Australia’s government avoided losing its slim majority in Parliament as it claimed victory in a bitterly fought by-election that had threatened its hold on power.
The poll in the suburban Sydney seat of Bennelong was triggered by a constitutional crisis that has seen a host of parliamentarians resign over a once-obscure rule barring dual citizens from federal office.
They included Bennelong MP and former tennis star John Alexander, from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s Liberal-National coalition, who stepped down after saying he was most likely a dual British citizen.
Austrian Far-right Enters Government
Austria’s far-right Freedom Party was in triumphant mood after agreeing a coalition deal with the conservatives, capping a year of successes for Europe’s nationalist movements.
The agreement reached by Sebastian Kurz’s People’s Party and the Freedom Party sets Mr. Kurz, 31, up to become Chancellor and also the world’s youngest leader.
Wright Brothers Day
US President Donald Trump declared Sunday (17th December) as 'Wright Brothers Day' to mark the 114th anniversary of the first airplane flight by Orville and Wilbur Wright.
By a joint resolution approved December 17, 1963, Congress has designated December 17 of each year as 'Wright Brothers Day' and has authorised and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation inviting the people to observe that day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
Systems 4 Ever (S4E), a technology consulting firm with design capability, has signed a technical collaboration agreement with Chinese company DALI-Tech to manufacture microbolometers in India. Microbolometers are detectors and the heart of thermal imaging camera, night vision and surveillance equipment used by defence, police and security agencies.
As per reports, the production is going to start by August next year. This project is part of Make in India initiative and will make India self sufficient in these crucial equipment.
E-way Bill Approved
The all-powerful GST Council headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday approved mandatory inter-state e-way Bill compliance from February 1 while the intra-state e-way Bill compliance will kick in from June 1.
An e-way bill is required for movement of goods worth more than Rs. 50,000. When goods are transported for less than 10 km within the state, the supplier or the transporter need not furnish details on the portal.
Facebook has rolled out ‘Snooze’ feature in News Feed that will give its over two billion users option to temporarily unfollow a person, Page or group for 30 days.
The ‘Snooze’ feature is being seen as a better way of managing a user`s News Feed while taking a break from a chatty person, group or page.
Rahul Gandhi officially took charge as Congress chief. He took over the reins from his mother Sonia Gandhi, who became Congress president in 1998 and steered the 132-year-old political party for 19 years. Till his promotion, Rahul Gandhi held the post of Congress vice-president, which he held since January 2013. He was elected unopposed from the party's central election authority.
Bangladesh Urged to Open Chittagong Port
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar urged the Bangladesh government to allow India`s north-eastern states to use the Chittagong Port for the development of the landlocked region.
Without referring to the unresolved Teesta water sharing and trade related issues, he asked the Bangladesh government not to mix up the issues of north-eastern states with the other unsettled issues between the two neighbours.