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Salman Khan speaks out against AI-generated deepfake videos

Salman Khan

MUMBAI, India: Bollywood star Salman Khan has spoken out against the growing use of AI-generated fake videos and cloned voices, calling for strict action against those who deliberately create and circulate such content.

Speaking about social media trolling and emerging online threats while hosting the reality show Bigg Boss, Khan said he had also been targeted by AI-generated fake videos.

Khan said advances in technology have made it possible to clone a person’s voice and manipulate videos in ways that can make it difficult to distinguish genuine material from fabricated content.

He said his own videos had been altered using AI and voice dubbing to make it appear that he had said or done things that he had not.

The actor said the situation was particularly concerning because viewers could watch a manipulated video and believe that the person featured in it had actually made the statements or carried out the actions shown.

Khan said there was a distinction between someone unknowingly sharing fake content and people who deliberately create such material despite knowing it is false.

He called for strict action against those who intentionally produce such videos and said such people should be sent to prison. He also called for stronger laws and effective measures to address the misuse of social media.

Khan said the problem extends beyond celebrities, noting that public figures generally have greater access to cybercrime authorities and resources to pursue those responsible for fake content.

Ordinary people and their families, he said, often lack the same access and resources, leaving them more vulnerable to the potentially damaging effects of fabricated videos and online propaganda.

Insomnia linked to 26% higher stroke risk, study finds

Insomnia

LONDON: People suffering from insomnia may face a significantly higher risk of stroke, according to a new study published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews.

Sleep is essential for both physical and mental health, but millions of people worldwide experience insomnia for a variety of reasons. While short-term sleep problems may resolve within days, persistent insomnia has been linked to a range of health problems.

Researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of previous studies examining the relationship between insomnia and stroke. Nine studies investigated the association, involving more than 1.3 million people in total.

The analysis found that people with insomnia had a 26% higher risk of stroke and a 28% higher likelihood of hospitalization from any cause.

The researchers said the findings highlight the potential health consequences of persistent insomnia and its association with neurological problems.

However, they cautioned that the analysis identified an association rather than proving that insomnia directly causes stroke. Further research is needed to determine the mechanisms behind the relationship.

Previous research published in BMJ Open in March 2024 also found that regular exercise was associated with a lower risk of insomnia symptoms.

That study analyzed data from 4,339 people across nine European countries. Participants were assessed for their physical activity at the beginning of the study and again about a decade later, while researchers also collected information about symptoms of insomnia.

The findings showed that people who exercised at least twice a week were 22% less likely to experience insomnia symptoms.

Google Chrome introduces feature to preserve tab position across devices

Google Chrome

SAN FRANCISCO: Google has introduced a new feature in Chrome that allows users to transfer tabs between devices while preserving the page’s scroll position.

Previously, when users moved a tab from one device to another and opened it, the page would generally load from the beginning.

The new feature saves the tab’s scroll position on the original device and opens it at the same point on the second device.

The feature could be particularly useful for people who start reading long articles on their smartphones and want to continue reading them later on a computer.

Chrome will also preserve partially completed forms, even if users have not yet submitted them.

On computers, users can access the feature by opening Chrome’s three-dot menu, selecting Cast, save and share and then choosing the option to send the tab to another device.

On Android devices, users can access the feature through Chrome’s share menu.

Four militants killed in security operation in DI Khan

Four militants

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Security forces killed four militants in an intelligence-based operation in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, security sources said Monday.

The operation was conducted after security personnel tracked the movement of suspected militants based on intelligence, the sources said.

Four militants affiliated with the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, referred to by Pakistani authorities as Fitna al-Khawarij, were killed during the operation, according to the sources.

A large quantity of weapons and ammunition, along with Afghan currency, was recovered from the militants, the sources said.

Security forces remain committed to eliminating militancy and restoring lasting peace in the country, the sources said.

Clashes erupt over partial demolition of 600-year-old Ujjain mosque in India

Clashes erupt

UJJAIN, India: Clashes erupted Monday between police and people protesting the removal of part of Ujjain’s historic Shahi Masjid as part of a road-widening project ahead of the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh festival.

Police used tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowd after stone-throwing was reported during the confrontation, Indian media reported.

The Shahi Masjid, believed to be about 600 years old, is among structures marked for partial removal as authorities widen a road in the Madhya Pradesh city. Reports said 272 structures have been identified for removal as part of the project.

Members of the Muslim community had gathered at the mosque for several days to oppose the proposed demolition. On Monday morning, tensions escalated as authorities moved ahead with the removal work.

According to Indian media reports, the mosque committee and local administration had reached an understanding Sunday night under which a roughly 3-foot section of the mosque, where prayers are not performed, would be removed for the road project.

However, residents gathered again after authorities arrived at the site around 8 a.m. following morning prayers and moved to proceed with the demolition, according to the reports.

The dispute also involves the mosque’s minaret. Local residents reportedly proposed building a new minaret behind the existing one before its removal, but the administration rejected the proposal.

Ujjain Superintendent of Police Pradeep Sharma said the Muslim community and mosque committee were cooperating with authorities to remove the portion falling within the road-widening zone.

