Daily Top-10 Current Affairs MCQs / News (November 12, 2020) for CSS, PMS

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November 12, 2020: National / International Current Affairs

1. Iran to open another border point for trade

• Iran on November 11, 2020 announced the opening of a border crossing point with Pakistan for facilitating trade, as the two countries agreed to deepen their bilateral cooperation.
• The announcement was made by Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Javad Zarif during his meetings in Islamabad.
• He was on a two-day visit to Pakistan, leading a senior delegation comprising political and economic experts

2. NCOC for ban on public gatherings of over 500

• With daily cases of Covid-19 having crossed the 1,700 mark after a gap of three-and-a-half months, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on November 11, 2020 suggested an early and extended winter vacations to prevent the spread of the deadly virus and ensure safety and health of students.
• It also recommended banning all public gatherings, including political, cultural and religious ones, of more than 500 people.

3. FBR signs MoU with Nadra for data sharing

• The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) for real-time verification of computerised National Identity Card and associated details.
• An official announcement issued on Wednesday said linking NADRA and FBR systems will help improve FBR`s service delivery standards for taxpayers as it will help to automate tax refunds prefill data in withholding statements and tax returns

4. Pakistan engaged in talks to settle Reko Dig dispute: official

• Pakistan is actively engaged in negotiations with parties involved in a dispute over the $5.97 billion award against the country in the Reko Dig litigation.
• The government is fully aware and defending the country`s interests, a source privy to the latest developments told Dawn on condition of anonymity.
• The reaction came in response to a report issued by Law360 a website that deals with news reports and analyses about legal issues, including litigation filing, case settlement, verdict, regulation, enforcement, legislation, corporate deals, etc

5. ZULFIQAR, visits Turkey to participate in exercises

• Pakistan Navy Ship ZULFIQAR, with embarked helicopter visited Port Aksaz (Turkey) to participate in Exercise MAVI BALINA 2020, the 5th PN-TN Bilateral Exercise TURGUTREIS-V and Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) with Turkish Navy.
• Upon arrival at Port Aksaz, PNS ZULFIQAR was extended warm welcome by Turkish Naval authorities reflective of brotherly relations between the two countries. MAVI BALINA-2020 is a multilateral maritime exercise in which ships and aircraft of Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Romania and the US also participated

6. Punjab CM approves green electric buses

• The Punjab government has plans to operate green electric buses to reduce environmental pollution and to deal with the problem of smog in the province.
• Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar November 11, 2020 gave in-principle approval to ply these buses with the direction to complete the spadework as soon as possible. While presiding over a meeting at his office here, the Chief Minister asked the transport department to submit comprehensive recommendations at the earliest.
• These buses will ply on 103 kilometres long six routes in Lahore while the service will also be introduced in other cities through the public-private partnership. The meeting dilated on different procurement options

7. Blast at WWI ceremony in Jeddah leaves two injured

• A bomb blast struck a World War I commemoration ceremony attended by Western diplomats here on November 11, 2020, leaving at least two people wounded, officials said.
• The attack at a non-Muslim cemetery was the second targeting diplomatic missions in recent weeks, after a guard at the French consulate in Jeddah was injured by a Saudi citizen armed with a knife.
• The latest incident came as French President Emmanuel Macron, who has sought to assuage anger in Muslim nations over sketches of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), attended a WWI memorial ceremony in Paris.

8. Russia claims Sputnik V virus vaccine 92% effective

• Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine is 92 percent effective according to initial test results, its developers said on November 11, 2020, as Moscow races against its competitors in the West.
• The calculations were based on results from 16,000 individuals who received both doses of the vaccine, Russia’s health ministry, the state-run Gamaleya research centre and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said in a statement.
• “The Sputnik V vaccine had an efficacy rate of 92 percent after the second dose,” the statement said, after 20 of the volunteers — some of whom were given the placebo — tested positive for coronavirus.
• The adenovirus vector-based vaccine uses modified viruses of the regular flu

9. Bahrain PM, world`s longest-serving, dies at 84

• Bahrain`s Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the world`s longest-serving prime minister who had held the post since independence in 1971, died on November 11, 2020 at the age of 84, state media announced.
• Prince Khalifa was a controversial figure during his five decades in office and deeply unpopular with the Sunni-ruled kingdom`s Shia population.
• When Shia-led protesters occupied Manama`s Pearl Square for a month in 2011, before being driven out by Saudi backed security forces, their main demand was for Khalifa to step down

10. Asad, Malik and Amir axed as Pakistan name 35 for NZ tour

• The trio of senior players including seasoned batsman Asad Shafiq, veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik and paceman Mohammad Amir were the glaring omissions as head coach-cum-chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq announced the names of 35 players on November 11, 2020 who will represent Pakistan`s Senior and Shaheen squads in the forthcoming tour of New Zealand.
• While Pakistan`s Senior team will play three T20Is and two Test matches, the final schedule of the Shaheens is yet to be confirmed. The squad will leave for Lincoln on Nov 23 where they will spend the mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

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