Mcqs About Geography of Pakistan Public Service Commission Other Tests Information in Pakistan

DAY BY DAY CURRENT AFFAIRS MCQS
FOR THE MONTH JUNE 2018

 Mr Rahman, who served as chief
June 1, 2018 secretary from 2007 to 2010, was
among three other candidates
proposed by the opposition former
1. Punjab’s first-ever IT policy launched
home adviser Aftab Ahmed Sheikh
 The PML-N government has launched (MQM), retired Justice Syed Ghous Ali
Punjab’s first-ever Information Shah and retired Justice Amir Hani
technology policy on five pillars – Muslim.
support to the industry, bridging the
 The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party had
digital divide, e-governance, citizen
proposed the names of another ex-chief
centric services and entrepreneurship.
secretary Ghulam Ali Pasha, Engineer
 The Information Technology Policy
Hameer Soomro, orthopedic surgeon
2018, approved by the Punjab Cabinet
Younus Soomro, retired Justice Ghulam
in its farewell meeting on May 30, 2018, Sarwar Korai and Dr Qayyum Soomro.
would focus on bridging the digital
 The name of the caretaker chief
divide across gender, region and
minister was announced by Chief
economic classes and to position
Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at a press
Punjab as the IT research and
conference with Leader of the
development and innovation hub of
Opposition Khwaja IzharulHassan at the
Pakistan.
CM House.
 Information Technology University’s
3. Government unveils National Internal
first vice chancellor and Punjab Security Policy 2018-23
Information Technology Board
 The PML-N government on the last day
chairman Dr Umar Saif told the
of its term on May 31, 2018 unveiled a
provincial government had proved its
new national internal security policy
commitment to use the information
proposing reconciliation with
and communication technology as an
individuals and groups willing to shun
enabling tools for improving
violence.
governance, efficiency, transparency
 The key priority areas of the policy have
and accountability. The policy
to be the worst affected areas due to
document had consolidated all
insecurity and terrorism. In this regard,
initiatives taken in the sector and set a
Fata, Balochistan, and areas of Khyber
future roadmap that would take the
Pakhtunkhwa and Karachi have to be
province to its ultimate destination of
paid particular attention.
being hub of information technology.
 Efforts will be made to build consensus
2. Sindh`s former chief secretary Fazal-ur-
on offering incentives for militants
Rahman to be interim CM
under clear and transparent terms to
 Former chief secretary of Sindh Fazal-
shun violence. A mechanism will be
ur-Rahman, whose name was proposed
developed to review cases of militants
by the opposition in the provincial
who agree to cooperate with the law
assembly, was appointed caretaker
enforcement agencies. Deradicalisation
chief minister of the province on May
and rehabilitation programmes will be
30, 2018.
used to enable former militants to join
To get daily Up-to-date Current Affairs kindly like our facebook page
www.facebook.com/CSSTimes
or visit www.ntsguru.pk and www.csstimes.pk
the mainstream. Professionals and midnight though it was not a smooth
moderate scholars will be engaged for sailing.
the said purpose.  However, it is only the second National
 Alternative livelihoods either by Assembly under the civilian rule which
providing jobs, vocational trainings or is completing its tenure as the assembly
other means will be offered to former which came into existence in 2002
militants once they are certified not continued to function under the Gen
being a security risk, while their Pervez Musharraf.
children under custody will be taken  The three National Assemblies,
care of. however, elected seven prime ministers
4. President approves Fata-KP merger bill over the last 16 years, clearly
 President Mamnoon Hussain on May underlying the weakness of democratic
31, 2018 gave his formal assent to the institutions and political parties in the
recently-passed 25th Constitution country.
Amendment Bill, paving the way for the  The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
much-delayed merger of the Federally issued a notification on May 31, 2018
Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with afternoon ìn pursuance of Article 52` of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. the Constitution announcing the
 The bill, already approved by both dissolution of the 14th National
houses of Parliament as well as the KP Assembly at midnight on May 31, 2018,
Assembly with rare political consensus, on completion of its five-year term.
was signed by the president at a special  The Presidency has already issued
ceremony attended by KP Governor invitations for the oath-taking
Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, head of Fata Reforms ceremony of caretaker prime minister
Committee Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant retired Justice Nasirul Mulk to be held
to the Prime Minister on Law Barrister on June 1, 2018.
Zafarullah Khan and National Security 6. ECC approves tax relief for former Fata,
Adviser retired Lt Gen Nasser Khan Pata
Janjua.  The Economic Coordination Committee
 The bill, which has now become an act (ECC) of the Cabinet on May 31, 2018
of parliament, was forwarded to the approved tax exemptions and other
Presidency by Senate Chairman Sadiq incentives for the next five years for the
Sanjrani after receiving it from the people of erstwhile FATA and PATA
Ministry of Law and Justice after its after the landmark 31st Constitutional
passage by the KP Assembly on May 28. Amendment.
5. Third National Assembly in a row  Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
completes its five-year term chaired a meeting of the ECC at PM
 For the first time in the country`s Office.
chequered parliamentary history, the  The ECC has approved tax exemption
third National Assembly in a row for erstwhile FATA and Provincially
managed to complete its five-year Administered Tribal Areas (PATA),
constitutional term on May 31, 2018 which have become part of the Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa after President Mamnoon
Hussain signed the 31st Constitutional  The European Court of Human Rights
Amendment. ruled on May 31, 2018 that Lithuania
 The ECC approved following tax and Romania were complicit in a
exemptions and other incentives for the controversial CIA programme to hold
next five years for the people of suspects caught after the September
erstwhile FATA and PATA including 11, 2001, terror attacks in secret
exempting of income tax on profits and detention centres on their territories.
gains of existing businesses conducted  Two suspects now being detained at
by individuals for a period of five years. the US military prison in Guantanamo
These businesses however need to be Bay lodged the case with the court in
registered with FBR by 30th September 2011 and 2012, alleging they were
2018. illegally held and tortured at CIA `black
7. Denmark bans full-face veil in public sites` in Romania and Lithuania from
spaces 2004 to 2006.
 Denmark on May 31, 2018 became the  The court said Romanian authorities
latest European country to ban the knew that Saudi national Abd al-Rahim
Islamic full-face veil in public spaces in a al-Nashiri would risk torture and the
move slammed by human rights death penalty when it allowed the CIA
campaigners as à violation of women`s to hold him at an undisclosed facility in
rights` their country from April 2004 to
 Ànyone who wears a garment that November 2005.
hides the face in public will be punished  Nashiri is accused of orchestrating
with a fine,` says the law, which was maritime terror attacks including the
passed by 75 votes to 30 in the Danish 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen
parliament. that left 17 dead.
 Presented by the government, the  The former Soviet republic of Lithuania
legislation was also backed by the Social was found complicit in hosting a secret
Democrats and the far-right Danish prison from February 2005 to March
People`s Party. The new rule will take 2006, when CIA operatives held Abu
effect on August 1. Zubaydah, considered a top Palestinian
 Wearing a burqa, which covers a operative for Al Qaeda.
person`s entire face, or the niqab, 9. Spanish PM faces defeat in no-
which only shows the eyes, in public will confidence motion
lead to a fine of 1,000 kroner ($156, 134  Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy
euros). is poised to be ousted from office after
 The ban also targets other accessories a Basque party on May 30, 2018 gave
that hide the face such as balaclavas its decisive support to a no-confidence
and false beards. Repeated violations motion over a corruption case, making
will be fined up to 10,000 kroner. It is it all but certain to succeed.
not known how many women wear the  The Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) said
niqab and burqa in Denmark. its five lawmakers would vote against
8. Lithuania, Romania complicit in secret Rajoy. This gives the main opposition
CIA prisons: European court Socialist party, which filed the motion,
the absolute majority of 176 votes Trading Company Ltd (CSTC) was signed
needed for it to pass in a vote at the Ministry of Defence Production.
scheduled May 31, 2018.  Pakistan`s fleet of Type054A warships
 The Socialists filed the motion last week would grow to four by 2021.
after a court said it had uncovered a  `The induction of these ships will
vast system of bribes given to former substantially enhance Pakistan Navy`s
officials of Rajoy’s Popular Party (PP) in war fighting capabilities while
exchange for lucrative public contracts effectively contributing towards
between 1999 and 2005. maritime security operations in the
 The National Court, which deals with region.
major criminal cases, sentenced 29  The ship has a stealthy design and is
people with links to the PP, including a primarily designed for air defence.
former treasurer, to jail. It also ordered  The frigates are also equipped to
the party to pay back 245,000 euros conduct anti surface and anti-
($290,000) received from the scheme to submarine warfare missions.
help finance election campaigns.  Type 054A has a length of 134m and
10. Uganda imposes social media gossip abeam of 16m. The standard
tax displacement is 3,600t, while the full
 Uganda’s parliament has passed a law displacement is around 4,000t. Each
to impose a controversial tax on people vessel is estimated to cost $250 million.
using social media platforms. 2. AJK Legislative Assembly, council
 It imposes a 200 shilling [$0.05, £0.04] sitting approves amendments to
daily levy on people using internet constitution
messaging platforms like Facebook,  The AJK Council on June 1, 2018
WhatsApp, Viber and Twitter. approved amendments to the AJK
 President Yoweri Museveni had pushed Constitution abolishing the council`s
for the changes, arguing that social administrative and financial powers and
media encouraged gossip. reducing it to an advisory body.
 The law should come into effect on 1  The process had started on May 28,
July but there remain doubts about how 2018, when the 13th constitutional
it will be implemented. amendment bill was tabled by the
government in the Legislative Assembly
June 2, 2018 amid objections by the opposition that
under section 33 of AJK`s interim
constitution, no amendment could be
1. PN signs accord with China for two
made in sections 31, 33 and 56 without
frigates
the prior approval of the government of
 The Pakistan Navy announced on June
Pakistan.
1, 2018 that it was purchasing two
 An undeterred AJK government pinned
multirole Type 054A frigates from China
its hope on the next federal cabinet
for bolstering its war-fighting capability.
meeting the last day of the PML-N
 The contract for the acquisition of two government, but the agenda for the
warships from China Shipbuilding
meeting had no mention of behalf of the families of the seven fallen
constitutional reforms in AJK. Pakistani peacekeepers. They are:
3. MoU signed to work on harassment Sepoy Hazrat Bilal, Naik Abdul Ghafoor,
against women Naik Muhammad Ali, Sepoy
 The Centre for Research and Security Muhammad Ishtiaq Abbasi, Sepoy Tariq
Studies and the Federal Ombudsperson Javed, Naik Attaur Rehman and Sepoy
Secretariat for Protection against Yassir Abbas.
Harassment have signed a 5. Suhail replaces Fawad as secy to PM
memorandum of understanding (MoU)  Reshuffle in bureaucracy started just
to work on harassment against women. after oath-taking ceremony of Justice
 Under the agreement, both the Nasir ul Malik as caretaker Prime
organisations will seek collaboration to Minister as Fawad Hassan Fawad,
promote a mechanism for the Secretary to PM, was removed from his
enforcement of the Protection against position and posted him as Director
Harassment of Women at Workplace General Civil Services Academy.
Act 2010 and carry out independent  Suhail Aamir, a BS-22 officer of
research, awareness campaigns and Secretariat Group, has been posted as
development in the country. Secretary to PM. The Establishment
4. United Nations medals for 7 fallen Division has issued notifications in this
Pakistani peacekeepers regard
 The UN has honoured at a solemn  On the other hand, Muhammad Abu
ceremony 128 military, police and Akif, a grade-22 officer has been posted
civilian personnel from 38 countries, as Secretary Cabinet Division.
including seven Pakistanis, who lost 6. National Transport Policy 2018
their lives while serving in peacekeeping approved
operations during 2017.  The National Transport Policy 2018
 June 2, 2018 ceremony marked the approved by the PML-N's last federal
annual International Day of cabinet meeting seeks overhauling rail,
Peacekeepers during which the Dag air, trucking, mass transit, pipeline
Hammarskjöld Medal was awarded network, urban transport, maritime
posthumously to the peacekeepers who business in an integrated mode to meet
have given their lives for the cause of challenges of the growing population
peace, during the preceding year. and developing national economy.
 This year also marks the 70th  The National Transport Policy has
anniversary of the establishment of UN recommended that Pakistan Civil
Peacekeeping, the world body’s flagship Aviation Authority will be restructured,
enterprise described by Secretary- separating its regulatory and service
General Antonio Guterres as “a proven provision responsibilities.
investment in global peace, security and  Work on the National Transport Policy
prosperity”. was initiated by the Ministry of
 Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to Planning, Development & Reform in
the United Nations, Ambassador collaboration with Department for
Maleeha Lodhi, accepted the awards on International Development (DFID) and
Asian Development Bank (ADB) in populist government in an EU founding
February, 2017. member that was forged by the Five
7. Spain`s Prime Minister Rajoy voted Star Movement and the farright League.
out, Socialist rival takes over  The handover of power follows an
 Spain`s parliament on June 1, 2018 inconclusive March election and
ousted Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in months of political turmoil which had
a no-confidence vote sparked by fury spooked global financial markets and
over his party`s corruption woes, with spread unease among Italy`s EU
his Socialist arch-rival Pedro Sanchez partners.
taking over.  Reaction to the new government was
 An absolute majority of 180 lawmakers wary, with concerns still running high
voted for the motion to loud applause about Italy`s massive debt mountain
and shouts of `Yes we can,` even if and the future of the EU and its single
Sanchez faces a tough road ahead as he currency.
will govern with an even smaller  The coalition which faces a
minority than Rajoy. parliamentary confidence motion early
 The veteran bespectacled 63-year-old next week that it is set to win plans to
leader got up and shook hands with boost public spending and wants to
Sanchez before leaving the lower house renegotiate EU treaties and review the
without a word. bloc`s economic governance.
 Rajoy had already admitted defeat 9. `Surprising` methane dunes found on
minutes before the vote, knowing that Pluto
an absolute majority of lawmakers as  Pluto is covered with surprising dunes
diverse as Catalan separatists and made of methane ice, which have
Basque nationalists had pledged their formed relatively recently despite the
support for the no-confidence motion. frigid dwarf planet`s very thin
 Sanchez, Spain`s 46-year-old opposition atmosphere, international researchers
leader, instigated the no-confidence said.
motion last week after a court  Pluto`s atmosphere has a surface
confirmed that a vast system of bribes pressure 100,000 times lower than
given to former PP officials in exchange Earth`s, which researchers suspected
for lucrative public contracts was might be too little to allow tiny grains of
implemented between 1999-2005. solid methane to mobilise and become
8. Anti-establishment coalition takes airborne.
office in Italy  Yet mild winds blowing across Pluto`s
 Italy`s new antiestablishment surface at speeds of some 19-25 miles
government took power on June 1, (30-40 kilometres) per hour have forged
2018, ending months of deadlock that these ripples at the border of an ice
saw the eurozone`s third largest plain and mountain range, said the
economy narrowly avoid snap elections report in the journal Science.
after a last-gasp coalition deal.  The dunes are scattered across a belt-
 New Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, like area some 45 miles (75 kilometres)
53, was sworn in at the head of the first across, and were spotted with Nasa`s
New Horizonsspacecr af t when it flew  After the swearing-in ceremony, Mr
by in 2015, said the report. Rehman told that he did not foresee
10. World`s largest freshwater pearl goes any delay in or postponement of
for 320,000 euros coming general elections scheduled for
 The world`s largest known freshwater July 25. Ì don`t have any fear or
pearl, which once belonged to knowledge (about any delay in the
Catherine the Great, was sold on May elections). It (the elections) will be held
31, 2018 in the Netherlands for 320,000 on time,` he said.
euros ($374,000), auction house  The caretaker chief minister said he was
Venduehuis said. thankful to the outgoing chief minister
 Known as the Sleeping Lion pearl due to and the opposition leader in the Sindh
its distinctive shape, the pearl was likely Assembly who showed trust and
formed in the first half of the 18th confidence in him by nominating him as
century in Chinese waters, possibly caretaker chief executive of the
even the Pearl River. province.
 The auctioneers said the jewel weighs 2. CAA suspends Shaheen Air flight
some 120 grams (around 4.2 ounces) operation
and is almost seven centimetres (about  Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) could not
2.7 inches) long making it one of the provide relief to hundreds of stranded
three largest known pearls in the world. Ummrah pilgrims after suspending
 The pearl, bought by a Japanese trader flight operation of Shaheen Air on June
for 320,000 euros, had been valued 2, 2018 at different airports.
340,000 and 540,000 euros.  The CAA had been issuing warnings to
 Around 1765, the pearl was shipped to Shaheen Air management for last few
Batavia, now known as Jakarta, by a years to clear its dues amounting to
Dutch merchant of the United East Rs540 millions but to no avail.
Indies Company.  Operation services of the airline had
already been suspended partially. The
June 3, 2018 bridge service was not being provided
to the airline planes and passengers
were being boarded by transporting
1. Ex-bureaucrat sworn in as Sindh them by buses to the planes. A verbal
caretaker CM warning was issued to the airline
 Former chief secretary of Sindh Fazlur management to pay the dues to avoid
Rehman was sworn in as caretaker chief any inconvenience.
minister of the province on June 2,
 On June 2, 2018 due to suspension of
2018.
operations, Shaheen Air flights from
 Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair Islamabad to Dubai and Dubai to
administered the oath to Mr Rehman at Islamabad were not allowed to take off.
the Governor House in front of a select CAA Director Air Transport, Syed
audience in which outgoing chief Muzafar Alam had issued warning letter
minister Murad Ali Shah was also to the CAA in which Shaheen Air
present. management was given a deadline of
June 01 to clear its dues otherwise on convention with the Organisation for
June 02 flight operation could be Economic Cooperation and
suspended. Development (OECD) nations.
3. Long-awaited 13th Amend to Act 1974  The sharing of information will start
approved from September 2018 after installation
 The Azad Jammu Kashmir Legislative of required hardware and software at
Assembly and the AJK Council approved the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and
the much-awaited 13th Amendment in other dedicated units.
Act 1974, the Constitution of AJK,  The decision for automatic exchange of
further empowering the State information was taken after satisfactory
government. clearance from the officials of OECD
 Azad Jammu & Kashmir thus achieved a who recently visited the FBR for a
major breakthrough in its over 70-year detailed review.
administrative history after the joint  In compliance with the OECD
sitting of the houses. It is the historic convention, various laws and persistent
move unprecedented in the 48 years efforts for the last two years, Pakistan
history since the constitutional has now become a member of the Peer
democracy was introduced in 1970 as Review Group (PRG) of the Global
Joint Session of AJK Legislative Forum for the period of 2018-20.
Assembly and AJK Council amended the  The PRG is a group of 30 countries
constitution to transfer executive and which enjoy the power to negotiate,
legislative powers from Azad Jammu review and monitor policy regarding
Kashmir Council to Azad government of automatic exchange of information of
the State of Jammu & Kashmir. all the member countries.
 The joint sitting, held June 1, 2018 in 5. Saudi Arabia reshuffles cabinet with
AJK's capital city with Speaker Shah eye on culture
Ghulam Qadir in the chair accorded  Saudi Arabia announced another
approval to the Thirteenth Amendment cabinet reshuffle on June 3, 2018 with a
in the Constitution of Azad Jammu and heavy focus on culture and religion, as
Kashmir with majority vote. the kingdom undergoes a major image
 The bill titled Azad Jammu and Kashmir overhaul.
Interim Constitution (Thirteenth  This is the second significant
Amendment) Act 2018 was presented in government change since the
the house by Minister for Law and appointment of Prince Mohammed bin
Parliamentary Affairs, Javed Iqbal Salman, son of the king, as heir to the
Chaudhry. Earlier, the committee of the region`s most powerful throne. The
house on bills presented its report. crown prince serves as deputy prime
4. FBR to start automatic sharing of data minister under his father, King Salman.
from September  State news agency SPA announced King
 Pakistan has officially decided to share Salman had replaced the country`s
financial information about bank labour and Islamic affairs ministers and
accounts of non-residents on reciprocal named a prince linked to the purchase
basis under a multilateral tax
of a Leonardo da Vinci painting of Jesus 3, 2018 after ousting veteran
as culture minister. conservative leader Mariano Rajoy,
 Saudi Arabia for decades has combined with Catalonia's separatist president
its culture and information ministries. promptly calling for talks over the
6. Egypt’s Sisi sworn in for second term in region's independence drive.
office  Sanchez, a 46-year-old economist with
 Italy’s new prime minister Giuseppe no government experience, has made a
Conte attended a military parade on his spectacular comeback to the front line
first full day in office June 1, 2018, while of politics. But he faces a tough road
his outspoken deputy Matteo Salvini ahead, leading a minority government
was to head to Sicily as part of his with support of diverse parties ranging
campaign against illegal immigration. from far-left Podemos to Catalan
 The military parade, which Conte separatists.
attended alongside President Sergio  He took the oath of office before King
Mattarella, marked Republic Day for the Felipe VI in the Zarzuela Palace near
foundation of the Italian Republic in Madrid in the presence of Rajoy just a
1946. day after toppling him in a historic no-
 The 53-year-old academic heads a Govt confidence vote.
of Ministers from the anti-  That move was sparked by fury over a
establishment Five Star Movement corruption scandal that struck Rajoy's
(M5S) and the far-right League Party, conservative Popular Party (PP).
the first populist coalition in a founding  Sanchez has yet to name his cabinet
EU member. A political novice, he and it is only when their names are
inherits a daunting list of issues from his published in an official government
predecessor Paolo Gentiloni, including journal in the coming days that he will
the financial travails of companies such fully assume his functions
as Ilva and Alitalia, a Group of Seven 8. Ex-Congo minister sentenced to 10
summit in Canada and a key EU summit years in absentia
at the end of the month, as well as the  A court in Congo-Brazzaville has
thorny question of immigration. sentenced a former government
 Immigration is the bugbear of Conte’s minister to ten years in prison on
interior minister, Salvini, the 45-year- charges of violating state security and
old leader of the anti-immigrant, anti- being complicit in the illegal possession
Islam League, who announced he would of weapons.
visit Sicily to see the situation for  According to the indictment, Jean-
himself at one of the main landing Martin Mbemba currently lives in
points for refugees fleeing war, France and wanted to "organise a
persecution and famine across North popular insurrection in 2013". He was
Africa and the Middle East. sentenced on June 1, 2018 in absentia.
7. Sanchez sworn in as Spain PM, Catalan  The former ally of long-serving
challenge awaits President Denis Sassou Nguesso had
 Spain's Socialist chief Pedro Sanchez held numerous positions in the Republic
was sworn in as prime minister on June of the Congo government between
1997 and 2012, including justice  China’s military build-up in the South
minister. China Sea and its deployment of high-
9. US vetoes UN resolution on protecting end weapons systems in the disputed
Palestinians waters is designed to intimidate and
 The United States has vetoed an Arab- coerce neighbours, US Defence
backed UN draft resolution calling for Secretary Jim Mattis said Saturday.
measures to protect the Palestinians  His broadside at a security summit in
but failed to win backing for its own Singapore drew a sharp rebuke from a
text condemning Hamas for the Chinese general, who lashed out at
violence in Gaza. “irresponsible comments” on the
 The two failed votes at the Security contested sea and insisted Bejing was
Council came on the same day that a simply defending its territory.
young Palestinian woman was shot  Speaking just 10 days before President
dead by Israeli soldiers near the Gaza Donald Trump is due to meet North
border fence, bringing the death toll of Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Mattis also
Gazans killed by Israeli fire since the said the US military continues to
end of March to 123. support diplomats pushing for the
 US Ambassador Nikki Haley declared “complete, verifiable and irreversible”
that “it is now completely clear that the denuclearisation of the Korean
UN is hopelessly biased against Israel,” peninsula.
saying council members were “willing  Beijing has deployed a range of military
to blame Israel, but unwilling to blame hardware including anti-ship missiles,
Hamas.” surface-to-air missiles and electronic
 The outcome deepened the deadlock at jammers across the South China Sea,
the top UN body over how to respond where it has built islets and other
to the flareup of violence in Gaza just maritime features into hardened
days after UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov military facilities, Mattis said.
warned that the Palestinian enclave  China has also landed heavy bombers
was “close to the brink of war.” on Woody Island in the Paracel Islands.
 Ten countries including China, France
and Russia voted in favor of the draft June 4, 2018
put forward by Kuwait on behalf of
Arab countries. Four countries - Britain,
Ethiopia, the Netherlands and Poland - 1. Attacks from Afghan side repulsed, six
terrorists killed
abstained. The Kuwait-drafted text had
called for “measures to guarantee the  Security forces on June 3, 2018
safety and protection” of Palestinian repulsed armed attacks from across the
civilians in Gaza and the occupied West Afghan border and killed six terrorists
Bank, and requested a UN report to and injured several others in the Qamar
propose an “international protection Din Qarez area of Balochistan and the
mechanism.” Bajaur area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
10. US accuses China of intimidating  `Six terrorists were killed while four
neighbours Pakistani security personnel and a PAF
soldier injured in the gun battle,` the reallocation of National Assembly seats
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) among the federating units on the basis
said, adding that terrorists from of the results of the latest census,
Afghanistan had launched `fire raids electoral reforms and merger of the
and physical attack` on Pakistani posts Federally Administered Tribal Areas
and those working on fencing the (Fata) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
border in Qamar Din Qarez and Bajaur  The Elections Act, 2017, which
areas. reformed and consolidated the
 Seven infiltration attempts were made erstwhile eight separate election laws
in Bajaur over the past 24 hours which of the country, also saw light of the day
were foiled by Pakistani security forces. during the term of the 14th assembly.
 The ISPR said that taking advantage of  Other important government
ungoverned spaces and facilitation legislations included reforms in the
inside Afghanistan, terrorists were criminal justice system providing for
resorting to such attacks to prevent compensation of litigation costs,
fencing and construction of border institutionalisation of alternative
posts. dispute resolution mechanisms, witness
2. NA passed 205 bills during its five-year protection and expeditious disposal of
