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Social media platform has yet to release an official statement explaining the cause of the outage.

Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, was operational again after experiencing a short outage that affected users globally on Wednesday, according to Downdetector.com.

At the height of the issue, over 34,500 reports of problems with X were logged in the United States alone, before decreasing to 845 reports by 11:39 a.m. Eastern Time.

Downdetector monitors outages by aggregating status reports from various sources. The actual number of impacted users may differ from these reports, as they are submitted by individual users.

Data from Downdetector indicated that the highest number of problem reports in Pakistan occurred at 8:08 p.m., with 177 users reporting issues.

This chart illustrates the volume of problem reports over the past 24 hours compared to typical daily fluctuations.

Users across different regions reported difficulties accessing the platform, with intermittent availability of services.

Earlier, NetBlocks stated that the outage did not seem to be linked to any national internet disruptions or censorship.

X has yet to issue an official explanation for the outage, though users have expressed frustration over the disruption, especially in areas where the platform is a primary source of communication and news.

NetBlocks continues to monitor technical failures affecting major online platforms and government-imposed restrictions.

Last month, X experienced a brief international outage that disrupted access for users in multiple countries, but services were restored afterward.

Read More: X outage causes hours of service disruption for users

In January, the platform faced a significant global outage that left users worldwide unable to access the service.

Shares fell 13% in after-hours trading after Intel (INTC.O) released its earnings report, missing revenue and EPS estimates despite a boom in data centers. The company noted difficulty in meeting demand for its server chips used in AI data centers and projected Q1 revenue and profits below analyst expectations.

This highlights the challenge Intel faces in forecasting the global chip market, where many of its current products are based on decisions made years ago. Over the past month, the stock has surged 40%, partly driven by the launch of a new laptop chip aimed at reclaiming leadership in personal computers, even as a memory chip shortage is expected to hinder sales industry-wide.

Executives indicated that demand for AI-related server processors has taken them by surprise. Although they’re operating factories at full capacity, demand still outpaces supply, leaving potential profits in data center sales unfulfilled, while the new PC chip puts pressure on margins.

CEO Lip-Bu Tan expressed disappointment over the company’s short-term inability to fully meet market demand during a conference call. Intel expects this quarter’s revenue to range from $11.7 billion to $12.7 billion, below the $12.51 billion estimated by analysts, per LSEG data. Adjusted earnings per share are predicted to break even, versus analyst expectations of 5 cents per share.

Investors and analysts had anticipated that expanding data center investments driven by major tech companies would boost sales of Intel’s traditional server chips, which work alongside Nvidia’s (NVDA.O) leading GPUs. However, AI demand caught many cloud providers off guard, forcing them to upgrade aging hardware due to deteriorating network performance, according to CFO David Zinsner.

“Most were a little caught off guard,” Zinsner said. He also noted that despite owning manufacturing plants, Intel faces delays in shifting production types, as the company was not adjusting factory plans in response to changing data center demand.

External investments have helped lift Intel’s stock after a slump in 2024, with notable funding from Nvidia, SoftBank ($2 billion), and U.S. government stakes. However, a strategic shift has led Tan to cut back on aggressive investments in next-generation manufacturing processes, like the 14A technology, awaiting signals from key customers. When new customers show interest, it will likely reflect in increased capital expenditures.

Two clients are currently reviewing the 14A tech, with a decision expected in the second half of the year. Meanwhile, Intel’s planned capital spending may remain steady rather than decline. Last year’s high-profile investments have boosted optimism among investors, despite the company’s ongoing supply constraints delaying a full financial recovery, according to Michael Schulman of Running Point Capital.

After experiencing a 60% decline in stock price in 2024, Intel’s shares rebounded 84% in 2025, outperforming the semiconductor index’s 42% gain. The company has begun shipping its new “Panther Lake” PC chips, produced using Intel’s critical 18A manufacturing technology—though early yields are below expectations and are pressuring margins.

Intel acknowledged that 18A yields are on track with its plans but not yet where they want them to be. Meanwhile, a global memory chip shortage has driven prices up and increased PC costs—a primary market for Intel. CFO Zinsner expects the supply shortage to peak early in Q1 and improve during Q2.

