Indian-origin global negotiator appointed director of renowned academic institution in South Africa

Indian-origin global negotiator appointed director of renowned academic institution in South Africa

An Indian-origin global negotiator has been appointed as the director of a renowned academic institution in South Africa.

Professor Faizel Ismail will take charge as the director of the University of Cape Town's (UCT) Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance from Professor Alan Hirsch in July.

Ismail is known for his role in negotiating major agreements for South Africa, including with the Southern African Customs Union as well as the Trade and Development Agreement with the European Union.

Ismail, a professor at the UCT's School of Economics, has in the past served as an ambassador to the World Trade Organisation and a senior advisor to the Minister of Trade and Industry.

World Pangolin Day 2019

World Pangolin Day 2019

The EIGHTH annual World Pangolin Day was celebrated on 16 February 2019

World Pangolin Day is an opportunity  to  raise awareness about these unique mammals — and their plight.

Pangolin numbers are rapidly declining in Asia and Africa.





There are eight species of pangolin: Four Asian species and four African species

US will declare national emergency to build US-Mexico border wall

US will declare national emergency to build US-Mexico border wall

US  will sign the government funding bill, and as it has stated before, it will also take other executive action - including a national emergency - to ensure we stop the national security and humanitarian crisis at the border

US will sign an executive order declaring a national emergency, which will empower it to fund the construction of a massive wall along the US-Mexico border to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the country and curb drug smuggling.

The move would help get USD 5.6 billion for the construction of the wall

William Barr sworn in as US Attorney General

William Barr sworn in as US Attorney General

In United States, William Barr was sworn for second time as the nation’s Attorney General, taking the helm of the Justice Department

the Senate voted 54-45 to confirm his appointment. Mr. Barr,

Barr also served as the Attorney General from 1991 to 1993 during President George H.W. Bush’s administration

he takes place of  Jeff Sessions.

World Radio Day

World Radio Day

World Radio Day is an observance day held annually on 13 February to celebrate radio as a medium.

It was proclaimed on 3 November 2011 by UNESCO's 36th General Conference after originally being proposed by the Kingdom of Spain.

The day is observed every year on the 13th of February to celebrate radio as a forum for information and entertainment, as a bridge of communication for remote communities and its role in empowering people.

The theme of this year's World Radio Day is Dialogue, Tolerance and Peace Broadcasts that provide a platform for dialogue and democratic debate over issues, such as migration or violence against women, can help to raise awareness among listeners and inspire understanding for new perspectives in paving the way for positive action.

EU members of UNSC asked for humanitarian access to eastern Ukraine's area

EU members of UNSC asked for humanitarian access to eastern Ukraine's area

European Union members of the UN Security Council have asked for humanitarian access to eastern Ukraine's areas held by separatists.


The countries said in a statement, some 3.5 million people require humanitarian aid and protection due to widespread mine contamination, escalating psychological trauma and lack of access to basic services.


They urged all parties to the conflict, to re-establish full access for all international humanitarian organizations to the non-government-controlled areas and allow speedy delivery of humanitarian assistance.


The statement was read to reporters by Jonathan Allen, Britain's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, on behalf of the eight EU countries including Britain, France, Germany and Sweden.

US team in Beijing for trade talks

US team in Beijing for trade talks

US negotiators met their Chinese counterparts in Beijing on Monday for a new round of high-stakes trade talks, hoping to reach a deal before the March 1 deadline set by US in the backdrop of the IMF warning

The talks will include officials from the agriculture, energy and commerce departments.


In December, Washington suspended for three months its plan to increase tariffs on USD 200 billion worth of Chinese imports to 25 per cent from the current 10 per cent to allow time for negotiators to work out a trade spat.


Washington is demanding far-reaching changes from China to address commercial practices.

US says, practices which China is using, are deeply unfair, including theft of American intellectual property.


China has offered to boost its purchases of US goods during the truce, but is likely to resist calls for structural changes to its industrial policy including slashing government subsidies.

