INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5397, 5397, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Primary and secondary levels students in rural Bangladesh face manifold challenges in continuing their education and shortage of teachers is one of those that hampers regular their academic activities.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Like many other places in the country, the academic activities at 366 government primary schools have been hampered seriously in absence of head teachers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are 1,240 government primary schools in nine upazilas of the district and the posts of headmaster at 366 schools are lying vacant, according to District Education Office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among these, assistant teachers have been working as acting head teacher at 234 schools but the rest schools have been operating without headmasters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, the assistant teachers who were performing the roles of head teacher are not getting the facilities the headmasters usually get and there is no one to look into it, forcing the teachers to continue their additional work with frustration.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nurjahan Begum, who recently got the responsibility of headmaster at Korimer Khamar Government Primary School in Sadar upazila, said “We have been performing our duties amid frustration.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During a recent visit to Muktaram Government Primary School in Sadar upazila, this correspondent found that the headmaster post of the school has been lying vacant for the past two years following the death of its headmaster.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since then, no one has been appointed and no assistant teacher was made headmaster. A senior teacher of the school is performing the duty of the headmaster.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, five assistant teachers are available instead of nine which also hamper the academic activities, said an assistant teacher of the school, Nazneen Rebeka Sultana.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Expressing dissatisfaction, Anwarul Islam, president of Muktaram Government Primary School managing committee, said “We have sent letters to the authorities concerned seeking fulfillment of the vacant posts but yet to get any response.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Principal Salauddin Rubel, General Secretary of District Swadhinota Sikkhok Porishad (Swaship), said “The academic activities of different primary schools are facing setback due to manifold problems including shortage of teachers. The situation of primary schools in Char areas is fragile.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">District Primary Education Officer Shahidul Islam, said the problem will be resolved as the higher authorities have been informed. 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, '2023-02-24 10:54:09', '2023-02-24 10:54:09'),
(5398, 5398, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The \"amazing successes\" of Bangladesh were celebrated in the British Parliament at the launch of a report by UK- based Bangladesh think-tank, the Study Circle.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The report, entitled, \"Bangladesh: The Journey of Indomitable Development\", highlights the vast array of sectors in which Bangladesh has seen dramatic progress over the last 14 years, including the economy, interfaith harmony, education, health, and infrastructure.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A cross-party group of leading politicians, as well as diplomats and community leaders attended the event in the House of Lords\' Attlee Room, which came the day after the 21 February commemorations of International Mother Language Day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking as the chief guest, Dr Gowher Rizvi, International Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said, \"Today we are on a real path of progress. One reason for Bangladesh\'s concrete development is because it has had political stability and continuity.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina\'s achievements in promoting inter- communal harmony were particularly celebrated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UK Prime Minister\'s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, Fiona Bruce MP, and Jim Shannon MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, joined the occasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr Rizvi invited Shannon to visit Bangladesh to see the inter-religious harmony for himself, said a media release.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Launching the report, Study Circle Chair Syed Mozammel Ali, who was gazetted as a \'freedom fighter\' for his advocacy for Bangladesh Independence in the UK in 1971, noted Bangladesh\'s tremendous economic growth.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At 6.9% last year, this outstripped even the so-called \'tiger\' economies of South Korea and Singapore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ali quipped that, given that Bangladesh has 10% of the World\'s tigers, going forward, Bangladesh should be championed as the \"Bengal Tiger economy\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ali went all to detail numerous of Bangladesh\'s achievements, including its climate leadership and its support for the Rohingya.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He trumpeted the deep ties between the UK and Bangladesh, particularly the British Bangladeshi diaspora and the 8,000 Bangladeshi- owned restaurants, which he said was like having \"like having a High Commission on every high street\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He noted that a great opportunity to enjoy the interchange would come in the next few weeks, as England\'s men\'s cricket team travels to Bangladesh for its first tour since 2016.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At that time, England was the only team not to cancel after the Holey Artisan Bakery attack, which was widely appreciated by Bangladeshis at the time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh\'s High Commissioner to the UK, Saida Muna Tasneem, said the Study Circle is doing an absolutely brilliant job.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This is an empirical, evidence-based publication on Bangladesh\'s development journey under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The event was also an early outing for the UK\'s High Commissioner-designate to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, who will be replacing current British High Commissioner Robert Chatterton-Dixon after Ramadan in late April.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another speaker was Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, Rushanara Ali, who is also the UK Prime Minister\'s Trade Envoy to Bangladesh, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Bangladesh, and the first UK MP of Bangladeshi heritage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said, \"This report highlights that Bangladesh has achieved a great deal. As British Bangladeshis we are all really proud of Bangladesh\'s development.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Conservative peer Lord Popat, another of the Prime Minister\'s trade envoys, and Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Commonwealth, said, “What a transformation of a country in such a short time, the incredible story that is Bangladesh, now one of the fastest growing economies in the world, what an achievement.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Conservative MP for Northfield Gary Sambrook, and Labour MP for Brent Central Dawn Butler, were also among the guests, as were London Assembly Members Marina Ahmad and Unmesh Desai and a significant number of local councillors of Bangladeshi heritage, including Mayor of Camden Nasim Ali, Brent Councillor Parvez Ahmed and Camden councillors Samata Khatoon and Shah Miah. Former London Assembly Member Murad Qureshi and former Camden councillor Abdul Hai were also present.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Before the event, Study Circle Chair Mr Ali was treated to a tour of the House of Lords by Lord Daniel Hannan, the Conservative Party Vice Chair for International Relations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The event received well wishes from many other parliamentarians, including Labour\'s Shadow Minister for Asia and the Pacific, Catherine West MP. 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, '2023-02-24 11:06:07', '2023-02-24 11:06:07'),
(5399, 5399, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested 29 alleged muggers in separate drives in the capital and recovered huge number of sharp weapons from their possessions last night.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Acting on a tip-off, teams of RAB-2 made the arrests in separate drives in capital\'s Mohammadpur, Adabor, Hajaribagh, Dhanmandi and Tejgaon area,\" RAB-2 senior ASP (media) Md Fajlul Haque told BSS this morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The senior RAB official said they recovered huge number of knives, straight razors, and other sharp weapons from the possession of the arrestees.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They will be handed over to local police stations and legal actions will be taken in this regard, RAB sources said. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-24 11:14:34', '2023-02-24 11:14:34'),
(5400, 5400, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Canada is keen to collaborate with Bangladesh in the agriculture sector particularly in the development of food storage and small-scale farmers.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Canadian Minister of International Development Harjit S Sajjan expressed this interest during a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM’s Speechwriter Md Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the spokesperson the visiting Canadian minister appreciated the development of Bangladesh in agriculture and education.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The minister also praised&nbsp; Hasina for developing a large agro-farm inside her residence complex</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier called upon the Canadian entrepreneurs to make investment in agro-processing industry and others in the special economic zones of Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said Bangladesh is now setting up 100 special economic zones throughout the country. Canadian investors can make investments there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said her government puts emphasis on the development of the agro-processing industry to export processed foods alongside meeting the local demand.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Noting that Bangladesh is a small country with a large population, the PM said her government has been trying to boost farm production significantly in a small area in order to feed the local people and export the surplus food or assist other countries with food.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said Bangladesh became successful as its scientists have been able to develop many high yielding varieties of crops.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A huge number of lands which once used to remain fallow in the country, particularly its southern region, have been brought under cultivation thanks to the development of varieties which are tolerant of saline and drought, she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About her government’s steps to promote small farmers,&nbsp; Hasina said the government provides them with subsidies to irrigation, agriculture appliances and agricultural mechanisation, and assists them under many other programmes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said the government has introduced a micro-saving programme and so, the small farmers can save their money and also take loans from it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In irrigation, the government now puts importance to rainwater harvesting and use of surface water instead of underground water for the sake of conservation of nature, she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About the Rohingya issue, the PM sought cooperation from the development partners over repatriation of displaced Rohingya people to their motherland.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She, however, sought their assistance to develop more areas in Bhashan Char, island in Noakhali, to relocate more Rohingyas from Cox’s Bazar for their temporary shelter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM Hasina said Bangladesh developed the Bhashan Char island with its own fund to arrange a better living condition for Rohingyas.&nbsp; A good number of Rohingya have already been shifted to Bhashan Char.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If the area with better living conditions can be expanded there, more Rohingyas can be relocated from Cox’s Bazar, she said, seeking help from the donors in this regard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said some of the Rohingyas have got involved in various crimes like human and drug trafficking and internal conflicts in Cox’s Bazar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said an inhuman environmen exists in camps for women particularly children and adolescent girls. If they go to Bhashan Char, they will get a decent environment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking about climate change,&nbsp; Hasina said Bangladesh is mainly emphasizing&nbsp; the adaptation and mitigation to fight the impacts of climate changes. The&nbsp; problems induced by climate changes are being addressed by local solutions, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said the government focuses on minimizing damages of lives and livelihood during natural disasters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this context, she mentioned that cyclone shelter centres, cyclone-resilient houses and greenbelts were built on the coastal area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Turning to education, the premier said her government is putting importance to the development of skilled manpower alongside general education to create scopes for self-employment and increase remittance outflow exporting skilled labour to foreign markets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM\'s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Lilly Nicholls were present. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-24 12:08:03', '2023-02-24 12:08:03'),
(5401, 5401, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A youth was killed and two others injured as their motorbike collided head-on with a bus in the Railway Koshaipara area under Godagari upazila here this afternoon.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased identified as Sadikul Islam, 23, son of Saber Ali, was a resident of Chanduria village under Tanore upazila.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The injured - Razzaque Ali, 40, son of late Tamir Uddin and Raihan Ali, 35, son of Lutfor Rahman - are now undergoing treatment.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kamrul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Godagari Police Station, said when they were going to Godagari riding on a motorbike, a bus from the opposite direction knocked them down.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Being informed, police and firefighters rescued them and rushed them to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where the attending doctors declared Sadikul dead after a few minutes of admission.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A case has been lodged with Godagari Police Station. 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, '2023-02-24 12:15:32', '2023-02-24 12:15:32'),
(5402, 5402, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Policymakers of the Group of 20 leading economies should focus on helping the world’s most vulnerable people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday as top-level financial talks kicked off in the Indian technology hub of Bengaluru.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“You represent the leadership of global finance and economy at a time when the world is facing serious economic difficulties,” Modi said in a video address to the finance ministers, central bank governors and other leaders attending the meetings, which wrap up Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It is up to you, the custodians of the leading economies and market systems ... to bring back stability, confidence and growth to the global economy,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As countries deal with slew of challenges in the aftermath of the pandemic, including unsustainable debt, conflict, inflation and eroding trust in international financial institutions, Modi said, “I urge you to focus on the most vulnerable people in the world.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The meetings in Bengaluru are due to touch on a wide range of issues including digital currencies and payments, reform of institutions like the World Bank, climate change and financial inclusion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Multiple meetings between various leaders were also scheduled, including talks between U.S. and British officials and meetings of India’s finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, with her counterparts from France and Brazil.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As is usually the case, broader issues such as the war in Ukraine are overshadowing the talks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Thursday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reaffirmed she would push for stronger sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and better enforcement of restrictions meant to hinder Moscow’s war effort.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The G-20 meetings offer a chance for leaders to consider how to coordinate their policies: many central banks including the U.S. Federal Reserve have been raising interest rates sharply to try to rein in decades-high inflation brought on by various factors including the war and rebounding demand for travel, goods and services following the COVID-19 pandemic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">G20 Presidency: India to invite Bangladesh as guest country</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With increases in income lagging far behind, rising costs for food, housing, fuel and fertilizer impose huge burdens, especially on the poor and in developing nations, where debt burdens have surged both at the national and household levels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As the G-20 host this year, India is taking the opportunity to showcase its ascent as an economic power.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Modi suggested the gathering could “draw hope from the vibrant Indian economy,” which is forecast to grow at a more than 6% annual pace this year, making it one of the fastest growing in the world. He also pointed to the country’s digital payments technology as a model to be emulated. 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, '2023-02-24 12:44:33', '2023-02-24 12:44:33'),
(5403, 5403, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Five Bangladeshi nationals were killed and two others injured in a road accident in South Africa, a foreign ministry official said on Friday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased have been identified as Abul Hossain, 45, and his son Nadim Hossain, 10, Raju Ahmed, 34, Ismail Hossain, 38, and Mostafa Kamal, 40.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Md. Tarikul Islam, director general (Africa Wing) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed it to UNB, quoting the Bangladesh Mission in South Africa.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">All the deceased were from Feni district’s Sadar and Daganbhuiyan upazilas. 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, '2023-02-24 12:54:25', '2023-02-24 12:54:25'),
(5404, 5404, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Former Indian cricket team captain and ex-president of BCCI, Sourav Ganguly, and his wife Dona Ganguly met the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM’s Speechwriter Md Nazrul Islam told reporters after the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President of Bangladesh Cricket Board Nazmul Hassan Papon was also present at the time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ganguly, popularly known as Dada to his fans, arrived in Dhaka on a private visit on Thursday after several years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking to the media at a hotel in Dhaka\'s Gulshan, Ganguly said: \"Every time I come here, I get so much love from the people of Dhaka. I sometimes forget if it\'s India or Bangladesh.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The former left-handed batter was India\'s captain in Bangladesh\'s maiden Test in 2000. \"Many precious moments of my life are in Bangladesh,\" the former Indian captain said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ganguly lauded PM Hasina\'s efforts to create a drug-free nation and stated that sports can play a vital role in achieving this goal. 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, '2023-02-24 14:08:34', '2023-02-24 14:08:34'),
(5405, 5405, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Friday said BNP is gradually becoming a bankrupt organisation as the political party gets stuck in the quicksand of wrong politics.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The country\'s people know better that the BNP, which is suffering from a multi-dimensional crisis, is now staying out of boundary in the field of politics after receiving a red card from the people. BNP is gradually becoming a bankrupt party after getting stuck in the quicksand of wrong politics,\" he said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to a statement of BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir that stated, \'Tarique Rahman is the trailblazer of BNP\'s movement for restoration of democracy\', Quader said Tarique is the blessed son of corruption, the mastermind of August 21 grenade attack, the patron of terrorism and militancy and convicted fugitive and he (Tarique) is a pathfinder in recovering their so-called democracy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Through this, it has been proved that BNP has chosen the strategy of ill-politics instead of following the path of politics of principles and ideals, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We want to say clearly that the government or Bangladesh is not in any crisis rather the BNP is in a deep crisis,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AL general secretary said Mirza Fakhrul talked about the destruction of the country\'s economy but he commented a few days back that they were in a good position during the Pakistan period.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"What is the economic condition of their beloved Pakistan today? And, on the contrary, where has the economic progress of Bangladesh gone? During 1996-2001, the Awami League government under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Hasina created the golden trend of economic progress,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During 2001-2006, Quader said, the BNP indulged in rampant graft and pushed the economic progress towards a declining trend.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">He said the BNP\'s concern about the economic crisis is nothing but a mockery to the nation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We want to say unequivocally that Bangladesh\'s economy is in a relatively good position despite the global recession and crisis as a result of the timely actions taken by the incumbent government,\" the AL general secretary said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We understand the heart pain of Mirza Fakhrul Islam. As Bangladesh is not a bankrupt one like Pakistan or Sri Lanka, their hidden desires have fallen flat,\" he said, adding that BNP\'s dream of seizing state power through conspiracy is getting fade day by day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About the commodity price hike, Quader said the prices of commodities have soared across the world due to the Russia-Ukraine war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"BNP is trying to catch fish in troubled waters capitalising on this crisis, which is a threat to entire human civilization\", he said. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-24 16:18:28', '2023-02-24 16:18:28'),
(5406, 5406, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Jubo League will hold a three-day countrywide peace rally from Saturday against terrorism and anarchy of BNP-Jamaat and for continuation of the country\'s development and progress under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina\'s leadership.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The organization will hold peace rally at district and city level on Saturday, upazila, thana and municipality level on Sunday and union level on Tuesday, said a press release. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-24 16:22:45', '2023-02-24 16:22:45'),
(5407, 5407, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A wrecked Russian tank put on display in Berlin, a bloody cake with a skull on top of it left in a Belgrade street and Ukraine’s yellow-and-blue flag held aloft in the sizzling Bangkok sun were among the memorials, stunts and ceremonies held across the world Friday to mark the anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Commemorations of a grim year for Ukraine spread across the globe, drawing people to peace rallies and other events in the Middle East, Asia, Australia and Latin America.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A rusting T-72 tank was placed outside the prominent Russian Embassy building on the German capital’s Unter den Linden boulevard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tank was struck in the Kyiv region in the early stages of the war, which began on Feb. 24, 2022. It was taken to Berlin by a private group, which said that the Ukrainian defense ministry’s Military History Museum loaned it. Destroyed Russian armor litters parts of Ukraine after months of battlefield setbacks for the Kremlin’s forces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The whole world should see that there are many people in Germany who stand behind Ukraine, so that’s why we’re putting the Russians’ scrap tank in front of their door,” said Wieland Giebel of the Berlin Story group, who was one of the exhibit’s organizers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Serbia, whose government has maintained friendly relations with Russia and has refused to join Western sanctions designed to punish Moscow for its invasion, police moved in to stop a group of anti-war activists from reaching the Russian Embassy in the capital, Belgrade.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The activists wanted to hand over a demand for Russian President Vladimir Putin to be put on trial for genocide in Ukraine. They left a cake, covered with red icing representing blood and with a skull on top of it, on the pavement near the embassy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stepped outside his office at No. 10 Downing Street, joining Ukraine’s ambassador and some Ukrainian soldiers being trained in the United Kingdom for a minute’s silence in commemoration of those killed in the fighting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">King Charles III published a message lauding the “remarkable courage and resilience” of the Ukrainian people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A teenage Ukrainian pianist forced to flee her country with her mother when the war broke out gave a solo performance at a shopping mall in the city of Liverpool in northwest England.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Alisa Bushuieva, age 13, wore a traditional Ukrainian floral headband and dress as she played her country’s national anthem.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At a convention center in Utrecht, Netherlands, about 2,000 Ukrainian refugees gathered to hear by video link a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and in Brussels hundreds gathered to wave the Ukrainian flag and chant “Slava Ukraini!” (Glory to Ukraine).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In northern Europe, people placed candles on the steps of Helsinki Cathedral at a memorial event for Ukraine war victims, and in southern Europe peace quotations printed on jute bags were displayed in Rome as part of an installation by Italian artist Gianfranco Meggiato entitled “The Meeting: The Symbol of Peace.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moscow planned no special events for Friday, as most Russians took a nationwide day off amid an extended public holiday. As part of authorities’ relentless effort to prevent any sign of dissent, police in some areas visited activists’ homes to warn them against trying to stage any demonstrations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukrainians living in Brazil protested outside the Russian Consulate in Sao Paulo, with one sign comparing Putin to Adolf Hitler.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukrainians in Lebanon chanted slogans during a Beirut rally and held up signs saying, “Stand strong with Ukraine” and “No terrorism.” Ukrainians and their supporters also marked the anniversary in Tel Aviv.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dozens of South Koreans and Ukrainian expatriates gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Seoul. They held candles and banners demanding the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A peace rally was also held in Tokyo, and people placed flowers outside the Ukrainian consulate in Bali, Indonesia in tribute to those killed in the war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukrainians living in Thailand gathered outside their embassy in Bangkok. About 50 people, many wearing their national colors, sang the national anthem as an embassy official raised the flag. Several wept during a speech by the embassy’s charge d’affaires, in which he urged them to stay strong.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iliana Martsenyak, originally from the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, which has been pummeled by Russian barrages, wiped tears from her eyes as she spoke of how the anniversary made her feel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Honestly, I cannot find any words to describe how me and every single Ukrainian feels today because of this absolutely irrational, cruel and awful war that has been brought to our land,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The group marched to a nearby city park, holding Ukrainian flags and protest signs aloft. They stopped at the library of Lumpini park, largely in silence as a mother embraced her young daughter and others stared resolutely into the distance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some of the anniversary commemorations began Thursday evening, when the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Portuguese parliament building in Lisbon were lit up in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. The Sydney Opera House followed suit on Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A vigil took place in London’s Trafalgar Square, organized by the Ukrainian and U.S. embassies, and 461 paper angels were hung from the roof of the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in London to commemorate each Ukrainian child that has died in the past year. 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, '2023-02-24 16:29:43', '2023-02-24 16:29:43'),
(5408, 5408, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he plans to meet China\'s leader Xi Jinping to discuss Beijing\'s proposals on ending the war in Ukraine.</b></span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Speaking on the first anniversary of Russia\'s full-scale invasion, he said the proposal signalled that China was involved in the search for peace.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"I really want to believe that China will not supply weapons to Russia,\" he said.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">China\'s plan calls for peace talks and respect for national sovereignty.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">However, the 12-point document does not specifically say that Russia must withdraw its troops from Ukraine, and it also condemns the usage of \"unilateral sanctions\", in what is seen as a veiled criticism of Ukraine\'s allies in the West.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The Chinese authorities have so far not publicly responded to Mr Zelensky\'s call for a summit with Mr Xi.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Meanwhile, Russia hailed the Chinese peace proposals. \"We share Beijing\'s views,\" the foreign ministry in Moscow said in a statement.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Beijing was considering supplying weapons and ammunition to Russia - a claim strongly denied by Beijing. On Friday, American media again reported that the Chinese government was considering sending drones and artillery shells to Moscow.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Asked about the Chinese plan, US President Joe Biden told ABC News on Friday: \"[Russian President Vladimir] Putin\'s applauding it, so how could it be any good?</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"I\'ve seen nothing in the plan that would indicate that there is something that would be beneficial to anyone other than Russia,\" he added.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">China appears to be siding with Russia, though it would like to find a way of rescuing President Putin by arranging some kind of face-saving peace deal, says the BBC\'s World Affairs Editor John Simpson.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The Chinese proposals follow Foreign Minister Wang Yi\'s visit to Moscow, where he met President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">After the talks, Mr Wang was quoted by China\'s state-run Xinhua news agency as saying that Beijing was willing to \"deepen political trust\" and \"strengthen strategic coordination\" with Moscow.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Western officials gave the latest proposals a lukewarm reception. Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said Beijing \"doesn\'t have much credibility\" because it had \"not been able to condemn the illegal invasion of Ukraine\".</span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">President Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, and Russian troops made significant advances during the first few days in Ukraine\'s north, east and south.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">But the attack on the capital Kyiv was soon repulsed and the Ukrainian military was later able to retake large areas.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The conflict - the biggest in Europe since World War Two - has since become a grinding war of attrition.</span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">At a lengthy news conference in Kyiv on Friday, Mr Zelensky also said victory \"will inevitably await us\" if allies \"respect their promises and deadlines\".</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Poland said it had already delivered four German-made Leopard II tanks to Ukraine and was ready to deliver more. Germany has said it will provide 14 Leopard tanks, with Spain and Canada also sending tanks.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The US - by far the biggest provider of military aid to Ukraine - has pledged to send 31 of its M1 Abrams tanks and the UK is providing 14 Challenger 2 tanks.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The Ukrainian leader added that his country had failed to engage sufficiently with countries in Africa and Latin America after many nations in those continents abstained during a UN General Assembly vote on a resolution condemning Russia\'s invasion.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"We didn\'t work well for many years, we didn\'t pay attention, I think it\'s a big mistake,\" he said.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Asked if he could name his worst moment of the war so far, Mr Zelensky said Bucha, a town outside Kyiv where Russian troops are accused of having killed civilians in the early part of the war. The small town had been under Russian control until Ukrainian troops fought back last April to reclaim it.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"What I saw. It was horrible,\" Mr Zelensky said, visibly moved.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The US marked a year since Russia invaded Ukraine by announcing a new range of sanctions against Russia and new aid for Ukraine.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The latest restrictions target more than 100 entities both within Russia and worldwide, including banks and suppliers of defence equipment. The US said it wanted to stop those helping Russia exploit loopholes to get sanctioned materials.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The White House\'s fresh round of aid for Ukraine is worth $12bn (£10bn), comprising $2bn from the Department of Defense including ammunition and drones and $10bn from the State Department including budgetary support to the Ukrainian government.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">A further $550m will be supplied to both Ukraine and neighbouring Moldova to strengthen their energy infrastructure.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Moldova is Europe\'s poorest country and has been heavily impacted by the war. Its leaders have warned for several weeks that Russia is plotting to seize power.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">It comes days after US President Joe Biden flew to Kyiv for a surprise visit and held talks with Mr Zelensky.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">On Friday, the EU also approved its 10th round of sanctions against Russia, imposing restrictions technology that has a civilian and military dual use. BBC</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-25 01:35:09', '2023-02-25 01:35:09'),
(5409, 5409, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russia has expressed gratitude to Bangladesh for abstaining from voting in favour of the latest resolution that the UN General Assembly adopted on Ukraine situation.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The non-binding “anti-Russian” resolution of the UNGA will not bring the world closer to ending the Ukraine conflict, the Russian Embassy in Dhaka tweeted on Friday quoting Moscow’s permanent envoy to the UN Vassily Nebenzia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Thank you, Bangladesh, for abstaining,\" it reads.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UN General Assembly adopted the resolution that demands Russia leave Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thirty-two countries including Bangladesh, India, China, Iran, Pakistan and Sri Lanka abstained from voting while seven countries including Russia voted against the resolution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A total of 141 countries voted in favour of the resolution. 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, '2023-02-25 01:49:27', '2023-02-25 01:49:27');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5410, 5410, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Heavy snow and rain pounded California and other parts of the West on Friday in the nation\'s latest winter storm, while tens of thousands of people in Michigan suffered in freezing temperatures days after one of the worst ice storms in decades caused widespread power outages.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winter storms have blacked out nearly 1 million homes and businesses from coast to coast, closed major roads, caused pileups on highways and snarled air travel. More than 1,200 flights were canceled and more than 17,000 were delayed Friday across the U.S., according to FlightAware.com.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The National Weather Service warned of a “cold and dangerous winter storm” that would last through Saturday in California. Blizzard warnings were posted in the Sierra Nevada and Southern California mountain ranges, where as much as 5 feet (1.5 meters) of snow was expected. Temperatures could drop far below normal in the region, posing a special risk to homeless people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Simply put, this will be a historic event for the amount of snow over the higher peaks and lower elevation snow,” according to the regional weather office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Interstate 5, the West Coast’s major north-south highway, was closed south of the Oregon border as snow fell to the floor of the Sacramento Valley and in a high mountain pass north of Los Angeles, where blizzard warnings were in effect. Avalanche warnings were posted in some areas, and flash flood warnings were issued for Los Angeles and nearby coastal areas until Friday night.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Michigan, hundreds of thousands of people remained without power Friday after a storm earlier this week coated power lines, utility poles and branches with ice as thick as three-quarters of an inch. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called Friday for more accountability on restoration efforts by the state’s two largest utilities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Annemarie Rogers had been without power for a day and a half in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. She sent two kids to stay with relatives and put extra blankets on the bed to try to keep warm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It’s kind of miserable,” she said. “We do have a gas fireplace that’s keeping us warm in one room. There’s some heat generating from the furnace, but with no electricity to the blower it’s not circulating well.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At one point, more than 820,000 customers in Michigan were in the dark. By Friday, that was down to under 600,000, most in the state\'s populous southeastern corner around Detroit. But promises of power restoration by Sunday, when low temperatures were expected to climb back above zero (minus 18 Celsius), were of little consolation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“That’s four days without power in such weather,\" said Apurva Gokhale, of Walled Lake, Michigan. \"It’s unthinkable.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tom Rankin said he and his wife were unable to reach his 100-year-old mother-in-law Friday morning by phone. The couple drove to her home in Bloomfield Township, Michigan, to find her in bed “with a whole lot of blankets,” Rankin said, adding they helped her to their car, planning to ride out the outage at another relative’s home.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We’ve not had an ice storm in the last 50 years that has impacted our infrastructure like this,” said Trevor Lauer, president of Detroit-based DTE Electric.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At least three people have died in the storms. A Michigan firefighter died Wednesday after coming in contact with a downed power line, while in Rochester, Minnesota, a pedestrian died after being hit by a city-operated snowplow. Authorities in Portland, Oregon said a person died of hyperthermia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Much of Portland was shut down with icy roads not expected to thaw until Saturday after the city’s second-heaviest snowfall on record this week — nearly 11 inches.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tim Varner sat huddled with blankets in a Portland storefront doorway that shielded him from some of the wind, ice and snow. Local officials opened six overnight shelters but the 57-year-old, who has been homeless for two decades, said it was too hard to push a shopping cart containing his belongings to get to one.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It’s impossible,” he said. “The snow gets built up on the wheels of your cart, and then you find slippery spots and can’t get no traction. So you’re stuck.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Not all were dismayed by the winter weather. In the San Francisco Bay Area, hundreds of people drove up to 2,500-foot (760-meter) Mount Tamalpais to play in the snow — a rarity in the area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">San Francisco resident Shankar Krishnan woke up at 4 a.m. and headed out hoping to see snow for the first time in a long time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It feels awesome. It’s like the trees are all frosty,. There’s snow on the ground. There’s snow coming down from the sky,\" Krishnan said. \"It’s beautiful out here.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Southern California, authorities warned that rainfall could cause debris flow in some areas burned by wildfires in recent years. In the flash flood warning area, between three and six inches (eight and 15 centimeters) of rain had fallen by Friday afternoon with another two to four inches (five and 10 centimeters) expected.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Evacuation warnings were issued in Ventura County for four areas considered unstable after being hit hard by storms last month. To the north, snow piled up across Santa Cruz County as roads closed and motorists were forced to abandon their cars.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Parts of Interstate 80 in California and Wyoming closed, including about a 70-mile (112-kilometer) stretch over the top of the Sierra Nevada linking California and Nevada. Some schools in Nevada and northern Arizona were closed, and a Major League Soccer season-opening game in Southern California was postponed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The storm has added to major precipitation from December and January “atmospheric rivers” that improved California’s drought outlook, but authorities who allocate water to farms, cities and industries remain cautious because of a recent history of abrupt changes in hydrologic conditions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The weather service said temperatures could drop far below normal in the region, posing a special risk to homeless people. 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, '2023-02-25 03:28:18', '2023-02-25 03:28:18'),
