WATCH: Born without hands girl creates magic with colours, music in Dubai

She can beat any skillful painter with her impressive paintings. When she holds a brush between her feet and plays with colours on the canvas, she creates magic. When she sings, her mesmerising voice reaches directly to the hearts. Kanmony Sasi, an extra ordinarily talented painter and singer born without hands, inspires everyone to become independent in life.

On her recent visit to the UAE as a chief guest for an Onam event organised by some college students, the 15-year-old girl motivated youngsters with her enthusiasm and positivity.

A truly courageous girl from the Alappuzha district of the Indian state of Kerala, Kanmony left everyone stunned with her attitude. She never feels that she is missing anything in her life rather she thinks if she will not keep her spirits high, will surely miss something good in life.

"This life is beautiful, we get it only once. I believe we all must enjoy it fully and we should be happy with what we have, rather being sad about what we don't have. Independence is irreplaceable; nothing can give you the kind of satisfaction it gives. I want every person to learn to be independent because no one is going to be with you for the whole life," says a confident Kanmony.

She challenges life with her vigorous willpower and zeal to overcome every possible hurdle. She sets a perfect example for the people who fear failures and are not brave enough to face it. An avid reader and a big fan of music, Kanmony love reading autobiographies whenever she gets time. She listens to her favourite singer Shankar Mahdevan and derives inspiration for singing from him.

"Music makes me feel alive. I started it as a hobby when I was quite young," she mentioned when asked how she started singing.

With her confidence and right approach towards life, she is all set to write her board exams next year. With the support from her parents, friends and relatives Kanmony is climbing up in life successfully. She has also recently acted in a commercial movies back home and is quite excited about it as well.

http://khaleejtimes.com/nation/general/born-without-hands-dubai-girl-creates-magic-with-colours-music

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Imran Khan lays foundation stone of #ShaukhatKhanum Hospital in Karachi

KARACHI -  Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that the party is ready to support and stand with any political party over Panama leaks and eradication of corruption from the country.

While talking to the media men at various locations in Karachi on Thursday, he said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had not made any contact with him or any other PTI leader to launch movement against the federal government. “However, if contact is made, PTI will decide after consultations,” he added.

Imran is on a three-day visit to Karachi. On the first day, he laid the foundation of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC).

The PTI chairman spent a busy day as he visited Junaid Jamshed’s and slain party activist’s residence for condolences and also inaugurated PTI membership camps.

Imran was warmly welcomed at Karachi airport by party leaders, and later on he performed the groundbreaking of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC).

On completion, the hospital would be the third of its kind in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Khan said that SKMCH&RC Karachi would open its doors in January and the hospital would make it possible for the low-income patients from across Sindh to get comprehensive cancer care.

Former cricketer, Javed Miandad, business tycoon Aqeel Karim Dhedi, actor Javed Sheikh and Behroze Sabzwari were also present on the occasion. Imran recalled how difficult it was for him when his mother was battling against cancer, and his family had to take her abroad for a much costly treatment.

He lauded the efforts of all those who helped him. He said in 1990, when Nawaz Sharif was the chief minister of Punjab, he also tried to establish a cancer hospital, but he could not make it.

He made it clear that it was not easy to arrange Rs700 million for a cancer hospital, and he had never thought that the journey to build the cancer hospitals would be so difficult.The PTI chairman further said that the hospital would not only provide the most modern cancer treatment to the people of Sindh, but also help raise healthcare standards and provide training and employment opportunities in the region. A 10-year-old cancer patient laid the foundation stone of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust Foundation. PTI chairman at Junaid Jamshed’s residence:

Imran also visited Junaid Jamshed’s residence to condole with the family. Speaking on the occasion, the PTI chairman said that the country was being ruled by incompetent and corrupt people. “The end of injustices is the only way to resolve the issues,” he added.

He said it was unfortunate that the rulers’ policies were increasing poverty in the country. “There is no wealth left to run Pakistan,” he bemoaned.

The rulers were taking loans and were privatising various institutions, which, he said, was a threat to the country.

“PTI will not remain silent over the corruption of the rulers,” Imran said categorically.

Paying tributes to Junaid Jamshed, he said that Junaid was a good human being and that there should be impartial investigation into the PK-661 plane crash.

Imran Khan during his visit at Babul Ilm Imambargah and Masjid North Nazimabad called on Maulana Shahenshah Hussain Naqvi.

During the meeting Naqvi told the PTI chairman about the issues being faced by Shia Muslims in KP.

On the occasion, Maulana also tied Imam Zamin around the arm of Imran.

Speaking to the media men at the residence of PTI slain worker Fazal Raheem, Imran demanded the trials of PTI workers’ killers in military courts.

Taking about the law and order situation in Karachi, the PTI chairman lauded the services of Rangers for restoring peace in the city.

He said that Rangers targeted operation in the city had decreased crimes whereas strict action was required against the target killers.

Criticising Sindh Police, he called for reforms in the Force, adding there would have been no need of Rangers in Sindh if police had performed its duties properly. He further said that the party was following the case of PTI leader Zahra Shahid Hussain and hoped that killers would be brought to justice.

Later Imran along with other party leaders inaugurated PTI`s membership camp in Lyari. On the occasion, he said that PTI Karachi Chapter was being restructured, and that PTI would give surprising results in next general elections.

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This man (Arbab Khizer Hayat) claims to be Pakistan's answer to the Hulk

MARDAN: Weighing a formidable 436 kilogrammes, Arbab Khizer Hayat alias Khan Baba calls himself the Pakistani Hulk.

When Baba turned 18, his weight started rising abruptly. He said this was due to the diet he had been taking to strengthen his body. Baba’s daily calorie intake stands at a whopping 10,000. He consumes four chickens, 36 eggs, three killogrammes of meat and five litres of milk daily to prepare for the World Weightlifting Championships.

