The Bangladesh Today (12-02-2018)

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NATIONAL MoNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018 6 Singair Kangsha Social Welfare JuboSangha observed its first anniversary celebration in Kangsa village of Singair upazila under Manikganj district yesterday. Photo: Mubarak Hossain Singair Kangsha Social Welfare Jubo Sangha celebarted maiden in Manikganj MD. MOBARAK HOSSAIN, SINGAIR, MANIKGANJ: The first Anniversary of Kangsha Samaj Kalyan Juba Sangha of Singair upazila of Manikganj was held in the joyous environment yesterday. The ceremony was held at Kangsa village on Saturday night. On this day of last year, this non-political organization was established with the initiative of local youth society to stop gambling, harassment, child marriage, eve teasing, prejudice and anti-social activities and form a drug free society. A seminar was organized on the occasion of the founding anniversary. Chairman of the organization Md. Rajib Hossain chaired the discussion as the chief guest, Talebpur UP Chairman Ramzan Ali. Senior lawyer Advocate Lutfar Rahman of Manikganj Judge Court, former president of Singair municipal Jubo League Muminul Haq Milon and municipal BCL president Sayamum Hossain Ripon spoke as special guests. Among others, General Secretary of the organization Md. Raju Hossain, organizing secretary Md Enamul Hasan, co-organizing secretary Md. Jalal Ahmed, Dubai expatriates Alinur Rahman, Habibur Rahman and Younus Ali were present in the meeting. During this time all the members of the organization, local dignitaries and people from different class groups of the society were present. Since the establishment of the organization, they have made outstanding contributions to the formation of gambling, women's oppression, child marriage, eve teasing, prejudice, anti-social activities and the drug-free society. The organization also organizes road reforms in the area, cooperating with helpless poor people, providing scholarship to meritorious students, distributing warm clothes, providing free medical care, distribution of Eid content among children, and social activities. Stay away from militancy, drugs: Zahid MANIKGANJ: State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Zahid Maleque, MP, yesterday asked students to stay away from terrorism, militancy and drug to make themselves as worthy citizens of the country, reports BSS. "The government has attached importance to sports activities in educational institutions, which will help flourish talent and creativity among students," he said while speaking as the chief guest in the annual prize giving ceremony of Manikganj government Devendra College here. Presided over by Prof Sayedur Rahman, Principal of Manikganj government Devendra College the programme was also addressed by Mahfuzur Rahman, SP (Additional DIG), Manikganj, freedom fighter Gazi Quamrul Huda Selim, mayor of Manikganj pourasava Prof Dr Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Advocate Abdul Majid Photo, vice president of Manikganj district unit of Awami League, AFM Sultanul Azam Khan Apel, Secretary, Red Crescent Society, Manikganj and Sudeb Saha, Secretary of Manikganj district Sports Association. The state minister also distributed prizes among the winners. Around 250 students including girls took part in the annual sports which contained 35 events. Farmers switching to cereals from paddy in Barind RAJSHAHI: Farmers are switching from cultivation of paddy to less irrigationdependent cereals in the wake of adverse impact of climate change in the Barind tract, reports BSS. According to the agriculture officials and scientists, farmers have reduced the cultivation of irrigation-dependent crop especially Irri-Boro paddy in the Barind tract. On the other hand, farming of various crops like wheat, maize, potato, mustard and other fruits and vegetables is gradually increasing in the area comprising Rajshahi, Chapainawabgonj and Naogaon districts. These crops have occupied more than 27,097 hectares of lands only in Tanore and Godagari Upazila during the current season, said Habibur Rahman Khan, Executive Engineer of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA). After harvesting the watersaving crops the farmers will cultivate Aush paddy on the lands. Engineer Khan said Aush paddy needs small irrigation as rainfall meets up lion portion of the irrigation demands. "In many occasions, we are motivating the farmers to promote various cereal crops instead of only paddy in the area, said Engineer Habib Khan. Professor Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan of Department of Geology and Mining in Rajshahi University said around 3,200 to 3,500 litres of water for irrigation is needed to grow one kilogramme of paddy. Dr Ilias Hossain, principal scientific officer of Regional Wheat Research Station, said irrigation has been reduced to a greater extent in Barind resulting in a decline in Irri-boro farming. Hafizur Rahman, a farmer of Mushribhuja village under Volahat Upazila, said he is very happy over cultivating various lesswater consuming crops like wheat, mustard, potato and lentil. "I had to face many troubles to manage irrigation water for boro cultivation," he added. But, the cultivation of watersaving crops is suitable for farmers of the area. Ishrafil Haque, a volunteer of Nezampur village under Nachole