Sunday, 22 Dec, 2024

International

Rouhani touts `brotherhood` with UAE

DHAKA: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will not allow any external threats to damage the "brotherhood" between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, Iran`s Press TV quoted him on Friday.“Our friendship and brotherhood with the United Arab Emirates is such that no external factors can

European Muslim fighters in Syria

DHAKA: A leading European expert on security and counterterrorism published an analysis on a range of countries that have sent radical Islamic fighters to overthrow the Syrian Regime, on Wednesday.Thomas Hegghammer, a political scientist with the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment,

Vatican advance team to arrive to plan Pope`s visit

DHAKA: A Vatican advance team is expected in Israel in the near future to plan for a likely papal visit in late May.Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who will fly to Rome on Sunday and meet Pope Francis the next morning, will extend a formal invitation for him to visit the Holy

Japan `human zoo` defamed indigenous Taiwanese

DHAKA: A Japanese court has ordered public broadcaster NHK to pay US$10,000 (S$12,500) in damages to an indigenous Taiwanese woman for defaming her by using the term "human zoo" in a programme, officials said on Friday.Overturning a lower court ruling, the Tokyo High Court ordered NHK on

Malay family jailed over child`s `exorcism` death

DHAKA: A Malaysian high court on Friday jailed three family members who suffocated their two-year-old to death by piling on top of her in a suspected exorcism ritual.Chua Wan Zuen, aged two, died after being pinned down under a blanket in August last year with eight people, including her

Thai protesters target army HQ

DHAKA: Protesters in Thailand have forced their way into the army headquarters compound, as anti-government rallies went into a sixth day.More protesters gathered outside ruling party headquarters, as part of efforts to force the government to step down, reports BBC.On Thursday, Prime

Libya arms depot blast kills 30

DHAKA: At least 30 people have been killed in an explosion at a weapons depot in southern Libya, officials say.The blast is believed to have occurred after a group of people, reportedly including African immigrants, were trying to steal copper, reports BBC.A hospital near the depot in

Deadly quake hits near Iran nuclear plant

DHAKA: An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 struck a town Thursday in southern Iran, killing seven people while causing no damage at the country`s only nuclear power plant, state television reported.The U.S. Geological Survey said the temblor struck some 8.7 miles northeast

Maxima boss fired over comments

DHAKA: The head of a supermarket chain in Latvia has lost his job over controversial comments he made after the collapse of a shop in Riga.Gintaras Jasinskas, chairman of Maxima Latvia, sparked anger by saying: "It is those who feel guilty who resign.", reports BBC.His remarks came after

China sends warplanes to air zone

DHAKA: China has sent warplanes to its newly declared air defence zone in the East China Sea, state media reports.The vast zone, announced last week, covers territory claimed by China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.China has said all planes transiting the zone must file flight plans and

15 killed as Iraq struggles to stem unrest

DHAKA: Attacks in Iraq on Thursday killed 15 people as a senior police officer escaped assassination, the latest in a surge of violence nationwide that authorities have failed to stem.The bloodshed, in which more than 6,000 people have been killed this year, is the worst violence in Iraq

Sri Lanka set to begin survey of civil war dead

DHAKA: Sri Lanka is set to start a survey to determine the number of people killed during the country’s 26-year civil war, the government says.The census will collect information on deaths, missing people and damage to property from 1983 to 2009, it said.It comes amid international

More than 50 police injured in Tunisia clashes

DHAKA: More than 50 Tunisian police officers were injured, two seriously, during clashes with demonstrators in the north-central farming town of Siliana.Tunisia interior ministry said Thursday, reports The Voice of Russia.The clashes broke out Wednesday evening as the town held a general

3 hurt in first clash between Thai demonstrators

DHAKA: Thailand has registered the first clash between pro- and anti-government demonstrators as crowds blocked off state agencies across the country, calling on the prime minister to step down.The clash took place Thursday in the central province of Pathum Thani where a hundred of

‘No cease-fire in Syria’

DHAKA: UN Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has admitted that there will be no cease-fire in Syria as sides wait to attend the long-awaited Geneva peace conference.Brahimi said both sides of Syria’s civil war now agreed that there was no military solution to the conflict.‘Some time

Russia opens criminal probe against ex-defence minister

DHAKA: Russian investigators on Thursday brought criminal charges against former defence minister Anatoly Serdyukov, who was fired a year ago in a major corruption scandal.The once influential minister was charged with negligence for ordering the refurbishment of a private holiday

Bomb blasts kill 6 in Afghanistan

DHAKA: Six civilians were killed and some injured on Thursday when two bombs exploded in eastern Afghanistan, a local official said.‘A bomb was placed in a car and second one was a roadside bomb, but it is not yet clear if they were remotely detonated,’ said Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, a

Tehelka chief quits over handling of sex case

DHAKA: The managing editor of Indian investigative magazine Tehelka quit Thursday after coming under fire over her handling of allegations that the publication’s founder sexually assaulted a reporter.In an email to staff, Shoma Chaudhury denied being part of a ‘cover-up’ to protect

Iran unveils new radar system

DHAKA: Iran unveiled its newest domestically manufactured phased array radar system, named the Asr (Era), in a ceremony held in Tehran on Wednesday.The commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, and the deputy commander of the Iranian Armed Forces, Brigadier General

Stadium collapse kills 2 in Brazil ahead of World Cup

DHAKA: With one thunderous crash, Brazil’s troubled preparations for the World Cup are thrown in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, just as soccer gears up for the high-profile setting of the schedule for next year’s big event.Part of the stadium that will host the