Google smartphone tool helps users keep social distance
New smartphone tool lets users know when people are getting closer than pandemic guidelines recommendSAN FRANCISCO: Smartphone users have a new way to keep their distance, a tool that lets them know when people are getting closer than pandemic guidelines recommend. Using Sodar on supported mobile devices, create an augmented reality two meter radius ring around you. #hacktohelp https://t.co/Bu78QrEN9f pic.twitter.com/kufatNFDQk — Experiments with Google (@ExpWithGoogle) May 28, 2020The perimeter, determined based on pandemic social distancing guidelines, is made using the same kind of augmented reality technology in smartphone games such as Pokemon Go. Sodar works through Google-made Chrome browsers on Android smartphones that support augmented reality, according to the California-based internet firm. The tool came out of an “Experiments With Google” project on technology hacks to help people cope with the coronavirus pandemic.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 30, 2020 08:48 UTC
Zaira Wasim attacked for quoting Quran, deletes social media
The 'Dangal' star had cited the Holy Quran while commenting on the Mumbai locust attacksFormer Bollywood actor Zaira Wasim has deleted her Twitter and Instagram accounts after being heavily trolled for quoting the Quran in light of the locust attacks taking place in Mumbai this week, reported Mid-Day. “So we sent upon them the flood and locusts and lice and frogs and blood: signs openly self- explained. Soon, Wasim started receiving hateful comments from netizens who interpreted her post as a justification of the attacks. Shortly after being deluged with such comments, Wasim deleted her Twitter and Instagram accounts. Why is every Indian abusing Zaira Wasim?
Source:The Express Tribune
May 30, 2020 08:26 UTC
A Ranbir Kapoor doppelganger is taking over Pakistan
It seems we've downloaded the wrong 'Rockstar'Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor’s doppelganger has been spotted in Pakistan and the resemblance is uncanny. Farhan Khan Sherwani, a social media personality, photographer and a creative agency’s owner from Lahore has uploaded several pictures on various online platforms which will leave you guessing who the real Ranbir is. Not only does this social media influencer resemble the Tamasha actor, he also seems to have adapted his looks from various films and posted them online. This one from Rockstar has us wondering if he’s actually related to the Kapoors and mistakenly ended up here. His followers seem to agree as well and it looks like he cannot deny them either as several commented on his posts saying, “Rockstar Ranbir Kapoor 2.0,” while others quipped “Hey Ranbir, looking awesome!”It seems the actual Ranbir may have some competition coming his way.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 30, 2020 08:03 UTC
Cameroon to open schools on June 1, eases lockdown
”The resumption of classes, in all levels of education, as well as in professional schools and vocational training centers, will effectively take place on Monday, 1 June 2020, throughout the national territory,” Joseph Dion Ngute said late Friday. A trust school with an international settingDion Ngute also said nursery schools and intermediate classes in primary and secondary schools are not concerned by the resumption of classes on June 1. The Central African country has so far confirmed 5,436 coronavirus cases, with 175, and 1,996 recoveries, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Several African countries have decided to ease lockdown restrictions by June 1, and open schools and places of warship. But the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for caution as countries in Africa ease lockdowns.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 30, 2020 07:18 UTC
PIA CEO briefs President Alvi about investigation into plane crash
President Dr Arif Alvi has directed Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan International Airlines Air Marshal Arshad Malik to expedite the process of compensation to the families of plane crash victims. The CEO PIA briefed the President about the investigation into the plane crash and the relief efforts made by the national airline. He said 44 bodies of the victims have been handed over to their heirs so far. The president appreciated the relief measures taken by the PIA and the facilities provided by it to the families of the deceased. Meanwhile, PIA CEO visited the house of PIA airhostess Anam Khan in Lahore, who was martyred in the plane crash in Karachi.
Source:Pakistan Today
May 30, 2020 06:56 UTC
LIVE: Govt makes face masks compulsory in public as Covid-19 tally soars to 68,307
After a brief hiatus following the first case, Covid-19 cases spiked as more pilgrims returning from Iran tested positive for the virus. The virus has claimed at least 1,443 lives while about 24,131 coronavirus patients have recovered. It also reported 18 new cases to raise the Covid-19 tally to 678. 12:10pm: Sindh Assembly members to be testedThe Sindh Health Department has decided to make special arrangements for testing members of the Sindh Assembly. 8:40am: Pakistan’s tally stands at 66,457The National Command and Operation Centre said Pakistan’s Covid-19 tally stands at 66,457.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 30, 2020 04:29 UTC
Rupee hits six-week low at 163.10
“Low export earnings kept the rupee under pressure,” Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan (ECAP) former secretary general Zafar Paracha told The Express Tribune. Besides, the receipt of export payments remained suspended during Eid holidays from May 22-27, he said. The prevailing foreign currency reserves of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) at $12.07 billion would also help the rupee partially recover the loss. Gold upThe depreciation of the rupee, however, pushed gold prices up to a five-week high at Rs97,200 per tola (11.66 grams). The surge in gold mostly came in the past two days when the rupee experienced a downward trend.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 30, 2020 03:11 UTC
Govt likely to allocate Rs1,000b for Covid-19
Prepares draft for federal budget 2010-21 with a total outlay of Rs7,570 billionISLAMABAD: The federal government has prepared draft for Rs7,570 billion federal budget 2010-21. Tax collection target in the budget is likely to be Rs4,500 billion while development budget is expected to be Rs530 billion. A proposal to levy luxury tax per square foot is under consideration. In addition, farmhouses have been divided into two categories for the implementation of luxury tax. It is proposed to levy a luxury tax of Rs50 per square feet on farmhouses with a covered area of more than 10,000 square feet.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 29, 2020 20:26 UTC
Turkish drama
The Turkish drama, Ertugrul Ghazi was aired on Pakistan Television(PTV) from ramzan. The drama is based on the muslim warrior, Ertugrul Ghazi, the founder of Ottoman empire. But, there are also many people, who are against this drama, including celebrities. One of the main point is that, a Turkish drama must not be aired on Pakistan’s official channel. Undoubtedly, muslim history is filled with heroes but unfortunately we are not aware of them.
