Bangladeshi student missing in Malaysia

A Bangladeshi student, who went to Malaysia last week to pursue higher study there, has reportedly been missing for one week. Rezwan Ur Rahman went missing on October 23 after arriving in Kuala Lumpur on October 19. Rezwan’s sister Dilruba Akter on Friday said her brother arrived in the Malaysian capital on October 19. The last time he contacted with his relatives was October 23, she informed.

Despite several attempts by family members to contact him, Rezwan Ur Rahman could not be reached over phone since then. His passport number is BE 0242492. Quoting Malaysian police, his sister and friends said, on arrival in Kuala Lumpur, Rezwan checked in at Backpacker lodge in Jalan Hang Kasturi, near FTMS College where he got admission in honours course in Computer Science.

On October 26, they went to the lodge and got Rezwan's bag, passport and other valuables. But lodge authorities said Rezwan remained untraced from October 23.

When they contacted local police station in Kuala Lumpur, the police advised them to contact with Bangladesh High Commission. Later, Bangladesh High Commission asked them to lodge a missing diary with local police station, according to a news agency.

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Imran Khan, his 2nd wife file for divorce

Pakistan cricket legend-turned-politician Imran Khan and his second wife Reham Khan are filing for divorce. Former television anchor Reham Khan says on Twitter that she and her husband are parting ways and filing for divorce. When contacted, a spokesman for Imran Khan's political party, Pakistan Tahrik-e-Insaf, confirmed the divorce, saying it was a mutual agreement. Imran and  Reham were married for nine months. He had lived alone for 11 years following his divorce from his first wife, Briton Jemima Goldsmith.

Reham Khan said on Twitter on Friday that she and her husband will file for divorce soon. Another spokesperson for Tahrik-e-Insaf, on Friday said that Khan and Reham have agreed in principle to divorce and it was a mutual agreement.

He said Khan and ex-BBC anchor Reham Khan were married for nine months. He had lived alone for 11 years following his divorce from Jemima.

Tahrik-e-Insaf, founded by Imran Khan, is the strongest opponent of Pakistan Muslim League-led government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, according to The Indian Express.

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'Hanger' tells us we are low on glucose

Even the calmest people can experience hunger-based anger. “What’s interesting about hanger (hunger and anger) is it’s actually a survival mechanism,” says Brenda Bustillos, a dietician at Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health. Hanger, Bustillos explains, is our brain’s way of telling us we’re low on glucose, and we need to replenish. “The amount of glucose available for the brain declines as more time passes between meals.” Bustillos says. “Food is important because when glucose levels become too low, our brain triggers the release of stress hormones.” It harder for us to control our emotions when our brains are low on glucose, according to media reports. -amh

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Headway in creating battery to power cars

Scientists have created a battery whose technology in principle could power electric cars and other energy-hungry devices far better than current lithium-ion batteries, but it remains years away from commercial use.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge on Thursday announced the creation of a laboratory demonstration model of a lithium-oxygen battery that overcomes many of the barriers that have held back the development of this technology, according to an agency.

They said the battery boasts very high energy density, is about 93 percent efficient - better than previous efforts - and can be recharged more than 2,000 times.

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South Sudan rebels free 18 Bangladeshi soldiers

The 18 Bangladeshi peacekeepers abducted by rebels from a barge in White Nile River in Upper Nile state of South Sudan on Monday, were freed by their captors on Friday.  The rebels detained a dozen United Nations contractors and seized the barge carrying the Bangladeshi soldiers in Malakal region of South Sudan on Monday night. The Bangladeshi peacekeepers were escorting the barge carrying fuel for the UN mission in the strife-torn South Sudan.

The peacekeepers and the crew were captured in Kaka, north of Malakal, and taken to the town of Kaka, in Upper Nile state.

"They were threatened directly. Our forces were disarmed and detained," said a UN official, who asked not to be named.

The rebels looted the fuel from the barge and were holding the contractors in Kaka.

The United Nations demanded the release of the 12 crew still in captivity, all South Sudanese nationals, according to Reuters, Deutsche Welle, dpa.

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IPL 2015 contributed Rs. 11.5 bn to Indian GDP

The Indian Premier League T20 cricket tournament's 2015 edition that ran for 60 days contributed Rs 11.50 billion to India's GDP, according to the KPMG Sports Advisory Group, the Indian cricket board said. Earlier this year, the BCCI had commissioned the study to assess the economic impact on India of hosting the tournament. BCCI had appointed KPMG Sports Advisory Group to undertake this survey. The board said in a press release that IPL matches directly affected the country's economy in a variety of ways, with key stakeholder groups - participating franchisees, organisers and spectators — contributing through employment and purchasing. The study pegged the total economic output associated with IPL matches in India during the season at Rs 26.50 billion, which is aggregate value of all transactions that took place as a direct, indirect or induced effect of the economic activity of the matches. "Hosting an IPL match also adds value and revenue to the economy of the state," BCCI said, according to a news agency.

