CSS Screening Test: Course Overview

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- Score well with Special Tabir Academy Technique 

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- Gain access to top quality MCQs from various difficulty levels (Low, Medium, and High)

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- Solved Past Papers (Included)

Cover topics from All Subjects featured in the MPT/CSS Screening Test

1. Urdu (Grammar Usage and Translation)*

2. English (Vocabulary, Grammar, Comprehension)

3. General Ability (Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Logical Problem Solving, Analytical Problem Solving)

4. General Knowledge ( Everyday Science, Pakistan Affairs, Current Affairs)

5. Islamic Studies 

* The present course does not have questions related to Urdu, as of now. These questions will be added soon.

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January 2021

1st January, 2021

• Israel vaccinates approximately 10% of its population with the COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the first country in the world to do so.
• Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) of Lahore; Umar Sheikh is removed from his post. Sheikh was transferred to Farooqabad as the Deputy Inspector General of Police/Deputy Commandant of Punjab Constabulary. Ghulam Mehmood Dogar, who has served as a police officer for nearly 30 years has been appointed the CCPO of Lahore.
• Healthcare workers around the country, most notably employees at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) stage a sit-in protest after marching to D-Chowk in Islamabad. This came as a response to the promulgation of The Medical Teaching Institution (MTI) Ordinance which decreed that PIMS be run by a Board of Governors that are to be appointed by the National Health services (NHS).
• Two patients in Sindh test positive for the new strain of the COVID-19 virus being referred to as the ‘UK-variant’. The new strain of the virus is said to be more dangerous as it is 70% more transmittable.
• Ambassador Nong Rong of China and federal Minister for Economic Affairs Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar of Pakistan sign an agreement for the rehabilitation of a highway in Sindh. The highway stretches from Hala to Moro and has been granted 100 million USD by China for its revival. Previously, some parts of this highway had been repaired in 2011 and 2016 through another Pak-China agreement.

 

2nd January, 2021

• Besmullah Adel Aimaq, Editor-in-Chief of Voice of Ghor radio in Afghanistan is shot dead in his car in Firoz Koh city. No party has taken responsibility for the attack. This assassination comes weeks after another prominent journalist was killed in December 2020.
• The third phase of the Sehat Card Plus commences as the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa extends the reach of the program to more districts in KPK; Charsadda, Swabi, Peshawar Nowshera, Haripur and Mardan. The Sehat Card Plus seeks to provide free healthcare to citizens through government funded public healthcare facilities.
• Eleven coal miners are abducted and brutally murdered in the town of Mach in Quetta, Baluchistan. The miners belonged to the Hazara community, a minority group within the Shia sect. The terrorist group Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.
• After a 20 year pause on death penalties, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan signs off on abolishment of capital punishment in the country. Prisoners previously sentenced to the death penalty will serve lifetime sentences in prison.

 

3rd January, 2021

• A committee is set up by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan to overlook damage repair to a Hindu shrine in Teri of Karak district. The shrine had previously been vandalized and had sustained damage which will be repaired by the KPK government.
• Iraqi civilians protest at Baghdad’s Tahrir Square against the occupation of American army troops in Iraq. These protests come at the first death anniversary of General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis who were assassinated in a US drone strike previously in 2021. Slogans and flags of Hashd al-Shaabi or Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) were raised in honor of al-Muhandis.

 

4th January, 2021

• United States Congress passes a bill extending the Malala Yousafzai Scholarship program to Pakistani women. 50% of the merit-based scholarships will now be awarded to Pakistani women. The bill awaits the approval of President Trump to make it into a law.
• Mourners from the Hazara community hold a sit-in protest with the bodies of the deceased coal miners following their brutal abduction and murders. 2500 protesters called for an end to systematic acts of terrorism towards the Hazara community.
• Education ministers of Pakistan announce the re-opening of educational insititutions from 18th January 2021. Schools, colleges and universities will reopen in phases wherein the first phase beginning on 18th January grades 9th to 12th will open. Grades 1st through 8th will follow on January 25th and Higher Educational classes will resume on February 1st.

 

5th January, 2021

• Saudi Arabia and Qatar restore trade and travel ties after a Saudi Arabia led coalition three years ago. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Qatar's ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to discuss the restoration of Gulf Cooperation Council. Previously, due to strained ties, Bahrain, Egypt and United Arab Emirates had cut ties with Qatar in allegiance to Saudi Arabia will reopen its land, sea and airspace borders to Qatar
• Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa and US Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Amb Zalmay Khalilzad in a meeting reaffirm their intentions to restore peace in Afghanistan through mutual cooperation. These discussions ensued after a substantial increase in Taliban-led violence in Afghanistan.
• Iran issues a ‘red notice’ for President Trump’s arrest at Interpol for his role in the assassination of their General Qassem Soleimani. 47 officials in addition to President Trump were identified for the ‘red notice’ arrest as announced by spokesperson Gholamhossein Esmaili.

 

6th January, 2021

• Protesters storm the US Capitol building in Washington D.C in a pro-Trump protest following the US Presidential election results in November of last year. Thousands of armed and unarmed pro-trump protesters crowded into the Capitol building and breached the security. Several protesters and policemen were injured and one female protestor succumbed to gunshot wound sustained during the violent protest. President Trump has contested the results of the US Presidential elections following Joe Biden’s win and has encouraged his supporters to hold nationwide rallies and protests. Numerous US officials tweeted about the incident, referring to it as a ‘violent insurrection’ and a ‘coup d'état’.
• The Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan writes a letter to the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan in reference to the abduction and slaughter of coal miners in Mach, Baluchistan. According to the Consulate General, seven of the slaughtered miners were Afghan nationals and their bodies should be returned to Afghanistan accordingly.
• The Recording Academy issued a statement announcing that the 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards, which were previously set to air on January 31st have been postponed to March 14th. This is in light of the increasing COVID-19 cases and restrictions in the United States of America.
• Abraham Accords is signed by Sudan. This accord, between United Arab Emirates, United States of America and Israel, seeks to normalize international relations with Israel.

 

7th January, 2021

• Elon Musk becomes the richest man in the world, overtaking previous spot holder Jeff Bezos. Musk is the founder and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX among other multibillion dollar companies, his net worth is estimated to be $153.2 billion. 
• Social media platforms Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat block President Trump’s accounts due to accusations of Trump inciting rallies and violence around the country in addition to spreading misinformation about the US Presidential election. This ban will last until the end of Trump’s presidential term.
• All Azad Kashmir Schoolteachers Organization protesters gather in Upper Chattar Chowk in Muzaffarabad. 2000 schoolteachers gathered in protest, urging the government to uphold a promise made to them in 2013 by the PPP government headed by Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, this agreement stated that the post of schoolteacher would be raised to BS-14 from BS-7. In addition to this, the post junior teacher would be upgraded to BS-16 from BS-14 and the post of senior teacher to BS-17 from BS-16. This agreement was never fulfilled by succeeding governments. Several protestors were injured and arrested after police curbed the rally through the use of tear gas and batons.
• Boeing agrees to pay $2.5 billion to settle charges of criminal fraudulence and hiding crucial information about their planes’ automated flight control systems which resulted in two plane crashes in 2018 and 2019 killing 346 passengers in total. $500 million of this settlement will go to the families of the deceased.

 

8th January, 2021

• Pakistan successfully tests Multi-Launch Rocket System (MLRS) called Fatah-1. This guided rocket system would equip the army to strike enemy territory with precision, as reported by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
• Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao and Secretary of Transportation Betsy DeVos turn in their resignations following the storming of pro-Trump protestors into the US Capitol earlier this year. Many other US officials and politicians have turned in resignations and expressed urgency to impeach President Trump after the incident.
• Deceased coal miners are buried in Hazara Town cemetery in Quetta. The funeral processions led by Allama Raja Nasir Abbas were attended by thousands of mourners and several government officials. The mourners, who had previously refused to bury the bodies until Prime Minister Imran Khan visited the area, gave in after negotiations with the government to do so.
• Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran banned the country’s government from procuring the COVID-19 vaccine through imports from USA and UK. Khamenei expressed suspicion over the import of vaccine from USA and Europe, citing ‘HIV-tainted vaccines from France’ as indicative of their attempts to contaminate their country.

 

9th January, 2021

• Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi a senior member of the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is sentenced to five years in prison by a court in Pakistan. Lakhvi had been accused by United Nations and India on his ties with the Mumbai attacks in 2013 which killed 160 people and several other cases of terrorist financing across the world in countries such as Bosnia, Iraq, Chechnya and Afghanistan.
• Social media platform suspended the account of President of United States of America Donald Trump, permanently. The platform cited the President’s pattern of inciting violence and spreading misinformation on Twitter as the reason.
• Google and Apple announce the suspension of blogging app Parler from Play Store and App Store respectively, due to concerns of incitement of violence on the platform following the US Capitol protests earlier this year. The app has a large user-base in pro-Trump accounts and has been accused of hosting anti-democratic rhetoric on the platform.
• A hospital fire in Maharashtra’s Bhandara District General Hospital in India kills ten newborn babies. The fire, caused by an electrical short-circuit broke out in the maternity ward of the hospital, took of the lives of infants some of which were only a few days old. Authorities are investigating the incident.

 

10th January, 2021

• A nationwide power outage plunges the Pakistan in darkness for hours on Sunday. Several of the country’s areas regained power in a few hours while others regained power nearly 24 hours after the power breakdown.
• Confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide reaches 90 million. Additionally, more transmittable and stronger strains of the virus have been identified around the world. The USA currently has the highest number of active COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic in late 2019.

 

11th January, 2021

• “Raast”, Pakistan’s first instant digital payment system is launched. Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed optimism for the boost of Pakistan’s economy after this launch. Raast would take the country’s population away from cash economy and boost tax payments through digital transactions and transfers.
• Amazon suspends cloud computing servers afforded to Parler to host their site. The site is currently down due to scarcity of servers to host the platform.
• A grenade detonated in a market in Turbat, Baluchistan severely wounds 5 civilians. The party responsible for the attack has not come forward, authorities are investigating the incident.
• Uzbekistan extends travel and air restrictions from several countries until February 1st 2021. The country had placed these restrictions on countries observed to have cases of new variants of the COVID-19 virus. These countries include; Australia, Italy, South Africa, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark and Britain.
• Zia Wadan a prolific former journalist and prominent spokesperson in Afghanistan is assassinated along with two other colleagues in a car bombing in Kabul. The President of Afghanistan suspects Taliban to be responsible for the attack.

 

12th January, 2021

• Egypt reopens airspace to Qatar, allowing for direct travel to and from the country in light of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s decision to restore ties with Qatar. This restoration comes after three years of freeze against Qatar by Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain in addition to Egypt since 2017.
• Ugandan government blocks social media platforms across the country including Facebook and Twitter. This is thought by the public to be a retaliatory action against Facebook previously blocking pro-government propaganda on the platform. 

 

13th January, 2021

• Israeli airstrikes against Syria in the Deir el-Zour, Mayadeen and Boukamal regions claim the lives of 57 individuals which included army personnel, Syrian and Iranian soldiers. An intelligence officer from the United States claimed that the attacks were in response to information gathered against Syrian forces storing Iranian weapons in a warehouse. This is being referred to as the deadliest Israeli airstrike on Syria to date.
• YouTube suspends President Trump’s channel from uploading or live streaming for a week due to Trump’s inciting of violence following the riot in the US Capitol earlier this year.
• Rick Snyder, the former Governor of Michigan is charged with willful negligence in relation to the Flint water crisis of 2014. The use of the water from Flint River for the city’s pipelines in 2014 caused citizens to have to consume contaminated water for years and caused the mass outbreak of ‘legionnaires disease’ causing 12 civilian deaths.
• President Donald Trump of the United States of America is impeached by the House through votes by both Republicans and Democrats on charges of ‘inciting insurrection’ following the riots in the US Capitol in early January of this year. The trial for the impeachment is set to begin next week, just before Joe Biden is initiated into office. A successful impeachment after the trials will prevent Trump from running for President for a second term.

 

14th January, 2021

• Joe Biden, the US President-elect reveals a 1.9 trillion USD relief package for Americans. This would increase their COVID-19 stimulus check from $600 to $2000.
• Toyota is set to pay $180 million to the United States of America on charges of misconduct. The company allegedly failed to report defects in emission, as is mandatory for automobile companies in the US.

 

15th January, 2021

• Sulawesi Island in Indonesia is struck with an earthquake of 6.2 magnitude, claiming the lives of approximately 35 people reportedly. The earthquake damaged infrastructure, burying civilians under rubble and cutting electricity throughout the city. The earthquake was followed by 26 aftershocks according to reports.
• Taliban forces attack two checkpoints in Kunduz, Afghanistan, killing nine security officers in the cross-fire. This is one of the many incidents of Taliban-led attacks in Afghanistan.
• Russia announces its intended withdrawal from the ‘Treaty of Open Skies’ after the USA announced its withdrawal last year. The Treaty of Open Skies has been signed by 34 countries allowing signatory nations to fly unarmed surveillance aircrafts over one another’s territories.
• It is announced by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas that the legislative elections are set to take place on May 22nd 2021 while presidential election will begin on July 31st 2021. These are the first elections in Palestine since 2006.

 

16th January, 2021

• The mother of former President of Pakistan General Pervaiz Musharraf; Begum Zarin Musharraf, passes away at the age of 100. She had been undergoing treatment in UAE after a long battle with an illness.
• PSA and Fiat Chrysler finalize the 50-50 merger of their companies. The resultant company is called “Stellantis” which is now the world’s fourth biggest automotive company. The constituent brands under each company such as Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Fiat, Maserati, Peugeot, Chrysler, and Jeep will continue to operate under Stellantis.

 

17th January, 2021

• Two female judges belonging to the Supreme Court are shot dead by gunmen in Kabul, Afghanistan. This is one of the many attacks against politicians, journalists, judges, police and civilians in Afghanistan in recent years.
• It is announced that President Trump signed the Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act bill, making it into a law that the merit-based Malala Yousafzai scholarships be awarded in 50% to Pakistani women. These scholarships will allow women from Pakistan from various disciplines to pursue higher education from 2020 to 2022.

 

18th January, 2021

• The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has announced the creation of Swat University of Engineering and Technology through a government grant of 8 billion PKR. The university will be set up in three years' time and will be self-sustainable. This university will have research and entrepreneurship programs to sustain itself and create university graduates from Swat that are able to fare in the current job market.
• The methane emission in 2020 was 70 trillion metric tons, 10% lower than emissions in 2019, according to reports from The International Energy Agency. Due to the pandemic, global activity slowed down significantly, decreasing industrial activity as well.

 

19th January, 2021

• Joe Biden takes office and gives speech at the inaugural ceremony as he bids goodbye to his family home in Delaware. Joe Biden is set to be the 46th President of the United States. It was also announced that he plans to lay out an eight-year citizenship program to grant citizenship to illegal immigrants in the USA. This plan will be unveiled after Biden’s oath-taking into office.
• Trump administration amid Trump’s exit from office denounces China’s violence against the Uyghur Muslims and ethnic minority groups. In a tweet made by Secretary Pompeo, it is stated that China’s actions against the Uyghurs in the Xinjiang Province are ‘genocidal’.

 

20th January, 2021

• Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th President of the United States of America. Kamla Harris is sworn in as the Vice President of the United States of America.
• India begins supplying neighboring low-income countries with COVID-19 vaccines. India currently has two vaccines being locally manufactured; Oxford University’s AstraZeneca vaccine “Covishield” and a vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech. India plans to ship to countries such as Bangladesh, barring however, neighboring countries Pakistan and China.
• China places sanctions on outgoing U.S officials of the Trump administration reportedly in cooperation with Joe Biden’s government. The 28 officials named include prolific attorney and former secretary of state Mike Pompeo. These sanctions have been imposed due to the Trump administrations’ disrespect of the Chinese people and their government that have harmed US-China relations. Individuals named as well as their immediate family members are banned from visiting Hong Kong, Makao and mainland China as well as conducting business with Chinese companies and associates.
• Retired Lt Gen Bilal Akbar is appointed as the ambassador to Saudia Arabia by the government of Pakistan. Retired army officials are often appointed ambassadors as a show of goodwill in forming bilateral relations with countries. Currently ambassadors for Jordan, Libya, Syria, Brunei, Maldives, Nigeria and Ukraine are also retired generals.

 

21st January, 2021

• A market in Baghdad is bombed, killing 32 civilians and injuring approximately 110 others. Islamic Stated claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing. Since the defeat of Islamic State in Iraq, attacks have been rare in the past three years. The market that was hit with this attack was previously also hit in 2018 when 28 civilians were killed in a suicide bombing.
• Indonesian government announces ceasing of efforts to search for victims of the Sriwijaya Air Flight 182 flight which crashed earlier in January. The plane crashed into the Java Sea and killed all 62 passengers aboard.
• As ruled by the European court of human rights, Russia committed human rights violations against Georgians during its war with Georgia in 2008. During the five-day war between Russia and Georgia, Russia allegedly tortured civilians and war prisoners and expelled 20, 000 civilians from their homes in disputed territory of South Ossetia. This ruling is being hailed as a ‘historic victory’ for Georgia against Russia’s human rights abuses of its citizens.
• Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi announces China’s supplying of Pakistan with 500,000 doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine as early as January 31st, 2021. The Sinopharm vaccine, developed by Beijing Institute of Biological Products is reportedly 79.3% effective.

