Current Final

Tag: social media

  • Actress Nausheen Masud passes away from cancer

    Actress Nausheen Masud passes away from cancer

    Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un

    Pakistani actress, television producer and host Nausheen Masood has passed away after a long battle with cancer. She was well known for her role in the famous comedy drama ‘Dolly Ki Ayegi Barat’.

    Her death was announced by her ex-husband Tariq Quraishi in a Facebook post:

    “My ex-wife, Nausheen Masud, passed away this morning after a long and tough battle with cancer. She loved her two sons immensely. They were her babies, her advisors and her eyes lit up whenever she saw them. May she rest in peace leaving behind wondrous memories for her sons.”

    Celebrities have offered condolences on the actress’ passing. Adnan Siddiqui wrote:

    “Farewell to the remarkable Nausheen Masud, dear friend and beautiful soul. Her warmth and style added magic to every moment we shared on and off camera. Grateful for the memories we co-created. Rest peacefully, Nausheen.”

    GEO anchor Shahzad Iqbal shared an endearing memory of Nausheen pushing him to debut in front of the camera. Shahzad wrote on X about admiring Nausheen who was his first boss when he began working.

    “I am sure it’s sad news for many who knew her but it’s extremely sad on personal level as well. I owe her big time for giving me my first break. I had always admired Nausheen Masud as a VJ on a music show in mid 90s and later she happened to be my first Boss when I started working. She hired me as an Associate documentary producer but later she literally forced me to come in front of the camera, first as a business reporter and then as an Anchor. May be she had more faith in me at that time than myself. And there are many more who started their TV careers because she believed in them. May Allah rest your soul in peace.. Please pray for the departed soul.”

    GEO anchor Shahzeb Khanzada also took to Twitter to share his condolences on the actor’s passing, and shared his experience of working with Nausheen during the beginning of his career.

    Actress Zainab Qayoom shared her heartbreak in a tweet, mourning the passing of the actor.

  • ‘Massive dissapointment’: Malala’s failure to mention genocide in Gaza during lecture has Twitter angry

    ‘Massive dissapointment’: Malala’s failure to mention genocide in Gaza during lecture has Twitter angry

    Girls education activist Malala Yousafzai was selected to give the 21st Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Johannesburg. In her speech, the Noble Prize Winner spoke at length about the gender apartheid in Afghanistan against women and girls, with no mention of the genocide of Gaza where the death toll has now crossed 15,000 civilians.

    In an interview with The Associated Press, Malala urged for a ceasefire in Gaza, pointing to attention to the countless schools and homes that have been bombarded in the war, and for war criminals to be held accountable.

    Nelson Mandela was a staunch pro-Palestine supporter, who famously said during his visit to Gaza in 1999 that he “felt at home among compatriots”.

    “There is an apartheid state committing a genocide at the moment which you’ve been disappointingly silent on. If you take away anything from this trip, it should be the courage to speak up about what is happening in the here and now,” wrote a user.

    “Ironic that she mentioned apartheid, reason for Mandela’s struggle, yet not a word about Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians, brutal human rights violation and the ongoing genocide. Nothing but just a mouthpiece can’t be my inspiration anymore,” wrote another user.

    “She’s visiting South Africa, a country with apartheid history and she chooses to stay silent on an ongoing genocide. Mandela would have hated her bigotry if he was alive, his resistance was against the same mindset,” said a tweet.

    Previously Malala released a statement on October 10 grieving for the Palestinian and Israeli children who were caught in the war. Many were quick to slam the feminist activist for failing to recognise that this was a genocide where more Palestinian lives were being lost everyday.

    Many have drawn comparisons between Malala’s silence and climate change activist Greta Thunberg’s outspoken resistance against the genocide of Gaza. Greta published an op-ed for The Guardian where she criticised Israel as the death toll grows in Gaza, with more children passing away from Israeli airstrikes.

  • ‘Not me, Imran Ashraf decided to end the marriage’: Kiran Ashfaque

    ‘Not me, Imran Ashraf decided to end the marriage’: Kiran Ashfaque

    Kiran Ashfaque announced her marriage to PPP official Hamza Asim Chaudhary on Sunday, attracting a lot of attention, some of it from trolls. This was the actress’s second marriage, after her first one was to actor and host Imran Ashraf ended after four years.

