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Bangladesh opposition leader Zia granted bail in graft cases

Dhaka, April 05 (ANI): Bangladesh's former Prime Minister and main opposition leader Khaleda Zia was granted bail in two graft cases on Sunday after she appeared before a special court, a potential sign of easing tension in the politically unstable South Asian country. Zia appeared amid tight security before a special anti-graft court in the capital, Dhaka, to request bail more than a month after warrants for her arrest were issued. Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has intensified protests this year in a bid to force Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down and hold a new vote under a neutral caretaker administration after a disputed 2014 poll. The BNP refused to take part in the 2014 general election, saying it was rigged. The 69-year-old former leader has been staying in her office in Dhaka's diplomatic enclave since she was prevented from holding a mass rally in January, the first anniversary of the disputed election.

Indian navy evacuates 441 people, including foreigners, from Yemen

Yemen, April 05 (ANI): An Indian navy ship evacuated 441 people, including 179 foreigners from 17 countries, from Aden port of war-torn Yemen. India is trying to get around 4,000 nationals, more than half of them nurses, out of Yemen, where Shi'ite Houthi fighters have swept into the port city of Aden despite an air campaign led by Saudi Arabia to check their advance. INS Mumbai, which was unable to anchor at Aden due to heavy firing, reached Djibouti harbour on Sunday morning with evacuees. India has pressed into service its aircraft and navy to reach out to its citizens in the conflict zones and has repatriated nearly 2,000 citizens. India airlifted 80 people from the capital Sana'a, but it has been unable to send in more flights because Riyadh, which has air supremacy over its southern neighbour, has not opened a safe air corridor.

Bangladeshis protest brutal killings of bloggers, demand justice

Dhaka, April 04 (ANI): Hundreds of activists took to the streets of Bangladesh's capital Dhaka demanding justice for the two bloggers who were hacked to death recently in the country. Blogger Washikur Rahman was brutally murdered by machete-wielding assailants in Dhaka on March 30, just weeks after US secular blogger Avijit Roy was similarly killed while returning with his wife from a book fair in the capital city. Protesters shouted slogans against militancy and demanded law and order in the country. They also sought a ban on fundamentalist Jamat-e-Islami party. The attacks on bloggers come amidst a period of political turmoil in the country, with the government and main opposition group locked in a months-long standoff that has created a sense of deepening insecurity across the country. The protesters also demanded speedy trial of the 1971 war criminals.

Iran ready to start drafting final nuclear deal: Foreign Minister Javad Zarif

Lausanne, April 03 (ANI): Iran's foreign minister said Tehran was ready to start drafting a final nuclear agreement, following eight days of talks in the Swiss city of Lausanne. Javad Zarif said the negotiations with world powers had led to a significant breakthrough. The tentative agreement clears the way for talks on a future comprehensive settlement that should allay Western fears that Iran was seeking to build an atomic bomb and in return lift economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The negotiations went right down to the wire, with no certainty that they would not end in failure.

Kenya confirms college attackers killed, impose curfew after death toll rises to at least 147

Kenya, April 03 (ANI): Four gunmen from the Islamist militant group al Shabaab who stormed a university in Kenya and killed at least 147 people had been killed, said the country's Interior Minister. The siege ended nearly 15 hours after the Somali group's gunmen shot their way into the Garissa University College campus in a pre-dawn attack, sparing Muslim students and taking many Christians hostage. Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery said four gunmen strapped with explosives were behind the attack. Kenyan police Chief Joseph Boinet said the attackers had "shot indiscriminately" when they entered the university compound. Authorities offered a 20 million shilling reward for information leading to the arrest of a man called Mohamed Mohamud, described as "most wanted" and linked to the attack. Police chief Boinet said Kenya had imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on four regions near the Somalia border.

Al Shabaab militants kill at least 14 people in Garissa University College attack

Kenya, April 02 (ANI): At least 14 people were reported killed on Thursday when Islamist militants stormed a university campus near Kenya's border with Somalia, taking Christian students hostage and battling security forces over several hours. Police and soldiers surrounded and sealed off Garissa University College and were attempting to flush out the gunmen, the head of Kenya's police force, Joseph Boinet, said in a statement. Somali militant group al Shabaab, which has links to al Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the pre-dawn raid and said it was holding many Christian hostages inside. Some of the students who managed to escape or were freed by the attackers said they had to take cover the moment they realised the university was under attack. The students described the horror they went through when the gunmen gained access to the compound.

