The United States is willing to work with Iran and Russia to try to end the Syrian conflict, US President Barack Obama said on Monday but insisted there could not be a return to the status quo under Syrian President…
Category: Int’l relations
Victorious Catalan separatists claim mandate to break with Spain
Separatists on Sunday won a clear majority of seats in Catalonia’s parliament in an election that sets the region on a collision course with Spain’s central government over independence. “Catalans have voted yes to independence,” acting regional government head Artur…
Russia wants ‘co-ordination’ against IS in Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for a regional “co-ordinating structure” against Islamic State (IS). Mr Putin reiterated his support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who Western countries and the Syrian opposition have said must go. The crisis is expected…
China pledges $2bn for developing world
Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged to establish a $2bn (£1.3bn) fund to assist developing countries and to significantly increase investment. Addressing a UN summit on development goals, Mr Xi said investment would reach $12bn over the next 15 years.…
Emission tricking: Volkswagen models sale halted in Switzerland
Switzerland has temporarily banned the sale of Volkswagen (VW) diesel-engine models which could have devices capable of tricking emission tests. It said the move could affect 180,000 cars – not yet sold or registered – in the Euro5 emission category.…
Iran says Saudi govt was responsible for the accident
Saudi Arabia on Friday suggested pilgrims ignoring crowd control rules bore some blame for a crush that killed over 700 people at the Hajj pilgrimage in the annual event’s worst disaster for 25 years.
Hajj stampede: Saudis face growing criticism over deaths
Iran has led growing criticism of Saudi Arabia after at least 717 people died and 863 were injured in a stampede near the holy city of Mecca on Thursday. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council accused the Saudis of “incompetence” and…
Hajj stampede: Saudi king orders safety review
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has ordered a safety review for the Hajj pilgrimage after at least 717 people died in a stampede near the holy city of Mecca. Another 863 people were injured in the incident at Mina, which occurred…
Hasina meets Modi
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has met Narendra Modi in New York where both leaders are currently staying to attend the 70th UN General Assembly.
Death toll in Mina Hajj stampede rising
At least 717 pilgrims were killed on Thursday in a stampede outside the Muslim holy city of Makkah, Saudi authorities said, the worst disaster to strike the annual Hajj pilgrimage in 25 years. At least 805 others were injured in…
Al Jazeera journalists released, Egypt’s president pardons 100 prisoners
By Reuters and VICE News Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Wednesday pardoned 100 prisoners, including three Al Jazeera television journalists, according to security sources. Canadian Mohamed Fahmy, Egyptian Baher Mohamed, and Australian Peter Greste were sentenced to three years…
Divided EU leaders to offer cash for Syria refugees
European Union leaders could promise billions of euros in new funding for Syrian refugees at an emergency summit on Wednesday where they will also try to patch up bitter divisions over the migration crisis. Meeting for dinner a day after…
Govt. curving media by covert policy, control on ad: Bnp
The BNP on Monday alleged the government is controlling the media through a ‘covert media policy’. “The government is trying to establish its authoritarian rule in the country. They’re putting direct and indirect pressure on the mass media. Even social…
Hungary beefs up border with army, warns migrants to stay away
Hungary’s parliament authorised the government on Monday to deploy the army to help handle a wave of migrants, granting the military the right to use non-lethal force. It passed a law saying the army could use rubber bullets, pyrotechnical devices,…
Greek voters return Tsipras to power with strong win
Greek voters returned Alexis Tsipras to power with a strong election victory on Sunday, ensuring the charismatic leftist remains Greece’s dominant political figure despite caving in to European demands for a bailout he once opposed. With about a quarter of…
Pope to celebrate Mass in Havana’s Revolution Square
Pope Francis celebrates Mass with tens of thousands of Cubans on Sunday in Havana’s Revolution Square, the political heart of Cuba where the Communist government stages its biggest rallies. The huge plaza is where Cubans celebrate May Day beneath massive portraits of…
Voting begins in fifth Greece election in six years
Voting has begun in Greece’s general election, with opinion polls indicating a tight race between the left-wing incumbent Syriza party and the conservative New Democracy. The snap election, Greece’s fifth in six years, was called after Syriza lost its parliamentary…
Another Bangladeshi killed in BSF firing at Thakurgaon border
A Bangladeshi national, who sustained bullet injuries with another one as members of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) opened fire on them in Chanpasa border area of Haripur upazila, died at a hospital in India on Saturday. The deceased was…
8 local kabadi players among 9 killed as truck overturns in Orissa
Eight persons died when a mini truck carrying around 20 people, a team of local kabaddi players, overturned and fell off a bridge near Suarapalli village on the Lahunipara-Baharaposi in Sundargarh district on Saturday. Nine people have sustained severe injuries.…
‘Heads as well as hearts’: Croatia says it can take no more migrants
After failing to agree on a plan to distribute 160,000 refugees across the EU — just a fraction of the numbers arriving this year — the bloc has called a summit for Wednesday to work on a united response. Donald…
Syria launches ‘deadly air raids’ against IS in Palmyra
Syrian government war planes have launched one of the heaviest bombardments yet on the city of Palmyra, which is held by Islamic State (IS) militants, activists say. About 25 air strikes left at least 26 people dead, including 12 militants,…
One killed four injured as BSF open fire entering Bd village
A Bangladeshi national was killed and four others sustained bullet injuries as members of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) opened fire on them at bordering Paschim Ram Krishnapur village in Sadar upazila of Joypurhat distric on Friday. The deceased was…
UN body whips states – search for disappeared people as priority
The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances on Friday called on all states to assume the search of the disappeared as a priority, urging them to start by recognising the issue and determining its exact extent through…
Japan govt pushes bills to expand military role despite protests
The Japanese government began a final push on Friday to enact contentious defence legislation that could let its troops fight overseas for the first time since World War Two, despite public protests and delaying tactics by the opposition. Prime Minister…
Gunmen attack Pakistan air force base in Peshawar
At least six militants have been killed during an attack on a Pakistani air force base in Peshawar, officials say. Up to 10 gunmen attacked a guard post and then entered the Badaber air base, Major General Asim Bajwa said.
Borders close as migrants seek alternative routes to EU states
Croatia has closed seven of its eight road border crossings with Serbia following a huge influx of migrants. Officials in Zagreb said they had no choice after more than 10,000 people entered the country a day after Hungary fenced off…
Cell phone re-registration by Dec 16 with fingerprint
All the mobile phone subscribers will have to reregister their subscriber identification modules (SIMs) and removable user identity modules (RUIMs) with the fingerprint from December 16 next. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) issued a notice in this regard on Thursday.…
Taliban ‘resolve splits’ over Mullah Omar successor Mansour
A dispute that threatened to split the Afghan Taliban has been resolved after relatives of late leader Mullah Omar backed his successor, the group says. A spokesman told the BBC that Omar’s eldest son and brother swore allegiance to Mullah…
Austria introduces border checks while dealing with migrant backlog
Austria introduced stricter border controls on Wednesday, following Germany’s lead while at the same time trying to clear a backlog of tens of thousands of migrants still on its soil because of similar measures introduced by Berlin. The countries acted in…