Sweden Ends Neutrality, Joins Finland in Seeking NATO Berth
Sweden's prime minister announced that Sweden will join Finland in seeking NATO membership in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a historic shift that comes after more than 200 years of military nonalignment in the Nordic country. The move, which is likely to upset the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin, came after neighboring Finland announced that it too would seek to join the 30-country military alliance.
Public opinion in both Nordic countries was firmly against joining NATO before the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, but support for NATO membership surged quickly in both nations after that. Once a regional military power, Sweden has avoided military alliances since the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Like Finland it remained neutral throughout the Cold War, but formed closer relations with NATO after the 1991 Soviet collapse.
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Elected as New President of Somalia
Somalia's former leader Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was elected president after a final vote that was only open to the country's MPs. He defeated the current president, Mohamed Abudallahi Farmajo, who has been in office since 2017. The ballot was limited to Somalia's 328 MPs due to security concerns over holding a wider election, and one of them did not cast a vote.
Mr Mohamud received 214 votes, defeating Mr Farmajo who won 110 votes. Three MPs are reported to have spoiled their ballots. The unusual circumstances highlight Somalia's security issues as well as the lack of democratic accountability. The instability is one of the reasons why Somalia has been unable to hold direct elections. Somalia has not had a one-person-one-vote democratic election since 1969.
The result marks a comeback for Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who served as Somalia's president between 2012 and 2017 before he was defeated by Mr. Farmajo.
Elisabeth Borne France's New PM
Elisabeth Borne was appointed France's new Prime Minister to become the second woman to hold the post in the country. Borne, 61, succeeds Jean Castex, whose resignation was expected after President Emmanuel Macron's reelection. Borne is the second woman to hold the position after Edith Cresson, who was Prime Minister in 1991-1992 under Socialist President Francois Mitterrand.
She has served as Labour Minister in Macron's previous government since 2020. Before that, she was Transport Minister and then minister of Eological Transition, also under Macron.
May 17, 2022
World's Longest Suspension Bridge Opens in Czech Republic
The world's largest suspension bridge in Czech Republic was opened for tourists and its pictures are going viral on social media. The bridge was under construction for nearly two years. It has been named 'Sky Bridge 721'. The walkway promises spectacular sights of the cloud-shrouded Jesenky mountains, as well as an exciting, but slightly terrifying experience.
The bridge connects two mountain ridges and hangs 95 metres (312 feet) above a valley and can be accessed by cable car. It is 721 metres, or 2,365 feet, long. Tourists will enter it at an elevation of 1,125 metres and exit it 10 metres higher.
The Czech Republic Sky Bridge is 154 metres longer than Nepal's Baglung Parbat Footbridge, which currently holds the Guinness World Record for the longest suspension footbridge.
India, Nepal Sign and Exchange Six MoU and Agreements
India and Nepal signed and exchanged six Memorandum of Understandings and Agreements. They include an MoU between Indian Council of Cultural Relations and Lumbini Buddhist University on the establishment of Dr. Ambedkar Chair for Buddhist Studies and an MoU between Indian Council of Cultural Relations and Kathmandu University on the establishment of the ICCR Chair of Indian Studies.
A letter of Agreement between Kathmandu University and Indian Institute of Technology (IITM) was also signed for a joint degree program at Master's level.
An Agreement between SJVN Ltd and Nepal Electricity Authority for Development and implementation of Arun 4 Project was also signed. The MoUs and Agreements were signed after bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba in Lumbini.
May 16, 2022
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan appointed President of UAE
Rulers in the United Arab Emirates announced that they unanimously appointed Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the President of the nation. Rulers of the country's seven sheikhdoms made the decision at a meeting held in Al Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi. It comes after the late President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan died. The transition of power marks only the third time this U.S.-allied nation of seven sheikhdoms selected a President since becoming an independent nation in 1971.
The last, which saw Sheikh Khalifa take over for both his and Sheikh Mohammed's father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, came a month after his death in 2004. The speed of announcement appeared designed to show unity and reassure the world of the stability of this crucial oil-and-gas producing nation that hosts Western military forces.
