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Brigadier General Shamim Ahsan, Director of CMCH, said the Sandor authorities decided to stop the dialysis services and the ministry has been informed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, on January 8, kidney patients and their relatives held a demonstration in front of the dialysis centre of the hospital, protesting a hike in dialysis fee.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The protesters said a patient needs dialysis eight times a month and they have to pay Tk 2,795 for the first two times and Tk 510 for each of the rest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Now the hospital authorities have raised the fee to Tk 2,935 and the patients have to pay it four times, and Tk 535 for each of the rest of dialysis every month, they said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dialysis fee hike at CMCH: Police sue protesting kidney patients, arrest one</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kidney Dialysis Centre was launched at the hospital under the public-private partnership project in 2017 and it is now operating with 32 dialysis machines.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the agreement with the Ministry of Health, Indian company Sandor will continue its operations at the centre for ten years. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-22 16:22:37', '2023-06-22 16:22:37'),
(7621, 7621, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The death toll from an explosion which ripped through a barbecue restaurant in Yinchuan, capital of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on Wednesday night, has risen to 31, local authorities said Thursday.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The blast happened at around 8:40 p.m. on a busy street in Xingqing District of Yinchuan, due to a leakage of liquefied petroleum gas from the operating area of a barbecue restaurant.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">N’ganj re-rolling mill explosion: Death toll now 7</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The explosion resulted in 38 casualties, with 31 people confirmed dead despite rescue efforts, while seven individuals, including one in critical condition, are currently receiving medical treatment, according to Ningxia Hui Autonomous Regional Committee of the Communist Party of China. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-22 16:25:35', '2023-06-22 16:25:35'),
(7622, 7622, '<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka’s air is no longer world\'s most polluted.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 93 at 9 am this morning, the capital of Bangladesh 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;\">An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’ with an acceptable air quality. However, there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan’s Lahore, Jakarta’s Indonesia and South Africa’s Johannesburg occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 161, 161 and 159, 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;\">Dhaka\'s air quality \'moderate\' this morning</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Similarly, an AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be \'poor\', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered \'hazardous\', posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After yesterday’s rain, Dhaka\'s air quality \'moderate\' this morning</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, '2023-06-22 16:28:41', '2023-06-22 16:28:41'),
(7623, 7623, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A massive search and rescue effort for a missing submersible near the wreck of the Titanic entered a critical stage late Wednesday, with just one night left before the oxygen supply for the five people on board runs out.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">While coast guard officials insisted they remained \"hopeful,\" with a surge of&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">assets and experts joining the operation and sonar picking up unidentified&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">underwater noises, the challenge of locating and recovering the crew alive&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">appeared increasingly formidable.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"Sometimes you\'re in a position where you have to make a tough decision.&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">We\'re not there yet,\" said US Coast Guard Captain Jamie Frederick, adding&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">that it remained a search-and-rescue mission \"100 percent.\"</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Organizers of the multinational response -- which includes US and Canadian&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">military planes, coast guard ships, and teleguided robots -- are focusing&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">their efforts in the North Atlantic close to multiple \"underwater noises\"&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">detected by sonar late Tuesday and Wednesday.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The sounds raised hopes that the passengers on the small tourist craft are&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">still alive though experts have not been able to confirm their source.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"We don\'t know what they are, to be frank with you,\" said Frederick, who&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">added: \"We have to remain optimistic and hopeful.\"</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Titan began its descent at 8:00 am on Sunday and had been due to resurface&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">seven hours later, according to the US Coast Guard.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rescuers, who have received help from around the world, estimate that</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">passengers may run out of oxygen on Thursday morning, based on the sub\'s&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">capacity to hold up to 96 hours of emergency air.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The 21-foot (6.5-meter) tourist craft lost communication with its mothership&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">less than two hours into its trip to see the remains of the Titanic, which&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">sits more than two miles (nearly four kilometers) below the surface of the&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">North Atlantic.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The submersible, named Titan, was carrying British billionaire Hamish Harding&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">and Pakistani tycoon Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, who also have&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">British citizenship.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">OceanGate Expeditions charges $250,000 for a seat on the sub.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Mr Titanic\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Also on board is the company\'s CEO, Stockton Rush, and a French submarine&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">operator Paul-Henri Nargeolet, nicknamed \"Mr Titanic\" for his frequent dives&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">at the site.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Ships and planes have scoured 10,000 square miles (around 20,000 square&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">kilometers) of surface water -- roughly the size of Massachusetts -- for the&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">vessel, which was attempting to dive about 400 miles off the coast of&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Newfoundland, Canada.