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One third of British companies to be women by 2020

LONDON, Oct 31: Britain is currently sixth in the world for the proportion of women on company boards, with Norway, where women make up 35 per cent of boards, at the top, according to the findings of last month’s Davias Review.

Many countries ahead of the UK — including Norway, France and Belgium — have set formal quotas for female representation, according to a media report.

The UK government-backed Davies Review says a third of all board seats at Britain’s biggest companies should be held by women by 2020, but shies away from mandating a specific target for executive jobs, the report adds.

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Obama, Michelle host Halloween

US President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed Friday hundreds of children, on the occasion of Halloween, into the White House and handed out treats of White House Hershey Kisses, White House Halloween cookies, White House M&Ms, fruit bars, kettle corn and Bo and Sunny baseball cards. The President commented on children's costumes and seemed particularly charmed by one child dressed as a pope in his own mini-popemobile, to which he responded "Top prize!"  Families were able to take photographs with the First Couple with the backdrop of a decorated White House which featured various colour pumpkins, black twine spider webs and a huge toy spider which lingered on the side of the building, according to media reports.

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US bans e-cigarettes on aircraft

Airline passengers will no longer be able to carry e-cigarettes or other electronic smoking devices in their checked luggage as they pose a serious fire hazard. That means no "e-cigarettes, e-cigs, e-cigars, e-pipes, personal vapourisers, or electronic nicotine delivery systems" in their checked bags. Passengers will also not be able to use those on a aircraft as it counts as smoking. The ban has taken immediate effect almost immediately on all US flights. The Department of Transportation (DoT) ban on e-cigs comes on the heels of the FAA warning about lithium-ion batteries, another fire hazard. The batteries, which power everything from smartphones to laptops, have also been linked to fires in baggage holds aboard planes, according to media reports. -amh

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UK co unveils 4G clip-on camera

EE, one of the UK's biggest and fastest mobile networks, is now producing smartphones, tablets and, quite recently, an action camera. Its Capture Cam, a pocket-sized camera for recording and livestreaming everyday moments, is a square device, which can be clipped onto a shirt or backpack. Its 8-megapixel sensor can shoot stills and video up to 1080p at 30 frames per second. It is capable of livestreaming at a slightly lower resolution of 720p at 30 frames per second. Livestreaming can be conducted over 4G. EE has also developed a new Capture Cam app, available for iOS and Android, which lets users control the device remotely, manage and download files, check data usage and buy new data bundles.  The company said the tiny lifelogging camera will be available sometime before Christmas, according to media reports. -amh

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Russia to send cosmonauts to moon

Russia plans to land its first cosmonauts on the moon before 2030, and Europe will team up with them. The mission is an admirable push for the reignited interest in manned deep-space travel. The head of Roscosmos Energia — the NASA of Russia — announced at a space and technology conference in Moscow that a manned flight to the moon and lunar landing was planned for 2029. The European Space Agency, which made history last year by landing the first spacecraft on a comet, will team up with Moscow. Russia and Europe have expressed interest in establishing a permanent base on the moon, and they have already begun taking the first steps toward this goal. Last month, Roscosmos announced that it will send a lander, Luna 25, to the moon's south pole in 2024. After touchdown, the lander will investigate the lunar surface for future lunar bases. While Europe and Russia raise their collective eyes to the moon, NASA continues its quest for a farther, more dangerous mission: Mars, according to media reports. -amh

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Mysterious whales seen alive

Never heard of an Omura’s whale? There’s a good reason. Until recently, no one had laid eyes on one in the wild. Before 2003, the Omura’s whale was thought to be simply a dwarf version of another type of whale. Then Japanese scientists studying the whale’s DNA and bodily characteristics decided it ought to be its own species, and named it after the late cetologist Hideo Omura. Still, all they had to work with were carcasses caught by whalers or washed up on the beach. They gleaned what information they could from the animals’ ear wax and stomach contents, but no one had ever seen Balaenoptera omurai swimming or eating or interacting. Pretty much all scientists knew was that it lived in the western Pacific.

Imagine the surprise, then, of researchers in a boat in the Indian Ocean when they spied some Omura’s whales in the distance. During a survey of marine mammals off Madagascar’s coast, New England Aquarium scientist Salvatore Cerchio and his colleagues saw whales with markings that seemed to match B. omurai. They used biopsy darts to snag tissue samples from 18 of the whales as they swam by. DNA analysis confirmed it: the animals were the elusive Omura’s whales.

