No Tajia procession in Dhaka: DMP
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has prohibited any kind of Tajia procession on Ashura this year to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
DMP confirmed the matter in a press release signed by its Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam on Wednesday.
Other religious ceremonies can be held indoors in compliance with all health rules and maintaining social distancing.
DMP also banned the use of sharp weapons and firecrackers during this religious ceremony.
Ashura is observed on the 10th of Muharram in the Hijri year commemorating the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), grandson of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh).
This year, Ashura will be observed in the country on August 30.
Source: UNB
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Cyclone Fengal Moves Northwestwards Over Bay
Cyclone Fengal, which is located in the southwest Bay of Bengal and its vicinity, is gradually moving northwestwards.
The maximum sustained wind speed within 54 km of the cyclone center is 62 km/h, which is increasing to 88 km/h in gusts or squalls. The weather forecast says that the cyclone will hit the Tamil Nadu coast of India by midday today (November 30).
Meanwhile, the cyclone's impact is also being observed in the country's maritime region. The sea is very rough in the area near the cyclone center. As a result, maritime ports in Bangladesh have been instructed to keep distant warning signal number two hoisted as Cyclonic Storm Fengal intensifies over the Southwest Bay of Bengal.
This information was given in a special notice issued by meteorologist Md. Omar Faruk on Saturday (November 30).
According to a special bulletin from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), as of 6 am today (30 November), Fengal was positioned approximately-
1,650 kilometres southwest of Chattogram port,
1,605 kilometres southwest of Cox's Bazar port,
1,505 kilometres southwest of Mongla port, and
1,515 kilometres southwest of Payra port.
The storm, which has sustained winds of around 62 km/h near its centre, with gusts reaching up to 88 km/h, is moving in a north-westerly direction.
In this situation, all fishing boats and trawlers in the North Bay of Bengal and deep sea have been asked to move with caution near the coast until further notice.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said in its latest update that Cyclone Fengal will cross the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast. During its passage, the wind speed will be 70 to 80 km/h in and around Karaikal and Mahabalipuram, which may exceed 90 km/h with gusts.
Bangladesh Reports Highest AIDS-Affected Patients This Year
In the last year, 195 people have died of AIDS in the country. This year, 1,438 people have been newly infected with AIDS. This is the highest number of AIDS cases since the first HIV (AIDS virus) positive case was identified in Bangladesh in 1989. Of these, 55 percent are married.
This information was obtained from the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and AIDS Control Program (TB-L & ASP) of the Department of Health.
Today is December 1, World AIDS Day. On this occasion, the Department of Health will present various statistics related to AIDS in the country. The theme of this year's World AIDS Day is 'If rights are ensured, HIV/AIDS will go away'.
Thoughts on young people and two risk groups
This year, 63 percent of the newly infected people are between 25 to 49 years old. 21 percent are between 20 to 24 years old. Last year, 16 percent of young people were between 19 to 24 years old.
Among patients, 10 percent of the total infected people are Rohingya. Last year, the rate was 12 percent. Transgender people account for 1 percent of the total infections. Last year too, the infection rate among them was similar.
These three groups, including homosexuals, female sex workers, and intravenous drug users, are also considered vulnerable to HIV.
Dr Md. Mahfuzar Rahman Sarkar, Line Director of TB-L & ASP at the Directorate General of Health Services, said, "Globally, the younger population is considered vulnerable to HIV. We are no exception here. And while living in Myanmar, HIV infection was relatively high among the Rohingya. Testing has increased among Rohingya and transgender people than before. Therefore, more are being identified."
Dr Saima Khan, Country Director for Bangladesh at UNAIDS, said, the scope of identifying and providing services to HIV-infected people has increased. However, campaigning can be increased to prevent the increase in infections among the young generation. More awareness topics need to be added to the curriculum on this issue.
Infection is more common among married people, fear of death
Of those infected with AIDS this year, 55 percent are married. 40 percent are single. 5 percent are widowed or divorced.
Last year, the infection rate among married people was 60 percent. Among single people, it was 31 percent. Like last year, this year too, the Dhaka division has the highest number of HIV infections.
Last year, the number of deaths due to HIV was 266. This year, the number is 195. Although the number of deaths has decreased, it is still at an alarming level, says Nazrul Islam, former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). This virologist said that the HIV treatment system is now quite advanced. The cause of death may be that the infected people are not taking regular and proper treatment. Again, it is necessary to pay attention to whether the drugs being given are becoming resistant or not.
Gas Supply to be Suspended in Several Areas for 2 Days
Due to emergency tie-in and pipeline maintenance work at the Monohardi off-transmission point of GTCL, gas supply will be suspended in several areas from Thursday evening (December 5).
Titas Gas Authority announced this information in a press release on Wednesday (December 4).
According to the statement, from 6:00 pm Thursday to 6:00 pm Friday, a total of 24 hours, gas supply will be suspended for all categories of customers in the Monohardi Upazila Sadar and Gotashia areas under Titas Gas, as well as in the Kishoreganj district headquarters. Additionally, there may be low gas pressure in surrounding areas during this time.
Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited has apologized for the temporary inconvenience to customers.
Jaguar Unveils Futuristic Electric Car Concept ‘Type 00’
Luxury carmaker Jaguar is making strides into the electric vehicle market with the unveiling of its bold new concept car, the Type 00. Showcased recently in Miami, the concept car offers a glimpse into the future of electric mobility, combining Rolls Royce-like elegance with the modernity of Tesla's Cybertruck.
