Bangladesh Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman pledged on Tuesday night to protect the Hindu community's peaceful celebration of Sharadiya Durga Puja, vowing support to his last drop of blood. He delivered the commitment while greeting worshippers at Bijuliya Sarbajanin Durga Mandir in Shailkupa upazila of Jhenaidah district.
The attorney general warned that authorities would severely punish anyone attempting to disturb the festival. He announced that the government has installed CCTV cameras in all temples and will treat troublemakers as national enemies.
Asaduzzaman toured local Puja mandaps and donated money to the organizing committees. He stressed that religious festivals unite everyone, and the government will not tolerate communal...
Bangladesh introduced electronic passport services at its embassy in Tashkent on Tuesday. Ambassador Mohammad Manirul Islam presided over the ceremony, which featured Brig. Gen. Mohammad Nurus Salam as the chief guest and Deputy Secretary Nilima Afroze from the Public Safety Division as the special guest.
Salam outlined the electronic passport's capabilities and provided updates on implementation progress. He said Bangladeshi nationals living in Uzbekistan and surrounding nations would gain access to the enhanced service. First Secretary Sukla Banik moderated the event at the embassy.
The Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan announced on Thursday that Iraq will repay debts for Kurdistan Region crude oil through in-kind deliveries at Ceyhan port. A designated marketer representing international oil companies will sell the oil and deposit revenues into an escrow account to secure payments. Iraq's amended Budget Law requires the Finance Ministry to provide $16 per barrel as interim compensation for production and transportation expenses.
The financial arrangement follows a September agreement among the Kurdistan Region, international oil companies, and Iraq's Federal Oil Ministry to restart exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline. Oil shipments from the Kurdistan Region ceased in March 2023 after an...
Turkey's parliament speaker has stated that constitutional or legal reforms cannot proceed until the Kurdistan Workers' Party disarms completely, and he ruled out recognizing any language besides Turkish as official. Numan Kurtulmuş told reporters on Tuesday that the PKK and its affiliates in Syria must surrender weapons before legislative action begins. He said regulations will distinguish between members who committed no crimes and those serving lengthy sentences.
Kurtulmuş emphasized the need to balance Kurdish rights with Turkish sensitivities while maintaining that most of the population consists of ethnic Turks. He added that Abdullah Öcalan currently communicates through lawyers and members of the People's Democratic Party, but...
The Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Masrour Barzani, led a Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday for the Kurdistan Accrediting Association for Education to strengthen academic standards. Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani joined senior officials and education experts at the session, which the Kurdistan Regional Government announced.
Barzani emphasized the committee's role in advancing educational excellence and called for better coordination among ministries and institutions. He praised the association's work in building a more competitive academic environment for the region.
The board approved education standards, accreditation guidelines for academic institutions, and a university ranking system based on association criteria...
Oil exports from the Kurdistan Region restarted on Sept. 25 after a suspension of nearly two and a half years, with the first shipment leaving through the Turkish port of Ceyhan on Sept. 27. The breakthrough follows an agreement among the Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraq's federal government, and international oil companies. Initial exports stand at 190,000 barrels per day, with plans to increase to 230,000 barrels daily, while 50,000 barrels per day will serve domestic needs in the Kurdistan Region.
Energy experts say the move strengthens Turkey's and Europe's energy security while offering a more secure alternative to sea transport from Basra. The deal is expected to generate $400 million to $500 million monthly for Iraq's federal...
The White House pledged Wednesday to defend Qatar against armed attacks through diplomatic, economic, and military measures. President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing security guarantees after Israeli forces struck Doha on September 9, targeting Hamas officials. The assault violated international law and threatened Qatari sovereignty, according to government spokesman Majed Al Ansari.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized for the strike during a phone call from Washington on Monday. The attack endangered sensitive ceasefire negotiations that Qatar mediates between Israel and Hamas. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich defended the operation as a justified action against terrorists anywhere worldwide...
Iraq's foreign ministry endorsed President Donald Trump's Gaza peace proposal Wednesday. The government praised the plan's calls for an immediate cease-fire and Gaza reconstruction while opposing any Israeli annexation of coastal areas. Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani backed the American initiative and urged regional parties to negotiate constructively.
Trump warned Hamas on Tuesday that the group would face severe consequences unless it accepted his terms within days. The president demanded Hamas disarm and free all hostages within 72 hours while allowing phased Israeli withdrawal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supported the framework but pledged military action if Hamas rejected the offer.
Qatar hosted...
The Kurdistan Regional Government sent 40 thalassemia patients from Erbil International Airport on Wednesday for bone marrow transplants at international hospitals. Prime Minister Masrour Barzani authorized the medical mission as part of a larger initiative to treat 140 patients with an 11 billion Iraqi dinar budget. Health Minister Saman Barzinji saw the group off and confirmed 72 patients from an earlier convoy are receiving care abroad.
The government covers all expenses for travel, surgery, lodging and treatment at hospitals certified by the Joint Commission International. Patients qualified after medical evaluations showed transplant necessity and confirmed that compatible donors existed. Officials described the program as a...
