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https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-49402222 | https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-49402222 | Twitter আৰু Facebookএ এক ভুল তথ্যৰ প্ৰচাৰ বন্ধ কৰিবলৈ পদক্ষেপ লৈছে যিটো তেওঁলোকৰ মতে এক ৰাষ্ট্ৰ সমৰ্থিত চীনা প্ৰচাৰ। | Dave LeeNorth America technology reporter Twitter said it removed 936 accounts it said were being used to “sow political discord in Hong Kong”. The network said the accounts originated in mainland China and were part of a coordinated attempt to undermine the “legitimacy and political positions of the protest movement”. Facebook said it had, after being tipped off by Twitter, removed "seven Pages, three Groups and five Facebook accounts.” "They frequently posted about local political news and issues including topics like the ongoing protests in Hong Kong,” said Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's head of cyber-security policy. "Although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our investigation found links to individuals associated with the Chinese government." In addition to the 936 specific accounts, Twitter said as many as 200,000 other accounts, designed to amplify the misinformation, were “proactively” suspended before becoming "substantially active”. "Based on our intensive investigations,” the firm said in a statement, “we have reliable evidence to support that this is a coordinated state-backed operation. "Specifically, we identified large clusters of accounts behaving in a coordinated manner to amplify messages related to the Hong Kong protests.” It added: "We will continue to be vigilant, learning from this network and proactively enforcing our policies to serve the public conversation.” The move came after Twitter was intensely criticised at the weekend for allowing China’s Xinhua news agency to buy sponsored posts on the network. Twitter said on Monday it would no longer allow such ads. "Going forward, we will not accept advertising from state-controlled news media entities,” the company said. "Any affected accounts will be free to continue to use Twitter to engage in public conversation, just not our advertising products.” Twitter said the new policy did not, however, apply to "to taxpayer-funded entities, including independent public broadcasters”. Researchers have begun investigating the flagged Twitter accounts. They have noted that some were created as far back as 2007 and had switched activities over the period, while others were less than a year old. "A number of these accounts move through numerous tools and many languages, switching after long breaks," wrote Renee DiResta, a Mozilla fellow in media, misinformation, and trust. "[It] suggests at least some of the old/high-follower ones were purchased, or potentially rented. "But to contrast with the 'Russia playbook', these weren't carefully-aged, well-developed persona accounts that worked narratives or built relationships with influencers." For its part, Facebook has said that about 15,500 accounts had followed one or more of the pages suspected of being "inauthentic" on its platform, and about 2,200 accounts had joined at least one of the flagged Groups. Some have now called on Google to take action of its own to restrict state-backed propaganda uploaded to YouTube. The company told the Reuters news agency in June that state-owned media companies had the same rights as other users to run ads on its platform. The BBC has asked the firm to comment. What are the protests about? Many thousands of Hong Kongers have been protesting since March against a proposed government bill that would have allowed extradition from the territory to the Chinese mainland. Critics of the bill argued that it would undermine the Hong Kong's judicial independence and could be used to target those who speak out against the Chinese government. The bill was suspended in June after a series of large demonstrations. But protests continued and have now morphed into a broader movement demanding democratic reform and an investigation into alleged police brutality during demonstrations. Last week, thousands of protesters flooded Hong Kong Airport's terminal buildings, leading to clashes with police and the cancellation of hundreds of flights. Organisers say 1.7 million people turned out at the latest mass-rally on Sunday. But police put the figure much lower at 128,000, counting only those at an officially sanctioned protest. The Chinese government has hardened its rhetoric following the airport unrest, condemning it as "behaviour that is close to terrorism". Understanding the Hong Kong protests Additional reporting by Leo Kelion | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52967452 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52967452 | নেপালৰ সংসদে এইটো সপ্তাহতে দেশখনৰ এখন সংশোধিত মানচিত্ৰ আনুষ্ঠানিকভাৱে অনুমোদন কৰাৰ আশা আছে, যাৰ ভিতৰত ইয়াৰ বিশাল চুবুৰীয়া ভাৰতৰ সৈতে বিবাদিত তিনিটা ক্ষেত্ৰও অন্তৰ্ভুক্ত আছে। | By Anbarasan EthirajanBBC News The redrawing of the map covers a relatively small region high in the Himalayas but it has stirred simmering tensions between two of the world's biggest powers, India and China. In Nepal, which is sandwiched between the two, people have reacted angrily, protesting and accusing India of disregarding the country's sovereignty. In recent months a new Indian road on a strategic mountain pass fanned tensions, as did a revised map put out by Delhi showing disputed areas as belonging to India. To top it off India and China are already locked in a military standoff in the northern Ladakh region of disputed Kashmir, where their troops have been facing off for weeks. Media and some officials in India have accused China of instigating the changes to Nepal's map, a charge to which China has not responded. What triggered the row? Nepal and India share an open border of about 1,880 km (1,168 miles). The two countries have finalised maps covering 98% of the boundary, but the Lipulekh pass, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura in western Nepal are among the areas that remain contested. Together, the three areas cover about 370 sq km (140 square miles), Nepalese officials say. The strategic Lipulekh pass connects the Indian state of Uttarakhand with the Tibet region of China. Nepal and China have been angered by India's recent moves. Delhi's published its new map of the border region in November, after it divided Indian-administered Kashmir into Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The map incorporated some of the territories disputed with Nepal inside India's borders. "We all agree that international boundary between two countries is defined by bilateral treaties. Any unilateral type of action cannot establish any legitimate claim of their presence," Pradeep Gyawali, Nepal's foreign minister, told the BBC. Mr Gyawali said there was no other agreement beside the 1816 Sugauli treaty that defined the western border of Nepal with India, and that treaty clearly states that the three areas belong to Nepal. In retaliation, Nepal published its revised map last month showing the disputed areas within Nepal, infuriating India in return. "We urge the government of Nepal to refrain from unjustified cartographic assertion and respect India's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the Indian foreign ministry said in a statement. The amendment to replace the map is expected to be passed in Nepal's parliament this week. Is it clear who the land belongs to? Nepal surrendered a part of its western territory in 1816 after its forces were defeated by the British East India company. The subsequent Sugauli treaty defined the origin of the Kali river as Nepal's border point with India. But the two countries differ on the source of the Kali river. India argues that the exact co-ordinates of the river were not mentioned in the treaty and claims that improved survey techniques have redrawn the map in the years since. In recent weeks, the so-called "cartographic war" has triggered nationalist sentiment on both sides of the border, and Nepal has called for India to withdraw its soldiers from the Kalapani region "The increasing rhetoric on territorial nationalism on both sides is not good for bilateral relations," said Rakesh Sood, India's former ambassador to Nepal. In reality, all the three contested areas have been firmly under India's control for the past 60 years or so and the people living in those areas are now Indian citizens, pay taxes in India and vote in the Indian elections. Nepali politicians argue that as the country was going through decades of political crisis followed by a Maoist-led insurgency, they were not in a position to raise the border dispute with India. How important is Nepal? As a landlocked nation, Nepal depended for many years on Indian imports, and India played an active role in Nepal's affairs. But in recent years Nepal has drifted away from India's influence, and China has gradually filled the space with investments, aid and loans. China considers Nepal a key partner in its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and wants to invest in Nepal's infrastructure as part of its grand plans to boost global trade. President Xi Jinping last year became the first Chinese leader to visit Nepal since Jiang Zemin in 1996. During his visit the two countries decided to upgrade their ties to a "strategic partnership". "Nepal for a long time may have been influenced by India," said Professor Dingli Shen, a South Asia expert at the Fudan university in Shanghai. "Now with China's rise they have an opportunity to accept Chinese markets and resources. The question is whether Nepal can balance its relations between India and China." For India, the Lipulekh pass has security implications. After its disastrous 1962 border war with China, it was concerned about a possible Chinese intrusion through the pass, and has been keen to hold on to the strategic Himalayan route to guard against any future incursions. The pass has proved a point of contention since. In May this year, the Indian defence minister, Rajnath Singh, inaugurated an 80km (50-mile) upgraded road on the pass. The improvements will help to reduce travel time for the Hindu pilgrims that use it, but it was this move that triggered the diplomatic spat with Nepal. Scores of Nepalese held a protest in front of the Indian embassy in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu last month demanding India withdraw its soldiers from the pass. Others expressed their anger on social media with hashtags like "#Backoffindia". "We did publish a detailed map of Nepal in 1976 that showed the Lipulekh Pass and the Kalapani region within our territory. Only Limpiyadhura was left out - that was an accident," said Buddhi Narayan Shrestha, the former director general of the Survey Department of Nepal. Even before the territorial dispute, there were anti-India sentiments in Nepal. Violent protests erupted in 2015 when the ethnic Madhesi community revolted, demanding more rights, and goods traffic from India was blocked. Though India denied it was behind the economic blockade, very few people in Nepal believed the denial. The five-month blockade crippled life in Nepal and many were furious that it badly affected reconstruction work after the 2015 earthquake disaster. So has China been meddling? In the current territorial dispute, the Nepalese government has accused Indian foreign ministry officials of not seeking to resolve what's at issue. The suspicion in Delhi is Kathmandu's new-found confidence is because of Chinese backing. The Indian army chief, General MM Naravane, has said publicly that Nepal "might have raised this problem at the behest of someone else" - an indirect reference to alleged Chinese interference. And some mainstream right-wing media in India have called Nepal "China's Proxy" for raising the border issue. The remarks did not go down well in Kathmandu. But Prof Shen said he did not see China's hand. "Personally, I don't think China would be behind Nepal for what it is doing with India now," he said For its part, China has been keeping quiet, apart from its foreign ministry saying it hoped India and Nepal would "refrain from taking any unilateral action that may complicate the situation". There is consensus on both sides that dialogue is the way forward but it's clear that India has been disturbed by the turn of events in what used to be its closest ally. When Nepal's parliament formally approves the map, India will find it hard to ignore the issue any longer. Many former diplomats on both sides have been urging Delhi to begin talks. Though India's attention had been focused on tackling the pandemic in recent months, Mr Sood said the country "should have found an opportunity to talk to the Nepalese side, at least through video conference, to address their concerns". While it will be difficult for India to give up a strategic territory bordering China, Nepali leaders will struggle to sell any deal to its people without getting anything substantial in return. Both sides are in for a long haul. If Delhi hardens its stance and attempts to compete for more influence in Nepal, it is likely to trigger more anti-India feeling. Nepal stands to benefit immensely if it can steer the India-China rivalry to its advantage, but it also risks getting caught in the middle of the great Asian power game. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-41775910 | https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-41775910 | পোহৰলৈ অহা তথ্য অনুসৰি ষ্টিফেন হকিঙৰ পিএইচডি থেছিছখন জনসাধাৰণৰ বাবে উপলব্ধ কৰাৰ কেইদিনমানৰ ভিতৰতে দুই নিযুততকৈও অধিকবাৰ এক্সেছ কৰা হৈছিল। | Prof Hawking's 1966 work proved so popular on the day of its release it crashed the publications section of Cambridge University's website. More than 500,000 people have also tried to download the paper, titled "Properties of expanding universes". Dr Arthur Smith, from the university, called the figures "monumental". "This is far and away the most accessed item we have in the university's Apollo repository," Dr Smith, deputy head of scholarly communication, said. "I'd hazard a guess that Prof Hawking's PhD thesis is also the most accessed item from any research repository ever. We've never seen numbers like this before." Factfile: Stephen Hawking Prof Hawking wrote the 134-page document as a 24-year-old postgraduate student while studying at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. The astrophysicist, who has been at Cambridge University since 1962, would later go on to write A Brief History of Time, one of the most influential scientific works ever. Since it went live at 00:01 BST on Monday, the PhD has been accessed about two million times by about 800,000 unique browsers "from every corner of the globe", according to the university. The next most read PhD thesis has received just 7,960 downloads in 2017. Previously, to read Hawking's PhD in full, people had to pay £65 to the university library to scan a copy or physically go to the library to read it. Cambridge University hopes to encourage its other former academics to make their work available to the public, like Prof Hawking has. Dr Smith added: "Locking knowledge and information behind closed doors benefits no-one." | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56158928 | https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56158928 | নাছাই মংগল গ্ৰহত অৱতৰণ কৰা পাৰ্ছিভাৰেন্স ৰ’ভাৰৰ চমকপ্ৰদ ভিডিঅ’ মুকলি কৰিছে। | By Jonathan AmosBBC Science Correspondent The movies cover the final minutes of last week's hair-raising descent, up to the point where the robot's wheels make contact with the ground. The sequences show a whirl of dust and grit being kicked up as the vehicle is lowered by its rocket backpack to the floor of Jezero Crater. Perseverance was sent to Mars festooned with cameras, seven of which were dedicated to recording the landing. Their imagery represents vital feedback for engineers as they look to improve still further the technologies used to put probes on the surface of the Red planet. Mike Watkins, the director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, which is home to Nasa's Mars mission control, said the spectacular videos were an example of the agency at its best. "We have taken everyone along with us on our journeys across the Solar System, through the rings of Saturn, looking back at the 'Pale Blue Dot' and incredible panoramas on the surface of Mars. This is the first time we've been able to actually capture an event like the landing of a spacecraft on Mars," he told reporters. "We will learn something by looking at the performance of the vehicle in these videos. But a lot of it is also to bring you along on our journey." All the cameras employed in the descent and landing were off-the-shelf, ruggedised sports cameras, with next-to-no modifications. The cameras were positioned to capture key hardware events - from the release of the supersonic parachute, through the jettisoning of the entry capsule's heatshield and flight of the backpack, or "sky crane", all the way through to touchdown and the backpack's disposal. This corresponded to roughly the final four minutes of the rover's seven-minute descent to the surface. "We collected a little over 30 gigabytes of information, and over 23,000 images of the vehicle descending down to the surface of Mars," explained Dave Gruel, who led the camera effort at JPL. One of the three cameras looking up at the parachutes failed, but the other six cameras worked flawlessly. Nasa had hoped also to record the sound of the descent with a microphone, but unfortunately this didn't succeed. However, the team has managed to get a mic operating on the ground so there is the possibility of hearing Perseverance go about its exploration duties in the coming weeks. Already, the muffled sound of the wind in Jezero Crater has been played back. Videos have been made at Mars before, but these were low frame-rate affairs - more what you might call "stop motion" action. The Perseverance offering on the other hand is simply jaw-dropping in its clarity and detail. "It gives me goose bumps every time I see it - just amazing," said Gruel. Encoded in the parachute is a 10 bit pattern that spells out the coordinates (34°11'58"N 118°10'31"W) of Nasa's Jet Propulsion Lab and its moto: "Dare mighty things" Engineers at JPL continue the work of commissioning the robot. At the weekend, Perseverance's navigation mast, which had been stowed flat since leaving Earth last year, was raised into the vertical. This allowed the main science cameras at the mast's top, the Mastcam-Z system, to begin building a panorama of the surrounding terrain in Jezero and of the deck of the rover itself. The latter mosaic is wanted to look for any damage that might have been inflicted by flying stones at the time of landing. Controllers will this week perform the critical task of transitioning Perseverance away from the software that got it safely down to the surface of Mars to one that enables the robot to rove and use equipment such as its robotic arm. This is likely to take four Martian days, or Sols (a Martian day lasts 24 hours and 39 minutes). We might see a wheel wiggle and the first test drive of a few metres come the weekend. There's huge interest in the mini-helicopter that travelled with the rover. The 2kg device will perform the first powered flight on another world. But first Perseverance needs to find the right place to put this aircraft down to conduct its experiments. Mission planners said on Friday it would be a few weeks yet before the robot reached this chosen location, meaning it's probably going to be April before Ingenuity, as the little chopper is known, takes to the skies. A 360-degree view of Jezero Crater made by the Perseverance rover A Nasa satellite, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, has already identified and photographed the discarded hardware from landing. "The descent stage (backpack/sky crane) is about 700m away from where Perseverance is on the surface. The parachute is about 1.2km and the heatshield about 1.5km. And so it's very exciting that we can see all these different components," said Jessica Samuels, the Perseverance surface mission manager. The robot's landing spot is in a 1.2km by 1.2km quadrangle that the science team has informally called Canyon de Chelly after the National Monument in the US State of Arizona. Perseverance is sitting on a flat piece of ground at the boundary of two geologic units - a smooth unit under the wheels of the vehicle that contains what are likely to be dark volcanic rocks; and a rougher unit that has rocks with a lot of the mineral olivine in them. About 2km to the northwest is what looks from satellite images to be the remains of a delta that formed when Jezero was filled by a giant lake billions of years ago. Deltas are created when rivers enter a wider body of water and dump silt and sand. It's in these sediments that Perseverance will look for signs of past microbial activity. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32091835 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32091835 | ৰজা ছলমান বিন আব্দুলআজিজ আল-ছাউদে হ’থি বিদ্ৰোহীসকলৰ বিৰুদ্ধে বিমান আক্ৰমণৰ নিৰ্দেশ দিয়াৰ সিদ্ধান্তটোৱে চাৰি বছৰ আগতে আৰব দেশসমূহত বিপ্লৱ সৃষ্টি কৰিছিল আৰু ই আছিল হাউছ অৱ ছাউদে গ্ৰহণ কৰা আটাইতকৈ গুৰুত্বপূৰ্ণ বৈদেশিক নীতিৰ সিদ্ধান্ত। | By Michael StephensRoyal United Services Institute (RUSI), Doha Saudi media claim the kingdom has mobilised as many as 150,000 troops to its southern border primarily for the purpose of homeland defence, but also clearly to afford the kingdom the option to stage a ground war should it so choose. It is not possible to verify the troop numbers, which may not accurately reflect the actual size of the deployment. Whether such a ground intervention will come is as yet unclear, but the kingdom has decisively played its hand against the Houthis, and in the process dramatically upped the stakes in a regional power struggle with Iran which now involves Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Bahrain and Yemen. Saudi Arabia's major foreign policy decisions are usually the product of consensus among top princes, and the Yemen operation is no exception. Indeed, had the previous King Abdullah still been alive he would almost certainly have come to the same conclusion. Nevertheless, this is a real test for the new king, and failure to achieve Saudi Arabia's aim of reinstating ousted President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi would be an embarrassing defeat. Failure is not an option, in particular for the king's 34-year-old son Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who as minister of defence is serving in his first senior post in government. The risks for the young man are great. His cousin Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud launched what is widely regarded as a failed operation in Yemen in 2009, and his career has never fully recovered, with the one-time shoo-in for minister of defence seeing his portfolio dim dramatically. Although Prince Mohammed is secure in his post, the problems would begin if his aging father were to pass away - the Byzantine world of Saudi court politics would be unlikely to forgive a failed Yemeni operation. The young prince must ensure that he gets this right. The stakes are high. It is unlikely that the kingdom is looking to involve itself in a protracted conflict. Saudi troops marching into Yemen have found it tough going since 1934. Logistics and supply lines are hard to maintain, and Yemenis know their rugged terrain better than any foreigner. Leverage An extended occupation of the country would be disastrously costly both financially and in terms of lives, even if the Houthi insurgency was militarily defeated. The question is what does Saudi Arabia seek to achieve through the use of military force. Air strikes alone will not be enough to defeat the Houthis, and a long term military operation would stretch Saudi operating capacity thin. The message from Riyadh also leaves no doubt that the Saudis seek a negotiated settlement in which President Hadi brings together Yemen's different constituencies, including the Houthis, to work out a fairer constitutional settlement. This could include a fairer distribution of provinces, and possibly more autonomy for Yemen's south where agitation from separatists is growing larger by the day. Additionally, it is important to understand whether Saudi Arabia seeks a solution in Yemen with the hope of affecting affairs elsewhere in the Arab world. Could for example, a political deal in which the Houthis are on the backfoot in Sanaa be used as leverage against the Iranians in Syria to force President Bashar al-Assad to step down from power or allow greater Sunni political influence in Baghdad? Iranian support It is a long shot but given current regional dynamics the Saudis will be looking to push all of the pressure points they can get against Iran and its allies. Iran's position on Yemen is also quite clear - it seeks a political solution in Yemen that does not involve long term conflict and in which its allies, the Houthis, are given a seat at the table. But should this not be possible the hardliners in Tehran would like nothing more than to see the Saudis bogged down in a conflict that they cannot hope to win. Although Iran's logistical and diplomatic support to the Houthis has been fairly limited, the level of the military response in Riyadh shows that the Iranians clearly have the Saudis rattled, for far less time and money than the Saudis expended in Syria to force Iran's hand. In a conflict in which no side has indicated that it seeks anything other than a diplomatic solution, it seems odd that the risk for protracted conflict is so high. However, the Houthis do not look to be backing down. Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi indicated in a televised address shortly after the airstrikes began that all foreign invaders would be resisted. Danger The hope is that while the Houthis talk tough, that they understand that they are not welcomed by the local population and by tribal confederations across large swathes of Yemen, particularly in the north east and south west of the country. So whether the Houthis like it or not, they will have to compromise. The danger is that Yemen could descend into a fractured and long term war, which drags in the region's main players and gives additional space for al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS) to exploit. To avoid such a scenario, much depends on the ability of all parties to come out of this conflict without appearing to have lost face. Because, if the Syria example is anything to go by, a war will continue indefinitely until all parties feel they have more to gain from talking and compromising than they do from fighting. Michael Stephens is Research Fellow for Middle East studies and Head of RUSI Qatar (Twitter: @MStephensGulf) | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-50455727 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-50455727 | আৰক্ষীৰ দ্বাৰা পৰিবেষ্টিত হংকং বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় চৌহদৰ পৰা পলাবলৈ চেষ্টা কৰি থকা অৱস্থাত কেইবাগাৰাকী প্ৰতিবাদকাৰীক গ্ৰেপ্তাৰ কৰা হৈছে। | Around 100 people tried to leave the Polytechnic University, but were met with tear gas and rubber bullets. In the past week, the campus has turned into a battleground as long-running anti-government protests become more violent. A small number managed to successfully leave the campus using rope ladders before being picked up by motorcycles. Hong Kong's Hospital Authority says 116 people have been injured and taken to hospital. The violence is some of the worst seen during months of unrest in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory. The protests started over a controversial extradition bill, and have now evolved into broader anti-government demonstrations. China has warned that "no-one should underestimate [its] will to safeguard its sovereignty and Hong Kong's stability", and its ambassador to the UK said the central government would not sit back and watch if the situation became "uncontrollable". Hong Kong is a part of China, and the protests are, in part, about the fear that the special freedoms the territory enjoys as a former British colony are being eroded. Earlier, Hong Kong's High Court ruled that a ban on protesters wearing face masks was unconstitutional. The colonial-era emergency law was invoked in October, but protesters largely defied it. Hong Kong's government said the weekend's events had "reduced the chance" of district elections being held on Sunday as planned, public broadcaster RTHK reports. Postponing or cancelling the vote could further inflame the protests. The UK has urged an "end to the violence and for all sides to engage in meaningful political dialogue" ahead of the elections. What is happening? Police are still besieging the university where several hundred protesters are thought to be trapped. Officers have ordered those inside to drop their weapons and surrender. A protester inside the university told the BBC supplies, including first aid equipment, were running low. Meanwhile, a fire broke out on campus and loud explosions were heard, according to the South China Morning Post. PolyU has been occupied by protesters for several days. On Sunday night, police warned protesters they had until 22:00 (14:00 GMT) to leave the campus, saying they could use live ammunition if the attacks continued. On Sunday, the university said it had been "severely and extensively vandalised". A number of protesters left inside in the university have identified themselves as current students in media interviews but it is unclear exactly how many of them are, in fact, university students. Tears and pride By Grace Tsoi, BBC News, Hong Kong Worried parents whose children were trapped inside the Polytechnic University were among the 200 protesters who joined a peaceful rally on Monday night in eastern Tsim Sha Tsui, a tourist area which is only 300 metres away from the besieged campus. Ms Ng - who only wanted to be identified by her last name - found out on Sunday night her son was among those trapped inside. "He's frightened because he has not faced any emergency situation on his own. She has been on the streets near the university since then. The teary-eyed mother is proud of her 18-year-old son despite the circumstances. "My son didn't cry. He's strong and likes to help others," she said. "I told my son that you did nothing wrong and you are an outstanding kid. I wouldn't blame you." She told him to stay inside the campus and wait for her to pick him up. Ms Ng said the government should bear the responsibility for the chaos in Hong Kong. "Our government is more and more reckless. It ignores the very lowly demands from the citizens!" she said. "I wasn't born in Hong Kong but I love Hong Kong so much! Hong Kong is a wonderful place but it has turned into such a state. It breaks my heart!" How did we get here? Campuses remained relatively free of violence during the Hong Kong protests but, last week, the Chinese University of Hong Kong became a battleground. Police say protesters threw petrol bombs on a major road near the university in an effort to stop traffic. Officers attempted to reclaim the road, leading to major clashes. The university then cancelled all classes for the rest of the term. Days later, protesters at PolyU also tried to block access to a key tunnel near the university. Protests have also been held at other locations in Hong Kong. Why are there protests in Hong Kong? Hong Kong - a British colony until 1997 - is part of China under a model known as "one country, two systems". Under this model, it has a high degree of autonomy and people have freedoms unseen in mainland China. The protests started in June after the government planned to pass a bill that would allow suspects to be extradited to mainland China. Many feared this would undermine the city's freedoms and judicial independence. The bill was eventually withdrawn, but the demonstrations continued, having evolved into a broader protest movement against alleged police brutality, and the way Hong Kong is administered by Beijing. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52061381 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52061381 | ৰাছিয়াই কৰ’নাভাইৰাছৰ বিস্তাৰ হ্ৰাস কৰিবলৈ ভ্লাদিমিৰ পুটিনে অভিহিত কৰা মতে "কাম নকৰা সপ্তাহ" এটা আৰম্ভ কৰিছে। | By Sarah RainsfordBBC News, Moscow The government is urging people to stay at home, though mixed messaging has left many Russians confused. Officials now hint the new restrictions could be extended beyond 5 April, depending on the health situation. The number of Russians infected with Covid-19 passed 1,000 on Friday, with most cases detected in Moscow. Based on that figure, the Kremlin spokesman has stressed that there is "de facto no epidemic" here, comparing Russia's position favourably with the crisis in Europe. And whilst state TV's rolling news channel has changed its name to We're Staying Home - broadcasting from presenters' living rooms - many people are struggling to adjust after its previous insistence that Covid-19 was a "foreign threat". So when Mr Putin announced a paid week off work for all, there was a rush to book holidays. 'Not a holiday' The governor of Krasnodar region, which includes the Black Sea resort of Sochi, had to order the closure of all shopping centres, parks and restaurants - and limit flights - after hotel reservations sky-rocketed. "This is not a week of extra leave or holiday," explained Benjamin Kondratiev on Instagram, clarifying the president's speech. He added his own call for "self-discipline" to get through what he called the "bad period" of coronavirus. Many Muscovites have already headed out of town to their dachas, or summer houses. In Moscow, there has been a noticeable increase in people in facemasks on the streets since Mr Putin's national address. Supermarket staff have begun wearing them and there are bottles of hand sanitiser in coffee shops. Food shops will remain open, as well as other essential services, but from this weekend cafes and restaurants can offer takeaway only. At one popular coffee chain, a barista who's now selling drinks through a window said coronavirus was the only topic of conversation these days, and that people were worried. Her own hours have been cut; in other sectors, people are already being laid-off. 'The weather's great' Still, some Muscovites can't understand what the fuss is about. "There's deaths from cancer and other diseases all the time and people still go to work, take the metro or go to the park," Dmitry shrugged, the day before the bicycle-hire shop he works at was closed. "I'll definitely be going out on the streets this week," he said. "The weather's great!" A Latvian man passing with a pushchair was less positive. "I think these measures are late," Krist said, on a break from remote-working. "Look at Italy and Spain. People were out and about there, too, and now things are scary." Gorky Park, nearby, has already been locked shut for two days. "We did as we were told," a security guard said through the fence. "I'm not sure how long it will go on for." The Kremlin says the new restrictions are for a week, "for now", although in Moscow people over 65 have already been told to stay inside until mid-April. The mayor cancelled their free transport passes, just in case any were tempted to test the new rules. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54034707 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54034707 | আমেৰিকা যুক্তৰাষ্ট্ৰৰ ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতি ড'নাল্ড ট্ৰাম্পে যুদ্ধত নিহত আমেৰিকান সৈনিকসকলক "পৰাজিত" আৰু "নিষ্কৰ্মা" বুলি উপহাস কৰাৰ বাবে প্ৰতিক্ৰিয়াৰ সন্মুখীন হৈছে। | The alleged remarks were first reported in the Atlantic magazine, and some details were corroborated by the Associated Press and Fox News. But the president and his allies have denied he made the remarks. Veterans' groups were among those who attacked the president over the reports. Progressive group VoteVets posted a video of families whose children were killed in action. "You don't know what it is to sacrifice," says one. Paul Rieckhoff of the Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America, tweeted: "Who is really surprised by this?" Analysts say the comments could prove damaging with the president needing support from military voters as he bids for re-election. What is Trump reported to have said? According to The Atlantic, Mr Trump cancelled a visit to a US cemetery outside Paris in 2018 because he said it was "filled with losers". Four sources told the magazine he rejected the idea of visiting because the rain would dishevel his hair, and he did not believe it important to honour America's war dead. During the same trip, the president also allegedly referred to 1,800 US soldiers who died at Belleau Wood as "suckers". The battle helped to prevent a German advance on Paris during World War One and is venerated by the US Marine Corps. The Atlantic's reporting was based on anonymous sources but the Associated Press said it had independently confirmed many of the remarks. A Fox News correspondent said she had corroborated some of the remarks. In 2018 the White House said the visit was cancelled because bad weather had grounded the president's helicopter. This account was backed up in a recent book by President Trump's former National Security Adviser John Bolton, who has been a vocal critic of Mr Trump. The US Navy also said it cancelled the trip to the cemetery because of rain in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act from Buzzfeed reporter Jason Leopold. What has the reaction been? On top of the comments from veterans, President Trump's challenger in November's presidential election, Joe Biden, responded by saying his rival was "unfit" to lead. "If the article is true - and it appears to be, based on other things he's said - it is absolutely damning. It is a disgrace." Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, a veteran who lost both legs while serving in Iraq, said President Trump "liked to use the US military for his own ego". Khizr Khan, the father of a US soldier killed in Iraq who criticised Mr Trump during the 2016 Democratic convention, joined Ms Duckworth on the call. He said: "When Donald Trump calls anyone who places their lives in service of others a loser, we understand Trump's soul." How is the White House fighting the story? President Trump has pushed back hard against the reports, calling them "fake news". "To think that I would make statements negative to our military and our fallen heroes when nobody's done what I've done with the budgets, with the military budgets, with getting pay raises for our military," he said. "It is a disgraceful situation by a magazine that's a terrible magazine." Speaking to reporters on Friday, he suggested the source of the story was his former White House chief of staff, John Kelly. Mr Trump said the former US Marine general "was unable to handle the pressure of this job". Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News on Friday morning he was with the president for a good part of the trip to France and never heard him use the words described in the article. Defense Secretary Mark Esper was quoted by Politico as saying Mr Trump had "the highest respect and admiration for our nation's military members, veterans and families", though the Pentagon chief did not explicitly deny the story. Another former White House chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, and former press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders were among those in Mr Trump's orbit who rejected the story as false. Where do Trump and the US military stand? The US president has often staked claim to strong support among the military, and Pew Research Center last year found that veterans were generally supportive of him as commander-in-chief, with 57% in favour. Three-fifths of the veterans identified as Republican, the research found. But there have been previous spats and controversies. He caused outrage by saying the late Senator John McCain, a prisoner of war in Vietnam, was not a "war hero" saying: "I like people who weren't captured." President Trump has never served in uniform. He received five deferments from a military draft during the Vietnam War - four for academic reasons and one for bone spurs, a calcium build-up in the heels. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-47627749 | https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-47627749 | অৱশেষত বসন্ত আহিল, বছৰটোৰ ফুল ফুলাৰ সময়খিনি, যেতিয়া বেলি দীঘল সময়ৰ বাবে বাহিৰত থাকে আৰু চৰাইবোৰে বাহ সাজে। | By Samantha FisherBBC News But nesting is not being made easy in many parts of England, with increased reports of developers covering hedges and trees with netting. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) says developers do this to make it easier for them to remove greenery when the time comes, as although it's an offence to destroy an active nest, there are no laws to prevent the installation of nets to stop birds nesting in the first place. One of several high-profile figures to condemn the practice is naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham, who has described it as "ghastly" and the "antithesis of everything conservation stands for". The RSPB - which says the UK has lost more than 40 million birds in the past 50 years - has now asked the government to address this issue. Is this new? Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust says netting "seems to be an increasingly common practice", which it's seeing "more and more on developments", while the Woodland Trust believes it's been happening for a few years. The representative body of the homebuilding industry, the Home Builders Federation (HBF), says installing this type of netting is not a new thing but as it's not aware of anyone who monitors its use, the organisation can't comment on whether the practice is on the rise. Where is it happening? Netting is being spotted all over England, often in places where preparation work is being carried out for planned housing developments. In Guildford, 11 trees have been covered by Sladen Estates, which is aiming to build 191 homes on a derelict site, and netting has appeared on hedgerows in Stratford-upon-Avon, where Taylor Wimpey intends to build a 270-home development. In Tuffley, Gloucester, blue and green netting has been installed, while in Darlington, a dead sparrow was found on land where homes are set to be built, caught up in black netting. Darlington Green Party says residents are tying green ribbons to hedges and trees in protest. Some netting has come down, however. Tesco removed nets installed at a store in Norwich after criticism from bird-lovers on social media. Is it legal? Yes, although the RSPB says there are legal responsibilities such as fitting the netting properly and checking it regularly to make sure birds and animals aren't trapped. Why are people angry? The great and the good have criticised the practice, including author Philip Pullman, who described the Guildford tree covering as "wicked", and TV presenter Jake Humphrey, who called the Tesco netting in Norwich "nonsense". A petition calling for netting hedgerows to become a criminal offence has more than 36,000 signatures and a campaign has been started asking people to send photographs of netting to their local authority, including the #NestingNotNets hashtag, with details about the location. Dr Rob Lambert, an environmental academic from the University of Nottingham and vice principal of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, says the reaction of the public "expresses the real connection we have with nature". Dr Lambert, who says 25 million people across the country regularly feed birds in their gardens, believes the netting issue has struck a chord. "There is an incredible sense of 'what have we become and why are we doing this?'" he says. "I can absolutely see the pressure housing developers are under but we have to find a way forward where nature does not come last." What do the developers say? William Davis Homes, which has covered hedges in netting in Radcliffe-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire, says it was given permission to access the site in November. A spokeswoman said: "The works are being carried out in compliance with planning consent, observing the requirements of Countryside and Wildlife Act and following industry best practice." Developer Sladen Estates, which aims to build 191 homes in Guildford, says it took advice on the use of the netting. Andrew Whitaker, from the Home Builders Federation, says: "Netting trees aligns with the relevant environmental requirements in instances where it has been agreed with the local authority that a tree has to be replaced." He adds: "Last year, house builders planted about nine million trees and shrubs, making the industry one of the nation's biggest providers of new trees. "As we build the homes the country needs, the industry is committed to bio-diversity, proactively acting to protect birds and providing a net increase in the number of trees." How have wildlife charities reacted? Jack Taylor, from the Woodland Trust, believes putting up netting shows "an alarming disregard for the welfare of wildlife". "While not an illegal practice, we consider that netting hedges and trees during the nesting and breeding season is inappropriate," he says. An RSPB spokesman says we "cannot keep trying to squeeze nature into smaller and smaller spaces or demanding it fits in with our plans". "We are looking to the government to not just ask planners and developers to think about whether it is necessary to remove the trees and hedgerows that are vital for supporting our wildlife, but to ensure that developers replace what they take away." What does the government say? A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) says it wants developments to "enhance our natural environment" and has announced plans to require developers to deliver a "biodiversity net gain". The Defra-sponsored body Natural England says it doesn't regulate the use of netting on trees, but that it's "essential that developers look at the most suitable option for complying with the necessary regulations". It says alternatives to netting, such as scaring off birds or restricting access to food sources, can be useful management tools to guide animals away from particular areas. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49471093 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49471093 | ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতি ড’নাল্ড ট্ৰাম্পে ঘূৰ্ণীবতাহ ধ্বংস কৰিবলৈ পাৰমাণৱিক অস্ত্ৰ ব্যৱহাৰ কৰাৰ প্ৰতিবেদন পাই সেইটো উত্তম ধাৰণা নহয় বুলি আমেৰিকা যুক্তৰাষ্ট্ৰৰ এটা বৈজ্ঞানিক সংস্থাই মত দিছে। | The Axios news website said Mr Trump had asked several national security officials about the possibility. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said the results would be "devastating". Mr Trump has denied making the suggestion. Hurricanes typically affect the US east coast, often causing serious damage. It's not the first time the idea has been considered. Following reports of Mr Trump's suggestion, the hashtag #ThatsHowTheApocalyseStarted has been trending on Twitter. What effect would nuking a hurricane have? Mr Trump asked why the US couldn't drop a bomb into the eye of the storm to stop it from making landfall, news site Axios said. The NOAA says that using nuclear weapons on a hurricane "might not even alter the storm" and the "radioactive fallout would fairly quickly move with the tradewinds to affect land areas". The difficulty with using explosives to change hurricanes, it says, is the amount of energy needed. The heat release of a hurricane is equivalent to a 10-megaton nuclear bomb exploding every 20 minutes. Even though the mechanical energy of a bomb is closer to that of the storm, "the task of focusing even half of the energy on a spot in the middle of a remote ocean would be formidable", it adds. "Attacking weak tropical waves or depressions before they have a chance to grow into hurricanes isn't promising either," says the NOAA. "About 80 of these disturbances form every year in the Atlantic basin but only about five become hurricanes in a typical year. There is no way to tell in advance which ones will develop." How long has this idea been around? The idea of bombing a hurricane has been around since the 1950s when the suggestion was originally made by a government scientist. During a speech at the National Press Club in 1961, Francis Riechelderfer, head of the US Weather Bureau, said he could "imagine the possibility of someday exploding a nuclear bomb on a hurricane far at sea". The Weather Bureau would only begin acquiring nuclear weapons when "we know what we're doing", he added, according to National Geographic. The NOAA says the idea is often suggested during hurricane season. George Washington University Professor Sharon Squassoni says the idea stems from the Plowshares Program of the 1950s when a "laundry list of different weird... fantastical, slightly crazy" uses for nuclear weapons was devised by government researchers. In nearly 20 years, the US exploded 31 warheads in 27 tests in order to test whether America's nuclear arsenal could be used to excavate canals or mines, or create a harbour for ships. As the dangers of radiation became more clear, the notion was dropped, Prof Squassoni tells BBC News, adding that current international treaties would ban the US from exploding a nuclear weapon in a hurricane. Several other outlandish ideas have been floated in recent years, including one Facebook event calling for US gun owners to "shoot down" Hurricane Irma in 2017 with bullets and flamethrowers. The event attracted 55,000 people to sign up and was taken seriously enough by one Florida sheriff that he issued a stern warning on Twitter saying: "You won't make it turn around & it will have very dangerous side effects." When is the US hurricane season? The Atlantic Hurricane season runs from 1 June until the end of November. The peak of the season comes in September when sea temperatures are at their highest. Tropical Storm Dorian is currently swirling towards the Caribbean islands and is forecast to become a hurricane by Tuesday, and will threaten the US island territory of Puerto Rico in the coming days. When asked for a comment by BBC News, a spokesman for the National Hurricane Center in Miami said the agency is focused on Dorian and deferred questions on the "topic of hurricanes and nukes" to the NOAA guidelines. The NOAA warned earlier this month that conditions were now more favourable for above-normal hurricane activity. It is predicting between 10 and 17 named storms, of which 5-9 will become hurricanes, including 2-4 major hurricanes. Four named storms have formed so far this year. They were Andrea, Barry, Chantal and Dorian. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47869921 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47869921 | পাকিস্তানৰ প্ৰধানমন্ত্ৰী ইমৰান খানে বিবিচিক কৈছে যে কাশ্মীৰৰ বিতৰ্কিত অঞ্চলক লৈ ভাৰতৰ সৈতে শান্তি স্থাপন এক বিস্তৃত অঞ্চলৰ বাবে "অসাধাৰণ" কাৰ্য হ'ব। | Mr Khan, a former cricketer who became leader eight months ago, said the nuclear-armed neighbours could only settle their differences with dialogue. The comments come as India prepares to vote in a general election, weeks after an upsurge of violence in Kashmir. A suicide attack against Indian forces triggered cross-border air strikes. Asked what message he wanted to send to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his country, Mr Khan told the BBC's John Simpson that the Kashmir issue "has to be settled" and "cannot keep boiling like it is". "The number-one tasks of the two governments is how are we going to reduce poverty and the way we reduce poverty is by settling our differences through dialogue and there is only one difference - which is Kashmir," he said. India's prime minister has used anti-Pakistan rhetoric and stressed national-security themes during his re-election campaign. Many see the election as a referendum on the polarising politics of his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Voting will open on Thursday and continue into May. 'Irresponsible' Mr Khan also spoke about the dangers of confrontation between the two neighbours. "Once you respond, no-one can predict where it can go from there," he said. If India had "come back and then again attacked Pakistan, Pakistan would have no choice but to respond," he added. "So in that situation, two nuclear-armed countries, I just felt it was very irresponsible." 'Hand of friendship' on election eve Analysis by the BBC's world affairs editor John Simpson Imran Khan has given very few interviews during his eight months in power. So when the BBC and a small group of British and American news organisations were invited to meet him, it was because he wanted to send a message to India on the eve of its general election. He was offering the hand of friendship: let's work together to solve our common problems. The fact is, Imran Khan needs to lighten the atmosphere. Pakistan's economy is in a bad way. Foreign investors are put off by the angry relationship with India, and by claims that Pakistan is allowing militant Islamic groups to operate from its territory - this he strongly denied. No previous Pakistani government had done more to clamp down on terrorist groups, he maintained. For him, everything depends on a solution to the Kashmir problem. If India and Pakistan can find that, he said, everything else could be sorted out easily. Why is there tension over Kashmir? Both India and Pakistan claim all of Muslim-majority Kashmir, but control only parts of it. The neighbours have fought two wars and a limited conflict over the Muslim-majority territory. In 2003 the two parties agreed a ceasefire along the province's de-facto border, known as the Line of Control (LoC), but internal unrest has continued. Many who live in India-administered Kashmir resent Indian rule, and Delhi has long accused Pakistan of backing separatist militants there. High unemployment and complaints of human rights abuses by security forces have also aggravated internal tensions and fuelled insurgency. What caused relations to flare this year? Pakistan-based militants killed 40 Indian troops in a suicide attack in Pulwama, in Indian-administered Kashmir, in February. It was the deadliest attack of its kind in decades and India said the Pakistani state had a hand in the attack. India responded with air strikes against what it said was a militant training camp in Pakistani territory. Pakistan then shot down an Indian jet on the Pakistan-administered side of Kashmir. The pilot from that plane was captured alive, but was safely returned to India in what Mr Khan called a "peace gesture". Tensions appeared to have eased since then, but earlier this week Pakistan's foreign minister accused India of planning a fresh military attack. India has dismissed the claims as a "public gimmick" aimed at "whipping up war hysteria in the region". What else did Mr Khan say? Mr Khan also spoke to the Reuters news agency on Tuesday. During that interview, he suggested there could be a better chance of peace if Mr Modi were re-elected. "Perhaps if the BJP - a right-wing party - wins, some kind of settlement in Kashmir could be reached," he said, while suggesting other parties may fear a backlash from the right over any negotiations. During his BBC interview Mr Khan also touched on the case of Asia Bibi - a high-profile blasphemy case involving a Christian woman. Pakistan's Supreme Court upheld its decision to overturn her conviction and death sentence in January, but she is yet to leave Pakistan. Mr Khan told the BBC that she would be departing the country "very soon" "There is a little bit of a complication. And I can't speak on the media about [it]," he said. "But I can assure you she is safe and she will be leaving in weeks." | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45417037 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45417037 | উত্তৰ কোৰিয়াৰ ৭০ সংখ্যক বৰ্ষপূৰ্তি উপলক্ষে আয়োজন কৰা সামৰিক পেৰেডত কোনো আন্তঃমহাদেশীয় বেলেষ্টিক মিছাইল প্ৰদৰ্শন কৰা হোৱা নাই বুলি জানিব পৰা গৈছে। | It is also unclear whether leader Kim Jong-un made a speech at the event. The parade is being scrutinised for clues about North Korea's weapons arsenal and professed commitment to denuclearisation. Some analysts had predicted that Mr Kim would tone down the display after his summit with US President Donald Trump. A large display of ICBMs - which can reach the US mainland, potentially carrying a nuclear warhead - would have been seen as provocative. In June Mr Kim and Mr Trump signed a vague agreement to work towards denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula but it did not include a timeline, details or mechanisms to verify the process. High-level talks and visits have continued but the most recent scheduled trip by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was called off last minute and both sides have blamed each other for the stalling negotiations while insisting they're committed to the progress. The BBC's Seoul Correspondent Laura Bicker said any show of ICBMs could have put future discussions and any deal to declare an end to the Korean war at risk. North Korea was also due to hold its first mass games in five years. The Arirang Mass Games are an elaborate propaganda spectacle with enormous co-ordinated displays. This year's games, which tell a symbolic story of North Korea's history, are titled The Glorious Country. Analysis of satellite images from the past two weeks suggest this year's games, which will continue throughout September, are going to be very big. Past games have featured gigantic stadiums filled with performers, synchronised gymnasts and co-ordinated dance displays. The colourful displays are likely to be striking but the UN has in the past said that children are forced to take part, or to help in the build-up. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-33595804 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-33595804 | বিবিচিয়ে জানিব পাৰিছে যে ১৪ বছৰ বা সমবয়সীয়া আফ্ৰিকান ফুটবলাৰসকলক এছিয়ালৈ সৰবৰাহ কৰা হৈছে আৰু চুক্তি স্বাক্ষৰ কৰিবলৈ বাধ্য কৰা হৈছে। | By Piers EdwardsBBC Africa sport Six minors are still with top Laos side Champasak United, after it imported 23 under-age players from West Africa to an unregistered football academy in February, global players' union FIFPro told the BBC. Fifa regulations prohibit the movement of players to a foreign club or academy until they are 18. The club, based in the southern city Pakse, denies any wrongdoing. "Fifa is in contact with several member associations in order to gather all information to assess the matter and safeguard the interests of the minors," a Fifa spokesperson told the BBC. FIFPro, which has investigated the case for four months and which helped release 17 of the 23 players three months ago, said in a statement it "suspects this case is not one of its kind, but probably the tip of the iceberg". It has been claimed that Champasak United, a newly-formed club which plays in Laos's top league, intends to profit by selling the players in future. In a clear breach of the world football governing body's rules, the club has fielded overseas players as young as 14 and 15 in league games this season. One 14-year-old player, Liberia's Kesselly Kamara, who scored in a full league game, says he was forced into signing a six-year deal before playing for the senior team. His contract promised him a salary and accommodation, but Kamara says he was never paid and had to sleep on the floor of the club's stadium - as did the rest of the travelling party. "It was very bad because you can't have 30 people sleeping in one room," Kamara, who is now playing for a club back home in Liberia's top league, told the BBC. All those who travelled to join the "IDSEA Champasak Asia African Football Academy" did so after being invited by former Liberia international Alex Karmo, who captained the club at the time. Young players gratefully accepted the invitation, since Liberia lacks a football academy of its own, despite being the only African country to have produced a Fifa World Footballer of the Year - George Weah in 1995. "It's a fictitious academy, which was never legally established," said Liberian journalist and sports promoter Wleh Bedell, who led the group to Laos in February but who has since returned. "It's an 'academy' that has no coach nor doctor. Karmo was the coach, the business manager, everything. It was completely absurd." Following initial pressure from both FIFPro and Fifa, Champasak released 17 teenagers from the original party, with Kamara among them, by early April. But six minors chose to remain. FIFPro says that all have since signed contracts presented to them by Karmo, who describes himself as a "manager for players from Africa in Champasak", and club president Phonesavanh Khieulavong. "Today we have criminal activists threatening world football and the young players, so it's important to work together. Fifa will have to be on top of this battle" Anti-trafficking campaigner Jean-Claude Mbvounim Can Fifa end child trafficking? These appear to allow Champasak to pay the boys nothing at all, while also demanding that unrealistic conditions be met should the teenagers want to leave. Karmo says the players are fed three times a day and paid every month. "We don't give the [minors] professional contracts, just a contract that gives them bonuses," Khieulavong told the BBC. Neither Khieulavong nor Karmo denied the presence of minors at the academies, although Karmo claimed there was just one - a 16-year-old from Guinea. The BBC understands there are five more minors from Liberia at the club. Along with eight senior players (six Liberians, a Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean), all are living in conditions described as "deplorable and disturbing" by Bedell. For five months, they have been sleeping on meagre mattresses in a vast room that lacks any glass on its windows and a lock on the door. "It's hard to live in a place with no windows. It made sleeping very difficult, because you are thinking about your life," said Kamara. "Players are in this wild place that is reminiscent of the civil crisis in Liberia when people left their homes and were displaced, [taking shelter] in a makeshift building or auditorium," Bedell, who experienced his country's civil wars of 1989-96 and 1999-2003, told the BBC. The minors' freedom of movement is restricted by the fact that they became illegal immigrants in March after their visas ran out. They are hoping to receive work permits but these are unlikely to arrive since all are underage. Karmo, who insists that he did pay Kamara, admits nine of the 14 Africans do not have work permits but asserts that they have the right documentation to stay in Laos. "Nobody is illegal. Everybody is legal," he told the BBC. With the club having held their passports since their arrival, the boys rarely leave the stadium where they both live and train twice a day. Despite the situation, not everyone wants the minors to leave Laos. "I don't want him to come back to Liberia until he succeeds in his dream," said Bella Tapeh, the mother of one 17-year-old still in Pakse. Some of those who have returned to Liberia have told the BBC they were poorly fed, rarely paid and received no medical assistance from the club despite contracting malaria and typhoid because of the conditions. One also described their existence at Champasak United as akin to "slave work". "This is a very serious situation," Stephane Burchkalter, a FIFPro official, told the BBC. "It is shocking to FIFPro that a club from Laos, which - with all due respect - is a very small football country, can lure minor players from Liberia without Fifa noticing." One NGO, Culture Foot Solidaire, estimates that 15,000 teenage footballers are moved out of West Africa every year - many of them illegally. FIFPro has also called on Fifa to take action against the Laos Football Federation, which has so far failed to discipline Champasak for its alleged breach of the rules. Evidence of clubs breaking regulations on signing international players under 18 is rare but European champions Barcelona are currently serving a transfer ban for this very offence. Meanwhile, the parents of 12 boys found themselves in financial difficulty after taking loans to pay $550 towards the cost of the trip to Laos, with one case currently in the hands of Liberian police. There are three exceptions to Fifa's rules on the movement of players under the age of 18, but none of them apply in this case. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-47832236 | https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-47832236 | যেতিয়া ৰুমিছা লখানি আৰু ৰছিদা শব্বীৰ হুছেইনে পাকিস্তানত আন্তৰ্জাতিক মহিলা দিৱসৰ পদযাত্ৰাৰ বাবে এখন প্লেকাৰ্ড সাজু কৰিছিল, তেওঁলোকৰ কোনো ধাৰণাই নাছিল যে ই তেওঁলোকক এক উষ্ম ৰাষ্ট্ৰীয় বিতৰ্কৰ কেন্দ্ৰত কেইবাদিনো ধৰি ৰাখিব। | By Ammar EbrahimBBC Stories The day before the event the two 22-year-old students attended a poster-making session at their university in Karachi. They wanted to come up with something that would attract attention and started brainstorming ideas. A friend happened to be sitting with her legs spread wide, and this inspired the poster that Rumisa and Rashida made. For Rumisa the way women should sit is a constant issue. "We have to be elegant; we have to worry about not showing the shape of our bodies. The men, they manspread and no-one bats an eye," she says. Rumisa's design depicted an unashamed womanspreader nonchalantly lounging in sunglasses. Her best friend Rashida then provided the slogan. Rashida wanted to draw attention to the fact that women "are told how to sit, how to walk, how to talk". So they decided on the caption: "Here, I'm sitting correctly." Rumisa and Rashida met in their first year at Habib University. Rumisa studies communication design, while Rashida is a social development and policy student. "We are best friends, we laugh together, tell each other everything," Rashida says. They share a passion for women's rights, based on their personal experiences of sexism. For Rumisa, dealing with the family pressure to get married has been a "daily struggle". She sees the fact that she isn't married today as "a personal victory". Rashida says she faces constant harassment on the streets. She also finds the expectation that she should marry and become a housewife uncomfortable. So the two friends were keen to participate in one of several "Aurat" marches - named after the Urdu word for women - staged in cities across Pakistan last month. "It was an amazing feeling, having so many women screaming for their rights," Rumisa says. "It was our space at that moment and I think all who attended could feel that empowered vibe from it." The Aurat marches were a big moment for the country's feminist movement. While women had marched in huge numbers in Pakistan before, these protests cut across class divisions and also included members of the LGBT community. In 2018 the World Economic Forum ranked Pakistan as the second-worst country out of 149 in terms of gender equality - the only country with a worse ranking was Yemen. Women in Pakistan regularly face domestic violence, forced marriages, sexual harassment, and can be the victims of honour killings. Some placards and posters on the Aurat marches were sexual in nature, and in this conservative country these triggered a backlash. The march organisers attribute this response to the fact they were challenging the notion that men should make decisions about women's bodies. "We were questioning body policing, the policing of women's sexuality," says Moneeza, one of the national organisers. "In the religious community there is the notion that a woman should cover herself and stay at home. We were challenging that." Rumisa believes the sight of 7,500 women gathering on the street shocked conservatives. "Doing that on the road with such a loud voice made people uncomfortable," she says. "People feel it's threatening Islam, although I don't see that. I think Islam is a feminist religion." Even before she had got home from the protest, Rumisa realised the picture of her with the placard had gone viral on social media. One comment on a Facebook post said, "I don't need this kind of society for my daughter"; while another said, "I am a woman but I certainly don't feel good about this. Show that we belong to an Islamic society." Another read, "It was women's day. Not bitches' day." However, others supported the placard's message. One woman tweeted: "I genuinely don't understand why people are so horrified by words on a poster when they should be disgusted by the subjugation of women in Pakistan." Rumisa received messages from people she knew saying, "We can't believe you did this. You're from such a modest family." Members of Rumisa's extended family told her parents that they shouldn't let her go on any more marches. Despite this pressure, Rumisa's parents supported their daughter's decision to protest. Another placard at the march said "my body, my choice". According to the Samaa TV channel, this led to one cleric in Karachi ridiculing the slogan in a sermon that was posted online. "My body my choice… your body your choice… Then men's body men's choice… They can climb onto anyone they want," Dr Manzoor Ahmad Mengal is reported to have said in a video posted online. He has been accused by critics of inciting rape, and march organiser Moneeza says that rape and death threats have been commonplace since the protest. "There has been a backlash on social media with a lot of organisers getting rape threats," she says. "I think that is part of the wider misogyny amongst men that we are challenging." The Aurat marches also caused divisions within Pakistan's feminist movement. "A lot of feminists participated in the backlash, self-proclaimed feminists. They were like, ' these are not valid issues, this is not the way women should behave'," Rumisa says. "My own friends - who call themselves feminists - felt my poster was unnecessary." One prominent feminist, Kishwar Naheed, said she believed that Rumisa and Rasheeda's placard, and others like it, were disrespectful to traditions and values. She said that those who thought they could secure more rights using such placards were misguided like jihadis who think that by killing innocent people they will go to heaven. However, an article by Sadia Khatri in the Dawn newspaper accused Kishwar of letting feminists down. She called on those seeking change to embrace the "vulgar" nature of some of the posters. "We need to claim these posters and make the connection between them and the 'larger' feminist struggles," she said. "A girl's right to sit with her legs open is about her agency to do what she likes with her body without reprimand or harassment, it is about her right to move freely, it is about victim-blaming and whose fault it is when someone is assaulted — not the girl's, no matter how she was sitting." Despite the controversy Rumisa doesn't regret making the poster. "I'm kind of happy that my poster got a lot of attention," she says. "I'm not ashamed or afraid of that kind of attention, it's one of the reasons we use slogans like that because we wanted attention to be brought to the women's march and to all kinds of issues." Join the conversation - find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53353404 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53353404 | ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতি ট্ৰাম্পে ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতি নিৰ্বাচনত প’ষ্টেল ভোটিঙৰ সম্প্ৰসাৰণৰ কথা সমালোচনা কৰি ইয়াৰ ফলত ব্যাপক প্ৰৱঞ্চনা সংঘটিত হ’ব পাৰে বুলি দাবী কৰিছে- কিন্তু তাৰ কি প্ৰমাণ আছে? | By Reality Check teamBBC News The US is in uncharted territory during the coronavirus pandemic with a record number of Americans having voted by post. Election authorities and the postal service have been put under immense strain processing the millions of extra ballots. This has led to claims the system is unsafe and susceptible to manipulation. Problems at previous elections? Numerous national and state-level studies have shown that although there have been isolated cases, electoral fraud is very rare. There have been a few, well-publicised cases, such as in the 2018 North Carolina primary, which was re-run after a consultant for the Republican candidate tampered with voting papers. But the rate of voting fraud overall in the US is less than 0.0009%, according to a 2017 study by the Brennan Center for Justice. And Federal Election Commission head Ellen Weintraub has said: "There's simply no basis for the conspiracy theory that voting by mail causes fraud." Let's look at some specific examples where fraud has been claimed this year. Virginia Speaking at a rally in mid-October, Donald Trump said: "In Virginia, 500,000 applications were made that were false." And these applications, to apply for an absentee ballot form, were sent out with the wrong return address. But the electoral authorities in Virginia say there was no fraudulent intent and the mistake has been corrected. The Virginia Center for Voter Information (CVI) said: "We worked for weeks to make sure that no Virginia voter was inconvenienced as a result of our printing error." Ohio President Trump tweeted: "In Ohio, 50,000 ballots were wrong, fraudulent - 50,000." About 50,000 voters did receive the wrong ballot in the post, in Franklin County, Ohio, in early October. But there is no evidence this was done fraudulently. And the local elections board said everyone affected was sent the correct voter slip, with safeguards in place to ensure no-one voted twice. The board said the ballot error had been a "serious mistake". But in response to the president's tweet, it added: "Our board is bipartisan and our elections are fair - and every vote will be counted." But these were all isolated incidents. And there remains overwhelming evidence that voting by post is safe and secure. There are provisions in place to prevent people from impersonating voters or stealing ballots - such as authorities checking that ballots have come from voters' registered address and requiring signatures on envelopes. These safeguards are being applied to all postal votes. How is the postal system coping? A record number of people have voted by post this time round, with more than 65 million sent in, according to one compilation of data from different states. In August, the head of the US Postal Service, Louis DeJoy, told lawmakers that the service was "fully capable and committed" to handling postal votes. He said he would postpone a proposed restructuring of the postal system after controversy arose over whether his changes could affect the timely processing and delivery of mail during the election. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-56977653 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-56977653 | সোমবাৰে ভাৰতৰ যুক্তৰাষ্ট্ৰীয় চৰকাৰৰ এগৰাকী জ্যেষ্ঠ বিষয়াই সাংবাদিকৰ আগত কয় যে দিল্লী বা দেশৰ অন্য কোনো ঠাইত অক্সিজেনৰ অভাৱ নাই। | By Vikas PandeyBBC News, Delhi As he spoke, several small hospitals - only a few miles from where he stood in the capital - were sending out desperate messages about them running out of oxygen, putting patients' lives at risk. The chief doctor of one of the hospitals - a specialist paediatric facility - told the BBC that "our hearts were in our mouths" because of the risk of children dying. They got supplies just in time, after a local politician intervened. And yet, the federal government has repeatedly insisted that there was no shortage. "We are only facing problems in its transportation," Piyush Goyal, a senior official from India's home ministry, said. He also advised hospitals to "ensure judicious use of oxygen as per the guidelines". Several doctors who have spoken to the BBC say they are giving oxygen only to patients who need it, but there is not enough. But experts say that the shortage of oxygen is just one of the problems which shows both federal and state governments were not prepared, having failed to do enough to stop or minimise the damage of the second wave. Warnings have in fact been repeatedly issued, including: Despite this, on 8 March, the country's health minister announced that India was in the "endgame of the pandemic". So, where did it go so wrong? The basics In January and February, the national number of daily cases fell to under 20,000 from peaks of around 90,000 in September last year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared Covid beaten, and all places of public gathering opened. And soon, people were not adhering to Covid safety protocols, thanks in part to confused messaging from the top. While Mr Modi asked people to wear masks and follow social distancing in his public messages, he addressed large unmasked crowds during his election campaigns in five states. A number of his ministers were also seen addressing large public gatherings without wearing masks. The Kumbh Mela, a Hindu festival - which attracts millions - was also allowed to go ahead. "There was complete disconnect between what they practised and what they preached," says public policy and health systems expert Dr Chandrakant Lahariya. Prominent virologist Dr Shahid Jameel says "the government just did not see the second wave coming and started celebrating too early". But there is more to the story: the devastation has also exposed the underfunding and neglect of the public healthcare system in India. The heart-breaking scenes that have been witnessed outside hospitals - people dying without getting treatment - shows the grim reality of India's healthcare infrastructure. As one expert puts it, India's "public health infrastructure was always broken, the rich and the middle class are just finding out". Those who could afford it have always relied on private hospitals for treatment, while the poor struggle to get even a doctor's appointment. Recent schemes, like health insurance and subsidised medicines for the poor, are not helping because very little has been done in decades to increase the number of medical staff or hospitals. India's healthcare spending, including both private and public, has been around 3.6% of GDP for the past six years, the lowest percentage in the five Brics countries: Brazil spent the most at 9.2%, followed by South Africa at 8.1%, Russia at 5.3% and China at 5% in 2018. Developed nations spend a far higher proportion of their GDP on health. In 2018, for instance, spending in the US was 16.9% and Germany 11.2%. Even smaller nations like Sri Lanka (3.76%) and Thailand (3.79%) spend more than India. And India has fewer than 10 doctors per 10,000 people, and in some states the figure is less than five. Preparation Several "empowered committees" were last year looking at the preparations needed to tackle the next coronavirus wave, so experts are baffled by the shortages of oxygen, beds and drugs. "When the first wave was tapering, that's when they should have prepared for a second wave and assumed the worst. They should have taken an inventory of oxygen and [the drug] remdesivir and then ramped up manufacturing capacity," Mahesh Zagade, former health secretary of Maharashtra state, told the BBC. Officials say India produces enough oxygen to meet the spike in demand but transportation was the problem. Experts say this should have been fixed much earlier. The government is now running special trains carrying oxygen from one state to another and stopping use of oxygen in industries - but only after many patients died because of a lack of oxygen. "The outcome has been that desperate family members are spending thousands of rupees to secure an oxygen cylinder on the black market and then stand for hours in a queue to get it filled," points out Dr Lahariya. Meanwhile, those who can afford it are also paying hefty amounts to procure drugs like remdesivir and tocilizumab. An executive from a pharmaceutical company which manufactures remdesivir said "demand had dried up" in January and February. "If the government had placed an order, we would have stockpiled and there wouldn't have been any shortage. We have ramped up production but demand has grown significantly," he said. In contrast, the southern state of Kerala planned for the surge in advance. Dr A Fathahudeen, who is part of the state's Covid taskforce, says there was no shortage of oxygen in the state as necessary steps were taken in October last year. "We also procured sufficient stock of remdesivir and tocilizumab and other drugs well in advance. We also have a surge plan in place to tackle any exponential rise in the numbers in the coming weeks," he says. Mr Zagade says other states should have also taken similar steps "to avoid the suffering". "Learning means someone else has done it and you can do it now, but that means it will take time," the former health secretary for Maharashtra said. But time is running out as the second wave is now spreading to villages where healthcare systems are not equipped to deal with the surge. Prevention Genome sequencing of the virus is an important step in identifying new variants that could be more infectious and deadly. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG) was set up last year and it brought together 10 labs in the country. But the group reportedly struggled to get funding initially. Virologist Dr Jameel says India started seriously looking at mutations fairly late, with sequencing efforts only "properly started" in mid-February 2021. India is sequencing just over 1% of all samples at the moment. "In comparison, the UK was sequencing at 5-6% at the peak of the pandemic. But you can't build such capacity overnight," he said. However, India's main hope was always vaccination. "Any public health specialist will tell you there is no practical way to strengthen an already broken public healthcare system in a matter of months," one woman, whose family runs a large private hospital in Delhi, told the BBC. "The best and most effective alternative to battle Covid was to vaccinate the population as quickly as possible so the majority wouldn't need hospital care and hence not overburden the healthcare system." India initially wanted 300 million people vaccinated by July, "but it seems the government did not do enough planning to secure vaccine supply to run the programme", Dr Lahariya says. "On top of it, it has opened the vaccination for all adults without securing vaccine supplies." So far, only about 26 million people have been fully vaccinated out of a population of 1.4 billion, and about 124 million have received a single dose. India has millions more doses on order, but still far short of what it actually needs. The federal government needs 615 million doses to vaccinate everyone above the age of 45 - about 440 million people. There are 622 million people between the age of 18 and 44, and 1.2 billion doses are required to vaccinate them. The government has also cancelled exports, reneging on international commitments. The government has enlisted other firms like Biological E and the state-run Haffkine Institute to produce vaccines. It has also given credit support of $609m to the Serum Institute of India, which produces the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab which is being made in India as Covishield, to ramp up production. But that funding should have come earlier, Dr Lahariya says, saving precious lives. "It will take months before we have enough vaccines to speed up the programme. In the meantime, millions will continue to be at risk of getting Covid," he adds. Experts say it is ironic that India is known as the world's pharmacy and it is now facing shortages of vaccines and drugs. All of this, Dr Lahariya says, should serve as wake-up call for for both federal and state governments, which should invest drastically more in the healthcare sector because "this definitely is not the last pandemic we will have to fight against". "The future pandemic may come earlier than any model can predict," he says. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/education-41193357 | https://www.bbc.com/news/education-41193357 | শান্তিৰ নবেল বঁটা বিজয়ী মালালা ইউছুফজাইয়ে কয় যে ম্যানমাৰৰ মুছলমান সংখ্যালঘুসকলক সুৰক্ষা প্ৰদান কৰিবলৈ "গোলকীয় সম্প্ৰদায়ে"হস্তক্ষেপ কৰিব লাগিব। | By Sean CoughlanEducation correspondent She urged Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi to speak up for the Rohingya. "We can't be silent right now. The number of people who have been displaced is hundreds of thousands," Malala told the BBC. The human rights activist is about to become a student at Oxford and admitted to "nerves" about her new life. Speaking in Oxford, she called for an international response to the violence in Myanmar. Human rights "I think we can't even imagine for a second what it's like when your citizenship, your right to live in a country, is completely denied," said Malala. "This should be a human rights issue. Governments should react to it. People are being displaced, they're facing violence. "Children are being deprived of education, they cannot receive basic rights - and living in a terrorism situation, when there's so much violence around you, is extremely difficult. "We need to wake up and respond to it - and I hope that Aung Sang Suu Kyi responds to it as well," she said. Malala, now 20, is about to become an undergraduate at the University of Oxford. While the university might have produced many people who went on to win Nobel prizes, she is unusual in having one before she has arrived. "I am trying to be just a normal student." "I want to make friends just as the girl Malala and not the Nobel laureate." "I'm a bit nervous as well, because in the beginning you don't know anyone, and you don't know how to make friends and it will be challenging… but fingers crossed it will be OK." She also says she is pleased to be following in the footsteps of another "strong female leader" from Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, who studied at Oxford. Missing school Malala has been campaigning over the rights of girls to have an education - and she is setting up a network of "champions" for education in countries such as Afghanistan and Nigeria and for Syrian refugees. This is called the Gulmakai Network - the name taken from her pseudonym when she wrote a blog about the loss of girls' rights under the Taliban in Pakistan, which had lead to the attempt on her life in 2012. She says she wants education to be recognised as a global priority - and for more urgency in addressing the lack of access to school for 130 million girls, often in the world's poorest countries or in conflict zones. "I know there are other issues that are taken more seriously - such as poverty, terrorism, or climate change, but education is the only solution for all of these problems." She says there are many problems to overcome, "whether it's early marriage, poverty, lack of awareness or lack of funding". "But the benefits are many, we need to educate people about the importance of education," she said. Forgiveness Malala, the advocate of girls' right to education, came to the world's attention after the Taliban in her native Pakistan attempted to murder her in a gun attack. This week there have been reports that one of those involved in the attack had been killed by security forces in Pakistan. She says she has already forgiven the people who were trying to murder her. "I have forgiven them. "But they were able to carry out other killings in Pakistan. I hope that the army and the country helps them in a deradicalisation process and they learn about the true message of Islam and the meaning of human rights and learn about the importance of education. "But personally I have forgiven them. "I think what's the point now to say that they should be punished. It has no benefit to anyone, you're just creating more harm. I would want to reduce harm and help each other." | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-47752017 | https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-47752017 | যিদিনা গ্ৰে’ট ব্ৰিটেইনে ইউৰোপীয় ইউনিয়ন এৰিব লাগিছিল, সেইদিনা সাংসদসকলে থেৰেছা মে’ৰ ইউৰোপীয় ইউনিয়নৰ প্ৰত্যাহাৰ চুক্তিখন প্ৰত্যাখ্যান কৰে। | The government lost by 344 votes to 286, a margin of 58, and means the UK has missed an EU deadline to delay Brexit to 22 May and leave with a deal. The prime minister said the UK would have to find "an alternative way forward", which was "almost certain" to involve holding European elections. Labour's Jeremy Corbyn said "this deal now has to change" or the PM must quit. Meanwhile, thousands of Leave supporters gathered outside Parliament to protest against the delay to Brexit, bringing traffic to a standstill. Mrs May now has until 12 April to seek a longer extension to the negotiation process to avoid a no-deal Brexit on that date. With a clear majority in the Commons against a no-deal Brexit, and with MPs holding more votes on alternative plans on Monday, Mrs May said that the UK would have to find "an alternative way forward". The prime minister said that the outcome was "a matter of profound regret", adding that "I fear we are reaching the limits of this process in this House". Downing Street said it was still not an "inevitability" that the UK would have to take part in elections to the European Parliament in May. It is highly likely that at least for another couple of weeks, Theresa May will look through every nook and cranny in Parliament to see if there is a way for her deal to pass through - somehow. But that's a decision taken in the bunker, and the walls are closing in. There is little reason tonight to think that, in the end, the burning core of Euroscepticism in the Tory Party will ever accept her deal. There are few signs that any more than a handful of Labour MPs are really going to take the plunge and ultimately walk through the same lobbies as Theresa May, and Boris Johnson and Iain Duncan Smith. The prime minister concluded today that our political process is reaching its limits. But maybe soon it will be her leadership, her deal, that has passed its limits. A No 10 source indicated that the prime minister would continue to seek support in the Commons for her deal. "Clearly it was not the result we wanted. But, that said, we have had a number of senior Conservative colleagues who have felt able to vote with the government today. They have done so in higher numbers than previously," the source said. "Clearly there is more work to do. We are at least going in the right direction." Downing Street said Mrs May would continue to talk to the Democratic Unionist Party about more reassurances over the Irish backstop, which it says risks splitting Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom. But the DUP's leader at Westminster leader, Nigel Dodds, told the BBC's Newsnight political editor Nick Watt: "I would stay in the European Union and remain, rather than risk Northern Ireland's position. That's how strongly I feel about the Union." Responding to the vote, European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted: "In view of the rejection of the Withdrawal Agreement by the House of Commons, I have decided to call a European Council on 10 April." In a statement, the European Commission said the UK would have to "indicate a way forward" by 12 April "for consideration by the European Council". "A 'no-deal' scenario on 12 April is now a likely scenario. The EU has been preparing for this since December 2017 and is now fully prepared for a 'no-deal' scenario at midnight on 12 April. The EU will remain united," the statement said. "The benefits of the withdrawal agreement, including a transition period, will in no circumstances be replicated in a 'no-deal' scenario. Sectoral mini-deals are not an option." Will European leaders accept a longer delay to Brexit? Despite all the drama, the money and time spent by EU leaders on Brexit (summits, dedicated governmental departments, no-deal planning) and all the hard, hard graft put in by the EU and UK negotiating teams, Europe's leaders are asking themselves what there is to show for it all. Ongoing Brexit divisions in Parliament, in government and in Theresa May's cabinet were on screaming technicolour display again last week. EU leaders used to use the threat of a no-deal Brexit as a negotiating tactic (as did the UK). They now believe it to be a very real prospect. That has led to a number of countries - notably France - questioning the logic of delaying Brexit for much longer. They wonder if the UK will ever unite around a Brexit Way Forward - be it a softer Brexit, no deal or no Brexit. Would a Brexit extension, allowing for a general election or a second referendum, really settle the issue, they ask? Read Katya's blog in full What happens next? Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "The House has been clear, this deal now has to change. "There has to be an alternative found. And if the prime minister can't accept that then she must go, not at an indeterminate date in the future but now. "So that we can decide the future of this country through a general election." Steve Baker, deputy chairman of the European Research Group of Brexiteer Conservatives, said it was time for Mrs May to quit. "This must be the final defeat for Theresa May's deal. It's finished. And we must move on. "It has not passed. It will not pass. I regret to say it is time for Theresa May to follow through on her words and make way so that a new leader can deliver a withdrawal agreement which will be passed by Parliament." Mr Baker was one of 34 Conservative rebels to vote against the agreement, along with the Democratic Unionist Party and the Labour Party. Five Labour MPs voted for the agreement. A number of high profile Tory Brexiteers, including Dominic Raab and Iain Duncan Smith, did vote for the agreement, but it was not enough to prevent another damaging defeat for Mrs May, who had offered to stand down to persuade her critics to back the deal. This was not a third "meaningful vote" on the PM's EU deal, which also includes a political declaration on future relations between the UK and the EU, and which has previously been rejected by larger margins. By holding a vote on the withdrawal agreement only, the government had hoped to secure a short delay to Brexit and avoid the UK taking part in May's European elections. MPs are set to have another go at reaching a Brexit compromise in another series of votes on Monday and Wednesday next week. If one of the options receives a majority, the government could use it as a basis for negotiating changes to the political declaration. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49416740 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49416740 | গ্ৰীণলেণ্ড আমেৰিকাৰ হাতত বিক্ৰীৰ বাবে নহয় বুলি ৰাষ্ট্ৰখনৰ প্ৰধানমন্ত্ৰীগৰাকীয়ে কোৱাৰ পাছতে আমেৰিকাৰ ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতি ড'নাল্ড ট্ৰাম্পে ডেনমাৰ্কৰ ৰাজ্যিক ভ্ৰমণ বাতিল কৰিছে। | The president was scheduled to visit on 2 September, at the invitation of Denmark's Queen Margrethe II. Then last week Mr Trump suggested the US was interested in buying Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory. Danish PM Mette Frederiksen described the suggestion as "absurd" and said she hoped Mr Trump was not being serious. Ms Frederiksen is due to give a statement later on Wednesday. How did we get here? While praising Denmark as a "very special country", Mr Trump said in a tweet on Tuesday that his planned visit would no longer go ahead because Ms Frederiksen had "no interest in discussing the purchase of Greenland". The cancellation was confirmed by a White House spokesman. The Danish royal house also confirmed it had been informed of the cancellation. The house's head of communications, Lene Balleby, told the BBC "it was definitely a surprise". Just hours before Mr Trump announced the cancellation, the US ambassador to Denmark, Carla Sands, tweeted: "Denmark is ready for the POTUS @realDonaldTrump visit! Partner, ally, friend." Mr Trump had earlier confirmed reports that he was interested in buying Greenland. When asked on Sunday if he would consider trading a US territory for the island, he replied: "Well, a lot of things could be done." "Essentially it's a large real estate deal," he said. Then, on Monday, the US president posted an image on social media showing a tall golden skyscraper among the homes of a small village on the island. How has Denmark reacted? The cancellation of what was considered an important state visit in Denmark was described as a "farce" by the leader of the populist Danish People's Party, Kristian Thulesen Dahl. "What is this man thinking of though? And with grounds that are worthy of an April Fools' joke," he wrote in a tweet. Danish Conservative MP Rasmus Jarlov, who earlier said that "of all things that are not going to happen, this is the most unlikely", accused Mr Trump of lacking respect for his country in a tweet on Wednesday. Former foreign minister Kristian Jensen said Mr Trump's move had resulted in "total chaos". "It has gone from a great opportunity for enhanced dialogue between allies to a diplomatic crisis," he said, adding: "Need to get the co-operation back on track." A spokeswoman for the leftist Red-Green Alliance, Pernille Skipper, said: "Trump lives on another planet. Self-sufficient and disrespectful." Pia Kjaersgaard, the populist former speaker of the Danish parliament, said it showed a "complete lack of respect", adding: "Rude behaviour to the Danish people and the Queen, who invited him." Danish royal expert and historian Lars Hovbakke Sorensen said the whole episode was "very strange". "This is a violation of all traditions and etiquettes and makes it seem like the Trump administration views state visits in a completely different way," he told Danish broadcaster TV2. Why would Greenland appeal to Trump? Mr Trump has reportedly taken an interest in Greenland, in part, because of its natural resources, such as coal, zinc, copper and iron ore. But while Greenland might be rich in minerals, it currently relies on Denmark for two thirds of its budget revenue. It has high rates of suicide, alcoholism and unemployment. Two people briefed on the discussions told the New York Times the president was also interested in Greenland's "national security value" because of its location. The US has long seen the island, which sits along a direct route from Europe to North America, as being strategically important. It established the Thule air force and radar base there at the start of the Cold War, which now covers space surveillance and forms the northernmost part of the US ballistic missile early warning system. Meanwhile, new Arctic sea routes are opening up as climate change continues to accelerate the melting of ice in the region. Mr Trump's latest bid also comes at a time that China is taking a big interest in the area. Last year, a Chinese state-owned construction company announced plans to build new airports in Greenland - but withdrew them in June this year. Republican Representative Mike Gallagher described Mr Trump's idea as a "smart geopolitical move". "The United States has a compelling strategic interest in Greenland, and this should absolutely be on the table," he tweeted. Where exactly is Greenland? Greenland is the largest island in the world (after Australia, which is defined as a continent in its own right). It is an autonomous Danish territory, located between the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It has a population of about 56,000 people concentrated around the coastline. Almost 90% are indigenous Greenlandic Inuit people. It has a limited self-government and its own parliament. More than 80% of the island is covered by an ice cap which is feared to be melting due to global warming. The ice melt has increased access to the island's mineral resources. But it is also believed that the receding ice may expose toxic nuclear waste that was left at several US military sites during the Cold War. Has the US ever tried to buy the island before? The idea of purchasing Greenland was first mooted during the 1860s under the presidency of Andrew Johnson. In 1867, a report by the US State Department suggested that Greenland's strategic location, along with its abundance of resources, made it an ideal acquisition. But no official move was made until 1946, when Harry Truman offered Denmark $100m for the territory. He had earlier toyed with the idea of swapping land in Alaska for strategic parts of Greenland, AP reported. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-40284480 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-40284480 | Twitter ব্যৱহাৰকাৰীসকলে ভাৰতৰ গৃহ মন্ত্ৰালয়ক মৰক্কোৰ সীমান্তৰ পৰা এখন স্পেনীয় অঞ্চলৰ সৈতে এখন ছবি ব্যৱহাৰ কৰি নিজৰ কামৰ ওপৰত আলোকপাত কৰোৱাৰ বাবে উপহাস কৰিছে। | Alt News website reported on Wednesday that the ministry used the picture in its annual report to show that it had installed floodlights in border areas. But the website said the picture was taken in 2006 by Spanish photographer Javier Moyano of the Ceuta enclave. The ministry has reportedly ordered an inquiry into the "embarrassing gaffe". Edited Modi flood photo sparks mockery Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has faced similar online mockery in the past for using wrong or photo-shopped pictures in official press releases and reports. India's state-run Press Information Bureau in 2015 tweeted an obviously edited image of Mr Modi surveying deadly Chennai floods. In the latest gaffe, the home ministry included the picture in its report which was published on its website. After Alt News reported the error, many Indians took to Twitter to mock the ministry. The NDTV website reported that Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi had demanded an explanation from officials. "If it's a mistake by the ministry, we will apologise," he said. The ministry has been installing floodlights in border areas to check smuggling and infiltration. In its annual report, the ministry said it had floodlit 647km (402 miles) of India's border with Pakistan and Bangladesh. Officials said it was unclear how a wrong picture made its way into the annual report. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40842068 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40842068 | চীনৰ বিদেশ মন্ত্ৰীয়ে উত্তৰ কোৰিয়াৰ গৃহমন্ত্ৰীক কৈছে যে ৰাষ্ট্ৰসংঘৰ নিৰাপত্তা পৰিষদে নতুন নিষেধাজ্ঞাৰ অনুমোদন জনোৱাৰ কেইঘণ্টামান পাছত পিয়ংয়াঙে পাৰমাণৱিক আৰু ক্ষেপণাস্ত্ৰৰ পৰীক্ষা কৰাটো বন্ধ কৰিব লাগে। | Wang Yi said he urged Ri Yong-ho to abide by UN resolutions in a meeting on Sunday in the Philippines. He did not say how Mr Ri replied. Saturday's resolution banning North Korean exports and limiting investments in the country was passed unanimously. Mr Wang said sanctions were needed, but "are not the final goal", and he urged dialogue. He said he had told North Korea to remain calm, and not provoke the international community with more tests. The Chinese envoy also urged the US and South Korea not to increase tensions, saying that the situation was at a "critical point", but also a juncture at which talks could be resumed. US envoy to the UN Nikki Haley earlier said North Korea was facing "the most stringent set of sanctions on any country in a generation". Pyongyang tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles in July, claiming it now had the ability to hit the US. However, experts doubt the missiles can hit their targets. The tests were condemned by South Korea, Japan and the US, and prompted the drafting of the new UN sanctions. What are the new sanctions? China, North Korea's only international ally and a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council, voted in favour of the resolution after negotiations with the US that Ms Haley said were "tough". Beijing has often protected Pyongyang from harmful resolutions in the past. Russia, which the US has also criticised for its economic links with North Korea, also voted for the sanctions. Top diplomats including US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson are gathered for a regional forum under the aegis of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in the Philippines' capital, Manila. North Korea's nuclear programme is expected to be a major issue but there are no plans for a bilateral meeting between Mr Tillerson and the North Korean representative. Speaking earlier as he sat down for talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, Mr Tillerson said the sanctions were a "good outcome". Can the US defend itself against North Korea? Analysis: A sense of urgency Jonathan Head, BBC South East Asia Correspondent The steady advances in North Korean missile technology have lent a sense of urgency to US diplomacy in Asia, and Rex Tillerson's attendance at the Asean Regional Forum is well-timed. The US wants a show of unity at this forum in condemning North Korea - uniquely, Mr Tillerson will find himself in the same room as his North Korean counterpart, Ri Yong-ho, although the two are very unlikely to speak to one another. Mr Tillerson will also be holding bilateral meetings with his Russian and Chinese counterparts. Just by being at this diplomatic talkfest Rex Tillerson will offer a striking change of tone. In the first seven months of the Trump administration his voice has been subdued on Asia, whereas the president's comments have been seen by many Asian officials as erratic and at times inflammatory. However there are important differences over how best to deal with North Korea. The US believes pressure must be ramped up on Pyongyang, to get it to reverse, not just freeze, its nuclear and missile programmes. Many Asian countries fear the Trump administration's growing anxiety and anger over North Korea's missile tests risk escalating into a dangerous confrontation; there is still a broad consensus in this region that engagement, however frustrating, is the only way forward - so the US bid to have North Korea expelled from the Asean Regional Forum will meet plenty of resistance. 'Costly for the regime' US President Donald Trump tweeted to say the sanctions would cost the North more than $1bn (£0.7bn). The export of coal, ore and other raw materials to China is one of North Korea's few sources of cash. Estimates say that North Korea exports about $3bn worth of goods each year - and the sanctions could eliminate $1bn of that trade. But China's participation will be key and top US diplomats say they will be keeping a close eye on Beijing to make sure it consistently abides by the sanctions. Earlier this year, China suspended imports of coal to increase pressure on Pyongyang. However, repeated sanctions have so far failed to deter North Korea from continuing with its missile development. Beijing is also furious about the deployment of a US-funded missile defence system in South Korea and wants it to be scrapped. North Korea has is yet to officially respond to the new sanctions. A senior official told South Korea's Yonhap news agency: "We will make our stance clear when things are determined." But ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun earlier said nuclear action or sanctions taken by Washington would lead to an "unimaginable sea of fire" engulfing the US. The isolated state's repeated missile and nuclear weapon tests in breach of UN resolutions have been condemned by neighbours in the region. But South Korea says it may hold direct talks with the North during the Asean summit. Its foreign minister said she was willing to talk to her counterpart from Pyongyang, if the chance "naturally occurs". Altogether, 27 nations are sending representatives to the Asean Regional Forum. Asean's 10 member states issued a joint statement saying they had "grave concerns" over North Korea's actions, which "seriously threaten peace". | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-56284155 | https://www.bbc.com/news/health-56284155 | বিজ্ঞানীসকলে গ্ৰেট ব্ৰিটেইনত কৰ'না ভাইৰাছৰ আন এটা নতুন ৰূপৰ ১৬ টা ঘটনা চিনাক্ত কৰিছে। | By Michelle RobertsHealth editor, BBC News online Public Health England has designated it as a 'variant under investigation' (VUI), meaning it is on their watch list, but not one they are immediately concerned about. It has a mutation in common with the South Africa and Brazil variants. That change, E484K, may help the virus evade some immunity from vaccination or prior infection, experts believe. The cases were first identified on 15 February by the UK's variant surveillance system. Experts suspect it originated in the UK. All 16 individuals who tested positive, and their contacts, have been traced and advised to isolate. PHE said the cases were geographically spread across the UK. And it confirmed that surge or mass testing would not be necessary - this is only done for variants of concern (VOC), such as the Brazil one. The UK now has 8 variants on its watch list - 4 VUIs and 4 VOCs. Hunt continues for Brazil variant Most recently, officials had been trying to track down a person in England known to have been infected with the Brazil VOC. The search was narrowed to 379 households in the south of England, and the case was traced to Croydon. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said incidents like this are rare and only occur in around 0.1% of tests. It's not unexpected that variants are appearing or that the virus will continue to change. All viruses mutate as they make new copies of themselves to spread and thrive. But some changes may affect how well current vaccines work. Scientists are looking at tweaking coronavirus vaccines to keep pace with the new, emerging variants to ensure that they continue to offer high protection against the disease as the virus mutates. The UK's drug regulator the MHRA has said new vaccines can be fast-tracked through the approval system without "lengthy" clinical studies. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-42510563 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-42510563 | ভাৰতৰ প্ৰধানমন্ত্ৰী নৰেন্দ্ৰ মোডীয়ে ২০১৭ চনত অৰ্থনৈতিক দিশত তেওঁৰ আটাইতকৈ কঠিন বছৰটোৰ সন্মুখীন হৈছিল। বিবিচিৰ সমীৰ হাশ্বমীয়ে ২০১৮ চনটো কেনেকুৱা হ'ব পাৰে অনুমান কৰিবলৈ বছৰটোৰ মূল অৰ্থনৈতিক মুহূৰ্তবোৰলৈ উভতি চালে। | Only a year ago it seemed like India was on track to become an important engine of growth for the global economy. It was the fastest growing economy in the world in 2016, surpassing even China, which had been witnessing a slowdown. India was hailed as a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy global economy. But the narrative changed in 2017 as India's economy turned sluggish. Between January and December 2016, it grew by more than 7% in every quarter compared to the same period the previous year. During one quarter it even touched 7.9%. But in one quarter (April-June 2017), it fell to 5.7% - its lowest growth in three years. Two major decisions on economic policy had a severe impact on 2017. First was the sudden cancellation of nearly 86% of the cash in circulation in November 2016 - the effect lasted until 2017. Second were the glitches in the rollout of the biggest tax overhaul since independence - a single Goods and Services Tax (GST) replaced the numerous federal and state taxes in June 2017. But 2017 didn't bring only bad news for Mr Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party-led government, which swept to power in 2014. There were some major achievements as well, including India's 30-point jump to join the top 100 countries in the World Bank's "ease of doing business" index. Then the global credit rating agency Moody's upgraded India's sovereign credit rating for the first time since 2004. India's stock markets were among the world's best performing - they grew by more than 30% year on year. India's federal government also announced a $32bn (£23.7bn) bailout plan for India's public sector banks, which have been struggling due to mounting bad loans, or non-performing assets as they are known. But overall, it was a tough year and there are still many challenges that Mr Modi faces in 2018. Accelerating growth Accelerating economic growth will be the federal government's main objective in 2018. While most analysts expect the recovery to be slow, there is also a consensus that it will be a better year than 2017. "There will be recovery because the shocks due to the cash ban [the Indian rupee ban in 2016] and the GST will naturally fade," says Sajjid Chinoy, chief Asia economist at JP Morgan. To streamline the implementation of the GST, the governments announced several changes in the last few months. It also revised GST rates for 178 goods and services after it was criticised for keeping tariffs high. "2017 was a year of transition for the economy with GST coming in. These foundations were necessary for a more sustainable growth over the next few years," says Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at CARE Ratings, an Indian ratings agency. The International Monetary Fund estimates that India's economy will grow by 7.4% in the next financial year (April 2018 - March 2017). It had earlier pegged the growth rate at 7.7%. Jobless growth Even though economic growth prospects next year are looking brighter, the biggest obstacle for the government has been job creation. India is the world's second most populous country and it needs to create 12 million jobs every year to absorb its young workforce. But small businesses were still reeling from the rupee ban in November 2016 when they were again hit hard by the rollout of GST. Many of them closed down, leading to millions of people, especially in the unorganised sector, losing jobs. Agriculture, construction and small enterprise are the biggest employers in India because they are labour-intensive businesses. But all three sectors have been struggling to generate jobs in recent years. Job creation is a prominent red mark on Mr Modi's economic track record. While most experts agree that this is a long-term problem for the economy, they expect the government to take steps in 2018 with an eye on the parliamentary elections scheduled for 2019. "We can expect the government to provide some impetus to small businesses and sectors like agriculture and construction that will lead to some employment generation," says Mr Chinoy. Rising oil prices and inflation Rising crude prices and low levels of private investment are other big challenges, according to Mayuresh Joshi, vice-president of Angel Broking, a Mumbai-based brokerage firm. He says that rising crude prices will affect government finances and also lead to higher inflation, which has consistently remained under the central bank's target - 4% - over the last year. India imports more than 70% of its oil to meet domestic demand. With global crude prices going up, the government has two options - it can either increase retail prices or pay the difference. "With elections just over a year away, the government might be reluctant to pass on the full price increase to consumers. It will be an unpopular move," says Mr Sabnavis. Agricultural distress The year 2017 was marked by several farmers protests across the country. The agriculture sector has been struggling with farm incomes dwindling due to unsteady growth over the last few years. More than half of India's population relies on agriculture for income. Millions of farmers have not been able to pay back loans leading to more distress. Some states, such as Uttar Pradesh in the north and Maharashtra in the west, have announced loan waiver schemes for farmers but there have been issues related to implementation. "There's not much the Modi government can really do because agriculture is a state subject and it needs to be addressed by the respective state governments, but it does create a perception problem for the [federal] government," says Mr Sabnavis. Eight Indian states will be holding local elections in 2018 - out of which four have a huge rural population. The Bharatiya Janata Party is in power in three of those states and so experts believe that if the BJP-led federal government does not resolve the agricultural crisis, then it could hurt their chances at the ballot. No reforms in 2018? Since coming to power, Mr Modi is credited for implementing critical economic reforms. But with economic growth sliding in 2017 and Indian elections due in 2019, people expect him to be cautious in the year ahead and steer clear of major reforms. "The government needs to consolidate all the reforms that have been brought in over the last 40 months. It needs to make sure that they are implemented properly. There is no need for further reforms," says Mr Joshi. The government is expected to increase expenditure on social welfare schemes focused on rural India. For Mr Modi, 2018 will be a decisive year. His government's handling of the economy will certainly impact his electoral prospects in 2019. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-40597244 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-40597244 | ফ্ৰান্সৰ ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতি ইমানুৱেল মেক্ৰ'নে কৈছিল যে তেওঁ ড’নাল্ড ট্ৰাম্পৰ পেৰিছ জলবায়ু চুক্তিৰ পৰা আঁতৰি যোৱাৰ সিদ্ধান্তটোক "সন্মান জনাইছে", কিন্তু ফ্ৰান্স প্ৰতিশ্ৰুতিবদ্ধ হৈ থাকিব। | "On climate we know what our differences are," Mr Macron said in Paris on Thursday, adding that it was important to move forward. Speaking alongside Mr Macron, Mr Trump then hinted that the US could shift its position but failed to elaborate. "Something could happen with respect to the Paris accord," he said. Mr Trump added: "We'll see what happens." The US president said last month that the US would withdraw from the 2015 Paris climate agreement, citing moves to negotiate a new "fair" deal that would not disadvantage US businesses. Mr Macron said it was right to put the climate issue to one side while the two leaders discussed how they could work together on other matters such as the ceasefire in Syria and trade partnerships. "We have disagreements; Mr Trump had election pledges that he took to his supporters and I had pledges - should this hinder progress on all issues? No," Mr Macron said. Mr Macron and Mr Trump then talked about their countries' joint efforts to combat terrorism and in particular the so-called Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. "The US is extremely involved in the Iraq war," Mr Macron said, "I would like to thank the president for everything done by American troops in this area". "We've agreed to continue our joint work," he added, "in particular building the post-war roadmap". Mr Macron said that France would seek to "undertake several robust initiatives" to help produce greater stability and "control over the region". Mr Trump, who is in Paris for a two-day visit, was earlier welcomed by Mr Macron with an official military ceremony. The US president then visited the tomb of Napoleon before Friday's Bastille Day celebrations. The trip is aimed at reaffirming historic ties but comes amid tension due to the two leaders' different positions over climate change. Air Force One touched down at Orly airport in Paris earlier on Thursday; Mr Trump and the First Lady emerging from their flight across the Atlantic in an effort to help strengthen US-France relations. "Emmanuel, nice to see you. This is so beautiful," Mr Trump said as he was met by Mr Macron at the Hotel des Invalides, near the site of Napoleon's tomb. Despite their clear differences, Paris has emphasised that Mr Macron will work to reaffirm historic ties between the two allies to prevent the US from being isolated. Following the ceremony at Les Invalides the leaders moved on to the Élysée Palace. Mr Trump will also dine with Mr Macron at the Eiffel Tower and watch the Bastille Day parade on the Champs-Élysées. This year marks the 100th anniversary of US forces entering World War One, and for this occasion US and French troops will be marching together in the parade. Speaking to the BBC, the former US diplomat and state department official, William Jordan, said the visit was likely to be viewed by Mr Trump as an opportunity for the US president to be "taken seriously in the world". "I think that there's a lot of symbolism in this," he said, adding: "I doubt that there's going to be very much more beyond substantive discussion." Demonstrations are expected. French protesters have planned a "No Trump Zone" at the Place de la Republique. The Facebook page for the event states: "Trump is not welcome in Paris". Mr Trump's visit comes amid fresh allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election, with his eldest son admitting he held a "nonsense" meeting that had promised Russian government information about his father's democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Mr Trump has since described the mood in the White House as "fantastic" and told Reuters that the administration was "functioning beautifully". | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-46951072 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-46951072 | স্থানীয় বিষয়াসকলে জনায় যে কেন্দ্ৰীয় আফগানিস্তানৰ এটা সামৰিক চৌহদত তালিবানৰ আক্ৰমণত কমেও ২০ গৰাকী নিৰাপত্তাৰক্ষী নিহত হৈছে আৰু বহু লোক আহত হৈছে। | Militants rammed a vehicle laden with explosives through a military checkpoint in Wardak province, before detonating it. Some media reports put the death toll much higher. The Taliban's power and reach has surged since foreign combat troops left Afghanistan in 2014. That year US-led combat operations against the Taliban, the main insurgent group in Afghanistan, officially ended, but some American troops remain in the country to provide training and assistance to Afghan forces, which do most of the fighting. Some media reports say the attack, which targeted members of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), resulted in more than 100 deaths, although this has not been officially confirmed. If the death toll does reach this figure, it will be among one of the single deadliest attacks against Afghan intelligence services in nearly two decades. Local officials told the BBC that at least 30 people had been wounded. The Taliban said they had carried out the attack. Earlier, officials said Afghan security forces had prevented a second attempted car bombing at the same base after killing three attackers. Last year, President Ashraf Ghani said more than 28,000 Afghan police and soldiers had been killed since 2015. US and Afghan officials had previously withheld such information as it was deemed too sensitive, the New York Times reported. In November, Russia hosted a landmark international meeting on Afghanistan in Moscow aimed at kick-starting peace talks. It was the first time that Taliban militants attended such an event. Who are the Taliban? The Taliban emerged in the early 1990s following the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, shortly before the demise of the Soviet Union. The militants went on to rule Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, until they were driven from power by US-led troops following the 9/11 attacks, which the US blamed on al-Qaeda militants who were hosted by the Taliban. The Taliban's power and reach have surged since foreign combat troops left Afghanistan in 2014. They say their international status will be further strengthened by attending peace talks hosted in Moscow. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-27508749 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-27508749 | অনলাইনত শিশু পৰ্ণগ্ৰাফী শ্বেয়াৰ কৰাৰ অভিযোগত আমেৰিকা যুক্তৰাষ্ট্ৰত গ্ৰেপ্তাৰ হোৱা ৭০ গৰাকীৰো অধিক লোকৰ ভিতৰত এগৰাকী আৰক্ষী বিষয়া, ৰাব্বি আৰু এগৰাকী নাৰ্ছ আছিল। | They were charged as part of a five-week operation led by the US Homeland Security department in New York. More than 600 laptops, smartphones and other computer devices were seized as part of the effort. Officials say many of the defendants had access to young children but there were no reports of abuse. The special agent in charge of investigations at Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New York said the sheer volume and professional backgrounds of the alleged child porn traders was "troubling". "We can no longer assume that the only people who would stoop to prey on children are unemployed drifters," said James Hayes Jr. They began the investigation after the January arrest of a suburban New York police chief, Brian Fanelli, on charges of knowingly receiving and distributing child pornography. Mr Fanelli has pleaded not guilty. Beginning in April, Homeland Security agents posed as collectors of child porn who were offering to anonymously trade material through online file-sharing programmes. They then identified the IP address of the sources of the material and subpoenaed internet service providers for the names of the people behind the files. Mr Hayes said some of those arrested seemed eager to admit the guilt when agents went to complete searches of the most active and recent traders. "We had some individuals tell us, 'I know why you're here. I was waiting for this. I knew this would happen someday,'" he said. "That's not something you find from someone who's trafficking cocaine or money-laundering." The seized devices will be examined by agents to catalogue evidence. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children will use its analysts to review the images to see whether it can identify children using databases of known victims. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44453334 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44453334 | ছিংগাপুৰত উত্তৰ কোৰিয়াৰ নেতা কিম জং-উনৰ সৈতে আমেৰিকাৰ ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতি ড'নাল্ড ট্ৰাম্পৰ বৈঠক এক ঐতিহাসিক ঘটনা আছিল। এই বৈঠকত প্ৰথমবাৰৰ বাবে দুয়োখন দেশৰ বৰ্তমানৰ মুৰব্বীসকল মিলিত হৈছিল। | From the historic handshake between the two leaders to the signing of a joint agreement, experts have analysed the meeting and its significance for future US-North Korean relations. But there were some odd moments of the day, which have got people talking. 1. The beaches Before he became president, Donald Trump was better known for his property empire. But it was still a surprising moment to hear the US leader mention a lesser known North Korean attraction: its coastline. "They (North Korea) have great beaches. You see that whenever they're exploding their cannons into the ocean. I said, 'Boy look at that view. Wouldn't that make a great condo?'," he told reporters after meeting Mr Kim. The US government currently advises against all travel to North Korea and says that its citizens who decide to go should draft a will before departure. 2. The pose Before the two leaders sat down for a working lunch, Mr Trump jokingly asked photographers: "Getting a good picture, everybody? So we look nice and handsome and thin?" However, his words seem to have been lost in translation, judging by Mr Kim's blank expression. Some of the dishes on the menu raised eyebrows, even among Koreans. 3. The video Before the US president gave a news conference, journalists were treated to a highly unusual four-minute video in Korean and English, which Mr Trump said he had shown to Mr Kim. On a background of tense music and strong images, a dramatic narrator asked: "Will this leader choose to advance his country... Will he shake the hand of peace and enjoy prosperity like he has never seen?... Which path will be chosen? "Featuring President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un in a meeting to remake history, to shine in the sun. One moment, one choice. The future remains to be written." 4. 'The Beast' After talks concluded, Mr Trump decided to show the North Korean leader his ride for the summit - a black presidential limousine known as The Beast. Cameras followed the two men as they walked over to the vehicle and Mr Kim briefly looked inside. 5. The pens The pens originally laid out for the signing of the documents were black and featured President Trump's signature in gold. But at the last moment, Mr Kim's influential sister Kim Yo-jong switched the North Korean leader's pen for a ballpoint pen. Security for the North Korean leader has been high throughout the trip, but it is unclear whether the pens were swapped for security or political reasons. 6. The tears While interest in the meeting was understandably high, one man seemed more emotional than most. Former basketball star Dennis Rodman, who has visited North Korea five times and twice took part in Mr Trump's Celebrity Apprentice, was visibly overwhelmed as he spoke about the meeting between the two leaders. He said he had received "so many death threats" over his contacts with the North Korean leader, but said: "I took all those bullets, I took all that, I took everything... and I'm still standing." "Today is a great day for everybody... I'm so happy," he added. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49955468 | https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49955468 | জ্যোতিৰ্বিজ্ঞানীসকলৰ এটা দলে কয় যে প্ৰায় ৩.৫ নিযুত বছৰ আগতে আমাৰ গেলেক্সী, আকাশগঙ্গাৰ মাজেৰে এক প্ৰলয়ংকৰী শক্তিয়ে ফালি নিছিল। | The so-called Seyfert flare started near the supermassive black hole in the centre of the galaxy, they add. The impact was felt 200,000 light-years away. The discovery that the Milky Way's centre was more dynamic than previously thought can lead to a complete reinterpretation of its evolution. "These results dramatically change our understanding of the Milky Way," says co-author Magda Guglielmo from the University of Sydney, Australia. "We always thought about our galaxy as an inactive galaxy, with a not so bright centre," she added. The flare created two enormous "ionisation cones" that sliced through the Milky Way and left its imprint on the Magellanic Stream. This is a long trail of gas that extends from nearby dwarf galaxies called the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. The stream lies at an average of 200,000 light-years from the Milky Way. The Australian-US research team says the explosion was too big to have been triggered by anything other than nuclear activity associated with the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy. Known as Sagittarius A*, or Sgr A* - this colossus is more than four million times the mass of our Sun. This assessment needs further work but the conclusion seems inescapable, the researchers say. "The flare must have been a bit like a lighthouse beam," explained team leader Prof Bland-Hawthorn, who is also at the University of Sydney. "Imagine darkness, and then someone switches on a lighthouse beacon for a brief period of time." The research, which used the Hubble Space Telescope, will be published in the Astrophysical Journal. More stories like this: | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-49493632 | https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-49493632 | ছেপ্টেম্বৰত সাংসদসকলে কামলৈ উভতি অহাৰ কেইদিনমান পাছতে - আৰু ব্ৰেক্সিটৰ সময়সীমাৰ মাত্ৰ কেইসপ্তাহমান আগতে সংসদ স্থগিত কৰা হ'ব। | Boris Johnson said a Queen's Speech would take place after the suspension, on 14 October, to outline his "very exciting agenda". But it means the time MPs have to pass laws to stop a no-deal Brexit on 31 October would be cut. House of Commons Speaker John Bercow said it was a "constitutional outrage". The Speaker, who does not traditionally comment on political announcements, continued: "However it is dressed up, it is blindingly obvious that the purpose of [suspending Parliament] now would be to stop [MPs] debating Brexit and performing its duty in shaping a course for the country." Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "Suspending Parliament is not acceptable, it is not on. What the prime minister is doing is a smash and grab on our democracy to force through a no deal," he said. He said when MPs return to the Commons next Tuesday, "the first thing we'll do is attempt legislation to prevent what [the PM] is doing", followed by a vote of no confidence "at some point". Hundreds of protesters gathered in Westminster on Wednesday evening chanting "stop the coup" and carrying anti-Brexit placards and EU flags. The demonstration, which was organised hours beforehand, started outside Parliament before spreading towards Downing Street. At the scene, BBC correspondent Richard Galpin described the atmosphere as peaceful and lively. He said "good-natured" protesters on College Green broke through barriers which had been in place to separate live TV crews from members of the public - before traffic on Parliament Square was blocked by some people who sat down in the road. Several protesters he spoke to indicated this was only the beginning of the disruption, with more demonstrations being organised for the weekend. Three Conservative members of the Queen's Privy Council took the request to suspend Parliament to the monarch's Scottish residence in Balmoral on Wednesday morning on behalf of the prime minister. It has now been approved, allowing the government to suspend Parliament no earlier than Monday 9 September and no later than Thursday 12 September, until Monday 14 October. Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg, who was at the meeting with the Queen, said the move was a "completely proper constitutional procedure." Earlier, Mr Johnson said suggestions the suspension was motivated by a desire to force through a no deal were "completely untrue". He said he did not want to wait until after Brexit "before getting on with our plans to take this country forward", and insisted there would still be "ample time" for MPs to debate the UK's departure. "We need new legislation. We've got to be bringing forward new and important bills and that's why we are going to have a Queen's Speech," Mr Johnson added. Legal precedent and challenge Shutting down Parliament - known as prorogation - happens after the prime minister advises the Queen to do it. The decision to do it now is highly controversial because opponents say it would stop MPs being able to play their full democratic part in the Brexit process. A number of high profile figures, including former Prime Minister John Major, have threatened to go to the courts to stop it, and a legal challenge led by the SNP's justice spokeswoman, Joanna Cherry, is already working its way through the Scottish courts. After the announcement, Sir John said he had "no doubt" Mr Johnson's motive was to "bypass a sovereign Parliament that opposes his policy on Brexit", and he would continue to seek legal advice. BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond said it was established precedent to prorogue Parliament before a Queen's Speech, albeit generally more briefly, and rarely, if ever, at such a constitutionally charged time. He said it was "Her Majesty's Government" in name only and it was her role to take the advice of her ministers, so she would prorogue Parliament if asked to. It is not possible to mount a legal challenge to the Queen's exercise of her personal prerogative powers. But anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller - who previously won a legal battle against ministers over Article 50 - has made a judicial review application to the courts about Mr Johnson's decision. She told the BBC's Clive Coleman: "If the intention of using this prorogation - and the effect - is that it limits Parliament sovereignty, then we believe that's illegal and unconstitutional." This has been an extraordinarily long Parliamentary session, and governments have the right to shut up shop and return to announce their proposals in a new one, with all the golden carriages, fancy Westminster costumes, banging of doors and splendour that goes with it. But that new timetable means Parliament will be suspended for longer than had been expected - it's only a matter of days, but those are days that might matter enormously. Boris Johnson secured his place in No 10 by promising he'd do whatever it takes to leave the EU at Halloween, so this decisive and intensely risky plan will satisfy many of those who backed him. But some others in his government are worried - moving now, even with the accompanying controversy, he sets the stage and the terms for an epic fight with MPs on all sides. Read more from Laura The PM says he wants to leave the EU on 31 October with a deal, but it is "do or die" and he is willing to leave without one rather than miss the deadline. That position has prompted a number of opposition MPs to come together to try to block a possible no deal, and on Tuesday they announced that they intended to use parliamentary process to do so. But with Parliament set to be suspended, opponents have only a few days next week to push for their changes. Senior Tory backbencher and former attorney general Dominic Grieve said the move by Mr Johnson could lead to a vote of no confidence - something opposition parties have left on the table as another option to stop no deal. "There is plenty of time to do that if necessary [and] I will certainly vote to bring down a Conservative government that persists in a course of action which is so unconstitutional," he said. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said MPs must come together to stop the plan next week, or "today will go down in history as a dark one indeed for UK democracy". Mr Johnson has written to MPs to outline his plan, adding: "There will be a significant Brexit legislative programme to get through but that should be no excuse for a lack of ambition!" He mentioned the NHS, tackling crime, infrastructure investment and the cost of living as important issues. He also called on Parliament to show "unity and resolve" in the run up to the 31 October so the government "stands a chance of securing a new deal" with the EU. But a senior EU source told the BBC's Brussels correspondent Adam Fleming the bloc's position was clear and was not contingent on the machinations of the UK Parliament. 'Utterly scandalous' There has been considerable anger at Mr Johnson's move from across the political spectrum. Former Tory Chancellor Philip Hammond called it "profoundly undemocratic". The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Jo Swinson, said it was a "dangerous and unacceptable course of action". "He knows the people would not choose a no deal and that elected representatives wouldn't allow it. He is trying to stifle their voices," she said. The leader of the SNP in Westminster, Ian Blackford, accused Mr Johnson of "acting like a dictator", while First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford said he wanted to "close the doors" on democracy. Others, though, have defended the plan. Conservative Party Chairman James Cleverly said setting out a legislative programme via a Queen's Speech was what "all new governments do". US President Donald Trump tweeted his support for Mr Johnson, saying it "would be very hard" for Mr Corbyn to seek a no-confidence vote against the PM, "especially in light of the fact that Boris is exactly what the UK has been looking for". Brexit Party MEP Alex Phillips said MPs "only had themselves to blame" for the move. She told BBC News: "They have made themselves the obstacle in front of delivering the referendum result. Boris Johnson is saying he now needs to remove that obstacle, and quite right too." The leader of the DUP, Arlene Foster, also welcomed the decision to suspend Parliament and have a Queen's Speech, but said the terms of her party's confidence and supply agreement with the Conservatives would now be reviewed. "This will be an opportunity to ensure our priorities align with those of the government," she added. Prorogation in a nutshell Parliament is normally suspended - or prorogued - for a short period before a new session begins. It is done by the Queen, on the advice of the prime minister. Parliamentary sessions normally last a year, but the current one has been going on for more than two years - ever since the June 2017 election. When Parliament is prorogued, no debates and votes are held - and most laws that haven't completed their passage through Parliament die a death. This is different to "dissolving" Parliament - where all MPs give up their seats to campaign in a general election. The last two times Parliament was suspended for a Queen's Speech that was not after a general election the closures lasted for four and 13 working days respectively. If this prorogation happens as expected, it will see Parliament closed for 23 working days. MPs have to approve recess dates, but they cannot block prorogation. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48686157 | https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48686157 | অহা সপ্তাহত অনুষ্ঠিত হ'ব লগীয়া G20 শীৰ্ষ সন্মিলনত দুয়ো দেশৰ নেতাৰ মাজত অনুষ্ঠিত হ’বলগীয়া বৈঠকৰ পূৰ্বে আমেৰিকা আৰু চীনে বাণিজ্যিক আলোচনা পুনৰ আৰম্ভ কৰিব বুলি ঘোষণা মাৰ্কিন ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতি ড'নাল্ড ট্ৰাম্পে কৰিছে। | Mr Trump said on Twitter he had a "very good" call with Chinese President Xi Jinping and their teams would start talks before they met in Japan. The US escalated tensions with tariff hikes in May, derailing months of talks between the economic powerhouses. The two countries have been fighting a damaging trade war over the past year. The Chinese president said he was prepared to meet with Mr Trump at the G20 meeting next week, according to state media Xinhua. Mr Trump said he would have an "extended meeting" with his Chinese counterpart at the summit in Japan. Trade talks ground to a halt last month when Mr Trump accused China of reneging on its promises and raised tariffs on $200bn (£159.2bn) worth of Chinese goods. The move came as a surprise to many who had thought the US and China were nearing a trade deal. China retaliated with its own tariff hikes. The Trump administration has threatened to impose tariffs on another $300bn worth of Chinese products if the two sides can't reach an agreement on trade. Tariffs on billions of dollars worth of goods from the US and China imposed over the past year have weighed on the global economy and hit financial markets. Many businesses have urged Mr Trump to end the trade war, and public hearings on the potential impact of additional duties on Chinese goods are underway in Washington. Companies ranging from retailers to electronics firms have made submissions to the US trade department warning that more tariffs will hurt their business and consumers. Still, in his latest comments the US president appeared more optimistic about striking a trade deal. "I think we have a chance. I know that China wants to make a deal. They don't like the tariffs, and a lot of companies are leaving China in order to avoid the tariffs," Mr Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday. Despite moves to resume talks, recent comments from both sides suggest they still remain far apart on many issues. Sticking points in trade negotiations have included how to enforce a deal and how fast to roll back tariffs. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32250763 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32250763 | বিষয়াসকলে জনাইছে যে ২০০৮ চনৰ মুম্বাই সন্ত্ৰাসবাদী আক্ৰমণৰ সন্দেহযুক্ত মাষ্টাৰমাইণ্ড জাকিউৰ ৰেহমান লাখভিক পাকিস্তানৰ কাৰাগাৰৰ পৰা জামিনত মুক্তি দিয়া হৈছে। | Jail officials in Rawalpindi said Mr Lakhvi was released on Friday morning. India's Home Minister Rajnath Singh has called the release "unfortunate and disappointing", Indian media reports say. Mr Lakhvi had been granted bail in December, but was kept in detention under public order legislation. That detention was declared void by the High Court, which ordered his release. Mr Lakhvi still faces trial - along with six other suspects - over the attacks, which left 166 people dead and damaged peace efforts between the two countries. Analysis: M Ilyas Khan, BBC News, Islamabad Zakiur Rahman Lakhvi's trial in the Mumbai attacks case still continues, but his release on bail suggests the legal evidence presented in court by prosecutors may not be enough for a conviction. This contrasts with six years ago, when the interior minister at the time, Rehman Malik, provided graphic details of how a part of the Mumbai attacks conspiracy was hatched in Pakistan. Indian officials have since said that they also handed evidence against Mr Lakhvi and his comrades to Pakistani prosecutors. Apparently, most of this evidence has not been made part of the case record, indicating legal complications and also perhaps a lack of interest on the part of Pakistani authorities. Analysts say legal technicalities may be one factor behind his release. Another factor, according to some in the intelligence community, may be the fear in security circles that his "demobilisation" may hurt the morale of Kashmir-focused insurgents, something they say the government does not wish to see. Profile: Lashkar-e-Taiba The Mumbai attacks were blamed on militants of the Lashkar-e-Taiba group (LeT) which Mr Lakhvi was accused of heading. He was arrested by Pakistan on 7 December 2008, four days after he was named by Indian officials as one of the major suspects. A spokesman for Jamaat-ud-Dawa, a charity accused of links to LeT, said Mr Lakhvi was "free now and in a secure place". "We can't say exactly where is he at the moment for security reasons," the official told AFP. Mr Lakhvi had been receiving special treatment during his time in prison. Jail officers said he, along with six of his comrades, had several rooms at their disposal. They had access to a television, mobile phones and the internet, as well as dozens of visitors a day. These privileges had allowed him to remain in effective contact with the LeT rank and file, the officials said. Elements in the Pakistani establishment are known to have provided such facilities to jailed militant commanders whom they believe they may need in future. The court order to free Mr Lakhvi on bail caused controversy as it came just after militants carried out a massacre at a school in Peshawar last December. The attack prompted the civilian and military leadership to come together to make a rare call for action against "all shades of terrorism". | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-45909732 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-45909732 | ছৌদি সাংবাদিক জামাল খাশোগ্গিৰ সম্ভাব্য হত্যাৰ মামলা তদন্ত কৰি থকা তুৰ্কীৰ আৰক্ষীয়ে তেওঁলোকৰ সন্ধান প্ৰসাৰিত কৰিছে। | Unnamed Turkish officials say his body may have been disposed of in the nearby Belgrad forest or on farmland. Mr Khashoggi disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October, where Turkish officials allege he was murdered. Saudi Arabia denies any knowledge of what happened to him. Samples taken from the Saudi consulate and the consul's residence during searches this week are being tested for a match with Mr Khashoggi's DNA. The BBC understands the police are searching the Belgrade forest because it is believed at least two vehicles from the Saudi consulate headed in that direction on the day of the suspected killing. Meanwhile, 15 Turkish nationals employed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul have been questioned by prosecutors, state news agency Anadolu reports. Those giving witness statements included the consulate driver, receptionists, technicians and accountants, Anadolu said. What happened to Jamal Khashoggi? Mr Khashoggi - a prominent journalist who fell out of favour with the Saudi government - has been living in self-imposed exile in the US since last year. He was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Turkey's capital Istanbul on 2 October, to pick up paperwork that would allow him to marry his fiancée Hatice Cengiz. Turkish officials believe Mr Khashoggi was killed by a team of Saudi agents inside the consulate, and his body then removed. Saudi Arabia has denied the claims, and initially insisted Mr Khashoggi had freely left the embassy. Why does Turkey say he was murdered? Turkish officials say they have audio and video recordings that show Mr Khashoggi being murdered by a team of Saudi agents. Turkish newspapers with close links to the government have published gruesome details of the alleged audio, including what they describe as the sounds of screams and Mr Khashoggi being interrogated and tortured. Meanwhile, Turkish media say they have identified a 15-member team of suspected Saudi agents who flew into and out of Istanbul on the day of the disappearance. Turkish officials say the group brought a bone saw into the country and that one of its members was a doctor who specialised in post-mortems. Several vehicles with Saudi diplomatic number plates were filmed by CCTV cameras moving from the consulate to the residence just under two hours after Mr Khashoggi entered the consulate. However, the recordings have not been publicly released, and Turkey's foreign minister says they have not shared the audio with anyone. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denied US media reports that he had listened to the audio recordings, saying: "I've heard no tape, I've seen no transcript." "This is a very serious matter that we're working diligently on, and so to put out headlines that are factually false does no one any good." Is Turkey's evidence credible? Some intelligence experts say they believe Turkey's claims about the audio recording are true. Sir John Sawers, the former head of the UK's foreign intelligence service MI6, told the BBC's World at One: "The level of detail that's coming out from Turkish security sources is so clear and so damning that some form of tape must exist." "All the evidence points to [the killing] being ordered and carried out by people close to [Saudi Crown Prince] Mohammed bin Salman," he said. "I don't think he would have done this if he hadn't thought he had license from the US administration to frankly behave as he wishes to do so," he added. However, Saudi Arabia has said reports on Mr Khashoggi's death are "completely false and baseless" and that it is "open to co-operation" to find out what happened. Turkish police were allowed to enter the Saudi consulate on 15 October. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump told the New York Times that it appeared that Mr Khashoggi was dead, based on "intelligence coming from every side". However, he has also cautioned against jumping to conclusions about Saudi Arabia's role, telling AP news agency the country was being treated as "guilty until proven innocent". Russian President Vladimir Putin has said it is a pity that Mr Khashoggi has gone missing, but that Russia cannot damage relations with Saudi Arabia without hard facts. What has the international reaction been like? The incident has caused considerable strain between Saudi Arabia and its Western allies. On Thursday, the New York Times reported that Saudi Arabia's leaders are considering blaming a high-level intelligence official close to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the killing. This, says the newspaper, is being viewed as a recognition of the international outcry over the scandal. Several politicians, including US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and UK International Trade Secretary Liam Fox have pulled out of a major investment conference in Riyadh next week. The summit, dubbed "Davos in the Desert", is being hosted by the Saudi Crown Prince to promote his reform agenda. However, a number of major businesses - including Pepsi and EDF - are still intending to go despite growing pressure for a boycott. Jamal Khashoggi disappearance: The key events 2 October 3 October 4 October 7 October 13 October 15 and 17-18 October Read more: What we know about Saudi journalist's disappearance | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50380898 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50380898 | শিখ ধৰ্মৰ প্ৰবক্তা গুৰু নানকৰ ৫৫০ তম জন্মজয়ন্তী ভাৰত আৰু পাকিস্তানত উদযাপন কৰা হৈছে। | The anniversary comes just a few days after the historic opening of the Kartarpur corridor, which allows Indians access to one of Sikhism's holiest shrines in Pakistan without having to apply for a visa. Tensions between the neighbours have made it difficult for Indian pilgrims to visit the site in Pakistan in recent years. But an agreement reached last month allows Indians to make the 4km (2.5-mile) crossing to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur - where Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life. On Tuesday, Sikh pilgrims in Pakistan gathered at Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Guru Nanak, which is about 80km (50 miles) from the city of Lahore. Large numbers of devotees, including women, took part in the religious rituals. The auspicious day for Sikhs was also marked in India, where Guru Nanak's birth anniversary is an annual public holiday. Sikh devotees gathered in huge numbers at the Bangla Sahib Gurdwara in the capital Delhi. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the nation on the occasion, saying it was "a day to rededicate ourselves" to Guru Nanak's "dream of a just, inclusive and harmonious society". Though Guru Nanak's anniversary is an important event for Sikhs annually, this time the celebrations were more special due to the opening of the Kartarpur corridor. Devotees from across the world visit the Kartarpur shrine every year to commemorate his birth. Indian Sikhs will now be able to visit with just their passports, but they will not be allowed to leave the site or stay overnight. The Golden Temple in Amritsar, in north-western India, is the holiest Gurdwara (where Sikhs worship). On the eve of the anniversary, it was lit up to host processions as Sikh worshippers took part in the three-day celebration of Guru Nanak's birth. On the first day of the celebrations, Sikhs read the Sikh holy book - the Guru Granth Sahib - from beginning to end. As is the tradition on the second day, the holy book was paraded through the streets of Amritsar on Monday in a hand-held carriage. The procession was led by five people representing the original Panj Pyare - the Five Beloved Ones - who helped shape the religion. You might also be interested in: | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-23871617 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-23871617 | টেক্সাছৰ এটা সেনা ঘাটিত ১৩ গৰাকী সৈনিকক হত্যা আৰু ৩২ গৰাকী সৈনিকক আহত কৰাৰ অপৰাধত এগৰাকী প্ৰাক্তন মাৰ্কিন সেনাৰ মনোৰোগ বিশেষজ্ঞক সেনাৰ জুৰীয়ে মাৰাত্মক ইঞ্জেকশ্যনৰ দ্বাৰা মৃত্যুৰ শাস্তি ঘোষণা কৰিছে। | Maj Nidal Hasan, 42, was convicted last week of the November 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood. The defendant had tried to admit his guilt but military law bans guilty pleas in death penalty cases. The Virginia-born Muslim said he opened fire to protect Taliban insurgents from troops about to deploy to Afghanistan. 'Never a martyr' The jury handed down its sentence after two hours of deliberations on Wednesday. But it could be years, possibly decades, before Maj Hasan is executed because of the long appeals process in the military justice system. His execution must eventually be authorised by the president. On Wednesday before the sentence was handed down, prosecutor Col Mike Mulligan urged jurors to opt for a rare military death penalty. "He will not now and he will never be a martyr," Col Mulligan said of Maj Hasan. "He is a criminal. He is a cold-blooded murderer." "This is not his gift to God. This is his debt to society. This is the cost of his murderous rampage." "He will never be a martyr because he has nothing to give," Col Mulligan added. "He will not be giving his life, we will be taking it." Maj Hasan, who represented himself, declined to speak on his own behalf, saying only: "I have no closing statement." The 13-member jury had to reach unanimous agreement in order to sentence Maj Hasan to death, otherwise he would have faced life in prison. The US military has not executed a service member since 1961. There are five inmates on the US military's death row at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, all at various stages of the appeals process. Maj Hasan opened fire at a medical facility on the Fort Hood base where soldiers were being evaluated before deploying overseas. The jury heard he had prepared carefully for the attack, during which he fired 146 bullets. The shooting spree ended when he was shot by a civilian police officer. He was paralysed from the waist down and now uses a wheelchair. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56281694 | https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56281694 | আৰক্ষীয়ে ১৯৯৫ চনত ৱেলছৰ ৰাজকুমাৰী ডায়েনাৰ সৈতে বিবিচিৰ প্ৰতিবেদক মাৰ্টিন বশ্বিৰৰ সাক্ষাৎকাৰৰ পৃষ্ঠভূমিৰ অপৰাধমূলক তদন্তৰ কথা অস্বীকাৰ কৰিছে। | A former employee of Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, claimed false documents were allegedly used to win Diana's trust before her Panorama appearance. The Metropolitan Police said correspondence alleging unlawful activity had been "carefully assessed". The BBC has launched an independent investigation into the claims. Earl Spencer had alleged last year that Bashir used forged bank statements which wrongly purported to show that two senior courtiers were being paid by the security services for information on his sister. A legal representative for Alan Waller, who worked for Earl Spencer as head of security, subsequently made a formal complaint to the Met alleging unlawful activity. Scotland Yard said "no further action" will be taken. Commander Alex Murray said: "Following this detailed assessment and in view of the [legal] advice we received, we have determined that it is not appropriate to begin a criminal investigation into these allegations. "In this matter, as in any other, should any significant new evidence come to light we will assess it." At the time of the Panorama programme, Diana was separated from Prince Charles but not yet divorced. Almost 23 million people tuned in to watch the programme. In it, the princess famously said "there were three of us in this marriage", referring to the Prince of Wales's relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles. Diana died on 31 August 1997, aged 36, in a car crash in a Paris underpass. Bashir, 58, currently BBC News religion editor, has been recovering from heart surgery and complications from Covid-19 and had been unable to comment on Earl Spencer's allegations. The BBC investigation is looking at the steps Bashir and the corporation took to secure the interview. Lord Dyson, who was Master of the Rolls - the second most senior judge in England and Wales - for four years until he retired in October 2016, is leading the probe. The BBC said it was handing over "all of its relevant records" to him. It has revealed that a previously missing note from Diana, thought to indicate she was happy with the way her interview by BBC Panorama was obtained, had been found. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44968509 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44968509 | জন্তু এটাৰ এখন ফটো অনলাইনত প্ৰকাশ হোৱাৰ পাছত ইজিপ্তৰ এখন চিৰিয়াখানাই জেব্ৰাৰ দৰে দেখুৱাবলৈ গাধ এটাৰ ওপৰত ক'লা আঁচ টানি ৰং কৰাৰ কথা অস্বীকাৰ কৰিছে। | Student Mahmoud Sarhan put the images on Facebook after visiting Cairo's International Garden municipal park. Aside from its small size and pointy ears, there were also black smudges on its face. The pictures quickly went viral, with experts weighing in on the species of the animal. A vet contacted by local news group Extranews.tv said that a zebra's snout is black, while its stripes are more consistent and parallel. Mr Sarhan told Extranews that the enclosure contained two animals and that both had been painted. You may also like: When contacted by local radio station Nogoum FM, zoo director Mohamed Sultan insisted the animal was not a fake. This is not the first time that a zoo has been accused of trying to fool its audience. Unable to find a way around the Israeli blockade, a zoo in Gaza painted two donkeys to look like zebras in 2009. Another Gaza zoo put stuffed animals on display in 2012 because of the shortages of animals. In 2013, a Chinese zoo in Henan province tried to pass off a Tibetan mastiff dog as an African lion, and in 2017 a zoo in Guangxi province disappointed visitors by exhibiting blow-up plastic penguins. Weeks later, another Guangxi zoo drew condemnation for displaying plastic butterflies. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-48130048 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-48130048 | চীনৰ আৰক্ষীয়ে এটা ম’বাইল এপ্ ব্যৱহাৰ কৰি জিনজিয়াং প্ৰদেশৰ লাখ লাখ উইঘুৰৰ তথ্য ৰাখিছে বুলি হিউমেন ৰাইটছ ৱাচ্চে (এইচআৰডব্লিউ) প্ৰকাশ কৰিছে। | In a report released on Thursday, HRW said it had reverse engineered the app to see how mass surveillance worked. The app is used to closely monitor behaviours, it said, including lack of socialising, using too much electricity or having acquaintances abroad. Rights groups say Uighur Muslims are being severely persecuted in China. The UN has said there are credible reports up to a million Uighurs are being held in detention in Xinjiang, in what China says are "re-education centres". 'Most intrusive surveillance system' According to the rights group's report, the app is used by officials to record and file away information about people. In particular, it targets "36 person types" that authorities should pay attention to. These include people who seldom use their front door, use an abnormal amount of electricity and those that have gone on Hajj - an Islamic pilgrimage - without state authorisation. The report does not make explicit mention of any ethnic groups specifically targeted, but the "36 person types" include "unofficial" imams - Islamic leaders - and those who follow Wahhabism, an Islamic doctrine. The information taken from the app will be fed into the central system of the Integrated Joint Operations Platform (IJOP) - the main system for mass surveillance in Xinjiang, says HRW. HRW senior China researcher Maya Wang said IJOP was "one of the world's most intrusive mass surveillance systems". "It gathers information from checkpoints on the street, gas stations, schools... pulls information from these facilities and monitors them for 'unusual' behaviour that triggers alerts [to the]authorities." The app was obtained and analysed by HRW in partnership with Cure53, a Berlin-based security firm. As well as its Xinjiang operations, China has 170 million CCTV cameras in place across the country and by the end of 2020, an estimated 400 million new ones will be installed. All this is part of China's aim to build what it calls "the world's biggest camera surveillance network". China's also setting up a "social credit" system that is meant to keep score of the conduct and public interactions of all its citizens. The aim is that by 2020, everyone in China will be enrolled in a vast national database that compiles fiscal and government information, including minor traffic violations, and distils it into a single number - ranking each citizen. China's detention camps Xinjiang is a semi-autonomous region and in theory at least, has a degree of self-governance away from Beijing. The Uighurs, a mostly Muslim ethnic minority, make up around 45% of its population. HRW's report comes as China faces increasing scrutiny over its treatment of them and other minorities in Xinjiang. Up to one million Uighurs are being held in detention camps across Xinjiang, a UN human rights committee heard last year. One member said she was concerned by reports that Beijing had "turned the Uighur autonomous region into something that resembles a massive internment camp". A BBC investigation last year revealed that what appear to be "large prison-type structures" have been built across Xinjiang in the past few years. China says these buildings are "vocational training centres" used to educate and integrate Muslim Uighurs and steer them away from separatism and extremism. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, said, "everyone can see that people of all ethnicities in Xinjiang live and work in peace and contentment and enjoy peaceful and progressing lives". | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-49406700 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-49406700 | ইণ্ড’নেছিয়াই নিজৰ ৰাজধানী যান-জঁটত চেপা খাই পৰা চহৰ জাকাৰ্টাৰ পৰা ব’ৰ্নিঅ' দ্বীপলৈ স্থানান্তৰ কৰাৰ পৰিকল্পনা কৰিছে। সঠিক অৱস্থান এতিয়াও প্ৰকাশ কৰা হোৱা নাই- কোনো সময়সীমাও ধাৰ্য হোৱা নাই- কিন্তু ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতি জ’ক’ উইড’ডোৱে ১৬ আগষ্টত আনুষ্ঠানিকভাৱে সংসদত আঁচনিখন মুকলি কৰিছিল। | Reasons for moving the capital are not hard to find. Jakarta is sinking by an average of 1-15cm a year. Almost half the city is now below sea level. It sits on swampy land, the Java Sea lapping against it, and 13 rivers running through it. Its traffic jams are notorious: in 2016, a survey found that the mega-city had the world's worst traffic congestion. Government ministers have to be escorted by police convoys to get to meetings on time. The greater urban area has a population of 30 million. Only about 2-4% of its waste water is treated. The new capital would be in Kalimantan, the name for the Indonesian part of Borneo. The move would cost up to $33bn (£27bn). It would require an area of 30,000 to 40,000 hectares to house between 900,000 and 1.5 million people. The frontrunner city is Palangkaraya, in central Kalimantan. It is geographically close to the centre of the Indonesian archipelago, and the country's founding father, Sukarno, also proposed to make it the capital. But Indonesia is by no means the first country to consider moving its capital. Here are some other notable examples: 1. Kazakhstan In 1997, President Nursultan Nazarbayev decided to move the capital from the main city, Almaty, He chose a dusty provincial town, some 1,200km (750 miles) north. One of the first things he did was to change the name, from Aqmola - which means "white grave" - to Astana. He then brought in architects from around the world to build his capital from the ground up. One of its most striking landmarks is Khan Shatyr - the world's largest tent. Designed by Norman Foster, it houses an indoor shopping mall and entertainment complex. The Baytarek Tower, which resembles an egg perched on top of a tree, houses an observation deck with a view of other newly built landmarks. These include the presidential palace, a riff on the White House topped with a pale-blue dome. Next to that is the Central Concert Hall, a turquoise structure mimicking an unfolding spaceship. All this was made possible by Kazakhstan's booming oil sector: the economy grew by 4.8% in 2018. As a mark of gratitude, after President Nazarbayev stepped down in March, parliament voted to name the city in his honour. So now the Kazakh capital - the second-coldest in the world, after Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia - is known as Nur Sultan City. Not bad for a settlement perhaps best known in Soviet times for its proximity to a gulag. 2. Myanmar The city of Nay Pyi Taw covers at least four times the area of London, but with only a fraction of the people. Its history is short: it has only existed since 2005, raised out of the flatlands by the then military rulers of Myanmar (previously known as Burma). The name means "seat of the king". The reasons for moving the capital some 370km inland from the largest city, Yangon (Rangoon), have never been entirely clear. The information minister told the BBC at the time that it was a more strategic location, but analysts were sceptical. They said it was possible the military feared a foreign invasion, or wanted more control over ethnic minorities in the border regions. Others suggested Myanmar's notoriously secretive leaders were simply repeating the habits of Burmese kings in pre-colonial times, who built new towns and palaces on the advice of fortune-tellers. The city bears all the hallmarks of a planned capital: the road leading from parliament to the presidential palace is 20 lanes wide, but carries hardly any traffic. Shiny shopping malls and empty luxury hotels line the boulevards. There's a safari park, a zoo, and at least three stadiums. Unlike other parts of Myanmar, it has electricity around the clock. 3. Bolivia Bolivia has two capital cities: Sucre and La Paz. Sucre was the sole capital until 1899, when it lost a brief civil war to La Paz. After that, parliament and the civil service moved to Bolivia's largest city, La Paz, while the judiciary remained in Sucre. Sucre, in the centre of the country, was where Bolivia was founded, in 1825. It has a population of just 250,000, compared to 1.7 million in La Paz. In 2007, a proposal was put forward to move parliament and government back to Sucre, only for what was described as the biggest ever protest in La Paz to break out. The idea arose out of a regional rivalry between President Evo Morales' supporters in Bolivia's poor western highlands and his opponents in the more prosperous east. The scheme was eventually abandoned, and Bolivia has two capitals to this day. 4. Nigeria Until 1991 Lagos, the largest city in Nigeria, was also its capital. There were a number of reasons for moving the capital to Abuja: first of all, its central location, away from the coast. It used to take about two days to travel the 1,600km to Lagos by road from the city of Maiduguri, in the north-east, Abuja was far closer. Lagos was very congested (it's the most populous city in sub-Saharan Africa), and that was among the reasons for the move. Abuja was also more politically and ethnically neutral. The Yoruba ethnic group dominates Lagos, while the Igbos are largely in the southeast and the Hausas in the northwest. This was no small matter: between 1967 and 1970, Nigeria was wracked by the Biafran war, when the Igbos sought to secede from Nigeria. While Lagos grew up organically, Abuja is a planned city - the first in Nigeria. The traffic congestion in Lagos is notorious; in Abuja, the roads were designed to be wide from the start. The national cultural institutes are there, along with the Supreme Court, the National Assembly and the presidential palace. However, many federal agencies are unofficially still based in Lagos. 5. Portugal For 13 years, the capital of Portugal was not in Lisbon but Rio de Janeiro. The reason? Napoleon. During the Peninsular War (1807-14), the French invaded Portugal no fewer than three times. Days before the invasion in December 1807, the Braganza royal family and the court left for Brazil, then a Portuguese colony. They arrived in Rio in March 1808. Rio in the early 19th Century was a booming city: there was gold, there were diamonds, there was sugar. There were also slaves: up to a million of them, about a third of the population. Dom João VI, the prince regent, created the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves. This elevated Brazil from a mere colony to the same level as Portugal. Brazil was also granted more administrative independence. When the queen died in 1816, he became king. In 1821, the Portuguese court returned to Lisbon where it remained until the end of the monarchy, in 1910. Its sojourn in Rio, however, left a lasting mark on Brazil, boosting its economy and hastening its push for independence. | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-27572807 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-27572807 | দিল্লীৰ ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতি ভৱনৰ প্ৰাংগণত এক অনুষ্ঠানত নৰেন্দ্ৰ মোডীয়ে ভাৰতৰ নতুন প্ৰধানমন্ত্ৰী হিচাপে শপত গ্ৰহণ কৰিছে। | Mr Modi took the oath before thousands of guests, including his counterpart from rival Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif. It is the first time since the two countries won independence in 1947 that a prime minister from one state has attended such a ceremony in the other. Mr Modi led his BJP party to a landslide win in the recent election. The BJP won the biggest victory by any party in India for 30 years, gaining a majority in parliament and trouncing the outgoing Congress Party. At the scene: Sanjoy Majumder, BBC News, Delhi The grand presidential palace was a spectacular setting for what was an impressive ceremony. As the sun went down, the stage was set for a seamless transfer of power. There was an air of excitement among the thousands who had gathered to witness the historic event. Politicians mingled with celebrities and business leaders, many of whom had backed Mr Modi's campaign. There was a large contingent from Gujarat, Mr Modi's home-state, delighted to be there. But the highlight was the presence of the eight Asian leaders. Warm applause greeted the arrival of Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif, who took time to exchange words with the outgoing PM Manmohan Singh. But the biggest cheers broke out when the man of the moment made his appearance. Narendra Modi was applauded as he walked down the red carpet and then cheered as, moments later, he was sworn in as India's 15th PM. Senior BJP and Congress leaders as well as Bollywood actors and top industrialists watched Mr Modi take the oath. "I, Narendra Damodardas Modi, swear in the name of God that I will maintain the integrity of India," Mr Modi said in Hindi. "I will work without fear, anger or hatred and will do justice to all as per the constitution." Forty-five MPs, including seven women, from Mr Modi's BJP party and their allies have also been sworn in as ministers, although they are yet to be allocated their ministries. Monday's grand outdoor ceremony was attended by the leaders of all seven South Asian countries as well as Mauritius. But all eyes were on the presence of Mr Sharif, who is expected to hold bilateral talks with Mr Modi on Tuesday. The two nuclear-armed rivals have fought three wars in the past 60 years, and Mr Modi's BJP party advocates a tough stance on Pakistan. It is a great moment and a great opportunity," Mr Sharif told the NDTV network on his arrival in Delhi for the swearing-in ceremony. "This is a chance to reach out to each other. Both governments have a strong mandate... This could help in turning a new page in our relations." The Pakistani prime minister said the neighbours should use their cultural and traditional similarities to help improve ties. "We should remove fears, mistrust and misgivings about each other... Both countries should rid the region of instability and security that has plagued us for decades," he added. Tight security and traffic restrictions was imposed in Delhi and all offices around the presidential palace were closed five hours before the event, according to the Press Trust of India. Given the margin of victory, the BJP will be able to govern without coalition partners - 272 MPs are required for an absolute majority. The Congress party finished with just 44 of the 543 seats and under 20% of the vote in what was its worst-ever performance. What the papers say Pakistan Today said the Sharif visit conveyed a positive message: "Pakistan and India have a historic opportunity to break the gridlock." Urdu daily Jinnah: "We believe the Delhi meeting won't bring any revolution in ties between the two countries. But it would overcome the prevailing environment of doubts and suspicions. Karachi-based Islam said: "The talks should be held on equal ground and dispute resolution should be given top priority." The Indian Express said the surprise invitation underscored the new political will in Delhi to take risks for peace. "Modi is telling the many Western busybodies... that India can manage the Pakistan problem on its own." The Times of India said: "It's not that the bilateral scheduled between Modi and Sharif is going to settle old problems... It's rather that the two leaders get valuable face time." | Assamese |
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44824619 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44824619 | দক্ষিণ-পশ্চিম পাকিস্তানত এক প্ৰচাৰ সমদলত এগৰাকী আত্মঘাতী বোমাৰুৱে কমেও ১২৮ গৰাকী লোকক হত্যা কৰিছে- এইটো হৈছে ২০১৪ চনৰ পাছত দেশখনৰ আটাইতকৈ ভয়ংকৰ আক্ৰমণ। | A local candidate was among the dead in the Mastung town, police say. So-called Islamic State (IS) claimed the attack. Earlier, a bomb attack on a similar rally in the northern town of Bannu killed four people. The attacks come ahead of general elections on 25 July. Meanwhile, former PM Nawaz Sharif was arrested after flying home from the UK. Sharif and his daughter Maryam were taken into custody by officials from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after landing in the northern city of Lahore. They were then put on a chartered plane bound for Pakistan's capital Islamabad. They were later transferred to a local prison. The three-term PM was ousted last year after a corruption investigation. Last week he was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison. He has accused Pakistan's powerful security establishment of conspiring against him ahead of the elections. What is known about Friday's attacks? More than 150 people were injured in Mastung, officials say. Among those killed was Baluchistan provincial assembly candidate Siraj Raisani, his family said. He was a candidate for the Balochistan Awami party. Local officials say the attacker detonated a bomb inside a crowded compound where the campaign rally was being held. "Human remains and red bloody pieces of flesh were littered everywhere in the compound," local journalist Attah Ullah was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. "Injured people were crying in pain and fear," the journalist said. IS militants later used their news outlet to claim the group carried out the attack. IS has carried out a number of attacks in the region bordering Afghanistan in recent years. However, security has improved since the military managed to clear large swathes of territory. Friday's bombing was the deadliest attack since militants from the Pakistani Taliban assaulted an army-run school in Peshawar in December 2014, killing 141 people, 132 of them children. Earlier in the day, a campaign convoy of another candidate was attacked in Bannu. Akram Khan Durrani, who represents the MMA party, was unhurt, officials say. No group has so far claimed responsibility for that attack. Secular parties targeted By BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad These attacks are unexpected as they come amid claims by the army that militants have been cleared from Pakistan's western regions on the Afghan border, which have become a sanctuary for the Taliban. Before the 2013 elections, militants had issued early warnings, resulting in a muted campaign by targeted secular parties. Those parties lost the poll by wide margins. Those same parties and groups appear to be targets again. These latest attacks may also trigger a new set of tensions ahead of an election already marred by controversy. Significantly, the attacks come in the aftermath of the conviction of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by an anti-corruption court. Friday's attacks came just hours before Sharif flew in from the UK to Lahore, and the city is under a lockdown ordered by authorities to prevent his supporters from staging a huge welcome for him. On Tuesday, a suicide bomber hit a campaign gathering in the northern city of Peshawar, killing 22 people - including a provincial candidate. The Pakistani Taliban said it had carried out that attack. What about Sharif's return? Tensions across Pakistan have been rising ahead of the former prime minister's arrival in Lahore. Clashes are reported to have broken out between Sharif supporters and security forces at the main highway entry-point to the city. Thousands of police officers were earlier deployed and shipping containers placed on some main roads. On Thursday, Sharif's PML-N party said hundreds of activists in Lahore had been detained ahead of Sharif's return. Sharif's lawyers hope that his return to Pakistan will enable him to file an appeal against his conviction. Pakistan's general election | Assamese |
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