Geneva, 15 Feb (D. Ravi Kanth) – China and India have offered a robust response to the United States over its attempts to “differentiate” among developing countries on which none of them could avail of special and differential treatment (S&DT)…
Category: Int’l relations
Innovative impact fund to create jobs for rural youth
Rome, 15 February 2019 – An impact fund with an innovative approach for attracting much-needed capital to the rural areas of developing countries will be launched at the annual meeting of Member States of the International Fund for Agricultural Development…
300 babies die in war zones every day: Save the Children
War zone acts including denial of aid, damage to hospitals and outright attacks killed 100,000 babies every year in the world’s 10 worst conflict-affected countries, the international charity Save the Children said on the eve of Munich’s Security Conference. And,…
The loss of European memory
The greatest economic downturn since the Great Depression (1929-1939) has produced a crisis of democratic legitimacy not unlike the one that fuelled the rise of fascism in the interwar years. During the postwar era (1945-1989) collective memories of total war—as…
PM Sheikh Hasina takes part in Munich Security Conference
Munich, Feb 15 (UNB) – The three-day Munich Security Conference (MSC 2019) began here on Friday to discuss the future of arms control and cooperation in defence policy as well as examine intersection between trade and international security, effects of…
Ensure Rohingyas’ basic rights, their repatriation: Dhaka
Dhaka, Feb 15 (UNB) – State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam has said the international community has a shared responsibility to help restore the Rohingyas’ fundamental rights and freedoms, including their right to return to Myanmar in safety…
Emojis with disabilities a step for inclusion
As a person with a disability, I have never seen myself represented in the vast range of emojis – those small digital images – found on smartphones. There are magician, mermaid and merman, zombie, and vampire emojis. There are thousands…
Power plant final deal with Reliance Group ‘soon’
Dhaka, Feb 15 (UNB) – The final deal with Indian Reliance Group is finally going to be signed for its proposed LNG-based 750 MW power plant as the Power Division has recently received clearance from the ministries of Law and Finance…
Committed to Constitution, not party, says Bd election boss
Dhaka, Feb 14 – Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda yesterday said as a state official, we are committed to the constitution, not to any political party and person. He urged the election officials to arrange the Upazila polls…
Burma again shows St Martin’s as its territory: Envoy called
Dhaka, Feb 14 – Myanmar keeps distorting facts showing Bangladesh’s St Martin’s Island as part of its territory in Myanmar’s government maps prompting Dhaka to react sharply and lodge a strong protest officially against the ‘deliberate’ attempt. The Ministry of…
Bangladesh, KSA sign MoU on military cooperation
Dhaka, Feb 14 (UNB) – Bangladesh on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), aiming to enhance military cooperation between the two countries. Principal Staff Officer Lt Gen Md Mahfuzur Rahman of the…
US says ex-intel official defected to Iran, revealed secrets
Washington, Feb 14 (AP/UNB) — A former U.S. Air Force counterintelligence specialist who defected to Iran despite warnings from the FBI has been charged with revealing classified information to the Tehran government, including the code name and secret mission of…
Suicide bomber target Iran’s Revolutionary Guard kills 27
Iran, Feb 14 (AP/UNB) — A suicide car bomber claimed by an al-Qaida-linked group attacked a bus carrying members of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard paramilitary force Wednesday, killing at least 27 people and wounding 13 others, state media reported. Tehran…
Bd Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina flies to Germany
Dhaka, Feb 14 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left here Thursday morning on her one-week visit to Germany and United Arab Emirates (UAE) to attend a security conference in Munich and a defence exhibition in Abu Dhabi. The Munich…
Food commodity prices begin new year on buoyant note
Geneva, (Kanaga Raja) – The international prices of a basket of key agricultural food commodities rose in January 2019, driven by a sharp rebound in dairy price quotations and firmer prices for palm and soy oils, the Food an d…
