Sakshi Education
- Pakistan continues at grey list of FATF for another 4 months
The Paris based Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an organization that monitors the financing of international terrorism, gave a 4-month extension to Pakistan & warned of action for its failure to combat money laundering and terror financing.
Islamabad (Pakistan) continues to remain on grey list & If it does not curb the financing of terrorism by June 2020, it will be put on the blacklist.
The decision has been taken by FATF after the completion of its 6-day plenary session in Paris, France.
Key Points:
i.Background: Pakistan was placed on the grey list in June 2018. It was given an action plan to complete by October 2019, under which it was entrusted with 27 tasks, including stopping terrorist funding, eradicating terrorism from its land. Out of this, Pakistan was able to complete only 14 tasks till February 2020. The FATF urged Pakistan to swiftly complete the remaining 13-action plan of the list.
ii.Pakistan’s terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and the HizbulMujahideen are responsible for a series of attacks in India.
iii.Impacts of being Blacklisted: If Pakistan is blacklisted, it may adversely impact its imports, exports, remittances and limit its access to international lending. Currently, only Iran and North Korea are on the black list.
- Bangladesh records sharp decline in Child malnutrition: UNICEF Survey
The child malnutrition rate in Bangladesh has declined sharply over the last six years. The finding was reported in the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2019, jointly conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and UNICEF. The survey has also recorded an improvement in many other areas related to health and nutrition, Child protection, hygiene and sanitation.
The rate of chronic malnutrition among children measured by the stunting level among them has come down from 42 percent in 2013 to 28 percent in 2019. The percentage of underweight children below 5 also declined from about 32 percent to 22.6 percent over the same period. The infant mortality rate has also declined from 46 to 34 per thousand live births between 2012-13 and 2019.
The survey reports that the percentage of children of school entry age who enter the first grade of primary school marked a sharp upward trend from 33 percent in 2012-13 to 61.4 in 2019.
The survey also records improvement in access to and use of toilets, birth registration, ante-natal care coverage, institutional deliveries and similar other parameters indicating an overall improvement in child and mother health in the country.
However, the availability of Children’s books declined from 8.8 percent to 6.1 percent during this period. The incidence of violent disciplining of children has shown an upward trend during this period.
The data for the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2019 was collected between January and June of 2019.
The Global MICS Programme was developed by UNICEF in the 1990s. It collects internationally comparable data on a wide range of indicators on the situation of children and women for use in policies, programmes, and national development plans.
- Conservatives claim victory in Iranian Parliamentary elections
In Iran, conservatives have claimed victory in a general election marked by the lowest turnout since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Interior Ministry announced results of 95 per cent of the 208 constituencies in Friday's election.
It declared the names of the winning candidates but without specifying their political affiliation. Conservative candidates have secured at least 219 seats in the 290-strong parliament, also known as the Majlis. 17 women were elected, the same number as in the outgoing 290-seat parliament.
- Jawed Ashraf appointed as India’s next ambassador to France
Diplomat Jawed Ashraf has been appointed as India's next Ambassador to France on 26 February.
The announcement was made by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). He will take up the assignment shortly. The appointment comes in view of rising strategic ties between India and France.
Jawed Ashraf:
Jawed Ashraf is a 1991-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer. He is currently serving as Indian High Commissioner to Singapore. He will replace Vinay Mohan Kwatra as India's Ambassador to France. Kwatra, on the other hand, has been appointed as India's Ambassador to Nepal.
- Pranab Mukherjee to address Bangladesh Parliament on Mujib Centenary
Former President Pranab Mukherjee is to address Jatiya Sangsad, a special session of Bangladesh Parliament, on the occasion of the centenary year of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Along with Mukherjee, Nepalese President Bidhya Devi Bhandari is also invited for the session. This would be the third time a foreign dignitary would address Bangladesh's parliament.
Jatiya Sangsad:
The special session of the Jatiya Sangsad has been scheduled to be held on 22-23 March 2020.
The Mujib Centenary year will begin on 17 March in Dhaka.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to participate in the centenary celebrations in Bangladesh. Also, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will be visiting Dhaka in the first week of March to prepare the ground for Prime Minister Modi's visit to Bangladesh.
- Suella Braverman appointed as the UKs new Attorney General
Indian-origin Suella Braverman has been appointed as the UK's new Attorney General. The appointment comes in British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's reshuffled Cabinet in February 2020. Suella Braverman sworn in for the post at a ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on 24 February.
Braverman will involve reviewing the work of the law officers' departments. She will oversee the independent prosecuting authorities, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Serious Fraud Office.
Suella Braverman:
Suella Braverman, a 39-year-old minister, is a barrister and Cambridge University law graduate. She had specialized in public law and judicial review. Since 2015, she served as an MP for Fareham in south-east England. She served as a minister in the Department for Exiting the European Union. She served as a member of the Attorney General's panel of treasury counsel.