Over the next few years, the scientists returned and recorded every detail they could about this population. Since they were the first humans to observe Omura’s whales in nature, everything they learned about the animals was new:

After 44 sightings, along with underwater video of three individuals, the scientists had a much better idea of what Omura’s whales look like. Adults are 8 to 12 meters long, and calves are half that size. (The researchers estimated these numbers by waiting until the whales swam close by, then comparing their length to the boat itself, which was about one whale long.) The animals are mostly dark gray but have a big white patch on their right lower jaw, as if wearing a lobster bib that got pushed over to one side.

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China to buy 130 Airbus

China has signed a $17bn (€15.5bn; £11bn) contract to buy 130 aircraft from the European aerospace consortium Airbus. The deal was announced after a meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing. The contract includes 30 wide-body A330s and 100 narrow-body A320s. Earlier this year, Airbus agreed to build a new assembly facility in China's northern port of Tianjin. The company is engaged in a battle with US-based Boeing for dominance in the growing Chinese market. In August, Boeing said China was expected to add 6,330 new aircraft to its commercial fleet by 2034. Airbus has headquarters in Germany and France, according to BBC.

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JSC-JDC exams begins Sunday

The Junior School Certificate (JSC) and Junior Dakhil Certificate (JDC) examinations will begin on Sunday (November 1, 2015). This year, as many as 2,325,933 students will sit for the examinations at 2,627 centers, including two aboard. The examinations will end on November 18. Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said this at a press conference held on Thursday afternoon at his Secretariat office in Dhaka. Education secretary Nazrul Islam Khan, chairmen of education boards and officials of the ministry, among others, were present at the conference. The minister also said 1,967,447 students will appear in the Junior School Certificate (JSC) examination while 358,486 madrasa students in Junior Dakhil Certificate (JDC) exams, according to a news agency.

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Imogen Thomas has posed almost completely nude in a daring photoshoot

Heavily pregnant Imogen Thomas has posed almost completely nude in a daring photoshoot.

With just a few weeks to go before her the birth of her second child , the Welsh beauty has embraced her changing figure and put her natural beauty on full display.

The 32-year-old an be seen cradling her breasts and growing baby bump in the gorgeous black and white images, wearing just a pair of Calvin Klein knickers.

Showing off some of the shots on her Instagram page, Imogen revealed that they hadn't even been re-touched.

 

She wrote alongside the gorgeous pictures: "I love my UN-AIRBRUSHED pregnancy shoot shot on film! Love the whole feel of it. Proud of my lumps and my lovely bump". Imogen confirmed in May that she is expecting her second child with boyfriend Adam Horsley. The happy couple - who are already parents to one-year-old Ariana - will welcome another girl next month.

 

The former glamour model has been documenting her second pregnancy in an intimate video diary and admitted that this time round has been a completely different experience.

"I have put weight on everywhere but I really feel it in my hips, they have changed so much!" she said in the candid video.

"I think all of my pregnancy weight has gone on my hips and bum. I feel like I have a similar shape to Kim Kardashian when she was pregnant, all in the hips and bum.

"My breasts have become bigger as well, they are really heavy!"

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US students to access financial aid

Under new rules announced by the US Department of Education recently, colleges that partner with financial institutions to disburse financial aid funds will be required to ensure that students have a choice in the way they receive those funds and have access to a way to receive them without onerous fees.  The goal of the new rules, which largely take effect on July 1, 2016, is to curb “troubling practices” and increase opportunities to make informed choices. US students will then have to be offered a slate of choices of accounts — including a student’s pre-existing account — they could use to access their financial aid funds. They also cannot be pushed toward a specific account option. The new rules also require not to charge students overdraft fees. -amh

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Amazon launch own clothing line

Online retailer Amazon may soon launch own clothing line. Jeff Yurcisin, Amazon Fashion's vice president of clothing said at the WWD Apparel and Retail CEO Summit that the company is considering producing its own clothing lines to fill "gaps" in the marketplace. Amazon Fashion is the company's division which courts famous clothing lines to sell on the e-commerce site, such as Calvin Klein and Levi’s. But some retailers and clothing manufacturers have been reluctant to work with Amazon due to its reputation for low margins and aggressive cost cutting. So the company appears ready to sell its own version of products and sell it under a different name. -amh

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Russian soldier dies in Syria

The body of the first Russian serviceman confirmed dead in four weeks of air strikes in Syria was delivered on Tuesday to his parents, who said they were not convinced by the military’s account that their 19-year-old son had hanged himself. In an interview with Reuters at their home in southern Russia before they received the body of their son Vadim, Alexander and Svetlana Kostenko said their son had sounded cheerful over the phone as recently as Saturday, the day he died while working at an air base on the Syrian coast. "I will never believe this version (suicide)," said Svetlana, who was wearing a black head scarf. "We spoke every day by phone for half an hour. (On Saturday) he was cheerful, happy, and he laughed," she said.

