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February 01, 2019: National Current Affairs

1. Pakistan turns to expatriates for cash, floats bond

• The government on January 31, 2019 formally launched `Pakistan Banao Certificates` (PBCs) to tap into the savings of over eight million overseas Pakistanis for securing much-needed foreign exchange reserves to stabilise the country`s economy.
• The PBCs were launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan at a ceremony at his office.
• Urging overseas Pakistanis to come forward and enthusiastically purchase PBCs to make this scheme a success, the prime minister said: `The scheme would not only help the Pakistani diaspora to earn reasonable profit from these certificates but also contribute towards reviving the national economy at this critical juncture.
• The economic crisis would continue to persist unless the country`s agriculture and tourism sectors yielded desirable results.
• The government had not made any fresh deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), adding that if it would have gone to the IMF the people of the country would have faced more difficult time.

2. Second successful testing of tactical missile

• The army on January 31, 2019 announced the second successful testing of tactical ballistic missile Nasr in a week, this time confirming the maneuvering capabilities of the missile.
• `The 2nd phase of this exercise was aimed at testing the extreme in-flight maneuver ability, including the end-flight manoeuvr ability; capable of defeating, by assured penetration, any currently available BMD system in our neighbourhood or any other system under procurement/development, the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement.
• In the latest tests, the missile was fired in single shots. A feature of the Jan 24 tests was firing of the missile in a salvo of four.
• The Nasr has a 70-kilometre range and is said to possess high precision, and the ability of in-flight manoeuvrability. Because of its short range, lower trajectory and capability to manoeuvre, it is believed to be ideally suited to defeat India`s planned ballistic missile defence system.
• The weapon system was inducted into Pakistan`s strategic arsenal in 2017 and its fir st training launch was held in July 2017.

3. Adab Festival Pakistan begins today in Karachi

• The three day in augural Adab Festival Pakistan (AFP) begins on February 1, 2019 here at Governor House. The founders and directors of the event Ameena Saiyid (OBE) and Asif Farrukhi are known for blazing a trail for literature festivals in the country by being integral parts of the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF).
• The KLF is now in its 10th year, which is an achievement in itself. When its first edition was held, it was a one of its kind spectacle that spawned quite a few similar annual programmes meant to promote books and the culture of book reading in the country. These days we have the Lahore Literary Festival, Faisalabad Literature Festival and Hyderabad Literature Festival etc taking place on a yearly basis, enabling a vast number of people to interact with authors and choose from a variety of books launched or displayed at these events.
• On the first day of the festival, apart from its two founders, Arifa Syeda Zehra, Ishrat Husain and internationally renowned scholar Vali Nasr will deliver keynote speeches.

4. Cabinet approves 63pc increase in Haj cost

• At a time when inflation is hitting every segment of society hard, performing of Haj has also become costlier by 63 per cent.
• The federal cabinet on January 31, 2019 announced the Haj Policy 2019 under which the cost of performing the ritual under the government scheme has been fixed at Rs456, 426 (with Qurbani), against last year`s expense of Rs280,000 per person. Now, every individual will have to pay an additional Rs176,426.
• Under the Haj Policy 2018, the cost of Haj for individuals in the north of the country was Rs280,000 and for the south, it was Rs270,000. However, in the new policy, the cost of Haj for individuals in the north has been fixed at Rs456,426 (with Qurbani) and Rs436, 975 (without Qurbani), while for those in the south it is Rs446,426 (with Qurbani) and Rs426, 975 (without Qurbani).
• Prime Minister Imran Khan approved the Haj Policy 2019today under which 184,000 pilgrims from Pakistan will perform Haj this year. Under a quota of 184,000 pilgrims given this year to Pakistan by the government of Saudi Arabia, 10,000 senior citizens would perform Haj.

5. KP govt approves Rs24 billion uplift funds for tribal districts

• The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet here on January 31, 2019 approved Rs24 billion annual development funds for tribal districts and decided to take immediate steps to start utilisation of the approved amount.
• The cabinet meeting was held in Landi Kotal subdivision of Khyber tribal district for the first time after the merger of Fata with the province. Chief Minister Mahmood Khan chaired the meeting, which was attended by several ministers, secretaries of various departments and deputy commissioners of all the seven tribal districts.
• Elaborate arrangements were made for the cabinet meeting held at the local jirga hall amid tight security and heavily overcast conditions.
• The chief minister and other participants of the meeting came to Landi Kotal by road and took the same route for their return journey to Peshawar late in the afternoon.

