The Pakistan Tehreek –e-Insaaf (PTI) led federal government has decided to launch the country’s first over-the-top (OTT) TV, the local version of Netflix. Federal Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain revealed in a Tweet that the technology part is complete and have asked Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to prepare a guideline on content.
Renowned author, thought leader and columnist Arif Anis has won the “Brain of the Year 2020” award by Britain’s Brain Trust. Arif Anis has been awarded for co-founding the ‘One Million Meals’ initiative in April this year to feed National Health Services (NHS) doctors, nurses, paramedics and key workers on the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi has cancelled a scheduled online seminar that was to feature celebrated economist Dr Atif Mian, allegedly due to pressure by “extremists”. Dr Atif R. Mian’s lecture scheduled on November 5, 2020, was cancelled after he university administration was facing from extremists. Atif Mian is a Princeton University economist, but rejected by Pakistan due to his Ahmadi faith.
When finding glitter in every nook and cranny was not enough, the sparkly microplastic reached the seas and oceans. Usually made from a combination of aluminum and plastic, glitter is sold in its most environmentally hazardous format from the beginning. This year, several British retailers have announced there will be no glitter in their store-brand Christmas products such as crackers, wrapping paper and gift bags.
Government ministers have called Twitter to take notice of the absurdity of Indian media’s claims — being shared via their Twitter accounts — that a “civil war” had broken out in Karachi. On Wednesday, several Indian news outlets reported a “civil war-like situation”, a day after an inquiry was ordered by COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa regarding the arrest of Mohammad Safdar in Karachi.
Pakistan is sending 600 medical professionals to Kuwait, and a first batch of 221 doctors, nurses and technicians is all set to fly out on Thursday after a gap on 13 years. A second group of 200 medical professionals will also fly to Kuwait in the coming months, under an agreement signed between the two countries in July this year.
Former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump will have their microphones muted during portions of the second and final presidential debate. The Commission on Presidential Debates announced the decision that angered the President. They decided that the changes were needed because of how the first debate between Biden and Trump devolved into chaos, with the President frequently interrupting the former vice president.
Lowy Institute, an Australian think tank, has placed Pakistan as the 15th most powerful country in Asia after it made significant diplomatic gains last year. According to the Asia Power Index 2020, Pakistan, under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, has taken numerous initiatives to improve diplomatic ties with other nations. Overall, Pakistan scored 15.2 out of 100 in the Index.
Sindh IGP Mushtaq Mahar has decided to defer his own leave and ordered his officers to set aside their leave applications for ten days. Sindh police shared the news late Tuesday night, adding that the decision was taken “in the larger national interest” and pending the conclusion of the inquiry into how the arrest of PML-N leader Mohammad Safdar unfolded.
While a new fishing policy is expected, local fisherman fear they will be left with no food as 12 Chinese deep-sea trawlers docked at the port of Karachi last month. Pakistani fishermen fear government’s plan to allow Chinese companies to carry out deep-sea fishing in territorial waters could threaten survival of at least three million people who depend on the sea for livelihood.