United News of Bangladesh

A Miami federal jury has ordered Tesla to pay over $240 million in damages after determining that its Autopilot system was partly responsible for a fatal 2019 crash in Florida, even though the driver admitted to being distracted by his phone at the time. The jury found that while the driver, George McGee, acted negligently, Tesla also bore significant responsibility due to failures in its driver assistance technology. The crash killed 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and seriously injured her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, as the couple were stargazing in a parked vehicle. The verdict comes at a critical moment for Tesla and CEO Elon Musk, who is promoting self-driving technology and preparing to roll out a robotaxi service in multiple U.S. cities. It also marks a rare legal defeat for the company, which has typically managed to avoid courtroom trials in such cases through settlements or dismissals. “This will open the floodgates,” said attorney Miguel Custodio, who was not involved in the case. “It will encourage more victims to take legal action.” Plaintiffs accused Tesla of withholding or mishandling key evidence, including data and video recorded seconds before the crash. They hired a forensic expert who discovered the material, challenging Tesla’s claims that it wasn’t available. Elon Musk’s social media influence amplifies Europe’s far-right voices “We finally learned what happened that night—the car was defective,” said Neima Benavides, the victim’s sister. “Justice was achieved.” Tesla denied wrongdoing and issued a statement criticizing the verdict: “Today’s verdict is wrong and undermines the development of life-saving automotive technology.” The company argued that the driver alone was at fault, noting he admitted to being distracted. Still, the jury awarded $200 million in punitive damages and $43 million in compensatory damages out of a total $129 million, meaning Tesla is liable for $243 million. Tesla plans to appeal and believes a pre-trial agreement will reduce its liability to $172 million, though the plaintiffs contend the full amount must be paid. Financial analyst Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities said the verdict “sends shock waves across the industry,” warning other automakers of the legal risks associated with driver-assist technology. The 2019 crash happened on a dark, rural road in Key Largo, when McGee, distracted by a dropped cellphone, drove through flashing lights and a stop sign at 62 mph, crashing into a parked Chevrolet Tahoe. The impact threw Benavides 75 feet into nearby woods, killing her, and left Angulo with severe injuries, including a brain injury and broken bones. Tesla was faulted for allowing Autopilot to remain engaged on roads it wasn’t designed for and for not disabling the system when drivers showed signs of distraction. McGee himself admitted: “I trusted the technology too much. I believed the car would warn me or stop.” Google loses appeal in antitrust battle with Fortnite maker Tesla’s lead defense lawyer argued the company clearly warns drivers to remain attentive, blaming the crash solely on McGee’s distraction and speeding. The case is being closely monitored by the auto industry, as it sets a precedent for potential liability in crashes involving partially automated systems, even when drivers admit fault. Source: Agency 

SpaceX successfully transported a new international crew to the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday, completing the journey in just 15 hours after liftoff from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The newly arrived team — comprising NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan’s Kimiya Yui, and Russia’s Oleg Platonov — will spend at least six months aboard the ISS, replacing the current crew who have been stationed there since March. SpaceX is expected to bring those four astronauts back to Earth as early as Wednesday. “Hello, space station!” Fincke radioed cheerfully as their SpaceX capsule docked with the ISS high above the South Pacific. The crew members are all seasoned professionals who were reassigned from other missions. Cardman had previously been pulled from a SpaceX mission last year to make room for Boeing Starliner test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose intended one-week stay at the ISS turned into an unexpected nine-month mission due to technical issues. Google loses appeal in antitrust battle with Fortnite maker Fincke and Yui had been preparing for the next Starliner mission, but with the spacecraft grounded until at least 2026 due to ongoing thruster problems, both astronauts shifted to the SpaceX crew. Meanwhile, Platonov had been removed from a previous Soyuz mission a few years ago due to an undisclosed illness. Their arrival brings the ISS crew count temporarily to 11. “It was such an unbelievably beautiful sight to see the space station come into our view for the first time,” Cardman said after boarding. While the SpaceX trip was rapid by U.S. standards, Russia still holds the record for the fastest ISS journey — an incredible three-hour flight. Source: Agency 

