'World's longest aircraft' unveiled in Britain

An airship-type vehicle billed by its makers as world's longest aircraft was unveiled in Britain.

LONDON (AFP) - An airship-type vehicle billed by its makers as the world's longest aircraft currently in operation was unveiled in Britain on Friday.
The Airlander, which was originally developed for the US military, is 300 feet (91 metres) long, according its British maker Hybrid Air Vehicles.
The environmentally friendly helium-filled behemoth is designed to stay airborne for up to three weeks and can carry up to 60 tonnes, the company said.
It was shown off on Friday in a giant hangar in Cardington, central England, where great British airships of the past were built, including the ill-fated R101.
The R101 crashed in 1930 on its maiden voyage, killing 48 passenger and crew.
The new craft is longer than the current record holder, the Russian Antonov An-225, which is 84 metres long, and the Boeing 747-8, at 76 metres long.
But it is dwarfed by airships of the past such as the German zeppelin the Hindenburg, which was 244 metres long.
Filled with hydrogen, the Hindenburg famously crashed in the United States in 1937, killing 36 people.
The Airlander is essentially three streamlined airship-type bodies merged into one with wings and rotary engines.
It was built for the US military but the latter cancelled the contract after it was delivered.
Its makers, who have received a 2.5 million pounds ($4.1 million, 3.0 million euro) British government grant, now say they intend to build hundreds of the aircraft.
British Business Secretary Vince Cable said the "innovative" craft "has the potential to lead the world in its field".
Posted by : Muhammad Usman

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Smart watches, braclets: the new mobile phenomenon

Connected by wireless technology to the handset, they let users take calls and check emails or text.

BARCELONA (AFP) - Smartphone-connected watches and bracelets have emerged as the technological phenomenon for 2014 as manufacturers rush for new sources of revenues.
At the industry s biggest annual fair, the February 23-27 World Mobile Congress in Barcelona, Spain, players from global leader Samsung to China s Huawei and Sony Mobile released a string of such devices.
Connected by wireless Bluetooth technology to the handset, they let users take calls and check emails or text messages. Many now offer to track your every step, read your heart rate, and even monitor your sleep pattern.
Mobile titan Samsung showed off a Gear 2 watch with sports tracking software, a heart rate sensor and camera; and a sleek Gear Fit bracelet, also with a pulse sensor, featuring a curved touch screen that wraps around your wrist.
China s Huawei presented its TalkBand B, which has a pedomotor and pop-out earpiece for taking calls.
Sony Mobile is banking on its SmartBand SWR10, which keeps a record of your movements; the photographs you take; your communications and even the music you listen to. It will measure your sleep cycle, too, to decide the best moment to wake you.
South Korea s LG said it would release a smart watch this year.
The big question mark in the industry is whether Samsung s archrival Apple, which traditionally skips the mobile fair, is developing a much-awaited iWatch or similar mobile device.
As smartphone sales slow in mature markets such as the United States or Western Europe, such connected objects offer a chance to pry open the wallets of consumers reluctant to update their devices.
Global smartphone sales surged 42.3 percent to 968 million units last year, powered by demand for cheaper devices in developing markets, according to industry research group Gartner Inc.
Yet sales in mature, more profitable markets actually slowed, it said.
Research house Canalys predicts sales of connected bracelets and watches, however, will surge to 17 million units this year, and 45 million in 2017.
In Barcelona, manufacturers showed off some examples, from a connected basketball that can improve your shot to a smart toothbrush that gives you tips on technique.
"The world is approaching a tipping point in technology," Nokia chairman and interim chief executive Risto Siilasmaa told reporters in Barcelona.
"We see a world where connectivity will expand massively, linking everyone and everything, altogether tens or hundreds of billions of physical objects."
Objects would be aware of their location, temperature, motion, and chemical composition, while also being capable of communicating to each other, said the head of Nokia, whose handset division is being taken over by Microsoft.