Despite advancements, Intel continues to lose market share in PCs to AMD (AMD.O) and Arm Holdings.

This illustration showcases RAM memory chips. SOURCE: REUTERS

Global demand for smartphones, personal computers, and gaming consoles is expected to decline this year as companies from the UK’s Raspberry Pi (RPI.L) to HP Inc. (HPQ.N) increase prices to offset rising memory chip expenses.

The rapid development of artificial intelligence infrastructure by U.S. tech giants like OpenAI, Google (owned by Alphabet – GOOGL.O), and Microsoft has consumed much of the world’s memory chip supply, driving up costs as manufacturers prioritize components for more profitable data centers over consumer devices.

Samsung (005930.KS), SK Hynix (000660.KS), and Micron (MU.O), the top three memory chip producers globally, have recently reported difficulties in meeting demand, despite posting strong quarterly earnings fueled by soaring semiconductor prices.

However, this price surge is now impacting consumer markets.

Research firms IDC and Counterpoint now project global smartphone sales will decline by at least 2% this year, a significant shift from their earlier growth forecasts. This would mark the first yearly drop in shipments since 2023.

The PC market is expected to contract by at least 4.9% in 2026, following last year’s 8.1% increase. Meanwhile, gaming console sales are forecasted to fall by 4.4% this year after an estimated 5.8% growth in 2025, according to TrendForce.

[Image: Chart showing decline in PC and smartphone markets]

CENTERED CAPTION: PC and smartphone sectors are preparing for downturns

Manufacturers face tough decisions

While some companies have already increased prices, industry giants like Apple (AAPL.O) and Dell (DELL.N) grapple with whether to absorb the costs and maintain margins or pass them on to consumers, risking dampened demand.

“Manufacturers may take on some costs, but given the scale of the shortage, higher prices for consumers are inevitable,” said Emarketer analyst Jacob Bourne.

“This will lead to tentative consumer device sales in 2026. Companies will face challenges trying to sell products during a period of broader inflation.”

The situation is compounded by expectations that price hikes will continue, possibly into next year. Counterpoint predicts memory prices will jump 40% to 50% in the first quarter, following a 50% increase last year.

“In the past two quarters, we’ve observed drastic inflation in some products—up to 1,000%—and prices keep climbing,” said Tobey Gonnerman, president of semiconductor distributor Fusion Worldwide.

“Consumers should anticipate significantly higher costs for laptops, smartphones, wearables, and gaming devices very soon.”

Analysts believe the impact will be most severe for manufacturers of budget and mid-range products, including Chinese brands like Xiaomi (1810.HK) and TCL Technology (000100.SZ), as well as PC maker Lenovo (0992.HK).

TrendForce reports that Dell and Lenovo are planning price hikes of up to 20% early in 2026.

Shares of Raspberry Pi, Xiaomi, Dell, HP Inc., and Lenovo dropped during the last three months of 2025, with Xiaomi experiencing the largest fall of 27.2%.

[Image: Chart illustrating decline in electronics stocks amid memory chip shortage]

CENTERED CAPTION: Electronics stocks react to the memory chip shortage

HP CEO Enrique Lores stated in November that the company would raise PC prices due to “significant” memory chip costs, while Raspberry Pi’s CEO called the cost increase “painful” in a December blog post announcing price hikes.

Weak demand outlooks could also hinder sales at electronics retailers like Best Buy (BBY.N), which had already warned last year that tariff-driven price increases might discourage potential buyers.

Apple is scheduled to report quarterly earnings on January 29, with Dell following on February 26, and Xiaomi typically reports in late March.

The dominance of Apple

Some analysts believe Apple, with its significant market power, pricing flexibility, and extensive supplier network, is better positioned to withstand the memory chip cost surge than smaller competitors.

Apple generally maintains stable prices for its flagship iPhone models in the U.S. between launch events. Last year, it absorbed hundreds of millions of dollars in tariff-related costs rather than passing them on to customers.

“Apple’s better positioning stems from its use of contract pricing (rather than more volatile spot markets), enabling it to secure more favorable prices,” said Morningstar analyst William Kerwin.

