Friday, 02 May, 2025

International

Jihadists ‘using cruise ships’ to reach Middle East

DHAKA: Would-be jihadists have been travelling on cruise ships to reach conflict areas in the Middle East, Interpol has said.The international police body said some of those trying to join militant groups in Iraq and Syria had used cruise lines to get to countries including Turkey.It

Earthquake measuring 6.4 hits off Papua New Guinea

DHAKA: A strong magnitude 6.4 earthquake has struck off the coast of Papua New Guinea, the US Geological Survey (USGS) says. ABC quoting USGS said the quake, which was initially reported at 6.9 magnitude before being revised lower, hit at a depth of 65 kilometres in the New Britain

Obama sent 'secret letter' to leader of Iran

DHAKA: US President Barack Obama is said to have written a secret letter to Iran's supreme leader describing a shared interest in fighting Islamic State.The letter, reported by the Wall Street Journal, urges Ayatollah Ali Khamenei toward a nuclear agreement.The US chief stresses any

Belgium protesters clash with police

DHAKA: Over 100,000 people march through Brussels in the first mass protests against the government's plan to cut the budget.Belgian riot police have fired tear gas and water cannon during clashes with demonstrators while an estimated 100,000 people marched through Brussels in the

Gorbachev to use Berlin Wall festivities to ‘defend Putin’

DHAKA: Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said on Thursday he would seek to defend Vladimir Putin’s policies when he travels to Germany for ceremonies commemorating the fall of the Berlin Wall this week.Gorbachev, who is praised for his decision not to use force to quell

Japan, China finalising plans for summit talks

DHAKA: The Japanese and Chinese governments are making final arrangements for talks between Japan prime minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese president Xi Jinping, to be held on the sidelines of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Beijing next week.Japan government

Germany hit by ‘longest rail strike’

DHAKA: A four-day rail strike, billed as the longest in German history, has hit passenger trains and threatens to disrupt celebrations marking the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall.The stoppage by the 20,000-member GDL union hit intercity and regional services alike on Thursday and is due

‘No Israel charge over Gaza ship raid’

DHAKA: The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor says she will not take action over Israel’s deadly commando raid on a Gaza-bound ship in 2010.Fatou Bensouda said this was despite a ‘reasonable basis to believe that war crimes... were committed’.But she said the ICC

UN lacks resources to fight Ebola

DHAKA: The head of the UN mission charged with fighting Ebola has told the BBC he does not yet have the resources necessary to defeat the deadly disease.Tony Banbury said more help was urgently needed, despite significant contributions from Britain, China, Cuba and the US.He was

EU against death penalty

DHAKA: The European Union in a statement on Thursday, once again, reiterated their position against death penalty and asked the Bangladesh government to stay all pending executions.The statement said, “We are closely following judicial proceedings in Bangladesh. The European Union

Asia-Pacific nations set to endorse anti-graft deal

DHAKA: Countries in the Asia-Pacific region are set to endorse a plan for a China-based information-sharing network to combat corruption. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Thursday, says The Straits Times. The network, known as Act-Net, will be based at the training arm of the

‘Al-Qaida training Indian militants for big attacks’

DHAKA: Decrypted communications between Indian Mujahideen (IM) and al-Qaida and testimony from suspects have triggered alarm among intelligence officials in New Delhi: the groups appear to be working together to launch major attacks in the region. The officials said that plots they had

Obama and Republican leader pledge to work together

DHAKA: The US Senate's new Republican leader and President Barack Obama have both promised to end the political gridlock that has so frustrated American voters.Republicans made historic gains in the mid-term elections and now control both legislative chambers.Incoming Senate leader

Putin beats Obama again in Forbes power ranking

DHAKA: For a second year in a row, Russian president Vladimir Putin has beaten Barack Obama to the title of world’s most powerful leader as ranked by Forbes.In a year in which Russia annexed Crimea, stoked a conflict in Ukraine and clinched a multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline deal

Britain to send more army trainers to Iraq

DHAKA: Britain will boost the number of its army trainers in Iraq in the coming weeks to support the Iraqi armed forces’ battle against Islamic State (IS) militants.The British defence secretary said on a visit to Baghdad on Wednesday, reports The Straits Times.Britain said last

Shelling kills 13 children in Damascus

DHAKA: Shelling of a rebel-held area in the north-east of the Syrian capital killed 13 children Wednesday, a monitor said revising an earlier toll, with activists saying a school had been hit.‘The number of children... killed by mortar fire on areas of Qabun district has risen to

Israeli police kill driver after car attack wounds 10

DHAKA: Ten people were wounded, one critically, when a car deliberately rammed pedestrians in Jerusalem on Wednesday, before the driver was shot dead by police.Officials said, reports The Straits Times.Police described the incident as a ‘hit and run terror attack’ and said it

HK students plan to take democracy call to Beijing

DHAKA: Students calling for full democracy for Chinese-ruled Hong Kong are hoping to take their protest to Communist Party rulers in Beijing and are expected to announce details of their new battle plan on Thursday.The move signals a shift in the focus of the protests in the former

US mid-terms: Republicans win control of the Senate

DHAKA: The Republican Party has won control of the Senate in the US mid-term elections, increasing its power in the final years of Barack Obama's presidency.The party took Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, North Carolina, South Dakota and West Virginia.Republican Senate leader Mitch

AU leaders to press Burkina army for power handover

DHAKA: The presidents of Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal are due to arrive in Burkina Faso to press the military for a speedy handover of power to a civilian ruler.The African Union (AU) says the army acted unconstitutionally when it took over after President Blaise Compaore was forced to