 

22nd January, 2021

• World Trade Organization decides in favor of South Korea in its lawsuit against the USA. Seoul, South Korea had filed a lawsuit against USA due to USA levying high tariffs on some South Korean products. Eight tariffs levied by the USA were found to have been violating WTO rules.
• Israel launches airstrikes against Syria in Hama city where Iran army personnel are posted, killing a family of four in the crossfire and wounding four other civilians, including children. These airstrikes are conducted routinely by Israel to prevent Iran from strengthening its hold on their northern border. The individuals killed in the airstrike, according to reports, were killed due to fly-away debris from Syrian missiles countering the attack.
• Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is entered into force by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This treaty prohibits the use, development, threat of use and stockpiling of nuclear weapons in 51 countries. The treaty denounces the use of nuclear weapons as unethical and inhumane. United States of America and Russia, the world’s biggest nuclear superpowers are yet to endorse this treaty.
• In Argentina, scientists uncover the 98 million years old fossils of reportedly the largest dinosaur to have ever been discovered. The pieces of fossils discovered are significantly larger than the largest recorded type of dinosaurs; Patagotitan mayorum, a type of sauropod.
• The Pakistan Electronic Media Authority Regulatory Authority (Pemra) fines the TV news channel Bol News for Rs. 1 million and bans the channel for 30 days. This is due to Bol News airing disagreeable remarks against Lahore High Court and its judges during their show Tajzia with Sami Ibrahim.

 

23rd January, 2021

• Longtime talk show host Larry King passes away at the age of 87 reportedly from COVID-19. King had a career spanning several decades hosting Larry King Live on CNN. Prominent figures and celebrities all over the world mourned the loss and posted condolences across various social media platforms.
• Islamic State (ISIS) kills 11 army personnel sponsored by Iraq for Iran; Hashed al-Shaabi. The extremist group attacked the officers in Baghdad during the night. This is the second incident of ISIS violence in Iraq since the suicide bombing in a market earlier this month.

 

24th January, 2021

• Israel opens an embassy in United Arab Emirates, honoring diplomatic ties agreed upon late last year. UAE approves the creation of an embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel. This is the beginning of UAE’s normalization agreement with Israel.
• Estonian center-right Reform Party and the left-leaning Center Party elects Kaja Kallas as the country’s first female Prime Minister. This is following the removal of Juri Ratas due to a corruption scandal earlier this year.
• Security forces carry out an operation in North Waziristan, killing 5 terrorists. Two terrorist leaders were among those killed, Syed Raheem alias Abid (AKK group) and Saifullah Noor of (Gohar group), who belonged to Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

 

25th January, 2021

• Debenhams, British multinational retailer, announces closure of all its physical outlets, causing 12,000 people to lose their jobs. The online fashion store Boohoo bought the intellectual property for Debenhams and the store will operate online under Boohoo. This is due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions and Debenhams’ failure to properly transition into e-commerce, causing the retailer to lose substantial business and money.
• Progressive Students Collective (PSC) protests outside University of Management Technology (UMT), Lahore against on-campus exams. Police officers proceeded to baton-charge student protesters, critically injuring a few, though the police have denied such claims. Following the baton-charge and arrest of PSC president Zubair Siddiqui, more protesters gathered outside UMT against the ‘thuggery’ of the police.

 

26th January, 2021

• Minister Shafqat Mahmood announces ongoing discussions with vice chancellors of universities regarding the possibility of online examinations, following student protests earlier this week. According to Minister Shafqat Mahmood, the point of discussion and utmost importance is the feasibility of online exams for every student of universities in question, as technical issues can pose a problem.
• Farmers unions such as Samyukta Kisan Morcha continue to protest on India’s Republic Day due to the government’s agriculture reforms. While the government enacted these reforms to supposedly ‘liberalize’ the farmers, farmer unions have maintained that they put them at a monetary disadvantage. Farmers and protestors stormed the Republic Day parade at Red Fort including other areas around the country, resulting in arrests and injuries on both sides.
• Italian Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte hands in resignation. This is due to Conte losing majority vote after the country’s financial crisis amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Political parties of Italy are divided over the spending of EU funds for the country.

 

27th January, 2021

• National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) head Asad Umar announces the launch of COVID-19 vaccine drive to be scheduled for next week. Frontline healthcare workers will be the first to receive the vaccinations through hundreds of vaccination centers nationwide. This is favorable news considering the country’s steady daily reported cases and positivity rate amid the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Higher Education Commission (HEC) allows universities to have online examination following student protests. HEC also mandated universities to conduct make-up classes regarding student complaints that the syllabi had not been covered appropriately prior to exams. Exams will be held as either ‘open book’ exams or with supervision as to ensure academic integrity of the system.

 

28th January, 2021

• United Nations rules that United Kingdom has no claim over the Chagos Archipelago islands and must hand control back over to island nation Mauritius. Though Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth announced the ruling to be ‘absolute’, spokesperson for the UK denied these claims and stated that the UK maintains sovereignty over the disputed islands. 
• Recent Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) places Pakistan at 124 on the ranking of 180 countries. Previously, Pakistan ranked at 120, previously. Moreover, Pakistan’s corruption score was 31, lower than last index’s score of 32. The corruption score ranges from 0-100 with 0 being ‘highly corrupt’ and 100 being ‘very clean’.
• Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed support for United Nations’ peacekeeping efforts and pledges $25,000 for the UN Peace-Building Fund (PBF) on behalf of Pakistan. PBF’s strategy for 2020-24 attempts to include youth and women in peacekeeping efforts across the world.

 

29th January, 2021

• Mangal Bagh, chief of militant organization Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) is killed in an explosion at the Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. Bagh is said to have been cruel to his victims, especially during public executions. His funeral was held as a small gathering of a few of his close associates.
• Johnson & Johnson announce the effectiveness of their COVID-19 vaccine to be 66% in preventing moderate symptoms and 88% in preventing severe symptoms of the virus. The pharmaceutical company had previously conducted a global trial for their single-use vaccine.

 

30th January, 2021

• Veteran film star Cynthia Alexander Fernandes, more popularly known as Begum Neelo, passes away at the age of 80. Prominent celebrities as well as Prime Minister Imran Khan sent out their condolences to Shaan Shahid for the passing of his mother.
• Government of Iran executes Baluch militant leader of Jaish ul-Adl, Javid Dehghan. The leader was hanged for his shooting and killing of two members of the Iranian National Guard in 2017. International bodies such as United Nations have vehemently criticized Iran for its high number of executions in the past few years.

 

31st January, 2021

• Israel pledges to supply Palestine with 5,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses for Palestine’s frontline healthcare workers. Currently, it is up for debate which country is responsible for supplying the 2.7 million and 1.8 million Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza with COVID-19 vaccines.
• United Kingdom launches a passport scheme for citizens of Hong Kong to have British National (Overseas) passports for travel into the UK. Applicants that secure the visa will be able to apply for settlement in five years and citizenship a year after that. The government of China has however announced that it does not recognize the British National (Overseas) passport (BNO) as a legitimate travel document.

 

February 2021

1st February, 2021

• The government of Pakistan announces the allocation of 40.3 million PKR for the establishment of a Braile printing press. This printing press, set to be in Peshawar will aid approximately 3600 individuals with vision impairment disabilities who previously had to purchase Braile books from Sindh or Punjab. A software application will be created and instructors will be trained accordingly.
• The military of Myanmar carries out a coup, imprisoning elected leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi, the State Counsellor of Myanmar and Win Myint Myanmar the President of Myanmar. A curfew is placed upon the residents as a state of emergency is declared to be imposed for one year. This coup comes in response to alleged ‘election fraud’ in the country. President of the US Joe Biden as well as spokespeople for the UN have vocally condemned the coup d'état, threatening imposition of sanctions on the military of Myanmar.

 

2nd February, 2021

• Jeff Bezos announces that he will step down as CEO of Amazon sometime later in the year. He is to be replaced with Andy Jassy who is currently the CEO of Amazon Web Series.
• State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi, among other lawmakers and leaders is put under house arrest following the military coup d'état of the Myanmar government.
• Democrats pass a vote to facilitate a budget resolution that allows President Joe Biden to successfully allocate the $1.9 trillion stimulus package without the Republicans’ votes. Ordinarily to pass a resolution such as this it would be required that a 60-vote supermajority be met. The current vote allows for it to be passed with only 50 Democrat votes.

 

3rd February, 2021

• COVAX, a WHO organization set up to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to low-income countries, published its first distribution list. The distribution list consists of doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine and doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Pakistan is set to receive 17.2 million doses of the vaccines.
• All federating units of Pakistan begin their vaccination drives after China’s supplying of 500,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in late January. The first dose of the vaccine was given to a doctor from Islamabad as Pakistani government emphasizes its plans to prioritize frontline workers and high-risk individuals in the vaccination process.
• Saudi Arabia places temporary suspension of travel into the country on 20 countries including Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey and Pakistan. This suspension is however exclusive of medical practitioners, diplomats, and Saudi nationals and their families. This suspension is a result of the COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia increasing threefold in the past few months.

 

4th February, 2021

• Thousands of mine workers in Baluchistan quit and move out of the region, causing hundreds of mines to be closed, following the armed attack on 10 Hazara miners earlier in the year. The low pay of the local miners and workers has also contributed to the Baloch people’s reluctance to work in the mines.
• Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp are blocked by internet service providers in Myanmar following the military coup earlier in February.
• Protests by farmers continue in India as the government neglects to continue talks with the farmers on the new agricultural reforms. As a sign of protest, the farmers have blocked three highways to the capital since January with no resolution in sight.

 

5th February, 2021

• Two blasts occur in separate locations in Pakistan on the country’s Kashmir Solidarity Day. An explosion on Inscomb Road in Quetta is said to have killed two individuals as well as having injured four. Similarly, an explosion Baluchistan’s Sibi district is reported to have wounded 24 individuals. The explosions are said to have been targeting Kashmir Solidarity rallies around the country. No organization has claimed responsibility for the explosions.
• Lokman Slim a Lebanese social critic, author and vocal anti-Hezbollah activist is assassinated in Beirut.  Slim was found in his car with multiple gunshot wounds fired from close range. His assassination has sparked outrage from fellow Shia activists and supporters.
• A German-Malagasy team of scientists announce the discovery of “Brookesia nana” a rare species of chameleon. This lizard is reportedly 13.5 millimeters long and is now the smallest reptile to be discovered on Earth.

 

6th February, 2021

• A convoy belonging to U Khin Maung Lwin, a former executive committee member for the Myanmar Konkang Self-Administered Zone is attacked, killing three police officers and nine civilians as well as injuring five police officers and eight civilians. The convoy, travelling from Lashio to Laukkai was ambushed by members of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDA), an insurgent group that had previously signed a ceasefire agreement with the Burmese government.
• Amid global protests and denouncement of the coup, Myanmar’s military junta shuts down internet across the country, showing signs of the beginning of a communication blackout.
• New York State Attorney announces resolution to mark February 5th as “Kashmir-American Day”. The Foreign Office (FO) spokesman Zahid Hafiz Chaudri in a press conference spoke on this development stating “"The resolution appreciates the courage and perseverance of the Kashmiri people. It also underscores that 'the State of New York endeavors to champion human rights including the freedom of religion, movement, and expression for all Kashmiri people',".

 

7th February, 2021

• Thousands gather for protests in Yangon city of Myanmar against the military junta’s coup d'état earlier in February. The protesters waved red balloons in their demonstrations; the colour red representing Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy Party (NLD) which was the ruling political party of Myanmar until the coup.
• Democratic Republic of Congo announces the reemergence of the Ebola virus after a woman in its eastern region died from Ebola-like symptoms. World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it is typical for cases to be reported occasionally after an epidemic such as the Ebola virus epidemic.
• Search efforts continue to locate three climbers; Pakistan’s Muhammad Ali Sadpara, Iceland’s John Snorri and Chile’s JP Mohr who went missing while climbing K2 earlier in the week. Experts and army helicopters have been searching for the missing climbers despite the unfavorable weather conditions, but to no avail. The climbers had previously been congratulated by the government when it was assumed that they had successfully climbed the mountain, shortly before they lost contact.

 

8th February, 2021

• Houthi fighters in Yemen continue their offensive effort to capture government stronghold Marib. Approximately 20 government officers have been killed while 28 have been wounded in the clashes that lasted 24 hours. The Marib region is oil-rich and is the largest supplier of gas in the country and is therefore appealing to anyone contesting for power in Yemen.
• Following the protests against the military coup in Myanmar, the military junta imposes a curfew and ban on public gathering of more than 5 people in the city of Mandalay. The martial law in the city is the military junta’s efforts to curb public protests in favor of the democratic leaders imprisoned in the coup.

 

9th February, 2021

• Palau, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, and Nauru quit the Pacific Islands Forum. The forum decided on Polynesia electing a new secretary general even though it was previously agreed that it was Micronesia’s turn to do so. The Micronesian countries that withdrew from the forum cited a pattern of neglect towards its interest from the other Polynesian and Melanesian member countries of the forum.
• Talks between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s nationalist Fatah faction and rival party Hamas ensue in Cairo as part of Egypt’s longstanding efforts to broker peace between the rivalling parties. These talks are an attempt to reach an agreement between the two parties before the beginning of the Palestinian elections later this year.
• The military junta of Myanmar place martial law in thirty cities across the country, imposing a 8pm-4am curfew and a ban on gatherings consisting of more than 5 people at a time. Protests continue across the country as riot police are dispatched to fire rubber bullets at demonstrators and curb protests.

 

10th February, 2021

• President of the United States of America announces the imposition of sanctions on leaders of the military who orchestrated the coup d'état in Myanmar. In addition to this, Biden announced the freezing of U.S assets that directly benefit the Burmese government as a sign of protest towards the martial law in place currently in Myanmar.
• Loujain al-Hathloul, a prolific women’s rights activist is released from prison after serving for three years. Hathloul had previously protested the ban on female drivers in Saudi Arabia and had been sentenced in 2018 for six years.

 

11th February, 2021

• India and China decide on withdrawing troops from a disputed region in the Himalayan border following deadly clashes last year which resulted in casualties on both sides. After a series of meetings between military officials, the two countries decided to cease fighting on the southern and northern regions of China’s Pangong Lake.
• President of the United States Joe Biden terminates the two-year emergency declaration between the U.S-Mexico border, effectively stopping the allocation of funds towards the building of the wall between USA and Mexico. However, the troops deployed at the U.S-Mexico border remain in place. 

 

12th February, 2021

• China's National Radio and Television Administration announces that BBC has not been ‘truthful and fair’ and violated regulations, harming China’s interests. Following this, China banned BBC World News on its Television networks and Hong Kong proceeded to ban BBC World Service radio. A spokesperson for Chinese embassy in London commented on the situation, stating “BBC's relentless fabrication of 'lies of the century' in reporting China runs counter to the professional ethics of journalism, and reeks of double standards and ideological bias,".
• Torkham Border, between Pakistan and Afghanistan officially opens for pedestrians four days a week. The opening of the border is an attempt to facilitate bilateral trade and travel of Afghani or Pakistani citizens between the countries.

 

13th February, 2021

• Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudri announced that Pakistan has made considerable progress in reaching goals set by the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) Action Plan. The FTAF action plan consisted on 27 goals, 21 of which have been met. An upcoming plenary meeting of the FTAF on the 25th February 2021 will assess Pakistan’s progress in countering terrorist financing and money laundering. Pakistan currently resides on the FTAF ‘grey list’ for inadequate measures taken to curb terrorist financing and money laundering in the country.
• An earthquake of 6.4 magnitude strikes regions all across Pakistan including Islamabad, parts of Punjab, Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. No casualties or major property damage was reported despite the strong tremors.

 

14th February, 2021

• Bangladesh is set to move approximately 4000 Rohingya Muslims to remote Bhasan Char Island in the Bay of Bengal despite global concerns for their safety. The island is reportedly prone to flooding and harsh weather conditions. Upon arrival, the Rohingya refugees are not allowed to leave the island.
• Chughtai Lab in Pakistan announces the acquisition of the Sputnik COVID-19 vaccine for commercial use by next week. The lab will sell the vaccine privately with no price regulations from the government.
• The Republic of Guinea announces reemergence of the Ebola virus epidemic. Seven Ebola cases have been reported in the southeast region of Guinea and more tests are being conducted while Ebola positive patients remain in isolation.

