Desk Report: What did actress Nia Vardalos, former children’s laureate Malorie Blackman, author Joanne Harris and director Edgar Wright discover that they had in common recently? They have all been rejected multiple times – and, what’s more, they’re proud of it. Vardalos revealed that she was dumped by her agent for “not being pretty” and…
Tech Explorist: You might have seen algae balls floating on the lake. Found majorly in the northern hemisphere, particularly Japan and Iceland, they hold important cultural significance particularly in Japan. Moreover, these balls have a unique specialty, they sink at night and float during the day. Why does this happen? In order to discover the…
Hindustan Times: Scientists have developed a low-cost battery made of paper that is fueled by bacteria, and may power disposable and flexible devices. In remote areas of the world or in regions with limited resources, everyday items like electrical outlets and batteries are luxuries.Health care workers in these areas often lack electricity to power diagnostic…
Desk Report: robiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for you, especially your digestive system. We usually think of these as germs that cause diseases. But your body is full of bacteria, both good and bad. Probiotics are often called “good” or “helpful” bacteria because they help keep your gut healthy. Seen in…
Desk Report: Our vision and aspiration as a nation is expressed in Vision 2021, marking 50 years of independent Bangladesh, and objectives set for 2041, when Bangladesh aims to become a developed nation, reports The Daily Star. The Global Sustainable Development Goals (2030 Agenda), which Bangladesh has endorsed, provides interim benchmarks of development that have…
Desk Report: In an utter disregard for multiple government and court orders, locally-made three-wheelers and other low-speed vehicles continue to operate on national highways, causing frequent road crashes, reports The Daily Star. The plying of slow and fast vehicles side by side remains a major cause of accidents that claim thousands of lives every year….
Desk Report: Forty-year-old Abu Kalam dug into the towering garbage pile in search of bones at the landfill in the capital’s Matuail, reports The Daily Star. He seemed unperturbed by the foul smell which had perhaps taken a backseat to the money he could earn by selling discarded animal parts. Although the setting for his…
Desk Report: Profits earned by China’s industrial firms rose 16.2 per cent, more than 20 million yuan, in July from a year earlier, retreating from 20.0 per cent gain in June, official statistics showed yesterday, reports Financial Express. In the first seven months of 2018, industrial profits rose 17.1 per cent from the same period…
BBC: During an inspection, officers found that the FN FAL battle rifles had been replaced with wooden and plastic replicas. The inspection had been ordered after the rifles started appearing a year ago on the black market, where they can fetch up to $10,000 (£7,785). The rifles had been put into storage but were still…
M Humayun Kabir: Aircraft Accident Investigation Group of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) termed the report ran by a Nepalese newspaper over the investigation findings on the US-Bangla plane crash led by their government false’ and ‘baseless. Captain Salahuddin M Rahmatullah, head of Aircraft Accident Investigation Group of CAAB, made the comment yesterday. Rahmatullah…