Upazila, said number of farmers and acreage of less-water consuming crops are increasing in the area every year. "We are getting supports of irrigation, seed and fertilizer from Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) Project for cultivation of the crops," said Zenuara Khatun, a farmer of Gobratala village in Chapainawabgonj Sadar Upazila. On behalf of the project, more than 3,200 farmers were given the supports. They cultivated water-saving crops on more than 300 hectares of lands this season. Around 994 volunteers disseminate and share knowledge among farmers on how to cultivate more less-irrigated crops through water resource management. The IWRM project is being implemented in 35 UPs and four pourasavhas in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts since 2015 by DASCOH Foundation and Swiss Red Cross with financial support from Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation- SDC. BMDA Chairman Dr Akram Hossain Chowdhury said instead of depending on only Irri-Boro farming, importance should be given to the promotion of lessirrigation consuming cereal crops in Barind area to lessen the gradually mounting pressure on underground water. 400 families get electricity in Panchagarh PANCHAGARH: Some 400 families of Burirban area under Boda upazila of the district were brought under electrification network by Panchagarh Palli Bidyut Samity yesterday, reports BSS. Advocate Nurul Islam Sujon, MP, formally inaugurated the electricity connection as the chief guest at a simple function held on the premises of Maoydandigi Union Parishad (UP). Sujon said the government is working relentlessly to provide electricity connection in all houses over the country as electricity illuminated every sphere of human activity. Around 80 percent rural houses got power connection under the regime of present government, he added. SAVAR: The authority of Jahangirnagar University (JU) have taken up elaborate programmes to welcome Pahela Falgun, the first day of Spring in the Bengali month of Falgun, on February 13, reports BSS. With the slogan, 'Esho Boshonto Dhoratole, Ano Muhu Muhu Nobo Tan, Ano Nobo Pran Nobo Gan', Teachers and Students Center (TSC) will organise a Nanak for turning PM's Rajshahi meeting into human sea RAJSHAHI: Awami League Joint Secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak, MP, here today urged all the party leaders and workers to turn the forthcoming Rajshahi's meeting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina into human sea, reports BSS. "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will come here with message of development and will portray a development planning for the region in the meeting. So, you have to bring public in general to the meeting," he further said while addressing a view-sharing meeting here today as chief cultural event at the Selim Al Din Muktamancha marking the day. Director of JU TSC Professor Bashir Ahmed told BSS today. 'To welcome the spring season, we are going to organise a cultural programme with recitation of poem, rendering songs, and staging drama. Different cultural organisation under TSC will guest. Rajshahi city and district units of Awami League (AL) jointly organized the meeting at Rajshahi Medical College auditorium marking the Prime Minister's upcoming visit to Rajshahi. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to visit here on February 22. With city unit president AHM Khairuzzaman Liton in the chair, AL Organizing Secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, MP, State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Polok, Omor Faruque Chowdhury, MP, Enamul Haque, MP, Abdul JU to celebrate Pahela Falgun perform in the event', he said. JU Vice Chancellor Professor Farzana Islam will inaugurate the event as the chief guest while JU Pro VC (academic) Professor Md Abul Hossain, Pro VC (administration) Professor Amir Hussain and Treasurer Professor Sheikh Md Monzurul Huq will attend the function as special guest, he added. The much awaited verdict of Rupa, a girl from Tangail raped in a moving bus, murder case verdict today. Photo: Nasir Uddin. Wadud Dara, MP, Abdul Quddus, MP, and Akhter Jahan, MP, also spoke. Jahangir Kabir Nanak said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working relentlessly for overall development of the country and urged the party leaders and workers to reach the development messages to the grassroots people. He mentioned that the grassroots party leaders and workers will have to work hard from now on for bringing Awami League back to power again through winning in the next general election. Road accidents kill two in Kushtia KUSHTIA: Two persons were killed in separate road accidents in the district yesterday, reports BSS. The deceased were identified as Tuhin Pramanik, 45, a motor cyclist and resident of Ranakhoria village in Mirpur Upazila and Abdur Rahman, 30, a truck driver and inhabitant of Poshchim Shariatpur village in Potuakhali district. Pramanik was killed as a truck hit his motorcycle at Mongol Bari on Kushtia-Iswardi Road at around 8 am, said Officerin-Charge (OC) of Kushtia Model Police Station Mohammad Nasir Uddin. He added truck driver Rahman was also killed in separate road accident as his truck collided head-on with another truck in Lakshmipur area on Kushtia-Jhenidah Road early today. The accidents left both of them dead