 

15th February, 2021

• The number of active COVID-19 cases in Pakistan drops 50% since the beginning of 2021, amidst the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pakistan is set to receive 17 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from COVAX soon.
• Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducts airstrikes in Syria, near Damascus, taking the lives of six foreign nationals. Headquarters of the 4th Division near Damascus-Beirut road were targeted where missiles and other weaponry are kept. The airstrikes were meant to target Iran-developed weapons before they could be transferred to Israel’s rival party Hezbollah.
• Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Finance Minister of Nigeria is appointed as the Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the first African and first woman to be appointed as the Director General of WTO.

 

16th February, 2021

• World Health Organization (WHO) issues a warning to six countries in Africa to be prepared to tackle another Ebola virus outbreak. This warning comes after Republic of Congo and Guinea reported several cases of Ebola virus.
• Thousands of Algerian citizens gather in the streets of the city Kherrata to protest the Algerian government. This rally commemorated the two-year anniversary of the movement known as Hirak which protested against the political system of Algeria and the former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika at the time. The current President Abdelmadjid Tebboune belongs to the same political party as the former president therefore inciting protests from the citizens.
• Government of Pakistan opens registrations for citizens over or of the age of 65 to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Individuals that fall under this category can register both through mobile phones and online. Vaccination of the country’s elderly begins in the next phase of the countrywide vaccine drives.

 

17th February, 2021

• 27 students are abducted and one is killed in an attack on the Kagara school in Kagara, Nigeria. Moreover, several members of the staff and twelve of their family members were also taken during the nighttime raid. This is a case among several other kidnappings and gang attacks in Nigeria in the past year.
• Citizens of Myanmar stage rallies around the country in protest of the military coup which occurred earlier in February. The military junta of Myanmar continues to respond by tightening the curfews and blocking communication in the country. The citizens chanted slogans demanding freedom for Aung San Suu Kyi and other government officials imprisoned under the military regime.
• Foreign diplomats visit Indian occupied Kashmir, business owners in the region close down shops in protest. The diplomats drove around the region accompanied by tight security provided by the government and met with village leaders and journalists in the area. The actions of the citizens of Indian occupied Kashmir are a result of the Indian government stripping Kashmir of its semi-autonomous status in 2019 as well as imposing a communication blackout in the region.
• TESS Hunt for Young and Maturing Exoplanets (THYME) project announces the discovery of a sub-Neptune exoplanet, which has been named HD 110082 b. The exoplanet discovered is three times larger than the Earth. Exoplanets are planets which exist outside the Solar System and have been extensively researched in the recent decades by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). So far, three extrasolar planetary systems have been found during the research.

 

18th February, 2021

• NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announces the increase of security personnel Iraq as a response to recent Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist activity in the area. The previous number 500 security officers will be increased to 4000 in increments and training centers will be established in the country.
• Biden administration rescinds UN sanctions placed on Iran. These sanctions were previously placed on Iran by former president Donald Trump. Acting U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills wrote to the United Nations withdrawing statements sent by the Trump administration imposing UN sanctions on Iran. Biden administration expressed intent to rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed in 2008, which is also known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, from which Trump had withdrawn the United States during his presidency.
• NASA lands the rover “Perseverance” safely on Mars. The new and improved Mars’ rover is set to explore the possibility of life on the planet by exploring the Jezero Crater. Scientists' objective for the rover is for it to explore the dried-up water channels and deltas on the planet as well as collect samples of rock and dirt for further research.
• Muhammad Ali Sadpara, as well as two other missing mountaineers are pronounced dead after a third mission in search for them is unsuccessful. It is speculated to be highly unlikely that Sadpara and his crew have managed to survive in the cold for several days. Sadpara leaves his legacy to his 21-year-old son Sajid Sadpara who is also a mountaineer.

 

19th February, 2021

• Buckingham Palace announces that Prince Harry the Duke of Sussex and Megan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex will be stripped of their royal titles and military appointments following their exit as working royals of the UK a year prior.
• At the 47th G7 Summit, Group of Seven (G7); Canada, Germany, France, Britain, USA, Japan and Italy release a joint statement pledging $7.5 billion for the COVID-19 vaccination of poor countries. President of France Emmanuel Macron urged the US and Europe to donate 5% of their COVID-19 vaccines to poorer countries such as Africa.
• The United States of America reenters the Paris Agreement following Trump administrations withdrawal from it a few months prior.

 

20th February, 2021

• A young grocery store worker, Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing is killed as a result of military firing on a rally in Myanmar, against the military junta’s coup. Khaing has quickly become a symbol of civilian resistance against the military government’s forceful takeover. People all around the world expressed condolences and disapproval for the military junta on social media.
• Russia sees its first reported case of H5N8 bird flu virus. The deadly H5N8 virus which began infecting poultry late last year has begun spreading through humans.

 

21st February, 2021

• Iran agrees to the International Atomic Energy Agency monitoring its nuclear program for three months. The agreement however disallows reviewing site footage and doing snap inspections of the program.
• Facebook suspends the page of the military junta of Myanmar following the killing of two protesters in a rally the day prior. The social media platform stated that the page was in violation of its policy against “incitement of violence”.

 

22nd February, 2021

• A week-long sit-in of Baloch protesters against enforced disappearances in the region comes to an end. The Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan agreed to meet with the protest leaders in the next month, though the leaders reportedly are not optimistic. Enforced disappearances have been common in Baluchistan for a decade with families still searching for members missing since as far back as 2009.
• Four women were gunned down in North Waziristan by unidentified gunmen. The deceased women were social workers providing aid in the area. No party has claimed responsibility for the attack.
• Canada’s The House of Commons in a motion declared that China is committing genocide against its Uyghur Muslim citizens. The parliament also proposed the moving of the 22’ Winter Olympics from China’s capital Beijing if the country continues its persecution of its Muslim minorities. Prime Minister Trudeau however did not vote on the motion and has expressed hesitancy in declaring China’s actions as genocidal.
• Luca Attanasio, renowned Italian ambassador, along with two others is assassinated as gunmen open fire on World Food Program (WFP) vehicles in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Goma city.

 

23rd February, 2021

• Spain completes its mission to remove all statues of the fascist dictator Francisco Franco from the country with the last remaining statue being taken down in Melilla. Over 350,000 people were killed in the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39, as a result of which Franco and his party came to power.
• Guinea begins vaccination drive for the inoculation of people from Ebola virus in the Nzérékoré Prefecture region. Previously, the Ebola Virus outbreak in 2016 took approximately 11,000 lives in Africa.

 

24th February, 2021

• National Assembly of Pakistan passes a bill outlawing corporal punishment in Islamabad. Veteran musician and humanitarian Shehzad Roy who urged the assembly to oversee the bill, took to social media to endorse it as a step in the right direction of preserving the dignity and safety of children.
• COVID-19 related restrictions on indoor wedding halls and indoor dining are lifted in Pakistan. Curfews and time constraints on shopping malls will also be lifted effective 15th March 2021.
• A Diplodocus-like fossil of a dinosaur is discovered in Uzbekistan by scientists. This type of fossil is the first to be discovered in Asia proving a theory that these creatures could travel across large regions. The dinosaur discovered is named Dzharatitanis kingi as it was found in the Dzharatitanis region.

 

25th February, 2021

• Two villages in Nigeria; Kaduna and Katsina are attacked by gunmen who kill 36 civilians and burn down several houses. Security forces of Nigeria respond by conducting an air operation on the gunmen, killing several of the attackers.
• Prime Minister Imran Khan pays a visit to Sri Lanka, meeting with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. The countries discussed the strengthening of ties in combating drug trafficking, terrorist funding and organized crime. Pakistan pledged $50m in new credit line to Sri Lanka for strengthening bilateral defense and security.
• USA conducts airstrikes on Syria, intended for “Iran-backed”  Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH) and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS)’s military equipment. The airstrikes killed 17 people belonging to KH and KSS.

 

26th February, 2021

• House of Representatives of Netherlands moves to declare China’s treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minorities as genocidal. The Netherlands is the first country belonging to the European Union to recognize the human rights violations in China.
• Approximately 317 school girls are abducted from a school in Zamfara, Nigeria by armed attackers. Over the past few years Nigeria has seen consistent acts of gang violence, especially against children.
• COVAX supplies Ivory Coast with 500,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, making it the second country to receive the vaccine from COVAX. The country received doses of the Oxford Astra-Zeneca Vaccine through the Serum Institute of India.
• Documents are released by the Biden administration with regards to the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi Arabian dissident journalist for the Washington Post. The report released revealed that the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia approved of the assassination and a team of operatives that report directly to the Crown Prince carried out the murder. The Biden administration placed sanctions on Saudi officials involved in the assassination as well as freezing their assets.

 

27th February, 2021

• 27 students and 15 others that were abducted from a school in Kagara, Nigeria are returned back to their families. The students and other members of the staff were taken from a boarding school ten days prior on February 17th 2021.
• Military junta of Myanmar cracks down on countrywide protests, injuring and arresopting hundreds of protesters. Moreover, the UN Ambassador for Myanmar Kyaw Moe Tun is removed from his post after he spoke against the military leaders and demanded their removal in a UN General Assembly meeting.

 

28th February, 2021

• A Roman ceremonial chariot, which is almost completely intact, is discovered under the buried city of Pompeii. The chariot was unearthed near a stable where the remains of three horses were uncovered previously in 2018.
• Myanmar’s military forces continue to crack down on protesters, critically wounding 30 individuals and killing approximately 18 others. The communication blackout in the country is still being retained.

 

March 2021

1st March, 2021

• Nicolas Sarkozy, the former president of France is sentenced to three years imprisonment due to charges of attempted bribery. The former French president allegedly bribed a judge with a potential job in exchange for confidential information about a case. Sarkozy’s lawyer intends to appeal the sentence, in the meantime of which Sarkozy will not be imprisoned.
• Ejaz Durrani, renowned Pakistani actor passes away at the age of 85. Durrani was also a successful producer, producing hits such as 1970’s Heer Ranjha. Durrani leaves behind three children that he had with the late Noor Jehan.
• A UN human rights officer reports that at least 18 protestors have been killed by the police during Myanmar’s anti-coup protests on February 28th 2021. The police set out to squash protests all around Yangon city, firing rubber bullets and stun guns at protesters. The military continues its crackdown on communication and anti-coup rhetoric throughout the country.
• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) rules against removing Pakistan from its ‘grey-list’ after Pakistan fails to meet 27 of its set targets towards curbing money laundering and terrorist financing. The global watchdog will be reported to once again after Pakistan achieves its targets and the country’s removal from the grey-list will be reconsidered.

 

2nd March, 2021

• 279 Nigerian schoolgirls abducted earlier this year by armed men are returned to their families. The girls were kidnapped from a school in Zamfara, Nigeria. This is one of the several cases of child kidnappings in Nigeria in the past year.
• Three female reporters for Enikas Tv are shot dead and one is wounded in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for killing the young women. This assassination is among many other target killings of reporters, especially women, in Afghanistan in the last decade.
• Mount Sinabung in Indonesia erupts, with the hot ash reaching almost 17 feet in the air. No fatalities have been reported. There have been several eruptions at the mountain since 2010, before which the mountain was dormant for approximately 400 years.

 

3rd March, 2021

• Police shoot live and rubber bullets on anti-coup protesters in Myanmar, killing 38 protesters. Video footage of the police assaulting the civilians surfaced on the internet. This marks the bloodiest day yet since the coup in Myanmar took place in the beginning of February this year.
• An airbase in Al Anbar Governorate for the US-led coalition is hit with ten rockets, killing a contractor who died from a heart attack while seeking shelter during the hit. The Al-Asad airbase hosts US forces helping Iraq fight against the terrorist group Islamic State. No group claimed responsibility for the rockets.
• Gunmen open fire at a ceremony in Zamfara where formerly abducted school children were being reunited with their families. Three people are shot during the attack. The government proceeded to impose a curfew on the area due to increased gang-related violence and shootings recently.

 

4th March, 2021

• Freedom House, a non-profit organization based in the US, publishes a reported titled “Democracy Under Siege” deeming India a partly-free state under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The report illustrated India’s decline in safeguarding the rights of Muslim minorities as well as the rise of nationalist rhetoric and violence in the country. The global freedom reported lowered the freedom score of 72 other countries, concluding that less than 20% of the world population is currently resides in free countries.
• The 6th annual Pakistan Super League (PSL) is postponed after six cricket players set to participate test positive for Covid-19.
• United Nations Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet in a statement expresses concern over the suspected human rights violations and sex crimes in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. The conflict in Ethiopia requires investigation into the war crimes committed by Tigray People’s Liberation Front and other allied groups as well as the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, Eritrean armed forces, and Amhara Regional Forces.

 

5th March, 2021

• A female doctor in Jalalabad city of Afghanistan is killed after a bomb magnetic explosive device attached to her vehicle explodes, wounding several other individuals. Meanwhile, seven civilians belonging to the minority Shia Hazara community of Afghanistan are killed in a shooting. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
• The White House releases a statement nominating Pakistani-American Dilawar Syed as the deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Syed is currently the CEO and President of Lumiata, an artificial intelligence company. Syed previously also served in President Obama’s government as a chair for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) Economic Growth Committee.
• The United States Senate rejects an amendment meant to raise the minimum wage of the country to $15 in a 58–42 vote. The amendment was put forward by Bernie Sanders, Senator of Vermont.
• Myanmar’s Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Home Affairs is placed under sanctions by the United States President Joe Biden following the military junta’s coup against the government in February.
• Pope Francis pays a visit to Iraq, marking the first ever papal visit to the country. The Pope made several addresses to the country, especially the Christian population of Iraq, denouncing extremist-led violence in the state against minority groups.
• Prime Minister Imran Khan wins vote of confidence in the National Assembly, following Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh’s loss of a Senate seat to Yousuf Raza Gilani in the senate elections earlier this month. The opposition party; Pakistan Democratic Movement was accused by Khan of buying votes to win the Senate seat.

 

6th March, 2021

• Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs reports an outbreak of the African swine fever in Sichuan and Hubei. Sichuan and Hubei are two of China’s primary producers of pork. The African swine fever previously wiped out a significant quantity of pigs in China in 2019.

 

7th March, 2021

• A string of explosions occurs in a military base in Bata city of Equatorial Guinea. The explosions reportedly killed 20 people and wounded approximately 600 people. The explosions occurred due to negligent storage of dynamite and other explosives at the Nkoa Ntoma military base; the dynamite was ignited when farmers began stubble burning in the area.
• Nine activists are killed by police forces in the Philippines after President Rodrigo Duterte makes a statement urging the police to ‘finish off’ communists in the country. The murdered individuals died in police raids wherein they resisted arrest and were killed. Six others were also arrested while some others escaped.
• Switzerland moves to ban facial coverings such as ‘burqas’ and ‘niqabs’ in the country outside of religious gatherings and establishments. The ban was spearheaded by the Egerkingen Committee, a right-wing organization in Switzerland. The Islamic Central Council of Switzerland released a statement alleging ‘islamophobia’ and bias as a basis for the ban.

 

8th March, 2021

• Cyprus, Greece and Israel sign an agreement called the Euro-Asia Interconnector to begin building the “deepest and longest underwater power cable” in the world which will connect the countries through the Mediterranean. The power cable is intended to supply emergency power up to 1,000-2,000 megawatts (MW). The cable is set to be completed by 2024.
• Security officers open fire on anti-coup protesters, shooting two civilians in the head fatally and injuring three other civilians. The military junta of Myanmar continue their crackdown on anti-coup protests around the country following the overthrowing of the democratic government in February.
• Rallies are held all around the globe on International Women’s Day. Women in Athens, India, Myanmar, and Pakistan among many other countries march for equal social and political rights.

 

9th March, 2021

• The US government under the Biden administration allows Venezuelan immigrants protected status of 18 months. Immigrants from Venezuela are free to work and obtain citizenship during the 18-month period of the protected status.

 

10th March, 2021

• China’s National Space Administration and Russia’s Roscosmos co-sign a memorandum stating intention to build a lunar space station. The joint space station, which will be made on the moon or in the orbit of the moon will facilitate research and experimentation through a string of centers, available for use by other partner countries as well.
• The American Rescue Plan Act 2021 is passed by the United States House of Representatives in a 220–211 vote. The 1.9 trillion USD plan supplies unemployed individuals with monthly payments, other civilians with stimulus and small businesses relief funds in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Hamed Bakayoko, the Prime Minister of the Ivory Coast dies at the age of 56 from cancer. Government officials such as the President of the Ivory Coast Alassane Ouattara expressed condolences over social media.
• Citizens over the age of 60 begin receiving first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in Pakistan. The senior citizens were set to receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine but due to delayed shipment, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) approved the Sinopharm vaccine to be given to the senior citizens. This marks the beginning of phase 2 of the Covid-19 vaccination program in Pakistan, phase 1 of which focused on inoculating frontline healthcare workers.