-  Massive  data flows -
"Massive flows of information will come from these objects, making today s data traffic look modest," Siilasmaa said.
Excluding computers, phones and tablets, there were 175 million connected objects in 2013, a market worth 24.2 billion euros ($33.0 billion), according to research house Idate.
That figure is predicted to rise to 470 million objects generating revenue of 40 billion euros by 2017, Idate said.
Market analysts booz&co estimated that 80 percent of revenue in the connected objects industry will go to information service providers such as Google, not the networks.
Yet as networks becomes more advanced, the operators can gather greater volumes of real-time, potentially lucrative data about each of their users.
As operators learn to analyse each user s location, surroundings and habits, that information could spark a boom in personalised advertising, providing customers opt-in, analysts say.
Improved location and personal data-based advertising could generate as much as $44 billion a year in revenue by 2017 for network operators, according to a study by mobile network technology group Syniverse.
Indeed, research house Gartner Inc. predicts that global mobile advertising will grow from an expected $18 billion this year to $42 billion in just three years, helped in part by geolocation-based publicity drawing in smaller, local advertisers.
Posted By :: Muhammad Usman

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Army operation if Taliban talks fail: Irfan Siddiqi 

LAHORE - Prime Minister's special adviser and member of government's negotiating team Irfan Siddiqi said the doors for talks were not completely closed, saying that it’s good if talks can resolve issues otherwise military forces will conduct operation.
Talking to Dunya News, Irfan Siddiqi said the talks faced delay, adding that talks will only be held with those interested in dialogue process while action will be taken against those involved in violent activities.
The negotiator said the policy of government was clear, adding that the same message was sent to Taliban from all front and backdoors.
PM’s special adviser also maintained that the Taliban will have to announce unconditional ceasefire to resume stalled talks.
Irfan Siddiqi said the government cannot tolerate more incidents of terrorism. He said state writ would be reestablished in all regions of Pakistan.



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Pakistan among top three contributors in NEPA, Microsoft

 

KARACHI: Pakistan is among the top three contributors to Microsoft’s business in North Africa Eastern Mediterranean and Pakistan (NEPA) – one of 13 business regions for the company worldwide – according to a top official of the Washington-based technology giant.

“Pakistan is one of the top three countries [in NEPA] for Microsoft in terms of contribution to the business,” said Aamer Kaleem who is Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Worldwide Communications Sales Team at Microsoft Corp and based in Chicago.
The CTO stated this during an interview with The Express Tribune earlier this month. He was in Karachi to address Pakistan’s corporate customers in an event about unified communications, which also featured their flagship enterprise solution ‘Lync’.
Kaleem’s visit endorses the company’s official stance that Pakistan is a growing market for the tech giant with a lot of business opportunities.
It is perhaps for the same reason that MS sent to the country the man who has global responsibilities to drive revenue and deployments for Lync business – the CTO along with his local team briefed corporate customers about worldwide enterprise communication trends and discussed how customers in Pakistan could benefit from Microsoft Lync.
Besides contribution to the business, there are several other trends that are driving the company’s interest in the market.
In the NEPA region, a cluster of up to 10 countries, Pakistan ranks very high in technology adoption and in solutions applied by the customers, Kaleem said.
“Pakistan is a new emerging market with a huge potential,” Kaleem said. Though it may sound strange but sometimes people here get the latest products first than the mature market, he added. “Pakistani customers are more nimble; they are more adaptive to technology [compared to the regional markets].”
Talking about market potential for Lync, Kaleem said Pakistanis are very hungry to consume more in communications “just like they have used WhatsApp and Viber”. In terms of enterprise, Lync is no different, he said drawing a contrast with such social media apps.
The CTO’s optimism about the Pakistani market is understandable as their enterprise solution is already getting some attention.
“In Pakistan, a majority of the top tier banks are using Lync,” Kaleem said. The customers who have adopted Lync as a collaboration platform include banks, telecommunication companies and educational institutes, he said – the customers are ready to take communication to the next level now, he said. For example, he said a provincial government in Pakistan was going for citizen connection and is using these communication platforms from Microsoft. “I have seen this happen in a developed country like Canada and USA,” Kaleem said.
Explaining the technology, Kaleem said Lync has multiple elements. “It has software element offering software to software or PC to PC collaboration and then there is telephony system, which is new to market,” he said. The purpose of this event was to introduce the telephony part to the customers, he said.
The software giant launched Lync in 2007 and rebranded it three years ago. With the acquisition of Skype, Microsoft now has 350 million active users. While Skype is a consumer product, the company is branding Lync as its enterprise product.
Lync can be used for the emergency services management, Kaleem said responding to the question how the country can benefit from the product. Secondly, he said, it can be used for good governance. Lync offers consumer solutions, which can benefit politicians, social institutions, healthcare institutions, education sector and law enforcement agencies, he said – these institutions can provide useful information to the public using this platform.
While the country remains on the radar of tech giants like MS for it forms a large customer base for technology products, its talented workforce also serves as a base to export bright minds these organizations.
“In Microsoft, there are a lot of Pakistanis on senior positions,” Kaleem said. “That’s mainly because they have proven their worth, and not because they are Pakistanis.”
Posted by ::Muhammad Usman

