Eight turning points in tech history

Imagine how different the computing world would be if IBM had used proprietary chips in the original PC, rather than off-the-shelf components. The PC clone market would never have happened, and IBM, rather than Microsoft, might have emerged as the...

France's divisive emblem

It is tough being a symbol, especially in a country where symbols are forensically analysed. Rachida Dati, France's justice minister, found that out early this month.President Nicolas Sarkozy's appointment of Ms Dati last year had been seen as a brilliant...

Names that tell a story in Zimbabwe

What's in a name? In Zimbabwe, almost everything. There are names in the majority Shona language of Zimbabwe that reflect various intricacies of human relationships.A woman may call her child, Mandivenga for instance, to reflect the hatred and contempt she...

World's perception of US poised for a change

US Senator Barack Obama's rise as the most potential candidate in the November presidential polls of that country has drawn widespread attention from the rest of the world. The attention is due mainly to Obama's African-American background. Will America become...

Sustaining growth is the century's big challenge

Is it possible for the vast mass of humanity to enjoy the living standards of today's high-income countries? This is, arguably, the biggest question confronting humanity in the 21st century. It is today's version of the doubts expressed by Thomas...

Radioactive war crimes

Most of the world knows of the horrors of depleted uranium (DU), especially the people of Bosnia, Serbia, Afghanistan and Iraq, who have all experienced first hand the eerie blaze, the charred remains of incinerated soldiers, the cancers, the gruesome...

Export earning to achieve target

The country's export in outgoing fiscal will surpass the $14.50 billion target, first time in its history, as garments showed an extraordinary comeback after a negative growth in the first quarter, a senior official said Friday.Bangladesh's export in the second...

Extract: Checking male in today's India

SOME years ago I was struck by the contrast between the beauty of Hindi film heroines and the ugliness of Hindi film heroes. After researching the matter, I concluded that the explanation was straight forward: leading men in Hindi films...

Emu's second 10 years may be tougher than its first

"A full decade after Europe's leaders took the decision to launch the euro, we have good reason to be proud of our single currency. The Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and the euro are a major success." Self-congratulation is in...

news digest

Pakistan tribesmenMIRANSHAH, (Pakistan), June 13: Taliban militants have shot dead five Pakistani tribesmen they suspected were spying for foreign forces in neighbouring Afghanistan, a local official said Friday. The victims were staying in a house in Dattakhel town in troubled...

Mahathir's Malaysia: Example of using power with a vision

Mahathir Mohammed is now a former Prime Minister of Malaysia. But he was no ordinary Prime Minister and the sort of acclaim he continues to receive for his exceptional steering of his country's affairs proves his unique identity among the...

Tourist guide: values and views

TOURISM is a quest for discovering unknown particulars of an exotic location in search of enjoyment. People set out from home for some relief from the hectic life. Tourism soothes jaded life in the present-day mechanical way of life. Tourism...

How to limit the damage from gaffes of star promoters

Sharon Stone, the Hollywood actress and the face of one of Christian Dior's skincare lines, caused recently an outcry with remarks labelling China's earthquake as "karma" for recent Chinese actions in Tibet. Her words spread quickly online and the response...

World's perception of US poised for a change

US Senator Barack Obama's rise as the most potential candidate in the November presidential polls of that country has drawn widespread attention from the rest of the world. The attention is due mainly to Obama's African-American background. Will America become...

Restoring the glory of Dhaka University

A few years ago I read in newspaper that in the 1920s, there were two candidates for one post of lecturer in the department of Physics of the Dhaka University. The candidates were Dr. Meghnad Shaha and Shattyen Bose. I...

Obituaries of the Clinton almost-dynasty are premature

WHEN Bill Clinton told Hillary about his dalliance with Monica Lewinsky, the First Lady banished him to one of the White House couches for several nights. "I spent the first couple of days alternating between begging her for forgiveness and...

Readjustment of duty structure to cause Tk 9.55b revenue loss

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will lose revenue worth Tk 9.55 billion in fiscal 2008-09 for considerable readjustment of the duty structure in the proposed budget.The government has proposed four-tier duty structure in the upcoming fiscal budget lowering duty...

news digest

killed in GazaGAZA CITY, June 12: A Palestinian gunman was killed on Thursday in a firefight with Israeli troops in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian emergency services said. The clash occurred in the Beit Lahya area, near the fence that...

city events

earns second goldOlympian shooter Sabrina Sultana of Dhaka Rifles Club earned her second gold medal in the 22nd National Shooting Championship clinching the top slot of the Women's 10 metre Air Rifles on the 3rd-day of the five-day meet at...

US economy going thru' a spell of recession

NEW YORK, June 12: No one in the United States tries to conceal the fact that the economy is going through a spell of recession. The Fed officials and Treasury department say the current problems stem from the record spike...

Budget 2008-09: A re-statement of what is given

Preparing the budget and placing it before the nation is a regular annual exercise by any government in office.Despite the fact that the incumbent government is not an elected one, it has still to prepare one to let the nation...

city events

clinch top slotin .22 Rifles ProneOlympian shooter Sabrina Sultana of Dhaka Rifles Club clinched the top slot in the Women's .22 Rifles Prone on the 2nd day of the 22nd National Shooting Championship at the BKSP shooting range in Savar...

Tk 7.0b in additional revenue to come from cigarette industry

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has estimated the Value Added Tax (VAT) collection to increase by about Tk 30.12 billion in the upcoming fiscal due to expansion of tax net in the proposed budget.VAT collection target for upcoming fiscal...

UN under attack again

NEW YORK, June 11: The United Nations is under attack again. This time for employing subterfuge method to appoint the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Human Rights watchdogs and diplomats have accused that the procedure followed to appoint...

news digest

in missile strikeISLAMABAD, June 11: At least 10 Pakistani soldiers were killed and nine were wounded when a missile fired from Afghanistan hit their border post early Wednesday, security officials told AFP. The incident happened after fierce clashes between Pakistani...

Higher import costs pressing foreign exchange market

Pressure on the foreign exchange market has been continuing due to higher import costs of essentials and gasoline despite intervention by the central bank.The Bangladesh Bank (BB) has continued its intervention in the inter-bank foreign exchange market by selling US...

city events

in city todayThe national booters return home today (Wednesday) at 12 midnight after a frustrating performance in the 5th SAFF Championship being held in Maldives and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh made early exit from the championship.

High time to consider the non conventional power sources

A report in this paper sometime ago stated that the World Bank is likely to provide US$ 90 million to Bangladesh as funds for a project designed to produce electricity non conventionally for supplying to remote areas of the country...

ACU recommends euro alongside dollar in payment settlements

The technical committee of Asian Clearing Union (ACU) has recommended introduction of Euro alongside the US dollar for settlement of payments among its member countries.The eight-nation union will take the final decision in this connection at the 37th board of...

Export in 10 months falls short of target by 2.4pc

The country's export in the first ten months of the outgoing fiscal fell short of target by 2.4 per cent despite a hefty double digit growth over that of the same period of last fiscal, a senior official said Tuesday.He...