 

11th March, 2021

• Militant rebels attempt another student abduction in Zamfara, Nigeria. The failed kidnapping results in a mass shooting, taking the lives of thirteen civilians one of which was a student. This is one of many other related incidents of student kidnapping and school raiding in Nigeria in the recent years.
• The President of the United States Joe Biden signs off on the American Rescue Plan Act 2021’s 1.9 trillion USD relief plan. The relief package with the President’s signature is made into a law.

 

12th March, 2021

• Federal College of Forestry Mechanization in Kaduna State of Nigeria is raided, thirty students are abducted by gunmen. This is the fourth school-related raid and kidnapping in Nigeria since December of 2020.
• A vote in China’s parliament moves to allow China to veto candidates in the Hong Kong elections, as well as other changes in Hong Kong’s electoral system. The Chinese government in various statements expressed a concern to ensure Hong Kong is run by true patriots that are loyal to the Communist Party. The move is criticized globally as anti-democratic.

 

13th March, 2021

• The United Kingdom declares China to be in violation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984. The Hong Kong Joint Declaration was signed between UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang in 1984 outlining the transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong. The document illustrated in eight sections that Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) would remain a capitalist country until 2047. China’s recent move to change Hong Kong’s electoral system is therefore in non-compliance of the treaty.
• Eight people are killed and approximately 50 others are reportedly wounded in a car bombing in Afghanistan. Some of the deceased were civilians while others were security officers. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
• A thirteen-year-old child becomes the youngest person to be killed in the anti-coup protests in Myanmar after police officers open fire at protesters in Yangon city. Eleven other protesters were also killed.

 

14th March, 2021

• 54 civilians and one police officer are killed during various anti-coup protests around Myanmar. This marks the highest death toll in the police crackdown of protests since the military coup in February of this year.
• The Netherlands discontinues vaccinating civilians with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine following reports from Denmark on suspected side effects. AstraZeneca responds by releasing a statement denying alleged side effects, claiming there is no evidence to show serious side effects such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism after the vaccine.

 

15th March, 2021

• Thornton's, renowned British chocolate company announces the closure of all of its physical stores, leaving 600 people unemployed. The company claims that it has suffered severe financial loss during the Covid-19 pandemic. Thornton’s will continue to function through supermarkets and in the form of online stores.
• Violent crackdown on anti-coup protesters continues in Myanmar as 20 civilians are shot and killed during protests across the country.

 

16th March, 2021

• Eight people are killed in mass shootings across Atlanta, six of the people murdered in the tragedy were Asian American women. The shooter, a man by the name of Robert Aaron Long opened fire on three Spa facilities across Atlanta before being apprehended by the police after a police chase. The mass shooting is being widely considered as an act of Anti-Asian violence in America which has grown more frequent in the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Maashiq Presidential Palace is stormed by protesters in Yemen. The protesters gathered to contest the dire economic crisis in Yemen given the decline of the national currency and unfavorable living conditions for the population. The demonstrators were removed from the Palace peacefully shortly after the storming.
• An explosion in Harnai, Baluchistan kills seven workers. The explosion occurred as a result of built-up methane gas in the mine. This incident is similar to another explosion that occurred earlier in March which claimed the lives of six mine workers and wounded two others. An investigation into the incident has been ordered and the mine is closed down.
• Martial law is imposed on the Hlaingthaya Township area in Myanmar causing thousands of civilians to flee due to fears of military violence. Hundreds of civilians in Myanmar have been killed since the military takeover in February of this year.
• For the first time in 60 years, new ancient scrolls are found in south Jerusalem. The Dead Sea scrolls which were excavated from the Cave of Horrors contain biblical inscriptions dating back to 2nd century AD during a Jewish revolution, the “Bar Kochba Revolt” against the Romans.

 

17th March, 2021

• President of Tanzania, John Magufuli dies at the age of 62 from a heart attack. The heart attack was reportedly due to the late president suffering from Covid-19. The Vice President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu is said to become the next President after Magufuli’s passing.
• In an ABC News interview, President of the United States Joe Biden states that the Russian President Vladimir Putin shall “pay a price” for attempting to rig the 2020 US Presidential Elections. Biden proceeded to refer to Putin as a “soulless killer”.

 

18th March, 2021

• In a 202-114 vote, the Spanish Congress of Deputies rules in favor to legalize physician assisted suicide and euthanasia for patients suffering from chronic incurable illnesses that hinder their quality of life. Spain is now the fourth European country to legalize euthanasia.
• Several countries, including Lebanon and Kazakhstan halt their procurement of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine due to increasing fear of blood clots in patients who received the vaccination recently.
• Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan receives the first dose of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine. This is amidst the nationwide vaccination drive currently innoculating frontline healthcare workers and elderly individuals over the age of 60.

 

19th March, 2021

• A volcano in Iceland in Fagradalsfjall of the Reykjanes Penninsula. This eruption is after approximately 40,000 earthquakes detected and reported by the Meterological Office in the past month.
• In a 394-14 vote the United States of America’s House of Representatives agrees on a resolution to denounce the military coup in Myanmar, call for lifting of the martial law and release of detained civilian protesters and government officials. Since the military coup

 

20th March, 2021

• Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan tests positive for Covid-19. This comes shortly after he received the first dose of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine. According to research the contraction of the virus and vaccination are unrelated as the vaccine takes about 20 days and two doses to be fully effective.
• Both men prosecuted on charges of sexual assault in Lahore’s “motorway incident” are sentenced to the death penalty by Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC). The men Abid Malhi and Shafqat Ali are accused of sexually assaulting a woman back in September 2020 while her car broke down on the motorway.
• Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar announces the procurement of 1 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine from China. The doses will arrive in two shipments towards the end of March. This is part of Pakistan’s nationwide vaccination drive amidst the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

21st March, 2021

• Six individuals are killed and several others are injured in the bombing of a hospital in Aleppo. The Syrian government conducted airstrikes on the hospital, making this one of many attacks on healthcare facilities in Syria in the recent years. Although a ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey is in place in the area the airstrikes have not stopped.
• Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Pakistan issues more travel bans on several countries into categories of severity; A, B and C. 12 countries including the United Kingdom fall under Category C of the ban, prohibiting travel from and to the country effective from 23rd March 2021.

 

22nd March, 2021

• A fire in Balukhali camp, a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh kills 40 people and wounds 550 others. The fire which blazed throughout the camp for reportedly six hours, displaced 45, 000 refugees from their homes.
• A stampede in Tanzania kills 45 civilians. The stampede occurred at a memorial procession for late President John Magufuli who passed away from a Covid-19 related heart attack earlier in March.

 

23rd March, 2021

• Three civilians are killed and 13 are wounded in a bombing in Chaman, Baluchistan. The Pakistani terrorist organization which goes by the name Tehreek-I-Taliban has claimed responsibility for the bombing. Attacks on police and civilians of Baluchistan have increased in the last year.
• Special Rapporteur for the United Nations Human Rights Council, Agnès Callamard in an interview with the Guardian stated that a top official from Saudi Arabia threatened her life during her investigation into the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. During a meeting at Geneva about the assassination, a senior government official of Saudi Arabia allegedly threatened to have Callamard “taken care of” if she continued her investigation.
• The Suez Canal is blocked by a ship, blocking the trade route completely. The ship called “Ever Given” that is wedged in the canal is reportedly 400m-long (1,312ft) ship, roughly the size of four football pitches. The Suez Canal connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean and sees 12% of global trade traffic. The ship was reportedly on its way from China to Rotterdam in Netherlands and lost the ability to steer due to a storm.

 

24th March, 2021

• Approximately a 100 cargo ships are awaiting the move of the Ever Given which is still stuck in the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) reported that the ship is operated by Evergreen Marine of Taiwan. Traffic continues to increase on both sides of the blocked trade route.
• Pope Francis issues 10% cutting back on the salaries of cardinals and other Vatican officials due to a foreseeable economic crisis in the Vatican amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. The Vatican has suffered a substantial economic deficit (€50m) due to the closing down of exhibits and museums due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

25th March, 2021

• In a press conference, President of USA Joe Biden states that it is difficult to withdraw the U.S troops from Afghanistan by the previously announced May 1st deadline. It is reportedly difficult due to the number of troops (10, 000) and their equipment being hard to remove altogether in the matter of six weeks. Biden went on to state that he thinks it's unlikely the troops will remain in Afghanistan next year.
• The infamous Pakistani musical duo Strings breaks up after 33 years. Band members Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia took to their Instagram accounts to deliver the news. The end of the musical duo has come as a shock to their widespread fanbase across the world.
• Both United Kingdom and United States place sanctions on Myanma Economic Holdings and Myanmar Economic Corporation following the military coup in Myanmar. The military junta has committed various acts that are being globally considered as war crimes, against civilians and government officials.

 

26th March, 2021

• Police open fire at demonstrators protesting India’s Prime Minister Modi’s visit, killing four people. The citizens of Bangladesh chanted slogans denouncing the visit and telling Modi to go back given the country’s long history of strained relationship with India.
• The US Navy announces plans to deploy a dredging and assessment team to the Suez Canal to help move the megaship Ever Given. The Suez Canal has been blocked for four days, halting trade traffic on both sides and holding up hundreds of cargo ships containing artillery and fuel. 
• Kanwal Nasser, famed tv host known as Pakistan’s first Tv anchor/host passes away at the age of 70. Nasser had a long and successful career which won her the Lifetime Achieving Award. She is survived by four children.
• Famed writer and dramatist Haseena Moin passes away at the age of 79. Moin is known for successful dramas such as Aahat and Dhoop Kinarey among others. Her death ensued an outpouring of condolences on social media.

 

27th March, 2021

• Approximately 114 protesters are shot and killed by military forces in Myanmar on the country’s Armed Forces Day. This is one of numerous other incidents of military violence against civilian protesters since the military junta’s coup in Myanmar earlier in 2021.
• A 25-year cooperation agreement is signed by Iran and China. The signing of the agreement was televised live in Tehran on Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Iran. The agreement is meant to increase China’s investment into Iran’s infrastructure and energy.
• Thousands of Turkish women gather on the streets to protest President Tayyip Erdogan’s decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention. The treaty, signed in 2011, is an international treaty against domestic violence. The decision came as a shock to the global audience as Turkey was one of the first countries to sign the treaty initially. Protesters gathered in Istanbul’s seafront square chanting slogans demanding Erdogan to reconsider the country’s position.

 

28th March, 2021

• The Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) and the Sudanese Government sign a peace agreement. The agreement is meant to uphold the government’s intent to separate religion from state matters and allow the civilians religious freedom. This comes after the imposition of Sharia Law in the country since 1983.
• Thousands of protesters march to Islamabad after the bodies of four young boys are found in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The boys, aged 16-20 were discovered in a shallow grave and are thought to have been tortured and shot by security personnel. The protesters marched to pressure the government to take action against the act of violence.

 

29th March, 2021

• The United States ceases its diplomatic relations with Myanmar until the democratic government is restored. The military coup in Myanmar has sparked outrage globally since its beginning in February, causing many countries to condemn the military junta’s leaders and government.
• The Ever Given is moved, refloated northbound, allowing approximately 365 ships and containers to pass through the Suez Canal. This is after five days of trade blockage as the ship was diagonally wedged in the Suez Canal.
• President Arif Alvi and Defence Minister Pervez Khattak test positive for Covid-19 amidst the third wave of the pandemic in Pakistan.

 

30th March, 2021

• Three female polio vaccine workers are shot and killed in Jalalabad, Nangarhar. The killings of polio workers in Afghanistan, especially women have increased significantly in the past decades.
• A hundred deaths are reported in Pakistan due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This is the highest number of per day deaths this year. Covid-19 cases in the country have risen substantially amidst the third wave of the pandemic.

 

31st March, 2021

• Pakistan moves down two spots in the Global Gender Gap Index. 'Global Gender Gap Report 2021' published by the World Economic Forum ranked Pakistan as 156th as opposed to the previous 153rd ranking. This puts Pakistan among four worst countries for gender equality in the world.

 

April 2021

1st April, 2021

• Minimum wage in New Zealand is raised to $20 per hour. The country’s new tax reform also dictates that the wealthiest citizens (citizens earning over $180,000 annually) of New Zealand pay taxes of 39%.
• Sanctions are placed on Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) by the United Kingdom for funding the military junta in its coup against the government. Countries all over the world have expressed concern and disapproval at the military junta’s killing of civilian protesters in the past two months.
• John Hennessey-Niland, the American ambassador of Palau pays a visit to Taiwan. This is the first visit from an American representative to Taiwan since 1976 when the U.S severed formal ties with Taiwan.
• Hong Kong convicts barrister Martin Lee, social activist Leung Kwok-hung, entrepreneur Jimmy Lai and politician Margaret Ng of unlawful assembly. Five other activists were also convicted, for organizing a pro-democracy rally back in 2019. The rally on 18th August 2019 was one of the biggest rallies in the country; 1.7 million people reportedly attended. The convicted organizers face up to five years in prison.
• Khwaja Saeed Hai, veteran Pakistani tennis player, passes away at the age of 91. Hai was the first Pakistani player to reach the main draws of a Grand Slam Wimbledon Champion­ship (both in 1955 and 1956). Condolences poured in over social media for the tennis legend’s demise.

 

2nd April, 2021

• An express train in Taiwan, with 500 passengers aboard, derails, killing 49 people. 66 others were wounded in the accident, reportedly. The crash occurred on Taiwan’s annual Tomb Sweeping Holiday; the passengers were reportedly headed to visit their family graves.
• The U.S lifts sanctions from some members of the International Criminal Court. Former U.S President Donald Trump previously placed these sanctions, allegedly because the prosecutors were investigating war crimes committed in Palestine and Afghanistan.

 

3rd April, 2021

• All ships (85) previously stopped by the Ever Given in the Suez Canal manage to successfully pass through. The Suez Canal Authority continues to investigate the cause of the Ever Given getting stuck in the canal.
• Jordanian royal family member Hassan Bin Zaid along with 19 others is arrested in a plot to overthrow King Abdullah II.
• 22 mummified pharaohs are moved from Egyptian Museum in Cairo to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. The mummified remains were moved, each in on their individual float in a ceremony being referred to as “The Golden Parade”. The mummified pharaohs included the most powerful female pharaoh in Egyptian history Queen Hatshepsut as well as legendary warrior pharaoh Ramses II.

 

4th April, 2021

• Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announces plans to present a peace agreement between the Afghan government and the Taliban during the Turkey Summit 2021. This plan intends to counter USA’s plan to install an interim government in Afghanistan to tackle the situation.
• Gunmen attack and kill counter-terrorism judge Aftab Afridi along with three of his family members. The attackers shot at the vehicle as the family was on their way to Islamabad. The attack occurred in the Swabi district of KPK. No one has taken responsibility for the attack; the attacks fled the scene shortly after the shooting.
• Camp 7 of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp closes. Camp 7 was reportedly home to many high-profile criminals including individuals suspected to be involved in 911. The U.S decided to close down Camp 7 and move the prisoners due to structural issues in the camp.

 

5th April, 2021

• Hajj and Umrah Ministry of Saudi Arabia announces plans to allow individuals to perform Umrah in Ramadan. Only immunized individuals; people who have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, people who have received one dose 14 days before, and people who have had COVID-19 and recovered will be allowed to perform Umrah.
• Renowned South Korean company LG announces ceasing of smartphone production. The company reported poor sales of their smartphones amid tough competition with other smartphone brands worldwide.
• Russian President Vladmir Putin signs a law outlining that elected Presidents serve four consecutive presidential terms, each of six years. This would allow Putin to remain in power until the year 2036.
• Turkish authorities arrest 10 former members of the army in an attempted coup. Over 100 former admirals signed a letter warning the government not to go ahead with plans to build the Istanbul Canal; a canal that would connect the Black Sea to the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas through a waterway. The admirals protested the Istanbul Canal as it threatens the 1936 Montreux Convention. The Montreux Convention restricts free passage of naval ships that don’t belong to the Black Sea countries through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits.

 

6th April, 2021

• Limpet mines strike the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy reconnaissance vessel “Saviz” around the Eritrea coast in the Red Sea. The ship “Saviz” was previously sanctioned by former U.S President Donald Trump for providing Iran data for Houthi anti-shipping attacks. An unnamed source from the U.S reported that Israel struck the ship in the morning with the magnetic mines. This was allegedly done as retribution for previous Iranian attacks on Israeli ships.
• Sudanese government annuls 1958 law which forbids Sudan from establishing formal ties with Israel. This comes a few months after Sudan and Israel normalized their ties formally.
• National Assembly of Pakistan approves a bill outlining a two-year imprisonment and fine imposed on criticism of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The bill was met with outrage on social media.

 

7th April, 2021

• Military forces open fire at anti-coup protesters, killing 15 civilians and injuring 12 more. This is one of the many recent civilian killings at the hands of the military junta in Myanmar.
• G20 bankers and finance ministers extend a debt moratorium interest payments for developing countries, amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. This action comes as a relief to poor countries that are recovering from economic crises following the pandemic.

