The government is considering further relaxation of the Emergency Power Rules after finalisation of the election seekers' nomination, said Commerce and Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday.

The Election Commission is finally sure that mayors of city corporations and municipalities are not eligible to contest parliamentary polls as they hold office of profit, said EC sources.

Detained former ministers Moudud Ahmed, Nazmul Huda and Mirza Abbas and former lawmaker Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan yesterday denied holding meetings with party men in their BSMMU prison cells.

The government should form a panel of senior chemists to decide on a uniform, internationally recognised method for testing powdered milk again to remove existing confusions over the recent differing test results, said scientists and consumer rights activists.

Celebrated author and scientist Prof Muhammad Zafar Iqbal finds no logic for delaying the December 18 parliamentary election.

Nurbanu still wears the traditional Myanmarese attire of a thami and a kameez, she has not yet learnt to manage a long sari Bangladeshi women wear.

Bangladesh is not getting any help currently from the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) in bringing back the fugitive criminals due to lack of extradition treaties with other member countries.

Leaders of the world's 20 largest economies yesterday pledged action to reverse a looming global recession and prevent future financial upheaval, but shied away from a coordinated stimulus plan.

The BNP-led four-party alliance last night dismissed the government statement on the state of emergency and their seven-point demand as confusing and unacceptable.

The technical committee-level talks between Bangladesh and Myanmar on maritime delimitation begins today with a view to adopt a method of demarcation.

The fates of some prominent Awami League (AL) leaders, who have not yet been on the party's ticket for the general election, will be decided at the final stage of the nomination process, in a couple of days.

Awami League (AL) will look into the issue of dialogue between party President Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia when it comes up later.

Prominent economist Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud yesterday said the proposed talks between Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is 'irrelevant' at a time when the general election is near at hand.

Business leaders yesterday urged political parties to avoid the politics of hartal and strike in the greater interest of the economy.

Students of Dania University College in Jatrabari and a number of locals vandalised at least 50 vehicles on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway yesterday demanding speed bumps and zebra crossings in front of their institution to avert frequent accidents.

The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) yesterday launched a month-long mass-awareness campaign in the city, demanding trial of the war criminals, end of fundamentalism and reinstallation of the 1972 constitution.

Mohammad Al Faysal, 25, final year student of civil engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), and Kader, 52, yesterday succumbed to their injuries sustained in the head-on collision between a bus and an acid-laden truck in Comilla on November 6.

Gas supply was disrupted at different areas of the port city yesterday following leakage of pipeline.

A delegation of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) arrived in Dhaka yesterday to assess preparations and observe election atmosphere ahead of the parliamentary polls.

The cyclonic storm “Khai Muk” over west central Bay and adjoining southwest Bay moved slightly westwards and was likely to cross Andhra Coast near Machili Patnam in India last night, according to a Met Office bulletin yesterday evening.

Students of Folklore Department of Rajshahi University (RU) ransacked the department and confined their teachers for one hour to the campus yesterday demanding immediate inclusion of the department under its Social Science Faculty from the Arts Faculty.

At least ten people were killed and more than two dozen wounded yesterday when a car bomb exploded near an auto dealership in the northern Iraqi town of Tal Afar, Iraqi police said.

Convicted former Awami League (AL) lawmaker Rafiqul Anwar was released here on bail in an arms case yesterday.

Hundreds of wholesalers took to the streets shutting down their businesses yesterday to protest assaults on seven businessmen, at Moulavibazar in the city's old quarter.

THE High Court judgement declaring the formation and operation of the Truth and Accountability Commission illegal raises a number of questions about the caretaker government's drive against corruption. When Tac was formed, it was given out that because of the heavy load of cases being dealt with by the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Truth and Accountability Commission would be pitching in with help. And that would be by way of having people accused of graft confess to their crimes before the body, return their ill-gotten gains to the state and thus be eligible for pardon. At the time when the Tac idea was floated, misgivings were expressed about both its raison d'etre and its aims. It was pointed out that the commission was far removed from the concept that had gone into the making of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in post-apartheid South Africa because the latter involved unifying a racially and politically fractured nation. No such reality was at work in Bangladesh.