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">After the noises were detected by a Canadian P-3 aircraft, rescuers relocated&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">two remotely operated vehicles (ROV) that search under the water and one&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">surface vessel with sonar capability.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The ROV searches have not yielded results but data from the Canadian aircraft&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">has been shared with US Navy experts for acoustics analysis.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"There have been multiple reports of noises and every one of those noises is&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">being analyzed,\" said Carl Hartsfield, from the Woods Hole Oceanographic&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Institution.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added that the sounds \"have been described as banging noises.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Frederick said the number of surface vessels in the search would double from&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">five to 10 within 24 to 48 hours.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The Navy has sent a specialized winch system for lifting heavy objects from&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">extreme depths, other equipment and personnel; and the Pentagon has deployed&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">three C-130 aircraft and three C-17s.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">A deep-sea underwater robot sent by France\'s oceanographic institute was due&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">to arrive early Wednesday afternoon.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Fears of a leak -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Titan\'s mission was expected to be the only manned trip to the Titanic this&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">year due to bad weather, Harding wrote in on Instagram beforehand.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The Titanic hit an iceberg and sank in 1912 during its maiden voyage from&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">England to New York with 2,224 passengers and crew on board. More than 1,500 people died.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">It was found in 1985 and remains a lure for nautical experts and underwater&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">tourists.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The pressure at that depth as measured in atmospheres is 400 times what it is&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">at sea level.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Mike Reiss, an American television writer who visited the Titanic wreck on&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">the same sub last year, told the BBC the experience was disorientating.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Alistair Greig, professor of marine engineering at University College London,&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">has suggested two possible scenarios based on images of the Titan.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said if it had an electrical or communications problem, it could have</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">surfaced and remained floating, \"waiting to be found\" -- bearing in mind the&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">vessel can reportedly be unlocked from the outside only.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"Another scenario is the pressure hull was compromised -- a leak,\" he said in&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">a statement.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Then the prognosis is not good.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">In 2018, OceanGate Expeditions\' former director of marine operations David&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Lochridge alleged in a lawsuit that he had been fired after raising concerns&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">about the company\'s \"experimental and untested design\" of the craft.&nbsp; AFP</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-22 16:34:40', '2023-06-22 16:34:40'),
(7624, 7624, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">According to state media, China has confirmed that 53 people were killed when a coal mine partly collapsed in the northern Inner Mongolia region in February.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Dozens of people had been missing after a 180-metre-high (590-foot) slope&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">gave way at the open-pit mine in the remote Alxa League, burying people and&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">vehicles below.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rescuers initially pulled six survivors and six dead from the debris, but</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">authorities did not provide further updates for months.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">State broadcaster CCTV said Wednesday that 47 people classified as missing&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">after the incident \"had been confirmed to have no vital signs\", citing the&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">regional emergency bureau.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"The search and rescue work has now finished,\" CCTV said, adding that \"the&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">large-scale collapse on February 22... killed 53 people\".</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a sign of the incident\'s severity, Chinese President Xi Jinping at the</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">time ordered authorities to \"do everything possible to search for and rescue&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">the missing people... and protect the security of people\'s lives and property&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">as well as overall social stability\".</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Authorities deployed hundreds of personnel and over 100 pieces of equipment&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">as part of the rescue operation, according to local government statements.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Alxa League is a sparsely populated area whose economy runs largely on mining&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">and other extractive industries.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Mine safety in China has improved in recent decades, as has media coverage of&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">major incidents, many of which were once overlooked.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, accidents still occur frequently in an industry where safety</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">protocols are often lax, especially at the most rudimentary sites. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-22 17:09:02', '2023-06-22 17:09:02'),
