Iranian cyberattacks against Israel have sharply increased since the start of joint US-Israel operations against Iran earlier this year, according to a senior Israeli security official cited by Reuters on Monday. Yossi Karadi, Director General of Israel’s National Cyber Directorate, told Germany’s Die Welt newspaper that during Israel’s military campaign against Iran in June 2025, authorities recorded about 1,600 hostile cyber incidents. By June 2026, that number had surged to nearly 4,800.

Karadi said the attacks targeted Israel’s critical infrastructure, central agencies, small and medium-sized businesses, and public systems. Among smaller firms, law and accounting offices were particularly affected. He noted that Israel had so far managed to repel cyberattacks on key infrastructure sectors but warned that cyberspace, unlike traditional battlefields, has no ceasefire.

Iran typically denies conducting hacking or cyber operations against other countries and often reports being targeted by cyberattacks itself, according to the report.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman paid an unannounced visit to the Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARRSO) in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Agargaon, Dhaka, on Sunday morning. Arriving at 9:15 a.m., he toured the offices of the defense ministry–affiliated institution, meeting with officials and employees for spontaneous discussions. The visit was not part of his scheduled program.

During the inspection, SPARRSO Chairman Md. Rashidul Islam briefed the Prime Minister on the organization’s activities and overall operations. Departmental officials also presented details of their innovations, research, and ongoing projects. The Prime Minister instructed relevant authorities to develop SPARRSO into a modern, self-reliant, and nationally significant space research institution capable of contributing effectively to national security and development.

Senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Defense, and SPARRSO were present during the visit, underscoring the government’s focus on strengthening the country’s space research and remote sensing capabilities.

Nike’s new ‘Mind’ shoes, launched in January 2026, have generated worldwide excitement for their claim to influence mental well-being. The sportswear giant describes the product as its first neuroscience-based footwear, designed not for exercise but for pre- and post-activity relaxation. Available in mule and sneaker styles priced at $95 and $145 respectively, the shoes reportedly sold out quickly, with over two million people signing up for restock notifications. On resale platforms like StockX, the ‘Light Smoke Grey’ mule version has become Nike’s top-listed shoe since 2016.

According to Nike’s Sport Research Lab, the shoes feature 22 foam nodes that stimulate foot nerves, increasing electrical activity in the brain’s sensorimotor network while calming the default mode network associated with wandering thoughts. The company claims this creates a state of “relaxed alertness.” However, no peer-reviewed studies have yet verified these findings.

Loughborough University’s Dr. Ishara Dharmasena considers the concept scientifically plausible, comparing it to traditional Ayurvedic foot massage. He cautions that prolonged use might reduce effectiveness as the brain adapts, classifying the product as a “passive neuro-wearable” that promotes calm without tracking data.

The first-ever Formula Student and Automotive Engineering Summit in Bangladesh was held on Thursday at the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) in Mirpur Cantonment. The event was jointly organized by MIST Blitz, a student Formula team, and the Bangladesh Formula Student Community. It marked the country’s first national-level gathering of students, engineers, automotive industry professionals, and policymakers, drawing over 2,500 guests and visitors.

The summit aimed to strengthen collaboration between academia and the automotive industry, fostering innovation and sustainable partnerships in automotive engineering. Lieutenant General Mir Mushfiqur Rahman attended as the chief guest, while Major General Md Hakimuzzaman served as the chief patron. Brigadier General Muhammad Shariful Islam, head of MIST’s Mechanical Engineering Department, chaired the organizing committee.

Technical sessions on automotive and Formula Student engineering were conducted by experts, alongside discussions on the development of the country’s automotive and OEM sectors. Student-focused competitions included the Formula Future Business Case, IC Engine Masterclass and Quiz, Concept Car Challenge, CAD Design Contest, and Poster Presentation.

A stakeholder meeting was held on June 24 at the Bridge Division conference room to review a high-level committee report on establishing a unified and interoperable electronic toll collection (ETC) network across Bangladesh. The meeting, chaired by Bridge Division Secretary and Bangladesh Bridge Authority Executive Director Mohammad Abdur Rouf, brought together representatives from government agencies, private stakeholders, technology experts, and journalists.

