Daily Top-10 Current Affairs MCQs / News (November 16, 2020) for CSS, PMS

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November 16, 2020: National / International Current Affairs

1. UNDP mission to support Pakistan`s digital transformation

• A United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) mission is in Pakistan to support the country`s digital transformation.
• Former chairman of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) Tariq Malik, who is currently the UNDP`s chief technical adviser on digital governance, is spearheading the mission.
• Mr Malik, who is advising member states on digital interventions aimed at improving governance, will initiate official mission from Nov 20, following his two-week quarantine

2. China, Asean sign world`s biggest trade deal

• China and 14 other countries on Sunday agreed to set up the world`s largest trading bloc, encompassing nearly a third of all economic activity, in a deal many in Asia are hoping will help hasten a recovery from the shocks of the pandemic.
• The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, was signed virtually on November 15, 2020 on the sidelines of the annual summit of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
• `I am delighted to say that after eight years of hard work, as of today, we have officially brought RCEP negotiations to a conclusion for signing,` said host country Vietnam`s Prime Minister, Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

3. Vaccine scientist hopeful of return to `normal` by next winter

• If coronavirus vaccinations are rolled out widely, life could return to `normal` by next winter, one of the scientists behind the front running coronavirus vaccine told British television on November 15, 2020.
• Ugur Sahin, the Turkish cofounder of German firm BioN, told the BBC`s The Andrew Marr Show that `this winter will be hard` without any major impact from vaccinations.
• Together with US giant Pfizer, BioN is developing the leading candidate in the worldwide chase for a vaccine, `If all goes well, we will start to deliver the vaccine at the end LONDON: If coronavirus vaccinations are rolled out widely, life could return to `normal` by next winter, one of the scientists behind the front running coronavirus vaccine told British television on November 15, 2020

4. Ethiopia`s Tigray region claims rocket strikes on Eritrea airport

• The leader of the Tigray region of Ethiopia on November 15, 2020 claimed responsibility for rocket strikes targeting the airport in neighbouring Eritrea`s capital, a move that ratcheted up fears of a wider conflict in the Horn of Africa region.
• Diplomats said that multiple rockets had struck the capital, Asmara, landing near the airport, though communications restrictions in Tigray and Eritrea made the reports difficult to verify

5. Azerbaijan extends deadline for Armenian pullout

• Azerbaijan said on November 15, 2020 it had agreed to extend a deadline for Armenia to withdraw from a disputed district as part of a peace accord that ended six weeks of fierce fighting over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
• Residents of the Kalbajar district in Azerbaijan, which has been controlled by Armenian separatists since a 1990s post Soviet war, began a mass exodus in the days leading up to the initial withdrawal deadline on Sunday.
• But a foreign policy adviser to Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev said his country had extended the deadline over humanitarian considerations

6. UAE to grant experts 10-year residence visa to defeat Covid

• The United Arab Emirates said on November 15, 2020 it will grant all doctors and infectious disease experts living in the country a 10-year visa, who are helping to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
• Foreigners in the UAE, like most Gulf countries, are generally only given limited residence visas tied to their current employment, and long-term residency is difficult to obtain.
• But to attract wealthy businesspeople and highly skilled workers, the UAE last year launched the `Golden` 10-year visa programme, which is now being expanded

7. Celebrated film director Iqbal Kashmiri passes away

• Noted film director Iqbal Kashmiri passed away here on November 15, 2020 after a protracted illness. He was 78.
• He had been hospitalised for the last 10 days or so due to lungs problem which got complicated.

8. Bengali movie legend Soumitra Chatterjee dies of coronavirus

• Bengali movie actor Soumitra Chhatterjee, globally applauded for his work with Satyajit Ray and many other legends of Bengali cinema died in Kolkata on November 15, 2020.
• The 85-year-old thespian was admitted in a city hospital on Oct 6, after he tested positive for Covid-19.

9. All-round show by Wiese takes Lahore Qalandars into PSL final

• Lahore Qalandars had to rely on a brilliant all-round contribution by David Wiese to qualify for their maiden final in the Pakistan Super League`s (PSL) history after thumping Multan Sultans in the Eliminator 2 fixture at the National Stadium on November 15, 2020 night.
• Qalandars` richly deserved 25-run triumph, thanks to Wiese`s 21-ball unbeaten knock of 48, bowling figures of 3-27 and a spectacular catch, also guaranteed a dream title-decider when they take on traditional rivals Karachi Kings, who had defeated Multan Sultans in qualifier to make the final for the first time, behind closed doors at the same venue on Tuesday night

10. Hamilton wins record-equalling seventh F1 world title with Turkish GP

• Lewis Hamilton secured a record-equalling seventh Formula One world title on November 15, 2020 after winning the Turkish Grand Prix and then warned pretenders to his crown `I`m only just getting started!` After a momentous drive from sixth on the grid, the Briton matched Michael Schumacher`s haul of drivers` crowns with three races of the season remaining.
• The 35-year-old sealed his latest title 12 years after his first with a typically measured masterclass, handling treacherous wet early conditions to claim his 94th career win

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