- GSA declares Biden apparent winner, clearing way for the formal transition
- Trump continues to contest election as ‘corrupt’ and ‘fake’
- Biden picks first women and first Latino for key cabinet roles
- Former Fed chair Yellen set to become first female treasury secretary
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9.19am GMT
President-elect Joe Biden is set to formally introduce his national security team to the nation later today, building out a team of Obama administration alumni that signals his shift away from the Trump administration’s “America First” policies and a return to US engagement on the global stage.
The picks for national security and foreign-policy posts include former secretary of state John Kerry to take the lead on combating climate change. Kerry and several other people set to join the upcoming administration will be discussed by Biden and vice President-elect Kamala Harris during a Tuesday afternoon event.
9.14am GMT
Some news from Reuters here, that a Russian warship caught the US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain operating illegally in Russia’s territorial waters in the Sea of Japan, but chased it off, according to reports from Russia’s defence ministry.
Moscow said that the Admiral Vinogradov, a Russian destroyer, had verbally warned the US ship and threatened to ram it in order to force it to leave the area. The US ship had immediately returned to neutral waters after being warned off, the defence ministry said in a statement.
Continue reading…GSA declares Biden apparent winner, clearing way for the formal transitionTrump continues to contest election as ‘corrupt’ and ‘fake’Biden picks first women and first Latino for key cabinet rolesFormer Fed chair Yellen set to become first female treasury secretarySign up to receive First Thing – our daily briefing by email 9.19am GMTPresident-elect Joe Biden is set to formally introduce his national security team to the nation later today, building out a team of Obama administration alumni that signals his shift away from the Trump administration’s “America First” policies and a return to US engagement on the global stage.The picks for national security and foreign-policy posts include former secretary of state John Kerry to take the lead on combating climate change. Kerry and several other people set to join the upcoming administration will be discussed by Biden and vice President-elect Kamala Harris during a Tuesday afternoon event. 9.14am GMTSome news from Reuters here, that a Russian warship caught the US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain operating illegally in Russia’s territorial waters in the Sea of Japan, but chased it off, according to reports from Russia’s defence ministry.Moscow said that the Admiral Vinogradov, a Russian destroyer, had verbally warned the US ship and threatened to ram it in order to force it to leave the area. The US ship had immediately returned to neutral waters after being warned off, the defence ministry said in a statement. Continue reading…