Budget: Ruling coalition fears repercussion

The ruling coalition led by Awami League today feared of repercussion due to the proposed hike in excise duty on bank accounts that will tax people’s savings.
In a press briefing arranged at Awami League’s Dhanmondi office, the coalition demanded revoking the hiked excise duty and that it is given “highest importance”.
It should be given the highest priority. Otherwise, the people’s dissatisfaction will create an adverse impact in the next general election, leaders of the coalition opined.
The alliance leaders termed the excise duty as illogical and said people will be discouraged keeping money in their bank accounts.
Mohammad Nasim, spokesperson of the 14-party alliance, said a discussion took place over the proposed budget in a meeting of the coalition members.

“I hope the finance minister would reconsider the issue of excise duty and uniform 15 percent VAT for the people’s welfare,” Nasim said after the meeting.
Star Online Report
The ruling coalition led by Awami League today feared of repercussion due to the proposed hike in excise duty on bank accounts that will tax people’s savings.
In a press briefing arranged at Awami League’s Dhanmondi office, the coalition demanded revoking the hiked excise duty and that it is given “highest importance”.
It should be given the highest priority. Otherwise, the people’s dissatisfaction will create an adverse impact in the next general election, leaders of the coalition opined.
The alliance leaders termed the excise duty as illogical and said people will be discouraged keeping money in their bank accounts.
Mohammad Nasim, spokesperson of the 14-party alliance, said a discussion took place over the proposed budget in a meeting of the coalition members.
“I hope the finance minister would reconsider the issue of excise duty and uniform 15 percent VAT for the people’s welfare,” Nasim said after the meeting.

Sports

Lyon's Ada Hegerberg (left) and Lyon's Eugenie Le Sommer celebrate with the trophy after the Women's Champions League Final soccer match at the Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on Thursday. yon\'s Ada Hegerberg (left) and Lyon\'s Eugenie Le Sommer celebrate with the trophy after the Women\'s Champions League Final soccer match at the Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on Thursday.

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How to get thicker eyebrows naturally

Over the last few years, big and bushy brows have become a rage. The latest brow trend has replaced skinny or pencil-thin brows, which was a big beauty trend in the 90's. Eyebrows define your face and thicker brows add a youthful touch to your face. If you're not blessed with a thicker pair of brows, you can always fill in the sparse areas or make them look thicker using brow gels. But if you're looking for something natural and long-lasting, then we've got the right tips for you.

Here are 4 ways to get thicker brows naturally:

. Don't pluck
First things first, don't over pluck your eyebrows. Excessive plucking and even waxing will prevent the hair from growing back. Eyebrows grow in 2-3 months cycle, so not tweezing for a few months can actually show a lot of difference.
2. Moisturise
Your brow area needs to stay hydrated and nourished. Use some petroleum jelly to lock the moisture. You can apply this 2-3 times a day to promote hair growth.
3. Oil massage
The way oil works for your hair, it will do the same for your eyebrows. You can use castor, olive or coconut oil to promote hair growth. Dip a cotton swab in oil and gently massage before you sleep.
4. Egg whites
Egg contains protein, which helps to promote hair growth and nourishes hair follicles. Beat white egg and apply this solution for 20 minutes.

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Worries there though Muhith assures

Finance Minister AMA Muhith denied that any of the tax hikes would affect the lives of the middle and lower middle class.
But, a simple analysis of his tax proposal should help clarify how much his assurance holds up.
From July 1 onward, anyone who wants to build a concrete home, either in rural or urban areas, will have to pay an extra flat 15 percent VAT on any purchases of rod and bricks.

urrently, one can buy a tonne of rod by paying Tk 900 as value added tax (VAT) and a VAT of Tk 0.22-Tk 0.32 per brick.  But in the coming months, individuals will have to pay nearly Tk 7,500 for each tonnne of rod as VAT at a price of Tk 50,000 per tonnne and more than Tk 1.0 as VAT for each piece of brick.

So if anyone wants to construct on 1,200 square feet (sft) now, using 23,000 bricks, 500 bags of cement and 5.5 tonnes of rod, they will have to pay an additional Tk 59,300 for brick and rod because of the imposition of the 15 percent VAT.
Additionally, one will be required to spend more than before to buy energy saving lamps and tube lights to light the house, pay more for furniture, plastics goods and

More than 200,000 children dying from diarrhoea each year

Diarrhoea is one of the world’s leading causes of child illness and death, and rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhoea.
Each year, rotavirus diarrhoea kills about 200,000 children in countries around the world and hospitalises hundreds of thousands more, despite the fact that safe, effective vaccines exist that can protect children from this disease.
Rotavirus is highly contagious, and every child is at risk. Infants and children under the age of 2 years face the greatest risk of infection. Rotavirus causes gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It primarily infects the small intestine, destroying the surface tissue and preventing the absorption of nutrients, causing diarrhoea.
Typical symptoms can range from mild, watery diarrhoea to severe diarrhoea with vomiting and fever.
While mild to moderate dehydration caused by rotavirus infections can be treated with oral rehydration therapy (ORT), children who develop severe dehydration often require intravenous fluids and hospitalisation. 2 out of every 5 diarrhoea-related hospitalisations among children under age 5 are caused by rotavirus. For those who survive, rotavirus infections can have a lasting impact.
It can take up to 2 months for the intestine to fully repair itself after a moderate to severe case of rotavirus. As the intestine repairs, children cannot absorb nutrients as well, which means that during crucial stages of development, they grow significantly less than children who have not been sick with rotavirus diarrhoea.
Children who suffer from an episode of moderate-to-severe diarrhoea — from infections like rotavirus — are weakened and malnourished. They are more susceptible to the next illness that strikes, and have a more than eight-fold increase in their risk of death from any cause in the 2-3 months following an episode of diarrhoea.