She studied law at the University of Cambridge. She completed Masters in law from the University of Paris. Braverman was the first female Attorney General to be appointed by a Conservative Party government.
- World NGO Day is observed on 27 February
World NGO Day is observed on 27 February. The day aims to raise awareness about the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) sector.
The day is observed every year to encourage people worldwide who are involved and dedicatedly working for a good cause.
Aim:
The day aims to highlight the achievements and success of NGOs from all the sectors across the globe.
The day aims to make people understand the role of NGOs in society.
History:
The observation of World NGO Day was founded in 2009 by Law student MarcisLiors Skadmanis.
The observation of the day was officially declared by 12 countries on 17 April 2010. It was internationally recognized on 27 February 2014 by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
- Sri Lanka objects to US restriction on Lt Gen Shavendra Silva
Srilankan government formally conveyed to the US Ambassador its strong objections on the imposition of travel restrictions by the US on Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Army, as well as his immediate family.
This was conveyed to US ambassador AlainaTeplitz by Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena when the former was called for a meeting this morning.
This action unnecessarily complicates the US-Sri Lanka relationship and asked that the US Government review its decision.
The development came after the US Department of State on 14th February, 2020 designated General Shavendra making him and his family members ineligible for entry into the United States.
- FATF meet in Paris to take stock of Pakistan's role in terror financing
A crucial meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) began in Paris on 16th February, 2020.
The plenary session of the FATF will take stock of Pakistan's role in terror financing.
The session will review progress made by Pakistan and some other countries that present a risk to the financial system.
India will keep up the pressure on Pakistan to cut finances to terrorist groups, in particular seeking action against Jaish-e-Mohammed chief MaulanaMasoodAzhar and Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Zaki-ur-RehmanLakhvi.
IMF, United Nations, World Bank and other organizations will focus on global action to follow the money that fuels crime and terrorism.
Pakistan was placed on the 'grey list' by the Paris-based watchdog in June 2018 and was given a plan of action to complete by October 2019 or face the risk of being placed on the watchdog's blacklist.
The FATF had noted that Pakistan had addressed only five out of the 27 tasks given to it in controlling funding to terror groups. The intergovernmental organisation had asked Pakistan to complete its full action plan by February 2020.
- Japan’s economy suffers worst drop in over five years
Japan's economy suffered its worst quarterly contraction in more than five years at the end of 2019 after a tax hike and typhoons.
The nation's gross domestic product in the three months to December shrank 1.6 percent from the previous quarter, before the novel coronavirus outbreak in China hit Japan. The drop was much worse than the one-percent contraction economists had expected.
The disappointing data snapped four quarters of expansion and was the biggest contraction since the second quarter of 2014 when the economy shrank 1.9 percent after the first sales tax hike in 17 years was introduced.
- WHO says Covid-19 is not as deadly as other coronaviruses
World Health Organization (WHO) has warned against blanket measures over the novel coronavirus outbreak, pointing out the epidemic outside of China is only affecting a tiny proportion of the population.
COVID-19 is less deadly than other coronaviruses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, SARS or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.
WHO officials rejected the suggestion that all cruises should be halted to avoid risking a new nest of infection like the one on the coronavirus-hit Diamond Princess off Japan.
The outbreak has battered manufacturing and tourism across the region and led to multiple travel restrictions including for flights and cruises.
- UK warns... won't accept EU-ruled 'level playing field'
Britain's trade negotiator has warned that his government will not accept EU supervision of its economy in exchange for close trade ties.
Senior diplomat Mark Frost told academics in Brussels that London intends to set its own laws following Brexit and not follow EU-imposed "level playing field" rules.
Frost's speech at the Free University of Brussels took place as EU member states are drawing up a mandate for their own negotiator, Michel Barnier.
- Ashraf Ghani declared winner of Afghan 2019 presidential poll
Afghanistan, election commission declared Ashraf Ghani the winner of the 2019 presidential poll, almost five months after voting took place. According to the Independent Election Commission, Dr Abdullah was the runner up.
Election commission chief Hawa Alam Nuristani told in Kabul that Mr Ashraf Ghani has won 50.64 percent votes, as the president of Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Ghani’s opponents Dr. Abdullah Abdullah said, the vote was marred by massive fraud, technical problems with biometric devices used for voting, attacks and irregularities.
Earlier this week, Abdullah's team said they would not accept fraudulent results. The election was held on 28th September 2019.
- Bangladesh to sign Free Trade Agreement with Nepal
Bangladesh and Nepal have agreed to sign a Free Trade Agreement to enhance trade between the two countries.
A committee will be formed to work out the modalities of the agreement.
