A sleeping cat hugs a fish in a picture seen from the air, picked out in sprouting rainbow seedlings in a rice field in Thailand to illustrate a traditional proverb about abundance. Farmer Tanyapong Jaikham and a team of workers planted the seedlings at various spots in the field in the northern province of Chiang Rai to depict cartoon cats, hoping to lure tourists and cat lovers. “We’re expecting tens of thousands to come and see the art in the rice fields,” he said. The process relies on GPS coordinates to position the seedlings as designated in an initial artist’s sketch, he said, with the plants changing tint as they grow. “It’s crucial to position them accurately, and the rice will gradually change shades over time,” he added, until in the final harvest stage, the rice straw yields the portrait of Cooper, the cat on which it was modeled. Viewing towers are being built in the surrounding area to give visitors a glimpse of the artwork, which is based on a Thai saying, “There is fish in the water and rice in the fields.” The world’s second largest exporter of the grain after India, Thailand aims to ship 8.5 million metric tons this year. Young people wanting to learn more about the interaction of art and technology could also benefit from visiting the site, Tanyapong said. “Previously, rice was mainly considered for consumption,” he said. “This approach allows us to develop tourism and agriculture simultaneously.”   Source: CNN

India won the toss, elected to field on Sunday, October 22 at World Cup 2023 at Dharamshala in India. Playing XI India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w/c), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult  

India and the US are now cooperating in several sectors and their strategic partnership is necessary for the welfare of global peace and stability, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Thursday.  “Today, India and the US are walking shoulder-to-shoulder from the depths of the ocean to heights of the sky, from ancient culture to artificial intelligence,” Modi said in his opening remarks during his one-on-one meeting with US President Joe Biden in the White House. “I believe our strategic partnership is important for the welfare of humankind, peace and stability and for all countries believing in democratic values,” he added. The one-on-one meeting was held in the Oval Office of the White House before the two sides held delegation-level talks. During his brief remarks, PM Modi stressed on the strong people-to-people ties between New Delhi and Washington. He also praised Biden’s commitment to building ties with India, adding that it prompted New Delhi to take bold measures. ‘Inspired India to take bold measures’ “Eight years ago, you were addressing the US-India Presidents Council where you said our goal is to become India’s best friend. It is this personal commitment of yours to India that is inspiring us to take many bold and ambitious initiatives,” Modi said. In September 2015, while serving as then US vice-president, Biden addressed the 40th Leadership summit of US-India Business Council (USIBC) in Washington during which he had also stated that the bilateral relationship will be one that helps ‘define’ the 21st century. PM Modi remarked that diplomatic relations between the two countries are generally spoken in terms of joint statement, and working groups. However, the “real engine” of the India-US relations is the strong people-to-people ties, he added. An hour earlier, the Indian prime minister participated in a welcome ceremony at the South Lawns of the White House which was attended by throngs of Indian-Americans.  The night prior, President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden hosted PM Modi for a dinner at the White House. During this, the two sides exchanged gifts, including an Indian lab-grown diamond that was handed over to the First Lady.  Sourec: theprint.in

The Bangladesh cricket fraternity is eagerly waiting to see Shakib Al Hasan back in action after the completion of his one-year ban imposed by ICC due to failing to report corrupt approaches made to him.   Shakib’s ban ended on October 29, and the southpaw is about to return to Bangladesh from the USA this week. Right after returning home, he will participate in a T20 league comprising five teams which will be Bangladesh’s second step towards normalising cricket activities in the country after the Covid-19 outbreak.   Earlier, BCB hosted a three-team 50-over competition to set the stage for the cricketers to get back to the game. Along with the national team members, most of the top young cricketers had participated in this event.   “I am Shakib Al Hasan, and the cricket field is my home. The time is tough, but I will come back to the field being tougher. I have been trying day and night to get back to the field wearing a red-green kit,” Shakib said in a TV commercial made based on his return.   Shakib had a month-long individual training programme at BKSP in September this year aiming to play the then scheduled Test series in Sri Lanka. However, the series was postponed due to the Covid-19 restriction. Shakib then returned to the USA to be with his family. “You have always come back as a champ, and I cannot wait to share more match-winning partnerships with you and bring joy for our nation In Sha Allah,” Bangladesh’s former captain and one of the mainstays, Mushfiqur Rahim, wrote on his social media handle on the day before Shakib’s ban ended.   “We started our careers together as teenagers and never had to look back. Last year it came as a big shock to hear we would not be sharing a dressing room for a year. We have shared great memories, cherished all the good times and stood by each other during tough times. I am so glad that this one year is over, and we will get to take on the field together,” Mushfiqur added.   Not just Mushfiqur, nearly all the national team members welcomed Shakib, and wished him more success for Bangladesh. Allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz wrote on his social media handle: “Welcome Shakib bhai! I don’t have to wait more to get to the field with you. It’s a privilege to play with you and share the same dressing room. You are a living legend.”   Soumya Sarkar, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Jayed Rahi and many other cricketers have also welcomed Shakib on their respective social media handles.   During a recent interaction with the media, BCB President Nazmul Hassan said that Shakib would participate in the upcoming T20 league. However, BCB is yet to reveal details about this league. Shakib played his last competitive cricket match back on October 12 for Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League.   Shakib might make his comeback to international cricket with the home series against West Indies early next year. His last international assignment was against Afghanistan at home. Source: UNB AH

Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) has announced the discovery of a new gas field in Nabinagar upazila of Brahmanbaria, a day after finding another gas reserve in Cumilla. Engineer Syed Mohammad Kabir, a project director, said the primary digging work of the gas field under Srikail East-1 gas field was completed on Wednesday evening. Thirteen million cubic feet gas can be produced from the gas field per day which will be added to the national grid, he said. Primary experimental work began on Tuesday and the authorities concerned said gas can be lifted from 3,054 to 3,082 meters below the surface. Digging work of two gas fields – Salda North-1 and Srikail East-1 – has started under the government’s Rupkolpo-1 project, and the expenditure of Tk 162 crore will be provided from the gas development fund, said Kabir. The authorities concerned of the project did not lift gas from Salda North-1 field as it is found non-profitable, he said. Officials of the project said the experimental work was done. Gas will be provided to the national grid through process plant after installing a 10km pipeline. The drilling work under the surface was done in vertical process and the logging work of the gas field was also done. Earlier, Bapex announced discovery of a new gas field in Srikail of Cumilla's Muradnagar upazila on Tuesday. Source: UNB AH

Awami League joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said, BNP has called the undemocratic hartal to hide their failure. They have called the hartal hurriedly sensing the defeat. But, to avert any untoward event in anti people program Awami League will be in field. On Saturday night in his immediate reaction Hanif said these as BNP called dawn to dusk hartal on Sunday rejecting the Dhaka north and south city corporation elections. He said, BNP has taken strategy from the beginning to term the election questionable. As part of that strategy they called this hartal. The inhabitants of Dhaka will never take the hartal for granted. Earlier, the elections in DNCC and DSCC began at 8 am and concluded at 4 pm. For the first time in the city elections voting was casted through Electronic Voting Machines. The number of total voters in the two city corporations is nearly 54 lakh. AH

My chance to deliver speech in the Election Commission (EC) has been reduced. I think, there is no ‘Level Playing Field’ within the EC. Mahbub Talukder said this in his written speech delivered to the newsmen on Sunday. Mahbub Talukder said, we (Election Commissioners) want to protect the liberty and dignity of the Election Commission. Our activities are expected to be visible. He said, I have some remarks about Dhaka North and South City Corporation elections. About election, the way EC is expected to discharge its duties that are not going on accordingly. So far three commission meetings were held after declaring the election schedule, but no discussion was held related to the electoral code of conduct, irregularities or complains of the candidates in the Dhaka City election. Mahbub Talukder said, these matters were not included in the agenda in commission meeting. In the upcoming EC meeting scheduled to be held on January 28, no matter related to the Dhaka City Corporation election is on the agenda. The Election Commissioner said, I have to say with great regret, the four notes that I gave on January 9, 13, 16 and 20, were not granted. No discussion was held over the subjects or no necessary action was taken. If my speech is unacceptable then I should have been informed. AH    

According to the weather forecast there is no possibility of rain in Bangladesh-England match. It is the twelfth match of the twelfth world cup. Tigers are facing the most favorite home team. In this world cup analysis both the teams are equal in their win and defeat. Bangladesh beat South Africa and were beaten by New Zealand. England also won against South Africa and were beaten by Pakistan. In the last two world cup Bangladesh beat England. In the pre match press conference Eoin Morgan also praised Bangladesh. All are hoping for an exciting match. At Sophia Gardens in Cardiff Bangladesh decided to field first. There was no change in the team. About his decision to field at first Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza said, the pitch was covered for two days. Hope that we will get benefit from first one hour. Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Mustafizur Rahman. AH

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has detained one businessman from Motijheel area in the capital over allegation of influencing the coming election by spreading crores of cash. RAB headquarters Assistant Director Mizanur Rahman delivered the information to the media. Mizanur Rahman said, the detained person named Ali Haider is the managing director of United Corporation, an export-import and contractor company. RAB detained him from his office situated on 27th floor of City Center at Motijheel at around 11 am on Tuesday. Two more people named Alamgir Hossain (38) and Joynal Abedin (45) were also held. RAB said, nearly eight crore taka cash and cheques worth ten crore taka were recovered from Ali Haider. But RAB did not deliver the detail information to whom or which party he was working for. But leaflet of a BNP leader attached with Tarique Rahman’s photograph was found with the recovered money. Besides, a list containing names and address of voters of a constituency of Dhaka was found at the office of Ali Haider. Earlier, police arrested two persons named Shahidul Islam and Muhit from Rajarbag area in the capital over allegation of spreading money among voters on Monday morning. AH 

Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder said, I don’t think at all there is something called level playing field in election. The word ‘level playing field’ has turned into a meaningless word. The CEC said that there is level playing field, then are you going to oppose that? In response to this question Mahbub Talukder said, I never oppose his speech. He says his word. I express my disagreement in case of need. You are the newsmen, you get the news of the country, see everything. Ask your own conscience whether there is level playing field or not, then you will get the answer. There is news of hindering opposition campaign across the country. In this situation is free, fair and neutral election possible- in response to this question he said, I am an optimistic man. The promise to hold free, fair and neutral election has to be kept in the stipulated time. Executive Magistrates, Judicial Magistrates and the Judges of electoral enquiry committees should play more active role. I think the situation will hopefully change when army will be deployed. The CEC said that election will be participatory and fair, do you think so? In response Mahbub Talukder said, election is called participatory when all parties participate. There is no relation with fair election. Participatory election is primary attainment. The main thing is that whether the election is going to be acceptable and credible or not. There is no benefit of participatory election if it is not acceptable and credible. Are public administration and law enforcement agencies under control of Election Commission? In response Mahbub Talukder said, we do not conduct election directly. It is done through Returning Officers, concerned officials and law enforcing agencies. Top officers of law enforcement agencies are under Election Commission’s control. They can say that the members of their services are on how much control. AH