Grammy Awards 2019

Grammy Awards 2019


Song Of The Year: This is America - Childish Gambino
Best Country Album: Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves
Best Pop Solo Performance: Joanne (Where Do You Think You're Goin'?) - Lady Gaga
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Shallow - Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: My Way - Willie Nelson
Best Pop Vocal Album: Sweetener - Ariana Grande
Best Dance Recording: Electricity - Silk City & Dua Lipa Featuring Diplo & Mark Ronson
Best Dance/Electronic Album: Woman Worldwide – Justice
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album: Steve Gadd Band - Steve Gadd Band
Best Rock Performance: When Bad Does Good - Chris Cornell
Best Metal Performance: Electric Messiah - High On Fire
Best Rock Song: Masseduction - St. Vincent
Best Rock Album: From The Fires - Greta Van Fleet
Best Alternative Music Album: Colors – Beck
Best R&B Performance: Best Part - H.E.R. Featuring Daniel Caesar
Best Traditional R&B Performance: Bet Ain't Worth The Hand - Leon Bridges (TIED WITH) How Deep Is Your Love - PJ Morton Featuring Yebba
Best R&B Song: Boo'd Up - Ella Mai
Best Urban Contemporary Album: Everything Is Love - The Carters
Best Rap Performance: King's Dead - Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake (TIED WITH) Bubblin - Anderson .Paak
Best Rap/Sung Performance: This Is America - Childish Gambino
Best Country Solo Performance: Butterflies - Kacey Musgraves
Best Country Duo/Group Performance: Tequila - Dan + Shay
Best Country Song: Space Cowboy - Kacey Musgraves
Best New Age Album: Opium Moon - Opium Moon
Best Improvised Jazz Solo: Don't Fence Me In - John Daversa Big Band Featuring DACA Artists
Best Jazz Vocal Album: The Window - Cécile McLorin Salvant
Best Jazz Instrumental Album: Emanon - The Wayne Shorter Quartet
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: American Dreamers: Voices Of Hope, Music Of Freedom - John Daversa Big Band Featuring DACA Artists
Best Latin Jazz Album: Back To The Sunset - Dafnis Prieto Big Band
Best Gospel Performance/Song: Never Alone - Tori Kelly Featuring Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin & Victoria Kelly, songwriters
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song: You Say - Lauren Daigle; Lauren Daigle, Jason Ingram & Paul Mabury, songwriters
Best Gospel Album: Hiding Place - Tori Kelly
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album: Look Up Child - Lauren Daigle
Best Roots Gospel Album: Unexpected - Jason Crabb
Best Latin Pop Album: Sincera - Claudia Brant
Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album: Aztlán – Zoé
Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano): ¡México Por Siempre! - Luis Miguel
Best Tropical Latin Album: Anniversary - Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Best American Roots Performance: The Joke - Brandi Carlile
Best American Roots Song: The Joke - Brandi Carlile
Best Americana Album: By The Way, I Forgive You - Brandi Carlile
Best Bluegrass Album: The Travelin' Mccourys - The Travelin' McCourys
Best Traditional Blues Album: The Blues Is Alive And Well - Buddy Guy
Best Music Film: Quincy - Quincy Jones, Alan Hicks & Rashida Jones
Best Music Video: This is America - Childish Gambino
Best Spoken Word Album: Faith - A Journey For All: Jimmy Carter
Best Comedy Album: Equanimity & The Bird Revelation - Dave Chappelle
Best Children's Album: All The Sounds - Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats
Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media: The Greatest Showman - Hugh Jackman (& Various Artists)
Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media: Black Panther - Ludwig Göransson
Best Song Written For Visual Media: Shallow - Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
Best Contemporary Blues Album: Please Don't Be Dead - Fantastic Negrito
Best Folk Album: All Ashore - Punch Brothers
Best Regional Roots Music Album: No 'Ane'I Kalani Pe'a
Best Reggae Album: 44/876Sting & Shaggy
Best World Music Album: Freedom - Soweto Gospel Choir
Best Musical Theater Album: The Band's Visit - Etai Benson, Adam Kantor, Katrina Lenk & Ari'el Stachel
Best Instrumental Composition: Blut Und Boden (Blood And Soil) - Terence Blanchard
Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella: Stars And Stripes Forever - John Daversa
Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals: Spiderman Theme - Mark Kibble, Randy Waldman & Justin Wilson
Best Recording Package: Masseduction - Willo Perron, art director (St. Vincent)
Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package: Squeeze Box: The Complete Works Of "Weird Al" Yankovic - Meghan Foley, Annie Stoll & Al Yankovic
Best Historical Album: Voices Of Mississippi: Artists And Musicians Documented By William Ferris
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: Colors - Beck
Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical: Pharrell Williams
Best Immersive Audio Album: Eye In The Sky - 35th Anniversary Edition - Alan Parsons
Best Remixed Recording: Walking Away (Mura Masa Remix) - Alex Crossan, remixer (Haim)
Best Album Note: Voices Of Mississippi: Artists And Musicians Documented By William Ferris - David Evans
Best Contemporary Classical Composition: Kernis: Violin Concerto - Aaron Jay Kernis
Best Classical Compendium: Fuchs: Piano Concerto

Earth's north magnetic pole is drifting

Earth's north magnetic pole is drifting

Scientists have found that Earth's north magnetic pole has been drifting so fast in the last few decades that past estimates are no longer accurate enough for precise navigation.

The magnetic north pole is wandering about 34 miles (55 kilometres) a year.

 It crossed the international date line in 2017, and is leaving the Canadian Arctic on its way to Siberia.

