Diplomats quiet !

Diplomats quiet !________________________________________
 Oscar taranako , William Hanna , Dan Mozena , saida oyarasiIII : the diplomatic neighborhood saragarama few days ago . Ongoing political crisis , with almost daily news diplomats were meeting in the center of political discussions . Refers to the distance between the two allies in the coming meetings we were trying to lose .
But diplomats left the helm of the government and the opposition should be firm position . They have been spotted recently tried and daurajhampe composed . Two attempts to negotiate the group 's activities are suspended while they look into the situation . Overview of the situation of political unrest are currently dealing with special precautions .
Analysts say , essentially : The participatory , peaceful foreign friends want to select . However, under the auspices of the UN itself , despite diplomatic efforts to resolve the country's two main coalition does not have any political camp due to mass frustration .
 Others say , the next best thing , diplomats said . Rather than thinking about the next steps that they understand the situation . Sometimes they will watch silently nirbacanasaha all conditions .
According to tradition, the political situation in the country is the work of diplomats are trying to control . Still trying to stabilize the situation in the country's worst political unrest in both the team and try to bring about a settlement of the diplomats in Dhaka . But according to the schedule of elections on January 5, as well as the determination of the opposition pulled into the water and tried them in violent activities .
Various diplomatic sources , the UN special envoy in the negotiations to end the pharnandesa taranako Oscar . Shortly after the announcement of the tenth will be no election . The dialogue may be necessary after the election of the eleventh parliamentary elections . Diplomats in the Prime Minister 's announcement to seek negotiations ' final nail ' over' gave up .
However, they are often intended to influence it . The government has postponed the elections mean there is a one-sided election observers sent to support . Their opposition has not approved of the violence .
Analysts say the negotiations are not good news for the country . Diplomats from different countries , each message is delivered . This makes the foreign trade and investment and to all other image being disappointed .
Professor of International Relations at Dhaka University . Imtiaz Ahmed of Bangladesh , said the United Nations was intended to diplomats in Dhaka, they took it from them . Taranakora tour , like they can not understand our people with failed negotiations impossible. They made ​​it to the next step . Tenth to one-sided to be held close to the election observers . However , they will look into the situation in the whole nirbacanasaha next . And will rely on the validity of the election of the government, the international community will not be able to do . "
But diplomats disagreed about leaving the helm , another professor at Dhaka University . Amena Mohsin . He said , ' Something does not have to be dealing with different countries . They do not directly operate any issues in our country . A lot of time is not much that can be done to clean ourselves . '
He said , ' If you do so for a while does not mean that diplomats , government programs they are supporting . Some may not agree with their policies . They are monitoring the situation and may decide next steps . It's probably their wet & C policy ahead of elections . "
Ameena Mohsin said , " the path of democracy in the party program, such statements could come from them since . Because , until now, had been responsible for the violence , the Jamaat and Shibir . We also saw the BNP to stage demonstrations during the government siege . The government has taken various initiatives to prevent the opposition diplomats also does not eliminate the eye . '

A nine year old boy in the United States to win________________________________________
 Dhaka : A nine year old boy, Taylor Armstrong garala history . As the youngest boy has won the country's highest peak in the ayakonakaguya . Six thousand 9 hundred andeja peak height of 6 meters , located in the mountains .
Recently , with parents Kevin armastanke this arduous task to accomplish boy. A Tibetan Sherpa mountaineer with them was more of lahaoyam dhanadupa .
Armstrong had climbed the highest peak , at least to me , as I could notice any boy . Just enough to haoyai firmly .
More than a hundred people have died so far in ayakonakaguya to win .
Dad Kevin armastam message to The Associated Press , said his son twice a day for six months to get

Pope hopes for a peaceful end to the conflict around the world

Pope hopes for a peaceful end to the conflict around the world________________________________________ International Desk

 Dhaka : Middle East and Africa in the various ongoing conflict situation has called for a peaceful end to the pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the pope .
The greatest festival of the Christian community on the occasion of Christmas speech to Vatican City and St. Peter's Square , he wish .
Was elected Pope broke from the region of Europe , from Latin America to be elected Pope, the Pope of the Vatican palace undertake the Argentine gave the first Christmas greeting speech .
Speech -torn Syria oppressed and marginalized people urged to help fund baranorao .

 Christmas greetings to the Pope was addressing thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square to hear dharmanuragi early Wednesday morning .
Last year's Christmas celebrations will escape the Pope Benedict gave a speech in St. Peter's Square . Services as well as world peace, pleasure Pope Benedict sought a peaceful solution to the conflict in Syria .
Incidentally , the apostle of Jesus Christ is celebrated to mark the birthday of the world to this day, the Christian community as people arrive .

