Why Did Heinz Gave Out Free Ketchup To Slow Drivers?

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Apr 22, 2022

heinz free ketchup slow drivers — Image Source: BBC

Heinz Canada got itself into an unusual partnership to then do something more unusual. Are you intrigued? Heinz partnered with Waze to navigate where people were stuck in traffic around Canada. Wherever they were, if they were going the same speed as Heinz Ketchup (0.045km/h), they got a special offer to get a bottle of ketchup.

What Did They Want To Do?

Waze might be discovering an unusual and concerning trend. As Covid-19 restrictions have started to ease across Canada, people were jumping to places. Quite literally. A huge part of this was that they wanted to get to cookouts and BBQs in cottages and whatnot. The challenge was to incorporate Heinz into these cookouts in a way that will be unexpected and modern.

What Was The Idea?

The idea is that Heinz Ketchup is continuously going through rigorous tests to ensure the quality and taste are the exact same in every bottle. One of these quality tests to see the viscosity is to see what speed it pours in. It is always supposed to be 0.045km/h to be exact. Heinz takes pride in being slow.

So, this season as people were starting to do rash driving, the brand wanted to show people stuck in traffic that being slow is good. They partnered with Waze’s app and used their built-in navigation and speed tracking system to get to Canadians across the country. People who were in traffic, essentially.

How Were Bottles Distributed?

They used real-time data to track the speed of traffic. If the car moved at the speed of Heinz Ketchup, it could get to a bottle of Heinz and a voucher for free ketchup and a Burger King Whopper would automatically be sent to their inbox. Only because they don’t get distracted while driving.

The idea of this campaign was to encourage people to embrace the slow in a fast-paced world. The traffic is also the heaviest at the time. Campaigns like these are what we would like to see more of.

What do you think of this? Let us know in the comments below.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.

Burger King’s Most Confusing Ad Launches Their No-Chicken Chicken Nuggets

By

Lyza Rashid

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Apr 22, 2022

burger king confusing ad — Image Source: WattaGnet

Burger King is a fast-food brand— we all know what that means. IT’s unhealthy and it isn’t good for you probably, right? However, this isn’t a fast-food chain like any other. This junk food brand wants you to know they’re all about clean junk food. Be it either with ‘poop icecream’ that has 0 chemicals in it or these plant-based chicken nuggets.

Burger King’s Chicken Nuggets

To launch their plant-based chicken nuggets, Burger King teamed up with a creative agency. Together they launched ‘Even More Confusing Times,’ the name of the campaign that brings the nuggets to people.

What Is The Ad About?

In a very short video, what you see is a lot of confused people dealing with even more confusing everyday life situations. These people in the ad shown are confused about whether an eco-friendly Black Friday purchase is good for the planet or a futile attempt idea? Should the message sent to the ex be deleted? Is Max a dog or a boy’s name or is it the same thing?

In this sense, the world keeps getting confusing for them. Not ironically at all, Burger King adds that there are chicken nuggets coming out with no chicken in them. The menu item reads: “Chicken nuggets that got no chicken… but taste like chicken. Plant-based ‘chicken’ nuggets? Confused.”

Thoughts On The Ad

Everybody has said so far that the ad is one of a kind. It is funny, different and captures exactly the confusing state we’re all experiencing as our environment crumbles. The promotion of this campaign will be further done on radio and print ads. They also lean on the dark humor in the ad—what binaries do we experience in this modern world?

This global campaign for Burger King’s new plant-based will be released in Spain and Portugal.

Burger King’s Plant-Based Products

Burger King has also previously launched the plant-based Whopper. But they want to raise the bar and bring in plant-based alternatives for other products. They are lighter on the environment but taste like the originals.

The fast-food chain might be changing the way the industry works. Will you be joining them for the ride?

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.

TikTok Releases Q4 2021 Community Guidelines Enforcement Report, More Than 6.5 Million Videos Removed From Pakistan

By

Web Desk

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Apr 21, 2022

TikTok Releases Q4 2021 Community Guidelines Enforcement Report, More Than 6.5 Million Videos Removed From Pakistan — Image source: pakscoop.com

Pakistan – April 21, 2022: The world’s leading short-form video platform, TikTok, has released its latest Community Guidelines Enforcement Report for Q4 2021 (Oct-Dec 2021), including updates on its commitment to support the safety of the community and foster kindness on the platform. The report reflects the platform’s ongoing commitment to earn trust by being accountable while working to be safe and welcoming. Efforts include fostering authentic engagement across the comment space, safety reminders for creators, and adhering strictly to the extensive Community Guidelines.

From this iteration of the report onwards, the platform will provide information about content removals and ongoing improvements to systems when detecting, flagging, and removing violative content. In the fourth quarter of 2021, 85,794,222 videos were removed globally, which represents about 1% of all videos uploaded to TikTok. Nearly 94.1% of videos were removed within 24 hours of being posted for violating Community Guidelines, 95.2% were removed before a user reported them, and 90.1% were removed before the videos had any views.

Pakistan, with 6,563,594 videos removed for violating Community Guidelines, ranked third in the world for the largest volume of videos taken down in Q4 2021.

These developments have helped in improving the speed of tackling harassment and other negative behavior policies. To date, the steadfast progress on removing content that violates the Community Guidelines prior to receiving any views improved by 14.7% for harassment and bullying content, 10.9% for hateful behavior, 16.2% for violent extremism, and 7.7% for dangerous acts.

A TikTok official said, “At TikTok, we believe our community should be built on a foundation of respect, kindness, and understanding. To help people forge positive digital connections in line with our rules for appropriate behavior, we strive to empower our users to stay in control of their interactions with others on TikTok. There’s no finish line when it comes to keeping people safe, and our latest report and continued safety improvements reflect our ongoing commitment to the well-being of our community.”

Alongside the platform’s work to proactively remove abusive and hateful content or behavior that violates Community Guidelines, it is exploring new ways to help everyone feel more in control over comments through authentic engagement. This spans testing ways in which users can identify comments they believe to be irrelevant or inappropriate, such as through disliking comments. The community feedback collated will add to the range of factors already in use to help keep the comment section consistently relevant and a place for genuine engagement. In addition to this, to avoid demoralizing creators, only the person who registered a dislike on a comment will be able to see that they have done so.

To further streamline finding and using the plethora of built-in safety tools offered, TikTok is experimenting with safety reminders that will guide creators to comment filtering and bulk block and delete options. The reminders will be displayed to creators whose videos appear to be receiving a high proportion of negative comments. In parallel the platform will continue to remove comments that violate its stringent Community Guidelines, building on the already available tools such as the ability to filter comments on content, delete, report multiple comments at once.

