Taiwan's representative office in Fiji has again changed its name, this time removing the official name of the country -- the Republic of China (ROC) -- from the title at the request of Fiji's government due to Chinese pressure. In March, the office's website changed the name listed on its website from "Taipei Trade Office in Fiji" to "Trade Mission of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Republic of Fiji." The move came after the new Fiji government, which is considered to be more friendly toward Taiwan than its predecessor, notified MOFA that its representative office there could revert to its former name, which included "ROC." The new government allowed the move even though Fiji has formal diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC), which frowns at any symbol conveying the idea that the ROC is a sovereign entity. Since then, however, Fiji had faced pressure from the PRC to have Taiwan change the office's name back to the one without "Republic of China (Taiwan)," according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesman Jeff Liu (劉永健) back in June. Asked to comment on the latest developments, Liu told CNA on Wednesday that the office's website changed back to its former name -- the Taipei Trade Office in Fiji -- on Sept. 8, due to the demands made by the Fiji government. Taiwan has since issued an official protest to the Fiji government over pressuring Taipei on the matter, he said. Aside from allowing Taiwan to use its official name, the Fiji government in March also announced that diplomatic privileges for Taiwanese diplomats at the representative office, which had been revoked in 2018, would be restored in accordance with Fiji's Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act 1971. In response, Taiwan's government thanked the Fiji administration and expressed the hope that the two sides would continue to deepen their friendly relations. The decisions announced in March were made despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations between the ROC and Fiji after Fiji elected a new government in December 2022, bringing a Taiwan-friendly three-party coalition to power. The previous Fiji administration had forced the Taiwan representative office in 2018 to change its name to the "Taipei Trade Office in Fiji," according to MOFA. The Republic of Fiji was the first Pacific island country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1975. China set up an embassy there in 1976, and Fiji opened its embassy in China in 2001. Despite the lack of official diplomatic ties with the ROC, Fiji leaders have visited Taiwan and have advocated on several occasions for Taiwan's participation in international organizations, according to a diplomatic source, who asked not to be named. Source: focustaiwan.tw

Elon Musk said Friday that his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, will soon launch two new tiers of premium subscriptions. "One is lower cost with all features, but no reduction in ads, and the other is more expensive, but has no ads," Musk said in a post on X. He did not add any more details about the plans. More changes coming to X Earlier this week, X started charging new users in New Zealand and the Philippines $1.00 for accessing the platform, in a test case called "Not a Bot," aimed at reducing spam and manipulation on the platform.  "This new test was developed to bolster our already successful efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform and bot activity, while balancing platform accessibility with the small fee amount. It is not a profit driver," the X support account tweeted. Users who chose not to subscribe in those regions will only be able to read posts, watch videos and follow accounts. They would not have the option of commenting, liking, sharing or posting themselves. Musk bought the platform in October last year, and has since made a flurry of changes. This includes mass layoffs and disbanding content moderation teams. Earnings from advertising have since taken a hit.  He has acknowledged that the platform's revenue has dropped, citing activists pressuring advertisers as the reason.  Musk has also started charging users $8.00 (€7.50) per month as subscription for the blue tick, and offered discounts for advertisers.  Activists and watchdog groups say the changes have allowed misinformation to thrive on the platform. 