Alexander, Vadim's father, speaking in a low voice, agreed: "We were told he had hanged himself because of a girl. He would never have done it. I know my son really well."

The body was delivered later on Tuesday afternoon in a military truck. Army men drove the truck near his family's house in the village of Grechnaya Balka, north-west of Krasnodar, on October 27. Soldiers carried the body into the house inside a wooden box. Shortly afterwards, a woman could be heard loudly sobbing. A little later, a polished wooden coffin was delivered to the house.

After the family saw the body, Vadim's younger sister Katya, 14, told Reuters the corpse appeared undamaged and it was unclear if he was strangled or had hanged himself.

Kostenko was one of the Russian air force's support staff. He signed a contract on June 20 and was dispatched to Syria by plane on Sept. 14, two weeks before the Kremlin's air campaign began, his father said. He said they had only discovered Vadim was in Syria when he was already there. Interfax news agency quoted a source in the defense ministry's press service confirming the death.

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Windies, Zimbabwe arrive in Nov

West Indies cricket team will arrive in Dhaka in the last week of November, a reliable source at the Bangladesh Cricket Board said on Wednesday. The Caribbean cricketers will contest in a tri-series and also likely to play Test and One-Day International (ODI) series during their Bangladesh tour that will stretch from late November and mid-December Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe national cricket team will arrive in the first week of November to play a ODI and a Twenty20 series against the hosts and the tri-series, according to a news agency.

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Apple sued over iOS9 default wi-fi feature

Apple is being sued for introducing a feature in its mobile operating system that uses mobile data when wi-fi coverage is weak.

Wi-fi Assist first appeared in iOS9 and allows devices to automatically switch between wi-fi and mobile data.

A class-action lawsuit filed in California alleged that some people had run up large mobile data bills as a result of the feature, which was enabled by default, a BBC report said.

They alleged the "overall amount in controversy" exceeded $5m (£3.25m), because so many people could be affected.

Apple's support website currently warns customers that they "might use more cellular data" if they leave the feature enabled.

Apple declined to comment.

Wi-fi Assist is designed to give people a more seamless internet experience as they leave an area with wi-fi, or if the signal is weak.

By default, most smartphones exclusively use a wi-fi connection to access the internet if one is available - helping keep people within their mobile data allowance.

But prioritising wi-fi can result in periods of poor connectivity - for example when leaving home - while a smartphone judges whether the wi-fi is still available, before reverting to mobile data.

Some Android handsets have a similar setting, such as Samsung's Smart Network Switch, which is switched off by default.

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Kate has a diet plan

Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge who was seen recently with her husband at the premiere of Bond film, keeps herself fit and trim. She loves to go outdoors for her exercises. Her most favorite sports are running and rowing, the latter which she does at a private gym in Clarence House. Swimming and skiing are also her favourite. Skiing can burn 1400 calories an hour while swimming increases stamina and tones her body. Both of these have left a positive effect on Kate. To beat stress she does yoga in between the exercises. The Asanas help her to be alert and confident all the time. In this way she radiates energy whenever seen in public. She has her own normal diet plan, which she sticks to strictly. Kate’s already lean figure does not really require her to go to a dietitian.  For her, a healthy diet is a fresh serving of lean meats, sea-food and lots of vegetables. She believes all these give the necessary nutrients required by the body. She is also believed to like beans and salads and has them as snacks in the evening to keep her fresh, according to media reports.

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Uttara-Motijheel metro rail by 2019: Annual report

The government is working to complete construction of the first phase of MRT Line 6 (metro rail) by 2019 instead of 2024 to resolve capital's nagging traffic congestions, according to the annual report submitted to the cabinet on Monday.

The first phase of the metro rail would be constructed from Uttara to Motijheel, the report said adding that works are going on to complete the project five years ahead of schedule, a BSS report said.

Cabinet Division submitted the annual report of 2014-2015 to the cabinet during its weekly meeting at Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting, cabinet secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said the report highlighted the successes and works conducted by various ministries and divisions before the cabinet as well as country's overall socio-economic progress.

According to the report, country's per capital income has been raised to $1,314 in 2014-2015 from $1,190 in previous year.

Country's export also increased by 3.35 percent in 2014-2015 thanks to diversification of goods, government steps, incentive packages of the government and relentless efforts of the exporters.

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Sexual harassment prevention law to be formulated Says Chumki

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki on Monday said the government has taken initiatives to formulate a sexual harassment prevention law aiming to discourage offenders for committing sex-related crimes.