Bangladesh has also agreed to allow Nepal to use it Saidpur airport located in its northernmost district of Nilphamari close to Nepal.
Ways to enhance trade, investment and connectivity including use of seaports of Bangladesh were discussed.
Bangladesh exports commodities worth $38 million to Nepal and imports goods worth around 18 million dollars.
The Nepal Foreign Minister expressed the hope that Nepal will be able to provide 500 MW of hydroelectric power to Bangladesh once the Indian Company GMR completes its project in Nepal.
- Sub-group of terror financing watchdog FATF recommends continuation of Pak in ‘Grey List’
A sub-group of the global terror financing watchdog FATF on 18 February, 2020 recommended the continuation of Pakistan in the 'Grey List' for its failure to check terror funding.
The decision was taken at the meeting of the FATF's International Co-operation Review Group (ICRG), held at the ongoing Paris plenary.
The final decision will be taken on 21st February, 2020 when the FATF takes up issues concerning Pakistan.
The FATF meeting is being held a week after an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan sentenced Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack, to 11 years in two terror financing cases.
Pakistan was placed on the 'Grey List' by the FATF in June 2018.
- Bangladesh to enhance Mongla Port Capacity
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) of Bangladesh has approved the proposal to enhance the capacity of the Mongla port
The Mongla port capacity will be enhanced to ensure better facilities for the users.
India has extended a line of credit for the expansion of the Mongla Port capacity. Out of the total estimated project cost of Tk 6014 crore, India will provide Tk 4459 crore equivalent to $ 530 million as Line of Credit for the project.
With the enhancement of the capacity of the Mongla port it would be able to handle 15 million tons of cargo and 4 lakh shipping containers of a standard 20 feet size called TEUs.
The project consists building of two container terminals and related infrastructure facilities at the port.
On completion the project will significantly boost connectivity in the BBIN (Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal) region. It will also boost trade with India, Bhutan and Nepal.
India and Bangladesh had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the use of Chattogram and Mongla ports in 2015. The MoU envisages transit of goods from Mongla port to north eastern states of India through waterways, roads and railways. Mongla is the second largest sea port in Bangladesh. The project is expected to be completed by June 2024.
- Sri Lanka to withdraw from co-sponsorship of UNHRC resolution 30/1
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa confirmed that his government has decided to withdraw from the co-sponsorship of UNHRC resolution 30/1 which called for addressing war crimes and reconciliation efforts with minorities.
The decision to withdraw from the resolution was reached on 17 February, 2020 and it has to be ratified by cabinet and parliament.
PM Rajapaksa said the previous government ended up accepting all the unfounded allegations made against armed forces by various interested parties.
Even though the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights says that a person be deemed innocent until proved guilty, this principle does not seem to apply to Sri Lanka’s army commander or even to members of his family.
Sri Lanka will hold parliamentary elections in late April or early May after the dissolution of Parliament early next month. President Gotabaya Rajapksa has also made it clear during his election campaign last year that he will withdraw from the resolution, which Tamil minorities are pressing for implementation.
- UK launches new points-based Visa system
UK Home Secretary, Priti Patel has announced the launch of Britain's new points-based visa system. It aims at attracting the "brightest and the best" from the world, including from India.
The new system will cut down numbers of cheap, low-skilled migrating workers coming to the country. The new system will come into force from January 1, 2021, at the end of the transition period after UK's exit from the European Union (EU) last month (January, 2020).
The new post-Brexit system, which will apply equally to the EU and non-EU countries like India, is based on assigning points for specific skills, qualifications, salaries and professions, with visas only awarded to those who gain enough points.
- Libya’s government suspends participation in Geneva talks
Libya's internationally recognised government has said it is suspending its participation in ceasefire negotiations hosted by the United Nations in Geneva. This follows hours after an attack by renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar's forces on the capital's port.
The presidential council of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) said it would respond firmly to the attack at the appropriate time.
The attack happened as five military representatives from the GNA and another five from the LNA gathered in Geneva, more than a week after they ended their first round of negotiations without striking a deal.
There was broad consensus between the two sides on "the urgency for Libyans to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the country, and to stop the flow of non-Libyan fighters and send them out of the country.
- US, Taliban truce begins, raising hopes for a peace deal next week
In Afghanistan, a week-long truce between the United States and the Taliban took place. It has set the stage for the two sides to sign a peace deal next week aimed at ending 18 years of war in Afghanistan.
The agreement comes after more than a year of talks between American and Afghan Taliban representatives. A suitable security situation would be created ahead of signing a deal.
Afghan officials have said that the US-Taliban deal could be finalised on the 29th of this month in Doha, assuming the reduction in violence proceeds to plan.
- India, Maldives discuss issues of mutual interest in the area of security and law enforcement cooperation
India and Maldives discussed issues of mutual interest in the area of security and law enforcement cooperation. Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with his Maldivian counterpart Sheikh Imran Abdulla who called on him in New Delhi.
