Manage consent settings on AMP pagesThese settings apply to AMP pages only. Strictly necessary data collectionTo make our web pages work, we store some limited information on your device without your consent. Read more about the essential information we store on your device to make our web pages work. We use local storage to store your consent preferences on your device. You can choose not to receive personalised ads by clicking “Reject data collection and continue” below.

DAMASCUS, Oct 17, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Syrian state media said Thursday an Israeli air strike sparked fires in the coastal city of Latakia. "Anti-aircraft defence intercepted hostile targets above Latakia," SANA said. The news agency reported "fires were triggered by the Israeli aggression" at the entrance to Latakia, a stronghold of President Bashar al-Assad. The Israeli military, which has launched hundreds of strikes in Syria in recent years, said it would not comment on the Latakia bombardment when contacted by AFP. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said the Israeli strike "targeted a weapons depot in Latakia city".

WONJU, South Korea, Oct 17, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - K-pop megastar J-hope from BTS ended eighteen months of South Korean military service Thursday, with his bandmate embracing him and dozens of fans turning up to celebrate his return to the industry. J-hope, the main dancer of the group, emerged from the gates of his army base in South Korea's central Wonju city, where he was met by fellow band member Jin, who finished his service in June. Fans had put a life-size cut out of J-hope dancing outside the base, with a giant balloon congratulating him on his military discharge flying overhead. The latest BTS military discharge is likely to be good for the K-pop industry as a whole, analysts said. "Unless all BTS members complete their military service and make a full-group comeback, J-Hope's solo return might not be enough to overshadow the conflict completely," he added.

Skipper Rohit Sharma on Thursday said he was "hurting" after opting to bat first on a seaming pitch as hosts India fell to a dismal 46 all out against New Zealand. It was India's third-lowest Test score ever and lowest at home, worse than their 75 against the West Indies in New Delhi in 1987. Their lowest overall is 36 against Australia in a pink-ball Adelaide Test in 2020. "I am hurting a little bit because I made that call," said Rohit. Henry wrapped up the innings with a five-wicket haul and his last strike of Kuldeep Yadav was his 100th Test wicket.

India all out for record home Test low of 46 against New ZealandBENGALURU, India, Oct 17, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - New Zealand bowled out India for their lowest home Test total of 46 on day two of the weather-hit first match in Bengaluru on Thursday. Fast bowlers Matt Henry and William O'Rourke shared nine wickets between them to dismiss India in 31.2 overs in the second session, after the hosts elected to bat. India's previous lowest at home was 75 against the West Indies in New Delhi in 1987. Their lowest overall was 36 against Australia in a pink-ball Adelaide Test in 2020.

The number of hospitalised dengue patients across the country is 47,050 this yearEight die, another 1,100 hospitalised with dengue in BangladeshEight people have died of dengue, while 1,100 more patients have been hospitalised with the Aedes mosquito-borne disease throughout Bangladesh in the past 24 hours. The Directorate General of Health Services, or DGHS, said as many as 419 were admitted to hospital in Dhaka among the new dengue patients until Thursday morning. With the new counts, the number of hospitalised dengue patients has reached 47,050 this year. The DGHS has been keeping records of dengue hospitalisations and deaths since 2000. Since then, a record 321,179 dengue hospitalisations were logged in 2023.

— AFPRetiring ex-skipper Shakib Al Hasan told local media on Thursday he was not returning to Bangladesh because of "a security issue", potentially missing what he says will be his final match for his country. Asif Mahmud, who heads the sports ministry, said he had advised the cricket board to discourage Shakib from returning because of public anger. As well as a cricket star, Shakib is an ex-lawmaker in the government ousted by a revolution in August. "I was to return home... but now I don't think I can," Shakib told broadcaster bdnews24.com. "It is over a security issue, a matter of my own security."

