The Daily Brief – 26th May 2019

Exercising powers under Article 75 (1) of the Indian Constitution, President Ram Nath Kovind on May 25, 2019 appointed BJP leader Narendra Modi as Prime Minister and invited him to form a new government at the Centre. It comes after Modi staked the claim to form a new government at the Centre after being elected as the leader of the BJP parliamentary party. The 16th Lok Sabha was dissolved on May 24, 2019 following the resignation of the PM Modi.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill resigned from his post on 26 May, 2019. O’Neill has handed over leadership to Sir Julius Chan, who will become prime minister for the third time. On 24 May, one of Peter O’Neill’s key coalition allies abandoned him and since then, the Opposition bloc has been saying it has 62 MPs in its camp, which would give it a majority in Parliament.

US President Donald Trump reached Japan on 25 May, 2019 for a four-day visit. President Trump will meet Japan’s new Emperor Naruhito, who ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne. President Trump will also address troops at a US base in Japan, highlighting the military alliance between the two allies at a time when tensions are running higher with North Korea after the failure of the Hanoi summit in February.

In Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced his new cabinet and the nation’s new ambassadors to the United States and the United Nations on 26 May 2019. Linda Reynolds has been appointed the Minister for Defence while Marise Payne will remain the Minister for Foreign Affairs and has also been named the Minister for Women. The cabinet has seven women and the first indigenous minister (Ken Wyatt) in Australian history.

The men’s compound team of Rajat Chauhan, Abhishek Verma and Aman Saini earned India a solitary bronze medal in the Archery World Cup Stage III at Antalya in Turkey on 26 May, 2019. The trio defeated the Russian team of Anton Bulaev, Alexander Dambaev and Pavel Krylov by 235-230 in the bronze medal play-off. The third stage of the World Cup is the last meet before the World Championships in the Netherlands.

According to a United Nations’ report titled World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) Report 2019 Mid-year Update, India’s economy is projected to grow at 7.1 % in fiscal year 2020 which will be backed by strong domestic consumption and investment. After an expansion of 3% in 2018, world gross product growth is now projected to settle to 2.7 % in 2019 and 2.9 % in 2020.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has sought a report from her officials over the denial of visa extension to Padma Shri awardee Ms Friederike Irina Bruning of Germany. Her visa is due to expire on the 25th of next month. Ms Bruning, also known as Sudevi Dasi, takes care of around two thousand cows and calves in Mathura and had been doing it for the last 25 years. Most of the cows were rescued after being abandoned by their owners. The 61-year-old has threatened to return the prestigious civilian award after her application was rejected.

Naresh Goyal, promoter and former Chairman of Jet Airways, and his wife Anita Goyal were deplaned on instructions from the Immigration Department at the Mumbai airport on 25 May. Only two agencies have the power to recall an aircraft. One is customs and the other is immigration. Jet Airways, been grounded since April 18, has a bank debt of ₹8000 crore and has been put up for sale by the lenders.