Elon Musk was responding to US politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who questioned how anyone could defend “such an act” after communications and internet were cut off in the Gaza Strip last night.
Starlink is a satellite network created by Mr. Musk’s space flight company SpaceX to provide inexpensive internet access to remote areas. The lifespan of a Starlink satellite is approximately five years, and SpaceX aims to eventually have as many as 42,000 satellites in this so-called megaconstellation.
On Friday, Internet and phone service were completely shut off throughout the Gaza Strip as a result of intense Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian territory. Hamas accused Israel of taking the action “to perpetrate massacres with bloody retaliatory strikes from the air, land, and sea.”
According to police officials, one of the family members poisoned his wife, three children, and parents before hanging himself.
Seven family members, including three children under the age of eight, have been discovered deceased in Surat in what is believed to be a mass suicide. According to the police, a suicide note has been found. Friday at midnight, a family member poisoned his wife, three children (two daughters aged three and five, and a son aged seven), and his parents before hanging himself, according to police officials. NDTV conceals the identities of the deceased. “Seven members of a family have committed suicide. Six were poisoned and one was hanged. There are three children among the deceased. A suicide note was also discovered at the scene. It has been determined through preliminary investigation that there was a dispute regarding a monetary transaction. The investigation is ongoing, said Surat’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, Rakesh Barot.
Today’s inauguration of the Bangabandhu Tunnel by the prime minister carries high expectations, with experts and locals anticipating that it will transform Chattogram into a city similar to Shanghai and stimulate industrial development in the port city. This river tunnel, constructed in accordance with China’s “one city – two towns” concept, passes beneath the Karnaphuli river and connects Patenga in the port city to Anwara upazila on the opposite bank.
On both sides of the river, robust economic activity and industrialization have already begun, facilitating the symmetrical inauguration of the tunnel. The tunnel is also the first river tunnel in South Asia. The tunnel is also anticipated to play a crucial role in the expansion of the tourism industry in Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram Hill Tracts. The tunnel was constructed between 18 and 31 meters beneath the river. The length of the main tunnel is 3.32 kilometers, while the length of each of the two channels with four lanes is 2.45 kilometers. In addition, there is a 5.35-kilometer connecting road at the west and east extremities of the main tunnel, as well as a 727-meter overpass at the Anwara end.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has called a day long Hartal on Sunday, October 29. The announcement was made by the party at midday on Saturday. Previously, police, BNP leaders, and activists in Bangladesh engaged in a chase-and-counterchase. At approximately 1 p.m., according to witnesses, BNP leaders and activists led a procession towards the InterContinental hotel. The BGB then deployed at the Kakrail Church crossing.
Nevertheless, Additional Commissioner of Detective Branch (DB) Harun-or-Rashid told reporters in front of Kakrail Church that BNP activists attacked police in front of the Judges’ Residence Complex in Kakrail, Dhaka, earlier today.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has ordered telecom operators to suspend internet service from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today in Nayapaltan, where the opposition party BNP is holding a massive rally.
According to the directive seen by The Daily Star, the directive was issued per the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs and with the approval of the posts and telecommunications division.
After a Qatari court sentenced eight Indian employees of a Qatari company to death on espionage charges, the Indian government on Thursday vowed to investigate “all legal options.”
According to Indian media reports, the eight individuals are retired Indian naval officers who advised the Qatari government on the acquisition of submarines while employed by the consulting firm Al Dahra.
The External Affairs Ministry of India stated in a statement that it was awaiting the case’s verdict.
It stated, “We are in contact with the family members and legal team, and we are evaluating all legal options.” We attach great significance to this case and have been closely monitoring it. We will continue to provide legal and consular assistance. We will also discuss the verdict with the Qatari government.”
Kamil Bartoshek, a well-known Czech influencer and TV presenter, shocked everyone by dropping an enormous $1 million from a helicopter near Lysa nad Labem. Bartoshek, better known by his alias Kazma, had originally planned to give away this enormous sum in a contest to one fortunate winner. The participants were tasked with locating the money by deciphering a code hidden in Kazma’s film “Onemanshow: The Movie.” However, the puzzle proved impossible to unravel.
In response to this circumstance, Kazma devised an alternative plan. He decided to distribute the funds to all of the registered contestants. Early on a Sunday morning, he sent them an encrypted email with the location where the money would be released. He arrived at the specified location with a helicopter at the appointed time, keeping his word.
