Category: SCIENCE & TECHNNOLOGY

PTAPA Demands End to G2G Direct Contracting in Pakistan’s Telecom Sector

Kainat R
Telecom tower against a Pakistani skyline representing G2G agreements in the IT sector

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Access Providers Association (PTAPA) has called on the government to stop awarding government-to-government (G2G) agreements through direct contracting. PTAPA President Dr Shahid Farooq said the practice, carried out under the Public Procurement Rules, is discouraging private investment and slowing innovation across Pakistan’s IT and telecom industry. Background Government-to-government (G2G) agreements allow a state body to strike a deal directly with another government, or with a state-owned entity acting on a government’s behalf, without going through the open, competitive bidding process that normally governs public contracts. In…

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Teen Social Media Curfews Arrive in the US as Meta Settles $18 Billion Lawsuit

Kainat R
Teenager checking phone with social media time limit notification screen

American teenagers will soon face strict curfews and daily usage limits on Instagram and Facebook, after Meta agreed to a landmark settlement with 47 US states over claims its platforms were designed to be addictive to young users. The deal lands as a growing list of countries move toward an outright social media ban under 16. Background The restrictions stem from a lawsuit originally filed in 2023 by a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general, who accused Meta of deliberately designing Instagram and Facebook to encourage compulsive use among children…

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COMSTECH Islamabad Faces Federal Audit as Financial Inquiry Begins

Kainat R
COMSTECH Islamabad Secretariat building where the federal audit inquiry will take place

The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) is set to launch a formal external audit inquiry into the COMSTECH Islamabad Secretariat starting August 28, 2026. The review will examine the organisation’s financial accounts up to the 2025-26 fiscal year, following an official intimation issued in late July. The development has drawn attention to COMSTECH Islamabad’s internal financial governance at a time when the institution is expanding its international scientific programmes across the Muslim world. Background COMSTECH stands for the Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, a ministerial body of the…

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Google Pixel 11 Series Poll Results Are In: Pixel 11 Pro Leads

Zain Ali

Google Pixel 11 Poll Results: Pixel 11 Pro Emerges as the Top Choice The results of our latest Google Pixel 11 series poll are now in, and the response suggests that Google’s upcoming flagship lineup still has some convincing to do. A significant number of voters said they are not interested in purchasing any Pixel 11 model. Pricing appears to be one of the biggest factors, with many potential buyers indicating that the cost of the new phones could keep them away from the series. Among users who are considering…

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World Humanoid Robot Games 2026: Beijing Robots Shatter Usain Bolt’s 100m Record

Kainat R
Humanoid robots competing in the 100m sprint at the World Humanoid Robot Games opening ceremony in Beijing, August 2026

The World Humanoid Robot Games opened in Beijing on August 22, 2026, and a humanoid robot immediately stunned spectators by beating Usain Bolt’s legendary 100m world record. More than 2,000 robots from 666 teams and 16 countries are competing in what organizers are calling the biggest robotics showcase ever staged. The five-day event runs until August 26 at the National Speed Skating Oval. Background The World Humanoid Robot Games trace their roots back to smaller robotics contests such as RoboCup, which first tested two-legged machines on a soccer field in…

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China’s Humanoid Robot Industry Gains Momentum as AI Race Enters New Era

Nadeem Ali
Chinese humanoid robot Wuji guiding schoolchildren at a robotics school

A group of schoolchildren watched with excitement as Wuji, a small humanoid robot guide, welcomed them to a robotics school in eastern China. With animated gestures and a lively presentation, Wuji introduced the students to the institute’s vision of preparing the robotic workforce of the future. The demonstration highlights China’s growing ambition to become a global leader in humanoid robotics, as advanced machines increasingly emerge as the next major frontier of the artificial intelligence boom. China Expands Investment in Humanoid Robot China has rapidly expanded its robotics sector in recent…

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£300 Million Data Centre Expansion Planned for North Lanarkshire as AI Hub Drive Accelerates

Nadeem Ali
North Lanarkshire data centre expansion supporting Scotland’s AI growth

NORTH LANARKSHIRE: A second major data centre is planned for North Lanarkshire as part of an ambitious drive to establish the Scottish region as a leading technology and artificial intelligence hub. Technology company DataVita has announced plans to expand its existing data centre in Airdrie and develop a second facility in the area. The company says the wider expansion represents a significant investment in Scotland’s digital infrastructure at a time when demand for data centres is increasing rapidly because of the growth of artificial intelligence. The announcement comes as the…

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Google Launches Pixel 11 Pro Fold With 16GB RAM and Enhanced Durability

Nadeem Ali

Google has officially launched the Pixel 11 Pro Fold at its Made by Google event, introducing a redesigned foldable smartphone with a slimmer and lighter body, improved durability, upgraded cameras and the company’s latest Tensor G6 processor. The new foldable is nearly 10% lighter and almost 1mm thinner than its predecessor, making it more comfortable to carry while maintaining the large-screen experience associated with foldable devices. Google has also focused heavily on durability, an area that has remained a major concern for consumers considering foldable smartphones. The Pixel 11 Pro…

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AI Clones Are Becoming Reality, but New Technology Raises Serious Risks

Nadeem Ali

Artificial intelligence clones are moving from science fiction into everyday life, with digital versions of real people now appearing in workplaces, classrooms, medical settings and retail environments. The technology is attracting growing interest because AI-powered digital doubles can replicate a person’s appearance, voice and interactions. But as these systems become more realistic, concerns are also emerging over privacy, identity theft, misinformation and the possibility of unauthorized clones. During a recent visit to Los Angeles, technology writer and founder David Nussbaum demonstrated what it is like to meet an AI version…

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Google Teases Pixel Watch 5 Ahead of August 12 Hardware Event

Nadeem Ali

Google has officially begun teasing the Pixel Watch 5 ahead of its upcoming hardware event on August 12, giving fans a glimpse of the company’s next-generation smartwatch. In a promotional video, Google keeps much of the Pixel Watch 5 hidden in darkness, revealing its familiar circular design. The teaser highlights features such as sleep and fitness tracking while taking a playful swipe at Apple’s smartwatch design. The narrator says the Pixel Watch 5 “still has the decency to look like a watch,” an apparent reference to the rectangular design of…

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