DHAKA: The operator of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant said on Tuesday workers had spilled four tonnes of radioactive water, likely contaminating the soil and possibly groundwater.Workers were pumping rain water that was trapped in a concrete gutter into an empty 12-tonne tank that

DHAKA: The US government shutdown will undermine American credibility abroad and lead allies to question its commitment to treaty obligations, the US defence chief warned on Tuesday as he prepared to put 400,000 civilian workers on unpaid leave.US defence secretary Chuck Hagel, who was

DHAKA: A prominent Afghan opposition leader declared his candidacy on Tuesday for next year’s presidential election, a key vote that will help determine the success or failure of 12 years of United States-led military and political intervention in the country.Abdullah Abdullah was the

DHAKA: The UN mission in Iraq says nearly 1,000 Iraqis have been killed in violence throughout September,- down from July’s monthly death toll but still among the highest recently.UNAMI said on Tuesday that it recorded 979 Iraqis killed in September, reports Today’s Zaman.The

DHAKA: Edward Snowden, the fugitive American former intelligence worker, has made the shortlist of three for the Sakharov prize, Europe’s top human rights award.Snowden was nominated by Green politicians in the European Parliament for leaking details of US surveillance.Nominees also

DHAKA: French police are investigating reports that the head of an agency that processes traffic violations used his department’s budget to pay almost 700 euros worth of his own fines.Investigative website Mediapart on Monday claimed Jean-Jacques Debacq, the chief of the ANTAI agency

DHAKA: Iranian president Hasan Rohani has asked authorities to study the possibility of resuming direct flights between Iran and the United States for the first time over the past 35 years.A senior Iranian official announced on Monday, Tehran Times prints this report on Tuesday.Akbar

DHAKA: Poor Africans say they are still not benefiting from the continent’s economic rise, according to a landmark survey of citizens across 34 countries released on Tuesday.Despite some of the world`s highest economic growth rates, many Africans still report shortages of water, food,

DHAKA: Police say hundreds of Buddhist rioters have gone on a rampage in western Myanmar, killing a 94-year-old Muslim woman and setting more than 70 homes ablaze.Police officer Kyaw Naing says the clashes broke out in Thabyachaing village, about 20km north of the coastal town of Thandwe,

DHAKA: Myanmar president Thein Sein travelled to Myanmar’s conflict-torn west as a new spate of mob-led arson attacks against Muslim homes erupted on Tuesday, his first visit to the divided region since sectarian violence broke out there more than a year ago.A senior official in the

DHAKA: Brent crude fell below US$108 a barrel on Tuesday to trade near a 7-week low on worries a shutdown of the US government may crimp oil demand, while investors also eyed easing tensions in US-Iran nuclear talks.The US government began a partial shutdown on Tuesday for the first time

DHAKA: A team of international disarmament experts is due to arrive in Damascus to begin work on dismantling Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal.Syria says it will co-operate with the mission set up after a US-Russia deal endorsed by the UN Security Council.It is the first time the

DHAKA: Thai authorities say floods have killed more than 20 people and affected areas across the country in the past two weeks, while concern is growing there could be a repeat of the devastating floods in 2011.The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department says 32 out of 77 provinces

DHAKA: The head of the US Marine Corps has ordered two generals to retire because they failed to defend Camp Bastion in Afghanistan from a Taliban attack.Gen James Amos said Maj Gen Charles Gurganus and Maj Gen Gregg A Sturdevant "did not take adequate force protection measures" to stop

DHAKA: South Korea staged its largest military display for a decade on Tuesday, as President Park Geun Hye warned of the "very grave" threat posed by North Korea`s nuclear weapons programme.Some 11,000 troops and 120 aircraft took part in the event at an air base south of Seoul, which

DHAKA: Venezuela has announced it is expelling three US diplomats, whom it accuses of plotting to sabotage the economy.President Nicolas Maduro said the diplomats have 48 hours to leave the country, saying "Yankees, go home!"Mr Maduro says he has evidence that the trio took part in a

DHAKA: President Barack Obama has said a potential US government shutdown is "entirely avoidable" as only a few hours remain to avert it.Mr Obama criticised Republicans for trying to refight the last election as they seek to link the budget to delaying his health care law.If no agreement

DHAKA: If Iranian president Hassan Rohani’s dream of reaching a deal with world powers on Tehran’s nuclear programme in six months comes true, Oman, an important intermediary in the dispute, could be a big winner.There have been too many false dawns in Iran’s decade-old standoff

DHAKA: Car bombs exploded in several predominantly Shia Muslim neighbourhoods of Baghdad on Monday, killing at least 54 people and wounding dozens.Police and medical sources said, reports daily Hurriyet.The deadliest single attack took place in Sadr City, where a man parked a white car

DHAKA: Saudis have expressed disbelief following a report that a Yemeni who had spent close to 10 years begging in Saudi Arabia offered his wife a four-wheel drive vehicle and a plot of land for supporting him.According to the report, first published by a Yemeni website, the Yemeni