Day by Day Current Affairs August 2018

DAY BY DAY CURRENT AFFAIRS MCQS
FOR THE MONTH AUGUST 2018
Day by Day Top-10

Current Affairs
August 2018
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managed to secure only 5,203,285

August 1, 2018 (9.58 per cent) of the total 54,319,922
votes polled across the country as
most of them saw a decline in their
1. US warns against IMF bailout for vote bank when compared to the 2013
Pakistan that helps China general election.
 US Secretary of State Michael R.  The highest votes in favour of religious
Pompeo has warned the International parties were cast in Punjab (2,704,856
Monetary Fund (IMF) that the Trump votes) but that contributed to only
administration will not allow it to lend 7.98pc of the province`s overall vote
US dollars to Pakistan for repaying bank the lowest among all provinces
China. as per the preliminary results released
 In an interview to CNBC, broadcast on by the Election Commission of
July 31, 2018 evening, Secretary Pakistan. As compared to Punjab, their
Pompeo also expressed the desire to performance was better in Sindh
engage with the new Pakistani where the religious parties received
leadership in a mutually beneficial 1,116,644 votes (10.57pc of the total
relationship. votes polled). However, religiously
 The Financial Times reported earlier motivated groups dominated the
this week that Pakistan may seek an electoral space in Khyber
IMF bailout package of up to $12 Pakhtunkhwa where nine parties
billion to strengthen its fragile collectively secured 18.84pc of the
economy. votes polled, followed by Balochistan
 Interviewer Michelle Caruso Cabrera, (16.78pc).
however, depicted Pakistan`s possible  The recently revived Muttahida Majlis-
request as borrowing money from the i-Amal (MMA) an alliance of various
IMF to repay China, reminding religious parties headed by Maulana
Secretary Pompeo that IMF loans also Fazlur Rehman`s JUI-F and the Jamaat-
include US taxpayer dollars. i-Islami managed to secure 12 seats
 The media interpreted this as a with 2.5 million votes for the National
message to Pakistan, indicating that Assembly. Earlier in 2002, the MMA
Washington will oppose its request for had emerged as the country`s third
a bailout package from the IMF. largest party with 3.1 million votes
 Ultimately, Pakistan will search for and 59 of its candidates had won. The
other options if the road to the IMF is alliance disintegrated when the JI
blocked. boycotted the 2008 general elections.
 The reported $12bn package would be The JUI-F, however, took part in them.
Pakistan`s largest bailout from the The JUI-F secured 760,000 votes in
IMF. 2008 and 1.4 million votes in the 2013
2. Religious parties clinch over 9pc general elections, while the JI had
share of votes in National Assembly secured 960,000 votes in 2013.
 Despite the participation of 12 3. Pakistan assures US of its
religious parties in the electoral battle commitment to Afghan peace talks
this year, the far-right groups
 In a meeting between US Defence districts in official correspondence, a
Secretary James Mattis and notification stated.
Ambassador Ali Jahangir Siddiqui, 6. Three in five babies not breastfed
Pakistan has reiterated its within first hour of birth, report
commitment to playing a part in the says
Afghan peace and reconciliation  A report by Unicef and the World
process. Health Organisation, released ahead of
 In his meeting with the US defence World Breastfeeding Week starting
chief at the Pentagon, Ambassador today (August 1, 2018), estimates that
Siddiqui also briefed Mr Mattis on three in five 78 million babies are not
Pakistan`s efforts to enhance its breastfed within the first hour of life,
cooperation with Afghanistan. putting them at a higher risk of death
 This was the new Pakistani envoy`s and disease and making them less
first formal meeting with the US likely to continue breastfeeding.
defence chief and Pakistan`s Defence  According to the report, 44pc of
Attaché Kamal Anwar Chaudhry also newborns are put to the breast within
accompanied him. the first hour of birth. But this average
4. Pakistan, Russia sign MoU for naval masks dramatic disparities in
cooperation breastfeeding rates across countries.
 In a landmark development, Pakistan The Global Breastfeeding Collective, a
and the Russian Federation have WHO and Unicef led group, aims to
signed a memorandum of improve the rates of early
understanding for naval cooperation. breastfeeding initiation to 70pc.
 The MoU was signed during a visit of  Of the 129 countries whose data is
Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral available, only 22 currently meet this
Kaleem Shaukat to the Central Naval target.
Museum at Saint Petersburg.  The overall rate of exclusive
 Both sides, while appreciating the breastfeeding for infants under six
conclusion of the MoU, expressed that months is 40pc, only 23 countries have
the memorandum will certainly boost achieved at least 60pc exclusive
the existing bilateral naval breastfeeding for infants below six
collaboration between the two navies. months, the report said.
 The Vice-Chief of Naval Staff also  This problem is particularly seen in
called on Commander-in-Chief of the the Americas, where only 6pc of
Russian Federation. They exchanged countries have an exclusive
views on professional matters and breastfeeding rate above 60pc.
security situation in the Indian Ocean  The collective has established a target
region. to increase the rate of exclusive
5. Use of words FATA, PATA banned breastfeeding to at least 60pc by 2030.
 In view of 31st Constitutional  According to Pakistan Demographic
amendment, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Health Surveys, breastfeeding
caretaker chief minister banned use of rates have not seen desired
words FATA and PATA in official improvements over the last decade
correspondence/communication or (37pc in 2006 and 38pc in 2012).
documents and directed for using he  This combined with an increasing
words merged areas or merged trend in bottle-feeding rates (32pc in
2006 and 41pc in 2012) has resulted in  Just weeks after a high-stakes summit
an undesirable situation for newborn between President Donald Trump and
and child health and survival. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un,
 In Pakistan, Unicef is supporting Pyongyang appears to be developing
federal and provincial governments at least one or two liguid-fuelled
ensure measures to enforce the intercontinental ballistic missiles,
protection and promotion of citing officials familiar with the
breastfeeding. intelligence.
 The most recent multiple indicator  The factory outside Pyongyang in
cluster surveys in Pakistan show Sanumdong where the work is
encouraging improvement in underway produced the North`s first
exclusive breastfeeding in Khyber ICBMs capable of reaching the United
Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. KP States.
has recently evidenced an increase in  Following the Singapore summit in
its exclusive breastfeeding rate by June, Trump had declared that
10pc and is currently at 57pc, while GB Pyongyang was `no longer a Nuclear
is standing at 63pc. Threat, and touted his own diplomatic
7. Putin gives Russian army a political achievements.
wing  But Kim did not publicly promise to
 Vladimir Putin has created a new end work at the country`s nuclear and
directorate inside the Russian army to missile facilities, instead speaking of
promote patriotism, evoking eventual denuclearisation.
memories of a Soviet practice that 9. Mars at closest point from Earth in
once saw soldiers taught the precepts 15 years
of Marxism and Leninism by political  Earth`s neighboring planet, Mars, is
commissars. closer than it has been in the past 15
 The move, approved by Putin in a years, offering unusually bright views
presidential decree published on July of the Red Planet`s auburn hues.
31, 2018, will affect Russia`s around 1  `The Red Planet and Earth haven`t
million active military service people been this close since 2003, and won`t
and appears designed to ensure be again until 2035,` according to
soldiers` loyalty at a time when Nasa.
Moscow is locked in a geopolitical  Astronomers around the world
standoff with the West. trained their telescopes on the sky on
 Putin, commander-in-chief of Russia`s July 31, 2018, when the Red Planet was
armed forces, ran as an independent 57.6 million kilometers away.
candidate when re-elected to a new  Astronomers are interested in Mars
term in March. travel path because it helps decide the
8. North Korea developing new best times for spacecraft to launch.
missiles: WP When the Sun, Earth and Mars are
 US intelligence agencies have found lined up, with Earth sitting in between,
that North Korea is building new a phenomenon called òpposition` is in
missiles, based on satellite effect, giving the brightest view of
photographs taken in recent weeks Mars.
and other new evidence, The  This year`s close approach is not a
Washington Post reported. record-breaker.
 The minimum distance from the Earth sanctioned two others as fund
to Mars is about 54.6 million collectors for the banned group.
kilometers and is rarely achieved.  The commander, identified as Abdul
 The last closest approach was in 2003, Rehman al-Dakhil, is also accused of
when Mars was 55.7 million carrying out attacks in India between
kilometers from Earth ànd the closest 1997 and 2001.
it had been in nearly 60,000 years`,  The fund-raisers were identified as
said Nasa. Hameed-ul-Hassan and Abdul Jabbar,
 Another close encounter like 2003`s who allegedly worked for Falah-i-
will not happen until the year 2287. Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), which the
10. New Zealand declines PCB US regards as a front for the LeT.
invitation to play T20 series in  Separate announcements by the US
Pakistan state and treasury departments
 New Zealand`s cricket board has claimed that all three were Pakistani
declined Pakistan Cricket Board`s nationals.
(PCB) invitation to the Black Caps to  In April, the US added Milli Muslim
play a three-match Twenty20 League (MML), describing it as a
International series in Pakistan. political party floated by LeT founder
 The Kiwis are set to play three Tests, Hafiz Saeed to mainstream the group,
three One-day Internationals and and Tehreek-i-Azadi Kashmir (TAJK),
three T20 matches against Pakistan in as LeT fronts.
the UA E in October this year. 2. Pakistan rejects US opposition to
 The PCB, however, had attempted to IMF bailout
convince New Zealand Cricket (NZC)  Foreign Minister Abdullah Hussain
to hold the T20s in Pakistan but NZC Haroon on August 0, 2018 rejected
declined, saying the `circumstances United States opposition to an
weren`t right` for the team. International Monetary Fund (IMF)
 NZC chairman Greg Barclay told that bailout package for his country as
although the board was aware that its uncalled for and inappropriate.
decision would be `disappointing` for  Ìt is totally wrong to link any IMF
the PCB, they had opted against it. package with CPEC,` the foreign
 The last time New Zealand visited minister said at a press conference at
Pakistan was in 2003 for five ODIs. A the Foreign Office while responding to
year before that, the BlackCaps had to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo`s
cut their tour short following a bomb criticism of a bailout programme for
blast outside their hotel in Karachi. Pakistan by the international lender.
 Mr Pompeo, in an exclusive interview
August 2, 2018 with CNBC on July 31, 2018,
disapproved the idea of an IMF bailout
for Pakistan saying China would
1. US designates `LeT commander benefit from such a deal.
Dakhil` global terrorist  The foreign minister clarified that the
 The United States on July 31, 2018 caretaker government did not have the
designated a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba mandate to seek an IMF package. `This
(LeT) commander a specially is a policy matter to be decided by
designated global terrorist and incoming government. I want to say it
loud and clear so that it is heard who are "blacklisted" or with legal
internationally,` he added. cases pending.
3. CAA suspends Shaheen Air`s  The UAE, the fourth largest oil
domestic operations producer in the OPEC oil cartel, is
 A dispute over payment of arrears home to a huge workforce from Asia
totalling over Rs1.5 billion between and Africa.
the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and 5. Pashto singer shot dead in
Shaheen Air International (SAl) took a Nowshera
serious turn on August 1, 2018 when  Pashto singer and stage actress
the CAA ordered suspension of the Resham Khan was shot dead allegedly
airline`s domestic operations, it is by her husband in the limits of
learnt reliably. Nowshera Kalan police station here on
 The airline`s international operations August 2, 2018.
except Haj flights had already been  Police said that Resham`s brother
suspended several days ago by the Obaidullah, a resident of Charsadda
CAA, owing to the non-payment of and presently living in Hakimabad,
arrears. named his brother-in-law Fayda Khan
 Confusion prevailed over the airline`s in the first information report about
operations as CAA spokesperson murder of his sister.They said that
Pervez George said the SAI domestic Resham married Fayda Khan, who was
operations were being suspended working abroad, one year ago.
from Wednesday, while SAI  Obaidullah said that the suspect had
representative Zoheb Hassan recently returned to the country and
maintained that flights of the airline convinced his wife to visit his ailing
were being operated as per normal father. He said that he went to
schedule. Resham`s residence when she didn`t
 Mr George said that despite repeated return after some time and found her
requests and even an order of the murdered. The suspect managed to
Sindh High Coun, the SAI did not pay escape, he added.
arrears as per agreement earlier.  The body of the deceased artist was
4. UAE offers 'visa amnesty' for shifted to the districtheadquarters
migrant workers hospitalfor autopsy.
 The United Arab Emirates, a major hub  Besides rendering several popular
for migrant labourers, on August 1, songs, Resham Khan had played role of
2018 began an amnesty for workers university student in a 350-episodes
who entered the country without a drama serial `Zhobal Goluna`. She was
visa or overstayed their work permit. not only popular in Pakistan but also in
 The government said those who other countries as she performed
entered the UAE illegally or there as well.
overstayed their visas and who come 6. UK refugee wins biggest maths
forward by October 31 would not be prize
fined or charged if they choose to leave  Caucher Birkar, a Cambridge
the country voluntarily. University professor of Iranian
 The amnesty also grants those looking Kurdish origin, was named August 1,
for employment a six-month visa to 2018 one of four winners of
find a job. It excludes, however, those mathematics’ prestigious Fields
medal, often known as the Nobel prize a Swedish cathedral remained at large
for math. on August 1, 2018, a day after fleeing
 The winners were announced at a their daring midday heist by
ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, which motorboat.
became the first Latin American city  The thieves, who have not been
ever to host the event that takes place identified, and the jewels are being
only once every four years. sought internationally via Interpol,
 The other winners were: noting the objects were a “national
 Germany’s Peter Scholze, who teaches treasure” and would likely be “very
at the University of Bonn; difficult to sell.
 Alessio Figalli, an Italian  The gold burial crowns from 1611
mathematician at ETH Zurich; belonging to King Karl IX and his wife
 Akshay Venkatesh, an Australian Queen Christina were originally
teaching at Stanford University. interred with the couple but were later
 The Fields medal recognizes exhumed and had been on display in a
outstanding mathematical locked glass cabinet in Strangnas
achievement of candidates who were Cathedral, located 100kms west of
under 40 years old at the start of the Stockholm.
year. At least two and preferably four  King Karl IX’s crown is made of gold
people are always honored. and features crystals and pearls, while
7. Air Chief Marshal Mujahid elected Christina’s is smaller and made of gold,
PSF president precious stones and pearls.
 Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal 9. Nepal mark ODI debut on losing
Mujahid Anwar Khan was note
unanimously elected as president of  Nepal suffered a dramatic collapse
the Pakistan Squash Federation during when they lost nine wickets for just 49
the 45th annual general meeting of runs to go down to a 55-run defeat to
PSF held at the Air Headquarters on the Netherlands in their maiden One-
August 1, 2018. day International on August 1, 2018.
 Besides squash legends Jahangir Khan,  Chasing a modest 190 to win, Nepal,
Jansher Khan and Qamar Zaman, playing their first 50-over game since
representatives of provincial squash securing ODI status earlier this year,
associations, affiliated members and were bowled out for 134 with more
the Pakistan Sports Board were also than eight overs to spare.
present at the meeting.  Nepal had got off to a flying start in
 While showing his satisfaction over their run chase.
the revival of international squash in  They looked comfortable at 85-1
Pakistan, the PAF chief said concerted before they slipped quickly to 104-6
efforts were needed from the and with most of their stroke makers
provincial squash associations and back in the pavilion.
other members of the PSF for the 10. Konta hands Serena worst defeat of
growth of the game. her career
8. Thieves snatch Swedish crown  Serena Williams suffered the most
jewels in daylight heist lopsided loss of her career at the WTA
 Robbers who nabbed two 17th San Jose event on July 31, 2018, losing
century royal crowns and an orb from the final 12 games in a shocking first-
round upset to unseeded Johanna  The massive increase is the result of
Konta. SECP`s various reforms measures
 The 23-time Grand Slam winner which include the introduction of
struggled mightily against the British simplified combined process for name
No. 1 and former winner Konta, who reservation and incorporation,
crushed Williams 6-1, 6-0 in just 51 reduction of fee as well as assistance
minutes on the main Stadium. for incorporation by CRO facilitation
 Williams, who was playing her first wings.
match since dropping the Wimbledon  Around 73pc of the companies were
final, is trying to regain her top form registered as private limited, while
after missing most of the 2017 season around 24pc were registered as single-
due to a pregnancy. member companies. The remaining
 The 36-year-old Williams tried to 3pc were public unlisted, non-profit
shrug off the worst loss of her hall of associations, foreign companies and
fame career. limited liability partnership.
 Williams, who was seeded sixth, 3. US Senate passes huge defence bill
managed just nine winners against 25  The US Senate easily has passed a
unforced errors and had her serve $716.3 billion Defence authorization
broken six times. She looked nothing bill that ramps up military spending
like the player that dominated the and bolsters America’s posture against
Tour for years, winning 72 singles Russia, while avoiding policy changes
titles and earning more than $86 that would have antagonized
million in prize money. President Donald Trump.
 The National Defence Authorization
August 3, 2018 Act (NDAA) passed 87 to 10 in the
Senate a week after clearing the House
of Representatives, and now heads to
1. Kazakh envy discusses security the White House for Trump’s
with COAS signature.
 Kazakhstan`s Ambassador to Pakistan  The bill provides $69 billion in war
Barlybay Sadykov called on Chief of funding known as overseas
the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa contingency operations, authorizes a
at the General Headquaners (GHQ) on 2.6 percent pay raise for members of
August 2, 2018. the armed forces, and invests tens of
 Matters of mutual interest, including billions in modernizing the Pentagon’s
regional security issues, were air and sea fleets and missile Defences.
discussed during the meeting.  It notably prohibits delivery of F-35
2. SECP registers 1,076 companies in Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to Turkey,
July a NATO ally with increasingly fraught
 The Securities and Exchange relations with Washington, until
Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Ankara can confirm it will not buy
registered 1,076 new companies in Russia’s S-400 anti-aircraft missile
July, up 30 per cent compared to the system.
corresponding month of previous  And while China and Russia are
year, raising the number of registered classified as “strategic competitors” to
companies to 88,701. the United States, the legislation
negotiated between the House and  At a meeting of foreign ministers in
Senate left out a proposal by senators Singapore on Thursday, Beijing and
that would have blocked a deal Trump ASEAN announced they had agreed on
reached with Chinese the negotiating text for the code.
telecommunications giant ZTE that 5. Israel blocks fuel supplies to Gaza
eases tough financial penalties on the  Israel on August 2, 2018 blocked
firm for helping Iran and North Korea supplies of fuel and gas to the Gaza
evade American sanctions. Strip in response to the continued
4. China wants military drills with sending of incendiary kites across the
ASEAN in disputed sea, excluding US border.
 China wants military exercises and  The measure will affect the Palestinian
energy exploration with Southeast enclave which already suf fers power
Asian nations in disputed waters, cuts, especially for hospitals.
according to a draft document, but  Egypt trying to broker broad Israel-
insists on outside countries being Hamas truce Egypt is trying to broker
excluded in what analysts say is a bid a broad ceasefire deal between Israel
to diminish US influence. and Gaza`s Hamas rulers that is to pave
 Beijing’s suggestions are part of efforts the way for Gaza`s reconstruction and
to expand its influence in the South an eventual prisoner swap.
China Sea, which it claims almost  Repeated ceasefire deals over the
entirely, and push back at Washington years collapsed, but there were signs
which has backed countries with of possible momentum toward a new
overlapping claims to the waters. A agreement, after weeks of escalation
code of conduct between Beijing and along the Gaza-Israel frontier.
the Association of Southeast Asian  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Nations (ASEAN) to govern behaviour Netanyahu decided to put of f a trip to
in the strategic sea has been years in South America to keep an eye on the
the making. situation in Gaza, a government official
 The draft document, seen by AFP, said on August 2, 2018. Israeli media
outlines different countries’ reported Netanyahu is to convene his
bargaining positions as they work security cabinet on Sunday to discuss
towards an agreement, and analysts developments.
said it represented some initial 6. Iran conducts naval exercise in
progress. Persian Gulf
 In the text, Vietnam offers the  Iran launched a naval exercise in the
strongest opposition to Beijing’s Persian Gulf on August 2, 2018, just
activities - calling for countries to stop days before the US reimposes
building artificial islands and sanctions on Tehran.
establishing military installations.  The timing of the exercise is unusual,
 But there was little sign of serious as it appears to be similar in scale and
resistance from other countries, nature to a drill that ordinarily
signalling how opposition to China’s happens later in the autumn. The
aggressive expansion in the resource- official said several dozen boats were
rich waters has ebbed in recent years out training early on Thursday
in Southeast Asia. morning.
 The vessels are mostly small attack computers into a global powerhouse
boats, and there have been no spanning entertainment and
interactions with US ships in the area, communications.
the official added. 9. Multi-sport European
 The exercises come at a time of Championships launched in
increased tension between Iran and Glasgow
the United States, which has pulled out  The inaugural multi-sport European
of a historic nuclear pact and is Championships were launched in
slapping fresh sanctions on Tehran. Glasgow on August 2, 2018 when the
7. New Zealand PM returns to work preliminaries of the rowing and
from maternity leave gymnastics events kicked off 11 days
 New Zealand Prime Minister and new of action in Scotland and Germany.
mum Jacinda Ardern, only the second  For the first time, the continental
world leader to give birth while in championships for six different sports
office, resumed her duties on August 2, aquatics, gym-nastics, cycling, rowing,
2018, ending six weeks of maternity triathlon and a new team golf event are
leave. all being clustered together in and
 The 38-year-old has opted to work around the same host city, Glasgow.
from home in Auckland until the  The only exception will be the athletics
weekend when she will relocate to the championships which start next week
capital Wellington. in Berlin, but which will still come
 Ardern`s partner Clarke Gayford, who under the same new European
hosts a television fishing show, plans Championship s umbrella.The first of
to be astay-at-home dad and the main the 4,500 athletes competing at the
caregiver for their daughter. event, which is intended to instil the
8. Apple hits $1tr mark sort of onecity, multi-sport vibe felt at
 Apple became the first $1 trillion an Olympic Games, were Europe`s top
publicly listed US company on August rowers at Strathclyde Country Park 15
2, 2018, leading a rebound in miles outside the city.
technology stocks and pushing the  The qualification for the women`s
benchmark S&P 500 and the Nasdaq gymnastics team event was also being
higher. staged at the SSEHydro arena while
 Market sentiment was also lifted by the track cycling championships were
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross`s due to begin on Thursday evening at
comment, who said the tariffs that the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, named af
United States is threatening to impose ter Scotland`s most successful
on Chinese goods would not be Olympian.
disastrous for the Asian nation. 10. Google developing censor-friendly
 Technology stocks, which were search engine for China
trading lower earlier in the session,  Google is crafting a search engine that
rose 1.03pc. would meet China’s draconian
 Apple jumped 2.8pc to a record censorship rules, a company employee
$207.05 to hit the $1tr mark, crowning told AFP on Thursday, in a move
a decade-long rise fueled by its decried by human rights activists.
ubiquitous iPhone that transformed it  Google withdrew its search engine
from a niche player in personal from China eight years ago due to
August 4, 2018
1. Nacta, FIA decide to coordinate for
risk assessment
 Nearly a couple of weeks before a
scheduled meeting of the Asia-Pacific
Joint Group on Money Laundering, the
National Counter Terrorism Authority
has decided that the Federal
Investigation Agency (FIA) will work
in coordination with Nacta to
accomplish the task of National Risk
Assessment and asked the Financial
Monitoring Unit (FMU) to prepare a
consolidated report for the APG
meeting.
 The implementation of a Financial
Action Task Force (FATF) action plan
was discussed at a special meeting of
the National Task Force on Countering
Financing of Terrorism (CFT) held at
the Nacta headquarters.
 The 10th monthly meeting of the CFT,
presided over by national coordinator
for Nacta Dr Suleman Khan, was
attended by the representatives of all
27 members of the task force
censorship and hacking but it is now
comprising federal and provincial
working on a project for the country
government departments as well as
codenamed “Dragonfly”, the employee
other organisations.
said on condition of anonymity.
 Earlier in June, the FATF the
 The search project — which works like
international watchdog against money
a filter that sorts out certain topics —
laundering and financing of terrorism
can be tested within the company’s
put Pakistan on a grey list titled
internal networks, the source said.
`jurisdictions with strategic
 The tech giant had already come under deficiencies`.
fire this year from thousands of 2. `1.67 million votes rejected
employees who signed a petition countrywide in 2018 polls`
against a $10-million contract with the
 The number of votes rejected in the
US military, which was not renewed.
2018 general elections was 1.67
“There’s a lot of angst internally. Some
million, 11.7 pc more that the 1.5
people are very mad we’re doing it,”
million rejected in the 2013 polls,
the source said.
according to a report released by Free
and Fair Elections Network (Fafen) on  The Senate passed the conference
August 3, 2018. report on National Defence
 The report says the increase in the Authorisation Act (NDAA)-19 by 87 to
number of rejected votes is observed 10 votes, last week. The Bill then was
in all four provinces and the Islamabad sent to President Trump seeking his
Capital Territory (ICT). assent.
 In the ICT area, the number of polls  Last year, US Defence Bill had
rejected from the count are more than authorised a significant aid of $700
double those in the 2013 elections. million for Pakistan under Coalition
 There was a 40pc increase in the Support Fund (CSF) that has been
number of rejected votes in reduced now.
Balochistan,30.6pc in Khyber  The defence policy bill backs President
Pakhtunkhwa including the Federally Donald Trump’s call for a bigger,
Administered Tribal Areas, 7pc in stronger military and sidestepping a
Sindh and 6.6pc in Punjab. potential battle with the White House
 The ballots excluded from the count over technology from major Chinese
surpasse d the margin of victory in 49, firms.
or 18.1pc, of the 270 National  The annual act authorises US military
Assembly constituencies where spending but is used as a vehicle for a
elections were held Among these broad range of policy matters as it has
National Assembly constituencies, 26 passed annually for more than 50
are in Punjab, 11 in Sindh, six each in years.
KP and Balochistan.  The fiscal 2019 NDAA was named to
 According to the provincial results of honour McCain, the Armed Services
the 2018 general elections, 79 national Committee Chairman, war hero, long-
and 169 provincial assembly time Senator and former Republican
constituencies have a margin of Presidential nominee, who has been
victory of less than 5pc of the total undergoing treatment for brain
votes polled or 10,000. cancer.
3. US cuts aid to Pakistan by $150m 4. Maldives HC hails Pak efforts for
 Amid tensions in bilateral ties, US peace
Congress has passed a Bill to cut  Maldives High Commissioner to
Pakistan’s defence aid to $150 million. Pakistan Ahmed Saleem has hailed
After signatures of US President Pakistan’s efforts and role for peace
Donald Trump, the Bill will hold the and regional security.
status of law.  He expressed these views at a meeting
 As per details garnered, the US with Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar
Congress on Tuesday approved a $716 Javed Bajwa in GHQ on August 3, 2018.
billion Defence Authorisation Bill to  Matters pertaining to regional security
cut Pakistan’s defence aid from $750 and bilateral interest came under
million to $150 million. discussion during the meeting.
 This military aid is given to Pakistan in 5. China unveils proposed tariffs on
order to maintain its border security. $60bn of US goods
 However, the reduction in the defence  China proposed retaliatory tariffs on
bill is made after the allegation of using $60 billion worth of US goods ranging
US aid in operations against Taliban. from liquefied natural gas (LNG) to
some aircraft on August 3, 2018, as a International Finance Corporation and
senior Chinese diplomat cast doubt on the Asian Development Bank.
prospects of talks with Washington to 7. Teen becomes youngest woman
solve their bitter trade conflict given jailed in UK for terrorism
current US behaviour.  A London teenager was jailed for life
 The Trump administration ratcheted on August 3, 2018 for plotting a terror
up pressure for trade concessions attack, becoming the youngest woman
from Beijing this week by proposing a to be sentenced for terrorism of fences
higher 25 per cent tariff on $200bn in Britain.
worth of Chinese imports. China  Safaa Boular, 18, who together with
immediately vowed to retaliate though her mother and elder sister formed the
at the same time urged the US to act country`s first all-female cell linked to
rationally and return to talks to the militant Islamic State group, will
resolve the dispute. spend a minimum of 13 years in
 The United States and China prison.
implemented tariffs on $34bn worth of  She had planned violent attacks in the
each others` goods in July. Washington British capital, using coded language
is expected to soon implement tariffs themed around a tea party, after UK
on an additional $16bn of Chinese authorities stopped her travelling to
goods, which China has already Syria to marry an IS fighter she had
announced it will match immediately. met online.
6. Sri Lanka secures $1bn Chinese  In June sibling Rizlaine Boular, 22, was
loan also jailed for life, with a minimum
 Sri Lanka`s central bank on August 3, term of 16 years, while their Morocco-
2018 announced that it had secured a born mother Mina Dich was handed a
$1 billion loan from China as the island minimum sentence of six years and
a key link in Beijing`s ambitious Belt nine months for aiding the plots.
and Road initiative (BRI) develops 8. US, Turkey agree to resolve
closer relations with Asia`s largest disputes after relations dive
economy.  US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
 The first half of loan will be released and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut
later this month and the balance will Cavusoglu agreed on August 3, 2018 to
be received in October. try to resolve a series of disputes, after
 The eight-year loan by China relations between the Nato allies sank
Development Bank carries a 5.25 per to their lowest point in dec ades.
cent interest rate with a three year  Their meeting in Singapore followed
grace period. Washington`s imposition of sanctions
 The terms of Chinese loan were better on two Turkish ministers over the case
than other international lenders and of Andrew Brunson, a US pastor on
the country hopes to secure additional trial in Turkey for backing terrorism.
$200 to $250 million from China`s  State Department spokeswoman
domestic financial market by issuing Heather Nauert described their
`Panda bonds` Panda Bonds are conversation on the sidelines of a
renminbi-denominated bonds issued regional ministers` meeting as
by non-Chinese entities in China. They constructive. `They agreed to continue
were first issued in October, 2005 by
to try to resolve the issues between  Montreal tattoo artist Frank Lewis was
our two countries,` she said. “responsible for inking the majority
 Cavusoglu said he had repeated (of) the designs,” it said. Lady Gaga -
Turkey`s message that `the who appeared with Zombie Boy in the
threatening language and sanctions “Born This Way” music video - said she
doesnot achieve anything`, but added was “devastated” by his death.
that he and Pompeo would take steps
to resolve their differences when they
returned home.
August 5, 2018
9. Chile enacts historic ban on plastic
bags 1. US Congresswoman assures
 Chile made history on August 3, 2018 support to incoming PTI govt
when it became the first country in  In his first interaction with any US
South America to ban the commercial lawmaker after PTI got victory in July
use of plastic bags. 25 elections, prime minister-in-
 Large businesses have six months to waiting Imran Khan on August 4, 2018
phase out the use of plastic bags, while had a telephonic conversation with
smaller ones will be given two years to senior United States Congresswoman
adapt to the new rules. Sheila Jackson Lee.
 It means that any form of plastic bag  The telephonic conversation between
other than those constituting primary the two sides was made possible with
packaging “necessary for hygiene or to the efforts of senior PTI leader and
prevent food wastage” are prohibited, member-elect of the National
the government gazette Diario Oficial Assembly Imran Ismail.
said on August 3, 2018.  The US Congresswoman, who sits on
 Those flouting the ban will be subject three Congressional committees,
to a $370 fine, in a country where the congratulated prime minister-in-
minimum wage is just $800. waiting for his party’s victory in the
10. Canada’s Zombie Boy dead of election and expressed her best wishes
apparent suicide for the next PTI-led federal
 Zombie Boy - a model and artist known government.
for his extensive tattoos, including of a  Ms Lee fully supported the new
skull and brain on his head - has died government and assured her full
of an apparent suicide, Canadian support to it. She vowed her resolve to
media reported. visit Pakistan along with a delegation
 Zombie Boy, whose real name was soon after the formation of the
Rick Genest, died around on August 1, government.
2018, the Canadian Broadcasting  In response, Khan thanked the
Corporation said, citing police sources. Congresswoman for her wishes and
He was 32. welcomed the visit of US delegation to
 He held world records for having the Pakistan.
most bones tattooed on his body at 2. Yaum-i-Shuhada-i-Police was
139, and the most insect tattoos, with observed
176, according to Guinness World  Yaum-i-Shuhada-i-Police was
Records. observed on August 4, 2018 to
commemorate the personnel who laid 5. Hassan Daud new CPEC projects
down their lives in the line of duty. spokesman
 Brave police officers had sacrinced  Ministry of Planning, Development
their livesfor the security of the and Reforms has appointed Hassan
masses and now it was the Daud as spokesperson on matters
government`s responsibility to related to China Pakistan Economic
provide their families all possible help. Corridor (CPEC).
3. US sets up security assistance fund  Hassan Daud who is Project Director
to counter China CPEC Support Project is authorized to
 US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo issue statements on status of CPEC
on August 4, 2018 announced the projects to all forums if required after
intent to provide nearly $300 million due approval.
of security assistance for nations in the 6. North Korea has not stopped
Indo-Pacific region. nuclear, missile programs: UN
 This includes $290.5 million to  North Korea has pressed ahead with
improve security relationships across its nuclear and missile programs and
the region. The funding will cover continues to evade UN sanctions
projects in Bangladesh, Indonesia, through increased illegal ship-to-ship
Mongolia, Nepal, the Pacific Islands, transfers of oil products at sea, a UN
the Philippines, Sri Lanka and report has said.
Vietnam.  In a 62-page report sent to the Security
 The administration was now making ef Council, the UN panel of experts also
forts to `right` this unf air policy. listed violations of a ban on North
4. Woman fined $156 for wearing face Korean exports of coal, iron, seafood
veil in Denmark and other products that generate
 A 28-year-old woman wearing a face millions of dollars in revenue for Kim
veil has become the first person in Jong Un’s regime.
Denmark to be fined for violating a  Pyongyang “has not stopped its
new law banning such garments in nuclear and missile programs and
public places. continued to defy Security Council
 Police were called to a shopping centre resolutions through a massive
in Horsholm, a city of some 46,000 increase in illicit ship-to-ship transfers
inhabitants close to Copenhagen, on of petroleum products, as well as
August 3, 2018 to confront a woman through transfers of coal at sea during
wearing a nigab garment covering her 2018,” said the report.
f ace.  The transfer of petroleum products to
 The woman was slapped with a fine of North Korean tankers at sea remains
1,000 Danish kroner ($156) and “a primary method of sanctions
requested to either remove the veil or evasion” involving 40 vessels and 130
leave the premises. She opted to leave. associated companies, it added. The
 Since Aug1, the country`s much- violations have rendered the latest
debated `Burqa Ban` has prohibited batch of sanctions “ineffective” by
full-body burgas, as well the nigab flouting the cap on oil, fuel and coal
Muslim dress which only shows the imposed in a raft of UN resolutions
eyes. Both are rare in Denmark. Other adopted last year, it added.
European countries have similar bans.
 Meanwhile, North Korea on August 4, paving the way for peace between the
2018 said the US was acting with two nations.
“alarming” impatience on the issue of  Eritrean Airlines currently has only
denuclearisation, after Secretary of one leased airplane.
State Mike Pompeo stressed the need 8. Nasa names astronauts for new era
to maintain full sanctions pressure on  Nasa named the first nine astronauts
Pyongyang. The contrasting comments who will fly to space on Boeing and
at a security forum in Singapore came SpaceX vehicles in 2019 - a mix of
after a new UN report showed novices and veterans who are tasked
Pyongyang was continuing with its with restoring America’s ability to
nuclear and missile programmes and send humans into orbit.
evading sanctions through ship-to-  These pioneering flights to the
ship oil transfers. International Space Station aboard
7. Eritrean Airlines makes first flight commercially built crew capsules will
to Ethiopia in 20 years be the first leaving US soil to put
 Eritrea's national airline on August 4, people into orbit since the iconic space
2018 made its first commercial flight shuttle program ended in 2011.
in two decades to Addis Ababa, the  For the past seven years, Nasa
capital of neighboring Ethiopia, the astronauts have hitched rides to the
latest step in a surprise peace process orbiting outpost on Russia’s Soyuz
between the former foes that began spacecraft - at a cost of some $80
just two months ago. million a seat.
 An Eritrean Airlines plane carrying the  An unmanned Boeing flight test is
country's transport and tourism scheduled for later this year, with the
ministers landed at the Addis Ababa first crew on board in mid-2019, Nasa
Bole International Airport, where it said.
was welcomed by senior Ethiopian 9. Haris wins Hong Kong U-17 squash
officials. title
 Already last month, the Ethiopia's own  Pakistan`s Haris Qasim won the Hong
flag carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, had Kong Junior Under-17 Squash
made its first commercial flight in the Championship in Hong Kong on
other direction, landing in Asmara August 4, 2018.
International Airport on July 18. Once  Haris beat Lee Min Woo of South Korea
a province of Ethiopia, Eritrea seceded 11-5, 11-3, 11-9 in the final.
in 1993 after a long independence  Uzair Rasheed and Farhan Hashmi also
struggle. A row over the demarcation participated in this event in which 128
of the shared border triggered a brutal players from many countries including
1998-2000 conflict which left 80,000 Hong Kong, India, Australia, Japan,
people dead before evolving into a Korea, Malaysia, Jordan, Thailand,
bitter cold war. China, Egypt, Canada, US, Taiwan etc
 But in a surprise move in June, competed.-
Ethiopia's new reformist Prime 10. Pakistan qualify for Asian rugby
Minister Abiy Ahmed announced he plate semis
would finally accept a 2002 United  Pakistan have qualified for the plate
Nations-backed border demarcation, semifinals of the Asian Seven Rugby
Championship in Singapore on August from domestic refineries. As a result,
4, 2018. the PSO has asked the petroleum
 Pakistan won their first match of the division to take note of the situation
day against Brunei by 19-5. For and review pricing mechanism.
Pakistan, Nasir Mehmood scored two  Pakistan`s total demand for POL
tries while Khalid Bhatti made one try. products is estimated to increase from
Ahmed Wasim and Nasir Mehmood 27m tonnes this year to about 32m
each converted one try, too. tonnes in five years, showing an
 In the second match Pakistan carved increase of 17.5pc, according to the Oil
out 19-12 win against Bangladesh. Companies Advisory Council an
 In the last league match Pakistan, umbrella organisation of oil
however, lost to hot favorite and host companies.
Singapore 7-26. Now Pakistan team is 2. World Bank to fund Punjab`s `green
second in the pool `C` and it will face growth` project
Jordan in the plate semifinal.  The World Bank has given approval to
the `Punjab Green Development
August 6, 2018 Programme`
environmental
to strengthen
governance and
promote investment.
1. Kuwait asks Pakistan to upgrade  According to a bank document, the
fuel supply network project will be launched next month
 Kuwait has asked Pakistan to upgrade with the installation of the new
its market and fuel supply network to government in the province.
higher grade gas oil, commonly known  The programme`s cost over five years
as High Speed Diesel (HSD), to remain amounts to $273 million, of which
its long-term client. $200 million will be unanced by the
 Pakistan generally imports half of the Internadonal
country`s diesel requirement from DevelopmentAssociation(IDA)of the
Kuwait under a long-term World Bank group. The World Bank
arrangement between their respective approved the project on May 25, while
state-run companies Pakistan State Oil the legal agreements were signed just
(PSO) and Kuwait Petroleum Company before the completion of previous
(KPC). govern-ment`s tenure.
 `KPC has informed that Euro-II diesel  Under the programme, the Punjab
containing 500ppm (sulphur particles government will promote green
per million), which is currently in financing as a way to mobilise
Pakistan`s use, would not be available resources for green investments
to PSO from early 2020 because it beyond the programme`s
would start producing Euro-V implementation period, and will
containing 10ppm on completion its directly support priority green
Clean Fuel Project. investments in both the public and the
 PSO imports about 0.4 0.5m tonnes of private sectors. To mobilise domestic
diesel per month from KPC against capital markets as a sustainable source
country`s total monthly consumption of ñnance for green investments, the
of about 0.8m tonnes. About 220,000 finance department will develop a set
tonnes per month production comes
of principles for the issuance of green rorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act,
bonds. 1997.
 In line with the Punjab Environmental 4. PA-elect dies of meningitis
Protection Act of 1997 and amended in  Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf`s (PTI) MPA-
2012, which authorises the creation of elect from PP-296 (Rajanpur) Tariq
a provincial fund to ñnance Khan Dreshak died of meningitis fever
environmental projects, the provincial on August 5, 2018. He was 48.
government will establish a fund with  He was shifted to a private hospital in
a capital of $55 million from the Multan in critical condition where he
programme. was admitted to the intensive care unit
3. Zainab`s killer gets death sentence and remained under treatment for
in three identical cases four days.
 In another trial held inside a prison, an  The deceased was the nephew of
anti-terrorism court on August 4, 2018 former chief whip of the Punjab
awarded death sentence on 12 counts Assembly, Nasarullah Khan Dreshak
to Imran Ali, the convict in the Zainab He won the provincial assembly seat
rapecum-murder case, in three more by securing 42,119 votes in the July 25
similar cases carrying same charges. elections.
 ATC Judge Sajjad Ahmad Sheikh  He remained Nazim of union council in
handed down the penalty judgement Mudharafers. He had run for the
after prosecution established the role provincial assembly thrice but was
of 24-year-old Imran Ali in the rape elected only once, in the July 25 polls
and murder of three minor girls 5. Pakistan earns over $3.630 billion
Ayesha, Laiba and Noor Fatima of from export of transport services
Kasur.  The transport services by Pakistan in
 The court sentenced the convict to other countries increased by 3.29
death on four counts in each case, percent during the first eleven months
besides imposing a collective fine of of financial year 2017-18 compared to
Rs10 million and Rs5m as diyat to be the corresponding period of last year.
paid to the minors` f amilies.  Pakistan exported transport services
 The court had on Feb 17 awarded worth $3630.695 million in July-May
death sentence on four counts to Ali in (2017-18) against the exports of
the Zainab murder case. Appeals of the services worth $3514.894 million in
convict against the sentence were July-May (2016-17), showing 3.29
dismissed by all courts. percent growth, according to PBS.
 Ali was involved in at least nine Among these, the air transport
incidents of rape-cum-murder of services export increased by 3.93
minors he had confessed to during the percent and reached to $791.260
Zainab case investigation. million during the period under
 In all three cases, Ali was found guilty review against $761.350 million last
under sections 364-A (kidnapping or year. Among the air transport services,
abducting a person under the age of exports of passenger services surged
fourteen), 376 (3) (rape of minor) and by 14.55 percent, from $433.980
302-B (punishment for gatl-i-amd) of million to $497.140 million, the data
the Pakistan Penal Code and section revealed.
7(a) (punishment for acts of ter-
 However, the freight service exports Attorney General Tarek William Saab,
witnessed decline of 2.51 percent by who was also present at the parade,
going down from $17.950 million to warning: “There will be a ruthless
$17.500 million while the exports of all punishment.”
other air transport services also  Once safely entrenched back in the
declined by 10.60 percent by slipping presidential palace, Maduro barked
from exports of $309.420 million last out a defiant message to his detractors
year to $276.620 million in 2017-18. in a national address.
 On the other hand, the sea transport 7. Iran central bank forex chief
exports increased by 12.62 percent by arrested
growing from $2049.020 million to  The Iranian central bank's top foreign
$2307.700 million. Among sea exchange official has been arrested on
transport, the freight service export August 5, 2018 Sunday, a day after he
increased by 13.09 percent from was sacked.
$192.048 million to $2074.620 million  Ahmad Araghchi, who was a vice-
while the export of other sea transport governor at the bank in charge of
service increased by 8.62 percent by forex, was arrested along with several
going up from $214.580 million to other unnamed individuals including a
$233.080 million. government official and four currency
6. Venezuela president survives drone speculators,
attack  Araghchi, the nephew of deputy
 The United States on August 5, 2018 foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, was
denied involvement as Nicolas Maduro fired by the new governor of the
blamed the opposition and Colombian central bank on Saturday, apparently
counterpart Juan Manuel Santos for an over his handling of the currency crisis
alleged “assassination” attempt on the 8. Murakami delights fans with radio
Venezuela president. show debut
 Venezuela’s far-left government said  Bestselling author Haruki Murakami,
seven soldiers were wounded by the who rarely appears in public,
alleged attack using explosive-laden delighted fans on August 5, 2018 as he
drones during a military parade in made his radio debut with a one-off
Caracas on August 4, 2018. music show.
 Maduro pointed the finger at outgoing  Many fans expressed excitement on
Colombian President Santos and “the social media as they heard the show by
ultra-right wing,” a term he uses to the 69-year-old Japanese novelist,
describe domestic opposition, as a perennially touted as a contender for
mysterious rebel group claimed the Nobel literature prize.
responsibility.  The reclusive writer, an avid music fan,
 US national security advisor John introduced songs by US and British
Bolton insisted there was “no US musicians. Murakami became a global
government involvement” and even sensation with the publication of
suggested that the incident could have "Norwegian Wood" in 1987 and has
been “a pretext set up by the regime written several other bestsellers
itself.” including "1Q84" and "Kafka on the
 Venezuela has already reacted to Shore". In 2007, he published a non-
events with a series of arrests as fiction work, "What I Talk About When
I Talk About Running". He has said he promising Shi Yuqi 21-11, 21-13 in
uses several iPods to listen to music Nanjing, becoming the first Japanese
while running. Music, he told the radio man to win the World Championship.
show, had helped him to write.  Carolina Marin claimed her own slice
9. Matloob wins 20th Sind Open Golf of history as the Spaniard became the
 Matloob Ahmed of Lahore Garrison first woman to win three badminton
Golf Club (LGGC) August 5, 2018 world crowns with an emphatic
clinched the New Jubilee-sponsored victory over P.V. Sindhu of India.
20th Sind Open Golf Championship  Momota`s career descended into
contested at the Arabian Sea Golf controversy in 2016 when Japanese
Course over 54 holes. badminton chiefs suspended him for
 Matloob prevailed over champions more than a year for visiting an illegal
like Shabbir Iqbal, Hamza Amin and casino, denying him a place at the Rio
close contenders like M Ashfaq, Anser Olympics.
Mehmood and M Munir to emerge as  Momota, number two in the world at
title winner. His scores for the three the time, has been working his way
rounds were 69, 65 and 70 and a three back to the top ever since and was the
days aggregate of 204, 12 under par pre-tournament favourite in Nanjing.
which represents a score of eminence.  Momota, now seventh in the rankings.
 Others, who did not win the title but
performed impressively, were M
Ashfaq of Airmen Golf Club, Anser
August 7, 2018
Mehmood of MGGC, M Munir of
Islamabad and the national golf icon 1. EU wants strong economic ties with
Shabbir Iqbal. The score of Ashfaq new Pakistani govt
(Airmen Golf Club) was  European Union Ambassador to
68+66+73=207, Anser Mehmood Pakistan Jeans Cautain on August 6,
(MGGC) 68+71+69=208, M Munir 2018 said the EU is keen to work with
(Islamabad) 68+71+72=211, Shabbir incoming government and ready to
Iqbal (Islamabad) 72+69+70=211, M start joint ventures with local
Qasim (DHA) 68+72+74=214, Shahid businesses in the fields of security,
Javed Khan (Gymkhana) economy, education and rural
68+73+74=215, Latif Rafiq development.
(Gymkhana) 70+72+73=215, M Alam  During a meeting with Imran Khan, the
(Defence Raya) 72+72+72=216 and M EU envoy said that the EU had no
Imran (Defence Raya) 72+74+71=217. objection to PakistanIran gas pipeline
10. Japan`s Momota makes history with project despite looming US sanctions
world crown and is committed to development and
 Kento Momota dedicated his World stability in the region.
Badminton title victory on August 5,  He said the EU was also ready to help
2018 to those who stuck by him when Pakistan out of the Financial Action
a gambling scandal threatened to Task Force `grey list`.
wreck the history-maker`s budding  Fixing ailing economy Expressing
career. concerns over the worsening
 The explosive 23-year-old macroeconomic situation, PTPs Asad
convincingly defeated China`s highly Umar said that the country`s debt is
increasing with every passing day and subsequent academic qualifications,
requires immediate action. read the notification.
2. S. Arabia freezes Canada trade ties  All degrees f rom HEC`s recognised
over ìnterference institutions in subjects where they
 Saudi Arabia said on August 6, 2018 it were authorised to issue such degrees
