LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mahershala Ali triumphantly wrapped up this year’s award season by winning the best supporting actor trophy at the Oscars on Sunday, adding an Academy Award to the trophies he’s collected for his role as a concert pianist in the interracial road-trip movie “Green Book.”

This was Ali’s second win in this category, coming two years after his win for “Moonlight.”

He dedicated his award to his grandmother, who he said has pushed him his entire life to keep trying time and time again and to remain positive.

DHAKA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Bangladeshi commandos stormed a passenger plane of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines at an airport in the southeastern city of Chattogram and shot dead an armed man who tried to hijack the Dubai-bound flight on Sunday.

Major General Motiur Rahman of the Bangladesh Army told reporters that the gunman died from injuries sustained during a commando operation.

He said the hijacker identified as Mahadi, 25, had a pistol with him.

The suspect was aggressive and reluctant to respond to the calls for negotiation, General Rahman added.

New Delhi, Feb 24 (PTI) The teacher's association of the Jamia Millia Islamia has written to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for establishing a hospital in the university that could be converted into a medical college in future.

"When we look at certain areas, where we can improve upon or progress, we find that three of our contemporary universities like DU, BHU and AMU are successfully running hospital and medical college," the Jamia Teachers' Association (JTA) said in the letter on Saturday.

MUMBAI, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Fire has spread across Bandipur Tiger Reserve in India's Karnataka state destroying several acres of forest land along with flora and fauna, media reports said late Sunday night.

Strong winds and dry grass have propelled the fire to an area of over eight km within the reserve that has spread towards National Highway 67, which connects the hill station town Ooty to the palace town Mysuru.

According to reports, the fire initially started in Barekatte and Guddakare region of the reserve, five days back.

25 Feb 2019; DW: Unrest and uncertainty has gripped Nigeria after a second day of vote counting following the presidential election. Human rights groups have reported the deaths of 39 people, while Nigerian police have confirmed some 128 arrests following election-related violence.

Saturday's presidential election was fraught with difficulty, having been delayed a week by the electoral commission at the last minute, citing logistical challenges.

Shahjahanpur (UP), Feb 24 (PTI) A youth has been arrested on charges of raping a seven-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district, police said Sunday.

The minor was returning home on Saturday when the accused, Rahul Kashyap (22), dragged her into an agriculture field in Allahganj town -- 52 km from here -- and allegedly raped her, district Superintendent of Police (Rural) Subhash Shakya said.

24 Feb 2019; DW: Hollywood's biggest stars converged on the red carpet Sunday for the 91st Academy Awards, with the 7,900-odd voting Academy members faced with a broad array of choices. In a night where no single movie was favored to win, the civil rights drama Green Book came out on top. 

KANPUR: Regardless of the stern instructions, the private nursing homes are reported to conduct sample tests for swine flu infection. In the midst of swine flu detection cases in the city areas, the private pathology centres were cautiously conducting the test. But it is in no way certified test.

CARACAS, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced on Saturday severance of diplomatic and political relations with neighboring Colombia, following the latter one's support for Venezuela's right-wing opposition and military defectors.

"I have decided to break off all types of political and diplomatic ties with the fascist government of Colombia," Maduro told a pro-government rally in Caracas.

Colombia's embassy staff must "leave within 24 hours," he added.

CARACAS, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets of the capital Caracas on Saturday in defense of peace and Bolivarian revolution.

Supporters of the ruling party gathered to hear President Nicolas Maduro rail against attempted U.S. military intervention under the guise of humanitarian concern.

"Thirty days later, the coup has failed," Maduro said, referring to Jan. 23 when right-wing opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president and launched a push to unseat the president.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia appointed its first female ambassador early Sunday to serve as its top diplomat in the United States, pulling a son of King Salman back to the kingdom to serve as deputy defense minister amid deteriorating ties with America after the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.

Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, a daughter of the kingdom’s longtime ambassador to Washington Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, faces a stark challenge in improving ties between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.

23 Feb 2019; DW: An unvaccinated French child who went on holiday with his parents to Costa Rica is suspected of reintroducing measles to the Central American country.

The 5-year-old boy and his parents entered the country on February 18, Costa Rica's Health Ministry said. 

Authorities have quarantined the boy in a hospital and are searching for people he may have come into contact with since his arrival.