University of Colorado geophysicist Arnaud Chulliat, lead author of the newly issued World Magnetic Model, has opined that the constant shift is a problem for compasses in smartphones and some consumer electronics.

Airplanes and boats also rely on magnetic north, usually as backup navigation.

However he said GPS isn't affected because it's satellite-based.


Since 1831 when it was first measured in the Canadian Arctic it has moved about 1,400 miles (2300 kilometres) toward Siberia. Its speed jumped from about 9 mph (15 kph) to 34 mph (55 kph) since 2000.

The reason is turbulence in Earth's liquid outer core. There is a hot liquid ocean of iron and nickel in the planet's core where the motion generates an electric field, said University of Maryland geophysicist Daniel Lathrop, who wasn't part of the team monitoring the magnetic north pole.


The magnetic south pole is moving far slower than the north

In general Earth's magnetic field is getting weaker, leading scientists to say that it will eventually flip, where north and south pole changes polarity, like a bar magnet flipping over.

It has happened numerous times in Earth's past, but not in the last 780,000 years.

When it reverses, it won't be like a coin flip, but take 1,000 or more years

British actor Albert Finney

British actor Albert Finney

Albert Finney was an English actor, producer and director of film, television and theatre.

He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began to work in the theatre as a Shakespearean actor before attaining prominence on screen in the early 1960s

he was a recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe, Emmy and Screen Actors Guild Awards, Finney was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor

EU-backed group to discuss 'Good Faith' plan for Venezuela Crisis

EU-backed group to discuss 'Good Faith' plan for Venezuela Crisis

European and Latin American leaders will meet in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo tomorrow to discuss a plan to solve the deepening crisis in Venezuela, but will stay away from direct intervention.

The gathering comes on the heels of a separate meeting of the harder-line Lima Group in Canada, which called for international action against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to pressure him to step down.

Venezuela’s collapse under Maduro, with the country plunged into poverty and driving some 3 million people to flee abroad, has forced nations worldwide to take a stance, particularly after opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself president last month.

US nominates US treasury diplomat David Malpass to head World Bank

US nominates US treasury diplomat David Malpass to head World Bank

USA,  has nominated senior Treasury official David Malpass as the next chief of the World Bank.

He would replace Jim Yong Kim as the president if voted by the Directors of the World Bank Group.

The position of Managing Director of International Monetary Fund has gone to Europe.

 In his current capacity as the Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs, 62-year-old Malpass oversees the working of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to countries of the world for capital projects. It comprises two institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the International Development Association. The World Bank is a component of the World Bank Group.

Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States

Membership: 189 countries (IBRD); 173 countries (IDA)

 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), and the International Development Association (IDA)

Parent organization: World Bank Group

Donald Trump nominated acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt as Interior Secretary

Donald Trump nominated acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt as Interior Secretary

United States President Donald Trump has nominated acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt as the Interior Secretary.

Bernhardt will replace Ryan Zinke, if the Senate approves his nomination.

Zinke resigned in December amid investigations.

Nayib Bukele claimed victory in El Salvador's presidential election

Nayib Bukele claimed victory in El Salvador's presidential election

Former mayor of San Salvador, Nayib Bukele has claimed victory in the El Salvador's presidential election.

With most votes counted, the former mayor of the capital city had nearly 53 per cent of the vote with his closest rival,  Carlos Calleja garnering 32 per cent votes.

Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez is a Salvadoran politician and businessman, and the president elect of El Salvador as of 3 February 2019.

 He was elected as Mayor of Nuevo Cuscatlán on 11 March 2012.

 He was also elected as mayor of San Salvador on 1 March 2015, and took office on 1 May 2015

El Salvador is a small Central American nation.

Capital: San Salvador
Currency: United States Dollar

Human Fraternity Conference

 Human Fraternity Conference

The Human Fraternity Conference that kicked off in Abu Dhabi on Sunday is a rare global alliance that will reaffirm the values of tolerance and to fight destructive forces like terrorism, extremism and hate

 a gathering of more than 600 religious figures from across the world are taking part

The two-day Human Fraternity Conference being held at Emirates Palace, is one of its kind inter-faith gathering in the UAE capital that brings together 'cultures, faiths and civilizations' with an aim to foster tolerance and inter-faith dialogue.

The conference will address three main themes:

 Principles of Human Fraternity,

Common Responsibility to achieving Human Fraternity

 and Human Fraternity: Challenges and Opportunities.

World Wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day occurs annually on February 2nd, marking the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971.

Established to raise awareness about the value of wetlands for humanity and the planet, WWD was celebrated for the first time in 1997 and has grown remarkably since then.

Each year, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and groups of citizens at all levels of the community, have taken advantage of the opportunity to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits.

