1. Thailand to hold first general election on March 24
• In Thailand, the election commission said it will hold a general election on March 24.
• It will be the first polls since a military coup in May 2014.
• Election Commission Chairman Ittiporn Boonprakong told reporters in Bangkok, Political parties should submit lists of candidates to the commission between Feb. 4 and 8.
2. Global Investors Summit
• The two-day Global Investors Summit, being organised by Tamil Nadu government, is underway in Chennai.
• It is being participated by about five thousand delegates from industries in India and abroad.
• Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy in his inaugural address this morning said the state government would soon unveil e-vehicle policy to give a boost to electric vehicles manufacturing in the state.
• He said the 200 acres aerospace industrial park at Sriperumbudur near Chennai has the potential to get expanded by 700 acres more.
• Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman unveiled the state`s aerospace and defence industrial policy in the event.
• She said the Union Government is undertaking systemic transformation in the country in a big way.
• She said the government initiatives have brought India at 77th place in ease of doing business, from 142nd position.
• She said the country`s second defence industrial corridor has been launched in Tamil Nadu as it has a vast manufacturing base.
• She assured the Centre`s fullest cooperation to the state in its march towards progress.
• The Adani Group Chief Executive Officer Karan Adani committed an investment of 12 thousand crore rupees in its Kattuppalli port expansion project
• The Ford Motors inaugurated it`s Global Technology and Business Facility at its sprawling Sholinganallur campus in Chennai. More investment commitments are expected to be made during the ongoing two-day interactions.
3. Venezuela announces breaking off diplomatic ties with US
• Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced that he is breaking off diplomatic ties with the United States after his American counterpart Donald Trump recognised Opposition leader Juan Guaido as the South American country`s interim President.
• Mr Maduro gave all US diplomatic staff in Venezuela 72 hours to leave the country. The Venezuelan President accused the US government of attempting a coup d`etat.
• Maduro was sworn-in for a second term earlier this month, following a poll considered a sham by much of the international community.Guaido, the head of the Opposition-controlled legislature, told tens of thousands of his supporters that he was declaring himself as the acting President.
• Thousands of Venezuelans are taking to the streets in protest against Maduro.
• Thirteen people have died during two days of unrest.
• The Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict said, the deaths were reported in the capital Caracas and across the country.
• Guaido said the protests would continue until Venezuela is liberated. The United Nations has called for reducing tensions in Venezuela.
• UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said in a press briefing that UN is closely monitoring the situation.
• He said, UN firmly rejects any kind of political violence, and it will continue to underline the urgent need for all relevant actors to commit to inclusive and credible political negotiations.
• The European Union has called for the immediate start of the political process in the South American nation.
• Venezuela has been in economic freefall for a number of years under Maduro`s leadership. Hyperinflation and key shortages, including of food, has forced millions out of the country.
4. The 2nd World Integrated Medicine Forum 2019
• Union Minister of State for Ayush Shripad Naik inaugurated the 2nd World Integrated Medicine Forum 2019 in Panaji, Goa.
• In his inaugural address, Mr Naik said that India is the second home of homoeopathy.
• The central government is committed to promoting all disciplines under Ayush including homoeopathy.
• The forum is themed on ‘Regulation of Homeopathic Medical Products; Advancing Global Collaboration’.
• Around 150 delegates from 21 countries are participating in the event.
5. India and Kuwait
• Union Cabinet has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between India and Kuwait for cooperation on the recruitment of domestic workers.
• It provides a framework for cooperation on matters related to domestic workers deployed in Kuwait and provides safeguards for them.
• The MoU is initially valid for a period of five years and incorporates provision for automatic renewal. Around three lakh Indian domestic workers deployed in Kuwait will benefit from the decision.
6. Congo Court declares Felix Tshisekedi is elected President
• Congo`s Constitutional Court has declared the election of Felix Tshisekedi as the President and has rejected the challenges to the vote by runner-up Martin Fayulu.
• Tshisekedi, son of the late, charismatic opposition leader Etienne, is now set to be inaugurated.
• The declaration came early this morning after the African Union in an unprecedented move asked Congo to delay announcing the final election results.
• The Union cited serious doubts about the election. It planned to send a high-level delegation to find a way out of the crisis.
• However, the court turned away Fayulu`s request for a recount in the Dec. 30 vote over charges of fraud. It said he did not put forward proof to back his claims.
7. India, Mauritius agree upon critical partnership in various sectors
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Kumar Jugnauth held talks and they have discussed ways to boost bilateral trade and investment, including finalisation of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement.
• Both leaders met in Varanasi on the sidelines of the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas which was inaugurated by Mr Modi, and in which Mr Jugnauth was the Chief Guest and keynote speaker.
