The Commonwealth Youth Awards have added a new category for 2026 that honors young media professionals who advance freedom of expression and community development. The Patsy Robertson Award for Outstanding Communications Skills in Advancing Community Development and Peace will award 1,000 pounds to a winner who demonstrates exceptional creativity and courage in promoting media freedom and democracy. The Commonwealth Association established this prize to commemorate its first chair, and the late Patsy Robertson, who served as the Commonwealth Secretariat's director of communications.
Applicants must be Commonwealth citizens between 15 and 29 years old by Dec. 31, 2025, and have at least 12 months of development work experience. Eligible...
China and Bangladesh marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations on Saturday as leaders from both nations exchanged congratulatory messages emphasizing their enduring partnership. President Xi Jinping highlighted how the countries have maintained friendly ties based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, while strengthening political trust and expanding Belt and Road cooperation. He expressed commitment to deepening mutually beneficial collaboration and promoting common development for regional stability.
Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin praised the deep friendship built on mutual respect, while acknowledging China's support for sustainable development and regional prosperity. Premier Li Qiang and Chief...
Road accidents killed 417 people and injured 682 others across Bangladesh in September, according to a Road Safety Foundation report released on Saturday. The foundation compiled data from nine national dailies, seven online news portals, and electronic media outlets. Motorbike crashes accounted for 143 deaths, while pedestrians represented 112 fatalities.
The capital recorded 18 deaths and 33 injuries in 42 accidents. National highways saw 214 crashes, regional roads had 135, and city streets experienced 60 incidents. Dhaka division recorded the highest accident rate at 28.69 percent, while Barishal division had the fewest deaths at 14.
Waterway accidents claimed 21 lives with six injuries, and train incidents killed 27 people while...
Jumma Chhatra Janata canceled its blockade in Khagrachhari on Saturday after talks with district officials about violence following an alleged schoolgirl rape. The group had enforced the program to demand justice, but withdrew it after authorities provided partial assurances and announced compensation for victims. Officials agreed to give 50,000 taka to each family of those killed in the Sept. 28 clashes that left three dead and four wounded.
The organization presented eight demands to the district council chairman, deputy commissioner, and police representatives on Oct. 1. Authorities pledged to address concerns about recent violence in Khagrachhari Sadar and Guimara. Spokesperson Kripayon Tripura warned of stronger protests if...
Flydubai will restart operations at Chattogram's Shah Amanat International Airport on Oct. 26 after a 10-month suspension. The UAE-based carrier plans seven weekly flights on the route, and airport officials confirmed discussions with multiple Middle Eastern and Chinese airlines about launching service. SalamAir resumed flights from Chattogram in September after halting operations in September of the previous year because of low passenger numbers. Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh representatives said Northern China has expressed interest in the airport, while flydubai officials noted the airline first served the Chattogram-Dubai route in 2011 with three weekly departures before suspending service in December.
The UN Security Council Committee temporarily exempted Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi from travel restrictions to permit a visit to India between Oct. 9 and Oct. 16. India's foreign ministry confirmed on Friday that this would mark the first trip by a senior Taliban official since the group assumed control in 2021. Muttaqi remains subject to UN sanctions that typically prohibit travel, but diplomatic exemptions occasionally apply.
Afghan and Indian media reported that Muttaqi planned to stop in Russia before arriving in New Delhi. Discussions in Moscow would involve representatives from Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, India, and Central Asian nations addressing Afghanistan's situation. The Taliban's Foreign Ministry...
A drone strike killed French photojournalist Antoni Lallican on Friday while he covered combat operations in eastern Ukraine. The 37-year-old was working alongside the Ukrainian Fourth Armored Brigade near Druzhkivka in the Donetsk region when the attack occurred. Ukrainian reporter Georgiy Ivanchenko sustained injuries but remained in stable condition after the same strike.
Both journalists wore protective gear marked with press identification at the time of the attack. French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian officials attributed the strike to Russian forces. Lallican becomes the first journalist killed by drone warfare in Ukraine since the February 2022 invasion began.
The award-winning photographer had contributed to Le...
Munich Airport suspended operations for a second consecutive night on Friday after drone sightings disrupted air traffic, affecting 6,500 passengers and forcing cancellations of 35 flights. Police confirmed two simultaneous drone detections near runways around 11 p.m., but the aircraft had departed before they could be identified. Authorities deployed helicopters, but were unable to determine the types or quantities of the drones.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt called the incident a wake-up call, urging increased national and European investment in anti-drone technology. The government plans to authorize military forces to destroy threatening drones under proposed legislation. Bavarian Premier Markus Soeder advocated...
Ramadan is projected to begin on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, just 139 days away based on preliminary astronomical data from the Emirates Astronomy Society. Ibrahim Al Jarwan, the society's chairman, said the new crescent moon will appear on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 4:01 p.m. UAE time, but will set one minute after sunset and remain invisible that evening. Official moon-sighting committees will confirm the exact start date.
Fasting periods in Abu Dhabi will span roughly 12 hours and 46 minutes at the month's beginning, extending to 13 hours and 25 minutes by its conclusion as daylight lengthens from 11 hours and 32 minutes to 12 hours and 12 minutes. Temperatures are forecast to range from 16 °C to 28 °C early in the month before climbing to...