was expelling the Canadian and from campuses, colleges
ambassador and recalling its envoy authorised to offer relevant
while freezing all new trade, in programmes will be verified, attested
retaliation for Ottawa`s vigorous calls and equated.
for the release of jailed activists.  However, degrees from unrecognised
 The kingdom gave the envoy Dennis institutions or from unrecognised
Horak 24 hours to leave the country, in campuses or colleges or in
an abrupt rupture of reladons over unauthorised subjects will not be
what it slammed as ìnterference` in verified. All other formalities are to be
itsinternal affairs. adhered toas per the prevailing SOPs.
 Ottawa said it was `seriously 4. Trump firm as US set to reimpose
concerned` and was seeking `greater sanctions on Iran
clarity` on the shock move, which was  US President Donald Trump on August
announced on Twitter by the Saudi 6, 2018 told Iran to change its
foreign ministry. `destabilising` behaviour or risk
 The rupture, which underscores a further economic isolation, hours
newly aggressive foreign policy led by before the reimposition of sweeping
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, sanctions against Tehran, though he
comes after Canada denounced a new left the door open to a new nuclear
crackdown on human rights activists deal.
including the sister of a jailed blogger.  After Trump pulled Washington out of
3. HEC simplifies degree verification the historic 2015 multilateral accord
procedure in May, to the consternation of his
 The Higher Education Commission European partners, a new pact seemed
(HEC) has changed its standard unlikely in the short term, given his
operating process (SOP) for degree conditions and Tehran`s anger.
verification and from now onward it  Against a backdrop of political turmoil
will scrutinise and attest degrees and protests in Iran, Foreign Minister
without asking the applicants to Mohammad Javad Zarif himself
furnish educational certificates such as accused Trump of `bullying` and of
that of matric and intermediate. being isolated in his hostility to the
 According to a notification dated Islamic Republic. A first phase of US
August 2, the HEC decided that every sanctions against Iran goes into effect
degree would be attested solely on overnight, targeting Iran`s access to US
merit i.e. whether it has been issued by banknotes and key industries
a recognised institution and whether including cars and carpets.
the institution has the legal authority 5. Indian state to pay for sex change
to issue such a degree. Àpplicants for  LGBT campaigners urged India’s state
attestations will no longer be required governments on August 6, 2018 to
to submit information about previous "learn a lesson" from Kerala after
authorities in the wealthy southern
state said they would cover the cost of two kilometres (over one mile) to an
gender reassignment surgeries. archaeological park being set up just
 Kerala’s chief minister said his outside the town.
government would pay 200,000 7. Indonesia returns luxury yacht to
rupees to allow people to have the Malaysia
procedure, the second Indian state to  Indonesia has returned to Malaysia a
do so after neighbouring Tamil Nadu. luxury yacht linked to the multi-billion
 India is estimated to have about 2 dollar 1MDB financial scandal, Prime
million transgender people, who are Minister Mahathir Mohamed said on
often confined to the margins of August 6, 2018, a move seen as
society. In 2014, the Supreme Court bolstering a corruption probe
ruled that they had equal rights under involving ex-leader Najib Razak.
the law, and granted legal status to the  The Cayman Islands-registered
"third gender", giving them the right to Equanimity, believed to be worth
marry and inherit property. some $250 million and belonged to a
6. Turkey moves historic bath house fugitive Malaysian financier with links
 Turkish authorities on August 8, 2018 to Najib, was seized in February off the
conducted a hugely sensitive Indonesian tourist island of Bali.
operation to move a centuries-old bath  Indonesian authorities detained the
house weighing 1,600 tonnes to new super-yacht following a request by the
location to avoid being engulfed under US Department of Justice, which is
floodwaters by a controversial dam investigating alleged massive
project. misappropriation involving the 1MDB
 The Artuklu Hamam bath house in the state fund.
southeastern town of Hasankeyf was 8. ‘Rogue planet’ outside solar system
loaded onto a wheeled platform and discovered
then moved down a specially  Scientists have made the first radio-
constructed road to a new location in a telescope detection of a huge free-
process that took several hours. floating planet beyond our solar
 Much of Hasankeyf will be under water system, a new study said.
or risk damage in the next years  The planetary-mass object, called
because of the development of the Ilisu SIMP J01365663+0933473, is about a
Dam project, which aims to drastically dozen times more massive than
improve energy supplies for the Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar
Kurdish-dominated southeast. system, and has surprisingly strong
 The moving of the Artuklu Hamam, magnetic fields, according to the study
which reports said is at least 650 years published in
old, is the latest such transfer of a  The Astrophysical Journal earlier this
major historical building in the area to week. Scientists detected the
avoid being buried underwater. enormous planet from the U.S.-based
 In May 2017, Turkey moved the 15th Very Large Array observatory.
century, 1,100 tonne tomb of Zeynel Wandering some 20 light years away
Bey, a Turkic tribal leader, also on a from the sun, the 200-million-year-old
special platform to avoid being buried planet has been dubbed “rogue planet”
by the floodwaters. Both historic as it is traveling through space without
buildings have been moved around orbiting any parent star.
 According to the study, the huge planet  Joel Robuchon, the world’s most-
possesses a powerful magnetic field starred Michelin chef who tore down
over 200 times stronger than that of kitchen walls to give diners new
Jupiter and can generate dazzling insights into the art of haute cuisine,
auroras outshining Earth’s polar has died at 73.
lights. On Earth, auroras are generated  Robuchon, who was hailed as one of
by interactions between its magnetic four "chefs of the century" by the Gault
field and solar winds. & Millau industry bible in 1990,
 But the fact that the rogue planet is not founded a string of restaurants that
in the vicinity of any stellar winds revolutionised fine dining across three
makes its auroras something of a continents, ratcheting up a record 31
puzzle. Michelin stars.
9. Buzarnescu dominates Sakkari to  From Tokyo to Paris and Macau,
win first WTA title foodies queue up for seats in his
 Mihaela Buzarnescu`s long road to a L’Atelier restaurants, where they can
WTA title ended in California as the watch chefs in action, perched on high
Romanian powered past first-time stools at a U-shaped bar. According to
finalist Maria Sakkari 6-1, 6-0 in the Le Figaro newspaper, he died of cancer
final of the Silicon Valley Classic, a US in the Swiss city of Geneva.
Open hardcourt tuneup.
 The 30-year-old Romanian lost 19
points and needed just 73 minutes to
August 8, 2018
wrap up the final. For Buzarnescu,
ranked 24th in the world and seeded 1. Accord with Russia signed for
fifth, it was a reward for perseverance. training of Pakistani troops
Once the top junior in Europe, she  Pakistan and Russia on August 7, 2018
endured two knee surgeries and saw signed an agreement that allows for
her ranking tumble to 891st in the training of Pakistani troops at Russian
world. military training institutes.
 During her extensive convalescence,  Both countries signed the Contract on
during which she wondered if her left Admission of Service Members of
knee would ever mend, Buzarnescu Pakistan in RF`s (Russian Federation)
received her Ph.D in sports science. Training Institutes.
But her tennis dream remained and  The agreement was signed at the
she has enjoyed a breakthrough 2018, conclusion of the first meeting of
her first title coming in an elite RussiaPakistan Joint Military
Premier level event after she was Consultative Committee (JMCC),
disappointed in finals at Hobart and described by the defence ministry as
Prague earlier this year. the highest forum of defence
 Buzarnescu, who just a year ago was collaboration between Pakistan and
No. 142 in the world, will rise to 20th the Russian Federation. The two
when the updated rankings are countries had earlier this year, during
released on August 6 2018. the visit of the thenforeign minister
10. ‘Chef of the century’, Joel Robuchon Khawaja Asif to Moscow, agreed to set
passes away at 73 up a commission to boost military
cooperation.
 Russian Deputy Defence Minister Col confirmed their roadmap would be
Gen Alexander Fomin led his side at completed by the end of this year.
the talks while Pakistani Defence 3. Pakistanis hide Rs43 trillion assets
Secretary retired Lt Gen Zamirul abroad: News Report
Hassan Shah headed the host side.  The authorities probing into the illegal
 The two sides, during the talks, foreign accounts and properties of
reviewed the progress made in thousands of Pakistanis disclosed on
bilateral defence cooperation since August 7, 2018 that the volume of
they signed the defence cooperation hidden assets stashed by Pakistani
pact in November 2014. Subsequently, nationals in different tax havens
Pakistan and Russia in October 2015 abroad stood at $350 billion (Rs43
signed the military-technical trillion).
cooperation accord providing for arms  Interestingly, the authorities also
supplies and cooperation in weapon revealed, for the first time, that only
development. accounts, properties worth Rs1,003
 Russia has over the past three years billion (US$8.1 billion) were declared
provided four Mi-35M combat and by over 5,300 entities, individuals
cargo helicopters to Pakistan and the under the amnesty scheme 2018 in the
militaries of the two countries also past three months.
held joint drills codenamed  “By the close of Amnesty Scheme 2018
`Friendship`. on July 31st, 2018, declarations from
2. In a first, provinces reach consensus 5,363 entities
on law reforms (individuals/companies) had
 The first inter-province consensus on disclosed foreign assets worth
the rule of law reforms has been Rs1,003 billion (US$8.1 billion), with
achieved at a meeting convened by the major share of declared assets located
United Nations Office for Crime and in the UAE.
Drugs (UNODC) and the British High 4. Multi-national naval exercise
Commission in Bhurban on August 7, Aman-19 ends
2018.  A two-day preliminary planning
 According to UNODC, key executives conference of multi-national naval
and members of the judiciary and exercise Aman-19 hosted by Pakistan
those of civil society from Punjab, Navy concluded on August 8, 2018.
Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber  The conference held threadbare
Pakhtunkhwa agreed on the discussions on Aman-19 naval
importance of the rule of law roadmap exercise which will be held next year.
implementation plans to deliver better  The theme of the naval exercise will be
justice outcomes for all citizens. "United for Peace".
 Members of the police, forensics,  Pakistan Navy has been hosting Aman
prosecutions, parole and probation exercise since 2007 with the aim to
depart-ments as well as judicial bring navies around the world at one
officials from Balochistan, KP and platform for peace
Punjab emphasised the value of strong 5. Shujaat Ullah Qureshi given acting
cross-institutional engagement in charge of DG IB
securing buy-in to the roadmap  After the retirement of Ihsan Ghani,
processes. Officials from Sindh the caretaker government has given
acting charge of Director General (DG) had already spooked investors and
IB to Shujaat Ullah Qureshi to run the triggered a run on the Iranian rial long
Bureau’s day to day routine functions before nuclear-related sanctions went
until the new government appoints a back into force.
regular head.  Sanctions are already badly affecting
 Shujaat Ullah Qureshi who is currently people`s lives. I can`t afford to buy
serving the Intelligence Bureau as food, pay the rent,` said one
Joint Director General Secretariat construction worker on the streets of
joined IB as a career officer in 1985. He the capital.
also served in Balochistan, Azad 7. Iran dismisses US talks offer
Kashmir, Punjab and abroad.  Iran dismissed a US offer to
 The acting DG IB has worked as head renegotiate a historic 2015 nuclear
of DGIB Sectt, a very coveted and deal signed with other major powers
sensitive assignment, with eight as President Donald Trump reimposed
Directors General for more than a crippling sanctions on August 7, 2018.
decade and earned respect from all of  Trump’s withdrawal from the
them. agreement in May has infuriated
 The officer is a graduate from National European partners who were
Defence University (NDU) and secured determined to keep it alive and now
top position in National Security find their businesses operating in Iran
Course 2013-14. He was promoted as faced with the threat of US legal
Joint Director General (BS-21) in the penalties.
year 2014.  The sanctions that went into effect on
6. Trump warns world against trade August 7, 2018 target Iranian access to
with Iran as sanctions return US banknotes and key economic
 US President Donald Trump warned sectors including cars and carpets.
the world against doing business with Much of the damage has already been
Iran on August 7, 2018 as he hailed the done, with Trump’s aggressive
`most biting sanctions ever impose d`, rhetoric fuelling a run on the rial in
triggering a mix of anger, fear and recent months, while worsening
deñancein Tehran. inflation has stoked public protests
 `The Iran sanctions have officially been against the government’s
cast. These are the most biting management of the economy that have
sanctions ever imposed, and in intensified over the past week.
November they ratchet up to yet  Most Iranians see US hostility as a
another level,` Trump wrote on basic fact of life, so their frustration is
Twitter. largely directed at their own leaders
 Ànyone doing business with Iran will for not handling the situation better.
NOT be doing business with the United "Prices have been increasing for three
States. I am asking for WORLD PEACE, or four months and everything we
nothing less.` Within hours of the need has become so expensive, even
sanctions taking effect, German before sanctions returned," said
carmaker Daimler said it was halting Yasaman, a 31-year-old photographer
its business activities in Iran. in Tehran.
 Trump`s May withdrawal from a  Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed
landmark 2015 nuclear agreement Javad Zarif told the global reaction to
Trump’s move showed that the US was additional data from Hubble (dark red
diplomatically "isolated," but and green). A neutron star, the ultra
acknowledged the sanctions "may dense core of a massive star that
cause some disruption." collapses and undergoes a supernova
8. Judge rules against Trump move to explosion, is found at its center.
curb transgenders` military role 10. Veteran Tamil leader Karunanidhi
 A US court ruled the Trump dies at 94
administration could not enforce an  Towering Tamil leader M. Karunanidhi
updated policy barring certain who began his political career as an
transgender people from serving in anti-Hindi agitator at 14 and fought
the US military, becoming the second regressive social mores all his life died
court in the country to rule against the in Chennai on August 7, 2018. He was
government since it unveiled the 94.
policy in March.  Among the early leaders of the Dravid
 President Donald Trump announced Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which
on March 23 that he would endorse a rose in response to the pervasive hold
plan by Defence Secretary Jim Mattis of Brahminism in Tamil Nadu,
to restrict the military service of Karunanidhi was chief minister of
transgender people who experience a Tamil Nadu five times.
condition called gender dysphoria.
 The policy replaced an outright han on
transgender service members that
August 9, 2018
Trump announced last year on
Twitter, citing concern over military 1. Pakistan defends economic
focus and medical costs. partnership with China
 US District Judge Colleen Kollar-  Pakistan on August 8, 2018 defended
Kotelly in Washington denied a its economic partnership with China,
request by the administration to lift an amid fears that the terms of opaque
injunction she had issued against multi-billion dollar investments by
Trump`s original ban. Beijing could be exacerbating
9. Lithium-rich giant star discovered Islamabad`s economic woes as it
 Chinese astronomers have discovered considers a fresh International
the most lithium-rich giant star ever Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout.
known, which could shed new light on  `We have noted recent media reports
the evolution of the universe. questioning the viability of China-
 With 3,000 times more lithium than a Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),
normal star, it was found in the claiming that it would create an
direction of Ophiuchus, on the north unbearable debt burden for Pakistan,`
side of the galactic disk, at a distance of the government said in a statement
4,500 light years from Earth. issued to the media.
 The star has a mass almost 1.5 times  `Such media reports are often one-
our sun. A composite image of the sided, distort facts, and are based on
supernova 1E0102.2-7219 contains X- irresponsible statements by
rays from Chandra (blue and purple), individuals who either have
visible light data from VLT’s MUSE nounderstanding of CPEC or are
instrument (bright red), and
driven by ulterior motives,` the festival that blends Islamic mysticism,
statement continued. crocodiles and singing in a blend of
 CPEC is an ambitious plan by Beijing to Swahili and a local language called
build infrastructure in Pakistan, Balochi.
mainly energy and transport,  Sidi communities also live in the
connecting the western Chinese region Indian states of Karnataka, Gujarat and
of Xinjiang with the Arabian Sea. Andhra Pradesh.
 It is part of China`s massive `Belt and 3. Pakistan will add 60,000 troops to
Road` initiative seeking to revive Afghan border patrol
ancient trade routes through a  The military will add as many as
massive rail and maritime network via 60,000 troops to boost its patrols
$1 trillion in investments across Asia along its disputed border with
and Europe. Afghanistan in an effort to curb the
2. Pakistan gets first African origin flow of insurgents passing between
lawmaker the two nations, according to military
 Pakistan is set to have its first ever officials familiar with the matter.
lawmaker of African descent, raising  Forty percent of the troops have
the profile of a small and mostly poor already been recruited in the exercise,
community that has been in the region which is expected to take two years,
for centuries. asking not to be identified so they
 Tanzeela Qambrani, 39, was could discuss sensitive troop
nominated by the Pakistan People’s movements. About 13 percent of a
Party (PPP), of former Prime Minister fence planned along the 1,456 mile-
Benazir Bhutto, to a women’s reserved long disputed border has also been
seat in the regional parliament of completed, they said. The armed
Sindh province. forces’ media department didn’t
 She hopes her nomination after last respond to a request for comment.
month’s election will help wash away  The move will consolidate Pakistan’s
the stigma attached to the Sidi border operations, which have been
community, the local name for the beefed up in recent years after
ethnic African population widespread insecurity wracked the
concentrated in the coastal regions of country following the US invasion of
Makran and Sindh. Afghanistan. Domestic terror-related
 Many Sidis are believed to be violence is now at its lowest in more
descended from slaves brought to than a decade. The army, which has
India from East Africa by the 661,000 regular and paramilitary
Portuguese. Historians say their troops, have previously been more
ancestors were also soldiers, traders, focused on the country’s eastern
pearl divers and Muslim pilgrims. border with arch-rival neighbour
They enjoyed senior positions during India, with which it’s fought three wars
the Mughal empire but faced against since British India’s partition
discrimination under British colonial in 1947. The two continue to contest
rule. Estimates put their population in the disputed region of Kashmir.
Pakistan in the tens of thousands. They  Pakistan has come under increasing
are well-integrated but keep alive pressure to act against the Afghan
some traditions, including an annual Taliban and the affiliated Haqqani
network since President Donald given the task to regularise all the
Trump accused Islamabad of allowing institutions working on children. But
them safe haven. In January, Trump no such institution has so far been
suspended military aid to the nuclear- registered with the CP&WB in the
armed nation and accused Pakistan of Punjab.
giving “lies and deceit” in return for 5. SC restores Gilgit-Baltistan Order
years of US funding. 2018
4. Punjab tops child abuse with 63pc  The Supreme Court on August 8, 2018
reported cases restored Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018.
 The Punjab is on the top in child rights’  Hearing a petition filed by the
violations with 63 percent kids’ abuse federation in Islamabad, the apex
cases while Child Protection and court suspended the decision of Gilgit-
Welfare Bureau could rescue only 11 Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court
children during the current year, which struck down Gilgit-Baltistan
statistics issued by the bureau Order 2018.
revealed.  In his remarks, Chief Justice of
 As per a report of Sahil, a private Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar said the
organisation working on child rights, a government should ensure that the
total of 3,445 child abuse cases were people of Gilgit-Baltistan also have the
reported in newspapers from across rights available to the people of other
Pakistan during the year 2017, out of areas in the country. It may be recalled
which 63 percent cases were from the that Chief Appellate Court of Gilgilt
Punjab, 27 percent from Sindh, 4 Baltistan declared the package given
percent from Balochistan, 3 percent by the Centre null and void.
from Islamabad and 2 percent from 6. Australia`s most populous state
KP. 12 cases were reported in entirely in drought
newspapers from AJK and 3 cases from  Australia`s most populous state was
GB. declared entirely in drought on August
 The data reveals more than nine 8, 2018 and struggling farmers were
children were abused daily during given new authority to shoot
2017. Major crime categories of the kangaroos that compete with livestock
reported cases were – abductions for sparse pasture during the most
1039, missing children 517, rape 467, intense dry spell in more than 50
sodomy 366, rape attempt 206, years.
sodomy 180, gang-rape 158 and child  Much of Australia`s southeast is
marriages 109. struggling with drought. But the
 United Nation Convention on the drought conditions in New South
Rights of Children (UNCRC) was Wales state this year have been the
implemented in 1991. Pakistan is not driest and most widespread since
only one of the signatories but also it 1965.
ratified the UNCRC in 1995.  The state government said on
 The CP&WB was established in 2004 Wednesday that 100 per cent of New
under Punjab Destitute and Neglected South Wales`land area of more than
Children (PD&NC) Act, 2004. The act 800,000 square kilometers (309,000
was amended in 2007 and 2017. After square miles) was now in drought.
amendment in 2017, the CP&WB was
 Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair 1825, was stolen while its custodian
said farmers were enduring one of the visited a brothel.
driest Southern Hemisphere winters  The custodian, identified by police as
on record. `This is tough. Lieutenant Roberto Juan de Dios Oniz
7. Malaysian ex-PM Najib charged Blanco, had been meant to deliver the
with money laundering historic medal and a tricolour sash to
 Malaysia`s former prime minister the president to wear during his
Najib Razak was hit with new charges speech on August 8, 2018 in the city of
on August 8, 2018 linked to a multi- Cochabamba, according to a police
billion-dollar unancial scandal that report quoted by local media.
contributed to his shock election  President Evo Morales who last wore
defeatinMay. the emblems on August 6, during
 Appearing at a court in Kuala Lumpur, celebrations marking Bolivia`s 193rd
Najib was charged with three counts of anniversary appeared at the
money-laundering over claims he Cochabamba military parade on
pocketed 42 million ringgit ($10.3 August 8, 2018 with neither medal nor
million) from a former unit of scandal- sash.
hit sovereign wealth fund 1MDB.  The medal was a gift from the
 These are in addition to the charges he Congress of the recently formed
faced last month after he was first Bolivian republic to its founder in
arrested three for criminal breach of 1825 and was first used in 1826 as the
trust and a separate count that he presidential medal by Antonio Jose de
abused his position to take the money. Sucre.
 The 65-year-old, who is free on bail, 9. Nasa poised to launch first Sun-
has denied all the charges. skimming spaceship
 Malaysia`s new government is probing  Nasa is poised to launch a $1.5 billion
allegations that billions of dollars were spacecraft on a brutally hot journey
looted from 1MDB, which was set up toward the Sun, offering scientists the
and overseen by Najib, in an audacious closest-ever view of our strange and
fraudthat spanned the globe. mysterious star.
 Najib is facing a long time behind bars  After the Parker Solar Probe blasts off
if found guilty the money-laundering from Cape Canaveral, Florida on
charges carry maximum jail terms of August 11, it will become the first
15 years each, while the spacecraft ever to fly through the Sun’s
otherfourcharges carry sentences of scorching atmosphere, known as the
20 years each. corona. Understanding how the
 The money-laundering charges allege corona works will help scientists
42 million ringgit stemming from anticipate dangerous space weather
illegal activities was transferred to storms, which can disrupt the power
Najib`s bank accounts between grid on Earth. “It’s of fundamental
December 2014 and February 2015. importance for us to be able to predict
8. Bolivia`s historic presidential space weather much the way we
medal stolen predict weather on Earth.
 Bolivia`s gold-and-emerald  The corona is a “very strange,
presidential medal, which dates back unfamiliar environment for us.”
to the foundation of the republic in
 The unmanned probe is named after take the oath of his office on Aug 14 or
Eugene Parker, the 91-year-old not.
pioneering solar astrophysicist, and 2. Quality of 2018 elections declined
the US space agency has coined it as compared to 2013: Pildat
the first mission to “touch the Sun.”  An analysis has found that the quality
 It will actually skim by at a distance of of the 2013 election was better than
3.83 million miles (6.16 million the recently held polls marred by
kilometers) above the Sun’s surface. result transmission system (RTS)
Mission managers say that may sound fiasco and complaints about the vote
like a lot but is really quite a close counting process.
shave, given the sweltering conditions  The Pakistan Insutute of Legislative
out there. Development and Transparency
10. Former world champion Bett dies (Pildat) while assessing the quality of
 Kenya`s former 400m hurdles world the 2018 polls at an overall score of
champion Nicholas Bett has died in a 51.79pc said it dropped by 5pc against
road accident aged 28. the quality of the 2013 election that
 Bett died in Nandi county, north west was assessed to be at 56.76pc.
Kenya after his car hit bumps and  The quality of the 2018 election has
rolled into a ditch. He had returned been assessed on 39 parameters under
home from the Africa Championships four broad categories of pre-poll,
in Nigeria on August 7, 2018. polling, counting of votes, compilation
and transmission ofresults and post-
August 10, 2018 
poll phase.
The pre-poll phase received an overall
score of 50pc, polling day operations
1. President calls new NA session on and arrangements for voting got the
13th highest score of 64pc, counting, result
 President Mamnoon Hussain has compilation and transmission of
summoned the new session of the results received the lowest score of
National Assembly on Aug 13, 40pc and the post-poll phase received
approving a summary sent to him by the score of 50pc.
caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk  Each parameter was assigned equal
for the purpose. weightage and graded on a scale of one
 The prime minister forwarded the to five with one indicating the poorest
summary on August 9, 2018 after the quality and five being the best.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) called  The assessment was a continuation of
upon the interim govern-ment to earlier similar assessments that had
summon the session of the lower been carried out by the think tank after
house so that the process of formation the general elections of 2002, 2008
of the new government could take and 2013.
place.  Similar assessments in the past
 The PTI also asked President Hussain assigned the overall score of 37.30pc
to drop his plan to proceed to Ireland to the quality of election 2002 and
on a three-day official visit on Aug 16 40pc to the quality of the 2008 polls.
as uncertainty prevails whether prime
minister-in-waiting Imran Khan can
 The scores had improved for the (IMF) from bailing out the countries
quality of election 2013 to 56.76pc but that have obtained loans from China
dropped again to 51.79pc in 2018. under its infrastructure development
 This drop in quality is mainly due to plan.
poor quality of pre-poll phase which  The letter to Secretary of State Michael
was largely attributable to the factors Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steve
lying outside the direct remit of the Mnuchin mentions Pakistan, Sri Lanka
ECP. and Djibouti among the countries that
 While the quality of the pre-poll phase have accepted billions of dollars in
received an overall score of 50pc it loans from China but are unable to
declined nearly 12 percentage points repay.
in comparisonto the quality of pre-poll  The loans come from the $8 trillion
phase of the 2013 election which had Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that
received a score of 62.35pc. China says is meant to develop
3. Saudi-backed IsDB ready to help infrastructure in friendly countries for
Imran-led govt with $4bn loan linking them to global trade routes.
 Pakistan plans to borrow more than $4  But US senators disagree.
billion from the Saudibacked Islamic  `We write to express our concern over
Development Bank (IsDB) as part of its bailout requests to the IMF by
attempts to restore dangerously low countries who have accepted
stocks of foreign currency, reported predatory Chinese infrastructure
The Financial Times on August 9, financing,` the 16 senators said in the
2018. letter they sent to the two secretaries
 The Jeddah-based bank had agreed to earlier this week.
make a formal offer to lend Islamabad  They claimed that China was using the
the money when Imran Khan took over debt to control the policies of the
as prime minister. borrowing nations.
 The loan would not cover Pakistan`s  The IMFis an internationallending
expected financing gap of at least institution and the United States is its
$25bn during this financial year but largest contributor with some $164
was àn important contribution`. billion in financial commitments.
 The loan had the backing of the Saudi  In 2016, the IMF agreed to pay Sri
government, `which wants to play a Lanka a $1.5 billion bailout loan to
part in rescuing Pakistan from its cover debts the country owes China.
present crisis`.  Recently, reports in the international
 Despite the promise of money from the media claimed that Pakistan may soon
IsDB, economists warn that Mr Khan`s seek up to $12 billion from the IMF to
government will still have to enact overcome a widening foreign
potentially unpopular spending cuts exchange deficit.
and tax rises to help repair the  But media reports claimed that
government`s balance sheet. Pakistan may use that money to repay
4. US senators seek to block IMF the loans it borrowed for the China
bailouts for China`s allies Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),
 A bipartisan group of 16 US senators which is linked to the BRI. Pakistan
urged the Trump administration to rejected the claim, saying that it had no
block the International Monetary Fund
intention of using IMF money for  The minutes were signed during a
repaying China. meeting of Chinese Ambassador Yao
5. New KP Assembly to meet on 13th Jing and Secretary Economic Affairs
 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Division Ghazanfar Abbas Jilani.
Zafar Jhagra has summoned the  The meeting was characterised by a
maiden session of the new provincial spirit of friendship cooperation and a
assembly on Monday (August 13) for desire to make rapid advances in socio
the swearing-in of its members. economic development.
 Outgoing Speaker Asad Qaisar will 7. Trump declares intent to create
administer the oath to the members- Space Force by 2020
elect.  US President Donald Trump`s
 After the oath-taking ceremony, the administration set a goal on August 9,
desiring candidates will file 2018 of creating a sixth branch of the
nomination papers for the offices of US military by 2020 known as the
the speaker and deputy speaker the `Space Force` and said it would work
same day. to build bipartisan support in
 He elections for the speaker and Congress for the plan.
deputy speaker would take place on  Critics view the creation of a Space
August 15 through secret ballot. Force as an unnecessary and
 Under Article 53 of the Constitution expensive bureaucratic endeavour
read with Article 127, the assembly and scoff at comparisons to the
shall, at its first meeting and to the foundation of the Air Force in 1947.
exclusion of any other business, elect  US Vice President Mike Pence, in a
from amongst its members a speaker Pentagon address, described the
and a deputy speaker. creation of the Space Force as àn idea
 Under Rule 8(2) of the Provincial whose time has come.` Trump, the
Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa champion of the plan, tweeted: `Space
Procedure and Conduct of Business Force all the way!` Ùltimately,
Rules, the election for the speaker shall Congress must act to establish this
be presided over by the outgoing new department, which will organise,
speaker and he will administer oath to train and equip the United States
his successor. Space Force,` Pence said.
6. China to provide $14m for  The Pentagon report, however,
rebuilding schools included aplan to create a unified
 China would provide $14 million to combatant command, known as the US
Pakistan for the reconstruction of fully Space Command, by the end of 2018.
damaged schools in Bara Khyber US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis threw
Agency to ensure improved education his support behind that idea on
infrastructure and to restore Tuesday.
enrolment of students post terrorism  The Pentagon report, however,
crisis situation. recommended that the unified
 Pakistan and China on August 9, 2018 command be in the hands of the Air
signed the implementations minutes Force for now. The Air Force currently
on Reconstruction and Rehabilitation oversees some of the most critical
of fully damages government schools space-based capabilities.
in Bara, Khyber Agency.
8. Argentina Senate votes against with international law and good
legalizing abortion diplomatic practice.
 Argentina’s senators on August 9,
2018 voted against legalizing abortion
in the homeland of Pope Francis,
dashing the hopes of women’s rights
groups after the bill was approved by
the legislature’s lower house months
earlier.
 The vote, with 38 against, 31 in favor
and two abstentions, capped a
marathon session that began the day
before and stretched into the early
hours. Fireworks and shouts of joy
erupted among anti-abortion activists
camped outside Congress, while pro-
choice campaigners, many decked in
the green scarves that had come to
symbolize their movement, were
downcast.
 The bill was passed by Congress’s
lower house in June by the narrowest
of margins, but was widely expected to
fall short of the votes needed to pass in
the Senate.
 Lawmakers must now wait a year to
resubmit the legislation.
9. Colombia recognizes Palestine as
sovereign state
 Colombia recognized Palestine as a
sovereign state in the days before new 10. Germany lifts ban on Nazi symbols
President Ivan Duque took office, in computer, video games
according to a letter from the foreign  Computer and video games can
ministry made public. include swastikas and other Nazi
 “I would like to inform you that in the symbols, a German industry body said
name of the government of Colombia, on August 9, 2018, after a heated
President Juan Manuel Santos has debate over the “Wolfenstein”
decided to recognize Palestine as a franchise in which gamers battle Third
free, independent and sovereign Reich forces.
state,” said the letter dated August 3.  The game was previously deemed to
 The letter was signed by Santos’s have fallen foul of the German criminal
foreign minister Maria Angela Holguin. code, which bars any depiction of so-
New Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes called “anti-constitutional” symbols,
said he would review the including Nazi swastikas.
“implications” of the previous  Accordingly in “Wolfenstein II”,
government’s decision, in accordance images of Adolf Hitler were doctored
to remove his moustache and the  The cancellation of slots kept aside for
swastika in the Nazi flag was replaced Pakistani officers, however, shows
with a triangular symbol. that the suspension now also applies
 This sparked an uproar in the gaming to training programmes.
community, prompting calls for games  Pakistani ofhcers have been receiving
to be treated like films. military training and education in the
 Because movies are deemed works of United States since early 1960s, which
art, they are exempt from the ban, were suspended in the 1990s but
similar to material used in research, restored af ter the Sept 11, 2001
historical or scientific purposes. terrorist attacks.The decision to
 Films set in the World War II-era, for suspend military training for Pakistani
instance, are allowed to be screened in of ficers was also reported by an
Germany with Nazi symbols. international news agency, Reuters,
 The Entertainment Software Self- which observed that both the US and
Regulation Body (USK) said video Pakistani officials were criticising the
games will in future be examined as to move, privately.
whether they constitute such 2. President cancels Ireland visit for
exceptions. PM`s oath-taking
 President Mamnoon Hussain has
August 11, 2018 shelved his three-day visit to Ireland,
apparently to be available on Aug 18 to
administer the oath to Imran Khan as
1. US cuts military training the 21st prime minister of the country.
programme for Pakistan  Mr Hussain had earlier decided to
 US military institutions are struggling proceed to Ireland on Aug 16 to attend
to fill the 66 slots they had kept aside the award-distribution ceremony of
for officers from Pakistan for the next Royal College of Physician where he
academic year, as the Trump too had to receive an honorary degree.
administration refused to provide  However, he cancelled the visit on the
funds for their training. request of caretaker Prime Minister
 The fund for training Pakistani officers Nasirul Mulk.
came from the US government`s  Caretaker Information and Law
International Military Education and Minister Ali Zafar met the president
Training Programme (IMET) but no and conveyed the message of the
funds were made available for prime minister to him.
Pakistan for the next academic year.  The president, on the
 The NDU is one of several US military recommendation of the interim prime
institutions that train officers from minister, has already summoned a
Pakistan. The Trump administration session of the National Assembly on
announced early this year that it was Aug 13 so that the process of
suspending security assistance to formation of the new government
Pakistan over differences on could start.
Afghanistan but indicated that training 3. Senate body passes bill for ban on
programmes for military of ficers will smoking in cinemas
continue.  The Senate Standing Committee on
Health on August 10, 2018 passed a
legislative bill calling for a ban on August 13, 2018 at the Sindh Assembly
smoking in cinemas across the building.
country.  Mr Durrani, speaker of the former
 The Senate committee, which met at assembly, assumed the
Parliament Lodges with Senator Mian governor`soffice after Muhammad
Mohammad Ateeg Sheikh in the chair, Zubair`s resignation as governor of
passed the bill titled The West Sindh.
Pakistan Prohibition of Smoking in 6. India to step up use of biofuels
Cinema Houses (repeal) Bill, 2018.  India aims to increase the use of
 The meeting also discussed various biofuels to cut its oil import bill by 120
issues related to the health ministry, billion rupees ($1.7bn) by 2022 and
including the nominations for an reduce carbon emissions.
upcoming WHO conference on health  India is the world`s third-biggest oil
in Geneva. importer and consumer and ships in
4. Javed Mehmood Bukhari made about 80 per cent of its crude needs,
Bahawalpur corps commander butis gradually building capacity
 The Pakistan Army on August 10, 2018 toincreaseits output of biofuels.
announced that Lt Gen Javed  The South Asian nation plans to build
Mehmood Bukhari has been appointed 12 bio-refineries costing 100bn rupees
corps commander of Bahawalpur. to produce fuel from items including
 `Lt Gen Javed Mehmood Bukhari [has crop stubble, plant waste and
been] appointed Commander municipal solid waste.
Bahawalpur Corps,` the Inter-Services 7. Nasa counts down to launch of first
Public Relations, the media affairs spacecraft to explore Sun
wing of the military, said in a brief  Nasa counted down on August 10,
statement. 2018 to the launch of a $1.5 billion
 Gen Bukhari was previously posted as spacecraft that aims to plunge into the
Quarter Master General at the General Sun`s sizzling atmosphere and become
Headquarters. He has replaced Lt Gen humanity`s first mission to explore a
Sher Afgun in Bahawalpur. star.
 Gen Afgun has been posted as  The car-sized Parker Solar Probe is
inspector general arms at GHQ scheduled to blast off on a Delta IV
5. Sindh Assembly`s new members to Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral,
take oath on August 13 Florida.
 The inaugural session of the 15th  By coming closer to the Sun than any
provincial assembly of Sindh, which spacecraft in history, the probe`s main
came into being following the July 25 goal is to unveil the secrets of the
general elections, is scheduled to begin corona, the unusual atmosphere
on August 13, 2018. around Sun.
 According to an order of acting  Not only is the corona about 300 times
Governor Agha Siraj Durrani, as hotter than the Sun`s surface, it also
notified on August 10, 2018 by the hurls powerful plasma and energetic
provincial assembly`s secretariat, the particles that can unleash geomagnetic
session of the new 166-strong space storms, wreaking havoc on
legislature has been convened on Earth by disrupting the power grid.
But these solar outbursts are poorly identify patients likely to benefit from
understood. the programme, to examine the
8. N Korea will preserve nuclear implementation method, and to
know-how calculate the costs.
 North Korea will preserve its nuclear  Norway has one of the highest
know-how despite its promise of overdose mortality rates in Europe,
denuclearisation to the United States, with 81 deaths per million in 2015
Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said after Estonia (132 deaths per million)
during a visit to Tehran. and Sweden (88 deaths per million).
 Despite the agreement to denuclearise  Medical heroin therapy is
the Korean peninsula struck during a controversial, but supporters argue
landmark summit between North that in addition to improving the
Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and US quality of life of addicts and lowering
President Donald Trump, "we overdose mortality, it reduces crime
preserve our nuclear science as we and the costs associated with it.
know that the Americans will not  The first treatments under the project
abandon their hostility toward us," Ri will begin in 2020 at the earliest.
said, according to the conservative  The initiative could benefit up to 400
Mehr news agency. drug addicts, according to the daily
 "Dealing with Americans is difficult, Aftenposten
and as our main goal is total 10. Mekhissi wins fifth Euro gold as
disarmament of the whole Korean world champions shine
Peninsula, it is necessary that the  France`s Mahiedine Mekhissi joined an
Americans also abide by their elite band of athletes after he claimed
commitments but they refuse to do his fifth European title on a
so." At the June summit with Trump, scintillating night of track and field in
Kim made a vague commitment to Berlin that saw a trio of world
denuclearisation - far from the champions shine.
longstanding US demand for the  Mekhissi, a three-time Olympic and
complete, verifiable and irreversible two-time world medallist, was
dismantling of Pyongyang's atomic imperious as he eased to a fourth
arsenal. victory in the 3000m steeplechase in
 Ri was meeting with Iran's influential 8min 31.66sec, having already won the
parliament speaker Ali Larijani on the discipline three times (2010, 2012,
third day of an official visit. 2016) and the 1500m once (2014).
9. Norway to test free heroin for drug  The 33-year-old Frenchman joined the
addicts trio of German Harald Schmid and
 Norway, which has one of the highest British pair Roger Black and Mo Farah
deadly drug overdose rates in Europe, as the sole athletes to have won five
will test prescribing free heroin to the outdoor golds on the continental stage.
most serious addicts to improve their  Mekhissi, who was controversially
living conditions, the government said stripped of the 2014 steeplechase title
on August 10, 2018. for having stripped off his singlet
 The Norwegian Directorate for Health before he crossed the finish line in first
and Social Affairs has been tasked with place, has the chance for an
proposing an experimental project to
unprecedented sixth gold when he wife of former special assistant to the
competes in Saturday`s 5000m. PM on foreign affairs Tariq Fatemi,
Mussarat Asif Khawaja, the wife of
August 12, 2018 Khawaja Asif, former foreign minister
Hina Rabbani Khar, former religious
affairs minister Shagufta Jummani,
1. Final NA tally shows Imran in Shazia Marri and former senator
convincing lead Rubina Irfan.
 The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf`s tally  The National Assembly has a total of
reached 158 members in the National 342 seats, including 272 general seats,
Assembly af ter the joining of nine 60 seats reserved for women and 10
independents and bagging 33 seats reserved for minorities. Elections on
reserved for women and minorities. July 25 were held in 270
 Out of the 60 reserved women seats, constituencies as polls in NA-60
the PTI has clinched 28, followed by Rawalpindi had been postponed
the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML- following the disqualification of PML-
N) with 16 seats, Pakistan Peoples N leader Hanif Abbasi days before the
Party(PPP) nine seats, Muttahida polling while elections in NA-103
Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) two seats and (Faisalabad) had been put off after the
one seat each by Balochistan Awami death of a candidate.
Party (BAP),Balochistan National 2. Balochistan Assembly to meet
Party (BNP), Grand Democratic tomorrow, Punjab PA session set for
Alliance (GDA), Muttahida Qaumi 15th
Movement (MQM) and Pakistan  The inaugural sessions of the
Muslim League-Q (PML-Q). provincial assemblies of Balochistan
 Similarly, out of the 10 reserved seats and Punjab are set to be held on Aug
for minorities, the PTI has won five, 13 and 15, respectively.
followed by two each by the PPP and  The newly-elected members of the two
PML-N and one by the MMA.If the assemblies will be administered the
votes of the PTI and its allied parties oath by the outgoing speakers.
are counted, the total comes to 184 in  Outgoing Punjab Assembly Speaker
the house of 339. In addition to this, Rana Muhammad Iqbal will administer
four independent MNAs-elect are also the oath to the MPAs-elect. The session
poised to support the PTI and, of the 17th provincial assembly will
therefore, the total number of the begin at 10am.
membersbelonging to the PTI and its  The election to the posts of speaker
allies comes to 188. But the PTI will and deputy speaker will be held on
still not be facing a weak opposition as Aug 16, or as scheduled by the speaker.
the strength of its arch-rival PML-N The chief minister`s election will be
and its allies also comes to 151. held a day after the speaker`s election
 The prominent women who have been and the new chief minister`s oath-
notified as MNAs on reserved seats are taking ceremony will be held at
Dr Shireen Mazari, Munaza Hassan and Governor House.
Andaleeb Abbas of the PTI; Tahira 3. Pakistan prepares 11 outcomes to
Aurangzeb, Shaista Pervez, former comply with FATF
information minister Marriyum recommendations
Aurangzeb, Zahra Wadood Fatemi, the
 To comply with 40 recommendations shall sign them and obtain thereon the
of the Financial Action Task Force signatures of the senior-most
(FATF), Pakistan’s key institutions Assistant Presiding Officer and an
have come up with a comprehensive accredited observer, a candidate or his
plan by devising 11 immediate election agent or polling agents as may
outcomes for avoiding further down be present in token of the said
gradation through upcoming documents having been prepared in
evaluation by the Asia and Pacific their presence and if any such person
Group (APG) from the next week. refuses to sign it, the Presiding Officer
 A delegation of the APG is scheduled to shall record a note on the result of the
visit Pakistan from August 13 and will count and the ballot paper account to
stay here for one week to evaluate the that effect.
country’s progress. Pakistan will have 5. China delays mosque demolition
to show progress on FATF instructions after protest
to avoid slipping from grey to blacklist.  Authorities in northern China delayed
 A list of 11 immediate outcomes has the demolition of a massive mosque on
been exclusively shared with The August 11, 2018 after thousands of
News by top officials who said that all people demonstrated to stop its
the key stakeholders including the destruction.
Ministry of Finance, FMU, SBP, Nacta,  Across China, officials have sought to
FIA and FBR’s Intelligence and limit religious freedoms for Muslims
Investigation will have to play as part of a widespread attempt to
important role during the next week’s bring believers in line with the dictates
visit of the APG. of the ruling Communist Party.
4. More than 90pc Form-45 not signed  Videos posted on social media in
by polling agents recent days showed protesters
 It is official now that over 90 percent gathering in front of the building as
Form-45 displayed on the Election police with riot shields stood by.
Commission of Pakistan (ECP)'s 6. WB to issue world’s first blockchain
website do not bear the signatures of bond
the polling agents.  The World Bank is taking a step into
 Although the ECP spokesperson has the brave new world of digital finance
admitted that many Form-45 have not to sell the first-ever bond to be issued
been signed by the polling agents, entirely using blockchain technology.
according to him it was not a  More than just funds, the World Bank
requirement of the Form-45 as there aims to gain experience using
was no space for polling agent’s blockchain -- a digital public registry of
signature. However, the Section 90 transactions -- that could lead to "a
(12) of the Elections Act 2017 clearly golden future" for financial services
says that the presiding officer shall for developing nations.
obtain signature of the polling agent  The technology is most often
on the form. associated with cryptocurrencies --
 The Section 90 (12) of the Elections like bitcoin -- which often raise
Act 2017 says, “The Presiding Officer, suspicion about their reliability and
after preparation of the Result of the volatility, as well as their use for
count and the Ballot Paper Account, criminal purposes.
 But because there as yet is no central soundedin thelastmoments before
bank-backed digital currency in liftoff, officials said.
existence, the two-year blockchain  Engineers are taking utmost caution
bond will rely on real-world money: with the $1.5 billion Parker Solar
Australian dollars. Probe, which Thomas Zurbuchen,
7. Russia's economy grows further in head of Nasa`s science mission
2Q directorate, described as one of the
 Russia's economy saw year-on-year agency`s most `strategically important
growth of 1.8 percent in the second missions`.
quarter benefitting from rising oil  By coming closer to the Sun than any
prices and despite increasingly harsh spacecraft in history, the unmanned
US sanctions probe`s main goal is to unveil the
 Russia's economy expanded by 1.3 secrets of the corona, the unusual
percent in the first quarter of the year atmosphere aroundthe Sun.
compared to the same period of 2017,  Not only is the corona about 300 times
after two years of recession in 2015 hotter than the Sun`s surf ace, but it
and 2016. alsohurls powerful plasma and
 The return to growth seen in 2017 has energetic particles that can unleash
continued this year despite the geomagnetic space storms, wreaking
announcement in April of new US havoc on Earth by disrupting the
sanctions over Russia's alleged power grid.
meddling in 2016 presidential  These solar outbursts are poorly
elections won by Donald Trump understood, but pack the potential to
8. Afghan forces in control of Ghazni wipe out power to millions of people.
 Security forces were in control of the 10. Indian women pilots flying around
eastern Afghan city of Ghazni on the world in 90 days
August 11, 2018, more than a day after  Indian women pilots have set off to
Taliban fighters launched a major circumnavigate the globe,
onslaught on the provincial capital, as  Two women are set to become India’s
reinforcements continued a clearance first women pilots to circumnavigate
operation targeting the militants. the globe. Aarohi Ashok Pandit and
 Fresh reinforcements had arrived in Keithair Gilroy Misquitta in a motor
the area and were battling Taliban glider reached Karachi on the first leg
fighters north of Ghazni, and that the of their journey around the world in 90
insurgents were in no position to take days.
control of the city.  The expedition which started from
9. Nasa postpones for 24 hours launch Bhuj on August 7 will cover three
of historic spaceship to Sun continents, 21 countries in 90 days
 Nasa postponed the launch of the first covering 40,000 km across the globe.
ever spacecraft to fly directly toward The women pilots were received by
the Sun on a mission to plunge into our Air Adviser Group Captain JT Kurien,
star`s sizzling atmosphere and unlock who wished them blue skies on their
its mysteries. onward journey

