DHAKA: The US ambassador to Damascus has said a newly formed Islamist alliance in war-torn Syria has refused to meet with American officials, in an interview aired Wednesday on Al-Arabiya television.‘The Islamic Front has refused to sit with us without giving any reason,’ Robert Ford

DHAKA: For the second consecutive year, world’s leading press advocacy body said in its latest report, Turkey is the world’s leading jailer of journalists, followed closely by Iran and China.Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in the report that the number of journalists in

DHAKA: Philippine communist rebels have declared a cease-fire to celebrate Christmas and the 45th founding anniversary of their party.In a statement Wednesday, the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines directed the New People’s Army to be vigilant against attacks by security

DHAKA: Six major world powers are expected to resume talks with Iran this week in Vienna.The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, The Jerusalem Post says on Wednesday.The resumption of the talks comes after Iran interrupted technical discussions with six world powers in Vienna over

DHAKA: Ukraine’s decision to suspend a deal on closer EU ties and sign a Russian aid agreement instead has helped avoid bankruptcy, prime minister Mykola Azarov has told ministers in Kiev.Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to buy $15bn of Ukrainian government bonds and slash

DHAKA: India vowed on Wednesday to bring home a female diplomat Devyani Khobragade who was arrested and strip-searched in New York last week ‘at any cost’ amid rising anger against the United States over her treatment.‘It is my duty to bring the lady back and we have to restore her

DHAKA: Russia is ready to provide security at the Syrian port of Latakia and in Syrian waters while the country’s chemical weapons arsenal is destroyed.Itar-Tass news agency quoted a Russian official as saying on Wednesday, reports The Jerusalem Post.Syria is due to hand over deadly

DHAKA: India social activist Anna Hazare broke his fast on ninth day on Wednesday after the Parliament passed the landmark Lokpal Bill.He also thanked MPs on Wednesday for passing Lokpal Bill in Lok Sabha.After the landmark Lokpal Bill was passed in the Parliament Hazare said, ‘Want to

DHAKA: Iran unveiled Tuesday a new defence radar system called ‘Arash’, Iranian news agency Tasnim reported on Wednesday.The long-range radar is ‘a complement to the country’s radar capabilities in UHF, VHF and HF bands, the Khatam al-Anbia air defence base commander Brigadier

DHAKA: An Indian court on Tuesday sentenced three Nepalese men to 20 years in jail for the gang-rape of a US tourist in June, an attack that fuelled worries over the safety of foreign travellers.A district judge handed down the punishment at the end of a trial for the three men in the

DHAKA: The Philippine government launched a US$8.17 billion plan on Wednesday to rebuild the lives of millions battered by Super Typhoon Haiyan.Philippines president Benigno Aquino appealed for international assistance and private sector pledges to help his government rehabilitate

DHAKA: An alliance of parties supporting Mali`s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has won parliamentary elections, according to provisional results announced by the government.The Rally for Mali (RPM) and its allies won 115 of 147 seats in the national assembly following a run-off on

DHAKA: The arrest and detention of an Indian diplomat in New York on visa fraud charges has created a diplomatic uproar with punitive steps taken against State Department officials in New Dehli.Devyani Khobragade, India`s deputy consul general, was arrested on Thursday as she dropped her

DHAKA: The US Senate confirmed Jeh Johnson, a national security expert who has served as the Pentagon`s top lawyer, as head of the US department of homeland security.Johnson, who was the defence department`s general counsel during Barack Obama`s first term as president, will succeed Janet

DHAKA: Hundreds of people are believed to have died in clashes between rival South Sudan army factions, the UN says, quoting unconfirmed reports.UN diplomats said they had been told by sources in the capital, Juba, that the death toll was between 400 and 500.South Sudan has seen two days

DHAKA: The United States has not met representatives of Syria’s Islamic Front but a meeting is possible to broaden the representation of moderate opposition groups in talks to end the Syrian war.US state secretary John Kerry said on Tuesday, reports The Jerusalem Post.The United Nations

DHAKA: Six international soldiers have died in a crash involving an aircraft in southern Afghanistan.The International Security Assistance Force says, reports the BBC.The cause of the crash in Zabul is unknown and an investigation is under way, Isaf said.Initial reports indicated there

DHAKA: The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, which provides for creation of an anti-corruption ombudsman.The most prominent of the group of anti-graft bills on the anvil, the Lokpal Bill establishes a lokpal at the central level and asks states to establish

DHAKA: US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden plans to seek political asylum in Brazil in exchange for helping investigate US spying on this country.A newspaper said Tuesday, reports daily Hurriyet.The former contractor expressed his willingness to aid a Brazilian Senate probe in an

DHAKA: The European Union said Tuesday it has warned Israel against any new West Bank settlement construction following an upcoming Palestinian prisoner release, saying it will be held responsible for any resulting failure of the ongoing peace talks.The warning is another sign of