TikTok Purge: Millions of Taylor Swift Songs Vanish

 In a significant development in the music industry, millions of songs, including those of globally renowned artists like Taylor Swift, Drake, and The Weeknd, are set to disappear from TikTok. The impending removal follows the disclosure by Universal Music Group (UMG) that it has opted not to renew its contract with the popular social media platform.

UMG further accused TikTok of attempting to build a music-based business without offering fair value for the music it features. According to the music giant, TikTok proposed paying songwriters and musicians at a “fraction of the rate” compared to other major social media platforms facing similar situations.

As the deadline for the contract expiration approaches, the fate of millions of songs, including those of Taylor Swift, on TikTok remains uncertain, marking a significant shift in the dynamics between major music labels and social media platforms

In a statement addressing its artist and songwriter community, UMG revealed that one of the key points of contention in contract renewal talks was TikTok’s reluctance to provide fair compensation to artists and composers

Egg Prices Down in Pakistan

 

In Lahore, a significant drop in the price of Shaver eggs has brought relief to consumers, with a reduction of Rs. 17 per dozen.

the price of live broiler chicken has remained steady, with a wholesale rate of Rs 428 and a retail rate of Rs 444 per kg. The official price of broiler chicken meat remains unchanged at Rs 644.

While the reduction in egg prices is a positive development, efforts may be needed to ensure that vendors adhere to the official rates and pass on the benefits to consumers.

The official price now stands at Rs 370, down from Rs 387 per dozen the previous day. However, despite the decrease, vendors are selling eggs at arbitrary prices.

Petrol price in Pakistan increased

 ISLAMABAD: The interim government has increased the price of petrol by Rs13.55 to Rs272.89 for the upcoming two weeks.

According to a statement released by the Finance Division, the Government of Pakistan has opted to adjust the current rates of petroleum products for the two-week period commencing on February 1, 2024, based on recommendations from the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).

Following the adjustment, the new price for petrol is set at Rs272.89 per liter, and the cost of high-speed diesel has increased to Rs278.96 per liter, reflecting a raise of Rs2.75 per liter.

PSL 9: Record broken as 254 foreign cricketers

 A record-breaking 254 international players have signed up for the forthcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine, as per reports.

With the ninth PSL season quickly approaching, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is getting ready for it, and many international players have already indicated that they will be participating.

On November 10, the local player category renewal process for the next ninth tournament edition was finished, and nine players’ categories were promoted.

Several of the world’s best players expressed interest when the foreign player registration window opened on October 25.

Due to the elections in Pakistan, speculations claim that the United Arab Emirates and South Africa may host the PSL’s opening matches.

The majority of the franchises, according to the sources, are adamant that the entire tournament take place in Pakistan.

uses of mobile phones. Introduction to child safety online

 Technology is always adapting and it’s here to stay, but many do not think about the safety risk in terms of cybersecurity. An online study revealed a startling figure: 74% of parents are in the dark about their kids’ online activities. And that online activity increases year after year. 85% of mothers said they use technology to keep their children busy.

For a lot of children, the online world is more real than the real world. It is crucial to our children’s well-being that we understand what they see online, what is out there, both good and bad, and how it impacts their physical and emotional well-being.

The problem, as many of us would eagerly admit, is that we feel we don’t really understand the online world. Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter are bewildering enough, without even mentioning 4chan and the dark web. Furthermore, we don’t feel that we have the technical skills to navigate this complex landscape.

The very best person to keep your child safe online is you. Talking about how to stay safe on the internet is an excellent conduit to build a trusting and positive relationship with your child. Set clear boundaries for what and when they access online, but also to be there for your children when they make a mistake, or when they have gone too far. Isn’t that what parenting fundamentally comes down to?

While children and teenagers need a certain amount of privacy, they also need parental involvement and supervision in their daily lives. The same general parenting skills that apply to the real world also apply while online. If you have cause for concern about your children's online activities, talk to them.

Ishq

 Ishq (Arabic: عشق, ‘išq) is an Arabic word meaning "love" or "passion",^[1] also widely used in other languages of the Muslim world and the Indian subcontinent.

The word ishq does not appear in the Quran, which instead uses derivatives of the verbal root habba (حَبَّ), such as the noun hubb (حُبّ). The word is traditionally derived from the verbal root ʿašaq "to stick, to cleave to" and connected to the noun ʿašaqah, which denotes a kind of ivy.^[2] In its most common classical interpretation, ishq refers to the irresistible desire to obtain possession of the beloved (ma‘shuq), expressing a deficiency that the lover (‘āshiq) must remedy in order to reach perfection (kamāl).^[1] Like the perfections of the soul and the body,

The term ishq is used extensively in Sufi poetry and literature to describe a "selfless and burning love" for Allah. It is the core concept in the doctrine of Islamic mysticism as is key to the connection between man and God. Ishq itself is sometimes held to have been the basis of "creation". The term ishq is widely used in the sacred text of Sikhism.

Some scholars objected to the use of the term 'ishq' due to its association with sensual love but despite the linguistic, cultural or technical meanings, Sufis believe that 'ishq' can only be associated to the Divine.^[3]

The word ishq referred to traditional ghazals and Indo-Persian literary culture^[4] and has made its way to many other languages which were influenced by Sufism. Some of the most notable languages which have this word are Persian, Hindi, Urdu, Pashto, Arabic, Sindhi, Saraiki: عشق, Turkish: aşk, Azerbaijani: eşq, Bengali: এশ্ক, romanized: eshk and Punjabi: ਇਸ਼ਕ.

Poor visibility disrupts life and travel in Indian capital

 Dense fog has caused travel chaos in India's capital Delhi, with dozens of flights and trains affected.

Report say 50 flights and nearly two dozen trains have been delayed.

According to the flight tracking app flightradar24, hundreds of departing flights were delayed by 25 minutes on an average and flight arrivals were delayed by eight minutes.

Dense fog is common in Delhi and the rest of north India during winters, but the cold in Delhi this season has tumbled many records.

An IMD report says Delhi has experienced the coldest January in 13 years with maximum temperature recorded at 17.7C. The second coldest January was nine years ago - in 2015 - when a maximum temperature of 17.9C was recorded in the city. Nights too have been coldest this year after 2013, the report adds.