Welcoming the strengthening of India-Maldives Partnership, both sides welcomed the expansion of bilateral cooperation in diverse fields including policing and law enforcement, counter-terrorism, counter-radicalization, organized crime, drug trafficking and capacity building.
- FATF decides to retain Pakistan in 'Grey List’
The global terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) decided continuation of Pakistan in the 'Grey List' and warned the country that stern action will be taken if it fails to check the flow of money to terror groups. The decision was taken at the Financial Action Task Force's plenary in Paris.
The plenary has noted that Pakistan addressed only a few of the 27 tasks given to it in controlling funding to terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and the Hizbul Mujahideen, which are responsible for a series of attacks in India.
The FATF said, Pakistan has to swiftly complete its full action plan by June 2020. If Pakistan fails to comply with the FATF directives, there is every possibility that the global body may put the country in the 'Black List' along with North Korea and Iran.
- India, Sri Lanka sign MoU for up-gradation of infrastructure in plantation schools
India and Sri Lanka have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for up-gradation of infrastructure in plantation schools for estate workers of Indian origin.
The project envisages up gradation of infrastructure of 9 plantation schools as identified by Sri Lanka under an Indian grant assistance of 30 crore rupees. The government of India has been implementing several projects in the field of education, deepening India-Sri Lanka cooperation in the education sector.
Construction and renovation of many school buildings in Northern Province is also being undertaken under Indian grant assistance.
These projects are in continuation of Government of India’s people-oriented development cooperation with Government of Sri Lanka.
- Thai court dissolves Future Forward party over illegal loan
In Thailand, the anti-military Thai party was dissolved and its key members banned from politics for a decade over a six million US dollars loan by its founder.
The nine-member Constitutional court dissolved the Future Forward Party (FFP), ruling the loan by its founder Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit breached the law governing political parties.
A judge said the loan exceeded the 315,000 US dollar limit on donations to parties by an individual. The judge said, 16 party executives, including founder Thanathorn, were also banned for running for political office for 10 years. Thanathorn has been a fierce critic of military involvement in politics in a country whose history is peppered with coups.
- Sri Lanka: Parliamentary oversight committee recommends ban on face-covering attire
In Sri Lanka, a parliamentary oversight committee has recommended ban on face-covering attire including burqa and to suspend the registration of political parties on ethnic and religious basis.
The sectoral oversight committee on National security made the suggestions in a special report presented to the Parliament offering solutions to 14 controversial issues following the Easter attacks.
The report points out that currently many countries have banned the burqa and that the ISIS headquarters in Syria too banned the attire on September 5, 2019.
It suggests that the police should have the authority to arrest any person who is willing to uncover their face at a public place when needed to establish identity. The report also called that all students studying in madrasas institutions should be absorbed into the Normal School System within a period of three years.
The report contains recommendations on 14 areas including formulating a National Security Policy addressing the challenges of possible future terrorist attacks, amending Immigration and Emigration Law, monitoring of electronic, print & social media, amending the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act, empowering the Muslim civil society, establishing dhamma schools to ensure inter-religious harmony and regulating of madrasas curriculum. The committee was set up following Easter Sunday attacks last year in which over 260 people were killed.
- South Sudan President, rebel leader agrees to form unity government
South Sudan President SalvaKiir and rebel leader Riek Machar agreed to form a unity government, a long-delayed step towards ending six years of war that has killed hundreds of thousands of people.
The new government will be formed and SalvaKiir will appoint Machar as his first Vice President, or top deputy.
Security arrangements, one crucial issue, will be resolved after the government's formation. The protection of Machar and others with the opposition will be under his responsibility.
- France to shut down its oldest nuclear complex by June
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has said that the Fessenheim nuclear reactor, on the border with Germany, will be shut down by the end of June. He said, reactor No 1 will be halted and the entire complex will come to a halt on June 30. He called the decision the first phase of France's energy strategy set out in 2018 by President Emmanuel Macron.
The plan calls for a re-balancing of nuclear-produced energy and electricity derived from renewable sources. French Prime Minister said, coal plants are to be closed by 2022 to reduce greenhouse gases.
Germany has long called for the plant, France's oldest, to be shut down. It is the first nuclear complex to be closed under Macron's plan.
- Iran launches satellite; fails to put it into orbit
Iran launched a satellite yesterday but failed to put it into orbit in a blow to its space programme. The attempted launch of the Zafar comes days before the 41st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution and crucial parliamentary elections in Iran on February 21.
Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi admitted soon after that the launch has failed. Iran also unveiled a new a short-range ballistic missile and its new generation of engines designed to put satellites into space.