Baba hails from Mardan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and claims to be the strongest man in the world. Historically, Paul Anderson of America held the title with a weight of 163 kilogrammes till his death in 1994. In 2016, American Brian Shaw clinched the title at 190 kilogrammes.

“I don’t have any disease nor do I feel uncomfortable with my weight,” he said. Baba added that he wanted to gain more weight to participate in World Wresting Entertainment (WWE) competitions.

Speaking about the challenges he encounters in daily life, Baba shared how he could not travel in cars.”I experience problems while travelling in cars owing to space constraints,” Baba, who owns a heavy vehicle, told The Express Tribune.

When queried on his rather unsettling calorie intake and whether it could entail any adverse consequences, Baba said he consulted a doctor on that account and had a nutritional chart regulating it.

Baba, who sports an overall to cover his belly and chest, hails from a well-heeled Mardan family. In 2012, Baba claimed to have lifted a 5,000 kilogramme weight in Japan using anchors. “No one can break this record,” he said. Baba also claimed that he had gotten a medal from the WWE and his name was included in the Guinness book of World Records. The Express Tribune was not able to independently verify the claims.

He said there was no culture of weightlifting in Pakistan. This, Baba said, had to change. He expressed hope of representing Pakistan in World Weightlifting Championships with the support of the government

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Tonnes of seized narcotics, bottles of alcohol torched in Karachi

To observe the ‘International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking’, the drug control authorities on Monday torched about 20 tonnes of prohibited drugs confiscated by them over the year 2016.

The United Nations and governments around the world mark June 26 as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and illicit trafficking, an annual event designated by the UN for reflection and action on the use of illicit drugs. However, the event was postponed from June 26 to October 31 due to Ramazan.

The ceremony was organised by Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) under the auspices of Inter Agency Task Force (IATF). The drug-burning event was carried out on the outskirt of Karachi.

Pakistan Coast Guards destroyed 160kgs of Heroin, 4,000kgs of hashish, 2,000kgs opium, 40,500 bottles of foreign brand liquor and tins of beer, a press release said. A press release from ANF said that approximately 20 metric Tons of narcotics were burnt which also included five metric Tons of drugs seized by Coast Guard Pakistan says it stands firm to the commitment to fight the menace of drugs and narcotics.

“Narcotics is a running sore that is weakening the country from inside. We cannot leave our coming generations on the mercy of drug peddler and smugglers. Therefore, as one voice, we will have to fight against this menace,”said Brigadier Ateeq-ur-Rehman, Director General of Pakistan Coastguards.

The ceremony was witnessed by the members of the judiciary, Drug Liaison Officers of different countries and representatives of the venous agencies of Inter Agency Task Force.

Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) officials say Pakistan attained the status of poppy-free country in year 2011, and is among the top three countries in global narcotic seizures.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNODC Report on Drug Use in Pakistan-2013, 7.9 million people aged between 15 and 64 use drugs in the country. If drug users outside this band are added, the number may touch 9 million (4.5% of the total population).

According to the (UNODC) World Drug Report 2012, in 2011 the estimated annual global production of the cannabis herb was 66,100 tonnes, 9,900 tonnes of hashish were produced, while the production of opium stood at 7,853 tonnes, heroin at 537 tonnes, and cocaine at 1,135 tonnes.

The UNODC World Drug Report 2013 told that of the world’s 4,833 million-strong population aged between 15 and 64, 352 million (7%) used one drug or the other.

Afghanistan is the world’s top producer of opium, from which heroin is made and which helps fund the Taliban’s insurgency. Pakistani officials say about 70 per cent of Afghanistan’s drugs are smuggled through Pakistan and Iran, while the rest goes north through Central Asia.

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Nine killed as #Jharkhand coal mine caves in

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was engaged in rescue and relief operations.

Nine miners were killed and some feared trapped in a cave-in at the Lalmatia Open Cast Coal Mine at Rajmahal area of the Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL) in Godda, Jharkhand, on Thursday night.

Godda is about 250 km from State capital Ranchi.

The National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) was engaged in rescue and relief operations.

“CMD, ECL, has reported that a total of nine bodies of workmen have been recovered from the accident site so far,” a Coal Ministry statement said, adding that two injured persons were undergoing treatment in a hospital.

R R Mishra, officiating CMD of ECL, a Coal India arm, said that the accident occurred around 7.30 p.m., when excavators were working, and a rescue operation was launched immediately.

Director General of Mines Safety and senior officials were supervising the rescue operation, Mr. Mishra said.

The statement said 10 excavators and dump trucks have been recovered. 

Modi expresses grief

An inquiry has been ordered by the Director General of Mines Safety and a high-level committee of experts constituted by Coal India to investigate the causes of the accident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Coal Minister Piyush Goyal, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das and other leaders expressed grief at the loss of lives.

Mr. Das said an assistance of Rs 2 lakh would be given to the families of the deceased. He also announced Rs 25,000 to the injured.

The ECL has announced an ex gratia compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to these families, in addition to the amount to be paid under the Workmen’s Compensation Act.

The Prime Minister said the State government and Mr. Goyal were “working to restore normality''.

“Saddened by the loss of lives at a mine in Jharkhand. My prayers are with those trapped inside. Spoke to CM Raghubar Das on the situation,” Mr. Modi said on twitter.

“CMD, ECL has reported that an incident of overburden dump slide/subsidence has occurred in the second shift of December 29, at about 7.30 pm in the Rajmahal Open Cast Expansion Project in district Godda, Jharkhand....,” the ECL statement said.

