World and regional powers have begun fresh talks aimed at putting the Syrian peace process back on track. Germany’s foreign minister told reporters in Vienna that the aim was to strengthen a fragile truce and boost humanitarian aid. That would encourage the opposition to resume negotiations on a political settlement to end the war, he said. The opposition pulled out ...

Thai authorities are set to close the island of Koh Tachai, saying heavy tourism is negatively affecting natural resources and the environment. The island, off Phang Nga province, is part of the Similan National Park. Almost all Thai marine national parks close from mid-May to mid-October, for monsoon season, but Tachai will not reopen, the Bangkok Post reported. The park ...

Donald Trump, who defeated 16 top political leaders of his party to become the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said he is fighting for survival. “I mean, I view myself as a person that, like everybody else, is fighting for survival. That’s all I view myself as,” Trump told the Fox News. “I really view myself now as somewhat of a ...

Ansar Ahmed Ullah : Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in London on 15 May en route to Bulgaria on a three-day official visit to Bulgarian capital Sofia to attend the Global Women Leaders’ Forum. Bangladesh high commissioner to the UK Abdul Hannan, Press Minister Nadeem Qadir, UK Awami League’s President Sultan Shariff and Secretary Syed Faruk received her at ...

For decades, British Airways has given away food and drink to every passenger. But The Independent has learned that BA’s new boss may soon overturn that policy – offering short-haul economy passengers the chance to buy upscale sandwiches. Airline sources suggest that Alex Cruz, who took over as Chairman and Chief Executive at BA last month, may bring in Waitrose to supply high-quality snacks ...

A senior BBC figure wants more shows similar to Songs of Praise which would include coverage that would appeal to people of Muslim, Hindu and Sikh faiths. Aaqil Ahmed, commissioning editor of religion and head of religion and ethics at the BBC, told MPs he has written a report answering criticism that non-Christian faiths were under-represented on the programme. The Sunday Times reported Mr Ahmed told MPs ...

16 May 2016 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reached London yesterday afternoon for a three-day private visit on her way to another three-day official trip to Bulgaria. During her stay in London on May 15-17, she is scheduled to meet her niece Labour MP Tulip Siddiq, highly placed sources said. Also a granddaughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Tulip gave birth ...

Labour MPs have warned Jeremy Corbyn he must make more effort to mobilise Labour supporters in order to prevent Britain voting to leave the EU in next month’s referendum. Pro-EU Labour figures fear that Mr Corbyn will not throw his full weight behind the Remain campaign and that it could lose the referendum as a result. Some Labour MPs have ...

The new mayor of London Sadiq Khan has made his first major policy announcement, unveiling plans to substantially increase the size of London’s clean air charging zone to tackle the capital’s illegal air pollution levels. The Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) – which could also now come into force earlier than planned – will require drivers of the 2.5m oldest and dirtiest ...

The High Court has ruled that a father who took his daughter out of school for a family trip to Florida did not break the law, paving the way for more parents to take pupils on term-time holidays. Jon Platt refused to pay the charge for taking his family on the holiday after her Isle of Wight school refused permission ...