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November 26, 2018: National Current Affairs
1. Minister declares nutrition emergency in Balochistan
• Provincial Health Minister Mir Naseebullah Marri has declared nutrition emergency in Balochistan and said the provincial government planned to expand its campaign for combating malnutrition, being conducted in seven districts, to other parts of the province.
• He expressed these views while talking to the media after an annual progress review meeting of the Balochistan Nutrition Programme for Mothers and Children (BNPMC).
• He praised BNPMC manager Dr Amin Khan Mandokhail for his dedication to serving the poor.
• The Balochistan government might work in collaboration with the federal government, UN agencies and NGOs to address malnutrition among the lower strata of society.
2. PM okays economic, social protection plans
• Prime Minister Imran Khan November 25, 2018 approved two key frameworks, one dealing with the structural reforms in the national economy and the other on social protection.
• Chairing a meeting of Economic Advisory Council (EAC), the prime minister approved the two policy frameworks for the medium-term.
• They aim at bringing structural reforms in the economy to achieve rapid national progress, reduction in poverty levels, addressing the challenges in health sector and taking care of vulnerable segments of society.
• Prepared and recommended by the EAC, these frameworks are meant for laying the foundation of a sustainable, inclusive, job creating and export-oriented economic growth strategy as enunciated in the government’s 100-day plan.
• The approval was given following a detailed briefing by the experts who had prepared the frameworks in the light of the proposals of different working groups of the council.
3. Shahid elected WB’s Human Resources committee chief
• The Human Resources Committee of the World Bank Board has elected Pakistan’s Executive Director Shahid Ashraf Tarar as its chairman for a period of two years.
• This follows Tarar’s recent election by the seven countries comprising Pakistan’s constituency to represent them at the World Bank Board as their Executive Director.
• It is only the second time in Pakistan’s long association with the World Bank Group that its Executive Director has been elected to chair the important Human Resources Committee of the World Bank Board.
• The election of Tarar as Chairman of the Human Resources Committee is recognition of Pakistan’s close collaboration with the World Bank, says a statement issued by ministry of finance on November 25, 2018.
• The Human Resources Committee is one of the five Standing Committees of the World Bank Board that assist the Board in the exercise of its powers assigned under the Articles of Association.
November 26, 2018: International Current Affairs
4. IS spokesman killed in Afghan clash
• Spokesman of the Islamic State (IS) outfit Sharafat Shafaq was killed in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province.
• According to the statement, the IS propaganda in-charge and spokesman was killed during operations against the insurgent group in Deh Bala district.
• Meanwhile, at least four militants have been killed and three others injured as a clash broke out in Pashtun Kot district of Afghanistan’s northern Faryab province, provincial police spokesman Abdul Karim Yurash said on Sunday.According to the official, the clash erupted in Sar-e-Hawz area after Taliban militants attacked security checkpoints early morning and police returned fire which lasted for a while. The militants fled away, leaving four bodies behind.
5. Israel again arrests Palestinian governor of Jerusalem
• Israeli police have arrested the Palestinian Authority`s (PA) governor of Jerusalem for the second time in as many months after an investigation related to a land sale.
• Adnan Gheith was arrested in east Jerusalem overnight.
• Jerusalem magistrate`s court extended his remand until November 29, 2018. Judge Chavi Toker was presented with `secret evidence` and said the reason for his arrest was unlawful collaboration with the PA`s security forces, which Israel says violates the Oslo accords.
• Gheith, a resident of the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan, was appointed governor in September and has been arrested a number of times since then.
• On October 20, he was detained for two days of questioning before being released, with Israel`s Shin Bet domestic security agency claiming it was over `illegal activity by the [PA] in Jerusalem`.
• He was also taken for questioning a number of timesin recent weeks and his of fice was raided on Nov 4.
6. EU leaders approve Brexit deal, warn it`s only option
• European Union leaders on November 25, 2018 approved a historic Brexit deal with British Prime Minister Theresa May, and together warned rebellious MPs in London this was the best and only option available.
• Leaders meeting at a special Brussels summit expressed sadness at the `tragic` end of four decades of British EU membership, but said the terms of the withdrawal were now set.
• `This is the best deal possible for Britain, this is the best deal possible for Europe,` European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said after the agreement was approved.
• Juncker emphasized that, after 17 months of grueling negotiations, `this is the only deal possible` warning: `Those who think by rejecting the deal, they will have a better deal, will be disappointed.
• The agreement prepares for Britain`s smooth exit on March 29, 2019, and sets out a vision for `as close as possible a partnership ` afterwards.
• But May faces a major battle to get the agreement through the House of Commons, with a vote planned for next month.
7. Swiss reject proposal to put domestic law above international rules
• Swiss voters have clearly rejected a proposal to give the neutral country`s laws priority over international law, a move that critics claimed would have deeply damaged its global standing and hurt its economy.
• Some 63 per cent of voters in a national referendum on November 25, 2018 voted against the `Swiss law, not foreign judges` measure, according to the second round of projections by broadcaster SRF.
• The measure, backed by the right-wing Swiss People`s Party (SVP), called for a provision to be added to the national constitution giving it explicit precedence over international agreements.
8. 40m diabetics might face insulin shortage by 2030
• As the morbidity rate of type 2 diabetes keeps increasing, about 40 million people with the disease will not have access to insulin for treatment by 2030, a recent study from Stanford University suggested.
• Researchers simulated burden of the disease from 2018 to 2030 across 221 countries using data from the International Diabetes Federation and 14 studies which represent more than 60 percent of the global type 2 diabetes population.
• According to the study, the number of people with type 2 diabetes worldwide will increase from 406 million in 2018 to 511 million in 2030.
• About 79 million people will need insulin to control their condition, while only 38 million will be able to get it if access to insulin remains the same, researchers predicted.
9. Scientists propose new way to tackle climate change
• Scientists have proposed a new way to tackle climate change by spraying sun-dimming chemicals into the Earth’s atmosphere, according to a study published.
• Scientists at Harvard and Yale universities have proposed using a technique known as Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI), which they believe could cut the rate of global warming by half, according to a paper published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.
• The technique would involve spraying large amounts of sulfate particles into the Earth’s lower stratosphere at altitudes as high as 12 miles (19.3 km). However, no existing aircraft design – even with extensive modifications – can reasonably fulfill this mission, said the paper.
• The scientists propose developing a new purpose-built high-altitude tanker with substantial payload capabilities to deliver the sulfates. The estimated cost of deploying material is about 2.25 billion U.S. dollars a year over 15 years, according to the paper. Scientists calculate the number of flights at 4,000 for the first year, linearly increasing by 4,000 a year.
10. Chinese commercial space startup develops AI satellites
• Having sent two satellites into space within 100 days after its establishment, a young Chinese commercial space firm is preparing for a new launch in December.
• Supported by the local government, the Chengdu GuoXing Aerospace Technology Co Ltd. was set up in the capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province in May. It has developed two experimental satellites integrated with AI technology. “The AI technology could give the satellite a stronger capability of automatic data analysis,” said Zhao Hongjie, vice president of the startup firm.
• For instance, the remote sensing satellite with AI technology could autonomously identify clouds and fog, and select the useful images to send back to earth, thus greatly improving its working efficiency, Zhao said.
