WHO declares Ebola epidemic an international health emergency
West Africa's raging epidemic of Ebola virus is an "extraordinary event" and now constitutes an international health risk, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday.
The Geneva-based United Nations health agency said the possible consequences of further international spread of the outbreak, which has killed almost 1,000 people in four West African countries, are "particularly serious" in view of the virulence of the virus.
4 killed in Sitakunda bus-truck collision
At least four people have been killed and 11 others injured in a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a truck on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway near Shuklalhat area under Sitakunda upazila of Chittagong on Friday morning.
Of the deceased, three are identified as Obaidullah, 43, driver of the truck, Abul Kashem, 35, driver of the bus and one Jarina Begum, 40.
Israeli Army: Hamas violates 72-hour truce
Two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip early Friday landing in empty fields in southern Israel just hours ahead of the expiration of the 72-hour ceasefire that ended a month of violence, the Israeli army claimed.
The rockets fell into an open area in southern Israel and caused no casualties, it added. There has been no immediate Israeli response.
Bandit leader killed in Sundarbans 'gunfight'
A bandit leader has been killed in a “gunfight” between the law enforcers and his gang members in Sundarbans' Khulna range early Friday.
The deceased is Moktarul Dhali, 32, the chief of bandit group Masud Bahini.
Launch capsize: 12 bodies to be buried after Juma
Local administration has decided to bury the unidentified bodies of 12 people, who were killed in Munshiganj launch capsize.
Madaripur Additional Super Uttom Kumar Pal said: “The bodies are no longer in a position to be identified, so they will be buried by today [Friday].”
“All the required samples for the DNA test have already been collected,” he said.
Obama approves airstrikes in Iraq
President Barack Obama said on Thursday he had authorised limited US airstrikes to blunt the onslaught of Islamic militants in northern Iraq and began military air-drops of humanitarian supplies to besieged religious minorities to prevent a "potential act of genocide."
Speaking after meetings with his national security team, Obama - in his most significant response to the Iraq crisis – said he approved "targeted" use of air power to protect US personnel if Islamic State militants advance further toward the Kurdish capital Arbil or threaten Americans anywhere in the country.
ISIS in Bangladesh?
A video, claiming a group of Bangladeshis have declared themselves as followers of ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has surfaced online. The video shows a group of five people taking Bay'ah to follow Al-Baghdadi. The video was uploaded in YouTube on August 2 with an English title ' Muslims in Bangladesh Give Bayah to the Caliphah Ibrahim (Hafiahulla)'.
Forex reserve hits record $22bn mark
Foreign exchange reserve of the country has set a new record on Thursday crossing the US$22 billion-mark for the first time, thanks to a robust inflow of remittances in July. The country received highest-ever monthly remittance worth $1.48bn in July due to increasing inflow ahead of Eid festival and its foreign exchange reserve had earlier crossed $21bn on June 16 because of the increased inflow of the foreign funds.
Chunnu: Tuba workers' July due payment by Sunday
State Minister for Labour Mujibul Haque Chunnu has said Tuba workers' salary of July will be given by Sunday. The junior minister made the statement in a press conference at BGMEA building in the capital on Thursday afternoon.
Seven senior bureaucrats promoted as secretary
Seven senior bureaucrats, who have been serving as acting secretary or same status posts in separate ministries, secretariats or departments, have been promoted as secretary. The public administration ministry issued a gazette notification promoting the additional secretaries as secretary.
