Monday, March 29th, 2021
Facebook, Google plan new undersea cables to connect Southeast Asia and America
SINGAPORE: Facebook said on Monday it planned two new undersea cables to connect Singapore, Indonesia and North America in a project with Google and regional telecommunication companies to boost internet connection capacity between the regions. “Named Echo and Bifrost, those will be the first two cables to go through a new diverse route crossing the Java Sea and they will increase overall subsea capacity in the trans-pacific by about 70%,” Facebook Vice President of Network Investments, Kevin Salvadori, told media. He declined to specify the size of the investment, butRead More
Modi Govt uses media to propagate Hindutva ideology: NYT
NEW YORK: Prominent international daily the New York Times says Modi led BJP government of India has used media to propagate Hindutva ideology and targeted those independent media platforms which criticize and challenge its policies. In an article, the paper mentions international reports which expressed serious concerns over the erosion of freedom of press in India. The paper quotes heads of independent media outlets who say the new rules related to digital media will further reinRead More
Lebanon could sink like Titanic, parliament speaker says
BEIRUT: Influential parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri said on Monday that Lebanon would sink like the Titanic if it could not form a government. “We will all sink, with no exceptions,” MTV television quoted him as saying at the opening of a session of parliament. Prime minister-designate Saad al-Hariri and President Michel Aoun have been at loggerheads over a new cabinet for months, dashing hopes of a reversal of Lebanon’s deepening financial meltdown. The assembly was due to discuss a $200 million emergency fund to pay for fuel for Lebanon’s electricityRead More
Punjab govt mulling lockdown in Lahore: Firdous Ashiq Awan
LAHORE , MARCH 29 : The Punjab government is mulling over different measures to control the COVID-19 spread across the province, especially in Lahore where a complete lockdown may be imposed due to a high positivity ratio, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said Monday. The statement from the government spokesperson came as the COVID-19 situation in the provincial capital worsened further despite smart lockdowns and other restrictions. Awan said people are not following the coronavirus SOPs and the results are not encouraging fromRead More
Federal cabinet to decide on retail price of COVID-19 vaccines
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned a session of the federal cabinet on Thursday in order to discuss 22-point agenda that also include the prices of COVID-19 vaccines. The federal cabinet will mull over the country’s political and economic situation besides reviewing the steps for containing the spread of coronavirus pandemic and vaccination process. A briefing will be given to the federal cabinet members regarding the usage of the electronic voting machine and the provision of voting rights to overseas Pakistanis. The federal cabinet is also likely to decideRead More
China’s Century Steel to invest total $242.2 million in Rashakai SEZ
ISLAMABAD,March 29 : China’s Century Steel will invest a total of $242.2 million in Rashakai SEZ in three phases, Gwadar Pro reported on Monday. The firm recently announced to have acquired 40 acres of land in the SEZ with plans to invest $50 million to produce 0.25 million tonnes of steel products. The firm is presently building its plant in Rashakai, being the first ever investment in the SEZ. However, as against the earlier plans of $50 million, the company will invest $79 million in the first phase to doubleRead More