United News of Bangladesh

Brazil started blocking Elon Musk’s social media platform X early Saturday, making it largely inaccessible on both the web and through its mobile app after the company refused to comply with a judge’s order. X missed a deadline imposed by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to name a legal representative in Brazil, triggering the suspension. It marks an escalation in the monthslong feud between Musk and de Moraes over free speech, far-right accounts and misinformation. To block X, Brazil’s telecommunications regulator, Anatel, told internet service providers to suspend users’ access to the social media platform. As of Saturday at midnight local time, major operators began doing so. De Moraes had warned Musk on Wednesday night that X could be blocked in Brazil if he failed to comply with his order to name a representative, and established a 24-hour deadline. The company hasn’t had a representative in the country since earlier this month. “Elon Musk showed his total disrespect for Brazilian sovereignty and, in particular, for the judiciary, setting himself up as a true supranational entity and immune to the laws of each country,” de Moraes wrote in his decision on Friday. The justice said the platform will stay suspended until it complies with his orders, and also set a daily fine of 50,000 reais ($8,900) for people or companies using VPNs to access it. In a later ruling, he backtracked on his initial decision to establish a 5-day deadline for internet service providers themselves — and not just the telecommunications regulator — to block access to X, as well as his directive for app stores to remove virtual private networks, or VPNs. The dispute also led to the freezing this week of the bank accounts in Brazil of Musk's satellite internet provider Starlink. Brazil is one of the biggest markets for X, which has struggled with the loss of advertisers since Musk purchased the former Twitter in 2022. Market research group Emarketer says some 40 million Brazilians, roughly one-fifth of the population, access X at least once per month. “This is a sad day for X users around the world, especially those in Brazil, who are being denied access to our platform. I wish it did not have to come to this – it breaks my heart,” X’s CEO Linda Yaccarino said Friday night, adding that Brazil is failing to uphold its constitution’s pledge to forbid censorship. X had posted on its official Global Government Affairs page late Thursday that it expected X to be shut down by de Moraes, “simply because we would not comply with his illegal orders to censor his political opponents.” “When we attempted to defend ourselves in court, Judge de Moraes threatened our Brazilian legal representative with imprisonment. Even after she resigned, he froze all of her bank accounts,” the company wrote. X has clashed with de Moraes over its reluctance to comply with orders to block users. Accounts that the platform previously has shut down on Brazilian orders include lawmakers affiliated with former President Jair Bolsonaro’s right-wing party and activists accused of undermining Brazilian democracy. X’s lawyers in April sent a document to the Supreme Court in April, saying that since 2019 it had suspended or blocked 226 users. In his decision Friday, de Moraes' cited Musk's statements as evidence that X's conduct “clearly intends to continue to encourage posts with extremism, hate speech and anti-democratic discourse, and to try to withdraw them from jurisdictional control.” In April, de Moraes included Musk as a target in an ongoing investigation over the dissemination of fake news and opened a separate investigation into the executive for alleged obstruction. Musk, a self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist," has repeatedly claimed the justice’s actions amount to censorship, and his argument has been echoed by Brazil’s political right. He has often insulted de Moraes on his platform, characterizing him as a dictator and tyrant. De Moraes’ defenders have said his actions aimed at X have been lawful, supported by most of the court’s full bench and have served to protect democracy at a time it is imperiled. He wrote Friday that his ruling is based on Brazilian law requiring internet services companies to have representation in the country so they can be notified when there are relevant court