Washington, Jan 22: The Biden administration has moved quickly to remove a number of senior officials aligned with former President Donald Trump from the Voice of America and the agency that oversees all US-funded international broadcasting.
The actions address fears that the US Agency for Global Media was being turned into a pro-Trump propaganda outlet. The agency announced on Thursday that VOA's director and his deputy had been removed from their positions and that the head of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting had resigned.
The moves come just a day after President Joe Biden was sworn in and demanded the resignation of Trump's hand-picked CEO of USAGM, Michael Pack. The agency said in a statement that VOA director Robert Reilly had been fired just weeks after having taken the job.
He had been harshly criticized just last week for demoting a VOA White House correspondent who tried to ask former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo a question after a town hall event. Two agency officials familiar with the matter said Reilly and his deputy, Elizabeth Robbins, were escorted from VOA's headquarters by security guards.
The officials were not authorised to discuss personnel matters and spoke on condition of anonymity. In addition, Jeffrey Shapiro, who was just recently appointed to run Cuba-focused broadcasters Radio and TV Marti, resigned at the request of the new administration, they said.
Pack, who appointed all three of those terminated on Thursday, resigned just hours after Biden was inaugurated. Soon after his resignation, the Biden White House announced that a veteran VOA journalist, Kelu Chao, would head USAGM on an interim basis.
Pack created a furor when he took over the agency last year and fired the boards of all the outlets under his control along with the leadership of the individual broadcast networks. The actions were criticised as threatening the broadcasters' prized editorial independence.
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Jan 21, 2021, 10:41 PM IST
The micro-blogging site, Twitter cleared out all followers from the @POTUS and @WhiteHouse accounts after US President Biden was sworn in on Wednesday, rather than moving the accounts' current followers over to the new administration. According to The Verge, Twitter had said in December that the accounts for @VP, @FLOTUS, @PressSec, @Cabinet, and @LaCasaBlanca would also have their followers wiped.
Jan 21, 2021, 10:41 PM IST
Former US presidents Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Obama have recorded a rare joint video through which they sent their wishes to President Joe Biden while rooting for his success in leading the country out of the challenges faced by it.
Jan 21, 2021, 10:40 PM IST
US President Joe Biden will issue an executive order on Thursday directing agencies to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) and other powers to speed up the manufacturing of testing and vaccine supplies and other items needed to fight COVID-19 in the country.
Jan 21, 2021, 10:40 PM IST
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, known for fiery retorts against the US, welcomed Biden's first moves to join the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organisation (WHO) which was trashed by Trump as a puppet of China over its conduct to deal with the COVID-19.
Jan 21, 2021, 10:40 PM IST
A visibly relieved China on Thursday warmly congratulated new US President Joe Biden and urged him to heal and rebuild the severely damaged bilateral ties by his predecessor Donald Trump.
Jan 21, 2021, 4:15 PM IST
In a first phone call with a foreign leader since his inauguration as the 46th President of the US, Joe Biden will speak to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, according to the White House.
Jan 21, 2021, 3:47 PM IST
French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Biden and said, "To @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris [US Vice President]. Best wishes on this most significant day for the American people! We are together. We will be stronger to face the challenges of our time. Stronger to build our future. Stronger to protect our planet. Welcome back to the Paris Agreement."
Jan 21, 2021, 3:38 PM IST
US President Joe Biden's decision to re-join the Paris Agreement has been welcomed worldwide including by the United Kingdom, France and Japan.
Jan 21, 2021, 1:25 PM IST
World leaders said they were looking forward to working with Joe Biden, as they welcomed the 46th President of the United States with praise and took parting shots at his predecessor Donald Trump.
Jan 21, 2021, 12:52 PM IST
NASA chief Jim Bridenstine has officially stepped down from his role as the administrator of the US space agency, as Joe Biden takes the presidents office.
Jan 21, 2021, 11:17 AM IST
President Joe Biden's administration announced plans Wednesday for a temporary moratorium on oil and gas leasing in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge after the Trump administration issued leases in a part of the refuge considered sacred by the Indigenous Gwich'in.
Jan 21, 2021, 9:51 AM IST
US President Joe Biden has reversed the US process of withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Jan 21, 2021, 9:22 AM IST
It was unclear until Wednesday whether Trump would maintain the tradition of outgoing presidents leaving notes for their successors, after he opted to skip Biden's inauguration and never formally congratulated him on his election win.
