19 killed, 23 wounded in bus-container collision in Tamil Nadu
The casualty figure is likely to rise, police said. The bus was going to Ernakulam from Bengaluru in Karnataka, state Transport Minister AK Saseendran told reporters. The tyre of the truck burst while it was in speed, and the container got detached and rolled on to the road before colliding with the bus, according to reports. Rescuers at the accident site are trying to find survivors in the debris. The driver of the truck is on the run, police said.
Source:bd News24
February 20, 2020 08:37 UTC
COVID-19 infected B''deshi in Singapore critical: Minister
COVID-19 infected B''deshi in Singapore critical: MinisterDhaka, Feb 20 (IANS) One of the five Bangladeshi men infected with the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) in Singapore was currently in "critical condition", Foreign Minister A.K. Speaking to reporters at an event here on Wednesday, Momen said: "Singapore''s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan called me in the morning. He told me one of the five Bangladeshis carrying the virus is in very critical condition." The Singaporean health authorities have not disclosed the names of any of the five Bangladeshis infected with the virus. But the necessary arrangements will be made to return the migrant''s body home should the worst happen, said Momen, citing his Singaporean counterpart.
Source:bd News24
February 20, 2020 08:26 UTC
Australia extends ban on China arrivals to 4th week on coronavirus worries
"The National Security Committee of Cabinet has today decided that the continuing coronavirus infections in mainland China make it necessary to continue the travel restrictions on foreign nationals entering Australia for a further week to 29 February," Morrison said in a statement. Australia has 15 cases of the virus but has not had any new cases since the travel ban was first put in place on Feb 1. Ten of the earlier cases are reported to have recovered. The other five are in a stable condition, Australia's health department said in notice dated Feb 20.
Source:bd News24
February 20, 2020 07:30 UTC
To prevent next coronavirus, stop the wildlife trade, conservationists say
Whatever the source turns out to be, the new ban on wildlife trade comes too late to stanch the spread of this latest coronavirus. “Otherwise, we’ll be having this conversation at regular intervals,” he saidDuring the SARS epidemic in 2003, China enacted a narrower wildlife trade ban. While some wildlife trade is illegal, much of the hidden industry comprises legal, oftentimes unregulated trade of unprotected species like rodents, bats, snakes and frogs. Wildlife trade and consumption declined in the immediate aftermath, but the business resumed within about a year, despite calls for a permanent ban. Other scientists argue that without a full and permanent ban on wildlife trade, it is only a matter of time until the next virus emerges.
Source:bd News24
February 20, 2020 07:18 UTC
British actress Julie Walters battled bowel cancer
Walters, who rose to prominence for her portrayal of a mature student learning beside an alcoholic professor played by Michael Caine in the 1983 film Educating Rita, said she was now "really well". She described the shock at being told by a doctor that she had cancer. "He said: 'Well I,'m worried it is cancer,'" Walters, 69, told the BBC. "I've just had a scan, and I know that [I'm] clear," she said. The illness meant she had to be cut from certain scenes in the soon-to-be-released film The Secret Garden, in which she stars alongside Colin Firth, the BBC said.
Source:bd News24
February 20, 2020 07:18 UTC
Top court orders Grameenphone to pay Tk 10bn to BTRC
Lawyers Mahbubey Alam and Khandaker Reza-e-Rakib represented BTRC while lawyers AM Amin Uddin and Mohammad Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury appeared on behalf of Grameenphone. The Supreme Court on Nov 24 ordered Grameenphone, the largest telecom carrier in Bangladesh, to pay the regulator Tk 20 billion in three months. Grameenphone on Thursday sought permission from the Supreme Court to repay Tk 20 billion to BTRC in a six-month instalment but the top court ordered the company to pay Tk 10 billion by Monday. Besides Grameenphone, the BTRC demanded nearly Tk 8.7 billion from Robi, the second largest mobile phone operator. The regulator has threatened the two operators with licence cancellation when it failed to make them pay despite repeated efforts.
Source:bd News24
February 20, 2020 06:47 UTC
Pakistan suspend Umar Akmal under anti-corruption code
The PCB said Akmal "... cannot take part in any cricket-related activity pending the investigation being carried out by PCB's Anti-Corruption Unit." The announcement came hours before Akmal's Quetta Gladiators begin their Pakistan Super League title defence against Islamabad United in Karachi. "...@TheRealPCB is already investigating the matter of Umar Akmal and the franchise will not make any comment until inquiry is concluded," tweeted the Gladiators, who have been allowed to apply for a replacement. Akmal, who has played 16 tests and 121 one-day internationals, last played for Pakistan in a Twenty20 International against Sri Lanka in October last year.
