by Paul Mason @paulmasonnews Paul Mason turns in his Social Europe column from postcapitalism to the theme of post-Brexit Britain. Since 2016 there’s been a question in the back of my mind: which is the last European city I will…
Category: Int’l relations
China-US trade deal to reduce global uncertainty, IMF chief
Washington, Xinhua/UNB, Jan 18 – The newly signed China-U.S. phase-one trade deal will reduce the uncertainty that has impeded global economic growth, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Friday.
Feminists press for ‘bodily Autonomy’ as 19 nations dissent
By Thalif Deen UN, Jan 17 2020 (IPS) – The United States and 18 other UN member states have come under fire for denying a woman’s legitimate right to “bodily autonomy”—the right to self-governance over one’s own body without coercion…
On the brink of war?
By Chandra Muzaffar Are we on the brink of a Third World War? There are signs that demand that we ask this question. Three clusters of signs compel us to probe a question that could well determine the future of…
Trump says Iran appears to be ‘standing down’ after strike
Washington, AP/UNB, Jan 08 – President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran appears to be “standing down” and no Americans or Iraqis were harmed in Iran’s missile strike on two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops.
New sanctions on Iran after base strike
President Donald Trump says the U.S. will immediately impose new sanctions on Iran in response to its missile attacks on military bases in Iraq that house American troops.
Police Fail to Protect Students in India: HRW
Government Supporters Go On 3-Hour Rampage at University in Delhi New York – Police in India failed to intervene when alleged supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assaulted university students in Delhi on January 5, 2020, Human Rights…
Why massive Australian bush fires are causing thunderstorms
Australia’s unprecedented wildfires are supercharged thanks to climate change, the type of trees catching fire and weather, experts say and reports India Today.
Iran abandons nuclear deal limits after US kills general
Teheran, AP/UNB, Jan 06 – Iran said Sunday it would no longer abide by any of the limits of its unraveling 2015 nuclear deal with world powers after a U.S. airstrike killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad, abandoning the…
Nobel laureates Abhijit, Esther urge India to rethink NRC, CAA
Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo hoped that India will rethink its decisions about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 and National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Iraq’s Parliament calls for expulsion of US troops
Baghdad, AP/UNB, Jan 05 – Iraq’s Parliament called for the expulsion of U.S. troops from the country Sunday in reaction to the American drone attack that killed a top Iranian general.
Soleimani’s family: Hezbollah will take revenge
The daughter of Iran’s Gen. Qassem Soleimani says the death of her father will “not break us” and the United States should know that his blood will not go for free.
Swiss dev agency DG to visit Rohingya camps Monday
Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Ambassador Manuel Sager will visit Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar on Monday to observe the conditions of the Rohingyas and host communities. Sager will be here in Bangladesh until…
Blasts hit Baghdad area as Iraqis mourn General Soleimani
Several blasts shook the Baghdad area hours after a huge funeral procession for a top Iranian general, killed by a US airstrike there on Friday.
US killing of Soleimani ‘tantamount’ to war: Iran’s UN envoy
The United States’ killing of Iran’s most prominent military commander, Qassem Soleimani, is virtual to starting a war and “the response for a military action is a military action,” Iran’s UN ambassador said on Friday.
New air strike on pro-Iran convoy in Iraq ahead of Soleimani funeral
Baghdad, Jan 4, 2020 – A fresh airstrike hit pro-Iran fighters in Iraq early Saturday, as fears grew of a proxy war erupting between Washington and Tehran a day after an American drone strike killed a top Iranian general.
China-ASEAN FTA gears up for next golden decade
The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area marks its 10th anniversary. As a most populous FTA, it has boosted regional economic connectivity as multilateral trade triumphs. Dongxing, a border city in southern China, offers a snapshot of promising cooperation between China and…
Narendra Modi phones Sheikh Hasina to extend new year greetings
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina to extend the greetings of the new year 2020.
Taiwan passes law to combat Chinese influence on politics
The move further strains ties between Taiwan and Beijing Taipei, Dec 31 Reuters – Taiwan’s parliament passed an anti-infiltration law on Tuesday to combat perceived threats from China as the island gears up for a presidential vote on Jan. 11…
Dhaka to construct modern building for BIMSTEC Secretariat
Dhaka 01 January 2020: The State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Md. Shahriar Alam MP said that the Government of Bangladesh will construct a multi-storied modern building for the BIMSTEC Secretariat. The new building will be constructed at the present location…
German SMEs downbeat about economic situation next year
Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany are “extremely pessimistic” about the country’s overall economic situation in 2020, showed a survey published by the German Association for Small and Medium-sized Businesses (BVMW) on Monday.
UN condemns HR abuses in Myanmar minorities including Rohingya
Dhaka, Dec 29 – The U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution Friday strongly condemning human rights abuses against Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims and other minorities, including arbitrary arrests, torture, rape and deaths in detention.
Non-Bangladeshi entrants to be sent back: FM
Dhaka, Dec 25 – Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said those who have entered Bangladesh from India in recent weeks will be sent back if they are not Bangladeshis.
Stay alert against misuse of religion: President
President Abdul Hamid on Wednesday called upon the people irrespective of religion, caste and creed to remain alert so that no-one can create anarchy using religion or through misinterpretation.
China hosts regional talks with N Korean threats on table
China hosted the leaders of squabbling neighbours South Korea and Japan for their first official meeting in over a year on Tuesday, flexing its diplomatic muscle with America’s two key Asian allies and seeking unity on how to deal with…
Dhaka may urge Delhi to stop Indians, Burmese entering BD
Dhaka, Dec 24 – The Dhaka will urge the New Delhi to stop entry of Indian and Myanmar people to Bangladesh through the Indo-bangla borders for maintaining borders under the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP).
Putin says Russia is leading world in hypersonic weapons
Moscow, AP/UNB, Dec 24 – President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Russia is the only country in the world that has hypersonic weapons.
2019: A Year in Review
By IPS World Desk Dec 2019 (IPS) – 2019 will be remembered as the year the climate crisis shook us all. Hopefully, it will also be remembered for the fightback manifested in the spread of mass protests and civic movements…
Wife believes Egyptian activist abducted by police
An Egyptian human rights activist has been missing since earlier this month, his wife said Friday, adding that believes he was taken by police. His rights group claimed it has information that he was arrested under so-called “forced disappearances.”
Rohingya crisis: Speakers for joint risk assessment
Speakers at a discussion emphasised conducting a joint risk assessment in Cox’s Bazar as locals affected by Rohingya crisis are not getting fair share of benefits of development programmes.