DUCSU election on March 11
The election to the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) will be held on March 11.
As a president of DUCSU, Vice Chancellor Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman made the polls announcement on Wednesday.
The Hall Sangsad elections will also be held the same day from 8am to 2pm, he said.
According to article 8(E) of DUCSU constitution, the vice-chancellor announced the polls schedule.
Earlier in the day, DU VC held separate meetings on DUCSU and Hall Sangsad elections with hall provosts and members of DUCSU election conducting advisory council.
MHK
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WhatsApp Update: / Exciting New Features on the Horizon
WhatsApp, a globally popular messaging app, is gearing up for some major updates. Known for its cross-platform, free-to-use instant messaging and voice-over-IP services, WhatsApp lets users send messages, make voice and video calls, and share media effortlessly. Now, exciting new features are on the horizon.
A significant change is coming to group calls. In the current setup, all members receive a ringing notification when a group call starts. With the new update, users will be able to join group calls via a link, allowing them to join at their convenience without the disruptive ringing.
WhatsApp is also making strides to enhance its video calling experience. The company is working on introducing augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) filters, similar to those on Snapchat. These filters will let users apply effects like AR overlays, skin smoothing, and even low-light mode during video calls.
Additionally, WhatsApp will roll out new background editing tools, giving users the ability to blur or customize their video call backgrounds. This set of features is aimed at making video calls more engaging and personalized.
Apple Unveils New AI-boosted iPhone 16
The new iPhone 16, unveiled on Monday, is the first Apple product to be built with artificial intelligence in mind. But the company faces challenges in the form of Huawei in China and regulation in Europe.
California tech giant Apple on Monday officially unveiled the iPhone 16, its first smartphone specially designed to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI).
"The next generation of iPhone has been designed for Apple Intelligence from the ground up," said chief executive Tim Cook at the product launch, referring to Apple's own in-house AI platform which was announced earlier this year.
"It marks the beginning of an exciting new era," he said, teasing "breakthrough capabilities" such as the ability for AI to conjure images and other content on command.
According to media reports, Apple Intelligence features are also expected to be rolled out to recent iPhone and iPad models in a software update in October, but with voice assistant Siri initially only available in US English.
Regionalized English is expected to follow in December before a full Siri upgrade with languages including French, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese is rolled out in early 2025.
Apple vs. Huawei
Apple's move into AI is a key pillar of its strategy to compete with Chinese rival Huawei, which made its own new triple-fold MATE XT smartphone available for pre-order hours before Apple's event.
By Monday night, its website showed it had already taken over three million pre-orders for the Z-shaped device, underlining Huawei's ability to navigate US sanctions ahead of its official launch on Tuesday.
"The Chinese market is hungrier for AI features than the US market," commented Ben Bajarin, CEO and principal analyst at the California-based Creative Strategies market research company.
But Beijing is yet to approve Apple Intelligence for release on the Chinese market, nor has Apple announced an AI partner for China.
For Apple, "it will be very difficult to bring [iPhone 16] to China immediately," said Bajarin. "So, they'll be going off the merits of the hardware."
iPhone 16: new features, new Watches, new AirPods
Those hardware features include the new A18 chip, an aluminum back and a new customizable camera button on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, while Apple also unveiled iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, titanium models with a faster chip, the A18 Pro, and enhanced AI capability.
As part of the launch, Apple also unveiled new Watches and AirPods, emphasizing their use in sporting and health environments.
In addition to improved comfort, fit and acoustics, Apple have also fitted out their new AirPods with a professional hearing-aid feature, which it has submitted for US regulatory review.
Apple targeted by EU regulation and tax authorities
Apple has already said it expects the roll-out of Apple Intelligence in Europe to be delayed due to additional regulatory checks in accordance with the European Union's Digital Services Act.
Also in Europe, the European Court of Justice is expected on Tuesday to rule on a case which could see Apple forced to pay back up to €13 billion ($14.35bn) in tax benefits afforded to it by the Republic of Ireland, where it has its Europe HQ.
iPhone 16 Series: Prices and Features Revealed
Apple has launched its highly anticipated iPhone 16 series, featuring four models: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. These phones will be available in five colors—white, black, green, pink, and blue.
According to a Tech Pedia report on Tuesday, September 10, the iPhone 16 with a 6.1-inch screen starts at $799 (around 96,000 BDT), while the iPhone 16 Plus with a 6.7-inch screen begins at $899 (around 108,000 BDT).
