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  • Call of Duty’s new battle royale: ‘Free to play for everyone’

    Call of Duty’s new battle royale: ‘Free to play for everyone’

    Activision released Call of Duty Warzone and it will be free to play across gaming platforms including Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PCs, BBC reported.

    In battle royale games multiple players can fight and explore a game together, but ultimately the goal is to be the last player standing.

    Games like Fortnite and Apex Legends helped popularise the genre. They are more social than traditional video games because players can work together and speak to each other.

    Analysts say Call of Duty: Warzone will offer “something fresh” in the gaming world, particularly as a growing number of people watch livestream gaming.

    “What Call of Duty: Warzone brings to the table is a triple threat since it’s tied to a very popular franchise,” said Doron Nir, CEO of live streaming services provider StreamElements. “There hasn’t been a big new battle royale game in a while, and it’s free-to-play.”

    Activision released a battle royale game in 2018, but players had to purchase Call of Duty: Black Ops for $60 (£46) to access it.

    Analysts say the industry has shifted more to a free to play model and this move by Activision should be concerning to some competitors.

    “This is forward-thinking and a step in the right direction,” said Will Hershey chief executive of Round Hill Investments.

    Mr Hershey said games like Apex Legends and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) are most exposed because their players and players of the Call of Duty franchise tend to be older. Fortnite, by comparison, has less gore and younger players.

    In Warzone up to 150 players will be able to participate in a single battle. For context, Fortnite has 100 and Apex Legends allows 60.

    Players will compete in teams of three. Leaks during the development suggested a single game could have up to 200 players.

    The game’s map is also large, with 300 points of interests.

    Gamers will be able to save their positions and restart on different consoles allowing players to maintain their progression in the game.

    Players will be able to earn in-game cash to buy upgrades, gear and tokens that can revive them or their teammates from death.

    Though Warzone will be a standalone game, purchasers of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare will be able to transfer contents like skins – customized avatar looks – and equipment.

    While Call of Duty: Warzone is free, analysts explain the company still intends to make money from it.

    Warzone is intended for mature players who typically have greater spending power.

    “Most game companies wouldn’t invest in a game of this scope if profit wasn’t a key driver,” said Mr Nir.

    Players will be able to make in-game purchases to upgrade their characters or tools.

    There is also the potential to build interest in the Call of Duty franchise among new players who may then buy the box edition.

    The timing of Warzone’s release seems to be linked to leaks of the game on YouTube. But the game could also benefit from the coronavirus outbreak and the global quarantines.

    “Any kind of stay at home entertainment companies has a potential to benefit from this,” said Mr Hershey.

    Viewers of livestream gaming spiked in China in February as large parts of the country were put under quarantine.

  • Pakistani citizenship sought for Qalandars’ Ben Dunk

    Pakistani citizenship sought for Qalandars’ Ben Dunk

    Commentator and former Pakistani cricketing star Ramiz Raja has sought honorary citizenship for Lahore Qalandars’ hard-hitting batsman Ben Dunk, who on Sunday trashed Karachi Kings with his match-winning 99 off 40 balls.

    In a YouTube video, Raja heaped praise upon Australia’s Dunk for his blistering innings against the Kings, suggesting that Pakistan team would benefit from Dunk’s talent if he became a Pakistani citizen.

    “Pakistan has long been missing a hard-hitter like Dunk,” he said.

    “I think the Pakistani government should give him [Dunk] honorary citizenship. We should make him play for Pakistan because my wish is to see a Pakistani batsmen do similar kind of power-hitting. We haven’t seen any Pakistani batsman do this kind of hitting except for Shadab Khan this season.”

    The report comes days after it was announced that West Indian star and captain of Peshawar Zalmi, Darren Sammy, will be given the highest civil award — Nishan-e-Pakistan — and honorary citizenship of the country by President Arif Alvi on March 23 for his “invaluable contribution to cricket in Pakistan”.

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had taken to Twitter to announce it.

    On February 19, the team’s owner Javed Afridi had said the franchise had put in a request to the president to grant the Zalmi skipper honorary citizenship of Pakistan and requested PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani to pursue it personally so that the application is approved.

  • Govt to impose extra Rs900 billion taxes: report

    Govt to impose extra Rs900 billion taxes: report

    Pakistan’s former finance minister Dr Hafeez Pasha has said that under an ongoing deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government will impose taxes worth Rs900 billion in the upcoming budget, The Express Tribune reported.

    “The government has assured the IMF that it will impose Rs700 billion in additional taxes in the first year, Rs900 billion in the second year and Rs1,200 billion in the third year. We don’t have an option but to renegotiate with the IMF since our team was not able to prepare things properly,” Pasha said.

