Thursday, 15 May, 2025

International

Pakistan heatwave toll crosses 1,000

DHAKA: The worst heat wave to hit Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi for nearly 35 years has killed more than 1,000 people, a charity said on Thursday, as morgues ran out of space and residents rushed to supply over-stretched public hospitals.Tents offering iced water and rehydration

Myanmar parliament voting on constitution amending

DHAKA: Myanmar’s parliament was voting on Thursday on whether to change two of the most contested provisions of the country’s military-drafted constitution, using a rarely employed balloting system lawmakers said could make the result closer.Lawmakers have been debating since Tuesday

Mother, baby survive Colombia plane crash

DHAKA: A young mother and her baby have been found alive five days after their plane crashed in the jungle of western Colombia.A Colombian Air Force chief described their survival as "a miracle".Maria Nelly Murillo, 18, and her one-year-old son were found by rescuers near to where their

IS re-enters Kurdish held town of Kobane

DHAKA: Islamic State (IS) fighters have entered the northern Syrian city of Kobane, battling Kurdish forces.Activists say, reports the BBC.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says a number of people were killed in fierce clashes in the centre of the town on the Syrian-Turkish

‘US must work to repair relations after spying claims’

DHAKA: The United States must ‘do everything in its power’ to repair relations after reports emerged that it spied on French President Francois Hollande and two of his predecessors.France Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Wednesday, reports The Straits Times.‘The US should

Putin extends ban on Western food imports

DHAKA: President Vladimir Putin has extended Russia’s ban on food imports from the West by one year, longer than had been expected, in retaliation to the extension of European sanctions against Moscow over Ukraine.The ban, which prohibits most food imports from the United States, the

More women from Germany joining IS to fight

DHAKA: Germany’s domestic intelligence agency (BfV) fears a growing number of women have gone to Iraq and Syria to fight alongside Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria militants.German intelligence chief said on Wednesday, reports The Straits Times.Hans-Georg Maassen, the head of the

France summons US envoy over Wikileaks claims

DHAKA: France has summoned the US envoy in Paris over claims that the US spied on President Francois Hollande and his two predecessors.Officials say, reports the BBC.Whistleblower website Wikileaks reports the US National Security Agency (NSA) spied on Hollande, Nicolas Sarkozy and

Pakistan heatwave deaths cross 800

DHAKA: The death toll from a heatwave in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province has passed 800, hospital officials say, as mortuaries reached capacity.At least 780 people had died in Karachi, BBC Urdu reported. Another 30 deaths were reported elsewhere in the province, state owned PTV

US ‘spied on French presidents’

DHAKA: The US National Security Agency (NSA) spied on French Presidents Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande in 2006-12.WikiLeaks says, reports the BBC.The whistleblower website cites ‘top secret intelligence reports and technical documents’ from the NSA.The US would

3 Chinese milk producers asked to recall infant formula

DHAKA: China's food safety watchdog has asked three milk producers in central Shaanxi province to recall substandard infant formula milk powder and urged local authorities to punish the firms severely if they have broken the law.Tainted milk is a sensitive topic in China after a 2008

6.9-magnitude quake hits Japan

DHAKA: A strong earthquake has struck off an island chain south of Tokyo, but officials say there is no danger of a tsunami.Japan’s Meteorological Agency said the earthquake hit Tuesday evening and measured a preliminary magnitude of 6.9. It said it was located very deep, about 480

Pakistan heatwave toll reaches 700

DHAKA: Pakistan’s prime minister called for emergency measures as the death toll from a heatwave in southern Sindh province reached nearly 700.The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said it had received orders from Nawaz Sharif to undertake immediate response measures.The

India charges 8 men over rape of elderly nun

DHAKA: Indian prosecutors said on Tuesday they have formally charged eight men over the rape of an elderly Catholic nun that shocked the country earlier this year.The nun, who is in her 70s, needed surgery after the attack in March when a gang of robbers broke into the convent school

Pakistan declares emergency as heatwave toll reaches 500

DHAKA: Pakistan’s prime minister called for emergency measures as the death toll from a heatwave in southern Sindh province reaches 500.The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said it had received orders from Nawaz Sharif to undertake immediate response measures.The army has

China aims to challenge US air dominance

DHAKA: China is mounting a serious effort to challenge US military superiority in air and space, forcing the Pentagon to seek new technologies and systems to stay ahead of its rapidly developing rival.Deputy defense secretary Robert Work said on Monday, reports The Straits Times.The

12 killed as Taliban attack on Afghan parliament

DHAKA: The Afghan parliament has been attacked by Taliban fighters in Kabul, with a series of explosions and gunfire forcing politicians to evacuate.Al Jazeera’s Jennifer Glasse, reporting from Kabul, said five people were killed, in addition to the seven fighters who launched the

6 gunmen killed as Taliban attack on Afghan parliament

DHAKA: A coordinated Taliban attack on the Afghan parliament in Kabul has ended with all six gunmen killed.The interior ministry says, reports the BBC.Attackers detonated a huge car bomb outside the building, before racing into parliament itself, reports said.Police evacuated the

China opens new land route for Indian pilgrims to Tibet

DHAKA: China inaugurated a new land crossing into Tibet on Monday for Indian pilgrims who wish to visit one of the holiest sites in both Hinduism and Buddhism, state media said, as the two countries seek to set aside differences and improve ties.The first group of pilgrims entered Tibet

Afghan parliament under attack

DHAKA: Multiple explosions have taken place around the Afghan parliament in the capital Kabul.A security official told the media gunfire was also heard outside the building. Live television footage showed lawmakers being evacuated amid smoke, reports the BBC.It is not immediately clear