Corero Network Security Partners with Beyond Technology MEA to Expand DDoS Protection in Pakistan:
Today, Corero Network Security (AIM: CNS) (OTCQX: DDOSF), the distributed denial of service (DDoS) protection specialists, announced a strategic partnership with Beyond Technology, a leading technology solutions provider in the Middle East and Asia.The partnership will make Corero’s high-performance, real-time DDoS mitigation solutions available to organizations across Pakistan, helping them strengthen cyber resiliency, safeguard critical infrastructure, and maintain business continuity in the face of growing threats.
Govt Completes Draft of Pakistan’s First-Ever Space Regulatory Framework:
The Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board (PSARB) has completed the initial draft of the country’s first-ever Space Regulatory Framework and circulated it among relevant stakeholders for review and input, sources informed Media. The draft has been shared with organizations such as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), and other government institutions, which have been asked to submit their feedback before the framework is finalized.
PTA Suspends License of Data Service Operator Over Regulatory Non-Compliance:
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has suspended the license of Xtreme Solutions (Private) Limited for one month over the company’s persistent failure to submit annual audited accounts and pay the required regulatory dues for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. The decision was made under Section 23 of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Reorganization) Act, 1996, following multiple written and electronic notices that the company had ignored.
Honor Makes Switching Phones Easier Than Ever for Both Android and iOS:
Honor has updated its Device Clone app to support cross-platform data transfer between smartphones running Android, iOS, and Huawei’s HarmonyOS Next. This upgrade allows users to move their data between devices without relying on cables, computers, or additional accessories, for both Android and iOS.The expansion enables smartphone users to clone data from old devices to new ones across three operating systems. Files, applications, and personal information can now be transferred wirelessly, simplifying phone upgrades.
New WhatsApp Feature Will Let You Message People With No WhatsApp:
WhatsApp is testing a guest chats feature that will allow messaging people who do not have a WhatsApp account. The feature was first seen by WABetaInfo in the Android beta version 2.25.22.13 and is expected to roll out to Android and iOS apps in a future update.The feature enables WhatsApp users to create a secure chat link that can be shared via text message, email, or social media. When a recipient opens the link, they are directed to a web-based interface similar to WhatsApp Web, which they can use to message a WhatsApp user without having an account.From here, the non-WhatsApp user can send and receive text messages with end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only the participants can read the conversation.
Nayatel’s Newly Launched Packages Are Built For The Speed of 2025!:
Life in 2025 moves fast, and your internet needs to keep up. Whether you’re working from home, streaming your favorite shows, or running a smart home, having a fast and stable internet connection isn’t a luxury anymore, it’s a basic need. That’s why Nayatel has launched new internet plans with speeds up to 350 Mbps for domestic users, made solely for enhancing this digital lifestyle.The way we use the internet has changed. It’s not just for browsing or checking emails. It’s now a constant part of our daily life, running quietly in the background, powering video calls, cloud backups, smart devices, and entertainment, all at once. Nayatel understands this shift and has designed new plans that are ready for how people live and work today.
Jazz Tops PTA’s QoS Survey Across All Major Metrics:
Jazz, Pakistan’s leading digital operator, has once again reinforced its leadership position by securing the top spot in the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) latest Quality of Service (QoS) survey. The results reflect Jazz’s unwavering commitment to delivering the best connectivity experience for millions of Pakistanis across the country. According to the survey, Jazz ranked 1st in coverage, mobile broadband throughput (auto mode), upload and download speeds (auto mode and 3rd party apps), latency (auto mode and 3rd party apps), browsing, and voice quality. The operator’s consistent investment in network modernization and optimization has enabled it to outperform all other cellular operators in these key metrics.
Fridtjof Rusten Appointed CEO of Telenor Pakistan as Khurrum Ashfaque Moves to a Leadership Position within Telenor Group:
The Board of Directors of Telenor Pakistan has appointed Fridtjof Rusten as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company. He will succeed Khurrum Ashfaque, who will take on a new leadership role within Telenor Group. Fridtjof will take over the helm at Telenor Pakistan on 1 September 2025.Fridtjof has over 23 years of working experience and has held several key leadership roles in Asia with Telenor Group. He was most recently Chief Transformation Officer at True Corporation where he was responsible for delivering the first phase of the merger integration between dtac and True. Prior to that, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Telenor Pakistan from 2020-2023.
