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Articles Pakistani Newspapers

Pakistan’s Nuclear Diplomacy: Commitment Towards Non-Proliferation | Essay Material

By Sher Bano

Ever since Pakistan became a nuclear weapon state, Pakistan’s nuclear diplomacy has been in practice on the principles of restraint and responsibility.

Pakistan was even reluctant to enter the club of nuclear weapon states but soon after India had conducted its first nuclear test in the year 1974, going nuclear became Pakistan’s strategic compulsion. India’s series of nuclear tests in 1998 had compelled Pakistan to demonstrate its nuclear weapon capability accordingly to restore the strategic balance in South Asia. The development of Pakistan’s nuclear weapon capability primarily serves the purpose of a credible and reliable defence against the existential threat from India and to maintain peace and stability in the region.

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Articles Pakistani Newspapers

Foreign Office needs reform by Maleeha Lodhi | Essay Material

NO institution can perform effectively unless it is able to adapt to changes around it, leverage the opportunities offered by a globalised world and learn new skills to deal with emerging challenges. Periodic review and reform are essential to reinvigorate any organisation and make it fit for purpose. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is no exception to this rule.

For decades little has changed in its working methods, structure, training of personnel and mode of recruitment — and thus in its outlook and approach. If foreign policy is the country’s first line of defence, Pakistan’s foreign service needs serious attention and reform.

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September 2020

Daily Top-10 Current Affairs MCQs / News (September 13, 2020) for CSS, PMS

WELCOME TO CSS TIMES DAY BY  DAY CURRENT AFFAIRS, YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR UP-TO-DATE AND DAILY TOP CURRENT AFFAIRS 2020 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

September 13, 2020: National / International Current Affairs


1. Afghan peace talks begin amid calls for ceasefire

• The talks between the Afghan warring factions for ending the 19-year-old conflict in Afghanistan finally got under way in Doha, Qatar, on September 11, 2020 amid calls for immediate ceasefire and preserving the gains made by Afghanistan over the past couple of decades.
• The inaugural ceremony was attended by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, chairman of Afghan High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and senior diplomats of a number of countries, in addition to the Afghan government and Taliban delegations. Seventeen foreign ministers of different countries and heads of inter-governmental bodies virtually attended the session.
• The start of the talks after protracted delays marked a major progress towards the end of conflict in Afghanistan. The talks were to originally start on March 10 following the US-Taliban agreement, but disputes over prisoners` release kept them delaying


2. Khalid Bizenjo of Balochistan Awami Party elected senator

• Mohammad Khalid Bizenjo of the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) was elected to the upper house of parliament from Balochistan in a Senate by election on September 12, 2020.
• He will remain a member of the Senate until March 2021.
• The seat had fallen vacant after the death of National Party founder Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo last month.
• He was suffering from cancer.


3. Chinese vaccine trial to start in Pakistan in 10 days

• Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar said September 12, 2020 that phase 3 trial of a Chinese vaccine for coronavirus will begin in Pakistan in ‘10 days’.
• “Pakistan will be participating in phase 3 trials of a Chinese developed vaccine for coronavirus,” tweeted the minister. He added that the “trials in Pakistan will start in about 10 days time”.
• Earlier this week it was reported, that the falling COVID-19 infection numbers in Pakistan will not affect a Phase 3 clinical trial for a potential vaccine being developed by China’s CanSino Biologics. The report had also said that trials will begin this month, according to officials running the trial.


4. Men behind Lahore Motorway gang rape identified, manhunt underway

• The two men involved in the gang rape incident on Lahore’s motorway are identified and a manhunt is underway to arrest them, police and top government officials said on September 12, 2020.
• Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said the “real culprits” of motorway rape incident have been identified in less than seventy-two hours. While addressing a news conference in Lahore, he said the investigation of the case was started on a scientific line and he was personally monitoring the probe. “We have traced the accused in less than 72 hours of the incident and the investigation on scientific lines was also under way,” the chief minister said. “I have contacted the victim woman and assured her of providing complete justice.” He said the accused involved in such heinous crimes would not be spared any at cost


5. CM Buzdar launches ‘Nai Zindagi’ for the poor

• Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on September 12, 2020 formally launched ‘Nai Zindagi’ and ‘Punjab Human Capital Investment Project’ at a cost of Rs53.25 billion.
• Caring behaviour is a base of humanity that realise the need of establishing a welfare state like Riyasat-e-Madinah, where, people can get access to all facilities without any discrimination besides providing relief to the poor, oppressed segment and deserving class of the society.


