Category: Science &Technology

{{The US National Security Agency has developed a surveillance system that can record 100 percent of a foreign country’s telephone calls, The Washington Post reported late Tuesday.}}

The system allows the agency to review conversations up to a month after they take place, the Post said. It quoted people with direct knowledge of the effort and documents supplied by former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

The newspaper said that, at the request of US officials, it would not reveal details that could be used to identify the country where the system is currently being used or other countries where its use is envisioned.

The voice interception program, called MYSTIC, began in 2009, the Post said.

Its “retrospective retrieval” tool and related projects reached full capacity against the first target nation in 2011. Planning documents two years later anticipated similar operations elsewhere, the Post said.

In the initial deployment, collection systems are recording “every single” conversation nationwide, storing billions in a 30-day rolling buffer that clears the oldest calls as new ones arrive, according to a classified summary the Post said it has seen.

In the deluge of US intelligence monitoring methods disclosed so far by Snowden, no other NSA program has been known to be monitor the entirety of a nation’s phone network.

NSA collection of phone meta data who is called and how long a conversation lasts, but not the content of the call — was among the first of the Snowden disclosures.

In a statement, Caitlin Hayden, spokeswoman for the National Security Council, declined to comment on “specific alleged intelligence activities,” the Post said.

Speaking generally, she said that “new or emerging threats (are) often hidden within the large and complex system of modern global communications, and the United States must consequently collect signals intelligence in bulk in certain circumstances in order to identify these threats.”

Snowden is a now a fugitive who has been granted asylum in Russia. The United States has charged him with crimes including espionage.

AFP

{{Banamwana Abel could be realizing his dream after managing to curtail costs of his daily energy needs.}}

Before his dream, Banamwana was using charcoal and wood to prepare his meals which he says was very expensive to endure. He thought of ways that would enable him cut down such costs on wood and charcoal.

He created a stove which he says is environmental friendly and produces more energy at low costs compared to using charcoal and wood.

This new stove as shown in pictures below uses batteries, electricity and also oil.

The batteries are helpful in propelling a fun that whirls wind necessary in keeping the oil burning in the stove.

Also this stove can be connected to electricity by using a phone charger to introduce power to the stove to propel the fun.

Banamwana says at the end of the month he now only spends Frw2,500 on energy compared to a sack of charcoal (Frw7000).

{{After April 8, 2014, computers currently running Windows XP will no longer receive critical security patches and updates, leaving them increasingly vulnerable to harmful viruses, spyware, and the growing risk of cyber-attacks that can steal or damage personal information and business data.}}

New research by Microsoft has shown that Windows XP is five times as susceptible to viruses and attacks as Windows 8.1 because older operating systems were not designed to be protected against the fast evolving exploitation techniques and threats of today.

“End of Service doesn’t mean XP will stop running, but over time security and performance will be severely affected,” says Rotimi Olumide, Windows Group Lead for West, East, Central Africa and Indian Ocean Islands.

“The latest International Data Corporation (IDC) shows that businesses are prone to spend three times more on dealing with security issues in the next year if they don’t plan to migrate from Windows XP to Windows 7 or Windows 8.”

With Microsoft studies showing that PCs running XP are estimated to double productivity costs within two to five years, operating systems like Windows 8, coupled with a productivity suite like Office 365, not only offers complete protection against modern threats, but ensure enhanced business efficiency.

{internet}

{{The US government announced Friday it was giving up its key role overseeing the Internet’s technical operations, handing over those functions to “the global multi-stakeholder community.”}}

The move “marks the final phase of the privatization” of the management of the Internet domain name system, said a statement from the US Commerce Department.

The US agency called for “global stakeholders to develop a proposal” for a transition to a new plan with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, a non-profit group that took over some of the functions in 1997 under an agreement with the US government.

The decision comes with Washington under pressure following revelations about vast surveillance programs operated by the secretive National Security Agency to collect intelligence and other data through a variety of methods.