    “It is high time to bring radical tax reforms through tough decisions in the upcoming budget and those who can bear taxes should now take the burden since Pakistan has to pay Rs2 trillion in debt servicing this year; this amount will further increase to Rs3 trillion next year,”

    Economist Dr Qais Aslam said that Pakistan could not enter the 21st century “while having a mindset and policies of the 19th century”. “We have to uplift our institutions with a clear message to our bureaucracy that things will no longer materialise with their mindset.”

    He pointed out that the small-scale industry accounted for only 1% of Pakistan’s economy whereas in the modern world it was considered the backbone of any country. “We have to fix these issues, or else it will be impossible to give employment to the people.”

    “The country has lost one million jobs in the past one year and during the same period about two million youngsters have qualified for jobs… we have to create employment opportunities for them,” he said.

  • China, Russia, Italy make Pakistan 11th largest arms importer in world

    Pakistan is the 11th largest arms importer in the world, a report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) — an institute that tracks arms deals around the world — has revealed.

    As per the figures released by SIPRI, China, Russia and Italy are the main suppliers of arms to Pakistan, with Beijing accounting for 73% of the total imports during 2015-2019, and Moscow as well as Rome accounting for 6.6% and 6.1%, respectively.

    The actual share of Pakistani imports in the world has, however, decreased by 39% during the said period, the report revealed. The overall decrease in Pakistan’s arms imports over the latest five-year period was linked to the United States’ (US) decision to stop military aid to the country.

    The institute further noted that Pakistan was among the top three buyers of arms from top weapons exporters like Italy and Turkey. Pakistan had a 7.5% share in arms imports from Italy between 2015-2019, and 12% share in Turkish arms over the same period.

    SIPRI also identified a significant drop in arms sales to South Asia by the US, which was listed as the largest arms exporter in the world between 2015-2019. The institute noted that US arms imports to Pakistan declined by 92%, and to India by 51% over this period. The US, which had accounted for 30% of Pakistan’s arms imports in 2010–14, was responsible for only 4.1% in 2015–19.

    Meanwhile, Islamabad was identified as the largest buyer of Chinese arms between 2015-2019, accounting for 35% of the arms exported by Beijing — the fifth largest exporter of weapons in the world in the five-year period.

    According to SIPRI, China accounted for 51% of Pakistan’s arms imports in 2010–14 and for 73% in 2015–19. SIPRI also noted that Pakistan continued to import arms from Europe, strengthening relations with Turkey with orders for 30 combat helicopters and four frigates in 2018.

    India, on the other hand, has retained its position as the second-largest arms importer in the world followed by Saudi Arabia that now imports 12% of its arms (2015-19) as against 5.6% in 2010-14 — a jump of 130%, the report said.

  • Sindh Food Authority seals Dunkin Donuts factory for using expired products

    Sindh Food Authority seals Dunkin Donuts factory for using expired products

    A donut factory was temporarily sealed for using substandard and expired products in Karachi’s SITE Industrial area.

    As per reports, the Sindh Food Authority (SFA) conducted a raid at the Dunkin Donuts factory on Monday and found expired bunties and sub-standard ingredients.

    The SFA team also found unrefined items that had been intermixed.

    Factory hygiene rules were also being violated, officials said. A fine of Rs250,000 has been imposed. SFA Operations Director Imtiaz Abro discarded the substandard food items.

  • Mehwish Hayat bids a tearful goodbye to her best friend

    Mehwish Hayat bids a tearful goodbye to her best friend

    They say a dog is a man’s best friend and Mehwish Hayat just opened up about losing her pet dog – her dear Balooni.

    Mehwish wrote that she’s been through a lot in life but “these last few days have been the worst of my life.”

    “A decade of having you next to me through all my highs, lows and breakdowns…your one gaze would make me feel everything’s going to be alright. You taught me so much about unconditional love and life itself.”

    “My best friend…you loved me so much that you spared me the pain of saying goodbye and letting you go. I wish you’d waited for me a day more. I wish I could have got to hug you for one last time .. I wish ..,” an emotional Mehwish said concluding her note.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9hfP_3HRkA/

    Mehwish has often shared pictures of herself with Bruno.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B8B19fZHx0M/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs8GB6YhPxa/

    The actor is currently shooting in Punjab for her upcoming film London Nahi Jaunga. The film which is being directed by Nadeem Baig also starres Humayun Saeed and Kubra Khan. The movie came under much fire recently for being written by the controversial Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar. All the actors in the film, including Mehwish, have yet to comment on the controversy.