on the spot. The bodies were sent to a hospital for autopsies. Joypurhat district unit of Bangladesh Chattra League held proceesion demanding punishment of BNP men who attacked on Bangladesh amabassay in London and deamation of Bangaandhu yesterday. Photo: Masrakul Alam Udakhali Mohila College academic building inaugurated at Fulchhari GAIBANDHA: A 4-storied academic building of Udakhali Mohila College in Fulchhari upazila of the district was inaugurated yesterday afternoon amid much enthusiasm among the students, the teachers and the guardians, reports BSS. Education Engineering Department (EED) implemented the construction of the building at a cost of TK 2.20 crore, EED officials said. Jatiya Sangshad deputy speaker and local lawmaker Advocate Md. Fazle Rabbi Miah formally inaugurated the building through unveiling a plaque and offering munajat at a function as the chief guest. He said the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working relentlessly for overall development including infrastructure in education sector to build an enlightened nation. Terming the present government as education friendly, the deputy speaker said initiatives had been taken to ensure quality teaching through multimedia class rooms to the students so that they could acquire knowledge and face the challenges of 21st century. Experts for attaining self-reliance on quality seed production RANGPUR: Agriculture experts at a training course here have laid importance on attaining selfreliance on production of quality seeds of rice and other crops to increase production for attaining sustainable food security, reports BSS. They put special emphasis on developing own technologies for production, preservation and management of quality crop seeds, to reduce dependency on others, especially multinational companies, in meeting farmers' seed demand. Rangpur zonal office of Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) organised the training course on "Boro Rice Seed Production Technology' for its contract growers at its Alamnagar Seed Production Centre in the city on Saturday. Joint Director of BADC Agriculturist Md Kabirul Islam presided over the training course participated by 30 contract growers of BADC from all over Rangpur zone. Additional General Manager of BADC from Dhaka Agriculturist Biswas Kutub Uddin, Joint Director (Rangpur Zone) Agriculturist AKM Saiful Islam, Deputy Director (Contract Growers) Agriculturist Mortuza Rashed Iqbal and Deputy Director (Vegetables Seed Farm) Agriculturist Asaduzzaman Khan conducted the training course. Terming agriculture and quality seeds the most Debiganj Fire Station foundation stone laid PANCHAGARH: The foundation stone of Debiganj Fire Service Station, to be built by Public Works Department at a cost of Taka two crore and 45 lakh, was laid here on Saturday, reports BSS. Local lawmaker Advocate Nurul Islam Sujon formally laid the foundation stone of the fire station at a function as the chief guest. Addressing the occasion, the parliament member said the present government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is relentlessly working for welfare of the people. He said the continuation of Sheikh Hasina government is needed for uninterrupted development of the country. important global issues, the experts said the country must develop its own technologies to attain selfreliance on quality seed production for ensuring a long-term food security despite changing climate. Agriculturist Asaduzzaman Khan said there is no alternative to achieving selfreliance on production of quality seeds and utilisation of the latest agri-technologies for enhancing crop production in attaining food security. Agriculturist Mortuza Rashed Iqbal stressed conducting more research on innovation of time-befitting seeds and agriculture technologies to keep agriculture production rising for ensuring food security under any situation. Agriculturist Biswas Kutub Uddin said we must develop our own seed and agriculture technologies through conducting continuous research works to meet our own seed demand. Agriculturist Kabirul Islam called upon the contract growers to enhance production of quality rice seed as well as seeds of other crops to meet local demand.
INTERNATIONAL MONDay, FeBrUary 12, 2018 7 Debris found near the site of an F-16 jet crash in northern Israel. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says his country will defend itself "against any attack" after carrying out what appear to be its largest strikes on sites in Syria in decades, reports BBC. Israel launched raids against Iranian targets after saying it had intercepted an Iranian drone crossing the Syria-Israel border. Iran denies the allegation. During the offensive an Israeli F-16 fighter jet was shot down by Syria air defences, crashing in northern Israel. Its pilots ejected from the plane and were taken to hospital. It is believed to be the first time Israel has lost a jet in combat since 2006." Mr Netanyahu warned that Israel's policy to defend itself against "any attempt to harm our sovereignty" was "absolutely clear". "Iran brazenly violated Israel's sovereignty," he said, adding: "They dispatched an Iranian drone from Syrian territory into Israel... Israel holds Iran and its Syrian hosts responsible." Mr Netanyahu said Israel would oppose any attempt by Iran to entrench itself militarily in Syria. But he