August 13, 2018
The reason for the delay was not
immediately clear, but was called for
after a gaseous helium alarm was
1. Over 85pc NA candidates lose 2. 106 terror financing cases filed in
security deposit Punjab since 2015
 As the nomination fee commonly  The Punjab police have registered 106
known as security deposit of 2,870 of cases of terror financing involving
the total 3,355 candidates for the proscribed organisations since 2015,
National Assembly will be forfeited for and arrested 144 suspects, 42 of
failing to obtain over 25 per cent of whom were convicted by courts.
total votes polled in their  This has been stated in a report which
constituencies according to official is part of similar narrations three
results, other provinces have prepared for a
 At least 10 party heads besides many briefing the Pakistani authorities are
other prominent politicians will not be scheduled to give to a delegation of the
refunded the money they had UN Security Council`s Financial Action
deposited. Task Force (FATF) on Aug 15 on steps
 Under the Elections Act, the taken to curtail financial and other
requirement of obtaining one-eighth activities of the organisations
of the total polled votes to qualify for proscribed by the world body,
refund of nomination fee had been including the Jamaatud Dawa. The
changed to one-fourth apparently to report fromPunjab sent to Islamabad
discourage non-serious on August 12, 2018.
candidates.The ratio of forfeitures was  Since 2015, 26 accused were convicted
highest in Fata (95.48pc), followed by of receiving or donating funds and
Islamabad (92.42 pc), Balochistan handed more than five years of
(91.98 pc) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa imprisonment.
(86.13pc), while the lowest ratio of  Like all other provinces, Punjab has
forfeiture was in Sindh (84.46 pc) and also sent to the federal government its
Punjab (84.46 pc). report on implementation of the
 In Fata, 254 of the total 266 candidates actions suggested by the UN against
are going to lose their nomination fee. the proscribed organisations,` a senior
In Islamabad, 61 of the total 66 official told Dawn.
candidates for three National  Officials said a preparatory meeting
Assembly seats failed to secure more was held in Islamabad under the
than 25pc of the total votes polled. federal interior secretary a few days
 Similarly, 264 of the total 287 ago in which the provinces were asked
candidates for NA seats from to prepare theirreports.
Balochistan and 354 of the total 411  The UN has proscribed 18
candidates from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa organisations, including JuD, Jaish-
could not meet the legal requirement eMuhammad, Falah-i-Insaniat
for refund of nomination fee. Foundation and Al Qaeda. In addition,
 Besides, 696 of the total 824 Pakistan has alsoitselfbanned
contestants from Sindh and 1,241 of another54 organisations.
1,501 from Punjab candidates will lose 3. Nasa launches probe to `touch Sun`
their deposit for failing to get over  NASA on August 12, 2018 launched a
25pc of total votes polled in their $1.5 billion spacecraft toward the Sun
respectiveconstituencies. on a historic mission to protect the
Earth by unveiling the mysteries of  As Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has
dangerous solar storms. clinched 16 of the 22 seats reserved
 `Three, two, one, zero, and liftoff! Of for women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
the mighty Delta IV Heavy rocket with Assembly, Ms Nighat Orakzai of
NASA`s Parker Solar Probe, a daring Pakistan People`s Party has created
mission to shed light on the mysteries history by becoming MPA on reserved
of our closest star, the Sun,` said the seat for the fourth consecutive term.
narrator on NASA TV. The launch lit  The Election Commission of Pakistan
the night sky at Cape Canaveral, notified the names of MNAs and MPAs
Florida, at 3:31am (0731 GMT). elected on seats reserved for women
 Less than an hour later, mission in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
managers confirmed that the  Under the Constitution, nine seats of
spacecraft separated from the rocket MNAs and 22 seats of MPAs are
as planned and was safely on its reserved for women in the province.
journey. Àt this point, spacecraft is up  PTI has won seven of nine MNA seats
and happy,` said a spokesman with whereas a single seat each is won by
United Launch Alliance, the company Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal and Pakistan
thatoperates the rocket. Muslim League-Nawaz.
 The unmanned spacecraft`s mission is  Similarly, apart from 16 seats of MPAs
to get closer than any human-made won by PTI, Awami National Party and
object ever to the centre of our solar MMA have secured two seats each,
system, plunging into the Sun`s whereas both PPP and PML-N have
atmosphere, known as the corona, begged a single seat of MPA. Ms
during a seven-year mission. Orakzal was twice elected as MPA on
 The probe is guarded by an ultra- ticket of PML in 2002 and 2008. Later,
powerful heat shield that can endure she joined PPP and was elected as MPA
unprecedented levels of heat, and in 2013 and now in 2018.
radiation 500 times that experienced  Lady luck often smiles on her as like
on Earth. 2008 and 2013, when she was lone
 NASA has billed the mission as the first woman MPA of PML and PPPP,
spacecraft to `touch the Sun`. In reality, respectively, she is again the only
it should come within 3.83 million woman MPA of PPP. On all the three
miles (6.16 million kilometres) of the occasions her name was at serial No 1
Sun`s surface, close enough to study of the priority list of candidates
the curious phenomenon of the solar submitted by her respective party.
wind and the Sun`s atmosphere, 5. Govt gives 50pc subsidy on cotton
known as the corona, which is 300 seed
times hotter than its surface. The car-  Punjab Secretary Agriculture Wasif
sized probe will give scientists a better Khurshid has said that the government
understanding of solar wind and is striving hard to achieve target of
geomagnetic storms that risk cotton production of 10 million bales
wreaking chaos on Earth by knocking as huge funds have been provided to
out the power grid. the farmers.
4. PTI secures 16 of 22 seats reserved  In a statement, he said that the
for women MPAs government has provided approved
varieties of cotton seed on up to 50
percent subsidised rate, Radio military cooperation between the
Pakistan reported. He said that over Rs countries on the Caspian.
14 million are being spent for  Nazarbayev said the convention
provision of agricultural machinery to allows for the construction of
cotton growers. underwater oil and gas pipelines as
 The Secretary Agriculture said that well as setting national quotas for
Punjab government has provided fishing and forbids any for-eign
110,000 smart phones to the farmers military presence.
equipped with special applications  Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was
through which extension services are quick to hail the clause that prevents
being provided to cotton growers and nonCaspian countries from deploying
other crops. military forces.
 350.889 million rupees are being  After years of unsuccessful
spent on Commissioned Research negotiations on the Caspian the
Programme for high yield cotton seed Kremlin `gains political kudos for
production. breaking a log-jam,` said John Roberts,
6. Caspian Sea nations sign landmark a non-resident senior fellow at Atlantic
deal Council`s Eurasia Center.
 The leaders of the five states bordering  The project is billed as allowing
the resource-rich Caspian Sea signed a European countries to ease their
landmark deal on August 12, 2018 on dependence on gas from Russia at a
the legal status of the inland sea which time of heightened geopolitical
boasts a wealth of oil and gas reserves confrontation.
and sturgeon. 7. Russia`s growing influence cause of
 The leaders of Azerbaijan, Iran, concern: US general
Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan  Russia is exerting its authority and
signed the agreement on the status of presence in the greater Middle East
the inland sea, which has been region and the United States believes
disputed since the collapse of the that Moscow is playing a great power
Soviet Union rendered obsolete game, says a senior US general.
agreements between Tehran and  Pakistan and Russia signed an
Moscow. agreement earlier this week, which
 The host, Kazakh President Nursultan enables Pakistani military officers to
Nazarbayev, said before the signing receive training in Russian military
that the leaders were `participants in a institutes.
historic event`. `we can admit that  The deal underscores Pakistan`s
consensus on the status of the sea was efforts to seek new allies as its
hard to reach and not immediate, the relations with the United States strain.
talks lasted more than 20 years and The United States has not only
called for a lot of joint efforts from the suspended its security assistance to
parties, Nazarbayev said. the country but has also suspended
 Russian leader Vladimir Putin, whose training facilities for Pakistani military
country was seen as driving the deal, officers.
said the convention had èpochmaking  `Russia is trying to exert their
significance` and called for more authorityand their presence, their
influence across the region,` said Gen
Joseph L. Votel, Commander of US  Abadi would visit both neighbouring
Central Command (CENTCOM), when Turkey and Iran to discuss economic
asked to comment on growing military issues.
ties between Pakistan and Russia. 10. Nobel Prize-winning author V.S.
8. Mali holds elections amid militant Naipaul dies
threat  British author V.S. Naipaul, a famously
 Malians voted on August 12, 2018 in a outspoken Nobel laureate who wrote
presidential runoff likely to see on the traumas of postcolonial change,
Ibrahim Boubacar Keita returned to has died at the age of 85.
office despite criticism of his handling  Naipaul, who was born in Trinidad and
of the country`s security crisis and the son of an Indian civil servant, was
allegations of election fraud. best known for his novel, A House for
 The second round is a rerun of a 2013 Mr Biswas, and his Man Booker Prize-
face-off that Keita, 73, won by a winning In A Free State.
landslide over former finance minister  Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul settled
Soumaila Cisse. in England and studied English
 This year`s campaign saw fierce literature at Oxford University on a
attacks on Keita`s perceived failure to scholarship.
dampen a wave of jihadist bloodshed  But he spent much of his
and ethnic violence, as well as timetravelling and despite becoming a
mounting accusations of vote fraud. pillar of Britain`s cultural
 Mali, a landlocked nation home to at establishment, was also a symbol of
least 20 ethnic groups where the modern rootlessness.
majority of people live on less than $2  Naipaul`s early works focused on the
a day, has battled jihadist attacks and West Indies, but came to encompass
inter-communal violence for years. countries around the world.
 After the July 29 firstround vote the  He stirred controversy in the past,
pool of candidates was reduced from describing post-colonial countries as
24 to two, as Keita was credited with `half-made societies` and alleging that
42 per cent of the vote and Cisse, 68, Islam both enslaved and attempted to
picked up 18 per cent. wipe out other cultures.
9. Iraq PM cancels visit to sanctions-  When he was awarded the 2001 Nobel
hit Iran prize for literature, the Swedish
 Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi Academy described him as a `literary
has cancelled a visit to Iran, his press circumnavigator, only ever really at
office said August 12, 2018, as the home in himself, in his inimitable
premier came under strong Iranian voice`.
criticism over his stand on renewed US