“However, they are not immune and might need to increase prices to cover higher input costs.”

The tool enables creators to connect with audiences worldwide by automatically dubbing and syncing videos across different languages.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has expanded its artificial intelligence features to enhance the accessibility of short-form videos across language barriers.

They have introduced upgraded AI-driven translation and lip-syncing for Reels, their popular short video format. These updates support a broader range of languages, including Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and Kannada, in addition to previously supported languages such as English, Hindi, Portuguese, and Spanish.

According to a blog post, the new update employs neural machine translation models along with on-device and cloud-based AI systems to generate dubbed audio and real-time captions. These can be automatically suggested to viewers when the Reel’s language differs from their device settings. This technology does more than just add subtitles; it recreates the creator’s voice in the translated language and matches their mouth movements, giving the impression that the creator is speaking the new language.

Meta stated that the aim of this feature is to promote cross-cultural interaction, allowing users to discover content “regardless of where it was created or what language it was filmed in.” Early feedback from creators indicates that the expanded language options have already increased the reach of their videos.

The translation and lip-sync features are available free of charge to all public Instagram accounts in regions where Meta AI is active, as well as to Facebook creators who have at least 1,000 followers.

Meta explained in their blog, “Many creators want to reach audiences worldwide, and their input helped shape our translation features. Translations using Meta AI are just one way we’re delivering the best content and exploring innovative methods to connect people globally.”

However, some critics caution about the difficulties in accurately conveying context, emotion, and cultural nuances through AI translations. There is also a risk of intentionally misrepresenting what a person says if the audio dubbing or translation is incorrect.

In 2023, a service designed to track leaked personal data was launched but will be discontinued early next year. Google is planning to retire its Dark Web Report tool, which was created to notify users when their personal information appears in illicit data dumps on the dark web.

Google announced that the dark web data scanning feature will cease on January 15, 2026, with complete shutdown scheduled for February 16, 2026. All user data associated with this service will be permanently deleted from Google’s servers.

The Dark Web Report was introduced in March 2023 as part of Google’s initiative to help users monitor their online footprints. It scanned for email addresses and other personal details such as names, phone numbers, and addresses to see if they appeared in known data breaches or dark web listings, alerting users if matches were found.

In an email, Google stated, “While the report offered general information, feedback indicated it didn’t provide helpful next steps. We’re making this change to focus on tools that deliver clearer, actionable steps to protect your information online. We will continue to monitor and defend against online threats, including those on the dark web, and develop tools to safeguard you and your personal data.”

Although the Dark Web Report service is ending, Google reassures users that efforts to protect their information will continue behind the scenes. The company recommends leveraging other security tools, such as Security Checkup, Passkeys, Password Manager, two-step verification, and Google Authenticator, to enhance account security. Additionally, features like “Results about you” assist users in locating and sometimes removing personal information from search results.

Existing users of dark web monitoring are informed via email and support pages that access will end after the service shutdown. Users who wish to remove their monitoring profiles sooner can do so through their account settings by navigating to the Dark Web Report page, selecting “Edit monitoring profile,” and then “Delete monitoring profile.”

To manually delete your dark web monitoring profile early, go to your account, click on the Dark Web Report page, select “Edit monitoring profile,” and then choose “Delete monitoring profile.”

The three-day Sindh Youth Science and Technology Festival is scheduled from November 28th to 30th at the Sindh Youth Club in Karachi.

Karachi, Sindh:
Students from across Sindh have gathered in Karachi to display their innovative projects at the three-day Youth Science and Technology Festival, which features everything from robots and green energy solutions to insects capable of breaking down garbage.

The event was inaugurated on Friday by Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mahar, the Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs. Over 70 students representing around 40 institutions are presenting their projects, with prize money exceeding 200,000 rupees allocated for the top entries—100,000 rupees for first place.

Mahar explained that a panel of professors, specialists, and industry professionals has been assembled to assess each project with fairness and technical rigor, ensuring transparent evaluation and high standards.

During my conversations with students yesterday, nearly everyone mentioned that their projects were the result of months—sometimes up to a year—of research and hard work. The event hosts over 50 booths, with some students sharing their displays. While it’s impossible to detail every project, here are some of the most innovative ones on display.

