Friday, 10 Jan, 2025

International

Afghan flood death toll rises to 150

DHAKA: The death toll from last week's flash floods in northern Afghanistan now stands at almost 150. Some areas are still completely cut off, with no help reaching people because roads were swept away, reports the BBC. The governor of Jowzjan province, Boymurod Qoyinli, told the BBC

Twin blasts on Chennai train, 1 dead

DHAKA: Two bombs planted on a train killed a 22-year-old woman and wounded 14 others at the Chennai Central Railway Station on Thursday morning. Sources say a man has been held and is being questioned. He was reportedly hiding inside the train an hour after the explosions, reports the

60 dead after major attack on Afghan army post

DHAKA: Afghan forces repulsed an assault by hundreds of militants, many from across the border in Pakistan, officials said Wednesday, in the biggest clashes since the presidential election almost four weeks ago. Nato air support was called in to help beat back the attack that left 60

2 new Mers deaths bring Saudi toll to 107

DHAKA: Saudi health authorities announced on Wednesday two new deaths from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) in the kingdom, where 16 more infections were also detected. A 41-year-old man in the north-western city of Tabuk and an 88-year-old in Riyadh died of the coronavirus,

Modi accused of India poll violation

DHAKA: India’s Election Commission has accused the main opposition BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi of violating the election code. He violated poll laws by flashing his party’s symbol and making a political speech while voting was going on in the seventh phase of

Kiev ‘helpless’ to quell parts of east

DHAKA: Ukraine’s acting president Olexander Turchynov has admitted his forces are ‘helpless’ to quell unrest driven by pro-Russian activists in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. Turchynov said the goal was now to prevent the unrest spreading. Activists have seized scores

Pakistan cuts electricity to president, parliament

DHAKA: Pakistani authorities on Tuesday cut off the electricity supply to several major official buildings for non-payment of bills, including parliament, the prime minister’s offices and the president’s official residence. Pakistan is blighted by rolling power cuts, caused in part

Thailand to hold fresh election on July 20

DHAKA: Thailand has announced that it will hold a fresh election, after the Constitutional Court invalidated its 2 February poll last month. The new polls will be conducted on 20 July, in an agreement reached between the Election Commission and the prime minister. Thailand officials

Iraq polling centre blast kills two women

DHAKA: A bomb near a polling station in north Iraq killed two women on Wednesday, officials said, as voters cast their ballots under tight security following a surge of pre-election violence. The blast occurred in the town of Dibs, near the ethnically mixed city of Kirkuk, according to a

14 dead after truck crashes in Thailand

DHAKA: At least 14 people were killed Wednesday when a truck carrying local villagers crashed in a mountainous region of north-west Thailand. Police and hospital officials said, reports The Straits Times. ‘The truck lost control and smashed into a car in front as well as an oncoming

Malaysia to release prelim report on missing jet

DHAKA: Malaysia will release on Thursday a preliminary report on its investigations into how Flight MH370 disappeared. Malaysia acting transport minister Hishammuddin Hussein announced on Wednesday, reports The Straits Times. Search continues for the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 jet

Brunei adopts ‘phase one’ of Islamic law

DHAKA: The sultan of Brunei has announced a controversial new penal code based on Islamic criminal punishments criticized by UN human rights officials. ‘Today... I place my faith in and am grateful to God the almighty to announce that tomorrow, Thursday May 1, will see the enforcement

Modi, Sonia in contest in 7-round

DHAKA: The whole of Gujarat and Punjab is voting today in the seventh phase of Lok Sabha election along with some seats in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar that will decide the fate of top guns including Narendra Modi, Sonia Gandhi, L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi.   Telangana, the new

Iraq goes to polls amid violence

DHAKA: Iraqis are voting in the country's first parliamentary elections since the withdrawal of US troops three years ago. Polling began at 07:00 local time (04:00 GMT) and closes at 18:00. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is hoping to win a third term in office amid a growing insurgency

Turkey to seek cleric’s extradition

DHAKA: Turkey is to start extradition proceedings against US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said. Gulen, a former ally of the prime minister, has been accused by Erdogan of using his supporters to try to topple him. The cleric denies mounting a campaign

Rouhani hits back after attacks from hardliners

DHAKA: Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday derided hardliners critical of his style of governance and outreach to the West, saying they do not speak for the country. After a backlash stemming from rising prices of fuel, utilities and basic foods, Rouhani’s administration is

Rebels storm regional Ukraine HQ

DHAKA: A large crowd of pro-Russian activists has stormed the regional administration’s headquarters in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk. Hundreds of people, led by about 20 youths armed with metal bars, were attempting to take over the building. A few dozen activists shouting

37 die in Syria explosions

DHAKA: At least 37 people have been killed in explosions in the Syrian city of Homs, officials say. The attacks, which involved at least one car bomb, also injured dozens, reports the BBC. Earlier, at least 14 people were killed and more than 80 wounded in a mortar attack on a technical

Anger rises as 10 people die everyday on Mumbai trains

DHAKA: Cricket-mad teenager Dhaval Lodaya was on his way to a temple when his Mumbai train derailed and he bled to death, becoming one of the ten people who die every day on the city’s rail network.  Known as the lifeline of India’s congested financial capital, the low-fare trains

4 new candidates join Syria presidential race

DHAKA: Four new candidates have submitted applications to run for Syria’s presidency in elections that are expected to return president Bashar al-Assad to power next month. The parliamentary speaker said Tuesday, reports daily Hurriyet. Mohamed al-Lahham announced the names of the