Author: dg47s

Israel has made an unexpected offer to the Lebanese government ahead of upcoming peace talks in Washington.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Wednesday called on Lebanon to work together with Israel against the armed group Hezbollah.

“Direct talks between Israel and Lebanon will begin tomorrow (Thursday) in Washington, D.C. I call on the Lebanese government to work together against the ‘terror state’ that Hezbollah has established on your soil,” he said in a speech to diplomats.

The Israeli foreign minister said this cooperation is needed more by Lebanon than by Israel. “It requires moral clarity and the courage to take risks,” he said. “But there is no real alternative to it to ensure your and our future peace.”

Israel and Lebanon have no formal diplomatic relations, but a US State Department official confirmed to the media that the two countries are set to hold talks in Washington on Thursday.

Israeli forces have continued their offensive in southern Lebanon despite a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel that began last Friday. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned last week that they would use “full force” if threatened.

They have been claiming that, under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel has the right to take action against “planned or imminent attacks”.

Also on Wednesday, the Israeli military said it had killed two people who “violated the ceasefire” in the Saluki area of ​​southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s state news agency (NNA) also reported that one person was killed and two others were wounded in an Israeli airstrike in the country’s Bekaa region.

The Israeli military has set a “yellow line” along the border with southern Lebanon, within which its troops operate. It said it had retaliated on Tuesday in response to Hezbollah rocket fire.

The only obstacle is Hezbollah:

In his speech, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar reiterated that Israel has no “serious disagreements” with Lebanon. “Unfortunately, Lebanon is a failed state, effectively controlled by Iran through Hezbollah. The only obstacle to peace and normalization of relations between our two countries is Hezbollah,” he said.

Israel launched massive airstrikes across Lebanon and a ground operation in the south of the country on March 2 after Hezbollah joined the war with the support of Iran.

Although a ceasefire began last Friday, both sides continue to accuse each other of violating the terms.

The first phase of voting in the assembly elections is underway in the Indian state of West Bengal after weeks of campaigning.

Voting began at 7 am local time on Thursday in a total of 152 constituencies in 16 districts and will continue until 6 pm.

The main contest in this year’s assembly elections is expected to be between the ruling Trinamool Congress in the state and the ruling BJP at the center of India, in what Indian media is calling a “desperate fight in the midst of a political storm” over the revision of the voter list.

The Election Commission has taken strict security measures for the elections. Many are calling this strictness a ‘war preparation’.

Voting for the assembly elections has begun in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, as well as West Bengal, on this day.

Anandabazar Patrika reported that voters started queuing outside various booths in 16 districts since morning. These districts are Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur and Malda in North Bengal; Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, Murshidabad, Paschim Burdwan and Birbhum in South Bengal. Voting is going on in 152 constituencies in these districts and the total number of voters is around 3.6 million.

Panama has strongly condemned the seizure of one of its ships by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. The country’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Italian-owned MSC Francesca, which was flying the Panamanian flag, was seized by Iran while passing through the Strait of Hormuz and forcibly taken into its territorial waters.
Iran’s IRGC seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz last Wednesday (April 22). Photo: Collected
Iran’s IRGC seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz last Wednesday (April 22). Photo: Collected
International Desk

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The ministry also said Iran’s move “poses a serious threat to maritime security” and “creates unnecessary tension” at a time when the international community wants the Strait of Hormuz to remain open to international shipping without any threats or pressure.

Meanwhile, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said a Greek-owned cargo ship had been attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, but added that it was “unclear” whether the ship had been seized by Iranian forces.

“It was a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned ship and it was trying to exit the Strait of Hormuz,” Gerapetritis told CNN on Wednesday, adding, “We have issued a general notice to all Greek-owned ships to be extremely cautious, to exercise maximum restraint and to refrain from transiting the strait.”

Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced that three ships had been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, including the Greek-flagged Epaminondas, which suffered ‘serious damage’.

Read more: Three cargo ships shot at in Hormuz, two seized

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement that it had seized two ships, the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas, the first of which is owned by the Israeli government.

The statement said, “The two ships were operating without authorization, repeatedly violating regulations, interfering with navigational aids, and endangering maritime safety by attempting to secretly exit the strait.”

According to the statement, “For this reason, the ships were identified and stopped in order to uphold the rights of the great Iranian nation in the Strait of Hormuz, based on the intelligence capabilities of the force, and were transferred to Iranian territorial waters “for inspection of their cargo, documents and records.”

Read more: Extending ceasefire ‘a strategy to buy time for a surprise attack’: Iran

The IRGC Navy warned that any attempt to obstruct the implementation of the law announced by Iran for passage through the Strait of Hormuz or any activity contrary to the safe passage of this strategic waterway will be continuously monitored and strict and legal measures will be taken against violators.