- Storm Ciara hit UK, brings heavy rain, wind
Heavy rain and gusts of wind reaching more than 150 kilometers per hour brought widespread flooding and travel disruption as Storm Ciara hit the United Kingdom.
Airlines also cancelled hundreds of flights, while several rail firms urged passengers not to travel. The bad weather also hit France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany throughout Sunday, causing scores of flights to be cancelled. Some 60 flights departing or arriving at Brussels Airport have been cancelled as a precaution.
- Bangladesh to Disinvest in 4 govt owned Banks
The government of Bangladesh has decided to start the process of disinvestment in four State Owned Commercial Banks (SOCB) by October this year. Announcing this in Dhaka today, Finance Minister of Bangladesh AHM Mustafa Kamal said that the Bangladesh Development Bank Limited (BDBL), Agrani Bank Ltd, Janata Bank Ltd and Sonali Bank Ltd would be listed on the stock market while the share of Rupali Bank limited offered to the public would be raised from current 9.91 percent to 25 percent.
Sonali Bank serves as the treasury of the government.
The process will start first with bringing the Bangladesh Development Bank Limited (BDBL) into the capital market. It will be followed by the Agrani Bank Ltd, the Janata Bank Ltd and lastly the Sonali Bank Ltd.
A committee has been formed with representatives from each of the SOCBs to complete the process with Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) as the Coordinator.
All the four banks being listed on the Stock Market are profit making entities.
Government of Bangladesh is also going ahead with the process of disinvestment in the seven state owned enterprises in the energy sector.
- Switzerland votes in a referendum on new law against homophobia
Switzerland votes in a referendum on a new law against homophobia that is opposed by the populist rightwing Swiss People's Party (SVP).
The new law would widen existing legislation against discrimination or incitement to hatred on ethnic or religious grounds to include sexual orientation.
The change was passed by the Swiss parliament in 2018 but critics, who believe it will end up censoring free speech, have forced a referendum on the issue.
- African Union Summit (Addis Ababa)
African Union Summit held in Ethiopia. Heads of state and government officials from across Africa gathered in the summit.
Theme: The theme of the summit is "Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive conditions for Africa's development".
The focus of the summit was to end regional violence, including the conflicts in South Sudan and Libya.
The summit highlighted three challenges namely eradicating poverty, tackling the climate crisis and silencing guns in Africa.
AU announced that it is to host two summits in May on conflict resolution and on implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
- Sudan to hand over Ex-President Omar al-Bashir to International Criminal Court
Sudan's rulers have agreed to hand over ex-President Omar al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to face genocide and war crimes charges. Bashir is accused of serious crimes in a conflict that broke out in Darfur in 2003 which led to the deaths of three lakh persons.
Authorities said the former President and others charged by the ICC, should appear at The Hague to face a tribunal. The commitment came at peace talks between Sudan's Government and rebel groups from the Darfur region.
- Covid-2019 is official name for disease caused by new coronavirus says WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the official name for the disease caused by the new coronavirus is Covid-2019. It comes after the death toll from the virus passed one thousand. Tens of thousands of people have been infected.
The word coronavirus refers to the group of viruses it belongs to, rather than the latest strain. Researchers have been calling for an official name to avoid confusion and stigmatisation of any group or country.
- UNICEF’s “State of the World's Children Report 2019”
As per UNICEF's State of the World's Children Report 2019, the Under 5 Mortality Rate in India is 37 per 1,000 live births against Global average of 39 per 1,000 live births in 2018, which translates to more than 8 lakhs under 5 deaths in India.
As per the Sample Registration System (SRS) 2010-13 report of Registrar General of India, major causes of child mortality in India are:
- Prematurity & low birth weight (29.8%)
- Pneumonia (17.1%)
- Diarrheal diseases (8.6%)
- Other non-communicable diseases (8.3%)
- Birth asphyxia & birth trauma (8.2%)
- Injuries (4.6%)
- Congenital anomalies (4.4%)
- Ill-defined or cause unknown (4.4%)
- Acute bacterial sepsis and severe infections (3.6%)
- Fever of unknown origin (2.5%)
- All Other Remaining Causes (8.4%).
- Advance team of WHO arrive in China to probe Novel Corona virus
An advance team of World Health Organization (WHO) medical experts has arrived in China to help investigate the Novel Corona virus outbreak. Confirming this, WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the advance team, led by Dr. Bruce Aylward, will be part of WHO-China joint investigation team. The larger international team could range between 10 and 15 members and will join with the WHO advance team as soon as possible.
Corona virus Outbreak death toll has reached 1,018 globally with over 43,000 confirmed cases as of Monday. China reported 108 new deaths and 2,478 new cases. Hubei province in China has reported 103 new deaths and 2,097 new Corona virus cases. A total of 974 people have died from the virus in Hubei.
