Hours long power cuts from today: KESC

KARACHI: Given the pretext of shortage of natural gas, Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has announced to observe 10-hour long power outages in Karachi from today, TrendPK reported Sunday.

Meanwhile, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has dismissed KESC’s excuse of suspension of gas supply from the former.

KESC’s spokesperson Ghafran Ata, talking to TrendPK, said SSGC has forcefully shut down valves of the main pipeline used for gas supply to KESC, adding that the former is posing threats to cut complete gas supply to KESC.

However, SSGC spokesman Inayat Ismail, rebuffing the allegations, has said that KESC has commenced a vicious campaign aiming at tarnishing SSGC’s market reputation.

Being wary of complete blackout in Karachi in case of persistence of the issue, KESC’s representative said the company always becomes the prime target whenever there is decline in gas pressure.

Inayat Ismail of SSGC said despite the fact that KESC has to pay off outstanding dues worth 28 billion rupees even then his company is providing KESC gas on regular basis.

Ghafran Ata of KESC said that Sindh High Court (SHC) ordered SSGC to provide KESC with 276 million cusec feet natural gas a day but the order has yet to be obeyed.

SSGC said that the entire energy sector is reeling financial crisis therefore if there is low gas supply for SSGC, so it will result the same for other companies. TrendPK

Nissan develops cheaper, smaller charger for EVs

The basic model of the revamped charger will cost about half the price of the current model. Nissan has developed a charger for electric vehicles that s smaller, about half the price, and easier to install.Nissan Motor Co., Japan s No. 2 automaker, said the new charger will go on sale in November

in Japan and is planned later for the U.S. and Europe, although dates are not set. The basic model of the revamped charger will cost about half the price of the current model, which is stockier and has more parts, and costs 1.47 million yen ($19,000). The higher-grade model for outdoors will also be cheaper and cost under 1 million yen ($13,000), according to Nissan.

Yokohama-based Nissan, which makes the Leaf electric vehicle, is targeting sales of 5,000 of the new chargers in Japan by the end of March 2016. Zero-emission electric vehicles are drawing attention amid concerns about global warming and the environment. The Leaf is among the pioneering models in the technology.

But electric vehicles still make up a niche market. They have to be recharged, and recharging stations aren t that plentiful. Owners generally have to go through the trouble of installing a recharger in their homes. Right now, Leafs are being sold to mostly local governments rather than regular consumers.

The difficulty of installing chargers, which look like the filling machines at gas stations, is another reason. Nissan is hoping to sell the new chargers to highways, airports, shopping centers, convenience stores and gas stations, it said. Nissan has sold more than 13,600 Leaf cars around the world since they went on sale in December 2010. There are now 619 chargers throughout Japan, 32 percent, or 196, in the Nissan group, while the rest are with local governments, highways and other companies that promote EVs.

Competition in electric vehicles is likely to intensify in coming years as others, such as Japanese rival Toyota Motor Corp., enter the sector.
Toyota already offers plug-in hybrid cars, which run partly as EVs but switch to become regular hybrids with gas engines when they run out of the electric charge.

Hrithik Roshan to be the brand ambassador of iball?

Hrithik Roshan is someone who has been time and again described as the Greek God of Bollywood with his good looks, hot physique and exceptional talent. Right from his debut film till where he has reached now, hard work and sincerity has been his mantra.

And as per News Trends’s reliable sources, it is this mantra that has made him to be the brand ambassador of iball, the market leaders in computers accessories. With Krissh 2 and Agneepath under his belt, it really looks like the timing of this deal just couldn’t have been better!

Android malware on the rise

All platforms, mobile or otherwise, are subject to malware. The bigger platforms, though, are the juicer target for criminals simply because the numbers are larger. After all, why go after a platform with 1 percent share?

Windows is the top desktop platform and a target-rich environment for criminals. It doesn t necessarily mean the operating system is any less secure than the competition. It s just getting attacked in far greater quantities. Android is king of the hill when it comes to mobility and it may be suffering a bit of the same fate.