To learn more about content guidelines and policies on TikTok, refer to the Community Guidelines. The Community Guidelines Enforcement Report can be found here in English and Urdu.

Beaconhouse Saves 3,083 Tonnes In Carbon Emissions From Successfully Running 40 Facilities On Solar Energy

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Web Desk

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Apr 21, 2022

Lahore – April 22^nd, 2022: Beaconhouse Group, Pakistan’s largest network of private educational institutions and a host of diverse businesses, is successfully running 40 of the network’s facilities on solar energy. Students of 26 Beaconhouse campuses that have been installed with solar panels also conducted research projects on solar energy’s impact on reducing harmful air pollution, use of non-renewable energy, and cutting electricity costs.

The grade 8 student research projects explored significant controllable factors that improve the performance of photovoltaic panels, and saw participation from approximately 1,800 students. This announcement commemorates International Earth Day 2022, celebrated on April 22^nd, aimed at raising awareness on protecting the planet, reducing our carbon footprint, and adopting sustainable and environmentally friendly business practices.

Installed by Beacon Energy Ltd. (BEL), a venture of the Beaconhouse Group creating renewable energy sources, the solar panels installed at schools and other buildings under Beaconhouse have altogether achieved a carbon offset of 3,083 Tonnes in the past two years. This significant reduction in carbon emissions is equivalent to the impact created by a plantation of more than 6,200 trees.

As commented by Nassir Kasuri, Executive Director at Beaconhouse, and Chief Executive Officer of BEL, ”Coupled with rapid population growth and urbanization, Pakistan’s per capita CO₂ emissions stood at 1.06 trillion^[1] in 2020, which has been an exponential increase as compared to 20 years ago. Already in the top ten² of most impacted countries by climate change, it is imperative that Pakistan adopts an approach that balances sustainability with the needs of our rapidly increasing population. At Beaconhouse, as a socially responsible organization, we take mitigating the impacts of climate change as a top priority and are constantly implementing sustainable practices and policies to reduce our carbon footprint in everyday operations.”

To limit the use of non-renewable energy, BEL is working towards increasing the use of photovoltaic solar panels in Pakistan’s energy mix, which is a novel technology with a low unit cost and a very low carbon footprint.

With the installation of these solar panels across multiple institutions of Beaconhouse network, the organization is becoming a catalyst for positive change while investing in sustainable and responsible business practices.

Every year over 190 countries and 1 billion individuals across the world celebrate Earth Day on April 22^nd, to provide a voice to emerging environmental consciousness and highlight planet conservation concerns.

Netflix Has A Sad News For Those Who Share Netflix Accounts

By

Dr. Rida Qamar

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Apr 21, 2022

Reports have come out that Netflix lost an astounding total of 200,000 subscribers in Quarter 1. Resulting in stock shares drop over 20%, with another estimated 2 million losses in the second quarter. Following these revelations, the streaming platform announced that it will start charging more to users who share their accounts with people outside their families.

Netflix Subscription Charges Raises

Netflix came through with these price increase in January, and again in March. The streaming platform started testing this feature in Peru, Costa Rica, and Chile. In these countries, the additional costs were 7.9 PEN in Peru, $2.99 in Costa Rica, and 2,380 Pesos in Chile.

After these tests, the company is now ready to implement these changes to its users all across the globe. Meanwhile, it has also made clear that for the next year, it will keep making tests so as to properly charge customers who engage in sharing their account outside their households.

“Frankly, we’ve been working on this for about almost two years. A little over a year ago, we started doing some light test launches that informed our thinking and helped us build the mechanisms that we’re deploying now,” Netflix chief product officer Greg Peters explained on the earnings call.

“We just did the first big country tests, but it will take a while to work this out and to get that balance right.”

Netflix Sub-Accounts

At the moment, Premium and Standard subscribers of the service are given the option to add something that has been referred to as “sub-accounts” for the people with whom they share their account outside of their household.

Every single sub-account not only will have its specific login details and password but it will also have its own personal profile with personalized recommendations. If the person to whom the sub-account belongs decides to create their own account, every feature of their sub-account will be transferred over to their new account. These sub-accounts do not count for the overall subscriber estimate. The company also announced goals to offer a lower-cost, ad-supported plan in the future. In contrast with the price increases for those who share their accounts.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.

HBL Q1 2022 Profit Rises To Rs. 14.6 Billion Driven By Strong Business Volumes

By

Web Desk

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Apr 21, 2022

ubl hbl profitable bank — Image Source: HBL

Karachi, Pakistan – 20 April 2022: HBL today declared a consolidated profit before tax of Rs. 14.6 billion for the first quarter of 2022 and a profit after tax of Rs. 8.6 billion, both higher than in the same period last year. The Q1’22 results include a one-time severance charge of Rs. 2.6 billion. Excluding the impact of this one-time charge, the Bank’s profit before tax is 18% more than in Q1’21. Along with the results, the Bank declared a dividend of Rs. 2.25 per share (22.5%).

Following a breakthrough performance in 2021, the Bank continued to build on its growth story, with its fortress balance sheet increasing by another 5% over December 2021 to Rs. 4.5 trillion. Beating historical trends, HBL was able to grow current accounts beyond the previous year-end peak to nearly Rs. 1.2 trillion, 37.4% of the total deposit base of Rs. 3.2 trillion. Advances grew by 4% in one quarter alone, well ahead of the market, to nearly Rs. 1.6 trillion, with broad-based growth across all segments. The Bank’s flagship Consumer business continued to break records with loans crossing Rs. 110 billion; agriculture lending achieved a new high of Rs. 41 billion. HBL Microfinance Bank, the largest microfinance provider of housing loans, posted double-digit growth with deposits crossing Rs. 100 billion and a loan portfolio of Rs. 65 billion.

Net interest income of the Bank increased by Rs. 3.8 billion to Rs. 36.3 billion in the first three months of 2022, driven by an exceptional growth of over Rs. 450 billion in average volumes. Fee income continued to break barriers, rising 24% to Rs. 7.3 billion; the fee engine is firing on all cylinders, with an outstanding performance from the Cards business, and double-digit growth in all key businesses. A spectacular Treasury performance resulted in income rising by 42%. Total revenue of the Bank thus increased by Rs. 6 billion over Q1’21 to Rs. 46.6 billion.

