The recent attack on the cargo ship Rubymar by the Iran-backed Houthis caused the crew to drop anchor, which damaged undersea internet cables, the US has said. Could the vital infrastructure now become a regular target? A new threat has emerged from the attacks by Iran-backed Houthis on shipping in the Red Sea that have caused delays to goods arriving in Europe from Asia. The United States said last week it believed the recent sinking of a Belize-flagged, Lebanese-operated fertilizer ship severed vital undersea cables that provide internet connectivity between the East and West. The attack on the M/V Rubymar on February 18 "forced the crew to drop anchor and abandon ship," a US defense official said. "Preliminary assessments indicate the anchor dragging along the seafloor is likely to have cut the undersea cables that provide internet and telecommunications service around the world," the official added. First environmental threat, now internet disruption The Rubymar has since sunk, causing an environmental disaster. A 29-kilometer (18-mile) oil slick emerged shortly after the attack, according to the US military's Central Command.  There are now fears that its fertilizer cargo could cause further damage, if it were to leak.  While the Houthis were not directly responsible for the damage to the undersea cable, their attacks have increased the threat to internet connectivity in the region as they make other, similar incidents more likely. The fiber-optic cables, 16 of which have been laid in the Red Sea, stretch along the ocean floor and allow internet data to travel at nearly the speed of light. Media reports suggest damage to the cable was so severe that it disrupted a quarter of internet traffic between Asia and Europe. "Accidents with ship anchors account for the second most common cause of submarine cable faults," Tim Stronge, vice president of research at the Washington-based telecoms research firm TeleGeography, wrote in a recent blog post. "On average, two cables suffer faults somewhere in the world every week." Repeated attacks increase risk to undersea internet cables Stronge added that the Houthi attacks on shipping do, however, present "real challenges" as sunken vessels create underwater hazards to the cables and cable-laying ships. The Houthi attacks have not just caused a spike in insurance for container ships, but also for the ships that help lay the undersea internet infrastructure. Stronge said that could make the installation of new cables in the Red Sea "prohibitive." "The real problem in a war risk area is that you cannot just repair the cable as you would anywhere else," Peter Sand, chief analyst at the Copenhagen-based maritime research firm Xeneta, told DW. "You cannot send a cable repair ship to the Red Sea right now," [due to the risk of attack.] The Wall Street Journal this week cited industry experts as saying that the cost to insure cable ships near Yemen has risen to as much as $150,000 per day.  Alternative cable routes must be explored Telecom industry experts are, meanwhile, calling for governments to do more to force the industry to find alternative routes for internet cables to lower the disruption caused by the severing of undersea lines. Land routes across Saudi Arabia, for example, could help avoid the Red Sea and other high-risk waters in the Middle East altogether. But land cabling is often a lot more costly, they warn. The Houthis, who control much of war-torn Yemen, have said they are targeting Israeli, US and UK-linked ships in the Red Sea in retaliation for Israel's war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. The Iran-backed group has targeted dozens of vessels since late last year, and the Rubymar was the first ship to sink as a result of their assault. In the Houthi's first fatal attack, two Filipino and one Vietnamese crew members were killed when their vessel, the Barbados-flagged, Greek-operated True Confidence, was struck last Wednesday by a missile, setting the ship ablaze. The Houthis have denied targeting undersea telecom cables, but their near-daily attacks have caused many global shipping firms to avoid the Red Sea and the nearby Suez Canal to the Mediterranean. Instead, many vessels are plying a longer, more dangerous route around southern Africa to Europe, which takes an extra seven to 10 days. Insurance premiums for shipping have risen as a result of the heightened risks, while the rerouting has driven up fuel, staff and other costs, as more vessels are needed for the longer route.  Shipping rates also rose sharply late last year, but have been coming down since the end of January. Fatalities could spur more ships to use Africa route Despite the risks, some shipping companies continue to use the Red Sea. But the fatalities on the True Confidence and the severing of the undersea cables could see more firms choose the safer route around Africa. "Every company has its own risk assessment — which explains why some companies still transit [the Red Sea]. But a red line may now have been crossed with the casualties [on True Confidence]," said Sand. The latest attacks could even spark tougher measures by Western forces who have mounted naval missions to the nearby waterways to protect the vital shipping trade from Asia to Europe. The US and UK sent warships to the region in November when the attacks first began; a separate European Union naval mission began to the Middle East last month, backed by several EU states, including Germany. "I don't see a large-scale military response," Sand told DW. "This is a tug of war, so I expect the naval forces in the area to continue to do a thorough investigation of targets that need to be dealt with to secure the safe passage of commercial ships."

