United News of Bangladesh

A major outage of Sony’s PlayStation Network (PSN) on Saturday has left tens of thousands of gamers unable to access online services, stores and multimedia apps. “We are aware some users might be currently experiencing issues with PSN,” PlayStation said on its social media platforms, confirming users’ mounting complaints around the globe. Reports of connectivity issues spread quickly across social media, with users frustrated by error messages and login failures. “PSN down on a Friday night is criminal,” a London-based user named Ramos wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Musk’s aggressive cost-cutting tactics that shook Washington and Backfired at Twitter According to the Downdetector outage tracking site, users started to report issues with PSN late Friday. Shortly after, Sony responded to users’ concerns, confirming the problems without providing details on the possible cause of the outage. The Sony website confirmed problems with its PlayStation Network services. The PlayStation support webpage said “some services are experiencing issues,” including its account management and gaming and social services, as well as PlayStation Video, PlayStation Store and PlayStation Direct. Last October the PlayStation network was down for several hours.

A major outage of Sony’s PlayStation Network (PSN) on Saturday has left tens of thousands of gamers unable to access online services, stores and multimedia apps. “We are aware some users might be currently experiencing issues with PSN,” PlayStation said on its social media platforms, confirming users’ mounting complaints around the globe, AP reports. Reports of connectivity issues spread quickly across social media, with users frustrated by error messages and login failures. “PSN down on a Friday night is criminal,” a London-based user named Ramos wrote on X, formerly Twitter. According to the Downdetector outage tracking site, users started to report issues with PSN late Friday. Best Squid Game-inspired mobile games for Android & iOS in 2025 Shortly after, Sony responded to users’ concerns, confirming the problems without providing details on the possible cause of the outage. The Sony website confirmed problems with its PlayStation Network services. The PlayStation support webpage said “some services are experiencing issues,” including its account management and gaming and social services, as well as PlayStation Video, PlayStation Store and PlayStation Direct. Last October the PlayStation network was down for several hours.

In an era where digital security is paramount, cyber threats are evolving at an alarming pace. Among the latest and most concerning hacking techniques is the Zero-Click Hack, a sophisticated cyberattack that allows hackers to infiltrate a user's device without any interaction from the victim. Recent reports indicate that nearly 90 WhatsApp users across more than two dozen countries have fallen victim to this silent yet dangerous hacking method. What is a Zero-Click Hack? As the name suggests, a zero-click hack is a form of cyberattack that does not require the user to click on a malicious link, download a file, or take any action. Unlike traditional phishing attempts that rely on social engineering, these attacks exploit software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorised access. Hackers typically exploit weaknesses in messaging applications, email clients, or multimedia processing functions, sending malicious electronic documents that compromise devices without requiring any user interaction. WhatsApp accuses Israeli spyware firm of targeting journalists, activists In the case of WhatsApp, the attackers took advantage of vulnerabilities in the messaging app, allowing them to gain access to sensitive information. How Do Zero-Click Attacks Work? Zero-click attacks work by sending malicious files to targeted individuals. These files are processed by the operating system or application without the user's knowledge, granting hackers access to vital data such as messages, call logs, photos, and even the device’s microphone and camera. This type of cyberattack is particularly dangerous because it is difficult to detect and prevent. Since there is no need for user interaction, conventional security awareness—such as avoiding suspicious links—does not provide protection against such threats. The WhatsApp Security Breach WhatsApp recently disclosed that nearly 90 users had been targeted by hackers using spyware developed by the Israeli company Paragon Solutions. This spyware enabled attackers to infiltrate victims' devices without requiring them to take any action. Among those affected were journalists and members of civil society. In response, WhatsApp has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Paragon Solutions and has reassured users of its commitment to maintaining privacy and security. How to Stay Safe from Zero-Click Attacks While zero-click attacks are highly sophisticated and challenging to prevent, users can take certain precautions to minimise the risk: Keep Apps Updated: Always update your applications to the latest versions. Updates often include security patches that fix vulnerabilities exploited by hackers. All social media platforms including Facebook to be unblocked within 2 hours today, Palak says Enable Automatic Updates: This ensures that your device installs security updates as soon as they become available, reducing the window of opportunity for hackers to exploit vulnerabilities. Monitor Device Behaviour: Unusual signs, such as sudden battery drainage, unexpected app behaviour, or strange messages from unknown contacts, may indicate a compromise. Report Suspicious Activity: If you suspect your device has been compromised, report it to your local cybercrime unit immediately. The Fight Against Cyber Threats Despite the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks, companies like WhatsApp continue to implement security measures to protect user data. However, digital safety remains a shared responsibility. Users must stay informed about emerging threats and adopt best practices to safeguard their digital presence. As technology advances, so do the tactics employed by cybercriminals. Zero-click hacks serve as a stark reminder that cybersecurity vigilance is more critical than ever

When Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, he swiftly implemented drastic cost-cutting measures—laying off thousands, halting rent payments, and even auctioning off office furniture—in a bid to revive the platform. Now, Musk has taken the same hardline approach to the federal government, wielding significant influence with President Donald Trump’s support. However, those who witnessed his leadership at Twitter warn that Washington should brace for turmoil—ideologically driven downsizing, fear-based management, legal battles, and widespread disruption. Since taking charge of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has consolidated authority over vast areas of governance, sidelined experienced officials, accessed sensitive databases, and provoked constitutional disputes over executive power. US lawmakers seek ban on DeepSeek from government devices Emily Horne, a former Twitter policy communications head who later joined the Biden administration, describes Musk’s leadership style as: “Take over, purge perceived opposition without hesitation, and dismantle operations to reshape them in his vision.” Whether Musk’s radical overhaul at Twitter has succeeded remains unclear. The platform, now rebranded as X, has suffered a decline in revenue and user engagement, with Musk himself voicing frustration over its slow financial recovery. “It’s failing,” said Ross Gerber, a minority X shareholder who has written off his investment, predicting that Musk will struggle in Washington as well. “The federal government will chew him up and spit him out.” Despite financial setbacks, X continues to attract a large global user base and bolster Musk’s political clout. However, as he pushes for mass layoffs in federal agencies, banks that funded his Twitter acquisition are scrambling to offload the debt, while advertisers remain hesitant to return to X. Musk’s approach extends beyond mere efficiency; it’s also about eliminating what he sees as a “woke” agenda. Long before Trump made opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) a campaign focus, Musk dismantled Twitter’s DEI programs and dismissed the employees overseeing them. “The culture of Twitter died,” said Theodora Skeadas, a former employee laid off soon after Musk’s $44 billion takeover. “That could be the fate of many government agencies too.” Another tactic Musk has carried over to government: demanding public displays of loyalty. Former Twitter executive Rumman Chowdhury recalls how Musk required engineers to print out their code for in-person review by less-experienced evaluators—a move she sees as intimidation rather than productive oversight. “It’s a fear-driven strategy,” Chowdhury said. “And judging by Twitter/X’s performance, it’s not effective long-term.” Musk later sought to rehire some of the engineers he had fired. His confrontational style also alienated advertisers. Within months of his Twitter acquisition, advertising revenue plummeted by 50% as brands feared he was relaxing content moderation excessively. Rather than attempting to win them back, Musk lashed out, threatening to publicly shame departing advertisers and later telling them to “go f*** themselves” at a conference. “That was self-sabotage,” said ad consultant Tom Hespos, who subsequently advised clients to avoid even posting on X to protect their brands. In August, Musk escalated his battle by suing companies like Unilever, Mars, and CVS Health, accusing them of an “illegal boycott.” He later expanded the lawsuit to include brands such as Lego, Shell, and Nestlé. His legal entanglements extend beyond advertisers—he is still embroiled in disputes with over 2,000 former Twitter employees. Last week, a judge paused a deadline requiring government workers to accept a severance offer Musk had proposed, echoing his controversial “fork in the road” ultimatum at Twitter in 2022. Lawyer Shannon Liss-Riordan, who represents many ex-Twitter employees, said Musk’s reluctance to settle disputes cost X “an insane amount of money” in legal fees. “If this is how he’s running the federal government, I’d be seriously worried about its finances.” Neither X nor DOGE responded to requests for comment from the Associated Press. Musk’s extreme cost-cutting at Twitter also involved simply not paying debts, leading landlords in San Francisco and the UK to sue for unpaid rent. While the British case settled privately, the U.S. case was dismissed under unclear terms. Musk has since brought one of X’s real estate executives into the government. Even if Musk’s cuts had been an undeniable success at X, applying the same strategies to government agencies—where services must continue uninterrupted—poses a different challenge. Legal experts warn that Musk and Trump are overstepping congressional spending authority, predicting that lawsuits will stall their efforts. “All of this is legally questionable,” said University of Michigan law professor Nicholas Bagley. “And that’s before considering civil service protections that prevent politically motivated firings. There will be a lot of bold rhetoric, but in practice, they’ll achieve much less.” Some allies have urged Musk to slow down. Tech investor Paul Graham recently advised him via X to “take your time and be careful.” “The government isn’t just another company,” Graham warned. “Companies come and go—it’s fine. But we’re talking about the system itself here.” Minority X shareholder Gerber acknowledges Musk’s ability to foster loyalty within his companies but doubts his methods will succeed in Washington. “You can’t just fire everyone,” Gerber said. “This is going to be a historic battle.”

