Ever since Syra Yousuf posted a selfie of herself and Bilal Ashraf, social media users cannot stop shipping the two and asking them to get married to each other.
Responding to the news of his demise, the Minister for Science and Technology, in a tweet, said: “RIP Lou Ottens. You will be remembered as an iconic inventor.”
“Cassettes and CDs were part of our lives till 2008/2010,” said Chaudhry further, adding: “[The] inventor of cassette and later CD was the man who filled our lives with so many colours and sounds.”
RIP Lou Ottens … you will be remembered as an iconic inventor…. Cassettes and CDs were part of our lives till 2008/2010 Lou Ottens inventor of cassette and later CD was the man who filled our lives with so many colours and sounds…. https://t.co/6LpJDjHGlf
According to details, the Dutch engineer who developed the cassette tape at Philips in 1963 died on Saturday at the age of 94.
Ottens joined Philips in 1952 and rose to become head of product development by 1960. He wanted to create a portable tape recorder because he “got annoyed with the clunky, user-unfriendly reel-to-reel system,” he explained years after he invented the cassette. His invention transformed the way people listened to music.
The Philips “compact cassette” was unveiled at a 1963 electronics fair in Berlin, boasting it was “smaller than a pack of cigarettes.” On the 50th anniversary of its creation, Ottens told Time magazine that it was a “sensation” from day one.
Later, Ottens struck a deal with Philips and Sony that saw his model confirmed as the patented cassette after a number of Japanese companies reproduced similar tapes in a number of sizes.
Ottens was also involved in the development of the compact disk, and more than 200 billion of those have been sold worldwide to date.
In 1982, when Philips showed off a production CD player, Ottens said: “From now on, the conventional record player is obsolete”.
He retired four years later. When asked about his career, he said his biggest regret was that Sony and not Philips had created the iconic cassette tape player, the Walkman.
Islampura police on Wednesday registered a case against a senior leader of the PML-N for allegedly torturing and thrashing a lady police constable on the premises of an accountability court.
According to a local media outlet, the police nominated PML-N leader Tanvir Chaudhry in the first information report on the complaint of anti-riot force constable Anam Fatima.
She alleged the suspect tried to enter the premises of the accountability court along with five unknown women without seeking permission. As she and her colleague Sonia Ashraf tried to stop them, Tanvir Chaudhry got furious and slapped her.
The FIR stated that he and the unidentified women then thrashed her publicly, Anam alleged and added the attackers also hurled threats at her.
However, conflicting reports claim that the police arrested another PML-N MPA, namely Tanveer Bibi, for slapping the lady constable and registered a case against the lawmaker after approval from the Punjab Assembly speaker.
Meanwhile, a police official has confirmed to the media that the matter had been referred to the investigation wing for further action against the suspects.
Later, Tanvir Chaudhry’s son took to Twitter and said: “Incompetence at its peak! Punjab government lodging an FiR against my father who is not even in Pak[istan] & @Dawn_News, @dawn_com incompetence at its peak putting up wrong picture and writing an article on a man who’s not been in Pak[istan] for 6months.”
“Going for a defamation suit against both,” he added.
Incompetence at its peak!Punjab government lodging an FiR against my father who is not even in Pak & @Dawn_News@dawn_com incompetence at its peak putting up wrong picture and writing an article on a man who’s not been in pak for 6months. Going for a defamation suit against both. pic.twitter.com/KKwvTzfMWk
“Unless you shake hands and send gifts, there’s no nomination considerations. Next year I’ll send you a basket of confectionery,” wrote the livid musician in a tweet.
According to details, Malik’s latest album wasn’t eligible for this year’s Grammys because it was released after the cut-off date in August 2020. The lead single for his third album Nobody Is Listening ‘Better‘ was released on September 25, 2020, while the album itself came out in January 2021.
Later, the British-Pakistani singer clarified that his comments were “not personal or about eligibility”.
Instead, he was concerned “about the need for inclusion and the lack of transparency of the nomination process”, saying the current system and “allows favouritism, racism, and networking politics to influence the voting”.
Malik has never been nominated, either as a solo act or with One Direction.
Zayn’s comments a few months after The Weeknd, who was snubbed in this year’s nominations, accused Grammys organisers of being “corrupt”.
Audiences and fans had expected the Canadian singer’s hit single Blinding Lights, which has now spent a record-breaking 52 weeks in the US top 10, to be among the main contenders. Instead, he was overlooked in all 84 categories.
Terming the exclusion “an attack”, The Weeknd had said: “I’m not a cocky person. I’m not arrogant. People told me I was going to get nominated. The world told me. We were all very confused.”
The Weeknd
He added that the three Grammys he has “mean nothing” now and called for change within the industry.
“In the last 61 years of the Grammys, only 10 Black artists have won Album of the Year. I don’t want to make this about me,” he added. “That’s just a fact.”
Meanwhile, the 63rd Grammys Ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on March 14, with special staging to adapt to the pandemic era.
The show will feature four stages, each with a small group of performers, nominees and guests, plus a fifth stage for presenters. The stages have been arranged in a circle, while a reduced crew will stand in the centre to film the proceedings.
Beyoncé leads the nominations with nine in total, including four for Black Parade, a protest anthem released at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests last summer.
Dua Lipa and Taylor Swift both have six nominations – with Swift hopeful of winning album of the year for a record-breaking third time for her first lockdown album Folklore.
Performers on the night will include Cardi B, BTS, Doja Cat, Billie Eilish, Haim, Megan Thee Stallion and Malik’s former bandmate Harry Styles, who is nominated for three awards.
Shafqat Mahmood memes have struck the internet once again after the minister announced on Wednesday that schools in Punjab and other parts of the country will remain closed from March 15 till 28.
Delighted, hundreds of students across the country took to Twitter to post memes. Most thanked the minister for taking the decision while a few opposed the decision and some made good fun out of it.
Here are a few memes doing rounds on the internet:
Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood on Wednesday announced the closure of schools in several cities from Monday, March 15 following a spike in coronavirus cases.
Speaking to the media after a meeting at the National Command and Operations (NCOC), the federal minister said educational institutes would be closed in Islamabad and other Punjab cities from Monday for two weeks.
The SAPM on Health Dr Faisal Sultan said a decision had also been taken to extend a ban on indoor activities and reimpose the 50% work-from-home policy. The implementation of the work from home policy has been left to the discretion of the provinces, but will go into effect in Islamabad immediately.
Important meeting at the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) today to review the health situation and take decisions regarding educational institutions. Participated in by Ministers from all the provinces, AJK and GB. Following decisions arrived at. 1/2
2/2 Educational Institutions in Sindh and Baluchistan would continue with 50% attendance every day. In Punjab spring break will start from Monday March 15 to March 28 in the following cities and all education institutions: Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Multan, 3/3
3/3 Faisalabad and Gujrat. In Capital territory all educational institutions will also close from March 15. In KP they will close in Peshawar. Decision regarding Muzzafarabad will be taken by AJK Government. We will continue to review the situation
Shahbaz Shigri penned a “sappy” birthday wish for ladylove, Aima Baig and expressed his love for her.
Sharing an adorable picture of the two, Shigri said: “There is too much sentimental stuff to unpack and I’m going to try and avoid turning this into a college thesis, but here goes.”
“Happiest of birthdays Aima, my partner, my homie, my muse and my heart. There is no greater happiness in this world than making you happy, and seeing you smile and laugh like nothing else matters,” he continued.
“I know I’ve said this a thousand times, but I’ll say it once more for good measure,” he said further. “Since we walked into each others’ lives, quite randomly I might add, every day has been the best day.”
He further added: “So here’s to many more cheestatically sappy declarations of love and adoration to come!”
Expressing his love for Aima, Shigri added, “I know you aren’t too big on birthdays, especially your own. But I love you, and you have no idea how important it is, the day you came into being.”
“Otherwise I’d be sitting at home, single and bored making fun of some idiot writing a squirmy lovey-dovey birthday msg for his/her partner. So thank you for being born. Ilysm”
“Me to my alternative reality single-self: ohh how the turntables,” concluded Shigri on a humorous note.
Netizens and animal rights activists have protested vehemently after a video of the couple’s photoshoot emerged on social media. As per details, the photo of the shoot was posted on Studio Afzl’s — a Lahore-based photography studio that does bridal photoshoots and covers weddings — Instagram account.
In one picture, the couple can be seen holding hands over the cub while in another, the lion cub was lying looking miserable on the stage. The hashtag #SherdiRani was also used in the pictures with the cub to give an emphasis on its presence.
