TOP 10 CURRENT AFFAIRS OF THE DAY 22 JULY 2020 . Coronavirus updates, July 22: Nationwide confirmed COVID-19 cases jump past 266,000, death toll crosses 5,600; global death toll tops 610,000 . Chinese coronavirus vaccine enters final testing stage in Brazil: Volunteers in Brazil received the first doses of a coronavirus vaccine made by a Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac, making it the third such vaccine to enter Phase 3 clinical trials.The Phase 3 clinical trials, or large-scale testing on humans — is the last step before regulatory approval. . There may be unrecorded COVID-19 victims in Balochistan, admit officials: Confusion persists in Balochistan over the number of overall deaths from coronavirus, as health officials say that the death toll could be much higher than that officially recorded. . Is Supreme Court considering banning YouTube in Pakistan? : Taking notice of objectionable content being shared on YouTube and other social media platforms, the Supreme Court (SC) issued notices on Wednesday to the Foreign Office and the Attorney General in this regard. . AIlB approves $250mn loan to Pakistan to combat COVID-19: The China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) would lend $250 million to Pakistan to help the country deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. . SAPM Abdul Hafeez Shaikh removed from National Finance Commission : Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan (SAPM) on Finance and Revenue Abdul Hafeez Shaikh was removed on Wednesday from the National Finance Commission( NFC). . Amazon's Jeff Bezos amass record $13bn ina single day : Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has seen his net worth increase by $74 billion to. $189.3 billion this year. . Syria: Assad's Baath party wins majority in parliamentary polls: Party of President Bashar al-Assad and allies win 177 seats in 250- member Parliament in vote denounced by opposition. . South African anti-apartheid icon Andrew Mlangeni dies at 95: South African anti-apartheid icon Andrew Mlangeni, the last remaining co-defendant of the historic Rivonia Trial that sentenced activists including Nelson Mandela to life imprisonment, has died at the age of 95. . India cricket board seeks government nod to host IPL in UAE: The Indian cricket board (BCCI) will seek government permission to stage this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) in the United Arab Emirates, league chief Brijesh Patel has said. Wasimmurtaza05@gmail.com-03368000842JULY |CSS/Times lt Daily Top 10Current Affairs 1. Punjab Cabinet approves Protection of Islam Act 2020 * Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Burdar chaired the 33nd meeting of the provincial cabinet at his office in Lahore on July 21, 2020. * Following the meeting, Punjab Information Minister Fayyaz ul Hassan Chauhan briefed the media persons about the decisions taken by the provincial cabinet. 2. SC suspends PHC order to release 196 persons convicted by military courts * The Supreme Court of Pakistan on July 21, 2020 suspended the Peshawar High Court (PHC) order to release 196. persons, convicted by the military courts on terrorism charges. # A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Mushir Alam conducted hearing of the federation appeal against the PHC order and issued stay orders against it. 3. Cabinet defers proposal to increase TV licence fee * The federal cabinet on July 21, 2020 deferred the proposed increase in the television licence fee charged from the country’s electricity consumers and also approved amendments to money laundering and terror financing acts as well as the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 to meet Financial Action Task Force (FATF) requirements. 4. CAD shrinks 78pc in 2019-20 * The country’s current account deficit in fiscal year 2019-20 fell by 78 per cent mainly on account of significant decline in imports, record high remittances and foreign direct investment during the period under review, latest data issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) showed on July 21, 2020. 5. Punjab cabinet approves Heritage Authority for entire province * The Punjab cabinet which met here on July 21, 2020 under the chair of Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar approved establishment of Walled City and Heritage Area Authority Punjab expanding the scope of the Walled City of Lahore Authority. 6. One dead, 7 injured in Turbat blast * At least one person was killed and seven others injured in an IED blast in Turbat Bazaar, police said yesterday, © The city, approximately 700 km from the provincial capital of Quetta, has been frequently targeted by militants. 7. China proposes package solution to resolve border disputes with Bhutan * China on July 21, 2020 proposed a package Solution to resolve border disputes with Bhutan saying, the central, eastern and western sections of the boundary were disputed between the two countries. 8. Sudan's ousted strongman Bashir goes on trial for 1989 coup * Sudan's former president Omar alBashir, ousted amid a popular pro-democracy uprising last year, went on trial on July 21, 2020 over the military coup that brought him to power more than three decades ago. © Bashir, 76, and his co‘accused could face the death penalty if convicted over the 1989 Islamist backed overthrow of the democratically elected government of prime minister Sadek al-Mahdi. 9. China wields economic weapons over tensions with UK © Just five years ago, Britain was predicting a ‘golden era’ in trade with China. July 22, 2020, the shine has faded as the two countries square off over Hong Kong, Huawei and human rights. © Beijing is now threatening ‘consequences’ after London withdrew its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, a former British colony. That followed Britain's decision to blacklist the telecoms giant Huawei. 10. Biden pledges to undo ‘Muslim ban’ on first day in office * Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden has said that he would overturn President Donald Trump's Muslim ban on his first day in office and partner with Muslims to undo the social harms caused by such measures.10. a CURRENT e4 TAI For Civil Zervices Agpirants Oy Eee es Covid-19 tally reaches 266,647 across country : Pakistan's coronavirus tally has reached 266,647 with 5,661 deaths and 208,030 recoveries, federal and provincial authorities latest Covid-19 data released. Pakistan seeks appointment of lawyer for Kulbhushan Jadhav : The government filed on Wednesday a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for the appointment of a lawyer for Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. SC takes notice of ‘objectionable content’ on YouTube, other social media platforms : The Supreme Court on Wednesday took notice of “objectionable content" being shared on YouTube and other social media platforms, and issued notices to the Foreign Office and the Attorney General in this regard. Nobel Prize banquet cancelled over coronavirus: The Nobel Foundation, which manages the Nobel Prizes, on Tuesday cancelled its traditional December banquet due to the Covid-19 pandemic, though the award ceremonies will still be held in “new forms™.This is the first time since 1956 that the banquet has been cancelled. $200m ADB Pak rupees-linked bonds: SBP sets strict conditions : State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has set strict conditions for $ 200 million ADB Pak Rupees-linked bonds which will be sold only to non-resident investor. Ethiopia, Egypt, Sudan reach ‘major common understanding’ on dam: Ethiopia's prime minister said his country, Egypt, and Sudan reached a “major common understanding which paves the way for a breakthrough agreement” on a significant dam project that has led to sharp regional tensions and fears of military confrontation. US forced China to shut Houston consulate, says Chinese govt: China said on Wednesday the United States had abruptly told it to close its consulate in the city of Houston, a move that Beijing said it strongly condemns, threatening retaliation. Magnitude 7.8 earthquake hits near Alaska peninsula, tsunami warning issued: The earthquake prompted the US National Tsunami Warning Center to issue a tsunami warning for the region, Security Council to meet PBC today to discuss implications of coronavirus in conflict-affected countries: Security Council members are set to hold an informal interactive dialogue (IID) with representatives of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) on the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic on conflict-affected countries. ‘Joker’ was the most complained about movie of 2019, confirms BBFC: The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has confirmed that the ‘Joker’ was the most complained about movie of 2019.