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TECH NEWS:::Huawei anticipates arrival of 3G to unlock further growth

 DAWN TO DUSK NEWS::::::

LAHORE: Recent developments in the spectrum auction process have charged up smartphone producers.

One such producer, Huawei Technologies Pakistan (HTP), is looking to increase its footprint in the market, which it believes will start maturing only after it incorporates third generation (3G) technology.
“People believe the smartphone market in Pakistan has already matured,” said Fraz Malik Khan, head of marketing at HTP۔ “I believe this is not the scenario as 3G is yet to come, which, if incorporated as scheduled, would approximately double the number of smartphone users in Pakistan.”
The claim regarding smartphone penetration in Pakistan is a healthy sign for the overall market. Pakistan currently has 15 million smartphone users and Khan intends to make HTP the market leader.
HTP started its operations in Pakistan back in June 2012 by launching its first smartphone P-1. After a lack of initial success, the company revamped its strategy a year later to align with the marketing strategy. This was the time when the company’s flagship product, the P-6, was launched globally. The product helped the company grab a foothold in the market against competitors like QMobile and Samsung.
The company claims that before the re-launch, its sales graph was hovering around 4,000 units per month, which then peaked to around 40,000 as of January. “Our flagship product is extremely popular and as of today we are unable to meet the demand for this product,” Khan said. “With the arrival of 3G services, we will be in a position to be number one selling brand in Pakistan as our research and development infrastructure supports this technology, and this will eventually boost our sales graph,” he added.
Huawei is currently importing around 45,000 units per month, while Samsung imports between 50,000 to 60,000. According to Khan, sales of their high-end products are higher than their low-end products. The price factor of their flagship product allows the company to be more competitive compared to Samsung.
Commenting on the company’s future plans, Khan said that they cannot rule out infrastructural investments by Huawei in Pakistan. “Though I cannot confirm anything at this point, I believe that the country’s premier has already communicated to Huawei to make a resource centre in Pakistan.”
Posted by :: Muhammad Usman

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Israel limits Friday access to Al-Aqsa Mosque

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli police said they will limit access for Muslim men to Jerusalem s Al-Aqsa mosque compound during Friday prayers to prevent possible clashes following services.
Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said on Thursday that men under the age of 50 will be barred from Friday prayers, based on intelligence of plans for unrest, with security forces bolstering their presence in the area.
The decision comes after police clashed with stone-throwing Palestinians at the compound on Tuesday, hours ahead of a debate in the Israeli parliament on Jews  right to pray at the compound, which is currently denied.
The discussion, which did not result in a vote or any practical measures, sparked fury in the Muslim world, with the parliament of Jordan -- the custodian of the site -- voting to expel Israel s envoy and its premier warning Amman might review its peace treaty with Israel.
And the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on Wednesday condemned the debate as a "dangerous escalation," calling it part of Israel s goal to "Judaise Jerusalem."
The flashpoint compound sits above the Western Wall plaza and houses the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa mosque, and is Islam s third-holiest site.
It is also Judaism s holiest place, being the site of the first and second Jewish temples.
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Boeing unveils a 'self-destruct' smartphone

 
Boeing has unveiled a smartphone that appears to come straight from a James Bond spy movie.