    Kiran has boldly stepped up to shut down trolls who bullied the actress for quickly marrying after her divorce, reminding them she didn’t need permission from anyone for moving on. A commentator underneath her wedding pictures bullied the social media influencer for moving on to a man who wasn’t as attractive as Imran, to which Kiran responded:

    “He was the one who decided to end the marriage, no me. But Allah led me to a much better man than him.”

    On Tuesday, the actress shut down another troll who mocked the actress for getting married within a year after her divorce, responding that she wouldn’t sit around crying about her circumstances.

    “You mean I should have kept residing at my parents and remained depressed about my life while my parents were worried about me?”

  • 10th Shell Tameer Awards – The Brilliance of Future Innovators

    10th Shell Tameer Awards – The Brilliance of Future Innovators

    A visionary concept like that of the likes of Shell’s flagship programme, the Shell Tameer, is one that gives youth a dynamic platform where sustainable, revolutionary, and scaleble ideas can prosper. Shell Tameer Awards is a beacon of hope for innovators and their developmental portfolios designed to fortify economies. Shell Tameer lays the foundation of entrepreneurship, and innovation to create meaningful changes in the country. A nationwide spectacle became the nexus where innovative ideas and creative minds across Pakistan came together to share a platform for the benefit of the country.

    Shell Tameer Awards 2023 saw a plethora of impeccable ideas poised to redefine Pakistan’s trajectory of progress. These ideas promise to bring transformative solutions to the challenges faced by the nation and its people, acting as a catalyst for economic growth.

    Diverse in scope and impact, the Shell Tameer Awards boast a spectrum of categories that mirror the multifaceted challenges and opportunities of our time, let’s shed some light on a few of many extraordinary visions that we encountered on the 10th Shell Tameer Awards.

    Clean Energy Solutions

    Clean Energy Jamal Ahmed – Solar Safe – A pioneering startup from Peshawar, specialising in solar panel cleaning, maintenance, and repair services for solar PV systems. It aligns with the principles of sustainability and circular economy by extending up to 10 years the lifespan of solar panels and maximising the energy of energy production.

    Sheraz Khalid – ECO CHAR – An environmentally friendly clean-tech based charcoal manufacturer that addresses the issue of sub-standard fuel in domestic, industrial, and commercial sectors.

    Empowering Women

    Shehnaz Akhtar – HALANCE NATURALS PVT LTD – A company that works towards creating natural and clean skincare, hair oils and essential soaps, scrubs, and shampoos nurtured through organically grown fruit goodness that grows from pesticide-free farming.

    Technology Innovation

    Farha Masood – BIO-NANO INNOVATIONS – A young startup developing specialised wound dressing for diabetic patients who consistently face issues of foot ulcers, bacterial invasion, and infections. The business aims to commercialize affordable adhesive dressings to provide aseptic conditions and promote wound healing for diabetic patients.

    Abdul Hanan – Softwares Solution – A smart system designed to serve over 70 million people suffering from stammer/stutter by taking voice input and predicting the next word/sentence as transcribed output.

    Anjum Javed – AGRIBOTX – Forefront runner of a transformative solution – Precision Robotics for future farming harnessed with cutting-edge technology, AI, and data-driven insights to develop a comprehensive suite of robotic solutions.

    Circular Economy

    Humza Rehman – RDUINOTRONICS – A high-quality filaments producer that uses discarded plastic bottles to manufacture filaments suitable for 3D printers, hence addressing the issue of plastic waste and fulfilling the need for more accessible and cost-effective filaments.

    Bushra Ali Khan – BAAZYAFT – An eco-friendly initiative where underprivileged communities, including transgenders and deserving females, produce home accessories, stationery items, and fashion accessories from textile waste.

    The Shell Tameer Awards extend beyond the winner’s podium, all 30 finalists benefit from global consultancy, exposure, and constructive feedback from industry leaders, helping them progress their business and further their ideas from concept to reality.

