Focus Merit

Category: International Current Affairs

‘Visit Nepal Year 2020’ campaign launched in Nepal

January 1, 2020

President of Nepal Bidhya Devi Bhandari, launched the “Visit Nepal Year 2020” campaign during the ceremony held at historic Dasaratha Rangashala in Kathmandu. Mythical creature Yeti has been selected as mascot of the campaign.

Nepal is one of the World’s fascinating tourist destination and the government has a goal of making tourism one of the key pillars of the Nepali economy. The ambitious campaign was launched in all the seven provinces of Nepal aiming to promote tourism in Nepal and to attract 2 million tourists in 2020. .

Guinea-Bissau: Umaro Cissoko Embalo wins presidential election

January 1, 2020

Guinea-Bissau opposition leader Umaro Cissoko Embalo, a former prime minister, won the presidential election beating rival Domingos Simoes Pereira, head of the country’s ruling PAIGC party, by about 54% to 46%.

He was also a prime minister, he served under Vaz – between 2016 and 2018, before representing Madem, a party formed by PAIGC rebels.

Pacific Island nation Palau, 1st country to ban ‘reef-toxic’ sunscreen

January 1, 2020

Palau’s pioneering officially enacted ban on “reef-toxic” sunscreens. From New Year’s day, any reef-toxic sunscreen imported or sold in Palau will be confiscated and the owner will be fined. Along with the ban, Palau’s much-touted marine sanctuary came into effect on January 1.

Palau is renowned for its marine life and is regarded as one of the world’s best diving destinations. But, the government is concerned this poses an environmental cost. President Thomas Remengesau stated there was scientific evidence that chemicals found in most sunscreens were toxic to corals.

This closes 80 per cent of its exclusive economic zone to fishing and other marine activities including mining and shark finning. It follows Palau’s establishment of the world’s first shark sanctuary in 2009.