Author: News Desk

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh and Honourable Chief Adviser Sarah Cooke has met and discussed the breadth and depth of the UK-Bangladesh relationship with H.E. Professor Muhammad Yunus. They discussed how the UK government can support the interim government, as it charts a new inclusive and democratic future for Bangladesh. Discussions also covered the importance of youth engagement to navigate the challenges that lie ahead. Sarah Cooke said that, “As Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wrote in his letter to the Honourable Chief Adviser, the UK government warmly welcomes the appointment of H.E Professor Yunus and the interim government. The…

Barack Obama has taken his support for Kamala Harris to the stage of the Democratic National Convention, in the 11th-hour bid to become the country’s next president in November’s election. After hearing from Obama’s wife Michelle, Kamala Harris’s husband Doug Emhoff, and other party veterans, as well as Republicans who had left because of Donald Trump, the crowd in Chicago erupted in deafening ovation as Obama walked onto the stage. The Former US President called to the people of America to do their part over the next 77 days, and at last elect Kamala Harris as the next President of…

A senior Iranian military official announced that any potential retaliation against Israel for the assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran may be delayed, indicating that a feared regional conflict could be postponed for now. General Ali Mohammad Naeini, spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), revealed in a press conference that Iran’s response might not be immediate and could take various forms. He emphasized that the response could differ significantly from previous actions, such as the missile and drone strikes on Israel in April, which were in retaliation for an Israeli attack in Damascus. General Naeini’s remarks suggest…

USA: The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of USA have released a joint statement stating that Iran seeks to stoke discord and undermine confidence in its democratic institutions. According to the statement, Iran has furthermore demonstrated a longstanding interest in exploiting societal tensions through various means, including through the use of cyber operations to attempt to gain access to sensitive information related to U.S. elections. In addition to these sustained efforts to complicate the ability of any U.S. administration to pursue a foreign…

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that this is “probably the best, maybe the last opportunity” to reach a cease-fire and hostage release agreement in Gaza. Blinken made the remarks during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, his ninth trip to the region since the conflict, which began in October 2023. “We’re working to make sure that there is no escalation, that there are no provocations, that there are no actions that in any way could move us away from getting this deal over the line, or, for that matter, escalating the conflict to other places, and…

Shiveluch volcano, the northernmost active volcano in Russia, has erupted shortly after a massive earthquake of magnitude 7.0 struck in the Kamchatka Krai region. The eruption has send an ash cloud 5 to 8 kilometers high, causing a “code red” alert for aircrafts. A 4.7-magnitude aftershock of was also registered. Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences reported that, “The earthquake’s intensity in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky was 6.0, according to preliminary estimates.” No tsunami alert was issued, the regional department of the Russian Emergencies Ministry said. Initially, the US National Tsunami warning centre issued a tsunami threat but later said that…

London: A fire that broke out in the west wing of Somerset House yesterday afternoon has led to the indefinite closure of the historic arts venue in central London. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) responded swiftly, deploying 125 firefighters to tackle the blaze. After hours of effort, they managed to contain the fire, with thick smoke billowing over the River Thames and Waterloo Bridge as the situation was brought under control. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and it was confirmed that no artworks were stored in the affected area. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Somerset House,…

Western Turkey has evacuated over 4,000 residents triggered by a forest fire in its coastal province of Izmir, fanned by strong winds and hottest July. Helicopters and water bombers were brought in to put out the fire, dry, hot, and windy weather conditions caused a dangerous series of fires. More than 1,000 firefighters were battling the blaze. According to Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, 900 residents from five affected neighborhoods were evacuated overnight in Izmir, the country’s third-largest city. Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) reported that 1,430 people were evacuated from Izmir, 1,475 from Manisa, 516 from Bolu, and…

Portsmouth (UK): The UK has launched its first dedicated Earth-imaging satellite, named Tyche, marking a significant step in its space defense capabilities. The satellite, approximately the size of a washing machine, is designed to provide the British military with crucial surveillance and reconnaissance data. Tyche is expected to orbit the Earth at an altitude of around 500km for at least five years. Enhancing UK’s Space Capabilities Tyche is a demonstration satellite that is part of a broader strategy to establish a network of military satellites equipped with various sensors. These future satellites will enhance the UK’s ability to monitor battlefield…

UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer has called for renewed vigilance and responsible sourcing of livestock, in the wake of the rising number of bluetongue cases in Europe. The latest outbreak assessment from the Animal and Plant Health Agency confirms the growing number of cases of Bluetongue virus (BTV-3) in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, with over 4,000 recorded new cases reported since May 2024. The first-ever cases of BTV-3 have also been confirmed in France, Luxembourg and Denmark, while the virus strain has successfully overwintered in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. While the overall risk level for an incursion of BTV-3 into Great…