Govt to Launch Marketing Export Program to Enhance IT exports:
The Federal Government has decided to launch a Technology Marketing Export Program to address international public relations, branding, and marketing for accelerated growth of IT and ITeS export. According to documents available to ProPakistani, on the recommendations of the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, the Federal Government has decided to launch this program with Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) funding.
Sony is Working on New PSP-Like Device:
Sony had a significant presence in the handheld console market through its PSP and PS Vita. Now, the company appears to be gearing up to re-enter the market for portable gaming hardware. According to a recent report, Sony is currently testing the PlayStation Q Lite handheld device, which is currently undergoing QA testing. This new device is essentially a PlayStation 5 DualSense controller with an 8-inch LCD screen in the center. However, there is a catch: it will only function with Sony’s PlayStation Remote Play.
International Police Seizes Hacker Marketplace on the Dark Web:
On Tuesday, a notice was posted on a dark web marketplace favored by cybercriminals called Genesis Market that all of its domains had been confiscated by international law enforcement agencies. The site displayed a banner announcing that the FBI had taken possession of domains owned by the organization, with logos of other police organizations from Canada, Europe, and Australia, as well as cybersecurity firm Qintel, prominently featured. There has been no comment from the FBI or Qintel at this time in response to messages requesting clarification.
Google Offers Scholarships Worth $500,000 and Professional Training:
Search engine giant Google has announced 1,000 scholarships for the youth of Balochistan. The Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed in Quetta. In Quetta, Google officials, representatives of the Department of Education, and the Department of Labor and Manpower signed the memorandum of agreement for the Google Career Certificate. Google will provide 1,000 scholarships worth $500,000 to students in Balochistan.
USF Spending on Provision of Telecom Services Crosses Rs. 90 Billion:
The Universal Service Fund (USF) has spent Rs. 90.670 billion since its inception on providing telecom services in un-served and under-served areas of the country, while Rs 71.06 billion is still in balance, official documents revealed. The USF was created in 2007 under the Telecom Act amendment of 2006 to extend cellular, broadband internet, fiber optics, and other telecommunication services to un-served or under-served areas. All telecom companies have been contributing 1.5 percent of their revenues to the USF.
Meta and Poynter Partner to Provide Fact-Checking Course for Journalists in Pakistan:
Meta has partnered with the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) at the nonprofit Poynter Institute, to create a free introductory fact-checking course serving journalists in the Asia Pacific region, including Pakistan. Composed of three modules focusing on fact-checking, verification and debunking, and health mis- and disinformation, the course will prime journalists on how to find fact-checkable claims, the methodology for fact-checking, and tools and techniques to assist in their journey.
Zong 4G Partners with Shaukat Khanum to Support Cancer Prevention:
Zong 4G has recently partnered with Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) to launch an SMS Broadcast campaign aimed at creating cancer awareness and encouraging donations from people to support cancer patients. The campaign started on the first day of Ramadan and lasted almost a week, reaching over 45 million people across Pakistan. Interested individuals can donate by sending an SMS to 7770 for only Rs. 20+tax. In a statement, Zong 4G’s spokesperson expressed pride in partnering with SKMCH&RC, “Zong 4G is committed to supporting initiatives that make a positive impact in the community.”
Foreign Companies Avoid Pakistan Because of No Privacy Laws: Senator:
In the absence of a personal data protection law, international companies and potential investors are reluctant to come to Pakistan. This was stated by Senator Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication. The committee met with Naseema Ehsan in the chair on Wednesday in the absence of Senator Kauda Babar who is the chairman of the committee. Khan, who introduced “The Data Protection Act 2023” in the Senate on February 13, 2023, said that in the absence of data protection law, international companies are reluctant to come to Pakistan, as they want to host data in the United States.
Apple Issues Urgent Warning to iPhone Users:
Millions of iPhone users have been alerted by Apple regarding a pop-up notification that displays when water is detected in the phone’s charging port. Neglecting the notification can result in the pins on the Lightning port or the cable corroding, which can lead to permanent damage or connectivity problems. Two kinds of notifications appear with a yellow warning triangle and a blue water drop inside. The first notification warns that “Charging Not Available”, while the second message indicates “Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector”. It is essential to not ignore both notifications, except in severe cases.
Moto X40 Launched Worldwide as Edge 40 Pro With Flagship Specs:
Today, the Motorola Edge 40 Pro was unveiled as the flagship device for 2023. It boasts a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a 125W charging capacity, and a 50MP main camera with a large sensor. Interestingly, this same hardware was previously announced as the Moto X40 in China, but with heavy customizations for the local market. The Edge 40, on the other hand, has a cleaner UI, providing a closer experience to the stock Android 13 interface.
