1. China’s population drops for first time since 1961
Tags: International News
The biggest decline in the population of China has been recorded after the year 1961. Negative population growth has now started in China. The death toll in China is more than the number of children born.
An overview of the news
According to the China’s National Bureau of Statistics China’s population declined by roughly 850,000 to 1.41175 billion at the end of 2022.
In China, 9.56 million people were born in 2022, while 10.41 million people died.
China's birth rate last year was just 6.77 births per 1,000 people, down from 7.52 births in 2021, the lowest ever.
The number of Chinese women of childbearing age, which the government defines as 25 to 35, has declined by nearly 4 million.
This has caused domestic demographers to worry that China will grow old before it gets rich, slowing the economy as revenues decline and increasing government debt as health and welfare costs rise.
Impact of the One Child Policy
The main reason for China's population decline is the one-child policy implemented between 1980 and 2015.
Additionally, higher education in China is very expensive, which has prohibited many Chinese people from having more than one child.
The fundamental reason why women do not want children is the failure of society and men to take responsibility for raising children.
China's strict zero-covid policies that were in force for three years have further damaged the country's demographic outlook.
Local governments have introduced measures to encourage people to have more children from 2021, including tax cuts, longer maternity leave and housing subsidies.
2. UN declares Pakistan based Abdul Rehman Makki a global terrorist
Tags: International News
On January 17, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) listed Pakistan-based terrorist Abdul Rehman Makki as a global terrorist.
An overview of the news
He has been declared a 'global terrorist' under UNSC's ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee.
In June 2022, India criticised China for blocking the resolution of sanctions under the Sanctions Committee, also known as the UNSC 1267 Committee.
Makki has already been listed as a terrorist by India and the United States for his involvement in fundraising, recruiting and radicalising youths to plan attacks in India, especially Jammu and Kashmir.
Who is Abdul Rehman Makki?
Makki is the brother-in-law of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed.
He heads the political affairs of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and also plays a role in raising funds for Lashkar's operations.
The US government has placed a reward of $2 million on Abdul Rahman.
According to the US State Department, in 2020, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court convicted Makki on a terrorism financing count and sentenced him to prison.
He is also a militant of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and has been designated as a terrorist by India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967.
3. Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum begins at Davos in Switzerland
Tags: Summits International News
The five-day annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) begins on 16 January 2023 in Davos, Switzerland. It is the 53rd edition of the World Economic Forum which will be organised till 20 January 2023.
An Overview of the news
The theme of the meeting of the 53rd edition of the World Economic Forum is 'Cooperation in a Fragmented World'.
The main topics of discussion in the meeting are likely to be discussed like the Ukraine crisis, global inflation, climate change etc.
Prominent global leaders participating in the meeting
Global leaders attending the meeting include European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, South African President Cyril M. Ramaphosa, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yol, Swiss President Alain Berset and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin etc. are the main ones.
Representation of India in the meeting
Many Indian leaders are participating in the World Economic Forum meeting. Apart from Chief Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnav, Mansukh Mandaviya, Smriti Irani and RK Singh, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is also participating in these.
Prominent business tycoons like Gautam Adani, Sanjiv Bajaj, Kumar Mangalam Birla, N Chandrasekaran, Nadir Godrej, Sajjan Jindal, Sunil Mittal, Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Nandan Nilekani, Adar Poonawalla, Rishad Premji attended the meeting.
World Economic Forum (WEF)
WEF is a Swiss non-profit organisation.
Establishment: 1971
Headquarters: Cologny (Switzerland).
Founder and Executive Chairman: Klaus Schwab.
Chairperson: Borge Brende
Major reports published by WEF
Global Gender Gap Report
Global Risk Report
Global Travel and Tourism Report
Energy Transition Index (ETI)
Global Competitiveness Report
4. Italian man sets Guinness World Record by creating 'mirror typing' books in ancient languages
Tags: Person in news International News
According to a report by Guinness World Records (GWR), an Italian man, Michele Santaglia has created a world record by typing copies of 81 books backwards, which is called 'mirror writing'.
An overview of the news
Santaglia types books using four completely blank keyboards without looking backwards.
He types each book in its original language whether it be hieroglyphs, Old Hebrew, Traditional Chinese, Mayan, Etruscan, Cuneiform or Voynich glyphs.
He reverse-typed the Bible, the Code of Hammurabi, the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Book of the Dead from ancient Egypt, the writings of Leonardo da Vinci.
He is able to type using 16 computer keyboards simultaneously located at different heights.
He credits Leonardo da Vinci who inspired him to do mirror typing.
Santaglia has given several books to various world figures over the years, including former US Presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush and Barack Obama, Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and former Italian Presidents Carlo Ciampi and Giorgio Napolitano.
Also, he has compiled all the four Indian Vedas in a single book by reverse typing.
5. Lok Sabha Speaker to lead Parliamentary delegation to Kenya, Tanzania
Tags: International News
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will lead a delegation to Kenya and Tanzania from January 16 to 21.
An overview of the news
The delegation includes Chirag Paswan, Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak and S Phangnon Konyak (all Members of Parliament) and Utpal Kumar Singh, Secretary General, Lok Sabha.
During their visit to Tanzania, apart from meeting their host, the delegation will also call on the Vice President of Tanzania, Philip Mpango.
The delegation will also visit places of cultural and historical importance.
About Kenya
Kenya is a country in East Africa.
