Current Affairs March 2020 - International

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1 - UN Security Council unanimously approved US Taliban peace agreement

United Nations Security Council has unanimously approved a United States' resolution on the recent deal between the US and the Afghan Taliban. The US military has begun withdrawing troops as part of the pullout agreed in the February 29 pact with the Taliban.

In the resolution, the Security Council urged the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to advance the peace process. Under the terms of the deal signed in Doha, all foreign forces would quit Afghanistan within 14 months -- provided the Taliban stick to their security commitments.

2 - United Nations adopted political declaration on women's rights

United Nations has adopted a stripped-down political declaration on women's rights. It seeks to preserve gains under threat but does not advocate new ways to ensure progress toward equality. The declaration was adopted during the 64^th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

The adopted text follows the main lines of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action of 1995, which sought to promote women's emancipation and advancement around the world. A UN declaration on women is approved every five years.

3 - US President Donald Trump signed USD 8.3B bill to fight coronavirus outbreak

US President Donald Trump signed an 8.3 billion US Dollars measure to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak that has killed 12 people in the US and infected more than 200. The Senate passed the legislation to help tackle the outbreak in hopes of reassuring a fearful public and accelerating the government's response to the virus.

The legislation provides federal public health agencies with money for vaccines, tests and potential treatments and helps state and local governments prepare and respond to the threat.

4 - World Bank pledged 12 billion aid package to help countries combat coronavirus outbreak

World Bank has pledged a 12 billion dollar aid package that will provide fast-track funds to help countries combat the coronavirus outbreak. The funds, some of which are targeted to the world's poorest nations, can be used for medical equipment or health services and will include expertise and policy advice.

The Bank’s International Development Association, which helps the world’s poorest countries, could also receive additional funds in the second quarter of 2020 if its Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility (PEF) is triggered.

5 - China assumed Presidency of UN Security Council for March 2020

China has taken over as President of the UN Security Council for the month of March 2020, pledging to promote solidarity and cooperation in this capacity

The Security Council was established by the UN Charter. Its primary responsibility is to work to maintain international peace and security. The council has 15 members: the five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. The council's presidency is a capacity that rotates every month among its 15 members.

6 - BRAC retains its position as the top NGO of the world for the 5^th consecutive year

Bangladesh-based international development organization BRAC has retained its position as the top NGO of the world for the 5^th consecutive year. The rankings for 2020 were announced by the Geneva-based organization NGO Adviser which publishes the rankings every year based on publicly available data for the top 500 global NGOs.

BRAC was founded by Sir Fazle Hasan Abed in 1972 immediately after Bangladesh came into existence as an independent nation in 1971 to help the returning war refugees with small-scale relief and rehabilitation project. Presently, it works in Bangladesh and 11 countries in Asia and Africa.

7 - Denys Shmygal selected as Ukraine’s new Prime Minister

Ukraine's Parliament approved Denis Shmygal as the new Prime Minister of Ukraine. He replaced Oleksiy Honcharuk. Denis became third Prime Minister of Ukraine. Prior to this appointment, he has handled various positions such as Deputy Prime Minister in charge of regional Development, head of DTEK Burshtynskaya TPP, a coal power plant in the region and governor of the western Ivano-Frankivsk region.

Ukraine is located in Eastern Europe, the second largest on the continent after Russia. Ukraine gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

8 - Luxembourg became first country to make public transport free

Luxembourg became the first country in the world to make all its public transport free. It abolished the fares for trains, trams and buses to have a better quality of mobility and clean environment. However, travelers can still pay for first class, at a cost of 660 euros a year.

Luxembourg has just over 600,000 inhabitants, but 214,000 more travel in for work every day from neighbouring Germany, Belgium and France, causing heavy traffic jams. Earlier in reports, it was unveiled that more than half of Luxembourg’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transport.

9 - ADB sanctioned USD 4 million to member countries to contain Corona Virus

Asian Development Bank (ADB) sanctioned a total of USD 4 million (about ₹29 crores) to help developing countries in Asia and Pacific to fight the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person and causes respiratory symptoms.

The funds will be available for all ADB developing member countries to contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and improve resilience to this such as buying emergency supplies and equipment, assessing health system and respond to animal and human disease outbreaks.

10 - Muhyiddin Yassin became new Prime Minister of Malaysia

Muhyiddin Yassin was sworn in as Malaysia’s new Prime Minister after the abrupt resignation of 94-year-old Mahathir Mohamad, who had been in office since the general elections of 2018. Prior to this selection, Muhyiddin Yassin was minister of home affairs under former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. As per requirement of 112 lawmakers needed to form a government in Malaysia, Muhyiddin Yassin had 113 members of parliament.

Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country occupying parts of the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo.