Administrative expenses (excluding severance charge of Rs. 2.6 billion) increased to Rs. 27.8 billion on the back of rising inflationary pressures, higher sales-driven costs, and a continued investment in people and technology. Total provisions reduced by 36% to Rs. 1.2 billion; the infection ratio remains well-controlled at 5.2% with total coverage at over 100%. Demonstrating its commitment to giving back to the community, the endowment fund of the HBL Foundation was doubled to Rs. 100 million, while the annual contribution was raised by 50%, to 1.5% of post-tax profits.

Commenting on the Bank’s Q1’22 performance, Muhammad Aurangzeb, President & CEO – HBL said, “The Bank’s business volumes have set new benchmarks on the back of a very strong performance across all client segments and activity drivers. We continue to work diligently on building technological innovation, working with the Government of Pakistan on public-private partnerships, and most importantly serving our clients with excellence. HBL’s digital channels, being our strategic priority, processed an unprecedented Rs. 2.8 trillion from 109 million transactions, representing a YoY growth of 64%.”

HBL solidified its dominant position in all aspects of its Consumer business. HBL Cards remained the first choice for clients, registering a 58% growth in Credit Card spend over same period last year. HBL’s Debit Card remains the market leader with 6.1 million cards and a 21% market share. Spend volumes increased by 53% over Q1’21, with e-commerce volumes growing by 56%.

There has been a considerable focus on formal finance to Small Enterprises under HBL POS finance and SBP’s SAAF scheme with disbursements of Rs. 1.4 billion under each program. HBL maintained its leadership position in Supply Chain Financing, registering a growth of 20% over Dec’21 to reach Rs. 7.4 billion. HBL’s total SME funded advances in Q1’22 stood at Rs. 73 billion.

During the quarter, HBL Nisa opened 37,000 new accounts with deposits of over Rs. 6 billion. HBL has remained amongst the highest contributors to the RDA initiative with 20% of all RDA accounts; during Q1’22, we channeled an additional USD 100 million into the country. HBL Prestige branches were inaugurated in Multan and Faisalabad, taking the total presence to 27 lounges in 12 cities.

HBL was also designated as the “Champion Bank for Balochistan” by SBP to lead the banking industry and enhance agricultural credit and financial inclusion in the province. The Bank has been focusing on broadening its agricultural outreach in the underserved regions of the country.

HBL maintained its pole position in cash management, with throughput rising by 49% to nearly Rs. 2.6 trillion in Q1’22. HBL has become the first bank in Pakistan to allow asset management companies to process real-time redemption payments by successfully integrating the HBL Pay Business Banking platform with CDC (Central Depository Company).

HBL Investment Banking maintained its dominant position and closed a number of offshore and onshore transactions across sectors, including a USD 35 million offshore leveraged buyout facility in the Telecom and Internet space. The Bank also arranged syndicate financing for an automobile manufacturer and provided a comprehensive advisory for a Public-Private-Partnership project in the mining space. HBL made major headway in its real estate initiatives, developer finance and low-cost housing.

HBL continues to be a thought leader in the Environmental Social Governance (ESG) space and is the first Bank to announce a “net-zero” emissions policy, which we are targeting to achieve by 2030. The Bank is piloting the adoption of the Taxonomy Common Ground (CGT), which is a tool to facilitate direct flows of capital to green projects. HBL supported the Ministry of Climate Change in its globally recognized “Ten Billion Tree Tsunami” initiative for ecosystem restoration and initiated the plantation of 20,000 trees across the country. During the quarter, HBL disbursed over Rs. 7 billion for sustainable financing projects. Our diversity ratio continues to increase with 20% of our employees being women; our goal is to reach 22% by the end of this year. Recently, we opened our first women-only branch in Hyderabad.

Digital transactions continued exponential growth with HBL’s Mobile Banking and Internet Banking registering a growth of 97% in transaction value, to Rs. 417 billion in Q1’22. HBL Mobile app users crossed 2.6 million with a 61% growth in transaction volume to 26 million in Q1’22.

The Konnect account portfolio witnessed a growth of 33% reaching a total of 7.4 million accounts at the end of Q1’22. Total throughput registered a growth of 103%, from Rs. 166 billion in Q1’21 to Rs. 337 billion in Q1’22. Total collections at Konnect channels crossed Rs. 25 billion during Q1’22. Konnect Debit Cards portfolio reached 1.2 million at the end of Q1 2022. The Bank also launched an Islamic Banking mobile app empowering Islamic banking clients to meet their digital banking needs via a dedicated solution.

The Bank processed e-commerce transactions worth Rs. 8 billion recording a 57% growth in volumes compared to the same period last year. In addition, 30% growth was recorded in the number of merchants. HBL also launched a state-of-the-art mPOS solution to accept e-commerce payments from clients at their doorstep.

HBL ended 2021 being recognized as Best Bank in Pakistan from Euromoney Awards, and Pakistan’s Best Bank 2021 from the Pakistan Banking Awards. Continuing its winning streak in Q1’22, HBL won awards for Best Green Bond and Best Structured Finance Deal 2021 from The Asset Triple A Sustainable Capital Markets Country & Regional Awards 2021. Furthermore, HBL won eight awards in the 2021 Global Diversity and Inclusion Benchmark (GDIB) awards in the categories of Best Practice in Pakistan and Most Progressive in Pakistan.

Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram, Co-Founder Sehat Kahani Join The World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders Class Of 2022

By

Web Desk

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Apr 21, 2022

Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram, Co-founder, and CEO-Sehat Kahani joins the world’s most driven researchers, innovative entrepreneurs, activists, and promising political leaders between the ages of 30 and 40 as World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders Class of 2022.

Her initiative Sehat Kahani has been providing quality and affordable healthcare to patients across Pakistan through a global network of female doctors. Over a million patients today in Pakistan have used Sehat Kahani to access doctors.

Dr.Sara Saeed Khurram is a strong advocate of re-integrating and empowering the female doctor workforce in Pakistan who leaves the medical field due to cultural and social barriers. Previously Dr. Sara Also has been awarded the Prestigious Rolex Award for Enterprise as Associate Laureate and We Empower Award in 2021 for her work in healthcare, entrepreneurship, and social impact.

The Forum of Young Global Leaders was founded in 2005 by Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, to help shape future leaders who are equipped to both take responsibility for creating a more sustainable and inclusive world, and to address its increasingly complex and interrelated challenges. Today, there are over 1,400 members and alumni from more than 120 countries. Notable members include prime ministers Jacinda Ardern and Sanna Marin, President Carlos Alvarado Quesada of Costa Rica, entrepreneurs Iyinoluwa Aboyeji and Rhea Mazumdar Singhal, peace activist Victor Ochen, and economist Esther Duflo.

