US Senate for political dialogue in Bangladesh

US Senate for political dialogue in Bangladesh

The US Senate has adopted a resolution on Bangladesh stressing the “critical need” for a political dialogue. The first session of the 113th Congress Jan 7 adopted the resolution, the details of which have been published Jan 9, bdnews24.com reported Friday. On Dec 18, the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discussed the resolution submitted […]

Germany offers help to destroy Syrian chemical weapons

Germany offers help to destroy Syrian chemical weapons

Germany will help in world efforts to destroy Syria’s stockpile of chemical weapons, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Thursday. “No one shall refuse to help if he has the technical capacity,” reported Xinhua citing Steinmeier who added that the German government has therefore decided not to shirk its responsibility and to make a substantial […]

15 killed in Iraq attacks, clashes

15 killed in Iraq attacks, clashes

At least 15 people, including eight Al Qaeda militants, were killed and eight wounded in clashes and attacks in Iraq’s Anbar province and near Baghdad Thursday evening, police said. A police commando force fought a fierce clash with Al Qaeda militants in a desert area near the town of Khaldiyah, some 80 km west of […]

Obama announces ‘promise zones’ to tackle poverty

Obama announces ‘promise zones’ to tackle poverty

As part of his efforts to focus on income inequality and poverty in the country, US President Barack Obama Thursday announced five “promise zones”. “I will work with anybody who’s willing to lay out some concrete ideas to create jobs, help more middle-class families find security in today’s economy, and offer new ladders of opportunity […]

All the President’s ‘Desi’ men and women

All the President’s ‘Desi’ men and women

Washington As Nisha Desai Biswal officially became Washington’s first Indian-American pointperson for South and Central Asia last week, her boss mentioned that she is known as “somebody who speaks softly and carries a big stick”. But whether it was with her soft speech or her big stick, Biswal’s efforts to bring peace between the feuding begums of Bangladesh […]

Over 200,000 displaced in South Sudan: UN

Over 200,000 displaced in South Sudan: UN

The ongoing conflict in South Sudan has already uprooted more than 200,000 people from their homes, a UN spokesperson confirmed here Wednesday. “The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that an estimated 201,000 people have been internally displaced by the current crisis in South Sudan since Dec 15,” reported Xinhua citing Farhan […]

Japan to put 280 remote islands under state control

Japan to put 280 remote islands under state control

The Japanese government plans to register as state property around 280 remote islands it sees as being within its territorial waters in a bid to strengthen management over them, a senior minister said Tuesday. “The Japanese government plans to register the remote islands as part of its state property to enhance their management” Xinhua quoted […]

Hong Kong media mogul Run Run Shaw dies

Hong Kong media mogul Run Run Shaw dies

Hong Kong media mogul and philanthropist Run Run Shaw passed away aged 107 at home Tuesday morning, announced Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) of Hong Kong. TVB said in a press release that Shaw, its chairman emeritus, passed away peacefully at home in the presence of his family at 6.55 a.m., Xinhua reported. Born in 1907 […]

US Senate confirms Yellen as central bank chief

US Senate confirms Yellen as central bank chief

US Senate Monday confirmed Janet Yellen as the next head of the Federal Reserve, to replace the outgoing Fed chairman Ben Bernanke whose term ends at the end of this month. The Senate voted 56 to 26 to approve the confirmation, Xinhua reported. Yellen, currently the Fed’s vice chair, would become the first woman to […]