Saturday, 30 Nov, 2024

International

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,

‘I kept telling Sunanda to forget these unpleasant things’

DHAKA: Sunanda Pushkar Tharoor’s close friend Zarine Khan is devastated with her untimely demise. ‘We had first met the two at Delhi’s Couture Week a few years ago, where Sunanda had told us about their friendship’.Saturday morning, still reeling from the tragic news, Zarine told

28 injured in blasts at Thailand anti-government rally

DHAKA: Explosions injured almost 30 people in central Bangkok on Sunday during a continuing ‘shutdown’ protest aimed at toppling the Thai government.An emergency centre said, reports The Straits Times.Twenty-eight people were taken to several hospitals across the city, according to

20 soldiers killed Pakistan bomb blast

DHAKA: At least 20 soldiers have been killed in north-western Pakistan in a bomb blast that struck an army convoy, sources in the security forces say.At least 24 others were injured in the explosion near the town of Bannu, with fears the death toll will rise, reports BBC.The source of the

Obama tries to allay German concerns

DHAKA: President Barack Obama has said he will not let controversial surveillance by US intelligence services undermine Washington`s ties with Germany.Speaking to Germany`s ZDF TV, he indicated that US bugging of Chancellor Angela Merkel`s mobile phone had been a mistake and would not

Syria opposition to attend Geneva talks

DHAKA: The Syrian National Coalition, the main umbrella opposition body in exile, has agreed to participate in long-awaited peace talks planned for January 22 in Geneva.The Syrian National Coalition`s media office said on Saturday that of 75 voters, 58 voted in favour of attending the