United News of Bangladesh

The state of Louisiana has filed a lawsuit against Roblox, accusing the widely-used online gaming platform of fostering an unsafe environment where child predators are able to target and exploit minors. Filed by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill in state court, the lawsuit alleges Roblox lacks sufficient safety measures to protect young users from adult predators. Murrill claimed the company prioritizes profit and growth over children’s safety. “Roblox is filled with harmful material and predatory individuals because it places revenue ahead of responsibility,” Murrill stated. “Its lack of proper safety systems puts Louisiana’s children at serious risk.” Roblox has previously faced legal and public scrutiny for allegedly failing to adequately protect minors. Just last month in Iowa, a 13-year-old girl was reportedly groomed by an adult on the platform, then abducted, trafficked across multiple states, and sexually assaulted. Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said his department has handled several Roblox-related cases, including one where a man allegedly used voice-changing software to impersonate a young girl. However, no arrests have been made in connection with Roblox so far. Murrill went as far as to say she believes Roblox should be taken offline entirely. Roblox Denies the Allegations Roblox rejected the claims, stating in a press release, “The suggestion that Roblox would knowingly endanger its users is completely false.” The company outlined its current safety features, including filters to block personal information, links, and image sharing between users. While acknowledging that no safety system is foolproof, Roblox emphasized its ongoing efforts to prevent users from being lured off-platform—where its safety standards don’t apply. Roblox, which boasts over 111 million monthly users, describes itself as a virtual universe where users can create, explore, and connect with others. It does not permit sharing of videos or images through chat and attempts to block personal data. However, like many platforms, users often find ways to bypass these restrictions. Despite advertising a “zero-tolerance policy for child exploitation,” critics argue the platform’s safety measures fall short. For example, Roblox only restricts under-13 users from chatting outside games with strangers if parental approval is given. Private chats are not encrypted, allowing the company to monitor and moderate them. Concerns Over Age Verification Murrill also criticized Roblox’s age verification, claiming it’s too easy for adults to pose as children since the platform lacks a robust process to verify users' ages. She pointed out that there is no reliable minimum age enforcement once someone creates an account. Roblox acknowledged that its age verification system is still in development. A recent update allows teens (13–17) to verify their age using a video selfie if they want to use certain chat features with trusted contacts. Recent Safety Enhancements Facing growing pressure, Roblox has introduced new safety tools in recent months. In August, the company announced a new AI system designed to detect early signs of grooming or exploitive language. It reported that this system led to the submission of 1,200 potential exploitation cases to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in the first half of 2025.

Zhejiang University in east China on Tuesday said that its quadruped robot, named White Rhino, had completed a 100-meter sprint in 16.33 seconds, breaking the previous world record of 19.87 seconds set by a robot named Hound from the Republic of Korea. This achievement, notably, is a new Guinness World Record for the fastest 100 meters time by a quadruped robot. The current world record for 100-meter sprint by a human being is 9.58 seconds, set by Usain Bolt in 2009 in Berlin. White Rhino was developed jointly by the university's Center for X-Mechanics, School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center. The record was set at a test site in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province. "This was a very demanding goal," said Professor Wang Hongtao, the project leader. He explained that the 100-meter sprint not only tests the robot's explosive power and speed, but also examines the robot's stability and precise control in conducting rapid movements. "More importantly, it allows us to determine if we are on the right research path." The core technological breakthrough of White Rhino lies in a comprehensive optimization methodology known as robot forward design. Conceptually, this approach involves a priori simulation of the dynamics across each joint and actuator within diverse operational contexts to identify a globally optimal solution -- rather than applying iterative, "patchwork" modifications to a pre-existing structural design. The research team established a precise dynamic model and employed multi-objective optimization algorithms to coordinately adjust the robot's geometric proportions, motor specifications and reduction systems. This "design-for-performance" philosophy from the ground up endowed White Rhino with a robust hardware foundation. Regarding its power system, the Center for X-Mechanics independently developed a set of high-power-density joint actuators capable of delivering both high torque output and rapid response -- akin to equipping White Rhino with a "racing-grade" muscular system. The robot's intelligent motion capabilities, meanwhile, are enabled by a dynamic control strategy derived from reinforcement learning. "Most notably, its maximum load is 100 kilograms, making it a quadruped robot capable of both high-speed running and heavy-load performance," said Dr. Cheng Shaowen, a team member. In the future, White Rhino is expected to be applied to a variety of fields -- ranging from disaster rescue to transportation in extreme terrain, thereby extending its capabilities from "running fast" to "running usefully," Cheng added.    

