Розділ: Повідомлення
Biden, Harris to Take Office in New US Administration
Joe Biden will be the new U.S. president Wednesday, with Kamala Harris becoming the first woman to serve as vice president when the two are sworn in at noon in an inauguration that has been scaled down due to the coronavirus pandemic. Absent will be the typical crowd of hundreds of thousands of people stretching from the Capitol down the National Mall. In their place, a sea of 200,000 U.S., state and territorial flags representing those who could not attend. Ahead of taking office, Biden has expressed a message of unity, and in particular the need to come together and face the challenges brought by the pandemic that has killed 400,000 people in the United States and caused economic hardship to many. “To heal, we must remember. It’s hard sometimes to remember, but that’s how we heal,” Biden said Tuesday as he and Harris led a remembrance event in front of the Lincoln Memorial for those who have died. Some 400 lights were illuminated around the Reflecting Pool.Joe Biden hosts a memorial to honor those who died from COVID-19, Jan 19, 2020.“It’s important to do that as a nation — that’s why we’re here today. From sunset until dusk, let us shine the lights in the darkness along the sacred pool of reflection and remember all who we lost,” Biden said. He later pledged to “get right to work” after being sworn in, saying, “We don’t have a second to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face as a nation.” Biden and his wife, Jill, and Harris along with her husband, Doug Emhoff, will begin Wednesday attending a church service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington. By the time the service starts, outgoing President Donald Trump is scheduled to be out of the White House on his way to his retreat in Florida. Trump is the first U.S. leader to not attend his successor’s inauguration in more than 150 years. Outgoing Vice President Mike Pence is expected to attend, as are former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, and former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. After the inauguration ceremony, Biden and Harris are scheduled to take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, just outside Washington. Biden, who served eight years as vice president under Obama, then plans to sign a number of executive orders and other presidential actions. His transition team said those would include re-engaging with the World Health Organization, rejoining the Paris climate agreement, reversing Trump’s ban on entry to the United States from several primarily Muslim countries, launching a government effort to advance racial equity in the United States, boosting protections for people who entered the country illegally as minors and challenging Americans to do “their patriotic duty” and wear masks to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Wednesday evening, which is typically filled with extravagant balls on inauguration day, will instead feature a television special called “Celebrating America” during which both Biden and Harris will speak.Preparations ahead of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, in Washington, Jan. 18, 2021.Others taking part in the event include musical artists Katy Perry, Luis Fonsi, Tim McGraw and Lin-Manuel Miranda, along with actors Kerry Washington and Eva Longoria, basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, chef José Andrés, and Kim Ng, the first woman to be general manager of a Major League Baseball team. Authorities have boosted inauguration security with the event coming two weeks after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in a deadly riot as they attempted to disrupt the official counting of Biden’s election win. Harris downplayed personal security concerns Monday, saying she is “very much looking forward to being sworn in.” “I will walk there, to that moment, proudly with my head up and my shoulders back,” she told reporters. U.S. security officials say they are taking every precaution, including FBI security screening of the 25,000 members of the National Guard assigned to Washington to protect the event. Twelve members of the National Guard were removed from inauguration duties Tuesday — at least two were found to have anti-government sympathies, The Washington Post reported. The Post said 10 were removed for reasons that did not involve extremism. The inaugural site is encircled in tall fencing topped with concertina wire, a much more pronounced show of security than has been common at past inaugurations. The House of Representatives last week impeached Trump for a second time, accusing him of inciting insurrection. The start of a trial in the Senate has not been set. If convicted, Trump, the first U.S. president to be impeached twice, could be barred from holding public office again.
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By Polityk | 01/20/2021 | Повідомлення, Політика
Trump Presidency Reaches End
Donald Trump’s four-year term as U.S. president comes to a close Wednesday with a morning departure from the White House and a final flight on Air Force One to the southern state of Florida. He is set to get a sendoff ceremony with a red carpet, military band, a 21-gun salute and an unknown number of guests in attendance. Around the same time the flight lands, Democrat Joe Biden will be sworn in as the country’s new leader, with Trump breaking decades of tradition by not attending the inauguration ceremony. Trump’s future, including any political aspirations, remains uncertain. “I want you to know that the movement we started is only just beginning,” he said in a farewell video message released Tuesday. “There’s never been anything like it. The belief that a nation must serve its citizens will not dwindle but instead only grow stronger by the day.” Trump leaves office under the shadow of becoming the first president in U.S. history to be impeached twice, and an unclear start date for a Senate trial on charges he incited a mob of his supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago. He briefly referenced the assault Tuesday, saying Americans “were horrified” and that political violence “can never be tolerated.”U.S. President Donald Trump departs the White House on travel to Texas, in Washington, Jan. 20, 2021.Trump also listed a number of foreign policy initiatives his administration carried out, including withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and the Paris Climate Accord, negotiating a new trade deal with neighboring Canada and Mexico, and applying tariffs on goods from China. “We reclaimed our sovereignty by standing up for America at the United Nations and withdrawing from the one-sided global deals that never served our interests,” Trump said. “And NATO countries are now paying hundreds of billions of dollars more than when I arrived just a few years ago. It was very unfair.” He called being president an “extraordinary privilege.” In some of his final acts in office, Trump issued pardons and sentence commutations for more than 140 people, including his former campaign chief Steve Bannon. Trump also rescinded an executive order from the early days of his term that banned officials in his administration from lobbying the government for five years after leaving those jobs, or from ever engaging in activities that would require the former official from registering as a foreign agent. The measure was part of his pledge to “drain the swamp,” or root out corruption in Washington.
