Science and technology

Alphabet’s Google and OpenAI said their artificial-intelligence models won gold medals at a global mathematics competition, signaling a breakthrough in math capabilities in the race to build systems that can rival human intelligence. The results marked the first time that AI systems crossed the gold-medal scoring threshold at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) for high-school students. Both companies’ models solved five out of six problems, achieving the result using general-purpose “ reasoning ” models that processed mathematical concepts using natural language, in contrast to the previous approaches used by AI firms. While Google DeepMind worked with the IMO to have their models graded and certified by the committee, OpenAI did not officially enter the competition. The startup revealed their models have achieved a gold medal-worthy score on this year’s questions on Saturday, citing grades by three external IMO medalists. The achievement suggests AI is less than a year...

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a public warning regarding the increasing misuse of fake WhatsApp accounts aimed at misleading and defrauding citizens. According to the PTA, fraudulent WhatsApp messages containing suspicious links are being circulated, often warning users that their accounts will be suspended due to policy violations. These deceptive messages urge users to click on fake links under the guise of “security verification.” The PTA noted that such messages are being sent from both local and international numbers, but clarified that WhatsApp does not issue messages of this nature. The authority urged that clicking on suspicious links may lead to data theft or account hacking. In light of this, the PTA has strongly advised users to avoid engaging with suspicious messages, refrain from clicking on any unverified links, and immediately block any questionable numbers. To assist the public, the PTA has also issued guidance on how to repo...

Cybersecurity researchers have confirmed the largest password leak in history, potentially compromising up to 16 billion login credentials, including usernames and passwords for numerous online services. The breach, described as a “blueprint for mass exploitation” by Vilius Petkauskas of Cybernews, was uncovered by researchers who have been investigating the issue since early 2025. The exposed data, which includes unique password combinations likely stolen by malware, affects a wide range of platforms, from social media and VPN services to developer platforms and government portals. The leaked credentials are distributed across 30 datasets, some containing over 3.5 billion records each. This unprecedented exposure poses severe risks of identity theft, account hacking, and financial fraud, as passwords serve as the gateway to critical aspects of digital life, including email, banking, healthcare, and private communications. The scale of the breach has heightened concerns in the cyb...

The CEO of the technology firm Astronomer Inc. has resigned after being caught canoodling on camera at a rock concert with a woman who was not his wife, the company said on Saturday. The company posted a written statement on its LinkedIn profile stating that its leaders “are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.” The statement said that Andy Byron had offered his resignation as CEO Astronomer and that the board of directors had accepted it. Byron had been placed on leave on Friday, and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy is serving as the interim CEO. Byron and Astronomer’s chief people officer Kristin Cabot were caught on camera at the Coldplay concert on Wednesday in Massachusetts in an awkward clip that quickly went viral. A spokesman for the company said that the pair were the only employees of the firm caught on camera. The spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on Cabot’s job status. Once Byron and...

In line with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s vision for a digitally connected Punjab, the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has significantly expanded its public Wi-Fi initiative, doubling its coverage across the province. According to PSCA officials, the number of free Wi-Fi access points in Lahore alone has risen from 230 to 430. The service, previously available in 11 districts, now spans 22, including key areas such as Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Gujrat, Jhelum, Attock, Hasan Abdal, Sahiwal, Okara, and Murree. This expansion follows a recent series of upgrades aimed at improving internet accessibility across both urban and semi-urban regions. As part of this initiative, Gujrat city was recently added to the growing public Wi-Fi network. Data from the PSCA reveals that more than 37.22 million users have benefitted from the free service to date, consuming over 905 terabytes of data. These figures underscore the rising demand for reliable and accessible internet ...

KARACHI: The Sindh government has launched second phase of People’s IT program to educate youth in accordance with the modern digital era, ARY News reported on Sunday. Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced the commencement of Phase II of the People’s IT Program (PITP), with a dedicated budget of Rs1.4 billion. He stated that People’s IT program has emerged as a model digital initiative, aiming to integrate Sindh’s youth into the global digital economy. Memon highlighted that in the program’s first phase, 13,565 students received training in advanced IT disciplines, while 300 top-performing students were awarded Google Chromebooks and laptops as recognition of their achievements. The second phase is set to train 35,000 students across 12 high-demand digital sectors, further strengthening the province’s digital workforce. He added that the unprecedented higher education budget reflects the government’s commitment to equipping youth with cutting-edge skills and en...