(Ruters) - In addition to encrypting calls, any attempt to open the casing of the Boeing Black Smartphone deletes all data and renders the device inoperable.
The secure phone marks an extension of the communications arm of the Chicago-based aerospace and defence contractor, which is best known for jetliners and fighter planes.
Such a phone might have prevented damage to Washington’s diplomacy in Ukraine from a leaked telephone call. A senior US State Department officer and the ambassador to Ukraine apparently used unencrypted mobile phones for a call about political developments in Ukraine that became public.
Boeing’s tamper-proof phone is aimed at government agencies and contractors who need to keep communication and data secure, according to Boeing and filings with the US Federal Communications Commission.
Made in the United States, the phone runs on Google’s Android operating system. The 5.2-by-2.7-inch handset, slightly larger than an iPhone, uses dual SIM cards to enable it to access multiple cell networks instead of a single network like a normal mobile phone.
Due to the phone’s security features, Boeing is releasing few details about the wireless network operators or manufacturer it is working with, and has not provided a price or date by which the phone might be widely available, but said it has begun offering the phone to potential customers.
Boeing’s website says the phone can be configured to connect with biometric sensors or satellites. Other attachments can extend battery life or use solar power.
The phone can operate on the WCDMA, GSM and LTE frequency bands and offers WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.
The company has been developing the phone for 36 months, said Boeing spokeswoman Rebecca Yeamans.
“We saw a need for our customers in a certain market space” that Boeing could meet with its technology expertise, she said.
A sample purchase contract submitted to the FCC says the phone would be sold directly by Boeing or its agents.
Yeamans said Boeing combined its own engineers with the talent of people who joined Boeing recently through acquisitions that included Argon ST Inc, Digital Receiver Technology, Kestrel Enterprises, Ravenwing, and Solutions Made Simple.
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Dasti to submit evidence to NA Speaker on Monday

The parliment of pakistan:

Interior Ministers termed Jamshed Dasti's allegations baseless.

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Jamshed Dasti, an independent member in the National Assembly, has vowed to provide evidence of immoral activities at parliament lodges to NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Monday, Dunya News reported on Friday.
Dasti said he can provide evidence that liquor worth millions of rupees is annually supplied to the parliament lodges.
He claimed that lawmakers also bring the girls to the parliament lodges for dance parties, adding that air around the parliament lodges always carries the stench of alcohol and hashish.
He also contended the lawmakers to undergo a medical checkup to prove him wrong.
Earlier today, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar termed MNA Jamshed Dasti’s allegations regarding immoral activities at parliament lodges baseless.
Addressing the NA session, the Minister said all vehicles except MNA and senators are thoroughly checked before entering the lodges, adding that 23 cameras are also installed at the vicinity.

Nisar said the police assured that no immoral activities were held at lodges.

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Govt, PTI agree on strategy of talks, surgical strikes against militants:according to sources

The meeting  b/w Imran and Nisar

The sources claim that the PTI chief and the interior minister met two days ago in Islamabad.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has agreed with the strategy of the government about banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
According to the sources, PTI chief Imran Khan held a meeting with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in Islamabad two days ago.
The sources added that both the leaders discussed the strategy to continue talks with Taliban and surgical strikes against the militants simultaneously.
The sources added that the meeting took place two days ago and PTI chief Imran Khan agreed with the strategy of the government over the issue of Taliban.
Both the leaders were on same page regarding the strategy of talks with Taliban and targeted operation in North Waziristan, the sources said.
The sources told that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaderships also contacted and discussed the issue of evacuation of the residents from conflict-affected areas.
On the other hand, speaking in the National Assembly during question hour, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday said that neither a military operation is being carried out in the tribal areas nor any decision of this sort has been taken as yet. He said the decision of military operation will be taken with consultation.
About the plight of people migrating from the tribal areas‚ the Minister assured that a policy framework will be evolved in the next few days to provide all possible relief to those people.
He informed the House that 1,017 terror incidents took place in different parts of the country during the last six months claiming the lives of 878 people including 232 security personnel. He said all available resources will be used to deal with terrorism as it is the most serious issue.