Participants discussed a proposed architecture for a single, self-contained platform that would integrate existing RFID-based ETC systems through APIs, enabling low-cost and rapid implementation. The plan recommends execution under the ICT Division or one of its affiliated agencies. A policy decision was made to use a single RFID tag issued by BRTA instead of multiple agency-specific tags, and to develop a unified mobile app for registration, toll information, digital payments, and traffic alerts. Attendees praised the proposal and emphasized the need for secure transactions and simplified user registration.

The initiative aims to reduce travel time, fuel waste, and public inconvenience while advancing the government’s goal of a cashless society and fully automated toll management nationwide.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has warned that strict legal action will be taken against anyone using wireless devices or walkie-talkies without a valid license. In a press release issued on Thursday, the commission said joint operations with law enforcement agencies are ongoing in Dhaka and other regions to identify and seize illegal telecommunication equipment. During these drives, unlicensed walkie-talkies have been confiscated from various organizations, and related cases have been filed at local police stations.

According to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulation Act, 2001 (Amendment-2026), obtaining frequency allocation and a license from BTRC is mandatory for the use, storage, import, marketing, or operation of any wireless communication device. The commission emphasized that using such devices without authorization is a punishable offense under the law.

BTRC has urged all businesses, security service providers, hotels, restaurants, and shopping malls to ensure compliance with licensing requirements. It also confirmed that enforcement operations against illegal wireless devices will continue nationwide.

Thousands of residents in Sitakunda, Chattogram, have faced severe difficulties after a central server failure disrupted the prepaid electricity system for two consecutive days. The outage has affected around 40,000 customers from Kumira to Darogahat, leaving many unable to recharge their meters through mobile banking services. Although money is being deducted from users’ accounts, the amounts are not being added to their meters, and no recharge tokens are being issued.

Local reports indicate that many customers have repeatedly tried to recharge without success, forcing some to rely on emergency loan features to maintain temporary power supply. Families with children, elderly, students, and sick members are reportedly suffering the most as daily activities, education, and healthcare face disruption. Residents have criticized the lack of an effective backup system for such a vital digital public service.

Officials from the Barabkunda residential electricity office confirmed the issue, while the Bangladesh Power Development Board’s regional chief engineer said efforts are underway to restore the server soon. Observers have called for stronger backup and risk management systems to prevent similar crises in the future.

Munshiganj District Jail has become the first prison in Bangladesh to introduce a fully cashless management system. Starting Sunday, all financial transactions for inmates are now conducted digitally without the use of physical cash. The initiative was confirmed by the Department of Prisons’ AIG (Development and Media), Jannat-ul-Farhad.

According to prison authorities, the modern and secure digital system maximizes the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. This allows real-time tracking of inmates’ locations and ensures accurate counting and enhanced security within prison wards. Under the new system, relatives can deposit money virtually into an inmate’s designated account, which inmates can then use via RFID cards to purchase food or other items from the prison canteen.

Officials stated that the cashless system is expected to reduce corruption and irregularities, increase transparency and accountability, and ensure complete financial security for inmates.

The government of Bangladesh has planned to install underground fiber lines to deliver dynamic internet services to 87,000 villages and enhance digital access for marginalized communities. The initiative, originally launched as the ‘Tiger Project’ in 2022 and later renamed ‘D-Star’ or ‘Digital Star,’ received an initial allocation of 300 million US dollars. The Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission began groundwork to implement the project aimed at strengthening rural connectivity.

Progress has stalled due to disputes between mobile operators and fiber network businesses. Mobile operators have urged the government to expand spectrum coverage instead of direct fiber connections, while fiber providers argue that underground fiber connectivity at the union level would ensure better quality and resilience. The project remains pending at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council as both sides lobby for control.

Telecom experts have supported the underground approach, citing reduced risk of cable damage during natural disasters and less infrastructure clutter. The government has reportedly decided in principle to route fiber lines underground to improve reliability and minimize corruption risks.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has announced that all public transport vehicles in the country must have functional Global Positioning System (GPS) devices installed by August 1. The decision follows a directive issued by the Road Transport and Highways Division to enhance road safety and improve transport management through modern technology. BRTA published a public notice on Monday confirming the enforcement timeline.

According to the notice, the GPS requirement aims to integrate advanced information technology into the public transport system to ensure safer and more efficient road operations. The technical specifications for the GPS devices can be obtained from local BRTA offices or downloaded from its official website. The Road Transport and Highways Division issued the related gazette notification on June 11.