(5411, 5411, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka’s air quality is in the \'unhealthy\' zone this morning (February 25, 2023).</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 163 at 8:50 am, the capital of Bangladesh ranked seventh in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi and Mumbai occupied the first, second and third spots, with AQI scores of 244, 168 and 175 respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered ‘unhealthy’ while between 201–300 is ‘very unhealthy’, and 301–400 is \'hazardous\', posing severe health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">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, '2023-02-25 03:47:28', '2023-02-25 03:47:28'),
(5412, 5412, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed Friday to do everything to defeat Russia this year, as the first Leopard tanks arrived in Ukraine on the anniversary of the start of Europe\'s largest conflict since World War II.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Street protests against the Russian invasion were held in many European capitals to mark the anniversary, and fresh Western sanctions targeted Russia\'s banks, military industry and semiconductor access.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, the Group of Seven industrialised nations threatened embargo busters with \"severe costs\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Poland sent the German-made Leopard tanks to help Ukraine repel Russian troops and deliver a \"clear and measurable signal of further support\", said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who was visiting Kyiv.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Poland would send more tanks soon, Morawiecki added, and was also offering to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets, as Western allies underlined their unwavering support.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia, however, remained defiant, with former president Dmitry Medvedev insisting his country was ready to push its offensive \"to the borders of Poland\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tensions were also building on Ukraine\'s border with Moldova, as Moscow claimed Kyiv was plotting to invade the breakaway region of Transnistria and promised to respond. Moldova denied any threat from Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zelensky said he was planning to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping after the release Friday of Beijing\'s 12-point position paper on the conflict, which included a call for peace talks and for respecting all territorial sovereignty.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zelensky noted that Beijing\'s paper appeared to show \"there is respect for our territorial integrity, security issues\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier Friday, he said in a statement that Ukraine would \"do everything to gain victory this year\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Spirit is strong\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A year ago Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stunned the world by sending tanks and troops across the border, a move seen as punishment for Kyiv\'s pivot to the West.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The war has devastated swathes of Ukraine, displaced millions, turned Russia into a pariah in the West and, according to Western sources, caused more than 150,000 casualties on each side.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Demonstrators protesting Moscow\'s aggression marched in cities across Europe to mark the invasion anniversary.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Berlin, activists placed a Russian tank wreck in front of Moscow\'s</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">embassy. Crowds fell silent for a minute from Tallinn to London, while key European buildings were draped or lit up in the blue and yellow colours of Ukraine\'s flag.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A year ago, Russian troops sought to rapidly install a pro-Moscow regime in Ukraine but failed to conquer Kyiv and subsequently suffered defeats in northeastern and southern Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since October, Russia has pummelled Ukraine\'s energy infrastructure, causing power shortages for millions during winter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite the daily trials, many Ukrainians refuse to be cowed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bucha, where Russia has been accused of widespread atrocities, 64-year-old Galyna Gamulets recalled coming under fire from Russian troops for more than two weeks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She voiced pride in her nation and said \"we will succeed\" in repelling the invaders.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Living hell\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The West, which has imposed increasingly stringent sanctions on Russia and boosted humanitarian aid and arms supplies for Ukraine, unveiled more help Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States announced sweeping sanctions aimed not just at Russia but also 200 individuals and entities across Europe, Asia and the Middle East supporting Moscow\'s war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After a video call, G7 allies warned: \"third-countries or other international actors who seek to evade or undermine our measures\" must \"cease providing material support to Russia\'s war, or face severe costs\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Washington\'s new aid package came days after President Joe Biden arrived in Kyiv for a historic visit and pledged new arms deliveries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, Biden on Friday ruled out providing the F-16 fighter jets Ukraine has requested, at least for the time being, telling ABC News in an interview that Zelensky \"doesn\'t need F-16s now\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Look, we\'re sending him what our seasoned military thinks he needs now. He needs tanks, he needs artillery, he needs air defence, including Himars,\" Biden said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There are things we\'re sending him to put him in a position to make gains this spring and summer going into the fall.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The EU also agreed to a fresh round of sanctions, and along with</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">contributions from Sweden and Portugal, Germany said it had managed to assemble a battalion of modern Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The World Bank separately announced an extra $2.5 billion for Ukraine to support essential services and core government functions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Friday, after a minute\'s silence at the Security Council, UN Secretary- General Antonio Guterres denounced Russia\'s military action, saying it had made life for Ukrainians a \"living hell\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- China\'s key role -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Key player China has sought to position itself as a neutral party while</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">maintaining close ties with Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to Beijing\'s new position paper, Moscow said it \"highly values\" China\'s contribution but insisted any conflict settlement must recognise Russia\'s control over four Ukrainian regions it annexed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Western countries gave China\'s plan a muted reception. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it was \"still doubtful\" Beijing sincerely wanted to play a constructive role in seeking peace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Beijing simply \"doesn\'t have much</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">credibility because they have not been able to condemn the illegal invasion of Ukraine\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">-\'Miracles happen\'-</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On eastern Ukraine\'s frontline, morale remained high among Kyiv\'s troops.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"God is helping us. Nobody thought that Ukraine would hold,\" said a soldier who goes by the call sign \"Cook\" in the eastern region of Donetsk. \"I know that miracles happen.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite military setbacks and sanctions, Putin, 70, has refused to back down, accusing the West of supporting neo-Nazi forces and claiming Russia\'s survival was at stake.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His assault on Ukraine and mobilisation of reservists have sparked what might be Russia\'s largest mass exodus since 1917\'s Bolshevik Revolution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But with television propaganda in overdrive, many Russians have ralliedbehind Putin despite economic trouble and multiplying casualties.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The country is really changing for the better,\" said Lyubov Yudina, a 48-year-old security guard in Moscow.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But teacher Ruslan Melnikov, 28, was dejected. \"I don\'t see any future now.\" 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, '2023-02-25 04:06:24', '2023-02-25 04:06:24'),
(5413, 5413, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least ten people died and 25 others were injured after their bus fell into a ravine in northeastern Algeria on Friday, civil protection officials said.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bus was travelling from Algiers to Tikjda, a mountain resort popular with tourists, when it fell 150 metres into a ravine near the town of El Asnam, the source said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">All those injured were transferred to hospital in nearby Bouira.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The mountainous region of Tikjda is a popular holiday destination for</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Algerians, who have flocked there in large numbers after the heavy snowfall of recent weeks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speeding motorists, including public transport drivers, is the main cause of road accidents in Algeria, according to the national road safety agency.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2021, the latest figures available, Algeria recorded almost 7,186 traffic accidents, resulting in 2,643 deaths and 11,479 injuries. 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, '2023-02-25 04:12:54', '2023-02-25 04:12:54'),
(5414, 5414, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Joe Biden indicated Friday that he will indeed be announcing a 2024 bid for a second term -- only not right away.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speculation has been mounting over Biden\'s plans. At 80, he is the oldest person ever in the US presidency and while he has repeatedly said he intends to run again, he has yet to commit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In an interview with ABC News\' David Muir, he said \"my intention is..., has been from the beginning, to run.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked about an earlier interview Friday in which his wife First Lady Jill Biden told the Associated Press that the time and place of a campaign announcement was all that remained to decide, Biden quipped: \"As my mother would say, \'God love her.\'\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, he indicated that he is in no hurry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There\'s too many other things we have to finish in the near term before I start a campaign,\" he said. \"I\'ve got other things to finish before I get into a full-blown campaign.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked by ABC whether his age is part of his calculation on whether or not to run, Biden said: \"No. But it\'s legitimate for people to raise issues about my age. It\'s totally legitimate to do that.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The only thing I can say is \'watch me,\'\" he added, referring to his record in office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden would be 86 at the end of a second term. Earlier this month, an extensive medical test found him to be \"healthy, vigorous\" and \"fit to successfully execute the duties of the president.\" AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-25 04:17:49', '2023-02-25 04:17:49'),
(5415, 5415, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Centurion Joe Root was left unbeaten as England declared their first innings and made a double breakthrough to take command of the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Root struck Matt Henry for four to reach 153 before England captain Ben Stokes called the innings over at 435-8, leaving his bowlers about half an hour to attack the Black Caps before lunch.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They did so to lethal effect, with veteran seamer Jimmy Anderson (2-9) obtaining thin edges from Devon Conway (0) and Kane Williamson (4) to leave the hosts languishing at 12-2.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Anderson, reinstated this week to the top of the ICC\'s world Test bowling rankings at the age of 40, has put England on course for a sweep of the two- match series, having won the first Test by 267 runs in Mount Maunganui.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tourists lost five wickets and added a further 122 runs in an</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">entertaining opening session at the Basin Reserve after resuming at 315-3.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Harry Brook fell in the third over for 186, having added just two to his overnight score.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His blazing knock formed part of a 302-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Root, the second highest in all their Tests against New Zealand and having rescued England from 21-3 early on day one.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Root was unperturbed, advancing from his overnight 101 to surpass 150 for the 14th time in his career.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His innings was a mainstay, with his middle and lower-order partners prepared to throw their bat at the other end.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stokes scored 27 off 28 balls while Stuart Broad (14) and Ollie Robinson (18) offered late runs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Root struck 10 fours and three sixes, including a reverse ramp shot that cleared the boundary rope off the fourth ball he faced on Saturday, from Tim Southee.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Seamer Matt Henry took the key wicket of Brook, holding onto a sharp caught- and-bowled chance, to return New Zealand\'s best bowling figures of 4-100. 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, '2023-02-25 04:23:33', '2023-02-25 04:23:33'),
(5416, 5416, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">World landmarks were lit up in the colors of Ukraine’s national flag as people across the globe threw their support behind the country Friday on the anniversary of Russia\'s full-scale invasion.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower and Sydney Opera House gleamed in yellow and blue in solemn remembrance of the outbreak of the war on Feb. 24, 2022.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The conflict has affected economies worldwide, bringing shortages of energy, grain and fertilizer, and the date drew people to peace rallies and other events in the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, as well as Europe.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among the memorials, stunts and ceremonies, a wrecked Russian tank was put on display in Berlin, a bloody cake with a skull on top of it was left in a Belgrade street, Ukraine’s flag was held aloft amid tears in the sizzling Bangkok sun, and Japanese monks prayed for the dead.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A rusting T-72 tank was placed outside the prominent Russian Embassy building on the German capital’s Unter den Linden boulevard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tank was struck in the Kyiv region in the early stages of the war. It was taken to Berlin by a private group, which said that the Ukrainian defense ministry’s Military History Museum had loaned it. Destroyed Russian armor litters parts of Ukraine after months of battlefield setbacks for the Kremlin’s forces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The whole world should see that there are many people in Germany who stand behind Ukraine, so that’s why we’re putting the Russians’ scrap tank in front of their door,” said Wieland Giebel of the Berlin Story group, who was one of the exhibit’s organizers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Serbia, whose government has maintained friendly relations with Russia and has refused to join Western sanctions designed to punish Moscow for its invasion, police moved in to stop a group of anti-war activists from reaching the Russian Embassy in the capital, Belgrade.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The activists wanted to hand over a demand for Russian President Vladimir Putin to be put on trial for genocide in Ukraine. They left a cake, covered with red icing representing blood and with a skull on top of it, on the pavement near the embassy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stepped outside his office at No. 10 Downing Street, joining Ukraine’s ambassador and some Ukrainian soldiers being trained in the United Kingdom for a minute’s silence in commemoration of those killed in the fighting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">King Charles III published a message lauding the “remarkable courage and resilience” of the Ukrainian people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A teenage Ukrainian pianist forced to flee her country with her mother when the war broke out gave a solo performance at a shopping mall in the city of Liverpool in northwest England.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Alisa Bushuieva, 13, wore a traditional Ukrainian floral headband and dress as she played her country’s national anthem.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At a convention center in Utrecht, Netherlands, about 2,000 Ukrainian refugees gathered to hear by video link a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and in Brussels hundreds waved the Ukrainian flag and chanted “Slava Ukraini!” (Glory to Ukraine).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In northern Europe, people placed candles on the steps of Helsinki Cathedral at a memorial event for Ukraine war victims, and in southern Europe peace quotations printed on jute bags were displayed in Rome as part of an installation by Italian artist Gianfranco Meggiato entitled “The Meeting: The Symbol of Peace.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Poland, thousands of Poles, Ukrainians and Belarusians gathered before Russia’s embassy in Warsaw to protest. They held national flags and signs with the name of Ukrainians killed in the war written on them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Marchers in Bulgaria’s capital of Sofia waved Ukrainian flags and carried banners that read: “Ukraine will win” and “No to Russian terror.\" They were joined by some of the 50,000 Ukrainian refugees that found shelter in Bulgaria over the past year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moscow planned no special events for Friday, as most Russians took a nationwide day off amid an extended public holiday. As part of authorities’ relentless effort to prevent any sign of dissent, police in some areas visited activists’ homes to warn them against trying to stage any demonstrations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukrainians living in Brazil protested outside the Russian Consulate in Sao Paulo, with one sign comparing Putin to Adolf Hitler.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukrainians in Lebanon chanted slogans during a Beirut rally and held up signs saying, “Stand strong with Ukraine” and “No terrorism.” Ukrainians and their supporters also marked the anniversary in Tel Aviv.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Georgia, thousands of people marched through the streets of Tbilisi, the country\'s capital, chanting “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I think that Georgians should support Ukraine, because Ukraine is fighting for us, too. Ukraine’s victory means our victory,\" said Tsira Zhvania, a student who joined the rally in Tbilisi on Friday. “Unlike the Georgian government, Georgian people should stand with the people of Ukraine.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dozens of South Koreans and Ukrainian expatriates gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Seoul. They held candles and banners demanding the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About 1,000 people protested in Tokyo’s Hibiya Park, holding banners that said: “Russia, stop invading Ukraine.” Outside the city’s United Nations’ University, demonstrators held a candlelight vigil, and at Zenkoji temple in Nagano in central Japan, about 30 monks prayed for the lives lost in the war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">People also placed flowers outside the Ukrainian consulate in Bali, Indonesia, in tribute to those killed in the war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukrainians living in Thailand gathered outside their embassy in Bangkok. About 50 people, many wearing their national colors, sang the national anthem as an embassy official raised the flag. Several wept during a speech by the embassy’s charge d’affaires, in which he urged them to stay strong.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iliana Martsenyak, originally from the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, which has been pummeled by Russian barrages, wiped tears from her eyes as she spoke of how the anniversary made her feel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Honestly, I cannot find any words to describe how me and every single Ukrainian feels today because of this absolutely irrational, cruel and awful war that has been brought to our land,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The group marched to a nearby city park, holding Ukrainian flags and protest signs aloft. They stopped at the library of Lumpini park, largely in silence as a mother embraced her young daughter and others stared resolutely into the distance. 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, '2023-02-25 05:25:36', '2023-02-25 05:25:36'),
(5417, 5417, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is being expected to inaugurate 44 projects during her daylong visit to Gopalganj today.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier is also likely to lay foundation stones of five other projects.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 44 projects include two rural piped water supply schemes - one at Dumuria union under Tungipara upazila and another one at Ramshil union under Kotalipara upazila, 24 meter RCC girder bridge on Gopalpur UP Office-Kajulia UP via Boraihati Polshair Bazar Road and 99 meter girder bridge on Kushli GC-Dharabashail GC via Mitradanga, Sonakhali Road in Tungipara upazila, four-storey Shuagram Bohumukhi High School at Kotalipara, three-storey girls hostel (100 beds) at Sheikh Hasina Adarsha Degree College at Kotalipara, four-storey academic building of Kotalipara SN Institution, Kotalipara Poura Kitchen Market and Kotalipara Upazila Parishad built Sheikh Russel Library at Bhangarhat Talimpur Telihati High School at Kotalipara upazila, \'Mukta Manch\' on the ancestral home of poet Sukanta Bhattacharya at Kotalipara, flood shelter center at Uttar Kotalipara Rammohon High School at Kotalipara, one-storey commercial building having 10-storey foundation at Boro Bazar in Gopalganj Sadar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister will lay foundation stones of Gopalganj Zilla Tathya Complex Bhaban and Kotalipara Model Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre under Public Works Department, Radhaganj Union Bhangarhat Bazar Development and Mural Construction on 1971 Liberation War at Koralipara Upazila under Local Government Engineering Department and building Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman\'s mural at 11 union parishads under Kotalipara Upazila Parishad. 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, '2023-02-25 05:30:37', '2023-02-25 05:30:37'),
(5418, 5418, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other Group of Seven leaders adopted a set of additional sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine at an online G-7 summit Friday to mark the one-year anniversary of the start of the invasion.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The leaders renewed their commitment to “intensifying our diplomatic, financial and military support for Ukraine, to increasing the costs to Russia and those supporting its war effort,” and countering the negative impact on the rest of the world, especially the most vulnerable people, they said in a statement, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The G-7 countries also affirmed their coordinated action to “further counter Russia\'s capacity to wage its illegal aggression\" and pledged to prevent Russia from obtaining military equipment and technology. They also called on other countries to stop providing military support to Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kishida, as this year’s G-7 president, also announced Japan will impose additional sanctions on Russia, including freezing the assets of some 120 individuals and organizations and banning the export of drones and other materials that can be used for military purposes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“In order to absolutely not allow one-sided changes to the status quo, we must firmly carry out support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia to regain peace and international order based on the rule of law,\" Kishida told a news conference before hosting a teleconference with other G-7 leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“G-7 serves the core of the international commitment to do so,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the summit, Kishida planned to discuss the latest developments in the Russian war on Ukraine and how to support Ukraine\'s recovery and affirm G-7 solidarity for the war-torn country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kishida noted growing concern about China\'s potential transfer of lethal weapons to Russia, and said that Japan will cooperate with G-7 and other countries to send a “clear message” to third countries to stop supplying weapons to Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kishida also expressed “strong concern” about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement Tuesday that he was suspending Moscow\'s participation in an arms control treaty between Russia and the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Russia\'s nuclear threat is unacceptable, and use of nuclear weapons should never happen,” Kishida, whose electoral constituency is Hiroshima, said at the news conference. “As the world\'s only country to have suffered nuclear attacks, the 77-year history of non-nuclear weapons use should not be tarnished by Russia.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As the world observed the one-year anniversary of Russia\'s war on Ukraine, about 1,000 people protested Friday night in Tokyo\'s Hibiya Park, holding banners saying: “Russia, stop invading Ukraine.\" Outside of the United Nations\' University in Tokyo, demonstrators held a candlelight vigil. And at Zenkoji temple in Nagano in central Japan, about 30 monks prayed for the lives lost in the war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Top diplomats from Ukraine, the United States, Britain, Sweden, the EU, Lithuania and Sweden at a joint news conference in Tokyo called for solidarity for Ukraine and condemned Russia. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said Putin is wrong to accuse NATO of expanding eastward. He said the newest NATO members expanded west by their free will because the West has “a pull” of freedom, liberty and respect for individuals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Also Friday, nuclear and security experts on a panel at the non-profit Sasakawa Peace Foundation released recommendations for the Kishida government to initiate discussions at the G-7 Hiroshima summit toward establishing a framework to protect nuclear facilities in conflict areas, in response to Russia\'s repeated attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Due to its pacifist principles, Japan\'s support for Ukraine has been limited to non-combative military equipment such as helmets, bulletproof vests and drones, and humanitarian supplies including generators.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kishida is the only G-7 leader who has not visited Ukraine. Pressure is mounting at home for Kishida to visit Kyiv before he hosts the G-7 summit in Hiroshima. Asked about a possible visit, Kishida said he is “considering” a visit, taking into consideration ways to ensure safety and secrecy, but nothing official has been decided.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Japan has joined the United States and European nations in sanctioning Russia over its invasion and providing humanitarian and economic support for Ukraine. Japan was quick to react because it fears the possible impact of a war in East Asia, where China’s military has grown increasingly assertive and has escalated tensions around self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kishida at the online G-7 also explained Japan’s support for Ukraine. That includes a new $5.5 billion in financial aid, which Kishida unveiled Monday, bringing total Japanese support for Ukraine to more than $7 billion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Japan has also accepted more than 2,000 displaced Ukrainians and helped them with housing assistance and support for jobs and education — a rare move for a country that is known for its strict immigration policy. 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, '2023-02-25 06:14:13', '2023-02-25 06:14:13');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5419, 5419, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Pentagon announced a new package of long-term security assistance for Ukraine on Friday, marking the first anniversary of Russia\'s invasion with a $2 billion commitment to send more rounds of ammunition and a variety of small, high-tech drones into the fight.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The announcement comes just days after President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit to Kyiv and pledged America\'s continuing commitment to Ukraine. Biden told President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his people that \"Americans stand with you, and the world stands with you.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a statement Friday, the Pentagon said the aid includes weapons to counter Russia\'s unmanned systems and several types of drones, including the upgraded Switchblade 600 Kamikaze drone, as well as electronic warfare detection equipment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It also includes money for additional ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, artillery rounds and munitions for laser-guided rocket systems. But, in an unusual move, the Pentagon provided no details on how many rounds of any kind will be bought. Including this latest package, the U.S. has now committed more than $32 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia\'s invasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the first anniversary of Russia\'s invasion is a chance for all who believe in freedom “to recommit ourselves to supporting Ukraine’s brave defenders for the long haul — and to recall that the stakes of Russia’s war stretch far beyond Ukraine.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden was scheduled to meet virtually Friday with other Group of Seven leaders and Zelenskyy “to continue coordinating our efforts to support Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its war,” the White House said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Those efforts include what the White House called “sweeping” sanctions on over 200 people and entities “to further degrade Russia’s economy and diminish its ability to wage war against Ukraine.” The Biden administration will also further restrict exports to Russia and raise tariffs on some Russian products imported to the U.S.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The White House statement released Friday also said, “G7 countries will continue to keep Russia’s sovereign assets immobilized until there is a resolution to the conflict that addresses Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and integrity.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Just days after Austin traveled to Kyiv in April 2022 to meet with Zelenskyy, he launched a now-monthly meeting of ministers of defense and defense chiefs to make sure momentum on assisting Ukraine does not fade. The most recent meeting was last week in Brussels, and over the past year the sessions have resulted in regular announcements by international partners of increasingly lethal weapons systems to help Ukraine defend itself.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That effort also spawned a spin-off group of the chief weapons buyers for each partner nation. They now meet regularly to address the pressure that support for Ukraine has put on international weapons stockpiles, to make sure equipment continues to flow and manufacturing meets the demands.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Allies and partners, said Austin, have committed more than $20 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, including tanks, armored vehicles, air-defense systems, artillery systems and weapons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Difficult times may lie ahead, but let us remain clear-eyed about what is at stake in Ukraine,” Austin said, “to ensure that a world of rules and rights is not replaced by one of tyranny and turmoil.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The latest aid package uses the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative to provide funding for longer-term contracts to buy weapons and equipment. Unlike the presidential drawdown authority that the Pentagon has used repeatedly over the past year to pull weapons from its own stocks and quickly ship them to Ukraine, the USAI-funded equipment could take a year or two to get to the battlefront. As a result, it will do little to help Ukraine prepare for an expected new offensive in the spring.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the Pentagon, the money will also buy mine clearing and communications equipment and fund training, maintenance and sustainment for Ukraine’s forces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On CNN Thursday night, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that Biden and Zelenskyy discussed Ukraine’s request for F-16 fighter jets during the U.S. president’s visit week to Kyiv.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“They’re about to mount a significant counter offense,” Sullivan noted, referring to expectations that Ukraine will mount a spring offensive. “From our perspective, F-16s are not the key capability for that offensive.” He suggested, however, that the F-16 request could be revisited for long-term defense. 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, '2023-02-25 06:20:14', '2023-02-25 06:20:14'),
(5420, 5420, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Peruvian President Dina Boluarte announced Friday the \"definitive recall\" of her ambassador to Mexico, citing the continued support that the North American country has given to deposed president Pedro Castillo.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Peru\'s leftist former president Castillo was impeached and arrested for attempting to dissolve parliament and rule by decree in December, and Boluarte has since seen weeks of anti-government protests across the Andean nation calling for her removal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Castillo\'s ouster was criticized by leftist Latin American allies, including Mexico, which has sparked a diplomatic row.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Friday Boluarte denounced the \"unacceptable\" interference in the \"internal affairs\" of Peru by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I have ordered the definitive recall of our ambassador to Mexico,\" Boluarte said in a televised address.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"In this way, diplomatic relations between Peru and Mexico are formally reduced to the level of charge d\'affaires.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Her announcement comes the same day Lopez Obrador reiterated that \"Mexico will continue to support (Castillo) who was unjustly and illegally removed from office\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I strongly reject the remarks made today by the president of Mexico on Peru\'s internal affairs and his repeated unacceptable questioning of the constitutional and democratic origins of my government,\" Boluarte said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She added that Lopez Obrador has \"decided to support the coup d\'etat carried out by the now former president Pedro Castillo on December 7, 2022\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lopez Obrador has been one of Castillo\'s most fervent foreign supporters, along with the fellow leftist leaders of Bolivia, Argentina and Colombia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Peru had already expelled the Mexican ambassador at the end of December, after Mexico granted political asylum to Castillo\'s wife and two sons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At least 48 people have died in clashes between security forces and protesters since unrest broke out on December 7, following his impeachment and arrest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The demonstrations are driven by poor southern, Indigenous Peruvians who perceive Castillo -- who is also from humble origins and has Indigenous roots -- as an ally in their fight against poverty, racism and inequality. 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, '2023-02-25 07:23:02', '2023-02-25 07:23:02'),
(5421, 5421, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ram Charan, who is currently in the US with director SS Rajamouli, revealed that he would love to perform the RRR song Naatu Naatu at the Oscars ceremony on March 12, 2023. The Telugu song, composed by MM Keeravaani and written by Chandrabose, is nominated for Best Original Song at the 95th Academy Awards. It is nominated alongside songs by Rihanna, Lady Gaga and songwriter Diane Warren.&nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Academy recently confirmed that Rihanna would be performing her Oscar-nominated song Lift Me Up from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. On Friday, it was shared that Sofia Carson would be joining Diane to perform the other nominated song Applause from the film Tell It Like a Woman. Academy CEO Bill Kramer had said on the Best in Show podcast that he was trying to work it out to make sure the Best Original Song performers would be up on stage during the live awards show.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking to cinephile social platform Letterboxd, Ram said, “We would love to do ‘Naatu Naatu’ anywhere that we are being appreciated, but not every place accommodates us to perform. But if we’re at the Oscars and there’s a request, and there’s time, why not? We’ll be more than happy to entertain our audience, who have given us so much. To do the whole number on the stage would be difficult, as it takes a lot of breath and energy. But definitely the hook step. Why not!”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the film, Ram and his co-star Jr NTR dazzle a mostly British crowd with their dancing skills. Naatu Naatu has already won the Best Original Song award at the 80th Golden Globe Awards. Choreographed by Prem Rakshith, the song was filmed in Ukraine, at the Mariinskyi Palace (Ukraine Presidential Palace) in Kyiv.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the Golden Globes, Ram had spoken with Variety on the red carpet about the shooting of the track. He had said, \"My knees still wobble talking about it. Ya, it was what it is, it is a beautiful torture and look where it got us! We are standing here, talking to you today on this carpet, thanks to it.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The RRR team is expected to attend the Oscars ceremony next month and walk the red carpet. On Friday, RRR picked four awards at the Hollywood Critics Association Film Awards, including Best Original song. 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, '2023-02-25 07:27:35', '2023-02-25 07:27:35'),
(5422, 5422, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Local leaders in Patuakhali said that police prevented BNP’s road march programme — to press home demands including resignation of the government, addressing price hike of daily essentials, and release of BNP leaders and activists in jail on “false” cases.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Leaders and activists of BNP gathered in front of its Patuakhali district unit office with processions to join the programme.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When they started their road march programme at 10 am, police obstructed them, they said. A scuffle took place among the leaders and activists of BNP and police, leaving six people including district unit Chhatra Dal President Ujjal Talukdar injured, said Snehangshu Sarkar, member secretary of district unit BNP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Additional police have been deployed at the BNP office. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-25 08:18:02', '2023-02-25 08:18:02'),
(5423, 5423, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Centurion Joe Root was left unbeaten as England declared their first innings and made a double breakthrough to take command of the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Root struck Matt Henry for four to reach 153 before England captain Ben Stokes called the innings over at 435-8, leaving his bowlers about half an hour to attack the Black Caps before lunch.</div><div><br></div><div>They did so to lethal effect, with veteran seamer Jimmy Anderson (2-9) obtaining thin edges from Devon Conway (0) and Kane Williamson (4) to leave the hosts languishing at 12-2.</div><div><br></div><div>Anderson, reinstated this week to the top of the ICC\'s world Test bowling rankings at the age of 40, has put England on course for a sweep of the two-match series, having won the first Test by 267 runs in Mount Maunganui.</div><div><br></div><div>The tourists lost five wickets and added a further 122 runs in an entertaining opening session at the Basin Reserve after resuming at 315-3.</div><div><br></div><div>Harry Brook fell in the third over for 186, having added just two to his overnight score.</div><div><br></div><div>His blazing knock formed part of a 302-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Root, the second highest in all their Tests against New Zealand and having rescued England from 21-3 early on day one.</div><div><br></div><div>Root was unperturbed, advancing from his overnight 101 to surpass 150 for the 14th time in his career.</div><div><br></div><div>His innings was a mainstay, with his middle and lower-order partners prepared to throw their bat at the other end.</div><div><br></div><div>Stokes scored 27 off 28 balls while Stuart Broad (14) and Ollie Robinson (18) offered late runs.</div><div><br></div><div>Root struck 10 fours and three sixes, including a reverse ramp shot that cleared the boundary rope off the fourth ball he faced on Saturday, from Tim Southee.</div><div><br></div><div>Seamer Matt Henry took the key wicket of Brook, holding onto a sharp caught-and-bowled chance, to return New Zealand\'s best bowling figures of 4-100. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-25 09:13:00', '2023-02-25 09:13:00'),