(7625, 7625, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Washington plans another \"push\" Thursday for creditors to grant relief and restructure debts of poor and developing countries, according to US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"At this summit, the United States will continue to push for the full and&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">speedy participation of all bilateral creditors in debt negotiations,\" Yellen&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">said, in remarks prepared for a news conference in Paris.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"A key pillar of economic stability is debt sustainability,\" said Yellen,&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">adding, \"the international community must come together to support countries&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">that are currently in crisis.\"</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The remarks were ahead of a summit organized by French President Emmanuel&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Macron aimed at building a \"new consensus\" among nations that combines&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">tackling poverty with confronting climate change.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China, a major global creditor, has come under scrutiny for its lack of&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">participation in multilateral efforts to ease the debt burden on developing</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Yellen remarked that she was \"encouraged\" by progress on Zambia, saying she&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">hoped debt treatment for the African country \"can move forward soon.\"</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also highlighted Ghana and Sri Lanka as countries that should receive</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"timely debt treatment in line with their financing assurances.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on Wednesday expressed confidence his&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">government will secure a debt restructuring plan at the Paris gathering.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yellen also said she would continue to seek support for an \"evolution&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">initiative\" for the World Bank to steer additional resources to combatting&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">climate change.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The World Bank should \"develop a framework and principles for the targeted</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">use of concessional resources -- so that financing to address global&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">challenges is deployed to where it has the highest impact,\" she said.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We would also like to see the World Bank offer borrowers the option to add</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">climate-resilient debt clauses to their loan agreements.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A hundred countries are expected at the two-day gathering on Thursday,</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">including 50 heads of state.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I can feel it as I receive confirmation of participation and messages from</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">our partners,\" Macron tweeted Wednesday. \"We can make a huge difference for&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">the plant and against poverty.\" AFP</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-22 17:51:51', '2023-06-22 17:51:51'),
(7626, 7626, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said Awami League does not need to rig vote for winning any election as it has public trust.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Rather, Awami League gets the votes of the people through its work for the masses, by attaining confidence and trust from the countrymen,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said this while delivering her introductory speech in the Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) meeting held at her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">‘Does BNP want to come to power by selling St. Martin’s island?’ — PM Hasina asks</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Awami League chief said that whenever her party lost in any election, it was done through conspiracy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“By vote dacoity, (conspirators) deprived Awami League of getting its actual votes or seats, or tried to defeat Awami League,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that whenever people of the country got the chance to cast their votes freely, they cast their votes for Awami League.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this connection, she mentioned about the election held in 2008 which was held under a caretaker government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In that election, she said, the grand alliance led by Awami League won defeating the 20-party alliance led by BNP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM says recent visits to Switzerland, Qatar will accelerate multi-dimensional relations</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“They got only 29 seats and another seat from a by-election, in total 30 seats, all should remember that the people did not cast votes for the terrorist party BNP,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The prime minister said that because of the dismal result BNP did not contest in the election in 2014 vowing to resist the vote.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Coast Guard to be built as a modern force: PM Hasina</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that the voting rights of the people have been ensured by the Awami League government through a long struggle. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-22 17:56:15', '2023-06-22 17:56:15'),
(7627, 7627, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">All the rivers have started to swell, triggered by the onrush of water from the upstream and rain, inundating low-lying areas in different upazilas of Kurigram district.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some 10,000 people in the char areas have been affected as the river water entered their houses and submerged the roads.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Dudhkumar river at Pateshwari Sonahat Rail Bridge point was flowing almost at the danger level in Bhurungamari upazila while the water level of Dharla, Brahmaputra and Teesta rivers has also increased.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">People were seen moving on boats while vegetable farms, Aman rice seed-beds and jute farms were inundated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Abed Ali, Union Parishad member of Bamandanga, said the water of Dudhkumar river started to enter the locality from Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Though the authorities concerned have dumped G.O. bags but the 250 metre flood protection dam collapsed due to the strong current.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Marjina Begum, a resident of Uttar Nauabash village in Sadar upazila, said that she, along with her family, took shelter at the flood protection dam on Wednesday as the flood water entered her house.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India, Pakistan brace for winds, flash flooding as Cyclone Biparjoy makes landfall</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Onrush of upstream water, rain trigger flood in Kurigram&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Biplab, a vegetable trader in the area, said, “I cultivated pointed gourd on one bigha of land, and I was happy with the good yield. But the flood water damaged my vegetables.”</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The executive magistrate of Kurigram Water Development Board said there is a possibility that the river water may cross the danger level on June 23 but there is no possibility of long-term flood.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saidul Arif, Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram district, said all-out preparation has been taken to tackle the flood situation and 541 metric tonnes of rice, Tk 10.21 lakh and dry foods are in stock for distributing in time to the flood affected areas. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-22 17:59:53', '2023-06-22 17:59:53'),
