Bezos' Blue Origin calls off debut New Glenn launch over rocket issue
But late in the countdown, Blue Origin repeatedly pushed back the liftoff time, inching closer to the end of New Glenn's launch window at 4 am. "We’re standing down on today’s launch attempt to troubleshoot a vehicle subsystem issue that will take us beyond our launch window," Blue Origin said in a statement. "The thing we're most nervous about is the booster landing," Bezos, who founded Blue Origin in 2000, told Reuters in a pre-launch interview. Getting the spacecraft to its intended orbit on an inaugural rocket launch would be a rare achievement for a space company. Bezos in late 2023 moved to speed things up at Blue Origin, prioritizing the development of New Glenn and its BE-4 engines.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 15:59 UTC
BCL leader Sushmita arrested en route to India
She is accused of murder chargesBangladesh Chhatra League leader Sushmita Pandey has been arrested while attempting to travel to India through the Benapole International Checkpost. Immigration Police Inspector (Investigation) Ibrahim Hossain said, "Sushmita submitted her passport to immigration to go to India for medical treatment. “The passport was checked, and it was found that she had previously been banned from leaving the country." Citing Sushmita's initial interrogation, the inspector said she is accused in a murder case at Dhaka's New Market Police Station. She was handed over to Benapole Port Police Station, from where she would later be transferred to New Market Police Station.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 15:08 UTC
India set for Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's largest gathering of humanity
REUTERSA six-week Maha Kumbh Mela or Great Pitcher Festival begins in India on Monday, a Hindu sacred event that will be the world's largest gathering of humanity as it showcases religion, spirituality, tourism and crowd management. Devout Hindus believe taking a dip in the sacred waters absolves people of sins, and during the Kumbh Mela, it also brings salvation from the cycle of life and death. The Kumbh held once every 12 years in this cycle has the prefix 'maha' (great) as it is considered more auspicious due to its timing and attracts the largest gathering. "I am fortunate to host one of the most auspicious Hindu festivals in my state," state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath told the Aaj Tak TV channel. It has also promoted the Kumbh Mela at several international tourism expositions and invited foreign representatives.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 09:35 UTC
Tens of thousands take holy dip in India as Maha Kumbh festival begins
More than 2.5 million expected for first ritual dip in the Maha Kumbh Mela or Great Pitcher FestivalA devotee prays as he takes a holy dip at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers with the mythical, invisible Saraswati river, during the "Maha Kumbh Mela", or the Great Pitcher Festival, in Prayagraj, India, January 13, 2025. REUTERSA devotee prays as he takes a holy dip at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers with the mythical, invisible Saraswati river, during the "Maha Kumbh Mela", or the Great Pitcher Festival, in Prayagraj, India, January 13, 2025. The Kumbh held once in 12 years in this cycle has the prefix 'maha' (great) as its timing renders it more auspicious and it attracts the largest crowds. Indian Railways has added 98 trains to make 3,300 trips carrying festival visitors, in addition to regular services to Prayagraj. "The Maha Kumbh embodies India’s timeless spiritual heritage and celebrates faith and harmony," Modi said in a post on X.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 06:54 UTC
Tougher US sanctions to curb Russian oil supply to China and India
As many as 143 sanctioned oil tankers shipped over 530mn bbls Russian crude in 2024An oil tank and a pump jack are seen in this picture. The US Treasury on Friday imposed sanctions on Russian oil producers Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, as well as 183 vessels that have shipped Russian oil, targeting the revenues Moscow has used to fund its war with Ukraine. Many of the tankers have been used to ship oil to India and China as Western sanctions and a price cap imposed by the Group of Seven countries in 2022 shifted trade in Russian oil from Europe to Asia. Russian oil exports will be hurt severely by the new sanctions, which will force Chinese independent refiners to cut refining output going forward, two Chinese trade sources said. A Singapore-based trader said the designated tankers shipped close to 900,000 bpd of Russian crude to China over the past 12 months.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 04:10 UTC
Six killed in explosion at Czech restaurant
Eight people were injured in the fiery blast that occurred late on Saturday evening, and 30 people were evacuated from the restaurant and surrounding buildingsSix killed in explosion at Czech restaurantFirefighters work at the site of a propane-butane cylinder explosion in a restaurant in the city of Most, Czech Republic, January 12, 2025. Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic via X/Handout via REUTERSFirefighters work at the site of a propane-butane cylinder explosion in a restaurant in the city of Most, Czech Republic, January 12, 2025. Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic via X/Handout via REUTERSSix people died when a propane-butane cylinder exploded at a restaurant in the northwest Czech city of Most, setting the building on fire, emergency services said on Sunday. The fire brigade said it had rescued one seriously injured restaurant guest who had been trapped in a bathroom. Around 20 guests were in the restaurant at the time of the explosion, Czech Radio said.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 03:18 UTC
What recommendations are likely to overhaul electoral system in Bangladesh?
What recommendations are likely to overhaul electoral system in Bangladesh? The Electoral Reform Commission was formed on Oct 3, 2024, with Badiul Alam Majumdar, the general secretary of Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik, or SUJAN, at the helm. POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATIONSAbdul Alim, a member of the Electoral Reform Commission, said the commission has held over 50 meetings. In addition, a public opinion survey on electoral reform was conducted. The Electoral Reform Commission aims to set a threshold for voter turnout to curb the trend of uncontested elections.
