While 2020 took from us many amazing personalities, it seems 2021 is not staying behind either. 26th March 2021, Friday started with a very sad news-piece. The legendary Pakistani Drama writer Haseena Moin passed away in the early hours. We, alongside the entire nation, were saddened to hear the news. To remember the legend, we decided to list down some of her most famous dramas as a tribute.
These famous dramas include:
1. Dhoop Kinarey
Dhoop Kinarey was a show written by Haseena Apa and directed by Sahira Kazmi. It was a story about a strong girl who was aspiring to become a doctor. Unlike the characters of current times, she would not be struck left and right by antagonist with their evil comments. She knew how to say what felt right to her. And yet, the story would not paint her in a bad light.
Image Source: Twitter
2. Ankahi
Ankahi directed by Shoaib Mansoor is one of the best dramas that could have ever been aired. It talks about a lady who is ambitious, gets confused, but also possesses the agency to make the decision for herself be it regarding professional or romantic life.
3. Tanhaiyan
A story about two sisters presented by two amazing actresses, Shahnaz Sheikh and Marina Khan. It got so much love from everyone over the years that it got a sequel decades later.
4. Kasak
Kasak presents a story faced by many Pakistani women. It is about how two people fall in love and cannot have children and the woman only gets ostracized. However, instead of putting up with all the torture by the mother-in-law, the individuals decide to prioritize themselves. They get divorced and remarry other people. Ironically, it is a slap on the mother-in-law’s face because it is the man who was impotent.
5. Parchaiyan
Haseena adapted the Henry James novel, portrait of a lady, and titled it Parchaiyan. The talented director Sahira acted in the drama and the two women gave a vibrant life to the culturally appropriated story.
These Pakistani dramas have made a name for themselves, not in Pakistan only but also in the neighbouring country. Back in the 90s, she even wrote films for Bollywood. It truly is a big loss, the absence of such a great writer. No one can ever match her standard but let’s hope more writers build on her legacy.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates!
Board of Secondary Education Karachi- BSEK has released the date sheet for 9th and 10th class examinations
The board takes annual examinations for SSC level. The schedule reveals that the annual exams for science and the general group will begin from April 1.
Lahore – Thursday, 25 March, 2021: Bagallery, the leading beauty & fashion e-commerce retail store partners up with LiSA (Live Stream Shopping Assistant) to launch a shoppable live stream to consumers in a highly engaging and conversion boosting experience. This partnership marks an alliance between a Pakistani and German company to develop a shopping experience which brings the shop to the consumers’ pocket.
LiSA’s plug-and-play live commerce software allows customization to Bagallery’s brand identity and the integration into Bagallery’s own domain, thus ensuring a branded and entirely seamless experience for customers (https://live.bagallery.com/).
Bagallery is the first e-commerce platform in the country to bring this experience to consumers in Pakistan. This tech partnership will enable consumers to “shop as they watch”, allowing them to instantly buy the products which are being displayed on the live event. This Live stream shopping combines live video, real-time customer interaction and seamless online shopping for ultimate engagement and conversion. LiSA has some state of the art features such as in-livestream product purchase, group chat and remote co-ordination between 2 moderators. They are also planning to launch real time product interactions, fun engagement features and advanced analytics for the software.
The key focus areas of this strategic partnership include:
Customer acquisition and traffic growth via live sales platform. This will include beauty shows and partnership with multiple influencers to promote the session.
Bagallery & LiSA will also partner to enhance the customer UI/UX experience with constant testing and learning on what features attract the audience.
Influencer shops will be a key area of push where Bagallery & LiSA will partner to give access to influencers and sellers to promote their shops through the live platform.
At this point in time, Bagallery aims to develop the market for their Live Sales initiative and turn it into a household name.
Bagallery’s CEO, Salman Sattar states“At Bagallery we believe technology needs to be used to enhance consumer experience. We are confident that Livestream Sales is the future and will contribute significantly to our industry. Post pandemic, the e-commerce consumer base exploded with a major shift from offline to online with ‘lack of trust’ being one of the biggest hurdles in converting a consumer online. This partnership gives our consumer to buy exactly what they see, there and then. Initial pilot testing has produced amazing results and we are confident that Bagallery x LiSA’s partnership will be a unique first for the Pakistan’s e-commerce industry.”
Sophie Frères, CEO at LiSA added “We’re thrilled to bring livestream shopping the Pakistani market with such a strong partner. LiSA’s mission is to bring the most joyful and seamless livestream shopping to e-commerce across the globe. In Bagallery we have have found a partner who is very forward-thinking and willing to explore.”
Cambridge Assessment International Examinations (CAIE), previously CIE, has announced a new timetable for the Pakistani students doing their O-level exams. According to this new schedule, the exam will begin on May 15th.
Cambridge Board Decision
CAIE also released a statement where they stated that AS levels and A-Levels exams will go according to the existing timetable. But as for the O level and IGCSE, the exams will now happen according to the new schedule.
Cambridge Board has said that they are working closely with the Pakistani Government on ensuring a safe environment for the students so they can attain education during pandemic times.
CAIE said:
“We are pleased to announce that with the help of the government of Pakistan we will be holding all Cambridge International AS & A Levels as timetabled, so that students can progress to the next stage of their education.”
