United News of Bangladesh

Bangladeshi brand Walton has extended its replacement guarantee for LED television panels up to five from the earlier four years. On Tuesday, Walton declared the extension in a program held at the conference hall of Walton Corporate Office. According to the declaration, customers buying Walton LED or Smart TV from 32-inch and above sizes will get free replacement of the panel if any problem is found within five years of purchase. Moreover, all Walton TVs have up to 5 years of free after-sales service with a 1-year replacement guarantee. READ: Walton to reward students total at least Tk 1 crore for laptop purchase Walton television division CEO Mostafa Nahid Hossain said that the confidence of quality excellence in production is behind the extended replacement guarantee. Customers would be benefitted by the guarantee given on panels as panels cost over 60 percent of the total TV price. Walton incorporates technology panels with ISO Class Seven Dust Free Clean Room which provide viewers large viewing angles and high contrast pictures experience with great energy efficiency. READ: Walton named Dhaka Premier League title sponsor Walton had been manufacturing a wide range of android 4k resolution smart, Bangla Voice Control Smart, Full HD, HD Smart and Basic LED Televisions for customers of all classes, professions and income. Walton as a local brand reached global standard as it now exports ‘Made in Bangladesh’ labeled TVs in over 35 countries. Walton’s Deputy Managing Directors Eva Rezwana Nilu, Amdadul Haque Sarker and Humayun Kabir, Walton Plaza Trades’ Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Rayhan, Executive Director Uday Hakim, Walton TV’s Product Manager Tanvir Mahmud Shuvo and were also present at the program. Read Walton Primo RX8 Review with Price in Bangladesh

Facebook says it will no longer remove claims that COVID-19 is human-made or manufactured “in light of ongoing investigations into the origin of COVID-19 and in consultation with public health experts.” There is rising pressure worldwide to investigate the origins of the pandemic, including the possibility that it came from a lab. Since the pandemic began, Facebook has been changing what it allows on the topic and what it bans. In February, it announced a host of new claims it would be prohibiting -- including that COVID-19 was created in a Chinese lab. Other claims it added at the time included the false notion that vaccines are not effective or that they are toxic. Lisa Fazio, a professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University, said the reversal shows the difficulty of fact-checking in general, particularly with something unprecedented like the coronavirus, when experts can disagree and change their minds with new evidence. Read: Muslim civil rights group sues Facebook over hate speech “It’s one reason that content moderation shouldn’t be static, scientific consensus changes over time,” Fazio said. “It’s also a reminder to be humble and that for some questions the best current answer is “we don’t know yet” or “it’s possible, but experts think it’s unlikely.” Facebook’s reversal comes as President Joe Biden ordered U.S. intelligence officials to “redouble” their efforts to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, including any possibility the trail might lead to a Chinese laboratory. After months of minimizing these claims as a fringe theory, the Biden administration is joining worldwide pressure for China to be more open about the outbreak. It aims to head off GOP complaints that Biden has not been tough enough and to use the opportunity to press China on alleged obstruction. “We’re continuing to work with health experts to keep pace with the evolving nature of the pandemic and regularly update our policies as new facts and trends emerge,” said Guy Rosen, Facebook’s vice president of integrity, in a statement Wednesday. Facebook does not usually ban misinformation outright on its platform, instead adding fact-checks by outside parties, which includes The Associated Press, to debunked claims. The two exceptions have been around elections and COVID-19.

Chinese telecom giant Huawei has received the "Partner Recognition Award" from mobile financial service (MFS) provider bKash. The award was declared at the virtual "Partner Recognition Program" organised by bKash recently.  Over the last few years, bKash, a subsidiary of Brac Bank, has popularised mobile financial services in Bangladesh. Huawei has been a strategic partner of bKash since 2017 and helped it on many fronts. Read Fintech MFS: Best Mobile Financial Services in Bangladesh Huawei has provided fintech mobile money core solution and E2E solution, including high-reliability hardware as well as large-scale capacity software to bKash, which has enabled the MFS to integrate the system with other ecosystems and catalyse its financial services. Azmal Huda, chief product and technology officer at bKash, said: "Huawei has been a trusted and very dedicated partner in our growth journey as they have always offered timely support and cutting-edge technology for us." Huawei Technologies Bangladesh CTO Dongjian Xu said: "As a strategic partner of bKash, we have always strived to provide not only the best software solutions and technology but also services to bring greater value to our society."  Read Digital Currency: Benefits and Risks of the Cashless Economy in Bangladesh The extensive research and development capabilities of Huawei enables MFS providers to deliver enhanced user experience and superior manageability, read a press release.

