“The most special moment in my life was when I became a father”: Wahaj Ali

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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) There are certain moments in life which are very special to you. The minute they happen, you just know, that this is the moment you will look back too and everything else that you have done to be in that moment will be worth it. 

Peek FreansPik recently started a series called ‘KhaasLamha’. The series is a casual short interview session and the very first episode is with the charming Wahaj Ali. He gives a lot of thought to all his answers and answers effortlessly. Perhaps the sweetest part of this “KhaasLamha’ with Wahaj is when he said that becoming a father was the most special moment in his life. Being a parent really is a life-changing moment for you. The minute you hold your little one in your arms, everything changes. 

We see a side of Wahaj Ali in this interview which is normally overlooked, he’s got such a down-to-earth, sweet persona that he has maintained throughout his career and given fans a reason to look up to him. Don’t forget to check out “KhaasLamha” with Wahaj Ali.

realme number series upgraded

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realme number series upgraded with realme 8 & realme 8 Pro featuring 108 MP camera innovation; expected to launch soon in Pakistan.

The fastest-growing smartphone brand, realme has been committed to bringing nothing but the best to market since its arrival. The brand has globally launched its realme 8 series that  on March 24, 2021. realme 8 series includes two models, realme 8 Pro and realme 8. The phones are expected to land in Pakistan real soon with the price somewhere between PKR 55,000 and PKR 66,000.

Technological advancement is touching new boundaries day by day. We have put efforts into optimizing the hardware for better photo quality and offering more camera features which are the world’s first and available on professional cameras only to give customers a better camera experience.  realme held an online Camera Innovation Event announcing its first 108MP camera in the then-upcoming realme 8 series. Along with the 108 MP camera, we have world’s first Starry Time-lapse Video, world’s first tilt-shift time-lapse video and new Potrait filters.

Both realme 8 and 8 Pro will be power-packed with unique features and trendy design. Crafted with excellence, the realme 8 series shall bring trendsetting features in the camera, vividly immersive display, powerful performance, and fast charging capabilities. The phones come with sharper photo quality, the world’s first tilt-shift time-lapse video, starry time-lapse video, and new portrait filters. Based on the advanced 108MP sensor, realme provides lots of deep optimizations and exciting features.

This is some exciting news for Pakistani customers coming with a “Capture the Infinity” theme. This is the first time realme is bringing a smartphone equipped with a 108MP camera. The 108MP Ultra Quad Camera shall have a Samsung HM2 Sensor along with Upgraded ultra–clear 108MP Mode and a 119° ultra-wide-angle lens. Not only this, the phone shall have a special Starry Mode and filters to better facilitate the photography enthusiasts. 

So get ready to take photos with a well-balanced overall exposure, vivid colors, and sharp details with the 108MP realme 8 Pro soon. Stay tuned to realme’s social media sites for more insight on these upcoming phones which shall be launching very soon in Pakistan!

12th Karachi Literature Festival Goes Virtual Theme: Words in the time of Lockdown

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Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) The Karachi Literature Festival, which was founded in 2010, organized by the Oxford University Press (OUP) is back with its12th edition. Keeping the precautionary measures due to COVID-19 pandemic this year, the literary festival is entirely being held digitally. Bank of Punjab as a lead sponsor for the event. As per the yearly tradition, Getz Pharma will be giving away literary prizes sponsored by them in the following categories: Urdu Prose, Urdu Poetry and English Fiction.

The theme of this year`s Festival is: Imagining New Frontier. With the focus on ‘Living in a new reality’, the virtual edition of KLF is bringing forth thought-provoking discussionson a world post-Covid pandemic.

Arshad Saeed Husain, the Managing Director of Oxford University Press Pakistan said, “The pandemic has compelled us to imagine new frontiers of medicine, vaccines, digital learning and working from home. The pandemic has brought world closer together to find out of the box creative solutions. Vaccines have been developed in record time, schools have overcome lock downs through technology and use of electronic mediums.  We need to re-imagine safe work environment whether in office, home or in schools. The world is already re-structuring delivery methods with digital and blended tools of learning”.

The aims of this Virtual Edition of KLF remain the same as previous KLF’s: to developinteraction between writers, intellectuals, and artists within Pakistan and acrossborders, cultures, and languages, and to nurture and promote books and inculcate the habitof reading. Despite the pandemic, this Virtual Edition ofKLF will continue to put Pakistan on the mapas a country rich in culture, creativity, and exchange of ideas and opinions. KLF bringstogether and celebrates Pakistani and international authors.

The Keynote address was delivered by Vali Nasr, an Iranian-American academic and author specializing in the Middle East and the Islamic world. He served as Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C. from 2012 to 2019.

The Virtual Karachi Literature Festivalwill be a 3-day event starting on Friday, 26 March and will conclude on Sunday 28, March 2021. It will feature more than 140 speakers including, Zehra Nigah, Tarik Ali, Maleeha Lodhi, Ben Okri, Ahdaf Soueif, Victoria Schofield, Ishrat Hussain,and Anita Weiss to name a few, who are representing 12 different countries i.e. including Pakistan, UK, USA, Australia, Bangladesh, Iran, Egypt, France, Germany, Dubai, India, Kenya. There are 42 sessions with debates/discussions, talks, mushairas (poetry recitals) in both Urduand English, book launches, and readings on subjects such as education, Covid-19,science fiction, and current affairs have been lined up for the Festival.