WE have been so worked up with startling mobile court revelations, from time to time, about the depths to which food adulteration sank that the need for mounting vigil over imported foodstuffs hardly ever possibly crossed our mind. Otherwise, how could BSTI logo could be used in a merchandise without obtaining clearance certificate from the standards institution or even registering with the Institute of Public Health and Nutrition (IPHN) which is obligatory for those marketing any infant and baby food in particular.

THE contagion of global meltdown that started in the US has caught up with the others. The contagion has been caused by the sub-prime lending in the housing sector and the US $700-$800 billion dollars annual trade deficit that is paid for by borrowing from other countries. The US is believed to have more than $10 trillion in external debt. It is estimated that the sub-prime crisis alone may cause a contraction of the US banks' ability to lend $2 trillion, thus deepening the crisis.

THE US goes for change, with the election of Barack Obama as its 44th president. The son of a black father from Kenya and white mother from Kansas, Obama started his political career at the bottom of the tier as a community organiser in Chicago. He is now destined to sit in the Oval Office as America's first black president. It all happened because the US people were hungry for change and Obama promised it.

"Ebony and Ivory, live together in perfect harmony, Side by side on my piano keyboard, Oh Lord, why don't we. " -
Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder.

Sonia Akhtar took top spot with six gold medals while Mahfizur Rahman and Dolly Akhtar grabbed four each when the Mercantile Bank 23rd National Swimming Championships concluded at the National Swimming Complex yesterday.

Who after Mashrafe Bin Mortaza? If you ask the question to the new Bangladesh bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake, the answer definitely would be Rubel Hossain.

There was a small gathering in front of the team hotel in East London last Wednesday. They were Bangladeshi expatriates who braved the persistent rain and the red eyes of hotel guards to have a glimpse of their cricketing heroes. Their long wait was over when Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful turned up much to their delight in a country where they face identity crisis and often been branded as Indians.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Saturday named like-for-like replacement for the injured Syed Rasel by calling up left-arm seamer Sajidul Islam.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit a fighting century but couldn't stop Pakistan winning the second day-night international by 24 runs here on Friday, securing an unbeatable 2-0 lead.

Shahadat Hossain returned with full venom after lunch as the Tigers enjoyed the first day of the two-day warm-up match against South African Airways Challenge XI under brilliant sunshine at the De Beers Oval ground here yesterday.

Myanmar drowned all hopes that Bangladesh harboured for a place in the semifinals of the third Grand Royal Challenge Cup yesterday.

Goals by Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard ensured Liverpool's title surge gathered momentum as Rafa Benitez's side recorded a hard-fought 2-0 win at Bolton on Saturday.

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has dropped both Adriano and Ricardo Quaresma from his match-day squad to face Palermo on Sunday.

Russia's Nikolay Davydenko shocked in-form Andy Murray to set up a surprise Masters Cup final against world number three Novak Djokovic on Saturday.

Luiz Felipe Scolari insists Didier Drogba shouldn't be subjected to a public witch-hunt after the controversial Chelsea striker was hit with an FA charge.

Real Madrid may sign a new striker to fill the gap left by Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is out for the season after having knee surgery, the Spanish club's coach Bernd Schuster said Friday.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said fans who throw coins at footballers and officials should be banned for life from grounds in the wake of Didier Drogba's violent conduct charge this week.

Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed suggestions that Manchester United are close to offering Cristiano Ronaldo a new contract by insisting that the European champions are 'happy' with the remaining length of the player's current deal.

The German Football Federation (DFB) made a profit of 6.6 million euros (8.3 million US dollars) for reaching June's Euro 2008 final in Vienna, team manager Oliver Bierhoff revealed Friday.

New Argentina coach Diego Maradona set off Saturday for his first match in charge, a midweek friendly against Scotland in Glasgow.

David Beckham expects to be left out of England's squad for next week's friendly in Germany, meaning he will have to wait to equal Bobby Moore's tally of 108 caps, the record for an English outfield player.

Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who led Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002, stressed Saturday that he would not be coaching any national teams between now and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik Saturday said his team will try its level best to complete a 3-0 one-day series win over the West Indies and jump to fourth position in world rankings.

