A handout image released by the Syrian opposition’s Shaam News Network shows Syrians taking part in an anti-government demonstration in the city of Daraa, near the Syrian-Jordanian border on Thursday. — AFP photo

A file photo shows farmers processing harvested potatoes in a field in Munshiganj. Twelve commercial banks disbursed below 60 per cent of their annual target of agriculture loans in the first 11 months of the current financial year, according to Bangladesh Bank data. — New Age photo

Artistes of Wrishijo render songs at the programme. — New Age photo

Spanish forward Fernando Torres (top R) scores his first goal against Ireland during their Euro 2012 match at the PGE Arena stadium in Gdansk on Thursday. — Reuters photo

Locals take a Rohingya, shot at by the Myanmar forces in the strife-torn Rakhine state, to hospital at Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar on Friday after he crossed into Bangladesh along with fellow refugees. — Indrajit Ghosh

Veteran artist Masuma Khan conducts art workshop for children. — Snigdha Zaman

Brick kilns are seen on the bank of River Buriganga in the capital ignoring rules. The photo was taken on Friday. — New Age photo

A Myanmar’s ethnic Rohingya Muslim cries during a protest outside the Myanmar embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. — AFP photo

Spanish supporters cheer their team during their Euro 2012 match against Ireland at the PGE Arena in Gdansk on Thursday. — Reuters photo

Smoke rises from burning houses in Sittwe, capital of the western state of Rakhine on Friday. More than 30,000 people have been displaced by deadly sectarian clashes in western Myanmar. Related reports on page 1— AFP photo

European Central Bank president Mario Draghi, left, talks with Portugal’s finance minister Vitor Gaspar as they arrive for a finance conference in Frankfurt on Friday. — Reuters photo

Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic (C) scores past Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon (Top) during their Euro 2012 match at the Municipal Stadium in Poznan on Thursday. — AFP photo

Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo (L) scores from a free-kick against Croatia during their Euro 2012 at the city stadium in Poznan on Thursday. — Reuters photo

LATEST

MAIN NEWS

Power, fuel prices to go up from July

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission and energy division are likely to raise the prices of electricity and all types of fuel from the coming fiscal year, mainly to reduce the growing... Full story

BGB detains 18 as Rohingyas keep sailing in

At least 18 Rohingya people, who had fled the bloody sectarian violence in the Rakhine state of Myanmar and sneaked into Bangladesh, were detained by the Border Guards Bangladesh at Shahpari Dweep union of Teknaf upazila on Thursday night. Full story

Fear rules Bhabadah villages

Villagers of Abhaynagar and Manirampur in Jessore are now passing their days in anxiety after attacks on the Hindus and cases being filed against them in the wake of protests at a tidal river management programme planned for Bil Kapalia without consulting them. Full story

EC in no hurry to register new parties

The Election Commission appeared to be in no hurry to give registration to new political parties while some 30 of them have applied for registration to take part in the next general election. Full story

NATIONAL

Juba League to increase organisational capacity in next congress

The upcoming sixth national congress of the Awami Juba League, an associate body of the ruling Awami League, is expected to bring some important changes to its constitution. Top JL leaders told New Age that the... Full story

Mixed reaction to govt decision to restrict private tuition

METRO

Over 250 unlicensed boats ferry people in south

Over 250 trawlers and speedboats are carrying passengers illegally from Barisal to different river routes, posing threat to the life of hundreds of passengers every day. Devoid of any registration, fitness... Full story

Youth hacked to death in N’ganj

BUSINESS

12 banks reach below 60pc of target in 11 months

Twelve commercial banks disbursed below 60 per cent of their annual target of agriculture loans in the first 11 months of the current financial year. Bangladesh Bank officials told New Age on Thursday that they would take punitive action against the... Full story

Vegetables, fish prices continue to rise

INTERNATIONAL

Syrian peace plan falters, Russia warns against ‘plots’

Both rebels and forces loyal to president Bashar al-Assad are intensifying violence in Syria and striving for military gains rather than peaceful transition, the chief UN monitor in Syria said on Friday. Major-General Robert Mood’s comments came... Full story

Tibetan man self-immolates in China

SPORTS

Bangladesh open Zim tour with warm-up defeats

Batting remained a major concern for Bangladesh as they tasted back-to-back defeats in their Twenty20 warm-up matches against Zimbabwe Select XI at the Country Club ground in Harare on Friday. Ahead of the unofficial tri-series T20 tournament, a Bangladesh batting... Full story

‘La Roja’ back to their best

EDITORIAL

A welcome step

IT IS indeed encouraging that the government has decided to ask all... Full story

Streamlining housing businesses is a need of the hour

OP-ED

Obama’s robotic assassins

UNMANNED US aircraft now routinely fly over Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen. Their cameras record the presence of men in motion. A commander sitting in a base thousands of kilometres away gives the kill order. The US president had... Full story

Is it farce or loan?

TIMEOUT

Advent of monsoon celebrated

The music of rain and thunder, words praying to get rid off the heat of the sun and attires of soothing colours brought about the feeling of a splash of downpour as the cultural organisations welcomed the first day of the monsoon season through vibrant... Full story

Che Guevara remembered

LETTERS

Government mulls over boosting tourism

THIS was the headline, published in the last page of a local English-language daily on June 15. The meaning of ‘mull’ in Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary is: ‘to think carefully about something for a long time’. Full story