World in Focus (NOV-DEC 2022)

National & International With MCQs

Nov. 16: The inaugural ceremony of IDEAS 2022 was held in Karachi. More than 400 delegates from 57 countries participated in the exhibition.
Nov. 16: US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome formally launched Investment Promotion Activity (IPA), a US government-led initiative to enhance the US-Pakistan bilateral trade.
Nov. 16: Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon announced the formation of Sindh Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners Act 2021. Sindh High Court’s retired judge Rasheed A. Razvi will be the first chairman of the commission.
Nov. 16: Ireland women’s team defeated Pakistan in the third T20I to register a historic series win.
Nov. 17: A World Bank report predicted that increasing climate change risks could contract Pakistan’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rate significantly in the next 28 years.
Key Messages of the report
· Pakistan faces rates of warming considerably above the global average with a potential rise of 1.3°C–4.9°C by the 2090s over the 1986–2005 baseline.
· Rises in the annual maximum and minimum temperature are projected to be stronger than the rise in average temperature, likely amplifying the pressure on human health, livelihoods, and ecosystems.
· Changes to Pakistan’s rainfall and runoff regimes, and hence its water resources, are highly uncertain, but an increase in the incidence of drought conditions is likely.
· The frequency and intensity of extreme climate events is projected to increase, increasing disaster risk particularly for vulnerable poor and minority groups
· An increase in the number of people affected by flooding is projected, with a likely increase of around 5 million people exposed to extreme river floods by 2035–2044, and a potential increase of around 1 million annually exposed to coastal flooding by 2070–2100.
· Projections suggest yield declines in many key food and cash crops, including cotton, wheat, sugarcane, maize, and rice.
Nov. 18: Renowned religious scholar Muhammad Rafi Usmani passed away. He was 86.
Nov. 19: Popular comedian Tariq Teddy passed away.
Nov. 20: The International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), Asia’s oldest and largest organization of political parties, unanimously elected Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed as the ICAPP Co-Chairman.
Nov. 21: The Sindh High Court (SHC) set aside life imprisonment and other sentences awarded to five persons by the trial court in Orangi Pilot Project’s director Perween Rehman’s murder case.
Nov. 22: CM Punjab restored sports activities in the colleges across the province.
Nov. 22: The government designated the Courts of District and Session Judges (East and West) Islamabad as Human Rights Courts for speedy trial of offences arising out of violation of human rights.
Nov. 23: JUI-F leader Ghulam Ali took oath as governor of KP.
Nov. 23: CM KP Mahmood Khan formally inaugurated the University of Shangla.
Nov. 23: The SBP made it mandatory to open an account before buying $2,000 or above.
Nov. 24: Veteran actor and comedian Ismail Tara passed away at the age of 73.
Nov. 25: The SBP raised its benchmark interest rate by 100 basis points (bps) to 16 percent — the highest ever since 1999.
Nov. 25: PMSS and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan inaugurated PNS Khyber, the third of the four MILGEM corvette ships manufactured by Türkiye for the Pakistan Navy.
Nov. 26: The ECO Trade and Development Bank announced to provide financial assistance worth Rs35 billion to Pakistan.
Nov. 27: General Sahir Shamshad Mirza assumed the change as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC).
Nov. 27: Army annexed the men’s title and WAPDA clinched the women’s title of the 50th National Athletics Championship.
Nov. 28: The TTP called off ceasefire with Pakistan.
Nov. 28: The first phase of local government elections was held in AJK.
Nov. 28: The Punjab government launched a special web portal (web3.punjab.gov.pk/) for the registration of Web 3.0 contributors, including researchers, scientists and IT industry experts.
Nov. 29: Minister of State Foreign Affairs Ms Hina Rabbani Khar reached Kabul on a one-day visit to discuss regional security, trade and transit, and the international community’s concerns.
Nov. 29: General Syed Asim Munir assumed the command of Pakistan Army as the 17th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS).
Nov. 29: Northern crushed Sindh to win their maiden Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title.
Nov. 29: The Federal Shariat Court (FSC) gave a nod to a law passed by the Punjab Assembly for the protection of women and declared that it was not against the injunctions of Islam.
Nov. 30: The federal cabinet gave approval to a proposal of auctioning one of the two buildings in Washington, owned by the Pakistan Embassy.
Nov. 30: Pakistan announced as many as 4,500 scholarships for Afghan students intending to pursue graduation and post-graduation program at various universities.
Nov. 30: Akbar Liaquat Ali Khan, the youngest son of Pakistan’s first prime minister Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan, passed away at 81.
Nov. 30: UNDP Pakistan and the Government of Japan signed an agreement to launch a project of US$3.9 million in Kurram and Orakzai districts.
Nov. 30: In its China Military Power 2022 report, the US Department of Defence said China relies on Pakistan for projecting its military and economic might as Islamabad remains a key Beijing ally.
Dec. 01: Financial Times named Pakistan’s Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman among the “25 Most Influential Women of 2022”.
Dec. 01: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar constituted an 11-member Reforms and Resource Mobilisation Commission (RRMC) to review existing revenue policies.
Dec. 01: England amassed a record first-day score of 506-4 in the first Test against Pakistan. It was also the first time four batters scored hundreds on day one of a Test match.
Dec. 02: Pakistan’s embassy in the Afghan capital of Kabul was attacked.
Dec. 02: Veteran journalist and playwright, Imran Aslam, passed away at the age of 70.
Dec. 02: The government appointed Asad Majeed Khan, a Grade 22 officer and presently Pakistan’s ambassador to Belgium and European Union, as the 31st foreign secretary of Pakistan.
Dec. 02: Renowned actor Afzaal Ahmad has passed away.
Dec. 02: PMSS approved the premature retirement of Lt Gen Faiz Hameed.
Dec. 02: The Government of Japan provided USD 4.196 million to the UNICEF, on humanitarian grounds to improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in the flood-affected areas.
Dec. 02: Saudi Arabia extended the term for the $3 billion deposited with the SBP.
Dec. 02: Gen Michael Erik Kurilla, the commander of the US Central Command (Centcom), conducted a video teleconference with new COAS Gen Syed Asim Munir.
Dec. 02: The United States declared four Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and South Asian Al Qaeda leaders as global terrorists.
Dec. 03: The BISP declared transgender persons a beneficiary of the Benazir Kafalat Programme (BKP).
Dec. 03: PPP candidate Waqar Mehdi was elected unopposed as a member of the Senate on a vacant general seat from Sindh.
Dec. 05: PMSS inaugurated the refurbishment project of Units 5 and 6 of the Mangla Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant.
Dec. 05: The National Database & Registration Authority (Nadra) bagged ISO 27001 certification.
Dec. 05: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal announced dissolution of National Flood Response Coordination Centre (NFRCC).
Dec. 06: The SC permitted the ECP to go ahead with the contempt proceedings against Imran Khan and other party leaders.
Dec. 06: CM Punjab imposed an environmental emergency in Lahore and other cities to reduce the smog, which has been declared a calamity.
