United News of Bangladesh

Gear up, video gamers! The year 2025 is poised to be a landmark for action games, with a lineup of highly anticipated titles that promise to set new benchmarks in storytelling and gameplay. Whether you’re into expansive open-world adventures or nostalgic arcade thrills, 2025’s action game roster offers something for every kind of player. Get ready to dive into rich narratives, explore diverse subgenres, and experience the games that will reshape the gaming landscape. 7 Best Action Video Games Awaiting Release in 2025 . STAR WARS: Episode I: Jedi Power Battles Aspyr, the famous name behind some of the most popular games like SimCity, Civilization, and Tomb Raider, is all set to launch their next action game, STAR WARS: Episode I: Jedi Power Battles. The game will feature the classic arcade gaming style, besides setting the Star Wars tone by empowering players with the power of the Force. Gamers will take back the Theed Royal Palace destroying evil agents, droids, and creatures on their way. Heroes will use the famous lightsaber alongside their intimidating martial arts skills and laser weapons. Read more: Top 7 Gaming Earphones of 2024: Must-Have Picks for Gamers The game will also have a couch co-op campaign to let players engage in a 2-player brawl with friends. Featuring all the famous and exciting characters from the original lore, the STAR WARS: Episode I: Jedi Power Battles will hit PS5, PS4, XSX, XBO, PC, and NS on 23 January 2025. Sniper Elite: Resistance The vastly acclaimed sniper shooting series Sniper Elite will return on 30 January 2025 with a new addition: Sniper Elite: Resistance. The game will bring the pure spirit of a sniper out of gamers’ hearts, arming them with numerous new-age weapons and tactics. The Sniper Elite: Resistance will take gamers to critical warzones in France. The story will follow parallelly with Sniper Elite 5 but from the perspective of Harry Hawker, an agent of the Special Operations Executive. After the discovery of a miracle weapon in the hands of Nazis, Harry Hawker will engage in a mission to avert a sure Nazi win. Read more: Top 10 Best Gaming Monitors Released in 2024 Assassin's Creed Shadows Ubisoft and its action-packed title Assassin's Creed have come a long way, bringing worldwide popularity to each other. This journey seems to step further ahead with the imminent launch of the Assassin's Creed Shadows on 14 February 2025. The story is set in Feudal Japan, depicted with mesmerizing graphical scenarios, towns, shrines, marketplaces, and landscapes. Gamers will adventure through all types of weather and seasons. The hero’s journey will follow a complex path as gamers will have to switch between two characters Naoe, a shinobi assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai. Characterized with complementary playstyles, these two heroes will give a taste of both stealth and full-action combat. Read more: Top 10 Video Games Launching in January 2025: Must-Play Titles for the New Year Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars Konami is back with its next installment of high-octane action JRPG titled Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars. Apart from an original story, the game will introduce HD background illustrations, updated pixel art animation, realistic battle SFX, and fantastic environmental sounds. The hero and his friend Jowy will fight on behalf of the Unicorn Youth Brigade against their combined rivals - the Highland Kingdom and the City-State of Jowston. Every party will engage in jaw-dropping battles to end their opposition. The game will be unveiled on 6 March 2025 on PS5, PS4, XSX, XBO, PC, and NS. Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade 7QUARK is bringing a new action fantasy game, Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade, on 24 April 2025. Filled with fantasy elements, the game is set in a Japanese ambiance. The action style and choreography of the characters are also inspired by authentic Japanese culture, making way for enthralling sword art and martial arts actions. Read more: 8 Best Gaming Smartphones Released in 2024 So Far The game will present a world full of demonic creatures, wreaking havoc on the land and raising chaos. Gamers will select a character from three options– an immortal ninja, an Oni emissary, and a demon samurai. Each character is weaponized uniquely and capable of running massive destruction against the evil force. Crimson Desert The recently published trailer of the upcoming open-world action-adventure game Crimson Desert has shown its potential to become a controller-wheeler in the hands of action-enthusiast gamers. Developed by Pearl Abyss, the game is expected to be released in the last quarter of 2025. Gamers will roam the mysterious and brutal continent Pywel which is set to test the hero’s patience, rigidity, and confidence. The gamers will play as a notorious adventurer and fighter who will join the brotherhood of Join Kliff and fight conspiring forces to defend the lands of Pywel. Read more: Top 10 Global ESports Tournaments of 2025 GTA 6 The latest title of Rockstar Games’s world-conquering series Grand Theft Auto, the GTA 6 is expected to be unveiled after August 2025. Since its first trailer release in 2023, the gaming world awaits the return of the epic action-adventure saga. The trailer has given a glimpse of the super realistic graphical upgrades and a couple of new lead characters. Unlike the past installments of GTA, the upcoming game will introduce a female lead. From her first look in the trailer, she seems to relish the same outlaw spirit of her ancestors. Totally revamped and highly detailed, the setting of the GTA 6 will throw a lot at the gamers to explore and exploit. Read more: Best Gaming Laptops of 2024 So Far: Top Picks for Every Gamer Conclusion The most anticipated action games, coming in 2025, will take virtual gaming to a new height. Along with a few promising titles, new additions to celebrated old series are raising hype by releasing their first glimpse trailers. Hyped titles like GTA 6 and Assassin’s Creed: Shadows are making the wait hard for gamers. But there will be plenty of great early releases to reconcile the wait.

