WELCOME TO CSS TIMES DAY BY DAY CURRENT AFFAIRS, YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR UP-TO-DATE AND DAILY TOP CURRENT AFFAIRS 2018 FOR PREPARATION OF CSS, PMS, BANKING, NTS, RAILWAYS AND ALL COMPETITIVE EXAMS. “DAY TO DAY CURRENT AFFAIRS” BASICALLY IS TOP 10 NEWS SUMMARY ON CURRENT HAPPENINGS OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE FOR ALL EXAMINATIONS
April 20, 2019: National Current Affairs
1. Single value-added tax regime agreed with IMF
• The government has given an understanding to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to move to a single value-added tax (VAT) regime in the country as part of an overall medium-term macroeconomic framework envisaging Rs1.25 trillion incremental federal and provincial revenues.
• This would mean an additional revenue effort matching about 2.6 per cent of GDP (gross domestic product) over a period of three years. Federal taxes are commit-ted to be increased by 2.3pc (about Rs1.08tr) during the three-year reform process under the IMF programme, starting with 1.1pc of GDP during the fiscal year 201920. This will be followed by 0.9pc of GDP additional revenue generation in FY21 and 0.3pc in FY22.
• Provincial taxes are committed to be raised by 0.1pc of GDP every year to achieve 1.6pc tax-to-GDP ratio during FY22 from the current financial year`s ratio of 1.3pc.
2. Punjab cabinet gives go-ahead to local govt, water acts
• The Punjab cabinet on April 19, 2019 took up a 34-point updated agenda in its eighth meeting at Chief Minister`s Secretariat and gave a go-ahead to different legislative matters including proposed Punjab Local Government Act 2019 and Water Act 2019.
• Both proposed acts will now be tabled in the Punjab Assembly for legislation.
• The proposed Punjab Local Government Act 2019 was also presented to Prime Minister Imran Khan during his Lahore visit last week and he had given his consent.
• Through the Water Act 2019, a water resource commission would be established with chief minister as its chairman.
• The Punjab cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, however, could not discuss the Punjab Growth Strategy 2023 as the subject was again taken out of the agenda at the eleventh hour.
3. First-ever hybrid procedures performed on three minor heart patients
• A team of the senior doctors on April 19, 2019 treated three minor patients with complex heart problems through hybrid procedures in the Children`s Hospital, Lahore.
• Declaring it a beginning of new era of modern technique in the country, the team said the Children`s Hospital has become the only public sector health facility of the country where first-ever hybrid procedures have been introduced.
• Led by Children`s Hospital Dean Prof Masood Sadiq, the team of doctors treated three children, namely Anaya (5), Taqi (2) and Sayam (6), through the new technique at newly-installed hybrid lab in the hospital.
• The other team members were Dr Nguyen Tin from Vietnam, Dr Najam Hyder, Dr Asim Khan, Dr Jamal Nasir and Dr Salman A Shah.
• It is said that all the three children who underwent the first modern procedure are recovering well.
• `The hybrid procedure is defined as combined catheter-based (through angiography) and surgical interventions in a single setting or in planned sequential setting.
4. Hafeez named as finance adviser with federal minister status
• The government on April 19, 2019 issued official notifications about the reshuffle in the federal cabinet that has sparked a heated debate across the country about the performance of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government.
• A notification issued from Prime Minister Office (PMO) says President Arif Alvi, on the advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan, has accepted the resignation of former finance minister Asad Umar. He has not taken any other ministry though he himself tweeted he was offered the ministry of energy.
• Another notification says President Alvi has appointed Dr Hafeez Sheikh as adviser to the prime minister on finance, revenue and economic affairs with the status of a federal minister.
• A separate notification says PTI leader Azam Khan Swati, who resigned from the office of minister of science and technology last December after facing a case in the Supreme Court, has been appointed minister for parliamentary affairs.
• Retire d Brig Ijaz Shah, who was recently made minister of parliamentary affairs, has now been appointed interior minister.
5. NPHP to be launched in Balochistan April 21, 2019
• Federal Minister for Housing and Works Chaudhry Tariq Bashir Cheema has announced on April 19, 2019 that the Naya Pakistan Housing Programme would be launched in Balochistan on April 21, 2019 (tomorrow).
