President

TN adopts resolution urging Centre to fix timeline for Guv to approve bills

The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution to urge the Centre and the President to fix a timeframe for State Governors to approve Bills adopted by the respective Houses. The bill, moved by Chief Minister M K Stalin and adopted by the House also sought the President and the Centre to 'advise' Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi to give his assent to the Bills passed by the state Assembly in a time-bound manner. The government's move came in the wake of bills including the ones seeking exemption to Tamil Nadu from the NEET ambit and banning online gambling pending with the Raj Bhavan for the Governor's assent. While moving the Bill, Stalin launched a tirade against the Governor, saying Ravi was not approving certain bills due to his "whims and fancies." He also charged Ravi with converting the Raj Bhavan into a "political Bhavan" and accused him of being against the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu. The resolution "regretfully" recorded that by keeping the Bills pending, the

President Droupadi Murmu takes maiden sortie on Su-30 fighter jet

President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday took a sortie on a Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft at the Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam, officials said. The President, currently on a visit to Assam, is the Supreme Commander of the three services. The Sukhoi-30 MKI is a twin-seater multirole fighter jet developed by Russia's Sukhoi and built under licence by India's aerospace giant Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Jewish people will always be part of India's composite society: Prez Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said the Jewish communities in India have maintained and enriched their unique heritage and traditions and will always be an integral part of the country's composite society. Welcoming a Parliamentary Delegation from Israel led by the Speaker of Knesset Amir Ohana, who had called on her, the president said over the last 30 years, the diplomatic relations between the two countries have grown into a multi-dimensional strategic partnership. Murmu noted that throughout their long history, the Jewish communities in India have maintained and enriched their unique heritage and traditions, a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said. She said the Jewish people have been and will always be an integral part of India's composite society. The president said in India, Israel is well known as a key source of expertise in advanced agriculture and water technologies. "Our collaboration in research and innovation has also boosted the Make in India' initiati

Prez Murmu to launch festival in Assam to mark 30 years of Project Elephant

President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate a two-day "Gaj Utsav" on April 7 in Assam's Kaziranga National Park to commemorate the successful completion of 30 years of Project Elephant and to give more impetus to conservation efforts, Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey on Friday. India launched Project Elephant in 1991-92 as a centrally-sponsored scheme to protect elephants, their habitat and corridors, prevent human-elephant conflict and to ensure the welfare of captive elephants in India. "The government has decided to celebrate 'Gaj Utsav' at Kaziranga National Park on April 7-8 to commemorate 30 years of Project Elephant. President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate it on April 7," Choubey told reporters here. A first-of-its-kind event, the festival will see the participation of Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, forest ministers of all elephant range states, principal conservators of forests, chief wildlife wardens, representatives

President Droupadi Murmu speaks to Nepal counterpart Ram Chandra Paudel

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday spoke to her Nepalese counterpart Ram Chandra Paudel and congratulated him on assuming the top office. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said both presidents noted the unique and multifaceted bilateral relations and discussed ways to further strengthen the strong bonds of friendship between the two countries. President Murmu, who is presently on tour in Kerala, called up Paudel and congratulated him on assuming the office of the President of Nepal, the MEA said. "Both Presidents noted the unique and multifaceted relations between India and Nepal. They also discussed ways to further advance bilateral cooperation and strengthen the strong bonds of friendship between the peoples of our two countries," the MEA said. "The President expressed confidence that under the guidance of President Paudel, India-Nepal bilateral relations would reach even greater heights," it said. Paudel took the oath of office and secrecy as Nepal's third president on Mar

Australian govt will provide safe environment to Indian people: Prez Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday expressed confidence that the Australian government would take all necessary steps to provide a safe and positive environment to the Indian community there. The president's remarks during an interaction with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese came following reports of attacks on temples in Australia over the past few weeks. Welcoming Albanese and his delegation to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Murmu said, "The Indian community in Australia is known for being hardworking and peace-loving, with entrepreneurial skills." She expressed confidence that the Australian government would take all necessary steps to provide a safe, secure and positive environment to the Indian community in Australia," according to a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The president said India and Australia enjoy a very friendly relationship. "The comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries has given a boost to the bilateral engagements,

Revival of traditional methods of water management need of hour: Prez

Stressing on the need for water conservation and management, President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday called for revival of traditional methods along with using modern techniques for sustainable water supply. The president was addressing an event where she presented the 'Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman 2023' and witnessed the launch of 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch The Rain-2023'. Water and sanitation hold a special place in the life of every citizen but these issues affect women the most, as generally, it is the responsibility of women to arrange drinking water for their homes in rural areas, she said. In villages, they had to walk long distances to get drinking water and arranging for drinking water not only took a lot of their time but also put their safety and health at risk, Murmu said. Usually, school and college going girls were also engaged in arranging water along with their elders, which hindered their studies, the president noted. To overcome these problems, the government has take

Prez Murmu to inaugurate international 'Dharma-Dhamma' conference on Friday

President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the 7th International Dharma-Dhamma Conference in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh on Friday, an official said. The three-day conference, under the theme 'Eastern Humanism for the New Era' has been organised by India Foundation in collaboration with Sanchi University of Buddhist-Indic Studies, and aims to bring together religious, political and thought leaders from Dharma-Dhamma traditions to ponder over building a philosophical framework for the emerging new world order. The conference will have 45 speakers in the inaugural session, a ministers' session, keynote session and five plenary sessions to debate and discuss various subthemes, along with 115 paper presentations by experts from India and abroad in 15 session, he said. "Fifteen countries will be participating in the conference. Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, state culture minister Usha Thakur and Vice Chancellor of Sanchi University of ...