 

8th April, 2021

• Egyptian archeologists excavate “lost golden city” outside Luxor. The 3,000-year-old city is the largest ancient city ever found in Egypt. According to lead Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass the city existed during the reigns of pharaohs Amenhotep III, Tutankhamun and Ay. This discovery is being hailed as the second most important archeological feat since Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered almost a hundred years ago.
• Rai News, the newspaper Domani, the Guardian conduct a joint investigation against Italian prosecutors, revealing that thousands of conversations were wiretapped and recorded to be used in a case against human rights groups such as Save the Children and Médecins Sans Frontières. The human rights groups allegedly aided in rescue boats carrying illegal immigrants from Libya.

 

9th April, 2021

• The Duke of Edinburgh Prince Phillip dies at the age of 99. The Duke was the longest serving king consort in England, married to Queen Elizabeth II.
• Russia deploys several heavily armed troops to the Ukraine border, sparking international confusion. The Ukraine war has been an ongoing conflict between Russian-funded separatists and the government of Ukraine since 2015. Recent conversations among the countries have slowly moved towards the possibility of war.

 

10th April, 2021

• Kyaw Moe Tun, Myanmar Ambassador to the United Nations calls for the imposition of a no-fly-zone over Myanmar as well as an arms embargo on the military junta. Tun urged countries to step in and protect Myanmar’s civilians from airstrikes and the violence of the military junta.
• An earthquake on the Java Island of Indonesia kills seven people.

 

11th April, 2021

• Russian forces fire on the front lines, killing a Ukrainian soldier and wounding another. A total of 27 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed from conflicts at the border this year.
• A blackout at an underground nuclear facility in Iran is dubbed as an act of “nuclear terrorism” by the Iranian government. Electrical lines were compromised during the blackout and the Iranian government stated that it reserves the right to respond to whoever was behind the sabotage.

 

12th April, 2021

• Ibn Abdur Rehman, renowned Pakistani human rights advocate and journalist dies at the age of 90. Tributes and condolences poured in over social media for the esteemed human rights advocate.
• Two more Ukrainian soldiers are killed at the front lines during a conflict with Russian separatist forces. Armed fighting at the border between Russia and Ukraine has risen in the recent months. Ukrainian government invokes Article 15 of the Charter on a Special Partnership to meet with NATO to discuss Russia’s escalation of violence at the border.

 

13th April, 2021

• Yahya Shah, a founding member of Gilgit-Baltistan’s Pakistan’s People Party. A well-respected politician and advocate for biodiversity, Shah is mourned by his colleagues, children and widow.
• Turkey announces plans to host a summit from 24th April until 4th May to hold talks to end the war in Afghanistan. This comes after the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced plans to enter into a peace agreement between the government and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
• The chief of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) Maulana Saad Rizvi is arrested, prompting riots across the country from the party. TLP activists stormed the streets of Taxila, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, halting traffic for hours.
• The ship Ever Given is seized by Egyptian authorities pending a payment of $900 million for the days-long inconvenience caused the ship becoming lodged in the Suez Canal.

 

14th April, 2021

• Renowned Pakistani director S. Sulema passes away at the age of 80. Suleman was the recipient of 10 Nigar Awards, a Sitara-e-Imtiaz as well as a Pride of Performance award during his long career.
• Joe Biden, the President of the United States announces that the U.S troops deployed in Afghanistan will leave the country by September 11. This is an update to the previously established deadline of May 1st 2021.
• Intelligence agencies report that secret talks were being held between Pakistan and India in January of this year. United Arab Emirates acted as a mediator of the talks to help the countries mend their strained relations.

 

15th April, 2021

• A car bombing in Sadr city of Iraq kills four civilians and injured 17 others. The car which exploded was parked in a busy market area that has predominantly Shia residents. Attacks against the Shia community in Iraq have been common in the past decade. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
• A 13-year-old boy named Adam Toledo is shot and killed by an officer of the Chicago Police Department, according to body-cam footage. Toledo was of Mexican descent; police violence and police killings are lived realities for people of color in America.

 

16th April, 2021

• Central Bank of Turkey places ban on cryptocurrency payments on the purchases of goods and services. This ban caused bitcoin to fall 4%.
• Russian Foreign Minister announces that 10 U.S diplomats in Russia will be asked to leave the country. This comes as a response to the U.S placing sanctions on Russian diplomats earlier this year.
• Raúl Castro resigns as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba at the 8th Congress of the Communist Party. President Miguel Díaz-Canel is set to take over the position. Raúl Castro is the brother of communist revolutionary Fidel Castro.

 

17th April, 2021

• The funeral procession of late Prince Phillip Duke of Edinburgh is held at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor. Only 30 people were allowed to attend the closed funeral service.
• The COVID-19 death toll around the world reaches over 3 million, amidst the third wave of the global pandemic.

 

18th April, 2021

• 11 members of the police force are released amidst talks between the Pakistan government and Tehreek-I-Labbaik Pakistan. The policemen were taken hostage by TLP during the riots earlier this month.
• 149 COVID-19 deaths are reported in a single day in Pakistan; this is the highest number of single day deaths in 2021. The country continues struggles to grapple with the severity of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

19th April, 2021

• Yasar Bashir, a Pakistani-American commander gets appointed the Assistant Chief of the Houston Police Department. Bashir has a master's degree in Criminology and will head the family violence department. Bashir is the first Pakistani to be an assistant chief of police in the United States of America.
• The Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam is invited to be a speaker and represent Pakistan at the virtual Leaders' Summit on Climate. The summit is hosted by the United States. Pakistan had been excluded from an invitation when other South Asian Countries had initially been invited in March, 2021.

 

20th April, 2021

• The President of Chad Idriss Déby dies at the age of 69. Déby was the ruler of Chad for approximately 31 years and died from injuries sustained during battle at the front lines against rebel forces in the north. The head of the transitional government and the late President’s son General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno is set to become head of state. General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno is only 37 years old; currently the youngest head of state in Africa.
• Pakistan ranks 90 on the Inclusive Internet Index published by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). The global report comprises of 120 countries. Other South Asian countries such as India, Bangladesh and Nepal ranked at 49, 82 and 83, respectively.
• Russia deploys 150,000 troops to the Ukrainian border as the global community grows more concerned over possible armed conflict. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell commented on the situation, calling Russia to withdraw the troops. Borrell also expressed disapproval at the imprisonment and deteriorating health of opposition leader Alexie Navalny, who is currently on a hunger strike to protest prison conditions.

 

21st April, 2021

• A terrorist bombing at the Serena Hotel in Quetta kills five people. Approximately 12 others were wounded in the explosion. According to reports, the bomb was attached to a vehicle. The attack is under investigation since no group has claimed responsibility for the explosion.
• The National Defense Forces in Syria engaged in armed clashes with Kurdish security personnel in the city of Qamishli, Hawar. The fighting continued all night up until the morning. The Kurds are an ethnic-minority in Syria that are allied with U.S to combat the Islamic State. Clashes occasionally flare up between the Syrian government forces and the Kurds over disputed territories.
• The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy invited Vladmir Putin to east Ukraine for talks to put an end to ongoing separatist clashes. In a press conference earlier, Zelenskiy stated that though Ukraine did not want armed conflict, it was ready to retaliate to Russian aggression at the border.
• Joe Biden, the President of the United States, promises to send $300 million in aid to Afghanistan. This is reportedly due to fears for the Afghan government’s dissolution after the U.S troops are withdrawn. The global community has expressed concern over the Taliban’s efforts to take over the government when the troops leave Afghanistan in September, 2021.

 

22nd April, 2021

• Russian Defense Ministry announces intention to withdraw troops from the Ukraine border, claiming the deployment was only for drills.
• UK’s House of Common passes a resolution deeming China’s conduct in the Xinjiang province as genocidal persecution of the Uyghur Muslim minorities. Since last year, China has imprisoned over 2 million Uyghurs in detention camps. While China has denied allegations of ethnic cleansing in concentration camps, countries worldwide have condemned China’s conduct.

 

23rd April, 2021

• The University of Oxford reports significant advancement in the development of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine Malaria vaccine. The vaccine was tested on almost 500 children and proved to be effective in inoculating them against the virus. The virus currently kills half a million people annually in African countries.

 

24th April, 2021

• India continues to struggle with nationwide oxygen shortage while COVID-19 cases continue to rise daily. The death toll has risen significantly over the past few weeks while the authorities and citizens are scrambling to deal with the dire situation.
• 14 civilians die as three provinces in Afghanistan are attacked by a bombs and open firing. While four civilians were killed in a bombing in Ghazni, six people were gunned down in Kabul by unknown gunmen and four civilians were killed in an explosion in Ka in Kandahar. No group has taken responsibility for the attack.
• In Iraq, a fire at a hospital in Baghdad takes the lives of 82 people. The fire, which was reportedly caused by an oxygen tank’s explosion, wounded 100 others. An investigation into the incident was ordered.
• Indonesian authorities discover debris from missing submarine KRI Nanggala-402, declaring the submarine as “sunk”. The submarine had gone missing a few days prior and was finally found after intensive search operations. The 53 crew members inside the submarine have been declared dead.

25th April, 2021

• United States announces the beginning of the withdrawal of U.S troops from Afghanistan. The withdrawal is set to complete by 11th September 2021.
• It is announced by the U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan that the U.S will send aid to India amidst its oxygen shortage COVID-19-related crisis. It was also announced the U.S is considering sending vaccine shipments to India as aid as well.

 

26th April, 2021

• Russian government forbids the Anti-Corruption Foundation, from engaging in political organization and publishing opposition rhetoric online. The Anti-Corruption Foundation was founded by opposition leader Alexei Navalny in 2011.
• The US States Census reveals the current population of the United States to be 331 million. The census prompted some developments in the congressional seats allotted to each state, with Texas’ seats increasing by one while Ohio, New York, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, among others, are set to lose one seat each.

 

27th April, 2021

• Federal education minister Shafqat Mahmood announces the postponement of all exams countrywide until June 15, 2021. This comes after countrywide backlash from O and A levels students who protested on social media against having to give the CIEs amid the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Human Rights Watch reports that Israel has been committing apartheid crimes against Palestinians. The report was 213-pages long and detailed Israel’s discriminatory crimes against the Palestinian people.

 

28th April, 2021

• Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar reports that a total of 2.1 million vaccines against COVID-19 have been administered to Pakistanis since the vaccination drive began this year. Walk-in vaccinations have been made available to citizens of and over the age of 50. Vaccinations for people of and over the age of 40 were also opened.
• India’s COVID-19 death toll passes 200,000 as more than 3000 people die in a single day amid the lethal third wave of the pandemic in India.

 

29th April, 2021

• Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan forces engage in armed conflict at their mutual border. The conflict resulted in the deaths of four personnel and numerous injuries on both sides. Shortly after, the respective governments of the countries agreed to a ceasefire.
• India sees approximately 379,257 Covid-19 cases in the span of 24 hours, hitting a new global record. The country continues to tackle the oxygen shortage, rapid rise of deaths and Covid-19 cases amidst the third wave of the pandemic.

 

30th April, 2021

• A suicide bombing in Logar, Afghanistan, kills 30 and wounds 91 others. The explosion occurred as a result of a bomb attached to a car. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
• Despite a ceasefire agreement, fighting continues at the Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan border. 31 people are killed and 154 others are injured on Kyrgyzstan’s side. Meanwhile, 10 are killed are killed and 90 others are wounded on Tajikistan’s side.

 

May 2021

1st May, 2021

• The United States Troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan begins. Additionally, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) also began calling their troops back from Afghanistan.
• Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan agree to a ceasefire after both country’s forces engaged in armed clashes at the border. Two days of mourning are announced in Kyrgyzstan for the loss of those who died in the border clashes.
• A fire at Patel Welfare Hospital in Bharuch, India takes the lives of 16 Covid-19 patients as well as two nurses. The incident is being investigated.
• India reports 401,993 Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, setting a record for the highest number of cases reported by a country, in a span of 24 hours. India continues to struggle for supplies to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

2nd May, 2021

• Myanmar’s military forces open fire on protestors around the country, killing 7 civilians. The countrywide protests were organized as ‘Myanmar’s spring revolution’ movement against the military junta’s takeover of the government.
• 30,000 Kyrgyz civilians vacate the Batken Region near the Tajikistan border. Both countries agree to a ceasefire and withdrawal of their troops from their borders.
• 7 billion USD in frozen Iranian funds are released as well as Iranian prisoners that have links with the Western world. This includes Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who has been in an Iranian prison since 2016 for allegedly plotting against the state. Rumors suggested that the UK is set to pay 400 million pounds for her release.
• 18 people were reportedly killed in jihadist attacks in Baghdad, Iraq. Most of the deceased were Iraqi soldiers.

 

3rd May, 2021

• Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan completely withdraw troops from the border. The death toll on Kyrgyzstan’s side goes up to 36; the casualties include that of a four-year-old boy who perished during the armed clashes. Tajikistan launches a criminal investigation against Kyrgyzstan for unleashing the armed conflict.
• Iran debunks previous reports of an agreement with the USA and UK to release their prisoners, including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
• Joe Biden, President of the US, passes a ruling increasing the cap on USA’s acceptance of refugees; from 15,000 a year to 65,000 a year.

 

4th May, 2021

• India reports over 20 million Covid-19 cases, becoming the second country with that many cases after the United States. The third wave of Covid-19 hit India considerably hard, the population continues to struggles to cope with the nationwide oxygen shortage.

 

5th May, 2021

• Four soldiers are killed and six are injured in a militant attack in Baluchistan, Pakistan. Terrorist attacks have increased significantly in Baluchistan in the past decade.
• LiveLeak, the video-sharing platform is shut down. The platform has been around for 15 years and has been widely criticized for sharing controversial videos of militant murders and executions over the years. The platform was criticised worldwide after it shared the execution of Saddam Hussein.

 

6th May, 2021

• According to a Ministry of Emergency Situations report, 86 facilities and 136 houses were destroyed in the border clashes between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Tajikistan reports a death toll of 19 and reports 87 people were wounded in the armed conflict.
• Russia approves the use of “Sputnik Light” a one-shot Sputnik vaccine against Covid-19. The vaccine is said to have an efficacy of 71%.
• China suspends China–Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue. This is a development in the countries’ worsening economic ties. Previously, China placed sanctions on Australia’s wine and coal imports and did not renew hay import permits for Australia. Alternatively, Australia did not partake in China’s Belt and Road initiative. The Belt and Road initiative, also known as the One Belt One Road initiative is China’s initiative to invest in over 70 countries globally.

 

7th May, 2021

• Lahore High Court grants Shahbaz Sharif leave to pursue medical treatment abroad. This required Shahbaz Sharif to be removed from the travel blacklist he had previously been on.
• Armenia finishes returning war prisoners to Azerbaijan. This is after Armenia and Azerbaijan’s armed Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 2020 which ended on November 9. The November 9 Agreement marked a ceasefire between the two countries.
• Scientists reveal that four distinct species of Giraffes exist. This debunks the previous understanding that all giraffes came from a single species. DNA study also revealed 7 subspecies of Giraffes. 
• Israeli forces storm Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, wounding 205 Palestinian worshippers with rubber bullets and tear gas. Israeli forces have worsened their crackdown on Palestinians recently, forcibly evicting residents of Sheikh Jarrah.

 

8th May, 2021

• An explosion outside a school in the Hazara district of Kabul takes the lives of 58 civilians and wounds 150 others. Most of the deceased were schoolgirls. This is the highest death toll in a terrorist attack in Afghanistan this year. The notorious terrorist group Taliban has not taken responsibility for the attack.
• Palestinian protestors clash with Israeli forces in East Jerusalem. The clashes left 90 Palestinians wounded. There have been violent clashes daily as Israeli forces prepare for Jewish settlers to occupy Sheikh Jarrah.
• Prime Minister Imran Khan lands in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia continue talks to strengthen ties between the two countries.

 

9th May, 2021

• Elon Musk announces that SpaceX will now accept cryptocurrency DOGE-1 as payment for the company’s upcoming mission to the moon.
• Israeli Supreme Court delays ruling on the forced eviction of the residents of Sheikh Jarrah. Israeli forces continue to clash with Palestinians to forcibly evict them from their homes to make way for settlers in the coming weeks.

 

10th May, 2021

• Taliban announces a ceasefire in Afghanistan in observance of Eid-ul-Fitr. The ceasefire will last three days.
• Clashes continue in Palestine as Israel forces respond to Hamas rockets with airstrikes; killing 24 civilians and wounding 103 others, nine of which were children. 
• Researchers in Ukraine report the increase of radiation at the site of the Chernobyl disaster; the Chernobyl power plant. Containers of fuel in the most radioactive room have disintegrated into dust particles.

 

11th May, 2021

• Israel conducts airstrikes on Gaza strip, killing eight Palestinians and wounding several others. People across the world gather for demonstrations and protests in solidarity with the Palestinians. 
• A school shooting in Kazan, Russia, leaves seven children and two teachers dead. The shooter was later arrested.
• Data rights groups around the world criticize Facebook and Instagram for deleting pro-Palestine posts from their platforms. Users worldwide joined in and accused the algorithm for being discriminatory.

