PAKISTAN
WITHHOLDING TAX EXEMPTION ON RS.100 CARDS PROPOSED:
The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications Monday recommended for not deducting Withholding Tax (WHT) on mobile cards of Rs 100, as it is mostly consumed by people who are not liable for taxes.
LIFE IN FRAMES: LEARN VIDEO MAKING & EARN CHANCE TO WIN A LUMIX G5 CAMERA:
Are you fascinated with making videos? Capturing stories with the help of your video camera, editing and cutting it before its exactly how you want it. But what if you wanted your video-making skills to rival those made by professional videographers? You would want your movies to feature professional-grade production values, complete with cinematic cuts and all.
SONY XPERIA XZ PREMIUM: THERE’S A [SHINY] NEW FLAGSHIP IN TOWN:
Today’s smartphones have replaced items that would have filled a whole room a few decades ago. In the palm of our hand, we have a radio, an entertainment system, a phone, a music player and what not. With the Sony Xperia XZ Premium, we can add “a mirror” to the list. Meet the newest flagship from Sony which also happens to be the shiniest phone we’ve ever seen.
SMOG VICTIMS: PIA PASSENGERS DROPPED HALFWAY & TOLD TO TRAVEL BY BUS:
Cancelled flights, aggrieved employees, and disgruntled passengers, PIA keeps on sweeping the headlines every now and then. This time, PIA’s Abu Dhabi to Rahim Yar Khan Flight had to land at Lahore Airport due to bad weather and low visibility, as per official reports.
ZONG USERS NOW GET FREE ACCESS TO THE OFFICIAL APP & WEBSITE:
Bringing its vision of enhanced customer-centricity, Zong 4G has decided to provide free access to the ‘My Zong’ customer care app as well as the Zong 4G website to all its customers. Previously, customers paid data charges on the use of these digital services. The move to provide free access has been taken to provide greater convenience alongside a greatly improved user experience for all Zong 4G subscribers.
EVERY KILOMETRE OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION COSTS MILLIONS TO THE ECONOMY:
Apart from vexation that traffic jams cause, they also hurt the economy in a bad way. A study conducted in Lahore found that traffic congestion costs Rs. 47.9 million a year. The results were concluded based on a survey conducted in an area of 1.1 kilometres.
JS BANK & JAZZ CASH TO INTEGRATE E-COMMERCE GATEWAY FOR FIRST DIRECT DEBIT SERVICING SOLUTION IN PAKISTAN:
JS Bank & Jazz cash has entered into an agreement whereby Jazz customers will have access to Direct Debit functionality. Developed on JazzCash Payment Gateway, Direct Debit will also bring convenience and ease to JS Bank customers, by enabling them to use their JS Bank account for purchasing goods and other services online.
APLICA:YOUR ONE STOP SOLUTION FOR FOREIGN UNIVERSITY APPLICATIONS:
Aplica is an application for both Android and iOS devices which will help users in finding and applying for different degree programs in international universities. It helps to locate local consultants too who can guide you in the admission process.
PTET ASKED TO RESOLVE PENSION ISSUES OF RETIRED PTCL EMPLOYEES:
The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication on Monday rejected the rumors that Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) will default on paying a 20% raise in employees pension that was announced in 2010.
AHMAD SHEHZAD DROPPED FOR SERIES AGAINST WEST INDIES:
Pakistan’s opening batsman Ahmad Shehzad has been dropped by the PCB selection committee for the three-match T20 series against West Indies. Reports suggest that the committee reviewed Shehzad’s recent performances and decided that he does not deserve a place in the squad.
UNEVENTFUL TRADING DAY AS MARKET LOSES 33 PTS:
The stock market experienced some sharp swings on the beginning of the week as the KSE-100 index closed flat with small loss with very low volumes.The index was mostly led by support from selected oil sector as the increase in International Oil Prices. At close, the benchmark KSE 100-share Index recorded a loss of 33.23 points or 0.08% to stand at 41030.77 as dull trading session was witnessed today.
