Latest news with #AftabHussain
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Fab future: IIIT Hyderabad unveils state-of-the-art microfabrication and semiconductor lab
IIIT-Hyderabad MUMBAI: In a gleaming cleanroom nestled within the campus of IIIT Hyderabad, a quiet revolution in India's semiconductor story has just begun. The institute's latest pride—the 'FabLab'—was officially inaugurated today by its Director, Prof. P J Narayanan, marking a significant leap toward indigenous research in microfabrication and chip characterization. Funded under the Department of Science and Technology's Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence (PURSE) scheme, the lab is not just a facility—it's a promise. A promise to advance India's ambition to be self-reliant in semiconductor technologies and to fuel innovation in healthcare applications through biosensors and bio-actuators. For a country still largely dependent on imported semiconductor components, this development signals a critical shift. 'This lab is a game-changer,' said Dr. Aftab Hussain, the principal investigator and coordinator for the PURSE grant at IIIT-H. 'It is not just about equipment, but about capacity-building—training students, researchers, and even regional stakeholders in how to design, build, and characterize semiconductors from the ground up. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Shop Sale Libas Undo ' You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Inside the lab, it's a symphony of precision instruments—UV lithography units stand ready to etch delicate patterns onto substrates, while sputtering systems and spin coaters silently layer materials with nanometer accuracy. A vacuum chamber hums in anticipation of the next experiment, and material characterization tools like the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and optical profilometer await to analyze the fine details invisible to the naked eye. But what truly sets this lab apart is its edge in semiconductor IC testing and mmWave characterization—a key enabler for next-gen technologies like 5G, automotive radar, and high-speed wireless communication. A probe station, paired with a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA), Vector Signal Generator (VSG), signal analyzer, and high-bandwidth oscilloscope, can now simulate and test integrated circuits with surgical accuracy at millimeter wave frequencies. The FabLab is poised to become a playground for interdisciplinary research—where material science meets VLSI design, and where biomedical engineering intersects with wireless communication. 'We intend to open this facility to external users in the region,' Dr. Hussain emphasized. 'This is not an island of excellence. It's meant to be a resource for all.' More than just a lab, FabLab is an incubator of ideas and talent. IIIT-Hyderabad now plans to roll out specialized courses and hands-on workshops, grooming a new generation of researchers, engineers, and innovators fluent in the language of chips and circuits. It's a timely move, aligning neatly with India's larger vision for semiconductor sovereignty as laid out by the central government. Founded in 1998, the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, has always walked the talk when it comes to interdisciplinary research with a social impact. Its work spans a rich matrix of domains—from VLSI and wireless communication to robotics, language technologies, earthquake engineering, and computational natural sciences. This lab, though, represents a crystallization of many of those ambitions in physical form. As India ramps up its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities through initiatives like the India Semiconductor Mission, small yet vital ecosystems like the one now blooming at IIIT-Hyderabad will form the backbone of this technological renaissance. The lab's virtual walkthrough is already live here—but what it truly promises may be too microscopic to capture on video. Because somewhere between the atoms of sputtered metal and the signals traced in the mmWave band, India's chip-making dreams just got a little bit closer.
Al Jazeera
29-07-2025
- Al Jazeera
Father, ex-husband, among 9 arrested in alleged honour killing in Pakistan
The father and ex-husband of a victim allegedly killed on the orders of a local council are among nine people arrested in eastern Pakistan in connection with the young woman's death. Police said Sidra Bibi, 18, was killed allegedly on the orders of a local council of elders in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, after she married a man of her own choosing. Her relatives buried her body and flattened the land to erase evidence of a grave, police official Aftab Hussain said Monday. The victim was suffocated using a pillow placed over her face, he added. The arrests came after authorities exhumed the body and carried out an autopsy, which confirmed she had been tortured before being killed. The case has drawn widespread condemnation in a country where killings with such motivations are still common. The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said 405 women were killed in 2024 in such cases, compared with 226 in 2023. 'The actual number is believed to be higher due to underreporting,' said Sadia Bukhari, a member of the commission's council. According to Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO), an Islamabad-based independent organisation, more than 32,000 cases of gender-based violence were reported nationwide last year, including 547 similar murders. Killings in which family members kill women for actions perceived as bringing shame to the family have increased in recent years. Last week, police in southwestern Balochistan province arrested 13 suspects after a video shared online appeared to show a young couple being shot dead for marrying without their families' approval. Police confirmed the authenticity of the footage, which went viral, saying the killings happened in May near Balochistan's capital, Quetta. In January, police arrested a Pakistani man suspected of killing his US-born 15-year-old daughter for refusing to stop posting videos on TikTok, a platform with more than 54 million users in the country. 'These so-called honour killings reveal a deep-rooted mindset that views women as the property of men,' Bukhari said. 'Most women in Pakistan face discrimination from childhood through adulthood.'