“We are now looking urgently at how best to make this work. We will not switch to school-assessed grades,” vowed the board. It added that they will provide more information to schools next week.
Shafqat Mehmood on CAIE
Yesterday, Shafqat Mahmood, the Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, announced that the board has rescheduled the exams. He also said that the decision will be shared in detail by Cambridge themselves.
After detailed discussions, Cambridge has agreed to reschedule ‘O’ level exams to after May 15. Details will be shared later by them. However, ‘A’ and ‘As’ level exams will take place as per the original timetable, following all the SOPs. Wishing everyone success in the exams
“After detailed discussions, Cambridge has agreed to reschedule ‘O’ level exams to after May 15. Details will be shared later by them. However, ‘A’ and ‘As’ level exams will take place as per the original timetable, following all the SOPs. Wishing everyone success in the exams.”
Change in Decision
This comes as a result of a successful initiative because the Federal Minister had already mentioned its possibility sometime earlier.
This was obviously after he had said that O level exams should happen on the already decided dates just like it was for matric and intermediate students. But then students started calling in.
“Our children are giving [inter and matric] exams under the Pakistani boards, hence the same [rule] will also apply for children giving exams for other boards,” he said, referring to O level and A level students.
In an earlier tweet, he said:
O and A level students are constantly calling, sending messages or writing emails. I want them to know that I am in continuous contact with Cambridge authorities to reschedule most if not all exams to after May 15. I should know more tomorrow.
Without a doubt, Strings is one of the most beloved Pakistani bands. Well, it was, until today!
And no, it is not because some other band has come up to Strings level. It’s because Strings is breaking up, or as they used the word, concluding.
Strings Splits
In a message to their fans, they took to social media announcing their official last day as a band. They thanked their fans for being a part of that journey and added how in these 33 years of living it, they have come to form an inseparable bond. So band or not, the two members would be connected ‘no matter where life takes them’.
And with this message, today on the 25th of March 2021, history recorded the end of an era.
Ever since people have got to know about this rather abrupt news, they have been truly heartbroken.
Though heartbroken, the Strings fandom that has spent a lifetime listening to the band has not reacted negatively. The response has been quite mature. They expressed their sadness and yet, have also mentioned how grateful they are. Most of them have also wished them the best of luck for future endeavors.
The band which produced good many songs with the great memories finally disbanded.Childhood nostalgias ain't gonna be the same for many of us. So long Strings💔💔#Stringspic.twitter.com/FS6xyO2kiN
When your "bachpan ka fav band" gets separated, Dil toots🥺🥺 Goodluck to you both Faisal & Bilal for giving us #Strings for 33 years ♥️ pic.twitter.com/ZHcxmDRReJ
India has detected a new double mutant variant of the novel coronavirus. The researchers are recently working on whether the two mutants are more serious in nature.
What Is A Double Mutant?
The double mutant is a variant where two mutations come together in the same virus. These two mutations can be more infectious or less affected by the vaccines. The majority of these mutations do not have any effect on the way the virus behaves.
However, some mutations can trigger the change in spike protein. A protein that can help attach and enter the human cells. Hence, these variants can increase disease rate and a lack of response to the vaccine.
image source: www.bbc.com
Genome sequencing and analysis of samples from Maharashtra state found mutations in the virus that did not match previously cataloged “variants of concern” (VOC), the ministry said in a statement. “Though VOCs and a new double mutant variant are found in India, they are not detected in numbers sufficient to either establish a direct relationship or explain the rapid increase in cases in some states. The ministry added. However, according to the reports, the variant is not related to a spike in India’s cases.
India has recently reported various cases of the mutant from Britain and also for South Africa and Brazil. The number of deaths from Covid-19 in India in the previous 24 hours rose to 275, the most this year, taking the total to 160,441, government data showed. The government has forced a ban against large crowds ahead of Holi amidst the coronavirus situation.
Can This Be The Reason Behind the Second Wave?
India reported 47,262 cases and 275 deaths on Wednesday, which is the sharpest daily rise this year. Dr. Rakesh Mishra, director of the Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), stated that the “double-variant” is already found in 20% the cases in Maharashtra, which has seen a huge spike in reported infections.
“One suspicion is that this variant is the cause of India’s second wave of infections. I would say no. 80% of the samples we have sequenced don’t have this mutant combination. This mutant is now linked to only 230 cases in Maharashtra of the several thousand samples sequenced,” he said.
image source: www.bbc.com
The Culprit Behind the Second Wave
According to the Doctors, more worrisome is the UK or the Kent variant (also known as B.1.1.7). This variant is now dominant in much of Britain and has spread to more than 50 countries. A total of 736 of the 10,787 samples sequenced in India have been found positive for this variant than the double mutant.
This variant is more likely to contribute to an “intense second wave,” Dr. Kamil says. (According to studies, it is over 50% more transmissible and 60% more lethal. 1.6 deaths for every one death caused by the previous version of the virus.)”However, mostly it is going to be human behavior that drives a second wave,” Dr. Kamil says.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.
