US President Joe Biden has nominated former Mastercard head Ajay Banga to lead the World Bank. The Indian-American is chosen for his extensive experience in leading successful organisations in developing countries and forging public-private partnerships to address financial inclusion and climate change. In a statement, the US Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen said that Banga was “uniquely” equipped to take on that charge, pointing to his track record of forging partnerships between governments, companies and non-profits. Being the World Bank's biggest shareholder, the US has traditio
The UAE will explore all opportunities of partnership with India to contribute to the Asian country’s high-growth-low-carbon pathway, said Sultan Al Jaber, the COP28 president-designate, on February 22. He added that the goal of limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial level is “just non-negotiable”. “India's goal of adding 500 GW of clean energy in the next seven years is a true and a powerful statement of intent. As one of the largest investors in renewable energy, the UAE and Masdar (renewable energy investing firm) will explore
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged global financial leaders to focus on the world’s “most vulnerable citizens” as he inaugurated a Group of 20 (G-20) meeting on February 24. In his address to the two-day meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors at the Nandi Hills resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru, Modi said the COVID-19 pandemic and “rising geo-political tensions in different parts of the world” had led to unsustainable debt levels in several countries, disruptions to global supply chains and threats to food and energy security. He added that stabilit
Underlining the strong ties between New Delhi and Washington, US Charge d’Affaires Ambassador A. Elizabeth Jones has called India “a partner of choice” for the country. The US diplomat was speaking at the press conference in Bengaluru on the eve of Aero India 2023, which took place from February 13-17 in Bengaluru. She also opened the USA Partnership Pavilion at Aero India 2023. Jones congratulated India on the country’s G20 presidency and looked forward to robust US participation. “India and the United States are crucial partners in so many ways to ensure a free and open, pro
Humanitarian aid sent by Armenia for victims of the devastating earthquake in Turkey on February 6 could boost the neighbouring countries’ efforts to normalise their relations, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on February 15. For the first time in 35 years, a border gate between the long-feuding neighbours was opened to allow aid for quake victims in southern Turkey. Armenia also sent a rescue team to Turkey to help in the search for survivors. “Armenia has extended its hand of friendship, showed solidarity and cooperation with us in this difficult time … We need to
New Zealand sees India as a “counterbalance to the superpower contest” in the region and wants to take bilateral ties to the next level to boost cooperation in diverse areas, from agriculture to education and security, said the New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta in an interview on February 8. Both India and New Zealand have been trying to revitalise their bilateral relationship since last year. Mahuta said that her discussions with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi focused on collaboration in climate action, especially in the Pacific, agriculture, resea
Japan and the Philippines have signed a defence pact to deepen military cooperation. The arrangement will see Japanese soldiers join natural and humanitarian disaster response training exercises in the Philippines. It has been seen as a first step towards broader defensive cooperation. Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida signed the agreement in Tokyo on February 9. The visit of the Philippines President to Tokyo came shortly after the Philippines agreed to expand US access to its military bases, following a meeting with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Aust
Germany's former chancellor Angela Merkel on February 8 was awarded the Felix Houphouet-Boigny UNESCO Peace Prize in Ivory Coast's capital Yamoussoukro for welcoming more than 1.2 million refugees and asylum seekers to the European country in 2015 and 2016. Angela Merkel showed political courage when Germany welcomed refugees, who had fled conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Eritrea. Nobel Peace Prize winner Denis Mukwege, president of the jury awarding the prize, praised her for having opened the gates of Germany “at the same time many other countries were overcome with fear.”
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will be on a three-day visit to Fiji from February 15 to attend the 12th World Hindi Conference, which will be co-hosted by the Governments of India and Fiji in Nadi. This will be Dr Jaishankar’s first visit to Fiji. A 270-member delegation comprising Hindi scholars and officials will travel to Fiji for the conference. Representatives from 50 countries were expected to participate in the conference. The conference will have a plenary session and 10 parallel sessions on topics such as Hindi in Girmitiya countries; Hindi in Fiji and the Pacifi
The European Union (EU) and Singapore signed the EU-Singapore Digital Partnership (EUSDP) on February 1 in Brussels. The EUSDP will lead to a digital trade agreement to enable consumers and businesses to transact online more seamlessly and at lower costs. The deal was signed by Singapore’s Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations S. Iswaran and Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market. The pact aims to boost participation in the digital economy by imparting relevant skills to workers in both jurisdictions and transforming their businesses and public services. Digital tr