Carrie Arnold Shortly before 8am on 26 December 2004, the cicadas fell silent and the ground shook in dismay. The Moken, an isolated tribe on the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean, knew that the Laboon, the ‘wave that eats…
Category: Feature
Why Muslims are marching for climate
By Nana Firman (CNN) — From the cropless farmer to the beleaguered first responder to the person forced to evacuate their flooded home, we all have our reasons for caring about climate change. As an Indonesian-born Muslim living in California,…
12 teenagers return from Indian after serving jail term
Jessore – Twelve teenage Bangladeshi girls and a child returned home from India through Benapole Check post here on Friday evening after languishing in jail there for different terms. UNB news agency reported
Wives wanted in the Faroe Islands
By Tim Ecott Torshavn There’s a shortage of women in the Faroe Islands. So local men are increasingly seeking wives from further afield – Thailand and the Philippines in particular. But what’s it like for the brides who swap the…
Marching for a green and just future
By Tharanga Yakupitiyage UN, Apr 28 (IPS) – People around the world will be banding together to fight one of the world’s most pressing problems: climate change. Thousands are set to gather at the People’s Climate March in Washington, D.C.…
Shab-e-Barat on May 11
Dhaka, Apr 27 – The holy Shab-e-Barat, the night of forgiveness and fate, will be observed in the country on May 11 as the Shaban moon was sighted in sky over Bangladesh on Thursday.
Noam Chomsky finds Repulican Party most dangerous
One of the leading political scientists, Martin Gilens, has done important studies of the relationship between public attitudes and public policy, based on polling data. It’s a pretty straightforward thing to study—policy you can see, and public opinion you know…
Mind the Earth: A New Perspective
Dhaka – Having reached out to global audiences in Copenhagen, Paris and Marrakech, international photo exhibition ‘Mind the Earth: A New Perspective’ has arrived here with its founder and curator Kasper Brejnholt Bak. UNB news agency reported
Shab-e-Barat on May 11
Dhaka – The holy Shab-e-Barat, the night of fortune and forgiveness, will be observed in the country on May 11 as the Shaban moon was sighted in Bangladesh sky on Thursday. UNB news agency reported
Women snatch arrested Jamaat leader from cops in Sirajganj
Sirajganj, Apr 27 (UNB) – A group of women snatched an arrested leader of Jamaat-e-Islami from police at Bakhua village in Ullapara upazila on Wednesday.
California beauty queen jailed for child porn
A former US beauty queen has admitted possessing child pornography and lewd acts with a child. Meghan Alt, 27, was sentenced to 300 days in jail and three years of probation after entering the pleas.
Thai man kills baby, self on Facebook Live
Bangkok, Apr 26 (AP/UNB)- A man in Thailand upset with his wife hanged their 11-month-old daughter on Facebook Live and then killed himself, police said.
How feminists have catapulted women to national leadership roles
By Torild Skard New York, Apr 24 (IPS) – Hillary Clinton did not make it to the top, but Theresa May, the British prime minister, and Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany, did. Since Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the world’s first female…
Indigenous peoples – Best allies or worst enemies?
By Baher Kamal Rome, Apr 25 (IPS) – It all happened on the very same day—4 April. That day, indigenous peoples were simultaneously characterised as fundamental allies in the world’s war on hunger and poverty, while being declared as collective…
Long way to go for indigenous rights protection
By Tharanga Yakupitiyage UN, Apr 25 (IPS) – Despite progress, many gaps remain in international indigenous rights protection, said representatives during an annual UN meeting.
Underage marriage in special cases to create obstacles: NHRC
Voicing concern over the special provision in the Child Marriage Restraint Act that allows underage marriage in special cases, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Kazi Reazul Hoque on Tuesday said it will create an obstacle to controlling…
Fascinating trade fair of noble-stones in Sturgart, Germany
A three-day trade fair of Noble-stones: Wonder of the crystals-like Tourmaline, Ruby, Emeralds, moonston, amber, citrine, Aquamanne and more was held in Stutgart Messe, Germany from April 21 to 24.
EU needs fair work-life balance
by Montserrat Mir Roca When the nuts and bolts of the long-awaited European Pillar of Social Rights are unveiled at the end of April, the European Commission will at the same time set out plans to achieve a better balance…
560 model BD mosques to spread ‘true’ Islamic values
Golam Moin Uddin, UNB Staff Writer Dhaka, Apr 24 – The government has initiated a move to set up some 560 model mosques across the country, aiming to develop and spread the true Islamic values and culture.
The ugly side of getting rich
In one photograph, the German-born, Harvard-educated hedge fund manager Florian Homm, who made and lost a personal fortune of more than $800 million, poses in a German brothel that he once co-owned. In another, Imelda Marcos, the former first lady…
Recognition of Dawra degree was promised by PM: Minister
Dhaka, Apr – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina promised to recognise Dawra degree of Qawmi madrasah, and now there is no scope to raise any question about it, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Saturday.
Rana Plaza tragedy: 42.4pc survivors still jobless
Dhaka – Some 57.6 percent survivors of Rana Plaza collapse are engaged in various types of wage and self-employments, while 42.4 percent claimed that they are jobless, shows a recent survey. UNB news agency reported
Teen wins right to box in in Muslim hijab competitively
Minneapolis, Apr 22 (AP/UNB)- A Muslim teen boxer from Minnesota who hopes to one day compete in the Olympics has won a fight to wear a hijab during matches in the U.S.
Middle East, engulfed by a ‘perfect storm’
By Baher Kamal Rome, Apr 21 (IPS) – A perfect storm has engulfed the Middle East, and continues to threaten international peace and security. Hardly anyone could sum up the Middle East explosive situation in so few, blunt words as…
Remove sculpture from SC premise before Ramadan: IAB
Dhaka – The Islami Andolon Bangladesh (IAB) on Friday demanded the removal of controversial sculpture from in front of Supreme Court premises before the holy Ramajan begins.
Culprits injure mother, daughter in Gaibandha acid attack
Dhaka, Apr 21 (UNB) – A woman and her young daughter suffered burn injuries in an acid attack by miscreants at Tarafsadulla village in Sadullapur upazila of Gaibandha, in northern Bangladesh, on Thursday night.
EU Del hands over social media Acs to Plan Int’l BD child rights activists
Dhaka – To celebrate the launch of the revised EU Guidelines on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Child, the European External Action Service is partnering with Plan International to organise a global youth takeover of EU…
Ivanka Trump heading to Germany for official visit
Washington – Ivanka Trump will participate in a panel discussion on women’s economic empowerment during an official visit to Germany next week. AP/UNB news agency reported
Can Europe converge on what ‘Convergence’ should mean?
by Lukáš Veselý 2017 is the year of choices: after important elections in several Member States, the European integration process can be reinvigorated in the autumn with a renewed sense of purpose, or it can continue to decline in a…
Hajj agencies vow to make Hajj business corruption-free
Dhaka – The chiefs of three separate panels of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) have expressed their intension to establish a corruption and irregularity free HAAB and Hajj management in future.