Figure has unveiled a new demonstration of its humanoid system Helix 02, showing the robot autonomously tidying a living room. The system, released a little over a month ago, controls its full body directly from visual input and performs long-horizon tasks without specialized programming. In this latest test, Helix 02 navigates through a cluttered living room while manipulating objects, tools, and containers, performing coordinated actions such as cleaning surfaces, handling flexible items, and reorganizing objects. The demonstration highlights Helix 02’s ability to integrate locomotion, dexterity, and sensing through a single neural architecture. The robot learned new behaviors—like wiping surfaces, tossing pillows, and pressing remote buttons—simply by adding data, without new algorithms or task-specific engineering. Each action combines movement and manipulation in a constantly changing environment, reflecting the complexity of real household tasks. According to Figure, Helix 02’s expanding skill set represents progress toward scalable humanoid intelligence, where one general-purpose model can learn and perform a broad range of everyday activities in homes and workplaces.

Chattogram Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ahsan Habib Palash stated that cannons would be deployed if necessary to ensure security in Jungle Salimpur. He announced that two permanent checkpoints would be established in the area, each equipped with necessary police weapons. The DIG made the remarks on Monday afternoon at the entrance of Jungle Salimpur while briefing reporters about the ongoing joint security operation. According to the DIG, the joint operation began at 6 a.m. Monday with participation from the army, police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). By noon, 15 individuals had been detained, though none were identified as major suspects. The main accused in a RAB officer murder case, Yasin, reportedly escaped before the operation began. A total of 3,057 personnel from multiple forces took part, and two camps—one for police and one for RAB—have been established to maintain security. The DIG urged the divisional commissioner and administration to expedite implementation of development plans for the large area, emphasizing continued law enforcement presence and regular searches from the new camps.

Anthropic has introduced Code Review for Claude Code, a new agent team-based system designed to perform in-depth reviews on every pull request. The feature, now available in research preview for Team and Enterprise users, deploys multiple agents to identify, verify, and rank bugs by severity. Each review produces a concise summary comment and detailed in-line notes, aiming to catch issues that human reviewers might overlook. The system scales its depth based on the size and complexity of the code changes, with an average review time of about 20 minutes. According to Anthropic, the internal use of Code Review has significantly increased the proportion of pull requests receiving substantive feedback. The company reports that the tool has helped detect critical bugs before merging, including issues that could have caused major service disruptions. Early access users have also reported similar benefits, with the system uncovering latent bugs in existing codebases. Code Review is positioned as a more thorough but costlier alternative to the existing Claude Code GitHub Action. Reviews are billed based on token usage, typically ranging from $15 to $25 per review, with administrative controls available to manage spending.

X has announced a new feature that allows users to listen to long-form articles within the app, using the voice of xAI’s Grok artificial intelligence chatbot. The articles will now include a “Listen” button, enabling audio playback both while scrolling through X and when switching to other apps through background play. The feature aims to make it easier for users to consume lengthy content and help creators reach wider audiences. The update is part of X’s broader strategy to attract content creators and boost exclusive, in-depth posts on the platform. X is particularly focused on long-form content because such material provides richer data for its xAI projects, which use information shared on X to improve AI outputs. Grok, xAI’s main product, relies on language understanding and real-time insights drawn from X discussions. According to X’s head of product Nikita Bier, X Articles have grown 18 times over the past three months. The company has also incentivized creators with a $1 million prize for top-performing articles, underscoring its push to expand long-form content and strengthen its AI ecosystem.

