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November 21, 2018: National Current Affairs
1. Talks on bailout package with IMF inconclusive
• Talks remained inconclusive between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the government of Pakistan for a bailout needed to build reserves and avert the possibility of a balance of payments crisis.
• A late night press release issued by the Fund said that `[o]ur dialogue with the Pakistani authorities will continue over the coming weeks`.
• Contrary to past practice, no press conference was held at the conclusion of the talks and the Fund team, headed by mission chief Harald Finger, left the country without any further comment. Both sides issued brief, but carefully drafted, statements of their own to the media. Both statements read substantially the same.
• Pakistan`s case for an IMF programme can now be taken up by the executive board of the Fund in the second half of January at the earliest. Programmes are finalised and funds released only after the board`s approval.
2. Pakistanis helped trace Osama`s whereabouts, US told
• Pakistan on November 20, 2018 reminded the United States of its contribution towards locating Al Q aeda chief Osama bin Laden and cautioned that President Donald Trump`s diatribe could undermine nascent cooperation for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.
• `Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua reminded the US Chargéd Affaires (CDA) that it was Pakistan`s intelligence cooperation that provided the initial evidence to trace the whereabouts of OBL,` said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
• US CDA Ambassador Paul Joneswas summoned to the Foreign Office to receive protest over President Trump`s latest criticism of Pakistan`s contribution to the fight against terrorism and bin Laden`s stay here.
• It was rather unusual for the Pakistan government to claim credit for cooperation with the US on Bin Laden, who was eliminated in a US Special Forces raid on his hideout in Abbottabad on May 2, 2011. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) have otherwise had an extensive cooperation for the elimination of about a hundred top Al Qaeda leaders and other senior terrorist figures.
3. MoU signed for mainline rail upgrade
• The Pakistan Railways (PR) and the National Railway Administration of China (NRAC) have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for preparing feasibility repon to upgrade PR`s track from Peshawar to Karachi or the Mainline-I a strategic scheme under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
• `The NRAC will complete initial report of project`s phase-I by Dec 25,` Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad told newsman after the signing ceremony at the railways headquarters here on Tuesday.
• A 45-member delegation of the NRAC, led by China`s deputy minister for railways, was also present on the occasion.
• Terming the ML-l upgrade plan a backbone of the CPEC project, Sheikh Rashid said that the PR was also keen on engaging the Chinese to upgrade its strategic Mainline 11 and Ill tracks.
4. Prime Minister reaches Malaysia on two-day visit
• Prime Minister Imran Khan reached Malaysia on November 20, 2018 on a two-day official visit. He was received by Senator Marzuki bin Yahya, deputy minister of foreign affairs, and Dr Mohammad Farid bin Rafik, deputy minister in the PM office, at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
• The prime minister`s delegation comprises Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umar, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood.
• Prime Minister Khan is the first head of government to visit Malaysia since Mahathir Mohamad became prime minister for a second time earlier this year.
• Prime Minister Khan and his Malaysian counterpart are expected to hold a one-on-one meeting before the two countries` delegations engage in detailed discussions. He will also meet other government functionaries.
• This is Imran Khan`s fourth official visit to any country after becoming prime minister.
5. Prominent leader killed in held Kashmir
• A prominent leader was killed on November 20, 2018 at his home in India-held Kashmir, as anti-India protests and clashes followed a gun battle that killed four fighters and an army commando in the disputed Himalayan region.
• Fighting began early on November 20, 2018 after police and soldiers cordoned off a village on a tip that fighters were hiding in a house, said army spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia. He claimed the fighters ignored calls for surrender and fired at the soldiers and in the exchange of fire the four were killed.
6. Mobile app for fishermen’s safety launched
• Pakistan Maritime Security Agency on November 20, 2018 launched/ inaugurated its Mobile Application namely “Assistance, Anytime, Anywhere at Sea (AAAS)” at a ceremony held at PMSA Headquarters, Karachi.
• Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Kaleem Shaukat graced the occasion as Chief Guest.
• AAAS is available in four languages i.e Urdu, English Sindhi and Balochi. This is the prime feature of the application use to provide emergency alert to assisting agencies in Pakistan for Search & Rescue mission.
November 21, 2018: International Current Affairs
7. Russia fails to block OPCW’s new powers
• Russia failed on November 20, 2018 in its bid to stall the global chemical warfare watchdog’s controversial new power to apportion blame for attacks like those in Syria.
• After a bitter war of words, states approved the 2019 budget for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which includes funding for the new role.
• They also shot down a proposal by Russia and China to set up an “expert group” which the West said would have effectively blocked the new powers.
• In June the OPCW approved a British-backed move to allow the body to attribute blame for chemical attacks. Previously it could only confirm whether or not toxic arms had been used.
8. Xi visits Philippines to cosy up to historical US ally
• Chinese President Xi Jinping called his visit November 20, 2018 to long-time US ally the Philippines a “milestone”, as he aims to boost blossoming ties on the promise of billions of dollars in backing for mega-projects.
• Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has proven a willing recipient of Beijing’s attentions, declaring shortly after his election in 2016 his nation’s “separation” from former colonial master the US.
• Since then Beijing, which is competing with Washington for supremacy in the Pacific, has promised $24 billion in investment and infrastructure loans that the developing nation of 105 million deeply needs.
• But over two years later, only a trickle of funding has arrived, prompting critics to question whether Duterte has been duped into pivoting toward China and giving too much ground on the South China Sea dispute. Xi landed in Manila to a red-carpet welcome for the first state visit from a Chinese president in 13 years, which Manila hopes will finally net those investment deals.
9. China sends five satellites into orbit
• China launched a new space environment research satellite and four nano satellites on a Long March-2D carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 7:40 a.m. November 20, 2018.
• The satellites have successfully entered their preset orbit, according to the center. Shiyan-6 will be used for conducting space environment exploration experiments. The term nanosatellite refers to a small artificial satellite weighing between 1 and 10 kg.
• Among the four nanosatellites, Tianping-1A and Tianping-1B will be used for equipment calibration on ground control stations, while Jiading-1 is the first satellite of the Xiangyun satellite constellation in low earth orbit.
• A software-defined satellite, developed by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, will be used for conducting experiments on open-source satellite software research and development on Android platforms
November 21, 2018: Sports Current Affairs
10. ICC rejects Pakistan`s compensation claim over India
• The International Cricket Council (ICC) on November 20, 2018 dismissed a compensation claim by Pakistan over India`s refusal to honour an agreement to play bilateral series.
• `Following a three-day hearing and having considered detailed oral and written submissions, the Dispute Panel has dismissed the PCB`s claim against the BCCI,` the ICC said in a statement.
• The decision cannot be appealed.
• The dispute centred on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) according to which India and Pakistan had agreed to play six bilateral series between 2015-2023, four of which would be hosted by Pakistan.
• The PCB had filed a compensation claim of $70 million.
• But India refused to play Pakistan citing the Indian government`s objections due to strained relations with Pakistan.
• According to the agreement, the six tours would include up to 14 Tests, 30 one-days and 12 Twenty20 internationals.
• The MoU was a reward to Pakistan for backing the `Big Three` plan according to which India, Australia and England had the major share of power and revenues of world cricket.