decisions and take requisite action — specifying the takedown of illicit content posted by users, and an anticipated churn of misinformation during October municipal elections. The looming shutdown is not unprecedented in Brazil. Lone Brazilian judges shut down Meta’s WhatsApp, the nation’s most widely used messaging app, several times in 2015 and 2016 due to the company’s refusal to comply with police requests for user data. In 2022, de Moraes threatened the messaging app Telegram with a nationwide shutdown, arguing it had repeatedly ignored Brazilian authorities’ requests to block profiles and provide information. He ordered Telegram to appoint a local representative; the company ultimately complied and stayed online. X and its former incarnation, Twitter, have been banned in several countries — mostly authoritarian regimes such as Russia, China, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Venezuela and Turkmenistan. Other countries, such as Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt, have also temporarily suspended X before, usually to quell dissent and unrest. Twitter was banned in Egypt after the Arab Spring uprisings, which some dubbed the “Twitter revolution,” but it has since been restored. A search Friday on X showed hundreds of Brazilian users inquiring about VPNs that could potentially enable them to continue using the platform by making it appear they were logging on from outside the country. It was not immediately clear how Brazilian authorities would police this practice and impose fines cited by de Moraes. “This is an unusual measure, but its main objective is to ensure that the court order to suspend the platform's operation is, in fact, effective," Filipe Medon, a specialist in digital law and professor at the law school of Getulio Vargas Foundation, a university in Rio de Janeiro, told The Associated Press. Mariana de Souza Alves Lima, known by her handle MariMoon, showed her 1.4 million followers on X where she intends to go, posting a screenshot of rival social network BlueSky. On Thursday evening, Starlink, said on X that de Moraes this week froze its finances, preventing it from doing any transactions in the country where it has more than 250,000 customers. “This order is based on an unfounded determination that Starlink should be responsible for the fines levied—unconstitutionally—against X. It was issued in secret and without affording Starlink any of the due process of law guaranteed by the Constitution of Brazil. We intend to address the matter legally,” Starlink said in its statement. The law firm representing Starlink told the AP that the company appealed, but wouldn’t make further comment. Musk replied to people sharing the reports of the freeze, adding insults directed at de Moraes. “This guy @Alexandre is an outright criminal of the worst kind, masquerading as a judge,” he wrote. Musk later posted on X that SpaceX, which runs Starlink, will provide free internet service in Brazil “until the matter is resolved” since “we cannot receive payment, but don’t want to cut anyone off.” In his decision, de Moraes said he ordered the freezing of Starlink’s assets, as X didn't have enough money in its accounts to cover mounting fines, and reasoning that the two companies are part of the same economic group. While ordering X’s suspension followed warnings and fines and so was appropriate, taking action against Starlink seems “highly questionable,” said Luca Belli, coordinator of the Getulio Vargas Foundation’s Technology and Society Center. “Yes, of course, they have the same owner, Elon Musk, but it is discretionary to consider Starlink as part of the same economic group as Twitter (X). They have no connection, they have no integration,” Belli said.

A total of 416 mobile towers out of 14,551 in eleven flood affected district have remained out of order due to flood, according to the Bangladesh Telecommunication and Regulatory Commission (BTRC). The districts include Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Cumilla, Brahmanbaria, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Cox’s Bazar and Sylhet, said a press release of BTRC issued on Thursday. Already the Bangladesh Army has provided all out necessary assistance including water vessels, trucks and speedboats to carry the equipment, fuel and generators to the mobile operators and tower operators.