February 1, 2019: International Current Affairs

6. Russia invites Taliban, anti-govt leaders for talks

• Russia will host the Taliban and Afghan politicians opposed to President Ashraf Ghani on February 5, 2019, Russian and Taliban sources said, promoting its role of power broker in what a US official called an attempt to `muddle` the US-backed peace process.
• Moscow snubbed the Afghan government, sources said, to ensure the participation of the Taliban who refuse to hold talks with Ghani`s representatives to end the 17-year-old Afghan war, branding them puppets of the United States.
• `Senior Taliban leaders and prominent Afghan politicians will travel to Moscow for a day-long summit. At this sensitive stage, it was best to not have Afghan government officials at the table,` said a Russian official on condition of anonymity. The Russian Embassy in Kabul was not available for comment.
• The Moscow talks underline the increasing role Russia is playing in Afghanistan, decades after Soviet forces withdrew from the country, with business investment plans, diplomatic and cultural outreach and small military support for the central government.
• They also come as the Afghan government is struggling to recover control of districts lost to the Taliban.

7. Europe launches payment mode to bypass Iran sanctions

• Britain, France and Germany launched a special payment mechanism on January 31, 2019 that the EU hopes will help save a nuclear deal with Iran by bypassing US sanctions, European sources said.
• The entity, registered in France with German governance and finance from all three countries, will allow Iran to trade with EU companies despite Washington re imposing US sanctions after President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 accord.
• The three countries the European signatories to the landmark deal that curbed Tehran`s nuclear ambitions in return for sanctions relief are expected to launch the device, which has been in preparation for months.
• US officials said they were following the situation but dismissed the idea that the new entity would have any impact on efforts to exert economic pressure on Tehran. While the new institution, called INSTEX short for Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges is a project of the three governments, it will receive the formal endorsement of all 28 EU members.
• The company was registered in Paris on Tuesday with 3,000 euros capital and a supervisory board with members from France and Germany, and chaired by a Briton.

8. Florida recognises Jerusalem as Israel’s eternal

• The US announced the relocation of its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in December 2017, recognising the city as the country’s capital as opposed to wider international practice. The move sparked massive clashes on the Gaza border that lasted for several months and led to a multitude of casualties. The Florida Cabinet has passed a resolution, originally proposed by the state’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
• What was different about the resolution in comparison to the US move in December 2017 is that it acknowledged Israel’s claims to the entire city. Patronis noted that the resolution sends a clear message to the Jewish state, which he called the United States’ closest ally in the Middle East. He also praised the Florida governor’s earlier decision to put the Airbnb online booking service on a Scrutinized Companies List over the firm’s decision to delist accommodations located in the Jewish settlements on the territory of the West Bank.
• The governor called Airbnb’s move discrimination against the Jewish people.

February 1, 2019: Sports Current Affairs

9. West Indies spoil Pakistan women`s 100th T20 party

• Deandra Dottin and Chedean Nation spoiled Pakistan women`s cricket team`s 100th Twenty20 International celebrations with an unbroken third wicket century stand that guided the West Indies women`s cricket team to a convincing 71 runs victory in the first of three fixtures at the Southend Club on January 31, 2019.
• Dottin clubbed eight fours and four sixes in an undefeated 60-ball 90 and Nation belted four fours and two sixes in a 35-ball 50 not out as the two batters put on 109 runs for the unfinished third wicket in around 12 overs to lift the West Indies from 51 for two to 160 for two.
• In turn, fast bowler Shamilia Connell ran through the Pakistan top-order with 3-29 as the home side was bowled out for 89 in 18 overs.
• Prior to the start of the match, a minute`s silence was observed in the memory and respect of Sharmeen Khan, former Pakistan women`s cricket team captain and one of the pioneers of women`s cricket who passed last month.

10. Ali, Mahoor lift titles at national badminton

• Wapda`s duo of Ali Mehdi and Mahoor Shahzad stole limelight by winning the men and ladies` singles titles at the 56th National Badminton Championships here on January 31, 2019.
• While Ali had to fight for supremacy against a spirited Murad Ali of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) in a three-set battle before winning 21-13, 19-21, 21-19, Mahoor was dis-dained in brushing aside SNGPL`s Ghazala Siddique in straight sets 21-5, 21-8.
• In the men`s doubles final, Atiq Chaudhry of Wapda pairing with NBP`s Raja Hasnain were stretched before clinching the title against Awais Zahid (WAPDA) and Raja Zulgarnain (NBP)14-21, 21-16, 21-7.
• In the men`s singles clash both Ali Mehdi and Murad Ali fought fiercely for each and every point from the onset to the extent the that the battle could have gone either way However, Ali Mehdi proved himself a better player under tense moments with his superior fitness as well won the crown after nearly an hour. After winning the first set quite easily, Ali Murad proved a different contender in the remaining two sets.