Victoria Schofield’s book Fragrance of Tears: My Friendship with Benazir Bhutto was launched. There were sessions on Cartooning, Counter-Revolutionary Wave in the Arab World, Anti-Colonialism, conversation with Paul Harding and a dedicated session on Shams Ur Rehman Farooqi, an eminent Urdu laureate.

While the roots of KLF are nourished by the rich traditions of our heritage, KLF will look forward to the future and explore new writings, new trends, and new technologies,and provide a platform for younger authors and scholars.

Please join us online for the 12th Karachi Literature Festival for an enjoyable experience.

Saba Qamar sets example by renewing driving liscence

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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Renowned actress, celebrity and photogenic personality Saba Qamar got his driving liscence renowned. For this purpose she visited the Ichhra Police Station where renewal facility is going on satisfactorily. She expressed satisfaction for the services being provided by Ichhar police personnel for renewal of driving liscences. Saba appealed to the general public that for the sake of precious lives, everyone should avail this facility at Ichhra Police Station’s public-friendly environment.

It is worthwhile to mention that the Lahore City Traffic Police finally introduced a digital driver’s license issuance system. It is the system that has been fully rolled out and now, the applicants will not have to wait in long queues for multiple hours to obtain or renew their driver’s licenses.

Procedure to get digital driving liscence:

(a)        At first stage the applicant gets a token number and a photograph is taken with a computerized theoretical, multiple-choice-based test.

(b)        In final stage, the applicant performs a driving test. When driving test is cleared, the candidates obtains license.

 

First female Audio-Video host Kanwal Naseer passes away

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Lahore (NUT DESK)  Pakistan”s first female television and radio host, artist and renowned broadcaster Kanwal Naseer died on Thursday after brief illness in Islamabad at the age of 73, said PTV home in a tweet.

Kanwal Naseer has been suffering from diabetes and has been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Islamabad for the past few days. Born in 1948 in Lahore, Naseer had various feathers on her cap as she was the first female anchor, first female newscaster, and first female announcer of Pakistan Television.

She joined the media at the age of 17, remained associated with PTV and Radio Pakistan for five decades. She made her first announcement at the PTV on 26th November, 1964. She has been awarded with Pride of Performance and numerous other national awards in recognition of her services. Kanwal Naseer was the daughter of legend actor Mohini Hameed (Apa Shamim) and mother-in-law of PTI Secretary Information Ahmed Jawad.

Legend of ‘Ankahi, Tanhaiyaan, Kiran Kahani’ Haseena Moin no more

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Lahore (NUT DESK) Renowned dramatist and playwright Haseena Moin has passed away in Karachi due to cardiac arrest on, her family confirmed on Friday. Her nephew Moin Saeed said that her funeral prayer will be held today after Asar prayer in North Nazimabad.

She had written several plays for stage, radio and television, some of which have even gained international repute. She was the recipient of the Pride of Performance award for her services to the performing arts in Pakistan. She wrote Pakistan”s first original script ”Kiran Kahani” aired in the early-1970s. She was considered to be the best playwright and dramatist Pakistan has ever witnessed.

She wrote some of the most popular dramas which gained international repute include Ankahi, Tanhaiyaan, Kiran Kahani, Dhoop Kinaray, Aahat, Uncle Urfi, Shehzori, Kohar, Des Pardes, Pal Do Pal, Aansoo, Kasak, Parchaiyan (1976) and Parosi.Other notable works include Mere Dard ko Jo Zuban Milay, Kaisa Yeh Junoon, Dhundle Raaste, Shayad ke Bahar Aaye, Mohim Joo, Tum Se Mil Kar, Bandish and Zer Zabar Paish.

W seeks damages from ex-CEOs over dieselgate scandal

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BERLIN (NUT DESK) German auto giant Volkswagen said Friday it would seek unspecified damages from two former CEOs over the “dieselgate” emissions cheating scandal that has cost it tens of billions of euros.

The company said in a statement it would demand compensation from Martin Winterkorn, ex-chief executive of the group, as well as Rupert Stadler, former head of its Audi division, for “breach of duty” in connection with the affair. The Volkswagen group was plunged into crisis in 2015 when it admitted to installing cheating software in 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide to dupe pollution tests. The scandal, based on allegations from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has so far cost the German car giant more than 30 billion euros ($35 billion) in fines, legal costs and compensation.

The group said in its statement Friday that it had completed an internal investigation begun in October 2015 into the “causes and those responsible for the diesel crisis”.”Breaches of duty by other members of the company board were not found,” it said. In a letter to staff seen by media, the group supervisory board said the claims for damages against Winterkorn and Stadler were part of a thorough reckoning owed to “our workforce, our customers, shareholders as well as the regions where our sites are located and, not least, the government”.

