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September 19, 2018: National Current Affairs
1. Mini-budget hikes taxes, cuts uplift spending
- Partially reversing income tax relaxations and reducing the development budget, the government announced a supplementary budget on September 18, 2018 with a total fiscal adjustment equal to 2.1 per cent of GDP (roughly Rs805 billion), including Rs183bn worth of revenue measures.
- Finance Minister Asad Umar delivered his inaugural budget speech for the government in an unusually calm environment a rare opportunity as the opposition PPP and PML-N listened to him in silence.
- The minister reciprocated by conceding that the economic crisis was 15-30 years in the making and not the specific fault of any one political party. A key reversal on the revenue side was elimination of the restriction on non-tax filers on purchase of real estate and automobiles. In the last budget of the PML-N government, a ban had been imposed on nonfilers of tax returns to pur-chase new cars and property. The car manufacturers and real estate developers were up in arms against the decision that had plummeted car and property sales by up to 50pc.
- The finance minister claimed that the ban was being removed because it was interfering in the ability of overseas Pakistanis to do business and invest in Pakistan.
- Excise duty on cars of 1800cc and above doubled
- Ban on car, property purchases by non-filers withdrawn
- Banking transaction of non-filers to be taxed at 0.6pc
- Regulatory duties on additional 312 items
- CPEC spending protected
2. PM Imran reaches Saudi Arabia amid reports Pakistan may seek aid
- Prime Minister Imran Khan reached Saudi Arabia on his first foreign visit after assuming office.
- He is accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umar, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razzak Dawood.
- Upon arrival at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Prime Minister Khan was received by Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Madina and Pakistan`s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Khan Hisham bin Siddique along with other officials.
- In Madina, the prime minister and his delegation visited Masjid-i-Nabawi where the doors of Prophet Muhammad`s (peace be upon him) final resting place were opened for them.
- The delegation offered Maghreb prayers at Riyadhul Jannah.
3. Iron Brothers vow to tackle common security challenges
- Military leaders of Iron Brothers – Pakistan and China – on September 18, 2018 resolved to strengthen bilateral cooperation to tackle common security challenges.
- This decision was taken in meeting between Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) General Zhang Youxia.
- According to the statement, Gen Zhang Youxia said that China greatly values its time-tested relations with Pakistan and its Army and added that China looks forward to further expanding this cooperation.
- Gen Youxia said that development of CPEC is aimed at bringing more benefits and prosperity to the people of both countries.
- The generals also discussed areas of further bilateral military cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism, arms and equipment technology, and training.
- General Bajwa thanked Vice Chairman for the Chinese support and cooperation. Ambassador of Pakistan in China was also present during the meeting.
September 19, 2018: International Current Affairs
4. US considering permanent military presence in Poland: Trump
- President Donald Trump said on September 18, 2018 the United States is considering a request from Poland for a permanent US military presence in the fellow NATO country.
- Poland has repeatedly requested a permanent US military presence on its soil amid fears of Russian aggression, offering up to $2 billion in funding for such a base. US soldiers are now present on its soil through NATO`s back-to-back rotation.
- Russia expressed concern in May over reports about Poland`s request, saying Nato`s expansion towards Russia`s borders undermined stability in Europe.
- Poland joined Nato in 1999 along with Hungary and the Czech Republic, and since then other former communist states, including Baltic republics bordering Russia, have joined despite Moscow`s strong opposition.
5. Friendly fire downs Russian plane in Syria; 15 killed
- Syria accidentally shot down a Russian military aircraft, killing all 15 crew members, when its air defence system swung into action against an Israeli missile strike, Russian and Israeli forces said on September 18, 2018.
- The incident late on September 17, 2018 was the most deadly known case of friendly fire between Syria and its key backer Russia since Moscow`s game-changing 2015 military intervention in the war-torn country.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin said it was the result of `tragic accidental circumstances`.
6. Trade war heats up as China imposes tit-for-tat tariffs on US imports
- The US-China trade war escalated further on September 18, 2018, with China announcing retaliatory tax increases on $60 billion worth of US imports, including coffee, honey and industrial chemicals.