“Prima facie, it is observed that the incident is unprecedented, since an area of 300 m length by 110 m wide solid floor of the Over Burden dump area has slid down by about 35 m involving around 9.5 million cubic meters of earth material. This could be due to failure of the bench edge along the hidden fault line/slip,” the statement said.

Senior management of the ECL and government officials were supervising the rescue operation, it added.

A control room has been set up at the project office of Rajmahal Open Cast Expansion Project of the ECL and R R Amitabh, GM, Mining, is in charge of it.

Mr. Goyal said he was monitoring the rescue operation along with the Chief Minister.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in a tweet “Saddened by the loss of lives in Jharkhand’s #Lalmatia coal mine collapse. My prayers for recovery of injured & solace to bereaved families.”

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#Joke - Main ne kal tumhen TV pe dekha tha ☺ ☻

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#Joke - Funny joke you will laugh... ☺ hahaha

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#Joke - very funny joke..hahahah ☺

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LG TONE STUDIO AND TONE FREE BRING NEW LEVEL OF WEARABLE SOUND INNOVATION TO CES

 LG Electronics (LG), a leader in Bluetooth headset technology, will unveil a number of new wireless, wearable audio products at CES 2017. The lineup will be led by TONE Studio wearable speakers capable of delivering amazing 3D surround sound and TONE Free earphones with wireless earbuds that charge when docked in the companion neckband.  

The LG TONE Studio (model HBS-W120) personal wearable speaker features four speakers - two full range on the top and two vibrating on the bottom - that give a personal surround sound experience when watching a movie, playing a video game or simply streaming music. Its sound is designed in collaboration with surround sound experts at DTS to bring a realistic theater-like sound for a cinematic experience wherever you may be. The TONE Studio features a Hi-Fi DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) that enhances sound quality by recreating audio content as accurately as possible. What’s more is that with Dual Play, you can connect two LG TONE Studio wearable speakers and share the sound from a movie, playlist or more. 

TONE Free (model HBS-F110) is LG’s first wireless stereo product to come with wireless earbuds that charge whenever they are stored inside the neckband, making them easy to charge and carry. Not only does the neckband provide extra battery power and vibration alerts for incoming calls and text messages, it also provides a secure place to store the earbuds when not in your ears, making them less likely to lose. An optional charging cradle provides more power for those times when the neckband might not be convenient. And for even more freedom, TONE Free lets you go completely hands free and answer or ignore a call with voice commands for a real wireless stereo experience with no cords, no tangles and no hassles. 

“LG has a rich legacy of innovating in the wearable audio market, and our products have become the standard by which all other earphones are judged,” said Michael Park, vice president of Innovative Personal Devices Business Division at LG Electronics. “We are committed to leading the way in this fast moving market by developing exciting new products which appeal to every music-loving and convenience-seeking individual.” 

The TONE Studio and TONE Free are just two of the marquee products in LG’s Bluetooth headset lineup at CES 2017. Other models to be unveiled include TONE Infinim (model HBS-920) featuring LG’s Metal Layer Speaker Technology for clean, crisp sounds and TONE Ultra (model HBS-820), developed in collaboration with audio specialist JBL that features dual MEMS microphones for remarkable call clarity. LG’s entire lineup of wearable audio products including TONE Platinum, TONE Active+, TONE Pro and LG FORCE will be on display at CES 2017 from Jan. 5-8 in Booth #11100 in Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.  

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Two very funny sayings about girls

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Hahahah its so funny ☺

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#Joke - Aur Chohay ne Lion (king of jungle) ko bhi bewaqoof bana dia...☺

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Sardar very funny joke...hahhhaahaha ☺

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#SardarJoke - Aik Sardar general store say shopping karte huay...

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Best Saying - must read and think >>

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LG's Mass-Tier Smartphone Offerings for 2017 to be Unveiled at CES

LG Electronics (LG) will unveil four new mass-tier K Series smartphones and a new Stylus 3 at CES 2017 in Las Vegas, as the mid-range segment continues its strong growth as the market matures. The new mid-range devices are designed to bring popular, best-in-class technologies from LG’s more premium flagship smartphones, such as the 120-degree wide angle front camera lens and the rear fingerprint scanner. 

LG’s updated K Series carries over the original philosophy that all customers do not want the same things in a smartphone. Rather than offering one main smartphone model and expecting customers to adapt, the K Series was designed with the diverse needs of consumers in mind.  

The K10 delivers a best-in-class 5.3-inch HD In-cell Touch Display that delivers a superb viewing experience indoors or out. Its 5MP front camera with 120-degree wide angle selfie lens complements a premium, 13MP rear camera that has been employed in LG flagship G series devices. Other advanced features not usually available in smartphones in this category include a fingerprint scanner, a metallic U-frame for a sturdy but slim 7.9mm profile and 2.5D Arc Glass design.

The K8 features a 5-inch HD In-cell Touch display and delivers high-quality camera performance with 5MP in the front and 13M on the rear enhanced by LG’s intelligent UX features such as Auto Shot and Gesture Shot for selfies. Auto Shot automatically triggers the front camera’s shutter when a face is detected. Gesture Shot takes a selfie in response to a hand signal, eliminating the need to press the shutter button and shaking the phone at the most critical moment. 

The K4 is equipped with a sensitive 5-inch In-cell Touch display, 5MP front and rear cameras as well as the popular Auto Shot and Gesture Shot features found in the K8. The attractive K4 offers a slim 7.9mm profile and removable 2,500mAh battery as well as a microSD slot for additional storage. 

The smallest in the series, the K3 comes with a 4.5-inch On-cell Touch display, a 5MP rear camera and a 2MP lens in the front supported by Gesture Shot. With a microSD slot and 2,100mAh removable battery, the K3 offers many features unavailable on other competing smartphones in this category. 