also said President Donald Trump on Saturday accused the Democrats of playing politics with classified information, asserting that their memo countering GOP allegations about the conduct of during a meeting with military chiefs that "Israel seeks peace". In other reaction: The US State Department said it supported Israel's right to defend itself, blaming Iran for the confrontation In a phone call with Mr Netanyahu, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed the need to avoid a "dangerous escalation". He has been supporting President Assad's government in Syria's civil war UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an immediate de-escalation in the actions that he said threaten a "dangerous spill-over" across Syria's borders. Israel's military says one of its combat helicopters downed an Iranian drone infiltrating Israel on Saturday. It tweeted footage of the incident. In response, Israel said it attacked Syrian and Iranian targets in Syria, during which an F-16 jet was fired upon, Israel says, causing it to crash. The two pilots were able to parachute to safety before it came down in an empty field Sri Lanka ruling coalition suffers in local polls This is the first local elections since the centre-left SLFP and centre-right UNP parties formed a unity government in 2015. Photo: Internet. Photo: Internet. Israel warns Iran after launching major raids in Syria near the town of Harduf in northern Israel. Israel says it then carried out a second wave of strikes on both Syrian and Iranian military targets. The Israeli military said it had inflicted huge damage on targets in Syria in the "most significant attack" of its kind against the country since the 1982 Lebanon war. Syria's state media say air defences opened fire in response to an Israeli attack on a military base, hitting more than one plane. Iran is Israel's arch-enemy, and Iranian troops have been fighting rebel groups in Syria since 2011. Tehran has sent military advisers, volunteer militias and, reportedly, hundreds of fighters from its Quds Force, the overseas arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). It is also believed to have supplied thousands of tonnes of weaponry and munitions to help President Bashar al-Assad's forces and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah, which is fighting on Syria's side. Tehran has faced accusations that it is seeking to establish not just an arc of influence but a logistical land supply line from Iran through to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump accuses Democrats of playing politics with memo Colombo, Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka's ruling coalition is on course to suffer a shocking defeat in local elections as the party backed by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is set to register a landslide victory, reports Al Jazeera. At 1:30pm local time (19:00 GMT), with most results in, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) had won 44.05 percent of the vote. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) garnered 31.65 percent while the President Maithripala Sirisena's Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) came a distant third with 9.52 percent of the vote. This is the first local elections since the centre-left SLFP and centre-right UNP parties formed a unity government in August 2015. The UNP however, is expected to win the Colombo Municipal Council comfortably, with Rosy Senanayake set to become the first female mayor of Sri Lanka's capital city. Saturday's result has surprised many Sri Lankan political analysts and is being considered a blow to the ruling coalition that has been roiled by political bickering in recent months. President Sirisena was particularly critical of the UNP in their handling of the economy. Many UNP ministers publicly criticised the president. The coalition infighting was clearly evident during the campaign trail, as both the coalition partners contested against each other. the FBI's Russia probe was a trap meant to "blame the White House for lack of transparency, reports Dawn. Citing national security concerns, the White House notified the House Intelligence Committee on Friday that the president was "unable" to declassify the Democratic memo. White House counsel Don McGahn said in a letter to the committee that the memo contains "numerous properly classified and especially sensitive passages" and asked the committee to revise it with the help of the Justice Department. He said Trump was still "inclined" to release the memo in the interest of transparency if revisions are made. The president's rejection of the Democratic memo was in contrast to his enthusiastic embrace of releasing the Republican document, which accuses the FBI and Justice Department of abusing their surveillance powers in obtaining a secret warrant to monitor former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser Carter Page. Even before reading the GOP document, Trump pledged to make it public and was overheard telling one congressman after the State of the Union address that he would "100 percent" put it out. It was published in full a week ago over the objections of the Justice Department. The Intelligence Committee's top Democrat, California Rep. Adam Schiff, criticized Trump for treating the two documents differently, saying the president is now seeking