With Android, though, it isn t just about market share. It is also how apps are loaded on the platform. With a model like Apple has with iOS and Microsoft has with Windows Phone 7, it is very difficult to get apps on the device without the app going through an audit to ensure it: does what it claims; doesn t violate a set of rules designed to protect the device, network, and user data; and most of all, doesn t contain malware. No process is perfect and surely somewhere in the 300,000-plus apps in the App Store there is some code that was written to cause some sort of mischief, but should that happen, Apple will just flip the kill switch and remove the app from your phone.

Android doesn t have those protections. First of all, the Android Market doesn t subject apps to the scrutiny that Apple does, and that has caused more than one app in the Market to be a source of infection. Just two months ago Google removed 26 malicious apps.

Secondly, even if Google tightened its application approval process, you aren t forced to use the Android Market exclusively. If you want an app on your iPhone, you are locked into the App Store. (This ignores those that jailbreak their devices. I ignore that group of people when it comes to security because they are deliberately bypassing built-in security features, so they re on your own there.) With Android, you can choose from a variety of markets, none of which are approved by Google, so who knows what you risk when downloading from those?

KSE remains volatile

KSE witnessed mixed trend on Wednesday as 100-Index mostly remained in negative zone.

Selling became cause of pressure in the market. According to analysts, it is very difficult for the market to remain stable without launching of leverage product. At the end of the day, KSE closed at 12,242 points with a decrease of 30 points.

Pak foreign investment decreases

Pak foreign investment decreases during the last week.
During the week ended on 9th of January, Pakistan foreign investment decreased by 16.9 million dollar in spite of bullish KSE. US investors made 1.4 millions dollar investment while British investors pulled 47 millions dollars from the market.

KSE starts week with bullish trend

Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) on Monday showed positive trend as KSE 100-index crossed 11,900 points.

The market opened the day on a positive node. Leverage products caused a huge investment in the market. Due to an increase in fertilizer prices the fertilizer sector remained active during the trading. However, share trading did not show an active growth and the 100- index closed the day on 11,900 points and. Share prices of DG khan cement remain at the top with an increase of 30 paisas and its value reached Rs 30.26.

KSE 100 index crosses barrier of 11,600

Bulls ruled the Karachi stocks today, News Trends reported on Wednesday. KSE 100 index crossed the barrier of 11,600 points.

Positive trend was witnessed since the start of the market today. Due to increased international oil rates and decreased Pakistani share prices in the region buying jumped up. Local and international funds remained active in the market. At the end of trading 100 index closed at 10,629 after increasing by 198 points. Total trade volume remained 190 million shares. Share prices of Lotte Pakistan topped the list whose share price increased by 0.53 rupee to reach 13.16 rupees.

Ranbir Kapoor to put on weight for Barfee

Irony cannot get ironical than this! The Gen-Next heart throb Ranbir Kapoor is apparently all set to gain weight for Anurag Basu’s Barfee (which was earlier called as Silence).

Those in the know are aware of the fact that Ranbir’s character has been sketched on the lines of the legendary Charlie Chaplin. But, if the market buzz is to be believed, then, the latest addition is that Ranbir’s character will also flaunt Mr. Bean’s moves. News has it that, while Charlie Chaplin was Anurag’s idea, Bean was Ranbir’s brainwave. And in order to look the part, Ranbir is all set to gain weight.

One can only ‘weight’ and watch to see if Ranbir really lives up to the sweetness of Barfee.

Pakistani stocks end lower; rupee firms; o/n rates down

KARACHI: Pakistani stocks ended lower on Tuesday as local investors booked profits at higher levels ahead of the monetary policy announcement next week after the market ended on a 28-month high the previous day, dealers said.

The Karachi Stock Exchange’s benchmark 100-share index .KSE ended 0.31 percent, or 34.75 points, lower at 11,171.09.

Turnover rose to 154.97 million shares, compared with 113.32 million shares traded on Monday.

“After a huge run up yesterday the market took a breather and local institutions were sellers and the KSE-index is likely to stay under some pressure ahead of the monetary policy announcement,” said Asad Iqbal, chief investment officer at Faysal Asset Management Ltd.

The monetary policy is due to be announced on Nov. 29 for the next two months and dealers said investors cautiously await an expected 50 basis point hike in

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