Page 3 - President

Iceland elects businesswoman Tomasdottir as prez, will take office on Aug 1

Halla Tomasdottir, a businesswoman and investor, has won Iceland's presidential election, topping a crowded field of candidates in which the top three finishers were women, the country's national broadcast service reported. Tomasdottir was elected to the largely ceremonial post with 34.3% of the vote, defeating former Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir, with 25.2%, and Halla Hrund Logadottir, with 15.5%, RUV said Sunday. Tomasdottir, 55, campaigned as someone who was above party politics and could help open discussions on fundamental issues such as the effect of social media on the mental health of young people, Iceland's development as a tourist destination and the role of artificial intelligence. She will replace President Gudni Th Johannesson, who did not seek re-election after two four-year terms. Tomasdottir will take office on Aug 1. Iceland, a Nordic island nation located in the North Atlantic, has about 384,000 people and a long tradition of electing women to high office. .

Ex-Iranian speaker Larijani registers as possible presidential candidate

A former speaker of Iran's parliament registered on Friday as a possible candidate in the Islamic Republic's June 28 presidential election to replace the late Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash earlier this month with seven others. Ali Larijani is the first high-profile candidate to register for the contest. He and other serious contenders against Raisi had been barred from running in the 2021 election. Larijani, 66, is viewed as a conservative within Iran's narrow political scene. However, he has increasingly allied himself with former President Hassan Rouhani, whose administration reached a 2015 nuclear deal with a group of world powers. Larijani had positioned himself as a pragmatic candidate in the 2021 vote in which hard-liner Raisi, a protg of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was elected. Larijani had posted online and made comments in recent days all but confirming he would be a candidate. The Larijani family has long been powerful in Iran's Shiite ...

Taiwan's legislature passes new Bill reducing president's authority

Taiwan's opposition-controlled legislature passed changes on Tuesday that are seen as favouring China and diminishing the power of the island's president. The changes pushed by the opposition Nationalist Party and its allies give the body greater power to control budgets, including defence spending that the party has blocked in what many see as a concession to China. The Nationalists took control of the legislature with a single-seat majority after elections in January, while the presidency went to Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party, which favours Taiwan's de facto independence from China. The Nationalists officially back unification with China, from which Taiwan separated during a civil war in 1949.

'Our Droupadi' vs local poll dynamics in tribal terrain of Mayurbhanj

There were media reports that Uparbeda, 120 km from the district headquarters in Baripada, got electricity only after Murmu became President

Why President Ebrahim Raisi's death comes at a sensitive time for Iran

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister and several other officials were found dead on Monday, after their helicopter crashed in the country's northwest

President Raisi dead in chopper crash. Why it's a blow to Iran's hardliners

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollhian and others crashed on Sunday

Who is Sanjaya Kumar Mishra, the newly appointed president of GSTAT?

The appointment of Sanjaya Kumar Mishra follows the recommendation of the Search-Cum-Selection Committee and aims to expedite the operationalisation of GSTAT

President Murmu pays obeisance, performs 'aarti' at Ram temple in Ayodhya

President Droupadi Murmu paid obeisance and performed "aarti" at the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Wednesday. Before visiting the temple in the evening, Murmu took part in the Sarayu "aarti" and performed puja at the Hanumangarhi temple here. "President Droupadi Murmu had darshan and performed puja at Shri Hanuman Garhi temple, Ayodhya," the president's official X handle said in a post on the microblogging platform. Earlier in the day, the president was received at the Ayodhya airport by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel. This was Murmu's first visit to Ayodhya since the newly-built Ram temple's consecration ceremony was held on January 22.

Prosecutors ask to punish Trump for violating gag order in hush money trial

As Trump watched from the defense table, New York prosecutor Christopher Conroy cited posts from the former president's Truth Social platform that he said violated the gag order

Keep in mind interest of poor: President to economic service officers

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday asked a group of economic service officers to keep in mind the interest of the poor and backward sections of the country while taking any decision in their workplace. Addressing a group of probationers of the Indian Economic Service (2022 and 2023 batches), who had called on her at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here, Murmu said that economic growth is an important component in the country's development. "Macro and micro economic indicators are considered useful parameters of progress. Therefore, the role of economists is important in making government policies and schemes effective and useful," she said. Murmu told officers that as India is moving towards becoming the third largest economy in the world, they will get countless opportunities in the times to come to enhance their capabilities and utilise them to the fullest. She expressed confidence that they will make a significant contribution to the development of the country by taking proper advantage

Let's build nation with values of 'Lord Ram', says President Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday greeted citizens on the eve of Ram Navami and asked them to imbibe the values of Lord Shri Ram to build a nation in line with the concept of 'Ram Rajya', where every person lives with dignity. "Ram Navami, celebrated on the auspicious occasion of the birth of Lord Shri Ram, guides us on the path of truth and righteousness. Maryada Purushottam Prabhu Shri Ram is an ideal of humility, fortitude and bravery," the president said in a message. Lord Shri Ram set the highest standards of selfless service, friendship and unwavering commitment to his word, she said. "The festival of Ram Navami is also an opportunity to reflect on our eternal values. Let us imbibe the values of Lord Shri Ram and pledge to build a nation where, in line with the concept of Ram Rajya, every person lives with dignity and the stream of development continues to flow in everyone's life," Murmu was quoted as having said in a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Let's spread love, kindness: Prez Murmu greets citizens on eve of Eid

President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday greeted citizens on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, and said this festival motivates all to lead a peaceful life and work for the prosperity of the society. This festival marks the culmination of the period of fasting and prayer during the holy month of Ramzan and gives us the message of love and brotherhood, she said. "This festival promotes unity, forgiveness and charity. Eid is the occasion to help the poor and deprived people and share our happiness with them. This festival motivates us to lead a peaceful life and work for prosperity of the society," Murmu said. She said, on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, "let us spread the feelings of love, kindness and compassion.

