Nick Kyrgios expects to return to the tennis court next week after the Australian missed virtually the entire 2023 season with injury. The former Wimbledon finalist has played just one ATP Tour match since late 2022 after suffering wrist and knee injuries. However, the 28-year-old told the Australian Open Show podcast he will soon be practising again, having previously hinted his tennis career could be over. "I'm hitting for the first time next week, so as soon as I get back out on court, I guess it's just going to be starting up, getting that load back through my wrist and my body," he said. Kyrgios, who lost the 2022 Wimbledon final to Novak Djokovic, didn't give a date when he will be back playing on the ATP Tour. "I'm going to take my time, come back and just enjoy being back out there," he said. Kyrgios, who once reached a career-high 13 in the world, called it "one of the hardest years of my life, tennis-wise". "Everything else has been amazing, I can't complain about anything else," he said. "But tennis-wise I've had some really hard conversations with myself, if I want to keep doing this.   Source: BSS "So I know there's still fire in the belly, which is good, it's healthy."

The UN's nuclear watchdog has lamented a lack of access for inspectors in Iran and also noted continued uranium enrichment in a quarterly report. Recent public comments from Tehran were not reassuring either, it said. Iran is continuing to enrich and stockpile uranium, some of it to levels close to what would be needed to make nuclear weapons, a confidential report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Monday.  The IAEA report said that Iran had both increased the size of its overall uranium stockpile, and also accelerated production of 60% enriched uranium in the previous quarter.  The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran's total uranium stockpile, enriched to any level, stood at an estimated 5,525.5 kg as of February 10. That is 1,038.7 kg more than what the UN nuclear agency accounted for the last time it released a report in November. It's also 27 times the limit once agreed with Iran in a 2015 international deal that the US broke under President Donald Trump and which has not been revived since. The country also produced some 25 kilograms of uranium with a purity of 60% between the end of October and February 25, according to the UN's nuclear watchdog. However, its stockpile of highly enriched uranium shrank during the same time period, because some of that highly enriched material had been mixed with lower grade uranium again and diluted. Typical nuclear bombs would require uranium enriched to 80% or more likely 90% purity although with enough material, more impure uranium can in theory be used. Most nuclear power plant reactors require uranium enriched only to 3.67%.  Public statements on nuclear capabilities 'only increase the ... concerns' The IAEA noted recent comments from Iran praising its nuclear production facilities and announcing that more would be built.  "Public statements made in Iran regarding its technical capabilities to produce nuclear weapons only increase the Director General's concerns about the correctness and completeness of Iran's safeguards declarations," IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi was quoted as saying in the report. Iran, which asserts that its nuclear program is for civilian and research purposes only, has in recent years taken several steps seemingly designed to limit IAEA oversight of its activities, including deactivating surveillance devices on site and barring certain IAEA inspectors.  International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said he deepy regretted that Iran had yet to reverse its decision to withdraw the "designations for some inspectors, which is essential" to monitoring Iran's nuclear stockpile. He called on Tehran to "cooperate fully and unambiguously with the agency," saying: "Only through constructive and meaningful engagement can these concerns be addressed."  Iran said last week that it had invited Grossi to visit the country for an international conference on energy in May of this year.  

Asian Development Bank’s Country Director Edimon Ginting says Sheikh Hasina's return as prime minister is urgent for the future of Bangladesh. "For the good future of Bangladesh, her (Sheikh Hasina) return was very much needed," PM's deputy press secretary K M Shakhawat Moon told reporters, quoting Ginting, on Wednesday (Jan 17). The meeting was held at the PM's official Ganabhaban residence.   Shakhawat said the ADB country director congratulated the Prime Minister on her re-election for the fourth consecutive term. "ADB is very happy," Ginting told her, adding, "We are always ready to work with Bangladesh.”   He expressed interest in the energy sector and climate change issues.   The PM mentioned that ADB's continuous support is a must for Bangladesh and thanked the agency for continuously supporting Bangladesh in its development endeavours and undertaking value-adding projects in its prioritised sectors. She also thanked the ADB for reaching its commitment to the highest amount of $3.6 billion in the last year, according to state news agency.   Presently, ADB is funding 61 projects in seven major sectors of Bangladesh economy: Transport, Water and Urban Infrastructure and Services, Energy, Human and Social Development, Agriculture, Food, Natural and Rural Development, Finance, Public Sector Management and Governance.   Hasina requested that the ADB undertake projects catering to the needs of the graduation challenges of the Bangladeshi economy, where improvement of logistics infrastructure and service delivery should be the utmost priority.   She said that given the climate vulnerabilities and climate emergencies, Bangladesh expects to have a larger share of ADB's climate finances. The premier requested the ADB scale up its grant and concessional climate finances for Bangladesh to develop a pipeline of high-quality climate projects and programmes to support climate outcomes in alignment with its national aspirations, manifested in "Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan 2022-2041", "National Adaptation Plan" and "Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100".   She thanked ADB for its recent approval of $400 million.   Sheikh Hasina informed the ADB that there are a number of budget supports in the pipeline for FY 2023-24 and 2024-25 on which the ADB may start discussions earlier to ensure their approval within the stipulated timeframe.   She expected that ADB would continue to finance Bangladesh's priority sectors to help the country maintain its growth momentum and carry out the future vision of a 'Smart Bangladesh'.   "ADB will continue to finance projects in its prioritised sectors," Sheikh Hasina said.

