By Vinod Thomas Manila, (IPS) – Across the world, the pendulum has swung from a focus on social development to infrastructure development. Recognizing that infrastructure is only one variable in the development equation, we must try to get the most…
Year: 2016
International organisations concerned by El Niño funding gap
By Phillip Kaeding UN, (IPS) – The response to the 2015-2016 severe El Nino – which has effected over 60 million people from Southern Africa, to South-East Asia to Latin America – remains severely underfunded. In a statement released Tuesday…
Seaweed gains ground as pillar of food security in South America
By Orlando Milesi Matanzas, Chile, (IPS) – Seaweed, a nutrient-rich foodstuff that was a regular part of the diet of several South American indigenous peoples, is emerging as a new pillar of food security in Latin America and is providing…
58 organisations fighting food loss and waste
Danielle Nierenberg It’s no secret that food loss and food waste are big problems. At least 1.3 billion tons of food is lost or wasted every year—in fields, during transport, in storage, at restaurants, and in markets in industrialized and…
U.S. and S.Korea agree to deploy THAAD
The United States and South Korea agreed to deploy a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to be operated by U.S. Forces Korea (USKF), it was announced on Friday. The decision, which drew immediate criticism from China, was described as…
A bone-dry dystopia
Sudhirendar Sharma To keep some fountains running while million others survive on ‘hydration packs’ is the worst form of inequality that human civilization could usher in the name of progress.
Ronaldo leads Portugal to 2-0 win vs Wales, into Euro final
dHAKA – Cristiano Ronaldo had just propelled Portugal into another European Championship final when he made for Gareth Bale, shared a long conversation with his Real Madrid teammate and gave him a sympathetic hug.The battle of the superstar forwards…
Mustafizur’s cousin electrocuted in Satkhira
Satkhira – The Eid celebrations for Bangladesh’s cuter master Mustafizur Rahman and his family turned sour as one of his cousins was electrocuted at their house of Tetulia village in Kaliganj upazila on Thursday morning.The deceased was identified as Motahar…
Find a way to resist terrorism if pampered internationally: PM
Dhaka – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said it is the responsibility of the international community to find out a way to resist terrorism and militancy if the evil menace is pampered by any quarter internationally UNB news agency…
Hand over power to a neutral administration: Khaleda
Dhaka – Accusing the government of having failed to check repeated ‘terror attacks in the country, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Thursday asked the government to quit handing over power to a neutral administration for holding a credible national election,…
Explosions near Eid congregation kill 4 including 2 policemen
Dhaka – At least four people, including two policemen, were killed and 10-15 others injured in bomb explosions followed by a volley of gunfire near the country’s largest Eid congregation at Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj Sadar upazila on Thursday morning.…
Int’l community with Bangladesh in fighting militancy: PM
Dhaka – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said it is the responsibility of the international community to find out a way to resist terrorism and militancy if the evil menace is pampered by any quarter internationally. “If there’s any…
Two cops among four killed in bomb blast near Sholakia Eidgah
Kishoreganj – At least four people, including two police members, were killed and 10-15 others injured in a bomb explosion followed by a volley of gunfire near the country’s largest Eid congregation at Sholakia Eidgah in Sadar upazila on Thursday…
Don’t upload contents supporting militancy on social sites: Police
Dhaka – Police Headquarters has urged all to refrain from uploading, sharing, commenting on and liking any video, photo or message in support of IS or militancy on social networking sites, including Facebook, Twitter and Youtube, UNB news agency reported.
France Embassy cancels National Day reception
Dhaka – Expressing solidarity with the people of Bangladesh following the Gulshan café attack, the France Embassy in Dhaka has cancelled its reception programme scheduled for July 14 on the occasion of the French National Day, UNB news agency reported.
74 journalists killed since beginning of 2016 – report
Baku – APA. According to the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) the number of journalists killed continued to increase from January to the end of June 2016 to reach 74 in 22 countries (3 per week on average).
North Korea releases dam water into South without warning
VOA News North Korea released water from a dam near its border with the South without warning early Wednesday morning, increasing fears of floods in areas already hit by heavy rainfall in recent days. The North did not notify South…
‘Legal basis of Iraq War was far from satisfactory’
The long awaited report of the inquiry into Britain’s role in the US-led Iraq War, released in London early Wednesday questioning the basis of the war that was launched before peaceful options exhausted. John Chilcot, chairman of the British inquiry…
Serena, Venus brace for family fortunes at Wimbledon
London (BSS/AFP) – Serena Williams admits she is shocked to be on the verge of meeting sister Venus in the Wimbledon final seven years after they last slugged it out for a Grand Slam title. For the first time since…
FM assures diplomats of govt resolve to root out terrorism
Dhaka – The government on Monday assured foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka of its resolve to root out terrorism and militancy from the country as law-enforcement agencies are on high alert to thwart further attacks.
Trump praises late Iraqi leader Saddam as terrorist killer
North Carolina (AP/UNB) – Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who frequently criticizes U.S. foreign policy under President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has praised former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s ruthlessness.
Asian stocks slump, pound slid on worries about UK economy
South Korea (AP/UNB) – Asian stock markets slumped on Wednesday while the British pound hit a new 31-year low. Investors worried about the effect of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union on the U.K. real estate market following the…
JICA firmly with BD, says its President
Dhaka – Laying emphasis on extra safety of its personnel, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has said it remains “firmly committed” to contributing to the development of Bangladesh, UNB news agency reported Tuesday.
Terrorism absolutely against BD spirit, values: TI Chair
Dhaka (UNB) – Against the backdrop of the Gulshan tragedy, Jose Ugaz, Chair of the international Board of Directors of Transparency International (TI), has expressed the deepest condolences for the loss of innocent lives as a result of the worst…
Attacker Nibras’ family apologises to all
Dhaka (UNB) – Parents of Nibras Islam, one of the Gulshan terrorist attackers, on Wednesday apologised to the nation, all the people in the world and the bereaved family members who lost their near and dear ones in Bangladesh’s worst…
Prompt operation at Gulshan café could save more lives: BNP
Dhaka – Criticising the government for its ‘delayed operation’ to overcome the Gulshan café hostage crisis, BNP on Wednesday said people think many more lives could have been saved had the commando operation been conducted promptly without dying the time,…
Submit probe report over Gulshan attack by Aug 24: Court
Dhaka – A Dhaka court on Wednesday asked police to submit by August 24 the investigation report it in connection with the Gulshan café attack that left 22 people killed apart from six attackers.
50,000 petitioners urge UNESCO to protect the Sundarbans
Sundarbans, a World Heritage site in Bangladesh faces destruction if a proposed coal plant is built adjacent to it Petitioners ask that the Sundarbans are included by UNESCO in the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger Paris – A…
Finalists announced for South Australia’s low carbon challenge
TEN finalists have been announced for South Australia’s Low Carbon Entrepreneur Prize as part of a push for the state’s capital Adelaide to become the world’s first carbon neutral city. The finalists will each receive AU$10,000 form a total prize…
Abbas Kiarostami, Palme d’Or-winning filmmaker, dies at 76
Tehran (AP) — Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami, whose 1997 film Taste of Cherry won the prestigious Palme d’Or and who kept working despite government resistance, died Monday. He was 76. Iran’s official news agency IRNA said Kiarostami died in Paris,…