Dec. 06: A first information report (FIR) was registered against the gruesome murder of Arshad Sharif Shaheed on the SC orders.
Dec. 07: The FBR and all the four provincial revenue authorities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a single sales tax return and single web portal
Dec. 07: The largest-ever Australia-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group with 38 members was established at the 47th Parliament of Australia.
Dec. 08: Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) in its National Corruption Perception Survey (NCPS) 2022 found police the most corrupt; tendering and contracting was seen as the 2nd most corrupt, judiciary 3rd most corrupt while education has climbed to 4th most corrupt since last NCPS 2021.
Dec. 08: Justice Ayesha A. Malik, the SC’s first female judge, featured in the BBC’s 100 Women 2022 list.
Dec. 08: President Alvi conferred Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) upon CJCSC General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and COAS General Asim Munir.
Dec. 08: The ECP reinstated former federal minister Faisal Vawda as senator in the light of the recent Supreme Court of Pakistan judgment.
Dec. 08: The Sindh government appointed Dr Syed Saifur Rehman as the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) administrator.
Dec. 08: The UNGA adopted Pakistan’s four annual disarmament-related resolutions that are aimed at strengthening regional as well as international peace and security.
Dec. 09: PMSS gave the status of ministers of state to the special assistants to PM (SAPMs).
Dec. 09: The SC declared as legal the new agreement of huge investment between the Government of Pakistan and Canadian mining company Barrick Gold for exploration of mines at Reko Diq in Balochistan.
Dec. 09: Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed became only the fourth debutant in history to take five wickets before lunch. He took all the first seven wickets to fall — only the second in cricket history to do so on debut.
Dec. 09: Google registered itself with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and established its liaison office in the country.
Dec. 09: Prof Dr Noushad Ahmed Sheikh quit the office of the President of Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC).
Dec. 09: FM Bilawal met the Singaporean President Halimah Yacob during his official visit to Singapore.
Dec. 10: A special court (the Control of Narcotics Substance) acquitted Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan in a 21-kg heroin smuggling case after prime witnesses retracted their statements.
Dec. 10: Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha reached Pakistan on a three-day visit.
Dec. 10: The US government launched a $4 million initiative on ‘Improving Girls’ Education Activity’ in remote areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Dec. 10: CM Punjab laid the foundation stone of the University of Child Health Sciences
Dec. 10: Commander Force Command Northern Areas Maj Gen Kashif Khalil performed the groundbreaking of Sadpara Mountaineering and Adventure Institute, named after famed mountaineer Ali Sadpara.
Dec. 11: The Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet approved opening of an escrow account for depositing $900 million for making the project operational.
What is ‘Escrow Account’?
It is a legal concept describing a financial instrument whereby an asset or escrow money is held by a third party on behalf of two other parties that are in the process of completing a transaction. The third-party holds the funds until both parties have fulfilled their contractual requirements. It is generally associated with real estate transactions, but it can apply to any situation where funds will pass from one party to another.
Dec. 11: A popular veteran Pashto singer Qamar Gula passed away.
Dec. 11: The Police Order 2002 was enforced in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), following the orders of SC and the IHC.
Dec. 12: KP Assembly passed a piece of legislation by a majority that would allow the chief minister, provincial ministers, advisors or public servants to use the official helicopter or private aircraft.
Dec. 12: Syed Tariq Fatemi was appointed as SAPM on Coordination.
Dec. 12: The NA passed the Foreign Investment (Promotion and Protection) Bill, 2022, which was also adopted by the Senate the same day, with regard to Reko Diq.
Dec. 12: The ADB approved a $554 million package, including new and reallocated funds, to support recovery and reconstruction efforts in the flood-hit areas.
Dec. 12: Balochistan recorded their first win in Pakistan Cup.
Dec. 12: England beat Pakistan to win the second Test in Multan and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Dec. 13: PMSS performed the ground-breaking ceremony of Sukkur to Hyderabad section of M6 Motorway project.
About M6
The motorway commonly, known as M6 Motorway, is the largest project under the PPP umbrella signed in the history of the country. The project was structured by the federal Public Private Partnership Authority (P3A) under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) mode in collaboration with the NHA.
The motorway spanning a length of 306 kilometres will comprise six lanes. Designed to be constructed as a climate-resilient project, the private party shall construct and operate the project for 25 years commencing from the date of execution of the agreement.
The project will complete the missing link of the north-south (Peshawar-Karachi) motorway network. The project is expected to bring economic benefits in terms of saving significant travel time and travel costs, and lifting the socio-economic profile of the region.
Dec. 13: The federal cabinet approved funding for Reko Diq project.
Dec. 13: Goldwind Corporation, a Beijing-based multinational wind turbine manufacturer, launched the first-of-its-kind solution factory in Pakistan.
Dec. 13: The FBR exempted all assets of the Reko Diq gold and copper mining company from capital value tax, which is payable by individuals, firms and companies that acquire an asset by purchase or a right to use for more than 20 years.
Dec. 14: The ADB declared Pakistan as the second most expensive country in the South Asian region.
Dec. 14: The Interpol issued Red Notices for the prime suspect of Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6) mega fraud case, former deputy commissioner Naushahroferoze Tashfeen Alam who was declared as the main accused in the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6) mega fraud case for embezzling three billion rupees in two separate cases registered by the FIA and Sindh Anti-Corruption Establishment.
Dec. 14: PMSS granted Fuad Asadullah Khan an extension in service as Director General Intelligence Bureau.
Dec. 14: The ECP rejected a plea seeking the disqualification of PPP Member of Sindh Assembly Faryal Talpur.
Dec. 14: Pakistan’s first 5G innovation lab was set up at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust).
Dec. 15: The Governments of Pakistan and Balochistan, Barrick Gold, and Antofagasta PLC signed a final deal in London, announcing the reconstitution of Reko Diq project and settlement of $11 billion dispute after a favourable opinion from the Supreme Court and required legislation passed into law.
One of the largest undeveloped copper-gold projects in the world, Reko Diq will be owned:
· 50% by Barrick Gold
· 25% by three state-owned enterprises — Oil and Gas Development Company, Pakistan Petroleum Limited and Government Holdings (Private) Limited
· 15% by the province of Balochistan on a fully funded basis
· 10% by the province of Balochistan on a free-carried basis
Dec. 15: The SC restrained the authorities concerned from transferring police officials before completion of their stipulated time period mentioned in the law.