Mursi government arrested former Prime Minister

Mursi government arrested former Prime Minister_______________________________________
 Dhaka : Egypt's ousted President Mohamed Mursi government 's security forces have arrested former Prime Minister Hisham kandilake . Was arrested on an area bordering Sudan .
Earlier , the court had failed a teksataila factory punarjatiyakarane palanakalei responsibility is sentenced him to one year .
Hisamake Egypt's Interior Ministry said in a statement after the arrest , security forces detained him with an arrest warrant . With corakarabaridera ' fled to Sudan , was arrested in a hilly area , Hisham .
After the fall of dictator Hosni Mubarak , President Mohamed Mursi Muslim ব্রাদারহুডসমর্থিত the government on August 01 , Hisham was appointed Prime Minister . He served in this position until ksamatacyutira Morsi .

Boy accused of corruption , the Turkish minister resigns

Boy accused of corruption , the Turkish minister resigns________________________________________ International Desk

 Zafar kagalyayana and muyammara confuse
Dhaka : The Turkish finance minister resigns overcome corruption charges against boys and Interior Minister Zafar kagalyayana confuse muyammara . Mantridbaya resigned to investigate corruption in the government of their children in some of the country's ruling government destabalizing amalake was arrested .Recently the government ' hakabyanka ' Head of 4 people charged with corruption in the police in the same way . However , the fact of domestic and foreign conspiracy against the ruling government to declare the Freedom and Justice Party ( ekepi ) -led government.It argues that the conspiracies against the government 's resignation, a statement condemned the Finance Minister pointed out that work . He said the investigation " of blasphemy .In addition , the statements in the event of the resignation of the Minister muyammara sake of investigation . He said , if there is corruption in the public to come , or who tried to undermine the government of conspiring to give exemplary punishment to identify them .Muyammara said , since my son is not a government official , and therefore no legal basis to detain him on bribery charges .Government who are conspiring to shorten their ' broken arm ' tayyipa Prime Minister Recep Erdogan threatened .Finance Minister muyammarera son of deposed the boy 's ear and took gularera bribery scheme against the urban development and construction projects to allocate the Istanbul Police believe the allegations . In addition to the ear and to confuse the police arrested the accused durnite . However , denied any kind of involvement in corruption arrested .Meanwhile, the investigation of corruption ' in anti-government conspiracy ' Istanbul police chief administrative officer of the Head of the deposed government led by Erdogan .

Baradine bombing kills 15 in Baghdad

Baradine bombing kills 15 in Baghdad________________________________________ International Desk

 Christians gather to pray for the church in Baghdad on Christmas Day CommunityDhaka : The festival of Christian community baradine least 15 people were killed in bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital Baghdad . Dora the district at least 8 people were injured in the bomb attack .
Most of the victims of the bombing on Wednesday, police and hospital officials said the Christian community .
Like other countries in the world, Christmas Day is celebrated irakajureo .
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack . In 003 , after the fall of Saddam Hussein in Iraq attacks targeting the church rises .
 Gunmen shot dead a Catholic kyathedrale ardhasatadhika since 010 people were killed in Baghdad .
Current Year of the communal violence in Iraq since 008 is considered . Current bacharajure of more than 6 thousand civilians were killed in the attack .
The majority Shiites and minority Sunni attacks on time . Different time blaming each other for the attacks coming.

Millions of fear of being killed in South Sudan

Millions of fear of being killed in South Sudan________________________________________ International Desk

 Dhaka : violence in South Sudan last week, more than one thousand people have been killed in the country, the UN 's top human -ordination Committee said Wednesday .
Unity is the capital of the northern states of the United Nations Human Rights Coordinator in benitiute Tobi lyanajarera international press reports quoted the statement , South Sudan, it was the devastating week .
Meanwhile sahisansata country more severe form of the UN Security Council unanimously decided to send 1 of 500 peacekeepers .
President salaba Kyi claimed the government forces when the rebels occupied the important city of the ' bore ' has punarniyantrane .
According to international news media , Nuwan community Dinkar riyeka loft community has been fighting against the presidential oath .
The United Nations said on Tuesday a special report , the observer sees at least 3 mass graves found . The victims of these killings were sectarian ganasamadhite found that the people who killed the UN learned .
South Sudan has warned against the continued killing of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki - moon .
He said , looking deeply into the world of South Sudan . If someone killed an innocent man - tortured him to face accountability .
Incidentally , the President salaba Kiir announced that his government has thwarted the attempt senaabhyutthana is triggered only after the violence .
Violence against presidential oath , government forces led by former Vice President riyeka loft rebels .