Vision 2021, a voluntary organisation, arranges a graffiti painting-based activity with child artists throughout Dhaka city every year in an attempt to spread the spirit of the Liberation War of 1971 and the country's history amongst the up-and-coming generation. The innovative activity, fostered and curated by former Cultural Affairs Minister and eminent cultural personality, Asaduzzaman Noor has commenced recently with hundreds of child artists painting the roadside walls of Dhaka city. The cultural icon said, "Through this initiative, we are trying to foster the innate creativity of these children. I think graffiti art is crucial to a  creative cultural development and I hope people from all walks will appreciate the good work these children have been putting into their artworks." The programme titled, "Rangao Tomar Shohor" (paint your city) commences every year after the final term school exam of these child artists and continues for the following two months. The 52th year of independence is the theme of the art programme. Through graffiti school-going artists are painting their respective interpretations of the War of Independence, their country, history, flag, and other patriotic acts.

Minnie Chan has reportedly been out of contact since travelling to Xiangshan Forum a month ago. Friends and colleagues of a Hong Kong journalist have raised concerns after she failed to return from a defence and security forum in Beijing a month ago. Minnie Chan, a reporter for the South China Morning Post, has not been in contact since she went to the Xiangshan Forum, Japan’s Kyodo News reported on Thursday. Chan filed several stories from the forum, the most recent of which was published on 2 November. Kyodo News reported that her friends, whom it did not name, were concerned she was under investigation. The Guardian understands colleagues at the South China Morning Post have also made inquiries to their editors about her whereabouts. In a statement, the South China Morning Post said Chan had taken “personal leave”. “Her family has informed us that she is in Beijing but needs time to handle a private matter. Her family has told us she is safe but has requested that we respect her privacy. We are in contact with Minnie’s family and we have no further information to disclose,” it told the Guardian. “The safety of our journalists in the course of their professional work is of the utmost importance to the South China Morning Post. This has always been our principle. We will continue to communicate with Minnie’s family and provide all the necessary support they need. The Post’s operations and news coverage remain unaffected.” Chan last posted on X on 20 October. Her personal Facebook page shows photos were posted on 11 November, but the comments beneath it contain a claim from a friend, Andrei Pinkov, that she did not post it. Pinkov, who has been contacted by the Guardian, has posted several comments on her page, asking where she is. The Hong Kong Journalists Association on Friday expressed its concern over the reports. “The Hong Kong Journalists Association is deeply concerned for Minnie’s safety and is requesting more information from the SCMP,” it said, asking Chan’s friends or relatives to contact the association if they had information about her whereabouts or needed assistance. Chan has worked for the paper for 18 years, according to her LinkedIn profile. She previously worked at the Apple Daily, which was forced to close after a Hong Kong government crackdown, and the Chinese Phoenix Satellite TV station. The South China Morning Post is owned by the Chinese company Alibaba Holdings. It is the largest English-language newspaper in Hong Kong, which still allows greater press freedom than in mainland China. However, conditions have worsened since the introduction of the national security law in 2020.   Source: The Guardian