The founder and CEO of the messaging service Telegram was detained at a Paris airport on an arrest warrant alleging his platform has been used for money laundering, drug trafficking and other offenses, French media reported Sunday. Pavel Durov, a dual citizen of France and Russia, was taken into custody at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday evening after landing in France from Azerbaijan, according to broadcasters LCI and TF1. Investigators from the National Anti-Fraud Office, attached to the French customs department, notified Durov, 39, that he was being placed in police custody, the broadcasters said. Durov’s representatives couldn’t be immediately reached for comment. French prosecutors declined to comment on Durov's arrest when contacted by The Associated Press on Sunday, in line with regulations during an ongoing investigation. French media reported that the warrant for Durov was issued by France at the request of the special unit at the country's interior ministry in charge of investigating crimes against minors. Those include online sexual exploitation, such as possession and distribution of child sexual abuse content and grooming for sexual purposes. Telegram was founded by Durov and his brother in the wake of the Russian government’s crackdown after mass pro-democracy protests that rocked Moscow at the end of 2011 and 2012. The demonstrations prompted Russian authorities to clamp down on the digital space, adopting regulations that forced internet providers to block websites and cellphone operators to store call records and messages that could be shared with security services. In the increasingly repressive environment, Telegram and its pro-privacy rhetoric offered a convenient way for Russians to communicate and share news. In 2018, Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor moved to block Telegram over its refusal to hand over encryption keys, but ultimately failed to fully restrict access to the app. Telegram continued to be widely used — including by government institutions — and the ban was dropped two years later. In March 2024, Roskomnadzor said that Telegram was working with the Russian government to a certain extent and had removed more than 256,000 posts with prohibited content at Roskomnadzor’s request. Telegram also continues to be a popular source of news in Ukraine, where both media outlets and officials use it to share information on the war, and deliver missile and air raid alerts. In a statement posted on its platform, Telegram said it abides by EU laws including the digital services act, and its moderation is “within industry standards and constantly improving." Durov, the company added, “has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe.” “It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform," Telegram’s post said. “Almost a billion users globally use Telegram as means of communication and as a source of vital information. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all.” A French judicial official suggested that Durov could appear before a judge later Sunday to determine whether he will remain in custody. The official wasn’t authorized to be named publicly during an ongoing investigation. “If the person concerned is to be brought before a judge today, it is only in the context of the possible extension of his police custody measure — a decision that must be taken and notified by an investigating judge,” the official said. Western governments have often criticized Telegram for lack of content moderating on the messaging service, which experts say opens up the messaging platform for potential use in money laundering, drug trafficking and allowing the sharing of content linked to sexual exploitation of minors. Compared to other messaging platforms, Telegram is “less secure (and) more lax in terms of policy and detection of illegal content,” said David Thiel, a Stanford University researcher, who has investigated the use of online platforms for child exploitation, at its Internet Observatory. In addition, Telegram “appears basically unresponsive to law enforcement,” Thiel said, adding that messaging service WhatsApp “submitted over 1.3 million CyberTipline reports in 2023 (and) Telegram submits none.” In 2022, Germany issued fines of 5.125 million euros ($5 million) against the operators of Telegram for failing to comply with German law. The Federal Office of Justice said that Telegram FZ-LLC hasn’t established a lawful way for reporting illegal content or named an entity in Germany to receive official communication. Both are required under German laws that regulate large online platforms. Last year, Brazil temporarily suspended Telegram over its failure to surrender data on neo-Nazi activity related to a police inquiry into school shootings in November. Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of social media site X who’s called himself a “free speech absolutist” in the past, posted ”#freePavel” in support of Durov following the arrest. Russian government officials expressed outrage at Durov’s arrest, with some highlighting what they said was the West's double standard on freedom of speech. “In 2018, a group of 26 NGOs, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Freedom House, Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and others, condemned the Russian court’s decision to block Telegram,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. “Do you think this time they’ll appeal to Paris and demand Durov’s release?” Zakharova said in a post on her personal Telegram account. Officials at the Russian Embassy in Paris had requested access to Durov, Zakharova told Russian state news outlet RIA Novosti, but she added that French authorities view Durov’s French citizenship as his primary one. In a statement to the AP earlier this month, Telegram said that it actively combats misuse of its platform. “Moderators use a combination of proactive monitoring and user reports in order to remove content that breaches Telegram’s terms of service. Each day, millions of pieces of harmful content are removed,” the company said.

