The number of births in China fell last year even though the world's most populous country has relaxed its one-child policy to allow all couples to have two children.

The United States are set to overtake Saudi Arabia as the world's number two oil producer after Russia this year, as shale companies, attracted by rising prices, ramp up drilling, the International Energy Agency said yesterday.

A mugger stabbed a college student to death at Bolashpur of Mymensingh town on Thursday night.

Four more people, including three women, who had suffered burn injuries while warming themselves by the fire during the recent cold spell, died at Rangpur Medical College Hospital yesterday.

An elderly man died after being assaulted by his neighbours yesterday for protesting against loud music on the rooftop of their apartment, police and family sources said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin along with millions of Orthodox believers braved freezing temperatures to take a barechested plunge into icy water in a traditional ritual marking the baptism of Jesus.

A culture of impunity and delay in trials for attacks on religious and ethnic minority people were behind the rise in such incidents, eminent rights activist Sultana Kamal said yesterday.

Donald Trump came to office threatening to tear up trade deals, extort payment from US military allies, end the Iran nuclear accord and build a wall on America's southern border.

This year the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela will be bigger in terms of participation of publishing houses, say the fair organisers.

Prayers and sermons marked the first day of Biswa Ijtema, one of the largest congregations of the Muslims, as it began on the Turag in Tongi yesterday morning.

The government's inaction over the High Court's stay order on the Dhaka North City Corporation mayoral by-polls has exposed that it has a role in "foiling" the scheduled election, the BNP has alleged.

War crimes trial campaigners yesterday reiterated their demand that the government ban Jamaat-e-Islami for its anti-liberation role during the Liberation War.

Woody Allen faced widening isolation yesterday over allegations that he molested his daughter more than 25 years ago, after Colin Firth joined the list of actors saying he would not work with the director again.

Small electrical appliances such as microwave ovens, kettles and hair dryers harm the environment in a dozen different ways, and consumers can do far more to reduce the impacts, researchers said Thursday.

Detectives arrested three people at the capital on Wednesday for posing as police and stealing money.

A marriage registrar, the groom and guardians of both the bride and the groom were fined yesterday during the marriage ceremony of a 13-year-old girl in Nabinagar of Brahmanbaria yesterday.

Cuts in food rations for 1.5 million refugees in east Africa, due to funding shortages, could increase school dropouts, crime and malnutrition, a United Nations official said on Wednesday.

A black-banded trinket, a species of rat snakes, was found near Lawacherra National Forest in Moulvibazar. A stunningly beautiful creature, this was the first time it was discovered alive in the country.

The second phase of 53rd Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of the Muslims after Hajj, will begin on the Turag in Tongi after Fazr prayers today.

More than 100 Rohingya Muslims have crossed into Bangladesh from Myanmar since Wednesday, with the latest refugees saying army operations are continuing in troubled Rakhine State, raising doubts about plans to send back 655,500 who had already fled.