Top 5 destinations to chill out during the summer break

Aurvind Lama, co-founder and CEO, Travelyaari, an online bus booking platform, and Manheer Singh Sethi, co-founder, travel app Travkart, suggest where you can enjoy summer vacations:

* Kovalam Beach, Kerala: The beach is known for its shallow waters and low tides, which make it the perfect spot to take your children to splash around in the water while you soak in the sun and enjoy sea breeze.

* Puri, Odisha: Odisha has some of the most beautiful and cleanest beaches in India, a few of which are home to a massive influx of Olive Ridley sea turtles.
Two things make Puri a popular tourist destination — the Jagannath temple and the beaches. Chandipur and Gopalpur beaches are among the must-visit list when in Odisha.
* Dubai: Palm Beach, Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab and The World archipelago undoubtedly add to its luxuries. Opt for the four-night and five-day fly and stay trip to the highly sought-after travel destination.

Experience the unique blend of spectacle, tranquillity and adventure with an on-ground city tour in the morning, desert safari in the afternoon, and barbeque dinner under the stars while enjoying belly dance.

* Thailand: Thailand attracts close to 30 million tourists annually. Reason? Its sheer excellence and beauty. It is popular for its beach resorts, sumptuous royal palaces, ancient ruins, picturesque locations, party hubs, tropical cuisine, and soul soothing destinations.

* Sri Lanka: From the tranquil beaches in Bentota, the lush green hills and colonial heritage of Nuwara Eliya, to the historical monuments in Colombo, Sri Lanka has the most splendid offerings for visitors. Go for a wildlife safari at Yala National Park, where you may spot jungle cats, elephants, water buffaloes and the Sri Lankan sloth bear.

US spelling bee champs find success after sting of defeat

Three past winners of the Scripps National Spelling Bee say lo

sing was the secret to their success.

Early defeats spurred an inner competitive streak that they used to eventually seize the title, said champions from 1985, 1999 and 2010. The 2017 national spelling bee winner will be crowned on Thursday.

"Those were tough losses but they also made me dig deeper and work harder," said Balu Natarajan, 45, who flamed out on the national stage in 1983 and 1984. He won the next year at age 13 and is now a sports medicine doctor in Chicago.
Nupur Lala, 32, still remembers the word that tripped her up in 1998: commination, which ironically means the act of threatening divine vengeance. She took the title in 1999 at 14.
"It was one of the really healthy moments in my life. Any hubris that I had was eliminated at that point," said Lala, headed for a 2018 medical school degree with a focus in neurology after conducting research at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
For 2010 winner Anamika Veeramani, losing in front of a worldwide audience on live television in 2009 was a seminal lesson in handling life's challenges.
"In the spelling bee, you really learn how to deal with failure. And dealing with those things gracefully is really important to living a good life," said Veeramani, 21.
She graduated last week with a biology degree after just three years at Yale University and is applying to medical school. She envisions treating patients as well as launching a broadcast career covering medical stories.
Defeat has fanned the competitive fires within, all three past winners said in separate interviews.
"The competition is not with other spellers but with yourself," Lala told Reuters. "I don't think that besting other people is quite as motivating for me."
Natarajan, who is chief medical officer at Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care, the nation's largest privately owned hospice provider, agreed he has been his own fiercest rival.
"Some people love to win. Some people want to keep pushing to be their best. I am the latter," he said.
Natarajan won the title for correctly spelling 'milieu,' Lala for 'logorrhea' and Veeramani for 'stromuhr,' after their opponents had stumbled.
And how do the world's best spellers handle errors in emails, classroom lessons, or even romantic love letters? Do they point out corrections or suffer in silence?
"I don't hesitate," Natarajan said. "It drives me crazy."
But Lala and Veeramani hold their tongues.
"I don't want to be obnoxious. Nobody wants to be that kid," Veeramani said.
This week, 291 whizzes ages 6 to 15 will descend on a resort in the Washington area to compete in the 90th Scripps National Spelling Bee.
They have made the cut from more than 11 million contenders who faced off in spelling bees in all 50 US states, US territories from Puerto Rico to Guam, and several nations from Jamaica to Japan.
The victor on Thursday takes home a $40,000 cash prize. But second place also has its rewards: a $30,000 prize.
Natarajan, a married father of boys 8 and 11, said his elder child just missed competing in the national bee this year, coming in second in a countywide spelling competition. If losing really is the key to winning, that may be great news.