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UGC approves Tk 8088.49-cr budget for 45 public universities
Rtv online desk
06 May 2019, 00:00
Photo: Collected
The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh on Monday approved a Tk 8088.49-crore budget for the country’s 45 public universities for the 2019-20 fiscal year.
Of the amount, Tk 5,089.46 crore will be spent on non-development activities while the remaining Tk 2,999.03 crore on development activities.
Dhaka University was given the highest non-development allocation of Tk 764.65 crore, while Sylhet Medical University, which was included in the budget for the first time, was provided with the lowest non-development allocation of Tk 3.60 crore.
The approval came at its 155th commission meeting held with UGC chairman Prof Abdul Mannan in the chair at the UGC office, said a press release. Reports UNB.
Besides, the meeting approved a Tk 50.97-crore budget for the UGC itself for the 2019-’20 fiscal year.
The meeting also approved the revised budget of Tk 4834.63 crore for the universities and the revised budget of Tk 49.03 crore for the UGC for the outgoing fiscal year of 2018-2019.
Of the budget allocated for the public universities, Tk 64.40 crore has been allocated for research activities in the 2019-’20 fiscal year.
AH
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HMPV Virus: A New Pandemic Threat?
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) has seen a surge in outbreaks in China and Japan. This flu-like virus has already infected many, with medical professionals and public health experts warning it could escalate to a crisis similar to COVID-19.
Experts fear a new pandemic could emerge as early as 2025. While no specific disease has been identified as the next global threat, the growing prevalence of HMPV is raising concerns.
Reports and social media posts reveal overcrowded hospitals in China, with claims that multiple viruses, including HMPV, Influenza A, Mycoplasma pneumonia, and even COVID-19, are on the rise.
What is HMPV, and What Are Its Symptoms?
HMPV symptoms resemble those of the flu and other respiratory infections, particularly affecting children and immunocompromised individuals. Common symptoms include:
Cough
Fever
Nasal congestion
Shortness of breath
The incubation period for HMPV is typically 3–6 days, with symptoms varying in duration depending on the severity of the infection. While it may begin with mild cold-like symptoms, severe cases can lead to hospitalization due to bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma exacerbations, or ear infections.
How Does HMPV Spread?
HMPV spreads in ways similar to other respiratory viruses:
Respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing.
Direct physical contact, such as handshakes or touching infected surfaces.
Touching the face (mouth, nose, or eyes) after contact with contaminated areas.
Prevention and Protection
Although HMPV was first identified nearly two decades ago, no vaccine has been developed to date. Doctors suggest that preventive measures used against COVID-19 can also be effective in managing HMPV:
Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Avoiding touching the face with unclean hands.
Maintaining a safe distance from infected individuals.
Adhering to these measures can help reduce the risk of infection and keep the virus at bay.
Meta to Suspend Fact-Checking Amid Allegations of Bias
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday said the social media company is ending its fact-checking program and replacing it with a community-driven system similar to that of Elon Musk's X.
Zuckerberg cited the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election as underlying the decision, calling it a "cultural tipping point towards, once again, prioritizing speech." Zuckerberg made the announcement in a video. "We're going to get rid of fact-checkers and replace them with community notes similar to X, starting in the U.S."
The changes will impact Meta platforms Facebook and Instagram — which have billions of users — as well as Threads.
The systems put in place to moderate its platforms make too many mistakes, Zuckerberg stated.
Meta introduced its fact-checking program in 2016 as part of an effort to curb misinformation. The initiative was launched in response to criticism over Facebook's role in spreading false claims during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. A 2023 statement from Meta said the fact-checking program had "expanded to include nearly 100 organizations working in more than 60 languages globally."
Community trust
Meta does plan to continue to moderate content related to drugs, terrorism, child exploitation, frauds and scams, Joel Kaplan, Meta's chief global affairs officer and Clegg's successor, wrote in a statement on the Meta site. Facebook's trust and safety content moderation team is also moving from California to Texas and other U.S. locations, according to the note.
Kaplan also said entrusting users to effectively moderate Meta's social media platforms should benefit its content.
"We've seen this approach work on X — where they empower their community to decide when posts are potentially misleading and need more context, and people across a diverse range of perspectives decide what sort of context is helpful for other users to see," he wrote. "We think this could be a better way of achieving our original intention of providing people with information about what they're seeing — and one that's less prone to bias."
