What happens when Russian gas supply to Europe via Ukraine ends?
Russian President Vladimir Putin says there is no time left this year to sign a new dealWhat happens when Russian gas supply to Europe via Ukraine ends? Here is what we know about options for when Russian gas transit via Ukraine stops. Slovakia has said the loss of Russian supply would not hit its consumption and that it has diversified supply contracts. As for Ukraine, its security of supply will not be impacted as it does not use Russian transit gas, the European Commission said. Transdniestria borders Ukraine and also receives Russian gas via Ukraine.
Source:bd News24
December 31, 2024 14:02 UTC
Government warns officials against indiscipline amid promotion protests
The Ministry of Public Administration has issued a stern warning to civil servants, including administration cadre officials, against engaging in undisciplined activities amid ongoing protests over promotions to the rank of deputy secretary. The success of public administration depends on disciplined, responsible, and professional conduct by government employees. The protests began after the Public Administration Reform Commission proposed reducing the administration cadre’s quota for deputy secretary promotions from 75 percent to 50 percent, allocating the other 50 percent to officials from other cadres. The Bangladesh Administrative Service Association, representing administration cadre officials, protested the recommendation in a statement on Dec 25. Historically, the 1975 Service Act allowed for merit-based promotions, later amended to include quotas prioritising administration cadre officials.
Source:bd News24
December 31, 2024 14:02 UTC
Chief minister of India's Manipur state apologises for ethnic unrest
REUTERS/Francis MascarenhasPeople sit inside a relief camp for displaced Meiteis after their homes and shops were set ablaze, in Borobekra, Jiribam in the northeastern state of Manipur, India, Nov 23, 2024. REUTERS/Francis MascarenhasThe chief minister of India's northeastern state of Manipur apologised on Tuesday for months of ethnic unrest that has killed at least 250 people and prompted criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's federal government. "This entire year has been very unfortunate," Singh told reporters in the state capital Imphal. "I want to say sorry to the people of the state for what's happening ... many people lost their loved ones. Kukis accuse Chief Minister Biren Singh, a Meitei and member of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of complicity in attacks on members of their community and have sought his removal.
Source:bd News24
December 31, 2024 13:54 UTC
Anti-Corruption Commission to revive Padma Bridge graft case
The Anti-Corruption Commission is set to revive a graft case over the Padma Bridge project which was closed 10 years ago during the Awami League regime after the watchdog cited a lack of evidence. The case dossier said, “These accused, by conspiring to exchange bribes, arranged for the work of the supervisory consultant of the Padma Bridge project to be awarded to one of the bidders, SNC Lavalin International. The report found that no evidence of “corruption or conspiracy” was found in the construction of the Padma Bridge. On Oct 16, 2014, a Dhaka court accepted the final report submitted by the ACC and acquitted all seven accused. However, since some evidence was found in this regard, the commission has decided to investigate the case further.”
Source:bd News24
December 31, 2024 10:40 UTC
Multiple cold waves to hit Bangladesh in January, cold weather to persist
January 2025 will be colder than in previous years, says Meteorologist Muhammad Abul Kalam MallikThe Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast several cold waves in the first month of the new year. “At least one to three mild to moderate cold waves and one to two intense cold waves are likely to sweep through the country in January,” Mallick told bdnews24.com. Sharp cold weather will be felt throughout the month.”A cold wave is said to occur when the temperature is at or below 10 degrees Celsius. When the mercury drops below 6 degrees Celsius, it is assumed to be a severe cold wave. LOWEST TEMPERATURE 10.9 DEGREES IN TENTULIAPanchagarh’s Tentulia recorded the country's lowest temperature at 10.9 degrees Celsius in the 24 hours to 6am on Tuesday.
Source:bd News24
December 31, 2024 07:47 UTC
Students gather at Central Shaheed Minar to take part in ‘March for Unity’
Students from across the country are flocking to Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar to take part in the ‘March for Unity’ called by the Anti-discrimination Student Movement. The programme is set to start at 3:00 pm on Tuesday. Students and members of the public could be seen leading small processions in the Dhaka University and Shaheed Minar areas before gathering at the monument. “Many students have come together on behalf of our university,” he said. We hope for the success of today’s programme.”At 1:45am on Tuesday, the Anti-discrimination Student Movement announced the ‘March for Unity’ programme to be held at the Central Shaheed Minar at 3pm from its offices in Dhaka’s Bangla Motor area.
Source:bd News24
December 31, 2024 07:25 UTC
Primary schools to get 76 holidays in 2025
The government primary schools will have 76 days of holidays in 2025 in addition to the weekend on Friday and Saturday. The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education approved the list of 76 holidays for government primary schools in 2025. “The Directorate of Primary Education proposed a list of 76 holidays. Three days of holidays have been reserved at the discretion of the headmaster in 2025. Approval from the Upazila or Thana primary education officer will be required for those holidays.