The state-owned Bangladesh Submarine Cable PLC (BSCPLC) has crossed a major milestone in internet infrastructure by supplying over 4.00 terabits per second of international bandwidth, marking the highest-ever capacity transmission by the company. The BSCPLC, which is listed on the stock exchange, achieved this new record on August 1, shortly after the commercial launch of satellite-based internet service (Starlink) in July, which added 200 gigabits of bandwidth per second to the country’s overall internet capacity, said a press release issued by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing on Saturday. Earlier, on April 28, BSCPLC reached the 3-terabit mark, and in just three months, the company added another terabit. In contrast, it took eight months for the company prior to April to increase bandwidth by only 1.10 terabits. Earlier, during the Awami League's tenure, more than 65% of the company's capacity was left unutilised. During the current government’s tenure, the company’s bandwidth supply has increased by more than 2.2 terabits of capacity in just one year, with the growth rate exceeding 105%. This achievement has been made possible over the past few months due to policy support and guidance from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, the sincere efforts of the company’s management and two phases of price reductions. As Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC’s share in the country’s bandwidth usage has steadily increased, the company’s revenue collection has also risen significantly. Recently, through an amendment to its licensing guidelines, BTRC has directed all IIG operators to source at least 50 percent of their utilised bandwidth from submarine bandwidth. This move aims to reduce overreliance on unilateral, India-dependent internet supply and promote greater use of submarine bandwidth. In line with this, Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC has begun offering additional discounts on increased bandwidth usage to those IIG operators who have started using more than 50 percent of their total bandwidth from submarine sources. Besides, the company has introduced dedicated internet packages for data centres, cloud service providers, and hyperscalers—outside of the regular discounted bulk packages. In addition to the existing SEA-ME-WE 4 and SEA-ME-WE 5, the government has signed an agreement for the revised route of SEA-ME-WE 6, which was approved at the latest ECNEC meeting. Through this initiative, an additional 17 terabits of new capacity will be added to the real-time internet footprint of Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company.

Across Europe, far-right politicians, activists, and influencers have discovered a powerful tool to grow their reach and impact: engaging with Elon Musk on X (formerly Twitter). In Germany, a politician from a party labeled extremist by national intelligence saw her audience grow from 230,000 to over 2 million on days Musk responded to her posts—just before her party achieved its strongest electoral result ever. In the UK, a far-right anti-immigration activist, previously banned from Twitter and jailed for contempt of court, regained access under Musk and gained nearly a million followers by repeatedly interacting with the billionaire online. Even a relatively unknown influencer from Cyprus, whose biggest aspiration was once to hug Musk, found political success after that moment went viral. After repeated online engagement with Musk, his audience jumped from 300,000 to nearly 10 million views. He went on to win a surprise seat in the European Parliament and has since praised Musk and defended X in EU debates. While Musk has distanced himself from Washington politics and stepped away from advising Donald Trump, his influence on X remains potent and largely unchallenged. The Associated Press conducted a data-driven analysis of Musk’s interactions with 11 far-right figures in Europe, examining over 20,000 posts and interactions since Musk acquired X for $44 billion. The data reveals how Musk’s engagement—whether replying, reposting, or tagging—can dramatically expand the reach and impact of hard-right voices across the continent. Although X’s algorithm is not transparent, AP's research shows that Musk’s attention can skyrocket view counts and follower numbers. On average, accounts he interacts with receive two to four times