The iPhone 16 Pro, with a 6.3-inch display, is priced at $999 (around 120,000 BDT), and the larger 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199 (around 144,000 BDT).
Additionally, Apple introduced its new AirPods and Apple Watch series at the "Glotime" event on August 9.
26 September: What to Happen?
A question comes to mind when entering social media Facebook, X (Twitter), TikTok, and YouTube. That is 'What will happen on September 26'?
There are many rumors on social media in this regard. Many netizens are posting about the 26th, knowingly or unknowingly. Some are expressing panic about the matter, and some are joking. Everyone is curious about what will happen on that day.
Netizens are giving different answers to the question. Some say that the ousted former prime minister Hasina will enter the country. Some people say that many people's fortunes are changing on this day, many people are becoming millionaires. Some even joke that the 26th of September is their wedding day.
But another information has been found on social media. It is Telegram-based game 'Hamster Kombat'. Game currency 'Coins, Keys, etc' can be earned by completing various tasks in the game.
Many are promoting this game on Facebook, X (Twitter) and YouTube. They say that "On the 26th, the game's coins can be converted into cryptocurrencies, according to the game's creators."
Some say there are many such apps based on Telegram. Sometimes they offer the conversion of their game's currency to cryptocurrency. However, due to TikTok, Hamster Combat has become more popular.
Some say, on the other hand, that "If it was possible to become a millionaire or a rich man, then people would not work anymore!" Their question is – if Hamster's 300 million followers are paid $5, then can they pay the huge amount of money?
This is roughly how the Hamster Kombat developers see the issue of '26th'. However, when the issue is trending on social media, many are posting on Facebook to know the issue from a place of curiosity or fear.
What is Hamster Kombat?
Hamster Kombat is one of Telegram's viral tap-to-earn mobile games, built on the TON (The Open Network) blockchain.
The game's objective places players in the role of a fictional CEO of a cryptocurrency exchange, competing to become the best in the game. Players can earn rewards through various tasks, activities, and mini-games, ultimately working to climb the ranks and unlock more features.
The in-game currency, HMSTR tokens, is Integral to the gaming experience. It serves as the primary reward for qualified players and will be the focus of the upcoming airdrop. Players can increase their chances of receiving HMSTR tokens by accumulating in-game coins.
Only 43% of Users Qualified for Hamster Kombat's Season 1 Airdrop
The team behind the popular Telegram clicker game Hamster Kombat has revealed the details of its season one airdrop, saying that 60 billion tokens will be airdropped to qualified users.
In an announcement posted on X, the Hamster Kombat team said that 75 billion of its 100 billion Hamster Kombat (HMSTR) tokens for the project are allocated to its community members.
The team revealed that 60% of the total token supply will be airdropped after season one, and the remaining 15% will be distributed during the upcoming season two of the clicker game.
Of the initial 60 billion tokens to be distributed, eligible users can get 88.75% of their allocation immediately, while the remaining 11.25% will be vested and made available 10 months after the token is listed on exchanges. This means that about 53.25 billion tokens will be airdropped to users instantly, while 6.75 billion tokens will be released 10 months after listing.
Over 131 million users qualified for airdrop
Hamster Kombat is one of the fastest-growing games in the Web3 space. In its first 81 days, the Telegram clicker game went viral, recording 239 million users. With many users new to crypto, Telegram founder Pavel Durov said the game’s success could contribute to Web3 adoption by onboarding millions to crypto.
While the game boasts that it has surpassed 300 million users, the Hamster Kombat team also said that only 131 million users are eligible to receive its airdrop on September 26, which means that only 43% of its total user count will receive the tokens. The team added that it had banned 2.3 million users for cheating.
Largest airdrop in crypto history?
On July 30, the Hamster Foundation described its upcoming airdrop as the “largest airdrop in the history of crypto.” The team said most of the volume would go to the players, while the rest would be for liquidity, ecosystem partnerships, grants, rewarding squads, and other items.
On August 12, the team said it had turned down offers from venture capital firms. This means there would be no early investments in the token, and only the market will determine its value. In an announcement, the team said that “there is no extra sell pressure,” adding that the value of HMSTR tokens will be determined by the demand, supply, and community interest.
By: Ezra Reguerra