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September 10, 2018: International Current Affairs
1. Pakistan, China agree to broaden CPEC base
- Pakistan and China on September 9, 2018 agreed to formally invite `third country` investors to be part of the $60 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor and add social sector and regional development schemes to the existing portfolio of CPEC projects.
- The understanding on addition of `two major dimensions` to the CPEC projects came about at a long meeting between the Planning, Development and Reforms Commission of Pakistan and the National Development and Reforms Commission (NDRC) of China on September 9, 2018.
- At the four-hour meeting, the Pakistani team was led by Minister for Planning Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar while the NDRC`s vice-chairman, Ning Jizhe, led the Chinese delegation.
- Planning Secretary Zafar Hassan, CPEC`s project director Hassan Daud and officials of the NDRC and Chinese Embassy also attended the meeting.
- Sources said that Beijing wanted involvement in the upcoming special economic zones (SEZs) of countries friendly to both Pakistan and China because it wished to steer clear of adverse criticism, particularly from the US and India, about possibility of secretive deals that `remain beyond public eye`.
- No country was specifically mentioned in this regard and Central Asian, European and other countries including Turkey, Russia and Saudi Arabia could invest in the nine SEZs proposed, said an official.
2. Arif Alvi sworn in as 13th president
- Democratic transition of power completed on September 9, 2018 when founding member of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Dr Arif Alvi was sworn in as the 13th president of Pakistan.
- Dr Alvi has replaced Mamnoon Hussain, who completed his fiveyear term on September 8, 2018.
- Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar administered the oath to Dr Alvi at a ceremony held at the Aiwan-i-Sadr in presence of Prime Minister Imran Khan and outgoing president.
- Dr Alvi was elected from the NA-247 constituency in July 25 general elections. According to the Constitution, his election to the NA seat stands null and void after he becomes the president.
- After the oath-taking ceremony, Dr Alvi, who was clad in black sherwani, was presented a guard of honour by contingents of the armed forces.
- With the appointment of Dr Alvi as the president, the democratic transition of power in the country has completed as all governors, chief ministers, federal and provincial ministers have assumed charge of their respective offices.
3. China, Pakistan taking part in Australia`s largest maritime drill
- China is participating for the first time in Australia`s largest maritime exercise as more than 3,000 personnel from 27 countries, including Pakistan, engage in joint training off the strategic northern port of Darwin.
- Exercise Kakadu is hosting 23 ships and submarines from across the Indo-Pacific region, enabling them to establish familiarity which helps to prevent conflict on the high seas and to coordinate disaster relief efforts.
- The other countries taking part in the exercise are Japan, Pakistan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Cook Islands, Fiji, France, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, The Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, East Timor, Tonga, United Arab Emirates, US and Vietnam.
4. Governor House Murree made accessible to public
- The Governor House in Murree has been made accessible to the public on September 9, 2018 after the Governor House in Sindh opened its doors to public for the first time.
- Upon directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the orders were given by Governor Punjab Chaudhry M Sarwar.
- In line with the decision, the public will be able to visit the Governor House in Murree from 10am to 6pm.
- Earlier on September 7, Sindh Governor House opened its door for citizens. Governor Sindh Imran Ismail had said that a complaint cell would be created at Gate Number 4 of the Governor House.
5. Pakistan backs Afghanistan in anti-terror fight
- Pakistan on September 9, 2018 strongly condemned the terrorist attack at a public rally in Kabul resulting in the loss of several precious innocent lives and injury to many others.
- Pakistan reiterated its strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and expressed solidarity with the people and government of Afghanistan in the fight against terrorism
September 10, 2018: International Current Affairs
6. Gulf, US commanders to hold talks in Kuwait
- Gulf Arab army chiefs, including Qatar`s military commander, will meet with US Central Command officials for talks on defence cooperation this week.
- An official with Kuwait`s defence ministry said army commanders of the Gulf states including boycott-hit Qatar would hold talks on September 10, 2018 (today) in a scheduled meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council Supreme Military Committee in Kuwait City.
- The 15-month Qatar boycott is the worst political crisis to hit the oil-rich Gulf. Kuwait has led mediation efforts in the crisis.
- The Gulf commanders will also meet representatives of the US Central Command and those of the Egyptian and Jordanian armies on Wednesday, the Kuwaiti official said.
7. Third World rounds on US, allies as UN climate talks wrap up
- Developing countries rounded on the United States and its allies at emergency climate talks on September 9, 2018, accusing the world`s richest nations of stalling a deal aimed at preventing runaway global warming.
- Experts from around the world wrapped up discussions in Bangkok geared towards creating a comprehensive rulebook for countries to implement the landmark Paris Accord on climate change.
- But talks foundered over the key issue of how efforts to limit climate change are funded and how contributions are reported.
- Delegates representing some of Earth`s poorest and smallest nations said on the final day of the summit that the US and other Western economies had failed to live up to their green spending commitments.
8. First known ‘vegetarian’ shark discovered
- Scientists have identified the world’s first known omnivorous shark species, which can make seagrass as much as 60 percent of their diet.
- Experts from the University of California in Irvine and Florida International University in Miami decided to investigate the bonnethead sharks’ dietary habits after reading reports of them munching on seagrass.
- “It has been assumed by most that this consumption was incidental and that it provided no nutritional value,” said Samantha Leigh, the study’s lead author.
9. 130-mln-year-old dinosaur fossil fragments discovered
- Chinese scientists have discovered a heap of dinosaur fossil fragments in a county in north China’s Hebei Province.
- The fragments, scattered in Liqilong Village in Fengning Man Autonomous County, were found in October last year.
- The excavation was approved by local authorities in August and began on September 4, 2018. Scientists suspect that the dinosaur belonged to a new species. They said that the fragments are estimated to be 130 million years old, and the dinosaur was about 7 to 10 meters long based on the thighbone fossil fragments.
- The excavation is still underway and will last about two years.
- Dinosaur fossils were found in the village in 2014. Birds and fish fossils have also been excavated in the county
September 10, 2018: Sports Current Affairs
10. Amir beats Samuel on unanimous points
- Amir Khan survived a second-round knockdown to maintain momentum in his comeback to the sport with a unanimous points win over Samuel Vargas.
- The Briton, 31, floored his rival with a straight right in the second round but took an overhand right to go down and stun those at Arena Birmingham. The bell arrived to save Khan, who scored another knockdown in the third before the pace gradually slowed. He maintained control late on for a 119-108 119-109 118-110 victory.
- After his 39-second demolition of Phil Lo Greco in April, this proved a far stiffer test for Khan, who showed his trademark hand speed early on. But, as has been the case in the past, the vulnerability of his chin remains a question mark. Only seconds of the second round remained when he quickly stood back up after the knockdown, and in the 10th round he was again tagged heavily with a right hand moments before the bell.
- This is his second bout since his 23-month break from the sport, and it was watched closely at ringside by Kell Brook, who remains keen on facing Khan and says he will drop down to the 147lbs welterweight division to secure a bout.