At least 40 die in Bangladesh bombings: A series of bombs exploded almost simultaneously in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka, the main port city Chittagong and other towns yesterday, injuring at least 40 people and triggering widespread panic.
The bombs exploded on the streets, at courts and near key government buildings in various places across Bangladesh.
One bomb also exploded outside Dhaka's Sheraton Hotel, security officers said.
No one claimed responsibility for the blasts, but copies of a leaflet found at bomb sites carried a call by a banned Islamic group, Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, for Islamic rule in Bangladesh. - (Reuters)
More than 100 missing in Pacific
COLOMBIA - More than 100 people were missing after an Ecuadorean boat packed with would-be illegal emigrants sank in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Colombia on Tuesday, the Colombian navy said yesterday.
A fishing boat saved seven men and two women but the boat that sank was carrying 120 people leaving Ecuador illegally when it had capacity for only 15, the navy said in a news release.
"The Colombian navy immediately began a search and rescue operation to find the bodies of the shipwreck victims using an airplane and marine patrol launch," it said. - (Reuters)
Man charged over murder of Pearl
KARACHI - Pakistani police have charged a militant over the 2002 kidnapping and murder of US reporter Daniel Pearl, officials said yesterday.
Mohammad Hashim Qadir was arrested last month in the central province of Punjab and later handed over to Karachi police for investigations.
Intelligence officials have said Qadir, also known as Arif, had set up a meeting between the Wall Street Journal reporter and his kidnappers.
Four people have been convicted in connection with Pearl's murder. - (Reuters)
Canada nominee in unity row
QUEBEC - Canada's nominee for governor general declared yesterday her commitment to the country in an attempt to quell a row over whether she supported independence for the French-speaking province of Quebec.
Prime minister Paul Martin nominated Haitian refugee and television journalist Michaelle Jean to the largely ceremonial post, but both Mr Martin and Ms Jean have come under pressure to clarify reports that she and her husband have supported the break-up of Canada. - (Reuters)
Ancient golden hoard excavated
SOFIA - Bulgarian archaeologists have unearthed 15,000 tiny golden pieces that date back to the end of the third millennium BC - a find they say matches the famous treasure of Troy.
The 4,100 to 4,200 year-old ornaments have been gradually unearthed since last summer in an ancient tomb near the village of Dabene, 75 miles east of the capital, Sofia, said Prof Vasil Nikolov, consultant of excavations at the site. - (Reuters)
Marilyn Monroe's first husband dies
SAN FRANCISCO - James Dougherty, the first and last surviving husband of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe, has died in California, a relative said yesterday.
Mr Dougherty (84), a retired Los Angeles detective and former local politician in Maine, died on Monday in San Rafael, California, north of San Francisco, his stepdaughter Annie Woods said.
Dougherty married 16-year-old Norma Jeane Baker in 1942, midway through the second World War II.
He served in the merchant marine. They were together for four years. - (Reuters)