Pakistan cricket officials Saturday termed shifting of their home series against India to neutral venues as "mere speculation", saying preparations are at full swing in their country.

Australia should consider playing both Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson in the first Test against New Zealand, according to the former captain Steve Waugh. The idea has also won qualified support from Michael Hussey, who believes Watson can do the job as the third fast bowler provided he does not have to send down so many overs that his injury-prone body is in danger of breaking down.

The Bangladesh men's team earned a massive 4-0 win over Uruguay

A 16-member President XI team leave for Kolkata today to take part in the prestigious 45th Nehru Cup Hockey tournament in the Indian state of Haryana.

Mumbai Indians officials are hoping to persuade Shaun Pollock, the former South African allrounder, to extend his contract with the IPL franchise. Pollock, whose contract with Mumbai Indians was only for one year, said that he didn't want to play cricket anymore.

Farashganj Sporting Club managed a 2-1 victory over Bachelors Sporting Club in the lone match of the Green Delta First Division Hockey League at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium yesterday.

The country's cellphone industry in general witnessed a negative growth in October for the first time in history, with subscriber acquisition plummeting by three percent or 1.6 million.

The government says any withdrawal of farm subsidy will be a risky move as there is no alternative to it.

Thousands of businesspeople and their leaders yesterday urged the major political parties to put economic agenda in their election manifestos on priority basis for achieving desired development of the country.

Speakers at a seminar said yesterday high fees charged by financial institutions and low level of banking penetration among rural people prompted non-residents Bangladeshis (NRBs) to use informal channels to remit money from abroad.

Advanced Chemical Industries (ACI) will issue Tk 30 crore debentures to ensure a smooth operating cash flow into its accounts.

The REHAB fair yesterday bagged spot orders worth Tk 1,050 crore, with organisers' labeling it a 'very successful' one in terms of sales and arrivals of customers.

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Faruq Ahmad Siddiqi yesterday said the falling prices of edible oil and fuel are blessings for Bangladesh economy.

A local event management firm engaged in organising international fair said yesterday it would arrange four exhibitions in Middle East and Europe within March next year to promote Bangladeshi products aboard and boost exports.

Asia has a vital role to play in helping lift the world out the global slowdown, according to a panel of esteemed economists from around the world.

It was not the usual invitation for a lunch or dinner business meeting. Citibank NA was to celebrate its Global Community Day. It was a lovely cool November Saturday as we drove to Kuribari, Monipur, Gazipur, a good hour and a half drive from Dhaka. As we passed through the gates of Boyoshka O Shishu Punarbashan Kendra, smartly dressed guards showed the way to a serene setting, an autumnal green-yellow grassy field surrounded with jackfruit trees. Towards the west was the housing for women. In the north, a separate wing exists for the men folk, including a hospital.

It was another brutal week for Wall Street but with a glimmer of hope that sparked fresh talk about whether the stock market had finally hit a "bottom" that will allow a new rally phase to start.

The Asian Development Bank does not see the Philippines plunging into a recession next year as some businessmen fear, but believes that an economic slowdown has become the most pressing issue that policymakers have to deal with.

The World Bank plans to set up a special fund worth about US$3 billion with the aim of stabilising financial systems in developing and poor countries, sources said Thursday.

India will be putting on a brave face as it hosts an international economic forum starting Sunday, with its domestic growth stumbling and the international economy in crisis.

Sun Microsystems Inc. announced on Friday it was cutting up to 6,000 jobs as the global economic crisis drives down demand for its computer servers.

World leaders at an emergency economic summit are moving to sharpen detection of risky investing and regulatory weak spots, hoping to avoid future financial meltdowns like the one now threatening the global economy.

Oil prices sank this week to three-and-a-half-year lows close to 50 dollars a barrel, prompting the Opec exporters' cartel to call an emergency meeting to discuss a mooted output cut.

Japan on Friday announced a plan to lend up to 100 billion dollars to the International Monetary Fund to help provide financial lifelines to crisis-hit emerging countries, officials said.

Cash-strapped Pakistan will receive a rescue package worth at least 7.6 billion dollars from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a senior government official announced Saturday.

