MORTEIN AND CARREFOUR Pakistan Join Hands To Fight For A Dengue-Free Pakistan

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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Pakistan’s No.1 choice against Dengue, Mortein, joins hands with Carrefour Pakistan, owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim in Pakistan to drive a nationwide awareness campaign against Dengue. The partnership will cover all Carrefour flagship stores across Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Faisalabad. This was announced during a press briefing held at the Carrefour located in Lahore’s Packages Mall.

With its clutter-breaking communication across platforms, Mortein will be spreading the message to millions in Pakistan, uniting them under the banner of #DengueNoMore.
Through its long-standing partnership with Carrefour, Mortein will be offering special discounted products to ensure that access to 100% protection is a right for all Pakistanis and not a privilege for few. The two parties will come together to spread the message through in-store promoters and pamphlets to customers.

Over the past few years Pakistan has suffered from more than 60,000 cases of Dengue; a deadly disease that has no vaccine and has the potential to impact the lives of millions in Pakistan.
Protection and prevention is the best possible cure against Dengue and with the changing weather and onset of rainfall; all Pakistanis are urged to take all possible precautions.

Commenting on the partnership, Akbar Ali Shah, Country Manager – Hygiene, RB said, “Lack of authentic information, and limited access to quality preventive products are two of the major causes for the Dengue outbreak that the country unfortunately faces every year. Which is why, at Reckitt Benckiser, we try our best to address these issues by reaching out to citizens through various channels including public service messages, key partnerships, media campaigns and of course the right product. We’re hoping that with all our efforts combined we will be able to help curtail the spread.”

Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan, makers of Mortein have been leading awareness drives as well as helping equip Pakistan to fight various fatal ailments including Dengue and CoVid-19. Previously the brand has also distributed their free of cost reputable product in High Dengue Infected Hospitals.

Addressing the importance of such collaborations, Jean-Marc Dumont, Country Manager of Carrefour Pakistan at Majid Al Futtaim Retail said, “At Carrefour Pakistan, we prioritize the safety and wellbeing of our customers above all else and strongly believe in providing them with the necessary means to keep healthy and practice high-standards of hygiene. Education and the right tools are key elements that can help in combatting the Dengue epidemic. Our partnership with Mortein underscores our values as a responsible brand that is committed to its communities by supporting them in the fight against this deadly virus.”

Apple’s silicon design centre in Germany to cost $1.2b

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BERLIN: Apple said on Wednesday it would establish a European silicon design centre in Munich, Germany, and invest more than 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) over the next three years in expanding its team there and in research and development.

Munich is already Apple’s largest engineering hub in Europe, with close to 1,500 engineers from 40 countries working in areas including power management design, application processors, and wireless technologies.

The new facility will be home to Apple’s growing cellular unit, and Europe’s largest R&D site for mobile wireless semiconductors and software, Apple said in a statement, adding that the team would focus on 5G and other wireless technologies.

The expansion follows a $600 million deal struck by Apple with Anglo-German chip designer Dialog Semiconductor in 2018 to bring in-house the teams designing the main power chips used in its iPhone and other devices.

Facebook launching ‘lite’ for countries having lower Bandwidth

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JERUSALEM: Facebook said it was launching a “lite” version of Instagram in 170 countries that will enable people with poor internet to access the photo and video sharing social networking service.

Instagram Lite will be available for Android-based phones and require less bandwidth than the traditional version.

The app itself requires just 2 megabytes (MB) – versus 30 MB for Instagram – and runs even on slower 2G networks, allowing customers in parts of India, Africa, Asia and Latin America with older internet infrastructure to access the service.

“These are the markets where there is the greatest need,” said Tzach Hadar, director of product management at Facebook in Tel Aviv, where the app was largely developed.

“It uses a lot less data so if you have a small data package you are not going to run out when you use the service. But the aim is for us to give the same breadth of experience you get on Instagram,” he told Reuters.

Hadar, who heads Facebook’s R&D in Israel, said 170 countries did not represent a full global launch, but “it’s a step on the way.”

He noted that other than TV and reels – for creating and sharing short video clips – Instagram Lite retained most key features of Instagram.

A lite version of Facebook itself has been available globally for five years.

In addition to the lite versions, Facebook in Tel Aviv also developed the Express WiFi service to bring internet access to some 20 countries in Africa, Asia, and South America.

