Day by Day Current Affairs (August 31, 2018) | MCQs for CSS, PMS, NTS

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 August 31, 2018; National Current Affairs

1. Pakistani experts to inspect two Indian hydropower project sites

• India agreed on August 30, 2018 to get sites of its two hydropower projects 1,000MW Pakal Dul and 48MW Lower Kalnal inspected by Pakistani experts by the end of next month.
• It also assured Pakistan of taking up its objections/concerns over the two projects seriously by resolving them amicably in the light of technical memorandums to be prepared and exchanged by the two countries in the next meeting to be held in New Delhi.
• The major breakthrough of the two-day talks held in Lahore is that India has agreed to get the projects` sites visited by our experts.
• During the visit, experts will minutely examine the sites, construction in the light of the provisions of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) and the objections raised by Pakistan to the aforementioned projects being executed by India over the Chenab River.
• Both delegations headed by Pakistani and Indian commissioners for Indus waters resumed talks on day two, reiterating their stance over construction of the projects. The Indian side led by Pradeep Kumar Saxenareviewed Pakistan`s objections minutely. It also presented its point of view amid justification in response to the objections.
• The Pakistani side led by Commissioner for Indus Water Syed Mohammad Mehr Ali Shah continued defending its stance, requesting the Indian delegation to address the issues as sought. However, it was mutually decided that both countries would separately prepare technical memorandums based on their point of view and possible solutions.

2. Anwar Mansoor appointed attorney general

• After considerable delay, a notification for the appointment of Anwar Mansoor Khan as Attorney General of Pakistan was issued on August 30, 2018.
• Khalid Jawed, who held the coveted post at the time, had been informed that the government would like to retain him in the office because of his hard work as well as clear understanding of the law, which had impressed even the judges of the Supreme Court.
• This is the second time that Anwar Mansoor Khan has become the attorney general. He earlier served in the position during the tenure of the Pakistan Peoples Party government. He resigned from the post on April 2, 2010 after reportedly developing differences with the then law minister, Babar Awan.
• The office of the attorney general is considered to be an important one because individuals with deep understanding of the law and having considerable experience at the bar, and who are qualified enough to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court, are chosen to represent the federal government before the superior judiciary as well as act as a bridge between the two pillars of the state.
• Mr Khan has defended former president Gen Pervez Musharraf before a special court in the case of high treason. He was commissioned as an officer in the Pakistan Army in 1971 and fought the 1971 war, but resigned in 1973. He became a prisoner of war in 1971.
• He was appointed judge of the Sindh High Court in October 2000, but resigned from the position on Oct 3, 2001, to rejoin law practice.

3. 10 ministers of Balochistan get portfolios

• The Services and General Administration Department here on August 30, 2018 notified portfolios of 10 newly appointed ministers and an adviser to the chief minister.
• Sardar Muhammad Saleh Bhootani has been given the portfolio of food, law and parliamentary affairs, Mir Muhammad Arif Jan Muhammad Hasni finance, Mir Saleem Ahmed Khosa home and tribal affairs, Nawabzada Mir Tariq Khan Magsi communications and works, Sardar Noor Muhammad Dumar public health and engineering, Sardar Sarfaraz Chakar Domki tourism and archives, Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi information, Mir Ziaullah Langove forest and wildlife, Mir Nasibullah Marri health, and Engr Zamarak Khan Piralizai agriculture and cooperatives.
• Adviser to the chief minister Metha Khan Kakar will look after the affairs of the livestock and dairy department

4. More than 12 children abused every day in first half of 2018: report

• A report released by the NGO Sahil has revealed that cases of child abuse increased by 32pc in the first six months of 2018 compared to the first half of 2017.
• The report found that a total of 2,322 child abuse cases were reported by newspapers in all four provinces, as well as Islamabad, Azad Kashmir and GilgitBaltistan. In comparison, 1,764 such incidents were reported from January to June 2017.
• More than 12 children were abused every day during the January to June period of this year, the data shows. In addition, 1,725 cases were reported from rural areas and 597 from urban areas.
• Cases of sexual abuse of boys increased by 47pc, the report said, while cases of sexual abuse of girls increased by 22pc compared to last year.
• Children between the ages of six and 15 are the most vulnerable to abuse, the report said.
• According to the provincial breakdown, 65pc of cases were reported from Punjab and 26pc from Sindh.
• A total of 69 cases were reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 68 from the capital, 55 from Balochistan, 21 from AJK and twofrom GB.