Kazma captured this incredible event on his official Instagram account, referring to it as the first “money rain” in history. He boasted that a million dollars had been dropped from a helicopter in the Czech Republic without causing any injuries or fatalities.
ফিলিস্তিনের প্রতিরোধ সংগঠন হামাসের হাতে জিম্মি ৮৫ বছর বয়সী ইসরায়েলি নারী ইয়োশেভেদ লিফশিৎজ মুক্তি পেয়েছেন। মুক্তি পাওয়ার পর তিনি সংবাদমাধ্যমকে জানিয়েছেন হামাস যোদ্ধারা কেমন আচরণ করেছেন তার সঙ্গে। মঙ্গলবার (২৪ অক্টোবর) ইসরায়েলের তেল আবিবে একটি হাসপাতালে সংবাদ সম্মেলন করে নিজের অভিজ্ঞতা তুলে ধরেন তিনি। হাসপাতালে তার সঙ্গে ছিলেন মেয়ে শ্যারন। মায়ের পক্ষে দোভাষীর কাজ করছিলেন তিনি।
ইসরায়েলের কিবুৎজ এলাকা থেকে হামাসের হাতে আটক হন তিনি। তাকে মোটরসাইকেলে করে গাজায় নেওয়া হয়। যাওয়ার সময় তিনি শরীরে কয়েক জায়গায় আঘাত পান। এমনকি তিনি শ্বাস নিতেও পারছিলেন না। ওই ঘটনাকে নারকীয় পরিস্থিতি বলে অভিহিত করে লিফশিৎজ বলেন, “ইসরায়েল সরকার বিপুল পরিমাণ অর্থ দিয়ে গাজা সীমান্তে বেড়া দিয়েছে। তবে তা হামাস যোদ্ধাদের ইসরায়েলে প্রবেশ ঠেকাতে পারেনি।” বৃদ্ধ এই নারী জানান, আটকের পর তাকে নিয়ে যাওয়ার সময় বিভিন্ন পথ পাড়ি দিতে হয়েছে। ওই সময় তাকে লাঠি দিয়ে আঘাত করা হয়। তাকে ভেজা মাটির ওপর দিয়ে কয়েক কিলোমিটার হেঁটে যেতে বাধ্য করা হয়। গাজা অঞ্চলের মাটির নিচে সুড়ঙ্গের (টানেল) একটি বড় নেটওয়ার্ক রয়েছে। যেটি মাকড়সার জালের মতো। লিফশিৎজ জানান, গাজায় নিয়ে যাওয়ার সময় তার হাতের ঘড়ি ও গয়নাগুলো নিয়ে নেওয়া হয়। তবে মোটরসাইকেল থেকে নামার পর তাকে নিতে আসা হামাস যোদ্ধারা বলেন, “আমরা পবিত্র কোরআনে বিশ্বাস করি। আমরা আপনাকে আঘাত করব না।”
লিফশিৎজ ছাড়াও ওই সময় ২৪ জনকে সুড়ঙ্গের ভেতরে নেওয়া হয়। যেখানে মাটি নরম ও স্যাঁতসেঁতে। দুই তিন ঘণ্টা পর কিবুৎজ এলাকা থেকে জিম্মি করা পাঁচজনকে আলাদা করে একটি কক্ষে নেওয়া হয়। সেখানে তাদের জন্য নিরাপত্তারক্ষী ও চিকিৎসক ছিলেন। ইসরায়েলি এই নারী জানান, তাকে রাখা হয়েছিল পরিষ্কার-পরিচ্ছন্ন জায়গায়। সেখানে মাদুর (ম্যাট্রেস) পেতে ঘুমানোর ব্যবস্থা করা হয়েছিল। দুই–তিন দিন পরপর একজন চিকিৎসক এসে সবাইকে দেখে যেতেন। প্রয়োজনীয় ওষুধ দেওয়া হতো। এমনকি জিম্মি করে নেওয়ার সময় মোটরসাইকেল দুর্ঘটনায় আহত একজনকেও চিকিৎসা দেওয়া হয়েছিল। লিফশিৎজ জানান, প্রতি পাঁচজন জিম্মির জন্য একজন নিরাপত্তারক্ষীর ব্যবস্থা রেখেছে হামাস। তাদের সব বিষয়ে খোঁজখবর রাখা হচ্ছে। নারীদের স্বাস্থ্য সুরক্ষার বিষয়ে জানাশোনা আছে এমন নারীদেরও সেখানে দায়িত্বে রেখেছে হামাস।জিম্মি থাকাকালে কী খেতে দিয়েছে হামাস? এমন প্রশ্নে তিনি বলেন, “তাদের পনির (চিজ) ও শসা খেতে দেওয়া হয়েছিল। একই খাবার হামাস সদস্যরাও খেয়েছেন।”
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), there were approximately 8 lakh unemployed graduates in Bangladesh in 2022. According to the Labour Force Survey (LFS) 2022 released yesterday, the tertiary unemployment rate was 12 percent, the greatest among all levels of education.
