EU countries have agreed to grant Bosnia candidate status to join the union, putting the Balkan nation at the start of a long road to membership. Russia’s war on Ukraine has breathed fresh life into the European Union’s willingness to consider letting in more of its eastern neighbours after years at a standstill. The EU is concerned that other powers, such as Russia or China, might spread their influence into the Balkans if countries hopeful of joining the bloc are thwarted. During a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, European affairs ministers from the 27 member states gave the green light to…
Author: National Tone
The Jamaat-e-Islami party is supporting the opposition’s protests demanding PM Sheikh Hasina’s resignation.The leader of Jamaat-e-Islami (Bangladesh Islamic Assembly), Bangladesh’s largest Muslim party, has been arrested days after he announced the party would join opposition-led protests demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “Shafiqur Rahman was arrested from his residence at around 1 am on 13th December [19:00 GMT, December 12],” a statement from the party’s acting secretary general, Maulana ATM Masum, said on Tuesday. “We are vehemently condemning and protesting his arrest,” Masum said, calling the authorities for his immediate and unconditional release. For years, Jamaat, the country’s…
With a ‘major breakthrough’ announcement expected, nuclear fusion harnesses the power of the stars with unlimited clean energy and no dangerous waste.The US Department of Energy is planning an announcement about a “major scientific breakthrough” at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory – one of several sites worldwide where researchers are trying to develop the possibility of harnessing energy from nuclear fusion. The announcement expected on Tuesday has the scientific community abuzz as nuclear fusion is considered by some to be the energy of the future, particularly as it produces no greenhouse gases, leaves little waste, and has no risk of…
Indian troops prevented Chinese counterparts from entering Indian territory during a border scuffle last week, defence minister Rajnath Singh tells parliament.India has accused China of trying to “unilaterally change the status quo” on their disputed Himalayan border after clashes last week in the Tawang sector of India’s northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. “On 09 December 2022, PLA troops attempted to unilaterally change the status quo by encroaching on the Line of Actual Control, in the Yangtse area of Tawang Sector,” India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh told parliament on Tuesday, referring to China’s People’s Liberation Army and the de facto border.…
The WBA has officially ordered heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk to defend his ‘super’ title against mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois.Usyk currently holds the WBA ‘super’, WBO and IBF belts following back-to-back victories over Anthony Joshua, while Dubois recently retained his WBA ‘regular’ crown with a third-round stoppage win over Kevin Lerena earlier this month despite hitting the canvas three times. The order serves to recognise Dubois as the next in line for a mandatory title shot in the typical rotation for unified champions, however feels unlikely to scupper plans for Usyk’s prospective undisputed world title fight against Tyson Fury given…
An emotional Argentina face a tenacious Croatia who have shown no regard for narrative.Where: Lusail StadiumWhen: December 13, 10pm (19:00 GMT)Head-to-head: Argentina wins: 2, Croatia wins: 2, Draw: 1 Road to the semis: Argentina Lost Argentina 2-1 vs Saudi Arabia Beat Mexico 2-0 Beat Poland 2-0 Beat Australia 2-1 Beat Netherlands 3-2 on penalties Croatia Drew 0-0 with Morocco Beat Canada 4-1 Drew 0-0 with Belgium Beat Japan 3-1 on penalties Beat Brazil 4-2 on penalties Argentina face Croatia in a World Cup semifinal that pits South American flair against the guile of Luka Modric and a remarkable fighting spirit.…
Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the collapsed FTX cryptocurrency exchange, has been arrested in The Bahamas after being criminally charged by prosecutors in the United States. The 30-year-old was taken into custody in the Caribbean nation after US prosecutors notified them they had filed charges and planned to seek his extradition, the Office of the Attorney General of the Bahamas said in a statement on Monday. The US has not elaborated on the nature of the charges. FTX filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US last month. Here is a history of FTX since it was set up…
While no ceasefire was reached, the two sides agree to provide ’emergency care’ in violence-hit regions starting next month.The Colombian government has concluded a first round of peace talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group, part of an effort to end six decades of armed violence that has roiled the South American nation. In a joint statement on Monday, representatives for Bogota and the ELN said that the discussions – held in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas – “ended successfully” and served as “a beacon of hope in a world mired in … war and destructive tension”. While a…
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Vegas Golden Knights leading scorer Jack Eichel was placed on injured reserve because of a lower-body injury, the club confirmed Monday. The designation means Eichel must miss at least seven days dating back to when he couldn’t physically play. Defenceman Zach Whitecould went out Sunday with a lower-body injury, and on Monday was placed on long-term IR, according to the website CapFriendly. The Knights have not confirmed that designation, which would mean Whitecloud would miss at least 10 games and 24 days. The Knights announced on Twitter they recalled Jonas Rondbjerg, Brayden Pachal and Kaedan Korczak…
The US border city of El Paso, Texas, has said an estimated 5,105 asylum seekers are in custody as of Monday, after a wave of people crossed the Rio Grande River over the weekend. Data compiled by El Paso showed that agents for the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) documented 2,399 encounters in the area over the last 24 hours alone, including 892 people released into the community, where shelters and non-profits are stretched to capacity. On its website, El Paso said the majority of the refugees and migrants are arriving from countries such as Venezuela, Ecuador, El…