Monday, 29 Apr, 2024

International

Gulf nations to create joint military command

DHAKA: Six Gulf Arab nations wrapped up a summit meeting in Kuwait by agreeing to establish a joint military command, paving the way for tighter security coordination as their regional rival Iran pursues outreach efforts.The official Kuwait News Agency said Wednesday that the military

Kerry asks Congress not to impose new sanctions on Iran

DHAKA: US state secretary John Kerry appealed to sceptical US lawmakers on Tuesday not to impose new sanctions on Tehran while the United States seeks to negotiate a comprehensive agreement with Iran to curb its nuclear programme.Republicans and Democrats in the House of Representatives

‘West begins to realise need to invite Iran to Geneva-2’

DHAKA: The Western countries are beginning to realise the importance of Iran’s participation in the international conference on Syria, known as Geneva-2.Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said, the Voice of Russia reports.‘In my contacts with my Western counterparts and those from

230m children under 5 never registered at birth

DHAKA: Nearly 230 million children under the age of five around the world have never had their birth registered, which often means they will be barred from education, health care and social security.The UN children’s agency said, reports The Straits Times.A report by UNICEF to mark its

Iran offered initiative to mend ties with GCC countries

DHAKA: Iran was offered a Gulf initiative seeking to mend ties with GCC and other Arab countries and open a new chapter of cooperation and good neighbourly relations.A regional Gulf security conference heard on Wednesday, gulfnews.com reports.Dr Ebtisam Al Katbi, Chairperson of the

Anna Hazare’s hunger strike enters 2nd day

DHAKA: Activist Anna Hazare’s indefinite hunger strike to press for the passage of Jan Lokpal Bill entered the second day on Wednesday.76-year-old Hazare continues his fast at his village here braving the cold weather in Maharashtra`s Ahmednagar district.The anti-graft crusader is on

US suspends non-lethal aid to northern Syria

DHAKA: The United States has suspended all non-lethal assistance into northern Syria after Islamic Front forces seized headquarters and warehouses belonging to the opposition’s Supreme Military Council (SMC).A US Embassy spokesman said in Ankarasaid, reports The Jerusalem Post.Fighters

Uruguay`s Senate legalises marijuana

DHAKA: Uruguay has become the first nation to legalise the growing, sale and smoking of marijuana after the country`s Senate gave final approval to the legislation.After a long debate on Tuesday, 16 of 29 senators voted in favour of the law championed by President Jose Mujica.The

Croatia in destruction of Syrian chemical weapons

DHAKA: NATO member Croatia may allow the use of its Adriatic ports to load Syria’s deadly chemicals onto a US ship for destruction offshore.Croatia prime minister Zoran Milanovic said on Tuesday, reports The Jerusalem Post.‘It is envisaged that they will be destroyed, probably in the

Large blast shakes airport in Afghan capital

DHAKA: A large explosion shook Kabul’s international airport on Wednesday, a Reuters witness said, with police saying initial reports suggested it was an insurgent attack.‘Based on our information there was a explosion near KAIA,’ said deputy Kabul police chief Sayed Ghafar

‘Iran’s military power could not be destroyed’

DHAKA: The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps could not be destroyed completely, not even by thousands of enemy bombs.IRGC commander Mohammad Ali Jafari was quoted by Press TV as saying on Tuesday, reports The Jerusalem Post.‘If today, the enemy…strikes us with thousands of bombs via a

Thaksin’s red-shirt supporters prepare rally to back PM

DHAKA: The red-shirt supporters of Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Wednesday they could take to the streets to protect the government from protesters who have forced her to call a snap election, setting the scene for a possible confrontation.The warning by the ‘red

Obama, Cameron ‘selfie’ at Mandela memorial creates online stir

DHAKA: US president Barack Obama may have moved the masses attending Nelson Mandela’s memorial service with his stirring eulogy on Tuesday, but it was his grinning ‘selfie’ with the Danish and British premiers that set social networks abuzz.In a candid moment captured by AFP

Fire at China farmers’ market kills 15

DHAKA: An overnight fire at a farmers’ market in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen killed at least 15 people and injured five, local authorities said today (Dec 11).Shenzhen’s fire department said on its microblog that the fire broke out about 1.30am today at the wholesale market

Ukraine police storm protest camp

DHAKA: Hundreds of police have moved in on a large protest camp in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, clashing with protesters.Al Jazeera`s Tim Friend, reporting from Independence Square, said barricades came down as police in full riot gear advanced on protesters early on Wednesday

Spanish journalists seized in Syria

DHAKA: Two Spanish journalists have been kidnapped in Syria by a radical Islamist group linked to al-Qaeda.El Mundo reporter Javier Espinosa and freelance photographer Ricardo Garcia Vilanova were seized by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis).The newspaper said they were taken at a

Mandela`s body to lie in state

DHAKA: The body of Nelson Mandela is due to be taken in procession to the Union Buildings in Pretoria where it will lie in state for three days.Each morning his remains will be transported across the city in a glass casket, reports BBC.People have been encouraged to line the route and

S Korea warns of N Korea`s `reign of terror`

DHAKA: South Korea`s president has warned that ties with the communist North could become more unstable following the removal of a major powerbroker.President Park Geun-hye said the North was "carrying out a reign of terror", after news of the purge of Chang Song-thaek, uncle of leader

2 French soldiers killed in CAR

DHAKA: Two French soldiers were killed in combat in the Central African Republic, the French presidency says, reports BBC.It says President Francois Hollande, who is now in the CAR, "learned with deep sadness" that the two had been killed overnight in the capital Bangui.They are the first

Obama commemorates Mandela as ‘giant of justice’

DHAKA: US president Barack Obama hailed Nelson Mandela as a ‘giant of justice’ on Tuesday but said too many leaders in the world claimed solidarity with his struggle for freedom ‘but do not tolerate dissent from their own people’.Obama, addressed an cheering crowd, likening the