LG will also debut the third generation Stylus 3, the latest version of its mid-range Stylus smartphone (Stylo in the United States). The Stylus 3 delivers an improved writing experience with a 1.8mm diameter fiber-tip stylus to provide the feel and feedback of an actual pen when writing on the screen. The Stylus 3 also features a fingerprint scanner and enhanced UX with Pen Pop 2.0 as well as the popular Pen Keeper and Screen-off Memo. With Pen Pop 2.0, your memos are never out of sight and can be set to display on the screen whenever the stylus is removed. Pen Keeper displays a warning when the stylus strays too far from the phone, and Screen-off Memo enables note-taking directly on the screen even when the display is off. 

“Our 2017 mass-tier, mid-range smartphones focus on giving our customers a wide variety of options and choices for their smartphone lifestyles,” said Juno Cho, president of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “What’s consistent in all our K Series and Stylus 3 devices is that they look and feel premium, offer replaceable batteries and all come with expandable memory slots, what customers consider key factors when buying smartphones in this category.” 

Information regarding launch dates and markets will be announced locally in the weeks to come. Visitors to CES are encouraged to stop by LG’s stand to see the company’s newest mobile products for themselves (Las Vegas Convention Center, Booth #11100, Central Hall).  

K10 Key Specifications:*

Chipset: MT6750 1.5 GHz Octa-Core 

Display: 5.3-inch HD In-cell Touch (1280 x 720 / 277ppi)

Memory: 2GB LPDDR3 RAM / 16 or 32GB eMMC ROM / microSD (up to 2TB)

Camera: Front 5MP (Wide) / Rear 13MP (Standard)

Battery: 2,800mAh (removable)

Operating System: Android 7.0 Nougat

Size: 148.7 x 75.3 x 7.9mm

Weight: 142g

Network:  LTE / 3G / 2G

Connectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11 b, g, n) / Bluetooth 4.2 / USB 2.0  / NFC

Color: Black / Titan / Gold

Other: Fingerprint Scanner 

K8 Key Specifications:*

Chipset: MSM8917 1.4 Quad-Core

Display: 5.0-inch HD In-cell Touch (1280 x 720 / 294ppi)

Memory: 1.5GB LPDDR3 RAM / 16GB eMMC ROM / microSD (up to 32GB)

Camera: Front 5MP / Rear 13MP 

Battery: 2,500mAh (removable)

Operating System: Android 7.0 Nougat

Size: 144.8 x 72.1 x 8.09mm

Weight: 142g

Network: LTE / 3G / 2G

Connectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11 b, g, n) / Bluetooth 4.2 / USB 2.0  / NFC

Color: Silver / Titan / Dark Blue / Gold 

K4 Key Specifications:*

Chipset: MSM8909 1.1GHz Quad-Core

Display: 5.0-inch FWVGA In-cell Touch (854 x 480 / 196ppi)

Memory: 1GB LPDDR3 RAM / 8GB eMMC ROM / microSD (up to 32GB)

Camera: Front 5MP / Rear 5MP 

Battery: 2,500mAh (removable)

Operating System: Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

Size: 144.76 x 72.6 x 7.9mm

Weight: 135g

Network: LTE / 3G / 2G

Connectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11 b, g, n) / Bluetooth 4.1 / USB 2.0  

Color: Titan / Black 

K3 Key Specifications:*

Chipset: MSM8909 1.1GHz Quad-Core

Display: 4.5-inch FWVGA On-cell Touch (854 x 480 / 218ppi)

Memory: 1GB LPDDR3 RAM / 8GB eMMC ROM / microSD (up to 32GB)

Camera: Front 2MP / Rear 5MP 

Battery: 2,100mAh (removable)

Operating System: Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

Size: 133.9 x 69.75 x 9.44mm 

Weight: 132g

Network: LTE / 3G / 2G 

Connectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11 b, g, n) / Bluetooth 4.1 / USB 2.0 

Color: Black

Stylus 3 Key Specifications:*

Chipset: MT6750 1.5GHz Octa-Core 

Display: 5.7-inch HD In-cell Touch (1280 x 720 / 258ppi)

Memory: 3GB LPDDR3 RAM / 16GB eMMC ROM / microSD (up to 2TB)

Camera: Front 8MP / Rear 13MP 

Battery: 3,200mAh (removable)

Operating System: Android 7.0 Nougat 

Size: 155.6 x 79.8 x 7.4mm

Weight: 149g

Network: LTE / 3G / 2G

Connectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11 b, g, n) / Bluetooth 4.2 / USB 2.0  

Color: Metallic Titan / Pink Gold 

Other: Stylus Pen / FM Radio / Fingerprint Scanner 

* Specifications/Features may vary depending on the market.

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Bright and Portable, LG’s New Laser Projector is Designed for Home Cinema Enthusiasts

At CES 2017 next month, LG Electronics (LG) will introduce a new laser projector, the LG ProBeam, designed to deliver the ideal home cinema viewing experience. The LG ProBeam will go beyond the demands of consumers who seek not only high performance but also the versatility to go outside the comforts of one’s living room to enjoy movies and TV programs anytime, anywhere. 

The LG ProBeam, model HF80J, is ideal for the home cinema experience because it is equipped with an advanced laser engine that produces up to 2,000 lumens of brightness, enabling viewers to enjoy video content even in a bright room. The LG ProBeam has a slim, sleek design which makes it more portable thanks to its innovative I-shaped laser engine. Employing a compact standing-type design, LG developed the 2.1kg (4.6 pounds) ProBeam as the industry’s lightest Full HD laser projector in the brightness range of 2,000 lumens. In addition, the ProBeam’s classic look allows it to blend in with any interior decor. 