 

12th May, 2021

• Israeli continues its airstrikes on Palestine; killing 48 Palestinians and wounding 390 others. The death toll of children killed in Israeli airstrikes this year rises to 17. Protests in Palestine continue as well as protests around the globe in solidarity with the Palestinians. Israeli forces vow to continue attacking the Gaza strip until ‘there’s a total quiet’.
• Two new Covid-19 vaccination centers open in Lahore; these centers can ideally vaccinate up to 3000 people daily. Pakistan continues to vaccinate its population as the country grapples with the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

13th May, 2021

• Explosions around Afghanistan kill eleven civilians and injure several others. This marks the end of Taliban’s ceasefire in observance of Eid-ul-Fitr.
• Israel conducts airstrikes on Gaza, killing 113 Palestinians and wounding 600 more. The death toll of children killed by Israeli forces rises to 31.

 

14th May, 2021

• Israel continues its attacks on Gaza; the death toll rising to 132 Palestinians with almost a 1000 Palestinians wounded in airstrikes. Palestinians continue to grapple with the collapse of their buildings and homes. Additionally, Israeli settlers are still attacking and harassing residents in Hebron, killing eleven Palestinian protestors.
• 12 civilians are killed during Friday ‘Jummah’ prayers, in an explosion at Kabul Mosque. The country’s most notorious terrorist group Taliban denied responsibility for the attack.

 

15th May, 2021

• Israeli airstrikes claim the lives of eleven Palestinians, bringing the death toll of children killed to 41. A refugee camp is bombed later in the day, killing several more Palestinians. Israeli bombs have destroyed the headquarters of news channels in the West Bank, including Al-Jazeera news and the Associated Press. Benjamin Netanyahu announces that there is no end to the attacks on Palestine in sight, the airstrikes and attacks will continue as long as they are ‘needed’.
• China’s Mars rover developed by China National Space Administration; “Zhurong” lands on Mars. China is now the third country in the world to achieve a soft landing on Mars.

 

16th May, 2021

• Israel conducts airstrikes on Gaza, killing 42 Palestinians. The airstrikes struck a busy downtown storefront, killing 10 children reportedly.
• After deliberations in Pakistan and Qatar, Taliban agrees to attend the summit in Istanbul. Taliban had previously refused to attend the summit where there would’ve been peace talks about Taliban’s conduct in Afghanistan.
• Andrea Meza from Mexico is named Miss Universe 2020. The 2021 Miss Universe pageant was held in Hollywood Florida.

 

17th May, 2021

• Israeli airstrikes kill more Palestinians, making the death toll 212 people. Amidst the instability in Gaza, USA approves a weapons sale worth $735 million to Israel.
• Naomi Mata'afa becomes the first female prime minister of Samoa. This political development ended the long-term reign of Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi who was prime minister for almost 23 years, since 1998.
• Fagradalsfjall Volcano in Iceland erupts, after being dormant for 6000 years. Fortunately, there were no injuries or casualties.

 

18th May, 2021

• Israel’s airstrike on Gaza destroys its Covid-19 laboratory, ceasing Covid-19 testing for Palestinians in the area. The airstrikes killed several Palestinians, raising the death toll to 217.
• Protesters gather at Damascus Gate to protest Israel’s apartheid in Palestine. Israeli police squash the protest by firing protesters with skunk water, rubber bullets, and stun grenades. In Beit El settlement of West Bank, Israeli forces open fire on protesters, killing one. Similar conflict takes place in Bethlehem, Nablus, Butrus and Hebron.
• Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem, Israel and West Bank go on strike to protest Israel’s forcible evictions in Sheikh Jarrah and bombing of Gaza. The strike is being referred to as the “day of rage”.

 

19th May, 2021

• United States of America vetoes United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. There was significant backlash from the global community over USA’s defense of the genocidal aggressor Israel. USA’ s current government has time and time again made their stance clear on the subject.

 

20th May, 2021

• Two bombings in Helmand and Ghor provinces of Afghanistan take the lives of 13 people. In west Afghanistan, terrorists hijack a bus and kill three Hazara passengers.
• Hamas and Israel agree on a ceasefire. The death toll on Palestine’s side during Israel’s strikes is 232 while the death toll for Israel is 11.
• Founder of ByteDance, Zhang Yiming announces that he will step down as CEO of the company. Yiming’s company also owns the popular video sharing app TikTok. Rubo Liang, the chief of human resources will take over as CEO.
• Microsoft is set to discontinue supporting Internet Explorer effective June 15th 2022. This means on latest versions of Windows 10; Internet Explorer will not be a default browser application.

 

21st May, 2021

• In spite of the ceasefire, Israeli forces open fire rubber bullets and stun grenades at Palestinian worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Reporters and journalists present were also wounded in the process. Moreover, bodies found under the debris of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes bring the Palestinian death count to 242.
• An art collector in New York; Stuart Pivar claims he discovered a long lost Van Gogh painting at an auction. The painting “Auvers, 1890” will be sent to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam to be authenticated. If the painting is authentic, it will officially be Van Gogh’s only square painting and also his largest painting at 36” by 36”.
• Pakistan reports over 20,000 deaths due to Covid-19. The country is still grappling to control the outbreak and vaccinate its population amid the third wave of the pandemic.

 

22nd May, 2021

• 21 participants die and 8 are injure during the long race “Gansu Ultramarathon” in Gansu China. The race was interrupted by winds and extremely cold weather, killing the racers with hypothermia.
• Bangladesh lifts its travel ban on Israel. Previously the Bangladeshi passport stated that the document cannot be used to travel to and from Israel. This section was removed from renewed passports.
• More than 180,000 protesters gather at London’s Hyde Park to show support for Palestine. This is biggest pro-Palestine gathering in the history of Britain. Similar protests of varying magnitude continue to take place around the world as Israel continues its violent crackdown on Palestinians.
• Mount Nyiragong volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo erupts.

 

23rd May, 2021

• India faces a rapidly worsening “black fungus” epidemic. The illness is reportedly caused in patients recovering from Covid-19, currently 8800 cases have been reported. The country is also facing a shortage of the medicine used to treat the symptoms of black fungus.
• President of Iraq Barham Salih states that approximately $150 billion worth of oil has been stolen from Iraq since 2003.

 

24th May, 2021

• 32 casualties of the Mount Nyiragongo eruption are reportedly confirmed. The active stratovolcano erupted two days ago, causing thousands of residents to seek refuge in surrounding areas.

 

25th May, 2021

• Pakistan’s University of Health Sciences reports that it has started working on developing a “single-shot” nasal Covid-19 vaccination. This vaccine will not require a syringe and clinical trials are set to begin two months after permits are obtained.

 

26th May, 2021

• President of Iran Hassan Rouhani announces indefinite ban on cryptocurrency mining in the country. Illegal cryptocurrency mining is said to have caused power outages throughout the country.
• A 14-minute total lunar eclipse nicknamed “Super Flower Blood Moon” occurs.

 

27th May, 2021

• French President Emmanuel Macron admits to France playing a role in Rwandan genocide of 1994, during an official visit to Rwanda’s Kigali city. The country’s relations with Rwanda have completely dissipated in the recent decades, after the genocide.

 

28th May, 2021

• The government of Germany admits to its genocide of Herero and Namaqua people during its colonial rule of Namibia. Heiko Maas announces 1.1 billion euros to be donated to the descendants of Herero and Namaqua descendants over the next 30 years.
• Punjab government announces “University of the Year” award for public universities in Punjab, Pakistan. The criteria for winners were developed by the Higher Education Department and Punjab Higher Education Commission

 

29th May, 2021

• Prime Minister of United Kingdom Boris Johnson gets married to Carrie Symonds in a private ceremony of 30 people. Symonds is a political activist.
• Saudi Arabia lifts travel ban on 11 countries, previously placed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Pakistanis are still currently banned from travelling to Saudi Arabia.

 

30th May, 2021

• Chelsea wins the Champions League, against Manchester City. The winning goal was scored by Kai Havertz.

 

31st May, 2021

• World Health Organization establishes Greek alphabet naming system to identify Covid-19 variants. This was done to dispel stigma and stereotypes against countries a particular variant originated from. The variants will be named under Alpha, Kappa and Delta according to their chronology.

 

June 2021

1st June, 2021

• Danish broadcaster, Danmark’s Radio, (and other media outlets in Europe) in a report said that US’s NSA had spied on top politicians in Germany, France, Norway, and Sweden by eavesdropping on Danish underwater internet cables from 2012 to 2014. Through it, they were able to access text messages, telephone calls and internet traffic including searches, chats and messaging services — including those of Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel.

 

2nd June, 2021

• Pakistan and Tajikistan have signed a MoU for the sale of weapons. A meeting was held between the Pakistani PM, Imran Khan, and the Tajikistan President Emomali Rah­mon, at the PM Office in Islamabad, Pakistan. Several other MoUs related to culture and education were also signed.
• An Arab Israeli party, United Arab List, has for the first time joined an Israeli coalition in hopes of forming a government and removing Benjamin Netanyahu. Mansour Abbas, the party’s head, signed an eleventh hour deal with centrist Yair Lapid and right-wing nationalist Naftali Bennett, all of whom shall be part of the proposed coalition government.
• The WHO has given names of alpha, beta, gamma, and delta (Greek alphabets) to the coronavirus strains detected in the UK, South Africa, Brazil, and India respectively, according to the order of their detection. This was done owing to the fact that the scientific names of the variants can be difficult to remember, and are prone to misreporting.

 

3rd June, 2021

• President Joe Biden has announced that the US shall send seven million covid-19 vaccines to South and Southeast Asian countries to help local governments overcome the pandemic. Pakistan and Bangladesh will received vaccines according to this scheme, while India will receive vaccines from another tranche of six million kept aside for countries experiencing a surge in cases.

 

4th June, 2021

• Police in India’s Jharkand state have arrested 7 people who were in possession of 6.4 kilograms of Uranium. This is the second such incident in under a month in which large quantities of this radioactive material have been seized from unauthorized persons in India. Earlier, 2 men with 7 kilograms of Uranium were arrested in the first week of May.

 

7th June, 2021

• Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that ensures Russia’s exit from the Open Skies arms control treaty, which allows unarmed surveillance of member counties. This comes after US’s exit from the treaty during the Trump-era, and President Joe Biden’s decision to not rejoin the treaty.
• Abdulla Shahid, the current Foreign Minister of Maldives, has been elected as the President of the 76th UN General Assembly.

 

9th June, 2021

• The New Zealand city of Auckland has topped the Global Livability Ranking by the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU). Karachi ranks 134th out of 140 cities.

 

10th June, 2021

• President Joe Biden and PM Boris Johnson met face to face for the first time and signed a 21st century version of the Atlantic Charter. The document includes a commitment to cooperate on issues such as technology, climate change, and science. In addition, it reaffirms support for NATO, and highlights opposition to disinformation campaigns and election interference.
• According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2020-2021, the GDP of Pakistan has recorded a growth of 3.94 per cent in the first 9 months of the fiscal year i.e. July to March. The recorded growth has been higher than the target of 2.1pc.
• India records 6,148 deaths in a single day. Breaking the previous record of 5,444 by the United States, recorded on February 12.
• According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2020-2021, the literacy rate in Pakistan stands at 60%. A district level survey for 2019-2020 by the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement (PSLSM) showed that the literacy rate for the population of 10 and above is 60% and has been stuck at this figure since 2014-2015.

 

11th June, 2021

• Iran has regained its vote in the UNGA, after losing it in January due to non-payment of dues amounting to more than $65 million. The US enabled Tehran to use funds frozen in South Korea to pay around $16 million, the minimum amount needed to regain the vote. According to Iran, about $20 billion of its oil revenue is frozen in countries like South Korea, Iraq and China since 2018 due to the sanctions imposed by former President Trump.
• The Finance Minister, Shaukat Tarin, presented the Rs.8.48 million federal budget for the fiscal year 2021-2022. The Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) has received an allocation of Rs2,135 billion, an increase of 37% as compared to last year.

 

12th June, 2021

• Through the mediation efforts of Georgian Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili, and the United States Acting Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Philip Reeker, Azerbaijan has released 15 Armenian citizens. In exchange, Azerbaijan received maps of 97,000 anti-tank and anti-personnel mines in the Aghdam region.
• The leaders at the G7 have proposed the “Build Back Better World” (B3W) initiative. This plan to offer an infrastructure plan to developing nations aims to rival China’s Belt and Road initiative.

 

13th June, 2021

• Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12 year era as PM of Israel came to an end on the 13th of June, 2021, when the Israeli parliament approved a new government. The ultranationalist party candidate Naftali Bennett is set to become PM in a coalition government. Yair Lapid will be the alternate PM, set to replace Bennett in a rotation government agreed to in the coalition.

 

14th June, 2021

• Canada’s truck attacker that ran over a Muslim family has been charged with terrorism by the Attorney General of Canada. The man already faces four first-degree murder charges and one attempted murder charge.

 

15th June, 2021

• The UK and Australia have signed a free trade agreement. It is the first such agreement signed by the UK after exiting the EU.

 

16th June, 2021

• US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for the first time in Geneva, Switzerland, on the 16th of June 2021. Topics of discussion included cyber security arms control, among others.

 

19th June, 2021

• Iran’s Chief Justice, Ebrahim Raisi, has been appointed as the new President of Iran.

22nd June, 2021

• The Taliban have captured Shir Khan Bandar crossing in northern Afghanistan, which is the country’s main border crossing with Tajikistan.

 

23rd June, 2021

• The Russian Defence Ministry stated that UK’s HMS Defender sailed about 19km off Crimea's coast. In response, a Russian patrol ship fired warning shots and a Russian jet dropped bombs in the Defender’s path. The UK Government denied the Russian account of the incident and of any warning shots being fired.
• A blast in the Johar Town area of Lahore killed at least 3 people and injured more than 20, in what was described as an act of terrorism, by the authorities.
• India has become the second country after the US to cross 30 million cases of covid-19.
• New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets in the final of the World Test Championship in Southampton, England. NZ fast bowler Kyle Jamieson was named man of the match for his overall figures of seven for 61 from 46 overs, of which 22 were maidens.

 

25th June, 2021

• Researchers from China have unveiled a skull that could belong to a new human species. The team has claimed that the ‘Dragon Man’ specimen is our closest evolutionary relative among known species of ancient human. It is from a human group that lived in East Asia at least 146,000 years ago. Originally discovered at Harbin, north-east China, in 1933, it only recently came to the attention of scientists.
• Multan Sultans won their maiden PSL title by defeating Peshawar Zalmi by 47 runs in the final held at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has announced that Pakistan shall remain on the grey list. According to the institution, Pakistan has addressed 26 out of the 27 items. Pakistan’s removal from the list depends on addressing the final item as well as all items on an action plan handed out by the Asia Pacific Group (APG).
• The former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin has been sentenced to 22.5 years in prison for the murder of George Floyd.

 

28th June, 2021

• Ukraine along with NATO launched the “Sea Breeze 2021” military drills in the Black Sea, involving dozens of war ships. The exercise will last for two weeks and involve about 30 warships and 40 aircraft from U.S. and its NATO allies and Ukraine.
• The Baihetan dam commenced operations on the 28th of June, 2021. It is the world’s largest hydropower project. It is still under construction and will be China's second largest hydropower project after the Three Gorges Dam once it is completed. Its total installed capacity will be 16 million kilowatts. It shall be produced by 16 generating units with a capacity of 1 million kilowatts each. Once complete, the station will become the world’s second largest hydropower plant in terms of total installed capacity.

 

29th June, 2021

• The German Defence Minister confirmed on the 29th of June, 2021, that Germany has completely withdrawn all its troops from Afghanistan. Thus, ending German military presence in country after nearly twenty years.
• Israel’s new foreign minister, Yair Lapid, visited the UAE on the 29th of June, 2021 on a two-day visit. This marked the first visit from a high-ranking Israeli official to the UAE after the two countries normalized relations.

 

July 2021

1st July, 2021

• The US has placed Pakistan and Turkey on its list of countries that are implicated for the use of child soldiers. The US has stated that Turkey has provided “tangible support” to the Syrian rebel group Sultan Murad Division, which uses child soldiers. This is the first time a NATO member state has been placed in the Trafficking in Persons Report by the US.
• Amazon has bought Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studios for a reported $8.45 billion. MGM gas given many classics such as Rocky, Robocop, The Wizard of Oz, The Silence of the Lambs, The Wizard of Oz, and the James Bond movie franchise.
• Turkey has formally exited the treaty combatting violence against women, known as the Istanbul Convention. The decision was announced in March by the Erdogan administration.

 

2nd July, 2021

• The US forces have left Bagram Airbase, in Afghanistan. The base was the largest US military base in the country and served as the epicenter of its war against the Taliban and al-Qaeda for nearly twenty years.

