vivo Announces Atif Aslam as Brand Ambassador For The Upcoming vivo V70 5G, Renewing a Landmark Partnership:
vivo, a global leader in innovative smartphone technology, proudly announces the continuation of its successful collaboration with globally renowned singer and performer Atif Aslam, who returns as the official Brand Ambassador for the upcoming vivo V70 5G. Following the remarkable success of the previous campaign, this renewed partnership reflects vivo’s commitment to inspiring creativity, connection, and self-expression among its users.The partnership resonated strongly with consumers across Pakistan, combining cutting-edge smartphone innovation with Atif Aslam’s influential presence and deep connection with audiences. The campaign effectively highlighted the V series’ focus on advanced imaging, premium design, and lifestyle-driven experiences further solidifying vivo’s positioning among young and creative consumers.
Govt Orders Mandatory Digital Safety Courses for Private Schools and Colleges Students:
The federal government has officially ordered all private school and college students in Islamabad, from Class 9 onward, to enroll in mandatory digital safety and AI courses.This latest initiative by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training aims to equip the younger generation with essential knowledge in Modern AI and Cybersecurity, preparing them for an increasingly digital-first academic and professional landscape.
Govt Makes Cybersecurity Training Mandatory for Private School Teachers and Staff:
The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training has issued a high-priority directive making cybersecurity training compulsory for all private school staff in the federal capital, Islamabad. Following the Prime Minister’s recent orders on strengthening institutional cyberspace, the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (ICT-PEIRA) has partnered with the Cisco Networking Academy to launch this massive capacity-building drive.
Pakistan to Offer 600 MHz Spectrum to Telcos in Largest-Ever Auction in Its History:
Pakistan is set to conduct its largest spectrum auction to date, with regulators planning to offer 600 megahertz of spectrum, a scale far exceeding previous telecom sales over the last decade. Briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology, Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Hafeez-ur-Rehman said that only 69 MHz spectrum had been auctioned through four separate auctions during the past 12 years, highlighting the unprecedented size of the upcoming 5G sale.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Series Comes With Bigger Woofers For Higher Quality Music:
Samsung has introduced the Galaxy Buds4 and Galaxy Buds4 Pro alongside the new Galaxy S26 series. The company said user research showed that 58% of customers use earbuds daily, with sound quality ranking as the top priority. Comfort and portability were also key considerations, as most users rely on a single pair of earbuds for all activities. Samsung redesigned the charging case so the earbuds now rest flat inside, making them easier to remove and store. The case retains its transparent lid, allowing users to see the updated design. The Galaxy Buds4 are available in Black and White. The Galaxy Buds4 Pro come in Black and White, with an online-exclusive Pink Gold option.
Nvidia Reports a Whopping 73% Surge in Profits Thanks to AI Compute:
Nvidia reported record profits for its most recent quarter on Wednesday, driven by continued growth in artificial intelligence compute demand. The company posted $68 billion in quarterly revenue, a 73% increase compared to the same period last year. Of that total, $62 billion came from Nvidia’s data center segment. The company also reported $215 billion in revenue for the full year.
Tecno’s Latest Concept Phone Solves The Biggest Problem With Modular Phones:
Tecno has introduced a new modular smartphone concept at MWC 2026, highlighting an ultra-thin base design and a magnetic attachment system for expandable hardware.The base smartphone measures just 4.9mm thick, making it thinner than a standard pencil and slimmer than the iPhone Air. Unlike many modular concepts that start bulky, Tecno’s device maintains a slim profile before accessories are attached.
StormFiber Launches Ramadan Value Offer with Free Speed Upgrade for New Subscribers:
StormFiber has announced its Ramadan Value Offer, introducing a free speed upgrade for new customers during the holy month. Under this offer, new subscribers will receive 45 Mbps speed on the 25 Mbps package for three months.Internet traffic typically increases during Ramadan, particularly during evening and midnight when multiple users are streaming, gaming, attending virtual sessions, and making video calls simultaneously. To support this demand, the speed upgrade is being offered at no extra cost.
Freelancers Real Force Behind IT Export Growth Not Govt, Lawmakers Tell IT Ministry:
Pakistan’s growing IT exports came under scrutiny on Thursday as members of parliament openly challenged the Ministry of IT’s claim. They told ministry officials that freelancers and not government initiatives are the real drivers of export growth in Pakistan. During a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology, one committee member criticized the ministry’s performance, saying freelancers are working tirelessly to earn foreign exchange while institutional support remains weak.
