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February 16, 2019: National Current Affairs
1. Saudi crown prince`s visit delayed by day
• The arrival of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in the federal capital on his first two-day official visit to Pakistan has been delayed by a day for unknown reasons.
• Earlier, the crown prince was due in Islamabad on February 16, 2019 (today) but, according to the Foreign Office, a slight change has been made in his schedule and now he is coming on Sunday.
• Islamabad is describing the visit as a `historical one` which will help stabilise the crippling economy of the country as over $21 billion Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are likely to be inked between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia during the visit.
• Unprecedented security measures are being taken for the visit of the crown prince as twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi will be sealed for two days (on February 17, 2019 and February 18, 2019) and mobile service will remain suspended there.
2. Korea gives equipment for conservation of artifacts
• The embassy of the Republic of Korea on February 15, 2019 gave the Department of Archaeology and Museums $50,000 worth of equipment for conservation, preservation and treatment of artefacts.
• These included stereo-microscope, humidity/environment control equipment, racks for storing antiquity and ultrasonic cleaners to clean metal objects and plant to produce distilled water.
• `The equipment will surely be instrumental in promoting the country`s capacity to conserve its cultural heritage to the inter-national level. The project has been administrated jointly by the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea, Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Pakistan, with the common aim,` Ambassador SingKyu Kwak said at a ceremony held to hand over the equipment at the Islamabad Museum.
• Pakistan and South Korea have warm cultural relations, which are deep-routed in history. Common heritage of Buddhism is of particular importance for further cementing cultural and religious ties between the two countries, said the ambassador.
3. India shares with Pakistan data of three hydro power projects
• After fulfilling its commitment of getting its various hydropower projects at the Chenab basin inspected by Pakistani experts from Jan 28 to Feb 1, India has shared the design data of its three planned run of-the-river hydropower schemes with Pakistan under the Indus Water Treaty (IWT).
• Current Federal Secretary of Water Resources: Khawaja Shumail
• A few days ago, the Indian authorities shared the data with its Pakistani counterparts about Balti Kalan, Kalaroos and Tamasha hydropower projects which are planned to be constructed at Balti Kalan Nullah and Kalaroos Nullah at the Jhelum basin and Tamasha, a sub-tributary of the Indus river, respectively.
• `It is an important development that India has shared data of three projects it plans to construct in near future.
• A three-member delegation of Pakistani experts returned home on Feb1 after inspecting various hydropower projects at the Chenab basin in India. The delegation during its visit inspected the projects under the Indus Water Treaty on the invitation of New Delhi-based office of the Indian commissioner for Indus waters. The projects inspected by Pakistani experts included 1,000MW Pakal Dul, 48MW Lower Kalnai, 850MW Ratlay and 900MW Baglihar dam.
4. Govt pays $5.4bn in debt servicing
• The country`s external debt servicing has increased significantly in the first two quarters of the current fiscal year, reaching $5.367 billion at the end of Dec 2018.
• The State Bank reported on Friday that external debt servicing has been rising sharply compared to the last fiscal year.
• The second quarter debt servicing was equal to 71.6 per cent of the total debt servicing ($7.49bn) witnessed in FY18.
• The external front of the economy has been facing difficulties despite frequent borrowing from friendly countries. Saudi Arabia has remitted $3bn as per agreement with the country while $1bn also landed into the account of State Bank from the United Arab Emirates.
• During Jan 18 to Feb 8, foreign exchange reserves of the State Bank increased by $1.569bn to $8.205bn.
• However, increased debt servicing could minimise the impact of inflows.
February 16, 2019: International Current Affairs
5. India vows to diplomatically isolate Pakistan
• With tensions between Pakistan and India increasing in the aftermath of a deadly suicide attack in India-held Kashmir despite Islamabad`s rejection of insinuations about its involvement in it, New Delhi called back High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria for consultations and thet wo countries summoned each other`s diplomats to lodge their protests.