Some of these benefits include: biologically diverse ecosystems that provide habitat for many species, serve as buffers on the coast against storms and flooding, and naturally filter water by breaking down or transforming harmful pollutants

This year's theme is Wetlands and Climate Change

China agrees to make key concessions to expand American imports

China agrees to make key concessions to expand American imports

China has agreed to make key concessions to expand American imports in agriculture, energy, manufacturing and services, the main demands of US

 during the two-day high-level talks in Washington, the two sides discussed trade balance, protection of intellectual property rights, non-tariff barriers, service sector, and agriculture.

The two sides also agreed to take effective measures to promote a more balanced development of bilateral trade.

US, said that China must open its market to American manufacturing and agricultural goods if it hopes to strike a trade deal with the US.

The talks in Washington were first face-to-face cabinet-level talks between the US and China since the two countries in December last year struck a three-month long truce in their trade war.

Should the talks fail, tariffs on 200 billion US dollars of Chinese imports are set to increase from 10 per cent to 25 per cent.

World Leprosy Eradication Day

World Leprosy Eradication Day

World Leprosy Day is observed internationally every year on the last Sunday of January to increase the public awareness of the Leprosy or Hansen's Disease.


 Leprosy is one of the oldest recorded diseases in the world.

 It is an infectious chronic disease that targets the nervous system, especially the nerves in the cooler parts of the body - the hands, feet, and face.

 Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease is a highly contagious infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae

 theme 2019  ‘ending discrimination, stigma, and prejudice’.

Scientists create AI based system that translates thoughts into speech

Scientists create AI based system that translates thoughts into speech

Scientists have first time created an artificial intelligence (AI) based system that directly translates thoughts into intelligible, recognisable speech.

The research will help people who cannot speak regain their ability to communicate with the outside world.

The technology developed by researchers from Columbia University in the United States can reconstruct the words a person hears with unprecedented clarity.

The technology , which harnesses the power of speech synthesisers and artificial intelligence, could lead to new ways for computers to communicate directly with the brain.

UK Parliament approves Brexit amendment on replacing Irish border

UK Parliament approves Brexit amendment on replacing Irish border

In Britain, lawmakers voted in favour of an amendment in BREXIT plan seeking alternative arrangements to replace the Irish border arrangement known as the Irish backstop.

With this, PM Theresa May will try to renegotiate the Brexit treaty with European Union.

The amendment calls for the backstop to be replaced with unspecified "alternative arrangements" to avoid the reintroduction of border checks in Ireland.

However, European Union has repeatedly said it does not want to reopen the treaty, which has been signed off by the other 27 EU leaders, and said the "backstop" was needed as a guarantee to ensure there can be no return to a hard border between Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland.

The backstop is aimed at keeping an open border between European Union-member Ireland and British-ruled Northern Ireland after Brexit.

Another amendment, rejecting a no-deal Brexit, also won the support of Parliament yesterday.

The vote was non-binding and the date for Brexit remains 29 March.

Climate march held in Belgium

Climate march held in Belgium

At least 70,000 people  in Brussels  marched to demand the Belgian government and the European Union increase their efforts to fight climate change.

The event has been described as Belgium's biggest climate march ever.

Some 35,000 students took part in the march to ask for their demands for urgent action to prevent global warming.

Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal to win his seventh Australian Open title

Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal to win his seventh Australian Open title

Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal to win his 7th Australian Open Men's Singles title at Melbourne today.

The world No.1 defeated the second-ranked Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 .

With this, Djokovic has surpassed American legend Pete Sampras to elevate himself to outright third on the all-time Grand Slam title leaderboard.

List of Australian Open title Winners 2019

    Men’s Singles: Novak Djokovic of Serbia defeated Rafael Nadal of Spain by 6-3, 6-2, 6-3

    Women’s Singles: Naomi Osaka of Japan defeated Czech Petra Kvitova, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4

    Men’s Doubles: Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut defeated Henri Kontinen and Australian John Peers by 6-4 7-6(1)

    Women’s Doubles: Sam Stosur and Zhang Shuai defeated Kristina Mladenovic of France and Timea Babos of Hungary by 6-3, 6-4  to win the title

    Mixed Doubles: Barbora Krejčíková and Rajeev Ram defeated A. Sharma and J. Smith by 7-6, 6-1 to win the Mixed Doubles title.

US announced deal to temporarily open govt till mid-February

US   announced deal  to temporarily open govt till mid-February

US President Donald Trump has announced a deal with the Democrats to temporarily open the government for three weeks till mid-February.

The move will end the longest-ever partial shutdown and enable over 800,000 federal workers to resume their job.


if the government don't get a fair deal from Congress, the government will either shut down on February 15 again or he will use the powers afforded with the president under the laws and the Constitution of the US to address this emergency.