47 went to each of the detector Kalashnikov

47 went to each of the detector Kalashnikov________________________________________
 International Desk

 Dhaka : AK-47 rifle inventor Mikhail Kalashnikov ayasalta kalasanikobha known as the no . Russian is one of the BBC , citing a government official said on Monday at the age of 94 , from Moscow to Six . Mr. aijebeska town died previously .AK -47 assault rifle in 1947 after the discovery quickly became popular all over the world . The AK-47 is one of the most popular firearms in the world . It is a gas- operated automatic weapon . These weapons have been sold to more than 10 million so far and more than 50 countries around the world are being used in the military . Whether that is the most commonly used and popular rifle.Because of the popularity of the AK-47 is simple to use , dependence and maintenance . It is called the world's first effective automatic rifle . Still , it has been used since 1951 . This is the main reason for its widespread popularity among the soldiers soaking in water , leaving dhulate the road construction on or after the execution of the roller can be used as before it , which is impossible in the case of the equivalent in other weapons .Kalashnikov was born on November 10 , 1919 in West across Siberia . Alexandra timaphi Kalashnikov Kalashnikov and his parents .The military forces of the Soviet Union Red Army , he then worked for a long time . Weapons design, utilizing his remarkable skills to use him in the Red Army .He said , I'm proud of my invention , but it occasionally gives me trouble for terrorists .Reputation is something the state has received little from the rifle . Sometime he sorrow , he said , did not discover the rifle would have been better had he farmed and made the hoe .Awarded the honor of the Kalashnikov weapons to kill many people who have discovered that he has always avoided liability . He was responsible for the various country policy .He claimed that many of my inventions now brings the country's independence .

Briefing foreign diplomats , foreign minister of the installments mean

Briefing foreign diplomats , foreign minister of the installments mean ________________________________________ Dhaka : Bangladesh Participatory when strong selection pressure to foreigners than to make it clear before the election that active government position . Tuesday Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali's work came to the fore as evidenced by engagements . Tuesday morning point to the situation of the different countries in Dhaka has briefed the ambassador said. From 11am to noon, at 1 pm in the first round of the state guest house Padma took part in the briefing, the United States , Canada , Australia , Brazil , Korea , Germany and several foreign ambassadors . Attended the United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP ) Resident Representative Neil oyakarao . Took part in the same place in the afternoon of the second clause, the Islamic Cooperation Organization conference ( OIC ) member countries ambassadors . Hours starting from noon to 3pm at the briefing . Select Foreign governments of the two points clear at the briefing . Nationwide as well - Shibir terrorist activities , he also briefed the diplomats . Initiatives taken by the government to strengthen the security of the election to destabilize the situation with respect to diplomats briefed foreign diplomats AH M. Mahmud . Foreign country of peace - part of an attempt to derail order to foil the government's election pledge of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had also highlighted . Thanked foreign diplomats and diplomatic assurances in the zone known as the Gulshan and Baridhara expressed taking extra security measures . Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations Diplomatic missions in Bangladesh, as well as their housing , schools and cultural centers have pledged full security and protection of foreign governments . After about a half -hour briefing, guest house Padma taken out of the first round of briefing diplomats did not talk with reporters . Meanwhile, the foreign minister has assured the ambassadors of the OIC , election by the people of Bangladesh have significant Muslim Ummah at . The diplomatic and foreign community in the country's efforts to protect the peace and security that they have compassion . Two term Prime Minister's International Affairs Adviser Dr briefing . Adviser advisor , the Foreign Secretary said. Shahidul Haque , Foreign Ministry Secretary ( bilateral ) Mustafa kamalasaha concerned mahaparicalakera attended . Earlier Monday, diplomats from ASEAN countries met in Dhaka to assure proper safety Foreign embassies and buildings . He was ambassador to the SAARC and ASEAN member nations and heads of diplomatic missions of the Government headed by Sheikh Hasina 's election election Election Commission in the interest of maintaining a peaceful environment, providing all the necessary support .

South Sudanese rebels occupied the important city of

South Sudanese rebels occupied the important city of

Zubair these people are going to take refuge in the UN missionDhaka : South Sudanese soldiers and their partners coup failed to continue to occupy an important city in the country has gone to the military .Said military spokesman Philip advancing soldiers had lost control of their soldiers riyeka myacarera forces .Former Vice President myacara overthrow the current president, Salva kirake cestakari alleged that the army has incited ekansake key .Myacara however , denied the allegation . He is absconding . Government trying to arrest him .Meanwhile , authorities arrested a former government official in South Sudan has ekamantrisaha 10 .The ongoing violence in the country after the coup failed . 5 hundred people were killed in the clashes , according to unconfirmed sources, the UN said .Started shooting at the presidential palace in the capital on Sunday after clashes in different areas jubara . The violence has spread to other areas of the country beyond juba .After separation from Sudan in 011 different rebel groups took up arms . Took possession of the city in a bore of them , he said .Violence in the civil war between the country 's two main ethnic nuyere Dincer and expressed concern about the United Nations . The current President and former Vice President Kiir Dinkar myacara Nuwan ethnic group .Jubair escape from violence , hundreds of people have taken refuge in the UN mission . South Sudan has ordered the departure of non- essential diplomatic States . South Sudan advised to leave the United Kingdom has its own nationals .

