DHAKA: Preliminary peace talks between the Pakistani government and the Taliban are due to get under way in the capital, Islamabad, later on Tuesday. At their first meeting, negotiators nominated by the government and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are to chart a ‘roadmap’ for

DHAKA: Thailand`s opposition Democrat Party will challenge the disputed ballot in a Constitutional Court, as a long-running political conflict has showed no sign of ending. The opposition will file two complaints on Tuesday, as the Election Commission meets on Wednesday to probe possible

DHAKA: Ten people died and 35 others were injured as a bus fell into a ditch on the Pune-Satara highway Tuesday.The accident reportedly happened after a container hit the bus from behind. Some other cars were also damaged, reports NDTV.The injured have been rushed to hospital.BDST: 1128

DHAKA: The extent of corruption in Europe is ‘breathtaking’ and it costs the EU economy at least 120bn euros annually, the European Commission says.EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem has presented a full report on the problem.She said the true cost of corruption was

DHAKA: Late former South African president Nelson Mandela has left his US$4.1 million estate to family members, the ruling African National Congress, former staff and several local schools, according to a reading of his will on Monday.Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke told reporters

DHAKA: An agreement on Iran’s nuclear program is possible within six months if there is good will, Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday, adding that he was not worried about the US Congress trying to impose new sanctions.‘With good will we can reach an

DHAKA: The party of Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan said on Monday they ‘appreciated’ a Taliban request for him to represent them in peace talks with the government, but declined the offer.Two teams, nominated by the government and Tehreek-e-Taleban Pakistan (TTP),

DHAKA: Thousands of disabled people protested in the Indian capital on Monday, demanding Parliament pass long-awaited legislation that gives them equal rights, including to education and employment.Thousands with intellectual or physical impairments gathered to support the Bill drafted

DHAKA: Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich returned to his desk on Monday after four days of sick leave, while the political opposition pressed for further concessions from him to end more than two months of street protests against his rule.‘He is back at work,’ a presidential

DHAKA: An armed student entered a Moscow school on Monday and took more than 20 teenagers hostage, in an incident that also claimed the lives of a policeman and a teacher.Russia security officials said, reports The Straits Times.The hostage-taker was one of the students of school number

DHAKA: Syrian government forces have bombarded Aleppo with barrel bombs and air raids for a second day, with scores of people killed in 48 hours, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. At least 36 people were killed in Sunday`s attacks alone on Syria`s second city, the

DHAKA: A cinema in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar has been struck by two blasts, killing at least five people and injuring at least 20 others. The explosions took place on Sunday in the Picture House, as it is known locally, in Qissa Khawani Bazaar. Faisal Mukhtar, a senior

DHAKA: A strong magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off western Greece early on Monday. The United States Geological Survey said, reports The Straits Times. The quake, which was initially reported as 6.4 in magnitude, struck 122km west of Patras at a relatively shallow depth of 13.7km at

DHAKA: At least ninety people were killed in a day of punishing air assaults on Aleppo as so-called barrel bombs rained down on the city, an opposition group said.Women and children were among the victims in Saturday`s raids in various neighborhoods in the rebel stronghold, the UK-based

DHAKA: The campaign for Afghanistan’s presidential election has been formally launched, with rallies for key candidates in the capital, Kabul.The election is scheduled to take place on 5 April.There are 11 candidates to replace Hamid Karzai, who cannot stand again.Security is the major

DHAKA: India’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) founder member Madhu Bhaduri has accused the rookie party of shielding controversial law minister Somnath Bharti in the south Delhi raid episode.Bhaduri’s allegations, which come close on the heels of party legislator Vinod Kumar Binny being

DHAKA: Australia said it had made ‘substantial’ progress on Unesco benchmarks for protection of the Great Barrier Reef on Sunday in a report aimed at staving off a world heritage downgrade.Australia environment minister Greg Hunt said a progress report delivered to the world heritage

DHAKA: US Secretary of State John Kerry met Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif Sunday amid ongoing efforts to resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme.‘Secretary Kerry and foreign minister Zarif met on the margins of the Munich Security Conference this morning,’

DHAKA: Polls across Thailand closed peacefully despite a boycott by the country’s main opposition party, but voting disruptions in some districts including in Bangkok means there will be no results for at least three weeks.Voting was normal in the north and north-east, but in some parts

  DHAKA: Five people were injured on Sunday when motorcycle-riding men hurled a grenade into a church in the troubled southern Philippines in a city known for Muslim rebel activity, officials said. One of two men on the motorcycle threw the grenade into the Roman Catholic church in a