Analysts warn that President Donald Trump's Gaza ceasefire proposal offers Palestinians minimal relief beyond halting Israel's bombardment that killed at least 66,055 people, and wounded 168,346 since October 2023. The 20-point plan requires Hamas to surrender control of Gaza to an international administration led by Trump, and provides guarantees exclusively to Israel rather than Palestinians. Palestinian lawyer Diana Buttu criticized the agreement for forcing victims to negotiate an end to genocide while perpetrators determine their future.
The proposal mandates captive exchanges, and demands Hamas disarmament while offering amnesty to members accepting peaceful coexistence. Israeli troop withdrawal depends on unspecified conditions...
Massive traffic congestion paralyzed the Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Sylhet highways on Wednesday as city residents departed for four-day Durga Puja celebrations. Vehicles crawled along a 19-kilometer stretch from Signboard to Meghna Toll Plaza, while significant delays affected multiple sections of the Dhaka-Sylhet route.
Highway police attributed the gridlock to unusually high vehicle volumes. Abdul Quader Jilani, in charge of the Kanchpur highway police outpost, confirmed that additional forces had been deployed across affected areas to manage the crisis.
Travelers reported journey times extending from the typical 30 minutes to four hours between Signboard and Meghna Toll Plaza. Bus passenger Sohel Mia departed in the morning but...
Tamim Iqbal withdrew from the Bangladesh Cricket Board election on Wednesday alongside 14 other councillors who accused the board of fixing the contest through government interference. The former national team captain spoke to reporters at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, where he questioned the legitimacy of the electoral process scheduled for Oct. 6. Several prominent figures abandoned their directorship bids, representing nearly half of all candidates.
The star opener described the situation as filth from which he refused to participate, and he suggested that additional candidates would have withdrawn if not for persuasion or pressure. He challenged the BCB to address election manipulation before tackling match-fixing...
Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan left Dhaka on Wednesday for a five-day official visit to Turkey after receiving an invitation from the Turkish Air Force. The Bangladesh Air Force chief will meet with the leadership of the Turkish Air Force, the Secretary of the Turkish Defense Industry, and other high-ranking military and civilian officials to discuss matters of common interest. His itinerary includes stops at Turkish Aerospace Industries and various government and private defense manufacturing companies. He is scheduled to return to Bangladesh on Oct. 6.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman directed on Tuesday that a major Riyadh thoroughfare be renamed for Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh, who served as Saudi Arabia's grand mufti before his death on Sept. 23. The Saudi Press Agency reported the decision recognizes his scholarly achievements, his service to the nation, and his influence on Islam and Muslims worldwide. The directive honors his dedication to Islamic jurisprudence, his religious guidance, and his substantial impact on Islamic education and scholarship.
Al-Asheikh assumed the position of grand mufti in June 1999, becoming the kingdom's top religious authority responsible for interpreting Shariah and issuing fatwas on legal and social questions. His tenure marked a transformative...
Life began returning to normal on Tuesday night in Khagrachhari after a four-day disruption ended when a group suspended its road blockade until Oct. 5. Limited long-distance transport resumed on Wednesday morning, and shops reopened after closing for four days. The Jumma Chhatra-Janata organization had imposed the indefinite blockade to protest the alleged rape of a schoolgirl, but suspended it out of respect for Durga Puja after the administration pledged to address their eight-point demand.
Tension remains high as Section 144 stays in effect, and security forces patrol the area. At least three people died, and many were injured in clashes on Sept. 27 and 28, while fires damaged shops, homes, and offices in Guimara. A five-member...
The U.S. federal government shut down on Oct. 1 after Congress failed to pass a spending bill before the Sept. 30 deadline. Republicans control both chambers and the White House, but they needed Democratic support in the Senate to secure funding. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer demanded an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, while GOP leaders sought a seven-week funding extension with additional security funding.
The shutdown affects approximately 900,000 federal workers who face furloughs without pay, while essential employees must work unpaid. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid payments continue, but agencies such as the FDA face reduced inspections. National parks may stay open without visitor services...
Yemen's Huthi rebels took responsibility on Wednesday for striking a Dutch cargo vessel in the Gulf of Aden earlier this week. The Iran-backed group controls large areas of Yemen and the capital Sanaa, and it maintains the attacks support Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
The MV Minervagracht suffered damage on Monday when a projectile struck the vessel, injuring two crew members, and starting a fire. The rebels stated the ship was attacked because its owner defied their ban on entering ports in occupied Palestine, according to the Huthi-run Saba news agency.
The Huthis have repeatedly fired missiles and drones at Israel, prompting Israeli counterstrikes in Yemen. Israeli attacks on Sanaa killed at least nine people...
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus clarified that authorities suspended Awami League political activities but did not ban the party. The Nobel laureate explained this distinction on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly session in New York. He told Zeteo that the suspension could be lifted at any time, but AL cannot participate in the upcoming elections for now. Yunus defended the temporary suspension as necessary for arranging elections.
The chief adviser rejected criticism from Amartya Sen and others about government action against AL. He said the party killed people without expressing remorse or accepting responsibility for its actions. Yunus maintained that AL remains a legal political entity despite the activity suspension. He...