Meta said it would roll out its Community Notes approach over the next two month and continue refining it over the rest of the year. That will include no longer demoting content that users have fact-checked and including what Kaplan called "a much less obtrusive label" pointing people to additional information.
Preparing for Trump
The announcement came a day after Meta said former Ultimate Fighting Championship chief executive Dana White, a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump, would join its board, and shortly after former UK deputy prime minister Nick Clegg announced he was stepping down as president of global affairs.
Musk, a major supporter and financial backer of Trump during his presidential campaign, is thought to have the ear of the president-elect on issues ranging from how to slash federal spending to transportation policy.
Since Trump's November victory at the polls over Kamala Harris, Meta and other major technology companies have also sought to engender goodwill with the incoming administration. In December, for example, Meta donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund, while Zuckerberg dined with him at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
Such gestures seemed aimed at repairing Meta's relations with Trump, which soured after Facebook banned him from Facebook following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol in 2021, when the company ruled that his posts on the platform had helped foster the violence that day.
"Meta is repositioning the company for the incoming Trump administration," Jasmine Enberg, principal analyst at research firm Emarketer, said in an email. "The move will elate conservatives, who've often criticized Meta for censoring speech, but it will spook many liberals and advertisers, showing just how far Zuckerberg is willing to go to win Trump's approval."
(Source: CBS News)
Diamond-made Battery to Last for a Thousand Years on a Single Charge
In a groundbreaking achievement, scientists have developed the world's first diamond battery, capable of lasting an astonishing thousand years on a single charge. This innovative breakthrough, which has the potential to reshape the future of technology, was created by researchers from the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the University of Bristol.
The battery is made using Carbon-14, a radioactive isotope, and is known as Diamond Battery. It operates similarly to solar panels but instead of harnessing light, it converts electrons from the decay of Carbon-14 into electricity.
What makes this battery truly remarkable is not just its longevity, but its safety and versatility. It is suitable for a wide range of applications, including smartphones, household appliances, and critical medical devices like pacemakers, hearing aids, and eye implants. Patients would greatly benefit from this technology, as the battery would last the entire lifetime of the device without requiring replacement.
The implications for space exploration are equally significant. Unlike traditional batteries that fail in extreme conditions, the diamond battery can endure harsh environments, making it ideal for powering spacecraft, satellites, and scientific payloads for decades—or even centuries. A single charge could potentially sustain space missions for hundreds of years.
Despite its potential, questions regarding the cost of production remain. While experts are optimistic that advances in manufacturing will drive down prices, the current cost of such a high-tech battery may limit its accessibility to the general public.
Another impressive feature of the diamond battery is its environmental safety. Although it uses Carbon-14, the radioactive isotope is safely encased in artificial diamonds, posing no risk to the environment or users.
Researchers believe that this revolutionary battery technology could not only transform the energy sector but also offer solutions to many complex challenges in various fields. As production scales, diamond batteries could become a key player in the future of energy and technology.
Meta to Lay Off 5% of Employees in Efficiency Drive
Tech giant Meta announced plans to lay off about 3,600 employees based on their performance, US media reported on Tuesday.
This will affect 5% of the company's 72,000-strong workforce, said the company to AFP news agency.
"I've decided to raise the bar on performance management and move out low-performers faster," CEO Mark Zuckerberg said.
Recent changes at Meta
Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp wants to ensure they have the "strongest talent" and "bring new people in," said Zuckerberg.
According to the plan, employees who underperform will be asked to leave sooner, and will be replaced by new hires, reported Bloomberg and tech blog The Verge.
Zuckerberg, 40, is the third richest person in the world. He has recently aligned closer to US president-elect Donald Trump.
Recently, Meta announced the shutdown of its US fact-checking program and scaled back its diversity and inclusion initiatives. It also made its content moderation rules more lenient.
Cost-cutting amid losses
Zuckerberg changed his company Facebook's name to Meta in 2021 after an ambitious plan to develop an immersive virtual reality experience, or 'metaverse.'
However, Reality Labs, Meta's virtual and augmented reality branch, has been making losses.
This is not the first time the company has seen layoffs. After seeing initial growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, Meta cut some 20,000 jobs.
Meta laid off the large number of employees in a cost-cutting move in 2023, which was declared as its "year of efficiency."
KUET Admission Test Results Published: How to Check
The results of the undergraduate first-year admission test for the 2024-25 academic year at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) have been published.
