April 2021

Daily Top-10 Current Affairs MCQs / News (April 16, 2021) for CSS, PMS

Daily Top-10 Current Affairs MCQs / News (April 16, 2021) for CSS, PMS
Written by Shahzad F. Malik
WELCOME TO CSS TIMES DAY BY  DAY CURRENT AFFAIRS, YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR UP-TO-DATE AND DAILY TOP CURRENT AFFAIRS 2021 FOR PREPARATION OF CSS, PMS, BANKING, NTS, RAILWAYS AND ALL COMPETITIVE EXAMS.  “DAY TO DAY CURRENT AFFAIRS” BASICALLY IS TOP 10 NEWS SUMMARY ON CURRENT HAPPENINGS OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE FOR ALL EXAMINATIONS

April 16, 2021: National / International Current Affairs


1. Govt bans TLP, to move SC for its dissolution

• As the government slapped an expected ban on the ultra rightwing Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) for its involvement in terrorism on April 15, 2021, the French embassy, apparently fearing reprisals, advised the French citizens to leave Pakistan.
• The announcement for placing the TLP on the list of banned organisations was made by Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed at a joint press conference with Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri.
• The development followed three days of countrywide violent protests by the TLP activists after the arrest of their leader. Expulsion of French Ambassador to Pakistan was one of the key demands of the protesters


2. Verification of 1.4m Afghan refugees begins

• The government, with the support of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, has launched a nationwide verification exercise for 1.4 million Afghan refugees.
• Minister for States and Frontier Regions Mehboob Sultan launched the Documentation Renewal and Information Verification Exercise (Drive) here on April 15, 2021.
• UNHCR Representative Noriko Yoshida and Chief Commissioner for Afghan Refugees Saleem Khan were present on the occasion


3. India likely to use force against Pakistan: US report

• Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is more likely to respond with military force to `perceived or real` provocations from Pakistan, warns a US intelligence report sent to Congress this week.
• The annual threat assessment report 2021 was prepared by the office of the US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and sent to Congress on Tuesday. It identifies China`s `push for global power` as the number one threat to US interests followed Russia`s provocative actions and threats from Iran


4. UAE mediating between India and Pakistan

• The United Arab Emirates` envoy to Washington confirmed the Gulf state is mediating between India and Pakistan to help the nuclear-armed rivals reach a `healthy and functional` relationship.
• Top intelligence officers from India and Pakistan held secret talks in Dubai in January in a new effort to calm military tension over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
• Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba said that the UAE played a role `in bringing Kashmir escalation down and created a ceasefire, hopefully ultimately leading to restoring diplomats and getting the relationship back to a healthy level`


5. EU moves to sanction two Myanmar firms close to military

• The European Union has agreed to impose sanctions on another 10 individuals linked to the Feb 1 coup in Myanmar and to target two businesses run by the armed forces for the first time in protest at the military takeover, two diplomats said.
• The measures, which the diplomats said could take effect next week, would target two companies that generate revenue for the Myanmar armed forces.
• While the EU has an arms embargo on Myanmar and targeted 11 senior military officials last month, the decision to target two companies is the most significant response so far for the bloc since the coup that ousted an elected government led by Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.


6. US expels 10 Russian diplomats; Poland follows suit by expelling three

• The United States announced sanctions and the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats on April 15, 2021 in retaliation for what Washington says is the Kremlin`s US election interference, a massive cyber attack and other hostile activity.
• President Joe Biden`s broadside against Russia came the same week as he offered to meet President Vladimir Putin for their first summit a meeting US officials say remains `vital` so that the two countries can deescalate.
• In Warsaw, the Polish foreign ministry said the government had expelled three Russian diplomats over `hostile actions` by Moscow


7. India`s mly chief concerned over US withdrawal

• India is concerned about a vacuum developing in Afghanistan following the proposed withdrawal of United States and NATO forces from the country, the chief of the defence staff said on Thursday.
• General Bipin Rawat told a security conference that the worry was `disruptors` would step into the space created by the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan. He declined to name the countries that could act as spoilers.
• President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that US troops would withdrawn from Afghanistan starting on May 1 to end America`s longest war, rejecting calls for them to stay to ensure a peaceful resolution to that nation`s grinding internal conflict


8. Blinken vows `enduring` Afghan ties after pullout

• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed on April 15, 2021 that the United States will have a lasting partnership with Afghanistan even after it withdraws all forces from the country before this year`s 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
• The unconditional withdrawal four months later than a deadline agreed with the Taliban last year comes despite a deadlock in peace talks between the insurgents and the Afghan government and threatens to leave a power vacuum that could plunge the country deeper into violence


9. Google Earth adds time lapse video to depict climate change

• The Google Earth app is adding a new video feature that draws upon nearly four decades of satellite imagery to vividly illustrate how climate change has affected glaciers, beaches, forests and other places around the world.
• The tool unveiled on Thursday is rolling out in what is being billed as the biggest update to Google Earth in five years. Google says it undehook the complex project in partnership with several government agencies, including Nasa in the US and its European counterpart, in hopes that it will help a mass audience grasp the sometimes abstract concept of climate change in more tangible terms through its free Earth app


10. Brilliant Rizwan named among Wisden`s Five Cricketers of the Year

• Pakistan`s dashing wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan has been named among Wisden`s Five Cricketers of the Year in the 2021 edition of the Wisden Almanack.
• The right-hander averaged more than 40 across three Tests for Pakistan during their 1-0 series defeat to England and was also lauded for his brilliant wicketkeeping skills during the series.
• Rizwan`s was an electrifying presence behind the stumps for Pakistan, pulling off arguably the take of the summer when he caught Ben Stokes high to his left during the First Test at Old Trafford


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About the author

Shahzad F. Malik

Shahzad Faisal Malik is the administrator of CSSTimes.pk and is responsible for managing the content, design, and overall direction of the blog. He has a strong background in Competitive Exams and is passionate and sharing information with others.
Shahzad Faisal Malik has worked as a Graphic Designer/Content Creator at CSSTimes in the past. In his free time, Shahzad Faisal Malik enjoys watching Cricket, writing blogs for different websites and is always on the lookout for new and interesting content to share with the readers of this website.
As the website administrator, Shahzad Faisal Malik is dedicated to providing high-quality content and fostering a welcoming and engaging community for readers. He looks forward to connecting with readers and hearing their thoughts and feedback on the website.

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