Monday, 23 Dec, 2024

International

17 killed in Nigeria car bombings

DHAKA: A car bomb has exploded in front of the state television offices in the north eastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri killing at least 17 people, according to a senior police official.The bomb, planted in a three-wheel rickshaw taxi, exploded outside the state television offices at

Turkish plane makes emergency landing after bomb warning

DHAKA: A Turkish Airlines plane enroute to Sao Paolo has made an emergency landing in Algeria following a bomb warning.Doğan News Agency reported on Sunday, reports daily Hurriyet.Bomb-dismantling experts are inspecting the plane for explosives, the report said, without further

Heavy rains leave at least 6 dead in Philippines

DHAKA: Heavy rains battering the southern Philippines left at least six people dead and eight others missing, authorities said on Sunday, sparking fears for typhoon survivors still living in makeshift shelters.Four people were crushed to death in their homes on the southern island of

Pope to create 19 cardinals in Feb

DHAKA: Pope Francis said on Sunday he will next month elevate 19 prelates to the rank of cardinal, his first appointments to the elite group of men who advise him, including 16 who can one day elect his successor.Sixteen of the new cardinals are under 80 and are ‘cardinal electors’,

Sri Lanka president to test popularity with local polls

DHAKA: Sri Lanka on Sunday called snap local elections seen as a gauge of president Mahinda Rajapakse’s popularity ahead of national polls expected to be held later this year.Sri Lanka officials said, reports The Straits Times.The southern and western provincial councils, the highest

‘Wonder if I will ever reunite with my family’

DHAKA: Devyani Khobragade, the Indian diplomat at the centre of a bitter row with the United States, is anguished and at ‘immense stress’ over leaving behind her young family in New York, and has vowed to clear her name.Khobragade was allowed to leave the United States on Friday after

5 killed in bomb attack targeting Pakistan politician

DHAKA: A bomb attack on the convoy of a ruling party politician in northwest Pakistan killed five policemen and wounded four others on Sunday.Pakistan officials said, reports The Straits Times.The incident took place in the Martoong area of Swat valley, which the Taleban controlled from

‘Handgun for women’ sparks fury from activists

DHAKA: An Indian handgun designed for women and named after the victim of a fatal gang-rape in Delhi was condemned by rights activists on Sunday as a disgrace to her memory.The lightweight .32 calibre revolver was developed by the state-run Indian Ordnance Factory and can fit inside a

Palestinians protest in Ramallah over UNRWA strike

DHAKA: Dozens of Palestinian youths blocked several main roads and torched tires in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Sunday demonstrating against a month-long strike by the UN agency that operates in Palestinian refugee camps.Palestinian news agency Ma’an reported, says The Jerusalem

9 killed as bomb blasts outside Baghdad bus terminal

DHAKA: A car bomb exploded outside a bus terminal in central Baghdad on Sunday, killing at least nine people and wounding 16.Iraq police and medics said, reports The Jerusalem Post.No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack at the Allawi al-Hillah bus terminal but Sunni

US urges Sri Lanka to probe war crimes

DHAKA: The United States called on Sunday for Sri Lanka to investigate rights abuses by security forces after a top envoy completed a fact-finding mission to the island.The US embassy in Colombo said, reports The Straits Times.US State Department war crimes investigator Stephen Rapp

Thai protest leader rejects compromise, says ‘no civil war’

DHAKA: The leader of a movement trying to topple Thailand’s government said he would call off his protest if civil war threatened to break out but rejected any compromise with the government ahead of a planned ‘shutdown’ of the capital.Supporters of prime minister Yingluck

Thai PM will stay in Bangkok, but at a secret location

DHAKA: Thailand’s embattled prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra will stay in Bangkok through the planned ‘shutdown’ of the capital on Monday.Thailand officials said, reports The Straits Times.Anti-government protesters were mobilising on Sunday ahead of the ‘shutdown’ aimed at

IAEA eyes increased Iran presence over nuke deal

DHAKA: The UN atomic watchdog is considering increasing its presence in Iran to better handle a bigger workload in verifying Tehran is implementing a landmark deal with world powers to curb its nuclear programme.Diplomats said, reports TDS.Faced with an expanded role as a result of the

HK suffers smog as pollution rises

DHAKA: The New Year has revived old problems for Hong Kong as a murky smog blankets the usually glittering skyline, fuelling complaints from locals and visitors alike, and raising pressure on the government to act.Tourists expecting to take holiday snaps from the famous Victoria Harbour

Thousands flee as Indonesian volcano erupts

DHAKA: More than 25,000 people have fled their homes following a series of eruptions and lava flows from a volcano in Indonesia.An Indonesian official said on Sunday, reports The Straits Times.Mount Sinabung on the western island of Sumatra sent hot rocks and ash up to 5,000 metres in the

Sharon funeral to be held on Monday

DHAKA: Former Israeli premier Ariel Sharon will be buried on Monday afternoon at his southern ranch after a memorial service earlier in the day in parliament,.Israeli army radio said, reports The Straits Times.According to the report, Sharon’s coffin will be placed at parliament in

Thai protesters mobilise ahead of planned Bangkok ‘shutdown’

DHAKA: Thai anti-government protesters began mobilising in Bangkok on Sunday, a day ahead of their planned ‘shutdown’ of the capital as they step up efforts to topple the government and halt upcoming elections.The politically-turbulent country has been shaken by weeks of opposition

Fire destroys ancient Tibetan town

DHAKA: A fire that raged for nearly 10 hours has razed an ancient Tibetan town in southwest China that`s popular with tourists, burning down hundreds of buildings, state media and witnesses said.Fire engines failed to get onto the narrow streets after the fire broke out at about 1:30am on

Venezuela targets corrupt police

DHAKA: Venezuela`s interior minister has given out his personal mobile phone number on live television, and urged police officers to call him directly to report cases of corruption within the force.Miguel Rodriguez said rooting out corruption was the only way for the police to regain