"As sexual harassment is causing different crimes and social problems, we are taking steps to formulate a law for prevention of the social menace," she told a meeting on draft of sexual harassment prevention law in the capital.

The view-exchange meeting was held in the auditorium of Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP), an official release said.

Secretary of Bangladesh Law Commission Md Ali Akbar, Executive Director of National Women Lawyers Association Advocate Salma Ali, Chief of Party of Protecting Human Rights Programme of Plan International Bangladesh Aubrey McCutcheon, among others, addressed the meeting with president of the association Fouzia Karim Firoz in the chair.

Advocate Mitali Jahan of the lawyers association presented the keynote paper at the meeting.

Aubrey McCutcheon described sexual harassment as a global problem and said international experiences should be followed to address the problems, a BSS report added.

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Pak, Afghan tremor toll crosses 400

The death toll in a strong earthquake that struck Afghanistan, Pakistan and other South Asian countries on Monday has crossed 400. The quake, measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale, struck northern Afghanistan and was felt in a large area from northern India to Pakistan on Monday morning.

The temblor also left hundreds of people injured, many critically, in the Indian sub-continent. The US Geological Survey (USGS) put the epicentre of the quake near Jarm in Afghanistan’s northeast Hindu Kush, 250km from Afghan capital Kabul and at a depth of 213km.

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Cricketer Shakib, wife Umme Ahmed expecting first child

Top allrounder Shakib Al Hasan and his wife Umme Ahmed Shishir are expecting their first child – a baby girl. "Countdown begins for our princess," the Bangladesh cricket superstar wrote on Monday posting a photo of the couple’s baby shower celebration on Facebook. Shishir posted several other photos of the celebration in the social media.

“Life has never been so meaningful and cheerful, until Allah decided to give us all the happiness in world by blessing us with the most merciful gift for us to receive in Sha Allah! Everyday is precious,” she wrote. Thousands of fans congratulated the couple on the revelation. Shakib, now with Shishir in the US, is scheduled to return in the first week of November to play the limited-over matches against Zimbabwe from Nov 7, according to a news agency--Aminul.

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Pakistan beat England by 178 runs in 2nd test

Pakistan took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series against England after winning by 178 runs in the second test. England was chasing a record target of 491 at Dubai International Stadium for an unlikely win but was bowled out for 312 with 6.3 overs to spare in the final session. “On a final day of a test match in a place like Dubai with the ball turning so much, two of our really good spinners are bowling, I thought they showed great character,” Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said. “Overall, I thought our spinners bowled really well, especially under pressure in the final session.” England counterpart Alastair Cook said the third morning was the one that cost his team after losing seven wickets for 36 runs to finish 136 behind at the end of the first innings. “Those two or three hours put us right on the back foot,” Cook said. “But the character we showed today - I think it is the longest Pakistan has ever bowled in the fourth innings. It was a good day for us but it was disappointing we didn’t quite get over the line.” England started the final day at 130-3 and was reduced to 193-7 when Ben Stokes was out in the 35th over of the day. That left Pakistan with what seemed like an easy task of taking the last three wickets with more than three hours remaining.  But Adil Rashid showed off his ability as a batsman after a forgettable match as a leg-spinner. His technique was immaculate on a pitch taking plenty of turn and he found able partners in Stuart Broad (30) and Mark Wood (29). Rashid made his maiden test 50 in a career that is only two matches old. However, he will rue the expansive cover drive he attempted off Yasir Shah that was caught by Zulfiqar Babar. He added 60 runs for the eighth wicket with Broad (30) and then 55 for the ninth wicket with Wood (29), which defied Pakistan for 29.2 overs, according to a news agency--Aminul.

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Wall Street loves Facebook

Facebook is well loved by Wall Street: its shares are up more than 150 per cent since it listed in 2012 and revenue is forecast to grow 38 per cent this year to $17.2bn.

Facebook Messenger will provide a new revenue stream when it begins to make money, most likely by using Messenger for Business to charge retailers to get back in contact with past customers with promotions or suggestions about products they might have run out of.

How Messenger makes money could provide an important role model for the other messaging service owned by Facebook. WhatsApp, bought last year for $22bn, is run independently by its founders Jan Koum and Brian Acton from an office in neighbouring Mountain View. (Agencies)

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Zuckerberg delivers 20-minute speech in Mandarin

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder and CEO, has delivered a 20-minute-long speech, entirely in Mandarin, to Tsinghua University in Beijing. The speech comes one year after he did a 30-minute Q&A, also at Tsinghua, where he sits on the board of the School of Economics and Management. Earlier reports said during a visit to the US, Chinese president Xi Jinping reportedly spent more time with Zuckerberg than he did with other top US CEOs, because the two talked in Chinese. Facebook last year leased office space in Beijing to establish an advertisement sales office and, possibly, to provide a headquarters for the “thousands” of developers it has there. Zuckerberg’s appointment to a board at Tsinghua suggests he is trusted by authorities. Many Weibo users said they were “moved” by his speech in Mandarin. -AMH

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The future car that will be fuelled by hydrogen

Mirai — meaning “future” in Japanese — is Toyota’s fuel-cell vehicle, a hybrid car powered by two tanks of high-pressure hydrogen and an electric motor. For the world’s biggest carmaker by sales, this is no mere movie tie-in project. It is Toyota’s next big visionary bet. It is run by hydrogen.