6. Pegasus Airlines launches a new route between Istanbul & Karachi

• Turkey’s digital airline, Pegasus, continues to expand its international network with the launch of its new Karachi – Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen flights, connecting Karachi, Pakistan to Istanbul, Turkey.
• Pegasus’ Karachi – Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen flights will commence on 25 September 2020. Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Quaid-E-Azam International Airport will operate every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 20:35; whilst flights from Quaid-E-Azam International Airport to Istanbul SabihaGökçen Airport will depart every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 04:55 (local times apply).


7. Internet use rose 25pc during pandemic-induced lockdowns

• There seems to be a shift in consumer behaviour from voice to data usage and the telecom sector may require cost cutting measures in infrastructure and meet the growing demand of the internet. More submarine cable companies may soon enter the Pakistani market.
• These views have been expressed by Edotco Pakistan`s managing director Arif Hussain.
• Talking to media, he said that recent lockdowns and the Covid19 pandemic had exposed the need for reliance on data and internet use, which had increased by 25 per cent whereas the revenues from the voice traffic declined by around 10pc.


8. Major Covid-19 vaccine trial resumes in UK after safety review

• Pharma giant Astra Zeneca and Oxford University on September 12, 2020 said they had resumed a Covid-19 vaccine trial after getting the all-clear from British regulators, following a pause caused by a UK volunteer falling ill.
• `Clinical trials for the AstraZeneca Oxford coronavirus vaccine, AZD1222, have resumed in the UK following confirmation by the Medicines Health Regulatory Authority (MHRA) that it was safe to do so,` the company said in a statement.
• AstraZeneca announced on Wednesday it had `voluntarily paused` its trial of the vaccine developed alongside Oxford University after the volunteer developed an unexplained illness


9. Pakistan supports Beijing on South China Sea talks

• Pakistan on September 12, 2020 voiced support for China on resumption of `Code of Conduct` (CoC) negotiations in South China Sea.
• Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, while virtually participating in the 27th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Regional Forum (ARF), reaffirmed `Pakistan`s support for the ongoing negotiations of Code of Conduct and underlined that the concerned parties may find solution through consensus`.
• Mr Qureshi announced that Pakistan will be co-hosting the 24th ARF Heads of Defence Universities/ Colleges/Institutions Meeting with Malaysia in 2021.


10. Pakistan playing key role in Intra-Afghan negotiations: UK

• British High Commissioner in Islamabad Christian Turner September 12, 2020 said that Pakistan’s ership had been key in getting to historic Intra-Afghan Negotiations started earlier in the day.
• The opening ceremony of the negotiations held in Doha wherein Prime Minister’s Envoy on Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq represented Pakistan and Foreign Minister Qureshi addressed the event through video link.
• On his Twitter handle, the British envoy thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Qureshi and Ambassador Sadiq as Pakistan had constantly been playing a reconciliatory role for Afghan peace.


Check our daily updated ‘s Complete Day by Day Current Affairs Notes

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Categories
Articles Pakistani Newspapers

Afghan-Taliban peace talks: Who, What, Where and Why

Talks seeking to end 19 years of war in Afghanistan started this weekend, with an opening ceremony on Saturday. Negotiators representing the Kabul government and Taliban insurgents are scheduled to sit face to face in the Qatari capital of Doha from September 13, 2020.

The intra-Afghan negotiations grew out of a US-Taliban agreement in February.

It outlined the withdrawal of foreign forces from by May 2021 in exchange for peace guarantees and Taliban promises to open negotiations with the Afghan government, which the group had previously refused.

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September 2019

Daily Top-10 Current Affairs MCQs / News (September 12, 2020) for CSS, PMS

WELCOME TO CSS TIMES DAY BY  DAY CURRENT AFFAIRS, YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR UP-TO-DATE AND DAILY TOP CURRENT AFFAIRS 2020 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

September 12, 2020: National / International Current Affairs


1. Trump announces `peace deal` between Bahrain and Israel

• US President Donald Trump announced on September 11, 2020 a `peace deal` between Israel and Bahrain, which becomes the second Arab country to settle with its former foe in less than a month.
• `Another HISTORIC breakthrough today! Our two GREAT friends Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain agree to a Peace Deal the second Arab country to make peace with Israel in 30 days!` Trump tweeted.
• A joint US-Israel-Bahrain statement said there would be `full diplomatic relations`.
• Bahrain has agreed to formalise the deal with Israel at a ceremony to be held on Sept 15 at the White House, where the United Arab Emirates will also sign off on its own thaw with Israel announced in mid-August.


