A new artificial intelligence (AI)-based scientific application named 'Surf IT' is being developed to provide accurate storm surge forecasts up to three days before cyclones in Bangladesh. The project, currently in its experimental phase, aims to identify potential surge locations, water heights, flooded areas, and vulnerable embankments. It is being implemented under the leadership of the NGO Uttaran, in collaboration with Action Against Hunger and North South University, with technical support from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, Water Development Board, and the Department of Disaster Management.

The model, developed with international cooperation and inspired by European Union and US forecasting systems, currently achieves about 92 percent accuracy, with a goal to reach 95–96 percent by December. It also integrates local knowledge to improve prediction of embankment vulnerabilities. The initiative emphasizes women’s leadership in disaster response, as many men from coastal areas work away from home for much of the year.

Officials plan to hand over the technology to the government after testing, enabling its integration into the national disaster forecasting system to strengthen Bangladesh’s coastal resilience.

OpenAI announced that its most advanced artificial intelligence model, the GPT-5.6 series, will be released to the public on Thursday. The company confirmed through a post from San Francisco that the three versions—Soul, Terra, and Luna—will be made globally available, expanding preview access worldwide. Reports indicated that the U.S. government had allowed the large-scale release following technical reviews and meetings between officials and the company.

The GPT-5.6 series follows a limited preview shared with trusted U.S. partners at Washington’s request due to national security concerns. Researchers have expressed unease that the new generation of large language models, including Anthropic’s Mythos series, could identify software vulnerabilities that hackers might exploit. Within the White House, officials remain divided over how much oversight should apply to such powerful systems.

OpenAI stated it is working with Washington to create a repeatable framework for future model releases aligned with cybersecurity directives. The company also said the Terra model will cost half as much as GPT-5.5, a move aimed at retaining customers amid growing competition with Anthropic and Google.

Two Bangladeshi multiplexes, Lion Cinemas in Keraniganj and Madhuban Cineplex in Bogura, have begun screening live FIFA World Cup matches instead of films to attract audiences. The initiative, launched amid a shortage of quality movies and declining viewership, has drawn strong public interest. Lion Cinemas has already shown several matches across its four screens, with most shows reportedly going houseful as fans buy multiple tickets to enjoy the games with friends and family.

Madhuban Cineplex started its large-screen broadcasts with the Argentina–Egypt match on Tuesday. Managing Director Sayekhuzzaman said the decision followed a sharp drop in cinema attendance, with some shows drawing as few as ten viewers and causing financial losses. To counter this, the cineplex priced tickets at 100 and 200 taka. If the current response continues, the management plans to screen the semifinal and final matches as well.

The move reflects a creative attempt by theater owners to sustain operations and reconnect with audiences through live sports entertainment.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Zahir Uddin Swapon, met with the Netherlands Ambassador to Bangladesh, Mel Joris van Bommel, at the ministry office in Dhaka on Wednesday. The ambassador congratulated the minister on assuming office and highlighted the long-standing bilateral relationship between the two countries, which has expanded across education, health, development, and trade. He expressed interest in further strengthening this partnership.

Minister Swapon said the current government is working to bring qualitative changes in its operations and expressed interest in collaborating with the Netherlands in media and communication sectors. He noted that new media, artificial intelligence, and the digital ecosystem have created emerging challenges in the information age. The minister emphasized the state’s responsibility to ensure freedom of expression while protecting citizens from misinformation and disinformation, calling for a clear strategy in this regard.

The Dutch ambassador underscored the importance of developing new frameworks to address digital challenges and briefed the minister on the Netherlands’ initiatives in this area.

Microsoft has announced plans to lay off approximately 4,800 employees, representing about 2.1 percent of its global workforce. The decision, reported by NDTV on July 6, 2026, is part of an ongoing restructuring aimed at improving efficiency and expanding investment in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The company is channeling significant funds into AI infrastructure and rapidly integrating AI across its business operations.

The move comes as global technology firms face intense competition in AI-related investments, which are expected to exceed 700 billion dollars this year. Companies such as Amazon and Meta have also implemented large-scale layoffs to manage rising costs and maintain profitability. Microsoft’s decision follows a 23 percent decline in its share price during the first half of 2026, marking its weakest performance since 2022.

Earlier in the year, Microsoft offered voluntary exit options to about 9,000 U.S.-based employees, roughly 7 percent of its workforce. Despite growth in its cloud computing business, the company faces financial pressure from heavy spending on data centers required to support AI services and rising memory chip prices.

