1. Instagram has recently announced to lower the quality of older videos with fewer views, and it has upset many creators. Adam Mosseri, the platform’s head, explains that higher quality is given to content that attracts more views — which has been perceived as unfair to smaller creators.
Critics argue this hurts artistic expression and makes it harder for new creators to gain visibility, allowing established ones to keep benefiting. The decision seems driven by storage costs.
2. The Punjab government has imposed a green lockdown in the provincial capital to control the increasing smog and air pollution in Lahore.
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Under the notification issued by the Punjab Environment Department, there will be a complete ban on development work in areas declared as hotspot areas for air pollution and smog; commercial generators will not be operated in these areas.
Entry into Ching Chee rickshaws in these areas will be strictly prohibited, and open barbecuing in these areas will be prohibited after 8 pm.
3. The UN has warned that poorer countries are struggling with a weak global economy and stressed on the need to rethink development strategies.
A report from the UN’s trade and development agency, UNCTAD, has evaluated that slow growth, rising debt, and weak investment are widening the gap between developing and wealthier countries.
Global GDP growth is predicted to be just 2.7 per cent this year and in 2025 – a decrease from an average of 3.0 per cent from 2011 to 2019.
4. Winter is almost here – which means gas load shedding is about to worsen with the increase in demand. Gas companies SNGPL and SSGCL have asked for a price increase of up to 54 per cent to meet their revenue needs for the current fiscal year (FY25).
Gas prices are adjusted twice a year after the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) makes required estimates, which the government then uses to set consumer prices.
Ogra will hold a public hearing on November 8 to discuss Sui Southern Gas Company Limited’s (SSGC) request for a rate of Rs669 per unit (mmBtu), a 53.5 per cent increase, whereas hearing for Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited’s (SNGPL) proposed increase of 3.66 per cent is on November 5.
5. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) aid package has been delayed, and Pakistan’s foreign aid has dropped by 60 per cent to $2.3 billion in the first quarter (July-September) of the current fiscal year. About $5.73 billion was received during the same period last year.
According to a report published in Dawn newspaper, in its monthly report on Foreign Economic Assistance (FEA) released on Tuesday, the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) said that the country received an annual disbursement of $19.4 billion in the first quarter. 1.3 billion was received against the target.
These figures show a significant decline from the $3.527 billion received last year when the annual target was $17.6 billion.
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