  • PTM lawmakers travel to Kabul on Afghan army helicopter

    PTM lawmakers travel to Kabul on Afghan army helicopter

    Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) lawmakers Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir on Monday got a free ride on an Afghan National Army helicopter from the Pak-Afghan border crossing to Kabul to attend the oath-taking ceremony of President Ashraf Ghani, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.

    Mohsin Dawar thanked Afghan President Ashraf Ghani for delaying his oath, because of the two Pakistani legislators who were barred by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from flying to Kabul for being on the Exit Control List (ECL).

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Sunday gave one-time permission to the two Pashtun legislators to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Afghan President Ghani.

    Mohsin Dawar, in his tweet after reaching Kabul, said, “Wanted to express my gratitude to President @ashrafghani for delaying his oath-taking for the arrival of @Aliwazirna50 and myself.”

    The Afghan government specially dispatched a military helicopter to rush the two parliamentarians to the ceremony from Torkham.

    Mohsin Dawar, in another Twitter post, from Kabul said, “Overwhelmed by the welcome we have received here. Wishing a peaceful future for Afghanistan and the region.”

    Dawar also shared some pictures showing them travelling in an Afghan army helicopter.

    According to Afghan media, before reaching Kabul, the PTM leaders also briefly visited some officials in eastern Nangarhar province.

  • Atif Aslam wishes his ‘little battery’ happy birthday

    Atif Aslam wishes his ‘little battery’ happy birthday

    Though Atif Aslam rarely shares pictures of his family, he makes sure to wish his son every year on his birthday.

    The award-winning singer recently took to Instagram to wish his son – his ‘little battery’ – happy birthday and we have to say his wish made us melt.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9ePr9gFySn/?utm_source=ig_embed

    Atif and his wife Sara have two children. Their younger one was born in December last year.

    Meanwhile, check out Atif’s earlier wishes for his son:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Buvx0rtH0QJ/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/BgCdTlzFkW6/
  • Lahore Qalandars’ Ben Dunk reveals the reason behind chewing gum on-field

    Lahore Qalandars’ Ben Dunk reveals the reason behind chewing gum on-field

    Lahore Qalandars’ batsman Ben Dunk has been a hero for his team as he scored 99 off 40 balls that helped Qalandars win at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday. The star player hit 12 sixes during the course of the match. Meanwhile, there has been a lot of speculation on why he chews gum on the field and the player has finally revealed the reason behind this.

    Speaking to the media after the match, Dunk said that he chewed gum on the pitch because it helped him focus on the task.

    “There is nothing special in the gum, I chew it to remain focused on the task,” he said.

    “Chewing gum is perhaps not a very good habit and I should not be doing it. It is being highlighted more in the videos. But I only do it to stay calm and focused on my task in the game,” Dunk added.

    On the fact that he missed out on a century for the second time in the tournament, Dunk responded, “But it does not matter, what matters is that the team won.”

    “I have to play the role in the batting lineup that is assigned to me by the team management. I always try and play according to the need of the team. The batting number does not matter, I always give my best.”

    Dunk also admired the fans in Lahore for cheering for the team, saying that the crowd during the game is the 12th player for the Qalandars. He asked fans to keep backing the team through their wins and losses.

  • GCU students produce Pakistan’s first-ever fan-made Harry Potter movie

    GCU students produce Pakistan’s first-ever fan-made Harry Potter movie

    Potterheads in Pakistan have taken their love for the book to a whole new level. Students of Government College University (GCU) Lahore have produced Pakistan’s first-ever fan-made Harry Potter movie: The Last Follower and The Resurrection of Voldemort. The group of young Ravians released the film under their production house, Khyaali Production.

    The film, which has been positively received by the audience, is full of magical visuals and inventive and exciting sequences. It has been filmed at GCU, with the university shown as Hogwarts.

    The movie is set a few years after the Harry Potter series and shows students roaming in the castle. Some mysteries emerge and this is the premise of the story.

    The movie has been written and directed by Waleed Akram, who shared that the gothic architecture of GCU motivated him to make the film.

    “If there is Hogwarts in this world, it’s GCU Lahore,” said the director, adding, “I started this venture with a single camera and the whole movie has been shot with a very simple camera.”

    The main cast of the movie includes Umer Darr, Jazib Alram, Mariam Hassan Naqvi, Talha Chahour, Dua Marium, Sheikh Mubashir and Habib Chaudary.

    Behind the Scenes

    Meanwhile, Zeeshan Hameed has done the visual effects for the film.

    While the film has been screened in GCU, the director said that he hopes that it will be screened in other universities and is also working towards releasing the film in cinemas across the country.

    Watch the teaser of the film here: