India’s Modi sworn in as PM for third term, faces coalition challenges
New Delhi, India Reuters Narendra Modi was sworn in as India’s Prime Minister on Sunday for a third term, after a shock election setback that will test his ability to ensure policy certainty in a coalition government in the world’s most populous nation. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Modi at a […]
Putin sworn in for new term in ceremony boycotted by US
Moscow, Russia Reuters President Vladimir Putin was sworn in for a new six-year term on Tuesday at a Kremlin ceremony that was boycotted by the United States and other Western countries at which he said he was potentially open to nuclear talks with the West. Putin, in power as president or prime minister since 1999, […]
US, most EU nations to boycott Putin’s inauguration over Ukraine war
Paris, France/London, UK Reuters The United States and most European Union nations will boycott a Kremlin ceremony to swear in Vladimir Putin for a new six-year term as president on Tuesday, but France and some other EU states were expected to send an envoy despite a plea by Kyiv. The varying diplomatic response by the […]
Congolese President Tshisekedi sworn in for second term after disputed vote
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo Reuters Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in for a second five-year term on Saturday after a landslide victory his opponents have refused to recognise due to widespread irregularities over the December general election. Authorities have acknowledged there were issues but dismissed allegations the vote was stolen. […]
Guatemala’s liberal new leader faces huge obstacles to anti-graft drive
Guatemala City, Guatemala Reuters Guatemala’s new leftist President, Bernardo Arevalo, took office on Monday after a tortuous delay that underlined the uphill struggle he faces to meet high expectations and enact a sweeping anti-graft agenda in opposition-controlled Congress. Arevalo, the Central American country’s most liberal leader in years, powered to victory in August, vowing to […]
Lula takes reins of Brazil, slams Bolsonaro’s anti-democratic threats
Brasilia, Brazil Reuters Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in as Brazil’s President on Sunday, delivering a searing indictment of far-right former leader Jair Bolsonaro and vowing a drastic change of course to rescue a nation plagued with hunger, poverty and racism. In a speech to Congress after officially taking the reins of Latin […]
In the US, Biden inauguration priest resigns as president of Jesuit university
California, US RNS Rev Kevin O’Brien, a Jesuit priest who presided over an inaugural Mass for President Joe Biden, has resigned as president of Santa Clara University in Northern California after university officials said he engaged in behaviors “inconsistent” with Jesuit protocols. O’Brien’s resignation comes about two months after the Jesuits USA West Province placed […]
US Christian author and speaker Jen Hatmaker apologises for line in inaugural prayer critiqued as erasing Native Americans
RNS Jen Hatmaker was “proud” to offer the final prayer in the liturgy for the inaugural interfaith prayer service Thursday hosted virtually by the Washington National Cathedral. The popular Christian author, speaker and podcaster has also apologised for it – at least for the first line of the prayer, which began, “Almighty God, you have […]
Biden’s Bible puts him in line with inaugural tradition
Washington DC, US AP Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took their oaths of office on Wednesday using Bibles that are laden with personal meaning, writing new chapters in a long-running American tradition – and one that appears nowhere in the law. The Constitution does not require the use of a specific text for swearing-in ceremonies […]
The storied history of St Matthew’s, the church Biden will attend on Inauguration Day
Washington, DC RNS Hours before he takes the oath of office Wednesday as president, Joe Biden is reportedly slated to attend a worship service at the Cathedral of St Matthew the Apostle, commonly known as St Matthew’s, with a bipartisan group of members of Congress and other politicians in attendance. The decision is something of a break […]