President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by January 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” said Trump’s amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case and was written by D John Sauer, Trump’s choice for solicitor general. The argument submitted to the court is the latest example of Trump inserting himself in national issues before he takes office. The Republican president-elect has already begun negotiating with other countries over his plans to impose tariffs, and he intervened earlier this month in a plan to fund the federal government, calling for a bipartisan plan to be rejected and sending Republicans back to the negotiating table. He has been holding meetings with foreign leaders and business officials at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida while he assembles his administration, including a meeting last week with TikTok CEO Shou Chew. Trump has reversed his position on the popular app, having tried to ban it during his first term in office over national security concerns. He joined the TikTok during his 2024 presidential campaign and his team used it to connect with younger voters, especially male voters, by pushing content that was often macho and aimed at going viral. He said earlier this year that he still believed there were national security risks with TikTok, but that he opposed banning it. Japan Airlines hit by a cyberattack, delaying flights during the year-end holiday season The filings Friday come ahead of oral arguments scheduled for January 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. The law was was signed by President Joe Biden in April after it passed Congress with broad bipartisan support. TikTok and ByteDance filed a legal challenge afterwards. Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute, leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The brief from Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” In their brief to the Supreme Court on Friday, attorneys for TikTok and its parent company ByteDance argued the federal appeals court erred in its ruling and based its decision on “alleged ‘risks’ that China could exercise control” over TikTok’s US platform by pressuring its foreign affiliates. The Biden administration has argued in court that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its connections to China. Officials say Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikTok’s US patrons or use the platform to spread or suppress information. Meta set to introduce Ray-Ban smart glasses in 2025 But the government “concedes that it has no evidence China has ever attempted to do so,” TikTok’s legal filing said, adding that the US fears are predicated on future risks. In its filing Friday, the Biden administration said because TikTok “is integrated with ByteDance and relies on its propriety engine developed and maintained in China,” its corporate structure carries with it risk.

