Researchers at Stanford University and the Arc Institute have used generative artificial intelligence to design new viral genomes that functioned as bacteriophages in laboratory tests, according to the report published on August 24, 2026. The AI-designed viruses were able to infect and reduce Escherichia coli, or E. coli, bacteria. The work moves generative AI beyond producing text, images and software into designing biological systems.

The research used the Evo genome-language model series and employed bacteriophage ΦX174 as a biological reference. Researchers asked the AI to generate new genomes with functional structures rather than copies of a natural virus. About 300 designs were selected for synthesis and testing, and 16 became functional bacteriophages. Training data excluded genomes of viruses capable of infecting humans, while the designed viruses were intended to target bacteria rather than cause disease in people.

The findings remain a proof of concept because only a small share of proposed designs worked. The report identifies potential applications in phage therapy against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but notes unresolved questions over effectiveness, safety, patient-specific phage selection and regulatory approval. Biosafety experts say security, oversight and controls must advance alongside genome-design capabilities.

An article published by Amar Desh on August 24, 2026 warns that online honey traps are becoming more complex as social media, messaging apps and digital communication make it easier for strangers to form friendships or relationships. The report says fraudsters may build friendship, romantic or intimate connections before attempting to obtain personal information, photos, videos or money.

It identifies fake profiles, video calls, collection of personal images, AI-generated fake images or videos, and blackmail as tactics that can be used in digital honey traps. Users are advised to be cautious when someone seeks unusual closeness quickly, asks personal questions early, offers excessive praise, conceals their identity, requests intimate content or demands money. The article says a single warning sign does not prove a person is involved in a honey trap and that the full situation should be assessed.

The guidance urges users to verify profiles, limit sharing of phone numbers, addresses, workplace, family and identification information, and avoid uncomfortable video-call requests. If threatened with publication of private content, it advises preserving messages, call information, screenshots, profiles and phone numbers, while seeking help from trusted people and relevant authorities in serious cases.

An article published on August 24, 2026 warns that AI voice-cloning technology is creating new risks of cyber fraud, including impersonation of children, family members, bank officials and corporate executives. The technology analyzes vocal traits such as tone, pronunciation, pace, emotion and speaking style, then generates speech that can sound like a real person saying words they never said.

The article notes that generative AI can in many cases create a convincing voice from only seconds of audio. It also identifies legitimate uses in film dubbing, animation, audiobooks, video games, education and communication support for people who have lost the ability to speak. However, criminals can collect voice samples from social-media audio or video and use them to seek money, confidential information or issue false instructions.

The report advises people not to send money or share sensitive information solely because a familiar voice calls from an unknown number. It recommends confirming urgent requests through another phone number or video call and setting family or workplace verification codes. It says AI platforms are adding consent checks, while researchers are developing tools to identify AI-generated audio.

The United Kingdom is preparing to test whether small changes to aircraft flight paths can reduce contrails that contribute to global warming. The trial will take place in the busy Shanwick airspace over the North Atlantic, west of Ireland, involving scientists, air traffic controllers and relevant British government officials.

Aircraft engines release warm exhaust and water vapour, which can mix with moist conditions at high altitude to form tiny ice particles. Scientists have long warned that these particles can remain in the sky and form cloud-like layers that trap heat in the atmosphere. The planned effort is among the largest tests of its kind globally.

The project will use weather data and artificial intelligence analysis to identify altitudes where long-lasting contrails are less likely to form. Selected flights will then be instructed to fly with slight altitude adjustments. The test is intended to assess whether such operational changes can lower the formation of persistent contrails in a heavily used air corridor.

Chinese-made humanoid robot Lightning completed a 100-meter run in 9.32 seconds during a preparatory trial for the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday, according to Chinese state media. The time was lower than Usain Bolt’s 2009 100-meter world-record time of 9.58 seconds. Lightning reached a top speed of 14.5 meters per second during the run.

The robot lost control during the high-speed run and crashed forcefully into a wall, an incident shown in a video published by CNN. While its speed has been presented as an example of advancing humanoid-robot capabilities, the crash raised questions about the machine’s stability and control at high speed.

Built by a Chinese smartphone manufacturer, Lightning is viewed as an example of China’s progress in humanoid robotics. China is working to expand potential humanoid-robot use in logistics and other consumer-facing applications through advances in artificial intelligence and robotics. Lightning previously ran the Beijing Half Marathon in April, completing 21 kilometers in 50 minutes and 26 seconds. Researchers later increased its leg length by 10 centimeters to 1.05 meters before the Games trial.

