MAGTIMES: November 2011

Thursday 24 November 2011

PUCIT develops better image processing software than adobe photoshop

PUCIT develops better image processing software than adobe photoshop

LAHORE: Punjab University College of Information Technology (PUCIT) faculty members and Image Processing Researchers, have developed cutting-edge software, which can be used to remove different types of bars and fences from images/pictures.

The team of researchers including Lecturers Muhammad Shahid Farid and Muhammad Hassan Khan are working under the supervision of Assistant Professor Dr Arif Mahmood. This image de-fencing software has outperformed existing fence removal software by significant margins and is no doubt, currently, the best-known software in the world. Even the existing state of the art image editing softwares, such as Adobe Photoshop, do not have this feature.

The team has also worked on a novel image in-painting algorithm that can be used for the removal of unwanted objects, such as scratches, from digital images. This software is being used as a component in the fence removal software. Shahid Farid and Dr. Arif Mahmood have also worked on the Frequency Domain Image Morphing software. This software can be used to mix two images and generate a set of images containing contents from both of the original images. It is worth mentioning here that most of the work done by these researchers has been published in peer reviewed international conferences and journals.

Korean film festival concludes and talk of Korean Ambassador

Korean film festival concludes and talk of Korean Ambassador
LAHORE: South Korean Ambassador in Pakistan Choongjoo Choi has said that Korea would help pakistan to overcome the energy crises in the country. Korea would enhace its bilateral trade with Pakistan upto $ 2.5 next year.

He was talking to MagTimes at concluding ceremony of two day Korean Film Festival at Alhamra here on Friday. He said that Korean companies are all set to make investment in Pakistan’s power sector and number of Korean companies has shown their keen interest in investing in hydro power projects to over come with the energy shortage. He said that

He said that Korea’s bilateral trade with Pakistan is about $1.1 billion and Korea want this to increase upto $ 2.5 in next year. He added that Pakistan is rich with the minerals while Korea has the latest technology therefore mutual cooperation is very necessary between the two countries. He further said that there is a need for expertise sharing as both countries have a lot to learn from each other. He added that Korea is a strong ally of Pakistan and in future continue its cooperation.

Earlier while addressing the audience of film festival he said that a movie is full cultural enthusiasm and culture plays role of bridge between two countries to reduce the geographical distances. He added that just like Pakistani dramas are favorite and being watched in other countries like Afghanistan, Korean movies are being watched and liked in different countries of the world.

He added that the festival was aimed to introduce socio-cultural aspects of Korea to Pakistani people through back-to-back feature films. He said that in the past years, Korean Embassy has presented variety of Korean films in an effort to introduce some aspects of Korean culture to the people of Pakistan. The movies also provided an opportunity to the residents of Pakistan to enhance their understanding of the Korean culture and its film industry, he said.

He added that Korean language is also being taught in various educational institutions in Pakistan. He added that he feels proud to say that South Asian’s cultural hub Lahore is his homeland. www.magtimes.com

Korean Film Festival brings closer Korean and Pakistan Culture

Korean Film Festival brings closer Korean and Pakistan Culture
LAHORE: Two-day Korean Film Festival held at Alhamra here on Thursday.

The event was organized by Embassy of the Republic of Korea and Lahore Arts Council (Alhamra). Large numbers of citizens were present at the occasion.

On first day of the festival Korean film tilted “My Girlfriend is An Agent” was screened. The story of the movie rounds about to save Korea from Russian spy. Kim Ha Neul and Kang Ji Hwan who tried to save Korean land from Russian spy played leading role in the movie. Secret agent Ahn Su-Ji (Kim Ha-Neul) works undercover as a bride-to-be real estate agent. Her real life boyfriend Jae-Joon (Kang Ji-Hwan) is completely distraught over Su-Ji’s frequent absences and even harder to believe excuses. Jae-Joon then decides to leave her and for that matter the country of Korea itself. He calls Su-Ji one last time at the airport Incheon International Airport, but unfortunately Su-Ji is unable to answer his call because she is working undercover to bust an international crime organization.

Three years later, with Jae-jun long gone, but not forgotten Su-ji works on a Russian mafia case involving biological weapons. During her undercover work, Su-Ji poses as a janitor and runs into Jae-Joon while cleaning the men’s restroom. Su-Ji completely loses her composure and attacks Jae-jun for leaving her and apparently lying about his whereabouts. Meanwhile, Jae-Joon has his own secrets. Jae-Joon is also a secret agent, but works in a different department from Su-ji. When Jae-Joon left Korea three years ago, he was actually assigned to track the very same Russian organization that Su-Ji is currently working to bust.

Now that the former lovers have met again they resume their romantic relationship, while trying to keep their real identity unknown to the other person. They also have to stop the Russian mob from gaining a weapon of mass destruction ...

Second Day

Meanwhile on second day of the Korean Film festival, film titled “The Barefoot Dream” was screened which is based on the real life story of a former Korean soccer player Kim Sin-Hwan who coached the East Timorese children’s team to an unlikely international championship. Knowing that the impoverished local children on his team will not be able to pay for boots up front, he craftily devises a plan to let them pay off their debt one dollar per day, much to chagrin of the local ruffian who also happens to be the older brother of Kim’s star forward Ramos.