2. World economy to shrink 3.8pc in 2020, says IIF

• The global economy is heading for a recession with GDP projected to shrink 3.8 per cent in 2020, substantially worse than the 0.4pc contraction during the 2009 global financial crisis, the Institute of International Finance (IIF) said in its latest report.
• Contrary to the recovery in the aftermath of the 2009 global financial crisis, the recovery in the emerging markets from the Covid-19 shock will be `shallower and more difficult to navigate as a result,` it added.
• `We forecast a deep recession this year, with global GDP contracting by 3.8pc. The recession we forecast in advanced economies is comparable with the 2009 experience. Instead, it is China and India that account for almost all of the weaker global growth picture


3. Beijing to impose restrictions on all US diplomats

• Beijing will impose `reciprocal restrictions` on all American diplomats on Chinese soil in response to curbs on its embassy personnel in the United States, China`s foreign ministry said on September 11, 2020.
• Relations between the world`s top two economies have deteriorated in recent months, with both sides locked in fierce recriminations over trade disputes, human rights and the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.
• China`s latest move comes days after Washington announced new restrictions on staff working for Beijing`s foreign missions, such as a requirement to seek approval for university visits or meetings with local officials.


4. Massive blast rocks Jordan`s military arms depot

• A huge explosion rocked a Jordanian military munitions depot early on September 11, 2020 sparking a large fire, but the army said there were no casualties at the base located in an uninhabited area.
• The military said the blast was accidental and likely caused by a chemical reaction inside a shell amid a blistering heatwave in the desert country.
• `An explosion occurred in the early hours of Friday … in a warehouse containing unusable mortar bombs belonging to the armed forces,` government spokesman Amjad al-Adaileh said in a statement.


5. Pakistan, China invited to Russia war games

• Russia said on September 11, 2020 it would stage massive military drills in the Caucasus later this month with troops from several countries, including Pakistan, China and Iran, invited to participate.
• More than 12,000 troops will take part in the `Caucasus-2020` war games, which will take place in southern Russia from Sept 21 to 26 and include land and naval exercises, Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin told a briefing.
• `The Caucasus-2020 drills are not aimed against other countries,` the defence ministry said in a statement


6. Swami Agnivesh, advocate of peace with Pakistan, dies

• India’s leading peace activist and a staunch advocate of friendly ties with Pakistan, Swami Aginivesh, died in a hospital here on September 11, 2020 of complications from liver failure, reports said. He was 80.
• The saffron-clad defender of India’s secular constitution was assaulted viciously by suspected activists belonging to the country’s ruling party in 2018, and his close friends said his liver never recovered from the deep injuries.
• The Swami was an active member of peace committees seeking friendship with neighbouring countries including Pakistan, and was a trenchant critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s domestic and foreign policies


7. China, India agree to disengage troops on border

• China and India said on September 11, 2020 they had agreed to de-escalate renewed tensions on their contested Himalayan border and take steps to restore `peace and tranquillity` following a high-level diplomatic meeting in Moscow.
• Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi and Indian Foreign Minister S.
• Taishankar met in Moscow on Thursday and reached a five-point consensus, including agreements that troops from both sides should quickly disengage and ease tensions, the two countries said in a joint statement.


8. Turkey launches series of operations against 130 suspects over failed coup

• Turkish authorities on September 11, 2020 launched a series of operations across the country to detain at least 130 suspects over their alleged links to a network believed to be behind a coup attempt in 2016.
• Following the orders of the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Offices in Istanbul, Ankara, Balikesir, and Konya, police launched simultaneous operations in 45 provinces, the Hurriyet daily said.
• The suspects, including military personnel, lawyers, and police officers, allegedly contacted the network headed by the U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen via various means, according to Hurriyet.


