iy Perece i ' January 2020 Mie mice Al kD Reese oa CUS CuK A UCR CCU reuters e474 lobal. Hunger Index 2019 Affairs Solved MCQs a 3 - Most Famous - Bist in a the World ; Nobel laureate Malala DoT 174-T LM eke RU) ‘most famous teenager in the world’ by the United Nations in » its ‘decade in review' report released on December 23, 2019. The UN review stated that from a young age, ayaa ey) ¥ Yousafzai was known for speaking out in favour of www.hsmpublishers.com education for girls. Ree hsWEEKLY Nie, eceniber209 Serene gee HSMCS§S§ Ya Mecca SIN rc a Ur Iter eyeet ce) TTT Senet Te Parada Beets Pring JUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times PRESIDENT TRUMP IMPEACHED WORLD 3 a OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS On December 18, 2019, Donald Trump became the third President to be impeached by the US House. He was accused of enlisting foreign government to investigate political rival before 2020 election. Highlights The House called for voting process alleging that the President pressurized Ukraine to announce investigations against his political rival Joe Biden ahead of 2020 elections. The Democrats had majority in the house to impeach the President. Itis necessary to prove the charges at the senate as well, where a voting process with two-third majority is essential for conviction. Impeachment in American History So far only two American presidents have been impeached. In 1998, President Bill Clinton was impeached on charges of sexual relationship with his intern. However, the senate acquitted him. Before him, in 1868, President Andrew Johnson was impeached. He was acquitted by one vote in the Senate. In 1974, President Nixon resigned over water gate corruption charges. The judiciary HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | committee approved the articles of impeachment before the house could even pass them. Impeachmentin the US Article 2 of the US constitution lists the procedure of impeachment of US president. Impeachment does not remove the president from power. It is an accusation, when proved the Senate should decide whether to convict the president of the charges contained. The impeachment process in the US begins with an investigation by House Committee. When the committee finds out enough evidences to prove the accusation of the president, it enters the house. The house votes and if the majority agrees, the proceedings is taken to the senate. The trial at the senate is overseen by the Chief Justice of Supreme Court. If two-thirds of the senators find the president guilty, he is removed and the vice president takes over. For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com WORLD Johnson was elected as ‘Abraham Lincolns vice president in 1864. The toughest decision facing Lincoln's second term was how to reestablish ties with the Confederate states now that the Civil War was over. Lincoln's plan for Reconstruction favored leniency while so-called “Radical Republicans” in his party wanted to punish Southern politicians and extend full civil rights to freed slaves. Lincoln was assassinated only 42 days into his second term, leaving Johnson in charge of Reconstruction. He immediately clashed with the Radical Republicans in Congress, calling for pardons for Confederate leaders and vetoing political rights for freedmen. In 1867, Congress retaliated by passing the Tenure of Office Act, which barred the president from replacing members of his cabinet without Senate approval. Believing the law to be unconstitutional, Johnson went ahead and fired his Secretary of War, an ally of the Radical Republicans in Congress. Johnson's political enemies responded by drafting and passing 11 articles of impeachment in the House. "Sir, the bloody and untilled fields of the ten unreconstructed States, the unsheeted ghosts of the two thousand murdered negroes in Texas, cry [..] for the punishment of Andrew Johnson," wrote the abolitionist Republican Representative William D. Kelley from Pennsylvania. Johnson was impeached in the House of Representatives by 126 votes to 47, but narrowly avoided a two-thirds guilty verdict in the Senate by a single vote. After his acquittal, he served out the rest of his term and became the first (and only) former U.S. president to be elected to the Senate. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,w Buy Online www.hsmpublishers.com www.ilmikitabkhana.com Kabir Street Urdu Bazar, Lahore Phone: 042-373532510UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com WORLD Clinton was plagued by legal troubles and scandals from the moment he entered the White House. In 1993, Clinton and his First Lady, Hillary, were the subject of a Justice Department investigation into the so-called Whitewater controversy, a botched business deal from their days in Arkansas. And in 1994, Clinton was sued for sexual harassment by Paula Jones, who claimed Clinton exposed himself to her in a hotel room in 1991. Interestingly, it was a combination of both legal cases that would ultimately lead to Clinton's impeachment. Independent counsel Kenneth Starr was appointed by the Justice Department to investigate the Whitewater affair, but he couldn't find any impeachable evidence. Meanwhile, lawyers for Jones got a tip that Clinton had an affair with a 21-year-old White House intern named Monica Lewinsky, a claim that both Lewinsky and Clinton denied under oath. Starr switched the focus of his investigation when he received 20 hours of taped phone conversations between Lewinsky and Linda Tripp, a former White House colleague, in which Lewinsky alludes to the affair. Starr then got the FBI to fit Tripp with a wire to meet with Lewinsky at a Ritz-Carlton hotel outside Washington, DC, when Lewinsky again admitted to a sexual relationship with the president. When the story went public, Clinton was forced to address the accusations on national television. “want you to listen to me,’ Clinton famously said. “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky. Inever told anybody to lie, nota single time, never.” Starr's investigative team ended up producing a long and lurid report detailing Clinton's sexual dalliances with Lewinsky and providing evidence that Clinton lied under oath (perjury) in an effort to obstruct the Starr investigation. On December 19, 1998, the House of Representatives voted along party lines to impeach Clinton on two separate counts: perjury and obstruction of justice. But in the ensuing five- week Senate trial, Clinton was acquitted on both counts. Despite a very public and embarrassing scandal, and being only the second president in history to be impeached, Clinton's job approval rating peaked at 73 percentin 1999. => HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com December 9, 2019 ‘The 34-year-old Sanna Marin, was selected by her Social Democratic party of Finland to become the country’ youngest prime er ever, taking over after resignation of outgoing leader Antti Rinne. Sanna who minis will now be youngest head of government in the country’s history, has earlier served as transport minister of Finland. Key Highlights At 34, Sanna Ma youngest serving prime minister once takes in also becomes world's office in the coming days. Finland's Parliament is expected to formally swear in the new prime minister on 10 December 2019. She is now ahead of Ukraine's p minister Oleksiy Honcharuk, who is currently 35. She narrowly won the vote to replace Antti Rinne, who resigned after losing the confidence of coalition partner Centre Part over his handling of a postal strike. Sanna's party is the largest in a five-member governing coalition. ime HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comAsma Zaheer Pakistani Computer Scientist among 1,000 Recognized as “Best of IBM 2019” ‘Asma Zaheer is the first Pakistani Computer Scientist who has been awarded with this highest prestigious award of the company. Ms Virginia Marie "Ginni* Rometty the current chairman, president, and CEO of IBM presided over the event and applauded the efforts of key performers. Asma completed her undergraduate in Computer Science form Punjab University and Masters from National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (FAST), Lahore. She has been working with IBM Pakistan since 2013 and her role is IGNITE & Test Innovation Practice Leader for IBM's Global Business Services, Client Innovation Centre (CIC). Asma’s core area of interest is analytics, cloud computing, and cognitive computing systems. The Best of IBM These honorees have been instrumental in leading IBM's return to growth and positioning as the leader in Artificial Intelligence, Hybrid Cloud, Analytics and Cyber Security. The Best of IBM 2019 "winners" were selected from alll business units and roles. It was meant for those IBMers who further the success of the company, clients and the world at large. Those who work tirelessly to drive business forward and in turn achieve tremendous results. Weaving the two issues together with digital technology, Saeed has created a telemedicine delivery system that can potentially work in remote communities around the world Aged 32, she is co-founder and CEO of Sehat Kahani, a service that connects home-based female doctors with people in rural and impoverished communities in a low-cost, service via an electronic health (e- Health) network. Dr. Saeed has now become the first Pakistani woman in the list of now 150 Laureates. Her network of 23 e-health clinics across Pakistan serves 86,000 patients. It brings together 1,500 female doctors and more than 90 nurses and field health workers. Recently it has included Pakistani female doctors living overseas, making its services available round the clock. Saeed plans to expand her network to 100 e-clinics, delivering affordable healthcare to up to 10 million people by 2023. The result is a model that not only saves lives and delivers affordable care — but also empowers skilled women to reach their full potential Since 1976, through the Rolex Awards for Enterprise, Rolex has supported exceptional individuals who have the courage and conviction to take on major challenges; men and women who have a spirit of enterprise, initiating extraordinary projects that make the world a better place. @hsmpublishers.com GENVER SuuiliesUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com { CSS Time GLOBAL GENDER REPORT 2020 WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM'S GLOBAL GENDER GAP te) ate Pakistan is Ranked rd Lowest in Gender Equality The Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEP) in its Global Gender Gap Report 2020 showed Pakistan is just ahead of Iraq and Yemen, a ranking of 151 out of 153 countries. “This performance represents an improvement from the previous edition, but it is insufficient to prevent Pakistan from falling in the rankings, as new countries have entered the rankings at a higher position, the reportstated Pakistan ranks third-to-last (151st) on the 2020 Global Gender Gap Index, having closed only 56% of the gender gap. This ment p from the previous edition (55.0), but it is ormance represents an improv insufficient to prevent Pakistan from falling in the rankings, as new countries have entered the rankings at a higher position. Pakistan ranks in the bottom 10 in three of the four main categories of the index and below the 100th mark in 12 of the 14 individual indicators composing the index Encouragingly, however, Pakistan improves on a majority of them—sometimes markedly and is stable in the others. The gap remains cavernous in terms of economic participation and opportunities (; 150th). Only one-quarter of women participate in the labour force (i.e. working or looking to work) compared with 85% of men (148th). Only 5% of senior and leadership roles are held by women (146th) twice the rate of 2016. It is estimated that HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comHSM CSS Times UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com only 18% of Pakistan's labour income goes to women (148th), one of the lowest share among countries studied. While a majority of countries have bridged or nearly bridged the educational gender gap, Pakistan's still stands at almost 20%. Less than half of women are literate, compared with 71% of men, while the share of women enrolled is systematically lower than the share of men across primary, secondary and tertiary education. The political gender gap has narrowed markedly over the past two years GLOBAL GENDER REPORT 2020 the best-performing country as it is placed in the 50th position. Bangladesh is followed by Nepal (101), Sri Lanka (102), India (112), Maldives (123), Bhutan (131) and Pakistan (51). Among the eight regions of the world, South Asia's gender gap is the second-largest after the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where only 61 per cent of the gender gap has been closed. Since 2006, South Asia has improved the most, gaining six percentage points. If the Country Rank Score Regional Global Bangladesh 1 50 0.726 Nepal 2 101 0.680 Sri Lanka 3 102 0.680 India 4 112 0.668 Maldives 5 123, 0.646 Bhutan 6 131 0.635 Pakistan 7 151 0.564 but remains wide (15.9, 93rd). In 2017, there was not a single female minister. As of 1 January 2019, there were three women in the 25-member cabinet. South Asian Countries Among South Asian countries, Bangladesh is rate of progress of the past 15 years was to continue, it will take 71 years to achieve gender parity. However, South Asia is the only region that scores better on political and empowerment dimension than on the economic participation and opportunity sub-index, where South Asia has only bridged 37 per centofits gender gap. South Asia has made significant strides in narrowing its educational gender gap. In 2006, the gap stood at almost 20 per cent, the largest of all regions. Since then, the gap has narrowed to six per cent. Female attainment at all education levels is generally on par, or at times better for men across the region — but absolute attainment levels for both sexes HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | 10 For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times | GLOBAL GENDER REPORT 2020 1 remain generallylow. Best Performing Countries Nordic countries continue to lead the way in gender parity. Iceland remains the world's most gender-equal country, followed by Norway, Finland and Sweden. Other economies in the top 10 include Nicaragua, New Zealand, Ireland, Spain, Rwanda and Germany. Western Europe is the best performing region for the 14th consecutive year. With an average score of 76.7 per cent (out of 100), the region has now closed 77 per cent of its gender gap, further improving from last edition. At the current pace, it will take 54 years to close the gap in Western Europe. The region is home to the four most gend equal countries in the world, namely in order Iceland (87.7 per cent), Norway (84.2 per cent), Finland (83.2 per cent) and Sweden (82.0 percent). Among the most-improved countries were Spain, Ethiopia, Mexico and Georgia. These countries all improved their positions in the rankings by more than 20 places, largely driven by improvements in the political empowerment dimension. The North America region regroups the United States (53rd) and Canada (19th). Both countries’ performances are stalling, especially in terms of economic participation and opportunity. At this rate it will take them 151 years to achieve gender parity. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comDee ae a - y Gender Studies. Dam Chapterwise Solved Question from SENDER ges a een ea) ea Stuttg Gender Studies Which Rank was Secured by (A) 146 (B) 159 (C) 164 (D) 167 Guess Your ousmer yr 4 @hsmpublishers.com Pakistan at Newly Released Women, Peace, and Security | F Index 2019? I 4 . |UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX, 2019 13 Pakistan's Rating Improves in peegL Hunger Index With 20.3 per cent of its population undernourished, Pakistan has been ranked 94 on the Global Hunger Index 2019, eight spots ahead of neighbour and arch-rival India, The prevalence of wasting and stunting in children less than five years fell to 7.1 per cent and 37.6 per cent respectively. The mortality rate of under-five-year olds also decreased to 75 percentin 2019. Where Pakistan scored 285 on the overall index, India ranked 102 out of a total of 117 qualifying countries with a score of 30.3, Among other regional countries, China was the highest-ranked at 25 (total score 6.5), followed by Iran at 31 (7.9), Sri Lanka at 66 (17.1), and Bangladesh at 88 (25.8). At 108, Afghanistan was the lowest-ranked with a total score of 33.8. Introduction The 2019 Global Hunger Index (GHI) shows that while the world has made gradual progress in reducing hunger on a global scale since 2000, this progress has been uneven. Hunger persists in many countries, and in some instances progress is even being reversed. The GHI highlights where more action is most needed Although the commitment to reach ‘Zero Hunger’ by 2030is a fundamental ambition of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), our hardwon gains are now under threat or being reversed. The 2019 GHI shows that multiple countries have higher hunger levels now than in 2010, and approximately 45 countries are set to fail to achieve low levels of hunger by 2030. Conflict, inequality, and the effects of climate change have all contributed to persistently high levels of hunger and food insecurity around the world The Concept of the Global Hunger Index The 2019 Global Hunger Index report (GHI)—the 14th in an annual series—presents a multidimensional measure of global, regional, and national hunger. Of the 117 countries with GHI scores, levels of hunger are still serious or alarming in 47 countries and extremely alarming in one country. This year's report focused on climate change— an increasingly relevant threat to the world's hungry and vulnerable people that requires immediate action. GHI scores are calculated each year to assess progress and setbacks in combating hunger. In GHI 2019, “hunger” refers to the index based on four component indicators. These are undernourishment, child wasting, child stunting and child mortality. Taken together, the component indicators reflect deficiencies in calories as well as in micronutrients. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX, 2019 14 How does GHI Measure Hunger? For each country in the list, the GHI looks at four indicators: Undernourishment (which reflects inadequate food availability): calculated by the share of the population that is undernourished (that is, whose caloric intake is insufficient); Child Wasting (which reflects acute undernutrition): calculated by the share of children under the age of five who are wasted (that is, those who have low weight for their height); Child Stunting (which reflects chronic undernutrition): calculated by the share of children under the age of five who are stunted (that is, those who have low height for their age); Child Mortality (which reflects both i n and unhealthy environment): calculated by the mortality rate of children under the age of five (in part, a reflection of the fatal mix of inadequate nutrition. Each country's data are standardised on a 100-point scale and a final score is calculated after giving 33.33% weight each to components 1 and 4, and giving 16.66% weight each to components 2 and 3. Countries scoring less than or equal to 9.9 are slotted in the “low” category of hunger, while those scoring between 20 and 34.9 are in the "serious" category and those scoring above 50 are in the “extremely alarming” category. 20 2019 60 Brazil ee 18 Russia A 22 Chins TT 25 South Africa EA 59 SriLanka SN 66 Nepal RN 73 Bangladesh [EEN 88 peat Pakistan lam 94 117 India fmm 102 countries Key Highlights Some key highlights of the GHI2019 are given below: - Seventeen countries, including Belarus, Ukraine, Turkey, Cuba and Kuwait, shared the top rank with GHI scores of less than five. South Asian countries like India (102) Nepal (73), Sri Lanka (66), Bangladesh (88), Myanmar (69) and Pakistan (94) are also in the ‘serious’ hunger category, but have fared better at feeding its citizens than India. China (25) has moved to a ‘low’ severity category and Sri Lanka is in the ‘moderate’ severity category. Major Causes of Hunger Hunger and malnutrition have many causes, but some of themare given below: Wars and Conflicts: Armed conflicts cause to flee, leaving them unable to cultivate their fields. Frequently they lose all of their possessions. Roads and agricultural infrastructure such as irrigation facilities are destroyed. Due to the limited security, trade also suffers; food becomes scarce and expensive. Natural Disasters: Weather extremes have always led to hunger crises. Droughts and floods destroy harvests. With climate change, extreme weather events are increasing. Droughts over many consecutive years weaken the resilience of the population. They are forced to use up their seed supplies or slaughter cattle. Poverty: Hunger is, above all, a consequence of poverty. Someone who is poor has insufficient money for food but also cannot provide for his own health and cannot invest in education for children. Women are usually particularly disadvantaged. Only site- appropriate agriculture can combat poverty and hunger. Inequality: The Agenda 2030 calls on us to leave no-one behind. Nevertheless, the inequality between rich and poor is increasing, both globally and within individual countries. One percent of the global HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX, 2019 _ ee ea oa LAN population possesses nearly half of the global fortune. The ‘lower billion’ of the poor and hungry have almost no chance to free themselves from their hardship. The Food Security Standard (FSS) should control food and nutrition security through greater justice worldwide Biased Global Trade: The rich states determine the rules of international policy. Unfair trade agreements and subsidies create market access and price advantages for enterprises from the industrial nations. Developing countries primarily export raw materials; the profits are skimmed off by rich states. Fairer agricultural trade promotes smallholders and rural value chains. Poor Governance: The governments in developing countries mostly do notalign their policies to the needs of the poorest population. There is a lack of strategies to promote agriculture in their own country in such a way that no one goes hungry. Corruption is one of the greatest obstacles to development; land grabbing is big problem. Waste of Resources and Climate Change: If everyone in the world lived as the rich countries do, resources such as water and land would soon be exhausted. The consequences are borne by others: expansion of deserts, soil erosion, water scarcity and extreme weather phenomena as a result of climate change are becoming particularly apparent in countries that already suffer from hunger and poverty. Why is Pakistan Ranked So Low on GHI? Pakistan is a third world country where millions of people, every day, go to bed without having a meal. We are a nuclear power; we have a very rich land; there is an abundance of water; climate and weather are agriculture-friendly; and the industrial sector is on the boom. Despite that we hear about incidences where a mother sells her children because of hunger, and of children perishing because of nutrient insufficiency. The ministry of finance of Pakistan explains that Pakistan is an agrarian economy, and agriculture is the second largest sector, accounting for over 21 percent of GDP, and HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com _HSM CSS Times GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX, 2019 _ { remains by far the largest employer, taking up 45 percent of the country’s total labour force. About 62 percent of the country's population resides in rural areas, and is directly or indirectly associated with agriculture. In spite of being productive in the farming sector, there is a food insecurity. There are children dying in the laps of their mothers because of starvation. The World Food Programme states that 43 percent of the country's population remains food insecure, and out of that, 18 percent of people are facing an alarming dearth of food. It further explains that six people out of ten in Pakistan are food insecure. The food insecurity is the major reason of increasing hunger in Pakistan, whereas food production is sufficient to feed all the population in the state. Poverty is one of the primary drivers of hunger in Pakistan. As the World Bank indicators in 2015 showed, 50 percent of people in Pakistan live below the poverty line. Only by wiping out poverty, the issue of hunger can be tackled. But we also need to understand what Amartya Sen said: “Poverty can be exacerbated by problems in the production side partly because of food supply falling behind food demand tends to raise food prices, which can make many families much poorer, given their incomes” In the last two decades, Pakistan has experienced many natural disasters such as heavy torrential rains, floods and long periods of drought causing hungerin the country. At HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | => government level, there are policy gaps in Coping with hunger-like situations. There are no mechanisms of government that the increasing population of Pakistan could have ways to feed themselves. Institutional corruption is another factor that increases hunger and poverty. Government is spending less in the agriculture sector; fertile lands need to be taken care of by investing more and producing more to reduce hunger. In analmost two-decade war on terror, billions of rupees have been spent to curb terrorism, which is another big cause of increasing hunger in Pakistan. Not just that, the war in Afghanistan has directly affected Pakistan, as millions of Afghans had to seek refuge in Pakistan. There are millions of Afghan refugees still residing in Pakistan. Wastage of food is also one of the major reasons of hunger in our country. According to an estimation, almost 40 percent of food is wasted in Pakistan. On one side, people are dying due to hunger, and on the other, there is an abundance of food that goes to waste. Global Hunger Index rank tiene Peres pal Pastan nen rer ere o Central African Rep. 53.6 Yemen 45.9 Chad 482 Madagascar 41.5, 113 Zambia38.1 112 Liberia 34.9 111 Hit 34.7 110 Timor-Leste 34.5, WOOZimbabwe 34.4 VOB Aighanistan 33.8, ua. 9 an India 303 Pakistan 28.5 'BB Bangladesh 25.8 3B 66 SiLanka mm 17. concen tee For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,mais cus 2019-20 CadUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Times UN FORUM First Global Refugee Forum December 17, 2019 The first ever Global Refugee Forum is being held in Geneva, Switzerland from 17-18 December 2019. It is being jointly hosted by United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) along with Government of Switzerland, At GRF the international community will showcase and exchange good practices at national, regional or global levels. About Global Refugee Forum 2019 Objective: To give impetus to efforts to achieve compact's objectives and translate international solidarity into concrete action Six Thematic Areas on which First Global Refugee Forum will focus: Arrangements for burden and responsibility-sharing, Solutions, Energy and Infrastructure, Protection Capacity, Jobs and Livelihoods and Education. Asuccessful GRF will see more states and other actors joining the response to refugee situation as donors, hosts and partners, GRF also hopes to enlist the ‘missing middle'- that is, those states that could either contribute more or host more refugees. Participants: GRF will be convened at the ministerial level and participants will gather to address current refugee situation. It will be a high-level gathering of states and other stakeholders including UN member states, together with private businesses, nonprofits and nongovernmental organisations HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com _HSM CSS Times (including Jesuit Refugee Service URS)). High- level delegations from co-host Switzerland and from co-convening countries Germany, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Turkey and Pakistan as well as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres are scheduled to attend forum. Background This first ever Global Refugee Forum, meeting practical implementation of the 2018 Global Compact on Refugees (GCR)- which is a framework that represents political will and ambition of international community as a whole for strengthened cooperation and solidarity with refugees as well as affected host countries. United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) affirmed the Global Compact on Refugees in New York in December 2018. GCR seeks to improve world's response to refugee situations by ensuring that refugees and nations hosting them receive the support they need. Peon \ Four objectives of GCR: Share responsibilities more equitably Enhance refugee self-reliance UN FORUM Expand access to third-country solutions (i.e., permanent resettlement or other opportunities such as scholarships or work permits) Support conditions in countries of origin for safe, voluntary, dignified repatriation Why in News? Quad countries recently reviewed situation in Indo-Pacific region. The participants also supported an ASEAN- led mechanisms for the regional architecture for the region. Quad grouping The quadrilateral formation includes Japan, India, United States and Australia. The idea was first mooted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007. However, the idea couldn't move ahead with Australia pulling out of it. It is one of the many avenues for interaction among India, Australia, Japan and the US and should not be seen in an exclusive context. It was revived in 2017 and is being viewed as response to increased Chinese economic and military power. Quad is an opportunity for like-minded countries to share notes and collaborate ‘on projects of mutual interest. Members share a vision of an open and free Indo- Pacific. