Illegal crop burning in farm states surrounding New Delhi, vehicle exhaust in a city with limited public transport and swirling construction dust have caused the crisis, as they do year after year.
Category: Lead 1
UN, aid groups warn of ‘starvation and death’ in Yemen
Sanaa, Nov 09 (AP/UNB) — The United Nations and more than 20 aid groups said Thursday that the Saudi-led coalition’s tightening of a blockade on war-torn Yemen could bring millions of people closer to “starvation and death.”
Scores more Saudis detained in $100 billion graft sweep
Riyadh, Nov 10 (AP/UNB) — Dozens more people have been taken into custody by Saudi authorities, the kingdom said Thursday, bringing to 201 the number detained in a sweep that investigators say has uncovered at least $100 billion in corruption.
Democrats score key poll victories in Virginia and New Jersey
Democrats have scored two significant victories in the US – in the first statewide elections since President Donald Trump came to power in January.
PM approved third stage design of Independence Monument
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has approved the design of the master plan (third phase) of the ‘Swadhinata Stambha’ (Independence Monument) being constructed at Suhrawardi Udyan. The premier gave the approval after reviewing the proposed design of the project at a…
CPA delegation calls on PM Sheikh Hasina
A delegation of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban here this evening. The delegation is now in Dhaka on the occasion of the 63rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference that began on…
Asia is leading a recovery in world trade
Asia and the Pacific is leading a recovery in world trade amid the continued uncertainty surrounding the global trade policy environment. This year’s Asian Economic Integration Report introduces a new composite index to gauge the progress of regional cooperation and…
Bangladesh’s migrant workers to get smart cards
Dhaka – Bangladeshi expatriates living in Europe, American and Australasia will get smart cards to and access all welfare facilities like any foreign wage earner and migrant worker.The new draft policy on expatriates and migrant workers will provide the equal…
Saudi helicopter crash reportedly kills high-ranking prince
Dubai, Nov 6 (AP/UNB) — A helicopter carrying a high-ranking Saudi prince and other government officials crashed Sunday in the kingdom’s south near the border with Yemen, reportedly killing all eight people aboard.
Saudi princes among dozens detained in ‘corruption’ purge
The heir to the throne in Saudi Arabia has consolidated his hold on power with a major purge of the kingdom’s political and business leadership.
PM Sheikh Hasina to open CPA conference Sunday
Dhaka – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to officially inaugurate the 63rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference on Sunday at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad (Bangladesh Parliament).
Ex-President Abdur Rahman Biswas passes away
Former President Abdur Rahman Biswas passed away at a city hospital on Friday night. He was 91. Abdur Rahman, who had long been suffering from old-age complications, breathed his last at United Hospital around 8:40pm, said BNP chairperson’s media wing…
IPR of essential drugs: And use of compulsory licenses
Geneva, 2 Nov (Kanaga Raja) – Highlighting the use of compulsory licenses by countries such as the United States, Germany and most recently Malaysia in order to gain access to amongst others affordable essential medicines, several major developing countries including…
30pc women participation in politics still a challenge: CPA
Dhaka – The aspiration to achieve minimum 30 percent women participation in parliament of the Commonwealth members countries is still a big challenge due to traditional mindset, said Chairperson of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Dr Dato Noraini Ahmad on Thursday.
4 die, survivors critical as 2nd Rohingya boat capsizes in 2 days
By International Organization for Migration Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, Nov 1 (IOM) – Around 2.00 am two nights ago (30/10), approximately 40 Rohingya refugees left Gorgondia, Myanmar, for Bangladesh on a small fishing boat. Early yesterday morning (31/10) around 8.00 am,…
‘Cowardly act of terror’: Truck driver kills 8 on bike path
New York, Nov 1 (AP/UNB) — A man in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Center memorial on Tuesday, killing at least eight and seriously injuring 11 in…
Rohingya Crisis: EU Commissioner Stylianides reaffirms support
Brussels/Dhaka, 31 Oct – The Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides has started a two-day visit to Bangladesh, to assess the situation on the ground and visit EU aid projects that are addressing the Rohingya refugee crisis.…
EU Commissioner in Dhaka to address Rohingya crisis
Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management of European Commission Christos Stylianides today reached here on a two-day visit to address the Rohingya crisis. His visit comes a week after the EU and its Member States pledged over 5percent of…
Adolescent health congress skirts abuse-trafficking issues
By Stella Paul New Delhi, Oct 30 (IPS) – Twenty-year-old Gogontlejang Phaladi of Mahalapye, Botswana is grateful she was never sent to a so-called “hyena” like scores of girls in neighbouring Malawi were.
Army supporters, Buddhist nationalists march in Yangon
Yangon, Oct 30 (AP/UNB) — People marched in Myanmar’s largest city on Sunday to support the military, which has come under heavy criticism over violence that has driven hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee to neighboring Bangladesh.
A Chinese model for foreign aid
Asit K. Biswas and Kris Hartley Singapore – Last month, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation released a status report tracking progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The data, which were meant to highlight efforts to eradicate…
‘Grand Jury approves first charges in Trump-Russia probe’
by Phil Helsel A federal grand jury in Washington has approved the first charges in the investigation being conducted by special counsel Robert Mueller, CNN reported.
Spain takes over Catalonia and fires its defiant leaders
Spain has taken direct control of Catalonia and sacked the region’s defiant separatist government by publishing special measures overnight in an official gazette online. The move early Saturday came after separatist Catalan lawmakers passed a declaration of independence on Friday.…
Spain cracks down hard after Catalonia declares independence
Barcelona, Oct 28 (AP/UNB) – In one of the most momentous days in recent Spanish history, Spain fired Catalonia’s regional government and dissolved its parliament Friday after a defiant Catalan declaration of independence that flouted the country’s constitution.
Qatar ‘to introduce’ minimum wage – labour reforms
David Harding AFP Doha (AFP) – World Cup 2022 host Qatar, under global scrutiny over its alleged ill-treatment of foreign workers, has agreed to a range of labour reforms including the introduction of a minimum wage.
China wants peaceful resolution of Rohingya crisis
China wants to see a peaceful solution to Rohingya crisis bilaterally and send them back to their homeland – Myanmar, says an official on Wednesday. “Their intention and commitment for sending them (Rohingyas) back is now stronger,” Foreign Secretary M…
Xi’s accrual of power seems to resonate with Chinese public
Beijing, Oct 25 (AP/UNB) — The model lunar rover didn’t much impress the retiree in a cotton Mao jacket visiting an exhibition of Chinese achievements under President Xi Jinping. Nor did the displays charting China’s climate change progress or other…
Myamnar agrees to take back Rohingyas
Myanmar today agreed to take back the Rohingya people, forced out of their homes in the Rakhine state of that country and pushed into Bangladesh, side by side with implementing the Kofi Annan report. Both Myanmar and Bangladesh would form…
US asks Myanmar to ensure safe return of Rohingyas
Dhaka, Oct 24 – The United States has asked the Myanmar government to facilitate the safe and voluntary return of all Rohingyas from Bangladesh who fled or been have displaced in Rakhine State.
Queen Rania of Jordan for stand against Rohingya injustice
Jordan’s Queen Rania Al-Abdullah has called on the international community to stand up to the injustices inflicted on Rohingyas during her visit to the Kutupalang Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar’s Ukhiya Upazila. The queen visited Bangladesh as a representative…