In an innovative combination of customised tradition and technology, an AI portrait of King Charles III was revealed at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva during the 2025 AI for Good Global Summit. The artwork, named ‘Algorithm King’, was the creativity of the world’s first lifelike humanoid AI-Da robot artist. AI-Da was the development of gallerist Aidan Meller in the UK in 2019, using advanced cameras installed in her eyes and a robotic arm fixed to her body to paint the oil portrait. The portrait was created using visual data and artificial intelligence algorithms, with a live sitting was not required. Addressing the summit, Ai-Da robot artist stated, “Presenting my portrait of His Majesty King Charles III is not just about art; it also highlights how AI is changing our society and influencing culture.”. This isn’t Ai-Da’s first royal project. In 2022, she painted a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. Both portraits were displayed in parall...

Cryptocurrency-related stocks rose in premarket trading on Friday, with shares linked to ether leading the charge after the No. 2 crypto hit a six-month high. Shares of BitMine Immersion Technologies, which holds about $1 billion worth of ether, soared 14%. Other ether holding firms Bit Digital and BTCS added 4% and 12.5%, respectively. Ether climbed to $3,675.81, its highest since January 6, and was last up 5% at $3,601.40, outperforming bitcoin , which eased 0.7% to $118,961 after hitting a record high of $123,153 this week. BitMine, where tech billionaire Peter Thiel is the top investor and Fundstrat’s Tom Lee serves as chairman of the board, said on Thursday it had accumulated 300,657 ether in just three weeks and aims to acquire about 5% of over ether supply which currently stands at 120.71 million. Business News updates – Latest news stories  A number of other companies recently decided to add ether to their balance sheets, following the example of Strategy (MSTR.O), th...

WhatsApp, the world’s most widely used instant messaging app, is integral to daily communication, handling everything from casual chats to critical file sharing. Losing a smartphone can disrupt access to these conversations, but users can recover their WhatsApp chat history if they’ve backed up their data to the cloud. Without a backup on Google One for Android or iCloud for iPhone, retrieving chats from a lost device is nearly impossible. For Android users, restoring WhatsApp chats requires a Google account with an active backup. To check, open the Google One app, go to the ‘Storage’ section, and select ‘Other’ to confirm if WhatsApp data is saved. To restore, install WhatsApp on a new device, enter your phone number and email, and tap ‘Restore’ when prompted. Skipping restoration will reinstall WhatsApp without recovering chats, and any new backup will overwrite the previous one, including only recent messages. Authentication may be required for security. For iPhone users, an iC...

CALIFORNIA: Meta Platforms Inc., Facebook’s parent company, has announced a comprehensive update to its Facebook monetisation policy 2025, which aims to curb the circulation of unoriginal and spammy content across the platform. The new Facebook monetisation policy 2025 will penalise accounts that repeatedly share videos, images, or text without making meaningful improvements or providing proper attribution. According to Meta, the initiative is structured to improve user experience by reducing spam in news feeds and ensuring that original creators receive proper visibility and credit. Accounts found guilty of reposting content without permission or major change will face consequences for unreal content, including suspension from monetisation programs and lower distribution of their posts. Meta has already taken action against over 500,000 accounts in the first half of 2025 for spam behaviour and fake engagement tactics. Additionally, more than 10 million imitator profiles have been...

WILMINGTON, Delaware, July 17: Mark Zuckerberg and current and former directors and officers of Meta Platforms agreed on Thursday to settle claims seeking $8 billion for the damage they allegedly caused the company by allowing repeated violations of Facebook users’ privacy, a lawyer for the shareholders told a Delaware judge on Thursday. The parties did not disclose details of the settlement and defense lawyers did not address the judge, Kathaleen McCormick of the Delaware Court of Chancery. McCormick adjourned the trial just as it was to enter its second day and she congratulated the parties. The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Sam Closic, said the agreement just came together quickly. Billionaire venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, who is a defendant in the trial and a Meta director, was scheduled to testify on Thursday. Shareholders of Meta sued Zuckerberg, Andreessen and other former company officials including former Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg in hopes of holding them liable...

Streaming giant Netflix greenlit a live-action series based on the popular Ubisoft game franchise Assassin’s Creed on Thursday. According to The Hollywood Reporter , Roberto Patino and David Wiener will serve as creators, showrunners and executive producers of the upcoming show. As per the logline for the Netflix series, “Assassin’s Creed is a high-octane thriller centered on the secret war between two shadowy factions — one set on determining mankind’s future through control and manipulation, while the other fights to preserve free will. The series follows its characters across pivotal historical events as they battle to shape humanity’s destiny.” The plans for an Assassin’s Creed series came nine years after the film adaptation of the game franchise was released in theatres. The film, starring Michael Fassbender, earned $240 million at the box office in 2016. Read more: Assassin’s Creed Shadows adds Netflix’s star to voice cast Developer Ubisoft kicked off the hit franchise wi...