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Jamsheed Dasti is another Veena Malik: Abid Sher Ali

Abid sher ali said Dasti is out of mind:The state minister said
He added that MNA Jamshed dasti has lost his mental balance. Jamshed Dasti, on the other hand, is set to present proofs to the Speaker of the alleged night life of some of the MPs living in the Parliament Lodges. He said having met the Speaker National Assembly he will set his future course regarding the issue.
Come what may, he will present the proofs to the Speaker even at the cost of losing his assembly membership, he vowed. He demanded the formation of an independent commission to probe the matter. He argued some parliamentarians were unduly giving a political colouring to the issue.
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Three suspected militants killed in Khyber Agency encounter

PESHAWAR: At least three suspected militants were killed and three others injured in an exchange of fire between security officials and suspected militants in the Khyber Agency.
According to official sources, in the Shlobar area of the Khyber Agency, security officials tried to stop a suspicious vehicle, when it did not stop the security personnel opened fire on it.
Three suspected militants died on the spot, whereas, three others wounded were arrested by security forces afterwards.
Sources added that two security personnel were also injured in the exchange of fire.
Khyber is part of Pakistan’s semi-autonomous tribal belt on the Afghan border. The Taliban and other Al Qaeda-linked groups, who stage attacks in both countries, are known to have strongholds in the zone.
POSTED BY: MUHAMMAD USMAN

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Pakistan obliged to complete gas pipeline:Iran says

TEHRAN: Iran’s oil ministry said Wednesday that Pakistan is contractually obliged to complete a major pipeline project which would allow Tehran to export gas to its southeastern neighbour.

The warning came a day after Pakistan’s oil minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, said work on the pipeline was not possible because of sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union on Tehran over its controversial nuclear drive.

“Iran has carried out its commitments … and expects the Pakistani side to honour its own,” the deputy oil minister, Ali Majedi, said in a statement seen by AFP.

“They should even pick up the pace of work and make up for falling behind schedule” in constructing Pakistan’s 780-kilometre (485-mile) side of the pipeline, he said.

Iran, which has the world’s second largest gas reserves, says work on its side in the $7.5-billion project launched in 2010 is almost finished.

But the project’s fate has faced uncertainty, with Pakistan repeatedly running into problems, including major financing issues, while being pressured by the US.

On Tuesday, Abbasi told AFP that the work on the pipeline “is affected by the sanctions imposed” on Tehran. He did not elaborate on how the sanctions could derail the project.

In Tehran, Majedi rejected the argument, saying the issue of sanctions was not a new development.

“Pakistan faced pressure at the time of signing the deal,” he said. “But fully aware of the situation and the issue of sanctions, it still signed the contract.”

Majedi added that the option of “bringing in a third party to finish the pipeline” had been raised in recent negotiations with Pakistani officials.

He did not elaborate.

Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said in late October he had “no hope” for the project, after Islamabad asked Tehran for $2 billion in financing to build its side of the pipeline.

That request was denied by Iran.

Iran currently produces nearly 600 million cubic metres of gas per day, almost all of which is consumed domestically.

Its only foreign client is Turkey, which buys about 30 million cubic metres of gas per day.

Pakistan is struggling with a severe gas crisis, with natural gas supplies running out in winters, forcing consumers to rely on liquid gas cylinders.

 Posted By : Muhammad Usman

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We will defeat every threat to our motherland: COAS Raheel Sharif

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif visited Kotri Ranges to witness field firing and the battle inoculation exercise of Karachi Corps on Wednesday, according to a press release issued by the government.  

On his arrival, he was received by Karachi Corps commander lieutenant general Sajjad Ghani.

These exercises are aimed at training troops in various tactical operations under a battlefield environment. Fighter aircraft of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and armoured fighting vehicles of the mechanized division also participated in live firing maneuvers as part of the field firing.

The COAS commended the standard of training of the participating troops and lauded their skills. He specifically commended their precision and accuracy in engaging the targets and said that strenuous training along with strong vigilance are the only guarantors of peace.

Army chief Raheel Sharif took the opportunity to go over the resolve of the armed forces and stressed that the army will accomplish their mission of defeating “every threat to our motherland in accordance with the expectation of the people of Pakistan”.

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Terrorism in Balochistan:Three BLA members arrested from Rajanpur

RAJANPUR: Three suspected militants were arrested from the Rojhan sub-district of Rajanpur in Punjab on Thursday, Express News reported.

According to the police, they belonged to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

It was reported that the suspected militants admitted to being involved in the Khushhal Khan Khattak Express blast.

Six kilogrammes of explosive material were also recovered.