Take away liabilities stood Scandal Tokyo Governor

Dhaka, the capital of Japan, Tokyo , and stood away scam claimed responsibility inoja naoki 's governor . When selecting a hospital, allegedly taking a bribe of U.S. $ 5 million from taikunera up against him .
Just a year ago, resigned in the face of widespread criticism Thursday inoja taken responsibility .
Hosting the Olympics in Tokyo in 0 and 0 , he was one of the organizers . It was a rude shock resignation of its humiliate Tokyo Olympics .
Jan 50 million in cash last November , when he accepted the Japanese currency . Personal Loan in the amount that he told everyone dipojite fixed . He said the condition of the permit to open a hospital Hospital taikunake Tokyo .
He announced his resignation at a press conference on Thursday . In the meantime , he said , I have decided to step away from the position of governor of Tokyo .
Tokyo governor of the city 's most senior politicians . Nearly 9 million people live in the city .

Iraq violence kills 19

Iraq violence kills 19 
Photo : CollectedDhaka : Iraq, at least 19 people were killed in bomb attacks and shootings . The incident took place in the capital Baghdad and its outskirts on Thursday .
Capital Baghdad, at least 14 people were killed in suicide bomb attack on a pilgrimage . Hazrat Hussain ( ra ) - The 40 -day mourning ceremony on the way to Karbala for celebrations arabaina tirthabhumi dora district of the city, a place of pilgrimage jirocchilena . The bombings are bang .
Shia community carry out such attacks , often on Iraqi Sunni insurgents pilgrims .
Meanwhile , on the outskirts of Baghdad, five people from the same family were killed by gunmen in Abu the car . The main man kills family - Al Qaeda was a member of the anti- sahaoyara .
According to the UN , 659 people were killed in violence in Iraq last November . And in October, 979 people were killed .
From now until the start of the year 7 of the country, 150 were civilians and 950 security force members were killed .

Expatriates protest in front of Pakistan High Commission in London

Expatriates protest in front of Pakistan High Commission in London
Pakistan High Commission , London : The Pakistan High Commission in London to protest in front of the expatriate Bengalis . Pakistan parliament to protest the war Quader Mollah condemned to death for arranging the execution Thursday at 3 pm local time, the Pakistan High Commission in central London to protest in front of this .
In front of the main gate of the building into offices for ICT Support Forum, organized by 73 organizations comprising hundreds expatriates took part in the program .Enter the front gate of the Pakistan High Commission officials objected and a protracted protests, demonstrators took cognizance .
Log in to remove the protesters from the front gate of the High Commission officials to seek police permission to remain away from protesters refused police .
Earlier on Thursday morning, officials of the Pakistan High Commission to protest organizers do not accept the memorandum said by telephone .
Riaz update naimuddina regard ICT Forum organizers said , according to the program of expatriate Bengalis spotted in Pakistan High Commission officials were working on a lot of the discomfort . Thursday morning in protest of the conditions they have to give us the telephone . Prabesaphatakera stage demonstration in front of them , they can not be said . We 're burning them with the permission of the police are , if anything , they say, the police said.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan High Commission in particular in the group of expatriate Bengalis prabesaphatake take the senior officials of the High Commission , came down again, the main objection prabesaphatake entrepreneurs demonstrations . In the end, the police allowed the demonstration to make Pakistani officials objected to the slogan of any kind , but the protesters rejected the request .
After the hour , the gates of protesters from the ICT Support Forum leader Jalal Uddin , Syed Farooq , naimuddina Riaz , Syed Anas Pasha , Jamal Khan , ignition Pal , Shahab Uddin, to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister of Pakistan under the leadership of the ruling will be agile and Ajanta are transferring .Despite an official request to sambadakarmidera High Commission formally adopted the memorandum , he declined to comment .
Taking proposals to the parliament against the wishes of the internal justice in violation of international diplomatic norms comments on the final proposal to immediately withdraw and apologize for it urged Bangladesh to Pakistan .
It is called , is a citizen of Bangladesh , Mollah , who was involved in war crimes like the massacre at birth . Bangladesh's International Crimes traibonala Crimes convicted through due process was sentenced to death , which allows the Supreme Court of Bangladesh .
Wishes to apologize to Bangladesh urged immediate war of genocide , against Quader Mollah death of Pakistani lawmakers called on the Pakistani prime minister to withdraw the proposal .
React at the end of that momo ICT Support Forum leader Syed Farooq regard , the evidence suggests that the Parliament of Pakistan against Bangladesh Golam Azam - Nizami, Jamaat-e- Islami Bangladesh , the political party in Pakistan . They are keen to protect the interests of Pakistan and Bangladesh . The war finally ended in defeat Pakistan glani prove they are still carrying .
Ansar Ahmed Ullah , another leader of the organization , said , " This proves that the Pakistani Taliban threatened by the Taliban embassy in Bangladesh , Bangladesh Jamaat-e -Islami relationship with alakayedara . It certainly belongs elarmim News Bengalis as a nation .
Ajanta Emeute spokeswoman Deb Roy said , " We defeated Pakistan army east of the generation that is not here by the people to express frustration . So as the successor generation in 013 words in our dictionary, there is frustration that we want to prove . Pakistan rejects international customs interference to internal matters , but again, they will be responsible for 71 of the iteration history .

The new Einstein !

