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September 17, 2019: National Current Affairs
1. CM withdraws dress code order for KP schoolgirls after outcry
• Following widespread public criticism, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government decided on September 16, 2019 night to withdraw its earlier province-wide order instructing female students of secondary and higher secondary government educational institutions to wear the veil.
• The initial directive had been defended by government representatives as required if school-going girls were to protect themselves against `unethical incidents`-harassment.
• Earlier on September 16, 2019 morning, the district education officer (DEO) for females, Peshawar, had issued a circular addressed to the heads of all government girls schools, directing them to `properly follow school timings and instruct all students to wear the gown/ chador to veil/conceal/cover up themselves in order to protect them from any unethical incident. The matter may be treated as most urgent important and important,` read the circular.
• The move came just days after the district education department in Haripur issued a similar circular.
2. Kartarpur corridor opening for India`s Sikhs in November
• A corridor for Indian Sikh pilgrims travelling to a shrine in Pakistan will open in early November, in time for one of the religion`s most sacred festivals.
• The visa-free border crossing from India to Kartarpur, Pakistan, would be inaugurated on Nov 9, just ahead of the 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Baba Guru Nanak on Nov 12, Pakistani project director Atif Majeed said on September 16, 2019.
• The project is a rare recent example of cooperation between the two nuclear powers, who came close to war in February following a militant attack on police in India-held Kashmir. India revoked the special status of its portion of the disputed territory last month, inflaming relations once again.
• Instead of visas, the Sikh pilgrims will be given special permits to access the shrine.
• Indian pilgrims will pay Pakistan $20 to use the corridor, which includes roadways, an 800-metre bridge over the River Ravi and an immigration office.
• Up to 5,000 Indians will be allowed access daily, with plans to eventually double the capacity
3. With revenues in focus, IMF team lands to review programme progress
• The International Monetary Fund`s (IMF) Middle East and Central Asia Director Jihad Azour along with an eight-member delegation arrived in Islamabad on September 17, 2019 to hold formal talks with top government functionaries.
• Amid his arrival, the government stepped up efforts to recover about Rs85 billion additional revenue from the electricity and gas consumers and firm up a road map to bridge gaps in tax collection.
• The visit is being described as `routine` by both sides. A finance ministry representative said the delegation, headed by Azour and Mission Chief to Pakistan Ernesto Ramirez-Rigo, is here `to review the programme as per schedule.
• As per the proposed schedule of the visit, the delegation will remain in Pakistan until Sept 20.
4. 14 more aircraft being added to PIA fleet
• The government has committed to increasing the number of planes in the national carrier`s fleet by 14 until 2023, it was announced on September 16, 2019.
• `We have developed a business plan for PIA, approved by the prime minister, under which we are going to increase PIA`s fleet from the current 31 to 45 aircraft, Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan told the media. Ammar Sadeeq Khan, member of the Punjab Assembly, was also present.
• The aircraft will be purchased instead of being obtained on dry or wet lease, the minister said. A dry lease is a long-term arrangement under which an aircraft is provided without a crew, maintenance and insurance to an airline on payment to be made on a monthly or yearly basis. A wet lease is a short-term arrangement under which a company provides an aircraft along with a crew, maintenance and insurance and the payment made is calculated on the hours operated.
• Currently PIA is operating 31 planes on national and international routes and its fleet would be increased phase wise to 45 planes
September 17, 2019: International Current Affairs
5. Trump to attend Modi`s rally in Houston, says White House
• US President Donald Trump will attend Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s rally in Houston on Sept 22 to emphasize the strong ties between the two countries, the White House confirmed on Monday.
• The event `Howdy, Modi!` will be the first ever rally to be jointly addressed by a US president and Indian prime minister.
• The White House said President Trump will travel to Houston, Texas, and Wapakoneta, Ohio, on September 22, 2019 to `underscore the important partnerships between the United States and India, and Australia.` `In Houston, President Trump will participate in an event with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India,` the White House said.