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has introduced legislation to prohibit the use of the Chinese artificial intelligence app DeepSeek on federal government devices, citing security risks. Representatives Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey, and Darin LaHood, a Republican from Illinois, introduced the “No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act” on Thursday. The bill seeks to bar federal employees from using the AI app on government-issued electronics, following concerns that the Chinese government could leverage the technology for surveillance and misinformation. A similar restriction is already in place for the social media platform TikTok. “The Chinese Communist Party has demonstrated time and again that it will exploit technology to undermine our national security, spread disinformation, and collect data on Americans,” Gottheimer said in a statement. “We cannot allow the CCP to infiltrate our government networks and jeopardize sensitive information.” The proposal follows DeepSeek’s December launch of an AI model that reportedly rivals those developed by US tech firms like OpenAI, Meta, and Alphabet, but at a significantly lower cost. A January research paper highlighting DeepSeek’s capabilities raised concerns among policymakers and tech leaders. Researchers link China's DeepSeek chatbot to a state telecom, raising privacy concerns Security analysts have also flagged potential risks. A report by research firm Feroot, cited by The Associated Press, found that DeepSeek’s software code could transmit user login details to a Chinese state-owned telecom company barred from operating in the US Gottheimer emphasized the urgency of banning the app. “This was enough of a warning sign to take immediate action,” he told the AP. “Americans need to understand the privacy risks, especially as AI chatbots are used to handle sensitive information, contracts, and proprietary data.” He also urged Congress to further investigate DeepSeek’s surveillance potential. The US-China rivalry in technology continues to escalate, with Washington imposing restrictions on Chinese firms like Huawei, limiting microchip exports, and pressuring TikTok’s Chinese parent company to divest. In 2023, the Biden administration banned TikTok from federal devices. “This bipartisan bill is a commonsense step to prevent the app from accessing government networks while closing security loopholes,” LaHood said. Judge says Elon Musk's claims of harm from OpenAI are a 'stretch' but welcomes possible trial The legislation would apply to DeepSeek and any AI app developed by its parent company, High-Flyer, with exceptions for national security and research. Several countries have already restricted DeepSeek. Italy blocked access to the app last month, while Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, and Texas have all barred its use on government systems.

Colmi has built a strong reputation among budget-conscious smartwatch users, offering affordable yet feature-rich devices. The popular Chinese brand recently introduced its latest model, the Colmi P78, in Bangladesh, aiming to attract wearable tech enthusiasts with a balance of functionality and affordability. In this review, we’ll explore its key features, ideal users, and whether it’s worth your money. Key Specifications of the Colmi P78 Smartwatch The Colmi P78 is a fine overhaul of its predecessor. It boasts a more polished design, a larger screen, and additional features contributing to a better experience. Design The design features a round-cornered, rectangular mainframe containing about a 2-inch display. Colmi has coined the term “bowl-shaped,” referring to the watch’s spherically curved sides. Beyond its larger body, the Colmi P78 differs from its predecessor in many ways, including featuring slimmer bezels and incorporating a side-mounted flashlight. Read more: Xinji Nothing 3 Review: Amoled Smartwatch for 5000 Taka Though the entire body is plastic-made, all seams and engravings manifest delicate finishing and IP67 water resistance. With a 10.7mm thickness and 30g of weight, the watch meets the mass demand for a slim and lightweight design. On the upper right side sits a knurled crown with added functionalities to sweep through different on-display options. For every unit of rotation, the crown makes a clicking sound, allowing blind navigation. The knurls give a better grip, even for wet hands. The watch provides four distinct colour variations– black, silver, pink, and gold. Display The Colmi P78 ships with a 1.95-inch AMOLED screen, an appreciable leap from the previous model’s LCD panel. Also, a wider 410 by 502 resolution renders sharper visuals on the screen. However, due