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Thai court bans a popular political party for proposing to amend lèse-majesté law

11:20am August 07, 2024

by Michael Sullivan

The Constitutional Court ordered dissolution of the party, which won elections last year, saying it violated the constitution by proposing to amend the law against defaming the country’s royal family.

Anti-government protestors celebrate in Dhaka on August 5.

World News

Protests Force Bangladesh's Longest-Serving Prime Minister to Flee

6:01pm August 06, 2024

This week the prime minister of Bangladesh fled the country by helicopter, forced out by a protest movement that started peacefully but became violent. We hear from our correspondent about the events that lead to this dramatic change in government. And we hear reaction from a journalist who had been jailed 6 years ago for criticizing that government.

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Nobel Prize-winning physicist Tsung-Dao Lee has died at age 97

11:55am August 06, 2024

by The Associated Press

The Chinese American physicist, who in 1957 became the second-youngest scientist to receive a Nobel Prize, died on Sunday at his home in San Francisco.

A look at Bangladesh's new chapter

5:57pm August 05, 2024

by Diaa Hadid

Bangladesh's army chief says he'll form an interim government after the long-serving prime minister fled the country amid outrage over violent crackdowns against students.

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Arrested 6 years ago, Bangladeshi journalist reflects on prime minister resigning

5:01pm August 05, 2024

by Ailsa Chang

NPR's Ailsa Chang spoke with Shahidul Alam, a photojournalist, writer and activist based in Dhaka, about the longtime prime minister of Bangladesh fleeing amid protests.

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Bangladesh’s army chief has announced the formation of an interim government

7:51am August 05, 2024

by A Martínez

The announcement follows the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had been in power for 15 years. Thousands of protesters had defied a military curfew and stormed her official residence.

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World News

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina resigns, ending 15 years in power, as thousands protest

6:50am August 05, 2024

by The Associated Press

At least 95 people, including at least 14 police officers, died in clashes in the capital on Sunday. Broadband internet and mobile data services were cut off for about three hours on Monday.

Antigovernment protesters in Bangladesh succeed getting the prime minister to resign

4:36am August 05, 2024

by Leila Fadel

NPR's Leila Fadel talks to Bangladeshi politics expert Ali Riaz, a professor at Illinois State, about the resignation of Bangladesh's longest-serving female head of government, Sheikh Hasina.

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World News

Renewed anti-government protests have left nearly 100 dead in Bangladesh

2:36pm August 04, 2024

by The Associated Press

The protests began in July as students demanded an end to a quota system that reserved 30% of government jobs for families of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence against Pakistan.

World News

Thailand still grapples with a strict law against criticizing the monarchy

7:00am August 04, 2024

by Andrew Nachemson

Thailand has taken some steps toward democracy. But a flurry of court challenges has raised the specter of another crisis — with the lèse-majesté law on royal defamation front and center.