Garbage-Disposal Larvae

A team from SST Public School in Rashidabad presented black soldier fly larvae and mealworms designed to decompose waste at minimal cost, according to students Ravi and Sidra.

“These are zero-cost,” explained Dr. Maleeha Jamil, noting that these insects produce numerous offspring simultaneously, making them an effective waste management method. She added that the larvae and mealworms can consume biowaste and even plastics, though only biowaste was shown during the demonstration.

I recorded a video of the pupae and larvae—viewer discretion advised for those squeamish about insects.

Many might assume that feeding so many larvae would attract swarms of beetles and flies around waste sites. However, the students have a solution: “These larvae are about 60% protein,” Sidra said, suggesting they could serve as animal feed. Experiments adding them to chicken and fish feed resulted in larger eggs and bigger fish with higher Omega-3 levels.

Further testing is needed to understand any possible health impacts or unforeseen side effects, as well as to quantify the actual benefits of incorporating these larvae into animal diets.

What struck me most was Ravi’s remark that “about 1 kilogram of larvae can eat approximately 3 kilograms of waste,” which immediately made me think of the pseudo-landfill near my house—I almost wanted to ask them for a handful right then.

Codion: The Bilingual Talking Robot

Humbal and Barirah developed Codion, an AI-powered humanoid robot capable of speech, movement, and interactive responses. Unlike the robots from big companies like Meta or Boston Dynamics, this one is a simple walking skeleton on wheels.

The robot can hold conversations, follow commands to walk or roll, speak in both English and Urdu, share information about itself, and, if connected to the internet, perform online lookups.

It can recite Urdu poetry, although I couldn’t test this due to slow internet at the venue. The programmers explained that the robot has onboard memory to answer questions, but Humbal admitted it doesn’t “know” that it’s part of a demonstration—a sign of its early development stage.

Wall-E’s Prototype Counterpart

Inspired by the beloved childhood film, this robot was created by Simrah, a student from Karachi’s Shaheed-e-Millat College for Women. It navigates using a built-in camera feed and has a compartment for large parcels on its front. The goal is to develop a robot capable of transporting, serving, and delivering items in places like airports, malls, and restaurants.

While not fully autonomous yet, it can be remotely controlled and adjust its grip and movement. However, it struggles on carpets, which the team is actively working to improve.

Autonomous Shopping Cart

From Mehran University in Khairpur, Peeryo designed a shopping cart that can follow a shopper, scan item prices, sense weight, and count the items in the cart.

“This could be a huge help for people with disabilities,” he said while demonstrating the cart’s functionality via a custom app. I tested it myself—though slow— and it managed to follow me, but it lost sight when I moved too far away.

The prototype is small and can’t carry large loads yet, but future designs will be larger to accommodate more.

Solar-Powered Wind Turbine

Yasir, Muhammad, and Arslan from the University of Larkana showcased a turbine with three flexible solar panels shaped into a helix. The model was assembled locally, with the blades imported from China.

“Combining solar and wind energy, this system can generate power simultaneously,” Yasir explained. The turbine’s unique shape allows wind to turn it from multiple angles and maximizes sunlight exposure on the panels.

Sensors measure power output, and the design allows connection to the grid or batteries. Yasir added that the near-constant movement and helix shape help protect photovoltaic cells from dust damage. The design is scalable for various sizes—suitable for rooftops or energy parks.

Biowaste Burning for Electricity

From Mehran University, Salman, Faheem, and Raheel shared a model that uses photovoltaic thermal (PVT) cells to capture energy from burning agricultural waste.

They explained that Pakistan generates around 40 million tons of agricultural waste annually, which, if burned for energy, could produce up to 15,000 MW. They proposed a plant could power around 100,000 households for three decades, using a one-time investment of approximately $1.2 million.

However, burning large quantities of biological waste can harm the environment, raising concerns about short-term benefits versus long-term ecological impacts.