Perplexity Accused of Secretly Scraping Millions of Blocked Sites:
Cloudflare has accused AI search startup Perplexity of deliberately evading website restrictions designed to block its web crawlers. The internet infrastructure company said in a report that Perplexity’s bots attempt to bypass protections after encountering blocks.Cloudflare said customers complained that Perplexity’s bots continued to access their websites despite blocking instructions in robots.txt files and additional Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules. To investigate, Cloudflare created test domains with the same restrictions.
Grok Has a New “Spicy Mode” That Can Generate NSFW Content:
Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, has released a new image and video generator for Grok that can generate short AI videos with sound directly in the app. The feature, called Imagine, allows users to create images and videos from text prompts and turn static images into short clips.It is also capable of making NSFW content using a new “spicy mode”.Currently, access is limited to employees and selected influencers. Grok’s official account posted that video generation is “coming soon” and will require users to download the Grok app, subscribe to SuperGrok for $30 per month, and join the October waitlist.
ChatGPT Users Increased 400% Over Last Year:
OpenAI expects ChatGPT to reach 700 million weekly active users this week, rising from 500 million in March. The figure, which spans all ChatGPT products, including free, Plus Pro, Enterprise, Team, and Edu, shows more than a 4x year-over-year increase. Daily user messages have surpassed three billion, the company said Monday.Nick Turley, vice president of product for ChatGPT, said the milestone shows how users are increasingly relying on the AI tool for learning, creation, and problem-solving.OpenAI reported that its paying business users grew to five million, up from three million in June, as enterprises and educators continue to integrate AI tools.
Zindigi Freelancer Connect Launches Nationwide Series from Peshawar:
Zindigi Freelancer Connect, hosted by CECOS University Peshawar and powered by Edversity, kicked off a nationwide series to empower Pakistan’s freelance community through learning, networking, and digital financial access.As part of this vision, the Zindigi Freelancer Account offers a US Dollar-based account, low international transactional fees on Zindigi debit card, seamless global & local payments, and an option to generate invoice through the app making it the most complete solution for freelancers, and the digital community.With Pakistan ranked among the top five freelancing countries globally and home to over 4 million freelancers, the platform serves as a timely response to the needs of a workforce that is digital-first but often underserved. From payment challenges to building sustainable careers, Zindigi Freelancer Connect addresses the core issues facing freelancers and self-employed professionals.
PTA Warns Against Surging Fake News, NSFW Content, and Unethical Material Online:
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a strong warning to internet and social media users regarding the circulation and promotion of illegal content on digital platforms. According to the authority, while freedom of expression is a fundamental right, the misuse of this freedom to spread unlawful, immoral, or harmful material will not be tolerated.PTA clarified that freedom of speech does not grant permission to promote content that violates religious sentiments, disrespects holy personalities, or engages in blasphemous activity. Such actions are criminal offenses under Pakistani law and are punishable. The authority reminded users that inciting hatred against individuals or institutions, including the armed forces and national security bodies, also constitutes a serious crime.
Spotify Announces Global Price Increase:
Spotify has announced a price increase for its Premium subscription plans in multiple regions across the globe, including South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific. The company will notify affected users by email, and the new prices will appear in upcoming billing cycles.The Premium Individual plan in several European markets, such as Spain, Italy, and Portugal, has already increased by €1, bringing the monthly cost to $13.90. Current subscribers in these regions will see the adjustment on their next billing.
Vivo Y400 Gets a 5G Version With Solid Durabilty for Under $200:
After introducing the Vivo Y400 4G last week, Vivo has now announced the Y400 5G with a similar design but notable hardware improvements, including 5G support, a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor, a 32MP selfie camera, and 90W fast charging.The Vivo Y400 5G features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a Full HD+ (2400×1080) resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate. The screen reaches 1,800 nits peak brightness, allowing for reliable visibility outdoors. The device measures 7.9 mm thick, weighs approximately 198 g, and carries IP68 and IP69 ratings for water and dust resistance, along with MIL-STD-810H durability for shock protection, making it a highly durable phone with solid waterproofing and protection against shock damage.
NADRA’s Pak-ID Mobile App Gets Major Upgrades:
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has launched an updated version of its Pak-ID mobile application, offering a host of new features aimed at making identity-related services faster, easier, and more accessible.The latest upgrade brings real-time ID tracking, facial biometric verification at the start of the application process, and a revamped user interface designed for smoother navigation.
