Wednesday, 22 Jan, 2025

International

SAARC leaders invited for Modi oath ceremony

DHAKA: Heads of governments of the SAARC members’ countries have been invited to join swearing-in ceremony of newly Indian Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi to be held on May 26. But Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would not be able to join the program as she will be visiting Japan from

Pakistan air strikes ‘kill 32’

DHAKA: Air strikes in Pakistan have killed at least 32 militants in North Waziristan including ‘important commanders’. Officials described precision air strikes on targets near the border with Afghanistan. Tens of thousands of Pakistanis have died in bomb attacks since the Pakistani

Charles ‘compared Russian actions to Nazis’

DHAKA: A former Polish war refugee who met Prince Charles in Canada has said he likened some Nazi actions in Europe to those of Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Marienne Ferguson was speaking after meeting Prince Charles at a Nova Scotia immigration museum where she works. As they discussed

Thai army chief to meet key players

DHAKA: Thailand’s army chief is to hold talks with key players in the political crisis, a day after declaring martial law in the protest-hit nation. General Prayuth Chan-Ocha has asked to meet the government, the Senate speaker and the two main protest factions. After the talks it

Brazilian police go on strike ahead of WC

DHAKA: Thousands of police in at least 14 Brazilian states are holding a one-day strike over pay. The strike takes place less than a month before the beginning of the football World Cup, in another hiccup in preparations for the event. The industrial action affects several World Cup

Modi to resign as Gujarat CM Wednesday

DHAKA: Narendra Modi, who will be sworn in as India's Prime Minister on Monday, is expected to resign as chief minister around 3pm Wednesday after attending a special session of the state legislative assembly where he will be given a farewell. Later at 4 pm he will attend the meeting of

Twin blasts kill 118 in Nigeria

DHAKA:  At least 118 people were killed Tuesday in twin blasts at a market in the central Nigerian city of Jos, an official said, warning the toll could climb. The explosions, which targeted Terminus market, went off some 20 to 30 minutes apart, setting fire to the entire venue, reports

Nigeria asks UN to blacklist Boko Haram

DHAKA: Nigeria has formally asked the UN Security Council al Qaeda sanctions committee to blacklist the Islamist militant group Boko Haram after the kidnapping of hundreds of schoolgirls. UN diplomats said on Tuesday, reports The Straits Times. If there is no objection by the 15-member

‘Moscow and West on verge of 2nd Cold War’

DHAKA: Russia and Western powers are on the brink of a new Cold War over the crisis in Ukraine. Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview broadcast on Tuesday, reports The Straits Times. ‘Basically we are slowly but surely approaching a second Cold War that nobody

Thailand protest leader vows to ‘keep fighting’

DHAKA: Thailand’s opposition demonstrators vowed on Tuesday to keep up their campaign to topple the government, despite the imposition of martial law by the military to quell political violence. ‘We will still keep fighting - we have not won at all,’ protest leader Suthep

Ukraine confirms Russian troop pullout from border

DHAKA: Ukraine confirmed on Tuesday that Russia had pulled its troops back from the border for the first time in a move that could ease spiralling tensions five days ahead of a make-or-break presidential poll. The state border service's surprise announcement that none of the estimated

Modi to be sworn in on May 26

DHAKA: Narendra Modi will be sworn in as Indian prime minister and form a government on May 26, after winning the general election in a landslide last week. The president of his right-wing party said on Tuesday, reports The Straits Times. ‘Narendra Modi’s swearing-in as prime

‘Thai elections on Aug 3’

DHAKA: Thailand’s caretaker prime minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan said on Tuesday he had asked the Election Commission to organise an election on August 3. Niwatthamrong also said he would talk to the army chief ‘as soon as possible’ to end the country’s political crisis,

Rajnath likely to get home, Jaitley finance in India

DHAKA: The BJP leadership made some progress in settling top slots in government with party chief Rajnath Singh tipped to be the home minister while senior leader Arun Jaitley could be the next finance minister. While a degree of clarity is emerging on ministry formation, the BJP is yet

4 dead, 15 injured in train collision near Moscow

DHAKA: At least four people were killed and 15 injured on Tuesday after parts of a freight train derailed and collided with a passenger train south of Moscow. The emergencies ministry said, reports The Times of India. The ministry said the accident occurred at 1:00pm local time (0900

‘I will not live for myself, but for the country’

DHAKA: Narendra Modi was unanimously elected as the leader of BJP parliamentary party on Tuesday with the Prime Minister-designate saying the election result was a vote for ‘new hope and aspiration’ and he would try his best to live up to the expectations of the people of the country.

US sends 130 more 'advisers' to Iraq

DHAKA: The US has sent 130 more military advisors to the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel says.The marines and special operations forces will assess the humanitarian situation and will not be engaged in combat, a US defence official said.The US has been

Obama leads tributes to Robin Williams

DHAKA: US president Barack Obama has led tributes to US actor and comedian Robin Williams, who has been found dead, aged 63, in an apparent suicide.Marin County Police in California said Williams was pronounced dead at his home after officials responded to an emergency call around

‘Only peace can ensure Israel’s survival’

DHAKA: Saudi Arabia told Israel on Tuesday that it must reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians if it is to survive as a nation, and criticized Muslims for being divided and failing to stop the Jewish state attacking its Arab neighbors.‘Israel has to realize that peace is the

‘Egyptian security forces planned massacre’

DHAKA: The killings of at least 817 people by Egyptian security forces last year probably amount to a crime against humanity.Human Rights Watch says, reports the BBC.A report by the US-based group says 1,000 or more people probably died in one day around Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque.The deaths