Bangladeshi singer Asif Akbar has stirred discussion on social media after posting a political statement on his verified Facebook page on Saturday. In his post, he urged people to stay awake in July and claimed that a 'fallen fascist' has returned through three sectors: media, sports, and culture. The post quickly drew attention online, sparking debate among users who either supported or disagreed with his remarks.

The discussion comes amid renewed public engagement around the 2024 mass uprising, which has been a major topic on social media since the beginning of July. Asif, known for his outspoken views on social and political issues, frequently shares his opinions on national matters. His candid comments often attract widespread attention and mixed reactions.

Beyond his social commentary, Asif Akbar remains active in music, releasing new songs and performing in concerts both at home and abroad. His earlier works, including the hit album “O Priya Tumi Kothay,” continue to enjoy popularity among listeners.

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan is set to marry his partner Gauri Spratt on July 5 in a private ceremony at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai. The event will be a modest family gathering rather than a lavish celebration, with attendance limited to close relatives, friends, and a few well-wishers. The announcement has drawn significant attention from fans following the couple’s recent public acknowledgment of their relationship.

A notable aspect of the wedding is the expected presence of Aamir Khan’s two former wives and their children, reflecting the actor’s continued cordial relationship with his previous families. In a recent video message, Aamir emphasized that spending time with family is more meaningful to him than grand festivities, and he sought blessings and good wishes from his fans for this new chapter.

This will be Aamir Khan’s third marriage, while it is Gauri Spratt’s second. Both bring children from their previous marriages, and all four children are expected to be part of the ceremony, symbolizing a blended family beginning.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent acceptance of the ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’ award in Seychelles has sparked widespread controversy. The award, received during his official visit from June 27 to 29, was presented by Seychelles President Patrick Herminie and dedicated by Modi to nations fighting climate change. However, observers quickly noticed multiple spelling errors on the certificate, including incorrect spellings of ‘Republic’ and ‘Seychelles,’ which led to ridicule on social media and reports in international outlets such as The Guardian.

Fact-checkers later found that the certificate appeared to be AI-generated using an OpenAI image tool, with a watermark confirming the suspicion. The award had reportedly been created only three days before Modi’s arrival, making him its first and only recipient. Opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress, mocked Modi’s eagerness for awards, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party defended the honor as recognition of his environmental leadership. Seychelles’ foreign ministry later clarified that an unapproved draft had been mistakenly circulated and that a corrected version was issued.

The incident has reignited debate over Modi’s pattern of receiving newly created international honors during foreign visits, with critics viewing it as part of his image-driven political strategy.

At RoboCup 2026 in Incheon, South Korea, humanoid robots played football autonomously without human control. The event showcased major advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics, as the robots made their own decisions during matches. Human involvement was limited to relaying referee instructions to the robots.

RoboCup, established in 1997, aims to develop a fully autonomous robot football team capable of defeating a FIFA World Cup champion team by 2050. Researchers believe that rapid progress in AI is bringing this goal closer to reality. Spectators also expressed confidence that robot football could become a popular sport with its own fan base in the future.

The competition highlighted the growing intersection of robotics and sports, suggesting that autonomous systems may soon achieve complex teamwork and decision-making comparable to human athletes.

Amid widespread speculation about their possible wedding at Madison Square Garden in New York this weekend, American pop star Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce have donated 26 million dollars to various charities. Their representative confirmed the donation to The Guardian, noting that the funds were distributed among 20 organizations connected to meaningful places in their lives, including Nashville, Kansas City, and New York City.

The donation list includes City Harvest, Food Bank for NYC, Harvesters in Kansas, and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, as well as Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Feeding America, ASPCA, and Education Through Music. Although the announcement did not mention any wedding, preparations in New York suggest a major event. City officials confirmed a special permit for a pre-event celebration at Madison Square Garden, with the main ceremony expected to run from Friday evening to early Saturday morning.

Reports indicate that the city has issued permits costing up to 66,000 dollars per day for street closures around the venue, further fueling speculation about the couple’s anticipated celebration.

The European Union’s top court has upheld a €4.1 billion antitrust fine against Google, rejecting the company’s appeal in a long-running legal battle. The ruling, delivered on Thursday, confirmed that Google and its parent company Alphabet misused their dominant position in the Android operating system to promote Google Search unfairly. The decision marks a significant setback for the U.S. technology giant after years of litigation.

