Wednesday, 22 Jan, 2025

International

Iraq violence killed at least 1,420 in Aug

DHAKA: At least 1,420 people were killed in Iraq in August, the United Nations said on September 1, as sectarian violence raged in the centre and north of the country.Another 1,370 Iraqis were wounded and 600,000 people forced to flee, the UN added, as Islamic State militants, who

‘Pak govt considers decisive action’

DHAKA: Pakistan is preparing to launch a selective crackdown against anti-government protesters trying to bring down the government of prime minister Nawaz Sharif.Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif said, warning demonstrators against storming government buildings.Dashing chances

Myanmar targets 5 million tourists with e-visa

DHAKA: Myanmar launched an online visa application on Monday promising an end to painful waits for permits to visit the once secretive nation as it tries to lure five million tourists a year by 2015.The e-visa is open to tourists from 41 countries, from Singapore, China, Japan and

Saudi crown prince in Paris for talks on arms, IS

DHAKA: Saudi Arabia’s crown prince arrived in Paris Monday for talks with president Francois Hollande likely to touch on a Saudi-financed French package of arms for Lebanon and the wider jihadist threat in the region.Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz, who is also deputy prime minister

Pak state TV back on air after protesters storm offices

DHAKA: Pakistan’s national television channel is back on air after security forces removed anti-government protesters from its headquarters in Islamabad.Troops were sent in to regain control from demonstrators who had forced their way into the PTV offices.Earlier, fresh clashes

Pakistani protesters push closer to PM house

DHAKA: Anti-government protesters armed with rocks and wooden clubs clashed with police in Islamabad on Monday, hours after the powerful army called for a peaceful resolution to the political crisis rocking Pakistan.Opposition groups marched to the capital on August 15 in a bid to

Beijing official heckled amid HK election anger

DHAKA: Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have disrupted a speech given by a Beijing official explaining voting changes for the territory.They chanted slogans and held placards accusing Beijing of breaking its promise to allow Hong Kong to choose its leader directly.On Sunday the

HK protesters disrupt Beijing speech

DHAKA: Pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong (HK) have disrupted a speech given by a Beijing official explaining new voting changes being introduced for the city.They chanted slogans and held placards accusing Beijing of breaking its promise to allow Hong Kong to choose its leader

Man kills 3 school kids in China

DHAKA: A man killed three people at a primary school in central China on Monday and then committed suicide by jumping off a building, CNN reports.Six people were wounded in the attack at the school in Hubei province, the state-run news agency Xinhua reported, citing the local

Senegal’s top priority emergency over Ebola

DHAKA: The World Health Organization (WHO) said the effort to contain Ebola in Senegal is a top priority emergency.The government continued tracing everyone who came in contact with a Guinean student who has tested positive for the deadly disease in the capital, Dakar.Senegal faces an

Obama under fire over foreign policy

DHAKA: President Barack Obama has come under renewed criticism over his foreign policy from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers as he wrestled with crises in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Ukraine.Republican lawmakers on Sunday seized on Obama's comment earlier this week when he said,

Iraqi forces ‘reach besieged Amerli’

DHAKA: Iraqi forces have reached the besieged town of Amerli in northern Iraq, where thousands have been trapped by jihadists.The military officials confirmed the matter which reports the BBC.The apparent breakthrough came amid fresh US air strikes on Islamic State (IS) positions.

US senators urge arms for Ukraine

DHAKA: Leading American senators have called for the US to send weapons to help Ukraine fight what they say is "a Russian invasion".Robert Menendez, head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Russia's President Vladimir Putin must face a cost for his "aggression".Senator

Putin ‘urges talks on statehood for east Ukraine’

DHAKA: Russian president Vladimir Putin has urged talks to discuss ‘statehood’ for eastern Ukraine. Russian media report, says the BBC. He went on to say it was ‘impossible to predict’ the end of crisis. His comments came after the EU gave Russian a one-week ultimatum to

China rules out open HK chief executive poll

DHAKA: Chinese authorities have ruled out open nominations for elections to choose Hong Kong’s leader. Authorities said two to three candidates will be nominated by a ‘broadly representative’ committee, reports the BBC. The decision is expected to limit elections to a selection of

Poland’s PM chosen as new EU council chief

DHAKA: European Union leaders chose Polish prime minister Donald Tusk as the new president of their Council and Italian foreign minister Federica Mogherini as the bloc’s new foreign policy chief. Outgoing European Council president Herman Van Rompuy said, reports The Jerusalem Post.

Donald Tusk assigned to top EU position

DHAKA: European leaders have named the Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, as the next EU president and Italian foreign minister Federica Mogherini to head its diplomatic service, as the bloc faces a series of challenges topped by Ukraine. Tusk, who speaks only halting English and no

Iraqi minority vows death before IS capture

DHAKA: Residents of a besieged Iraqi town say they have prepared graves for their families and will kill their wives and children if the city falls to the Islamic State group.The Shia Turkmen of Amerli, a town in the north of Iraq, are resisting Islamic State fighters who have

US attacks Islamic State near besieged town

DHAKA: The US military has attacked Islamic State positions around the besieged Iraqi town of Amerli, where thousands of Shia Turkmen have been cut off from food and water for nearly two months by the group.John Kirby, the US department of defence spokesman, said on Sunday that

EU sets Russia sanctions ultimatum

DHAKA: The European Union has given Russia one week to reverse course in Ukraine or face new sanctions. European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said the EU was working urgently on further restrictive measures. Earlier, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said his country was