Holi promotes love, unity, brotherhood among people, says President Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday greeted citizens on the eve of Holi and said the festival promotes the feeling of love, unity and brotherhood among people. This festival also inspires us to strengthen our cultural heritage, she said in a message. Holi is a vibrant and joyous festival which infuses hope and enthusiasm in our lives, Murmu said. "Various colours of Holi symbolise the diversity of our country. This festival promotes the feelings of love, unity and brotherhood among the people. This festival also inspires us to strengthen our cultural heritage," the president said. "May this festival of colors bring happiness in everyone's life and motivates all of us to work towards nation-building with new zeal," she said. In the message, the president said, "On the auspicious occasion of Holi, I extend my greetings and best wishes to all Indians living in India and abroad.

Jurisdiction not a concern of 'external parties': Maldives Prez Muizzu

Asserting that Maldives is not a small nation, President Mohamed Muizzu has said that the steps taken by his government to ensure the Indian Ocean island nation's security on its own should not concern any "external parties". The pro-China Maldivian leader's comments came days after the first batch of Indian military personnel operating a helicopter gifted by India left the island nation after Muizzu stepped up his anti-India rhetoric. Muizzu had asked India to withdraw nearly 90 military personnel from the island nation soon after he assumed office in November last year. India has agreed to replace the military personnel with civilians and continue the operations of two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft provided to the country for humanitarian and medical evacuation services. Muizzu's latest comments came while while speaking at a ceremony to launch the Maldives National Defence Force's (MNDF) Air Corps and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), a press release by the President's Office

Simultaneous elections

The idea needs a political consensus

One Nation, One Election: What recommendations did the high-level committee make?

UCC Bill passed by Uttarakhand gets President's assent, becomes law

The Uniform Civil Code Bill, passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly on February 7, has become a law with President Droupadi Murmu giving her assent to it. Uttarakhand is the first state in the country after Independence to adopt the UCC. "It is a moment of great joy and pride for people of the state that the Uniform Civil Code Bill passed by our government in the Uttarakhand Assembly has been approved by the Honorable President Smt Droupadi Murmu," Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said in a post on X. The President gave her assent to the Uniform Civil Code, Uttarakhand, 2024 under Article 201 of the Constitution of India on March 11, a gazette notification by the government of Uttarakhand said. "With the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code law in the state alongside providing equal rights to all citizens, the oppression of women will also be curbed," Dhami said. "#UniformCivilCode will play an important role in promoting harmony by proving the importance of social equality," he

Prez Murmu attends National Day Celebrations of Mauritius as chief guest

President Droupadi Murmu participated in the 56th National Day Celebrations of Mauritius as the Chief Guest on Tuesday, underscoring the longstanding and enduring ties between the two countries. President Murmu is on a three-day state visit to Mauritius. The presence of Murmu at the 56th anniversary of the Independence and 32nd anniversary of the Republic of Mauritius marks a momentous occasion for the India-Mauritius special partnership, the Ministry of External Affairs said. "A momentous occasion for the India-Mauritius special partnership! President Droupadi Murmu @rashtrapatibhvn participated as the Chief Guest in the celebrations of the 56th anniversary of the Independence and 32nd anniversary of the Republic of Mauritius at Champ de Mars," the Ministry of External Affairs posted on X along with some pictures from the event. Mauritius Day commemorates the East African country's independence from Britain in 1968 and its transition to a republic in 1992. The day was celebrated

Prez Murmu gifts RuPay to Mauritian counterpart; bilateral ties discussed

President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Mauritius on Monday on a three-day state visit during which she would be the chief guest at the country's National Day celebrations on Tuesday. President Murmu was received by Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth on her arrival here. She will also hold talks with the country's top leadership during the visit to further consolidate India's relations with the Indian Ocean island nation. "President Droupadi Murmu @rashtrapatibhvn arrives in Mauritius on a 3-day State Visit," the Ministry of External Affairs posted on X. "In a special gesture reflecting the exceptionally close ties between &, PM @KumarJugnauth welcomed President Murmu at the airport with full state honours," it said. A contingent of the Indian Navy will also participate in the celebrations along with two ships -- INS Tir and CGS Sarathi. Announcing the visit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi said President Murmu will hold bilateral meetings with her ..

Very important milestone: Prez Murmu on first flight test of Agni-5

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday congratulated DRDO scientists for the first flight test of indigenously developed Agni-5 missile under Mission Divyastra, calling it a "very important milestone" in India's march towards greater geo-strategic role and capabilities. In her message on 'X', the supreme commander of the armed forces said, "The state-of-the-art technology developed indigenously is a firm step in the direction of India becoming Atmanirbhar." "The flight test of Agni V under Mission Divyastra marks a very important milestone in India's march towards greater geo-strategic role and capabilities...I convey my heartiest congratulations to the Team DRDO for this major achievement. I am sure they will keep moving apace in their quest for excellence and self-reliance," she said. The weapon system is equipped with indigenous avionics systems and high-accuracy sensor packages ensuring that the re-entry vehicles reach the target points within the desired accuracy. Based on Multipl