Vice President

Air Kerala appoints seasoned aviator C S Randhawa as VP for operations

Startup carrier Air Kerala on Wednesday said it has appointed seasoned aviator C S Randhawa as vice-president for operations and aviation security expert Ashutosh Vashishth as vice-president for security. The Kochi-based company, which received the civil aviation ministry's nod to start an airline in July this year, is in the process of securing an air operator certificate from regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation as it prepares for a likely launch early next year. Air Kerala had last month announced the appointment of aviation industry veteran Harish Kutty as its Chief Executive Officer. "We welcome Captain Randhawa and Captain Vashishth to the Air Kerala family. Their unmatched experience and dedication to aviation will undoubtedly strengthen our commitment to safety, security. "We believe in assembling a team of the best minds in the industry, and the addition of these professionals is a testament to our vision of setting new standards in aviation," said Afi Ahmed, ..

US VP debate: Vance refuses to say Trump lost 2020 presidential election

Republican vice presidential candidate J D Vance has refused to acknowledge that Donald Trump lost the 2020 elections, as he evaded a direct reply on whether the former president would seek to challenge this year's election results even if these were certified in every state. Senator Vance of Ohio came face to face with his Democratic rival Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Tuesday in the only vice presidential debate of this election cycle. The debate comes just over a month before the crucial US presidential elections when the country will choose between Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Trump as the next leader. In reference to the January 6, 2021 insurrection, Vance did not give a clear answer when asked if Trump would again challenge election results this year even if every governor certifies the results. "Look, what President Trump has said is that there were problems in 2020, and my own belief is that we should fight about those issues, deba

Trump, Harris campaigns claim victories after fierce arguments in VP debate

The Trump and Harris campaigns have claimed victories in the vice-presidential debate as their running mates, Senator J D Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, battled fiercely in a live televised debate wherein they tried to convince their fellow Americans to support, vote and elect them. But unlike the presidential debate, this one lacked high-clash moments. The only vice-presidential debate was hosted by CBS News in New York. As the two vice presidential candidates concluded the 90-minute debate, Walz patted Vance on the side of his arm, and Vance gave Walz a pat on the back. Usha, wife of the US Senator from Ohio gave Vance a warm hug. Vance then introduced Usha to the moderators. Thank you guys for hosting, he said. The Walzes also chatted with the moderators. I think it was a good debate. The public got to see a contrast, and I think the ending sums it up. The democracy issue is important, Walz told reporters after the couple picked pepperoni pizza from Justino's pizza in t

India no longer a sleeping giant; its rise unstoppable, says VP Dhankhar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday said India was no longer a "sleeping giant", emphasising that the country's ascent is now unstoppable. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating a digital tower at Ramdeobaba University in Nagpur, Dhankhar asserted that education is service and not commerce. "The quality of education defines democracy," he said. Dhankhar further said middlemen had been removed permanently from the corridors of power, which had been infested with corruption earlier. Referring to the International Day of Democracy, the vice president said artificial intelligence was a tool for good governance. "India was earlier called a sleeping giant which is no longer the case. India is on the rise. Its rise is unstoppable," Dhankhar added.

Do you back Rahul's demand of removing 50% cap on reservations: Cong to VP

Hitting back at Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar for his apparent attack at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on reservation, the Congress on Sunday asked Dhankhar if he supports the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha's demand of removal of 50 per cent cap on reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs. The opposition party's jibe came after Dhankhar said, "A person from a constitutional post saying on a foreign land that reservation should be ended underscores the same anti-constitutional mindset. The baton of prejudices against reservation has been handed over. It is the same old anti-constitutional mindset." "Reservation is not against meritocracy, but it is the soul of the country and the Constitution. It is an affirmative action and not negative. It is not depriving someone of opportunity but hand holding those who are pillars of strength of the society," the vice president said addressing a public event in Mumbai. Reacting to the remarks, Congress' media and publicity department head Paw

Trump cites Hungary's Orbn as example of foreign solidarity during debate

Former President Donald Trump made room during his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris to express the mutual admiration he shares with Viktor Orbn, the autocratic leader of Hungary who has cosied up with Russia and China and became a thorn in the side of his allies. They call him a strongman. He's a tough person, smart, Trump said of Orbn in response to Harris' assertion that world leaders are laughing at the former president. Look, Viktor Orbn said it. He said, The most respected, the most feared person is Donald Trump. We had no problems when Trump was president,' Trump said. Why is Orbn popular with conservatives? Orbn, a right-wing populist and the European Union's longest-serving leader, has become an icon to some US conservatives for championing what he calls illiberal democracy, which includes some of the EU's harshest restrictions on immigration and LGBTQ+ rights. He has also cracked down on the press and judiciary in the formerly Communist Central European country an

India's first civilian space tourist Thotakura meets Vice-President Dhankar

Gopichand Thotakura made history by becoming the second Indian citizen to travel to space, and first space tourist

Sitting vice prez, candidate of change: How Harris is having it both ways

She's the sitting vice president who has been in office for 3 1/2 years. She's also the presidential candidate of just five weeks promising a new way forward. Kamala Harris is having it both ways as she hits the campaign trail after the Democratic National Convention, taking credit for parts of President Joe Biden's record in rallies staged in front of Air Force Two while casting herself as a new leader who rails against the politics of the past." In every presidential cycle candidates run on experience or freshness, but Harris so far appears to be successfully harmonizing two seemingly competing messages, much to the frustration of former President Donald Trump and his allies. She has this powerful and unique and interesting advantage that we have never seen before in our politics, said Patrick Gaspard, CEO of the Democratic-leaning think tank Center for American Progress Action Fund and a former executive director of the Democratic National Committee under President Barack ...

Africa's natural resources, demographic advantage attract investors: V-P

Africa's natural resources, demographic advantage and growing economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area make it an attractive destination for investments, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Wednesday. He also said that India's new-age digital technologies and its space programme offer huge opportunities for Africa to increase cooperation with India. "Africa's natural resources, demographic advantage and growing economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area make it an attractive destination for investments," Dhankhar said. He was addressing CII's India-Africa Business Conclave here. He added that India's Duty-Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) scheme offers enormous opportunities for mutual development. The vice president said that resurgent Africa and rising India can give a strong impetus to south-south cooperation specially in areas like clean technology, climate-resilient agriculture, maritime security, and connectivity. "India

Kamala will be a great president who we'll all be proud of: Husband

Kamala Harris will be a great president who entire America will be proud of, her husband Douglas Emhoff has said, as he talked about her strong character and empathy as well as their personal life to make a strong pitch for her. Emhoff, 59, introduced himself as the first-second gentleman to the cheering crowd at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night. Emhoff highlighted their family and how he met Harris on the second day of the four-day convention in Chicago. He said that his wife rises to the occasion wherever she's needed and has done that for their family. And now that the country needs her, she's showing you what we already know. She is ready to lead, Emhoff said. Harris' stepson, Cole Emhoff, introduced his father in a video message. Both Cole and Doug Emhoff's participation highlights what Harris often describes as her blended family. Hello to my big, beautiful blended family up there. I love you so much, he said at the beginning of his remarks. He gave insi

Some put political interest above national interest: Vice President Dhankar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar on Saturday said here that some people in the country have put their political interest above the national interest and wished that wisdom would prevail on them. The Vice President expressed hope that such people would take counsel from the supreme sacrifices made for achieving freedom for our country. Some people in the country for reasons which are not appropriate have put their political interest above national interest. Let us hope and pray they get wiser, said Dhankar, addressing a Swarna Bharat Trust meeting at Venkatachalam in Nellore district. Dhankar's remarks came a day after he expressed concern that a person holding a constitutional position is asking the Supreme Court to take suo-motu cognisance to give wings to a narrative aimed at destroying our economy. The Vice President comments were seen as an apparent attack on Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. He noted that the freedom achieved through supreme sacrifices should be .

Need to come out of silos of seductive civil service jobs: V-P Dhankhar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday expressed concern over the "seductive" draw of the civil services, urging the aspirants to look for "lucrative" opportunities in other fields. Dhankhar made the observation while addressing the induction programme of the first batch of joint masters/LLM degree in Intellectual Property (IP) Law and Management at National Law University, Delhi. "...Now, I find the extravaganza of coaching centre advertisements overall in the newspapers... page one, page two, page three are filled up with faces of boys and girls who have made it. The same faces are being used by multiple organisations," the vice president said. "Look at the extravaganza of these advertisements, the cost, every penny of that advertisement has come from those young boys and girls who are in pursuit of securing a future for themselves," he added. The vice president asked the youths to look around for opportunities in other fields as well. "The time has come, let us come out of t

