While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Nov 14, 2024
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US President-elect Donald Trump (left) shaking hands with US President Joe Biden during his Nov 13 visit to the White House.
PHOTO: AFP
‘Welcome back’: Trump, Biden shake hands at White House
Joe Biden welcomed Donald Trump back to the White House on Nov 13, in a show of civility to a bitter rival who failed to extend him the same courtesy four years ago.
The US president and president-elect shook hands in front of a roaring fire in the Oval Office as they pledged a smooth transition - a stark contrast to Trump’s refusal to recognise his 2020 defeat.
“Welcome back,” Mr Biden, 81, said as he congratulated the 78-year-old Trump and offered brief opening remarks to the man he has repeatedly branded a danger to democracy.
Mr Biden, who dropped out of the election in July but saw his successor, Ms Kamala Harris, lose to Trump last week, said he was “looking forward to having a smooth transition” and pledged to do “everything we can to make sure you’re accommodated.”
Republicans complete power takeover with US House majority
The Republican Party has won a majority in the US House of Representatives, media projected on Nov 13, completing their clean sweep of Congress, which will hand President-elect Donald Trump vast legislative power.
After more than a week of vote counting, CNN and NBC projected that the Republicans had reached the 218 seats needed to retain their majority in the 435-seat lower chamber, having already secured control over the Senate.
“It is a beautiful morning in Washington. It is a new day in America,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, who held a press conference to celebrate victory on Nov 12 before the result was official.
Ukraine ‘cautiously optimistic’ on deep strikes into Russia
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Nov 13 he was “cautiously optimistic” after discussing with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken the possibility of conducting deep strikes on Russia as well as Euro-Atlantic integration.
Kyiv has long been lobbying for Western allies to allow long-range attacks on military targets inside Russia, while also pressing for an invitation to join the Nato alliance.
Allies including the United States have been unwilling to permit long-range attacks for fear of further escalating the conflict, and some are opposed to inviting Ukraine to join Nato.
Fight for climate money at COP29 ‘humiliating’: Yunus
Bangladesh’s interim leader, Dr Muhammad Yunus, on Nov 13 slammed the “humiliating” fight over money for poorer countries at the COP29 summit, demanding richer nations pay for the problem they caused.
“I think that’s very humiliating, for nations to come and ask for money to fix... (the) problem that others caused for them,” the Nobel Peace Prize laureate told AFP, in an interview on the sidelines of the UN climate talks in Azerbaijan. “Why should we be dragged here to negotiate? You know the problem.”
Nations are hoping to land a deal at COP29 significantly raising funding for climate action in developing nations like Bangladesh, which are least responsible for global warming but most at its mercy.
LIV Golf adds events in South Korea, Indiana to 2025 schedule
LIV Golf is adding events in South Korea and the Indianapolis area to its 2025 schedule.
The league announced on Nov 13 tournaments to be played at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea and at The Club at Chatham Hills in Westfield, Indiana.
“LIV Golf is growing across the globe in new and returning markets, and our 2025 schedule is a testament to that,” said Greg Norman, LIV Golf commissioner and chief executive officer.