The class of 2022 is gender-equal and has representatives from 42 countries. Members will take part in a three-year leadership development programme that will help them reach their next level of impact. The programme offers executive education courses, expeditions, and opportunities to collaborate and test ideas with a trusted network of peers.

Discover the new Young Global Leader (YGL) class on www.wef.ch/ygl22

Sahiba Clears Her Stance On Recent Controversy Of Not Wanting Daughters

By

Dr. Rida Qamar

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Apr 21, 2022

Sahiba and Rambo made an appearance on the morning show of Nida Yasir. In a series of events, Sahiba went on to discuss how she is ok with the fact that she has no daughters. It’s because she never wanted one since it’s too much responsibility.

The actress’s statement has caused quite an uproar on social media since then, so much so that she had to take to Instagram to clarify her statement about what she actually meant.

Sahiba Rambo’s Instagram Post

The actress shared the post on her Instagram, clearing the air about what she said on the show. She tried to clarify the words and rephrased them a bit on the post shared on Instagram. She wrote,

“Beti Rehmat hoti ha bus betion k naseeb se dar lagta ha. Allah sb ko har nemat per shukar ada karne ki toufeeq day. Jo mili aur jo nahi mili. (Meri bat main sirf dar tha aur kuch nae. Allah har beti k naseeb ache krey).”

Take a look at her post below

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sahiba Afzal (@sahiba_rambo)

According to the actress, all she meant was that the world is never on the girls’ side, and there is a lot they have to face when it comes to their fate.

While many have been condemning her statement, a majority of people also understand what she meant and wholeheartedly agree with her opinion.

“You said it right. I have three daughters, and I’m scared of this society.” One user wrote.

“Yes, I had the same scare, and I always wanted boys because of that.” Another wrote.

What are your views about the whole stance? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.

UBL Becomes The Most Profitable Bank In Pakistan

By

Lyza Rashid

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Apr 21, 2022

UBL recently published its financial statements for the first quarter of 2022 and they have brought in good news for the bank. The news may be good for them but it has simply shocked the rest of us. The United Bank Limited just took over a powerful and renowned bank to become the most profitable bank in Pakistan. That’s big and here’s what all went down:

The First Quarter Results

UBL’s (United Bank Limited) financial statements for the first quarter of 2022, which ended 31st March 2021, showed that the bank profited with Cr 9,520. This is the report according to the bank’s PSX presentation. So what does this mean? It translated into Rs.7.78 earnings per share (EPS). This is a huge jump, a jump of 28.6% because in the same period last year the earnings per share were 6.05 rupees.

HBL’s Historic Win

This year, HBL declared a consolidated pre-tax profit of Rs. 14.6 crore for the first quarter of 2022. However, the after-tax profit is estimated to stand at Rs. 8.6 crore. While this was less than UBL, both these figures for HBL were higher than the same period last year. For instance, if we overlook the after-tax figure, HBL’s pre-tax figure was 18% higher than in Q1 2021. In addition to that, the bank declared a dividend of Rs.2.25 per share (22.5%) which is also relatively higher.

HBL had an exceptional performance run in 2021 and it is continuing to build on it too. Previously it passed historical trends and increased its current accounts to estimated trillions from the year-end peak.

UBL Has Taken Over HBL

HBL has held the crown of being the most profitable bank in Pakistan for a long. However, this year, with the reports of the first quarter, UBL has taken over in terms of profitability.

Read more: Paymob Sets Foot in Pakistan

To compare them side by side, in the first quarter of 2022, UBL made a profit of Rs. 9.3 billion which was approximately 1.5 crore greater than HBL’s profit of Rs. 8.6 billion. UBL’s profit was greater before tax too: UBL’s before-tax profit was Rs. 15.7 billion as opposed to Rs. 14.6 billion for HBL.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.

Scientists Discover The Best Way To ‘Twist Open’ An Oreo Cookie

By

Dr. Rida Qamar

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Apr 21, 2022

Everyone has their own way of snacking on Oreos. Whether it’s twisting the sandwich cookie to eat two separate parts. Dunking it into milk or just shoving the whole thing into one’s mouth.

However, if your preferred method is twisting it into two parts. You might have noticed that the inside filling typically sticks to just one side or the other.

With that in mind, diligent researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have tried to figure out whether it’s actually possible to keep the creme filling split evenly when separating the two chocolate wafers.

‘Oreology’ – The Science Of Oreo

The researchers have designed a 3D-printable “Oreometer”, a simple device that firmly grasps an Oreo cookie. It uses pennies and rubber bands to control the twisting force that progressively twists the cookie open.

The study, titled “On Oreology, the fracture and flow of ‘milk’s favourite cookie”, came out on April 20 in Kitchen Flows, a special issue of the journal Physics of Fluids.

In a statement issued by MIT, Max Fan, one of the study authors, said there is the fascinating problem of trying to get the cream to distribute evenly between the two wafers, which “turns out to be really hard.”

The Study Results

According to the study, scientists measured the torque needed to twist open an Oreo. Torque is the twisting force that tends to cause rotation of an object. In other words, torque is the tendency of a force to rotate the object.

The engineers found the torque required to twist open an Oreo is similar to the torque required to turn a doorknob. Meanwhile, it is about one-tenth of the force for opening the cap of the bottle.

According to Crystal Owens, the lead author of the study, videos of the manufacturing process show that they put the first wafer down, then dispense a ball of cream onto the wafer before putting the second wafer on top. She said that apparently, that little time delay may make the cream stick better to the first wafer.

“I was personally motivated by a desire to solve a challenge that has intrigued me as a child. How to open an Oreo and get creme evenly on both wafers?” said Crystal Owens.

“The results validated what I saw as a child — we found no trick for opening up our Oreos,” Owens said.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.

HOMe And The Spirit Of Donation

By

Web Desk

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Apr 20, 2022

Home is where the heart is and Habib Oil Mills (HOM) truly believes in it. The business came into being in the 1900 and since then it has been spreading its wings to give health, taste, and quality to its users. It is a name that people trust, and HOM has made sure that it stands true to the expectations that people have from it.

