Electors will gather in state capitols to confirm Biden’s victory even as president Trump continues, without evidence, to dispute result
- Violence flares as far-right Trump supporters clash with counter-protesters
- Suspected Russian hackers spied on US federal agencies
- Covid vaccines roll out of Pfizer plant in US
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10.24am GMT
The US will hold a climate summit of the world’s major economies early next year, within 100 days of Joe Biden taking office, and seek to rejoin the Paris agreement on the first day of his presidency, in a boost to international climate action.
Leaders from 75 countries met without the US in a virtual Climate Ambition Summit co-hosted by the UN, the UK and France at the weekend, marking the fifth anniversary of the Paris accord. The absence of the US underlined the need for more countries, including other major economies such as Brazil, Russia and Indonesia, to make fresh commitments on tackling the climate crisis.
Related: US to hold world climate summit early next year and seek to rejoin Paris accord
10.15am GMT
Donald Trump’s decision not to immediately make a statement by taking the Covid vaccine certainly muddies the message from his administration, which is due to roll out a massive pro-vaccine advertising campaign imminently to attempt to counter public mistrust. Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Michael D. Shear report for the New York Times that:
The Building Vaccine Confidence campaign, overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services, will unfold in an atmosphere of hope as vaccinations begin. The celebrity component — which was to include the actor Dennis Quaid and the country singer Billy Ray Cyrus — was scrapped after an inquiry by House Democrats prompted Alex M. Azar II, the health secretary, to order an internal review of the plan.
The new initiative will take a “science-based approach,” said Mark Weber, the federal health official who is running it, and will begin this week with a first wave of advertisements in print, social media and radio, with television advertising added when the vaccine becomes more broadly available.
Continue reading…Electors will gather in state capitols to confirm Biden’s victory even as president Trump continues, without evidence, to dispute resultViolence flares as far-right Trump supporters clash with counter-protestersSuspected Russian hackers spied on US federal agenciesCovid vaccines roll out of Pfizer plant in USSign up to receive First Thing – our daily briefing by email 10.24am GMTThe US will hold a climate summit of the world’s major economies early next year, within 100 days of Joe Biden taking office, and seek to rejoin the Paris agreement on the first day of his presidency, in a boost to international climate action.Leaders from 75 countries met without the US in a virtual Climate Ambition Summit co-hosted by the UN, the UK and France at the weekend, marking the fifth anniversary of the Paris accord. The absence of the US underlined the need for more countries, including other major economies such as Brazil, Russia and Indonesia, to make fresh commitments on tackling the climate crisis. Related: US to hold world climate summit early next year and seek to rejoin Paris accord 10.15am GMTDonald Trump’s decision not to immediately make a statement by taking the Covid vaccine certainly muddies the message from his administration, which is due to roll out a massive pro-vaccine advertising campaign imminently to attempt to counter public mistrust. Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Michael D. Shear report for the New York Times that:The Building Vaccine Confidence campaign, overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services, will unfold in an atmosphere of hope as vaccinations begin. The celebrity component — which was to include the actor Dennis Quaid and the country singer Billy Ray Cyrus — was scrapped after an inquiry by House Democrats prompted Alex M. Azar II, the health secretary, to order an internal review of the plan.The new initiative will take a “science-based approach,” said Mark Weber, the federal health official who is running it, and will begin this week with a first wave of advertisements in print, social media and radio, with television advertising added when the vaccine becomes more broadly available. Continue reading…