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In a phone interview on Wednesday (April 22) local time, Trump said he was “in no rush” to end the conflict and wanted a “good deal.”

On the same day, White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt said, “Negotiations are continuing. Trump has made it very clear to Iran about the final limits. In particular, the transfer of Iran’s enriched uranium to the United States has been kept as one of the main conditions.”

Levitt added that Washington is waiting for Tehran’s response. Iran has not yet been able to send a unified message, which is why the president has decided to extend the ceasefire.

Read more: Will Iran cut off the internet in the Middle East this time?

Meanwhile, the United States has told Israel that the ongoing ceasefire with Iran will end next Sunday. Israel’s state broadcaster Kan (KAN) reported that Washington has sent a message to Tel Aviv that the deadline set by US President Donald Trump for Tehran is only days away.

The report said Trump is seeking to reach a definitive agreement with Tehran rather than open-ended negotiations.

Iranian officials, on the other hand, have blamed the United States for the stalemate in peace talks and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran will never bow to Washington’s “bullying.”

Read more: It will take six months to remove mines in Hormuz: Pentagon

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that it is not possible to open the Strait of Hormuz amid the US naval blockade. The Zionists’ belligerent attitude and blatant ceasefire violations have made it “impossible” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

In an X-post on Wednesday (April 22), Bagher Ghalibaf said that a full ceasefire would only be meaningful if it was not violated by the maritime blockade and the hostage-taking of the global economy, and if Zionist warfare was stopped in all areas; it is impossible to reopen the Strait of Hormuz through such a blatant violation of the ceasefire.

He added, “They could not achieve their goals through military aggression and will not achieve them now through intimidation. The only way forward is to recognize the rights of the Iranian people.”

Five people died of dengue from 8 am on Saturday to 8 am on Sunday (in one day). During this period, 387 people were admitted to hospitals due to dengue.
The Department of Health has reported that 5 people have died of dengue in the last 24 hours. File photo
The Department of Health has reported that 5 people have died of dengue in the last 24 hours. File photo
Staff Correspondent

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With this, the number of dengue deaths this year has increased to 409. One lakh 477 people have been admitted to the hospital due to infection.

This information was given in a dengue-related press release sent from the Health Emergency Operation Center and Control Room of the Directorate General of Health Services on Sunday (December 14).

The notification said that of the five people who died of dengue in the last 24 hours, two were residents of Barisal division, two of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and one of Dhaka North City Corporation (DSCC).

Read more: Dengue control possible through collective efforts: North City Administrator

Earlier, the Health Department did not report any deaths on Saturday (December 13). A day later, it reported 5 more deaths. And the latest death toll from dengue in 2024 was 575.

The outbreak of Aedes mosquito-borne dengue fever in the country is not stopping. News of deaths due to dengue fever is coming every day. Hundreds of dengue patients are being admitted to hospitals every day. Two people have died of dengue fever across the country in the last 24 hours. During this time, 194 dengue patients have been admitted to hospitals.
File photo
File photo
Health Desk

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This information was given in a regular press release on dengue sent from the Health Emergency Operation Center and Control Room of the Directorate General of Health Services on Sunday (December 21).

In 2024, a total of 101,214 people were infected with dengue in the country and 575 died. The previous year, in 2023, a maximum of 1,705 people died of dengue and 321,179 people were hospitalized after being infected.

Many people eat the seeds while eating watermelon. But there is nothing to fear. Eating watermelon seeds is beneficial for health. It contains protein, healthy fats, fiber, iron, magnesium, zinc and antioxidants.
See what happens to the body when you eat watermelon seeds. Photo: Collected
See what happens to the body when you eat watermelon seeds. Photo: Collected
Health Desk

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Check out the benefits of eating watermelon seeds-

1. Good for the heart – The magnesium in it helps control blood pressure and keeps the heart healthy.
2. Improves digestion – Due to the presence of fiber, it aids the digestive process and relieves constipation.
3. Beneficial for skin and hair – The antioxidants and proteins in it keep the skin glowing and promote hair growth.

Read more: Drinking sugarcane juice in the scorching heat? See 5 precautions

4. Strengthens the immune system – The zinc present in it increases immunity.
5. Helps with weight control – It can help with weight loss as it is low in calories and high in protein.
6. Helps in controlling diabetes – It can increase insulin sensitivity, which keeps blood sugar levels under control.

Read more: What happens to the body if you eat pineapple in the evening?

How to eat?

1. Can be chewed and eaten raw.
2. Can be dried and fried, which is good as a snack.
3. Can be mixed with smoothies or salads.

However, eating too much can cause stomach problems or allergies, so it is best to eat in moderation.

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