We all enjoy eating and serving our traditional dishes in Ramadan which means more frying and cooking in oil. For this we should make sure that we are using healthy cooking oil. HOM is the best option available as it is a premium range of pure oils which are double refined and made up of natural ingredients. It contains Vitamin A, D, and E which are beneficial for the young and old alike and help in the formation of stronger bones and teeth. What is more this oil keeps skin wrinkle-free. It also contains natural anti-oxidants which aid in the growth of healthy cells and protects our bodies against illnesses.

HOM delivers you the best oil for yourself and for the people who live in our hearts. This oil comes in three variants; Pure Soyabean Oil, Pure Canola Oil, and Pure Cooking Oil. You can buy the oil that suits your taste and needs the best. This oil is available in a bottle with a handle for easy pouring and easy storage.

HOM believes that whatever you give comes back to you tenfold; which is also the spirit of Ramadan. All philanthropists of the world agree on this one point no feeling matches the feeling of giving away something that you value in your life to somebody else who needs it. So, this Ramadan let us make a conscientious effort of giving more to the people around us and slowly let us widen this circle so that eventually every living being is a part of it. You can start by giving out positive vibes, smiles, hope, courage, and of course, food made by using oil from HOM because after all…..Yeah dil ka mamla haey! You can shop online from: www.homstore.pk

Here Are The Newly Announced Car Prices 2022 In Pakistan

By

Dr. Rida Qamar

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Apr 20, 2022

With rising inflation, a spike has come at the car prices too. This article will be discussing the latest prices of all the cars as of April 2022.

Suzuki Car Prices

The latest prices for Suzuki models are given below.

Suzuki Alto VX: Currently priced at 1,425,000 to 1,886,000.

Suzuki Alto VXR: Currently priced at 1,675,000

Suzuki WagonR VXR: Currently priced at 2,019,000

Suzuki Bolan: Currently priced at 1,270,000

Suzuki WagonR VXL: Currently priced at,129,000

Suzuki Cultus VXR: Currently priced at 2,250,000

Suzuki Cultus VXL: Currently pricedat 2,474,000

Suzuki Swift GL: Currently priced at 2,908,000

Suzuki Swift GLX: Currently priced at 2,169,000

Suzuki APV: Currently priced at 6,290,000

Honda Car Prices

The latest prices of Honda models are mentioned below.

Honda City 1.2 LS: Currently priced at 2,949,000

Honda City 1.5 LS: Currently priced at 3,146,000

Honda City 1.5 AS: Currently priced at 3,454,000

Honda Civic 1.5 RS Turbo: Currently priced at 5,175,000

Honda Accord CVT : Currently priced at 11,999,000

KIA Car Prices

The latest prices of KIA models are mentioned below.

KIA Picanto: Currently priced at 2,150,000

KIA Stonic: Currently priced at 3,880,000

KIA Sportage: Currently priced at 5,650,000

KIA Sorento: Currently priced at 8,203,000

KIA Carnival: Currently priced at 9,999,000

Toyota Car Prices

The latest prices of Toyota models includes,

Toyota Corolla X 1.6: Currently priced at 3,749,000

Toyota Corolla X 1.8: Currently priced at 4,299,000

Toyota Fortuner G: Currently priced at 9,499,000

Toyota Fortuner Sigma 4: Currently priced at 11,489,000

Toyota Fortuner V: Currently priced at 10,949,000

Toyota Fortuner Legender: Currently priced at 12,099,000

Toyota Hilux Revo: Currently priced at 9,319,000

Hyundai Car Prices

The latest prices of Hyundai models are mentioned below.

Hyundai Elantra: Currently priced at 3,999,000

Hyundai Tucson FWD: Currently priced at 5,179,000

Hyundai Tucson AWD: Currently priced at 5,669,000

Hyundai sonata 2.0: Currently priced at 6,499,000

Hyundai sonata 2.5: Currently priced at 7,299,000

Hyundai Santa FE: Currently priced at 18,500,000

Hyundai Grand Starex GL: Currently priced at 4,549,000

Hyundai Grand Starex GLS: Currently priced at 5,099,000

Hyundai Grand Starex GLX: Currently priced at 5,899,000

Changan Car Prices

The latest prices of Changan models are mentioned below.

Changan M9: Currently priced at 1,784000

Changan Karvan: Currently priced at 2,069,000

Changan Karvan plus: Currently priced at 2,219,000

Changan Alsvin Lumeire: Currently priced at 3,219,000

Changan Alsvin Comfort: Currently priced at 3,024,000

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.

Realme 9 Pro+ Opens For Pre-Orders With A Rapturous Photo Exhibition

By

Web Desk

-

Apr 20, 2022

The realme number series has long been known as the embodiment of realme’s spirit of tech democratization. Constantly raising the bar with each release, realme has started to cement itself in the minds of consumers as a brand that provides good value for money. After much anticipation, the realme 9 Pro+ has finally become available for pre-order with an incredible photo exhibition being held to kick off the pre-order phase. The launch event took place at the historic Alhamra Arts Council in Lahore and was attended by prominent media, technology reviewers, influencers, realme Community, and industry members alike. The exhibition set up by realme exclusively featured displays of photos that were captured using the iconic camera module of the realme 9 Pro+. The content was curated with a mix of local and global talent.

realme put the spotlight on four rising local photographers by challenging them to travel to different parts of the country with a realme 9 Pro+ in their pocket in order to capture the culture, traditions, and different kinds of people that are hidden across the diverse land of Pakistan through the lens of the new smartphone. Adeel on Wheels, Kamran on Bike, Hamza Ibrahim, and Ilyas Baksh were chosen for this challenge and sent to Gilgit-Baltistan, South Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan respectively. The photographers were given the additional challenge of incorporating the ideology of #CapturetheLight into their work as it is central to the design philosophy of the realme 9 Pro+ and its Light-Shift Design. Based on the shifting of the colors of the sky during sunrise and sunset, the rear panel of the Sunrise Blue variant of the realme 9 Pro+ changes color from blue to red when exposed to sunlight or UV light only to revert back once removed from the light source. This glittering design gives the realme 9 Pro+ a very trendy, artsy, aesthetic.

The realme 9 Pro+ is packed with exciting features for people of varying interests. For photography enthusiasts, the primary camera module of the realme 9 Pro+ houses a first-in-segment 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor with OIS and EIS which drastically improves the smartphone’s camera performance in low light settings and minimizes the effect of movement during photography. The 16MP Selfie camera also shows impressive performance thanks to its clear fusion algorithm which makes the final image appear brighter and more natural. For gaming enthusiasts, the realme 9 Pro+ comes equipped with an advanced MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G chipset which drastically reduces lagging, loading time, and power consumption. Additionally, the inclusion of rapid 60W SuperDart charging and a massive 4500mAh battery ensures that long hours of gaming don’t go interrupted.