(7628, 7628, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, has said the UK and Bangladesh enjoy a strong partnership based on their long-shared history, deep people-to-people ties and as members of the Commonwealth.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I am delighted to host this reception to celebrate the Official Birthday of His Majesty King Charles III and the Coronation of Their Majesties The King and The Queen,\" she said while speaking at a reception on Wednesday evening.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The British High Commission celebrated the official birthday of His Majesty King Charles III and the Coronation of the King and Queen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md. Tajul Islam joined the reception as the guest of honour.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka-based music producer invited to a research trip to Switzerland</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“With thanks to our partners, we are also making a donation today to support women’s empowerment and climate justice through youth engagement in Bangladesh. His Majesty is a strong supporter of youth, community, sustainability, and diversity and with this contribution we pay tribute to him,\" said the British High Commissioner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A wide range of dignitaries from the government of Bangladesh; Bangladesh parliament; the diplomatic corps and representatives from the fields of business, trade, social development, academia, arts, culture, media and sports joined the celebration.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In honour of the King, the themes of the event were “youth, community, diversity, and sustainability”.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Switzerland will develop skilled manpower in Bangladesh under a new MoU</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A significant portion of the sponsorship raised for the event will be used to support the empowerment of women in leadership and youth promotion of climate advocacy across Bangladesh, through YouthNet for Climate Justice and WAVE Foundation for Women in Leadership.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The King’s Birthday Party is celebrated by British embassies and high commissions around the world. This year, the King turns 75 on November 14.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His Majesty the King is Head of the Commonwealth, which is a family of 56 countries working together for prosperity, democracy and peace. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-22 18:02:53', '2023-06-22 18:02:53');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(7629, 7629, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Australia’s online safety watchdog has issued a legal notice to Twitter demanding an explanation of what the social media giant is doing to tackle a surge in online hate since Tesla CEO Elon Musk bought the platform.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Australia’s eSafety Commission describes itself as the world’s first government agency dedicated to keeping people safer online. The agency said Thursday that it received more complaints about online hate on Twitter in the past 12 months than any other platform and had received an increasing number of reports of serious online abuse since Musk took over the company in October.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Australian agency’s boss, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, said she sent a notice to the San Francisco-based company Wednesday with 36 detailed questions on how Twitter\'s policies about hateful conduct are enforced.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If Twitter does not respond with factual and truthful responses to all questions within 28 days, an Australian judge could fine the company up to 700,000 Australian dollars ($476,000) for every day of delay, Inman Grant said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The whole idea of the basic online safety expectations is that global companies like Twitter are enforcing their own policies … and that they’ve got people and technology to keep their platforms safe,” Inman Grant said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“They have a Hateful Conduct policy that says you may not directly attack other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, etc., and I want to know if fundamentally they are enforcing this policy and how effectively they are doing so,” she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Twitter did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The eSafety notice followed Musk\'s announcement in November that he was granting “amnesty” for suspended accounts. This led to 62,000 banned or suspended users being reinstated to the platform, including 75 accounts with more than 1 million followers each, eSafety said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Twitter’s global workforce had been slashed under Musk from 8,000 employees to 1,500, with trust and safety teams shed. Twitter had removed all public policy staff from Australia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Inman Grant said Indigenous Australians, disabled people and those who identify as LGBTQ+ experience online hate at double the rate of other Australians.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“A third of all reports into our office of online hate are coming from Twitter. It’s been a huge surge since October \'22 when Elon Musk took over,\" Inman Grant told Australian Broadcasting Corp. \"Twitter has always been fiery in terms of discourse, but it’s turned into an absolute bin fire.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“A lot of the changes to the algorithms have made people feel like you see more toxicity, much more coarse discourse. But without lifting the hood and using these transparency powers, we really don’t know what’s happening and this is where we’re trying to get to the bottom of things,” she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Australians are not alone in their increasingly hostile experience with Twitter. American advocacy group GLAAD said last week that all major social media platforms do poorly at protecting LGBTQ+ users from hate speech and harassment. But Twitter was the worst.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In its annual Social Media Safety Index, GLAAD gave Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Twitter low or failing scores, saying the platforms don’t do enough to keep their users safe. That said, most improved from a year ago.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Twitter was the only exception. GLAAD’s scorecard called it “the most dangerous platform for LGBTQ people” and the only one that saw its scores decline from last year — to 33% from 45% a year ago.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">British rights group Center for Countering Digital Hate found instances of racial slurs on Twitter soared immediately after Musk bought the company.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A racial epithet used to attack Black people was found more than 26,000 times in the week following Musk’s takeover — three times the average for 2022, the center found.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The center also found users who pay for a Twitter Blue Check seemed to enjoy a level of impunity from the platform’s rules on online hate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Inman Grant chairs the Global Online Safety Regulators Network, which was formed with British, Irish and Fijian online harms regulators in November to coordinate on online safety issues. Each of the 27 European Union states will soon have its own online harms regulator.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Inman Grant said Australia was discussing with other national regulators sharing information and how they might take joint regulatory actions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We will be working with other governments to make sure that we’re shining a spotlight on these companies and getting them to improve their standards in doing the right thing,” she said. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"18\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-22 18:23:39', '2023-06-22 18:23:39'),