sanctions against Tehran.
Abadi will still go ahead with a planned
August 14, 2018
visit to Turkey on Tuesday but has
scrapped the Iran leg of the trip 1. 326 legislators take oath in
"because of his busy schedule", his coutnry's 15th National Assembly
office said.  Setting the stage for a second
democratic transition a day before the
country`s 71st Independence Day, 326
newly elected members of the 15th Durrani, the outgoing speaker. Mr
National Assembly took the oath amid Durrani, who has also been nominated
an unusual calm during its inaugural by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)
session on August 13, 2018. asits candidate for the post of speaker
 The oath-taking ceremony took place of the new assembly, administered the
in a very cordial atmosphere as several oath to the members in Urdu, Sindhi
opposition members were seen and English.
exchanging pleasantries with the  In Peshawar, the newly elected
legislators belonging to thePakistan members of the KP Assembly took the
Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), the party poised oath amid a token protest by the joint
to form its government. opposition against alleged rigging in
 Among those who took the oath as the July 25 general elections.
MNAs, there are seven party heads, six  In Quetta, outgoing speaker Rahila
former provincial chief ministers, Hameed Khan Durrani administered
three former speakers, one former the oath to 58 new legislators of the
president (Mr Zardari) and one former 65-member Balochistan Assembly.
Prime Minister (Raja Pervez Ashraf). After taking the oath, the members of
 The former chief ministers who were fered prayers for the martyrs of the
administered the oath as MNAs were Mastung massacre as well as the
Mr Shahbaz, Pervez Khattak, Aftab lawyers who were martyred in the Aug
Shabaan Mirani, Mr Mengal, Amir 8, 2016, terrorist attack.
Haider Hoti and Ali Mohammad Mehr. 3. China, Pakistan discuss anti-terror
 The three former speakers who took cooperation
the oath on Monday were Dr Fehmida  Top Chinese paramilitary force
Mirza and Syed FakharImam besides commander on Monday discussed
Mr Sadiq himself. proposals for increasing Pak-China
 The NA has a total of 342 seats counterterrorism cooperation with
including 272 general seats, 60 seats Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.
reserved for women and 10 reserved  The proposals were discussed during a
for minorities. As polls in Rawalpindi meeting of Commander of Chinese
(NA-60) had been postponed People’s Armed Police Force General
following the disqualification of PML- Wang Ning with Gen Bajwa.
N leader Hanif Abbasi and elections in  Chinese People’s Armed Police Force is
Faisalabad (NA-103) had been put off a paramilitary police force, which is
after the death of a candidate, the responsible for counterterrorism
elections were held in 270 NA operations in restive areas such as
constituencies on July 25. western Xinjiang region. The 1.5
2. New MPAs in Sindh, KP, Balochistan million-strong paramilitary police
take oath force is also responsible for border
 Newly elected members of the defence.
provincial assemblies of Sindh, Khyber 4. First Kalash MPA vows to fight for
Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were rights of minorities
sworn in on August 13, 2018.  A Kalash man from Chitral district on
 The oath to 160 out of the total 168 August 13, 2018 formally became the
members of the Sindh Assembly was first member of the Khyber
administered by Agha Siraj Khan Pakhtunkhwa Assembly from his fast
shrinking religious minority, which 6. 4th NJHP unit begins operation
claims to be the descendants of Greek  The fourth and last unit of the
invader Alexander the Great. NeelumJhelum Hydropower Project
 Wazirzada represents Kalash, the (NJHP) was synchronised with
country`s smallest ethnoreligious national grid on August 13, 2018 after
community that lives in the remote it started generating over 200
mountains of Hindu Kush range. He is megawatts on a trial basis.
now representing different religious  During the project`s trial run, the unit
minorities of the province in the will be tested on various loads ranging
assembly.The Kalash people, up to 242MW.
according to the legend, are of the  With successful commissioning of its
remnants of the Alexander the Great, all four units, the NJHP is expected to
whose army invaded Hindu Kush attain its installed generation capacity
region around 2000 years ago, while of 969MW in a couple of days.
another theory describes them  Three units at the projecthave
indigenous people. alreadybeen generating 726MW of
5. Pakistan stands by Turkey amid US electricity on trial basis; thus far, they
sanctions have contributed around 900 million
 Pakistan August 13, 2018 expressed electricity units to the national grid.
solidarity with Turkey amid tension 7. Iran offers discount oil to Asia
with the United States and sanctions  Iran is selling oil and gas at a discount
by Washington. to Asian customers as it prepares for
 Turkey's economy has been under the the return of US sanctions
threat of sanctions from the United  Discount is part of the nature of the
States after President Donald Trump global markets being offered by all oil
tweeted earlier this year that this exporters
would be a probable course of action if  The state-run National Iranian Oil
an American pastor, Andrew Brunson, Company was reducing official prices
was not freed from jail. Turkey has for September sales to Asia to their
held the evangelist since 2016 and has lowest level in 14 years, compared
alleged that he was involved in a failed with Saudi crude
coup attempt that year. 8. Nadal downs Tsitsipas to win
 Trump appeared to follow through on Toronto Masters
his threat when he announced a  Rafael Nadal held off a late surge from
doubling of tariffs on steel and birthday boy Stefanos Tsitsipas to
aluminium originating from Turkey. claim the 80th title of his career with
 The White House later tried to clarify victory at the Toronto Masters on
Trump's tweet, saying in a statement August 12, 2018.
that he “authorized the preparation of  Nadal overcame a second set fightback
documents to raise tariffs” on metals from Greek youngster Tsitsipas to
imports from Turkey. claim a 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) victory in just
 Turkish President Recep Erdogan under 1hr 45mins. The win gave the
yesterday attacked the United States, 32-year-old Spaniard a record-
alleging that the use of sanctions by extending 33rd trophy at the elite
Washington was a ‘stab in the back Masters level as well as his 80th title.
against Turkey.’
9. Halep beats Stephens to take 1. Stretched Afghan army loses base to
Montreal crown Taliban
 World number one Simona Halep held  Taliban fighters overran an army base
her nerve in a rollercoaster duel with in northern Afghanistan, officials said
Sloane Stephens to win the WTA on August 14, 2018, killing at least 17
Montreal crown for the second time. soldiers with dozens feared captured
 In a gruelling 2hr 41min battle, French in a stinging blow to security forces
Open champion Halep prevailed 7-6 already struggling to push insurgents
(8/6), 3-6, 6-4 over Stephens in a from eastern Ghazni.
repeat of the duo's meeting in the final  The fall of the base in Ghormach
of Roland Garros earlier this year. district of volatile Faryab province
 The victory was Halep's 18th career came with security forces who have
title and her second in Montreal struggled to hold back the Taliban
following her success in 2016. The 26- since Nato combat troops pulled out in
year-old sealed the win with an ace on 2014 already stretched by the days
her fourth match point, capping an offighting in Ghazni, a strategic
enthralling duel marked by several provincial capital two hours
momentum swings fromKabul.
10. 200-million-year-old Pterosaur  Militants gained control of the base
`built for flying` after days of heavy fighting, according
 Scientists on August 13, 2018 unveiled to army spokesman for northern
a previously unknown species of giant Afghanistan Mohammad Hanif Rezaee.
pterosaur, the first creatures with a  He said around 100 soldiers were on
backbone to fly under their own the base when it was first attacked on
power. Sunday.
 Neither dino nor bird, pterosaurs  At least 17 were killed in the attack,
more commonly known as according to defence ministry
pterodactyls emerged during the late spokesman Ghafoor Ahmad Jawed,
Triassic period more than 200 million while a local MP said Taliban fighters
years ago and lorded over primeval capturedanother 40 in the base,
skies until a massive space rock known as Chenaya.
slammed into Earth, wiping out 2. Karachi ranked among world`s
landdwelling dinosaurs and most least liveable cities
other forms of life more than 65 billion  Karachi has been named among the
years ago . least liveable cities in the world by the
 The newly discovered member of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) the
family, identified through remains research and analysis division of the
found in northeastern Utah, had a Economist Group.
wing-span of 1.5 metres and 112 teeth,  The annual EIU survey ranks 140 cities
including fang-like spikes sticking out on a range of factors, including
near the snout. political and social stability, crime,
August 15, 2018

