Abdi Farah Shirdon Said has been chosen as the new Prime Minister of Somalia. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud who was recently chosen by parliament in a UN-backed process, selected his close ally Shirdon to the powerful position.
This event is one of the first major steps of the new administration, which brought to an end the eight years of transitional rule by the corruption imbued and Western supported government. After more than two decades of anarchy and war, Somalia's capital Mogadishu has been resurrecting since the Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents left frontline fighting positions.

The 5+5 Summit of European and North African nations along the Mediterranean Sea called for closer co-operation between the member nations. The heads of states and the foreign ministers of the 10 member group met at the capital of Malta Auberge de Castille for two days. They discussed several issues including regional security, irregular migration, and ways of strengthening political and economic cooperation in the wake of Arab Spring.

Who are the members of 5+5?

It is a group of 10 nations, 5 from Europe and another 5 from North Africa. The 5+5 initiative was first proposed by France in the 1980s. Its members include France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Malta from Europe and five countries from Maghreb in North Africa - Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Mauritania the forum in 1991. Among these, Portugal and Mauritania are the countries which do not actually border the Mediterranean, but they do have cultural links with their Mediterranean neighbors.

Indian signed long-awaiting visa agreements aimed to make the visa norms more lenient and liberal.

The new visa regime – the first major modernization since 1974 – in particular relaxes travel restrictions for businessmen and brings in a new group tourism category. As per the new visa norms:

• Visa on arrival facility will be provided to senior citizens after arriving at Attari and Wagah border in India and Pakistan respectively.
• A single-entry visa for a maximum period of 6 months has been introduced but the stay cannot exceed 3 months at a time and it allows for travelling 5 places, which is currently limited to only 3.  
• For the first time Group tourist visas (10 to 50 people) have been brought in.
• Business visa has been differentiated from visitor, and the former will be issued within 5 weeks.
• Senior citizens, children below 12 years age, and renowned businessmen exempted from police reporting.
• People will be permitted to enter and exit from different check posts and can also change their means of travel. It is subject to exception that exit from Wagah/Attari by road (on foot) will not be accepted unless the entry was also by foot via Wagah/Attari.

Canada has severed diplomatic relations with Iran, closing its embassy in Teheran. As per Canadian Foreign Minister major factors behind the move were Teheran’s nuclear programme, its support for the Syrian regime, threats against Israel and the concern for the mission’s safety.

• Canada perceives Iran Government as a major threat to global peace and security in the world. Canada alleged Iran of showing deliberate disregard for the safety of foreign diplomats.

Earlier Canada had closed the visa section in Iranian embassy in Ottawa, which was used by thousands of Iranians with ties to Canada. Canada is the third country, after US and Britain to have terminated diplomatic ties with Iran.

Chinese national, Jin-Yong Cai has been appointed as the head of World Bank’s private financial arm International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Jin-Yong Cai, will be the new Executive Vice President and CEO of IFC.
IFC is the largest global development institution and concentrates exclusively on the private sector.