Hania Amir has been in the limelight for quite a few days. Her unapologetic personality seems to catch the attention of the public now and then. Recently, Hania Aamir’s followers called the actress out once again, calling her a ‘Cringe Queen.’ The actress posted a funny video of singing while getting a massage done in a workout session. The moral police were quick to judge and left a comment in the comment section.
However, the actress quickly responded to the comment and wrote ‘JALDI AEN BABA,’ which seemed like an insider joke among the friends. It is good to see that the actress has kept her humor and is willing to engage even after the backlash.
Hania Amir has recently gained a lot of public attention regarding the controversy on the Instagram filters. Some are even accusing her of getting plastic surgery. In response to which she posted a response on her story.
It seems like her followers do not want to let her have a breath. Despite recent controversies, the actress seems to enjoy her life amidst all the backlash, which makes us wonder. Is it okay to call out the celebrities on every little thing possible? Are they willing to seek constant validation and criticism?
Hania Aamir’s fans do not seem to understand that it is our responsibility not to be involved in the celebrities’ personal lives and remember the fact that they are human too.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.
Amreli Steels, Pakistan’s Largest Selling Brand of Steel Bars, celebrated Pakistan Resolution Day onat Amreli Steels Circle near Dolmen Mall Clifton, Karachi on 23rd March 2021 by recreating Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s presidential address from 23rd March 1940. The sketches of Quaid-e-Azam made from Amreli Steels rebars came to life through Projection Mapping Technology to deliver a truncated version of his original address. It was followed by a mesmerizing display of Fireworks and Lightshow. All activities and arrangements were done with strict adherence to government issued SOPs in order to avoid the spread of coronavirus pandemic. The entire event was covered by mainstream and digital media and also streamed live on Amreli Steels’ official Facebook page.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Operating Officer of Amreli Steels, Mr. Hadi Akberali said that “Today marks the 81st anniversary of Pakistan Resolution Day. While we celebrate this landmark, we also need to reflect on this moment of history to realize how far we have come and how far we can go if we learn to rely on ourselves, our people, our resources and our strong will. Amreli Steels has always resolved to strengthen the economy and society by producing the best quality steel, creating equal opportunities for over 1300 people that are part of our team, and contributing to society in numerous ways. One of our contributions is this Amreli Steels Circle with the portrait of Quaid-e-Azam that has been made with our steel bars. It is here to remind us of the values from which our great country was born – equality, tolerance, peace and progress. Our independence changed the map of the world. Now, it is only through economic progress that we can become one of the leading nations of the world.”
Guest of Honor, Mr. Saleem Mandviwalla, Former Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, appreciated the celebration held on Amreli Steels Circle and regarded Amreli Steels as a brand of purpose that always plays its part beyond its financial contribution to Pakistan. He concluded by saying “The message of Quaid-e-Azam is especially important for the youth of this country as they will shape our future.”
This event was a follow-up to the tremendously successful activation to celebrate “Surprise Day” on 27th February 2021 at the Amreli Steels Circle. The Chief Guest on that occasion was Mr. Murtaza Wahab, Advisor to the CM Sindh. Since its unveiling in April 2018, Amreli Steels Circle has become a must-visit location for photography in Karachi. People from all walks of life are regularly seen taking selfies and making videos of themselves and their loved ones at the Amreli Steels Circle.
According to 24NewsHD, this year’s Hajj is expected to be the most expensive one for Pakistanis. It is said that its cost may exceed Rs. 700,000. According to the sources, there have been contacts at a lower level between the governments of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Moreover, a couple of days ago, Saudi Arabia issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the pilgrims coming to the kingdom for Hajj 2021. Additionally, the authorities in the kingdom had made it compulsory for the pilgrims to get vaccinated in order to perform Hajj 2021.
“The pilgrims will be bound to get vaccination ahead of the month of Zilhaj – most precisely two weeks ahead of visiting the kingdom – and had to provide a concrete evidence of getting a jab from WHO-certified vaccines,” it said, adding that pilgrims from abroad would also have to undergo a COVID-19 test on their arrival.
Among the Middle East, COVID-19 has hit Saudi Arabia the worst with approximately 270,000 cases. To avoid a significant increase in the number of cases, Saudi authorities have taken some measures regarding Hajj, one of the core beliefs or pillars of Islam. Here are five things that you need to know about Hajj 2020.
Who Can Attend?
Only the people currently residing in Saudi Arabia can take part in Hajj. Foreign nationals from 160 countries participated in the online selection process. Following the backlash of the rejected applicants, the authorities have claimed that the process was clean and fair.
Hajj participants from 2.5 million to 10,000
The number of participants had drastically gone down compared to last year when almost 2.5 million performed Hajj. Authorities have conveyed, only 1,000 people will perform the Hajj this year. However, the local media reports carry that number will be close to 10,000. Of these 10,000, 70% are foreigners residing in Saudi Arabia. The rest of the 30% are Saudi citizens.
Image Source: The Rahnuma Daily
The Effect on Saudi Economy
Saudi Economy is in a slump. Due to a decrease in oil demand globally, oil prices have significantly decreased. Further, to contain the contagion, authorities have scaled the even down. But limiting the number of participants to exercise social distancing will also affect the Saudi Economy because those 2.5 million Hajj and Umrah performers brought $12 billion annually to the Economy.