The new Einstein ! Dhaka : just four year old boy . And in this age of Albert Einstein 's intellectual ! Yes , Sherry sarabira boy in Britain was discovered . Testing has shown that , sarabira aikiu ( Intellectual verification process ) is perfectly matched with the world-famous physicist Albert Einstein aikiu . Britain South Yorkshire etodina knew someone sarabike barnasalete not born . But recently the UK intelligence verification to achieve the highest test score of 160 after the incredible scale oyecasalara he noticed everyone . The results surprised even psychologists pharabira noise and thrown around . According to a report in the Daily Express , is just Einstein , Bill Gates and Stephen hakinsa sarabira equivalent intelligence . While Einstein was not a lifetime of such verification methods aikiu experts are still around 160 aikiu was Einstein . That's only ten months old, spreading Sparkle sarabi merit . He first speaks atatuku age . The full language of the buds away ayattba . Sarabi going to school at the age of two . Sarabi merit that are starting to get the result . Already the world's oldest and largest menasa aikiu Society International took place . The club is only three years old , he genius of Britain took place . Educational psychologist Dr . Peter kangadona the rest sarabi Eight - Ten different from the boy . God has given talent . Amanda serinera mother said. His son was already felt in 190 books . She loves to read and learn new things Encyclopedia .

Anna Hazare’s hunger strike enters 2nd day

Activist Anna Hazare’s indefinite hunger strike to press for the passage of Jan Lokpal Bill entered the second day on Wednesday.

76-year-old Hazare continues his fast at his village here braving the cold weather in Maharashtra`s Ahmednagar district. The anti-graft crusader is on hunger strike near the Yadavbaba temple in the village, under the banner of Jantantra Morcha. Hazare’s medical test stated his blood pressure is above normal and he has also lost 0.9 kg weight since yesterday, his associate Suresh Pathare said. The Jan Lokpal Bill, or the Citizen’s Ombudsman Bill, is an anti-graft legislation drafted by civil society activists, seeking appointment of an independent panel to investigate cases of corruption. Union minister of state for personnel V Narayanasamy had on Tuesday said the government was serious about passing the Bill during the current session of Parliament itself and had even given a notice to Rajya Sabha Chairman in this regard. ‘As far as the Lokpal Bill is concerned I have given notice to Chairman Rajya Sabha for taking up the Lokpal Bill. ...government is taking all sincere step to pass the Lokpal Bill,’ he had told reporters outside Parliament, reports The Times of India. When Hazare’s attention was drawn to Narayanasamy’s statement, he had said, ‘the government should keep its word’. The septuagenarian said his fast would continue till the time Jan Lokpal Bill was passed.

Ukraine police storm protest camp

Hundreds of police have moved in on a large protest camp in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, clashing with protesters.

Al Jazeera`s Tim Friend, reporting from Independence Square, said barricades came down as police in full riot gear advanced on protesters early on Wednesday morning. "The police have effectively reasserted their authority over the square," our correspondent said. The capital has been gripped by more than three weeks of demonstrations against President Viktor Yanukovich`s decision to align himself with Russia instead of the European Union. Several hundred protesters, many wearing orange helmets, gathered in front of a stage in the camp, which was the final area in Kiev where demonstrators were holding out. "This is the final, very symbolic retaking of the square," Friend said, noting that police appeared ready to remain throughout the night, impinging the protesters` freedom of movement as temperatures plunged. "Effectively it`s a siege," he said. Protesters sang the Ukrainian national anthem and shouted "Shame!" and "We will stand!" as officers moved in. Police and army squads surrounded the area and tore down tents, removing protesters` meagre shelter and cutting off their ability to access food and fuel, Friend said.

‘Kabul blast was accident in arms depot’

A huge explosion that shook central Kabul on Thursday was an accident in an arms depot, officials said, allaying fears of an attack on the Afghan capital that has often been targeted by militants.

‘It was an accident, not an enemy act,’ Lutfullah Mashal, a National Directorate of Security (NDS) official said, reports The Straits Times. ‘The blast happened in a depot for unexploded ordinance. It was totally an accident. There is no reported casualty but there are some damages.’ The large explosion outside Nato’s International Security Assistance Force headquarters rocked central Kabul on Thursday, although there was no immediate confirmation of casualties.

Obama, Cameron ‘selfie’ at Mandela memorial creates online stir

US president Barack Obama may have moved the masses attending Nelson Mandela’s memorial service with his stirring eulogy on Tuesday, but it was his grinning ‘selfie’ with the Danish and British premiers that set social networks abuzz.

In a candid moment captured by AFP photographer Roberto Schmidt, Denmark’s Helle Thorning-Schmidt can be seen holding up her smartphone, with Obama lending a helping hand, as they pose for a picture with David Cameron, all three of them smiling broadly in their seats at Soweto’s World Cup stadium. First Lady Michelle Obama, sitting to the left of her husband, does not join in with the lightheartedness, keeping her eyes firmly trained on the podium where world leaders were paying tribute to South Africa’s anti-apartheid hero Mandela, who died Thursday aged 95. The so-called selfie, short for self-portrait, was quickly picked up by major international news outlets and went viral on social media sites, with many questioning whether the moment of mirth was appropriate for the occasion, reports The Straits Times.

