IGIHE

Category: Science &Technology

  • Ethiopia Accused of Spying on Citizens

    Ethiopia Accused of Spying on Citizens

    {{Ethiopia is using foreign technology to spy on citizens suspected of being critical of the government, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Tuesday.}}

    The report accused the government of using Chinese and European technology to survey phone calls and Internet activity in Ethiopia and among the diaspora living overseas, and HRW said firms colluding with the government could be guilty of abuses.

    “The Ethiopian government is using control of its telecom system as a tool to silence dissenting voices,” HRW’s business and human rights director Arvind Ganesan, said in a statement.

    “The foreign firms that are providing products and services that facilitate Ethiopia’s illegal surveillance are risking complicity in rights abuses.”

    The Ethiopian government dismissed the report as “mud-slinging” and accused the rights watchdog of repeatedly unfairly targeting the country.

    “This is one of the issues that it has in the list of its campaigns to smear Ethiopia’s image, so there is nothing new to respond to it, because there is nothing new to it,” Ethiopia’s Information minister Redwan Hussein, told AFP.

    He said Ethiopia was committed to improving access to telecommunications as part of its development programme, not as a means to increase surveillance.

    “The government is trying its level best to create access to not only to the urban but to all corners of the country,” Mr Redwan added.

    Ethiopia’s phone and internet networks are controlled by the state-owned Ethio Telecom, the sole telecommunications provider in the country.

    HRW said the government’s telecommunications monopoly allows it to readily monitor user activity.

    NMG

  • Quantity Surveying Students Form Association

    Quantity Surveying Students Form Association

    {{Students studying Quantity Surveying in the School of Architecture at the College of Science and Technology under University of Rwanda have established an association that seeks to bring together construction management students.}}

    The Rwanda Quantity Surveying Students Association RQSSA was established in the first intake 2010-2013.

    The association has a vision of connecting construction management students with their career especially in Quantity Surveying and to play an important role towards the development of construction industry in Rwanda.

    RQSSA’s mission is to produce competent Quantity Surveyors in the future that can promote the infrastructure development in Rwanda.

    The association provides students with more information about the career through workshops and professional speakers. It connects students to the world of Quantity Surveying.

    R.Q.S.S.A produces a journal annually that includes articles undertaking the profession of Quantity Surveying, explaining what they study, what they are expected to deliver and general professionalism.

    The association is also scheduled to produce a second Journal titled “UNDERSTAND QUANTITY SURVEYING PROFESSION” aimed at helping people to understand the role of Quantity Surveying profession in construction industry.

    Quantity surveying is the science of measuring and valuing of construction works. It is also concerned with financial, economic and managerial aspects of construction.

  • Microsoft Has Right to Break into Your email

    Microsoft Has Right to Break into Your email

    {{Microsoft is defending its right to break into customers’ accounts and read their emails.}}

    The company’s ability — and willingness — to take such an approach became apparent this week.

    Microsoft admitted in federal court documents that it forced its way into a blogger’s Hotmail account to track down and stop a potentially catastrophic leak of sensitive software. The company says its decision is justified.

    From the company’s point of view, desperate times call for desperate measures.

    “In this case, we took extraordinary actions based on the specific circumstances,” said John Frank, one of the company’s top lawyers, in a blog post Thursday night.

    According to an FBI complaint, Microsoft in 2012 discovered that an ex-employee had leaked proprietary software to an anonymous blogger. Fearing that could empower hackers, Microsoft’s lawyers approved emergency “content pulls” of the blogger’s accounts to track it down.

    Company investigators entered the blogger’s Hotmail account, then pored over emails and instant messages on Windows Live. The internal investigation led to the arrest on Wednesday of Alex Kibkalo, a former Microsoft employee based in Lebanon.

    Although the move could be perceived as a breach of trust, Microsoft says it’s allowed to make such unilateral decisions. It pointed to its terms of service: When you use Microsoft communication products — Outlook, Hotmail, Windows Live — you agree to “this type of review … in the most exceptional circumstances,” Frank wrote.

    Microsoft’s legal team thought there was enough evidence suggesting the blogger would try selling the illegally obtained intellectual property.

    In such instances, law enforcement agents would typically seek a warrant, but Microsoft said it didn’t need one. The servers storing the information are on its own property.