But despite Kim’s initially selfish intentions, he slowly comes to care for the children, and eventually decides to sign them up for the Youth Soccer Tournament in Hiroshima, Japan in the hopes of improving their otherwise miserable lives and his team of youngsters won the match against Japan.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

Pakistani Youth stands runner up in World Summit Youth Award

Pakistani Youth stands runner up in World Summit Youth Award

Fuel market of new automobile is up for the first time since last spring

Fuel market of new automobile is up for the first time since last spring

Speed of light is broken again: Einstein’s theory is still questioned

Speed of light is broken again: Einstein’s theory is still questioned

World's 'lightest material' divulge by US engineers

World's 'lightest material' divulge by US engineers

Software to investigate cybercrime's social side

Software to investigate cybercrime's social side

Veena performs stunts for horror movie

Veena performs stunts for horror movie

Aamir Khan getting trained for Dhoom 3

Aamir Khan getting trained for Dhoom 3

Breaking Dawn - Part 1 makes big jump in Box Office

Breaking Dawn - Part 1 makes big jump in Box Office

“The Rock” is back

“The Rock” is back

US assists Pakistan to improve aquaculture

US assists Pakistan to improve aquaculture

Weekly inflation decreases by 1.12 percent

Weekly inflation decreases by 1.12 percent

European chips halt slide as euro rises

European chips halt slide as euro rises

Indonesian Solo Exhibition opens

Indonesian Solo Exhibition opens

Suzuki confirm MotoGP withdrawal temporarily till 2014

Suzuki confirm MotoGP withdrawal temporarily till 2014

ATP World Tour Finals: Top eight players are ready to fight

ATP World Tour Finals: Top eight players are ready to fight

Test Championship will not now be played before 2017

Test Championship will not now be played before 2017

Sepp Blatter aplogized for his comments but he will not quit

Sepp Blatter aplogized for his comments but he will not quit

US, China set to clash over maritime dispute

US, China set to clash over maritime dispute

Singapore ruling party member quits over Muslim insult

Singapore ruling party member quits over Muslim insult

Three million Afghans face hunger as winter looms

Three million Afghans face hunger as winter looms

Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam captured in Libya

Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam captured in Libya

WAPDA negligence! Hanging electricity wires take away kid’s life

WAPDA negligence! Hanging electricity wires take away kid’s life

PPP becomes the sub party of MQM

PPP becomes the sub party of MQM

Tight security arrangements for Raiwind Ijtima

Tight security arrangements for Raiwind Ijtima

‘Sindhi topi and Ajrak Day’ the culture of Sindh

‘Sindhi topi and Ajrak Day’ the culture of Sindh

Free traveling facility in CNG buses

Free traveling facility in CNG buses

Sunday 13 November 2011

Fall back ... into bed: It's time to reset your biological clock

Fall back ... into bed: It's time to reset your biological clock

A 2-dimensional electron liquid solidifies in a magnetic field

A 2-dimensional electron liquid solidifies in a magnetic field

Duqu virus: Linked to Microsoft Word Documents

Duqu virus: Linked to Microsoft Word Documents

'Call of Duty' to let gamers compete across platforms

'Call of Duty' to let gamers compete across platforms

SST anomalies can help predict the severity of Amazon fire seasons

SST anomalies can help predict the severity of Amazon fire seasons

NO EVIDENCE extraterrestrial life

NO EVIDENCE extraterrestrial life

HP knock out Nokia

HP knock out Nokia

World Tiniest Car made of molecule

World Tiniest Car made of molecule

Latest Movies Nov 2011

Latest Movies Nov 2011

Selena split with Bieber over his son’s father allegation

Selena split with Bieber over his son’s father allegation

Vans sneakers’ inventor dies at 72

Vans sneakers’ inventor dies at 72

'Dirty Picture' is a romantic love movie not biopic, Ekta Kapoor

'Dirty Picture' is a romantic love movie not biopic, Ekta Kapoor

Kareena, “I am not getting married with Saif”

Kareena, “I am not getting married with Saif”

Rock n HIP-HOP star Heavy D dies aged 44

Rock n HIP-HOP star Heavy D dies aged 44

Katrina, Kareena race for SHK next heroin

Katrina, Kareena race for SHK next heroin

children's book prize award win by Return To Ribblestrop

children's book prize award win by Return To Ribblestrop

Gold rises as dollar loses out to euro

Gold rises as dollar loses out to euro

Pakistan Grants MFN status to India

Pakistan Grants MFN status to India

Pakistan to produce 500MW wind power by end of 2012’

Pakistan to produce 500MW wind power by end of 2012’

PR could earn Rs500m by land leasing, claim railway officials

PR could earn Rs500m by land leasing, claim railway officials

Pakistani people demands system clean-up

Pakistani people demands system clean-up

A perfect revenge for the loss in Azlan Shah

A perfect revenge for the loss in Azlan Shah

Sir Alex Ferguson is the wonderful survivor

Sir Alex Ferguson is the wonderful survivor

Wildcard entry Nishikori stunned Novak Djokovic

Wildcard entry Nishikori stunned Novak Djokovic

US cyclist Landis guilty of masterminding the hacking into the computer of the lab