CPV's Politburo member Vo Van Thuong elected as Vietnam's new President

He has an M.A. in Philosophy and an advanced degree in political theory from the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics

South Korean President Yoon's approval rating rises to 40.4% after 6 weeks

In the poll of 2,504 adults conducted by Realmeter from February 13-17, the positive assessment of Yoon's performance rose 3.5 percentage points from a week earlier to 40.4 per cent

Former judge Shahabuddin Chuppu elected Bangladesh's 22nd President

Mohammad Shahabuddin Chuppu, a former judge and freedom fighter will be Bangladesh's new President, the Chief Election Commission has announced. Chuppu, 74, was elected unopposed on Monday and will replace President Mohammad Abdul Hamid. The Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal declared Chuppu, Awami League Advisory Council member and the party's nominee, the President-elect of Bangladesh unopposed after scrutinising his nomination papers submitted on Sunday. He became President by default as there was no rival candidate. A gazette was issued on Monday on the appointment of the new Bangladesh President by the Chief Election Commissioner. Chuppu will be the 22nd President of Bangladesh. The tenure of incumbent Hamid, the longest-serving president of Bangladesh, will end on April 23, and according to the Constitution, he cannot hold a third term. Senior Awami League leader and seven-time lawmaker Hamid were elected Bangladesh president in the last two elections. He was sw

Shahabuddin Chuppu elected unopposed as Bangladesh's 22nd President

Mohammad Shahabuddin Chuppu, a former judge and freedom fighter was elected unopposed as the country's 22nd President, the Chief Election Commission said on Monday. Chuppu, 74, will replace President Mohammad Abdul Hamid. The Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal declared Chuppu, Awami League Advisory Council member and the party's nominee, the President-elect of Bangladesh unopposed after scrutinising his nomination papers submitted on Sunday, according to news agency UNB. A gazette was issued on Monday on the appointment of the new Bangladesh President by the Chief Election Commissioner, the report said. The tenure of incumbent Hamid, the longest-serving president of Bangladesh, will end on April 23, and according to the Constitution, he cannot hold a third term. Senior Awami League leader and seven-time lawmaker Hamid was elected Bangladesh president in the last two elections. He was sworn in for his second term on April 24, 2018. Hamid greeted the newly elected presi

Prez Droupadi Murmu to begin 2-day visit to her home state Odisha today

President Droupadi Murmu will arrive in Odisha, her home state, on Friday on a two-day visit to attend official functions. After reaching Bhubaneswar at around 11.45 am, the President will attend the foundation day programme of Jnanaprabha Mission, a charitable organisation. Later, she will be present at the convocation of Rama Devi Women's University, her alma mater. She completed her BA from the then college in 1979. On Saturday, Murmu will first pay a visit to the Lord Lingaraj temple and then inaugurate the second Indian Rice Congress at the National Rice Research Institute in Cuttack. This will be Murmu's second visit to her home state after assuming the highest constitutional position in the country in July last year.

Sri Lankan police quiz Gotabaya Rajapaksa over president's house cash

Sri Lanka's former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been questioned by police over the discovery of a large amount of cash in his office-cum-residence when he fled the country for safety as thousands of protesters stormed the place in July last year. "A three-hour long statement was recorded on Monday at his private house as directed by the court," police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa told reporters. The protesters who occupied the President's House in the capital in July last year said that they had discovered over 17 million rupees in cash and handed over the money to the Colombo Fort police. The police reported the matter to the court, which ordered a statement to be recorded from Rajapaksa on the discovery of cash. The 73-year-old disgraced former president fled Sri Lanka on July 13 last year to the Maldives. From there, he travelled to Singapore from where he sent in his resignation on July 14, paving the way for the incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe to take over the presidential rein

PM Modi to reply to motion of thanks on President's Address in LS today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday will reply to the motion of thanks on the President's Address to Parliament.

From seeker, India now a solution-giver: President Droupadi Murmu

Describing Modi govt as 'decisive', she highlights its achievements - from infra ramp-up to digital boost

Former NATO general Petr Pavel becomes new President of Czech Republic

A former military general, Pavel got more than 58% of the vote, according to the Czech Statistics Office

Shirin Sharmin likely to become Bangladesh's first woman President

Not only will she be the first woman President, but also perhaps one of the youngest ever in the world

NEP makes our civilisational lessons relevant for contemporary life: Murmu

The new National Education Policy (NEP) makes "our civilisational lessons relevant for contemporary life", while also preparing learners for the 21st century challenges, President Droupadi Murmu said on Wednesday. In her maiden Republic Day eve address to the nation, Murmu said the policy has introduced ambitious changes. "With the economy on a sound footing, we have been able to begin and carry forward a series of praiseworthy initiatives. The ultimate goal is to create an environment in which all citizens can, individually and collectively, realise their true potential and prosper. As education builds the right foundation for this purpose, the National Education Policy has introduced ambitious changes," she said. "It rightly addresses the two-fold aims of education: as an instrument of economic and social empowerment and as a means to explore truth. The policy makes our civilisational lessons relevant for contemporary life, while also preparing the learner for the 21st century ...

Mary Kom to lead oversight Committee to probe against WFI president

Boxing great MC Mary Kom will lead a five-member Oversight Committee that will probe sexual harassment charges against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The government-appointed Committee will also run the day-to-day affairs of WFI for the next one month. The other members of the panel are Olympic medallist wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, former badminton player and Mission Olympic Cell member Trupti Murgunde, ex-TOPS CEO Rajagopalan and former SAI executive director - teams - Radhika Sreeman. The announcement of the panel was made by Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday. Thakur had decided to form the Committee on Saturday following a three-day sit-in protest by some of the country's top wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Ravi Dahiya against WFI and Singh.