Matthew McConaughey, the Oscar-winning actor and producer, has joined the faculty of the University of Texas at Austin and will be teaching a class this fall. McConaughey, an alumnus of the university who has taught there as a visiting instructor, will teach filmmaking. Two of the movies Mr. McConaughey has starred in will be studied in the class of 40 students.
The District Education Authority (DEA) has imposed a ban on the selling of fried food items in schools of all the districts of Punjab whereas a letter has also been sent to educational institutions in this regard. The banned items include samosas, pakoras, fried potato chips and any food item which has been fried because these things are cooked in sub-standard oil.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice President Shixin Chen, who is on his first official two-day visit to Pakistan, met Prime Minister Imran Khan and “reaffirmed ADB’s support for Pakistan’s development priorities”. ADB plans to provide $7 billion to Pakistan for “various development projects and policy-based programmes” over the next three years aimed at developing the country’s social protection, urban services, and energy security.
Pakistan came to a standstill on Friday as thousands rallied in mass demonstrations protesting New Delhi’s brutalities in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) in most ambitious public protests targeting India in years. At noon, sirens rang out across Pakistan followed by broadcasts of national anthems of Pakistan and Kashmir, while traffic ground to a halt for several minutes in solidarity with rallies.
Shahid Afridi and Gautam Gambhir are making rounds on social media for yet another Twitter spat. Afridi who called all Pakistanis to respond to Prime Minister’s call on Kashmir Hour, was childlishly responded by Gambhir. Afridi gave a befitting response, reminding everyone of a comment Paddy Upton, the Indian cricket team’s former mental conditioning coach had made about Gautam Gambhir.
In order to ensure smooth flow of traffic during peak hours, the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has banned entry of heavy travelling vehicles (HTV) in the federal capital for seven hours on daily basis. Entry of heavy traffic in the city would not be allowed from 7 am to 10 am and from 4 pm to 8 pm for maximum convenience for road users.
Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella and all-rounder Thisara Perera are not keen on traveling with the team to Pakistan for 3 ODIs and T20I series. Both players have sought permission for their participation in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which will be played from 4th of September, clashing with the dates on which the Sri Lankan team will be touring Pakistan.
The government is ready to establish a mobile phone manufacturing plant in Haripur in collaboration with the private sector, dropping the idea of privatizing the Telephone Industry of Pakistan (TIP). To fully realize the potential of IT sector, talks are underway with five to six different Chinese companies for establishing a mobile handset manufacturing plant.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has revealed in statement that Pakistan successfully conducted a night training launch of surface to surface ballistic missile Ghaznavi. The newly launched missile is “capable of delivering multiple types of warheads” a distance of up to 290 km (180 miles). The training launch comes amid increasing tensions with India after New Delhi revoked occupied Kashmir’s special status illegally.
During a meeting of the aviation division Prime Minister Imran approved purchase of additional planes for Pakistan International Airline’s existing fleet. The PM gave orders for the improvement of the airline and increase in travel facilities. Overall 12 new planes will be added to PIA’s fleet by 2023. In the initial stage, four planes will be added to the fleet by 2020.