Day by Day Current Affairs (March 15, 2020) MCQs for CSS, PMS

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March 15, 2020: National / International Current Affairs

1. Educational institutions, marriage halls issued notices to shut for three weeks

• The capital administration on March 14, 2020 issued notices to all educational institutes, including religious seminaries, and marriage halls to suspend their activities for three weeks in the wake of the coronavirus alert.
• Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat told that the notices were served on all educational institutes and management of marriage halls, banquets and marquees.
• Assistant commissioners and magistrates served the notices which warned that strict legal action would be initiated over violation of the order.
• Notices were also issued to management of hostels of educational institutes, including religious seminaries, and private hostels to get them vacated, the DC said. However, foreign students were allowed to stay in the hostels and the managements were directed to take precautionary measures

2. Countries bolster virus defences as Spain reports 1,500 new cases

• Governments around the world ramped up the battle against the new coronavirus on March 14, 2020 by shutting borders and promising cash injections, as Spain emerged as a global hot spot registering more than 1,500 new infections in just 24 hours.
• A week that saw schools and businesses shut down indefinitely, millions of travellers barred from crossing borders, celebrities and politicians become infected and the whole of Italy locked down ended with a flurry of government announcements. American President Donald Trump declared a national emergency and announced a $50 billion package as the death toll in the US rose to 50, with similar measures being taken by governments from Austria to Canada on Saturday.
• The president`s 30-day ban on travellers from Europe also came into effect on Saturday, a day after the final planeloads of European passengers flew into Los Angeles

3. SAARC states hold video moot on virus today

• South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) leaders would hold a video conference on Sunday (March 15, 2020) to formulate a joint strategy for curbing the spread of novel coronavirus in the region.
• `Coming together for common good! 15 March, 1700 IST PM @narendramodi will lead India at the video conference of all SAARC member countries, to chalk out a strong common strategy to fight COVID-19 in the region, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted on Saturday.
• Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza will take part in the conference, representing Pakistan

4. Speaker suspends Public Accounts Committees

• National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on March 14, 2020 cancelled all the standing committees and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the wake of coronavirus issue.
• The decision was taken with the consent of opposition parties, as no definite period was still decided to resume the committee meetings

5. Former PPP’s pioneer leader Dr Mubashir Hasan dies at 98

• One of the founding members of the PPP Dr Mubashir Hasan passed away on March 14, 2020 morning after protracted illness. He was 98.
• He breathed his last at the place where he co-founded the PPP along with Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in November 1967. Foundation stone of the PPP was laid at the Gulberg residence (4-k) of Dr Mubashir Hassan who was also one of key members of the party along with J.A. Rahim and Sheikh Mohammad Rashid.
• Dr Hasan was survived by his wife Dr Zeenat Hussain. He was laid to rest at Bagh-e-Rehmat graveyard on Bedian Road, Lahore Cantonment on Saturday evening. People from all walks of life including PPP leaders, intellectuals and friends attended his funeral prayer.

6. China sees imported virus cases exceed for first time

• The number of new coronavirus cases imported into mainland China from overseas surpassed the number of locally transmitted new infections for the first time on Friday, data released by the National Health Commission showed on Saturday.
• Mainland China had 11 new confirmed cases on Friday, up from eight cases a day earlier, but only four of those all in the virus epicentre of Hubei province were locally transmitted.
• The other seven including four in the financial hub of Shanghai, one in the capital Beijing and two in the northwestern province of Gansu were all detected in travellers coming into China from overseas, specifically Italy, the United States and Saudi Arabia, according to local authorities

7. Rocket attack hits base housing US troops

• A barrage of rockets hit a base housing US and other coalition troops north of Baghdad on March 14, 2020, Iraqi security officials said, just days after a similar attack killed three servicemen, including two Americans.
• The US-led coalition said at least 25 107mm rockets struck Camp Taji just before 11am. Some struck the area where coalition forces are based, while others fell on air defense units, the Iraqi military statement said.
• Five coalition members and two Iraqi soldiers were wounded in the attack at Camp Taji, according to spokesman for the US-led coalition Myles Caggins. The nationalities of the wounded coalition members was not immediately known

8. Kabul delays Taliban prisoner release plan

• The Afghan government has postponed its plan to release Taliban prisoners, a senior official said on March 14, 2020, throwing a precarious peace process between the insurgents and Kabul into deeper crisis.
• President Ashraf Ghani recently announced that the authorities would free 1,500 militants as a `gesture of goodwill` before negotiations begin, in an attempt to resolve one of the long-running disputes that had roiled talks.
• The insurgents had earlier rejected the offer and demanded that up to 5,000 captives are released ahead of talks, citing the US-Taliban deal signed last month that excluded Kabul.

9. US declares emergency as new virus epicentre Europe locks down

• US President Donald Trump declared a national state of emergency as the World Health Organization named Europe the new epicenter of the coronavirus Friday, with countries sealing borders, shutting schools and canceling events in a frenzied attempt to slow the ballooning pandemic.
• Wall Street stocks rallied as financial markets endured a rollercoaster ride after a week of spectacular losses triggered by fears that the deadly outbreak will lead to a worldwide economic recession.
• “To unleash the full power of the federal government, I’m officially declaring a national emergency,” Trump said, announcing $50 billion in federal funds to battle the fast-spreading pandemic

10. Kings humble United to earn berth at semis

• Karachi Kings sneaked into the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020 semi-finals by eliminating the two-time former champions Islamabad United from the tournament with a four-wicket win here at an overly-quiet National Stadium on March 14, 2020.
• Karachi not only firmly shut the doors on United who had won the inaugural PSL in 2016 at Dubai and replicated that achievement at this very ground two years ago but also booked themselves a second-placed spot in Tuesday`s second semi-finals in Lahore.

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