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comand all other competitive exams ee sc kel One S Drove acts GENERAL enon aig Meets (MCQs) en tas bal 9 ¥ Fi Nea 2 “i ae a Bee > ~ pginer Shaki a oie remota &0 Pet eS B® Buy Online www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times EN ele —-< 10 DAYS CPEC © SOUTH CHINA SEA We —__— China Pakistan: Secure CPEC Sea Route December 10, 2019 In order to secure the CPEC sea route, China and Pakistan have signed a deal to build drones with maximum payload of 480 kg, with top speed of 370 km per hour and can fly up to. 20 hours. The drones are called Loong IL These drones are similar to the MQ-9 Reaper drones developed by the US. Highlights Pakistan and China have agreed to build 48 drones in the Pakistan soil. The deal is to be implemented by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and Aviation Industry Corp of China This deal is considered to be the biggest drone sale of China to any country. Pakistan is already operating Loong! drone. China has HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times sold Loong I drones to other countries as well. It includes Kazakhstan, Indonesia and United Arav Emirates Global Concerns China is building its counter drone systems and laser weapons largely as it tries to catch US on UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) Technology. These technologies focus on spoofing techniques that prevent sending false information to UAVs. Together China and Russia are in arms race with the United States. There are concerns raised by number of countries about the trade war, repeated sanctions, imposition of taxes, space race and arms race between the countries, _ More than $29 billion projects under CPEC have been completed or are under construction while the major investment in second phase of CPEC for industrial development was on the cards for the investment. CPEC 2 World Talent Ranki Why in news? The 2019 World Talent Ranking has been released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). IMD is a business education school based in Switzerland. The ranking is based on the performance in three main categories —investment and development, appeal and readiness Performance of Countries The top of the table is still led by European small and mid-sized economies. These countries all share high levels of investments in education and a superior quality of life.Switzerland in the first and Denmark in the second position firmly lead the ranking for the seventh year in a row, followed by Sweden, Austria, and Luxembourg. International Institute for Management Development IMD is a business education school located in Lausanne, Switzerland. The professors do not have permanent academic tenure but work under one- year contracts and a performance- based pay package. IMD focuses on training and developing general management and leadership skills. It is not part of a university and offers MBA and Executive MBA programs as well as executive education. In the past six years, the launch of CPEC has not put a burden on the Pakistani economy but helped it come out of crises. It is evident that CPEC is on smooth track and enjoying the full backing of the two countries. The allegations on this flagship initiative are mere propaganda which is not based on ground reality and facts. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,eee iicte Essay Writing Important CSS Essay’s Outline Replaced Essays 2000-2019 &All Other Competitive Exams CURRENS a ca teeny Dereon ' " Soe Des rT oT aS oe *UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com WORLD SUMMITS 24 HSM CSS Times Original Members Members from 6th EAS Candidates East Asia Summit (EAS) Why in News? The latest edition of EAS is being held in Bangkok. Thailand's guidance of the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) has been hailed asa historic achievement About EAS EAS is an initiative of ASEAN and is based on the premise of the centrality of ASEAN. The East Asia Summit is a unique Leaders-led forum of 18 countries of the Asia-Pacific region formed to further the objectives of regional peace, security and prosperity. It has evolved as a forum for strategic dialogue and cooperation on political, security and economic issues of common regional concern and plays an important role in the regional architecture. Established in 2005, EAS allows the principal players in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss issues of common interest and concern, in an ‘open and transparent manner, at the highest level. The membership of EAS The membership of EAS consists of ten ASEAN Member States (i.e. Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines’ and Vietnam), Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation and the USA.EAS is an initiative of ASEAN and is based on the premise ofthe centrality of ASEAN. \S meetings are held after annual ASEAN leaders’ meetings. The first summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 14 December 2005 | There are six priority areas of regional cooperation within the framework of the EAS. These are -Environment and Energy, Education, Finance, Global Health Issues and Pandemic Diseases, Natural Disaster Management, and ASEAN Connectivity. India endorses regional collaboration in all six puigrity areas, ‘AS, representing nearly 50 per cent of the world's population and over 20 per cent of lobal trade, is a mega gathering and is a festimony to the rise of Asia. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comand all other competitive exams Solved MCQs200 rao Wd r 250 wf Buy Online www.hsmpublishers.com m Kabir Street, Urdu Bazar, Lahore LLL UE Lt Beye sere d iar Bey PayeCeE aTUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times The year began with the United States’ Syria policy in tatters: President Donald Trump had announced that he would be withdrawing all USS. troops, Secretary of Defense James Mattis had resigned, and Trump's remaining deputies were scrambling to convince him to reverse course Fast-forward to the end of 2019, and, after convincing Trump for the second time not to pull all U.S. forces out of Syria, senior officials still can't seem to get on the same page when it comes to America’s objectives there. In between, the United States tried and failed to stop Turkey from launching a long- promised military operation into northeastern Syria, with the intention of rooting out the Kurdish fighters who have been the U.S. military's crucial partner in the fight against the Islamic State but whom. MIDDLE EAST 6 Turkey-Syria Conflict: An Overview Ankara views as a terrorist threat. On Oct. 7, Trump withdrew troops from the border, paving the way for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his proxy forces to sweep across the region, killing hundreds of Kurdish fighters and civilians and displacing 200,000 people. Though a cease-fire brokered by Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin largely halted the assault, Turkey's Arab proxies who now control the 20-mile buffer TURKEY _~ Cc _SYRIA HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times zone between the Syrian border towns of Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain continue to terrorize the local population. Residents also fear the influx of roughly 3 million Syrian refugees, whom Erdogan has begun resettling in the area. Brief Background As the Islamic State swept across Syria and Iraq, the only fighters who were able to resist the onslaught were the Syrian Kurdish militias, the most powerful of which was the People's Protection Units, known by its Kurdish initials, YPG. The Kurds, who lived mostly along Syria's border with Turkey, had begun an armed defence of their areas after the civil war started in 2011-12. In 2014, as the US joined the war against Da’esh, it found in the YPG a helpful regional ally. From the US perspective, the Kurds also served as a military counterpoint against the Iranians and Russians, and provided some leverage in a future deal to end the war. Once the Kurds, backed by the Americans, had forced Daesh out of northern Syria, they took over the recaptured land along the Syria- Turkey border, home mainly to ethnic Kurds, Arabs, and some other groups. The YPG has close links with the PKK, and for Erdogan’s regime, this seemed like a serious security threat. For the US, the problem was of balancing decades-old hostilities and suspicion between its two allies — Turkey was part of NATO and an ally against Assad; the Kurds had just helped defeat the Islamic State at the cost of losing over 11,000 fighters. On the nudging of the Obama administration, the Syrian Kurdish militia sought to cover its links with the Turkish guerrillas, changed its name to Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and started to enlist larger numbers of non- Kurdish fighters. By 2016, the Americans were guessing that some 40% of SDF fighters belonged to non- Kurd ethnicities. The US also worked to keep the peace on the Turkish border, carrying out patrols both on its own, and jointly with the Turkish army. The Syria crisis remains unprecedented in scale, severity and complexity. Syria remains one of the largest protection crisis of our time: since the onset of the conflict in 2011, MIDDLE EAST 27 hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, widespread and systematic violations ‘of human rights reported, and humanitarian access a major challenge. Meanwhile, the conflict in Syria continues to drive one of the largest displacement crisis in the world with over 6.6 million displaced in country and over 5.6 million Syrian refugees registered across the region as of April 2018. Turkey's Incursion Earlier this month, when US decided to withdraw forces from Syria — an idea he had had in 2018 as well, but had been thwarted. He informed Erdogan on October 6, and within three days, on October 9, Turkey and its Syrian Arab allies launched an assault on Kurdish- held territory in Syria. Americans troops are now on the way out, and even though Trump has issued dramatic warnings to Erdogan, the Turkish attacks on the Kurds continue. The recent Turkish incursion ‘Operation Peace Spring’ against Kurdish-led forces in Syria is set to reshape the map of the Syrian conflict ‘once again, dealing a blow to Kurdish-led forces that have battled Islamic State while widening Turkey's territorial control at the border. This would be Turkey's third such incursion since 2016. Turkey has two main goals in northeast Syria: to drive the Kurdish YPG militia which it deems a security threat away from its border, and to create a space inside Syria where 2 million Syria refugees currently hosted in Turkey can be settled. It had been pushing the US to jointly establish a safe zone” that is 480 km wide and up to 35 km deep inside Syria. Turkey intends to relocate some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees living in Turkey in this “safe zone’. Since 2012, Erdogan has been trying to establish a "safe zone" along the section of Turkey's border with Syria that falls to the East of the Euphrates River. Impact on Kurds The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have spent years expanding its control across northern and eastern Syria, helped by the USled coalition against Islamic State. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times A rare case of a winner in the Syrian war, the Kurds and their allies have set up their own governing bodies while always insisting their aims autonomy, not independence. All of this could unravel with Turkey's military advance. The SDF-affiliated Syrian Democratic Council has said an attack would trigger a new wave of mass displacement. For the SDF alliance, in which the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia is the dominant force, much will depend on whether the US continues to keep forces in other parts of the northeast and east. A full US withdrawal would expose the area to the risk of more Turkish advances, an Islamic State revival, or attempts by Iranian- and Russian-backed government forces to gain ground. Confronted by the prospect of US withdrawal last year, the Kurds beat a path to Damascus for talks over allowing the Syrian government and its ally Russia to deploy at the border. The talks made no progress, but such negotiations could be an option again in the event of a wider US withdrawal. MIDDLE EAST 8 Global Response USS. President Donald Trump called for an immediate ceasefire, announced increased tariffs on steel imports from Turkey, and imposed sanctions against Turkish government ministries and officials—including the defense and energy ministries and the interior minister—in response to the ongoing military offensive in northern Syria, Further, US President Trump also threatened to destroy the entire economy of Turkey ifit does anything off limits. Russia and Iran, the other two major foreign powers in Syria, strongly support President Bashar al-Assad - unlike Turkey and the United States which both called for him to stand down and supported rebels fighting to overthrow him. Russia has said that Turkey has the right to defend itself, but Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on that Syria's territorial integrity must be preserved and that all foreign military forces "with illegal presence" should leave Syria. If the US pulls outall its troops from Who are the Kurds The Kurds are one of the indigenous peoples of the Mesopotamian plains and the highlands in what are now south-eastern Turkey, north-eastern Syria, northern Iraq, north- western Iran and south-western Armenia. There are an estimated 25 million to 35 million ethnic Kurds inhabit a mountainous region straddling Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Armenia. But they have never had a widely-recognised permanent nation state of their own. Today, they form a distinctive community, united through race, culture and language, even though they have no standard dialect. They also adhere to a number of different religions and creeds, although the majority are Sunni Muslims. Kurds make up between 7% and 10% of Syria's population. For decades, they were suppressed and denied basic rights by President Bashar al-Assad and, before him, his father Hafez. Before the uprising against Mr Assad began in 2011 most Kurds lived in the cities of Damascus and Aleppo, and in three northern areas near the Turkish border - Afrin in the west, Kobane (Ain al-Arab) in the centre, and Qamishli in t he east, In late 2014, the jihadist group Islamic State (8) launched an assault on Kobane. The battle sparked alarm across the world and a US-led multinational coalition against IS intervened by carrying out air strikes, After the militants retreated, the Kurds became the coalition's most critical partner on the ground in Syria. . : ; The biggest Kurdish militia, the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), formed an alliance with local Arab militias called the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in 2015. With the help of Coalition airpower, weaponry and advisers, SDF fighters drove IS out of a quarter of Syria and captured its last pocket of territory in the country in March 2019. They also set up an “autonomous administration" to govern the region. However, the Kurds agreed a deal with the Syrian government for the Syrian army to be deployed on the border to help repel the recent Turkish assault. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times northeast Syria, the Damascus government - backed by Russia - may try to retake control of much of the region not seized by Turkey. Iran is not happy either, but for different reasons. It, too, wants to see the back of the Americans and has no love for the Kurds, a troublesome minority inside Iran. But Turkey's move threatens Tehran's hopes of controlling a northern territorial corridor linking it with its Shia allies in Lebanon ~ what Israel calls a “corridor of terror”. However, EU, the US, Russia, Iran and the Arab states voice their diff invasion (Turkey terms it a” each is simultaneously trying to adjust to it, looking for advantage or leverage as the balance of powerin Syria shifts again The EU has condemned the invasion. In a joint statement, the bloc also pledged that member states would halt weapons exports to Turkey, As of Tuesday, the countries that have formally suspended their arms trade with Ankara include Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Finland and Sweden. Syrian government: While the territory in question is already outside Syrian government control, a Turkish incursion could mean the area switching from a non-hostile force - the SDF - to Turkey and rebels that have sought to topple Assad. Damascus has long viewed Turkey as an occupying power with designs on northern Syria. It has also at times suggested a willingness to strike a deal with the Kurds, though their last negotiations got nowhere. MIDDLE EAST 29 Pakistan's Stand Traditional allies of Pakistan like Turkey, Saudi Arabia , and the US are opposed to Assad . China, another ally, though not explicitly supporting Assad , backs Russia's position. Moscow, with whom Islamabad is rapidly developing ties, is protecting Assad . In taking these positions, all these countries are pursuing core national interests. Islamabad, ‘on the other hand, is not pursuing actual interests in Syria but is more concerned about balancing ties with all these major countries. Pakistani appreciate Turkey's efforts to reach a political solution to ongoing the Syrian conflict and acknowledge its interest in the middle East. As a country which has lost more than 70,000 lives due to terrorism and borne the burden of more than 3 million refugees for decades, Pakistan is fully cognizant of the threats and challenges being faced by Turkey having lost 40,000 of its people to terrorism Implications Turkey has the second largest armed forces in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the SDF is unlikely to match them in a frontal confrontation. Flat and arid terrain also favours the Turkish military. However, the battle-hardened Kurdish militia may not be a walkover in a subsequent asymmetric warfare, turning the Turkish foray into a costly mistake. Further, the SDF holds thousands of IS prisoners who may flee, taking advantage of the conflict, and unleash their abhorrent brand of terror. The Turkish military intervention can have wide-ranging consequences beyond the war zone.Itwould complicate the endgame in HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times MIDDLE EAST 30 TURKEY INVADES SYRIAS de Gob ORR eta SS peat \ \\ Ver.) Wi] wants to Ci g Turkey to cross the border aaa Syria. In a rare sign of unity, the Arab League has already condemned it. It could spillover into Europe where a significant number of Kurds and Turks live. In the past century, the Kurdish quest for an elusive Kurdistan has led to their betrayal by a number of regional and foreign powers, of which the US is only the latest. This sudden abandonment of the SDF by the US would further diminish American credibility in this region. Chaos could present Islamic State with an opportunity to stage a HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | revival and the SDF hasbeen conducting operations against IS sleeper cells since capturing its final territorial foothold earlier this year. Syrian Kurdish leaders have long warned that the SDF may not be able to continue holding IS prisoners if the situation was destabilised by a Turkish invasion. Conclusion The Kurds have played a critical role in defeating the IS, whose fall began in Kobane, the Kurdish town which was liberated by the For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times Oct 2019 ™® Kurdish forces Camps holding IS suspects’ families Turkish-backed Syrian rebels and Turkish military Camps for displaced people MIDDLE EAST ™@—™ Jihadist forces mm Syrian rebels s Syrian government Turkey’s proposed “safe zone” O Damascus) YPG in early 2015. Also, if there is a Kurdistan government in northeast Syria today, it is because the Kurds have captured all the major cities in the region, including Raqgah, the de facto capital of the IS, with US support. But now, with the destruction of the IS “caliphate”, the US seems to be abandoning the Kurds. Mr. Trump could have opted for an orderly exit from Syria with security guarantees from Turkey for the Kurds. Instead, he has just given in to Turkey's demands. Second, only the IS IRAQ caliphate was destroyed, not the IS. The remaining IS fighters have retreated to the Iraqi and Syrian deserts waiting for an opportunity to strike back. The Turkish incursion into Syria will not just set back the advances the Kurds have made in Rojava, but also weaken the most potent anti-jihadist force on the ground, besides throwing the whole region into chaos. It is a recipe for tragedy. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times After more than six years of negotiations, more than a dozen countries in Asia Pacific are now aiming to sign what would be the world’s largest trade agreement in 2020. The deal, called Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership or RCER, involves all 10 countries from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc and five of its major trading partners: Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. Together, the 15 countries make up close to one-third of the world population and global gross domestic product, according to a Reuters report. That's larger than other regional trading blocs such as the European Union and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. Significance of RCEP RCEP was launched in November 2012 in HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | World Fed secs Phnom Penh, Cambodia as an initiative by ASEAN to encourage trade among its member states and six other countries ‘Trade deals in force among original RCEP countries Those six other countries — Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea — already have standalone free trade agreements with ASEAN. Coming together under RCEP would boost commerce across For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times World 3 the group by lowering tariffs, standardizing customs rules and procedures, and widening market access especially among countries that don't have existing trade deals. All 16 countries started negotiating RCEP in 2013, when talks for another major trade pact —the Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP —were underway. Given China's absence in the then US-led TPP, which was slated to be the world's largest trade deal, many observers considered RCEP a way for Beijing to counter American influence in the region. What will RCEP do? The final text with details of the trade agreement will go through legal reviews before being signed and released. Media and analyst reports have said RCEP is primarily beneficial for goods trade because it will progressively reduce tariffs on many products. In addition, the deal will allow bloc but do away with the need to fill out separate paperwork for each export destination. Deborah Elms, executive director at consultancy Asian Trade Centre, told Reuters that would help Asian producers to sell more of their products to the rest of the region. Even for companies that export goods outside the bloc, there'll be incentives to build their supply chains across RCEP member countries, according to Reuters. But RCEP is said to lack the quality and scope seen in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership or CPTPP. The latter is the agreement that replaced the Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP after the U.S. withdrawal. In particular, RCEP — unlike CPTPP — lacks the call for commitments from member countries to protect workers’ rights and the businesses to sell the same goods within the environment, accordit ng to Rete Trade groupings involving Asia Pacific nations ASE. Cambodia Indonesia Laos Myanmar Philippines Thailand HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,7 5 i) J S f 12: f Pcl Pall SUIRILAA S (oer) pmMS AL othe ca\ if Government Vacancy 3) You regret the things you did’nt do when you had the chance. Now! it is your chance. Grab it! TEST PRACTICE WORK BOOK Fully Solved MCQs ROW LTA Te LO me ane (042) 37353510 - 37248129 - 37171280-1 Pea aUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM S Times WORLD 36 "Scientists Find Worlds Oldest, Possil"Forest December 21, 2019 Scientists have discovered the remnants of world's oldest fossil forest- an extensive network of trees around 386 million years old in a sandstone quarry in United States (US). According to the researchers from Binghamton University, and New York State Museum in U.S., the fossil forest in Cairo would have spread from New York all the way into Pennsylvania and beyond. The finding were published injournal Current Biology. About World's oldest Fossil forest The researchers team, mapped over 3,000 square metres of forest at abandoned quarry in the foothills of Catskill Mountains in Hudson Valley, New York. The forest is nearly 2 or 3 million years older than what was until now believed to be world's oldest forest at Gilboa (or Gilboa Fossil Forest, also located in New York State). As per the researchers, the Cairo forest is older than the one at Gilboa because fossils were lower down in sequence of rocks that occur in the Catskill mountains. Key Findings: The findings throw a new light on evolution of trees and transformative role they played in shaping the world we live in. The forest is being assumed to have been New ersey looked like a fairly open forest with small tomoderate sized coniferous-looking trees with individual and clumped tree-fern like plants of possibly smaller size growing between them. The research shows that the forest was home to at least two types of trees:- (1) Cladoxylopsids, a primitive tree-fern-like plants, lacked flat green leaves, and grew in vast numbers at Gilboa; while (2) Archaeopteris, had a conifer-like woody trunk and frond-like branches which had green flattened leaves. A single example of a third type of tree was also uncovered, which remained unidentified but could possibly have been a lycopod. All these trees reproduced using only spores rather than seeds. Researchers also reported an extensive network of roots which was more than 11 metres in length in some places and belonged to Archaeopteris trees. It is these long-lived woody roots that transformed interactions of plants and soils and were pivotal to co- evolution of forests and atmosphere. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com. a Od sureRIaaass Geog (4 fel ace eLESISUCCESSUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com imes SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ALL nee TO KNOW SUPREMACY? Google announced that it has achieved a breakthrough called quantum supremacy in computing. For the first time ever, a quantum computer has performed a computational task that would be essentially impossible for a conventional computer to complete, according toa team from Google. Quantum computers could one day result in huge advances in science research and technology. Among areas that stand to gain are artificial intelligence, and new drug therapies. All that, however, is a long way away. Introduction Quantum computing is the use of quantum- mechanical phenomena such as superposition and entanglement to perform computation. A quantum computer is used to perform such computation, which can be implemented theoretically or physically. The field of quantum computing is actually a sub: field of quantum information science, which includes quantum cryptography and quantum communication. Quantum computing was started in the early 1980s when physicist Paul Benioff proposed the first quantum mechanical model of the turing machine. Richard Feynman and Yuri Manin then expressed the idea that a quantum computer had the potential to simulate things that a classical computer could not. In 1994, Peter Shor published an algorithm that is able to efficiently solve some problems that are used in asymmetric cryptography that are considered hard for classical computers. There are currently two main approaches to physically implementing a quantum computer: analog and digital. Analog approaches are further divided into quantum HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 39 simulation, quantum annealing, and adiabatic quantum computation. Digital quantum computers use quantum logic gates to do computation. Both approaches use quantum bits or qubits. The phrase “quantum supremacy” was coined in 2011 by John Preskill, Professor of Theoretical Physics at the California Institute of Technology in a talk he delivered on the benefits of using quantum hardware over traditional computers. Quantum supremacy refers to a quantum computer solving a problem that cannot be expected of a classical computer in a normal lifetime. This relates to the speed at which a quantum ocmputer preforms. Google's Quantum Breakthrough An historic claim from Google was accidentally (and briefly) posted online: its Artificial Intelligence (Al) Quantum research group had achieved “quantum supremacy,’ an important step towards ultra-powerful computers that can solve problems deemed impossible for current machines by using quantum physics. The big reveal was somewhat thwarted by contributing researchers at NASA, who accidentally made a draft paper available. Not prone to understating its successes, Google made its bold assertion in the title of its research paper: “Quantum supremacy using a programmable superconducting processor.” Though the paper was quickly taken down, copies of it were archived and are floating around the web. Before the inadvertent announcement about supremacy, Google was already leading HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | the pack in terms of the sheer size of its quantum computer. Last yearit revealed a new 73-qubit computer, putting it ahead of closest rival IBM, which happened to announce its ‘own development of a 53-qubit computer on September 18. For its supremacy demonstration, however, Google used a different, smaller computer, named Sycamore. ‘As described in the leaked paper, Google used a 53-qubit processor (originally 54 qubits, but ‘one qubit let the team down) to perform a sampling task. Now it appears that Google has reached this particular milestone ahead of its competitors. The draft paper details how Google researchers used a quantum processor called Sycamore containing 53 functioning qubits to solve a random sampling problem that would have taken the world's best supercomputers 10,000 years to work out. It took Sycamore just three minute and 20 seconds. Google, which partnered with NASA for this project, did not respond to requests for comment. For Ares, the Google news is exciting, but it's important not to expect useful quantum computers any time soon. The largest quantum computer to date is Google's 72-qubit processor called Bristlecone, and that hasn't even demonstrated quantum supremacy. We're a really long way off the millions of qubits we'll need to crack difficult quantum problems. 