Hadar said his team was now working on a digital wallet for Facebook. “You have close to 2 billion people that have no access or limited access to banks and financial services and there are tens of billions of dollars being spent just for fees for migrants wanting to send money back to their families,” he said.

Another initiative, he said, was Facebook Shops for small businesses to sell products online.

Malaysian non-Muslims can use word ‘Allah’, court rules

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 Malaysia: A Malaysian court ruled Wednesday that non-Muslims can use the word “Allah” to refer to God, in a major decision in a divisive issue for religious freedom in the country.

The High Court decision squashed a 35-year-old government ban on the usage of Allah and three other Arabic words by Christian publications, deeming the ban unconstitutional, said the plaintiff’s lawyer, Annou Xavier.

The government has previously said Allah should be reserved exclusively for Muslims to avoid confusion that could lead them to convert to other religions, a stance that is unique to Malaysia and hasn’t been an issue in other Muslim-majority nations with Christian minorities.

Christian leaders in Malaysia say the ban is unreasonable because Christians who speak the Malay language have long used Allah, a Malay word derived from Arabic, in their Bibles, prayers and songs.

The high court ruling appeared to contradict an earlier decision by the country’s Federal Court in 2014 that upheld the government ban following a legal challenge by the Roman Catholic Church, which had used the word Allah in its Malay-language newsletter.

LinkedIn China suspends new sign-ups to ´respect law´

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BEIJING: Microsoft-owned social network LinkedIn has halted new member sign-ups for its service in China while it reviews its compliance with local laws, the company said in a statement.

The careers-focused site has had a Chinese-language presence since 2014, when it decided to expand by agreeing to stick to strict censorship laws, and now has over 50 million users in the country. It is one of few international tech platforms to enjoy access to China, where all subjects considered politically sensitive are censored in the name of stability and internet giants are urged to block unwanted content online. “We´re a global platform with an obligation to respect the laws that apply to us, including adhering to Chinese government regulations for our localized version of LinkedIn in China,” the firm said in a notice dated Tuesday, without providing further details. Tech giants who refuse to comply with the smothering censorship laws, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, have long been blocked behind the country´s “Great Firewall”. Microsoft, however, operates LinkedIn by complying with the rules through a local joint venture. LinkedIn has been criticised in China for pulling the professional accounts of dissidents — which it later said was in error — and scratching politically sensitive content from its pages.

It was not immediately clear which laws had prodded LinkedIn´s suspension of sign-ups. Last week, Microsoft said a state-sponsored hacking group operating out of China was exploiting previously unknown security flaws in its Exchange email services to steal data from business users — although Beijing has previously hit back at US accusations of state-sponsored cybertheft. A LinkedIn spokesperson told Bloomberg that the move was not related to the hack. Microsoft´s journey in China has not been entirely smooth-sailing, with the company´s search engine Bing temporarily taken offline in 2019 — prompting speculation it had been blocked by censors. In 2014, Chinese competition authorities opened an anti-monopoly investigation against Microsoft and its Windows software, with inspectors raiding the group´s offices in four Chinese cities, confiscating files and questioning employees.

RUSSIA Rolls Out Face Capitalism With Facial Recognition Technology For Payments

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MOSCOW: From cameras criss-crossing the city to payment systems popping up at metro gates and supermarket checkouts, facial recognition is rapidly taking root in Moscow.

The initiative has gained ground since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with authorities using it as a tool to enforce lockdown measures while Russians increasingly turn to contactless payments.

But as the network grows with plans to expand across Russia, the technology is celebrated by some while alarming rights activists who warn about creeping state surveillance.

The latest development came Wednesday, as the country´s leading food retailer X5 group announced the rollout of a facial recognition payment system at dozens of its Moscow supermarkets. It said some 3,000 stores across the country will feature the technology by the end of the year.

“This is convenient for customers since they don´t have to carry a wallet or take their phone out of their pocket,” X5´s innovation director Ivan Melnik said.

“They can just use a button and pay with their face.” X5, which developed the technology along with the Visa payment system and Russia´s state giant Sberbank, promises that the system will protect user privacy, saying that it is secure against identity theft and transactions are encrypted.

Some Muscovites welcomed the digital revolution.

“It´s great because the 21st century is the era of technology,” 28-year-old banker Andrei Epifanov told media at a Moscow supermarket.