to a lower refresh rate, the navigation across the board lacks the smooth haptic feedback of higher touch-responsive displays. Unlike many budget-friendly options, the display supports always-on-display screensavers. Read more: Havit M9030 Pro Review: A Competent Mid-range Smartwatch Screen and Software The Colmi P78 uses customizable screens accessible via its native app, Da Fit. Supporting beyond Android 5.0 and iOS 10.0 versions, it comes with a standard navigation system. Menus and icons, reflected in well-saturated, vivid colors, justify the perk of using an AMOLED display. The app follows an easy synchronization procedure allowing room for all ages usability. Hardware and Connectivities A REALTEK8763E chip does a good job as a processor showing no lag or weariness during long conversations. Among other sensors, the VC30F-S heart chip nearly matches premium sensors in accuracy. The app features all the basic to advanced tracking systems, including sports modes, health reminders, sleep monitoring, and women's health modes that use AI algorithms to track health and provide essential insights. Battery The Colmi P78 has a robust 340mAh battery that can run for 5 to 7 days with mid-to-high level usage. Recharging the watch from 0 to full takes around 2 hours with a two-pin magnetic cable. Read more: Haylou RS5 Review: A Budget-friendly Smartwatch with Health Monitoring Features Pros and Cons of the Colmi P78 Smartwatch Pros - 6 month’s official warranty- Large, thin, and light design- AMOLED display- Always-on-display mode- Durable battery. Cons - IP67 rating, where IP68 rating is preferable- Plastic frame- Always-on-display is not auto-responsive- Low refresh rate. Read more: Xinji Cobee CA1 Review: Waterproof Smartwatch to Monitor Health and Fitness Price of Colmi P78 in Bangladesh The Colmi P78 is available in Bangladesh for BDT 2,690. Conclusion The Colmi P78 fulfills budget-conscious people’s need for a feature-rich smartwatch. It boasts a classic design, a resourceful mobile app, a beyond-the-class display, and a durable battery. Despite a few shortcomings, The Colmi P78 stands out as one of the best choices for a value-for-money smartwatch. Read more: Honor Watch 4 Review: Is it worth buying?

Workday is cutting about 1,750 jobs, or 8.5% of its workforce. In a Wednesday memo to employees, published in a securities filing, Workday CEO Carl Eschenbach said the layoffs were necessary for ongoing growth efforts at the company — including a particular focus on artificial intelligence investments. “As we start our new fiscal year, we’re at a pivotal moment,” Eschenbach wrote. “Companies everywhere are reimagining how work gets done, and the increasing demand for AI has the potential to drive a new era of growth for Workday.” Workday aims to notify the majority of employees affected by the cuts on Wednesday. “I realize this is tough news, and it affects all of us,” Eschenbach added — encouraging employees to work from or head home for the day. Researchers link China's DeepSeek chatbot to a state telecom, raising privacy concerns The maker of human resources software also disclosed that it expects to exit certain office space, but didn't specify a timeline or which locations may be impacted. Still, Eschenbach's memo notes that the restructuring will work to expand Workday's global reach by “investing in strategic locations.” And despite the current layoffs, the maker of human resources software says that it still expects to continue hiring in certain locations and positions over the next year. Workday estimates that it will incur between $230 million and $270 million in charges related to the restructuring plan — primarily in severance payments, employee benefits and other related costs. All employees laid off in the U.S. will be offered a minimum of 12 weeks of pay, with additional weeks based on tenure, Eschenbach said Wednesday, adding that affected workers in other countries will be offered packages based on local standards. The job cuts at Workday arrive as layoffs continue across the tech sector — including from big names like Intel, Cisco and Apple over the past year — amid a broader wave of industry consolidation. Many companies have turned to restructuring as they grapple with how to stay competitive with evolving consumer spending, while also boosting AI-related investments. Workday plans to release earnings results for its full 2025 fiscal year later this month. In the third quarter, the Pleasanton, California-based company posted a net income of $193 million and revenue of $2.16 billion — up from a net income of $132 million and revenue of $2.09 billion in the period prior. Shares for Workday were up more than 2.5% by midday trading Wednesday.