Jan 21, 2021, 9:19 AM IST
President Joe Biden said Wednesday that outgoing president Donald Trump had left him a "very generous" letter in the Oval Office, in keeping with tradition. "The president wrote a very generous letter," Biden told reporters at the White House.
Jan 21, 2021, 8:18 AM IST
The Senate has voted to confirm Avril Haines to be director of national intelligence, making her President Biden's first Cabinet-level official to receive Senate confirmation. The vote was 84-10.
Jan 20, 2021, 11:33 PM IST
Canada PM Justin Trudeau congratulates US President Joe Biden on his inauguration
Congratulations, @JoeBiden, on your inauguration as the 46th President of the United States. Our two countries have tackled some of history’s greatest challenges together - and I’m looking forward to continuing this partnership with you, @KamalaHarris, and your administration.
There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face, tweets Biden
There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face. That's why today, I am heading to the Oval Office to get right to work delivering bold action and immediate relief for American families.
"I am heading to the Oval Office to get right to work delivering bold action and immediate relief for American families," tweets US President Joe Biden.
Jan 20, 2021, 11:12 PM IST
Joe Biden's inauguration has just ended.
Jan 20, 2021, 11:06 PM IST
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden led a moment of silent prayer for those who have died due to coronavirus.
Jan 20, 2021, 11:05 PM IST
Kamala Harris' twitter bio was changed from US vice president elect to Vice President of the United States.
Jan 20, 2021, 11:05 PM IST
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson congratulated new US President Joe Biden following his inauguration, saying he "looks forward" to working with him on "issues that matter to us all".
Jan 20, 2021, 10:56 PM IST
"We are striving to form a union with purpose," Gorman said.
"While we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us," she said.
Jan 20, 2021, 10:55 PM IST
Amanda Gorman, the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate addressed the inauguration on Wednesday.
Jan 20, 2021, 10:53 PM IST
Today, we mark the swearing-in of the first woman in American history elected to national office, Vice President Kamala Harris. Don't tell me things can't change: US President Joe Biden
Jan 20, 2021, 10:51 PM IST
Country music star Garth Brooks performed "Amazing Grace" following President Joe Biden's inaugural address.
Jan 20, 2021, 10:45 PM IST
Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this: bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation: US President Joe Biden
Jan 20, 2021, 10:45 PM IST
I know forces that divide us are deep & they are real. But I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between American ideal that we're all created equal & harsh ugly reality that racism, nativism,fear, demonization have long torn us apart:US President
Joe Biden pledged to be a "president for all Americans," including those who did not support his campaign at his inauguration address.
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Jan 18, 2021, 1:16 pm IST
ABC News will present live coverage of Joe Biden's inauguration on Jan. 20.
Jan 18, 2021, 1:16 pm IST
Per the Twentieth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Inauguration Day is set for January 20 every four years -- that's a Wednesday in 2021.
Jan 18, 2021, 1:17 pm IST
The outgoing president's term ends at noon local time on the 20th. Biden is expected to take the oath of office at noon Eastern time.
Jan 18, 2021, 1:20 pm IST
The theme of this year's inauguration is "America United," an issue that's long been a central focus for Biden but one that's taken on added weight in the wake of the violence at the U.S. Capitol earlier this month.
Jan 18, 2021, 1:58 pm IST
The Presidential Inaugural Committee said that the theme "reflects the beginning of a new national journey that restores the soul of America, brings the country together, and creates a path to a brighter future.
Jan 18, 2021, 2:20 pm IST
Donald Trump is expected to leave the White House in the morning of the inauguration day.
Jan 18, 2021, 3:06 pm IST
The inauguration ceremony of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be telecasted LIVE on almost all major US news channels and their respective social media streaming platforms.
Jan 18, 2021, 4:26 pm IST
The celebrations had already pivoted to be mostly viewed online due to concerns from the coronavirus pandemic, with public health officials requiring masks, temperature checks and social distancing for anyone participating.
Jan 18, 2021, 5:30 pm IST
Kolam, a traditional Indian art form of drawing geometric patterns on the floors as a sign of welcome, was part of the virtual kick-off ceremony of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and his deputy Kamala Harris, who traces her origin to Tamil Nadu where these auspicious designs adore almost every household.
