Category: Leaders, on the World Stage – Politics

Droupadi Murmu elected 15th President of India

Amid heavy cross-voting, she received 64.03% of total valid votes polled

Former Jharkhand Governor and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Droupadi Murmu was elected the 15 th President of India, the first tribal woman to be elected to the position and the youngest as well. She was declared elected on Thursday after four rounds of counting, although she had crossed the halfway mark after the third round of counting itself, posting an unassailable lead over her rival and the Opposition’s candidate Yashwant Sinha, who conceded the election thereafter.

After four rounds of polling, Ms. Murmu received 2,824 votes of 6,76,803 value while Mr. Sinha received 1,877 votes or 3,80,177 value. She received 64.03% of total valid votes polled, much more than what was openly declared in her support and pointing to the fact there had been a lot of cross-voting in Ms. Murmu’s favour from the Opposition ranks.

th

Ruchira Kamboj to be India’s Permanent Representative to U.N.

Ruchira Kamboj, who is currently serving as India’s envoy to Bhutan, will succeed T.S. Tirumurti as the Indian ambassador to the U.N

Senior diplomat Ruchira Kamboj was on Tuesday appointed India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

Ms. Kamboj, a 1987-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, is presently serving as India’s envoy to Bhutan.

She will succeed T.S. Tirumurti as the Indian ambassador to the U.N.

th

** India joins Biden’s new trade initiative for Indo-Pacific, negotiations to begin

U.S. officials made it clear that the IPEF would not be a “free trade agreement”, nor are countries expected to discuss reducing tariffs or increasing market access.

India signalled its readiness to join a new economic initiative led by the United States for the region, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and leaders of 10 countries, who joined virtually, for the launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) in Tokyo on May 23. The negotiations for the IPEF, which will begin on May 24, are expected to center around four main pillars, including trade, supply chain resiliency, clean energy and decarbonisation, and taxes and anti-corruption measures. The grouping, which includes seven out of 10 members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), all four Quad countries, and New Zealand, represents about 40% of global GDP. 

th

** ‘India-Japan are natural partners’: PM Narendra Modi meets Indian diaspora  in Tokyo

Addressing the Indian community here on the first day of his two-day visit to Tokyo, Modi also said that India’s relationship with Japan is of spirituality, of cooperation and of belonging. “India and Japan are natural partners. Japan has played an important role in India’s development journey,” said Modi, who is visiting Tokyo at the invitation of his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida.

“Today’s world needs to follow the path shown by Lord Buddha. This is the way to save humanity from the challenges facing the world today, be it violence, anarchy, terrorism and climate change,” Modi said.

Noting that India has always found a solution no matter how big the problem is, Modi said that during coronavirus pandemic, there was an atmosphere of uncertainty, but even in that situation, India supplied ‘Made in India’ vaccines to crores of its citizens and also sent it to more than 100 countries.

“Whenever I visit Japan, I witness your affection. Many of you have settled in Japan for years and assimilated the Japanese culture. Still, the dedication toward Indian culture and language is ever-growing,” Modi told the Indian diaspora amid chats of slogans ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’.

nie

** India hosts SCO-RATS meeting; focus on situation in Afghanistan

Counter-terrorism experts from India, Pakistan and other member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on May 16 deliberated on boosting cooperation in combating various regional security challenges at a meeting hosted by New Delhi.

The meeting is taking place under the framework of the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.

A major focus of the discussions was to be on the situation in Afghanistan, especially in dealing with the threat from terrorist groups active in the Taliban-ruled country, people familiar with the meeting said.

Pakistan has sent a three-member team for the meeting.

India assumed the chairmanship of the Council of Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of SCO (RATS SCO) on October 28 for a period of one year.

India has shown keen interest in deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence.

th

** Indian-American Navy veteran appointed Kamala Harris’s defence advisor

In her new role, Ms. Sethi coordinates National Security Advisor documentation across the Office of the Vice President.

Shanti Sethi, a trailblazing Indian-American Navy veteran, has joined US Vice President Kamala Harris’s office as her executive secretary and defence advisor, according to a media report.

Ms. Sethi, the first Indian-American commander of a major US Navy combat ship, recently joined Vice President Harris’ office, Politico news website quoted vice president’s senior advisor Herbie Ziskend as saying.

th

** PM Modi inaugurates museum to honour all Prime Ministers of country

Museum has been built at Teen Murti Estate, which was Nehru’s home for 16 years

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14 inaugurated the Prime Ministers’ Museum at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) complex here.

Mr. Modi said every government after Independence had contributed to reaching the heights the country had achieved so far. Every Prime Minister had tried to take the country forward, he added.

The museum built at Teen Murti Estate, which was Nehru’s home for 16 years, is spread over 10,491 sq. m. and cost ₹306 crore, according to a statement. Work on the museum started in October 2018 and no trees were felled or transplanted from the site, it said.

The building includes over 40 galleries on the lives and tenures of all former Prime Ministers, except Jawaharlal Nehru, as well as a sound and light show. Entry to the museum will require a ticket of ₹100 through online booking for Indians over the age of 12 years and ₹110 for offline. Foreigners will be charged ₹750 for a ticket.

th/first

** Need seven lives to understand India: British High Commissioner Alex Ellis

History teacher and now leading career diplomat…British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis, who has a long-standing connection with the country, on his love for all-things Indian…

He’s won the hearts of several netizens with his posts on food- masala dosae in Bengaluru, rasgulla in Kolkata and vada pav in Mumbai. British High Commissioner Alex Ellis, who took charge in early 2021, has been soaking in the varied local experiences that the country has to offer.

In Bengaluru on Tuesday, Ellis settles into the conversation, post a tumbler of steaming hot rasam, at the residence of the British Deputy High Commissioner for Karnataka & Kerala, Anna Shotbolt. 

** US President Biden nominates Indian-American diplomat Puneet Talwar as his envoy to Morocco

Talwar, who is currently a Senior Advisor at the State Department, has held senior national security and foreign policy positions in the State Department, the White House and the Senate, the White House said as it announced several other senior administration positions.

ie