INTERNATIONAL NEWS

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s First Official Visit to India

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during his official India visit from 12–13 January.

• This will be Merz’s first trip to India after taking office as Germany’s Chancellor.

• The visit will begin in Ahmedabad, reflecting India’s blend of diplomacy with economic and cultural engagement.

• Discussions will focus on trade, investment, defence cooperation, clean energy and advanced technologies.

• Germany remains India’s largest trading partner within the European Union.

• The leaders are expected to review progress under the India–Germany Strategic Partnership, launched in 2000.

• Chancellor Merz will also travel to Bengaluru, India’s key hub for technology and innovation.

• The Bengaluru engagement will highlight growing cooperation in startups, R&D, digital technologies and advanced manufacturing.

APPOINTMENT

Delcy Rodríguez Becomes Venezuela’s Interim President After U.S. Capture of Nicolás Maduro

• Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president after U.S. forces captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in a dramatic military operation earlier this month.

• Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice ordered Rodríguez, the former vice president, to assume the presidency to maintain governance continuity following Maduro’s detention.

• Rodríguez, a long-time chavista and close Maduro ally, has condemned the U.S. operation as “illegal” while asserting that Venezuela remains sovereign and its government in charge.

• Her leadership inherits the legacy of the Bolivarian Revolution, a political system rooted in anti-imperialism and state control over key sectors, especially oil.

• The U.S. has placed demands on her administration, including action against drug trafficking and foreign influence, although Rodríguez’s stance remains contested.

• Internally, she must navigate power dynamics with key figures such as Diosdado Cabello and Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López, whose support is crucial for stability.

NATIONAL NEWS

Indian Army Declares 2026 as the Year of Networking & Data Centricity

• The Indian Army has designated 2026 as the Year of Networking & Data Centricity to boost future combat preparedness.

• The focus is on stronger digital connectivity and faster, data-backed decision-making across all formations.

• This shift is expected to improve operational efficiency, agility and battlefield effectiveness.

• The announcement was made in the New Year message of Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi.

• The Army highlighted that it is passing through a decade-long transformation phase.

• Jointness, indigenisation and innovation were identified as the main pillars of this transformation.

• Emphasis has been laid on home-grown technologies, reforms and fresh ideas to enhance capability.

• The move follows the 2024–25 ‘Year of Technology Absorption’, reflecting a phased defence modernisation strategy.

STATE NEWS

Rajasthan to Host Regional AI Impact Conference 2026

• Rajasthan will organise the Regional AI Impact Conference 2026 in Jaipur on 6 January.

• The event is being conducted jointly with Rajasthan DigiFest and the TiE Global Summit 2026.

• It is part of the lead-up activities for the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026.

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has highlighted governance and innovation as the core focus areas.

• Discussions will cover AI in public service delivery, ethical use of AI, and future employment trends.

• The conference will spotlight Rajasthan’s growing AI startup and innovation ecosystem.

• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and MoS Jitin Prasada are expected to participate.

• Parallelly, Guwahati will host a Human Capital Working Group meeting on education, skilling, and workforce preparedness in the AI era.

MISCELLANEOUS

Ultra-Rare ‘Sandalwood Leopard’ Spotted in Karnataka

• A rare colour-variant leopard has been recorded for the first time in Karnataka’s Vijayanagara district, marking a significant wildlife discovery.

• Conservationists have termed it the “Sandalwood Leopard” due to its light reddish-pink coat with pale brown spots, resembling sandalwood.

• This is India’s second recorded sighting of such a morph and the first within Karnataka; the only earlier record was from Rajasthan in 2021.

• The animal was documented during a field study by the Holematthi Nature Foundation, using camera traps.

• Worldwide, this rare colour form has been reported only five times, across India, South Africa and Tanzania, and is linked to genetic traits like hypomelanism or erythrism.

• Images confirm the leopard is a seven-year-old female, seen with a normally coloured cub, underscoring Karnataka’s remarkable leopard diversity, including high numbers of melanistic leopards.