The market for both portable and heavy projectors is booming worldwide. People are replacing their TVs and monitors with powerful projectors. In 2024, manufacturers brought some of the most robust projectors the world has ever seen. There are also affordable options to cater to low and mid-range budget users in Bangladesh. Top Projectors to Create Home Theaters in 2025 . Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 4K The Epson Pro Cinema LS1200 4K Pro-UHD Laser Projector, launched on 15th February 2024, is one of the best devices delivered by its manufacturer. It uses advanced pixel-shifting technology to decode 4K videos and project a 3840 x 2160p screen. Packed with HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG HDR technologies, the projector can throw vivid pictures brightened with a 2,700-lumen laser light source. Its motorized lens can provide 2.1x zoom with extensive vertical and horizontal shifts. Read more: Top 7 Gaming Earphones of 2024: Must-Have Picks for Gamers The Epson Pro Cinema LS1200 4K is available in Bangladesh for BDT 6,70,000. Its precise color accuracy, low input lag, and constant image height setup make it a great home theatre solution. Magcubic HY320 Mini Projector The Magcubic HY320 Mini 4K Projector gained popularity the moment it became available in Bangladesh in February 2024. Highly affordable, the Magcubic HY320 is a portable mini projector powerful enough to project 4K quality videos. Users will get up to 8500 lumens brightness with a 720p resolution. The considerably high 10000:1 contrast ratio delivers sharp visuals with deep colors. For audio output, the projector offers dual HiFi stereo speakers. However, the most attractive feature of the project is its price. It costs only BDT 6500. In the Bangladesh market, it may come in at a cheaper price. Read more: Top Smart TV Picks: Ultimate Buyer’s Guide in Bangladesh BenQ TH685P The BenQ TH685P is a 4K  laser projector launched in April 2022. It boasts a bright 3,500 ANSI lumens output. The projected screen measures 1920 x 1080p resolution, vivified by HDR10 and HLG HDR support. It features a six-segment DLP color wheel to sustain high color accuracy. Console gamers will find this projector highly cherishable for its low lag input and capacity to run at a 120 Hz refresh rate. Highly portable, with a 6.2 pounds of light body build, the projector can turn any small to midsized room into a home theatre. The BenQ TH685P projector comes for BDT 1,58,000. Yaber T2 Plus Auto Focus Google TV Projector The Yaber T2 Plus came out in June 2024 with a promising LCD laser emitter capable of picturizing the projection in a 1080p resolution. It can run straight for a 2.5 hours of video playback session. Users will get extra adjustability balanced by a rotatable handle. Furthermore, features like autofocus and automatic keystone correction make the projector stand apart from its peers. To ensure a premium auditory experience, it uses dual 8W JBL Dolby Audio speakers. Read more: Freezer Buying Guide and Price Ranges in Bangladesh Yaber T2 Plus comes with a Google TV Dongle to integrate Google’s smart TV platform into the projector. So, users can project Netflix, YouTube, and Disney+ without the need for an external device. Priced at BDT 31,891, the projector is available worldwide, offering a premium home theatre experience. Samsung Premiere 9 The Samsung Premiere 9, launched in August 2024, is currently one of the best high-end ultra short throw 4K projectors in the market.  It uses a triple-laser light source capable of delivering up to 3,450 lumens brightness. The projection can be expanded up to 130 inches, ideal for a large living room or office setting. The projector is the latest of its series launched together with the Premiere 7. The Premiere 9 has HDR10+ supportability and can efficiently cover 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. Read more: Best Vacuum Floor Cleaner under Tk10000 in Bangladesh Coming for USD 5,999, which is approximately BDT 7,16,537, the Premiere 9 is the perfect choice for a home theatre and professional spaces. Hisense PX3-PRO The second Ultra Short Throw (UST) projector on the list, the Hisense PX3-PRO is a 4K HDR laser projector suitable for home theatres and gaming. It launched in August 2024 packed with robust features to justify its price. Premium in quality, the projector costs around USD 3,497, or BDT 4,17,807. The projector can run on a low latency mode, and it is capable of gaming both in 1080p and 4K. This makes it suitable for Xbox gaming. The UST is powerful enough to project a 90-inch image from just 6.6 inches away. Users will be able to get up to 130 inches of pictures. Conclusion The popularity of quality projectors is increasing every day. Features like Android TV modules and versatile connection options are making modern projectors a considerable replacement for TVs. Some projectors can even run games at a 120Hz refresh rate. With such adaptability, projectors can modernize a home and give the feeling of a movie theatre. 2024 has already presented a few projectors which are pioneering the transformation. Read more: Room Heaters Buyer Guide with Price Ranges in Bangladesh

