A viral live-streaming video has sparked a debate about digital authenticity after a popular Chinese beauty influencer’s beauty filter malfunctioned, revealing her natural appearance. During a live dance session, the technical glitch caused the filter to deactivate temporarily, replacing her bright, flawless skin and sharp jawline with a more mature and natural look. As a result, the influencer reportedly lost around 1.4 lakh followers in a short span. The Power—and Risk—of Beauty Filters Modern smartphones offer a range of filters for photos and videos, including beauty filters that enhance skin tone, facial contours, and other features. In this case, the influencer appeared flawless with the filter on, but the brief removal exposed her true features, highlighting the gap between on...

As summer temperatures rise, waiting for a technician to service your AC can be frustrating. Fortunately, you can perform a soft AC service at home using just water and an old toothbrush, giving your unit a clean and improving efficiency until the next professional service. This method is useful when a hard service isn’t immediately possible, providing a gap of at least 15 days before the technician’s visit. Soft Service vs. Hard Service A hard AC service involves a technician dismantling the unit and thoroughly cleaning all components using specialized tools. A soft service, on the other hand, focuses on cleaning the most crucial parts yourself—filters, coils, and the outdoor unit—without the use of tools. This helps maintain efficiency between professional services. Tools You’ll...

In a shocking case of identity misuse, a small-time clay pot maker in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, was slapped with a ₹1.25 crore Goods and Services Tax (GST) notice. The notice, which came as a complete shock to Mohammad Saeed, was the result of fraudsters misusing his Aadhaar and PAN details to register a fake firm in his name. Saeed, who earns his livelihood selling clay cups and small utensils, had never operated any large business. “We sell a few dozen clay cups and small pots every day. We never imagined we could run a business worth crores,” he said. He suspects that his Aadhaar and PAN information were exploited to create a fraudulent company that now faces massive tax liability. Following the notice, Saeed and his family approached local authorities. They emphasized that they h...

During the India AI Impact Summit, 84 countries and 2 international organizations signed the New Delhi Declaration, a landmark agreement aimed at ensuring that artificial intelligence (AI) benefits the broader public rather than being limited to wealthy nations. The summit emphasized affordable access, safe usage, skill development, and the use of AI to improve education, healthcare, and other public services. Democratizing AI Resources Historically, AI has favored countries with vast data and expensive computing infrastructure. The New Delhi Declaration calls for democratizing AI resources, highlighting that digital infrastructure and affordable connectivity are rights for every nation. A voluntary framework, “Charter for the Democratic Diffusion of AI,” was proposed to allow countr...

Good photography is not about owning the latest or most expensive camera—it’s about skill, patience, and vision. This was exemplified by 14-year-old Indian-origin photographer Rithved Girish, who won the prestigious Young Close-Up Photographer of the Year award using a 10-year-old camera. Rithved captured a mesmerizing close-up of bees titled “Guardians of the Hive” with a decade-old Nikon D850 DSLR and a standard macro lens. The photograph highlights the intricate world of tiny creatures that often go unnoticed, demonstrating that extraordinary images can be created without cutting-edge equipment. Rather than relying on high-tech gear, Rithved spent hours patiently waiting near the hive entrance, capturing stingless bees defending their home without disturbing them. His dedication a...

Ever wondered if someone has blocked you on WhatsApp? Now, with the help of Meta AI, you can find out with just a simple “Hi” message. The process is easy: tag Meta AI in a chat and send a “Hi,” and it will indicate whether you are blocked or not. Sometimes, when someone doesn’t respond on WhatsApp, it can be unclear whether they have blocked you or are simply offline. Normally, a single tick appears for messages if the recipient’s internet is off—or if you have been blocked. This can cause confusion, especially if the person hasn’t set a profile picture. How Meta AI Helps Until now, identifying who blocked you on WhatsApp was tricky. With Meta AI, you can now easily determine your status. Simply go to the chat of the person you suspect has blocked you, tag Meta AI by typing @Meta...

In a surprising development ahead of the official launch, Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra has reportedly appeared for sale in Dubai. Popular YouTuber Karoul Sahil claimed to have purchased the device from Dubai’s Deira Market for approximately ₹2,96,595 (AED 12,000). In a video shared online, he showcased the phone’s new ‘Privacy Display’ feature. The Galaxy S26 Ultra, the top-end model of Samsung’s upcoming S26 Series, was reportedly available in the market ahead of the official Galaxy Unpacked event. Karoul Sahil shared multiple updates on his X account, detailing his experience of buying the device and testing its features even before the formal launch. Samsung’s official Galaxy Unpacked event is scheduled for 25 February 2026, where three smartphones from the Galaxy S26 Serie...