December 2021

Daily Top-10 Current Affairs MCQs / News (December 12, 2021) for CSS, PMS

Daily Top-10 Current Affairs MCQs / News (December 12, 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

December 12, 2021: National / International Current Affairs


1. Ali to oversee affairs as petroleum secretary Arshad axed

• The federal government on Saturday removed Petroleum Division Secretary Dr Arshad Mehmood and assigned the charge of the office to Power Division Secretary Ali Raza Bhutta.
• According to a notification issued by the Establishment Division, `Dr Arshad Mehmood a BS-22 officer of Pakistan Administrative Service, presently posted as Secretary Petroleum Division, is transferred and directed to report to the Establishment Division`.
• Interestingly, Mr Mehmood has not been assigned any posting. His services will remain at the disposal of Establishment Division until further orders.
• As a makeshift arrangement, the Petroleum Division will be looked after by another bureaucrat


2. Sindh PA removes provision of secret ballot from LG law

• Amid opposition members` strong protest, the Sindh Assembly on December 11, 2021 removed the provisions of `secret ballot` and election of `any person as mayor, deputy mayor, chairman and vice chairman of a council instead of elected members from the Sindh Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2021.
• The situation took an ugly turn when Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah moved the motion for reconsideration of the bill and Opposition Leader Haleem Adil Sheikh demanded a discussion on the bill before its reconsideration.
• Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, however, did not allow any opposition member to speak on the bill.


3. Afghan Taliban reject TTP`s claim it`s part of IEA

• The Afghan Taliban have rejected the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claim that it is a `branch` of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), the regime in charge in Kabul, asserting that the two organisations do not share the same objectives.
• These views were expressed by Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, in an interview with Arab News on Friday, apparently in response to the recent assertion by the TTP through a video.
• In the video available on social media, TTP chief Mufti Noor Wali Mahsud claimed his outfit came under the larger `umbrella` of the IE A. `Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan is a branch of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, [and] is a part of that umbrella on this land,` Mahsud, accompanied by armed militants, can be seen saying in the video as he addressed a group of men


4. Kabul approached for return of two sisters to Quetta

• Adviser to the Chief Minister on Home and Tribal Affairs Mir Ziaullah Langove has said that the authorities concerned have contacted the Afghan government through Foreign Office to seek repatriation of two sisters to Pakistan to help investigate the video scandal.
• Two suspects have been arrested for kidnapping and raping the girls, making their objectionable videos, posting the same on internet and blackmailing them.
• The girls were sent to Afghanistan by their family


5. Key conditions to obtain loans from MFBs withdrawn

• In a major move to facilitate small borrowers, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on December 11, 2021 withdrew the requirements of written declarations and a credit information report for obtaining loans from the microfinance banks (MFBs).
• The SBP has introduced the changes to the prudential regulations for MFBs to streamline the requirement of obtaining Credit Information Report (CIR) and simplifying the documentary requirements from microfinance borrowers.
• The move is aimed at enhancing the role of MFBs in accelerating economic activities and creating bigger opportunities for small borrowers. Earlier, the MFBs were required to obtain written declarations from borrowers about facilities already obtained by them from other financial institutions


6. Donors back $280m transfer for Afghan food, health schemes

• Donors agreed on Friday to transfer $280 million from a frozen trust fund to the World Food Programme (WFP) and Unicef to support nutrition and health in Afghanistan, the World Bank said as it seeks to help a country facing famine and economic freefall.
• The World Bank-administered Afghan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) will this year give $180m to WFP to scale up food security and nutrition operations and $100m to Unicef to provide essential health services, the bank said in a statement.
• The money would aim to support food security and health programmes in Afghanistan as it sinks into a severe economic and humanitarian crisis that accelerated in August when the Taliban overran the country as the western backed government collapsed and the last US troops withdrew. The United States and other donors cut off financial aid on which Afghanistan became dependent during 20 years of war and more than $9 billion of the country`s hard currency assets were frozen


7. US sanctions elite paramilitary unit of Bangladesh

• The US government has imposed sanctions on Bangladesh`s elite paramilitary unit called Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) for `serious human rights abuse`.
• The sanctions announced on Friday, which was also the International Human Rights Day, targeted 15 individuals and 10 entities in four countries Bangladesh, Burma, China and North Korea.
• `On International Human Rights Day, the Treasury is using its tools to expose and hold accountable perpetrators of serious human rights abuse,` said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo


8. Saudi reforms need critical thinking to succeed: US philosopher

• Saudi authorities` willingness to promote critical thinking will determine if a reform drive launched there succeeds, American political philosopher Michael Sandel said after participating in the kingdom`s first-ever philosophy conference.
• Sandel, a Harvard University professor described by the Times Literary Supplement as the `most important and influential living philosopher` spoke to Reuters after discussing notions of morality, justice and universal duty with Saudi students.
• Philosophy is not taught in Saudi universities and had been considered heretical thinking there for decades


9. China brands US democracy `weapon of mass destruction`

• China branded US democracy a `weapon of mass destruction` on December 11, 2021, following the US-organised Summit for Democracy which aimed to shore up like-minded allies in the face of autocratic regimes.
• China was left out of the two-day virtual summit along with countries including Russia and Hungary and responded by angrily accusing US President Joe Biden of stoking Cold War-era ideological divides. “Democracy` has long become a `weapon of mass destruction` used by the US to interfere in other countries,` a foreign ministry spokesperson said in an online statement, which also accused the US of having `instigated colour revolutions` overseas.
• The ministry also claimed the summit was organised by the US to `draw lines of ideological prejudice, instrumentalise and weaponise democracy… (and) incite division and confrontation. Beijing vowed to `resolutely resist and oppose all kinds of pseudo democracies`


10. Shoaib stuns Aqeel to clinch Federal Cup title

• Third seed Mohammad Shoaib upset top seed and veteran Aqeel Khan in a nail-biting men`s singles final of the J7 Group34th Federal Cup National Ranking Tennis Championships here at the PTF Tennis Complex on Saturday.
• Shoaib, 20, of the PAF upset 41-yearold Aqeel in a thrilling see-saw decider which lasted over two hours.
• Shoaib got off to a flying start, taking a 3-0 lead in the opening set but Aqeel fought back to draw level before Shoaib regained control and took the set6-4.
• In the second set, after a few closely fought games, Aqeel, who is a grass court expert, took complete control to win 6-3.


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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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