On February 16, at least six people – including four children – were killed and more than 35 injured when two coaches of the Peshawar-bound Khushhal Khan Khattak Express hadderailed after a bomb attack.

The high-intensity bomb was detonated on the tracks near a canal, 15 kilometres away from Thull town of Jacobabad district. The blast, which was heard all over Thull, had left a five-foot crater in the ground.

Posted By: Muhammad  Usman

Dawn News

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Pakistan Army air strikes in Waziristan 'effective and successful': Sartaj Aziz

ISLAMABAD: National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz on Thursday described the air strikes in militant-infested Waziristan as “effective and successful” and said that all such groups which are involved in terror related activities will be targeted.

When asked if the government plans a major offensive in North Waziristan, he did not comment. He added that the Prime Minister will consult with all political parties for a future strategy.

To questions about the peace talks in Afghanistan that were initiated by a former Afghan Taliban minister, Agha Jan Motasim, Aziz said that it was a good start.

About the ongoing controversy between the US and President Karzai about the Bilateral Security Agreement, he said it was a matter between Afghanistan and the US.

“Afghanistan is a sovereign country and they will have to decide what to do. We do not have any specific opinion on it,” he said.

He added that Pakistan has not proposed an extension in the presence of US forces in Afghanistan.

“Our concern is that if insurgency increases in Afghanistan it would affect us. That is why we are in favour of reconciliation in Afghanistan,” he added.

He denied that there was a change in Pakistan’s policy on Syria.

Posted by: MuhammadUsman

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Pakistan beats Afghanistan by 72 runs in Asia Cup match

FATULLAH: Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by 72 runs in its second Asia Cup match being played in Fatullah, Bangladesh.

Chasing the target of target 249 runs, Afghanistan were all out on 176 runs in 47.2 overs.

Noor Ali Zadran and Asghar Stanikzai were the highest scorer from Afghanistan, they made 44 and 40 runs respectively.

Mohammad Hafeez was the pick of the bowler from Pakistan, he took three wickets for 29 runs in his 9.2 overs. While Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul took two wickets each.

Earlier, Pakistan cricket fans were once again in for a rude shock during their team’s second Asia Cup match being played in Fatullah, Bangladesh.

Newcomers Afghanistan ran through an insipid Pakistan top-order before Umar Akmal revived the innings with a hard fought century — the second of his career.

Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bowl first. After a 55 run opening stand, the middle-order perished limply and the defending champions had crashed at 117 for six in the 30^th over of the innings before Akmal(102) and Anwar Ali(21) revived the innings with a 60 run stand for the seventh wicket.

Akmal pushed the accelerator in the closing stages of the innings. He reached his second ODI hundred in the last over of the innings where he pummelled 18 runs, and Pakistan reached 248 for 8 in the allotted overs, setting up a decent target for the minnows on a flat wicket.

The last three wickets more than doubled the runs accumulated by the main batsmen, who had all fallen at a series of tame scores. Ahmed Shehzad was the other main run-getter, scoring 50 off 74 balls.

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Parliamentarian nightlife?: Jamshed Dasti makes serious accusations

ISLAMABAD: Member of the National Assembly (NA) Jamshed Dasti on Thursday accused some parliamentarians of bringing alcohol, hashish and even dancing women to the Parliament Lodges for entertainment, Express News reported.

During the National Assembly session on Thursday, MNA Dasti said that the lodges are often frequented by female dancers, and the lodges reek of hashish. He alleged that liquor worth 40-50 million rupees annually is supplied to the lodges of the parliamentarians.

When Dasti made these claims, acting chairperson Naeema Kishwar turned off his microphone and asked him to discuss the matter in the chambers, not in the assembly hall.  She asked MNA Dasti to present proof to his claims, to which he said that a medical test should be conducted on all parliamentarians to find traces of drugs in their systems.

The NA speaker Ayaz Sadiq said that the lodges are equipped with working CCTV cameras and footage for the last month is available. He added that if Dasti’s claims are correct, the parliamentarians will be questioned and be held accountable.

However, if Dasti’s claims are wrong, the parliament will decide his fate.