education and access to healthcare.
 This year, Karachi has been ranked
137th on the list the fourth least
liveablecity in the world only
managing to fare better than
Damascus in Syria, Dhaka in 3. Two indigenous satellites become
Bangladesh and Lagos in Nigeria. fully operational
 The survey found that civil war and  After their successful tests in orbit,
terrorism played a `strong role` in the Pakistan`s first Remote Sensing
worst performing cities. Of the cities Satellite (PRSS-1) and its Technology
with poor scores, 11 occupied the very Evaluation Satellite (PakTES-1A)
bottom tier of liveability, where became fully operational on August 14,
ratings fell below 50 per cent and most 2018.
aspects of living were severely  The control of the PRSS-1 satellite was
restricted. successfully transferred to ground
 The [low] rankings of cities like control stations in Pakistan.
Damascus, Karachi and Tripoli  The satellites were successfully
suggested that conflict was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite
responsible for many of the lowest Launch Centre in China on July 9.
scores.  According to the statement, President
 This is not only because stability Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister
indicators had the highest single retired Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk have
scores but also because factors praised the efforts of Suparco`s
defining stability could spread to have engineers and scientists in achieving
an adverse effect on other categories, another milestone in space
the EIU observed. technology.
 At the other end of the spectrum, 4. President Mamnoon grants awards
Austria`s capital Vienna beat to 450 military personnel
Melbourne to be named the world`s  President Mamnoon Hussain on
most liveable city, ending the southern August 14, 2018 allowed grant of
Australian city`s seven-year reign. It`s awards to over 450 officers and
the first time a European city has soldiers of the Pakistan Army, Pakistan
topped the rankings of the EIU annual Navy and Pakistan Air Force in
survey. recognition of their services for the
 Australia and Canada dominated the motherland.
top ten, each boasting three cities.  The president granted Sitara-i-Basalat
 Australia had Melbourne, Sydney to two personnel, Tamgha-i-Basalat to
(fifth) and Adelaide (10th) while 59, Commendation Certificates to 34,
Canada had Calgary (fourth), COAS Commendation Cards to 156,
Vancouver (sixth) and Toronto (joint Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) to 17, Sitara-i-
seventh). Imtiaz (Military) to 77 and Tamgha-i-
 Japan which alongside Osaka boasted Imtiaz (Military) to 106 personnel.
Tokyo in the top 10 (joint seventh) had  The civil and military awards are
a nationwide average of 347 people announced every year on
per square kilometre, but its cities Independence Day and the president
were still famed for their transport confers these awards at a ceremony
networks and living standards. held on the next Pakistan Day.
 Copenhagen was the only other 5. First Russian language radio
European city in the top 10, at the channel launched
ninth place.  The first online Russian language
Radio News broadcasting has
launched its services on Pakistan year, followed by the remaining three
Independence day for linking South units coming into operation after one
Asian countries to Russian speaking month’s interval each. The fourth and
listeners. last unit was synchronized with the
 The project, launched on 71st National Grid yesterday, and attained
Independence Day of Pakistan would its maximum generation capacity.
help promoting cultural activities,  Neelum Jhelum is a state-of-the art
music and social developments of hydropower project with 90 percent
South Asian , Central Asian and being underground and beneath the
Eastern European countries through high mountainous areas. The project,
its 24/7 Radio Broadcasting. constructed on River Neelum in Azad
 The Online “DND Radio” would be Jammu and Kashmir, has a dam at
available in all formats of Nauseri, an underground waterway
smartphones, tablets and desktop system consisting of 52-km long
computers. tunnels and an underground
 DND Radio is new initiative of powerhouse at Chattar Kalas with four
Dispatch News Desk (DND) News power generating units. The project
Agency which launched first-ever will provide about 5 billion units of
online Russian Newspaper and News electricity to the National Grid every
Agency in the year 2012 year with annual estimated benefits of
(www.dispatchnewsdesk.com) Rs.55 billion. Neelum Jhelum
through its team spreading over South Hydropower Project will significantly
Asia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. contribute to meet the electricity
6. Neelum Jhelum attains full capacity requirements in the country.
of 969MW 7. Kurds meet Syrian govt to discuss
 The strategically important Neelum self-rule
Jhelum Hydropower Project achieved  Representatives from Syria`s Kurdish-
a historic landmark as the project run northeastern region met with the
attained its maximum generation government in Damascus last week to
capacity of 969 MW. All units of the discuss selfadministration in a
project are generating power to their postwar Syria.
maximum.  It was the second meeting between the
 Meanwhile, Pakistan Water and Power two sides, and they agreed to continue
Development Authority (Wapda) their discussions, said Ilham Ahmed,
Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain the co-president of the Kurdish-led
(Retd) has congratulated Neelum Syrian Democratic Council.
Jhelum Hydropower Project’s  The SDC delegation pressed for
management, Wapda engineers and constitutional reforms to enshrine
other employees on this historic regional self-administration, said
achievement. Ahmed, who described the
 Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project government`s response as `not
has four generating units, each of them positive.
having a generation capacity of 242.25  President Bashar Assad is demanding
MW. Wapda has commissioned this the departure of US troops, who are
project in a phased manner. The first embedded with the military arm of the
unit was commissioned in April this
SDC, the Syrian Democratic Forces, in are among the top universities in
the northeast Rojava region. Hungary.
8. Israeli minister confirms  Gulyas said those already enrolled
Netanyahu met Sisi over Gaza could finish their studies but Budapest
 Israel`s finance minister confirmed on would stop financing the courses from
August 14, 2018 that Prime Minister the next academic year.
Benjamin Netanyahu met Egyptian 10. Former Brazil finance minister
President Abdel Fattah alSisi in Egypt charged with corruption
in May to discuss a long-term ceasefire  Former Brazil finance minister Guido
in the Gaza Strip. Mantega was indicted on money
 Egypt and the United Nations have laundering and other charges as part
been trying to mediate a long-term of the corruption scandal that has
truce between Israel and Hamas, the rocked the country's business and
Islamist group that rules Gaza, political elites.
following a spike in cross-border  Mantega, 69, is accused of taking
violence in the past few months. money from construction giant
 The two leaders discussed the easing Odebrecht in exchange for helping to
of an Israeli-Egyptian blockade of advance legislation that favored the
Gaza, rehabilitation of its company, Judge Sergio Moro wrote.
infrastructure and terms for a  It is the first time Mantega has been
ceasefire, the Channel Ten report said. charged in the so-called "Operation
9. Hungary to stop funding gender Car Wash", a vast probe of a pay-to-
studies courses play relationship between Brazilian
 Hungary`s government will stop companies and politicians centred
financing gender studies university around the state oil company
courses, Prime Minister Viktor Petrobras
Orban`s chief of staff said on August
14, 2018, marking one of the first
concrete steps in a cultural shift
August 16, 2018
signalled last month.
 Re-elected in April to a third 1. Asad Qaiser, Qasim Khan Suri new
consecutive term, right-wing NA custodians
nationalist Orban said in July that  PTI candidates for speaker, deputy get
major cultural and intellectual changes 176 and 183 votes against Shah’s 146
were in the works. and Mehmood’s 144
 The move against the gender studies  Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf with the
courses is one of the first specific such support of its allies managed to get its
government policies. Others included men elected as speaker and deputy
a move to reduce the independence of speaker of the National Assembly with
the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in a clear majority.
the allocation of public research  A total 330 votes cast in the elections
funding. for the speaker of the 15th National
 Gender studies courses are taught at Assembly of Pakistan, while eight
the state-run university ELTE and votes were rejected due to invalidity.
Central European University, which  Qaiser, who stepped in the shoes of
outgoing speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq,
bagged 176 votes. The nominee of opposition went to the speaker in
‘grand opposition alliance’ from secret ballot. Aziz Gran of the PTI from
Pakistan People’s Party, Syed Swat has yet to take oath of office and
Khursheed Shah secured 146 votes. so, he didn`t poll his vote.
 PTI nominee Qasim Khan Suri – who  Mr Ghani, a senior lawmaker, had
hails from Balochistan – won the served as higher education minister
contest for the deputy speaker by and adviser to the chief minister on
securing 183 votes out of total 328 information during the last PTI
cast. government.
2. Agha Siraj Durani re-elected as SA  Hailing from Abbottabad district, he
Speaker was elected member of the provincial
 Agha Siraj Durrani was re-elected assembly on the ticket of Pakistan
August 15, 2018 as the Sindh Muslim League-Quaid in 2002. He
Assembly speaker after bagging 96 however quit the party afterward and
votes from the house as compared to won the 2013 election as an
the 59 votes bagged by his competitor independent candidate and joined the
Javed Hanif, the joint candidate of PTI.
opposition parties. 4. New Punjab Provincial Aseembly
 PPP candidate for deputy speaker, house sworn in
Rehana Leghari, also successfully  As many as 354 newly-elected
clinched the post of deputy speaker members including those who
after securing 98 votes as compared to returned on reserved seats of 17th
59 votes to Rabia Azfar Nizami who house of the Punjab Assembly took
was a joint candidate of opposition oath on August 15, 2018.
parties, including PTI, MQM-P and  Outgoing Speaker Rana Muhammad
GDA. Iqbal welcomed the MPAs-elect before
 A total of 158 votes out of total 168 he administered oath to them. Of the
were polled during the process while members who were sworn in, 10
three TLP members who were present arrived late and were administered
in the assembly did not take part in the oath towards the end of the session.
voting process.  According to the party position in the
3. Mushtaq Ghani and Mahmood Jan house, the PTI is leading with 173
elected as KP speaker and deputy members, PML-N is runner-up with
speaker 162, both PML-Q and PPP 10 each,
 Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf`s Mushtaq besides three independent members
Ahmad Ghani and Mahmood Jan were and one of Rah-e-Haq party.
elected speaker and deputy speaker of 5. Rafiq Rajwana resigns as Punjab
the new Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor
Assembly respectively on August 15,  Punjab Governor Rafiq Rajwana on
2018. August 15, 2018 resigned from his
 They defeated the nominees of the office and wished to resume his legal
joint opposition. practice.
 Mushtaq Ghani received 81 votes  Mr Rajwana, a lawyer by profession
against 27 votes of Laig Mohammad of from Multan, made the announcement
Awami National Party, out of total 108 of his resignation during a surprise
polle d votes. Two voters from the
visit to the Lahore High Court Bar 7. Pakistani-born academic becomes
Association. Australia`s first Muslim female
 Mr Rajwana held a farewell meeting Senator
with the staff of the Governor House,  At a time when Australia is caught up
vacated the official residence and in a bitter row over racism, Pakistani-
shifted to his private home. Mr born Mehreen Faruqi became the first
Rajwana was appointed governor in female Muslim member to be appointe
May 2015. d to the Australian senate.
6. Justice Musarrat becomes first  The Greens Party Member Of
woman to head a poll tribunal Parliament for New South Wales was
 The Election Commission of Pakistan selected to join the Senate on August
(ECP), which already has the first ever 15, 2018 to fill a vacant seat.
woman member from Khyber  Dr Faruqi migrated from Pakistan to
Pakhtunkha (KP), in another first has Australia in 1992 with her young
appointed a woman judge from the family. Prior to entering politics she
same province as election tribunal. held a distinguished career as an
 In a belated exercise, the ECP academic and has a doctorate in
appointed on August 15, 2018 20 environmental engineering.
tribunals comprising serving judges of  This is the second milestone for the
the high courts to adjudicate election leader, as her election to the state
disputes. One of the tribunals parliament in 2013 made her the first
comprises Justice Musarrat Hilali. Muslim woman to attain any political
Normally election tribunals are office in Australia.
appointed with the issuance of 8. Italian PM declares 12-month
finalnotificationofelectionresults, emergency in Genoa
which is also beginning of the  Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte
countdown of 45 days given to declared August 15, 2018 a 12-month
candidates for filing cases against the state of emergency in Genoa following
results. the collapse of a motorway bridge that
 As the notification for election killed at least 39 people.
tribunals has been issued late this  A cabinet meeting took place in which
year, the applicants will have less than we have decreed a 12-month state of
40 days for the purpose. emergency and made available a first
 Eight tribunals have been appointed allocation worth five million euros
for Punjab, five for KP, four for Sindh ($5.7 million) for the national
and three for Balochistan. emergencies fund.
 Under the elections act, the law states  Transport minister Danilo Toninelli
that an election tribunal has to decide and Deputy Prime Ministers Luigi Di
a petition within 120 days of its filing, Maio and Matteo Salvini announced
but at the same time if the decision is the move earlier on August 15, 2018.
delayed, further adjournment sought 9. PTI MPA-elect passes away
by a party will be granted only for up  A Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MPA-elect
to three days and that too on payment from PP-222 (Jalalpur Pirwala), Malik
of special cost of Rs10,000 per Ghulam Abbas Khakhi, passed away in
adjournment. Islamabad on August 14, 2018 night
after suffering from a cardiac arrest.
 He was 60 and has left behind two animated adventures of Gena the
widows, three sons and a daughter. Crocodile, which first aired in 1969.
 Khakhi had won the Multan seat with Cheburashka first made an
47,429 votes, defeating PML-N appearance in the cartoon in 1971.
August 17, 2018

candidate Mehdi Abbas Langah, who
received 35,983 votes.
 Mr Khakhi is the second PTI MPA who
died before taking oath. Earlier, Tariq
Khan Dareshak, who was elected from 1. Syed Murad Ali Shah elected Sindh
PP-296 (Rajanpur), died of meningitis Chief Minister
on Aug 5. He was 48.  Pakistan People's Party nominee
10. Creator of iconic Soviet cartoons Murad Ali Shah was elected as chief
Eduard Uspensky dies minister of Sindh after securing
 Legendary Soviet children's writer and majority of votes on August 16, 2018.
creator of the USSR's most popular  Shah secured 97 votes while Sheryar
cartoon characters Eduard Uspensky Mehr of opposition alliance bagged 61
died in his home in the Moscow votes.
suburbs at the age of 80 late on August  A total of 158 votes were cast during
14, 2018. the election of leader of th house.
 Uspensky was most famous for his  Shah previously served as the chief
iconic cartoon characters Gena the minister rom July 29, 2016 to May 28,
Crocodile - a friendly crocodile who 2018.
works at a zoo and plays the accordion  After last month’s polls, 97 MPAs of the
- and Cheburashka, a strange brown- PPP were elected to the provincial
haired creature with large ears. legislature, and the PTI secured 30
Millions of children in the Soviet Union seats in the House, the GDA 13 and the
and Eastern Bloc watched the MQM-P 21.
2. PTI's Mehmood Khan elected KP CM served as Deputy Speaker of the
 Mehmood Khan of Pakistan Tehreek- Provincial Assembly of Balochistan
e-Insaf has been elected as chief from 2013 to 2015 and remained the
minister Khyber Pakhtwnkha after member of the provincial cabinet
securing 77 votes against his rival between 2002 and 2013, as the
Mian Nisar Gul who could only beg 33 minister of livestock.
votes.  PTI's Sardar Babar Musa Khel has been
 Mehmood Khan will take oath of his elected as the Deputy Speaker of the
post on August 18, 2018 at the Provincial Assembly by clear majority.
Governor House. Caretaker Chief 5. Vajpayee, partisan of peace with
Minister Dost Muhammad Khan is said Pakistan, dies
to have vacated the official residence  Former Indian prime minister Atal
of Chief Minister before the election of Bihari Vajpayee, remembered for his
Mr Khan. bold peace initiatives with Pakistan
 Khan succeeds Pervaiz Khattak who and defiant nuclear tests, died on
was the chief minister of PTI August 16, 2018.
government in the northwestern  He was 93.
province of the country.  Reclusive and ailing after his Bharatiya
3. Pervez Elahi elected Speaker Janata Party`s (BJP) shock defeat in
Punjab Assembly 2004, Vajpayee`s absence from active
 Joint candidate of PTI-led alliance Ch politics weighed heavy on those who
Pervez Elahi has been elected as missed him as the man who alone
Speaker of Punjab Assembly after could rein in Prime Minister Narendra
securing 201 votes, August 16, 2018. Modi and his socially divisive policies.
 His rival, PML-N's Chaudhry Iqbal,  Vajpayee was idolised in Pakistan as a
obtained 147 votes. One vote was sincere peacemaker and wooed by
rejected. rivals at home as the right man in the
 PTI`s Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari wrong party.
was elected deputy speaker by  His three visits to Pakistan did not
obtaining 187 votes. The PML-N`s include any of the tenures of the PPP.
Waris Kallu could get 159 votes In fact, his first official visit to Pakistan
4. Abdul Quddus Bizenjo elected came in February 1978, when Zulfikar
Speaker Balochistan Assembly Ali Bhutto was in jail under the Zia
 Balochistan Awami Party leader Mir regime. Vajpayee met the military
Abdul Quddus Bizenjo has been ruler and later pointedly refused to
elected Speaker Balochistan Assembly speak out against the death sentence
on August 16, 2018 passed on Bhutto, which Indira Gandhi
 Bizenjo bagged 39 votes against had vociferously opposed. The favour
Muhammad Nawaz, who secured only won for prime minister Morarji Desai
20 votes. Pakistan`s highest civilian award from
 Previously Bizenjo has served as the Zia.
16th Chief Minister of Balochistan  Vajpayee`s 1999 visit to Lahore
from 13 January 2018 to 7 June 2018. became so popular in Pakistan that his
 He was a member of the Provincial host and then prime minister Nawaz
Assembly of Balochistan from Sharif said he could win an election
November 2002 to May 2018. He there.
 Vajpayee had initially opposed Gen will determine the basis of detailed
Pervez Musharraf`s coup, but he also review scheduled to be held from
became the first leader to greet him October 8 to 20, 2018 here at
when Musharraf declared himself Islamabad.
president. The 2001 Agra summit with  The APG also demanded of identifying
the general also saw Vajpayee moving network of terrorist organisations,
forward and rowing back on a peace structures and commands & control
deal, which many believe was on the systems and fund raising data with
cards. solid evidence that could be produced
 His last visit to Pakistan was in any court of law for granting
occasioned by the Saarc summit in maximum punishments to those
January 2004. However, it was the involved in such crimes.
Musharraf-Vajpayee pact on the  On the name of enhancing
sidelines that became the more international cooperation, the
important event. extradition treaties with revised
6. Presidential election scheduled for format will help extraditing elements
Sept 4 involved in money laundering and
 The Election Commission of Pakistan terror financing. Now the PTI-led
on August 16, 2018 announced that coming government will have to make
the presidential election will be held changes in legislation in months ahead
on Sept 4 — five days before the expiry with approval of the Parliament.
of the five-year term of President  The 6 member delegation of APG of
Mamnoon Hussain. Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
 Under Article 41 (4) of the concluded its three days visit on
Constitution, election to the office of August 16, 2018 in which the APG
the president is to be held not earlier mission pointed out loopholes in
than 30 days before expiry of the term legislative, administrative and
of the president in office. operational matters and
7. 150-page questionnaire: FATF asks recommended way forward by
Pakistan to submit reply by 31st ensuring documentation of
 The Asia Pacific Group (APG) has transactions of real estate, jewelers,
asked Pakistan to submit replies on chartered accountants, charities and
150 pages of technical compliance all others with the purpose to
questionnaires with deadline of discourage cash economy and bring
August 31, 2018 mainly related to them all into digital financial systems.
extradition treaties signed with 8. Keita re-elected Mali president with
different countries and possibility of landslide
revision with inclusion of offences of  Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar
money laundering and terror Keita has been re-elected for a five-
financing in revised format. year term after winning a landslide in
 They also demanded of Pakistan to a runoff ballot, according to official
ensure documentation of all kinds of figures on August 16, 2018.
financial transactions and charities to  The elections have been closely
curb activities of prescribed militant watched abroad, as Mali is a linchpin
organisations. The response on state in the Jihadist insurgency raging
technical compliance questionnaire in the Sahel. Keita, 73, picked up 67.17
percent of the vote against 32.83 for of ultraviolet (UV) light and have been
opposition challenger and former detected by the sensors aboard New
finance minister Soumaila Cisse, 68, Horizons, according to Nasa. The
who also ran against Keita in 2013, the phenomenon was first glimpsed by
government announced. Turnout was astronomers around 30 years ago, and
low, at 34.5%. was called helisphere. However,
 Cisse’s party angrily vowed to use evidence supporting the theory has
contest the results, but using "all remained murky.
democratic means".  New Horizons has been using its on-
 Mali, a landlocked nation home to at board detector, known as “Alice”, to
least 20 ethnic groups where most look for traces of the celestial
people live on less than $2 a day, has interaction. It picked up UV rays with
been battling a years-long Islamic “Alice” seven times from 2007 to 2017,
revolt that has now fuelled and finally found evidence to verify
intercommunal violence. earlier observations. New Horizons
9. ‘Queen of Soul’ Aretha Franklin dies will then continue to look for the “wall”
at 76 about twice a year until the mission
 Aretha Franklin, the music icon, reaches its conclusion, which is
legendary singer and "Queen of Soul" expected to be around 10-15 years
loved by millions whose history- from now on, Nasa said.
making career spanned six decades,  If the levels of UV light detected ever
died on August 16, 2018. She was 76. take a nosedive, it could prove the
 She influenced generations of female spacecraft has left the “wall.”
August 18, 2018

singers with unforgettable hits
including "Respect" (1967), "Natural
Woman" (1968) and "I Say a Little
Prayer" (1968). She passed away at
home in Detroit from advanced 1. The Change has come! Imran
pancreatic cancer. elected as the country`s 22nd prime
 The multiple Grammy winner minister
cemented her place in US music  Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman
history with a powerful, bell-clear Imran Khan was formally elected
voice that stretched over four octaves. country’s 22nd prime minister on
In a career crossing generations, her August 17, 2018, promising a new era
hits spanned soul and R&B, to gospel of responsibility and prosperity in a
and pop. fighting speech in the National
10. Nasa detects hydrogen ‘wall’ Assembly amid hostile sloganeering
surrounding solar system by the opposition members.
 Nasa’s spacecraft New Horizons has  The cricketer-turned politician
found new evidence of a ‘wall’ of secured 176 votes against PML-N
hydrogen at the edge of the solar President Shehbaz Sharif who could
system, encircling all the planets and bag 96 votes only.
objects orbiting the Sun.  Besides 151 votes of his own party, Mr
 The “wall” is actually a vast amount of Khan also received votes from the
trapped hydrogen atoms caught up in Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan
the solar wind, which produce waves (MQM-P), Grand Democratic Alliance
(GDA), Balochistan National Party hearing over a dozen petitions seeking
(BNP), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid directions for the ECP to make
and one-man parties Awami Muslim arrangements to enable overseas
League and Jamhoori Watan Party. Pakistanis to exercise their right to
2. Mahmood Khan sworn-in as Chief vote.
Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa  Initially, these petitions were moved
 Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf`s Mahmood by solicitor Muhammad Dawood
Khan sworn-in as Chief Minister of Ghaznavi and other expatriates in
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on August 18, 2015 while Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf
2018. chairman Imran Khan became party to
 Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra the proceedings in January 2018.
administered oath to Mahmood who  During proceedings at the Lahore
was elected Leader of the House in the registry of the apex court, ECP
provincial assembly on August 16, secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh told the
2018 after he secured 77 votes against bench that rules had been framed in
opposition nominee Mian Nisar Gul`s the light of its power enshrined under
33 votes. Section 239 of the Elections Act 2017.
 The oath-taking ceremony was held at  The chief justice directed the ECP and
the Governors House. Nadra chief to complete the pilot
3. Jhagra resigns as KP governor projects in view of the election law and
 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal malce sure that the process of i-voting
Zafar Jhagra on August 17, 2018 was foolproof and flawless.
resigned from his post after  The chief justice also ordered the ECP
administering the oath to newly- to conduct pilot projects for i-voting by
elected Chief Minister Mahmood Khan overseas Pakistanis in by-polls to
of PTI. ascertain the technical efficacy,
 He was appointed governor in March secrecy and security of voting and
2016. present the results before parliament
 Jhagrah said that he is a democratic as required under section 94 of the
person and had worked as general Elections Act 2017.
secretary for the Alliance for the 5. Oct 14 fixed for by-polls in 41 NA, PA
Restoration of Democracy, the alliance constituencies
of opposition parties which had  By-polls in 41 national and provincial
worked hard for the restoration of assemblies` constituencies will be held
democracy in the country. on Oct 14, as per the schedule
4. SC gives voting rights to overseas announced by the Election
Pakistanis Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on
 The Supreme Court has directed the August 17, 2018.
Election Commission of Pakistan  Eleven National Assembly and 26
(ECP) to ensure that overseas provincial assembly seats fell vacant
Pakistanis exercise their right to vote due to different reasons, including
in the upcoming by-polls in the resignations by those elected on more
country as a pilot project. than one seat and death of some
 A three-judge bench headed by Chief contesting candidates.
Justice Mian Saqib Nisar passed the 6. Pak minister meets Sushma Swaraj
order on August 17, 2018 while
 Pakistan's Minister for Law and 8. US sanctions Myanmar military
Information Syed Ali Zafar on August commanders over Rohingya abuses
17, 2018 met Indian External Affairs  The US government on August 17,
Minister Sushma Swaraj and extended 2018 hit four Myanmar military
Pakistan's condolence on the death of commanders and two military units
former Prime Minister Atal Bihari with punitive sanctions, accusing them
Vajpayee. Indian Foreign Secretary of `serious human rights abuses` and
Vijay Gokhale was also present at the èthnic cleansing` in violently expelling
meeting. minority Rohingya from their homes.
 Zafar was among the foreign  Military and border guard
dignitaries who attended Vajpayee's commanders Aung Kyaw Zaw, Khin
funeral. Maung Soe, Khin Hlaing, and Thura San
 The meeting came on a day Imran Lwin were accused of leading violent
Khan was voted as Pakistan's new campaigns against the Muslim
prime minister by the National Rohingya in Rakhine state as well as
Assembly of that country minorities in Kachin and Shan states.
7. Saudi Arabia pledges $100m to US-  `Burmese security forces have
backed Syria campaign engaged in violent campaigns against
 Saudi Arabia on August 17, 2018 ethnic minority communities across
announced a $100 million Burma, including ethnic cleansing,
contribution to a US-backed campaign massacres, sexual assault, extra-
to "stabilise" northeastern Syria, once judicial killings, and other serious
a bastion of the radical Islamic State human rights abuses,` said Sigal
group. Mandelker, Under Secretary for
 The 88 million euro contribution is the Terrorism and Financial Intelligence
biggest single cash injection yet for in the US Treasury, which announced
reconstruction efforts in areas the sanctions.
formerly controlled by the jihadists.  The US Treasury said the sanctions on
 The group declared a "caliphate" after individuals were meant as a warning
seizing swathes of Iraq and Syria in to security forces to cease abuses of
2014, but has since been ousted from ethnic and reli-gious minorities and to
most of that territory including its respect their rights.
former de facto Syrian capital Raqa 9. US ends funding for reconstruction
and a pocket of Damascus. in Syria
 Saudi Arabia, the United States' most  The Trump administration is ending
powerful Arab ally, is a member of the funding for Syria stabilisation projects
US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, as it moves to extricate the US from the
another acronym for the jihadist conflict, citing increased contributions
group. from antiIslamic State coalition
 Riyadh's contribution aims to support partners.
"stabilisation projects" and "will play a  US officials said the administration
critical role in the coalition's efforts to notified Congress on August 17, 2018
revitalise communities, such as Raqa, that it would not spend some $200
that have been devastated by ISIS million that had been planned for Syria
terrorists," read a statement by the programmes and would instead shift
Saudi embassy in Washington. that money to other areas. Nearly all of
that money, initially pledged by who didn't have his conduct right and
former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson didn't fulfil his responsibilities
in February, had been on hold and according the anti-corruption code of
under review since he was fired in conduct. Our stance from the first day
March. A small fraction of that amount was he was the linchpin and he is the
was released in June. one who recruited players.
 The cut will be more than offset by an
additional $300 million pledged by
August 19, 20181

coalition partners, including $100
million that Saudi Arabia announced it
had contributed late. The State
Departmentimmediately welcomed
the Saudi contribution, which is 1. Imran Khan takes oath as 22nd
intended to help revitalise Prime Minister of Pakistan
communities liberated from the  An upbeat Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf
militant Islamic State group like (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on August
Raqqa. 18, 2018 formally assumed the office
10. Nasir Jamshed banned for 10 years of the country`s chief executive
for spot-fixing following an impressive oath-taking
 The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ceremony at President House.
Anti-Corruption Tribunal August 17,  Clad in a traditional black sherwani, a
2018 handed a 10-year ban to Nasir visibly blushing Imran Khan later
Jamshed for his involvement in the reviewed the guard of honour
spot-fixing row during the Pakistan accorded to him at the Prime
Super League (PSL) 2016-17 season. Minister`s House.
 Cricketer Nasir Jamshed banned for 10  Stars of the ceremony in which
years by Anti Corruption Tribunal. President Mamnoon Hussain
Details to follow," the PCB said in a administered the oath to Mr Khan
statement on Twitter. The ban means were Indian cricketer-turned-
Jamshed will be out from any form of politician Navjot Singh Sidhu and the
cricket during the aforementioned first lady Bushra Bibi.
period. He was banned for the second  Mr Khan faced some difficulty in
time in the last two years. reading out his oath because of some
 Jamshed, 28, is the sixth player to be difficult Urdu words and at one stage
banned following the scandal that smilingly said `sorry` when he uttered
tainted the Twenty20 tournament in the word Qayadat (leadership) instead
only its second year, and was of Qayamat (the day of judgement).
described by cricket authorities as its And before start of the oath, Mr Khan
lynchpin. made everyone curious as well as
 "PSL 2017's fixing trial has concluded," amused when he began to look for his
the PCB lawyer Tafazzul Rizvi said spectacles in a pocket of the shirt that
after the verdict. "There are a few he was wearing under his sherwani.
cases you really don't rejoice after 2. PM Office announced 21 members’
winning; instead you feel sad about it Cabinet
because it ends with another career  PM Office announced the names of 21
destroyed. It's painful to see a player cabinet members including many old
faces. A number of them had either  Those who have been appointed as
served in the cabinet during the advisers to the prime minister are
military rule of Gen Pervez Musharraf former law minister in the PPP
or had had association with him in the government Babar Awan
past. (parliamentary affairs); former KP
 Of the 16 ministers, seven belong to chief secre-tary Shehzad Arbab
the coalition parties whose support Mr (establishment division); former
Khan had secured to win the prime minister during the Gen Musharraf
minister`s election with 176 votes. The regime Abdul Razzak Dawood
new cabinet members 16 federal (commerce, textile, industry &
ministers and five advisers are production and investment); Dr Ishrat
expected to take the oath at President Husain (institutional reforms and
House on August 20, 2018. austerity), who had served as State
 Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi Bank governor during the military rule
has been nominated as the country`s of Gen Musharraf, and another former
new foreign minister, Asad Umar has minister of state during the Gen
been made minister for finance and Musharraf regime Amin Aslam
revenue, the portfolio of the (climate change).
information and broadcasting has 3. Jam Kamal elected 16th CM of
been allocated to Fawad Chaudhry, Balochistan
Ghulam Sarwar Khan (petroleum  Jam Mir Kamal Khan Alyani, the joint
ministry), Dr Shireen Mazari (human candidate of the Balochistan Awami
rights), Pervez Khattak (defence Party (BAP)-led six party alliance, was
minister) Shafqat Mehmood (federal elected leader of the house with
education and professional training majority votes in the Balochistan
and national history and literary Assembly on August 18, 2018.
heritage) Makhdoom Khusro  He will take the oath as the 16th chief
Bakhtiyar (minister for water minister of Balochistan at a ceremony
resources), Aamir Mehmood Kiyani in Governor House.
(national health services, regulations  Jam Kamal, president of BAP, the
and coordination), majority party in the provincial party,
 Among those who have been given was the joint candidate of the sixparty
representation in the cabinet for being alliance comprising his party, the
leaders of the PTIs allies are Senator Awami National Party, Pakistan
Farogh Naseem (law and justice); Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Hazara
Chaudhry Tariq Bashir Cheema (states Democratic Party, Balochistan
and frontier regions); Zubaida Jalal National PartyAwami and Jamhoori
(defence production); Sheikh Rashid Watan Party.
Ahmed (railways); Khalid Maqbool  The opposition`s two part yalliance-
Siddiqui (information technology and Balochistan National Party-Mengal
telecommunication); Dr Fehmida and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal had
Mirza (inter-provincial coordination) fielded Mir Younis Aziz Zehri as its
and an independent MNA from Fata candidate for the office of chief
Noorul Haq Qadri (religious affairs and minister.
interfaith harmony).  Speaker Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo
conducted the election for leader of
the house through division of the  The federal government has appointed
house. Jam Kamal got 39 votes in the a grade-21 officer Mohammad Azam as
house of 65 members, while Younis Secretary to PM. Muhammad Azam
Zehri received 20 votes. Khan had served as Chief Secretary
4. Murad Ali Shah takes oath as Sindh Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the first
CM for second term tenure of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led
 Pakistan People’s Party’s Syed Murad government in the province.
Ali Shah on August 18, 2018 took oath  The Establishment Division issued the
as Sindh chief minister, retaining the orders of transfer of Secretary to PM
post which he was given in 2016. Sohail Amir just after his meeting with
 Acting Governor of Sindh Agha Siraj newly-elected Prime Minister Imran
Durrani administered the oath to Khan who visited his office after oath-
Murad in Urdu language at a ceremony taking ceremony.
at Governor’s House. After Shah’s oath,  The federal government posted Azam
tenure of the caretaker government as Secretary to PM with the consent of
led by Sindh Chief Minister Fazalur Imran Khan and the Establishment
Rehman came to an end. Davison issued a notification in this
 Shah became an MPA for fourth time regard.
on July 25 after winning the general  According to the notification,
elections from PS-80, his native “Mohammad Azam, a BS-21 officer of
Sehwan district. He defeated Syed Jalal the Pakistan Administrative Service,
Mehmood Shah of the Sindh United presently posted as Additional
Party quite comfortably. During vote Secretary (In-charge), States and
count for chief minister’s office at Frontier Regions Division, is
Sindh Assembly, Murad bagged 97 transferred and posted as Secretary to
votes, defeating Shahryar Mahar, joint Prime Minister, PM’s office with
candidate of three major opposition immediate effect and till further
parties — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, order.” The outgoing secretary to PM
Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Sohail has been directed to report to
Grand Democratic Alliance. He the Establishment Division.
managed to get 61 votes. This is PPP’s  Azam Khan had also served as Acting
third consecutive tenure in the Chief Secretary KP twice, additional
province and Murad was sworn in as chief secretary Fata, secretary sports,
chief minister of Sindh for the second tourism and youth affairs, secretary
time in a row. home and tribal affairs and as
 He was elected leader of the house in commissioner Peshawar in the past.
July 2016 when the party leadership 6. Ex-UN chief and Nobel laureate
had decided to replace party stalwart Annan passes away
Syed Qaim Ali Shah. Murad became an  Former UN chief and Nobel peace
MPA for the first time in 2002 when he laureate Kofi Annan died on August 18,
was elected from PS-77. He remained 2018 at the age of 80, triggering a flood
part of Qaim Ali Shah’s cabinet from of tributes from around the world for
2008 to 2013 and held portfolios of the `diplomatic rock star`.
irrigation and finance  The Ghanaian national was a career
5. Azam Khan appointed secretary to diplomat who projected quiet
PM charisma and was widely credited for
raising the world body`s profile in  The bomb that killed 40 children and
global politics during his two terms as 11 others in a Saudi-led coalition air
head of the UN from 1997 to 2006. strike on a bus in rebel-held northern
 The first secretary general from Yemen was sold by the United States
subSaharan Africa, Annan led the under a State Department deal with
United Nations through the divisive Riyadh, CNN has reported.
years of the Iraq war and was later  The numbers on shrapnel, of which
accused of corruption in the oil-for- images were taken shortly after the
food scandal, one of the most trying attack this month, indicate that it was
times of his tenure. a laser-guided Mk 82 bomb
 Ghana`s President Nana AkufoAddo manufactured by defence contractor
announced a week of mourning for Lockheed Martin.
òne of our greatest compatriots`.  Former president Barack Obama
 In 2001, as the world was reeling from banned the sale of precision-guided
the September 11 attacks in the United weaponry to Saudi Arabia after it used
States, Annan was awarded the Nobel a similar bomb in an October 2016
Peace Prize jointly with the world attack that killed 140 people at a
body `for their work for a better funeral in the rebel-held capital Sanaa.
organised and more peaceful world`.  But President Donald Trump
 Another Nobel laureate, retired South overturned that ban after taking office
African archbishop Desmond Tutu in 2017.
described Annan as àn outstanding  Fifty-six children were also among the
human being who represented our 79 people wounded in the August 9
continent and the world with strike on Saada province, a rebel
enormous gra-ciousness, integrity and stronghold that borders Saudi Arabia,
distinction`. according to the International
 `Diplomatic rock star` Born in Kumasi, Committee of the Red Cross.
the capital city of Ghana`s 8. UN chief proposes options to
Ashantiregion,Annan devoted four protect Palestinians
decades of his working life to the UN  UN Secretary-General Antonio
and was the first chief to rise from Guterres has presented four options
within the organisation`s ranks. aimed at boosting the protection of
 In1993, he took over as peacekeeping Palestinians in Israeli-occupied
chief a position he held through two of territories, from sending UN rights
the UN`s darkest chapters: the monitors and unarmed observers to
Rwandan genocide and the Bosnian deploying a military or police force
war. under UN mandate.
 His tenure as UN chief was tarnished  The proposals were contained in a
by a 2005 investigation of Annan and report requested by the General
his son over the oil-for-food scandal, Assembly in response to a surge of
seen by some as payback for his violence in Gaza, where 171
comments that the 2003 US-led Palestinians have been killed by Israeli
invasion of Iraq was ìllegal`. fire since late March.
7. US supplied bomb that killed  The UN chief stressed that for each of
Yemeni children: CNN the options, cooperation by Israel and
the Palestinians would be necessary. It
remained unlikely however that Israel from the packed crowd. It is the second
would agree to the proposals. such symbolic gesture this year by the
9. KSA tests Japan-inspired ‘nap pods’ two Koreas, who also walked together
for Haj at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics
 Mansour al-Amer swipes a card to opening ceremony -- an event that
reveal a narrow sleep pod, reminiscent heralded an unprecedented warming
of Japan’s famed capsule hotels. But of ties.
this pod is in Saudi Arabia, where the  The North and South, still technically
Muslim hajj pilgrimage begins. at war, are joining forces in women's
 The kingdom has plans to introduce basketball, canoeing and rowing
capsule rooms in the western city of during the 40-sport, two-week
Mina in the coming days, as an regional Olympics in the Indonesian
estimated two million Muslim faithful capital and Palembang, a port city on
gather for the six-day Haj, one of the Sumatra island.
August 20, 2018