The results were released on Wednesday night (January 15). They can be accessed on the university's website at https://adm.kuet.ac.bd/notice.
Earlier, the KUET admission test was held on January 11. Although the university conducted exams under an engineering cluster in previous years, this year the exam was conducted independently, witnessing a record number of participants.
The admission test was held in 447 rooms across 11 centers, including KUET. This year, 24,527 students competed for 1,065 seats, with 23 candidates vying for each seat.
Bangladesh Reports First HMPV Fatality as Health Alerts Rise
Sanjida Akter, a 30-year-old woman from Bhairab, Kishoreganj, has died after being infected with Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV). She passed away while receiving treatment at the Mohakhali Infectious Disease Hospital. Dr. Ariful Bashar, the hospital's superintendent, confirmed the news.
Sanjida's HMPV infection was reported on January 12. It was noted that she had no history of foreign travel. Her husband lives abroad, but he had not returned to the country recently.
HMPV was first identified in Bangladesh in 2017, with cases being detected annually since then. Although there is no major cause for alarm regarding the virus, the Health Directorate has issued a warning due to its spread in several neighboring countries.
In a press release on January 12, the Disease Control Branch (CDC) of the Health Directorate highlighted the concerning rise in HMPV infections in countries like China and others in the subcontinent. The virus is particularly prevalent among children under 14 and individuals aged 65 and above. Those with chronic health conditions such as asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems are at higher risk.
Like many other countries, Bangladesh has seen cases of this virus. Given the recent outbreaks in China and other nations, it is essential to control the spread in Bangladesh. Strengthening health protocols at all healthcare facilities and entry points is necessary. The public is urged to follow the guidelines and increase health awareness to prevent HMPV infection.
HMPV: Special Caution Advised for Six Types of Patients
Concerns have arisen following the death of a patient infected with the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in the country. In response, doctors have advised individuals with six specific health conditions to exercise special caution to avoid the virus. These conditions are diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and cancer.
During a special seminar held on Thursday (January 16) at the A-Block auditorium of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), experts shared this information.
They noted that unless a patient has multiple underlying health conditions, testing for the virus is not necessary. Infected individuals usually recover by following symptomatic treatment and consuming adequate fluids and nutritious food.
The seminar featured Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam, Vice-Chancellor of BSMMU, as the chief guest, and Professor Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman Howlader, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Development), as a special guest. The session was chaired by Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad and moderated by Assistant Professor Dr. Khaled Mahbub Morshed Mamun. Papers were presented by Professor Dr. Sohel Mahmud Arafat of the Internal Medicine Department and Professor Dr. Saif Ullah Munshi, Director of the Super Specialized Hospital and Dean of BSMMU.
Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam stated that HMPV is an old virus and urged people not to panic but to remain vigilant by following health protocols, such as washing hands and wearing masks. He assured that BSMMU is fully prepared for the detection and treatment of HMPV cases.
Professor Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman Howlader emphasized the importance of caution, particularly for those with weakened immune systems, despite the absence of a cause for widespread panic.
Professor Dr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad highlighted the need for public awareness about HMPV. He stressed that while there is no cause for alarm, it is crucial for high-risk patients to take precautions.
In his presentation, Professor Dr. Sohel Mahmud Arafat explained that HMPV is an RNA virus that typically infects the respiratory tract. First identified in the Netherlands in 2001 and in Bangladesh in 2017, it is similar to other flu viruses like influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The symptoms include fever, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, skin rash, and sometimes shortness of breath. People with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, COPD, asthma, or cancer need to be especially cautious.
He further mentioned that HMPV spreads through droplets from sneezing and coughing. Simple preventive measures, such as wearing masks in public, frequent handwashing, covering the mouth while sneezing or coughing, and maintaining a safe distance from infected individuals, can effectively curb the spread. The infection is more prevalent in winter and spring.
HMPV, similar to COVID-19, spreads through close contact, handshakes, and touch. Although first detected in China in 2001, no effective vaccine has been developed yet. Recent outbreaks have been reported in China, Japan, Malaysia, and India.
Medical experts and epidemiologists advise against panic, noting that the disease is preventable and shares preventive measures with COVID-19. Hospitals treating HMPV patients have been using standard medications rather than specific antiviral drugs.
Preventive recommendations include frequent handwashing with soap, maintaining physical distance from infected individuals, thoroughly washing hands after touching surfaces, and staying home if feeling unwell.