(7630, 7630, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Flash flood inundated different areas after rise in water level in various rivers of Kishoreganj Haor area due to onrush of water from upstream and continuous monsoon rains.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Parts of various roads and ferry terminals have already been submerged, forcing&nbsp; the Roads and Highways Department to suspend the ferry services on Wednesday adding to passengers’ suffering.</div><div><br></div><div>Several lakh people of Austagram, Mithamoin and Itna upazilas use roads for six months in a year for going to the district town.</div><div><br></div><div>Due to the ferry suspension, passengers had to use boat and auto-rickshaw from Balikala to Mithamoin and from Leather Ghat to Itna to reach their destinations, said locals.</div><div><br></div><div>According to Water Development Board in Kishoreganj, the water level in different rivers&nbsp; in the Haor area has increased significantly in the last 24 hours, but the water level of the rivers has not crossed the danger level yet.</div><div><br></div><div>Bayezid Mia of Khairpur-Abdullahpur union of Austagram said, \"During the dry season, we can go quickly to the district town. On Wednesday, I came to Mithamoin and found that the ferry was closed; I was forced to go to Kishoreganj town following a different route.”</div><div><br></div><div>Momin Ullah, an auto-rickshaw driver of Mithamoin Sadar Union, said, \"We will be more affected as the road is submerged. Now there will be fewer people on this route, will earn less , and we will be unemployed.”</div><div><br></div><div>Ritesh Barua, executive engineer of Kishoreganj RHD, said all the ferry terminals in Haor areas have been submerged by flood water and many roads in Haor have also been submerged. “There is no arrangement to start the ferry in this situation. Therefore, all ferries have been closed.” - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-22 20:45:55', '2023-06-22 20:45:55'),
(7631, 7631, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina today said they have proved that elections under her government could be fair through holding the recent city corporation elections in a free and fair manner.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"We have proved that the election under the Awami League government could be free and none can make complaints against it,\" she said referring to the recently held city corporation elections to Barishal, Khulna, Sylhet and Rajshahi, local government elections and by-election.</div><div><br></div><div>She was presiding over the Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) meeting at her official Ganabhaban in the capital on thursday morning prior to observing the party\'s 74th founding anniversary tomorrow.</div><div><br></div><div>The Prime Minister called upon the countries which are closely observing elections in Bangladesh to go through the recently held elections where people exercised their voting rights spontaneously.</div><div><br></div><div>\"But people could not go to the polling booths to cast their votes in by-elections during the BNP regime as they looted the votes to win their candidates,\" she added.</div><div><br></div><div>To this end, she referred to the by-elections in Tejgaon, Mirpur and Magura and saying: \"They took birth through vote dacoity and this is their habit.\"</div><div><br></div><div>She, however, greeted the countrymen for electing AL candidates as the mayors to Barishal, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet city corporations.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina said the BNP, which was declared a terrorist organisation by a Canadian court, is now calling the AL as vote thief.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Awami League no needs to stealing votes as it getting votes through working for the welfare of the country and thus achieving the trust and confidence of its people,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL President said whenever her party faced defeat, it was due to the conspiracies.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Whenever the people of the country has got chance to give votes, they voted for the Awami League and the election-2008 is an example of it which was also held under the caretaker government,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>On the contrary, the people never vote for the terrorist organisation (BNP) as it has no interest with serving the people and work for their betterment rather to making own fates through large scale corruption, the Premier continued.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Everyone should remember that none voted for the terrorist organisation BNP. So, they did not take part in the general elections-2014 rather created anarchy through arson attacks and killing people alive setting fire on them,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader moderated the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>AL Presidium Member and Deputy Leader of the House Begum Matia Chowdhury and Senior Member of the AL Abul Hasnat Abdullah were present on the dais. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-22 22:42:34', '2023-06-22 22:42:34'),
(7632, 7632, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Lebanon clinched a 2-0 win against Bangladesh in their opening Group B fixture of the 2023 SAFF Championship at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru of India on Thursday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Contrary to the general expectation, Bangladesh did not sit back. Guided by experienced players in captain Jamal Bhuyan and Sohel Rana, it kept the Lebanon defenders on their toes in the early minutes.</div><div><br></div><div>Its first proper chance came from a set-piece - Bhuyan sent a floating cross to the far-post from a freekick. The ball initially looked dangerous with Suman Reza looking to make contact. But Ali Dhaini had a good starting position inside the box and he cleared the ball to safety.</div><div><br></div><div>As the half progressed, Lebanon started to find its footing in the game and began to dominate proceedings in terms of possession and chance creation.</div><div><br></div><div>The Cedars got their first opportunity in the 16th minute. A patient attacking buildup seemed to frustrate the Bangladesh defence. Khalil Bader received the ball and spread it to Karim Darwich in the final third. In a split second, Darwich had turned and made his way to the edge of Bangladesh’s penalty area. Seeing his window of opportunity, he took the shot but failed to hit the target.</div><div><br></div><div>Lebanon’s best chance in the first-half came in the 34th minute from a freekick. Ali Al Haj pinged a cross towards Hassan Kourani. The ball found its intended target and Kourani connected well with a header. But the effort was straight at keeper Anisur Rahman, who showed good reflexes to make the save from point-blank range.