OpenAI’s popular AI chatbot, ChatGPT, experienced its second significant outage in December, leaving users worldwide frustrated. This time, the issue also impacted OpenAI’s video model, Sora, and its API services. The downtime lasted for several hours, with widespread reports of functionality problems starting around 1:30 PM ET (12 AM IST) on December 11. What Happened? Outage-tracking platform DownDetector recorded a surge in user complaints, particularly from the United States, where users reported encountering “internal server error” messages. Although the number of reports began to decline within 30 minutes, the service disruption persisted for hours. OpenAI acknowledged the issue on X (formerly Twitter), stating it had identified the root cause and was actively working on a resolution. The company’s exclusive cloud partner, Microsoft, later revealed a “power issue” at one of its North American data centers was the likely cause. This issue coincided with problems reported in other Microsoft services, including Xbox cloud gaming. Extent of the Outage OpenAI confirmed that the outage affected ChatGPT, its API, and Sora. Hours after the disruption began, OpenAI announced that the issues with Sora had been resolved, while fixes for ChatGPT and the API were nearly complete. Read: Italy fines OpenAI for ChatGPT data privacy violations This is not the first such incident in recent weeks. Earlier in December, ChatGPT experienced a similar outage affecting the same platforms. According to DownDetector, that event garnered over 2,400 outage reports. A Pattern of Service Disruptions December’s outages follow a larger pattern of reliability challenges for OpenAI. On November 8, ChatGPT became unavailable to over 19,000 users worldwide for approximately 30 minutes. OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, addressed the incident on X, expressing regret and noting that while the platform’s reliability had improved significantly, further work was needed. Unprecedented Growth Amid Challenges Despite these setbacks, ChatGPT continues to grow at an extraordinary pace. Since its debut in November 2022, the chatbot has amassed 250 million weekly active users. Earlier this month, Sam Altman revealed that this figure had climbed to 300 million weekly users. OpenAI’s valuation has soared to $157 billion, a dramatic rise from $14 billion in 2021, while its revenue has grown to $3.6 billion—far exceeding initial projections. December 11’s outage coincided with the launch of iOS 18.2, which features GPT integration in Apple’s Siri. Users relying on this integration also reported service interruptions, adding to the day’s challenges. Looking Ahead While OpenAI has made strides in enhancing the reliability of its services, recurring outages underline the need for more robust infrastructure and contingency planning. Read more: ChatGPT being used to influence US elections, alleges OpenAI As the company’s technology becomes increasingly integrated into everyday applications and platforms, maintaining uninterrupted service will be critical to sustaining user trust and growth. Source: With inputs from wirers

Japan Airlines said it was hit by a cyberattack Thursday, causing delays to more than 20 domestic flights but the carrier said it was able to stop the onslaught and restore its systems hours later. There was no impact on flight safety, it said. JAL said the problem started Thursday morning when the company's network connecting internal and external systems began malfunctioning. The airline said it was able to identify the cause as an attack intended to overwhelm the network system with massive transmissions of data. Such attacks flood a system or network with traffic until the target cannot respond or crashes. The attack did not involve a virus or cause any customer data leaks, JAL said. It said that as of late morning, the cyberattack had delayed 24 domestic flights for more than 30 minutes. Experts have repeatedly raised concerns about the vulnerability of Japan's cybersecurity, especially as the country steps up its defense capabilities and works more closely with the United States and other partners with much tighter cyber defenses. Japan has taken steps but experts say more work is needed. Iran restores access to WhatsApp and Google Play after they were banned amid protests In June, Japan's space agency said it had suffered a series of cyberattacks since 2023, though sensitive information related to rockets, satellites and defense was not affected. It was investigating to take preventive measures. Last year, a cyberattack paralyzed operations at a container terminal at a port in the city of Nagoya for three days. JAL's ticket sales for both domestic and international fights scheduled for departure on Thursday were suspended temporarily but resumed several hours later. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a regular news conference Thursday that the transport ministry told JAL to hasten efforts to restore the system and to accommodate affected passengers. Other Japanese airlines, including ANA Holdings, Skymark and Starflyer, were not affected. Television footage showed many passengers at Tokyo's Haneda airport crowded into its terminals as the attack hit the year-end holiday travel season. Offices will close from this weekend for the New Year holidays, the biggest celebration of the year, when millions of people travel back to their hometowns from the cities.