Amar Ekushey Book Fair, widely known as 'Ekushey Boi Mela', is one of the traditional fair of independent Bangladesh. Every year this fair is held throughout the month of February in the Bardhaman House premises of Bangla Academy and around the Bardhaman House. Since 2014, the Amar Ekushey Book Fair has been expanded to Suhrawardy Udyan the opposite side of Bangla Academy. However, a part of the fair is also organized in Bangla Academy premises.  'In The 21st February 1952, some valiant sons of the then East Pakistan (present Bangladesh) sacrificed their lives to establish Bangla as the state language.  For remembering the sacrifice of valiant sons a book fair is organized by Bangla Academy and featured as the 'Amar Ekushey Boi Mela' held annually in the month of February “Some changes have been brought in arranging stalls and pavilions and entry and exit points.  Disciplinary and monitoring activities will be strengthened and digital boards will replace previous analogue information boards,” Member Secretary of Amar Ekushey Book Fair Committee Dr KM Muzahidul Islam told. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the month-long "Amar Ekushey Boi Mela 2023", the country's largest book fair, at 3pm on February 1, he added. This year, the noted actor will once again be publishing a storybook, titled "Ronjit Godhuli". The book will be published under the Priyo Bangla Production house. "I write for my passion and love for writing. I feel really good when readers receive my books with love. So, I hope they will also enjoy my new book as well," shared Abul Hayat. National Award-winning actor and director, Tauquir Ahmed will be publishing a book on theatre plays, at the book fair. Director Animesh Aich will also be publishing a novel this year, titled "Ek Botol Ondhokar" under the Kingbodonti publication house. Speaking about the moment, Animesh said, "I feel accomplished when I see people reading my book." Film director Arun Chowdhuri has been writing books for quite some time, to better connect with readers. This year, he will be releasing a new book titled "Koyek Fota Jol" under Annanya publications. Prominent actress Ashna Habib Bhabna became quite popular amongst readers for her books. So far, she has published a total of three novels at the Ekushey Boi Mela. This year, she will be launching her fourth novel, titled "Kajer Meye", under the Kingbodonti publication house. Readers can also look forward to "Premtantrik Prithibir Shopno Theke Bicchuto Hoyar Age" by singer Sajia Sultana Putul, which will be hitting the stalls at this year's book fair.  Putul has been a regular writer at the fair for the last couple of years. "I am very thankful to my readers for receiving my books so positively, over the past few years. I hope they won't be disappointed with my new book this year," said Putul. Lux Superstar and actor Shanu will be publishing a poetry book and a novel titled, "Valobashar Epar Opar" and "Lipstick", respectively.  The poetry book will be published under Ajob publication, while the novel will be published under Annanya publication. Seven pavilions with 182 stalls have been shifted from the Institution of Engineers area to the main venue of the fairground upon the requests of publishers concerning their business issues, KM Mujahidul Islam, Member secretary of Amar Ekushey Book Fair committee said.  Thus, the main entry point to the fair’s Suhrawardy Udyan area has also been changed and temple gate of the Suhrawardy Udyan, just opposite to the Bangla Academy, will be the main gate of entry. The stalls of service-providing institutions like police, ansar and fire service have been set up in the spot near Institution of Engineers while two confined zones out of the main venue have also been dedicated for food courts and there will be no unorganised, open or street type food shops, he added. ‘Shishu Chattar (children’s yard)’ has also been shifted from its previous place to Sadhu Sangha area this year. Like previous years, the main stage of the fair will be on the Bangla Academy premises while book unwrapping and ‘Lekhak Bolchi’ stages will be set up on Suhrawardy Udyan premises, said Mujahidul.  Another addition to this year’s book fair is ‘Digital Board’ which will be visible in the key points of the fairground containing different types of information, including newly published books to let the visitors get informed easily. Taskforce will be on ‘hard-line’ in the book fair from the very first day to ensure that rules, regulations and instructions are being followed properly and thus, the publishers are asked to submit information each day to the Bangla Academy about each new book coming in the fairground. Law and order will strictly be maintained, he said, adding that each individual or organisation will be brought under punishment or penalty if they violate or do not follow the instructions given by the fair authority. “Taskforce will also have the authority to seize any newly published book if a copy of the same is not submitted to the fair authority,” he added. “We are trying hard to maintain the aesthetic beauty and security of this traditional fair,” he said, adding, “There is no security threat over the month-long book fair, according to the inter-ministerial meeting.” Talking to BSS, Agami Prokashoni Publisher Osman Goni said, “This year, the overall arrangement including setting up of stalls, is being carried out orderly. The publishers eagerly wait for the fair as 90 per cent of new books are published on the occasion of the fair”. Selling foreign and pirated books has been banned in the fair which is being appreciated by the publishers, he said, adding, “We hope that there will be no opportunity for anyone to do anything unusual or unethical as the taskforce will be playing an active role throughout the fair.” There will be 470 stalls, including 367 general stalls, 69 stalls on children yard and 64 pavilions on the Suhrawardy Udyan while there will 103 general stalls and 147 pavilions on the Bangla Academy premises. A total of 704 stalls except the pavilions will take part in this year's book fair. Source: The daily Star and BSS