2 Classical Bits 2 Qubits OO 00 Oe o1 @0 10 ee 0®@ 0 1 11 1 possible All of 2" possible permutation permutations (n=2) For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 40 tWhatis ‘Quantum Supremacy’? Quantum supremacy is the point at which quantum computers can solve problems that are practically unsolvable for “classical” (nonquantum) computers to complete in any reasonable timeframe. In principle, even the simplest universal computer can solve anything that is computable given infinite time to do so. So, "supremacy" si a attmer of hwo quickly and reliably a computer can solve a problem. The purpose is to built a quantum device that can do at least one thing which is outside the reach of classical machines. It is generally believed that at least 49 qubits are required to cross the quantum supremacy line. Qubits behave very differently to bits in classical computers. Bits represent either a "1" or a "0," and computers read and perform operations on one bit at a time. In contrast, qubits can represent a combination state made up of both “1” and "0," due to the peculiar quantum effects in which properties like particle position, direction, and momentum are not well-defined. This allows for a system to be in multiple states at the same time, called quantum indeterminacy. Classical Computers vs Quantum Computer It just means the moment that a quantum computer completes a task that conventional computers find impossible. Classical computers transmit bits of information as electrical pulses encoded numerically as a 0 or a 1.In quantum computers, individual atoms, electrons, or particles of light carry information in quantum bits, or qubits. Following principles of quantum mechanics, these particles can exist in 0, 1, or various probabilities of being either 0 or 1, called superposition. With qubits in superposition and communicating with each other through a property called entanglement, quantum computers can solve a problem by examining multiple solutions simultaneously. The result is extra computing power and speed. But keeping the "quantumness" in qubits is a big challenge. Multiple qubits need to interact with each other to solve problems ina Quantum Theory Quantum Theory Quantum theory's development began in 1900 with a presentation by Max Planck to the German Physical Society, in which he introduced the idea that energy exists in individual units (which he called "quanta"), as does matter. Further developments by a number of scientists over the following thirty years led to the modern understanding of quantum theory. The Essential Elements of Quantum Theory: Energy, like matter, consists of discrete units, rather than solely as a continuous wave. Elementary particles of both energy and matter, depending on the conditions, may behave like either particles or waves. The movement of elementary particles is inherently random, and, thus, unpredictable. The simultaneous measurement of two. complementary values, such as the position and momentum of an elementary particle, is inescapably flawed; the more precisely one value is measured, the more flawed will be the measurement of the other value. quantum computer, but any interaction with other particles causes them to lose their quantum states. Once a qubit settles into either a0 or 1, it acts just like a bit in a classical computer. As the result of research over the past decade, scientists can now build qubits that remain connected 10,000 times longer than before. But still less than 10 qubits can be uflly quantumly ocnnected. Are Computers Finally Going Quantum? In 2018, tech giant ‘Microsoft’ hired a handful of quantum physicists, including one from the Kavli Institute of Nano science in the Netherlands, to help build a prototype HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Times SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY THE ERA OF QUANTUM COMPUTING IS HERE We are now reaching the fifth generation of computers -19 INTEGRATED CIRCUITS Crue ta RRC uu Coun ake ae Piper tet st Spe ey eet teed Applications of quantum computing ba Se ie CTT aay eat Pern eC eae ad | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 4 quantum computer - a machine that would harness the bizarre behavior of matter at extremely small scales to solve some of the hardest problems in science. Other companies are also working to commercialize quantum computers. IBM is planing to have a commercially available quantum processor in the cloud within a few years. Intel, Google and smaller start-ups also developing similarly powerful devices are beginning to transform their quantum computing palns ni to erality. If one of these teams of physicists and engineers wins the race to build the world's first quantum computer, it would outcompete classical computers by a long shot and help tackle currently unsolvable problems in fields ranging from finance to cybersecurity, and from drug development to quantum physics itself. But there are still major technical challenges to overcome, including how to scale up current designs to link hundreds or thousands of quantum bits (qubits), the basic information carriers in a quantum computer, and how to control qubits’ strange behavior. Applications Despite hitting the milestone, it's likely that quantum computers capable of tackling practical tasks are still years away. However, once developed, the computers are expected to have huge implications for areas as diverse as cryptography, chemistry, Al and machine learning. Google expects the power of quantum computers to expand at a “double exponential rate,” whereas traditional computers have long been pegged to Moore's Law, which saw power double every 18 months or so. Quantum physics had already transformed society. It has led to the laser and transistor and all of our modern technologies today. We are now on the brink of the second quantum revolution as we begin to harness all of the power of the quantum world. Quantum information processing will not only transform communication and security, but will impact healthcare, climate modeling, scientific research and machine learning. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | Overall, from managing money to massive datasets, quantum computing’s applications are seemingly endless. Advances in machine learning and optimization could boost efficiency dramatically. Biomedical and chemical simulations could help us land more drug discoveries and uncover new medical treatments in record time. Advanced computing power could lead to more than just innovation; it also could lead to lessened risk. Indeed, enhanced financial services could fundamentally change how we invest. Way Forward Besting conventional computers at solving a real-world problem—a feat that some researchers refer to as “quantum advantage.” The hope is that quantum computers’ immense processing power will help uncover new pharmaceuticals and materials, enhance artificial-intelligence applications, and lead to advances in other fields such as financial services, where they could be applied to things like risk management It could take quite a few years for quantum computers to achieve their full potential Universities and businesses working on them are facing a shortage of skilled researchers in the field—and a lack of suppliers of some key components. But if these exotic new computing machines live up to their promise, they could transform entire industries and turbocharge global innovation. For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comand all other competitive exams sheraz Sohail |KO 7 wt Buy Online m Kabir Street, Urdu Bazar, Lahore LLL ELE Bley sey ed tar Bey PaeyECela(UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com s SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY t SPACEX’S a SSA BA Why in News? SpaceX has launched 60 "Starlink” satellites into low-Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida that will bring cheaper Internet access to the world. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk used the Starlink system to send a tweet for the first time. Musk used a Starlink terminal in his home to send the tweet. Eventually, Starlink customers will receive a box from SpaceX to access the network, SpaceNews reported. Musk has said SpaceX will need at least 400 Starlink satellites in orbit for "minor" broadband coverage, and 800 satellites aloft for “moderate” coverage. The initial Starlink plan called for a megaconstellation of 12,000 satellites, and SpaceX recenty filed paperwork with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to launch another 30,000 satellites. The ITU is a United Nations agency that manages the global satellite radio-frequency spectrum, among other things. About The "Starlink" satellites will be deployed at an altitude of 280 km to beam broadband Internet services HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | The 60 Starlink satellites are part of the second batch of SpaceXs broadband Internet mega constellation SpaceX is developing a low latency, broadband internet system to meet the needs of consumers across the globe Enabled by a constellation of low Earth-orbit satellites, Starlink will provide fast, reliable internet to populations with little or no connectivity, including those in rural communities and places where existing services are too expensive or unreliable, the company said ina statement. Since the most recent launch of Starlink satellites in May, SpaceX has increased spectrum capacity for the end-user through upgrades in design that maximise the use of both Ka and Ku bands. Additionally, the components of each satellite are 100 per cent demisable and will quickly burn up in Earth's atmosphere at the end of their life cycle -a measure that exceeds all current safety standards. Starlink is targeted to offer service in parts of the U.S. and Canada after six launches, rapidly expanding to global coverage of the populated world after 24 launches. For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comHSM New Arrival ecg e e ] Buy Online 1 ic PUBLISHERSUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com SM CSS Times SPORTS eer) Preeti rat WADA was set up in 1999 after a doping scandal at the 1998 Tour de France cycling tournament, when a team called Festina was found to be taking drugs that improved their performance. Many of the drugs had been paid for by the cyclists themselves and the team was kicked out of the race. Many drugs are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). One example is anabolic steroids, which help athletes build muscle. Russia banned from major sports events for four years December 11, 2019 The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has slapped Russia with a four-year ban from international sports events, over longstanding doping scandal. The ban includes next summer's Tokyo Olympics (which opens 24 July 2020) and 2022 Beijing Winter Games However, Russia's anti-doping agency can appeal decision to Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days Highlights: WADA Ruling The sanctions are harshest punishment yet for Russian state authorities who were accused of tampering with a Moscow laboratory database. WADA investigators & International Olympic Committee agreed that evidence showed Russian authorities corrupted data from Moscow lab that was long sealed by HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | security forces, As a result, hundreds of potential doping cases were deleted and evidence falsely planted to shift blame onto whistleblowers. The WADA ruling means that Russia's flag, name and anthem will not appear at Tokyo Games, and the country also could be stripped of hosting world championships in Olympic sports. Although Russia's athletes wil sail be able to compete in major events only if they can show that they are not implicated in positive doping tests or if their datawasnot manipulated, For soccer's 2022 World Cup, as per WADA ruling, the Russian team will play under its name in qualifying program in Europe. Bu, if it qualifies to play in Gatar the team name must be changed to something neutral that likely would not include the word ‘Russia.’ For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com 2020 Crystal Award: December 15, 2019 The World Economic Forum (WEF) announced the Winners of 26th Annual Crystal Award for the year 2020. The Crystal Awards recognises as well as celebrates the achievements of leading artists and cultural figures whose leadership inspires inclusive and sustainable change. The annual awards are hosted by World Economic Forum's World Arts Forum. WEF's 2019 Crystal Award Recipients Jin Xing- China's media personality. She was recognized for her leadership in shaping inclusive cultural norms Theaster Gates- Chicago-based artist. He was recognized for his leadership in creating sustainable communities Lynette Wallworth- Australian artist. She won for her leadership in creating inclusive narratives Deepika Padukone- Indian actress. She won the award for her remarkable leadership in raising mental health awareness. She is the only Indian actress who has won 26th Annual Crystal Award for spreading mental health awareness. The three awardees will be honoured at ‘opening session of World Economic Forum's 2020 Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, on 21-24 January. The 2020 HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | Awards World Economic Forum annual meeting will take place from 22-25 January under under the theme, ‘Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World’. The WEF Annual Meeting brings together leaders from international organisations, government, civil society, culture and media, business, foremost experts and young generation from all over the world, at highest level and in representative ways. World AIDS Day was observed on 1 December 2019, to raise public awareness about Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a pandemic disease caused due to infection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which affects the human immune system. The day also provides an opportunity for people to unite in fight against HIV and to show support for those living with HIV. The theme for year 2019 is “Communities Make the Difference.” World AIDS Day is being celebrated every year since 1988 and is one of the eight official global public health campaigns marked by World Health Organization (WHO). For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comPakistan & WorldUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) made public ‘The Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate’ which underlined the dire changes taking place in oceans, glaciers, and ice-deposits on land and sea at the United Nations Climate Summit underway in the United States. The published report is the last in a series of three reports on specific themes that IPCC has published namely: © Global Warming of 15° C: A special report, which was commissioned to specifically explore the scientific feasibility of the 1.5°C goal set in the Paris Agreement, on global warming. © Land and climate change: The report focuses on the contribution of land-related activities to global warming ie how the different uses of land affect the emission of greenhouse gases. The report also updates the IPCC’s 5" Assessment Report — and summarises the disastrous impacts of warming based on current projections of global greenhouse gas emissions. CLIMATE CHANGE 49 Introduction The latest report, on Ocean and Cryosphere, is the last in a series of three that the IPCC had been asked to produce to assess the impacts of climate change on specific themes. The first of these, examining the feasibility of restricting global rise in temperatures to within 1.5°C from pre-industrial times, was submitted in October last year. It was followed in August this year by a report on how land systems contribute to and are impacted by climate change. —— The IPCC special report on the 1.5°C goal, for example, said it was possible to keep the rise in temperature to within 1.5°C, but for that the world would need to bring down its greenhouse gas emissions to half of its 2010 levels by 2030, and to net zero by 2050. Net -zero is achieved when the total emissions is balanced by the amount of absorption of HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times carbon dioxide through natural sinks like forests, or removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through technological interventions. The land report released in August said the various kinds of uses that land was being put to — forestry, agriculture, industries, urbanisation had contributed about 5.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide every year between 2007 and 2016. During the same time, trees and forests absorbed almost 11.