With the innovative Sound Sync Adjustment, the LG ProBeam can be paired with any Bluetooth audio product such as an external speaker or headphones. What’s more, the LG ProBeam’s Wireless Mirroring feature takes advantage of Miracast to project content from smart devices onto a large projection screen. The unique four corner keystone and vertical auto keystone features allow consumers to find the best image setting and to balance images quickly and easily.  

Consumers will have access to the growing number of streaming services and relevant programs according to their preferences via LG’s award winning webOS platform. In addition, LG’s Magic Remote Control allows for easy navigation of the webOS Smart TV interface. And with webOS, users can easily access the growing number of streaming services depending on location and availability. These dynamic features make it easier to enjoy movies in living rooms, to watch exciting sporting events in backyards, and to take the LG ProBeam even on camping trips. 

“As a leader in LED projectors worldwide, LG is confident its experience in the home entertainment sector will make its first laser projector a hit with consumers,” said Brian Kwon, president of the LG Home Entertainment Company. “LG is proud to continue pioneering new ways to enhance the home cinema experience in dynamic ways.”

LG’s new laser projector will be on display at CES in Central Hall Booth #11100 from Jan. 5-8 in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

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Daughter’s marriage cancelled; man kills wife, daughter, self

Burdwan (WB): After his prospective son-in-law’s family informed him that they were cancelling the marriage proposal as his daughter was in a relationship, a 62-year-old man allegedly killed his wife and daughter before committing suicide at Mangalkot in Burdwan district, police said today.

Sujal Baran Nag of Natunbazar locality received the phone call yesterday that his 23-year-old daughter Sudarshana was having an affair with someone and that due to this the prospective son-in-law’s family was cancelling the marriage proposal.

The proposal was supposed to be finalised yesterday.

Nag, his wife Manimala (52) and daughter had a heated argument after the phone call. Then they retired for the night, police said.

It was found in the morning that Nag was hanging from the ceiling and bodies of Sudarshana and Manimala were lying on a bed.

It was being suspected that Nag used some poison to make them unconscious and then strangulated them to death, police said.

Police found a suicide note purportedly written by Nag, saying he was responsible for the deaths.

The bodies were sent for postmortem. (Siasat) and PTI

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Prime Minister Interest Free Loan Scheme reaches out to 250,000 poorest of Pakistan

Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Finance presenting certificate and a cash award to one of the beneficiaries of the Prime Minister Interest Free Loan Scheme. Ms. Leila Khan, Chairperson, Prime Minister Youth Program, Dr. Amjad Saqib, Chairman PMIFL Steering Committee, Qazi Azmat Isa, Chief Executive Officer, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund were also present to commemorate reaching 250,000 beneficiaries with PMIFL.

Islamabad: The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) held the ‘Journey of 250,000 Households to Self-Reliance’ at the Prime Minister Office. The event commemorated a significant milestone of the Prime Minister Interest Free Loan Scheme as PPAF reached a quarter of a million borrowers. 

Leila Khan, Chairperson, Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, remarked, “The present government is determined to provide an array of opportunities to the poor people of Pakistan especially women, youth and marginalized segments of society so that they can play an effective role in national development. PPAF was mandated by the Government of Pakistan to mobilize, implement and monitor the PMIFL Scheme for 4 years (2014-2018). The journey that started in July 2014 with a total allocation of Rs. 3.5 billion, of which Rs. 3.1 billion was for on-lending, has to date disbursed Rs. 5.5 billion due to the efficient revolving of funds and a recovery rate of 99%.”

She added, “A great achievement of this project is that more than 50,000 recipients of the loans were BISP beneficiaries who are now running their own businesses instead of relying on cash grants.”

Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib, Chairman Steering Committee on PIMFL, spoke about the success story booklet based on the achievements of 26 outstanding PMIFL beneficiaries from across Pakistan who were also presented awards under different categories on this occasion. He introduced four beneficiaries on this occasion who shared how the interest-free loan helped them to stand up on their own feet while setting up sustainable livelihoods for themselves. 

Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization, was the chief guest at the occasion, and said, “The Government of Pakistan launched the Prime Minister Interest Free Loan Scheme to address the issues of poverty and rising unemployment in the country. Under the scheme, PKR 3.5 billion (3.1 billion for on-lending) were allotted from the federal budget to facilitate the poor segments of the population in setting up their own small enterprises. It was decided that the funds under this scheme would be routed through the national apex, PPAF, and would be extended in those Union Councils that have low or no penetration of conventional microfinance. With the Prime Minister’s Interest Free Loan scheme we are able to reach marginalized segments, particularly poor rural women, who have the capacity to be entrepreneurs but do not qualify for or have access to conventional microfinance.” 

Qazi Azmat Isa, CEO of PPAF, said, “This is an enlightened step by the Government of Pakistan to provide financial inclusion to the unbanked. Through the PMIFL Scheme we have reached the furthest distances and most difficult areas to give loans to those people who were otherwise eligible only for handouts. The ultra-poor have benefited from the PMIFL scheme to set up their own businesses and PPAF has made significant investments in financial, human and technical resources and value added services both at the Partner and Beneficiary levels by providing trainings, developing linkages with markets and mentoring of borrowers through 233 “Karobari Rehnumai Marakize”, thus, creating an eco-system for the delivery of interest free loans which is ready to be leveraged and taken to scale.”

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NTC to Participate in CPEC Projects

To monitor progress of Development works and operational activities, DGs Conference was held at NTC HQs. Brig (R) Viqar Rashid Khan, Managing Director NTC chaired DG’s Conference to monitor the ongoing Operational and Development activities of the Corporation. DG (Technical), while giving detailed briefed on newly established National Data Centre, highlighted its capabilities and its business model/strategy. NTC to Participate in CPEC Projects.

 

He informed that:

“The forum that a healthy response has been received from Public Sector Organizations to avail NTC Data Centre Services.”

