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April 7, 2019: National Current Affairs
1. US thanks Pakistan for supporting Afghan peace process
• The United States has thanked the Pakistani leadership for their assistance in facilitating the travel of the Taliban’s negotiating team as both sides discussed how peace in Afghanistan will also benefit Pakistan.
• A statement issued by the US Embassy in Islamabad on the conclusion of Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad’s visit to Pakistan said that Pakistan and the United States discussed ways to unlock opportunities for regional economic integration and development through peace in Afghanistan.
• It said Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, visited Islamabad from April 5 to 6 to continue discussions with the Pakistani civilian and military leadership on the status of the Afghanistan peace process.
• The Special Representative met with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
2. Govt decides to establish IT- SEZ in capital city
• The government has decided to establish the Information Technology (IT) Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in capital city for providing business and employment opportunities to the hi- tech and skilled workers.
• The government has yet to decide the land for Information Technology (IT) Zone as there are two places in capital city which have been proposed for establishing the zone in capital city, Secretary Board of Investment (BOI) Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera told.
• The secretary BOI said it was a priority of the government to build SEZs in the federal capital along with three other SEZs including Hattar (Haripur), Faisalabad and Rashakai (Nowshera) for facilitating international and local investors in the country.
3. Faisal Saleh Hayat elected AFC vice-president in Kuala Lumpur
• Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat has become first Pakistani to be elected as vice president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) unopposed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on April 6, 2019.
• `Faisal Salah Hayat makes history to be elected as the vice president of Asian Football Confederation, significantly, unopposed.
• `In the Asian Football Confederation Congress held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on April 6, 2019, he was announced as the vice president after fulfilling the formalities. He will serve the position for a term of four years.
• On the other hand, Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa has also been elected unopposed as the President of AFC once again.
April 7, 2019: International Current Affairs
4. US to designate elite Iranian force as `terrorist organisation`
• The United States is expected to designate Iran`s elite Revolutionary Guards Corps a foreign terrorist organisation, three US officials said, marking the first time Washington has formally labelled another country`s military a terrorist group.
• The decision, which critics warn could open US military and intelligence officials to similar actions by unfriendly governments abroad, is expected to be announced by the US State Department as early as Monday, the officials said. It has been rumoured for years.
• The Pentagon declined to comment and referred queries to the State Department.
• The State Department and White House also declined to comment, however.
• The Iranian mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
5. Maldives votes in crucial ballot to elect new parliament
• People in the Maldives voted in a crucial parliamentary election on April 6, 2019 that many hope will help President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih overcome a coalition split that has hampered his efforts to restore political freedoms and tackle corruption.
• Some voters who had lined up earlier were allowed to cast their vote well after balloting officially ended at 6pm in the Indian Ocean archipelago nation known for its luxury resorts, said Ahmed Akram, an election official. He said voter turnout was over 78 percent.
6. EU backs ICC after US revokes visa of its prosecutor
• The European Union on April 6, 2019 declared its support for the International Criminal Court (ICC), voicing `serious concern` after the US revoked the chief prosecutor`s visa over a possible investigation into American soldiers` actions in Afghanistan.
• Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda`s office confirmed on Friday that Washington had revoked her visa for entry into the US a move that came after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced restrictions on ICC staff who probed US or allied personnel.
• A spokesperson for the EU`s diplomatic service said the bloc `fully supports the ICC and its independence` and said Brussels expected the US to comply with its `international obligations` toward the court.
7. UK issuing passports without `European Union` on cover
• Britain has begun issuing passports with the words `European Union` removed from the front cover despite Brexit being delayed and uncertainty over when the country will leave the bloc.
• The interior ministry confirmed that some passports introduced from March 30, the day after Britain was originally due to depart, no longer include references to the EU following a 2017 decision.
• However, it said some newly-issued travel documents would still bear the bloc`s name which has sat atop British passport covers in a bid to save public money.
• `In order to use leftover stock and achieve best value for the taxpayer, passports that include the words `European Union` will continue to be issued for a short period,` a spokeswoman said.
8. Tanzanian FM hails bilateral ties with China
• Tanzanian Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Palamagamba Kabudi, described China as Tanzania’s all weather friend.
• “Be it during hard times and during glorious times, China has steadfastly remained Tanzania’s friend,” said Kabudi at a commemoration event to salute the tragic loss of Chinese workers and technicians who died during the construction of the 1,860 km Tanzania-Zambia railway (TAZARA) line. The railway connects Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia.
• He said the construction of TAZARA, which is also known as the Uhuru Railway, was a very difficult undertaking.
9. Scientists set to unveil first picture of a black hole
• The world, it seems, is soon to see the first picture of a black hole.
• Astronomers across the globe will hold “six major press conferences” simultaneously to announce the first results of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), which was designed precisely for that purpose. It has been a long wait.
• Of all the forces or objects in the Universe that we cannot see — including dark energy and dark matter — none has frustrated human curiosity so much as the invisible maws that shred and swallow stars like so many specks of dust. Astronomers began speculating about these omnivorous “dark stars” in the 1700s, and since then indirect evidence has slowly accumulated.
April 7, 2019: Sports Current Affairs
10. Lahore retain Punjab Games trophy with 128 medals
• Lahore with 2637 points retained the trophy of 72nd Punjab Games which concluded at the Punjab Stadium in a colourful closing ceremony on April 6, 2019 night.
• Overall, Lahore Division grabbed 66 gold, 38 silver and 24 silver medals to earn 128 medals in all and secure the top position in the nine-division four-day gala.
• Faisalabad with 2105.5 points bagged the second place. Faisalabad`s medals tally was 21 gold, 44 silver and 37 bronze medals making the aggregate 102 medals.
• Gujranwala remained third with 1212.5 points. They claimed 14 gold, 16 silver and 26 bronze medals.
• They were followed by Sahiwal (1129 points), Rawalpindi (1032), Bahawalpur (966), Multan (857) and Dera Ghazi Khan (432.5).
