Starting November 25, Dhaka Metro Rail passengers will be able to recharge their permanent travel cards online from home, eliminating the need to queue at stations. The new service, jointly introduced by Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) and Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), will initially be available through a link on the DTCA website. A mobile app is expected to launch next month to further simplify the process. Users can recharge using various online payment systems such as credit cards, bKash, Nagad, and Rocket. Both MRT Pass and Rapid Pass cards will be eligible for online recharge, though single-journey cards must still be purchased at stations. After recharging online, passengers must update their cards by tapping them on an Add Value Machine (AVM) at any station. The system is operated by private firm DataSoft and aims to save passengers time, reduce hassle, and improve metro service efficiency.

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for Europe to strengthen its digital sovereignty and reduce reliance on technology from the United States and China. Speaking at the European Summit on Digital Sovereignty in Berlin, Macron said Europe must avoid becoming a 'vassal' to foreign tech powers and instead develop its own technological solutions. He emphasized the need for a 'European preference' in public procurement and policy, mirroring how China and the US prioritize their domestic industries. Macron’s remarks were made alongside other European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as part of a broader effort to promote homegrown innovation and ensure Europe’s competitiveness in the global digital economy. The French leader also urged a shift in the EU’s legislative approach to better support European tech companies and reduce external dependencies.

A major technical issue at Cloudflare caused widespread disruptions across numerous popular websites globally, including social media platform X and film review site Letterboxd. Users attempting to access affected sites encountered error messages stating that pages could not be loaded due to Cloudflare’s network problems. Cloudflare, a key internet infrastructure provider known for protecting against cyberattacks and managing heavy traffic, confirmed awareness of the issue and said investigations were underway. The outage also impacted Down Detector, a platform that tracks website disruptions, which later reported a sharp rise in outage reports worldwide. Although the exact number of affected websites remains unknown, this incident highlights the vulnerability of the internet ecosystem to single-point failures in essential infrastructure providers like Cloudflare.

ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet stated that the recent tensions between China and the Netherlands over the Nexperia issue have not impacted the company’s business. In an interview with a Dutch television channel, he said there would be no short-term negative effects and that the most difficult phase of the crisis had passed. The Dutch government recently took control of chipmaker Nexperia due to concerns about technology transfer, leading to a standoff between its European operations and Chinese factories. This disruption has affected chip supplies crucial for automotive electronics, putting pressure on global car manufacturers. Experts warn that a prolonged shortage could hinder production across the automotive industry. Fouquet emphasized the importance of early dialogue in sensitive matters to prevent escalation. A Dutch delegation is expected to visit China next week to help normalize the situation through diplomatic discussions.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has announced that all mobile handsets currently in use on the country's networks—whether registered, unregistered, or missing from the database—will be automatically registered before December 16, 2024. This move comes ahead of the official launch of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system on the same date. After December 26, all unregistered or illegal mobile devices that have not been automatically registered will be disconnected from the network. The initiative aims to curb the use of illegal handsets and ensure proper tracking of mobile devices across Bangladesh. Users can check their handset’s IMEI number by dialing *#06#. The BTRC’s decision provides relief to users of unregistered phones, allowing them to continue using their devices legally once the NEIR system becomes active.

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) hosted 'Innoverse Bangladesh 2025', the country’s largest science and technology festival, organized by Whiteboard Initiatives with support from the ICT Division. The two-day event, inaugurated by ICT Division Secretary Shish Haydar Chowdhury, featured robotics, programming, science and math olympiads, and innovation expos. Around 2,200 participants from 130 educational institutions took part, and nearly 20,000 visitors attended. Forty-five innovative projects and 15 startups were showcased, with top projects receiving the Shaheed Tanvin Innovation Award and InnoVentures Vault Award. Chief Guest Fayez Ahmad Tayyeb emphasized the interim government’s commitment to fostering youth participation in ICT and research. The festival also included seminars and talks organized by She-STEM and the Netherlands Embassy, aiming to highlight Bangladeshi youth innovation on a global stage.

Australia’s top intelligence official has warned that the country faces a growing threat of large-scale cyberattacks allegedly linked to China. Mike Burgess, head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), said hackers associated with the Chinese government and military have been targeting critical infrastructure, including water, transport, telecommunications, and energy networks. He described the situation as an unprecedented level of espionage that could lead to sabotage within the next five years. Burgess also revealed that espionage activities cost Australia about 8.2 billion US dollars in 2023–24, with around 2 billion dollars’ worth of trade secrets and intellectual property stolen from companies. Attempts to contact the Chinese embassy for comment were unsuccessful. Burgess warned that authoritarian regimes are increasingly willing to create chaos and conduct sabotage operations through cyber means, posing a serious challenge to Australia’s national security.

Blue Origin’s second-ever launch of its New Glenn rocket, intended to send NASA’s Escapade mission toward Mars, was postponed on Sunday due to thick cloud cover over Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 322-foot rocket, designed to rival SpaceX’s Falcon series, was scheduled to lift off during an 88-minute window but was grounded for safety reasons. The company said it is assessing new launch opportunities, possibly on Monday, though forecasts remain uncertain. The Federal Aviation Administration’s temporary restrictions on commercial launches during a government shutdown could further complicate scheduling. Blue Origin also plans to attempt recovery of New Glenn’s first-stage booster on a barge named Jacklyn, after a failed landing attempt in January. The Escapade mission, led by the University of California, Berkeley and funded by NASA, aims to study Mars’ atmospheric loss and space weather effects once the twin spacecraft reach orbit in 2027. Successful booster recovery is key to Blue Origin’s reusable rocket strategy.

The Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association (BSIA) concluded a three-day roadshow in Penang, Malaysia, from November 11 to 13, 2025, aimed at promoting Bangladesh’s growing semiconductor capabilities and strengthening bilateral collaboration. The event was inaugurated by Penang’s Deputy Chief Minister Jagdeep Singh Deo, who praised Bangladesh’s progress in the sector. Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury, attended as a special guest. Professor Dr. Mostafa Hossain of Purdue University presented a keynote on potential cooperation opportunities. Six Bangladeshi semiconductor firms showcased their technological strengths. A 15-member BSIA delegation also visited Malaysian semiconductor companies to exchange knowledge and explore partnerships. The initiative is expected to enhance investment, technology transfer, and long-term cooperation between the two nations in the semiconductor industry.

Meta has announced that starting February 10, 2026, Facebook’s Like and Comment buttons will no longer function on external websites such as blogs, news portals, and e-commerce pages. The decision marks the end of an era for one of the internet’s most recognizable icons, introduced in 2009. Meta explained that the move is part of its effort to modernize and simplify developer tools, as the use of these plugins has declined significantly due to stricter privacy laws, evolving data-sharing policies, and the rise of new social media platforms. However, the Like button will remain active within Facebook’s own app and website, allowing users to continue reacting to posts, photos, and videos as usual. The change reflects Meta’s shift toward innovation and privacy-focused development rather than maintaining outdated web integrations.

Microsoft is developing a global 'supercluster' network that connects multiple data centers across vast distances to power next-generation artificial intelligence models requiring hundreds of trillions of parameters. The initiative, first launched in October, links facilities such as those in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, and Atlanta, Georgia, forming a unified high-performance computing system. Though Microsoft has not disclosed the exact technology behind the interconnection, it aligns with recent advances like Cisco’s 51.2 Tbps routers and Broadcom’s new high-bandwidth hardware. The company’s Fairwater data centers employ direct-to-chip liquid cooling to minimize water use. According to Azure CTO Mark Russinovich, the goal is to distribute AI workloads across multiple centers, enabling efficient training of massive models. Analysts say this approach will give Microsoft flexibility in choosing new data center locations with optimal climate, land cost, and energy availability.

Abu Dhabi-based company LOOD has launched 'Heli,' the UAE’s first hybrid autonomous cargo aircraft, marking a major milestone in the nation’s aviation and logistics innovation. Witnessed by Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the maiden flight took place during Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week. Designed, developed, and manufactured entirely by Emirati engineers, Heli is built for medium-range heavy cargo operations with a 700-kilometre range and a 250-kilogram payload capacity. The aircraft uses a hybrid propulsion system that combines electric motors for vertical takeoff and an internal combustion engine for horizontal flight, optimizing efficiency and range. LOOD CEO Rashid Matar Al Mannaei described Heli as a step toward sustainable and autonomous air logistics, capable of connecting ports and industrial zones without traditional airports. The project underscores the UAE’s ambition to become a global leader in intelligent air mobility solutions.

Microsoft is developing a global network of interconnected data centers, dubbed 'superclusters', to support the next generation of artificial intelligence models that will use hundreds of trillions of parameters. The initiative began last October by linking data centers in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, and Atlanta, Georgia, enabling them to function as a single high-performance computing unit. The company aims to expand this model worldwide, using high-speed internet connections to integrate multiple centers for large-scale AI training. These facilities, called 'Fairwater', employ direct-to-chip liquid cooling to minimize water use. Microsoft Azure CTO Mark Russinovich said the company’s goal is to scale AI infrastructure across multiple centers for efficiency and flexibility. Analysts note that this approach will allow Microsoft to optimize data center locations based on cost, climate, and energy availability.

Sony has reported selling 3.9 million PlayStation 5 (PS5) consoles during the third quarter of this year, covering July to September. Since its launch in 2020, total PS5 sales have reached 84.2 million units globally. The company noted a significant rise in demand following the release of the new video game 'Ghost of Yotei,' which sold 3.3 million copies in just one month. Additionally, Sony’s PlayStation Network has surpassed 110 million monthly active users, reflecting continued growth in its digital gaming and media ecosystem. The strong sales performance underscores Sony’s dominance in the console market and the sustained popularity of its gaming platform.

Russia’s first domestically produced AI-powered humanoid robot, named AIdol, fell during its public debut at a Moscow tech showcase, highlighting the country’s struggles in robotics amid Western sanctions. The robot, developed by startup Idol, lost balance shortly after walking onstage and was quickly removed by event staff. CEO Vladimir Vitukhin attributed the mishap to calibration issues caused by lighting interference with the robot’s stereo cameras. Despite the fall, AIdol reportedly sustained no damage and later stood upright with assistance. The robot can walk, manipulate objects, and communicate for up to six hours autonomously, with 77% of its components made in Russia. Idol aims to increase domestic content to 93% in future production. The incident underscores Russia’s lag behind global leaders like the U.S. and China in advanced robotics and AI development.