five pillars of Islam.
 The free nap pods are part of new
measures Saudi Arabia is rolling out
this year in a bid to modernise the
centuries-old practice of Haj. The 1. Sardar Usman Buzdar elected 20th
government has also introduced apps Punjab Chief Minister
for on-the-spot translation and  PTI’s Sardar Usman Buzdar was
emergency medical care. elected as Punjab’s 20th chief minister
 Amer is the head of a Saudi charity, the on August 19, 2018.
Haji and Mutamer Gift Charitable  The new chief minister will take oath
Association, which is offering between of his office on August 20, 2018
18 and 24 capsule for pilgrims to nap (today) at the Governor House. With
in for free in the coming days. the election of the new chief minister,
 Each fibreglass pod - less than three the PML-N’s 10-year rule in Punjab has
metres long and just over one metre come to an end.
high - features a mattress, clean sheets,  Usman Buzdar got 186 votes as against
air conditioning and a large, well-lit 159 of Hamza Shehbaz Sharif. PPP
mirror. The pods can be lined up abstained from the voting process
horizontally or stacked vertically to while two independent MPAs, Syeda
save on space. Maimnat Mohsin (Jugnu Mohsin) and
10. Asian Games burst into life Ahmad Ali Oulak voted for the PTI
 North and South Korea marched candidate. Buzdar also got nine votes
together in a stirring display of unity from the PML-Q.
as the Asian Games, one of the world's  Had the chief minister-elect obtained
biggest sports events, opened in a one vote less than his present count,
blaze of colour in Jakarta on August 19, the house would have been required to
2018. repeat the exercise through a second
 South Korean women's basketball count to get the simple majority of the
player Lim Yung-hui and North Korean members present there. The election
footballer Ju Kyong-chol jointly held took place through 'division of the
the Korean Unification flag aloft as house' system, as supporters of the
they led the athletes out to an ovation two candidates were directed to
gather either on left or right sides of Engineering, Rural Development &
Assembly chambers, and make an exit Katchi Abadis, Mohammad Ismail
after recording their name in the Rahu Agriculture, Supply and Prices,
member’s roll placed at the doors on Mir Shabbir Ali Bijarani Mines &
either side. Mineral Development, Makhdoom
 A controversy shrouds Buzdar's Mehboobuz Zaman Revenue & Relief,
election as chief minister of the biggest Syed Sardar Ali Shah Education,
province following reports which Culture, Tourism & Antiquities, and
surfaced in the social media about his Shehla Raza Women Development.
alleged involvement in a murder case Murtaza Wahab and Mohammad Bux
registered in 1998. It involved the Mahar have also been included in the
death of six members in a clash during cabinet as advisers.
local body polls held that year. The 4. Pakistan, India take part in SCO’s
victims belonged to the Chakrani tribe, anti-terror drill
a sub-clan of the Buzdar tribe.  Militaries of Pakistan and India will be
2. Jam Kamal Khan takes oath as 16th part of a mega anti-terror drill in
CM of Balochistan Russia next week which is being
 Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) organised by the Shanghai
president Jam Kamal Khan Alyani took Cooperation Organisation (SCO) with
the oath as 16th chief minister of the an aim to expand cooperation among
province at a ceremony here on August the member countries to deal with
19, 2018. terrorism and extremism.
 Balochistan Governor Muhammad  The exercise is scheduled to take place
Khan Achakzai administered the oath from August 20-29 at Chelyabinsk city
to the new chief minister at Governor in west-central Russia, official sources
House. said here on Sunday.
3. 10-member Sindh cabinet takes  About 300 servicemen from India and
oath also around 100 Pakistani personnel
 Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali were the first to arrive in the
Shah on August 19, 2018 named his Chelyabinsk Region aboard Ilyushin Il-
10-member cabinet, eight of whom 76 aircraft.
were assigned ministries.  The exercise will be joined by all SCO
 The ministers were administered their member countries including Russia,
oaths in a ceremony held at the China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan,
Governor’s House here. Acting Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Governor Agha Siraj Durrani  The drill, “Peace Mission”, will take
administered the oath to the ministers. place nearly three months after the
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari SCO, in its annual summit in Chinese
approved the 10-member cabinet in city of Qingdao, resolved to deepen
consultation with Murad Ali Shah. cooperation among their militaries to
 Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho was given deal with threats of terrorism,
Health and Population Welfare extremism and separatism.
ministry, Seth Hariram Kishorilal  About 700 troops and over 100 pieces
Minorities Affairs, Social Welfare & of military hardware of the Chinese
Prisons, Saeed Ghani Local People’s Liberation Army will take
Government, Public Health part in the Peace Mission-2018
international counter-terror drills in  Dozens of locals then attacked the two
the Chelyabinsk Region in the Urals, main immigrant makeshift camps and
the Press office of Russia’s Central burned their belongings, leading
Military District reported. Venezuelans to cross the border back
5. Rs16m annual grant approved for into their home country. Shots were
special players fired, stores were shuttered and debris
 The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa littered the streets.
government has approved Rs16 7. Afghan president offers Taliban
million annual grant-inaid to facilitate fresh ceasefire
and involve persons with disabilities  Afghan President Ashraf Ghani
in sports activities and remove the declared a provisional threemonth
sense of deprivation among them. ceasefire with the Taliban in a
 According to the Director General televised broadcast on August 19,
Sports Junaid Khan a grant of Rs16 2018, but said the truce would hold
million was approved initially to hold only if the insurgents reciprocated.
`paralympic games` for the persons  The announcement followed a bloody
with disabilities on annual basis week of fighting across Afghanistan
besides giving grant-inaid to the which saw the Taliban launch a
associations currently working for massive assault against the provincial
players with disabilities. capital Ghazni.
 Rs16 million would be utilised on  Anticipation had been mounting ahead
holding special games and out of that of Ghani`s speech following mixed
amount Rs0.6 million would be given signals from the presidential palace
annually to the blind cricketers, over whether the government would
wheelchairs players and players with offer a fresh truce, following a brief,
standing disabilities. unprecedented one earlier this year.
6. Brazil sends troops after clashes at 8. Pakistan football team beat Nepal 2-
Venezuelan border 1
 Brazil will send troops to its border  Pakistan football team has earned the
with Venezuela fter residents of the first victory in the Asian Games after
Brazilian border town of Pacaraima 44 years of waiting, after defeating
drove out Venezuelan immigrants Nepal 2-1 in the Group D match played
from their improvised camps, amid at Jakarta.
growing regional tensions.  Nepal started the match in great style
 Tens of thousands of Venezuelans as they netted their first goal in the
have crossed the border into Brazil 11th minutes. Pakistan players then
over the past three years as they seek changed their game plan and kept on
to escape the economic, political and playing defensive game. It helped them
social crisis gripping their country. make their rivals tired and then
 The latest show of tensions began, getting benefit of the situation, the
hours after a local merchant was green shirts slammed an equalizer in
robbed and severely beaten in an the 54th minute through M Bilal.
incident blamed on Venezuelan  Later, they maintained their
suspects, in Pacaraima, where an possession of the ball and kept on
estimated 1,000 immigrants are living attacking Nepal’s goals. The
on the street. continuous efforts paid off in the 72nd
minute, when captain Saddam stimuli, such as mechanical force,
converted a beautiful goal to provide temperature, or a magnetic field.
Pakistan team 2-1 lead, which  The existing 3D-printed ceramic
remained intact till the final whistle precursors, which are usually difficult
and Pakistan emerged as winners. to deform, also hinder the 4D printing
9. 'It's over': Australia paceman of ceramics with complex shapes.
Mitchell Johnson retires from

cricket
Australian fast bowler Mitchell
August 21, 2018
Johnson said August 19, 2018 he was
retiring from all forms of cricket as his 1. Buzdar sworn in as Punjab CM
body was "starting to shut down",  Newly elected Chief Minister Sardar
almost three years after he stepped Usman Ahmad Khan Buzdar on August
down from the international game. 20, 2018 took oath of his office at a
 The 36-year-old quit Twenty20 Big simple ceremony at the Governor`s
Bash League (BBL) team the Perth House.
Scorchers last month, but had not  Acting Governor Chaudhry Pervaiz
ruled out playing in the Indian Premier Elahi administered the oath.
League or other domestic T20  The Punjab government has notified
competitions. the chief minister`s appointment and
10. World’s first-ever 4D printing for separately notified that the caretaker
ceramics developed chief minister and cabinet members
 Chinese researchers have developed ceased to hold their offices.
the world's first-ever 4D printing for 2. Protest lodged with Netherlands
ceramics that are mechanically robust over blasphemous caricatures
and can have complex shapes, offering  Pakistan on August 20, 2018 lodged
broad potential applications in strong protest with the Netherlands
telecommunications, electronics and over its decision to hold a competition
even space exploration. of blasphemous caricatures.
 The 3D-printed ceramic precursors  The announcement about the event
printed with this novel ink are soft and was made by Leader of the Dutch
can be stretched three times beyond Freedom Party and parliamentarian,
their initial length, according to the Geert Wilders.
study.  The Charged Affaires of the Kingdom
 These flexible and stretchable ceramic of the Netherlands was summoned to
precursors allow complex shapes, the Foreign Office to lodge the protest.
such as origami folding. With proper According to an official statement, the
heat treatment, ceramics with FO conveyed its deep concern at the
complex shapes can be made, making deliberate and malicious attempt to
them the 4D ceramics. defame Islam.
 4D printing is conventional 3D  The federal cabinet at its meeting also
printing combined with the additional strongly condemned the àbominable
element of time as the fourth and reprehensible plan`.
dimension, where the printed objects  Pakistan`s Permanent Representatives
can re-shape or self-assemble to the United Nations in New York and
themselves over time with external Geneva were also directed to take up
the matter with the UN secretary women turnout in the last month`s
general, UN High Commissioner for elections.
Human Rights and other UN related 5. Sethi quits as PCB chairman, Mani
bodies and procedures, the statement set to take charge
added.  Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
3. Shahzad Akbar made PM`s special chairman Najam Sethi on August 20,
assistant on accountability 2018 tendered his resignation and
 Prime Minister Imran Khan on August sent it to the Board`s patron-in-chief,
20, 2018 appointed NAB`s former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who
deputy prosecutor general Mirza immediately announced the name of
Shahzad Akbar as his special assistant ex-ICC president Ihsan Mani as Sethi`s
on accountability. successor.
 Mr Akbar served the National  Sethi was elected for a three-year term
Accountability Bureau during the last year (2017-2020) and two years of
government of former president his term are still remaining.
retired Gen Pervez Musharraf. 6. US rejects Turkey's offer to release
 A notification issued by the cabinet pastor
division said: Ìn terms of rule 4(6) of  President Donald Trump's
the Rules of Business, 1973, read with administration has rejected Turkey's
serial number 1A of Schedule-VA of offer to condition the release of an
the said rules, the prime minister has American pastor on clearing a top
been pleased to appoint, with Turkish bank of billions of dollars in
immediate effect, Mirza Shahzad US fines.
Akbar as special assistant to the prime  Washington and Ankara are locked in
minister on accountability, with the a bitter feud over the nearly two-year
status of Minister of State. jailing of Andrew Brunson over
 Recently, Mr Akbar had also filed a disputed terror charges, which has
petition against a US diplomat over a triggered a trade row and sent the lira
fatal road accident. into a tailspin.
4. Shaukat Yousafzai made govt`s  In exchange for Brunson's release, and
spokesperson that of other US citizens as well as
 The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa three Turkish nationals working for
government on August 20, 2018 the US government, Turkey asked
appointed former lawmaker Shaukat Washington to drop a probe into
Yousafzai as the provincial Halkbank, which is facing possible
government`s spokesperson. fines for helping Iran evade US
 A notification issued here said the sanctions. But the US said that
chief minister had appointed Shaukat discussions regarding the fines and
Yousafzai, former MPA, as the other areas of dispute between the two
spokesperson of the provincial countries were off the table until
government with immediate effect. Brunson was released.
 Mr Yousafzai was elected MPA from 7. Israel, US call on Europe to pressure
PK-23, Shangla; however, the Election Iran
Commission of Pakistan ordered re-  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
election in the constituency due to low Netanyahu and US President Donald
Trump's national security adviser met
in Jerusalem August 20, 2018 and reported on Sunday, emphasising
called on European nations to do more there was still work to be done.
to pressure Iran.  he app store clearance did little to
 John Bolton arrived in Israel on August abate the criticism from CCTV.
19, 2018 for three days of talks 10. Avnery, Israeli peace activist who
expected to focus mainly on Iran and met Arafat, dies
its presence in Syria.  Israeli journalist and peace activist Uri
 Netanyahu strongly urged Trump to Avnery, who pushed for the creation of
withdraw from the nuclear deal a Palestinian state and stoked
between Israel's main enemy Iran and controversy by meeting Yasser Arafat,
world powers, and the US president has died aged 94 on August 20, 2018.
did so in May, resulting in the  Seen by many as the backbone of
reimposition of sanctions. Israel’s peace movement, Avnery
 Israel and the United States have been never lost hope an agreement could be
closely aligned on their approach to reached with the Palestinians. But
Iran since Trump took office. before becoming a prominent peace
8. Pakistan thrash Thailand 10-0 in activist, he was a soldier and even part
Asiad hockey of a right-wing militia.
 Atiq Arshad’s hat-trick helped  In 1950, he founded an independent
Pakistan hammer Thailand 10-0 to weekly magazine, Haolam Hazeh,
take a victorious start in the Asian which he edited for 40 years.
Games hockey competition on August  In July 1982, he caused a firestorm by
20, 2018 at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) becoming one of the first Israelis to
Sports Complex, Jakarta, Indonesia. meet Palestinian leader Arafat in
 Record eight time champions Pakistan Beirut, then under siege by the Israeli
were off to a flying start at the Asian army.
Games with the thrashing of little

known Thailand with a volley of goals.
Meanwhile, Pakistan outlasted
August 22, 2018
Mongolia by 3-0 in the volleyball
event. Pakistan won the match by 25- 1. Govt releases Rs30.3b under PSDP
16, 25-16, 25-18. For Pakistan, Fahad  The government has released over Rs
Raza, M Asif, Shiraz Khan and Nasir 30.3 billion under its Public Sector
played superbly. In kabaddi event, Iran Development Programme (PSDP)
defeated Pakistan by 36-20. 2018-19 for various ongoing and new
9. Under-fire Apple removes 25,000 schemes against the total allocations
apps in China of Rs 1,030 billion.
 Apple said August 20, 2018 it had  The released funds include Rs 18.76
removed many gambling-related apps billion for federal ministries and Rs
from its Chinese app store as the US 11.8 billion for special areas besides
giant comes under scrutiny amid trade other projects, according to the data
tensions between Beijing and released by the Ministry of Planning,
Washington. Development and Reforms.
 Apple removed 25,000 apps suspected  Out of these allocations, the
of facilitating gambling and illegal government has released Rs 4.67
lotteries, state broadcaster CCTV billion for Pakistan Atomic Energy
Commission for which Rs 30.4 billion  State media said it had àdvanced
have been allocated for the year 2018- avionics` and multi-purpose radar, and
19, whereas for Maritime Affairs that it was `100-percent indigenously
Division, an amount of Rs 334 million made` forthe first time.
has been released out of total  Footage of the Kowsar`s test flights
allocation of Rs 10.1 billion. was circulated by various official
 Similarly, Rs 200 million have been media.
released for Cabinet Division for which  But live footage of the plane taxiing
the government has earmarked Rs 1.1 along a runway at the defence show
billion, whereas for Aviation division, was cut before it could take off. `When
an amount of Rs 210 million was I speak of our readiness to defend, it
released under PSDP 2018-19. means we seek lasting peace. If we lack
 Higher Education Commission (HEC) readiness, we welcome war,` Rouhani
received Rs 4.632 billion out of total said in a televised speech shortly after.
allocation of Rs 46.67 billion while 3. No indication N Korea nuclear
Interior Division obtained Rs 2.57 activities stopped: IAEA
billion out of total allocation of Rs 24.2  The UN's nuclear watchdog said it had
billion for the year 2018-19. The not seen any indication that nuclear
government also released Rs 3.38 activities in North Korea have stopped
billion for Railways division, Rs 821 despite its pledges to denuclearise.
million for Planning Division, Rs 541  "The continuation and further
million for National Health Services, development of the DPRK's nuclear
Regulations & Coordination division, programme and related statements by
and Rs 60 million for Pakistan Nuclear the DPRK are a cause for grave
Regulatory Authority. concern," said a report by the
 The government also released Rs 4.7 International Atomic Energy Agency
billion for AJK (block and other (IAEA), referring to North Korea's
projects) out of its allocations of Rs official name. The report, by director
29.8 billion for the FY 2018-19 general Yukiya Amano is to be
whereas for Gilgit Baltistan (block and submitted to an IAEA board meeting in
other projects), an amount of Rs 7.07 September.
billion out of total allocation of Rs  In 2009 Pyongyang expelled IAEA
21.33 billion for the year 2018-19. inspectors from its Yongbyon nuclear
2. Iran unveils first domestic fighter site and has since refused to allow
jet IAEA inspections on its territory.
 Iran unveiled its first domestic fighter  The watchdog has stepped up
jet on August 21, 2018, with President monitoring through open source
Hassan Rouhani insisting that information and satellite imagery, it
Tehran`s military strength was only said.
designed to deter enemies and create  "As the Agency remains unable to
`lasting peace`. carry out verification activities in the
 Images on state television showed DPRK, its knowledge of the DPRK's
Rouhani sitting in the cockpit of the nuclear programme is limited and, as
new `Kowsar` fourthgeneration fighter further nuclear activities take place in
at the National Defence Industry the country, this knowledge is
exhibition in Tehran. declining," it said.
 Between late-April and early-May, southern Thailand and Kuala Lumpur,
there were indications of the and two gas pipelines.
operation of the steam plant that  Mahathir is trying to reduce Malaysia`s
serves the radiochemical laboratory at national debt, which has ballooned to
the Yongbyon site, according to the some $250bn.
report. However, the steam plant was 6. World’s biggest plane inches closer
not operative long enough to have to takeoff
supported the reprocessing of a  The world’s largest plane,
complete core from the experimental Stratolaunch, could be just months
nuclear power plant reactor, it added. away from its first flight.
 The report added steam charges and  The aircraft - which is the vision of
the outflow of cooling water at the Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen - has a
Yongbyon experimental wingspan longer than a football field
4. China launches first financial court and comes equipped with two
in Shanghai cockpits, 28 wheels and six engines
 China's first court specializing in normally used to power 747 jumbo
handling finance-related cases has jets.
opened in the country's financial hub  Eventually will be used to transport
of Shanghai. rockets carrying satellites and even a
 The Shanghai Financial Court will be newly revealed manned space plane
responsible for commercial cases such into the Earth’s upper atmosphere,
as disputes involving securities, where they will blast off into space.
futures, insurance, bills and financial 7. US Army begins testing bulletproof
lending, according to a document by ‘spidersuits’
the Supreme People's Court earlier  The US Army has begun testing radical
this month. new ‘spider suit’ bulletproof armour.
 It will also deal with bankruptcy cases  Made from a substance called dragon
where financial institutions are the silk, the flexible, fabric like panels will
debtors and administrative cases with be tested for ‘critical soldier protective
financial regulators as defendants. applications including ballistic
 The court will work to ensure that impact’.
finance serves the real economy, curb  The firm behind the product claims it
financial risks and deepen financial is one of the strongest materials
reform, according to an official release known to man, and has used
from the Shanghai Financial Court genetically engineered silkworms to
5. Malaysia to shelve China-backed produce it.
projects worth $22bn  Kraig Biocraft Laboratories revealed it
 Malaysia will shelve three China- has already delivered the first
backed projects worth a total $22 prototype panels to Us Army bosses.
billion until the debt-laden Southeast  The GM silkworms were developed to
Asian nation can afford to pay for be a direct drop-in replacement into
them, Prime Minister Mahathir the traditional silk production
Mohamad said on August 21, 2018 infrastructure which produces more
during a visit to Beijing. than 150,000 metric tons of silk per
 The projects include a railway year.
connecting Malaysia`s east coast to 8. Ice confirmed at the Moon’s poles
 In the darkest and coldest parts of its 9. Life on earth formed 100m years
polar regions, a team of scientists has earlier than previously thought
directly observed definitive evidence  British scientists have claimed that the
of water ice on the Moon’s surface. first life on Earth evolved after a small
These ice deposits are patchily planet called Theia collided with Earth.
distributed and could possibly be  It ‘sterilised’ our planet and then went
ancient. At the southern pole, most of on to form the moon when it
the ice is concentrated at lunar craters, rebounded.
while the northern pole’s ice is more  A side-effect of this galactic collision
widely, but sparsely spread. was the first life on Earth, and
 A team of scientists, led by Shuai Li of scientists have now discovered that it
the University of Hawaii and Brown happened 100 million years earlier
University and including Richard than previously thought.
Elphic from Nasa’s Ames Research  Researchers worked back through the
Center in California’s Silicon Valley, evolutionary history of current
used data from Nasa’s Moon animals to find the ‘Last Universal
Mineralogy Mapper (M3) instrument Common Ancestor (LUCA).
to identify three specific signatures  They found that this animal is the
that definitively prove there is water ancestor of every living thing on Earth
ice at the surface of the Moon. and likely existed around 3.9 billion
 M3, aboard the Chandrayaan-1 years ago, when the Earth was still in
spacecraft, launched in 2008 by the its primitive stages.
Indian Space Research Organization,  PhD candidate in palaeontology Holly
was uniquely equipped to confirm the Betts at the University of Bristol
presence of solid ice on the Moon. It explains more about the research in an
collected data that not only picked up article for The Conversation.
the reflective properties we’d expect  Science may have enabled us to travel
from ice, but was able to directly in space and trace the history of the
measure the distinctive way its entire universe, but it has not yet been
molecules absorb infrared light, so it able to answer exactly how and when
can differentiate between liquid water life first arose on our planet.
or vapor and solid ice. 10. Pakistan win in kabaddi, handball
 Most of the newfound water ice lies in as Talha sets national record in
the shadows of craters near the poles, Asian Games
where the warmest temperatures  Indonesia were Pakistan`s favourite
never reach above minus 250 degrees rivals at the Asian Games on August 21,
Fahrenheit. Because of the very small 2018 as both kabaddi and handball
tilt of the Moon’s rotation axis, sunlight teams recorded victories against them
never reaches these regions. while teenaged weightlifter Talha
 Previous observations indirectly Talib set a national record.
found possible signs of surface ice at  The kabaddi team thrashed the hosts
the lunar south pole, but these could 40-11 in their Group `B` clash to
have been explained by other rebound from a defeat to Iran the
phenomena, such as unusually other day and keep themselves in
reflective lunar soil. contention for a top-two finish in the
section and a potential medal.
 The handball team finally recorded 1. Discretionary funds abolished, govt

