Friday, 17 Jan, 2025

International

New mass grave found in Sri Lanka four years after war

DHAKA: An unmarked mass grave has been found in Sri Lanka’s former war zone, the first discovery of an unmarked gravesite since troops defeated Tamil rebels more than four years ago, police said on Sunday.Construction workers in the coastal district of Mannar stumbled on at least 10

Saudi king appoints son to head Mecca province

DHAKA: Saudi King Abdullah on Sunday appointed his son Prince Mishaal as governor of Mecca Province, one of the most prominent jobs in the country, the latest move in a rolling reshuffle of senior ruling family members over the past two years. He replaces Prince Khaled al-Faisal, who has

New air strikes on Aleppo kill, wound dozens

DHAKA: Syria warplanes bombed the divided northern city of Aleppo, killing and wounding dozens of people December 22, while a car bomb in Homs killed at least eight, including six schoolchildren.The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) meanwhile said half a million people

Tens of thousands of anti-govt protesters march in Bangkok

DHAKA: Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Thailand’s capital Sunday, some surrounding the home of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, whom they want to oust.Some 70,000 to 80,000 protesters were marching in Bangkok, Lt Gen Paradon Patthanathabut,

Pope urges Italy to find houses for all families

DHAKA: Pope Francis urged anti-austerity protesters who attended his weekly Angelus blessing to use dialogue and not violence to press their demands.Addressing a group of protesters among the pilgrims gathered Sunday in St Peter’s Square, the pope appealed for ‘a constructive

Turkey removes another 25 police chiefs

DHAKA: Turkish authorities have removed another 25 police chiefs from their posts, media reported.It was a part of a widening a crackdown on the force since it launched a corruption investigation that prime minister Tayyip Erdogan has called a ‘dirty operation’ against his rule,

‘Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS’

DHAKA: A top Indian PR executive has sparked outrage after she reportedly sent a racist tweet shortly before boarding a plane to Africa.The tweet, sent from the account of Justine Sacco, read, ‘Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m white!’Sacco is the director

Egypt court jails activists over protests

DHAKA: A Cairo court has sentenced three leading activists to three years in prison for organising an illegal protest, the latest move in a widening crackdown on critics of the interim government.Two of the three activists, Ahmed Maher and Mohamed Adel, are leading members of the April 6

Protests shut down Bangkok’s major intersections

DHAKA: Protesters shut down traffic at major junctions in Bangkok on Sunday in a bid to oust the caretaker government a day ahead of the registration for candidates in the February 2 snap polls.Although the protest leaders had expected a turnout in the region of 2 million, the National

Pro-Brotherhood TV launches broadcasting from Istanbul

DHAKA: A pro-Muslim Brotherhood TV channel launched broadcasting in Egypt from its station in Istanbul.A Turkish media outlet reported, says Today’s Zaman.The channel, called ‘Rabia’, will have an Islamist vision.Taking its name from Rabia al-Adawiya Square in Egypt, which turned

8 killed as suicide attack at military post in Libya

DHAKA: Eight people were killed and 10 others were injured when a suicide bomber struck the Barsis military checkpoint east of Benghazi on Sunday.Libya’s official LANA news agency said, reports CNN.LANA also said casualties include soldiers and civilians who were at the checkpoint when

‘Talks on nuclear deal ‘slowly’ making progress’

DHAKA: Technical talks between Iran and six world powers aimed at resolving complex technical steps of an interim deal reached in November on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear issue were ‘slowly’ making progress.Iranian deputy foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said Saturday, The Jerusalem

Ice storms, snowfall, rain hinder holiday travel across US

DHAKA: Ice storms, heavy snowfall, possible tornadoes and the threat of flash floods are expected to create travel nightmares over the weekend in many parts of the United States, causing flight delays and unsafe road conditions for some of the millions of people travelling ahead of

Cargo train derails in Kenya slum, scores feared trapped

DHAKA: A cargo train derailed in a sprawling Nairobi slum on Sunday, crashing into makeshift homes where scores of people are feared trapped.The Kenyan Red Cross said, reports The Straits Times.‘One patient has been evacuated ... scores are feared trapped,’ the organisation said.One

Ban calls for end to South Sudan violence

DHAKA: UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon on Sunday demanded an immediate end to violence in South Sudan, warning that tens of thousands remained vulnerable.‘I demand that all political, military and militia leaders stop hostilities and end the violence against the civilians,’ Ban told

Obama warns South Sudan over violence

DHAKA: US President Barack Obama has warned South Sudan that Washington and its allies would cut aid to the country over any attempted military coup, amid growing fears of civil war.Obama also urged South Sudan`s leaders to help protect US personnel and citizens in the conflict-ravaged

Protesters force Libya internet shutdown

DHAKA: Protesters armed with knives and sticks have stormed the building of Libya`s largest internet provider in the capital, Tripoli.Some 150 people forced employees of the state-owned internet provider, the Libyan Telecoms and Technology company (LTT), to switch off its service for much

Cuba calls for better US relations

DHAKA: Cuban President Raul Castro has called for "civilised relations" with the United States, saying the two countries should respect their differences.President Castro said the US should drop its demand for regime change on the communist-run island, reports BBC.That would allow both

Thai opposition gears up for rally

DHAKA: The Thai opposition is to hold a mass rally in the capital Bangkok as its campaign to bring down the government of Yingluck Shinawatra continues.Anti-government protesters have been holding huge demonstrations in the city for several weeks.On Saturday the main opposition Democrat

Mozambique plane crash `intentional`

DHAKA: Mozambique`s civil aviation institute has said that it believes that the pilot of a plane that crashed last month deliberately caused the accident.Mozambican Airlines`s flight TM470 left the capital Maputo bound for Angola on 29 November but crashed over Namibia, killing all 33