The surge in AI (artificial intelligence) has revolutionized content creation, blurring the lines between what is genuine and what is computer-generated. As this technology becomes more sophisticated, the challenge of distinguishing between real and AI-generated content intensifies. This distinction is increasingly vital for maintaining credibility in the media. This article presents proven and reliable techniques for accurately identifying AI-made images. Proven Strategies to Identify an AI-generated Image Analyzing Image Details AI-crafted visuals often exhibit subtle, yet telling inconsistencies. For instance, textures might appear unnatural or overly smooth, while object alignments can seem off, forming a sense of visual distortion. Common issues include strange artifacts around edges or repetitive patterns uncommon in real-world photography. Additionally, aspects like hair, hands, or reflections are often areas where AI struggles to replicate natural accuracy. Discrepancies that hint at artificial creation can be detected more readily by closely analyzing these details. Read more: How Can Artificial Intelligence Improve Healthcare? Metadata Examination Genuine photographs typically contain detailed metadata, including camera model, lens type, exposure settings, and even GPS coordinates. Algorithmically designed images, however, often need more comprehensive data. Instead, metadata might show signs of image-editing software or specific AI tools used in the design process. For example, metadata may include software names or unusual data entries that deviate from standard photographic metadata. Scrutinizing these elements often discerns whether the image was taken with a camera or generated through AI. Understanding AI Art Styles Recognizing digitally fabricated images often involves understanding their distinct artistic styles. These computer-programmed arts often follow distinct patterns, including surreal elements, exaggerated forms, and strikingly vibrant color schemes. The configurations always stand apart from conventional photography. Read more: Ai and Future of Content Writing: Will Artificial Intelligence replace writers? For instance, AI might produce images with inconsistent lighting or shadow effects, or details that appear overly smooth or enhanced. Familiarity with these stylistic traits and digital quirks are poised as major indicators for simulated fabrication. Reverse Image Search Submitting an image to a reverse search engine allows users to uncover its online appearances, including potential sources and related visuals. This method can reveal if a picture is linked to known AI databases or if it has been flagged as computer-generated in other contexts. Furthermore, reverse searches can uncover if the image has been used or modified in various locations. This assessment assists in verifying if the work is original or not. Read more: Top Home Electronics in Bangladesh for 2024: Simplify Your Life with These Smart Devices Checking for AI-made Elements Examining specific elements within an image can expose a lack of authenticity. For example, unnatural lighting and shadow effects generally do not match the real-world light sources in the scene. AI may struggle with accurate light source placement, leading to inconsistent or unrealistic shadowing. In addition, synthesized imagery might feature unusual combinations of objects or scenarios that defy logical consistency, such as items appearing in impractical or improbable arrangements. Spotting these discrepancies helps determine if an image is created by AI rather than being a genuine photograph. Summing Up Detecting AI-generated images requires a keen eye and a strategic approach. Analyzing subtle inconsistencies in visual details and verifying metadata can reveal digital origins. Distinctive AI styles and reverse image searches help track image sources. Finally, assessing lighting and object placement ensures natural accuracy. With advancing AI technology, identifying these features is essential for ensuring the authenticity and credibility of visual media. Read more: AI & Future of Jobs: Will Artificial Intelligence or Robots Take Your Job?

The internet shutdown on July 18 during the student protests was ordered by the then State Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, and the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC), according to preliminary findings by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology. In a statement on Wednesday, Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) President Emdadul Haque said that on July 18, internet services were suddenly cut off by upstream International Internet Gateway (IIG) providers without prior notice to ISPs. The shutdown's cause has since been clarified by a government investigation, which found that the decision to suspend internet services was made under the direction of the former ICT and Telecommunications State Minister and the NTMC. The shutdown was executed through the International Terrestrial Cable (ITC) providers and the Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL), which operate above the ISP layer and are directly linked to the IIGs. “When the internet was cut off that day, various media outlets reached out to us for an explanation since we lead broadband internet services. I mentioned that we could not provide internet service because our IIG was not supplying bandwidth,” Haque explained. “Perhaps my statement was misinterpreted in some quarters, and for that, I am genuinely sorry. Such activities are indeed regrettable, but the real reasons have now been made clear to everyone.” Haque further emphasized the impact of the internet shutdown, saying, “As a businessman and an ordinary internet user, I demand compensation for the financial losses our industry suffered due to the shutdown. The damage inflicted on all sectors in Bangladesh by this internet blackout is irreparable. As a concerned citizen, I urge the current and future governments to never again resort to shutting down the internet under any circumstances. The internet is synonymous with freedom of speech, and we must ensure that this freedom is never compromised.”