their first triumph on the fourth office working hours revised
attempt, beating the hosts 28-23 in  In what appears to be unfolding of its
their 9-13 classification group match. agenda for `change`, the Pakistan
 Talha`s performance was the Tehreek-iInsaf (PTI) government on
individual highlight of the day for August 24, 2018 revised working
Pakist an when he lifted a national hours in government institutions,
record 287kg in the men`s 62kg abolished discretionary funds of the
competition. prime minister, federal ministers and
 Lifting 133kg in snatch and 154kg in members of the National Assembly
clean and jerk, the 18-year-old and imposed a ban on first-class air
finished seventh in the event won travel by the president, head of the
byIndonesia`s Eko Yuli Irawan, who government, chief justice, Senate
lifted 311kg. chairman and NA speaker.
 Mohammad Yahya Khan won his  The decisions were taken at the
men`s 50m freestyle heat in 25.50 but second meeting of the federal cabinet
ended 42nd among 51 competitors, in a week presided over by Prime
failing to qualify for the final. Minister Imran Khan.
 The cabinet rejected a proposal for
August 25, 2018 declaring only one official weekly
holiday on Sunday and withdrawing
the second weekly holiday on major reshuffle in which almost one-
Saturday. third of the corps commanders were
 The meeting also decided to conduct replaced.
audit of all mega transport projects  The reshufne precedes upcoming
carried out in Punjab and Khyber changes in the army`s top brass due to
Pakhtunkhwa during the last the impending retirement of five
government. It was decided that the three-star generals in October. It is
prime minister would use the official assumed that the postings at the
aircraft only for domestic tours General Headquarters and top
andnotforforeign visits. command positions have been phased
 Another important decision taken by to smoothly carry out the imminent
the cabinet was formation of task changes.
forces for upgrading katchchi abadis  The appointments announced on
(shanty settlements) across the August 24, 2018 and the upcoming
country and launching tree plantation changes together mean that a total of
in main cities. 22 posi-tions of lieutenant generals
 The meeting decided to abolish the will be affected. Executing all of them
Ministry of Capital Administration & in one go would have come with
Development Division (CADD) and logistical challenges.
merge its departments into other  An important feature of the postings
ministries. announced by the army is that all of
 Dissolution of ministry The the transferred ofHcers have swapped
information minister said that as part their positions with the new
of the government`s austerity plan, the appointees. Lt Gen Nadeem Raza
cabinet decided to dissolve the CADD moves from 10 Corps to position of
ministry and the departments working CGS and incumbent CGS Lt Gen Bilal
under it would be merged into other Akbar goes to Chaklala to head 10
ministries. Corps.
 The CADD ministry was created by the  Lt Gen Shahid Baig Mirza has been
last Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz posted as Inspector General of
government and its main departments Communications & Information
were the Capital Development Technology in place of Lt Gen
Authority, Federal Directorateof Humayun Aziz, who goes to Karachi to
Education and two hospitals of the head 5 Corps.
federal capital Pakistan Institute of  Lt Gen Naeem Ashraf will now be
Medical Sciences and Poly Clinic. heading 2 Corps in Multan and the
 Prime Minister Khan has decided that corps` current commander Lt Gen
he will not use a special plane for Abdullah Dogar will become chairman
foreign visits and will travel in of Heavy Industries Taxila in Lt Gen
business class. However, he will use Ashraf`s place.
official plane for domestic travelling.  Current ISI chief Lt Gen Naveed
2. One-third of corps commanders Mukhtar and 11 Corps (Peshawar)
replaced in major reshuffle Commander Lt Gen Nazir Butt will be
 The army on August 24, 2018 among the five retiring three-star
appointed Lt Gen Nadeem Raza as new generals.
Chief of General Staff (CGS) amidst a
 The other three are Commander of posted as additional secretary (in-
Army Strategic Force Command Lt Gen charge) of the petroleum ministry.
Mian Muhammad Hilal Hussain,  The government has also transferred
Military Secretary at the GHQ Lt Gen Mohammad Tariq, an officer of grade-
Ghayur Mahmood and Training and 19, from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Evaluation Inspector General Lt Gen government, and posted him as joint
Hidayatur Rehman. secretary at the prime minister office
3. Bureaucracy reshuffle: PTI govt 4. Imran Ismail formally appointed as
retains old faces but gives them 33rd Sindh governor
different roles  Prime Minister Imran Ismail has
 The newly installed Pakistan Tehreek- formally been appointed as 33rd
i-Insaf-led government has re-shuffled governor of Sindh province.
senior bureaucracy, retaining old faces  A notification announcing the
on top slots but assigning them appointment of Karachi based PTI
different roles. leader Imran Ismail has been issued.
 As per notifications issued by the The notification says Ismail will take
establishment division on August 24, oath as Sindh Governor on August 27.
2018, Ijaz Munir, a grade-22 officer of  The oath will be administered by Sindh
the Pakistan Administrative Service High Court Chief Justice at the
(PAS) who was working as secretary of Governor House building in Karachi.
the aviation division, has now been  Sindh’s former governor Muhammad
posted as establishment secretary. Zubair stepped down from his position
 His predecessor Aurangzeb Haq is and sent his resignation to the
awaiting further posting. president on July 28, three days after
 Tariq Mahmood Pasha, an officer of the PTI emerged as the biggest party after
Inland Revenue Service, has been general elections. Zubair’s resignation
transferred from the statistics division was approved by President Mamnoon
to the Ministry for Kashmir and Hussain on August 3.
Northern Areas` Affairs (KANA). 5. Australia gets new PM after bitter
 Grade-22 officer Mohammad Ayub ‘political coup’
Shaikh, who was working in the KANA  Scott Morrison was sworn in as
division, has now been posted as Australia's seventh prime minister in
secretary of the statistics division. 11 years August 24, 2018 after a
 Saqib Aziz, a PAS officer of grade-22 stunning party revolt against Malcolm
and secretary of the capital Turnbull, which the new leader
administration and development admitted had left the government
division, has now been posted as "bruised and battered".
aviation secretary.  Former home affairs minister Peter
 Mohammad Jalal Sikandar Sultan, Dutton, an ex-police officer and right-
another PAS officer, has been winger, was the driving force behind
transferred from the petroleum the move to oust Turnbull after a
ministry to the states and frontier Liberal Party backlash against his
regions division, which he would more moderate policies.
supervise as secretary.  But after a torrid week of political
 Asad Hayauddin, a PAS grade-21 manoeuvring in Canberra it was
officer on special duty, has been Morrison, a Turnbull ally who served
as treasurer, who won a party vote 45- to an opinion poll published last
40. He was officially sworn in as month in centre-right daily newspaper
Australia's 30th prime minister late El Mundo.But even though a slim
Friday in a ceremony in the capital. majority are in favour of the move, 54
 Environment minister Josh per cent of those sur-veyed said they
Frydenberg - who was elected as the did not think now was the right time to
deputy Liberal leader - was sworn in as do it.
treasurer. 8. Japan gets first woman fighter pilot
6. US to help Ukraine counter Russian  Japan will shortly have its first female
vote `meddling` fighter pilot, with the Top Gun inspired
 The United States is ready to help officer vowing to blaze a trail in the sky
Ukraine counter any ìnterference` by for other women.
Russia in its 2019 presidential  First Lieutenant Misa Matsushima, 26,
election, US National Security Advisor of Japan Air Self Defence Force,
John Bolton said on August 24, 2018 finished her training to fly F-15s and
during his visit to Kiev. will officially be named a fighter pilot
 (Ukrainian) President (Petro) in a couple of days, the ministry said in
Poroshenko and I agreed that we abrief statement.
would look at steps that the US and  The air force decided in 1993 to open
Ukraine could take to look at election all positions to women, except for
meddling. pilots of fighter jets and reconnais-
 But currently the former prime sance aircraft. But the limit was lifted
ministerYulia Tymoshenko, who was in 2015, opening the way for
imprisoned under ex-president Viktor Matsushima to join the elite group of
Yanukovych, is the favourite, fighter pilots, with three other women
according to the latest opinlon polls. now going through training. Women
7. Spain passes decree to exhume account for a mere 6.4 per cent of
Franco`s remains from mausoleum Japan`s 228,000 troops.
 Spain`s Socialist government passed a  Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
decree on August 24, 2018 allowing has called on the nation`s corporate
the exhumation of the remains of world to open leadership positions to
Francisco Franco from his vast women but with little visible success.
mausoleum, a decision that divides 9. Pakistan rout Kazakhstan in
Spaniards and has opened old wounds. hockey, clinch kabaddi bronze
 Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who  On the day Pakistan`s kabaddi team
came to power in June after he ousted received its bronze medals, the hockey
his conservative predecessor in a team continued its quest for gold with
confidence vote, has made removing a 16-0 romp against Kazakhstan at the
the late dictator`s remains from the Asian Games in the Indonesian capital
monument in the Valle de los Caidos on August 24, 2018.
(Valley of the Fallen) near Madrid one  The thrashing of Kazakhstan was
of his priorities. Pakistan`s third straight win in Pool
 Around 41 per cent of Spaniards `B` and strengthened their position for
approve of removing Franco from his a place in the semi-finals ahead of their
mausoleum, compared with 38.5 per toughest fixture against Malaysia on
cent who oppose the move, according August 26, 2018 a clash that would
potentially decide which team ends interview published three weeks later
top ofthe section. in London`s Observer was
 Nine goals came through open play, contradicted in Pakistan fervently but
five via penalty corners and two may have accelerated India`s quest to
through penalty strokes. improve on its own 1974 nuclear test.
 Tauseef Arshad scored four times, Abu  Mr Nayar`s first job was with an Urdu
Bakr Mahmood struck a hattrick while daily.
there were braces for Ali Shan, Rizwan  He served in a leadership role in The
Senior and Umar Bhutta. Mohammad Indian Express, too, and had written
Dilber, Atig Arshad and Mubashar Ali columns in over 80 newspapers,
added a goal apiece. including in Pakistan.
 After another convincing show, the  Apart from his work as a journalist, Mr
hockey team yet to concede a goal at Nayar will also be remembered as a
the Games so far would be hoping to at human right activist and peacenik, as
least get to the podium, where the well as India`s high commissioner to
kabaddi team received their bronze the United Kingdom.Indian Prime
medal on August 24, 2018 for Minister Narendra Modi tweeted:
Pakistan`s first medal at the event. `Kuldip Nayar was an intellectual giant
 The medal was secured after Pakistan of our times. Frank and fearless in his
lost the semi-final 24-27 to South views, his work spanned across many
Korea on Thursday. India also took decades. His strong stand against the
bronze in kabaddi after they were Emergency, public service, and his
stunned by Iran in the other semi-final. commitment to a better India, will
 India got the better of Pakistan in a always be remembered. Saddened by
handball thriller, the 28-27 triumph his demise.
August 26, 2018

courtesy a last-minute goal from
Naveen Punja seeing them leapfrog
their arch-rivals in the 9-13 place
classification group.
10. Journalist, peace activist Kuldip 1. At least 51 MPs have barely
Nayar passes away completed matriculation: Fafen
 Veteran journalist and a missionary of  As many as 51 incoming lawmakers in
peace with Pakistan, Kuldip Nayar all provincial assemblies have barely
died on August 23, 2018. He was 95. completed their secondary school
 Mr Nayar was a human rights activist certifications while 27 had not even
and was jailed during the Emergency finished matriculation, a report
as the editor of Indian Express. He was compiled by the Free and Fair Election
arrested Network (Fafen) stated. At least 68 of
forhisvocalprotestagainstcensorship the lawmakers in all provincial
during the time. assemblies had pending court cases, it
 Born in Sialkot in 1923, Mr Nayar also stated.
remained associated with Dawn and  In Punjab, as many as 25 members of
wrote for the paper for long. the Punjab Assembly had just passed
 Mr Nayar`s interview with A.Q. Khan in their matriculation, while 19 had even
1987 revealed to the world that left it unfinished. Two MPAs were
Pakistan had a nuclear bomb. The found to be illiterate. Nearly 32 per
cent of incoming legislators hold a aides to President Ashraf Ghani,
Bachelors’ degree while 12 per cent of resigned on August 25, 2018.
them are law graduates. As many as 43  Hanif Atmar`s resignation was
legislators hold a Master’s degree. accepted by Mr Ghani.
 In Sindh, at least 10 lawmakers have  The former security adviser was
finished their matriculation while five considering running against Mr Ghani
are under-matric. Nearly 28 per cent in the 2019 vote.
of the legislators hold a Bachelors’  Mr Atmar, 49, has been considered the
degree while 18 per cent of them hold second-mostpowerful official in
a Masters’ degree. The Sindh Assembly Afghanistan since he became national
also has 22 legislators with a law security adviser after Mr Ghani was
degree, nine specialising in sworn in as presidentinlate 2014.
engineering and eight with degrees in  He was also minister of interior under
medicine while one legislator holds a former president Hamid Karzai before
post-graduate degree. being sacked in 2010 after the Taliban
 In Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, as many as insurgents attacked a `peace jirga` that
12 legislators in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was an early attempt at ending the
(K-P) have finished their matriculation now-17-year-old war with the Taliban.
while two have not finished their 3. US cuts over $200m in aid to
secondary school certification. Nearly Palestinians
30 per cent of legislators hold a  The United States said that it had
Bachelor’s and 18 per cent Master’s cancelled more than $200 million in
degrees. aid for the Palestinians in the Gaza
 The KP Assembly also has 16 Strip and West Bank, leading their
legislators with a law degree, two ambassador to accuse President
engineers and four with degrees in Donald Trump`s administration of
medicine and dentistry or related being ànti-peace.
fields while one legislator holds a post-  The decision, made àt the direction of
graduate degree. the president,` came after a review of
 In Balochistan, Whereas, in aid programmes to the Palestinian
Balochistan as many as four territories.
lawmakers are matriculate while one  The funding previously allocated for
did not finish his SSC education. The programmes in the West Bank and
provincial assembly has just one Gaza will `now address high-priority
legislator who was illiterate. Nearly 37 projects elsewhere.
per cent of the incoming legislators  In January, the United States had
hold a Bachelor’s and 17 per cent have already made drastic cuts to its
a Master’s degree. Balochistan contribution to the UNagency for
Assembly also has four legislators with Palestinian refugees UNRWA.
a law degree, three engineers and a 4. Iran, Russia resume talks to build
medical doctor while one legislator is a new nuclear plant
graduate of a religious seminary.  Iran’s Energy Minister Reza
2. Afghanistan`s top security official Ardakanian has said the country has
steps down restarted negotiations with Russia to
 Afghanistan`s national security build a new nuclear power plant
adviser, one of the most influential
capable of generating up to 3,000  Two years after launching from
megawatts of electricity. Florida, a Nasa spacecraft is closing in
 Talks are underway to construct a new on an ancient asteroid, Bennu, for a
3,000-megawatt nuclear power plant sample of space dust that could reveal
to increase electricity generation clues to the start of life in the solar
capacity to 4,000 megawatts from the system.
current 1,000.  The spacecraft, OSIRIS-REx, has even
 In November 2014, Tehran and snapped its first, blurry pic of the
Moscow struck a deal to build eight cosmic body, which is about the size of
more nuclear power plants in Iran. a small mountain, about 500 yards
 Russia has already built a power plant (meters) in diameter.
in Bushehr in southern Iran. The  The spacecraft is designed to circle
agreement for the Bushehr nuclear Bennu, and reach out with a robotic
power plant was finalized in 1995, but arm to “high-five” its surface, then
the project was delayed several times return the sample it collects to Earth in
due to a number of technical and 2023.
financial issues.  The first images of Bennu were taken
 The 1,000-megawatt plant, which is on August 17 at a distance of 1.4
operating under the full supervision of million miles (2.3 million kilometers)
the International Atomic Energy from the $800 million spacecraft.
Agency (IAEA), reached its maximum 7. Quetta girl wins 1st Karate medal in
power generation capacity in August Asian Games
2012. In September 2013, Iran  Quetta’s Nargis has become the first
officially took over from Russia the Pakistani to win a medal in Karate at
first unit of its first 1,000-megawatt the Asian Games.
nuclear power plant for two years.  She outplayed Nepal’s Rita Karki 3-1 to
5. Two new bird-like dinosaurs claim bronze in the +68kg event in
discovered Indonesia on August 25, 2018.
 Chinese and American researchers  Hailing from Quetta’s persecuted
have discovered two new species of Hazara community, the 19-year-old is
dinosaur in an expedition to China’s following in the footsteps of Kulsoom
Xinjiang, according to a study Hazara who won the South Asian
published in the journal Current Championships earlier
Biology. 8. Combined Koreas crew wins
 The two new species named historic medal at Asian Games
“Xiyunykus pengi” and “Bannykus  Two countries. One significant medal.
wulatensis” are bird-like dinosaurs A combined Koreas crew earned a
known as alvarezsaurs that share historic bronze medal at the Asian
many characteristics with birds. Games on August 25, 2018 by finishing
 Bodies of alvarezsaurs are slender, third in the women`s 200-metre
with bird-like skull and many small dragon boat final behind China and
teeth instead of usual large, sharp games hosts Indonesia.
teeth  It was the first time a combined team
6. Nasa spacecraft approaches from North Korea and South Korea has
asteroid won a medal at a major multi-sport
international event.
 And it was awarded to Korea the name for representation on the BoG in case
given to the combined teams the the chairman resigns. Khan’s second
countries entered in rowing, canoeing choice in this regard is Asad Ali Khan
and women`s basketball and not to — who is currently a board member
North or South Korea. on, both, Punjab and Pakistan Veteran
 A group of athletes from North Korea Cricket Association.
and South Korea paraded into the  The Election Commissioner for the
opening ceremony last weekend Pakistan Cricket Board Justice (retd)
behind the ùnification` flag which Syed Afzal Haider has already taken
features the outline of the peninsula in charge as interim chairman of the
blue on a white background. board after Sethi’s resignation.
 It took another seven days for any of 10. ICC World Cup trophy to tour
the combined teams to get on the Pakistan in October
medals podium, by which time South  The International Cricket Council
Korea had 23 gold medals to sit in (ICC) on August 25, 2018 announced
third spot and North Korea had nine the beginning of 2019 Cricket World
gold medals and were in sixth position Cup trophy tour.
overall.  The cricket world cup will take place in
 The joint crew featured seven South England and Wales from May 30 to July
Koreans and five North Koreans and 14, 2019.
finished in 56.851 seconds at the  The trophy will tour Pakistan from
Jakabaring Rowing and Canoeing October 3 to October 13.
Regatta Course in the co-host city of  It'll be in Lahore from October 3 to
Palembang. October 5, in Islamabad from October
 The combined Koreas basketball team 6 to October 8 and in Karachi from
is a gold-medal chance and has October 9 to October 13.
progressed to the quarter-Enals of the  According to a statement issued by the
women`s tournament. ICC, the trophy will start its journey
9. PM nominates Asad, Ehsan in PCB from the ICC headquarters in Dubai on
BoG Monday, August 27
 The Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran
Khan — who is also the Patron of the
Pakistan Cricket Board — has
August 27, 2018
nominated Ehsan Mani and Asad Ali
Khan as members of PCB Board of 1. Zafarul Haq notified as new leader
Governors (BoG), in a notification of opposition in Senate
issued by the Ministry of Inter-  Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani
Provincial Coordination (IPC). officially nominated Pakistan Muslim
 Soon after the resignation by former League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Raja
PCB Chairman Najam Sethi, PM Imran Mohammad Zafarul Haq as new leader
had nominated Ehsan Mani — who is a of the opposition in place of Sherry
former International Cricket Council Rehman of the Pakistan Peoples Party
(ICC) President — as his pick for the (PPP), according to a notiñcation
new PCB chairman. issued by the Senate Secretariat.
 According to the constitution of PCB,  Mr Haq, who had served as leader of
the patron must nominate two names the house during the previous
government of PML-N, has been  Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on August
appointed as new leader of the 26, 2018 announced 23-member
opposition after the change of Punjab cabinet inducting most of the
government at the Centre recently. party loyalists with longstanding party
 Mr Haq will be heading the largest affiliation.
opposition in the Senate where the  Abdul Aleem Khan – the party loyalist
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and its who is considered close to Imran Khan
allies are in a minority. – was given portfolio of local
 Earlier, the Senate chairman had government with a status of senior
notified PTI`s Syed Shibli Faraz as new minister while Mian Mahmood-ur-
leader of the house after his Rasheed was given the portfolio of
nomination by Prime Minister Imran housing and works.
Khan.  Dr Yasmin Rasheed was given the
 The leader of the house represents the portfolio of primary and secondary
prime minister in the upper house of healthcare / specialised healthcare
parliament and is mainly responsible and medication education while Fiaz-
for the smooth conduct of the house on ul-Hassan Chohan was made
behalf of the federal government. The information and culture minister.
Senate chairman issues directives to  Raja Rashid Hafeez was given the
the federal and sometimes even to the portfolio of revenue. Raja Basharat
provincial governments through the was allocated law and parliamentary
leader of the house. affairs. Raja Basharat held this
2. JF-17 Thunder wins acclaim at portfolio in the cabinet of Ch Pervaiz
Radom air show Elahi.
 Amidst thundering applause by the  Other ministers inducted in the
spectators, Pakistan Air Force`s JF-17 cabinet in the first phase and their
Thunder exhibited its dazzling aerial portfolios include Hafiz Mumtaz
display during the opening day of Ahmad, Excise, Taxation and Narcotics
Radom International Airshow at Control; Makhdoom Hashim Baksh,
Radom-Sakdu Airport, Poland, on Finance; Sami Ullah Chaudhry, Food;
August 26, 2018. Raja Yasir Sarfaraz, Higher Education;
 Painted in the colour scheme of Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid, Housing,
Pakistan`s national flag, the pride of Urban Development and Public Health
the nation, JF-17 roared in the Polish Engineering; Mian Aslam Iqbal,
skies and left the spectators Industries, Commerce and
spellbound with its breathtaking Investment; Taimor Khan, Youth
manoeuvres. Affairs and Sports (he was elected as
 The thundery performance by PAF`s independent and joined PTI later);
display pilot, Wing Commander Murad Rass, School Education; Mohsin
Zeeshan Baryar, included some Leghari, Irrigation; and Anser Majeed
extraordinary aerobatics like the Niazi, Labour and Manpower.
muscle climb, thunder turns, slow  Sibtain Khan, Sardar Asif Nakai, Hafiz
speed performance and inverted flight. Ammar Yassir, Hasnain Dareshak,
3. 23-member Punjab cabinet Malik Anwar, Ch Zaheeruddin, Hashim
announced Dogar and Malik Nouman Langrial
have not been allotted the portfolios  It is worth mentioning that such
yet. decisions had also been taken by
4. Government announced 15- previous governments but they could
member Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa not implement them in a letter and
cabinet spirit.
 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on August  It had been observed that influential
26, 2018 announced 15-member people were given VIP protocol at
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa cabinet airports so that they could avoid
comprising 12 ministers, two advisors standing in long queues and get
and one special assistant. cleared their luggage without any
 Muhammad Atif Khan, who was also a hustle, he said.
strong contender for the post of chief  The VIP protocol was usually given to
minister, was made Minister for politicians, legislators, senior
Tourism with the status of senior bureaucrats, judges, military ofñcials
minister. Other ministers include andjournalists.
Shahram Khan Tarakai, Local  The interior ministry has directed the
Government; Taimoor Saleem Jhagra, FIA that no government official or
Finance; Syed Ishtiaq Urmer, Forest; other VIPs would be given protocolat
Qalandar Khan Lodhi, Food; Shakeel airports across the country.
Ahmad Khan, Revenue; Mohib Ullah  Interestingly, all previous
Khan, Agriculture; Dr Amjad Ali, governments had decided to eliminate
Mineral Development; Sultan VIP culture at airports but there was a
Muhammad Khan, Law and Kamran VIP lounge at Benazir Bhutto
Khan Bangash, Information International Airport in Islamabad
Technology while Akbar Ayaz Khan where VIPs and influential people sat
was not allocated a portfolio. in a luxurious atmosphere, meanwhile
 Zia Ullah Bangash was made advisor to their luggage was get cleared by
the CM with no portfolio while Abdul officials of FIA, Airport Security Staff
Karim was made Advisor to the CM on or Civil Aviation Authority.
Industries. Shah Muhammad Khan was  However, there is no such lounge
made special assistant to the chief available at the new Islamabad airport
minister and he was given the established near Fatehjang where all
portfolio of Transport. passengers have to follow the normal
5. Govt bans VIP protocol at airports procedure.
 As part of its austerity plan, the 6. New Australian PM revamps
government has banned VIP protocol cabinet
given by the Federal Investigation  New Australian Prime Minister Scott
Agency (FIA) to influential people at Morrison rewarded supporters and
airports. extended an olive branch to rebel
 The decision is being implemented by right-wingers as he unveiled his `new
the government from August 26, 2018 generation` cabinet on August 26,
as the ministry of interior has directed 2018 after taking power in a party-
all ofhcials concerned of the room coup.
investigation agency`s immigration  Morrison, the former treasurer
wing to implement it. (finance minister), was sworn in as
prime minister on August 24, 2018
after winning a Liberal Party  McCain`s death brings to 50 the
leadership challenge against number of Republican-held seats in
incumbent moderate Malcolm the 100-member US Senate, with
Turnbull. The challenge had been Democrats controlling 49. Republican
instigated by Home Affairs Minister Arizona Governor Doug Ducey will
Peter Dutton, whom Morrison also to appoint a member of his own party to
the right of the party defeated in a succeed McCain after the funeral.
secret ballot.He sought to heal the 8. Prolific US playwright Neil Simon
wounds exposed by the infighting. dies at 91
Dutton kept Home Affairs but his  Prolific US playwright Neil Simon, who
super-sized portfolio was split to won more combined Oscar and Tony
separate immigration and national nominations than any other writer,
security, with migration issues to be died on Sunday aged 91.
handled by former assistant finance  A legend of American theatre, he was
minister David Coleman. responsible for such works as The Odd
7. McCain, war hero and maverick Couple, The Sunshine Boys, Barefoot in
Republican, dies the Park and Lost in Yonkers. The New
 Senator John McCain, a former York native, who grew up during The
prisoner of war in Vietnam who ran in Great Depression, passed away from
US presidential elections in 2008 as a complications related to pneumonia.
maverick Republican and became a  Much of his work centered on the
prominent critic of President Donald everyday struggles of the middle-
Trump, died on August 25, 2018. He classes, which he used to explore what
was 82. he called `domestic wars` and inter-
 An Arizona senator for more than family conflict.
three decades, McCain had been suf  He was also known as a king of
fering from brain cancer since July last comedy, peppering his plays with a
year and had not been at the US Capitol heavy dose of witty one-liners.
this year.  In 1983 he gained the rare accolade of
 McCain frequently battled with Trump having a New York stage, the Neil
and his family has said he did not want Simon Theatre, named in his honour.
the presidentto attendhisfuneral.Flags  Overall he won one Pulitzer Prize, a
flew at half mast at the White House on Golden Globe and three Tonys
Sunday. Trump has tweeted his 9. Mnangagwa finally takes oath as
`deepest sympathies and respect` president of Zimbabwe
toMcCain`s family, although he added  Emmerson Mnangagwa was officially
no words of praise for McCain himself. sworn in as president of Zimbabwe on
 McCain will lie in state in both Phoenix, August 26, 2018 after winning a
Arizona, and in the Capitol rotunda in bitterly-contested election which was
Washington. the country`s first since the ousting of
 He will receive a military funeral strongman Robert Mugabe.
service at the Washington National  Mnangagwa, whose victory in the July
Cathedral, where Vice President Mike 30 polls was challenged by the main
Pence was expected to attend, before opposition, pledged to `protect and
being buried at the Naval Academy in promote the rights of Zimbabweans` at
Annapolis, Maryland. an inauguration cere-mony attended
by thousands of supporters at a  They expressed this resolve during a
stadium in Harare. meeting held after Gen Bajwa`s
 Since independence from Britain in maiden call on PM Imran Khan.
1980, Zimbabwe has known only two  They expressed resolve to bring
presidents Mugabe, who ruled with an enduring peace and stability in the
iron fist for 37 years, and his erstwhile country while also continuing efforts
right-hand man Mnangagwa. for regional peace.
10. Irfan breaks T20 record with one  The army chief congratulated Mr Khan
run in four overs on assuming the prime minister`s
 Lanky Pakistan fast bowler office.
Mohammad Irfan bowled the most  The security situation in the country
economical spell in Twenty20 cricket has improved vastly over the past few
history on August 25, 2018, only years due to military operations, but
conceding a run from his final ball. violence during election campaign and
 The giant 7ft lin (2.16m)left-armer, on polling day was a reminder of the f
playing for Barbados Tridents against ragility of the progress made so far.
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the The military has been in the driving
Caribbean Premier League, also took seat with regards to security. The
the wickets of the usually big-hitting civilians, meanwhile, have in the past
West Indies internationals Chris Gayle been accused of f ailing to adequately
and Evin Lewis, while delivering a implement the National Action
remarkable 23 dot balls. Plan.PM Khan has kept the interior
 But Irfan ended up on the losing side ministry with himself in what is being
anyway, as after he had bowled his seen as an attempt to directly oversee
maximum four overs, the Patriots the matters related to security and law
chased down their target of 148 with and order.
seven balls to spare to win by six  At a separate briefing on security, PM
wickets. Khan instructed officials of the interior
 The 36-year-old, who hasn`t played ministry and its subordinate
internationally for two years, organisations to play their role in
dismissed star man Gayle with the first improving overall security situation in
delivery of the innings. Irfan ended the country and providing a sense of
with figures of four overs, three security to the citizens.
maidens, with two wickets for one run. 2. Punjab cabinet sworn in Only 15 out
of 23 ministers given portfolios
August 28, 2018  As many as 23 newly-appointed
members of the Punjab cabinet on
August 27, 2018 took oath of their
1. First meeting: Bajwa, Imran vow to respective offices at a ceremony held
work closely for peace at the Governor House, where acting
 Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief governor Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi
of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed administered oath to them in the
Bajwa on August 27, 2018 pledged to presence of Chief Minister Usman
work closely for establishment of Buzdar.
peace in the country and the region.  The ministers who took oath are:
Abdul Aleem Khan, Hafiz Mumtaz
Ahmad, Makhdoom Hashim Jawan  The ministers include Mohammad
Bakht, Samiullah Chaudhry, Fayazul Saleh Bhootani, Mir Mohammad Arif
Hasan Chohan, Muhammad Sibtain Mohammad Hasni, Sarfaraz Chakar
Khan, Sardar Muhammad Asif Nakai, Domki, Tariq Khan Magsi, Mir Zahoor
Hafiz Ammar Yasir, Yasir Humayun, Ahmed Buledi, Mir Ziaullah Langove,
Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, Mian Saleem Ahmed Khosa and Noor
Aslam Iqbal, Malik Nauman Ahmad Mohammad Domar (BAP), Mir
Langrial, Murad Rass, Chaudhry Nasibullah Khan Marri (PTI) and
Zaheerud Din, Ansar Majeed Khan Engineer Zamarak Khan Piralizai
Niazi and Muhammad Hashim Dogar. (ANP).
 The cabinet members have been 4. Imran Ismail sworn in as 33rd Sindh
picked from 13 districts, including five governor
ministers from Lahore and three from  Sindh High Court Chief Justice Ahmed
Rawalpindi. Ali Sheikh administered oath to
 Two ministers each have been taken Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf central
from Chakwal, Kasur, Faisalabad and leader Imran Ismail as the 33rd
Rajanpur, while, one each has been governor (According to Daily Nation)
taken from Attock, Mianwali, of the province at a ceremony held at
Sargodha, Jhang, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur the Governor House August 27, 2018.
and Rahim Yar Khan districts.  The new governor has replaced
 Dr Yasmin Rashid is the only one Muhammad Zubair of the Pakistan
woman member of the cabinet, who Muslim League-Nawaz, who had
was given a reserved seat. resigned after the general elections.
 The cabinet of the largest province in  Prior to his oath-taking ceremony, Mr
the country has no minority member. Ismail, who was elected as a member
 While 23 ministers took oath, the of the Sindh Assembly from a Karachi
Punjab government initially notified constituency (PS-111) in the July 25
portfolios of only 15 of them. general elections, sent his resignation
3. 10-member Balochistan cabinet as a provincial lawmaker to the
sworn in speaker.
 A10-member cabinet of the six-party  In his first media interaction after
Balochistan coalition government becoming the governor, he said that he
headed by Chief Minister Jam Kamal would not restrict himself to a
Khan Alyani took the oath on August particular city as the whole province
27, 2018. was his domain.
 Governor Mohammad Khan Achakzai 5. KP bans tea at official meetings
administrated the oath to the  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister
ministers at a ceremony attended by Mahmud Khan has imposed a ban on
CM Alyani, Chief Secretary Dr Nazeer tea during officials meetings and
Ahmed, MPAs and senior of ficials at directed authorities to adopt austerity
Governor House. and simplicity.
 Eight out of the 10 new ministers  Presiding over a high-level meeting on
belong to the Balochistan Awami Party Bus Rapid Project (BRT), the CM
(BAP), one each to the Pakistan directed presentation of water in glass
Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Awami rather than bottle and maintained that
National Party (ANP).
no tea would be served on guests Rohingya in Rakhine, as well as against
during official meetings onward. other minorities in the northern
 He directed officials to show austerity Kachin and Shan States, the mission
by avoiding such things in meetings. said in a report.
The CM directed that no water bottle 7. Russia hit with new US sanctions
would be presented in any function over nerve agent attack
rather water for drinking would be  The United States imposed new
served on guest in glass. sanctions on Russia on August 27,
6. Myanmar army chief must be 2018 over the attempted assassination
prosecuted for 'genocide': UN of a former spy in Britain using a lethal
 UN investigators called August 27, nerve agent.
2018 for Myanmar's army chief to  The sanctions include halting foreign
resign and for him and five other top aid to Russia, blocking the sale of items
military commanders to be prosecuted or services related to defence and
in an international court for genocide national security, and banning any
against the country's Rohingya government credit support for any
minority. exports to Russia. However, sales and
 The call prompted Facebook, which services related to space launches,
has been criticised for allowing hate both commercial and government, will
speech against the Rohingya to continue.
flourish, to ban the army chief and  And the State Department has issued a
remove other pages tied to the non-specific `partial waiver` on the
country's military. sanctions, a move which could dull
 Some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fled their impact.
northern Rakhine state to Bangladesh  The sanctions, first announced August
after Myanmar launched a brutal 8, are a response to the March 4 failed
crackdown in August last year on attempt to kill former Russian
insurgents amid accounts of arson, intelligence agent Sergei Skripal and
murder and rape at the hands of his daughter Yulia Skripal using
soldiers and vigilante mobs in the Novichok, a military-grade nerve
mainly Buddhist country. agent developed by the Soviet Union
 Myanmar has vehemently denied during the Cold War.
allegations of ethnic cleansing,  The British government says the
insisting it was responding to attacks attack in Salisbury, England was
by Rohingya rebels. undertaken by Russian operatives.
 But on August 27, 2018, a UN-backed 8. Israel developing missiles to hit
fact-finding mission into violations in anywhere in Mideast
Myanmar said the country's "top  Israel is working on a new missile
military generals, including system capable of hitting targets
Commander-in-Chief Senior-General anywhere in the Middle East, Defence
Min Aung Hlaing, must be investigated Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on
and prosecuted for genocide in the August 27, 2018.
north of Rakhine State."  State-owned arms manufacturer Israel
 They should also be investigated and Military Industries (IMI) would deliver
prosecuted for "crimes against `within a few years` an advanced
humanity and war crimes" against the
integrated system àllowing precise economic strangulation, by all
hits by remote launching. peaceful means.
 Lieberman added that the contract  US lawyers are due to give their
with IMI was budgeted at `hundreds of response in arguments before the
millions of shekels`.The Israeli shekel court on August 28, 2018 (today), with
is currently trading at 3.63 to the US experts expecting them to challenge
dollar. the ICJ`s jurisdiction.
 The project for setting up a precision 10. Arshad`s bronze gives Pakistan
rocket and missile system is third medal at Asiad
underway.  While Pakistan secured their third
 Foreign military experts say it has medal here at the Asian Games on
several batteries of its Jericho ballistic August 27, 2018 when Arshad Nadeem
missile, capable of delivering nuclear clinched bronze in javelin throw event,
warheads. most of country`s athletes of other
 IMI said in 2004 that it had produced a disciplines continued to fare poorly at
cruise missile, the Delilah, with a range the continental gala.
of 250 kilometres.  The 21-year-old Arshad from
9. Iran challenges US sanctions at UN Khanewal won the bronze medal
court hitting the mark of 80.75 metres, with
 Iran demanded on August 27, 2018 six attempts of 73.52, 76.73, 72.20,
that the UN`s top court order the 80.75, 77.56 and 72.20.
United States to suspend nuclear-  India`s Neeraj Chopra (88.05) won
linked sanctions against Tehran, but javelin`s gold medal while Liu Qizhen
Washington vowed to `vigorously` (82.22) of China seized silver.
fend off the legal challenge.  By winning the bronze in Jakarta,
 Iran launched a suit at the Arshad from Khanewal bettered his
International Court of Justice over US personal best which is also Pakistan`s
President Donald Trump`s decision to national record from 80.45 metres he
reimpose sanctions that were lifted in achieved in the qualification round at
a landmark 2015 accord. this year`s Commonwealth Games held
 Trump says the sanctions are needed on Gold Coast, Australia in April.
to ensure Iran never builds a nuclear  Last year, Arshad seized bronze medal
bomb. But Iran`s representative at the Islamic Solidarity Games staged
Mohsen Mohebi branded them `naked in Baku where he recorded a mark of
economic aggression`. 76.33 metres.
 His team of lawyers told the court in  In 2016, he bagged two bronze medals,
The Hague that the measures were first at the South Asian Games
already devastating Iran`s economy organised in the Indian city of
and threatening the welfare of its Guwahati and then at the Asian Junior
citizens. Championships held in Ho Chi Minh
 `The United States is publicly City, Vietnam.Prior to Arshad`s
propagating a policy intended to bronze, Pakistan had secured two
damage as severely as possible Iran`s medals at the ongoing Asiad both
economy and Iranian nationals and bronze in karate and kabaddi.
August 29, 2018