Australian clean energy innovation gets a boost as W Energy, a new energy technology firm, teams up with ASX-listed Simble Solutions (ASX: SIS) to introduce AI-powered energy forecasting and management solutions nationwide. Simble has also appointed W Energy founder Yongxin Sun, former AI Clean Energy GLOBAL lead, to provide technical support and strategic guidance. Sun brings experience in finance, large-scale energy project modelling, and applied AI. W Energy’s AI platform, developed in Australia, enhances solar and battery performance predictions while integrating financial modelling for investors and operators. Early trials in Southeast Asia—Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines—helped mature the system, providing diverse climate and grid data, near real-time forecasting, and proven commercial benefits like lower investment risk and optimized storage dispatch. Musk threatens legal action against Apple over exclusion of X, Grok from top apps list Now commercially ready, W Energy and Simble will roll out projects in New South Wales, expanding to Queensland and Victoria. Combining W Energy’s predictive AI with Simble’s energy monitoring tools, the partnership will support commercial buildings, industrial sites, and regional grids, enabling virtual power plants, dynamic pricing, and improved grid resilience. The platform uses IoT sensor data, historical weather, and market information to optimize storage and financial returns under various conditions, all in compliance with Australian data standards. Benefits include improved forecasting accuracy, direct integration of financial metrics, and scalability from small sites to utility-scale assets. Initial deployments will focus on NSW, alongside collaboration with universities to refine the AI with local data. Source: Agency 

Billionaire SpaceX, Tesla and X owner Elon Musk says he plans to sue Apple for not featuring X and its Grok artificial intelligence chatbot app in its top recommended apps in its App Store. Musk posted the comments on X late Monday, saying, “Hey @Apple App Store, why do you refuse to put either X or Grok in your ‘Must Have’ section when X is the #1 news app in the world and Grok is #5 among all apps? Are you playing politics? What gives? Inquiring minds want to know.” Grok is owned by Musk's artificial intelligence startup xAI. Musk went on to say that “Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation. xAI will take immediate legal action.” He gave no further details. In an emailed statement, Apple defended the fairness of its App Store. “The App Store is designed to be fair and free of bias,” it said. "We feature thousands of apps through charts, algorithmic recommendations, and curated lists selected by experts using objective criteria. Our goal is to offer safe discovery for users and valuable opportunities for developers, collaborating with many to increase app visibility in rapidly evolving categories.” The company has faced various allegations of antitrust violations in recent years. A federal judge recently found that Apple violated a court injunction in an antitrust case filed by Fortnite maker Epic Games. Regulators of the 27-nation European Union fined Apple 500 million euros in April for breaking competition rules by preventing app makers from pointing users to cheaper options outside its App Store. Last year, the EU fined the U.S. tech giant nearly $2 billion for unfairly favoring its own music streaming service by forbidding rivals like Spotify from telling users how they could pay for cheaper subscriptions outside of iPhone apps. As of early Tuesday, the top app in Apple's App Store was TikTok, followed by Tinder, Duolingo, YouTube and Bumble. Open AI's ChatGPT was ranked 7th.

