DUBAI – Qatar has released an initial report into the alleged hack of its state-run news agency, an incident which helped spark a diplomatic crisis between the energy-rich country and Arab nations. – AP/UNB
Category: Technology
US suspects Russian hackers planted fake news behind Qatar crisis
Washington – US investigators believe Russian hackers breached Qatar’s state news agency and planted a fake news report that contributed to a crisis among the US’ closest Gulf allies, according to US officials briefed on the investigation. The FBI recently…
New app helps Mali skin doctors reach out to distant patients
In Mali, where skin conditions are widespread and skin doctors are scarce, physicians have turned to technology to treat patients remotely. From his Bamako office, Professor Ousmane Faye, one of a small number of dermatologists in Mali, examines photos of…
Countrywide mobile handset recycling for greener environment
To mark the World Environment Day, mobile phone operator Grameenphone (GP) today launched a countrywide “Mobile Handset Recycling” campaign for greener environment. Under this campaign, GP urges interested patrons to deposit their unused/discarded mobile handset in a drop box located…
Case filed against Facebook users maligning CJ, judiciary
Dhaka – The Supreme Court (SC) administration on Sunday filed a case against some unidentified people for billeting Chief Justice SK Sinha and the judiciary by posting derogatory remarks by opening a Facebook page. Abu Bakar Siddique, a court keeper…
Science-minded youths can take Bangladesh forward
Speakers at a discussion here today said substantial and sustainable boosting the number of science-minded students and youths has become indispensable for flourishing the sector of information and communication technology. They viewed there is no way but to wide-ranging promotion…
Russia-India accord on Kudankulam nuke plant phase III
Dhaka – ASE Group of Companies, a sister concern of Russia’s state nuclear power corporation -Rosatom and Nuclear Power Corporation of India signed a general framework agreement on the construction of the third phase of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant…
Technology is making the world more unequal
Here’s the bad news: technology – specifically, surveillance technology – makes it easier to police disaffected populations, and that gives badly run, corrupt states enough stability to get themselves into real trouble. Here’s the good news: technology – specifically, networked…
US Navy recovers cannon to identify 200-year-old shipwreck
Providence – Now that a cannon that rested in waters off Rhode Island’s shore for two centuries has been raised, U.S. Navy archaeologists are hoping to confirm that the ship that sank at the site was a schooner commanded by…
China to launch cybersecurity law despite concerns
China will implement a controversial cybersecurity law Thursday despite concerns from foreign firms worried about its impact on their ability to do business in the world’s second largest economy. Passed last November, the law is largely aimed at protecting China’s…
Bangabandhu Satellite to be launched by Dec, reiterates Tarana
Dhaka – State Minister for Posts and Communications Tarana Halim reiterated on Monday Bangabandhu Sattelite-1, the country’s first-ever satellite project, will be launched by the first week or the last week of December this year. UNB news reported
India’s ethical hackers rewarded abroad, ignored at home
Kanishk Sajnani did not receive so much as a thank you from a major Indian airline when he contacted them with alarming news — he had hacked their website and could book flights anywhere in the world for free. It…
Hasina off to Austria to attend IAEA conf
Dhaka – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka for Vienna, Austria on Monday morning to attend a conference of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and hold a bilateral meeting with the Federal Chancellor of Austria Christian Kern. UNB news reported
PM’s Austria tour: Combating terrorism high on agenda
Dhaka – Bangladesh will discuss how effectively the global terrorism can be fought apart from discussing trade, investment and other bilateral issues during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Austria tour. UNB news reported
New Zealand space launch has nation reaching for the stars
Wellington — New Zealand has never had a space program but could soon be launching commercial rockets more often than the United States. That’s if the plans of California-based company Rocket Lab work out. AP/UNB news agency reported
EU fines Facebook over misleading information
Brussels — The European Union’s competition watchdog has fined Facebook 110 million euros ($122 million) for providing misleading information over its buyout of mobile messaging service WhatsApp. AP/UNB news agency reported
China, Canada eye clean technology cooperation
More than 150 delegates from Chinese and Canadian governments, companies and research institutes gathered here Tuesday at a forum to discuss cooperation between the two countries on clean technology. The Pujiang Innovation Forum 2017 – Canada Forum, under the theme…
SpaceX launches Inmarsat communications satellite
SpaceX on Monday launched a communications satellite for Inmarsat, marking its first launch for the London-based mobile broadband company. The Inmarsat-5 F4 satellite, built by Boeing, blasted off atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 7:21 pm…
World braces for more cyberattacks as work week begins
Governments and computer experts girded Monday for a possible worsening of the global cyberattack that has hit more than 150 countries, as Microsoft warned against stockpiling vulnerabilities like the one at the heart of the crisis. European policing and security…
Myanmar to launch cable car service at pilgrimage site
Myanmar has planned to launch a cable car service project at a famous pilgrimage and tourist site of Kyaiktiyo Pagoda in southeastern Mon state to enable easier access for visitors to the pagoda. A South Korean company, the Sky Asia…
Electronic voting depends on political consensus: CEC
Dhaka, May 11 – Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda on Thursday said the electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used in the next parliamentary polls if all the political parties reach a consensus in this regard. “If the political…
New tech-future festival launched in Oslo
Oslo (Norway), 11 May – Katapult Future Fest is a new tech festival focusing on exponential technologies, impact investing and future societies. Today Katapult Future Fest launched in Oslo, Norway and will run from the 11th to the 12th of…
First high-speed rail in Inner Mongolia starts test run
The first high-speed railway in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region started test runs on Sunday to prepare for the beginning of regular use by the end of July. The high-speed train ran at a speed of 250 to 275…
China’s WeChat blocked in Russia
Chinese internet giant Tencent said Saturday its messaging app WeChat had been blocked in Russia, adding it was in touch with authorities to resolve the issue. WeChat, known as Weixin in China, is the world’s most popular messaging service, with…
Facebook profit jumps as user base nears 2 billion
Facebook on Wednesday reported that its quarterly profit surged as its ranks of monthly users closed in on two billion, but warned of rising expenses and slowing revenue growth. The leading social network said it made a profit of $3.06…
Twitter authorities verify Khaleda’s account
Dhaka – The authorities of Twitter, a social networking service, have verified BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s official account, eight months after she opened it. “The Twitter authorities verified the BNP chief’s account on Tuesday,” Khaleda’s media wing member Sayrul Kabir…
Twitter, Bloomberg team up for streaming news channel
Twitter is launching a 24-hour streaming news channel in partnership with the Bloomberg Media, in a major expansion of the social media firm’s video operations, the two firms announced Monday. The new streaming channel “will combine the vast global editorial…
Getting the robots to pay tax
by Vincenzo Visco Historically, tax systems evolve following the evolution of taxable bases (actual and potential). In other words, governments over the centuries and millennia used to “follow the money” (and still do) Thus, the levies moved from the products…
Grid line fauls cause power outage in western Bangladesh
Dhaka, May 2 – Power supply remained suspended in a vast area under Khulna, Barisal, Rajshahi and Rangpur division since Monday night following failure of two major grid transmission lines.
Soul-searching scientists struggle to get message across
“We mortals do not understand you.” That’s the heartfelt cry from former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres, pleading with scientists to use everyday language to help counter growing public mistrust. Figueres was giving one explanation of why scientists are struggling…