Safety Measures Before Hajj
The Hajj participants were quarantined upon arrival in Makkah. Authorities checked their temperatures, and the workers also sanitized their luggage. The authorities also gave them electronic wristbands to monitor their locations all the time. Moreover, the entire Grand Mosque was disinfected to make it as secure as possible for the participants beginning the Hajj process from 28th July 2020.
The authorities gave the Hajj participants amenity kit. These kits include prayer rugs, sterilized pebbles they will need for stoning ritual, and ihrams, the garment worn during Hajj. Health facilities, mobile clinics, and ambulances will be set up as well to accommodate the Hajj performers in case of medical emergencies.
Performing Hajj and Social Distancing
To ensure social distancing, Kaba is surrounded by rings to indicate how much distance needs to be observed between the participants. Authorities have also cordoned the Kaba. This way, the participants will not touch the building and spread the virus. This will also include not being able to kiss the black stone, Hajr-Al Aswad. Usually, the performers have to kiss the stone, but for obvious reasons, they will not be able to.
Image Source: www.crystalinks.com
Amidst social distancing, pandemic scare, and large scale scaling down, the five-day Islamic ritual has begun from 28th July 2020.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.
In line with its strategy to reinforce the role of nutrition in fostering a healthy living, Abbott has supported a report developed by the Economist Intelligence Unit on the state of clinical nutrition in Pakistan. The report which was launched today has highlighted the challenges that the healthcare system has been facing in adapting appropriate nutrition programs and outlined the opportunities that lie ahead.
The report brings forward the main causes of the currently bleak situation, which consist of food insecurity, a dearth of nutritionists and dietitians and an insufficient awareness among people around the importance of nutrition, both in hospital and at home.
As per Lieutenant Commander Rabia Anwer, Vice President of the Pakistan Nutrition and Dietetic Society (PNDS), there’s a lack of trained nutritionists and dietitians in Pakistan. “Most patients are not screened for malnutrition upon admission into hospital. As a result, many commence their stay facing a hurdle, and more than two thirds of those with malnutrition decline further during their stay. If afflicted patients were identified early on and provided with a suitable diet by a trained dietitian, then complications, length of stay, readmission rates, mortality and cost of care would all be reduced.” – Lieutenant Commander Rabia Anwer, Vice President of the Pakistan Nutrition and Dietetic Society (PNDS)
“Nutrition is at the base of good health”, said Prof. Javed Akram, Vice Chancellor, University of Health Sciences, Lahore and founding President of the Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine. “Getting the important nutrients through an adequate nutrition is instrumental for people to grow and stay healthy at all stages of life. Among solutions that can remedy malnutrition and improve outcomes, are medically tailored meals, meal replacements and nutritional supplements.”
The report argues that a lack of nutritional knowledge among clinical staff in Pakistan is a persistent issue, and that giving the right food to patients is the simplest, safest, and cheapest way to provide nutritional care.
The smartphone industry is not one to slow down when it comes to development. Flip phones had barely become obsolete when touch screens started hitting the market. Everyone went absolutely crazy when they saw the absence of buttons. Now, OnePlus has gone so far as to come with a Watch. Why don’t we dive into it’s details?
We have already seen how far OnePlus is capable of going with its phones. Now we get to see the domain it has also stretched into: the smartwatch one.
Image Source: theverge.com
OnePlus As A Brand:
Overall, if we look at it, OnePlus is considered as an impressive brand. Neither does it show any compromise in software nor is it behind in processing power. A friend of the writer of this article had OnePlus 3T and they claim it as one of the best phones ever. While it may not be the most robust phone out there, it is definitely one of the most premium ones.
OnePlus is also owned by Oppo. Oppo released and introduced this brand as its flagship product. One cannot even think of owning a OnePlus and not have that premium feel. Its phones have sleek designs and good grip. However, if you drop it too much, it can be a hefty repair. So what is this new watch everyone is talking about?
The Specs Of The Watch:
First of all, the watch has a beautiful circular display. It comes packed with 1GB ram and 4GB internal storage. That is quite ample when it comes to a watch. You can easily store up to 500 songs when you go for that morning run or workout at the gym. Considering it’s a OnePlus watch, it is expected to be no less in it’s quality and features. The watch also features a state-of-the-art heartbeat monitor so you can always keep track of those beats.
It has a battery life of 402mah, which means it can stay powered on for a long time. The ‘Always on’ display does little to affect the life on the watch and you can go for days on end. If we take an estimate, the battery can last for, at least, a week. The watch even runs a real-time operating system which is capable of answering calls. Say goodbye to whipping out your phone to answer those calls!
Image Source: tomsguide.com
A Price Bracket:
The OnePlus Watch is currently at an expected price of $160. This converts to approximately Rs.25,000. Now the price may differ as the watch enters into Pakistan, provided there may be other payments on it. However, it will not exceed by a huge margin and is to remain within the mid range line.
As OnePlus moves forward with its new smartphones, its also dipping well in the smartwatch domain. If you do wish to get a hands-on experience on it, you can always look to invest in it. It comes quite recommended by many users and is said to give the Apple watch a good competition.