The Vivo X200 Pro Mini, unveiled in October 2024, brings the best of Vivo's flagship X series into a sleek, compact design. Packed with cutting-edge features and premium performance, this smartphone is set to impress tech enthusiasts and everyday users alike, continuing Vivo's tradition of excellence. Key Features of Vivo X200 Pro Mini . Design and Build Quality The Vivo X200 Pro Mini features a premium design with a glass front and aluminum alloy frame, offering durability and elegance. Its compact dimensions of 150.8 mm by 71.8 mm by 8.2 mm and weight of 187 g make it lightweight and easy to handle, appealing to users who prefer smaller phones. The IP68/IP69 rating ensures protection against dust and water for added durability. Compared to the near-priced rival Vivo X100 Pro, the Mini is significantly more compact and lighter, making it ideal for one-handed use. However, it falls slightly behind the Huawei Mate 70, which is thinner at 7.8 mm and offers an aluminum alloy build with an equally premium feel. Compared to the realme GT 7 Pro, the Mini stands out for its portability, as the realme device is bulkier and heavier at 222.8 g. Read more: Top 7 Gaming Earphones of 2024: Must-Have Picks for Gamers Display Quality The Vivo X200 Pro Mini boasts a 6.31-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 4500 nits and a 120Hz refresh rate. The 1216 by 2640-pixel resolution ensures sharp visuals, while HDR10+ support enhances dynamic range, making it perfect for watching movies and playing games.  When compared to the Vivo X100 Pro, the Mini’s display is smaller but matches in color accuracy and refresh rate. The Huawei Mate 70 edges ahead in size with a 6.7-inch OLED display and superior Kunlun Glass 2 protection. The realme GT 7 Pro, with its larger 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED screen and Dolby Vision support, delivers a more immersive experience for content consumption, although the brightness levels on the Mini are unmatched. Camera Performance The X200 Pro Mini excels in photography with its triple 50 MP rear camera setup. It includes a wide, periscope telephoto, and ultrawide lens with advanced Zeiss optics, laser autofocus, and a T* lens coating. The results are impressive, with vivid colors, sharp details, and excellent low-light performance. The 32 MP front camera ensures high-quality selfies and video calls. The rival Vivo X100 Pro also features a triple 50 MP camera system but offers superior zoom capabilities with a 4.3x optical zoom compared to the Mini's 3x zoom. Another competitor Huawei Mate 70 provides excellent versatility with its variable aperture main camera but has a lower resolution telephoto lens. While the Realme GT 7 Pro delivers solid performance, its 8 MP ultrawide lens falls short of the Mini's 50 MP equivalent. Read more: Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo Plus Review: A Game-Changer Among Mid-Range Gaming Smartphones Both the front and rear sensors of the X200 Pro Mini offer 4K video recording capacities like the Huawei Mate 70. However, the vivo X100 Pro and realme GT7 Pro won the race with a maximum of 8k video recording capacities. Processor Performance Equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 (3 nm) chipset, the Vivo X200 Pro Mini delivers seamless multitasking and swift app launches. The octa-core configuration includes a Cortex-X925 core clocked at 3.63 GHz, making it one of the fastest processors in its segment. In comparison, the Vivo X100 Pro, with its Dimensity 9300 (4nm) chipset, offers a slightly less powerful setup but still excels in efficiency. The Huawei Mate 70, powered by the Kirin 9020, delivers reliable performance but lags in benchmark scores. The realme GT 7 Pro shines with the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, particularly for heavy gaming and productivity tasks, although its thermal management is less efficient than the X200 Pro Mini. Gaming Performance Thanks to its advanced GPU, the Immortalis-G925, and efficient cooling system, the Vivo X200 Pro Mini handles demanding games like Genshin Impact and PUBG Mobile effortlessly. The 120Hz refresh rate and vivid display further enhance the gaming experience. Read more: realme C75 Review: What Does This Budget Smartphone Offer? While the Vivo X100 Pro also provides excellent gaming performance, its larger size may not be as comfortable for prolonged gaming sessions. The Realme GT 7 Pro, with its Snapdragon 8 Elite and larger battery, offers comparable gaming capabilities but tends to heat up more under extended use. The Huawei Mate 70, with its Maleoon 920 GPU, provides satisfactory gaming performance but lacks the refined optimizations seen in the Mini. Battery Life The Vivo X200 Pro Mini is powered by a 5700mAh battery, which, combined with its efficient chipset, ensures full-day usage for most users. Its 90W wired and 30W wireless charging options allow quick