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June 25, 2019: National Current Affairs
1. Qatar promises $3bn bailout for Pakistan
• Pakistan on June 24, 2019 received an assurance from Qatar for a $3 billion package consisting of a foreign currency deposit and `direct investment`, according to the adviser to the prime minister on finance.
• The announcement came over the social media site Twitter, when Hafeez Shaikh tweeted `[w]ant to thank the Emir of Qatar HRH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for announcing US $3 Billion in deposits and direct investments for Pakistan and for Qatar`s affirmation to further develop relations between the two countries`.
• This is the fourth `friendly support` package of the sort for Pakistan and takes the combined bilateral loans during current fiscal year to more than $12.7bn before Pakistan formally enters an IMF programme early next month for $6bn financing. So far, Saudi Arabia, China and UAE have extended about $9.7bn in loans and cash deposits to Islamabad since current government came to power in August last year.
• Officials at the finance ministry said it was un clear how much of the Qatari bailout would include cash deposit and how much of it will be in the form of investment.
2. Government forms body to ease business registration
• Prime Minister Imran Khan on June 24, 2019 approved the constitution of a steering committee on Pakistan Regulatory Modernisation Initiative (PRMI) to help devise a regulatory framework for simplifying the process of business registration.
• The government said that the high powered body will support the business community to start new ventures and attract investments by improving the `ease of doing business` ranking of the country.
• Among 190 economies, Pakistan ranks at 136, according to the World Bank report on ease of doing business.
• The steering committee will be jointly headed by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Establishment Shahzad Arbab and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razag Dawood.
• The decision was taken at a PRMI meeting, which was chaired by PM Khan. Besides the two advisers, special assistants to the premier Dr Firdous Ashig Awan and Yousuf Baig Mirza as well as chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Shabbar Zaidi attended the meeting.
3. Pakistan`s score on Childhood Index improves: report
• Pakistan`s score on the Childhood Index has improved from 540 in 2000 to 626 in 2019, the Global Childhood Report 2019 says.
• The report was launched by Save the Children at the concluding ceremony of `Children`s Action against Oppression and Neglect (CHAON)` project.
• The IKEA Foundation-funded project combined child protection systems, accelerated learning and a school health programme in Sindh and Punjab in collaboration with the provincial governments, reaching over 600,000 adults and over 800,000 children.
• According to the report, at least 280 million children or one child in eight are dramatically better off today than at any time in the past two decades.
• More children are healthy and surviving past their fifth birthday. More children have enough good food to eat, so their growth isn`t stunted. More children are in school and learning.
4. Chapter on constitutional rights included in Punjab textbooks
• The Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB) on June 24, 2019 told the Lahore High Court that a chapter on fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution had been incorporated in newly-printed textbooks of Pakistan Studies for grades IX to XII.
• A report submitted by the board stated that chapter 1 of Pakistan`s Constitution of 1973 which deals with fundamental rights, the Islamic concept of human rights, and the UN declaration of human rights had been incorporated in the books of Pak Studies.
• The report was filed following an order issued by the court on a contempt petition seeking action against the authorities for not implementing a 2015 order about inclusion of a chapter on fundamental rights in school syllabus/curriculum.
• It asked the court to dispose of the petition as the grievance of the petitioner stood addressed after promulgation of New Scheme of Studies 2017 and the same were being taught to students in different grades. It said the syllabus of higher studies did not f all within the jurisdiction of PCTB.
5. MoU signed for children`s healthcare in Balochistan
• The Balochistan health department and Child Life Foundation (CLF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to ensure the provision of quality health services in the children`s unit of the Sandman Civil Hospital.
• The MOU was signed by Health Secretary Hafiz Abdul Majid and CLF CEO Dr Ahsan Rabbani at the Chief Minister House on Monday. Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani, Health Minister Mir Naseebullah Marri and Food Minister Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetiran were also present at the occasion.
• According to the MOU, the Balochistan Government would impad a grant of Rs100 million to CLF while the organization would be responsible to ensure medicine, health equipment and doctors appointments in Civil Hospital`s children`s ward.
June 25, 2019: International Current Affairs
6. Trump imposes sanctions against Iran supreme leader
• The United States imposed sanctions on June 24, 2019 on Iran`s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a string of military chiefs, tightening pressure on the country that President Donald Trump threatened with `obliteration` if it seeks war.
• Trump signed the punitive financial measures against Iran in the Oval Office, calling this a `strong and proportionate response to Iran`s increasingly provocative actions`. Repeating that` never can Iran have a nuclear weapon`, Trump said it was now up to Tehran to negotiate. `We do not ask for conflict,` he said, adding that depending on Iran`s response the sanctions could end tomorrow or it `can also be years from now`.
• Expanding on the new measures, the Treasury said the United States will blacklist Iran`s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and block `billions` more in Iranian assets, with eight top commanders from Iran`s Revolutionary Guards already added to the list.
7. Deputy head of India`s central bank quits, adding to independence concerns
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Viral Acharya has resigned six months before the scheduled end of his term in office citing personal reasons, the central bank said on June 24, 2019, adding to concerns about the independence of the central bank.
• Acharya`s departure is not surprising as he had previously clashed with Modi`s government over an erosion of the central bank`s independence.
• His resignation is likely to make the RBI more dovish over monetary policy and more willing to cut interest rates, economists said. Acharya, who is in charge of departments that look at monetary policy and exchange rate markets, had been regarded as more of an inflation hawk.
• Acharya submitted his resignation letter a few weeks ago saying he was unable to continue his term beyond July 23 due to unavoidable personal circumstances, the RBI said in a release.
8. US pushes Palestinian economic plan amid doubts, hostility
• Despite withering criticism, charges of hypocrisy and outright rejection from the intended beneficiaries, the Trump administration is ploughing ahead with a $50 billion economic proposal to aid the Palestinians and hopes it will drive a much-anticipated but unseen Mideast peace plan.
• The United States has attracted only lukewarm support from its traditional partners in Middle East peacemaking and is convening the `Peace to Prosperity` workshop this week in the tiny Gulf kingdom of Bahrain under the shadow of rising tensions with Iran that could ignite regional conflict.
• The two-day conference that begins Tuesday in Manama has drawn governmental and private sector participants from dozens of countries, but lacks official Israeli or Palestinian delegations.
June 25, 2019: Sports Current Affairs
9. All-round Shakib keeps BD in hunt for semis
• Bangladesh boosted their bid to reach the World Cup semifinals as Shakib Al Hasan`s superb all-round display inspired a 62-run win over Afghanistan on June 24, 2019.
• Shakib`s 51 laid the foundations for Bangladesh to score 262-7 and made him the leading run-scorer in this year`s World Cup.
• Bangladesh, winners against South Africa and the West Indies earlier in the tournament, are up to fifth place in the 10-team group stage.
10. Maqbool elected WTF secretary general
• Pakistan Throwball Federation`s Maqbool Arain has been elected as Secretary General of World Throwball Federation while Dr. Mustapa Kamal Bin Mualat dato Seri of Malaysia has been elected as the new WTF President in the recent elections held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• Meanwhile, India won the post of senior vice president while USA official clinched the vice president`s post and the joint secretary`s post went to Vietnam. Canada, Thailand, Singapore, UK representatives were elected as Executive Committee members In the Executive Committtee meeting held after the polls, the upcoming World Throw Ball Championship was awarded to America which will be played in December 2019.