POSTED BY: MUHAMMAD USMAN

DAWN NEWS 

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Air force combat ready for assigned missions: PAF chief

ISLAMABAD: In a week where Pakistan Air Force has pounded targets in the tribal areas along its western border, the Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt on Thursday said that the military’s air advantage was maintaining combat readiness in pursuit of its assigned mission.

“The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is committed to maintaining combat readiness in pursuit of the assigned mission while ensuring judicious use of resources and preservation of assets.” 

Addressing the PAF Annual Safety Review for the year 2013 at Air Headquarters, Islamabad on Thursday, the Air Chief said that there was complete synergy among the supervisors at Air Headquarters and the field commanders.

“The entire air force is training to conduct day and night operations,” he said.

The review was presided over by the Air Chief Marshal and was attended by principal staff officers, regional commanders and supervisors from the field.

The Annual Safety Review is a routine activity during which operational activities are reviewed.

The forum is also used to carry out an in depth study of the standards of flight and ground safety in PAF.

A PAF fighter aircraft crashed in Mandi Bahauddin last month killing both the pilot and the co-pilot, while in October last year a PAF helicopter crashed in Gujranwala injuring both the pilot and co-pilot.

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Breaking News : Islamic republic of Pakistan's 3G Auction Plan Revealed, Base Price Set at $295 Million, 4G On Sale Too!

Good news for pakistanis:

While everyone is waiting for the IM, here’s what we have already found through a snap — published above — that was pictured during today’s top level meeting between 3G Advisory Committee and Anusha Rehman, Minister for IT and Telecom and Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister.

Luckily picture’s angle fully revealed the most important slide of presentation that 3G consultants were giving to Anusha Rehman and Mr. Ishaq Dar.

Here are the highlights for 3G Auction:

• Government has plans to auction 30 Mhz from 2100Mhz spectrum while another 20Mhz in 1800 Mhz spectrum, with a block size of 10Mhz
• Buyer of 1800 Mhz block will have to buy at least one block from 2100Mhz
• License buyers will have to pay at least 50% upfront
• Bidding will be sealed in the first phase. Second round bidding would be open.
• License will be granted for a duration of 15 years
• Base price:
  • 2100 Mhz: 295 Million dollars per 10Mhz block
  • 1800 Mhz: 210 Million dollars per 10Mhz block
  •  

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Sony Announces the Mid-Range Xperia M2

While Sony was quite busy with announcing flagships, it certainly didn’t forget the lower-end phones either. The Xperia M2 is a mid-range phone which costs $300 (about 31,500 PKR) and comes with a 4.8″ display, an 8 megapixel camera and a quad-core processor.
The 4.8″ display comes with qHD resolution, which makes it the largest phone of its class. The panel is also scratch-resistant.
Under the hood, you get a 1.2Ghz Snapdragon 400 processor with four Cortex A7 cores. Alongside it is 1 GB worth RAM and 8 GB internal storage, expandable via microSD.

Towards the back is an 8 megapixel Exmor RS camera with LED Flash and HDR. Quite surprising for its price bracket is the fact that it shoots Full HD 1080p videos. Its pleasing indeed to see Sony bringing its imaging prowess further down the chain.
Connectivity options include 3G , NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi and GPS. The OS running on the phone is Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, which should be upgraded later onwards. Battery capacity is set at 2,300 mAh.
Here are the specs again:

• CPU: Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7
• GPU: Adreno 305
• OS: Android OS, v4.3 (Jelly Bean)
• Size: 139.7 x 71.1 x 8.6 mm (5.5 x 2.80 x 0.34 in)
• Weight: 148 g
• Display:
  • Type: TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
  • Size: 540 x 960 pixels, 4.8 inches (~229 ppi pixel density)
• Memory:
  • RAM: 1GB
  • Internal: 8GB
  • microSD, up to 32 GB
• Connectivity: GPRS, EDGE, WLAN, Bluetooth, NFC, MicroUSB
• Camera:
  • Primary: 8 MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
    Secondary: Front facing camera
• Battery:
  • Li-Ion 2300 mAh battery
  • Stand-by: Up to 588 h (2G) / Up to 633 h (3G)
  • Talk time: Up to 13 h 25 min (2G) / Up to 14 h 36 min (3G)

The phone will be released in Q2 probably. Given its price-tag, and the mouth-watering features, it can surely give established brands a run for their money.