While, the issue was first highlighted by JFK Animal Rescue and Shelter, it later got traction after it was shared on Twitter by ‘Save the Wild’: a group that is fighting to “save Pakistan’s wildlife from the threats of hunting, loss of habitat and pesticides”.
Following the tweet, other Twitter users also urged authorities to take action against the studio for mistreating the cub.
What's wrong with people, a sedated Lion Cub as "prop" the couple starting a new life & the studio who did that should be ashamed, it's about time @GovtofPunjabPK must rethink their "captive breeding" policy, from political rallies to wedding shoots, animals as Props, it's sick
I hope they wake up from their slumber, the only positive I can take out of this whole incident is the public outcry. I hope the cub is rescued and rehabilitated into a more suitable environment.
I need details of this #animalcruelty Where did it take place Who are bride and grooms Who was the wedding photographer Most importantly who provided this Lion cub, We need to expose this underground Mafia breed Lions in captivity#endcaptivity@wildpakistanpic.twitter.com/NiyuGbtMeQ
Staying true to his vision, Ali Xeeshan has launched yet another campaign to talk about the stigma around breast cancer.
Titled Parday Mein Parwah, the campaign features Asma Nabeel, a breast cancer survivor, who shot for it during her chemotherapy. The dupatta which is the main element of the campaign is embroidered with Nabeel’s words.
Sharing a picture from the campaign on social media, Nabeel said: “Pakistan has the highest rate of breast cancer in Asia with over 85,000+ cases every year. The disease can be prevented if caught at an early stage except their hesitation to check themselves becomes a barrier. “
“Ali Xeeshan [has] joined hands with the pink warrior Asma Nabeel to bring you a dupatta that not only reminds you to care for your health but also safeguards your modestly,” reads the caption further.
Xeeshan also shared a video from the campaign on social media. The video highlights the cultural barrier women face in detecting breast cancer because of the stigma attached to the disease.
After Imad Wasim and wife Sania Ashfaq welcomed a baby girl last week, cricketer Umar Gul and his wife have welcomed their little bundle of joy.
The current bowling coach of Quetta Gladiators took to Twitter on Monday to announce that he has been blessed with his third child, a baby daughter.
“Allah has blessed us with his rehmah again,” wrote the right-arm fast-medium bowler. “Baby Zainab is finally home and the baby and mama are both in good health.”
Allah has blessed us again with his Rehmah! Baby Zainab is finally home and baby and Mama are both in good health. May Allah bless her with a long and healthy life, full of love n blessings. Ameen. Keep our family in ur duas #babygirl
Soon after Gul announced the news, friends and colleagues including Mohammad Hafeez, Fawad Alam, Fakhar Zaman, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Shadab Khan extended their wishes to the couple.
Umar married a Dubai-based doctor in October 2010. Their first daughter, Rehab Umar, was born in May 2012. Following this, the duo also had a son.
The cricketing star was appointed as Quetta Gladiators’ bowling coach for the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League, which was postponed after a surge in Covid-19 cases.
Lahore has reportedly been chosen as the desired venue to host the remaining Pakistan Super League (PSL) sixth edition’s fixtures after five of the six franchise owners urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to shift the tournament there.
According to details, in a virtual meeting chaired by PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani, franchise owners expressed their concerns regarding the postponement of the league after multiple COVID-19 cases emerged among players and officials.
“Five out of the six franchises urged the PCB to shift the remaining matches of the PSL 2021 to Lahore,” a PCB official told a local media publication.
While the Government of Punjab has given the green signal to host the fixtures, a final decision regarding the matter will be taken in the next meeting which is going to be held in the coming days.
Lahore was originally scheduled to host 14 of the 34 matches of the PSL 6 from March 10 onwards, which included the final of the competition.
Meanwhile, in the same meeting, the franchise owners complained about their lack of involvement in the planning of the tournament. They also demanded to be taken into confidence over the bio-secure bubble for the remaining fixtures.
Chairman Mani assured the franchise owners that there will be nothing to complain in future.
PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan, Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer and Director Commercial Babar Hamid also attended the meeting.
The Board is to complete the sixth edition most likely by June because the national team will be touring England for an ODI and T20I series and from there it will fly to the West Indies. On their return, Pakistan will host England and New Zealand from September, leaving no room for PCB to organise the event at a later stage.
The official said there was also a possibility of PSL resuming later this month in case of postponement of the tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa.
