News for 'Presidential Office'

Kamala Harris sworn in as America's first woman vice president

Kamala Harris sworn in as America's first woman vice president

Rediff.com20 Jan 2021

Harris, the daughter of an Indian immigrant from Chennai, scripted history by becoming the first-ever woman Vice President of the United States. She is also the first female, first Black and first South Asian American vice president.

Republican Kevin McCarthy elected as House Speaker

Republican Kevin McCarthy elected as House Speaker

Rediff.com7 Jan 2023

Republican Kevin McCarthy was elected as the new speaker of the United States House of Representatives in a dramatic post-midnight ballot on Saturday, after days of intense negotiations and a series of humiliating defeats to finally capture the gavel on a historic 15th attempt.

Bottles hurled at OPS as AIADMK meet throws weight behind rival Edappadi

Bottles hurled at OPS as AIADMK meet throws weight behind rival Edappadi

Rediff.com23 Jun 2022

Amid chaos, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general council meeting in Chennai on Thursday rejected all the 23 proposed resolutions and announced that the one and only demand of the GC members is to bring in a system of a single leadership for the party, favouring joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS).

Violence erupts in Washington after Trump supporters' march

Violence erupts in Washington after Trump supporters' march

Rediff.com15 Nov 2020

Thousands of people had turned up in the US capital on Saturday to show support to Trump and protest against the results of the presidential elections.

'Dark day for country': Indian-American lawmakers on violence at US Capitol

'Dark day for country': Indian-American lawmakers on violence at US Capitol

Rediff.com7 Jan 2021

'This is a dark day for our country'

From Lincoln to Trump: A look at inaugurations past

From Lincoln to Trump: A look at inaugurations past

Rediff.com18 Jan 2021

From when James Buchanan was sworn in in 1857 to Donald Trump in 2017.

Meet America's new vice president: Kamala Harris

Meet America's new vice president: Kamala Harris

Rediff.com7 Nov 2020

Kamala Harris is now the first woman, the first Black American and the first Asian American to hold the country's second highest office, and is now in a strong position to run for the top job four years from now.

DOTUS: Bidens to bring back dogs to White House

DOTUS: Bidens to bring back dogs to White House

Rediff.com15 Nov 2020

Trump presidency was the first in more than 100 years not to feature a "first dog". Neither President Trump nor his wife Melania owned any pets.

Furore over 'Rashtrapatni' remark reignites gender debate

Furore over 'Rashtrapatni' remark reignites gender debate

Rediff.com28 Jul 2022

In the last 75 years, there have been multiple calls for a gender-neutral term for the head of the State and debates over it.

Pranab, Modi, Demonetisation

Pranab, Modi, Demonetisation

Rediff.com8 Nov 2022

'Modi had not discussed demonetization with me prior to his announcement on 8 November 2016. 'I learnt of it along with the rest of the country. 'I was not surprised when he did not discuss the issue with me prior to making the public announcement. 'It fitted in with his style of making dramatic announcements.' A fascinating excerpt from Pranab Mukherjee's The Presidential Years: 2012-2017.

Kamala Harris's first thought on Biden's VP call: 'My mother'

Kamala Harris's first thought on Biden's VP call: 'My mother'

Rediff.com15 Sep 2020

Harris recounted how she and her team got a call that Biden wanted to talk and then got another call where she was told Biden wanted to do a zoom call. She described how she went in "our little makeshift office" and then when the call started Biden immediately asked her to join the ticket. After referring to her mother, Harris also described how husband Doug Emhoff's ear was on the door outside the room listening in on the call. Eventually Jill Biden and Emhoff joined the call with Biden and Harris.

TN govt revokes ban on Shaivite math's 'palanquin' event after protests

TN govt revokes ban on Shaivite math's 'palanquin' event after protests

Rediff.com8 May 2022

The revocation comes a day after heads of 4 Shaivite maths called on Chief Minister MK Stalin in Chennai and following an outcry against the ban by devotees, the Bharatiya Janata Party and Hindu outfits.

Contest for Cong prez post on cards 2 decades after Sonia trumped Jitendra Prasada

Contest for Cong prez post on cards 2 decades after Sonia trumped Jitendra Prasada

Rediff.com20 Sep 2022

The party last saw a contest for the post in November 2000 when Jitendra Prasada had lost to Sonia Gandhi.

Mahinda resigns as Sri Lanka PM, nationwide curfew imposed

Mahinda resigns as Sri Lanka PM, nationwide curfew imposed

Rediff.com9 May 2022

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on Monday, hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters outside embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office, leaving at least 78 people injured and prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy army troops in the capital.

'Make Rahul president again' chorus grows louder in Congress

'Make Rahul president again' chorus grows louder in Congress

Rediff.com19 Sep 2022

The 'Make Rahul Gandhi All India Congress Committee president again' chorus is growing louder in the Congress with half a dozen state units so far seeking his elevation to the top post, even as uncertainty and suspense persisted over whether he would take on the mantle.

Trump or Biden? It's D-Day for America

Trump or Biden? It's D-Day for America

Rediff.com3 Nov 2020

Americans will give their final verdict, either giving incumbent Donald Trump another four years or bestowing reins to Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden.

Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as Lanka's new president

Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as Lanka's new president

Rediff.com21 Jul 2022

Wickremesinghe is the first Sri Lankan president to be elected by Parliament following a vote.

Is Imran Khan's Exit Imminent?

Is Imran Khan's Exit Imminent?

Rediff.com24 Mar 2022

No prime minister in Pakistan's recent history has survived long in office after appointing an ISI chief who did not have the army chief's confidence. Imran may be no exception, observes Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at the Research and Analysis Wing.

Sri Lankan minister resigns over death threat to Tamil prisoners

Sri Lankan minister resigns over death threat to Tamil prisoners

Rediff.com15 Sep 2021

Sri Lanka's Minister of State for Prisons Management Lohan Ratwatte tendered his resignation on Wednesday, days after he allegedly threatened to kill Tamil prisoners during his visit to the Anuradhapura prison.

PIX: Unseen photos reveal George W Bush's response to 9/11 attacks

PIX: Unseen photos reveal George W Bush's response to 9/11 attacks

Rediff.com12 May 2016

Previously unseen photographs of then-US President George W. Bush during 9/11 have been released.

How Did TN BJP Chief Own A Rafale Watch?

How Did TN BJP Chief Own A Rafale Watch?

Rediff.com28 Dec 2022

If Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai bought it in 2015, did he get prior approval from the Union home ministry, and did he include it in his annual wealth returns, sections of the media want to know. N Sathiya Moorthy on the curious case of the 'Rafale' watch.

Prez poll to be held on July 17, counting on July 20

Prez poll to be held on July 17, counting on July 20

Rediff.com7 Jun 2017

The term of President Pranab Mukherjee ends on July 24.

US Senate begins impeachment trial against Trump

US Senate begins impeachment trial against Trump

Rediff.com11 Feb 2021

Led by Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin, a battery of his party colleagues from the House of Representatives alleged that Trump incited his supporters for violence on January 6 as they stormed the Capitol Hill wherein Congressmen and Senators were performing their constitutional duty of counting and certification of the November 3rd presidential election results.

Lanka crisis: PM Mahinda Rajapaksa proposes to amend Constitution

Lanka crisis: PM Mahinda Rajapaksa proposes to amend Constitution

Rediff.com19 Apr 2022

A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office on Monday said that Mahinda Rajapaksa intends to propose a new Constitutional Amendment to the cabinet in order to fulfil the people's aspirations.

Are Donald and Melania Trump heading for a split?

Are Donald and Melania Trump heading for a split?

Rediff.com9 Nov 2020

A former White House aide has claimed that the couple's 15-year marriage is over and that Melania is "counting every minute until he is out of the office and she can divorce."

Twitter suspends 70K QAnon accounts in wake of Capitol riots

Twitter suspends 70K QAnon accounts in wake of Capitol riots

Rediff.com12 Jan 2021

The social media giant confirmed in a blog post that it has removed the accounts as part of an effort following the riot last week "to protect the conversation on our service from attempts to incite violence, organise attacks, and share deliberately misleading information about the election outcome."

The 3 BIG reasons behind Biden-Harris' historic win

The 3 BIG reasons behind Biden-Harris' historic win

Rediff.com8 Nov 2020

After nearly 50 years in public office, and a lifetime of presidential ambitions, Joe Biden has captured the White House. In his third try for the presidency, Biden and his team found a way to navigate the political obstacles and claim a victory that, while narrow in the electoral college tally, is projected to surpass Trump's overall national total by millions of votes.

