Saturday, 18 Jan, 2025

International

Yangon votes in municipal elections for first time in 60 years

DHAKA: Residents of Myanmar’s commercial hub Yangon went to the polls on Saturday for the first municipal elections in six decades, with voters hoping for change as the city booms, despite knowing little about the candidates or their policies.The election will be closely watched as

5 killed, 1 lakh homeless in flood-hit Malaysia

DHAKA: Malaysia is battling some of the worst floods in decades along its east coast. At least five people have been killed and more than 100,000 forced to leave their homes. The eastern coastal states are often flooded during the wet monsoon season, but this time officials say heavier

Pro-Russian rebels free 4 Ukrainian prisoners

DHAKA: Pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine on Saturday freed four Ukrainian prisoners a day after the two sides exchanged hundreds of captives.The release was announced by a Ukrainian defence ministry adviser, Vasyliy Budik, who said three were soldiers and the fourth a civilian.On

‘Mastermind’ of Pakistan school attack killed

DHAKA: A key militant commander Saddam, the alleged planner of the recent deadly attack on a school in Pakistan, was killed by security forces in Khyber Agency's Jamrud area on Thursday night.Political Agent of Khyber Agency Shahab Ali Shah, while speaking at a press conference in

Tsunami-hit nations mark anniversary

DHAKA: Memorial services are being held in Indonesia and other nations for the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami on the 10th anniversary of the disaster.In Indonesia's province of Aceh - the worst hit area - Vice-President Jusuf Kalla led tributes to the dead at the Siron mass

ISIS governor of Mosul killed in airstrikes

DHAKA: The latest ISIS-appointed governor of Mosul was killed in coalition airstrikes on Thursday, according to Iraqi police.Hassan Hassan Saeed Al-Jabouri, also known as Abu Taluut, was killed 18 miles south of Mosul in the village of Qayyara, according to Maj. Gen. Watheq Al-Hamdani,

Militants attack African Union base in Somalia

DHAKA: Al-Shabab militants have launched an attack on the main African Union military base near Mogadishu airport in Somalia.Explosions and gunfire could be heard in the vicinity, AU spokesman Col Ali Houmed told the media, reports the BBC.Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the

‘So many tears this Christmas’

DHAKA: Pope Francis issued a strident call in his Christmas day message to safeguard children who are victims ‘under our very eyes’ of violence and trafficking, while also demanding an end to ‘brutal persecution’ worldwide. Killings and hostage-takings from the Middle East to

Christians hold Christmas Eve Mass in Bethlehem

DHAKA: Christian pilgrims from across the world have celebrated midnight Mass in Bethlehem to mark Christmas Eve in the traditional birthplace of Jesus. In a homily, Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal called on Jews, Muslims and Christians to ‘live together as equals’. Referring to violence

Pakistan extremist leader held in murder case

DHAKA: The leader of a banned Pakistani sectarian militant group who was set to walk free from jail is being held for two more weeks in a murder case.Officials said on Thursday, reports The Straits Times.Malik Ishaq, the head of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) which is dedicated to killing

Pope urges ‘tenderness’ as millions celebrate Christmas

DHAKA: Pope Francis led Christmas Eve mass in the Vatican calling for ‘tenderness’ and ‘warmth’ after a violence-plagued year as millions of Christians began marking the holiday. The Argentine pontiff’s brief homily was replete with Gospel references in his Christmas Eve mass,

Thousands flee deadly violence in India’s Assam

DHAKA: More than 2,000 people have fled their homes in the restive Indian state of Assam after separatist rebels killed dozens of villagers, some of them children.An Indian official said Thursday, reports The Straits Times.Residents sought shelter in makeshift camps set up by the state

Syria child refugees study at makeshift schools in Lebanon

DHAKA: In a squalid camp in eastern Lebanon, a school in a tent with a chalkboard and brightly coloured desks offers children who fled Syria’s war a chance of an education. Thousands of child refugees are studying at dozens of makeshift schools across Lebanon, including 11-year-old

Christmas Eve pilgrims gather in Bethlehem

DHAKA: Christians from across the world have gathered in the West Bank town of Bethlehem to mark Christmas Eve in the place they believe Jesus was born. Celebrations culminated with midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity. In a homily, Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal, called on Jews,

Sierra Leone orders lockdown over Ebola

DHAKA: The Sierra Leone government has declared a five-day lockdown in the country's north to step up efforts to contain the Ebola epidemic, while making an exception for Christmas. The lockdown is designed to intensify the containment of the Ebola virus, the government said on

Sony releases The Interview online

DHAKA: Sony Pictures is distributing its film The Interview online, after a cyber-attack and a row over its release. The film is being offered through a dedicated website - seetheinterview.com - as well as via Google and Microsoft but is only available in the US. Sony had previously

Atal Bihari, Madan Mohan to be awarded Bharat Ratna

DHAKA: Indian government on Wednesday announced the prestigious Bharat Ratna, neighboring country's highest civilian honour, for their former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and a freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya.A meeting of the Union Cabinet was convened in New Delhi on

IS ‘shoots down coalition plane in Syria’

DHAKA: Islamic State (IS) militants have shot down a US-led coalition warplane over northern Syria.The activists said this which reposts the BBC.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the aircraft, believed to be from an Arab state, went down near Raqqa.The UK-based group said the

55 Villagers Killed by ‘Militants’ in Assam

DHAKA: At least 55 people, including 20 children, were killed in a series of coordinated attacks by suspected militants in Assam on Tuesday. Here are 10 developments in this big story:     Men, women and children were shot dead with AK-47 bullets in five attacks within the space of an

George Bush Senior hospitalized

DHAKA: Former US President George Bush Senior has been taken to hospital after suffering from a shortness of breath, his spokesman says.Bush, 90, was taken to the Houston Methodist Hospital as a precaution, and "will be held for observation, again as a precaution", said Jim McGrath.Two