Day by Day Current Affairs (August 2, 2018) | MCQs for CSS, PMS, NTS

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August 2, 2018

1. US designates `LeT commander Dakhil` global terrorist

• The United States on July 31, 2018 designated a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander a specially designated global terrorist and sanctioned two others as fund collectors for the banned group.
• The commander, identified as Abdul Rehman al-Dakhil, is also accused of carrying out attacks in India between 1997 and 2001.
• The fund-raisers were identified as Hameed-ul-Hassan and Abdul Jabbar, who allegedly worked for Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), which the US regards as a front for the LeT.
• Separate announcements by the US state and treasury departments claimed that all three were Pakistani nationals.
• In April, the US added Milli Muslim League (MML), describing it as a political party floated by LeT founder Hafiz Saeed to mainstream the group, and Tehreek-i-Azadi Kashmir (TAJK), as LeT fronts.

2. Pakistan rejects US opposition to IMF bailout

• Foreign Minister Abdullah Hussain Haroon on August 0, 2018 rejected United States opposition to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package for his country as uncalled for and inappropriate.
• `It is totally wrong to link any IMF package with CPEC,` the foreign minister said at a press conference at the Foreign Office while responding to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo`s criticism of a bailout programme for Pakistan by the international lender.
• Mr Pompeo, in an exclusive interview with CNBC on July 31, 2018, disapproved the idea of an IMF bailout for Pakistan saying China would benefit from such a deal.
• The foreign minister clarified that the caretaker government did not have the mandate to seek an IMF package. `This is a policy matter to be decided by incoming government. I want to say it loud and clear so that it is heard internationally,` he added.

3. CAA suspends Shaheen Air`s domestic operations

• A dispute over payment of arrears totalling over Rs1.5 billion between the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Shaheen Air International (SAl) took a serious turn on August 1, 2018 when the CAA ordered suspension of the airline`s domestic operations, it is learnt reliably.
• The airline`s international operations except Haj flights had already been suspended several days ago by the CAA, owing to the non-payment of arrears.
• Confusion prevailed over the airline`s operations as CAA spokesperson Pervez George said the SAI domestic operations were being suspended from Wednesday, while SAI representative Zoheb Hassan maintained that flights of the airline were being operated as per normal schedule.
• Mr George said that despite repeated requests and even an order of the Sindh High Coun, the SAI did not pay arrears as per agreement earlier.

4. UAE offers ‘visa amnesty’ for migrant workers

• The United Arab Emirates, a major hub for migrant labourers, on August 1, 2018 began an amnesty for workers who entered the country without a visa or overstayed their work permit.
• The government said those who entered the UAE illegally or overstayed their visas and who come forward by October 31 would not be fined or charged if they choose to leave the country voluntarily.
• The amnesty also grants those looking for employment a six-month visa to find a job. It excludes, however, those who are “blacklisted” or with legal cases pending.
• The UAE, the fourth largest oil producer in the OPEC oil cartel, is home to a huge workforce from Asia and Africa.

5. Pashto singer shot dead in Nowshera

• Pashto singer and stage actress Resham Khan was shot dead allegedly by her husband in the limits of Nowshera Kalan police station here on August 2, 2018.
• Police said that Resham`s brother Obaidullah, a resident of Charsadda and presently living in Hakimabad, named his brother-in-law Fayda Khan in the first information report about murder of his sister.They said that Resham married Fayda Khan, who was working abroad, one year ago.
• Obaidullah said that the suspect had recently returned to the country and convinced his wife to visit his ailing father. He said that he went to Resham`s residence when she didn`t return after some time and found her murdered. The suspect managed to escape, he added.
• The body of the deceased artist was shifted to the districtheadquarters hospitalfor autopsy.
• Besides rendering several popular songs, Resham Khan had played role of university student in a 350-episodes drama serial `Zhobal Goluna`. She was not only popular in Pakistan but also in other countries as she performed there as well.

6. UK refugee wins biggest maths prize

• Caucher Birkar, a Cambridge University professor of Iranian Kurdish origin, was named August 1, 2018 one of four winners of mathematics’ prestigious Fields medal, often known as the Nobel prize for math.
• The winners were announced at a ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, which became the first Latin American city ever to host the event that takes place only once every four years.
• The other winners were:
• Germany’s Peter Scholze, who teaches at the University of Bonn;
• Alessio Figalli, an Italian mathematician at ETH Zurich;
• Akshay Venkatesh, an Australian teaching at Stanford University.
• The Fields medal recognizes outstanding mathematical achievement of candidates who were under 40 years old at the start of the year. At least two and preferably four people are always honored.

7. Air Chief Marshal Mujahid elected PSF president

• Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan was unanimously elected as president of the Pakistan Squash Federation during the 45th annual general meeting of PSF held at the Air Headquarters on August 1, 2018.
• Besides squash legends Jahangir Khan, Jansher Khan and Qamar Zaman, representatives of provincial squash associations, affiliated members and the Pakistan Sports Board were also present at the meeting.
• While showing his satisfaction over the revival of international squash in Pakistan, the PAF chief said concerted efforts were needed from the provincial squash associations and other members of the PSF for the growth of the game.

8. Thieves snatch Swedish crown jewels in daylight heist

• Robbers who nabbed two 17th century royal crowns and an orb from a Swedish cathedral remained at large on August 1, 2018, a day after fleeing their daring midday heist by motorboat.
• The thieves, who have not been identified, and the jewels are being sought internationally via Interpol, noting the objects were a “national treasure” and would likely be “very difficult to sell.
• The gold burial crowns from 1611 belonging to King Karl IX and his wife Queen Christina were originally interred with the couple but were later exhumed and had been on display in a locked glass cabinet in Strangnas Cathedral, located 100kms west of Stockholm.
• King Karl IX’s crown is made of gold and features crystals and pearls, while Christina’s is smaller and made of gold, precious stones and pearls.

9. Nepal mark ODI debut on losing note

• Nepal suffered a dramatic collapse when they lost nine wickets for just 49 runs to go down to a 55-run defeat to the Netherlands in their maiden One-day International on August 1, 2018.
• Chasing a modest 190 to win, Nepal, playing their first 50-over game since securing ODI status earlier this year, were bowled out for 134 with more than eight overs to spare.
• Nepal had got off to a flying start in their run chase.
• They looked comfortable at 85-1 before they slipped quickly to 104-6 and with most of their stroke makers back in the pavilion.

10. Konta hands Serena worst defeat of her career

• Serena Williams suffered the most lopsided loss of her career at the WTA San Jose event on July 31, 2018, losing the final 12 games in a shocking first-round upset to unseeded Johanna Konta.
• The 23-time Grand Slam winner struggled mightily against the British No. 1 and former winner Konta, who crushed Williams 6-1, 6-0 in just 51 minutes on the main Stadium.
• Williams, who was playing her first match since dropping the Wimbledon final, is trying to regain her top form after missing most of the 2017 season due to a pregnancy.
• The 36-year-old Williams tried to shrug off the worst loss of her hall of fame career.
• Williams, who was seeded sixth, managed just nine winners against 25 unforced errors and had her serve broken six times. She looked nothing like the player that dominated the Tour for years, winning 72 singles titles and earning more than $86 million in prize money.