9. Researchers reveal possible new COVID-19 entry points

• Since the start of the pandemic, scientists have learned that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is quite cunning. When the virus enters the body, it’s capable of turning off an entire branch of the immune system, allowing it to spread for days before the immune system can sound the alarm on the intruder.
• However, researchers still don’t know the full scope of tissues and cell types that are most vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2. Most research has focused on identifying genes and pathways that facilitate the virus’s entry into lung cells – yet both clinical and scientific data indicate that it can cause damage in a wide range of organs.
• Now, new Cornell research has developed potential roadmaps for how the virus infects these other organs and identifies what molecular factors could help facilitate or restrict infection.


10. Mystery of Alfred Wallace’s butterfly is finally solved

• Described by the ‘father of zoogeography’ and co-author of the theories of evolution and natural selection, the species hasn’t been reexamined since 1866.
• An over a century-long mystery has been surrounding the Taiwanese butterfly fauna ever since the “father of zoogeography”
• Alfred Russel Wallace, in collaboration with Frederic Moore, authored a landmark paper in 1866: the first to study the lepidopterans of the island. Back then, in their study, Moore dealt with the moths portion and Wallace investigated the butterflies.


Check our daily updated ‘s Complete Day by Day Current Affairs Notes

August 2020:
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August 2020:
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July 2020:
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Categories
Articles English Essay Pakistani Newspapers

Kashmir and the United Nations Security Council | CSS Essay Material

By: Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai

India’s Ambassador to the United Nations, T S Tirumurti has asked the UN Security Council to take off the “outdated agenda item” of the “India-Pakistan question’’, from the Council.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations Munir Akram responded, “Indian representatives are either deluding themselves, or deluding their public, by asserting that they will remove Kashmir from the Security Council’s agenda.”

In the summary statement by Mr Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General of matters of which the Security Council is seized, was issued on January 2, 2020. 56 items have been considered by the Council at a formal meeting during the period from January 1 2017 to December 31 2019, while, 13 items were not. However, all 69 agenda items were identified “as matters of which Security Council was currently seized,” including “The India-Pakistan Question.”

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English Grammar MCQs

Advanced Level English Vocabulary MCQs (Set-3)

Advanced Level English Vocabulary MCQs (Set-3)

Many members of the medical profession are of the opinion that laughter, a common element of everyday life, has —— therapeutic effects on the body.
A) hilarious
B) ridiculous
C) awkward
D) morbid
E) valuable
Answer: E

 

The fact that safety belts save lives is both —— obvious and also supported by impressive amount of evidence. Advanced Level English Vocabulary MCQs
A) permanently
B) purposefully
C) conclusively
D) appropriately
E) excessively
Answer: C

Categories
September 2020

Daily Top-10 Current Affairs MCQs / News (September 11, 2020) for CSS, PMS

WELCOME TO CSS TIMES DAY BY  DAY CURRENT AFFAIRS, YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR UP-TO-DATE AND DAILY TOP CURRENT AFFAIRS 2020 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

September 11, 2020: National / International Current Affairs


1. WHO praises Pakistan`s handling of Covid-19 pandemic

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) said Pakistan was among countries from whom the international community should learn how to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Former Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Zafar Mirza told it was the recognition of Pakistan`s effort at the international level.
• WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a media briefing said Pakistan deployed the infrastructure built up over many years for pollo to combat Covid-19.


2. IATA team of experts completes safety audit of PIA

• A four-member team of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit that was on a week-long audit inspection visit to Pakistan will leave on Friday night after completing the job.
• The foreign experts carried out an operational safety audit of different departments of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), including its flight operation, ground handling, night safety and security and engineering.
• The team included a Turkish expert, two Englishmen and another European national.
• The operational safety audit is carried out every two years with the last exercise conducted in 2018.


3. Virus cases jump five-fold in UAE

• The United Arab Emirates said on September 10, 2020 that daily coronavirus cases had jumped five-fold compared with a month ago, and warned residents and citizens to abide by measures designed to curb the disease.
• The daily tally of cases hit 930 on Thursday, said Farida al Hosani, spokeswoman for the health sector, compared with 179 on Aug 10.
• `This is the highest number recorded in four months, she said during a televised conference.