Amid the rise of coordinated scam networks across Southeast Asia, the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) is set to host the Global Anti-Scam Summit (GASS) Asia 2025 in Singapore on September 2–3, bringing together more than 1,200 leaders from over 60 countries in person and online. “Scams are now systemic, cross-border threats,” said GASA Managing Director Jorij Abraham. “Our role is to connect the dots across sectors and borders, building the shared infrastructure needed to act faster and smarter.” Over the past year, GASA has doubled its global membership, with the Singapore Chapter surpassing 100 members, including Amazon, Google, MasterCard, Meta, and Microsoft, alongside government and civil society partners. It has also launched new national chapters in the Philippines and Indonesia — two mobile-first economies facing high scam risks due to widespread digital finance use. The Indonesia chapter, chaired by Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison’s Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer Reski Damayanti, aims to tackle phishing, SMS spoofing, and fake service alerts. In the Philippines, Globe Telecom executives Irish Salandanan-Almeida and Derick Ohmar Adil lead efforts to block malicious SMS and run awareness campaigns. Energea launches stylish, travel-ready tech collection “These chapters are strategic footholds in markets where digitalisation boosts living standards but scams threaten to undermine progress,” said Rajat Maheshwari, Chair of GASA Singapore Chapter. A key initiative, the Global Signal Exchange (GSE), now aggregates over 370 million scam and fraud signals — up from 40 million at launch in January 2025 — with contributions from more than 35 organisations, including GASA, Google, GSMA, Meta, and Microsoft. Summit highlights include a fireside chat with Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How, the launch of the Southeast Asia Scam Report, INTERPOL and UN sessions on cybercrime and trafficking, and panel discussions on scam typologies, enforcement, and cross-border disruption. Founded as a global non-profit, GASA works with governments, law enforcement, tech companies, and financial institutions to share intelligence, coordinate responses, and develop strategies to reduce the financial and emotional harm caused by scams. Source: Agency 

Energea has unveiled its latest travel tech lineup, blending elevated design with high performance, now available in Gunmetal, Cobalt and Champagne. Leading the new range is the MagDuo Arc, winner of the Best Product award in the Mobile Products category at Channel Summit META. Designed for modern travelers, the collection combines style with practicality. Each product features refined finishes and compact, travel-friendly designs. The MagDuo Arc is a 2-in-1 wireless charger with an 85cm retractable cable and zinc alloy housing. It supports fast wireless charging up to 15W for Android, 7.5W for iPhone, and 2.5W for Apple Watch, and includes a built-in kickstand for hands-free use. Also featured is the TravelWorld Edge 65, a slim wall charger just 13mm thick with a 90° flat profile that fits into tight spaces. Capable of delivering 65W output for laptops and phones in over 150 countries, it uses GaNSmart technology to be 40% smaller than typical chargers of its kind. The TravelGo Adapter 45 is a compact, high-powered travel adapter for devices like the MacBook Air and tablets. It has a secure pin-lock system, dual USB-C ports (25W and 20W), and intelligent power identification for safe, efficient charging. DeepMind Genie 3: New Features, Limitations of Google’s 3D Environment Generator AI Model For multi-device charging, the AluMag Trio powers an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously with Qi2 technology. Its aluminum body offers durability and heat management, while folding flat for portability and supporting iPhone StandBy and Apple Watch Nightstand modes. Rounding out the collection, the ComPac Arc 45 power bank delivers 10,000mAh capacity with PD45W output, an integrated 70cm retractable cable, digital display, and braided lanyard for easy attachment to bags. Despite its power, it’s smaller than a soda can. Energea says its Travel Series is built to keep up with life on the move while adding a touch of style, offering solutions from slim wall chargers to compact power banks. The collection is available now in Gunmetal, Cobalt and Champagne. More details can be found on Energea’s website and social media channels. Source: Agency 

Genie 3 is the newest iteration of Google DeepMind’s world model AI, a technology that can generate interactive 3D environments on-the-fly from simple text prompts. It allows users to navigate and interact with AI-generated worlds in real time at 24 frames per second, with 720p resolution, maintaining coherence for several minutes. Previously, environments lasted only 10 to 20 seconds. Genie 3 now sustains interactivity for multiple minutes. It remembers object placements and environmental changes, even if you look away and return later. Users can modify scenes in real time, adjusting weather, adding characters, or altering settings via text. Read more: Best 10 Smartphones Releasing in August 2025 Genie 3 provides richly simulated environments ideal for embodied agent research, teaching AI systems how actions translate into outcomes in virtual settings. It also offers creative potential for game designers, educators, and content creators by enabling dynamic, evolving world-building. DeepMind sees Genie 3 as a foundational step toward artificial general intelligence (AGI), offering agents a limitless training curriculum in simulated worlds. While impressive, Genie 3 still has constraints. The range of agent actions (“action space”) is somewhat limited. Difficulty simulating complex multi-agent interactions and real-world geographic accuracy. Text rendering can be poor unless explicitly included in the prompt. Sessions are still only a few minutes, not yet suitable for hours-long experiences. Read more: Speaking with AI: Best Free Apps for English Speaking Practice Genie 3 is currently available as a limited research preview, accessible only to select academics and creators. DeepMind emphasises careful, responsible rollout to monitor risks and gather feedback.

