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INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - March 2016

Mar 2016

Apr 21, 2020

Israel's Netanyahu And Gantz Sign Unity Government Deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political rival, Benny Gantz, have signed an agreement to form an emergency unity government.
The deal will see the pair rotating the leadership of the country, with Mr Netanyahu going first as PM.
It brings political certainty to Israel after three inconclusive elections and a year of political paralysis.
Both men had faced calls to avoid a fourth election and form a coalition to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Immigration to US to be suspended amid pandemic, Trump says

President Donald Trump has said he will sign an executive order to temporarily suspend all immigration to the US because of the coronavirus.
Critics say the government is using the pandemic to crack down on immigration.

Apr 20, 2020

South Korean President Moon Jae-In's Ruling Party Sweeps Elections Amid Pandemic

South Korean President Moon Jae-in's party has won a landslide victory in the country's parliamentary elections held amid the coronavirus pandemic. Moon's Democratic Party and its smaller allies won 180 seats in the 300-seat National Assembly.
The country held the elections despite once being second to only China in the number of Covid-19 infections. South Korea has since managed to flatten its transmission curve with aggressive testing, tracking of infected persons and observing social distancing. The elections were widely seen as a referendum on the government's approach to the outbreak.

UK's Government Unveils £1.3bn Scheme To Help Start-Ups

The government has announced a £1.25bn package to support innovative new companies that are not eligible for existing coronavirus rescue schemes.
It will match up to £250m of private investment and add £550m to an existing loan and grant scheme for smaller firms that focus on research and development.
Adding it up, that totals £800m of new money to support fledgling firms.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said start-ups would help power the UK's growth after the coronavirus crisis.

Gunman Kills At Least 16 In Rampage Across Nova Scotia

A gunman killed at least 16 people, including one Mountie, during a weekend shooting rampage in small-town Nova Scotia, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said.
The updated death toll does not include the suspected gunman.

Trump Administration, Congress Near 450 Billion Deal For Small Businesses, Hospitals & Corona Tes...

In the United States, the Trump Administration and the Congress are nearing an agreement on an aid package of up to 450 billion dollars to boost a small-business loan programme that has run out of money and add funds for hospitals and COVID-19 testing.
President Donald Trump said, he is getting close to a deal. With small-business owners reeling during a Corona virus outbreak that has shuttered much economic activity, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said earlier that he was hopeful of a deal that could pass Congress quickly and get the Small Business Administration programme back up by midweek.

Apr 19, 2020

India Takes Up Collapse Of Kartarpur Gurudwara Domes With Pakistan

India has taken up with Pakistan the issue of collapse of domes of Sikh shrine Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.
India has highlighted that the damage to the structures have caused great consternation to the members of the Sikh community.
India has urged Pakistan that the deficiencies which led to the damage to the newly constructed structures be urgently rectified and remedied.

Matterhorn Mountain In Swiss Alps Lights Up With Indian Flag In Show Of Solidarity

Switzerland has expressed solidarity with India in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic by projecting the tricolour on the famous Matterhorn mountain in the Swiss Alps to give "hope and strength" to all Indians.
Swiss light artist Gerry Hofstetter has been lighting up the 4,478-meter pyramidal peak straddling between Switzerland and Italy with spectacular displays of flags of different countries and messages of hope as part of a nightly series.

UN experts have recommended blacklisting 14 vessels for violating sanctions against North Korea i...

UN experts have recommended blacklisting 14 vessels for violating sanctions against North Korea in a report that accuses the country of increasing illegal coal exports, imports of petroleum products and continuing with cyber attacks on financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges to gain illicit revenue.
The report accussed North Korea of importing luxury vehicles, watches and liquor and other sanctioned items including robotic machinery, and continuing to illegally access international banking channels mainly by using third party intermediaries.

