B’desh blogger murder case: 2 militants held
Dhaka: Two members of a banned Al Qaeda-affiliated Bangladeshi militant group including nephew of a Minister were arrested on Friday in connection with the hacking to death of a fourth secular blogger here last week, the first arrest in the case that sparked global outrage.
lankan opposition nominates Rajapakse as PM
Colombo: Sri lanka’s main opposition party, the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), on Friday reiterated that former President Mahinda Rajapakse will be the country’s new PM if the party wins in the August 17 parliamentary elections. At the opposition’s last media briefing before the elections, UPFA senior member John Seneviratne said President Maithripala Sirisena’s offer to choose future Prime Minister from eight senior UPFA members including himself was rejected, Xinhua news agency reported.
360 social media accounts shut in China
Beijing: Over 360 social media accounts were suspended or shut down for spreading rumours after fatal explosions in Tianjin this week, China’s cyberspace officials said on Friday.
Fire continues to rage in China; toll mounts to 56
Tianjin: Over 1,000 firefighters aided by military experts trained in nuclear and biological warfare on Friday battled to put out flares emitting toxic fumes in north China as two fresh explosions struck this major port city after two massive blasts killed at least 56 people. Fires are still burning at the site of the two massive explosions some 36 hours after the blasts as another 6,200 people were evacuated to prevent further casualties.
US reopens embassy in Cuba after 54 years
Havana: The US has reopened its embassy in Cuba more than 54 years after it was closed, in a symbolic step signalling the warming of ties between both countries. John Kerry, the first US Secretary of State to visit Cuba in 70 years, presided over the ceremony in Havana.
Japan PM apologises for WWII
Tokyo: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed deep remorse on Friday over World War II and said previous national apologies were unshakeable, but emphasised future generations should not have to keep saying sorry.
At least 20 killed in Sao Paulo shootings: reports
Sao Paulo: Masked gunmen killed at least 20 people during a series of shootings overnight in the Sao Paulo suburbs, Press reports from Brazil’s biggest city said on Friday. A spokesman for the police in Sao Paulo, home to some 20 million people, said only that “there were fatalities, but we cannot yet confirm the number.” The security chief for Sao Paulo state was due to speak later. A spokesman for his office said the attacks were “unusual.”
Indonesia detains ‘ISIS-linked’ militants
Jakarta: Indonesian police have arrested three militants with links to the Islamic State group who were planning to launch bomb attacks during Independence Day celebrations next week, police and sources said.
Pak to hang Peshawar school massacre plotters
Islamabad: Six militants who plotted and aided Pakistan’s worst ever terrorist attack at a Peshawar school are set to be hanged after Army Chief General Raheel Sharif confirmed their death sentences.
400 ethnic Baloch militants say farewell to arms
Islamabad: About 400 ethnic militants from various banned outfits in the restive southwestern Balochistan province surrendered before Pakistani authorities on the country’s 69th Independence Day.