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August 28, 2019: National Current Affairs
1. In first year, govt sees record high fiscal deficit
• The first year of the Pakistan Tehreeki-Insaf (PTI) government concluded with a record 8.9 per cent fiscal deficit perhaps the highest in the country`s history as revenues plummeted while expenditures remained at the same level they were at the previous year, when expressed as a percentage of GDP. In absolute terms, however, expenditures broke previous records while revenues were stagnant.
• As a result, the fiscal deficit, which is the difference between revenues and expenditures of the federal government, came in at a record 8.9pc of GDP. As late as June 2019 the government had announced that it intended to keep the deficit at 7.1pc of GDP, whereas its target at the start of the year was set at 4.9pc. Since the country`s GDP is Rs38.6 trillion at current market prices, each percentage point increase in the deficit numbers denotes significant slippage.
• The details of fiscal operations released by the ministry of finance on Tuesday putthe country`s full year fiscal deficit at Rs3.445tr or 8.9pc of GDP the highest since 1979-80 as per past Pakistan Economic Surveys. The deficit stood at Rs2.26tr or 6.6pc of GDP in the previous year.
2. China reaffirms full support to Pakistan
• Pakistan and China on August 27, 2019 agreed to continue close bilateral consultations and coordination for the promotion of peace and stability in the region and maintenance of strategic balance following India’s unilateral action in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
• This was agreed on the conclusion of series of high-level interactions between Vice Chairman, Central Military Commission (CMC) of China, General Xu Qiliang, and his team with Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership.
• General Xu, who led a high-level delegation to Pakistan to discuss issues of mutual interest for Pakistan and China in the light of the latest developments in the region on the conclusion of his official visit, reaffirmed full support of his country to Pakistan, particularly at this critical juncture He also conveyed the Chinese leadership’s commitment to the time-honoured tradition of both the countries supporting each other on issues of core national interest.
• The Prime Minister appreciated China for supporting Pakistan’s approach to the UNSC, following India’s unilateral and illegal actions and the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
3. Facebook blocks 31 pages over propaganda against polio vaccine
• After a vicious campaign was launched on social media against the polio vaccine, Facebook blocked as many as 31 accounts/pages involved in propaganda against vaccination in Pakistan on the request of the government`s polio programme.
• On August 27, 2019, rumours were circulated on social media that a one year-old girl had died in Swabi due to the polio vaccine. `Print and electronic media showed responsibility and decided to wait till getting the autopsy report of the deceased.
• However, an organised campaign was launched on the social media that the girl had died because of the vaccine and people should not vaccinate their children,` the Prime Minister`s Focal Person on Polio Babar Bin Atta said.
• `As per the autopsy report, the girl died due to suffocation as a peanut got stuck in her throat.
4. NA body passes Pakistan Psychological Council Bill
• The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services (NHS) unanimously passed The Pakistan Psychological Council Bill 2018 without amendment on August 27, 2019.
• The bill was tabled by MNA Riaz Fatyana and referred to the standing committee for consideration.
• At the committee`s meeting on Tuesday, held in the committee room at the Ministry of NHS, Mr Fatyana said the council would be an independent body and the government would run its affairs. The council will act as a regulatory body for the betterment of society`s psychological wellbeing, he said.
• The council would resolve issues related to psychiatrists and psychologists, as well as educational institutions that teach psychology.
5. Tribal people finally get representation in KP Assembly
• Amid cheers and slogans from the visitors` galleries, 19 newly-elected legislators from the merged districts of defunct Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) were sworn in to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on August 27, 2019.
• The journey for the merger of erstwhile FATA -started in November 2015 -finally reached its logical conclusion with the representation of over five million people of tribal districts in the provincial assembly.
• It would be pertinent to recall that the previous government of PML-N had constituted a six-member committee, headed by adviser to prime minister on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz, which presented a set of recommendations for the mainstreaming of tribal belt, abutting Afghanistan.
• One of the recommendations of the committee was the merger of tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
6. Ashiq Ali appointed PSM CEO
• Engineer Ashiq Ali has been appointed as chief executive officer (CEO) of Pakistan Steel Mills Karachi.
• He is gold medalist and brings with him rich experience spanned over 49 years in varied disciplines of engineering sector.
• He also served as MD Heavy Electrical Complex Taxila, Heavy Mechanical Complex Taxila, Pakistan Engineering Company (PECO) and Pakistan Machine Tools Factory
August 28, 2019: International Current Affairs
7. US, Taliban hopeful of deal at Doha
• US and Taliban negotiators moved closer on Tuesday to a deal, the insurgent group said, as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo voiced guarded hope for a deal under which Washington will withdraw large numbers of troops from Afghanistan.
• The optimism came during the fifth day of talks in Qatar between the two sides as negotiators wrangled over individual words and phrases in a draft deal.
• `We have progress in this round so we are finalising the remaining points,` Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told journalists outside the upmarket Doha members` club where the talks are taking place.
• He said a deal could be expected `as soon as the remaining points are finalised`.
8. Turkey to act for protecting troops in Syria, Erdogan tells Putin
• The leaders of Russia and Turkey said on August 27, 2019 they shared deep concerns over hghting in northwestern Syria, with Ankara warning it would take the steps necessary to protect its troops there.
• After meeting for talks near Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkey`s Recep Tayyip Erdogan said they hoped to work together to ease tensions in Idlib province.
• Russian-backed government forces launched a ground offensive this month against Idlib, one of the last major areas of Syria outside government hands.
• The fighting is threatening to increase tensions between Russia and Iran, who back President Bashar al Assad`s regime, and Turkey which supports some rebel groups.
9. Russian humanoid robot boards space station after delay
• It was second time lucky on August 27, 2019 as an unmanned spacecraft carrying Russia`s first humanoid robot docked at the International Space Station following a failed attempt over the weekend.
• `Sorry for the delay. Got stuck in traffic.
• Am ready to carry on with work,` the robot`s Twitter account said in a jokey first tweet from space.
• Copying human movements and designed to help with high-risk tasks, the lifesize robot, Fedor, is due to stay on the ISS until Sept 7.
• Speaking to Russian cosmonauts on the ISS via a video link-up, President Vladimir Putin lavished praise on them for the way they handled the glitch.
August 28, 2019: Sports Current Affairs
10. West Indian paceman pulls up stumps at 850
• Cecil Wright`s name will not rank alongside West Indies legends Viv Richards, Gary Sobers and Frank Worrell, but for longevity he outranks them all.
• The fast bowler known affectionately as `CEC` has announced he will retire in two weeks` time at the ripe old age of 85.
• Wright, who in his heyday represented Jamaica against Barbados, lining up against Sobers and Wes Hall, moved to England in 1959 and launched a career as a professional in the Central Lancashire League for Crompton.
• After three years he decided to stay on in England and settled down after meeting his future wife Enid, then having a son.