Nov. 16: The ball that Diego Maradona handled to score his infamous “Hand of God” goal for Argentina against England in the 1986 World Cup sold at auction for £2 million ($2.4 million).
Nov. 16: Nasa launched Space Launch System (SLS) – the most powerful rocket ever built on a journey to the Moon – which marked the start of its new flagship programme, Artemis.
Nov. 16: An Istanbul court sentenced a Muslim televangelist Adnan Oktar to 8,658 years in prison.
Nov. 17: The International Atomic Energy Agency´s 35-nation board of governors passed a resolution criticising Iran´s lack of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.
Nov. 17: South Korea’s nine-hour test “Suneung,” which is often considered the world’s toughest exam, was held.
Nov. 17: Residents of Los Angeles elected Karen Bass as mayor, making her the first woman to head America´s second biggest city.
Nov. 17: Republicans took control of the US House of Representatives from Democrats but failed to take control of the Senate.
Nov. 17: A Dutch court convicted three men and acquitted one over the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 above Ukraine in 2014.
Nov. 17: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain became the youngest ever tennis world number one.
Nov. 18: Saudi Arabia lunched the online platform ‘Nusuk’ for pilgrims as part of its Vision 2030 Pilgrim Experience Program.
Nov. 18: The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit was held in Bangkok, Thailand.
Nov. 18: North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, one of its most powerful tests ever.
Nov. 18: Japan and the US held joint military drills in the airspace over the Sea of Japan.
Nov. 18: The first privately developed Indian rocket – Vikram-S – lifted off into the upper atmosphere.
Nov. 18: The world´s oldest primary school student, Priscilla Sitieni, died in Kenya aged 99.
Nov. 19: Veteran Indian actor Tabassum, known for her work as a child artiste in several Hindi classics and also as host of popular TV talk show Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan, died at 78.
Nov. 19: Mahathir Mohamad, the 97-year-old elder statesman of Malaysian politics, lost his parliamentary seat in the country’s election — his first electoral defeat in more than half a century.
Nov. 19: Australia won the three-match ODI series against England.
Nov. 19: Amir Asylkozhaev of Russia won the boys singles title in the ITF Pakistan J7 World Juniors Tennis Championships.
Nov. 20: Hebe de Bonafini, who led a group of Argentine women known as the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo in defying the military dictatorship and demanding the truth about their missing children, died at 93.
Nov. 20: Nepali voters cast their ballots for a new parliament.
Nov. 20: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met in Qatar for the first time.
Nov. 20: Canada announced to impose sanctions against former Haitian president Michel Martelly and two ex-prime ministers accused of profiting from armed gangs.
Nov. 20: Bahrain elected a record eight women and many first-time lawmakers to its 40-seat parliament.
Nov. 20: The first direct commercial flight between Israel and Qatar landed in Doha.
Nov. 20: The FIFA World Cup 2022 kicked off in Qatar with a 30-minute opening ceremony that featured Hollywood star Morgan Freeman giving a message of diversity. Ghanim Al-Muftah, a Qatari activist for the disabled, born with the rare Caudal Regression Syndrome, appeared with Freeman and stated to the crowd: “Everyone is welcome”.
Nov. 20: Qatar became the first home team to lose their opening World Cup match.
Nov. 20: Max Verstappen claimed a record-extending 15th win this year: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Nov. 20: Equatorial Guinea voted in a general election
Nov. 20: In a joint statement, at least 21 countries urged India to improve its protection of freedom of religion and rights of religious minorities.
Nov. 20: COP 27 wrapped up with a landmark deal on funding to help vulnerable countries cope with devastating impacts of global warming.
Nov. 21: Crisis-hit Lebanon secured $5.4 billion in aid over three years from the UN´s World Food Programme (WFP).
Nov. 21: Novak Djokovic won a record-equalling sixth ATP Finals title.
Nov. 21: China’s Sinopec secured one of the biggest-ever liquefied natural gas (LNG) deals, signing a 27-year agreement to purchase 4mn tonnes a year of the fuel from Qatar Energy.
Nov. 21: Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was re-elected as leader of Central Asia´s largest country.
Nov. 22: The US Supreme Court cleared the way for former president Donald Trump´s tax returns to be handed over to a committee of the House of Representatives.
Nov. 23: The European Space Agency announced five new career astronauts as well as history’s first astronaut recruit with a disability – Britain’s John McFall, who will join a separate ‘parastronaut’ programme.
Nov. 23: The 11th Global Islamic Microfinance Forum successfully concluded in Dubai, under the patronage of AAOIFI Bahrain.
Nov. 23: Britain’s highest court rejected a bid by the devolved Scottish government in Edinburgh to hold a new referendum on independence without London’s consent.
Nov. 24: Malaysia’s perennial opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as the country’s prime minister.
