Are you worried about the alarming levels of air pollution in Dhaka? It would be natural for one to be concerned given the daily news reports of record high levels of air pollution by AQI (Air Quality Index) which often terms it as “hazardous”. While there has been sparring usage of water canons by the respective city corporation trucks to stem the flow of dust particles in the air, it is questionable how effective these measures have been so far.
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Last year, I wanted open a bank account at a well-established and popular bank in Bangladesh due their app services. Particularly their ability to seamlessly transfer funds between various Mobile Financial Services (MFS) providers and the option to open a DPS/Fixed Deposits straight from their app.
However, being in full time employment at a leading multinational company in Dhaka meant I went to work at well before 9 AM and got out well after 6 PM even on a good day. So, I tried to download their dedicated account opening app from the Google Playstore to open an account from home as it was impossible to go to any of the bank’s branches to submit my account opening form and other supporting documents. Unfortunately, despite trying for over 2 weeks, the app kept crashing and I could not open their conventional current account without visiting their branch 2 months later after I left my full-time employment and while I was waiting for my visa to pursue higher education abroad.
This is not a one-off problem as many around me has complained of the same issue I had particularly faced. This is where Bangladesh’s MFS providers have excelled giving us the ability to open accounts with our NID from the comforts of our home.
A digital bank is essentially a bank which usually exists as the name suggests: in the digital sphere only. They do not have any branches or the tangible features and structures a traditional bank usually has. Everything from account opening to transferring funds, opening deposit schemes are done digitally with the quick tap on your smartphone or PC.
Given how the demand for consumer banking has been growing rapidly in the past decade, this has resulted in long waiting lines when a customer goes to take banking services from most bank’s branches. This not only wastes the customer’s time, but also puts a huge amount of extra workload on bankers in general who are paid a fixed income.
The potential for digital banks to flourish in a rapidly growing economy like that of Bangladesh is automatically high. New applicants for digital banks can only look at how MFS has changed the consumer financial landscape in Bangladesh in the last decade alone to seek inspiration and replicate it.
What can digital banks give to the public in general? Well, for starters, digital banks will save time by allowing customers to open bank accounts from anywhere as generally all necessary details and supporting documents are uploaded to the digital bank’s servers straight from a consumer’s smartphone or PC. Upon receipt of an application, a digital bank’s compliance team can work remotely to verify the identities of the applicants and approve the account opening. Additionally, many renowned digital banks in the Western world usually delegate the verification process to third parties or automate them through the usage of AI and other software tools. It is bad enough the amount of time we waste in traffic each day, it is equally frustrating to finally reach a bank’s branch then wait in the queue for almost an hour for a service which usually takes minutes at many renowned banks in Dhaka.
Secondly, as per a recent report by The Business Standard earlier this year, only 53% of adults in Bangladesh had accounts in financial institutions or MFS platforms in 2021. This leaves nearly half of a country whose population is nearing 170 million “unbanked”. Digital Banks can help solve this problem by making financial services more accessible. Imagine an individual who has access to the internet but lives in a remote area which is quite far from major towns and cities, for them to open a traditional bank account, they would have to travel for hours to get to a location within banking hours just to open a bank account.
Digital Banks can solve this problem as this individual can now just open a fully functioning bank account without travelling for hours with multiple printed copies of documents. Making banking services and financial services more accessible will not only help individuals, but also boost a nation’s economic growth.
Thirdly, the success of MFS providers like Bkash has been recognized globally and there has been extensive case studies of the social impacts it brought on for the people and the economy in general. This paved the way for extensive research and development in the MFS sector in Bangladesh as well as other MFS providers trying to compete with Bkash.
In a recent Bangladesh Bank circular, the paid-up capital required to start a bank in Bangladesh was raised from BDT 4.0 billion to BDT 5.0 Billion. However, to open a digital bank, the paid-up capital required is 1.25 billion- one fourth of that of a traditional bank.
This lower entry fees to the market can be beneficial to traditional banks eyeing a slice at the pie of the digital bank market. However, a word of caution here, just because there is a lower financial entry barrier for starting a digital bank does not mean it will be cheap to set up.
This is in part due to the fact digital banks will require extensive capital to be invested into the research and development of the digital banking services. It is no good to open a digital bank company if their app does not even work as intended (speaking from personal experiences).
