Thursday, 18 Apr, 2024

International

Pakistan imposes curfew in city after sectarian clashes

DHAKA: The Pakistani government has imposed a rare curfew in the garrison city of Rawalpindi next to the capital after sectarian clashes during a Shia religious commemoration killed seven Sunni Muslims.Shoaib Bin Aziz, an official with the government of Punjab province where Rawalpindi is

6 dead, 3 missing in severe Vietnam floods

DHAKA: Six people have been killed in severe flooding sweeping central Vietnam, local officials said on Saturday, amid concerns that the inundations could continue to worsen.Authorities have evacuated some 20,000 people as heavy rains pummelled the country from Quang Tri to Ninh Thuan

Karzai calls on Taliban to participate in elders assembly

DHAKA: Afghan president Hamid Karzai on Saturday called on the Taliban and their allies to join an assembly on a security pact that could allow some US troops to stay in the country after 2014.Around 2,500 tribal elders and civil leaders are expected to take part in an assembly known as a

Russia hands India long-awaited aircraft carrier

DHAKA: Russia on Saturday finally handed over a refurbished ex-Soviet aircraft carrier to India after a refit that overran by five years and went vastly over budget, damaging ties between the countries.Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin and Indian defence minister AK Antony took

Sri Lanka rejects intl war crimes probe

DHAKA: A senior Sri Lankan minister rejected pressure on Saturday for an international probe into alleged war crimes at the end of the country`s civil war, saying the government would ‘definitely’ not allow it.‘Why should we have an internal inquiry? We will object to it ...

UK warns of ransom scam targeting millions

DHAKA: The British government has issued an unusually stark warning about a cyberscam that locks users out of their computers unless they pay a ransom, saying that tens of millions of people may soon be targeted.In a message headlined ‘URGENT ALERT’, Britain’s National Crime Agency

Philippines typhoon death toll rises to 3,633

DHAKA: More than a week after Typhoon Haiyan laid waste to much of the central Philippines, the toll is overwhelming: entire communities flattened, thousands dead and nearly 2 million people displaced.The arrival in recent days of hundreds of aid workers and military troops has seen a

2 S Koreans killed in Gangnam copter crash

DHAKA: A South Korean helicopter on Saturday crashed into a high-rise apartment block in Seoul`s posh Gangnam district, leaving two pilots dead.The private helicopter hit several apartments near the top of the 30-storey building before plunging to the ground, said the National Emergency

Journey donates $435,000

DHAKA: Journey is donating $350,000 to help relief efforts in the Philippines, and its lead singer has a message for his homeland: "Don`t Stop Believin`."Mr Arnel Pineda and the rest of the band announced the donation on Friday. It will go to the United Nations World Food Programme, which

31 killed in Libya militia protest

DHAKA: At least 31 people have been killed and 235 injured in clashes in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, officials say, after militiamen opened fire on protesters.The demonstrators had marched to the headquarters of the Misrata militia to demand that it leave Tripoli.Hours after the

Eurozone economic recovery falters in Q3

DHAKA: The eurozone`s economic woes persisted in the third quarter as Italy`s longest recession continued and a contraction in French output dragged growth down to 0.1 percent.In the summer, hopes of a strong recovery were boosted by a second-quarter GDP rise of 0.3 percent, but the

Bennett visits DC to counter

DHAKA: Israel is actively lobbying the US Congress to pass new sanctions legislation against Iran despite objections from the Obama administration, with Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett making the prime minister’s case in both chambers on Capitol Hill. “We’re bringing

Hundreds held over Canada child porn

DHAKA: Police in Canada say 348 people have been arrested and nearly 400 children rescued during a three-year investigation into child pornography.At the centre of the inquiry was a Toronto-based firm that allegedly sold DVDs and streamed videos of naked children.Azov Films marketed the

CHOGM meeting to open in Sri Lanka

DHAKA: Commonwealth summit is set to open in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, amid continuing scrutiny of the government`s human rights record.On Thursday Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa rejected criticism of his government`s actions during the campaign which defeated Tamil Tiger

President Obama announces health law fix

DHAKA: US President Barack Obama has announced a one-year reprieve for millions of Americans facing cancelled insurance coverage under his healthcare law.A contrite Mr Obama said his administration "fumbled the rollout" of his flagship domestic achievement.But insurers, who axed policies

Geneva peace talks on Syria set for Dec 12

DHAKA: A long-delayed conference aimed at ending Syria’s 32-month conflict will be held in Geneva on December 12, a Syrian government daily reported on Thursday, citing diplomatic sources in Paris.The Al-Watan newspaper said that US state secretary John Kerry had told his French

‘Obama victim of racism’

DHAKA: US talk show queen Oprah Winfrey has said she feels the time is finally right for audiences to embrace films that tackle slavery and civil rights.The 59-year-old told BBC Arts Editor Will Gompertz she was ‘so happy’ a number of new titles cover the topics.One of these, ‘12

Kerry opposes new sanctions on Iran

DHAKA: US state secretary John Kerry has told lawmakers any new sanctions against Iran would risk ruining talks over Tehran’s nuclear programme.He told a Senate banking committee that the US might lose negotiating partners if it imposed economic penalties, reports the BBC.The panel has

Ex-German president goes on trial

DHAKA: Former German president Christian Wulff is to go on trial accused of receiving and granting favours in office.He is alleged to have accepted the payment of hotel bills by a film producer in return for lobbying while he was premier of Lower Saxony in 2008.Wulff, who stepped down in

4 US Marines die in base accident

DHAKA: Four US Marines have been killed in what officials described as a tragic accident at a base in southern California.They had been clearing unexploded ordnance at Camp Pendleton, near San Diego, a Marine official said.The incident happened on Wednesday morning during a range