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By Polityk | 01/20/2021 | Повідомлення, Політика
Водохреще в Україні минуло без надзвичайних подій на водоймах – ДСНС
У Держслужбі з надзвичайних ситуацій повідомили, що свято Водохреще в Україні пройшло без надзвичайних подій на водоймах.
«19 січня в Україні відзначалося Хрещення Господнє – третє й завершальне велике свято різдвяно-новорічного циклу, яке ще називають Йордан, або Водохреща. Традиційно цього дня люди вирушать до водойм, щоб зануритись у крижану воду. Для того, аби уникнути при цьому надзвичайних подій, у кожному регіоні були визначені офіційні місця, де можна було скупатися під наглядом рятувальників, водолазів ДСНС та медиків… Загалом надзвичайних подій, пов’язаних із святкуванням в Україні свята Водохреща не сталося», – йдеться в повідомленні ДСНС.
Напередодні у ДСНС заявляли, що на водоймах країни було встановлено понад 600 рятувальних постів із засобами порятунку людей на воді. Цього дня чергували понад 2 тисячі рятувальників та близько 400 одиниць техніки.
Днями у Православній церкві України назвали міфом твердження, що масові хрещенські купання є давньою українською традицією. Представники духовенства заявили, що в українського народу такої традиції, пов’язаної зі святом Богоявлення, не було, вказавши, що деякі історики пов’язують такий звичай з Росією.
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By Gromada | 01/20/2021 | Повідомлення, Суспільство
СКУ відзначив «потужність» Союзу українців у Великій Британії з нагоди 75-річчя організації
У Світовому конгресі українців вказали на вагомий внесок Союзу українців у Великій Британії щодо розвитку української громади за кордоном з нагоди 75-річчя організації, яке та відзначила 19 січня.
«19 січня 1946 року, на Йордан, в повоєнному Единбурзі відбулися основуючі збори Союзу українців у Великій Британії (СУБ). Всі ці роки СУБ провадив активну діяльність та на сьогодні є потужною і відомою громадською організацією у світі. Щиро вітаємо всі відділи і Осередки, відданістю і працею яких підтримується надійність, авторитет та добра репутація організації, яка активно діє вже 75 років. Дякуємо за вашу невтомну працю на підтримку та розвиток української громади», – йдеться в повідомленні СКУ у фейсбуці.
Базований у Лондоні Союз українців у Великій Британії є найстарішою українською громадською установою у Сполученому Королівстві. Організація повідомила, що через пандемією COVID-19 змушена вдкласти всі ювілейні святкові події на пізніший термін.
Діяльність Союзу українців у Великій Британії базована на доброчинності, організація займається громадською, просвітницькою, видавничою та культурною справою на теренах Британії. Торік Союз українців у Великій Британії відзначився заявою із закликом прибрати український тризуб з посібника з протидії екстремізму для британських медпрацівників та вчителів.