Both the House and the Senate are expected to pass a resolution shortly

the federal workers would be receiving their paychecks as soon as possible.

UN observes first ever International Day of Education

UN observes first ever International Day of Education

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called on all countries to prioritize education as a public good and support it with cooperation, partnerships and funding

In celebration of the role of education for peace and development, the UN General Assembly in December adopted a resolution to proclaim Jan. 24 as International Day of Education.

About 617 million children and adolescents cannot read and do basic math, less than 40 percent of girls in sub-Saharan Africa complete lower secondary school while some 4 million children and youth refugees are out of school, their lives disrupted by conflict and loss, said Azoulay.

 the UNESCO, the permanent missions of Ireland, Nigeria, Norway, Qatar and Singapore on Thursday held a whole day event entitled "Maiden Celebration of International Day of Education" at the UN headquarters in New York.

Former South Africa all-rounder Johan Botha has announced his immediate retirement

Former South Africa all-rounder Johan Botha has announced his immediate retirement

Former South Africa all-rounder Johan Botha has announced his immediate retirement from all forms of Cricket.

 Botha's Australian Twenty20 league team, the Hobart Hurricanes, announced the news


 Botha, who received his Australian citizenship in 2016

Botha played for South Africa in five test matches, 78 one-day internationals and 40 T20 Internationals from 2005 to 2012.

Botha captained South Africa in 10 ODIs and took the team to the No. 1 ranking after they defeated Australia 4-1 in Australia in 2009.

Adobe acquired 3D editing company Allegorithmic

Adobe acquired 3D editing  company Allegorithmic

Adobe  announced it has acquired 3D editing leader Allegorithmic makers of 'Substance' which is the industry standard for 3D textures and material creation in game and video post-production

 Allegorithmic CEO and Founder Sebastien Deguy will take a leadership role in Adobe's broader 3D and immersive design efforts as Vice President, 3D and Immersive, reporting to Scott Belsky.

Allegorithmic is a software company that develops products for procedural generation of textures . It made the computer game RoboBlitz (2006) in which the technology developed by them is applied. The company was founded by Sébastien Deguy, the CEO of the company in 2008.


Adobe Inc., commonly known as Adobe, is an American multinational computer software company.

The company is headquartered in San Jose, California, United States. Adobe has historically focused upon the creation of multimedia and creativity software products, with a more recent foray towards digital marketing software.


Headquarters: San Jose, California, United States

Founded: December 1982

Revenue: 903 crores USD (2018)

Founders: John Warnock, Charles Geschke

   

    Shantanu Narayen (Chairman and CEO)
    John F. Murphy (CFO)
    Abhay Parasnis (CTO)

ICC Awards 2018

ICC Awards 2018

The India captain Virat Kohli has become the first player to win all three top awards after being named ICC Test Player of the Year, ICC ODI Player of the Year

Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year": Virat Kohli (India) with Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) second.

"ICC Test Player of the Year": Virat Kohli (India) with Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) second.

"ICC ODI Player of the Year": Virat Kohli (India) with Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) second.

"ICC Test Team of the Year": Tom Latham (New Zealand), Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), Virat Kohli (India) (c), Henry Nicholls (New Zealand), Rishabh Pant (India) (wk), Jason Holder (Windies), Kagiso Rabada (South Africa), Nathan Lyon (Australia), Jasprit Bumrah (India), Mohammad Abbas (Pakistan)

"ICC ODI Team of the Year": Rohit Sharma (India), Jonny Bairstow (England), Virat Kohli (India) (c), Joe Root (England), Ross Taylor (New Zealand), Jos Buttler (England) (wk), Ben Stokes (England), Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh), Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Kuldeep Yadav (India), Jasprit Bumrah (India)

"ICC Emerging Player of the Year": Rishabh Pant (India)

"ICC Associate Player of the Year": Calum McLeod (Scotland)

"ICC Spirit of Cricket Award": Kane Williamson (New Zealand)

"ICC Umpire of the Year": Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka)

"ICC T20I Performance of the Year": Aaron Finch (Australia) for 172 against Zimbabwe in Harare in July, 2018

"ICC Fan’s Moment of the Year": India winning U19 World Cup

Arab economic summit concluded in Beirut

Arab economic summit concluded in Beirut


An economic development summit was held in Lebanese capital Beirut concluded on Sunday

Organized by the Arab League, the 4th Arab Economic and Social Development Summit is attended by three Arab leaders; the Lebanese President Michel Aoun, Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania.


it was agreed that all donor countries and Arab funds should work shoulder to shoulder to ease the suffering of Syrian refugees.

A consensus was also reached on financing development projects in refugee-hosting countries, the declaration read.

About 20 countries took part in the summit and issued a joint statement called the Beirut Declaration

most Arab states are represented at the summit by delegations at the ambassadorial level.