PUMA ENERGY SUCCESSFULLY ACQUIRES 51% SHARES IN ADMORE GAS:
Puma Energy, the globally integrated midstream and downstream energy company, has successfully concluded an agreement with the Chishti Group to acquire 51% interest in Admore Gas Pvt. Ltd. (Admore). The agreement was first announced on the 25th August 2017, while its closing took place on Tuesday, 31st October 2017. The new company will be called Puma Energy Pakistan (Private) Ltd.
PTCL INITIATES NATIONWIDE BLOOD DONATION DRIVE:
Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has commenced a nationwide Blood Donation Drive, whereby the company has partnered with reputable donor agencies and made a pledge to donate over 5,000 pints of blood. To highlight the importance of donating blood for a healthier society, PTCL has initiated this week-long campaign which encompasses PTCL employees, their families and the general community.
ZONG 4G COVERAGE SURPASSED 300 CITIES IN PAKISTAN:
In the race to maximum 4G coverage Zong has been leading from very first day and recently its coverage has surpassed 300 cities making it the first network with largest 4G coverage.It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) have recently awarded Zong’s network services to be the best in Pakistan amongst all competitors in terms of its quality and speed in an independent survey held by PTA.
FINTECH STARTUP FINJA BREAKS NEW GROUND IN PAKISTAN WITH $1.5M SERIES A FUNDING:
The catalyst for ecommerce and other internet businesses to flourish in China, India, and Southeast Asia is digital payments. This in turn has a multiplier effect on economic growth. That’s why today’s announcement of US$1.5 million series A funding for Pakistani fintech startup Finja is notable. More so, because Swedish investment company Vostok led the round – the Pakistan startup ecosystem rarely hits headlines for attracting international investment. Dubai-headquartered Gray Mackenzie Engineering Services also participated in the round.
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INTERNATIONAL
GOOGLE’S NEW SDK LETS DEVS ADD SPATIAL AUDIO TO VR APPS AND GAMES:
In an effort to get developers to build more interactive experiences for its mobile and desktop platforms, Google’s launched Resonance Audio, an SDK for adding spatial audio effects to your VR, AR, gaming, and 360-degree video projects. In an effort to get developers to build more interactive experiences for its mobile and desktop platforms, Google’s launched Resonance Audio, an SDK for adding spatial audio effects to your VR, AR, gaming, and 360-degree video projects.
FAKE WHATSAPP APP DOWNLOADED MORE THAN ONE MILLION TIMES:
A fake version of the WhatsApp messenger app was downloaded more than a million times from the Google Play Store before it was removed. The app, “Update WhatsApp Messenger”, appeared to have been developed by the firm behind the real program – WhatsApp Inc.
FACEBOOK MESSENGER PAYMENTS COMES TO UK:
Facebook has chosen the UK as the first country outside the US to get its Messenger payments service. Later on Monday, local users will be able to send each other money in a message.The service was launched in the US in 2015. The social network says it has been widely used to split restaurant bills, pay babysitters and simply send gifts. It says most users send less than $50 (£38).
IPHONE USERS FUME OVER LETTER ‘I’ BUG:
Some iPhone users have been left frustrated after an update to the iOS operating system started inexplicably auto-correcting the letter “i” to a capital “a” and a question mark. The affected version of iOS, 11.1, is available on iPhones and iPads.
ANDY SERKIS: COULD COMPUTERS REPLACE ACTORS?:
Andy Serkis is known as one of the world’s best performance capture actors. Serkis explains visual effects studio, Weta, has 17 years’ worth of data on his face which allows them to match what he does to the computer generated characters. But does he think computers could take over from actors in films?
CHINA ONLINE SHOPPING: DISHONEST WEBSITES FACE FINES:
China has created a new law to impose heavy fines on internet shopping websites which publish false advertisements about their products.Vendors who delete negative online reviews or post fake positive reviews face a minimum $30,000 (£23,000) fine.