Chinese electronics company Realme is hosting a global 5G summit with Qualcomm, GSMA, and Counterpoint on June 3 to shed light on the growth opportunities of 5G worldwide, its impact on consumers, and as an enabler of smart living. At the global 5G summit "Making 5G Global: Accessibility for All," these 5G ecosystem players will also discuss 5G's role as an agent of change, its transformational impact on society, barriers to 5G adoption, how it can boost growth in a post-pandemic world and specific applications that are important in providing the whole 5G experience. Read ZTE implements SuperDSS for 5G transition in S Africa Realme Bangladesh Managing Director Tim Shao said: "This summit is of paramount significance as realme will be taking cues from the opinions shared in this event. It is mentionable that the 5G-supported handsets to be introduced by realme in the Bangladeshi market in future will be available at affordable prices and will come with maximised 5G benefits." The summit will be live-streamed on the GSMA channel and realme's official social media channels. Read Robi deploys 4.5G technology in all its network sites

Global smart device brand Oppo has recently kicked off a contest through which mobile gaming enthusiasts can win Oppo F19 Pro.  The campaign commenced on May 15 and will continue till June 6. The Facebook-based campaign is specifically meant for gaming fans. They can win F19 Pro by guessing who will win the PUBG Mobile Campus Championship (PMCC) Bangladesh 2021. Read OPPO F19 Pro Review with Price in Bangladesh Oppo F19 Pro is a mid-range phone with a new crystal silver design with Reno Glow effect, 30W VOOC Flash Charge 4.0, Game Focus Mode, Dual-View Video and AI Color Portrait Video. Owing to a fusion of hardware performance and software capability, F19 Pro offers immersive gaming without any kind of distractions, read a press release. Read Top 4 PUBG Alternative Multiplayer Games

Marcel has launched Digital Campaign Season 11 all over the country with many offers for customers under its "Eid Celebration" programme ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. Under the offers, customers can enjoy cash benefits, discounts or cash vouchers upon the purchase of Marcel fridges, TVs or washing machines. Also read: Marcel feature phones hit local market They can also buy Marcel's brand new freezers at a discounted price in exchange for their old or used fridges of any brand. Marcel officials announced the benefits while launching "Digital Campaign Season-11" in the capital Saturday. Also read: Marcel Digital Campaign Season-10 begins The electronics brand's distributors from all over the country attended the programme virtually. Among others, Marcel Head of Sales Dr Shakhawat Hossen, Brand Ambassador Amin Khan, executive directors SM Zahid Hasan, Ariful Ambia, Shahjalal Hossain Limon, Rakib Uddin; Chief Human Resources Officer Mohammad Kamruzzaman, Senior Deputy Executive Director Rabiul Alam Bhuiyan and Digital Campaign Coordinator Nazmul Hossain Evan were also present, read a press release. Also read: Marcel tv’s guaranteed discount campaign kicks off

Actor Siam Ahmed, the brand ambassador of Oppo, paid a surprise visit to the smart device manufacturer's Bangladesh headquarters during Eid. "This lockdown and Covid have put us into a different reality. So, I thought of this surprise visit while maintaining social distance right after Eid day to inspire everyone with the new vigour necessary for them to carry on their activities," Siam said. Read OPPO F19 Review with Price in Bangladesh "Oppo has always prioritised local cultures and trends. If my surprise visit to the brand's Bangladesh headquarters makes someone a little happy, it will mean a lot to me. " During Siam's visit, cakes were cut to multiply the joy of Eid. All the members of Oppo, including Oppo Bangladesh Managing Director Damon Yang and Brand Manager Wither were also present at that time, read a press release. Read Siam Safa inspiring everyone to share their Eid happiness in OPPO’s new Eid microfilm