As per news outlets, existing banks and MFS providers have expressed interest and applied to start their own digital banks. This is good news to instil trust and confidence in consumers to be encouraged to avail their services. Although, just like most online offerings in the Bangladesh market, it would be a good idea to give time for these services to develop and for these new digital banks and their consumers to reap the benefits of digital banks in the long term.
A good example of successful digital banking services to take inspiration from are UK registered banks such as Monzo, Starling Bank, Ally bank and the popular e-money platform Revolut.
Shafqat Aziz is a LLM candidate at Nottingham Trent University and his current research areas of interest include Fintech regulation, Financial Crime compliance of Blockchain and Cryptoasset Compliance. He can be reached at aziz.shafqat.95@gmail.com
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The media has a powerful influence on the way people think, act, and interact. With its ability
to spread information quickly and easily, media can be used to reinforce stereotypes, and
make their impact even more far-reaching.
The traditional attire of Muslim men and women has become a frequent target of typecast.
The scorn of Muslim attire is particularly damaging, as it can have a deep impact on a
person’s self-esteem and sense of belonging in society. Ridiculing religious beliefs and
practices should always be discouraged.
The traditional clothing of Muslims is seen as a sign of respect and a symbol of their faith.
Unfortunately, because of the negative connotations associated with it, Muslims often face
ridicule and discrimination for their appearance. This can lead to feelings of isolation,
rejection, and low self-worth.
In addition to this, this kind of contempt can also lead to the further marginalization of the
Muslim community. This is because it reinforces stereotypes and encourages discrimination
leading to a lack of acceptance and understanding, as well as suspicion and mistrust.
Stereotypically portraying travesty can lead to a general lack of respect for religious beliefs
and practices. When people are not shown respect for their faith and beliefs, they may
hesitate to be open and honest about them, causing a damaging impact on social discourse
and cultural understanding.
Hence, it is important to be aware of the detrimental effects of our actions on certain
stereotypes, show respect for different religious beliefs and practices, and resist the
the temptation to make fun of those who choose to express their faith through their attire. The
the only way to ensure that people feel safe and accepted in wider society is to respect their
beliefs and practices, and to ensure that they are never made to feel less because of their
appearance.
It is critical to be aware of the media’s power and recognize its impact on shaping our
worldviews. We must strive to create and share content that exposes and challenges
stereotypes, instead of perpetuating them. This can help create a more inclusive,
understanding, and empathetic society.
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By Alveer Hossain
While it’s new to pretty much everyone, obviously since only one player in history has ever won it before – but such a thing called ‘The Super Ballon d’Or’ does exist, and Leo Messi could be the 2nd ever recipient to receive it; which happens to be football’s most rare & prestigious trophy.
….what exactly is the ‘Super Ballon d’Or’? It is a trophy that has been awarded only once in football’s history and is believed to be given to the best-performing footballer of the past 30 years. The legendary Alfredo di Stefano is the only one to win it, beating the likes of Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini to the award, after helping Real Madrid win the first five consecutive European Cups back in the 1950s.
In that time, Di Stefano won two ‘normal’ Ballon d’Ors, as well as one Intercontinental Cup, two Copa Latinas, eight La Liga titles, one Copa de España, and a Small Club World Cup, scoring 308 goals in 396 appearances for Real. France Football has never given the Super Ballon d’Or out since, but that could finally be about to change now as things stand and if rumors are to be true – and the change can happen by someone who has surpassed & broken most of the records there is.
From trebles to sextuples, league trophies to finally international ones, Messi has won it all while scoring 799 goals & providing 388 assists in 1,025 career games, along with having 7 Ballon d’Ors to his name in the meanwhile, and the 8th in contention after his stunning leadership in Argentina’s World Cup win; making him the 2nd contender ever for the ‘Super’ prestigious trophy for his consistent performances for nearly two decades.
Leo Messi’s career has been a fantastic story so far, and he’s 35 with no signs of slowing down yet. Giving such recognition to a player of his caliber will undoubtedly be the cherry on top of the cake.
