❌

Normal view

Bessent: Zelensky ‘should be careful’ with ‘reckless’ comments that US slowed down Starlink

18 October 2026 at 17:48
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “should be careful” with “reckless” comments about the U.S. slowing down Starlink. “President Trump and Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio have categorically said that no one in the Trump administration did that. And I think it is very reckless for President Zelensky to make…

We didn’t protect children from social media — we have another chance with AI 

18 October 2026 at 16:00
The question is not whether children will grow up with artificial intelligence. They will. The question is whether, this time, we will build the research, safeguards and scientific guidance needed to understand what AI is doing to children — while we still have the opportunity to shape what comes next. 

Pakistan plans first astronaut mission on Nov 25: Ahsan Iqbal

18 October 2026 at 13:29

ISLAMABAD – World Space Week 2026 was celebrated for the first time in Narowal with the support of the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), under the vision of Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, to promote awareness of space science, scientific research and modern technology among young people.

Addressing the closing ceremony in Narowal, Ahsan Iqbal announced that Pakistan’s first astronaut would depart on a space mission from a Chinese space centre on November 25. He also said Pakistan had set a target of landing on the Moon by 2035, adding that cooperation with China would help the country reach new heights in space exploration.

The federal minister highlighted the growing role of space technology in various sectors, including agriculture, communications, climate change monitoring, education and national security. He said space research was essential for future development, scientific discoveries and the advancement of human knowledge.

Referring to the teachings of the Holy Quran, Iqbal said Islam encourages people to reflect on the creation of the universe. He stressed the need to foster scientific curiosity, research and a passion for knowledge among young people.

He also noted that Muslim scientists had historically made significant contributions to astronomy and scientific research, saying Pakistan needed to regain a leading position in knowledge and research.

Highlighting the achievements of the University of Narowal, Iqbal cited its first-place finish at the Islamabad Science Festival as evidence of the potential of Pakistan’s youth. He said young Pakistanis were achieving distinction through education and research, including students who had previously faced financial barriers to higher education.

To further encourage interest in space science, the minister announced plans to establish Pakistan’s first space museum at the University of Narowal. The initiative aims to promote scientific awareness and inspire young people to explore emerging fields of technology.

Iqbal said the government was working to provide young people with greater opportunities in advanced technology and emerging scientific disciplines, enabling them to contribute to Pakistan’s progress through knowledge, innovation and research.

The post Pakistan plans first astronaut mission on Nov 25: Ahsan Iqbal appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

Microsoft pulls out of AI datacentre project in Essex over power supply concerns

18 October 2026 at 14:05

Development by UK firm Nscale heralded by ministers as largest of its kind in country loses anchor tenant

The development of a huge AI datacentre hailed by the UK government has received a fresh setback after Microsoft pulled out of the project over concerns about power supplies.

The development by the British company Nscale, heralded by ministers as the country’s largest AI datacentre when it was announced in 2025, was planned to open at Loughton in Essex next year.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Nscale

© Photograph: Nscale

© Photograph: Nscale

‘I felt disgusted’: MEP speaks out over nude deepfakes and urges EU action

Lena Schilling of Austrian Greens says images are ‘digital violence against women’ and a threat to democracy

An Austrian MEP has spoken out about her experience of being “stripped naked” online without her consent and has urged the EU to take action, as a report found that one in six female MEPs had been targeted by sexualised AI-generated content.

Lena Schilling of the Green party said she had learned last month about nude deepfakes of herself circulating online. When she opened the links, she found herself staring at images from one of her first ever press conferences – but the images had been digitally altered to remove her clothing.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: APA-Images/Alamy

© Photograph: APA-Images/Alamy

© Photograph: APA-Images/Alamy

‘I felt disgusted’: MEP speaks out over nude deepfakes and urges EU action

Lena Schilling of Austrian Greens says images are ‘digital violence against women’ and a threat to democracy

An Austrian MEP has spoken out about her experience of being “stripped naked” online without her consent and has urged the EU to take action, as a report found that one in six female MEPs had been targeted by sexualised AI-generated content.