It was apprised that as per the directions of Minister of IT, Ms. Anusha Rehman, all the data /Services of National IT Board (NITB) have seamlessly been migrated onto NTC platform while the requests of other departments are in queue. MD was also briefed on actions about Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements made by NTC to oblige its role under Telecom Policy 2015.

Recently, an MOU has also been signed with Telecard/Supernet whereas similar agreement will shortly be signed with Microsoft Corporation. MD expressed his satisfaction on the achievements made so far and hoped that NTC will strive to provide good quality services from its platform to NTC Valued Customers. It was heartening to mention that despite the decline in use of fixed telephone lines, NTC subscriber base is increasing.

MD NTC Chaired DG’s Conference to Monitor the Progress on Assigned Tasks

Regarding operationalization of Coastal Fibre link which was non-operational since 2006, MD directed to take measures on war footing for its revival and to link Gawader with Karachi. He informed the house that as per NTC mandate and Pakistan Telecom Act 1996, NTC is also striving to undertake projects under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to play its role in ICT Sector for Government of Pakistan.

At the end, MD NTC appreciated the efforts made by its employees to maintain higher QoS services and rapid technical development. He also asked Management to meet the assigned targets KPI’s within given time frame. He was hopeful that during current   F.Y 2016-17, NTC would be able to complete its 100% ADP projects which will be a record in Public Sector Organizations.

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#JazzCash Partners with HomeSend to Enable International Remittances

JazzCash, Mobilink’s Mobile Financial Services arm, has teamed up with HomeSend to let its users receive international remittances directly into their Mobile Accounts. JazzCash is the first mobile financial service provider to integrate with HomeSend and offers real-time transfers.

Customers can then cash-out from JazzCash’s 65,000 network of Jazz Experience Centers, Jazz Points, Mobilink Microfinance Bank branches (MMBL) and ATMs across Pakistan. In addition to that, users can avail cash-over-counter services as well as cash transfers to accounts of other banks.

Initially JazzCash users will be able to receive money transfers from the United States of America and Europe. In the coming months, HomeSend will also enable retrieval of funds from the Middle East. The service is already operational, with HomeSend going live with the new system following its successful integration.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Aniqa Afzal Sandhu, VP Digital & Mobile Financial Services – Mobilink, stated, “JazzCash has always looked to provide digital and mobile solutions to meet the financial needs of its users. With the addition of this service, we shall be adding a significant degree of convenience and reliability to families that rely on financial support from abroad to run their households.”

“These are exciting times for the financial industry. Mobile is currently playing a key role in enabling new financial services, which offer ease of delivery and added security. We look forward to connecting with JazzCash, our preferred collection partner in Pakistan, to continue assisting thousands of families, separated from their main breadwinner, by offering innovative money transfer services,” said Stephen Doyle, CEO, HomeSend.

Aurangzaib Khan, Area Head, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Mastercard, said, “Pakistan is one of the world’s largest recipients of foreign remittances, and the World Bank estimates that remittances into the market would have grown an additional 5.1 percent in 2016. The collaboration between HomeSend and JazzCash further enables the nation’s citizens with a fast, easy and convenient way to receive money sent from abroad.”

HomeSend is a joint venture between Mastercard, eServGlobal and BICS, which enables cross-border and cross-network value transfers globally through a single connection.

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Aga Khan Foundation and PIA agree to take care of #HaseenaGul

The News 24 Dec 2016

KARACHI: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Aga Khan Foundation have agreed to take care of Haseena Gul, the 14-year-old girl from Chitral, who lost all six members of her immediate family in the ATR air crash.

The Board of Directors of Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Ltd (PIACL) during its meeting took keen interest in the welfare of Haseena Gul. The board said that, if needed, PIA would like to take the responsibility of her education as well as living and medical expenses.

The board was given a detailed briefing on the unfortunate crash of ATR-42 and apprised of the steps taken by the airline for providing relief, support and assistance to the aggrieved members of families.

While expressing their deep grief and sorrow over the tragic incident, the board members appreciated the proactive steps taken by the PIA management in this regard after the crash.The meeting was informed that the Safety Investigation Board was conducting a thorough investigation of the incident and all assistance it needs from PIA is being provided forthwith.

The board was informed that an initial compensation of Rs500,000 has been disbursed among the next of kin of most of the persons who lost their lives in the December 7 crash and the process would be completed after the finalisation of legal formalities.

Published in The News 24 Dec 2016

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VimpelCom, Dhabi Group complete Mobilink and Warid deal

Islamabad: VimpelCom, Global Telecom Holding (GTH), together with Warid Telecom Pakistan and Bank Alfalah (Dhabi Group shareholders), today received the approvals from Islamabad High Court to merge Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited (Mobilink) and Warid Telecom (Warid). Earlier this year Mobilink and Warid had received approvals from Pakistan Telecom Authority, Competition Commission of Pakistan, Securities and Exchange Commission Pakistan, local and international creditors and State Bank of Pakistan. 

Jean-Yves Charlier, Chief Executive Officer of VimpelCom, said: “The High Court’s approval of the merger between Mobilink and Warid, confirms the creation of a world-class champion in Pakistan, and it marks another major step in VimpelCom’s transformation into a leading global technology group with the ambition to bring digital opportunities and experiences to a tenth of the world’s population.”

Chairman of Dhabi Group, His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, said: “I am pleased to know that courts of Pakistan have approved the merger of Mobilink & Warid along with all pertinent regulatory approvals for consolidating the two businesses. This merger of is yet another landmark achieved, which will further accelerate advancements in telecommunication sector in Pakistan. I am confident that the merged company will continue to contribute significantly to Pakistan’s economy while providing its customers with the highest quality of telecom services.”