more views, with some getting boosts of up to 30 or 40 times their usual visibility. Most of the 11 examined figures saw triple-digit percentage growth in followers. Some of these individuals have faced legal issues in their home countries. One UK activist was imprisoned for defying a court order not to spread defamatory claims about a Syrian refugee. A German politician used a Nazi slogan in a speech, and Italy’s vice premier was tried (and later acquitted) for unlawfully detaining migrants on a rescue ship. Others, like German climate skeptic Naomi Seibt and Dutch commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek, used X to cultivate loyal audiences, monetize content, and draw attention from Musk. Seibt, for example, messaged Musk nearly 600 times before he engaged, after which her follower count surged by over 320,000. She now resides in Washington, D.C., citing fear of political persecution in Germany. Musk’s support hasn’t been limited to online amplification. His endorsements—such as his support for Matteo Salvini in Italy or Nigel Farage in the UK—often come with measurable spikes in visibility and social media reach. In Spain, columnist Rubén Pulido saw his viewership triple when Musk responded to his anti-migration posts. Without Musk’s attention, his reach dwindled. While Musk’s amplification has helped fringe and emerging voices gain traction, established far-right leaders like Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Dutch politician Geert Wilders saw less dramatic benefits from his attention, possibly due to their already high public profiles. The economic implications are also notable. With X now offering monetization features, many of these figures earn money directly from their online presence. For example, Tommy Robinson, a UK anti-immigration activist, more than doubled his average daily views with Musk’s help and linked his X account to fundraising pages. Accounts like Radio Genoa, accused of spreading hate speech, also used Musk’s platform to gain followers and solicit donations. AP’s analysis points to a broader concern: Musk’s ability to amplify narratives and political ideologies that align with his worldview, potentially influencing democratic processes across Europe. EU regulators have taken notice. Investigations are ongoing into X’s algorithm, its role in spreading biased content, and whether Musk's influence poses a threat to electoral integrity. Experts say Musk's power on the platform—whose popularity he has pushed to new highs—creates a major imbalance. With over 220 million followers, he now commands more reach than any other user, including Taylor Swift, Donald Trump, or world leaders like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While Musk’s defenders frame this as free speech in action, critics argue X has become a vehicle for advancing Musk’s own views. “There’s a clear sense that you’re entering Musk’s kingdom when you log on,” said Timothy Graham, a digital media researcher in Australia. Musk’s online support also often turns into offline political momentum. For example, Cypriot influencer-turned-lawmaker Fidias Panayiotou credited Musk’s engagement for his skyrocketing reach and electoral success. Although he later stated they had no personal relationship since their viral hug, Musk endorsed him to over 11 million viewers, praising his character and energy. Despite criticism from European leaders—including the heads of France, Germany, and Norway—Musk continues to amplify voices aligned with nationalist, anti-migrant, and far-right views, reshaping political conversations both online and off.  

A federal appeals court has upheld a jury verdict condemning Google's Android app store as an illegal monopoly, clearing the way for a federal judge to enforce a potentially disruptive shakeup that's designed to give consumers more choices. The unanimous ruling issued Thursday by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals delivers a double-barreled legal blow for Google, which has been waylaid in three separate antitrust trials that resulted in different pillars of its internet empire being declared as domineering scofflaws monopolies since late 2023. The unsuccessful appeal represents a major victory for video game maker Epic Games, which launched a legal crusade targeting Google’s Play Store for Android apps and Apple’s iPhone app store nearly five years ago in an attempt to bypass exclusive payment processing systems that charged 15% to 30% commissions on in-app transactions. The jury's December 2023 rebuke of Google's app store for Android-powered smartphones began a cascade of setbacks that includes monopoly judgements against the company's ubiquitous search engine last year and the technology underlying its digital ad network earlier this