Taiwan rejected on Wednesday a United States proposal to relocate half its semiconductor manufacturing to American territory. Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun confirmed negotiators made no commitments to divide chip production equally between the nations after returning from tariff discussions in Washington.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick requested the split during a weekend television interview, but Taiwanese officials dismissed the demand as harmful to national security interests. Opposition legislator Hsu Yu-chen characterized the proposal as plunder rather than cooperation, while warning it would eliminate Taiwan's strategic protection.
TSMC previously committed $165 billion to Arizona facilities after Washington applied pressure in...
Swedish Ambassador Nicolas Weeks met with Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday at the party's Bashundhara headquarters. The two leaders examined Bangladesh-Sweden relations, while addressing trade opportunities and diplomatic cooperation. Both officials signaled interest in expanding economic partnerships between their nations.
Weeks asked about Rahman's medical condition and extended wishes for his recovery. Party Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar attended the session alongside several Jamaat officials, while Foreign Affairs Advisor Mahmudul Hasan and other central committee members participated in the discussions.
President Donald Trump outlined plans on Tuesday to deploy military forces in American cities to address what he termed civil disturbances. Speaking to hundreds of assembled military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, Trump characterized urban unrest as an internal threat, while asserting military involvement would prevent situations from escalating beyond control.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced new physical fitness standards requiring all combat personnel to meet male-level benchmarks, but acknowledged the policy might exclude some women from service. Hegseth declared an end to diversity programs at the Pentagon, while criticizing what he called risk-averse leadership culture shaped by climate concerns...
Bashundhara Shuvosangho launched a sewing training program for underprivileged women in Charfesson upazila on Tuesday at North Aslampur Government Primary School. The initiative provides skills training and sewing machines to help disadvantaged women achieve financial independence. Upazila representative Kamrul Sikder conducted the ceremony, while upazila Shuvosangho President M Amir Hossain presided over the event.
Speakers highlighted the organization's ongoing community work in remote areas of Bhola. Previous efforts have provided Ramadan meals, anti-drug seminars at educational institutions, financial support for disabled students, and food distribution to impoverished families. Trainee Munni thanked Bashundhara Group for offering...
Tony Blair's involvement in Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan has reignited debate about the former British prime minister's Middle East credentials. Blair is expected to serve on an international transitional authority board for Gaza and reportedly helped craft the proposal with Jared Kushner. The 72-year-old spent eight years as Middle East Quartet envoy and contributed to the 2020 Abraham Accords.
Critics question Blair's suitability given his role in the 2003 Iraq invasion and limited achievements as envoy. Palestinians expressed strong opposition to foreign leadership in Gaza. Some Gaza residents acknowledged Blair's connections but noted his controversial reputation. Israeli officials indicated support for his involvement.
Blair...
Student leaders at Dhaka University expressed alarm on Wednesday over rape accusations in Khagrachari and the violence that followed. The case centers on conflicting evidence about an alleged assault on a teenage girl by Shayan Shil, who was arrested but appeared on market surveillance footage at the time of the reported incident. Medical examinations by Dr. Jaya Chakma found no physical injuries or signs of assault in the complainant.
The student union demanded severe punishment if evidence confirms the accusations, but called for accountability if the allegations were false. DUCSU General Secretary SM Farhad condemned the violent response that bypassed legal procedures and resulted in three deaths. The unrest involved blockades...
Saudi Arabia's newly launched Riyadh Metro has transformed urban transit into an architectural destination. The driverless system opened in December 2024 and spans 176 kilometers across six lines, making it the world's longest automated metro network.
The $22.5 billion project features 85 stations, but four stand out for their design. Qasr Al Hokm Station, opened in February 2025, reaches 40 meters underground and covers seven floors with curved steel canopies reflecting the historic district above.
The network already exceeded expectations by transporting 100 million passengers within months of opening. Trains run every four minutes at peak times, but limited seating means riders often stand on busy routes.
Fares start at $1 for two...
Rescue operations at a collapsed Islamic school in East Java became more difficult on Wednesday after an earthquake compressed the debris further. The building fell on Tuesday while students prayed in a ground-floor mosque beneath construction zones above. Three people died, and 91 remained missing as of Wednesday.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Sumenep, roughly 200 kilometers from Sidoarjo where the school collapsed. The tremor reduced spaces from 50 centimeters to just 10 centimeters in some areas, rescue official Mohammad Syafii reported. Workers detected signs of life but proceeded cautiously to avoid injuring trapped victims.
Authorities blamed weak foundations for the collapse, stating the structure could not support...
President Donald Trump declared on Tuesday that his exclusion from the Nobel Peace Prize would insult the United States after claiming responsibility for resolving numerous international conflicts. The Republican leader expressed frustration while addressing military officers, stating the honor should recognize American achievements rather than individuals who accomplished little. Trump asserted he has ended seven wars since returning to office in January, and predicted an eighth resolution if his newly proposed Gaza peace plan succeeds.
Oslo experts dismissed Trump's prospects for the 2025 prize as virtually impossible. Historian Oeivind Stenersen called the possibility completely unthinkable, and Norwegian Nobel Committee officials...
