Author: Ali Qasim

Turkey Fines 1,950,000-liras to Whatsapp

Posted on by Ali Qasim
Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Turkey has joined a host of other countries in fining Facebook’s ubiquitous WhatsApp messaging service for failing to sufficiently protect user data. The 1,950,000-lira ($235,000, 200,000-euro) penality was imposed after months of confusion over whether WhatsApp had introduced its controversial new data sharing rules in Turkey.

WhatsApp unrolled a policy change earlier this year that allowed it to collect more personal data — including phone numbers and location — for everyone who agreed with its new terms of service. It offered users no other option besides dropping the service outright.

It then delayed imposing the change in Turkey after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s media office moved its communications to a local equivalent to WhatsApp called BiP.

Erdogan’s government and WhatsApp have since issued contradictory statements about whether the new data rules had been applied in Turkey. Turkey’s Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK) said it was fining WhatsApp because it no longer offered users “free will”.

“Persons are forced to give consent to the contract as a whole, thereby trying to exclude express consent,” the ruling said.

The decision came one day after Ireland — which houses the European headquarters of Facebook — fined WhatsApp 225 million euros for similar data offences. Moscow fined the two services and Twitter in August for failing to store data of Russian users on local servers.

Engin Altan Duzyatan aka Ertugrul finally unveils release date of ‘Barbaroslar’

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

The much-awaited Turkish historical drama serial Barbaroslar, starring Engin Altan Duzyatan aka Ertugrul, will premiere on Thursday September 16, 2021.

This was unveiled by actor Engin Altan, who is best known for his role as Ertugrul, on social media. Engin, who essays titular role in historical drama serial Dirilis: Ertugrul, turned to Instagram and shared latest trailer of his upcoming drama to announce the release date.

He shared the release date in the caption in Turkish which reads: “From Thursday, 16.09.2021 at 20:00 @trt1.”

The endearing post has garnered thousands of hearts within no time. In the series, Engin will portray the titular role of Hayreddin Barbarossa, an Ottoman corsair and later admiral of the Ottoman Navy at the time of Suleiman the Magnificent.

The fans of ‘Ertugrul’ are eagerly waiting to see their favourite actor in the all-new avatar.

‘Equality dono taraf ki honi chahiye’, Iqra Aziz responds on Sharmila Faruqui’s comments

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

A day after politician Sharmila Faruqui schooled Iqra Aziz for lauding her husband Yasir Hussain over changing their newborn son Kabir Hussain’s clothes, the actor responded to her saying, “Equality dono taraf ki honi chahiye”.

The Khuda Aur Mohabbat 3 actor took to Instagram and shared a story to humbly respond to Sharmila Faruqui’s comments.

She said, “For you, it might not be a big thing, but in a world full of men who don’t always appreciate their wives for doing what they do as a mother for their child (jo dono ka hai). My husband does!! and if he supports, helps and appreciate, tou main kuyn nahi!?”

Iqra further said, “P.S women want men to help them aur phir karein tou boldo nothing to be proud of. Equality dono taraf ki honi chahiye.”

On Saturday, Sharmila Faruqui called out Iqra Aziz’s latest photo featuring husband Yasir Hussain changing their newborn son Kabir Hussain’s clothes.

The politician said, “I’m so glad your husband is hands-on but it’s nothing to be proud of or anything special. All good, involved fathers do this for their kids.”

Sharmila further added, “My husband bathes and feeds son, changes his diapers and takes him to school when I’m unwell or at work. And he loves it.”

 

Sardar Moohammad Usman got married in an intimate ceremony.

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Emerging Actor Sardar Mohammad Usman tied the knot in a simple and ceremony. He shared the picture of his nikkah on Instagram.

“Got married in an intimate ceremony at home,” he wrote. “I wanted everyone to be a part of my big day but due to corona and tragic passing of my beloved mother, we decided to keep things simple and very limited.

“We both need loads and loads of duas for our future.”

Usman has played supporting roles in ARY Digital dramas Cheekh and Dunk.Actress Azekah Daniel, who co-starred with Usman in the two projects, congratulated the newly-married couple.

Inter City Transport Restricted as Covid numbers rises again

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

In order to curb the Covid spread that has seen rapid across Punjab, the provincial government has imposed a temporary restriction on inter-city transport.

The restriction on all public buses travelling intra-city has been imposed till September 12 and a crackdown against those violating has begun by the motorways police. Many private vehicle owners have reportedly been transporting people on heavy fares capitalizing on their need to go back to their hometowns from or via Lahore amid the ban on public transport.

The motorways police said the ban on inter-city public transport is being imposed on the advice of the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC). It is pertinent to note that in the daily statistics today shared by the NCOC, Covid has claimed 61 new lives and the rate of new infections stood at 6.47 per cent.