(5424, 5424, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A speeding passenger bus rammed into a van on a motorway in eastern Pakistan, killing 13 people and injuring several others, a police spokesman said Saturday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The accident happened overnight in Rahim Yar Khan, a district in Punjab province, according to Mohammad Awais, a district police spokesman. He said the dead and injured had all been moved to a hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>Awais provided no further details, saying officers were still investigating the cause.</div><div><br></div><div>Traffic accidents in Pakistan generally happen due to traffic rules violations, resulting in thousands of deaths or injuries every year. Last month, a bus crashed into a pillar and fell off a bridge, catching fire and killing 40 passengers in the southern district of Lasbela. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-25 09:42:16', '2023-02-25 09:42:16'),
(5425, 5425, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Asserting that her government will continue its drive against militancy, terrorism, drugs and corruption Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday asked the people to remain vigilant.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Our drive against militancy, terrorism, drugs and corruption will be continued. All of you must remain cautious regarding this matter,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister was addressing a huge public rally at TT High School ground at Bhangar Haat in Kotalipara upazila here.</div><div><br></div><div>She also asked all guardians to remain alert so that their children don\'t get involved with drugs and militancy.</div><div><br></div><div>With Kotalipara upazila unit AL president Bhabendra Nath Biswas in the chair the rally was addressed among others by AL presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim And AL general secretary Obaidul Quader.</div><div><br></div><div>Kotalipara upazila unit AL Aynal Hossain conducted the rally.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, the PM inaugurated 43 development projects and laid foundation stones of another five in Kotalipara. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-25 10:49:47', '2023-02-25 10:49:47'),
(5426, 5426, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Police detained Saturday some 25 BNP activists and leaders, including a central leader, on charges of attempts to carry out subversive activities and chaos following a road march in Bagerhat district.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>BNP, however, claimed that police held at least 40 leaders and activists from different areas after a “peaceful” road march in the district.</div><div><br></div><div>The detainees included central assistant publicity secretary Shamimur Rahman Shamim, district unit BNP’s former president MA Salam, its incumbent convener ATM Akram Hossain Selim Talim, and another leader Ali Robi, among others.</div><div><br></div><div>Protesting the detainment and obstruction to their programme, BNP central committee Education Affairs Secretary ABM Dr Obaidul Islam at an instant press conference at Bagerhat Press Club around 11am alleged that at least 40 BNP men were detained centring the road march over several demands including resignation of the government and controlling price hike of essentials.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader also announced a programme to be observed at each police station in all metropolitan cities on March 4, protesting the obstruction and detention of their party members across the country today.</div><div><br></div><div>Md Asaduzzaman, superintendent of police in the district, said they apprehended some 20 to 25 BNP men after receiving information that the party men were hatching plans to carry out subversive activities and disorder in the name of the road march, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Verification was going on about the detainees and legal actions will be taken in this connection later, the SP said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-25 11:21:22', '2023-02-25 11:21:22'),
(5427, 5427, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The 73rd Berlinale film festival awards its top prizes on Saturday, including the Golden Bear for best picture, after a star-studded edition that highlighted freedom struggles in Ukraine and Iran.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>After two years of a reduced format due to pandemic restrictions, the 11-day festival was back in full swing this year, with A-listers such as Cate Blanchett, Helen Mirren and Steven Spielberg walking on the red carpet.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The Berlinale has come back with a vengeance, and added something that it wasn\'t especially known for in its pre-pandemic days: star power,\" said Variety magazine.</div><div><br></div><div>The festival reached peak celebrity on Tuesday when U2 frontman Bono – in town to premiere the documentary \"Kiss the Future\" -- presented Spielberg with an honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement.</div><div><br></div><div>The Berlinale, which ranks along with Cannes and Venice among Europe\'s top cinema showcases, marked the first anniversary of Russia\'s invasion of Ukraine with a focus on Ukrainian cinema.</div><div><br></div><div>President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is the subject of a documentary premiered at the event by two-time Oscar winner Sean Penn, addressed the opening ceremony via video link.</div><div><br></div><div>The festival, which traditionally has the strongest political focus of the three big European cinema showcases, also highlighted anti-government protests in Iran with new feature films and documentaries.</div><div><br></div><div>- Continent-spanning love story -</div><div><br></div><div>There are 19 films from around the world vying for this year\'s Golden Bear, which will be awarded at a gala ceremony by a jury led by Hollywood star Kristen Stewart, at 32 the youngest president in the festival\'s history.</div><div><br></div><div>Several films from Asian directors are among the top contenders, including \"Past Lives\", a continent-spanning love story by Korean-Canadian first-time filmmaker Celine Song.</div><div><br></div><div>Critics lavished praise on the film, already a breakout hit at last month\'s US film festival Sundance.</div><div><br></div><div>The Hollywood Reporter called it a \"remarkably assured debut\", while Deadline said Song had created \"an elegant and unexpectedly mesmerising character piece that speaks profoundly to the concept of love in the modern age\".</div><div><br></div><div>Also in the running is Makoto Shinkai\'s \"Suzume\", the first Japanese anime to compete for the Golden Bear since Hayao Miyazaki\'s \"Spirited Away\" won the prize in 2002.</div><div><br></div><div>It follows 17-year-old schoolgirl Suzume as she finds herself caught up in a mission to close a series of magical doors in a bid to prevent earthquakes.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Although one might feel weary in advance to hear \'Suzume\' is yet another anime in which a young person is enlisted into a struggle to save their family/hometown/Japan/the world, this one\'s a keeper,\" the Hollywood Reporter said.</div><div><br></div><div>- \'Joyous and exhausting\' -</div><div><br></div><div>Chinese director Liu Jian also premiered an animated film at the festival, the semi-autobiographical \"Art College 1994\".</div><div><br></div><div>Screen Daily said it \"evokes a specific time and a place so vividly that you can almost taste the stale cigarette smoke and cheap beer\".</div><div><br></div><div>Critics were also impressed by \"20,000 Species of Bees\", the fictional feature debut from Spanish director Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren which tells the story of an eight-year-old transgender girl.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Arthouse audiences worldwide should respond to the pathos, breadth and humanity of a film that takes a while to build but, when it does, never loses its grip,\" said Screen Daily.</div><div><br></div><div>Another Spanish-language family drama, Mexican director Lila Aviles\' \"Totem\", also emerged as a highlight.</div><div><br></div><div>The Hollywood Reporter said it was as \"noisy, joyous and as exhausting as the multi-generational bash at the heart of its story\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"Afire\" from German director Christian Petzold, about a group of friends whose holiday retreat to the Baltic coast goes horribly wrong, also won praise.</div><div><br></div><div>Variety called it \"wincingly well-observed and acidly funny\", while the Hollywood Reporter said it was \"a deceptively simple and straightforward but emotionally layered film\".</div><div><br></div><div>Last year, Spanish director Carla Simon won the Golden Bear for \"Alcarras\", a Catalan drama about a family of peach farmers. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-25 12:17:27', '2023-02-25 12:17:27'),
(5428, 5428, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President M Abdul Hamid today asked all concerned, including university authorities, to remain alert against corruption and nepotism.</span><br></b></div><div><b>&nbsp;</b></div><div>\"Corruption is one of the major barriers to country\'s overall development and progress... So, everyone should be aware against corrupt practices,\" he told the \'Sixth Convocation-2023\' of Jahangirnagar University (JU), Savar, on the outskirts of the capital this afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>The President, also the university chancellor, added: \"Recently, many negative new reports were published on the recruitment and tender business in different universities... Stay away from the corruption and nepotism.\"</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Chief Justice of Bangladesh Justice Hasan Foez Siddique spoke as the convocation speaker at the sixth convocation of JU.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The President also called upon the teachers and students to do politics staying above the party affiliation and maintaining a healthy academic environment on campuses.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"The vice-chancellor, the teachers and the students use to practice the freedom of thought. They also do practice and actively participate in politics but a fair and clean politics is expected,\" said the chancellor.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"Beyond the studies, you can involve yourself in various co-curricular activities such as politics, social service and cultural acts. But there is no compromise with the education,\" he added.&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Expressing grave concern over the world-ranking as no Bangladeshi university was found even among the first 1,000 universities in the ranking, the President said only certificate-based education cannot bring development for the country and its people.&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"And institutional education would be fruitful if it can be linked with real life,\" the Head of the State observed.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Abdul Hamid told the vice-chancellor and teachers that the teaching and research activities are their main and most important responsibilities while the foremost duty of a student is to study and acquire knowledge.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>President Hamid called for taking pragmatic steps to improve the quality of education.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"The youth society must achieve self-reliance in the field of science and technology... It requires continuous research in the respective fields,\" he added.&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Addressing the graduates and students, the President said every student should be educated in ethics, values, patriotism and nationalism along with academic education.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Abdul Hamid stressed on the development and positive change of the country to make every university world-class for the proper care of the talented youths.&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Advising the graduates to play a positive role in the welfare of the country and nation, the President said, \"Not only individuals, the families, the society and the national development should also be focused.\"</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>President Hamid told the businessmen that even businessmen are busy to become rich ignoring the ethics and morality after starting a business.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Giant business and industrialists take loans from various financial institutions to become loan defaulters willingly,\" he added.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>He said entering the job, a section of service holders remains busy to earn money, own a car and house and they even do not hesitate to compromise with the interests of the country and the nation.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"The graduates will work as diligent citizens to make the country a happy and prosperous \'Golden Bangla\' envisioned by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu as well as a developed and \"Smart Bangladesh\", the chancellor hoped.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>As many as 15,219 students participated in the programme and of those, the President awarded 16 students with gold medals in three categories in the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Of the total participants, 11,444 have completed regular graduation and post-graduation, 3,461 have completed weekend program, 34 have completed M Phil degree and 280 have completed Ph.D.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Members of Parliament, JU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md Nurul Alam, Pro-VC Professor Sheikh Md Manjurul Haque, Treasurer Professor Dr. Rasheda Akhtar, Registrar Rahima Kaniz and deans of respective faculties, among others, were present. Accrding to BSS reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-25 15:37:35', '2023-02-25 15:37:35'),
(5429, 5429, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The first 2,000 suspected gang members in El Salvador have been moved to a huge new prison, the centrepiece of President Nayib Bukele\'s self-declared war on crime.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Tens of thousands of suspected gangsters have been rounded up in the country under a state of emergency following a spike in murders and other violent crime.</div><div><br></div><div>The jail will eventually hold more than 40,000 people.</div><div><br></div><div>Pictures show the first massive group of inmates - tattooed and barefoot - being led led to the facility.</div><div><br></div><div>The prisoners are left sitting on the floor with their hands behind their shaven heads, stacked closely together, before being taken to their cells.</div><div><br></div><div>President Bukele tweeted that the first 2,000 people were transferred \"at dawn, in a single operation\" to the Center for the Confinement of Terrorism, which he says is the largest jail in the Americas.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This will be their new house, where they will live for decades, all mixed, unable to do any further harm to the population.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The mega-prison - in Tecoluca, 74 kilometers (46 miles) southeast of the capital San Salvador- comprises eight buildings. Each has 32 cells of about 100 square meters (1,075 square feet) to hold \"more than 100\" prisoners, the government says.</div><div><br></div><div>The cells only have two sinks and two toilets each.</div><div>President Bukele declared a \"war on gangs\" last March, passing emergency measures which have been extended several times.</div><div><br></div><div>The emergency measures have been controversial as they limit some constitutional rights, such as allowing the security forces to arrest suspects without a warrant.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 64,000 suspects have been arrested in the anti-crime drive.</div><div><br></div><div>Human rights organisations have argued that innocent people have been caught up in the policy, but Bukele\'s anti-gang push remains popular with Salvadorans. Source: BBC</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-25 16:07:58', '2023-02-25 16:07:58'),
(5430, 5430, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed Friday to do everything to defeat Russia this year, as the first Leopard tanks arrived in Ukraine on the anniversary of Europe\'s largest conflict since World War II.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Street protests took place in many European capitals against the Russian action in Ukraine, to mark the anniversary, and fresh US sanctions targeted Russian banks, military industry and semiconductor access.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile the Group of Seven industrialised nations threatened embargo busters with \"severe costs\".</div><div><br></div><div>Poland sent the German-made tanks to help Ukraine repel Russian troops and send a \"clear and measurable signal of further support\", said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who was visiting Kyiv.</div><div><br></div><div>Poland will send more tanks soon, Morawiecki said, also offering to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F16 jets, as Western allies underlined their unwavering support.</div><div><br></div><div>Russia remained defiant, former president Dmitry Medvedev insisting that his country was ready to push its offensive \"to the borders of Poland\".</div><div><br></div><div>Tensions were also building on Ukraine\'s border with Moldova, as Moscow claimed Kyiv was plotting to invade the breakaway region of Transnistria and promised to respond. Moldova denied any threat from Ukraine.</div><div><br></div><div>Zelensky said he was planning to meet China\'s President Xi Jinping after the release of Beijing\'s 12-point position paper Friday, which included a call for peace talks and for the respect of all territorial sovereignty.</div><div><br></div><div>Zelensky noted that Beijing\'s paper appeared to show \"there is respect for our territorial integrity, security issues\".</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier Friday, he said in a statement that Ukraine \"will do everything to gain victory this year\".</div><div><br></div><div>- \'Spirit is strong\' -</div><div><br></div><div>A year ago to the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin stunned the world by sending troops across the border, a move seen as punishment for Kyiv\'s pivot to the West.</div><div><br></div><div>The war has devastated swathes of Ukraine, displaced millions, turned Russia into a pariah in the West and, according to Western sources, caused more than 150,000 casualties on each side.</div><div><br></div><div>Demonstrators protesting Moscow\'s aggression marched in cities across Europe to mark the invasion anniversary.</div><div><br></div><div>In Berlin, activists placed a Russian tank wreck in front of the Russian embassy.</div><div><br></div><div>Crowds fell silent for a minute from Tallinn to London while key buildings across Europe were draped or lit up in the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag.</div><div><br></div><div>A year ago, Russian troops sought to rapidly install a pro-Moscow regime in Ukraine but failed to conquer Kyiv and subsequently suffered defeats in northeastern and southern Ukraine.</div><div><br></div><div>Since October, Russia has pummelled Ukraine\'s energy infrastructure, causing power shortages for millions over winter.</div><div><br></div><div>In a recent Ukrainian poll, nearly one in five said they had lost a loved one in the war.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite the daily trials, many Ukrainians refuse to be cowed.</div><div><br></div><div>In Bucha, where Russia has been accused of widespread atrocities, 64-year-old Galyna Gamulets recalled coming under fire from Russian troops for \"more than two weeks\".</div><div><br></div><div>She voiced pride in her nation and said that \"we will succeed\" in repelling the invaders.</div><div><br></div><div>- \'Living hell\' -</div><div><br></div><div>The West, which has imposed increasingly stringent sanctions on Russia and boosted humanitarian aid and arms supplies for Ukraine, unveiled more help on Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>The United States announced sweeping sanctions aimed not just at Russia but also \"over 200 individuals and entities\" across Europe, Asia and the Middle East supporting Moscow\'s war.</div><div><br></div><div>After a video-call, G7 allies warned that \"third-countries or other international actors who seek to evade or undermine our measures\" must \"cease providing material support to Russia\'s war, or face severe costs\".</div><div><br></div><div>The new aid package from Washington came days after President Joe Biden arrived in Kyiv on a historic visit and pledged new arms deliveries.</div><div><br></div><div>Along with contributions from Sweden and Portugal, Germany said it had managed to cobble together a battalion of modern Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine.</div><div><br></div><div>The World Bank announced an extra $2.5 billion for Ukraine Friday, to support essential services and core government functions.</div><div><br></div><div>On Friday, after a minute\'s silence at the UN Security Council, Guterres denounced Russia\'s military action, saying it had made life for Ukrainians a \"living hell\".</div><div><br></div><div>Russia\'s invasion was \"a blatant violation of the United Nations Charter and international law,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>- China\'s position paper -</div><div><br></div><div>Key players China and India abstained from Thursday\'s UN vote.</div><div><br></div><div>China has sought to position itself as a neutral party while maintaining close ties with Russia.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to Beijing\'s new position paper, Moscow said it \"highly values\" China\'s contribution but insisted that any conflict settlement must recognise Russia\'s control over four Ukrainian regions it annexed.</div><div><br></div><div>Western countries gave China\'s plan a muted reception. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it was \"still doubtful\" Beijing sincerely wanted to play a constructive role in seeking peace.</div><div><br></div><div>NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Beijing simply \"doesn\'t have much credibility because they have not been able to condemn the illegal invasion of Ukraine\".</div><div><br></div><div>The United Nations on Friday welcomed China\'s position paper on Ukraine as an important contribution.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I think the call on the need to avoid the use of nuclear weapons is particularly important,\" Antonio Guterres\'s spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.</div><div><br></div><div>-\'Miracles happen\'-</div><div><br></div><div>On the frontline in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv troops\' morale remained high.</div><div><br></div><div>\"God is helping us. Nobody thought that Ukraine would hold,\" said a soldier who goes by the call sign \"Cook\" in the eastern region of Donetsk. \"I know that miracles happen,\"</div><div><br></div><div>Despite military setbacks and sanctions, Putin, 70, has refused to back down, accusing the West of supporting neo-Nazi forces and claiming Russia\'s survival was at stake.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We are protecting people\'s lives, our native home,\" Putin said in his state of the nation address on Tuesday. \"And the goal of the West is endless power.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Putin\'s assault on Ukraine and mobilisation of reservists have sparked what might be Russia\'s largest mass exodus since the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917.</div><div><br></div><div>But with television propaganda in overdrive, many Russians have rallied behind Putin despite economic trouble and multiplying casualties.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The country is really changing for the better,\" said Lyubov Yudina, a 48-year-old security guard in Moscow.</div><div><br></div><div>But Ruslan Melnikov, a 28-year-old teacher, was dejected. \"I don\'t see any future now.\" Source: AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-25 16:15:24', '2023-02-25 16:15:24'),
(5431, 5431, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>As part of the ongoing simultaneous movement, the BNP and its associate bodies and like-minded parties will march in all thanas under their divisional cities on March 4 (next Saturday) to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The main opposition party announced the fresh programme shortly after the launch of their march in all districts of the country today (Saturday) - which was part of the same series of programmes</div><div><br></div><div>The programme will also protest against the rise in the prices of power, gas and essential items, and pressure the government to release BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia without any condition, essentially to drop the \'false\' cases against her, and now and to accept the party’s 10-point demand.</div><div><br></div><div>In a statement, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged the party rank and file to make the party’s movement a success with their spontaneous participation, to force the government to accept their 10-point demand and quit.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>BNP Standing Committee members and the party’s senior leaders participated in the district-level programme.</div><div><br></div><div>Today\'s nationwide march programme in all districts by the BNP to press home their 10-point demand was observed on Saturday amid clashes and obstruction in nine districts.</div><div><br></div><div>The leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies alleged that the ruling party activists attacked them in Jhalokathi, Nilphamari and Netrokona when they tried to observe their march programme there.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, they said police charged batons on the opposition leaders and activists in Patuakhali while law enforcers opened fire on a procession in Cumilla.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP could not hold the march programme in Bagerhat and Rajbari due to obstructions reportedly by police while the party leaders and activists cut short the programme in Gazipur and Magura in the face of police obstruction.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the party’s march programme was foiled as a crude bomb exploded in front of its office in Natore before the start of the march.</div><div><br></div><div>In his statement, Mirza Fakhrul strongly condemned and protested the incident and said the government was trying to create anarchy by attacking the opposition’s peaceful march programme as it got scared of the ongoing movement.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He claimed that over 100 BNP leaders and activists were injured in attacks by police and ruling party ‘cadres’ on the march programme in different districts.</div><div><br></div><div>From December last year, BNP and like-minded parties and alliances started a simultaneous movement to bring down the government, or at least realise the all-important caretaker or non-party provision ahead of the next election.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the leaders and activists of BNP’s Dhaka north and south city units observed the march programme in five areas in the capital since January 28.</div><div><br></div><div>The party also arranged a similar programme in all unions and divisional cities across the country to press home their 10-point demand. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-25 16:34:01', '2023-02-25 16:34:01'),
(5432, 5432, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday unveiled the cover of a book titled \"Bangabandhu Bhalobashar Opor Nam\".</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The book was written by former Chhatra League and Awami League leader late Duranta Biplob.</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister\'s Assistant Press Secretary MM Emrul Kayas said late Duranta Biplob\'s mother Rokeya Akter Khatun, his brother Durjoy Biplob and sister Shashwati Biplob were present on the occasion at the premier\'s official residence Ganabhaban here.</div><div><br></div><div>Former member of Awami League\'s central Agriculture and Cooperatives affairs sub-committee late Duranta Biplob has written the book on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-26 09:39:13', '2023-02-26 09:39:13'),
(5433, 5433, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least 27 migrants died after their boat sank at dawn off the Italian coastal city of Crotone in the southern region of Calabria, Italian media reported on Sunday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>News agency ANSA said at least 30 people were believed to have drowned.</div><div><br></div><div>The search for survivors was continuing, hampered by stormy seas.</div><div>AGI news agency quoted a rescue worker as saying a baby of just a few months old was among the victims.</div><div><br></div><div>It said the migrants\' vessel was overloaded and had split apart because of the violent waves.</div><div><br></div><div>Italian coast guards declined to comment when contacted by AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>The latest such tragedy comes just days after the hard-right government pushed through parliament a controversial new law on rescuing migrants.</div><div><br></div><div>Far-right president Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the post-Fascist Brothers of Italy party, won power in October, partly on a promise to stem the flow of migrants reaching Italian shores.</div><div><br></div><div>The new law forces migrant aid vessels to make just one rescue attempt at a time, which critics say risks increasing the number of drownings in the central Mediterranean.</div><div><br></div><div>The route is considered the most dangerous crossing in the world for people seeking asylum in Europe.</div><div><br></div><div>A large number of people fleeing conflict and poverty for what they hope will be a better life in Europe cross from Africa via Italy. Source: AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-26 10:18:54', '2023-02-26 10:18:54'),
(5434, 5434, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Russian President Vladimir Putin accused NATO members of taking part in the Ukraine conflict by donating arms to the country and said the West planned to break up Russia.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"They are sending tens of billions of dollars in weapons to Ukraine. This really is participation,\" Putin said in an interview with the Rossiya-1 channel aired on Sunday. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-26 11:04:42', '2023-02-26 11:04:42'),
(5435, 5435, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least four people were killed and 10 others wounded on Sunday in a bomb blast in Pakistan\'s southwest Balochistan province, the police said, Xinhua reported.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>According to the police, the blast took place in the Rukni Bazaar, a busy market in the Barkhan district of the province. An explosive device planted in a motorcycle was detonated with a remote-controlled device.</div><div><br></div><div>Police, security forces and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and the injured to a nearby hospital. The area has been condoned off by the police.</div><div><br></div><div>Hospital officials feared that the death toll might rise as some of the injured were in critical condition.</div><div><br></div><div>No group claimed the deadly attack yet.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on Saturday evening, unknown terrorists attacked a police vehicle with a roadside bomb in the Khuzdar district of Balochistan, killing two policemen and leaving two others injured.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-26 11:09:20', '2023-02-26 11:09:20'),
(5436, 5436, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The first results are expected later from Nigeria\'s tightest election since the end of military rule in 1999.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>However, following widespread delays and some attacks on polling stations on Saturday, voting has been postponed until Sunday in parts of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>In other areas, voting continued through the night.</div><div>Turnout appears to be high, especially among young people who make up about a third of the 87 million eligible voters.</div><div><br></div><div>This makes it the biggest democratic exercise in Africa.</div><div><br></div><div>The election has seen an unprecedented challenge to the two-party system that has dominated Nigeria for more than two decades. BBC</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-26 13:13:09', '2023-02-26 13:13:09');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5437, 5437, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said her government has been trying its best to keep the country\'s economy vibrant even though the world is going through an economic recession.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“When the whole world is passing through a recession caused by the Covid-19, the Ukraine war and others, our effort is to keep our economy vibrant. We’re trying our best to do so,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier was addressing a commemorative discussion on the death of her former political adviser Dr SA Malek through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangabandhu Parishad arranged the discussion in the city’s Kalabagan area to commemorate its president Dr  Malek, who died on December 06, 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said her government has been building Bangladesh with the ideals of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have been able to transform Bangladesh into a developing country. One day this Bangladesh will be built as a developed and prosperous country,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM recalled the contribution of Dr Malek in implementing the ideology of Bangabandhu and spreading the spirit of the Liberation War.</div><div><br></div><div>“He was always very sincere to implement the ideology of Bangabandhu and bear the spirit of the Liberation War,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said Dr Malek is one of thr few persons who played the key role to put forth the ideology of Bangabandhu before the people.</div><div><br></div><div>“He put forth the ideology of the Father of the Nation before the people even amid many adversities,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier said Bangabandhu Parishad was formed to protest the assassination of Bangabandhu and raise his ideology before the people after the 1975 15th August carnage.</div><div><br></div><div> \"Dr SA Malek is one of them who played a key role to put forth the ideology of Bangabandhu before the people,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said the late leader played a great role in making the people familiar with the term of \"Second Revolution\" launched by the Father of the Nation.</div><div><br></div><div>She said Dr Malek and former Dhaka City mayor late Mohammad Hanif played the most significant role in electing her the President of Awami League (in 1981) as they created public opinion and took it to the party forum.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said she even scolded Dr  Malek for insisting time and again she became president of the Awami League.</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that Dr Malek is a politically conscious person,  Hasina said he had a role in each of the country\'s democratic and progressive movements, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Recalling the contribution of Dr Malek in the Liberation War, she also said, \"He fought with great bravery in the battlefield during the War of Liberation in 1971 by taking arms.\"</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-26 13:24:12', '2023-02-26 16:25:12'),
(5438, 5438, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>GE Gas Power, a world leader in natural gas power technology, services and solutions, is focused to generate electricity that is reliable, affordable and sustainable for the people in Bangladesh, said a senior official of the company.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The company is confident that its highly efficient and record setting gas turbine technology is a suitable fit to replace old and inefficient power generation units in Bangladesh, thus offering increased power output with lowest cost of electricity.</div><div><br></div><div>“In Bangladesh, we are offering our latest and most advanced gas turbines that would reduce the overall generation cost to a single digit, despite using imported LNG as fuel”, said Deepesh Nanda, the Chief Executive Officer of GE Gas Power for the South Asia region, in an exclusive interview with UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Also read: National Committee identifies 9 reasons for current power crisis</div><div><br></div><div>He said that Bangladesh has set a target to supply uninterrupted electricity to the people at an affordable cost with highest reliability.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’re ready to take the challenge as GE Gas Power’s 9HA.02 gas turbine can generate electricity at more than 64 percent net efficiency in combined-cycle mode while Bangladesh’s average efficiency level is 47 percent”, said the GE top official.</div><div><br></div><div>GE has been engaged in Bangladesh for more than 40 years now and has its presence in most of the gas-based power stations that use GE’s gas turbines and other power generation equipment.</div><div><br></div><div>At present, the portfolio of 38 GE gas turbines is capable of generating more than about 3 GW of electricity.</div><div><br></div><div>Not only as an equipment supplier, but GE Gas Power is also making significant contributions to the country’s power and gas sectors.</div><div><br></div><div>“We invested as an equity partner in the 341 MW Summit Bibiyana power plant, 335 MW Summit Meghnaghat Power Plant and also partnered with other key players in the sector,” Deepesh said.</div><div><br></div><div>GE had invested in Summit’s FSRU (floating storage and regasification unit) in Moheshkhali of Cox\'s Bazar.</div><div><br></div><div>“Now we’re planning to increase our presence further across the Bangladesh market through foreign direct investment (FDI) while keeping the focus on transforming the power sector.” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to GE’s own analysis on Bangladesh’s power sector he said that as per our estimates for using HFO (furnace oil) vs. Coal vs. LNG as a fuel in power generation - the cost of electricity by using HFO is Tk 16-15 per kilowatt hour (each unit) while coal costs Tk 12 and gas Tk 9.7 per kWh.</div><div><br></div><div>There is a significant gap between the cost for using HFO and gas.</div><div><br></div><div>“The government did a remarkable job in ensuring energy security and using HFO-based engine plants for power generation”, he said adding that as the fuel prices went up, engine plants saved the day.</div><div><br></div><div>However, the LNG costs $13 per mmbtu under the contracts with Qatar and Oman and by using this LNG to generate electricity the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) would be Tk 9.7 per unit.</div><div><br></div><div>LCOE even accounts for the maintenance cost of the power plant for 22 years and all that cost is included in the current price.</div><div><br></div><div>“And if the fuel price comes down to earlier levels, or if we are using domestic gas then the LCOE will be reduced further.” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that the net efficiency of GE’s 9H.02 gas turbine is 64.1 percent in a combined-cycle mode, which means that more than 64 percent of the fuel energy is efficiently converted to electricity using GE’s technology. But it is difficult to change all the plants overnight, he noted.</div><div><br></div><div>“That’s why there should be a long-term plan to replace the old power plants, where the local gas is burnt inefficiently, with new and efficient combined-cycle gas power plants. The focus should be on upgrading the power generation equipment in these older plants”, he mentioned.</div><div><br></div><div>“If you take the worst-case scenario of higher fuel prices today, the cost of electricity by using GE’s 9HA gas turbines will be Tk 8.5 to Tk 9 per kWh”, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>That’s almost half of the HFO price. And it is almost 40 percent lesser than coal-based power plants,” the GE top official claimed.</div><div><br></div><div>Deepesh said that GE Gas Power is committed to resolve the energy trilemma in Bangladesh. “The first part of the energy trilemma deals with affordability, the second with fuel security and the third part relates to sustainability”.</div><div><br></div><div>Switching to gas-based power generation from coal reduces carbon-emissions straight by 50 percent.</div><div><br></div><div>GE believes that the accelerated and strategic deployment of gas power and renewables can change the near term trajectory of climate change, enabling substantive reductions is emissions quickly.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This is how, you can take care of the environment, burn fuel efficiently, save money, ensure benefits to the government - as subsidy burden comes down, pass on the lower cost of electricity benefit to the public, and the industry benefits as well – by getting continuous supply of reliable power.” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said if for instance the cost of electricity for the textile units increases in Bangladesh, then other countries in South Asia will become more competitive and that will impact the foreign exchange revenue of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>He further claimed that emerging electricity markets such as Bangladesh which are regulated should always keep the focus on the long-term transformation of the power sector, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh is on the right track by signing long-term LNG contract with Qatar. Because in the long term, the price of gas will always be below $10 whereas in the short term there can be spikes in prices, Deepesh said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-26 13:41:34', '2023-02-26 13:41:34'),
(5439, 5439, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Two siblings were stabbed to death and another was critically injured allegedly by their uncle and cousin in Kachpur area of Narayanganj\'s Sonargaon on Sunday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The deceased were identified as Aslam Sani and his younger brother Shafiqul Islam Rony, sons of late Sanaullah of Panchpara area in Kanchpur union.</div><div><br></div><div>The injured is Rafiqul Islam, another brother of the victims.</div><div><br></div><div>On Sunday noon, Aslam and his brothers locked into an altercation with his uncle Mohiuddin and his son Mostafa over the renovation work of a drain in front of their house, Nayeem, a relative of the deceased, said.</div><div><br></div><div>At one stage, Mohiuddin and his son Mostafa along with some others attacked Aslam and his brothers with lethal weapons, leaving them critically injured.</div><div><br></div><div>Locals rescued the injured and rushed them to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where Aslam and his younger brother Rafiqul succumbed to their injuries around 2:30pm, said Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of DMCH police outpost.</div><div><br></div><div>On information, police visited the spot, said Ahsanullah, inspector (Investigation) of Sonargaon police station, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Police are investigating the matter, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-26 13:58:27', '2023-02-26 13:58:27'),
(5440, 5440, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a social media campaign titled ‘#Click4Wildlife’ to create mass awareness about wildlife conservation ahead of World Wildlife Day on March 3.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The first of its kind, the online campaign calls for submissions of wildlife photographs in Bangladesh, a selection of which will be displayed in a virtual exhibition hosted by UNDP during the World Wildlife Day.</div><div><br></div><div>“Humans cannot exist without nature, and it is essential for all of us to realise the importance of wildlife conservation,” UNDP Bangladesh Resident Representative Stefan Liller said.</div><div><br></div><div>“UNDP has long been working to restore and preserve habitats and create enabling environments where nature and humans can co-exist side by side,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>They believe this campaign and exhibition will make people realise the beauty of nature and raise awareness about its conservation.</div><div><br></div><div>The participation process is very simple. Anyone who is interested in participating, will have to post the picture they want to submit publicly on their social media profile on Facebook and Instagram.</div><div><br></div><div>They must use the ‘#Click4Wildlife’ hashtag and tag @UNDPBD (Facebook) or @undpbangladesh (Instagram) in the caption and direct message the post link to either UNDP’s Facebook page or Instagram page to complete the submission.</div><div><br></div><div>The top 20 photographers will be selected from the submissions based on the likes/reactions to their posts.</div><div><br></div><div>The selected photographers will be featured in the virtual exhibition and win digital certificates and goodies from UNDP.</div><div><br></div><div>The deadline for submission and evaluation is 28th February, 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-26 14:39:46', '2023-02-26 14:39:46'),
