Gen Z author and speaker Yamuna Hasan has won the Best Proposition Speaker award at an Oxford debate after making a strong case for protecting human creativity in the age of artificial intelligence. Hasan received the distinction after challenging the growing tendency to outsource original thinking and creative work to generative AI. The Lord Mayor of Oxford personally presented her with the Best Proposition Speaker award following her speech. The debate took place at the Lord Mayor’s Parlour at Oxford Town Hall and focused on one of the biggest questions facing young people today: how far should humans depend on artificial intelligence? Hasan warns against overdependence on AI During her proposition speech, Hasan argued that creativity works like “a muscle strengthened by exercise and intellectual effort.” She warned that excessive reliance on automated tools could eventually weaken people’s ability to think, create and solve problems independently. Hasan described creativity as the “heartbeat of civilization,” arguing that human imagination has played a central role in progress across science, culture, art and innovation. Her argument did not call for people to reject artificial intelligence. Instead, she stressed the importance of using new technology without allowing it to replace curiosity and original thought. The debate comes as generative AI tools increasingly help people write, design, illustrate, compose music and develop ideas within seconds. Recent research has also highlighted the complex relationship between AI and creativity. Studies suggest AI can help individuals generate stronger ideas in some situations. However, heavy dependence may also reduce the diversity of ideas produced by groups. Oxford victory adds another major achievement The Best Proposition Speaker title adds another honour to Hasan’s growing list of achievements. She previously received the United Nations Changemaker Award 2026 and the Best Gen Z Podcast Award at Fashion Factor Dubai in 2026. Her other honours include Best Gen Z of the Year from Entrepreneur Middle East in 2025 and Best Gen Z Author of the Year at the India International Influencer Awards in 2025. Hasan also received the Best International Author Award at the Gulf Achievers Awards in 2025. Her work and achievements have attracted attention from several international media publications as her profile grows among young audiences. Message to Gen Z puts creativity first Hasan has increasingly encouraged members of Gen Z to develop knowledge, explore passion projects and become highly skilled in their chosen fields. Her Oxford speech carried a similar message. She urged young people to embrace modern technology while continuing to develop their own ability to think and create. Artificial intelligence can offer speed and convenience, but Hasan’s argument placed human imagination at the centre of innovation. Her Oxford recognition has now given that message a wider platform as debates over AI, education and human creativity continue worldwide.
Harry and Meghan Plan UK Return Six Years After Royal Exit
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle plan to move back to Britain this month with their two children. The reported return comes six years after they stepped away from royal duties and relocated to the United States. A source close to the couple said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will move from California for an extended period. Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, are expected to begin school in Britain in September. Read More: How Prince Harry Makes Sure Princess Diana Is Never Forgotten The Guardian reported that the family is expected to live in a non-royal residence outside London. King Charles learned of the decision on Sunday and reportedly welcomed the chance to have his younger son and grandchildren closer. Harry and Meghan will remain non-working royals under the arrangement agreed with the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2020. Harry’s spokesperson and Buckingham Palace declined to comment. Return follows years of tension Harry and Meghan married at Windsor Castle in 2018. Two years later, they quit official duties after complaining about intense scrutiny from the British press. They later settled in Montecito, California, where reports valued their 16-bedroom home at $14.7 million when they bought it in 2020. Harry, now 41, and Meghan, 45, then criticised the royal family through television interviews, a Netflix documentary and Harry’s memoir, Spare. In a 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview, Meghan said an unnamed royal had raised concerns about how dark Archie’s skin might be. Prince William later denied that the royal family was racist. Harry also challenged changes to his UK security arrangements. He argued that the lack of automatic police protection made bringing his children to Britain difficult. Relations with King Charles show signs of thaw Harry’s relationship with his father has recently improved. Father and son met in September for the first time in 20 months, according to Reuters. Charles announced his cancer diagnosis in 2024. Last December, Buckingham Palace said he had responded “exceptionally well” to treatment. Read More: Royal Controversy Grows as Prince Harry Steps Into Meghan’s Business Spotlight Harry, Meghan and their children visited Britain last month. Charles then saw Archie and Lilibet for the first time since 2022. Relations with Prince William remain strained, however. British minister Lucy Powell welcomed the reported move and told the BBC she hoped “the reconciliation with the family continues because I think that’s good for the country … to send out that signal”. California media ventures delivered mixed results Harry and Meghan built several media ventures from their California home. They signed multi-million-dollar deals with Spotify and Netflix, while Harry’s memoir became a bestseller. Their Spotify podcast agreement later ended. Meghan’s Netflix lifestyle show also failed to secure a third season. Meghan has recently shared more family photographs on Instagram. Many show Archie and Lilibet from behind, keeping their faces out of view. Deadline executive editor Dominic Patten said, “I think they didn’t achieve the superstar status they wanted.” “He and Meghan have kept that flame aflutter,” Patten added, arguing that they had still managed to maintain public interest in Hollywood.