tenure law suits. The house also legislated for
 Despite political controversies during the right to information,
the past five years, the 14th National whistleblowers` protection, climate
Assembly of the country took up an change and institutional reforms.
unprecedented legislative agenda by  In addition to the legislation, the report
approving 205 bills as compared to 134 says, house adopted 209 resolutions,
and 51 bills passed by 13th and 12th making recommendations to the
assemblies during their five-year terms, government on the issues concerning
respectively. foreign affairs, economy, internal
 As many as 182 government and 23 security, education, health, etc.
private members` bills sailed through 3. Indian shelling ends brief ceasefire
the house, says a report issued by the  Ending a days-old agreement to honour
Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), a ceasefire, Indian forces on June 3,
a coalition of 30 domestic NGOs 2018 resorted to unprovoked mortar
working for election oversight and shelling on Sialkot border villages along
reforms and on other issues related to the Working Boundary and killed a
governance and democracy. woman besides injuring 25 other
 According to the report, during 56 people.
sessions comprising 495 sittings the  Four children and eight women were
house approved several important laws, among the injured. The sectors which
including five constitutional came under attack by Indian shelling
amendments that provided for setting were Phookaliyaan-Bajwat, Chaprar,
up of military courts for an initial period Charwah, Harpal, Bajra Garhi and
of two years and their subsequent Sucheetgarh.
extension for another two years,
 The locals were asleep in their homes on Pak-Iran border in Taftan area of
when the Indian BSF resorted to Chagai district formally resumed on
unprovoked mortar shelling on their June 3, 2018.
villages. The shelling created panic and  According to Radio Pakistan, the gate
harassment among the people. had been closed for over five months
4. Renowned Pashto poet, writer Prof due to unknown reasons by the Iranian
Dawar Khan Daud dies side.
 Noted Pashto writer and research  Local officials in Taftan confirmed the
scholar Prof Dawar Khan Daud breathed reopening of mutual trade gate and said
his last at Lady Reading Hospital, export of Pakistani commodities would
Peshawar on June 3, 2018. be commenced soon.
 He was born in February 1940 at Arbab 6. Syria's Assad to meet Kim in North
Landi area in the outskirts of the Korea
provincial metropolis and remained  Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he
involved with teaching, academic plans to visit North Korea's leader Kim
research and literary activities. Jong Un, Pyongyang's state, potentially
 He had penned down several books and becoming the first head of state to
research thesis on Pashto folklore, meet Kim inside the isolated country.
Rahman Baba, Khushal Khan, and  "I am going to visit the DPRK and
Hamza Baba in Pashto, Urdu and meet... Kim Jong Un," Assad said, the
English. He used to contribute articles North's state-run KCNA news agency
on various topics to Pashto and Urdu reported, using the abbreviated version
newspapers and literary magazines for of the country's official name.
over several decades. After retirement  The announcement came as
from the teaching service, he remained anticipation mounts for a historic
affiliated with Pakhto Adabi Board till nuclear summit between Kim and US
his death. President Donald Trump in Singapore
 He was recipient of many literary on June 12, following a whirlwind round
awards including the coveted of diplomacy.
President’s Pride of Performance for his 7. Nearly half of Afghan children out of
tremendous contributions in the field of school: UN
literature. Prof Dawar Khan Daud was  Nearly half of Afghanistan's children are
acclaimed as an authority on Pashto not attending school because of
folklore and had mastery over several worsening security, poverty and sex
genres of Pashto literature. discrimination, according to a new UN
 His important works include ‘Pashto report June 3, 2018.
Tapa’, Rahman Baba Juand, ‘Taleem  The number of children deprived of
Auo Shairy’, ‘Hamza Baba aik Mutala’, schooling is at its highest rate since
Pashto folklore ke Arr’ and a few others. 2002 - the year after the US-led ouster
5. Trade activities resume on Pak-Iran of the repressive Taliban regime, which
border had banned girls from the classroom.
 After reopening of the trade gate at  Girls remain more likely to miss out on
Zero Point of the border, trade activities a formal education, making up 60
percent of the 3.7 million children aged  A pencil-on-paper 35.2x50 cm (13.8 x
between seven and 17 not at school. 19.6 inch) design and a 30.7x47.7 cm
 The figure rose as high as 85 percent in India ink copy, drawn by the Belgian
some of the worst-affected provinces, cartoonist known as Herge in 1957,
reflecting pervasive gender-based however fell short of the estimated
discrimination in parts of the deeply price of between $720,000 to $960,000.
conservative Muslim country.  Heritage Auctions’ spokesman Eric
 Child marriages and a shortage of Bradley told AFP that the set had been
female teachers were additional factors bought by a Brussels-based collector
keeping girls away from the classroom. who “wished not to be identified at this
The report by United Nations Children's time”.
Fund (UNICEF) also estimated that up to  Herge, whose real name was Georges
300,000 children are at risk of dropping Remi was himself from Brussels, a city
out before the end of the year. which also plays home to Tintin and
8. England Level Test Series against often forms the initial backdrop to his
Pakistan adventures.
 England won their first Test match since 10. Researchers develop AI for screening
September as they thrashed Pakistan by diabetic retinopathy
an innings and 55 runs in the second  A research team with Hunan University
Test at Headingley on June 3, 2018. has successfully developed an artificial
 Victory, completed in less than three intelligence (AI) algorithm that can
days of play, saw England level the two- swiftly detect diabetic retinopathy.
match series at 1-1 after Pakistan won  The algorithm enables doctors to find
the first Test. signs of diabetic retinopathy from
 It was also England`s first victory in a pictures with the help of a
Test match since they beat the West supercomputer center.
Indies at Lord`s in September last year,  “After analyzing more than 80,000
with the side having endured a winless retinal images, we found that the AI
run of six defeats in eight Tests coming algorithm had a 91 percent accuracy
into this fixture. rate of detecting diabetic retinopathy,
 The victory halfway through the third which is on par with an
day was as comprehensive as Pakistan`s ophthalmologist,” said Xi Ziwei, a
triumph had been at Lord`s, with member of the research team.
England looking a completely different  “AI detection takes only one thirtieth of
team from the one who had subsided to the time used by an ophthalmologist,
a nine wicket defeat. enabling it to screen more cases and
9. Rare Tintin drawings sold for $425,000 reduce human error,” Xi said, adding
at auction that ophthalmologists are in short
 Two rarely-seen drawings of Tintin from supply in China, particularly at the
the comic book album “The Red Sea community level.
Sharks” sold for $422,000 (364,000  Early detection of diabetic retinopathy
euros) in Dallas, Texas. improves outcomes in a disease that is
a major cause of vision loss.
licences recognised in the kingdom with
June 5, 2018 Saudi licences.
 The move comes as Saudi Arabia, the
only country in the world where women
1. WB wants Pakistan to accept `neutral
are not allowed drive, prepares to lift its
expert` in dam dispute
decades-long ban on female drivers on
 The World Bank has asked Pakistan to June 24.
stand down from pursuing its stand of
 The move is part of Crown Prince
referring the Kishanganga dam dispute
Mohammed bin Salman`s far-reaching
to the International Court of Arbitration
liberalisation drive as he seeks to
(ICA) and instead accept India`s offer of
modernise the conservative petro-
appointing a `neutral expert`.
state.
 In a fresh communication last week,
 The self-styled reformer, who recently
World Bank president Jim Yong Kim
undertook a global tour aimed at
advised the government to withdraw
reshaping his kingdom`s austere image,
from its stand of taking the matter to
has sought to break with long-held
the ICA for which the bank had on Nov
restrictions on women and the mixing
10, 2016 even picked a US chief justice,
of the genders.
the rector of Imperial College, London,
3. ECP establishes online scrutiny cell
and the WB president for appointing
 The Election Commission of Pakistan
chairman of the court to resolve the
(ECP) on June 4, 2018 set up an online
dispute over the dam.
scrutiny cell to facilitate the returning
 Pakistan considers the construction of
officers in scrutiny of nomination
the Kishanganga dam in India-held
papers of contesting candidates.
Kashmir over the waters flowing into
 The cell comprising four teams will
the western rivers a violation of the
work 24 hours till June 14. It said a
Indus Waters Treaty 1960 since it will
software had also been developed
not only alter the course of the river but
connecting NADRA, FBR, NAB and State
also deplete the water level of the
Bank of Pakistan with the ECP
rivers that flow into Pakistan. Thus the
Secretariat through a safe system.
dispute should be referred to the
 Under the online scrutiny process,
international court of arbitration.
returning officer will send particulars of
 On the other hand, India describes the
the candidates to Election Commission
issue as differences between it and
through email or fax on daily basis.
Pakistan over the design of the dam
4. Uzbekistan simplifies visa procedure
and, therefore, it should be addressed
for Pak businessmen
by some neutral experts.
 The Uzbekistan Embassy has simplified
2. First Saudi women get driving licences
the visa procedure and will give visa to
 Saudi Arabia on June 4, 2018 began
the entrepreneurs within a day after
issuing its first driving licences to
submission of an online.
women in decades.
 Both Pakistan and Uzbekistan, located
 The general directorate of traffic
in close geographical proximity were
started replacing international driving
said to be well-positioned in
cooperating with each other in accepted the resignation,` a
pharmaceutical, agriculture and tourism government source told.
sectors.  The king asked Education Minister
 With particular reference to Uzbekistan, Omar al-Razzaz to form a new
it was said that reforms and reduced government.
energy price has particularly turned the  Jordan, a key US ally, has largely
country into a good investment avoided the unrest witnessed by other
destination. countries in the region since the Arab
5. Britain unveils new security strategy Spring revolts broke out in 2011,
 Britain will counter what it calls a `step although protests did flare late that
change` in the threat posed by militants year after the government cut fuel
with a revised counterterrorism subsidies.
strategy published on June 4, 2018 that 7. 7 dead in Kabul suicide blast near
looks to harness technology, share clerics’ gathering
information more widely, and  At least seven people were killed in a
strengthen ties with businesses. suicide bombing June 4, 2018 near a
 Recently-appointed interior minister gathering of top clerics in Afghanistan’s
Sajid Javid said the new strategy capital Kabul, roughly one hour after
incorporated lessons from attacks in the group proclaimed such attacks a
London and Manchester last year which sin,.
killed 36 people, and would help Britain  The blast in the western part of the city,
tackle an evolving threat. near universities and a police academy,
 The interior ministry warned that the was claimed by the Islamic State group
threat posed by Islamist militants to and is the latest demonstration of the
Britain is expected to remain high for militants’ chilling ability to carry out
the next two years and could even rise. attacks in the heart of Kabul, which is
6. Jordanian PM resigns after anti- now the deadliest place in the country
austerity protests for civilians. The bomber detonated at
 Jordanian Prime Minister Hani Mulki about 11:30 am (0700 GMT) at the
resigned on June 4, 2018 after a wave gates of Kabul’s Polytechnic University,
of anti-austerity protests by citizens police and officials said. The Loya Jirga
suffering from high unemployment and tent where thousands of clerics from
repeated prices hikes. across Afghanistan were meeting is on
 Mulki was summoned by King Abdullah the campus.
H after the capital Amman and several 8. Italy will no longer be Europe’s refugee
other cities were rocked by camp
demonstrations that drew thousands of  Italy will no longer be "Europe’s refugee
people. camp", newly installed interior minister
 `Prime Minister Hani Mulki submitted Matteo Salvini said on June 4, 2018.
his resignation to the king this  Salvini, head of the right-wing League
afternoon during a meeting at the and a deputy prime minister in the
Husseiniyeh Palace and the king eurosceptic coalition, has made curbing
immigration a clarion call of his party
whose popularity is rising fast in opinion 10. UAE announces franchise cricket
polls. league
 Two days after the government was  The Emirates Cricket Board has decided
sworn in on June 1, 2018, Salvini to launch their own new elite
headed for Sicily, the main port of call international Twenty20 cricket league.
for more than 600,000 migrants who  The tournament that will be held under
have arrived on Italy’s shores from the auspices of the International Cricket
north Africa since 2014."The party is Council (ICC), will be unveiled formally
over," for migrants in Italy, he said, later this month in the UA E.
before visiting a so-called "hotspot" or  The name of tournament will be
reception centre, in the port of announced later this month and will
Pozzallo, where boat-borne arrivals are make its debut in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and
registered, photo-identified and Sharjah with five new franchise teams
fingerprinted. vying for the inaugural title. In all, 22
 The League says the vast majority of matches will be played over 24 days in
migrants in Italy have no right to December-January.
refugee status, Italy cannot afford to  The five franchises will comprise a
help them and by accepting low pay squad of 16 featuring six current
they worsen the working conditions of international star players, two emerging
Italians. players from ICC full member countries,
9. IAEA head calls for ‘timely’ three players from ICC associate
cooperation from Iran member nations, two junior players and
 The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog three UAE cricketers. ECB is of the view
called on June 4, 2018 on Iran to ensure that no other T20 competition has been
"timely and proactive cooperation" with established with these developmental
inspections mandated under the 2015 goals at their core, and no other event
deal with world powers over its nuclear will showcase such a wide array of
programme. international talent.
 Speaking at the first meeting of the  The event has already received the
IAEA’s board of governors since US support of six cricket boards of ICC full
President Donald Trump threw the member nations England & Wales,
future of the deal in doubt in May with Ireland, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, New
his decision to withdraw, Director Zealand and the West Indies and
General Yukiya Amano said the agency organisers are looking forward to
had had access to all sites in Iran that it receiving the support of the ICC
needed to visit. associate member countries.
 However, as in the agency’s last report
on Iran in May, Amano said that "timely June 6, 2018
and proactive cooperation by Iran in
providing such access would facilitate
implementation... and enhance 1. Six-member caretaker cabinet takes
confidence". oath
 A six-member caretaker cabinet took the Ministry of Inter-Provincial
the oath on June 5, 2018 to run the day- Coordination.
to-day affairs of the interim  Barrister Zafar has been given the
government. subjects of law and justice,
 President Mamnoon Hussain parliamentary affairs, information,
administered the oath to the cabinet broadcasting, national history and
members. Caretaker Prime Minister literary heritage.
retired Justice Nasirul Mulk was present  Mr Shaikh has been given the subjects
at the oathtaking ceremony held at the of education and professional training.
presidency. He will also have the additional
 The six-member cabinet comprises portfolios of the Ministry of National
former governor of the State Bank of Health Services, Regulations and
Pakistan Dr Shamshad Akhtar, senior Coordination; and Ministry of Religious
lawyer Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, former Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony.
ambassador of Pakistan to the United  Ms Bharucha will be the incharge of the
Nations Abdullah Hussain Haroon, Ministry of Human Rights, Ministry of
educationist Muhammad Yusuf Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan and
Shaikh,educationist and human rights Ministry of States and Frontier Regions.
expert Roshan Khursheed Bharucha and 2. ECP names Justice Dost as KP caretaker
former federal secret ary Azam Khan. CM
 Two out of six members of the cabinet  The Election Commission of Pakistan
have also served during the tenure of (ECP) on June 4, 2018 named retired
former military ruler retired Gen Pervez Justice Dost Muhammad Khan as
Musharaf: Dr Akhtar as SBP governor caretaker chief minister of Khyber
and Ms Bharucha as senator. Pakhtunkhwa.
 According to a statement issued by the  The decision was taken with consensus
Prime Minister Office, Dr Akhtar has at a meeting presided over by Chief
been given finance, revenue and Election Commissioner retired Justice
economic affairs. Ministries of statistics Sardar Muhammad Raza and attended
and planning, development and reforms by all four members of the commission.
will work under her supervision. She  According to the procedure set under
has also been given portfolios of the the 18th Constitution Amendment, the
ministries of commerce and textile and names are forwarded to the ECP after
industries and production. members of the parliamentary
 Mr Haroon will serve as Minister for committee fail to reach a consensus on
Foreign Affairs and National Security a name.
Division. He will also head ministries of 3. Pakistan`s ambassador to WTO
defence and defence production. declines govt`s extension offer
 Mr Azam Khan has been made Minister  Dr Syed Taugir Shah on June 5, 2018
for Interior, Capital Administration & voluntarily withdrew from the
Development Division and Narcotics extension he was granted by the
Control. He will also be the in-charge of government as ambassador to the
World Trade Organisation (WTO).
 In a hand-written statement he Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi at
furnished before a three-judge Naval Headquarters.
Supreme Court bench headed by Chief 5. World Environment Day celebrated on
Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Dr Shah June 5, 2018
contended that he would not opt for  World Environment Day was celebrated
the extension but he should be allowed with an interactive session and
to disengage himself from the most informative presentations under the
prestigious office in accordance with United Nations Development
the standard operating procedure of Programme (UNDP) and World Wildlife
the Foreign Office that will only Fund (WWF).
enhance Pakistan`s dignity at the world  World Environment Day allows us to
comity. reaffirm our commitment to
 Dr Shah, also served as the former performance with purpose
principal secretary to Punjab Chief 6. Scholar Prof Umar Memon is no more
Minister Shahbaz Sharif.  Distinguished translator, short story
 He was summoned by the Supreme writer, critic, researcher and University
Court on a suo motu notice on the of Wisconsin`s Professor Emeritus of
extension he was granted by the Asian Languages and Cultures
government. Department Mohammad Umar Memon
 Earlier the court had restrained Dr Shah passed away on June 3 in Madison,
from travelling abroad. Wisconsin, the US. He was 79.
 Dr Shah explained before the court that  Prof Memon had translated a vast body
he was required to attend WTO talks on of works from Urdu into English and
Thursday in which Sunil Mittal, the vice versa, as well as from Arabic into
president of the International Chamber English. The translations included short
of Commerce, would be representing stories, novels and articles on Islamic
the Indian side whereas he would Sufism and Muslim philosophy. He was
represent Pakistan. a scholar of Arabic and Islamic Studies
4. Australian military chief meets COAS, first and foremost, but had developed a
naval chief penchant earlier in his career for
 Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, Chief of various creative expressions, including
Defence Forces (CDF) Australia called Urdu, English and Persian literatures.
on General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Most important influence on him was
Army Staff (COAS) and Admiral Zafar that of his eminent father Prof Abdul
Mahmood Abbasi, the Chief of the Aziz Memon, one of the most renowned
Naval Staff separately on June 5, 2018. scholars of Arabic of his times in the
 Earlier on arrival at GHQ, Australian Indo-Pak subcontinent with a huge
CDF, laid a floral wreath at Yadgar-e- following in the Arabic world.
Shuhada. A smartly turned out  He was born in Aligarh in 1939, where
contingent of Pakistan Army presented his father was a faculty member at the
the Guard of Honour to Australian CDF. Arabic department of Aligarh Muslim
The Australian air chief also called on University.
7. Iran plans to boost uranium minister since last year and also served
enrichment capacity launched as defense minister and UN ambassador
 Iran said on June 5, 2018 it had in Geneva.
launched a plan to boost uranium  During a vote at the 193-nation
enrichment capacity with new assembly, the foreign minister won 128
centrifuges, raising the pressure on votes compared to 62 for Flores Flake.
European diplomats scrambling to  Espinosa Garces will be the first woman
rescue a crumbling nuclear deal after to head the assembly since Sheikha
Washington pulled out. Haya Rashed of Bahrain in 2006 and
 Ìf conditions allow, maybe tomorrow only the fourth in the UN’s 73-year
night at Natanz (plant), we can history. Addressing the assembly, she
announce the opening of the centre for dedicated her election victory “to all
production of new centrifuges,` said the women in the world who
Vice-President Ali Akbar Salehl, head of participate in politics today”.
the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation, 9. Designer Kate Spade found dead
according to conservative news agency  Designer Kate Spade, one of the biggest
Fars. names in American fashion, was found
 The International Atomic Energy Agency dead on June 5, 2018 in New York after
confirmed it had received a letter from committing suicide, police said. She was
Iran, which Mr Salehi said was 55.
submitted on Monday and outlined  Especially known for her sleek
Tehran`s plans. handbags -- hanged herself in her Park
 Under the 2015 nuclear agreement that Avenue apartment. A police
Iran signed with world powers, it has spokeswoman confirmed Spade
the right to build and test certain committed suicide but told AFP the
centrifuges, though detailed restrictions exact circumstances of her death were
exist for thefirst 10 years on the types not yet clear.
and quantities of the machines.  Spade, who first worked as a journalist,
8. Ecuador minister becomes 4th woman including a stint at Mademoiselle
to head UNGA magazine, launched her eponymous
 The United Nations on June 5, 2018 fashion label in 1993 with her husband
elected Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Andy. Her cheerful use of bright colours
Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces to be and prints proved a hit with career
president of the General Assembly, only women.
the fourth woman in the UN’s history to 10. Afghanistan won their first T20I Series
hold the post .  Spin sensation Rashid Khan claimed
 Espinosa Garces beat out Honduras’ UN four wickets to set up Afghanistan's
Ambassador Mary Elizabeth Flores Flake series-clinching win over Bangladesh in
in the race held against a backdrop of the second Twenty20 international on
divisions in Latin America and globally June 8, 2018 in the north Indian city of
on foreign policy. Ecuador had the Dehradun.
controversial backing of Venezuela for
Espinosa Garces, who has been foreign
successfully complete the puzzle in a
June 7, 2018 minute and 13 seconds.
 Liba is daughter of a well-known
educationist Wahaj Hussain, she made
1. Justice Dost Muhammad sworn in as
the record by a huge margin. The
KP caretaker CM
previous record was made in 2 minutes
 Former Chief Justice of Peshawar High 30 seconds. She achieved the feat on
Court Justice (Retd) Dost Mohammad April 13, 2018, in Karachi, making
Khan was sworn in as caretaker chief
Pakistan proud while setting an
minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on example for other young kids to follow
June 6, 2018.
3. Foreign investment tumbles: UN
 Khan served as Peshawar High Court
 Worldwide foreign direct investment
chief justice from 17 November 2011 to
dropped by nearly a quarter last year, a
31 January 2014. He was later elevated United Nations agency reported June 6,
as a Supreme Court justice in 2014. He 2018, with African countries particularly
retired on March 19, 2018, after heavily affected.
completing his tenure.
 The United States as well as Brexit
 The ECP had named Khan as caretaker
bound Britain also saw sharp declines in
KP chief minister on Tuesday. The
FDI inflows in 2017 after an
decision was made in a consultative
exceptionally strong 2016, UNCTAD said
meeting of a five-member commission.
in a report, warning that the outlook
 The matter was earlier forwarded to was bleak.
the electoral body after the
 `The decline is in stark contrast to other
parliamentary committee constituted to macroeconomic variables, which saw
nominate the caretaker chief minister substantial improvement in 2017,
was unable to finalise a candidate for UNCTAD said as it reported a 23 per
the post.
cent fall in FDI to $1.43 trillion from
 Khan will serve as the interim chief 2016`s $1.87tr.
minister till the new government takes
 `Downward pressure on FDI and the
charge following the general elections
slowdown in global value chains are a
scheduled to be held on July 25.
major concern for policymakers
2. Liba, becomes Pakistan’s youngest worldwide, and especially in developing
Guinness World Record holder countries,` UNCTAD Secretary General
 A six-year-old has become the youngest Mukhisa Kituyi said in a statement.
Pakistani girl to achieve the Guinness
 The main factor for the overall drop was
World Record.
a decline in mergers and acquisitions
 Liba Wahaj from Karachi now holds the activity which in turn was affected by
world record for solving a Tower of falling returns for international
Hanoi (math puzzle), level six. investors.
 The mathematical puzzle includes three 4. Rameeza Majid Nizami elected to WEF
rods and disks of varying sizes. The board
young record holder managed to
 The 70th World News Media they have identity documents, which
Conference, kicked off June 6, 2018 in most Rohingya have been denied.
Estoril town of Portugal. 6. Global index shows world less peaceful
 The organising body, WAN-IFRA (World than a decade ago
Association of Newspapers and News  The world is less peaceful than a decade
Publishers), brought together a ago, mostly due to conflict in the
constellation of publications from Middle East and Africa that is costing
around the world to share expertise the global economy trillions of dollars,
and new ideas. an international index showed on June
 WAN-IFRA’s body on editorial matters 6, 2018.
and press freedom, the World Editors  `There`s been a gradual decline in
Forum (WEF), voted in Rameeza Majid peacefulness over the last decade, said
Nizami, from Nawa-i-waqt and The Steve Killelea, head of the Institute for
Nation, to serve as a member of the Economics and Peace (IEP), which is
WEF board. headquartered in Australia.
 Pakistan was previously represented  `The reason for this slow, gradual
with great success by editor of the daily decline in peacefulness really comes
Dawn, Zaffar Abbas, for several back to the conflicts in the Middle East
consecutive terms. and North Africa, and the spillover
5. Myanmar, UN sign pact on initial steps effects into other areas.
for Rohingya return  Europe has faced a migrant crisis since
 Myanmar and UN agencies signed an 2015, following wars in Libya and Syria.
agreement on June 6, 2018 that could More than one million people from
eventually lead to the return of some of Africa and the Middle East, as well as
the 700,000 Rohingya Muslims who fled many from Afghanistan, have tried to
brutal persecution by the country`s reach the continent via Turkey or by
security forces and are now crowded sea.
into make-shift camps in Bangladesh.  By analysing data from think tanks,
 The memorandum of understanding research insututes, government and
promises to establish a `framework of universities, the IEP estimated that in
cooperation` that aims to create 2017 violence cost the economy $14.8
conditions for `voluntary, safe, dignified trillion nearly $2,000 a person.
and sustainable` repatriation of 7. First S. America woman elected head
Rohingya refugees but does not address of UN Assembly
Myanmar`s denial of citizenship for the  The UN General Assembly
minority. overwhelmingly elected Ecuador`s
 Predominantly Buddhist Myanmar and Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda
Bangladesh agreed in November to Espinosa Garces as its next president,
begin repatriating Rohingya. But making her only the fourth woman to
refugees feared their lives would be at lead the 193-member world body in its
risk in Myanmar without international 73-year history.
monitoring while Myanmar insisted  She defeated another woman,
Honduras UN Ambassador Mary
Elizabeth Flores Flake, by 128-62 with after he skipped hosting such a meal
two abstentions in the secret-ballot last year.
vote.  The dinner comes as the Supreme Court
 Garces is a known poet in Latin considers legal challenges to Trump’s