    Ginger McCall, a director at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said those actions are deeply troubling, because they show “Microsoft clearly believes that the users’ personal data belongs to Microsoft, not the users themselves.”

    “This is part of the broader problem with privacy policies,” she said. “There are hidden terms that the users don’t actually know are there. If the terms were out in the open, people would be horrified by them.”

    Microsoft recognizes that it’s a sensitive topic, especially as the nation grapples with revelations about the extent of warrantless surveillance on Americans by their own government — spying that Microsoft and other major tech companies have loudly criticized.

    That’s why Microsoft is instituting a new policy: In the future, it’ll loop in an outside lawyer who’s a former federal judge and seek his or her approval.

    In a move that might be deemed ironic, Microsoft will now add its own internal searches to its biannual transparency reports on government surveillance.

    {agencies}

  • French Satellite Image Shows Possible Jet Debris

    French Satellite Image Shows Possible Jet Debris

    {{New French satellite images show possible debris from a missing Malaysian airliner deep in the southern Indian Ocean, Malaysia said on Sunday, adding to growing signs that the plane may have gone down in remote seas off Australia.}}

    The latest lead comes as the international search for Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 entered its third week, with still no confirmed trace of the Boeing 777 that vanished with 239 people on board.

    “This morning, Malaysia received new satellite images from the French authorities showing potential objects in the vicinity of the southern corridor,” the Malaysian Transport Ministry said in a statement. “Malaysia immediately relayed these images to the Australian rescue co-ordination center.”

    The statement gave no details as to whether the objects were in the same vicinity as the other possible finds in a vast swathe of some of the most inhospitable sea territory on Earth.

    Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said there was “increasing hope” of a breakthrough in the hunt for the plane on the strength of Chinese and Australian satellite images of possible large debris from the plane in the southern search area.

    Flight MH370 vanished from civilian radar screens early on March 8, less than an hour after taking off from Kuala Lumpur on a scheduled flight to Beijing.

    An international force resumed its search efforts on Sunday, zeroing in on two areas some 2,500 km (1,500 miles) southwest of Perth in an effort to find the object identified by China and other small debris including a wooden pallet spotted by a search plane on Saturday.

    {reuters}

  • Rwanda Has Achieved a lot in ICT Sector- Minister Nsengimana

    Rwanda Has Achieved a lot in ICT Sector- Minister Nsengimana

    {{In the past few years, Rwanda has been engaged in a rapid buildup of technological infrastructures and development of high speed internet connectivity.}}

    “Our story of being connected is a 20 year old story. Rwanda got its first internet connection in late 90s, which was based on VSAT (Global High Speed Internet Services) but It has been four years now since we connected to the submarine fiber optics.”

    This was said by the Minister of Youth and ICT Jean Philbert Nsengimana, as he used skype technology to speak on Twit.tv in America during Tech News Today.

    He elaborated that Rwanda has registered a significant progress in the deployment of world-class ICT infrastructure that is now connecting the population to global networks.

    “In 2011, the National fiber optic network was built, enabling increase, affordability and access to Internet that currently touches all the four corners of the country”.

    During the skype communication, Twit.tv inquired on how the country managed to increase the penetration of phone services in a very short period of time. It was reacted that 2006 was the last time the country had 2% of phone users and currently stand at about 65%.

    “There were a series of measures that led to this incredible growth. For Instance, liberalizing this particular sector, building Rwanda as a preeminent place to do business, and determination to attract foreign direct investment in the telecommunication sector,” Minister Nsengimana observed.

    He added that raising incomes of publics in order to afford the telecommunication services is another measure that was implemented.

    Another technological innovation tackled was Google+ Hangouts. He elaborated Google+ hangouts innovation as a platform that focuses on promoting entrepreneurship and facilitating young people to make livelihoods for themselves.

    “We use this technology to categorically bring young people in contact with support services, resources and mentors, to be able to translate their innovative spirit into solutions and enterprises.”

    YouthConnekt Hangout started in October 2013 through a series of Google+ Hangout sessions, has been successful in attracting different partners and giving opportunities to young innovative entrepreneurs.

    In December 2013 in South Africa, YouthConnekt Hangout won the first prize at the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa’s Innovation Fair.

    In the windup of his speak, the Minister remarked that Rwanda has built up the LTE and the fiber optics has allows the country to go wireless, which is dynamic for institutions, offices and business infrastructure.