4. Prof Asghar Zaidi appointed first VC of Baba Guru Nanak University

• Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi, the Vice-Chancellor of Government College University (GCU) Lahore, has been given additional charge of the post of Vice-Chancellor, Baba Guru Nanak University.
• A notification in this regard has been issued by the Punjab Higher Education Department after the approval of Chancellor/Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar.
• On October 28, 2019, Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation stone of the University in Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Baba Guru Nanak.
• Prof Zaidi is an eminent social policy analyst and a recent recipient of Tamgha-i-Imtiaz. Professor Zaidi, who holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the world’s top university, the University of Oxford, is a social policy analyst and renowned researcher.


5. Fast electric car charging launched in Berlin

• Managers at electric carmaker Tesla on September 10, 2020 demonstrated new supercharger equipment on a Berlin research campus, saying they were looking at more target cities to attract potential buyers worried about access to charging.
• `Now, as part of our commitment to make Tesla ownership easy and convenient for everyone including those without immediate access to home or workplace charging, we are expanding out supercharging network into city centres,` said Jeroen van Tilburg,who manages charging infrastructure at Tesla.
• A company spokesman told reporters Tesla would open at least one more inner-city fast charging site in Germany this year, possibly more


6. UK scorns EU plea to scrap plan for treaty breach

• The European Union told Britain on September 10, 2020 it should urgently scrap a plan to break their divorce treaty, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson`s government refused and pressed ahead with a draft law that could sink four years of BREXIT talks.
• The European Commission said it was stepping up preparations for a messy end to Britain`s departure from the EU, and that London would be committing `an extremely serious violation` of last year`s Withdrawal Agreement if it went ahead with proposed legislation.
• After emergency talks between Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic and Britain`s BREXIT supremo Michael Gove, the EU said Britain`s proposal had `seriously damaged trust` which London must now take steps to re-establish


7. Deadlock in Arab League meeting over UAE-Israel agreement

• Arab foreign ministers failed to reach agreement on a draft resolution condemning last month`s normalisation deal between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, the Arab League said late on September 9, 2020.
• `The meeting saw a serious and comprehensive discussion but no consensus was reached on the resolution proposed by the Palestinian delegation,` the League`s assistant secretary general, Hossam Zaki, told a Cairo news conference.
• No replacement resolution was adopted by ministers during their Wednesday videoconference, Zaki added


8. EU parliament removes Suu Kyi from `rights prize community`

• The European Parliament on September 10, 2020 removed Myanmar`s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi from the `Sakharov Prize community` because of her `acceptance` of state crimes against the Rohingya community.
• The EU assembly awarded the former democracy campaigner its top human rights prize in 1990, a year before she received the Nobel Peace Prize, but she will no longer take part in events for laureates.
• A source close to the parliament said the prize had been awarded for Suu Kyi`s work before 1990 so it could not be withdrawn, but that this exclusion was the strongest sanction available to MEPs


9. World wildlife population has declined by 68pc in 46 years: study

• Global animal, bird and fish populations have plummeted more than two-thirds in less than 50 years due to rampant over-consumption, experts said on September 10, 2020 in a stark warning to save nature in order to save human beings.
• Human activity has severely degraded three-quarters of all land and 40 per cent of Earth`s oceans, and our quickening destruction of nature is likely to have untold consequences on our health and livelihoods.
• The Living Planet Index, which tracks more than 4,000 species of vertebrates, warned that increasing deforestation and agricultural expansion were the key drivers behind a 68 per cent average dechne in populations between 1970 and 2016


10. British actress Diana Rigg dies aged 82

• British actress Diana Rigg, who came to fame in the cult 1960s TV show, The Avengers, and enjoyed a distinguished and varied career on stage and screen from James Bond to Game of Thrones, died on September 10, 2020 aged 82.
• Rigg won numerous Emmy, Tony and Bafta awards during her long and prestigious career, equally at home in classical theatre roles as those in popular TV shows.
• `My Beloved Ma died peacefully in her sleep early this morning, at home, surrounded by family,` her actress daughter Rachael Stirling said in a statement.