The Type 00 is over five meters long, with a cutting-edge interior that redefines modern design. Dual large displays at the front serve multiple purposes, from providing essential driving information to offering entertainment options like music and video. Notably, the car lacks traditional rear windows or windshields, instead relying on side-mounted cameras to display rear views.
Jerry McGovern, Chief Creative Officer of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), acknowledged the unconventional design, stating, “It might feel unsettling to some, but that’s okay. Embracing change is essential to move forward.”
Available in striking “Miami Pink” and “London Blue,” the Type 00 promises an impressive range of up to 430 miles on a single charge. While Jaguar has yet to disclose pricing details, the car is expected to hit the market by the end of next year, signaling Jaguar’s ambitious leap into the electric vehicle era.
US Court Upholds Law Ordering Sale of TikTok
A US federal appeals court on Friday upheld a law which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent firm ByteDance, in a move that could lead to a ban on the popular short video platform as early as next month.
The law — which was signed by US President Joe Biden in April — gave ByteDance one year to divest from TikTok or be banned from app stores in the US.
For a long time, US officials had raised alarm over the app's growing popularity among the country's youth, claiming that it could allow China to spy on its nearly 170 million users in the country.
TikTok argued that the law violates the freedom of speech guaranteed by the First Amendment of the US constitution.
But the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Friday rebuffed the company's challenge of the statute, stating that the law was in line with long-standing regulatory practices and there was no intention to suppress specific expressions.
"The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States," the court said in an opinion written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg.
"Here the government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary's ability to gather data on people in the United States."
TikTok to appeal again
TikTok said it now plans to appeal the decision in the Supreme Court.
"The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans' right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue," a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement.
"Unfortunately, the TikTok ban was conceived and pushed through based upon inaccurate, flawed and hypothetical information, resulting in outright censorship of the American people," they said.
The spokesperson added that unless stopped, the statute "will silence the voices of over 170 million Americans here in the US and around the world on January 19th, 2025."
Looming ban
TikTok said in its petition that a separation of ByteDance as mandated by the law was "simply not possible: not commercially, not technologically, not legally."
The app's fate now lies in the hands of two US presidents.
President Biden can grant a 90-day extension of the January 19 deadline to force a sale. However, it's unclear if ByteDance could show it had made progress towards a divestiture required to trigger the extension or if the government in Beijing would approve a sale.
President-elect Donald Trump — who takes office on January 20 — was unsuccessful in banning TikTok during his previous term in 2020. But in a change of stance, he said before the November presidential election that he would not allow the TikTok ban.
Low-pressure Likely to Form over Bay of Bengal Within 24 Hours
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has indicated that a low-pressure system may form in the central region of the southern Bay of Bengal within the next 24 hours.
This information was provided in the weather forecast issued on Saturday (December 7) for the 72 hours starting from 9 am.
The forecast states that the weather across the country is expected to remain dry, with a partly cloudy sky. Moderate to dense fog may form in some parts of the northern region late at night and early morning, while light to moderate fog is expected in other regions. Both day and night temperatures may decrease slightly.
For Sunday (December 8), from 9 am to the following 24 hours, the weather is expected to remain dry across the country with a partly cloudy sky. Moderate to dense fog may form in the northern regions late at night and early morning, while light to moderate fog is likely elsewhere. Night temperatures may rise slightly, while day temperatures will remain nearly unchanged.
For Monday (December 9), from 9 am to the following 24 hours, the weather is expected to remain predominantly dry across the country with a partly cloudy sky. Light to moderate fog may form in some areas late at night and early morning. Night temperatures may rise slightly, while day temperatures may decrease slightly. Over the next five days, temperatures are expected to drop further during both day and night.
The extended portion of the subcontinental high-pressure ridge lies over Bihar and adjoining areas. A seasonal low-pressure system is positioned over the southern Bay of Bengal with its extended section reaching up to the northeastern Bay of Bengal. A low-pressure system is expected to form in the central region of the southern Bay of Bengal within the next 24 hours.
From Ice to Hair BBQ: A New Trend in Chengdu
A food that looks like a bundle of human hair is actually thick, and black, and is being grilled like BBQ after marinated in oil and spices. It is also used in soups, mixed like noodles, or fried and eaten with vegetables. While it may sound strange, what you are seeing is not imaginary, but real.
Following the trend of ice BBQ, a bizarre new hair BBQ has emerged in China, called "Grilled Hair." This food trend has recently gained popularity in Chengdu, where food enthusiasts are flocking to try it. Its tempting aroma and unusual appearance have made it a viral sensation on social media.
This long, black, thread-like food looks like hair, but it's not human hair. It is a special type of Algae known as "Black Moss," which resembles a bundle of human hair.
The food is prepared in several steps. First, the black Algae is harvested, known as "Black Moss." Then, it is coated with oil, chili powder, soy sauce, chopped onions, and a special spice called "folded ear root" before being grilled. While the taste of this food is different, its appearance and aroma are the main attractions, drawing in curious people.
According to the restaurant owner, the dish was first created by a group of friends as a fun experiment. Many of them love experimenting with unusual things. After posting about it on social media, it quickly went viral. People in Chengdu are generally eager to try new, delicious foods, and this dish is no exception.
A local traveler said, "I saw the food on social media and decided to try it myself. It seemed like something different, so I wanted to give it a taste."
This black moss, which looks like hair, is also called "Hair Vegetable" by some. It mainly grows in the dry and barren desert regions of China. After harvesting, it is processed by drying in the air. Street food vendors in Chengdu have learned this new cooking method and started serving the food in a fun and interesting way, leading to its rise in popularity.