    Shell Tameer emerges as a catalyst for entrepreneurship and a flag-bearer of creative potential across Pakistan. It empowers leaders, game-changers, and trailblazers to shape national economic growth. Two decades on, the program continues to foster innovative solutions, building a modern, convenient, and vibrant ecosystem that propels the future of the nation. As we celebrate another successful year of the 10th Shell Tameer Awards, we eagerly anticipate the untold stories and hidden brilliance that will shape the next chapter of Pakistan’s journey towards progress and innovation.

    AD

  • Kiran Ashfaque shuts down troll who tried to shame her for second marriage

    Kiran Ashfaque shuts down troll who tried to shame her for second marriage

    Actress and social media influencer Kiran Ashfaque made headlines yesterday when pictures of her marriage to PPP official Hamza Asim Chaudhary went viral on social media. Previously, Kiran was married to actor Imran Ashraf and divorced him after four years of marriage.

    The actress was not here for the cynics shaming her for finding love for the second time. Kiran responded to a troll who accused her of marrying soon after getting divorced:

    “You mean I should have kept residing at my parents and remained depressed about my life while my parents were worried about me?”

    Kiran’s marriage to Hamza was held in his residence in Lahore which was attended by family and friends. The actress had shared pictures from the event on her social media.

    The actress had previously done a Q and A on her Instagram where she revealed her previous marriage broke up because of how much her ex urged her to change herself.

    READ MORE: Kiran Ashfaque talks about her divorce with Imran Ashraf in a Q&A session on Instagram

    Responds to a fan asking why they divorced because the couple had looked happy, Kiran had responded: “Not all that glitters is gold.”

    Another answer got praises where Kiran urged her followers to never change themselves for another man, and to remain proud of how bold they are.

    We’re still shocked that to this day, women are facing more scrutiny for choosing to break off unhappy marriages. Why should Kiran have to keep justifying her choices, and have to fight off the label of ‘Imran Ashraf’s ex-wife’? It’s gross and absolutely not acceptable, and we send our sincerest regards to Kiran for living rent free in the minds of haters while doing whatever she loves.

  • ‘Anti hero’ Taylor Swift sparks outrage for befriending allegedassaulter Jackson Mahomes

    ‘Anti hero’ Taylor Swift sparks outrage for befriending allegedassaulter Jackson Mahomes

    ‘It must be exhausting always rooting for the Anti Hero’? Not for Taylor Swift it seems so.

    Taylor Swift has garnered backlash from fans because of the singer’s silence on the ongoing genocide of Gaza, and several videos showed Israeli fans dancing to the screening of ‘Eras tour’ movie. Now, fans are outraged after the singer who wrote ‘Mad Woman’ was spotted laughing along side the younger brother of NFL player Patrick Mahomes, Jackson Mahomes, who is accused of sexual assault.

    A twitter thread by a Swiftie, detailing the charges filed against Jackson, who was seen in a video grabbing a woman and forcibly kissing her, is going viral. Jackson was arrested and charged with three counts of sexual battery and misdemeanour. But he was released on $100,000 bail.

    The thread further revealed reports that alleged Jackson had tried to bribe the victim to force her to withdraw the case, which had attracted further outrage.

    Taylor Swift attended a football game where her boyfriend Travis Kelce was playing, and several videos showed her high fiving Jackson, attracting intense backlash. Many criticised the singer as a hypocrite, for speaking up against sexual assault and rape but refusing to defend others who do the same thing.

    Swifties were also taken aback when Taylor’s best friend and wife to Patrick, Brittany Mahomes, defended her brother-in-law in an Instagram story by writing “He’s just a human trying to live his own life”, when a fan asked her about the sexual assault allegations.

    Many slammed Taylor Swift for failing to live up to her political beliefs and the feminist stance she had reaffirmed with songs like ‘Dear John’, ‘All Too Well’ or ‘Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve’ where Taylor has publicly discussed surviving abusive relationships and sexual harassment.

    Others were shocked that Taylor continued to remain silent about her friendship with Brittany Mahomes, when she was named as Time Magazine’s Silence Breakers in the 2017 issue, when the singer had gone to court after her abuser sued her.

