Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has secured another five-year term after winning a landslide general election victory. Results so far show his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to win about 300 of the 543 seats in parliament. The main…
Year: 2019
‘Gendering’ the EU budget
by Firat Cengiz There is a clear case for making gender equality a more visible part of the EU budgetary process. Budgets are not gender-neutral. Women and men have different needs and expectations from public services. These needs and expectations…
It’s time to talk about democracy at work
by Stan De Spiegelaere Democracy at work has many benefits but above all, it is a matter of human dignity. My normal bike commute to work was interrupted by red flags. No revolution (yet) but industrial action blocked access to…
World famous Mexican guitarists Rodrigo y Gabriela take meditative turn
Headlines have given little love to guitar heros in recent years, as streaming tastes favor rap and instruments of the greats are celebrated less onstage and more in museums. But more than a decade after soaring to global fame Rodrigo…
US states which took Obamacare funding saw more cancer screening
US states which expanded Medicaid insurance coverage to low-income adults as part of Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law saw a marked increase in colorectal cancer screening, a new study said Wednesday. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed…
2-metre sea level rise ‘plausible’ by 2100
Global sea levels could rise by two metres (6.5 feet) and displace tens of millions of people by the end of the century, according to new projections that double the UN’s benchmark estimates. The vast ice sheets of Greenland and…
Film historian, educationist Vijaya Mulay passes away
Renowned filmmaker and film historian Vijaya Mulay passed away on Sunday. Born on May 16, 1921, Mulay founded the Delhi Film Society in 1959, and later on became a joint secretary of the Federation of Film Societies. Vijaya Mulay’s daughter,…
Asif Akbar’s cricket song after 15 years
Cultural Correspondent Vocalist Asif Akbar wanted to be a cricketer in his early life but then had to choose music as fortune had different plans for him. The singer has many times reflected on his early passion for cricket. To…
Preserving biodiversity vital to reverse tide of climate change
The food people eat around the world is becoming “alarmingly homogenous” according to UN data, even though access to a wide variety of nutritious food has never been greater. That warning comes as the world marks the International Day for…
Global hunger threatening families because of climate change
By Siddharth Chatterjee Nairobi, Kenya, May 2019 (IPS) – There is barely a corner of human life that will not be affected by climate change, and some of its impacts are already being felt. Consider this, 821 million people are…
The contribution of humanitarian action to peace
By Peter Maurer Stockholm, May 22, 2019 (IPS) – The connection of humanitarian action to broader objectives like peace, development and human rights is understandably complex, but it is also an area in which some fresh thinking is important. The…
Why not directive for fire extinguisher in motor vehicle: HC
Dhaka, May 22 – The High Court on Wednesday issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why directives would not be given to install fire extinguishers in all modes of public and private vehicles. The High…
Probe report over Titumir student Rajib death deferred
Dhaka, May 22 – The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka yesterday deferred the submission of the probe report in the case filed over the death of Titumir College student Rajib Hossain to July 8. Magistrate Sarafuzzaman Ansary of…
Act urgently on climate change: Urban 20 Group urge G20
Mayors and Governors of U20 cities, including Tokyo, Berlin, Jakarta, Rome and Osaka will present the Urban 20 Communiqué to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ahead of G20 Summit in Japan U20 urges G20 leaders to ensure greenhouse gas emissions peak…
Dr Kamal blames paddy price on Irresponsibility, policy gap
Dhaka, May 22 (UNB) – Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Wednesday alleged that farmers are not getting the fair prices of paddy due to the lack of an agricultural policy and government’s “irresponsibility”. “It’s unimaginable that farmers are being…
ACC govt’s ‘deadly weapon’ to suppress opposition: BNP
Dhaka, May 22 (UNB) – Taking a swipe at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for its ‘inaction’ over the reported corruption in the housing project of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, BNP on Wednesday alleged that the statutory body is only being…
Regulatory duty increased to discourage rice import
Dhaka, May 22 (UNB) –The government has increased the regulatory duty on rice import to 25 percent from the existing 3 percent, aiming to discourage its import following a drastic fall in rice prices in the country. The National Board…
Mashrafe leaves Dhaka to join WC team
Dhaka – After a short break of three days, Bangladesh ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza left Dhaka on Wednesday morning to join the Bangladesh World Cup team in England. After that, Bangladesh captain will attend the press conference of the…
Women’s Cricket Super League begins Thursday
Dhaka – The five-team Super League of the Dhaka Women’s Premier Division Cricket League 2018-19 begins on Thursday at two venues of Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan (BKSP) in Savar with two matches billed for the opening day. League leader Khelaghar…
Hockey Fed. picks-up 34 players for Indoor Asia Cup Hockey
Dhaka – Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) initially picked up 34 players to join training camp for the ensuing Indoor Asia Cup Hockey 2019 scheduled for July 15-21 in Bangkok . Selected players have been asked to report on Thursday (May…
1st state to allow human bodies composting
Seattle, May 22 (AP/UNB) — Ashes to ashes, guts to dirt. Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation Tuesday making Washington the first state to approve composting as an alternative to burying or cremating human remains. It allows licensed facilities to offer…
Shakib grabs top spot in ODI all-rounders’ ranking
Dhaka – Bangladesh stalwart Shakib Al Hasan grabbed the top spot of ODI all-rounder again. As per the latest ranking update by ICC, Shakib is now number one all-rounder in ODI cricket. He surpassed the young Afghan lad Rashid Khan.…
Targeting Iran
By Chandra Muzaffar A dangerous flashpoint has emerged in world politics at the moment. There is widespread fear that the United States and its allies might launch a military operation against Iran at any time. A US aircraft carrier and…
Public-private partnerships fad fails
By Jomo Kwame Sundaram After the failure and abuses of privatization became apparent, public-private partnerships have since been promoted ostensibly to mobilize private finance for the public purpose. In all too many cases, PPPs have socialized costs and losses while…
Long life to their majesties, the bees!
By Baher Kamal Madrid, May (IPS) – Amazingly organised social communities, bees ensure food chain. ‘Bee’ grateful to them… at least on their World Day! While the (surprisingly) still called homo sapiens continues to destroy Mother Nature, bees and other…
Preventing antibiotic resistance: Look to livestock industry
By Tharanga Yakupitiyage UN, May 21 (IPS) – Antimicrobial resistance is quickly becoming a global crisis and risks reversing a century of progress in health. Some organisations have already geared up and are tackling the issue from its roots. In…
Bonda tribe of India’s Odisha hit by changing climate
by Tanmoy Bhaduri The Bonda people, living in hilltop villages on the Kondakamberu mountain range in Odisha, are one of the 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in the state. • Rising temperatures and deforestation, along with poor development and…
Next BD annual dev plan to prioritise transport sector
Dhaka, May 21 – The National Economic Council (NEC) in a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair on Tuesday approved a Taka 2,02,721 crore Annual Development Programme (ADP) outlay for the next fiscal giving highest priority to…
Bangladesh School teacher arrested for impregnating student
Gazipur, May 21 (UNB)– A school teacher has been arrested for impregnating a seventh grader in Salna area of the city corporation. The victim’s family filed a case at Sadar Police Station on May 20 against the teacher, Sohel Rana…
BD ministry disfavours cases against land acquisition notice
Dhaka, May 21, (UNB)- The Land Ministry on Tuesday issued a notice embargo on filing cases over land acquisition before seeking amends from the deputy commissioner. It says that there is no scope to receive any complaint after issuing four…