China’s National Health Commission said, the cure rate for the Novel Corona virus has increased significantly across China to 8.2 per cent, rising from the 1.3 per cent figure announced on 27th of January while in central China's Hubei Province, the epicenter of the epidemic, it has risen to 6.1 per cent on Monday, compared with the 1.7 per cent on 27th of January.
China has found five new drugs to be effective in inhibiting the Novel Corona virus while three potential antiviral drugs including US made Remdisivir are in clincal trial stage in Wuhan. As countries are rushing to build diagnostic Capacity, Doctors in Wuhan are now using three-pronged approach in detecting Novel Corona virus. They have added two more parameters and are no longer solely dependent on nucleic acid test results.
China's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that two foreigners have died among 27 who have been diagnosed with the Novel Corona virus infection as of 10th of February. Three of the foreigners have been discharged from hospital, he added.
- U.N. council endorses 55-point road map to end war in Libya
The U.N. Security Council endorsed a 55-point road map for ending the war in Libya on February 12 and condemned the recent increase in violence in the oil-rich North African country.
The vote on the British-drafted resolution was 14-0, with Russia abstaining even though Russian President Vladimir Putin was one of the 12 leaders who agreed to the plan at a conference in Berlin on Jan. 19.
Russia abstained because the government has “serious doubts” about whether the resolution can be implemented and ends the war between rival governments “in the way we’d like to see it”.
The resolution demands that all countries refrain from interfering in Libya’s conflict and its internal affairs and observe a U.N. arms embargo, “including by ceasing all support for and withdrawing all armed mercenary personnel”. Russia sought unsuccessfully to change references to growing involvement of mercenaries to “foreign terrorist fighters”.
Background:
Libya has been in turmoil since 2011, when a civil war toppled long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed.
A weak U.N.-recognised administration that holds the capital of Tripoli and parts of the country’s west is backed by Turkey, which recently sent thousands of soldiers to Libya, and to a lesser degree Qatar and Italy.
- WHO to decide on emergency status of Ebola in DR Congo
UN health agency experts meet on 12 February, 2020 to decide whether the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo should still be considered a global health emergency, following a sharp decline in reported cases.
The World Health Organization last July declared it a “public health emergency of international concern” — a designation that gives the WHO greater powers to restrict travel and boost funding.
The outbreak was first identified in August 2018 and has since killed more than 2,300 people in eastern DR Congo.
- US Senate votes to restrain Donald Trump on Iran
The US Senate voted on 13 February, 2020 to rein in President Donald Trump from attacking Iran, sharply rebuking his foreign policy despite a week earlier acquitting him in his impeachment trial.
Eight senators of Trump's Republican Party, which enjoys a majority, bucked their leadership to join Democrats, following a classified Iran session by the Trump administration that one Republican called the worst briefing he had ever witnessed.
The resolution, which bars the United States from any military action against Iran without explicit approval by Congress, will head to the Democratic-led House of Representatives, which passed a text in similar form last month.
The resolution makes an exception if the United States is 'defending itself from an imminent act'
The Trump administration last year designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terrorist organization.
- Somalia declares massive locust infestation a national emergency
Somalia has declared a national emergency following locust infestation sweeping the Horn of Africa, as insects devastate food supplies in one of the poorest and most vulnerable regions in the world. Agriculture Ministry said food sources for people and their livestock are at risk.
Experts say the locust swarms are the result of extreme weather swings. Somalia's declaration -- the first country in the region to do so -- is aimed at boosting national efforts in tackling the hungry insects.
According to the regional Food Security and Nutrition Working Group, East Africa is already experiencing a high degree of food insecurity, with over 19 million people facing acute hunger. There have been six major desert locust plagues in the 1900s, the last of which was in 1987-89. The last major upsurge was in 2003-05.
- Australian Minister resigns over funding scandal
In Australia, the agriculture minister has been forced to resign over a funding scandal. She was found to have steered public money to sports clubs. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Bridget McKenzie has resigned for failing to reveal she was a member of one of the shooting clubs that received taxpayer's cash.
Morrison, who is already facing heavy criticism for his handling of Australia's months-long bushfire crisis, insisted he had dealt with the week-long grants scandal in a stable manner.
- Mike Pompeo calls on countries to offer asylum to ethnic minorities fleeing China
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on 2nd February, 2020 called on countries to offer asylum to ethnic minorities fleeing China's troubled Xinjiang region. He said this during his visit to oil-rich Kazakhstan, a country that borders the Xinjiang region of China.
The US simply asks to provide safe refuge and asylum for those seeking to flee China.
Kazakhstan has allowed several ethnic Kazakhs of Chinese citizenship who fled the region to stay in the country but has not given any of them asylum, a reluctance local activists attribute to Chinese pressure.
