Monday, 23 Dec, 2024

International

Death toll rises to 14, many feared trapped

DHAKA: Rescue teams Sunday continued to rummage through the debris of an under-construction five-storeyed building, which collapsed Saturday afternoon at Canacona, 80 km from Panaji, killing 14 onsite labourers.Police said a portion of the building, Ruby Residency, located in the Chawdi

US face record low temperatures

DHAKA: Parts of the US are braced for potentially record-breaking low temperatures as an Arctic chill brings more freezing weather.A winter storm has already blanketed areas of Canada and the north-eastern US with up to 2ft (60 cm) of snow.It has been blamed for 16 deaths and the

‘Video footage of Devyani strip search is hoax’

DHAKA: The US has dismissed as a hoax a video purportedly showing CCTV footage of senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade’s strip search after her arrest, saying it is a ‘dangerous and provocative fabrication’.‘This video, which we are aware of, is absolutely not footage of Ms

Russia sets up special zone for protests

DHAKA: The Russian authorities are to set up a special zone for protest rallies at the Sochi Winter Olympics, where security will be tight.A special security regime will be in place in and around the southern city from 7 January until 21 March.The authorities announced last year that a

Qatar criticises Egypt’s crackdown on Islamist protesters

DHAKA: Qatar said on Saturday the decision by Egypt to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group was ‘a prelude to a shoot-to-kill policy’ against demonstrators.Qatar was a firm supporter of Egypt’s former Islamist president Mohamed Mursi and ties with Cairo have

Erdogan denounces ‘plot’ against Turkey’s future

DHAKA: Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose Islamist-leaning government is engulfed in a corruption scandal, on Saturday called the political crisis a ‘plot’ against Turkey’s ‘future and stability’ by rival forces.At a luncheon in Istanbul with generally

‘Kim Jong-un fed uncle to dogs’

DHAKA: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un executed his uncle by having him stripped naked and eaten alive by starving dogs while he watched.Jang Song-thaek was said to have been thrown into a cage with his five closest aides, after which 120 hounds, which had been starved for three days,

6 killed as portion of 3-storeyed building collapses in India

DHAKA: Six workers died, many were injured while some are feared trapped under the debris of an under-construction building in Canacona town, 60 km from Panaji on Saturday.Police said a portion of a three-storeyed building, Ruby Residency located in the Chawdi ward of Canacona,

Suu Kyi urges Myanmar army to back charter reform

DHAKA: Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday called on the powerful military to get involved in reforming the country’s junta-era constitution, which currently bars her from becoming president.The Nobel laureate, who has repeatedly asserted her readiness to take on

Antarctic rescue ship stuck in ice

DHAKA: The Chinese ice-breaker that helped rescue passengers stranded on the Akademik Shokalskiy vessel in Antarctica is now stuck itself.An Australian ice-breaker carrying the rescued passengers is no longer on standby and is returning to shore.On Thursday, a helicopter from the Chinese

‘It was just PM’s farewell press conference’

DHAKA: Chief minister Nitish Kumar of Indian state of Bihar on Saturday said India prime minister Manmohan Singh’s press conference Friday was only meant to bid farewell to public life.‘There is nothing more to react to the Prime Minister’s press conference other than it being a

Pakistan not immediately lifting Musharraf’s travel ban

DHAKA: Pakistan’s home ministry on Saturday said they were not immediately lifting a travel ban on former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who suffered a heart problem on the way to his treason trial earlier this week.The 70-year-old former ruler was taken ill and rushed to a military

Taliban fighters’ release delayed after US protest

DHAKA: Afghan president Hamid Karzai has delayed the release from jail of 88 suspected Taliban fighters following complaints from the United States that they could return to the battlefield.Afghan officials said on Saturday, reports The Straits Times.The planned release had angered US

Chinese warship in Cyprus to aid Syrian chemical weapons removal

DHAKA: A Chinese frigate which will help escort Syria’s stockpile of chemical weapons out of the country docked in Cyprus on Saturday as part of a delayed international mission.The Yancheng, a missile frigate, will accompany a Norwegian-Danish convoy which is in international waters off

New Syria rebel alliance declares war on Al-Qaeda

DHAKA: A newly formed Syrian rebel alliance has declared war on the powerful Al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and joined other opposition groups in battling the extremists.‘We, the Army of the Mujahideen, pledge to defend ourselves and our honour, wealth

11 people killed in Karachi violence

DHAKA: At least 11 people were killed in different incidents of violence in Karachi on Saturday.DawnNews reported.Unknown gunmen opened indiscriminate fire at a juice shop near Maskan Chowrangi in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, killing the shop owner and two other people whereas four others sustained

Militant chief Majid al-Majid ‘dies in Lebanon’

DHAKA: Majid al-Majid, the commander of the al-Qaeda-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades, has died in custody in a hospital in Lebanon, state media say.Majid al-Majid, a Saudi who is on Saudi Arabia`s most-wanted-terrorists list, was arrested in Beirut recently.An army general told media the

South Sudan ceasefire talks delayed

DHAKA: Face-to-face talks between warring parties in South Sudan have been delayed, government and rebel delegations said on Saturday, dashing hopes of a swift ceasefire to end raging battles and risks of all-out civil war.South Sudan information minister Michael Makuei, part of the

20,000 displaced as Indonesia volcano erupts

DHAKA: An Indonesian volcano that has erupted relentlessly for months shot volcanic ash into the air 30 times on Saturday, forcing further evacuations with more than 20,000 people now displaced.An Indonesian official said, reports The Straits Times.Mount Sinabung on the western island of

Iraq govt loses Fallujah control

DHAKA: The Iraqi government has lost control of the city of Fallujah, which is now held by Al-Qaeda-linked militants.A senior security official in Anbar province said on Saturday, reports The Straits Times.‘Fallujah is under the control of ISIL,’ the official said, referring to the