Veteran developer Julian Lefay, who co-created the popular Elder Scrolls game, has stepped away from the gaming industry. His studio, OnceLost Games, confirmed on Wednesday that Lefay was leaving the industry as he fights his battle with cancer. Lefay, Vijay Lakshman and Ted Peterson co-created and released the first game of the hit series in 1994. After leaving Bethesda Softworks, the three developers found OnceLost Games in 2019 and began working on a game called The Wayward Realms. The upcoming fantasy action role-playing game has been billed as a spiritual successor to The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall. However, fans were left concerned after The Wayward Realms executive producer Victor Villarreal revealed that Julian Lefay was leaving the industry due to the worsening of his cancer. Read more: Oblivion Remaster is back, but what’s new in this version? “Julian has been courageously battling cancer. His doctors have informed us that his time with us is limited, and we are prep...

Apple has signed a $ 500 million deal with Pentagon-backed MP Materials (MP.N) for a supply of rare earth magnets, becoming one of the first tech companies to ink a US supply agreement after China curbed exports earlier this year. The move reflects strong backing for Las Vegas-backed MP by one of the world’s most-valuable companies, coming just days after the US government said it would become MP’s largest shareholder. Both mark an amazing about-face for MP after it contemplated merging, with an Australian rival last year just to survive. MP shares jumped 21% in Tuesday trading to a record high, while Apple’s stock gained under 1%. The deal, announced on Tuesday, guarantees Apple a steady flow of rare earths and magnets free from China – the world’s largest producer. For Apple, the cost to support US magnet production paled in comparison to the long-term risk that it could lose access entirely to the critical components, analysts said. MP last week agreed to a multibillion-dol...

Epic Games has announced that the Fortnite servers have been brought back online after the completion of scheduled maintenance on Tuesday. The developer had announced that the servers would be down for a brief period during the launch of the 36.20 patch for the game on July 15. The Fortnite servers went down at 4am ET (1pm PKT) on July 15, and were expected to get back online around 8am ET (5pm PKT). Epic Games later announced that the downtime was extended as it continued to work on some issues. Around 9:30pm (PKT), the developer announced the completion of the maintenance activity and the restoration of all services. According to Epic Games, all Fortnite servers have become fully operational, and fans can return to the game to play with the 36.20 patch. Read more: Fortnite players complain about access issues The developer regularly introduces updates to improve and enhance the game for players. According to gaming websites, Epic Games has set up Fortnite servers in a numbe...

As fans await the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, an iconic GTA 4 mod has received its first major update after 11 years. While the fourth instalment in the hit gaming franchise was released in 2008, the iCEnhancer mod greatly enhanced the game in 2011. Created by modder Hayssam Keilany, iCEnhancer was designed to dramatically improve the game’s visual quality. The mod is widely known for pushing the graphical limits of Rockstar Games’ 2008 game. In the following years, several new versions were released to further enhance the fourth title in the Grand Theft Auto franchise. However, the updates stopped after version 3.0 in 2014, after Hayssam Keilany reportedly received backlash from the modding community. Read more: GTA 6 fans can now add the game to Xbox Wishlist The popular modder announced in 2019 that he was working to release another version of iCEnhancer. After a six-year wait, Grand Theft Auto 4 players finally received iCEnhancer 4.0 on July 14, rolling out physically ...

Fortnite players were left frustrated on Tuesday after facing a wide range of issues, including login and matchmaking in the game. Several took to social media to speculate that the issues might be due to Fortnite servers being down due to technical issues. Epic Games has now confirmed that the servers were down while it rolled out the 36.20 patch for the game. While the developer had announced that Fortnite servers would be down on Tuesday, July 15, for the planned maintenance, it did not reveal the exact time. Epic Games has now confirmed that downtime for Fortnite servers for the v36.20 patch began at 4AM ET (1PM PKT) on July 15. According to gaming websites, gamers might have to wait till 8AM ET (5PM PKT) for the Fortnite servers to get back online. Read more: US agency announces $126 million refunds to Fortnite players Analysts were of the view that the game might take longer than expected to get online, as it had not been updated in nearly a month. The developer regularl...

ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) stated that Pakistan’s 4G network coverage is lowest in the region, and its preparations for 5G deployment remain insufficient, ARY News reported. According to a comprehensive report on Pakistan’s digital ecosystem released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The report highlights critical gaps in the country’s telecommunications infrastructure and digital adoption, urging the need for urgent reforms and investments to bridge the digital divide. The ADB report revealed that Pakistan’s digital sector contributes only 1.5% to the country’s GDP, signaling significant untapped potential. To bolster this sector, the report emphasizes the need for increased investment in digital infrastructure, particularly in expanding fiber optic networks. Currently, fixed broadband access in Pakistan stands at a mere 1.3%, and fiber network availability is severely limited, necessitating immediate expansion to support modern connectivity demands. Access to...

Apple, the tech giant, is reportedly planning to reveal its next-generation iPhone 17 series in early September 2025, as reported by Bloomberg. According to the report, Apple is gearing up to introduce the new iPhone series in a launch event scheduled in the second week of September Traditionally, Apple launches its new iPhones either on Tuesday or Wednesday and the most likely dates are September 9 or 10. Over the previous 10 years, Apple held five such events on Tuesdays, three on Wednesdays, and just one on Monday. Seven models under the iPhone 17 series, including the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max are expected to be launched during the event. Expected features Like the iPhone 16e, which was released in February 2023, the iPhone 17e is expected to have a regular release schedule. This tactic supports Apple’s objective of generating consistent revenue growth by updating its product portfolios on a regular basis. As a cost-cutting strategy to ke...

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, addressed concerns regarding Microsoft’s reported exit from Pakistan, ARY News reported. During a media interaction following an IT Committee meeting, the minister stated that Microsoft’s global restructuring involved laying off 15,000 to 16,000 employees worldwide, but in Pakistan, the company had only four to five staff members. She emphasized that no Microsoft employee has left Pakistan as of now, and the ministry remains in active communication with the tech giant to ensure continued engagement. Shaza Fatima also mentioned ongoing collaborations with other global tech firms, noting that discussions with Google on artificial intelligence initiatives are underway. Additionally, she revealed that progress is being made on projects related to Google Chromebooks, signaling Pakistan’s commitment to advancing its digital ecosystem despite Microsoft’s operational shift. Also read: Nvid...

New York, July 14, 2025 – Bitcoin, the world’s leading cryptocurrency, has reached a new all-time high, with its price climbing to $118,593.38 USD today, according to CoinMarketCap. This milestone comes alongside a robust 24-hour trading volume of $48,127,841,057.68 USD, reflecting intense market activity and renewed investor enthusiasm. The price surge follows a series of record-breaking days , with Bitcoin crossing the $118,000 mark on July 11 and hitting $120,000 just days later, as reported on social media platforms. Analysts attribute this rally to several factors, including increased institutional adoption, favorable regulatory developments, and Bitcoin’s growing reputation as a store of value akin to digital gold. The approval of 11 Bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in January 2024 has further broadened access for retail investors, fueling demand. Bitcoin’s market dominance stands at 63.63%, despite a slight daily decrea...

Since the beginning of 2025, major technology companies in the United States have continued to drastically reduce their workforces. According to official statistics, more than 94,000 specialists have lost their jobs due to the widespread introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technologies. Experts say that this process is especially noticeable in programming, data analysis, customer service, and even creative industries. Many companies are trying to reduce human resources and provide services faster and cheaper with the help of generative artificial intelligence tools. For example, some IT giants are switching to advanced technologies such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot to automate coding, document preparation, or customer communication. As a result, tasks that used to be performed by a team are now being performed by AI in a matter of minutes. Companies also see such changes as a means to increase production efficiency, maintain competitiveness, and reduce costs...

Google has introduced a major update to its Search Console platform, presenting a new search discussion forums filter as outlined in the performance reports. Following the update, eligible websites can track how the results of their Google search discussion forums perform, highlighting a profound understanding of user-generated content visibility. Google, in their post on LinkedIn on July 8, 2025, stated: “Starting today, Search Console will show Discussion Forum rich results as a search appearance in the Performance reports.” This update will focus on measurement, rather than new search capabilities. Publishers can now check impressions, clicks, rankings, and click-through rates precisely tied to forum-style content. Earlier, such data was listed under larger categories like “Rich results” or “Web,” making it tough to separate the effect of structured forum markup. To be eligible for this feature, structured data must be implemented by the websites using either the Discussio...