refueling, although the wireless charging speed is slightly lower than competitors. What’s more? It offers reverse wired charging facility. The Vivo X100 Pro offers a larger 5400mAh battery with faster 100W charging, making it better suited for heavy users. The Huawei Mate 70, with a slightly smaller 5300mAh battery, delivers comparable endurance but slower 66W wired charging. Though having no wireless or reverse charging options, the realme GT 7 Pro leads in battery capacity with 6500mAh with 120W wired charging capability. Software and User Interface The X200 Pro Mini runs Android 15 with OriginOS 5 in China. The interface is highly customizable and optimized for smooth performance, though it might feel bloated to some users. Read more: Infinix Hot 50 Pro Plus Review: A Feature-Packed Budget-friendly Contender The Vivo X100 Pro shares Android 14, up to Android 15, Funtouch 15 (International), OriginOS 4 (China), while the Huawei Mate 70, running HarmonyOS 4.3, offers a more streamlined and innovative interface, especially for users in the Huawei ecosystem. The realme GT 7 Pro, with realme UI 6.0, provides a clean and intuitive experience but lacks the advanced multitasking features of OriginOS. Storage Options The Vivo X200 Pro Mini comes with generous storage options, ranging from 256GB to 1TB, all paired with 12GB or 16GB of RAM. The UFS 4.0 technology ensures blazing-fast read and write speeds. In comparison, the Vivo X100 Pro offers similar storage configurations. The Huawei Mate 70 provides up to 1TB but is limited to 12GB RAM, while the realme GT 7 Pro matches the Mini in storage options. Pros and Cons of Vivo X200 Pro Mini Pros - Compact and lightweight design- Bright AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate- Triple 50 MP cameras for excellent photography- Powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chipset- Handles gaming smoothly with advanced GPU- IP68/IP69 water and dust resistance- Fast 90W wired, 30W wireless, and reverse charging. Read more: Apple iOS 18.2 Release: Key Features, Updates, Pros, and Cons You Need to Know Cons - Smaller display compared to competitors- Limited battery endurance for heavy users- Wireless charging speed lags behind rivals- Slight heating during extended gaming sessions- No expandable storage via microSD card- Software might feel bloated for some users. Price of Vivo X200 Pro Mini in Bangladesh The unofficial Vivo X200 Pro Mini is priced at around BDT 95,000 to BDT 1,20,000 in Bangladesh. Verdict The Vivo X200 Pro Mini excels with its compact design, vibrant display, strong performance, and stellar cameras. However, its smaller screen, limited battery endurance, and slight gaming heat may deter heavy users. It is ideal for photography enthusiasts, multitaskers, and those seeking a lightweight phone. Gamers and power users may prefer devices with larger displays and longer battery life. Overall, the Mini is a versatile choice for users valuing portability and premium features. Read more: Xiaomi Redmi K80 Pro Review: The Ultimate Flagship Killer of 2024?

The inclusion of continuous internet access as a fundamental right in Section 2(5) of the Cyber Security Ordinance 2024 has been hailed as a significant victory for consumers in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers Association (BMCA), a leading organisation advocating for consumer rights, celebrated this achievement, considering it a milestone for the country’s digital landscape. In a press statement, BMCA President Mohiuddin Ahmed expressed gratitude for the recognition of internet access as a basic right. Bangladesh reaffirms to stop further infiltration as conflicts in Myanmar escalate “We have been demanding for years that internet access be recognised as a fundamental right. We have submitted proposals to the Constitutional Reform Commission, held seminars, and made efforts to ensure that citizens' right to internet access and data protection be included in the constitution,” Ahmed said. He went on to say, “We are grateful to the interim government for their favourable response to our demands, which we consider another significant victory for consumers in the new Bangladesh. We extend our gratitude to the Honourable Chief Advisor, IT Advisor, and ICT Policy Advisor for their support.” Local government reform committee chief highlights key issues in reform dialogue The BMCA President also expressed the hope that this right would eventually be enshrined in the constitution. “We believe that this right will be incorporated into the constitution, ensuring equal access to the internet for all,” he remarked. “This move will empower marginalised communities by establishing uninterrupted, high-speed internet access as a fundamental right for everyone.” The BMCA also thanked the media and consumers for their solidarity, as well as for covering and supporting their demands with the seriousness they deserve.

