December 2019

Day by Day Current Affairs (December 18 2019) MCQs for CSS, PMS

Day by Day Current Affairs (December 18 2019) MCQs 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 2019 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 18, 2019: National Current Affairs


1. Army dismayed as Musharraf gets death for high treason

• As a special court awarded death sentence to former ex. COAS General Pervez Musharraf in absentia on December 17, 2019 for suspending the Constitution on Nov 3, 2007, the counsel for the convict and the armed forces media wing in separate statements strongly criticised the decision that they said was taken `in haste` The court, comprising judges of three high courts, awarded the sentence with a dissenting note from one judge who said that instead of capital punishment, the former military ruler should be awarded life imprisonment for imposing emergency and forcibly confining over 60 judges to their residences 12 years ago.
• The special court, comprising Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth, Justice Nazar Akbar of the Sindh High Court and Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court, will announce the detailed verdict in the high treason case within 48 hours of the pro-nouncement of the short order.
• In a sharp and quick reaction to the ruling, the armed forces media wing said: `The decision given by special court about General Pervez Musharraf, retired, has been received with lot of pain and anguish by rank and file of Pakistan armed forces. An ex-army chief, chairman joint chief of staff committee and President of Pakistan, who has served the country for over 40 years, fought wars for the defence of the country can surely never be a traitor


2. Pakistan ranked 151st out of 153 countries in gender report

• Pakistan ranks as the third worst country in global rankings for gender equality, says a report published on December 17, 2019.
• The Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF) in its Global Gender Gap Report 2020 showed Pakistan is just ahead of Iraq and Yemen, a ranking of 151 out of 153 countries.
• Now in its 14th year, the Global Gender Gap Report 2020 ranked 153 countries on their progress towards gender parity in four dimensions: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival and political empowerment. In addition, the report examined gender gap prospects in the professions of the future.
• The Country Score Card for Pakistan showed it ranks 150th in economic participation and opportunity, 143rd in educational attainment, 149th in health and survival and 93rd in political empowerment. A comparison of the score shows that Pakistan slipped from the position of 112 in 2006 to 151 in 2020.
• Likewise, in economic participation and opportunity, the score was 112 in 2006 and slid to 150 in 2020. In educational attainment, the score was 110 in 2006 as compared to 143 in 2020; in health and survival, it was 112 in 2006 and 149 in 2020; and in political empowerment, the score was 37 in 2006 as against 93 in 2020.


3. Pakistan skips Malaysia moot to `avert division in Ummah`

• Ending uncertainty over Pakistan`s participation in the upcoming Kuala Lumpur Summit, the government on Tuesday announced that it would not attend the event at any level.
• Talking to a group of journalists at the Foreign Office on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said there would be no representation from Pakistan government at the summit being held in Kuala Lumpur from Wednesday.
• Prime Minister Imran Khan tele-phoned his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir bin Mohammad on Monday night to express his regrets for not being able to attend the summit.
• Meanwhile, Mr Khan conveyed the same to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is also one of the driving forces behind the event, during a meeting on the sidelines of First Global Refugee Forum in Geneva on Tuesday.


4. Infamous Chunian case ATC hands down death penalty to rapist-cum-killer of minor boys

• An anti-terrorism court on December 17, 2019 handed down death sentence on three counts to a rapist-cum-killer of several minor boys of Chunian in one of the cases.
• Following a trial conducted inside the Kot Lakhpat prison, presiding judge Muhammad Iqbal announced the verdict convicting Sohail Shahzad in the murder case of Faizan.
• The judge handed down death penalty to Shahzad under sections 367-A, 302-B of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and section 7(a) of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.
• The convict was also awarded life imprisonment under section 377 of the PPC along with a collective fine of Rs3.2 million.


5. Former air chief dies

• Air Marshal Zafar Chaudhry, a former chief of the Pakistan Air Force, passed away on December 17, 2019. He was the father of Lt Col Omar Chaudhry.


6. Govt to save ex-ruler in court on appeal: AG

• Terming the high treason trial against former military ruler Pervez Musharraf `unfair`, the Pakistan Tehreeki-Insaf government on December 17, 2019 decided to defend the self-exiled, ailing ex-president during the hearing of an appeal to be filed on his behalf.
• `I will defend the law in the case but not any individual,` said Attorney General Anwar Mansoor in the late-night joint press conference that he addressed along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan.
• He said former president Musharraf had not been given the right of fair trial during the case tried in a special court and the judgement was announced in absentia without recording statement of the accused.
• The attorney general said the verdict raised questions about `urgency in pronouncing the judgement when Mr Musharraf was in critical condition in ICU` in Dubai


7. UNSC postpones Kashmir meeting after France disagrees

• The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on December 17, 2019 postponed a special meeting on occupied Kashmir, but a UN spokesman did express concern on the current situation in the India held valley.
• `We`re, obviously, aware and watching the situation and watching the situation closely,` spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at his daily news briefing at the UN headquarters in New York on December 17, 2019.
• Five permanent members of the Security Council were expected to meet on Tuesday at China`s request to discuss the situation in the disputed region, but the meeting had to be postponed after France opposed the move.
• Any of five permanent members the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France can shoot down a UNSC meeting by simply disagreeing with the proposal


8. Drawdown from Afghanistan likely to begin next year, says US senator

• US Senator Lindsey Graham said on Monday that President Donald Trump may announce an American troop drawdown from Afghanistan before the year`s end, which would likely begin next year.
• Graham, speaking from the Afghan capital of Kabul, said the president could reduce troop numbers to 8,600, down from the current estimated 12,000.
• `If President Trump decides in the next few weeks to reduce our forces below the 12,000 we have, I could support that,` he said.
• `The Afghan security forces are getting more capable,` said Graham.
• As they achieve capability, the number of US forces necessary can go down


9. Egyptian officials unveil archaeological finds

• Archaeologists in Egypt have unveiled two new artefacts from antiquity, a rare statue of one of the country`s most famous pharaohs and a diminutive ancient sphinx.
• Egypt`s Ministry of Antiquities announced that a pink granite statue of celebrated ancient ruler Ramses II was found last week, describing the artefact as one of the rarest archaeological discoveries.
• Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the three-and-a-half-foot statue was crafted in a style that ancient Egyptians used to portray and capture an individuals essential nature, adding that it was the first such statue to be found fashioned from granite


10. Japan women`s football champions to begin Tokyo 2020 torch relay

• Members of the Japan team who won the 2011 women`s football World Cup will start the Japan leg of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay, organisers said on December 17, 2019.
• More details of the route were revealed along with the approximately 10,000 people who will carry the Olympic flame as it tours all Japan`s 47 prefectures ahead of the Games` opening ceremony in July.
• The Nadeshiko hold a special place in the hearts of the Japanese people because their World Cup victory in Germany came months after the devastating 2011 tsunami and earthquake.
• With Tokyo 2020 billed by organisers as the `reconstruction Olympics`, and the torch relay starting in Fukushima, the selection of coach Norio Sasaki and his players to begin the relay on March 26 came as little surprise


Day by Day Current Affairs (December 18 2019) MCQs for CSS, PMS

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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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