The website of the Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek, whose chatbot became the most downloaded app in the United States, has computer code that could send some user login information to a Chinese state-owned telecommunications company that has been barred from operating in the United States, security researchers say. The web login page of DeepSeek’s chatbot contains heavily obfuscated computer script that when deciphered shows connections to computer infrastructure owned by China Mobile, a state-owned telecommunications company. The code appears to be part of the account creation and user login process for DeepSeek. In its privacy policy, DeepSeek acknowledged storing data on servers inside the People’s Republic of China. But its chatbot appears more directly tied to the Chinese state than previously known through the link revealed by researchers to China Mobile. The U.S. has claimed there are close ties between China Mobile and the Chinese military as justification for placing limited sanctions on the company. DeepSeek and China Mobile did not respond to emails seeking comment. The growth of Chinese-controlled digital services has become a major topic of concern for U.S. national security officials. Lawmakers in Congress last year on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis voted to force the Chinese parent company of the popular video-sharing app TikTok to divest or face a nationwide ban though the app has since received a 75-day reprieve from President Donald Trump, who is hoping to work out a sale. Italy blocks access to the Chinese AI application DeepSeek to protect users' data The code linking DeepSeek to one of China’s leading mobile phone providers was first discovered by Feroot Security, a Canadian cybersecurity company, which shared its findings with The Associated Press. The AP took Feroot’s findings to a second set of computer experts, who independently confirmed that China Mobile code is present. Neither Feroot nor the other researchers observed data transferred to China Mobile when testing logins in North America, but they could not rule out that data for some users was being transferred to the Chinese telecom. The analysis only applies to the web version of DeepSeek. They did not analyze the mobile version, which remains one of the most downloaded pieces of software on both the Apple and the Google app stores. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission unanimously denied China Mobile authority to operate in the United States in 2019, citing “substantial” national security concerns about links between the company and the Chinese state. In 2021, the Biden administration also issued sanctions limiting the ability of Americans to invest in China Mobile after the Pentagon linked it to the Chinese military. “It’s mindboggling that we are unknowingly allowing China to survey Americans and we’re doing nothing about it,” said Ivan Tsarynny, CEO of Feroot. “It’s hard to believe that something like this was accidental. There are so many unusual things to this. You know that saying ‘Where there’s smoke, there’s fire’? In this instance, there’s a lot of smoke,” Tsarynny said. Texas Governor orders ban on DeepSeek, RedNote for government devices Stewart Baker, a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer and consultant who has previously served as a top official at the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency, said DeepSeek “raises all of the TikTok concerns plus you’re talking about information that is highly likely to be of more national security and personal significance than anything people do on TikTok," one of the world’s most popular social media platforms. Users are increasingly putting sensitive data into generative AI systems — everything from confidential business information to highly personal details about themselves. People are using generative AI systems for spell-checking, research and even highly personal queries and conversations. The data security risks of such technology are magnified when the platform is owned by a geopolitical adversary and could represent an intelligence goldmine for a country, experts warn. “The implications of this are significantly larger because personal and proprietary information could be exposed. It’s like TikTok but at a much grander scale and with more precision. It’s not just sharing entertainment videos. It’s sharing queries and information that could include highly personal and sensitive business information,” said Tsarynny, of Feroot. Feroot, which specializes in identifying threats on the web, identified computer code that is downloaded and triggered when a user logs into DeepSeek. According to the company’s analysis, the code appears to capture detailed information about the device a user logs in from — a process called fingerprinting. Such techniques are widely used by tech companies around the world for security, verification and ad targeting. The company’s analysis of the code determined that there were links in that code pointing to China Mobile authentication and identity management computer systems, meaning it could be part of the login process for some users accessing DeepSeek. Asian stocks rise as DeepSeek panic fades The AP asked two academic cybersecurity experts — Joel Reardon of the University of Calgary and Serge Egelman of the University of California, Berkeley — to verify Feroot’s findings. In their independent analysis of the DeepSeek code, they confirmed there were links between the chatbot’s login system and China Mobile. “It’s clear that China Mobile is somehow involved in registering for DeepSeek,” said Reardon. He didn’t see data being transferred in his testing but concluded that it is likely being activated for some users or in some login methods.