The hydrogen car represents a key moment for a company that may be making record profits but is still recovering its poise after a global recall over unintended acceleration.

The move echoes Toyota’s big bet two decades ago on petrol-electric hybrids. The company launched the Prius in 1997 and has now sold 8m vehicles worldwide, turning Toyota into a leading green-car company.

A futuristic, 4.9m-long saloon, the car has an aggressive, boxy shape and huge grilles that dominate its front end, offering an instant reminder that this is not your average runabout.

Toyota showed off special version of this car this week. (Agencies)

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Actress Maureen O'Hara die

Actress Maureen O’Hara, famed for her flaming red hair and her role in The Quiet Man, has died aged 95. Her family confirmed in a statement that she passed away peacefully in her sleep Saturday. Born in Ranelagh, Dublin in 1920, O’Hara was the eldest of six children in the FitzSimons family. The Abbey Theatre-trained actor became a naturalised US citizen in 1946 and held dual Irish-US citizenship. Her early films included My Irish Molly and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but it was for director John Ford’s The Quiet Man (1952), in which she starred opposite John Wayne, that she will be best remembered. She had, they added, remained a champion of the arts, aviation and all things Irish throughout her life and never lost her joy and wonder of these pursuits. O’Hara was inducted into the Irish America Hall of Fame at an event in Wexford in 2011. She was also awarded an honorary Oscar last year, according to news agencies.

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SRK Says Actors have to enjoy awkward situations

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan feels an actor has to deal with every kind of situation – even if it is an awkward, weird, strange or uncomfortable one – and show to others as if they are “enjoying” it. “Awkward weird strange uncomfortable. Actors have to do what they have to do and show they are enjoying it. That is the only explanation to start the day,” the 49-year-old, who is currently busy shooting for filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s “Dilwale”, posted on Twitter on Saturday.

“Dilwale”, which is slated to release on December 18, marks the return of Bollywood’s iconic onscreen couple Shah Rukh and Kajol after a hiatus of five years.

Apart from them, the film, whose trailer will release alongside superstar Salman Khan’s “Prem Ratan Dhan Payo” on November 12, also stars Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon, Boman Irani, Vinod Khanna and Johnny Lever.

The “Chennai Express” star also has films like “Fan” and “Raees” in his kitty.

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Amitabh Says Music is a complex world

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who has never shied away from showcasing his singing talent both on TV and films, feels that music has become a “complex world” as more and more electronic items are being used to create songs. The 73-year-old, who is currently hosting “Aaj Ki Raat Hai Zindagi”, can be seen singing in the beginning of every episode of the new show.

“It’s a complex world, music… it’s gaining knowledge of the electronics more than getting to hit the right notes, in this field…what could possibly go wrong is now being handled by computer intelligence and power…the singing is the least bothersome… with auto tuners around in abundance,” Amitabh posted on his blog. While sharing some of his photographs singing inside a recording room, the “Piku” actor wrote: “The songs of the past get a make over…they demand a price…a price of time and dedicated attention till the right notes are placed in conjunction with the orchestra and those that control the sounds which shall reach the openers of the #AajKiRaatHaiZindagi show.

“It is a labor of love and feeling…that to me is more than what the outcome of such endeavour shall be…one forgets the time, the hour the desires of normal existence, food water temperature…it’s just another world. ‘Music if it had not been in our lives, then life would have been a mistake’,” he added, according to a news agency.

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Tony Blair apologises for The Iraq War

Tony Blair has apologised for mistakes during the Iraq War - and said there were "elements of truth" to claims it caused the rise of Islamic State. The ex-PM said "those of us who removed Saddam" did bear some responsibility for the situation in Iraq today. But he again defended the invasion, saying it was "hard to apologise" for removing Saddam Hussein and that Iraq might have become like Syria otherwise. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was a "Blair spin operation". Blair's comments come shortly before Sir John Chilcot announces a timetable for completion of his inquiry into the war. The Mail on Sunday described the interview as an "astonishing" apology, but a spokesman for the former prime minister said there was nothing new in his words, according to BBC.