BRTA further stated that under the Road Transport Act 2018 and the Road Transport Rules 2022, registration and fitness certificate renewals will only be processed after verifying that the required GPS devices have been properly installed. The authority has sought cooperation from transport owners and all stakeholders to implement the directive effectively.

Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam announced that the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will begin supplying electricity to Bangladesh’s national grid by the end of August 2026. He made the statement in parliament while responding to a question from a ruling party member representing Jamalpur-3. The minister said the plant is currently in the commissioning and start-up phase, which is the final and most complex stage before commercial power generation.

According to Anam, fuel loading for Unit-1 began on April 28, 2026, under Stage-B of the project. Ongoing activities include reactor fuel installation, boric acid addition, reactor and primary circuit testing, safety verification, and subcriticality tests. The next steps involve bringing the reactor to a critical state, conducting integrated control and safety system tests, and gradually increasing reactor power from 10–12 percent to 35–40 percent for technical evaluations.

The minister expressed optimism about the project’s progress, stating that after all tests and commissioning are completed, the generator will be synchronized with the national grid approximately 114 days after fuel loading, initially supplying around 300 megawatts of electricity.

Four major Iranian banks have been targeted in a cyberattack, according to the country’s Banking Coordination Council. The affected institutions include Bank Melli, Bank Tejarat, Bank Saderat, and the Export Development Bank of Iran. The attack focused on the shared communication infrastructure used by these banks, temporarily disrupting some banking services.

Authorities reported that immediate protective measures were taken following the incident. The council confirmed that hackers did not gain access to customer information and no data was deleted. Efforts are currently underway to fully restore normal operations.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not specify the origin of the attack or the extent of the disruption beyond temporary service impacts.

SpaceX reached a new peak last Friday with a record-setting debut on the global stock market, marking a major milestone in its two-decade journey. The AFP highlighted five defining moments in the company’s history, from its early struggles to its latest technological breakthroughs.

In 2008, SpaceX achieved its first successful orbital launch after several failures, saving the company from collapse. By 2012, its Dragon spacecraft became the first privately built vehicle to dock with the International Space Station. The 2018 Falcon Heavy test flight famously carried a Tesla car into space, though some promised missions, such as a lunar trip for a Japanese billionaire, never materialized. Between 2020 and 2023, the company focused on developing the Starship megaproject at its Texas facility, enduring multiple explosive tests that founder Elon Musk described as part of the learning process.

In October 2024, SpaceX successfully caught its Super Heavy booster midair using giant mechanical arms, marking a major step toward fully reusable rockets. The company continues to refine Starship technology for future lunar and Mars missions.

Meta-owned social media platform Facebook faced a widespread outage starting Friday evening, leaving users unable to access their accounts or load content properly. Many users reported login failures, slow app and website performance, and news feeds not updating. The issue was reflected on monitoring platforms such as Down Detector, which recorded numerous reports of disruptions.

As of the latest update, Meta had not issued any official statement explaining the cause of the outage. The exact reason behind the disruption remains unclear. The temporary service failure has caused confusion and frustration among users worldwide.

The situation highlights the global reliance on Facebook for communication and information sharing, with users awaiting clarification and restoration of normal service.

Chittagong University has launched a pilot phase of the JoBike service to ease student transportation on campus. The service was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Al-Forkan on Thursday morning in front of the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (ChakSU) building. Initially, 10 pedal-assist JoBikes will operate across five designated zones for 40 days, with a per-minute fare of 1.5 taka. Students can unlock and lock the bikes using a mobile app by scanning a QR code.

According to university officials, after the trial period, around 100 pedal-assist JoBikes will be introduced permanently, with the fare reduced to 0.8 taka per minute. The Vice-Chancellor said the relaunch marks a new convenience for students and expressed hope for its long-term success through responsible use. ChakSU’s communication and accommodation secretary Ishaq Bhuiyan noted that the service resumed after nearly five years, following student demand and discussions with JoBike CEO Mehedi Reza in 2025.

JoBike founder and CEO Mehedi Reza stated that within the 40-day trial, 50 additional e-bikes will be added, along with 20 parking points and a modern Jo Café for students.