International

Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has arrived in New Delhi on a five-day state visit to India starting from 15 January 2025. He was welcomed by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada at the airport. As part of his delegation, President Tharman is accompanied by ministers, Members of Parliament, and officials.

During his visit, President Tharman will meet with President Droupadi Murmu, who will also host a banquet in his honor. He will also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, along with other Indian dignitaries. President Tharman will visit Odisha from 17th to 18th January.

India and Singapore share a robust partnership built on friendship, trust, and mutual respect. This visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations and marks the commencement of celebrations for the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Wildfires have been wreaking havoc in Los Angeles recently, causing widespread destruction and forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. The Palisades Fire, which started on January 7, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades area, has been particularly devastating, destroying over 17,000 acres and 1,000 structures. The Eaton Fire, which also started on January 7, 2025, in Altadena, and the Sunset Fire, which ignited on January 8, 2025, in the Hollywood Hills, have caused significant damage as well.

The fires have been fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, reaching speeds of up to 100 mph, and extremely dry conditions. These factors have made firefighting efforts incredibly challenging, with ground crews and aerial operations struggling to contain the blazes.

Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency, and President Biden has approved federal aid for California. Despite the chaos, there have been no immediate reports of deaths or injuries, though the situation remains fluid.

John Dramani Mahama was sworn in as President of Ghana on January 7, 2025. This marked his return to office after winning the December 2024 presidential election with 56.55% of the vote.

Born in 1958 in Ghana’s Savannah region, Mahama previously served as Ghana’s president from 2012 to 2017.

He pledged that his government would address youth unemployment by fostering strong partnerships with the private sector to create decent and well-paying jobs.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on January 6, 2025, citing internal government conflicts. He will remain in office until the Liberal Party selects a new leader.

His resignation follows dissatisfaction with his leadership and the recent departure of the finance minister. The Canadian Parliament will be suspended until March 24 for the leadership race.

Trudeau, who led the party in three general elections (2015, 2019, 2021), leaves behind strained relations with India and internal party challenges for his successor. Chrystia Freeland and David McGuinty are potential candidates for leadership.

New Non-Permanent Members of UNSC: Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia began their two-year term as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on 1 January 2025.

Replacements: They replaced Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland.

Ceremony: A flag installation ceremony was held at the UN headquarters in New York, where the new members’ permanent representatives delivered speeches and installed their national flags outside the Security Council Chamber.

UNSC Composition: The UNSC has 15 members – 5 permanent members (United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China, France – collectively known as the P5, with veto power) and 10 non-permanent members serving two-year terms.

Full Membership: Romania and Bulgaria officially became full members of the Schengen zone on January 1, 2025.

13-Year Wait: This marks the end of a 13-year wait for the two countries to join the borderless area.

Expanded Zone: The Schengen zone now includes 29 members, expanding the borderless area significantly.

Economic Impact: Analysts estimate that joining the Schengen zone will boost Romania’s and Bulgaria’s GDP by at least one percentage point.

Historic Moment: Leaders on both sides hailed the expansion as a historic achievement.

Austria’s Objections: Austria had previously blocked their full entry over migration concerns but dropped its objections after a border protection agreement was reached.

Improved Travel: The removal of land border checks will ease travel and strengthen economic ties between Romania, Bulgaria, and other Schengen countries.