• He said his ministry in collaboration with the provincial government would construct one hundred and thirty-five thousand apartments under the first phase of Prime Minister’s flagship programme which includes a housing society for fishermen in Gwadar.
• Tariq Bashir Cheema further informed that twenty-five thousand apartments will be built for federal government employees in Islamabad but all of these will not be constructed at the site where Prime Minister had inaugurated the project few days back.
• Minister says programme includes housing society for fishermen in Gwadar
April 20, 2019: International Current Affairs
6. Afghan-Taliban summit in Doha cancelled
• Hopes for a breakthrough in a push to end Afghanistan’s grueling conflict suffered a major setback Friday, after a key summit between the Taliban and Afghan officials was cancelled.
• The so-called intra-Afghan dialogue, due to take place in Doha this weekend, fell apart at the last minute in a row over the large number of delegates Kabul wanted to send.
• The talks, scheduled for Friday between Afghan government and Taliban representatives, were considered a significant first step towards finding a negotiated end to the war in Afghanistan and the eventual withdrawal of US troops, which would end the US’s longest war.
• A list of 243 people was announced by Qatar on Thursday. That list differed from Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s list of 250 people, which included around 50 women, according to a senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
7. Thai king confers awards on two Australian divers for rescue of cave boys
• Two Australian doctors were given royal honours in Thailand on April 19, 2019 for helping rescue a boys soccer team from a flooded cave and said they are looking forward to a reunion with the youngsters they helped save.
• Richard Harris and Craig Challen were given the award at a ceremony presided over by Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha. Four Australian officials involved with the rescue effort were also honoured.
• Both highly skilled divers, the doctors played key roles in rescuing members of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach from the cave complex in Chiang Rai province last July.
8. Private cargo ship brings Easter feast to space station
• A private cargo ship brought food galore to the International Space Station on April 19, 2019.
• Space station astronaut Anne McClain used a robot arm to capture Northrop Grumman`s Cygnus capsule as they soared 258 miles (415 kilometres) above France.
• The Cygnus and its 7,600-pound (3,450-kilogram) shipment rocketed from Wallops Island, Virginia, on Wednesday, completing the trip in a day and a half. It holds numerous science experiments, including 40 mice taking part in a tetanus vaccination study, and three small free-flying robots to assist astronauts inside and out.
• There are also more than 800 meals for the six station residents, including the makings for a fine Easter feast. NASA packed pork chops with gravy, potatoes au gratin and lemon meringue pudding, among other space specialities.
9. Statue of Dr Robina Shah unveiled at PHC London
• The unveiling ceremony of the statue of High Sheriff of Greater Manchester Dr Robina Shah, in recognition of her achievement and valuable contribution to the society was held here at Pakistan High Commission (PHC) on April 19, 2019 evening.
• The re-unveiling of the statue of Dr Robina Shah which was the 5th statue out of 25 that was unveiled as part of an art project called “Put her forward”. Originally, the statue was unveiled outside Manchester Town Hall on September 7,2018. Dr Robina Shah MBE JP DL, is a British Pakistani who is an academic and a chartered psychologist and senior lecturer at the University of Manchester, has an extensive public service record spanning over 25 years. In recognition of her services, Her Majesty the Queen on April 2018 had appointed her the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester.
• Dr Robina Shah is the first British Pakistani and Asian woman to achieve this honour. Speaking on the occasion of un-veiling ceremony, Nafees Zakaria said that it was a privilege to host the unveiling ceremony of the statue of High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, Dr Robina Shah. He said that this was an apt recognition for Dr. Robina Shah who was the first-ever female Muslim to hold the august Office of High Sheriff. The High Commissioner on the occasion also congratulated Dr. Robina Shah and her family on her achievements.
April 20, 2019: Sports Current Affairs
10. Ex-Scotland cricket captain De Lange dies aged 38
• Scottish cricket was in mourning on April 19, 2019 following the death of former national team captain Con De Lange at the age of 38 following a lengthy illness.
• South Africa-born all-rounder De Lange was diagnosed with a brain tumour after falling ill while away on international duty in late 2017.
• De Lange started his career in South Africa, playing for the Knights and Free State and had two years with Northamptonshire before representing Scotland.
• At international level, he captained Scotland to their hrst50-overvictory over a International Cricket Council full member and hit the winning runs as Scotland chased down 287 against Sri Lanka in May 2017.