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Daily Dawn Vocabulary

Daily DAWN News Vocabulary with Urdu Meaning (28 August 2020)

Every aspirant knows the importance of English language and vocabulary. In order to facilitate the aspirants, we have started a new trend of posting vocabulary on our website. The vocabulary will include the words from dawn newspaper along with their meanings which will save a lot of time of the aspirants.
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Daily Dawn Newspaper English Vocabulary with Urdu Meaning
August 28, 2020


Horrific (adjective) ہیبت ناک، خوفناک

causing horror.
Example: “horrific injuries”
Synonyms: dreadful, horrendous, horrifying, horrible, frightful, awful, terrible, fearful, shocking
Antonyms: inoffensive, unalarming


Substance (noun) مادہ، صفات، اصل

a particular kind of matter with uniform properties.
Example: “a steel tube coated with a waxy substance”
Synonyms: material, matter, stuff, medium, fabric
Antonyms: attribute, attribute, property, quality


Occurrence (noun) واقعہ، حادثہ، پیش آنے کا عمل

an incident or event.
Example: “vandalism used to be a rare occurrence”
Synonyms: event, incident, happening, phenomenon, affair, matter, experience, circumstance
Antonyms: failure, ending, appearance


Vendetta (noun) خاندانی دشمنی، قبائلی جھگڑا

a prolonged bitter quarrel with or campaign against someone.
Example: “he has accused the British media of pursuing a vendetta against him”
Synonyms: feud, blood feud, quarrel, argument, falling-out, wrangle, clash, altercation, dispute
Antonyms: agreement, forgiveness, calm


Scepticism (noun) شکوک و شبہات، شک کرنے والا

a sceptical attitude; doubt as to the truth of something.
Example: “these claims were treated with scepticism”
Synonyms: doubt, doubtfulness, dubiousness, a pinch of salt, lack of conviction, disbelief
Antonyms: conviction, belief, faith


Enthusiasm (noun) گرم جوشی، ولولہ، جوش و خروش

intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval.
Example: “her energy and enthusiasm for life”
Synonyms: eagerness, keenness, ardour, fervour, warmth, passion, zeal, zealousness, zest
Antonyms: apathy


Preamble (noun) عنوان، تمہید، دیباچہ

a preliminary or preparatory statement; an introduction.
Example: “he could tell that what she said was by way of a preamble”
Synonyms: introduction, preliminaries, preface, lead-in, overture, prologue, foreword, prelude
Antonyms: close, termination, peroration, finale, conclusion


Ambiguous (adjective) مبہم، مشکوک

open to more than one interpretation; not having one obvious meaning.
Example: “ambiguous phrases”
Synonyms: equivocal, ambivalent, open to debate, open to argument, arguable, debatable, Delphic
Antonyms: unambiguous, clear


Prerogative (noun) استحقاق، اختیار

a right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class.
Example: “in some countries, higher education is predominantly the prerogative of the rich”
Synonyms: entitlement, right, privilege, advantage, due, birthright, liberty, authority, authorization
Antonyms: disadvantage, duty, obligation


Discretion (noun) صوابدید، اختیار

the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offence or revealing confidential information.
Example: “she knew she could rely on his discretion”
Synonyms: circumspection, care, carefulness, caution, wariness, chariness, guardedness
Antonyms: indiscretion, rashness


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September 2020

Daily Top-10 Current Affairs MCQs / News (September 10, 2020) for CSS, PMS

WELCOME TO CSS TIMES DAY BY  DAY CURRENT AFFAIRS, YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR UP-TO-DATE AND DAILY TOP CURRENT AFFAIRS 2020 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

September 10, 2020: National / International Current Affairs


1. Pakistan, UAE to fight financial crime

• The Financial Intelligence Unit of the United Arab Emirates` central bank has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Pakistan to combat financial crimes.
• According to the MoU reached with Pakistan`s Financial Monitoring Unit, both sides will continue promoting financial stability and combating money laundering and terrorism financing


2. Balochistan cabinet approves ban on bonded labour

• A marathon session of the Balochistan cabinet, held here on September 9, 2020 with Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani in chair, took various decisions while discussing an over 20-point agenda and approved ban on bonded labour, recovery of bonded labourers and their rehabilitation.
• Under an amendment to the Balochistan Bonded Labour System Bill 2020, people found involved in hiring bonded labour would undergo one-year imprisonment and pay a fine of Rs100,000.
• Under the amendment made under the International Labour Organisation convention, vigilance committees would be established at district level to monitor the situation of bonded labour.