revisions by the same committee that produced the original Republican memo. Still, Schiff said, Democrats "look forward to conferring with the agencies to determine how we can properly inform the American people about the misleading attack on law enforcement by the GOP." The head of the House committee, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., who produced the GOP memo, encouraged Democrats to accept the Justice Department's recommendations and "make the appropriate technical changes and redactions." Trump has said the GOP memo "vindicates" him in the ongoing Russia investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller. Indiana county records 4 deaths in 48 hours from moving snow A county near Chicago has recorded four deaths related to moving snow in the 48 hours following a major winter storm, reports Dawn. Lake County, Indiana, Coroner Merrilee Frey, says Saturday that the deaths were related to shoveling or snowblowing. She issued an urgent message asking residents to be careful while moving snow. The Chicago Tribune says the four deaths included a 51-year-old woman who died in her home Thursday evening after coming in from shoveling snow and a 72-year-old man who died Friday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest while using a snowblower. A 67-year-old man died Friday afternoon after shoveling snow. Details of the fourth death in the county were not immediately available. The Tribune reported Friday that in Naperville, Illinois, just west of Chicago, a man in his 60s died after suffering a heart attack while shoveling snow. Lake County, Indiana, is about 45 miles (72 kilometers) south of Chicago. Gas explosion at Bolivia Carnival leaves 6 dead, 28 injured Police in Bolivia say six people were killed and dozens injured when a street vendor's gas canister exploded near the route of the Carnival in the city of Orura, reports CNN. Deputy Commander Freddy Betancurt says the blast took place on a street parallel to where participants were making the folkloric entrance to Orura's Carnival, one of the most important in Bolivia. It created an expansive wave of at least 50 yards (meters). Betancurt said police believe Saturday's accident was caused by hot oil weakening the hose to the vendor's gas canister. Regional police Commander Romel Rana said the explosion left six people dead and 28 injured. Orura's Carnival draws tourists from Bolivia and around the world, and was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. India, China vie for influence as crisis unfolds in Maldives As a political crisis plays out in the Maldives, a quiet tug of war is taking place around it, with heavyweights China and India vying for strategic dominance in the picturesque Indian Ocean nation, reports BBC. At first glance, Beijing and New Delhi want no part in the turmoil that erupted Feb. 1 when the country's Supreme Court overturned the convictions of several opposition politicians, including the president's main rival. Chinese and Indian officials spoke in usual diplomatic tones, saying they have no interest in interfering in the archipelago's internal affairs. But in reality, both have strategic regional interests to safeguard and are jostling for the upper hand. President Yameen Abdul Gayoom has sent envoys to "friendly nations" China, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to explain his government's position since he rejected the court ruling, imposed a state of emergency last week and arrested two of the Supreme Court judges. His actions fueled suspicion that he has no intention of easing up on eliminating his rivals and tightening his hold on power ahead of this year's elections. Donald Trump: Lives are being ‘destroyed’ by allegations President Donald Trump says lives are being "destroyed by mere allegation" after two White House aides quit amid accusations of domestic abuse, reports BBC. "There is no recovery for someone falsely accused," Mr Trump tweeted. This week saw the departure of White House speechwriter David Sorensen and staff secretary Rob Porter. The White House has been criticised for its handling of the allegations and Mr Trump's comments quickly drew scorn. His remarks also come amid a worldwide debate over sexual harassment and the abuse of power. In his tweet, Mr Trump did not mention either man, but warned allegations could result in a person's "life and career gone". Among those to react with anger was Democratic Senator Patty Murray, who responded by saying that women's lives were affected every day by sexual violence and harassment. "I'm going to keep standing with them, and trusting them, even if the president won't," she said. Democratic Congresswoman Jackie Speier tweeted that Mr Trump's comments were "offensive". Some commentators objected to his reference to due process, for example pointing to his promotion of a conspiracy theory about former President Barack Obama's nationality. Mr Sorensen has been accused by his former wife of being violent and emotionally abusive, while Mr Porter faces allegations of domestic abuse involving two ex-wives. Both men deny the allegations. Mr Trump, who paid tribute to Mr Porter on Friday during a press conference in which he told people to "remember that he said that he's innocent", has himself been accused of sexual misconduct, something he has strongly denied. The president has also supported others