Nov. 24: Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo became the first man to score in five different editions of the World Cup.
Nov. 25: South Korea´s capital launched its first self-driving bus route.
Nov. 25: More than 600 young people in Sweden, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, filed a lawsuit against the Swedish state accusing it of climate inaction, a first in the country.
Nov. 26: Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen stepped down as head of her ruling party after it suffered defeat in local elections.
Nov. 26: The Belarusian foreign minister Vladimir Makei died.
Nov. 27: Famed singer and actress Irene Cara died aged 63.
Nov. 27: The government of Nicolas Maduro and the Venezuelan opposition broke a political stalemate with a broad social accord, and the US government responded by allowing a major US oil company to resume operations in Venezuela.
Nov. 27: Canada launched its long-awaited Indo-Pacific strategy, outlining C$2.3 billion ($1.7 billion) in spending to boost military and cyber security in the region.
Nov. 28: Protests broke out in China with protesters calling for political freedoms and an end to Covid lockdowns.
Nov. 28: Hawaii´s Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano in the world, erupted for the first time in nearly 40 years.
Nov. 28: Afghanistan gained direct qualification to next year’s 50-over World Cup after their abandoned second ODI against Sri Lanka.
Nov. 28: Airline EasyJet and aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce announced the successful test of a hydrogen-powered aircraft engine.
Nov. 29: Qatar announced its first major deal to send LNG to Germany.
Nov. 29: UN’s World Meteorological Organisation released its first annual State of Global Water Resources report which says that all regions of the world saw water extremes last year – both floods and droughts – and billions of people had insufficient freshwater.
Nov. 29: The UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) released the results of the Census in England and Wales according to which fewer than half of people in England and Wales identify as Christian.
“No religion” rose by 12 points to 37.2 percent or 22.2 million, while Muslims stood at 3.9 million or 6.5 percent of the population, up from 4.9 percent before. The next most common responses were Hindu (1.0 million) and Sikh (524,000), while Buddhists overtook Jewish people (273,000 and 271,000 respectively).
Nov. 29: French President Emmanuel Macron reached Washington for a state visit hosted by President Joe Biden.
Nov. 30: New Zealand clinched a 1-0 series win over India after the third and final ODI was abandoned.
Nov. 30: Former Chinese president Jiang Zemin, often considered a great communist revolutionary who helped quell the 1989 pro-democracy protests died at the age of 96.
Nov. 30: Democratic lawmakers chose Hakeem Jeffries to succeed Nancy Pelosi as their leader in the House of Representatives, making him the first Black person ever to lead a US congressional caucus.
Dec. 01: India opened its G20 presidency.
Dec. 01: The EU governments tentatively agreed on a $60 a barrel price cap on Russian seaborne oil – an idea of the Group of Seven (G7) nations – with an adjustment mechanism to keep the cap at 5 percent below the market price.
Dec. 01: New York and Singapore were jointly declared the world’s most expensive cities.
Dec. 02: President Biden signed into law a rare intervention by Congress forcing freight rail unions to accept a salary deal, avoiding a possibly devastating strike.
Dec. 03: Estonia agreed to buy six HIMARS rocket systems from the United States worth over $200 million ­– the largest arms purchase in the country´s history.
Dec. 03: Iran began the construction of a new nuclear plant in the southwestern province of Khuzestan
Dec. 03: The new Malaysian Cabinet led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in.
Dec. 04: Iran scrapped its morality police — known formally as the Gasht-e-Ershad or “Guidance Patrol” — after more than two months of protests triggered by the arrest of Mahsa Amini for allegedly violating the country’s female dress code.
Dec. 04: Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Bahrain, marking first trip by an Israeli head of state to the small Gulf kingdom.
Dec. 04: About 1,700 seals were found dead on the Caspian Sea coast in southern Russia.
Dec. 05: Poland’s Adrian Meronk won the Australian Open.
Dec. 05: Australia started building a vast network of antennas – the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) – in the Outback, its section of what will eventually become one of the most powerful radio telescopes in the world.
Dec. 05: Businesses reopened and testing requirements were relaxed in Beijing and other Chinese cities.
Dec. 06: TV network Al Jazeera submitted the case of slain journalist Shireen Abu Akleh to the ICC.
Dec. 06: Indonesia´s parliament approved legislation that would outlaw sex outside marriage.
Dec. 06: The EU reached an agreement to ban the import of products including coffee, cocoa and soy in cases where they are deemed to contribute to deforestation.
Dec. 07: The UNGA adopted a resolution, submitted by Pakistan on behalf of the Group of 77 (developing countries) and China, to bolster the UN’s hard-pressed humanitarian system struggling to help people hit by increasing natural disasters and other crises around the world.