Japan gears up to welcome foreign tourists with improved services

Kyoto/ Tokyo, March 31 (ANI): Kyoto, one of the most historic cities in Japan, is witnessing a rise in foreign tourist inflow. According to Japanese Tourism Agency's reports, the number of foreign tourists to Japan increased two-fold in a decade and got over 13 million people for the first time. To provide better services to the tourists, JCB - the Japanese credit card company recently opened "JCB PLAZA Kyoto", a service center for foreign card members. JCB has more than 60 plazas around the world. It offers many services, including reservations and sightseeing information in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese. Members can enjoy free use of computer, free mobile recharging and free WiFi. Guidebooks and information magazines are also available. JCB also offers smart phone App of Japanese travel guide, exclusive discount on bus tour of Tokyo and much more. With pride in Japanese hospitality, JCB keeps improving their services. The policy of Yamato is to deliver satisfaction to the cus

Protest in Bangladesh after second blogger hacked to death

Dhaka, March 31 (ANI): Bangladesh's people's resurgence platform, Gonojagoron Mancha, staged protest in Dhaka after a blogger was hacked to death by machete-wielding assailants. It was the second attack in five weeks on a critic of religious extremism in the Muslim-majority South Asian nation. Washikur Rahman, a secular blogger, was attacked by young religious students on a busy street in the centre of Dhaka. The killing comes just weeks after US secular blogger Avijit Roy was hacked to death while returning with his wife from a book fair in Dhaka. His wife, Rafida Bonya Ahmed, suffered head injuries and lost a finger in the February 26 attack. The protesters of Gonojagoron Mancha marched onto the streets demanding strict action against the murderers as they shouted slogans and raised banners.

Pak sends Boeing 747 Jumbo Jets to evacuate distraught nationals from Yemen

Islamabad, March 29 (ANI): Pakistan, which has yet to decide whether to offer military support to a Saudi-led campaign in Yemen, is flying Boeing 747 Jumbo Jets to the Middle Eastern country to evacuate hundreds of nationals, a Defence Ministry official said on Sunday. Saudi Arabia evacuated dozens of diplomats from Yemen on Saturday and the United Nations pulled out international staff after a third night of Saudi-led air strikes trying to stem advances by Iranian-allied Houthi fighters. Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry told reporters that the Pakistan Navy was also sending two small ships to evacuate a convoy of Pakistanis headed to Yemen. Chaudhry explained some of the arrangements made for the 600 Pakistanis.

State funeral accorded to Singapore's first PM Lee Kuan Yew

Singapore, March 29 (ANI): Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who died on March 24 aged 91, was accorded a state funeral at a cultural centre in Singapore. Lee's coffin was borne to the gun carriage for the procession by eight members of the Singapore armed forces, and the Singapore police force. The late leader's coffin, protected by a glass casing, lay on a ceremonial gun carriage that was led past city landmarks from parliament to the cultural centre where the state funeral was held. Tens of thousands of Singaporeans braved torrential rain to pay tribute to Yew. Singapore's current Prime Minister, and Lee Kuan Yew's son, Lee Hsien Loong thanked the people of Singapore for their condolences. World leaders, current and former, joined several thousand Singaporean citizens for the event. The Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott are among the mourners.

Bangladeshis demand fast trial of war criminals on Independence Day

Dhaka, March 27 (ANI): Hundreds of citizens marched down the streets of Dhaka on Thursday (March 26) demanding the speedy trial of war criminals on Bangladesh's 45th Independence Day. The crowd, which waved Bangladeshi flags and shouted slogans, was also part of a concert organised by Bangladesh's People's Resurgence Platform, or Gonojagoron Mancha, which saw bands perform patriotic songs in celebration of their independence. They demanded trial of Kamruzzaman, who was awarded death penalty by the War Crime tribunal. Kamruzzaman was found guilty by a tribunal court of five out of seven counts of torture and mass murder committed during the 1971 war of independence. The war crimes tribunal has convicted 16 people, most of them leaders from Jamaat-e-Islami, and sentenced 14 of them to death.

Pakistan says "mutton Biryani" disclosure raises questions about credibility of Indian trial processes

Islamabad, March 26 (ANI): Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesperson on Thursday bemoaned the justice system of India for denying justice to families who had lost their loved ones in the terrorist attack on Samjotha Express eight years ago. Replying to a question about the denial of visas to a Pakistani couple Rana Shaukat Ali and his wife Rukhsana who had lost five children in the attack on the train in 2007, spokesperson Tasnim Aslam attacked the Indian Government. Further targeting India, Aslam said the disclosure by Ujjwal Nikam, public prosecutor in the case of Mumbai terror-attack accused Ajmal Kasab, showed flaws in the Indian justice system. Responding to a question regarding the registration of a case by India against Hurriyat leader Asiya Andrabi for unfurling a Pakistani flag on Pakistan's Republic Day on March 23, Aslam alleged that people in Indian Kashmir are being subjected to suppression.

Bangladeshis celebrate 44th Independence Day

Dhaka, March 26 (ANI): Bangladesh celebrated its 44th Independence Day on Thursday by paying homage to the millions of fallen heroes who gave their lives in Liberation War against Pakistan in 1971. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hoisted national flag and attended a march past taken out by children to mark the day as the chief guest at the Dhaka National Stadium. The government has also published posters to mark the day. On the night of March 25, 1971, the Pakistan Army launched "Operation Searchlight", a military assault on an unsuspecting population to crush the Bengali movement for rights and justice that had turned to a fight for freedom in the face of persistent denials. After nine months of bloody war, Bangladesh emerged on the world map on Dec 16, surfing through an 'ocean of blood'.