(5441, 5441, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">French President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday he would visit China in April, and urged Beijing to pressure Russia to end the war in Ukraine.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>China has sought to position itself as a neutral party on the conflict, even as it has maintained close ties with Russia and helped scuttle a joint statement condemning the war at a G20 gathering in India.</div><div><br></div><div>It published a 12-point position paper on Friday that called for urgent peace talks and a \"political settlement\" to end the conflict.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday also expressed hopes to meet Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, calling it \"important for world security\".</div><div><br></div><div>Macron said Saturday he would visit China in \"early April\" and urged Beijing to help \"put pressure\" on Russia to end the war.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The fact that China is engaging in peace efforts is a good thing,\" Macron said on the sidelines of an agricultural show in Paris, in reference to the position paper.</div><div><br></div><div>Peace was only possible if \"Russian aggression was halted, troops withdrawn, and the territorial sovereignty of Ukraine and its people was respected\", he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on Saturday, the Chinese foreign ministry said Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko would pay a state visit from February 28 to March 2 at Xi\'s invitation.</div><div><br></div><div>A long-time ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lukashenko allowed his country to be used as a launchpad for Moscow\'s invasion of its pro-Western ally on February 24 last year.</div><div><br></div><div>Kyiv has expressed concerns that Belarus could again support Moscow in its war effort, with the countries announcing the creation of a joint regional force last October.</div><div><br></div><div>Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang told his Belarusian counterpart Sergei Aleinik that Beijing was willing to work with Minsk to deepen mutual political trust during a phone conversation on Friday, China\'s ministry said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>China would also continue to support Belarus in maintaining national stability and oppose attempts by \"external forces\" to interfere in its internal affairs or impose \"illegal\" unilateral sanctions on Minsk, Qin told Aleinik.</div><div><br></div><div>- Diplomatic rifts exposed -</div><div><br></div><div>The diplomatic rift between Beijing, Moscow and the West was exposed on Saturday as G20 finance ministers failed to adopt a joint statement on the global economy after China sought to water down references to the Ukraine war.</div><div><br></div><div>Russia said the United States, the European Union and the G7 \"destabilised\" the talks in India by trying to impose their \"diktat\".</div><div><br></div><div>The Chinese position paper urged all parties to \"support Russia and Ukraine in working in the same direction and resuming direct dialogue as quickly as possible\".</div><div><br></div><div>It also made clear its opposition to the use and threat of deploying nuclear weapons, after Putin threatened to use Moscow\'s atomic arsenal in the conflict.</div><div><br></div><div>Some of Ukraine\'s allies have expressed scepticism at China\'s commitment to brokering peace, nodding to Beijing\'s close ties to Moscow. China has denied a claim by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that it was \"considering providing lethal support\" to Russia.</div><div><br></div><div>Macron urged China \"not to supply any arms to Russia\" and sought Beijing\'s help to \"exert pressure on Russia to ensure it never uses chemical or nuclear weapons and it stops this aggression prior to negotiations\".</div><div><br></div><div>Zelensky did not specify when or where talks with Xi would happen, but expressed hope Friday that China would support a \"just peace\" in Ukraine and that Beijing would not supply weapons to Russia.</div><div><br></div><div>- Spring counter-offensive -</div><div><br></div><div>On Sunday, the deputy chief of Ukrainian military intelligence told a German newspaper group that a fresh push to retake seized territory was planned for spring, adding Kyiv\'s forces would \"not stop until we get our country back to its 1991 borders\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"One of our strategic military objectives is to try to drive a wedge into the Russian front in the south -- between Crimea and Russian territory,\" Vadym Skibitsky said.</div><div><br></div><div>Beyond that, \"the objective of our counter-offensive is to liberate all the occupied territories of Ukraine, including Crimea\".</div><div><br></div><div>Skibitsky also raised the possibility of future Ukrainian strikes on \"arms depots or military equipment on Russian territory, for example around the city of Belgorod, from where attacks on Ukraine are launched\".</div><div><br></div><div>On the ground, the head of Russia\'s Wagner mercenary group said his forces had captured another village on the outskirts of the frontline city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed the capture of Yagidne, a short distance from central Bakhmut, which has become a key political and symbolic prize in the battle to control the eastern Donbas region. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-26 15:16:50', '2023-02-26 15:16:50'),
(5442, 5442, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">United Nations (UN) Secretary-General (SG) António Guterres has <b>reaffirmed UN’s continued support to Bangladesh in overcoming unprecedented challenges that may arise out of the ongoing global conflicts and the adverse impact of climate change.</b></span><b><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>He made this commitment while meeting Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen at the U N Headquarters in New York on Friday, a press release said here today.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The SG informed that some European Countries namely Latvia, Estonia, Belgium and Netherlands have adequate stockpile of raw materials of fertilizer that Bangladesh may consider to import at an affordable price.</div><div><br></div><div>Thanking Secretary-General, the Foreign Minister assured that Bangladesh will explore the possibility to seize this opportunity.</div><div><br></div><div>Momen applauded the Black Sea Grain initiative that helped countries in need to import fertilizer and cereal to tackle their food crisis.</div><div><br></div><div>Appreciating Bangladesh’s extra-ordinary development trajectory under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Guterres wished that Bangladesh would continue to achieve more successes in the coming years, particularity in attaining the SDGs.</div><div><br></div><div>He also admired the continuous leadership of Bangladesh in maintaining the international peace and security as the top troops and police contributing country to the United Nations peacekeeping operations.</div><div><br></div><div>They also discussed the Rohingya crisis and its possible way out in view of the recently adopted Security Council’s Resolution on Myanmar.</div><div><br></div><div>They underscored the importance of ASEAN’s leadership in resolving the crisis.</div><div><br></div><div>The Secretary General highly appreciated Bangladesh’s generosity for sheltering 1.2 million Rohingyas and reiterated UN’s support for returning the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, the Foreign Minister held meetings with Csaba Korösi, the President of the General Assembly (PGA), Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary General for Department of Peacebuilding and Political Affairs (DPPA) and Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Department of Peace Operations (DPO).&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN in New York Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith was present, among others, at those meetings. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-26 15:23:59', '2023-02-26 15:23:59'),
(5443, 5443, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that this time their party will resist any attempt to hold the next national election under a partisan government.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“They (govt) want to hold the polls (national election) as before. They’ll again rig and steal votes like before. But we’ll stand up and resist it. We must do it for the sake of our existence and rights and to protect Bangladesh and its people,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader made the remarks in a brief rally on the premises of Nawabganj Shaheed Minra before the start of a march towards Boxanagar intersection by Dhaka District unit BNP on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said that injustice like depriving people of their voting rights can no longer be tolerated. “We’re repeatedly being attacked and beaten up. We’re not willing to be beaten anymore.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The country’s people will be able to cast their votes freely if the election is held under a neutral government, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“But it doesn’t happen now. They (AL) want to give their votes and also your votes. That\'s why people have started saying that if we had known before, we wouldn\'t have boarded your broken boat.”</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said their party will not have any objection if Awami League comes to power again with people’s votes through a credible election under a neutral government.</div><div><br></div><div>He called upon the government to quit and dissolve the parliament and arrange the election under a non-party caretaker government by accepting BNP’s 10-point demand.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said their party together with like-minded opposition parties has launched a simultaneous movement to save the country and its people from the misrule of the Awami League government.</div><div><br></div><div>He urged young people to come forward and make this movement a success. “All the changes that have taken place in Bangladesh, from the Language Movement to the movement in the 90s and the Liberation War, everything has been done by the young people.”</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said they will establish a government of people by defeating the current ‘monstrous’ regime through a mass upsurge.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader alleged that the current government has destroyed the economy of the country through unbridled plundering and theft.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“They (AL leaders) are getting rich suddenly and making a lot of money by indulging in corruption. The Awami League leaders who had no sandals on their feet, now ride expensive cars and build big houses by sucking the blood and stealing the money from the country’s people.”</div><div><br></div><div>He also said the government is implementing mega projects in the name of devolvement to plunder public money.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"But development is not benefiting common people. If this government comes again, this country will not exist, the nation will not exist.”</div><div><br></div><div>Later, several thousand leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies took out a silent procession from the Shaheed Minar that ended at the Boxanagar intersection after parading nearly a two-kilometer stretch of the road, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, on Saturday, the party observed a similar programme in all districts, except Dhaka, to press home their party’s 10-point demand.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-26 15:44:12', '2023-02-26 15:44:12'),
(5444, 5444, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The government has taken a pilot programme to provide milk to 300 government primary schools of the country throughout the year so that the students can drink it free of cost during \'Tiffin\' period.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The programme will run under the Livestock and Dairy Development Project (LDDP) at the initiative of the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, an official release said here today.</div><div><br></div><div>Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim inaugurated the \'School Milk Programme\' in a function as the chief guest on Islamia Government Primary School premises in city\'s Tejgaon area today, the release added.</div><div><br></div><div>The programme will start in 50 schools immediately and it will be implemented gradually in other schools within this year.</div><div><br></div><div>In 61 districts, milk will be provided during \'Tiffin\' period to all students from class one to class five of primary schools selected by the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education.</div><div><br></div><div>Milk will be distributed on the days when the schools remain open. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-26 15:53:28', '2023-02-26 15:53:28'),
(5445, 5445, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said her government has been making efforts to create smart athletes to ensure Bangladesh\'s participation in any international sports competition.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"We have built digital Bangladesh. Our next target is to transform the country into a Smart Bangladesh which will help generate smart players and thus we will achieve the quality of taking part in any international sports,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said this while formally inaugurating the final phase of Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games 2023 at Bangladesh Army Stadium in the capital city this evening.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I believe that the youth games will add a new dimension to the sports arena and work as a platform to generate star players,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Prime Minister said her government has been working to ensure the country\'s socio-economic advancement alongside boosting up excellence of the sports arena.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the youths will get a chance to flourish their talents in various sports by taking part in the youth games. It would inspire the fresher and children to get involved in the sports, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>Describing the athletes as the soldiers towards building Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous one by 2041, the Prime Minister wished their every success in the youth games.</div><div><br></div><div>State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Zahid Ahsan Russel, MP, BOA President and Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed and Secretary General Syed Shahed Reza spoke at the function.</div><div><br></div><div>A video documentary on Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games 2023 was screened at the function. At the outset of the programme, the national anthem was also played.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, the Prime Minister witnessed a colourful cultural programme marking the grand opening of the Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>The BOA has been organizing Bangladesh Games and Youth Games every four years since 2018. The motto of the Games was to select future players for national teams in various disciplines and to groom up the latent talents of young athletes.</div><div><br></div><div>Nearly four thousand athletes will compete for 193 gold, 193 silver and 287 bronze medals in 193 events of twenty four disciplines in the final phase of the second edition of the Youth Games named after Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, the inter-upazila first phase of the games was held from January 2-10 last, the inter-district second phase was held from January 16-22 January last. Eight divisions are participating in the final phase in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, both the men\'s and women\'s football competitions of the Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games 2023 held on the opening day of the meet at two city separate venues in the capital. According to BSS reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-26 16:23:12', '2023-02-26 16:23:12'),
(5446, 5446, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Rishi Sunak and the European Commission president are due to hold \"final talks\" on a new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland on Monday, Downing Street says.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister and Ursula von der Leyen will meet in Berkshire in the afternoon to discuss \"complex challenges\" around the protocol.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UK wants to change the current agreement - which sees some goods checked when entering Northern Ireland from the rest of Great Britain.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A new deal has been expected for days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab earlier said the UK and EU were \"on the cusp\" of a deal and that the EU had \"moved\" on some issues.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Downing Street released more details about the talks between Mr Sunak and Ms von der Leyen, which is set to take place around late lunchtime.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If a deal is reached, it would then be announced later on Monday, with the leaders holding a joint press conference after the cabinet has been updated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister would then address the House of Commons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both Tory and Labour MPs have been told by their respective whips to come to Parliament on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Downing Street said: \"The prime minister wants to ensure any deal fixes the practical problems on the ground, ensures trade flows freely within the whole of the UK, safeguards Northern Ireland\'s place in our Union, and returns sovereignty to the people of Northern Ireland.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There have been \"hundreds of hours of talks\" during the \"intensive negotiations with the EU\", the spokesperson added, saying \"positive, constructive progress has been made\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Northern Ireland Protocol was agreed under former PM Boris Johnson as part of the process of the UK leaving the European Union.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It means Northern Ireland has continued to follow some EU laws so that goods can flow freely over the border to the Republic of Ireland without checks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Instead, goods arriving from England, Scotland and Wales are checked when they reach Northern Irish ports.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Critics, including Northern Ireland\'s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), feel this undermines the nation\'s position within the rest of the UK as well as impacting trade.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The DUP has complained about what it calls a \"democratic deficit\", with Northern Ireland being subject to EU rules while not having a say on them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The party has prevented a Northern Ireland devolved government from forming, leaving it in political gridlock.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BBC chief political correspondent Nick Eardley said that while officials had been negotiating over the weekend, leader-level talks were needed to discuss the final details.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sources in government have repeatedly said that not everyone will get everything they want from the deal - but the priority is addressing issues with the protocol and protecting the Good Friday agreement, our correspondent said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There is no expectation in Westminster that the DUP will endorse the deal immediately and many believe it will not be enough to tempt them back to Stormont, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some Conservative MPs could also rebel against the government in any vote in Parliament, with Brexiteer Tories wanting lawyers to scrutinise the text.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One Tory told the BBC on Sunday night: \"The bottom line is - if this doesn\'t result in power sharing, it\'s not a worthwhile agreement.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar said he had been in contact with Ms von der Leyen on Sunday and \"very much\" welcomed her meeting with Mr Sunak.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He tweeted: \"We should acknowledge the level of engagement between the UK Gov, the European Commission and the NI parties in recent months.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His deputy, Micheal Martin, said there had been \"very significant progress\", adding \"a great effort\" had been made to resolve issues.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I would hope it can be brought to a conclusion, but that\'s a matter for the UK and EU negotiating teams to call.\" 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, '2023-02-27 03:56:42', '2023-02-27 03:56:42'),
(5447, 5447, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The best way to come back alive is to stay low, hugging the ground, and skimming the treetops. Too low and you can be shot down by machine gun fire - too high and you can be detected by enemy air defence systems.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For helicopter pilots in war-time Ukraine, there is little margin for error.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Just ask Roman.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He has flown countless combat missions for Ukraine\'s Sikorsky Brigade and been decorated for valour. He tells us his age - 34 - but not his last name.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The closer to the target, the lower we fly. It\'s one or two metres above ground,\" he tells the BBC. \"It\'s not enough just to strike the target. You have to come back safe and bring your crew and helicopter back safely for the next mission.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Over the past year some of his fellow pilots have not made it back.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">We were given rare access to Ukraine\'s war in the skies at an air strip on a patch of open ground. We can\'t say where it is - if Russia could identify the location, it would be a major target.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">We watch Roman take off for his latest sortie on Ukraine\'s eastern front with our camera in the cockpit. His helicopter is followed by two others; their blades slice the air beneath a muddy grey sky.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Below them a Ukrainian trench zigzags across the landscape, and a village lays deserted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They speed across a frozen lake as if skating on ice. Half an hour later they return, having unleashed 80 missiles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Roman comes in to land circling low enough over our heads for us to see him wave from the window. He\'s renowned among fellow airmen in his brigade for executing difficult manoeuvres - a Ukrainian top gun in an ageing Soviet aircraft.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His Mi-8 helicopter is about as old as he is, and lacks heavy armour, or modern warning systems about incoming missiles. Every mission could be his last.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Of course, there is some risk,\" he says after touching down. \"I just don\'t think about this. If it happens, it will not be my problem, it will be a problem for my relatives\". It sounds like a joke, but his expression is concealed by his balaclava.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He will not disclose his target, but chances are it was close to the eastern city of Bakhmut - which the Russians are battling to encircle.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It was just an ordinary mission. You concentrate 100% on your task,\" he says. \"You think of your guys waiting for you on the ground. They are really striving if they call for aviation.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">What he doesn\'t think about is the Russian troops on the receiving end.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If they came here with war,\" he tells me, \"we are just protecting our country. We are not aggressors. We are the victim. And if to win this war we should kill Russian soldiers, we are ready to kill them all.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As soon as the helicopters land, maintenance crews converge, refuelling and rearming the aircraft to be ready for the next flight.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The missiles are loaded by hand. One is inscribed with a crude message to Russian troops.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Within minutes Roman has co-ordinates for a new target and is wheels up again.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He says Ukraine can\'t win this war with the Soviet equipment it\'s got.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A spokesman for his brigade spells it out.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We need new helicopters with navigation equipment, high precision weapons and ammunition,\" he tells us. \"We need everything.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Add this to the fighter jets already requested by President Volodymyr Zelensky, and it\'s a long list for what may be a long war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded last year, Roman was part of a Ukrainian peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Now this former peacekeeper sees a danger of endless conflict with Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Just look back at our history,\" he says. \"We have always had problems with our neighbour. When we win this one if they don\'t change, they will come back to attack us again, in years or in decades.\" 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, '2023-02-27 04:12:21', '2023-02-27 04:12:21'),
(5448, 5448, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka once again topped the list of cities around the world with the worst air quality this morning (Monday, February 27, 2023).</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 245 at 9:20 am today, Dhaka ranked first among cities with the most polluted air. The air was classified as ‘very unhealthy’.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India’s Delhi and China’s Beijing occupied the second and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 221 and 187.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered ‘unhealthy’ while 201–300 is ‘‘very unhealthy’, and 301–400 is \'hazardous\', posing severe health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-27 05:12:49', '2023-02-27 05:12:49'),
(5449, 5449, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Argentina’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship Santiago Andrés Cafiero arrived in Dhaka this morning to inaugurate the South American country’s new embassy here and deepen trade and cultural relations.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen received him at the VIP Lounge of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport upon his arrival in Dhaka.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Argentina is reopening its embassy here after 45 years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam will join with the Argentine foreign minister to inaugurate the Embassy of the Argentine Republic in Banani this afternoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Argentine embassy in Dhaka was closed in 1978 by the military junta that ruled the country at the time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Diplomatic operations, such as visas in order to travel, have since been handled by the Argentine embassy in India.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Argentina says it is convenient to reopen the embassy in accordance with foreign policy guidelines based on “political, strategic and commercial” reasons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foreign Minister Momen will have a bilateral meeting with his Argentine counterpart at state guesthouse Jamuna this evening to discuss trade and investment issues. The meeting is likely to begin at 6pm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen will also host a dinner in honor of the Argentine foreign minister after the bilateral talks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Apart from reopening the Argentine embassy in Dhaka, Cafiero is likely to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There is also the possibility of signing visa exemption agreements on diplomatic and official passports, MoUs on cooperation in agriculture and diplomatic training academies of the two countries,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin told reporters recently.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two countries are working on a memorandum of understanding on football related matters as well, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Apart from the import of soybean oil and wheat from Argentina, the two sides are likely to discuss Bangladesh\'s inclusion in South America\'s powerful economic alliance Mercosur.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mercosur, or the Southern Common Market, is an economic and political bloc originally comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Argentine visiting team is likely to enjoy a friendly match between two teams comprising Bangladesh\'s junior footballers as well as meeting with football officials. 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, '2023-02-27 05:22:33', '2023-02-27 05:22:33');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5450, 5450, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will visit Evercare Hospital in the capital on Monday afternoon for health check-ups.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP chief will leave for the hospital around 3 pm, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khaleda, a 77-year-old former prime minister, has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart and eye problems.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On June 10, the BNP chief suffered a heart attack due to a 95 percent block in her left artery and a stent was placed there by removing the blockage at the same hospital the following day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Doctors also found two more blocks in her blood vessels, but they could not remove those due to her health complications.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail as a lower court sentenced her to five years\' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with conditions that she would stay at her Gulshan house and would not leave the country. 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, '2023-02-27 05:45:01', '2023-02-27 05:45:01'),
(5451, 5451, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and rights groups have called on Bangladesh to “stop harassing” Prothom Alo journalist Rozina Islam in a public letter issued yesterday.</b></span></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The public letter was sent to Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and Health Minister Zahid Maleque.</span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Law Minister Anisul Haq, and Foreign Minister AK&nbsp; Abdul Momen were kept in the CC list.&nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The letter was published on the website of CPJ, and it reads: “We, the undersigned press freedom and human rights groups, write to seek your leadership in ensuring an immediate end to the harassment of Bangladeshi journalist and human rights defender Rozina Islam.”</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">“Islam’s work, for which she received the United States Department of State’s Anti-Corruption Champions Award in 2022, is a public service, not a crime, and should be protected under Sections 4 and 5 of the Disclosure of Public Interest Information (Protection) Act,” the letter adds.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The public letter urged the authority of Bangladesh to respect and protect the journalist’s human rights, saying, “We urge the authorities to fully respect and protect the human rights of journalist and human rights defender Rozina Islam, including her right to a fair trial, and to immediately cease all forms of judicial harassment against her, facilitating the return of her passport from judicial custody, and ensuring that she is not subjected to further retaliation for her work.”&nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The organizations that signed the public letter include Amnesty International, Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network, Capital Punishment Justice Project, Coalition For Women In Journalism, Committee to Protect Journalists, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma Free Media Movement, Front Line Defenders, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), International Federation of Journalists, International Women’s Media Foundation, Overseas Press Club of America, Pakistan Press Foundation, PEN America, PEN Bangladesh, PEN International, Reporters Without Borders, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, South Asian Journalists Association, and World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). UNB</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-27 06:01:05', '2023-02-27 06:01:05'),
(5452, 5452, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Chinese billionaire Bao Fan is \"cooperating in an investigation\" by authorities, his company said, almost two weeks after his disappearance sparked fears of a renewed crackdown on the nation\'s financial services industry.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The China Renaissance chairman rose to fame as a key player in the emergence of some of the country\'s biggest tech giants, supervising blockbuster IPOs and a landmark merger between major ride-hailing firm Didi and its top competitor at the time, Kuaidi Dache.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His Hong Kong-listed firm said in a filing dated Sunday that it was now \"aware that Mr. Bao is currently cooperating in an investigation being carried out by certain authorities\" in mainland China.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The Company will duly cooperate and assist with any lawful request from the relevant PRC authorities, if and when made,\" it added, referring to the country by its official name: the People\'s Republic of China.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The firm did not provide further details about the nature of the investigation, nor did it reply to an AFP request for comment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shares in the company slumped as much as 50 percent at one point following the February 16 announcement that he was missing, before clawing back to sit at around 30 percent down.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While yet to recover from that slump, the firm was up 1.97 percent in early trading on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Powerhouse -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China Renaissance has developed into a global financial institution since its founding in 2005, with more than 700 employees and offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and New York.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The group has supervised the IPOs of several domestic tech giants, including leading e-commerce firm JD.com, as well as the 2015 merger between two of the country\'s top ride-hailing apps.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That same year, Bao appeared on Bloomberg Market\'s 50 Most Influential list, with the financial newswire writing the \"fast-talking\" banker had the ability to \"arrange practically anything in China\'s vibrant tech scene\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But an aggressive crackdown on alleged corruption by President Xi Jinping has since clipped the wings of many of China\'s leading financiers and major tech companies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to financial news outlet Caixin, China Renaissance president Cong Lin was taken into custody last September as authorities launched a probe into his work at the financial leasing unit of state-owned bank ICBC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And in 2017, Chinese-Canadian businessman Xiao Jianhua received a 13-year jail sentence under corruption charges last August.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Known to hold close ties to top Chinese Communist Party leaders, the billionaire was reportedly abducted from his Hong Kong hotel room by plainclothes police officers from Beijing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the time of his arrest, Xiao was one of China\'s richest men, with an estimated fortune of $6 billion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Alibaba founder Jack Ma has also seen his fortune fall by around half to an estimated $25 billion after regulators pulled the plug on what would have been the world\'s biggest-ever IPO -- that of fintech giant Ant Group.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A reshuffle of Ant\'s shareholding structure announced in January saw Ma, who has since receded from public view, cede control of the megafirm he founded in 2014. 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, '2023-02-27 06:05:26', '2023-02-27 06:05:26'),
(5453, 5453, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United Nations said it needed $4.3 billion this year to help millions of people in war-ravaged Yemen, ahead of a donors\' conference on Monday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Aid agencies need the money to help more than 17 million people in the country, which has been devastated by an eight-year civil war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The conflict has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and plunged the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula into one of the world\'s worst humanitarian tragedies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yemen is also at the forefront of the climate crisis, with severe drought and flooding threatening lives, the UN said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It acknowledged that \"record global humanitarian needs are stretching donor support like never before\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"But without sustained support for the aid operation in Yemen, the lives of millions of Yemenis will hang in the balance, and efforts to end the conflict once and for all will become even more challenging,\" it said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2015, a Saudi-led coalition intervened to back the government after the Huthis seized control of the capital Sanaa and large swathes of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A truce that began on April 2 last year expired on October 2.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">UN chief Antonio Guterres, who will attend Monday\'s donor conference in Geneva, said the international community had \"the power and the means to end this crisis\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"And it begins by funding our appeal fully and committing to disbursing funds quickly,\" he said in the statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last year, the UN raised more than $2.2 billion to enable aid agencies to reach nearly 11 million people across the country every month. 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, '2023-02-27 06:08:34', '2023-02-27 06:08:34'),
(5454, 5454, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A 5.5-magnitude earthquake jolted off Central Sulawesi province in central Indonesia on Monday morning, the meteorology, climatology and geophysics agency said.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The earthquake happened at 8:26 a.m. local time (0126 GMT) with its epicenter situated at 42 km southeast of Sigi Regency and a depth of 10 km under-land, the agency said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;The earthquake did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami, it added. 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, '2023-02-27 06:11:42', '2023-02-27 06:11:42'),
(5455, 5455, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Hrithik Roshan was joined by girlfriend Saba Azad at the Mumbai airport on Monday. Before walking towards the airport gate, Hrithik and Saba shared a goodbye kiss inside his car as the paparazzi captured them. Saba was there to see off the actor, who was flying with his team.&nbsp;</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The actor-singer also got off the car briefly to give a hug to one of Hrithik\'s team members. A video of Hrithik and Saba from the airport was shared on a paparazzo account on Instagram, with many dropping heart and kiss emojis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hrithik and Saba reportedly began dating early last year. Rumours about Hrithik and Saba\'s relationship had started when they were spotted on a dinner date more than a year ago. Following which, she also joined Hrithik\'s family for a get-together. The rumours came to an end after the two walked hand-in-hand at filmmaker Karan Johar\'s 50th birthday bash in May, last year. Hrithik was previously married to interior designer Sussanne Khan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a recent interview, Saba Azad had opened up about people talking about her personal life. In an interview with News18, Saba had said about the attention her relationship with Hrithik Roshan gets, “If one was to go to work, anywhere else, to any other field, you go to work, you come back home, nobody is discussing your personal life.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Your personal life is your business. But I find this is one industry where it would be discussed. But having said that, let’s not talk further about it.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last month, Saba was among the many artists that performed at Lollapalooza, one of the biggest music festivals in the world, in Mumbai. Saba, one half of Mumbai-based band Madboy/Mink, was joined by Hrithik, who came to watch her perform. The actor\'s ex-wife and interior designer Sussanne Khan also attended the music festival along with her boyfriend, actor Arslan Goni.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hrithik\'s son Hridaan Roshan was also present at the festival. Hrithik\'s cousin, budding actor Pashmina Roshan, as well as Saba and Sussanne had shared pictures and videos from the festival on Instagram Stories.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saba often accompanies Hrithik for family functions and vacations. They celebrated Christmas 2022 together on a family holiday with Hrithik\'s sons and cousins in Europe. 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, '2023-02-27 06:21:43', '2023-02-27 06:21:43'),
(5456, 5456, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A research team led by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has developed a new device to detect and analyze cancer cells from blood samples, which can help doctors to monitor treatment progress without conducting invasive biopsy surgeries.</b></span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The study, published in Volume 223 of the Biosensors and Bioelectronics journal, displayed a high throughput static droplet microfluidic device with 38,400 chambers.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The device is capable of isolating and classifying the number of metabolically active circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood at single-cell resolution.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Researchers found that the workflow of their newly-designed device is simple and robust, which can eliminate the need for specialized equipment and expertise required for single-cell analysis of CTCs and facilitate on-site metabolic screening of cancer cells.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"Our device monitors single cells for increased lactate using pH-sensitive fluorescent dyes that detect acidification around cells,\" Majid Warkiani, coauthor and UTS professor, said in a statement on Monday.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"A single tumor cell can exist among billions of blood cells in just one milliliter of blood, making it very difficult to find. The new detection technology has 38,400 chambers capable of isolating and classifying the number of metabolically active tumor cells,\" the expert said.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">According to the statement, cancer is a leading cause of illness and death in Australia, with more than 150,000 Australians diagnosed every year. Those with suspected cancer, particularly in organs like the liver, colon or kidney, often require surgery for a definitive diagnosis.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Noting that getting a biopsy can cause discomfort, higher costs and an increased risk of complications due to surgery, Warkiani regarded the assessment of tumor cells in blood samples as \"far less invasive than taking tissue biopsies.\"</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"It allows doctors to do repeat tests and monitor a patient\'s response to treatment,\" he added.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The UTS research team has filed a provisional patent for the static droplet microfluidic device and has plans to commercialize the product. Xinhua</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-27 06:37:17', '2023-02-27 06:37:17'),