    Rwanda has entered into partnership with 4GLTE technology as the latest worldwide, in order to extend 95% of the population coverage by 2017.

    Smart Rwanda strategy has been introduced to transform Rwanda into a knowledge based economy and help the country to achieve EDPS II and Vision 2020.

    Watch the whole interview via this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZyoRvezAbk

  • Honda Builds Batbike

    Honda Builds Batbike

    {{Honda has revealed a new motorcycle called the NM4 Vultus. While not the most inspiring name, it does at least look really stealth. Cool stealth. Batbike-level stealth.}}

    It’s not a Batbike, of course, but is instead inspired by ‘Japanimation’ – that’s anime and manga – both genres long interwoven into the fabric of Japanese life and culture. Just last week we found out how Toyota is now plumbing this as inspiration for the new Aygo.

    Reference is made to a ‘stealth bomber silhouette’, and it measures 933mm across the mirrors, while the seat sits at 650mm high. There are full LED headlights too, while everything else comes in black and stainless steel.

    Some concession to colour has been made: the digital dash changes depending on mood, ranging from white, through blue and pink and finally red.

    Underneath there’s a 745cc twin-cylinder engine canted forward, with a low centre of gravity delivering “strong low and mid-range power and torque”.

    It produces 54bhp and 50lb ft, with twin balance shafts and a single 36mm throttle body. Honda reckons it’s efficient, too, offering up 185 miles from a single 11.6-litre tank.

    The engine is mated to a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and it’s all mounted on a steel diamond frame that weighs in at just 245kg.

    So then, while no performance figures have been announced, it’ll be fast; that power-to-weight ratio stands at around 225bhp per tonne (the same as an old Honda NSX, if we’re not mistaken).

    “The NM4 Vultus with its future-shock style presents a look that will not have been seen in any cityscape this side of an anime movie,” Honda says. And yes, while we’re not TopBike.com, Richard and James never stop talking about them, and it’s certainly a cool bike, no?

    {agencies}

  • Nigeria to Generate 10,000MW by 2015

    Nigeria to Generate 10,000MW by 2015

    {{Nigeria’s power generation will increase from 4,000 to 10,000MW by the end of 2015, according to Nigeria’s minister of power Chinedu Nebu.}}

    The minister stated that the current power outages have occurred due to the attack of gas pipelines in the country, assuring journalists while speaking at the Nigerian Stock Exchange that the pipes will be repaired to rectify this problem.

    “Everybody is asking that question of 24 hours uninterrupted power supply, it is not easy to answer it because Nigeria’s population has grown. The facilities in place were not designed for the huge population we have today,” the minister said.

    ”Actually it is the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan that has started addressing the incredible dilapidation that the country power sector has experienced in the last few decades.

    It is this administration that has raised power generation from 2,500 to 4,000MW, by the end of the year 6,000MW plus will be achieved and by the end of 2015 more than 10,000MW will be attained,” the minister added.

    Nigerians across the country expected that there will no longer be power outages following the privatization of the state-owned power company Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

    “We will soon get there, I cannot give you specific time. But I can assure you that before the end of this year many Nigerians will experience improved power supply,” Nebu stated.

    {africanreview}

  • Twitter ban: Turkey’s President Gul Challenges PM’s Move

    Twitter ban: Turkey’s President Gul Challenges PM’s Move

    {{President Abdullah Gul has challenged a ban on Twitter in Turkey after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to “wipe out” the micro-blogging service.}}

    Twitter users across the country reported that the site had been blocked on Thursday.

    But like many others, President Gul evaded the ban to tweet that the “shutdown was unacceptable.”

    Mr Erdogan is angry that people used Twitter to spread allegations of corruption in his inner circle.

    “I don’t care what the international community says at all. Everyone will see the power of the Turkish Republic,” Mr Erdogan said in a speech on Thursday.

    ‘Not technically possible’
    President Gul took to the site on Friday to say that websites should only be blocked if courts found they had violated personal privacy.

    He said it was not “technically possible to totally block access to platforms used all over the world” and added that he hoped the decision would “not last long.”

    Like Mr Erdogan, Mr Gul is a member of the Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP).

    In Turkey, the government holds most power but the president can veto laws, appoint officials, and name judges.

    The European Union said it was worried about the move to block Twitter, with Stefan Fuele, the EU commissioner for enlargement, saying he was “gravely concerned” by Prime Minister Erdogan’s policy on free speech.