Iran has reinstated access to WhatsApp and Google Play after more than two years of restrictions, according to a report by the official IRNA news agency on Tuesday. The decision was made by the Supreme Council of Cyber Space during a meeting led by reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, who has pledged to ease social media restrictions. Telecommunication Minister Sattar Heshemi described the move as a "first step" in lifting online restrictions. He hinted at the possibility of restoring access to more platforms in the future. Residents in Tehran and other cities confirmed they could access the services on computers, although mobile access was not yet available. Meta set to introduce Ray-Ban smart glasses in 2025 WhatsApp ranks as Iran’s third most popular messaging app, following Instagram and Telegram. The platforms were initially blocked in 2022 during widespread protests over the death of a woman detained by morality police for allegedly breaching the country’s strict dress code. The unrest subsided in 2023 after a harsh government crackdown, resulting in hundreds of deaths and thousands of arrests. Iran has a history of restricting social media access, but many citizens bypass these bans using proxies and VPNs.

Meta is gearing up to enhance its popular Ray-Ban smart glasses with a significant technological leap. According to a report by the Financial Times, the upcoming version, set to be released in 2025, will feature an integrated virtual display. This development positions Meta to strengthen its foothold in a market that is attracting major players like Samsung and Google. A New Era for Ray-Ban Smart Glasses Since their initial launch, Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have gained widespread acclaim for seamlessly blending cutting-edge technology with timeless style. Equipped with voice assistant capabilities, users can send messages, make calls, and manage various functions hands-free. Built-in speakers allow users to hear notifications and messages without headphones, while touch-sensitive controls on the frame enable effortless media playback and call management. Top 7 Gaming Earphones of 2024: Must-Have Picks for Gamers The integration of a display marks a substantial upgrade to the existing features. Currently, the glasses connect to smartphones via Bluetooth, providing audio-based notifications and interactions. Some models even include a discreet camera for photo and video capture. However, the lack of a visual display has been a limitation — one that the third-generation glasses are poised to overcome. What to Expect from the 2025 Model The addition of a display will transform the user experience. Beyond showing notifications and interacting with Meta’s AI, the display could offer navigation directions, fitness tracking data, and other real-time information. This hands-free functionality would cater to both tech enthusiasts and those seeking practical applications in daily life. The new model is expected to launch in the latter half of 2025, according to Financial Times. By integrating advanced AI features and an interactive display, Meta aims to maintain its competitive edge as Samsung and Google prepare to enter the smart glasses market with AI-powered innovations. Enter Meta’s Orion AR Glasses Meta’s ambitions extend beyond Ray-Ban smart glasses. In September 2024, the company unveiled Orion, a cutting-edge AR device likened to the fictional face computers seen in Marvel’s Iron Man. Orion boasts the largest field of view in the smallest AR glasses form factor to date, capable of performing tasks such as multitasking windows, immersive entertainment, and life-size holographic interactions. Albanian prime minister says TikTok ban was not a 'rushed reaction to a single incident' This device represents a leap forward in augmented reality, merging digital content with the physical world in a lightweight, versatile design. Meta envisions Orion as a tool for both personal and professional use, enabling remote face-to-face connections. While currently in the prototype stage, Orion is slated for commercial release in 2027. Rising Competition in the Smart Glasses Market For years, Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses faced little competition. However, the landscape is changing as tech giants like Samsung and Google gear up to launch their own products. These companies are likely to incorporate advanced AI capabilities, further intensifying the competition. By advancing the Ray-Ban smart glasses and preparing Orion for the market, Meta is clearly committed to staying ahead in the race. The integration of display technology into the Ray-Ban glasses represents a critical step in this strategy, ensuring that Meta continues to lead the way in wearable tech innovation. As the world moves closer to a future dominated by augmented reality, Meta’s advancements signal exciting times ahead for both consumers and the tech industry. Source: With inputs from Financial Times and India Today

