Nigerian state culls 9,000 birds to curb bird flu
Abuja, Dec 29 (IANS) A total of 9,000 birds have been culled in Nigeria’s Kano State as authorities move to curb the spread of bird flu which resurfaced two weeks ago in the state. Shehu…
International
New York police to allow Sikh officers to wear turbans
By Arul Louis New York, Dec 29 (IANS) The New York Police Department (NYPD) will now allow Sikh officers to wear turbans and beards marking another milestone for members of the religion to wear the…
US strike kills 2 Al Qaeda militants in Yemen
Sana’a, Dec 29 (IANS) Two militants from the Yemen-based Al Qaeda branch were killed in a US drone strike in Yemen’s central province of al-Bayda on Thursday, a military official said. “The US drone targeted…
Nepal to start 4G telecom service from 2017
Kathmandu, Dec 29 (IANS) The Nepali people will be able to use fourth generation (4G) telecommunication service for the first time from 2017 as Nepal Telecom, the state-owned telecom service provider, is starting the new…
Erdogan accuses US of supporting terrorists
Ankara, Dec 29 (IANS) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticised its Nato allies on Thursday, particularly the US, for not supporting Ankara’s struggle against the Islamic State in Syria. Erdogan accused the US of supplying…
David Cameron to be next Nato chief?
London, Dec 29 (IANS) Former British Prime Minister David Cameron emerged as a frontrunner to be the next Secretary General of Nato after various reports emerged that he will be nominated by Prime Minister Theresa…
Peace unlikely in region till Kashmir issue is resolved: Pakistan
Islamabad, Dec 29 (IANS) Pakistan on Thursday said it wanted to “amicably” resolve all outstanding issues with India, including those related to the Indus Waters Treaty and Kashmir, as there can be “no peace” in…
Iraq resumes anti-IS offensive in Mosul after 2-week lull
Baghdad, Dec 29 (IANS) Iraqi troops backed by US-led airstrikes pushed deeper into besieged Mosul on Thursday in a multi-pronged assault after a two-week lull in a bid to retake the Islamic State-held city. A…
Boat with 100 people capsizes in Indonesia, 77 rescued
Jakarta, Dec 29 (IANS) A boat carrying nearly 100 people sank in the waters off North Maluku province of eastern Indonesia on Thursday. Rescuers recovered four bodies and were searching for missing persons, a local…
Netanyahu to be investigated for bribery, fraud
Tel Aviv, Dec 29 (IANS) Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has ordered a full criminal probe into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over two separate cases involving bribery and fraud, local media reported. One of the…
Putin confirms ‘fragile’ ceasefire in Syria
Moscow, Dec 29 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday confirmed that a “fragile” agreement was reached on a ceasefire in Syria and the start of peace talks. “This agreement we’ve reached is very fragile,…
Pass minorities protection bill without changes, Sindh government urged
Islamabad, Dec 29 (IANS) Civil society activists have urged Pakistan’s Sindh government to pass the protection of minorities bill in its present form without making any changes under pressure from religious scholars. A consortium of…
Iraqi forces launch second offensive against IS in Mosul
Baghdad, Dec 29 (IANS) Iraqi forces announced on Thursday the start of a second offensive against the Islamic State (IS) terror group in the city of Mosul. Mohammed al-Bayati, head of the security committee in…
Turkish journalist detained for anti-government tweet
Ankara, Dec 29 (IANS) A prominent Turkish journalist was detained on Thursday after he tweeted against the government. Ahmet Sik also confirmed his detention on his Twitter account, Hurriyet Daily News reported. “I am being…
Mother of four killed for ‘honour’ in Pakistan
Islamabad, Dec 29 (IANS) A mother of four was allegedly killed by her brother in a suspected “honour killing” in Pakistan’s Sindh province on Thursday, police said. Police claimed that Ghulam Hussain Gopang confessed to…
Russia ends crashed military plane’s salvage operations
Moscow, Dec 29 (IANS) Russian emergency services on Thursday concluded operations in the Black Sea where a Russian military aircraft crashed on Sunday, killing all 92 passengers and crew on board. “The active phase of…
S. Korean ex-health minister detained over graft scandal
Seoul, Dec 29 (IANS) South Korean prosecutors on Thursday detained the country’s former health minister who is now the chief of the national pension fund, for his alleged role in the corruption scandal involving a…
NYPD to allow Sikh officers to wear turbans
New York, Dec 29 (IANS) The New York Police Department (NYPD) has come up with new rules allowing Sikh police officers to wear turbans instead of traditional police hats, officials said. The NYPD has said…
Even low levels of manganese can cause manganism: Study
New York, Dec 29 (IANS) Welders exposed to airborne manganese at estimated levels set under federal safety standards can also develop neurological problems like Parkinson’s disease and the current safety standards may not adequately protect…
Duterte threatens to ‘throw’ officials out of flying helicopter
Manila, Dec 29 (IANS) Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to throw officials out of a flying helicopter if they misused public funds and admitted on live television that he has done it before, a media…