Jointly with the governments, universities, and industrial partners, Huawei will support South Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal to cultivate 100,000 digital talents over the next five years, Huawei spokesperson said Thursday (May 20, 2021) at the Digital Talent Regional Summit online.  Themed “Cultivating a Talent Ecosystem for Inclusive Digital Prosperity”, the summit brought together ministers and scholars from the three countries, experts and representatives from UNESCO and the ICT industry, to explore collaborative initiatives for closing the digital skill gaps and facilitating the digital transformation in the post-pandemic economic recovery.   From Bangladesh, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the State Minister for ICT; Prof Satya Prasad Majumder, Vice-Chancellor of BUET; and Beatrice Kaldun, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh were present among other and shared their insights. Read Huawei Carrier Congress 2021 begins in Bangladesh“We believe the talent ecosystem is the cornerstone of the economic recovery and a long-lasting digital future. However, the lack of digital skills is one of the biggest challenges facing many countries,” said Jay Chen, vice president of Huawei Asia Pacific at the summit.“In the next five years, Huawei expects to develop more than 100,000 ICT talent and build a vibrant digital talent ecosystem in this dynamic region, especially Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.”The ministers appreciated the initiative of Huawei to support the government in providing ICT solutions and training the digital talents. Read Huawei to invest $220 million in cloud ecosystem for 2021”Now is the right time to create digital talent, along with the priority on digitalisation. The father of our nation said that the biggest asset of Bangladesh is the soil and people of the country. We are witnessing the reflection of those words in the present day. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Bangladesh is marching forward by fulfilling all the requirements of a developing nation, which have been possible for the efficient use of information and communication technology in all fields; consequently, Vision 2021 is being implemented,” Palak said.“We are confident that with the support of the private sector, we will be able to attain our goals within the specified time. Huawei has been working as a partner in various government initiatives to accelerate the country’s digitalisation process and upskill the youth,” he said.“With their support, our youth have the opportunity to learn about modern technology from industry experts. I strongly believe, such partnerships will contribute to the country's economic growth and prepare our youth to face the Fourth Industrial Revolution.” Palak added, according to a Huawei press release. Read `Hire and Train’, a model that impresses IT companiesHe stressed that the digital transformation will bring dramatic changes in society, and it is vital to upskill the youth and reskill the current employees. The government, educational institutions, and private sectors should continue to collaborate on the digital talent ecosystem.Scholars and experts from the region participated in the panel discussion at the event explored the recommendations for addressing the talent challenges. They emphasized approaches to developing talent aligned with the digital vision.Prof Satya Prasad Majumder said the pandemic has reminded us of the need for continuous innovation in order to remain ahead of the curve by using technology. “This can be achieved only if we continue to nurture talent in the ICT sector. For that, ICT leaders such as Huawei and institutes of academic excellence like BUET need to continue working together like we have been doing so far, with the support of the government,” he said. Read 35,000 modern digital labs to be installed to give more access to girls: PalakRepresentatives from the international organisation also emphasised the importance of closing the digital skills gap for sustainable development.“In order to cultivate a talent ecosystem for inclusive digital prosperity, we have to promote digital inclusion, mainstream digital skill developments, and foster digital-pedagogical transformation to ensure the quality of learning. Huawei is committed to this action and would like to build on its partnership with UNESCO, which started with the ‘TECH4ALL’ initiative in Africa, with the aim for global expansion. It is a long-term, digital inclusion initiative that targets empowering the world’s maximum population with essential digital skills,” said Beatrice Kaldun.During the pandemic, Huawei has cooperated with partners, including UNESCO, to provide digital solutions and online learning resources to students and professionals. Huawei plans to extend the digital talents cultivation initiatives and provide an end-to-end Huawei Talent Platform, which will help learners to improve their capabilities and assists them with career development by offering a one-stop service, covering the online course, examination, certification, and job seeking. Read KOICA helped establish pillars of Digital Bangladesh: Zunaid Palak

Chinese mobile phone manufacturer Tecno has launched the Spark 7 Pro hashtag campaign #SmileSnapshot on popular global short video platform Likee. The campaign, the first hashtag event with the shopping cart function on Likee in Bangladesh, started on May 11 and will continue till May 25. Read Join OPPO Likee hashtag challenge to win exciting prize With the name #SmileSnapshot, Techno wants to represent the main feature of smile-snapshot on their newly launched Spark 7 Pro, which has a 48MP Clear Triple AI Camera. Users will have to imitate a given dance gesture by selected Likee influencers in their videos with hashtag #SmileSnapshot to the tune of the official music named "Tecno Spark 7 Pro" to join the campaign. Read Infinix Hot 10 Play Review with Price in Bangladesh Tecno will choose the winners based on the quality and engagement of the videos. The top performer will win a Spark 7 Pro mobile; other prizes include Manchester City jerseys and footballs, read a press release.