Retiring ex-skipper Shakib Al Hasan told local media Thursday he was not returning to Bangladesh because of “a security issue”, potentially missing what he says will be his final match for his country. Asif Mahmud, who heads the sports ministry, said he had advised the cricket board to discourage Shakib from returning because of public anger. As well as a cricket star, Shakib is an ex-lawmaker in the government ousted by a revolution in August. Shakib was playing in a domestic Twenty20 cricket competition in Canada when the regime collapsed and has not returned to Bangladesh since. Earlier on Thursday, a court in Bangladesh issued an arrest warrant for Hasina to face charges, including crimes against humanity.

"I am not sure where I am going next, but it is almost sure that I am not going home," Shakib told ESPNcricinfo via WhatsApp on Thursday. According to AFP, Youth and Sports adviser Asif Mahmud said in a statement that he had advised Shakib not to return to the country to 'avoid untoward situations'"I have advised Shakib not to come [to Bangladesh] to avoid any untoward circumstances," Asif said. Shakib is a former lawmaker from the party of autocratic ex-leader Sheikh Hasina, who fled by helicopter to India in August. "I was to return home... but now I don't think I can," Shakib told broadcaster bdnews24.com. Shakib apologised in a Facebook post earlier this month for remaining silent during the revolution.

This follows the International Crimes Tribunal's issuance of arrest warrants for the former prime minister and 45 othersForeign Advisor Md Touhid Hossain has said all efforts will be made to bring back former prime minister Sheikh Hasina from India within the one-month timeframe set by the court. This follows the International Crimes Tribunal's issuance of arrest warrants for Hasina and 45 others, related to two charges of attempting to carry out mass killings to suppress the Anti-discrimination Student Movement. Regarding the method of bringing back the former prime minister, Touhid said: “I don’t want to comment further on the procedure. What’s important is that the court has issued an arrest warrant. Regarding the whereabouts of other Awami League leaders or government officials, the advisor said: "My list mostly comes from media reports.

Retiring ex-skipper Shakib Al Hasan told local media Thursday he was not returning to Bangladesh because of "a security issue", potentially missing what he says will be his final match for his country. Shakib is among dozens from Hasina's party facing murder investigations for a deadly police crackdown on protesters during the uprising. "I was to return home... but now I don't think I can," Shakib told broadcaster bdnews24.com. The broadcaster and other Bangladesh media said Shakib was in Dubai but would be heading to the United States. Shakib was playing in a domestic Twenty20 cricket competition in Canada when the regime collapsed and has not returned to Bangladesh since.

State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, CanadaZip Code

Shakib Al Hasan. (Pic Credit - X)NEW DELHI: Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan on Thursday informed the local media that he will not be returning to his home country due to 'a security issue'. "I was to return home... but now I don't think I can," Shakib told broadcaster bdnews24.com. "It is over a security issue, a matter of my own security. "Shakib's announcement of his 'final decision' left some uncertainty about his potential return to the game.Reports from Bangladeshi media, including the broadcaster, indicated that Shakib was currently in Dubai but had plans to travel to the United States.During the collapse of the regime, Shakib was participating in a domestic Twenty20 cricket tournament in Canada and has not returned to Bangladesh since then.However, he has been part of the Bangladesh team's tours to Pakistan and India, which were approved by the interim government that was established following Hasina's departure.The upcoming first Test against South Africa, scheduled to take place in Mirpur near Dhaka, will mark the first international cricket match in Bangladesh since the storming of Hasina's palace by crowds.The second Test is set to be held in Chittagong, a port city, starting from October 29.

State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, CanadaZip Code

However, as nine of these occasions fall on Fridays and Saturdays, the total number of days off is 17The interim government has announced the approval of 26 public holidays in 2025, with a combination of national days, religious festivals, and executive orders. However, as nine of these occasions fall on Fridays and Saturdays, the total number of days off for workers is only 17. The agenda of the meeting stated that the initial proposal had included 12 general holidays and 14 holidays by executive order, with nine of them falling on the weekend. The 12 general holidays include national days and religious festivals from different traditions. The 14 days declared holidays by executive order include the Bangla New Year and other religious festivals.