US cyclist Landis guilty of masterminding the hacking into the computer of the lab

Tiger Woods back on track after a long time

Tiger Woods back on track after a long time

Roger Federer join THE 800 CLUB

Roger Federer join THE 800 CLUB

The end of a mix year for England

The end of a mix year for England

US general sacked over Karzai criticism

US general sacked over Karzai criticism

US port re-opens after anti-Wall Street demos

US port re-opens after anti-Wall Street demos

89,000 people were sent back

89,000 people were sent back

Pressure on Australian government for Assange action

Pressure on Australian government for Assange action

China seeks greater role in SAARC

China seeks greater role in SAARC

Indian SC ‘shocked’ by Pakistanis in IHK jails

Indian SC ‘shocked’ by Pakistanis in IHK jails

Addu Declaration’ calls for peace in South Asia

Addu Declaration’ calls for peace in South Asia

Dr Imran Farooq murder case: London police arrests two from Karachi airport

Dr Imran Farooq murder case: London police arrests two from Karachi airport

Eid-ul-Azha: No cash in ATM machines

Eid-ul-Azha: No cash in ATM machines

Karachi suffers worst traffic jam during Eid-e-Qurbaan

Karachi suffers worst traffic jam during Eid-e-Qurbaan

Ghilaf-e-Kaaba worth of 2 m Riyals

Ghilaf-e-Kaaba worth of 2 m Riyals

Hajj, a Holy obligation of Muslims

Hajj, a Holy obligation of Muslims

Fake encounters! Man lose his life

Fake encounters! Man lose his life

Imran the slave of U.S and Europe

Imran the slave of U.S and Europe

Kite flying claims death of young man

Kite flying claims death of young man

We are civilized nation? Ignominy of graves in Karachi

We are civilized nation? Ignominy of graves in Karachi

3rd Nov Emergency: Lawyers observing black day today

3rd Nov Emergency: Lawyers observing black day today

Spot-fixing trio sentences jail

Spot-fixing trio sentences jail

I saved democracy on 3rd Nov 2007, Musharaf

I saved democracy on 3rd Nov 2007, Musharaf

Tuesday 1 November 2011

We can travel five times speed of sound in future

We can travel five times speed of sound in future

Touchless controls by Apple and Microsoft

Touchless controls by Apple and Microsoft

NPP weather and climate satellite launches

NPP weather and climate satellite launches

Last Cold War-era B53 nuclear bomb dismantled in Texas

Last Cold War-era B53 nuclear bomb dismantled in Texas

James Cameron release new "Titanic" footage

James Cameron release new "Titanic" footage

Madhuri return in Fashion 2

Madhuri return in Fashion 2

Prakash Raj will play villain role in Dabangg 2

Prakash Raj will play villain role in Dabangg 2

Brad Pitt, Matt Damon give krill a star turn

Brad Pitt, Matt Damon give krill a star turn

Australian airline Qantas, grounds all Qantas flights

Australian airline Qantas, grounds all Qantas flights

Technical institute in Sialkot for training of women

Technical institute in Sialkot for training of women

Samsung become the world's biggest shipper of smart phones

Samsung become the world's biggest shipper of smart phones

KESC worsen financial crisis ever

KESC worsen financial crisis ever

A sparkling future awaits GB's Anthony Joshua

A sparkling future awaits GB's Anthony Joshua

Colin Edwards will miss the final MotoGP race due to injury

Colin Edwards will miss the final MotoGP race due to injury

England topped the T20 ranking

England topped the T20 ranking

2012 Olympics: Hockey enters in its new ERA

2012 Olympics: Hockey enters in its new ERA

35 killed in Syria as activists call for ‘no-fly’ zone

35 killed in Syria as activists call for ‘no-fly’ zone

Saudi interior minister named crown prince

Saudi interior minister named crown prince

Protest peaceful at Commonwealth summit

Protest peaceful at Commonwealth summit

7.2 earthquake jolted Turkey, thousands injured hundereds dead

7.2 earthquake jolted Turkey, thousands injured hundereds dead

‘Riyasat Hogi Maa Ke Jesi’? Railway pensioner and unemployed Raja lost their lives

‘Riyasat Hogi Maa Ke Jesi’? Railway pensioner and unemployed Raja lost their lives

Failure of government or courts? Punjab jails are over capacitated

Failure of government or courts? Punjab jails are over capacitated

Pakistan a polio-free state, dream still not fulfill

Pakistan a polio-free state, dream still not fulfill

PML-N vs PPP? or PML-N vs PTI?

PML-N vs PPP? or PML-N vs PTI?

UNESCO to vote on Palestine membership

UNESCO to vote on Palestine membership

Youngsters support Khan for change

Youngsters support Khan for change

Thousands chants national anthem with Imran

Thousands chants national anthem with Imran

Change has arrived, says Imran Khan

Change has arrived, says Imran Khan

Kaptaan six remains ‘talk of the town’

Kaptaan six remains ‘talk of the town’