The fortunes of India's wealthiest have been slashed by more than 60 percent due to the global financial crisis which has sharply pulled down stock markets, according to a new rich list.

The chairman of beleaguered British bank HBOS warned Friday that it might have to be nationalised if shareholders reject a takeover by its rival Lloyds TSB.

November 09-November 13, 2008
Local FX Market
This week, the market was a little and the US dollar rose slightly against the Bangladesh taka. There was ample demand for dollar in the market.

Women and Children Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury at an SME conference here yesterday called on all to work together with a view to empowering women in real sense of the term.

The government has introduced a revised syllabus and regulation for SSC (vocational) curriculum to make it effective for students in the changed times, as the traditional education in this discipline “failed to fulfill nation's expectations”.

Brac Chairman Fazle Hasan Abed was honoured with fellowship of Asiatic Society of Bangladesh (ASB) in recognition of his contribution to national development and poverty reduction yesterday.

With the polls knocking at the door, experts yesterday urged the political parties to give the highest priority to the energy sector in their election manifestos.

The country has only 35 physiatrists to treat around 1.5 crore people suffering from different types of physical disability, said the experts at the 5th National Convention of Bangladesh Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (BAPMR) yesterday.

The admission tests for first year honours courses under the academic session 2008-'09 begin at Chittagong University (CU) and Rajshahi University (RU) today.

Candidates who passed the 27th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examinations at first but were dropped from the list of successful candidates as per its second phase results yesterday reiterated their demand that the first-phase results be declared valid and they were given immediate appointment.

About 50 shops burned down in a devastating fire that broke out at Zirani Bazar in Savar yesterday morning.

A woman and a schoolgirl committed suicide in two separate incidents in the city yesterday.

Citizens Rights Movement (CRM) yesterday demanded nominations for honest and corruption-free candidates in the next general election to ensure good governance, says a press release.

Three people were killed and four others injured in separate road accidents in Rajshahi, Naogaon and Brahmanbaria in last two days.

Police in a predawn combing operation yesterday arrested seven suspected terrorists and seized a cache of arms and ammunition from Moheshkhali island in the coastal district.

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed released a commemorative postage stamp marking the first National Agriculture Day (the first day of Agrahayan) yesterday.

KFC and Pizza Hut have successfully completed the World Hunger Relief Campaign jointly with the World Food Programme (WFP) to raise massive awareness about hunger and support WFP in providing meals to children in schools, says a press release.

The six-city interactive bus tour of BBC Bangla Service reached Rajshahi yesterday to promote its FM radio service.

At least one person was killed and several others injured in a clash between two groups of people over fishing in Singedoba beel at Bagarchar union under Bakshiganj upazila.

At least 10 people were hurt in a string of clashes between garment workers and police at Sonargaon in Narayanganj yesterday.

A fire broke out at an under-construction office of a bank at Probartak intersection in Chittagong early yesterday, destroying air-conditioners and other valuables.

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) sent back seven Bangladeshi youths, who were trafficked to India two years back, through the Benapole check-post on Friday.

Police recovered three bodies of trawler workers from the Dhaleshwari river at Munshiganj yesterday, four days after they went missing.

Adivasi Paribesh Rakkha Andolon and Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) jointly organised a mass rally at Aliachharapunji School ground in Habiganj yesterday demanding measures to stop cutting trees from Khasiapunji and hilly forest, says a press release.

Police arrested three people along with 73 cans of adulterated coconut oil from BSCIC Industrial area in the district town early yesterday.

Two DB police constables were closed to the police lines here on Friday for releasing two drug peddlers after their arrest on charges of possessing Phensidyl syrup.

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members arrested six suspected inter-district robbers from Palli Bidyut area on Nabinagar-Kaliakair road in Savar early Friday.

Three more people who fell ill after taking rectified spirit at Jethail village in Dhamrai on Wednesday night died in the last two days, raising the death toll to six.

The Election Commission handed over the national identity card to Awami League President Sheikh Hasina yesterday.

A police informant was shot dead in the city's Gopibagh area last night.

A paper entitled 'Communication Skills of the Business Executives of Local Private Business Concerns in Bangladesh' co-authored by Dr Nargis Akhter, Sardana Islam Khan and Kamrul Hassan, faculty members of East West University (EWU), has received the Best Paper Award at the First International Conference of Global Business and Management Forum (GBMF-2008), says a press release.

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in separate drives early yesterday seized 1,036 bottles of contraband liquor from Anwara upazila and in the city.

Election to the central governing body of Old Faujians Association (OFA) will be held on November 22, says a press release.

Willes Little Flower Higher Secondary School in the city will organise a two-day reunion programme for its former students on November 28 marking its 52nd founding anniversary, says a press release.

The election of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) will be held today.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (rtd) M Sakhawat Hossain yesterday said there is no scope for changing the election schedule announced by the Election Commission that is committed to completing the polls by December this year.

Hizbut Tahrir leaders who were released after arrest earlier as militant-suspects held a discussion amid police protection in the city yesterday.

Bangladesh is paying the paying the higher cost in the world for climate change caused by developed rich countries.

Rival factions in Kaliganj upazila BNP have opened three offices, intensifying the intra-party feud.

All of them had their sad stories of losing near and dear ones.

Rajshahi University (RU) students under banner of Anti-Fundamentalist Students' Forum have demanded an exemplary punishment to Islami Chhatra Shibir cadres who threatened Udichi general secretary Abu Sayem to death and harassed its activist Hosne Ara Farzana recently.

Police yesterday arrested four officials of an NGO on charge of misappropriating its fund at Kuripara in Muktagachha upazila.

Bikalpodhara leader Munirul Islam at a press conference held at Tangail Press Club yesterday expressed his intention to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections from Tangail-2 (Bhuapur-Gopalpur) constituency.

It was a different day for the people of small Satkhira town as over 500 people, most of them youths, at a rally vowing to resist drug abuse and drug peddling.

A 5-member anti-drug committee formed at Pabna Edward College on November 11 to free the campus from drug peddlers started functioning yesterday, college sources said.

Two great cricketers of our time Anil Kumble & Saurav Ganguly have quit cricket with grace. Defeating Australia to regain the Border-Gavasker Trophy is a fitting farewell to those cricket titans.

I was quite confident that the test of melamine in baby powdered milk outside Bangladesh would never solve the problem. It is difficult to keep full confidence on outside tests. They are too vulnerable to influence to give a result which might be accurate and trustworthy. This is exactly what has happened. The court has ordered a retest in our country's three reputed organisations on whom at least I have more confidence than the organisations outside the country, especially international organisations which serve multiple interests.

The first phase result of the 27th BCS exams was cancelled due to allegations of massive corruption, nepotism and favouritism as per decision of the present caretaker government and fresh viva exam was taken and the 2nd phase results have also been published accordingly and the newly selected candidates have been asked to join in the service by 30th November 2008 through a gazette notification. But allegations of large scale irregularities have already been pointed out against the 2nd phase results by different segments of people and in the face of the allegations as well as protest by the deprived candidates, the authorities are now considering to accommodate all the successful candidates of the first phase on humanitarian grounds which leads to many questions;

The news item titled “Myanmar worked in that area from before?” published in your daily on 10 November has attracted my attention. If that is the case, then what did our Navy/BDR do? They should have noticed it immediately at the time when Myanmar initiated the survey. This is their holy duty to patrol the border areas 24 hours a day to monitor trespassing, smuggling and any other illegal activities.

In the early nineties, with the break-up of the Soviet Union, three regions in Georgia like Chechnia in nearby Russia declared independence. The regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia broke away from Georgia and were continuing their independence with the help of Russian Federation. South Ossetia and Abkhazia have a common border with the Russian Federation, whereas North Ossetia is in the Federation. Russia is ruthlessly suppressing the Chechen revolt, but on the other hand contrastingly supporting similar revolts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

According to Bertrand Russell 'Culture is what we do' -- a universal appeal to humanity. Ethnically and culturally we are Bengali but as a nation Bangladeshi, and we always like to go with Russell's theme about culture. Our main or staple food i.e. rice is now spreading all over this planet.

After the liberation war there was no political party in Bangladesh that could accept its failure in national or city corporation elections easily and without protest. That's why the opposition party did never work with the party that formed government and this will continue after the coming election also.

“Tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.” This is what Barack Obama said in his victory speech at Chicago on 4th of November, 2008. Change has indeed come to America. Barack Obama, an African-American, has been elected the 44th President of the United States of America.

On last Saturday(08.11.08) I had to travel from Gulistan to Jatrabari by bus, I was expecting to have less traffic jam as it was weekly holiday and I was quite happy with the thought. But as I reached Sayedabad the bus suddenly came to a halt. I looked out from the window and found a large procession, at first I thought it to be a political one, but as the bus moved forward I found it to be a procession of '' Safe Highway Movement'' with a large number of school children carrying colourful placards and banners together with their guardians and teachers and they were escorted by smartly turned out women police and cavalry of police dept. Because of the large procession, movement of vehicles in the entire area became severely disrupted, causing misery to the commuters. Instead of being motivated by placards and banners, the helpers and drivers of the bus started cutting jokes with each other regarding the procession.

Call us pessimists; we don't anticipate much change in quality governance when a new government takes over from the caretakers following elections next December. It would be the return of either of the two Begums, dramatically freed of all accusations much to our dismay, honing now to make up for the 'lost time.'

No more economic pilgrimages to the West. Look East: where more human resources are available at cheaper rates. The glitter and the glamour of the USD have drowned in its own secret misery. Truth is naked and unvarnished.

It is a commonly held view in our country that the international development financing agencies are keepers of superior knowledge and technology. With due deference to them, I would like to express my deep concern on the river training works that have been proposed by the ADB recommended consultant for the Padma Bridge. It is rumoured that the proposed works consist basically of dumping sand filled bags. Well, this and many others innovative models have been tried and tested by international experts in the Jamuna-Padma River under different donor-funded projects. All these innovations have failed to stand up to the mighty river. If the rumour has any substance, the proposed river training works and the risk of its failure would put the bridge and associated facilities in danger thus jeopardizing a huge investment. With less robust river training the initial investment will no doubt be less but the whole-life cost would be high, not to mention the huge burden of recurring capital maintenance. Who will fund and manage this huge undertaking year after year after the completion of the bridge?

It would appear that the election of Barack Obama has galvanised the intelligentsia of Bangladesh.

The reconstituted PSC published the final results of 27th BCS exams after a long hassle.

It is so much frustrating to see that political leaders do not learn from the past. The way they are speaking is so irritating that we do not see any ray of hope. I am so surprised that they want to force the government to change some important points of RPO that are in favour of public interest. They are talking like dictators. I do not know what they mean by democracy. They have no respect for the country and the people. They have no shame to lie to the general people again and again in their speeches.

Sri Lanka's president yesterday asked Tamil Tigers to surrender after troops claimed re-taking a strategically-important town from the separatist guerrillas following months of heavy fighting.

Violence across the Gaza-Israel border subsided yesterday after three days of bloody exchanges, as pressure rose on Israel to unblock humanitarian supplies for the aid-dependent territory.

A senior aide to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says Iraq and the US are now in agreement over a final draft of a security pact.

Threats against a new president historically spike right after an election, but from Maine to Idaho law enforcement officials are seeing more against Barack Obama than ever before.

Afghan and coalition forces captured an insurgent leader in eastern Afghanistan, and in a separate operation 10 militants were killed in a firefight, the US military said yesterday.

CIA director Michael Hayden has warned that every major terrorist threat confronting the world has ties to Pakistan.

Thailand's ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife have divorced after 32 years of marriage, his spokesman said yesterday.

One of Myanmar's most prominent activists was sentenced to 65 years in jail along with two other pro-democracy leaders in connection with the 2007 anti-junta protests, family members said yesterday.

India rejoiced yesterday at joining an elite club by planting its flag on the moon as the country's space agency released the first pictures of the cratered surface taken by its maiden lunar mission.

To the wail of conch shells and the thunder of cannon fire, crimson-clad soldiers pulled a gilded chariot containing the body of the revered Thai king's sister to a seven-story pyre where she will be cremated yesterday.

Militants fired a mortar shell into a village near the troubled Pakistani city of Peshawar yesterday, killing one soldier and wounding another, an official said.