Thailand bans critical TV station
A Thai television station, Voice TV, provided airtime to candidates critical of Thailand’s military government and was then banned for 15 days during which it will be off air completely. Thailand goes to the polls in a few weeks, and…
Thai party fighting for survival after gaffe with princess
Bangkok, Feb 13 (AP/UNB) — The Thai political party that took the unprecedented and ultimately unsuccessful step of nominating a member of the royal family as its candidate for prime minister was fighting for its political life Wednesday, while the…
PM Hasina goes on a week-long visit to Germany, UAE Thursday
Dhaka, Feb 13 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s first overseas tour in her third consecutive term in office will further boost Bangladesh’s image abroad as she carries a big example of development, says Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen…
12 Years Behind a Stove—Undocumented Immigrant in NY City
NEW YORK, Feb 12 2019 (IPS) – One chilly afternoon in November 2005, Hilarino came by Pedro’s house in Oaxaca, Mexico, driving a shiny red car. “Pedro!” he shouted, “We are leaving in March. There is a route North to the…
Pak envoy summoned; protest over remarks on Bd, Bangabandhu
Dhaka, Feb 12 (UNB) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday summoned acting high commissioner of Pakistan Shah Fasial Kakar and strongly protested indecent remarks over Bangladesh and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in a government…
Bhupen Hazarika’s family turns down Bharat Ratna award
Dhaka, Feb 12 (UNB) – Late singer Bhupen Hazarika’s only son, Tej Hazarika, who lives in USA, has said that they won’t accept Bharat Ratna award conferred on his father in the backdrop of the situation arisen out of Citizenship…
Don’t reveal children’s identity in criminal cases, HC to media
Dhaka, Feb 12 (UNB) – The High Court on Tuesday directed all media including the Daily Star to remain alert while publishing name, address and photo of a child in any under-trial criminal case. A HC bench of Justice Sheikh…
Swedish Krona supported the struggle against apartheid
STOCKHOLM, Feb 11 2019 (IPS) – Between 1982 and 1988 Birgitta Karlström Dorph was on a secret mission in South Africa. “Why didn’t they stop us? Probably they were not aware of the scope of the operation. The money was transferred…
Lady Gaga wins 3 Grammys, Michelle Obama makes appearance
Los Angeles, Feb 11 (AP/UNB) — The Grammy Awards kicked off Sunday with a group of powerful women, including Michelle Obama and Lady Gaga, describing the role of music in their lives — a display that came a year after…
Bd NGOs Network for Radio, Com in UN SDG Media Compact
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) is among more than 39 media organizations from across the world that have come together to form a Global SDG Media Compact aimed at advancing awareness of the UN Sustainable Development Goals…
Dhaka wants safe zone in Rakhine for Rohingya repatriation
Dhaka, Feb 10 – Bangladesh has urged the world leaders to make an arrangement of safe zone in Rakhine state of Myanmar for the repatriation of the displaced Rohingya people as soon as possible. Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday…
HR action must lead to real changes in Bangladesh: UN
Dhaka, Feb 10 (UNB) – UN Resident Coordinator Mia Seppo on Sunday said human rights action must lead to real, tangible changes in the lives of people in Bangladesh. “If we all work on it jointly in partnership, it can…
Indian Air chief in capital
Dhaka, Feb 10 (UNB) – Indian Air chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa arrived here on Sunday evening on a five-day visit at the invitation of his Bangladesh counterpart Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat. The IAF chief is accompanied by his spouse, Kamalpreet…
Illicit liquor intake kills 72 in India
New Delhi, Feb 10 (Xinhua/UNB) — The death toll due to consumption of illicit liquor in northern India has risen to 72, officials has said. According to officials, in Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh 36 deaths have taken place owing…
Thailand puzzles over political surprises from royals
Bangkok, Feb 10 (AP/UNB) — A Thai political party swore loyalty to the king after its stunning decision to nominate the monarch’s sister as its candidate for prime minister backfired when the king called the move inappropriate and unconstitutional. The…