Plenty of ebooks are available online for purchase or free download, and you don't need a dedicated ebook reader to enjoy them. Simply use an ebook reader app on your phone or tablet. Whether you're reading Mobi, EPUB, or PDF files, there's an ebook app that suits your needs. Let’s learn about some of the best eBook Reader Apps for mobile devices. Top Apps for Android, and iOS to Read eBooks on Screen Google Play Books & Audiobooks Google Play Books & Audiobooks, developed by Google LLC, is a popular reading app with a 4.3-star rating on Google Play and a 4.5-star rating on the App Store. The app is free to download, with no subscription required to purchase books. It offers millions of ebooks, audiobooks, comics, and manga. Features include offline reading, customisable reading settings, syncing across devices, and the ability to organize your library into shelves. The app size varies with the device, requiring Android 16.0 and iOS 16.0 or later, with an 82.4 MB download size on iOS. Read more: 7 Food Delivery Apps for Dhaka Barnes & Noble NOOK The Barnes & Noble NOOK app is a free digital reading platform offering access to over 4 million eBooks, comics, manga, and magazines, along with 300,000 audiobooks. Developed by Barnes & Noble, the app is available on both Android and iOS. On Google Play, it has a 3.2-star rating, while on the App Store, it holds a 4.7-star rating and needs iOS 14.0 or later. The app size is 162.3 MB on iOS. Features include customizable reading and listening experiences, syncing across devices, and family profiles for shared access. Kobo Books The Kobo Books app, developed by Rakuten Kobo Inc., offers a comprehensive reading experience with a 4.0 rating on Google Play and a 4.5 rating on the App Store. Free to download, it provides access to over 6 million eBooks and audiobooks. In-app purchases range from BDT 5.00 to BDT 110,000.00. Read more: 10 Best Audiobook Apps for Android, iOS The app is compatible with Android 8.0+ and iOS 16.0+, with a download size of 97 MB for Android and 174.1 MB for iOS. Features include customizable reading settings, audiobook playback, multi-device sync, and support for multiple languages. Libby Libby, the Library App, developed by OverDrive, Inc., is a free, highly-rated app for borrowing eBooks and audiobooks from libraries It boasts a 4.3 rating on Google Play and a 4.8 rating on the App Store. The app is lightweight, with a download size of 3 MB on Android and 11.2 MB on iOS. Compatible with Android 7.1+ and iOS 10.0+, Libby allows users to browse, borrow, and read or listen to titles offline, sync reading positions across devices, and even send eBooks to Kindle (U.S. only). The app offers adjustable text settings, a versatile audiobook player, and easy library card management. Read more: Top 10 Wallet Apps to Organize Finances FBReader FBReader, developed by FBReader.ORG Limited, is a versatile and free eBook reader that supports a range of formats including ePub, PDF, Kindle azw3, and more. It has a 4.2 rating on Google Play and a 3.4 rating on the App Store.

The government is considering forming an independent media commission, Information and Broadcasting Adviser Nahid Islam said on Sunday. The adviser said this while exchanging views with journalists  at his Secretariat office. "We have primarily thought about an independent media commission. We will determine its framework through discussions with journalists. We aim to take these initiatives based on feedback from the journalist community," the advisor said on the first day in charge of the ministry. Nahid  further mentioned that the ministry would soon decide about the films that were not released due to non-clearance of the Censor Board. "We will quickly reorganise the Censor Board making decisions based on logical reasoning," he added. He requested the media to limit the coverage of his photos, saying, "I have been trying to stay out of the spotlight for the past few days." When asked about cases being filed allegedly out of personal vendettas, he said, "We have instructions to ensure that no action is taken against those who were not involved in crimes. If cases are filed, they will be handled based on clear investigations. The Ministry of Law has been given specific instructions in this regard." Regarding the long-pending Journalist Protection Act, Nahid  acknowledged its delay and assured that he would address it. On the investigation into the murders of journalists Sagar and Runi, he said that the government is seeking a swift resolution, emphasising that there would be no delay or deception in this matter. The adviser also mentioned that the government is considering structural reforms across all ministries to achieve long-term benefits. This includes discussions on revising various laws, addressing journalists' salaries, and modernising institutions under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. When asked about corruption within the Department of Films and Publications (DFP) and the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB), Nahid  emphasised that there should be no place for corruption or favouritism. "We must ensure that these institutions operate with complete impartiality," he asserted. Nahid remarked that the greatest strength of the media is its impartiality. He expressed concern that, similar to the political divide between the Awami League and BNP, the media also appears divided along partisan lines. He urged journalists to avoid such divisions and to speak for the people from a neutral standpoint.