Visa said Wednesday its research showed that 70 percent of Russians plan to use the payment system, with the pandemic triggering increased demand for contactless transactions.

The service will only be available at self-service checkouts for Sberbank customers after the bank recently allowed its users to set up facial recognition so as to pay from their accounts.

Beyond supermarkets, Muscovites will now also be able to use facial recognition technology to pay for metro rides, the Interfax news agency reported earlier this month.

To use the “Face Pay” system, metro riders must have a bank account that has their biometric data on file, metro security service head Andrei Kichigin told Interfax. The collection of Russians´ biometric data is an initiative that authorities are working to expand, frustrated over slow progress since its launch in 2018, the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday.

It said authorities are hoping to increase the number of people who have signed over their biometric data from the current total of 164,000 to 70 million over the next two years.

“Without the delivery of biometrics, some public services may become inaccessible remotely,” a source close to the digital development ministry´s plans told Kommersant.

The increasing collection of biometric data and a sprawling network of some 100,000 facial recognition cameras in Moscow has sparked concerns from activists over state surveillance.

The worries began in particular when at the start of the pandemic Moscow used the surveillance cameras to monitor compliance with lockdown measures.

Faysal Bank Bags 5 Global Diversity & Inclusion Benchmark Awards

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Islamabad (Muhammad Yasir) Faysal Bank Limited was honored with five Global Diversity and Inclusion Benchmark (GDIB) Awards during a ceremony held recently in Karachi. The awards were conferred to Tahir Yaqoob Bhatti, Head Retail Banking Faysal Bank, by Sima Kamil, Deputy Governor State Bank of Pakistan, in the categories of Vision, Leadership, Structure, Recruitment and Development and Social Responsibility. Faysal Bank was ranked amongst the top 10 winners across all participating organizations and is the only Islamic Bank to win this coveted accolade.

Organized every year by the Diversity Hub HR Metrics and the Centre for Global Inclusion USA, GDIB awards serve to acknowledge and encourage organizations who showcase compliance with the values of Diversity and Inclusion, as set by GDIB standards, in their organizational policies for sustainable financial and social performance.

This recognition at the GDIB Awards 2021 is a testament to Faysal Bank’s constant commitment to inspiring a lasting change and creating an equitable world. Strategies ranging from gender diversity and disability inclusion to financial inclusion and health equity form the cornerstone of the Bank’s D&I initiatives that further reaffirm its efforts for a sustainable society.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Habiba Sulman, Head Diversity & Inclusion Faysal Bank, said, “As an organization that is on a transformation journey to becoming a full-fledged Islamic entity, principles of inclusion and equality are among the core values that guide our journey forward. Within the banking sector, Faysal Bank has the highest percentage of women employed relative to total workforce. The Bank is constantly working on eliminating any discrimination that may exist, disseminating equal opportunities to all and nurturing an inclusive environment where our internal and external stakeholders are empowered to the fullest.”

Danial Afzal Khan and Alizeh Shah starring in upcoming web-series: ‘Dhulan Aur 1 Raat’

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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) The talented and dashing fitness enthusiast, Danial Afzal Khan, after two blockbuster projects, will now be starring alongside the beautiful Alizeh Shah, in an upcoming horror-thriller web series called ‘Dhulan Aur 1 Raat’.
The web-series revolves around a bride and the events that unfold on the night of her wedding. The entire series will interestingly enough be a prolongation of one night. It has been penned down by Mansoor Syed, directed by Rao Ayaz Shahzad and produced by Farhan Gauher. 
When asked about the web-series, Danial went on to say, “When I read the script, I knew instantly that it is written marvelously, because storylines for thriller, horror films and series are mostly repetitive. This one seemed very intriguing and different to me, and I am glad to be a part of it”. 
The original web-series is all set to release on the 26th of February, 2021, on the new OTT streaming platform of Pakistan, UrduFlix.

Carrefour Pakistan and Mortein join hands for a dengue-free Pakistan

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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Pakistan’s No.1 choice brand against Dengue, Mortein, joined hands with Carrefour Pakistan, owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim in Pakistan, to drive a nationwide awareness campaign against Dengue. The partnership will cover all Carrefour flagship stores across Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Faisalabad. This was announced during a press briefing held at Carrefour store located in Lahore’s Packages Mall.