America. In her acceptance speech, she travel ban, which critics say unfairly
also noted that she was the first woman targets some Muslim-majority
ever from Latin America and the countries. A ruling is expected as early
Caribbean to preside over the as this month.
Assembly.  Iftar dinners have been held regularly at
 The world body controls the UN budget, the White House since the Clinton
adopts treaties, addresses global issues administration as a form of outreach to
and passes numerous resolutions. the Muslim world.
8. Facebook plans first original news  Last year, Trump broke tradition.
shows Instead of hosting a dinner, the White
 Facebook on June 6, 2018 announced House issued a statement on Ramazan
its first original news shows for the that focused heavily on the threat of
social network, joining other online terrorism, noting that recent attacks
platforms producing video to compete “steel our resolve to defeat the
with television. terrorists and their perverted ideology”.
 The news shows will be produced for  The White House struck a considerably
Facebook by a variety of partners warmer tone last month, when it
including CNN, Fox News, ABC News released a statement from the
and Univision. president declaring “Ramadan
 The programmes are producing the Mubarak” . The statement praised the
social network`s on demand video Constitution for ensuring Muslims can
service called Facebook Watch, which is observe the holiday “unimpeded by
part of an effort to compete with government” and did not mention
platforms such as Google owned terrorism.
YouTube, and potentially develop a 10. Curfew extended in border region after
wider following. clashes
 The first programmes include ABC`s On  Authorities in Pakistan’s restive tribal
Location featuring contribution from region expanded a 24-hour curfew
the network`s journalists from around along the Afghan border to avert
the globe; CNN`s Anderson Cooper Full further clashes between tribesmen and
Circle featuring the popular CNN host; militants after at least three people
and Fox News Update hosted by chief were killed and dozens injured in recent
news anchor Shepard Smith. days, on June 6, 2018.
9. Trump hosts first iftar  The US and others have long accused
 President Donald Trump on June 6, Pakistan of using proxies in Afghanistan,
2018 hosted his first White House iftar including the Taliban and other militant
dinner, an overture that has surprised groups. Islamabad denies the claims.
many people in the Muslim community
 A statement released by State
June 8, 2018 Department spokeswoman Heather
Nauertsaid the top US diplomat
telephoned the army chief and
1. ECP named Professor Dr Hasan Askari
discussed with him the `need for
and Alauddin Marri as caretaker chief
political reconciliation in Afghanistan
ministers of Punjab and Balochistan
and the importance of targeting all
 The Election Commission of Pakistan militant and terrorist groups in South
(ECP) on June 7, 2018 named Professor
Asia without distinction.
Dr Hasan Askari and Alauddin Marri as
 All three subjects relations with
caretaker chief ministers of Punjab and
Pakistan, Afghan reconciliation and
Balochistan, respectively.
fighting terrorists are Washington`s
 Earlier, former chief ministers and
main concern in the South Asian region.
opposition leaders of Punjab and
 Like previous US governments, the
Balochistan had failed to reach
Trump administration also believes that
consensus on selection of caretaker
the Pakistan Army has a key role in
chief ministers of their provinces.
restoring peace to Afghanistan and
 The parliamentary committees in both
that`s why Mr Pompeo called
the provinces could also not make
GenBajwa, instead of the country`s
headway and the matter was referred
political leadership.
to the commission under the law.
 There must be àn urgent reason` for
 The name of Dr Hassan Askari was making this unusual call, as Americans
proposed by the opposition after their
prefer to use the Pentagon channel to
withdrawal of the name of Nasir communicate with a general. They
Mahmood Khosa. point out that even strained relations
 The previous Balochistan government with Pakistan did not prevent the
had proposed the names of Alauddin Pentagon from maintaining its contacts
Marri and Sardar Shaukat Popalzai as with Rawalpindi, as top US generals
interim chief minister of the province. often speak with their counterparts in
2. US reaches out to Bajwa, offers the Pakistani military establishment
ceasefire to Afghan Taliban 3. Kamila Shamsie wins UK`s prestigious
 US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Women`s Prize
launched a new peace initiative for  British-Pakistani author Kamila Shamsie
Afghanistan on June 7, 2018, reaching has been awarded UK`s prestigious
out to the man Washington believes Women`s Prize for Fiction 2018 for her
can help them achieve this objective, seventh novel Home Fire, reported The
Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. Guardian.
 Mike Pompeo announced that  Home Fire follows the story of Aneeka,
American and Nato troops in a young Londoner who falls in love with
Afghanistan will also observe a the son of a powerful British Muslim
temporary ceasefire that Afghan politician, which she hopes to use in
President Ashraf Ghani has offered to order to save her missing brother who
the Taliban. is drawn towards religious extremism.
 Home Fire is about identity, conflicting  "A large, unwieldy and inefficient
loyalties, love and politics, she added, Security Council, characterised by an
recommending the `remarkable book`. enlarged, privileged clique, is an end-
4. MoU signed with Russia to carry out State that Pakistan neither desires, nor
feasibility of undersea pipeline project will ever support, " Ambassador
 Pakistan and Russia have finalised a Maleeha Lodhi, Permanent
memorandum of understanding (MoU) representative of Pakistan to the UN,
for conducting a `feasibility study` of told the long-running
the planned undersea gas pipeline. Intergovernmental Negotiations aimed
 Foreign Office (FO) spokesman Dr at reforming the 15-member body to
Muhammad Faisal said: `The ministries make it more representative, efficient
of energy of Pakistan and the Russian and effective.
Federation have finalised a MoU for  Full-scale negotiations to restructure
conducting feasibility study for the Security Council began in the
implementation of undersea gas General Assembly in February 2009.
pipeline project. Despite a general agreement on
 The undersea gas pipeline project enlarging the Council, as part of the UN
would eventually involve four countries reform process, member States remain
Pakistan, Iran, Russia and India. The sharply divided over the details.
project has been under discussion since  Known as the "Group of Four,” India,
last year. Brazil, Germany and Japan ” have
 The purpose of the MoU is to assist in shown no flexibility in their campaign to
providing support for the realisation of expand the Security Council by 10 seats,
the project. Based on the results of the with 6 additional permanent and four
feasibility study, the two sides will take non-permanent members.
a decision for its future.  On the other hand, the Italy/Pakistan-
 Russia, had been keen on promoting led Uniting for Consensus (UfC) group
energy cooperation with Pakistan as the say that additional permanent
two countries strengthened their ties. members will not make the Security
The two countries have concluded Council more effective and also
various proposals in the energy sector, undermine the fundamental principle of
including construction of North-South democracy that is based on periodic
Gas Pipeline, import of LNG from elections.
Russia, installation of air mix plant and  The Security Council is currently
establishing a 600MW combined cycle composed of five permanent members -
power plant. Britain, China, France, Russia and the
5. Pakistan opposes expansion of UNSC United States - and 10 non-permanent
 Pakistan has warned the international members that are elected in groups of
community that any "ill-conceived five to two-year terms.
reform of the Security Council would be 6. Trump hosts Japan PM, says àll ready`
the greatest disservice to the rules- for Kim summit
based international order whose pivot  Five days before meeting North Korean
is the UN." leader Kim Jong-un, US President
Donald Trump said on June 6, 2018 the  They followed the example set by
unprecedented summit was àll ready Sanchez, who became the first Spanish
to go` as he welcomed Japanese Prime prime minister to forego religious
Minister Shinzo Abe to the White symbols during his own swearing-in on
House. Saturday.
 Since the first inkling that a Trump-Kim 8. Saudi Arabia, UAE announce raft of
summit could be on the cards, Japan joint economic deals
has repeatedly insisted that  Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Washington be mindful not to let its Emirates have unveiled a raft of
guard down with the nuclear-armed economic deals, including in the
regime in Pyongyang. And by coming to defence industry, as the Gulf
Washington to see Trump for the powerhouses look to boost ties.
second time in less than two months,  The two oil-rich Gulf nations signed 20
Abe wants to be sure to get his point memoranda of understanding for over
across to the US president, amid the 60 joint projects to be implemented
intense diplomatic flurry over the over the next five years in sectors
future of the Korean peninsula. including oil and gas, banking, nuclear
7. New Spanish PM forms women- energy and defence.
dominated cabinet  The projects were approved at a
 King Felipe VI on June 6, 2018 swore in meeting of the Saudi-Emirati
Spain`s new pro-EU government, with Coordination Council in Jeddah, chaired
women holding the majority of by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin
ministerial posts. Salman and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince
 Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahayan.
named 11 women to top posts  Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and non-
including defence and economy in a GCC member Egypt all broke diplomatic
cabinet with six male ministers. ties with Qatar on June 5 last year,
 That makes it the European imposing a sea, air and land blockade,
government with the highest ratio of while accusing the tiny gas-rich state of
female cabinet ministers, ahead of links to Islamist extremists and
Sweden`s, which has 12 women and 11 supporting Shiite Iran.
men. 9. Rasool Bux Palijo passes away
 But Sanchez`s administration risks not  Veteran law expert, intellectual and
lasting until the end of the current chief of Awami Tehreek Rasool Bux
mandate in 2020, however, given the Palijo passed away in Karachi on June 7,
fragmented state of Spain`s political 2018.
parties.  He was 88 and left behind four sons and
 His Socialist Party holds just 84 seats in seven daughters.
the 350-seat congress, the smallest  He was born on February 21, 1930 in
parliamentary presence of any Spanish Jung Shahi of district Thatta. He
government since the return to remained in jail for 11 years because of
democracy in the 1970s. his political struggle. He also headed a
number of political parties, campaigns,  It was the first NSC meeting that was
committees and forums. chaired by caretaker Prime Minister
10. First movie-themed hotel opens in Nasirul Mulk.
Dubai  Pakistan would be placed on the FATF
 Majid Al Futtaim and Marriott `grey list` because of certain
International announced the opening of shortcomings identified by the
Aloft City Centre Deira, the Aloft watchdog. However, before Pakistan is
brand’s third property in Dubai. put on the list an action plan has to be
 Owned and developed by retail giant negotiated outlining the steps the
Majid Al Futtaim, Aloft City Centre Deira country would be required to take. The
is the first hotel in the region to offer action plan has been in the works for
movie-themed suites, alongside a VOX weeks now, but it is yet to be adopted.
Cinemas outdoor screen.  The NSC approved the presentation of
 Directly connected to City Centre Deira, the proposed plan to the FATF at its
Aloft features 304 loft-inspired rooms upcoming meeting.
and suites – including four cinema-  The NSC statement effectively
themed suites where movie lovers will constitutes the high-level political
be instantly transported to the magical commitment that FATF requires from
world of films. Suite themes include the country to implement the legal,
Bollywood, Hollywood, Agent House regulatory and operational reforms
and a specially created Dubai superhero needed.
suite. 2. Askari, Marri sworn in as Punjab,
Balochistan caretaker CMs
June 9, 2018  Prof Hasan Askari Rizvi took oath of the
office of caretaker chief minister of the
Punjab at the Governor’s House on June
1. Top security body okays plan to be
8, 2018. In Quetta Alauddin Marri took
submitted to FATF
oath as interim chief minister of
 The National Security Committee (NSC)
Balochistan.
on June 8, 2018 reaffirmed its
 In Lahore, the ceremony was held at
commitment to cooperate with an
the Governor’s House where Punjab
international watchdog tasked with
Governor Malik Rafique Rajwana took
countering illicit financing, the Financial
oath from Hasan Askari.
Action Task Force (FATF), for addressing
 Hasan Askari Rizvi was presented a
shortcomings in the country`s anti-
guard of honour on his arrival at the
money laundering and counter-terror
Chief Minister’s Office after taking oath
financing regimes.
of the office. A smartly-turned
 The committee reaffirmed the
contingent of police presented him the
commitment of the country to work
guard of honour.
with FATF and other international
 In Quetta, Balochistan Governor
organisations in achieving common
Muhammad Khan Achakzai
goals and shared objectives.
administered oath to the caretaker
chief minister at a ceremony also
attended by former Balochistan chief for scrutiny was too short for the
minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, meaningful scrutiny that the ECP had
Inspector General of Police Moazzam been striving for.
Jah Ansari, bureaucrats and senior  Under the original schedule, the
lawyers. nomination papers were to be filed by
 Alauddin Marri was chosen by the the candidates from June 2 to 6. The
Election Commission of Pakistan after dates were revised to June 4-6 under a
the Opposition and the government notification issued on June 3. Following
failed to reach consensus on any name the Lahore High Court verdict setting
for the interim chief minister. aside nomination forms for electoral
3. 7-member Sindh cabinet sworn in candidates, the ECP had asked
 A seven-member caretaker cabinet was returning officers not to receive
administered oath by Sindh Governor nomination papers from the
Muhammad Zubair in a ceremony held candidates.
at the Governor House. 5. President Mamnoon in China to attend
 The ceremony was attended by 18th SCO summit
Caretaker Chief Minister Fazul-ur-  President Mamnoon Hussain arrived in
Rehman, Sindh IG AD Khowaja, P&D the coastal city of Shandong province
Chairman Muhammad Waseem, other on June 8, 2018 to attend the 18th
senior sitting and retired bureaucrats, meeting of the Council of Heads of
and members of civil society. Chief States of Shanghai Cooperation
Secretary Rizwan Memon conducted Organisation (SCO).
oath-taking ceremony at the Governor  Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and
House. Ambassador to China Masood Khalid
 The caretaker ministers who took oath were also present to receive the
include Khair Muhammad Junejo, president.
Mushtaq Ahmed Shah, Jameel Yusuf, Dr  President Hussain is attending the SCO
Junaid Shah, Col (r) Dost Muhammad summit at the invitation of Chinese
Chandio, Dr Sadia Virk Rizvi and Simon President Xi Jinping who will chair the
John Daniel. meeting. Besides addressing the high
4. ECP issues revised schedule for profile gathering, Mr Hussain will also
elections 2018 hold bilateral meetings with his
 The Election Commission of Pakistan counterparts from China, Iran,
(ECP) on June 8, 2018 issued a revised Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to discuss ties
schedule for the upcoming general and ways of further enhancing the
elections, setting June 19 as the last cooperation.
date for scrutiny of nomination papers  Pakistan saw the SCO as an important
of electoral candidates instead of June framework for regional cooperation and
14. it had played a vital role in safeguarding
 The third modification in the election peace and security in the region.
schedule following its announcement 6. China honours Putin with first
on May 31 appears to have been `friendship medal`
prompted by realisation that the time
 President Xi Jinping gave China`s first  Indonesia outscored the Maldives 144-
friendship medal to Russian counterpart 46 in the race for a solitary Asia-Pacific
Vladimir Putin on June 8, 2018 as the seat, while the other four candidates
neighbouring giants touted their close ran unopposed. Candidates running
ties amid diplomatic and economic unopposed need to win more than two-
challenges from the US. thirds of the overall General Assembly
 Xi placed the large golden medal vote to be elected.
around Putin`s neck at the grandiose  There were 190 ballots in June 8, 2018`s
Great Hall of the People in front of vote.
dignitaries from both countries.  Germany received 184 votes, Belgium
 China`s `highest honour` is bestowed on 181, South Africa 183 and the
foreigners who have made òutstanding Dominican Republic 184 after the first
contributions` to the country`s round of voting.
modernisation drive and helped  In a typical year, the General Assembly
maintain world peace. elects five new members, which join the
 `This medal of friendship represents the five elected the previous year and the
Chinese people`s lofty respect for five permanent, veto-powers the
President Putin, and symbolises the United States, Britain, France, China
profound friendship between China and and Russia.
Russia.  The five members giving up their seat at
 The most powerful Russian and Chinese the end of this year will be the
leaders in decades, Putin and Xi have Netherlands, Sweden, Ethiopia, Bolivia
forged closer ties as US President and Kazakhstan.
Donald Trump has labelled both 8. Philippine`s Maria Ressa awarded
countries economic rivals that challenge Golden Pen of Freedom Award
US interests and values. Before the  The annual press freedom award of the
medal ceremony, Putin said the two World Association of Newspapers and
heads of state had enjoyed `fruitful` News Publishers (WANIFRA) has been
talks. awarded to Maria Ressa, Co-founder,
7. UN Assembly picks five new SC CEO and Executive Editor of online
members news site Rappler.
 The United Nations General Assembly  The Golden Pen of Freedom award
elected Indonesia, Germany, Belgium, during the opening ceremony of the
South Africa and the Dominican 70th World News Media Congress and
Republic as members of the Security 25th World Editors Forum in Portugal
Council on June 8, 2018 for a two-year recognised Ms Ressa`s unwavering
term starting on Jan 1 next year. commitment to the values of a free
 The 15 member council is the only UN press, as well as her determination to
body that can make legally binding continue exposing stories of vital
decisions and has the power to impose importance for democracy in the
sanctions and authorise the use of Philippines amidst intense pressure
force. from the government and its
supporters.
9. WWII photographer David Duncan dies Control and Prevention on June 7, 2018.
at 102 Nearly 45,000 people committed
 David Douglas Duncan, who helped suicide in 2016, making it one of three
change the role of war photography by leading causes of death that are on the
exposing the anguish of soldiers in rise, along with Alzheimer`s disease and
Korea and Vietnam, has died at age drug overdoses.
102.
 Duncan died in a French hospital from June 10, 2018
complications from a lung infection,
according to longtime friend Jean-
1. Taliban agree to unprecedented Eid
Francois Leroy, director of the Visa pour
ceasefire
l’Image photography festival.
 The Taliban announced their first
 Yet Duncan’s most influential work was
ceasefire in Afghanistan since the 2001
as a combat photographer. Instead of
US invasion on June 9, 2018, with a
portraying soldiers as heroes, he
three-day halt in hostilities against the
portrayed them as ordinary humans,
country’s security forces that was
tormented or courageous on the
greeted with relief by war-weary
battlefield, exhausted or fearful behind
Afghans.
the scenes.
 But the group warned the suspension of
10. Celebrity chef, television show host
fighting for the first three days of Eid
commits suicide
did not extend to “foreign occupiers”,
 Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, host
who would continue to be targeted by
of CNN`s food-and-travel-focused `Parts
the militants.
unknown` television series, killed
 The unexpected move came two days
himself in a French hotel room on June
after the Afghan government’s own
8, 2018. He was 61.
surprise announcement of a week-long
 Bourdain, whose career catapulted him
halt to operations against the Taliban.
from washing dishes at New York
 It is the first time in nearly 17 years of
restaurants to dining in Vietnam with
conflict that the militants have declared
President Barack Obama, hanged
a ceasefire, albeit a limited one.
himself in a hotel room near
Strasbourg, France, where he had been  “All the mujahideen are directed to stop
working on an upcoming episode of his offensive operations against Afghan
programme. forces for the first three days of Eidul
Fitr,” the Taliban said in a WhatsApp
 His death comes three days after
message to journalists. But it added
American designer Kate Spade, who
that “if the mujahideen are attacked we
built a fashion empire on her signature
will strongly defend (ourselves)”.
handbags, was found dead of suicide in
2. Pakistan, China agree to boost
her New York apartment on June 5,
strategic ties: Mamnoon meets Xi as
2018.
SCO summit begins in Qingdao city
 Suicide rates rose in nearly every US
 President Mamnoon Hussain held a
state from 1999 to 2016, according to
bilateral meeting with his Chinese
data from the US Centres for Disease
counterpart Xi Jinping on June 9, 2018 search efforts in prevailing rough sea
in Qingdao, where he is participating in and low visibility conditions at open
the 18th Shanghai Cooperation sea, survivors were located by
Organisation (SCO) Council Heads of helicopter aircrew. The operation was
State Meeting. amicably augmented by Pakistan Navy
 The two leaders held in-depth ship NASR, which was already present
discussions related to Pakistan-China in NAS on routine patrol.
relations and regional and global issues 4. Germany, Belgium, Dominican
of mutual interest. They also agreed Republic, S Africa, Indonesia become
that as all-weather strategic non-permanent members of UNSC
cooperative partners and close friends,  The UN General Assembly elected
had always stood by each other and Belgium, the Dominican Republic,
would continue to further strengthen Germany, Indonesia and South Africa
this time-tested relationship, said a on June 8, 2018 to serve as non-
press release. permanent members on the Security
 Agreeing that Pakistan-China relations Council for two years starting in
are a pillar of stability, the two January.
presidents reiterated their resolve to  All but three of the 193 UN member
maintain close engagement on all issues states cast paper ballots. Germany and
of regional and global importance. the Dominican Republic each obtained
 Xi said China attached importance to its 184 votes. South Africa got 183 votes,
relations with Pakistan which would Belgium 181 and 144 went to Indonesia.
continue to remain a priority for China. 5. G7 summit fails to heal trade rift as
3. Pak Navy rescues Iranian crew at sea Trump exits early
 Pakistan Navy Sea King helicopters  The leaders of the G7 on June 9, 2018
successfully rescued crew members of failed to heal a tariff dispute that has
sunken Iranian Dhow in North Arabian pushed them to the brink of trade war,
Sea (NAS). as Donald Trump quit their summit
 After receiving information about early warning Canada, Japan and
distressed Dhow (AL RAMANI) bearing Europe that “the gig is up.”
flag of Islamic Republic of Iran, 11 crew  Trump had come to Quebec insisting on
members (fishermen) onboard, his long-standing claim that America
Pakistan Navy promptly responded and has been exploited for too long by
launched search and rescue operation. existing trade arrangements - and he
Two Pakistan Navy Sea King helicopters was met by counterparts equally
were immediately directed to search, determined to protect the “rules-
locate and rescue distressed boat crew. based” international system.
 Helicopters equipped with search and  The US president left on June 9, 2018
rescue gear along with para-medical for Singapore and a historic summit
staff swiftly reached deep sea area at with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un,
South West of Karachi in shortest claiming he had made progress
possible time and conducted aerial convincing the other G7 leaders that
search for fishing boat. After rigorous trade between their countries must be
better balanced or halt altogether. “I off a modern-day mystery caper as
guess they’re going to go back to the scholars try to figure out whose face it
drawing board and check it out, right?” depicts.
he said, warning that if his fellow six  The 5-centimetre (2-inch) sculpture is
leaders make good on their threats to an exceedingly rare example of
take retaliatory measures, they could figurative art from the Holy Land during
find themselves shut out of American the 9th century BC, a period associated
markets. with biblical kings.
6. UNGA meeting on Gaza called for June  Exquisitely preserved but for a bit of
13, 2018 missing beard, nothing quite like it has
 The UN General Assembly will hold an been found before. While scholars are
emergency meeting on June 13, 2018 at certain the stern bearded figure
3:00 pm (19:00 GMT) to vote on an donning a golden crown represents
Arab-backed resolution on Gaza. royalty, they are less sure which king it
 The resolutaion will condemn Israel, symbolises, or which kingdom he may
and will be similar to one vetoed by the have ruled.
United States in the Security Council  Archaeologists unearthed the
last week, which called for protecting diminutive figurine in 2017 during
Palestinians from Israeli aggression, excavations at a site called Abel Beth
according to diplomats. It comes as four Maacah, located just south of Israel`s
Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire on border with Lebanon, near the modern-
the Gaza border, as weeks of deadly day town of Metula.
clashes with protesters continued. 8. Chinese govt hackers steal trove of US
 Resolutions adopted by the General Navy data
Assembly have no binding value, unlike  Chinese government hackers have
those passed by the Security Council. stolen a massive trove of sensitive
 Arab countries turned to the General information from a US Navy contractor,
Assembly in December after the US including secret plans to develop a new
vetoed a Security Council vote on a type of submarine-launched anti-ship
resolution to condemn its decision to missile, the Washington Post reported
move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv on June 9, 2018.
to Jerusalem.  Investigators told the newspaper that
 Fourteen members of the Security breaches were executed in January and
Council backed the December February by a division of the Chinese
resolution, though the US as well as the Ministry of State Security, operating out
council's four other permanent of the Chinese province of Guangdong.
members retain a right to veto.  The contractor, which was not named in
 The measure then received 128 votes the report, works for the Naval
out of 193 in the General Assembly. Undersea Warfare Centre, based in
7. Sculpted head of mystery biblical king Newport, Rhode Island.
found in Israel  It conducts research and development
 An enigmatic sculpture of a king`s head for submarines and underwater
dating back nearly 3,000 years has set weapons systems.
9. First Iraq-flagged oil tanker in 3
decades leaves port June 11, 2018
 An Iraq-flagged tanker carrying two
million barrels of crude oil has set sail
1. Pakistan, Russia, China form ‘unofficial
for the US, the first such trip in nearly
bloc’
three decades on June 9, 2018.
 Pakistan, Russia and China have formed
 Iraq, which has been ravaged by a series
an unofficial bloc on the sidelines of the
of wars since the 1980s, is the oil cartel
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
OPEC’s second biggest producer with
summit in Qingdao, vowing to work
153 billion barrels of proven crude
together in the coming years.
reserves.
 President Mamnoon Hussain, who
 Under late dictator Saddam Hussein,
represented Pakistan at the SCO Council
Iraq went to war with Iran between
of Heads of State meeting, met with
1980 and 1988 and invaded Kuwait in
Russian President Vladimir Putin on the
1990, before being expelled by a US-led
sidelines of Qingdao summit on June
coalition.
10, 2018. He had earlier held a bilateral
 Since an American-led invasion of Iraq
meeting with Chinese President Xi
in 2003, the country has been blighted
Jinping.
by long periods of chaos, culminating in
 A foreign ministry statement issued
a three-year battle against Islamic State
after the meeting said: “The leaders
group insurgents.
discussed matters of mutual interest
10. Halep achieves 'dream' first Slam title
including bilateral, contemporary
with French Open win
regional and global issues. Both leaders
 Simona Halep fought back from a set
agreed that relations have
and a break down to finally achieve her
strengthened. Trade, energy, security,
"dream" of winning a Grand Slam title,
culture, education and people-to-
beating Sloane Stephens 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in
people contact were identified as
a gruelling French Open final on June 9,
avenues for enhanced future
2018.
cooperation.”
 The world number one had lost all
 The summit witnessed the signing of
three of her previous major finals,
over 20 documents outlining future SCO
including two at Roland Garros, and
trajectory in a number of spheres.
said she struggled to contain her
Besides the Qingdao declaration these
emotions after staging a thrilling
included: Action plan on implementing
comeback.
the provisions of treaty on long-term
 It was the perfect way for the Romanian
good neighbourliness, friendship and
to banish the demons of her painful
cooperation; cooperation plan on