Pakistan Day Parade is something all Pakistanis excitedly look forward to annually. Here are this year’s highlights that are making us proud.
Netizens Show Their Love
Netizens took to Twitter to express their love and gratitude for the parade and their country. Some of the pictures highlight the female military staff that was dressed in their uniform and marching.
These pictures are so powerful as we see women proudly wearing their uniform, in command and in service for their country. The rows and rows of women genuinely makes one feel hopeful and proud of their country!
Aerial Views
The aerial view pictures are also a sight for sore eyes. Seeing hundreds of men and women of Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Army and the Navy stand together with discipline and determination gives one goosebumps!
Diversity
The conflict between Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs is a tale as old as time. However, this highlight from the Pakistan Day Parade has shown us that we have many members from other communities as part of our forces. General Pawan Singh was seen as representing the Pakistan Army and we’re rooting for him!
President Alvi is rarely seen on screen which is why when he is noted in places, people love his appearances. The president also graced the parade and seeing him amidst the various colours of Pakistan forces depicts an incredible picture of modern-day Pakistan.
Every year another feature of the parade Pakistanis and especially children look forward to are the coloured artworks. Fighter jets create designs in the sky with coloured sand representing various symbolic colours and symbols. The result is pictures that speak a thousand words and pictures we would love to make our lock screens!
Pakistan has recently been investing in their armour through collaboration with countries like Turkey. Several new machines have been unveiled at the Pakistan Day March one of which is this surveillance drone.
GIDS Shahpar II surveillance drone unveiled at #PakistanDayParade enjoys a significant upgrade from its initial variant. Endurance doubled to 14 hours. Datalink range increased to 300 km from 250 km.
Pakistan Day Parade and the day itself is no small feat. It is a milestone in the historical development of Pakistan and remains the day of the parade. The parade not only brings together the forces of Pakistan as a show of unity but it also highlights our history and culture.
Everything we see is the foundational structure of Pakistan without which we are merely a skeletal nation. Here’s to saluting them for their efforts and sacrifices.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.
Inside the borders of every country, lies car brands that are worthy of mentions. Even if we look at just Pakistan, we’d be quite surprised by how many vehicles are seen here. We are not talking about the number here, though. From Honda to Toyota, all the way up to Changan and Lexus, the country has it all. Speaking of Lexus, they have teased a new concept vehicle!
2021 has seen quite a lot of development in terms of automotives and is continuously seeing more. Additionally, we are seeing newer brands by each passing day. If we compare the automotive infrastructure from ten years ago, a lot has changed and transformed
Image Source: motorbiscuit.com
Lexus Vehicles:
Lexus is a brand that we look towards with fascination. It is considered as quite a luxurious car when it comes to interior design. You know it’s a Lexus driving down the street when it speeds up. Plus, that logo just gives off this classic, vintage vibe. The brand itself is quite old and is still going strong.
Now, they have decided to tease the audience with a little concept. They have an upcoming event. It’s not an event, per se, rather a ‘Brand Transformation’. They are going to unveil this transformation alongside another reveal. They have teased it and now everyone is waiting in anticipation. So what details have they teased? Let us first tell you that this is an electric vehicle tease!
A New Concept By Lexus:
The electric vehicle is expected to be an SUV! In this day and age of evolving technology, SUVs are becoming more and more widely used. The company has said that this EV is going to be the start of a new era for the company. This unveil will signify that Lexus is now moving towards a new age of electric, just like many brands we know of. They have even shown a silhouette of the EV!
While they haven’t exactly said that it will be an SUV, the silhouette gives hints. The headlights, the extended hood, all point towards an SUV design. Whole the concept is said to be a follow up from the company’s previous electric vehicle, this might stand out entirely on its own. We have much to see when they finally do let the public in on the details.
Image Source: carscoops.com
Electrical Innovations Making Tesla Proud:
This concept shows us that more and more brands are headed towards the electric era. No one wants to be left behind when the combustion engines start to stutter as fossil fuels diminish. The transition will be slow and long but it has begun. Lexus is stepping quite ahead with this development and will likely go even higher.
Who knows, maybe we get to see more and more Lexus electric vehicles in the future. The brand is luxurious and the EVs are not expected to be any less in quality. Their seats are comfortable and their features are immense. Let us hope their unveil goes as they have planned, with many spectators in the crowd. We will keep you updated as more news on this develops.
[Update]: Instagram has released some updates in recent events. The two recent ones include news about its disappearing photos and videos feature and its stories.
Some time ago, they had removed the disappearing photos and videos feature. But WABetaInfo has announced that the feature has been reestablished as part of the new update.
Instagram has restored the feature to send disappearing photos and videos today. 😉 https://t.co/abAZCfkBki
For the next update, the one about stories, Instagram will be allowing its users to draft stories that they can continue to publish some time later. This is an interesting update because it implies that the user will not lose the story they have filmed or created.
You asked and we're delivering… story drafts coming soon 📣
[Oct 22, 2020]: Privacy has become more important than ever nowadays. Given how easy it is to steal pictures and make catfish accounts, one can never be too careful. With Instagram Stories’ ‘Close Friends’ option, you can now be selective about who gets to view your content.