The report reveals that this connection enabled the balloon to transmit bursts of data to its home base in China, utilising high-bandwidth collections over short periods. The identity of the involved company has not been disclosed. US Intelligence officials have disclosed that the Chinese spy balloon, traversing the United States for a week in February, used an American internet service provider for communication. The balloon, detected over Alaska on January 28, ventured into U.S. airspace, passing over the Malmstrom Air Force base in Montana, a location housing nuclear assets. On February 4, the Air Force dispatched an F-22 fighter jet armed with an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile to intercept the balloon over water. According to a recent NBC report, citing reliable U.S. sources, the balloon was linked to a U.S.-based company, facilitating communication with China regarding its navigation. The report reveals that this connection enabled the balloon to transmit bursts of data to its home base in China, utilising high-bandwidth collections over short periods. The identity of the involved company has not been disclosed. Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu insisted that it was a weather balloon engaged in meteorological research that inadvertently drifted into U.S. airspace due to weather patterns. The unnamed internet service provider refutes these claims. This revelation follows reports that the Biden administration initially planned to keep the spy balloon incident confidential, acknowledging intelligence gaps. A senior Biden administration official denied any intention to withhold information from Congress, emphasising the need to protect intelligence interests. NBC disclosed that on January 27, General Mark Milley and NORAD Chief Gen. Glen VanHerck discussed deploying F-22 jets to assess the balloon’s characteristics. Following this, the Pentagon confirmed the object as a surveillance-equipped balloon, roughly the size of three school buses. President Biden became aware of the situation on February 1, with the public learning about it after NBC’s report. Gen. VanHerck underscored that the incident exposed intelligence gaps, cautioning that the Chinese balloon program remains active. Source: Firstpost

Beneath our feet, a vast microbial network dubbed the "wood wide web" allows trees to communicate and share resources with each other. Trees wouldn’t be able to survive if it weren’t for the massive networks of fungi operating below ground. Out of sight, these microscopic fungal filaments pervade the soil, much like a subterranean internet, helping connect plants and trees to each other. They can use this system sometimes called the wood wide web to exchange water, nitrogen, carbon and other nutrients, or even get advance warning of threats. Mycorrhizal fungi networks have been around for more than 400 million years. And according to ecologist Thomas Crowther, they act as a type of brain of the forest that works to keep the entire ecosystem healthy. Mycorrhizal fungi are absolutely essential to the functioning of about 90% of the world’s trees. One couldn’t really exist without the other, says Crowther from ETH Zurich, who was among a team of scientists to develop the first ever global map of the wood wide web. So how does it work? Trees and plants have a symbiotic relationship with the mycorrhizal fungi that weave around and bore into their roots. The plants pass their fungal partners carbon, and in return they get nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen that the fungi take from the soil. But beyond that, plants also use this extensive underground web of fungi to interact with each other, moving information, nutrients, sugar and water to other trees in the system that need it most. Trees that are struggling for nutrients will often be enhanced by the network because the fungi will redistribute nutrients towards those struggling trees or areas where theres been a lot of insect damage, Crowther said. This connectivity is what keeps the whole system going. When seedlings get hooked up to the network, they can get an injection of nutrients and water from more mature trees. This helps them grow and develop resilience in the face of stress. Dying trees can also use the web to transfer their nutrients to neighboring plants. Trees can receive early warning signals about threats via the network if a neighbor is under attack for example, from aphids or caterpillars  and preemptively produce defensive chemicals to protect themselves from an assault. When trees die, so do the underground fungi Mycorrhizal networks support ecosystems and make forests resilient. They are also massive carbon sinks, keeping heat-trapping CO2 locked away underground. But agricultural expansion, pollution from chemical fertilizers and deforestation are putting these microbial webs at risk. According to the UN, around 178 million hectares of forest about triple the size of France have been lost over the past three decades. When trees are cut down, the fungi underground is also destroyed. Researchers have found that logging can slash the abundance of mycorrhizal fungi in the ground by as much as 95%. Rising temperatures associated with climate change could also see fungi that lock carbon away for longer periods replaced by a fast-cycling variety that could potentially drive carbon losses into the atmosphere, according to Crowther, leading to additional warming. Mycorrhizal fungi have been underpinning life on Earth for millions of years. By disrupting the complex webs they form beneath our feet, we are also endangering the organisms we depend on to survive.