Lena Schilling of the Green party said she had learned last month about nude deepfakes of herself circulating online. When she opened the links, she found herself staring at images from one of her first ever press conferences – but the images had been digitally altered to remove her clothing.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: APA-Images/Alamy

© Photograph: APA-Images/Alamy

© Photograph: APA-Images/Alamy

Blackburn on AI Kendrick Lamar clip backlash: It wasn’t ‘intended to offend’

17 October 2026 at 21:50
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is defending herself after coming under fire for sharing a video — which seemed to be AI-generated — in which she appeared in the place of rapper Kendrick Lamar during his 2025 Super Bowl LIX halftime show performance. In a clip Fox 13 Memphis’s Rob Sneed posted to Instagram Friday, the…

Inside the long, bitter fight over one man’s quest to build the biggest AI datacenter in California

A modern-day prospector promised rural Imperial thousands of jobs and millions in tax revenue – but his plan has set off a firestorm of resistance

Sebastian Rucci zoomed in on a map in late 2024, looking closely at a large block of brown earth. The barren plot sandwiched between sprawling alfalfa fields and sleepy desert suburbs was exactly what he’d been searching for – the perfect place to realize his dream of building the largest artificial intelligence datacenter in California.

The dusty expanse wasn’t an obvious location. It was in the Sonoran desert, just north of the Mexican border, where temperatures regularly rose past 100F (37.8C). Water was scarce in the once-booming agricultural area, which gets its supply from the beleaguered Colorado River. And then, there was the city of Imperial – population 22,000 – to win over. As controversial datacenter projects have sprung up across the US, residents were naturally skeptical of a new, energy-guzzling neighbor.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

© Photograph: Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

© Photograph: Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Tesla Roadster: Expected Price, Range and All Models details

17 October 2026 at 10:37

Elon Musk stunned the world bring Tesla Roadster as it redefines electric supercars with three models. Performance, Thrust and Rocket, claimed acceleration of under 0.59 seconds, and a range exceeding 300 miles.

The electric supercar is targeting acceleration figures as low as 0.59 seconds, while reported configurations promise SpaceX-inspired propulsion, extreme aerodynamic grip and prices that could climb beyond half million dollars. But with production still ahead, some of the most extraordinary claims remain unverified.

The project’s ambitions are huge. Depending on the configuration, Tesla Roadster is being linked with acceleration targets ranging from under 1.6 seconds to below 0.59 seconds, maximum speeds exceeding 230 mph, and experimental propulsion technology designed to deliver force beyond what tires alone can provide.

Tesla Roadster Models

Feature Performance Thrust Rocket
Seating Two seats Two seats One seat
Claimed 0–60 mph acceleration Under 1.6 seconds Under 0.9 seconds Under 0.59 seconds
Propulsion Electric powertrain Electric powertrain plus compressed-air thrusters Expanded electric and thruster systems
Reported thruster arrangement None Four rear-mounted nozzles Approximately 10 nozzles around the vehicle
Intended role Road-focused supercar Limited, specialized performance model Invitation-only experimental configuration
Road-use status Intended for road use, subject to approval Depends on final specification and certification Reportedly not approved for ordinary public-road use

Performance model is presented as the most conventional member of the range, although its advertised acceleration would place it among the most extreme performance cars if achieved under comparable testing conditions.

Thrust version adds a more unusual element: auxiliary propulsion. Reports have cited acceleration figures of around 0.85 seconds, while a demonstration involving thrusters was reportedly associated with a time of 0.81 seconds.

Tesla Roadster Expected Price Range And All Models Details

Rocket configuration takes the concept even further, with a claimed acceleration target below 0.59 seconds. That figure would be extraordinary even by the standards of specialized electric vehicles, but it remains a claim requiring independent verification.

The most unconventional feature associated with the Thrust and Rocket configurations is a cold-gas propulsion system inspired by aerospace technology.