The summit also focussed on redevelopment plans in Somalia and Yemen.

Syria, whose Arab League membership has been suspended since 2011, and Libya are not taking part in the meeting.

The last Arab economic summit was held in the Saudi capital Riyadh in 2013.

The next Arab economic summit would be held in Mauritania’s capital Nouakchott in 2023.

Rio de Janeiro will be World Capital of Architecture for 2020 according to UNESCO

Rio de Janeiro will be World Capital of Architecture for 2020 according to UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has announced that the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro will be the World Capital of Architecture for 2020.

Having defeated Paris and Melbourne, Rio will be the first city to receive the title under a program launched together by UNESCO and the International Union of Architects (UIA) in November last year.

The city will host the World Congress of UIA, in July 2020, an event that occurs every three years.

According to UNESCO, the World Capital of Architecture is intended to become an international forum for debates about pressing global challenges from the perspectives of culture, cultural heritage, urban planning and architecture.

As one of the oldest cities in Brazil, Rio has a mix of modern and colonial architecture, with world-renowned sites  and contemporary constructions like the Museum of Tomorrow.

Congo Court declares Felix Tshisekedi is elected President

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.


The declaration came early this morning after the African Union  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 on Monday 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.

PM Stefan Lofven elected for a second term in Sweden

PM Stefan Lofven elected for a second term  in Sweden

In Sweden, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has been elected for a second term, ending a four-month political vacuum.

The Prime Minister is expected to formally present his new government and its full programme on Monday.

 It will be one of the weakest administrations in Sweden in 70 years, with just 32.7 per cent of voters having voted 

Sweden's inconclusive legislative elections in September last year had not left either main parliamentary bloc with a majority.
 

second Us north Korea summit

second Us north Korea summit

US President Donald Trump could announce a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un  , following an expected meeting at the White House with a North Korean envoy

the summit would likely take place in March or April, with Danang, Vietnam, appearing the most likely venue

At their first meeting in Singapore last year, the two leaders signed a   document in which Korea pledged to work towards the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

Theresa May won no-confidence vote in British Parliament

Theresa May won no-confidence vote in British Parliament

More than 100 lawmakers from Theresa May's party who had opposed her Brexit bill voted to support her government.

Prime Minister Theresa May narrowly survived a vote of no-confidence in Parliament on Wednesday

The House of Commons voted 325-306 to reject the opposition motion of no confidence.

A day earlier, it dealt May a defeat on her negotiated agreement for Brexit, or the process of exiting the Europena Union.

Had it been successful, the no-confidence motion almost certainly would have ousted May and probably have forced a general election

  March 29 is the date for leaving the European Union.

Ordinarily, a prime minister would be expected to resign after suffering a big defeat on a signature bill.

The vote of 432-202 against May’s Brexit plan was by far the biggest loss for a government on a major issue in modern times.


  May is required to return to Parliament with proposals on how she intends to proceed.

Lawmakers then will have the opportunity to make new suggestions.

British Parliament rejects Brexit deal

British Parliament rejects Brexit deal

British Prime Minister Theresa May suffered a  defeat in Parliament over Brexit deal.


Prime Minister Theresa May's bid to get the Withdrawal Agreement, struck between Britain and European Union, passed by House of Commons was defeated by a margin of 202 to 432 - a majority of 230 votes.

This is the biggest defeat ever suffered by a British premier in modern history.


The  defeat also marks the collapse of her two-year strategy of forging an amicable withdrawal with close ties to the EU after the March 29 exit.

Soon after the defeat, opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn submitted a motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister Theresa May 's government.

It will come up for discussion in the House today.

According to the Britain's parliamentary procedure, when a bill is rejected by the MPs, the prime minister has three sitting days to return to Parliament with a Plan B.

It is expected that Prime Minister Theresa May  will head to Brussels on Wednesday to try and secure further concessions from the EU before coming back to UK Parliament with a new proposal.

This could be put to vote by the MPs. Should this also fail, the Government will have another three weeks to come back with another alternative.

If the withdrawal agreement never gets through with Parliament, then in all likeliness the UK will crash out of the EU without a deal on March 29.

This would mean overnight EU laws and customs and the free movement of goods, services and people will cease.

Macedonian parliament ratified name change to North Macedonia

Macedonian parliament ratified name change to North Macedonia

The agreement was reached between Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras and his Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev.

The language of the country would be referred to as Macedonian and its people known as Macedonians

The two countries struck the deal on the new name in June, but Macedonia will start using it only after the parliament in Athens also ratifies the agreement.

Eighty-one members in the 120-seat parliament voted in favour.

this will help  Macedonia's entry into  European Union and Nato organisation

Constantine resigned as India football coach

Constantine resigned as India football coach

Stephen Constantine has resigned as the head coach of the Indian national team after the team crashed out of the AFC Asian Cup on Monday.