 

3rd July, 2021

• Tajikistan became the first country to declare that vaccination for covid-19 is mandatory for everyone above 18 years of age.

 

5th July, 2021

• Tajikistan’s national security committee announced that 1,037 Afghan troops had escaped to Tajikistan to save their lives. This came as a result of the intense fighting between the Afghan government and the Taliban. 

 

7th July, 2021

• The President of Haiti, Jovenel Moise was assassinated by armed assailants at his residence in Petion-Ville. His wife was also shot and critically wounded.

 

8th July, 2021

• The US President Joe Biden announced that the US shall end its military presence in Afghanistan by August 31, 2021.
• Former President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma handed himself over to the police on the 8th of July, 2021, to begin serving a sentence of 15 months. The sentence was given to him on charges of contempt of court. He is the first South African President to be sent to jail after the end of the white-minority rule in the country in 1994. Nationwide protests erupted after his arrest, leading to the deaths of more than 70 and thousands being arrested.

 

9th July, 2021

• The Defence Minister of Ukraine, in a statement made on the 9th of July 2021, claimed that hackers from Russia recently hacked the Ukrainian Navy’s official website and published false information about the Sea Breeze 2021 military exercise.

 

10th July, 2021

• The Argentinian football team won the 2021 Copa America after defeating their rivals and hosts of the tournament, Brazil, by a narrow margin of 1-0.

 

11th July, 2021

• Richard Branson flew to the edge of space on the 11th of July 2021, aboard the Unity spacecraft developed by his company, Virgin Galactic. Unity flew to a height of about 90km. At age 70, Branson became the second oldest person to visit space. He was accompanied by Unity’s two pilots, Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci, and three employees of Virgin Galactic - Beth Moses, Colin Bennett and Sirisha Bandla.
• Italy defeated England in the final of the UEFA Euro 2020. The match was initially tied at 1-1, and was eventually decided in penalties, which Italy won 3-2.
• Novak Djokovic won the Wimbledon 2021 final by defeating Italy’s Matteo Berrettini. This was Djokovic’s sixth Wimbledon title and 20th overall Grand Slam title.
• An agreement has been signed between the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) and the European Union (EU) for launching the Balochistan Education Support (BES). It’ll be a five year education program with a total cost of 22.2 million euros, out of which the EU will provide 17.4 million and Unicef will provide 4.8 million euros. The Balochistan government will be facilitated to build high-quality performance and management education systems. The aim is improving access to quality primary and middle-level education and increasing accountability, reporting and transparency of the Secondary Education Department.

 

14th July, 2021

• A bus en route to the Dasu Hydropower project, carrying construction workers, met with an accident in Kohistan, KPK, when gas leakage caused a blast. It resulted in the deaths of at least 12 people, with 9 of them being Chinese citizens. The Chinese authorities referred to the explosion as an attack.
• The UAE opened its embassy in Tel Aviv on the 14th of July, 2021, marking another major milestone between the two countries following the Abraham Accords. UAE, thus, becomes the first Gulf state to open an embassy in Israel.
• The former Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain passed away at the age of 80 on the 14th of July, 2021. His death came after a prolonged battle with cancer.

 

16th July, 2021

• NASA successfully powered on the Hubble Space Telescope on the 16th of July, 2021, after it had been shut down on the 13th of June when a payload computer that handles the telescope’s science instruments suffered a glitch.
• The Pulitzer Prize-winning Indian photo journalist Danish Siddiqui passed away in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan. Siddiqui was reporting the fighting between the Afghan forces and the Taliban when he was caught in an attack by the Taliban, resulting in his death.

 

18th July, 2021

• The alliance of oil-producing nations known as OPEC+ have reached an agreement on the 18th of July 2021. Under the agreement, Russia will increase its production from 11 million barrels to 11.5 million by May 2022, while the other countries will increase their oil output each month by 400,000 barrels a day, starting from August. This agreement ended a dispute that sent oil prices to a six-year high in early July.

 

19th July, 2021

• A consortium of journalists, NGOs, and media houses have revealed that a hacking software called ‘Pegasus’, sold by the Israeli surveillance company NSO Group, was used by authoritarian governments around the world to spy on human rights activists, journalists and lawyers, under the guise of fighting terrorism. The software infects mobile phone devices to enable users of the software to extract messages, emails, photos and also record calls and secretly activate microphones. According to the leak, the software was also used to target the assassinated Saudi-American journalist Jamal Kashoggi’s family and friends, before and after his assassination in 2018.

 

20th July, 2021

• The billionaire Jeff Bezos launched into space aboard Blue Origin’s rocket ship called the ‘New Shepherd’. This was the first crewed flight of the ship. Bezos was accompanied by his brother Mark Bezos, Wally Funk, and Oliver Daemen. Funk, aged 82, and Daemen, aged 18, became the oldest and youngest people to visit space, respectively.

 

21st July, 2021

• The Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City has been removed from UNESCO’s World Heritage List. It was added to the list in 2004, and placed on the “List of World Heritage in Danger”, in 2012. According to the Committee, this decision came about “due to the irreversible loss of attributes conveying the outstanding universal value of the property”, relating to the Liverpool Waters project.
• The Australian city of Brisbane has been selected as the hosts for the 2032 Olympic Games, at a meeting of International Olympic Committee delegates in Tokyo.

 

23rd July, 2021

• Germany was hit the hardest in the European floods of 2021. Out of more than 200 deaths reported so far, 177 were killed in Germany. Belgium was affected the most after Germany, as it reported 37 deaths.

 

25th July, 2021

• Pakistan’s Talha Talib stood fifth in the 67kg category of the weightlifting competition at the Tokyo Olympics.
• Japan’s Yuto Horigome won the first ever Olympic gold medal for skateboarding in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The silver medal was won by Kelvin Hoefler from Brazil, while the bronze medal was won by Jagger Eaton, from Mesa, Ariz.
• The Tunisian President, Kais Saied, assumed executive authority of the country on the 25th of July, 2021, when he dismissed the Prime Minister, Hichem Mechini, along with suspending the Assembly. The move was labelled a coup d’état by the opposition.

 

26th July, 2021

• US President Joe Biden has announced that the US troops will leave Iraq by the end of 2021. While some will remain behind to train and advise the Iraqi military.

 

29th July, 2021

• Over 4 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccines have been administered to people worldwide, as of July 29, 2021, according to the Agence France-Presse (AFP).

 

30th July, 2021

• Israel became the first country in the world to start administering third doses of the Covid-19 vaccines. The third dose is intended to be a “booster jab” for people over 60. The Israeli President, Isaac Herzog and his wife became the first to receive the third dose. This move came as a result to curb the spread of the Delta variant.

 

August 2021

1st August, 2021

• The United States, UK, and Israel blamed Iran for the attack on the Liberian-flagged oil tanker, MT Mercer. The ship travelling from Tanzania to UAE, and was attacked off the coast of Oman. The attack resulted in the deaths of two crewmen (one British and the other Romanian).

 

2nd August, 2021

• New Zealand’s Lauren Hubbard made history as she became the first ever transgender athlete to participate in an Olympics competition. She participated in the women’s weightlifting competition (87kgs division).

 

4th August, 2021

• The fires known as Dixie Fires raged across the Northern Californian state in the US, during July and August, 2021. The fire engulfed a tiny but historic town of Greenville on the 4th of August, 2021.

 

5th August, 2021

• The Turkish President, Tayyip Erdogan, declared that the wildfires affecting Turkey during July and August of 2021 are the worst in the country’s history. As per the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), a European atmosphere monitor, the blazes are the most intense in Turkey on record.
• Ibrahim Raisi has been sworn-in as the eight President of Iran. The inauguration came two days after Raisi received the endorsement of Ayatollah Ali Khameni. President Raisi has said that he will work towards the removal of US sanctions.
• Apple Inc. has announced a system on iPhone that will monitor child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on the devices of US customers. This is to help limit the spread of CSAM online.

 

6th August, 2021

• The Pacific Islands Forum held an online summit meeting of its leaders, marking the 50th Anniversary of the Forum. The first ever Forum meeting was held from 5th to 7th of August in 1971. US President Joe Biden addressed the Forum and assured the Forum nations of the US’ continued friendship.
• Canadian women’s football team member Quinn became the first openly Transgender athlete to win an Olympic medal, after the Canadian team defeated Sweden 3-2 to win Gold at the Tokyo Olympics.

 

7th August, 2021

• Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem secured 5th position at the Men’s javelin throwing competition at the Tokyo Olympics. India’s Neeraj Chopra secured the gold medal while Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch and Vitezslav Vesely claimed silver and bronze medals, respectively.

 

8th August, 2021

• The Tokyo Olympics concluded on the 8th of August, 2021. The US won the most medals as well as the most gold medals (113 and 39 respectively). Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, was handed over the Olympic Flag in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

 

9th August, 2021

• Direct international flights between Russia and Egypt resume after 6 years when a Rossiya Airlines plane landed in the Egyptian city of Sharm El Sheikh. Russia stopped flights to Egypt in 2015 due to the Metrojet Flight 9268 bombing incident, which resulted in the deaths of 224 people.
• The smoke from the Siberian wildfires of 2021 reached the North Pole, which is the first time such an incident has happened in recorded history.

 

11th August, 2021

• Amnesty International has reported that the Canadian government is violating the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which Canada joined in 2019, by exporting arms to Saudi Arabia, which it could use in the war against Yemen.

 

14th August, 2021

• Haiti was hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake on the 14th of August, resulting in the deaths of more than 300 people and leaving 1,800 wounded.

 

15th August, 2021

• The Taliban captured the Afghan Presidential Palace on the 15th of August, 2021, after entering Kabul, successfully overthrowing the government.
• The Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Vice President Amrullah Saleh left Afghanistan amid the Taliban’s capture of Kabul, and arrived in Tajikistan.

 

16th August, 2021

• The Uzbekistan Defence Ministry announced on the 16th of August, 2021, that they had shot down an Afghan Air Force Jet that crossed into Uzbek airspace. The pilot ejected and survived.

 

17th August, 2021

• Researchers at the Graubuenden University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland, have calculated the value of the mathematical constant pi up to around 62.8 trillion figures using a supercomputer. The process took 108 days and nine hours. This was 3.5 times faster than the previous record. The previous record was of 50 trillion figures calculated in 2020.
• The Afghan Taliban held their first news conference on the 17th of August, 2021, after taking control of the country. The conference was delivered by the Taliban spokesperson, Zabiullah Mujahid.

 

18th August, 2021

• The Japanese Grand Prix scheduled for 8th till 10th October of this year has been cancelled owing to a rise in covid-19 patients in the country.

 

19th August, 2021

• The Taliban announced the formation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan on the 19th of August, 2021, on the 102nd anniversary of Afghanistan’s independence from the British Empire.
• An Ashura procession was hit with a blast in Bahawalnagar, Pakistan, on the 19th of August, (10th Muharram) 2021. At least three people died and 50 were wounded.
• Rainfall was recorded on the snowy summit of Greenland, which is around two miles above sea level, for the first time in history, on 14-15 of August 2021.

 

20th August, 2021

• A suicide bomb attack on a vehicle in Gawadar, Balochistan resulted in the deaths of two children playing at the roadside. The vehicle was carrying Chinese nationals, one of which, along with two Pakistanis, were wounded in the attack.
• Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been elected as the Malaysian Prime Minister, following the resignation of the previous PM, Muhyiddin Yassin. Yaakob shall serve as the 9th PM of Malaysia.

 

23rd August, 2021

• Pro as well as anti-independence sides in the French region of New Caledonia have launched their campaigns regarding the oncoming referendum regarding independence from France, in December of 2021. The previous two referendums, held in 2018 and 2020, resulted in the majority voting against independence.

 

26th August, 2021

• A deadly attack took place at the Kabul Airport on the 26th of August, 2021. Two bombings – one a suicide bomb at one of the airport’s gates, and another bomb attack at a hotel nearby – killed more than 150 people, which included 13 US service members. The Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) took responsibility of the attack.

 

27th August, 2021

• A US drone strike killed two ISIS members while injuring one on the 27th of August, 2021. This was a retaliatory attack for the terrorist attack that took place on Kabul airport which resulted in the deaths of 13 US service members and about 170 others.

 

28th August, 2021

• Britain completed the evacuation of all its troops from Afghanistan on the 28th of August, 2021. This concluded the involvement of the country in the war.

 

30th August, 2021

• The US War on Terror in Afghanistan came to an end after 20 years when the evacuation of US troops concluded on the 30th of August, 2021. US Major General Chris Donahue became the last US soldier to leave Afghanistan.
• South African scientists claimed that they have discovered a new variant of the coronavirus, calling it the “C.1.2.” variant. This new variant is linked with increased transmissibility and a stronger ability to evade antibodies.

 

 

September 2021

1st September, 2021

• On the 1st of September, 2021, the Taliban surrounded the last opposing province of Panjshir, where the Afghan resistance group, led by Amrullah Saleh and Ahmad Massoud, was situated. The Taliban expressed that they do not wish to fight.
• The Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Geelani passed away on the 1st of September, 2021. Following his passing, Indian authorities deployed forces to impose a security lockdown in Indian occupied Kashmir.

 

3rd September, 2021

• The European Union has stated that it shall not currently recognize the government of the Afghan Taliban. However, they will engage in diplomatic talks with the groups.
• The Pakistani para-athlete Haider Ali won a gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics. He participated in the discus throw competition, and managed to throw a 55.26 meter throw at his fifth attempt which won him the gold medal. This was Pakistan’s first gold medal at any Paralympic Games.

 

5th September, 2021

• A suicide bomber blew himself up at a checkpoint in Quetta, resulting in the deaths of three soldiers and wounding fifteen others. The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.
• The Tokyo Paralympics 2020 came to a close on the 5th of September, 2021. China topped the medals chart with 207 medals (96 of which were gold). While the UK (with 41 gold medals) and the US (with 37 gold medals) stood second and third, respectively.

 

7th September, 2021

• El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt the cryptocurrency Bitcoin as legal tender.
• Taliban appoint Mohammad Hassan Akhund as the leader of the interim government in Afghanistan and Abdul Ghani Barader as his deputy.

 

10th September, 2021

• A new government has been formed in Lebanon and Najib Mikati, the billionaire who has already served as the country’s leader twice, shall serve as the Prime Minister.

 

11th September, 2021

• Britain’s 150th ranked Emma Raducanu became the first qualifier (unseeded player) to win a Grand Slam title after she defeated Canada’s Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-3 in the final of the US Open. Fernandez herself was ranked 73rd, and this was the first instance of two unseeded players competing in the final.

 

12th September, 2021

• The Foreign Minister of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, became the first high ranking foreign diplomat/official to meet with the officials of the Taliban government. He met Mullah Akhund, the interim PM.
• Russia’s Daniil Medvedev defeated Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the final of the US Open to win a Grand Slam title for the first time in his career. He defeated the Serb 6–4, 6–4, 6–4.

 

13th September, 2021

• PIA operated its first international flight to Kabul on the 13th of September, 2021, after the Taliban took over control of the country.
• North Korea has announced that it has successfully tested a new long range cruise missile which can carry a nuclear warhead. The missile is capable of travelling to as far as Japan.

 

15th September, 2021

• The US, UK, and Australia announced the formation of a security pact by the name of AUKUS. This defence partnership aims at countering China’s ever-growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The pact covers many aspects such as AI and other technologies, and will also let Australia build nuclear-powered submarines.

 

16th September, 2021

• Armenia has filed a charge against Azerbaijan in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of human rights abuses in previous decades, as well as in the war between the two countries in 2020. Armenia claims that Azerbaijan is in violation of International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

 

17th September, 2021

• France recalled its ambassadors from the US and Australia following the AUKUS security deal between these two countries and the UK. Earlier, French officials in the US had cancelled a gala which was in celebration of the relation between the two countries.
• It has been announced on the 17th of September that Iran is set to become the latest member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a full member.

 

18th September, 2021

• The Inspiration4 mission by SpaceX was successfully concluded on the 18th of September as the Dragon capsule landed in the Atlantic after three days in space. The capsule was carrying four passengers, all civilians, and it marks the first instance in history of an orbital mission with no professional astronauts on board.

 

20th September, 2021

• Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party has retained its minority government in Canada’s 2021 Federal Elections. The Conservative Party won the plurality of the popular vote for the second time consecutively.

 

21st September, 2021

• The Sudanese authorities stated on the 21st of September that they had successfully ended a coup attempt by the supporters of ousted President Omar al-Bashir, who was removed in 2019. Sudan begun its transition to a democratic government after his removal.

 

22nd September, 2021

• France, on the 22nd of September, agreed to send back its ambassador to the US which it had previously recalled due to the AUKUS pact. The US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed to meet in Europe to fix the strained ties between their countries.

 

23rd September, 2021

• The European Commission has announced that the USB-C charger, commonly known as the ‘type-c’ charger, shall now be used as standard charger for electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets etc in the region.