5. Gen Zubair attends meeting of Shanghai cooperation in Moscow

• Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Committee, Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat attended chiefs of general staff meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states in Moscow.
• The host country briefed the forum on international geopolitical situation and activities of transnational terrorist organisations in various crisis regions of the world.
• While addressing the forum, the JCS chairman highlighted the contributions of Pakistan`s armed forces to peace and their immense sacrifices in war against terrorism. On the sidelines of the event, Gen Hayat also met Gen Li Zoucheng, chief of Joint Staff of Peoples Liberation Army, and Lt Gen Sobirzoda Emomali Abdurahim, chief of general staff of Tajikistan.

6. WB to support green banking in Pakistan

• The International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank group will support `green banking` in Pakistan as part of IFC`s commitment to helping countries` transition to green, low carbon and sustainable economies.
• In this regard IFC has signed an advisory agreement with the State Bank of Pakistan in Karachi on August 29, 2018.
• IFC`s advisory services team will assist the SBP and country`s banking sector in improving their environmental risk management practices, and ensuring ethical lending practices.
• The State Bank has already taken an initial step towards this with the issue of its green banking guidelines last October.
• `Green banking is vital to reduce the vulnerability of the financial sector to environmental risks and provide financing to make economies more resource-efficient and climate resilient.

7. Iranian foreign minister arrives on two-day visit

• Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif landed Islamabad on August 30, 2018 on a two-day trip to engage with the new government.
• Iranian FM Javad Zarif arrives in Pakistan, the first foreign dignitary to visit Pakistan since the new government took over.
• FM Zarif had earlier in a telephonic conversation with his Pakistani counterpan Shah Mehmood Qureshi had indicated his desire to meet the new leadership.
• During his stay in Islamabad, the Iranian foreign minister, besides meeting Mr Qureshi, is likely to call on other leaders of the new administration. Iran has been warming up to Pakistan after remaining lukewarm for decades and potentially sees its neighbour as part of the emerging regional bloc that could include Russia and China. Iran this year celebrated Pakistan`s Independence Day in an unprecedented manner displaying large greeting hoardings along major highways in Iranian cities.

August 31, 2018; International Current Affairs

8. Dutch lawmaker cancels blasphemous cartoon contest

• Dutch anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders has cancelled a competition for cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that sparked protests in Pakistan.
• The far-right politician, who is known for his incendiary speeches and protests against immigration and Islam, said on Thursday he did not want others endangered by the contest he planned for November.
• “To avoid the risk of victims of Islamic violence, I have decided not to let the cartoon contest go ahead,” he said in a written statement, claiming to have received death threats.
• The scheduled contest sparked angry protests in Pakistan and a death threat this week from a 26-year-old man, reportedly a Pakistani, who was arrested on August 30, 2018 in The Hague. Earlier on August 30, 2018, a Dutch judge extended by two weeks the detention of the man who allegedly threatened to attack Wilders. Prosecutors said in a statement that an investigating judge ordered the suspect held while he is investigated on charges of making a threat, making preparations for a murder and incitement.
• In his emailed statement, Wilders said “The threats resulting from the cartoon contest are running out of control.”

9. Egypt appoints first-ever Christian woman as governor

• Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has sworn in several new provincial governors, including the first-ever Coptic Christian woman to hold the position.
• Manal Awad Mikhail was appointed governor of Damietta province August 30, 2018. She was previously a deputy for the Giza governor. The reshuffle included new governors for Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan and North Sinai. Egypt had appointed the first-ever female governor to the province of Beheira in a reshuffle last year. The Beheira governor was changed in Thursday’s reshuffle.
• Christians, who constitute about 10 per cent of Egypt’s Muslim-majority population of 100 million, have long complained of discrimination and their under-representation in top government positions. Christians strongly supported general-turned-president el-Sissi who led the ouster of his Islamist predecessor.
• Egypt’s current cabinet includes eight female ministers, the highest in the country’s modern history.

August 31, 2018; Sports Current Affairs

10. Pakistan`s hockey dream ends with stunning loss to Japan

• Pakistan were stunned 1-0 by a disciplined Japan in their semi-final on August 30, 2018, with Shota Yamada scoring the decisive goal with a penalty corner conversion in the 18th minute.
• Having pumped in 45 goals during the group stage, Pakistan couldn`t even get on the scoresheet when the stakes got high.
• The hockey team`s run in the lndonesian capital had fuelled hopes that Pakistan would clinch a record-extending ninth Asian Games gold medal. Now, it will have to fight for bronze.
• Pakistan were expected to clash with India in a classic final but after seeing their arch-rivals, the defending champions, ousted by Malaysia 7-6 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw, Pakistan produced an insipid performance against the Japanese and registered just four shot son goal.
• Japan had been thrashed 8-0 by India in the group stage where Pakistan had humbled Malaysia 4-1.
• Japan played with a total defensive scheme against Pakistan at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium Complex, relying only on counterattacks through Kenta Tanaka and Yamada.