PoliticsThe IndependentTrump says he ‘will never concede’ and transition process has nothing to do with election result
Having come closer than ever to accepting the 2020 election results on Monday night, by officially launching the transition process, Donald Trump again took to Twitter in the small hours of Tuesday to insist that he “will never concede”. The president reiterated his unsubstantiated claims that the 3 November vote had been “the most corrupt election”, saying he will keep challenging the result in court and hitting out at “fake ballots and 'Dominion'” - a reference to a brand of voting machines. Twitter once again flagged the post almost immediately as “disputed”, hiding it with a warning from people's feeds.
- WorldReuters
Russia chases off U.S. warship in row over waters in Sea of Japan
Russia said on Tuesday one of its warships caught and chased off a U.S. destroyer operating illegally in its territorial waters in the Sea of Japan, but the U.S. Navy denied wrongdoing by its vessel and accused Moscow of making excessive maritime claims. The Admiral Vinogradov, a Russian destroyer, verbally warned USS John S. McCain, a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer, and threatened to ram it in order to force it to leave the area, prompting it to return to neutral waters, Moscow said.
WorldReutersTwo blasts kill seven in Syrian rebel-held northwest near Turkish border
Two bomb blasts killed at least seven people and wounded scores on Tuesday in areas of northwest Syria near the Turkish border and under heavy Turkish influence, witnesses and police sources said. A few hours later, at least two civilians was killed and 17 wounded in a car blast in the city of Afrin, a mainly Kurdish area which Turkish forces and their Syrian allies took from the Kurdish YPG militia in 2018. The two cities, which Turkey administers with the help of Syrian Arab rebels it backs, have in the last year been frequently hit by bombings detonated in crowded civilian areas.
PoliticsAssociated PressTrump aims to box in Biden abroad, but it may not work
In recent weeks, the White House, State Department and other agencies have been working overtime to produce new policy pronouncements on Iran, Israel, China and elsewhere that aim to lock in Trump's vision for the world. Some have attracted significant attention while others have flown largely under the radar. And, while Biden could reverse many of them with a stroke of the pen, some will demand the time and attention of his administration when it comes into power with a host of other priorities that perhaps need more urgent attention.
- WorldReuters
Turkey, Russia at odds over Turkish military post in Azerbaijan - source
Turkey and Russia are at odds over Ankara's wish to set up an independent military observation post on Azeri territory, a Turkish source said, after the two agreed this month to monitor a ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Turkey and Russia have already agreed to set up a joint centre in the region to monitor the Nov. 10 ceasefire, which ended weeks of fighting between Azerbaijan's troops and ethnic Armenian forces in the enclave. Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but is populated by ethnic Armenians.
HealthBBCCovid: 'Entire families in hospital after coronavirus surge'
On 14 October, Farah Husain, a critical care specialist in Delhi's largest Covid-19 hospital, heaved a sigh of relief. Doctors fear that Delhi may well become the epicentre of India's first wave of winter infections. Delhi is now recording more cases a day than any state.
PoliticsThe Daily BeastRush Limbaugh Does Full 180, Blasts Sidney Powell After Team Trump Disavowed Her
Rush Limbaugh fully reversed course on Monday, trashing the Trump legal team's unhinged press conference detailing baseless election-fraud conspiracies just days after praising attorney Sidney Powell—whom the Trump team has since disavowed—for dropping “bombs all over the place.” Over the weekend, after Powell claimed millions of votes were stolen from President Donald Trump by corrupted software, Powell gave an off-the-rails interview to Newsmax TV in which she expanded her bonkers conspiracy to include Georgia's Republican governor and secretary of state being bribed.
WorldAssociated PressOfficials: Roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan kills 14
Roadside bombs exploded in central Afghanistan on Tuesday killing at least 13 civilians and a traffic policeman, officials said, even as government negotiators and the Taliban meet to try to end decades of war. Tariq Arian, spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said 45 people were also wounded in a late afternoon blast in Bamiyan city in Bamiyan province. Several shops and vehicles were destroyed or damaged.