Cloudera, the only company offering AI for data across all environments, has unveiled the latest update of Cloudera Data Services, enabling Private AI capabilities directly within enterprise data centers. This release introduces secure, GPU-accelerated generative AI behind corporate firewalls, complete with governance tools and hybrid cloud flexibility, allowing enterprises to build and scale their own sovereign data clouds on-site—eliminating security risks. Cloudera remains the only provider offering a unified data lifecycle with consistent cloud-native services both on-premises and in the public cloud. Security concerns around protecting sensitive data and proprietary information continue to be a major barrier to AI adoption across sectors. A report by Accenture shows that 77% of organizations lack the foundational security and data practices necessary to protect critical AI models, data pipelines, and infrastructure. Cloudera addresses these risks head-on, helping enterprises accelerate their AI development from prototype to production in weeks instead of months. This release extends the benefits of Cloudera Data Services to on-site infrastructure, enabling organizations to cut infrastructure costs, simplify data lifecycles, and boost productivity for data teams. With automated security tasks and streamlined deployment processes, organizations can now realize faster ROI from their AI initiatives. This update also delivers a cloud-native user experience within internal environments, giving enterprises the flexibility to scale without compromising data security. Included in this update are on-premises versions of Cloudera AI Inference Service and Cloudera AI Studios, both previously available only in the cloud. These tools are designed to eliminate the primary obstacles to enterprise AI adoption, allowing companies to safely develop and operate generative AI applications within their internal networks. Cloudera AI Inference Service, now available on-prem and powered by NVIDIA, is among the first in the industry to offer integrated NVIDIA NIM microservices. This offering supports the secure and scalable deployment of large AI models within the data center, keeping data and models inside secure infrastructure. WeFi launches tailored vendor program to boost India’s IT channel Cloudera AI Studios brings a low-code platform to enterprise data centers, democratizing the development and deployment of generative AI applications and agents across teams. A Total Economic Impact™ (TEI) study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Cloudera found that a composite customer using Cloudera Data Services on-premises experienced an 80% reduction in deployment time, a 20% productivity boost among data and platform teams, and a 35% cost savings due to the cloud-native architecture. Organizations also reported major operational improvements, with some increasing hardware efficiency from 30% to 70% and requiring 25% to over 50% less capacity post-modernization. “Enterprises have long struggled with cobbled-together, fragile solutions for on-prem AI,” said industry analyst Sanjeev Mohan. “With AI adoption becoming urgent, security concerns remain paramount. Enterprises need streamlined, secure solutions to adopt AI without sacrificing performance.” “Cloudera Data Services On-Premises provides a truly cloud-native experience within private infrastructure, enabling both agility and security,” said Leo Brunnick, Cloudera’s Chief Product Officer. “This release represents a major leap in modernizing enterprise data architecture, shifting from rigid clusters to flexible, container-based applications.” Toto Prasetio, Chief Information Officer at Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), said: “We are proud to be early adopters of Cloudera’s AI Inference service. It offers the secure and scalable backbone we need to expand our generative AI initiatives while complying with Indonesia’s evolving regulations. This is a crucial step in delivering smarter, faster, and more reliable digital banking to Indonesians.” Cloudera is showcasing the new release at EVOLVE25, its annual global data and AI conference series, beginning this week in Singapore. Participants can register to learn how Cloudera enables AI across any enterprise data environment. Tesla grants Elon Musk $29 billion in stock amid ongoing controversy To explore how Cloudera Data Services accelerates AI deployment and adoption, tune in to ClouderaNow on October 15, 2025, at 8:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM ET / 4:00 PM GMT / 5:00 PM CET, or visit the Cloudera AI Inference page for more details. About ClouderaCloudera is the only trusted data and AI platform provider that enables large enterprises to bring AI to all their data, wherever it resides. Unlike other providers, Cloudera offers a consistent cloud experience across public cloud, on-premises, and edge environments—built on a proven open-source base. As a pioneer in big data, Cloudera empowers organizations to unlock AI capabilities while maintaining full control over their data, improving governance, security, and real-time insights. Leading global brands rely on Cloudera to enhance decision-making, drive performance, guard against risks, and even save lives. For more information, visit Cloudera.com and follow Cloudera on LinkedIn and X. “Cloudera” and associated trademarks are owned by Cloudera, Inc.; other company names may be trademarks of their respective holders. Source: Agency 

