Page 4 - President

PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari elected Pakistan's 14th President

Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari was elected as Pakistan's 14th President on Saturday, becoming the head of state for a second time. Zardari, 68, was the joint candidate of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) while his rival Mahmood Khan Achakzai, 75, was the candidate of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). The new president was elected by the electoral college of the newly elected members of the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies, as per the provisions of the Constitution. A businessman-turned-politician, Zardari is the husband of slain Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto. He received 255 votes while his opponent got 119, Pakistani media reported. Zardari would replace the incumbent Dr Arif Alvi, whose five-year term ended last year. However, he has continued since the new electoral college was not yet formed. Zardari, who served as the president from 2008 to 2013, will also be the first civilian t

Sudha Murty nominated to Rajya Sabha, PM says 'testament to Nari Shakti'

Rajya Sabha updates: Sudha Murty is an Indian educator, author, philanthropist, and former chairperson of the Infosys Foundation

Andaman's clean environment, ecology must be preserved: Prez Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday stressed on the need for preserving the clean environment and ecology of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Murmu, while addressing a gathering during a civic reception here, called for maintaining a balance between development and environmental protection. It is very important to preserve the ecology and environment of this island. We have to maintain a balance between developmental work and preservation of the environment while moving forward, she said. The president also underscored the increase in tourist arrivals from 2014 to 2022, owing to improved digital and physical communication in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This not only helped in generation of revenue, but also employment in this island. It accounts for 30 per cent of the country's 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and needless to say that this place will play an important role in nation-building when it comes to the blue economy, she said. Murmu lauded the local ..

President prorogues both Houses after Budget session of Parliament

Apart from the financial agenda of the government, the two Houses also passed bills related to Jammu and Kashmir

Indonesian defence minister claims victory in presidential election

Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, an ex-general linked to past human rights atrocities, claimed victory in Indonesia's presidential election on Wednesday based on unofficial tallies. The 72-year-old candidate, who was once banned by the United States from entering for two decades due to his human rights record, told thousands of supporters in a sports stadium in the capital, Jakarta, that the victory, according to an early, unofficial quick count, was the victory of all Indonesians. There was no declaration by electoral officials and the two former provincial governors who also contested the election in the world's third-largest democracy have not conceded defeat. Subianto was an army general during the brutal period of the Suharto dictatorship that ended just over 25 years ago. He served as a special forces commander in a unit linked to torture and disappearances, allegations that he vehemently denies. According to the unofficial tallies conducted by Indonesian polling agencies,

PM Modi thanks UAE for support in construction of BAPS temple in Abu Dhabi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday thanked UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his support and his graciousness in granting the land for the construction of a Hindu temple here, saying it reflects his affinity for India. Modi will inaugurate the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir, the first Hindu stone temple in Abu Dhabi, on Wednesday. Modi arrived here earlier in the day and was received at the airport by President Sheikh Mohamed. The two leaders held wide-ranging talks soon after Prime Minister Modi arrived in the UAE. In his opening remarks, Modi said the BAPS temple in Abu Dhabi is an example of the "President's affinity towards India and his vision for the UAE's bright future." The BAPS Hindu Mandir, located in Abu Mureikhah, near Al Rahba off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway, has come up on around 27 acres of land in Abu Dhabi and the work for the structure has been going on since 2019. The land for the tem

ICAI elects Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal as Prez, Charanjot Singh Nanda as VP

The chartered accountants' apex body ICAI on Monday said Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal and Charanjot Singh Nanda have been elected as President and Vice President of the institute, respectively. Both have been elected by the institute's central council for the 2024-25 term, according to a release. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has around 4 lakh members and more than 8.5 lakh students. Agarwal is the 72nd President of ICAI and served as Vice President in 2023-24. Among other responsibilities, Nanda has served as the chairman of various ICAI committees, including those on internal audit standards board, and on financial markets & investors protection.

Budget for President's office increase by 47.5% to Rs 144.18 crore

The interim Budget on Thursday allocated Rs 144.18 crore for the staff, household and allowances of the president, a massive increase of Rs 46.49 crore (about 47.5 per cent) from Rs 97.69 crore earmarked in the revised estimates for FY24. In the announcements for the 2024-25 interim Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Rs 90.87 crore was allocated for the president's secretariat and Rs 52.71 crore was sanctioned under the head 'other expenditures', which provides for the expenditure on the household establishment of the president, including staff salaries. Other expenditures also include discretionary grants of the president and provision for capital section. The document shows that of the total allocation, Rs 60 lakh has been allocated for the salary and allowances of the president, which remained unchanged from the last budget. The amount allocated under the head 'president's secretariat' provides for the establishment and allied expenses with respect to it which includ

Oppn party of Maldives to move impeachment motion against President Muizzu

The Maldives' Parliament on Monday approved only one of the four members of pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu's cabinet against whom the main opposition MDP has issued a three-line red whip. While Parliament voted to deny approval to Housing Minister Ali Haidar Ahmed, Islamic Minister Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and Attorney General Ahmed Usham, Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed narrowly survived the same fate, according to local media reports. President Muizzu, 45, had made a formal request for the approval of his cabinet on November 20, two days after the new administration took office. The Parliament was scheduled to vote on the Cabinet on December 18, but the original report by the Government Oversight Committee was rejected. The Parliament held an extraordinary sitting on Sunday to take the vote on the committee's new report, which was passed on December 30, news website sun.com.mv reported. But just ahead of the voting on Sunday, the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party ..