Biodegradable Bandages

Nimrah, Saira, Nisha, and Sufiya from the Jinnah University for Women developed plant-based, biodegradable bandages to reduce plastic waste in marine environments. Using starch for bioplastic, okra gelatin as adhesive, and pomegranate peels as antiseptics, their design aims to produce sustainable wound coverings.

Portable Power Supply for Emergency Medical Use

Ijaz and Abdul from Indus University created a portable power system for medical equipment in ambulances, which they presented to Sindh Ambulance Rescue services.

“This system is vital if someone has a heart attack in an ambulance stuck due to heavy rain or in remote areas with no stable power,” Ijaz explained. The device can run one medical machine—like a respirator or monitor—for 18-20 hours, powered by a lithium iron phosphate battery that’s safer than lithium-ion.

It can be recharged in 1.5 hours via solar or 15 minutes from main power and weighs 13.5 kg, with transportable options like a suitcase. The system features separate control modules for user operation and remote management.

SupeRAFT: The Marine Rescue Drone

Moiz from Sir Syed University unveiled SupeRAFT, a remote-controlled rescue device capable of carrying up to 200 kg. With a 1-hour battery life, it’s designed to quickly respond to drowning victims at sea, especially where deploying human rescuers might be risky.

It has dual propulsion, radar, computer vision for precise location tracking, and underwater scanning capabilities. The prototype cost between 200,000 and 300,000 rupees.

More Innovations and Talents

The event showcased numerous other impressive projects. Indus University displayed AI-powered goggles assisting visually impaired individuals, while a team from Hamdard University introduced AI glasses paired with specialized keyboards for users with neuromuscular conditions.

Ayesha from Dow University presented dental tablets alternative to toothpaste, aiming to reduce millions of plastic tubes landfilled annually. Lahin demonstrated Velcro-based bandages designed specifically for foot ulcers common in diabetics.

This event highlights the extraordinary talent among Pakistan’s youth. The awards ceremony will be on Sunday, recognizing the top three teams among many more deserving projects.

A screenshot of Downdetector’s page on November 7, 2025. Source: The Express Tribune

Last night around 10 p.m. on Thursday, residents across Karachi experienced widespread disruptions to their internet and online services. Providers like PTCL and Stormfiber, along with platforms such as WhatsApp, YouTube, Amazon Web Services, and Instagram, reported outages, according to Downdetector.

The outage monitor indicated that both PTCL and Stormfiber encountered problems between 9 p.m. and midnight. PTCL registered a peak of 112 outage reports around 10:30 p.m., while Stormfiber had 59 reports. Most users complained about losing internet access, though some faced complete service blackouts.

Read: Faisalabad Implements E-Challan System

On Friday, a PTCL spokesperson denied any outages occurred. “There was no issue on PTCL’s end,” they stated.

Meanwhile, Stormfiber’s automated response stated, “We are experiencing a sudden degradation with one of our upstream providers,” and assured customers that they are working with the upstream provider to resolve the issues.

Images showing user-reported outages over the past 24 hours reveal a sharp spike last night. The first graph illustrates PTCL outages, and the second shows Stormfiber outages, both with notable increases.

Social media platforms also went down. Reports of Instagram and Facebook outages peaked at 134 and 65, respectively. YouTube and X experienced outages, but with fewer reports—16 for YouTube and four for X.

A tweet from November 6, 2025, asked, “Can someone tell me if it’s my PTCL connection dying or if Twitter is lagging in Pakistan again? 😭😭”

WhatsApp outages peaked with 120 reports, with 55% of users struggling to send messages, 32% facing server connection issues, and 13% experiencing app problems.

Overall, most complaints centered around website access, app functionality, and server connectivity, with the majority of users reporting an inability to connect to the internet.

Many Stormfiber users reported having very poor internet last night; however, one individual noted little change in their connection. Most issues lasted until midnight, with service levels returning to normal by this morning.

Sealed Pixels, Nothing, and flagship gaming devices are quickly becoming available, but buyers face challenges like PTA fees and uncertain warranties.

A growing number of Pakistani consumers are purchasing smartphones outside official local launches. Sealed Google Pixels, Nothing phones, OnePlus flagships, ROG and Redmagic gaming devices, and boxed iPhones are being sold through parallel imports and specialized resellers. This provides faster access to niche models but also increases the risk of regulatory issues, warranty problems, and repair uncertainties.