(5457, 5457, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The High Court on Monday ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate the allegation over purchasing of multiple houses by Awami League MP Abdus Sobhan Mia (Golap)&nbsp; in New York.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order after hearing on a writ petition in this regard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court asked the ACC to submit the probe report within four months.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court also issued a rule asking why the inaction of the respondents to investigate the allegation against Golap over purchasing multiple houses in New York and acquiring huge illegal property abroad through abusing power should not be declared illegal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman stood for the writ petition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Barrister Syed Sayedul filed the writ petition with the HC bench concerned on Sunday seeking investigation into the alleged purchase of nine houses by MP Golap in New York at a cost of 40 lakh dollar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chief Election Commissioner, Chairman of Anti-Corruption Commission, Chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR) and secretary to the Home Ministry were made respondents in the writ petition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A report in this regard was published in a daily newspaper which was attached to the writ.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Recently, Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), a global network of investigative journalism,&nbsp; published a report on its website where it claimed that AL MP Golap purchased a number of houses in New York at a cost of 40 lakh dollar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the report, Golap started to buy homes in New York from 2014 and in five years, he managed to purchase nine houses. The estimated cost of the houses is approximately Tk 42 crore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Golap was elected AL MP from Madaripur-3 constituency in 2018 and he was made the publicity secretary of the Central Awami League in December last. He was also served as the office secretary of the party. 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, '2023-02-27 07:32:53', '2023-02-27 07:32:53'),
(5458, 5458, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship Santiago Andrés Cafiero arrived this morning to reopen his country\'s new embassy here for exploiting untapped huge trade potential with Bangladesh.&nbsp;&nbsp;</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen received his Argentine counterpart at the VIP Lounge of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cafiero will inaugurate the new Argentine embassy at Banani in the capital along with State Minister for Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam this afternoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the evening, Argentine foreign minister will hold a bilateral talk with his Bangladesh counterpart Dr Momen at the state guesthouse Jamuna to discuss trade and investment issues.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After that the two foreign ministers are likely to sign agreements between the two countries. Momen will also host a dinner in honor of the Argentine foreign minister after the signing ceremony.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Tuesday, the Argentine minister will pay homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing wreath at Bangabandhu memorial museum at Dhanmondi and also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cafiero will also meet Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi and visit the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) within the framework of affection and the passion that Bangladeshi fans showed for the Argentine team in the last FIFA World Cup.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Argentina is reopening its embassy here 45 years after it was closed here in 1978 by the military junta that ruled the country at that time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Diplomatic operations, such as visas in order to travel, have since been handled by the Argentine embassy in India.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Argentina foreign ministry said with the reopening of the embassy and its consular section, it wants to use the potential of the bilateral relationship, mainly in the commercial aspect that has a wide potential to diversify trade.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It will be the first time that a South American foreign minister attends Bangladesh, a nation with which they share half a century of diplomatic relations, it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Argentine foreign ministry also said Cafiero\'s visit represents a significant event for Argentine geopolitics, since Bangladesh is located at the crossroads of South Asia, East Asia and Southeast Asia, being the eighth most populous country in the world, with a market of more than 170 million inhabitants.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2022, bilateral trade with Bangladesh was USD 765 million. Argentine exports reached USD 742.9 million and imports from Bangladesh totaled USD 22.1 million. A trade surplus of USD 720.8 million for Argentina was registered in 2022. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-27 07:50:12', '2023-02-27 07:50:12'),
(5459, 5459, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Kane Williamson called it \"special\" after surpassing Ross Taylor on Monday to become New Zealand\'s highest Test run-scorer.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Williamson\'s century steered New Zealand to 483 all out in their second innings and set England a target of 258 runs to win the second Test in Wellington.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 32-year-old former captain earned two standing ovations at the Basin Reserve during a superb innings which brought up his 26th Test century.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He raised his bat fleetingly after reaching 29 not out early on Monday to pass Taylor\'s record of 7,683 runs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Williamson left the field to more applause when he fell for 132 to part-time seam bowler Harry Brook.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Williamson was typically modest about his place in the history books.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s not something I have thought a whole lot about but it\'s an honour if you look at the names on that list,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I admired a lot of them growing up, then played alongside some of them, but it\'s special to be in that company.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stephen Fleming, also a former Black Caps captain, sits third on 7,172 runs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Williamson reached the milestone in his 92nd Test and 161st innings, considerably quicker than Taylor\'s 112 Tests and 196 visits to the crease.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Now-retired Taylor was quick to compliment Williamson.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Congratulations, Kane,\" Taylor posted on Twitter. \"This achievement is a testament to your hard work and dedication to Test cricket, of which I was privy to for a number of years.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Williamson, a right-handed batsman, started the two-match England series needing only 39 runs to clinch the record.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But he totalled only 10 runs through his first three innings, forming part of a New Zealand top order that struggled against the English seam attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He sits 35th on the all-time Test leaderboard, which is topped by Indian great Sachin Tendulkar with 15,921 runs. 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, '2023-02-27 08:33:55', '2023-02-27 08:33:55'),
(5460, 5460, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">From the day of her birth in Pakistan, Iram Aslam was betrothed to a cousin 17 days older. But to the young woman, who emigrated as a teenager to this Italian farm town on the Po River plain, the cousin felt like a brother. So on a visit to her homeland, she played for time, telling her aunts she wasn’t ready for marriage.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“They did everything possible to make me marry him,″ said Aslam, now 29. She said she told them: ”‘I don’t want to marry him and please don’t ask me anymore.’”</div><div><br></div><div>Her family, in both Italy and Pakistan, kept scheming to have her wed a man of their choice — and their caste. Aslam dismissed around 30 potential husbands.</div><div><br></div><div>“In the end, I made everyone angry, and no one talks to me anymore,” she said of her relatives in Pakistan.</div><div><br></div><div>In two murder trials this month, Italian prosecutors are seeking justice for Pakistani immigrant women allegedly killed because they refused marriages imposed by their parents. The cases highlight differences, often misconstrued as religion-based, between centuries-old immigrants’ cultural traditions and Western values prizing individualism.</div><div><br></div><div>“I liked another person, wanted another one,″ Aslam said of her own situation. “But they didn’t want it, because among us, love doesn’t exist.” Love is viewed “as a sin,” she added, her thick, wavy brown hair covered by a multicolored headscarf. She asked that her face not be fully shown for fear of further antagonizing Pakistani neighbors in Guastalla, a town of 15,000 where they are the dominant immigrant community.</div><div><br></div><div>To escape marriage-obsessed relatives, Aslam went for a time to live in Germany.</div><div><br></div><div>But there was no escape for 18-year-old Saman Abbas.</div><div><br></div><div>Like Aslam, she emigrated as a teenager from Pakistan to an Italian farm town, Novellara, 11 kilometers (seven miles) from Guastalla.</div><div><br></div><div>In what appears to be an identity card photo taken shortly after her arrival, Abbas’ face is framed by a black hijab, or headscarf. But the young woman quickly embraced Western ways, appearing in social media posts with her hair tumbling out from under a bright red headband. In one, she and her Pakistani boyfriend were shown kissing on a street in the regional capital, Bologna.</div><div><br></div><div>According to Italian investigators, that kiss enraged Abbas’ parents, who wanted their daughter to marry a cousin in Pakistan.</div><div><br></div><div>In November, her body was dug up in the ruins of a Novellara farmhouse. She had last been seen alive a few hundred yards away on April 30, 2021, in surveillance camera video as she walked with her parents on the watermelon farm where her father worked. A few days later, her parents caught a flight from Milan to Pakistan.</div><div><br></div><div>Abbas had reportedly told her boyfriend she feared for her life, because she refused to be married to an older man in her homeland.</div><div><br></div><div>An autopsy revealed a broken neck bone, possibly caused by strangulation.</div><div><br></div><div>An uncle and a cousin were extradited from France, and another cousin from Spain. They are now on trial in Reggio Emilia, the provincial capital with jurisdiction over Novellara, accused of Abbas’ murder.</div><div><br></div><div>Also indicted is her father, Shabbir Abbas, arrested in his village in eastern Punjab. The whereabouts of her mother, who is also charged, are unknown.</div><div><br></div><div>A lawyer for her father, Akhtar Mahmood, told Italian state television that the young woman’s family is innocent. He disputed prosecutors’ allegations, contending that she had wanted to return with her family to Pakistan to flee Western ways.</div><div><br></div><div>Asked about Italy’s request for Shabbir Abbas’ extradition, Pakistan’s ambassador to Italy, Ali Javed, told The Associated Press that the Pakistani government would “not hesitate” to do so. However, Italy has no extradition treaty with Pakistan.</div><div><br></div><div>Javed blamed “individual ignorance″ for forced marriage, which is illegal in Pakistan.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2019, Italy made coercing an Italian citizen or resident into marriage, even abroad, a crime covered under domestic violence laws.</div><div><br></div><div>Late this month, police in Spain detained the father of two sisters who were allegedly murdered while visiting family in Pakistan. The women had reportedly refused to have their husbands come to Spain after being forced to marry their cousins.</div><div><br></div><div>In the United Kingdom, home to Europe’s largest Pakistani community, the government’s Forced Marriage Unit cautioned that the problem of forced marriage isn’t “specific to one country, religion or culture” and said statistics don’t reflect “the full scale of the abuse” since forced marriage is a “hidden crime.”</div><div><br></div><div>Under the Italian justice system, civil plaintiffs can attach lawsuits for damages to criminal trials, and two organizations representing Islamic communities in Italy are among those suing in the Abbas trial.</div><div><br></div><div>Other plaintiffs include women’s advocacy organizations.</div><div><br></div><div>Tiziana Dal Pra, whose group, Trama delle Terre, promotes intercultural relations, said that while violence surrounding forced marriage “gets interpreted as religious,” what’s really at play is “patriarchal control” of women’s bodies.</div><div><br></div><div>In December, a court in the northern city of Brescia convicted and gave five-year prison sentences to three Pakistani immigrants — the parents and older brother of four girls — for beating them and keeping them out of school.</div><div><br></div><div>According to court documents, the parents threatened their daughters that if they refused arranged marriages, they would end up like that “girl in Pakistan.”</div><div><br></div><div>The court said that threat referred to 25-year-old Sana Cheema, who was slain when she returned from Italy to Pakistan in 2018, allegedly at her parents’ insistence.</div><div><br></div><div>By her friends’ accounts, Cheema, who had taken Italian citizenship, loved her life in Brescia, where she worked out at a gym, went out for coffee with girlfriends and danced with them at a disco. She was proud of her job teaching at a driving school in the northern city.</div><div><br></div><div>Brescia prosecutors are now trying Cheema’s father and brother in absentia on a novel charge: murder in violation of the political right to marry one’s own choice.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2019, a court in Pakistan acquitted the two on murder charges, citing insufficient evidence. But Italy’s justice ministry ruled the Brescia trial could go forward since Pakistan and Italy have no agreement governing cases involving so-called judicial double jeopardy.</div><div><br></div><div>Cheema’s family initially told Pakistani authorities that she died of a heart attack the day before she was supposed to fly back to Italy. Two friends testified in Brescia this month that Cheema told them her parents wanted her to marry a cousin in Pakistan.</div><div><br></div><div>They also quoted from Facebook messages in which Cheema said her parents had confiscated her passport and phone in Pakistan.</div><div><br></div><div>With the Italian Embassy closely following the case, Cheema’s body was exhumed. An autopsy indicated she was likely strangled.</div><div><br></div><div>Prosecuting the case in Italy sends the message that “exercising the right of who you want to live with, above all, who you want to marry, is a political right” to be guaranteed “with utmost firmness,” Brescia Prosecutor General Guido Rispoli told the AP.</div><div><br></div><div>At the edge of a field near the farmhouse where Saman Abbas’ body was found, mourners have left a stuffed toy squirrel and bunches of flowers at an improvised shrine.</div><div><br></div><div>“It will continue to happen, I tell you, that’s how it is,″ Aslam said of violence linked to forced marriage.</div><div><br></div><div>What progress has been made with trials like the ones in Reggio Emilia and Brescia isn’t enough, she added: “It’s like salt in flour.” - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-27 09:35:56', '2023-02-27 09:35:56'),
(5461, 5461, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Indian director S.S. Rajamouli\'s films are all-singing, all-dancing spectacles -- and he is now a favourite to secure the first ever Oscar for an all-Indian film.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>His three-hour extravaganza \"RRR\" is a fictionalised story of two colonial-era revolutionaries, filled with large-scale, visual effects-laden action sequences and musical numbers.</div><div><br></div><div>It has smashed box offices in India, wowed audiences from the United States to Japan, and is a front runner for the Best Original Song award at next month\'s Oscars, having already beaten out Taylor Swift and Rihanna for the same prize at the Golden Globes.</div><div><br></div><div>\"When I\'m going to a movie, I would like to see larger-than-life characters, larger-than-life situations, larger-than-life drama,\" Rajamouli told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>\"And that\'s what I like to make,\" he said at his office in the southern city of Hyderabad.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Nothing holds the heroes back in delivering their action sequences.\"</div><div><br></div><div>A word-of-mouth hit that has seen moviegoers dancing in cinema aisles, Telugu-language \"RRR\" has become one of the highest-grossing Indian movies ever.</div><div><br></div><div>It has also introduced the country\'s lesser-known but prolific southern cinema industry to a worldwide audience.</div><div><br></div><div>India\'s Hindi-language Bollywood cinema industry has long been known as the world\'s most productive, but international film awards beyond the festival circuit have largely remained the preserve of English-language movies.</div><div><br></div><div>That changed when Bong Joon-ho\'s \"Parasite\" swept four Oscars in 2020, including Best Film and Best Director, after decades when the plaudits for Korean cinema were confined to the critics.</div><div><br></div><div>The only previous Indian Oscars won were for English-language films -- the 1982 British-Indian co-production \"Gandhi\" and 2008\'s Mumbai-set British drama \"Slumdog Millionaire\".</div><div><br></div><div>Now Rajamouli hopes a statuette for the dance number \"Naatu Naatu\" will pave the way for Indian auteurs to do the same.</div><div><br></div><div>Shot in front of Ukraine\'s turquoise presidential palace -- before the war -- it features high-energy performances from the two leads as they confront their antagonist.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We are breaking ground, but I think we are in very, very initial, initial steps,\" said the 49-year-old.</div><div><br></div><div>\"If you see (South) Korea, for example, the kind of inroads that they have made... we should aspire to do that, all Indian film-makers.\"</div><div><br></div><div>- \'Unprecedented\' -</div><div><br></div><div>Rajamouli was born in the southern state of Karnataka. His father was a scriptwriter who exposed him to the industry.</div><div><br></div><div>His early influences included prominent Telugu directors but he found himself drawn to epic Hollywood films such as \"Ben Hur\" and \"Braveheart\", and is a fan of Steven Spielberg and James Cameron.</div><div><br></div><div>Rajamouli\'s 2015 historical action-drama \"Baahubali\" -- then the most expensive film made in India -- made him a household name domestically, leading a wave of southern films to the top of the multilingual country\'s box office.</div><div><br></div><div>The 2017 sequel was well-received, with both movies among the highest-grossing of all time in the nation of 1.4 billion people, cementing Rajamouli\'s reputation as a blockbuster director.</div><div><br></div><div>He was \"pleasantly surprised\" by the buzz around \"RRR\" in the West, he said, pointing to what he called a \"lack of maximalist entertainment\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"There\'s a section of audiences who wanted that, a celebratory kind of engagement with the cinema.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Despite appearing on Netflix only two months after it debuted across 1,200 US theatres in March last year, \"RRR\" has become among North America\'s highest-grossing Indian films.</div><div><br></div><div>It was \"unprecedented\" and \"a total outlier\", said analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research.</div><div><br></div><div>Audiences continue to flock to packed screenings for repeat viewings -- a January showing at Hollywood\'s historic TCL Chinese Theatre sold out in 98 seconds.</div><div><br></div><div>Rajamouli\'s films have been compared to Marvel superhero movies and he said it would \"be an honour\" to be asked to do one -- but he worries that a major studio would want to involve itself in the production process.</div><div><br></div><div>- Troubling undertones -</div><div><br></div><div>The accolades for \"RRR\" have also been accompanied by criticism of perceived troubling undertones in the film, including the promotion of Hindu nationalism and hyper-masculinity.</div><div><br></div><div>\"RRR\" contains Hindu mythology and nationalist fervour at a time when film-makers, mostly in Bollywood, have been repeatedly targeted by Hindu right-wingers on social media.</div><div><br></div><div>Rights campaigners say that under Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bollywood stars are facing increased pressure -- particularly minority Muslim actors like Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan.</div><div><br></div><div>Rajamouli grew up in a \"deeply religious\" Hindu family but is now an atheist and believes that \"religion essentially is exploitation\".</div><div><br></div><div>He blames criticism of the film on the polarisation of debate in India that does not allow for a middle ground.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Any extreme point of view, I oppose,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I don\'t have any kind of hidden agenda... I make films for people who are willing to pay their hard-earned money on the film ticket, reports AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"I like to get them entertained, make them feel dramatic about the characters, about the situations, have a good time, go back and live their lives.\"&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-27 10:24:18', '2023-02-27 10:24:18'),
(5462, 5462, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said over two dozen Pakistanis were believed to be among 59 people who drowned when a boat carrying migrants to Europe crashed against rocks near the southern Italian coast.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>At least 81 people survived Sunday\'s accident, with 20 hospitalised including one person in intensive care, Italian authorities said.</div><div><br></div><div>The wooden boat, which sailed from Turkey, is said to have carried people from Iran and Afghanistan as well.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The reports of the drowning of over two dozen Pakistanis in a boat tragedy in Italy are deeply concerning and worrisome,\" Sharif said in a statement, adding, \"I have directed the foreign office to ascertain facts as early as possible and take the nation into confidence.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Turkey is part of one of the most-used routes for human smugglers to smuggle migrants into Europe, who at times travel by road, walk for miles and endure being locked in ship containers for days.</div><div><br></div><div>Italy is one the main landing points for migrants trying to enter Europe by sea, with many seeking to travel on to northern European nations.</div><div><br></div><div>The United Nations Missing Migrants Project has registered more than 17,000 deaths and disappearances in the central Mediterranean since 2014. More than 220 have died or disappeared this year, it estimates. Source: Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-27 10:38:08', '2023-02-27 10:38:08'),
(5463, 5463, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked new Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) cadres to utilise their talents and innovative ideas to build the developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by 2041.</b></span><br></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"I want the new officers to take the country forward by applying their talents and innovative ideas in more effective way to transform into a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh,\" she said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The premier said this while addressing the certificate distribution among the trainees of BCS officers\' 74th foundation training course and its closing ceremony held at Shapla Auditorium of the Prime Minister\'s Office (PMO) here.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to the situation of Bangladesh 14 years back, she said huge development has been made in the country in the last 14 years.</div><div><br></div><div>She asked the fresh officers to take the country forward with maintaining the current development spree.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said her government\'s only target is to ensure a developed and beautiful life for the countrymen by transforming Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous country by 2041.</div><div><br></div><div>Describing the fresh BCS cadres as the soldiers of 2041, she said, \"Bangladesh will be built as a smart country by 2041. The officers of today will be the soldiers of tomorrow.\"</div><div><br></div><div>She said you have to work for implementing Delta Plan-2100 formulated by this government, continuing that her government already started executing it to protect Bangladesh from the adverse impact of the climate change.</div><div><br></div><div>\"You have to keep in mind that we will always have to go forward,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Once Bangladesh had been neglected by many foreign countries, she said, adding, but now Bangladesh appeared as role model of development in the world.</div><div><br></div><div>The country has become a developing nation due to her government\'s timely measures, she continued.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have to keep intact this honour,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister reiterated her call to the countrymen to show austerity in using electricity, water and gas as the world is going through a economic recession steaming from the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions and counter sanctions.</div><div><br></div><div>She also asked all to make savings and become economical as the price of everything including essentials is skyrocketing globally and it is not sure when the war will come to an end.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said the new officers will have to work for the welfare of the country and its people with a sense of belonging.</div><div><br></div><div>She asked the freshers to follow the ideal of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and spirit of the Liberation War in running the state.</div><div><br></div><div>She also called upon them to expedite uplift works for ensuring country\'s overall development to turn Bangladesh into a hunger-and-poverty free state as envisioned by the Father of the Nation.</div><div><br></div><div>As part of the initiative to give people a better life, she said her government has taken Ashrayan project to provide houses to every landless and homeless people, reports BSS.</div><div><br></div><div>Not a single person will remain homeless and landless across the country, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister also thanked the government officers for working sincerely in implementing the housing project.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-27 11:17:44', '2023-02-27 11:17:44');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5464, 5464, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>NASA and SpaceX early on Monday postponed the launch of a capsule containing two US astronauts, a Russian cosmonaut and a United Arab Emirates crewmate minutes before scheduled lift-off from Florida on a flight to the International Space Station.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The US space agency and SpaceX, the private rocket company founded by billionaire Elon Musk, cited a technical glitch concerning the ignition fluid used to start the spacecraft\'s engines.</div><div><br></div><div>The countdown had seemed to be progressing smoothly until about two and a half minutes before blastoff, when NASA announced on its live webcast that the launch of the four crew members on a six-month science mission would be postponed.</div><div><br></div><div>The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket topped with a Crew Dragon capsule had been scheduled for liftoff at 1:45 am EST (0645 GMT) from NASA\'s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.</div><div><br></div><div>The first backup launch opportunity for the mission was set for early Tuesday, about 24 hours from the initial attempt to get the rocket off the ground.</div><div><br></div><div>Neither NASA nor SpaceX immediately said how long it might actually take before they would be ready to try again. Eleventh-hour launch scrubs are fairly routine in the highly complex and risky endeavour of human spaceflight.</div><div><br></div><div>Had Monday\'s launch been a success, it was expected to take the crew about 25 hours to reach their destination at the International Space Station (ISS), a laboratory orbiting about 250 miles (420 km) above Earth.</div><div><br></div><div>Designated Crew 6, the mission will carry the sixth long-duration ISS team that NASA has flown aboard SpaceX since Musk\'s California-based company began sending American astronauts to orbit in May 2020.</div><div><br></div><div>The latest ISS crew is led by mission commander Stephen Bowen, 59, a one-time U.S. Navy submarine officer who has logged more than 40 days in orbit as a veteran of three space shuttle flights and seven spacewalks.</div><div><br></div><div>Fellow NASA astronaut Warren \"Woody\" Hoburg, 37, an engineer and commercial aviator designated as the Crew 6 pilot, will be making his first spaceflight.</div><div><br></div><div>The Crew 6 mission also is notable for its inclusion of UAE astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, 41, only the second person from his country to fly to space and the first to launch from US soil as part of a long-duration space station team. UAE\'s first-ever astronaut launched to orbit in 2019 aboard a Russian spacecraft.</div><div><br></div><div>Rounding out the four-man Crew 6 is Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, 41, who like Alneyadi is an engineer and spaceflight rookie designated as a mission specialist for the team.</div><div><br></div><div>Fedyaev is the latest cosmonaut to fly aboard an American spacecraft under a ride-sharing deal signed in July by NASA and the Russian space agency Roscosmos, despite heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow over Russia\'s invasion of Ukraine.</div><div><br></div><div>The Crew 6 team will be welcomed aboard the space station by seven current ISS occupants - three US NASA crew members, including commander Nicole Aunapu Mann, the first Native American woman to fly to space, along with three Russians and a Japanese astronaut.</div><div><br></div><div>The ISS, about the length of a football field and the largest human-made object in space, has been continuously operated by a US-Russian-led consortium that includes Canada, Japan and 11 European countries. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-27 11:50:55', '2023-02-27 11:50:55'),
(5465, 5465, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia went to Evercare Hospital in the capital on Monday afternoon for health check-ups.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"Madam [Khaleda] left for Evercare Hospital at 4:15 pm and reached there at 5:30 pm for health check-ups as per the advice of her medical board,” said her media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan.</div><div><br></div><div>Khaleda’s personal physician AZM Zahid Hossain said the BNP chief will undergo routine health check-up at the hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the medical board formed earlier, led by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, advised her to go to the hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>Zahid said the medical board will decide her next course of treatment after assessing her health condition and test reports.</div><div><br></div><div>Khaleda, a 78-year-old former prime minister, has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems.</div><div><br></div><div>She received treatment at the same hospital six times since she was infected with Coronavirus in April, 2021.</div><div><br></div><div>In November 2021,&nbsp; Khaleda Zia was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.</div><div><br></div><div>On June 10 last, the BNP chief suffered a heart attack due to a 95 percent block in her left artery and a stent was placed there by removing the blockage at the same hospital the following day.</div><div><br></div><div>Doctors also found two more blocks in her blood vessels, but they could not remove those due to her health complications.</div><div><br></div><div>Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail as a lower court sentenced her to five years\' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year.</div><div><br></div><div>Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with conditions that she would stay at her Gulshan house and would not leave the country. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-27 12:50:20', '2023-02-27 12:50:20'),
(5466, 5466, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Taliban security forces killed two militants from the Islamic State group and detained a third in an overnight raid in the Afghan capital of Kabul, the spokesman for the Taliban government said Monday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The regional affiliate of the Islamic State group — known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province — is a key rival of the Taliban. The militant group has increased its attacks in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover of the country in August 2021. Targets have included Taliban patrols and members of Afghanistan’s Shiite minority.</div><div><br></div><div>According to Zabihullah Mujahid, the main Taliban government spokesman in Kabul, the operation took place in a residential neighborhood, targeting IS militants who were planning to organize attacks in the Afghan capital. He said the Kher Khana neighborhood is an important IS hideout.</div><div><br></div><div>There was no immediate comment from the IS.</div><div><br></div><div>Mujahid said two IS members were killed and one was arrested, and ammunition and military equipment were seized in the raid. There were no casualties among the Taliban forces during in the operation, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>In a separate operation this month, Taliban intelligence forces killed three IS militants and arrested one in an overnight operation in eastern part of Kabul, in Karti Naw neighborhood. The Taliban had claimed that IS was behind organized recent attacks in the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>Overnight, posts on on social media reported several explosions and small-arms fire in the area of Kher Khana.</div><div><br></div><div>The Taliban swept across the country in mid-August 2021, seizing power as U.S. and NATO forces were in the last weeks of their final withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The international community has not recognized the Taliban government, wary of the harsh measures they have imposed since their takeover, restricting rights and freedoms, especially for of women and minorities.</div><div><br></div><div>Afghanistan’s economy has been sent into a tailspin since the takeover, with millions driven into poverty and hunger. Foreign aid stopped almost overnight. Sanctions on Taliban rulers, a halt on bank transfers and frozen billions in Afghanistan’s currency reserves abroad have already restricted access to global institutions and the outside money that supported the country’s aid-dependent economy before the U.S. and NATO pullout.</div><div><br></div><div>But in neighboring Iran, authorities on Sunday handed over control of Afghanistan’s Embassy in Tehran to envoys of the Taliban government.</div><div><br></div><div>Previously, the embassy had been staffed with appointees from the former, U.S.-backed Afghan government. The development was a win for the Taliban administration, which is expected to now fly the Taliban flag over the mission in the Iranian capital, not the Afghan flag.</div><div><br></div><div>There was no official comment from Tehran on the transfer of authority and it was unclear if that constituted an official recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as the Taliban call their administration.</div><div><br></div><div>In Kabul, the Taliban Foreign Affairs Ministry in a statement said embassy “activities will continue in Tehran following the dispatching\" of a new chargé d’affaires and diplomats from Afghanistan. The statement further stresses that changing mission diplomats abroad is the legitimate right of every country.</div><div><br></div><div>“The new appointments,\" it said, would ensure “transparency in the affairs of the embassy as well as expanded relations in various fields between the two Muslim and brotherly. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-27 13:25:14', '2023-02-27 13:25:14'),
(5467, 5467, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Abdul Hamid on Monday reached his ancestral land to welcome Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as she is coming to Mithamain upazila of Kishoreganj\'s Haor on Tuesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>A helicopter carrying the President landed at Mithamain upazila at 3 pm on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>After getting off the helicopter, President Abdul Hamid spoke to reporters on the road in front of his house.</div><div><br></div><div>The Prime Minister will be served with local traditional food including Haor fish, Ashtagram cheese at the President\'s village house.</div><div><br></div><div>Abdul Hamid told reporters that he is very happy that the Prime Minister is coming to his house. \"Everyone in our family is very happy,\"he added.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I cannot say how many times I have been to Tungipara. Every time I went, Bangabandhu\'s daughter received me. I am not in politics now. He will come to my house, I am here to receive her,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina is coming to his home in Kishoreganj for the first time. Abdul Hamid said there was no way for me to come home in 1998. Now I will drive to the gate of the house, earlier the launch used to be crowded here.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that in 1998, Sheikh Hasina saw the President\'s house from distance when she visited Kishoreganj. But she did not come. Bangabandhu came for my campaign in the 1970 election. He also saw the house from the market but could not come.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, President\'s eldest son Rezwan Ahmed Taufiq, Member of Parliament for Kishoreganj-4 (Itna-Mithamain-Ashtagram) Constituency, spoke to reporters here.</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Hasina will be served with almost all kinds of fish from Haor, the president\'s son said, \"I will try to entertain the Prime Minister with all kinds of fish available in Haor, including Ruhu, Katal, Baim, Chital, Prawns, Pabdas.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Besides receiving hospitality at the President\'s house, the PM will inaugurate the freedom fighter Abdul Hamid cantonment near President Abdul Hamid\'s house and will attend Awami League\'s public meeting at Mithamain helipad ground in the afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Hamid reached his home district Kishoreganj on a five-day official visit from February 27 to March 3.</div><div><br></div><div>After a guard of honor, the President left for his residence in Kamalpur, where he will spend the night.</div><div><br></div><div>During his visit, the President will also visit Mithamain, Karimganj, and Sadar upazilas.</div><div><br></div><div>On March 3, the President will be present at the circuit house and will leave for the helipad after a guard of honor. He will then depart Kishoreganj for Dhaka by an air force helicopter, scheduled to arrive at Bangabhaban at 5:30 pm. According to UNB reports.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-27 13:36:08', '2023-02-27 13:36:08'),
(5468, 5468, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit eastern Turkey on Monday, killing one person and wounding dozens others while causing some damaged buildings to collapse, the government\'s disaster agency said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The epicentre of the tremor was the Yesilyurt district in the Malatya province, which was hit by the February 6 earthquake that killed over 44,000 people in Turkey and thousands more in neighbouring Syria.</div><div><br></div><div>\"One citizen lost his life. Some 69 were injured,\" Yunus Sezer, chairman of AFAD disaster agency, said in televised comments.</div><div><br></div><div>AFAD tweeted that 29 buildings already damaged by a powerful February 6 earthquake had collapsed.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Our search and rescue teams were quickly dispatched to the region, and started to work,\" it added.</div><div><br></div><div>The local mayor, Mehmet Cinar, said a father and his daughter were trapped after they entered a damaged building to get their belongings, Turkish media reported.</div><div><br></div><div>Television images showed the man being carried on a stretcher into an ambulance, while rescue teams were trying to make contact with his daughter inside the damaged building.</div><div><br></div><div>Turkish authorities have expanded a criminal probe into individuals responsible for buildings levelled by the deadly earthquake that left millions without homes.</div><div><br></div><div>AFAD recorded almost 10,000 aftershocks after the February 6 quake. Some 173,000 buildings are believed to have sustained damage according to local media reports.</div><div><br></div><div>Turkish media has vocally criticised developers for using shoddy materials and failing to comply with construction codes.</div><div><br></div><div>President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced plans to rebuild 270,000 homes in the devastated provinces within one year. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-27 14:53:43', '2023-02-27 14:53:43'),
(5469, 5469, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged Awami League has started staging dramas over the issue of Khaleda Zia’s scope to do politics with an evil motive.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a discussion he also said the ruling party leaders need not talk about the issue as the BNP chief herself and her party will decide whether she’ll engage in politics or not.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Begum Khaleda Zia has been kept under house arrest and she’s very ill…the government has started staging various dramas about her. Some ministers said that Khaleda Zia is not allowed to do politics. Another minister said she has no obstacle to doing politics,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>He questioned why the ruling party leaders have become so desperate to talk about whether the BNP chief can do politics or not.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Their intentions are absolutely evil. They want to confuse the people of the country and divert their attention to a different direction.”</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said the Awami League leaders will not be able to mislead BNP as their party’s now only focus is on restoring the voting and other lost rights of the country’s people by ousting the Awami League government.</div><div><br></div><div>“We no longer want to see this government. This regime must resign and dissolve parliament right now. You can’t fool people by talking about this thing (Khaleda’s politics.),” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said Khaleda Zia will do politics when the suitable time comes. “She’ will surely do politics, no matter where she stays as she is the most popular leader in the country.” So you (AL leaders) don\'t need to talk about it. She’ll take her decision and the party will take it.”</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said the government can release Khaleda without any condition if it wants her to return to politics.</div><div><br></div><div>Jatiyatabadi Tanti Dal arranged the discussion programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking its 43rd founding anniversary, according to UNB reports.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-27 15:36:10', '2023-02-27 15:36:10'),
