Nepal’s authorities have ruled out the possibility of finding more survivors of last Saturday’s earthquake, as the death toll has risen to 6,621. “We are trying our best in rescue and relief work but now I don’t think that there…
Category: Int’l relations
Khaleda gives Sherman evidence of vote fraud
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Friday informed US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman about the ‘vote fraud’ in Tuesday’s elections to three major city corporations and provided her with documents in this regard. The BNP chief…
US seeks anti-terrorism tips from Bangladesh
Dhaka: The United States has sought tips from Bangladesh to deal with global terrorism and extremism, saying many countries could replicate Dhaka’s experience in addressing the issue. U.S. Under Secretary of States for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman said this during…
Six Baltimore police officers on bond in Freddie Gray’s death
Kayla Ruble The six Baltimore police officers who have been charged in the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray turned themselves in on Friday afternoon. They have since posted bond. “No one in our city is above the law,” Baltimore Mayor…
Nepal death toll rises to 5,700
The death toll in Nepal’s devastating earthquake has touched 5,700 and nearly 12,000 have been injured, it was announced on Thursday evening.
US pushes for transparent probe of polls irregularities
Voicing disappointment both at irregularities in the city polls and BNP’s boycott midway through, a top US official here on Friday said everyone needs to focus on a transparent investigation into those irregularities making sure that the next election is…
Bangladesh in a state of Chaos: Matt Salmon
Chairman of the Subcommtee of Asia and the Pacific Rep Matt Salmon has described that Bangladesh is in a state of chaos. “Though the country has long been divided along political lines, the most recent parliamentary elections in 2014 have…
Ban ki-moon phones Hasina for polls probe, assigns Taranco
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has discussed about the recently concluded city corporation elections with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The UN chief telephoned Hasina at 1:48pm on Friday and had a 14-minute long conversation with her. His call assumes significance as…
Egypt: Morsy trial badly flawed
Beirut – The first trial of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy was compromised by due process violations, the appearance of bias and an absence of conclusive evidence. He was convicted on April 21, 2015, and sentenced to 20 years in…
Left behind to die – Andet’s story
Birgit Schwarz It was about two o’clock in the afternoon, on a warm December day in 2013, when the sound of gunshots and frantic shouting abruptly woke Ambroise Andet from his midday nap. Startled, the 27-year-old propped himself up where…
Donetsk Opera offers relief to a city in grip of war
By Tommy Trenchard The cast of Verdi’s Il Trovatore bowed one last time to rapturous applause before the curtain fell in the war-torn eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk. Though the area is at the center of a separatist effort that…
Australia, Canada want polls irregularities, violence probe
Australia and Canada on Thursday called on the Election Commission and all responsible authorities to swiftly and impartially investigate the reports of irregularities and violence, and ensure that individuals found to have broken the law are held to account. In…
Political situation likely to figure in US-Bangla dialogue
US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy R Sherman, who arrived on Thursday, will raise issues related to Bangladesh’s political situation with the government and other interlocutors during her stay. Sherman, accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State for…
Tired of waiting for aid, angry Nepalis block roads
Nepali villagers blocked trucks carrying supplies for earthquake victims on Wednesday, demanding the government do more to help after last week’s disaster left more than 5,200 people dead and tens of thousands homeless and short of food and water.
The UN at 70: A time for compliance
By Dr. Joan Russow and Lori Johnston Victoria, Canada , Apr (IPS) – At key anniversaries of the U.N., there have been calls for compliance with international instruments. In 1995, Secretary-General Boutros Boutrous-Ghali indicated support at the 50th anniversary of…
New Yorkers take to streets as Freddie Gray protests spread
By Jenna Pope and Miriam Wells Hundreds of people marched in Manhattan, New York City on Wednesday night as protests against the death of Freddie Gray in police custody in Baltimore spread across the United States. Chanting slogans such as…
Unprecedented vote rigging in city elections: TIB
Condemning the widespread vote rigging, violence and obstruction towards balloting at different polling stations during the city polls, the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has said the Election Commission (EC) and law enforcement agencies have failed to hold credible and peaceful…
US-Bangla partnership dialogue begins Thursday
A two-day fourth annual Bangladesh-US partnership dialogue begins here on Thursday to advance the ‘robust’ and ‘growing’ bilateral relationship and give it a strategic direction. Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque will lead the home side, while Under Secretary of State…
Inquire rigging, violence in city polls, descalate tension: EU
There are credible reports that vote-rigging, intimidation and violence have marred the elections in Dhaka and Chittagong on 28 April, despite the calls from the international community to peaceful, inclusive and transparent elections, the Spokesperson of the European Union said…
Baltimore streets quiet after first night of curfew enforcement
The streets of Baltimore were largely quiet overnight, with only scattered arrests reported during a curfew imposed after the latest wave of rioting fueled by anger against US police killings of black men.
Duration of protocol on water transit for India extended
The Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) between India and Bangladesh will be renewed after every five years instead of the current norm of three years. Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan announced the decision at a press briefing at…
Ban Ki-moon wants inquiry of electoral fraud
The secretary general of the United Nations Ban ki-moon want competent authorities to investigate all allegations of electoral fraud in the city corporation elections of Dhaka and Chittagong.
Official mourning declared for Nepal quake victims
Nepal has declared three days of mourning for the victims of Saturday’s earthquake in which more than 5,000 people are now known to have died. Prime Minister Sushil Koirala says the government is doing all it can but is overwhelmed…
Account of election observers of city polls
A registered election observer from Mass Line Media Centre, a local NGO that has been engaged in observing elections since 2003, was forced to leave a polling centre at gunpoint, as ‘ruling party men’ engaged in acts of rigging. The…
Swedish ambassador caught in crossfire
Swedish ambassador to Dhaka Johan Frisell inadvertently got a taste of the dark and rough side to politics in Bangladesh, as he found himself caught in the middle of a serious clash between two rival councilor candidates supporters. Independent candidate…
CEC goes silent amid charges city polls were rigged
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad has declined to comment on the environment of the city corporation polls amidst allegations of large-scale rigging. He was asked about the measures taken to check clashes in polling centres, stuffing of false votes…
Eight million people may be affected by Nepal earthquake, says UN
Up to eight million people have had their lives disrupted after a deadly earthquake shook Nepal, said the United Nations, adding there was an urgent need for relief materials ranging from tarpaulin sheets and clean water to soap and medicines.
US disappointed at credible reports of vote-rigging
The United States on Tuesday voiced disappointment over the widespread, firsthand and credible reports of vote-rigging, intimidation and violence, and the BNP’s decision to boycott the city polls. “We’re disappointed by widespread, firsthand, and credible reports of vote-rigging, intimidation and…
Death toll 4000: Most of Nepal Army in quake rescue
Nine out of 10 Nepalese troops are said to be involved in search and rescue operations, as the country pleads for more foreign aid to deal with a massive earthquake that killed 4,000 people.
35 killed due to rain, windstorm in Pakistan
At least 35 people were killed and 150 others injured following heavy rains and windstorm in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan on Sunday, media reported.