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
1. PMSS ship `Kashmir` commissioned in China
- The first 1,500-tonne Pakistan Maritime Security Ship `Kashmir` which is the fourth in a series of six multipurpose patrol vessels (MPVs) was commissioned in the Chinese city of Guangzhou on July 20, 2018.
- The 94-metre MPV, PMSS Kashmir displaces 1,550 tonnes of water and is equipped with state-of-the art weaponry, communication and navigational equipment. The ship is propelled by two advanced diesel engines to achieve a maximum speed of 26 knots and has an endurance of 3,500 nautical miles. It is capable of undertaking multifarious missions such as surveillance, policing, anti-smuggling and anti-poaching operations, security and law-enforcement patrolling in maritime zones, pollution monitoring and control and search and rescue operations while operating independently or as part of a task force in a multi-threat environment for extended duration at sea due to having that capability of replenishment and shipboard helicopter operations.
- The commissioning ceremony was graced by Secretary of Defence retired Lt Gen Zamirul Hassan Shah HI(M) as the chief guest.
- PMSS Kashmir, as its name implies, is a symbol of our solidarity with our integral part Kashmir. The people of Kashmir are engaged in a heroic struggle and continue to lay supreme sacrifices for their rights. This ship, being the largest one in the PMSA fleet, has therefore been named Kashmir to show resolve towards the cause of Kashmir and solidarity with our great Kashmiri brothers and sisters.
2. Fakhar’s 210* powers Pakistan to 244-run win
- Fakhar Zaman became the first Pakistan player to hit a double century in one-day internationals as Pakistan crushed Zimbabwe by 244 runs to go 4-0 up in their one-day series.
- On July 20, 2018, after winning the toss and deciding to bat, Pakistan began to put statisticians around the world on notice. Pakistan plundered 399 – their highest ODI total – while Fakhar Zaman made a brutally destructive 210 not out off 156 balls as Pakistan pulverized Zimbabwe by 244 runs.
3. Fakhar and Imam smash records in Bulawayo
- Pakistan openers’ historic stand: Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq added 304 runs for the first wicket in the fourth ODI in Bulawayo. Fakhar and Imam became only the fourth pair across teams to add 300 runs for any wicket in ODIs
- Fakhar breaks a 21-year-old Pakistan record: Fakhar became the first Pakistan player to score a double-century in ODIs and the sixth overall. The previous highest score for Pakistan was Saeed Anwar’s 194, against India in 1997
- A record team score for Pakistan: Pakistan’s total of 399 is their highest team score in ODIs, going past the 385 runs they scored against Bangladesh in June 2010. This is only the fifth instance of any team putting together a total in excess of 300 while losing only one wicket
- Quickest to make double ton in ODIs: 17 Innings taken by Fakhar Zaman to reach his maiden double hundred – the quickest by any player. Of the five other players to score ODI double hundreds, the fewest number of innings taken was 103 each by Rohit Sharma (in 2013) and Martin Guptill (in 2015)
- Imam – the century making machine: Eight innings taken by Imam-ul-Haq to reach his third ODI century – the fewest by any player in the history of ODI cricket. The fewest innings taken by any player to reach three ODI hundreds was nine each by Denis Amiss and Kevin Pietersen.
- Asif’s hard hitting: Asif Ali took 22 balls to reach his maiden ODI fifty. It is the joint fastest for Pakistan by any player apart Shahid Afridi in ODIs. Abdul Razzaq (vs England, Karachi, 2005) and Mohammad Amir (vs England, Trent Bridge, 2016) have also scored fifties off 22 balls each. For the record, Afridi has scored nine fifties in 22 or fewer balls in ODIs – the most by any player.
4. Netherlands, Turkey resume full diplomatic ties
- The Netherlands and Turkey resuming full diplomatic ties for the first time since Dutch officials barred two Turkish ministers from attending an election rally in 2017.
- In a joint statement, the two countries said their foreign ministers met on the sidelines of last week’s NATO summit in Brussels and “agreed to normalise the diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and Turkey.
- The Hague withdrew its ambassador to Ankara in February as relations plunged to new lows in a festering dispute that began when the Netherlands expelled Turkey’s Family Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kayar in March 2017. The country also barred another minister’s plane from landing as both Turkish politicians sought to attend a Rotterdam rally of Dutch-Turkish citizens in favour of Turkey’s April 2017 referendum, in which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan narrowly won sweeping new powers.