- Organization of Islamic Cooperation rejects Donald Trump’s peace plan
Days after Arab League rebuffed United States President Donald Trump’s Peace Plan for the Middle East calling it unfair to the Palestinians, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) rejected it yesterday asking its member states not to cooperate with the US with the implementation of the programme.
The Pan Islamic body called all its member states not to implement the peace plan. A meeting of Foreign Ministers at OIC headquarters in the Saudi city of Jeddah called on all member states not to deal with this plan or cooperate with the US Administration efforts to enforce it in any way or form.
The statement by the OIC said that it rejected this US-Israeli plan as it did not meet the minimum aspirations and legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and contradicted the terms of reference of the peace process. The OIC reiterated its support for east Jerusalem as capital of a future Palestinian state, stressing its Arab and Islamic character.
The US Peace Plan for the Middle East unveiled by President Trump last week said that Israel would retain control of the disputed city of Jerusalem as its undivided capital and annex settlements on Palestinian lands.
OIC has 57 member states and represent 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide. Iran could not be represented in the meeting, as the regional rival Saudi Arabia did not give timely visa for the delegates.
Iran has already denounced the US Peace Plan.
- World Bank calls for global effort against coronavirus
World Bank has called for global effort against the new coronavirus. In a statement, World Bank said, it is reviewing financial and technical resources that can be mobilized quickly to support affected countries.
It is also closely coordinating with international partners to accelerate the international response.
World Bank said it is monitoring the wider economic and social impacts of this crisis.
- World Cancer Day being observed on 4th February
World Cancer Day is observed on 4th February every year to create awareness about cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally.
World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that cancer cases will rise by 81 percent in low and middle-income countries by 2040 because of a lack of investment in prevention and care. It said, these countries have focused their limited resources on combating infectious diseases and improving maternal and child health instead of fighting cancer.
WHO said, they often had the highest cancer mortality too.
- New natural gas field containing 80 trillion cubic feet of gas discovered in UAE
The United Arab Emirates on 3rd February, 2020 announced the discovery of a new natural gas field containing 80 trillion standard cubic feet of gas in the cross-border area of the Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
A press statement by the Government of Dubai stated that the discovery of the Jebel Ali gas field will contribute to achieving gas self-sufficiency for the nation and support the next phase of its major development projects in line with the nation’s strategic development plan for the coming 50 years.
This new gas field, spanning an area of 5,000 square kilometers in the cross-border area of the two emirates, represents one of the largest natural gas discoveries in the UAE. The discovery strengthens the UAE’s position among countries with the world’s largest natural gas reserves. This discovery will help UAE in transiting the gulf nation from a net importer of gas to a potential net exporter of gas in coming times.
- Sri Lankan government says National anthem will be sung only in Sinhala, not in Tamil
Sri Lankan Government has said that the national anthem will be sung only in Sinhala and not in Tamil, during the main Independence Day celebrations to be held in Colombo.
The national anthem in Tamil has not been included in celebrations for the first time since 2016, when previous government under President Maithripala Sirisena had initiated it in an attempt of reconciliation with Tamil minorities. Minister of State for Home Affairs Mahinda Samarasinghe said that the use of Tamil version will be permitted at province-based ceremonies although there will be only Sinhala version at the main ceremony. Tamil political parties had demanded to keep both versions of national anthem.
Tamil politician and former Minister for National Integration Mano Ganesan said, the national anthem in Tamil is not just another song, but the Sri Lankan identity of the Tamil speaking community. The intent to sing national anthem in Sinhala only was made by a Minister soon after new President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took over though it was not announced earlier. Mr. Rajapaksa was overwhelmingly rejected by minorities at the Presidential polls held last November.
Meanwhile, the President has granted pardon to 512 prisoners on the occasion of 72nd Independence Day which marks Sri Lanka’s freedom from British rule in 1948. Sri Lanka has around 12 per cent Tamil ethnic population and LTTE had led a three-decade long separatist war for a separate nation.
- WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom calls for greater solidarity among countries to contain spread of Coronavirus
World Health Organization Chief Tedros Adhanom has said that the dramatic measures taken by China to rein in the deadly Novel Coronavirus outbreak have prevented significant spread abroad.
UN health agency's chief has also called for greater solidarity, accusing some governments of wealthy countries of being well behind in sharing data on virus cases.
While 99 percent of cases are in China, just 176 cases are in rest of the world.
The WHO had received complete case report forms for only 38 percent of the cases outside China.
More than 20,400 cases of the virus have been confirmed in China since the virus was first detected on 31st of December last year.
The WHO was sending masks, gloves, respirators and 18,000 protective isolation gowns to 24 countries, as well as 2,50,000 test kits to speed up the process of diagnosis for carriers of the virus. He also reiterated his call for countries not to impose travel and trade restrictions because of the virus.