Rs1.09 Crore Nevo Hunter Arrives in Pakistan With 900km Range
Master Changan Motors has launched the Nevo Hunter in Pakistan, marking Changan’s first pickup trduct of its Nevo sub-brand. The Nevo Hunter costs Rs10,990,000, or about Rs1.09 crore. Customers can book it for Rs2.2 million, while the company is also offering a limited-time price lock. The listed price excludes a 3 percent advance income tax of Rs329,700 for filers. Non-filers will pay a higher amount. Changan previously displayed the pickup at the Pakistan Auto Show under the Deepal K50 Hunter name. It has now launched the model locally under Nevo. REEV powertrain brings 4×4 performance The Hunter uses a Range-Extended Electric Vehicle, or REEV, system. Electric motors drive the wheels, while its 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine works only as a generator. The Pakistan-spec truck uses two electric motors and a 4×4 drivetrain. PakWheels lists output at 322 hp and 529 Nm, with a claimed 0 to 100 km/h time of 7.9 seconds. Read More: Don’t Miss Out: Forthing Friday REEV Gets Limited-Time Price Cut Its 31.18 kWh LFP battery offers a claimed 131 km NEDC electric range. Changan quotes combined range at 700 to 900 km with a full 70-litre tank and charged battery. DC fast charging can take the battery from 30 to 80 percent in 30 minutes. AC charging from zero to full takes about 5.6 hours. It also offers 3.3 kW V2L capability. Changan regional specifications also list a 31.18 kWh battery and 131 km NEDC electric range. Changan describes the Hunter as the “world’s first mass-produced REEV pickup truck.” Nevo Hunter Built for off-road use The Hunter uses a body-on-frame chassis and offers 220 mm of ground clearance. It has a 29-degree approach angle, 26-degree departure angle and 600 mm wading depth. Drivers get 2H, 4H and 4L settings, plus Snow, Mud, Sand, Creep and Off-Road modes. Electronic front and rear differential locks help maintain traction on loose surfaces. Read More: Changan Unveils UNI-S SUV in Pakistan, Targets Premium Market Other equipment includes Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control, Active Yaw Control and an underbody camera. The truck can carry 1,010 kg and tow up to 2,500 kg. Its cabin includes a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, 7.5-inch digital cluster, ventilated front seats and wireless phone charging. Safety features include six airbags, ABS, EBD, ESP, lane departure warning, TPMS, parking sensors and a 360-degree camera. Price, deliveries and market position The company expects deliveries for fully paid bookings to begin in October 2026. It plans to start deliveries for partially paid orders in February 2027. The Hunter enters a segment that includes the Toyota Hilux Revo and JAC T9. PakWheels currently lists the JAC T9 Hunter at Rs10.5 million, slightly below the Nevo Hunter. Master Changan said this week that Nevo will introduce five models in Pakistan over three years. The company plans sedan, SUV and pickup offerings, including BEV, PHEV and REEV products in the brand’s first year.
