Tuesday, 24 Dec, 2024

International

Curbs on Iran uranium enrichment begin

DHAKA: Iran has begun curbing uranium enrichment, state TV says, under an agreement which will also trigger an easing of international sanctions.Centrifuges used for enrichment were disconnected at the Nantaz plant, according to TV, reports the BBC.The move is part of a deal reached with

Pakistan bomb blast kills 8

DHAKA: At least eight people were killed and many feared injured in a bomb blast near the RA Bazaar in Rawalpindi on Monday, DawnNews reported.The site of the 10 kilogram bomb explosion also lies near the General Headquarters of the Pakistani military.The injured were being taken to

China economic growth at 14-year low

DHAKA: China`s economy, the world`s second-largest, grew at its slowest pace in 14 years in 2013, latest figures show.Its gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 7.7% from a year ago, the slowest pace of growth since 1999.The growth rate was better than the government`s target of 7.5%. The

Ukraine president pledges crisis talks

DHAKA: Ukraine`s President Viktor Yanukovych has agreed to negotiate with pro-EU protesters and opposition leaders after violent clashes in the capital Kiev.He said a cross-party commission would be set up on Monday to try to resolve the deepening crisis. Opposition leaders confirmed

UN chief invites Iran to Syria peace talks

DHAKA: UN chief Ban Ki-moon has invited Iran to take part in preliminary Syrian peace talks in the Swiss city of Montreux on Wednesday, an offer Tehran has accepted.Mr Ban said he believed Iran "needs to be part of the solution to the Syria crisis".He also said he had received assurances

Afghanistan accuses ‘foreign intelligence’ over Kabul attack

DHAKA: Afghanistan’s National Security Council, which is chaired by president Hamid Karzai, on Sunday accused ‘foreign intelligence services’ of being behind the deadly attack on a Kabul restaurant, in an apparent reference to Pakistan.‘The NSC said such sophisticated and complex

Russia welcomes Syria opposition decision to join talks

DHAKA: Russia on Sunday welcomed a decision by Syria’s opposition to attend an international peace conference next week alongside representatives of a regime they seek to overthrow.‘That is the right decision, we’ve have always said that one has to go to the forum and enter into

Al-Qaeda gains haven in Libyan desert

DHAKA: Swathed in a white turban and robes, Eissa Abdel Majid sits in his militia barracks on the edge of the desert describing a losing battle to stem the flow of armed militants with suspected links to al-Qaeda, who use it as a freeway across northern Africa.He says he’s fed up with

Thousands challenge protest ban in Kiev

DHAKA: Tens of thousands of Ukrainian pro-EU demonstrators have gathered in the capital Kiev in defiance of new laws aimed at curbing public protests.They braved freezing temperatures to pack into the city’s Independence Square, with some sporting pots or colanders to mock a ban on

Britons name anti-EU party their favourite

DHAKA: Britons named the anti-European Union UK Independence Party as their favourite political party in a poll on Sunday, dealing a setback to British prime minister David Cameron ahead of elections to the European Parliament.The survey came days after another poll showed Cameron’s

Syria denies Assad comments reported by Interfax

DHAKA: The office of Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad denied comments attributed to him Sunday by a Russian news agency which quoted him as saying his departure is not up for discussion.‘What the Russian news agency Interfax has published as comments made by president Assad are

Mursi to face trial on new charges

DHAKA: Deposed Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi will face trial on charges of insulting the judiciary, a judicial source said on Sunday, a signal that Egyptian authorities have no intention of easing a crackdown on his Muslim Brotherhood.Egypt has been stepping up pressure on the movement

Malaysia King backs court ban on non-Muslims using ‘Allah’

DHAKA: Malaysia’s King gave his backing on Sunday to a court ruling barring non-Muslims from using the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God, weighing in for the first time on an issue that has fanned religious tensions in the multi-cultural country.Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam, whose role

‘98% back new Egypt constitution’

DHAKA: A proposed new Egyptian constitution has been backed by 98.1% of people who voted in a referendum, officials say.Turnout was 38.6% of the 53 million eligible voters, the election committee said.The draft constitution replaces one introduced by Islamist president Mohammed Mursi

20 million people in S Korea fall victim to data leak

DHAKA: The personal data of at least 20 million bank and credit card users in South Korea has been leaked, state regulators said on Sunday, one of the country’s biggest ever breaches.Many major firms in South Korea have seen customers` data leaked in recent years, either by hacking

Iraqi army launches major assault on Ramadi

DHAKA: Iraqi military has launched a major operation on Ramadi to expel armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda and end their weeks-long partial control of parts of the city.Troops on Sunday, backed by helicopter cover, imposed a ban on movement within the city, military spokesman Mohammed

India reassures African nations after confrontation

DHAKA: India’s foreign ministry said on Sunday it has reassured ambassadors of some 20 African nations that authorities are not targeting their nationals, after an incident over a suspected prostitution ring.A senior ministry official met the ambassadors on Saturday night over the

4 dead as Indonesia plane crashes after lightning strike

DHAKA: A light aircraft crashed and burst into flames on a beach in eastern Indonesia on Sunday after being hit by lightning, killing all four people on board.An Indonesian official and eyewitness said.The Piper Seneca turboprop was flying from the eastern region of Papua to Tual city in

Assad giving up power not up for discussion

DHAKA: Syrian president Bashar al-Assad said in Damascus on Sunday he has no intention of giving up power and the issue is not up for discussion.Russian agency Interfax reported, says The Straits Times.‘If we wanted to give up, we would have done so at the very beginning. We are on

Death toll from Philippines storm climbs to 40

DHAKA: The death toll from the first storm to batter the disaster-prone Philippines this year has climbed to 40, officials said on Sunday, as forecasters warned more heavy rain was on its way.‘Lingling’, a tropical depression - has wreaked havoc across the southern island of Mindanao,