Source:Pakistan Today
May 29, 2020 19:47 UTC
Pakistan uses militant-tracking technology to hunt coronavirus
Geo-fencing has helped officials monitor neighbourhoods on Covid-19 lockdownISLAMABAD : Pakistan’s intelligence services are deploying secretive surveillance technology normally used to locate militants to instead track coronavirus patients and the people they come into contact with. Details about the project have not been released, but two officials said that intelligence services are using geo-fencing and phone-monitoring systems that ordinarily are employed to hunt high-value targets including homegrown and foreign militants. A lack of awareness, stigma and fear have contributed to some people with symptoms not seeking treatment or even fleeing hospitals, while others who’ve had contact with virus patients have flouted self-isolation rules. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior security official said that agencies are now “quite effectively” using the technology to track coronavirus cases. Israel’s intelligence services have been using counter-terrorism technology, including tracking mobile phones, prompting the Supreme Court to raise privacy concerns.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 29, 2020 19:30 UTC
31 more die as coronavirus wreaks havoc in Sindh
This was disclosed by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in a statement issued on Friday from CM House. CM Murad said that Sindh had the highest number of deaths on Friday, which had taken the death toll to 427. Sharing the details of 12,936 patients, the chief minister said that 11,902 were in home isolation, 126 at isolation centres and 908 in hospitals. According to the chief minister, out of 804 new cases, 140 belonged to Korangi, 132 East, 117 South, 79 Central, 68 Malir and 61 West. The chief minister concluding his statement once again urged people of Sindh to be careful, adopt SOPs and avoid crowding.
Source:Pakistan Today
May 29, 2020 19:18 UTC
Ogra recommends Rs7 per litre cut in petrol price
ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has recommended the Petroleum Division to reduce the price of petrol by Rs7.06 per litre for the month of June 2020. In addition, OGRA has also suggested the government to lower the per litre price of kerosene oil and light diesel oil (LDO). According to sources, the oil and gas sector regulator has worked out Rs7.06 per litre decrease in petrol price; Rs11.88 per litre cut in the price of kerosene oil, and Rs9.37 reduction in the price of LDO. They said the finance ministry, after getting the consent of Prime Minister Imran Khan, would announce future oil prices, which would be effective from 1st June 2020. that are already imposed on POL prices.
Source:Pakistan Today
May 29, 2020 16:43 UTC
'India's aggressive designs dangerous for whole region'
“Now the unarmed scuffle between Chinese and the Indian forces at Sikkim-Tibet border in the Ladakh region has proved that India has expansionist designs, and it has become a big threat to the peace and security of the region,” they added. They paid glowing tributes to the people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K) for rejecting the RSS-BJP actions, carrying out the unprecedented struggle against India’s illegal occupation, and rendering matchless sacrifices for the realisation of their right to self-determination. Both assured the people of IOJ&K that they are not alone in their struggle but the whole Pakistani nation and every child of Azad Kashmir are with them. Premier Haider also condoled with President Masood on the death of his uncle Sardar Mohammad Nazir Khan and offered Fateha. The state minister Dr Mustafa Bashir and prominent scholar Sahibzada Salim Chishti were also present on the occasion.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 29, 2020 16:30 UTC
PFMA increases flour price by Rs120 per 20kg bag
LAHORE: The Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) on Friday increased the price of 20kg flour bag by Rs120, from Rs805 to Rs925. In addition, PFMA has also increased the ex-mill price of 20kg flour bag to Rs900. Talking to this scribe, PFMA Chairman Abdul Rauf Mukhtar said, “We have taken the decision in wake of an increase in wheat price. He claimed that at present, the flour mills don’t even have wheat stocks for 72 hours “and if the food department wants to stabilise the wheat price, it should issue stocks to flour mills”. Mukhtar maintained it was the responsibility of the food department to maintain the supply chain of wheat and flour.
Source:Pakistan Today
May 29, 2020 16:18 UTC
In agony, families await DNA results of plane crash victims
“Laboratories in Lahore take just six hours [to release DNA test results],” claimed Mobin Ahmed Idrees, whose cousin was onboard the plane. Trying to convince police officials at the collection point to help him get another sample, he was told that DNA matching was underway in the laboratory. While the security helped him reach lab officials, this too was unsuccessful. KU lab officials stated that 20 supporting staff had been working round the clock. Health department spokesperson Meeran Yousuf confirmed this, adding that while families could take DNA samples to Lahore on their own, doing so would increase the burden on laboratories there.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 29, 2020 16:07 UTC