year. Although not as lucrative as Google's search engine or ad system, the Play Store for Android apps has long been a gold mine that generated billions of dollars in annual revenue by taking a 15% to 30% cut from in-app transactions funneled through the company's own payment processing system. Following a month-long trial, a nine-person jury determined that Google had rigged its system to thwart alternative app stores from offering better deals to consumers and software developers. That verdict resulted in U.S. District Judge James Donato ordering Google to tear down digital walls shielding the Play Store from competition, triggering the company's appeal to overturn the jury's finding and void the judge's mandated shakeup. But a three-judge panel that heard Google's appeal in February rejected its lawyers' contention that Donato erred by allowing the case to be determined by a jury that deviated from the market definition outlined by another federal judge who mostly sided with Apple in Epic's case against the iPhone maker's app store. Epic's lawsuit "was replete with evidence that Google’s anticompetitive conduct entrenched its dominance, causing the Play Store to benefit from network effects," the judges wrote in the decision. The ruling “will significantly harm user safety, limit choice, and undermine the innovation that has always been central to the Android ecosystem,” Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs Lee-Anne Mulholland said in a statement. Unless Google can extend the enforcement delay placed on Donato's order issued last October, the company will have to begin an overhaul that includes making the Play Store's entire library of more than 2 million Android apps available to would-be rivals and also help distribute the alternative options. Google has argued that the required revisions will raise privacy and security risks by exposing consumers to scam artists and hackers masquerading as legitimate app stores. But Epic's lawyers have ridiculed Google's warnings about the changes as scare tactics in a desperate attempt to protect the fortunes of its corporate parent Alphabet Inc. Although Epic fell short in its attempt to have the iPhone's app store declared a monopoly, that case resulted in a judge issuing an order that required Apple to surrender exclusive control over the payment processing of in-app transactions and allow links to alternative systems without collecting a commission. Besides being hit with Donato's order, Google still faces further trouble ahead that could leave an even bigger dent in its finances. As part of the effort to address Google’s illegal monopoly in search, a federal judge is weighing a proposal by the U.S. Justice Department that would require the sale of its Chrome web browser and ban the multibillion dollar deals that company has been making with Apple and others to lock-in its search engine as the main gateway to the internet. Google is also facing a proposed breakup of its advertising technology as part of the countermeasures to its monopoly in that business. A trial on that proposal is scheduled to begin in September.  

Japanese gaming giant Nintendo has reported a robust 18.6% increase in net profit for the April-June quarter, driven by strong global sales of its newly launched Switch 2 console. The Kyoto-based company earned 96.03 billion yen ($640 million) during the first fiscal quarter, up from 81 billion yen in the same period last year. Revenue more than doubled, reaching 572.36 billion yen ($3.8 billion), according to the company’s earnings report released Friday. Nintendo said it sold 3.5 million units of the Switch 2 worldwide within the first four days of its June 5 release — the fastest-selling hardware launch in the company's history. Sales momentum has remained strong since, boosted in part by the console’s higher price tag of about $450, compared to the original Switch's $300 launch price in 2017. Australia bans YouTube accounts for children under 16 from December Top-performing games included Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, while Pokemon Friends, released for the previous generation Switch, is also compatible with the new model. The Switch 2, like its predecessor, functions both as a handheld device and home console. Nintendo maintained its projection to sell 15 million Switch 2 units in the current fiscal year. It also held firm on its annual profit outlook through March 2026 at 300 billion yen ($2 billion), representing a year-on-year increase of nearly 8%. Despite a 50% rise in Nintendo’s stock over the past year, shares dipped nearly 1% just before the earnings release. Concerns remain over potential impacts from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Japanese exports, though these have yet to affect the company's overall outlook. Source: Agency 

