Dhaka’s air quality ‘worst in the world’ this morning
Dhaka has topped the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 203 at 9:01 am today
Japan bread recalled after rat parts found inside packs
.More than 100,000 packets of sliced bread have been recalled in Japan after parts of a black rat's body were discovered inside two of them, the manufacturer said Wednesday..Food recalls are rare in Japan, a country with famously high standards of sanitation, and Pasco Shikishima Cor
School's out: how climate change threatens education
Asia is warming faster than the global average, and climate change is producing more frequent, longer, and more intense heatwaves
US warns Israel that Rafah invasion will jeopardise weapons supply
US President Joe Biden for the first time publicly vowed to withhold weapons from Israel if its forces make a major invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza while negotiations in Cairo on a ceasefire plan for the enclave were due to continue on Thursday
Patients, medics flee major Rafah hospital
Fearful medics and patients are fleeing a hospital in Rafah and transfers of the sick and injured via a border crossing with Egypt are at a standstill due to Israel’s military operation, doctors and residents said.
China, Serbia agree to follow a ‘shared future’
China and Serbia yesterday agreed to follow a “shared future” as President Xi Jinping visited the Balkan country, part of his bid to forge stronger relations with allies at the edge of the European Union.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh seeks preferential trade benefits to British market until 2032
Bangladesh has sought preferential and duty-free quota-free market access for Bangladeshi exportable, including apparel, into the British market until 2032 to support sustainable transition
Surprised to see how protesters in US being brutally suppressed: foreign minister
Referring to brutality on the pro-Palestinian protesters on the US campuses, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud yesterday said he is willing to know the reaction to the brutality from those who issued statements when Hero Alam was punched in Bangladesh
JL leader sentenced to 10 years in arms case
A Mymensingh court yesterday sentenced a Jubo League leader to 10 years in jail in an arms case
Clean energy goal a far cry
Although renewable energy saw a significant growth last year, accounting for more than 30 percent of the world’s electricity for the first time last year, Bangladesh generates only 1.5 percent of electricity from renewables.
Foreign secy of India arrives in Dhaka
Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra arrived in Dhaka yesterday evening on a two-day official visit to "finalise the schedule of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's upcoming India visit".
Chances of hitting oil, gas in Bay high
The likelihood of Bangladesh striking oil and gas in the shallow and deep waters of the Bay of Bengal is high, according to a seismic survey.
IMF eases forex reserves target
Thanks to bold reform measures taken by the authorities, the IMF has drastically slashed the Net International Reserves (NIR) requirement for Bangladesh for the fourth tranche of the $4.7 billion loans.
Asia
INDIA ELECTION / BJP deletes X post accused of targeting Muslims
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party yesterday deleted a cartoon video posted on social media platform X that was criticised for targeting Muslims during an ongoing national election.
Wife of ex-Pak PM moved to jail on her request
A court in Pakistan yesterday granted a request by the wife of former prime minister Imran Khan to be moved to jail, her lawyer said, instead of the house arrest ordered by the government.
Over 80 Air India Express flights cancelled after 300 crew members go on sick leave
Air India Express, a Tata Group carrier, was forced to cancel more than 80 international and domestic flights after a large number of cabin crew called in sick at the last minute
Liquor Policy ‘Scam’: Delhi court extends pre-trial detention of Kejriwal
An Indian city court yesterday extended the pre-trial detention of opposition leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal until May 20, legal news website Live Law reported, weeks before the capital votes in national elections.
Xi criticises Nato ahead of Serbia visit
Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday criticised Nato for its “flagrant” bombing of the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia in 1999, warning Beijing would “never allow such tragic history to repeat itself”.
More than 61pc turnout in third phase
A voter turnout of over 61 percent was recorded as curtains came down on the third phase of India’s gigantic Lok Sabha elections in 93 constituencies spread across 11 States and Union Territories yesterday with sporadic incidents of violence in West Bengal.
Two suspected Kashmir rebels killed in clash with Indian forces
Two suspected rebels were killed in Indian-administered Kashmir during a firefight with soldiers, police said Tuesday, at a time when campaigning for national elections is underway in the disputed territory..Scores of soldiers besieged a residential area in southern Kulgam district, some 7
Third phase of Indian election: 25pc turnout in first 4 hours
A voter turnout of more than 25 percent was recorded today in the first four hours of polling in the third phase of India's Lok Sabha elections amid sporadic violence in West Bengal and reports of poll boycott in some villages of Uttar Pradesh
World
HK court bans protest anthem
Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal yesterday granted an application by the government to ban a protest anthem called “Glory to Hong Kong”, overturning a lower court judgment that had rejected such a ban because of its possible “chilling effects” on free speech.