11 - US Supreme Court allows Prez Trump's 'Remain in Mexico' asylum policy

The US Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to continue its “Remain in Mexico” policy for asylum seekers. The justices reversed a decision of a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9^th Circuit that had ordered the policy be suspended.

The "Remain in Mexico" policy unveiled in December 2018 by the Trump administration calls for non-Mexican asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while their cases are being decided.

12 - Joy Bangla to be national slogan of Bangladesh

The High Court of Bangladesh has ordered that ‘Joy Bangla’ will be the national slogan of Bangladesh. The court has directed all the people holding constitutional posts and state officials use ‘Joy Bangla’ after their speeches on national days and other appropriate occasions.

‘Joy Bangla’ was the main slogan during the liberation war of Bangladesh fought against Pakistan in 1971. The first President of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman also used ‘Joy Bangla’ in his speeches and specially during his historic 7^th March speech in 1971 declaring the goal of independence for Bangladesh.

13 - WHO declared COVID-19 a 'Pandemic'

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 a pandemic, pointing to the over 118,000 cases of the coronavirus illness in over 110 countries and the sustained risk of further global spread. The WHO defines a pandemic as global spread of a new disease.

The declaration refers to the spread of a disease, rather than the severity of the illness it causes. COVID-19 is a disease caused by the novel coronavirus which originated in China.

14 - “COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator” fund launched

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and Mastercard committed up to $125 million in seed funding to speed-up the response to the COVID-19 epidemic by identifying, assessing, developing, and scaling-up treatments. The COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator will work with the World Health Organization, government and organizations.

The Accelerator will de-risk the pathway for new drugs and biologics for COVID-19 and future epidemic threats, ensuring access in lower-resource countries.

15 - U.K.’s Coronavirus ‘Herd Immunity’

The United Kingdom Government had adopted “Herd Immunity” strategy to contain Corona Virus for which it was criticized. The strategy was adopted in the belief that 60% of its population will develop immunity against it.

UK has neither cancelled mass gatherings nor locking down public places to contain the virus.

The UK’s approach to the corona virus remains relatively mild compared to other places with similar rates of infection.

16 - Nepal committed 100 million to SAARC fund to fight Coronavirus

PM Modi proposed emergency covid-19 fund for SAARC nations. In order to extend help in fighting the virus on the SAARC region, Nepal committed 100 million rupees and India pledged $10 million toward a Covid-19 emergency fund for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation nations. Funds will be used for immediate actions used by emergency response teams such as availability of protective equipment, hospital beds, ventilators etc.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation is a regional intergovernmental organization that comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

17 - Saudi Arabia to convene virtual G-20 Leaders’ Summit

Saudi Arabia proposed to convene an extraordinary virtual G-20 Leaders’ Summit to advance a coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its human and economic implications. G-20 Leaders will put forward a coordinated set of policies to protect people and safeguard the global economy. The Saudi Presidency will continue to support and coordinate international efforts to counter the impact of the pandemic, both in human and economic terms.

The Summit will build on the ongoing efforts of the G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, trade, and foreign affairs officials, to further develop the precise requirements and actions needed.

18 - $100 Billion coronavirus relief package signed by US President Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump signed a $100-billion emergency aid package that ensures sick leave to Americans workers who fall ill from the new coronavirus. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease spread globally, resulting in the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic.

The relief package will not only facilitate free coronavirus testing for those who need it but also helps unemployment insurance for millions of Americans.

19 - Adnan al-Zurfi appointed as new Prime Minister of Iraq

Iraqi President Barham Salih has appointed Adnan al-Zurfi as the country’s new Prime Minister. He will replace Mohammed Allawi who withdrew his candidacy for the post. Al-Zurfi has been given 30 days of time span to form his cabinet which he must then put to a vote of confidence in Iraq's fractious Parliament.

Al-Zurfi was a former official of the US-run authorities that took over Iraq after the 2003 US invasion that deposed former ruler Saddam Hussein.

20 - 7^th World Cities Summit to be held in Singapore

The 7^th World Cities Summit is scheduled from 20 – 24 June 2021, in conjunction with the 9^th Singapore International Water Week and 5^th CleanEnviro Summit Singapore, at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, in Singapore.

The World Cities Summit is an international conference series on public governance and the sustainable development of cities. It is organized by Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities and the Urban Redevelopment Authority. The theme for WCS 2020 is ”Livable and Sustainable Cities: Adapting to a Disrupted World”.

21 - Philippines became 1^st country to suspend all financial markets

Philippines became first country to shut financial markets in response to the widening coronavirus pandemic. The Philippine Stock Exchange suspended stock, currency and bond trading. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease spread globally, resulting in the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic.