Instead of burning rocket fuel, the proposed system releases highly pressurized air through strategically positioned nozzles to generate thrust. This could theoretically provide additional force without relying entirely on the grip available between the tires and the road.

The Thrust configuration has been described as using four rear-mounted nozzles connected to a pressurized-air tank with an estimated capacity of approximately 200 liters.

The Rocket version is reported to feature a much larger arrangement, potentially involving 10 nozzles positioned around the vehicle. Some accounts cite approximately 600 liters of storage capacity and around 250 kilograms of compressed air, with the additional tank reportedly occupying space that would otherwise accommodate a second passenger.

Rocket configuration has attracted attention because of descriptions suggesting that its thruster system could generate forward, upward and rotational movement. The concept has been associated with aerial flips, jumps and controlled landings. Demonstrations discussed in connection with the Roadster have also included inverted-ramp driving, reportedly assisted by an underbody suction system.

300 Miles of Range and Speeds Above 230 MPH

Roadster is also being promoted as a long-distance electric vehicle. Reported targets include more than 300 miles (483 kilometers) of range and a maximum speed exceeding 230 mph (370 km/h) for higher-performance configurations. Elon Musk has also suggested more ambitious speed targets over the longer term.

Some details mentioned higher-specification versions with around one megawatt of power, equivalent to around 1,340 horsepower, and torque figures ranging from roughly 960 to more than 1,032 lb-ft.

The powertrain has been described in some reports as a dual-motor, rear-wheel-drive arrangement. The precise configuration and output figures, however, vary between accounts and should not be assumed to apply to every version.

Tesla has also been associated with a charging target of approximately 15% to 85% in 10 minutes using sufficiently powerful Superchargers. Actual charging times would depend on the final battery, charging curve, charger capability and operating conditions.

Taken together, these claims paint a picture of a vehicle intended to combine extreme acceleration with usable range and rapid charging. Whether all these targets can be achieved simultaneously in a production car remains an open question.

Tesla Roadster Price

Tesla has not announced a final retail price for any of the three configurations. The company indicated a starting price of around $200,000, while Founders Series was associated with a price of around $250,000.

More recent unofficial estimates have suggested that the vehicle could cost between $250,000 and $500,000 or potentially more, depending on the configuration and its specialized equipment. These figures remain speculation rather than confirmed pricing.

Thrust has been described as a limited-release configuration, with some reports indicating a one-reservation-per-customer restriction. Rocket is reportedly available by invitation only, with no public deposit figure established in the information available here.

Tesla identified 2028 as a target for the start of production, according to statements attributed to Musk. A firm schedule for customer deliveries has not been established. The company still needs to bring the vehicle through development, manufacturing preparation and the relevant approval processes. Its final specifications, pricing, equipment and regional availability may change along the way.

Tesla showcases its first flying car Roadster

The post Tesla Roadster: Expected Price, Range and All Models details appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

Google Labs’ ‘secret society’ way of thanking its most valuable employees

17 October 2026 at 10:21
Josh Woodward.
Josh Woodward is the vice president of Google Labs, the Gemini app, and AI Studio.

Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images

  • Google Labs leaders use ominous meeting invites to surprise and thank top staff.
  • It's a "secret society" ritual for the most valuable employees, Google Labs chief Josh Woodward said.
  • Woodward called the meetings "pretty fun" during an appearance on "Lenny's Podcast."

An unexpected meeting invite with the boss is often the kind of thing that sends employees spiraling. For Google Labs staffers, though, it could mean top brass are about to tell you how great you are.

Speaking on a recent episode of "Lenny's Podcast," Josh Woodward, the vice president of Google Labs, the Gemini app, and AI Studio, described the surprise appreciation meetings as a kind of "secret society" ritual for the team's most valuable employees.

"We'll basically like put an invite on someone's calendar, and we'll just, you know, it looks kind of scary because there's like four or five leaders on the team," Woodward told podcast host Lenny Rachitsky, adding that there's no agenda given.

