SpaceX has confirmed an agreement giving it the option to acquire the automated programming platform Cursor for $60 billion or pay a $10 billion fee instead. The arrangement, first reported by The New York Times and later confirmed by SpaceX on social media, comes as the company prepares for a potential IPO. SpaceX said it is working closely with Cursor to develop advanced AI systems for coding and knowledge work, combining Cursor’s software tools with SpaceX’s large-scale Colossus training supercomputer.

The deal could strengthen Elon Musk’s xAI ecosystem, which includes SpaceX, xAI, and X, by enhancing its competitiveness against AI leaders such as Anthropic. Reports cited in the source noted that Google and OpenAI are also intensifying their efforts in AI coding tools, with Google forming a “strike team” and OpenAI refocusing on its ChatGPT and Codex projects.

CNBC and Bloomberg have reported that Musk values his combined X companies at $1.25 trillion, while Cursor was recently raising $2 billion at a $50 billion valuation, underscoring the scale of the potential acquisition.

Meta has begun installing tracking software on computers used by its US-based employees to record mouse movements, clicks, and keystrokes for use in training artificial intelligence models. Internal memos seen by Reuters indicate that the software will operate on selected work-related applications and websites, occasionally capturing screen snapshots to provide contextual information. The initiative is part of Meta’s broader effort to develop AI agents capable of autonomously performing workplace tasks.

According to the internal memo, the data collection aims to improve Meta’s AI systems in areas where they currently face challenges, such as navigating drop-down menus and using keyboard shortcuts. The memo encouraged employees to contribute to model improvement through their regular work activities. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone stated that the collected data would not be used for employee performance evaluation and would be protected by safeguards to ensure sensitive content remains secure.

Stone added that the project is designed to help Meta’s AI models learn from real examples of human computer use, supporting the company’s goal of building more capable digital assistants.

A delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) met with Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A B M Obaidul Islam on Tuesday morning at his office. The meeting focused on exploring potential collaboration in education and research sectors, with discussions on possible development projects supported by JICA’s financial and technical assistance.

The six-member JICA delegation was led by Ms. Saeri Muto, Chief Advisor for Technical and Higher Education at JICA’s Dhaka office. Senior university officials, including the pro-vice-chancellor (administration), treasurer, and several faculty deans, attended the meeting. Both sides emphasized joint initiatives in artificial intelligence, renewable energy, fintech, environment, and science and technology.

The vice-chancellor highlighted that technology-based education and research are key drivers of future development and stressed the need for Dhaka University to become more active in innovation and research-oriented activities. He also noted ongoing progress in expanding academic and research cooperation with Japanese universities.

Theatre and cultural figures in Bangladesh have alleged that the country’s art scene is facing stagnation due to low-quality content and ongoing political instability. The concerns were voiced on Sunday morning at a seminar titled “Our Culture and the Artist’s Responsibility,” held at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka. The event was part of a daylong celebration marking actor, director, and filmmaker Tauquir Ahmed’s 60th birthday.

At the seminar, veteran theatre personality Mamunur Rashid said that the rise of view-based commercialism has harmed the creative industry, leaving artists demotivated and unable to produce quality work. He also lamented that Bangladeshi artists still lack the freedom of expression enjoyed by their counterparts in neighboring and developed countries. Rashid praised Tauquir Ahmed and his contemporaries for their perseverance despite these challenges.

Other speakers included Abul Hayat, Afzal Hossain, Azizul Hakim, Mir Sabbir, and Deepa Khandakar. The program also featured screenings and writings on Tauquir Ahmed’s films, stage plays, and television works, followed by a performance of his stage play “Tirthajatri.”

Bangladeshi short film 'Ali', directed by Adnan Al Rajib, has won the Diversity Award at the prestigious Filmfest Bremen 2026 in Germany. The award was announced on April 19 during the festival’s official ceremony in Bremen, recognizing the film’s creative portrayal of social realities and stories of marginalized communities. The director joined the event virtually to express gratitude, dedicating the achievement to his team and the people of Bangladesh.

Filmfest Bremen is one of Europe’s notable international film festivals. The Diversity Award honors films that creatively highlight themes of identity, diversity, and marginalized voices. 'Ali' had previously received a Special Mention in the Short Film category at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, drawing international attention.

Competing with films from various languages and cultures, 'Ali’s' success at Bremen reinforces its global appeal and demonstrates how a powerful story can transcend geographical boundaries.