    The Boycott, Divest Sanctions Movement (BDS) also called out Taylor Swift and Beyonce for allowing their films to play in an apartheid state where the genocide of Gaza is still going on. On their official Instagram account, the movement acknowledged that the two singers had refused multiple offers to play in Israel, but urged them to pull their films and music from playing in the country.

  • Actress Kiran Ashfaque ties knot with PPP official Hamza Ali Chaudhary

    Actress Kiran Ashfaque ties knot with PPP official Hamza Ali Chaudhary

    Content creator Kiran Ashfaque has married Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) political advisor Hamza Ali Chaudhary. The actress was previously married to actor and host of ‘Mazaaq Raat’ Imran Ashraf. The couple divorced in 2022 after being married for four years.

    The wedding ceremony was held in Lahore at Hamza’s private residence, where Kiran donned a pastel kurta and a sheer white veil. She wore silver jewellery for the ceremony.

    The Instagram influencer shared several pictures of her event on her Instagram account.

    Kiran also shared an adorable picture from her mayon where she and her betrothed Hamza were seen laughing at each other with ubtan on their faces.

    The friend who had shared the picture gushed about her best friend getting married to the love of her life.

    “Can not put my feelings into words today. But all I know is she deserves the best of this world. My strong strong girl ❤️”

    Kiran’s husband Hamza is a young politician who is currently associated with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and is also a lawyer by profession. On his Instagram, he was seen posing next to prominent PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto and former President Asif Ali Zardari.

    The social media influencer had shed some light on her previous marriage to Imran, when during a Q and A session with fans, she revealed that she would never change herself for another man.

    READ MORE: Imran Ashraf’s ex reveals her biggest regret is changing herself for a man

    From Kiran’s glow, it looks like she has finally found a man who respects her for who she is, and we’re a huge fan of women finding their soul mates with a second chance. Sending our sincerest congratulations to Kiran and Hamza, and wishing them a blessed life ahead.

  • Hannah Husain becomes first Pakistani to debute at Le Bal des Débutantes, wears diamond necklace worth USD 2.5 million

    Hannah Husain becomes first Pakistani to debute at Le Bal des Débutantes, wears diamond necklace worth USD 2.5 million

    Hannah Husain has become the first ever Pakistani woman to debut at the coveted Le Bal des Debutantes ball in Paris, attended by eligible single ladies from around the world. The ball was organised by Ophélie Renouard to raise funds for the cardiology research unit ARCFA of Neck-Enfants Malades Hospital and for the World Central Kitchen, which provides meals to vulnerable communities around the globe. It was held at the Shangri-La Paris, the former residence of Napoleon Bonaparte’s nephew.

    Hannah Husain is the great-great granddaughter of Sir Fazli Husain, a barrister from Cambridge, and an Education Minister, while her great grandfather served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Beirut, Lebanon.

    Husain debuted at the ball wearing a pastel gown adorned with roses designed by Georges Hobeika and Elie Saab, and was escorted to the event by her brother Harris.

    It was Hannah’s necklace that caught the attention of social media. The bauble has a history dating back all the way to the 1800s according to Christie’s, and is the estimated to be worth $1.5 to 2.5 million.

    According to royal watcher blog, the necklace was designed for Princess Maria Caroline of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, the Duchess of Aumale, later gifted to his god daughter Princess Helene of Orleans when she married the Duke of Aosta.

    The necklace was worn by the Marchioness of Chomondeley, Sybil Sassoon, and later by Lady Churchill in 1953 for the Nobel Prize Ceremony.

    At the 2022 debutante ball in Paris, Princess Helene d’Orelans had loaned the necklace to her namesake.

  • Dhoop Kinare, Fairy Tale: dramas that are our favourite example of the ‘she fell first, he fell harder’ trope

    Dhoop Kinare, Fairy Tale: dramas that are our favourite example of the ‘she fell first, he fell harder’ trope

    Everyone who uses the internet knows about the beloved trope ‘she fell first, but he fell harder’, and how it keeps on winning the hearts of audiences. In this trope, it is the woman who falls first, but becomes a cynic after getting rejected. Later, the man learns from his mistake and falls even more in love with the woman than she does with him.