Thousands more to view Mandela’s body in Pretoria

Mourners in South Africa are waiting to view the body of former president Nelson Mandela for a second day.

Thousands of people queued on Wednesday to file past Mandela’s body, which was lying in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. His widow Graca Machel and president Jacob Zuma were among those to pay their respects along with relatives and officials. Mandela died last Thursday at the age of 95 and will be buried on Sunday. His funeral will take place in his home village of Qunu in Eastern Cape province. Mandela’s body was again taken from the mortuary to the Union Buildings on Thursday, arriving at around 07:45 local time (05:45 GMT), reports the BBC. People lined the streets to watch the coffin being taken to the government buildings where Mandela was sworn in as South Africa’s first black president in 1994.

Anna Hazare begins indefinite fast again

India’s anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Tuesday started another indefinite fast demanding the central government to pass an anti-corruption bill.

At least 12 supporters joined the 76-year-old veteran social activist as he began his fast at a temple venue in his village Ralegan Siddhi, 230 km from Mumbai. Residents of nearby villagers also started trickling in. No one joined from the Aam Aadmi Party of Arvind Kejriwal, who had broken away from Hazare to start the new political party. However, Hazare said anyone was welcome to join the fast provided they did not come with the banner of a political party. One of his office functionaries in Ralegan Siddhi told Gulf News there was a strong police presence in the village. Hazare said this would be a do or die situation since the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had betrayed him earlier when Congress president Sonia Gandhi wrote a letter asking him to end the fast and that the government was ready to bring the Jan Lokpal Bill. ‘I didn’t know that this UPA government will betray the public and me.’

Indo-bangla border India mulls high-tech surveillance

Unabated illegal influx from Bangladesh has led the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to look for high-tech surveillance equipment, with the Centre mulling to introduce force multipliers such as Long Range Reconnaissance and Observation System and Battle Field Surveillance Radars (BFSR).

This was disclosed Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Home Affairs (MHA) M Ramachandran. With illegal infiltration from Bangladesh showing no sign of abating, the Centre has cleared proposals for introduction of the high-tech equipment, including BFSR, hand held thermal imager, night vision goggles among other sophisticated equipment. The Border Security Force (BSF) is guarding 4096.70 km of the Indo-Bangladesh border which includes 856 km of the border in Tripura. However, what appears to be a major lapse on the part of the Ministry of Home Affairs is that it has so far not sent any advisories to the Ministry of Railways under which the Railway Protection Force (RPF) operates, to look for illegal migrants. Illegal migrants, who enter through the porous borders of the north-eastern States and West Bengal often, take trains to escape from the police dragnet. Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena wanted to know whether the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has asked the Government Railway Police to keep a close watch on the movement of foreigners, especially Bangladeshi nationals, travelling in trains. Ramachandran confirmed that the IB has not issued any such advisories to the Railways. In a separate reply to a question by Nazneen Farooque, the Minister admitted that there were reports of Bangladeshi nationals having entered the country without valid travel documents. Since entry of such Bangladeshi nationals into the country is clandestine and surreptitious, it is not possible to have accurate data of such Bangladeshi nationals living in various parts of the country. A number of Bangladeshi nationals, who have entered India on valid travel documents, have been found to be overstaying. According to information available, as on December 31, 2012, 16,530 Bangladeshi nationals who came to India with valid travel documents were found to be overstaying. The Minister said a standard operating procedure exists for detection and deportation of illegal Bangladeshi migrants and for repatriation of rescued victims of trafficking.

Mandela funeral Mourners gather in Johannesburg

Tens of thousands of mourners are expected in Johannesburg for a memorial service for Nelson Mandela.

US President Barack Obama and the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will be among those paying tribute, reports BBC. The service will be held at the 90,000 capacity FNB stadium, where Mr Mandela made his last public appearance. It will also be shown on big screens at three "overflow" stadiums. The former South African president died aged 95 last Thursday. The country is observing a series of commemorations leading up to the funeral on Sunday. The memorial service is likely to be one of the biggest gatherings of international dignitaries in recent years. Hundreds of people began assembling outside the stadium during the night, the BBC`s Joe Winter reports from the scene. Crowds, many wearing Nelson Mandela t-shirts and South African football and rugby tops, are singing songs from the fight against apartheid, our correspondent adds.

UN to check Libya uranium stockpiles

The United Nations says nuclear inspectors will visit Libya to assess its uranium stockpiles, amid concerns about fragile security in the country.