Ram temple, G-20, Bharat Ratna: Top quotes of Prez Murmu's R-Day address

President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday praised the recent inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya during her Republic Day Eve address to the nation

Republic Day 2024: President's 'buggy' makes a comeback, all you must know

Republic Day 2024 parade: India's President snubbed the modern sedan in favour of the buggy after a four-decade hiatus

First woman elephant mahout among 34 unsung heroes awarded Padma Shri

India's first woman elephant mahout Parbati Baruah famous as "Hasti Kanya", tribal environmentalist Chami Murmu, social worker Sangthankima who runs Mizoram's largest orphanage and plastic surgeon Prema Dhanraj who treats burn victims are among 34 "unsung heroes" awarded Padma Shri on Thursday. The list, issued on the eve of 75th Republic Day, also has organic farmer from South Andaman K Chellammal, international Mallakhamb coach Uday Vishwanath Deshpande, renowned microbiologist who pioneered development of India's inaugural Sickle Cell Anemia Control Program Yazdi Maneksha Italia, Longpi potter Machihan Sasa from Ukhrul who dedicated five decades to preserve this ancient Manipuri traditional pottery that traces its roots back to the Neolithic period (10,000 BC). The coveted civilian honour also went to Gaddam Sammaiah theatre artiste Chindu Yakshaganam (from Jangaon) performing this art form for over five decades in over 19,000 shows, Bhilwara's Behrupiya artiste Jankilal, third ..

Macron joins PM Modi in roadshow, gets Ram temple replica as gift

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday met at Jantar Mantar here ahead of their roadshow. Modi reached the observatory from Jaipur airport while Macron came to the site after visiting Amber Fort. The two leaders met there and hugged each other. Later, they visited the observatory. Jantar Mantar is one of the oldest astronomical observatories featuring the world's largest stone sundial.

Prez approves 80 gallantry awards, other decorations to Army personnel

President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday approved 80 gallantry awards including six Kirti Chakra and 16 Shaurya Chakra on the eve of the 75th Republic Day. Out of the six Kirti Chakra, three were conferred posthumously, and of the 16 Shaurya Chakra, two posthumously. The Kirti Chakra is India's second highest peacetime gallantry award after Ashok Chakra while the Shaurya Chakra is the third highest peacetime. The Kirti Chakra awardees are Major Digvijay Singh Rawat of 21st Battalion, the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), Major Deependra Vikram Basnet from the Sikh Regiment's fourth battalion and Havildar Pawan Kumar Yadav from the 21st battalion of the Mahar Regiment, according to the defence ministry. Those conferred the award posthumously are Captain Anshuman Singh from the 26th battalion of the Punjab Regiment (Army Medical Corps), Havildar Abdul Majid of the Parachute Regiment's ninth battalion (special forces) and Sepoy Pawan Kumar from the 55th battalion of the Rashtriya Rifle

R-Day eve address: President Murmu speaks on Ram temple, Isro missions

President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday said the Ram temple will be marked in history as "India's continued re-discovery of its civilisational heritage" and as a grand edifice, giving a befitting expression not only of people's faith but also as a testament to people's enormous trust in judicial process. In her address to the nation on the eve of the 75th Republic Day, the president spoke on various issues including the welfare schemes initiated by the government and said it will be a proud day for the nation when it will be among those countries where homelessness "is a rarity". She also touched on the conflicts that have emerged in several parts of the world and stressed at finding a way out in the light of reason. "When each of the two conflicting sides believes that it is right and the other is wrong, the way out should be found in the light of reason. Unfortunately, instead of reason, fears and prejudices have fuelled passions, leading to relentless violence. There have been a ...

Arvalo faces obstacles as Guatemala's new president to deliver on change

Bernardo Arvalo was sworn in early Monday as Guatemala's new president. Many doubted they would ever see the day as powerful interests aligned against his anti-corruption campaign and authorities threw various legal challenges at him and his party. Arvalo is now president, but those disputes will continue and with little support in Congress he will be hard-pressed to deliver the deep changes in Guatemalan government and society that fuelled his support and a surprise electoral victory. He's considered a political moderate with a background in conflict resolution, skills that should serve him well in Guatemala's current polarization. WHO IS GUATEMALA'S NEW PRESIDENT? Arvalo is the 65-year-old son of former Guatemalan President Juan Jos Arvalo. The elder Arvalo was credited with implementing fundamental protections for workers and spaces for the country's Indigenous population. Bernardo Arvalo was born in Uruguay, where his father was in exile following the ouster in a 1954 CIA-bac

With 40% votes DPP candidate Lai Ching-te wins Taiwan's presidential polls

This marks the historic third-straight victory for the DPP after Tsai Ing-wena completed her two terms as Taiwan President since 2016

Another grand feat accomplished by Isro: Prez Murmu on success of Aditya L1

President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday congratulated ISRO for successfully placing India's first solar observatory Adiyta-L1 into its destination orbit, and said the mission will benefit the entire humanity. "Another grand feat accomplished by ISRO! As part of India's maiden solar mission, Aditya L1, the observatory has been placed in the final orbit and reached its destination at Lagrange Point 1," Murmu said in a post on 'X'. "Congratulations to the entire Indian scientist community for the great achievement! This mission will enhance our knowledge of the Sun-Earth System and benefit the entire humanity," she added. Murmu also said that the significant participation of women scientists in ISRO missions "takes women empowerment too onto a higher orbit". The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday placed Adiyta-L1 into its destination orbit Lagrange Point 1. The Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system is about 1.5 million kilometres from the Earth. It is about one

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar takes over as new JD(U) president; Lalan Singh quits

Lalan Singh had earlier denied that he was going to step down from the JD(U) 's top post

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