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Smartphone App helps Spina Bifida

A system incorporating a smartphone app can help adolescents and young adults with spina bifida, a disabling congenital condition affecting the spine, and improve their daily self-management skills, scientists say.

The "iMHere" (interactive Mobile Health & Rehabilitation) system features mobile reminders and messaging with healthcare providers and is feasible for use by young patients with spina bifida.

"This system holds promise for use in many diverse chronic care models to support and increase self-management skills," said Dr Brad E Dicianno of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

The randomised pilot study evaluated the iMHere system in 23 patients, aged 18 to 40, with spina bifida. The patients in the study had myelomeningocele - the most severe type of spina bifida.

One group of patients received the experimental iMHere system, which combined a suite of smartphone modules and a web-based portal for healthcare providers, linked by a two-way communication system.

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Bradley Cooper Says I Am “Never Having Sex” With Jennifer Lawrence

They have such an incredible on-screen chemistry together, but it seems Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence aren’t meant for each other in real life.

During his interview on “The Howard Stern Show” on Wednesday (October 21), the “American Sniper” stud told Stern that he’s glad they’ve kept things platonic.

Howard asked, “What is going on there? When are you two gonna have sex? Everyone is waiting for that.” Bradley laughed and emphatically declared, “Never. It just didn’t happen. It’s just not the way we are together.”

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Now scientists discover how proteins fold

A new discovery about protein structure sheds new light on how proteins fold, one of the most basic processes of life.

The findings, announced in Science Advances, will help scientists better understand some important changes that proteins undergo. Biochemists at Oregon State Univ. have made the discovery.

It had previously been thought to be impossible to characterise these changes, in part because the transitions are so incredibly small and fleeting.

The changes relate to how proteins convert from one observable shape to another—and they happen in less than one trillionth of a second, in molecules that are less than one millionth of an inch in size. Prior to this discovery no one had ever observed how they happen.

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Emission-free plane takes to skies in 2016

The plane, which is set to have its first flight in the summer of 2016 out of Stuttgart Airport, is an all-electric craft, powered by a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, according to Popular Science.

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells are an old idea, and were used on early space exploration missions, though they were later pulled because of weak power generation. The fuel cell runs on hydrogen and oxygen, and it produces water as a byproduct. Fuel cells have been powering experimental airplanes for a little while now, but the technique that would make them economical always seems to be five years away.

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45 media activists, journos get Meena Media Awards

Forty-five media activists and journalists have been awarded Meena Media Award-2015 by UNICEF for their outstanding contribution towards promoting children’s rights in print and electronic media. Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, UNICEF’s National Goodwill Ambassador Jewel Aich and Arifa Zaman Moushumi, and UNICEF Bangladesh Deputy Representative Louise Mvono handed over the 11th Meena Media Award to 45 media activists and journalists in a ceremony at a Dhaka hotel.on Tuesday, according to a news agency.

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UK : Combating terrorism threat requires shared response

The United Kingdom (UK) has expressed its willingness to work with Bangladesh to combat the threat of terrorism and extremism. The issue was discussed during a meeting between Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK Hugo Swire and Bangladesh High Commissioner in London M Abdul Hannan. “Combating the threat from terrorism and extremism requires a shared response - glad to discuss with the ‘Bangladesh HC,” the British Minister tweeted with a photo on Tuesday night after the meeting. The British Minister of State was scheduled to visit Dhaka on a three-day official visit in the first week of October. Though the visit was postponed amid security concern, both sides hoped that the visit will take place soon, according to a news agency.

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US embassy to remain closed on Thursday

The US Embassy in Dhaka, including the Consular Section, the American Center with the Archer K Blood American Center Library, and the Education USA Student Advising Center will be closed on Thursday in observance of Durga Puja.

But, emergency services for American citizens will be available, a US embassy press release said on Tuesday, a news agency report said.

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475 poachers identified at the Sundarbans

The Forest department has prepared a list of 475 suspected tiger and deer poachers in the Sundarbans as it planned to launch massive anti-poaching campaign mobilizing armed forces and law enforcement agencies, senior forest officials said on Tuesday.

"We have prepared a list of 475 tiger and deer poachers last week," Khulna West Division Forest Officer (DFO) Zahir Uddin Ahmed told BSS.

He added that the list was already sent to navy, coastguard, elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police seeking their assistance in carrying out the anti-poaching campaign.

"The combing operation is expected to be started in November to expose the poachers to justice," Ahmed said.

