DHAKA: The chief editor of ‘Charlie Hebdo’ has defended the satirical magazine’s controversial depictions of Prophet Muhammad, saying the cartoons safeguard freedom of religion.His comments were broadcast as five people were killed and churches set on fire in Niger on Saturday in

DHAKA: The Islamic State (IS) militant group has freed around 350 members of the Yazidi religious community in northern Iraq.The groups of mainly elderly Yazidis crossed out of IS-controlled territory and were received by Kurdish officials near the city of Kirkuk, reports BBC.It is not

DHAKA: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has slammed the decision by the International Criminal Court to launch a preliminary investigation into possible war crimes in the Palestinian territories, saying it is "absurd".Speaking in West Jerusalem on Saturday, a day after the

DHAKA: Police in Niger’s capital have fired tear gas at a new protest against French magazine ‘Charlie Hebdo’ over a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad.Protesters threw stones at police and burned tyres outside Niamey’s grand mosque a day after at least four were killed in the

DHAKA: Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe pledged Saturday US$2.5 billion in non-military aid for the Middle East as he launched a regional tour that includes visits to Jordan and Israel.In a speech in Cairo, Abe also pledged US$200 million in non-military assistance for states

DHAKA: A man has been arrested in Indian state of Tripura for trying to bury his 10-year-old daughter alive in the backyard of his home.NDTV reports on Saturday.The incident happened at a village close to the India-Bangladesh border, and police sources say the reason behind the

DHAKA: Twenty-one people have been confirmed dead after a tugboat capsized on the Yangtze river in eastern China. State media report, the BBC says. The boat, with 25 people on board, overturned on Thursday while it was conducting tests on the river near Zhangjiagang, in Jiangsu

DHAKA: Europe is on high alert following anti-terror raids and arrests of suspected Islamist militants. More than 20 people have been arrested in Belgium, France and Germany and Belgium has joined France in deploying troops alongside police. Security has been tightened in several

DHAKA: 2014 was the warmest year on record, with global temperatures 0.68C (1.24F) above the long-term average, US government scientists have said. The results mean that 14 of the 15 warmest years on record have occurred since the turn of the century. The analysis was published on

DHAKA: Dozens of angry protesters have attacked the French cultural centre and three churches in Niger's second biggest city in response to France's satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo's latest Prophet Muhammad cartoon, the head of the centre has said. At least four people, including a

DHAKA: Prosecutors at the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) will open a preliminary inquiry into possible war crimes in the Palestinian territories, the first formal step that could lead to charges against officials there and in Israel, the court has said. They will

DHAKA: Belgian police have arrested 13 people during a dozen raids overnight, foiling a plot to kill police officers in public roads and in police stations.The prosecutors have said this that reports the Aljazeera.Two suspects were shot dead during a gun battle during one of the police

DHAKA: A photographer of French news agency Agence France Presse (AFP) wounded in Pakistan on Friday after being shot during protests against the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo outside the French consulate in Karachi.“AFP photographer Asif Hasan suffered wounds resulting from

DHAKA: At least 11 people in fierce fighting in east Ukraine as government forces and pro-Russian rebels battled for control of an airport.The officials said on this on Friday, reports the Times of India.A military spokesman, Andriy Lysenko, said six soldiers killed and 18 others

DHAKA: The United States will send 400 troops to train moderate Syrian rebels this spring.Pentagon spokesman Major James Brindle confirmed the planned deployment early Friday morning. Last month, President Barack Obama signed into law a massive defense policy bill that endorsed his plan

DHAKA: Police detained 12 suspects in the Paris region over last week’s attacks in the French capital that killed 17 people.Police conducted raids in five towns in the Paris region, reports the BBC.Last week’s violence began with an attack by two gunmen on Charlie Hebdo magazine,

DHAKA: The UK and US are to carry out "war game" cyber attacks on each other as part of a new joint defence against online criminals.The first exercise, a staged attack on the financial sector, will take place later this year, Downing Street said.The "unprecedented" arrangement between

DHAKA: Pope Francis has defended freedom of expression following last week's attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo - but also stressed its limits.The pontiff said religions had to be treated with respect, so that people's faiths were not insulted or ridiculed.To illustrate his

DHAKA: French president Francois Hollande has vowed that his country will protect all religions, saying that Muslims are the main victims of fanaticism.Speaking at the Arab World Institute, he said Islam was compatible with democracy and thanked Arabs for their solidarity over

DHAKA: Sri Lanka’s former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa has agreed to step down as head of his party, clearing the way for the country’s new president to take full control.An aide said on Thursday, reports The Straits Times.President Maithripala Sirisena had been the general secretary of