Sindh School Crisis: 6,220 Buildings Found Unsafe for Students
The Sindh Education Department has declared 6,220 school buildings unsafe or dilapidated across the province. It has ordered officials to move students to safer premises during the monsoon season. The department’s Monitoring Wing identified the buildings as dangerous or structurally vulnerable. Authorities want district officials to stop students and staff from using premises that could become hazardous during heavy rain. The move covers schools in all 30 districts of Sindh. The department sent lists of dangerous and partially dilapidated buildings to the respective deputy commissioners for action. Students to move to safer schools Under the directive, district officials will shift students from unsafe buildings to nearby schools or other suitable premises. District administrations must arrange the relocations in coordination with education officials. Deputy commissioners have started identifying alternative locations for displaced students. The department wants academic activities to continue while dangerous buildings remain vacant during the monsoon period. Read More: Motorways Crackdown Begins: Unsafe Cars Denied Entry Nationwide The directive tells officials to keep students, teachers and other staff away from structures considered unsafe. The precaution seeks to prevent injuries or deaths if weakened roofs, walls or other parts of a building fail during rainfall. Sindh has taken similar precautions before. In August 2024, the School Education and Literacy Department issued similar instructions during torrential rains. Its letter said classes “should not be commenced in dilapidated / dangerous school buildings.” It also sought tents so academic activities could continue at safer locations. Badin, Mirpurkhas, Tharparkar face higher risk Available details show that Badin, Mirpurkhas and Tharparkar have a comparatively high number of schools on the dangerous-buildings list. Those districts have also faced repeated monsoon threats. An official flood bulletin earlier this month warned of urban flooding and prolonged waterlogging in Badin, Mirpurkhas, Tharparkar and several other Sindh districts. Heavy rain has already disrupted parts of the province this season. On August 3, widespread downpours hit Umerkot, Tharparkar, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Badin and other districts. The rains caused deaths, injuries and damage to civic infrastructure. Monsoon damage renews school safety concerns The condition of school infrastructure has remained a recurring problem in Sindh. A Provincial Disaster Management Authority report from September 2024 recorded 1,348 damaged schools during that monsoon spell. It counted 1,120 partially damaged schools and 228 fully damaged ones. Read More: Basant 2027 Will Look Different in Lahore Under These New Rules Mirpurkhas alone accounted for 404 damaged schools in that report. Thatta recorded 156, Jacobabad 142 and Umerkot 98. The latest 6,220-building assessment has again put structural safety at the centre of Sindh’s monsoon education planning. Authorities must now relocate students without disrupting classes and keep unsafe buildings empty during the risk period.
Free Gemini for 1 Year: How Pakistani Students Can Apply
Google is offering eligible students in Pakistan a free one-year subscription to Google AI Plus, giving them expanded access to Gemini and other artificial intelligence tools for study, research and creative work. The offer forms part of Google’s latest push to put advanced AI tools in the hands of students. Similar student offers have also been introduced across a large number of international markets. Read More: Pakistan’s Tech Sector Gets Major Boost as Google Opens Office Pakistan is already among the countries where Google AI Plus is officially available. Google’s Pakistan subscription page confirms that the plan includes 400 GB of cloud storage and higher Gemini usage limits. Students must verify their academic status before claiming the free subscription. Google may ask applicants to provide information or documents that confirm current enrolment. Gemini, AI Tools and 400 GB Storage Included Eligible students will receive Google AI Plus benefits without paying the normal subscription cost for one year. Google’s official Pakistan page says AI Plus offers twice the Gemini usage limits available to non-AI subscribers. It also provides greater access to Gemini 3.1 Pro and Deep Research. The subscription includes access to Gemini Notebook and AI features inside supported Google services. Users can also access image, music and video-generation features, subject to availability and usage limits. Read More: Meet the 10-Year-Old Who Built an AI Nose to Detect Drugs Students also receive 400 GB of storage shared across Google Drive, Gmail and Google Photos. This gives them more space for assignments, research material, presentations, photographs and other academic files. Google has been expanding AI-based learning features throughout 2026. In June, the company introduced study notebooks that can turn uploaded course material into personalised lessons and quizzes. The system can identify areas where a student needs more practice and update lessons as progress improves. Gemini can also support longer research projects through Deep Research. Meanwhile, study-focused features can help users organise notes, create learning material and work through complex subjects. How Pakistani Students Can Claim the Offer Pakistani students can begin the application process through Google’s official Gemini for Students page. Applicants need to select the available student promotion and complete the verification process. They should provide accurate personal and educational information when requested. In some cases, Google may require supporting documents to confirm that the applicant currently attends an eligible educational institution. Once Google approves the verification, eligible students can activate the promotional subscription through their Google account. The company advises users to check the offer conditions before completing registration. Eligibility can depend on account type, country, age and verification requirements. Read More: Google Outbids AI Rival for Spirit Airlines Data in $10 Million Deal Google AI Plus normally operates as a paid subscription. Therefore, students should also review any renewal terms displayed during signup before activating the one-year promotion. Google has increasingly positioned Gemini as a learning companion rather than only a general-purpose chatbot. Its recent education updates include personalised study notebooks, quizzes and tools that work with uploaded course materials. For Pakistani students, the latest promotion could provide access to paid AI capabilities without the monthly cost, while also providing substantially more cloud storage for academic work.