Settlers of Catan: Creator of board game dies aged 70:
The creator of the internationally renowned Catan board game, Klaus Teuber, has died aged 70. German-born Mr Teuber died on 1 April after a “short and serious” illness, his family said in a statement. More than 40 million copies of Catan have been sold since it came onto shelves in 1995, and it has been translated into more than 40 languages. Catan Studio described him as a “kind and selfless human being” and “inspirational leader” in a statement.
KSI: YouTuber visits mosque after racial slur in Sidemen video:
YouTuber KSI has visited a mosque and apologised again for using a racial slur in a YouTube video. In the now-deleted clip with his group The Sidemen, he created a four-letter derogatory word for people of South Asian origin during a Countdown game. KSI also used a boxing preview event on Wednesday to apologise for causing “hurt and disappointment”. The rapper said he’d engaged in “very early conversations with some people from South Asian communities”.
Genesis Market: Popular cybercrime website shut down by police:
One of the world’s biggest criminal marketplaces used by online fraudsters to buy passwords has been closed down in a global law enforcement crackdown. Genesis Market sold login details, IP addresses and other data that made up victims’ “digital fingerprints”. Often costing less than $1, the personal information let fraudsters log into bank and shopping accounts. Law enforcement agencies around the world were part of the co-ordinated raids, including the UK.
Amazon closing UK-based online shop Book Depository:
UK-based online store Book Depository is being closed down by its parent company, the US technology giant Amazon. Book Depository has told customers it will cease operations later this month after almost two decades in business. It comes after Amazon announced plans to cut thousands of jobs as it shakes up its businesses globally. The news was met with sadness by many of Book Depository’s customers from around the world. “We are sorry to let you know that Book Depository will be closing on 26 April 2023,” the company said.
Shein: ‘My nail designs were stolen by Chinese fast-fashion firm’:
A British nail artist has claimed that her designs have been stolen by fast fashion giant Shein. You might’ve seen the headlines on some news sites – “Beauty fans go wild for £2 Shein press-on nails”. And it’s true, some of the Chinese-owned company’s press-on nails are being sold for as little as 75p. But Manchester-based nail designer Yan Tee was shocked to find her intricate designs on the site. And she says not only have the firm copied her nail art, but they’ve even taken her own Instagram pictures without permission to advertise them.
Andrew Tate: Teaching young Londoners about the power of influencers:
Self-styled “success coach” Andrew Tate has billions of views of his online videos. But despite being banned from most social media platforms, there are still concerns about how his controversial views on women are influencing teenagers in London. His influence among teenage boys and young men has become so great, anti-extremism workshops are being held in schools across London focusing on what’s being seen this form of online radicalisation.
Super Mario Bros. movie: Jack Black on the rise of game adaptations:
Arguably gaming’s most recognisable face is once again making the switch to the silver screen. Chirpy Italian plumber Mario, now 38 years old, is having the Hollywood treatment – with producers hoping this attempt is better received than the infamous 1993 version starring Bob Hoskins. With Chris Pratt voicing the moustachioed lead, this is the latest in the trend of video game worlds, characters and stories being adapted for television or film. Jack Black, who plays the fire-breathing villain Bowser, has told the Media that he expects more and more gaming intellectual property to have similar transformations in years to come.
Virgin Media internet down again for thousands:
Virgin Media O2 has apologised after thousands in the UK reported they were unable to access the internet for the second time in one day. Downdetector, which tracks websites, showed more than 54,000 people reported their broadband was not functioning on Tuesday afternoon. It came as Virgin contacted customers to advise them of price increases – averaging at a 13.8% higher bill. The firm apologised for inconvenience caused by the outages.
TikTok fined £12.7m for misusing children’s data:
TikTok has been fined £12.7m by the UK’s data watchdog for failing to protect the privacy of children. It estimated TikTok allowed up to 1.4 million UK children aged under 13 to use the platform in 2020. The video-sharing site used the data of children of this age without parental consent, according to an investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). TikTok said it had “invested heavily” to stop under-13s accessing the site. The ICO said many were able to access the site despite TikTok setting 13 as the minimum age to create an account. It said that children’s data may have been used to track and profile them, and potentially present them with harmful or inappropriate content.
UK video games market value dipped by 5.6% in 2022:
The value of the UK video games market fell by 5.6% last year, according to trade body UKIE. Sales of gaming hardware, including consoles, fell 19% last year to £2.16bn but software (games) revenue grew slightly by 0.4% (£4.57bn). The market was worth £7.05bn overall in 2022, which is still 17% above pre-pandemic levels. The games industry, like other entertainment industries, is bracing itself to fully realise how the recent cost of living crisis will impact consumer spending in the coming years. This report suggests that price changes caused by the Ukraine war, rising inflation and higher energy costs have already impacted how much people are willing to spend on their video games.