In the 2016-17 LFS, the unemployment rate among those with a college degree was 11.2%, indicating that the unemployment rate among educated adolescents is increasing.
In 2022, approximately 19 percent of unemployed graduates will be women, according to the BBS, which estimated the national unemployment rate at 3.53 percent last year.
According to the survey, the unemployment rate was low among those with a low or no level of education, but it increased as education level increased, as reported by the BBS.
In 2022, the unemployment rate among those with a postsecondary degree was 8.87 percent, while the unemployment rate among those with a secondary education was 2.82 percent.
If you are on your way to the dentist, you may wish to play a stirring Adele ballad. According to researchers, not only can our favorite songs be effective analgesics, but moving music may be especially potent. The pain-relieving effects of music have been known for a long time, with recent research suggesting the effect may even occur in infants and other studies revealing that people’s favored songs may have a greater analgesic effect than relaxing music.
Valevicius and colleagues describe in the journal Frontiers in Pain Research how they asked 63 healthy participants to visit the Roy pain laboratory on the McGill campus, where researchers used a probe device to heat an area on their left arm, simulating the sensation of holding a hot cup of coffee against the skin.
During the procedure, the participants listened to either two of their favorite songs, relaxing music selected for them, music that was scrambled, or silence. Participants were asked to rate the intensity and unpleasantness of the pain as the music, sound, or silence persisted.
In comparison to silence or scrambled sound, participants rated their pain as four points less intense and nine points less disagreeable when listening to their favorite songs. The soothing music selected for them did not have this effect.
Valevicius stated that it is improbable that the results are due to speculation. “We found a very strong correlation between the pleasantness of music and the unpleasantness of pain, but no correlation between the pleasantness of music and the intensity of pain, which is an unlikely finding if it were due to placebo or expectation effects,” he explained.
A McDonald’s restaurant in Sussex has banned an entire secondary school because of the behavior of one student. The prohibition prohibits Burgess Hill Academy students in West Sussex from purchasing a Big Mac or McCrispy chicken sandwich for lunch. The Sussex Police stated that it is aware of youth-related allegations of antisocial behavior in Burgess Hill.
This means that all 1,086 students at the academy must avoid this McDonald’s location whenever they are donning their school uniform, regardless of whether they are at school or not. The school’s governing trust has apologized to the fast food chain for the incident and stated its commitment to “promoting respectful and responsible behavior.” It added that it “does not condone” the student’s behavior “regardless of whether it occurred prior to, during, or after school hours.”
There are more and more location tracking apps for phones, like Life360. This could mean that teens and young adults are okay with their parents always knowing where they are. The number of downloads of Life360 has risen in the last two years. According to The Wall Street Journal, 33 million US families, or one in nine, now use the app.
“If something happened to me, I think it would be useful for my parents to know my last location,” one 16-year-old told the Wall Street Journal.
Tracking and sharing locations with friends on these apps is not only a safety measure, but also a way for young people to show love. According to Michael Sake, a senior professor in digital sociology at City, University of London, “that act is linked to intimacy.” He told The New York Times. “There’s a verification of being friends.”
