Day by Day Current Affairs (February 19 2020) MCQs for CSS, PMS

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February 19, 2020: National / International Current Affairs

1. UN chief welcomes Pakistan`s desire for peace

• United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said the veto power of five permanent members of the Security Councilis against the `spirit of equilibrium` and claimed that the UN is taking steps to ensure equality among the people as well as states.
• Terming the Kartarpur corridor a great peace initiative, the UN chief expressed the hope that it would help in establishing sustainable peace between Pakistan and India.
• Mr Guterres, who arrived here from Islamabad on February 18, 2020 night, spent a busy day in Punjab where he administered polio drops to children at a kindergarten in Lahore`s DHA, interacted with students` representatives at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), visited the Sikh sacred place Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in the Kartarpur area of Narowal district before returning to see Badshahi mosque and Shahi Qila in the evening, where he was hosted at Shahi Kitchen by Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar.

2. Pakistan successfully tests air-launched cruise missile

• Pakistan on February 18, 2020 conducted a successful flight test of an air-launched cruise missile having a range of 600 kilometres. A statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) directorate said that Pakistan has conducted successful flight test of Air-Launched Cruise Missile “Ra’ad-II”.
• “Ra’ad-II”, with a range of 600 km, significantly enhances the air delivered strategic standoff capability on land and at sea. The weapon system is equipped with state-of-the-art guidance and navigation systems ensuring engagement of targets with high precision,” said the press release.
• The successful flight test was witnessed by Lieutenant General Nadeem Zaki Manj, Director General Strategic Plans Division; Dr. Nabeel Hayat Malik, Chairman NESCOM; senior officers from Strategic Plans Division and strategic forces and strategic organizations.

3. Rehman Malik’s new book ‘Bleeding Kashmir’ launched

• Former Interior Minister Senator Rehman Malik on February 18, 2020 launched his new book ‘Bleeding Kashmir’ aiming to expose the unabated bloodshed in the held Valley.
• “Bleeding Kashmir” is a very comprehensive book in term of knowledge and facts that contains 32 chapters and 202 pages.
• The book has been dedicated to all the martyrs of Kashmir and the victims of Indian brutalities especially Insha Mushtaq who lost her eyes as a result of the injuries sustained due to the aggression by Indian Armed Forces in held Kashmir, but did not discontinue education.
• In his book, the author Senator Malik has exposed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s anti-Muslim and Pakistan mindset, Hindutva ideology and motives behind the series of his recent actions regarding Kashmir.

4. China to help fight locusts as major crops face danger

• China is sending a team of technical experts to Pakistan to deliberate on the aerial management of locust swarms in the country.
• The locusts warm invaded the country last year and has devastated the cotton crop in the last planting season and is already threatening the country`s wheat crop.
• The swarm arrived last summer, but has grown to threatening proportions since November 2019 when the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) issued a warning that the swarm has started to leave its reproducing grounds in the deserts from Cholistan to Tharparkar.

5. PM to launch Asset Transfer Scheme from South Punjab

• Prime Minister Imran Khan will launch the Asset Transfer Scheme on February 21 from South Punjab under the umbrella of “Ehsaas” Programme.
• This was announced by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Safety Nets and Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar in a statement here on February 18, 2020.
• Under this scheme, over 60,000 loans would be disbursed each month among underprivileged families, enabling them to undertake their own business ventures.
• These loans would be prioritised in the 23 underdeveloped districts in the first phase.

6. Ashraf Ghani secures second term as Afghan president

• Ashraf Ghani has secured a second term as president of Afghanistan, according to final results announced on February 18, 2020, lining him up to become the man negotiating with the Taliban over the war-torn country`s future if the US agrees to withdraw its troops.
• The results came nearly five months after the Sept 28 2019 poll, after vote-rigging allegations by Ghani`s main rival, Abdullah Abdullah, who served as Afghanistan`s chief executive, forced a recount.
• Election commission chief Hawa Alam Nuristani said Ghani had taken 50.64 percent of the votes, compared to Abdullah`s 39.52 percent.

7. Eight activists get jail terms in Iran on charge of spying for US

• Iran sentenced eight environmental activists, including an Iranian who reportedly also has British and American citizenship, to prison sentences ranging from four to 10 years on charges of spying for the United States and acting against Iran`s national security, the judiciary said on February 18, 2020.
• According to the judiciary spokesman, Gholamhossein Esmaili, an appeals court issued the final verdicts.
• Two of the activists, Morad Tahbaz and Nilouf ar Bayani, got 10 years each and were ordered to return the money they allegedly received from the US government for their services. Tahbaz is an Iranian who also holds US and British citizenship.

8. SpaceX rocket launches 5th batch of 60 internet satellites into space

• US private space company SpaceX launched its fifth batch of 60 Starlink satellites into space on February 17, 2020, in an effort to build at minimum a 12,000-strong satellite network capable of providing broadband internet services.
• The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the satellites, lifted off at 10:05 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (1505 GMT) from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force, Florida, according to a live broadcast by SpaceX. SpaceX designed Starlink to provide continual internet coverage around the world, using a network of satellites in low-Earth orbit.

9. PSL to carry prize purse of $1 million

• The total cash prizes set for the fifth edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) are set as $1million, with the winner pocketing $0.5million and runners up to receive $0.2million.
• According to an announcement made by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on February 18, 2020, the best player of each PSL match will be awarded with $4,500.
• The PSL`s opening ceremony is set to be held on February 20, 2020 evening at the National Stadium in Karachi, followed by the editions first match between defending champions Quetta Gladiators and two-time winners Islamabad United the first of the tournament`s 34 fixtures Furthermore, $80,000 will be equally distributed to the player of the tournament, best batsman, best bowler and Spirit of Cricket award winners.

10. Messi, Hamilton joint winners of Sportsman of the Year at Laureus Awards

• Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and football superstar Lionel Messi shared the Laureus sportsman of the year award at February 17, 2020`s ceremony in Berlin.
• Mercedes driver Hamilton, 35, won his sixth world championship in 2019, with 11 race wins and 17 podium finishes, while Barcelona star Messi,32, was crowned the world`s best player for a record sixth time when he won the Ballon d`Or.
• This is the first time a footballer has won the award and also the first occasion in the event`s 20-year history when the jury reached a tied decision.
• US gymnastics superstar Simone Biles, who won five titles at the 2019 world championships in Stuttgart to leave her with a record 25 world gold medals, took the Laureus sportswoman of the year award for the third time.

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