Dec. 07: Bangladesh beat India in their second ODI to win the three-match series.
Dec. 07: Mexican lawmakers blocked divisive electoral reforms proposed by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador that sparked mass street protests.
Dec. 07: Chinese President Xi Jinping reached Saudi Arabia for a historic visit.
Dec. 07: Raphael Warnock was declared the winner of a runoff election in Georgia, giving Democrats a majority — 51 to 49 — in the upper house of Congress.
Dec. 07: Time magazine named President Volodymyr Zelensky as well as “the spirit of Ukraine” as its 2022 person of the year.
Dec. 07: China announced a nationwide loosening of its hardline Covid restrictions.
Dec. 08: American basketball star Brittney Griner was freed from a Russian prison in a swap for Viktor Bout, the notorious arms dealer known as the “Merchant of Death.”
Dec. 08: Chinese President and Saudi Arabia’s crown prince oversaw the signing of energy agreements on hydrogen as well as a plan to “harmonise” Saudi Arabia’s ambitious economic reform agenda, Belt and Road Initiative.
Dec. 09: Britain, Italy and Japan announced to jointly develop a future fighter jet. The new “Global Combat Air Programme” is slated to produce its first jets by 2035, merging the three nations’ costly existing research into new aerial war technology, from stealth capacity to high-tech sensors.
Dec. 09: President Xi attended summits of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council and a broader China-Arab leaders’ meeting.
Dec. 09: Retired tennis star Ash Barty was awarded Australian sport’s highest individual honor for a second time. She is only the third person to win The Don Award – named after cricket great Don Bradman – multiple times.
Dec. 09: China sent a new remote sensing satellite into space from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province.
Dec. 09: The US Congress passed landmark legislation to protect same-sex marriage under federal law, and President Joe Biden vowed to quickly sign the measure.
Dec. 09: France and Spain agreed in principle to build an underwater pipeline between Marseille and Barcelona at a cost of $2.6 billion to carry green hydrogen
Dec. 10: Morocco downed Portugal to become the first African, and the first Arab, team to reach the World Cup semi-finals.
Dec. 11: European Parliament president Roberta Metsola suspended with immediate effect all powers, duties and tasks that were delegated to Eva Kaili in her capacity as Vice President of the European Parliament over a corruption probe implicating World Cup hosts Qatar that has ensnared four others and sparked calls for ‘root and branch reform’ in the EU institution.
Dec. 11: A Japanese startup ‘ispace’s’ spacecraft was launched to the Moon in the country´s first-ever lunar mission and the first of its kind by a private company.
Dec. 11: Men’s badminton world number one Viktor Axelsen claimed his eighth title for 2022, World Tour Finals.
Dec. 12: Indian and Chinese troops engaged in a fresh “face-off” on their disputed Himalayan border.
Dec. 12: EU foreign ministers agreed to put another two billion euros ($2.1 billion) into a fund that has been used to pay for military support for Ukraine.
Dec. 12: China retired Communications Itinerary Card, an app used to track travel to areas with Covid-19 cases.
Dec. 13: EU countries agreed to grant Bosnia candidate status to join the union.
Dec. 13: US researchers announced a historic nuclear fusion breakthrough, hailing a “landmark achievement” in the quest for a source of unlimited, clean power and an end to reliance on fossil fuels.
Dec. 13: The sound of a dust devil on Mars was recorded for the first time as the eye of the whirlwind swept over the top of Nasa´s Perseverance rover.
Dec. 13: New Zealand passed law to impose a near-total tobacco ban from next year, prohibiting anyone born after 2008 from ever purchasing cigarettes and reducing the amount of nicotine in products sold in the meantime.
Dec. 14: Peru declared a nationwide state of emergency.
Dec. 14: The 27th nuclear reactor of South Korea formally began operations.
Dec. 14: Ukraine’s Western allies pledged an additional one billion euros ($1.1 billion) in emergency winter aid.
Dec. 14: Bernard Arnault, the head of luxury goods company LVMH, surpassed Elon Musk as the richest man in the world.
Dec. 14: The International Cricket Council launched the inaugural ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Benoni, South Africa.
Dec. 14: The US military launched a space force unit in South Korea.
Dec. 14: The UN voted to remove Iran from a women´s rights body over Tehran´s brutal crackdown of women-led protests.
Dec. 14: A Turkish court sentenced Istanbul’s popular opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu to nearly three years jail.
Dec. 15: The Cambridge dictionary changed the definitions of “man” and “woman” and made it inclusive for people who do not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth.
· Man: an adult who lives and identifies as a male though they may have been said to have a different sex at birth.
· Woman: An adult who lives and identifies as female though they may have been said to have a different sex at birth.
Dec. 15: The European Parliament approved a resolution declaring the 1930s starvation of millions in Ukraine under Soviet leader Joseph Stalin a ‘genocide’.