</div><div><br></div><div>Lebanon could have finished the half with a lead with Darwich getting a chance in additional time. Dancing his way past a couple of Bangladesh players, he made his way inside the box and had a perfect window to shoot. But he delayed and took the ball away from the target. When the shot finally came, the angle proved to be too narrow for Darwich. His shot missed the target, with the ball flashing across the face of the goal, which visibly infuriated head coach Aleksandar Ilic.</div><div><br></div><div>The second-half started with both teams having chances in a span of five minutes.</div><div><br></div><div>In the 55th minute, substitute Hassan Maatouk was set up by Bader with a deft touch on the right side of the box. Maatouk traded power for precision, blasting a shot at goal, and missed the target by quite a distance.</div><div><br></div><div>Five minutes later, Bangladesh created its best chance of the game. Rana opened the Lebanon defence with an aerial through ball from his own half. Foysal Ahmad Fahim, on the right, did well to stay onside, collecting the ball and sprinting at goal with acres of green ahead of him. Once inside the box, Ali Sabeh came off his line, which forced Fahim to take the shot, but it was a disappointing effort as he hit the ball straight at the Lebanon keeper.</div><div><br></div><div>Lebanon slowly grew into the game and chipped away at the Bangladesh defence.</div><div><br></div><div>On the backfoot, the pressure got to Tariq Kazi and he was dispossessed by Darwich after a loose touch. With Kazi being the last man in defence, Darwich had a clear run at goal, ably supported by Maatouk on the right. Darwich went for the unselfish route once he was one-on-one with the keeper and squared the ball to Maatouk, who lashed the ball inside the net in the 79th minute.</div><div><br></div><div>Javier Hernandez Cabrera’s Bangladesh looked tired after conceding the first goal. Lebanon, however, kept hounding its opponent.</div><div><br></div><div>The constant pressure paid off, and the Cedars bagged their second of the match late in additional time. Zein Al Abidine Farran collected a loose ball on the right side of the Bangladesh box and squared it to Bader in the centre, who had the easiest of finishes in front of an empty net. Source: sportstar.thehindu.com</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-23 01:17:25', '2023-06-23 01:17:25'),
(7633, 7633, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday alleged that the intelligence agencies are picking up their potential candidates and putting pressure on them to join the next polls under the present government defying the party decision.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he asked the law enforcers to refrain from seditious activities like obstructing the peaceful movement of the people and unlawfully arresting and harassing opposition leaders and activists.</div><div><br></div><div>“I want to share with you (journalists) awful information that among our politically active leaders who earlier contested or will contest the election are being picked up by the intelligence agencies, and they are being told to join the election even if BNP boycotts it,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said their many leaders are informing the party high command that they are being threatened by the law enforcers to participate in the polls.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"I’m telling you (media) it publicly. What country are we living in? We’re now living in a medieval barbarian age as there is no wrongdoing that the present government is not doing to cling to power.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul alleged that the government has again started plotting to eliminate the opposition leaders and workers from the election field ahead of the upcoming national election in a planned way.</div><div><br></div><div>He said BNP leaders and activists are being arrested, jailed and implicated in false cases all over the country. ‘There is no reason to take the matter lightly.”</div><div><br></div><div>When the entire world is talking about the lack of democracy in Bangladesh and raising the allegation of human rights violations against the current regime, Fakhrul said the Prime Minister and her party colleagues are again spreading lies to cheat the people.</div><div><br></div><div>“All kinds of evil tactics are being adopted to suppress the political opponents. “The vital and prominent members of BNP and its associate bodies are being arrested across the country and they’re not being released with an ulterior motive. The government is now doing what it did before the 2018 elections,” he alleged.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader also accused the government of trying to use the administration once again for holding a lopsided election and going back to power as a hybrid regime. “But people have turned around and won’t let you do it this time.”</div><div><br></div><div>He called upon the officials of the state machinery, including administration and law enforcement agencies not to involve themselves in unconstitutional activities.</div><div><br></div><div>“Don\'t stand against the people. The people of this country have always stood against any undemocratic force. They stood up against any fascism and established their rights. They’ll also restore their rights again,” the BNP leader warned.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul also urged the law enforcers not to disrupt the democratic processes by following the unfair and illegal orders of the government.</div><div><br></div><div>He said it is the constitutional right of the people to carry out a movement for establishing their rights. “We think the obstruction to a peaceful movement of people, the arrest of demonstrators and repressions on them are tantamount to treason. Please refrain from these activities.”</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader urged the government to step down right now as per the people’s desire and hand over power to a non-party neutral administration for holding the next polls in a free and fair manner.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Otherwise the people of the country know how to get back their rights,\" he warned.</div><div><br></div><div>Giving a list of the names of arrested leaders of BNP and its associate bodies, Fakhrul demanded their immediate release. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-23 01:36:40', '2023-06-23 01:36:40'),
(7634, 7634, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh has ranked 1st among South Asian countries in terms of gender parity, according to the latest Global Gender Gap Report 2023 by the World Economic Forum (WEF).</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>With a score of 72.2%, Bangladesh ranked 59th globally, indicating significant progress in achieving gender parity. Women across the country this year experienced a rise in overall gender parity, as reflected in a higher score and index ranking compared to 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh ranked 71st globally in 2022 with a gender parity score of 71.4%.</div><div><br></div><div>The Global Gender Gap Index annually benchmarks the current state and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment.</div><div><br></div><div>The level of progress toward gender parity (the parity score) for each indicator is calculated as the ratio of the value of each indicator for women to the value for men. A parity score of 1 indicates full parity.</div><div><br></div><div>In South Asia, Bangladesh continues to top the chart, followed by Bhutan (68.2%), Sri Lanka (66.3%), Nepal (65.9%), Maldives (64.9%), India (64.3%), Pakistan (57.5%) and Afghanistan (40.5%).