Ex-Barcelona coach Setien to sue club over contract

Ex-Barcelona coach Setien to sue club over contract

Rediff.com18 Sep 2020

Setien's complaint piled yet more pressure on president Josep Maria Bartomeu less than an hour after a group seeking his removal announced they had gathered enough signatures to force a vote of no-confidence against him.

Biden appoints an all-women communications team

Biden appoints an all-women communications team

Rediff.com30 Nov 2020

US President-elect Biden has a history of advocating on behalf of women in the US and around the world and the new team announcement is a continuation of that work.

20 Indian-Americans in Biden administration, 17 at key WH positions

20 Indian-Americans in Biden administration, 17 at key WH positions

Rediff.com17 Jan 2021

It is also for the first time ever that so many Indian-Americans have been roped into a presidential administration ever before the inauguration. Biden, a Democrat, is still quite far away from filling all the positions in his administration.

PIX: President Kovind takes a train

PIX: President Kovind takes a train

Rediff.com25 Jun 2021

President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita Devi on Friday boarded a special train from Safdarjung railway station in New Delhi for his native place in Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

Congress's Adhir's 'Rashtrapatni' remark sparks uproar in Parl

Congress's Adhir's 'Rashtrapatni' remark sparks uproar in Parl

Rediff.com28 Jul 2022

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's 'rashtrapatni' remark snowballed into a major political row on Thursday with the Bharatiya Janata Party accusing the opposition party of insulting President Droupadi Murmu and demanding that Congress chief Sonia Gandhi should apologise to the nation.

Pak SC adjourns hearing on rejection of no-trust vote

Pak SC adjourns hearing on rejection of no-trust vote

Rediff.com4 Apr 2022

A larger bench of the apex court -- comprising Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail -- took up the matter after Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri rejected the move to dislodge the prime minister by declaring the no-trust motion unmaintainable due to its link with a so-called foreign conspiracy.

'2024 elections won't be Kharge vs Modi'

'2024 elections won't be Kharge vs Modi'

Rediff.com21 Oct 2022

'If the Congress gets to form the government in 2024, then Sonia Gandhi by virtue of being CPP chairperson will have the authority to decide who will be the prime minister and not Kharge.'

Kharge defeats Tharoor in historic Cong prez poll, to take charge on Oct 26

Kharge defeats Tharoor in historic Cong prez poll, to take charge on Oct 26

Rediff.com19 Oct 2022

Mallikarjun Kharge was on Wednesday elected the Congress president after defeating Shashi Tharoor in an electoral contest, the sixth in the party's 137-year-old history.

Tharoor lost Cong prez poll but score many political points

Tharoor lost Cong prez poll but score many political points

Rediff.com19 Oct 2022

Amid questions over his future, many political observers believe he has enhanced his political stature.

Prashant Kishor says no party for now, announces 3,000 km Bihar padyatra

Prashant Kishor says no party for now, announces 3,000 km Bihar padyatra

Rediff.com5 May 2022

Kishor held out the possibility of Jan Suraaj metamorphosing into a political party at a latter stage.

Sri Lankan Oppn agrees to form all-party interim government

Sri Lankan Oppn agrees to form all-party interim government

Rediff.com10 Jul 2022

Sri Lanka's main Opposition parties on Sunday agreed to form an all-party interim government after the anticipated resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday, following unprecedented political turmoil that forced him and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to offer their resignations over the mishandling of the nation's crippling economic crisis.

Biden: No cause to worry for India

Biden: No cause to worry for India

Rediff.com12 Nov 2020

Washington might occasionally make some noises about alleged human rights violations and related issues but commonality of interests will only see the Indo-US ties grow stronger, observes Virendra Kapoor.

N Rangasamy sworn-in as Puducherry CM, no BJP in cabinet

N Rangasamy sworn-in as Puducherry CM, no BJP in cabinet

Rediff.com8 May 2021

All India NR Congress leader N Rangasamy was sworn in as the chief minister of Puducherry at a brief ceremony held at the Raj Nivas here on Friday and will lead a coalition government of Bharatiya Janata Party members in his cabinet.