Friday, 21 Mar, 2025

International

Court to probe UK Iraq abuse claims

DHAKA: An initial investigation into claims that UK forces abused Iraqi detainees is to be opened by the International Criminal Court. The preliminary examination will analyse alleged crimes attributed to UK armed forces deployed in Iraq between 2003 and 2008. Attorney General Dominic

Soldiers killed in east Ukraine ‘ambush’

DHAKA: Six soldiers have been killed and eight more wounded in Ukraine’s restive eastern region. The country’s defense ministry has said, reports Al Jazzera. The ministry said separatists ‘ambushed’ the soldiers near the city of Krematorsk on Tuesday. According to the ministry,

Nigeria govt ‘ready’ for Boko Haram talks

DHAKA: Nigeria is ready to talk to Islamist militants Boko Haram for the release of more than 200 abducted schoolgirls. A minister has told the BBC. Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau said on Monday that captured girls who have not converted to Islam can be swapped for jailed fighters.

Putin to visit China on May 20

DHAKA: Russian president Vladimir Putin will next week travel to China for a visit expected to see Moscow and Beijing seal a landmark gas agreement. The Kremlin said on Tuesday, reports The Straits Times. During the May 20 visit to Shanghai, Putin will oversee the signing of a number of

Baghdad car bombs against Shias kill 21

DHAKA: A spate of rush hour car bombs rocked Shia-majority areas of Baghdad Tuesday, killing 21 people in the first major series of attacks to hit the Iraqi capital since elections last month. The violence, which also wounded more than 60 people, came as officials are tallying votes from

Manmohan prepares to bid a quiet adieu

DHAKA: Amid the din of raucous political campaigning, hysteria of exit polls and high anticipation of election results in India, one man has been quietly preparing to say good-bye after a decade in power. He has written farewell notes to various heads of state and foreign leaders, is

$69m destined to buy Indian votes seized

DHAKA: Indian officials have seized a record US$55 million in cash, as well as large amounts of liquor and illegal drugs, destined to buy off voters in India’s election. India’s Election Commission said on Monday, as the mammoth vote drew to a close, The Straits Times publishes this

Columbus’ ship found?

DHAKA: Is a sunken shipwreck off Haiti the long lost remains of the Santa Maria, Christopher Columbus' flagship from his first voyage to the Americas? The underwater explorer Barry Clifford, who led a team that found and investigated the wreck, says he's confident it is. If his claim is

Modi calls for India unity

DHAKA: Narendra Modi called for unity in India as exit polls signalled his opposition bloc would win a majority in national elections, boosting his chances of taking power in Asia's third-largest economy. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies will win 249 to 340 seats, according

Israel ex-PM Olmert jailed for 6 years for bribery

DHAKA: The former Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, has been sentenced to six years in prison for bribery. Olmert’s spokesperson said he would appeal to the Supreme Court and ask to be freed on bail until it had ruled. His lawyer had asked the court in Tel Aviv to give him community

Dubai to become open-air museum

DHAKA: Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said Dubai will become an open air gallery as he launched ‘Dubai Speaks to You’, the inaugural project of the Government of Dubai Media Office’s initiative, Brand Dubai.

14 dead in Myanmar bus crash

DHAKA: At least 14 people were killed and dozens injured when an intercity bus crashed in heavy rain on an accident-prone highway in Myanmar. Police said on Tuesday, reports The Straits Times. The crash happened on Monday evening on the main road between the capital Naypyidaw and the

US plane search for Nigerian girls

DHAKA: The US has revealed that it is flying manned surveillance missions over Nigeria to try to find more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the militant Islamist group Boko Haram. The US is also sharing commercial satellite imagery with the Nigerian government, officials said, reports

Obama hails India polls, will work with next leader

DHAKA: US president Barack Obama hailed India’s massive general election and pledged to work closely with the next government in New Delhi. ‘India has set an example for the world in holding the largest democratic election in history, a vibrant demonstration of our shared values of

Spanish politician shot dead

DHAKA: A top politician in northern Spain was shot to dead     in public and two women were arrested in this connection, says BBC.             The deceased Isabel Carrasco, 59, head of the provincial government in Leon and a member of the governing People's Party (PP), was shot

S Korea honours ferry crew 'martyrs'

DHAKA: Three crew members who died saving passengers as a South Korean ferry sank last month were honoured by the government.    An engaged couple, Jung Hyun-seon and Kim Ki-Woong, and Park Ji-young, 22, were named "martyrs" on Monday, reports BBC.                        

Turkey ordered to pay 90m euros over Cyprus invasion

DHAKA: Turkey must pay 90m euros in damages over its 1974 invasion of Cyprus, according to a decision by the European Court of Human Rights. The judgement is one of the largest ever ordered by the court, reports the BBC. It said the damages were compensation for losses endured during

Ukraine result ‘must be implemented’

DHAKA: Russia has called for implementation of the result of the controversial referendums organised by pro-Russian groups in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine says the Sunday votes on self-rule are ‘a farce’ with no legal basis. Russia has called for dialogue between the militants and Kiev

‘Missing schoolgirls converted to Islam’

DHAKA: Boko Haram released a new video on Monday claiming to show the missing Nigerian schoolgirls, alleging the teenagers had converted to Islam and would not be released until all militant prisoners were freed. The group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, speaks on the video obtained by

BJP to get over 250 seats

DHAKA: Exit polls are predicting the end of the Congress-led UPA’s 10-year rule in India and return of the BJP-led NDA, attesting that its prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi’s game plan focusing the polls on himself has paid off.   NewsX has projected a national scenario which