CA for measures to stop vote rigging permanently
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There is no atmosphere to play T20 WC in India: Asif Nazrul
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Trump announces tariffs on Iran trade partners as protest toll rises

13 Jan, 2026 08:56 am
PARIS, France, Jan 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on any country doing business with Iran, ramping up pressure as a rights group estimated a crackdown on protests has killed at least 648 people. Trump, who has repeatedly threatened Iran with military intervention, said in a social media post on Monday that the new levies would "immediately" hit the Islamic republic's trading partners who also do business with the United States. "This Order is final and conclusive," he wrote, without specifying who they will affect. Iran's main trading partners are China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, according to economic database Trading Economics. Trump has been mulling his options on Iran, which has been roiled by more than two weeks of demonstrations that have defied a near-total internet blackout and lethal force. Sparked by economic grievances, the nationwide protests have grown into one of the biggest challenges yet to the theocratic system that has ruled Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution ousted the shah. Iranian authorities have blamed foreign interference for stoking the unrest and staged their own nationwide counter-rallies. Rights groups warned that the severed communications were aimed at masking a rising death toll. The Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR) said it had confirmed 648 people killed during the protests, including nine minors, but warned the death toll was likely much higher -- "according to some estimates more than 6,000". The internet shutdown has made it "extremely difficult to independently verify these reports", IHR said, adding that an estimated 10,000 people had been arrested. "The international community has a duty to protect civilian protesters against mass killing by the Islamic republic," said IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam. The White House said Monday that Trump remained "unafraid" to deploy military force against Iran, but was pursuing diplomacy as a first resort. - 'Four-front war' - Iran on Monday sought to regain control of the streets with mass nationwide rallies that supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hailed as proof that the protest movement was defeated. In power since 1989 and now 86, Khamenei said the pro-government turnout was a "warning" to the United States. "These massive rallies, full of determination, have thwarted the plan of foreign enemies that were supposed to be carried out by domestic mercenaries," he said, according to state TV, referring to pro-government demonstrations. In the capital Tehran, state TV showed people brandishing the national flag and prayers read for victims of what the government has termed "riots". At Enghelab (Revolution) Square, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told the crowd that Iran was fighting a "four-front war" listing economic war, psychological war, "military war" with the United States and Israel, and "today a war against terrorists" -- a reference to the protests. Flanked by the slogans "Death to Israel, Death to America" in Persian, he vowed the Iranian military would teach Trump "an unforgettable lesson" if attacked. But Trump said Sunday that Iran's leadership had called him seeking "to negotiate". Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told a conference of foreign ambassadors in Tehran that Iran was "not seeking war but is fully prepared for war", while calling for "fair" negotiations. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said a channel of communication was open between Araghchi and Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff despite the lack of diplomatic relations. Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of Iran's ousted shah who has been vocal in calling for protests, told CBS news the government was "trying to trick the world into thinking that (it) is ready to negotiate once again". He said Trump was "a man that means what he says and says what he means" and who "knows what's at stake". "The red line that was drawn has been definitely surpassed by this regime."
Trump announces tariffs on Iran trade partners as protest toll rises
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Germany plays down threat of US invading Greenland after talks
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WASHINGTON, United States, Jan 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Germany's top diplomat on Monday played down the risk of a US attack on Greenland, after President Donald Trump's repeated threats to seize the island from NATO ally Denmark. Asked after meeting Secretary of State Marco Rubio about a unilateral military move by Trump, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said: "I have no indication that this is being seriously considered." "Rather, I believe there is a common interest in addressing the security issues that arise in the Arctic region, and that we should and will do so," he told reporters. "NATO is only now in the process of developing more concrete plans on this, and these will then be discussed jointly with our US partners." Wadephul's visit comes ahead of talks this week in Washington between Rubio and the top diplomats of Denmark and Greenland, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark. Trump in recent days has vowed that the United States will take Greenland "one way or the other" and said he can do it "the nice way or the more difficult way." Greenland's government on Monday repeated that it would not accept a US takeover under "any circumstance." Greenland and NATO also said Monday that they were working on bolstering defense of the Arctic territory, a key concern cited by Trump. Trump has repeatedly pointed to growing Arctic activity by Russia and China as a reason why the United States needs to take over Greenland. But he has also spoken more broadly of his desire to expand the land mass controlled by the United States.  

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Date : 13 Jan, 2026
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Non-fiction books encourage critical thinking: C R Abrar

DHAKA, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS)- Education Adviser Professor Dr Chowdhury Rafiqul  Abrar today said that non-fiction books help and encourage readers to think  critically. "Non-fiction books do not merely provide information instead they shape  critical thinking, raise questions, and help people understand society," the  adviser said. He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the closing and book  award-giving ceremony of the Non-Fiction Book Fair 2025, held at the Faculty  of Business Studies (FBS) of the Dhaka University (DU). The three-day fair was jointly organized by daily Bonik Barta and the Faculty  of Business Studies of the DU. Two writers were awarded for their writings. They are: editor of the daily  New Age, Nurul Kabir for his book 'Dwiralap:Chobbisher Gono-ovyuthhan O  Purbapor Rajniti Somporke Bishleshonmulok Alapcharita' and writer Muhammad  Yusuf Siddiki for his nook 'Shilalipi: Banglar Arbi-Farsi Protnolekhmala'. The publications of the two book Kotha-Prakash and Prothoma Prokashon were  also rewarded at the event. Editor and Publisher of the daily Bonik Barta Dewan Hanif Mahmud delivered  the welcome speech and thanked the jury board for their valuable time while  Bangla Academy president Prof Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq spoke at the event as  special guest. Prof Abrar noted that although people today are surrounded by information,  there is a serious shortage of knowledge. "In an age dominated by social  media, fast-paced news cycles, and fragmented opinions, the need for deep,  verified, and analytical knowledge is greater than ever and non-fiction books  play a vital role in meeting this need." Highlighting the significance of the non-fiction book fair, he said it helped  bring academic knowledge beyond university walls to the general public.   When subjects such as research, history, economics, politics, and social  sciences are presented in accessible language through responsible publishing,  knowledge becomes truly democratic, he added. Dr. Abrar also praised Bonik Barta for its initiative, saying that when a  newspaper goes beyond daily news reporting to promote knowledge-based  publishing, book fairs, and literary awards, it transforms from a media  outlet into an intellectual institution. Speaking about the Non-Fiction Book Awards presented at the event, he said  the awards do more than honour authors as awards signal clear message that  rigorous research, thoughtful writing, and responsible thinking are valued.   He expressed hope that such recognition would encourage writers to prioritise  truth over popularity. "A society becomes strong only when it can question itself," he said, adding  that the courage to ask such questions is nurtured through the habit of  reading non-fiction and the fair encourage people to read such books. The three-day book fair ends today with a raffle draw for the book buyers.  
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