- The increases are in response to the US announcing it will impose tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese-made goods starting next week. The tariffs will start at 10 per cent, then rise to 25pc on Jan 1.
- China`s Finance Ministry said its tariff increases are aimed at curbing `trade friction` and the `unilateralism and protectionism of the United States.` There was no word on whether China would back out of trade talks it said it was invited to by the US, but a Chinese Commerce Ministry statement said the US increase `brings new uncertainty to the consultations.
- The two countries have already imposed import taxes on $50 billion worth of each other`s goods. President Donald Trump threatened to add an additional $267 billion in Chinese imports to the target list if China retaliated for the latest US taxes. That would raise the total affected by US penalties to $517 billion, covering nearly everything China sells to the United States.
7. Koreas hold another summit in Pyongyang
- South Korea`s president and the North`s leader Kim Jong Un drove together through the streets of Pyongyang on September 18, 2018 past thousands of cheering citizens before opening a summit where Moon Jae-in will seek to reboot stalled denuclearization talks between his hosts and the United States.
- Kim and Moon embraced at Pyongyang`s international airport where the North Korean leader had supervised missile launches last year as tensions mounted.
- The North`s unique brand of choreographed mass adulation was on full display as hundreds of people waved North Korean flags and another depicting an undivided peninsula while the South`s own emblem was only visible on Moon`s Boeing 747 aircraft.
8. Japan fashion guru Maezawa lands first SpaceX moon flight
- SpaceX, Elon Musk`s space transportation company named its first private passenger on a voyage around the moon as Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, the founder and chief executive of online fashion retailer Zozo.
- A former drummer in a punk band, Maezawa is tentatively planning to make his moon flight in 2023 aboard SpaceX`s forthcoming Big Falcon Rocket spaceship, taking the race to commercialise space travel to new heights.
- Only 24 astronauts have flown beyond Earth`s protective magnetic shield, in missions spanning a four year period from December 1968 to December 1972. Maezawa`s identity was revealed at an event on Monday evening at the company`s headquarters and rocket factory in the Los Angeles suburb of Hawthorne.
9. Game of Thrones takes top prize at surprising Emmys
- HBO`s record-breaking fantasy epic Game of Thrones stormed back onto the Emmys stage early September 18, 2018, winning the coveted best drama series prize on a night full of surprises, including an on-air marriage proposal that stunned the audience.
- The other big story of the Hollywood gala, television`s answer to the Oscars, was the huge success of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Amazon`s story of a 1950s housewife-turned-stand up comic, which took home eight Emmys overall, including the best comedy award.
- The Handmaid`s Tale last year`s best drama and an early favourite for more hardware in 2018 went home empty-handed from the star-studded event at the Microsoft Theater, af ter winning three minor awards handed out a week ago.
- The ceremony hosted by Saturday Night Live regulars Colin Jost and Michael Che took on a decidedly political hue at the start, with a barrage of edgy jokes on hot-button issues from diversity in Hollywood to #MeToo and Donald Trump.
September 19, 2018: Sports Current Affairs
10. India survive scare before beating Hong Kong
- India booked their place in the Super Four round of the Asia Cup on September 18, 2018 after sealing a 26-run win over Hong Kong in what was a dress rehearsal for the big clash against Pakistan.
- With all eyes firmly focused on September 19, 2018`s last Group A fixture between the two giants at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Shilchar Dhawan scored a punishing hundred and the recalled Ambati Rayudu notched a fine half century to steer India to 285-7 af ter Hong Kong chose to field.
- Hong Kong then made a good feast of their reply with a record partnership for any wicket as captain Anshuman Rath (73) and Nizakat Khan, who top scored with a 115 ball 92 (12 fours and one six), put on 174 for the first wicket.
- But once Rath fell at the start of the 35th over, India regrouped to take full control as Hong Kong lost eight wickets in the space of 85 runs. Young left arm paceman Khaleel Ahmed grabbed 3-48 in a promising international debut.