“Tomake Dekha Mane,” a song written nearly two decades ago and recorded in 2016, has finally been released. The track premiered on August 20 on Shuvendu Das Shuvo’s YouTube channel. It marks the first joint work by brothers and musicians Autumnal Moon and Shuvendu Das Shuvo.

Autumnal Moon wrote, composed and sang the song, and also played steel-string guitar. Shuvendu handled music co-production and nylon guitar, while Iftekharul Alam Shuvo completed mixing and mastering. Saif Hossain was involved in video production.

The song was first created in 2002, when Shuvendu heard it from his older brother. The brothers later completed its recording together in 2016. They said its release took time because they wanted to present a work tied to years of emotion and memories as perfectly as possible. Moon called it one of his favourite creations, while Shuvendu said the song had remained with them like an old chapter blended with memory, time and love.

The ‘Hridoye Dhaka 416’ festival began on Saturday at Madhumita Cinema Hall in the capital, celebrating Dhaka’s heritage and film history. Organised by Dhaka South City Corporation, the opening day honoured 58 distinguished figures of Dhaka cinema and three historic theatres: Lion Cinema Hall, Azad Cinema Hall and Madhumita Cinema Hall.

Living honourees included actresses Sujata, Suchanda, Anwara, Bobita, Nutan, Champa and Shabnaz, along with actors Ujjal, Sohel Rana, Alamgir, Khaja Naim Murad and Azad Rahman Shakil. Awards also recognised contributors to lyrics, music, cinematography, directing and film journalism, including Mohammad Rafiquzzaman, Abida Sultana, Sheikh Sadi Khan, Reza Latif, Chhotku Ahmed and Chinmoy Mutsuddi.

Posthumous honours went to filmmakers including Abdul Jabbar Khan, Zahir Raihan, Amjad Hossain, Subhash Dutta and Chashi Nazrul Islam, as well as performers and music professionals. The festival also started screenings of 13 memorable Bangladeshi films at Madhumita Cinema Hall, opening with ‘Mukh O Mukhosh’, described as Bangladesh’s first full-length sound film. DSCC administrator Md Abdus Salam chaired the inauguration.

Olympic gold medal-winning former Chinese table tennis player Ding Ning played an exhibition match against the advanced Chinese-made “AgiBot Expedition A3” robot in Beijing, China’s capital, on Saturday. The robot exchanged rapid shots with Ding Ning during the demonstration, drawing attention to its table tennis capabilities.

The robot was shown quickly responding after recognizing the speed and direction of its opponent’s shots. The contest offered spectators a view of a robot competing with a world-class player and renewed discussion around advances in artificial intelligence and robotics technology.

China’s artificial intelligence and robotics development has been advancing rapidly, according to the report. Beyond industry and research, the use of these technologies is increasing in sports. The match involving Ding Ning and the robot is being viewed as a demonstration of that technological progress.

Social Welfare Minister Professor Dr Zahid Hossain said the government would make no compromise in protecting people’s interests and rights. Speaking on Saturday in Dhaka at the 2nd Dhaka International Knee Summit 2026, organised by the Bangladesh Arthroscopy and Arthroplasty Academy, he said the government is committed to free primary and emergency healthcare for all and affordable specialised treatment.

The minister said effective responses to existing healthcare challenges require a real combination of skills and modern knowledge. He urged relevant departments and specialist teams to play a leading role, saying the country must keep pace with modern health technologies during an era of super-specialisation and artificial intelligence to meet growing healthcare needs.

He said the government has given the health sector the second-highest allocation in the national budget, describing it as a historic first for the sector. He stressed efficient use of the funds for medical education, treatment, disease prevention and quality services. Invited specialists thanked the prime minister for the allocation. Six specialist doctors received fellowships from the Dhaka Arthroplasty Society, and a book titled Save your knees was unveiled.

Bangladesh Agricultural University held the AI-focused “Build with AI” hackathon on Saturday, August 22, in the Faculty of Agriculture conference room. The Computer Science and Mathematics Department organized the event, selecting about 100 participants, including master’s and PhD students, from different levels of the university.

The hackathon aimed to move beyond conventional competitive programming by promoting team learning, community building and the use of artificial intelligence to solve real-world problems. Participants received specialized training and sessions on AI topics across three categories. Organizers emphasized developing applications using the APIs of Gemini and ElevenLabs, alongside finding sustainable solutions to existing challenges in agriculture.

Five prizes were announced across the three main categories: two for API-based app development and three for sustainable agricultural solutions. Evaluation will focus on impactful web applications, successful API use and apps capable of contributing effectively to agriculture. All participants will receive digital certificates. Speakers urged students to verify AI-generated information, avoid sharing personal data and prevent excessive reliance on technology from weakening independent thinking and fundamental problem-solving skills.