(5470, 5470, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Amidst huge crowd, Argentina’s Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Monday inaugurated the new embassy of the South American country in Dhaka’s Banani area.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“This should be a stepping stone to build better relations between the two countries,” said the Argentine Foreign Minister, acknowledging the enormous love and respect shown by the people of Bangladesh for his country and footballers.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the people of Bangladesh never forgot Argentina but continue to raise Argentine flags showing love for Argentina and their people.</div><div><br></div><div>“That’s why we humbly came here,” said the Argentine Foreign Minister, noting that this reopening of the Embassy will create a new channel to continue the relations towards a better future.</div><div><br></div><div>“It\'s a momentous and joyous moment. The reopening of the Argentine mission in Bangladesh is not just a diplomatic gesture, but it is an emotional one as well,\" said Shahriar Alam, adding that it is a reflection of the strong bond of friendship that exists between the two nations and peoples.</div><div><br></div><div>Non-resident Ambassador of Argentina to Bangladesh Hugo Gobbi and diplomats stationed in Dhaka also joined the function.</div><div><br></div><div>Argentina reopened its embassy here after 45 years.</div><div><br></div><div>The Argentine embassy in Dhaka was closed in 1978 by the military junta that ruled the Latin American country at the time.</div><div><br></div><div>Diplomatic operations, such as visas in order to travel, have since been handled by the embassy in neighbouring India.</div><div><br></div><div>Argentina says it is convenient to reopen the embassy in accordance with foreign policy guidelines based on “political, strategic and commercial” reasons.</div><div><br></div><div>Shahriar Alam said it is a moment of great significance for both the nations and congratulated the Argentine government on the reopening of their mission in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>“I look forward to working closely with the Argentine Embassy to further strengthen our ties. The reopening of the Argentine mission will deepen the relationship between our two peoples,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Shahriar said the Argentine Foreign Minister’s kind presence here signifies the importance that Argentina places on their relations.</div><div><br></div><div>“Bangladesh is keen to expand its relations with Argentina, the leading economy in South America, in all possible areas of collaboration in depth and dimension,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The State Minister said Bangladesh and Argentina share a special bond that goes beyond politics and diplomacy.</div><div><br></div><div>Millions of Bangladeshis support the Argentine national football team during the World Cup, and this has brought the people closer together.</div><div><br></div><div>“People of these two friendly nations are bonded by hearts despite the geographical distance. The reopening of the Argentine mission in Bangladesh provides a platform for us to deepen this relationship further,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The establishment of a resident mission will provide a platform for the two governments to engage in regular dialogue, exchange ideas, and explore new areas of cooperation.</div><div><br></div><div>The embassy will facilitate cultural exchange, exchange of visits of dignitaries, officials and businessmen, academic cooperation, and tourism, and it will promote trade and investment opportunities, said the State Minister.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh is now the 35th largest and among the top five fastest-growing economies in the world.</div><div><br></div><div>In the recent past, the UK-based Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) projected that by 2030, Bangladesh will become the 28th and by 2036, 24th largest economy globally.</div><div><br></div><div>“While we idolised \'the greatest ever\' Diego Maradona, our new generation has another hero -Lionel Messi. What never changed is our love for the great football of Argentina. I wish the bond we have through football will be felt in other sectors as well,” said the State Minister.</div><div><br></div><div>The Argentine minister arrived in Dhaka on Monday morning to inaugurate the new Embassy and deepen trade and cultural ties.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Momen had a bilateral meeting with his Argentine counterpart at a state guesthouse on Monday evening.</div><div><br></div><div>Momen also hosted a dinner in honour of the Argentine foreign minister after the bilateral talks.</div><div><br></div><div>Cafiero is likely to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi.</div><div><br></div><div>“There is also the possibility of signing visa exemption agreements on diplomatic and official passports, MoUs on cooperation in agriculture and diplomatic training academies of the two countries,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin told reporters recently.</div><div><br></div><div>The two countries are working on a memorandum of understanding on football related matters as well, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from the import of soybean oil and wheat from Argentina, the two sides are likely to discuss Bangladesh\'s inclusion in South America\'s powerful economic alliance Mercosur.</div><div><br></div><div>Mercosur, or the Southern Common Market, is an economic and political bloc originally comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.</div><div><br></div><div>The Argentine visiting team is likely to enjoy a friendly match between two teams comprising Bangladesh\'s junior footballers as well as meeting with football officials. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-27 16:18:53', '2023-02-27 16:18:53'),
(5471, 5471, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday asked the authorities concerned to operate the open market sale (OMS) through cards in order to ensure discipline in the management of the food programmes.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The PM issued the directive while chairing the Cabinet meeting at her office in the city.</div><div><br></div><div>“The PM has given a directive to fulfill the gap in the OMS management. She asked to take steps to give the OMS commodities through cards and operate it through the card system so that there will be no gap in its management,” said Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain at a press briefing.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the PM also directed the administration to monitor the market of commodities and strengthen the vigilance against food hoarders.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, the Cabinet approved a proposal to issue an SRO by the Security Services Division to provide the dual citizenship facility to the Bangladeshis who obtained citizenship from 44 more countries.</div><div><br></div><div>Now the Bangladeshis having citizenship from 57 countries are enjoying this facility.&nbsp; So, the Bangladeshis having citizenship from a total of 101 countries will enjoy this facility after the issuance of this SRO.</div><div><br></div><div>Among the 44 new countries, there are 19 African countries, 12 South American ones, 12 Caribbean ones and one Oceania country.</div><div><br></div><div>The 44 countries include Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Algeria, Sudan, Morocco, Ghana, Rwanda, Burundi, Tunisia, Sierra Leone, Libya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Central African Republic, Eritrea, Gambia, Botswana and Mauritius, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Suriname, Uruguay, Guiana, Cuba, Dominica, Haiti, Barbados, Bahamas, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and Fiji.</div><div><br></div><div>The Cabinet also approved in principle the draft of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (Amendment) Act, 2023 with a view to bring some changes including extension of the tenure of vice chancellor, pro-vice chancellor and treasurer of the university to four years from three years.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the Cabinet cleared the draft of Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan 2022-2041 in a bid to ensure sustainable development by paying a special attention to the climate issues and problems in different other plans including the Delta Plan 2100 and the Smart Bangladesh Vision-2041.</div><div><br></div><div>Some US$ 80 billion fund will be required to implement the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan 2022-2041, said the Cabinet Secretary, adding that this plan was framed so that the country’s development would be sustainable from the climate perspective. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-27 17:04:03', '2023-02-27 17:04:03'),
(5472, 5472, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has hailed his deal on post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland as a \"decisive breakthrough\".</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many Conservative MPs, including those who supported Brexit, gave their backing to the agreement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And the DUP, whose support will be key to restoring power-sharing in Northern Ireland, said there had been \"significant progress\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the party warned that \"key issues of concern\" remain.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said his party would now study the legal text, before reaching a decision on whether to support the deal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The party has boycotted the devolved government until its concerns over the Northern Ireland Protocol are resolved and some Tory MPs have said they will only support an agreement if it has the backing of the DUP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sinn Féin, which is the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly, welcomed the deal, although it said it still needed to examine the details.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The party\'s vice-president, Michelle O\'Neill, repeated her call for the DUP to return to devolved government, adding: \"We always said that with pragmatism, solutions could be found.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After months of negotiation and speculation surrounding a possible deal, it was finally unveiled during a day of carefully choreographed events.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Word began to emerge from inside government at around 14:00 GMT that a deal on an issue which has vexed four prime ministers had finally been done.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM confirmed the breakthrough soon after during a joint press conference in Windsor with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There was a notable warmth between the PM and Mrs von der Leyen as they outlined their agreement on Monday, with the EU chief referring to the prime minister as \"dear Rishi\" and hailing a \"new chapter\" of a \"stronger EU-UK relationship\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She went on to have tea with King Charles at Windsor Castle. The pair were pictured smiling and chatting, but there was concern from some MPs that the meeting would draw the monarch into a contentious political issue.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As Mr Sunak travelled back to London to address the Commons, the details of the long-awaited deal were landing well with some MPs who might have been expected to cause the PM political problems.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Northern Ireland Office Minister and arch-Brexiteer Steve Baker said Mr Sunak had \"pulled a blinder\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He had been considering resigning \"as late as yesterday\", he revealed, but added that the agreement \"should be good enough for any reasonable unionists\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During a Commons debate, former Prime Minister Theresa May urged MPs to back the deal - but two other former leaders, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, did not attend.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Number 10 will be pleased by the response from the US, where outstanding issues over the arrangements in Northern Ireland have been seen as an obstacle in any potential trade talks between London and Washington.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US President Joe Biden said the deal was \"an essential step to ensuring that the hard-earned peace and progress of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement is preserved and strengthened\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The agreement, named the Windsor Framework, changes the Northern Ireland Protocol, which was signed by Mr Johnson and came into force in 2021.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The protocol aimed to ensure free movement of goods across the Irish land border by conducting checks between Northern Ireland and Great Britain instead.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But under the treaty, Northern Ireland had to keep following some EU rules.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Sunak said the new deal \"delivers smooth-flowing trade within the whole United Kingdom, protects Northern Ireland\'s place in our union and safeguards sovereignty for the people of Northern Ireland\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under the agreement:</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Goods from Britain destined for Northern Ireland will travel through a new \"green lane\", with a separate \"red lane\" for goods at risk of moving on to the EU</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Products coming into Northern Ireland through the green lane will see checks and paperwork significantly reduced, while red lane goods will still be subject to normal checks</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A \"Stormont brake\" allows the Northern Ireland Assembly to raise an objection to \"significantly different\" EU rules which would apply in Northern Ireland</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">UK VAT and excise rules will apply to Northern Ireland for alcoholic drinks for immediate consumption and immovable goods such as heat pumps. Previously EU VAT rules could be applied in Northern Ireland</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But there is no guarantee that it will result in the return of a power-sharing devolved government for Northern Ireland. In a statement, the DUP said \"significant progress has been secured across a number of areas\" but concerns remain.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There can be no disguising the fact that in some sectors of our economy EU law remains applicable in Northern Ireland,\" it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The party said it would now study the deal and seek \"further clarification, reworking or change as required\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party, and the Alliance Party, which is neither nationalist nor unionist, welcomed the deal, although both said they had concerns about the Stormont brake clause.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the Traditional Unionist Voice Party said the agreement was \"much spin, not a lot of substance\" and meant the protocol \"effectively stays\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ulster Unionist Party said it would study the detail but would not give cover to other parties. 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, '2023-02-28 02:09:31', '2023-02-28 02:09:31'),
(5473, 5473, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">An Israeli-American has been shot and killed in the occupied West Bank as retaliatory unrest intensifies.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The man was killed in an attack on vehicles on a highway near the city of Jericho.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The shooting happened after Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villages in the West Bank on Sunday night, with dozens of cars and houses burned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That attack came after two settlers, from a nearby village, were shot dead by a Palestinian on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Israeli-American man killed near Jericho was taken by paramedics to a hospital in Jerusalem, but was later pronounced dead.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US Ambassador Tom Nides tweeted: \"Sadly, I can confirm that a US citizen was killed in one of the terror attacks in the West Bank tonight. I pray for his family.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Israeli Defence Forces said attackers opened fire on Israeli vehicles on three occasions, and later set their own vehicles on fire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There was an exchange of fire with police before the attackers fled, the IDF tweeted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There was no immediate claim of responsibility by any Palestinian groups.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Islamist movement Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip but is less prominent in the West Bank, said the attack was a natural response to Israeli attacks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The crimes conducted by the occupation and the herds of settlers will not be met but with stabbing, shooting and car ramming,\" a spokesman said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The violence came after Israeli and Palestinian officials had pledged to de-escalate tensions at a summit in Jordan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Videos posted hours after the summit ended on Sunday showed a large crowd of Israeli settlers entering the village of Hawara, about 4 miles (6km) south of Nablus, lighting fires and throwing stones.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Palestinian health ministry said 37-year-old Sameh Aqtash died after being shot in the stomach during an attack by settlers in Zaatara on Sunday night.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This part of the West Bank falls under full Israeli control, and Palestinians criticised Israeli security forces for failing to protect them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he held the Israeli government fully responsible for what he called \"the terrorist acts carried out by Israeli settlers, under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel\'s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, appealed for calm and urged settlers to allow the Israeli military and security forces to focus on finding the gunman who killed the two Israelis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I ask that when blood is boiling and the spirit is hot, don\'t take the law into your hands,\" he said in a video statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Settlers had called for a march to Hawara in order to \"seek revenge\" for the deadly attack on Hillel and Yagel Yaniv, who lived in the settlement of Har Bracha, which is 1.2 miles south of Nablus.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The brothers were driving through Hawara when a Palestinian man rammed their car and then shot them both several times.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">No Palestinian militant group has so far claimed they were behind the attack, but the gunman was reportedly wearing a shirt bearing the insignia of the Nablus-based Lions\' Den.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Members of the group were the targets of an Israeli raid in Nablus last Wednesday in which 11 Palestinians, including several civilians, were killed - the deadliest such operation in the West Bank since 2005.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israeli forces have been carrying out waves of search, arrest and intelligence-gathering raids in Nablus and the nearby city of Jenin, saying they are trying to stem the spate of deadly attacks against Israelis by Palestinians.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since the start of this year, more than 60 Palestinians - militants and civilians - have been killed by Israeli forces. On the Israeli side, 14 people have been killed in attacks - all civilians, except for a paramilitary police officer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 600,000 Jews live in 140 settlements built since Israel\'s occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Most of the international community considers the settlements illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. 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, '2023-02-28 02:21:57', '2023-02-28 02:21:57');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5474, 5474, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A crucial question has eluded governments and health agencies around the world since the COVID-19 pandemic began: Did the virus originate in animals or leak from a Chinese lab?</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Now, the U.S. Department of Energy has assessed with “low confidence” in that it began with a lab leak, according to a person familiar with the report who wasn’t authorized to discuss it. The report has not been made public.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But others in the U.S. intelligence community disagree.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There is not a consensus right now in the U.S. government about exactly how COVID started,” John Kirby, the spokesman for the National Security Council, said Monday. “There is just not an intelligence community consensus.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The DOE’s conclusion was first reported over the weekend in the Wall Street Journal, which said the classified report was based on new intelligence and noted in an update to a 2021 document. The DOE oversees a national network of labs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">White House officials on Monday declined to confirm press reports about the assessment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2021, officials released an intelligence report summary that said four members of the U.S. intelligence community believed with low confidence that the virus was first transmitted from an animal to a human, and a fifth believed with moderate confidence that the first human infection was linked to a lab.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While some scientists are open to the lab-leak theory, others continue to believe the virus came from animals, mutated, and jumped into people — as has happened in the past with viruses. Experts say the true origin of the pandemic may not be known for many years — if ever.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment on the report. All 18 offices of the U.S. intelligence community had access to the information the DOE used in reaching its assessment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Alina Chan, a molecular biologist at the Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, said she isn’t sure what new intelligence the agencies had, but “it’s reasonable to infer” it relates to activities at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. She said a 2018 research proposal co-authored by scientists there and their U.S. collaborators “essentially described a blueprint for COVID-like viruses.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Less than two years later, such a virus was causing an outbreak in the city,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Wuhan institute had been studying coronaviruses for years, in part because of widespread concerns — tracing back to SARS — that coronaviruses could be the source of the next pandemic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">No intelligence agency has said they believe the coronavirus that caused COVID-19 was released intentionally. The unclassified 2021 summary was clear on this point, saying: “We judge the virus was not developed as a biological weapon.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Lab accidents happen at a surprising frequency. A lot of people don’t really hear about lab accidents because they’re not talked about publicly,” said Chan, who co-authored a book about the search for COVID-19 origins. Such accidents “underscore a need to make work with highly dangerous pathogens more transparent and more accountable.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last year, the World Health Organization recommended a deeper probe into a possible lab accident. Chan said she hopes the latest report sparks more investigation in the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China has called the suggestion that COVID-19 came from a Chinese laboratory “ baseless.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many scientists believe the animal-to-human theory of the coronavirus remains much more plausible. They theorize it emerged in the wild and jumped from bats to humans, either directly or through another animal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a 2021 research paper in the journal Cell, scientists said the COVID-19 virus is the ninth documented coronavirus to infect humans — and all the previous ones originated in animals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two studies, published last year by the journal Science, bolstered the animal origin theory. That research found that the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan was likely the early epicenter. Scientists concluded that the virus likely spilled from animals into people two separate times.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The scientific literature contains essentially nothing but original research articles that support a natural origin of this virus pandemic,” said Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona who has extensively studied COVID-19′s origins.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the fact that others in the intelligence community looked at the same information as the DOE and “it apparently didn’t move the needle speaks volumes.” He said he takes such intelligence assessments with a grain of salt because he doesn’t think the people making them “have the scientific expertise ... to really understand the most important evidence that they need to understand.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The U.S. should be more transparent and release the new intelligence that apparently swayed the DOE, Worobey said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The DOE conclusion comes to light as House Republicans have been using their new majority power to investigate all aspects of the pandemic, including the origin, as well as what they contend were officials’ efforts to conceal the fact that it leaked from a lab in Wuhan. Earlier this month, Republicans sent letters to Dr. Anthony Fauci, National Intelligence Director Avril Haines, Health Secretary Xavier Beccera and others as part of their investigative efforts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The now retired Fauci, who served as the country’s top infectious disease expert under both Republican and Democratic presidents, has called the GOP criticism nonsense.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has asked the Biden administration to provide Congress with “a full and thorough” briefing on the report and the evidence behind it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kirby, the National Security Council spokesman, emphasized that President Joe Biden believes it’s important to know what happened “so we can better prevent future pandemics” but that such research “must be done in a safe and secure manner and as transparent as possible to the rest of the world.” AP/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, '2023-02-28 02:33:16', '2023-02-28 02:33:16'),
(5475, 5475, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The situation in the city of Bakhmut, on the eastern frontline, is becoming \"more and more difficult\", Ukraine\'s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian forces have been trying to take the city for over six months.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The enemy is constantly destroying everything that can be used to protect our positions\", Mr Zelensky stated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ukrainian leader\'s remarks came as US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned China against arming Russia during a visit to Kyiv on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some of the fiercest fighting to take place since Russia invaded Ukraine just over a year ago has taken place in Bakhmut, in Ukraine\'s Donetsk region, part of which is under the control of Russia and its separatist allies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Recently efforts by Russian forces to capture the industrial city have intensified, with its troops gaining ground.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The separatist leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People\'s Republic, Denis Pushilin, said \"practically all roads\" into the city were \"under [Russian] fire control\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking about the situation in his nightly address, President Zelensky said managing to gain a foothold in Bakhmut and ensuring its defence were being heavily compromised by Russia\'s renewed onslaught.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He was \"grateful to each and every person who is heroically holding\" the area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Zelensky also called once again for modern combat aircraft to be sent so that \"the entire territory of our country\" can be defended from \"Russian terror\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On her surprise visit to Kyiv on Monday, Janet Yellen announced the latest transfer of $1.25bn (£1bn) in economic and budget aid to Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ms Yellen reiterated US President Joe Biden\'s message - made during his own visit to Kyiv last week - that Washington would stand with Ukraine for as long as it took to win the war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking to CNN, Ms Yellen added that while Russia\'s economy had not yet buckled under the vast sanctions imposed on Russia by Western powers, she expected it to grow weaker over time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also stated that Russia\'s ability to replenish military equipment destroyed in attacks on Ukraine was being \"gradually jeopardized\", adding that any move from China to supply such weaponry to Russia would lead to \"severe\" consequences.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have been extremely clear that we will not tolerate systematic violations by any country of the sanctions that we have put in place that are intended to deprive Russia of access to military equipment to wage this war,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"And we have been very clear with the Chinese government and have made clear to Chinese firms and financial institutions that the consequences of violating those sanctions would be very severe.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last week US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said China was considering supplying weapons and ammunition to Russia. Beijing strongly denied the claim.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A meeting between China\'s top diplomat, Wang Yi, and Russia\'s President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last week looked to many to be an indication of China\'s close ties with Russia. 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, '2023-02-28 02:44:54', '2023-02-28 02:44:54'),
(5476, 5476, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Canada announced Monday it is banning TikTok from all government-issued mobile devices, reflecting widening worries from Western officials over the Chinese-owned video sharing app.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it might be a first step to further action or that it might be it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I suspect that as government takes the significant step of telling all federal employees that they can no longer use TikTok on their work phones many Canadians from business to private individuals will reflect on the security of their own data and perhaps make choices,” Trudeau said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I’m always a fan of giving Canadians the information for them to make the right decisions for them,” he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The European Union’s executive branch said last week it has temporarily banned TikTok from phones used by employees as a cybersecurity measure.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The EU’s action follows similar moves in the U.S., where more than half of the states and Congress have banned TikTok from official government devices.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last week, Canada’s federal privacy watchdog and its provincial counterparts in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec announced an investigation to delve into whether the app complies with Canadian privacy legislation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">TikTok is wildly popular with young people, but its Chinese ownership has raised fears that Beijing could use it to collect data on Western users or push pro-China narratives and misinformation. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company that moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2020</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">TikTok faces intensifying scrutiny from Europe and America over security and data privacy amid worries that the app could be used to promote pro-Beijing views or sweep up users’ information. It comes as China and the West are locked in a wider tug of war over technology ranging from spy balloons to computer chips.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Canadian Treasury Board President Mona Fortier said the federal government will also block the app from being downloaded on official devices in the future.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fortier said in statement the Chief Information Officer of Canada determined that it “presents an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The app will be removed from Canadian government issued phones on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">“On a mobile device, TikTok’s data collection methods provide considerable access to the contents of the phone,” Fortier said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“While the risks of using this application are clear, we have no evidence at this point that government information has been compromised.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Recent media reports have also raised concerns about potential Chinese interference in recent Canadian elections, prompting opposition parties to call for a public inquiry into alleged foreign election interference.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It’s curious that the Government of Canada has moved to block TikTok on government-issued devices—without citing any specific security concern or contacting us with questions—only after similar bans were introduced in the EU and the US,” a TikTok spokesperson said in a email.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The company is always available to discuss the privacy and security of Canadians, the statement said. “Singling out TikTok in this way does nothing to achieve that shared goal,” the email said. “All it does is prevent officials from reaching the public on a platform loved by millions of Canadians.” 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, '2023-02-28 03:28:19', '2023-02-28 03:28:19'),
(5477, 5477, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Finland, which has one of Europe\'s longest borders with Russia, on Tuesday kicks off a parliamentary debate aimed at accelerating the country\'s bid to join NATO, increasing the likelihood it will leave neighbour and military partner Sweden behind.</b></span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Spooked by Moscow\'s invasion of Ukraine, Finland and Sweden dropped their decades-long policies of military non-alignment and applied to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in May last year.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">But facing fewer diplomatic hurdles than Stockholm, Helsinki appears set to move forward even before Finland\'s April general elections, as public opinion also supports membership in the transatlantic military alliance.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The two countries have the support of all but two of NATO\'s 30 members, the holdouts being Hungary and particularly Turkey.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Many Finnish MPs have pushed for legislation affirming that Finland accepts the terms of the NATO treaty to be passed before the elections on April 2.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Finland will debate the bill on Tuesday, coinciding with a visit from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg -- who will meet with Prime Minister Sanna Marin and President Sauli Niinisto.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">A vote is expected by Wednesday, and having the bill passed means that Finland can act swiftly even if the ratifications come in before a new government has been formed.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">- Complications? -</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The legislation is expected to pass without much opposition, as the initial membership bid in May was supported by 188 of the 200 members in parliament.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Helsinki has so far stressed its preference to join the alliance together with Sweden, but some have interpreted the bill as signalling that Finland is ready to move forward alone.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Turkey has meanwhile blocked the bids, accusing Sweden in particular of providing a safe haven for what it considers \"terrorists\", especially members of the Kurdistan Workers\' Party (PKK).</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">In contrast, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday that Turkey looked favourably on Finland\'s bid.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"We may separate Sweden and Finland\'s membership process,\" he said.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">While Sweden sympathises with Finland\'s position, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has said Finland\'s joining alone could \"complicate\" the close military cooperation between the Nordic countries as Sweden is left alone outside of NATO protection.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">- \'Not beyond the elections\' -</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">While passing the bill does not mean that Finland will automatically join NATO after ratification by Turkey and Hungary, it puts in place a deadline for how long it can wait for its neighbour.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The government\'s chancellor of justice, Tuomas Poysti, said that after the bill is approved by the parliament, the president can wait a maximum of three months to sign it.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">After the president has signed the law, there is still some time to wait for Sweden, \"a few weeks at most\", before depositing the instruments of accession to Washington.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">President Niinisto told reporters on Wednesday that he intended to sign the law \"as soon as it is approved by Parliament\", but \"if there are practical reasons, I can wait\".</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"But not beyond the elections,\" he added.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Some MPs specifically in the Left Alliance party -- which has been vocal in its NATO opposition in the past -- believe Finland should have passed that law only after the ratifications to ensure coordinated accession with Sweden.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">But a majority of Finns want to go ahead and join NATO even if Sweden\'s membership is delayed, a poll suggested earlier in February.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Cavusoglu also announced Monday that negotiations between the three countries would resume on March 9, after talks with Sweden were dropped over a row about protests held in Stockholm, including a burning of the Koran in front of Turkey\'s embassy.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Hungary has signalled a vote on the Nordic countries\' applications is likely to happen in March. AFP</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-28 03:40:07', '2023-02-28 03:40:07'),
(5478, 5478, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka ranked second in the list of cities around the world with the worst air quality as it registered an air quality index (AQI) score of 194 at 9:05am today, which puts the capital in the \"unhealthy\" category.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 151 and 200 is said to be \"unhealthy\" while 201 and 300 is considered \"very unhealthy\", and 301 to 400 \"hazardous\", posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Myanmar\'s Yangon and India\'s Delhi occupied the first and third places with AQIs of 196 and 191 respectively.</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. 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, '2023-02-28 03:52:41', '2023-02-28 03:52:41'),
(5479, 5479, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">World Cup champion Lionel Messi edged Kylian Mbappé again, this time to take FIFA’s best men’s player award on Monday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The best women’s player was Spain’s Alexia Putellas for a second straight year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After steering Argentina to World Cup glory in an epic final against Mbappé’s France last year in Qatar, Messi won the best player vote against Mbappé and Karim Benzema and secured the FIFA prize for the seventh time in 14 years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He won the World Cup at his record-equaling fifth attempt.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It was a crazy year for me,” Messi said. “I could fulfil my (World Cup) dream after fighting for it for so long. And in the end it happened, and it was the most beautiful thing of my career. It’s the dream of every player, but very few can achieve it, so I’m thankful to God for being able to do it.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The three players made the final shortlist in voting by a global panel of national team captains and coaches, selected journalists in each of FIFA’s 211 member countries, plus fans online.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 35-year-old Messi also beat Mbappé — who was seeking his first best player award from FIFA — to the Golden Ball trophy awarded by FIFA for the World Cup’s best player. Mbappé earned the Golden Boot as top scorer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the FIFA Awards vote, Messi had 52 points, Mbappé 44, and Benzema 34.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mbappé, 11 years younger than Messi at 24 and considered Messi’s heir apparent on the world stage, made the three-man shortlist for the first time. He was fourth in voting for the 2018 award, the year he led France to the World Cup title.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Real Madrid star Benzema won the more prestigious Ballon d’Or in October ahead of the World Cup. The France forward missed the tournament because of injury. Messi was not on the long list of Ballon d’Or candidates announced in August.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Robert Lewandowski won the FIFA award the last two years, and Cristiano Ronaldo was left off the 14-player shortlist for the award this year for the first time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Messi broke a record he shared with Ronaldo by making the men’s world best XI for the 16th time. The team included Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Portugal’s João Cancelo, Dutchman Virgil van Dijk, Belgium’s Kevin de Bruyne, Croatia’s Luka Modric, Brazil’s Casemiro, Norway’s Erling Haaland and France’s Mbappé and Benzema.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier Monday, French prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation into a rape accusation against Hakimi, a defender at Paris Saint-Germain.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Messi voted for former Barcelona teammate Neymar as his choice for best player. Only Brazil captain Thiago Silva also voted on Neymar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia’s coach and captain were not banned from voting in the award.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Putellas won her award from Alex Morgan of the United States and Beth Mead, who led England to the European Championship title in 2022.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Barcelona playmaker Putellas made the top three again despite being injured days before the Euro and missing the tournament. She scored 34 goals across all competitions last season.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mead was the joint top scorer at the Euro, and was named the tournament’s best player. She sustained a serious knee injury in November while playing for Arsenal and could miss the Women’s World Cup in July in Australia and New Zealand.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Morgan, who was second in the 2019 vote to teammate Megan Rapinoe, was player of the tournament when the U.S. won the CONCACAF W Championship last year. She was also the joint top scorer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was voted FIFA men’s coach of the year after leading his team to the World Cup title in December.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The women’s coach award went to Sarina Wiegman, who led the England to the title at the Women’s European Championship.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Scaloni took over Argentina at the end of 2018 on an interim basis, and was widely criticized for lacking experience as he had never coached a professional team. Earlier Monday, his contract as the national team coach was extended to the end of the 2026 World Cup.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The other coaches on the shortlist were Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The women’s goalkeeper award was given to Euro winner Mary Earps of England, and the best men’s goalkeeper was Argentina’s World Cup winner Emiliano Martínez.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The event in Paris was marked by tributes to Pelé, who died late last year at age 82 following a battle with colon cancer. Pelé’s wife, Marcia Aoki, received a trophy honoring the soccer great from the hands of former Brazil striker Ronaldo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I have three words to say to God, who gave us Edson; to Edson, who gave us Pelé; and to the world, who received them so well: Grateful, grateful and grateful,” she said. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-28 04:20:33', '2023-02-28 04:20:33'),