প্রথম চার ম্যাচে তিন হার, তিনটাই আবার বড় ব্যবধানে। বিশ্বকাপে বাংলাদেশকে দলকে বাজি ধরা মুশকিল। তবে সাকিব আল হাসান ভাবছেন ভিন্ন। অন্যরা খারাপ করায় বরং ভালো সুযোগ দেখছেন তিনি। এই বিশ্বকাপে বাংলাদেশ এসেছে সেমিফাইনালের স্বপ্ন নিয়ে। সেই স্বপ্ন এখনো ভেঙে না গেলেও অর্জন করা বেশ কঠিন বাস্তবতা। বাকি থাকা পাঁচ ম্যাচের অন্তত চারটি জেতার বিকল্প নেই।
সোমবার পাকিস্তান-আফগানিস্তান ম্যাচের আগ পর্যন্ত বাংলাদেশের অবস্থান পয়েন্ট টেবিলের ছয়ে। আর দুই ধাপ এগুলেই তো দৌড়ে আসা যাবে। সমস্যা হচ্ছে ছয়ে আছে বাংলাদেশ রানরেটের হিসাবে। যা যেকোনো মুহূর্তে বদলে যেতে পারে। সেমির আশা নিয়ে দক্ষিণ আফ্রিকা ম্যাচের আগে প্রশ্ন করা হলে বাংলাদেশ অধিনায়ক ইংল্যান্ড, শ্রীলঙ্কার দিকে ইঙ্গিত করে দেন উত্তর, ‘৫ ম্যাচ বাকি আছে। যদি এখানে জিততে পারি তাহলে ভালো মোমেন্টাম আসবে। যদিও আমরা খুব বেশি ম্যাচ জিতিনি। পয়েন্ট টেবিল দেখলে মনে হবে না আমরা খুব বেশি বাজে অবস্থায় আছি সত্যি কথা (হাসি)। অন্যান্য দল আমাদের সাহায্য করছে। এখন আমাদের দায়িত্ব আমাদের নিজেদের সাহায্য করা।’ ভারতের মাঠগুলোতে প্রতি ম্যাচেই হচ্ছে রান বন্যা। তবে এসব উইকেটে ব্যাটারদের চেয়ে বোলারদের দায়িত্বই বেশি দেখেন সাকিব, ‘এমন একটা জায়গায় খেলা হচ্ছে যেখানে বোলাররা ভালো না করলে জেতার সম্ভাবনা খুব কম। এমন জায়গা যেখানে বোলাররাই জেতাতে পারে ম্যাচ অনেক সময়। এখানে সেটাই হয়ে থাকে। শেষ ম্যাচে অনেক রান হয়েছে আগে, পরে বোলাররা ভালো করেছে। অবশ্যই আমাদের অনেক ভালো ক্রিকেট খেলতে হবে। দক্ষিণ আফ্রিকা ৪ ম্যাচের মধ্যে ৩ ম্যাচ জিতেছে। ওরা অনেক ভালো অবস্থায় আছে। এর মানে এটাই না যে আমাদের সব শেষ।’
Guinness World Records confirmed yesterday that Bobi, the world’s oldest dog, has passed away at the age of 31 in Portugal. Bobi was a purebred Rafeiro Alentejano who resided his entire life in a village in central Portugal. He achieved an extraordinary lifespan of 31 years and 165 days, surpassing a record that had been in place since 1939, previously held by an Australian cattle-dog that lived for 29 years and 5 months.
“Despite outliving every dog in history, his 11,478 days on earth would never be enough for those who loved him,” said Karen Becker, a veterinarian who met Bobi several times and who was the first to announce his death on social media. Bobi was officially recognized as the world’s oldest dog in February of this year. His breed, traditionally employed as sheepdogs, typically enjoys a life expectancy ranging from 12 to 14 years.
Elon Musk has extended an offer to donate $1 billion to Wikipedia on the condition that the free online encyclopedia alters its name to “D**kipedia” and maintains this change for a minimum of one year.
This proposition emerged in response to criticism from Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, who accused Musk of censoring critics of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. When a Twitter user encouraged Wikipedia to contemplate Musk’s proposal, he introduced another lighthearted condition, remarking, “@Wikipedia, Do it! You can always change it back after you collect.” Musk responded to this suggestion with a jest, stating, “One year minimum. I mean, I’m not a fool lol.”
এলিভেটেড এক্সপ্রেসওয়েতে উঠলে ঢাকাকে ইউরোপ আর নিচে নামলেই গরিব মনে হয় বলে মন্তব্য করেছেন সড়ক পরিবহন ও সেতুমন্ত্রী ওবায়দুল কাদের। তিনি বলেন, ‘এয়ারপোর্ট থেকে এলিভেটেড এক্সপ্রেসওয়েতে উঠলে ঢাকাকে মনে হয় ইউরোপ। আর নামলেই আমাদের বাসগুলো দেখলে মনে হয় গরিব গরিব চেহারা। জীর্ণ, মুড়ির টিন চলছে। গায়ে লেখা “আল্লাহর নামে চলিলাম”।’
আজ রোববার রাজধানীর ওসমানী স্মৃতি মিলনায়তনে নিরাপদ সড়ক দিবসের আলোচনা সভায় প্রধান অতিথির বক্তব্যে ওবায়দুল কাদের এসব কথা বলেন। আলোচনা সভার আয়োজন করে সড়ক পরিবহন ও মহাসড়ক বিভাগ।
রাজধানীতে চলাচল করা গণপরিবহনের অবস্থার সমালোচনা করে আওয়ামী লীগের সাধারণ সম্পাদক ওবায়দুল কাদের বলেন, ‘জীর্ণ, মুড়ির টিন চলছে। গায়ে লেখা “আল্লাহর নামে চলিলাম”। আর যেতে যেতে খাদের মধ্যে অথবা পাশের আইল্যান্ডের ওপর। মালিক সমিতিকে বলব, এসব গাড়ি কীভাবে চলে ঢাকা শহরে?’
