Admiral Lisa Franchetti has 38 years of experience in the US Navy and is the current vice chief of operations. However, her nomination goes against the recommendation of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. President Joe Biden has chosen Admiral Lisa Franchetti to lead the US Navy, a senior administration official said on Friday. She would be the first woman to head the Navy and the first to be a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. She would be the second woman to head a branch of the US military after Coast Guard chief Admiral Linda Fagan, who was also nominated by Biden last year. "Throughout her career, Admiral Franchetti has demonstrated extensive expertise in both the operational and policy arenas," Biden said in a statement. Who is Lisa Franchetti? Franchetti currently serves as vice chief of operations for the Navy. A senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press that Biden chose her based on the broad scope of her 38-year experience that gives her deep knowledge in budgeting and running the department. Franchetti is a surface warfare officer who has commanded at all levels, including a naval destroyer and two stints as an aircraft carrier strike group commander. She is also the second woman in the US Navy to be promoted to four-star admiral. The official said Biden also understands the significance of Franchetti as the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and believes that she will inspire both women and men in the Navy. Defense Secretary's pick nominated for different position Biden's decision to tap Franchetti goes against the recommendation of his Pentagon chief, but he is selecting an officer whom some insiders had considered the top choice for the job. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had recommended that Biden select Admiral Samuel Paparo, the current commander of the Navy's Pacific Fleet. However, Biden is instead nominating Paparo to lead Indo-Pacific Command.

Two of the leading presidential candidates — Sandra Torres and Edmond Mulet — accused the ruling party of buying votes as the polls closed. Polling stations in Guatemala closed on Sunday evening, marking the end of a closely contested presidential election. The election is likely to proceed to a runoff on August 20, with former first lady Sandra Torres expected to fall short of the required 50% plus one vote for an outright victory, even if she wins the first round. None of the other presidential candidates are polling near the required 50% threshold. Over 20 candidates are vying for the presidency, including career diplomat Edmond Mulet and Zury Rios, daughter of the late dictator Efrain Rios Montt. The stakes in this election are high, considering the deterioration of transparency, human rights, and ongoing challenges of poverty, corruption, and violence in recent years. Accusations of irregularities The race to the Guatemalan presidency has been overshadowed by a court ruling that disqualified four candidates from the ballot. This included early front-runner businessman Carlos Pineda, which drew criticism from the United States and the European Union. Many voters doubt that the election will effectively address the country's pressing issues of poverty, crime, and corruption. Two of the leading candidates accused the ruling party of vote-buying as the polls closed. Torres and Mulet pointed to alleged irregularities that favored the conservative ruling party candidate for president, Manuel Conde. "We have complaints they are buying votes" with the distribution of food, Torres said. Clashes between voters and security forces were reported in the cities of San Jose del Golfo and San Martin Zapotitlan, where allegations of unlawful practices led to voting suspensions and arrests. Authorities reported several fire bomb attacks near voting centers in the capital during the late hours of the day. Voters losing faith Recent events, such as theimprisonment of the founder of a newspaper critical of the government on money laundering charges, have eroded people's faith in the ability of the elections to bring meaningful change. Thirty-year-old Alejandro Cameros complained that the only thing that has changed in Guatemala is the names of its presidents, as the same corrupt power structure remained. "I voted for something different," he said. "We woke up very early to vote. We vote with enthusiasm — and afterward, the presidents, it's always the same thing," voter Maria Chajon told the news agency AFP. Guatemala, with its population of 17.6 million, is one of the poorest countries in Latin America, characterized by high levels of inequality and violent crime.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, "It is necessary to keep Awami League in power to transform Bangladesh into a developing country through sustained development by 2026." On Sunday, june 25, Prime Minister made that statement in the National Parliament. Prime Minister mentioned, "Bangladesh has already achieved the status of a developing country and questioned who would be able to sustain and fulfill its aspirations if the Awami League does not come to power again." Furthermore, she emphasized the need for someone who can work selflessly for the country.  Prime Minister addressed the people of the country, stating that they have repeatedly brought the Awami League to power by casting their votes, and the Awami League government has served the nation and taken Bangladesh on the path of development. She expressed her confidence, "Bangladesh will never lag behind but will continue its progress. InshaAllah, we, the Bangalee nation, will proudly stand head high as a developing country in the world."