(5480, 5480, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday warned that the situation around the frontline hotspot of Bakhmut was getting increasingly difficult.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The situation is getting more and more complicated,\" Zelensky said in his evening address.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The enemy is constantly destroying everything that can be used to protect our positions,\" he said, calling Ukrainian soldiers fighting for Bakhmut \"real heroes.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fierce fighting for the industrial city of Bakhmut in the eastern region of Donetsk has been the longest-running battle of Russia\'s year-long invasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zelensky has said Ukrainians will fight for Bakhmut for as long as they can.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Taking Bakhmut would be a major win for Moscow but analysts say its capture would be mainly symbolic as the salt-mining town holds little strategic value.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking in remarks broadcast on Russian television on Monday, Denis Pushilin, the leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People\'s Republic, said that all roads leading into Bakhmut were \"under fire control\" of the pro-Moscow forces. 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, '2023-02-28 05:21:31', '2023-02-28 05:21:31'),
(5481, 5481, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh has the capacity to patrol land and maritime borders and has improved cargo and passenger airport screening with updated equipment, procedures, and increased staff, a latest report released today by the US says.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Airline security is not as strong, Bangladesh has initiated e-passports for all and shares information with INTERPOL, but has no dedicated terrorist watchlist, according to the report.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A US “Alert List” project is under government consideration.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh does not systematically use API/PNR passenger information to screen travelers before flights arrive, the report claimed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2019, the ATT sentenced to death seven terrorists for their roles in the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Department of State issued the 2021 Country Reports on Terrorism (CRT), which provide a detailed look at the counterterrorism environment in that year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Each year, the CRT provides insight on important issues in the fight against terrorism and helps the United States make informed decisions about policies, programs, and resource allocations to build counterterrorism capacity and resilience around the globe. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-28 05:37:09', '2023-02-28 05:37:09'),
(5482, 5482, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">World Cup winner Lionel Scaloni will remain as coach of Argentina to the end of the 2026 World Cup.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Argentine Football Association and Scaloni confirmed the deal on Monday. They didn’t elaborate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 44-year-old Scaloni and AFA president Claudio Tapia met in Paris before the FIFA awards late Monday, when Scaloni was named men’s world coach of the year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“When trust is high, communication is clear and effective,” Tapia said on Twitter in a post with himself and Scaloni smiling and drinking tea in the French capital. “We continue to trust our project of national teams to Lionel Scaloni, the World Cup winning coach.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Scaloni’s contract expired after Argentina won the World Cup in Qatar on Dec. 18. Long negotiations followed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Scaloni took over at the end of 2018 as a temporary measure, and received waves of criticism for his lack of experience. He had never coached a professional team. One year later, the job was his permanently.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He guided Argentina to the 2021 Copa America title, the team’s first in 28 years. Captain Lionel Messi and other key players repeatedly said they wanted Scaloni to remain on the job for the 2026 World Cup.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the awards in Paris, Scaloni said, “The most beautiful thing is making your country happy, your people happy.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Argentina’s first match since Qatar — and another celebration of the world champion — will be a March 23 friendly against Panama at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-28 06:05:58', '2023-02-28 06:05:58'),
(5483, 5483, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ukraine\'s head of military intelligence has brushed aside claims that China is considering furnishing arms to Russia, telling US media that he saw no \"signs that such things are even being discussed\".</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Senior US officials have said as recently as Sunday that they were \"confident\" China was considering providing lethal equipment to Moscow, with a diplomatic pressure campaign underway to discourage it from doing so.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But when asked about the possibility in a lengthy interview with Voice of America published on Monday, Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said: \"I do not share this opinion.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"As of now, I do not think that China will agree to the transfer of weapons to Russia,\" he said. \"I do not see any signs that such things are even being discussed.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier this month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken aired Washington\'s concerns about potential arms shipments in a tense meeting with his Chinese counterpart, and the director of the CIA said in an interview on Sunday that he believed Beijing was still weighing the possibility.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, media reports in multiple American outlets have cited unidentified US officials as saying China was deciding whether to provide drones and certain munitions to Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked specifically about the US assessment, Budanov said: \"I am the head of intelligence and I rely, with all due respect, not on the opinions of individual people, but only on facts. I do not see such facts.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As to where Russia could still procure arms, Budanov said that apart from unconfirmed reports of shipments from North Korea, \"almost the only country that actually transfers more or less serious weapons is Iran\". 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, '2023-02-28 06:21:37', '2023-02-28 06:21:37'),
(5484, 5484, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said that all roads in the haor region will be elevated for unobstructed water flow, aquaculture and maintaining smooth waterways.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I have already given directives that in every haor, beel and wetland area each and every road will be elevated,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said this while speaking at a programme on the occasion of inaugurating Bir Muktijoddha Abdul Hamid Cantonment at Mithamoin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that all roads will be elevated so that the water flow during the rainy season will not be hindered, movement of fish and boats will not be obstructed, and the local communication system will not be hampered.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“… That way the communication system from the cantonment to Sylhet and Dhaka will be eased,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina said that she thinks the cantonment in Mithamoin will play a pivotal role in maintaining overall security in the haor area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Besides, our defence system in the north-eastern region will be strengthened,” she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that people of the haor areas always struggle during natural disasters for survival. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said that valiant Freedom fighter President Abdul Hamid has been elected repeatedly from the area since 1970, and served the masses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Remaining by the people of this remote area and being the constant companion during their good and bad times, he worked tirelessly to change their fate,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She mentioned that when he became the president, he wished to establish a cantonment in the area which would contribute to overall development of the region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“As per his wish, we have set up this cantonment,” the PM said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that the president has always played his role – whatever the post, deputy leader, deputy speaker, speaker and the president – with utmost sincerity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“He has finished two tenures as the president. We have decided to name the cantonment after him,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said that the president has had a major role in the country’s independence and in rebuilding the country after the Liberation War. “He is a devoted soul and leads an honest life to serve people of the country. We are very happy to name this cantonment after him.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said that although Bangladesh believes in the global peace, unfortunately, the country’s advancement has been barred due to the coronavirus pandemic and worldwide recession following the Russia-Ukraine war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The world is suffering from economic recession due to that. The prices of essentials and transportation costs have gone up significantly. Price of each and every item is out of reach,” she observed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this connection he said that developed countries are also suffering the impact.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that to avoid any unwanted situation in Bangladesh, she has urged all not to leave even a single inch of land uncultivated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said that the government will move the economy forward so that the wave of recession does not severely impact the country. “We have to move with cautiousness, we have to maintain austerity and save our resources.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina said that the Awami League government has restructured the army as they have established 17 infantry divisions in Sylhet, 10 infantry divisions in Ramu and 7 infantry divisions in Barishal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that the government in the last four years has established 3 brigades and 58 small and large units under various formations. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the same time, she said, they have established 27 small and big units as ad hoc and reorganised 9 organisations. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last year, she said, they established Sheikh Russel Cantonment in Mawa-Jazira. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“At present, two new cantonments are in progress at Rajbari and Trishal,” she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina said that they are working hard to modernise the army. So far, the army has procured state-of-the-art aircraft, helicopters, Tiger MLRS, Shorad Missiles, 4th generation tanks, APCs, missiles and other war equipment, she mentioned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, advanced IT equipment and modern vehicles have been purchased, she said.  </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About the CMHs, the premier said that the hospitals have been equipped with modern medical equipment. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said they have organised advanced training and accommodation, and constructed mess and SM barrack for army personnel of all ranks. “We have also increased other facilities including salary and ration.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Considering the Bengali diet, she said, “We have arranged two meals of rice and fish-meat instead of bread.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also raised the flag, released balloons, inspected a parade and received salute. She planted a sapling there and signed the visitor’s book. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">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, '2023-02-28 07:32:41', '2023-02-28 09:02:14');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5485, 5485, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Manoj Bajpayee has said that it was Shah Rukh Khan, who first took him to a discotheque for the first time, adding that he was perhaps the poorest man there.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Manoj hails from a village in Bihar and rose to fame with Ram Gopal Varma\'s Satya in 1998. Prior to the success, he spent a long time in Delhi for his college and then theatre.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Reminded about the time SRK took him to a disco, Manoj told Currly Tales, \"That was a long time ago. A night club called Ghungroo was in Delhi aur maine chappal pehni thi uss samay. Kisi tarah mere liye jooton ka intezam kiya gaya (I wore slippers at the time and shoes were somehow arranged for me).\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added, “Then I went inside. That was the first time I saw that life. Got to know what a night club is. These people were dancing but I was in a corner, sipping on my wine.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This is not the first time that Manoj has talked about his first visit to a discotheque. Last year, he had told Galatta Plus, “Yes, Shah Rukh Khan and Benny and Rama, these were the people who took me. That was the first time I experienced a discotheque.” He also described the place as ”dark and dingy\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Manoj was recently seen in the films Silence... Can You Hear It? and Dial 100. He also featured as the main character in Raj &amp; DK\'s popular web show The Family Man. Two seasons of the show have premiered on Prime Video and fans await a third season.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Manoj is now all set for the release of his next, Gulmohar directed by Rahul V Chittella. Gulmohar also stars Sharmila Tagore, Suraj Sharma, Amol Palekar, Kaveri Seth and Simran. It will release on Disney+ Hotstar on March 3.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The film is about a multi-generation family – the Batras – who are sent on a dizzy ride as they deal with insecurities when they are to move out of their 34-year-old family home. The film is produced by Star Studios in association with Chalkboard Entertainment and Autonomous Works. 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, '2023-02-28 07:50:50', '2023-02-28 07:50:50'),
(5486, 5486, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The authorities at Chattogram University on Tuesday asked former and expelled students to leave the dormitories by March 15.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The decision was taken in an emergency meeting of the University\'s Board of Residence, Health and Discipline, said a notice issued by the university administration on Monday night.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The authorities also decided to conduct regular operations on the campus area to stop selling and consumption of drugs, said the notice.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Legal action will be taken if anyone, who is not a student or has no connection to the institution,is found on the campus after March 15, added the notice. 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, '2023-02-28 08:07:57', '2023-02-28 08:07:57'),
(5487, 5487, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The month of independence will begin tomorrow giving a heartbreaking reminder to the genocide that the Pakistani occupation forces carried out in the country from March to mid-December in 1971.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The month of March is very significant in the country\'s history as Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the country’s independence in the early hours of March 26 in 1971.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The month also made the nation proud for the historic 7th March speech of Bangabandhu, which has been recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as part of the world\'s documentary heritage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Five decades ago, the nation engaged in the war of independence in this month of March under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and earned a sovereign Bangladesh on December 16, 1971 after fighting against the Pakistani occupation forces for around nine months.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">March is depicted in the country\'s history as a month of grief as well as inspiration and dedication for the freedom of the country and the people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The struggle for independence started escalating from the beginning of March in 1971 when the then Pakistani dictator postponed the scheduled March 3 session of the National Assembly as part of their conspiracy against the peaceful and legitimate movement of Bangalee.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><br></span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Amid deteriorating political situation and increasing demand for freedom of the country from Pakistan\'s misrule, the first version of Bangladesh\'s national flag was hoisted on Dhaka University campus premises for the first time on March 2 by the Dhaka University Central Students\' Union (DUCSU).</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The movement against the conspiracy of Pakistani rulers took a dramatic turn on March 7, which eventually became a red-letter day in the history of the long arduous freedom struggle of Bangalee.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On March 7 in 1971, Bangabandhu - the architect of independent Bangladesh - delivered his epoch-making speech of independence at the Race Course Maidan, now Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"We had spilled bloods...we are ready to shed more bloods, the people of the country shall be freed, Insha Allah,\" Bangabandhu in unequivocal term said in his 18-minute extempore speech before a million freedom-loving people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He went on saying \"The struggle this time is for our emancipation, the struggle this time is for our independence\".&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangabandhu also made a fervent call to the roaring people from all walks of life to take preparations for armed struggle against the tyranny, exploitation, subjugation and deprivation by Pakistani military junta with whatever they possessed and transforming every house into a fortress.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangabandhu\'s tantalizing speech literally had a mesmerizing and sparkling effect on the entire population of this soil and they became united under his capable and farsighted leadership to bravely fight for liberating the motherland from the clutches of the Pakistani forces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When the people from all walks of life became united for establishing their democratic rights, Pakistani occupation forces carried out the defamed \'Operation Searchlight\' on sleeping Bangalee on the night of March 25.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As soon as the Pakistani occupation forces started genocide Bangabandhu declared independence of the motherland instructing the people to put up strong resistance and fight against them till the liberation is achieved.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the instruction of Bangabandhu, the brave nation had fought successfully the nine-month war and liberated Bangladesh on December 16 in 1971. 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, '2023-02-28 08:32:11', '2023-02-28 08:32:11'),
(5488, 5488, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Argentina’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship Santiago Andrés Cafiero today hoped that the economic, trade and business collaboration between his country and Bangladesh will get a boost following the reopening of the Argentine embassy in Dhaka.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He expressed the optimism while paying a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the latter’s official residence Ganabhaban this morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM’s speechwriter Md Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Argentina is happy to reopen its embassy in Dhaka,” the visiting foreign minister was quoted as saying while extending thanks to Sheikh Hasina for giving the opportunity to reopen the mission in such a short time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He hoped that economic, trade and business collaboration between the two countries will be enhanced, as well as friendship will be strengthened further with reopening the embassy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There is enough scope to enhance cooperation between our two countries,” Cafiero was quoted as saying.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Argentina first opened its embassy in Dhaka in 1974 but it was closed in 1978 by the military junta that ruled the South American country at the time. The Argentina embassy was reopened in Dhaka’s Banani area yesterday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh is very keen to enhance relations with Argentina.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There is huge scope to enhance trade and tourism between Bangladesh and Argentina,” she was quoted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Argentina can import garments and pharmaceutical items, jute and related products, and leather goods from Bangladesh, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh mainly imports edible oil, particularly soybean oil, animal and vegetable fats, seeds, fruits, grains, dairy products, eggs and natural honey.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We can also collaborate in the fields of sports, education and culture,” she said, seeking cooperation from Argentina for the development of Bangladesh football.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina said the whole world is going through turmoil caused by the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war, economic sanctions and counter-sanctions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Not only Bangladesh, but many developed countries are being impacted as prices of food items and inflation have gone up significantly around the world, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this context, she said that public suffering can be eased through enhancing cooperation and relations among friendly countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said Bangladesh has put emphasis on raising food production and setting up 100 special economic zones to generate employment, developing infrastructures and connectivity with neighbouring countries. Now Bangladesh is a marketing hub in South Asia, she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The visiting Argentine minister said the people of his country are also bearing the brunt of high inflation induced by the Russia-Ukraine war and the Covid-19 pandemic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking about climate change, he said relations among the member states of the global south forum can be strengthened to fight the impact.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership in fighting climate change.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Appreciating the development of Bangladesh, he said, “We are highly impressed with the socio-economic development of Bangladesh.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Noting that this is his first visit here, the Argentine foreign minister said he did not imagine that Bangladesh would be so beautiful.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin, Secretary (West) at the Foreign Ministry Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury and non-resident Ambassador of Argentina to Bangladesh Hugo Gobbi were present.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Monday, Argentine Foreign Minister Cafiero arrived in Dhaka to inaugurate his country’s new embassy here and deepen trade and cultural relations. Diplomatic operations, such as visas in order to travel, were handled by the Argentine embassy in India until now. 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, '2023-02-28 09:01:16', '2023-02-28 09:01:16'),
(5489, 5489, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin has congratulated President-elect of Bangladesh Mohammad Shahabuddin.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In a congratulatory message to Mohammad Shahabuddin recently, the Russian President said, \"Please accept my sincere congratulations on your election as the President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.\"</div><div><br></div><div>President Putin said the two countries have been maintaining traditionally friendly relations.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"I hope that your work during the presidential tenure will promote further development of constructive cooperation between Russia and Bangladesh in various fields,\" said the Russian President.</div><div><br></div><div>He wished President-elect Shahabuddin success, sound health and well-being.</div><div><br></div><div>The Russian Embassy in Dhaka shared the message with media on Tuesday. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-28 11:05:47', '2023-02-28 11:05:47'),
(5490, 5490, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has observed that Bangladesh\'s economy has been showing some signs of improvement.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In a report titled \'Review of Economic Situation in Bangladesh October - December 2022 (Q2 of FY23)\', MCCI today mentioned that Bangladesh\'s robust economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has been interrupted by the war in Russia-Ukraine, resultant supply-chain disruptions, global oil-and food-price spikes, slowdown in external demand, weak remittance inflow, rise in inflation, negative current account balance, depreciation of the Taka and a decline in foreign exchange reserves.</div><div><br></div><div>To overcome the pressure, the government took quick and decisive measures to address the economic fallout. The government also needs to take more actions to stable foreign exchange reserve, manage inflation, enhance revenue earnings, ensure proper electricity and gas supply for economic activities, and extend social safety net programs.</div><div><br></div><div>However, in the quarter under review (Q2 of FY23), the economy has been showing some signs of improvement. Export earnings have facilitated economic recovery. The export-oriented garment, leather, plastic, jute and domestic market-oriented steel, food-processing and transport sectors are running in full scale. The import payments and inward remittances, however, decreased, which has multiplier effects on other economic sectors.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign currency reserve is still somewhat in a satisfactory position but into a weaker trajectory. The overall inflation in August rose to 9.52 per cent, then gradually decreasing, reached 8.71 per cent in December 2022. The exchange rate has long been remained stable but depreciated notably in December 2022 in terms of US dollar. According to BSS reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-28 11:20:14', '2023-02-28 11:20:14'),
(5491, 5491, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina reiterated her appeal to the countrymen to vote for her party\'s election symbol \"Boat\" to continue the current government\'s endeavors to ensure the country\'s overall development.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"The next national election will be held in December next or January, 2024. I urge you to again vote for the \"Boat\" and bring Awami League to power and thus give another scope to serve you,\" she said while addressing as the chief guest a grand rally held at the Helipad Ground here.</div><div><br></div><div>The Prime Minister asked all to raise their hand in favour of \"Boat\" and thus for the development as the AL government has made a massive change by making Bangladesh a model of development on the world stage in the last 14 years.</div><div><br></div><div>In reply, the people who thronged in thousands at the venue to see and hear Sheikh Hasina, waved their hands in support of the \"Boat\".  </div><div><br></div><div>\"Bangladesh has turned around in the last 14 years and has achieved dignity by transforming into a developing nation. Bangladesh has appeared as the role model for the development. Bangladesh is advancing and will march ahead,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Prime Minister said whenever had the BNP-Jamaat clique assumed power, they brought untold sufferings for the countrymen and on the contrary, whenever Awami League was voted to power, the fate of the people changed, reports BSS.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, Mentioning that BNP was formed illegally by a military dictator who grabbed power violating the county\'s constitution, she said, \"They (BNP) can give nothing to the people rather can torture and loot them.\"</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-28 11:44:29', '2023-02-28 15:33:15'),
(5492, 5492, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A total of 82,383 students have got scholarships across the country in the Primary Scholarship Examination held in 2022.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Zakir Hossain announced the results on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Among the students, 33,000 got scholarships under talent pool while 49,383 under general grade.</div><div><br></div><div>Talent pool scholarships recipients will get Tk 300 per month while recipients under general grade will get Tk 225.</div><div><br></div><div>Recipients of both grades will get Tk 225 for buying books.</div><div><br></div><div>The result aspirants will be able to see the results on the websites-www.dpe.gov.bd and www.mopme.gov.bd.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from this, the results will be available at the offices of divisional deputy director, district primary education officer and upazila or thana education officer. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-28 13:04:13', '2023-02-28 13:04:13'),
(5493, 5493, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The government has raised the power price once again by 5 percent at the retail level, according to media reports.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Power Division of the Ministry of Power Energy and Mineral Resources issued a gazette notification in this regard on Tuesday.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-28 14:47:39', '2023-02-28 14:47:39'),
(5494, 5494, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dancing South Korean diplomats have won the hearts of millions of Indians with their viral video performance of Oscar-nominated song “Naatu Naatu,” reinforcing Seoul’s soft power diplomacy and even earning a nod of approval from India’s leader.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In a video clip posted to Twitter on Sunday, staff from South Korea’s embassy in India’s capital New Delhi – many wearing traditional clothing from both countries – dance to the popular song from Telugu-language movie “RRR.”</div><div><br></div><div>The 53-second clip, which features South Korean Ambassador Chang Jae-bok, has gone viral on social media, garnering more than 4 million views on Twitter as of Tuesday – and much praise in India.</div><div><br></div><div>“Lively and adorable team effort,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>“Love you for this!” author Kulpreet Yadav wrote, while another fan of the clip, Bhargav Mitra, called it “an excellent initiative.”</div><div><br></div><div>“A fitting tribute to bilateral relations. How well can a song &amp; dance sequence unite,” he wrote on Twitter.</div><div><br></div><div>India’s positive response to the video reflects the growing popularity of South Korean culture in the country, where millions have embraced K-pop and K-dramas in recent years.</div><div><br></div><div>Indians are also making inroads in South Korea’s entertainment industry. Singer Shreya Lenka became India’s first homegrown K-pop star when she joined girl group Blackswan last year, while Indian actor Anupam Tripathy starred in award-winning South Korean Netflix show, “Squid Game.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Naatu Naatu,” which translates to “dance dance,” is composed by M.M. Keeravani, with lyrics from Chandrabose.</div><div><br></div><div>Praised for its buoyant choreography and catchy tune, “Naatu Naatu” won India’s first ever Golden Globe in the best original song category last month and is favorite to win best original song at the 95th Academy Awards on March 12.</div><div><br></div><div>The original song features Telugu superstars Ram Charan and N. T. Rama Rao Jr., known as Jr NTR, who dance in perfect synchronization to the lyrics. The video has more than 122 million views on YouTube.</div><div><br></div><div>The Indian film industry produces tens of thousands of movies every year in multiple languages, and “RRR,” which stands for Rise Roar Revolt, is the country’s fourth-highest grossing picture, according to IMDb, earning nearly $155 million worldwide.</div><div><br></div><div>It is set during India’s struggle for independence from British colonial rule and became Netflix’s most watched non-English movie last June. - CNN</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-28 14:54:59', '2023-02-28 14:54:59'),
(5495, 5495, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A student who didn’t appear in the Primary Scholarship Examination held in 2022 got scholarship under the general grade in Kurigram.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Sajeeb Ali is a student of Char Gorok Mondol Govt Primary School in Phulbari upazila.</div><div><br></div><div>Upazila education office sources said the student filled form for appearing the exam but was absent.</div><div><br></div><div>His name was found on the list general scholarship recipients’ list after the results were published on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>This year, 44 and 37 students received scholarships under the talent pool and general grade respectively in the upazila.</div><div><br></div><div>The student, along with two others, did not sit for the examination, said Shafiqul Alam, the acting headmaster of Char Gorok Mondol Govt Primary School.</div><div><br></div><div>Ashrafuzzaman,&nbsp; assistant upazila education officer, said he’s aware of the matter.</div><div><br></div><div>“The headmaster of his school confirmed that he didn’t appear in the test. We will investigate how this happened,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Shahidul Islam, district primary education officer, said they will investigate the matter if his name is not found in the list sent by the upazila office. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-28 15:20:22', '2023-02-28 15:20:22'),
(5496, 5496, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The three-match ODI series between Bangladesh and England is set to begin on Wednesday in Mirpur. Ahead of the first match, Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha expressed confidence in the team\'s ability to perform well despite the fast bowling threat posed by the visitors.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh enters this series with the happy memory of beating India at home in December 2020. Hathurusingha said the teams for the first two ODIs would be similar to the one that beat India.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bangladesh coach believes that the pace attack of the English side will be the biggest challenge for the hosts.</div><div><br></div><div>“They have one of the best pace attacks in the world. They have five fast bowlers and three spinners on this tour. The challenge will be to play their fast bowlers in this series,” Hathurusingha said.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh is expected to field a formidable team in this series, whereas England will be without some of their key batters who are currently playing a Test series in New Zealand. Nevertheless, Hathurusingha acknowledged that despite being understaffed, England remains a formidable opponent given their impressive performances in the past decade.</div><div><br></div><div>“They are the world champions. They have one team playing somewhere else; they have another team here. They have a mind-blowing depth of talent,” Hathurusingha added.</div><div><br></div><div>Ahead of this ODI series, which is a part of the World Cup Super League, Bangladesh\'s coach is confident about the performance of Mustafizur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>“When he is in form, he is one of the world’s best bowlers. We won the India series when he started,” he said. “He is coming back to that form now. He bowled really well in the recent India series too. He always bowls in the crucial moments, so we will try to use him as a strike bowler.”</div><div><br></div><div>Moeen Ali, the England allrounder, also said that Mustafizur may play an important role for the Tigers.</div><div><br></div><div>“We know he is a very good bowler and he is a threat,” Moeen said. “We also know Bangladesh actually has a very good bowling attack, especially in these conditions.”</div><div><br></div><div>Spinners are likely to play a significant role in this series. In addition to Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Bangladesh has Taijul Islam in their arsenal. The combined attack of these three spinners could pose a significant challenge to the English batters. In contrast, England has Moeen, Adil Rashid, and young Rehan Ahemd. They can be the biggest threat to the Tigers on home soil.</div><div><br></div><div>“When you come to these places, you expect good spinners bowling, good spin bowling,” Moeen said. “They are very good, we know how well they\'ve done over the years here, and Bangladesh as a team has done really well. But it\'s not just their spinners; their seamers are also very good.”</div><div><br></div><div>Before this series, Bangladesh played a total of 21 ODIs against England and won only four of them, with the last win coming more than six years ago.</div><div><br></div><div>The first two ODIs are scheduled to take place on March 1st and 3rd in Dhaka, while the third ODI will be held in Chattogram on March 6th. All matches will commence at 12 pm each day. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-28 15:27:35', '2023-02-28 15:27:35'),
(5497, 5497, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bola Tinubu from Nigeria\'s ruling party has taken a strong lead as results are declared from Saturday\'s presidential election, amid opposition protests.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Mr Tinubu, 70, a wealthy businessman and former governor of Lagos state, has won 36% of the vote.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has 29%, while third-party candidate Peter Obi has 25%.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The parties of both Mr Abubakar and Mr Obi have called for the election to be cancelled and rerun.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They alleged that the inability of the electoral commission to upload results to its website showed that the results had been manipulated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many voters reported problems with uploading results through the new electronic voting system, which was intended to speed up the process.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There were also widespread delays, with many polling stations opening several hours late, and some attacked by armed men. Voting was held overnight, and on Sunday in some areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The electoral commission says the opposition parties should take their complaints to court and is pressing ahead with the release of results.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A candidate needs to have the most votes nationwide and at least a quarter of ballots cast in 25 of the 36 states, plus Abuja, to be declared the winner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If those thresholds are not reached then there will be a run-off round between the top two candidates.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Muhammadu Buhari is stepping down after serving two terms, marked by economic stagnation and growing insecurity around the country - from an Islamist insurgency in the north-east, a nationwide crisis of kidnapping for ransom and separatist attacks in the south-east.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The election had been seen as a referendum on his time in office but Mr Tinubu seems to have managed to mobilise his supporters to vote.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on Tuesday, a group of angry protesters denounced the electoral commission, known as Inec, outside the national collation centre in the capital, Abuja.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Everything happening there is all lies, all lies, lies... they are cooking up results,\" one man told the BBC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another group held a counter-protest, urging the electoral commission to \"complete your job\" and calling on \"Nigerians to stand up for democracy\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bola Tinubu from Nigeria\'s ruling party has taken a strong lead as results are declared from Saturday\'s presidential election, amid opposition protests.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Tinubu, 70, a wealthy businessman and former governor of Lagos state, has won 36% of the vote.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has 29%, while third-party candidate Peter Obi has 25%.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The parties of both Mr Abubakar and Mr Obi have called for the election to be cancelled and rerun.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They alleged that the inability of the electoral commission to upload results to its website showed that the results had been manipulated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many voters reported problems with uploading results through the new electronic voting system, which was intended to speed up the process.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There were also widespread delays, with many polling stations opening several hours late, and some attacked by armed men. Voting was held overnight, and on Sunday in some areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The electoral commission says the opposition parties should take their complaints to court and is pressing ahead with the release of results.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A candidate needs to have the most votes nationwide and at least a quarter of ballots cast in 25 of the 36 states, plus Abuja, to be declared the winner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If those thresholds are not reached then there will be a run-off round between the top two candidates.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Muhammadu Buhari is stepping down after serving two terms, marked by economic stagnation and growing insecurity around the country - from an Islamist insurgency in the north-east, a nationwide crisis of kidnapping for ransom and separatist attacks in the south-east.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The election had been seen as a referendum on his time in office but Mr Tinubu seems to have managed to mobilise his supporters to vote.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on Tuesday, a group of angry protesters denounced the electoral commission, known as Inec, outside the national collation centre in the capital, Abuja.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Everything happening there is all lies, all lies, lies... they are cooking up results,\" one man told the BBC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another group held a counter-protest, urging the electoral commission to \"complete your job\" and calling on \"Nigerians to stand up for democracy\". 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, '2023-03-01 02:37:52', '2023-03-01 02:37:52'),