Amid a rise in authoritarian governments such as Russia cracking down on access to digital information, the United States on Thursday will join with more than 50 countries in launching an initiative to protect an open, safe internet. Labeled the Declaration for the Future of the Internet (DFI), the White House said the aim is to reclaim "the immense promise" of the internet, pushing back against "rising digital authoritarianism" to ensure it reinforces democracy, protects privacy and promotes a free global economy. That goal is threatened by more cases of governments repressing free speech and access to news, spreading misinformation or throttling the internet altogether, the declaration says. Pointing to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a senior administration official said in recent months Moscow "has aggressively promoted disinformation at home and abroad, censored internet news sources, blocked or shut down legitimate sites" and attacked internet access in Ukraine. "Russia, however, is hardly alone," the official said, citing China as well. More than 55 countries have joined the effort, including advanced nations like Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany and Japan, along with others like Argentina, Cyprus, Kenya, Montenegro and Slovenia, as well as Ukraine. While not legally binding, the declaration establishes "fundamental principles" and "commits governments to promoting an open, free, global, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet for the world," another senior administration official said. The effort aims to combat the splintering of the internet, but will "respect regulatory autonomy" of each country, the official said. The declaration also points to the need ensure affordable access for underserved groups. Source: AFP/BSS AH

A two-day seminar hosted by India under the framework of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) discussed ways to counter the misuse of internet by terrorists, separatists and extremists. Representatives from all the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states including Pakistan attended the seminar that concluded on Wednesday. The seminar also deliberated on possible cooperation in key areas like cyber terrorism, ransomware and digital forensics. India assumed the chairmanship of the Council of Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of SCO (RATS SCO) from October 28 for a period of one year. India has shown keen interest in deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence. The seminar is the first event to be hosted by India during its chairmanship. This is the second time India hosted such a seminar. First one was held in Hyderabad in August 2019. "This seminar addressed the key areas like policies and strategies, cyber terrorism, ransomware, and digital forensics amongst others," an official statement said. "The programme focused on the changing nature of online crime and criminal behaviour in order to understand the threats, trends, issues, responses and ethical questions associated with, mainly terrorists using technology," it said. It said issues relating to the cyber-realm from an interdisciplinary and multi-dimensional perspective was examined. "The programme examined issues related to the cyber-realm from an interdisciplinary and multi-dimensional perspective, offering a unique look at a range of challenges," the statement said. It said the seminar provided the hands-on practical experience to the participants to enhance the capabilities of respective law enforcement agencies in securing cyberspace from terrorism, separatism and extremism. "This Indian initiative is an effort to enhance the collaboration among the RATS-SCO Member States to counter the misuse of the internet by terrorists, separatists and extremists," said the statement. Source: ND TV.