In its tweet from the official Twitter handle, NCOC said of the past 24 hours period that 57,908 Covid tests were conducted in the period out of which 3,747 emerged as COVID-19 infected. The new positive cases today take the positivity of the past 24-hour period to 6.47, NCOC said.

Moreover, the NCOC record confirmed that with new deaths reported today due to COVID-19 take the overall death toll to 26,175.

 

PTA rejects extension request in sealed bid submission timeline

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has rejected the request of Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) for extending the timeline for sealed bid submission for Spectrum Auction for Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS).

Sources revealed that the CMOs had requested the PTA for extending the timeline for sealed bid submission by at least three weeks. CMOs stated that there are a lot of internal approvals requirements, corporate governance requirements and the Board-level approvals to participate in the auction.

However, the PTA responded that enough time has been provided as per international practice and past precedence in Pakistan. The PTA published Information Memorandum on August 5, 2021 and the consultation period ended on the Spectrum Auction rules and procedures as set out in the Information Memorandum on August 26, 2021. Further changes to the Spectrum Auction rules and procedures and publication were notified on August 31, 2021.

Information session for prospective applicants; last opportunity for prospective applicants to ask questions and get clarification on specifics of the Spectrum Auction were scheduled on September 2, 2021, while the deadline for prospective applicants to submit application form and sealed-bid form with pre-bid deposits is September 9, 2021.

The PTA will notify qualified applicant(s) and further inform all qualified applicants whether the auction shall move to the electronic auction stage or the PTA declares qualified applicants as provisional winners on September 10, 2021.

If the PTA proceeds with the electronic auction stage, an information package containing confidential information and instructions to participate in the electronic auction stage is provided to those qualified applicants eligible to participate in that stage on September 13. Mock clock auction (1800 MHz and 2100 MHz), if required, for eligible qualified applicants will be held on September 14 and clock auction bidding will be starting, if required on September 15. SMRA auction bidding will start, if required, for eligible qualified applicants on September 16 and provisional winners will be announced for both spectrum bands on September 17, 2021.

In response to another query of CMOs that in the event there are unsold portions of 1800MHz band, where will these unsold assignments be placed in the band? At the beginning, at the end or elsewhere, the PTA responded that this will depend on the auction outcome though the PTA will seek to maintain contiguous spectrum holdings and recognized that a further rationalisation may be required once that unassigned spectrum is awarded. Any rationalization plan for 2100 MHz will be implemented with mutual consultation of CMOs, the authority added.

The CMOs asked that if there is a planned band rationalization for 2100MHz, what is the purpose of bidding for frequency specific blocks in 2100MHz band, the PTA responded that it sees merits in auctioning specific blocks in the 2100 MHz band, due to the prevailing uncertainties on the rationalization within this band and in recognition of CMOs’ demand for this spectrum may differ by block.

Jazz records strong growth, increased by 21 % year-on-year to cross Rs57 billion.

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-Technology)

Pakistan’s leading mobile network operator (MNO) has had yet another strong quarter. Topline at Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited (‘Jazz’) increased by 21 percent year-on-year to cross Rs57 billion in the quarter ended June 30, 2021, as per latest financial results posted by its parent Veon earlier this week. Ebitda grew by 14.5 percent year-on-year in 2QCY21 to reach Rs25 billion, yielding a 43 percent margin. Size and strategy seem to be keeping Jazz in a well-assured position of market leader.

The pace of yearly growth in operating revenues last quarter was the highest than in any quarter since 1QCY19. The key indicator – Average Revenue per User (ARPU) – has perked up to Rs249 per month in the latest quarter, growing by 8 percent over the ARPU during 2QCY20. Both the core mobile services and data revenues have shown handsome growth, with the data business especially prominent. However, ARPU has some way to climb before catching up with the recent peak of Rs272 per month (1QCY19).

Buoyed by strong growth in data subscriptions as well as higher data usage, data revenues at Jazz reached almost Rs21 billion in 2QCY21, showing a 31 percent yearly growth and accounting for 37 percent of overall operating revenues. As of June end, there were over 48 million data customers with Jazz, which is an 18 percent expansion compared to June 2020. Overall ARPU is improving in tandem. Data growth has come in the midst of an active pandemic, as more and more people find it essential to use digital means for the purpose of work, commerce, social interactions, education and remote health. Within the Jazz data user base, the number of 4G users stood at nearly 31 million as of June 2021, recording a massive jump of 61 percent since June 2020.

The corporate strategy is to improve concentration of 4G users in the subscription pie, as data services stand a much more favorable chance of monetization compared to voice and text services. Investments are being made accordingly, as the MNO spent roughly Rs16 billion on capital expenditure during the quarter (10% YoY growth), mainly to expand 4G networks. It is financing its capital expenditures mainly from local credit facilities.