The former German striker takes on his fifth coaching role and his first since a chaotic spell at Hertha Berlin. He is set to lead South Korea at the next World Cup in 2026. South Korea's football association on Monday appointed Jürgen Klinsmann as it's new national team head coach. Klinsmann, 58, will arrive in Seoul next week and be in charge when South Korea faces Colombia on March 24. It will be the third national team appointment for the former German striker, who won the World Cup as a player in 1990. After retiring as a player in 1998, he coached Germany from 2004 to 2006 and the United States from 2011 to 2016.  He also coached one season at Bayern Munich during the 2008-09 season, a stint that lasted only 10 months. His last coaching job was on an interim basis at Hertha Berlin, a disastrous 76-day tenure from November 2019 to January 2020 that ended in chaos. The Korea Football Association said Monday that Klinsmann has signed a contract until the 2026 World Cup, set to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. He replaces Paulo Bento, who stepped down after South Korea's defeat to Brazil in last year's World Cup in Qatar. 

China's Communist Party on Sunday formally reelected Xi Jinping the party's general secretary for another five years, paving the way for his historic third term as Chinese president. The widely expected announcement comes after a week-long Communist Party Congress during which Xi further cemented his grip on power. Party faithful endorsed his "core" position in leadership, and approved changes to the constitution making Xi's political vision central for China's future. The decision tilts the Asian powerhouse decisively back towards one-man rule after decades of power-sharing among its elite. Chinese state media said Xi was also reappointed as head of China's Central Military Commission. "I wish to thank the whole Party sincerely for the trust you have placed in us," Xi told journalists at Beijing's Great Hall of the People following the announcement. He promised to "work diligently in the performance of our duties to prove worthy of the great trust of our Party and our people." "China cannot develop without the world, and the world also needs China," he continued. "After more than 40 years of unflagging efforts towards reform and opening up, we have created two miracles — rapid economic development and long-term social stability." Xi set for unprecedented third term Xi is now almost certain to be given and third presidential term during the annual legislative sessions in March. In 2018, he scrapped the presidential two-term limit, allowing himself to rule indefinitely. The 69-year-old leader is now expected by some to try to stay in power for life. Delegates at the congress also chose a new Central Committee of 205 party officials — only 11 women were named to the committee. Central Committee members went on to elect the all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee, which Xi will again lead. A list of officials in the new Central Committee revealed the replacement of four out of seven Standing Committee members, including Premier Li Keqiang, allowing Xi to install loyalists to the body. They include Shanghai Party boss Li Qiang, close aide Ding Xuexiang and Guangdong Party chief Li Xi, state media reported  Xi and the other Standing Committee members appeared for the first time as a group before reporters Sunday at the Great Hall of the People, the seat of China's ceremonial legislature in central Beijing. Most powerful man since Mao Since he took office in 2013, Xi has achieved a concentration of power like no modern Chinese ruler other than the modern country's founder Mao Zedong. Xi has pushed forward the central role of the Communist Party, expanding state control over society and the economy. He has also overseen China's rise as the world's second-biggest economy, a huge military expansion and a far more aggressive global posture that has drawn strong opposition from the United States. Despite nearly unchecked power, Xi faces huge challenges over the next five years, including managing the nation's debt-ridden economy and the growing US rivalry. 'Winner takes all' in Chinese politics Wen-Ti Sung, a lecturer in Taiwan Studies at the Australian National University (ANU) currently based in Taipei, told DW that Xi's reappointment is proof that there is a "winner-takes-all situation in China’s politics today." Sung said, "Xi is showing to the world that they should stop trying to hope" for a "factional power struggle within China today or going forward." “There will be no other power figure of comparable stature who can play a balancing role or be the focal point for organizing any meaningful organized opposition to check Xi’s power,” he added. Sung also warned that the Taiwan issue would likely remain in focus. Xi has threatened to retake the independent island that China considers its territory by force. Meanwhile, Alfred Wu, an associate professor from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore, told DW that those picked for the Politburo were people who have worked with Xi in the past. "I would say he wants the fourth term and this group of people will support him when the decision-making about the fourth term comes. The overall structure is to make sure that he is No.1 in China for at least 10 years," he said. Wu added China's political system was "no different than a dictatorship," giving the example of Xi insisting that the country's zero-COVID strategy remains the best course of action despite the rest of the world having reopened. "'There is no checks and balances and information surrounding Xi will be very much like favoring Xi’s assumption. It’ll look like an echo chamber," Wu said.