বাসমালিকদের বাসগুলোকে মেরামত করে সুন্দর রাখার পরামর্শ দেন ওবায়দুল কাদের। তিনি কিছুটা ক্ষোভ প্রকাশ করে বলেন, ‘এই কথা কতবার বললাম। কী লাভ হলো? কথা অনেক বলেছি। কথা কাজে পরিণত না হলে মূল্য থাকে না।’
Michigan State University issued an apology on Saturday following an incident in which an image of Adolf Hitler was inadvertently displayed on its stadium videoboard just before a football game. Social media photos revealed that the videoboard displayed a still image of Hitler as part of a trivia quiz, which inquired about the birthplace of the dictator. The university clarified that the image and quiz, which occurred just before MSU’s Saturday game against the University of Michigan, originated from a “third-party source.”
“We are deeply sorry for the content that was displayed, as this is not representative of our institutional values,” said Matt Larson, the associate athletic director for MSU. On Sunday evening, Alan Haller, the athletic director at MSU, disclosed that an unidentified employee has been suspended with pay while the university conducts an investigation into the incident. “Antisemitism must be denounced. The image displayed prior to Saturday night’s game is not representative of who we are and the culture we embody,” Haller added. “Nevertheless, we must own our failures and accept responsibility.”
A tragic accident occurred this afternoon in Kishoreganj’s Bhairab upazila, resulting in at least 10 fatalities and numerous injuries. The incident involved a collision between a container train and a passenger train.
The police station’s Officer-in-Charge, Abdul Alim Sikder, confirmed the recovery of ten bodies from the wreckage to The Daily Star at approximately 5:00 pm.
The local authorities have issued a directive for tourists to depart from St Martin’s Island by Monday afternoon due to adverse weather conditions arising from a depression in the Bay of Bengal. Adnan Chowdhury, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Teknaf, has conveyed that tourists on St Martin’s Island must vacate the area by 2:30 pm today to ensure their safety. All tourists are urged to return to Teknaf.
Simultaneously, the local administration has imposed a prohibition on the movement of all types of vessels along the Teknaf-St Martin’s, St Martin’s-Cox’s Bazar, and St Martin’s-Chattogram routes on Monday.
As per a bulletin from the Meteorological Office, the maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra have been advised to raise local cautionary signal No 3. This advisory comes as the deep depression over the Westcentral Bay and surrounding regions has slightly shifted North-Northeastwards, remaining within the same vicinity.
At noon on Monday, the depression was situated approximately 755 kilometers West-Southwest of Chattogram port, 710 kilometers West-Southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 630 kilometers Southwest of Mongla port, and 630 kilometers Southwest of Payra port, according to a bulletin from the Meteorological Office. It is anticipated to move in a North-Northwestward direction and intensify further. The influence of this depression is causing deep convection over the North Bay.
The bulletin warns of squally weather affecting the maritime ports, North Bay, and the adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh. Sea conditions will remain turbulent near the center of the deep depression. Consequently, all fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in proximity to the coast, ready to seek shelter with very little notice. They are also cautioned against venturing into the deep sea.
MK Shipping Lines is planning to commence a cruise from Dhaka’s Sadarghat to Howrah in Kolkata, starting on November 20. According to Commodore Arif Ahmed Mostafa, Chairman of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), the operation is set to receive approval from the BIWTA.
The operator originally intended to set sail on October 10 but had to reschedule due to a lack of government authorization and security concerns. Masum Khan, the owner of MK Shipping Lines, has confirmed that they are now prepared to embark on the scheduled journey. The cruise will have a capacity to accommodate between 300 to 350 passengers, offering packages ranging from Tk 6,000 to Tk 50,000 for one-way tours.
This cruise will follow the “Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade between Bangladesh and India,” established in 1972 to enhance bilateral maritime trade. A similar cruise has been launched from India under the same protocol, inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 13 of this year.