final defeat by Jelena Ostapenko 12
combating terrorism, separatism and
months ago, when she blew a lead of a
extremism; anti-drug strategy and its
set and 3-0.
plan of action, concept on preventing
 Only the second Romanian to win a the abuse of narcotic drugs, declaration
Slam after Virginia Ruzici who won the on trade facilitation; vision on
1978 French Open.
environment protection and joint as Large Diameter Gas Pipeline Project
appeal of heads of state on the by the Ministry of Energy Petroleum
necessity to prevent involvement of Division.
youth in activities of destructive nature 3. GB Assembly approves Rs63b budget
and action plan. for 2018-19
2. ECC gives tax reliefs to Tapi, RLNG  The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly
projects unanimously approved the budget for
 In a major development the federal financial year 2018-19 with a total
government has granted billion of outlay of over Rs 63 billion.
rupees income tax, sales tax and  The Chief Minister claimed that budget
custom duties exemptions, to cross for financial year 2018-19 was
borders Iran Pakistan and Turkmenistan formulated keeping in view need and
Afghanistan, Pakistan India (TAPI) gas merit in distribution of funds.
pipeline projects. 4. Bhasha, Mohmand Dams get Rs25b to
 The exemption granted by the start construction
Economic Coordination Committee of  The government has made special
the Cabinet would also be available to allocation to start construction of
RLNG III Pipeline project (RLNG-III) or Bhasha Dam and Mohmand Dam and
any other project declared as Large enhanced water sector allocation from
Diameter Gas Pipeline Project by the Rs 36 billion to Rs 65 billion for next
Ministry of Energy Petroleum Division. fiscal year.
 The ECC granted these exemptions in its  Pakistan is facing acute water scarcity
meeting held on 30th May 2018. requiring special interventions and that
According the minutes of the ECC was why authorities concerned
meeting available with The Nation, in its increased allocation to conserve water
summary the petroleum division and its augmentation during 2018-19.
requested the exemption from custom  The Annual Development Plan (ADP),
duty in excess of 5 percent ad valorem highlighting initiatives under Public
leviable under the first schedule to the Sector Development Programme for
Customs Act 1969 and whole of sales next fiscal, on Sunday showed that to
tax leviable under the Sales Tax Act start construction of Bhasha Dam and
1990 on import and subsequent supply Mohmand Dam, Rs 23 billion and Rs 2
of plant, machinery, equipment, billion have been earmarked
materials, specialized vehicles or respectively.
vessels, accessories, spares, chemicals  The others water sector projects
consumable as are not locally includes seven new schemes worth of
manufactured by developers, Rs 849 billion to be started in 2018-19
contractor and service companies of to conserve and augment water
North South Gas Pipeline (NSGP), resources. These new schemes are
Turkmenistan Afghanistan, Pakistan and National Flood Protection Plan-IV,
India (TAPI)gas pipeline, Iran-Pakistan Diamer Basha Dam Project (Dam Part),
Pipeline( IP), RLNG III Pipeline project CRBC 1st lift cum Gravity Project DI
(RLNG-III) or any other project declared Khan, Mohmand Dam Hydropower
Project (Dam Part), Lining of KB Feeder with Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal at the
Upper Canal for Water Supply to top of the agenda and the US president
Karachi City, Rehabilitation and calling it a "one-time shot" at peace.
Modernization of Sukkur Barrage (90  Bringing the Korean War to a formal
per cent WB, 10 per cent federal) and end 65 years after hostilities ceased will
Construction of Feeding Canal to also be on the table at the first-ever
Manchar Lake to eradicate meeting between a North Korean
contamination. leader and a sitting president of its
 Similarly, for fast track development of "imperialist enemy". It is an
Special Areas, Rs 62 billion (AJK Rs22 extraordinary turnaround from the
billion, GB Rs15 billion and FATA Rs 25 tensions of last year, when Kim
billion), have been allocated. accelerated his weapons programmes -
 Special Areas have been authorized to earning the North more sets of UN
ensure that fruit of development reach Security Council sanctions - and the two
to the common man. men traded personal insults and threats
5. Malala delighted as G7 pledges $3bn of war.
for girls’ education  But critics charge that the meeting risks
 Pledges worth nearly $3 billion dollars being largely a triumph of style over
to help vulnerable women and girls, substance.
including refugees, get an education  Kim arrived in Singapore on board an
were announced at a G7 summit. Air China 747 that according to flight
 Canadian Prime Minister Justin tracking website Flightradar24 took off
Trudeau, who hosted his fellow leaders from Pyongyang in the morning
at a Quebec resort, called it “the single ostensibly bound for Beijing, then
largest investment in education for changed its flight number in midair and
women and girls in crisis and conflict headed south.
situations.”  Trump landed in the evening after a
 Canada will provide $300 million of the long flight from Canada and the G7
total. meeting there, telling Singaporean
 The amount was more than feminist officials who welcomed him that he was
groups that met with Trudeau on the feeling "very good" about the summit.
sidelines of the summit had asked for, 7. Polio makes comeback in Venezuela
earning the G7 praise from civil society  Polio has been reported in Venezuela, a
groups and activists, including Nobel crisis-wracked country where the
prize-winner Malala Yousafzai who said disease had been eradicated decades
it would “give more girls hope that they ago, the Pan-American Health
can build a brighter future for Organization reports.
themselves”.  The organization said the child had no
6. Trump, Kim arrive for US-N Korea history of vaccination and lives in an
summit under-immunized extremely
 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and impoverished Delta Amacuro state.
Donald Trump arrived in Singapore  Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a crippling
Sunday for an unprecedented summit, childhood disease caused by the
poliovirus, and preventable through  Nadal endured a nervy conclusion to
immunization. Doctor Jose Felix Oletta, the final, however, when he needed
a former Minister of Health, told AFP treatment in the fourth game of the
that the last case of acute poliomyelitis third set for a finger injury before
in Venezuela was reported in 1989. sealing victory on a fifth match point
8. Missile attack from Yemen kills three when Thiem fired a backhand long.
in S Arabia  Nadal joins Australia`s Margaret Court
 Three civilians were killed in the south as the only player to win 11 titles at the
of Saudi Arabia from a missile launched same major.
from Yemen by the Houthi movement, 10. 18th-century Chinese moon flask sells
said Saudi state-owned Al Ekhbariya. for $4.8m
 The Houthis, an Iran-allied group that  A rare porcelain moon flask that
controls much of Yemen, including the belonged to the 18th-century Chinese
capital Sanaa, have fired a series of Emperor Qianlong has been sold for 4.1
missiles into the kingdom in recent million euros ($4.8 million) after a
months, part of a three-year-old conflict bidding war at an auction in France.
in Yemen widely seen as a proxy battle  The blue, white and celadon flask more
between Saudi Arabia and Iran. than 200-years-old -was bought by a
 A US-backed, Saudi-led military French woman who outbid 17 Chinese
coalition is fighting against the Houthis buyers during a sale that lasted about
on behalf of the government of 10 minutes, according to auctioneers
President Abd Rabbu Mansour al-Hadi, who described the buy as `historic and
who lives in exile in Riyadh. The three legendary`.
civilians were killed in Saudi’s Jizan  Emperor Qianlong, one of the longest
province in southern Saudi Arabia. serving Chinese emperors who ruled for
 The coalition said it would retaliate much of the 18th century, was an avid
against anyone who threatens the art collector.
safety of its citizens and residents. Last
month, the group fired a salvo of June 12, 2018
missiles at the capital Riyadh, saying it
was targeting economic targets.
9. Incredible Nadal bags 11th French 1. Six-member caretaker Punjab cabinet
Open title after injury scare sworn in
 Rafael Nadal hailed his lith French Open  A six-member caretaker Punjab cabinet
title as `just incredible` after he took oath on Monday and committed to
demolished Austria`s Dominic Thiem 6- stay apolitical and hold general
4, 6-3, 6-2 despite a worrying injury elections 2018 in the province in a free,
scare in the closing stages on June 10, fair and peaceful manner.
2018.  The cabinet is expected to be expanded
 The 32-year-old world number one now to 10 members as the officials
has 17 Grand Slam titles, just three concerned are contacting different
behind great rival Roger Federer. professionals, including women in this
connection.
 Mr Zafar Mahmood, Dr Jawad Sajid under the colonial Frontier Crimes
Khan, Shaukat Javed, Anjum Nisar, Zia H Regulations (FCRs) for nearly a century
Rizvi and Ahmad Waqas Riaz took oath and a half.
of their offices at a ceremony held at  This information was shared with the
Governor House here. participants of a meeting on Fata
 Punjab Governor Malik Rafique reforms, which was chaired by
Rajwana administered the oath. caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk
2. Dr Najmi resigns as law secretary at the Prime Minister Office on June 11,
 Punjab law and parliamentary affairs 2018.
secretary Dr Syed Abul Hassan Najmi,  The merger of Fata and the Provincially
who has been serving on contract basis Administered Tribal Areas (Pata) with
since October 2009, has resigned from KP was rolled through towards the end
his position, giving a free hand to the of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz
caretakers to post some other officer in (PML-N) government`s tenure on May
his place. 31. While the transition process is
 Dr Najmi`s one-month notice will expire going, it will be monitored by the
on June 30. interim set-up formed to hold the next
 After joining the depanment, Dr Najmi general elections scheduled for July 25.
restructured it on corporate lines and  The agencies and frontier regions had
helped the government enact around now been re-designated as districts and
250 pieces of legislation. sub-divisions of KP, and the posts of
 During his tenure he ensured the political agents and assistant political
department made all legislation agents had been redesignated as
available online and dovetailed laws` deputy commissioners and assistant
rules and regulations without putting commissioners.
extra financial burden on the Punjab 4. First Tarbela unit begins power
government. generation
 It may be mentioned that Dr Najmi had  Following improved hydrological
retired as Punjab Assembly secretary in conditions and availability of water, the
2004 and then served as law faculty first unit of Tarbela 4th Extension
dean at University of Central Punjab till Hydropower Project has started
2006.- electricity generation.
3. Sub-divisions, districts introduced in  The unit, which is passing through its
Fata reliability run test these days, has been
 Following the landmark merger of the providing 335MW of electricity to the
Federally Administrated Tribal Areas national grid, which will be gradually
(Fata) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), increased to its maximum capacity of
the provincial government has set up 470MW.
offices of deputy commissioners and  First unit was completed in April, it
assistant commissioners while could not start electricity generation
introducing the administrative units of owing to non-availability of water
sub-divisions and districts in the areas caused by low inflows in River Indus at
that had been, until recently, governed Tarbela in current year.
 The second unit of Tarbela 4th World Bank guarantees as well as
Extension Hydropower Project has also budgetary support over five years.
been put into wet commissioning three 6. Qatar takes UAE to UN top court over
days ago. This unit is scheduled to enter `rights violations`
its reliability run test phase in next  Qatar on June 11, 2018 said it brought a
month`s first week. case against the United Arab Emirates
 The 1,410MW Tarbela 4th Extension at the UN`s top court, accusing its Gulf
Project having three electric power rival of human rights `violations` and
generating units each of them 470MW `discrimination`.
capacity has been built at the Tunnel 4  Last year on June 5, Saudi Arabia, the
of Tarbela Dam. The project is a UAE, Bahrain and Egypt abruptly
component of least-cost energy severed ties with Qatar, accusing it of
generation plan being implemented by supporting terrorism and Iran. Doha
Wapda on priority to meet electricity denies the claims. They also took
requirements in the country and several measures, including barring the
increase the ratio of hydro electricity in state owned airline from using their
the National Grid to stabilise electricity airspace and expelling Qatari residents
tariff for the consumers. from their territories. Saudi Arabia
 With completion of the project, closed its land border with Qatar.
generation capacity of the existing  On June 11, 2018 the Qatari foreign
Tarbela Hydel Power Station will ministry denounced `human rights
increase to 4,888MW from the existing violations arising from the UAE`s
3,478MW. The project will provide 3.84 discrimination against Qatar and Qatari
billion units of electricity to the national citizens`. It also condemned àn
grid per annum. unlawful land, sea and air siege against
5. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait offer $2.5bn Qatar as part of a campaign of political
in aid to crisis-hit Jordan and economic coercion`.
 Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates 7. US offers ùnique` guarantees to N.
and Kuwait have offered $2.5 billion in Korea before historic summit
aid for Jordan to ease its economic  The US has offered North Korea
crisis following a wave of anti-austerity ùnique` security guarantees to
protests on June 11, 2018. persuade it to give up its nuclear
 Jordan has been rocked in recent days arsenal, Secretary of State Mike
by mass protests against price rises and Pompeo said on June 11, 2018.
a proposed tax hike as the government  The White House said preparatory
pushes measures to slash the country`s negotiations had `moved more quickly
debt, leading to the prime minister`s than expected` and Donald Trump
resignation. would leave after his talks with Kim
 A four-nation summit in Makkah, Jong-un, ruling out the possibility the
hosted by Saudi King Salman, offered unprecedented tete-a-tete would run to
Amman a bailout in the form of a two days.
deposit in the Jordanian central bank,  The meeting, long sought by
Pyongyang, will be the first ever
between a serving US president and a  The four-time champion German drove
North Korean leader, and will focus on his Ferrari with near flawless aplomb to
the nuclear bombs and ballistic missiles convert his 54th pole position into a
the North has spent decades triumphant afternoon ahead of Finn
developing. Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes and
8. UK to offer Hawking fellowships determined Dutchman Max
 Exceptional students in mathematics Verstappen, who was third for Red Bull.
and physics can compete for research  Vettel’s third victory this season lifted
fellowships in honour of the late British him to 121 points ahead of Hamilton on
physicist Stephen Hawking, who died in 120 after seven races, ending the
March. defending four-time champion’s hopes
 Up to 10 fellowships will be awarded of a record-equalling seventh win at the
each year for the next five years to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve where he won
candidates completing doctoral studies from pole for the last three years.
in Maths, Physics and Computer  It was Ferrari’s first win in Canada since
Sciences, according to the Department 2004 and came from their first pole
for Business, Energy and Industrial there in 17 years. It was also Vettel’s
Strategy. second win in Canada where he won in
 The 50 recipients will receive financial 2013 for Red Bull.
support allowing them to continue their
work in any British institution for up to June 13, 2018
three years, it said. The creation of the
"Stephen Hawking Fellowships" follow
discussions with his family. 1. Trump-Kim summit heavy on promises,
9. Azerbaijan envoy meets Gen Bajwa light on substance
 Azerbaijan Ambassador Alizada met  US President Donald Trump and North
Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a
Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa
largely symbolic summit on June 12,
in Rawalpindi on June 11, 2018.
2018, and the US president offered an
 Matters of mutual interest, including
unexpected concession to the North,
regional peace and stability were
saying he would halt joint military
discussed during the meeting. The
exercises with South Korea.
Ambassador acknowledged Pakistan
Army’s contributions towards regional  The two men smiled and shook hands
peace and stability and expressed the before pledging at their historic summit
to work toward the `denuclearisation`
desire that his country wishes to play a
of the Korean Peninsula.
role towards a prosperous region
10. Vettel claims 50th win and goes top in  The United States promised its Cold
title race War foe security guarantees.
 Sebastian Vettel claimed the 50th win  The meeting in Singapore, the first
of his career and reclaimed the lead of between a sitting US president and a
this year’s world championship when North Korean leader, was in stark
he ended Lewis Hamilton’s run of contrast to a flurry of North
supremacy at the Canadian Grand Prix. Koreannuclear and missile tests and
angry exchanges of insults between delegation-level discussions. He also
Trump and Kim last year that fuelled had meetings with Chief Executive
global worries about war. Abdullah Abdullah and Commander
 But in a joint statement afterward, the Resolute Support Mission (RSM)
two men offered few specifics about General John Nicholson.
how the relationship would evolve.  The discussions encompassed wide
Noting North Korean promises in the range of issues, especially the ongoing
past to denuclearise, several analysts efforts for reconciliation in Afghanistan,
cast doubt on how effective Trump had measures needed to check the rise of
been at obtaining his pre-summit goal the ISIS and the issue of terrorists
of banishing North Korea`s `very taking benefit of the porous border to
substantial` nuclear arsenal. indulge in terrorism, smuggling and
 At a news conference later, Trump drug trafficking, being often networked
made a surprise announcement that together.
was sure to rattle South Korea and  The COAS reiterated that it was the
Japan, which rely on a US security regions and not countries that
umbrella, saying he would halt the developed, for which peace and
regular military exercises the US holds development remained quintessential.
with South Korea because they were 3. Two Punjab ministers get more
expensive and `very provocative`. North portfolios
Korea has long sought an end to the  Caretaker Chief Minister Dr Hasan
exercises. Askari Rizvi on June 12, 2018 gave
 The summit gave international standing additional charge of some more
to Kim, one of the world`s most portfolios to two members of Punjab
reclusive leaders. cabinet.
2. Bajwa visits Kabul amid new peace  Energy and local government minister
push Zafar Mahmood was given additional
 Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed charge of the irrigation and housing
Bajwa on June 12, 2018 hoped that the departments.
peace initiatives and truce reached  Finance and excise and taxation
between the Afghanistan government minister Zia H Rizvi was given additional
and Taliban for the holy month of charge of the law and parliamentary
Ramazan would gain permanence, affairs department.
ultimately lead to enduring peace in the  Meanwhile, Law Secretary Dr Syed Abul
country. Hassan Najmi who has resigned
 During his day-long visit to Kabul, the reportedly in view of litigation over his
army chief congratulated Afghan extension in the office will continue to
authorities on the recent peace hold the charge till June 30.
initiatives especially the ceasefire truce 4. 11-member Balochistan cabinet sworn
leading up to Eidul Fitr. in
 During the visit, the COAS had exclusive  An 11-member caretaker cabinet was
one-on-one meeting with Afghan administered oath by Balochistan
President Ashraf Ghani followed by Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai at
a ceremony held at the Governor House  The global theme this year was to
here on June 12, 2018. promotion of health and safety at
 The caretaker ministers who took the workplace.
oath are Agha Omer Bangulzal, Imam  The children as young as 7- 8 years old
Baksh Baloch, Dr Nasrullah Khan Khilji, are involved in child labour and are
Advocate Malik Inayatullah Kasi, subjected to long working hours, little
Farzana Ali Baloch, Abdul Salam Khan, rest and vulnerability to physical,
Manzoor Hussain, Faizullah Kakar, Hafiz mental and sexual torture.
Khalilur Rahman, Naveed Kalmati and 7. The Message to screen in S. Arabia
Khurram Shahzad. four decades after ban
 Caretaker Chief Minister Alauddin Marri  The Message, Syrian-American director
and Chief SecretaryAurangzebHaque as Moustafa Akkad`s epic film about
well as former ministers, ex-MPAs, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), will be
senior officials and tribal elders screened for the first time in Saudi
attended the oath-taking ceremony. cinemas on June 14, 2018 four decades
5. Taliban kill Afghan district governor after an initial ban.
 Taliban fighters killed a governor and  The 1976 film has been widely-watched
took control of his district in northern in the Arab world since its release. But
Afghanistan as clashes broke out across it was banned in the land of Islam`s
the country, accusing the militants of holiest sites and boycotted by
defying the start of a government conservatives for its depiction of the
ceasefire with them. prophet and his companions.
 There was intense fighting between  Saudi Arabia lifted a longstanding ban
Afghan security forces and Taliban on cinemas last year, part of an easing
gunmen in the northern provinces of of social restrictions pushed by Crown
Faryab and Sari Pul, with officials Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
reporting an unspecified number of  Saudi theatres will now screen a
casualties on both sides. The governor restored version of the 1976 epic,
of Kohistan district in Faryab was killed produced from the film`s original
along with eight others in an ambush negatives.
overnight, provincial governor 8. Turkey opens gas pipeline from
spokesman Jawed Bidar told AFP, Azerbaijan
blaming the Taliban.  Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan held a
 The militants had seized control of the ceremony on June 12, 2018 to mark the
district. That was confirmed by start of supplies of gas from Azerbaijan
provincial police chief Nabi Jan Mullah to Turkey through the Trans-Anatolian
Khail. The Taliban claimed the Faryab Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP).
attack as well as one in Sayad district of  The $7.99 billion pipeline, carrying gas
neighbouring Sari Pul where provincial from Azerbaijan`s Shah Deniz II field, is
governor spokesman Zabiullah Amani also a major step in the European
said fighting was still under way. Union`s efforts to reduce its
6. World Day Against Child Labour dependence on Russian gas by
observed
developing the so-called Southern Gas that covers all the conditions set by
Corridor. Greece," Tsipras said in televised
 The gas will come from Azerbaijan via comments after briefing Greece's
the South Caucasus pipeline extension president Prokopis Pavlopoulos on the
through Georgia, then the 1,850 km accord.
TANAP through Turkey, and the Trans-  Macedonia hopes that resolving the
Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) to Greece, name dispute will help clear the way for
Albania and Italy. Erdogan said on it to join the European Union and
Tuesday gas deliveries to Greece would NATO.
begin in June 2019. 10. Pakistan cruise to easy win against
 Output from Shah Deniz II is expected Scotland
to reach an annual 16 billion cubic  Inspired by brilliant knocks from Sarfraz
metres (bcm) of natural gas by 2020, Ahmed and Shoaib Malik, Pakistan
with 10 bcm earmarked for Europe and cruised to a comfortable 48-run victory
6 bcm for Turl(ey. Erdogan said the in the first of two Twenty20
pipeline`s capacity would be increased Internationals against Scotland at the
depending on demand. Grange Cricket Club here on June 12,
9. Greece ends 27-year Macedonia name 2018.
row  After posting an imposing total of 204-
 Macedonia Prime Minister Zoran Zaev 4, Pakistan restricted the hosts to 156-6
hailed a "historic solution" on June 12, to take an unbeatable 1-0 lead in the
2018 after Skopje and Athens resolved two-match series.
a longstanding row by agreeing to
rename his country the Republic of June 14, 2018
Northern Macedonia.
 The 27-year dispute has led to frequent
1. Provincial set-ups reshuffled in run-up
disagreement and protests, but the two
to polls
countries agreed on the new title of the
 The caretaker set-up on June 13, 2018
former Yugoslav republic after months
changed the top bureaucracy of the
of intensive diplomacy.
four provinces and the federal capital
 "There is an agreement. We have a
with a view to conducting fair and free
historic solution after two and a half
general elections scheduled to be held
decades. Our agreement includes
on July 25.
Republic of Northern Macedonia for
overall use," Zaev told reporters in the  Under the decision taken by the federal
cabinet, chief secretaries and police
capital Skopje. Greece has long
chiefs of the four provinces have been
objected to its northern neighbour
changed. The commissioner and the
being called Macedonia because it has
inspector general police of Islamabad
its own northern province of the same
name. have also been changed.
 Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras also  PUNJAB: Akbar Hussain Durrani has
declared a deal had been struck. "We been appointed chief secretary of
have reached an accord, a good accord
Punjab by replacing retired Capt Zahid representatives of the government of
Saeed. Sindh and National Transmission
 Dr Kaleem Imam has been appointed Despatch Company (NTDC) signed the
inspector general (IG) of Punjab police agreements of their respective projects
by replacing retired Capt Arif Nawaz and Patchamuthu Illangovan, Country
Khan. Director, on behalf of the World Bank.
 SINDH: Retired Maj Azam Suleman Khan  Under the agreements, the World Bank
has been transferred as chief secretary will provide $565m, including $425m
of Sindh, replacing Rizwan Memon. for the NTDC and $140m for the Sindh
 Amjad Javed Saleemi, has been government.
appointed IG of Sindh police by  The first loan of $425m for the National
replacing Allah Dino Khawaja. Transmission Modernisation (Phase-I)
 KP: The government has appointed Project is designed to increase the
Naveed Kamran Baloch chief secretary capacity and reliability of selected
of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). He has segments of the national transmission
replaced Mohammad Azam. system in the country and modernize
 Muhammad Tahir, has been appointed key business processes of the NTDC.
IG of KP police by replacing Salahuddin  The project will support investments in
Khan. high-priority transmission
 BALOCHISTAN: Akhtar Nazir will now infrastructure, information and
serve as chief secretary of Balochistan communication technology (ICT), and
by replacing Aurangzeb Haque. technical assistance (TA) for improved
 Mohsin Hassan Butt has been posted as management and operations.
IG of Balochistan police by replacing 3. Saudi-led forces launch biggest assault
Moazzam Jah Ansari. of Yemen war
 ISLAMABAD: Joudat Ayaz has been  A Saudi-led alliance of Arab states
appointed chief commissioner of launched an attack on Yemen`s main
Islamabad. port city on June 13, 2018 in the largest
 Retired Lt Jan Muhammad has been battle of the war, aiming to bring the
chosen for the post of IG of Islamabad. ruling Houthi movement to its knees at
He has replaced Dr Sultan Azam Khan the risk of worsening the world`s
Temuri. biggest humanitarian crisis.
2. World Bank to help build modern  Arab warplanes and warships pounded
water, power infrastructure Houthi fortifications to support ground
 The World Bank has agreed to provide operations by foreign and Yemeni
$565 million to Pakistan to help build troops massed south of the port of
modern water and power infrastructure Hodeidah in operation `Golden Victory`.
and remove supply bottlenecks on an  Fighting raged near Hodeidah airport
urgent basis at a total cost of $688m. and al-Durayhmi, a rural area 10km
 The loan agreements were signed on south of the city, media controlled by
behalf of the government of Pakistan by the Arab states and their Yemeni allies
Secretary Economic Affairs Division reported.
Syed Ghazanfar Abbas Jilani while
 The United Nations says 8.4 million  On June 7, the Afghan government had
Yemenis are on the verge of famine, announced a week-long ceasefire with
and for most the port is the only route the Taliban for Eid. The ceasefire will
for food supplies. start “from 27th of Ramazan and will
4. World Blood Donor Day today last till fifth day of Eidul Fitr,” Afghan
 The World Blood Donor Day will be President Ashraf Ghani tweeted from
marked in the country today (June 14, an official account, indicating it could
2018) to pay tribute to the voluntary run from June 12-19. Following the
blood donors for saving millions of lives announcement of temporary ceasefire,
or improving the quality of people’s life. the US had said it was ready to
 The WBDD also served to encourage participate in talks with the Taliban.
healthy people to come forward and 6. US launches another trade case against
donate blood voluntarily and on a China
regular basis.  US President Donald Trump's
 For the last many years, the day is Commerce Department announced
celebrated widely in Pakistan by blood another trade action involving Chinese
transfusion stakeholders with the imports, with producers of steel
increasing participation and propane tanks accused of dumping and
collaboration of the World Health unfair subsidies.