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Written by: Mifta Al Karim
Education is priceless. Education is what empowers us. It gives us knowledge of the world and allows us to experience life in all its beautiful colors. Human evolution over thousands of years is a result of formal and informal education. The youngsters need to understand the value of getting the proper education. They should know it is the most important thing in shaping their future. But at the same time, it is our responsibility to create an environment in which they can reach their maximum potential.
Bangladesh has one major hindrance when it comes to creating an ideal learning atmosphere for students to flourish. The ever-growing number of Coaching Centers. During the 90s, there was hardly any coaching center around Dhaka City. The business of coaching boomed in the early 2000s and now it has spread all over the country as a money-making machine. These coaching centers rarely give enough effort for the betterment of the students. They focus more on improving their bank balance rather than the students’ future. But despite the government’s pledge to outlaw the practice, this informal form of education continues to dominate the lives of students throughout Bangladesh. Now it is about results than actual learning. Hence, the pressure of joining any coaching center has increased tenfold. And this has created an ideal breeding ground for many unethical coaching centers. Almost all of the existing coaching centers in Dhaka city fall into this category, except for a few institutions.
Fyruz Education Services (FES) is one of those institutions. It started its journey with the sole intention of bringing a change that is quite unseen in the education scenario of Bangladesh. By nurturing each student with a unique method, FES distinguishes itself from most coaching centers in the country, if not all. And behind this one-of-a-kind teaching approach, is Mr. Fyruz Khan. Intending to inspire students to help them learn something worthwhile and, of course, help them with their careers, Fyruz Khan founded Fyruz Education Services (FES). He is the great-grandchild of Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah, so it is safe to say that his penchant for education is hereditary. After doing his Undergraduate Degree in Business and Marketing from De Montfort University, Fyruz Khan completed his Postgraduate Degree in International Education from the University of Leicester. After returning home, he started FES to provide better education to its students so they can realize their true potential. FES wants to give all its students better odds of reaching their intended heights, no matter which background they came from.
Depending on social standing, cultural background, or financial capabilities, families vary largely in our country. They don’t have the same income, and they don’t have the same ideology either. Every family got a distinct set of rules and regulations for their children and they also give different lessons in life. That makes every student unique. Diversity like this is beautiful, no doubt about that. But it is tough to make a generalized study plan that works for everyone. There should be no one-size-fits-all solution at all. FES acknowledges this and tries to provide the best possible solution to its student through a mandatory monthly counseling session. Students will always make mistakes. They are often confused about what to do in life. FES is determined to show them the right path to follow. FES believes each student should be treated according to their needs as it will help them make the most out of their learnings.
Teachers play an essential role in the success of the students because a competent teacher not only shares his/her knowledge with the students but also guides them on the path to success. With appropriate direction, the journey toward success becomes much more manageable. Their highly qualified teachers make sure that the students get the best advice. All of their teachers have studied abroad at some point in their careers, which made them perfectly capable of realizing exactly what their students are missing out on. They give their best effort to nurture a young mind and show the right track.
In this era of unparalleled technological assistance, creating an environment that is completely suitable to support a positive learning experience is also very important. Fyruz Education Services (FES) is one of those institutions where students get that exact feeling. The facility is equipped with all the latest technologies, which is exactly what the current generation of students thrives on. On top of all that, FES is designed in such a way it doesn’t even look like a regular coaching center in Bangladesh. The well-maintained and exquisite interior gives it a feeling of exclusivity, unlike any other similar institute. Students, along with their parents regularly experience something they have never had before.
Progress is a continuous process. Along with its students, Fyruz Education Services is also gradually improving and establishing itself as a giant in the field. Rather than being just a coaching center or a consultancy agency, FES is trying to reach the pinnacle and improve the curriculum of Bangladesh. And we can safely say, they are on the right track.
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Nafia Haque and Arafat Reza
“It’s pretty much how we expect or imagine it to be. It’s pretty much what we read in books or see in English movies or shows. Thanks to the internet and social media, we are much more aware of how things are in other parts of the world. Honestly speaking, I wasn’t too taken aback with the culture over here.”
This is how Faria Tahsin, who moved to England last year to pursue her postgraduate studies, described her overall experience of moving to a new country on her own for the first time after spending more than two decades in Bangladesh surrounded by family and friends.
But, with 70,000-90,000 Bangladeshi students from various parts of the country and growing up in different environments traveling overseas for higher education each year, does everyone find it so easy to cope with all the sudden changes that come with moving to a different country?