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide every year from the atmosphere. The sum total of these two processes meant that land, and the vegetation on it, was removing about 6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually. It also pointed out that the global food system, which would include activities such as agriculture, cattlerearing, food processing industry, energy consumed in these processes, and transportation of food items, could account for as much as a third of all greenhouse gases. It said nearly 25 per cent of all food produced globally was either lost or wasted. And even the decomposition of waste food released emissions. PCC Report on Ocean and Cryosphere Over the last decades, global warming has led to widespread shrinking of the cryosphere, with mass loss from ice sheets and glaciers, reductions in snow cover and Arctic sea ice extent and thickness, and increased permafrost temperature, Global mean sea level (GMSL) is rising, cryospheric and associated hydrological changes have impacted terrestrial and freshwater species and ecosystems, coastal ecosystems are affected by ocean warming, including intensified marine heatwaves, acidification, loss of oxygen, salinity intrusion and sea level rise, in combination with adverse effects from human activities on ocean and land. Impacts are already observed on habitat area and biodiversity, as well as ecosystem functioning and services. The report seeks to underline the enormity of the problem, and the urgency required to deal with it. CLIMATE CHANGE Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the international body for assessing the science related to climate change. It was set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to provide policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. IPCC assessments provide a scientific basis for governments at all levels to develop climate- related policies, and they underlie negotiations at the UN Climate Conference — the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Key Findings - The need for this report: “Pervasive ocean and cryosphere changes are already being caused by humaninduced climate change.” High mountain areas: Glaciers could lose a fifth of their mass this century if emissions are low, and more than 80% in regions such as Central Europe. Seaice: Thereis "very high confidence” that Arctic sea ice has declined in all months of the year and around half the summer loss is due ot human-caused warming. Ice sheets: Greenland melt is unprecedented in at least 350 years. With rising Antarctic loss, ice sheets are now contributing 700% more to sea levels than two decades ago. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,HSM CSS Times UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com CLIMATE CHANGE Impl ns of polar warming: Polar bears are travelling further due to less ice, while Arctic peoples and marine life face rising negative impacts due to warming. Abrupt changes and ‘tipping points’: The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) ocean current that brings warm water to Europe may already have weakened by 15%, but is “very unlikely to collapse” this century. Impacts for coasts and islands: Warming could “drastically alter” migration flows. If emissions are high, some island nations are “likely” to become “uninhabitable” this century. Marine life: Marine mammals could decline by 15% and fisheries by a quarter this century, if emissions are very high, while “almost all coral reefs will degrade" even if emissions are low. NUS ae ea) eerie Permafrost: Arctic near-surface permafrost faces "widespread disappearance”, with a 30-99% decrease in area if emissions are very high, releasing 10s to 100s of billions of tonnes of C02. Sea level rise: The rate is accelerating and is “unprecedented” over the past century. Worst-case projections are higher than thought and a 2m rise by 2100 “cannot be ruled out" Ee 4 COT Gira Extreme events: Cyclones, marine heatwaves and other extremes are becoming more severe and will exceed the limits of adaptation, causing “unavoidable loss and damage". Socio-economic implications: Changes to oceans and the cryosphere will impede the UN's sustainable development goals and could expand the range of disease threats. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times Ocean and Cryosphere The global ocean is the interconnected body of saline water that encompasses polar to equatorial climate zones and covers 71% of the Earth surface. It includes the Arctic, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Southern oceans, as well as their marginal seas. The ocean contains about 97% of the Earth's water, supplies 99% of the Earth's biologicallyhabitable space, and provides roughly half of the primary production on Earth. The ocean is a fundamental climate regulator on seasonal to millennial time scales. Seawater has a heat capacity four times larger than air and holds vast quantities of dissolved carbon. Heat, water, and bio-geochemically relevant gases (eg., oxygen (O,) and carbon dioxide (CO,) exchange at the air-sea interface, and ocean currents and mixing caused by winds, tides, wave dynamics, density differences, and turbulence redistribute these throughout hte golbal oecan. The cryosphere refers to frozen components of the Earth system that are at or below the land and ocean surface. These include snow, glaciers, ice sheets, ice shelves, icebergs, sea ice, lake ice, river ice, permafrost and seasonally frozen ground. Cryosphere is widespread in polar regions and high mountains, and changes in the cryosphere can have far-reaching and even global impacts. Presently, around 10% of Earth's land area is covered by glaciers or ice sheets, which in total hold about 69% of Earth's freshwater. Role of the Ocean and Cryosphere in the Earth System The ocean and cryosphere play a key role in the Earth system. Powered by the Sun's energy, large quantities of energy, water and biogeochemical elements (predominantly carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen) are exchanged between all components of the Earth system, including between the oecan and rycosphere. Ocean and Cryosphere in Earth's Energy, Water and Biogeochemical Cycles During an equilibrium (stable) climate state, the amount of incoming solar energy is CLIMATE CHANGE balanced by an equal amount of outgoing radiation at the top of Earth's atmosphere. At the Earth's surface energy from the sun is transformed into various forms (heat, potential, latent, kinetic, and chemical), that drive weather systems in the atmosphere and currents in the ocean, fuel photosynthesis on land and in the ocean, and fundamentally determine the climate. The ocean has a large capacity to store and release heat, and the Earth's energy budget canbe effectively monitored through the heat content of the ocean on time scales longer than one year. The large heat capacity of the ocean leads to different characteristics of the ocean response to external forcings compared with the atmosphere. The reflective properties of snow and ice also play an important role in regulating climate, via the albedo effect. Increased amounts of solar energy are absorbed when snow or ice are replaced by less reflective land or ocean surfaces, resulting in a climate change feedback responsible for amplified changes. Water is exchanged between the ocean, the atmosphere, the land, and the cryosphere as part of the hydrological cycle driven by solar heating. Evaporation from the surface oceans the main source of water in the atmosphere, which is moved back to the Earth's surface as precipitation. The hydrological cycle is closed by the eventual return of water to the ocean by rivers, streams, and groundwater flow, and through ice discharge and melting of ice sheets and HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com CLIMATE CHANGE 53 HSM CSS Times glaciers. Hydrological extremes related to the ‘ocean include floods from extreme rainfall (including tropical cyclones) or ocean circulation-related droughts, while cryosphere-related flooding can be caused by rapid snow melt and meltwater discharge events. Interactions Between the Ocean and Cryosphere The ocean and cryosphere are interconnected in a multitude of ways. Evaporation from the ocean provides snowfall that builds and sustains the ice sheets and glaciers that store large amounts of frozen water on land Ocean temperature and sea level affect ice sheet, glacier and ice-shelf stability in places where the base of ice bodies are in direct contact with ocean water. The non-linear response of ice melt to ocean temperature changes means that even slight increases in ocean temperature have the potential to rapidly melt and destabilise large sections of anice sheet orice shelf. The cryosphere and ocean further link through the movement of biogeochemical nutrients. For example, iron accumulated in sea ice during winter is released to the ocean during the spring and summer melt, helping to fuel ocean productivity in the seasonal sea ice zone. Nutrient-rich sediments delivered by glaciers further connect cryosphere processes to ocean productivity. | rer era Idioms Peery HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | All the essentials & Only the essentials The Best English Idioms Book Tw Rony yn} iT SAU ANsHMtaiansexeon For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE for CSS Dr. Tajamal Dr. Tahir Shabbir Dr. Furqan Ali Khan. Dr. Faizan Ali Khan Dr. Aamina Rao wh Buy Online www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times CLIMATE CHANGE _ Countdown on Health and Climate Change Why in news? The Lancet has published a report titled- ‘Countdown on Health and Climate Change’. The project is a collaboration between 120 experts from 35 institutions, including the World Health Organisation, the World Bank, University College London, and the Tsinghua University in Beijing. The report is a comprehensive yearly analysis tracking progress across 41 key indicators, demonstrating what action to meet Paris Agreement targets —or business as usual —means for human health. Highlights of the report The report notes that as temperatures rise, infants will bear the greatest burden of HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | malnutrition and rising food prices —average yield potential of maize and rice has declined almost 2% in India since the 1960s, with malnutrition already responsible for two- thirds of under-5 deaths. Also, children will suffer most from the rise in infectious diseases —with climatic suitability for the Vibrio bacteria that cause cholera rising 3% a year in India since the early 1980s, the study warns Diarrhoeal infections, a major cause of child mortality, will spread into new areas, whilst deadly heat waves, , could soon become the norm. As temperatures rise, harvests will shrink —threatening food security and driving up For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com CLIMATE CHANGE 56 HSM CSS Times food prices. This will hit infants hardest. If the world follows a business-as-usual pathway, with high carbon emissions and climate change continues at the current rate, a child born today will face a world on average over 4°C warmer by their 71st birthday, threatening their health at every stage of their lives. What is a Heat Wave’ A heat wave is a period of unusually hot weather that typically lasts two or more days. To be considered a heat wave, the temperatures have to be outside the historical averages for a given area. In Pakistan diarrhoeal disease is the commonest ailment which is encountered almost by every individual at least once a year. Many infections of the gastrointestinal tract are spread by faecally contaminated water which is used for drinking, washing or cleaning teeth. Pakistan's Children Under Threat by Climate Change Climate change will damage the health of an entire generation unless there are immediate cuts to fossil fuel emissions, from a rise in deadly infectious diseases to surging malnutrition, Children across the world were already suffering the ill effects of air pollution and extreme weather events, said The Lancet Countdown in its annual report on the impact of climate change on human health. Pakistan has faced catastrophic floods, droughts, and cyclones in recent years that have killed and displaced thousands, destroyed livelihoods, and damaged infrastructure. Climate change raises the prospect that these and other natural hazards will increase in frequency and severity in the coming decades—a stark reminder that Pakistan is one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | However, it takes something a lot more confrontational to remind our country something's wrong. What has caught everyone's attention is the recent plague of ‘smog across major cities in Pakistan. An initiative launched by the Pakistan Parliament's Upper House, the Senate, estlabished a sub-Committee of the Standing Committee on Climate Change and declared the “Right to a clean, green and healthy environment’ as a fundamental Human Right. However, the government has not invested in the fight against climate change. Children are particularly threatened by smog due to shorter and narrower airways, immature detoxification systems, frequent mouth breathing, significant physical activity and spending time outside. Calculated per kilogram of body weight, a child has more minute ventilation and a longer life expectancy than an adult. It is recommended that people in Pakistan, specifically children and the elderly, alter habits, remain safe by limiting outdoor activities, and push for systematic solutions from the government. CHT For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,2 NEW SSS Intelligence Tests ABOUT BOOK The book for Competitive Exams has 2 parts - Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. ‘Each chapter of this book contains theory with Solved Examples. The exercise in the book contains previous year's questions of the various exams. ‘The book for Competitive Exams has been designed in such a way so that an aspirant not only clears the concept but can also tackle any kind of question that they come across, be it from the previous years or recent years. @®hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times NATURAL DISASTER 58 Cyclone Bulbul Why in News? Itis the seventh named storm of the unusually active 2019 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. The season has seen Cyclone Pabuk (South China Sea-Andaman Sea), Cyclone Fani (Bay of Bengal), Cyclone Vayu (Arabian Sea), Cyclone Hikka (Arabian Sea), Cyclone Kyarr (Arabian Sea) and Cyclone Maha (Arabian Sea). Bulbul name was contributed by Pakistan If IMD's predictions hold true, Bulbul will also be the sixth storm to reach an intensity of very severe cyclonic storm. Naming of Cyclones Each Tropical Cyclone basin in the world has its own rotating list of names. For cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, the naming system was agreed by eight member countries of a group called WMO/ESCAP and took effect in 2004. These eight countries are -Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The first cyclone after the list was adopted was given the name in the first row of the first column —Onil, proposed by Bangladesh. Subsequent cyclones are being named sequentially, column-wise, with each cyclone given thename immediately below that of the previous cyclone. Once the bottom of the column is reached, the sequence moves to the top of the next column So far, the first seven columns have been exhausted, and Fani (again proposed by Bangladesh) is the top name in the last column The next cyclone will be named Vayu. When all the names in list are exhausted, the eight countries will propose fresh lists of names. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times NATURAL DISASTER 59 The lists for storms in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific basins are, however, rotated when the names inthe list get exhausted. Exception are, however, made in certain cases —if a storm causes excessive death and destruction, its name is considered for retirement and is not repeated; it is replaced with another name ANE OAS CLECs Appending names to cyclones makes it easier for the media to report on these cyclones, heightens interest in warnings, andincreases community preparedness. Names are easier to remember than numbers and technical terms and hence canreach greater masses. If public wants to suggest the name of a cyclone to be included in the list, the proposed name must meet some fundamental criteria. The name should be short and readily understood when broadcast. Further, the names must not be culturally sensitive and should not convey Cem Tem eur MUS 2019 Person of the Year December 13, 2019 The Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, who became voice of a generation facing climate change emergency was named as Time magazine's 2019 Person of the Year. The magazine announced 16-year old Thunberg as its choice among other 2019 finalists, which included The Hong Kong Protesters, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, President Donald Trump, and anonymous whistleblower whose memo on Trump's dealings with Ukraine triggered impeachment inquiry. Others honoured by TIME for year 2019: Athlete of the Year: US Women's Soccer Team Guardians of the Year: the US Public Servants Entertainer of the Year: Singer Lizzo Business Person of the Year: Disney CEO Bob Iger About Greta Thunberg She is a Swedish environmental activist ‘on climate change whose campaigning movement, which became known as "Fridays for Future,” prompted millions of people in about 150 countries “to act on behalf of the planet. She had been nominated for a Nobel peace prize, recognised for her mobilisation of students in her ‘Fridays for Future’ weekly school strikes. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,Environmental We Science MCQs for CSS & all ther Relevant Exams Aamer Shahzad Nh Wali wld wh Buy Online www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times Why in News? Annual flagship Emissions Gap Report (10th edition) has been released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The top four emitters (China, USA, EU and India) contributed to over 55% of the total emissions over the last decade, excluding emissions from land-use changes such as deforestation. About Report It assesses the gap between anticipated emissions in 2030 and levels consistent with the 1.5°C and 2°C targets of the Paris Agreement. CLIMATE CHANGE This year, the report looked at the potential of the energy transition such as power, transport and buildings sectors and efficiency in the use of materials such as iron steel and cement. It considers different scenarios, from no new climate policies since 2005 to full implementation of all national commitments under the Paris Agreement It provides the latest assessment of scientific studies on current and estimated future Green House Gases (GHGs) emissions and compares these with the emission levels permissible for the world to progress ona least-cost pathway to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. 8 The Emissions Gap could also be called the “Commitment Gap’. It measures the gap between what we need to do and what we are actually doing to tackle climate change. The gap is the difference between the low levels of emissions that the world needs to drop to, compared with the projected level of emissions & based on countries’ current commitments to decarburization. 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The report is the most comprehensive review of G20 countries’ climate performance, mapping achievements and drawbacks in their efforts to reduce emissions, adapt to climate impacts and green the financial system. Highlights of the Report G20 energy-related CO2 emissions increased by 1.8 % in 2018 because of high economic growth and growing energy demand. In several countries, energy supply from coal, oil and gas has kept increasing in 2018. 82 % of the G20's energy mix is still fossil fuels. This must fall to at least 67 % by 2030 and to 33 % by 2050 globally to be 1.5°C compatible, and ultimately to much lower levels. Progress in the energy efficiency of G20 economies has also slowed in 2018. Currently, none of the G20 countries’ NDCs is in line with a 1.5°C limit. In 2030, emissions would be more than twice as high as what is needed for 1.5°C. Seeing that about half of the G20 countries are projected to meet or surpass their national climate targets (NDCs), this indicates plenty of room for increasing ambition in the 2020 NDC update. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com4 Best Agriculture & Forestry MCQs Book For ta | CSS/PCS/PMS and Other Competitive Exams NN KS x iy Si S iS i) 5 iy 7 ew, oa: To Panel Praia L " iS Ettzisuccess Aad ne Multiple Choice QuestionsUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com CURRENT AFFAIRS 65 HSM CSS Times Saudi crown prince visits Pakistan The two-day official trip by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman on February 17 brought the federal capital to a standstill. Speculation was rife that the Saudi royalty’s personal belongings — including luxury vehicles and his own gym — were flown to Pakistan on two C-130 aircrafts to help him feel at home. Balakot Strike On February 26, tensions between India and Pakistan reached a recent high earlier this year after Indian incursions into Pakistani airspace and the subsequent downing of two Indian aircrafts by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Indian warplanes intruded into Pakistani airspace late at night, however, they turned back soon after PAF scrambled its fighter ets. In response, PAF made an incursion into occupied Kashmir, had two Indian jets chase them before shooting them down. One of the Indian jets was downed inside Pakistani airspace. The jet's pilot Abhinandan Varthaman was arrested but ater released as a "gesture of peace" towards New Delhi in an effort to de-escalate tensions between the two countries. a sabia Christchurch Mosque Shootings Attacks on two Christchurch mosques on March 15 left at least 50 dead in what was one of the worst attacks against Muslims in a western country. The attacks began at the Al Noor Mosque during the Friday prayers and continued at the Linwood Islamic Centre. The gunman had live- streamed the first attack on Facebook. The Bangladesh cricket team — which had been in Christchurch for a Test match against New Zealand — escaped without injury. The players were arriving for prayers when the shooting occurred. Australian Brenton Tarrant, a self-avowed HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times white supremacist, was charged with 51 murders, 40 attempted murders, and engaging in a terrorist act; he pleaded not guilty to all charges. The attack had an important connection to Pakistan. Naeem Rashid, one of the people who died trying to restrain Tarrant, was a Pakistani from Abbottabad. Eight other Pakistanis, including Rashid's son, lost their lives in the attack. Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad visits Pakistan Another visit that made headlines this year was the visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. PM Mohamad's visit from March 21-23 was at the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan, with whom he enjoys great bonhomie. The Malaysian premier was the Guest of Honour at the Pakistan Day Parade on March 23 HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | CURRENTAFFAIRS _—s—_—é6H On July 11, a train collision in Sadiqabad resulted in deaths of 24 people. The Akbar Bugti Express, travelling from Lahore to Quetta, collided with a stationary freight train at the Walhar Railway Station in Sadiqabad Tehsil of Punjab province. Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed later said that the accident was the result of human negligence India revokes Kashmir's Special Status On August 5, the Indian government revoked the special status of occupied Kashmir, starting what has been, to date, the longest military clampdown by the biggest ‘democracy’ in the world Soon after the revocation of Article 370, the Indian government sent thousands of troops into the valley, imposed a crippling curfew, shutting down telecommunications and For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times The Afghan Peace Process On the international front, Pakistan reiterated its continued support for the Afghan peace process. On October 29, in a meeting between Prime Minister and US Special Representative for Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad, the former reiterated Pakistan's steadfast and sincere support to Afghan peace and reconciliation process. The Royal Visit If there was one visit that really stood out in 2019, it was the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's five-day visit to the country that began on October 14. Prince William and Kate Middleton's visit to the country was the first by a royal couple in 13 years. The tour saw the royal couple visit an orphanage, play cricket, meet Pakistani celebs at dinner and visit the Kalash Valley and the Shaukat Khanum Hospital. The visit also saw the Duchess of Cambridge don local designers during her visit to the country. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | CURRENT AFFAIRS _ Tezgam Incident On October 31, another train incident, this time with the Rawalpindi-bound Tezgam, saw at least 75 people killed when a gas cylinder exploded in one of the carriages. More than 200 passengers were travelling in the three carriages that caught fire. Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed blamed the incident on passengers, saying that they were using gas stoves and “using [cooking] oil which added fuel to fire.” Kartarpur Corridor inauguration On November 9, the Government of Pakistan, at the long-held request of the Sikh community, inaugurated the extended Gurdwara Darbar Sahib and the Kartarpur Corridor. Army chief Gets Another Lifeline Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa got a lifeline on November 28 after the Supreme Court allowed the federal government to grant a six-month extension to the army chief. "There is no provision in the law for extending For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com CURRENT AFFAIRS service of a General for another tenure; nor is there any consistent and continuous institutional practice of granting such extension,” the top court said in the detailed verdict Test Cricket Returns Home And finally, after a decade, Test cricket came home in December, with Pakistan taking on Sri Lanka in a two-Test series in Rawalpindi and Karachi The series was the first since the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009 that had seen Pakistan play its home games in United Arab Emirates. On December 17, after a six-year- long trial, a special court handed death sentence to former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf for imposing a state of emergency on November 3, 2007. However, a controversial paragraph in the verdict overshadowed the judgment itself and was branded “ridiculous and barbaric”. Penned by Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Wagar Ahmad Seth, Paragraph 66 of the verdict read, "We direct the Law Enforcement Agencies to strive their level best to apprehend the fugitive/convict and to ensure that the punishment is inflicted as per law and if found dead, his corpse be dragged to the D- Chowk, Islamabad, Pakistan and be hanged for 03 days." HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comSheraz Sohail _ Kabir Street Urdu Bazar, Lahore 5 Phone: 042-373532510 www-hsmpublishers.com www.ilmikitabkhana.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times CURRENT AFFAIRS MCQs 70 OU Sh AFFAIRS Solved MCQs with Explanation for the Month of December 2019 1- After gap of 22 years, the shuttle train service between which two railway stations resumed operation on December 15, 2019? (a) Lahore-Delhi (b) Munabao-Khokhrapar (Q)Lahore-Wagha (d) Karachi-Mumbai Answer: (c) Explanation: The train service between Lahore and Wagah resumed operations after 22 years on December 15, 2019. The shuttle train services between the two stations will complete three round trips daily.. Background The Lahore-Wagah train service was operational till 1997, after which it was suspended due to certain operational and security reasons. Wagah station is the last station in Pakistan on the Lahore-Wagah railway line. It serves as a sub-urban border station, before crossing into India. The station is used for immigration and custom of passengers who travel between India and Pakistan through the Samjhauta Express. In January 2020, Pakistan will launch the Lahore- Gujranwala train service. 2- In which country, more than 28 people died in December 2019 due to the Typhoon Phanfone? (a) South Korea (b) Japan (c)Indonesia (d) Philippines Answer: (d) Explanation: Typhoon Phanfone, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Ursula, was a relatively strong tropical cyclone which traversed through the central Philippines, bringing destructive winds and torrential rain on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for the HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com first time since Nock-ten in 2016. The system caused destruction in the Eastern Visayas, particularly Samar, Leyte and lloilo. As of December 27, 28 people have been killed by the typhoon, including a 13 year old boy who was electrocuted. 3- Which country has announced that inducted first Avangard hypersonic missiles into service in December 2019? (a) Pakistan (b) China (Q) Russia (d)Israel Answer: (c) AVANGARD, ease Explanation: Russia's first regiment of Avangard hypersonic missiles has been put into service,, President Vladimir Putin has said the nuclear-capable missiles can travel more than 20 times the speed of sound and put Russia ahead of other nations. They have a "glide system" that affords great maneuverability and could make them impossible to defend against. CURRENT AFFAIRSMCQs oT. 4- Which country's powerful army chief, General Ahmed Gaid Salah, died in December 2019? (a) South Africa (b) Somalia (Algeria (d) Nigeria Answer: (c) frome Explanation: Ahmed Gaid Salah was a senior leader in the Algerian People’s National Army. In 2004, he was appointed by then-President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to the position of chief of staff of the army. On 15 September 2013, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense. Gaid Salah was promoted to the rank of General in 1993. 5- In which year did the International Labor Organization's night work convention come into force? (a) 1974 (b) 1984 (2)1990 (d) 2003 Answer: (c) HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,a a EUR ats * , 2016-2019 =o eons a3 poop . F, : € ae oy rn * ee HM nil lL oT me TeUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Explanation: Night Work Conventions are International Labour Organization Convention conventions regulating the rights of night workers. They were specifically aimed. at young persons, women or people in specific types of employment (industrial, non- industrial or bakeries) and conceived between 1919 and 1948. A more general instrument (not addressing young people however) was signed in 1990 6- Who has become the only male player in cricket history to score a hundred on both his ODI and Test debuts ? (2) Imam-ul-Haq (b) Abid Ali (Alex Carey (d) Matt Henry Answer: (b) Explanation: Pakistan opener Abid Ali has become the only male player in cricket history to score a hundred on both his ODI and Test debuts when he reached three figures on the final day of the Rawalpindi Test against Sri Lanka. Former England women's player Enid Bakewell who played 12 Tests between 1968 and 1979 was the first cricketer (male/female) to start both their ODI and Test careers with a century. The 32-year-old Abid had also scored a hundred’ on his ODI debut vs Australia in Dubai earlier this year. When Abid hit Vishwa Fernando for 2 runs off the 183rd delivery he had faced, the batsman erupted in joy as his batting partner Babar Azam hugged him on the century feat. SM CSS Times. CURRENT AFFAIRS MCQs _ 7- Who was Anna Karina, who died recently? (a) Actress (b) Astronaut (Writer (d) Omithologist Answer: (a) Explanation: Actor and singer who rose to prominence in French New Wave cinema during the 1960s. Karina had been awarded the distinction of knight of the French Legion of Honor -- the country's highest decoration. Karina was born in Denmark on September 22, 1940. Not yet 18, she left home behind with nothing but some money in her pocket and went to find some friends in Paris, where she later began modeling. Karina became famous for her work -- appearing in many French films of the 1960s -- with Godard, including “Le Petit Soldat” ("The Little Soldier") and "Vivre sa ly Life to Live" 8- Insomestates of which country, CROWN Act has been passed to protect people of colour from being discriminated against for their natural hair? (a) Australia (b) USA (China (d) Germany HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com Explanation: California is poised to become the first state to ban racial discrimination against people based on their natural hairstyle. 