Organization  It is the latest in a series of disputes the
5. Afghan Taliban chief calls for direct Trump administration has taken up
talks with US against Beijing, the largest of which are
 Taliban leader Mullah Hebatullah the looming 25 percent tariffs on $50
Akhundzada has called for direct talks billion in Chinese goods amid
with the United States, stating that complaints the country is stealing US
occupying forces should leave technology. The frictions with the Asian
Afghanistan if they want peace in the giant, as well as the latest conflict will
country. allies like Canada and the European
 In an Eid message Akhundzada said, the Union have threatened to spill over into
US forces and “other occupying forces” a global trade war.
should leave the country so that an  The latest complaint, lodged by US
independent intra-Afghan government manufacturers in Ohio and Tennessee,
“can take root”. argues that China is dumping and
 “If the American officials truly believe in unfairly subsidizing the steel cylinders,
a peaceful end to the Afghan imbroglio, which allegedly land on the US market
then they must directly present at below cost, creating unfair
themselves to the negotiation table so competition for US companies,
that this tragedy, the destructive effects including two that filed a complaint
of which mainly harm the American and with the Commerce Department.
Afghan people, can be resolved through  The complaint says China subsidizes
talks,” Akhundzada said in the production by 55 to 109 percent
statement. through a variety of programs including
taxes, grants and export credits for hundreds of Hellfire anti-armor and
nearly $90 million in exports. Stinger air-to-air missiles.
7. Georgia’s prime minister resigns after 9. Pakistan in clean sweep against
mass protests Scotland
 Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi  Pakistan completed a clean sweep of
Kvirikashvili announced his resignation their two-match Twenty20 series
June 13, 2018 after a series of mass against Scotland after routing the hosts
protests highlighted a dramatic drop in by 84 runs in the final game at the
his government’s popularity. Grange Cricket Club on June 13, 2018.
 In a televised speech, Kvirikashvili cited  After riding on Shoaib Malik`s
“a number of fundamental undefeated 49 to post 166-6, Pakistan
disagreements with the chairman of the bundled out Scotland for just 82 in 14.4
(ruling Georgian Dream) party,” overs to consolidate their top-ranked
billionaire tycoon and former premier spot in the ICC T20 rankings.
Bidzina Ivanishvili, as a reason for his 10. Kiwi teenager sets batting record in
decision. women's one-day cricket
 Kvirikashvili’s move, after two and a  New Zealand teenager Amelia Kerr
half years in power, comes amid shattered a world batting record in
growing popular discontent over his women's one-day international cricket
government’s handling of the economy with a blistering 232 not out against
and after mass protests in recent Ireland on June 13, 2018.
months.  Kerr amassed the record total just days
8. US approves sale of Apache attack after her team's 490 for four against
choppers to India Ireland set a record for cricket's
 The United States government has highest-ever one-day international
approved a deal to sell the Indian total.
military six AH-64E Apache attack  The 17-year-old, whose average was 29
helicopters for $930 million. going into the match, blasted 31 fours
 The agreement has been passed to the and two sixes to surpass the 229 scored
US Congress for approval, but if no US by Australia's Belinda Clark against
lawmaker raises an objection the Denmark in 1997 -- three years before
contract is expected to go ahead. Kerr was born. Kerr's 232 is the third-
 Boeing and Indian partner Tata have highest individual score by a man or
begun to produce Apache fuselages at a woman in one-day international cricket
plant in India, but June 12, 2018 history.
approval concerns a direct sale of  India men's player Rohit Sharma is at
finished products from US the top of the pile with his 264 scored
manufacturers. The lead contractors against Sri Lanka in 2014. New
are US arms, aviations and engineering Zealand's Martin Guptill made 237
giants Lockheed Martin, General against West Indies in 2015. At 17 years
Electric and Raytheon. In addition to and 243 days, Kerr is the youngest
aircraft, the contract includes night double-centurion in international men's
vision sensors, GPS guidance and or women's cricket.
2. Army to guard all polling stations
June 15, 2018  The Army will be deployed in and
outside all the around 85,000 polling
stations being established for the
1. UN calls for major probe into abuses in
coming general elections while security
held Kashmir
cameras will be installed at over 20,000
 Following the launch of the first-ever sensitive polling stations.
United Nations report on the human
 The decision was taken at a meeting
rights situation in Kashmir that pointed
held here with Chief Election
to impunity for rights abuses and lack of
Commissioner Sardar Muhammad Raza
access to justice in India-held Kashmir,
in the chair to put the finishing touches
the world body`s human rights chief on
to security arrangements for the
June 14, 2018 said he would ask the
elections. The meeting was attended,
Human Rights Council to set up a
besides others, by the newly appointed
`commission of inquiry` the UN`s
chief secretaries and inspectors
highest-level probe to investigate the
generals of police and representatives
rights violations in the held valley.
of the army, security agencies and
 Ì will be urging the UN Human Rights provincial election commissions.
Council to consider establishing a
3. Mulla Fazlullah ‘killed’ in drone strike
commission of inquiry to conduct a
 Emir of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban
comprehensive independent
Pakistan Maulvi Fazlullah commonly
international investigation into
known as Mulla Radio was killed in a US
allegations of human rights violations in
drone strike in Afghanistan’s Kunar
Kashmir,` UN High Commissioner for
province on June 14, 2018.
Human Rights Zeid Raàd Al Hussein
 In the past, TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah
said in a statement issued by his office
had also been reportedly killed in drone
from Geneva.
strikes several times. After the death of
 Mr Hussein said the Kashmir conflict
Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone attack,
had `robbed millions of their basic
Fazlullah was appointed as the new
human rights, and continues to this day
‘Emir’ (chief) of the TTP on 7 November
to inflict untold suffering` and it was
2013.
one reason why he was ùrging the UN
4. KP interim cabinet sworn in
Human Rights Council to consider
 A 10-member interim cabinet of
establishing a commission of inquiry`.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa took oath on June
 His office earlier released a 49-page
14, 2018 at a ceremony held in
document on the situation in both parts
Governors House.
of Kashmir. The report notes that while
 Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal
it discusses the situation in both parts
Zafar Jhagra took oath from the cabinet
of the disputed region, its focus was on
members. The 10-member cabinet
the happenings in India-held valley from
consists of Akbar Jan Marwat,
where widespread reports of human
Muhammad Rashid Khan, Dr Saira
rights violations were received between
Safdar, Muqadasullah, Abdul Rauf Khan,
July 2016 and April 2018.
Muhammad Sanaullah Khan, Zafar Iqbal
Banghash, Anwarul Haq, Fazl Elahi and “west Jerusalem as the capital of
Justice (Retd) Asadullah Khan Israel”.
Chamkhani.  The same statement also recognised
 Dr Saira is the only female member in “east Jerusalem as the capital of the
the cabinet while Akbar Jan Marwat has future Palestinian state”.
served as a provincial caretaker 7. 120 countries at UN condemn Israel
minister in the past. Besides others, over Gaza violence
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister  The UN General Assemblyadopted by a
Justice (Retd) Dost Muhammad Khan, strong majority of 120 countries an
who had taken oath of his office on Arab-backed resolution condemning
June 6, was also present on the Israel for Palestinian deaths in Gaza and
occasion. rejected a US bid to blame Hamas for
5. Leading Journalist in Indian-occupied the violence.
Kashmir, Shujaat Bukhari shot dead  The resolution deplores Israel’s use of
 A leading newspaper journalist and “excessive, disproportionate and
editor in Indian-occupied Kashmir, indiscriminate force” against Palestinian
Shujaat Bukhari, was shot dead by civilians and calls for protection
unidentified gunmen in Srinagar on measures for Palestinians in Gaza and
June 14, 2018. the occupied West Bank.
 Bukhari was attacked in his car near the  At least 129 Palestinians have been
office of the Rising Kashmir newspaper, killed by Israeli fire during protests near
which he edited, when he left for Iftari. the border with Gaza that began at the
 Shujaat Bukhari had just entered his end of March. No Israelis have died.
vehicle outside his office in the city’s  Presented by Algeria and Turkey on
press enclave when assailants fired behalf of Arab and Muslim countries,
several shots from close range. the measure won a decisive 120 votes
 Another police guard and the vehicle in the 193-member assembly, with 8
driver were critically wounded in the votes against and 45 abstentions.
attack. 8. North, South Korea hold military talks
6. Russian embassy holds first party in amid US plan to stop drills
Jerusalem  North and South Korea failed to reach
 The Russian embassy in Israel hosts a any concrete agreement during their
reception for its national day in military talks on June 14, 2018, as two-
Jerusalem for the first time on June 14, star generals from both sides met just
2018, instead of Tel Aviv. two days after US President Donald
 It comes in the wake of US President Trump floated his plan to halt joint
Donald Trump’s transfer of the US exercises with South Korea.
embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in  The talks, their first in more than a
May, after he recognised the disputed decade, held in the border village of
city as capital of Israel. Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone
 Before that decision the Russian (DMZ), followed on from an inter-
government last year said it views Korean summit in April at which leaders
of the two Koreas had agreed to defuse
tensions and cease àll hostile acts`. June 19, 2018
 They agreed to implement a 2004
agreement, in which the two sides`
1. UN official says he tried to engage with
militaries vowed to work to prevent
Pakistan, India on Kashmir
unexpected clash in the West Sea, a
joint statement said. They also  The United Nations High Commissioner
discussed the planned establishment of for Human Rights, Zeid Raad Al Hussein,
said on June 19, 2018 that he has
a hotline between the two militaries,
but failed to set the specific time table sought to engage substantively with
both India and Pakistan over the past
for its reinstatement.
two years regarding the situation in
9. US returns stolen 525-year-old
Kashmir, on both sides of the Line of
Columbus letter to Vatican
Control.
 A 525-year-old copy of a letter by
Christopher Columbus that was stolen  Refusals by both India and Pakistan to
from the Vatican was returned on June enable unconditional access have led
the UN body to conduct remote
14, 2018 after joint sleuthing by US
Homeland Security agents and Holy See monitoring, with first report issued last
week, he said.
antiquity experts.
 He urged the Human Rights Council in
 It’s the third such return in recent years
Geneva to consider establishing a
after US investigators determined that
several authentic copies of the letter commission of inquiry for a more
comprehensive investigation of the
had been stolen from libraries across
Europe and replaced with forgeries human rights situation in Kashmir.
without library officials’ knowledge. 2. UAE calls for ùnconditional` rebel
withdrawal from Yemen port
 The authentic letter had ended up in
 The UAE, a key player in the coalition
the possession of an Atlanta actuary
battling Houthi rebels in Yemen, on
who purchased it from a rare book
June 18, 2018 warned the insurgents to
dealer in New York in 2004, unaware it
withdraw unconditionally from the
had been taken from the Vatican. His
widow returned it. flashpoint port city of Hodeida, after UN
10. 2018 FIFA World Cup kicks off in peace efforts fizzled.
Moscow  `There can be no conditions in any
 The 2018 World Cup, the most thrilling offers to withdraw,` the United Arab
Emirates` minister of state for foreign
football event in the world, kicked off in
affairs, Anwar Gargash, told a press
Russia June 14, 2018 in presence of
conference in Dubai. Ìf the rebels
President Vladimir Putin and other high
wanted to set conditions, they should
ups, as the host nation took on Saudi
have thought of that a year ago ... Now
Arabia in front of 80,000 people in
Moscow is not the time to negotiate.
 Houthi rebels have controlled Hodeida,
a key entry point for desperately
needed aid, since 2014, when they
drove the government out of the capital establishment of a sixth branch of the
Sanaa and seized large swathes of the military to clear the way for American
country. Saudi Arabia and its allies chief dominance of space.
among them US-trained UAE troops -  Ìt is not enough to merely have an
intervened in the conflict on the American presence in space. We must
government`s side in March 2015, have American dominance in
sparking what the United Nations has space,`Trump said before a meeting of
called the world`s worst humanitarian his National Space Council.
crisis.  `We are going to have the Air Force and
 The alliance last week launched a major we`re going to have the `Space Force.`
operation to drive the rebels out of Separate but equal. It is going to be
Hodeida, triggering fears of a fresh something. So important,` he said later.
humanitarian crisis in a country already  Trump framed space as a national
on the brink of famine. security issue, saying he does not want
3. President Mamnoon in Dushanbe on 4- `China and Russia and other countries
day visit leading us`.
 President Mamnoon Hussain left for  The United States, however, is a
Dushanbe on June 19, 2018 on a four- member of the Outer Space Treaty,
day official visit. which bars the stationing of weapons of
 Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon mass destruction in space and only
had invited Hussain. The president will allows for the use of the moon and
also participate in the high-level other celestial bodies for peaceful
international conference on purposes.
“International Decade for Action 5. CIA classifies two Hindu groups as
“Water for Sustainable Development”, `militant religious outfits`
2018-2028, to be held on June 20. This  US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has
will be the president’s first visit to classified two Hindu groups Vishwa
Tajikistan. The conference is being Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal as
organised by the Tajik government in `militant religious outfits` and called
cooperation with the UN and its Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) a
entities, particularly the UN nationalist organisation.
Department of Economic and Social  The entries in the latest update of the
Affairs, and other partners. CIA World Factbook stirred widespread
 The conference is the first of the series protests in India where protesters also
of conferences that the Tajik claimed that a map posted with the
government plans to hold on a bi- changes also shows a section of the
annual basis to facilitate the India-held Kashmir and the entire Azad
Implementation of the New Decade for Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan.
Water for Sustainable Development.  The report points out that despite high
4. Trump unveils plans to set up `Space growth rate compared to the rest of the
Force` world, Ìndia`s government-owned
 US President Donald Trump on June 19, banks faced mounting bad debt in 2015
2018 said he was ordering the and 2016, resulting in low credit
growth. The economy slowed in 2017 give in aid, the rural development
due to shocks of demonetisation and agency said.
introduction of GST.  Close to half of remittances will go to
6. Former Israeli minister charged with rural areas where poverty and hunger
spying for Iran are the highest, according to IFAD.
 A former Israeli government minister 8. Japan, South Korea ban Canadian
who once admitted to trying to smuggle wheat over GM plants
ecstasy tablets has been charged with  The world's sixth largest wheat
spying for Iran. producer sought to reassure trading
 The Shin Bet domestic security agency partners on June 18, 2018 that
said former energy minister Gonen genetically modified wheat plants
Segev was charged with "offences of discovered on an Alberta farm were few
passing information to the enemy in and posed no food safety risks, after
time of war and espionage against the Japan and South Korea halted Canadian
state of Israel." wheat imports.
 An investigation by the Shin Bet and the  Wheat sales contribute about Can$11
police found that Segev was recruited billion (US$8 billion) to the Canadian
and acted as an agent on behalf of economy each year. The temporary
Iranian intelligence. import bans were another blow to
 A police statement said he was arrested Canadian farmers who faced costly
last month on his return to Israel after delays in getting grains to markets this
being refused entry to the West African year due to a disruption in rail shipping
state of Equatorial Guinea because of to ports blamed on winter storms.
his criminal record.  "outh Korea and Japan have initiated a
7. Remittances to developing countries to temporary suspension of trade in wheat
exceed $6.5tr between 2015-2030: UN while they undertake a review of the
 The United Nations agency tasked with comprehensive investigation and
boosting rural development has testing already completed by Canadian
estimated that remittances sent to officials.
developing countries could cross $6.5 9. Iraq’s first Kurdish airline launched
trillion between 2015 and 2030,  Iraq’s first Kurdish airline launched on
involving over one billion senders and June 19, 2018 with a flight to Sweden,
receivers. after years of delays owing to the IS
 The agency, International Fund for offensive in the country.
Agricultural Development (IFAD), said in  The airline currently has three planes
2017, 200 million migrants sent 481 and hopes to increase its fleet to 10
billion dollars to remittances-reliant  The company advertises flights to five
countries of which 466 billion dollars European countries including Germany
went to developing countries, helping and the UK, targeting destinations with
sustain about 800 million people across large Iraqi communities and investors
the world. This amounts to more than who operate in Iraq.
three times the annual official 10. Napoleon hat sells above estimates
development assistance that countries
 A two-cornered military dress hat additional charge of Zakat & Ushr
thought to have belonged to Napoleon Department.
went for 350,000 euros ($406,000) at  Minister for Energy, Local Government
auction on June 18, 2018, the latest sale & Urban Development and Irrigation
to highlight the boundless appetite for Departments Zafar Mehmood has been
all things associated with the emperor. given the additional charge of Disaster
 The final price far exceeded the Management; Minister for Information
expected 30,000 to 40,000 euros for the Ahmad Waqas Riaz has been delegated
distinctive `bicorne` hat, which the additional charge of Forests,
Napoleon wore sideways rather than Wildlife & Fisheries Department. Home
with points at the front and backso he Minister Shaukat Mehmood has been
could easily be spotted on the assigned additional charge of Sports
battlefield. The identity of the buyer and Public Prosecution departments.
was not disclosed. 2. Second unit of plant in AJK resumes
power generation on trial basis
June 20, 2018  The second unit of the 969MW Neelum
Jhelum Hydropower Plant (NJHP)
resumed power generating operation
1. Education depts withdrawn from
on a trial basis on June 19, 2018 after
minister Chaudhry Faisal
engineers rectified some technical
 Caretaker Chief Minister Dr Hasan faults in it.
Askari has withdrawn education
 Earlier, this unit (Unit No 4) was put
departments from Chaudhry Faisal
into operation in April, injecting more
Mushtaq. than 1.3 million units of electricity to
 Mr Mushtaq was given charge of the the national grid during the test run.
higher education, school education, However, during various tests ahead of
special education and non-formal basic commercial operation, the unit
education through a notification on developed some technical issues.
June 15. But the notification has been
 As per contractual requirement, this
withdrawn as Dr Askari has decided to
unit will be initially on a three-day and
keep the education portfolio with thereafter on a 30-day reliability run
himself. test period and will continuously
 Mr Mushtaq will not hold the portfolio generate power to its maximum
of Human Rights & Minority Affairs, capacity for the system.
Population Welfare Department, Social
 The NJHP`s first unit, which was put on
Welfare Department and Baitul Maal,
a 30-day reliability period on May 18,
says a notification issued on Tuesday.
had successfully completed the tests.
 According to the notification of the
 During this period, the unit
Services & General Administration
continuously provided electricity to its
Department (Cabinet Wing), Provincial maximum capacity of 242.25MW to the
Minister for Industry, Trade & national grid, injecting more than 200
Investment and Mines & Mineral million units of electricity to the system.
Development Anjum Nisar was given
3. Pakistan, Tajikistan agree to boost housing and inter-provincial
annual trade to $500m coordination
 Pakistan and Tajikistan on June 19, 2018  Anwarul Haq, agriculture, livestock and
agreed to further strengthen their fisheries, cooperative, irrigation and
relations by adopting measures to take food
bilateral trade to $500 million per  Sanaullah, industries and mines
annum, immediate revival of air links  Muqadasullah, revenue, excise, taxation
and early implementation of the and labour.
CASA1000 (Central Asia South Asia)  Fazl Elahi, energy and power and public
electricity project. health engineering departments
 The two sides reached the agreement  Sarah Safadar, elementary and
during talks between President secondary education, higher education
Mamnoon Hussain and his Tajik and religious affairs ministries
counterpart Emomali Rahmon at the  Mohammad Rashid Khan, forestry,
state guest house. environment and wildlife and sports
 President Hussain, who was in departments
Dushanbe on a four-day official visit on  Retired Justice Asadullah Khan
the invitation of President Rahmon, Chamkani law ministry.
held a one-on-one meeting and  Zafar Iqbal Bangash was given the
delegation level talks with his Tajik charge of information minister and
counterpart. Akbar Jan Marwat, health minister.
 During the talks, the two sides agreed 5. US to pull out of UN rights council
to give new impetus to their ties  The United States will announce it is
through enhanced cooperation in withdrawing from the UN Human Rights
diverse areas, including trade, energy, Council, which it accuses of bias against
connectivity, defence, health, education Israel, UN officials said on June 19,
and culture. 2018.
4. KP Caretaker ministers get portfolios  Haley has repeatedly threatened to quit
 The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker the Geneva-based body, established in
Chief Minister retired Justice Dost 2006 to promote and protect human
Mohammad allotted portfolios to his rights worldwide. UN officials privately
10-member strong cabinet on June 19, confirmed they were expecting the US
2018. decision to quit the rights body.
 A notification issued from the  Human Rights Watch criticised the
administration department said that move, warning that Washington`s
the portfolios were given by the absence at the top UN body would put
caretaker CM in exercise of powers the onus on other governments to
conferred under sub rule 4 of the rule 3 address the world`s most serious rights
of the KP Rules of Business 1985. problems.US criticism stems from the
 Abdur Rauf Khattak was given the fact that Israel is the only country with a
ministry of finance, planning and dedicated agenda item, known as Item
development, local government, 7, at the rights council, meaning its
conduct in the occupied Palestinian
territories is discussed at each of the  England posted a new record ODI score
body`s three annual sessions. following their 444 for three against
6. Kim visits Beijing to brief Xi on summit Pakistan at Nottinghamshire's
with Trump headquarters in 2016. This was
 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Australia's heaviest defeat at this level,
briefed Chinese President Xi Jinping on in terms of runs, surpassing a 206-run
June 19, 2018 about his historic summit loss to New Zealand in Adelaide in
with US President Donald Trump, a visit 1986.
that underscores Beijing`s efforts to  By contrast, England were able to enjoy
remain at the centre of fast-moving their biggest victory in the format as
nuclear diplomacy. they topped their previous ODI best --
 Xi urged the US and North Korea to 210-run success against New Zealand at
implement the agreements reached at Edgbaston in 2015. The 62 boundaries
the June 12 summit in Singapore, while England struck in their innings was also
Kim thanked Xi for his role in the a new record at this level, surpassing
diplomatic efforts. the 59 managed by Sri Lanka against
 Kim`s third trip to China since March the Netherlands, a non-Test nation, in
comes as Beijing tries to strengthen its Amstelveen, 12 years ago.
role as a mediator between the US and 8. Yemen government forces enter
the North, where it claims compelling Hodeida airport
security and economic interests.  UAE-backed Yemeni government forces
 The North`s leader, who is believed to fought their way into Hodeida airport
have landed in the Chinese capital on on June 19, 2018, pressing an offensive
June 19, 2018 morning, was greeted that has seen some of the most intense
with a military honour guard at the fighting of a three-year war against
ornate Great Hall of the People, as the Shiite Huthi rebels.
Cold War-era allies repair ties that  The United Arab Emirates, which has
worsened when Pyongyang tested US-trained troops fighting alongside the
nuclear weapons and Beijing backed UN Yemeni army, said the alliance had
sanctions. Kim `felt thanks for and entered the airport in Hodeida -- a Red
highly praised China`s promotion of Sea port city that is a key aid hub and
denuclearisation of the Korean the entry point for three-quarters of
Peninsula and its important role in Yemen's imports.
protecting the peninsula`s peace and  With the participation and support of
stability. the Emirati armed forces, the joint
7. England broke their own ODI world Yemeni resistance (army) entered
record by smashing 481-6 Hodeida airport. Troops had entered
 England posted the highest total ever the rebel base at the disused airport on
scored in a men's one-day international the southern edge of the city. Military
of 481 for six as they thrashed Australia sources also reported 33 Huthis and 19
by 242 runs at Trent Bridge on June 19, soldiers killed in Tuesday's battle,
2018 to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in bringing the death toll in Hodeida this
a five-match series.
week to 216 fighters. No civilian previous year and showed a 50-percent
casualties have yet been confirmed. increase from the 42.7 million uprooted
 The battle for Hodeida has sparked from their homes a decade ago,
fears of a new escalation of the according to a report by the UN refugee
humanitarian crisis in Yemen, which is agency.
already teetering on the brink of  The current figure is equivalent to the
famine. The United Nations has warned entire population of Thailand, and the
any attack on Hodeida port could number of people forcibly displaced
cripple shipments of desperately equates to one in every 110 persons
needed aid to the 8.4 million Yemenis worldwide, it said.
facing imminent starvation.  But around 70 percent of that number
9. Modi’s BJP pulls out of Held Kashmir are people from just 10 countries, If
govt there were solutions to conflicts in
 India’s ruling party withdrew June 19, those 10 countries, or in some of them
2018 from an alliance government in at least, that huge figure, instead of
the disputed Kashmir region in what rising every year, could start going
analysts described as an attempt to down.
appear tough on militancy before a  The report showed that 16.2 million
general election. people were freshly displaced last year,
 The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it and included those forced to flee for
was pulling out of the governing the first time as well as those who had
coalition in Jammu and Kashmir state been previously displaced.
because of worsening “terrorism and  This equates to some 44,500 people
violence”. being pushed out of their homes every
 The Hindu nationalist party had ruled in day - or one person every two seconds,
the restive state since March 2015 UNHCR said.
when it struck an unlikely alliance with  Despite the focus on migrant numbers
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a arriving in Europe and the United
local political outfit which has States, a full 85 percent of refugees are
advocated more autonomy for Kashmir. living in low- and middle-income
 The state’s chief minister Mehbooba countries like Lebanon, Pakistan and
Mufti, who hails from the PDP, Uganda, Grandi said.
tendered her resignation after the  Turkey was hosting by far the largest
alliance lost the majority to rule. number of refugees, with 3.5 million
10. Record 68.5 million people displaced registered there by the end of 2017,
worldwide: UN most of them Syrians.
 A record 68.5 million people have been
forced to flee their homes due to war, June 21, 2018
violence and persecution, notably in
places like Myanmar and Syria, the UN
said on June 19, 2018. 1. Eminent humorist Yousufi passes away
 By the end of 2017, the number was  Distinguished writer and arguably the
finest humorist in the Urdu language
nearly three million higher than the
Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi passed away till the appointment of a full fledged
