Focus Merit

Category: International Current Affairs

Qatar scraps exit permit for domestic workers

January 16, 2020

Qatar scrapped mandatory exit permits for migrant domestic staff and other groups, as part of efforts to boost rights for guest workers amid scrutiny of its record. Previously all foreigners working permanently in the gas-rich country required authorisation from bosses to leave, but now only military personnel will routinely require such a dispensation.

It also dropped the exit visa requirements for other foreign workers including civil servants, oil and gas workers, and employees of government bodies including Qatar Airways. The announcement came after Human Rights Watch published it annual report Tuesday, saying Qatari “reforms have not gone far enough, and implementation has been uneven“.

Qatar has made a series of reforms to its employment regulations since being selected to host the 2022 World Cup. Some two million foreigners work in Qatar, many employed directly or indirectly on vast infrastructure projects for the 2022 World Cup.

Domestic staff must give their employers 72 hours notice before leaving under the new rules. Companies can also designate up to five percent of staff as “responsible” roles, such as those with financial oversight, who will still be required to seek managerial approval to leave.

China launches driverless bullet train, Ahead of Beijing Olympics 2022

January 14, 2020

In the run-up to 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, scheduled between February 4 and 20, China has launched a driverless bullet train from the capital city to Zhangjiakou, cutting short the travel time for a 108-mile journey from three hours to just 47 minutes. The train has 10 stoppages including Beijing, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou, which will be close to the venues of the event. The train is capable of running at speeds up to 350km per hour.

Taking about four years to build, the line became operational on December 30. The coaches of the train are equipped with 5G signals, intelligent lighting and 2,718 sensors to get real-time data needed to detect any operational abnormalities. Meanwhile, each seat comes with a touch-screen control panel and wireless charging point.

Considering the requirements of the Winter Olympics, it has larger storage areas accessible by QR codes, a dining car that can be transformed into a media room and removable seats to facilitate wheelchair-bound Paralympians.

Sri Lanka economic to grow 3.3 percent in 2020: World Bank

January 14, 2020

The World Bank has forecast Sri Lanka’s economic growth for 2020 at 3.3 percent. In its latest report of “World Bank’s January 2020 Global Economic Prospects,” the World Bank said for 2021 and 2022, it maintains the same forecast of 3.7 percent of economic growth in Sri Lanka.

The report further said growth in the region is expected to rise to 5.5 percent in 2020, assuming a modest rebound in domestic demand and economic activity benefiting from policy accommodation in India and Sri Lanka, as well as improved business confidence and support from infrastructure investments in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Sri Lanka’s new government headed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said recently that one of its targets include achieving a 6.5-percent economic growth per annum from 2020 and a GDP growth of 6,500 U.S. dollars per capita.

China removed from “currency manipulator” list by Treasury Dept. of USA

January 14, 2020

The Trump administration formally removed China’s designation as a “currency manipulator” on Monday, offering a major concession to the Chinese government as senior officials arrived in Washington to sign a trade agreement with President Trump.

The Treasury Department released its long-delayed currency report, providing its first public analysis of China’s currency practices since it designated China a manipulator in August. The report noted that China — which Mr. Trump had accused of weakening its currency, the renminbi, to make its goods cheaper to sell overseas — had made important commitments regarding the renminbi as part of the new trade agreement and that its value had appreciated since September.

China’s navy commissions biggest and ‘most powerful’ surface warship

January 12, 2020

China’s navy commissioned its biggest and most advanced surface warship yet, the ‘Nanchang‘ guided-missile destroyer, on Sunday morning in the port city of Qingdao.

The 1st fourth generation guided-missile destroyer, commissioned by People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is expected to accompany aircraft carriers in new battle groups. The commissioning of Nanchang marks the Navy’s leap from the third generation to the fourth generation of destroyers.

Bangladesh: 2nd largest Muslim Congregation ‘Bishwa Ijtema’ begins

January 11, 2020

The first phase of the world’s second largest Muslim congregation after Haj begins in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Thousands of devotees from Bangladesh and abroad are thronging the bank of river Turag at Tongi near Dhaka to participate in the congregation called Bishwa Ijtema. The Ijtema began with the ‘aam bayan’ and will end on January 12 with the final prayers ‘Akheri Munajat’. The second phase of Bishwa Ijtem will take place between January 17-19.

Oman: Ruler Sultan Qaboos bin Said passes away

January 11, 2020

The longest-serving ruler of Oman Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said passed away. He was a charismatic and visionary leader who transformed Oman into a modern and prosperous nation. He was ruling Oman since 1970. The Sultan is the prime decision-maker in Oman and also holds the portfolio of Prime Minister, supreme commander of the armed forces, minister of foreign affairs, minister of finance and minister of defense.

10th January: “World Hindi Day” celebrated globally

January 10, 2020

World Hindi Day is celebrated globally on 10th January every year. The day is celebrated every year to promote the use of Hindi language worldwide. The World Hindi Day was observed first time in 2006. The day marked the anniversary of first World Hindi Conference held in 1975 in Nagpur.

The Indian Embassies located in other countries outside India celebrates World Hindi Day by organizing special programs. Various government and non-government institutions organise unique programs for the promotion of Hindi.

Spain: Pedro Sánchez sworn in as Prime Minister

January 9, 2020

Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) leader Pedro Sánchez was sworn in as Spain’s Prime Minister a day after his proposed coalition with a left-wing party narrowly slipped through a vote in Parliament. Sánchez decided to forgo religious symbolism and took oath over the Constitution on the presence of King Felipe VI, the head of state. It is the second time in less than two years that the socialist leader has been sworn-in as prime minister.

Zoran Milanovic wins Croatia presidential election

January 9, 2020

Former Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic won Croatia’s presidential election. He belongs Social Democratic Party (SDP). He defeated centre-right incumbent Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, who was the first female president of Croatia.

Milanovic, the Social Democrat candidate, took 52.7 percent of the vote, while President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic garnered 47.3 percent. Milanovic who will take office on 19 February, will have a higher profile as President than usual, as Croatia has just taken over the rotating presidency of the European Union for six months.