- European Union rejects President Trump's proposal for securing peace in Middle East
The European Union rejected United States President Donald Trump's proposal for securing peace in the Middle East. EU also expressed concern about Israel's plans to annex more Palestinian land.
Mr Trump's plan, which was unveiled last week, would foresee the eventual creation of a Palestinian state, but it falls far short of minimal Palestinian demands and would leave sizable chunks of the occupied West Bank in Israeli hands.
In a statement, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell underlined the bloc's commitment to a two-state solution, based along the 1967 lines. He said, to build a just and lasting peace, the unresolved final status issues must be decided through direct negotiations between both parties.
Gulf Arab states also rejected the White House plan calling it as biased.
No Palestinian representatives attended. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that he wants to move forward with plans to annex West Bank territory.
- TTCSP releases 2019 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report
Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) of the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania has released the 2019 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report. India’s Observer Research Foundation (ORF) has been ranked at 27th position among 176 global think tanks (U.S. and non-U.S.). It was ranked at 118th position in the 2018 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report.
- China starts clinical trial for remdesivir medicine in coronavirus treatment
China has started clinical trial for remdesivir medicine in coronavirus treatment in Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital. A 68-year-old male patient with serious symptoms was the first to be given the drug.
However, Gilead Sciences Inc which developed Remdisivir said that the drug is not yet licensed or approved anywhere globally and it has not been demonstrated to be safe or effective for coronavirus infection treatment. The company said it had filed patent applications for the drug's use on coronaviruses in China and some other countries and regions in 2016, but it has not yet received approval in China.
It said its focus is now on rapidly determining remdesivir's potential as a treatment for the 2019 novel coronavirus, rather than discussing compulsory licensing or any other kind of permissions for drug manufacturing. The comments came after the Wuhan Institute of Virology said on 5th February, 2020 that it had filed a patent application to use remdesivir to treat the novel coronavirus on January 21, which has sparked debate on China's social media about intellectual property issues.
Meanwhile, Chinese Health authorities have confirmed new deaths caused by the novel coronavirus epidemic yesterday at 73. With this the death toll rose to 638 globally including one in Philippines.
According to data released this morning by China’s National Health Commission, newly confirmed cases rose by 3 thousand 143, a second consecutive daily drop, bringing the total to 31 thousand 2 hundred 11 cases in the country. Around 240 cases have been confirmed abroad.
- US President Donald Trump acquitted of all impeachment charges
The United States President Donald Trump has been acquitted of all impeachment charges. The US Senate has acquitted President Trump on two articles of impeachment that are- abuse of power and obstruction to Congress.
The Republican-majority Senate voted 52-48 to acquit him of abuse of power and 53-47 to acquit him of obstruction of Congress. Democrats required two-thirds of votes in the 100-member House to impeach the president. The ruling Republican party has 53 seats while the Democrats have 47.
Republican Senator Mitt Romney, who was the party's presidential nominee in 2012, voted against the president on the first charge, but followed the party line on the second article of impeachment. Rest of the members voted on party lines.
- Romania’s pro-European government collapses after no-confidence vote
Romania's pro-European government collapsed in a parliamentary no-confidence vote on 5 February, 2020 after only three months in office.
A total of 261 of 465 MPs voted in favour of a motion against the minority government led by Ludovic Orban, which took over in November. Leader of opposition Social Democrats, Marcel Ciolacu, said the fall of the Orban government is a very big step for Romanian democracy.
The move was triggered by Orban's attempt to change the law for local elections.
President Klaus Iohannis must now appoint a new Prime Minister who in turn must try to assemble a majority.
- IMF says Sri Lanka's economy gradually recovering from last year's Easter Sunday terrorist attacks
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said Sri Lanka’s economy is gradually recovering after Easter Sunday terrorist attacks last year with GDP growth projected at 3.7 percent in 2020. An IMF staff mission to Sri Lanka estimated the real GDP growth at 2.6 percent last year but expected the GDP to bounce back this year on the back of a recovery in tourism.
A staff team from the IMF visited Colombo from the 29th of January to meet with the new administration and discuss its policy agenda. The team noted that renewed efforts to advance fiscal consolidation will be essential for macroeconomic stability given risks to debt sustainability and large refinancing needs over the medium term.
The mission concluded that ambitious structural and institutional reforms are needed to anchor policy priorities, bolster competitiveness and foster inclusive growth in Sri Lanka.
It said the government should move ahead with growth-enhancing structural reforms to fully harness Sri Lanka’s economic potential and foster greater social inclusion.
The team welcomed the authorities’ plans to enhance the efficiency of state-owned enterprises, enabling them to operate on a sound commercial basis adding these plans would need to be supported by a visible commitment to strengthen governance and transparency.
Published date : 29 Feb 2020 05:03PM
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