who have faced abuse allegations, including Alabama Republican Roy Moore, who ran unsuccessfully for the US Senate. Sexual misconduct claims have hit a growing list of influential men around the world after a flurry of allegations were made against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The #MeToo hashtag also went viral last year as more and more women shared their harassment experiences online. Mr Trump tweeted that "false" abuse allegations were "shattering" careers. Photo: Internet. Flying sludge, dirty kisses at Brazil Carnival ‘mud party’ Hundreds of revelers wrestled, tackled each other and threw chunks of gunk while shaking it to samba and reggaeton Saturday at a Carnival beach party where clothes were optional but the mud was not, reports Dawn. The annual "Bloco da Lama," or "Mud Party," in this coastal town about a 4-hour drive from Rio de Janeiro got started when Alesandra Cristiana was the first person to jump into thick black mud in an area of mangroves the size of several soccer fields. With the tropical sun blasting a 95-degree heat, dozens of onlookers then followed her lead, soon followed by a few hundred. Like many mud-bathers, Cristiana, now in her fifth year attending, claimed the sticky matter had medicinal qualities. "Yuck!" screamed Luciana Pasiani as her sons, ages 8 and 5, rubbed her down with sludge. "Hug with mud! Hug with mud!" they squealed. Because one coat clearly wasn't enough, Pasiani's husband and two male friends then picked her up and chucked her in. "This is a dream for me," said Pasiani, who runs a mechanic shop in a suburb of Sao Paulo. "It's so much fun." The messy party harkens back to 1986, when according to local lore a few teenagers hiking in a mangrove forest smeared themselves with mud to combat mosquitoes. They then paraded through Paraty, a former Portuguese colonial town with picturesque white walls in the downtown area. A tradition was born. These days, however, revelers no longer parade through the town, a practice that angered shopkeepers who watched their snow-white walls get sullied with flying soil. Instead, the partygoers stick to the mangroves and adjoining beach. Luiz Antonio Simas, a Carnival historian, said the mud party encapsulates how celebrations in small Brazilian cities reflect their origins. In Paraty, fishing and ocean culture dominate, so a beach party makes sense. "These parties are also less tense than Carnival celebrations in bigger cities, which often have more political themes," said Simas. A popular tourist destination, many foreigners visiting Paraty got into the fun. Max Johnson and Heidi Anderson, a couple from Sweden, did their best to kiss while completely covered in sludge. "It's definitely a bit nasty," said Anderson. "But it's Carnival, so you can do whatever you want." "If you want to kiss somebody with a poopy-looking face, you can do that," she added. Elizabeth Oviedo, from Chile, followed other women in stripping off her bikini top and plastering her chest with mud. "It's no big deal, the mud covers you," Oviedo told her friend, Alejandra Nalda, who initially gave her a disapproving look but then pulled her top off, too. After spreading mud all over her body, Nalda got out and grabbed her cellphone for a selfie. Her phone had a special plastic that vendors sell for the event, while other partiers used Saran wrap, plastic grocery bags or selfie sticks to protect their devices. As they stood covered in mud, Alosio Gomes de Oliveira and his wife of 33 years reflected on how their adult daughters no longer wanted to go on vacation with them. "They say we are old," said De Oliveira, from Rio. "Maybe after seeing photos of us on this trip they will say we are not so, so old." As the party was winding down, a group of young men ran through the crowds looking for anybody who was not completely mud-covered. Any violator was hugged and had his or her face wiped with mud, including an Associated Press reporter who up until then had managed to stay relatively clean. "Everybody has to change and let go during Carnival," said Diego Prestes, from Sao Paulo, as he applied the mud. "Having fun is the only thing that is important." Indonesia bus crash kills 27; police say brakes failed A packed tourist bus returning from an outing collided with a motorbike and plunged from a hill on Indonesia's main island of Java after its brakes apparently malfunctioned, killing at least 27 people, police said Sunday, reports BBC. At least 18 others were hospitalized with injuries, some in critical condition, following the crash Saturday on a winding slope in Subang in West Java province, said local police chief Muhammad Joni. Television footage showed police, soldiers and medical personnel evacuating the victims from the upside-down bus, which was carrying more than 40 local tourists. The bus was headed for Tangerang, a satellite city just south of the capital, Jakarta, from West Java's Tangkuban Perahu, a popular mountainous resort. Joni said police were still investigating the cause of the accident, but a preliminary investigation showed the brakes malfunctioned while the bus was going up the hill and rolled down, hitting a motorbike before falling into a grass field. Most of the victims died instantly, Joni said. Police were questioning the bus driver, who suffered light injuries.
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