President: William Ruto
Capital: Nairobi
Currency :Kenyan shilling
About Tanzania
Tanzania, East African country situated just south of the Equator.
President: Samia Suluhu Hassan
Capital: Dodoma
Currency: Tanzanian shilling
6. EU Inaugurates First Mainland Satellite Launch Port
Tags: Science and Technology International News
European officials and Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf inaugurated the EU's first mainland orbital launch complex on 13 January during a visit to Sweden by members of the European Commission, which is the 27-nation bloc's executive arm.
An overview of the news
The European Union is looking to boost its ability to launch small satellites into space with a new launchpad in arctic Sweden.
The new facility inaugurated at the Esrange Space Center near the city of Kiruna will complement the EU's current launching capabilities in French Guiana.
The tiny satellites are vital for tracking natural disasters in real time and helping to guarantee global security in light of Russia's war in Ukraine.
The total number of satellites could reach 100,000 by 2040 as compared to the current 5,000 operational satellites.
European Union (EU)
It is an international organisation made up of European countries, which was formed in 1993.
It is a group of 27 countries that act as a cohesive economic and political bloc.
19 of these countries use the euro as their official currency.
Its goal is to promote peace and the well-being of all citizens of the EU.
Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
7. Uganda declares end of Ebola disease outbreak: WHO
Tags: International News
According to the statement released by the World Health Organization (WHO) Uganda declared the end of the Ebola disease outbreak caused by Sudan ebolavirus on Jan 11, 2023.
An overview of the news
Uganda has managed to bring the outbreak to an end in less than four months after the first case was confirmed on September 20, 2022, in Central Mubende District.
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
Formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, it is a rare, severe and fatal disease in humans.
The Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The first case of the disease was reported in Guinea in December 2013. Later, the disease spread to neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Transmission of disease
The virus is transmitted from wild animals to people and through human-to-human transmission (zoonotic nature) to human populations.
Symptoms of the disease
Fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, and sore throat.
This is followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, liver and kidney dysfunction, and in some cases, internal and external bleeding.
Treatment of the disease
The Arvebo vaccine has been shown to be effective in protecting people from the Zaire ebolavirus species.
Remdesivir was also tested as an Ebola treatment.
8. Indian High Commission signs MoU to establish Hindi Chair at Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka
Tags: International News
After World Hindi Day, the Indian High Commission signed an MoU to establish a Hindi Chair at Sabaragamuwa University in Sri Lanka.
An overview of the news
High Commissioner Gopal Bagale and Vice-Chancellor of Sabaragamuwa University Prof. Uday Ratnayake signed an MoU for establishment of Hindi Chair for cultural engagement through Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
The Hindi Chair will help to acquaint the students with India, its history and culture.
This will pave the way for popularising Hindi by appointing Indian faculties.
The Indian High Commissioner emphasised on sustainable use of resources by adopting innovative strategies in the event.
The Indian Mission will award a gold medal to the best-performing student of the Hindi Chair.
Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka
It is a public university in Belihuloya, Balangoda, Sri Lanka.
It was established on 20 November 1991 and consists of nine faculties.
9. US to support restoration of Hyderabad's Paigah tombs
Tags: International News
Financial assistance of $250,000 (through the US Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation) will be provided by the US for the conservation and restoration of 6 Paigah tombs built in the 18th-19th centuries in Hyderabad.
An overview of the news
The project will be implemented by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
Paigah Tombs Complex is a protected complex of the Department of Archaeology, Government of Telangana.
The Paigah Tomb (or Tomb Shams al-Umra) is a mausoleum belonging to the nobility of the Paigah family, who served the Nizam of Hyderabad (Asaf Jahi dynasty).
The construction of this mausoleum was started by Nawab Tegjung Bahadur in 1787 and later his son Amir-e-Kabir I helped in its construction.
It is also known for its architectural design. It is believed that the architectural style of the mausoleum is unique in the whole world.
The mausoleum is decorated with lime marble and shows a mixture of Greek, Persian, Mughal, Rajasthani, Asif Jahi and Deccani architecture.
The Paigahs were among the most influential and powerful families of Hyderabad in the 18th century. They were wealthier than most rulers, as well as responsible for the security and defence of the region.
The Paigahs claim to be descended from Hazrat Umar bin al-Khattab, the second Caliph of Islam.
10. 13th India-US Trade Policy Forum
Tags: Economy/Finance International News
Piyush Goyal was on an official visit to New York and Washington DC from January 9-11 to participate in the India-US Trade Policy Forum.
An overview of the news
The 13th Trade Policy Forum (TPF) meeting was hosted by US Trade Representative Catherine Tai in Washington on 11 January.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal at the forum urged the US to expedite the issuance of business visas so that people can make short trips to pursue their trade and business interests.
After participating in the forum, he said that the issuance of business visas in India is taking a long time and needs to be expedited so that investments are not affected.
His visit included delegation-level talks and a meeting with US Trade Representative Ambassador Catherine Tai.
There is an increasing movement of professionals, students, skilled workers, investors and business travellers between the two countries.
According to the commerce ministry, in 2021-22, the bilateral trade between the US and India stood at USD 119.42 billion as against USD 80.51 billion in 2020-21.
About the India-US Trade Policy Forum
It is a platform for continued engagement between the two countries in the field of trade and to further enhance bilateral trade and investment ties.
The 12th TPF Ministerial Conference was held in New Delhi on 23 November 2021 after a gap of four years.