Zeta Global (NYSE: ZETA), an AI-powered marketing cloud company, has appointed Nate Yohannes as President of the newly established Zeta Data & AI Lab and Global Head of Research and Development, aiming to accelerate innovation in artificial intelligence and marketing technologies. Yohannes, who brings over 15 years of experience in AI and product innovation, previously served as Product Management Lead for Generative AI in Ads Ranking at Meta. There, he led the development of AI systems based on Meta’s Llama models to enhance its advertising operations. He also held senior roles at Microsoft’s Office of the CTO and served as a senior advisor in the U.S. federal government. In his new role, Yohannes will report directly to Zeta’s Chief Technology Officer, Christian Monberg, and will oversee the Zeta Data & AI Lab—an innovation unit tasked with developing next-generation technologies and identifying new revenue opportunities beyond the company’s core business. “Nate is a rare kind of leader—equal parts visionary and builder—who understands how to turn breakthrough technologies into transformative outcomes,” said David A. Steinberg, Zeta’s Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO. “With Nate’s leadership, we are able to accelerate our innovation engine and turn today’s breakthroughs into tomorrow’s industry standards.” Yohannes expressed enthusiasm about joining the company during a transformative period. “With its powerful platform, proprietary data, bold vision, and David’s inspiring leadership, Zeta is uniquely positioned to lead the next wave of AI innovation,” he said. “I look forward to building transformative products, attracting top talent, and helping our clients achieve extraordinary outcomes.” Tea app suspends messaging feature after second data breach detected The newly formed Zeta Data & AI Lab is set to function as a strategic innovation engine, using the company's proprietary data and AI assets to explore scalable business models and respond rapidly to market shifts. Yohannes’ previous leadership at Meta included key roles across Instagram and Meta Modern Recommendation Systems, where he helped deploy advanced AI technologies to serve over 2 billion users daily. At Microsoft, he led strategic projects involving autonomous systems and robotics. Earlier in his career, he contributed to federal innovation programs at the U.S. Small Business Administration and participated in the White House Broadband Opportunity Council. He holds a Master of Science from Brown University and a Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo School of Law. About Zeta Global:Founded in 2007 and headquartered in New York City, Zeta Global leverages AI and one of the industry’s largest proprietary databases to help marketers more efficiently acquire, grow, and retain customers. Its unified Zeta Marketing Platform integrates identity, intelligence, and omnichannel activation to simplify sophisticated marketing strategies. Source: Agency 

Tea, a U.S.-based dating discussion app that recently suffered a major cyber security breach, has taken its messaging system offline after discovering that some users' private messages were accessed without authorisation. The app, which is designed to provide women a safe space to discuss their dating experiences with men, soared to the top of the U.S. Apple App Store last week. However, on Friday, it confirmed that thousands of user-submitted selfies and photo IDs were leaked in the breach. Late on Monday, Tea announced via its social media channels that it had "recently learned that some direct messages (DMs) were accessed as part of the initial incident." Tea app suffers data breach, thousands of user photos exposed "Out of an abundance of caution, we have taken the affected system offline," the company said. “At this time, we have found no evidence of access to other parts of our environment.” It remains unclear how many messages were compromised in the breach. The second issue was first reported by 404 Media, which cited an independent security researcher who found it was possible for attackers to access private conversations. These included discussions about sensitive topics such as abortions, infidelity, and phone numbers. Last week, a spokesperson for the company said about 72,000 images were leaked during the initial breach. Among them, 13,000 were selfies or selfie-photo ID combinations submitted by users for verification. Another 59,000 images – including those from public posts, comments, and direct messages – were also accessed without authorization. Tea has stated that no email addresses or phone numbers were accessed during the incident. The company also clarified that the breach only affected users who registered before February 2024.