Elon Musk's lawyers faced off with OpenAI in court Tuesday as a federal judge weighed the billionaire's request for a court order that would block the ChatGPT maker from converting itself to a for-profit company. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said it was a “stretch” for Musk to claim he will be irreparably harmed if she doesn't intervene to stop OpenAI from moving forward with its transition from a nonprofit research laboratory to a for-profit corporation. But the judge also raised concerns about OpenAI and its relationship with business partner Microsoft and said she wouldn't stop the case from moving to trial as soon as next year so a jury can decide. “It is plausible that what Mr. Musk is saying is true. We’ll find out. He’ll sit on the stand,” she said. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company last year, first in a California state court and later in federal court, alleging it had betrayed its founding aims as a nonprofit research lab benefiting the public good. Musk had invested about $45 million in the startup from its founding until 2018, his lawyer said Tuesday. Musk escalated the legal dispute late last year, adding new claims and defendants and asking for a court order that would stop OpenAI’s plans to convert itself into a for-profit business more fully. Musk also added his own AI company, xAI, as a plaintiff. Also targeted by Musk's lawsuit is OpenAI's close business partner Microsoft and tech entrepreneur Reid Hoffman, a former OpenAI board member who also sits on Microsoft's board. Gonzalez Rogers said she has a high bar for approving the kind of preliminary injunction that Musk wants but hasn't yet ruled on the request. She did say she had “significant concerns” with two people connected to Microsoft on OpenAI's board — Hoffman and longtime Microsoft executive Deanna Templeton, who was a “non-voting observer.” “So you want me to believe that she was sitting there listening to all the discussions and not telling anybody? What would the point be for her to sit there and listen to everybody, if not to communicate what she was listening? There would be no point for her to be there, which is why she actually should not be there,” she said. Hoffman, a co-founder of LinkedIn, has been on Microsoft’s board since shortly after the tech giant bought the job networking site. He stepped down from OpenAI's board in 2023 to avoid conflicts with his AI startup, Inflection. Musk says USAID “criminal organisation, we’re shutting it down” Templeton, who Musk also named as a defendant, was added as a non-voting member of OpenAI’s board in the aftermath of Altman’s ouster after Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella sought more stability on the board. But months later, she was dropped from the OpenAI board as U.S. antitrust enforcers were expressing concerns about such arrangements on corporate boards. The judge has handled a number of tech industry cases including Apple's fight with Epic Games, though she said Tuesday that Musk's case is “nothing like” that one. That case was also the last time she granted a preliminary injunction, in 2020, eight months before the case went to trial. Then-President Barack Obama appointed Gonzalez Rogers to the federal bench in 2011. Tuesday's hearing was originally set for January but was postponed after Musk's attorney Marc Toberoff said his house was destroyed in the Pacific Palisades wildfire. Musk, who did not attend the hearing, has alleged in the lawsuit that the companies are violating the terms of his foundational contributions to the charity. Judge Gonzalez Rogers called it a “stretch” to claim “irreparable harm” to Musk, and called the case “billionaires vs. billionaires.” She questioned why Musk invested tens of millions in OpenAI without a written contract. Toberoff said it was because the relationship between Altman and Musk at the time was “built on trust” and the two were very close. “That is just a lot of money” to invest “on a handshake,” the judge said. OpenAI has said Musk’s requested court order would “debilitate OpenAI’s business” and mission to the advantage of Musk and his own AI company and is based on “far-fetched” legal claims. At the heart of the dispute is a 2017 internal power struggle at the fledgling startup that led to Altman becoming OpenAI’s CEO. Emails disclosed by OpenAI show Musk had also sought to be CEO and grew frustrated after two other OpenAI co-founders said he would hold too much power as a major shareholder and chief executive if the startup succeeded in its goal to achieve better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence, or AGI. Musk has long voiced concerns about how advanced forms of AI could threaten humanity. Altman eventually succeeded in becoming CEO and has remained so except for a period in 2023 when he was fired and then reinstated days later after the board that ousted him was replaced. Elon Musk's DOGE commission gains access to sensitive Treasury payment systems: AP sources OpenAI has sought to demonstrate Musk’s early support for the idea of making OpenAI a for-profit business so it could raise money for the hardware and computer power that AI needs. Musk is not the only one challenging OpenAI's for-profit transition. Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms has asked California's attorney general to block it, and the office of Delaware's attorney general has said it is reviewing the conversion. It was not clear Tuesday when the case might go to trial. Musk's lawyers initially said they would be ready by June after some back-and-forth with the two sides the judge indicated it probably won't be until June 2026 at the earliest, but likely early 2027.