• In a statement, the External Affairs Ministry said, both Prime Ministers reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, and the talks focussed on the initiatives to further strengthen the ties.
• Mr Modi and Mr Jugnauth also discussed the ongoing bilateral development co-operation projects.New proposals for critical partnership projects in health, disaster management and energy sectors were agreed upon in the deliberations.
• The two leaders also discussed ways to expand further co-operation in areas of blue economy.Blue economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihood and jobs, and ocean ecosystem health.
• Both the Prime Ministers also discussed collaboration in Africa.Earlier, inaugurating the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Mr Modi said, NRIs can play a great role in Start Up, Stand Up and in Defence manufacturing sector while working for the development of India.
• He called upon the Indian diaspora to play a greater role in the development of the land of their forefathers.In his address, the Mauritian Prime Minister hailed Mr Modi`s leadership, saying that India had transformed under him and taken many initiatives to facilitate the less fortunate to have better access to opportunities.
• The theme of this year`s Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is, `Role of Indian Diaspora in building New India`.
8. Andry Rajoelina sworn in as President of Madagascar
• Andry Rajoelina was sworn in as President of Madagascar at capital city of Antananarivo.
• The oath-taking ceremony was attended by delegation from 35 countries and international organizations .
• High Constitutional Court had declared him as winner of the Presidential election on 8th January with 55.66 percents of the votes.
• Taking after oath of office, Mr Rajoelina said it is the first time in the history of the country since its independence that a democratic power transfer and a peaceful power transition took place between two elected Presidents.
9. Saudi-led coalition launches airstrikes in Yemen capital Sanaa
• In Yemen, the Saudi-led coalition launched a series of airstrikes against targets in capital Sanaa.
• There is no information on casualties yet.
• The airstrikes were the first by the coalition in Sanaa since a truce deal reached last month between the government backed by the coalition and Shiite rebels.’
• The deal provided for a cease-fire and a withdrawal of rival forces from the contested port city of Hodeida and an exchange of prisoners, but the implementation of both has run into difficulties.
• Earlier this month, an explosives-laden drone launched by the rebels targeted a military parade near the government-held city of Aden, killing at least six people, including the commander of military intelligence.
10. World`s oldest man Masazo Nonaka dies
• The world`s oldest man has died at his home in northern Japan at the age of 113.
• Masazo Nonaka passed away peacefully in his sleep, having outlived his wife and three of their five children.
• The super-centenarian, who lived in Ashoro on the main Japanese island of Hokkaido, died of natural causes at his hot springs inn, which has been in his family for four generations and is now run by his granddaughter Yuko.
• Mr Nonaka was born on 25 July 1905, years before the First World War began.
• He was certified as the oldest living man in the world last year at the age of 112 years and 259 days.
• Upon receiving his Guinness World Records certificate, he revealed the secret to his long life was eating sweets and taking hot baths.
11. Gilgit-Baltistan
• India has lodged a strong protest on recent order by Supreme Court of Pakistan on the so-called “Gilgit-Baltistan” which is an interference in India’s internal affairs.
• The Supreme Court of Pakistan has extended its powers to Gilgit-Baltistan regarding the area’s constitutional status. The order states that changes to the constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan will be determined through a referendum which will be held within 14 days. It further read that until then, people living in the area and in Kashmir will be given fundamental human rights.
• Entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes the so-called ‘Gilgit-Baltistan’ has been, is and shall remain an integral part of India. Pakistan government or judiciary have no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it. Any action to alter the status of these occupied territories by Pakistan has no legal basis whatsoever.
• Located in the northern Pakistan. It borders China in the North, Afghanistan in the west, Tajikistan in the north west and Kashmir in the south east.
• It shares a geographical boundary with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and India considers it as part of the undivided Jammu and Kashmir, while Pakistan sees it as a separate from PoK. It has a regional Assembly and an elected Chief Minister.
• The USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) also passes through this region.
• Gilgit-Baltistan is home to five of the “eight-thousanders” and to more than fifty peaks above 7,000 metres (23,000 ft). Three of the world’s longest glaciers outside the polar regions are found in Gilgit-Baltistan.
• Gilgit- Baltistan is part of J&K and any such move would seriously damage Pakistan’s Kashmir case. Two UN resolutions of August 13, 1948 and January 5, 1949 clearly established a link between GB and the Kashmir issue.
• Making the region its fifth province would thus violate the Karachi Agreement — perhaps the only instrument that provides doubtful legal authority to Pakistan’s administration of GB — as well as the UN resolutions that would damage its position on the Kashmir issue.