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has extended the deadline for filing individual income tax to 31 January, 2024, instead of the previously set deadline of 30 November. The National Board of Revenue officially announced the extension on Wednesday (29 November). According to an order which was signed by Md Mohidul Islam Chowdhury, second secretary tax law at the NBR - the tax day would be observed on 31 January, 2024, for individual taxpayers instead of November 30, 2023. As many of taxpayers was unable to take preparations to file tax returns in line with the Income Tax Act-2023, for this reason the tax administration considered the extension after trade bodies demanded more time including the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).  It is told by the FBCCI that it might not be possible for many taxpayers to submit returns by November 30 deadline because of the on going political situation and upcoming elections. A senior official of the NBR said the tax authority considered an extension so taxpayers could file returns in compliance with the new law. This year no tax fair was held, rather the NBR organised a nationwide special support service to help taxpayers submit their income tax returns. at the tax zone office premises  Bangladesh has nearly 94 lakh registered taxpayers. However, NBR data showed that almost 36 lakh taxpayers filed their income and expenditure statement in the year 2022-23.

Amid the ongoing issue of illegal immigration, around 450,000 Afghan migrants have willingly returned to the country from Iran, Khaama Press reported, citing Iranian local media reports. Quoting Javad Khani, the official who is in charge of managing illegal migrants at the National Organisation for Migration in Iran, Tasnim News Agency has stated that there is a possibility of approximately four million illegal migrants being present in the country. This Iranian official claims that eight main towns in Iran--Tehran, Sistan and Balochistan, Khorasan Razavi, Qom, Kerman, Yazd, Fars, and Alborz--are home to 92 per cent of the country's illegal Afghan migrants. Tasnim News Agency is a semi-official news agency in Iran associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Iranian official further underlined that at least one million illegal Afghan migrants in the country have received identity cards to date, Khaama Press reported, citing Iranian local media. According to a Khaama Press report, Javad Khani further noted that the enormous number of migrants in Iran are citizens of Afghanistan, and initiatives have been launched to organise those lacking the necessary paperwork. Last week, Afghan refugees in Iran raised concerns regarding the increase in deportations, arrests, and harassment by the police, TOLO News reported. The Taliban has called on neighbouring countries to not deport Afghan refugees. Deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan has intensified, and now Iran has also initiated forced deportations. Afghan refugee representatives in Iran have criticised the Iranian government and the international community for their perceived lack of support and have called on them to address the challenges faced by Afghan refugees. "Afghan refugees are being deported from Iran. The Iranian people and government are very oppressive towards refugees. Iran pushes out refugees ahead of winter when it is not right," said Spogmai Jabbarkhil, an Afghan refugees' representative in Iran, as per TOLO News.

Many women in Iran stopped covering their heads after the protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini. But police now say morality patrols are back. Iranian police announced they were resuming patrols to enforce a strict dress code that requires women to cover their hair in public. In Tehran, male and female morality police officers could be seen patrolling the streets in marked vans on Sunday. "The police will launch car and foot patrols to warn, take legal measures, and refer to the judiciary those who disobey police orders and disregard consequences of dressing against the norms," said police spokesman Saeed Montazer Almehdi, according to the official news agency IRNA. The report comes exactly ten months after the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd who was arrested for violating the Islamic dress code and later died in police custody. Her death sparked nationwide protests that were brutally put down. More than 500 demonstrators were killed and nearly 20,000 arrested in the violent crackdown. Sign of silent protest But even after the protest movement was suppressed, many women demonstratively ignored the headscarf requirement as a sign of silent protest. The morality police have largely disappeared from the streets of Iran's cities, and there were even reports that the morality police were disbanded. However, authorities have insisted that dress code has not changed. They took other measures to enforce the rules, including closing businesses where employees did not obey the rules and installing cameras in public places to track down violators. Heritage of Islamic Revolution Iran's religious rulers have vehemently defended the dress code and see the hijab as a mainstay of the Islamic revolution that brought them to power. The dress code has been in force in Iran since 1979. Violators face fines or prison terms of up to two months. However, with many Iranians demanding changes, authorities in May proposed a milder "Support for the Culture of Hijab and Chastity" bill. It demands higher fines for "any person who removes their veil in public places or on the internet," but refrains from the threat of imprisonment.