The case originated in 2018 when the European Commission accused Google of anti-competitive behavior by requiring smartphone manufacturers to pre-install Google Search and Chrome through licensing and pre-installation agreements. The Commission initially imposed a €4.34 billion fine, later reduced by a lower court to €4.125 billion while maintaining the core finding of abuse of dominance.

In its final judgment, the EU Court of Justice stated that the lower court had not misinterpreted the law. It found that Google’s pre-installation and anti-fragmentation agreements restricted competition and hindered new market entrants. The court also dismissed Google’s argument that its market position resulted solely from user preference or product quality.

Cloudflare announced a new policy requiring AI companies to separate web crawlers used for traditional search from those used for AI agents and training. Beginning September 15, 2026, the company’s default settings will block “mixed-use” crawlers from accessing pages that host ads unless site owners change their configurations. The update will apply to new Cloudflare customers, new sites created by existing customers, and all existing free users. Cloudflare said the change aims to protect publishers’ intellectual property while maintaining discoverability through search.

The company highlighted that the world’s largest search engine currently has access to roughly twice as much information as other AI firms because it ties search visibility to AI use. Cloudflare’s CEO Matthew Prince said the policy responds to a shift where bots now generate most internet traffic, emphasizing the need for a sustainable ecosystem. The company also introduced new tools and partnerships to give publishers more control and commercial opportunities in the AI era.

Cloudflare’s “Pay Per Crawl” marketplace is evolving into a “Pay Per Use” model, enabling publishers to charge AI companies when their content creates value. Initial partners include Ceramic.ai and You.com, which will compensate publishers when their content appears in AI search results or premium access.

The Turkish mega-series 'Kudus Fatihi Selahaddin Ayyubi', based on the life and struggles of Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi, will now be broadcast in Bangla. The show, depicting the legendary Muslim leader and conqueror of Jerusalem, will air from August 2 through a joint initiative of Nagorik TV and the OTT platform Bongo. Viewers can watch it on Nagorik TV every Sunday to Thursday at 8 p.m. and on Bongo at 9 p.m.

The series centers on the liberation of Jerusalem from Crusader control and portrays the political and military efforts to unite the Muslim world. It highlights Ayyubi’s pursuit of justice and his heroic leadership. The production features large-scale sets, striking cinematography, and dynamic performances that recreate the 12th-century historical setting.

At the launch event, senior officials from Nagorik TV and Bongo, along with journalists from leading media outlets, attended the unveiling of the Bangla trailer and poster. The event concluded with a raffle draw awarding prizes including an air conditioner, television, and smartphone.

Bangladeshi singer Asif Altaf has released a new song titled 'Baba', accompanied by an AI-generated music video. The song, written and composed by Altaf himself, was published last week on his official YouTube channel and social media profiles to mark Father’s Day. Following its release, listeners expressed deep emotional reactions, describing the song as touching and heartfelt.

Viewers praised the composition, lyrics, and visuals, sharing personal reflections about their fathers in the comment section. Many noted that the song evoked memories of love and sacrifice associated with fatherhood. Altaf stated that although people come from different walks of life, feelings about fathers are universal. He expressed gratitude that audiences across the country connected with his work.

Asif Altaf is known for earlier songs such as 'Juto', 'Jantro', and collaborations with artists like Nachiketa Chakraborty and Nancy. His previous works, including 'Taka' and 'Dalaler Bonna', have gained millions of views, establishing him as a distinctive voice in contemporary Bangladeshi music.

Professor Dr. A.K. Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan, Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), emphasized the importance of artificial intelligence (AI)-based training in the current era. He stated that while every technology has both positive and negative aspects, it is essential to ensure the positive use of AI in teaching, research, and knowledge development. He made these remarks on Tuesday at the closing and certificate distribution ceremony of a workshop titled 'Use of Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Research' held at the university’s Graduate Training Institute (GTI).

The Vice-Chancellor further noted that educators must carefully consider the acceptable extent of AI use in both teaching and student evaluation. He stressed that proper and responsible use of technology is vital for improving the quality of education. The workshop aimed to enhance teachers’ skills in applying AI for teaching, research, and technology-based knowledge practices, with participation from faculty members of various departments.

The event was presided over by GTI Director Professor Dr. Md. Mozammel Haque, with Professor Dr. Md. Ruhul Amin, Convener of the Dean Council, attending as a special guest. Certificates were distributed among participating teachers at the closing session.