ICANN leaders said during a conference call that the move by the US was a sign that the organization has matured and that it was in the works long before leaked documents showed massive online snooping by intelligence agents.

“Every president, every board of ICANN since its inception has been working toward this day,” ICANN president and chief executive Fadi Chehade said during a conference call.

{{No immediate impact}}

The end of the US oversight role has no immediate impact for Internet users, and ICANN will continue to administer the network’s key technical functions.

The change affects US government oversight of “root zone” of databases underlying the Internet which makes Washington a steward of that system, even though the functions are contracted out to ICANN and the infrastructure company Verisign.

“The timing is right to start the transition process,” said Assistant Commerce Secretary Lawrence Strickling, who added that he looked forward to “an appropriate transition plan.”

The statement said the US hopes to “support and enhance the multi-stakeholder model,” and “maintain the openness of the Internet” under any new system.

ICANN said its role as administrator of the Internet’s unique identifier system remains unchanged.

“The Internet’s Unique Identifier functions are not apparent to most Internet users, but they play a critical role in maintaining a single, global, unified and interoperable Internet.” ICANN said.

{{Unanswered questions}}

But the change leaves some questions unanswered on the future stewardship of the Internet.

Daniel Castro of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation said the United States “was bullied into making the change” due to pressure over the revelations of leaked NSA documents from former contractor Edward Snowden.

“The Snowden disclosures are merely a pretext,” Castro said in a blog post.

“While the NSA revelations have rightly angered many people around the world, they have nothing to do with Internet governance. The US Department of Commerce has not once abused its oversight of ICANN to aid the intelligence community.”

Castro said the change opens the door to other governments such as Russia or China modifying the Internet architecture for political reasons.

Without US oversight, “ICANN would not be accountable to anyone, and would be motivated only by the interests of those individuals who control the organization,” the analyst added.

Greg Shatan, a US lawyer who is a member of an ICANN working group, said the change is “a big deal,” but that Washington is not walking away entirely from its role in the Internet.

The change affects “the plumbing of the Internet” but ICANN still has obligations to the US under its “Affirmation of Commitments,” Shatan added in an email.

“By making this announcement, the US is trying to make sure the transition happens on its own terms, and that the US is setting the rules for the transition.”

The European Union recently called for these modifications, but some other countries have been seeking deeper changes, such as placing the Internet under UN control — which came up at a heated 2012 gathering of the UN’s International Telecommunications Union.

“The US is making sure that the ITU and the UN do not take this oversight function,” Shatan said.

“The press release is very clear that the US will not accept any proposal that replaces US government oversight with a government or intergovernmental solution.”

AFP

{{The Minister of Youth and ICT (MYICT), Jean Philbert Nsengimana indicates that through the Smart Rwanda strategy, the Government of Rwanda supports Girls in ICT to contribute to the country’s vision.}}

Minister Nsengimana revealed this on 8th March (on the International Women’s Day) during a competition for young women, who are encouraged to showcase their knowledge and expertise in ICT.

Ms. Geek Rwanda is a competition for Rwandan women encouraging them to showcase their knowledge and skills in ICT and this year the competition was open exclusively to university students.

Girls In ICT Rwanda is a group of women of all ages working in the field ICT including entrepreneurs, professionals and students.

Chantal Mukundwa, a Computer Engineering & Information Technology student explained her proposed software, termed “Nearby Item Locator System”, which was both a web application and a mobile application.

It allows users to search for items to buy and receive a list of the nearest shops with those items in stock.

Nancy Sibo, a student in Agriculture Engineering faculty at the University of Rwanda- Huye Campus, presented her application proposal entitled Mobile Cow.

This is an app that would be tied in the government Gira Inka program allowing farmers to monitor the estrous cycles of cows.

They announced the People’s Choice Award, which was decided through an online vote course sponsored by Akilah Institute for Women and received over 700 votes across the world.

Chantal Mukundwa behind the Nearby Item Locator System emerged first, winning the People’s Choice Award. All 5 finalists received certificates.

