Daily Top-10 Current Affairs MCQs / News (August 13, 2021) for CSS, PMS

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August 13, 2021: National / International Current Affairs

1. Pakistan test-fires short-range ballistic missile

• Pakistan on August 12, 2021 successfully test-fired a short-range surface-to-surface nuclear-capable ballistic missile.
• According to a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the training launch of Ghaznavi was aimed at ensuring operational readiness of Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC) and revalidating technical parameters of the weapon system.
• As per the military`s media wing, the missile is capable of delivering multiple warheads up to a range of 290 kilometres. The launch of the ballistic missile was witnessed by Commander of Army Strategic Forces Command Lt Gen Muhammad Ali, senior officers of Strategic Plans Division, Army Strategic Forces Command and scientists and engineers of strategic organisations

2. Unconditional $2.8bn from IMF due on 23rd: Tarin

• Confirming that Pakistan will receive $2.77 billion `unconditional` funds from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Aug 23, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin on August 12, 2021 said the government would address the global lender`s concerns over its proposed Rs1.6 trillion worth of Kamyab Pakistan Programme (KPP) and take forward the $6bn Extended Fund Facility currently `in recess` Speaking at a hurriedly called news conference after a long post-budget gap because of his health issues, Mr Tarin said he had been promised by the prime minister to make him senator to continue as finance minister and he had no reason to doubt it would not materialise before the expiry of the remaining two-month constitutional window.
• The minister said the IMF would transfer $2.77bn of the country`s share to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) account on Aug 23 out of $650bn general allocation the Washington based lending agency made to all its members to boost international liquidity challenged by the global health pandemic

3. In a first, woman judge to be elevated to SC

• In a first in the country`s judicial history, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) is going to elevate a woman judge to the Supreme Court when it meets on Sept 9.
• Justice Ayesha A. Malik is fourth on the seniority list of the Lahore High Court. If elevated to the apex court, she will remain judge of the Supreme Court until March 2031.
• At present the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court is complete with 17 judges. Justice Ayesha will fill the vacancy when senior puisne judge Justice Mushir Alam will reach superannuation on Aug 17.

4. US advises its citizens to leave immediately

• The United States urged its citizens on August 12, 2021 to leave Afghanistan immediately as a US intelligence report predicted that the Afghan capital Kabul could fall to the Taliban in 90 days.
• The security alert for Americans still in Afghanistan said that the US Embassy in Kabul could soon announce evacuation flights for them but asked them not to delay their departure.
• `US citizens should leave Afghanistan as soon as possible using available commercial transportation and not plan to rely on US government flights,` the alert said.

5. Taliban take Kandahar, Herat in major offensive

• The Taliban captured Kandahar and Herat, Afghanistan`s second and third-largest, besides a strategic provincial capital, on August 12, 2021. The advance further squeezed the embattled government just weeks before the end of American military mission there.
• The seizure of Kandahar and Herat marks the biggest prizes yet for the Taliban, who have taken 12 of Afghanistan`s 34 provincial capitals as part of a week-long blitz.
• The capture of the city of Ghazni, meanwhile, cut off a crucial highway linking the Afghan capital with the country`s southern provinces, which similarly find themselves under assault 20 years after US and Nato troops invaded and ousted the Taliban government

6. UK sends troops to evacuate staff and citizens

• Britain will deploy hundreds of military personnel to Afghanistan to help British nationals and local translators get out of the country, defence secretary Ben Wallace said on August 12, 2021 as the security situation there worsens.
• The British embassy in Kabul will be moved to a more secure location and will remain manned by only a core staff.
• The deployment of protection forces and logistical support has been triggered by rising violence as Taliban fighters capture cities across Afghanistan after US and allied troops withdrew

7. Kabul offers power-sharing deal to Taliban

• Afghan government negotiators in Qatar have offered the Taliban a power-sharing deal in return for an end to fighting in the country, a government negotiating source said on August 12, 2021.
• `Yes, the government has submitted a proposal to Qatar as mediator.
• The proposal allows the Taliban to share power in return for a halt in violence in the country,` the source said

8. US to dispatch 3,000 troops

• The United States said on Thursday it was sending 3,000 troops to the international airport in Kabul immediately to evacuate US embassy staff as the Taliban make rapid gains.
• `We are further reducing our civilian footprint in Kabul in light of the evolving security situation, State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.
• `This president prioritises above all else the safety and security of Americans who are serving overseas,` he said of Joe Biden, who has ordered a withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan after nearly 20 years.

9. Veteran actress Durdana Butt dies

• Distinguished television and film actress Durdana Butt died here on August 12, 2021. She was 74.Ms Butt was born on April 13, 1947 in Lahore. After graduating from Kinnaird College, she went to the University of Toledo from where she obtained a PhD in education administration. She returned to the country and headed a chain of private schools for the most part of her career.
• Ms Butt took up acting as a hobby in the 1960s but her skills as an artist were recognised when she worked in the iconic Karachi TV series Angan Terha written by Anwar Maqsood in 1980. She played the role of a demure woman, Sultana, sister of Chaudhry Sahib (played by Arshad Mahmud), who frequently visit their neighbours Mahboob (Shakeel) and his wife Jahan Ara (Bushra Ansari) sometimes to the chagrin of the married couple. Sultana admires Mahboob but because of his marital status tries to make him acknowledge her feelings through funny and often goofy gestures

10. Warriors stay in hunt as Tigers seal playoffs spot

• Overseas Warriors kept their playoffs alive in the Kashmir Premier League when they eased to a seven-wicket win against Rawalkot Hawks in Muzaffarabad on August 12, 2021.
• In a match interrupted by rain when the Warriors had reached 116-3 in 12.1 overs while chasing 146 at the Muzaffarabad Cricket Stadium, target was reset at 132 in 18 overs. However, the Warriors required six deliveries to get over the line at 133-3 in 13.1 overs.
• Warriors, who are now fourth in the standings, need to defeat the already-eliminated Kotli Lions on Friday morning in the penultimate fixture of the six-team league phase

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