</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh has made notable progress in the field of Political Empowerment, placing seventh worldwide and achieving a gender parity rate of 55.2%. The country has had a woman as head of state for 29.3 years out of the last 50 years, the longest duration in the world.</div><div><br></div><div>However, the report shows the shares of women in ministerial (10%) and parliamentary positions (20.9%) in Bangladesh are relatively low.</div><div><br></div><div>In terms of health and survival, Bangladesh achieved a parity rate of 96.2% due to higher parity in sex ratios at birth. In terms of healthy life expectancy, however, gender parity has been dropping as men’s life expectancy has been increasing faster than that of women since the 2020 edition.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh demonstrated a higher parity in education as well, with a gender parity rate of 93.6%.</div><div><br></div><div>The report says both women and men’s literacy rates and enrollment in secondary and tertiary education have been increasing steadily over the last decade.</div><div><br></div><div>\"While there is now full parity in enrolment in secondary education, for literacy rate and enrolment in tertiary education, there remains a persistent gap,\" the report states.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh’s performance in terms of economic participation and opportunity remained one of the lowest globally. According to the latest report, Bangladesh ranked 139 globally, with a parity rate of only 43.8%.</div><div><br></div><div>The Global Gender Gap Report 2023 also highlighted the gender parity status of South Asia as a region. With a parity rate of 63.4%, South Asia stands at 7th out of 8 regions. The score has risen by 1.1 percentage points since the last edition on the basis of the constant sample of countries covered since 2006, which can be partially attributed to the rise in scores of populous countries such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the report, it will take 149 years to achieve full parity in this region at the current rate of progress.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, India has scored a parity rate of 64.3%, ranking 127th on the global index. Although the country has improved by 1.4 percentage points and eight positions since the last edition, it lags far behind, compared to Bangladesh, in achieving gender parity in terms of economic participation and opportunity (36.7%) and political empowerment (25.3%). According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-23 01:42:32', '2023-06-23 01:42:32'),
(7635, 7635, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday warned if opposition BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami return to power they will destroy the country.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Bangladesh must be established as a developing nation. That is possible if only the Awami League remains in power. But those who illegally grabbed power and the terrorist parties like BNP and Jamaat who don’t believe in the spirit of the liberation will destroy this country,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina, also the ruling Awami League president, made the remarks after paying homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at his portrait at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi-32 this morning on the occasion of the party’s 74th founding anniversary.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Highlighting the country’s development success in different sectors under her government, she said if Awami League stays in power this country will be more developed and prosperous.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We will develop a smart Bangladesh, a smart population, a smart economy by 2041 and the country will move forward,” she stated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said her Awami League government has ensured food to the people, provided electricity to every house, illuminated every house with the light of education, reached healthcare service to their doorsteps up to grassroots level, improved the communication system through infrastructural development and ensured socio-economic advancement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said today Digital Bangladesh has been built and Wifi connection installed up to grassroots level and the people now have technology and mobile phones in their hands.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM Hasina said during the 2009-2023 the country’s poverty rate declined to 18 percent from 41 percent, while extreme poverty rate dropped to 5 percent from 25 percent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The literacy rate has increased, maternal mortality rate decreased, child mortality rate dropped, the average life expectancy is up, she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Bangladesh has become known as a role model for development throughout the world today by constructing the Padma Bridge with its own financing as part of infrastructure development. Today, Bangladesh has gained the status of a developing country,” she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Noting that Bangladesh is progressing in every sector including agriculture, science and health, the PM vowed to establish the country as a happy, prosperous Sonar Bangla, retaining the dignity gained for development and following the ideology of&nbsp; Bangabandhu.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Awami League is the only party which thinks for the welfare of the people,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Turning to her party leaders and activists, the AL president said, \"Let us pledge to change the fate of the people of Bangladesh and build the country as a Sonar Bangla (golden Bangla) as dreamt by the father of the nation.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Awami League was founded on June 23 in 1949.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After laying the wreath, the prime minister stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina, flanked by senior party leaders, also paid tribute to Bangabandhu by placing another wreath at the portrait of the Father of the Nation on behalf of her party.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">AL chief Sheikh Hasina along with AL general secretary Obaidul Quader inaugurated the day\'s programme by hoisting the national and party flags and releasing pigeons and balloons. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-23 17:59:33', '2023-06-23 17:59:33'),
(7636, 7636, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka ranked third on the global list of cities with the worst air quality on Friday morning.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka’s air quality continued to be in the \'unhealthy\' zone with an air quality index (AQI) score of 152 at 9:01 am, according to the Air Quality Index.</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;\">China’s Shanghai and Indonesia’s Jakarta occupied the first two spots on the list, with AQI scores of 161 and 153, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be \'poor\', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered \'hazardous\', posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, 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, '2023-06-23 18:02:02', '2023-06-23 18:02:02'),