The cruise is expected to take approximately two days to navigate through river and coastal routes to reach Howrah. Once in Howrah, the vessel will remain for three days, allowing tourists to explore a diverse range of landscapes, villages, rural lifestyles, historical sites, and ancient mosques and temples.
A deep depression in the western-central Bay of Bengal is currently moving at a rate of 13 kilometers per hour in a north-northeast direction, and experts are suggesting that it has the potential to intensify into a cyclone. The weather department has issued a warning indicating that the depression may continue on its north-northeast trajectory and develop into a cyclone.
As of now, the depression is positioned at a distance of 840 kilometers from Chittagong seaport, 800 kilometers from Cox’s Bazar seaport, and 710 kilometers from Mongla and Payra seaports. The maximum wind speed within a 48-kilometer radius from the center of the depression is 50 kilometers per hour, and this speed could escalate to 60 kilometers per hour if it transforms into a storm.
The weather department has advised distant fishing trawlers and trailers to exercise caution due to the presence of strong winds near the center of the depression. Weather forecaster M. Monwar Hossain has noted that the final confirmation will be available after noon. Some coastal areas have already experienced light rainfall until 9 am today.
An unscheduled stop at Disneyland Paris became an unexpected detour for a chartered train transporting European Parliament members and their teams to Strasbourg. The train journey, originating in Brussels and bound for Strasbourg, took an unusual turn due to a signaling mishap on Monday. As a result, hundreds of European Parliament members and their staff were briefly treated to a surprise glimpse of the amusement park’s roller coasters, as reported by The BBC.
Authorities onboard the train were notified that the deviation resulted from a “routing mishap,” and they swiftly shared their humorous perspective on the situation via social media. Regrettably, the impromptu visit to Disneyland Paris did not afford the MEPs the opportunity to disembark and enjoy some of the park’s attractions. The French railway company SNCF informed AFP that the train encountered a 45-minute delay due to a signal misalignment, causing it to miss a connecting track as it neared the greater Paris area. Eventually, it was rerouted onto the correct high-speed track leading to Strasbourg.
Approximately a quarter of Bangladesh’s total arable land is found in the saline-rich soils of the southern region. The persistent issue of high salinity in the soil, prevalent in the coastal areas with brackish water, has posed a significant risk to the nation’s food security. This has resulted in millions of farmers in southern Bangladesh struggling with low rice yields. After years of dedicated research, a group of scientists has achieved a significant milestone in addressing coastal soil salinity in southern Bangladesh. Their focus has been on a wild rice variety called Uridhan (Oryza coarctata). Their breakthrough promises to assist farmers in increasing rice production in the extensive salt flats of the region.
A group of researchers has identified significant genetic characteristics in the Uridhan wild rice, poised to aid rice breeders in developing new rice varieties and cultivation techniques. This breakthrough is expected to help southern farmers overcome the current challenges associated with high soil salinity in paddy fields.
With funding from the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust, the scientists have effectively integrated three genes from the wild rice into some of Bangladesh’s highly productive but salinity-sensitive modern rice varieties. In laboratory conditions, promising results have been achieved, demonstrating the newfound ability of these rice lines to withstand elevated levels of soil salinity.
The country’s agro-biotech regulatory authorities have recently granted approval for these transgenic rice lines to undergo greenhouse trials at the National Institute of Biotechnology (NIB) facility.
Prof. Zeba Islam Seraj, an expert in biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Dhaka, has been leading this team of scientists working on Uridhan. Recently, she presented the research findings to an audience representing the scientific community at the University of Dhaka.
During a conversation with this correspondent at the event, Professor Zeba emphasized the high susceptibility of coastal agriculture in Bangladesh to the impacts of climate change and natural calamities. She pointed out the escalating severity of disasters such as rising sea levels, tidal surges, soil salinity, saltwater intrusion, and cyclones in the coastal regions. As a result, rice cultivation in these areas is facing growing challenges due to heightened soil salinity.
To address this mounting salinity issue, Professor Zeba highlighted the importance of adopting various strategies. These include enhancing water management, utilizing halophytic species in agriculture, and employing breeding methods to develop crops that are tolerant to salt.
An elderly couple initiated legal proceedings against an art dealer upon learning that the mask they had sold to the dealer for £129 was considerably more valuable. Subsequently, the art dealer placed the mask up for auction, where it fetched an astounding £3.6 million.