Coalition, Iraqi planes target Islamic State in Tikrit, defence minister calls air strikes 'effective'

Baghdad, March 26 (ANI): Coalition and Iraqi planes have carried out "effective" air strikes against Islamic State targets in Tikrit, Iraqi Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi said on Thursday. US-led coalition planes launched their first air strikes against Islamic State targets in Saddam Hussein's home city on Wednesday, coming off the sidelines to aid Iraqi forces fighting alongside Iran-backed Shi'ite militia on the ground. More than 20,000 Iraqi troops and allied Shi'ite paramilitary groups known as Hashid Shaabi have been taking part in the offensive since early March, but stalled around two weeks ago after sustaining heavy casualties. Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi said the strikes so far had been successful. He said it was impossible to put an end date on the conflict with Islamic State militants. Obeidi said when asked when the Iraqi forces would enter Tikrit.

Co-pilot deliberately crashed Germanwings plane: French Prosecutor

France, March 26 (ANI): The co-pilot of the Germanwings airliner that crashed in the French Alps killing all 150 people aboard appears to have brought the A320 Airbus down deliberately, the Marseille prosecutor said on Thursday. German Andreas Lubitz, 28, left in sole control of the Airbus A320 after the captain left the cockpit, refused to re-open the door and operated a control that sent the plane into its final, fatal descent, the prosecutor Brice Robin told a news conference. Robin said Lubitz was not known as a terrorist and there were no grounds to consider the crash as a terrorist incident. He also said passengers' screams could be heard on the recordings just before the final impact.

Afghan President Ghani says ISIS 'poses terrible threat' to western, central Asia

Washington DC, March 26 (ANI): Afghan President Ashraf Ghani told US lawmakers that Islamic State and its ally forces pose serious threat to the countries of western and central Asia. In a speech to a joint meeting of the US Senate and House of Representatives, Ghani said Islamic State militants are already sending advance guards to southern and western Afghanistan "to test for vulnerabilities." He also said Pakistan's counter-insurgency operations are pushing the Taliban from south Waziristan toward Afghanistan's border regions. Making clear that his government would not support militants, Ghani denounced states, which he did not identify, that he said were "tolerating, financing, providing sanctuary and using violent, non-state actors as instruments of short-sighted policies." On Thursday will travel to the United Nations to meet Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Germanwings Airbus crashes in France, 148 feared dead

Berlin, March 24 (ANI): An Airbus plane operated by Lufthansa's Germanwings budget airline crashed in southern France on Tuesday (March 24) en route from Barcelona to Duesseldorf, police and aviation officials said. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said he understood between 142 and 150 people were on board and feared dead. A spokesman for the DGAC aviation authority said the airplane crashed near the town of Barcelonnette about 100 km (65 miles) north of the French Riviera city of Nice. Lufthansa's Germanwings unit said it was as yet unable to verify reports of the crash. The crashed A320 is 24 years old and has been with the parent Lufthansa group since 1991, according to online database airfleets.net.

Japanese firms intends to improve social life in ASEAN and India

Yangon/ Bangalore, March 24 (ANI): Myanmar has been enjoying dramatic economic development since its democratization in 2011; therefore it's urgently required the construction of roads and railways, as well as logistics infrastructures. In December 2013, a new flyover bridge was constructed at Shwegondaing Junction. This flyover was implemented for the purpose of facilitating the heavy traffic congestion in central Yangon. Japan's leading steel engineering company, JFE Engineering participated with technical proposals for the bridge structure and construction method to Capital Development Ltd., the prime contractor in Myanmar. JFE Engineering also produced the renovation of the ferry pier on the Yangon River in Dala district, which was the first Japan's ODA port development project completed in November 2014.JFE Engineering established Yangon office in 1995.

Women Suffering in Gilgit Baltistan

Gilgil Baltistan, March 24: Pakistan's oppressive policies and apathy towards development of the region have affected all sections of the society in Gilgit Baltistan. However, the worst sufferers in the area are the women.

Bangladesh celebrates National Flag Day

Dhaka, March 24 (ANI): Bangladeshis celebrated the National Flag Day in capital city of Dhaka on Monday. On this day, 44-years back, citizens of the country hoisted their national flag for the first time during the Pakistan regime. Various groups marched through the parade ground, holding and waving the national flag. The procession of armed forces marched with the flag, ahead of the Independence Day which will be celebrated on March 26. In 1971, Bangladeshis hoisted the national flag on all the buildings in the then East Pakistan. All houses and institutions were asked to raise the new national flag of independent Bangladesh. This had made the emergence of Bangladesh inevitable.