3. Indian spying drone shot down

• The Pakistan Army has shot down an Indian spying drone along the heavily militarised Line of Control (LoC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
• `#PakistanArmy troops shot down an Indian spying #quadcopter in Chakothi Sectoralong LOC. The quadcopter had intruded 500 meters on Pakistan`s side of the #LOC. This is 11th Indian quadcopter shot down by Pakistan Army this year,` Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar said in a tweet on Wednesday


4. PM approves 88 new posts in Secretariat Group

• Prime Minister Imran Khan on September 9, 2020 took a significant decision of appointing experienced personnel from the open market in grades 19 and 20 and approving 88 additional posts in the Secretariat Group.
• Out of the 88 posts, 15 are in BS-21, 29 in BS-20 and 44 in BS-19.
• According to the Prime Minister`s Office, the decision to approve the 88 posts will boost promotion prospects in the Secretariat Group.


5. Govt gets Rs179.35m by selling 13 more state owned-properties

• The federal government on September 9, 2020 has generated Rs179.35 million by selling 13 more state owned-properties.
• The second phase of the auction of federal government owned Properties was held in Lahore yesterday. The auction included 13 Government Properties located in different parts of Lahore. Against the reserve price of Rs175.005 million, Privatisation Commission was successful to auction all thirteen properties and able to generate Rs179.354 million for the national exchequer.
• These include, WAPDA owned commercial property located at Nicolson Road Lahore, three shops located at M.M. Alam Road and nine apartments owned by ERRA located at Ferozpur Road, Lahore. The privatisation proceeds are primarily used for retirement of national debt and also for the poverty alleviation.


6. PM to inaugurate Roshan Digital Account for overseas Pakistanis today

• Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate Roshan Digital Account for overseas Pakistanis on September 10, 2020 (today) According to a Press release of PM Office Media Wing, the State Bank of Pakistan is going to launch the Roshan Digital Account, in collaboration with commercial banks.
• The initiative would enable the overseas Pakistanis to open accounts in any bank of the country easily and facilitate them in funds transfer and paying utility bills. The overseas Pakistanis will be able to open an account without visiting a bank branch, Embassy or Consulate


7. US cuts troops in Iraq to fulfil Trump`s pledge to stop `endless wars`

• The US announced a sharp cut on September 9, 2020 to troop numbers in Iraq, as President Donald Trump seeks to honour his pledge to halt the country`s `endless wars` overseas, with just two months to go until the election.
• The move, reducing the Pentagon`s footprint in Iraq from 5,200 military personnel to just 3,000, and an expected parallel announcement on Afghanistan, comes as Trump strives to cast himself as a peacemaker as he fights an uphill battle to stay in power.
• General Kenneth McKenzie, the head of the US military`s Central Command, said during an event in Baghdad that the decision was `due to our confidence in the Iraqi security forces` increased ability to operate independently.` That would take the US presence there to its lowest level since Trump`s predecessor Barack Obama cut troops to a token force in 2012 in a previous attempt to end the then nine-year-old war


8. S. Arabia reaffirms support for Palestinian state

• Saudi Arabia told an Arab League meeting on September 9, 2020 it supports all efforts to reach a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
• But a statement released by the Saudi foreign ministry on remarks made by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud included no direct mention of a normalisation deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
• The prince said Riyadh supported the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the borders before the 1967 Middle East war, with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to the statement. During the 1967 war, Israel captured territory including the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which it still occupies.


9. Pakistani-American man features in Forbes richest list

• A Pakistani-American, Shahid Khan, has emerged as the 66th richest man in the United States in 2020, with a total worth of $7.8 billion.
• Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos is number one for the third year in a row, followed by Microsoft founder Bill Gates at number two.
• The Forbes list of 400 richest Americans, published on Tuesday, estimates Bezos` total worth in 2020 as $179bn. Gates has about $111bn and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has $85bn. He is the third on the list.


10. Afghan vice president wounded in deadly Kabul blast

• Afghanistan`s vice president Amrullah Saleh sustained minor injuries on Wednesday when an explosion targeted his convoy and killed at least 10 people, as government backed negotiators and the Taliban prepared to meet in Doha for long delayed peace talks.
• The attack in the capital Kabul was quickly condemned as an attempt to frustrate the peace process, with top Afghan and foreign officials calling for an end to violence so negotiations between the two warring sides can proceed.
• In a video posted on Facebook soon after the explosion, Saleh, an outspoken Taliban critic, said he had been travelling to his office when his convoy was attacked.


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