Author: News Desk

Dhaka, Nov 1 (IANS) Bangladesh on Wednesday launched a local currency card, Taka Pay, the first of its kind in the country, as part of its efforts to build a cashless society.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday inaugurated Taka Pay from her official residence Ganabhaban in capital Dhaka, reports Xinhua news agency.The card will be issued by the state-owned Sonali Bank and the privately-owned City Bank and Brac Bank in collaboration with the central bank of Bangladesh.Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Hasina said this card will be a groundbreaking step for building a cashless society in Bangladesh.She said as an…

Brisbane, Nov 1 (IANS) Australian police have launched investigation over four bushfires in the Sunshine Coast region of Queensland over the past two weeks, as the cause is believed to be suspicious.In a statement, Queensland Police said that a fire at Beerwah was deliberately lit near Stokes Road at around 10.30 a.m. on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency.Another fire in the Beerwah – Landsborough area is under investigation as well, which broke out on October 28 near a forestry clearing on Dianella Road and Roys Road .This rapidly advancing blaze caused police to issue an emergency declaration under the Public…

Colombo, Nov 1 (IANS) The Sri Lankan government has called for bids from interested parties for the divestiture of state-owned flag carrier SriLankan Airlines, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva said on Wednesday.The Minister told the media that the Invitation to Tender (ITT) has already been published at local and foreign media and websites, reports Xinhua news agency.The divestiture is to be completed in a two-stage competitive bidding process, according to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation.Local media reported that SriLankan Airlines’s total debt amounts to $1.2 billion, and the government intends to retain 51…

Wellington, Nov 1 (IANS) New Zealand’s unemployment rate was 3.9 per cent in the September quarter, compared with 3.6 per cent last quarter, according to the statistics department Stats NZ on Wednesday.”The unemployment rate increased over the past year, up from 3.2 percent in the September 2022 quarter,” Xinhua news agency quoted Stats NZ work and wellbeing senior manager Victoria Treliving as saying.The underutilisation rate was 10.4 percent in the September 2023 quarter, which compared with 9.9 per cent for the previous quarter, and 8.9 per cent from the previous year, Treliving said, adding underutilisation is a broader measure of…

Canberra, Nov 1 (IANS) A search is currently underway for the body of a man who was attacked by a shark while surfing in the state of South Australia (SA), authorities said on Wednesday.The 55-year-old man was surfing at a beach at Streaky Bay, more than 450 km west of Adelaide on the Great Australian Bight, when he was attacked and dragged underwater by the shark at about 10:20 a.m. on Tuesday, reports Xinhua news agency.SA Police initially said a person was seriously injured in the attack but later said emergency services were searching for the man’s body and the…

Speaking about the launch, Isha M Ambani, Director, Reliance Industries Limited, said, “Our envisioning of the Jio World Plaza is aimed at bringing the best global brands to India as well as highlighting the prowess and craftsmanship of top Indian brands, and hence create a very unique retail experience. Our pursuit of excellence, innovation, and enhancing customer experience continues to propel us in every venture. The Jio World Plaza is more than a retail destination; it’s an embodiment of aesthetics, culture, and leisure.”The Plaza is designed as an exclusive hub for retail, leisure, and dining. Spanning four levels across a…

San Francisco, Oct 19 (IANS) Google has slashed dozens of jobs in its news division amid slowed growth and uncertain economic conditions, the media reported. At least 40-45 workers in Google News have lost their jobs, according to an Alphabet Workers Union spokesperson, CNBC reported late on Wednesday.“We’re deeply committed to a vibrant information ecosystem, and news is a part of that long-term investment,” a company spokesperson was quoted as saying in the report.“We’ve made some internal changes to streamline our organisation. A small number of employees were impacted. We’re supporting everyone with a transition period, outplacement services and severance…

New York, Oct 19 (IANS) A Sikh teen who was punched multiple times onboard a Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bus in New York City said that he was left “angered and shaken by the attack”. The 19-year-old was riding on a shuttle bus on Sunday morning near 118th Street and Liberty Avenue in Richmond Hill when a suspect attacked and attempted to remove his turban.“I am shaken and angered by this attack. I believe that no one should be assaulted or harassed because of how they look, and everyone should be able to go about their business in public in…

Developed by researchers at the Duke University, the single nanoparticle vaccine can fight SARS-CoV-2 — which is the virus that causes Covid-19, another form of SARS coronavirus that can infect humans, and a MERS coronavirus that has led to periodic, deadly outbreaks around the world.“We are making important progress toward a broadly protective coronavirus vaccine,” said senior author Kevin O. Saunders, associate director of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute.“These are pathogens that cause or have the potential to cause significant human infections and loss of life, and a single vaccine that provides protection could slow down or even prevent another…

The incident took place in the limits ofPeriyapatnapolice station and the accused father has been arrested, said police.The accused was identified as Ganesh, a resident of Makodu village near Periyapatna town. Police said the accused and his wife Laxmi had three children. First two are daughters and Laxmi died during the delivery of the third child.Ganesh had left his two daughters in the village with his mother Anjanamma, and had taken his son to Bengaluru. Later, he returned to the village and resided with his mother. Four days ago, he fought with his mother and took his one-and-half-year-old son away…