Released on January 9, 2025, the realme 14 Pro+ is the latest addition to realme’s 14 series, aiming to compete in the mid-range segment. With improvements over its predecessor, it is challenging rivals from brands like Huawei, Honor, vivo, etc. Let’s look at the key specs, pros, cons and pricing of the realme 14 Pro Plus in Bangladesh. Key Features of realme 14 Pro+ . Design and Build Quality  The realme 14 Pro+ features a glass front with Gorilla Glass 7i, a plastic frame, and a plastic back, ensuring durability while keeping the weight at 194g or 196g. It is IP68/IP69-certified, offering dust and water resistance up to 1.5m for 30 minutes, making it more durable than the realme 13 Pro+, which had IP65 certification.  The Honor Magic7 Lite is IP64-rated, while the Huawei Nova 13 is only splash-resistant. The realme 14 Pro+ stands out for users needing better durability and water protection. Read more: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review: A Game-Changer or Overpriced Flagship? Display Quality The realme 14 Pro+ features a 6.83-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1272 by 2800 pixels (~450 PPI density). The display supports 1 billion colors and reaches a peak brightness of 1500 nits, ensuring standard outdoor visibility.  In comparison, the realme 13 Pro+ offers a bit smaller AMOLED display with a lower resolution making the 14 Pro+ sharper and more vibrant.  The Honor Magic7 Lite has a smaller AMOLED panel with a similar display quality but boasts a higher peak brightness of 4000 nits. Though the Huawei Nova 13, comes with a smaller OLED panel and lower sharpness than the realme 14 Pro+, it offers good color accuracy. Read more: Smartphones Launching in February 2025: Top Flagship and Mid-Range Releases Among the other mid-rangers, realme Neo7 offers 6000 nits peak brightness and iQOO Neo10 (China) boasts a 144Hz refresh rate.   Camera Performance The realme 14 Pro+ boasts a triple-camera system, including a 50MP main sensor with OIS and multi-directional PDAF, a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and OIS, and an 8MP ultrawide sensor with a 112° field of view. Compared to the realme 13 Pro+, which had a similar 50MP setup, the 14 Pro+ benefits from an improved f/1.8 aperture for better low-light performance.  The realme 14 Pro+ offers a maximum of 4K video capacity at 30fps. However, the rival vivo iQOO Neo 10 outperformed the 14 Pro+ with its 8K video shooting capacity at similar price ranges. Read more: Xiaomi 15 Review: Specs, Features, and Price in Bangladesh The Honor Magic7 Lite features a 108MP main sensor and a 5MP ultrawide, but it lacks OIS and a telephoto lens, making it less versatile for zoom photography. The Huawei Nova 13 also has a dual-camera system (50MP main + 8MP ultrawide) but does not include a telephoto lens, limiting zoom capabilities.  For selfies, the realme 14 Pro+ offers a 32MP front camera with 4K recording, matching the realme 13 Pro+, while the Huawei Nova 13’s 60MP ultrawide selfie camera is better suited for group photos and vloggers. Processor Performance The realme 14 Pro+ is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4nm) chipset, featuring an octa-core CPU (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A720, 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A720, 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A520) and an Adreno 710 GPU (940 MHz). Compared to the realme 13 Pro+, which used the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4nm), the Gen 3 chipset provides better efficiency and faster performance.  Read more: realme Neo7 Review: Is This Mid-Range Gaming Powerhouse Worth Buying? The Honor Magic7 Lite runs on the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4nm), which is less powerful, making the realme 14 Pro+ superior for multitasking and gaming. The Huawei Nova 13, running on HarmonyOS 4.2, uses a custom Kirin processor, which is optimized for battery efficiency but not high-performance gaming. Gaming Performance With the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 and Adreno 710 GPU, the realme 14 Pro+ handles demanding games smoothly at high settings. Its 120Hz refresh rate and improved touch sampling provide a more responsive gaming experience compared to the realme 13 Pro+.  