Constantine  took overas india coach in 2015 in his second stint in India and managed to guide them into the Asian Cup after a hiatus of eight years.

Earlier, Constantine had coached India from 2002 to 2005.

Constantine  has overseen a period of resurgence in Indian football.

 India climbed from the 173rd spot in the FIFA rankings back in 2015 and break through to the top 100 last year

India-Central Asia Dialogue was conducted in Uzbekistan capital Samarkand

India-Central Asia Dialogue was conducted in   Uzbekistan capital Samarkand

the dialogue was between India and the five Central Asia nations who have backed an inclusive peace process in Afghanistan

The Dialogue was chaired by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Uzbek counterpart Abdulaziz Kamilov.

It was attended by the Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and the First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan.

Rohit Sharma became first Indian to score 5 ODI century in Australia

Rohit Sharma became first Indian to score 5 ODI century in Australia

Indian opening batsman Rohit Sharma scored his 22nd century in the first ODI against Australia in Sydney.

This is Sharma’s 7th ODI century against Australia,

 but it is the fifth time he has scored a century  in Australia.

 He had previously also scored a double century  against Australia,  in 2013, in Bengaluru where he scored 209 in 158 balls.

Sharma surpassed wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist to become the third highest-run scorer in ODIs between the two countries

Ukrainian army will act in accordance with NATO standards

Ukrainian army will act in accordance with NATO standards

The Ukrainian army will meet standards of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) by next year.

 by 2020, the armed forces will act in accordance with NATO standards.

In June 2018, the Ukrainian parliament adopted the law on national security, which is aimed at reforming Ukraine's defense sector to bring the country's armed forces in line with NATO standards.

Ukraine is a large country in Eastern Europe

Capital: Kiev

Currency: Ukrainian hryvnia

When is World Hindi Day celebrated?

When is World Hindi Day celebrated?

Options

1) January 10

2)January 11

3)January 12

4)January 13

answer


1) January 10


Other details

World Hindi Day is celebrated on January 10 every year.

 Its aim is to create awareness for the spread of Hindi in the world and to present Hindi as an international language.

Embassy of India abroad celebrates this day specially.

 In various government offices, lectures are organized in Hindi on various subjects. World Hindi conferences were started with the aim of developing and disseminating Hindi in the world and

the first World Hindi Conference was held in Nagpur on January 10, 1975, hence this day was celebrated as 'World Hindi Day' goes.

Former Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh announced on January 10, 2006 the celebration of World Hindi Day every year .

Since then, the Indian Foreign Ministry had celebrated World Hindi Day for the first time on January 10, 2006.

US-China talks to resolve trade war concluded in Beijing

US-China talks to resolve trade war concluded in Beijing

The extended US-China talks to resolve the trade war between the two greatest economy concluded in Beijing   on Wednesday.



 Ted McKinney, US Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs took part in the talks

A US delegation arrived in Beijing on Monday for face-to-face dialogue with officials in Beijing.

The US delegation was supposed to end its visit on Wednesday.

However, the two-day vice-ministerial talks were extended till Thursday which China said reflected the seriousness of the negotiations.

Gautemala to withdraw from UN-backed anti-corruption commission

Gautemala to withdraw from UN-backed anti-corruption commission

Guatemala  is withdrawing from a UN-backed anti-corruption commission.

It has given the UN body's staff 24 hours to leave the country.

Guatemalan have informed UN chief Antonio Guterres of their decision.

The move has drawn criticism from human rights groups and constitutional lawyers.

The CICIG was formed in 2006 upon the request of the Guatemalan government to combat high rates of impunity for crimes.

US, China hold crucial talks to ease trade war

US, China hold crucial talks to ease trade war

China and the US on Monday held their first face-to-face negotiations in Beijing to ease a bitter trade war between the world's two largest economies.


The US and China have been locked in an escalating trade spat since early 2018, raising import tariffs on more than 300 billion US dollars of each other's goods.


Last year, US President Donald Trump imposed tariff hikes of up to 25 per cent on 250 billion US dollar of Chinese goods.


The move prompted China to increase tariffs on 110 billion US dollars of US goods. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to halt any further tariff increases for 90 days beginning January 1.


Deputy US trade representative Jeffrey Gerrish is leading the US delegation at the two-day talks with Chinese vice-ministerial counterparts.

South Korea banned single-use plastic bags in supermarkets

South Korea banned  single-use plastic bags in supermarkets

The South Korean government ban on the use of disposable plastic bags at big supermarkets came into effect on January 1 in a bid to protect the environment and encourage recycling.