companies,` Mohebi said. Ìran will put
up the stron-gest resistance to the US
1. Cabinet forms six bodies to execute 2. Pakistan, India to begin talks on
reforms agenda water disputes today
 In a move to implement its 100-day  A nine-member delegation led by the
plan of `change`, the federal cabinet on Indian water commissioner arrived on
August 28, 2018 set up six committees August 28, 2018 for talks with their
to introduce reforms in different Pakistani counterparts on water
sectors and to carve out a new disputes on the platform of the
province from Punjab, besides Pakistan-India Permanent Indus
appointing the Intelligence Bureau Commission.
(IB) director general and the head of  Pakistan Water Commissioner Syed
National Counterterrorism Authority Mohammad Mehar Ali Shah welcomed
(Nacta). the delegation, headed by Indian
 The cabinet meeting, which was Water Commissioner Pradeep Kumar
chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Saxena, at the Wagah border.
also decided to expedite the process of  The two-day deliberations on water
the merger of the erstwhile Federally disputes will begin on August 29, 2018
Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with (today). The talks will be held at the
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). offices of the National Engineering
 The cabinet decided to appoint Nacta Services of Pakistan (Nespak) in
chairman Dr Mohammad Suleman Lahore.
Khan (a grade-22 officer of the police  The Indian team was earlier supposed
service) as IB director general, while to arrive here for talks in July but the
commandant of the National Police visit was rescheduled in view of the
Academy Mehr Khalig Dad Lak, also a July 25 general elections.
grade 22 officer, has been appointed as  The water commissioners of the
Nacta chairman in his place. neighbouring countries are required
 Another task force was formed on to meet twice a year and arrange
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) technical visits to projects` sites and
law reforms with main focus to critical river headworks.
retrieve national wealth laundered to  A government official said they would
other countries. Another task force raise their concerns over the
constituted on Criminal Procedure construction of 1,000MW Pakal Dul
Code reforms was asked to give its and 48MW Lower Kalnal hydroelectric
recommendations within 90 days to projects on the River Chenab by New
address the problems being faced by Delhi, ignoring Islamabad`s objections
antiterrorism courts. to their designs.
 Other task forces were set up for 3. Senate panel okays idea of
introducing austerity measures, criminalising enforced
reforms in civil services /federal disappearances
government restructuring, civil laws  A Senate committee on August 28,
and the health sector. 2018 approved the idea of
 One of the important decisions made criminalising enforced
in the meeting was that the disappearances.
government would not remove any  Chairman of the Senate`s Functional
official working on a contractual basis. Committee on Human Rights Mustafa
Nawaz Khokhar gave the Ministry
ofHuman Rights a month to engage all  The PPP government had posted PAS
stakeholders to draft a bill for officers including Sohail Ahmed,
criminalising enforced disappearances followed by Salman Siddique as
and making it a punishable offence. chairmen FBR, while the PML-N
 The directive came after the Chairman government followed the previous
of the Commission of Inquiry on government`s tradition when it posted
Enforced Disappearances, retired Tariq Bajwa, a senior officer of PAS as
Justice Javed Iqbal, urged the chairman FBR.
committee to goforlegalsanctions 5. `2.2m abortions per year indicate
torecover all missing persons. The unmet contraceptive demand`
meeting was informed that at  A representative of the United Nations
presentallcases ofenforced Population Fund (UNFPA) on August
disappearances were registered under 28, 2018 said 2.2 million abortions
Section 365 of the penal code which were carried out in Pakistan every
dealt with kidnapping. year which clearly showed that there
4. FBR gets new chief was an unmet demand for
 The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) contraceptives in the country.
government on August 28, 2018  Ìmagine how difficult it would be for a
posted a senior officer of Pakistan woman in Pakistan to go for an
Administration Services (PAS), Dr abortion. It shows that she did not
Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan, as want pregnancy but we failed to
chairman Federal Board of Revenue provide her the contraceptive. It is not
(FBR). acceptable at all and we need to do
 Mr Khan has also been given the something to avoid such pregnancies,`
additional post of secretary Revenue Dr Hassan Mohtashami said at the
Division. launch of Pakistan Demographic and
 The outgoing FBR head, Ms Rukhsana Health Survey (PDHS). The survey was
Yasmin, who was posted as the first conducted by the National Institute of
woman chairperson of the board on Population Studies (NIPS).
July 2 by the interim government,  Dr Mohtashami said though Pakistan
currently awaits directives on her new maynot achieve the commitment of
posting. family planning by 2020 it was not
 Dr Jehanzeb has served in Punjab for about an international commitment
10 years. He was serving as the rather about the health of women.
secretary Board of Investment after  As many as 34pc women were using
being transferred by interim any kind of contraceptives. The use of
provincial government. modern contraceptives was highest in
 Previously, he has served as the Islamabad and lowest in Balochistan.
chairman Planning and Development The trend of unmet need for family
Board during the PML-N government. planning has decreased from 31pc (in
 PTI has emerged as the third 1990) to 17pc. Under-five mortality
consecutive party after PPP and PML- rate is 74 per 1,000 children and the
N to have posted non-tax officers from infant mortality rate is 62 per 1,000
PAS to head FBR right at the start of live births. Around 66pc children
their respective terms. received all vaccines and only four per
cent did not get any vaccine.
6. Èducation, health emergency` in backed a pro-Russian uprising in
Balochistan eastern Ukraine.
 The Balochis tan government has 8. American poet Sonia Sanchez wins
decided to impose health and $100,000 prize
education emergency in the province  Poet and author Sonia Sanchez has
and bring maximum entities in tax net won a $100,000 lifetime achievement
through widening the working of the prize. The Academy of American Poets
Balochistan Revenue Authority to announced on August 28, 2018 that
increase provincial financial resources Sanchez is this year’s winner of the
for reducing deficit of the current Wallace Stevens Award. Sanchez, 83, is
budget. known for such collections as Shake
 These decisions were made in the Loose My Skin: New and Selected
maiden meeting of the six-party Poems.
alliance coalition`s cabinet here on  Also on August 28, 2018, five young
August 28, 2018, which lasted for poets received fellowships worth
several hours with Chief Minister Jam more than $25,000 apiece.
Kamal Khan Alyani in the Chair.  On August 28, 2018, the Poetry
 The newly inducted minister, Zahoor Foundation’s Poetry Magazine
Ahmed Buledi, announced the announced this year’s winners of the
decisions after the cabinet meeting. Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent
7. Russia to hold biggest exercises Rosenberg Poetry Fellowship. The
since Cold War poets are Safia Elhillo, Hieu Minh
 Russia will next month hold its biggest Nguyen, Sam Sax, Natalie Scenters-
war games since the fall of the Soviet Zapico, and Paul Tran. With prize
Union, Defence Minister Sergei Sholgu money totaling $129,000, each will be
said on August 28, 2018, a massive given $25,800.
military exercise that will also involve  The fellowship was started in 1989.
the Chinese and Mongolian armies. Winners must be between age 21 and
 The exercise, called Vostok-2018 31 and the money is meant to give
(East-2018), will take place in central them time to write and study poetry.
and eastern Russian military districts Work from each of the five winners
and involve almost 300,000 troops, will appear in the December issue of
more than 1,000 military aircraft, two Poetry Magazine.
of Russia`s naval fleets, and all of its 9. Pakistan down arch-rivals India in
airborne units, Shoigu said in a volleyball, thrash BD in hockey
statement.  Of the three victories for Pakistan at
 The manoeuvres will take place at a the Asian Games on August 28, 2018,
time of heightened tension between there was little doubt that the one by
the West and Russia, which is the volleyball team was the sweetest.
concerned about what it says is an  After all this was against arch-rivals
unjustified build-up of the Nato India, even if it was a 9-12th place
military alliance on its western flank. playoff.
 Nato says it has beefed up its forces in  On a day when the hockey team
eastern Europe to deter potential produced yet another commanding
Russian military action after Moscow performance, recording their fifth
annexed Ukraine`s Crimea in 2014 and straight win, and the squash team won
its third consecutive match, it was the the Asia Cup in the UAE from Sept 15
3-1 volleyball victory over India that before playing Australia and New
was most celebrated. Zealand.

August 30, 2018
In a contest lasting 100 minutes,
Pakistan came back from a set down to
win 21-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-23 and
will now face China in a 7-10th place
playoff. 1. Pakistan to go for arbitration if
 Pakistan closed their Pool `B` India ignores concerns
campaign in hockey with a perfect  Pakistan on August 29, 2018 urged
record after another big win, thrashing India to entertain the objections it has
Bangladesh 5-0 to set up asemi-final raised over the construction of the
against Japan on August 30, 2018. Atig 1,000MW Pakal Dul and 48MW Lower
Arshad and Mubashar Ali both scored Kalnal hydropower projects on the
two goals each while Ali Shan added River Chenab.
the other goal.  It conveyed in categorical terms tothe
10. PCB unveils dates of Australia, NZ visiting Indian team that Islamabad
series in UAE would approach the international
 Australia will play their first Test since forums defined in the Indus Waters
the infamous ball-tampering saga on Treaty (IWT) in case New Delhi failed
the ill-fated tour of South Africa last to accept the requests as narrated in
March when Pakistan host them in the the detailed objections.
United Arab Emirates in a two-match  The nine-member team led by Indian
series from Oct 7 besides three commissioner Pradeep Kumar Saxena
Twenty20 Internationals. had arrived on August 28, 2018 for
 New Zealand then arrive in the UAE to talks with their Pakistani counterparts
take on Pakistan in three Tests, three on water disputes on the platform of
One-day Internationals, and as many the Pakistan-India Permanent
Twenty20 Internationals. Commission for Indus Waters.
 According to the schedule announced  In the first round of talks, Pakistan`s
on August 28, 2018 by the Pakistan commissioner Syed Mohammad Mehr
Cricket Board (PCB), Australia open Ali Shah raised the objections, possible
their tour with a four-day first-class solutions to the problem, India`s
fixture against Pakistan À` at the ICC previous replies, feedback, etc. He told
Academy in Dubai. the Indian side that the objections
 Pakistan, who are currently the top raised were based on facts and must be
ranked side in the shortest format, resolved under the provisions of the
would be playing six T20 IWT.
Internationals in the space of 12 days 2. Three More Ministers get portfolios
since they also host New Zealand in  The Punjab government on August 29,
three matches from Oct 31 to Nov 4. 2018 notified portfolios of another
 The forthcoming months are probably three ministers, while five others are
Pakistan`s busiest in the lead-up to the still without any assignment.
2019 ICC World Cup in England  Initially, 15 out of 23 Punjab cabinet
because Sarfraz Ahmed`s men members who had taken oath were
kickstart the international season with given portfolios Chief Minister Usman
Buzdar has assigned forestry, wildlife  Iran’s supreme leader warned the
and fisheries ministry to Sibtain Khan, country could abandon its nuclear deal
who was elected from Mianwali (PP- with world powers if it no longer
88). served its interests, even as economic
 Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial, and political pressure mounted on the
elected from PP-202 (Sahiwal) has government.
been given the charge of agriculture  “Naturally, if we reach the conclusion
department, while Malik Muhammad that (the nuclear deal) is no longer
Anwar will head the revenue maintaining our national interests, we
depanment. Mr Anwar was elected will put it aside,” Ayatollah Ali
from PP-04 (Attock). Khamenei said in a meeting with the
3. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet cabinet.
sworn in  Iran must not “pin its hopes” on
 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Europe, despite European efforts to
Mahmood Khan`s 11-member cabinet salvage the nuclear deal following the
was sworn-in on August 29, 2018 after withdrawal of the United States.
a last-minute revision of the list of  The government of President Hassan
ministers-designate. Rouhani has been battered by the
 The cabinet swearing-in occurred at return of US sanctions, which has
the Governor`s House. triggered a rapid departure of foreign
 Acting governor Mushtaq Ahmad firms and ended his hopes of attracting
Ghani administered the oath to the large-scale investment.
ministers, including Mohammad Atif 6. German town removes statue of
Khan, Shahram Khan Tarakai, Dr Erdogan after protests
Hisham Inamullah, Dr. Amjad Ali,  German firefighters on August 29,
Akbar Ayub Khan, Qalandher Lodhi, 2018 removed a golden statue of
Muhibullah, Taimoor Khan Jhagrra, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on
Shakil Khan, Syed Ishtiaq Urmar and security grounds after it provoked an
Sultan Mohammad Khan. angry response from local people.
4. Massive reshuffle in bureaucracy  Organisers of an arts festival whose
 The new government has notified theme this year is `Bad News` had
fresh transfers and postings in the top installed the four-metre statue of
bureaucracy. Erdogan, with one arm outstretched,
 Despite reports that the Pakistan on a plinth in the central Square of
Tehreek-i-Insaf government was German Unity in the western town of
planning to abolish the Ministry of Wiesbaden on Monday.
Capital Administration and  But the statue got daubed with graffiti,
Development Division (CADD), including the slogan `Turkish Hitler`,
Aurangzeb Haque, a grade-22 officer German media reported, and a few
of Pakistan Administrative Services hundred residents had protested
(PAS), has been appointed its against it.
secretary in place of Saqib Aziz,  Police said they could no longer
another grade-22 PAS officer, who has guarantee people`s safety so firemen
been made secretary aviation. used a large crane to take away the
5. Khamenei says ready to abandon statue under the cover of darkness in
nuclear deal if needed the early hours of Wednesday.
7. UN schools for Palestinians reopen billion Brexit fund, for an 18 months-
despite US funding cut long study into an alternative UK
 TENS of thousands of Palestinian programme, the government said in a
children returned to United statement.
Nationsrun schools on August 29,  “We are investing in an alternative
2018 after the summer holidays, option to Galileo to ensure our future
though major US cuts have thrown security needs are met using the UK’s
their funding into jeopardy beyond world-leading space sector,” said
next month. Business Secretary Greg Clark.
 Children wearing chequered uniforms  Britain in June revealed that it had
and backpacks thronged schools been formally excluded from future
across the Palestinian territories for contracts for the Galileo programme
the first classes of the new school year, that is intended for commercial uses
AFP correspondentsreported. such as logistics as well as for armed
 The UN Relief and Works Agency for forces and emergency services.
Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said all 9. Facebook rolls out video service
711 schools it runs for 526,000 pupils worldwide
in Gaza and the West Bank, Jordan,  Facebook said August 29, 2018 it is
Lebanon and Syria would reopen in rolling out globally its Watch video
the next few days despite the $300 service, which has already been
million US funding cut. available in the United States for more
 Fearsraised by UN chief Antonio than a year.
Guterres that the schools might not be  “We designed the product not just in a
able to reopen at all have failed to mindless consumption but in order to
materialise, but UNRWA warned it get people engaged,” said Fidji Simo,
might still be forced to close them Facebook’s vice president for video.
again in a month if additional new  Facebook launched Watch amid a shift
funding is not found. Àt the moment, in video viewing habits away from
we do not have enough money to keep traditional television to online
the schools open after the end of platforms including Netflix and Hulu,
September,` said UNRWA spokesman and with more people watching both
Chris Gunness. professional and user content on
8. UK plans own satellite system after services like YouTube.
Galileo exclusion  Facebook has been ramping up its
 Britain will invest in the possible video offerings with original shows
creation of its own satellite-navigation and this week announced new formats
system, the UK government including interactive game shows,
announced Wednesday, after being quizzes and polls. The announcement
excluded from the EU’s Galileo comes two weeks after Facebook
programme because of Brexit. revealed it would broadcast for free
 At the same time, London said it was Spanish top flight division football
continuing to negotiate with the matches in the Indian subcontinent,
European Union about remaining in and Champions League matches in
the Galileo programme. Britain will Latin America.
invest £92 million ($119 million, 102 10. Goats can read your face
million euros), taken from its £3.0-
 Goats can distinguish smiling human has agreed to get the projects` sites
faces from frowning ones on photos, visited by our experts.
and actively seek out snapshots of  During the visit, experts will minutely
happier individuals, a study said examine the sites, construction in the
August 29, 2018. light of the provisions of Indus Water
 Shown two pictures of the same Treaty (IWT) and the objections raised
person - one with a happy expression by Pakistan to the aforementioned
and the other angry - 20 domesticated projects being executed by India over
goats in an experiment were more the Chenab River.
likely to approach the smiling image  Both delegations headed by Pakistani
and touch it with their snout, said and Indian commissioners for Indus
researchers from Europe and Brazil. waters resumed talks on day two,
 “Goats looked and interacted on reiterating their stance over
average 1.4 seconds with the happy construction of the projects. The
faces and 0.9 seconds with the angry Indian side led by Pradeep Kumar
faces,” study co-author Christian Saxenareviewed Pakistan`s objections
Nawroth of the Queen Mary University minutely. It also presented its point of
of London told AFP. view amid justification in response to
 “That means that goats spend the objections.
approximately 50 percent more time  The Pakistani side led by
to look and interact with happy images Commissioner for Indus Water Syed
compared to angry ones.” Mohammad Mehr Ali Shah continued
 The study, published in the journal defending its stance, requesting the
Royal Society OpenScience, claims to Indian delegation to address the issues
provide the first evidence of goats as sought. However, it was mutually
reading human emotional expression. decided that both countries would
separately prepare technical
August 31, 2018 memorandums based on their point of
view and possible solutions.
2. Anwar Mansoor appointed attorney
1. Pakistani experts to inspect two general
Indian hydropower project sites  After considerable delay, a notification
 India agreed on August 30, 2018 to get for the appointment of Anwar
sites of its two hydropower projects Mansoor Khan as Attorney General of
1,000MW Pakal Dul and 48MW Lower Pakistan was issued on August 30,
Kalnal inspected by Pakistani experts 2018.
by the end of next month.  Khalid Jawed, who held the coveted
 It also assured Pakistan of taking up its post at the time, had been informed
objections/concerns over the two that the government would like to
projects seriously by resolving them retain him in the office because of his
amicably in the light of technical hard work as well as clear
memorandums to be prepared and understanding of the law, which had
exchanged by the two countries in the impressed even the judges of the
next meeting to be held in New Delhi. Supreme Court.
 The major breakthrough of the two-  This is the second time that Anwar
day talks held in Lahore is that India Mansoor Khan has become the
attorney general. He earlier served in Dumar public health and engineering,
the position during the tenure of the Sardar Sarfaraz Chakar Domki tourism
Pakistan Peoples Party government. and archives, Mir Zahoor Ahmed
He resigned from the post on April 2, Buledi information, Mir Ziaullah
2010 after reportedly developing Langove forest and wildlife, Mir
differences with the then law minister, Nasibullah Marri health, and Engr
Babar Awan. Zamarak Khan Piralizai agriculture
 The office of the attorney general is and cooperatives.
considered to be an important one  Adviser to the chief minister Metha
because individuals with deep Khan Kakar will look after the affairs of
understanding of the law and having the livestock and dairy department
considerable experience at the bar, 4. More than 12 children abused every
and who are qualified enough to be day in first half of 2018: report
appointed as a judge of the Supreme  A report released by the NGO Sahil has
Court, are chosen to represent the revealed that cases of child abuse
federal government before the increased by 32pc in the first six
superior judiciary as well as act as a months of 2018 compared to the first
bridge between the two pillars of the half of 2017.
state.  The report found that a total of 2,322
 Mr Khan has defended former child abuse cases were reported by
president Gen Pervez Musharraf newspapers in all four provinces, as
before a special court in the case of well as Islamabad, Azad Kashmir and
high treason. He was commissioned as GilgitBaltistan. In comparison, 1,764
an officer in the Pakistan Army in 1971 such incidents were reported from
and fought the 1971 war, but resigned January to June 2017.
in 1973. He became a prisoner of war  More than 12 children were abused
in 1971. every day during the January to June
 He was appointed judge of the Sindh period of this year, the data shows. In
High Court in October 2000, but addition, 1,725 cases were reported
resigned from the position on Oct 3, from rural areas and 597 from urban
2001, to rejoin law practice. areas.
3. 10 ministers of Balochistan get  Cases of sexual abuse of boys
portfolios increased by 47pc, the report said,
 The Services and General while cases of sexual abuse of girls
Administration Department here on increased by 22pc compared to last
August 30, 2018 notified portfolios of year.
10 newly appointed ministers and an  Children between the ages of six and
adviser to the chief minister. 15 are the most vulnerable to abuse,
 Sardar Muhammad Saleh Bhootani has the report said.
been given the portfolio of food, law  According to the provincial
and parliamentary affairs, Mir breakdown, 65pc of cases were
Muhammad Arif Jan Muhammad Hasni reported from Punjab and 26pc from
finance, Mir Saleem Ahmed Khosa Sindh.
home and tribal affairs, Nawabzada  A total of 69 cases were reported from
Mir Tariq Khan Magsi communications Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 68 from the
and works, Sardar Noor Muhammad
capital, 55 from Balochistan, 21 from  `Green banking is vital to reduce the
AJK and twofrom GB. vulnerability of the financial sector to
5. Gen Zubair attends meeting of environmental risks and provide
Shanghai cooperation in Moscow financing to make economies more
 Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) resource-efficient and climate
Committee, Gen Zubair Mahmood resilient.
Hayat attended chiefs of general staff 7. Iranian foreign minister arrives on
meeting of Shanghai Cooperation two-day visit
Organisation (SCO) member states in  Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif
Moscow. landed Islamabad on August 30, 2018
 The host country briefed the forum on on a two-day trip to engage with the
international geopolitical situation new government.
and activities of transnational terrorist  Iranian FM Javad Zarif arrives in
organisations in various crisis regions Pakistan, the first foreign dignitary to
of the world. visit Pakistan since the new
 While addressing the forum, the JCS government took over.
chairman highlighted the  FM Zarif had earlier in a telephonic
contributions of Pakistan`s armed conversation with his Pakistani
forces to peace and their immense counterpan Shah Mehmood Qureshi
sacrifices in war against terrorism. On had indicated his desire to meet the
the sidelines of the event, Gen Hayat new leadership.
also met Gen Li Zoucheng, chief of Joint  During his stay in Islamabad, the
Staff of Peoples Liberation Army, and Iranian foreign minister, besides
Lt Gen Sobirzoda Emomali Abdurahim, meeting Mr Qureshi, is likely to call on
chief of general staff of Tajikistan. other leaders of the new
6. WB to support green banking in administration. Iran has been
Pakistan warming up to Pakistan after
 The International Finance Corporation remaining lukewarm for decades and
(IFC) of the World Bank group will potentially sees its neighbour as part
support `green banking` in Pakistan as of the emerging regional bloc that
part of IFC`s commitment to helping could include Russia and China. Iran
countries` transition to green, low this year celebrated Pakistan`s
carbon and sustainable economies. Independence Day in an
 In this regard IFC has signed an unprecedented manner displaying
advisory agreement with the State large greeting hoardings along major
Bank of Pakistan in Karachi on highways in Iranian cities.
Wednesday. 8. Dutch lawmaker cancels
 IFC`s advisory services team will assist blasphemous cartoon contest
the SBP and country`s banking sector  Dutch anti-Islam lawmaker Geert
in improving their environmental risk Wilders has cancelled a competition
management practices, and ensuring for cartoons depicting Prophet
ethical lending practices. Muhammad (PBUH) that sparked
 The State Bank has already taken an protests in Pakistan.
initial step towards this with the issue  The far-right politician, who is known
of its green banking guidelines last for his incendiary speeches and
October. protests against immigration and
Islam, said on Thursday he did not  Christians, who constitute about 10
want others endangered by the per cent of Egypt’s Muslim-majority
contest he planned for November. population of 100 million, have long
 “To avoid the risk of victims of Islamic complained of discrimination and
violence, I have decided not to let the their under-representation in top
cartoon contest go ahead,” he said in a government positions. Christians
written statement, claiming to have strongly supported general-turned-
received death threats. president el-Sissi who led the ouster of
 The scheduled contest sparked angry his Islamist predecessor.
protests in Pakistan and a death threat  Egypt’s current cabinet includes eight
this week from a 26-year-old man, female ministers, the highest in the
reportedly a Pakistani, who was country’s modern history.
arrested on August 30, 2018 in The 10. Pakistan`s hockey dream ends with
Hague. Earlier on August 30, 2018, a stunning loss to Japan
Dutch judge extended by two weeks  Pakistan were stunned 1-0 by a
the detention of the man who allegedly disciplined Japan in their semi-final on
threatened to attack Wilders. August 30, 2018, with Shota Yamada
Prosecutors said in a statement that an scoring the decisive goal with a
investigating judge ordered the penalty corner conversion in the 18th
suspect held while he is investigated minute.
on charges of making a threat, making  Having pumped in 45 goals during the
preparations for a murder and group stage, Pakistan couldn`t even
incitement. get on the scoresheet when the stakes
 In his emailed statement, Wilders said got high.
“The threats resulting from the  The hockey team`s run in the
cartoon contest are running out of lndonesian capital had fuelled hopes
control.” that Pakistan would clinch a record-
9. Egypt appoints first-ever Christian extending ninth Asian Games gold
woman as governor medal. Now, it will have to fight for
 Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi bronze.
has sworn in several new provincial  Pakistan were expected to clash with
governors, including the first-ever India in a classic final but after seeing
Coptic Christian woman to hold the their arch-rivals, the defending
position. champions, ousted by Malaysia 7-6 in
 Manal Awad Mikhail was appointed a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw,
governor of Damietta province August Pakistan produced an insipid
30, 2018. She was previously a deputy performance against the Japanese
for the Giza governor. The reshuffle andregisteredjustfourshotson goal.
included new governors for Cairo,  Japan had been thrashed 8-0 by India
Giza, Luxor, Aswan and North Sinai. in the group stage where Pakistan had
Egypt had appointed the first-ever humbled Malaysia 4-1.
female governor to the province of  Japan played with a total defensive
Beheira in a reshuffle last year. The scheme against Pakistan at the Gelora
Beheira governor was changed in Bung Karno Stadium Complex, relying
Thursday’s reshuffle. only on counterattacks through Kenta
Tanaka and Yamada.

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 The handball team finally recorded 1. Discretionary funds abolished, govt

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