Apple CEO Tim Cook will step down from his position on September 1, 2026, ending nearly 15 years at the helm of the company. The 65-year-old executive will hand over leadership to John Ternus, Apple’s head of hardware engineering. Cook described leading Apple as the greatest privilege of his life. Although stepping down as CEO, he will remain with the company as executive chairman, following a transition model similar to those of Jeff Bezos at Amazon and Reed Hastings at Netflix.

John Ternus, 50, has been with Apple for 25 years and has overseen engineering for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac over the past five years. His long tenure and technical leadership positioned him as the leading candidate to succeed Cook. Ternus expressed gratitude for the opportunity to advance Apple’s mission.

The leadership change comes as the global technology sector undergoes major transformation driven by artificial intelligence. Apple, which initially lagged in AI development, recently sought Google’s assistance to enhance Siri’s capabilities after delays in implementing new features.

Popular Bangladeshi band Nagar Baul, led by Mahfuz Anam James, has undergone a significant lineup change. Guitarist Sultan Raihan Khan Rana has left the band after more than fifteen years of performing with James in numerous concerts at home and abroad. He parted ways recently due to personal reasons, ending a long professional association. Rana had not been seen performing with the band for some time and was absent from their recent Pahela Baishakh concert in Pabna.

At that event, guitarist Ismamul Farhad Elin performed with James, and it has now been confirmed that he has officially joined Nagar Baul as Rana’s replacement. According to the band’s spokesperson Robin Thakur, Rana could no longer dedicate enough time to the group because of personal commitments and decided to leave after discussions with other members. Elin formally joined the band in March 2026, having previously played as a guest artist in 2020 and gained recognition as a guitarist for the band Shunno. The current lineup includes James, Ahsan Elahi Fanti, Talukdar Sabbir Shawon, and Ismamul Farhad Elin.

At least twelve leading universities in the United Kingdom, including Oxford, Imperial College London, and the London School of Economics, have hired a private intelligence agency run by former military officers to monitor their own students and staff. According to a joint investigation by Al Jazeera English and Liberty Investigates, the surveillance targeted individuals expressing solidarity with Palestine. The firm, Horus Security Consultancy Limited, reportedly received about £440,000 since 2022 to conduct social media monitoring and secret counterterrorism threat assessments using artificial intelligence.

The investigation found that Manchester Metropolitan University requested a secret counterterrorism assessment on Palestinian-origin scholar Rabab Ibrahim Abdulhadi, while Bristol University asked the firm to monitor pro-Palestinian and animal rights activists. The United Nations special rapporteur Gina Romero described the surveillance as a matter of serious legal concern, and the University and College Union’s general secretary Jo Grady called it shameful. Horus declined to respond to Al Jazeera’s questions.

Imperial College and the University of Sheffield denied conducting surveillance, stating they only analyzed publicly available data to maintain campus safety. Horus, founded in 2006, is led by former military intelligence officers, including Colonel Tim Collins, who previously criticized pro-Palestinian protests.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung received a red-carpet welcome in New Delhi as he began his state visit to India. On Monday, he held key talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi focusing on shipbuilding and artificial intelligence (AI) as major agenda items. The meeting also included discussions on trade, investment, semiconductors, and emerging technologies, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

In a social media statement, President Lee said that amid global economic instability and supply chain disruptions following conflicts in the Middle East, South Korea and India are becoming vital strategic partners for each other. Ahead of the visit, South Korea’s National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lak noted that the two leaders would also discuss maintaining regional peace, including on the Korean Peninsula.

The two countries are working to strengthen their 2010 economic partnership agreement. Bilateral trade has grown from 14.2 billion to 26.89 billion dollars in the 2024–25 fiscal year, marking nearly a 90 percent increase.

An autonomous humanoid robot named Lightning completed a 13-mile half-marathon in Beijing on Sunday in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, setting a new record for both robots and humans. Developed by engineers at smartphone company Honor, Lightning was designed with 90 to 95 cm legs to mimic elite human runners and used liquid cooling technology similar to that in Honor smartphones. The robot outpaced all 12,000 human participants and broke the human world record of 57 minutes and 20 seconds.

This year’s race featured 300 robots from 102 teams, with 47 teams finishing the event. Among them, 18 teams used autonomous robots while 29 relied on remote control. The top three finishers were all Lightning robots, with the second and third autonomous models finishing in 51 and 53 minutes respectively. A remote-controlled Lightning recorded the fastest overall time of 48 minutes and 19 seconds, but the autonomous version was awarded first place due to category weighting.

The result marks a major leap from last year, when only six of 21 robots completed the race, none close to victory.

