Bangladesh ex-PM Sheikh Hasina leaves for US
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, released from jail on parole, leaves Dhaka for the United States for medical treatment.
By HT Correspondent | Reuters, Dhaka
UPDATED ON JUN 12, 2008 10:05 AM IST
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, released from jail on parole, left Dhaka on Thursday for the United States for medical treatment.
She boarded a British Airways flight to London, en route to the United States, officials at the airport said.
Hasina has been suffering from high blood pressure, eye problems and hearing impairment caused by grenade blasts at a rally she addressed in Dhaka in August 2004, which killed 23 people.
Bangladesh's military-backed government arrested Hasina in July last year for alleged corruption, but it granted her eight-week parole on Wednesday for treatment abroad.
Hasina's rival and fellow former prime minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, has also been in detention since last September, facing charges of corruption. But she has refused to seek treatment overseas for arthritis and a knee problem.
Hasina told leaders of her Awami League and four advisers to the interim government late on Wednesday that she would return immediately after the treatment to actively take part in politics.
She also wants to contest a parliamentary election planned for December, said Syed Ashraful Islam, general secretary of the Awami League.
Police arrest woman accused of laptop theft from Pelosi's office
AP
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 02:41 PM IST
FBI officials said a caller claiming to be an ex of Williams said friends of hers showed him a video of her taking a laptop computer or hard drive from Pelosi's office.
Germany's Merkel, state leaders ponder tougher virus rules
AP
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 01:56 PM IST
The country's infection rate has stabilized in recent days, indicating that existing restrictions may have been effective in bringing down the numbers.
Japan's Shizuoka Prefecture to introduce alert mode over UK Covid-19 variant
ANI, Tokyo
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 01:55 PM IST
The Japanese government has already declared a state of emergency in 11 of the 47 prefectures, which will last through February 7.
Thailand court gives record 43-year sentence for insulting king
AP, Bangkok
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 01:25 PM IST
Violating Thailand's lese majeste law — known widely as Article 112 — is punishable by three to 15 years’ imprisonment per count.
PLA holds Tibet drill to smoothen joint ops amid border friction with India
By Sutirtho Patranobis , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
UPDATED ON JAN 19, 2021 01:07 PM IST
The exercise involved ground assault forces as well as the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) aviation unit, which deployed attack helicopters for the drill, China’s official military media reported.
Taliban calls Joe Biden to honor deal to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan
Bloomberg
UPDATED ON JAN 19, 2021 12:34 PM IST
“Steps must now be taken to end the war, not to prolong it, and the agreement was made for the purpose,” Mohammad Naeem, a senior spokesman in the Taliban’s political office in Doha, said.
Here is how Trump, the least liked US president, will spend his last day in office
By Yashwant Raj, Edited by Vinod Janardhanan
UPDATED ON JAN 19, 2021 02:27 PM IST
Trump presidency’s average approval rating of 41% is the lowest recorded by Gallup, which has tracked American presidents daily for decades
Rishi Sunak draws up plans to boost UK welfare payments
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 12:02 PM IST
The chancellor of the exchequer has already topped up weekly payments to the low-paid and unemployed in the pandemic.
UN rights office 'deeply troubled' by Russian activist Alexei Navalny’s arrest
PTI, United Nations
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 11:32 AM IST
Two independent UN human rights experts saluted the bravery of the anti-corruption activist and called on Russia to release him.
Biden, Harris take break from inaugural preparation for Martin Luther King Day
AP
UPDATED ON JAN 19, 2021 11:20 AM IST
Biden, along with incoming First Lady Jill, helped fill about 150 boxes with fresh fruit and nonperishables for people in need.
Turkey imposes advertising ban on Twitter, Periscope, Pinterest
Reuters, Istanbul
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 11:18 AM IST
The law allows authorities to remove content from platforms, rather than blocking access as they did in the past.
Independent UN experts condemn US Capitol attack by pro-Trump protesters
PTI
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 11:13 AM IST
"The violent attempt to overturn the results of a free and fair election on January 6 was a shocking and incendiary event," the 23 experts said in a joint statement.
Joe Biden swearing-in: Why January 20 serves as Inauguration Day
By hindustantimes.com | Edited by Karan Manral
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 11:02 AM IST
The 20th Amendment of the US Constitution, ratified in 1933, moved Inauguration Day to January 20, from March 4.
Joe Biden has set sky-high expectations. Can he meet them?
AP, Washington
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 11:00 AM IST
Evoking some of the nation's loftiest reforms helped Biden unseat President Donald Trump but left him with towering promises to keep.
Donald Trump receives lowest job approval rating in final days as President
ANI, Washington
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 10:43 AM IST
A 34 per cent approval rating is a single point lower than his prior lowest single rating, which came on multiple occasions in 2017.