Minister Nsengimana indicated that while girls and young women are being economically, socially and politically empowered, the number of women in science and technology is still low.

“We have so much confidence that you are the generation to transform not only this country but the continent.”

Minister says “I urge you to focus on science, mathematics, engineering and technological related topics as well as TVET opportunities available today.”

This year, the competition was open exclusively to university students and all the 5 finalists were instantly invited to begin pitching their projects.

{{The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and ICT, Rosemary Mbabazi urges citizens to embrace the use of Information and communications technology (ICT), pointing out that ICT is as vital as water and electricity.}}

She revealed this during the 10th Edition of the ICT Literacy and Awareness Campaign road show in Nyaruguru District, the Southern Province of Rwanda. Thousands of local residents participated in the two days drive campaign that took place last week.

“Using ICT enables you to easily access a variety services without difficulty. It is in this regard that we all have to be passionate about technology in our daily activities,” says PS Mbabazi while addressing the press in Nyaruguru on the importance of ICT.

In her elaborations, she compared the daily use of water and electricity to that of ICT, because it is essential everywhere and in every practice today.

ICT campaigns are helping local residents to behold and understand the various services offered by companies and how they can be used.

James Nibeho, aged 35, resides in Kibeho Sector in Nyaruguru District says that nowadays he can access various services online which helps him to save time, money and energy while requesting services like filling a complain in court.

PS Mbabazi called upon all residents to embrace ICT for their own benefits and development. She commended private sectors for being good partners with the government to foster Rwanda’s technological levels.

She adds “When we foster ICT, we literally develop our economy and self-reliance.”
Speaking to the press, PS Mbabazi notes that this campaign assists local residents to learn what ICT can easily contribute to daily performance in various activities.

The National ICT literacy and awareness campaign in Rwanda aims at increasing public literacy and awareness on the opportunities and benefits offered by the use of online and mobile-enabled services and products among local communities.

It brings together Government institutions offering online services, all Telecom Operators, all Banks, TV suppliers, Phone suppliers, and other private sector institutions.

The campaigns also target to boost the usage of ICT content and applications to increase ICT Knowledge among Rwandans. This will aid people like business personals to learn the potentials of ICT in motivating competitiveness, efficiency, transparency as well as civic participation.

The government of Rwanda has significantly transformed the way business and society uses technology by heavily investing in information and communications technology, since the inception of the first national ICT strategy and plan in 2000.

The Ministry of Youth and ICT in collaboration with other Ministries as and different stakeholders in ICT promotion have adopted the five-year ICT literacy awareness campaign.

During this drive, local residents are learning the benefits of the Digital Migration where girls and young women are also encouraged to join the career to embrace the use of ICT.

{{American Science researchers have announced that they have succeeded in efforts of prolonging human life up to about 500years.}}

The researchers have managed to alter the genetics of a species of worm metabolism which multiplied by five its life expectancy. If the same is applied on humans, man would live up to 500years.

Eternal life. It is the dream (?) Sold by scientists Buck Institute of Research on Aging, located in California .

As they published December 12 in the journal Cell Reports (and relayed from or through high perspective daily geek show), researchers have found a way to increase life expectancy by five blocking molecules – which affected the action insulin – and an enzyme.

These regulating growth , mobility and cell survival . At first, they had looked on the enzyme, tripling the life expectancy.

Doubling blocking, they exceeded their expectations. “Both mutations have triggered a positive feedback loop in specific tissues that have amplified life ,” said Pankaj Kapahi , a member of the research team . ” Basically , these worms lived the human equivalent of 400 to 500 years.”

Apart from longer life , this discovery provides , in a first time , the prospect of anti- aging treatments through genetic interactions . ” It is quite likely that interactions between genes are essential for the lucky managing to live long and healthy ,” said Kapahi .

So the man took a step closer to immortality. After the ” genetic backup ” , a new process – which will take years before being tested on humans – promises eternal life. A happy prospect ?

{wirestory}