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has requested the Energy and Mineral Resources Division to deploy the army at key fuel depots across the country, citing fears of unrest due to fuel shortages. The appeal follows disruptions in fuel imports and distribution caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East. The government has introduced rationing and reduced fuel supply from depots by 25 percent, triggering public anxiety and hoarding in some areas. According to BPC’s letter, depots in Chattogram’s Patenga, Khulna’s Daulatpur, Sirajganj’s Baghabari, Narayanganj’s Godnail and Fatullah, Dinajpur’s Parbatipur, and Barishal are considered at risk. The corporation emphasized that these depots are key point installations requiring urgent security measures. Meanwhile, the Cabinet Division has instructed district administrations to conduct mobile courts to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply, while central and regional monitoring cells have been established. Mobile courts in Dhaka have already intervened at several petrol stations found hoarding or halting sales. The government has urged citizens to conserve energy and issued five directives promoting reduced electricity use, avoidance of decorative lighting, and increased reliance on public transport.

Bangladesh Bank has simplified the process for foreign investors to repatriate funds from share transfers and sales in unlisted public and private companies. According to a circular issued on Sunday, investors can now send up to Tk 100 crore abroad without prior central bank approval, a tenfold increase from the previous Tk 10 crore limit. The decision aims to attract more foreign investment by reducing procedural delays and increasing flexibility for non-resident investors. The new directive allows banks to approve repatriations independently if the transaction value is within Tk 100 crore and based on fair value determined by an independent valuer. Transactions exceeding this limit can also be processed by banks if they do not surpass the company’s latest audited net asset value. For small transactions up to Tk 1 crore, no independent valuation report is required. Banks must form internal committees led by senior executives to ensure transparency and compliance. The circular aligns valuation methods with International Valuation Standards 2025 and sets strict timelines, requiring banks to complete fund transfers within five working days if no irregularities are found. All completed transactions must be reported to Bangladesh Bank within 14 days.

Representatives of civil society have called on the government to pass the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance 2025 in parliament without any amendments. The appeal was made on Monday during a discussion between newly appointed commissioners and civil society members at the commission’s conference room. During the meeting, Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said the ordinance provides sufficient authority for human rights protection and should be enacted unchanged. He urged the commission to take initiatives for the rights of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities, and to develop a comprehensive action plan for addressing human rights violations. CPD Fellow Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya expressed hope that the commission would work independently and emphasized the need for an ombudsman and anti-discrimination law. ALRD Executive Director Shamsul Huda also supported passing the ordinance intact. Commission Chairperson Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury stated that the commissioners are committed to working sincerely and courageously within the law. He added that a strong, independent, and credible commission is vital for the nation’s interest and could help Bangladesh achieve ‘A’ status soon.

The United States has advised its citizens to leave southeastern Turkey as tensions escalate during the ongoing conflict with Iran. The US Embassy in Ankara confirmed that the State Department has ordered the departure of non-essential staff and their families from the US Consulate in Adana, located near a key NATO base. The embassy cited security risks as the reason for the directive and issued a travel advisory urging Americans in the region to depart immediately. According to AFP, the advisory follows recent claims by Ankara that Iran attempted to launch missiles targeting Turkish territory. The missiles were reportedly intercepted and destroyed by NATO’s air defense system before reaching their targets. The US decision reflects heightened caution over potential spillover effects from the Iran conflict and the proximity of NATO facilities in southern Turkey. The move underscores growing security concerns in the region and signals Washington’s efforts to minimize risks to its personnel and citizens amid rising regional instability.

France has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to address the worsening situation in Lebanon. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said that Lebanon has faced intense Israeli airstrikes over the past week, resulting in about 400 deaths according to local health authorities. Barrot stated that France has already provided around 6.9 million dollars in emergency assistance to humanitarian organizations operating in Lebanon. Additionally, preparations are underway to send 20 tons of further humanitarian aid scheduled to arrive on Tuesday. He emphasized that France is continuing discussions with Israeli authorities to prevent Lebanon from descending into chaos and to ensure a ceasefire. The minister also mentioned that the process of disarming Hezbollah remains an important part of ongoing efforts to stabilize the region.