The UN envoy to Libya, Tarek Mitri, told the Security Council that the IAEA team would arrive later this month, reports BBC. He said 6,400 barrels of concentrated uranium, or yellowcake, were stored at a former military base in southern Libya, guarded by an army battalion. Yellowcake is used in the production of nuclear fuel and weapons. Mitri, the UN Secretary General`s Special Representative to Libya, said an inspection team from the International Atomic Energy Agency would "visit this month to verify existing stockpiles and conditions of storage" at the former military facility near Sabha, in southern Libya. "They are under the control of an army battalion," he said. The IAEA visited the Sabha site in 2011, shortly after the end of Libya`s civil war. Chemical weapons The Vienna-based agency recommended implementing tighter safeguards on the storage of the processed uranium ore - which is used in the preparation of nuclear fuel and weapons - once the security situation in Libya stabilised. The increased safeguards typically include regular visits by inspectors and seals on nuclear storage and production facilities. Mitri was addressing the UN Security Council as concerns grow about the Libyan government`s failure to rein in militia groups which have gained in influence and control in key cities since the removal of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Mitri said that "despite steps by the government to quickly deploy army units in Tripoli to prevent a security vacuum, the weak capacity of state military and policy institutions remains a serious problem". He also said there had been protests in Benghazi over the "unprecedented levels of insecurity over the past few weeks" including an assassination attempt in November against the city`s military commander and heavy fighting involving the Islamic group Ansar al-Sharia. Only last week an American teacher was shot dead while jogging in Benghazi. The US ambassador was killed there last year. An inspection team from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is also expected to visit later this month, Mitri said. He said it would verify the elimination of relevant material following the destruction of almost nine metric tonnes of mustard gas earlier this year.

Thai PM rejects resignation call

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has rejected protesters` demands that she resign before February`s snap elections.

Demonstrators have been calling for Yingluck Shinawatra to resign and be replaced with a "people`s prime minister", reports BBC. Ms Yingluck won the last polls in 2011, but protesters say ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra remains in charge. Thailand is facing its largest political turmoil since 2010. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Ms Yingluck urged protesters to stop and "use the electoral system to choose who will become the next government." "I must do my duty as caretaker prime minister according to the constitution," she said, adding: "I have retreated as far as I can - give me some fairness." On Monday, around 150,000 protesters had converged around the government headquarters in what they had described as a final push to unseat the government. On the same day, Ms Yingluck announced that she would dissolve parliament and call elections, now set for 2 February. An anti-government protester eats breakfast as she wakes up outside Government House in Bangkok on 10 December 2013 A small number of protesters remain camped outside Government House However, protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, a former opposition politician, said that the demonstrations would continue. "We will select a people`s prime minister and set up a government of the people and a people`s assembly to replace parliament," he said late on Monday.

‘Pakistan deep concern over continuing US drone strikes’

US defence secretary Chuck Hagel discussed the use of US drones against militants in remote areas of Pakistan on Monday during the first visit by a Pentagon chief to the South Asian ally in almost four years.

Islamabad says drone strikes kill too many civilians and violate its sovereignty. Protests by anti-drone activists prompted the United States to suspend ground shipments of NATO cargo leaving Afghanistan via Pakistan last week. During his visit, Hagel met prime minister Nawaz Sharif and other senior officials including the newly appointed army chief, Raheel Sharif. Both sides were tight-lipped on the details of the talks. ‘The prime minister ... conveyed Pakistan’s deep concern over continuing US drone strikes, stressing that drone strikes were counter-productive to our efforts to combat terrorism and extremism on an enduring basis,’ the foreign ministry said in a statement, reports The Voice of Russia.

Syrian army retakes road to ship out chemical stockpile

Syrian president Bashar Assad’s forces have taken control of a highway connecting Damascus to the coast that is needed to extract hundreds of tons of toxic chemicals for destruction.

A monitoring group said on Monday, reports The Jerusalem Post. Fighting in Syria poses a hurdle to implementing an agreement between Damascus and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to remove the deadliest chemicals weapons by the end of the year to be destroyed. The army started an offensive in mid-November to secure the highway, which passes through the mountainous area of Qalamoun, roughly 50 km north of Damascus, stretches along the Lebanese border and hosts many military bases and outposts.

French troops to begin disarming CAR rebels

French troops are set to start disarming militias in the Central African Republic following a wave of sectarian violence in the capital of Bangui that has left around 400 people dead.

French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said French soldiers would begin disarming rebels on Monday morning, ‘The period of impunity is over’, he said on French RTL radio on Sunday evening, reports france24.com. Calm has been largely restored to Bangui since French troops began patrolling its streets and neighbouring towns in the wake of a new UN Security Council-backed mission that allows the use of force to protect the lives of civilians. Many terrified residents of the capital still refused to leave their homes after rival militia groups attacked civilians with knives and machetes last week.

18 killed in Iraq bombings

A car bomb outside a cafe and other attacks in central Iraq killed at least 18 people on Monday, officials said.

The car bomb went off outside the cafe in the town of Buhriz, about 60km north of the capital, Baghdad, killing 12 people and wounding 24, police officials said, reports The Straits Times. In the south-western suburbs of Baghdad, a roadside bomb hit a car with anti-al-Qaida Sunni fighters, killing two and wounding three, police and hospital officials said. The Sunni militia group, known as the Sahwa, had joined forces with US troops at the height of the Iraq war to fight al-Qaida. Since then, it has been a target for Sunni insurgents, who call its members traitors.