The list of realme 9 Pro+’s unbelievable features doesn’t end there. The new smartphone features realme UI 3.0 which is based on the latest Android 12. It also introduces Street Photography Mode 2.0 which includes a collection of tools that you can use to get creative with your photography as well as the 90’s pop filter which was created in collaboration with realme fans. The front panel features an incredible 90Hz Super AMOLED Display which is expertly calibrated to give excellent color accuracy, smooth to use and has good visual quality. For the first time, the realme 9 Pro+ includes an in-display fingerprint scanner that doubles as a heart rate monitor. Now you can unlock your phone and check your heart rate at the same time.

The realme 9 Pro+ is available for pre-order from Monday, April 18, 2022 to Sunday, April 24, 2022 for the incredible price of PKR 69,999/-. If you pre-order within the specified window you will also receive an incredible pre-booking gift of the realme Power Bank 2i. So go ahead and place your pre-orders online or at a smartphone store near you soon or you might miss out on this exciting offer.

Paymob Sets Foot in Pakistan

By

Anusha Zahid

-

Apr 20, 2022

Paymob, Egypt’s digital payments provider for businesses is expanding to Pakistan as its first international market. The startup is one of several Egyptian Fintech players accelerating the transformation to a digital economy and cashless society. Brandsynario interviewed Fawad Abdul Kader, Country Manager Paymob, to know why the company has chosen Pakistan as its first market, their interest in SMEs, the services they plan to offer, and their plans ahead.

When was Paymob launched in Egypt and how did the idea of Paymob come about?

It is an interesting story, as the initial idea was not about digital payments. Paymob started in 2015, with the intent of being an e-commerce website in Egypt. Back then, only Banks were the providers of digital acceptance with a very difficult technical integration and expensive setup. Paymob realized the need of entering this untapped market and started to activate and support merchant acquiring and integration services leading to a machine to enable SMEs in growing their business.

What kind of services and products does it offer for businesses?

Paymob offers toall types of merchants, the diverse suite of product and services to accept payments through variety of payment methods and instruments through state of the art technology stack from their customers. The Paymob technology also allows the customers to make payment to its vendors, suppliers and billers for settling its dues. The merchant is also enabled to document and record its payables and receivables with a rich yet simple analytical dashboard for the merchant to monitor its transactions. The Paymob stack also enables the merchants to run promotions and marketing campaigns enabling the merchant to grow quickly.

How many merchants does Paymob have in Egypt today and what kind of business is it catering to?

Paymob has around 100,000 merchants out of which 90% of the merchants are adopting digital payment for the first time. Paymob caters to all types of merchants with a special focus on SMEs for its collections and payments.

Why did you decide to make Pakistan your first international market for expansion?

In line with Paymob’s strategy to expand globally Pakistan ticks many boxes for expanding its operations. A market with only 92,000 POS machines, 4M+ underserved SMEs, and 48.6 million cards coupled with the right regulatory framework make it the perfect timing for Paymob to expand into Pakistan. Pakistan’s market is exactly at the same point as Egypt was 3 years ago. Paymob with the experience to help grow the Egypt market 5 times during this time is ideally suited to support the Pakistan market to grow exponentially in the next 24 months.

When is Paymob launching in Pakistan?

Paymob is all ready to launch its services in Pakistan. We are in the final stages of testing our deployment and will be launching within this quarter

Could you tell us about your business model?

The business model is very simple, explained by our tagline “never miss a transaction”. Paymob captures all the different financial services needs of its merchants through one technology stack and provides them the ability to create operational efficiency for their business with an emphasis on digital collections and payments.

Why have you decided to target the country’s SME sector in particular?

As already mentioned Pakistan has 4M+ underserved SMEs which contribute 40% to the country’s GDP and 78% to the industrial employment of the country. SMEs play a key role in shaping national growth strategies, employment generation, and social cohesion by improving the standard of living of vulnerable segments of society. The economic activity in the SME sector is huge, therefore, capturing it through customized solutions to fit the needs makes perfect business sense.

Are there any specific SME categories you are targeting such as agri-based, FMCGs, consumer durables, or B2B?

Paymob believes in providing a solution for every industry keeping focus on its core objective to capture and digitize all types of financial transactions.

Are you partnering with local banks in Pakistan; if yes, which ones?

Partnerships are core to our growth strategy and we are going to collaborate with multiple entities in Pakistan. The first strategic alliance that we signed very recently is with Bank Alfalah, which is a great partner. We look forward to creating an enabling ecosystem by working with many more partners in the near future.

There are multiple local digital payments service providers operating successfully and offering a host of services. What, in your opinion, is Paymob’s competitive advantage?

Paymob’s mature and tested technology stack, a team with the experience of successful execution, and diversity of products and services are only a few of the advantages that Paymob has entered the market.

Which digital payments service providers will you be directly competing within Pakistan?

We do not think the market is at the point of penetration where anyone should be worried about competition. We feel with an aggressive and collaborative approach, we are here to lead the market to a new era of digital payments

Despite the fact that Pakistan has one of the largest numbers of SMEs, it is primarily a cash-based economy and only a few SMEs have adopted digital payments. How do you plan to address this with Paymob?

We know that the adoption of digital payments is a process linked to awareness, behavioral change, reliable services, and completeness of the solution. We believe in investing in our team and technology to exceed all expectations in all these areas backed by catalysts and the right incentives to drive behavioral change and awareness to the SMEs and their customers.

In your opinion, how can digital financial services help SMEs grow in Pakistan?

Digital financial services bring efficiency to the operations of the SMEs by documenting the transactions which not only result in cost savings but also provide an opportunity to the SMEs in form of lending opportunities due to the documented data and transactions of the business.

What are some of the challenges for digital payments service providers in Pakistan?

Paymob sees the current challenges in the market as an opportunity for us to convert the market into a successful business for us. The existing players are mainly focused on the large size merchants and tier 1 geographies. We are here to tap into the underserved SMEs and go deep into the geographical tiers in Pakistan. The challenges of the SMEs because of the fear of being documented is very similar to the Egyptian market 3 years back which is managed through the right strategy and support to the market.

After Pakistan, what is Paymob’s next market?

Paymob has already been providing services in different geographies from its office in Egypt. Pakistan is the first market we are setting up our operations outside Egypt. Paymob has plans to enter different markets like UAE, KSA, and Oman very soon.