The European Union’s Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission has released images showing the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln near the coast of Iran. According to the report, the carrier was positioned off the coast of Oman last Saturday before moving northwest toward the Strait of Hormuz. The images were captured and published as part of the EU satellite monitoring program. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) also shared several photos on the social media platform X, stating that the images depict the carrier’s operations at sea on the same day. The publication of these images comes amid heightened regional attention to military movements in the Gulf area. The release of the photos highlights ongoing monitoring of naval activities in the region, though the source does not specify any official statements regarding the purpose or duration of the carrier’s deployment.

Bangladesh has requested consular access from India for two Bangladeshi nationals arrested in Kolkata in connection with the murder of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid confirmed the request on Monday while speaking to reporters at the ministry. She said Kolkata police detained the suspects on suspicion of involvement in the killing and placed them on a 14-day remand. According to the minister, Bangladesh has sought access to verify the detainees’ identities, as current information remains insufficient. She noted that Bangladesh and India have a prisoner exchange agreement, which could be used to bring the suspects back once their identities are confirmed. However, she did not specify how long the repatriation process might take. Hadi was shot and critically injured on December 12 last year in Dhaka’s Paltan area and later died on December 18 while undergoing treatment at Singapore General Hospital.

Nepal is set to announce the official results of its national election tomorrow, paving the way for a new government. However, the 265 newly elected members of parliament face a pressing question: where will they convene? The country currently has no usable parliament building after protesters set fire to it during nationwide demonstrations last year, causing extensive damage. Following the destruction, Nepal’s interim government initiated the construction of a new parliamentary complex. According to local media reports citing the Urban Development Ministry, the new building is expected to be ready by mid-March. The project had originally been scheduled for completion last October but remains unfinished. Until the new facility is completed, the incoming parliament may face logistical challenges in holding its sessions and conducting legislative business.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Afroza Khanam (Rita), met with JICA’s Chief Representative in Bangladesh, Ichiguchi Tomohide, at the minister’s office on March 9, 2026. State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat was also present during the courtesy meeting. The discussion focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Japan and sought JICA’s assistance in expediting the operational launch of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. During the meeting, the JICA representative assured continued support for the development initiatives of the current government. He also expressed JICA’s commitment to providing necessary cooperation for the advancement of Bangladesh’s tourism sector. The meeting underscored the importance of Japan’s technical and financial collaboration in Bangladesh’s aviation and tourism infrastructure, signaling ongoing partnership efforts between the two nations.

The United States has expressed frustration following an Israeli airstrike on Iranian oil storage facilities earlier this week, which caused massive fires and killed four people, according to a report by Axios on Sunday. The attack, carried out on February 28, targeted three oil depots and a refinery in and around Tehran, leading to widespread destruction and environmental hazards. Axios reported that Israel had informed Washington in advance, claiming the sites were used to supply fuel for missile launches. However, the scale of the attack exceeded US expectations, leaving American military officials shocked. An Israeli official told Axios that Washington’s initial reaction was one of disbelief. Neither the White House nor the Israeli Defense Forces have issued any official comments on the incident. The strike caused uncontrolled fires, thick black smoke, and reports of “acid rain” in Tehran, prompting authorities to advise residents to stay indoors. The event marks the first major disagreement between the two allies since the start of the Iran war.

The Group of Seven (G7) nations are set to hold an emergency meeting on Monday following a sharp rise in global oil prices and a steep decline in stock markets. The surge came as the conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel intensified, pushing crude oil prices above 100 dollars per barrel. According to BBC reports, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves and other finance ministers from leading industrialized nations will discuss the economic fallout of the ongoing conflict. Concerns over prolonged disruptions to energy supplies through the vital Strait of Hormuz have driven oil prices close to 120 dollars per barrel. The Financial Times reported that the G7 may consider coordinated oil releases from strategic reserves under the International Energy Agency’s framework. The UK’s FTSE 100 index fell 1.7 percent at the start of trading, reflecting investor anxiety over the crisis. Analysts warn that any major disruption to energy flows from the region could further raise costs for global consumers and businesses, deepening the economic impact of the conflict.