 

24th September, 2021

• The People’s Bank of China, i.e. the Central bank of China, has ruled that all transactions of cryptocurrencies are illegal within the country.

 

 

25th September, 2021

• People in Iceland visited the polls on the 25th of September to elect members to its parliament ‘Althing’. It is the oldest surviving parliament in the world, created in 930AD.

 

26th September, 2021

• The British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton has become the first to win 100 races in the Formula One competition. His 100th win was the 2021 Russian Grand Prix.

 

27th September, 2021

• The Taliban claimed to have killed the former leader of ISIL-K, Ziya ul Haq (aka Abu Omar Khorasani), amid a crackdown on the ISIL-K presence in the country. This came as a response to a series of attacks reportedly carried out by ISIL-K in Afghanistan ever since the Afghan Taliban took control of the country.

 

28th September, 2021

• A volcanic eruption in La Palma Island in Spain devastated the island, which was termed as a disaster zone. The lava flow from the explosion reached the Atlantic Ocean.
• NASA’s has announced a new mission in which a space probe by the name of Lucy will travel to the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, becoming the first to do so. It will launch on the 16th of October.

 

29th September, 2021

• Najla Bouden Ramdhane has been appointed as the Prime Minister of Tunisia by the country’s President, Kais Saied. She is set to become the first female PM in Tunisia, as well as the Arab world.

 

October 2021

2nd October, 2021

• Qataris voted for their first ever legislative council elections for two-thirds of the advisory Shura Council, on the 2nd of October, 2021. The voter turnout was 44 percent.

 

3rd October, 2021

• A bomb blast took place on the 3rd of October at the Id Gah Mosque in Kabul, during the funeral prayers for the mother of Taliban spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid. The blast killed at least five and injured four.
• The North Sea Link (NSL), the world’s longest underwater electrical cable, began transferring green energy between Norway and the UK, on the 3rd of October, 2021.
• The Pandora Papers, a leak of almost 12 million documents became the largest ever offshore data leak in history when they were published by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists on the 3rd of October, 2021. The documents reveal cases of hidden wealth, tax avoidance and crimes like money laundering by powerful and influential people around the world, including 330 politicians and 130 Forbes billionaires.
• Two related and consecutive cyclones named, Shaheen and Gulab, impacted South and West Asia during the early parts of October 2021. Gulab impacted India, while cyclone Shaheen impacted Pakistan, UAE, Oman, and Iran.

 

4th October, 2021

• Two scientists from the US, Ardem Patapoutian and David Julius, won the 2021 Nobel Prize for Medicine. They won the prize for their work on “the discovery of receptors in the skin that sense temperature and touch and could pave the way for new pain-killers.”

 

5th October, 2021

• A Russian actress, Yulia Peresild, and director Klim Shipenko, arrived on the International Space Station on the 5th of October to film scenes for The Challenge, which will be the first feature-length film shot in space. This is a 12-day mission.
• Microsoft launched the latest version of Windows i.e. Windows 11, on the 5th of October, 2021.
• The 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to the US-Japanese scientist Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann of Germany and Giorgio Parisi of Italy. They won the award for their work on climate models and understanding of physical systems.

 

6th October, 2021

• The US Department of State has revealed that the total number of nuclear weapons in the US stockpile is 3,750 warheads.
• NATO has expelled eight members from the Russian Mission to NATO. The members were accused of being undercover intelligence officers. The number of Russian positions at NATO was also reduced to ten.
• Turkey’s parliament ratified the Paris Climate Agreement on the 6th of October, 2021. Turkey became the last G20 nation to ratify the agreement.

 

7th October, 2021

• The 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature was won by Abdulrazak Gurnah, from Tanzania. His work highlights the effects of colonialism and fate of refugees. His most notable work is the novel Paradise.

 

8th October, 2021

• The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to journalists Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia. They were awarded the prize “for their efforts to safeguard the freedom of expression.”

 

9th October, 2021

• The Taliban and the US held their first face to face talks in Doha, Qatar, on the 9th of October, 2021.

 

10th October, 2021

• France defeat Spain 2-1 to win the UEFA Nations League. This was the second edition of the tournament.

 

11th October, 2021

• Three economists from the US, David Card, Joshua Angrist, and Guido Imbens, have won the 2021 Nobel Prize in Economics.

 

13th October, 2021

• The actor William Shatner, most famous for his role as Captain Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, became the oldest person to visit space when he flew to sub-orbit on Blue Origin’s New Shepherd rocket.

 

16th October, 2021

• A NASA spacecraft by the name of Lucy launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on the 16th of October, 2021. Lucy will visit Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids in about 12 years’ time.

 

18th October, 2021

• Russia has announced that it shall suspend its mission to NATO by the 1st of November, 2021. This came after 8 Russian diplomats were expelled from NATO following accusations that they were Russian spies.

 

19th October, 2021

• Rafael Grossi, the Chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (UN’s atomic watchdog), has announced plans to visit Iran by the end of November, 2021, in hopes of reviving the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

 

23rd October, 2021

• The President of Turkey, Tayyip Erdogan orders the expulsion of ambassadors from ten Western nations for calling for the release of Osman Kavala. The nations included USA, Canada, France, Denmark, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand, and Finland.

 

24th October, 2021

• The Pakistan Cricket team beat their arch rivals, India, for the first time ever in an ICC World Cup (T20 or ODI), when they sealed a comfortable 10-wicket victory in their Super 12 stage match, on the 24th of October, 2021.

 

25th October, 2021

• The Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced that the four years long state of emergency was lifted from the country. The announcement came on the 25th of October, 2021.

 

26th October, 2021

• The 39th ASEAN Summit began on the 26th of October, 2021, via a live video conference. There was no representative from Myanmar at the summit as the bloc decided to exclude junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing.

 

27th October, 2021

• The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister confirmed that Iran has agreed to resume talks on the Nuclear deal in November 2021. This came after a meeting with mediators from EU in Brussels, Belgium.
• The Senate of Brazil has voted to charge its President Jair Bolsonaro over his handling of the covid-19 pandemic in the country. Brazil has the second highest death toll in the world due to the pandemic (the first is the US).

 

28th October, 2021

• Facebook Inc., which is the parent company of the popular social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has renamed itself to Meta Platforms.

 

30th October, 2021

• World leaders at the G20 Summit in Rome (held from 30-31 October, 2021) approved a global agreement which aims to tax the profits of large business by at least 15%. The agreement will be enforced by 2023.

 

November 2021

1st November, 2021

• The total number of deaths worldwide due to the Coivd-19 pandemic (officially) surpassed 5 million cases on the 1st of November, 2021.

 

2nd November, 2021

• The Taliban announced a ban on the usage of all foreign currency within the country in early November, 2021. Those in violation were threatened with legal action.

 

3rd November, 2021

• Iran announced that the talks regarding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (known popularly as the Iran Nuclear Deal) will resume on the 29th of November, in Vienna, Austria.

 

4th November, 2021

• Sister Raffaella Petrini became the first ever woman/nun secretary general of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, when she was appointed by Pope Francis on the said position on the 4th of November, 2021.

 

7th November, 2021

• An armed drone unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi at his residence in Baghdad, on the 7th of November, 2021.

 

8th November, 2021

• The WHO and UNICEF with the support of the Taliban conducted a four-day vaccination program for polio in Afghanistan, in November, 2021. The aim was to address the 3.3 million children who were not vaccinated against the disease since 2018.
• Colombia declared Iran as an enemy state in November, 2021, after Colombian Defense Minister Diego Molano’s visit to Israel.

 

9th November, 2021

• Syrian President Bashar-al-Assad met the Foreign Minister of UAE, Abdullah bin Zayed, in Damascus on the 9th of November, 2021. This was the first such visit in 10 years, following the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War. The two officials discussed the development of cooperation in different sectors of mutual interest to the two countries.

 

10th November, 2021

• Twenty four countries and numerous major car manufacturers such as Ford and Mercedes-Benz at the Cop26, agreed to phase out petrol and diesel run cars by 2030, and to end the sale of all fossil fuel vehicles by the year 2040.
• The United States and China have announced at the Cop26 in Glasgow that they have agreed to fight climate change together. This was a surprise announcement for many, amid the political unrest between the two countries.

 

13th November, 2021

• Nations at the COP26 for the first time acknowledged the harmful role fossil fuels have played in climate change. However, immediate action was still not agreed to at the conference, with actions related to fossil fuel reductions being deferred to the next year.

 

19th November, 2021

• The UK declared Hamas as a terrorist group on the 19th of November, 2021. Previously, only the armed wing of the party was outlawed by the government.
• Vice President Kamala Harris was transferred presidential power for a brief period while the US President Joe Biden underwent medical treatment. With this, she became the first woman to hold the role of acting President in the history of the US.

 

22nd November, 2021

• UK faced its biggest energy supplier collapse when Bulb Energy which supplies gas to 1.7 million households in the country, went bust and was decided to be placed into an untested bailout process under a special administrator.

 

23rd November, 2021

• The UK returned artifacts from the Battle of Magdala (1868) to Ethiopia in November, 2021.
• The Secretary-General of the UN, Antonio Guterres visited Colombia in commemoration of the fifth year of the signing of the peace treaty between the Government and Revolutionary Armed Forces (People’s Army) of Colombia.
• The US removed the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) from its “Department of State List of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.” It had been on the list since 1997.

 

24th November, 2021

• The UK warned Russia that any attack against Ukraine would be a “grave mistake” from its end. This warning came amid an increase in Russian military presence at its border with Ukraine in November 2021.
• Israel carried out airstrikes in the city of Homs, Syria, on the 24th of November, 2021. The strikes killed two civilians and injured a civilian and six soldiers.
• The leadership of the Social Democrats, Greens and the Liberals in Germany agreed to form an alliance on the 24th of November. This alliance will form the next government in Germany, with Olaf Scholz taking over the role of Chancellor from Angela Merkel.
• Magdalena Andersson was first elected as the first female Prime Minister of Sweden on the 24th of November, 2021. Her government collapsed over a budget dispute, but she was reelected to the position on the 29th of November.

 

25th November, 2021

• Scientists in South Africa detected a new COVID-19 variant named Lineage B.1.1.529, in late November, 2021 (it is popularly known as the Omicron variant).
• Turkey and UAE signed numerous investment accords when the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, visited Ankara, Turkey.

 

26th November, 2021

• The WHO names the newly detected Lineage B.1.1.529 COVID-19 variant as the “Omicron Variant” on the 26th of November, 2021. It was termed as a “variant of concern”, due to its increased risk of reinfection.

 

27th November, 2021

• The Ministerial Conference, due to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on the 29th of November, 2021, was postponed by the WTO amid concerns of the covid-19 Omicron variant.

 

28th November, 2021

• Petr Fiala was designated as the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic on the 28th of November, 2021.

 

29th November, 2021

• Turkey offered to mediate between Russia and Ukraine amid rising tensions between the two countries in November, 2021.
• Turkey announced to send Ambassadors to Israel and Egypt. This announcement came from President Tayep Erdogan himself, on board his plane from his visit to Turkmenistan. Turkey’s relationship with Egypt got strained in 2013 when President Morsi was overthrown. And in 2018, the relations between Turkey and Israel broke off the Israeli Ambassador to Turkey was ordered out over the killing of protesters along the Gaza border.
• Parag Agarwal, an Indian-American tech executive, became the CEO of popular social media platform, Twitter (where he was serving as CTO), after the resignation of Jack Dorsey.

 

30th November, 2021

• Barbados became the newest republic of the world on the 30th of November, 2021, as the Queen Elizabeth II was removed as its head of state, and replaced by Dame Sandra Mason who became the first President of the country.

 

December 2021

1st December, 2021

• The Iranian security forces and the Taliban engaged in an armed dispute on the 1st of December, 2021, after Iranian farmers crossed the border between the two countries and entered into the Nimroz province in Afghanistan.

 

2nd December, 2021

• Morocco bought six Bayraktar TB2 drones from the Turkish defence company, Baykar in early December, 2021. This move came amid rising tensions between Morocco and Algeria.

 

3rd December, 2021

• UAE and France signed a major arms deal when the leaders of the two countries, Emmanuel Macron from France and Mohammad Bin Zayed from UAE, met at the Dubai Expo 2020, on the 3rd of December, 2021.

 

4th December, 2021

• The Semeru volcano erupted in Indonesia in December, 2021.
• Pakistan received a $3 Billion loan from Saudi Arabia in December, 2021. The duration of the loan is one year.

 

5th December, 2021

• The Indian paramilitary force, Assam Rifles, opened fire on a group of miners believing them to be militants, on the 5th of December, 2021.

 

6th December, 2021

• As a result of the sanctions placed on it, Belarus banned airlines and the import of some goods from the European Union, as well as the United Kingdom, in December, 2021.
• The USA announced that it will not send any delegation to the 2022 Winter Olympics, to be held in Beijing, China. They cited China’s human rights issue as the reason for this decision.

 

7th December, 2021

• The Israeli Air Force bombed the Port of Latakia in Syria, on the 7th of December, 2021.

 

8th December, 2021

• The Indian Chief of Defence Staff, Bipin Rawat, along with twelve other people, was killed in a helicopter crash on the 8th of December, 2021.
• Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom announced to join USA in boycotting the Winter Olympics 2022, due to be held in Beijing, China. They, like the US, cited human rights abuses as the main reason.

 

9th December, 2021

• New Zealand has announced plans to introduce steps aimed at eliminating smoking in the country. The country will increase the legal age to purchase tobacco by one year every year starting from 2025. The plan also includes initiatives like decreasing the nicotine content in tobacco, increasing funding for anti-addiction services in the country, and limiting the licenses for tobacco sales.

 

10th December, 2021

• The London High Court announced on the 10th of December, 2021, that it has accepted an appeal from the government of the USA to extradite Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks. Assange’s family announced plans to challenge the decision.

 

13th December, 2021

• The first reported case of the Omicron covid-19 variant was found in Karachi. She was a 57 year old unvaccinated woman.

 

14th December, 2021

• NASA announced on the 14th of December, 2021, that the Parker Solar Probe became the first ever spacecraft to enter the stellar corona of the Sun, during April 2021. A corona is the layer of plasma surrounding a star.

 

16th December, 2021

• The UK’s Royal Air Force shot down its first enemy aircraft ever since the Falklands War of 1982, when an RAF Typhoon shot down a drone over Syria on the 16th of December, 2021.
• Many thousands of people were evacuated from their homes in different areas of Philippines due to the typhoon Rai, described as one of the most powerful typhoons of the year. It led to the deaths of more than 300 people.

 

17th December, 2021

• The Turkish Lira dropped to an all-time low of 17 to the US Dollar on the 17th of December, 2021. This prompted the central bank of Turkey to intervene in the stock market.

 

21st December, 2021

• Soumana Boura, a leader of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara region was killed by the French Army on the 21st of December 2021. Boura had killed 6 aid workers from France in August, 2020.
• Israel became the first country in the world to announce that they will administer fourth doses of covid-19 vaccines to the elderly and health workers.
• Lithuania will buy 341 FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missiles and 30 command launch units from its NATO ally, USA. This came about due to Lithuania’s rising tensions with Russia.

 

22nd December, 2021

• Italy banned fur farming on the 22nd of December, 2021.

 

23rd December, 2021

• The US and Japan approved a joint military action plan in case an emergency occurs amid the rising tensions between Taiwan and China. This was announced on the 23rd of December, 2021.

 

24th December, 2021

• Japan announced in late December, 2021, that it will not send any government delegates to the 2022 Winter Olympics to be held in China. Japanese athletes, however, will participate in the event.

 

25th December, 2021

• NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope was launched into space from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana on the 25th of December, 2021.
• The world’s first “dual-mode vehicle” or DMV made its debut in Tokyo, Japan, on the 25th of December, 2021. The vehicle can travel on roads as well as railway tracks.

 

26th December, 2021

• The Taliban dissolved the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan on the 26th of December, 2021.

 

29th December, 2021

• Russia and Belarus have announced that the two countries will hold joint military exercise in early 2022.

 

30th December, 2021

• Russia became the country with the second most deaths in the world due to the covid-19 pandemic on the 30th December, 2021.
• Tesla recalled over 475,000 of its cars on the 30th of December, 2021. The cars were Model S and Model S cars, and they were recalled due to safety issues in their backup cameras and hoods.

 

Test Pattern

The expected paper pattern is as follows,

• Question type: MCQs
• Total Questions: 200
• Negative Marking: No

Syllabus

1. English (Vocabulary, Grammar, Comprehension)
2. General Ability (Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Logical Problem Solving, Analytical Problem Solving)
3. General Knowledge ( Everyday Science, Pakistan Affairs, Current Affairs)
4. Urdu (Grammar usage and translation)
5. Islamic Studies

Note:

• The present course is based on the above given expected syllabus. As the official syllabus is released, the course shall be modified accordingly.
• The present course does not have questions related to Urdu, as of now. These questions will be added soon.

 

Vocabulary for Synonyms, Antonyms and Sentence Completion Questions