Apple to invest $100bn after pressure from Trump:
Apple plans to boost investment in the US by another $100bn (£75bn) as the tech giant comes under pressure from President Donald Trump. The White House said the money would be used to encourage firms to make more Apple parts in the US and would add to the company’s previous pledge to spend $500bn in the US over four years. It comes after Trump singled out Apple by name earlier this year, threatening to raise tariffs on its products if it did not move iPhone manufacturing to the US. Apple chief executive Tim Cook last week referenced the company’s earlier commitment and said it was looking to “do more” as it tries to avoid a wave of tariffs poised to hit its products.
Chinese nationals charged with exporting Nvidia AI chips to China:
Two Chinese nationals have been arrested and charged with illegally shipping millions of dollars’ worth of powerful AI chips to China, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Tuesday. The DOJ alleged that over the last three years ALX Solutions, a company it said was run by Chuan Geng and Shiwei Yang, exported the chips from the US to China without the required licences. Court documents seen by the Media allege the shipments included Nvidia’s H100 graphics processing units (GPUs), which have become a key focus of US export controls aimed at stopping China purchasing the cutting-edge technology. The case shows that smuggling its chips “is a nonstarter,” an Nvidia spokesperson said.
MP becomes first to create himself as an AI bot:
With chatbot encounters becoming increasingly commonplace in our daily lives, one MP has become the first UK politician to create an AI version of himself to interact with constituents. Labour’s Mark Sewards has worked alongside a startup AI firm to create a virtual representation of himself, using his voice and allowing people to ask for help with local issues or policy queries. The West Yorkshire representative says it will “help strengthen the connection between an MP’s office and the constituents we serve”, but some are questioning whether the step creates further disconnect between politicians and the public.
‘Facial recognition tech mistook me for wanted man’:
A man who is bringing a High Court challenge against the Metropolitan Police after live facial recognition technology wrongly identified him as a suspect has described it as “stop and search on steroids”. Shaun Thompson, 39, was stopped by police in February last year outside London Bridge Tube station. Privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch said the judicial review, due to be heard in January, was the first legal case of its kind against the “intrusive technology”. The Met, which announced last week that it would double its live facial recognition technology (LFR) deployments, said it was removing hundreds of dangerous offenders and remained confident its use is lawful.
‘It’s a reminder of childhood’: How Pac-Man changed gaming – and the world:
Celebrating his 45th birthday this year, the yellow eating machine revolutionised video games – and has even been used in science. What has made him and his adventures so addictive? The iconic computer game Pac-Man all started in the late 1970s with Toru Iwatani comfort eating a salami pizza. After removing the first slice, the Japanese video game designer got instant chills from the sector-shaped being looking back at him. “If you take a pizza and remove one piece then it looks just like a mouth,” Iwatani told Media in 2010, confirming this urban legend to be true. Glancing down at his greasy plate, Iwatani must have known he was eye-to-eye with the perfect gaming character and rapid eating machine – and so, Pac-Man, which this year celebrates 45 years since it was first released in arcades, was born. In the game, you’re tasked with controlling a greedy yellow blob who must navigate around constantly changing, pitch-black mazes eating as many pellets as possible, while also avoiding the clutches of the always-chasing Ghost Gang, which is made up of Blinky (red), Pinky (pink), Inky (cyan), and Clyde (orange).
Will new greener brake pads be more expensive?:
Garage owner Kevan Gibbons has noticed many changes in his 45 years in the motor trade. Cars are much bigger than when he started out. Driving styles have changed too, with more frequent stopping. All that starting and stopping, which tends to happen more when driving in urban areas, wears down brakes faster. So do heavier vehicles and higher temperatures. Brake pad quality and prices have also lowered over time, in Mr Gibbons’ experience. This is significant because “the poorer the quality, the more dust you get”, he explains.
Chess grandmaster Carlsen wins at Esports World Cup:
Number one grandmaster, Magnus Carlsen, has won the inaugural online chess competition at the Esports World Cup. The 34-year-old Norwegian will take home $250,000 (around £188,000). The Esports World Cup (EWC) being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest multi-discipline tournaments in competitive professional gaming. The inclusion of chess in this year’s schedule was somewhat controversial, but the tournament’s organisers argued it counted as an esport as it is played by millions of people of all ages.