• `The event, `Howdy, Modi! Shared Dreams, Bright Futures,` is expected to draw tens of thousands of people.
• The White House described the event as `a great opportunity to emphasize the strong ties between the people of the United States and India (and) to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the world`s oldest and largest democracies.
6. Electric boat tested on Seine
• An innovative boat that saves energy by rising out of the water on hydrofoil wings underwent testing on the Seine River in Paris on September 16, 2019 as its backers seek to obtain a licence to operate a taxi service on the river.
• The Sea Bubbles craft is powered by electric motors and its hydrofoil wings reduce the drag on the hull in the water, making it more energy efficient than conventional boats.
• Sea Bubbles co-founder Alain The bault said the boat, which carries four passengers and one pilot, has green credentials as it is noise-free and produces no pollution.
• `It`s the future,` he said in an interview after the boat had completed its tests, running up and down the Seine.
7. Taiwan cuts ties with Solomon Islands after China switch
• Taiwan severed ties with the Solomon Islands on September 16, 2019 after learning the Pacific nation was switching diplomatic recognition to China, as Taipei accused Beijing of using `dollar diplomacy` to buy off its few remaining allies.
• The switch is a major coup for Beijing just weeks before it celebrates the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People`s Republic of China.
• And it leaves Taiwan more isolated than ever with just 16 nations left that recognise it.
• Taiwan`s foreign minister Joseph Wu said Taipei had learned that the cabinet of Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare had made the decision to recognise Beijing earlier Monday.
• `The government hereby declares the termination of diplomatic relations with the Solomon Islands with immediate effect,` Wu said, adding Taiwanese diplomats were being withdrawn from Honiara and that Solomons envoys would be expected to do the same.
• `The government of China has once again resorted to dollar diplomacy and false promises of large amounts of foreign assistance to buy off a small number of politicians,` Wu added.
September 17, 2019: Sports Current Affairs
8. Opening of Sri Lanka`s tallest tower marred by corruption allegation
• The grand opening of Sri Lanka`s tallest tower was mired in controversy on September 16, 2019 when President Maithripala Sirisena said one of the Chinese firms contracted to work on the project had disappeared with $11 million of state funds.
• Sirisena made the allegation at the launch ceremony of the China financed Lotus Tower, a 356.3-metre (1,169 ft) construction in the shape of a lotus bud featuring a revolving restaurant, conference hall and observation area.
• The tower, overlooking Beira Lake in central Colombo, is expected to become a major tourism attraction.
• Sirisena said that in 2012, under his predecessor former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the state-run Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) had deposited 2 billion rupees ($11.09 million) with Aerospace Long-March International Trade Co. Ltd (ALIT), a Chinese firm chosen as one of the main contractors.
9. Pakistan to host WBC Arabian Sea Title Fight
• Professional boxing in Pakistan is set to get a boost as for the first time the country is going to host the World Boxing Council (WBC) event, The Arabian Sea Title Fight in Islamabad in November, this year.
• The WBC is launching the top flight event in Pakistan in association with the Pakistan Professional Boxing League (PPBL).
• The Arabian Sea region includes 16 countries -Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Iran, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Afghanistan, Somalia, Djibouti, Maldives and India.
• . The award of the event to Pakistan was a recognition of PPBLs efforts to promote professional boxing in the country, he added.
10. Nabi, Mujeeb propel Afghans to record 12th T20 win
• Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman starred respectively with bat and ball as Afghanistan comfortably beat Bangladesh by 25 runs in their second match of the tri-nation Twenty20 International tournament in Dhaka on September 16, 2019.
• Nabi hit an unbeaten 84 of f 54 balls under pressure to guide Afghanistan to 164-6 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium before Mujeeb claimed a career best 4-15 to help his side dismiss Bangladesh for 139 in 19.5 overs for their world record 12 successive Twenty20 International win.