Source:bd News24
February 20, 2020 06:33 UTC
Two 'robbers' die in alleged shootout with police in Dinajpur
The incident occurred in Choto Magura village at 3:30am on Thursday, said Ghoraghat Police OC Ashok Kumar Chohan. The dead men have been identified as Rafiqul Islam, 28, and Wahed Ali, 30. They were recently arrested on charges of committing a street robbery, OC Ashok told bdnews24.com. Police later visited the crime scene with them in tow, he said. “When police arrived at the spot, their accomplices opened fire, forcing the law enforcers to retaliate.
Source:bd News24
February 20, 2020 06:00 UTC
Top court fines Southeast University Tk 1m for violating UGC rules
It came after the court on Wednesday penalised City University for violating the same UGC directive, which stipulates that no private university can admit more than 50 students to its law department per semester. The apex court directed Southeast University to pay the fine to the Bangladesh Bar Council. The bar council issued a notice in 2019 which states that students from any private university violating the UGC directive on admission to law departments would not be registered as lawyers. The High Court subsequently issued several rules on these petitions and allowed the students to sit the bar council exams. The bar council appealed against the ruling and the chairman and vice chancellor of South East University was subsequently summoned by the top court.
Source:bd News24
February 20, 2020 05:48 UTC
Police bars Sramik Dal’s program citing PM’s security
Sramik Dal brings out a rally in front of National Press Club on Thursday, February 20, 2020 Dhaka TribuneSramik Dal was holding a program demanding Khaleda Zia’s releasePolice has barred a program of Sramik Dal, an associate body of BNP, in front of National Press Club citing security reasons following the arrival of the prime minister in the area. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is attending the Ekushey Padak 2020 award ceremony at the Osmani Memorial Complex in the area on Thursday. BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan was present when police intervened the protest program, organized to press home their demand for party chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release from imprisonment. Shahbagh police station Inspector (patrol) Abul Bashar told Dhaka Tribune no programs will be allowed on the streets as the prime minister is scheduled to pass through the area.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
February 20, 2020 05:37 UTC
Bloomberg comes under heavy attack at Democratic presidential debate in Nevada
The nationally televised debate was for many voters the first unscripted look at Bloomberg, a media mogul and former New York mayor whose campaign until now has been fuelled by hundreds of millions of dollars of self-funded television ads and carefully choreographed personal appearances. “We’re running against a billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse-face lesbians,” said Warren, a senator from Massachusetts. “And, no, I’m not talking about Donald Trump, I’m talking about Mayor Bloomberg.”“Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another,” she added. And if I can get that done, it will be a great contribution to America and to my kids,” he said. Sanders criticized Bloomberg’s support for “stop-and-frisk” police policies as mayor - which Bloomberg has apologized for - that “went after African-American and Latino people in an outrageous way.
Source:bd News24
February 20, 2020 04:30 UTC
Two passengers from coronavirus-hit cruise ship in Japan die as public criticism grows
He later told a news conference he took down the video because he was informed conditions on the ship had improved. About 500 passengers were set to disembark on Thursday while another 100 people were to leave for chartered flights home, a health ministry official said. An evacuation flight was also being arranged for British nationals to leave Tokyo on Friday. A US State Department official said there were still about 45 US citizens on board the cruise ship as of Thursday. Disembarked Japanese passengers, however, face no such restrictions, a decision that has sparked concern.
Source:bd News24
February 20, 2020 02:48 UTC
Three die in crane crash on set of Kamal Haasan’s ‘Indian 2’
The dead men have been identified as assistant director Krishna, art assistant Chandran and production assistant Madhu, production house Lyca said in a statement. "Kamal Haasan was at another location inside the complex when the incident happened," said a source who asked not to be identified. My deep condolences to them," Kamal Haasan said. Indian 2, an action thriller, is being seen as Kamal Haasan's film that dabbles in politics. A case of negligence has been filed against the crane operator and the production manager, the Chennai police said.
Source:bd News24
February 20, 2020 01:41 UTC
Sangam the Sleeping Giant
I noticed the first difference as soon as my waiter at Sangam put down a large plate of warm rice. Sangam absolutely obliterated the playing field with the most buttery-soft garlic naan I’ve ever had. In my opinion, an Indian restaurant’s garlic naan either breaks or makes it. On the other hand, I was somewhat disappointed by Mehak’s garlic naan. In my opinion, at least for my most recent visits to both restaurants, the winner of this battle was Sangam.
Source:Daily Sun
February 20, 2020 01:41 UTC
Crafting Climate Justice
This was a black-tie — or rather, orange-tie — occasion to celebrate the “wedding” of Cornell University to the fossil fuel industry. CJC joined 50 other campuses across the country to recognize Feb. 13as “Fossil Fuel Divestment Day.”Art was a major component of this historic disruption. I was lucky enough to meet the members of the “wedding party” as they were preparing for the big day. Bright posters of major fossil fuel companies, B.P., Exon and Shell, accompanied the party as bridesmaids. Even before the paint-job, the wedding party sent a chill up my spine.
Source:Daily Sun
February 20, 2020 01:30 UTC