- WorldReuters
Teen who left UK to join IS should not be allowed back, Supreme Court told
A British-born woman who went to Syria as a schoolgirl to join Islamic State should not be allowed to return to Britain to challenge the government taking away her citizenship because she poses a security risk, the UK's top court heard on Monday. Shamima Begum, who was born to Bangladeshi parents, left London in 2015 when she was 15 and went to Syria via Turkey with two schoolfriends. In Syria, she married an Islamic State fighter and lived in Raqqa, the capital of the self-declared caliphate, where she remained for four years until she was discovered in a detention camp.
EntertainmentArchitectural DigestClever’s 2020 Gift Guide Is Here and It Just Wants You to Have a Nice Time
We rounded up a mix of gifts that help others, keep folks healthy, and add a little something-something to the home Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
PoliticsThe Daily BeastRoger Stone-Tied Group Threatens GOP: If Trump Goes Down, So Does Your Senate Majority
Conservative operatives and a super PAC with ties to infamous GOP dirty trickster Roger Stone are calling for Trump supporters to punish Republicans by sitting out Georgia's crucial Senate runoffs or writing in Trump's name instead. And though their efforts remain on the party's fringes, the trajectory of the movement has Republicans fearful that it could cost the GOP control of the Senate. The most aggressive call to boycott or cast protest ballots in the two runoff races has, so far, come from a dormant pro-Trump super PAC with ties to Stone that unveiled a new initiative to retaliate against the Republican Party's supposed turncoats by handing Democrats control of the U.S. Senate.
- PoliticsReuters Videos
Tigrayan forces 'destroy' Ethiopian army division
Forces in Tigray claim to have "completely destroyed" an Ethiopian army division, while the government says many Tigrayan soldiers are surrendering. It's a conflict where claims are difficult to verify, but what can be said is that tens of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee and global powers are increasingly expressing alarm. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's troops have made advances since the violence began three weeks ago but the local TPLF says they're keeping federal forces at bay.
WorldAssociated PressUS charities raise millions in wake of Beirut port blast
When Manal Saab heard that a massive explosion had struck Beirut, she grabbed her phone, frantically trying to reach loved ones there. The news she received was good: Her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, both of whom live not far from the Lebanese capital's port that was devastated by the Aug. 4 blast, were vacationing at the time. “Otherwise, they wouldn't have survived it,” said Saab, an American citizen who lives in Fenton, Michigan, near Flint, but was born in Lebanon.
WorldReutersHungary imposes restricted shopping hours to protect elderly in pandemic
Hungary's government on Monday limited retail store visits in an effort to separate elderly shoppers and contain the coronavirus pandemic in the most vulnerable over-65 age group. "This government decree serves the protection of the elderly," Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in a Facebook video. Hungary has tried for months to avoid a second lockdown and prevent further harm to the economy but was forced to close secondary schools and impose an 8 p.m.-5 a.m curfew.
PoliticsUSA TODAYPresident-elect Biden seeks a diverse Cabinet. Here's who will join his administration and who might be top contenders
Her served as chief of staff to vice presidents Biden and Al Gore and headed the White House response to the Ebola epidemic in Africa during the Obama administration. A close confidant of Biden, Klain had long been rumored for the post even before the election. In a statement, Biden said Klain's "deep, varied experience and capacity to work with people all across the political spectrum is precisely what I need in a White House chief of staff as we confront this moment of crisis and bring our country together again."
PoliticsThe IndependentTrump worried Giuliani and legal team are ‘fools making him look bad’, report says
President Donald Trump is reportedly worried that he is being embarrassed by his campaign legal team, led by his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who have been unsuccessful in a string of cases challenging the results of the US election. Three weeks after the vote on 3 November, Mr Trump continues to complain about widespread irregularities without providing evidence, and his campaign has brought cases across several key swing states. Now, according to NBC News, the president is worried that his campaign's legal team is made up of “fools” whose failures and outlandish press appearances are “making him look bad”, a source said.
WorldReutersJapan and China to continue communications on East China Sea, Japan says
Japan and China agreed on Tuesday to continue communications on issues around the East China Sea where the two countries are in dispute, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said. Motegi made the comment after a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Tokyo. At a joint press briefing, Wang said he would like to make the East China Sea "the sea of peace" through cooperation with Japan.