Indian American Raj Subramaniam would be new Chief Executive Officer of FedEx, according to an announcement made Monday by the US multinational courier delivery giant. Subramanian would replace Frederick W Smith, chairman and CEO, who will step down on June 1. He will now be its executive chairman. Subramaniam’s promotion was long expected. Less than a month ago, the company named Smith’s son, Richard W. Smith, as the next head of its express division. The 77-year-old founder has been saying for at least two years that he’s nearing the end of his long tenure. “As we look toward what's next, I have a great sense of satisfaction that a leader of the caliber of Raj Subramaniam will take FedEx into a very successful future,” Smith said in a statement. In his new role, Smith said he looks forward to focusing on Board governance as well as issues of global importance, including sustainability, innovation, and public policy. Smith had founded FedEx in 1971. “Fred is a visionary leader and a legend of the business world. He founded one of the world's greatest and most admired companies, and it is my honour and privilege to step into this role and build upon what he has created,” Subramaniam said in a statement issued by FedEx. Headquartered out of Tennessee, FedEx has 600,000 employees globally. Subramaniam was elected to the FedEx Board of Directors in 2020 and will maintain his seat on the Board, the company said. Prior to his role as president and Chief Operating Officer of FedEx Corp., Subramaniam was president and CEO of FedEx Express, the world's largest express transportation company. He also served as executive vice president and chief marketing and communications officer of FedEx Corp, where he was responsible for developing the corporate strategy. In addition, he served as the president of FedEx Express in Canada and in several other management and marketing roles throughout Asia and the US since he joined FedEx in 1991. “Raj is an accomplished and proven leader, and he has the full support of the Board. He has more than 30 years of global experience across strategy and operations and has led the company through a period of tremendous growth. I am confident that Raj will build on this foundation and take the company to even greater heights,” said David Steiner, chair of the Board's Governance, Safety, and Public Policy Committee. Source: Business Standard

The Spanish government's First Vice President Nadia Calvino was elected chair of the group of finance ministers and central bankers that advises the IMF's board, the organization announced Thursday.    Calvino, who is also her country's economy minister, replaces Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson as head of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), and will remain in office for two years, beginning January 3.    The IMFC consists of 24 members who are central bankers and governors, finance ministers or officials of equivalent rank, who are chosen from among International Monetary Fund member countries.    Calvino has been Spain's first vice president since July and economy minister since 2018.    She previously held several positions at the European Commission, including director general in charge of the budget from 2014 to 2018.    The IMFC is the main advisory body to the IMF's board of governors and deliberates major policy issues. Source: AFP/BSS AH