National /MCQs

1. On Nov. 16, the inaugural ceremony of IDEAS 2022 was held in ______.

(a) Islamabad         (b) Lahore

(c) Rawalpindi       (d) Karachi

2. On Nov. 16, the Sindh government established a provincial commission for the protection of journalists and other media practitioners under the leadership of ______.

(a) Dr Jabbar Khattak                                   (b) Sharjeel Inam Memon

(c) Justice (retd.) Rasheed A Razvi  (d) M. Athar Kazi billion 

3. Renowned religious scholar Muhammad Rafi Usmani passed away on ______.

(a) Nov. 17             (b) Nov. 18

(c) Nov. 19             (d) Nov. 20

4. On Nov. 20, the International Conference of Asian Political Parties elected Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed as its______.

(a) Co-Chairman           (b) President

(c) Vice-President             (d) Secretary-General

5. On Nov. 23, ______ leader Ghulam Ali took oath as KP governor.

(a) PML-N               (b) PTI

(c) PPP                    (d) JUI-F

6. On ______, veteran actor and comedian Ismail Tara passed away.

(a) Nov. 22               (b) Nov. 23

(c) Nov. 24             (d) Nov. 25

7. The first phase of local government elections in AJK was held on ______.

(a) Nov. 26             (b) Nov. 28

(c) Nov. 29             (d) Nov. 30

8. On Nov. 29, General Asim Munir assumed the command of Pakistan Army as the ______ Chief of the Army Staff.

(a) 17th                  (b) 18th

(c) 19th                   (d) 20th

9. On Nov. 29, Northern crushed ______ to win their maiden Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title.

(a) Sindh                (b) SBP

(c) Punjab               (d) WAPDA

10. On Nov. 30, Pakistan announced as many as 4,500 scholarships for ______ students intending to pursue graduation and post-graduation program at various universities.

(a) Kashmiri           (b) Afghan

(c) Chinese             (d) Kenyan

11. On Nov. 30, UNDP Pakistan and the Government of ______ signed an agreement to launch a project of US$3.9 million in Kurram and Orakzai districts.

(a) Japan                (b) China

 (c) Italy                    (d) Turkey

12. On Dec. 01, Financial Times named Pakistan’s ______ among the “25 Most Influential Women of ’22”.

(a) Zartaj Gul                              (b) Ayesha A. Malik

(c) Maryam Aurangzeb            (d) Sherry Rehman

13. On Dec. 01, ______ amassed a record first-day score of 506-4 in the first Test against Pakistan.

(a) England             (b) South Africa

(c) New Zealand        (d) Australia

14. On______, Pakistan’s embassy in the Afghan capital of Kabul was attacked.

(a) Dec. 01               (b) Dec. 02

(c) Dec. 03               (d) Dec. 04

15. On Dec. 02, the government appointed Asad Majeed Khan the ______ foreign secretary of Pakistan.

(a) 31st                  (b) 32nd

(c) 33rd                  (d) 34th

16. On Dec. 02, ______ extended the term for the $3 billion deposited with the SBP.

(a)Turkey              (b) China

(c) UAE                  (d) Saudi Arabia

17. On Dec. 03, the BISP declared transgender persons a beneficiary of the Benazir ______ Programme.

(a) Health              (b) Ration

(c) Waseela            (d) Kafalat

18. On Dec. 03, ______ candidate Waqar Mehdi was elected unopposed as a member of the Senate on a vacant general seat from Sindh.

(a) GDA                   (b) PTI

(c) PPP                    (d) MQM

19. On Dec. 07, the largest-ever Australia-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group with 38 members was established at the ______ Parliament of Australia.

 (a) 45th                 (b) 47th

 (c) 48th                 (d) 50th

20. Transparency International Pakistan in its National Corruption Perception Survey 2022 has found ______ the most corrupt department.

(a) Police                (b) Judiciary

(c) Health                (d) Education

21. On Dec. 08, ______ featured in the BBC’s 100 Women 2022 list.

(a) Sherry Rehman                         (b) Maryam Nawaz

(c) Shazia Marri                             (d) Justice Ayesha A. Malik

22. On Dec. 08, President Dr Arif Alvi conferred ______ (Military) upon CJCSC General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and COAS General Asim Munir.

(a) Nishan-i-Pakistan            (b) Hilal-i-Imtiaz

(c) Nishan-i-Imtiaz            (d) Nishan-i-Shujaat

23. On Dec. 08: Sindh government appointed Dr Syed Saifur Rehman as the ______ Metropolitan Corporation administrator.

(a) Hyderabad        (b) Karachi

(c) Sukkur              (d) Larkana

24. On ______, the SC declared as legal the new investment agreement between the Govt. of Pakistan and Canadian company Barrick Gold.

