Daily Top-10 Current Affairs MCQs / News (February 03, 2022) for CSS, PMS

Table of Contents

6. SBP revises time limit for export proceeds

• The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has reversed its earlier decision to reduce the time period from 180 days to 120 days to bring exports proceeds into the country.
• In a circular issued on Jan 5, the SBP said that full export value of goods exported from Pakistan and declared to the Customs authorities should be received in an approved manner, on the due date for payment or within one hundred and twenty (120) days from the date of shipment, whichever is earlier.
• However, a circular issued on Feb1 by the SBP clarified that amendments introduced through the earlier FE circular shall not be applicable on such exports where irrevocable letters of credit with usance (time for payment of foreign bill) period up to 180 days were issued or established up to the date of issuance of above instructions

7. US deploys troops to support Nato in Ukraine standoff

• The United States said on February 2, 2022 it was deploying thousands of troops to bolster Nato forces in eastern Europe, ratcheting up its military response to fears that Russia could invade Ukraine.
• Russia has massed than 100,000 troops on Ukraine`s borders, and Western leaders have warned that any incursion into the ex-Soviet nation would be met with `severe consequences.` Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said 1,000 US troops in Germany would deploy to Romania, and 2,000 based in the United States would be sent to Germany and Poland

8. Israeli defence minister on first-ever visit to Bahrain

• Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz landed in Bahrain on February 2, 2022, the latest high-profile diplomatic trip since the countries normalised ties, the Gulf country said.
• `The defence minister, Lieutenant General Abdullah bin Hassan al-Nuaimi, received Mr Benny Gantz, the minister of defence of the State of Israel, upon his arrival at Bahrain International Airport,` the Bahraini Defence Ministry said.
• Gantz, who is the first Israeli defence minister to ever officially visit the Gulf country, travelled with several top military and security officials, including navy chief Admiral David Saar Salama

9. Fakhar and Zaman shine as Qalandars cruise to victory against Zalmi

• The contest was all but over when Lahore Qalandars pacer Zaman Khan got two in two almost halfway through the Peshawar Zalmi innings on February 2, 2022.
• With the asking rate climbing in their chase of 200 at the National Stadium, Zaman had left Zalmi reeling when he sent back Hussain Talat and Kamran Akmal on consecutive deliveries to leave them needing 133 in theirlast11overs.
• A tough ask for Zalmi made worse as they couldn`t capitalise on Qalandars` poor fielding in their HBL Pakistan Super League clash. There were five dropped catches as well as a missed chance for a stumping

10. Curling kicks off Beijing Games under shadow of Covid, rights fears

• Mixed doubles curling opened competition at the Beijing Winter Olympics on February 2, 2022 as China tried to move on from the diplomatic boycotts and Covid fears that have dogged the lead-up to the Games.
• China and Britain claimed victories in the `Ice Cube`, where American swimmer Michael Phelps won eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics when it was known as the `Water Cube`, opening the action in the Games which will last until Feb 20 in front of crowds made sparse by Covid-19 curbs.
• Basketball great Yao Ming and a Chinese soldier wounded in a border clash with India earlier joined in a torch relay set to last just three days and only be viewed by selected members of the public before the Olympic cauldron is lit