Jan 18, 2021, 5:31 pm IST
The initial idea was to have these kolam patterns from across the country in front of the White House as a symbol of good beginning to the new administration. The Washington DC police later gave the organizers permission to have it near the Capitol Hill, around the inauguration venue.
Jan 18, 2021, 6:07 pm IST
Ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Wednesday, the American capital has been virtually turned into a garrison city, amidst multiple reports of threats and more armed violence by pro-Trump supporters to disrupt the so.
Jan 18, 2021, 6:15 pm IST
In the aftermath of last week''s Capitol riots, Washington D.C. is preparing for the scaled down inauguration of the 46th US President with extreme security measures - closing roads, erecting barbed wire fences and deploying more than 25,000 National Guards along with thousands of local police personnel and those from other security agencies.
Jan 18, 2021, 6:21 pm IST
The area in and around Capitol Hill, a large part of Pennsylvania Avenue and the White House has been made out of bounds for the general public with eight-feet high iron barricades being erected.
Jan 18, 2021, 6:34 pm IST
US Marshals are deploying 4,000 officers to Washington DC. Major parts of the majestic National Mall, which during the inauguration is usually thronged by thousands of people, have been closed off.
Jan 18, 2021, 6:42 pm IST
The entire city is on high-alert as authorities are receiving multiple reports of violent threats from various groups at the level of the incident that happened on January 6 -- when hundreds of supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump stormed Capitol Hill, disrupting the constitutional process of certification of electoral college votes.
Jan 18, 2021, 6:52 pm IST
The unprecedented violence forced hundreds of lawmakers to take shelter at safe locations within the iconic building amidst vandalism by the mob. At least five people, including a police officer, died in the incident.
Jan 18, 2021, 6:59 pm IST
Despite the heightened security concerns, Biden plans to go ahead with the inauguration ceremony in its traditional location.
Jan 18, 2021, 7:00 pm IST
In addition to converting downtown Washington D.C. into a fortress, security in and around 50 State Capitols has also been put on high alert to ensure a peaceful transition of power.
Jan 18, 2021, 8:28 pm IST
“I think this will be an inauguration unlike any other. It was already destined to be, given COVID concerns and some of the limited seating and public access. But having our fellow Americans storm the Capitol in an attempt to overthrow the government certainly warrants heightened security,” Mayor of Washington DC, Muriel Bowser, told NBC News.
Jan 18, 2021, 8:29 pm IST
US President-elect Joe Biden on Monday named Indian-American Rohit Chopra as the head of a federal agency tasked with protecting the interests of consumers financials.
Jan 18, 2021, 9:33 pm IST
Participants in a rehearsal for President-elect Joe Biden''s inauguration were evacuated from the West Front of the Capitol on Monday on orders of security officials after a fire in a homeless encampment, officials said.
Jan 18, 2021, 9:33 pm IST
Those who had gathered for a walk-through, including a military band, were directed to head indoors and moved in the directed of a secure location inside the Capitol complex.
Jan 18, 2021, 9:34 pm IST
People involved in the rehearsal said security officials yelled "this is not a drill."
Jan 18, 2021, 9:39 pm IST
United State: US Capitol on lockdown, no entry or exit due to external security threat, reports Reuters quoting witness
Jan 18, 2021, 10:38 pm IST
The Capitol Hill, the complex comprising of US Congress and its buildings, was briefly put under lockdown on Monday due to "an external security treat", local police said after a fire was reported a few blocks away.
Jan 19, 2021, 12:03 am IST
Capitol Police ordered lockdown during inauguration rehearsal in abundance of caution after nearby fire, no public threat.
Jan 19, 2021, 12:04 am IST
"Public safety and law enforcement responded to a small fire in the area of 1st and F streets SE, Washington, D.C. that has been extinguished. Out of an abundance of caution the U.S. Capitol complex was temporarily shutdown. There is no threat to the public," it posted.
Jan 19, 2021, 8:20 am IST
21,500 National Guardsmen convene in nation’s capital ahead of inauguration
Jan 19, 2021, 8:29 am IST
Wall Street hit record levels on Thursday as market participants bet on more coronavirus relief aid under a Democrat-controlled US Congress to help the economy ride out a steep pandemic-induced downturn.
Jan 19, 2021, 8:45 am IST
Kamala Harris announces resignation from Senate seat in op-ed
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