Day by Day Current Affairs (June 05, 2018) | MCQs for CSS, PMS, NTS

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 June 5, 2018

1. WB wants Pakistan to accept `neutral expert` in dam dispute

• The World Bank has asked Pakistan to stand down from pursuing its stand of referring the Kishanganga dam dispute to the International Court of Arbitration (ICA) and instead accept India`s offer of appointing a `neutral expert`.
• In a fresh communication last week, World Bank president Jim Yong Kim advised the government to withdraw from its stand of taking the matter to the ICA for which the bank had on Nov 10, 2016 even picked a US chief justice, the rector of Imperial College, London, and the WB president for appointing chairman of the court to resolve the dispute over the dam.
• Pakistan considers the construction of the Kishanganga dam in India-held Kashmir over the waters flowing into the western rivers a violation of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 since it will not only alter the course of the river but also deplete the water level of the rivers that flow into Pakistan. Thus the dispute should be referred to the international court of arbitration.
• On the other hand, India describes the issue as differences between it and Pakistan over the design of the dam and, therefore, it should be addressed by some neutral experts.

2. First Saudi women get driving licences

• Saudi Arabia on June 4, 2018 began issuing its first driving licences to women in decades.
• The general directorate of traffic started replacing international driving licences recognised in the kingdom with Saudi licences.
• The move comes as Saudi Arabia, the only country in the world where women are not allowed drive, prepares to lift its decades-long ban on female drivers on June 24.
• The move is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman`s far-reaching liberalisation drive as he seeks to modernise the conservative petro-state.
• The self-styled reformer, who recently undertook a global tour aimed at reshaping his kingdom`s austere image, has sought to break with long-held restrictions on women and the mixing of the genders.

3. ECP establishes online scrutiny cell

• The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on June 4, 2018 set up an online scrutiny cell to facilitate the returning officers in scrutiny of nomination papers of contesting candidates.
• The cell comprising four teams will work 24 hours till June 14. It said a software had also been developed connecting NADRA, FBR, NAB and State Bank of Pakistan with the ECP Secretariat through a safe system.
• Under the online scrutiny process, returning officer will send particulars of the candidates to Election Commission through email or fax on daily basis.

4. Uzbekistan simplifies visa procedure for Pak businessmen

• The Uzbekistan Embassy has simplified the visa procedure and will give visa to the entrepreneurs within a day after submission of an online.
• Both Pakistan and Uzbekistan, located in close geographical proximity were said to be well-positioned in cooperating with each other in pharmaceutical, agriculture and tourism sectors.
• With particular reference to Uzbekistan, it was said that reforms and reduced energy price has particularly turned the country into a good investment destination.

5. Britain unveils new security strategy

• Britain will counter what it calls a `step change` in the threat posed by militants with a revised counterterrorism strategy published on June 4, 2018 that looks to harness technology, share information more widely, and strengthen ties with businesses.
• Recently-appointed interior minister Sajid Javid said the new strategy incorporated lessons from attacks in London and Manchester last year which killed 36 people, and would help Britain tackle an evolving threat.
• The interior ministry warned that the threat posed by Islamist militants to Britain is expected to remain high for the next two years and could even rise.

6. Jordanian PM resigns after anti-austerity protests

• Jordanian Prime Minister Hani Mulki resigned on June 4, 2018 after a wave of anti-austerity protests by citizens suffering from high unemployment and repeated prices hikes.
• Mulki was summoned by King Abdullah H after the capital Amman and several other cities were rocked by demonstrations that drew thousands of people.
• `Prime Minister Hani Mulki submitted his resignation to the king this afternoon during a meeting at the Husseiniyeh Palace and the king accepted the resignation,` a government source told.
• The king asked Education Minister Omar al-Razzaz to form a new government.
• Jordan, a key US ally, has largely avoided the unrest witnessed by other countries in the region since the Arab Spring revolts broke out in 2011, although protests did flare late that year after the government cut fuel subsidies.

7. 7 dead in Kabul suicide blast near clerics’ gathering

• At least seven people were killed in a suicide bombing June 4, 2018 near a gathering of top clerics in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul, roughly one hour after the group proclaimed such attacks a sin,.
• The blast in the western part of the city, near universities and a police academy, was claimed by the Islamic State group and is the latest demonstration of the militants’ chilling ability to carry out attacks in the heart of Kabul, which is now the deadliest place in the country for civilians. The bomber detonated at about 11:30 am (0700 GMT) at the gates of Kabul’s Polytechnic University, police and officials said. The Loya Jirga tent where thousands of clerics from across Afghanistan were meeting is on the campus.

8. Italy will no longer be Europe’s refugee camp

• Italy will no longer be “Europe’s refugee camp”, newly installed interior minister Matteo Salvini said on June 4, 2018.
• Salvini, head of the right-wing League and a deputy prime minister in the eurosceptic coalition, has made curbing immigration a clarion call of his party whose popularity is rising fast in opinion polls.
• Two days after the government was sworn in on June 1, 2018, Salvini headed for Sicily, the main port of call for more than 600,000 migrants who have arrived on Italy’s shores from north Africa since 2014.”The party is over,” for migrants in Italy, he said, before visiting a so-called “hotspot” or reception centre, in the port of Pozzallo, where boat-borne arrivals are registered, photo-identified and fingerprinted.
• The League says the vast majority of migrants in Italy have no right to refugee status, Italy cannot afford to help them and by accepting low pay they worsen the working conditions of Italians.

9. IAEA head calls for ‘timely’ cooperation from Iran

• The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog called on June 4, 2018 on Iran to ensure “timely and proactive cooperation” with inspections mandated under the 2015 deal with world powers over its nuclear programme.
• Speaking at the first meeting of the IAEA’s board of governors since US President Donald Trump threw the future of the deal in doubt in May with his decision to withdraw, Director General Yukiya Amano said the agency had had access to all sites in Iran that it needed to visit.
• However, as in the agency’s last report on Iran in May, Amano said that “timely and proactive cooperation by Iran in providing such access would facilitate implementation… and enhance confidence”.

10. UAE announces franchise cricket league

• The Emirates Cricket Board has decided to launch their own new elite international Twenty20 cricket league.
• The tournament that will be held under the auspices of the International Cricket Council (ICC), will be unveiled formally later this month in the UA E.
• The name of tournament will be announced later this month and will make its debut in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah with five new franchise teams vying for the inaugural title. In all, 22 matches will be played over 24 days in December-January.
• The five franchises will comprise a squad of 16 featuring six current international star players, two emerging players from ICC full member countries, three players from ICC associate member nations, two junior players and three UAE cricketers. ECB is of the view that no other T20 competition has been established with these developmental goals at their core, and no other event will showcase such a wide array of international talent.
• The event has already received the support of six cricket boards of ICC full member nations England & Wales, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, New Zealand and the West Indies and organisers are looking forward to receiving the support of the ICC associate member countries.