WORLD
Senate confirms Antony Blinken as Secretary of State with mission to redirect US diplomacy
At his Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing last week, he laid out his agenda: "We'll engage the world, not as it was, but as it is. A world of rising nationalism, receding democracy, growing rivalry with China, Russia, and other authoritarian states, mounting threats to a stable and open international system, and a technological revolution that is reshaping every aspect of our lives, especially in cyberspace."
Huge relief for spouses of H1B workers, Biden nixes Trump plan to kill H4 work permits
On text messages, chat groups and online threads, the outpouring of relief played out online on Tuesday evening. "Great news! Hopefully, H4EAD delays will be ending soon which is leading to a long wait for dependent spouses," tweeted Rashi Bhatnagar.
UN ready to support Palestinian elections: Envoy
In his first briefing to the Council, the senior Norwegian diplomat said the elections will be a crucial step towards unity in the region, the Xinhua news agency reported. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree earlier this month announcing that parliamentary and presidential elections will be held starting in May, marking the first vote across the Occupied Territories in 15 years.
Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin speak over phone on arms control, Ukraine
The White House said in a statement that Biden and Putin discussed both countries' willingness to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) for five years, agreeing to have their teams work urgently to complete the extension by February 5, the Xinhua news agency reported.
Global Covid-19 cases surpass 100mn: Johns Hopkins University
The US reported the most cases and deaths around the world, which stood at 2,53,62,794 and 4,23,010, respectively. India recorded 1,06,76,838 cases, ranking second in the world. Brazil followed with 88,71,393 cases and the world's second-largest death toll of 217,664, the Xinhua news agency reported.
Xi Jinping expresses support to Moon for denuclearisation
It said Xi delivered the comments during his phone talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday. During the talks, Moon said he hopes Seoul and Beijing can work together to open a trilateral summit between the two countries along with Japan, Yonhap reported, citing Seoul's presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae.
Democrats fight off challenge to Donald Trump trial, may lack votes to convict
The Senate voted 55 to 45 on Tuesday in the body evenly divided between the parties to quash the attempt to stop Trump's second impeachment trial on constitutional grounds. Even though the vote was successful, it was 12 short of the 67 votes -- the two-thirds majority -- showing that Democrats may not have the votes they would need to eventually convict Trump.
Antony Blinken, Joe Biden's pick for Secretary of State, gets Senate nod
Blinken, who was National Security Adviser to Biden when he was Vice President to President Barack Obama, got 78 votes for and 22 against. He also had served in the Obama administration as the Deputy Secretary of State, Assistant to the President (in Obama's first term) and Principal Deputy National Security Adviser.
UK coronavirus-related death toll tops 1,00,000
The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 1,00,162, the data showed. Britain is the first European nation and the fifth country in the world to pass the grim landmark of 1,00,000 deaths, following the US, Brazil, India and Mexico, the Xinhua news agency reported.
Guterres calls for non-violence, respecting peaceful protests
"As we say (in) many of these cases, I think it's important to respect peaceful protests, freedom of assembly and non-violence," his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday in reply to a question about the Delhi violence during the protests.
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