• India also announced measures to diplomatically isolate Pakistan and said it had decided to withdraw the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status granted to Islamabad.
• Both Pakistan`s FO and Indian External Affairs Ministry held briefings for the P-5 countries on the developing situation after the attack. P-5 refers to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
6. War kills more than 100,000 babies a year, says Save the Children
• At least 100,000 babies die every year because of armed conflict and its impact, from hunger to denial of aid, Save the Children International said on Friday.
• In the 10 worst-hit countries, a conservative estimate of 550,000 inf ants died as a result of fighting between 2013 and 2017.
• They succumbed to war and its effects, among them hunger, damage to hospitals and infrastructure, a lack of access to health care and sanitation and the denialof aid.
• It said children face the threat of being killed or maimed, recruited by armed groups, abducted or falling victim to sexual violence.
• `Almost one in five children are living in areas impacted by conflict more than at any time in the past two decades,` said the charity`s CEO Helle Thorning-Schmidt in a statement
7. US may trim Afghan contingent by 1,000 troops
• Even before any peace push-related drawdowns, the US military is expected to trim troop levels in Afghanistan as part of an efficiency drive by the new commander, a US general said on Friday, estimating the cuts may exceed 1,000 forces.
• Current head of the US military`s Central Command: Army General Joseph Votel
• US President Donald Trump told Congress this month he intended to reduce US forces from Afghanistan as negotiators make progress in talks with Taliban insurgents, saying: `Great nations do not fight endless wars.
• Army General Joseph Votel, the head of the US military`s Central Command, said the decision to reduce some of the roughly 14,000 American forces in Afghanistan was not linked to those peace efforts, however.
8. Trump declares national emergency to build Mexico wall
• US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on February 15, 2019, declaring a national emergency to bypass Congress and appropriate $8 billion he needs to build his long desired wall along the US-Mexico border.
• Current White House Press Secretary: Sarah Sanders
• `I am going to be signing a national emergency,` Mr Trump said in a long-rambling speech from the White House Rose Garden minutes before signing the emergency order.
• `We`re talking about an invasion of our country with drugs, with human traf fickers,` he said while explaining why America needs the wall.
• Soon after Mr Trump finished his speech, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders released a picture with the caption: `President Trump signs the Declaration for a National Emergency to address the national security and humanitarian crisis at the Southern Border. The declaration is likely to be challenged in the courts as well as in the US Congress where the Democratic Party, which holds a commanding majority in the House of Representatives, is likely to lead the fight.
9. Flood water runoff could harm Barrier Reef, say scientists
• Runoff from recent floods in northern Australia is flowing onto parts of the Barrier Reef, scientists said on February 15, 2019, starving coral of light and providing fodder for the predatory crown-of-thorns starfish.
• Parts of northern Queensland are still reeling after nearly two weeks of unprecedented rainfall that turned roads into rivers and inundated hundreds of homes with floodwater. Scientists at James Cook University say the floods swelled a number of rivers along hundreds of kilometres of coastline, spilling sediment onto the reef which has reduced water quality and much-needed sunlight.
• “Coral reef and sea grass need light to maintain their growth and health,” researcher Jane Waterhouse from James Cook University said.
• Calm weather following the extended period of rain means the murky water is yet to disperse.
February 16, 2019: Sports Current Affairs
10. Umar Akmal stars in Quetta`s win over Peshawar
• Quetta Gladiators put up an efficient team performance to open their HBL Pakistan Super League campaign with a six wicket win over former champions Peshawar Zalmi at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 15, 2019 night.
• After restricting Peshawar to 155-4, Quetta reached the target on the back of an undefeated half-century by Umar Akmal on his debut for them after spending the previous three years with Lahore Qalandars.
• The long-discarded Pakistan right-hander anchored his new franchise to 161-4 in 19.4 overs after the first-ball dismissal of Ahmed Shehzad. The winning stroke came in the shape of a huge six off Kieron Pollard.
• His 50-ball man-of-the match knock of 75 also featured two more sixes and seven fours.