These devices generally arrive factory sealed. Sellers often provide shop-backed warranties and PTA registration services; however, the level of official support varies by brand and batch.

Sources: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (DIRBS FAQ, IMEI registration rules); Federal Board of Revenue mobile duty schedules; market prices from Yellostone Pakistan, Cube Online, PhoneDroid, OLX listings, Hafeez Centre (Lahore)

Impact of the grey imports market on consumers

The grey import economy allows buyers to access desired models quickly, sometimes even before they are officially launched in Pakistan. However, this convenience comes at a price. Final costs often increase once PTA registration, brokerage fees, and customs duties are factored in, meaning the out-the-door price can be significantly higher than the advertised price. Warranties offered on these units are typically provided by shops rather than manufacturers, limiting recourse in case of hardware or software issues.

Repair times tend to be longer because region-specific spare parts are not typically available locally and must be imported. Additionally, some models require firmware or region adjustments that can prevent over-the-air updates or restrict certain network features. While buyers benefit from early access and novelty, they also face hidden costs, longer downtime, and uncertain long-term support.

Understanding the PTA tax gap explains why sealed Pixel and OnePlus prices fluctuate widely.

Listings for imported phones usually separate non-PTA stock from PTA-approved batches. Non-PTA devices may be cheaper initially, but buyers often pay extra for IMEI registration, customs duties, and brokerage fees. Retailers often market PTA approval as an optional add-on or promote limited PTA-cleared stock at higher prices. This creates a confusing price disparity; for some flagship models, the difference can amount to tens of thousands of rupees.

Where repairs are done (and why this is risky)

Most parallel imports lack authorized manufacturer service centers in Pakistan. Repairs are consequently handled by independent technicians or the selling shops. Region-specific variants—like some Pixels and gaming models—often require parts ordered individually, extending repair times and raising costs. While seller warranties exist, they are contractual promises from retailers rather than official manufacturer guarantees, and their enforcement and spare part availability differ depending on location and seller.

How retailers market ‘global variants’ and ‘PTA approved’ phones as premium options

Stores often label phones as “global ROM,” “US box,” “factory unlocked,” or “PTA ready” to justify higher prices for certain stock. Influencer reviews and international unboxing videos boost demand for these variants, which sellers capitalize on with upsells such as IMEI verification, PTA paperwork handling, and extended shop warranties. While these measures facilitate smoother transactions, they do not substitute for manufacturer-backed after-sales support.

Position of iPhones in the market

iPhones are available through both channels: PTA-approved boxed units sold via authorized resellers and cheaper grey imports listed on classifieds and in street markets. Global warranty coverage is limited without Apple’s official service presence in Pakistan; consumers often rely on reseller warranties or third-party repair networks. Persistent rumors suggest a possible Apple authorized reseller arrangement, which, if confirmed, could clarify warranty and service concerns.

Example: Nothing’s efforts toward formalization

The market’s structure is evolving. In an interview with The Express Tribune, Yellostone confirmed it is the official distributor for select Nothing Phone models in Pakistan, offering local warranty support. However, this formal channel is limited to specific models, and many other Nothing variants, along with competing brands, continue to be primarily available through parallel importers.

A balanced approach for buyers

If you’re interested in importing or early models, consider the following steps:

1. Check IMEI status on the PTA DIRBS portal prior to purchase.

2. Obtain a written warranty from the seller or distributor, detailing coverage duration and what faults are covered.

3. Confirm availability of spare parts and typical repair timelines with the seller.

4. Compare the final price—including PTA registration—rather than just the initial sticker price.

5. Prefer units sold through recognized distributors (like Yellostone for certain Nothing models), especially if warranty and parts support are priorities.

Today’s boxed imports are an integral part of Pakistan’s smartphone landscape. They offer consumers options and early access but shift post-sale responsibilities onto buyers. Whether this parallel import channel remains a temporary workaround or becomes a permanent feature depends on clearer regulatory policies, expanded official distribution, and stricter consumer protection enforcement.