Friday, 26 Apr, 2024

International

Nigerian militants kill 19 motorists

DHAKA: The armed men reportedly stopped motorists on the road and ordered them out of their cars before shooting them or hacking them to death.Witnesses told the BBC the men were from Boko Haram, though the Islamist militant group has not yet commented.North-eastern Nigeria is under a

‘Obama frustrated by snags in health-care rollout’

DHAKA: US president Barack Obama is frustrated by the problems in the rollout of his signature health care reform, and the administration intends to fix them, but the programme’s real test will not come until early next year.US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said on Sunday, reports The

Egyptian troops fire teargas to disperse Islamist protesters

DHAKA: Egyptian security forces fired bird shot and tear gas to prevent supporters of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Mursi from marching on Sunday to the site of a protest camp that was destroyed two months ago.The crowd of about 500 people were students from Al-Azhar University, the

Manmohan leaves for Russia, China

DHAKA: Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh left Sunday for a four-day trip to Russia and China aimed at strengthening trade ties and addressing a festering border dispute with Beijing.The prime minister will also look to secure energy, defence and other economic deals in both

Kuwait denies taking UNSC seat

DHAKA: Kuwaiti diplomats have denied media reports that Kuwait would supplant Saudi Arabia at the United Nations Security Council.Riyadh last week said that it rejected its rotating Security Council seat hours after winning it, saying that the council was incapable of ending wars and

Hundreds flee homes in typhoon-hit Japan island

DHAKA: Hundreds fled their homes on Sunday on a Japanese island already devastated by a typhoon for fear that torrential rain would trigger fresh mudslides.The town of Oshima, 120 kilometres south of Tokyo, advised 2,300 residents in two districts on the island of the same name to

Pope hails Vatican sprinters as ‘spiritual athletes’

DHAK: Catholic faithful sprinted along the main avenue leading to the Vatican on Sunday in an unusual initiative hailed by Pope Francis as showing that believers were ‘spiritual athletes’.The Vatican organised the event named ‘100 Metres of Running and Faith’, saying it wanted to

Sydney Opera House celebrates 40 years

DHAKA: The Sydney Opera House, world heritage-listed as ‘one of the indisputable masterpieces of human creativity’, celebrated its 40th birthday Sunday with a flotilla of lifesavers, Aboriginal dancers and a gigantic cupcake.Huge crowds packed the steps for a distinctively Australian

US plans to send $1.6 billion in aid to Pakistan

DHAKA: The Obama administration has reportedly made a quite decision to resume military and economic assistance to Pakistan as relations between the two countries have thawed.CNN on Saturday cited a senior administration official as saying, The Jerusalem Post reports.According to the

Suicide bomber kills 30 in Syria’s Hama

DHAKA: A suicide bomber driving a truck packed with 1.5 tonnes of explosives killed at least 30 people and wounded dozens in Syria’s central city of Hama on Sunday.The man blew himself up inside the vehicle on a busy road on the outskirts of the city, the state-run SANA news agency

Syria peace talks set for Nov 23

DHAKA: Arab League chief Nabil Al-Araby said on Sunday peace talks aimed at ending the conflict in Syria would take place on November 23 in Geneva.‘I discussed the Syria file with Lakhdar Brahimi and it was decided that the Geneva meeting would take place on November 23 and arrangements

Death toll in India from toxic liquor rises to 42

DHAKA: Police say another 10 people have died in hospitals after drinking toxic bootleg liquor in northern India, raising the death toll to 42 in the past three days.District Magistrate Neena Sharma says another 40 people are being treated in hospitals in Uttar Pradesh state, reports The

‘Only removal of sanctions will provide hope’

DHAKA: Iran views the removal of punitive measures on its economy as the sole signifier of progress in talks with world powers on its nuclear issue.    Alaeddin Boroujerdi, Chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission said Saturday, The

Gaddafi compound to convert into Public Park

DHAKA: Muammar Gaddafi`s former military barracks and compound in Tripoli will be converted into a public park, the Libyan government has announced.Ikram Bash Imam, the country`s tourism minister, said on Saturday that the government has embarked on "preliminary works" in the development

Australia declares fire emergency

DHAKA: Premier Barry O`Farrell has declared a state of emergency across NSW for the next 30 days, which will give special powers to all emergency services to force evacuations and deal with what could be a catastrophe.The last time such an order was used was in March 2012, to cope with

9 Lebanese pilgrims freed after swap deal

DHAKA: Nine Lebanese Shia pilgrims who were kidnapped by rebels in Syria in May 2012 have arrived back in Beirut a day after being released.There were jubilant scenes as they were greeted on the tarmac by family members and Lebanese politicians.Two Turkish pilots who were being held

Accidentally freed US killers recaptured

DHAKA: Two convicted murderers who used forged documents to trick their way out of prison in Florida have been recaptured, US officials say.Joseph Jenkins and Charles Walker, both 34, were seized without incident at a motel in Panama City, Florida.The men, who were serving life sentences,

Australian bush fires set to worsen

DHAKA: Australian firefighters battling destructive bush fires in New South Wales are preparing for worsening conditions in the next few days.The return of hot weather and strong winds is expected to fan the flames - the worst in the state for a decade.Around 200 homes have already been

Tunisia forces kill nine `Islamists`

DHAKA: Tunisian security forces have killed at least nine suspected Islamist militants who are blamed for a deadly attack on a police patrol, officials say.They say at least three other suspects were arrested in the operation in the Mount Taouyer area, about 70km (44 miles) west of the

Belgian plane crash `kills 10`

DHAKA: At least 10 people have been killed after a small tourist plane crashed near the city of Namur in south-east Belgium.It was carrying a group of skydivers and crashed shortly after take-off, killing all those on board, the local mayor has told the AFP news agency.The plane is