Definitely not. This is why, even 62 years after the first time it was coined by anthropologist Kalvero Oberg, the phrase “culture shock” comes up so frequently in our conversations. Loosely defined, culture shock is the feeling of disorientation that a person experiences when moving to a different cultural environment than their own.
When asked about their experience, students who have studied abroad or are currently doing so mostly talk about the positive aspects of moving to a foreign country, such as the opportunity to meet new people, the opportunity to see new places, and the satisfaction of being able to do whatever they want and whenever they want. What they leave out are the gut-punching shocks, unfamiliarity, and loneliness.
In February of this year, I moved to England to pursue a long-held ambition of becoming a Barrister. I had been mentally preparing for the move for over two years, and I had planned for it for the majority of my life. However, once here, I realized that no amount of mental or physical preparation would’ve been sufficient for such a significant change in my life.
The majority of what you will hear about this putting you in control of your life and giving you the freedom to do whatever you want is true. You don’t have to answer to anyone for your actions in a strange, foreign country.
Your parents will not be waiting for you at home, and they will not interrogate you as soon as you walk in the door, asking where you’ve been all day. They won’t even call you as frequently when you are out having fun with your friends or doing something else.
However, this feeling is accompanied by a sense of sadness that develops after a few days, when the sense of missing home sets in and the excitement of freedom fades. Trust me when I say that the honeymoon phase in this case does not last long.
No one will ask you if you ate today, if you’re feeling well. If you get sick, no one’s going to bring you soup in bed nor do you have the opportunity to lie all day in bed because you have chores waiting for you.
With no one to look after them, most students tend to let go of self-care when they move abroad. They forget to stick to a normal eating and sleeping schedule as these aspects are easy to overlook.
When I first moved here, I started eating unhealthy snacks instead of normal healthy meals, and this continued for a month, until it became a habit. For months, I couldn’t get back into my old routine, and because of this, I had almost no energy to do anything all day.
But, with time, I was able to pick up some tricks that helped me deal with the culture shock. I’d like to share my top five tips with the readers, especially those who are moving abroad to study, in the hope that they can benefit from my experience.
Gather as much information as you can about the place and its people beforehand:
This will help you adjust to your surroundings and interact with the locals to some extent. Not interacting with others can be a more serious issue for someone who has recently moved to another country than many people may realize.
With all of the additional challenges you will face, not talking will almost certainly lead to a decline in mental health. In fact, I’ve recently started taking therapy to deal with this.
Knowing about the place will save you from a lot of unnecessary troubles as well. For example, because I didn’t do enough research on the weather in the UK, I suffered from a skin condition for the first three months I lived here.
Learn to cook the foods you enjoy eating:
Learn to cook your favourite foods and get used to eating the same meals for a week because you won’t most likely have time to cook more than once a week. Learning to cook will also help you save a lot of money.
Understand the academic expectations:
As a student, you will most likely have to follow a completely different academic structure. This is going to take some time. The key to solving this puzzle is to not become frustrated and to give yourself that time.
You must also remember that it’s okay to ask for help. Professors and advisors are extremely helpful and will usually help you with whatever you need.
Never compare your progress to that of others:
Everyone is unique and learns at their own pace. So, our responses to change will undoubtedly differ from one another. When learning how to deal with culture shock, avoid comparing yourself to others, especially if they have previously visited that country.
Find stress-relieving techniques that work for you:
To say the least, adjusting to culture shock is a nerve-wracking ordeal. So, it is crucial that you find ways to relieve stress. Again, no two people are alike, so what works for one person may not work for another. Best of luck figuring out what works best for you.
The authors
Arafat Reza is a journalist and an aspiring legal academic.
Nafia Haque is a Research Associate at Stellar Chambers.
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I went into this film without watching any trailers and with zero expectations. It’s safe to say I went in absolutely blind(which is the recommended way to watch most films, I mean why watch trailers and get spoiled?). The only thing I knew about this film beforehand was that apart from Dr. Strange, Wanda and Evil Strange are in this film. I presumed that the plot of this film would be something like this: Dr. Strange gets in trouble against Evil Strange and he gets Wanda’s help to fight him off. You can probably guess now how surprised I was after I actually saw the film. I am really glad that I didn’t watch any trailers for this film. It highly improved my experience with this film.
