DHAKA: A joint Iraqi-Kurdish military force of up to 25,000 fighters is being prepared to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from Islamic State (IS).A US official says, reports the BBC.The senior military official has said that the operation to recapture the northern city would probably

DHAKA: A powerful cyclone roared ashore in a heavily-populated area of Australia on Friday with authorities warning of a ‘calamity’ and residents told to expect ‘a harrowing and terrifying experience’.Tropical Cyclone Marcia slammed into the Queensland coast just after 2200

DHAKA: The United States and Turkey signed a deal to train and equip thousands of moderate Syrian rebel forces after several weeks of talks.Officials said, reports The Straits Times.‘Turkey and the United States signed a document a short time ago on the train-and-equip

DHAKA: Germany has rejected a Greek request for a six-month extension to its eurozone loan programme.The rejection came despite the European Commission calling the Greek request ‘positive’ only minutes earlier.Greece had sought a new six-month assistance package, rather than a

DHAKA: Bitterly cold air from Siberia has brought dangerously frigid and likely record-setting temperatures to the eastern half of the US.Temperatures are 20 to 40 degrees F below normal for February from the Mid-Atlantic to the South.Schools in Chicago have closed and trains in the

DHAKA: France’s Socialist government won a confidence vote tied to its economic reform package on Thursday that could in theory have caused its collapse amid a damaging backbench rebellion.A total of 234 mainly opposition deputies voted for the motion of no-confidence, far short of

DHAKA: South African president Jacob Zuma on Thursday denied that he was a racist and assured white people that they should not fear being ‘chased’ out of Nelson Mandela’s ‘Rainbow Nation’.The president also said that a new law preventing foreign ownership of land in South

DHAKA: Talks between the United States and Iran on the Tehran's nuclear program will resume in Geneva on Friday, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said.A final outcome to what has been monthslong series of negotiations is expected to have a lasting effect on Iran's

DHAKA: Thailand's attorney-general has filed criminal charges against former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra over a controversial rice subsidy scheme.If found guilty on the charge of negligence, she could be jailed for up to 10 years, reports the BBC.The anti-corruption agency has

DHAKA: Libya has asked the UN Security Council to lift an arms embargo so that it can deal with the Islamic State (IS) group and other militants.Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Dairi said that it would help the government build its army and deal with "rampant terrorism".Egypt said it

DHAKA: US President Barack Obama says the US is "not at war with Islam - we are at war with the people who have perverted Islam".Obama was speaking to representatives from 60 nations attending a three-day event on extremism that follows attacks in Denmark and France.He said those

DHAKA: More than 300 Boko Haram fighters have been killed in military operations in north-east Nigeria.The army says, reports the BBC.A number of militants had also been captured and weapons and equipment seized, defence spokesman Chris Olukolade said.Two soldiers had lost their lives

DHAKA: Countries across Asia are beginning Lunar New Year celebrations to welcome in the year of the sheep.In China, hundreds of millions of people are travelling home in what is considered the world’s biggest annual human migration.State media says about three billion passenger trips

DHAKA: The Ukrainian president says his forces are making an ‘organised’ withdrawal from the embattled town of Debaltseve.Petro Poroshenko said 80% of Ukraine’s troops had left on Wednesday morning, with more to follow, reports the BBC.Fighting has raged over the transport hub, with

DHAKA: The influence of the Islamic State (IS) is gradually expanding from its stronghold in the Middle East to extremist groups in north of Africa.Militants in several countries in North Africa, including Libya, Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia, have pledged allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr

DHAKA: A state of emergency has been declared in the Kokang region of Myanmar, following intense fighting between ethnic-minority rebels and the army.Myanmar president Thein Sein has handed power in the area over to the military and imposed a three-month period of martial law.Fighting

DHAKA: India’s prime minister Narendra Modi has vowed to protect all religious groups after a string of attacks on churches in Delhi.Addressing a Christian audience in the capital, he called on all religious groups to show restraint and respect, the BBC publishes this report on

DHAKA: UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura says Damascus is prepared to suspend its aerial bombardment of Aleppo for six weeks for a trial ceasefire.The envoy said the Syrian pledge offered a glimmer of hope although it is unclear when it would take effect, reports the BBC.The opposition

DHAKA: The US has opened a three-day summit on countering violent extremism.Representatives from around the world are attending the gathering, which follows shooting incidents in Denmark, France and Australia.US vice-president Joe Biden said it was imperative to engage with immigrants

DHAKA: Russia and separatists in Ukraine’s east ‘are not abiding’ by a European-brokered ceasefire.Ukraine’s presidency said on Tuesday, reports The Straits Times.‘The hopes of the world for peace are being destroyed,’ the deputy head of the presidential administration,