Monday, 23 Dec, 2024

International

Refugee boat sinks on way to Australia, 21 dead

DHAKA: A boat carrying migrants to Australia sank off the Indonesian coast on Friday, killing at least 21 people, Indonesian police said, a sign that Australia’s tough new immigration rules may not be enough to deter would-be asylum seekers.The latest disaster to strike refugees using

‘Kenya govt had been warned of Nairobi attack’

DHAKA: Kenya’s government had been warned, including by Israel, of the high risk of an attack before the assault on a Nairobi mall by Islamist gunmen that killed at least 67 people, newspapers reported Saturday.Cabinet ministers and Kenya’s army chief had received information warning

92 abducted children freed in China

DHAKA: Chinese police have rescued 92 abducted children and held 301 suspected members of a huge trafficking network, the authorities say.They say two women were also freed in an operation involving police forces in 11 provinces of the country.The traffickers are believed to have targeted

One held as death toll rises to 25

DHAKA: The death toll in the collapse of a four-storey building in Mumbai yesterday has gone up to 25. A disaster management official said the victims included nine women.National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) commandant Alok Awasthi added that nearly 36 people were still trapped under

UN adopts Syria arms resolution

DHAKA: The UN Security Council has voted unanimously to secure and destroy Syria`s chemical weapons stockpile.The vote late on Friday was the first resolution passed on the Syrian conflict since it began in March 2011, after Russia and China had previously vetoed three Western-backed

Obama and Rouhani speak by phone

DHAKA: US President Barack Obama has spoken by phone to Iran`s Hassan Rouhani - the first such top-level conversation in more than 30 years.Mr Obama spoke of a "unique opportunity" to make progress with Iran`s new leadership, amid a flurry of diplomacy over its nuclear programme.Earlier,

Egypt sees fresh anti-coup protests

DHAKA: Thousands of people are taking part in anti-government protests across Egypt, days after activities by the Muslim Brotherhood were banned by a Cairo court.Friday`s protests, called by the Anti-Coup alliance, saw thousands take to the streets in Cairo, Port Said, Assuit, and

Balochistan quake toll rises to 359

DHAKA: Militants attacked two helicopters carrying relief goods in Balochistan`s earthquake-affected Awaran district on Friday.Khan Wasey, the FC spokesman said militants opened fire at two helicopters which were landing at Mashkay to provide relief goods to earthquake survivors."Small

19 killed in bus accident in India

DHAKA: Nineteen people were killed and another critically injured when a bus rolled down a 600-feet deep gorge near Ransua-Jabrog village in Sirmaur district on Friday morning.The bus with 20 passengers on board was on its way from Uchha Takkar to Renuka when the mishap occurred. The bus

Vietnam-era spying by NSA comes to light

DHAKA: As the present-day NSA draws fire from critics worried about contemporary abuses of power, new details have surfaced about the secretive agency’s efforts -- during the Vietnam War era -- to spy on prominent antiwar figures on behalf of the White House.Newly declassified materials

Pakistan explosion kills 17

DHAKA: At least 17 people were killed and 43 others injured when a bomb exploded on a bus carrying government employees on Peshawar’s Charsadda Road.“The bomb was planted inside the bus. At the moment, the death of 17 people have been confirmed,” Zahirul Islam, deputy commissioner

Hornet stings kill 19 in China

DHAKA:  At least 19 people have been stung to death by hornets -- which may include the world`s largest hornet species Vespa mandarinia -- in China`s central Shaanxi province in the last three months, according to the city government of Ankang, the apparent epicenter of a recent spate of

US judge allows lawsuit against Google

DHAKA: A federal judge has refused to dismiss most of a lawsuit against Google Inc over allegations the company improperly scanned the content of customers` emails in order to place ads, according to Reuters news agency.US District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California ruled on Thursday

U.N. could vote on Syria draft Friday

DHAKA: The U.N. Security Council could vote as early as Friday on a draft resolution regarding Syria`s chemical weapons program.The resolution would impose "legally binding obligations" on the government to eliminate its program, said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha

Abbas warns UN of ‘last chance’ for peace

DHAKA: Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas warned the United Nations that United States-brokered peace talks offered the ‘last chance’ as he demanded an agreement with Israel that permanently resolves all disputes.Speaking before the UN General Assembly, Abbas urged no let-up in

Iran agrees to further nuclear talks

DHAKA: Iran and six major powers have agreed to meet in Geneva next month for further talks on resolving the standoff with Tehran on its nuclear programme.US and Iranian officials emerged upbeat on Thursday from a meeting on Iran’s nuclear programme, but both sides sounded a cautionary

‘Tone and spirit of Iran meeting extremely good’

DHAKA: The tone and spirit of a meeting on Thursday between six world powers and Iran on Tehran’s nuclear programme was ‘extremely good’.British foreign secretary William Hague said, reports The Jerusalem Post.Hague made the comment after the meeting he attended with Iranian foreign

Russian hopes for vote on Syria resolution

DHAKA: Russia’s UN envoy said he hoped the UN Security Council would be able to vote on a resolution demanding the eradication of Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal on Friday evening.‘We hope tomorrow night at ...(around) 8:00pm (0000 GMT on Saturday),’ Russian ambassador Vitaly

Sudan says 29 people killed in riots

DHAKA: A total of 29 people have been killed in anti-government protests in Sudan.Sudan state news agency SUNA said on Thursday, in the first official toll since the outbreak of violence on Monday, reports The Jerusalem Post.The death toll included civilians and police officers, police

Syrian rebel leader returns to reconcile Islamist fighters

DHAKA: The head of the opposition Syrian Supreme Military Council cut short a visit to France and said he would head to Syria for talks with rebel brigades that broke with the Western-backed coalition.General Salim Idris, who commands the coalition’s military wing known as the Free