"A statue of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was recently shown on Korean Central Television, and as far as we know, this is the first time it has been identified," the department said on Wednesday. North Korea is dotted with massive statues venerating Kim's grandfather Kim Il Sung and his father Kim Jong Il -- the first two members of the family dynasty to rule the reclusive nation. "North Korea is now moving toward the peak of a leader?focused cult," said Lim, from the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University. North Korea releases highly choreographed images to illustrate Kim's absolute grip on power. Chinese leader Xi Jinping in 2019 gifted North Korea a half-body bust of Kim during a visit to Pyongyang.

PARIS, France, March 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei's death is "historically significant" but will not "automatically" lead to the fall of the Iranian system, the widow of the country's last shah told AFP in an interview Tuesday. Pahlavi, 87, urged the international community to respect Iranian sovereignty and assist the people in following their own "destiny". She added that her son Reza Pahlavi, who has positioned himself as an alternative if the republic falls, "is in the process of preparing" such a transition. US-based Reza Pahlavi entered the global spotlight during nationwide protests that peaked in January, where many demonstrators chanted slogans favourable to the former shah's son. "What I want is for the international community to clearly support the fundamental rights of Iranians: the right to choose their leaders, to express themselves freely, to live in dignity and prosperity," she said.

GENEVA, March 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The United States made a "totally stupid decision" to attack Iran while in negotiations, and betrayed Gulf nations by trashing their diplomatic efforts, Tehran's UN ambassador said Tuesday. Ali Bahreini, Iran's ambassador in Geneva, insisted Tehran had no problem with its neighbours, but could not let US bases in the Gulf be used as launchpads for attacks on Iran. War was imposed on Iran," Bahreini told UN correspondents. - 'Not a regional war' -Tehran has launched strikes against countries in the region that host US bases. "In no way we can allow those bases to be used to make military operations against Iran."

WASHINGTON, United States, March 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The US military command responsible for strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific confirmed on Tuesday it had started joint operations with Ecuador to combat drug trafficking. US Southern Command (SOUTCHOM) said both countries had launched operations against "designated terrorist organizations" in Ecuador. On Monday, Noboa held talks in Quito with US Southern Command chief Francis Donovan and Mark Schafer, head of US Special Operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean. The United States and Ecuador have boosted their security cooperation since the right-wing Noboa came to power in 2023. In December, the United States announced a temporary deployment of Air Force personnel to the former US base in the port city of Manta.

Invisibility at homeWithin families, caregivers’ labour is assumed, expected, and rarely recognized. Women stop working to provide care. Yet the unpaid labour of caregivers -- absorbing economic, physical, and emotional shocks -- remains unmeasured, undervalued, and ignored. Women's unpaid work: The hidden engine of the economyAccording to the first national Household Production Satellite Account (HPSA), unpaid household and care work in Bangladesh was worth Tk6.7 trillion in 2021, equivalent to nearly 19% of GDP. As Ayesha said at the end of our interview: “I am always tired.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Dr Shafiqur Rahman left Dhaka early Tuesday to perform Umrah in Saudi Arabia. He departed for Saudi Arabia from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 3am. He is scheduled to return to Dhaka on the morning of March 6 after completing the religious rites. The information was confirmed in a press release signed by Mujibul Alam, senior publicity assistant of the party’s central publicity department.

We need to retire the outdated notion that customer experience (CX) is a “soft” discipline. We must also consciously look out for and avoid the infamous “customer centricity” trap. Because, let us be honest with ourselves, customer centricity has become the most abused buzzword in our industry. Instant approval, instant disbursement, instant gratification, instant settlement of disputes. This very balance sheet of customer experience, measured in trust, clarity, and ease, will tell us if we can survive the next decade.

