1. Norwegian Prime Minister on a state visit to India
• Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg has arrived in New Delhi on a three-day state visit to India. She was accompanied by senior officials from her government and a large business delegation. She will participate in the Indo-Norwegian Business Conference.
• The Norwegian Prime Minister will deliver the Inaugural address at the Raisina Dialogue.
• More than 100 Norwegian companies have invested in India in areas such as ship-building, petroleum related services, hydropower, clean energy and IT services. Several major Indian companies are also present in Norway.
• The Raisina Dialogue is a multilateral conference held annually in New Delhi. Since its inception in 2016, the conference has emerged as India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics.
2. Raisina Dialogue 2019
• Raisina Dialogue 2019 is 4th edition multilateral dialogue organised by Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with Observer Research Foundation (ORF).
• This dialogue is India’s flagship annual geopolitical and geo-strategic conference.
• The theme of the Dialogue is “A World Reorder: New Geometries; Fluid Partnerships; Uncertain Outcomes”.
• The discussions will seek to address issues arising from ongoing global transitions and changes to the world order, triggered by unique leaders, innovative partnerships and new technologies.
3. Henley Passport Index 2019
• Henley Passport Index 2019 has been released. The Index is based on data provided by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) and covers 199 passports and 227 travel destinations.
• The Henley Passport Index (HPI) is a global ranking of countries according to the travel freedom for their citizens.
• It started in 2006 as Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index (HVRI) and was modified and renamed in January 2018.
• India jumped two positions from 81st in 2018 to 79th this year.
• Japan retained its top spot as the world’s most travel-friendly passport due to the document’s access to 190 countries.
• Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nepal ranked further low at 104, 102 and 94 respectively.
• South Korea edged up the ranking from October’s index to join Singapore, offering access to 189 jurisdictions.
• China jumped almost 20 places in just two years, from 85th in 2017 to 69th this year.
• European countries also performed favourably, with European Union member states along with Norway and the US filling in the places behind the top three nations although the UK continues to drop down the rankings, along with the US
4. Nepal Army Chief to be on a 4-day visit to India
• Nepal`s Army Chief Purna Chandra Thapa will be on a four-day official visit to India.
• It will be his first official bilateral visit after taking over the command of the Nepal Army.
• The visiting dignitary will be conferred with the Honorary Rank of ‘General of Indian Army’ by President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• General Thapa will interact with senior Indian Army officials. He will also visit defence formations based at Jaipur and Lucknow.
• The visit symbolizes the deep-rooted ties between the two armies and will help strengthen defence cooperation.
5. Democracy Index 2018
• Democracy Index 2018 has been released. It is released annually by The Economist.
• The EIU Democracy Index provides a snapshot of the state of world democracy for 165 independent states and two territories.
• The Democracy Index is based on five categories: electoral process and pluralism; civil liberties; the functioning of government; political participation; and political culture.
• Based on their scores on 60 indicators within these categories, each country is then itself classified as one of four types of regime: full democracy; flawed democracy; hybrid regime; and authoritarian regime.
• India is ranked at 41 – a notch above last year. It is still classified as a ‘flawed democracy’ according to the index. India achieved a score of 7.23 on the index to maintain its position – the same it did last year. This is the lowest ever score attributed to India in the index ever since its publication.
• India ranks below the US (ranked 25th in the index) and other so called ‘flawed democracies’ like Italy, France, Botswana and South Africa.
• The report defines a flawed democracy as nations that “have free and fair elections and, even if there are problems (such as infringements on media freedom), basic civil liberties are respected.
• However, there are significant weaknesses in other aspects of democracy, including problems in governance, an underdeveloped political culture and low levels of political participation.”
6. World Gold Council
• The World Gold Council is the market development organisation for the gold industry. It works across all parts of the industry, from gold mining to investment, and their aim is to stimulate and sustain demand for gold.
• WGC has released a report on gold demand in 2019.
• Performance of financial markets, monetary policy in key economies including India, and the dollar movement will determine gold demand in 2019.
• Since gold is considered a safe haven, during choppy markets, the demand for gold improves, normally. Emerging markets, led by India and China–the biggest consuming markets–make up 70% of consumer demand for the metal.
• The World Gold Council is an association whose members comprise the world’s leading gold mining companies. It helps to support its members to mine in a responsible way and developed the Conflict Free Gold Standard.
• Headquartered in the UK, they have offices in India, China, Singapore, Japan and the United States.
7. Spain: Right wing coalition is set to rule Andalusia
• In Spain, a right wing coalition is set to rule country`s most populous region, Andalusia.
• The conservative Popular Party will rule the region along with the centre-right Citizens Party.
• Vox, an anti-immigrant party which won seats in Andalusia last year, will not be part of the new government, but has agreed to support the coalition.
• This ends 37 years of Socialist rule in Andalusia.
• Andalusia is the main arrival point in Spain for migrants crossing the Mediterranean. The Popular Party and Citizens Party advocate implementing existing laws on immigration. However, they do not support mass deportations, as advocated earlier by Vox.
