This year’s Montreal Jazz Festival, the world’s largest, and other popular summer jamborees in Canada’s francophone metropolis were cancelled Friday due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was scheduled to start on June 25. The Jazz Festival’s general manager Jacques Primeau mentioned in a statement that the decision to cancel the festival was not an easy one but it had become necessary to protect the public as well as the artist.
Actor Logan Williams, who appeared in CW’s The Flash as the young Barry Allen passed away at the age of 16. Williams’ agent, Michelle Gauvin said that he died on Thursday but did not give the cause of the death and added that his sudden death comes as a shock. Flash stars, Grant Gustin and John Wesley Shipp, shared pictures of Williams on social media to appreciate his commitment towards his work and expressed grief.
PIA stopped its flight operations from Karachi on Sunday after four pilots were suspected of contracting the coronavirus. CEO Air Marshal Arshad Malik has issued immediate instructions to ground the planes. Four pilots were stopped as part of precautionary measures against the virus.The Pakistan Airline Pilots Association has stopped the pilots from flying and has called for safety measures for pilots saying that PIA has been unable to provide a safe environment.
Prince Harry has served the British army for more than ten years and a result of his longstanding service, he could potentially be called back to rejoin the army in this time of unsettling chaos caused by COVID-19. News regarding this possibility came out after the army’s official website put out a notice stating, “We value your previous service, and if you’re thinking of coming back, there’s a job waiting for you”.
The Torkham and Chaman borders connecting Pakistan and Afghanistan are going to be opened for three days to allow Afghan nationals to exit Pakistan. The Foreign Office announced the news in a statement on Saturday. It is being opened at the special request of the Afghan government on humanitarian considerations. The Torkham and Chaman border crossings will be opened for a specific period from April 6 to 9.
Murree Brewery has gotten the go-ahead from the Punjab excise and taxation department to start making hand sanitizer. According to the company’s CEO, they have been given permission to make 10,000 gallons of sanitizer per month till June 2020. Earlier this week, the brewery offered to mass produce and sell hand sanitizer with 70 percent alcohol to help fight the coronavirus outbreak in Pakistan.
Researchers at the National University of Science & Technology’s (NUST) have developed a bilingual Coronavirus screening app.
All international football matches scheduled for June were postponed on Friday following the first FIFA coronavirus working group’s meeting. The decision to postpone all planned women’s international in June was also taken during the meeting. Discussions will be held with confederations to draw up a revised schedule for 2022 World Cup qualifiers which have been shelved.
After scientists suspected that the novel coronavirus was passed to humans from animals, the Chinese province of Shenzhen banned the eating of cats and dogs. According to research, some of the earliest infections were found in people who had exposure to a wildlife market in Wuhan where bats, snakes, civets and other animals were sold.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has suspended all passenger flights till midnight on April 11, according to a notification issued. The only exception would be the diplomatic, special/cargo flights and flights of national carrier to/from Pakistan holding special approval from the competent authority for transporting stranded Passengers. However, domestic flight operations to/from Islamabad International Airport for Gilgit and Skardu Airport would continue as per normal operations.