This is a custom list that allows you to select your closest family members and friends.
Even though you will have others added to your following list, they’ll not see the content shared with this custom list.
Just like regular Instagram Stories, you’ll be able to share and create content without having to compromise on any of the exciting tools Instagram provides you.
How to Share Instagram Stories with ‘Close Friends’ Only!
PC: Brandsynario
To make a custom ‘Close Friends’ list, here what you need to do:
Open your Instagram application and tap on your profile icon.
Tap the hamburger icon at the top-right corner of the page
Select ‘Close Friends List‘ from the drop-down menu
You can manually add people by clicking the ‘Add‘ option aside from their name; you can also tap suggestions to make things easier (Instagram will surface people you interact with often on the platform)
Once done, you will start seeing a ‘Close Friends‘ icon when you create a story at the bottom.
Tap it, and the story will only be sent to your close friends, voila!
You’ll notice that ‘Close Friends’ stories are designated with a green circle around them. Be it your’s or a friend’s. If there’s a green circle around it, it means that the list is customized for selective individuals only.
Amongst all social media platforms, Instagram is rising to the top. It would come as no surprise to many if the application even beats the popularity of Facebook!
Be it millennials, adults, or even businesses; everyone knows that this is the application you need to be on to make your social media presence and flaunt those photography skills.
In case if you are new or use Instagram not-too-often, here are some of the most useful and vital secrets to grow followers and expand your reach, you wish you knew beforehand.
1. Funky Bio
PC: Brandsynario
Have a boring bio? Why not stand out from the crowd by using funky fonts for your profile, and add some emojis to top it off. Using third-party websites, you can copy the text of choice in different font options.
If you’re editing your Instagram profile on your laptop or desktop, you can use FontSpace and download/copy a new font for your bio in mere seconds.
2. Keep Business, And Personal Accounts Separate
PC: Brandsynario
Often, individuals set up an online shop set up or promote their business using personal profiles. Not many people are aware that businesses can get more reach from business profiles compared to individual ones.
3. You Can Schedule Instagram Content
Yes, you can schedule content on Instagram, just like you can do so for Facebook. Many marketers have thought of it as a handy tool to keep proper consistency by maintaining a certain frequency of posts so that their profiles can reach maximum individuals.
Applications like Buffer and Later help in scheduling a queue of photos to make an Instagram calendar and use it to advantage with hashtags.
4. Draft Important Posts For Ready-To-Go Content
At times, people on the other end of the account fall short of time and cannot scan for new posts or schedule new ones. This is where drafted content comes in handy. Before heading out, marketers can draft some images and videos to keep as backups so that if there is an urgent need for a post for a slot, there will always be a savior post.
5. Do Not Be Afraid Of Using External Editing Applications
Many Instagram users play around with the editing features the application provides them with and publish their content. However, there are tons of applications that make images more fun by adding a unique element.
Applications like Snapseed and Facetune will make your content stand out with powerful editing tools and features. Try it to believe it!
Just last year, iOS made $111 billion globally. Not only have the in-app purchases in Apple increased but also the median price. Around 65% of the purchases were within the $10 limit. As for higher purchases, the volume for $10 to 49.99 buys has increased from 19% to 26%.
iOS In-App purchase Stats
Interestingly, the purchases were not made only for gaming apps. In fact, it was the Photo & Video and Health & Fitness categories where people made the in-app purchases.
For US consumers, many have shown interest in subscriptions on apps. In these subscriptions, US consumers have spent $10.3 billion to subscribe to the packages on apps. Did you know that in 2020 almost half of the top Photo & Video apps (54%), Food & Drink (47%), Weather (60%), and Health & Fitness (73%), were offering subscriptions to consumers?
As for gaming in the US, the average purchase price increased by 25%; the price bracket was $3.99 to $4.99. This was in the year 2019 – 2020 when the consumers were willing to pay more on subscription, from $5.99 to $6.99.
Pandemic and its effects
This does not come as news because due to the pandemic people were locked inside their homes. With nowhere to go, they resorted to spending time on smartphones. And when you are exploring the depths of the apps you frequent, you get sucked into making in-app purchases.
Seeing this interest, some apps increased their prices as well. Even after that however, most purchases stayed below $10.For subscriptions in gaming apps in the US App Store, the percentage increased from 11% to 18%.
The data has been accumulated by Sensor Tower, a mobile app intelligence platform. They have even said that by 2025, the spending will be at $185 billion annually.
It will be interesting to see the progress of the smartphone industry in the coming years. It will also be amazing to see this progress according to regions and countries.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates!
Let’s understand Cognitive distortions, shall we? To put it in simpler terms, it is distorted understandings, convincing ourselves of something that is not there. Now you may be thinking, ‘oh, but we don’t hallucinate.’ Let me tell you, there are so many cognitive distortions that are messing with your relationships, and you don’t even realize. So give this a read and see what fits you.
1. Filtering
What is filtering? Filtering or, to be specific, Mental Filtering makes a person dwell excessively on the negativities of any event and filter out all the positive aspects of it. They do it so much that their reality, the one they are living in, becomes twisted and dark. They become sad and depressed about the most neutral things.