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Asian shares higher

Asian stock markets were mostly higher Wednesday as Japan's weak export figures boosted hopes for more central bank stimulus. Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 1.6 per cent to 18,501.69 and South Korea's Kospi was up 0.4 per cent at 2,046.61. China's Shanghai Composite Index added 0.4 per cent to 3,438.78 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.4 per cent to 5,256.00. Hong Kong's market was closed for a public holiday. Taiwan's benchmark fell while Southeast Asian stock markets rose. Benchmark US crude fell 25 cents to $46.04 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It gained 1 cent to $46.29 on Tuesday. Brent crude, used to price international oils, fell 15 cents to $48.56 a barrel in London. The dollar rose to 119.98 yen from 119.84 yen in the previous session. The euro rose to $1.1361 from $1.1352, according to AP.

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Sehwag calls it a day

Former Indian opening batsman Virender Sehwag has called it quit. Sehwag, the only Indian batsman ever to score a triple century in Test match, announced his international retirement on Tuesday. More than two years after last appearing for his country, Sehwag accepted that there would be no emotional comeback as he became the latest member of India's World Cup-winning team to call it a day.

However, Sehwag will continue to play first-class cricket for his state side Haryana in the domestic Ranji Tropy competition. After making his debut against South Africa in 2001, Sehwag became one of the most feared batsmen in world cricket, forming part of a formidable line-up that also included Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly. Sehwag is widely credited with transforming the role of opening batsman in Test cricket with a hard-hitting style that brought him a top score in Test

matches of 319, against South Africa in Chennai in 2008, according to a news agency.

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Actor Riaz out of danger

Actor Riaz Uddin Ahamed Siddique, hospitalised following complaints of chest pain, is out of danger. Known simply as Riaz in the Bangladesh film industry, he was rushed to Apollo Hospitals at Baridhara in Dhaka on Monday evening after he complained of acute chest discomfort. Lutfor Rahman Nirjhor, an acquaintance of the actor, tweeted today that Riaz’s condition had improved. He said that doctors detected four blockages in the Dhallywood actor’s heart. One of them had blocked an artery, he said.

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International flight safety seminar begins

A two-day international seminar on flight safety began at the Falcon Hall in Dhaka on Monday. Inaugurated by the Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Abu Esrar, BBP, NDC, ACSC, the seminar was organised jointly by the Bangladesh Air Force and Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh. "Such seminars would broaden our experience and enrich us to improve flight safety standards," Air Marshal Esrar said. He appreciated the organisers for arranging the event and hoped there will be many more such events in the days to come as safety techniques were being continuously updated and improved. He emphasised that flight safety was not only restricted to the Armed Forces but had wide application for civil aviation, too. Representatives, both military and civilian, from China, Sri Lanka, South Africa, France, Indonesia, Myanmar, USA, UK, Turkey, Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Philippines, Oman and Bangladesh were participating in the seminar, according to a news agency.

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Sensex extends gains

India's stock markets rose for a third consecutive session on Monday as Reliance Industries Ltd (RELI.NS) surged after posting a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit, while sentiment was supported after Chinese economic growth data eased fears of a hard landing. Reliance Industries jumped 5.6 per cent after saying on Friday that its July-September consolidated net profit rose more than expected. Investors were also comforted after China's economy grew slightly better than forecasts in the July-September quarter. The broader Nifty rose 0.45 per cent to end at 8,275.05, bringing its overall gain in the three sessions to Monday to 2.1 per cent. The benchmark BSE Sensex rose 0.55 per cent to end at 27,364.92. It has advanced 2.2 per cent since Thursday, according to Reuters.

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Saudi Arabia hajj disaster death toll at least 2,110

A new toll shows the crush and stampede that struck the hajj last month in Saudi Arabia killed at least 2,110 pilgrims. The count Monday by The Associated Press comes after Saudi officials said they held a meeting about the disaster late Sunday night. The official Saudi Press Agency reported that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdul Aziz, who is also the kingdom's interior minister, oversaw the meeting. Saudi Arabia's official tally from the Sept. 24 tragedy in Mina, a few miles from the holy city of Mecca, is 769 killed and 934 injured. Officials have not updated their casualty toll since Sept. 26, although an investigation into the causes of the tragedy is ongoing. The previous deadliest-ever incident at hajj was a 1990 stampede that killed 1,426 people, according to AP.

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Actor Riaz hospitalised

Popular film actor Riaz Uddin Ahmed Siddique, commonly known as Riaz, was admitted to Apollo Hospitals in the capital on Monday night following a heart attack. Riaz was taken to the hospital around 8:45pm as he suffered a cardiac arrest, duty manager of Apollo Hospitals Mafizul Islam told UNB over phone.

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Wall St edges up

US stocks ended up slightly on Monday as a rebound in biotech shares offset weak quarterly results and sliding oil prices. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 14.77 points, or 0.09 per cent, to 17,230.74, the S&P 500 gained 0.61 points, or 0.03 per cent, to 2,033.72 and the Nasdaq Composite added 18.78 points, or 0.38 per cent, to 4,905.47, according to Reuters.

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