(a) Dec. 09             (b) Dec. 10

(c) Dec. 11                (d) Dec. 12

25. On Dec. 09, Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed became only the fourth debutant in history to take five wickets before lunch.

(a) Fourth              (b) Fifth

(b) Sixth                   (d) Seventh

26. On Dec. 09, ______ registered itself with the Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and established its liaison office in the country.

(a) Microsoft          (b) Google

(c) Meta                  (d) Yahoo

27. The ______ government has launched a special web portal for the registration of Web 3.0 contributors

(a) Punjab              (b) Sindh

(c) AJK                      (d) KP

28. On Dec. 10, the government launched a $4 million initiative on ‘Improving Girls’ Education Activity’ in remote areas of KP.

(a) Turkish             (b) Australian

(c) Japanese           (d) US

29. On Dec. 10, CM Punjab laid the foundation stone of the University of Child Health Sciences in ______.

(a) Lahore            (b) Faisalabad

(c) Multan              (d) Rawalpindi

30. On Dec. 10, the groundbreaking of Sadpara Mountaineering and Adventure Institute was performed in ______.

(a) Chitral              (b) Gilgit

(c) Deosai              (d) Skardu

31. On Dec. 12, ______ Assembly passed a piece of legislation by a majority that would allow the chief minister, provincial ministers, advisors or public servants to use the official helicopter or private aircraft.

(a) Punjab              (b) Sindh

(c) KP                     (d) Balochistan

32. On Dec. 12, ______ was appointed as SAPM on Coordination.

(a) Mushahid Hussain          (b) Attaullah Tarar

(c) Azam Nazir Tarar            (d) Tariq Fatemi

33. On Dec. 13, PMSS performed the ground-breaking ceremony of Sukkur to Hyderabad section of ______ Motorway project.

(a) M2                    (b) M4

(c) M5                    (d) M6

34. The length of Sukkur-Hyderabad motorway is ______.

(a) 228 km               (b) 275 km

(c) 306 km             (d) 320 km

35. On Dec. 14, the ADB declared Pakistan as the second most expensive country in the South Asian region.

(a) Second              (b) Third

(c) Fourth                (d) Fifth

36. On Dec. 14, the Interpol issued Red Notices for former deputy commissioner ______ Tashfeen Alam.

(a) Sukkur                        (b) Larkana

(c) Hyderabad                (d) Naushahroferoze

37. The incumbent Director General of Intelligence Bureau is ______.

(a) Zahid H. Junejo                      (b) Qamar Ghulam Ali

(c) Dr Tauqeer Shah                    (d) Fuad Asadullah Khan

38. On ______, the Governments of Pakistan and Balochistan, Barrick Gold, and Antofagasta PLC signed the final Reko Diq deal in London.

(a) Dec. 12              (b) Dec. 13

(c) Dec. 14              (d) Dec. 15

39. The share of Barrick Gold is Reko Diq will be ______.

(a) 25%                   (b) 50%

(c) 67%                   (d) 75%

40. Pakistan’s first 5G Innovation Lab has been established at NUST, ______.

(a) Islamabad         (b) Lahore

(c) Peshawar              (d) Karachi

International MCQs

1. On Nov. 16, Nasa launched Space Launch System (SLS) which marks the start of its new flagship programme, ______.

(a) Artemis            (b) Pioneer 1

(c) Beresheet          (d) Hiten

2. The board of governors of IAEA consists of ______ 35 nations.

(a) 30                      (b) 35

(c) 41                     (d) 49

3. Suneung, often considered the world’s toughest exam, is held in ______.

(a) Japan                      (b) China

(c) South Korea      (d) Thailand

4. USA’s second biggest city is ______.

(a) Seattle                        (b) Atlanta

(c) New York City          (d) Los Angeles

5. On Nov. 17, Carlos Alcaraz of ______ became the youngest ever tennis world number one.

(a) Belgium               (b) Switzerland

(c) Serbia                   (d) Spain

6. On Nov. 18, the latest Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit was held in ______.

(a) Seoul                (b) Bali

(c) Bangkok           (d) Kuala Lumpur

 

7. On Nov. 18: Japan and ______ held joint military drills in the airspace over the Sea of Japan.

(a) The US              (b) South Korea

(c) India                    (d) Australia

8. On Nov. 19, Amir Asylkozhaev of ______ won the boys singles title in the ITF Pakistan J7 World Juniors Tennis Championships.

(a) Tajikistan         (b) Russia

(c) Armenia           (d) Kazakhstan

9. Consultative Council, the lower house of the National Assembly, the bicameral legislative body of Bahrain, consists of ______ members.

(a) 40                     (b) 50

(c) 70                      (d) 80

10. The opening ceremony of FIFA World Cup 2022 featured Hollywood star ______ and a Qatari activist Ghanim Al-Muftah.

(a) Tom Cruise        (b) Morgan Freeman

(c) Bruce Willis       (d) Kate Winslet

11. On ______, COP 27 wrapped up with a landmark deal on funding to help vulnerable countries cope with devastating impacts of global warming.

(a) Nov. 17              (b) Nov. 18

(c) Nov. 20          (d) Nov. 22

12. On Nov. 21, ______ won a record-equalling sixth ATP Finals title.

(a) Rafael Nadal     (b) Andy Murray

(c) Casper Ruud     (d) Novak Djokovic

13. On Nov. 21, ______ President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was re-elected as leader of Central Asia´s largest country.