on June 20, 2018. He was 94. advocate general.
 Yousufi was born on Sept4, 1923 in  Asma Hamid, daughter of former
Tonk, Rajasthan, in undivided India. He Punjab governor Shahid Hamid and
obtained an LLB from Aligarh University senior counsel of the Supreme Court,
and did his MA from the same institute was appointed assistant advocate
in philosophy. general in January 2014 and then
 His family migrated to Pakistan in 1949 additional advocate general in March
through the Khokhrapar route. Here he 2015.
joined the banking sector.  The Punjab government has also
 Yousufi`s writing career began in the dispensed with the services of 11
early 1960s. His first book Chiragh Taley assistant advocate generals who were
established his reputation as one of the appointed on May 26 and 30 in
foremost humorists in the derogation of the Election Commission
subcontinent. It was followed by of Pakistan`s April 10 notification in
Khakam Badahan, Zarguzisht and Aab-i- which the commission had placed ban
Gumm. His last book was called Shaam- on new recruitments and development
i-Sher-Yaaran. schemes.
2. Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf resigns 4. ECP approves another round of
from His Post bureaucracy reshuffle
 Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf has  In a massive shakeup over a month
resigned after serving in the prestigious before the general elections, the
office for over two years. Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)
 He had replaced senior counsel Salman on June 20, 2018 approved the
Aslam Butt on March 29, 2016, transfers and postings of hundreds of
following the latter`s resignation. officers in provincial bureaucracy,
 According to Article 100 of the district administration and police
Constitution, the attorney general gives hierarchy of Sindh, Balochistan and
advice to the federal government on Punjab.
legal issues and enjoys the right of  In Sindh, 14 secretaries, two additional
audience in all courts and tribunals. inspectors general, six commissioners,
3. Punjab Govt removed First Female 33 deputy commissioners, 14 deputy
Advocate General inspectors general and various senior
 The Punjab government has removed superintendents of police have been
Asma Hamid from the office of transferred.
advocate general with immediate  In Balochistan, the ECP accorded
effect. A notification to that effect was approval to transfer and post three
issued on behalf of Punjab Governor secretaries, six commissioners, 33
Rafiq Rajwana. deputy commissioners and various
 Additional Advocate General police officers.
Muhammad Shan Gul has been directed  In Punjab, the ECP approved transfers
by the governor to look after the office and postings of 25 provincial
secretaries, nine commissioners and 64
police officers in Punjab. Also, 18 police declare the GB Order 2018 illegal and
officers were surrendered by the issue a stay order.
Punjab police to the federal  During the hearing of the case on April
government and 28 officers were 24, GB Supreme Appellate Court Chief
repatriated to the federal government. Judge Rana Muhammad Shamim had
 Besides, 35 deputy commissioners, issued a stay order till disposal of the
managing directors, director generals, case.
AIGs, SSPs, SPs, additional SPs have also  However, the federal government
been transferred. promulgated GB Order 2018 during the
 The nine new commissioners in Punjab last days of its government.
are Mohammad Mujtaba Paracha who  In its latest hearing on June 20, 2018,
has been posted as Lahore the two-member bench of the court
commissioner, Nadeem Irshad Kiyani as comprising Chief Judge Rana Shamim
Gujranwala commissioner, Saif Anjum and Justice Javed Ahmed issued
as Rawalpindi commissioner, Asadullah suspension order of the new order.
Faiz as Multan commissioner, Dr Farah  The chief judge observed that despite
Masood as Sahiwal commissioner, stay order of the court, GB Order 2018
Nayar Iqbal asBahawalpur was introduced which was violation of
commissioner, Asif Iqbal as Faisalabad law.
commissioner, Rana Gulzar Ahmed as 6. Moody's changes outlook on Pakistan's
D.G. Khan commissioner and retired rating to negative
captain Mohammad Zafar Iqbal as  Moody's Investors Service on June 20,
Sargodha commissioner. 2018 has changed the outlook on
5. Appellate court suspends GB Order Pakistan's rating to negative from stable
2018 and affirmed the B3 local and foreign
 The Supreme Appellate Court on June currency long-term issuer and senior
20, 2018 suspended the newly- unsecured debt ratings.
promulgated Gilgit Baltistan Order  The decision to change the outlook to
2018. negative is driven by heightened
 In a short order, it also issued contempt external vulnerability risk. Foreign
of court notice to respondents former exchange reserves have fallen to low
Prime Minister Shahid Khagan Abbasi as levels and, absent significant capital
chairman of the GB Council, federal inflows, will not be replenished over the
minister for Kashmir af f airs and GB next 12-18 months. Low reserve
and joint secretary of the council for adequacy threatens continued access to
violation of law. external financing at moderate costs, in
 Member of council Saeed Afzal, elected turn potentially raising government
from GB Legislative Assembly, had filed liquidity risks.
a petition in Supreme Appellate Court  The decision to affirm the B3 rating
earlier in April under Article 61 of the reflects Pakistan's robust growth
GB Empowerment and Self Governance potential, supported by ongoing
Order 2009, pleading the court to improvements in energy supply and
physical infrastructure, which are likely
to raise economic competitiveness over 8. Hungary approves law to penalise
time. These credit strengths balance NGOs for helping migrants
Pakistan's fragile external payments  Hungary`s parliament adopted on June
position and very weak government 20, 2018 a controversial package of
debt affordability owing to low revenue laws penalising NGOs that help
generation capacity. migrants, a key proposal of the
 Concurrently, Moody's has affirmed the firebrand nationalist Prime Minister
B3 foreign currency senior unsecured Viktor Orban.
ratings for the second Pakistan  Dubbed the `Stop Soros` laws after
International Sukuk Co Ltd. and the liberal US billionaire George Soros,
third Pakistan International Sukuk Co accused by the government of
Ltd. The associated payment obligations orchestrating migration to Europe, the
are, in our view, direct obligations of package of legislation was voted
the government of Pakistan. through by 160 votes to 18.
7. US withdraws from UN Rights Council  The laws will bring in a punishment of
 US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and up to a year in prison for anyone
Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki convicted of helping a person who
Haley announced on June 20, 2018 entered Hungary illegally from outside
evening that Washington had decided the Schengen zone, and whose life
to withdraw from the United Nations wasn`t in immediate danger.
Human Rights Council, citing `failed  MPs also approved a change to the he
efforts to reform the body`s constitution stipulating that no
membership and do away with an authority is allowed to affect `the make-
agenda item focused on human rights` up of the Hungarian population`, a
in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian clause designed to prevent Hungary
territories. participating in any EU scheme for
 The 47-member Councilis the UN`s top mandatory refugee resettlement.
human rights body. 9. In dramatic turnaround, Trump orders
 This is the first time any country has end to family separations
voluntarily left the Human Rights  President Donald Trump ordered an
Council. The only other member to end to the separation of migrant
leave was Libya, whose membership children from their parents at the US
was suspended in 2011 after the UN border on June 20, 2018.
General Assembly deemed the  The spectacular about-face comes after
government responsible for human more than 2,300 children were stripped
rights violations. from their parents and adult relatives
 In recent years, Washington has played after illegally crossing the border since
an important role in addressing May 5 and placed in tent camps and
situations of concern at the Council, other facilities, with no way to contact
such as Sri Lanka and China, and in their relatives.
curbing the influence of authoritarian  Pictures and accounts of the
and repressive states. separations sparked outrage and a
rebellion among Republicans in Trump`s
own party, as well as international  Khalid Jawed who is the son of N.D.
accusation that the US was committing Khan a senior politician who also served
human rights violations. as the law minister during the second
10. 30 Afghan troops dead in Taliban government of PPP.
attacks  The newly appointed AG will serve
 Taliban fighters killed around 30 Afghan during the tenure of the government of
security forces in multiple attacks in caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk.
western Afghanistan, on June 20, 2018. 2. Over 140 transferred in massive
 Militants stormed at least two bases reshuffle in KP bureaucracy
belonging to government forces in  In a massive reshuffle, the Khyber
Badghis province overnight and Pakhtunkhwa caretaker government on
ambushed a convoy of reinforcements. June 21, 2018 transferred 141 officials
Officials said the group may have used including administrative secretaries,
the three-day truce, which ended commissioners and deputy
Sunday, to plan the attacks. commissioners.
 The Taliban claimed responsibility for  The provincial establishment
the attacks in a WhatsApp message to department earlier shared the lists with
journalists. the Election Commission of Pakistan,
 Provincial council chief Abdul Aziz Bek which approved the changes to be
confirmed the death toll and accused made.
the Taliban of taking advantage of the  The lists of the transferred officers
suspension in fighting to do shows that 20 of them are
reconnaissance in the area. administrative secretaries,
commissioners and directors, 18 deputy
June 22, 2018 commissioners and a large number of
additional deputy commissioners and
assistant commissioners.
1. Khalid Jawed new Attorney General for
 Administrative secretaries of the
Pakistan
administration, energy and power,
 Soon after the resignation of Attorney
labour, excise and taxation,
General Ashtar Ausaf Ali, the federal
environment, population welfare, law,
government on June 21, 2018
science and technology and information
appointed Khalid Jawed Khan from
departments and commissioners of
Karachi to fill the coveted post.
Hazara, Dera Ismail Khan, Mardan and
 Ìn exercise of powers conferred by
Bannu have been reshuffled.
Article 100(1) of the Constitution, the
3. US official reminds Pakistan it`s still on
president is pleased to appoint Mr
notice
Khalid Jawed as Attorney General for
 The United States has reminded
Pakistan with the rank and status of a
Pakistan that it`s still on notice to
Federal Minister with immediate
eliminate all terrorist sanctuaries from
effect,` said a notification issued by the
its territory, although relations between
law ministry on June 21, 2018.
the two countries show some signs of
improvement.
 The reminder conveyed by US Principal decided to keep it secret from the
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for public.
South and Central Asian Affairs Alice G.  The charismatic Ardern follows Prime
Wells at a congressional hearing on Minister Benazir Bhutto in 1990 as the
June 20, 2018 reemphasizes the point only women in modern history to give
that Washington never fails to mention birth while in power, but she
the need for Pakistan to eliminate downplayed the significance.
terrorism.  Ms Bhutto gave birth in January 1990 to
 `Pakistan is on notice that we expect its her daughter Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari,
unequivocal cooperation ending who now describes herself on Twitter
sanctuaries that the Tabban have as the `1st child born to a sitting female
enjoyed since the remnants of their Prime Minister`.
toppled regime fled into Pakistan in 6. Amir Khan launches Super Boxing
2001,` said Ms Wells while reviewing League
one year of the Trump administration`s  British boxer Amir Khan launched the
South Asia Strategy. Super Boxing League (SBL) on June 21,
 Pakistan has rejected these allegations 2018.
as unfounded and has urged  Two-time world champion Amir Khan is
Washington not to blame Islamabad for promoting the event backed by British
its failures in Afghanistan. business tycoon Bill Dosanjh.
4. Veteran diplomat Marker is no more  Khan and CEO ARY Digital Network
 Veteran diplomat Jamsheed Kekobad Salman Iqbal, who also owns Pakistan
Ardeshir Marker, better known as Super League franchise Karachi Kings,
Jamsheed Marker, passed away on June will jointly serve as the league`s
21, 2018. He was 95. chairman which is set to feature eight
 Mr Marker served for three decades teams owned by cricketing and showbiz
and in his long career he remained celebrities.
posted in more countries than any  The teams are named after major cities
other diplomat. of the country including Karachi,
5. New Zealand PM gives birth to baby Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar,
girl Faisalabad, Multan, Sialkot and Quetta.
 New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Each team will comprise of 10 men and
Ardern gave birth to a baby girl in an two women boxers.
Auckland on June 21, 2018, becoming  Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid
only the second world leader to do so Afridi owns Pakhtoon Warriors,
while in office. legendary pacer Wasim Akram bought
 It was the first child for the 37-year-old Multan Nawabs, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
and her40-year-old partner Clarke owns Faisalabad Falcons, while Iqbal
Gayford, with the new arrival weighing and actor Fahad Mustafa jointly own
in at 3.3 kilograms (7.3 pounds). Karachi Cobras.
 Ardern and Gayford, who hosts a  Super Boxing League will be organised
television fishing show, had known the in association with Punjab Sports Board
sex of the baby for several months but (PSB) and World Boxing Council (WBC)
from September 28 to November 3 at  Downward-facing dogs, cobras and
the Amir Khan Boxing Academy in warriors sprouted all over Asia on June
Islamabad. 21, 2018, including high in the
7. International Agri Expo-2018 from June Himalayas, up in the air and under the
23, 2018 sea, for International Yoga Day.
 Punjab Agriculture Department will  Yoga has boomed in recent decades,
host a two-day International Agri Expo- with millions - perhaps up to 300 million
2018 from June 23 to 24, 2018, at - practising it regularly, although in the
Lahore Expo Centre. West it is often more of a gymnastic
 The expo would help provide an than a spiritual activity.
opportunity to international 10. Netanyahu’s wife charged with
stakeholders to enhance the export of $100,000 food delivery fraud
agricultural products to Pakistan.  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
 Expo would be an ultimate opportunity Netanyahu’s wife Sara was charged
for growers, processors and exporters June 21, 2018 with fraud and breach of
to develop national as well as trust after a lengthy probe into
international linkages. allegations she misused state funds to
8. Koko, gorilla who used sign language, claim for delivery meals costing
dies $100,000.
 Koko, a western lowland gorilla said to  The move represents the latest legal
have mastered American Sign headache for Netanyahu and his family,
Language, has died aged 46 on June 21, as the authorities investigate the
2018. combative leader over allegations of
 Koko was among a handful of primates corruption in a string of eye-catching
who could communicate using sign cases.
language; others included Washoe, a  The justice ministry announced that
female chimpanzee in Washington “the Jerusalem district prosecutor filed
state, and Chantek, a male orangutan in charges against the prime minister’s
Atlanta. Her keepers said she wife”. The ministry said Sara
understood some spoken English, too. Netanyahu, who turns 60 in November,
 While some scientists questioned the was accused of falsely declaring there
sign language claim, the `talking` were no cooks available at the
lowland gorilla nevertheless became an premier’s official residence and
ambassador for her species, which is ordering “hundreds of meals from
threatened by logging and poaching in outside caterers at public expense”.
their native habitats in central Africa.  From 2010 to 2013 Netanyahu, her
 Koko was born Hanabi-ko (Japanese for family and guests received
`fireworks child`) on July 4, 1971, at the “fraudulently from the state hundreds
San Francisco Zoo. Dr Francine of prepared meals (each including a
Patterson began working with Koko the number of courses) to the value of
following year and taught her sign 359,000 shekels ($99,700)”, the
language. indictment read.
9. Int’l Yoga Day stretches around world
Support Programme (BISP) Marvi
June 23, 2018 Memon from her office.
 A notification issued by the government
said Ms Memon had been removed
1. Cabinet sanctions tax amnesty scheme
from her office.
 The caretaker government has
 Former MNA Memon, served as head of
endorsed the amnesty scheme
the BISP for over three years replacing
introduced by the PML-N government,
Enver Baig in Feb 2015.
and has approved the rules issued in
3. SBP launches deposit protection
the plan.
mechanism
 The decision was taken by the federal
 The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on
cabinet at a meeting held at the PM
June 22, 2018 launched the Deposit
Office with Caretaker Prime Minister
Protection Corporation (DPC) to provide
Nasirul Mulk in the chair.
protection for the depositors in the
 `Government of Pakistan`s US Dollars event of a bank failure.
Denominated Amnesty Bonds Rules,
 The DPC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
2018 were approved by the cabinet,`
SBP and is a deposit protection
said an official press release issued by
mechanism for depositors. The
the PMO.
protected amount has been determined
 Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan
to be Rs250,000 per depositor per bank.
Abbasi had announced the amnesty
 The establishment of DPC was
scheme in January this year,
envisaged as one of the important
encouraging Pakistanis to declare their
objectives in SBP`s strategic plan 2016-
foreign assets.
2020 under the strategic goal titled
 The government had also offered `strengthen the financial system
reduced rates to broaden the tax base
stability regime`. The idea of
and address the challenges to the
introducing deposit insurance was first
economy.
introduced through the IMF facility that
 The scheme a one-time allowance was Pakistan signed in November 2008. It
approved by both the Senate and the has been a work in progress ever since.
National Assembly.  The financial system faced a severe
 In a separate decision, the federal liquidity crunch in those days,
cabinet approved the signing of a prompting extraordinary steps from the
memorandum of understanding SBP to shore it up. Even though a bank
between Pakistan and Sudan for failure did not occur, the experience
cooperation in human resource was enough to put deposit protection
development. onto the policy radar.
2. Marvi Memon removed as BISP
 Establishment of a formal deposit
chairperson protection scheme will be beneficial for
 As demanded by two mainstream Pakistan as it will build up sizable funds,
political parties, the caretaker through premium payments from banks
government on June 22, 2018 removed that can be used to provide immediate
chairperson of the Benazir Income
liquidity to small depositors in case of a 6. Pakistan has done enough, Islamabad
bank failure. tells Washington\
4. Ali Jahangir presents credentials to  Pakistan has told the United States that
President Trump it had done enough against terror and
 Pakistan's new Ambassador to the being ‘on notice’ was unfair.
United States Ali Jahangir Siddiqui  Senior officials at the foreign ministry
presented his credentials to US told that Pakistan had contacted the US
President Donald Trump. and protested after Bureau of South
 He assumed charge as ambassador to and Central Asian Affairs Principal
the United States on 30th May 2018. Deputy Assistant Secretary Alice Wells’
 Earlier in March 2018, Ali Jahangir, son statement that Pakistan was still ‘on
of a famous banker and businessman notice’.
Jahangir Siddiqui, had been appointed  One official said: “We have told the US
as Pakistan's envoy to the United States that Pakistan had done enough against
(US). terrorism and it deserved medals rather
 He was appointed as the special than notices.” He added: “Washington
assistant to Prime minister last year. He has appreciated Pakistan’s role against
had given the status of minister of terrorism but repeated the ‘do more’
State. mantra.”
 The newly appointed ambassador to  Earlier, Wells said Pakistan was still on
the US has been named among the notice on the question of taking
Young Global Leaders by the World decisive action against terror outfits.
Economic Forum 2014. Ali Jahangir She asked Pakistan to work towards
holds degree the in Economics from elimination of all terrorist sanctuaries
Cornell University, US. from its territory
5. Musharraf resigns as APML chairman 7. Cabinet accepts Baitul Mal MD’s
 Newly named chief Dr Amjad says Mush resignation
to remain patron-in-chief  An official statement said the cabinet
 Former military president general (retd) accepted the resignation of Managing
Pervez Musharraf has resigned as Director Pakistan Baitul Mal Barrister
chairman of All Pakistan Muslim League Abid Waheed Sheikh and approved the
(APML). giving additional charge of Baitul Mal to
 Verdict was later challenged on the additional secretary Cabinet
Musharraf’s behalf in the Supreme Division.
Court, which had issued a directive 8. UNHCR appreciates Pakistan for
earlier this month allowing him to file hosting millions of Afghan refugees
his nomination papers only if he  The United Nations High Commissioner
returned and was present in the court for Refugees has appreciated the
hearing on June 13 in Lahore, people and government of Pakistan for
cautioning that the fate of the papers hosting millions of Afghan refugees for
would be subject to the final decision in the last four decades.
the present case.  UNHCR’s Representative, Ms.
Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, urged
international community to support  World's best six teams compete in the
Afghan refugees and their host Champions Trophy and this year's line-
communities in Pakistan. up include reigning Olympic champions
 German Development Cooperation Argentina, world no.1 Australia,
Country Director in Pakistan, Tobias Belgium, hosts Netherlands, Pakistan
Becker said, Germany is committed to besides India. Even though India (6th)
continue its support to Pakistan in are way ahead of Pakistan (13th) in the
managing one of the most protracted world rankings, but there is hardly any
refugee situations in the world. gap between the two teams when it
9. Greece hails 'historic' deal to end debt comes to the head-to-head contests.
crisis  It is the final edition of the Champions
 Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Trophy and Pakistan have the inaugural
June 24, 2018 hailed an agreement by title of the competition to their name.
Eurozone ministers that will put an end
to the country's eight-year bailout June 24, 2018
program as an "historic" step.
 Eurozone states declared the severe
1. Six militants killed in South Waziristan
debt crisis that has weighed heavy on
operation
the country since 2010 to be over,
 A gunfight between suspected terrorists
allowing Athens to escape some of the
and security forces left six militants,
supervision of its creditors from August.
including a `high value target`, dead
 Wearing a tie for the first time since
while two soldiers were martyred in
becoming prime minister in 2015 after
Ladha tehsil of South Waziristan tribal
pledging to wear one only when
district on June 23, 2018.
Greece's debt was cut Tsipras told a
celebratory meeting of coalition  The Inter-Services Public Relations
(ISPR) said in a statement that security
lawmakers on Friday night that the
forces conducted a successful
country could return to being a "social
intelligence based operation in Spina
state".
Mela village in South Waziristan. The
 Coming nearly a decade after Greece's
operation was carried out in the area
finances spun out of control, sparking
dominated by Mehsud tribe.
three bailouts and threatening the
country's euro membership, he earlier  It said the IBO was launched on reports
declared the deal as an "historic of presence of some terrorists, who had
entered the area along with temporarily
agreement".
displaced persons returning from
10. Pakistan vs India opens Champions
Afghanistan. After an exchange of fire,
Trophy’s last edition
six terrorists including the high value
 The 37th and last edition of the Hockey
target Nanakar were killed. During
Champions Trophy will kick off in grand
theexchange, Havaldar Razzaq Khan
manner as Pakistan take on arch-rivals
and Havaldar Mumtaz Hussain
India June 23, 2018 at the BH & BC
embraced martyrdom.
Breda in Netherlands.
2. Pakistani Taliban choose Noor Wali as was killed in a US airstrike in 2009 in
new chief South Waziristan.
 The Pakistani Taliban announced they 3. Direct flight links China's Xinjiang,
had appointed a religious scholar as Lahore
their new leader on June 23, 2018 after  A new direct flight linking Urumqi,
the militant group confirmed for the capital of northwest China's Xinjiang
first time its former chief Mullah Uyghur Autonomous Region, and
Fazlullah was killed in a US drone strike Lahore has been launched.
last week.  A Boeing 737-800 aircraft is scheduled
 US forces targeted Fazlullah in a to depart from Urumqi at 8 am every
counterterrorism strike on June 14 in Thursday and Sunday, and will arrive in
Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province, Lahore at 8:15am local time on the
close to the border with Pakistan. same days.
 US officials had not confirmed whether  The journey takes around three hours.
the strike was successful but Afghan The return flight will take off at 9:35am
President Ashraf Ghani later confirmed local time and arrive in Urumqi at
the killing to Pakistan’s leader and army 3:20pm
chief in phone calls. 4. NA-182 independent candidate
 The 40-year-old Noor Wali Mehsud is a declares Rs403b assets
respected Islamic scholar or mufti as  Muhammad Hussain alias Munna
well as a fighter, and belongs to the Sheikh, an independent candidate from
fierce Mehsud tribe in South Waziristan Muzaffargarh's NA-182, shocked
district. everyone after he declared his assets
 He was the Pakistani Taliban’s chief worth Rs403 billion. Alarmingly, the
justice and authored a book last year candidate despite possessing a large
detailing the assassination plot of the amount of money does not pay taxes.
country’s former Prime Minister Benazir  In his affidavit, Hussain said he had 350
Bhutto in December 2007. acres land, gardens, three houses and
 Mehsud hails from Sararogha, a Taliban household appliances. The candidate
stronghold where Pakistan’s military said that political representatives
has fought many pitched battles against contest elections while concealing their
fighters from the group in the past assets and deceiving the public.
years.  He said he had revealed his assets with
 Mehsud is reported to have studied in complete honesty. The man also
various seminaries in Pakistani cities of appealed to the chief justice of Pakistan
Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Karachi. He to order probing assets of all the
is also known as Abu Mansoor Asim. politicians of the country.
 He fought against the Northern Alliance 5. Argentina gets first $15b from IMF
in Afghanistan in 1990 along with  Argentina has received $15 billion, the
Afghan Mujahideen fighters. first tranche of a $50 billion loan from
 Mehsud had also served as deputy of the International Monetary Fund to
TTP founder Baitullah Mehsud, who help stabilize its fragile economy.
 Following a currency crisis in April and task force, the Politico website
May, the IMF announced the $50 billion reported, citing an internal document it
standby loan in early June after Latin had obtained.
America's third largest economy sought  Reflecting the breadth and complexity
help to bolster market confidence of the challenge, the document orders
 Argentina has a bitter history with the the department`s preparedness and
global crisis lender, which many response office which deals with
Argentines view as having imposed emergencies and public health disasters
tough conditions that worsened to assist its refugee resettlement office
economic pain 17 years ago with the effort
6. Iraq killed 45 IS jihadists in Syria strike 8. India thrash ‘goalkeeper-less’ Pakistan
 Iraq said June 23, 2018 it had killed 45 4-0 in CT opener
jihadists from the Islamic State group,  India thrashed Pakistan on Friday to get
including senior members, in an air their Champions Trophy campaign off
strike in eastern Syria, the second such and running at Breda in The
operation in less than a month. Netherlands on June 23, 2018.
 Iraqi F-16 fighter jets carried out a  While Team India registered a
"successful strike targeting a meeting of comprehensive 4-0, the last two goals
Daesh (IS) leaders" on Friday in the were scored after Pakistan withdrew
Hajin region, in the eastern Syrian their goalkeeper Imran Butt. In second
province of Deir Ezzor, a military match of the day, Argentina defeated
statement said. Among those killed, it host The Netherlands 2-1.
said, were a senior member of the  Trailing 2-0, Pakistan were forced to
jihadists' "ministry of war", his deputy, withdraw its goalie for an extra player
a local commander and a media official. with four minutes left on the clock as
There was no independent confirmation they hoped to turn things around. The
7. US sets up task force to reunite move, however, backfired as Indian
migrant families pumped in two more goals in an open
 A US task force has been set up to net in a span of three minutes to
reunify migrant families divided at the register the convincing win.
Mexican border under President Donald 9. 2,000-year-old remains of ‘sleeping
Trump`s `zero tolerance` approach, a beauty’ found
report said, as opposition Democrats on  The 2,000-year-old remains of a
June 23, 2018 kept up the pressure ‘sleeping beauty’ buried in lavish
against a `barbaric` policy. clothes and carrying gifts for the
