Sri Lanka's crisis looked over yesterday as strongman Mahinda Rajapakse bowed out of a power battle that had crippled the island nation for seven weeks and sent it heading for a possible debt default.

Nations yesterday inched towards a deal to implement the Paris climate goals, after all-night negotiations to hammer out a plan to limit global temperature rises exposed a range of conflicts.

People are failing to reap the benefits of the economic growth Bangladesh has been achieving for over a decade due to lack of good governance, weakness in the regulatory bodies and structural flaws in political parties, analysts said yesterday.

The Jatiya Oikyafront yesterday urged its leaders and activists to form committees to guard polling stations across the country during the December 30 election.

A Southwest Airlines flight headed from Seattle to Dallas was turned back mid-flight after it was discovered that a human heart had been left on board, officials said Thursday.

Two people were killed and six others injured after falling off the rooftop of a passenger train in Ishwardi yesterday.

The US Congress in a unanimous resolution has urged political leaders and judicial authorities in Bangladesh to respect the will of voters and ensure that all Bangladeshis will be able to participate freely in the December 30 election, and that the polls will be impartial and inclusive.

A whole generation of Rohingya children is being denied the opportunity to shape their own future as they face extremely limited access to education in both Myanmar and in refugee camps in Bangladesh, Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (Brouk) said in a report on Thursday.

Sri Lanka's strongman leader Mahinda Rajapaksa will step down from his disputed position of premier, his son said yesterday, signalling an end to a crippling seven-week long power struggle.

At least 500 locals of Gaibandha's Gobindaganj and Saghata upazilas have found a new source of income in the plastic recycling business thriving in the northern district.

Jatiya Oikyafront leader Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday reacted angrily to some reporters' queries regarding his position on Jamaat-e-Islami.

Alleging that the BNP has nominated war criminals, their relatives and corrupt elements in different constituencies, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the people not to vote for them in the coming election.

Jatiya Party has pledged to “bring back democratic atmosphere” and establish good governance in the country if voted to power in the December 30 national election.

The print edition of the Venezuelan anti-government daily El Nacional appeared for the last time yesterday, shutting down due to a mixture of political pressure and a crippling economic crisis that left it unable to source newsprint.

China yesterday rebuked the US Congress over legislation seeking greater access to Tibet, saying American lawmakers "grossly interfered" in Beijing's domestic affairs.

The Kremlin yesterday rejected as unfounded the US case against Russian national Maria Butina, who has pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal foreign agent in the United States.

EU leaders extended punishing economic sanctions against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine for another six months on Thursday, amid heightened tensions over the Azov Sea clash.

Human Rights Watch has urged Bangladesh to end the crackdown on political oppositions and free expression ahead of the national elections to ensure people's right to choose their government.

An alleged drug dealer was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Cox's Bazar's Teknaf upazila early yesterday, hours after his arrest.

The US Senate dealt President Donald Trump a double blow over Saudi Arabia on Thursday, approving a resolution to end US military support for Riyadh's war in Yemen, and another holding the Saudi crown prince responsible for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.