8. Chinese workers arrested for growing cannabis in Zambia
• Zambian anti-drug authorities have arrested 12 Chinese construction workers for allegedly cultivating cannabis without a permit.
• The group was based in the city of Chipata in Zambia`s Eastern Province where they were building a studio for the state-run Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation.
• Growing, dealing and consumption of cannabis for recreational purposes is illegal in Zambia. But growing cannabis for medicinal purposes is allowed provided permission is granted by the health ministry.
• The 12 construction workers may face a maximum jail sentence of five years.
9. 84-km-long road, connecting border town of Gurez with Bandipora reopened
• The 84-km-long road, connecting border town of Gurez with district headquarters Bandipora reopened.
• The road was closed due to accumulation of snow for about a week. Dozens of far-flung and remote villages, including those near the Line of Control (LoC) in the frontier district of Kupwara remained closed due to snowfall.
• Travellers have been asked to tie anti skid chain with their vehicle tyre which is mandatory to avoid any accident.
10. US President Donald Trump`s special Afghan envoy Zalmay Khalilzad
• US President Donald Trump`s special Afghan envoy Zalmay Khalilzad will visit India soon to coordinate efforts to facilitate an intra-Afghan political settlement.
• The announcement comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump discussed ways to enhance cooperation in war-torn Afghanistan.
• The US State Department said that Khalilzad will lead an inter-agency delegation to India, China, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• However,the exact schedule of his travel is not announced.
11. US President Donald Trump demands funding to end border crisis in first TV address
• US President Donald Trump has demanded funding for the US-Mexico border wall to halt, what he said, a growing humanitarian and security crisis.
• In his first TV address to the nation from the Oval Office, Mr Trump demanded 5.7 billion US dollars for steel barrier on Mexico border. He said, the federal government remains shut down because Democrats will not fund for border security.
• The US President called on Democrats to return to the White House to meet with him. He said, it was immoral for politicians to do nothing.
• In a televised rebuttal, Democratic leaders accused the President of holding the American people hostage.
• Both sides are trying to gain an edge amid an 18-day government shutdown. The current closure of a quarter of federal agencies is the second-longest in history, leaving hundreds of thousands of government workers unpaid.
12. Sushma Swaraj meets Iranian counterpart
• External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met her Iranian counterpart Javed Zarif in New Delhi.
• MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, the two leaders held a wide-ranging discussion on important bilateral issues and shared perspectives on the regional situation.
• On the sidelines of Raisina dialogue, Mrs Swaraj also met Foreign Minister of Mongolia Damdin Tsogtbaatar.
• Mrs Swaraj had a productive meeting with her Mongolian counterpart and took stock of positive developments in a relationship in areas of energy, renewable energy, development partnership, capacity building and culture.
13. Sheikh Hasina to take oath as Bangladesh PM
• Awami League President Sheikh Hasina to take oath as Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the third consecutive term. President Mohammad Abdul Hamid will administer the oath of office to the Ministers at Bangabhaban.
• A 47-member Council of Ministers including 31 new faces, will also be sworn in.
• Awami League and its allies secured 288 seats out of elections held for 299-member Parliament recently. This will be the fourth government under the seventy-one-year-old leader, and third in a row, since January 2009. Earlier she was the Prime Minister from 1996 to 2001.
• Bangladesh, to the east of India on the Bay of Bengal, is a South Asian country marked by lush greenery and many waterways. Its Padma (Ganges), Meghna and Jamuna rivers create fertile plains, and travel by boat is common. On the southern coast, the Sundarbans, an enormous mangrove forest shared with Eastern India, is home to the royal Bengal tiger.
14. Pakistan court postpones hearing of Nawaz`s plea seeking suspension of sentence
• A top court in Pakistan indefinitely postponed the hearing of a petition filed by jailed former premier Nawaz Sharif seeking suspension of his sentence in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case.
• The Accountability Court II Judge Arshad Malik on 24th of last month sentenced 69-year-old Sharif to seven years in prison along with a fine in the Al-Azizia corruption case.
• The three-time former premier is serving his term in Lahore`s Kot Lakhpat Jail.
• Sharif filed an appeal against his conviction in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and a petition to suspend sentence until adjudication on appeal.
• A two-member IHC bench led by Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the petition and postponed it with the observation that it can only be heard after hearing of the appeal started.
• The court has so far not set any date for hearing of Sharif`s appeal.
15. UK court clears extradition of alleged bookie Sanjeev Chawla
• A British court cleared the extradition of alleged bookie Sanjeev Chawla, a key accused in the cricket match-fixing scandal involving former South African captain Hansie Cronje in 2000.
• The Westminster Magistrates` Court London gave the go-ahead to extradite 50-year-old Chawla.
• The case will now go to Home Secretary Sajid Javid for a formal extradition order.