Aamir Ibrahim, CEO – Mobilink and Warid said: “The approval from Islamabad High Court marks a major and absolute milestone in our bid to merge the two businesses. The Group’s new digital systems will enable faster roll-out of new local products and services, particularly in the areas of mobile entertainment, communication, the Internet of Things, and mobile financial services. Through this, Pakistan’s digital development will be elevated to the next level, further reducing the digital divide as we transform the merged company from a legacy telecom to a leading technology company.”

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#Mobilink and #Warid merger finally gets stamped by Islamabad High Court

VimpelCom, Global Telecom Holding (GTH), together with Warid Telecom Pakistan and Bank Alfalah (Dhabi Group shareholders), today received the approvals from Islamabad High Court to merge Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited (Mobilink) and Warid Telecom (Warid).   

Over 51 Million Customers In Pakistan Will Benefit From High-Speed Mobile Telecommunications And A Best-In-Class Digital Mobile Network Through Its State Of The Art 3g And Lte Services.

Earlier this year Mobilink and Warid had received approvals from Pakistan Telecom Authority, Competition Commission of Pakistan, Securities and Exchange Commission Pakistan, local and international creditors and State Bank of Pakistan.

Jean-Yves Charlier, Chief Executive Officer of VimpelCom, said:

“The High Court’s approval of the merger between Mobilink and Warid, confirms the creation of a world-class champion in Pakistan, and it marks another major step in VimpelCom’s transformation into a leading global technology group with the ambition to bring digital opportunities and experiences to a tenth of the world’s population.”

His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Chairman of Dhabi Group, said:

“I am pleased to know that courts of Pakistan have approved the merger of Mobilink & Warid along with all pertinent regulatory approvals for consolidating the two businesses. This merger of is yet another landmark achieved, which will further accelerate advancements in the telecommunication sector in Pakistan. I am confident that the merged company will continue to contribute significantly to Pakistan’s economy while providing its customers with the highest quality of telecom services.”

Amir Ibrahim, CEO-Mobilink and Warid said:

“The approval from Islamabad High Court marks a major and absolute milestone in our bid to merge the two businesses. The Group’s new digital systems will enable faster roll-out of new local products and services, particularly in the areas of mobile entertainment, communication, the Internet of Things, and mobile financial services. Through this, Pakistan’s digital development will be elevated to the next level, further reducing the digital divide as we transform the merged company from a legacy telecom to a leading technology company.”

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CPEC will strengthen Pakistan’s economy; says German economist

Dr. Wolfgang, a German political economist while delivering a lecture on the China’s Pakistan Option: Economic and Social Implications of an All-Weather Relationship expressed great hope for the project. He was optimistic about the peaceful and efficient completion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

Dr. Wolfgang based at the South Asian Institute at Heidelberg has been a keen observer of Pakistan’s foreign policy for years. While giving an address at the Centre for Governance and Policy, Information Technology University (ITU) he said, “The historical timeline of Pakistan-China relationship calls for attention.” He also dismissed rumor circulating in the media about transportation and transaction costs associated with the project. Pakistan could look up to China as well for financial and military aid to recovery from its chronic economic and social crises, Dr. Wolfgang said.

Official CPEC website launched; What is it all about?

The academic expected that the project would prove beneficial for the region as it would promote connectivity among nations along the historic Silk Road. He is hopeful that involvement of all stakeholders in the project would help avert risks and promote prosperity in the region.

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#JazzCash Sehat Sahulat insurance program launched

Recently, JazzCash entered in to a strategic alliance with MicroEnsure Pakistan, a leading provider of mass market insurance worldwide, whereby innovative small ticket insurance products and solutions were to be offered JazzCash customers named as JazzCash Sehat Sahulat.

Understanding the scarcity of financial issues related to healthcare matters and scarcity of health insurance products for the common person in Pakistan, the two organizations worked together and developed an innovative solution in partnership with a leading local insurance company.

JazzCash, a mobile financial service offering under Jazz’s ecosystem has over 60,000 retail outlets across Pakistan. JazzCash offers a broad portfolio of Branchless Banking services for customers including money transfer, Online Payments Gateway, NFC enabled payments, payment of utility bills, corporate disbursements, mass payment collections, and insurance services.

The solution called JazzCash Sehat Sahulat provides significant financial protection to clients against a number of health related perils upon payment of a nominal fee.

Speaking on the occasion of the product launch, Aniqa Afzal Sandhu, Head of Digital & Mobile Financial Services – Mobilink, stated, 

“We have always worked towards offering innovative solutions to the needs of our users. Through JazzCash Sehat Sahulat, we are looking to provide ease to the masses who cannot afford primary healthcare, especially in times of urgent need. We are excited to launch this health insurancein collaboration with MicroEnsure and hope it will be a major step towards reaching our financial inclusion objectives.” 

Commenting on the occasion, Rehan Butt, Country Manager Pakistan & Head of Business Development Asia – MicroEnsure added, 

“We appreciate the focus and enthusiasm of Mobilink and JazzCash in introducing this product which is a great step in solving one of the most critical financial problems of tens of millions of Pakistanis. People from every walk of life can avail substantial financial benefit from this innovative product upon payment of a small fee and through a tech-based and highly simplified process. We are glad to be a major contributor in introducing the concept to insurance to millions of peoples in developing countries and endeavor to further this effort through our valued partners including Mobilink and JazzCash.”

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#Nestlé and Descon help women develop industrial skills

Nestlé Pakistan and Descon Technical Institute (DTI) marked the successful completion of the first Vocational Training for women.

Nestlé also announced that the eight women who had completed the training would be given jobs at the company.

The 8-member batch received their certificates at a ceremony that was held at the Nestlé Head Office.  Bruno Olierhoek, Managing Director, Nestlé Pakistan and Abdur Razzaq Dawood, Chairman Descon were the Chief Guests on the occasion.