As developing economies continue to grow, global tech firms see vast potential in expanding into markets like India. To support this, international finance and technology firm WeFi has introduced a market-specific vendor program aimed at streamlining operations and accelerating growth in India’s dynamic IT channel. WeFi’s program is designed to navigate the complex financial and regulatory landscape typical of emerging economies, where varying tax systems, compliance rules, currency volatility, and political instability pose challenges. The company’s tailored approach seeks to simplify these hurdles while empowering vendors through innovative financial solutions. “Channel finance in emerging markets like India is complex but full of opportunity,” said Boris Todorov, WeFi’s Chief Client Officer. He noted that WeFi’s non-recourse and funded capital solutions are structured to manage credit, interest rate, and foreign exchange risks, while ensuring alignment with shifting regulations. WiFi Wireless Router Buyer Guide with Price Ranges in Bangladesh The initiative is powered by WeFi’s proprietary cloud-based platform IZZI, which offers AI-driven automation, real-time data visibility, secure invoice management, and workflow optimisation across multiple languages. WeFi aims to expand its footprint in India by partnering with technology vendors to unlock capital, drive innovation, and support long-term growth in the IT sector. Source: Agency 

On Monday, Tesla awarded CEO Elon Musk a stock package worth approximately $29 billion, recognizing years of significant growth, even as the company faces recent struggles related to Musk’s political involvement, declining sales, and falling stock prices. The company granted Musk 96 million restricted shares, noting that he hasn't received compensation in years due to a 2018 pay package being struck down by a Delaware court. That package was invalidated again eight months ago, though Tesla is appealing the decision. Calling the new award a “first step” in good faith, Tesla said the move is aimed at retaining Musk and ensuring he stays focused on the company, especially as he also leads other ventures like SpaceX and xAI. Musk has argued that he needs more control over Tesla to prevent activist shareholders from forcing him out. In a regulatory filing, Tesla defended the move, saying, “Rewarding Elon for what he has done and continues to do for Tesla is the right thing to do,” referencing the $735 billion increase in Tesla’s market value since 2018. Despite this long-term growth, Tesla’s stock has dropped 25% this year, partly due to Musk’s alignment with Donald Trump and a growing backlash. The company is also under pressure from increasing competition, both from U.S. automakers and Chinese EV brands. Tesla's latest financial report showed profits falling sharply from $1.39 billion to $409 million, with revenue also declining and the company missing even reduced Wall Street expectations. Investors have become increasingly concerned about Musk’s focus, especially as he has been actively involved in political affairs in Washington, taking a visible role in Trump’s efforts to shrink the federal government. The company stated in its filing that Musk will need to pay $23.34 per share for the restricted stock to vest, which matches the exercise price from the earlier 2018 package. Last December, Delaware Judge Kathleen St. Jude McCormick reaffirmed a ruling canceling Musk’s 2018 compensation, stating it had been arranged through sham negotiations with non-independent board members. The decision stemmed from a lawsuit filed by a Tesla shareholder. The original pay deal had a potential value of $56 billion, though the actual worth has changed over time with Tesla's fluctuating stock price. Musk appealed the ruling in March, and in April Tesla announced a special committee would reevaluate Musk’s compensation. Musk remains one of the world’s wealthiest individuals. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said the new stock grant could ease investor concerns, writing that it likely secures Musk's leadership at Tesla through at least 2030 and removes uncertainty that has surrounded the company since the Delaware court battles began. Under shareholder pressure, Tesla recently announced it would hold its annual meeting in November, in line with Texas law. A group of over 20 shareholders had demanded that the company publicly confirm the meeting after watching the stock's continued decline. Tesla shares rose nearly 2% during midday trading on Monday.