WELCOME TO CSS TIMES DAY BY  DAY CURRENT AFFAIRS, YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR UP-TO-DATE AND DAILY TOP CURRENT AFFAIRS 2019 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

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May 24, 2019: National Current Affairs

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1. Training launch of N-capable Shaheen-II missile conducted

• Pakistan on Thursday conducted a training launch of nuclear capable, intermediate range, surface-to-surface ballistic missile Shaheen-II.
• The training launch was aimed at ensuring operational readiness of Army Strategic Forces Command.
• Shaheen-II missile can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads up to a range of 1,500 kilometres, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
• `Shaheen-II is a highly capable missile which fully meets Pakistan`s strategic needs towards maintenance of desired deterrence stability in the region,` the ISPR statement further said.
• The missile is a solid-propellant, two-stage ballistic missile. It was first flight tested in March, 2004, with a range of 2000km. In November, 2014 a test-launch with a different design of Shaheen-II was conducted with a range of 1500km. The missile is claimed to be able to achieve `surgical precision`.
• It is an operational weapon system in service with Army Strategic Force Command.

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2. In a first, SC to use e-Court system

• For the first time in the judicial history of the country, the Supreme Court of Pakistan will on May 27, 2019 put into use the e-Court system under which its registries in the provinces would be connected through the latest technology to its principal seat in the federal capital.
• The system would facilitate speedy disposal of outstanding legal matters pertaining to organisations and individuals in the provinces.
• The facility would initially be utilised to connect the court`s principal seat in Islamabad and the Supreme Court Branch Registry, Karachi, said the statement.
• A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Asif Saeed Khosa would start hearing cases through this facility on Monday.

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3. Another key change as govt names new finance secretary

• About two weeks ahead of the announcement of the federal budget, the government on May 23, 2019 made another change to its economic team and appointed Naveed Kamran Baloch as the federal finance secretary after removing Muhammad Younas Dagha.
• The coveted post has been retained by the powerful Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), formerly known as the District Management Group. This group has jealously kept the position under its control for decades, with the exception of Dr Waqar Masood Khan who was an outsider.
• Mr Baloch, a grade-22 of ficer of the PA S, was until Wednesday posted as secretary of the cabinet division and has been replaced by Maroof Afzal, another PAS officer working as information technology secretary.
• The government reappointed Naeem Zamindar as chairman of the Board of Investment after Haroon Sharif resigned from the position on Wednesday. Mr Zamindar was the BOI chief during the tenure of the PML-N government and was replaced by Mr Sharif.
• Mr Dagha, also a PAS officer, had taken over as finance secretary exactly two months ago, on March 23, but could not get along with the prime minister`s adviser on finance, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh.

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4. British Airways to resume operations with three weekly flights from June 2

• British Airways (BA) will resume flights between London and Islamabad on June 2 after a break of around 11 years, with a three flights per week service on the Boeing 787 Dreamline aircraft.
• The airline is starting a three flights per week service to London Heathrow. The final touches are coming together for the airline`s return, ahead of its first flight on June 2, the statement said.
• The service will be operated on a three class Boeing 787 Dreamliner with World Traveller (long-haul economy), World Traveller Plus (long-haul premium economy) and Club World (long-haul business class) available.
• The 787 is BA`s newest long-haul aircraft.
• It is 20pc more fuel efficient that other aircraft and features larger windows, mood lighting and the latest in in-flight entertainment. Lower cabin pressure means that customers step off the flight feeling fresh.

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5. Imran to attend OIC summit in Makkah

• Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 23, 2019 confirmed his participation in OIC Summit scheduled in Makkah on May 31. Prime Minister while speaking Governor Tabuk Prince Fahd bin Sultan Al Saud who telephoned to Prime Minister Imran Khan and said he looks forward to Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia.
• The Prime Minister reciprocated the greetings and thanked for the generous support of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan at this difficult time. He also confirmed his participation to the forthcoming OIC Summit in Makkah. The KSA has extended a $3.2 billion deferred payment facility with Pakistan for petroleum products from the start of July

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6. Federal Budget to be presented on June 11

• The government on May 23, 2019 formally announced that budget for the next fiscal year 2019-20 would be presented in National Assembly on June 11.
• Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh chaired a meeting to review the budget framework for the year 2019-20. He gave direction to concerned wings of finance ministry to timely complete the budget process which will be presented in the National Assembly on June 11. The PTI-led government would present its first annual budget, as it had already announced two mini-budgets in last few months.

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May 24, 2019: International Current Affairs

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7. Modi wins second term by landslide, pledges inclusive govt

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi won an emphatic mandate on May 24, 2019 for a second consecutive term in general elections that saw him pitching national security as an invincible talisman.
• In a tweet, Mr Modi promised an inclusive government. `With all + everybody`s confidence = victorious India,` he said. `Together we grow.
• His Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shocked a formidable lower caste coalition of Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh by winning 60 of the 80 seats. The BJP was close to winning 300 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha, a potential increase of 18 seats from the party`s tally in 2014.

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8. Saudi Arabia launches ‘Quran recitation competitions’

• Two competitions calling for the “most beautiful and influential voices” from around the world to recite the Quran and perform Adhan have been officially opened by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Entertainment.
• The Quran and Adhan Awards “aim to to provide a rich Islamic experience to the world by highlighting the diversity of the cultures of the Islamic world, which is reflected in the different methods of reciting the Quran and raising the Adhan.
• Applications for both competitions opened on May 22 and will close on June 22. Filtering of applications will take place until August 22, with live performances taking place throughout August and September and the winners declared in October. Registration is open.
• The first competition will be for the most beautiful reciting of the Holy Qur’an, and competitors from all over the world are invited. The first prize will be SR 5 million.
• The second Islamic competition is for the adhan (call for prayer). In addition to receiving a large prize of SR 2 million, the winner of the first prize can also look forward to raising the adhan in the Prophet’s Holy mosque.

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9. China unveils high-speed maglev train prototype

• A Chinese research and development team completed the prototype of a record-breaking high-speed train, local media reported on May 23, 2019.
• The team unveiled the test model in the eastern city of Qingdao for a proposed magnetic-levitation (maglev) train that will run at speeds up to 600 kilometers per hour (373 miles per hour).
• “The testing prototype can check and optimize the key technologies and core system components of the high-speed maglev system and lay a technological basis for the forthcoming engineering prototype,” Chinese Xinhua news agency quoted Ding Sansan, who is head of the team.

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May 24, 2019: Sports Current Affairs

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10. Bowlers, Lee secure series for South Africa women

• A collective bowling performance followed by opener Lizelle Lee’s third fifty-plus score in four T20Is helped South Africa women clinch the five-match series 3-2 against Pakistan women in Benoni.
• After limiting Pakistan to 125 for 5, Lee and nineteen-year-old Nadine de Klerk put on an unbroken century stand for the second wicket to usher the host’s home. After being inserted, Pakistan lost Umaima Sohail to Shabnim Ismail in the fourth over and meandered to 30 for 1 in the Powerplay. Javeria Khan (20), Captain Bismah Maroof (23), Nida Dar (28) and Aliya Riaz (26) all moved into the twenties, but none could find a gear high enough to hurt South Africa.

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