Meet Indian-Origin Ajay Banga appointed in Gaza’s “Board of Peace” constituted by Trump
Washington: The White House on Friday announced the formation of a “Board of Peace” under US President Donald Trump to oversee the temporary governance of Gaza, even as violence continues in the Palestinian territory despite a fragile ceasefire that has been in place since October.
According to the White House, the newly constituted board will be chaired by President Trump and includes Indian-origin World Bank Group President Ajay Banga as one of its members. The announcement comes amid ongoing instability in Gaza, marked by sporadic clashes and persistent security concerns.
Ajay Banga, 66, is currently the 14th President of the World Bank Group. He was nominated by former US President Joe Biden in February 2023 and confirmed to a five-year term in May the same year. He formally assumed office on June 2, 2023.
Banga completed his undergraduate studies in economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, in 1981, before pursuing a postgraduate programme in management at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. He began his career as an intern with Nestlé in India and spent over a decade with the company, holding senior roles in sales and marketing.
In 1994, he joined PepsiCo as head of marketing for its snacks division in India. He later moved to Citigroup, where he rose through the ranks of the global consumer banking business and eventually served as CEO of Citigroup Asia Pacific in 2008. Prior to taking charge at the World Bank, Banga was elected chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce in 2020.
Born in Khadki, Maharashtra, to a Sikh family, Banga is the son of an Indian Army officer, a background that led his family to move frequently across the country. He is married to Ritu Banga, an alumna of IIM Ahmedabad, who is associated with the education and business sectors.
The White House said the Board of Peace has been set up to implement Phase Two of President Trump’s plan to end the Gaza conflict. This phase includes a 20-point roadmap aimed at bringing peace, stability, reconstruction and long-term development to the region. The board is expected to provide strategic oversight, mobilise international resources and ensure accountability during Gaza’s transition from conflict.
However, the White House did not spell out the specific roles of individual members of the founding executive board. It also confirmed that no Palestinian representatives have been included so far. According to a Reuters report, additional members of the board are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
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Yadgir: Two KBJNL engineers arrested by Lokayukta for bribery
Yadgir: Lokayukta police on Thursday arrested two engineers of the Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Limited (KBJNL) on charges of accepting a bribe of Rs 35,000 to clear a contractor’s pending bill.
The arrested officials have been identified as Madhusudhan, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), and Manjunath, Junior Engineer (JE), both posted at the KBJNL office in Shahapur.
They had allegedly demanded the bribe from Khasimsab Jalalsab, a contractor, for releasing his pending bill, after which he had made a complaint to the Lokayukta authorities.
As per the report, Madhusudhan was caught while receiving the bribe amount through a UPI transaction at the office on Thursday.
Both officials were taken into custody, and further investigation is underway.