The endangered Geoffrey’s spider monkeys that dangle high in the rainforest canopy are elusive and hard for scientists to track. So biologist Jenna Lawson hid 350 audio monitors in trees across Costa Rica's lush Osa Peninsula to spy on them. The devices recorded the sounds of the forest and surrounding countryside for a week, collecting so much data that Lawson could have spent years listening to it all. Instead, she fed it into artificial intelligence systems trained to instantly recognize spider monkey calls and detect where the animals traveled. One of the world’s largest acoustic wildlife studies when Lawson began the project in 2021, it revealed troubling findings about the health of a treasured wildlife refuge. More of this AI-assisted wildlife surveillance is “urgently needed” as some 28% of all plant and animal species are now at risk of extinction, according to a paper published in the academic journal Science this summer. Researchers from Dutch and Danish universities showed that machine-learning techniques can “handle huge amounts of data and uncover sound patterns, allowing for faster, cheaper, and better ecological studies” that can aid in biodiversity conservation. But many technical challenges remain. Tech giant Microsoft's philanthropic AI for Good Lab announced this month it is hoping to answer some of those technical challenges with a new kind of hardware and computing system for eavesdropping on the planet's wildest places. “Those remote places are also the most important places on the Earth from a biodiversity perspective,” said Microsoft's chief data scientist, Juan Lavista Ferres, in an interview last week by video call from Colombia, where a research team was preparing to test the new approach. Powered by the sun and energy-efficient AI computer chips, the devices can run for years rather than weeks without human intervention. And they can regularly transmit their data online via low-Earth orbit satellites. It's called Sparrow, short for Solar-Powered Acoustic and Remote Recording Observation Watch. Pablo Arbelaez, director of an AI-focused research center at the University of the Andes, said a first Sparrow test will happen in a jungle preserve along Colombia's largest river, the Magdalena. Eventually, the researchers hope to get a better idea of how deforestation — and efforts to reverse it — is affecting the population behavior of jaguars, blue-beaked paujil birds, spider monkeys and other endangered species. Another project closer to Microsoft headquarters will monitor forests in Washington state's Cascade Mountains. By late 2025, Lavista Ferres plans to have devices on all continents, from remote corners of the Amazon rainforest to gorilla habitats of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. That will then be “open-sourced” to make it accessible to a wide body of researchers in real time, but with measures to obscure sensitive location data. “What we don’t want is these devices to ever be used for poachers to understand where the animals are,” Lavista Ferres said. It was a concern about encroachments on Costa Rican spider monkey habitat that led Lawson, then at Imperial College London, to undertake her ambitious bio-acoustic study three years ago. She persuaded landowners to let her place recording devices on their properties outside Corcovado National Park, a jewel of Costa Rica's decades-long efforts to preserve biodiversity by encouraging wildlife tourism. “She basically realized the spider monkey is in a really critical situation,” said local environmentalist and bug scientist Jim Córdoba-Alfaro. On a follow-up visit last year, he and Lawson trekked across a private reserve with an Associated Press reporter to observe the monkeys and check on the audio monitors. Italy fines OpenAI for ChatGPT data privacy violations Compared to the charismatic capuchin monkey and the notoriously loud howler monkey -- both commonly seen or heard throughout Costa Rica — spider monkeys are far more wary of humans and the changes they bring. “They’re the most sensitive of the primates that we have here,” said Lawson. “The spider monkey would be the first animal to leave when there’s signs of trouble. They would be the last animal to come back once forests are restored because they need mature secondary and primary forest to be able to survive.” The Royal Society of London in March 2023 published Lawson's findings of what the audio monitors revealed: the spider monkeys weren't going anywhere near paved roads or the plantations harvesting palm oil and teak wood that bisect the region's protected national parks. That meant government-designated wildlife corridors meant to extend their range through and beyond the Osa Peninsula were not working as well as designed. She came back to present those conclusions to local officials. After hours of searching, a troop of spider monkeys appeared — peering down at the humans who found them. Within moments, they were on their way again — extending their lanky arms and prehensile tails to grasp at trees and propel themselves across the canopy with spidery acrobatics. Unattended acoustic detection of animal sounds is valuable not just in rainforests but in a wide variety of ecosystems, according to the Science paper published earlier this year. For example, it could help sailors avoid colliding their ships with large baleen whales heard to be passing through a shipping channel. Lavista Ferres said there are still numerous challenges to overcome, from humidity that can fray jungle monitors to elephants in African savannas unintentionally knocking them off a tree. Lawson said using the audio monitors to capture the spider monkey's distinctive whinny enables biologists to study a larger area at lower cost, but also provides a truer account of how the monkeys behave without scientists following them around. “We’re reducing our influence on their behavior,” she said. ”And also — they don’t want us here."