Source:bd News24
January 12, 2025 22:14 UTC
2nd campus: JnU students on hunger strike reject VC’s request to end protest
The university's Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Rezaul Karim joined the hunger strike in "solidarity" with the protesting students at 7pm. Meanwhile, the proctor, the general secretary of the teachers association, and the director of the Students Welfare office alongside a number of teachers joined the strike. At about 7:45pm on Sunday, the students refused to break the hunger strike after being requested by the vice-chancellor following his stay on the strike at the university’s Shaheed Minar premises for about half an hour. Three students launched the hunger strike at the university's Shaheed Minar premises at 8:30am on Sunday. Later, nine more protesters joined them by 10pm, and later, responding to their call, some more students came and joined the hunger strike.
Source:bd News24
January 12, 2025 19:34 UTC
Salman’s son Shayan joins corruption controversy amid Tulip storm in UK
The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit, or BFIU, froze the bank accounts of Salman, Shayan, and daughter-in-law Shahzreh Rahman in August 2024. The property in Golders Green, where Tulip’s mother Sheikh Rehana resides rent-free, is owned by an offshore company controlled by Shayan Rahman. So I am delighted that our new programme in Bangladesh will be overseen and supported by Shayan Rahman, the chair of our Bangladesh advisory council,” he said. The MoS said Shayan continues to hold his position at the trust despite the corruption allegations. Shayan was once the vice-chairman of International Finance Investment and Commerce Bank, or IFIC, Bank.
Source:bd News24
January 12, 2025 16:20 UTC
AL takes Rajshahi, Barishal, Sylhet uncertain
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan ChowdhuryPublished by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Online: 41053014; Advertisement: 41053012.E-mail: [email protected] , news©dailyobserverbd.com, advertisement©dailyobserverbd.com, For Online Edition: mailobserverbd©gmail.com
Source:bd News24
January 12, 2025 15:56 UTC
Bangladesh government decides to skip Indian Meteorological Department's 150th anniversary celebration event
Bangladesh government decides to skip Indian Meteorological Department's 150th anniversary celebration eventBangladesh's interim government has rejected India's invitation to attend the 150th-anniversary celebrations of the India Meteorological Department citing current restrictions on non-essential foreign travel at state expense. Mominul Islam, the acting director of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, or BMD, earlier, confirmed receiving invitation from IMD. Denying rift, Mominul told bdnews24.com: “The India Meteorological Department invited us to their 150th anniversary celebrations. The Narendra Modi government has sent invitations to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Besides the subcontinent, invitations have been sent to officials from the Middle East, central and Southwest Asia too.
Source:bd News24
January 12, 2025 14:23 UTC
India stopped work at border after firm action by BGB: home advisor
India was looking to construct barbed wire fences inside the 150-yard no man’s land at Lalmonirhat’s Tin Bigha Corridor, Naogaon’s Patnitala and three other places, Jahangir Alam said on Sunday. India stopped work after the BGB took a firm stand.”Referring to the 1972 India-Bangladesh Treaty of Friendship, Jahangir Alam said: “None of us [Bangladesh or India] can establish anything with defence capability or potentiality inside this 150 yards. The second point is if any of us wants to carry out development work inside the 150 yard Zero Line, we have to take each other’s consent. Our government gave them so many opportunities.”In this period, India placed barbed wire fencing at 160 locations while issues remained at 78 other places. He said: “We interfere if they want to fence the border but legally we can’t do that.
Source:bd News24
January 12, 2025 13:46 UTC
EC prefers to hold general elections before local polls
Election Commissioner Sanaullah says the focus is to hold the general electionsThe Election Commission is focused on holding the general election ahead of local polls and is focused on working towards that, Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah has said. The 14th Election Commission discussed the next general election and local elections in its second meeting on Sunday. Earlier, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus said the government was preparing for the local polls along with the general election. Meanwhile, BNP leaders said they would not accept local elections before the general election. Speaking after the meeting, Election Commissioner Sanaullah said: "Our overall focus is to hold the general elections, and the commission is working towards it.
Source:bd News24
January 12, 2025 11:47 UTC
Tulip should apologise for ‘robbed’ properties: Yunus
Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has urged Tulip Siddiq, the UK’s economic secretary to the Treasury and the City minister and niece of deposed Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, to apologise for properties her family allegedly received as “gifts” during her aunt’s term. Yunus said Tulip should return the properties if investigations prove that she benefitted from alleged "plain robbery", according to The Sunday Times. He also noted the need to investigate properties linked to Tulip in the UK as part of corruption and embezzlement probes. Following Yunus’s comments, Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK’s opposition Conservative Party, called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to dismiss Tulip from her ministerial role. A spokesperson for Tulip dismissed the allegations, saying: "The suggestion that these properties are linked to her support for the Awami League is entirely false."
Source:bd News24
January 12, 2025 10:52 UTC
Sheikh Hasina should be allowed to stay in India as long as she wants: Mani Shankar Aiyar
The Congress leader says Hasina has done ‘a lot of good’ for IndiaSheikh Hasina should be allowed to stay in India as long as she wants: Mani Shankar AiyarFormer Indian career diplomat and Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has said that deposed Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina should be allowed to stay in India as long as she wants. About demands by Bangladesh to extradite Hasina, he said, "I hope we will never disagree that Sheikh Hasina has done a lot of good for us. I think we should be her host as long as she wants, even if it is for all her life." Hasina, 77, fled to India after stepping down in the face of a nationwide mass movement. The Congress leader said it is true that minority Hindus in Bangladesh are being attacked, but mostly it is because they are supporters of Hasina.
Source:bd News24
January 12, 2025 09:53 UTC