The investment shows in growing 4G coverage, which has increased for Jazz from 56 percent of population area in June last year to 64 percent in June 2021. The “scale” that Jazz has amassed over the years after acquiring Warid and expanding its data networks allows it to better manage the headwinds of low revenue growth and rising operating expenditures that are proving challenging for other operators.

At the close of half-year, Jazz is on a strong footing. Revenues have grown by 16.5 percent to Rs112 billion in 1HCY21, with strong growth in data revenues and double-digit hike in mobile service revenues as well. Ebitda growth in the period was a bit lower at 11 percent to Rs50 billion, as the MNO is making high marketing investments in its brands, mainly JazzCash, which is showing a significant increase in its monthly active users. Let’s see what kind of firepower Jazz brings to the spectrum auction in a few weeks.

Apple hit with antitrust case over in-app payments issues

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Apple Inc (AAPL.O) is facing an antitrust challenge in India for allegedly abusing its dominant position in the apps market by forcing developers to use its proprietary in-app purchase system. The allegations are similar to a case Apple faces in the European Union, where regulators last year started an investigation into Apple’s imposition of an in-app fee of 30% for distribution of paid digital content and other restrictions.

The Indian case was filed by a little-known, non-profit group which argues Apple’s fee of up to 30% hurts competition by raising costs for app developers and customers, while also acting as a barrier to market entry.

“The existence of the 30% commission means that some app developers will never make it to the market … This could also result in consumer harm,” said the filing, which has been seen by Reuters.

Unlike Indian court cases, filings and details of cases reviewed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) are not made public. Apple and the CCI did not respond to a request for comment.

In the coming weeks, the CCI will review the case and could order its investigations arm to conduct a wider probe, or dismiss it altogether if it finds no merit in it, said a source familiar with the matter.

“There are high chances that an investigation can be ordered, also because the EU has been probing this,” said the person, who declined to be identified as the case details are not public.

The complainant, non-profit “Together We Fight Society” which is based in India’s western state of Rajasthan, told Reuters in a statement it filed the case in the interest of protecting Indian consumers and startups.

In India, though Apple’s iOS powered just about 2% of 520 million smartphones by end-2020 – with the rest using Android – Counterpoint Research says the U.S. firm’s smartphone base in the country has more than doubled in the last five years.

The Apple case in India comes just as South Korea’s parliament this week approved a bill that bans major app store operators like Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google and Apple from forcing software developers to use their payment systems.

 

Zain Ashraf Mughal gets prestigious global “ISDB” Award for out standing work.

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Zain Ashraf Mughal has truly been an inspiration for us all. He has achieved prestigious award for his continuous efforts to minimize poverty and helping the needy and deprived people through his outstanding work. Now He has achieved ISDB Award for sending thousands of children to school and running hundreds of families during the Corona Outbreak. Compared to 57 Islamic countries of four continents, Pakistan won the award for the first time in its 70-year history.

Zain Ashraf Mughal’s welfare organization sent 4,000 children to school during Corona. And made 1,400 deserving families entrepreneurs … Due to this good deed, Pakistan overtook 57 Islamic countries on four continents. Prime Minister Council member Zain Ashraf has previously won the Commonwealth Champion of Change Award and placed on the Forbes Social Entrepreneur under Thirty list. Aspiring to the mission of empowering deserving people and youth, the youth is determined to serve the people and the economy of the country by expanding this circle with each passing day.

Mahira khan receives criticism for acting “Ek Hai Nigar”

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Mahira Khan’s upcoming biopic on Nigar Johar is for all stands strong for women who burn for the love of their nation. Mahira, who traces the life and career of Pakistan’s first Lieutenant General, bravely depicts what it is like to be a woman of steel.

The second teaser of the telefilm dropped on Friday, where fans could spot the Verna star talking about securing a place for women in the army, through her commitment and excellence.

After Mahira Khan’s portrayal of Nigar Johar made it to social media, users have objected to the casting of the star in a show about the life of Pakistan’s first female Lieutenant General.

Many have claimed actors like Areeba Habib or Sanam Baloch could have fit the bill better, especially since Johar is body positive and body positivity should not be replaced like it’s something to shy away from. Others feel it is extremely insensitive to cast someone on the basis of their appearance and stardom, when they don’t even speak in the same dialect as the character, in this case, a real person, or look even remotely similar.

Ek Hai Nigar has been penned down by Umera Ahmad and directed by Adnan Sarwar. It has been produced under the banner of Nina Kashif and Mahira Khan’s production company Sulfur Films. Khan’s Superstar co-actor Bilal Ashraf is also playing a pivotal role in the drama serial.

Johar, on the other hand, is a recipient of the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military) and Fatima Jinnah Gold Medal Awards too, for her meritorious services in Army Medical Corps from the Prime Minister.