PoliticsBusiness InsiderBiden team is reportedly pushing congressional Democrats to strike an immediate stimulus deal with Republicans to stave off a renewed recession
President-elect Joe Biden's economic advisors fear another recession is looming, The New York Times reported. The impasse over another stimulus package and the prospect of millions of people losing unemployment benefits are leading them to press congressional Democrats to pass another aid package very quickly, The Times said. President-elect Joe Biden's economic advisors are reportedly pressing congressional Democrats to quickly strike a stimulus deal with Republicans, fearing the US is on course for a recession as virus cases surge and a new aid package remains elusive.
WorldBBCPakistan opposition seeks end to Imran Khan's 'puppet' rule
Opposition parties in Pakistan are keeping up the pressure on Imran Khan, holding a series of mass protests against his government. The PM, who came to power on an anti-corruption platform, has said the campaign is aimed at blackmailing him to drop corruption cases against opposition leaders. Pakistan's powerful military denies interfering in politics and Mr Khan rejects claims it helped him win.
PoliticsAssociated PressWhite House still planning holiday parties, despite warnings
All those warnings from public health officials begging Americans to limit gatherings this holiday season amid a surge in coronavirus cases aren't stopping the White House from planning a host of festivities and holiday parties in the midst of a pandemic. Monday's delivery of an 18-and-a-half-foot tall Fraser fir by horse-drawn carriage signaled the kickoff of the usual array of White House holiday events that will include the annual turkey pardon and Christmas and Hanukkah events. Attending the parties will be a very personal choice,” said Stephanie Grisham, first lady Melania Trump's spokeswoman and chief of staff, referring to the plans.
BusinessThe Daily BeastElon Musk Becomes World’s Second Richest Man, Knocking Bill Gates Into Third
Musk narrowly leapfrogged Gates, whose fortune is said to be $127.7 billion, on the Bloomberg chart following a further massive surge in Tesla's share price, occasioned by news of the company being selected to join the S&P 500 index of leading U.S. companies a week ago. This saw the 49-year-old's net worth rise by $7.2 billion. Incredibly, Musk's wealth, which is intimately linked to the Tesla share price, has soared by more than $100 billion this year, making him by far the biggest gainer on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which lists the world's 500 richest people.
- PoliticsFOX News Videos
Graham: Democratic Senate would mean 'end of checks and balances'
Senate Judiciary Committee chairman discusses the importance of the Georgia Senate runoff races.
PoliticsReutersTaiwan says is having 'good interactions' with Biden team
Taiwan has been having "good interactions" with U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's team, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday, as it seeks to cement ties with the incoming administration after getting strong support from President Donald Trump's government. Claimed by China but democratically ruled, Taiwan enjoyed unprecedented backing from Republican Trump's administration, including stepped-up arms sales and visits by top officials to Taipei. The election of Biden, a Democrat, has caused some unease in Taiwan, where Trump remains a popular figure amongst the public.
HealthBusiness InsiderThe creator of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine is a mom to triplets. Her children participated in the trial.
AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford announced Monday that their COVID-19 vaccine was 70% effective on average. Sarah Gilbert, the vaccine's creator, had faith in its efficacy from the start; her triplets participated in the UK trial. The pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca received some long-awaited good news on Monday: The company's coronavirus vaccine, developed in partnership with the University of Oxford, was found to be 70% effective on average in late-stage clinical trials with more than 20,000 volunteers in the UK and Brazil.
WorldAssociated PressChina tests millions after coronavirus flare-ups in 3 cities
Chinese authorities are testing millions of people, imposing lockdowns and shutting down schools after multiple locally transmitted coronavirus cases were discovered in three cities across the country last week. As temperatures drop, large-scale measures are being enacted in the cities of Tianjin, Shanghai and Manzhouli, despite the low number of new cases compared to the United States and other countries that are seeing new waves of infections. Many experts and government officials have warned that the chance of the virus spreading will be greater during the cold weather.
“Donald Trump defeated Donald Trump.”
“The victory was a vindication of a style of American politics that many feared was gone forever.”
“Mr. Biden’s victory — and Mr. Trump’s defeat — is a testament to the resilience of American democracy.”
“Trump’s 2020 reelection bid was doomed by his boorish behavior. Time and again, he refused to act like a president.”
“Biden took the opportunity to unite the Democratic Party.”