With its clutter-breaking communication across platforms, Mortein will be spreading the message to millions in Pakistan, uniting them under the banner of #DengueNoMore.
Through its long-standing partnership with Carrefour, Mortein will be offering special discounted products to ensure that access to 100% protection becomes a right for all Pakistanis and not a privilege for few. Both entities will come together to spread the message through in-store promoters and pamphlets to customers.

Over the past few years Pakistan has suffered from more than 60,000 cases of Dengue; a deadly disease that has no vaccine and has the potential to impact the lives of millions in Pakistan.
Protection and prevention is the best possible cure against Dengue and with the changing weather and onset of rainfall; all Pakistanis are urged to take all possible precautions.

Commenting on the partnership, Akbar Ali Shah, Country Manager – Hygiene, RB said, “Lack of authentic information and limited access to quality preventive products are two of the major causes for the Dengue outbreak that the country unfortunately faces every year. Which is why, at Reckitt Benckiser, we try our best to address these issues by reaching out to citizens through various channels including public service messages, key partnerships, media campaigns and of course the right product. We’re hoping that with all our efforts combined we will be able to help curtail the spread.”

Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan, manufacturers of Mortein, have been leading awareness drives as well as helping equip Pakistan to fight various fatal ailments including Dengue and Covid-19. Previously the brand has also distributed their free of cost reputable product in high dengue infected hospitals.

Addressing the importance of such collaborations, Jean-Marc Dumont, Country Manager of Carrefour Pakistan at Majid Al Futtaim Retail said, “At Carrefour Pakistan, we prioritize the safety and wellbeing of our customers above all else and strongly believe in providing them with the necessary means to stay healthy and practice high-standards of hygiene. Having awareness about dengue preventive measures and effective products are crucial to combat this dengue epidemic. Our partnership with Mortein underscores our values as a responsible brand that is committed to its communities by supporting them in the fight against this deadly virus.”

Hisense Residential AC manufacturing facility in Karachi

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Tri-Angels Electronics Pvt. Ltd. commenced state of the art Air conditioner plant in Karachi to manufacture world renowned Hisense residential AC to provision the Pakistani market

 

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Tri-Angels Electronics Pvt. Ltd., Pakistan’s exclusive licensed company for the Hisense brand, has expanded its manufacturing capacity to include residential air conditioners. The facility has the capacity to produce 100K units of residential ACs annually with an investment of 1.3 million USD. The facility provides state-of-the-art testing rooms with latest technology equipment monitoring high ambient environment for best performance.

It is already manufacturing and distributing the latest LED TV as well as Laser TV of Hisense in the country and with this current expansion, they have enhanced their product portfolio to provide consumers Residential Air Conditioner in Pakistan with more viable options ahead of the summer season. It offers air conditioners from Hisense which is branded as the Inverter AC expert in two categories which include Split and Floor Standing types.

Speaking at the occasion, Tri-Angels Electronics Pvt. Ltd. CEO, Mr. Imran Ghani said; “Pakistan and its consumers are always looking for latest and innovative options when it comes to electronics. Here at Tri-Angels Electronics, it is our goal and responsibility to fulfil Pakistani consumer needs with updated technology. With Hisense’s sophisticated technology and production capabilities we aim to offer Inverter-Smart AC with wifi, solar air conditioners and I-feel functions benefitting the customers across the country.”

Hisense has always adhered to the core values of “Integrity, Innovation, Customer Focus, and Sustainability” that covers areas including multimedia, home appliances, IT intelligent information and modern service industries. Hisense has ranked first in China market share for 16 consecutive years. In 2019, sales share of Hisense TV omni-channel ranked NO.1 in the Chinese market.

Since the inception of the Brand, Hisense has been actively contributing & participating in High profile activities doing back-to-back campaigns such as Pakistan VS Australia cricket series, Euro 2020, F5WC, FutGoal, Leisure Leagues, Yearly Trade Hungama and many other marketing activities to reach out to its potential target consumers.

Tri-Angels Electronics Pvt. Limited is an ISO 9001 Certified organization, now grown into a large corporate company over the years with a branch network spread over 8 cities with a nationwide network of around 450 dealers spread over urban, rural and metropolitan areas of Pakistan. The company also provides after Sales support through 8 company owned Service Centers and 37 contractual workshops spread all around Pakistan.