Everyday urban area of Bangladesh generates 25,000 tons of solid waste. But a considerable amount remains uncollected. Waste management is one of the most important but neglected problems in Dhaka. Dhaka city itself produces one-quarter of all urban waste in the country. The city authority is discharging its responsibilities for Dhaka’s cleanliness. The citizens, too, must realize that they have a duty towards maintaining the city’s cleanliness. Community clean-up campaigns offer the community people and local stakeholders an opportunity to demonstrate their willingness to do community development work and their duty as responsible and good citizens. Therefore, community participation is key to successfully implementing any initiative towards solid waste management in urban areas. Targeting this willingness of community participation, “PROJONMO DHAKA,” a community-led online platform, organized a community level clean-up campaign on 22 March 2022 at Beguntila and New Kurmitola camp area, located at Mirpur 12. Mr. Md. Sajjad Hossain, Ward Councilor, DNCC Ward 2, had inaugurated the campaign. Participants from different local CBO groups (like urban community volunteers, women groups, child & youth groups, slum development committees, community-led organizations, etc.) collected solid waste materials from the spot. In addition, theymade community people aware of waste management. Later on, 48solid waste bags weredumped to the nearest secondary transfer station (STS) under DNCC supervision. The PROYASH II is an urban disaster risk reduction project, implemented by the Social and Economic Enhancement Programme-SEEP and supported by Save the Children since 2018 in Dhaka and Savar. The project aims to supportcommunity-based organizations (CBOs) to initiate a community clean-up campaign, visioning a change in their neighborhood where they never see piles of uncollected garbage on the streets, playgrounds, or public spaces. Dhaka can be a better place to live through cooperative measures for us and the generations to come. Although citizens’ initiative is not enough to clean the city, at least they can cleanup their community. Source: Press release AH

Facebook changed its parent company name to "Meta" on Thursday as the tech giant tries to move past being a scandal-plagued social network to its virtual reality vision for the future.    The new handle comes as the company battles to fend off one of its worst crises yet and pivot to its ambitions for the "metaverse," which would blur the lines between the physical world and the digital one.    Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp -- which are used by billions around the world -- will keep their names under the rebranding critics have called an effort to distract from the platform's dysfunction.    "We've learned a lot from struggling with social issues and living under closed platforms, and now it is time to take everything that we've learned and help build the next chapter," CEO Mark Zuckerberg said during an annual developers conference.    "I am proud to announce that starting today, our company is now Meta. Our mission remains the same, still about bringing people together, our apps and their brands, they're not changing," he added.    The company's critics pounced on the rebranding, with an activist group calling itself The Real Facebook Oversight Board saying the platform is harming democracy while spreading disinformation and hate.    "Their meaningless name change should not distract from the investigation, regulation and real, independent oversight needed to hold Facebook accountable," the group said in a statement.    The social media giant has been battling one of its most serious crises ever since former employee Frances Haugen leaked reams of internal studies showing executives knew of their sites' potential for harm, prompting a renewed US push for regulation.    - 'Metaverse' -    Reports from a consortium of US news outlets have used those documents to produce a deluge of damning stories, including blaming Zuckerberg for his platform bending to state censors and highlighting how the site has stoked anger in the name of keeping users engaged.    Facebook noted in a filing that from September "it became subject to government investigations and requests" relating to the documents leaked to lawmakers and regulators.    The company told AFP it issued on Tuesday to employees a "legal hold," which is an instruction to preserve documents and communications because it faces inquiries from authorities.    A Washington Post report last month suggested that Facebook's interest in a metaverse virtual world is "part of a broader push to rehabilitate the company's reputation with policymakers and reposition Facebook to shape the regulation of next-wave internet technologies."    However Zuckerberg, in a more than one-hour streamed message that showed him exploring virtual reality worlds, said the vision is the future.    "Within the next decade, Metaverse will reach a billion people, post hundreds of billions of dollars of digital commerce, and support jobs for millions of creators and developers," he said.    The company noted during Zuckerberg's presentation "a dozen major technological breakthroughs to get to the next generation metaverse."    Facebook has just announced plans to hire 10,000 people in the European Union to build the "metaverse," with Zuckerberg emerging as a leading promoter of the concept.    The metaverse is, in fact, the stuff of science-fiction: the term was coined by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 novel "Snow Crash," in which people don virtual reality headsets to interact inside a game-like digital world.    Facebook has been hit by major crises previously, but the current view behind the curtain of the insular company has fueled a frenzy of scathing reports and scrutiny from US regulators.    "Good faith criticism helps us get better, but my view is that what we are seeing is a coordinated effort to selectively use leaked documents to paint a false picture of our company," Zuckerberg said in an earnings call on Monday.    Google rebranded itself as Alphabet in a corporate reconfiguration in 2015, but the online search and ad powerhouse remains its defining unit despite other operations such as Waymo self-driving cars and Verily life sciences. Source: AFP/BSS AH

