Wednesday, 25 Dec, 2024

International

Pakistan peace talks with Taliban are delayed

DHAKA: Pakistani government negotiators say they are not planning to meet a Taliban team for preliminary peace talks in Islamabad as expected on Tuesday.The government side said before talks began they wanted further clarification from the team nominated by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan

Top Russian opposition TV faces closure

DHAKA: Russia’s top opposition channel known for its critical coverage of president Vladimir Putin on Tuesday faced the prospect of closure after a major cable operator said it would take the station off the air.Several providers have over the past days dropped the independent Internet

70 killed during clashes in CAR town

DHAKA: At least 70 people have been killed and dozens of houses torched in clashes between Muslim and Christian communities in a town in Central African Republic.A local police official said on Monday, The Jerusalem Post publishes this report on Tuesday.The scale of the violence

Pakistan peace talks with Taliban set to open

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

Thai oppn challenges polls in court

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

India bus plunge kills 10, hurt 35

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

‘Corruption across EU breathtaking’

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

Mandela leaves $4.1 million estate

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

‘Iran nuclear deal possible in 6 months’

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

Imran declines to represent Taliban in peace talks

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),

Thousands of India’s disabled protest for equal rights

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

Ukraine president returns after illness

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

Armed student kills 2 in Moscow school hostage crisis

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

Dozens dead in air raids on Aleppo

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

5 killed as deadly blast hit Pakistan cinema

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

Earthquake strikes off western Greece

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

Air raid kills 90 in Syria

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

Afghan presidential election campaign under way

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

India’s AAP founder member quits

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

Australia claims progress on Great Barrier Reef protection

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