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HTC Unveils the Desire 610 and 816

HTC’s naming scheme is turning into something a bit tough to swallow. The Desire brand, although popular, now has more numbers in its member’s name than you can remember. So if the Desire 200, 300, 310, 400, 500, 501, 600, 601 and 700 weren’t enough, here are the Desire 816 and 610

Desire 610

 

The Desire 610 (as the name suggests) is the more modest of the two. Packing a 4.7″ display with qHD resolution of 540 x 960 pixels, the phone will be available in six colours.
Underneath, you find a quad-core 1.2Ghz Snapdragon 400 processor, with 1 GB worth RAM and 8 GB internal storage, expandable by up to 64 GB.
At the back lies an 8 megapixel camera with LED Flash and HD video capture. The front boasts a 1.3 mp camera with HD video too. The phone is 4G-capable.A 2,040 mAh powers the phone up. It will be available starting from May. No word on pricing is given yet.

Desire 816

 

The Desire 816 is the better of the duo. It comes with a 5.5″ display with HD resolution, which might be a bit of a stretch.
Under the bonnet, you’ll find a 1.6Ghz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor with Adreno 305 GPU. The amount of RAM is set at 1.5 GB while 8 GB (expandable) internal storage will also be there.
At the back, you’ll find a 13 megapixel camera with LED Flash, capable of shooting Full HD 1080p videos. A surprise in the form of a 5 megapixel HD shooter awaits at the front.
4G and NFC are supported in the phone while a 2,600 mAh battery keeps the phone alive. The Desire 816 will be available in May but pricing details are unknown as of now.

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Punjab Government Launches SMS Based Price Information System

Technology is a useful tool to improve governance; keeping that in mind the Government of Punjab has launched a short messaging service (SMS) based price information service for the residents of Punjab.

This service has been launched for all districts of Punjab.

This SMS based service will provide daily updated prices of grocery items on the user’s cell phone

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Convert Your Photos To Cartoon Characters

Convert Your Photos To Cartoon Characters

Camera Movement'' (Moment-Cam) application recently developed by Chinese company that converts photos to cartoon characters.

It was the most well known provisions. Back, however now that its just accessible in Chinese the English form has been introduced. Provisions despite a greatly modern calculation have been utilized to recognize. Such provisions open when you make a picture from the Polaroid so it confronts you're Like setting up fascinating cartoon with amazing impact provides for it a remarkable look. 

Webcam Movement is made ​​by an aggregation of Chinese craftsmen and engineers whose just reason for existing is to stimulate you. Anybody in this requisition there are sorts of promoting. Android Movement webcam ios and is accessible free for both working frameworks, while Windows Phone carries it to buy.

Download Links:
For IOS: Click Here
For Android: Click Here
For Windows Phone: Click Here

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PTA Publishes IM: 3G / 4G Auction in Pakistan on April 7th

Much awaited Information Memorandum or IM for next-gen license auction has been published by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, after which we have a date of Auction for 3G and 4G licenses now.
While primary details are as they were revealed before, the auction for three 3G and two 4G licenses is set for April 7th, 2014.
Base price for one 3G license from 2100Mhz is set at $295 million while the reserve price for 4G license from 1800Mhz band is set at $210 million for a duration of 15 years.
In case a new operator wins the 3G and/or 4G license then it will also have to buy a GSM license worth $291 million from 850Mhz.
In order to win 4G spectrum in 1800 MHz band, the bidder must win at least one 3G license.
License auction will comprise of two phases. In the first phase, operators will have to submit sealed bids – which must not be less than the base prices of licenses — to qualify for the second phase.
Second and final phase will involve simultaneous multiple round ascending (SMRA) auction to determine the winner of spectrum. Second round of bidding will only happen if there are more operators than the licenses available for auction.
PTA has asked the stakeholders to submit their input on IM before March 10th, 2014. Operators will be allowed till March 19th to inquire about anything related to bidding.
By March 25th, 2014 – 4PM Pakistan Time – is the deadline for the operators to submit their sealed bids, along with a pre-bid deposit of 15% of the total value of the sealed-bid.
After assessing, PTA will announced qualified operators by March 28th, 2014

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