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September 21, 2018: National Current Affairs
1. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia pledge to defeat terrorism
- Reaffirming their intention to stand by each other at all times, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have pledged to continue their decades-old partnership to defeat the scourge of extremism and terrorism.
- The two countries reiterated the pledge during Prime Minister Imran Khan`s meetings with Saudi leadership in Jeddah on September 19, 2018.
- The PM called on Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and extended an invitation to the Saudi leadership to visit Pakistan at an early date. The offer was graciously accepted, in principle, by the Saudi leadership.
- Acknowledging each other`s efforts and sacrifices, the two sides agreed on the need to promote peace and security to ensure progress, development and prosperity.
2. Bajwa, Xi discuss regional security environment
- Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on September 19, 2018 called on Chinese President Xi Jinping on a special invitation and both discussed regional security environment, challenges and the way forward.
- President Xi said that Pakistan was China`s time-tested iron friend and Pakistan Army had a pivotal role towards that lasting relationship, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations.
- The Chinese leader appreciated professionalism of Pakistan`s armed forces and acknowledged their role towards regional peace and stability. He said China would continue to support Pakistan as a strategic partner.
- He said that those who opposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) or China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would never succeed as this was an initiative of peace and development not only for China, but for the region and beyond.
- Gen Bajwa thanked President Xi for his invitation. He also thanked him for acknowledging professionalism and contributions of Pakistan Army towards regional peace and stability.
3. Islamabad part of solution in Afghanistan: US
- Pakistan has to be a part of a solution in Afghanistan, says a Pentagon report, summarising the US military chief`s recent visits to friendly nations, including Pakistan.
- The report, released this week, says that the main purpose of Gen Joseph Dunford`s visit to these nations was to `maintaining and building alliances`.
- Gen Dunford, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, also reached out to `prospective partners to encourage cooperation and interoperability.
- The report says that the chairman visited Islamabad early this month because `Pakistan is key to the `South Asia Strategy` that President Donald Trump espoused in August 2017.
- Pakistan has to be a part of a solution in Afghanistan.
- The report notes that Gen Dunford joined US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to meet Pakistan`s new Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.
4. Denmark to help Punjab cope with diabetes
- Denmark will join hands with the Punjab government in the initiatives to create awareness about diabetes and its cure.
- A decision to the effect was taken during a meeting of Commercial Consul of Royal Danish Embassy Ali Mushtaq Butt and Commercial Adviser Aslam Pervez with Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid here on September 19, 2018.
- The minister informed the Danish diplomats that diabetes, being a silent killer and dangerous disorder, has been affecting16.98 per cent adult population of Pakistan.
- Quoting a recent survey, she said as many as 35.3 million adult Pakistanis had been suffering from diabetes which was very alarming.
- Denmark had been successfully running diabetes awareness programme in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, she said while welcoming the Danish offer to cooperate with the Punjab government in this regard.
September 21, 2018: International Current Affairs
5. Indian Muslims to face prison over `triple Talaq`
- India on September 19, 2018 prescribed arrests and jail terms for offenders in a campaign to stamp out instant divorce, or `triple Talaq`, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks to woo women voters of the South Asian nation`s minority community.
- The Supreme Court in August last year outlawed the practice that had allowed Muslim men to divorce their wives by simply saying the word `Talag` three times.
- September 19`s move comes months ahead of general elections next year at which Modi`s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) needs to broaden its support beyond its core Hindu base.
- India`s cabinet approved a decree making the procedure a punishable offence, as the government had struggled to pass the law in the face of opposition in parliament, even though the practice persists.
6. N. Korean leader agrees to shut missile site, visit Seoul
- North Korea`s Kim Jong Un agreed to make a historic visit to Seoul soon and close a missile testing site in front of international inspectors at a summit with the South`s President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang on September 19, 2018.
- Progress on the key issue of the North`s nuclear arsenal was limited, but the two signed a document to strengthen ties between the two halves of the divided peninsula.
- Building on a growing rapprochement, they agreed to create a facility to hold family reunions at any time, work towards joining up road and rail links, and mount a combined bid for the 2032 Olympics.
- His trip to Seoul would be the first by a Northern leader since the end of the 1950-53 Korean war, when hostilities ceased with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving them technically in a state of war.
7. Modi, Ghani discuss security issues
- Afghan President Ashraf Ghani made an official visit to India on September 19, 2018 where he met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed trade as well as security issues with him.
- The two leaders reviewed and positively assessed the progress of the multi-faceted India-Afghanistan strategic partnership. They expressed satisfaction at the increase in bilateral trade that has crossed $1 billion mark. The two leaders also appreciated the successful conclusion of the India-Afghanistan trade and investment show in Mumbai from September 12-15, 2018 and expressed determination to strengthen connectivity, including through Chabahar Port and Air-Freight Corridor.
- The parties agreed to deepen the New Development Partnership in the fields of infrastructure, human resources development and other capacity-building projects in Afghanistan.
- Ghani informed Modi of his government’s initiatives on peace and reconciliation as well as tackling terrorism and extremism threats.
8. China to launch Long March-9 rocket in 2028
- China plans to launch the heavy-lift carrier rocket Long March-9 in 2028, said an official of China National Space Administration (CNSA) at the World Conference on Science Literacy 2018.
- Li Guoping, director of the Department of System Engineering of the CNSA, said that the length of the Long March-9 will exceed 90 meters, and the rocket would have a core stage with a diameter of 10 meters.
- It would be able to carry a payload of 140 tonnes into low-Earth orbit, five times that of the Long March-5, said Li.
- The rocket’s capacity would also reach 50 tonnes for Earth-Moon transfer orbit. China is also developing a medium space rocket, the Long March-8, which is expected to make its maiden flight in 2020. The Long March rocket series have been launched 284 times, sending more than 400 spacecraft into space
9. Air pollution linked to higher risk of dementia
- Urban air pollution, mostly from vehicles, is associated with an increased risk of dementia, according to research published September 19, 2018.
- The link remained even after heavy drinking, smoking and other well established risk factors for dementia were ruled out, the researchers reported in medical journal BMJ Open. Worldwide, about seven percent of people over 65 suffer from Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia, a percentage that rises to 40 percent above the age of 85.
- The number afflicted worldwide is expected to nearly triple by 2050, posing a huge challenge to healthcare systems.
September 20, 2018: Sports Current Affairs
10. India rout Pakistan by eight wickets
- India crushed Pakistan by eight wickets on September 19, 2018 in along-awaited Asia Cup match which failed to live up to its hype.
- Pace spearhead Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3-15) and part time off-spinner Kedar Jadhav (3-23) sent Pakistan, who won the toss and batted, collapsing to just 162 all out in 43.1 overs at Dubai Stadium.
- Skipper Rohit Sharma then struck three sixes and six boundaries in his 39-ball 52 while fellow opener Shikhar Dhawan hit a six and six fours in his 54-ball 46 as India romped home in 29 overs.
- Both Pakistan and India had already qualified for the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup and will meet again in Dubai on September 23, 2018.
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