What are Paymob’s plans going forward?

Paymob is planning on expanding heavily in Pakistan via onboarding 100,000 merchants in the next 24 months with digital payment acceptance and payment tools (Online, POS and SoftPOS) creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

Is Samsung Making A Special Pokémon Galaxy Phone?

By

Lyza Rashid

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Apr 20, 2022

samsung pokemon phone — Image Source: TechSpace

Samsung, the tech giant, is always finding new ways to stay ahead of the curve. However, with this latest news, we think it just might be creating a new curve for itself altogether because no one is competing with it in this regard. They’re about to launch a Pokémon-themed phone. Yes, you heard that right!

What Is The Latest?

If you want a folding smartphone, you love Pokémon and you live in South Korea, your life is about to get beautiful. Stars have aligned to bring to you the news that Samsung is creating a Pokémon Edition of the Galaxy Z Flip 3.

What Is It Going To Be Like?

Unfortunately, no it does not look like a Pokédex. A Pokédex is a device that is incredibly important within the Pokémon universe and well, it folds. However, Samsung did include a Pokédex-themed necklace pouch. This might rub fans the wrong way because they will realize that Samsung knew Pokedex is a thing but they still did not make it a phone.

In place of that, the phone will be made available to you with a lot of swappable back cases covered in plenty of Pikachus. There will be some other accessories, including a PopSocket-style Pokéball stand, a Pikachu tail keychain, and Pokémon-themed ringtones and wallpapers pre-loaded on the device. Some could say that this just seems like they’ve launched a phone and stuffed Pokémon things in the box. Based on everything read so far, you would not be wrong.

When Will More Details Come Out?

This report was leaked by Engadget. It appears Samsung is yet to realize more details on it on April 25th.

The most important thing on everybody’s mind is the price. The normal Galaxy Z phone runs for $1000 if it is unlocked. Could a limited edition piece run for the same price? We doubt because of all the accessories this one is coming with, the price can be expected to be at least $1500. Would you be willing to spend this much on Pokemon accessories?

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.

How To Defog Your Car Windows Super Fast

By

Usman

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Apr 20, 2022

How to keep windows from Fogging — Image Source: magazine.northeast.aaa.com

In any vehicle, many problems can arise. You may have an issue with your brakes or your windscreen. There are times when humidity and wind can be devastating for your vehicle. Similarly, vehicle flooding can ruin its inner alignments and features. Water can enter into the gearbox and cause all sorts of issues. Yes, water can get in there, even in an automatic transmission vehicle.

There are three components of a vehicle that must be kept in check at all times. The first one is the battery, the second the tyres, and brakes being the third. Of course, the engine is essential but these are critical to keep the car running. Fogging can be an issue in many vehicles. It can cause accidents if not dealt with and can cause a whole plethora of problems. Let us explore how to Defog the car windows super fast!

How to Defog car super fast — Image Source: readersdigest.ca

Issues In Vehicles

Fogging is an issue that is quite common in vehicles. This arises especially when the atmosphere and the weather are cold. So, you may come across it during winter. When the cold air, outside, comes in contact with the windows of your car, fogging can happen. The windows are heated from the inside so when cold air hits, condensation takes place. This can significantly reduce the visibility of the car, leaving the vehicle more prone to accidents.

So, with fogging, comes the need for defogging. This is extremely important and may just save your life. Imagine your vehicle windows fogging up on the highway. That’s a dangerous place, especially at night! There is a method to Defog your car windows and it is super fast. We have broken it down into four simple steps. Let us explore each one of them.

Defog Your Car Quickly

So, imagine your car windows have fogged up and you wish to get rid of this problem fast! Firstly, turn up the heat in your car. Yes, turn it up fully until it’s blasting in your car. The heat will absorb the moisture in the vehicle. Next, turn on the air conditioner. This may seem like it will make the situation worse but fear not, it will only help absorb excess moisture in the air.

With this done, now you must turn off the air recirculation of your car. It is the button with an ‘arrow inside a car’ symbol on it. In order to speed up the removal of moisture, it is better to let in more cold air from the outside. Finally, crack open your windows just a little bit. This may be a bit uncomfortable but it’s temporary. The more windows you open, the faster your windshield will defrost. This is because the moist air is being replaced by dry air from the outside.

How to Defog car windows — Image Source: magazine.northeast.aaa.com

Ingenious Methods At Work

At the end of the final step, your car windows will be fully defogged and you will be relieved of a burden. Yes, this is an extremely quick method to defog your car windows and it works wonders!

The next time you get a foggy windshield, try out this technique and you will thank your lucky stars!

Stay tuned for more from Brandsynario!

5 Pakistani Skincare Products That Are Selling Like Hot Cakes

By

Dr. Rida Qamar

-

Apr 20, 2022

5 Pakistani Skincare Products That Are Selling Like Hot Cakes — Image source: conatural.com

Gone are the days when we had to order a skincare product from abroad and wait for months before it appeared on our beauty shelves. Instead, skincare brands in Pakistan have made their mark on the market since some of the launched brands are selling products that could be rivals of the western market.

The formula, packaging, and results of these products have garnered a lot of attention from beauty gurus and the general public. However, it still becomes challenging to buy a local product without thinking about it a million times. So, if you are willing to try some of the local products but do not know where to start? Take a look at this list of Pakistani products, which manage to get off the shelves quickly.

1. Primary Cerapair

Primary Cerapair has made its mark on the market when it comes to a local moisturizer. After getting a lot of attention from the beauty industry now, everyone is raving about this stuff. With the fluffiest, creamiest texture you could ask for in a moisturizer, it contains ceramides, niacinamide, vitamin E to strengthen the skin barrier. In addition, it is free of mineral oil, sulfates, and alcohol, which makes it the best Pakistani skincare product at this price point.

2. Primary Glow Toner

Another product from the same company is selling like hotcakes, and it is their Glow Toner. Gow Toner has also been featured in the women’s magazine because of its popularity and the result it offers. It contains glycolic acid (Alpha Hydroxy Acid), the star product of the famous western exfoliators. It helps to remove dead skin cells and helps in gentle exfoliation without irritating the skin. Again, the reviews are one of the best we have seen from any local product, making it one of the hot-selling products in the market.

Image source: https://www.modernpakelites.com/

3. Accufix Salicylic Acid Cleanser

This product is one of the best for acne-prone skin and is quickly becoming one of the best-selling products on the market. It contains salicylic acid, which helps to gently exfoliate while reducing the sebum and getting rid of all the dirt and bacteria. It is undoubtedly one of the best on the market for people who struggle with acne and pore issues.