NHS OFFERS SMARTPHONE GP APPOINTMENTS:
A 24-hour service has been launched for NHS patients, offering GP consultations via videolink on smartphones. The pilot scheme will initially cover 3.5 million patients in greater London. Patients will be able to check their symptoms through the mobile app and then have video consultations within two hours of booking.
CALL OF DUTY WWII KICKS OFF HOLIDAY SEASON WITH A BANG:
Activision’s Call of Duty WWII became available on Friday, and the title made its long-awaited debut with a splash, kicking off what is expected to be a robust holiday season for the gaming industry. The most anticipated multiplatform title of the season, based on the Nielsen Game Rank, Call of Duty WWII latest installment reaches back to the iconic gaming franchise’s origins. It offers fans an immersive and educational experience, creating a true-to-life simulation of America’s 1st Infantry Division storming the beaches of Normandy alongside British and other allied forces to liberate France from the Nazi regime.
RAZER DEBUTS CUTTING- EDGE MOBILE GAMING PHONE:
Razer on Wednesday unveiled its Razer Phone, a handset that clearly targets gamers. It boasts the world’s first 120 Hz Ultramotion display, which has the potential to deliver fast refresh rates and provide the smoothest graphics available on a mobile smartphone. “It’s common knowledge that I’m obsessed with my smartphones. I play a ton of games on them, and they’re my go-to for streaming content,” said Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan.
SONY’S AIBO RESURRECTED FROM ROBOT PET CEMETERY:
Sony on Wednesday revived its robot dog, Aibo, which it put down, so to speak, in 2006. The autonomous entertainment robot brings fun and joy to the entire family, Sony claimed. Among other things, it can bond emotionally with people and give them love and affection, the company said.
NEW COLLABORATIVE PLATFORM TO SPUR OPEN SOURCE AI DEVELOPMENT:
The Linux Foundation this week announced an agreement with AT&T and Tech Mahindra to launch the Acumos Project, a new platform for open source development of artificial intelligence. The new platform is part of a broader effort to open up opportunities for AI collaboration in the telecommunications, media and technology sectors.
THIS APP ALLOWS YOU TO CREATE STUNNING PROTRAIT MODE EFFECTS ON ANY IPHONE:
Apple has first introduced the Portrait Mode on iPhone 7 Plus, Now as the company launched its new iPhone series iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X more have their hands on functionality. The Portrait mode adds bokeh effect in which blurs the background while keeping the object in focus. Not everyone can afford new iPhone models and get access to portrait mode. However, if you are using an older model of iPhone and you are willing to have the portrait feature on your iPhone. The app is called Patch, and it gets the job done pretty nicely. So let’s check it out.
SAUDI ARABIA’S $7 BILLION CITY:
Saudi Arabia is largest oil exporter and one of the most robust world economy of the Muslim World, but with lower oil prices made it harder for the country to pay its oil workers. The Saudi Arabian government has been working in recent years to transform hundreds of square miles of desert into new cities which create jobs and diversify the economy from crude oil.
GOOGLE EXPLAINS HOW ALL THOSE DRIVE FILES GOT LOCKED:
On Halloween, few of Google Docs when their own documents were locked down and they can not be able to access their documents for violating Google’s terms of service.According to the company, the reason behind the lockout was a faulty code that signaled few documents as corrupt. The company proclaimed that it is having an automatic digital security mechanism that protects all of its users from malware and phishing their Docs and Drive systems and it seems that it was falsely triggered due to some defect in the code.
APPLE SAYS COLOR AND HUE SHIFTING, OLED BURN-IN EXPECTED ON IPHONE X:
iPhone X is now shipping to customers, and it is also available for in-store pickup. Many have celebrated the launch of the device in extended queues; three husky men also stole over 300 iPhone units right off a UPS truck. The iPhone X was company’s biggest leap regarding design and functionality since iPhone launch back in 2007. Previously iPhone models and it looks like this year it would be same. The burn-in on OLED screen, an iPhone X, can still occur under certain circumstances.