(5498, 5498, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Two trains have collided in northern Greece with the loss of at least 26 lives and dozens of people injured, emergency services say.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rescuers have been working to save passengers and extinguish a fire caused by the crash near the city of Larissa on Tuesday evening.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The incident involved a passenger train and a freight train.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Footage published on local news sites shows fierce flames and thick plumes of smoke rising from derailed carriages.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fire brigade said 17 vehicles were at the scene trying to put out the flames.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is not yet known what caused the collision.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The passenger train was travelling between Thessaloniki and Larissa.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There was panic in the carriage, people were screaming,\" an unnamed young man evacuated from the scene was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It was like an earthquake,\" another passenger named Angelos Tsiamouras told local media.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It was a very powerful collision,\" the regional governor of the Thessaly region, Kostas Agorastos, told state-run television in quotes cited by AP news agency. \"This is a terrible night... It\'s hard to describe the scene.\" 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, '2023-03-01 02:50:02', '2023-03-01 02:50:02'),
(5499, 5499, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">FBI Director Christopher Wray has said that the bureau believes Covid-19 \"most likely\" originated in a \"Chinese government-controlled lab\".</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The FBI has for quite some time now assessed that the origins of the pandemic are most likely a potential lab incident,\" he told Fox News.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is the first public confirmation of the FBI\'s classified judgement of how the pandemic virus emerged.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China has denied a lab leak in Wuhan, calling the allegation defamatory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Wray\'s comments come a day after the US ambassador to China called for the country to \"be more honest\" about Covid\'s origins.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his interview on Tuesday, Mr Wray said China \"has been doing its best to try to thwart and obfuscate\" efforts to identify the source of the global pandemic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"And that\'s unfortunate for everybody,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some studies suggest the virus made the leap from animals to humans in Wuhan, China, possibly at the city\'s seafood and wildlife market.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The market is a 40-minute drive from a world-leading virus laboratory, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which conducted research into coronaviruses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other US government agencies have drawn differing conclusions to the FBI\'s, with varying degrees of confidence in their findings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US media reported on Sunday that the US energy department had assessed with \"low confidence\" that Covid leaked from a lab. The agency had formerly said it was undecided on how the virus began.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Monday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that US President Joe Biden supports \"a whole-of-government effort\" to discover how Covid began.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But he added that US still lacks a clear consensus as to what happened.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'re just not there yet,\" he said. \"If we have something that is ready to be briefed to the American people and the Congress, we will do that.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An unclassified report released by the US top spy official in October 2021 said that four US intelligence agencies had assessed with \"low confidence\" that it had originated with an infected animal or a related virus.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For months, at the height of the pandemic, the lab leak hypothesis was widely dismissed as a fringe conspiracy theory. Top health officials publicly rejected the idea that the coronavirus could have been created in a lab before escaping.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A World Health Organization (WHO) investigation called the lab leak theory \"extremely unlikely\", but after deep criticism of that investigation, the agency\'s director-general called for a new inquiry, saying: \"All hypotheses remain open and require further study.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Covid-19 first emerged in late 2019 and has since led to the deaths of nearly seven million people. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-01 02:55:51', '2023-03-01 02:55:51');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5500, 5500, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Drones that the Kremlin said were launched by Ukraine flew deep inside Russian territory, including one that got within 100 kilometers (60 miles) of Moscow, signaling breaches in Russian defenses as President Vladimir Putin ordered stepped-up protection at the border.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officials said the drones caused no injuries and did not inflict any significant damage, but the attacks on Monday night and Tuesday morning raised questions about Russian defense capabilities more than a year after the country\'s full-scale invasion of its neighbor.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukrainian officials did not immediately take responsibility, but they similarly have avoided directly acknowledging responsibility for past strikes and sabotage while emphasizing Ukraine’s right to hit any target in Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although Putin did not refer to any specific attacks in a speech in the Russian capital, his comments came hours after the drones targeted several areas in southern and western Russia. Authorities closed the airspace over St. Petersburg in response to what some reports said was a drone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Also Tuesday, several Russian television stations aired a missile attack warning that officials blamed on a hacking attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The drone attacks targeted regions inside Russia along the border with Ukraine and deeper into the country, according to local Russian authorities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A drone fell near the village of Gubastovo, less than 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Moscow, Andrei Vorobyov, governor of the region surrounding the Russian capital, said in an online statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The drone did not cause any damage, Vorobyov said, but it likely targeted “a civilian infrastructure object.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pictures of the drone showed it was a small Ukrainian-made model with a reported range of up to 800 kilometers (nearly 500 miles) but no capacity to carry a large load of explosives.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian forces early Tuesday shot down another Ukrainian drone over the Bryansk region, local Gov. Aleksandr Bogomaz said in a Telegram post.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Three drones also targeted Russia’s Belgorod region on Monday night, with one flying through an apartment window in the capital, local authorities reported. Regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said the drones caused minor damage to buildings and cars.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Russian Defense Ministry said Ukraine used drones to attack facilities in the Krasnodar region and neighboring Adygea. It said the drones were brought down by electronic warfare assets, adding that one of them crashed into a field and another diverted from its flight path and missed a facility it was supposed to attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia\'s state RIA Novosti news agency reported a fire at the oil facility, and some other Russian reports said that two drones exploded nearby.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While Ukrainian drone strikes on the Russian border regions of Bryansk and Belgorod have become a regular occurrence, other strikes reflected a more ambitious effort.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some Russian commentators described the drone attacks as an attempt by Ukraine to showcase its capability to strike deep behind the lines, foment tensions in Russia and rally the Ukrainian public. Some Russian war bloggers described the raids as a possible rehearsal for a bigger, more ambitious attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Andrei Medvedev, a commentator with Russian state television who serves as a deputy speaker of Moscow’s city legislature and runs a popular blog about the war, warned that the drone strikes could be a precursor to wider attacks within Russia that could accompany Ukraine’s attempt to launch a counteroffensive.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The strikes of exploding drones on targets behind our lines will be part of that offensive,” Medvedev said, adding that Ukraine could try to extend the range of its drones.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia hawks urged strong retaliation. Igor Korotchenko, a retired Russian army colonel turned military commentator, called for a punishing strike on the Ukrainian presidential office in Kyiv.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another retired military officer, Viktor Alksnis, noted that the drone attacks marked the expansion of the conflict and criticized Putin for failing to deliver a strong response.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Also on Tuesday, authorities reported that airspace around St. Petersburg, Russia\'s second-largest city, was temporarily closed, halting all departures and arrivals at the main airport, Pulkovo. Officials did not give a reason for the move, but some Russian reports claimed that it was triggered by an unidentified drone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Russian Defense Ministry said it was conducting air defense drills in western Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last year, Russian authorities repeatedly reported shooting down Ukrainian drones over annexed Crimea. In December, the Russian military said Ukraine used drones to hit two bases for long-range bombers deep inside Russian territory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking at Russia’s main security agency, the FSB, Putin urged the service to tighten security on the Ukraine border.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In another development that fueled tensions across Russia on Tuesday, an air raid alarm interrupted the programming of several TV channels and radio stations in several regions. Russia’s Emergency Ministry said in an online statement that the announcement was a hoax “resulting from a hacking of the servers of radio stations and TV channels in some regions of the country.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press appeared to show a Russian warplane in Belarus that Belarusian guerrillas claimed to have targeted as largely intact.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tuesday’s high-resolution images from Planet Labs PBC and Maxar Technologies showed the Russian A-50 early warning and control aircraft after what Belarusian opposition activists described as an attack on the Machulishchy air base Sunday outside the Belarusian capital of Minsk.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, a discoloration could be seen on the aircraft\'s distinctive, circular rotodome above its fuselage that could be damage. That discoloration wasn\'t seen in earlier images of the aircraft at the air base. The Maxar image also showed what appeared to be vehicles near the airplane as well.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Belarusian activists supporting Ukraine alleged that the aircraft was seriously damaged. Russian and Belarusian officials did not comment on the claims.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Ukraine, four people were killed and five others wounded Tuesday by renewed Russian shelling of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said in a Telegram.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A 68-year-old man was also killed as Russian forces shelled Kupiansk, a town in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fiercest fighting continued to be in eastern areas of Ukraine, where Russia wants control over all four of the provinces it illegally annexed in September.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukrainian officials said Russian forces have deployed additional troops and equipment, including the latest T-90 battle tanks, in those areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a video address, Ukraine\'s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked U.S. industrialists for supporting Ukraine and voiced hope for their support in rebuilding the country after the war. Zelenskyy noted that the country faces a “colossal task” to restore hundreds of thousands of damaged sites, including “whole cities, industries, productions.\" 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, '2023-03-01 03:54:53', '2023-03-01 03:54:53'),
(5501, 5501, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The government’s top policy makers on power have been briefed about the outcome of meeting the state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board has recently held with a visiting team of Adani Group to discuss the coal pricing issue under its power purchase deal with the Indian conglomerate.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to official sources on Tuesday, the officials of the BPDB briefed Prime Minister\'s Energy Advisor Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and other top policymakers about the outcomes of the meeting with Adani.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“BPDB chairman Mahbubur Rahman and some top officials went to the office of the advisor at the PMO in the morning and stayed there until 4 pm on Tuesday”, a source said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, none of the officials of the BPDB was willing to share any detail on the issue.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tawfiq-e-Elahi also could not be reached over mobile phone for his comment.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A 5-member team from the Adani Group came to Dhaka on Thursday last and held a meeting with the BPDB top officials to resolve the issues on \"coal pricing mechanism of the power purchase agreement (PPA)”.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A chief executive and a chief procurement officer of Adani were among the 5-member delegation while one official from Adani\'s Dhaka office also joined the meeting that lasted more than an hour, said the source without mentioning their names.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A number of BPDB officials including the member (company affairs) and the member (finance) were present at the meeting, it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The issues discussed at the meeting were kept secret citing sensitivity on both sides.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh sources said both the sides heard each other and presented their respective points.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"But both sides expressed interest to continue discussion,” said the sources, adding that Adani\'s representative informed them that they would communicate BPDB\'s stance on the coal pricing mechanism of the PPA to their top management and they will sit in more follow-up meetings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Adani officials are convinced with the BPDB\'s points on the issue,” said the official preferring anonymity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'re hopeful that Adani will finally accept Bangladesh\'s request for revising the PPA to set a new coal pricing mechanism\", he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Following the meeting, the Adani team also met the BPDB chairman and Power Secretary Habibur Rahman separately.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BPDB officials said now the top policymakers of the government will take the final decision on the matter of \"amending/adjusting coal pricing mechanism of the PPA\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also said that they are hopeful of receiving electricity from Adani\'s 1600 MW Godda Coal-fired Power plant in Jharkhand state from anytime in March.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Bangladesh government has sought a revision to the power purchase agreement (PPA) it had signed with Adani Power Ltd for importing electricity from its thermal power plant in Jharkhand, India in 2017.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BPDB sent a letter to the Adani Group following a request it received in relation to opening LCs (in India) to import the coal that will be used to fire the 1,600 MW plant in Jharkhand,” a highly-placed official of BPDB told UNB, in return for anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since practically all the power generated by the plant located in the Godda district of Jharkhand state will be exported to Bangladesh for 25 years, Adani Power requires a demand note from BPDB that it can present to Indian authorities before opening LCs against the coal import.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The cost incurred to import the coal, including transport from port to plant, will ultimately be borne by Bangladesh, with the price factored into the PPA\'s tariff structure.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Adani Power recently sent a request for BPDB to issue the demand note, where the coal price is quoted at $400 per metric ton (MT) - far above what BPDB officials believe it should be given the present state of the international market.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“In our view, the coal price they have quoted ($400/MT) is excessive - it should be less than $250/MT, which is what we are paying for the imported coal at our other thermal power plants,\" the official said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BPDB official referred to the coal procurement of Rampal Power Plant where the supplier Bashundhara Group won the contract to supply coal at $232.33 per ton to reach the product to the jetty.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The same sources also said Bangladesh’s stance on the issue was communicated to Adani Power officials during the visit of a delegation led by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid to the site of the power plant, that took place in the first week of January.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The subsequent letter counts as BPDB’s formal request for the PPA to be reviewed and tariff structure to be adjusted before it can start importing the electricity, officials said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A number of BPDB officials told UNB it was the absence of a provision for discounts on the purchase of coal in the PPA signed with Adani Power,that allowed the Indian firm to quote such a steep bill for the coal. 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, '2023-03-01 04:11:04', '2023-03-01 04:11:04'),
(5502, 5502, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Road Transport and Bridges minister and General Secretary of Awami League Obaidul Quader is going to Singapore for regular health checkup.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He was scheduled to leave Dhaka around 8:30 am today , reads a press release of the ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He will return to the country on March 3, according to Sheikh Walid Foyez, information officer of the ministry. 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, '2023-03-01 04:29:54', '2023-03-01 04:29:54'),
(5503, 5503, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka has once again topped the list of cities around the world with the worst air quality this morning (March 1, 2023).</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 198 at 10 am today, Dhaka ranked first among cities with the most polluted air. The air was classified as ‘unhealthy’.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China’s Wuhan and Nepal’s Kathmandu occupied the second and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 194 and 191.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered ‘unhealthy’ while 201–300 is ‘‘very unhealthy’, and 301–400 is \'hazardous\', posing severe health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-01 05:35:35', '2023-03-01 05:35:35'),
(5504, 5504, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Biden administration on Tuesday pledged to support the independence of the five Central Asian nations, in a not-so-subtle warning to the former Soviet states that Russia’s value as a partner has been badly compromised by its year-old war against Ukraine.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Kazakhstan for meetings with top Central Asian diplomats, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said no country, particularly those that have traditionally been in Moscow’s orbit, can afford to ignore the threats posed by Russian aggression to not only their territory but to the international rules-based order and the global economy. In all of his discussions, Blinken stressed the importance of respect for “sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Central Asian states have hewed to a studied position of neutrality on Ukraine, neither supporting Russia’s invasion nor U.S. and Western condemnations of the war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Ever since being the first nation to recognize Kazakhstan in December of 1991, the United States has been firmly committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Kazakhstan and countries across the region,” Blinken said after meeting in Astana with the foreign ministers of the so-called C5+1 group, made up of the U.S. and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“In our discussions today, I reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering support for Kazakhstan, like all nations, to freely determine its future, especially as we mark one year since Russia lost its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in a failed attempt to deny its people that very freedom,” Blinken told reporters at a news conference with Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tileuberdi thanked Blinken for the U.S. commitment to Kazakhstan’s freedom, but signaled that his country was unlikely to adopt either a pro-Russian or pro-Western position. Tileuberdi said Kazakhstan would continue to act in its own national interest given “the complex international situation.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Our country continues a balanced multilateral foreign policy,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tileuberdi noted that while Kazakhstan has very close and historic ties with both Russia and Ukraine, it would not allow its territory to be used for any Russian aggression or sanctions evasion. He added that even though Kazakhstan shares the world’s longest land border with Russia, it did not see a threat from Moscow.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Blinken also held separate meetings in Astana with the foreign ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Tajiistan and Turkmenistan. After visiting Kazakhstan, Blinken arrived in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, on his first trip to Central Asia as secretary of state.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">None of the five former Soviet republics in Central Asia, traditionally viewed as part of the Kremlin’s sphere of influence, publicly backed the Russian invasion. Kazakhstan welcomed tens of thousands of Russians fleeing from the military call-up last fall. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has spoken by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy three times since Russian troops rolled into Ukraine last February, calling for a diplomatic resolution of the conflict in accordance with the U.N. charter and international law.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, all five Central Asian republics, along with India, which Blinken will visit next after Uzbekistan, abstained in a vote to condemn the invasion as a violation of core international principles last week at the U.N. General Assembly, on the first anniversary of the war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“If we allow (those principles) to be violated with impunity, that does open the prospect that Russia itself will continue to consider further aggression against other countries, if it sets its sights on them, or other countries will learn the wrong lesson and would-be aggressors in every part of the world will say ’well, if Russia can get away with this, then we can too,’” Blinken said. “That’s a recipe for a world of conflict, a world of instability, a world that I don’t think any of us want to live in.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“So, that’s why it’s been so important for so many countries to stand up and say, no we don’t accept this,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The U.S. has for decades sought — without great success — to wean the former Soviet nations of the region from Moscow’s influence. Some, notably Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, assisted the U.S. logistically during its 20-year conflict in Afghanistan, but their ties to Russia remain deep and extend to the economic, military and diplomatic spheres as members of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a Moscow-dominated grouping of ex-Soviet nations. 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, '2023-03-01 05:41:26', '2023-03-01 05:41:26'),
(5505, 5505, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Medical services at all government and private hospitals in Khulna district have been hampered since this morning as doctors went on a 24-hour work abstention protesting the attack on a fellow physician.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The doctors at outpatient departments of government hospitals and at private hospitals went on work abstention from 6 am today and will continue till 6 am tomorrow.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On February 25, Dr Sheikh Nishat Abdullah, head of Burn and Plastic Surgery Department of Shaheed Sheikh Abu Naser Specialized Hospital was physically assaulted, allegedly by a patient’s relatives including Assistant Sub-inspector Naim posted in Satkhira district police, at a nursing home in Sheikhpara of Khulna city during surgery.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Protesting the attack, Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA), Khulna decided to observe 24-hour work abstention from this morning to Thursday morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr Sheikh Baharul Alam, president of BMA Khulna unit, announced the work abstention programme while speaking at a press briefing at Kazi Azharul Haque Auditorium on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While reading out the statement, Dr Baharul also demanded the arrest of the attackers. 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, '2023-03-01 06:04:57', '2023-03-01 06:04:57'),
(5506, 5506, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today inaugurated the National Insurance Day-2023 to enhance public awareness about the insurance.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>&nbsp;</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">She opened the day at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) here this morning to promote the idea of insurance across the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ministry of Finance and the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA) jointly organised the programme.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Day is being observed with the theme \'My life, my wealth, if insured, it will be safe (Amar Jibon, Amar Sampad, Bima Koriley, Thakbe Nirapod)\'.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday greeted all involved in the insurance industry, including insurance companies and the common people, on the National Insurance Day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the eve of the day, they issued separate messages greeting them, terming the theme of the day as time-befitting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division, Ministry of Finance, Sheikh Mohammad Salim Ullah, Chairman of the IDRA Jynul Bari and Bangladesh Insurance Association (BIA) President Sheikh Kabir Hossain, also spoke on the occasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A video documentary on the insurance sector was screened at the ceremony.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On March 1, 1960, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman started working for the then-Alpha Insurance Company. Therefore, the government has decided to celebrate March 1 as the National Insurance Day, every year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government had upgraded the \"National Insurance Day” from \'B\' category to \'A\' category last year commemorating the great architect of independence, greatest Bangalee of all times and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. 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, '2023-03-01 06:15:56', '2023-03-01 06:15:56'),
(5507, 5507, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal decided to bat first after winning the toss in the first of three-match one-day International series against England at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today. </b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tamim himself returned to the side, having missed the last ODI series against India, which Bangladesh won 2-1. He in fact is playing his first International match since August, 2022.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a bid to bolster their spin attack, Bangladesh also included left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, who replaced Nasum Ahmed in the side. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh indeed won seven successive ODI series at home, since their defeat to England by 2-1 in 2016.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">England which lost eight matches in last 10, including a 2-1 defeat to South Africa recently, handed ODI debut to Will Jacks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite their poor form, England hoped to bounce back in the series. They admitted that beating Bangladesh at home will be an uphill task but at the same time, their captain Jos Buttler said they would love to test themselves in tough condition ahead of ODI World Cup later this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Line Ups: </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal (capt), Liton Das,  Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan,  Mushfiqur Rahim (wk),  Mahmudullah Riyad, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed,  Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">England:  Jason Roy, Phil Salt, Dawid Malan, James Vince, Jos Buttler (capt, wk),  Will Jacks, Moeen Ali,  Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-01 06:59:57', '2023-03-01 07:00:10'),
(5508, 5508, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The new ticketing system for inter-city rail services has started today from the capital’s Kamalapur Railway Station.&nbsp;&nbsp;</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We introduced the new ticketing system for passengers to address complaints regarding ticketing,” Railway Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said this while handing over POS (point of sale) machines that will facilitate collecting fares through national identity (NID) card verification.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We took this initiative to stop black marketing, and to enable customers to purchase tickets without any complication,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This new system will also enable commuters to cancel their purchase without coming to the station. Commuters will be able to cancel a purchase online from now on.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The minister also said they will introduce more facilities gradually.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Passengers won’t be allowed to purchase tickets without registering,” he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The new ticketing system will be introduced in local trains gradually. Through this, legal steps will be taken against those who travel using another person’s ticket, he said, adding that the government can collect the fare directly.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A total of 100 POS machines were handed over today. 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, '2023-03-01 07:33:24', '2023-03-01 07:33:24'),
(5509, 5509, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>After teasing the new Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan song Billi Billi with monochrome pictures of himself, Salman Khan has finally released the teaser of the music video. The peppy Punjabi number has been sung by Sukhbir and shows Salman Khan and Pooja Hegde doing energetic Bhangra moves on the dance floor.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Billi Billi has been penned by Kumaar with additional lyrics by Vicky Sandhu, who has also composed the song. While Salman is seen in a black suit and shades, with an untied bowtie hanging around his neck, Pooja is seen in a red blouse and palazzos.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two days before, Salman had teased the song along with a video of two cats simply roaming around in a garden.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The first song of the film Naiyo Lagda was much talked about for Salman\'s dance steps which looked similar to lunges to the viewers. The romantic song also featured Pooja Hegde as they danced in the picturesque Ladakh. It was unveiled during the finale of Bigg Boss 16. It was composed by Himesh Reshammiya and sung by Kamaal Khan and Palak Muchhal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Directed by Farhad Samji, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan also stars Venkatesh Daggubati, Jagapathi Babu, Bhumika Chawla, Vijender Singh, Abhimanyu Singh, Raghav Juyal, Siddharth Nigam, Jassie Gill, Shehnaaz Gill, Palak Tiwari and Vinali Bhatnagar. The film is set to hit the theatres this Eid, April 22.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Salman recently shared the teaser of Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan in which he introduced his character as \'Bhaijaan\'. When Pooja Hegde asks him, \"Waise aapka naam kya hai (what is your name)?\" Salman replies, \"Mera koi naam nahi hai, lekin main Bhaijaan naam se jana jata hun (I don\'t have any name, but people know me as Bhaijaan)\" as shots of him fighting goons play in the background. 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, '2023-03-01 07:41:39', '2023-03-01 07:41:39'),
(5510, 5510, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today advised insurance companies to be cautious against “intentional damage” claims and defy any such inappropriate demands even in the face of political pressures by influential people.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Please don’t bow down to pressure from anyone,” she said while opening the National Insurance Day-2023 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier said influential people like cabinet ministers and she herself might lobby for payment of undue insurance claims in cases like fire incidents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I myself or our cabinet colleagues may lobby. (But) you must know first the real damage (caused by the fire). They can demand a huge amount. But pay the money after conducting a proper investigation,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier said she feared unscrupulous insurance claim investigators often might get a share of the amount paid by insurance companies against intentional property damage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina described her as a member of the insurance family recalling her father and Bangladesh founder Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s association with the then Alpha Insurance Company.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I don’t want the insurance companies to earn a bad reputation as I am a member of the family,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Finance Ministry and the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA) jointly organised the programme. The Day is being observed with the theme \'My life, My Wealth, If Insured, It Will Be Safe (Amar Jibon, Amar Sampad, Bima Koriley, Thakbe Nirapod)\'.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said the people involved in the insurance business will have to remain a little bit cautious about the matter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to frequent fire incidents in some readymade garments factories, she said investigations revealed that some such fire incidents were intentional to demand huge money from the insurance companies as compensation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Without mentioning the name of any factory she said that the owner of a factory gave Tk 20,000 to a female worker to set it on fire and the worker confessed it after being arrested.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said she have recently learnt that Sadharan Bima Corporation gave Tk 40 crore as compensation for damage of a flat in a fire despite the fire basically broke out at an adjacent flat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I have learnt about such an incident. I will make the matter to be investigated. How much assets were in his flat that Tk 40 crore have been paid as damages claim,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier said the flat which had caught the fire and was damaged badly didn\'t get any single penny as the flat has no insurance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Do you (insurance companies) have any answer in the matter,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She asked insurance companies to make grassroots people aware about the good things of insurance as the people in the upzila level are now economically capable in doing so.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division, Ministry of Finance, Sheikh Mohammad Salim Ullah, Chairman of the IDRA Jynul Bari and Bangladesh Insurance Association (BIA) President Sheikh Kabir Hossain, also spoke on the occasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A video documentary on the insurance sector was screened at the ceremony.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On March 1, 1960, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman started working at the then-Alpha Insurance Company. Therefore, the government has decided to celebrate March 1 as the National Insurance Day, every year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government had upgraded the \"National Insurance Day \'\' from \'B\' category to \'A\' category last year commemorating the great architect of independence, greatest Bangalee of all times and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. 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, '2023-03-01 08:04:25', '2023-03-01 08:04:25'),
(5511, 5511, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) in separate drives arrested 57 people on charges of selling and consuming drugs in the capital in 24 hours till 6 am on Wednesday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the drives, 45,743 contraband yaba pills, 559 grams of&nbsp; heroin, 98.675 grams of hemp and 78 bottles of contraband Phensidyle were recovered from the possessions of the arrestees.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As part of the DMP’s regular anti-drug drives, Detective Branch (DB) and teams from local police stations launched drives in various areas in the capital from 6 am Tuesday to 6 am on Wednesday and recovered the drugs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A total of 40 cases were registered with local police stations against the arrestees under the Narcotics Control Act. 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, '2023-03-01 08:26:15', '2023-03-01 08:26:15'),
(5512, 5512, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Intelligence agencies of the country are working to prevent the rise of militants and their operations, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said today.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Police are making all-out efforts to arrest fugitive militants. We have managed to arrest many militants and we’ll definitely be able to arrest the fugitives soon,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The home minister made the remarks while talking to reporters after attending a programme at Police Staff College on the occasion of Police Memorial Day-2023.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have not been able to eradicate militancy yet, but we have it under control. Our intelligence teams are working well, and that’s why militancy is now under control,” the minister said.</div><div><br></div><div>Replying to a question on bomb threat at the just-concluded Ekushey book fair, the home minister said, “We often receive such threats, and we take necessary action after thorough examination.”</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to another question from a reporter about possible chaos over the next national election, he said, “Political parties become active ahead of election. They get engaged in campaigns and other activities. We have been seeing it for long. Different political parties are active. I think there is no reason to heat up the election-centric political situation.”</div><div><br></div><div>Police Memorial Day is observed on March 1 in all metropolitan, range and district units of Bangladesh Police to commemorate police personnel who died while performing duties.</div><div><br></div><div>Replying to a query over the delay and harassment in providing compensation to families of deceased police personnel, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, Inspector General of Police (IGP), said a proposal has been given to the Home Ministry and decision in this regard will come soon. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-01 10:36:00', '2023-03-01 10:40:47'),
(5513, 5513, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Elon Musk will aim to quiet any doubts about Tesla\'s standing in the electric car race on Wednesday when the serial entrepreneur convenes an investor day.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Invoking his trademark flare, Musk promised to reveal \"Master Plan 3\" at the gathering, entailing \"the path to a fully sustainable energy future for Earth,\" he said on Twitter in early February.</div><div><br></div><div>The event, which will be held at Tesla\'s factory in Texas, will be webcast at 2100 GMT on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Since he is making promises for all citizens of the earth, and not only investors, there better be something pretty big,\" said Jessica Caldwell, an auto industry expert at Edmunds.com.</div><div><br></div><div>Caldwell would like to see more clues on how Tesla plans to boost production. Other key watch items include a concrete plan to release a more affordable electric vehicle (for around $25,000), as well as a new vehicle model after the last Tesla launch in 2020.</div><div><br></div><div>\"He has big ideas. but he has proven that you have to take what he says with a grain of salt,\" Caldwell said.</div><div><br></div><div>Musk \"has to be more specific, at least for the short term,\" Caldwell added.</div><div><br></div><div>Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush, wants Musk to spell out more of the plan for Tesla\'s pickup, the Cybertruck, for which production is due to begin this summer, and for the Semi trucks, which commenced deliveries in late 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>Like Caldwell, Ives is keen to hear about the path to a more moderately priced Tesla EV, as well as an update on Tesla\'s 4680 electric battery format.</div><div><br></div><div>Other matters of interest include Tesla\'s plan for procuring lithium and key raw materials, as well as updates on driver-assistance technology and the state of EV demand.</div><div><br></div><div>Musk will need to lay out a \"broader strategic roadmap looking ahead,\" said Ives, in light of \"the green tidal wave hitting globally on the shift to EVs.\" Source: AFP </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-01 11:16:20', '2023-03-01 11:17:44');