The unidentified elderly couple in their eighties, residing in Nimes, France, undertook the task of decluttering their home in 2021. During this process, they opted to sell an ‘Ngil’ African mask. The mask was sold to an art dealer identified as Mr. Z for a meager 129 pounds. However, within a few months, Mr. Z proceeded to sell the same mask at an auction in Montpellier, fetching an astonishing 3.6 million pounds.
The elderly couple only became aware of the substantial sale when they stumbled upon it in a newspaper, prompting them to take legal action against Mr. Z. Their lawsuit is founded on the belief that Mr. Z deceived them and deliberately concealed the true value of the item.
According to The Metro News, the mask originates from the Fang people of Gabon and holds significance in wedding and funeral ceremonies. These masks are a rare find outside of Gabon, with just a few on display in museums worldwide. Analysis has dated the mask to the 19th century, and legal documents describe the item as “exceptional in terms of its rarity.”
The elderly couple had the mask due to the fact that the husband’s grandfather served as a colonial governor in Africa, as reported by industry media.
While the lawsuit is still in progress, the Court of Appeals in Nimes has determined that the couple’s case seems to be valid in principle.
Remitters will now be eligible to receive an additional incentive from banks, which can go as high as 2.50 percent, apart from the existing government support. Banks have intensified their efforts to boost remittance earnings and address the foreign exchange crisis, prompting the Bangladesh Foreign Exchange Dealers’ Association (Bafeda) and the Association of Bankers, Bangladesh (ABB) to make this decision during a joint meeting on Friday. This new incentive will become effective starting today.
Presently, the dollar is trading at Tk 110.50 on the interbank exchange market.
In an effort to attract more remittances, the government initially introduced a 2 percent incentive in 2019, which was later raised to 2.5 percent. Now, banks are ready to provide an additional incentive of up to 2.5 percent from their own resources.
Selim RF Hussain, Chairman of ABB and Managing Director of Brac Bank, explained that this decision is aimed at revitalizing remittance flows.
Remittance serves as a crucial source of US dollars for Bangladesh and is a cornerstone of the country’s economy. However, despite a significant outflow of workers in recent times, remittance inflows fell to a 41-month low of $1.34 billion in September.
Last year, more than 11.35 lakh Bangladeshis sought employment opportunities abroad, nearly doubling the 6.17 lakh migrant workers who did so the previous year.
Hussain noted that, except for remittances, the buying rate for US dollars remains steady at Tk 110, with the selling rate at Tk 110.50.
In January of the previous year, the interbank exchange rate was Tk 85.8.
The US dollar has been appreciating against the taka for the past year and a half, mainly due to dwindling foreign exchange reserves, driven by increased import costs in contrast to lower-than-expected remittance and export earnings.
Graham Potter taking over at Manchester United is in talks if Erik ten Hag is sacked, with Napoli also interested in the ex-Chelsea coach.
The former Chelsea coach could be an option for the Red Devils if their Dutch manager is sacked by the soon-to-be minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. It has been reported that the Jim Ratcliffe is set to take over a 25% stake in the club and lead the club’s sporting section. Potter has also been targeted by defending Serie A champions Napoli, who are also considering Antonio Conte.
A resident of Yorkshire, United Kingdom, was awarded compensation for receiving an incorrect cancer diagnosis, which led to two years of unnecessary treatment.
Back in 2019, Megan Royle, a 33-year-old resident of East Yorkshire, was informed that she had skin cancer. This diagnosis led her to undergo a series of treatments, including immunotherapy, and she took steps to preserve her eggs due to concerns about potential fertility issues. However, she is currently grappling with a profound sense of shock after learning that the initial cancer diagnosis was incorrect, and she had undergone surgery for a condition she never actually had.
As reported by The BBC, in 2021, she received a confirmation that she had been misdiagnosed all along, and a review revealed that she never had cancer. Consequently, Megan has been granted compensation from the two NHS trusts that were involved in her case.
Ms. Royle from Beverley told the news outlet, “You just can’t really believe something like this can happen, and still to this day I’ve not had an explanation as to how and why it happened.
“I spent two years believing I had cancer, went through all the treatment, and then was told there had been no cancer at all.”
The father expressed his support for the daughter after the divorce and said that she should be treated with dignity when her inlaws do something wrong.
In India, weddings are renowned for their vibrant celebrations, music, and happiness. Whether couples opt for extravagant or simple ceremonies, these multi-day affairs are rich in rituals and traditions, all aimed at creating a memorable, once-in-a-lifetime experience. A prominent tradition, the “Baarat,” symbolizes the joy of embarking on a new life journey and typically involves lively music and dance, serving as a central highlight in many North Indian weddings.