The Television Playwrights Association announced its new executive committee for the 2026-28 term at its biennial general meeting on Friday, August 21. The meeting was held at the International Mother Language Institute in Segunbagicha, Dhaka. Shihab Shaheen was named president and Mezbah Uddin Suman general secretary of the association.

Zakir Hossain Uজ্জ্বল, Litu Sakhawat and Masum Shahriar were appointed vice presidents. Mansur Rahman Chanchal, Elina Shammi and Bidyut Roy were named assistant general secretaries. Other office-bearers include Prabhat Ahmed as organisational secretary, Pappu Raj as finance secretary and Dayal Saha as office secretary.

Sayem Khan was named events and information technology secretary, Faridul Islam Rubel publicity secretary, Afrin Jessica law and welfare secretary, and Maruf Hossain Sajib training and research secretary. Dr Lipi Monowar, Ahmed Tawqir, Sheikh Hannan and Orko Mostofa were appointed executive members. Speakers said drama is a powerful medium for depicting society, culture and human life, while the new leaders pledged to build a more organised and effective platform over the next two years.

TikTok has agreed to pay the United States $400 million to settle a lawsuit alleging violations of children’s personal-data privacy. The US Justice Department filed the case against TikTok and its parent company ByteDance in 2024, during then-President Joe Biden’s administration. Authorities alleged that the platform collected large amounts of personal information from millions of children under 13 without required parental consent.

Under the settlement, TikTok and ByteDance will immediately pay $300 million to the Justice Department. They will pay a further $100 million after ending a 2019 legal settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, bringing the total to $400 million. Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate said children and parents are better protected now than when the case began.

The Justice Department said TikTok has made major changes since the lawsuit, including changes to ownership, privacy policies and controls for younger users. No new punitive measures were announced beyond the payment. TikTok did not immediately respond to a BBC request for comment. The article says TikTok’s US business is now 81% owned by an investor consortium, while ByteDance holds 19%.

Postal, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister and Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam said recognising people who have made important contributions to society and the country can encourage young people to engage in positive social work. He made the remarks on Friday at the “Centenary Successful Persons Memorial Honour, Publication and Reception-2026” event at the Osman Jamal Auditorium of Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts.

The minister said contributors should be honoured and their work presented to younger generations above religious, political or identity differences. He warned that excessive mobile-phone and social-media use is reducing reading habits among young people, while harmful and inappropriate online content is negatively affecting children and adolescents. He said the government is discussing necessary measures with relevant social-media stakeholders.

Anam also described AI-generated fake and harmful content as a concern, saying the ICT Division is working to prevent misuse and is pursuing a coordination framework with social-media platforms. Eight books were unveiled at the event, where distinguished people were honoured and publications released. Organisers said the initiative aims to preserve the lives, work and contributions of successful figures and promote positive thinking.

Israel has established a purported think tank aimed at influencing how artificial intelligence chatbots respond to users’ questions, according to a Responsible Statecraft report cited by Amar Desh Online on August 21, 2026. The organisation, called the Hanover Institute for Public Policy, presents itself as a US-style research body focused on Israel and Palestine. It was created by Piro Inc on behalf of an Israeli government advertising agency.

Since August 6, the institute has published more than 100 reports addressing politically and socially significant questions, including the displacement of Palestinians in 1948 and the current situation in the Gaza Strip. The reports use footnotes, tables of contents, specific statistics and neutral language in an effort to make their content acceptable to AI chatbots and large language models.

Although the institute says its research is peer-reviewed and academic, the reports give greater prominence to government sources, including the Israeli military and foreign ministry. Israel’s government paid Piro Inc $900,000 for the work. The subcontract was managed through the French public relations firm Havas Media.

Prime Minister’s Public Administration Affairs Adviser Md Ismail Jabiullah on Thursday urged Bangladesh to use artificial intelligence efficiently to make public services faster, simpler, more transparent and citizen-friendly. Speaking at an AI seminar at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies auditorium in Dhaka on August 20, he stressed data privacy, informed consent for personal information and caution in AI deployment.

He said AI has become a major component of national capability, governance, the economy, security and geopolitics. Bangladesh should build a strong, integrated AI ecosystem that turns talent into technology, institutional capacity and national strength, he said. He identified public administration as a major initial area for AI use, including access to approved government information, project planning, spending review, procurement, recruitment, healthcare, taxation, social protection and file management.

Jabiullah called for clear rules on what data can be used or shared, alongside data classification, strong cybersecurity, legal frameworks and public awareness to address fraud risks. He said AI could also improve passport, driving licence and district-level services. Emphasising employment balance, he said the aim should be an AI-assisted government, not a government without people.