News18
29-07-2025
- News18
Father among 9 people arrested in Pakistan over suspected honour killing
Lahore, Jul 29 (AP) The father and the ex-husband of an alleged honour-killing victim are among nine people arrested in eastern Pakistan in connection with the young woman's death. Police said Sidra Bibi, 18, was killed on the orders of a local council of elders in the garrison city of Rawalpindi after she married a man of her choice. Some of her relatives are alleged to have buried her body and flattened the land to erase evidence of a grave, police official Aftab Hussain said Monday. The victim was suffocated using a pillow placed over her face, he added. The arrests came after authorities exhumed the body and carried out an autopsy, which confirmed she had been tortured before being killed. The case has drawn widespread condemnation in a country where honour killings are still common. The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said 405 women were killed in 2024 in such cases, compared with 226 in 2023. 'The actual number is believed to be higher due to underreporting," said Sadia Bukhari, a member of the commission's council. Honour killings, in which family members kill women for actions perceived as bringing shame to the family — such as choosing their spouse — have increased in recent years. Earlier this month, police in southwestern Balochistan province arrested 11 suspects after a video shared online appeared to show a young couple being fatally shot for marrying without their families' approval. Police confirmed the authenticity of the footage, saying the killings happened in the Deghari district in the province of Balochistan. In January, police arrested a Pakistani man suspected of killing his US-born 15-year-old daughter for refusing to stop posting videos on TikTok, a platform with more than 54 million users in the country. 'These so-called honour killings reveal a deep-rooted mindset that views women as the property of men," Bukhari said. 'Most women in Pakistan face discrimination from childhood through adulthood." (AP) SCY SCY view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Winnipeg Free Press
29-07-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Father among 9 people arrested in Pakistan over suspected honor killing
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — The father and the ex-husband of an alleged honor-killing victim are among nine people arrested in eastern Pakistan in connection with the young woman's death. Police said Sidra Bibi, 18, was killed on the orders of a local council of elders in the garrison city of Rawalpindi after she married a man of her choice. Some of her relatives are alleged to have buried her body and flattened the land to erase evidence of a grave, police official Aftab Hussain said Monday. The victim was suffocated using a pillow placed over her face, he added. The arrests came after authorities exhumed the body and carried out an autopsy, which confirmed she had been tortured before being killed. The case has drawn widespread condemnation in a country where honor killings are still common. The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said 405 women were killed in 2024 in such cases, compared with 226 in 2023. 'The actual number is believed to be higher due to underreporting,' said Sadia Bukhari, a member of the commission's council. Honor killings, in which family members kill women for actions perceived as bringing shame to the family — such as choosing their spouse — have increased in recent years. Earlier this month, police in in southwestern Balochistan province arrested 11 suspects after a video shared online appeared to show a young couple being fatally shot for marrying without their families' approval. Police confirmed the authenticity of the footage, saying the killings happened in the Deghari district in the province of Balochistan. In January, police arrested a Pakistani man suspected of killing his U.S.-born 15-year-old daughter for refusing to stop posting videos on TikTok, a platform with more than 54 million users in the country. 'These so-called honor killings reveal a deep-rooted mindset that views women as the property of men,' Bukhari said. 'Most women in Pakistan face discrimination from childhood through adulthood.' __ Associated Press writer Asim Tanveer contributed to this story from Multan, Pakistan.
Associated Press
29-07-2025
- Associated Press
Father among 9 people arrested in Pakistan over suspected honor killing
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — The father and the ex-husband of an alleged honor-killing victim are among nine people arrested in eastern Pakistan in connection with the young woman's death. Police said Sidra Bibi, 18, was killed on the orders of a local council of elders in the garrison city of Rawalpindi after she married a man of her choice. Some of her relatives are alleged to have buried her body and flattened the land to erase evidence of a grave, police official Aftab Hussain said Monday. The victim was suffocated using a pillow placed over her face, he added. The arrests came after authorities exhumed the body and carried out an autopsy, which confirmed she had been tortured before being killed. The case has drawn widespread condemnation in a country where honor killings are still common. The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said 405 women were killed in 2024 in such cases, compared with 226 in 2023. 'The actual number is believed to be higher due to underreporting,' said Sadia Bukhari, a member of the commission's council. Honor killings, in which family members kill women for actions perceived as bringing shame to the family — such as choosing their spouse — have increased in recent years. Earlier this month, police in in southwestern Balochistan province arrested 11 suspects after a video shared online appeared to show a young couple being fatally shot for marrying without their families' approval. Police confirmed the authenticity of the footage, saying the killings happened in the Deghari district in the province of Balochistan. In January, police arrested a Pakistani man suspected of killing his U.S.-born 15-year-old daughter for refusing to stop posting videos on TikTok, a platform with more than 54 million users in the country. 'These so-called honor killings reveal a deep-rooted mindset that views women as the property of men,' Bukhari said. 'Most women in Pakistan face discrimination from childhood through adulthood.' __ Associated Press writer Asim Tanveer contributed to this story from Multan, Pakistan.
