Category: Politics

Kamala Harris, the Indianorigin Senator who becomes the first-ever American of Indian and African descent was nominated for Democratic Party’s candidate for the US Vice-President. 55 year old is the first Indian American to be selected for the secondhighest elected office of the US after that of the President. Moreover, she is the first-ever
Black and first-ever African American to be nominated as Vice-Presidential candidate by a major political party. If elected in the 3rd November elections, she would be the first-ever women Vice-President of the USA.

Democratic nominee Joe Biden has announced Indian-origin senator as his running mate, making history by selecting the first black woman to compete on a major party’s presidential ticket. She becomes one of the party’s most prominent figures & became a top contender for the No. 2 spot after her own White House campaign ended. The daughter of an Indian mother & Jamaican father, she has many firsts in her credit.

Former Guyanese Housing Minister and the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali was sworn in as the Executive President of Guyana. He is the ninth President of the newly discovered oil-producing SouthAmerican country that was declared the winner after the disputed March 2, 2020, an election following a recount.

June’s preliminary recount data showed Ali had won the initial poll. The swearing-in brought to an end to a continued period of upheaval to the results of the 2nd Mar 2020 General & Regional elections. The electoral result declared moths after a consortium led by Exxon Mobil Corp began producing oil off the Guyana coast. Additionally, the 40-year-old politician Muslim with Indian descent President, there are four more Members of Cabinet who sworn in: Bharrat Jagdeo, as Vice President; Brigadier (retired) Mark Philips, as Prime Minister; Mohabir Anil Nandlall as Attorney General and Gail Teixeira as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. As per to the report issued by Keith Lowenfield, the Chief Election Official of Election Commission of Guyana, the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic won 33 seats, and Association for National Unity / Alliance for the Cambio (APNU / AFC) won 31 seats. Moreover, as per the report of the International Monetary Fund, the newly elected President will govern the nation that has the highest economic growth rate in the world pegged at 86%. Keeping the data in mind, a BBC report stated Dr. Ali will lead a country that is expanding its economy 14 times more than the economy of China. The World Bank positioned the nation that will grow the most in economic terms despite the effects of corona virus.

During the 2-day state visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Maldives, he was conferred with country’s Highest Honor “Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen”. The award was bestowed upon him by Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih during a ceremony in Male for his role in strengthening bilateral relations between India and Maldives. It is Maldives’ highest honor accorded to foreign dignitaries. The award was given in 3 degrees that include a Collar, a Badge, and a Sash. Upon arrival, PM Modi and President Solih exchanged pleasantries and were also accorded the guard of honor. This was the first bilateral-level meeting held between the 2 countries in the last eight years. It was also the first meeting after the Maldives imposed an emergency by the then President Abdulla Yameen.

It was PM Modi’s first foreign visit after re-election as the 15th Indian PM.

Former Indian President Pratibha Patil was honoured with ‘Orden Mexicana del Auguila Azteca’ (Order of the Aztec Eagle), the highest civilian award of Mexico for foreigners. Mexico’s Ambassador to India, Melba Pria, presented the award at a special ceremony.

Ms. Patil, India’s only woman President, has also become the second Indian President after S. Radhakrishnan to receive this award. This is also the first time the Mexican government has proffered ‘Aztec Eagle’ award to a woman. The award is bestowed to foreigners to acknowledge their outstanding services to the Mexican nation and humanity, and for any contribution in strengthening bilateral relations between Mexico and the country of the recipient. The award was created in 1933 by the then Mexican President Abelardo L Rodriguez as a reward to the services rendered to Mexico or humankind by foreigners. A Sash of Special Category, Plaque, Collar, Venera, and Insignia are the five degrees of the award. It is offered to prominent heads of the state or government, ambassadors who have served in Mexico and eminent personalities who have contributed to serving countries or its people.

Previous recipients who have received this award under various categories include: Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip (Great Britain), Emperor Mohammed Reza (Iran), King Juan Carlos I, Queen Sofia (Spain), Josip Broz Tito (Yugoslavia), President Charles de Gaulle (France), President Dwight D. Eisenhower (USA), King Mohammed VI (Morocco), etc.

Baku, Azerbaijan hosted the XVIII (18th) Summit of Heads of state and government of the Non-Aligned Movement in October 2019. The theme of the summit was “Upholding the Bandung Principles to ensure concerted and adequate response to the challenges of the contemporary world”.

The Summit was preceded by Preparatory Senior Officials Meeting and the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting. The 120-member group representing 55% of the world population attended the 18th Forum. The focus of the summit was on issues related to terrorism, threats to peace and security, UN reforms, climate change, sustainable development, economic governance, and south-south cooperation.

Representatives of about 160 countries and international organizations attended the event.

Current chair of the NAM, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro opened the Summit.

Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, led the Indian delegation and interacted with the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani; President of Vietnam, Ms. Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh; President of Cuba, Mr. Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros.

In October 2019, Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo was sworn in for a second and final term amid tight security. As thousands celebrated with song and dance, helicopters flew overhead and troops kept a vigil in the capital Jakarta.

More than 30,000 security personnel were deployed in the capital. The city police even locked down some parts of the city over security concerns. With a sacrosanct Quran over his head, the 58-year-old Widodo along with Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, recited the oath of office before lawmakers and regional senators, which make up the People’s Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat) at the Parliament building. Outside the Parliament, his supporters with red and white Indonesian flags dotted parts of the city. Citizens, many wearing T-shirts bearing the leader’s image, witnessed the swearing-in ceremony on a big screen near Jakarta’s national monument.

Dubai, UAE hosted the 7th Annual World Government Summit 2019. The three-day summit was attended by 4000 decision makers across 150 countries that include the head of the state, ministers and business leaders. It’s a global platform meant for shaping the future of governments worldwide.

The World Government Summit sets the agenda each year for the next generation of governments, focusing on how they can effectively use innovation and technology to solve universal challenges facing humanity. It’s a neutral non-profit organization that operates as a knowledge exchange platform for leaders in the public and private sectors to converge and collaborate with world-renowned experts to create a positive impact for citizens worldwide. This unique platform showcases and exchanges best practices and smart solutions to the challenges that nations face worldwide.

The World Government Summit was commissioned in 2013 by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as global knowledge exchange platform to showcase advance government services and technologies in an effort to bring policymakers, businesses and civil society together into the future. At the summit, a special track focuses on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ‘SDGs in Action @WGS’ is organized through the collaboration between the United Nations, the World Bank, and the OECD. The collaboration brings together various stakeholders which include governments, international organizations, subject matter experts, NGOs, academia, youth groups, and the private sector. The World Government Summit is graced by various leaders, Presidents, Prime Ministers, philanthropists, religious leaders, etc. Imran Khan, Christine Lagarde, Harrison Ford were the speakers.