Wanted to turn B'desh into Taliban state, top Hefazat leaders confess

Dhaka (IANS) Funded by Islamic forces, militant outfits Hefazat-e-Islam and Jamaat-e-Islami wanted to turn Bangladesh into a Taliban state like Afghanistan if they came to power, top Hefazat leaders, including Mamunul Haque who was arrested recently,…

Armenian PM resigns ahead of snap parliamentary elections

Yerevan (IANS) Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Sunday announced his resignation to pave the way for scheduled snap parliamentary elections in June.

"In order to implement the decision on holding snap parliamentary elections on June…

On India's request for vaccine raw materials, US says first obligation is to Americans

New York (IANS) It is in the world's interest that Americans are vaccinated and the US has to first to take care of the requirements of its own people, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price has said about Washington's restrictions on exporting…

Indian Navy rescuers start searching for missing Indonesian sub

New Delhi (IANS) Indian Navy rescuers on Thursday started searching for an Indonesian submarine that went missing with 53 people on board in waters north of the island of Bali.

The Indian Navy's Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) departed…

Russia intercepts US, Norwegian patrol jets

Moscow (IANS) A Russian MiG-31 fighter jet intercepted US and Norwegian patrol planes above the Barents Sea, the Defence Ministry in Moscow said.

Radars on Monday detected two air targets approaching the Russian border over the Barents Sea,…

No US confirmation of lifting ban on vax raw material exports

New York (IANS) US President Joe Biden's spokesperson Jen Psaki has refused to say if the US will allow the export of Covid-19 vaccine raw materials to India, a shortage that could impact global supply or set a timeline for dealing with the requests…

HK to temporarily ban flights from India, Pak, Philippines

Hong Kong (IANS) The Hong Kong government has announced its decision to ban commercial passenger flights from India, Pakistan and the Philippines for 14 days from Tuesday as these countries were "extremely high-risk for Covid-19".

The announcement…

Biden summit 'needs' emissions reduction, finance commitments

New Delhi (IANS) US President Joe Biden invited 40 world leaders to the Leaders' Summit on Climate on April 22-23.

Climate experts say this is a critically important initiative as the first step by the US government to focus on climate…

What lies behind Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan's challenge to the state?

Islamabad (IANS) Pakistan's government has been put under a severe challenge and test by an Islamist party, which has wreaked havoc in the country this week with its anti-France protests, demanding the government to expel the French Ambassador…

Russia sends warships for manoeuvres amid Ukraine tension

Moscow (IANS) Amid renewed tension in eastern Ukraine, Russia has sent 15 warships to the Black Sea for a manoeuvre, which passed through the Kerch Strait on the Crimean Peninsula on Saturday, the Navy said.

It was not initially said how long…