Image source: https://www.accufixcosmetics.com/

4. Salina Cosmetics Clear Glow Mask

This product is not new to the market yet has sold many developments since its launch. The mask is perfect for oily skin and large pores and can quickly pick me up for dry and dull skin.

Image source: https://twentiesbliss.wordpress.com/

5. Co-natural Mists

Co-natural is undoubtedly one of the most famous Pakistani skincare brands on the market, and their products speak for themselves. However, the latest star of the brand is the range of facial mists. The line contains three products which include rose water, oxygen water, and fresh flower mist. These mists are perfect for giving your skin a boost of hydration on hot, humid days and are one of the best-selling products from co-natural this season.

Image source: https://conaturalintl.com/

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.

Habib Oil Mills Has Won Our Hearts!

By

Web Desk

-

Apr 20, 2022

The month of Ramadan is unlike any other. There is no other time of year that compares in terms of benefits, spiritual rewards, and emotional upliftment. Among the many components and lessons imparted by this month, being generous and sharing your blessings with others is key.

Habib Oils is emphasizing this theme once again through its Ramadan campaign. “Kabhi ye pocha hai k kitna baant deti ho?” “Kabhi ye pocha ha k kitna baant deti ho?” Many of us forget that there are many people in our community who are less fortunate, not just financially, but in other ways as well. Sharing a small portion of what we have makes a far greater difference than we realize. This is the message HOM is delivering this year through its newly issued advertisement.

We’ve been tremendously moved by the conversation on a personal level. Little things matter a lot, and especially during Ramadan, they are lavishly rewarded. Let’s spread the gifts of health, wealth, and pleasure with Super Habib Oil this Ramadan. These premium cooking oils, made with double refining technology and rich with important vitamins and natural antioxidants, are the healthy touch you and your family require.

Tou kya aap tayar hain, apni barkaton ma dosron ko shareeq krne k lie? Visit HOM’s online store right now. Start spreading the wonders of health and taste with your family, friends, and others with Super Habib Oils.

5 Pakistani Short Films That Are Way Better Than Dramas

By

Mehak Zehra

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Apr 20, 2022

For the audience sick and tired of the same stories and genre on TV, the Pakistani short films on the web are a breath of fresh air. They bring nostalgia, love, horror, mystery, comedy. They can delve into every genre. And since they do not NEED 40 minutes episodes and a gazillion episodes, they do not need to play safe to get the worth for their money. In short, the creators and the artists have more free ground to play with.

Here are a few short features that offer you complete entertainment. Have a look!

1. Paying Guest stars Saifee Hassan & Muneeb Butt

Paying guest is about a young man searching for a house to be the paying guest. There he meets an interesting woman who seems a bit mysterious. Things take a turn when he meets the resident of the house. He tells him the woman is not human.

I will not tell you the whole story, but I can promise you that this was not the only twist in the story. It kept me on the edge of the street, for one. Paying Guest is a horror thriller, be sure to check it out.

2. Ab Buss starring Sanam Saeed

Starring Sanam Saeed, Ab Buss is intriguing. You keep trying to grab onto what genre it belongs to. At one point, I even thought Sanam Saeed is part of a crime, the way she was trying on burqa (But that could be the ‘Churails’ influence on me). How else do you justify Sanam’s significant collection of knives? But in the end, the film had a powerful message embedded in it. And watching the end, one wants to watch it all again with that new perspective. And then every act of Sanam has such a different meaning.

3. Champa Chambeli with Salman Shahid

Champa and Chambeli tackle two genuine phenomena: fake accounts and the other, the Pakistan-India friendship. Not just these but a little more than that. It discusses the economic conditions of people on the ground due to COVID lockdown, it talks about lonely senior citizens, and it also brings on what makes content go viral. It is a fun friendship between two individuals that sweeten the atmosphere.

4. Ammi Jaan with Gul e Rana

Ammi Jaan has a magical touch in its storyline. It says that our dead are in the graveyards; they become friends with each other and wait for their loved ones to visit. But due to the busy lives of the living, they have to keep on writing. Big names are associated with this short film, which should be o your must-watch list because even though it is supernatural, it brings tears to your eyes.

5. Chambeli

Featuring Aijaz Aslam, Chambeli is entirely different from Champa Chambeli. Once again, with an epic twist, exciting visuals, and gripping storyline, it keeps one hooked.

If you are stuck at home due to smart lockdowns or are working from home, these short features will be the perfect entertainment for you.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates!

Japan Develops ‘Electric Chopsticks’ That Makes The Food Salty

By

Dr. Rida Qamar

-

Apr 19, 2022

Hnet.com-image (8) — Image Source: The guardian

Japanese researchers have developed computerised chopsticks that enhance salty tastes. The following can potentially help those who need to reduce sodium in their diets.

Electric chopsticks are a joint initiative by researchers from the Yoshinori Miyashita Laboratory of the Department of Advanced Media Science, Meiji University, and a Japanese food producer called Kirin (mostly known for its beer).

The chopsticks were created as part of an effort by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to reduce the daily salt intake of the Japanese people. Which, on average, is actually considerably higher than the recommendations of the World Health Organization.

How Does It Work?

The chopsticks enhance tastes using electrical stimulation and a mini-computer worn on a wristband. The device uses a weak electrical current to transmit sodium ions from food. Through the chopsticks, to the mouth where they create a sense of saltiness, said Miyashita.

In a recent trial, the added electrical stimulation was found to increase the salty flavor of a given food by almost 1.5 times. When eating something made with a 30% reduction in salt, the difference in flavor would be imperceptible to the user. Anyone who’s ever licked the contacts on a 9-volt battery will agree that deliberately shocking the tongue seems like a bad idea. However, the level of electrical current used here is undetectable, and the idea has a lot of precedents.

Electric Chopsticks — Image source: inshorts.com

The taste-enhancing chopsticks may have particular relevance in Japan, where the traditional diet favors salty tastes. The average Japanese adult consumes about 10 grams of salt per day.

Meanwhile, excess sodium intake is related to increased incidence of high blood pressure, strokes, and other ailments.

“To prevent these diseases, we need to reduce the amount of salt we take,” said Kirin researcher Ai Sato.

“If we try to avoid taking less salt in a conventional way, we would need to endure the pain of cutting our favorite food from our diet, or endure eating bland food.”

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.