Elon Musk’s startup xAI apologized Saturday for offensive posts published by its artificial intelligence assistant Grok this week, blaming them on a software update meant to make it function more like a human. After the Tuesday upgrade, Grok praised Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in the posts on social media platform X, and suggested that people with Jewish surnames were more likely to spread online hate. X deleted some of those posts several hours later, amid growing outrage. “We deeply apologize for the horrific behavior that many experienced,” the company posted on X Saturday, adding that it had modified the system “to prevent further abuse.” The company said the change occurred after the chatbot was prompted to “reply to the post just like a human” as well as “tell like it is and you are not afraid to offend people who are politically correct.” Read more: Elon Musk introduces Grok 4 as xAI’s most advanced model yet As a result, Grok became susceptible to users’ “extremist views,” ...

Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 continues to thrill players with new additions, and one of the biggest highlights is the arrival of the Superman Mythic. With James Gunn’s Superman film currently drawing attention in cinemas, Fortnite has timed this Man of Steel crossover perfectly, offering players a chance to wield some truly iconic powers. According to Game Rant , The Man of Steel Mythic in Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 gives players access to flight, heat vision, super strength, and more. It’s one of the most exciting features in the game right now, but only one player or team can use it per match. So if you want to become Superman yourself, you’ll need to act fast and follow the right steps. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide on how to get the Superman Mythic in Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3: 1. Wait for the Mid-Game Signal Halfway through a match in Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3, you’ll receive an in-game notification. This signals that Superman’s Call has appeared. A marker will po...

Google has launched  Veo 3 and Flow, its AI video generation tools, in Pakistan, enabling users of the country to create dynamic video content with ease. Google made the announcement in a press release announced on Friday. With Veo 3, users can transform their images into 8-second video clips by uploading a photo, specifying audio cues, and describing the desired scene. Veo 3 has been used over 40 million times worldwide in in just seven weeks. Google’s AI filmmaking tool Flow gives users more creative options with features like sound effects, background music, and a Frames-to-Video option. Subscriptions to Google AI Ultra and Flow are currently offered in more than 140 countries, including Pakistan. from Science and Technology News - Latest science and technology news https://ift.tt/a9zvG7m

Sony and developer Sucker Punch have released 20-minute gameplay footage for the upcoming Ghost of Yōtei. The development came during the company’s State of Play to dive deep into the details of the upcoming game. While Sucker Punch has confirmed that the game will be released on PS5 on October 2, the fresh gameplay footage reveals other thrilling and inspiring key details about ‘Ghost of Yotei.’ The story follows Atsu, a female warrior seeking revenge against the Yōtei Six, who are responsible for the brutal murder of her family. Set against the harsh terrain of Mount Yōtei in Ezo (modern-day Hokkaido), this tale of retribution takes a bold turn with its female protagonist, marking a significant shift from the game’s previous male lead, Jin Sakai. As per Sucker Punch, the open-world settings of Ghost of Yōtei will allow players to focus on specific gameplay elements, such as exploration or combat. Read more: PlayStation announces Ghost of Yōtei State of Play “Ghost of Yōtei is...

Contrary to popular belief, using cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools slowed down experienced software developers when they were working in codebases familiar to them, rather than supercharging their work, a new study found. AI research nonprofit METR conducted the in-depth study, opens new tab on a group of seasoned developers earlier this year while they used Cursor, a popular AI coding assistant, to help them complete tasks in open-source projects they were familiar with. Before the study, the open-source developers believed using AI would speed them up, estimating it would decrease task completion time by 24%. Even after completing the tasks with AI, the developers believed that they had decreased task times by 20%. But the study found that using AI did the opposite: it increased task completion time by 19%. The study’s lead authors, Joel Becker and Nate Rush, said they were shocked by the results: prior to the study, Rush had written down that he expected “a 2x speed up...

OpenAI is close to releasing an AI-powered web browser that will challenge Alphabet’s (GOOGL.O), market-dominating Google Chrome, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The browser is slated to launch in the coming weeks, three of the people said, and aims to use artificial intelligence to fundamentally change how consumers browse the web. It will give OpenAI more direct access to a cornerstone of Google’s success: user data. If adopted by the 500 million weekly active users of ChatGPT, OpenAI’s browser could put pressure on a key component of rival Google’s ad-money spigot. Chrome is an important pillar of Alphabet’s ad business, which makes up nearly three-quarters of its revenue, as Chrome provides user information to help Alphabet target ads more effectively and profitably, and also gives Google a way to route search traffic to its own engine by default. OpenAI’s browser is designed to keep some user interactions within a ChatGPT-like native chat interface instead...