"And then they show up, and we take turns. We go around the circle, and we just tell them why we appreciate them so much for being on the team," Woodward said.

Woodward called the sessions "pretty fun" and said employees are regularly surprised to learn what the meetings are about.

"I always start the meeting with like, 'This is not a bad meeting. This is a good meeting,'" he said. "Your mind may assume the worst, but we're actually doing the opposite. These are some of the most valuable people."

The surprise recognition meetings are one of the ways Google Labs celebrates the often unflashy work behind its AI products, according to Woodward.

He said the team also has a tradition of handing out quirky awards to employees.

There's the "TPU harvester" award, which consists of a "little miniature rake" from Etsy as well as a cash reward, for staffers who optimize Google's AI chips, known as Tensor Processing Units, Woodward said.

"A few of us wanted to figure out a way to reward people who do the grungy work of efficiency and reclaiming TPUs, harvesting TPUs, so we can build the next features and fuel our growth," he said, adding, "we kind of turned it into this big celebration."

Employees who fix small product flaws or "paper cuts" receive a golden Band-Aid, Woodward said. And those who find surprising ways to push AI models toward new capabilities can become an "LLM whisperer," earning them a giant set of ears and a "really nice" mechanical keyboard.

"We're trying to find like ways to kind of like I don't know encode the value in these like dorky symbols, but that means something," he said, explaining, "We're always coming up with weird stuff like this."

Read the original article on Business Insider

Callers’ Names to appear on Mobile Screens from November 1 in Pakistan?

17 October 2026 at 10:14

ISLAMABAD – A major telecom development sparked confusion across Pakistani social media, with viral posts suggesting that mobile phones will soon display the names of unknown callers. But there is a difference between what is reportedly happening in India and what has been announced in Pakistan.

Several posts are doing rounds online, prompting questions among mobile users: Will the name of every person calling your phone appear on the screen from November 1, 2026?

اہم خبر:

*یکم نومبر سے موبائل پر کال کرنے والے کا نام بھی نظر آئے گا، حکومت کا بڑا فیصلہ*

موبائل صارفین کے لیے ایک اور اہم اور بڑی خبر! محکمہ ٹیلی مواصلات (DoT) نے فیصلہ کیا ہے کہ یکم نومبر 2026ء سے ملک بھر میں کال کرنے والے کے نام کی شناخت (Caller ID) کی سہولت نافذ کی جا رہی ہے۔

اس نئی سہولت کے تحت اب موبائل فون پر آنے والی کال کے دوران صرف نمبر نہیں بلکہ کال کرنے والے شخص کا اصل نام بھی اسکرین پر دکھائی دے گا۔

اس اقدام کا مقصد نامعلوم نمبروں (Unknown Numbers) سے آنے والی کالوں کی شناخت کو آسان بنانا اور شہریوں کو غیر ضروری و فرضی کالوں سے محفوظ رکھنا ہے۔

تمام ٹیلی کام کمپنیوں کو جدید ٹیکنالوجی پر اس سہولت کی جانچ اور نفاذ مکمل کرنے کی ہدایات جاری کر دی گئی ہیں۔

— Nakam Larki (@NakamLarki) October 17, 2026

It is actually being done in India, where authorities are preparing to introduce a system that displays a caller’s registered name alongside their phone number. However, there is no verified evidence that Pakistan has announced a similar nationwide requirement for the same date. The distinction has become increasingly important as the news spreads across borders, often without identifying the country or government authority behind the reported decision.

According to the reports referenced in the circulating claim, India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued a circular on October 13, 2026, directing telecom operators to implement a service known as Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) from November 1. The reported initiative involves major Indian telecom companies, including Reliance Jio, Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

The system is intended to help mobile users identify callers whose numbers are not saved in their contact lists, potentially making it easier to recognise suspicious calls and reduce telephone fraud.