Jazz and Huawei Launch First International Commercial UPR Core Network Security Solution:
Jazz, Pakistan’s leading digital operator from JazzWorld, has launched Huawei’s Unified Protection & Response (UPR) intrinsic security solution, following successful verification of its commercial deployment. This milestone marks a significant step in Jazz’s network security evolution, reinforcing its commitment to building a resilient and future- ready telecom ecosystem. Huawei UPR works on building precise defense based on native devices and detecting blocks through whitelisting. The solution embeds advanced security capabilities directly into the core network, enabling real-time threat detection, analysis, and response without disrupting live services. By integrating protection mechanisms within the network itself, the solution delivers proactive defense against emerging risks while maintaining high reliability and operational continuity.
PTA Chairman Responds to Claims Around Internet Firewall Removal:
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman, retired Major General Hafeez Ur Rehman on Thursday dismissed claims that a social-media firewall had been removed ahead of the 5G spectrum auction. He insisted that internet governance mechanisms remain fully operational and do not hinder network performance. Addressing the National Assembly standing committee, PTA Chairman clarified that there is no “firewall” in place, but rather a Web Management System that has been operational since 2006 and last upgraded in 2023.
All 3 Telcos Qualify for Upcoming 5G Auction as PTA Confirms Launch Date:
Pakistan’s long-awaited 5G rollout moved closer on Thursday as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) confirmed that all three major telecom operators—Jazz, Ufone, and Zong—have qualified for the upcoming 5G spectrum auction. Briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology, PTA Chairman Hafeez-ur-Rehman said each operator had deposited the mandatory USD 15 million bid bond, making them eligible to participate.
Burger King rolls out AI headsets that track employee ‘friendliness’:
Burger King is testing artificial intelligence-powered employee headsets that monitor staff interactions with customers and oversee store operations. The AI system, called BK Assistant, compiles “friendliness scores” at the fast-food chain’s locations based on employees’ conversations, according to a promotional video the company shared with the Media. The chain is currently piloting the system at 500 US restaurants, a spokesperson for Burger King said. The company says the technology is not designed to “record conversations or evaluate individual employees”.
How the sound of sport is being reimagined for deaf fans:
New technologies tested at the Deaflympics in Tokyo are creating new ways of experience the atmosphere at sporting events. For fans of live sport, the experience is as much about the atmosphere – the sights, smells and sounds – as the drama unfolding in front of them. Think about the crack of a bat, the blast of a whistle, thump of a ball and the roar of the crowd. Would there be something missing without them? At the Deaflympics in Tokyo in November 2025, sound has been reimagined to ensure no-one misses out.
The Chinese AI app sending Hollywood into a panic:
A new artificial intelligence (AI) model developed by the Chinese company behind TikTok rocked Hollywood this week – not just because of what it can do, but what it could mean for creative industries. Created by tech giant ByteDance, Seedance 2.0 can generate cinema-quality video, complete with sound effects and dialogue, from just a few written prompts. Many of the clips said to have been made using Seedance, and featuring popular characters like Spider-Man and Deadpool, went viral. Major studios like Disney and Paramount quickly accused ByteDance of copyright infringement but concerns about the technology run deeper than legal issues.
Parents alarmed after schools named in violent post:
Parents have voiced fears after a poster circulated online urging pupils from schools in Northamptonshire to take part in organised violence. The poster, which promoted a ‘Northampton War’, listed multiple schools in the area and encouraged teenagers to gather and “be violent”. Northamptonshire Police said they were aware of the post and warned that “anyone seen fighting or wielding weapons of any kind will be arrested”.
Schools’ 3D sculptures highlight new ways to learn:
A pilot project using technology to help school children create 3D art has seen artists in residence working at three schools in Coventry and Warwickshire. The six-week programme, set to be rolled out nationally, aims to show how art and sculpture can be used to teach children topics in different ways, instead of from text. The project was delivered by Coventry-based Pangaea Sculptors’ Centre, founded by Lucy Tomlins. “Sculpture is a really powerful bridge between art, engineering and design and [the children] can see different kinds of career paths and futures, different skills, and it’s really important they see there are different ways of learning.”