• Any such move would also be violative of the 1963 Pak-China Boundary Agreement that calls for the sovereign authority to reopen negotiations with China “after the settlement of the Kashmir dispute between Pakistan and India” and of the 1972 Simla Agreement that mentions that “neither side shall unilaterally alter the situation”
• Pakistan would also have to overcome the adverse reaction of Kashmiris on both sides of the LoC. While it can manage the reaction of people in “AJK”, its constituency in J&K would be seriously damaged. Hurriyat leaders have already made this known.
12. China population growth continued to slow in 2018
• China`s population rose by 15.23 million people in 2018, marking a continued decrease in the growth rate of the world`s most populous nation. Numbers released by the National Bureau of Statistics put the population at 1.395 billion in 2018, marking a growth rate of .38 per cent over the previous year.
• The total included 30 million more men than women, considered a long-time outcome of the recently abandoned one-child policy under which boys were favoured over girls for cultural reasons. The government estimates China`s population will peak at 1.442 billion in 2029 before beginning to decline the year after.
• China added more than 17 million people to its population in 2016 and 2017 following the scrapping of the one-child policy, but the effect hasn`t endured.
• India, the world`s second most populous nation, has also been experiencing slower population growth. Its total population stood at 1.362 billion this month based on United Nations estimates.
13. Imran Khan`s party seeks disqualification of ex-president Zardari
• Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan`s party filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking the disqualification of former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chief Asif Ali Zardari.
• Geo TV reported that Khurram Sher Zaman, a Member of Sindh Assembly from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, filed the disqualification petition against 63-year-old Zardari in the apex court.
• Zardari, the husband of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, was elected to parliament from the southern Sindh province in the elections in July last.
• On December 20, Zaman had filed a reference in the Election Commission of Pakistan seeking the disqualification of the former president for allegedly concealing his New York apartment in his tax returns. However, earlier this month, Zaman withdrew the disqualification reference stating that he would move the apex court against Zardari.
• Zardari served as the 11th President of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013.
14. Kamala Harris` run in US presidential race thrills Indian-Americans
• Kamala Harris` run in the US presidential race has thrilled the Indian-American community. 54 year old Senator officially launched her campaign for the US presidential election in 2020 to take on President Donald Trump.
• The Indian-American community leaders said Harris, who is of mixed parental heritage from India and the Caribbean, has a fair and clear shot at the White House. They are considering the first Indian-origin Senator`s groundbreaking announcement a proud moment and a reflection that Indian-Americans have finally arrived.
• Eminent philanthropist M R Rangaswami called it a proud moment for the Indian-American community to see one of their own announce to run for the President.
• Indian-American Impact Fund, a political action committee that supports Indian-Americans candidates, said, Harris is a trailblazer for the community and a champion for their values and they look forward to supporting her enthusiastically.
• Eminent Indian-American Frank Islam, who was closely associated with the Clinton campaign in 2016, said Harris will be a formidable challenger.
• If she wins the 2020 presidential race against Trump, Kamala Harris would create history by becoming the first woman to be elected as the US President.
• Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu elected to the House of Representatives has also announced her bid for the 2020 presidential election.
• A rising party star and vocal critic of President Trump, Harris, who is quite often described as the female Barack Obama in the Democratic party is the fourth Democrat to join the battle for the party`s nomination in the next year`s election.
• Indian-Americans constitute 1 per cent of the American population and are one of the fastest growing minorities in the country.
15. Arab Economic and Social Development Summit kicks off in Lebanon`s capital Beirut
• The Arab Economic and Social Development Summit kicked off in Lebanon`s capital Beirut.
• The leaders of 20 countries taking part in the summit aim to make a joint statement on a 29-item agenda that ranges from discussions on an Arab free trade zone and the economic effect of Syrian refugees on host countries.
• The summit takes place amid increasing political and economic instability in Lebanon, which hosts hundreds of thousands of Syrian and Palestinian refugees.
• The economic meeting is a prelude to the actual Arab League summit taking place in Tunisia in March.
16. WEF, annual meet to begin in Davos
• The World Economic Forum,WEF, annual meet will begin in Davos.
• World leaders from across the globe will flock to the ski resort town on the Swiss Alps for five days to discuss what`s ailing the world amid fears of the global economy sleepwalking into a crisis
• Those expected to attend include German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Swiss President Ueli Maurer, Japan`s Shinzo Abe, Italy`s Giuseppe Conte and Israel`s Benjamin Netanyahu among more than 30 heads of state/government, as also CEOs of global corporations, central bankers, economists, civil society leaders, media heads, celebrities and heads of international organisations like IMF, WTO, OECD and World Bank, among more than 3,000 participants.More than 100 CEOs from India expected to be participated in the meet.
• The theme of the event would be `Globalization 4.0: Shaping a Global Architecture in the Age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution`, which would have several India-focussed sessions.
• Besides, India`s political scenario may hog the limelight, with the event taking place ahead of the national elections.