Under reported CNAP arrangement, the name displayed on a recipient’s phone would depend on whether the incoming number is saved and where the call originates.

  • If the caller’s number is already stored in the phone, the saved contact name will appear as usual.
  • For an unsaved domestic call in India, the name registered in the telecom operator’s subscriber database is reportedly expected to appear.
  • Unsaved international calls are reportedly expected to display an “International Call” label.
  • The initial rollout is reported to cover 4G and newer networks, including 5G.
  • Implementation for 2G, 3G and landline connections is expected to be considered separately.

The objective is to give users more information about incoming calls and help them make informed decisions before answering unfamiliar numbers.

Pakistani Social Media Users Confused

The issue has gained attention in Pakistan after versions of the news began circulating in Urdu. Some posts use headlines along the lines of “From November 1, the caller’s name will also appear on mobile phones” without clearly mentioning that the reported announcement concerns India.

This development can give readers the impression that a similar change is about to take effect across Pakistan. The key detail is the identity of the issuing authority.

India’s Department of Telecommunications, commonly known as DoT, is an Indian government department. Pakistan’s telecom regulator is the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). A directive issued by India’s DoT does not automatically apply to Pakistani mobile networks.

As of October 17, 2026, the information provided with the viral claim does not establish that the PTA has issued a comparable nationwide order requiring Pakistani mobile operators to display callers’ registered names from November 1.

No corresponding PTA notification has been identified in the material supplied for this fact-check.

This means claims that the feature will definitely launch across Pakistan on that date remain unsubstantiated.

Mobile users in Pakistan should not assume that Jazz, Zong, Ufone, Telenor or other operators will automatically begin displaying the registered names of unknown callers because of the reported Indian rollout.

Any such change in Pakistan would need to be confirmed through an official announcement or directive from the relevant Pakistani authority.

The post Callers’ Names to appear on Mobile Screens from November 1 in Pakistan? appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

Not cool: who hacked France’s supermarket fridges?

17 October 2026 at 05:00

Whether it was youngsters proving their skills or state sabotage, Europe’s most hacked country was left with a mountain of waste after food began cooking in freezers

Shortly before midnight last Sunday, the digital thermostats controlling hundreds of supermarket cold aisles across France began to flicker and rise.

In a “bizarre and unprecedented” cyber-attack, hackers had remotely overridden the temperature settings on thousands of freezers, fridges and chiller cabinets pushing them from as low as -27C (-16.6F) to well over 50C (122F).

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Lucien Libert/Reuters

© Photograph: Lucien Libert/Reuters

© Photograph: Lucien Libert/Reuters

Bipartisan senators ask Pentagon to answer for Ukraine Starlink restrictions 

16 October 2026 at 23:20
{beacon} Technology Technology   The Big Story  GOP senators press Pentagon over Starlink restrictions in Ukraine  Four Republican senators joined their Democratic colleagues in pressing the Trump administration for information about whether Pentagon officials ordered restrictions on Ukraine’s access to the satellite-based Starshield network. © Tom Brenner, Associated Press Ukraine needs access to fast Starshield data…

Unauthorized drones banned along US-Mexico border: FAA

16 October 2026 at 21:55
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Friday it is restricting unauthorized drones along the ​U.S.-Mexico border. This move comes as the government ramps up efforts to address concerns about illegal drug shipments across the border, Reuters reported Friday. It is a temporary flight restriction that bars any unauthorized drone activity up to 400 feet above…

SK Hynix needs a Trump 2027 deal to expand its Dalian NAND fab

16 October 2026 at 20:52

South Korean memory chipmakers must secure new United States licenses by year-end to keep shipping top-end American tools to their Chinese factories, after the Trump administration scrapped blanket permits last year. To win the permits, SK Hynix and Samsung must promise to build or expand factories in the US. SK Hynix’s one-year license to ship […]

The post SK Hynix needs a Trump 2027 deal to expand its Dalian NAND fab appeared first on Asia Times.

❌