Latest news with #Buddhism
Khaleej Times
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Miss World 2025 contestants visit Buddhist heritage site in India
Contestants of the 72nd Miss World Festival from the Asian and Oceanic regions marked the Buddha Purnima festival by visiting Buddhavanam, a renowned Buddhist heritage site at Nagarjunasagar in the south Indian state of Telangana. The heritage tour aims to highlight Telangana's rich history and diverse cultural heritage to offer the contestants the region's profound spiritual and historical legacy. The day's itinerary included a stopover at a guest house near Chintapalli, followed by a photo session at Vijay Vihar, set against the Nagarjunasagar reservoir. The contestants then proceeded to Buddhavanam, the Buddhist theme park developed on the northern bank of the Krishna river, spanning 279 acres. This project, taken up by the Telangana Government as part of an integrated Buddhist Circuit, is designed to showcase the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha. The site features intricately carved structures, including the Mahastupa, known for its breathtaking drum and dome carvings, and a virtual hanging sky with lotus petals, offering a mesmerising experience. Dr Shivanagi Reddy, a representative of the state's Archaeology and Tourism Department, emphasised the historical and architectural significance of the site, stating, "Buddhavanam is a testament to India's ancient Buddhist heritage and its role in spreading the message of peace and compassion across the world," the official said. "It's a privilege to share this rich history with the world through the Miss World pageant." The contestants explored the Buddhacharitha Vanam, depicting the life of Buddha, Jataka Park, which highlights stories from Buddha's previous lives, Dhyana Vanam for meditation, and the Stupa Vanam, home to the imposing Maha Stupa, before visiting the Buddhist Heritage Museum, which houses ancient relics and sculptural panels depicting key events from Buddha's life. The visit concluded with a theatrical performance by 18 artists, capturing key episodes from the life of the Buddha. Julia Morley CBE, chairman and CEO of the Miss World Organisation, expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome.
1News
13 hours ago
- Business
- 1News
Trump gives Elon Musk an Oval Office sendoff
President Donald Trump bid farewell to Elon Musk in the Oval Office on Saturday, providing a cordial conclusion to a tumultuous tenure for the billionaire entrepreneur. Musk is leaving his position spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency, and he'll be rededicating himself to running his businesses, including electric automaker Tesla, rocket company SpaceX and social media platform X. Trump credited Musk with 'a colossal change in the old ways of doing business in Washington" and said some of his staff would remain in the administration. Musk, who wore all black, including a T-shirt that said 'The Dogefather', nodded along as the president listed contracts that had been cut under his watch. 'I think the DOGE team is doing an incredible job," Musk said after accepting a ceremonial key from the president. "They're going to continue to be doing an incredible job.' He left a searing mark on the federal bureaucracy, including thousands of employees who were fired or pushed out. Some government functions were eviscerated, such as the US Agency for International Development, which had provided a lifeline for impoverished people around the world. Boston University researchers estimate that hundreds of thousands of people have already died as a result of the USAID cuts. ADVERTISEMENT Despite the upheaval, Musk also fell far short of his goals. After promising to cut $1 trillion (NZ$1.6 trillion) or even US$2 trillion (NZ$3.3 trillion) in federal spending, he lowered expectations to only US$150 billion (NZ$251 billion) in the current fiscal year. It's unclear whether that target has been hit. The DOGE website tallies US$175 billion (NZ$293 billion) in savings, but its information has been riddled with errors and embellishments. Trump said Musk had led the 'most sweeping and consequential government reform effort in generations". He suggested that Musk is 'really not leaving' and 'he's going to be back and forth' to keep tabs on what's happening in the administration. Musk, the world's richest person, recently said he would reduce his political donations. He was Trump's top donor in last year's presidential campaign. Trump appeared eager to end Musk's service on a high note. 'This will be his last day, but not really, because he will, always, be with us, helping all the way," Trump wrote on social media on Friday. "Elon is terrific!" As a special government employee, Musk's position was designed to be temporary. However, he had speculated about staying 'indefinitely', working part-time for the administration, if Trump still wanted his help. Musk has brushed off questions about how DOGE would continue without him, even suggesting it could 'gain momentum' in the future. 'DOGE is a way of life,' he told reporters recently. 'Like Buddhism.'
