US nominates Ajay Banga for World Bank president

By FATIMA HUSSEIN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is nominating former Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga to lead the World Bank. President Joe Biden announced the choice on Thursday, crediting Banga with critical experience on global challenges including climate change. The news comes days after Trump appointee David Malpass announced plans to step down in June from his role leading the 189-nation poverty reduction agency. Malpass ran into criticism last year for comments seeming to cast doubt on the science that says the burning of fossil fuels causes global warming. Malpass later apologized. Biden says Banga is “uniquely equipped to lead the World Bank at this critical moment in history.”