    European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes described the blocking of the site as “groundless, pointless, cowardly.”

    Turkey’s lawyers’ association asked a court to overturn the ban, arguing it was unconstitutional and violated Turkish and European human rights laws. Turkey’s main opposition party also said it would try to have the decision reversed.

    BBC

  • Mozambique Approves 600MW Coal Power Station Deal

    Mozambique Approves 600MW Coal Power Station Deal

    {{The Mozambican government has approved a 25-year concession contract for the construction of a 600MW coal-fired independent power producer (IPP) in Moatize, Tete province}}

    A consortium led by ACWA Power Moatize Termoelectrica (APMT), comprising Vale, Mitsui and ACWA Power of Saudi Arabia, will manage the plant.

    The state-owned utility Electricity de Mozambique (EDM) and local investor Whatana Investment Group will be minority shareholders in the project, industry sources said.

    Moatize IPP will reportedly be developed on a build own operate and transfer (BOOT) basis, and is expected to be a pulverised fuel, sub-critical coal-fired power station.

    The first phase of the project will involve the construction of a 300MW plant for US$1bn.

    Of this capacity, 250MW will feed the coal mine being developed by Vale MZ, while the remaining 50MW will be utilised by EDM to feed the grid, according to ACWA Power.

    Paddy Padmanathan, president and CEO of ACWA Power, said, “The Moatize IPP will significantly enhance ACWA Power’s position as a rapidly expanding power developer in the southern cone of Africa, one of our target markets, and also help to diversify ACWA Power’s fuel experience beyond oil, gas and solar to now coal.”

    The sponsors have selected international contractor GS Engineering & Construction from South Korea for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the project, and ACWA Power’s wholly-owned subsidiary NOMAC will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the plant.

    The project is expected to be the first large-scale greenfield power project in the country to be financed using the project finance framework.

    {africanreview}

  • Google Bringing Android to Wearables

    Google Bringing Android to Wearables

    {{Google said it was bringing Android to wearable devices, as LG and Motorola start the countdown to Internet-enabled watches based on the dominant platform for smartphones.}}

    The move allows developers to create apps for smartwatches, the first phase of the Android Wear platform.

    Two manufacturers — LG Electronics and Motorola — quickly jumped on the bandwagon.

    “We’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible with mobile technology,” Google Android chief Sundar Pichai said in a blog post.

    “That’s why we’re so excited about wearables — they understand the context of the world around you, and you can interact with them simply and efficiently, with just a glance or a spoken word.”

    The news comes amid a surge of interest in wearable electronics which can connect with smartphones, and after the launch of several smart watches by large and small manufacturers.

    In Seoul, LG Electronics said Tuesday it would launch by the end of June its first Internet-enabled smartwatch powered by Google’s new operating system, tapping into the nascent but growing market for wearable devices. Its engineers worked closely with Google, LG said.

    A rough image of the watch unveiled by the firm showed a black screen displaying time and what looks like an upcoming flight schedule.

    Motorola also said Tuesday on its blog site it would make a similar watch available this summer, starting in the United States.

    A typical smartwatch allows users to make calls, receive texts and emails, take photos and access apps.

    The new Android Wear system will make it easier to develop apps specifically for a watch or other wearable device.

    “Today we’re announcing Android Wear, a project that extends Android to wearables,” Pichai said.

    “And we’re starting with the most familiar wearable — watches.”

    He said the platform would help facilitate apps that provide news and information, allow chats, monitor health and fitness or help in shopping. The system will enable voice-controlled apps and connect to a smartphone or other device.

    “Because Android for wearables works with Android’s rich notification system, many apps will already work well,” Pichai said.

    “We’re also already working with several consumer electronics manufacturers, including Asus, HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung; chip makers Broadcom, Imagination, Intel, Mediatek and Qualcomm; and fashion brands like the Fossil Group to bring you watches powered by Android Wear later this year.”

    Samsung’s new smartwatch, the Gear 2, which was launched in February is powered by the Tizen operating system developed by the South Korean giant along with other partners.

    Global smartwatch sales are expected to grow this year by more than 500 percent from 1.9 million units in 2013, and to expand further in coming years, according to the market researcher Strategic Analytics.

    Google said separately it was expanding its Google Play catalog of films and other content for purchase or rental to 39 new countries in Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia.

    AFP