- Erdogan at the time accused the Dutch of behaving like “fascists” in their treatment of the Turkish ministers – comments which triggered anger in the Netherlands, occupied by Nazi Germany in World War II.
- The Netherlands is home to some 400,000 people of Turkish origin, and the two countries have had diplomatic relations for some four centuries.
5. US, India to hold first `2+2 dialogue` in September
- The United States and India will hold their inaugural `2+2 Dialogue` in New Delhi on September 6.
- US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Secretary of Defence James Mattis will participate in the dialogue while Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman will represent India.
- The meeting will discuss various measures for strengthening strategic, security, and defence cooperation `as the United States and India jointly address challenges in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
- Defence and political relations between the two countries have developed rapidly in the last 10 years but they still have differences on bilateral trade. President Donald Trump`s plan to correct imbalances in trade with other nations has further exacerbated business ties.
- Both countries, however, have strong reasons for staying engaged.
- India wants to counter China`s expanding economic and military weight in the region with Washington`s support. The United States also desires to check China`s growing influence in the Indo Pacific region and finds India an eager partner. The `2+2` talks were set for this month in Washington but had to be delayed because Secretary Pompeo had to visit North Korea. The talks were originally scheduled in April but were postponed after President Trump sacked former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Mr. Pompeo faced a lengthy confirmation hearing.
6. Ex-S. Korean president gets eight more years in jail
- Disgraced former South Korean president Park Geun-hye was convicted of charges including illegally receiving funds from the country`s spy agency on July 20, 2018 and given eight more years in prison, on top of her current term.
- Park, the South`s first female president, was impeached last year after huge street protests over a sprawling scandal, and was jailed for 24 years for corruption and abuse of power in April.
- The Seoul Central District Court gave Park six years for taking 3.3 billion won ($2.9 million) from the spy agency, and two years for the electoral of fence.
- The penalties apply consecutively, meaning the 66-year-old now f aces a total of 32 years in prison.
7. Hackers steal records of 1.5m Singaporeans
- Hackers have stolen the health records of 1.5 million Singaporeans including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, authorities said on July 20, 2018, with the leader specifically targeted in the city-state`s biggest data breach.
- Singapore`s health and information ministries said a government database was broken into in a `deliberate, targeted and well-planned` strike, describing the attack as `unprecedented` because it hit a quarter of the population.
- Attackers specifically and repeatedly targeted the personal particulars and outpatient information of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
- Forensic analysis by Singapore`s Cyber Security Agency `indicates this is a deliberate, targeted, and well-planned cyberattack and not the work of casual hackers or criminal gangs.
8. China and UAE sign deals as president visits Abu Dhabi
- China and the United Arab Emirates signed a raft of financial, business and trade agreements on July 20, 2018 during a visit by President Xi Jinping to the UAE, underscoring energy-hungry Beijing`s rapidly growing interest in the Middle East.
- Xi made the first visit by a Chinese leader to the Gulf state in 29 years, meeting two of its most powerful leaders, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi.
- They announced 13 agreements and memoranda of understanding, including approval for the first Chinese state-owned financial services firm to set up in Abu Dhabi Global Market, a financial centre, while the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and the China National Petroleum Corporation agreed to explore joint business opportunities.
- As both a major energy exporter and a hub for international trade, the UAE is an important part of Xi`s `Belt and Road` initiative to invest in infrastructure linking China by both sea and land to markets in Asia and Europe.
9. Liverpool sign goalkeeper Alisson in world record 72.5m euro deal
- Liverpool signed Brazil goalkeeper Alisson from Roma in a world record deal valued at 72.5 million euros by the Italian club.
- The 25-year-old signed a long-term contract with the Reds after undergoing a medical and completing the formalities of his switch at (training centre) Melwood.
- Roma confirmed the value of the transfer for Alisson who featured at the World Cup in Russia.
10. Hyperloop project goes to China
- Hyperloop Transportation Technologies said it will team up with a southwestern Chinese city to build a new 10-kilometre (six-mile) track for its high-speed hyperloop transportation system.
- California-based HyperloopTT is one of several ventures to take Elon Musk’s idea for a new type of transport system propelling capsules through vacuum-sealed tunnels and attempt to make it a reality.
- It has struck similar agreements with several other countries, with construction of its first capsules — intended to magnetically levitate in low friction tubes — underway at its innovation centre in France.
- The remote city of Tongren in China’s impoverished Guizhou province will host the project, according to the plans.
