Monday, 31 Mar, 2025

International

Mandela’s widow was treated badly by family

DHAKA: Nelson Mandela’s widow was treated badly by members of his family as the peace icon was fighting for his life in hospital, excerpts from a memoir by his long-time aide have revealed. In a book likely to ruffle some feathers within the large Mandela family, Zelda la Grange,

Germany warns of regional ‘proxy war’ in Iraq

DHAKA: German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned Sunday that the bloody conflict in Iraq could quickly spin into a regional ‘proxy war’. Steinmeier, speaking to the Welt am Sonntag newspaper, called on Turkey, the Gulf Arab states and Iran to do their part to stabilise

Modi govt to stand by promises to Dhaka

DHAKA: Underscoring that the new political leaderships would be business-oriented, Indian envoy to Bangladesh Pankaj Saran has hinted that the Narendra Modi government will be committed to not only maintaining friendly ties with Dhaka but also building a ‘momentum of the

Bomb kills 11 as Afghan election contestants claim fraud

DHAKA: A roadside bomb killed 11 people including five election workers in northern Afghanistan, officials said Sunday, as a prolonged vote count began after the presidential run-off election. Election officials were sifting through fraud complaints from both candidates, and analysts

110,000 Cambodian migrants flee Thailand

DHAKA: More than 110,000 Cambodians have fled Thailand to return home in the past week, an official said Sunday, amid fears of a crackdown on migrant workers after last month’s military takeover.Labourers from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar play a key role in Thai industries such as

Are You a ‘Fun Dad’?

DHAKA: US president Obama described himself as a “fun dad” who “teeters on the edge of being embarrassing sometimes,” reports New York Times on Monday. While the comment probably elicited a few eye-rolls from his daughters, Sasha and Malia, there are plenty of other fathers out

Iran warns against military intervention in Iraq

DHAKA: Iran warned on Sunday that ‘any foreign military intervention in Iraq’ would only complicate the crisis, after the US said it was deploying a warship in the Gulf. ‘Iraq has the capacity and necessary preparations for the fight against terrorism and extremism,’ foreign

Run-off vote held amid violence in Afghanistan

DHAKA: Millions of Afghans have cast their votes in a presidential run-off to elect a successor to Hamid Karzai, who has been in office since 2001. Taliban militants, who had threatened to disrupt the vote, launched low-level attacks in which at least 46 people were killed across the

‘We didn’t cause Iraq crisis’

DHAKA: The 2003 invasion of Iraq is not to blame for the violent insurgency now gripping the country, former UK prime minister Tony Blair has said. Speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Marr, he said there would still be a ‘major problem’ in the country even without the toppling of Saddam

UN: S Sudan children face hunger death

DHAKA: More than 50,000 children in South Sudan face death from disease and hunger, the United Nations has warned while seeking over $1bn to support those hit by six months of civil war. "The consequences could be dire: 50,000 children could die this year if they do not get assistance,"

Ivory Coast fight back to beat Japan

DHAKA: Ivory Coast scored two goals in as many minutes to come from behind and get their World Cup campaign off to a winning start with victory over Japan. The Elephants trailed to a stunning Keisuke Honda strike in the first half. But the introduction of Didier Drogba as a substitute

Modi begins 2-day Bhutan visit

DHAKA: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who begins his two-day visit to Bhutan Sunday, said the neighbouring nation was a "natural choice" as his first foreign destination because of the "unique and special relationship" India shares with it and his trip would focus on making

Pakistan air raids kill dozens militants

DHAKA: Pakistani fighter jets carried out air strikes against militant hideouts killing dozens of fighters says BBC.    The strikes were in the mountainous Dehgan area in the North Waziristan tribal district, a stronghold for Taliban and al-Qaeda-linked militants.  Uzbek militants

US sends warship to the Gulf

DHAKA: The US says it is sending a warship into the Gulf to provide President Obama with military options should the situation in Iraq deteriorate further. US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered the USS George HW Bush, which carries dozens of fighter jets, to be moved from the North

'Exceptional' 122ct Blue Diamond discovered

DHAKA: A mining firm has revealed the discovery of an "exceptional" 122.52-carat blue diamond. Petra Diamonds said the discovery was made at the Cullinan mine in South Africa. The London-based firm saw its share price rise more than 6% in early Friday trades as a result of the

49 killed as Ukraine army plane shot down

DHAKA: A Ukrainian military plane was shot down overnight Friday, killing all 49 people on board, a spokesman said. It is likely one of the bloodiest single events in that nation's current period of turmoil. The Ilyushin-76 military transport plane went down while approaching an airport

Afghans vote in crunch run-off poll

DHAKA: Afghans are voting in run-off polls that will determine who will succeed President Hamid Karzai. The choice is between former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah and ex-World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani. It should be the first time that power in Afghanistan has been democratically

Shia call to arms against militants

DHAKA: Iraq’s most senior Shia cleric has issued a call to arms as Sunni-led insurgents seize more towns. The call by a representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani came during Friday prayers, as the militants widened their grip in the north and east, and threatened to march south.

MH370 families get $50,000 payments

DHAKA: The families of passengers on the missing Malaysian passenger plane have begun to receive initial compensation payments of $50,000 (£30,000). So far six Malaysian families and one Chinese family have received the money, and insurers are assessing the claims of 40 more Chinese

Obama for ‘all options’ against Iraq insurgents

DHAKA: US president Barack Obama on Thursday said his government is looking at "all options" to help Iraq fight Islamists militants, including military action.His remarks came after the Iraqi cities of Mosul and Tikrit fell to Sunni Islamist insurgents during a lightning advance.Obama