Day by Day Current Affairs (March 08, 2020) MCQs for CSS, PMS

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March 08, 2020: National / International Current Affairs

1. International Women’s Day today

• Like other parts of the world, the International Women Day will be marked across the country on March 8, 2020 (today) to acknowledge outstanding contributions rendered by womenfolk in diverse fields and to raising voices for ensuring their due rights in society.
• This year’s Women’s day theme is “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”. Special ceremonies including seminars, conferences, awareness walks and other events would take place in big cities and small towns to highlight the significance of the role of Women’s in the state and society.

2. Pak-Iran trade resumes after 13 days

• The trade activities between Pakistan and Iran on March 7, 2020 resumed after suspension of 13 days amid fears of coronavirus outbreak.
• Over 35 long vehicles loaded with Liquefied Petroleum Gas and other commodities were allowed to enter Pakistan through the Taftan dry port, a senior official of Levies Force told Dawn. He said the Iranian drivers and cleaners were screened after their arrival at Taftan border.
• Pakistan closed its border with Iran on February 23, following confirmation of the first two coronavirus cases in the country. However, the immigration process was reopened after five days and since then more than 35,000Pakistani pilgrims have returned from Iran.

3. Saudi Arabia detains three senior royals for `planning a coup`

• Saudi Arabia has detained three senior princes including Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, the younger brother of King Salman, and Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, the king`s nephew, for allegedly planning a coup, sources with knowledge of the matter said.
• Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, King Salman`s son and de facto ruler of the country, has moved to consolidate power since ousting Mohammed bin Nayef as heir to the throne in a 2017 palace move.
• Later that year several members of the royal family and other prominent Saudis were detained, holding them for months at Riyadh`s Ritz Carlton hotel, in an anti-corruption campaign that caused shockwaves at home and abroad.

4. Saudi Arabia reopens area around sacred Kaaba amid virus measures

• Saudi Arabia reopened on March 7, 2020 the area around the sacred Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, reversing one of a series of measures introduced to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
• Saudi authorities this week suspended the year-round umrah pilgrimage, during which worshippers circle the Kaaba seven times, and also announced the temporary closure of the area around the cube structure.
• But King Salman has `allowed for the opening of the Mataf (where people circle the Kaaba) for non-umrah performers` starting on Saturday at dawn, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
• Hundreds of Muslims were seen rotating around the Kaaba, but the area between two hills that pilgrims must go between seven times to complete umrah remained closed.

5. Iranian lawmaker dies of novel coronavirus

• An Iranian lawmaker died from the novel coronavirus on March 7, 2020, state news agency IRNA reported, one of several officials to succumb to the illness in the epidemic hit country.
• Fatemeh Rahbar, 55, was a conservative MP and had recently been elected to the parliament from the capital Tehran, the agency said.
• She is the second lawmaker killed by the virus in Iran and one of seven politicians and government officials who have died in the outbreak since the country reported its first cases in mid-February.
• Iran has been scrambling to contain the rapid spread of the virus, which so far has infected 4,747 people and killed at least 124

6. India makes u-turn on TV ban over Delhi riot coverage

• The Indian government backtracked on March 7, 2020 after slapping a 48-hour ban on two TV channels for what officials called biased coverage of New Delhi riots.
• A blackout of Asia net News and Media One was ordered on Friday but lifted after an outcry from opposition groups and protests by the channels to the information and broadcasting ministry.
• Information minister Prakash Javadekar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi requested the ban be revoked on learning of it.

7. Taliban may not honour Doha deal, says US intel

• The US government has collected persuasive intelligence that the Taliban do not intend to honour the promises they have made in the recently signed deal with the United States, NBC News reported on March 7, 2020.
• On Friday, US President Donald Trump also acknowledged that the Taliban could `possibly` overrun the Afghan government after US troops withdrew from the war-ravaged country.
• NBC News based its report on interviews with three US officials who were briefed on intelligence assessments the Trump administration has received since signing the peace deal with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar on Feb 29.
• `They have no intention of abiding by their agreement,` said one official, while two others described the intelligence they had seen as `explicit evidence shedding light on the Taliban`s intentions.

8. Pope`s Sunday prayer to be livestreamed as COVID-19 spreads

• Pope Francis`s Angelus prayer on March 8, 2020 will be livestreamed in a break with centuries old tradition, the Vatican announced, as the number of coronavirus cases topped 100,000.
• The Angelus prayers normally delivered by the pontiff from his window will `be broadcast via livestream by Vatican News and on screens in Saint Peter`s Square,` the Vatican said.
• The Vatican, which has reported its first coronavirus case, had promised to review the 83-year-old pontiff`s schedule `to avoid the dissemination` of the new COVID-19 disease.

9. Qalandars find their feet to sink struggling Gladiators

• Devastating bowling by leg-spinner Samit Patel who bagged four wickets for just five runs inspired Lahore Qalandars to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Quetta Gladiators in the 5th HBL Pakistan Super League match at the Gaddafi Stadium on March 8, 2020.
• Chasing an easy winning target of 99, Qalandars eased past it, scoring 100 for the loss of only two wickets in just 11.5 overs.

10. DLS decides painful loss for United against Zalmi

• It was a game in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020 which Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad wanted to win for obvious reasons on March 7, 2020, and both were afforded opportunities to pull the strings on the other at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.
• However, the result was not decided on the playing field but the permutations preset by the Duckworth Lewis-Stern method of calculations a common occurrence in rain-affected matches in these modern times that eventually favoured Peshawar Zalmi, who were declared victorious by seven runs on the basis of being ahead at 85-2 to 78-2 made by the two time former winners Islamabad United after nine overs of their respective innings

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