DHAKA: The Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and several allied groups have voted to create an autonomous federation in the northern part of Syria.Officials of the PYD claimed autonomy in the Kurdish-controlled areas on Thursday after two days of meetings with delegates of

DHAKA: Donald Trump winning the US presidency is considered one of the top 10 risks facing the world, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit.The research firm warns he could disrupt the global economy and heighten political and security risks in the US.However, it does not expect

DHAKA: Denmark is the world’s happiest country while Burundi is the least happy, according to a new survey.The fourth World Happiness Report also found that countries where there was less inequality were happier overall.Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Finland, which like Denmark have

DHAKA: US President Barack Obama has issued an executive order imposing new sanctions on North Korea, after its ‘illicit’ nuclear test and satellite launch.It freezes North Korean government property in America and bans US exports to, or investment in, North Korea, reports the BBC.The

DHAKA: A small artificial earthquake has been detected in North Korea, according to South Korean officials who say it was probably due to ‘blasting work’.Meteorological officials registered the 2.2 magnitude quake at 1230 local time (0330 GMT) around 34km south-east of the capital,

DHAKA: Two female bombers killed at least 22 worshippers in an attack on a mosque on Wednesday.Nigerian rescue officials say, reports Al Jazeera.The attack took place on the outskirts of the northeastern city of Maiduguri - the birthplace of the Boko Haram armed group.Abdul Mohammed of

DHAKA: US student Otto Warmbier has been given 15 years hard labor in North Korea for crimes against the state.Warmbier, 21, was arrested for trying to steal a propaganda sign from a hotel while visiting North Korea in January.He later appeared on state TV apparently confessing and saying

DHAKA: A homeless man from San Francisco is to be given a reward of $100,000 for helping police recapture two prison inmates who had escaped.Matthew Hay-Chapman had seen photographs of the two fugitives on the news and spotted them in a stolen van.They had broken out of Orange County Jail

DHAKA: At least 15 people traveling on a bus have been killed by a bomb in the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar.Officials say, reports the BBC.The vehicle was carrying government employees from nearby areas to the city.An improvised device apparently inside the bus caused the

DHAKA: October was a record-breaker as was December, and so was January. It is easy to become accustomed to regular reports that the month just past was the warmest ever recorded.Despite all that, February was a shocker. It was the warmest month ever recorded, but it was also the warmest

DHAKA: Mother Teresa, the Roman Catholic nun who worked with the poor in the Indian city of Kolkata (Calcutta) is to be declared a saint on 4 September.Pope Francis has announced, reports the BBC.She founded a sisterhood that runs 19 homes, and won the Nobel Peace Prize.She died in 1997

DHAKA: Turkey's military says at least 45 Kurdish rebels were killed in the air strikes it conducted in northern Iraq following the suicide car bombing in Ankara.Turkish F-16 and F4 jets raided Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK, positions across the border in Iraq yesterday, a day after the

DHAKA: Kim Jong-un has said North Korea will soon conduct tests of nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles.He said the tests would ‘enhance the reliance’ of the North’s nuclear attack capability, state media reported, says the BBC.The North has issued a series of increasingly

DHAKA: Myanmar’s parliament has elected Htin Kyaw as the next president, the first civilian to lead the country after more than 50 years of military rule.Htin Kyaw is a close ally of Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept to victory in historic elections

DHAKA: A senior commander of so-called Islamic State (IS) is dead, the Pentagon has confirmed.Defence officials said Omar Shishani died from injuries sustained in a recent US air strike in northeastern Syria.Earlier reports had suggested Shishani, a Georgian whose real name was Tarkhan

DHAKA: In a surprise move, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to start withdrawing the "main part" of its forces in Syria from Tuesday.He said the Russian intervention had largely achieved its objectives.The comments come amid fresh peace talks in Geneva aimed at

DHAKA: Eight people have died in a chemical accident in the basement of a Bangkok bank, officials have confirmed.The contractors were working on a fire safety system at the headquarters of the Siam Commercial bank on Sunday night, the bank said in a statement.They apparently suffocated

DHAKA: The United Arab Emirates has said that one of its warplane taking part in a mission against Houthi rebels in Yemen is missing.The country’s official news agency, WAM, announced the disappearance without giving further details.The Saudi-led coalition of which UAE is a part has

DHAKA: The party of German Chancellor Angela Merkel has suffered defeats in two of three states holding regional elections, exit polls suggest.They indicate the Christian Democrats lost support in Baden-Wuerttemberg and Rhineland Palatinate, but remain the largest party in

DHAKA: A car bomb has exploded in the Turkish capital Ankara, killing 34 people and wounding more than 100, the Turkey health ministry has said.The explosion happened in Guven Park in the Kizilay district, a key transport hub and commercial area.Several vehicles at the scene were reduced