Experts and environmentalists have criticised Bangladesh’s environment agency for its decision to declare four dying rivers around Dhaka as ecologically critical areas (ECAs).
Author: Naim
Global ransomware attack causes turmoil
Companies across the globe are reporting that they have been struck by a major ransomware cyber-attack. British advertising agency WPP is among those to say its IT systems have been disrupted as a consequence.
Helicopter ‘attack’ on Venezuela Supreme Court
Venezuela’s Supreme Court has been attacked by grenades dropped from a helicopter in what President Nicolás Maduro called a “terrorist attack”.
“Torture works” — in all the wrong ways
By Victor Madrigal-Borloz Copenhagen, June (IPS) – “Torture works” might rank among the most sweeping generalisations ever uttered, one brutal in its disregard of the pain and suffering created by this abhorrent practice. Indeed, torture works, but to all the…
Don’t ‘normalize’ emergency powers: HRW tells France
Paris – The French government’s new counterterrorism bill would move some overly broad emergency powers into normal criminal and administrative law without adequate judicial safeguards Human Rights Watch said today.
‘Global sea level rise accelerates since 1990’
The rise in global sea levels has accelerated since the 1990s amid rising temperatures, with a thaw of Greenland’s ice sheet pouring ever more water into the oceans, scientists said on Monday.
Abduction drama of ex-BCL Ctg leader
Chittagong, June 27 – Unfolding an abduction drama, police found a former Bangladesh Chhatra League leader at a residential hotel of Patenga in the city on Monday night while he was hiding there.
Army to work as per Constt in next polls: Obaidul
Comilla, June 27 – Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quaderon Tuesdaysaid the next general election will be held under the Election Commission’s supervision and the Army will perform their duties as per the constitution.
Global pact on environmental rights to be presented to UN
PARIS, June (BSS/AFP) – Hollywood star turned activist Arnold Schwarzenegger joined politicians and legal experts in Paris Saturday to launch a campaign for a global pact to protect the human right to a clean, healthy environment. French President Emmanuel Macron…
Chinese troops intrude into India’s Sikkim – sent back
Chinese troops crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Indian state of Sikkim in early June , smashed two bunkers before they were stopped by Indian soldiers, military officials said on Monday, bdnews24.com reported on Tuesday.
Trump, Modi exchange hugs as US calls Pak ‘global terrorist’
Washington, Jun 27 (AP/UNB) – Hugging outside the White House Monday, President Donald Trump and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi heralded an increasingly close strategic partnership as the U.S. branded Pakistan as a “global terrorist.”
Taka 28 crore IFAD fund for Sri Lanka smallholder agribusiness
Rome, 26 June – The International Fund for Agricultural Development and Government of Sri Lanka signed a financing agreement today that will help 57,500 poor rural households in Sri Lanka increase their incomes and food security by expanding livelihood and…
Stalker-attack: 6 of a family hurt in Sherpur
Dhaka, June 26 – Six members of a family, including a Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) member, were injured in an attack by miscreants at tourist spot Panihata in Nalitabari upazila on Monday for protesting eve-teasing.
PM happy Eid has been peaceful
Dhaka, June 26 – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday expressed her gratitude to the Almighty and extended thanks to the countrymen for holding the holy Eid-ul-Fitr amidst peaceful atmosphere.
Polls under supportive Govt must: Khaleda
Dhaka, Jun 26 – BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Monday said the next national election must be held under a supportive-government with the deployment of army to install a pro-people administration to end public sufferings and ensure good governance.
Eid-ul-Fitr celebrated
Dhaka, June 26 – Eid-ul-Fitr, the greatest religious festival of the Muslims, was celebrated in Bangladesh on Monday with due solemnity and religious fervour. The festival came after the holy Ramadan, the month of fasting. Eid-ul-Fitr prayers were offered by…
Yes – microlending reduces extreme poverty
by Quanda Zhang A small boost in microlending to the developing world could lift more than 10.5 million people out of extreme poverty. That’s one conclusion of my study, published last month in The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, which found…
Eid congregations in Capital Dhaka
Dhaka – A total of 410 congregations of holy Eid-ul-Fitr would be held in the capital this year. Of those, 230 congregations will be held in Dhaka South City Corporation (BSCC) and 180 in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) areas.
Erdogan – Turkish troops will stay in Qatar
Istanbul, Jun 25 (AP/UNB) – Turkey’s president on Sunday rejected a demand by major Arab states to remove Turkish troops from Qatar, saying their sweeping list of ultimatums has threatened the small Gulf country’s sovereignty.
At center of Qatar crisis, a $1 billion ransom
By Megan R. Wilson The crisis over Qatar that is gripping the Middle East hinges on an alleged $1 billion ransom that was reportedly paid to release members of Qatar’s royal family and others who were kidnapped in Iraq.
‘White van’ torture haunt Sri Lanka reporters
Colombo, Jun 25 (AP/UNB) – The sight of a white van still haunts Poddala Jayantha, a Sri Lankan journalist exiled in the U.S. Eight years after he was abducted in his home country, he says he saw only a pair…
15 bodies found after landslide buries scores in China
Mao County, Jun 25 (AP/UNB) – Crews searching through the night in the rubble left by a landslide that buried a mountain village under tons of soil and rocks in southwestern China found 15 bodies, but more than 100 more…
South Asian popular culture focus of int’l confce
Birmingham – More than 30 distinguished academics from around the world are heading to Birmingham (UK) this week, as part of an international conference that focuses on the past, present and future of South Asian popular culture.
Tight security for peaceful Eid celebration
Dhaka – Entire Bangladesh has been brought under stringent security blanket with the deployment of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police for peaceful and smooth celebration of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr.
New York newsletter
Iftar Mahfil of America Bangladesh Pressclub New York: The America Bangladesh Pressclub organised an Iftar and Duwa Mahfil at a restaurant in Jackson Heights in New York on Monday 19 June. Organisation’s President Darpan Kabir presided over the event and…
Truck plunge kills 16 in Rangpur
Dhaka, Jun 24 – Sixteen people were killed and seven others injured as a cement laden truck fell ino a road-side ditch at Kolabari on Dhaka-Rangpur Highway in Pirganj upazila of Rangpur early Saturday.
Otto Warmbier’s sudden death “a mystery to us too”- North Korea
Oliver Hotham North Korea on Friday denied reports that it had mistreated the former U.S. detainee Otto Warmbier and described his sudden death as a “mystery”, in the country’s first public statement since the announcement of the 22-year-old’s death on…
The world is burning
By IPS World Desk Rome, June 23(IPS) – Record high temperatures are gripping much of the globe and more hot weather are to come. This implies more drought, more food insecurity, more famine and more massive human displacements. In fact,…
Excessive use of arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury…black soils
By IPS World Desk Rome, June 23 (IPS) – Soils are polluted due mostly to human activities that leave excess chemicals in soils used to grow food, the United Nations reports.
Call to shut Al-Jazeera attack on ‘freedom of expression’
Doha, June 23(BSS/AFP) – Qatar-based broadcaster Al-Jazeera said Friday any move to close it down was an attack on media freedom, following demands by Gulf neighbours for the channel to be taken off air.