WELCOME TO CSS TIMES DAY BY  DAY CURRENT AFFAIRS, YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR UP-TO-DATE AND DAILY TOP CURRENT AFFAIRS 2018 FOR PREPARATION OF CSS, PMS, BANKING, NTS, RAILWAYS AND ALL COMPETITIVE EXAMS.  “DAY TO DAY CURRENT AFFAIRS” BASICALLY IS TOP 10 NEWS SUMMARY ON CURRENT HAPPENINGS OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE FOR ALL EXAMINATIONS

February 27, 2019: National Current Affairs

1. Pakistan vows response to India `at time & place of our choosing`

• Intrusion lasts nearly four minutes and eight enemy aircraft go up to four nautical miles into Pakistani airspace
• PAF scrambles jets immediately after intrusion, forcing Indian aircraft to flee
• Response to Delhi’s provocative action framed at special NSC meeting chaired by prime minister
• Acting Indian high commissioner summoned to FO to receive protest over violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity
• FM Qureshi speaks to Mike Pompeo, asks US to play role in dealing with escalation in South Asia
• ISPR chief promises a ‘surprise’ for India whenever Pakistan responds

2. $75m loan deal signed for KP road project

• The Economic Affairs Division (EAD) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on February 26, 2019 signed a $75 million loan agreement to provide additional finance for Mardan-Swabi road improvement project.
• EAD Secretary Noor Ahmed and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Communication & Works Department Secretary Mohammad Shahab Khattak along with ADB`s Country Director Xiaohong Yang signed the (around Rs10.4 billion) loan agreement.
• Under the agreement, the additional financing will help dualise Mardan-Swabi road with the reconstruction of a 42km stretch.
• The dualisation of Mardan Swabi road and rehabilitation of provincial highways will complement and enhance economic mobility of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as well as Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Corridor.

3. Cabinet approves 25 police stations for tribal districts

• The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to set up 25 police stations in merged tribal districts of the province.
• Information minister Shaukat Yousafzai told reporters after the meeting that the police department presented a proposal regarding the merger of the tribal districts into the existing police ranges of the province before the cabinet approved it during the meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan.
• South Waziristan district would be part of the Dera Ismail Khan Range, North Waziristan district Bannu`s, Orakzai and Kurram districts Kohat`s, Khyber district Peshawar`s, Mohmand district Mardan`s and Bajaur district Malakand region.
• The police department had also proposed the establishment a police station at subdivision level in merged districts, which the cabinet approved.
• He said 25 police stations would be set up in merged districts.

4. Army hands over Dir BHU to admin

• Following directives from high military officials, security forces on February 26, 2019 handed over charge of Basic Health Unit Maskini and tourism department rest house to civil administration in Lower Dir district.
• Two weeks ago, Corps Commander Peshawar Lt Gen Shaheen Mazhar Mehmood had announced at a grand jirga held at Dir Scouts Fort at Balambat that security forces would soon vacate all government buildings being used by them for security reasons including schools and hospitals.

5. Provinces submit 100 projects to Chinese experts for grants under CPEC

• Provinces have submitted around 100 projects to the Chinese experts to secure grant for the socioeconomic development under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
• The provinces have submitted their recommendations to 13 Chinese delegates who are currently visiting Pakistan. The Chinese delegation is headed by Du Zhenli, comprising of experts from socioeconomic development field.
• The expert group is discussing implementation of newly introduced sector of socioeconomic development under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).The experts held a meeting with federal, provincial government officials and Pakistani experts to identify pilot projects and its implementation mechanism.
• The expert group will discuss the finalization of action plan with Pakistani experts, said the source. The finalization of action plan will help the government to launch pilot projects in the selective districts of the country. China has agreed to extend Pakistan grant for Socio-Economic Development through China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA).

February 27, 2019: International Current Affairs

6. Exhibition of Chinese maritime history opens

• A major art exhibition celebrating China’s rich maritime history opened on February 25, 2019 at the University of Cyprus in Nicosia.
• The significant collection of works tells the story of China’s historic maritime exchanges in regions spanning from Asia and Africa to Europe and the Mediterranean. The event is organized within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
• The showcase titled, “Two Millenniums of Maritime Silk Road”, will run for a week. Among the highlights is a magnificent scroll, depicting the history of Chinese sea trade. All the works displayed show how contemporary artists give their understanding and appreciation of modern Chinese marine development.

7. Israel`s ex-minister sentenced to 11 years for spying for Iran

• An Israeli ex-minister was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Tuesday for spying for his country`s main enemy Iran, with prosecutors saying the plea bargain was necessary to avoid revealing secret information.
• Gonen Segev, who served as energy and infrastructure minister from 1995 to 1996, had previously agreed to a plea bargain on charges of serious espionage and transfer of information to the enemy.
• Court hearings were held in secret due to the nature of the case.
• Little was revealed of the motives of the 63-year-old, who was already disgraced after having been convicted for drug smuggling and attempted credit card fraud.
• Prosecutor Geula Cohen confirmed to journalists outside the Jerusalem district court that the judge had accepted the plea bargain and issued the sentence.

8. Kim, Trump arrive in Hanoi ahead of nuclear summit

• North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump arrived in Hanoi on February 26, 2019, ahead of a second summit closely watched for concrete steps to dismantle Pyongyang`s nuclear programme.
• After an initial historic meeting in Singapore in June that produced only a vague statement about denuclearisation, analysts say the second date must deliver more in the way of tangible progress.
• The summit itself is shrouded in secrecy and there was still no official word even on the venue when Trump touched down in Air Force One.
• The two leaders were expected to have an informal dinner before more formal talks.

February 27, 2019: Sports Current Affairs

9. ICC slaps Jayasuriya with two-year ban for corruption

• Sri Lankan cricket legend Sanath Jayasuriya has been banned from all cricket for two years after admit ting two breaches of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Corruption Code, the sport`s governing body announced on February 26, 2019.
• The 49-year-old regarded as one of the greatest One-day International batsmen of all time and was pivotal in winning the 1996 World Cup accepted the punishment.
• `This conviction under the Code demonstrates the importance of participants in cricket cooperating with investigations, said Alex Marshall, ICC General Manager of the Anti-Corruption Unit in a statement. `Compelling participants to cooperate under the Code is a vital weapon in our efforts to rid our sport of corruptors. These rules are essential to maintain the integrity of our sport.
• Jayasuriya was charged in October after failing to provide his mobile phones to the ACU.
• He was also accused of obstructing or delaying any investigation into corruption in the game.

10. Sultans upstage United again for second win

• For the second time in this edition of HBL Pakistan Super League, Multan Sultans had the wood on Islamabad United when they consigned the defending champions to a six-wicket drubbing at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 26, 2019 night.
• The start of the second phase of the preliminary round couldn`t have produced a better result for Shoaib Malik`s struggling side, which had just one victory in five first-round games.
• The solitary win came on Feb 16 when they defeated United by five wickets.
• Malik`s decision to field was vindicated by a sustained bowling effort from his bowlers. At no stage did United look like posting a total that they could defend.