DHAKA: Ashraf Ghani, one of two candidates disputing the Afghan presidential election, has called for an ‘extensive audit’ of votes. He made the appeal before meeting US Secretary of State John Kerry, who arrived in Kabul to try to resolve a growing political crisis. Kerry is also

DHAKA: At least 19 Ukrainian troops have been killed in the east of the country before dawn Friday, where government forces are fighting pro-Russian separatists, CNN reports. The attack happened around 4:30 a.m. near the town of Zelenopolsk, in eastern Ukraine's restive Luhansk region,

DHAKA: Indian engineers are toiling in the Himalayas to build the world’s highest railway bridge which is expected to be 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower when completed by 2016. The arch-shaped steel structure is being constructed over the Chenab River to link sections of the

DHAKA: Three policemen were shot dead in an ambush by suspected Muslim militants in Thailand’s insurgency-racked far south. An official said this on Friday, reports the Times of India. The three Muslim officers were returning from evening prayers when they were attacked on Thursday

DHAKA: An overloaded minivan ferrying children home from kindergarten in China's Hunan province has crashed into a pond, killing all 11 people on board. The van was carrying eight kindergarten pupils and two teachers, as well as the driver. It was meant to carry only seven people,

DHAKA: The US is prepared to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, President Barack Obama has said. His comments came during a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu earlier said Israel's operation was progressing as

DHAKA: The death toll from Israeli air strikes on Gaza has risen to 100, reports BBC quoting local sources. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes since launching its operation on Tuesday to stop rocket fire from Gaza. Militants there continue to fire on Israel, causing damage and

DHAKA: A Myanmar court has sentenced five journalists to jail with hard labour for 10 years for writing that the military was making chemical weapons. Their lawyer Wah Win Maung was quoted as saying they plan to appeal. Yangon-based Unity Weekly News had published stories in January

DHAKA: Kurdish leaders have vowed to boycott the cabinet of Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki after he accused Kurds of harbouring extremists.On Wednesday Maliki said the Kurdish provincial capital Irbil was a haven for jihadist fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria

DHAKA: The Italian government has failed to improve the quality of its drinking water, leaving people exposed to health risks from high levels of arsenic and fluoride.The European Commission said on Thursday, reports The Straits Times.It said Italy’s drinking water did not meet

DHAKA: Germany has expelled the US intelligence station chief in Berlin Thursday over alleged spying by Washington.The government said in a highly unusual move among close NATO allies, reports The Straits Times.‘The representative of the US intelligence services at the embassy of the

DHAKA: Britain said on Thursday it would rush through emergency legislation to force telecoms companies to retain the data of users for a year, saying the move was vital to protect national security following a decision by Europe’s top court.Communication companies had been required

DHAKA: The UN atomic agency said on Thursday that it believed nuclear material Iraq said had been seized by insurgents was ‘low grade’ and did not pose a significant security risk.Iraq told the United Nations in a July 8 letter seen by media that ‘terrorist groups’ had seized

DHAKA: Egypt opened its Rafah border crossing to Gaza on Thursday to receive wounded Palestinians as Israel pounded the enclave with air strikes. An official at the border said, reports The Straits Times. Hospitals in north Sinai, which borders Gaza and Israel, have been placed on

DHAKA: Up to 20 people have been killed in the deadliest night of Israeli air raids on Gaza since its current offensive began.Palestinian officials say, reports the BBC.The health ministry said most died in attacks on a house and a cafe in Khan Younis in the south, bringing the overall

DHAKA: Samsung Electronics Co. said on Thursday it was ‘urgently’ investigating allegations that one of its suppliers in China employed children and underage students.China Labor Watch (CLW) said the supplier, Shinyang Electronics, was believed to have hired at least five workers

DHAKA: More than 50 unidentified bodies were found in the predominantly Shiite town of Alexandria on Wednesday, Iraqi security officials said. The bodies of two children were among the dozens found in different parts of the town. Details about the circumstances of the deaths were not

DHAKA: The situation in Gaza "is on a knife-edge", UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said, urging Israel and Palestinian militants to end hostilities. Mr Ban warned that the region "cannot afford another full-blown war". His comments come after Israel said Hamas had fired dozens of

DHAKA: Six people, including four children, have been shot dead at a house near the US city of Houston, police say. One woman is in critical condition after being shot in the head, but she was able to identify the suspect and direct police to him. After a chase, his car was surrounded

DHAKA: Armed militants gunned down five security personnel in Balochistan's resource-rich Dukki area during pre-dawn hours on Thursday, reports Dawn.    A security official, who requested anonymity since he was not authorized to speak to media, said gunmen attacked with automatic