British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is considering introducing measures that would ban the next generation from ever being able to buy cigarettes, The Guardian reported on Friday, citing government sources. Sunak is looking at anti-smoking measures similar to laws New Zealand announced last year, which include a ban on selling tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, ...

‘No outsiders should obstruct elections in Bangladesh’ Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said there is no scope now for anyone to grab power illegally in Bangladesh and the violators have to face the music. “If anyone comes to power, creating trouble and violating the constitution, then she/he will face punishment. It should not be forgotten,” she said. The prime minister ...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $100 million loan to improve computer science, software engineering and information technology (IT) programs in three universities in Bangladesh. “Uplifting software engineering program in higher education is the needs of time to accelerate fourth industrial revolution technology adoption and realize the vision of Digital Bangladesh,” said ADB Social Sector Economist Ryotaro Hayashi. ...

Law Minister Anisul Huq has said that BNP should submit an application to the home ministry to take Khaleda Zia abroad for treatment. “I have’nt received any application regarding Khaleda Zia’s going abroad. They should submit an application to the Home Ministry, then it will ask for law ministry’s opinion. A decision will be reached upon their formal submission.” Responding ...

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam has said the government is not worried about the US Visa restriction as Washington started imposing it on Bangladeshi individuals responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the country’s democratic election process. “We have nothing to lose, we are not worried about it because we are not doing anything wrong,” he told reporters at ...

Forty young artists from across the country created watercolour paintings depicting the scenic beauty of the Sylhet division in a three-day art camp held at different places in the region from September 19 to September 21. The art camp titled Barisha Dharay Jalrang was jointly organised by Ronger Gaari, Sylhet Arts College and Shah Alam Gallery of Fine Art. The ...

Star playmaker Yui Hasegawa and second-half substitute Kiko Seike each bagged a brace for Japan in an 8-0 demolition of Argentina on Saturday. Playing their first match since reaching the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Nadeshiko Japan were in total control from the start of the international football friendly at Kitakyushu’s Mikuni World Stadium. ...

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday appealed to world leaders gathered at the UN “to shun the path of war and confrontation, and to work collectively for enduring peace … and economic prosperity for our people and future generations.” Sheikh Hasina said that achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in developing countries has been greatly impeded by lingering impacts of ...

An Australian university says it will host an academic symposium on Taylor Swift, exploring her impact on gender, literature, the economy and the music industry. Scholars will gather at Melbourne University for “Swiftposium 2024” from February 11-13 to delve into a “broad range of academic disciplines” related to the 33-year-old pop icon. The university this week issued a call for ...

The United States is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh. “These individuals include members of law enforcement, the ruling party, and the political opposition,” said a press statement issued by the State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller on Friday (Sept 22). He said the United States ...