Toll in botched Nigeria airstrike soars to 70
Maidugiri: The death toll from a botched airstrike on Boko Haram fighters in northeast Nigeria rose to 70 on Wednesday, as aid agencies indicated more could die without urgent treatment.
Aus Day billboard with hijab-clad girls removed
Melbourne: A billboard promoting ‘Australia Day’ celebrations featuring two hijab-clad girls has been taken down here after it was slammed on social media for being “un-Australian” and the company behind it threatened.
Merkel to face German voters on September 24
Berlin: German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government today set September 24 as the date for a general election, as she seeks a fourth term facing populist headwinds over a record migrant influx.
Istanbul suspect ‘got orders from ISIS’
Istanbul: The man suspected of killing 39 people at an Istanbul nightclub on New Year’s Eve has claimed he received the order to attack from ISIS jehadis in Syria, local media reported on Wednesday.
Ex-US Prez George H W Bush admitted to hospital
Houston: Former US President George HW Bush has been admitted to a hospital here, where the 92-year-old leader is responding to treatment, his top aide said on Wednesday.
Russia says Snowden can stay till 2020
Moscow: Russian authorities have extended US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden’s Russian residency permit by three years, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. Snowden’s residence permit has been extended “until 2020,” Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
quake of 5.4 magnitude strikes central Italy
Rome: A 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck central Italy on Wednesday with the epicentre in an area covered by heavy snow which is struggling to recover from a string of deadly quakes last year.
Syria talks: Iran ‘hostile’ to US involvement
Tehran: Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that his Government opposed the United States joining Syrian peace talks to be held in Kazakhstan next week, local media reported.
Brazil calls up army to quell prison violence
Natal (Brazil): Brazil’s Government has ordered the armed forces to help secure the country’s overcrowded jails as police fought to separate rival gangs of inmates in one prison following a massacre.