US welcomes Saeed’s conviction
Washington: The US has welcomed the conviction of the 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed and described it as an “important step forward” for Pakistan in meeting its international commitments to combat terror financing and not to allow non-state actors to operate from its soil.
Rohingya boat sink: traffickers arrested
Dhaka: Nine human trafficking suspects have been arrested, Bangladesh police said on Thursday, after 15 Rohingya refugees drowned when an overloaded boat sank as it tried to reach Malaysia.
US announces partial truce with Taliban
Brussels: The United States has secured a seven-day reduction in violence in talks to help seek a negotiated settlement in Afghanistan, Pentagon chief Mark Esper said on Thursday.
New letter bombs target Dutch firms
The Hague: A letter bomb exploded at a bank headquarters in Amsterdam on Thursday, a day after two other businesses were targeted in what Dutch police said was an extortion attempt.
China demotes top official in charge of HK
Beijing: China has demoted the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, the State Council said Thursday, following months of pro-democracy protests in the semi-autonomous city. The shuffling of officials at China’s top policy body on the financial hub’s affairs comes after months of political unrest — the starkest challenge to Beijing since the former British colony was returned to Chinese rule in 1997.