Hundreds dead` in CAR violence

DHAKA: At least 300 people have been killed in two days of violence in the capital of the Central African Republic, says the Red Cross.

The organisation said its staff stopped collecting bodies in Bangui as night fell but would resume over the weekend, and expected the toll to rise, reports BBC.

Violence in the CAR has raised fears of mass killings along sectarian lines.

Hundreds of French troops are arriving in the city as part of a UN effort to restore law and order.

France was hoping to have around 1,000 troops - doubling its current force - in the CAR by Friday evening.

It followed a UN Security Council vote to allow French troops to join an African peacekeeping force in the CAR.

S Africa, world mourn Nelson Mandela

South Africans have gathered in Johannesburg and Soweto to mourn their former leader, Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday aged 95. Crowds paid tribute, dancing and singing in front of Mr Mandela`s former home in Soweto throughout the night. Flags flew at half mast after President Jacob Zuma announced his death in a late night national TV address. Mr Mandela spent 27 years in jail before becoming South Africa`s first black president in 1994. His administration replaced the racist white-minority regime that had enforced segregation of black and white people in a policy known as apartheid. Scenes from around the globe in the hours after Nelson Mandela`s death as world leaders, South Africans, and our own journalists react Mr Mandela went on to become one of the world`s most respected statesmen. A service of national mourning will be held at a 95,000-seater stadium on the outskirts of Johannesburg. His body will then lie in state for three days in the capital, Pretoria, before being taken for a state funeral in the village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape, where he grew up. "God was so good to us in South Africa by giving us Nelson Mandela to be our president at a crucial moment in our history," said long-time ally Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.

At a service in Cape Town on Friday, he said Mr Mandela had "taught a divided nation to come together". Mr Mandela had been suffering from a lung illness for a long time. He had been receiving treatment at home since September, when he was discharged from hospital. As soon as the news broke, small crowds began to gather in Soweto`s Vilakazi Street, where Mr Mandela lived in the 1940s and 1950s. Crowds chanted apartheid-era songs, including one with the lyrics: "We have not seen Mandela in the place where he is, in the place where he is kept." The announcement of Mandela`s death was made by President Jacob Zuma By daybreak, dozens more had gathered. "We are celebrating his life and all that he did for us," said one of the mourners, Terry Mokoena. Crowds also gathered outside Mr Mandela`s current home, in Johannesburg`s northern suburb of Houghton, where he died. Across the world, leaders, celebrities and members of the public have been paying tribute. "He achieved more than could be expected of any man. Today, he has gone home," said US President Barack Obama. When Africans mourn, they do it through song, dance and music. So as South Africans awoke to news of Nelson Mandela`s death, crowds had begun gathering outside his homes in Houghton and Soweto. They are mourning him through songs of struggle and church hymns. One of the songs is "Nelson Mandela ha hona ea tshwanang le yena" which in Sotho means there is no-one like Nelson Mandela. This song and many others like it encapsulate the deep sense of loss here and the realisation that his passing marks the end of an era. Even South Africans who had never met him had made a special place for him in their hearts. They will remember him as the father of the nation, who brought an end to apartheid and delivered the nation from the brink of civil war. The mood is a combination of sombreness and reflection. His passing has brought unity amongst South Africans as black and white speak of their love for him. Many here will be drawing on that same spirit for strength, that "Madiba magic" over the next few days and weeks. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called him "a giant for justice and a down-to-earth human inspiration". Flags are flying at half-mast on government buildings in Washington DC, Paris and across South Africa. Books of condolence will be opened at public buildings in South Africa and at the country`s embassies throughout the world. Next Monday is expected to be the start of South Africa`s official mourning, with a service in Soweto`s FNB stadium. Mr Mandela`s body will lie in state for three days at the Union buildings in Pretoria before a funeral is held on Saturday in Qunu, the village in Eastern Cape where he was born. The BBC`s Mike Wooldridge in Johannesburg says South Africa will never have seen a state funeral like it, with leaders, dignitaries and other admirers of the former president expected from all over the world. It will be a huge logistical challenge, especially given the remoteness of Qunu, our correspondent adds. In his TV address, Mr Zuma said Mr Mandela had died shortly before 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT). "Our nation has lost its greatest son," Mr Zuma said. "Although we knew that this day would come, nothing can diminish our sense of a profound and enduring loss." Mr Mandela won admiration around the world when he preached reconciliation after being freed from almost three decades of imprisonment. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 along with FW de Klerk, South Africa`s last white president. Mr de Klerk, who ordered Mr Mandela`s release from jail, called him a "unifier" and said he had "a remarkable lack of bitterness". He told the BBC that Mr Mandela`s greatest legacy was that "we are basically at peace with each other notwithstanding our great diversity, that we will be taking hands once again now around his death and around our common sadness and mourning".