Afghan blast kills 3 Taliban security personnel
Three Taliban security personnel were killed when a motorcycle carrying an explosive device blew up near a military vehicle in northern Afghanistan being used in opium poppy eradication operations, an interior ministry spokesman said yesterday.
New blow for PM Sunak
Britain’s ruling Conservatives yesterday suffered their second defection to the main opposition Labour party in as many weeks, piling pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Australia raises minimum savings for student visa
Australia said yesterday it would raise the amount of savings international students will need to get a visa and warned several colleges of fraudulent student recruitment practices, as part of efforts to rein in migration.
Pro-Palestinian Protest: Dozens detained at Sorbonne Univ in Paris
French police detained 86 people following an operation to remove students staging a pro-Palestinian occupation at the Sorbonne university in Paris, prosecutors said yesterday.
Battles rage around Rafah
Israel bombarded the overcrowded Gaza city of Rafah, as talks resumed yesterday in Cairo aimed at agreeing the terms of a truce in the seven-month offensive.
Gaza truce talks resume in Cairo 'with all sides present': Egypt media
Talks aimed at agreeing the terms of a truce in the seven-month war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza resumed in Cairo Wednesday "with all sides present", Egyptian media reported.."Truce negotiations have resumed in Cairo today with all sides present," Egypt's AlQahera News, which is close
Israel reopens Kerem Shalom border crossing for Gaza aid
Israel said it reopened the Kerem Shalom border crossing to humanitarian aid for Gaza Wednesday, four days after closing it in response to a rocket attack that killed four soldiers
News Multimedia
Is there an election going on?
Voters in the Chimbuk Hill area in the dark about the ongoing upazila polls
30-40pc voter turnout in first phase of upazila polls: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal said that voting in the first phase of upazila elections was held peacefully
Israel plays down Hamas nod to ceasefire, hits Rafah
Israel played down the likelihood of a ceasefire in Gaza yesterday after Hamas said it had accepted a proposal from mediators, even as residents fled the city of Rafah in fear of an Israeli assault.
Mud houses: Providing shelter from harsh temperatures
During the relentless heatwave, as urban dwellers seek respite amidst the concrete jungle, those residing in mud houses across rural areas of Dinajpur and neighbouring districts find themselves considerably more at ease
Gazipur train collision: Rescue operation continues for 2nd day
Rail movement normal on single line
BRTA Advisory Council: Maiden meeting comes 7 years after inception
A section of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Act-2017 specifies formation of an advisory council under the leadership of the road transport and bridges minister.
Nadim Murder: HC refuses to grant bail to prime accused
The High Court yesterday refused to grant bail to suspended UP chairman Mahmudul Alam Babu, the prime accused in the Jamalpur journalist Golam Rabbani Nadim murder case.
Chicken price soars by up to Tk 50 a kg in a month
The price of chicken, a staple source of animal protein for many, has increased by Tk 40-50 per kg in a month, causing frustration to low-income families.
Clean energy goal a far cry
Although renewable energy saw a significant growth last year, accounting for more than 30 percent of the world’s electricity for the first time last year, Bangladesh generates only 1.5 percent of electricity from renewables.
AstraZeneca to withdraw Covid vaccine globally
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its Covid-19 vaccine due to a “surplus of available updated vaccines” since the pandemic.
Climate Smart Gardening: A source of nutrition for many poor families
Marium Begum and her husband Abdul Barek have nothing else but only six decimals of land as their asset.
Astrazeneca Shots: Survey to determine ‘side effects’
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen said yesterday that the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) is conducting a survey to determine whether recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Bangladesh are exhibiting any side effects.
Unity can ease Palestinians’ woes: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked all not to do anything that goes against religious sentiments.
2 Bangladeshi men shot dead by BSF
Two Bangladeshi men were shot dead by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) in Panchagarh’s Tetulia upazila early yesterday, said Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
A road to suffering
Sajjadul Kabir, a private company employee, has to commute to Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar area every day from Old Dhaka’s Dhalkanagar.
