On Saturday, Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in as the president of the second-largest country in Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The 80,000-seat Martyrs sports stadium in Kinshasa was chosen by the leader known as "Fatshi" for the inauguration event. Despite the political unrest in the country, he will take on the position for a second five-year term. He won reelection with more than 70% of the votes, but the opposition parties refused to acknowledge his win due to several election irregularities in December. However, the authorities swiftly refuted the allegations of fr
On Thursday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Kampala, Uganda, for a two-day summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). His visit is part of a two-nation tour of Uganda and Nigeria. Dr. S. Jaishankar will lead the Indian delegations to the 19th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement on January 19–20. It is expected that he will meet with Ugandan leaders and counterparts from several other NAM members. Later, Minister of State for External Affairs V Miraleedharan will represent India at the G-77 Third South Summit on January 21 and 22. On his arrival today, Dr S Jaishankar sha
Bangladesh's newly appointed Foreign Minister, Hasan Mahmud, is scheduled for a three-day visit to New Delhi on February 7. It will be Mahmud’s first bilateral visit to India after his appointment. On Monday, the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, extended the invitation on behalf of the Indian External Affairs Minister, and in return, Memon accepted the invitation. His first diplomatic meeting was with the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka. After the meeting with the new FM, the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka said that India is very hopeful and confident to achieve
On Wednesday, Kuwait formed its first cabinet under the new Emir and prime minister. It is Kuwait's first cabinet under the new emir, Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmed al-Sabah, formed to implement reforms under his guidance. Emir Meshal came to power in December after his predecessor, Sheikh Nawaf, died. He appointed Sheikh Mohammed Sabah Al Salem as Kuwait's new prime minister. Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah appointed new ministers for the ministries of oil, foreign affairs, and finance. In the 13-member cabinet, Emad Mohammed al-Atiqi was appointed as the new oil minister,
On Monday, Bernardo Arevalo was sworn in as Guatemala’s president. After a chaotic inauguration that Congress delayed to undermine his legitimacy, the anti-corruption activist took the oath. Arevalo has promised to implement broad reforms to tackle the rising cost of living and control the violence. He won the elections in August; however, since then, Arévalo and his party have faced a series of legal challenges, fraud allegations, rallies, and riots that tried to stop him from taking office. On Sunday, hundreds of his fans were calling on lawmakers to preserve the constitution
On Thursday, London Mayor Sadiq Khan urged for stronger relations with Europe and improved immigration policies. Khan is from the opposition Labour Party and will seek his third term in May. He referred to Brexit as a “key contributor” to the country's cost-of-living crisis and said that Britain’s 2020 departure from the bloc isn’t working. According to him, Brexit is not a peripheral concern of the past, and its exit is resulting in lost opportunities, business, and income. He argued for a new settlement to bolster the UK's economy and improve living standards. In addition, he emp
Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam is set to embark on his first overseas state visit since taking office, with Brunei Darussalam being the chosen destination. This visit marks a significant milestone in President Tharman's tenure and is indicative of the close ties between Singapore and Brunei. The choice of Brunei for President Tharman's inaugural state visit is strategic and symbolic, reflecting the longstanding and cordial relationship shared between the two Southeast Asian nations. Brunei and Singapore have enjoyed a robust partnership, underpinned by strong economic, cultur
In a move aimed at injecting fresh energy into his administration, French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed 34-year-old Gabriel Attal as the country's new Prime Minister. Attal, the former Education Minister, becomes the youngest person to hold the office in French history, surpassing Michel Rocard who was 37 when he took the role in 1988. Macron's decision to replace Élisabeth Borne, who resigned on Monday, comes as he faces declining approval ratings and growing public discontent over rising living costs and the government's handling of immigration. The appointment of Attal, a dyn
Indonesia, a bigwig in Southeast Asia, wants to team up with its neighbors to finally write the rules for sailing smooth in these busy waters. You know, like traffic lights for ships and ways to settle disagreements without squabbles. This "code of conduct," as they call it, has been stuck in talks for ages, like an unfinished puzzle. But Indonesia is waving its hand saying, "Let's put the pieces together!" It's important because the South China Sea is like a bustling marketplace, with many countries fishing, trading, and exploring there. Having clear rules means everyone can play nicely a
In a decisive electoral victory, Sheikh Hasina, the incumbent Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has secured her fifth consecutive term, reaffirming her position as a stalwart leader in the South Asian nation. The announcement of the election results has set the stage for another term under Hasina's leadership, marking a historic milestone in Bangladesh's political landscape. The election, held amid a backdrop of economic challenges and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, showcased the public's continued trust in Sheikh Hasina and her party, the Awami League. Preliminary results indicate a substanti