The revised law affects about 2,000 supermarkets over 165 square metres in size, all of which used to provide disposable plastic bags for free


More than 60 countries now have bans or taxes on single-use plastics, according to the United Nations, which has called for such measures to stem the tide of pollution.

Of the 9 billion tonnes of plastic the world has produced, only 9 percent has been recycled

China develops its own massive bomb

China develops its own  massive bomb

 China’s defence industry giant NORINCO for the first time showcased the aerial bomb, the country’s largest non-nuclear bomb

it  is claimed to be only second to nuclear weapons

The bomb was airdropped by an H-6K bomber and caused a gigantic explosion

This is the first time the new bomb’s destructive powers have been shown in public

the Chinese weapon is smaller and lighter than its American counterpart.

the bomb is approximately five to six meters long

The massive blast can easily and completely wipe out fortified ground targets such as reinforced buildings, bastions and defence shelters

It can also be used to clear a landing zone for troops on helicopters to rappel down, in case the area is covered by obstacles such as forests


 Russia also developed the massive Bomb  which is both bigger and thermobaric, meaning it uses gas to create a huge fireball rather than a shockwave

World Braille Day

World Braille Day

World Braille Day was celebrated on  Friday , 4 january

The day is marked remembering the birth anniversary of Louis Braille, the inventor of Braille - for the people with visual disabilities.

Louis Braille was born on 4th January 1809 in the town of Coupvray in northern France. At the age of just 3, he lost his both eyes in an accident.

 This resulted into the invention of the of 6 dots- which is popularly known as braille .

United Nations observes the first official World Braille Day raising awareness on the importance of Braille for approximately 1.3 billion people living with some form of distance or near vision impairment.

World Braille Day is marked annually on January 4 after the day was proclaimed by the General Assembly last November, as a means of realising fully the human rights of visually-impaired and partially-sighted people, and bringing written language to the forefront as a critical prerequisite for promoting fundamental freedoms.

Around the world, 39 million people are blind, and another 253 million have some sort of vision impairment.

 Braille provides a tactical representation of alphabetic and numerical symbols so that blind and partially-sighted people are able to read the same books and periodicals printed as are available in standard text form.

 The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD) cites Braille as a means of communication; and regards it as essential in education, freedom of expression and opinion, access to information and social inclusion for those who use it.
 

China's Chang'e-4 probe landed on far side of moon

China's Chang'e-4 probe landed on far side of moon

China's Chang'e-4 probe has successfully landed on the far side of the moon.

The local media reported the unmanned Chang'e 4 lunar lander and rover spacecraft touched down at 10:26 a.m. local time (02:26 GMT) on Thursday.

While past missions have been to the Earth-facing side, this is the first time ever a spacecraft has landed on the unexplored far side of the moon.

The probe is carrying instruments to characterise the region's geology.

Jair Bolsonaro sworn in as Brazil's president

Jair Bolsonaro sworn in as Brazil's president

 Jair Bolsonaro, was sworn in as president of Brazil yesterday.

Mr. Bolsonaro took over as President at a ceremony held at the National Congress building in the capital Brasilia.

Mr Bolsonaro,  won the presidential election by a wide margin against Fernando Haddad  on 28 October.

Jair Messias Bolsonaro is a Brazilian politician and retired military officer currently serving as the 38th President of Brazil since January 2019.

 He served in the country's Chamber of Deputies, representing the state of Rio de Janeiro, between 1991 and 2018.

Brazil, a vast South American country

Capital: Brasília

Currency: Brazilian real

US, Israel quit UNESCO

US, Israel quit UNESCO

The United States and Israel officially quit the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with the close of 2018.

The countries had announced their decisions in 2017 of withdrawing from the agency

America has demanded fundamental reform in UNESCO, which was co-founded by it after World War II to foster peace.

Israel joined the agency in 1949.

 It is best known for its World Heritage program, which designates cultural sites and aims to preserve traditions.

UNESCO also works to improve education for girls, promote understanding of the Holocaust's horrors, and to defend media freedom.

The withdrawals will not greatly impact UNESCO financially since it has been dealing with a funding slash ever since 2011 when both Israel and the US stopped paying dues after Palestine was voted in as a member state.

Russia signed executive order to ensure country's effective participation in G 20

Russia signed executive order to ensure country's effective participation in G 20

Russia has signed an executive order on setting up an interdepartmental commission to ensure the country's effective participation in the Group of 20 industrialized nations.

Russia's G20 Sherpa Svetlana Lukash as chair of the interdepartmental commission was appointed .

The 17 member strong commission is meant to coordinate work of federal agencies in ensuring Russia's participation in annual summits.

The G20 is an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 19 countries and the European Union. 

  there are 20 members of the group: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Spain is a permanent guest invitee

Chairperson: Mauricio Macri

Founder: Group of Seven

Founded: 26 September 1999

Formation: 26 September 1999