Thursday, 31 Jul, 2025

International

Bomb blasted in front of NIA office in Kolkata

DHAKA: An explosion was reported near the National Investigation Agency's office in Kolkata on Monday.The blast happened where the accused in the Burdwan blast case are currently being questioned, reports the NDTV.There was an explosion about 50 metres from the sentry post at the

Six in 10 Indian men admit violence against partner

DHAKA: Six out of 10 Indian men admit they have acted violently against their wives or girlfriends, with those facing financial difficulties more likely to carry out abuse.A study released Monday said, reports The Straits Times.Some 52 percent of women surveyed across the country

Pakistani schools network observes anti-Malala day

DHAKA: An association of Pakistani schools held an ‘I am not Malala’ day on Monday, condemning young Nobel peace laureate Malala Yousafzai for what it called her support for controversial novelist Salman Rushdie.Education campaigner Malala was shot in the head by the Taliban in

Catalonia poll ‘backs independence’

DHAKA: An informal vote on independence for Catalonia has shown more than 80% in favour.Poll officials say, reports the BBC.The non-binding vote went ahead after Spain’s constitutional court ruled out holding a formal referendum in the autonomous north-eastern region.More than two

Taliban bombs kill 10 police in Afghanistan

DHAKA: Bombs exploded in three cities in Afghanistan on Monday killing at least 10 policemen, officials said, a day after a Taliban suicide bomber blew himself in Kabul’s police headquarters killing one person.The Taliban were ousted from power in 2001 by US-led forces and they have

Obama terms HK protests a complex issue

DHAKA: US president Barack Obama said on Monday the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong were a complex issue and the primary US message was to make sure violence was avoided.Short of denouncing China’s handling of the crisis, Obama said the United States would not stop speaking out

Egyptian militant group pledges loyalty to IS

DHAKA: Egypt’s most active militant group, Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, has sworn allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), according to an audio clip posted on its Twitter account. If genuine, the declaration of allegiance would be a boost for the IS, showing its widening influence in the region

Modi’s new Ministers

DHAKA:  Portfolios have been allocated to the new ministers in India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Council of ministers, who were sworn-in on Sunday. According to a NDTV report, these are the ministries allocated to them: Manohar Parrikar gets Defence, Suresh Prabhu gets

Merkel hails Berlin Wall’s fall

DHAKA: The fall of the Berlin Wall has shown the world that dreams can come true and ‘nothing has to stay as it is’, German chancellor Angela Merkel has said.Speaking 25 years after the event, Merkel said the message for those in countries where rights were threatened was that

1,000 killed, mostly IS militants, in Syria’s Kobane

DHAKA: More than 1,000 people, mostly extremists, have been killed in Kobane since the Islamic State (IS) launched an offensive on the Syrian border town nearly two months ago.A monitor said on Sunday, reports The Straits Times.IS militants, who proclaimed a ‘caliphate’ in June

IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi said to have been killed

DHAKA: Iraq was on Sunday investigating whether the leader of the Islamic State (IS), Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was killed in air strikes by US-led coalition warplanes targeting the group’s leaders.The death of the elusive Baghdadi would be a major victory for the coalition of countries

India test-fires nuclear capable Agni-II missile

DHAKA: India, on Sunday, test-fired its nuclear-capable Agni-II strategic ballistic missile from a military base in Odisha.An Indian defence official said, reports The Times of India.The test was conducted from Wheeler’s Island in Bhadrak district, around 200km from here. The test was

Catalonia holds independence poll

DHAKA: The people of Catalonia in north-eastern Spain are set to take part in an informal poll on independence. The Spanish judiciary has ruled the vote unconstitutional but Catalan leader Artur Mar warned against any attempt to disrupt it. Spain’s constitutional court suspended

Berlin Wall 25 years on: 8,000 balloons divide city again

DHAKA: November 9 marks the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the iconic barrier that completely enclosed East Berlin between 1961 and 1989 and symbolized the height of Cold War tensions. Around the world, the international German community and others are marking the

North Korea frees detained US men Miller, Bae

Two Americans who were being held in detention in North Korea, Matthew Todd Miller and Kenneth Bae have been released and are on their way home, reports BBC.US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper is accompanying the men, the US has confirmed.Their release follows that of a

India army says sorry over Kashmir teenagers’ death

DHAKA: The Indian army has issued an unusual apology for shooting dead two teenage boys in Indian-administered Kashmir.The army says it made a mistake in firing at a car they were travelling in on the outskirts of Srinagar on Monday.Correspondents say it is rare for the army to admit such

Pakistan to help China fight Islamist extremists

DHAKA: Pakistan will help China with its fight against extremists Beijing says are active in its unruly far western region of Xinjiang, the country’s prime minister said on Saturday during a meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping.China blames the East Turkestan Islamic Movement

European states move to recognize Palestinian statehood

DHAKA: Additional European nations have reportedly said to follow suit of Sweden and unilaterally recognize Palestinian statehood if peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority are not relaunched.A Wall Street Journal report published late Friday cited senior US and

Iran politicians welcome Obama’s letter to Khamenei

DHAKA: The news that US president Barack Obama sent a letter to the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khakemei has met been met with approval by the high political echelon in Iran.An Iranian official told Asharq Al-Awsat, reports The Jerusalem Post.The Iranian official, who

Apec countries agree to curb corruption

DHAKA: Asia Pacific countries agreed on Saturday to cooperate on the extradition of corrupt officials, enhance asset recovery efforts and establish an anti-corruption transparency network to share intelligence on graft.The network, called the Apec Network of Anti-Corruption