News in Short

• The two Koreas restored their hotlines that the North severed months ago. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed his willingness last week to reactivate the hotlines.
• The South confirmed that twice-daily regular communication was restarted on time via military hotlines and others run by the Unification Ministry, except for the navy channel set up on an international network for merchant ships.
• The hotlines have contributed to preventing unexpected clashes and their reopening would hopefully lead to substantive easing of military tension.
• The Unification Ministry, responsible for inter-Korean affairs, expressed hopes that it would be able to resume dialogue soon on ways to recover relations and foster peace.

• Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced he was retiring from politics and dropping plans to run for vice president in elections next year.
• The 76-year-old leader, known for his deadly anti-drugs crackdown, brash rhetoric and unorthodox political style, earlier accepted the ruling party’s nomination for him to seek the vice presidency in the May 9 elections.
• Duterte announced his surprise withdrawal from the election after accompanying his former long-time aide for nomination under the ruling party.

• A 1,000 kg handwoven khadi tricolour, the largest in the country, was unfurled atop a high mountain overlooking the Leh valley.
• The grand ceremony was held to celebrate the 152nd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi along with 'AzadikaAmrit Mahotsav', commemorating the 75th anniversary of India's Independence.
• The flag is made by Khadi Dyers and Printers based in Mumbai which is affiliated to the Khadi Village and Industries Commission.

• An unprecedented leak of financial records known as the Pandora Papers has revealed the offshore financial assets of dozens of citizens.
• The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists obtained 11.9 million confidential documents from 14 separate legal and financial services firms.
• Moving money through offshore accounts, in mostly low-tax jurisdictions, is legal in most countries, and many of the people named in the data release aren’t accused of criminal wrongdoing.

• After the UK’S mandatory 10-day quarantine for Indian nationals upon arrival, India too has hit back with a similar rule for UK citizens who are arriving in India. India has decided to go ahead with a mandatory 10-day quarantine rule for UK citizens.
• Along with the mandatory quarantine period, travellers from the UK are also expected to undertake a COVID-19 RT-PCR test within 72 hours before travel.
• This rule stays irrespective of the traveller’s vaccination status. Additionally, there will be another RT-PCR test upon arrival.
• India’s decision regarding these new rules are reciprocal, since the UK has put a mandatory quarantine in place for Indian travellers, irrespective of the vaccination status.