Letters to Santa: 9 days left!
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Source:Daily Sun
December 16, 2023 06:25 UTC
Mail train carriage set ablaze in Joypurhat
Passengers waiting on the station platform noticed the flames shortly after the Parbatipur-bound 'Uttara Express' arrived in Joypurhat. They promptly extinguished the fire, and the train resumed its journey afterwards. Police suspect that the arsonists started the fire shortly before the train reached Joypurhat. Authorities have launched an investigation into the matter and will provide further details once the probe is complete, said Muktar.
Source:bd News24
December 16, 2023 06:21 UTC
State ag officials oppose beef imports from Paraguay
(Photo via Canva)Federal officials did not sufficiently assess the risk posed by a devastating cattle disease when they recently decided to allow beef imports from Paraguay, according to agriculture officials of several top beef-producing states. Beef groups dispute USDA risk analysisBut beef industry groups and some federal lawmakers have opposed the change, claiming that the risk analysis was based on outdated information. Cattlemen claim beef decision based on diplomacy goalsThe letter mimicked the criticism that has been leveled for months by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Paraguay is a key U.S. ally in South America, a continent where federal officials have worried about China’s growing influence. But some federal lawmakers fear that beef imports from Paraguay are too risky.
Source:Daily Sun
December 16, 2023 05:30 UTC
Conway's first Christmas tree, courtesy of Lady Blanche
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
Source:Daily Sun
December 16, 2023 03:39 UTC
How I skied from France to Italy in one morning — even a beginner could do it
So once we had found our ski legs, it was au revoir France and ciao Italy. Under the glistening gaze of Mont Blanc, La Rosière and the Italian resort of La Thuile are both part of the San Bernardo ski area. Generally there’s more snow in La Thuile and more sun in La Rosière, where most slopes face south. So on sunny days it’s best to ski in the morning in La Rosière and head over to La Thuile before the snow gets slushy. But allow enough time to get back to La Rosière, as conditions can change quickly.
Source:Daily Sun
December 16, 2023 00:33 UTC
IMF tells Bangladesh to focus on containing inflation, rebuilding external resilience
The International Monetary Fund has advised Bangladesh to focus on containing inflation and rebuilding external resilience in the near-term as the global lender approves the second tranche of $4.7 billion loans for the country. This will require a calibrated monetary policy tightening, supported by a prudent fiscal policy stance, a more flexible exchange rate system, and growth–boosting reforms, Rahul Anand, IMF Mission Chief for Bangladesh, said in a media briefing. A greater flexible exchange rate system will help alleviate foreign exchange pressures and rebuild external buffers, Rahul said on Thursday, according to a statement from the IMF. Second, modernising the monetary policy framework and improving policy transmission will foster macroeconomic stability. Further reforms to modernise the exchange rate framework and strengthen foreign currency reserve management would enhance external resilience.
Source:bd News24
December 15, 2023 19:12 UTC
Coal use to decline next year after record high in 2023: IEA
Coal use to decline next year after record high in 2023: IEAPARIS, Dec 15, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - World coal consumption should start declining next year after peaking in 2023, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Friday. Coal is the largest energy-related source of the CO2 emissions responsible along with other greenhouse gases for global warming. "We expect to see a trend emerging of declining worldwide coal demand, starting in 2024," the Paris-based agency said, as renewable power generation from solar and wind continues to expand. According to the IEA, consumption in China alone grew by 220 million tonnes or 4.9 percent in 2023, while in India it grew eight percent and in Indonesia by 11 percent. The IEA said it was difficult to forecast demand in Russia, currently the fourth-largest coal consumer, because of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
December 15, 2023 19:05 UTC
Bangladesh set to celebrate victory over Pakistan in 1971 Liberation War
Bangladesh has geared up to celebrate 52 years of its emergence on the world map through the victory over Pakistan in a nine-month bloody War of Independence, ending more than two decades of oppression. With red and green flags flying at almost every corner of the country, the nation will celebrate the occasion through largescale programmes. Despite economic achievements, social and political setbacks frustrate the nation weeks before the 12th general election, but people still vow to march forward. The BNP has announced a boycott of the election to be overseen by the Awami League government. In this situation, President Mohammed Shahabuddin called for tolerance and mutual respect in his Victory Day message.