(a) Kazakhstan      (b) Tajikistan

(c) Azerbaijan            (d) Turkmenistan

14. On Nov. 23, the 11th Global Islamic Microfinance Forum successfully concluded in ______.

(a) Dubai                (b) Istanbul

(c) Karachi               (d) Riyadh

15. On Nov. 24, Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as the prime minister of ______.

(a) Singapore         (b) Malaysia

(c) Turkey              (d) Indonesia

16. On Nov. 24, ______ Cristiano Ronaldo became the first man to score in five different editions of the World Cup.

(a) Portugal’s         (b) Brazil’s

(c) Greece’s                (d) Argentina’s

17. On Nov. 27, ______ launched its long-awaited Indo-Pacific strategy, outlining $1.7 billion in spending to boost military and cyber security in the region.

(a) EU                        (b) Germany

(c) Canada             (d) USA

18. Mauna Loa, which erupted for the first time in nearly 40 years, is the largest active volcano in the world and is located in the US state of ______.

(a) Texas                (b) Hawaii

(c) Alaska              (d) Florida

19. On Nov. 28, ______ gained direct qualification to next year’s 50-over World Cup after their abandoned second ODI against Sri Lanka.

(a) Kenya                      (b) Ireland

(c) Afghanistan      (d) Netherlands

20. On Nov. 28, ______ Airline EasyJet and aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce announced the successful test of a hydrogen-powered aircraft engine.

(a) Italian               (b) American

(c) French              (d) British

21. On Nov. 29, ______ released its first annual State of Global Water Resources report.

(a) World Economic Forum     (b) World Water Council

(c) Oxfam International            (d) World Meteorological Organisation

22. Former Chinese president Jiang Zemin passed away on ______.

(a) Nov. 28               (b) Nov. 29

(c) Nov. 30             (d) Dec. 01

23. On Dec. 01, ______ opened its G20 presidency.

(a) Saudi Arabia     (b) India

(c) Switzerland       (d) Italy

24. On Dec. 01, the EU governments tentatively agreed on a _____a barrel price cap on Russian seaborne oil.

(a) $60                 (b) $70

(c) $75                   (d) $80

25. On Dec. 01, New York and ______ were jointly declared the world’s most expensive cities.

(a) Singapore         (b) Tel Aviv

(c) Paris                 (d) Hong Kong

26. On ______, Iran scrapped its morality police — known formally as the Gasht-e-Ershad or “Guidance Patrol”

(a) Dec. 02             (b) Dec. 04

(c) Dec. 05             (d) Dec. 07

27. On Dec. 04, Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited ______, marking first trip by an Israeli head of state to the small Gulf kingdom.

(a) Saudi Arabia     (b) Bahrain

(c) Morocco            (d) Kuwait

28. On Dec. 09, Britain, Italy and ______ announced to jointly develop a future fighter jet.

(a) Germany           (b) France

(c) South Korea      (d) Japan

29. On Dec. 09, Retired tennis star of ______ Ash Barty was awarded The Don Award – the country’s highest individual sports honour – for a second time

(a) Serbia             (b) Switzerland

(c) USA                  (d) Australia

30. On Dec. 09, ______ and Spain agreed in principle to build an underwater pipeline between Marseille and Barcelona at a cost of $2.6 billion to carry green hydrogen

(a) Luxembourg     (b) Latvia

(c) France              (d) Estonia

31. On Dec. 10, Morocco downed ______ to become the first African, and the first Arab, team to reach the World Cup semi-finals.

(a) Spain                (b) Portugal

(c) Brazil                (d) Croatia

32. The incumbent European Parliament president is ______.

(a) Eva Kaili             (b) Roberta Metsola     

(c) Viktor Axelsen   (d) Viktor Bout

33. On Dec. 11, Vice President of the European Parliament ______ was suspended over a corruption probe implicating World Cup hosts Qatar.

(a) Eva Kaili           (b) Roberta Metsola

(c) Viktor Axelsen    (d) Viktor Bout

34. On Dec. 13, EU countries agreed to grant ______ candidate status to join the union.

(a) Albania             (b) Bosnia

(c) Montenegro      (d) Turkiye

35. On Dec. 13, ______ passed law to impose a near-total tobacco ban from next year, prohibiting anyone born after 2008 from ever purchasing cigarettes.

(a) Yemen                     (b) Bangladesh

(c) New Zealand     (d) China

36. On Dec. 14, _____ surpassed Elon Musk as the world’s richest man.

(a) Jeff Bezoz                  (b) Mark Zuckerberg

(c) Gautam Adani          (d) Bernard Arnault

37. On Dec. 14, the ICC launched the inaugural ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Benoni, ______.

(a) Australia                 (b) Netherlands

(c) Canada                    (d) South Africa

38. On Dec. 14, the US military launched a space force unit in______.

(a) UAE                        (b) Cambodia

(c) South Korea      (d) Japan

39. On Dec. 14, the UN voted to remove ______ from a women’s rights body.

(a) South Africa     (b) Iran

(c) Cuba                  (d) India

40. On Dec. 15, the European Parliament approved a resolution declaring the 1930s starvation of millions in Ukraine under Soviet leader ______ a ‘genocide’.

(a) Georgy Malenkov                (b) Vladimir Lenin

(c) Nikita Khrushchev              (d) Joseph Stalin