Source:bd News24
December 31, 2024 06:00 UTC
Shipping workers call off strike over justice for seven murders
Shipping workers call off strike over justice for seven murdersThe indefinite strike called by the shipping workers nationwide demanding justice against the killings of seven crew members aboard the MV Al-Bakhera ship in the Meghna River in Chandpur has been called off. The decision to suspend the industrial action came after a meeting with the leaders of the Bangladesh Water Transport Workers Federation, at the office of the Department of Shipping in Dhaka on Saturday night. The department’s Director General Commodore Mohammad Maksud Alam told bdnews24.com, “The water vessel workers announced to return to work by suspending the strike from the night after the discussion.”The shipping workers federation launched a nationwide strike from Thursday midnight, demanding justice for those involved in the killings of seven crew members on the ship and compensation. The shipping department DG said the demands of the workers were discussed and the families of the deceased workers were assured of compensation. After discussions, they agreed to call off the strike.”Shah Alam, president of Bangladesh Water Transport Workers Federation, told bdnews24.com: “After discussions, it was decided to suspend the strike and the workers will join work from the night.”Source: The Financial Express
Source:bd News24
December 31, 2024 04:09 UTC
India's Adani Green CEO to step down for new role in group
Amit Singh, who has previously worked as a director at the oilfield services company SLB, was appointed as Adani Green's CEO in May 2023India's Adani Green CEO to step down for new role in groupElectric power transmission pylon miniatures and Adani Green Energy logo are seen in this illustration taken, December 9, 2022. REUTERSElectric power transmission pylon miniatures and Adani Green Energy logo are seen in this illustration taken, December 9, 2022. REUTERSAdani Green Energy's chief executive officer Amit Singh will step down to take up the role of the chief of the international energy business of the Adani Group, the renewable energy firm said, opens new tab on Monday. The Adani group has called the charges "baseless". However, the indictment had major ripple effects with French oil major TotalEnergies pausing investments in the group, Adani Green shelving a $600 million bond issue, and credit rating agencies flagging risks to the group's access to funding.
Source:bd News24
December 31, 2024 03:43 UTC
Michael Chakma files complaint with ICT against Hasina
United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) leader Michael Chakma has filed a written complaint with the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and eight others over his enforced disappearance, reports bdnews24.com. He submitted the complaint on Monday morning, said ICT Prosecutor BM Sultan Mahmud. Earlier on Dec 18, Michael filed a verbal complaint with the ICT, stating that Hasina and others subjected him to an enforced disappearance for five years. According to the media reports, Michael was imprisoned in the 'Ayna Ghor', the secret detention cells under the control of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI). UPDF Central Vice President Nutan Kumar Chakma said: "Michael Chakma was picked up and imprisoned for more than five years on the orders of the fascist Awami League government."
Source:bd News24
December 31, 2024 00:22 UTC
17, including Forest Department workers, abducted from Teknaf hill
Seventeen people, including three Forest Department workers, were abducted from Teknaf's hilly Jadimora area in Hnila union at around 10am today (30 December). The three kidnapped forest workers were identified as Saiful Islam, 22, Syed Ahmed, 50, Mohammad Rafiq, 40. In today's incident, UNO Ehsan said the workers had gone to plant saplings on Jadimora hill when they were abducted. "This morning, 24 people, including the three forest workers, went to the hills to plant saplings of various trees. Forest Department's Teknaf Range Officer Abdur Rashid said the police, Armed Police Battalion, Rapid Action Battalion, and locals were jointly engaged in the rescue operation.
Source:bd News24
December 30, 2024 20:43 UTC
12 more officials promoted to additional secretary
The promotion will be considered effective from Dec 24Another 12 officials of the joint secretary rank have been promoted to additional secretaries. They were made the officers on special duty of the Ministry of Public Administration following the development. Their promotion will be considered effective from Dec 24, the ministry said in a notification on Monday. Earlier, a total of 131 joint secretaries were promoted to additional secretaries on Aug 25. At a press conference on Dec 24, the chief advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the advisory council had decided to promote 764 former officials with all facilities who were "deprived" during the rule of the ousted Awami League government.
Source:bd News24
December 30, 2024 20:15 UTC
AL can contest elections: CEC
Asked about whether the recently-ousted Awami League will be able to participate in the next elections, the CEC said: "It will basically be a political decision. It is a political decision or a legal decision. "I have been saying this from the very beginning - a political decision or a court decision. The decision on whether to contest the elections is basically up to them. "You have seen the elections that were held before the last three elections.
Source:bd News24
December 30, 2024 18:42 UTC
India launches its first space docking mission
India launched its first space docking mission on Monday, on an Indian-made rocket, in an attempt to become the fourth country to achieve the advanced technological feat. The mission, called Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh state at 1630 GMT aboard the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) "workhorse" PSLV rocket. The mission is seen as pivotal for future space endeavours, including satellite servicing and the operation of the country's planned space station. In-space docking technology is crucial when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve shared mission objectives. The fourth stage of the PSLV, which usually turns into space debris, has been converted into an active un-crewed space laboratory.
Source:bd News24
December 30, 2024 18:18 UTC
Overseas credit commitments drop by 91pc in July-Nov
"Foreign loans primarily come around project implementation. The momentum this year has further slowed due to the impact of the July-August protests. "A power plant was built with financing from the Asian Development Bank, but it is now idle due to a lack of gas. The Karnaphuli Tunnel, funded by a loan from China, is also not generating returns," Zahid said.He added, "The interim government must now reconsider all projects. It's not just about taking loans; careful attention must also be paid to how they are utilised."
Source:bd News24
December 30, 2024 18:14 UTC