• According to court documents, the Delhi-born businessman had moved to the UK on a business visa in 1996, where he has been based while making trips back and forth to India.
• After his Indian passport was revoked in 2000, Chawla obtained a UK passport in 2005 and is now a British citizen.
16. Malaysia`s new head of state to be appointed by January
• In Malaysia, members of the royal families met to set dates to choose a new king after the resignation of Sultan Muhammad -5 as the country`s head of state.
• Sultans of Malaysia`s states decided to set January 24 as the date on which they would convene to discuss the appointment of a new king, while Jan 31 as the date on which the new king will be sworn in, according to a statement by the Conference of Rulers.
• Muhammad - 5 became the first head of state to resign on Sunday, after just over two years of his mandated five-year term.
• Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said that the government hoped that the appointment would be expedited but would not interfere in the matter, as the final decision will be made by the Conference of Rulers as to whom would be appointed.
• Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy, with nine sultans serving as head of their respective state and the religious leader.
17. US Prez Trump pushes for steel barrier along US-Mexico border
• US President Donald Trump has offered to erect a steel barrier rather than a concrete wall along the US-Mexico border. He said that the steel barrier is a stronger and a less obtrusive option. Trump`s comments came in an effort to iron out differences with Democrats over the issue which has led to a partial government shutdown for a fortnight now.
• Trump has argued that a physical barrier along the US-Mexico border is essential to stop the flow of illegal immigrants into the US. Democratic legislators say the wall would not be a good deterrent to illegal immigration, and that investments should be made in technology to secure the border
• Trump is seeking 5.6 billion US dollar in Congressional funding for a wall, which is being opposed by the Democrats. Democrats, now in control of the House, have agreed to fund only 1.3 billion US dollars for border security. Trump has already threatened to impose national emergency if funds to build the wall are not cleared.
18. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan to arrive in Delhi
• Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Taro Kono will arrive in Delhi on a three day visit to India.
• During his visit, the Japanese Foreign Minister will hold a meeting with his counterpart Sushma Swaraj.
• He will also attend the India Japan Friendship Forum.
• Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne will also be on a three day visit to India. During her visit, Ms Payne will hold meetings with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
19. US sends national security adviser John Bolton to Israel
• US has sent national security adviser John Bolton to Israel on a mission to allay`s concerns about President Donald Trump`s decision to withdraw troops from Syria.
• Mr Bolton planned to meet with Israel`s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and other officials before traveling to Turkey.
• Israeli officials have expressed alarm that a swift withdrawal of the roughly 2,000 troops could enable Iran to expand its influence and presence in Syria.
• The pullout announced before Christmas was initially expected to be completed within weeks, but the timetable has slowed as the US President acceded to requests from aides, allies and members of Congress for a more orderly drawdown.
20. Saudi women to get divorce notices over text
• In Saudi Arabia, a new regulation is set to stop Saudi women from not knowing about their own divorce.
• Courts will be required to notify women by text on rulings confirming their divorces.
• Local female lawyers suggest the measure will end what are known as secret divorces, wherein men end a marriage without telling their wives.
• The directive would ensure women are fully aware of their marital status and can protect rights such as alimony.
• Last year, a decades-old driving ban on women was lifted in Saudi Arabia.
21. US Shutdown: No breakthrough as talks go into a second day over Mexico wall
• In the United States, talks aimed at ending a partial government shutdown over President Donald Trump`s demands for border wall funding ended without a breakthrough.
• White House officials and congressional aides have however planned to return to the table.
• The White House said funding was not discussed in-depth, but the administration was clear they needed funding for a wall and that they wanted to resolve the shutdown all at once.
• The shutdown, now in its third week, has affected around eight lakh federal workers who have been without pay since 22 December
• The Democrats, who control the House of Representatives have refused to sanction the 5.6 billion dollars for Trump`s ambitious border wall.
22. Pentagon Chief of Staff Kevin Sweeney resigns
• In the United States, Department of Defence, Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Kevin Sweeney has resigned, a month after Defence Secretary James Mattis announced his departure.
• Rear Admiral Sweeney said in a statement that the time is right to return to the private sector.
• He is now the third senior Pentagon official to announce his resignation since President Donald Trump announced US forces would leave Syria.
• Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will embark on a week-long tour of West Asia designed to reassure allies in the region.
23. British PM Theresa May tries to save her Brexit deal
• British Prime Minister Theresa May urged MPs to back her Brexit deal, saying it is the only way to honour the referendum result and protect the economy.
• Writing in the Mail, Ms May said, her critics both Remainers and Brexiteers risk damaging democracy if they oppose her plan. But a poll carried out for the People`s Vote campaign suggests fewer than one in four voters support her Brexit deal.
• A deal on the terms of the UK`s exit and the framework of future relations has been agreed between the Prime Minister and the European Union - but it needs to pass a vote by MPs in Parliament before it is accepted.
• The UK is due to leave the EU on 29th March this year - regardless of whether there is a deal or not.