 Trump ordered an end to the family afterlife have been found under a
separations which have sparked Russian reservoir.
domestic and global outrage, but the  The woman - laid to rest in a silk skirt
fate of the more than 2,300 separated and with a pouch of pine nuts on her
children remains unclear. chest - was accidentally mummified as
 US Secretary of Health and Human her impervious stone tomb naturally
Services (HHS) Alex Azar issued an order preserved her body.
on Friday to create the reunification
 Scientists believe several high-value  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advocate General
items found in the grave, including a Abdul Lateef Yousafzai has resigned
gemstone buckle on a beaded belt and after around five years on the job.
a Chinese-style mirror found in the  Mr Yousafzai, an advocate in the
woman’s make-up box, were placed Supreme Court, submitted his
there to accompany her to the afterlife. resignation to KP Governor Iqbal Zafar
 Archaeologists speculate she was a Jhagra on June 24, 2018. He was
young ‘Hun woman’ and hope to appointed by the former KP
understand more about her life as they government in Sept 2013.
continue to analyse the well-preserved  Among legal circles Mr Yousafzai is
remains. regarded as a competent lawyer. He
 The woman’s grave was found on the defended the KP government in a
shoreline of the River Yenisei when a number of high-profile cases, especially
reservoir, upstream of the 794-foot on petitions challenging the enactment
(240m) Sayano-Shushenskaya of the Ehtesab Commission Act, 2014,
hydroelectricity dam, experienced a and the KP Medical Teaching
significant drop in water level. Institutions Reforms Act, 2015.
10. 75m-years-old ancient lizard fossil 2. Erdogan declares victory in Turkey`s
discovered presidential polls
 Paleontologists have discovered a  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
shockingly well-preserved fossil of a declared victory in a tightly-contested
previously unknown ancient lizard. presidential election on June 24, 2018
 The marine lizard is a dolichosaur, in the face of a revitalised opposition.
related to snakes and mosasaurs, and is  Erdogan had just under 53 per cent
believed to have lived about 70 million while Ince, of the secular Republican
to 75 million years ago. Peoples Party (CHP), was on 31 percent,
 Scientists named it Primitivus based on a 96 percent vote count.
manduriensis after the Manduria  Turkish voters had for the first time cast
variety of red wine grape primitivo local ballots for both president and
to Puglia, Italy, where it was found. It parliament in the snap polls, with
was found in an area that used to be Erdogan looking for a first round
shallow water. knockout and an overall majority for his
 When it died, the creature fell into the ruling Justice and Development Party
bottom and was covered in sediment, (AKP).
safe from water that would have  The stakes in this election are
scattered its remains. particularly high as the new president
will be the first to enjoy enhanced
June 25, 2018 powers under a new constitution
agreed in an April 2017 referendum
strongly backed by Erdogan.
1. KP Advocate General resigns 3. Pakistan to launch observatory
satellite next month
 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June restricting when and how they move
24, 2018 announced the launch of around.
Pakistan`s indigenously developed  But after midnight on June 24, 2018,
285kg PakTES-1A observatory satellite Saudi women finally joined women
in July. around the world in being able to get
 Fitted with sensors and cameras, behind the wheel of a car and simply
PakTES-1A will remain stationary 610km drive.
in space and its position relative to the  In 1990, during the first driving
sun will not change. campaign by activists, women who
 Foreign Office spokesman Dr drove in the capital, Riyadh, lost their
Muhammad Faisal congratulated jobs, faced severe stigmatization and
Pakistani scientists in a tweet, saying were barred from travel abroad for a
they had made Pakistanis proud. year.
 Known as the Remote Sensing Satellite 5. Pak soldier martyred in cross-border
(RSS) it can be used to study various firing
features of Earth, determine mineral  A soldier of Pakistan Army embraced
deposits, and depending on the kinds of martyrdom during a cross-border fire
sensors and gadgets fitted, the RSS on a border fencing party along Pak-
technology can also help study impacts Afghan border in North Waziristan on
of climate change such as recession of June 24, 2018.
melting glaciers, green house gasses,  The martyred soldier, sepoy Niaz Ali, 29,
detect foresthres and even solve hailed from Mardan. The attack also left
problems related to agriculture as well a junior commissioned officer injured.
as forestry, besides a whole range of  DG ISPR Asif Ghafoor said that; a total
passive and active tasks. The navigation of 2,611 kilometres of Pak-Afghan
technology for the satellite was border will be fenced, which include
acquired from China back in 2012. 1,43 kilometres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
 India has been launching such and 1,268 kilometres in Balochistan.
observatory satellite since the 1970s. Fencing of 225 kilometres has been
4. Saudi women hit the road with a completed, while another patch of 397
vengeance kilometres will be completed this year.
 Saudi women steered their cars through  443 forts and border check posts are
busy streets for the first time on June being constructed along the Pakistan-
24, 2018 after the world`s last Afghanistan border. 156 forts and check
remaining ban on women driving was posts have been completed, while 30
lifted. others are under construction.
 It`s a historic moment for women who 6. China, Tajikistan launch $200m mining
have had to rely on their husbands, venture
fathers, brothers and drivers to run  China and Tajikistan embarked on a
basic errands, get to work, visit friends new $200 million gold and antimony
or even drop kids off at school. The ban mining venture June 24, 2018, the Tajik
had relegated women to the backseat, presidential press service said, as
Beijing expands its hold over the
impoverished Central Asian country's for strict order. But some Singaporeans
mineral resources. thought welcoming the mercurial
 On June 24, 2018 a groundbreaking leaders was more an annoyance than
ceremony was held for a mine that is an honour, particularly when Prime
expected to produce its first gold and Minister Lee Hsien Loong estimated the
antimony in 2020. The venture between tiny state would have to shell out Sg$20
Tajikistan's state-owned aluminium million ($14.7 million) to host the
smelter Talco and Chinese company meeting.
Tibet Huayu Mining Co., Ltd is expected 8. William heads for historic ME tour
to produce 1.5 tons of gold annually  Prince William flies to Jordan on June
and 16,000 tons of antimony. 24, 2018 on a trip that will see him
 China has acquired rights to a number become the first member of Britain’s
of mineral concessions in Tajikistan in royal family to pay an official visit to
recent years, some in exchange for both Israel and the Palestinian
Chinese loans and investment in other territories.
areas of the economy.  The 36-year-old Duke of Cambridge
 This year another Chinese company touches down in Amman for a first leg
TBEA acquired the rights to operate a billed as a chance to bond with Jordan’s
mine in Tajikistan's northern Sugd Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, 23,
region as partial compensation for its a fellow graduate of Britain’s Royal
construction of a power plant. Sandhurst Military Academy.
7. Singapore spent $12m on US-N Korea  The second in line to the British throne
summit will then head to Israel to begin his
 Singapore said June 24, 2018 it spent history-making visit to the Jewish state
Sg$16.3 million ($12 million) on the and occupied West Bank. He will hold
historic US-North Korea summit, adding talks with both Israel’s Prime Minister
it was less than initially anticipated Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian
after some in the city-state complained president Mahmoud Abbas.
about the high cost.  Kensington Palace has underlined the
 US President Donald Trump and the "non-political nature of His Royal
North's leader Kim Jong Un met in Highness’s role -- in common with all
Singapore on June 12 for talks aimed at royal visits overseas". But the region is a
ending a tense nuclear standoff. minefield of sensitivities. The visit
 The meeting was the culmination of a comes at a particularly volatile time
rapid detente between Pyongyang and after US President Donald Trump
Washington and saw Kim commit to recognised Occupied al-Quds as capital
working towards denuclearisation, of Israel and moved Washington’s
although critics noted the summit embassy there, sparking Arab outrage
agreement was vague and non-binding. and deadly clashes.
 Singapore, an affluent financial hub, 9. Pro-Palestinian, Shoah survivor Langer
was seen as a good choice for the dies at 87
summit due to its warm ties with both  Felicia Langer, an Israeli-German
the US and North Korea, and reputation Holocaust survivor who won both
plaudits and attacks for her activism Bollywood’s timeless beauty and has
and legal work in defence of acted in more than 180 films in a career
Palestinians, has died aged 87 in spanning over 50 years.
Germany
 She rose to prominence in the 1960s June 26, 2018
and 70s defending Palestinian detainees
from the occupied West Bank and Gaza
1. International Day Against Drug Abuse
Strip, also authoring several books
and Illicit Trafficking, 26 June
highly critical of Israeli forces. The left-
wing activist -- who drew much scorn  By resolution 42/112 of 7 December
1987, the General Assembly decided to
for calling Israel an "apartheid" state --
observe 26 June as the International
in 1990 emigrated to Germany, where
Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit
she became a citizen in 2008. Langer
Trafficking as an expression of its
was awarded the 1990 Right Livelihood
award, sometimes dubbed the determination to strengthen action and
Alternative Nobel Prize, and in 2009 cooperation to achieve the goal of an
international society free of drug abuse.
Germany’s Federal Cross of Merit by
then president Horst Koehler.  Supported each year by individuals,
10. Bangkok hosts Indian film industry’s communities and various organizations
biggest annual event all over the world, this global
observance aims to raise awareness of
 Thailand’s capital hosted the Indian film
the major problem that illicit drugs
industry’s biggest annual event, with
represent to society
awards given to top Bollywood actors
and movies, and dazzling performances  Building on the success of last year, the
by Indian artists. theme for 2018 is: "Listen First -
 The International Indian Film Academy Listening to children and youth is the
first step to help them grow healthy
Awards has been held in cities around
and safe." It is an initiative to increase
the world since its inception in 2000 to
support for prevention of drug use that
celebrate the Hindi-language film
is based on science and is thus an
industry globally.
effective investment in the well-being
 This year’s three-day extravaganza,
of children and youth, their families and
which ran June 22 through June 24,
their communities.
2018 in Bangkok, witnessed the star-
studded presentation of awards to  The UN General Assembly held a Special
Bollywood’s outstanding films and Session (UNGASS) on drugs in April
2016. This Special Session marked an
performers of 2017.
important milestone in achieving the
 Past editions of the IIFA Awards were
goals set in the policy document of
held in places including New York,
2009 "Political Declaration and Plan of
Toronto, Johannesburg, Amsterdam,
Action on International Cooperation
Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai.
towards an Integrated and Balanced
 The highly acclaimed actress Rekha was
Strategy to Counter the World Drug
among the participants this year. The
Problem", which defined action to be
64-year-old star is known as
taken by Member States as well as  The services of total 264 officials had
goals to be achieved by 2019. been handed over to the departments
2. Pak-Afghan Track-II hails move to end concerned.
blame game  It said only those officials had been
 A PakAfghan Track-II initiative on June retained in the CM Office who were
25, 2018 welcomed the commitment by deemed necessary for running the
the two countries to ending blame affairs of the caretaker government.
game and urged both sides to restrain 4. Finance minister in Paris to fight for
their spokespersons from giving `knee- Pakistan’s case over ‘Grey List’
jerk` reactions.  A Pakistani delegation led by interim
 The third episode of `Pakistan- Finance Minister Shamshad Akhter is in
Afghanistan Joint Committee (PAJC), Paris to present Pakistan’s case before
Beyond Boundaries`, which was held in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
Kabul on June 24, 2018, welcomed during a meeting on June 25, 2018.
commitment by both governments to  Pakistan is expected to be placed on the
ref rain from public blame games as FATF grey list during the crucial six-day
they pursue the new dialogue meeting from June 24th to 29th in
framework. Paris.
 Centre for Research and Security  Akhter will apprise the anti-terror
Studies hosts the Pakistan part of the financing body of measures that
initiative. Pakistan has taken to stop money
 Recently, the two governments had laundering and strangling the terror
agreed on a new framework for financing.
bilateral relations called the  As a part of efforts to implement the
Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for FATF counter-terrorist financing
Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS). The operational plan adopted in February
commencement of the new this year, on June 20, the Securities and
arrangement has been promising and Exchange Commission of Pakistan
seems to have provided the basis on issued the ‘Anti Money Laundering and
which the two sides could build their Countering Financing of Terrorism
rapprochement. Regulations 2018’.
3. 264 officials sent back to their depts  Moreover, Pakistan also took measures
from CM office in keeping with FATF regulations. In this
 On the instructions of caretaker Chief regard, on June 20, the Securities and
Minister Dr Hassan Askari, Exchange Commission of Pakistan
implementation of austerity policy has (SECP) issued ‘Anti Money Laundering
been started in the CM Office. and Countering Financing of Terrorism
 Under this policy, 151 officers and other Regulations 2018’, following FATF’s
staff deputed in the office have been recommendations.
sent back to their respective  In the past, from 2012 to 2015, Pakistan
departments, while services of 113 was placed on the FATF grey list.
other officers and staff were also Whereas, FATF is a global body that
returned to their departments.
work against terrorist financing and and prohibited any training of, or
money laundering. cooperation with Myanmar`s armed
5. Erdogan secures sweeping powers as forces.
rival accepts defeat  The sanctions, first reported by Reuters
 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in April, also mark a shift in diplomacy
on June 26, 2018 celebrated winning by the EU, which suspended its
five more years in office with sweeping restrictive measures on the Southeast
new powers after a decisive election Asian country in 2012 to support its
victory, as his main rival accepted the partial shift to democratic governance
outcome despite bitter complaints over in recent years.
the conduct of the campaign.  But the plight of the Rohingya Muslims
 A night of triumph for Erdogan saw the in Rakhine State, which the United
man who has dominated Turkey for the Nations denounced as ethnic cleansing
last 15 years declared winner of 23rd by the military, has soured relations.
June’s presidential poll without needing Yangon rejects all accusations of
a second round and lead his ruling wrongdoing.
party-led alliance to an overall majority  Last December, the United States
in parliament. imposed sanctions in response to the
 Erdogan, whose victory was wider than crackdown on the Rohingya minority in
predicted by many analysts, vowed to Rakhine. These included sanctions on
"rapidly" implement the new Major General Maung Maung Soe, who
presidential system agreed in an April was transferred late last year from his
2017 referendum that opponents fear post as the head of Western Command
will give him autocratic powers and in Rakhine, where Myanmar`s military
could keep him in office for another launched a sweeping counter-
decade. insurgency operation in August.
 The new system creates a vertical of 7. Prince William arrives in Israel for first-
power with Erdogan at the top, giving ever royal visit
him the power to appoint cabinet  Prince William arrived in Israel on June
ministers and dispensing with the office 26, 2018 for the first-ever official visit of
of prime minister. a member of the British royal family to
6. EU penalises Myanmar generals for the tumultuous region London once
Rohingya violations ruled.
 The European Union imposed sanctions  Arriving from neighbouring Jordan, the
on seven senior military officials from Duke of Cambridge landed at Israel`s
Myanmar on June 25, 2018, including Ben-Gurion International Airport and
the general in charge of an operation then departed to Jerusalem, where he
accused of driving nearly 700,000 will stay at King David Hotel, site of the
Rohingya Muslims to flee to former administrative headquarters of
Bangladesh. the British mandate.
 The seven face asset freezes and are  Three decades of British rule between
banned from travelling to the EU, after the two world wars helped establish
the bloc extended an arms embargo some of the fault lines of today`s Israeli
Palestinian conflict, and Britain`s government needs more time to look at
withdrawal in 1948 led to the eventual the proposal before putting pen to
establishment of Israel and Jordan. paper, Parly said, insisting it was à
Britain has since taken a back seat to question of details, not substance`.
the US in mediating peace efforts, and 9. China developing an army of robot spy
the royal family has mostly steered doves
clear of the region`s toxic politics.  China is stepping-up its mass
 The prince arrived from Jordan, where surveillance, with a flock of camera-
he kicked off his five-day Middle East equipped drones designed to look like
tour by meeting young scientists, doves.
refugees and political leaders. He was  The surveillance drones are fitted with
hosted by Crown Prince Hussein, 23, a flapping wings, allowing them to swoop,
member of the Hashemite dynasty dive and glide just like the real thing.
Britain helped install in then- The robotic spies are almost
Transjordan almost a century ago. indistinguishable from real doves and
8. Nine EU countries sign up for European have even been spotted flying in flocks
military intervention plan of real birds – helping them to avoid
 Nine EU countries on June 25, 2018 detection from radar.
signed up to a French plan for a  More than 30 military and government
European defence intervention group, agencies have already deployed the
including Britain which backs the birdlike drones to spy on the
measure as a way to maintain strong population.
security ties with the bloc after Brexit.  China has deployed some of its
 The idea is for the so-called European surveillance drones over the country’s
Intervention Initiative to be able to lead westerly region of Xinjiang Uygur, which
humanitarian crisis efforts and borders with Mongolia, Russia,
evacuation operations as well as take Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
on conventional military duties. Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
 The scheme is separate from other EU  This area is home to a large Muslim
defence cooperation, meaning there population, and is viewed by the
would be no obstacle to Britain taking government as a hotbed for separatism,
part after it leaves the bloc at the end according to the South China Morning
of March next year. Post.
 France, Britain, Germany, Belgium, 10. Berlin museum returns Nazi-looted
Denmark, the Netherlands, Estonia, treasure
Portugal and Spain all signed up for the  A Berlin museum June 25, 2018 said it
EII, which French President Emmanuel had formally restituted a 15th century
Macron hopes will prove more effective religious wooden sculpture to the heirs
than the EU`s four military `battle of former owners, a Jewish couple who
groups` set up in 2007 but never fled the Nazi regime.
deployed due to political bickering.  The heirs in turn agreed to sell back the
 A tenth country, Italy, has also agreed medieval artifact, "Three Angels with
but its new right-wing populist the Christ Child", at an undisclosed
price to the Bode Museum, which will  The Constitution authorises the
keep it in its collection. Caretaker Cabinet to approve
 The delicately carved 25 centimetre (10 expenditure for up to the four months
inch) tall sculpture from around 1430 from the Provincial Consolidated Fund.
shows three floating angels in the  Caretaker Minister for Finance Zia
clouds holding a cloth on which lies the Haider Rizvi, said that 10 percent raise
sleeping infant Jesus. has been approved in basic pay with
 It once belonged to the private revision of house rent allowance on the
collection of Ernst Saulmann, a Jewish lines of federal government budget.
industrialist, and his wife Agathe, an Similarly, 10 percent increase in
architect's daughter who was one of pension has also been declared, he
the few female pilots of her era. As added.
Adolf Hitler's thugs stepped up their  Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Dr
campaign to terrorise Jews, the couple Hasan Askari presided over the
fled Nazi repression in late 1935, provincial cabinet meeting, which gave
initially for Italy. The Nazis confiscated approval to four month budget of the
their wealth, including their land and fiscal year 2018-19
business, a mechanised cotton mill, as 2. FBR chief transferred amid
well as their private library, art bureaucracy shake-up
collection and Agathe's plane.  The caretaker government on June 26,
 The more than 100 artworks were sold 2018 transferred some top bureaucrats
off at a Munich auction in 1936. at the Federal Board of Revenue,
 The couple were interned in France in establishment division and information
Camp Gurs, where Ernst Saulmann's and interior ministries.
health severely deteriorated. He died a  More than 2,000 provincial bureaucrats
year after the war ended, in 1946. have been reshuffled so far. The PML-N
 Agathe, having suffered depression government during its five-year tenure
after the horrors she endured, had posted blue-eyed bureaucrats in
committed suicide in 1951. the federal secretariat, but the interim
government seems reluctant to make
June 27, 2018 
changes in the top bureaucracy.
FBR chairman Tariq Mehmood Pasha,
has been transferred and posted as
1. Punjab caretaker govt approves statistics division secretary. He was
Rs693b budget for 4 months replaced by Rukhsana Yasmin. Ms
 The Punjab caretaker government on Yasmin became the first female head of
June 26, 2018 approved Rs693 billion this important tax department. Both
Budget for the period of four months will assume their new jobs from July 1
under the Article 126 of the  According to notification issued by the
Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Establishment Division, Rizwan Memon
Pakistan. has been transferred and posted as
 Expenditure control steps approved | secretary power.
Focus on health, education sectors
 Former inspector general (IG) Saeed as secretary National Health
Islamabad Sultan Azam Taimuri has Services, Regulations and Coordination
been posted as member of the National Division.
Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta).  Sardar Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera has been
 All the four provincial chief secretaries, posted as secretary of Federal
who had been awaiting posting, were Education and Professional Training
given slots in the federal secretariat. Division.
Former chief secretary of Punjab retired 3. First visually impaired civil judge takes
Capt Zahid Saeed was posted as oath
secretary National Health Services,  The country’s first visually impaired civil
Regulations; former chief secretary of judge, Yousaf Saleem, on June 26, 2018
Sindh Rizwan Memon as power division took oath of his office along with 20
secretary; former chief secretary of other recently appointed judicial
Balochistan Aurangzeb Hague as officers in Punjab.
establishment division secretary and  Lahore High Court Chief Justice
former chief secretary of Khyber Muhammad Yawar Ali administered the
Pakhtunkhwa was posted as additional oath to the civil judges at a ceremony
secretary (in charge), states and frontier held at the Punjab Judicial Academy.
region.  The other civil judges who took oath
 Secretary Establishment Division included Sardar Umar Hassan Khan,
Maroof Afzal has been posted as Saba Qamar, Naseem Akhtar Naz, Maira
Industries and Production secretary, Hassan, Qamar Abbas, Ehsan Nawaz,
Yousaf Naseem Khokar as secretary Muhammad Bilal, Muhammad Amir
interior, and Sanaullah Abbasi as IG Sultan Kolachi, Muhammad Abbas,
Gilgit-Baltistan. Sumaira Jabbar, Ali Raza, Muhammad
 Likewise, Sabir Ahmed has been Bilal Khan, Muhammad Tariq, Rasheed
directed to report to Establishment Khan, Obaid Hassan, Sana Afzal,
Division. The interim government has Mansoor Ahmad, Allah Nawaz,
appointed Rukhsana Yasmin as FBR Muhammad Zubair Sabir, Muhammad
chairperson. Javed Iqbal and Shaheen Noor.
 Muhammad Ayub Sheikh is transferred  Lahore-based Saleem was initially
and posted as secretary of Kashmir denied the position of civil judge
Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Division, despite being a topper in the
Captain (retd) Arif Nawaz Khan will examination. Chief Justice of Pakistan
serve as secretary Narcotics Division, Mian Saqib Nisar had taken notice of
Squardon Leader (retd) Iqbal Mehmood the matter and directed the Lahore
has been directed to report to High Court to review the case observing
Establishment Division, according to the that a visually impaired person could
notification. become a judge provided he met other
 Similarly, Muhammad Aamir Zulfikar requirements.
Khan has been posted as director 4. Listing review begins at FATF
general (DG) National Highway and  The final plenary meeting of the
Motorway Police, Captain (retd) Zahid Financial Action Task Force (FATF),
which may take action against Pakistan Houses of Parliament since it was
for not doing enough to prevent introduced in July 2017.
terrorism financing, begins in Paris on 6. India most dangerous country for
June 27, 2018. women with sexual violence rife: poll
 The three-day final plenary meeting will  India is the world`s most dangerous
begin on June 27 and the discussions country for women due to the high risk
will focus on `counter-terrorist of sexual violence and being forced into
financing,` said an FATF statement slave labour, according to a poll of
released in Paris where the week-long global experts released on June 26,
plenary meetings began on June 24. 2018.
 Finance Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar is  War-torn Afghanistan and Syria ranked
already in Paris to plead Pakistan`s case. second and third in the Thomson
Her delegation includes officials from Reuters Foundation survey of about 550
the Federal Investigation Agency, State experts on women`s issues, followed by
Bank of Pakistan, finance ministry and Somalia and Saudi Arabia.
the Financial Monitoring Unit.  The only Western nation in the top 10
5. Brexit bill becomes law, allows UK to was the United States, which ranked
leave EU joint third when respondents were
 A bill enacting Britain`s decision to asked where women were most at risk
leave the European Union has become of sexual violence, harassment and
law after months of debate, the House being coerced into sex.
of Commons speaker announced on  The poll was a repeat of a survey in
June 27, 2018, to cheers from 2011 that found experts saw
Eurosceptic lawmakers. Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of
 Speaker John Bercow said the EU Congo, Pakistan, India, and Somalia as
(Withdrawal) Bill, which repeals the the most dangerous countries for
1972 European Communities Act women
through which Britain became a  Pakistan ranked fifth on non-sexual
member of the bloc, had been given the violence, including domestic abuse
formal royal assent by Queen Elizabeth 7. Two PAF pilots martyred as aircraft
IL The bill transfers decades of crashes
European law onto British statute  Two pilots of the Pakistan Air Force
books, and also enshrines Brexit day in were martyred when their FT-7PG
British law as March 29, 2019 at 11pm aircraft crashed during landing at the
midnight Brussels time. PAF base Peshawar on June 26, 2018
 Prime Minister Theresa May said the  PAF reports with regret that FT-7PG
approval was a `historic moment for our aircraft, while recovering from a routine
country, and a significant step towards operational training mission, crashed
delivering on the will of the British during landing at Peshawar Air Base.
people`, who had voted in a June 2016 Both the pilots embraced Shahadat in
referendum to exit the EU. the tragic incident.
 The bill has undergone more than 250
hours of acrimonious debate in the
 The air headquarters has ordered a  On the first official trip by a British royal
board of inquiry to determine the cause to both Israel and the Palestinian
of incident. territories, the prince wore a black
 This is worth mentioning that PAF and Jewish skullcap as he rekindled the
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are jointly eternal flame and laid a wreath at the
using the runway for defence and civil memorial as a youth choir sang.
operations.  The 36-year-old, who is the second in
8. US Supreme Court upholds Trump line to the British throne, also toured
travel ban the museum at the site perched on a
 The US Supreme Court on June 26, 2018 forested hillside in west Jerusalem as
upheld President Donald Trump’s part of a Middle East tour that began
controversial ban on travelers from five Sunday in Jordan.
mostly Muslim countries - a major  His visit comes at a particularly sensitive
victory for the Republican leader after a time after US President Donald Trump
tortuous legal battle. recognised Jerusalem as capital of
 In a majority opinion written by Chief Israel, outraging Palestinians and
