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March 26, 2019: National Current Affairs
1. Pakistan receives $2.1billion from China
• China March 25, 2019 transferred much-needed $2.1 billion to Pakistan that would provide a breathing space to country’s economic managers who are struggling to maintain foreign exchange reserves because of massive loan repayments.
• “China has deposited $2.1 billion (RMB 15 billion) in the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)’s account to jack up foreign currency reserves,” confirmed Finance Ministry spokesperson Dr Khaqan Hassan Najeeb.
• In a related development, IMF Mission Chief for Pakistan Ernesto Ramirez Rigo arrived in Pakistan yesterday to hold meetings with top economic managers of the country.
• In October last year, Pakistan had formally approached IMF for a bailout package to bridge the financial gap of $12 billion. Both sides held talks for the new programme in November in Islamabad.
2. Pakistan eyes package as IMF mission chief arrives today
• As the arrival of $2.1 billion Chinese loans jacked up Pakistan`s total foreign exchange reserves to $17.58bn highest since April 2018 the government is expecting finalisation of a bailout package with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)in four-six weeks to form the basis for next year budget.
• IMF`s new mission chief for Pakistan Ernesto Ramirez Rigo is set to touch base with Finance Minister Asad Umar and senior officials of his ministry on March 26, 2019 over authorities` preparedness to enter into a three-year pro-gramme. Assisted by IMF`s country representative Maria Teresa Daban, Mr Rigo will also visit Karachi the following day for interactions at the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
• During the two-day discussions, both sides are expected to set dates to field a formal mission by the middle of next month to finalise a reform package
3. Pakistan, EU agree on new strategic engagement plan
• Pakistan and the European Union on March 25, 2019 agreed on a new strategic engagement plan for steering their bilateral relationship and enhancing cooperation.
• The agreement was reached at the fourth round of Pakistan-EU strategic dialogue.
• High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, who was visiting Islamabad for the first time since assuming office in 2014, led the European bloc`s delegation, while Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi headed the Pakistan side.
• `The most encouraging news is that after exchange of so many drafts, Pakistan and EU have finally agreed on a Strategic Engagement Plan. That`s a real plus,` Mr Qureshi told journalists after the meeting at the Foreign Office.
4. China grants emergency relief to Balochistan
• Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing delivered emergency relief assistance to Balochistan on behalf of the Red Cross Society of China on the recent flood across the province.
• Governor Balochistan Aman Ullah Khan Yasinzai and Secretary General of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society Khalid Bin Majeed received assistance on behalf of the province and Pakistan Red Crescent Society.
March 26, 2019: International Current Affairs
5. India records 2.15m new TB patients in 2018
• India notified 2.15 million new tuberculosis patients in 2018, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has said.
• The ministry said in a release on March 25, 2019, the World TB Day, that the initiatives taken by the public and private sector have resulted in an increase from 25 percent to 83 percent in the treatment success rates (2017-2018), while the TB prevalence rates have come down from 29 percent to 4 percent.
• The ministry reiterated their commitment to eliminating TB in the country by 2025. India, which accounts for about a quarter of the Global TB Burden, has the highest burden of both TB and Multi Drug Resistant TB
6. US recognises occupied Golan Heights as Israeli territory
• US President Donald Trump recognised the occupied Golan Heights as Israeli territory on March 25, 2019 in an election boost for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
• During a White House visit by Netanyahu, Trump signed a proclamation officially granting US recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli territory a dramatic shift from decades of US policy. Israel seized the strategic land from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war.
• The recognition appeared to be the most overt gesture by the Republican president to help Netanyahu, who had been pressing Trump for the move. The Israeli prime minister, who f aces an election on April 9, cut short his US visit on March 24, 2019 after a rocket fired from Gaza injured seven people near Tel Aviv.
7. Trump lashes out at `enemies` after Russia probe report
• President Donald Trump lashed out at his enemies on March 25, 2019, accusing unnamed people of evil actions and treason, a day after his attorney general released a summary of Special Counsel Robert Mueller`s findings clearing the president`s campaign of conspiring with Russia in the 2016 US election.
• `We`re glad it`s over. It`s 100 percent the way it should have been, Trump told reporters at the White House. `I wish it could have gone a lot sooner, alot quicker.
• `There are a lot of people out there that have done some very, very evil things, very bad things, I would say treasonous things against our country,` Trump added without mentioning anyone by name or citing specific actions.
8. Langkawi hosts int’l exhibition on maritime, aerospace
• The 15th Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) will see the participation of hundreds of companies from dozens of countries.
• 406 local and international companies from some 30 countries and regions had turned up for the five-day event.
9. Apple launches credit card
• Apple is launching its own credit card, called Apple Card, that can be used anywhere Apple Pay is accepted.
• Apple says the card will make it easier to see what merchants charged you. It uses Apple Maps to show users where they spend their money. This is in contrast to the sometimes-confusing alphabet soup people can see on their credit card statements.
10. 71pc UAE women have higher qualifications: FNC member
• The United Arab Emirates is among the top nations, both in the region and globally, in terms of the empowerment of women, Azza Sulaiman.
• The UAE’s efforts in empowering women and elevating them to top positions in the police and security fields is one of the most supportive models for women