Indian Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh has said that after abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019 there is a visible change in every field including completion of unfinished projects, implementation of centrally sponsored schemes, infrastructure development and security situation. The Minister reviewed the progress of highways and road projects of Jammu and Kashmir with Managing Director of National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited KK Pathak. During the meeting, Singh asked Pathak to expedite the pending projects on a war footing. Pathak told the Minister that all the ongoing projects would be completed in a time-bound manner though some work got hampered due to COVID-19 and timelines had to be increased. Singh said Narendra Modi government has allocated more than Rs 1,08,621 crore budget for Jammu and Kashmir, which is highest ever. The Minister said the budget will help in rebuilding the economy, create jobs and will usher in all-round development for the new Union Territory. The NHIDCL Managing Director said that work on most of 17 highways projects with a sanctioned cost of over Rs 15,385 crore is going on smoothly. Out of 17 approved projects, 12 are in Jammu region, while five are in Kashmir region. Singh noted that out of 12 such projects in Jammu region, six major ones are in his Lok Sabha constituency of Udhampur-Kathua-Doda. These include Chenani-Sudhmahadev Road, Goha-Khellani Package 1 and 2, Goha-Khellani Package 3 that is Khellani Tunnel and Khillani-Khanabal Package-2.   Sihgh, who is also Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, said that out of six prospective projects to be awarded in near future, five are in the Jammu region and Sudhmahadev-Daranga Tunnel package 1 and 2 fall in his parliamentary constituency. Earlier, in March this year, Singh had met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, for allocation of funds to enable timely completion of the proposed Chattergala tunnel which will connect district Kathua with district Doda in Jammu and Kashmir, en route the new Highway via Basohli-Bani through Chattergalla to touch Bhaderwah and Doda. "This is going to be a historic landmark project providing all-weather alternate road connectivity between the two distant regions and reducing the travel time from Doda to Lakhanpur to just around four hours," Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions said in a release. Source: ANI BM

Foreign workers in Saudi Arabia are now able to switch jobs without their employers’ permission after the long-awaited labour reforms in the Gulf region’s most populous country went into effect. In November last year, the country’s ministry of human resources and social development announced plans to amend the Kafala system under which workers are tied to a single employer who alone can renew or terminate their residency and work status in the country. Rights groups have said the system makes workers, particularly those working in construction and doing domestic work, vulnerable to abuse by their employers. Reports of employers confiscating workers’ passports, forcing them to work excessive hours and denying them wages are not uncommon. Under the kingdom’s revised system, migrant workers can switch jobs upon the expiry of their work contract. Workers will also be able to transfer jobs during the validity of their contract provided they notify their employers within a set timeframe. Workers will also be exempt from “exit authorisation”, allowing them to travel indefinitely without the permission of their employers. Provisions are also being made for workers who are not offered work contracts or have not been paid their salaries, authorities said. Several Gulf countries have, in recent years, enacted reforms to their Kafala system, once prevalent across the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council. Critics however say abuses will continue as long as work and residence visas are tied to a “Kafeel” or sponsor. Source: Al Jazeera AH

The call center number of Biman Bangladesh Airlines has been changed. The new number will be activated from next Sunday (February 14). The information was delivered on the website of Biman Bangladesh Airlines. It said, the number will be changed from next Sunday. The passengers can avail their services with help of the number 01990997997 instead of the old number 0177715613-16. Calls can be made every day from 8:30 am to 8 pm. The authority of Biman Bangladesh Airlines has requested the passengers to make calls with help of the new number to get any type of information. AH

Bangladesh faced Australia for the first time in 1990. Two matches- World Cup in 2015 and Champions Trophy in 2017 were abandoned due to rain. Earlier in 2011 Australia came to Bangladesh to play three match series. That means both the teams faced each other about eight years ago. The two teams are facing each other at Trent Bridge on Thursday. This Nottingham field is famous for run scoring. England scored 481 runs in this ground in January 2018 against Australia. It is the highest score in ODI cricket. On Thursday Australian captain Aaron Finch decided to bat first after winning the toss. Mashrafe also wanted to bat first but his team is in fielding after losing the toss. There are three changes in Australia team. On the other hand Sabbir Rahman is in the field in place of Mosaddek Hossain who was hurt in the last match against West Indies. Besides, Rubel Hossain is in the field in place of Saifuddin. Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Liton Das, Mahmudullah, Sabbir Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman. Australia: Aaron Finch (capt), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa. AH    

  In the ongoing HSC and equivalent examinations changes have been made in five days’ schedule. The information came through a notice signed by Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board Chairman M Ziaul Haque. According to the changed schedule, the examinations of April 17 (Wednesday) will take place on May 9 (Thursday) at 2 pm, examinations of April 18 (Thursday) will take place on May 11 (Saturday) at 2 pm and examinations of April 22 (Monday) will take place on May 12 (Sunday) at 10 am. Besides, examinations of May 4 (Saturday) and May 6 (Monday) will take place on the same days at 2 pm instead of 10 am. The notice also said, the other examinations will take place as usual according to the published schedule. AH