Justice John Roberts, the court ruled 5-4 sparking deadly clashes on the border
that the most recent version of the ban, with Gaza. Britain governed the region
which the administration claims is under a League of Nations mandate for
justified by national security concerns, almost three decades until Israel's
was valid. independence 70 years ago, and is still
 “In short, the language... is clear, and blamed by both sides for sowing the
the Proclamation does not exceed any seeds of the ongoing conflict.
textual limit on the President’s  William met with two Holocaust
authority,” Roberts wrote. survivors, Paul Alexander and Henry
 “The Government has set forth a Foner, who as children had escaped
sufficient national security justification from Nazi Germany to Britain as part of
to survive rational basis review. We the "Kinder transport" programme.
express no view on the soundness of 10. US defence chief visits China as
the policy.” tensions simmer
 The version of the travel ban at issue  US Defense Secretary James Mattis
was the third iteration, and applies to arrived in Beijing on his first ever visit to
travelers from North Korea and five China on June 26, 2018, aiming to find
mainly Muslim nations - Iran, Libya, room for military cooperation as
Somalia, Syria and Yemen - or about security tensions between the two
150 million people. Certain officials superpowers edge higher.
from Venezuela are also targeted by the  With Washington and Beijing locked in
measure. an escalating trade war, and the
9. Prince William visits Israel Holocaust Pentagon alarmed over China’s
memorial placement of weapons on disputed
 Britain's Prince William paid a visit to islands in the South China Sea, Mattis
Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust said he would seek areas where the two
memorial on June 26, 2018. sides share interests, including
persuading North Korea to give up its an order of returning officer (RO)
nuclear arsenal. Mohammad Adnan Khan.
 Mattis is scheduled to meet his Chinese  The RO had earlier rejected the ex-PM`s
counterpart, Defence Minister Wei nomination papers for being
Fenghe, for the first time as well as incomplete.
other top officials, to “take measure” of 2. Pakistan placed on FATF grey list
their views.  Pakistan was officially placed on a
 The last time a US defense secretary terrorism financing watchdog`s grey list
visited China was four years ago, and on June 27, 2018, failing the country`s
communications between the two efforts to avoid the designation,
militaries need strengthening. diplomatic sources claimed.
 In a statement ahead of the visit,  The report could not be confirmed
Chinese defence ministry spokesman independently and the FATF did not
Ren Guoqiang said they should “work make an official announcement till late
together to make the bilateral military in night.
relationship an important stabilising  The Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
factor in the relationship between the took this decision during a plenary
two countries.” meeting in Paris, arguing that Pakistan
had failed to act against terror financing
June 28, 2018 on its soil.
 FATF is a global body that combats
terrorist financing and money
1. Election tribunal disqualifies Ex-Prime
laundering. The decision to place
Minister Abbasi for life
Pakistan on the global money-
 In a surprise move, the appellate
laundering watchdog`s grey list was
tribunal at the Rawalpindi bench of the made during its plenary meeting in
Lahore High Court (LHC) not only barred
February this year.
former prime minister Shahid Khaqan
 As the FATF plenary began its
Abbasi and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf`s proceedings on June 27, 2018, the
(PTI) Fawad Chaudhry from contesting Pakistani delegation apprised the
elections from their native
watchdog of steps Islamabad had taken
constituencies NA-57 (Murree) and NA-
to stem money laundering and terror
67 (Jhelum), but also disqualified them
financing.
for life for being not honest and
3. National Security Adviser Nasser
sagacious.
Janjua steps down
 The presiding officer of the tribunal,  National Security Adviser (NSA) retired
Justice Ibadur Rehman Lodhi, also Lt Gen Nasser Janjua on June 27, 2018
barred some other candidates from stepped down from his office.
various districts from contesting the  Soon after accepting Mr Janjua`s
election. resignation, the caretaker government
 Interestingly, Justice Kayani also okayed
inducted former defence secretary
Mr Abbasi`s nomination papers for
retired Lt Gen Naeem Khalid Lodhi as a
elections in NA-53, after setting aside
federal minister.
 Besides holding the charge of the  He is the 16th Inspector General of
national security division, Mr Lodhi was National Highways & Motorway Police.
also assigned ministries of defence,  Before his posting as Inspector General
defence production and aviation. NH&MP, he remained Additional
4. Two more inducted into federal Inspector General (Operations) in
cabinet Punjab.
 Less than a month ahead of the  Some of the key positions that he held
forthcoming general elections, the during his career include DIG
caretaker government on June 27, 2018 (Operations) Punjab, DIG (CTD) Punjab,
added two more federal ministers to its RPO Multan, CPO Multan, SSP (Special
cabinet. Branch) Lahore Region, SSP
 President Mamnoon Hussain (Operations) Lahore, PSO to Chief
administered the oath to the new Minister Punjab and DPO Toba Tek
ministers during a ceremony held at the Singh.
presidency.  His professional competence can be
 Former defence secretary Lt Gen gauged from the fact that he was the
Naeem Khalid Lodhi and a prominent first ever ASP to receive President
businessman Mian Misbah ur Rehman Police Medal (PPM) and Quaid-e-Azam
were sworn in. Police Medal (QPM).
 Khalid Lodhi has been given the 6. US, Russia agree to hold Putin-Trump
portfolios of the ministry of defence in summit
addition to Aviation Division, National  Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed
Security Division and the ministry of to hold a summit with Donald Trump in
defence production. a third country at talks on June 27, 2018
 Mian Rehman has been given the with the US leader`s hawkish national
portfolios of the ministry of textile and security adviser, voicing hope for an
commerce and the ministry of trade easing of tensions between the two
and commerce. nations.
 The size of the federal cabinet is  Adviser John Bolton was received in
smaller. This month a six-member Moscow with top honours: a lunch
caretaker federal cabinet was sworn in hosted by Foreign Minister Sergei
which included former governor of the Lavrov followed by a markedly
State Bank of Pakistan Dr Shamshad courteous meeting with Putin at the
Akhtar, Roshan Khurshid, Barrister Ali Kremlin.
Zafar, former ambassador to the UN  US-Russian relations have been strained
Abdullah Hussain Haroon, Azam Khan by disagreement over the Syrian
and Muhammad Yusuf Shaikh. conflict, Russia`s annexation of Crimea,
5. Aamir Zulfiqar new IG NHMP its involvement in eastern Ukraine and
 Muhammad Aamir Zulfiqar Khan (PSP) allegations of political meddling.
has assumed the charge as Inspector  The Kremlin`s top foreign policy aide
General National Highways & said Putin and Bolton agreed that the
Motorway Police. two presidents would meet at a place
and time to be announced on Thursday.
7. Treasure trove worth $273m seized  “Today, we are at the beginning of a
from ex-Malaysian PM space science exploration that is
 A vast trove of items seized in raids on unprecedented for humankind,” project
properties linked to Malaysia`s scandal- manager Yuichi Tsuda told reporters.
mired former leader, including cash,  The successful mission came just days
jewellery and luxury handbags, are before the UN’s International Asteroid
worth up to $273 million, police said on Day on June 30, a global event to raise
June 27, 2018. awareness about the hazards of an
 The searches, part of investigations into asteroid impact and technological
scandal-hit sovereign wealth fund progress to counter such a threat.
1MDB, netted 12,000 pieces of jewelry, 9. US will block F-35 sale if Turkey buys
bags containing almost $30 million in Russian missile
cash across 26 different currencies,  The United States could still block the
more than 400 watches worth $19.3 delivery of F-35 stealth jets to Turkey if
million, and other high-end designer Ankara buys Russia’s S-400 air defense
goods. system, a senior official said June 27,
 The items were worth between 910 2018.
million ringgit ($225 million) and 1.1  US defense giant Lockheed Martin
billion ringgit ($273 million). The official delivered an F-35 to Turkish officials in
salary of Najib Razak, the former Texas last week, but Assistant Secretary
premier, while in office was 22,827 of State Wess Mitchell warned the
ringgit ($5,670) a month. program could still be halted.
 Allegations of massive corruption were  The advanced jets will remain on US soil
a major factor behind last month`s in Arizona while their Turkish pilots are
shock election loss of Najib`s long-ruling trained, giving the State Department
coalition to a reformist alliance headed time to intervene, the top official told a
by Mahathir Mohamad. Senate hearing.
8. Japan space probe arrives at asteroid 10. WC Holders Germany out of World Cup
to collect sample  Holders Germany crashed out of the
 A Japanese probe has reached an World Cup in the group stage on June
asteroid 300 million kilometres away to 27, 2018 as Sweden and Mexico
collect information about the birth of qualified on a day of incredible drama
the solar system and the origin of life in Russia.
after a more than three-year voyage  Germany finished bottom of Group F
through deep space. after a 2-0 defeat against South Korea.
 The Hayabusa2 probe successfully  Sweden topped the group after a 3-0
settled into an observation position 20 win against Mexico.
kilometres (12 miles) above the Ryugu
asteroid. June 29, 2018
 Researchers broke out into cheers
when the probe arrived in place, a feat
1. SC convicts Former Minister Daniyal
JAXA described as “shooting from Japan
Aziz of contempt of court
at a six centimetre target in Brazil”.
 Firebrand leader of the Pakistan Muslim  Provincial Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra
LeagueNawaz (PML-N) Daniyal Aziz was administered the oath to him during a
convicted by the Supreme Court on special ceremony at the Governor`s
Thursday of committing contempt and House, where caretaker Chief Minister
was sentenced to imprisonment `till the retired Justice Dost Mohammad Khan,
rising of the court`. judges, provincial ministers and lawyers
 `Taking a lenient view of the matter, we were in attendance.
convict him under Section 5 of the  Justice Seth was appointed the high
Contempt of Court Ordinance 2003 and court`s chief justice by the country`s
sentence him to imprisonment till rising president under Article 193(1) of the
of the court today,` says the 17-page Constitution on the recommendation of
order read out by Justice Mushir Alam. the Judicial Commission for
 Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel Appointment of Judges.
had authored the report and Justice  A notification in this regard was issued
Sheilch Azmat Saeedhad headed the by the federal law secretary on June 26.
three-judge bench that heard the case. The president had elevated Justice
However, since both judges were not Seth`s predecessor, Justice Yahya Afridi,
present, Justice Alam read out the to the Supreme Court.
verdict.  Born in Dera Ismail Khan on Mar 16,
 The former minister for privatisation 1961, Justice Seth was elevated to the
had been charged with contempt of bench from the bar through
court for his jibes against the judiciary appointment as an additional judge on
last year, which were publishe d in Daily Aug 2011. He was later confirmed as
Dunya on Sept 9, 2017 and telecast by the high court judge.
Neo TV on Dec 15, 2017 and by  Justice Seth remained the PHC banking
DawnNews on Dec 21, 2017.When the judge and company judge and a
case was called out at around 9:55am, member of the service tribunal.
Mr Aziz had not yet arrived. He walked  He had done his BSc from Islamia
in, visibly tense, a short while later, but College Peshawar in 1981. He did his
when the verdict was announced at LLB from the Khyber Law College in
around 10:26am, he relaxed. 1985 and got master`s degree in
 Though the judgement does not political science from the University of
elaborate on the consequences of the Peshawar in 1986.
conviction, legal observers believe that  He was enrolled as a lawyer of the
Mr Aziz stands disqualified from lower courts on Dec 18, 1985, the high
contesting elections for five years under court`s on Mar 22, 1990, and the
Article 63(1)(g) of the Constitution. Supreme Court`s on May 4, 2008.
2. Peshawar High Court gets new chief 3. Justice Yahya takes oath as SC judge
justice  Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib
 Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth took oath as Nisar on June 28, 2018 administered
the chief justice of the Peshawar High the oath of office to Justice Yahya Afridi
Court here on June 28, 2018. as Judge of the Supreme Court of
Pakistan.
 The oath-taking ceremony was held at  The OECD will extend technical
the Supreme Court building. assistance to Pakistan in its efforts for
 Justice Afridi, who was born on Jan 23, undertaking broad based tax reforms.
1965, hails from Kohat Frontier Region.  Both sides expressed satisfaction over
Justice Afridi was elevated to the high the ongoing cooperation between
court as additional judge on Mar 15, Pakistan and the OECD. Pakistan signed
2010, and subsequently he was the OECD Convention on Mutual
confirmed as permanent judge of the Administrative Assistance in Tax
high court on Mar 15, 2012. Matters in September 2016, and
 Justice Afridi had done his LL B from Multilateral Convention to Implement
Law College, Punjab University, in 1988, Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent
and did his LL.M from Jesus College, Base Erosion and Profit Sharing (BEPS)
Cambridge University, UK, in 1990. as well as Multilateral Competent
 During legal career, Justice Afridi Authority Agreement on Automatic
appeared in several high profile cases. Exchange of Financial Accounts (MCAA)
Legal circles considered a competent in June 2017. Pakistan has previously
lawyer, who was well versed in been participating in various OECD
constitutional and corporate law. He Global Fora meetings.
also served as assistant advocate  The secretary general invited Pakistan
general in his early career until 1994. to further enhance its engagement with
 Justice Afridi has also served as the OECD by participating in its various
inspection judge for different districts. programmes including the Initiative on
He also remained the chairman of the Global Value Chains, inclusive growth
Labour Appellate Tribunal, Khyber framework, detection of foreign bribery
Pakhtunkhwa, company judge of the and revenue statistics. Minster for
Abbottabad circuit bench, head of the finance & revenue discussed support to
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Subordinate conduct an in-depth review of
Judiciary Service Tribunal, chairman of Pakistan’s tax policy to support its
the Enrollment Committee of Lawyers reform effort as well as technical
at Abbottabad Bench and Peshawar, assistance through Tax Inspectors
and administrative judge of anti- Without Borders Programme. The
terrorism courts. secretary general asked the OECD team
4. Pakistan, OECD agree to strengthen to immediately follow up on the
cooperation request on an urgent basis.
 Pakistan and Organisation for Economic 5. Trump and Putin to hold long-awaited
Cooperation and Development (OECD) summit in Finland next month
will further strengthen their  Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir
cooperation in various areas including Putin will hold their long-awaited first
tax related matters and sharing of summit next month in the Finnish
experiences in social and economic capital Helsinki, at what could prove a
development. historic turning point in international
relations.
 The July 16 head-to-head will follow a  William wandered through the Al Aqsa
NATO summit in Brussels that compound accompanied by a large
Washington`s European partners fear Israeli security detail and members of
will serve as another stage for the US the Jordanian-run religious trust that
leader to berate them and scorn the administers it.
Western alliance.  It was the first time a member of the
 Trump has long called for warmer ties royal family had ever visited the
with Moscow, but the talks come as compound, which houses the Al Aqsa
Russia`s relations with the West mosque and the iconic golden-topped
languish at levels not seen since the Dome of the Rock.
Cold War.  The second-in-line to the British throne
 The meeting will likely provoke criticism also visited the adjacent Western Wall,
for Trump at home, where investigators the holiest place at which Jews are
are probing possible collusion between allowed to pray, accompanied by its
his presidential campaign team and director general and by Britain`s chief
Moscow. rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.
 Russia`s annexation of Crimea and its  Since Israel occupied Arab east
support for separatists in eastern Jerusalem in the Six Day War of 1967,
Ukraine, as well as Moscow`s backing of hardline Jewish activists have
Bashar al-Assad`s regime in the Syrian campaigned for the right to pray inside
conflict will also loom large. the mosque compound, the most
 Next month`s dialogue in Finland will inflammatory single issue of the Middle
see the two leaders discuss `the current East conflict.
state and prospects for development of 7. Australia bans covert foreign
Russian-US relations,` said the Kremlin. interference in politics
 A statement from the White House said  Australia`s parliament passed sweeping
the presidents will also broach various national security legislation on June 28,
`national security issues.` Trump earlier 2018 that bans covert foreign
said he expected discussions to be interference in domestic politics, makes
wide-ranging. industrial espionage for a foreign power
6. Prince William visits flashpoint Al Aqsa a crime and offends the nation`s most
mosque compound important trading partner, China.
 Prince William visited Jerusalem`s  The two bills covering foreign
super-sensitive Al Aqsa mosque interference, espionage and influence
compound on June 28, 2018 as he transparency have been criticised as
wrapped up a landmark Middle East criminalising dissent. The Senate made
tour during which he has tiptoed them law with the support of the
through the region`s diplomatic centre-left Labor Party opposition on
minefield. the last day of parliament before mid-
 His visit to Islam`s third holiest site was August.
followed by visits to the city`s Jewish  The conservative government says the
and Christian holy places. legislation, first proposed in December,
is the major cause of a rift in diplomatic
relations with China. But the  The James Webb Space Telescope -
government maintains it is not aimed at which Nasa has long expected to
any particular country. replace the fabled Hubble - was initially
8. Four killed in shooting at office of US meant to go into service this year but
daily has faced multiple hitches. The Webb
 Several people were feared killed on telescope will be the most powerful
June 28, 2018 in a shooting at the ever built - about 100 times more
building that houses the Capital sensitive than Hubble - and is to be
Gazette, a daily newspaper published in deployed on a mission to give
Annapolis, a historic city an hour east of astronomers an unprecedented glimpse
Washington. at the first galaxies that formed in the
 A gunman shot through the glass door early universe.
to the office and opened fire on  Its most recent delay was announced in
multiple employees. March, when Nasa said blast off would
 There is nothing more terrifying than likely be in May 2020.
hearing multiple people get shot while
you`re under your desk and then hear June 30, 2018
the gunman reload.
 Up to four people had been killed,
according to CBS News. 1. Amnesty pulls in Rs80bn tax amid
 The newspaper is located in a four-story massive response
 With the curtain set to drop on the
office building in Annapolis, the capital
amnesty scheme by the end of the day
of the US state of Maryland.
(June 30, 2018), nearly 5,000 people
 The White House said President Donald
have filed returns declaring their
Trump had been briefed.
9. China puts limit on film stars’ pay foreign assets and deposited
approximately Rs80 billion in taxes till
 China’s authorities say they are capping
June 28, Dawn has learnt through
the pay of actors as part of a move to
crack down on tax evasion and “money knowledgeable sources.
 However, the final amount is going to
worship” in the industry.
be much higher, since the sources
 Actors in Chinese films and TV
confirm that more funds are in the
programmes will have their pay capped
pipeline based on payment slips issued.
at 40% of total production costs.
 The tax amnesty scheme announced by
 Meanwhile, lead actors cannot be paid
the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz
more than 70% of total cast pay, the
government says. government, which got off to a
10. Fresh delay in launch of Nasa’s lackluster start, saw a surge of interest
telescope since the last hearing in the case held in
 Nasa has said that human and technical the Supreme Court`s Lahore registry on
errors had caused a fresh delay in the June 11.
 So far, two single largest declarants of
launch of a giant space telescope, which
foreign assets were from Karachi and
will now not be deployed before March
Peshawar.
2021.
 A Karachi-based person has deposited holding by-polls after the 2013 general
Rs3.2 billion in tax on his foreign assets, elections by extending polling hours
while a woman hailing from Peshawar from 7am till 6pm was highly successful.
paid Rs1.2bn, also on her foreign assets. 3. IB chief transferred in another round of
 Another influential businessman from bureaucracy shuffle
Karachi, who owns multiple businesses,  Dr Muhammad Suleman Khan, a grade-
paid an amount of Rs267 million on his 22 officer of the police service who has
undeclared foreign assets. been director general of the Intelligence
 The deadline of the scheme is June 30 Bureau (IB) since May 7 this year, was
which, according to the law, is made national coordinator of the
nonexpendable. Pressure is mounting National Counter Terrorism Authority
on the government from various sides (Nacta).
to extend the deadline.  His predecessor retired Lt Cdr Ihsan
 The government has taken Ghani, who also belongs to the police
extraordinary precautions to keep service, will now head the IB. Mr Ghani
information of declarants confidential. is set to retire in August this year. The
FBR chairman Tariq Pasha and his core government reverted within three days
team including member Policy Dr its decision about the transfer of
Muhammad Iqbal and Special Assistant information secretary Sardar Ahmed
to chairman Malik Amjad Zuball Tiwana Nawaz Sukhera because of the Supreme
are the only ones with access to the Court`s directives.
information submitted by declarants.  Mr Sukhera, a grade-22 officer of the
2. In a first, ECP allows 10-hour polling Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS)
time on election day who had been transferred as education
 The Election Commission of Pakistan secretary on June 26, was made
(ECP) on June 28, 2018 announced information secretary again.
extending polling time by an hour for  Arshad Mirza, also a grade-22 officer of
the upcoming general elections. PAS, who was posted as information
 Polling time For the first time in the secretary, has been made education
country`s history, the electorates will secretary.
have 10 hours in a general election to  Usman Alchtar Bajwa, a grade-20 officer
cast their votes though earlier in some of PAS who was working as Capital
by-polls voters had been given 11 Development Authority (CDA)
hours. chairman, has been directed to report
 Formally announcing to extend the to the Establishment Division. Ishrat Ali,
previously fixed polling hours by an a grade-21 officer of PAS, who was
hour to make it 8am to 6pm, the ECP working as director general passports,
said the decision was meant to facilitate has been made CDA chairman.
the polling and ensure maximum  The interim government has formally
turnout. appointed Muhammad Saleem new
 A proposal to extend time from nine chairman of the Pakistan Electronic
hours had been under consideration for Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).
quite some time. The experiment of
The post had been lying vacant since the `grey list` for allowing terrorist
December last year. groups to collect funds.
4. FATF notifies Pakistan on its `grey list`  Tier 2 on the State Department`s list
 The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) includes countries that do not fully
on June 29, 2018 officially notified comply with these minimum standards,
Pakistan on its `grey list`. but are making significant efforts to
 `FATF has identified Pakistan as a bring themselves into compliance while
jurisdiction with strategic AML/CFT tier 2 watch list includes countries being
(anti-money laundering and countering monitored for compliance.
the financing of terrorism) deficiencies,` 6. First Official Election 2018 Result:
a statement issued by the FATF from PPP`s Bijarani declared winner
Paris said. unopposed on PS-6
 The decision to put Pakistan on the grey  Pakistan Peoples Party`s candidate Mir
list had been taken at the FATF`s last Shabbir Bijarani, has been declared
plenary in February; however, it took winner unopposed on the Sindh
effect after Pakistan successfully Assembly`s constituency PS-6
negotiated an action plan for (Tangwani) in Kandh kot Kashmore
overcoming those deficiencies. district, according to a notification
 The National Security Council had issued on June 29, 2018.
earlier this month extended the  Returning Officer Attaullah Mahar
commitment to implement the action rejected nomination papers filed for the
plan. constituency by two leaders of Jamiat
5. US upgrades Pakistan on `human Ulema-i-IslamFazl (JUI-F), Maulana
trafficking index` Abdul Qayyum and Qari Kifayatullah
 The United States has moved Pakistan Khoso, after the former did not declare
from a watch list to another group of his assets and the latter did not declare
countries that have taken significant his salary drawn from a madressah.
steps to curb human trafficking, says a  Mr Bijarani is the first candidate in the
report released on June 29, 2018. country who has been declared winner
 `The government of Pakistan does not in the general elections 2018.
fully meet the minimum standards for 7. First Mobile hospital launched in GB
the elimination of trafficking; however,  Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafeezur
it is making significant efforts to do so,` Rehman on June 29, 2018 inaugurated a
says the report released by the US State mobile hospital as part of the health
Department. `The government reforms in GB.
demonstrated increasing efforts  The inaugural ceremony was held in
compared to the previous reporting Kahorot area of Gilgit.
period, therefore, Pakistan was  Mobile hospital was equipped with the
upgraded to Tier 2. state-of-the-art facilities and medical
 The move came two days after an tests facility was also available on the
international financial watchdog placed spot.
Pakistan on its monitoring list known as  In the first phase, three mobile
hospitals had been purchased which
would be provided to district  The US military had been
administrations of Gilgit, Diamer and headquartered in Seoul`s central
Baltistan. Yongsan neighbourhood since American
8. UN migration agency rejects Trump- troops first arrived at the end of World
proposed leader War II. The Yongsan Garrison was a
 The UN`s migration agency snubbed the symbol of the US-South Korea alliance
Trump administration`s candidate to but its occupation of prime real estate
lead it on June 29, 2018, a major blow was also a long-running source of
to US leadership of a body addressing friction.
one of the world`s most pressing issues 10. SpaceX launches AI robot, strong
and only the second time that it won`t coffee for ISS crew
be run by an American since 1951.  A SpaceX rocket that flew just two
 Diplomats who took part in the first months ago with a Nasa satellite roared
three rounds of voting on June 29, 2018 back into action on June 29, 2018,
said that American Ken Isaacs was launching the first orbiting robot with
eliminated in the ongoing contest to artificial intelligence and other station
elect the next director-general of the supplies.
International Organisation of Migration.  The used Falcon rocket blasted off
The race was so far led by Antonio before dawn, hauling nearly 6,000
Vitorino, a Portuguese Socialist, ahead pounds of cargo including the spherical
of IOM deputy director-general Laura AI bot named Cimon, genetically
Thompson of Costa Rica. identical mice and super-caffeinated
 The ÌOM Director is seen as an coffee for the crew of the International
Àmerican seat` and Trump was unable Space Station.
to place an American in it.  The shipment packed into a Dragon
9. US ends 70 years of military presence capsule that’s also recycled should
in S. Korean capital reach the station on July 1, 2018.
 The United States formally ended seven
decades of military presence in South
Korea`s capital on June 29, 2018 with a
ceremony to mark the opening of a new
headquarters farther from North
Korean artillery range.
 The command`s move to Camp
Humphreys, about 70 kilometres south
of Seoul, comes amid a fledgling
detente on the Korean Peninsula,
though the relocation was planned long
before that. Most troops have already
transferred to the new location, and the
US says the remaining ones will move
by the end of this year.

Mcqs About Geography of Pakistan Public Service Commission Other Tests Information in Pakistan

Enviado por

Dados do documento

Título original

Direitos autorais

Formatos disponíveis

Compartilhar este documento

Compartilhar ou incorporar documento

Opções de compartilhamento

Você considera este documento útil?

Este conteúdo é inapropriado?

Direitos autorais:

Formatos disponíveis

Mcqs About Geography of Pakistan Public Service Commission Other Tests Information in Pakistan

Enviado por

Direitos autorais:

Formatos disponíveis

DAY BY DAY CURRENT AFFAIRS MCQS

FOR THE MONTH JUNE 2018

Você também pode gostar