Sushila Karki, the interim prime minister, has urged people to vote "without any fear". Helicopters have flown voter materials to snowbound mountain regions across Nepal, home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest. While nearly 19 million voters are registered nationwide, the Jhapa-5 constituency -- with around 163,000 voters -- will determine whether Oli secures his seat or whether Shah enters parliament. While nearly 19 million voters are registered nationwide, the Jhapa-5 constituency -- with around 163,000 voters -- will determine whether Oli secures his hrsseat or whether Shah enters parliament. Police in Jhapa were busy erecting fences on Wednesday to direct voters when polling opens, AFP reporters saw.

NEW YORK, March 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - New York's Empire State Building was illuminated in the colors of the flags of 2026 World Cup hosts Mexico, Canada and the United States Tuesday as organizers marked 100 days until kick-off. A record 48 teams -- up from 32 in 2022 -- and millions of fans are set to descend on the United States, Canada and Mexico for the first ever World Cup shared by three nations. Alex Lasry, CEO of the FIFA World Cup New York New Jersey host committee, told AFP "we're continuing our preparations, we are in the heat of it, but this is where it becomes fun right." And being 100 days out from the first ball being kicked is exciting," he said. A total of 104 matches will be played across 16 venues and four time zones, with the bulk of the action taking place in the United States, which will host 78 games.

JERUSALEM, March 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The Israeli military called on people to leave 16 towns and villages in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, in an "urgent warning" before using force against Hezbollah militants. "For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately" and head to "open areas", said a statement shared by the military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee, listing 16 locations near the border.

JERUSALEM, March 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Missiles launched from Iran early Wednesday triggered air raid sirens across large parts of Israel, with the military saying it was "operating to intercept the threat". The order to seek shelter covered Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and other areas across the country. Israeli media reported that shrapnel fell in an area near Jerusalem, causing a fire. Police said officers in the Jerusalem area were "conducting searches to locate impact sites involving fallen munition debris or interceptor fragments". The Israeli military had reported a previous missile launch from Iran about five hours earlier.

After six consecutive increases, the Bangladesh Jewellers' Association (Bajus) has reduced gold prices in the domestic market, cutting Tk9,214 from the price of 22-carat gold. Under the new rates effective from 10am on Wednesday, the price of 22-carat gold has been fixed at Tk268,214 per bhori (11.664 grams). New gold prices per gramThe price of 22-carat hallmarked gold has been set at Tk22,995 per gram, while 21-carat gold will be sold at Tk21,950 per gram. The price of 18-carat gold has been fixed at Tk18,815 per gram, and gold produced under the traditional method at Tk15,360 per gram. Market insiders said the adjustment reflects fluctuations in international prices and changes in local raw gold rates, bringing some relief to buyers after a series of price hikes.

PARIS, France, March 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - European champions England made a winning start to their bid for automatic qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup as they hammered Ukraine 6-1 in Antalya, Turkey, on Tuesday. England's biggest rivals for direct qualification from European Group A3 to the World Cup in Brazil are world champions Spain who kicked off with a 3-0 win over Iceland in Castellon de la Plana. - Malard saves France -Two-time World Cup winners Germany took a grip on Group A4 by thrashing Slovenia 5-0 in Dresden. Only the winners of each of the four European 'League A' groups will qualify automatically. The other 12 teams go into play-offs which will also involve the four League B group winners and the six group winners and two best runners-up from League C.

LONDON, March 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The British government announced Tuesday that it would stop issuing education visas to nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan and work visas for Afghans as part of its broader clampdown on asylum seekers. "That is why I am taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity." The Home Office said the number of asylum applications by students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan had "rocketed" by more than 470 percent between 2021 and 2025. Migration has become a major issue in British politics with the hard-right Reform UK surging in opinion polls with its anti-migration stance. But the authorities also face pressure to reduce numbers of asylum seekers entering on other routes.

The city’s air was classified as "hazardous", indicating a severe health risks, according to the AQI report. The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution. Air quality usually deteriorates in winter and improves during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes about seven million deaths worldwide each year, primarily from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.