The Philippines benchmark index fell to 8%. Philippine market fell by a record 19.5%. Global markets are in meltdown as the pandemic spreads.

22 - SAARC Disaster Management Centre launched website for information related to COVID- 19

The SAARC Disaster Management Centre has launched a website for information related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the region. It was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The website shows the number of coronavirus cases in the member states while updating the numbers regularly. The website is www.covid19-sdmc.org.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation and geopolitical union of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

23 - US FDA approved first rapid ‘point-of-care’ test for coronavirus

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a corona virus diagnostic test that can be conducted entirely at the point-of-care and can deliver results in 45 minutes. The test will be able to provide results within hours, rather than days like the existing tests. It is expected to be rolled out by March 30.

The kit has been developed by California-based company, Cephid. The test would help fast identification of infected people and quickly start treating them and their quarantine.

24 - Netflix announced $100 million fund for film and TV workers

Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) has established a $100 million (86.3 million pounds) fund to assist workers on film and television productions that have been shut down due to the global coronavirus outbreak. Out of $100 million fund, company will contribute $15 million to third parties and non-profit organizations that were providing emergency relief suspended crew and cast members in countries where Netflix has a large production base. Beneficiaries include electricians, carpenters, drivers and other hourly workers.

Netflix, Inc. is an American media-services provider and production company headquartered in California.

25 - G20 Video Summit

The ‘Extraordinary Virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit’ was held through video conferencing on March 26, 2020. The summit focused on coronavirus pandemic. The G20 leaders pledged to inject $5 trillion into the global economy to reduce the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The G20 leaders also agreed to contribute to WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund on voluntary basis. The fifteenth G20 Summit was carried out under the theme of 'Realizing Opportunities of the 21^st Century for All'. It was chaired by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

26 - US tested Hypersonic Nuclear capable missile

The U.S. Army and U.S. Navy tested a hypersonic weapon system from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. Hypersonic weapons are capable of flying at speeds five times the speed of sound, Mach 5, and even up to Mach 20. They are highly maneuverable and can operate at different altitudes.

The main point of difference is that hypersonic weapons remain in the atmosphere while they travel, whereas ballistic missile warheads spend a lot of their flight in lower Earth orbit.

27 - The US announced financial assistance of 174 million US Dollars to 64 countries

The United States has announced financial assistance of 174 million US Dollars to 64 countries including 2.9 million US Dollars to India to help fight the Corona virus pandemic. This is in addition to the 100 million US Dollars aid announced by the US. The funding is for 64 of the most at-risk countries facing the threat of the global pandemic.

USA has provided 2.9 million US Dollars to help the Indian government prepare laboratory systems, activate case finding and event-based surveillance and support technical experts for response and preparedness and more.

28 - IMF launched Tracker of Government Policies in response to COVID-19

The International Monetary Fund has launched a “Tracker of Policies Governments are Taking in Response to COVID-19”. It will help member countries be more aware of the experiences of others in combating the pandemic, and in adapting various policies and practices to their unique circumstances and needs.

This policy tracker summarizes the key economic responses as of March 24, 2020. It covers the responses on the basis of three pillars, namely: Fiscal; Monetary And Macro-Financial and Exchange Rate And Balance Of Payments.

29 - US-CDC with Microsoft creates Coronavirus chatbot called Clara

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has introduced an AI bot called ‘Clara’ to help people assess potential symptoms of COVID-19. The CDC has partnered up with CDC Foundation and Microsoft Azure’s Healthcare Bot service to create Clara, the “coronavirus self-checker.”

The bot is initially available on the CDC website. The bot helps users in self-screening to decide whether or not would they need a test, thus freeing up resources.

30 - United Nations predicts loss of 25 million jobs due to Corona virus

According to a recent report published by the United Nations, the coronavirus pandemic could result in the loss of 25 million jobs across the globe. The report was published by the International Labour Organization (ILO) called ‘COVID-19 and World of work: Impacts and responses’.

ILO has estimated an unemployment rate between 5.3 million in a “low” impact scenario and 24.7 million in the worst-case scenario from a base level of 188 million in 2019. The study also estimates a huge plunge in global income between $860 billion and $3.4 trillion by the end of 2020.

31 - US launched advanced high frequency satellite for military communication

The Lock Heed Martin AEHF-6 (Advanced Extremely High Frequency) satellite was launched on the Atlas V551 rocket from Florida to provide global protected communications. AEHF-6 is the final satellite in the AEHF constellation to provide coverage from geostationary Earth orbit, about 22,200 miles (35,700 kilometers) above the planet and jam-proof communications including real-time video between U.S. national leadership and deployed military forces.

AEHF-6 is the first National Security Space payload to launch under the recently established U.S. Space Force.