    We know Pakistani dramas aren’t the first things that come to mind when you think about well-written male leads who aren’t misogynist man-children, but there have been rare occasions when we got to see what happens when romance dramas empower women, and actually don’t rely on depressing tropes to generate interest for the audience.

    Fairy Tale

    Starting with the drama that really proved how much Pakistani women needed to see a healthy romance where the male lead’s ego did not rely on taking away another woman’s independence and vivacious nature. Farjaad starts off as the typical saroo man with a strict schedule he refuses to break for any woman. When Umeed enters his life, he dismisses her off as too careless and irresponsible for him. But the way this man shifts positions, doing everything to prove his love for Umeed, made the internet sob oceans because can’t Pakistani men take a blueprint from Farjaad?

    Dude started the show as someone who is completely cold and aloof and after marriage, he began learning how to make tea just because he promised Umeed? He was the strict one whom no one could ever think of displeasing, but is now purchasing a shop to help Umeed fulfil her dream of owning a chai business? Kudos to Sarah Majeed for spoiling us with this show. There’s no way we’re setting our standards low after Farjaad.

    Ankahi

    Every one remembers the cult classic show with a brilliant performance by Shehnaz Sheikh as the hilarious Sana, but few people talk about the love story between her and Taimur, the sariyal boss who grows to fall in love with her. Taimur starts off as a cold and brutal boss who makes Sana miserable as his secretary, but soon her lovable nature and warmth makes him fall for her. His unfamiliarity with love holds him back when he realises how good of a match Faraz is for Sana. In the last moments of the show, the audience realises how much Taimur has fallen for Sana and wants to find happiness with her, but knows she would be happier with Faraz so lets her go.

    Dhoop Kinare

    Haseena Moin, you were the absolute best. Even today, your dramas continue to inspire viewers with portrayals of complex and empowered women. Dhoop Kinare was startlingly unique, with three dimensional interesting characters, and an endearing love story between the two leads. Dr Ahmer Ansari originally clashes with Dr Zoya Ali Khan, a new intern at the hospital where he is the most respected doctor. He calls her careless, while continuing being cold and aloof, while Zoya’s carefree and warm nature continues to win hearts at the hospital, eventually winning him over too.

  • Over 7.5 million WhatsApp accounts banned in India in one month 

    Over 7.5 million WhatsApp accounts banned in India in one month 

    In compliance with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, WhatsApp has released its monthly report detailing actions taken in response to user grievances and violations of Indian laws or WhatsApp’s Terms of Service. The report covers the period from October 1, 2023, to October 31, 2023. 

    The report from Meta’s instant messaging platform details the abuse detection mechanisms operating at various stages of an account’s lifecycle and emphasises the company’s focus on prevention. In the specified period, WhatsApp banned a total of 7,548,000 accounts in India, with 1,919,000 of these accounts being proactively banned before any user reports. 

       
    As per the instant messaging platform, the section on user grievances provides insights into the types of complaints received and the corresponding actions taken. 

       
    Reportedly, WhatsApp received a total of 9,063 reports during the reporting period. The majority of the reports were related to “Ban appeal” (4,771), while others covered topics such as “Account support,” “Other support,” “Product support,” and “Safety.” Out of the total reports, 12 accounts were actioned, with bans or account restorations based on the nature of the complaint. 

    Additionally, the report outlines the orders received from the Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC), indicating that WhatsApp received five orders during the same period, complying with all of them. 

    To recall, from September 1, 2023, to September 30, 2023, a total of 7,111,000 WhatsApp accounts were banned. Among these, 2,571,000 accounts were proactively banned prior to receiving any user reports, as mentioned in the WhatsApp report. 

    In the month of September, as per the report, the platform received six orders from the Grievance Appellate Committee, all of which were duly adhered to. 

       
    Moreover, WhatsApp mentioned receiving 10,442 user reports in various categories during September, including account support (1,031), ban appeal (7,396), other support (1,518), product support (370), and safety (127).