Pressure is mounting on South Korean President Moon Jae-in to pardon Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong, who is back in prison after his conviction in a massive corruption scandal, even though business has rarely looked better at South Korea’s largest company. Lee is just the latest South Korean corporate boss to run his business from behind bars, communicating decisions through visiting company executives. But his imprisonment is causing national handwringing over the future of the technology giant in the country sometimes called the “Samsung Republic.” Many people — from business leaders and editorial writers to even Buddhist monks — have urged Moon to release Lee for the sake of an economy heavily dependent on Samsung’s technology exports. They worry Lee’s imprisonment could compromise Samsung’s speed and decisiveness, hindering its competitiveness in the fast-changing technology business. Lee has been in prison for nearly four months and few expect him to serve his full prison sentence through July 2022. There’s speculation Moon could free him on Buddha’s Birthday, which falls on Wednesday. Read:Samsung Galaxy A72 Full Review: Is it worth buying? There’s also Liberation Day in August, which celebrates Korea’s independence from Japanese colonial rule at the end of World War II. That also has often brought presidential pardons of high-profile politicians and businesspeople. Moon’s office said he will consider both the intensifying competition in the semiconductor market and public feelings about fairness before deciding whether to pardon Lee. Lee runs Samsung as vice chairman. He’s also the country’s richest person. He is serving a 2 1/2-year sentence for bribing then-President Park Geun-hye and her close confidante, who are serving lengthier prison terms, to win government support for a 2015 merger between two Samsung affiliates that tightened his control over the corporate empire. Samsung’s latest results suggest it is doing just fine. The company posted a near 50% jump in operating profit and its $58 billion revenue was the highest ever in the first three months of the year. Demand for its mainstay computer memory chips, TVs and other products has surged as the pandemic has forced millions to stay home. And Samsung’s sleek Galaxy smartphones and tablets are the biggest competition for Apple’s iPhones and iPads. Samsung has announced ambitious plans to expand its computer chip manufacturing. Last week it said it will invest 171 trillion won ($151 billion) through 2030 in higher-margin logic chips and its foundry business for contract chipmaking as it expands beyond its dominance in memory chips. The company expects demand for advanced chips to soar in coming years, lifted by emerging technologies such as fifth generation (5G) wireless networks, artificial intelligence and self-driving cars. Still, analysts say Samsung is increasingly falling behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. in the race for high-tech chips. The world’s biggest contract chipmaker, TSMC controls 55% of the global foundry business versus Samsung’s 17% share, according to South Korea’s Trade Ministry. Both could be threatened by U.S. efforts to reduce American dependence on Asian supply chains and rebuild the declining U.S. chip industry in response to chip shortages that have hobbled American auto manufacturing in recent months. In a statement to The Associated Press, Samsung said Lee’s role is to “contribute to the company’s overall strategic direction, and make decisions related to the future growth through his insights and global network of business leaders.” The company declined to comment on calls for Lee’s release and also would not say how often company officials are visiting him. “It’s not difficult for Lee to manage the company from prison through his visitors, and it’s not like he had ever run Samsung like an omnipotent king,” said Chung Sun-sup, chief executive of corporate analysis firm Chaebul.com. Even though Lee is the grandson of Samsung’s founder and is the family’s third generation helmsman of the company, important decisions are still weighed by the board, he noted. Read:Facing $11B tax bill, Samsung heirs donate mass art trove “But who knows what Samsung is missing when Lee isn’t visiting business sites or traveling abroad for new opportunities?” he said. Lee’s imprisonment comes at a time when Samsung should be pushing for a major reshaping of its semiconductor business, said Lee Seung-woo, a senior analyst at Seoul-based Eugene Investment and Securities. Samsung’s rise as a global technology powerhouse drew from its dual strength in parts and finished products. But that’s proving a disadvantage in its competition with TSMC as major clients like Apple shift orders to TSMC to avoid relying on chips manufactured by a competitor. Samsung should be considering bold moves, such as splitting its foundry business into a separate company and listing it on the U.S. stock market to ease the concern of clients, Lee said. “Lee Jae-yong clearly has a role to do,” he said. “Lee could be meeting (Apple CEO) Tim Cook asking Apple to invest in the new foundry company.” Samsung’s daily operations are mainly handled by co-CEOs who each lead its semiconductor, smartphones and consumer electronics divisions. Samsung reaped robust profits during Lee’s earlier stints in jail, in 2017 and 2018, when it finalized a deal to acquire American auto electronics firm Harman. That assuaged jitters about a possible void in decision making. Legal troubles have long dogged the company. Lee’s late father, its former chairman Lee Kun-hee, received suspended sentences in 1996 and 2008 for crimes including bribery and tax evasion. The scandal that snagged Lee Jae-yong again underscored traditionally cozy ties between “chaebol,” or South Korea’s family-owned conglomerates, and the government. Park was ousted and jailed in 2017 following months of protests by millions. Moon has been sidestepping the pardon issue for months, having taken office vowing to curb the excesses of chaebol families after winning the presidential by-election following Park’s ouster. South Korea has long been lenient toward white-collar crimes, letting convicted tycoons run their businesses from prison. Officials say that’s best for the economy even though the crimes committed by chaebol bosses usually put their personal interests ahead of corporate concerns. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won held nearly 1,800 meetings with his lawyers and other visitors in 17 months through July 2014 while serving a four-year prison term for embezzlement and other crimes, according Justice Ministry comments to lawmakers. Read:Samsung reports profit jump driven by strong chip deman Hyundai Motor Corp. reportedly set up a “liaison office” nearby to receive guests and staff visiting its former chairman Chung Mong-koo after he was arrested in 2006 on charges of embezzling company funds to bribe officials. Chey and Chung received presidential pardons, as did Lee’s father. The calls for Lee’s release show Samsung still holds excessive influence, said Park Sang-in, a professor of public enterprise policy at Seoul National University. He believes pardoning Lee would damage public trust. “Was there ever a time when pardoning a chaebol boss really helped a company or the Korean economy? No, not even once,” Park said.