Despite the government’s pro-digital approach, 54 percent rural households in Bangladesh do not have access to internet, a new study shows, as experts fear the ‘digital divide’ could hinder e-governance progress. According to the research findings unveiled Sunday, 59 percent of them do not have access to a smartphone and 49 percent have no access to computers. The study, carried out by Brac Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), surveyed 6,500 rural households across the country to develop a Digital Literacy Index (DLI) that illustrates the current state of digital literacy in rural Bangladesh. Experts at an online seminar titled ‘Digital Literacy in Bangladesh’, where the study results were unveiled, feared that this persisting ‘digital divide’ among the rural and urban households in Bangladesh will continue to hinder the successful expansion of the country’s e-governance system. According to the study findings, rural households in Chattogram, Dhaka, and Khulna divisions enjoy higher digital access, digital skills, and digital literacy status than those in Mymensingh, Rangpur, and Sylhet divisions. It also revealed that among the surveyed households less than one percent generates any form of income through online activities. The income of a household has a strong and significant impact on its digital access, skills, and literacy, the findings showed. Similar to digital access, categorized in four classes based on their digital skills, two-third of the rural households appear to have “low” skills, 16 percent households have “no” skill, 15 percent have “basic” skills, and eight percent have “above basic” skills. The study also found that while the gender of the household head has no significant impact on digital access, female-headed households are more likely to have better digital literacy. BIGD Senior Research Fellow Dr Wasel Bin Shadat while presenting the results said stakeholders must urgently develop a comprehensive National Digital Competency Framework that can bridge the existing 'digital divide' in Bangladesh. Consultative Group to Assist the Poor Policy Lead Gregory Chen said digital literacy is the outcome of numerous determinants affecting one another. “Only when all of these different determinants are identified and addressed, will the level of digital literacy improve," Chen said. BIGD Executive Director Dr Imran Matin said the said research was a part of that digital social science domain and more discussion on the matter will follow from BIGD soon. Source: UNB AH

Students of public and private universities will be provided with internet bandwidth of state-owned mobile operator Teletalk at a nominal price to help continue their online education activities. University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC) made the disclosure through a press release on Wednesday, saying students of the universities under UGC run platform BdREN will get the opportunity.  BdREN is a high performance data Communications network providing connectivity among higher education and research institutions in both public and private sectors.  UGC, on behalf of the Ministry of Education (MoE), introduced the online platform under HEQEP through joint financing of Bangladesh Government and World Bank. A total of 42 public universities and 68 private universities, now, use the platform.  To avail the facility, the students have to recharge Tk 100 to their teletalk SIM each month. The recharged amount will be credited to the original balance and can be used for voice call and internet service. The unspent amount will be added to the main balance during the next recharge.  Professor Dr Kazi Shahidullah, chairman of UGC, said it is a very time-befitting initiative to help students continue their online education during the coronavirus pandemic.  He thanked the Education Ministry, Posts and Telecommunications Division and Teletalk Bangladesh Ltd to facilitate the initiative.  Source: UNB AH

Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy on Sunday said the government has been working to bring the country’s all people under internet coverage. “When we began the journey of Digital Bangladesh, only 0.3 per cent people had internet connection. Today, 60 per cent people are enjoying internet facilities,” he told the launching ceremony of Wi-Fi zone at different government educational institutions in the country at Posts and Telecommunications Division conference room in the capital. On the occasion, 10 Mbps (megabits per second) Wi-Fi facilitates have been launched at 146 government colleges and universities of the country including the capital Dhaka under the “Installation of Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) Network at all Govt. College or University and Training Institute Project” of Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL). The prime minister’s adviser said the government has brought 10 crore people under internet coverage in the last 10 years. Noting optical fiber cable is being brought to union level, Joy said the AL government will continue its efforts to bring the country’s all 16 crore people under internet