Pilgrims will begin to arrive in the Muslim holy city of Makkah on Saturday for the second downsized hajj staged during the coronavirus pandemic with only fully vaccinated residents permitted to participate. The kingdom seeks to repeat last year's success that saw no virus outbreak during the five-day ritual but nonetheless caused resentment among Muslims abroad. It is allowing 60,000 residents of Saudi Arabia to participate through a lottery, higher than in 2020 but drastically lower than in normal times. Religious rites will begin on Sunday. Among the chosen ones was Ameen, a 58-year-old Indian oil contractor based in the eastern city of Dammam, who was picked for the ritual along with his wife and three adult children. "We are overjoyed," said Ameen, who only gave his first name. "So many of our friends and relatives were rejected," he told AFP. In 2019, some 2.5 million Muslims from around the world participated in the annual hajj -- a key pillar of Islam that is a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime. Earlier this month, the hajj ministry said it was working on the "highest levels of health precautions" in light of the pandemic and the emergence of new variants. Like the other countries of the Gulf, Saudi Arabia is home to significant expatriate populations from South Asia, the Far East, Africa as well as the Middle East. "I feel like I won a lottery," Egyptian pharmacist Mohammed El Eter said after being selected. "This is a special, unforgettable moment in one's life. I thank God for granting me this chance, to be accepted among a lot of people who applied," the 31-year-old told AFP. - 'Restrict exposure' - Workers were shown on the Al-Ekhbariya news channel disinfecting the area in the Grand Mosque around the Kaaba -- the focal point of Islam, towards which all Muslim pray -- in anticipation of the start of rituals. On Saturday the faithful will begin circling the Kaaba before officially starting the hajj on Sunday. Chosen from more than 558,000 applicants through an online vetting system, the event is confined to those who have been fully vaccinated and are aged 18-65 with no chronic illnesses, according to the hajj ministry. Pilgrims will be divided into groups of just 20 "to restrict any exposure to only those 20, limiting the spread of infection", ministry undersecretary Mohammad al-Bijawi told official media. Saudi Arabia has so far recorded more than 507,000 coronavirus infections, including over 8,000 deaths. More than 20 million vaccine doses against coronavirus have been administered in the country of over 34 million people. The hajj went ahead last year on the smallest scale in modern history, with authorities initially saying only 1,000 pilgrims would be allowed, before local media said up to 10,000 took part. No infections were reported as authorities set up multiple health facilities, mobile clinics and ambulances to cater for the pilgrims, who were taken to the religious sites in small batches. In normal years, the pilgrimage packs large crowds into congested religious sites, but even this year's downscaled events are seen as a potential mechanism for contagion. - 'Biggest challenge' - "The biggest challenge of this hajj season will be for it to pass off without any Covid-19 infections," a doctor working at a hospital in Makkah told AFP by phone. Worshippers were last year given amenity kits including sterilised pebbles for the "stoning of Satan" ritual, disinfectants, masks, a prayer rug and the ihram, a traditional seamless white hajj garment, made from a bacteria-resistant material. Hosting the hajj is a matter of prestige for Saudi rulers, for whom the custodianship of Islam's holiest sites is their most powerful source of political legitimacy. But barring overseas pilgrims has caused resentment and deep disappointment among Muslims worldwide, who typically save for years to take part. The hajj ministry received anguished queries on Twitter from rejected applicants about the tightly-controlled government lottery. "We are still anxiously waiting to be accepted, as though we're facing an exam," wrote one Twitter user. And in addition to the many virus-related obstacles, the price of participating in this year's hajj, including official taxes, is 12,000 riyals ($3,200). Source: AFP/BSS AH

At least 10 people were killed in a head on collision between a bus and a truck in Jhenaidah. The accident occurred at around 3:30 pm on Wednesday. The number of casualties may rise, said sources. Mamunur Rashid, Duty Officer of Kaliganj fire station confirmed the information. Mahfuzur Rahman, Officer in Charge of Kaliganj police station confirmed the information and said, rescue operations are going on by fire service and police members. The identities of the deceased and injured are yet to confirm. The injured have been rushed to different hospitals in the district. AH  

Five people including children and women were killed in head on collision between a bus and a truck at Fakirhat in Bagerhat district. 20 more people were injured in the accident. The accident took place at Kakdanga area under Fakirhat upazila on Dhaka-Mawa highway at around 4 pm on Saturday. The deceased were yet to be identified. Officer in Charge of Fakirhat police station ANM Khairul Anam said, the passenger laden bus was heading towards Barishal from Khulna through Madaripur. On the other hand the iron rod laden truck was coming from Dhaka. The bus and truck collided at Kakdanga area. Locals and police rescued the injured and admitted them to Fakirhat upazila health complex. Later many were shifted to Khulna Medical College Hospital for better treatment. AH