Friday, 29 Mar, 2024

International

Pope, Jordan king, agree dialogue ‘only option’

DHAKA: Pope Francis and King Abdullah of Jordan agreed during a meeting on Thursday that dialogue among Syrians with the backing of the international community was the ‘only option’ to bring an end to the conflict in Syria.The Vatican said in a statement, reports The Jerusalem

Russia destroys missiles destined for Iran

DHAKA: A top Russian weapons maker said on Thursday that the S-300 air defence missile systems made for Iran had been dismantled and disposed of following Western pressure to shelf the contract.‘The hardware that was destined for Iran no longer exists,’ general director of Russian

Britain issues legal, intelligence report backing Syria strike

DHAKA: Britain’s government on Thursday published internal legal advice it had been given which it said showed it was legally entitled to take military action against Syria even if the United Nations Security Council blocked such action.It also published intelligence material on last

Iran appoints first foreign ministry spokeswoman

DHAKA: Iran’s state TV has said reporting the country has appointed its first ever foreign ministry spokeswoman.The Thursday report quotes foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as saying Marzieh Afkham has been appointed spokesperson for the country’s diplomatic apparatus, reports

Labour could still vote against govt over Syria

DHAKA: A Commons vote on the UK’s response to a chemical attack near Damascus hangs in the balance, after Labour demanded ‘compelling evidence’ of Syria’s guilt.MPs had been due to vote on whether the UK should launch an attack against president Bashar al-Assad’s regime.But

Kenya bus crash kills 41

DHAKA: At least 41 people have been killed in a bus crash near the Kenyan town of Narok, west of the capital Nairobi, the Red Cross says.‘It is a horrible scene. Bodies are strewn all over,’ said police traffic officer Samuel Kimaru, reports the BBC.The bus, travelling from Nairobi to

Bin Laden doctor’s 33-year jail sentence overturned

DHAKA: A judicial official on Thursday overturned the 33-year jail sentence of Shakil Afridi, the doctor who helped the CIA track down former al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.Judicial official Commissioner Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) Sahibzada Mohammad Anees ruled that the previous

French, Russian warships ‘head for Syria’

DHAKA: France has dispatched an anti-air warfare frigate to the eastern Mediterranean Sea amid growing speculation of an imminent missile strike on Syria.French news magazine ‘Le Point’ reported on Thursday, says france24.com.According to an unnamed French military source quoted by

‘Every effort must be made to reach political deal’

DHAKA: A political solution must remain the focus for Syria, French president Francois Hollande said Thursday, but said it could only happen if the international community can halt the killings and better support the opposition to president Bashar Assad.‘Everything must be done for a

German unemployment rises unexpectedly in August

DHAKA: German unemployment registered a small unexpected rise in August, due to a scaling back of job creation schemes, but the labour market overall remains stable.Official data showed on Thursday, reports The Straits Times.The number of people registered as unemployed in Europe’s top

UN team arrives in Syria’s rebel-held area

DHAKA: A team of chemical weapons experts dispatched by the United Nations to Syria arrived Thursday at in rebel-held territory outside Damascus, activists said, and began preparations for a third day of investigations into an alleged gas attack by the Syrian regime.Activists said the

Blast in rebel-held Raqqa kills 6, dozens injured

DHAKA: At least six people died and dozens were injured in a car bomb that exploded in the Syrian city of Raqqa.Al-Jazeera quoted activists as saying, reports The Jerusalem Post.The aftermath of the bomb is shown in an unverified video published on YouTube by ‘RMC activists, with people

Russia to send 2 ships to Mediterranean

DHAKA: Russia will send two ships to the east Mediterranean to strengthen its naval presence because of the ‘well-known situation’ there.Interfax news agency said on Thursday referring to the Syria crisis, reports The Jerusalem Post.The agency quoted a source in the armed forces’

‘Syria will be victorious’

DHAKA: Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad has vowed that his country would emerge ‘victorious’ in any confrontation with the United States and its allies, in comments published Thursday by a Lebanese daily.Washington and other Western powers have warned of imminent military strikes

‘Gas attack inspectors to leave Syria by Saturday’

DHAKA: A UN team of inspectors investigating an apparent poison gas attack in Syria will leave the country by Saturday morning.UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moon said on Thursday in Vienna, reports The Straits Times.‘They will continue investigation activities until tomorrow Friday and

India Mujahideen ‘top militant’ arrested

DHAKA: Police in India have arrested Yasin Bhatkal, the alleged head of the Indian Mujahideen (IM) militant group, which has been blamed for a string of recent attacks, officials say.The group is thought to be behind deadly blasts in the cities of Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and

Earth life ‘may have come from Mars’

DHAKA: Life may have started on Mars before arriving on Earth, a major scientific conference has heard.New research supports an idea that the Red Planet was a better place to kick-start biology billions of years ago than the early Earth was.The evidence is based on how the first molecules

Obama not ready to order Syria strike

DHAKA: US President Barack Obama said he had not yet signed off on a plan to attack Syria, but action appeared likely after Washington stopped seeking a UN mandate.Political uproar in London, meanwhile, cast doubt on whether Britain will join American military action to punish President

N Korea ship `broke arms embargo`

DHAKA: Panama says an undeclared Cuban weapons cargo found on a North Korean ship is an "undoubted violation" of the United Nations` arms embargo on Pyongyang.A draft report by UN experts sent to Panama after the seizure of the ship in July confirmed a breach of sanctions, the ministry of

Iraq bombs death toll rises to 86

DHAKA: A co-ordinated wave of bombings has torn through Shia Muslim areas in and around the Iraqi capital, killing at least 86 people and wounded 263, police and medical sources said, extending the worst wave of sectarian bloodshed in Iraq for at least five years.The blasts, which came in