Islamabad, Dec 11: Apple plans to eliminate the notch from its MacBook Pro lineup by 2026, based on a roadmap shared by research firm Omdia. The upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch models will feature a hole-punch camera design instead of the notch. Although specifics are not fully clear, the change may involve a small pinhole camera or a Dynamic Island-like feature, similar to the one on iPhones, which could show system alerts like battery notifications. While this feature may not be as significant on macOS as on iOS, removing the notch will increase the usable screen space, allowing more pixels for…
Author: Mawadat Fatima
Islamabad, Dec 11: The Excise and Taxation Department of Islamabad has set a 15-day deadline for vehicle owners to pay their token tax or face the cancellation of their vehicle registration. According to the department’s statement, starting January 1, vehicles with unpaid token taxes will have their registrations revoked. The department’s software will automatically flag these vehicles, and after the deadline, owners will be required to pay a 200% penalty to restore their registration. The decision comes as the number of defaulters continues to rise. During routine checks, excise officers often encounter vehicles with overdue token taxes, leading to fines.…
Islamabad, Dec 11: Car sales in Pakistan for November 2024 totaled 10,163 units, marking a 57% increase year-on-year (YoY) but a 22% decrease month-on-month (MoM). For the first five months of fiscal year (FY) 2025, sales reached 50,856 units, reflecting a 51% YoY rise compared to 33,637 units in the same period of FY24. The MoM decline is attributed to the year-end effect, where buyers delay purchases for new year registrations, according to Topline Research. Sazgar Engineering (SAZEW) experienced the largest MoM decline, with sales falling 42% to 584 units, though production remained relatively stable, down just 1% to 993…
Islamabad, Dec 11: Apple is continuing its exploration of foldable device designs, as shown by the latest patent granted today, titled “Hinges for folding display devices” (US 12,164,344). Although Apple has received many patents related to foldable technology over the years, it has yet to release a foldable device, with delays reportedly slowing its progress. The new patent outlines a hinge system with interconnected links made up of interlinked “fingers” and a friction clutch. One of the main innovations in this design is the inclusion of crescent-shaped slots, allowing each link to rotate relative to others. This arrangement moves the…
Islamabad, Dec 11: Chinese smartphone brands are boosting battery capacities, with even larger upgrades anticipated in 2025. Red Magic recently released a device with a 7050 mAh battery, and reports suggest that Redmi and OnePlus are also developing smartphones with 7000 mAh batteries. These bigger batteries, along with more efficient chipsets, are expected to greatly improve battery life. This year, phones with 6000 mAh batteries have demonstrated that longer battery life can be achieved without adding significant thickness, thanks to advancements in silicon technology. If this trend continues, smartphones in 2025 may offer even larger batteries without becoming bulky, with…
Islamabad, Dec 11: The Rs 40,000 Prize Bond Draw (Draw 31) took place today at the Muzaffarabad office of the National Savings Division. As part of the regular three-month prize bond draw cycle, the event witnessed numerous fortunate winners claiming substantial cash rewards. Prize Bond Rs. 40,000 Results – December 2024 First Prize (Rs. 80,000,000) Winner: 016364 Second Prize (Rs. 30,000,000 each) Winners: 885708, 442509, 540206 Third Prize (Rs. 500,000 each) 660 Winners Prize bonds are a popular and secure investment option in Pakistan, offering a risk-free way to invest while maintaining the principal amount. Though the chances of winning…
Islamabad, Dec 11: The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration’s robust anti-dengue efforts have led to a significant drop in cases, with no new infections reported in the past 24 hours. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Islamabad, Irfan Nawaz Memon, chaired a review meeting on Tuesday to assess the dengue situation. Assistant Commissioners (ACs) provided updates on the ongoing anti-dengue operations across the city. According to the ICT administration’s spokesperson, Islamabad has reported a total of 3,962 dengue cases this season. However, sustained efforts to control the disease are yielding positive results. DC Memon expressed appreciation for the collective efforts that achieved this…
Islamabad, Dec 11: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) is all set to host the Quaid-e-Azam Inter-Provincial Games 2024 from December 13 to December 19 at the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad. This week-long event will bring together athletes from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Islamabad. Designed to foster unity and engage the nation’s youth, the Games will feature 15 sports, including athletics, badminton, boxing, football, hockey, judo, kabaddi, karate, squash, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, weightlifting, and wrestling. Both male and female athletes will compete in individual and team events, with highlights like the…
Islamabad, Dec 11: Pakistan has strongly condemned Israel’s aggression against Syria and its unlawful occupation of Syrian territory. Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, in an official statement, described the attack on Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as a severe violation of international law. She emphasized that Israel’s provocative actions escalate tensions in an already unstable region and constitute blatant defiance of international law and UN Security Council resolutions. Pakistan reaffirmed its unwavering support for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting any Israeli attempt to acquire territory through force. The spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s backing for UN Security Council Resolution 497,…
Islamabad, Dec 11: The Indian rupee fell to its lowest level ever on Tuesday, reaching 84.8575 against the U.S. dollar before closing slightly higher at 84.8525, marking a 0.1% decline. The market reacted to the appointment of Sanjay Malhotra, a seasoned bureaucrat, as the new Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor. This development fueled speculation of rate cuts by the central bank next year. Government bond yields dropped, and the 5-year overnight index swap rate—a key interest rate indicator—hit a 3-month low of 5.97% before recovering slightly. State-run banks, likely acting on behalf of the RBI, engaged in dollar sales…