Firstly, this film is very scary. The atmosphere and action in this film is very different from what we are used to seeing in the MCU. Sam Raimi finally got to make his dream Superhero film and he went all in. This film is brutal. If you are a fan of Raimi’s horror films, you will love this film. Don’t get me wrong, this film has a lot of issues but Raimi’s direction isn’t one of them. In fact, I would go as far as to say that Sam Raimi’s direction is what saved this film from being a failure. In terms of action, this film is on a whole new level when compared to the rest of MCU. This film honestly feels like a horror movie. The action is very gory. It’s accompanied by the fact that people actually die in this film unlike most MCU films. Characters die like flies in this film. There are scenes in this film that feel like they are straight out of an R-Rated Slasher film. Let me rephrase what I just said, ‘THIS IS A SLASHER FILM’. Because, if you take out the superpowers out of this film, what remains is an unstoppable villain who obliterates anyone and anything in their path. I genuinely felt terrified while watching this film. Marvel picked the perfect director for this film.
Now, let’s talk about the characters. Dr. Strange continues being the most likable MCU Superhero. Benedict Cumberbatch gives another great performance. It’s also great to see him play the role of a villain again after a long time. Evil Strange is very menacing, however he doesn’t really have much of a screen time. Scarlet Witch on the other hand is the crown jewel of this film. She single-handedly carries this film. Elizabeth Olsen nails her performance. However, the way Scarlet Witch’s character arc ended wasn’t very satisfying. It felt predictable but everything leading up to it was amazing. I also liked America Chavez. While America wasn’t as well developed as one might expect, by the end I really liked her and I look forward to seeing more of her in the upcoming films. Christine and Mordo also return from the previous film. Not much has changed about them. If you liked them in the first film you will like them here as well. There are a few surprise cameos (not really surprising if you have watched the trailers). These cameos are not really handled well at all. They feel kind off out of place. Not really that much interesting too (except for a certain casting choice for a certain character which I won’t spoil). This film has some really great CGI(as expected from a MCU film). The scenery is very enjoyable. The soundtrack is good but it could have been even more haunting.
The plot of this film is very mediocre. It pains me to say this but despite getting so many things right, this film gets the plot wrong. Firstly, the plot is kind of predictable. After the surprises of the first hour are over the rest of the film is very straight forward. It’s just the plot of every other Slasher film ever made with MCU clichés added to make things even worse. The character arcs are all over the place. Specially this film messed up Wanda’s character arc very much at the end. It should have been handled better and more realistically. It’s not bad, it’s just predictable. Also, certain characters feel like they have very lackluster reasons for doing what they do. I liked what happened in this film, I just didn’t like the reason it happened.
So far, MCU Phase 4 seems to be very experimental. MCU is now at a state where whatever it puts out will be a sure financial success. It puts them in the position to experiment with new things and create new and more bold storylines like this. While Phase 4 has a lot of issues, I am personally really liking the fact that Marvel is trying different and refreshing things. I appreciate the fact that the MCU is trying to evolve.
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By Fasbeer Eskander
If you ever wondered these questions, Matt Reeves’ The Batman portrays it perfectly! With every superhero movie plot focussing so much on the villain and his motives, this is a movie all about Batman, everything he is, everything that he stands for, but without neglecting the antagonist either. It shows Batmans principles, his methods, and the way he thinks. As weird as it sounds, I couldn’t spoil this movie for you even if i wanted to. This movie is an experience.
NOTE: This is a very dark and serious movie, not one with the usual comic book punchlines and laughs.
Started the movie thinking it’s interesting, went into it looks cool, then it went this is good, and at the end all I could think was this is Perfect. Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson brought to us a version of Batman never seen in movies, one that resembles the one we’re so used to seeing in comics and the animated shows.
It’s a crime, mystery, thriller, that portrays what we love about Batman, and if you’ve ever played any of the Arkham Games, you’ll really feel as if its a story in the game that you’re trying to solve. The plot isn’t exactly mind blowing, but it’s just right for what a comic book Batman movie should be like. A lot of references to source material, history lesson about the background of each character, and a few homages to the Batman mythos as well. Action sequences were very well done, very realistic, and the great cinematography work making the viewers feel the rush and emotions occurring in the scenes throughout.
Every actor and actress portrayed the characters incredibly, with Pattinson having one of the most natural and convincing Batman voice to date, and Collin Ferrel looking unrecognisable. Zoe Kravits as catwoman deserves a round of applause as well. Not to mention Paul Dano for his take on the genius psychopath.
If you’ve read this far and still haven’t watched the movie yet, you really should. Some people might not like the movie because of it’s dark and gloomy setting though.
It’s a 9/10 for me.
A solo Batman movie after 10 years, and it’s done the character Justice.
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Will Harmony OS (operating system) be the 3rd major smartphone operating system? Will all Chinese branded smartphones run on Harmony OS soon? Will it be better than iOS or Android? Will Harmony OS help Huawei retain their lost market share?
All these questions have been asked for quite some time now, yet Huawei has been vague when it came to answering these questions publicly. Why have they kept consumers and tech enthusiasts in the dark like that? Your guess is as good as mine.
On 1st July 2021, Huawei announced that Harmony OS shall be coming to over 100 phones, tablets, smartwatches, and more devices without specifying what devices will be running this new OS. This is indeed a new OS developed by Huawei and has its own microkernel and is advertised to be open source. Huawei claims Harmony OS shall run on smart devices by Huawei somewhat like Apple’s Homekit which essentially allows users to control devices such as speakers, fans, home and room lighting via Bluetooth or NFC from a consumer’s phone and other smart devices.
The interesting factor is, all existing Huawei phones, tablets, smartwatch and any other smart devices shall run on Harmony OS in the near future. But Huawei’s phones and tablets are currently running on android at the moment and are dependant on the android OS kernel(s). Huawei’s smartwatch line isrunning their own lite OS and their other devices are running their own forked out software. So, essentially Huawei has just suddenly decided to call whatever OS their devices were running on to be running on Harmony OS for their next software update. This exposition does not make sense because essentially, Huawei is just running their devices on their old OS but has now just rebranded them under the umbrella OS name of Harmony OS.
So then, is Harmony OS just a gimmick? Not really. If your home has smart devices by Huawei such as Televisions, Refrigerators, Microwave ovens, Smart Speakers, smart led lights, etc, it should make connecting to them via your Huawei or tablet phone more seamless just like Apple devices connect to Apple’s Airpods instantly once you open the airpod’s case instantaneously for example. Or at least, that is the concept Huawei is trying to sell to consumers.
Under the hood, Huawei is focusing on what they call the “DSoftbus” technology who’s goal is to connect multiple devices into one network which will allow the user to use one device to control the others and it is advertised that the data sharing and between them should be faster and smooter.
Regarding Huawei phones and tablets running Harmony OS, they are still running on the android platform. Huawei currently runs a custom skin called EMUI on top of the android versions made by Google which adds a lot of features which Google’s own stock android OS or as we know it, Vanilla android. Other brands such as Xiaomi does the same with their MIUI or Samsung with their One UI. The difference here is that Huawei is moving more and more away from stock android which Google makes, and is looking more and more different after every iteration update. This is not exactly a bad thing as it sets apart Huawei from for example a stock android phone like Pixel or Nokia whose software are designed by Google and those brands make little changes to them. This may look like Huawei is fooling all of us by trying to sell Harmony OS as a new revolutionary operating system while on the inside it’s just another custom version of android but who knows, maybe in the future they might actually come up with an OS of their own.
The encouraging thing about Harmony OS is, other Chinese brands which manufacture phones are also testing Harmony OS on their phones to test how it performs, kind of like in a beta testing phase. If that works out, maybe someday Chinese brands will all release phones running Harmony OS instead of android. This has huge potential for the Chinese smartphone market as it is still the biggest smartphone market in the world right now where Huawei still dominates the market with the biggest percentage of the consumer smartphones as per counterpointresearch.com where it was reported Huawei, in 2020 held around 40% of the market share in the first 3 quarters of 2020, and 30% in the last quarter.
Another point to note is the fact that what Harmony OS is trying to achieve here is not new. Apple already is trying this out with their Apple Homekit, Samsung has their Samsung Smart Home and Xiaomi has the option for this too with their MI Home app which allows it to control all Xiaomi gadgets and appliances from the user’s phone via Bluetooth or NFC. All of them tries to provide consumers a seamless smart home experience by allowing them to control smart home devices.
In conclusion then, no Harmony OS is not a new revolutionary OS as Huawei hyped it out to be. They are still dependant on the android platform quite heavily and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future as easter eggs show Huawei will be updating existing devise which are eligible to the Android 12 version coming soon. The only new difference in Harmony OS over EMUI are in visual changes and the name changing. Will this help Huawei win back their lost glory and the huge loss they suffered by having to sell their sub-brand Honor? Only time will tell, but for now, from a consumer standpoint, Harmony OS does not bring enough to the table to be considered something revolutionary (yet).
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In the recent conflict between Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Hamas over a “rocket war”, the true victims out of this conflict were innocent civilians and children mainly. As reported by the BBC, the fighting lasted for 11 days before both parties to the conflict engaged in talks resulting in a ceasefire.
Gaza’s health ministry reported that at the least 243 people has been killed by IDF airstrikes, this number includes at least 100 women and children. The IDF claimed it has killed 225 Hamas “militants” in these 11 days. Meanwhile, Hamas has declined to give any data on the number of casualties they suffered.
In stark contrast, during the same 11 days, the Times of Israel reported that Israel bore the brunt of a total of 1,300 rocket attacks by Hamas and Israel’s Medical services reported that these rocket attacks caused 12 casualties in addition to further damage to social infrastructure.
What is behind Israel’s low casualty rate? 1,300 rocket attacks over a period of 11 days in theory would have done far more damage to any other nation than what Israel suffered. This is all due to Israel’s much hyped “Iron Dome” system which neutralised 90% of the rocket attacks by Hamas in this conflict which is no easy task given these rocket attacks focus more in saturating the Iron Dome System with sheer number of rockets to the Iron Dome System cannot neutralise all the rockets from hitting their targets. In the recent conflict, out of the 1,300 rockets fired, only 200 managed to land in Southern Israel. In this article, I shall attempt to explain the mechanism behind the Iron Dome System and how it operates.
An interesting point I would live to draw to the reader’s attention is the fact that many of these rockets fired at Southern Israel by Hamas are quite primitive in design with unreliable guidance systems, some being as small as 90 centimetres. So, more often than now, neither Hamas or the IDF has any clue where these rockets will exactly land. These rockets may hit a populated market, a hospital, explode mid-air or even land in a farmland.
This is exactly where the Iron Dome System comes in to take out as many of these rockets as possible to reduce civilian casualties and infrastructure and economic damage to the Israeli state. This even poses a risk to the residents of Gaza itself as it has been observed that about 200 rockets in the recent conflict risked landing and exploding inside Gaza itself due to their primitive design and unskilled personnel manning these rocket batteries.
The Iron Dome System, affectionately called as the shield that defends Israel is truly a modern 21st Century engineering marvel in the defence industry. To keep it simple, this systems are divided and organised as “Battery Clusters” which includes the operating personnel, radars and an interceptor missile launcher. Currently, Israel has 10 batteries in service around their major cities and populated areas. Israel plans to increase this number to 15 in the future.
First step of the Iron Dome System is to detect incoming rockets by use of their radars which are constantly scanning the skies for incoming threats. In the second step, the command centre determines the size, trajectory, and possible place the incoming rocket might land at. And finally, one of the 10 Iron Dome missile battery shall launch an “interceptor missile” in response to the incoming threat which is essentially a rocket launched to destroy the incoming rocket in a hope to destroy it mid-air.
The feature that makes the IDF’s Iron Dome System stand out is the fact it is one of the few missile defence interceptor systems right now that can specifically counter the threat of short-range rockets and missiles. This is something that even the more costly and much hyped Patriot Missile Defence System which the defence forces of the USA and their other NATO allies rely upon are not capable of handling.
In conclusion, the Iron Dome not only intercepts 90% of the rockets fired by militants at Israeli occupied lands, but additionally it does buy crucial additional time for the residents of their land to run to and reach their designated bomb shelters as the Iron Dome tries to delay the other 10% of the rockets from reaching their targets which has proven invaluable not only saving lives but also reducing economic and infrastructure damage to civilian majority areas.
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