7th Japan-India ICT Joint Working Group meeting held under India-Japan ICT Comprehensive Cooperat...
The 7th Japan-India ICT Joint Working Group meeting was held on a virtual platform. Recalling the India Japan Summit Meeting in March 2022, both sides recognized the need for growing cooperation under the India-Japan Digital Partnership with a view to enhancing digital economy through promotion of joint projects for digital transformation, support to provide opportunities for Indian IT professionals to work in Japan and Japanese companies, and collaboration made in the area of IoT, AI and other emerging technologies.
India and Japan share a common vision of a peaceful, stable and prosperous world and this has now taken the shape of "Special Strategic and Global Partnership".
May 15, 2022
Bhagwant Khuba Delivers Keynote Address at Intersolar Europe 2022 on "India's Solar Energy Market"
Union Minister of State for Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Bhagwant Khuba attended the Intersolar Europe 2022 held at Munich, Germany. He delivered key note address at the investment promotion event on "India's Solar Energy Market".
Bhagwant Khuba in his key note address said that as Hon'ble PM Modiji's ambitious Panchamrit targets set during COP-26 India is all set to achieve net zero by 2070 and install 500GW of non fossil by 2030. India's vast renewable energy resource potential and strong policy backing provide a strong foundation for achieving these goals.
India has seen incredible growth of RE capacity in last 7 years and has achieved target of 40% cumulative electric capacity from non fossil fuel in 2021, 9 full years ahead of set target of 2030. Government of India is committed to promoting domestic manufacturing in the solar PV sector to achieve its ambitious deployment goals. Several policy measures have been undertaken to support the domestic PV manufacturing sector.
WEF to Focus on Emerging Technologies to Help Small, Marginal Farmers
The World Economic Forum (WEF), in collaboration with the government's research institute Niti Aayog, is focusing on how to better employ emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and drones to aid farmers, especially small and marginal farmers. Agriculture is an important part of the Indian economy, employing 43 percent of the country's workers.
Small holders, who account for 86 percent of all farmers in India and own less than 2 hectares of land (compared to 2-10 hectares for medium holders and more than 10 hectares for large holders), are still among the poorest people in the country, earning only 39 percent of what medium holders earn and only 13 percent of what large holders earn.
May 14, 2022
PM Modi Participates in Second Global Summit on Covid
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the second global virtual summit on COVID-19 hosted by US President Joe Biden. The summit intends to galvanise new actions to address the challenges of the pandemic and build a stronger global health security architecture.
Modi participated in the first global virtual summit on Covid hosted by Biden on September 22 last year. The Summit galvanized new actions to address the continued challenges of the Covid pandemic and build a stronger global health security architecture. Secretary-General of the United Nations, Director General of World Health Organization and other dignitaries also participated.
Ranil Wickremesinghe Sworn in as Sri Lanka's New Prime Minister
Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lanka's new Prime Minister, days after his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned following violent protests over the worst economic crisis in the debt-ridden island nation. The 73-year-old United National Party (UNP) leader was appointed as the Prime Minister by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after they held closed-door discussions.
Wickremesinghe, who has served as the country's Prime Minister for four times, was in October 2018 fired from the post of Prime Minister by then President Maithripala Sirisena. However, he was reinstalled as the Prime Minister by Sirisena after two months. Wickremesinghe is widely accepted as a man who could manage the economy with far-sighted policies, and is perceived as the Sri Lankan politician who could command international cooperation.
Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from Britain in 1948. The crisis is caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which has meant that the country cannot afford to pay for imports of staple foods and fuel, leading to acute shortages and very high prices.
Sri Lanka Court Bans Former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, 15 others from Leaving Country
A Sri Lankan court banned former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and 15 others, including his son, MPs and senior police officers from leaving the country, for instigating violence that killed nine people and injured over 300.
Colombo's Magistrate court issued the travel ban order on Mahinda Rajapaksa, his son MP Namal, and 14 others who participated in meeting with his supporters who later carried out violent attacks on peaceful protesters in front of his house and his President's office.
The Attorney General Sanjaya Rajarantam, who has directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate the violent attacks on peaceful protesters, had informed the courts to impose a ban on the former PM and others.
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