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Berlin  - One of the world's greatest orchestras, the Berlin Philharmonic, has taken the unusual step of appointing a German television producer to take over as its new general manager, the orchestra announced on Friday.

The appointment of 49-year-old Martin Hoffman would help "to redefine the role of the orchestra in the 20th century" said the Philharmonic's chief conductor Simon Rattle.

Up until now Hoffman has been better known in Germany for heading up the television production company MME, whose programs included court room and crime dramas.

Dhaka - Authorities in Bangladesh have confirmed the first case of swine flu in the country, the government said Friday.

The first case was confirmed on Thursday when a passenger travelling by air from the US tested positive for the virus, the Health Ministry said in press statement.

The passenger, whose name was not disclosed, returned to Dhaka with a febrile illness. Medical teams at the airport, deployed in the wake of global pandemic of swine flu, tested him for the virus.

Appropriate measures have been taken to treat the person, the statement added.

Patna June 19: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today expressed his deep concern and anguish over the recent attack on Bihari labourers in Manipur by a militant organisation.

The separatist groups in Manipur repeatedly targeted the labourers of Bengal and Bihar.

In a telephonic conversation, Kumar asked his Mainpuri counterpart Okram Ibobi Singh to effectively check the attacks on migrants particularly Bihari labourers, as such incidents are harmful to the unity and integrity of the country.

Harare, June 19 : Zimbabwe continues to face human rights violations on a "persistent and serious" scale, as elements in the nation's newly formed coalition are still using violence as a tool to crush democratic voices, Amnesty International has said.

Washington, June 19 : Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today said that the recent presidential elections showed off the country's religious democracy for the world to see, shrugging an unprecedented challenge to the country's ruling clerics by opposition supporters, who claim the June 12 presidential election was rigged.

Melbourne, June 19 : Russell Crowe has slammed media for blurring the line between news and entertainment.