DHAKA: Americans enter 2014 with a profoundly negative view of their government, expressing little hope that elected officials can or will solve the nation’s biggest problems, a new poll finds.Half say America’s system of democracy needs either ‘a lot of changes’ or a complete

DHAKA: More than 73,000 people were killed in Syria in 2013, the bloodiest year yet in the brutal civil war that began in March 2011.A non-governmental organisation said on Wednesday, The Straits Times publishes this report on Thursday.The tally from the Syrian Observatory for Human

DHAKA: A former head of Rwanda’s external intelligence service was found strangled in a hotel in South Africa, where he has lived in exile for several years.His opposition party said, reports Al Jazeera.‘The Rwandan opposition is deeply saddened to announce the assassination of

DHAKA: Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has been taken to hospital with a suspected heart problem on his way to court for his treason trial.Officials told the court the 70-year-old was transferred to the Armed Forces Cardiology Hospital in Rawalpindi, reports the BBC.It

DHAKA: The head of the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan has called for an end to fighting in the country, and for peace talks to be given a chance.Hilde Johnson told the BBC the humanitarian situation was worsening.At least 1,000 people have died since fighting erupted last month

DHAKA: Two car bombs have exploded outside a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu, killing at least 10 people.The blasts were at the Jazeera hotel which is frequented by Somali politicians and foreigners, reports BBC.Reports say the blasts were followed by exchanges of fire between

DHAKA: A Palestinian diplomat was killed in an explosion at his home in the Czech capital Prague, apparently while opening a case.Jamal al-Jamal, the head of the Palestinian mission, had been taken to hospital after the blast, a spokesman for the mission told Czech media.It is not yet

DHAKA: Chinese state media kept up the heat on Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe on the first day of 2014, urging him to learn from Germany in dealing with divisive historical issues.‘Abe’s conspicuous lack of historical honesty contrasts shamefully with the courage and vision of

DHAKA: The much-awaited Lokpal Bill on Wednesday got the assent from Indian president Pranab Mukherjee, providing for creation of an anti-graft watchdog which will bring under its purview even the prime minister with certain safeguards.The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on December 17

DHAKA: Taiwanese authorities are monitoring hundreds of people who may have had contact with a mainland Chinese tourist infected with the H7N9 strain of bird flu.Taiwan officials said on Wednesday, reports The Straits Times.The 86-year-old man from the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu

DHAKA: French president Francois Hollande said he would be ‘intransigent’ on racism after a provocative gesture popularised by a French comedian sparked global controversy.French striker Nicolas Anelka triggered a media outcry when he used the ‘quenelle’ gesture, performed by

DHAKA: The Palestinian ambassador to the Czech Republic was injured in an explosion at his residence in Prague on Wednesday.Czech media outlets CTK news agency and website idnes.cz reported, says The Jerusalem Post.The blast occurred before midday, the reports said.BDST: 1933 HRS, JAN 01,

DHAKA: Ringing out a year that ended with an unqualified diplomatic disaster in what used to be an almost enviable bilateral relationship, US ambassador to India Nancy Powell used a New Year message to express regrets for ‘the circumstances’ of the arrest of Indian diplomat Devyani

DHAKA: Crisis-hit Greece on January 1 took over the six-month rotating EU presidency from Lithuania with a crucial European Parliament ballot looming and the bloc divided over delicate efforts to create a banking union.In the European Parliament elections in May, euroskeptics and

DHAKA: Israel and the Palestinians sharpened their rhetoric as US state secretary John Kerry headed to the region on Wednesday hoping to nudge the two sides towards a peace framework.The latest United States quest for a long-elusive peace deal has shown little sign of progress since Kerry

DHAKA: India has cancelled the Rs. 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal with British manufacturer AgustaWestland over allegations that it was riddled with kickbacks.Sources in India’s defence ministry have told NDTV.The cancellation came after a meeting between defence minister AK Antony with

DHAKA: Violence in Iraq surged in 2013 to its worst level in five years, fuelled by widespread discontent among the Sunni Arab minority and Syria’s civil war.Figures released Wednesday showed, reports The Straits Times.Bombs tore through markets, cafes, football fields and mosques,

DHAKA: Embattled Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra returned to the capital, Bangkok, on Wednesday for traditional New Year celebrations in a display of unity alongside military chiefs before a looming showdown with anti-government protesters.Demonstrators, who accuse Yingluck of

DHAKA: The US is still reviewing the application for the transfer of senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade to UN and issue the necessary documents for full diplomatic immunity.A top official said in Washington, giving no timeline for its decision, reports The Times of India.‘It is

DHAKA: India and Pakistan have exchanged lists of their nuclear facilities as part of a 1988 pact that bars them from attacking each other’s nuclear installations.An external affairs ministry statement says the exchange, both in New Delhi and Islamabad, is done each New Year’s Day