facilities. He said: “Only bringing all people under internet facilities will not be adequate, we have to ensure that they are provided with high speed internet facilities.” Joy said the government is launching Wi-Fi zone at government educational institutions as per the demand of the young generation. Chaired by Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar, the function was attended by Posts and Telecommunications Secretary Md. Nur-Ur-Rahman and other high officials of the division. The BTCL project was adopted in 2018. Under the project, a total of 587 institutions will be brought under high-speed Wi-Fi facilities. In the first year since launching of Wi-Fi zone, the concerned educational institutions will get 10 Mbps bandwidth free of cost. If required, more than 10 Mbps bandwidth will be provided. The project will be implemented by June this year at a cost of Taka 45 crore. Among the 587 institutions, 143 in Dhaka division, 35 in Mymensingh, 107 in Chattogram, 45 in Barishal, 83 in Khulna, 85 in Rajshahi, 56 in Rangpur and 33 in Sylhet. In phases, Wi-Fi facilities will be provided to private colleges, universities and later schools and other educational institutions as well. Source: BSS AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stressed the need for filtering the harmful digital contents properly, urging the people not to share anything on internet or social media without verification. “Digital technologies are creating a scope in one hand, while many problems arise for it on the other hand. Many unnecessary links appear while going to use mobile phone or internet … So, arrangements will have to be made to filter harmful digital contents properly,” she said. The Prime Minister was addressing as the chief guest the award-giving ceremony of Digital Bangladesh Day 2019 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital on Wednesday morning. Sheikh Hasina said the people should not react or do anything by seeing or listening to anything. “It’s not proper … the people will have to verify first whether the information is correct or not,” she said. She went on saying: “While going to share any post on social media, the people will have to enquire about the matter beforehand whether it is true or fake.” The Prime Minister said some apps are developed and spread in such a way by some bad elements so that the country, society and person are affected. “So it’s better not to enter any app without verification by only paying heed to rumor or curiosity … it’ll bring welfare for the country, society and the people as well,” she said. Urging all to stay alert to cyber crimes, Sheikh Hasina said it is necessary to make the children and the youthfolk aware of the crimes. “The children and youths go to wrong paths and involved in various types of crimes, while many misunderstandings are created for misuse of internet. So all including the parents, guardians and teachers will have to remain careful so that it cannot happen,” she said. State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Posts and Telecommunications and ICT Ministry AKM Rahmatullah and Senior Secretary of the ICT Division ANM Ziaul Alam also spoke on the occasion. At the function, the premier handed over awards to 14 organizations and individuals for their outstanding contributions to development of the country’s IT sector. She also inaugurated an app titled “Amar Sarkar”. Referring to the children’s addiction to digital devices like computer, mobile phone and tab, Sheikh Hasina also called upon all to remain alert to it. “You’re handing over mobile phones or other digital devices to your children. But you must have surveillance on them that what they’re watching and where they’re visiting on internet through it,” she said. “When the children use mobile phone, computer or tab for a long time, it becomes like an addiction. It puts an impact on the body, mind, eye and brain due to it. So, it’s necessary to be careful about the matter,” she said. Elaborating her government’s steps for further development of the country’s IT sector, the premier said: “Our government’s all-out support will continue to ensure highest and latest info-based services and facilities for the people.” “We’ll build ‘Sonar Bangladesh’ as dreamt by the Father of the Nation and turn the country into a modern, prosperous and IT-based developed state in the world, Insha Allah,” she said. Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League in its election manifesto on December 12, 2008 declared the Vision 2021 and pledged to build Digital Bangladesh. “We’ve turned the country into Digital Bangladesh before the countrymen,” she said, adding that the people are now getting its good results. After assuming office in 1996, she said, the Awami League had taken various initiatives for the expansion of information and communication technologies. “We broke down the monopoly on mobile business and also reduced the taxes on computer import,” she said. Referring to launching Bangabandhu Satellite-1 into the space, she mentioned that it has strengthened connectivity, while work on setting up of the 2nd satellite into the orbit has already begun. Sheikh Hasina said the government has set up a total of 5865 digital centers to bring the rural areas under internet connectivity. “The people have received 46 crore services only from these union digital centers in the last 10 years and the entrepreneurs have earned a total of Taka 396 crore as well,” she said. The premier said a total of 3600 unions have been brought under internet connectivity and 200 more unions will be brought under it by this year. “We’ll connect the remaining 772 unions of remote areas to internet service by 2021,” she said. The Prime Minister said the government has developed the largest web portal of the world — Jatiya Tathya Batayan — incorporating a total of 465000 government offices websites to digitize the government services. She said the government has achieved significant successes in e-tendering and e-governance and one-shop, one-pay and one-service are launched to provide one stop services. Sheikh Hasina said the people are now getting many emergency services calling at 999, 333 and 109 and these call center based services have become popular nowadays. The Prime Minister said the government has given importance to create a start-up culture utilizing the merits of the students and youths to face the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution. “Sheikh Kamal IT training and incubation centers are being set up in district levels to fulfill the demands of skilled manpower in the ICT sector,” she said. Sheikh Hasina said the government is setting up 28 hi-tech parks, software technology parks and IT training and incubation centers across the country which will be the ‘lifeline’ of digital economy. The premier said the government is going to launch e-passport and e-visa and 5G mobile services very soon. Pointing out Bangabandhu’s contributions to IT sector, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh became a member of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 1973 through sincere efforts taken by the Father of the Nation. “The Father of the Nation set up the country’s first satellite sub-station at Betbunia on 14th June 1974 and that opened the path of direct communication with the world through information and data exchange,” she said. Source: BSS AH

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Saturday suggested that the Bangladesh government should end restrictions on Rohingyas’ freedom of movement and access to the internet and online communications. “Government restrictions have intensified following a failed attempt to repatriate refugees to Myanmar, a large rally by Rohingya refugees, and the killings of a local politician and four refugees,” it said. “Bangladesh authorities have a major challenge in dealing with such a large number of refugees, but they have made matters worse by imposing restrictions on refugee communications and freedom of movement,” said Brad Adams, Asia director of HRW.  The authorities should take a level-headed approach instead of overreacting to tensions and protests by isolating Rohingya refugees in camps, he said. On September 1, 2019, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) ordered telecommunication operators to shut down mobile phone service in the camps within seven days.  The next day, the BTRC ordered mobile network operators to shut down 3G and 4G service in the camps each day between 5 pm and 6 am. While the authorities say the shutdown is to enhance security, they have not explained how.  On September 4, Bangladesh’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defense recommended building a security fence around the camps. A standing committee member, Muhammad Faruk Khan said, “We have been observing the Rohingyas are freely moving around the camps and outside. Therefore, to ensure security we recommended taking measures so that no one can come out of the camps and no one can enter inside the camps.” A highly publicized attempt by the Bangladesh government to repatriate Rohingya refugees to Myanmar on August 22 failed because the refugees believe that the current conditions in Myanmar make their return unsafe. That day, alleged Rohingya refugees killed Omar Faruk, 30, a local leader of the ruling Awami League’s youth wing in Teknaf. Law enforcement officers then killed four Rohingya refugees who they said were involved in the murder.  Police claim the Rohingyas were killed in “crossfire”, a phrase often used by security forces in Bangladesh in cases of extrajudicial execution. The government suspended three officials, including the refugee relief and repatriation commissioner, Mohammad Abul Kalam, from Cox’s Bazar for allowing the refugees to organize such a large gathering.  The government also banned certain nongovernmental aid organizations from working in the camps for allegedly supporting the August 25 rally. “Bangladesh authorities and the local community are understandably frustrated that there is no end in sight to the Rohingya refugee crisis,” Adams said. “But they should direct their ire at the Myanmar army and government, which caused the problem, instead of taking it out on refugees.” Source: UNB AH