Source:bd News24
December 15, 2023 19:03 UTC
Playback singer Anup Ghoshal dies aged 78
Anup Ghoshal, the Indian Bengali playback singer who mesmerised generations with his works in Satyajit Ray's 'Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne' and 'Heerak Rajar Deshe', has died at the age of 78, reports bdnews24.com. Ghoshal, the voice behind Goopy, died of a heart disease at a private hospital in Kolkata around 1:30pm on Friday, the Anandabazar Patrika reported. He had been hospitalised for a long time due to old-age complications, according to the report. Ghoshal had also contested the 2011 West Bengal Assembly Elections on Trinamool Congress' ticket and won from Uttarpara constituency.
Source:bd News24
December 15, 2023 18:03 UTC
Two traders die in a three-way road crash in Jamalpur
At least two people have died in a three-way collision involving a bus, a small passenger vehicle, locally called Laguna, and an autorickshaw in Jamalpur. Seven others were injured in the accident that occurred at Titpalla on Jamalpur-Tangail highway around 5:30 am on Friday. The dead were identified as vegetable traders 40-year-old Anwar Hossain from Tangail’s Dhanbari Upazila, and 52-year-old Shamsul Hossain from Jamalpur’s Sontia village.
Source:bd News24
December 15, 2023 17:19 UTC
Momen urges US, UK to send back killers of intellectuals
DHAKA, Dec 14, 2023 (BSS) - Foreign Minister DR AK Abdul Momen today urged the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) to repatriate two identified war criminals those are convicted for killing of intellectuals in 1971. "We want that the US and the UK will send back those two killers in Bangladesh to face justice," he said while speaking at a seminar titled "Energizing Bangladesh's Youth Workforce for Global Success" at North South University here. The foreign minister said the government's effort has been continuing to bring back convicted war criminals Chowdhury Mueen Uddin from the UK and Ashrafuzzaman Khan from the US. "They (killers) became leaders on Islamic institutes there (in US and UK) but they are killers," Momen said. "In my knowledge, such kind of brutality (killing of intellectuals) was never seen at anywhere in this world," Momen said.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
December 15, 2023 17:11 UTC
Indian 1971 veteran unveils prelude to surrender negotiation
Initially the two captains got into a jeep with Nagra's handwritten message for Niazi, who was acquainted to the Indian general since their early age and "were on first-name basis". Sharma said as they moved to the jeep, two other officers, Major JS Sethi and Lieutenant Tejinder Singh jumped into the vehicle. Sharma wrote, shortly thereafter, at 10:42 am, being accompanied by Pakistani officers, the Indian officers' detachment reentered Dhaka to hand over Niazi the Nagra's chit. "General Niazi sent Major General Jamshed to receive Nagra," Salik wrote. The 1971 war documents suggest nearly an hour later the formal surrender negotiations took place after Indian Eastern Front's general staff chief Major General JFR Jacob arrived at Niazi's headquarters.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
December 15, 2023 17:11 UTC
Former MP Ushatan drops out of Rangamati election race
Former lawmaker Ushatan Talukder, a leader of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti, has decided to pull out of the race for the Rangamati seat in the 12th parliamentary elections. On Friday, Ushatan submitted an application to the constituency's returning officer for the withdrawal of his candidacy. Ushatan, who was elected to parliament in 2014, said he decided against standing in the upcoming election after assessing the country's overall situation and his party's stance.
Source:bd News24
December 15, 2023 14:59 UTC
Bangladesh Bank data reveals unreceived export revenue of US $12 billion, say reports
In the fiscal year 2022-23, Bangladesh faced a substantial challenge as approximately US $ 12 billion from product exports failed to return to the country, as reported by Bangladesh Bank. An additional concern highlighted in the report is the non-arrival of US $ 90 million from service exports. Meanwhile, official data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) reveals that the total goods exported in the financial year amounted to US $ 55.56 billion even if Bangladesh Bank confirmed that the actual income received by the country was US $ 43.57 billion, indicating that US $ 11.99 billion from the total exports did not materialize. Media reports maintained this adding notably, the readymade garment sector, constituting 84 per cent of Bangladesh’s product exports, faced a significant gap. Although the EPB reported RMG exports at US $ 46.99 billion, Bangladesh Bank reportedly recorded only US $ 36.95 billion received by the country, which implies that US $ 10.04 billion worth of garment exports in the last fiscal year remained unremitted till June, claimed the reports.
Source:bd News24
December 15, 2023 12:45 UTC