Our Correspondent     
Chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed Monday said that it was not yet time for complete withdrawal of the state of emergency.
 
"The local elections are being held by relaxing the state of emergency. The next decision will be taken after evaluating it," the CA said at a press conference after a cabinet meeting in Sylhet Monday.

Staff Correspondent
The Election Commission plans to hold elections to 300 Upazila Parishads on October 23.
 
"We are thinking of holding the elections on Oct 23, but it's not a formal announcement of schedule," chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda told this correspodnent Monday night by phone.

Chelsea left for their pre-season tour of China and Malaysia on Sunday without striker Didier Drogba, BBC Sport reports.

Drogba, 30, who has been linked with a transfer away from Chelsea, requires further treatment on a knee injury, according to Chelsea's website.

A statement from Chelsea said: "Didier Drogba will not be travelling as he continues his rehabilitation from a knee injury at the Cobham training ground."

AFP, MADRID - Spain's new coach Vicente del Bosque insisted Sunday that the door is not closed on out-of-favour international Raul.

Lord Sebastian Coe has said he has spoken to Sir Alex Ferguson about him taking charge of a Great Britain football team at the London Olympics, reports BBC

Milan reject Blues bid, Kaka claims duo chasing him

Sky Sports

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has confirmed that the club have rejected a massive offer from Chelsea for Kaka.

BBC Sport

Arsene Wenger has said he is "certain" he will sign at least one more player before the start of the season.

The death of Mashiul Alam Sentu, a prominent Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader in a shootout with RAB members on Wednesday has once again brought the issue of extra-judicial killings to the fore. He is the latest addition to the long list of people who have lost their lives in similar fashion. Bangladeshi brand of miscreants, criminals and terrorists must be rank amateurs.

REUTERS, LOS ANGELES- The video game industry looks set for at least another year or two of strong growth, driven by geographical expansion, a strong hardware lineup and growing pool of casual gamers, industry executives said.

REUTERS, BOSTON - IBM and other technology companies whose products help big corporations save money or expand data storage capacity are faring better than those relying on consumers as the economy slows.

AFP, FRANKFURT  - The European Central Bank is trying to convince people in the eurozone that taking a tough stand on inflation will get them through lean economic times, arguing that long-term gains warrant short-term pain.

AP, BOGOTA, Colombia  -- The presidents of Brazil and Colombia vowed Saturday to boost trade and investment between their nations ahead of crucial world trade talks next week.

Barack Obama, the US Democratic presidential candidate, has met the president of Afghanistan on the second day of his tour of the country, report agencies.

REUTERS, COLOMBO - Sri Lankan troops have captured a strategically important Tamil Tiger camp on the islands western coast, the military said on Sunday, as government forces continue their push against the rebels' northern stronghold.

REUTERS, GENEVA- Major powers gave Iran two weeks to answer calls to rein in its nuclear programme on Saturday or face tougher sanctions after talks ended in stalemate despite unprecedented U.S. participation.

Reuters, Peshawar, Pakistan- Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld may not have been shy about projecting US military power, but even he didn't dare send American troops into Pakistan's tribal lands to snatch or kill al Qaeda leaders.

REUTERS, KHARTOUM - Darfur's new chief mediator Djibril Bassole made his first visit to Sudan on Sunday as he begins his uphill task of reigniting a stalled peace process.

REUTERS, BAGHDAD- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki flies to Europe this week to meet leaders in Germany and Italy, woo businessmen and hold talks with Pope Benedict.

Plans to withdraw troops

Desk Report

Gordon Brown prepared the ground for a historic realignment in the "war on terror" yesterday by setting out a four-point plan for withdrawal of British troops from Iraq by the end of next year.

Internet

At a time of drought, skyrocketing food prices, crippling inflation and intensifying street fighting, many of the aid workers upon whom millions of Somalis depend for survival are fleeing their posts - or in some cases the country.