Daily Top-10 Current Affairs MCQs / News (March 26, 2022) for CSS, PMS

Table of Contents

6. N. Korea has `likely more in store` after missile test: US

• North Korea likely has `more in store` after successfully test firing its largest-ever intercontinental ballistic missile this week, a top White House official said on March 25, 2022.
• Thursday`s launch was the first time Pyongyang has fired Kim Jong Un`s most powerful missiles at full range since 2017.
• It was conducted under Kim`s `direct guidance`, and ensures his country is ready for `long-standing confrontation` with the US, state media outlet KCNA reported Friday.

7. Houthi attack on Jeddah oil depot triggers massive fire

• Yemen`s Houthi rebels attacked a Saudi Aramco oil facility setting off a huge fire visible from Jeddah`s Formula One track as part of a wave of attacks on March 25, 2022.
• `We did several attacks with drones and ballistic missiles,` the Iran-backed Houthi rebels said in a statement, including an `Aramco installation in Jeddah (and) vital installations in Riyadh`.
• Smoke billowed near Jeddah`s F1 track as drivers took part in practice runs, with Red Bull`s world champion Max Verstappen saying he could smell the blaze as he drove

8. Israel to host `historic summit` of US, Arab diplomats

• Israel said it will host a `historic summit` from Sunday of top diplomats from the United States and three Arab states with which it has normalised ties.
• `At the invitation of Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, this upcoming Sunday and Monday… a historic diplomatic summit will be held in Israel,` the foreign ministry said on Friday.
• A series of diplomatic meetings would be attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his counterparts from the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, it said, without giving further details.
• The United Arab Emirates forged diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020 under a series of US-brokered deals known as the Abraham Accords

9. Giant white diamond `The Rock` makes debut in Dubai

• A giant diamond nicknamed `The Rock` went on display for the first time in Dubai on March 25, 2022 ahead of an auction where it is expected to fetch over $30 million.
• The 228.31-carat pear-shaped gem, which was mined and polished in South Africa more than 20 years ago, is the largest white diamond ever to come to auction, said Christie`s.
• After making its debut at the auction house`s Dubai branch, where it will be displayed from March 26-29, The Rock will travel to Taipei, New York and Geneva, where it will be auctioned on May 11.
• `The Middle East has always had such a great appreciation for important jewels and gemstones,` Rahul Kadakia, international head of jewellery at Christie`s, told AFP

10. Relentless Australia clinch series as Pakistan collapse on final day

• There was no grandstand finish this time. The heroic resistance of the National Stadium never came at the Gaddafi Stadium for Pakistan.
• Once Australia removed captain Babar Azam after tea, the writing was on the wall for the hosts.
• Nearly quarter of a century from when they last toured Pakistan, Australia will return home after a Test series here with the same result a 1-0 victory and the Benaud-Qadir Trophy to show for after they completed a 115-run triumph in the series-deciding third Test on Friday.
• Chasing 351 to win, Pakistan folded for just 235 in just about an hour after tea with Nathan Lyon being the wrecker-in-chief with 5-83 and captain Pat Cummins grabbing 3-23. It was Cummins` bold declaration on Thursday that set up the Aussies for the victory and he was naturally overjoyed with how things panned out for his side