Time moves a tad faster on the moon. Now an international group of astronomers has joined calls to give the moon its own clock so that future space missions can keep track of minutes on the celestial body. The International Astronomical Union voted Thursday encouraging space organizations across the globe to collaborate on a timekeeping standard for the moon, where one day lasts 29.5 Earth days. “That’s the crux of our resolution: to work together to establish this standard time,” U.S. Naval Observatory’s Susan Stewart said this week at the group's conference in Cape Town, South Africa. Stewart helped propose the resolution. The moon has less gravity compared to Earth, so time ticks by about 58.7 microseconds quicker every day. As more countries and private companies set their sights on future lunar missions, astronomers want to ensure perfect synchrony with a unified clock. Currently, a moon mission runs on the time of the nation that's operating the spacecraft. The European Space Agency pushed last year for the creation of a lunar clock. And earlier this year, the White House directed NASA and other agencies to cobble together an initial idea by the end of the year with a final plan due by the end of 2026. Astronomers are still in the early days of determining exactly how lunar time will tick, said Bijunath Patla, a physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. “I think that the community has realized that this needs to be done,” Patla said. “And this is the beginning.”

Women’s safety remains one of the most concerning issues even in 2024. WHO estimates that globally, around one in three women (30%) has faced some form of violence in their lifetime. This begs the question, what’s the solution to such a persistent social problem? Considering the need, personal safety apps have become an effective way to ensure safety in every situation. Here’s a list of the best personal safety Android and iOS apps for women in 2024.  Built-in Native Safety Features in iOS and Android Beyond the need for apps, iOS and Android have several built-in features to ensure safety while alone or traveling. But it's more streamlined in iOS as different Android manufacturers have different take on the safety approach. With iOS, there’s the “Share My Location” option which will continuously share your location to the trusted contacts. You can even choose the duration of the share as per your preference. There is also the option of SOS emergency calling. It can be easily activated by pressing the power button and any of the volume buttons together. iOS 17 and above also has the “Check In” feature where you can set a destination before traveling. The feature will notify your trusted contacts once you have safely reached your destination.  Read more: Find Bus Routes in Dhaka with 6 Android Apps Android also has a location-sharing feature through Google Maps. Most Android versions also implement emergency calling though the activation process differs from one to another.  Best Free Personal Safety Android and iOS Apps for Women  While the native features come in handy, they can’t always ensure your safety. Besides there may be situations where you’re not in a state to make a proper emergency call. Here’s a list of specialized apps designed for safety with some added features that can be a great alternative to native options.  My SafetiPin My SafetiPin (https://safetipin.com/my-safetipin-app/) is a free personal safety app designed for women. Beyond the basics of personal safety, My SafetiPin brings something that’s not usually seen on other safety apps. And that’s its surrounding audit feature. Read more: 10 Best Free Android Apps to Learn English Vocabulary With My SafetiPin, you can simply upload a picture of the area you’re in and get a safety score based on previous experiences of other users. You can also contribute to making the audit more robust by sharing your experience in a certain place.  The app can also guide you through a safe route, let you know about the nearby emergency services, and share your live location with your friends and family.  You can download My SafetiPin on both Android and iOS platforms.  Read more: 7 Food Delivery Apps for Dhaka

Nahid Islam, Adviser for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, has said that action will be initiated against officials involved in internet shutdown during recent student protests. He said this on Sunday while talking to journalists on the first day of his office at the Secretariat.  Nahid emphasized that those responsible for the internet shutdown during the protests will face consequences, with measures being taken as early as today. He said access to the internet is a right, so disrupting or shutting down internet services is a violation of human rights.  He also mentioned that indiscriminate internet shutdowns will no longer be tolerated. The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology plans to incorporate youth participation to fulfill the aspirations of the younger generation.