Joe Biden

During his confirmation hearing in Congress, the former US Central Command chief was asked on how he would enhance the overall defence relationship between the US and India and what priorities would he establish.

Ever since Biden’s victory was confirmed in Presidential elections held in November 2020, the former US vice president has at least once, called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both the leaders could talk again soon as the newly appointed American President looks to repair diplomatic relations with the countries after former President Trump’s withdrawal policies.

In written answers to questions from the Senate Armed Forces Committee, he said that he would "further operationalise India's 'major defence partner' status and continue to build upon existing strong defense cooperation to ensure the US and Indian militaries can collaborate to address shared interests

Addressing reporters on Wednesday shortly after Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' inauguration, press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters: "I expect they will certainly discuss the important relationship with Canada as well as (Biden's) decision on the Keystone pipeline that he announced today."

The move came as new US President Joe Biden is expected to remain tough on China but has expressed committment to international cooperation after Trump's "America First" approach. Beijing also sanctioned former Trump national security advisor John Bolton and former senior advisor Steve Bannon.

Oil industry groups and Republicans in the US opposed the move, arguing it would result in job losses and put energy security at risk, Xinhua news agency. But environmental groups and Democrats praised Biden's decision, arguing the Keystone XL project would worsen climate change.

It was very unclear whether Donald Trump would maintain the tradition of outgoing presidents leaving notes for their successors, after he opted to skip Biden's inauguration. Trump broke 152 years of tradition by refusing to attend his successor's inauguration.

President Biden is expected to pick a woman to fill the NASA administrator role, which has only been occupied by men since the agency's founding in 1958. A Trump appointee and a Republican himself, Bridenstine, spent his final days as administrator make last push for the ambitious Artemis programme, that will land the first woman and next man on the lunar surface by 2024.

Hours earlier, Donald Trump left the White House, four years after his "American carnage" speech, and by noon, it was a return to traditions smashed by Trumpism. Taken together, Lady Gaga's rendition of the national anthem, via a golden mic and Jennifer Lopez's medley of "This Land is Your Land" and "America the Beautiful" spoke to a very un-Trumpian vision of America, barely two weeks after white supremacists stormed the US Capitol.

The church service was closed to the media, but a pool reporter who was allowed into the before mass began reported that fellow-Catholic Nancy Pelosi as well as others belonging to other Christian sects like Republican Party's House of Representatives leader Kevin McCarthy, and Democrat Senate Leader Chuck Schumer, who is Jewish were also at the church.