Apr 18, 2020

US President Donald Trump Unveils Three Phase Plan To Ease Lockdown And Reopen US Economy

US President Donald Trump unveiled a three-phase plan to reopen country's economy following the COVID-19 outbreak. The new plan allows governors to gradually ease the lockdown in their states. Mr Trump said that America wants to be open and that a national shutdown is not a sustainable long-term solution.
Asserting that a prolonged lockdown, combined with a forced economic depression, would inflict an immense and wide-ranging toll on public health, Mr Trump's administration is issuing new federal guidelines that will allow governors to take a phased approach to reopening their individual states.

Queen Cancels Traditional Birthday Gun Salutes For The First Time In 68 Years Amid Coronavirus

The Queen has asked that there be no gun salutes to mark her birthday on April 21, 2020 for the first time during her 68-year reign amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The monarch, who is set to turn 94 while residing at Windsor Castle, has also said Government buildings will be exempt from flying flags if it creates a problem.
Elizabeth II said she did not feel gun salutes would be appropriate in the circumstances of the crisis, which has claimed more than 14,000 lives in Britain.
Gun salutes, in which blank rounds are fired across the UK, are typically used by the Royal Family to mark special occasions such as anniversaries and birthdays.

Saudi Arabia Executes Dance Troupe Attacker

A man who stabbed at least three Spanish dancers in Saudi Arabia during a live performance has been executed.
The assault on the theatre group took place during a festival in the capital Riyadh in November, 2019.
State media linked the attacker, named as Imad al-Mansouri, 33, from Yemen, to extremist group Al-Qaeda.
It took place as Saudi Arabia eased long-standing restrictions on entertainment imposed by conservative religious figures.

NASA Astronauts Meir, Morgan, Crewmate Skripochka Return From Space Station

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Andrew Morgan returned to Earth, along with Soyuz Commander Oleg Skripochka of the Russian space agency Roscosmos.
The trio departed the International Space Station and made a safe, parachute-assisted landing. During their first spaceflight, Morgan and Meir contributed to hundreds of experiments in biology, Earth science, human research, physical sciences and technology development.

Dubai Extends 24-Hour Coronavirus Lockdown

Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management announced the extension of the 24-hour National Sterilisation Programme for another week from 4th April to control the spread of COVID-19 in Dubai.
Dubai Media Office to announce the extension of the 24-hour lockdown in the Emirate of Dubai for another one week. On the 4th of April, UAE govt announced a complete lockdown for two weeks which was due to end on the 18th of April 2020. The lockdown as of now has been extended till the 24th April.

NASA To Launch First Crewed Mission From US In Decade

NASA has announced that in May, 2020 it will launch its first crewed mission from US soil in almost 10 years.
The rocket and the spacecraft it is carrying are due to take off from Florida's Kennedy Space Centre on 27 May, taking two astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).
Both the rocket and spacecraft were developed by private company SpaceX.
NASA has been using Russian rockets for crewed flights since its space shuttle was retired in 2011.

Apr 17, 2020

Pandemic To Bring Asia's 2020 Growth To Halt For 1st Time In 60 Years: IMF

Asia's economic growth this year will grind to a halt for the first time in 60 years, as the coronavirus crisis takes an "unprecedented" toll on the region's service sector and major export destinations, the International Monetary Fund said.
Policymakers must offer targeted support to households and firms hardest-hit by travel bans, social distancing policies and other measures aimed at containing the pandemic, said Changyong Rhee, director of the IMF's Asia and Pacific Department.

North Korean Defector Wins In Gangnam, South Korea's Ritziest Seat

Thae Yong-ho has become the first ever North Korean defector to win a constituency seat in South Korea.
Mr Thae was once North Korea's deputy ambassador to the UK, but defected in 2016 with his family, becoming the highest-ranking North Korean official to ever do so.
He was running as the opposition United Future Party's main candidate in the affluent district of Gangnam of Seoul.
He won by 58.4% and was seen crying after his victory was announced.

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