Spanish TV channel El Chiringuito TV reported that the two sides held talks at a restaurant in Madrid on Thursday, April 27.  Director of football at FC Barcelona Mateu Alemany, treasurer Ferran Olive, corporate general director Javier Gomez and the executive general director Oscar Mayo were present at the meeting. Mateu Alemany and Ferran Olive were present for Barcelona.  La Liga Corporate General Director Javier Gomez and Executive General Director Oscar Mayo were present at the meeting on behalf of La Liga. FC Barcelona desperate to bring back Lionel Messi. But the financial situation of the club makes it very difficult.  But if somehow La Liga helps FC Barcelona, the pathway to return one of the best stars in history will be much easier.   According to the news, the two sides discussed for more than an hour and 15 minutes. The Spanish league also interested in getting back a superstar like Messi. In addition, La Liga president Javier Tebas himself has said many times that he would be happy to have Messi back. But as always, the main obstacle is the financial policy of La Liga.  Meanwhile, Mateu Alemany gave the latest update on Messi's return before taking the field against Rayo Vallecano the day before, "Lionel Messi wants to return to Barcelona and he was in Barcelona for a few days. However, there was no agreement with him. Point to be noted that Messi spent a few days of vacation in Barcelona a few days ago. The PSG star was seen with his family friends and the families of several former teammates.

When the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan last year, many expected the fundamentalist group to rule differently this time around. More than a year later, the Taliban have proved them wrong. Although analysts didn't expect the Taliban to transform into a liberal outfit, they hoped the group might have become "politically mature" when they seized power in Afghanistan for the second time. The hard-line group's first stint in power — from 1996 to 2001 — was marked by massive violations of human rights, public floggings and curbs on women's participation in public life, among other things. These were the major concerns for the West before the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and toppled the Taliban regime. After taking back power in August 2021, Taliban commanders made some statements that hinted they had learned from their past mistakes. But more than one year on, it looks like everything is back to square one. Afghanistan sees return to brutal punishments A Taliban spokesman said on December 7 that a man who was convicted of murder had been executed in public, the first such sentence to be confirmed since the Islamists seized back power. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement that the order of "quisas," referring to the "eye for an eye" principle of justice in Islamic law — had been implemented. The man who was executed was identified as Tajmir from Herat province, who was convicted of killing another man and stealing his motorcycle and mobile phone. The offense was said to date back five years. Recently, Taliban officials publicly lashed dozens of men and women who they had found guilty of "moral crimes." The punishments took place in the provinces of Logar, Laghman, Bamiyan, Ghazni and Takhar. The women were accused of "theft, adultery, and running away from home." Taliban leaders are not even trying to keep these public punishments a secret. On the contrary, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, the group's supreme leader, ordered all officials to implement Shariah law in the country. Provincial officials have urged locals to come and watch these punishments be carried out. One of the places where the Taliban flogged people was Puli Alam, the capital of eastern Logar province. Photos circulating on social media showed hundreds of people gathered at a stadium, watching Taliban members beating three women and nine men. The spokesman for the Taliban governor in Logar province confirmed these incidents, saying the "maximum punishment" was 39 lashes and the minimum 12. 'Dangerous sign that the Taliban are becoming more defiant'  Rina Amiri, the US special representative for Afghan women, wrote on Twitter that the punishments were "both appalling and a dangerous sign that the Taliban are becoming more defiant in showing the world that they are embracing the policies of the past." "It didn't end up well before and it will once again take the country on a perilous path," she added. An eyewitness to one of Taliban's public floggings told DW on condition of anonymity that the Taliban used loudspeakers to inform people about the implementation of these punishments. They told shopkeepers to close their shops and participate in the event, otherwise they would be lashed too, he added. The eyewitness said the Taliban used a special whip "made of leather and metal." He added that the people who were whipped were in extreme pain and were crying for help. A lack of international pressure "The Taliban have not changed, and with the passing of over one year, they have become more vicious, more problematic and demagogic," political expert Ahmad Saeedi, a former Afghan diplomat, told DW. "The Taliban do not accept any kind of rules and humanitarian principles, and they do not care about the requests made by the international community," he added. Since toppling Ashraf Ghani's elected government last year, the Taliban has cracked down on civil society and political opponents, but their top target has been women's rights. Girls have been barred from school and women are facing increased social restrictions under their rule.  Saeedi said Western nations "must take responsibility for what is happening in Afghanistan right now," because they have failed to force the Taliban to change their ways. Political analyst Tariq Farhadi believes it is futile to expect the Taliban to change. "That is what they learned in in madrassas in Pakistan. They are now trying to implement it," he said. Analysts have said that by reverting to their 1990s style of governance, the Taliban leadership are showing local commanders and officials the commitment to their ideology. In the absence of internal and external pressure, the Taliban's leadership has no incentive to change.