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March 22, 2020: National / International Current Affairs
1. Pakistan suspends international flights for two weeks
• As the tally of confirmed novel coronavirus (Covid-19) cases rose to 645 with 4,046 suspected cases across Pakistan, the government on March 21, 2020 decided to start screening of passengers of domestic flights and suspend international flight operations for two weeks.
• A policy decision was taken to keep suspected patients in separate rooms at quarantine centres after reports that a large number of people had contracted the disease because they had been `quarantined in groups`, while for ventilators and other medical equipment the government decided to approach China in the wake of their unavailability in the west.
• Hinting at a possible lockdown in coming week, the government appealed to the people to stay indoors during the three holidays including Pakistan Day to help flatten the curve.
2. Pakistan seeks debt relief to fight Covid-19
• Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that countries like Pakistan, which are burdened by external debt, should be provided relief in repayment of loans so that they could focus on dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
• Mr Qurush made this request while talking to his German counterpart Heiko Maas over the phone on Saturday.
• Besides the situation of economically fragile countries in the context of the pandemic, the communications blockade and lockdown in India-held Jammu and Kashmir and the crippling sanctions against Iran came under discussion.
3. Afghan border opened for trade for two days
• The Pak-Afghan border at Chaman was opened on March 21, 2020 after 19 days of closure to allow trucks loaded with Afghan transit trade goods, fresh fruits and other items.
• However, the people stranded on both sides of the border were not allowed to cross into their countries.
• Prime Minister Imran Khan had ordered the other day to open border with Afghanistan at Chaman for allowing trucks carrying transit trade goods.
• Official sources said that the border had been opened just for two days Saturday and Sunday and the Friendship Gate will be closed on Monday till further orders.
4. Cambridge cancels May, June exams
• On Pakistan`s request and in view of the coronavirus pandemic, Cambridge International has cancelled all examinations in the country scheduled to be held in May and June this year.
• The request was made as a precaution when health practitioners have advised social distancing to contain spread of the virus. The number of Covid-19 cases has rapidly been increasing in Pakistan with three deaths, too.
• Four days ago, Pakistan had also asked Cambridge to postpone their examinations following closure of all educational institutions here. At the time it was agreed to postpone any O or A-Level exams scheduled from April 27 to May 30. But it was said that the exams to take place from June 1 would remain on schedule, which has also changed now
5. Punjab Governor inaugurates telemedicine helpline at PU, Rescue-1122
• Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, on March 21, 2020, inaugurated Telemedicine Helpline Centre at Punjab University and Rescue Helpline 1190 at Rescue-1122 Headquarter.
• The Punjab Governor said, “We have to learn a lesson from what happened in Britain, Italy and France where hundreds died as citizens did not adhere to safety measures against coronavirus.” The governor said that four telemedicine helpline centres had been set up in Lahore so far and 10 centres would be established in Azad Kashmir.
• Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue-1122) Director General Dr. Rizwan Naseer, Punjab University Vice Chancellor Dr. Niaz Akhtar and others were also present on this occasion
6. Centre to give Sindh govt $10m from WB funds to fight coronavirus
• The federal government is offering $10 million to the Sindh administration to help it fight coronavirus, said Sindh Governor Imran Ismail on March 21, 2020.
• Talking to reporters after visiting a 1,000-beded field hospital set up by the Sindh government with the assistance of the army at the Expo Centre, the governor said that the federal government was fully aware of the challenge and it wanted to meet it with unity and better coordination.
• `This is the reason that the federal government has decided to offer financial assistance to provinces form the non-development funds of the World Bank,` he said.
7. Nearly 1bn confined to homes as death toll tops 12,000
• Almost one billion people were confined to their homes worldwide on March 21, 2020 as the global coronavirus death toll shot past 12,000 and US states rolled out stay-at-home measures already imposed across swathes of Europe.
• The fast-spreading pandemic has completely upended lives across the planet, restricting movement, shutting schools and forcing millions to work from home.
• Around 30 per cent of Americans were adjusting to life in various phases of virtual lockdown including in three of their biggest cities of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago and more states were expected to ramp up restrictions.
8. North Korea fires two `ballistic missiles` into sea
• North Korea fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast on March 21, 2020, the latest in a series of such launches by Pyongyang as the world struggles with the coronavirus pandemic.
• The South Korean military condemned the launches as `extremely inappropriate given the difficult situation the world is experiencing due to Covid-19… We urge them to stop immediately.` North Korea has not reported any cases of the coronavirus, which has turned into a major crisis with more than 11,000 deaths and over 250,000 infections worldwide.
• There has been widespread speculation, however, that the virus has reached the isolated nation, and health experts have warned that it could devastate the country given its weak medical infrastructure and widespread malnutrition
9. US official with virus symptoms arrives; Kyrgyz national tests positive
• An official of the United State, who reached Pakistan on March 21, 2020, was declared a suspected patient of Covid19.
• Moreover, a resident of Kyrgyzstan, who was staying with a tablighi jamaat in Islamabad, has been infected with the virus.
• `We are aware of reports of a Covid-19 case related to an embassy employee in Islamabad. Due to privacy concerns, we are not able to share additional information,` a US diplomatic source told Dawn.
10. Country music legend Kenny Rogers dies at 81
• Country music legend Kenny Rogers, whose career spanned six decades and helped bring the genre into the mainstream, has died at the age of 81.
• With hits like `The Gambler,` `Lucille` and the duet `Islands in the Stream` with Dolly Parton, the three-time Grammy winner left an indelible mark on American music.
• `Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family.
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