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Shakrain: Kites and tastes of Old Dhaka
DHAKA, Bangladesh (Daily Star/ANN) — Every year, on the evening of Jan. 14, a walk around the streets of Old Dhaka would reveal an unfamiliar vibe in the familiar streets as Dhakaites prepare to celebrate Shakrain. Along with the lively chatter on the streets, rooftops become active, and the sky turns into a battleground for aerial kite fights. Marking the end of Poush on the Bengali calendar, "Poush Sankranti," as it is known, is not just about outward celebrations. As kites soar high in the ai
May 1, 2025 -
Bhutanese community’s traditional paper craft faces market decline
DOROKHA, Bhutan (Kuensel/ANN) — A desho paper production center in Jigme village, Dophuchen gewog, run by the Lhop community, is facing challenges in maintaining operations due to a sustained decline in demand. Started in 2003 with the Tarayana Foundation's help, the paper-making was successful at first. Then, the villagers took over. The center used to produce over 2,000 sheets of paper every month. They sold these in Thimphu, Paro, and Samtse. However, now they make and sell much less. "Desho
May 1, 2025 -
Disgraced Cardinal Becciu formally withdraws from participation in conclave to elect pope
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Italian cardinal at the heart of the Vatican's "trial of the century" announced Tuesday he was withdrawing from participating in the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope for "the good of the church," ending days of drama that had overshadowed the proceedings. Cardinal Angelo Becciu' s status has dominated discussions in the days after Pope Francis' death amid questions about whether he would participate in the conclave to elect Francis' successor or not. After his 2020 d
April 30, 2025 -
Vietnam marks 50 years since war's end and focuses on reconciliation during a period of new tensions
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam on Wednesday marked the 50th anniversary of the end of the war with the United States and the formation of the modern nation through the merger of North and South Vietnam. Thousands had flocked to Ho Chi Minh City — once known as Saigon — to witness the military parade near the Independence Palace, where the war ended when a North Vietnamese tank smashed through its gates. The celebrations — performances by artists, speeches by leaders and former soldiers
April 30, 2025 -
At least 10 dead in Syria after sectarian clashes in Druze suburb of Damascus
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — At least 10 people were killed on Tuesday after clashes broke out in a suburb of the Syrian capital between local gunmen belonging to the minority Druze sect and pro-government fighters, a war monitor and an activist group said. Syrian Druze gunmen have clashed in recent weeks with government security forces and pro-government gunmen in the southern Damascus suburb of Jaramana. Late Tuesday, government representatives and Jaramana dignitaries reached an agreement to end th
April 30, 2025 -
US states sue to block Trump from dismantling AmeriCorps
Democratic-led US states filed a lawsuit on Tuesday alleging the Trump administration had effectively dismantled AmeriCorps by abruptly canceling grants and cutting 85 percent of the workforce of the federal agency for national service and volunteering. In a lawsuit filed in federal court in Baltimore, 24 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia argue that Republican President Donald Trump does not have the authority under the US Constitution to gut AmeriCorps, which was created by Con
April 30, 2025 -
Florida poised to become 2nd US state to ban fluoride from public water systems
Florida is poised to become the second state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, over the concerns of dentists and public health advocates who say the mineral is a safe, effective way to protect people of all ages from developing cavities. Florida lawmakers gave final approval to the bill Tuesday after Utah became the first state to pass a ban last month. The Republican-led states are following a push led by US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is setting the gears of government
April 30, 2025 -
China lashes out at US as tensions escalate over observatory in Chile
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — China struck a defiant stance on Tuesday in response to American concerns about Beijing's efforts to expand its influence in the resource-rich South American nation of Chile, escalating tensions over a Chinese astronomical venture in Chile’s arid north. At a press conference Tuesday in Chile's capital of Santiago, China's ambassador to Chile, Niu Qingbao, lambasted the United States for “interfering in Chile’s sovereign right to independently choose its partners” and sprea
April 30, 2025 -
Trump marks his first 100 days in office in campaign mode, focused on grudges and grievances
United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday celebrated the 100th day of his second term — yet spent much of his rally marking it in campaign mode, fixated on past grudges and grievances. He repeatedly mocked his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, attacking his mental acuity and even how he appears in a bathing suit. He again uttered the lie that he won the 2020 presidential election. And he attacked polling and news coverage not favorable to him. And Trump again and again returned to immigra
April 30, 2025 -
Trump celebrates the Super Bowl champ Eagles at White House, but star QB Jalen Hurts skips ceremony
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump feted the 2025 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles at the White House on Monday, but several players, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, decided to skip the celebration. Hurts and other players cited scheduling conflicts as the reasons for their absences, according to a White House official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Still, Trump called Hurts a "terrific guy and terrific player" who turned in "one s
April 29, 2025 -
Pakistan defense minister says military incursion by India is imminent
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -- Pakistan's defense minister said on Monday a military incursion by neighboring India was imminent in the aftermath of a deadly militant attack on tourists in Kashmir last week, as tensions rise between the two nuclear-armed nations. The attack killed 26 people and triggered outrage in Hindu-majority India, along with calls for action against Muslim-majority Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan of backing militancy in Kashmir, a region both claim and have fought two wars over.
April 29, 2025 -
Iran proposes meeting with Europeans before next talks with US, diplomats say
Iran has proposed meeting the European parties to a 2015 nuclear deal possibly in Rome this Friday if talks resume with the United States, four diplomats said on Monday, cautioning that there has yet to be a response from the Europeans to the idea. Iran is looking to build on the momentum of nuclear negotiations with the United States that resumed in Oman on Saturday and after talks with Russia and China. Omani officials have said a new round of US-Iran talks could be held on May 3 in Europe. No
April 29, 2025 -
Amazon launches its first internet satellites to compete against SpaceX's Starlinks
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) — Amazon's first batch of internet satellites rocketed into orbit Monday, the latest entry in the mega constellation market currently dominated by SpaceX's thousands of Starlinks. The United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket carried up 27 of Amazon's Project Kuiper satellites, named after the frigid fringes of our solar system beyond Neptune. Once released in orbit, the satellites will eventually reach an altitude of nearly 630 kilometers. Two test satellites were lau
April 29, 2025 -
Trump targets US 'sanctuary cities' in migrant crackdown
WASHINGTON (AFP) -- Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday to crack down on "sanctuary cities" that defy his hardline immigration policies, as the US president closes in on his first 100 days back in office. The Republican has claimed major progress in honoring his election campaign promises to stem illegal border crossings from Mexico, which soared to all-time highs under his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden. The order directs officials to publish within 30 days a list of states and loca
April 29, 2025 -
US probes Harvard and its law review for 'race-based discrimination'
BOSTON (Reuters) -- United States President Donald Trump's administration on Monday said it was probing whether Harvard University and the Harvard Law Review violated civil rights laws when the journal's editors fast-tracked consideration of an article written by a member of a racial minority. News of the new probe came hours after a federal judge agreed to expedite Harvard University's lawsuit seeking to block the Trump administration from freezing $2.3 billion in federal grant funding that the
April 29, 2025