Global money market funds get highest inflows in 13 weeks, Lipper data show

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NUT (DESK) Global investors put more cash in safer money market funds in the week ended March 24, on resurgent worries over coronavirus infections and fresh lockdowns in some parts of Europe.

Global money market funds received inflows of $42.6 billion in the week, the biggest in 13 weeks, data from Refinitiv Lipper showed.

Meanwhile, equity funds received inflows of $23.2 billion, a 34% decline compared with the previous week, and bond funds got $6.94 billion, a 17% drop.

During the week, investors were also spooked by other concerns, such as U.S. and European sanctions over China, the abrupt dismissal of Turkey’s central bank chief and the cost of infrastructure spending and potential tax increases to pay for President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief bill.

Among equity funds, inflows into cyclical sectors such as financials and industrials slowed on rising doubts over a faster economic recovery from the pandemic, as coronavirus cases increased around the world.

However, investors shunned safer precious metal funds, which faced an outflow of $409 million in the week, as a stronger dollar crimped commodity prices.

Among bond funds, investors purchased about $4.4 billion in U.S. short- to medium-term bond funds and $1.4 in inflation-linked bond funds.

Meanwhile, global corporate bond funds suffered a combined net outflow of $4.27 billion in the week, the biggest since early April 2020.

An analysis of 23,669 emerging-market funds showed equity funds attracted $857 million in inflows, the lowest in 11 weeks. Bond funds got inflows of $301 million.

New wave of ‘hacktivism’ adds twist to cybersecurity woes

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NUT (DESK) At a time when U.S. agencies and thousands of companies are fighting off major hacking campaigns originating in Russia and China, a different kind of cyber threat is re-emerging: activist hackers looking to make a political point.

Three major hacks show the power of this new wave of “hacktivism” – the exposure of AI-driven video surveillance being conducted by the startup Verkada, a collection of Jan. 6 riot videos from the right-wing social network Parler, and disclosure of the Myanmar military junta’s high-tech surveillance apparatus.

And the U.S. government’s response shows that officials regard the return of hacktivism with alarm. An indictment last week accused 21-year-old Tillie Kottmann, a Swiss hacker who took credit for the Verkada breach, of a broad conspiracy.

“Wrapping oneself in an allegedly altruistic motive does not remove the criminal stench from such intrusion, theft and fraud,” Seattle-based Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman said.

According to a U.S. counter-intelligence strategy released a year ago, “ideologically motivated entities such as hacktivists, leaktivists, and public disclosure organizations,” are now viewed as “significant threats,” alongside five countries, three terrorist groups, and “transnational criminal organizations.”

Earlier waves of hacktivism, notably by the amorphous collective known as Anonymous in the early 2010s, largely faded away under law enforcement pressure. But now a new generation of youthful hackers, many angry about how the cybersecurity world operates and upset about the role of tech companies in spreading propaganda, are joining the fray.

And some former Anonymous members are returning to the field, including Aubrey Cottle, who helped revive the group’s Twitter presence last year in support of the Black Lives Matter protests.

Anonymous followers drew attention for disrupting an app that the Dallas police department was using to field complaints about protesters by flooding it with nonsense traffic. They also wrested control of Twitter hashtags promoted by police supporters.

“What’s interesting about the current wave of the Parler archive and Gab hack and leak is that the hacktivism is supporting antiracist politics or antifascism politics,” said Gabriella Coleman, an anthropologist at McGill University, Montreal, who wrote a book on Anonymous.

Gab, a social network favored by white nationalists and other right-wing extremists, has also been hurt by the hacktivist campaign and had to shut down for brief periods after breaches.

41 000 toilets under Open defecation free Punjab project

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Lahore (NUT DESK) The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) has carried out a project “Open defecation-free Punjab” (ODF) successfully in the province to create a healthy environment. The PHED official sources told media on Friday that the first phase of the project had been completed in 10 districts of the province, adding that 41,000 toilets had been constructed by mutual contribution of the government and community.

He said that during the first phase, two million people were imparted awareness through a campaign via mass media, print media, social media, fixing messages on key points of villages. He said that the ODF evaluation of the villages was being carried out by the district ODF evaluation committees in 802 villages in phase-1 nowadays. He said that ODF phase-II would be started during April 2021 in the districts where planning for the project had been under progress. He said that the government had sanctioned Rs 125 million per year budget for the project. Under the three-year programme, the Punjab government, in collaboration with UNICEF, would be constructing around two hundred thousand toilets for 1.3 million population in around 1,775 high-risk villages across the province.

In Punjab, 13 per cent of the population still practises open defecation. A total of 125,000 household toilets would be constructed on self-help basis, and the government would educate people to adopt sanitation practices. Cost of 70,000 toilets for the poorest factions of society would be managed by the department, in collaboration with UNICEF. The government has chosen districts on the basis of Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey 2018, which includes Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Lodhran, Bhakkar, Khushab, Chiniot and Jhang. These districts have open defecation ratio between 20% to 38%. Under the programme, 1,775 most vulnerable villages are being covered.The ODF project was inaugurated by Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar on March 6, 2020 aiming to end the practice from the province.