Sunday, 12 Jan, 2025

International

Pakistan offensive displaces 350,000

DHAKA: Some 350,000 people have been displaced since the start of an army offensive against militants in Pakistan’s North Waziristan a week ago. Officials say, reports the BBC. Long lines of buses and lorries are reported waiting in intense heat for security clearance to enter the

Western Iraq towns fall to militants

DHAKA: Sunni militants have seized another town in Iraq's western Anbar province, the fourth in two days. Fighters of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis) captured Rutba, 90 miles east of Jordan’s border, officials said. They earlier seized a border crossing to Syria and

Kerry in surprise Egypt trip to press for democracy

DHAKA: United States Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Egypt on Sunday on a surprise trip, becoming the highest-ranking US official to visit since president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi came to power.Kerry was to meet Sisi during his lightning trip to press the former army chief, who

Birthday present a helicopter!

DHAKA: The Queen has treated Prince William to an early birthday present – a luxury £8m helicopter. The chopper, a 2008 Augusta A109S Grand, will be used to ferry William and his wife Kate between official royal engagements. The Duke of Cambridge, who turns 32 tomorrow, is a

‘We will continue to make rockets, dig tunnels’

DHAKA: Khalil al-Haya, a senior Hamas official spoke during a funeral for five member of the organization, saying Hamas and its military wing, the al-Qassam brigades, will continue to dig tunnels and make rockets, even cross the ocean, ‘until we defeat our enemy’. The official added

Venezuela protests death toll hits 43

DHAKA: At least 43 people have died in opposition protests against Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro that began in February. A non-government group has said after a student died from a bullet wound, reports The Times of India. Alfredo Romero, who heads the Penal Forum group, said

ISIS seizes 4 more Iraqi towns

DHAKA: A strategic border crossing and three other towns in western Iraq fell Saturday to the control of ISIS militants, a senior Iraqi security official said. In addition to their offensives in northern Iraq, the militants have now strengthened their hand in the western province of

Modi to address to US Congress

DHAKA: India prime minister Narendra Modi, once denied a visa to enter the United States over massacres of Muslims, is expected to receive the honour of addressing a joint session of the US Congress during a visit to Washington in September. California Republican Ed Royce, chairman of

S Korean border guard kills 5 fellow soldiers

DHAKA: A South Korean conscript soldier shot and killed five of his fellow unit members and injured five others late on Saturday at a guard post near the heavily armed border with North Korea. A South Korean official said, reports The Straits Times. The exact circumstances of the

‘Egypt death sentence ruling a big step backwards’

DHAKA: Rights group Amnesty on Saturday strongly criticised a decision by an Egyptian court to confirm death sentences for more than 180 Islamists, accusing the judiciary of losing ‘any semblance of impartiality’. The court in the central city of Minya had initially sentenced 683

Progress in drafting Iran’s final nuclear deal

DHAKA: Iran and the major powers ended an intense round of nuclear talks in Vienna after making good progress in the process of drafting the text of a final deal to resolve the decade-old dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program. The two sides also agreed to resume nuclear negotiations on

Tensions mount over Afghan vote, protest held in Kabul

DHAKA: Protesters gathered in the Afghan capital on Saturday in support of presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah’s accusation of vote fraud, and his call for the organisers to stop counting the ballots from the run-off election held a week ago. Several hundred people gathered,

Iraqi militants seize border post with Syria

DHAKA: Sunni fighters seized a border post on the Iraq-Syria frontier overnight, security sources at the border said on Saturday, a strategic gain which will allow them to move heavy weapons between the territory they control in both countries. The militants, led by the Islamic State in

Saudi King in Egypt

DHAKA: Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has arrived in Cairo, underlining the strong support of the monarch for Egypt’s newly elected president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Abdullah landed in Cairo on his way home from Morocco on Friday, becoming the first foreign leader to visit Sisi since he

The longest day, the shortest night

DHAKA: On or around June 21 each year, the rays of the sun will be perpendicular to the Tropic of Cancer at 23°30' North latitude. This day is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, reports geography.about.com. On this day, the earth’s ‘circle of illumination’ will be

Pakistan imposes temporary ban on 2 TV channels

DHAKA: Pakistan has temporarily banned two private television channels, including one of the Geo TV network, and imposed a hefty fine of Rs 10 million on them for airing blasphemous content and ridiculing the judiciary. Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), the official

Lebanon on high alert over terror threats

DHAKA: Lebanon remained on high alert Saturday, with security forces deploying en masse outside government buildings around the country in light of rumors about an attack against state facilities.Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces personnel were on guard outside Beirut's

Israel arrests more Palestinians in hunt for teens

DHAKA: Israeli security forces have arrested 10 more Palestinians in the West Bank as they press their search for three teenagers believed to have been kidnapped. The army said on Saturday, reports The Straits Times. ‘Ten people were arrested overnight, bringing to 330 the number of

People vote in Hong Kong democracy ‘poll’

DHAKA: More than half a million people have voted in an unofficial Hong Kong electoral reform poll, organisers said on Saturday, in a ballot hit by a massive cyberattack and labelled by Beijing as ‘illegal’. Online polling started on Friday at noon and 500,436 residents had taken

Egypt court confirms Badie death sentence

DHAKA: An Egyptian court has confirmed the death sentence against the Muslim Brotherhood’s general guide Mohamed Badie and more than 180 others. Lawyers said the ruling, which was confirmed on Saturday, can be overturned on appeal. The court’s decision came two months after it