Legendary Bangladeshi actor Humayun Faridi was posthumously honored by Jahangirnagar University, his beloved alma mater, during the opening session of the three-day Jahangirnagar Film Festival 2026. The event took place at the university’s Zahir Raihan Auditorium, where the award recognized his outstanding contributions to film and performing arts.

Organized by Bangla Theatre, the festival ran from April 14 to 16 and featured film screenings, discussions, and recognition of distinguished figures in cinema. On the closing day, special honors were presented in 18 categories, including awards for Shahiduzzaman Selim, Abu Rizwan Eureka, and Avanti Sithi for their contributions to Bangladeshi film.

Faridi, who completed both his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in economics at Jahangirnagar University, began his acting journey on this campus through theatre. His career spanned stage, television, and film, with iconic performances such as his role in the drama “Sangsaptak.” He passed away on February 13, 2012.

Popular Bangladeshi band Ashes canceled their much-anticipated concert scheduled for April 18 at Rabindra Sarobar in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. The announcement came late on April 17 through a verified Facebook post by the band’s vocalist, Junayed Evan, confirming that the event would not take place as planned.

According to Evan, organizers informed the band that they expected an overwhelming turnout that would be difficult to manage in the open venue. The limited space and potential traffic disruptions in the surrounding area also prompted administrative concerns, leading to the decision to cancel the show. In an emotional message to fans, Evan expressed regret over the cancellation and promised future performances.

Ashes have already completed 12 concerts across Bangladesh since the beginning of April. The band is also scheduled to perform in Rome, Venice, and Paris in June, according to the same report.

A new study titled “Assistance Reduces Persistence and Hurts Independent Performance” has found that while artificial intelligence (AI) tools can boost immediate task performance, they may harm long-term cognitive abilities such as independent thinking, persistence, and problem-solving. The research, jointly conducted by teams from the United States and the United Kingdom, involved 1,222 participants across multiple randomized controlled trials. After only ten minutes of AI use, participants showed signs of dependency, and when AI assistance was withdrawn, their accuracy and willingness to continue solving problems dropped sharply.

The study used an OpenAI GPT-5-based system to assist one group in solving fraction-based math problems, while another group worked without help. When AI support was removed midway, performance among AI users declined significantly, a pattern repeated in larger follow-up tests. Co-author Rachit Dube of the University of California, Los Angeles, warned that rapid AI adoption in education could create a generation unaware of its own capabilities, potentially harming creativity and innovation.

Researchers noted a positive finding: participants who used AI for hints or explanations, rather than direct answers, maintained better independent performance. The study has not yet undergone peer review and is considered preliminary.

Factory, a startup developing autonomous AI coding agents called Droids, is in discussions to raise $150 million at a $1.5 billion valuation. The funding round will be led by Khosla Ventures, with venture capitalist Keith Rabois joining the board. Other investors include Sequoia Capital, Insight Partners, and Blackstone. Factory’s technology allows its Droids to switch between AI models such as OpenAI’s GPT, Anthropic’s Claude, and China’s DeepSeek, depending on task complexity and customer needs.

The company’s flexibility has attracted enterprise clients including Morgan Stanley, Ernst & Young, and Palo Alto Networks. Factory’s CEO and co-founder, Matan Grinberg, said the ability to dynamically route between models has proven valuable, especially during outages at Anthropic. The startup positions itself as an enterprise-focused AI agent developer, contrasting with competitors like Cursor, which targets individual developers.

Grinberg, who left his PhD program at the University of California, Berkeley after being encouraged by Sequoia investor Shaun Maguire, founded Factory in 2023. The company now competes with Cursor, Cognition, and major AI labs developing their own coding tools.

Canva has announced a new integration with Anthropic Labs’ Claude Design, combining the Canva Design Engine and Visual Suite with Claude’s AI drafting capabilities. The collaboration allows users to transform AI-generated drafts and ideas from Claude into fully editable designs within Canva. These designs can then be customized, branded, and shared collaboratively, streamlining the process from concept to publication.

The update also introduces HTML importing and artifact editing, expanding Canva’s drag-and-drop editor to support interactive code and AI-generated content. This makes Canva the first platform to unify visual, document, and interactive content in one collaborative environment. Users can now edit coded creations from Claude directly in Canva, adjust layouts, and embed them into presentations or websites without regenerating code.

The announcement follows the launch of Canva AI 2.0 and builds on two years of collaboration between Canva and Anthropic. It reflects Canva’s broader goal of becoming the design layer of the internet, enabling users to refine and scale AI-generated content efficiently.