Monday, April 19, 2021

*) Russia expels 20 Czech diplomats in tit-for-tat move Relations between Russia and Czech Republic are unravelling amid a diplomatic spat. Russia is expelling 20 Czech diplomats in response to a similar move by Prague which expelled 18 Russian diplomats. The Czech Republic says it has linked Russian intelligence to a blast in an ammunition depot some 300 km east of Prague, a charge Moscow denies. *) Greece, Israel ink record defence agreement Israel and Greece have signed their biggest-ever defence procurement deal. The agreement includes a $1.65 billion contract over a 22-year period for a training centre for the Hellenic Air Force by Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems. The training centre will be modelled on Israel's flight academy and will be equipped with 10 M-346 training aircraft produced by Italy's Leonardo. *) Australia, New Zealand open quarantine-free travel bubble Joy marks the reopening of Australia and New Zealand's travel bubble after a year, as families reunite and the tourism sector looks for a boom. Television footage showed hundreds of passengers crowding the international departure terminals at Australian airports. New Zealand was previously enforcing 14-day quarantines for arrivals from Australia over concerns about sporadic coronavirus outbreaks there. *) Hardline religious party frees 11 Pakistani police hostages Eleven Pakistani police officers seized by supporters of a now-banned hardline religious group have been released after government negotiations. The officers were taken hostage on Sunday by supporters of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) during violent protests in Lahore as part of their effort to get the French ambassador expelled. The TLP, backed by religious political parties, has called for a nationwide strike in Pakistan. And finally … *) Top 12 European clubs launch breakaway league, splitting football A group of 12 European clubs have split football by announcing plans to walk away from the Champions League to create a breakaway competition. Th