Image Source: Good therapy
2. Jumping to Conclusion
Okay, don’t we all do this? Well, I, for one, do. We tend to jump to conclusions often. That, however, is something familiar. But when cognitive distortion is involved, the same condition is on an even larger scale. If you have this, it will make you jump to a conclusion as to what the other person is thinking about you. They will feel like they can read the other person’s mind. In relationships, if this distortion is involved, well, one partner would fight with the other based on what he/she believes the other person is thinking.
3. Personalization
Your aunt is fighting with her daughter-in-law. And if you think that you are the main lead in that drama, my friend, that is another form of cognitive distortion. This one is called Personalization. In this, people think the world revolves around them. Another way to know if it is happening to you is by observing whether, in a random conversation with a friend, you start feeling that it all somehow links back to you. Someone with this distortion will also try to compare everyone with themselves in terms of beauty, brains, and whatnot.
Image Source: Lifealth.com
4. Heaven’s Reward Fallacy
You sacrifice yourself again and again, and you do all that just because you believe that it will eventually return to you. I mean, that’s a good thing, but if it affects your self-esteem, your ego, basically your personality, then my friend, it isn’t a good thing. This is linked with the idea that the world’s fair and someone is maintaining the scorecard. And eventually, the higher power will make it so that the reasonable person is rewarded. Pakistani drama heroines, anyone?
5. Catastrophizing
Catastrophizing is basically that a person awaits a disaster upon anything and everything. It is synonymous with magnifying. So what happens is that they are continually expecting disasters. They continuously ask ‘what if’ questions. And they also imagine the worst possible scenarios. They magnify insignificant events or, more like they magnify the importance of minor events and, consequently, the catastrophe that can ensue.
Long story short, the first step is to diagnose if you are also experiencing it. If you figure out that that is the case, you will know that your relationships are hurting because of it. Once you know about the issue, you will learn how to tackle it as well.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates
In this race of becoming the best brand regarding customer engagement, TECNO is winning the game. TECNO has taken this to a next level. The brand has announced a special offer for its fans where you get a Scratch card with every purchase of Spark 6 GO and get a chance to win another Spark 6 GO for FREE or a trip to THAILAND!
Spark series is TECNO’s famous mid-range series with near-flagship features. Spark 6 GO comes with Mediatek Helio A22 1.8GHz Quad-Core Processor, Dot-Notch 6.52″ HD+ Display, AI 13MP + QVGA Camera with Dual LED Flash, AI 8MP Front Camera with LED Flash, and 5000mAh battery. The phone was a great seller with these amazing features on such a minimal budget.
The phone was a great success due to its remarkable features in a reasonable price segment. Spark 6 Go with 3GB RAM and 64GB storage was available earlier at PKR 16,499 but is available for only PKR 15,999. The Spark 6 with 4GB RAM and 64GB massive storage was launched at the price of PKR 20,599 but has now been reduced to only PKR 19,599.
The fun part is the brand has not only reduced its price but on the purchase of every Spark 6 GO device, the customer will get a scratch card. Each scratch card contains a prize including a trip to Thailand, a new Spark 6 Go handset, and other gift prizes including pens, key chains, etc. If you win pens, kettle, or key chain, etc., you’ll get the prize from your retailer on spot. If you win a tour to Thailand or Spark 6 Go, you need to get in touch with the TECNO team. Go to TECNO’s Facebook page, send a picture of your scratch card, the EMEI number of your device, and your CNIC to TECNO. After verification from the brand’s data collection office, the gift shall be dispatched to you from the head office.
Isn’t this amazing? All you need to do is, go to your nearest retailer, buy a Spark 6 GO phone, scratch your card, and win! So what are you waiting for? Your Trip to Thailand is waiting for you. Hurry up and grab this chance to win such amazing prizes and much more.
The digital market is expanding in a wide variety of ways. With the advent of social media and the publishing houses going digital, it is established that the future of graphic design will be bright. With freelancing websites, it is much easier to find a job, especially for small businesses.
If you have a keen eye for art and find yourself artistic, graphic designing would be the perfect option for you to establish a side hustle. With the help of virtual institutes, you can easily learn the course. This can be free of cost yet providing you will all the necessary knowledge.
Chelsey Moter, the Marketing Coordinator for the Arizona Grand Resort, states, “Graphic Design is crucial to all businesses. Not only do you need business cards, flyers, and postcards for print, but graphic design is also important in the digital world. The majority of business owners and marketers know content is king.
However, the best kind of content contains far too many words, and the majority of users will end up walking away before they even finish reading the piece if the article is too long.”
image source: https://venngage.com/
If this makes you want to enroll in a graphic design course, then look no further. Here is a list of free online graphic design courses you should enroll in.
1. Udemy Graphic design course
Udemy provides a free graphic design course which constitutes 8 lectures. The course is perfect for aspiring design students and professionals who want to ace graphic design. The free version will provide you with all the necessary skills required to learn all the editing and photoshop tools. However, if you want to get a certificate of completion, you will have to switch to a paid version.
2. DigiSkills.pk
Digiskills is one of the best institutes in Pakistan, which provides a wide variety of free online courses. Yasir Javed Dodger, who is Masters’s in Fine Arts and Specialized in Graphic Design, is the trainer for the program. This course will help you to learn and present ideas/illustrations using the basic concepts of Design.
