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Prayers and tears mark 20 years since the Indian Ocean tsunami that killed some 230,000 people

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia, December 26, 2024 (AP) — People gathered in prayer and visited mass graves in Indonesia’s Aceh province on Thursday to mark 20 years since the massive Indian Ocean tsunami hit the region in one of modern history’s worst natural disasters. Many wept as they placed flowers at a mass grave in Ulee Lheue village, where more than 14,000 unidentified tsunami victims are buried. It is one of several mass graves in Banda Aceh, the capital of Indonesia’s northernmost province, which was one of the areas worst hit by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake and the massive tsunami it

India faces diplomatic challenge as Bangladesh calls for Hasina’s extradition

NEW DELHI, December 25, 2024 (VOA) — A formal request by Bangladesh to India to extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after she was ousted by mass student-led protests, poses a diplomatic conundrum for New Delhi, say analysts. Since Hasina’s exit, who was New Delhi’s close ally during her 15-year rule of neighboring Bangladesh, India has been trying to build ties with the new administration that has requested her return to “face a judicial process.” Confirming that it has received a diplomatic note for her extradition, India’s foreign ministry said on Monday that “we have no

‘Abhi Na Jao Chhodkar’: Biggest names in music unite for Mohd Rafi tribute

New Delhi, Dec 25 (PTI) Celebrated music personalities, including Amjad Ali Khan, Shubha Mudgal and Shankar Mahadevan from across the classical and pop traditions, have joined hands to celebrate the musical legacy of the great Mohammed Rafi with a performance on his timeless song “Abhi Na Jao Chodkar”. Rafi, one of the greatest playback singers who lent his voice to several melodies in Indian films, would have turned 100 on December 24. The pre-recorded stage performance on “Abhi Na Jao Chodkar” is produced by pianist Sourendro Mullick and vocalist Soumyojit Das, who also make an appearance in the 5.44-minute video

Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashes in Kazakhstan, many feared dead

ASTANA, Dec 25 (Reuters) – An Embraer passenger plane flying from Azerbaijan to Russia crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan on Wednesday with 62 passengers and five crew on board, Kazakh authorities announced, saying that 28 people had survived. Unverified video of the crash showed the plane, which was operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, bursting into flames as it hit the ground and thick black smoke then rising. Bloodied and bruised passengers could be seen stumbling from a piece of the fuselage that had remained intact. Kazakhstan’s emergencies ministry said in a statement that fire services had put out

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