Need to come out of silos of seductive civil service jobs: Dhankhar

Pointing to the "extravaganza of coaching centre advertisements" in newspapers, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday expressed concern over the "seductive" draw of the civil services, urging them to look for "lucrative" opportunities in other fields. Dhankhar was addressing the induction programme of the first batch of joint masters/LLM degree in Intellectual Property (IP) Law and Management at National Law University, Delhi. "...Now, I find the extravaganza of coaching centre advertisements overall in the newspapers... page one, page two, page three are filled up with faces of boys and girls who have made it. The same faces are being used by multiple organisations," the vice president said. "Look at the extravaganza of these advertisements, the cost, every penny of that advertisement has come from those young boys and girls who are in pursuit of securing a future for themselves," he added. The vice president asked the youth to look around for opportunities in other fields as

Celebration of ideals of liberty, equality, fraternity: V-P on I-Day

The Vice-President in his message called the countrymen to commit themselves to the lofty values upheld by the freedom movement

Some people unable to digest India's fast pace of development: V-P Dhankhar

In an apparent swipe at the opposition over its demand for a JPC probe into Hindenburg Research's allegations, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday said India is developing at a "nuclear speed" but some people want to "bring instability", and are take randomly surfaced issues as authentic. The remarks came as the opposition stepped up its attack on the government over Hindenburg's allegations against SEBI chairperson Madhabi Buch, with the Congress warning of a nationwide stir if a JPC probe is not initiated. The BJP has dismissed the demand as a "sham" aimed at undermining the Indian economy Dhankhar, who flagged off a 'Tiranga Bike Rally' from Bharat Mandapam, as part of 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign, said in his address that "Fellow citizens, our pace of development is such that we are moving ahead at a nuclear speed. Some people are unable to digest it, they want to bring obstruction and instability". "They think that if India keeps moving at this place them it will definite

Scindia attacks Oppn on Dhankhar-Jaya face-off; says must apologise to V-P

Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia on Sunday demanded that the Opposition apologise to Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Jagdish Dhankhar, referring to a spat between the chair and Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan. Dhankhar and Jaya Bachchan on Friday locked horns after the actor-politician accused him of speaking to her in the Upper House in an unacceptable tone inviting an angry retort that he can't be schooled. The vice president also said even a celebrity has to follow the House decorum. The Opposition had then walked out calling the matter disrespect to democracy and Constitution. Responding to a question here about the face-off, Scindia said the way the Rajya Sabha chairman has been treated is very sad. He is not only the Speaker of the House but also the Vice President of the country. Every person in the Opposition should apologise for this behaviour. This is not an insult of the Speaker of the House and Vice President but of the Constitution and ou

V-P expresses concern over narrative of B'desh unrest taking place in India

Taking strong exception to some remarks by a few Congress leaders comparing the situation in Bangladesh with India, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday said efforts by some to infuse a narrative that what happened in our neighbourhood is bound to happen in our country is deeply concerning. "How can a citizen of this country having been a Member of Parliament, and the other who has seen enough of Foreign Service takes no time in saying that what happened in the neighbourhood will happen in India," Dhankhar said while addressing the legal fraternity here at a platinum jubilee function of the Rajasthan High Court. "Efforts by some to infuse a narrative that what happened in our neighbourhood is bound to happen in our Bharat, is deeply concerning," he said. Though Dhankhar did not name anyone, he was apparently referring to the recent remarks by senior Congress leaders Salman Khurshid and Mani Shankar Aiyar. At a recent event, Khurshid had said what is happening in Bangladesh c

Dhankhar vs Jaya: Walkout over VP's tone, he says Constitution disrespected

Uneasy relations between Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and opposition parties on Friday erupted in a heated exchange between the chair and Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan, leading to a walkout by opposition parties and Dhankhar calling it "disrespect to democracy and constitution". The cine star objected to the "tone" in which Dhankhar addressed her as well as switching off the mike of Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, triggering a heated exchange. The Chairman, who is also the Vice President of India, said he can't be "schooled" and that Bachchan "may be anybody... a celebrity" but she has to observe decorum. As Dhankhar refused to allow her or any one from the opposition to speak, INDIA bloc parties staged a walkout, which was slammed both by the chair and the treasury benches. Leader of the House and Union Minister J P Nadda called the opposition behaviour "highly indecent and irresponsible". Trouble broke when the Congress MPs sought an apology from BJP memb

US elections: Veteran, author to Trump's bold VP choice - Who is JD Vance?

JD Vance joins Donald Trump as running mate: From his veteran background, Christian belief to 'childless cat ladies' comment, here is all you need to know about Ohio's junior senator

Parliament highlights: Centre tables bill to reserve seats for Scheduled Tribes in Goa Assembly

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha highlights: Here are the latest updates on the developments in the Parliament