Instagram investigating AI profiles ‘fetishising’ disabled people:
Instagram’s parent company, Meta, is investigating AI-generated social media accounts that sexualise disabled people appearing on its platform. It comes after the Media flagged dozens of profiles showing AI-generated images of women with disabilities, including Down’s syndrome or vitiligo. Some profiles post fake images and videos of women with missing limbs, visible scarring or in wheelchairs. Many are in sexualised positions, wearing revealing clothing. Some accounts have amassed hundreds of thousands of followers in a matter of months. One profile, claiming to be conjoined twins, has about 400,000 followers, despite only joining Instagram in December 2025.
Chip giant Nvidia defies AI concerns with record $215bn revenue:
Chip giant Nvidia has reported record annual revenue of $215.9bn (£159.1bn), despite a wave of investor scepticism about the massive amounts of money being spent on artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The firm also beat analyst’s forecasts as sales for the last three months of its financial year jumped by 73% compared to 12 months earlier. “Computing demand is growing exponentially,” boss Jensen Huang said. “Our customers are racing to invest in AI compute – the factories powering the AI industrial revolution and their future growth.”
Not even potholes will hold up self-driving cars, UK firm predicts:
British self-driving startup Wayve has said it is confident its technology will allow autonomous vehicles to “really drive anywhere”, including on the UK’s sometimes pothole-blighted roads. The firm has raised an additional $1.5bn (£1.1bn) from investors, including Microsoft and chip giant Nvidia – one of the largest ever funding rounds for a British company. It comes as Wayve prepares to launch robotaxis in London later this year as part of a partnership Uber. Its boss said he was confident autonomous vehicles would soon be on the roads in many other locations too.
Gucci criticised for ‘AI slop’ images ahead of major fashion show:
Gucci is facing a backlash after using AI to generate images to promote its forthcoming show at Milan Fashion Week. The images have been posted on social media – where users have questioned how using AI instead of human models and photographers is in keeping with the fashion house’s claim that it celebrates “creativity and Italian craftsmanship.” “Bleak days when Gucci can’t find a real human Milanese grandmother to wear an outfit from 1976,” said one in response to an AI-generated image of a glamorous older Italian woman in a classic Gucci outfit. The Media has contacted Gucci and its parent company Kering for comment.
US threatens Anthropic with deadline in dispute on AI safeguards:
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth vowed to remove Anthropic from his agency’s supply chain if the company declined to allow its artificial intelligence (AI) technology to be used across military applications. The threat was issued on Tuesday at a Pentagon meeting that Hegseth had demanded with Anthropic boss Dario Amodei, a source familiar with discussions told the Media “We continued good-faith conversations about our usage policy to ensure Anthropic can continue to support the government’s national security mission in line with what our models can reliably and responsibly do,” Anthropic said in a statement.
Canada summons OpenAI senior staff over Tumbler Ridge shooting:
Canada’s minister for artificial intelligence has summoned senior staff from OpenAI on Tuesday over the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, in which eight people were killed including six young children. The company said last week it banned a ChatGPT account owned by the shooting suspect more than half a year before the attack but did not alert authorities at the time as it did not meet a serious harm threshold. AI Minister Evan Solomon said the OpenAI staff will be asked to discuss “safety protocols” and when harmful posts are relayed to law enforcement. The suspect in the 10 February attack was identified by police as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar.
‘It seemed to defy the laws of physics’: The everlasting ‘memory crystals’ that could slash data centre emissions:
Big data is becoming a big problem. In the face of rising emissions from data centres, researchers are turning to novel solutions for storage. Memory crystals and DNA are two frontrunners. On a visit to Japan in 1999, researcher Peter Kazansky encountered a mysterious physical phenomenon that he now believes holds the answer to the future of data storage. In Kyoto University’s optoelectronics lab, scientists were experimenting with writing on glass using ultrafast, femtosecond lasers which emit a light pulse every quadrillionth of a second. But they noticed something unusual about how light was travelling through the glass that had been lasered. Rayleigh scattering is a well-established effect which describes how white light bounces off small particles in all directions (explaining, among other things, why the sky appears blue). But in this case, the light wasn’t bouncing as expected.