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
DOGE slashes over $5 million by cutting thousands of unused software licenses
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) saved over $5 million a year after discovering several agencies paid for far more software than they were actually using. For example, the IRS was paying for 3,000 licenses for software but only used 25. Once DOGE discovered the waste, it cut the remaining 99% of the licenses. "Agencies often have more software licenses than employees, and the licenses are often idle (i.e. paid for, but not installed on any computer)," DOGE wrote in a post on X. "These audits have been continuously run since first posted in February." The Department of Labor slashed 68% of unused "project planning" software licenses, DOGE noted, and the Securities and Exchange Commission cut 78% of the remote desktop software programs it was paying for after finding the commission was only using 22% of the programs. Top 5 Most Outrageous Ways The Government Has Wasted Your Taxes, As Uncovered By Elon Musk's Doge According to DOGE, the three changes saved over $5 million a year. Read On The Fox News App DOGE raised a red flag in February that agencies were paying for more software licenses than employees when it shared a post about the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). With 13,000 employees, GSA was paying for 37,000 licenses for WinZip, a program used to archive and compress files. Doge's Greatest Hits: Look Back At The Department's Most High-profile Cuts During Trump's First 100 Days The agency also pays for 19,000 training software subscriptions, 7,500 project management software seats for a division with only 5,500 employees and three different ticketing systems. The most recent post comes as billionaire Elon Musk steps down as the face of DOGE. While DOGE was tasked with cutting $2 trillion from the budget, its efforts led to roughly $175 billion in savings due to asset sales, contract cancellations, fraud payment cuts and other ways to eliminate costs, according to an update on DOGE's website. Musk Says Doge Set To Top $150B In Fraud Savings In Fy 2026 The savings translate to about $1,087 in per taxpayer, the website notes. Musk told reporters in the Oval Office Friday the savings will continue to build, and he is confident total cuts will amount to $1 trillion in the coming years. "The DOGE influence will only grow stronger," Musk said. "I liken it to a sort of person of Buddhism. It's like a way of life, so it is permeating throughout the government. And I'm confident that, over time, we'll see $1 trillion of savings, and a reduction in $1 trillion of waste, fraud reduction." Fox News Digital's Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this article source: DOGE slashes over $5 million by cutting thousands of unused software licenses
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
‘I'll remain a friend and advisor': Musk steps down, pledges support to Trump, DOGE team
Elon Musk reflects on ending his short-term government role tied to the Doge team, praising its success in reducing waste and fraud by over $160Bn, aiming for $1T in savings. He compares Doge to a lifestyle like Buddhism and vows ongoing support. Musk also praises President Trump for revamping the Oval Office, calling it majestic. He plans to remain an advisor and supporter of both the Doge mission and the president's vision. Show more Show less
North Wales Chronicle
20 hours ago
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Trump gives Elon Musk an Oval Office send-off
Mr Musk is leaving his position spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency, and he will be rededicating himself to running his businesses, including electric carmaker Tesla, rocket company SpaceX and social media platform X. Mr Trump credited Mr Musk with 'a colossal change in the old ways of doing business in Washington' and said some of his staff would remain in the administration. Mr Musk, who wore all black including a T-shirt that said 'The Dogefather', nodded along as the president listed contracts that had been cut under his watch. 'I think the Doge team is doing an incredible job,' Mr Musk said after accepting a ceremonial key from the president. 'They're going to continue to be doing an incredible job.' He left a searing mark on the federal bureaucracy, including thousands of employees who were fired or pushed out. Some government functions were eviscerated, such as the US Agency for International Development, which had provided a lifeline for impoverished people around the world. Boston University researchers estimate that hundreds of thousands of people have already died as a result of the USAID cuts. Despite the upheaval, Mr Musk also fell far short of his goals. After promising to cut one trillion or even two trillion dollars in federal spending, he lowered expectations to only 150 billion dollars in the current fiscal year. It is unclear whether that target has been hit. The Doge website tallies 175 billion dollars in savings, but its information has been riddled with errors and embellishments. Mr Trump said Mr Musk had led the 'most sweeping and consequential government reform effort in generations'. He suggested that Mr Musk is 'really not leaving' and 'he's going to be back and forth' to keep tabs on what is happening in the administration. Mr Musk had a bruise next to his right eye in the Oval Office, which he explained by saying he had been 'horsing around' with his young son. 'I said, go ahead punch me in the face,' he said. 'And he did.' Mr Musk, the world's richest person, recently said he would reduce his political donations. He was Mr Trump's top donor in last year's presidential campaign. Mr Trump appeared eager to end Mr Musk's service on a high note. 'This will be his last day, but not really, because he will, always, be with us, helping all the way,' Mr Trump wrote on social media on Thursday evening. 'Elon is terrific!' As a special government employee, Mr Musk's position was designed to be temporary. However, he had speculated about staying 'indefinitely', working part time for the administration, if Mr Trump still wanted his help. Mr Musk has brushed off questions about how Doge would continue without him, even suggesting it could 'gain momentum' in the future. 'Doge is a way of life,' he told reporters recently. 'Like Buddhism.'
