Dhaka, May 25 – Voicing concern over empowering Parliament to impeach the Supreme Court judges for their incapacity or misconduct, Chief Justice SK Sinha on Thursday said, a vacuum will be created in the country if there is no two-thirds…
Author: Naim
Africa – more than just conflicts, corruption, disasters
By IPS World Desk Rome, May 25 (IPS) – Natural and man-made disasters, armed conflicts, widespread corruption and deep social inequalities have been so far a dramatic source for most news coverage when it comes to Africa, the world’s second-largest…
New global landmark announced for Hong Kong’s Harbourfront
Game-changing, mixed-use harbourfront development spearheaded by New World Development aims to set new standards in art, design and leisure
Growing ME urbanisation worsens water scarcity, food imports
By Baher Kamal Rome, May 24 (IPS) – Conflict and insecurity remain the key barriers to development progress in the Middle East and North Africa. In Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Yemen, about half the population—around 40 million people—require humanitarian assistance.…
118th birth anniversary of National Poet Nazrul Thursday
Dhaka – The nation will observe the 118th birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam Thursday in a befitting manner. The programme of the day will begin with placing of wreaths by the cultural affairs ministry at poet’s grave…
Two more ‘militant dens’ cordoned off in northwest BD
Dhaka, May 24 – Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) have kept two houses at Chakpustam and Balugram Shimultala villages in Gomostapur upazila cordoned off since early Wednesday suspecting the presence of militants there.
“Horrific” increase in worldwide displacement
By Tharanga Yakupitiyage UN, May 23 (IPS) – Over 30 million people were newly internally displaced in 2016 by conflict and disasters, according to a new report. In examining trends around the world for its annual Global Report on Internal…
Norwegian Trade Union boycott Israel
By Linda Flood Stockholm May 22 (IPS) – The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) has voted in favour of a boycott against Israel, which is expected to affect cultural, economical and academic ties. Condemnation has come from Isreali politicians,…
World to cut emissions with or without Trump
By Zofeen Ebrahim Berlin, May 22 (IPS) – In a last-ditch effort, Germany and China are trying to influence the United States not to walk away from the Paris climate change accord it signed along with 194 nations. In December…
IBBL 34th AGM held: 10 pc cash dividend announced
Dhaka – The 34 th Annual General Meeting of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited was held on 23 May 2017, Tuesday at Kurmitola Golf Club, Dhaka. Arastoo Khan, Chairman of the Bank presided over the meeting. Sheikh Moulana Mohammad Qutubuddin, Chairman…
Macron likely to diffuse tensions in New Caledonia as independence vote looms
By Catherine Wilson Canberra, Australia, May 22 (IPS) – The political future of New Caledonia, a French South Pacific Island territory of 273,000 people, is a profound question mark as a referendum on independence rapidly approaches next year. Equally, how…
Populism, austerity and democratic deficit
by Andrew Watt and László Andor Critiques of the European Union target a political problem – the so-called democratic deficit – and an economic (and social) one: austerity, sometimes subsumed under the broader heading of neoliberalism. It is also often…
IBBL Ctg area Business Development Conference held
Dhaka – Business Development Conference of Islami Bank Bngladesh Limited Chittagong area was held at Chittagong Zonal Office on 19 May 2017.
Argument in appeal against 16th amendment verdict
Dhaka – The Appellate Division the Supreme Court on Sunday asked the prosecution not to make any political argument during hearing on the appeal against the High Court order that declared illegal the 16th amendment to the constitution establishing Parliament’s…
Verdict for reinstation of 140 BSMMU doctors
Dhaka – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday directed the authorities to reinstate 140 physicians of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) whose appointment was earlier declared illegal by the High Division.
Trump seeks to win over Muslims with Islam speech
After saying ‘Islam hates us’ and calling for a Muslim travel ban, Trump seeks to reset relations with Islamic world. Donald Trump is set to deliver a major speech on Islam during his visit to Saudi Arabia, just two months…
SC extends stay on HC order against mobile courts
Dhaka – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday extended the stay on the High Court order that declared magistrate run mobile court illegal and contradictory to the constitution till July 2.
Keep it short and give Trump a win – God save America
By PETER BAKER Washington — As Saudi Arabia’s leaders prepared to make a pitch to the White House for a visit by President Trump, a PowerPoint presentation was put together complete with slides describing Saudi demographics, investments in the United…
Iran’s President Rouhani wins 2nd term by a wide margin
Tehran, May 20 (AP/UNB) — Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani won re-election by a wide margin Saturday, giving the moderate cleric a second four-year term to see out his agenda pushing for greater freedoms and outreach to the wider world.
Rouhani leads initial count in Iran; over 70 pc turnout
Tehran, May 20 (AP/UNB)- Iran says incumbent President Hassan Rouhani is ahead of his nearest competitor in an initial count of votes in the election.
Fire razes kitchen markets ahead of Ramadan
Dhaka, May 20 – Amid government’s assurance to keep the Ramadan market stable, retailers have apparently started selling vegetables at higher prices through a newer trick putting consumers in trouble. Now one can hardly buy one kg vegetable at a…
The great British bee count: foe, UK
TV presenters *Michaela Strachan* and *Ellie Harrison* are urging people to take part in Friends of the Earth’s Great British Bee Count, which begins today (Friday, 19 May 2017) and runs until 30 June. The Bee Count is also being…
UNWTO Commission for Asia and the Pacific meets in BD
Angelos Restanis The meeting recalled the advances of the region in terms of visa facilitation, namely in Indonesia and India, in line with UNWTO’s priority to promote safe, secure and seamless travel.
Agony of mother earth world’s forests depleted for fuel
By Baher Kamal This is the second of a two-part series on how humankind has been systematically destroying world’s forests—the real lungs of Mother Earth. Part I dealt with the relentless destruction of forests. ROME, May 19 2017 (IPS) –…
What Twitter’s privacy changes mean for you
New York, May 19 (AP/UNB)- Twitter’s new privacy policy suggests ambitions of becoming more like Facebook — more tracking of users and more targeting of ads to rake in more money.
Japan’s Cabinet OKs bill to let Emperor Akihito abdicate
Tokyo, May 19 (AP/UNB)- Japan’s Cabinet has approved for legislative debate a bill to allow 83-year-old Emperor Akihito to abdicate.
Agony of mother earth: Unstoppable destruction of forests
By Baher Kamal ROME, May 18 2017 (IPS) – The world’s forests are being degraded and lost at a staggering rate of 3.3 million hectares per year. While their steady destruction in many Asian countries continues apace, deforestation of the…
Defence of water right drives land reform call in Chile
By Orlando Milesi Santiago, May 18 (IPS) – Water at high prices, sold as a market good, and small farmers almost a species in extinction, replaced by seasonal workers, are the visible effects of the crisis in rural Chile, 50…
Mapping and responding to climate-induced migration
By Tharanga Yakupitiyage UN, May 18 (IPS) – As the world focuses on conflict-related migration and displacement, with an unprecedented 60 million fleeing from war and persecution, others are pointing to a less discussed trigger of population movements: climate change.