(7637, 7637, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A submersible carrying five people to the Titanic imploded near the site of the shipwreck and killed everyone on board, authorities said Thursday, bringing a tragic end to a saga that included an urgent around-the-clock search and a worldwide vigil for the missing vessel.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The sliver of hope that remained for finding the five men alive was wiped away early Thursday, when the submersible\'s 96-hour supply of oxygen was expected to run out following its Sunday launch and the Coast Guard announced that debris had been found roughly 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the Titanic in North Atlantic waters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This was a catastrophic implosion of the vessel,\" said Rear Adm. John Mauger, of the First Coast Guard District.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the craft was reported missing, the U.S. Navy went back and analyzed its acoustic data and found an anomaly that was \"consistent with an implosion or explosion in the general vicinity of where the Titan submersible was operating when communications were lost,\" a senior Navy official told The Associated Press on Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive acoustic detection system.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Navy passed on that information to the Coast Guard, which continued its search because the Navy did not consider the data to be definitive.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">OceanGate Expeditions, the company that owned and operated the submersible, said in a statement that all five people in the vessel, including CEO and pilot Stockton Rush, \"have sadly been lost.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The others on board were two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood; British adventurer Hamish Harding; and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world\'s oceans,\" OceanGate said in a statement. \"We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">OceanGate has been chronicling the Titanic\'s decay and the underwater ecosystem around it via yearly voyages since 2021. The company has not responded to additional questions about the Titan\'s voyage this week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The company\'s office was \"closed indefinitely while the staff copes with the tragic loss of their team member,\" according to a statement Thursday by the Port of Everett, which is about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of downtown Seattle and is home to OceanGate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Coast Guard will continue searching for more signs about what happened to the Titan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While the Navy likely detected the implosion Sunday through its acoustics system, underwater sounds heard Tuesday and Wednesday — which initially gave hope for a possible rescue — were probably unrelated to the submersible. The Navy\'s possible clue was not known publicly until Thursday, when The Wall Street Journal first reported it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With a search area covering thousands of miles — twice the size of Connecticut and in waters 2 1/2 miles (4 kilometers) deep — rescuers all week rushed ships, planes and other equipment to the site of the disappearance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Broadcasters around the world started newscasts at the critical hour Thursday with news of the submersible. The Saudi-owned satellite channel Al Arabiya showed a clock on air counting down to their estimate of when the air could potentially run out.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The White House thanked the U.S. Coast Guard, along with Canadian, British and French partners who helped in the search and rescue efforts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives on the Titan. They have been through a harrowing ordeal over the past few days, and we are keeping them in our thoughts and prayers,\" it said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Titan launched at 6 a.m. Sunday and was reported overdue that afternoon about 435 miles (700 kilometers) south of St. John\'s, Newfoundland. By Thursday, when the oxygen supply was expected to run out, there was little hope of finding the crew alive.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2021 and 2022, at least 46 people successfully traveled on OceanGate\'s submersible to the Titanic site, according to letters the company filed with a U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Virginia, that oversees matters involving the shipwreck. But questions about the submersible\'s safety were raised by former passengers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One of the company\'s first customers likened a dive he made to the site two years ago to a suicide mission.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Imagine a metal tube a few meters long with a sheet of metal for a floor. You can\'t stand. You can\'t kneel. Everyone is sitting close to or on top of each other,\" said Arthur Loibl, a retired businessman and adventurer from Germany. \"You can\'t be claustrophobic.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the 2 1/2-hour descent and ascent, the lights were turned off to conserve energy, he said, with the only illumination coming from a fluorescent glow stick.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The dive was repeatedly delayed to fix a problem with the battery and the balancing weights. In total, the voyage took 10 1/2 hours.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nicolai Roterman, a deep-sea ecologist and lecturer in marine biology at the University of Portsmouth, England, said the disappearance of the Titan highlights the dangers and unknowns of deep-sea tourism.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Even the most reliable technology can fail, and therefore accidents will happen,\" Roterman said. \"With the growth in deep-sea tourism, we must expect more incidents like this.\" UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-23 18:04:47', '2023-06-23 18:04:47'),
(7638, 7638, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Palestinian Ambassador to Bangladesh Yousef SY Ramadan today said Nurul Haque Nur, member secretary of Gono Odhikar Parishad, had three meetings with Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, and is a “threat to Bangladesh’s security and stability.”</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“...He will be disturbing the security and stability of Bangladesh as much as doing the same to Palestine,” the envoy said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“If he wants to challenge me, he needs to challenge the source. Let him challenge if he wants,” the ambassador told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ambassador Ramadan said Nur is betraying his country, going against the principle of Bangladesh and its people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The envoy said he made a statement back in 2015 that any kind of relationship between a Bangladeshi public figure or politician and Israel is considered “political suicide.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said if Nur denies this, it’s good enough for him. “I will consider it good enough. But is that good enough for the government of Bangladesh and the security forces of Bangladesh?” — the ambassador posed a question.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Palestine envoy said it was during the World Cup Football in Qatar when it first came to their attention.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Our intelligence sources were interested in this. They were able to get some photos when he was meeting with Safadi,” he said, adding that there were other meetings that took place in other countries including in UAE and Qatar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, a small group of journalists were talking to him on the Rohingya issue and one of them questioned him about Nur.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Palestinian ambassador also asked the Bangladesh government to seriously look into the matter. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-06-23 18:54:33', '2023-06-23 18:54:33');