The two-month training imparted knowledge and equipped the women with skills on safety, forklift and electrical/technical training that can help them secure apprenticeships or jobs in the industrial sector.

Bruno Olierhoek underlined the role that women can play in fostering business growth through skill development. He said, “Nestlé believes in Pakistan and the women here and encourages them to become a part of the company. Nestlé Pakistan has a strong commitment to women’s skill development and plans to hire more female apprentices in future to have them trained through DTI.”

In his address, Abdur Razzaq Dawood congratulated the graduates. “Nestlé has made a great contribution to Pakistan and we are proud to be associated with them. We, like Nestlé, believe that diversity is strength and that women should play a bigger role in the workplace and economic development in the country,” he said.

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#Samsung partners #Jazz to launch ‘Knox’ security platform

Lahore: Samsung has engaged Jazz -Mobilink – Jazz as its operating-partner to introduce Samsung ‘Knox’ in Pakistan. ‘Knox’ is a defense-grade security platform, and mobile-device management system, which is built into Samsung’s latest products, to protect confidential data and sensitive applications. Samsung’s award-winning enterprise solutions empower you to secure, manage and customize your business’s mobile devices.

Knox solutions allow businesses of any size to deploy Samsung mobile devices to meet their business needs. So the smart-device users can now build on the Knox platform, with extra security, management policies, and advanced device-customization.The security of corporate data on mobile devices remains a top concern for CEOs and CIOs, when adopting enterprise mobility. Finding a mobile-security solution that is both resilient and user-friendly can be a big challenge, which is why Samsung has designed the ‘Knox’ solution.  

Knox is a multi-layered technology, built into both the hardware and software of Samsung’s latest devices. From the ‘Hardware Root of Trust’ to the Android Framework, Knox constantly verifies the integrity of the device and detects any tampering, ensuring your data is more secure. Security Enhancements for Android protect applications and data by strictly defining what each process is allowed to do, and what data it can access. SE for Android help to secure a device by using domains, rights, security policies and Mandatory Access Control.

Knox leverages a processor architecture known as ARM TrustZone. In TrustZone, there are two worlds: the Normal World, and the Secure World. Virtually all smartphone software, as we know today, still runs in Normal World. The Secure World is reserved for highly sensitive computations, and is used extensively by Knox for protecting confidential enterprise data. TrustZone consists of three core components: ‘TIMA KeyStore’, ‘Real-time Kernel Protection’, and ‘Attestation’.

‘Secure Boot’ prevents unauthorized boot-loaders and kernels from being loaded onto the device. This means that your device has not been tampered with and the Knox container can be loaded. ‘Trusted Boot’ ensures that the boot-loader and OS kernel are the originals from the factory. This is done by recording the original device measurements and consistently checking the device at the start up to make sure these measurements haven’t changed.

The ‘Hardware Root of Trust’ is a set of security mechanisms, built into device hardware, that flag any time the device’s default controls have been altered. These include ‘Secure Boot Key’ and ‘Device Root Key’, which perform authentication and encryption operations associated with the device.

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Huawei Academy holds 1st ICT Skills Contest in #Pakistan

Lahore: The 1st round of Huawei Academy ICT Skill Competition in Pakistan came to a successful conclusion at the FAST University Islamabad recently. The exciting competition lasted for eight working days, where more than 2,300 students, from more than 30 local universities, participated in this event. The top 50 winners proceeded to take part in the second-round of the competition, held at the Pearl Continental Hotel, in Lahore on 16th Dec 2016.

The top 6 of the competition received awards along with an opportunity to take a free-trip to Huawei’s head office in Shenzhen, China. Once there, they will be competing in the final round of the Huawei Academy ICT Skill Competition, against the winners coming in from many other countries, around the globe. Huawei Pakistan will sponsor this entire competition. The contestants came in from many local institutions that teach the relevant courses, covered in this test, along with training in router, switch, network, security, WLAN, storage, and Cloud-Computing technologies.

Huawei Academy is a school-enterprise, cooperation-education program, backed up by the company’s strong R&D competence. Huawei has launched this program to develop the ICT talent cultivation chain, promote ICT technology and train local ICT technicians. The academy covers the latest ICT technology, interconnects training courses with Huawei’s career certification. It enhances students’ practical abilities and employability through communication, training, and hand-on practices aimed at contributing to social development. As a socially-responsible enterprise – ‘Huawei Academy’ is nurtured as a Non-profit, social and educational development activity in many countries, where the company operates.

The event was personally graced by numerous distinguished guests, including Senior officials from ‘Higher Education Commission’ (HEC)of Pakistan along with senior management executives from Huawei and the Consul General of China in Lahore. Other dignitaries included Education Minister of the Punjab province and Vice Chancellors of ten local universities, whose students participated in the competition.

Huawei has the industry’s most comprehensive ICT product lines. Convergence has become the mega-trend of the ICT industry. Knowing this, Huawei has established a certification system that covered all ICT technologies. Official statistics show that ‘Huawei Authorized Learning Partners’ (HALPs) and HAINA have already trained more than 300,000 students. Through strategic cooperation relationships with more than 190 Universities around the globe, more than 300 ICT industry trainers have already been trained, to cultivate more than 7000 students every year.

Among the leading universities and training centers participating in this contest were: University of Management Technology (253 students), Superior University (102 students), Lahore Garrison University (209 students), University of Central Punjab (93 students), Leads University (105 students), COMSATS Lahore (148 students), Government College University (89 students), University of Engg. & Tech. Lahore (357 students), University of Lahore (112 students), University of South Asia (108 students), FAST Islamabad (270 students).And Corvit–HALP (474 students from 17 universities).

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