Friday, 23 May, 2025

International

Clinton's birthplace damaged in suspected arson

DHAKA: The birthplace of former U.S. President Bill Clinton in Hope, Arkansas, was slightly damaged in a suspected arson fire early on Friday, police said.The fire to the rear of the house, designated a National Historic Site, was reported shortly after 3 a.m. CST, Hope Police Chief J.R.

50 feared dead as landslide hits Myanmar

DHAKA: As many as 50 people are feared dead after another landslide at gold and jade mines in northern Myanmar, a local official said on Saturday.The latest spill of waste rock accumulated during the mining process occurred near jade mines in Kachin state, 350 kilometres north of

South America floods displace 150,000

DHAKA: More than 150,000 people in South American countries --Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil -- have been driven from their homes by some of the worst flooding in years.Heavy summer rains have caused rivers to swell across a vast area.In Paraguay, the most affected country,

30 injured as 6.3 quake jolts Afghanistan

DHAKA: At least 30 people were injured in a magnitude-6.3 earthquake Friday that shook northeast Afghanistan where it borders Pakistan and Tajikistan, officials said.The injuries occurred in various localities of Peshawar, Pakistan, about 200 miles from the quake epicenter, according to

Pope backs peace efforts in Christmas Day message

DHAKA: Pope Francis tackled war, terrorism and the migrant crisis in a wide-ranging Christmas message, calling for peace and reconciliation around the world.The pontiff said he prayed for the success of recent UN resolutions for peace in Syria and Libya, reports the BBC.The Pope also

Modi makes surprise Pakistan visit

DHAKA: India Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent over an hour at his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif’s ancestral home near Lahore on Friday evening after springing a massive surprise in a tweet announcing that he would ‘drop by’ on his way back to Delhi from Kabul.Sharif, who is

Modi arrives in Lahore on surprise visit

DHAKA: Indian premier Narendra Modi landed at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport Friday (December 25) on a surprise visit, where Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif were present to receive him.Television footage showed Modi exit his jet

Scores killed in Nigeria gas plant explosion

DHAKA: Scores of people are reported killed in an explosion at an industrial gas plant in south-eastern Nigeria.A truck is said to have exploded as it was off-loading butane cooking gas in the town of Nnewi in Anambra State.Reports of fatalities vary from 35 to more than 100 people

US storms kill 14 on Christmas eve

DHAKA: A clear-up has begun after a violent storm left at least 14 people dead and destroyed homes in several US South and Midwest states on Christmas Eve.Mississippi was worst hit, with seven people dead, while six others were killed in Tennessee, reports the BBC.A seven-year-old boy,

‘World intoxicated by consumerism’

DHAKA: Pope Francis has warned the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics not to be ‘intoxicated’ by possessions in his annual Christmas homily.He called for more sobriety in a world obsessed by ‘consumerism and hedonism, wealth and extravagance’.The Pope was celebrating a

4 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces

DHAKA: Israeli forces have killed four Palestinians in in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, taking the total Palestinian death toll since the start of October to 134.Thursday’s killings come on the heels of months of escalated violence in Israel and the occupied West Bank, including

Japanese journalist captive in Syria

DHAKA: Japan says it is investigating reports that a Japanese freelance journalist is being held captive in Syria and is being threatened with death.Rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says Jumpei Yasuda has been held by an armed group in Syria since July, reports the BBC.His

Over 50 Taliban killed in Afghanistan battle

DHAKA: A local Taliban commander and 50 fighters have been killed in overnight fighting in Sangin in Helmand province.The Afghan interior ministry said, reports the BBC.Afghan forces have been trying to recapture the area from the Taliban, who claim to control the district.Afghan

Syria agrees to join Geneva peace talks

DHAKA: Syria is ready to participate in peace talks in Geneva aimed at ending its civil war.The country’s foreign minister Walid Muallem said during an official visit to China, reports Al Jazeera.‘Syria is ready to participate in the Syrian-Syrian dialogue in Geneva without any

Japan approves defense spending boost

DHAKA: Japan’s cabinet has approved a record 5.1 trillion yen ($42.1bn) military budget for the next financial year, its fourth annual increase.The spending boost is part of a 96.72 trillion yen overall budget that also sets a record high, reports the BBC.The defense boost comes after a

China smog sparks red alerts in 10 cities

DHAKA: Hazardous smog blanketing China’s north-east has sparked more red alerts, with authorities advising residents in 10 cities to stay indoors.The announcement follows last week's warning that a vast area of China would be badly hit by pollution.Beijing saw its second red alert over

25 killed in Saudi hospital fire

DHAKA: At least 25 people have been killed and 107 injured in a fire at a hospital in Jizan, Saudi Arabia.The Saudi civil defence directorate said in a post on Facebook that the fire at the Jizan General Hospital started at about 2.30am local time, reports aljazeera.It is not yet known

‘Tehran air pollution claims 180 lives every day’

DHAKA: The death toll caused by air pollution in Tehran has increased from 150 to 180 people per day.Mehdi Chamran, Tehran City Council chairman, said on Tuesday, Tehran Times publishes this report Wednesday.Chamran said that the shutdown of the schools and sand-producing factories to

300 Shia Muslims found in Nigeria mass graves

DHAKA: Nigeria’s military killed and quickly buried the bodies of at least 300 Shia Muslims in an unjustified attack in the northern Zaria city.Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said, reports the BBC.The bodies were buried without family members’ permission, it added.The army denies

Istanbul airport blast kills cleaner

DHAKA: An explosion near a plane at Sabiha Gokcen airport in the Turkish city of Istanbul has killed a woman cleaner.The woman who died was reportedly working on a Pegasus airlines plane overnight when the blast took place.A colleague who was with her was wounded.The cause of the