DHAKA: Women in Syria are increasingly the targets of violent abuse and torture by government forces and armed groups.Some 6,000 women have been raped since the start of the conflict in March 2011, the Euro Mediterranean Human Rights Network says.A spokeswoman for the group said these

DHAKA: The World Health Organization said on Tuesday that additional polio cases had been confirmed in two new areas of Syria, including near Damascus and in northern Aleppo, near Turkey, according to the agency’s twitter account.‘In addition to 15 polio cases in Deir al-Zor province,

Egyptian security authorities have allegedly detained 17 people suspected of working as spies in connection with the Mossad.Kuwaiti daily al-Rai reported Tuesday, says The Jerusalem Post.According to Egyptian officials cited in the report, the detainees were members of three spy networks

DHAKA: Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran was prepared to take part in the Syria peace talks in Geneva, slated for January 22, if invited.‘Participation of Iran in Geneva 2 is in our view an important contribution to the resolution of the problem,’ Zarif said on

DHAKA: The head of the Free Syrian Army said that rebel forces loyal to him would not join a planned peace conference in Switzerland in January and would continue their fight to topple president Bashar Assad throughout the talks.‘Conditions are not suitable for running the Geneva 2

DHAKA: Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has launched the SNP’s independence blueprint, calling it a ‘mission statement’ for Scotland’s future.The 670-page Scottish government white paper promised a ‘revolution’ in social policy, with childcare at its heart, reports the

DHAKA: One of South Korea’s most wanted fugitives, the alleged head of a major crime syndicate, was arrested in the Philippines on Tuesday after hiding out in the country for two years, officials said.Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Cho Yang-Eun, 63, was arrested by immigration

DHAKA: Chinese prime minister Li Keqiang says Chinese investment in infrastructure construction, renewable energy and agriculture in eastern Europe will bring greater prosperity and jobs in the region.Li said China’s economic interest in eastern and central Europe would bring ‘massive

DHAKA: France’s defence minister says the country will send 1,000 troops to Central African Republic, which has been in turmoil since March when rebel groups overthrew the president.It’s the second time this year that France has sent forces to a former colony, and defence minister

DHAKA: Iraq has executed 11 more people convicted of crimes related to ‘terrorist attacks’.Iraq justice ministry official told media on Tuesday, reports The Straits Times.Eleven terrorists, all Iraqi men, were executed on Sunday, November 24.‘They were executed after being convicted

DHAKA: Christmas is not a holiday in predominantly Buddhist Thailand, and its palm trees outnumber pines, but the country still set a world record with its holiday spirit.One of the country’s largest shopping malls arranged a publicity stunt involving 852 schoolchildren dressed in green

DHAKA: A Thai court approved an arrest warrant Tuesday for a top protest leader in connection with the occupation of several government ministries as part of efforts to topple the government.‘We sought an arrest warrant for Suthep (Thaugsuban) and the Criminal Court just approved it,’

DHAKA: Pakistani activists have blocked the main supply route for provisions destined for Nato troops in Afghanistan to protest against US drone strikes.Opposition politician Imran Khan called for the action and said it would continue until American drone attacks in north-west Pakistan

DHAKA: Scotland’s first minister is to set out the SNP’s blueprint for independence, ahead of next September`s referendum.Alex Salmond said the Scottish government’s 670-page white paper would put beyond dispute Scotland’s ability to be a successful, independent nation.On 18

DHAKA: Wicked wintry weather that pummeled the West Coast is now barreling across the country, threatening to wreck millions of holiday travel plans just before Thanksgiving.Scores of car crashes and 12 fatalities are blamed on the storm.Nearly 200 flights out of Dallas-Fort Worth

DHAKA: Mexican authorities have found 42 bodies buried in mass graves in western Mexico this month, the Attorney General`s Office said.Many of the bodies had bullet wounds and showed signs of torture, according to federal authorities at the crime scene.The bodies have not yet been

DHAKA: The Afghan president has refused to back down on his decision not to sign a key security deal in a meeting with the US national security adviser.The pact allows thousands of US troops to remain in Afghanistan after 2014.US envoy Susan Rice told President Hamid Karzai his proposal

DHAKA: France has agreed to send 800 extra troops to the Central African Republic (CAR), CAR Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye has said.He said the deployment to the conflict-torn nation would take place after a vote in the UN Security Council - expected next week.The UN deputy secretary

DHAKA: Egypt’s interim prime minister Hazem el-Beblawi said on Monday he expects a referendum on the constitution, currently being drafted, will take place in the second half of January.‘I believe that it will take place in the second half of January,’ Dr Beblawi told reporters,

DHAKA: Israeli authorities have green-lighted the construction of 800 new settler homes in the occupied West Bank.Israel’s defence ministry said on Monday it had approved a planning stage for the housing earlier this month, an initial step in a protracted bureaucratic process, with