TECHNOLOGY

Following Australia’s lead, calls are emerging in Pakistan to ban social media for children under 16. Recently, an 8th-grade student, Alia Saleem, filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking restrictions on social media use for minors. The petition argues that unrestricted social media access is detrimental to children’s mental, moral, and educational development, exposing them to harmful content and inappropriate online behavior at an early age. The student, through her lawyer Sheza, has made the Federal Government, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and other relevant agencies respondents in the case. The plea emphasizes the government’s responsibility to protect children’s fundamental rights and urges the court to consider a ban on social media use for minors. ...

The tragic plane crash in Baramati, Maharashtra, which claimed the life of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar along with four others, has once again highlighted the importance of the black box in aviation. Investigators are now focusing on retrieving the black box to determine the cause of the crash. But what exactly is a black box, and how does it help solve aviation mysteries? What Is a Black Box?A black box is a critical device installed in every commercial aircraft that records essential flight information. Despite its name, it is bright orange to ensure visibility and ease of recovery after an accident. The device plays a pivotal role in understanding the sequence of events leading up to a crash. Two Main Components: CVR and FDRA black box is divided into two parts: CVR – Cockpit Voice Re...

AI chatbot Grok, developed by Elon Musk, recently made a serious translation error that could have sparked diplomatic tension between India and the Maldives. The incident involved Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s social media post, in which he thanked Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu for his greetings on India’s 77th Republic Day and wished for continued cooperation and prosperity between the two nations. What PM Modi’s Original Post SaidPM Modi had written: "I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives on India’s 77th Republic Day. I look forward to continued cooperation between our peoples and hope for a prosperous and bright future for all the people of Maldives." This message was intended purely as a gesture of goodwill and friend...

Meta has introduced a new ‘Strict Account Settings’ feature for WhatsApp users, designed to shield them from digital scams, including fake wedding invitations and phishing attempts. Once enabled, this feature essentially puts WhatsApp in a lockdown mode, making it extremely difficult for hackers or unknown contacts to access your messages, media, or calls. How Does Strict Mode Work?Strict Mode acts as an extreme security barrier for your WhatsApp account. When turned on: Unknown contacts outside your saved list cannot send attachments, media, or messages. You are protected from phishing links, scam wedding cards, and spyware attempts. Unknown users cannot add you to groups without your permission. Meta has implemented this feature using the Rust programming language, which...

India has unveiled a historic deal with the European Union, setting the stage for the country to emerge as a global tech superpower by 2030. The agreement focuses on cutting-edge technologies such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and 6G. Experts say this blueprint could make India a world leader in innovation, digital infrastructure, and technology-driven employment. Global Recognition for India’s Digital StrengthAccording to The Indian Express, the deal emphasizes technology and innovation, with India and the EU collaborating on advanced digital initiatives. Notably, Europe will adopt India’s digital public infrastructure, creating a secure ecosystem resistant to cyber threats. The partnership will also boost ‘Made in India’ chips and telecom technolo...

1. Aadhaar Mobile Number Update Now Possible AnywhereThe UIDAI has announced a major convenience: users can now update the mobile number linked to their Aadhaar card from anywhere, at any time. This feature will be available via the full version of the new Aadhaar app, releasing this week. Previously, users had to visit an Aadhaar center in person for mobile number updates. The move aims to make Aadhaar services more user-friendly. The app will be available on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store. 2. WhatsApp Introduces ‘Strict Account Settings’ Amid Security ConcernsFollowing Elon Musk’s claims that WhatsApp is not fully secure, the messaging platform has rolled out a new feature: ‘Strict Account Settings’. This optional “lockdown” mode enhances user security by blocking attachme...

Great people become great not by chance, but through attention to detail—and a story from Steve Jobs’ life perfectly illustrates this. Despite being the CEO of Apple, Jobs was known for obsessing over the smallest details. In one memorable incident, he reportedly called a senior Google executive on a Sunday morning just to correct the yellow color in Google’s logo. Here’s what happened next. Steve Fixes Google’s LogoSteve Jobs is remembered not only as a CEO but as a master of technology and design. Known as a perfectionist, he scrutinized every detail. One story that has circulated widely online dates back to 2008, shortly after the iPhone’s launch. According to Vik Gundotra, former Vice President at Google, Jobs called him one Sunday morning in January 2008 regarding what he described...

Apple has rolled out a software update for the 13-year-old iPhone 5s, ensuring that key features like FaceTime and iMessage remain functional. The last update for this device was released in 2023, making this the latest effort by Apple to extend the usability of its oldest supported devices. Extended Lifespan for iPhone 5s UsersThe iPhone 5s, first launched in September 2013, has now received a new update alongside the latest iOS 26.2.1 for newer models. The update, iOS 12.5.8, is specifically designed for devices still running iOS 12, including the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6. With this update, users can continue to use their devices for another year without losing access to essential services. Why This Update MattersThe update renews critical system certificates required for iMessage, F...

The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has issued a warning against using popular messaging apps WhatsApp and Signal, urging users to switch to his platform X Chat instead. Musk’s caution comes in the wake of a lawsuit filed against Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, alleging the theft of users’ chat data. Musk Advises Users to Abandon WhatsApp and SignalMusk, through a post on his social media platform X, stated that users should stop using WhatsApp and Signal, and instead adopt X Chat. The warning was prompted by a recent lawsuit against Meta, which claims that WhatsApp chats are not as secure as advertised. While Signal offers similar messaging services, Musk included it in his caution, highlighting concerns over data privacy and security. Why Musk Raised ConcernsElon Musk’s warni...

Chinese tech giant Kuaishou’s Kling AI has quickly become one of the biggest competitors to OpenAI’s Sora and Google’s Veo in the AI video generation space. Since its launch in June 2024, Kling has steadily gained traction and is now ranked among the top-tier video generation tools alongside Sora and Veo. AI Video Creation Trend Gains MomentumAI-powered video creation has become a crucial tool for content creators globally. Kuaishou’s Kling platform is providing strong competition to established AI video editing tools such as Google’s Veo and OpenAI’s Sora. Within just a short period, Kling has secured a spot in the list of leading AI editing platforms. Since its launch, the platform has amassed approximately 12 million monthly active users and annual revenue has reached around $24 mill...