9- Where was the first Global Refugee Forum (GRF) held in December 2019? (a) Paris (b) Madrid (¢) Geneva (d) Dublin Answer: (c) Explanation: The first-ever Global Refugee Forum concluded in Geneva on Wednesday with more than 770 pledges of support, covering areas such as protection, employment, and education, for refugees and the communities which have taken them in. 10- Which option is not true in the context of "Global Gender Gap Index 2020"? (a) Pakistanis ranked 153 (b) Iceland is the most gender neutral country in the world. (0) This index has been released by the World Economic Forum. (d) Pakistan is ranked below Yemen. Explanation: Pakistan ranked 151 out of 153 countries on the Global Gender Gap Index Report 2020 index, published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), only managing to surpass Iraq and Yemen. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | Times CURRENT AFFAIRS MCQs 4 11-Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of: (a) Wasting in children (b) Maternal mortality (c) Child mortality (d) Meningitis Answer: (b) se a) [IN Explanation: Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is defined as a blood loss of 500 ml or more within 24 hours after birth. PPH is the leading cause of maternal mortality in low- income countries, and the primary cause of nearly one quarter of all maternal deaths globally, 12- What are Nile tilapia, Thai pangus and common carp, seen in the newspapers recently? (a) Exotic species of frog (b) Exotic species of fish (Invasive Exotic species of snail (d) New species of snake Answer: (b) Explanation: The Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is a species of tilapia, a cichlid fish native to the northern half of Africa and Israel. Numerous introduced populations exist outside its natural range. For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com SM CSS Tir 13- Basil Butcher, who died recently, was related to which sports? (a) Basketball (b) Lawn tennis () Boxing (d) Cricket Answer: (d) » wf i = ‘ Explanation: asil Fitzherbert Butcher was a Guyanese cricketer who played for the West Indies cricket team. He was the first person of Amerindian descent to represent the West Indies, and was regarded as a stylish yet reliable right-handed middle-order batsman in the star-studded We 14- Which country’s Ellyse Perry has been named the Women's Cricketer of the Year as well as the Women’s ODI Player of the Year for 2019 and she will take home the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award? (a) South Africa (b) West Indies (o) Australia (d) England Answer: (c) es CURRENT AFFAIRSMCQs _—_—si6 Explanation: Ellyse Alexandra Perry is an Australian sportswoman who made her debut for both the Australian cricket and the Australia women's national soccer team at the age of 16. She played her first cricket international in July 2007 before earning her first football cap for Australia a month later. st Indian batting line-up of the 1960s. 15- US space agency NASA is developing "X-59'. whatis this? (a) A prototype of house to be built on Mars (b) Space plane faster than the speed of sound (c) A Lander for landing on the South Pole of the Moon (d) Spacecraft to explore the interstellar world Answer: (b) Explanation: Nasa’s X-59 space plane, capable of flying faster than the speed of sound without the loud boom that comes with supersonic flight, is finally nearing completion. The plane will be the first large scale, piloted X-plane that Nasa has launched in more than 30 years when it is finally put together. 16- For what reason the former Military Dictator General Pervez Musharraf has been sentenced to death by a special court? (a) To hold Agra talks with India (b) Due to bribery and corruption charges (© For active role in Kargil war (d) For imposition of emergency in Pakistan Answer: (d) HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM C Explanation: A special court in Islamabad on December 17, found former military ruler retired Gen Pervez Musharraf guilty of high treason and handed him a death sentence under Article 6 of the Constitution. This is the first time in Pakistan's history that a military chief has been declared guilty of high treason and handed a death sentence. The verdict was split 2-1. Article 6 of the Constitution says: “Any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or hold in abeyance, or attempts or conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance the Constitution by use of force or show force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treaso1 The punishment for high treason is death or lifetime imprisonment, according to 17- For what reason did Pope Francis abolish the ‘Pontifical Secret’? (@) To end discrimination against people of other religions (b) To bring gender equality in appointment to various posts in die Church (C) To reveal the secrets in the appointment of the Pope (d) Allegations of sexual harassment against clergy Answer HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | ‘$ Times CURRENT AFFAIRSMCQs TT. Explanation: In a decision of enormous importance, long called for by survivors of abuse and their advocates, Pope Francis has abolished the pontifical secret for sexual misconduct cases concerning clerics. The “pontifical secret” is not related to the seal of the confessional, which remains absolute (and inviolable) in Catholic teaching and practice. Rather, the pontifical secret refers to confidentiality in the church's judicial handling of clerical sex abuse and other grave crimes (as well as secrecy in other areas, such as some matters concerning the appointment of cardinals and bishops). The secrecy ensures that cases are dealt with in strict confidentiality. Vatican experts have said it was designed to protect the dignity of everyone involved, including the victim, the accused, their families and their communities. 18- Which country in December 2019 gned off on a new law banning ‘conversion therapies” designed to force heterosexuality on homosexuals ? (@) France (b) Sweden (Germany (d) Austria Answer: (c) For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,HSM New: Arrival new [Tg Avy rer: CSS Past Papers CSSmca COMPULSORY SUBJECTS Solved MCQs with Explanation and latest Development ae A i if - Pe Aamer Shahzad h| ‘|: Z | \= i aN mb ee — ae Kabir Street Urdu Bazar, Lahore Phone: 042-373532510 www.hsmpublishers.com www.ilmikitabkhana.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times CURRENT AFFAIRS MCQs Explanation: Germany become the latest country to ban gay conversion therapy after the Government Cabinet approved plans. The plans extends to banning the practice for all children under 18 as well as vulnerable people with “diminished decision-making capabilities” and non-consenting adults. However, it will allow for consenting adults to opt into the so-called “treatment.” However, the Human Rights Campaign advises the practice is both “dangerous and discredited.” Under the proposed law, those advertising or doing the practice could face up to a year in jail and fines of €30,000. It is estimated 2,000 “conversion therapies” take place in Germany every year 19- Which country in December 2019 lifted the veil on its tightly guarded space-based missile warning system named Kupol? (a) Israel (b) China (©) Russia (d)USA Answer: (c) HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | Explanation: On December 18, Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov confirmed that Russia is modernizing its orbital missile early warning system. The new satellites, designated Kupol, began replacing Russia's Oko-1 satellites in 2015. As of 2019, the Kremlin has launched three Kupol satellites into orbit. The Oko-1 constellation comprised eight satellites; Russia plans to launch nine Kupol units in total by 2022. 20- Donald Trump became the third President in US history to be impeached by the House of Representatives. Who are the other two presidents to be impeached by the House of Representatives? (a) Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton (b) Richard Nixon and Andrew Jackson (Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton (d) Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon Answer: (c) Explanation: Only three U.S. presidents have been formally impeached by Congress—Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump. So far, no US. president has ever been removed from office through impeachment. In addition to Johnson, Clinton and Trump, only one other U.S. president has faced formal impeachment inquiries in the House of Representatives: Richard Nixon. Many other presidents have been threatened with impeachment by political foes without gaining any real traction in Congress. 21- Where have scientists discovered remnants of the world’s oldest fossil forest — an extensive network of trees around 386 million years old? (a) New York Ri neir For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times (©) Sydney (d) Durban Answer: (a) ii Explanation: The world's oldest known fossil forest has been discovered in a sandstone quarry in New York state, offering new insights into how trees transformed the planet. The forest, found in the town of Cairo, would have spanned from New York to Pennsylvania and beyond, and has been dated to about 386m years old. It is one of only three known fossil forests dating to this period and about 2-3m years older than the previously oldest known fossil forest at Gilboa, also in New York state. Today, forests cover about 30% of the planet and are being cleared on a massive scale. Between 1990 and 2016, the world lost 502,000 square miles of forest, according to the World Bank — an area larger than South Africa — and about 17% of the Amazon rainforest has been cleared over the past 50 years. Even without accounting for the impact of burning fossil fuels, deforestation could lead to profound changes to the world's ecosystem and climate. 22- Which country’s first satellite 'ETRSS-1" was launched from China's Long March 4B rocket on December 20, 2019? (a) Ethiopia (b) Eritrea (c) Thailand (d) Tanzania Answer: (a) Explanation: Ethiopia launched its first satellite into space on December 20, as more sub-Saharan African nations strive to develop space programs to advance their development goals and encourage scientific CURRENT AFFAIRS MCQs 80 innovation. As satellites are growing smaller and more affordable to buy and launch, to date 10 African countries in cooperation with developed countries have launched satellites into orbit. Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt have multipurpose satellites in space, and Kenya and Rwanda have also recently joined the African satellite club. The African Union adopted a policy on African space development in 2017 and declared that space science and technology could advance economic progress and natural resource Management on the continent. 23- US President Donald Trump made the Space Force's creation real with the signing of the 2020 National Defence Authorisation Act. The Space Force will be the: (2) Fourth formal force (b) Fifth formal force (c) Sixth formal force (d) Seventh formal force Answer: (c) Explanation: President Donald Trump on. Dec. 20 signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020. The bill creates the U.S. Space Force as the sixth branch of the U.S. armed forces. The Space Force is the first new military service created since 1947, when the Air Force was born from the US. Army Air Corps. What happens effective Dec. 20, 2019? The Air Force re-names the Air Force Space Command the U.S. Space Force. AFSPC is disestablished. ‘As many as 16,000 military and civilian personnel from Air Force Space Command will be assigned to the U.S. Space Force. Congress did not authorize the hiring of new people. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,0% Pent. wes oh Wy WL oo”UPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com HSM CSS Times CURRENT AFFAIRS MCQs Air Force Gen. John “Jay” Raymond, the commander of U.S. Space Command, will serve as the first Chief of Space Operations (the chief of staff of the Space Force) who will become a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by December 2020 The Office of the Chief of Space Operations — aka the Space Force headquarters — will be stood up at the Pentagon over the next 60 days and initially staffed with about 40 people who currently are assigned to the Space Force Planning Task Force, led by Maj. Gen. Clinton Crosier. The goal isa staff of about 200. 24- In which country Miguel Diaz-Canel was named as the country's first Prime Minister since 1976? (@) Paraguay (b) Peru (c) Venezuela (d) Cuba Answer: (d) Explanation: Miguel Diaz-Canel is a Cuban politician currently serving as the President of Cuba since 2019. He was previously President of the Council of State from 2018 to 2019 and First Vice President from 2013 to 2018 — 25- Which day was Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere? (a) December 18,2019 (b) December 20,2019 (c) December 10,2019 (d) December 22.2019 Answer: (0) HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.comUPLOADED BY HSM PUBLISHERS www.hsmpublishers.com CSS «s_ CURRENT AFFAIRS MCQs co aw Explanation: The December solstice happens at the same instant for everyone, everywhere on Earth — and this year the winter solstice occurs on Sunday December 22, at 04:19 GMT in the Northern Hemisphere. The winter solstice happens every year when the Sun reaches its most southerly declination of -23.4 degrees. In other words, it is when the North Poles tilted farthest away from the Sun, delivering the fewest hours of sunlight of the year. The shortest day of the year lasts for 7 hours 49 minutes and 41 seconds in Britain, which is 8 hours, 49 minutes shorter than the June Solstice. As such, Sunday December 22 is the longest night of the year with the sun not rising until 08:05 GMT on Monday morning, What is Winter Solstice? The winter solstice happens every year when the Sun reaches its most southerly declination of -23.5 degrees. In other words, it is when the North Pole is tilted farthest away from the Sun, delivering the fewest hours of sunlight of the year. HSM CSS Times (Digital Magazine) | JANUARY 2020 | The Sun is directly overhead of the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere during the December solstice and is closer to the horizon than at any other time in the year. The day after the winter solstice marks the beginning of lengthening days, leading up to the summer solstice in June. What does ‘solstice’ mean? The term ‘solstice’ derives from the Latin word ‘solstitium’, meaning ‘Sun standing still’. On this day the Sun seems to stand still at the Tropic of Capricorn and then reverses its direction as it reaches its southernmost position as seen from the Earth. Some prefer the more teutonic term ‘sunturn' to describe the event. For Free Download: www.hsmpublishers.com,yp Qbjecve ca Questions CS OS RO ea ‘)\)) +s (EO ie | RGM = PPSC New Syllabus for. Dn rd ats Cr General Ability MCQs T ad General Knowledge Ga Pakistan Studies ee Reed = erry Islamic Studies - PLUS BONUS Current Affairs Dena Sear) Geography Seas Mathematics =~ English ¢ Urdu Everyday Science Computer Skills PMS General ce | MODEL PAPERS Solved MCQs with as eee eel be SL Explanation HSM Sea www.hsmpublishers.com