Media OutReach Newswire – Chinese tech giant OPPO has launched its latest AI-integrated smartphone series, the Reno14, globally, accompanied by a significant upgrade to its after-sales service ecosystem powered by its proprietary AndesGPT large language model. With this launch, OPPO becomes the first smartphone company to fully integrate AI across both its products and customer support systems, setting new standards in service coverage, quality, and user engagement. Since 2021, OPPO has steadily expanded its AI capabilities, developing a team of over 100 professionals focused on embedding artificial intelligence into every phase of the customer service process. “AI is more than just a tool to enhance our products—it is at the heart of how we reimagine customer service,” said Samuel Fang, Head of Global After-Sales Services at OPPO. He noted that AI is already being used across R&D, customer experience, and operational platforms, helping shift OPPO’s service model from reactive to proactive, ultimately delivering a smarter, more seamless experience for users. Pioneering Smart Service Solutions Traditional customer support systems often fall short due to their reliance on rule-based, scripted interactions that fail to meet personalized user demands. To address this, OPPO has developed an intelligent, AI-based service platform that combines advanced language understanding with generative AI, enabling more dynamic, multilingual assistance. This system offers tailored responses by accurately interpreting user intent and works as a real-time assistant to human support agents—enhancing responsiveness while maintaining a human element. OPPO has already localized its intelligent support system across 20 countries and regions, operating 24/7 in 13 languages. Notably, OPPO became the first brand to roll out AI-based WhatsApp support in 13 markets, with cloud-based infrastructure ensuring fast, responsive service. Over 60% of OPPO’s global users can now resolve queries through AI systems. The company plans to expand coverage to 21 countries and introduce support on platforms like Facebook, Line, and Zalo by the end of 2025, tailoring services to regional communication habits and languages. A Complete AI Framework for Seamless Customer Journeys This isn’t just a chatbot upgrade. OPPO’s enhanced AI service solution is built on its AndesGPT foundation and incorporates a complete end-to-end architecture that includes semantic recognition, intelligent task routing, and a dynamic knowledge base. When a query is received, the system interprets it through AI-driven semantic analysis, determines the best response channel—automated or human—and delivers a personalized answer using constantly updated data. The system also includes OPPO’s proprietary AI translation engine, allowing multilingual support and precise responses worldwide. AI deepfakes threaten security, experts call for action Compliant with robust data privacy and security protocols, OPPO’s AI support is integrated across its entire product and service ecosystem. It ensures a consistent experience across all OPPO devices and platforms, allowing users to access help anytime, anywhere. Users can instantly switch to human agents when necessary, while AI agents assist in background with live diagnostics, suggestions, and response scripting. This collaboration has reportedly reduced human workload by 40%, letting staff focus on complex cases. To ensure adaptability, OPPO has appointed localized AI operations teams in key markets. These teams refine AI models, build regional databases, and gather user feedback for continuous system improvement. OPPO is also working to extend AI support from digital platforms to physical service centers, with future features like email automation, enhanced retrieval-based AI, and smart queue systems on the horizon. By combining AI-driven hardware and services, OPPO is not only delivering more intuitive digital interactions but is also redefining customer relationships—offering intelligent service that blends efficiency with a personalized human experience. Source: Agency

Deepfakes powered by artificial intelligence are posing serious threats to national security, business integrity, and public trust, experts warn. Recent incidents show how synthetic media are being used to impersonate top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles. These fake messages, sent via voice, text, and messaging apps, aim to extract sensitive information or gain access to secure networks. In one case, a deepfake of Rubio falsely claimed the U.S. would cut Ukraine’s access to Starlink internet services. Another AI-generated robocall mimicked President Joe Biden’s voice to discourage Democratic voters during the New Hampshire primary. Criminals are also targeting corporate sectors. Using deepfakes, scammers impersonate CEOs or job applicants to access internal systems, steal data, or install ransomware. The U.S. says thousands of North Korean IT workers have infiltrated tech firms using stolen identities—earning salaries and planting malware. Tea app suffers data breach, thousands of user photos exposed “The financial industry is right in the crosshairs,” said Jennifer Ewbank, former CIA official. “Even trusted colleagues have been fooled.” Experts believe the solution lies in fighting AI with AI. Tools like Pindrop analyze speech patterns to detect voice cloning. Such systems could soon become standard in interviews or virtual meetings. Regulators are also calling for stricter laws and improved digital literacy to curb misuse. “We’ve entered an era where anyone can convincingly impersonate a real person,” said Brian Long, CEO of Adaptive Security. Despite the challenges, tech leaders remain hopeful. “We’re not going to be subservient to disinformation,” said Pindrop CEO Vijay Balasubramaniyan. “We are going to fight back.”