However, in cases of separation or divorce, there’s often a sense of sorrow. Challenging this norm, a father recently shattered stereotypes by organizing a “baraat” for his daughter as she returned home following her divorce. In a powerful display of support for his daughter, the father emphasized the importance of treating her with dignity and respect, especially when her in-laws were in the wrong. This unique gesture sends a message of empowerment and solidarity in the face of societal expectations.
The father took to Facebook to share a video of this remarkable event. In his post, Prem Gupta explained the situation, highlighting the importance of supporting and respecting one’s daughter when her marriage, initially celebrated with great pomp, takes an unfortunate turn due to the actions of her spouse and their family. He stressed the precious value of daughters. In the video, the woman’s family members joyfully join her on her journey back home, celebrating with fireworks, applause, and warm embraces. The entire family moves together in a manner resembling a traditional “baraat,” reveling in the moment as they traverse the streets.
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has announced a cash reward of Tk 60 lakh for the players and management of the national men’s football team in recognition of their qualification for the second round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers. BFF president Kazi Salahuddin revealed this decision following an emergency meeting of the executive committee.
Bangladesh secured their place in the second round by defeating the Maldives with a 3-2 aggregate score in the preliminary round. They will now compete in Group I alongside Australia, Palestine, and Lebanon in the upcoming second round, which begins with an away match against the 27th-ranked Australia on November 16.
To support the team’s travel to Australia, the BFF requires approximately Tk 1.25-1.50 crores, and Salahuddin appealed for sponsors to aid the national team in their qualifiers campaign.
The Rafah border crossing, connecting Egypt and Gaza, has been opened to permit a limited amount of crucial aid to reach Palestinians who are facing severe shortages of food, medicine, and water due to the Israeli siege.
According to a statement from the Palestinian group Hamas, a convoy of 20 aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip from Egypt on Saturday, carrying essential supplies like medicine and food.
Preceding this, over 200 trucks, loaded with approximately 3,000 tonnes of essential aid, had been stationed near the Rafah crossing, ready to enter Gaza.
Hamas’ media office had previously stated, “The relief aid convoy that is supposed to enter today includes 20 trucks that carry medicine, medical supplies, and a limited amount of food supplies [canned goods].”
Martin Griffiths, the UN’s emergency relief coordinator, welcomed this aid delivery, recognizing it as the outcome of intensive negotiations with all relevant parties to ensure the resumption of aid operations into Gaza under appropriate conditions. Griffiths expressed confidence that this delivery marked the beginning of a sustainable effort to provide essential supplies, such as food, water, medicine, and fuel, to the people of Gaza in a safe, dependable, unconditional, and unimpeded manner.
However, Israel emphasized that the aid shipments arriving in Gaza from Egypt would not include fuel. The absence of fuel is a significant concern for Gaza’s population and the relief agencies, as it is required to operate water supply systems and generators crucial for running essential facilities, including hospitals.
Fuel shortages have already led to the shutdown of Gaza’s last operational seawater desalination plant, impacting the access to clean water. Multiple hospitals are either entirely non-operational or running on severely limited fuel supplies, jeopardizing the lives of patients, including newborns in incubators and those with critical medical conditions.
Juliette Touma, the communications director at UNRWA, stressed the absolute importance of fuel, stating that it is required for delivering assistance to the people of Gaza. Fuel remains a critical factor in maintaining vital services in the region.
A Taiwanese couple, dressed in formal attire, posed in front of a pile of garbage in an unconventional wedding photo aimed at encouraging their guests to be more environmentally conscious. Iris Hsueh, a Greenpeace campaigner, and her fiancé are planning an “environmentally friendly wedding” in January. They’ve requested guests to bring their own containers for leftover food. To vividly convey their message, the couple traveled three hours south for a photo shoot in Nantou county’s Puli township, where the local dump has seen a steady increase in trash over the years.
“I would show them the photograph” Iris Hsueh said and asked them if they would reconsider. “I didn’t think it would create such a big sensation.” Taiwan has had a recycling program since 1987, with over 50 percent of household waste processed through the system, ranking among the world’s highest rates. However, garbage in Puli township has been growing despite a decreasing population. The couple’s photos went viral, prompting friends and relatives to reevaluate their daily waste generation. Hsueh hopes her photos will spark conversations about the importance of reducing waste and avoiding single-use plastics.
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