Also, this course will help you develop a basic sense of Graphic Designing with the implication of both theory and practice. This program will allow you to learn how to implement the knowledge for a task and land jobs as a freelancer.
image source: https://fabrikbrands.com/
3. Coursera
Home to a wide variety of online courses. The graphic design course of Coursera provides a thorough knowledge of fundamental skills needed to become a graphic designer. From interface design to motion graphics and editorial design, you will be able to learn a set of transferable formal and conceptual tools for “making and communicating” in the field of graphic design.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.
.The annual civil awards ceremony held on the 23rd of March has been making headlines especially this year. Several notable celebrities have been awarded the Pride of Performance Award. See if you spot your favourite!
The Pride of Performance Award
As is customary, President Arif Alvi gives the awards to the esteemed recipients. This particular award is given to those who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the field of literature, art, sports, science and education”.
1. Humayun Saeed
The first recipient of this award in 2021 was none other than Humayun Saeed. He is a notable contributor in the field of art who deserves it fully. He has surely made a lasting impression on everyone through his acting!
Image Source: PakShowbiz
2. Ali Zafar
Another recipient of the pride of performance award in 2021 is Ali Zafar. Ali Zafar is a household name in Pakistan. His contributions to various fields in art and literature, as well as education, are known to all.
Image Source: Twitter
3. Sakina Samo
Samo is an incredibly popular Pakistani actress who has received this award for the second time in a row now. Last year she won the award through the category of arts and she has managed to bag it this year just the same. Samo’s name is well-known in her field of interest and we’re proud to see a woman receiving this award.
Image Source: Trendsmap
4. Maulana Tariq Jameel
Maulana Tariq Jameel is also a celebrated figure in Pakistan who enjoys a large following. His contributions to education are noted by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and he was awarded for them respectfully by the President.
Image Source: Daily pakistan
Something to Look Up To
Civil awards are the highest forms of honour bestowed upon individuals in Pakistan. Any patriotic Pakistani’s dream definitely envisions this moment of being an attendee of this prestigious event and a recipient of any award too.
Image Source: Alchetron
In that sense, they act as an incentive people continuously work towards.
Is Everyone in Agreement?
However, many people have expressed their discontent over two of the recipients of Pride of Performance in 2021. Here’s what people are saying:
Among those conferred the Pride of Performance awards yesterday were Ali Zafar, popular pop singer accused of sexual harassment by at least two co-workers, and Maulana Tariq Jameel, a scholar who frequently uses misogynist invective in his teachings. https://t.co/OcWUxFd640
Shafqat Mahmood has gained an immense amount of popularity with students as decisions on schools’ closure remains a rollercoaster ride. What are memes trending on now?
The Third Wave Closure
Schools have been decided to remain closed until April 11th as the third wave of coronavirus strengthens its grip in Pakistan. These closures – at least 6 or 7 times – pose a huge obstacle to education. Online education is not the same and many have to appear for exams.
However, many students are extremely happy at the schools’ closure and demand for a postponing of exams.
Our syllabus is incomplete our preparation is incomplete and we are being forced to take exams without any favours unlike local boards.
Students who are giving CIEs are also PAKISTANI.
CARE FOR THEM TOO.#cancelexamspakistan2021@Shafqat_Mahmoodpic.twitter.com/jD7lJcTdh9
— Abdul Moiz🇵🇰//Cancel Mafia Stan (@Moizhere_) March 24, 2021
What’s Trending On Twitter?
#CancelExamsPakistan2021 is trending on Twitter. Students appearing for board exams, O level send-ups, A level mocks etc are all demanding for their exams to be cancelled. They base this demand on the reasons that their syllabus is incomplete and their mental health in shackles due to the pandemic.
Others are simply calling for closure because they are lazy and have not started studying for their exams yet. Are you the last-minute student or the topper one who has finished the syllabus thrice two months before?
Memes Going Viral
Of course, Pakistani’s’ love language is humour. Here are all the memes being made on the situation that has us cracking up.
Shafqat Mahmood has decided that the hotspots of coronavirus in Pakistan will see their educational institutes closed until April 11th. However, no one will be passed this year without appearing for exams.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
All Public & Private schools of Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Sargoda, Sheikhupura will remain closed till April 11th, 2021. The remaining Districts will be open on previous schedule.
Local board exams will continue as per routine. Moreover, Shafqat Mahmood will meet with and discuss the postponement of CIES with the CIE board itself. It appears Sindh and Balochistan’s districts will have their educational institutions remain open.
Comparison with International Policies
The UK is a prime example of a country prioritising the education of its youth. When all else was closed, schools remained open. When a national lockdown was imposed, the first institution to open after its relaxation, were schools.
Image Source: Nursing Centre
However, in Pakistan, the first thing closed are schools and the last thing opened are schools. Weddings are currently allowed with a massive upper limit of 300 people. Restaurants and parks are open yet schools have been closed.
This represents negligence of the attitude towards the education of Pakistan’s youth which can be challenged. If all else fails, primary schools shall be closed while higher education must be favoured.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.