The road project is linked to preparations for the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh, a major Hindu religious gathering held every 12 years.

More than 2,500 police personnel were deployed in Ujjain as tensions continued around the mosque, according to Indian media reports.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday disposed of appeals related to the dispute after representatives of the mosque informed the court that a settlement had been reached with the Ujjain Municipal Corporation.

Pakistan thrash Oman 7-2, set up Asian Games semifinal against India

Pakistan thrash

NAGOYA: Pakistan thrashed Oman 7-2 in the Asian Games hockey quarterfinals Monday to book a place in the semifinals, where it will face archrival India.

Pakistan dominated from the opening whistle and led 2-1 at halftime.

Rana Waheed scored a hat trick for Pakistan, while Sufyan Khan netted twice. Ghazanfar Ali and Mohammad Imad scored one goal each.

Pakistan finished second in Pool B with 12 points, behind Malaysia, which topped the group with 15 points.

Pakistan won four of its five pool matches, with its only defeat coming against Malaysia. The team scored 28 goals during the group stage and conceded eight.

The semifinal lineup was completed after the final pool matches. Pakistan will face India on Oct. 1, while Malaysia will take on South Korea in the other semifinal on the same day.

In the final Pool A match, South Korea defeated Japan 3-2. India was playing Bangladesh in the other match and would finish atop the group even with a defeat because of its superior goal difference, according to the tournament standings.

Pakistan plans $500mn ADB loan for pension reforms

Pakistan plans

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan plans to borrow $500 million from the Asian Development Bank to finance pension reforms, a loan equivalent to about 138.48 billion Pakistani rupees, according to sources in the Finance Ministry.

The program, titled the Transforming Public Sector Pension Program, will be structured as a three-year program loan, the sources said.

The ADB financing will also include $15.92 million in technical assistance, they said.

According to the sources, the program is scheduled to begin Nov. 1, 2026, and conclude in November 2029.

The new loan program will be linked to the achievement of specified reform results, the sources said.

Pakistan’s existing pension system has become a major burden on the national treasury, with the federal government’s annual pension bill reaching 1.169 trillion rupees, according to the sources.

The planned reforms are aimed at addressing the growing fiscal pressure from pension expenditures and improving the sustainability of the public sector pension system.

Netflix crime thriller ‘Unabomber’ tops global movie chart

Netflix crime

LOS ANGELES: Netflix’s new crime thriller Unabomber has quickly climbed to the top of the streaming service’s global movie chart, reaching No. 1 just a day after its release.

The film, starring Russell Crowe and Jacob Tremblay, was released on Netflix on Sept. 25 and became the platform’s most-watched movie worldwide the following day, according to FlixPatrol.

The cast also includes Shailene Woodley, Annabelle Wallis, Alexander Ludwig, Steven Ogg and Mark Menchaca.

Unabomber has also topped Netflix’s movie rankings in several major markets, including the United States, Britain, Australia, Canada, Germany and Italy.

ScreenRant described the film as the world’s most-watched movie based on its early position on Netflix’s global rankings.

Directed by Janus Metz, the crime thriller tells the story of Ted Kaczynski, the domestic terrorist responsible for a series of bomb attacks in the United States.

The film explores Kaczynski’s time at Harvard and the controversial psychological experiments in which he participated before turning to the investigation that ultimately led to his capture.

The movie’s rapid rise on Netflix comes despite mixed reactions from critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.

WhatsApp tests birthday reminder feature for iPhone users

WhatsApp tests

WhatsApp is testing a new birthday reminder feature that could notify users when a friend or family member has a birthday.

According to a report by WhatsApp-focused website WABetaInfo, the feature has appeared in a beta version of WhatsApp for iOS devices.

The feature is designed to allow users to keep track of birthdays within WhatsApp instead of relying on separate calendar applications.

Under the feature, users could receive notifications about the birthdays of people saved in their WhatsApp contacts and open a chat directly to send birthday wishes.

The birthday reminders are being tested through a new Contacts tab on iOS, which is replacing the Updates section in the reported beta version.

The feature will rely on birthday information provided by users on WhatsApp. This means a birthday reminder will only be available when a contact has made their date of birth available on the platform.

On a contact’s birthday, WhatsApp could highlight the person in the Contacts tab with a cake emoji and a birthday label, making it easier for users to send a greeting.

The feature is still under development and is not available to all beta users. Its functionality could change before WhatsApp releases it more widely.

Asian Games: Pakistan’s Noor Zaman reaches squash semifinals

Asian Games

NAGOYA, Japan: Pakistan’s Noor Zaman reached the men’s squash semifinals at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan on Friday after defeating Hong Kong’s Chi Him Leung 3-1 in the quarterfinals.

Noor won the match 11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 11-4 to secure his place in the semifinals.

His victory came after fellow Pakistani player Asif Irfan also advanced to the semifinals by defeating India’s Veer Chotrani in his quarterfinal.

Pakistan is therefore assured of at least two squash medals at the Asian Games, with both players having secured semifinal berths.