An opposition party delegation was taking a message from the South Korean government to the North on Saturday to try to improve relations that soured after Pyongyang threatened to halt border crossings.

The female descendant of a long line of US military officers was promoted to four star general Thursday, the first woman ever to reach the top rung of the US military.

Firefighters were battling to get a grip on a wildfire in an exclusive California enclave early Saturday as a fresh blaze erupted on the outskirts of Los Angeles.

President-elect Barack Obama has interviewed primary election rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bill Richardson for secretary of state, according to Democratic officials who revealed his secret meetings with both as he weighed the decision on folding former foes into his new administration.

Space shuttle Endeavour raced toward the international space station on Saturday for a home makeover job after a brilliant moonlit launch that had Nasa managers in awe.

"Lathi khela", Lalon songs, "Gambhira", "Jum Nrityo", "Hoila gaan", "Kach Nrtityo", "Nata pala, "kabigaan, " and many more indigenous performances from different localities across the country along with classical songs, Tagore songs, recitation, discussion, film screening, performances from the plays by the theatre Icon Selim Al Deen were highlighted at the day-night festival as part of the 6th national convention of Bangladesh Gram Theatre. More than 200 local representatives of the organisation participated at the event. Eminent cultural personalities of the country discussed on several issues at the meeting. The event was held at the premises of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on November 14.

November 14 was the last day of 'sharat', the third season of the Bangla calendar. On the day, Dhaka Metropolitan branch of Jatio Rabindra Sangeet Shammilan Parishad arranged a cultural programme titled "Sharodotsab '08" at the auditorium of National Music and Dance Centre, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Along with some exquisite dance performances, the programme highlighted songs on Tagore on 'sharat.'

It seems strange now to think that when Daniel Craig was first cast as British secret agent James Bond for 2006's successful franchise reboot, "Casino Royale," his hiring was met with consternation by a number of 007 fans.

On the evening of November 14, cultural organisation Nandan held a musical soiree titled “Notun Kiron Chhoriye Dao” at Rameshchandra Dutta Memorial Auditorium, Chhayanat Sanskriti Bhaban. Artistes rendered “Pancha Kabir Gaan”, songs of five poets (Rabindranath, Nazrul, Rajnikant, Atul Prasad and D.L. Roy) at the event.

On the occasion of its 25th anniversary, Bangladesh Gono Shilpi Sangstha's Jhenidah unit arranged a five-day long "Gono Shilpi Utsab" at the local Shilpakala Academy auditorium starting from November 13. Artistes of Gono Shilpi Sangstha's units from different corners of the country are performing at the event.

Professor and head of the department of Computer Science and Engineering at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Dr. Muhammed Zafar Iqbal obtained his Bachelors in physics and Masters in theoretical physics from Dhaka University. He did Ph.D in experimental physics from University of Washington, Seattle and post-doctoral work at Caltech. He joined SUST as a Dean and the Department of Computer Science and Engineering as the Head of the Department. Dr. Iqbal was a pioneer in the development of Bangla computerization in the country. Zafar Iqbal is a prolific writer, the author of more than 119 books on fiction, science fiction, science and mathematics. His books earned him numerous awards including the prestigious Bangla Academy Award. Abul Kalam Azad took the interview.

THE United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) a specialised agency of the United Nations, was established on November 16, 1945. Its constitution was adopted and signed on this day in London. The constitution however, came into force on November 4, 1946, after ratification by twenty countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, France, Greece, India, Lebanon, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.

THE landslide victory of Senator Barack proves that truth prevails over falsehood. In the election, the Americans gave their verdict against the Iraq war and the misrule of the Bush administration. Not only the American people, but also the entire world had desperately sought a change of leadership in America. The reasons are obvious. The eight years of the Bush administration's arrogant rule had pushed the world towards an unnecessary and unjustified war in Iraq, which caused the loss of innocent lives and trillions of dollars.

Billboards keep sprouting haphazardly in large numbers in and around the city narrowing the skyline and causing vision pollution.

Illegal car parking on the sidewalks and main thoroughfare chokes the entire Gulshan residential area making residents' life miserable every day.