The Honor Magic7 Lite, with its Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 and Adreno 710, struggles with high-end games like Genshin Impact at maximum settings. The Huawei Nova 13, while optimized for day-to-day performance, lacks a high-performance GPU, making it less suitable for gamers. Read more: Honor Magic7 Pro Review: A Flagship Killer or Just Another Premium Phone? Battery Life The realme 14 Pro+ comes with a 6,000mAh battery and supports 80W fast charging, reaching 50% in 24 minutes. Compared to the realme 13 Pro+, which had a 5,200mAh battery but charged slightly faster (50% in 19 minutes, 100% in 49 minutes), the 14 Pro+ provides a longer battery life at the cost of a slightly longer charging time.  The Honor Magic7 Lite, with its 6,600mAh battery and 66W charging, offers even better longevity but slower charging speeds. The Huawei Nova 13, on the other hand, has a 5,000mAh battery with 100W fast charging, meaning it charges the fastest but has lower battery capacity than the realme 14 Pro+. However, realme 14 Pro+ does not offer wireless charging and reverse wired charging facilities. While the rivals like Honor Magic7 Lite, Huawei Nova 13, and iQOO Neo 10 have reverse wired charging options. Read more: OnePlus Pad 2 Review: Is It Worth Buying? Software and User Interface The realme 14 Pro+ runs on Android 15 with realme UI 6.0, providing an updated design, better customization options, and smoother animations. The realme 13 Pro+ came with Android 14 (realme UI 5.0), meaning the 14 Pro+ benefits from newer software optimizations and longer update support.  The Honor Magic7 Lite runs MagicOS 8 on Android 14, offering moderate UI customizations but slower software updates. The Huawei Nova 13 operates on HarmonyOS 4.2, which is smooth and battery-efficient but lacks Google Play Services, making it less ideal for users who depend on Google apps. Storage Options Ranging from 128GB, the internal storage reaches up to 512 GB. The RAM capacity  of the realme 14 Pro+ ranges from 8GB to 12GB. It is available in 128GB/8GB RAM, 256GB/8GB RAM, 256GB/12GB RAM, and 512GB/12GB RAM variants, offering flexibility for different users.  Read more: Honor X5b Plus Review: Powerful Contender in the Budget-friendly Segment The realme 13 Pro+ had similar storage options, but the 14 Pro+ includes an entry-level 128GB version, making it more budget-friendly. The Honor Magic7 Lite is available in 256GB or 512GB with 8GB RAM.  On the other hand, the Huawei Nova 13 offers up to 1TB storage with 12GB RAM; while realme Neo7 and iQOO Neo 10 boast 1TB storage with 16GB RAM making them a better choices for users needing large storage capacities.  Read more: Vivo X200 Pro Mini Review: A Compact Flagship Smartphone with Powerful Features Pros and Cons of realme 14 Pro+  . Pros - IP68/IP69 dust and water resistance for durability.- 6.83-inch AMOLED display- Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset with 8GB/12GB RAM for smooth performance.- Triple rear camera setup with dual 50MP sensors and 8MP ultrawide lens.- 3x optical zoom, OIS, and gyro EIS for stable photos and videos.- 6000mAh battery for long-lasting usage.- 80W fast wired charging for quick power-ups.- Stereo speakers for immersive audio.- 5G and NFC support for faster connectivity.- Latest Android 15 OS with realme UI 6.0 for an updated user experience. Read more: Xiaomi Redmi Turbo 4 Review: Is It a Value-for-money Midranger? Cons - No 3.5mm headphone jack for wired audio.- Lower peak brightness level.- Lower Refresh rate.- No microSD card slot for expandable storage.- No FM radio support for offline listening.- No infrared port for remote control features.- No wireless or reverse charging support.- No Gorilla Glass branding for screen protection.- Lack of 8K video recording capacity.- Lack of 1TB internal storage options. Read more: Honor GT Review: A Power-Packed Mid-range Smartphone for Gamers Price of realme 14 Pro+  The realme 14 Pro+ is expected to be priced at approximately 50,000 Taka in Bangladesh. However, the price may vary depending on the sellers. Verdict The realme 14 Pro+ is ideal for users seeking a mid-range smartphone with a standard display, strong performance, excellent cameras, and long battery life. It can be a good choice for gamers, photographers, and multimedia users.  However, if you need a brighter display, higher refresh rate, headphone jack, expandable storage, 1TB internal memory, 8K video shooting capacity, reverse and wireless charging, or an infrared port, you may look for other options. Read more: ZTE Nubia Red Magic 10 Pro Review: Is It a Value-for-money Gaming Smartphone?