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By Gromada | 01/20/2021 | Повідомлення, Суспільство
Defense Secretary Nominee: US Faces Enemies Both at Home and Abroad
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Pentagon warns the country is facing a series of enemies, both at home and abroad, and that it will fall, in part, to the United States military to overcome the dangers. Retired General Lloyd Austin appeared before lawmakers Tuesday and said his first priority if confirmed as the country’s next secretary of defense would be to make sure all military resources are brought to bear against the coronavirus pandemic. “The greatest challenge to our country right now … is the pandemic,” Austin told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wearing a suit and tie instead of the Army dress uniform he wore when he testified in Congress as the commander of U.S. military forces across the Middle East and South Asia.”It’s killed over 400,000 of our American citizens. That’s just an incredible, incredible loss of life,” he said. “We have to do everything we can to break the cycle of transmission and begin to turn this thing around.” Austin did not offer specifics about how he would ramp up the Pentagon’s current efforts to distribute the coronavirus vaccines as part of what has been known as Operation Warp Speed. But he said he does believe there is more the Pentagon can do to counter what he described as the “most immediate” national security challenge. Countering extremism at home Austin spoke shortly after U.S. defense officials announced 12 National Guard troops initially assigned to help provide security for Biden’s inauguration Wednesday were removed due to extremist ties. Austin pledged to take on what he called the enemy within. “The job of the Department of Defense is to keep America safe from our enemies, but we can’t do that if some of those enemies lie with our own ranks,” he said. “This [extremism] has no place in the military of the United States of America,” Austin added, describing it as part of a broader battle. “I will fight hard to stamp out sexual assault and to rid our ranks of racists and extremists and to create a climate where everyone fit and willing has the opportunity to serve,” he told U.S. lawmakers. The 67-year-old Austin is a familiar face to many of the lawmakers who will vote on whether to confirm him, though his nomination is not without controversy. U.S. law requires former active-duty military officers to be retired for seven years before they can serve as defense secretary – a law meant to ensure civilian control of the military. But Austin retired just five years ago, stepping down as the leader of U.S. Central Command in 2016. Waivers have been granted just twice, most recently in 2017 for retired General Jim Mattis, who served as outgoing President Donald Trump’s first defense secretary. On Tuesday, some lawmakers, including Republican Senator Tom Cotton and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, told Austin they would not support a waiver. Cotton went as far as to call his support of a waiver for Mattis a mistake. Austin said he understood the concerns about “having another recently retired general” take the reins at the Pentagon and promised, that if confirmed, the voices of civilian defense officials would be heard. “The safety and security of our democracy demands competent civilian control of our armed forces,” he said. “I have spent my entire life committed to that.” Like many of President-elect Biden’s Cabinet selections, Austin focused on a change in course after four years under Trump and his “America First” policy. Reaffirming alliances Austin, in particular, noted the importance of the country’s military alliances, saying that one of his first trips would be to visit Japan, South Korea and Australia, key allies in the Indo-Pacific, where competition with China is heating up. “China is the most concerning competitor that we’re facing,” he said. “Their goal is to be a dominant world power,” Austin added. “We have to make sure that we begin to check their aggression.” The retired general promised lawmakers a “laser-like focus” on making sure the U.S. maintains a competitive edge over the growing Chinese military, though he said to do so will require investment in new technologies, including artificial intelligence and quantum computing – areas in which China has been closing the gap. Austin said Russia, long viewed as Washington’s other key adversary in what Trump officials have described as an era of great power competition, remains a concern but not in the same way as Beijing. “Russia is also a threat but it’s in decline,” he said, warning Moscow can still do “a great deal of damage” in cyberspace, like with the SolarWinds hack, and with influence operations. @FBI has assigned initial blame on #SolarWindsHack to #Russia and “If that’s the case, I think Russia should be held accountable” per @LloydAustin “That’s my personal belief”— Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) January 19, 2021In addition to Russia and China, lawmakers questioned Austin about the incoming Biden administration’s position on Iran and talk the U.S. might seek to rejoin the so-called Iran nuclear deal. Iran – a “destabilizing element” Austin indicated any reentry to the nuclear deal would require movement by Tehran. “The preconditions for us considering to reenter into that agreement would be that Iran meet the conditions outlined in the agreement … back to where they should have been,” Austin said. And while the former CENTCOM commander said while the Trump administration’s successful efforts to help normalize ties between Israel and Arab countries in the region may be helping put additional pressure on the regime, the danger remains. “Iran continues to be a destabilizing element,” Austin told lawmakers. “[Iran] does present a threat to our partners in the region and those forces that we have stationed in the region.” As for Afghanistan, where a Trump administration drawdown has left just 2,500 U.S. troops, Austin expressed a cautious hope. “This conflict needs to come to an end. We need to see an agreement reached,” he said. If confirmed by the Senate, the former four-star general would be the first African American to serve as defense secretary.
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By Polityk | 01/20/2021 | Повідомлення, Політика
Blinken Pledges US Leadership with ‘Humility and Confidence’
Incoming President Joe Biden’s pick to be the next secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said his vision for restoring America’s standing abroad is leadership based on “humility and confidence.” Blinken testified in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday, as VOA’s Cindy Saine reports from Washington.Camera: Saine Skype Video interviews
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By Polityk | 01/20/2021 | Повідомлення, Політика
Biden, Harris Honor US Coronavirus Dead Ahead of Inauguration
On the eve of their inauguration, U.S. President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris honored the lives of the 400,000 Americans who have died from COVID-19 with an event Tuesday in Washington. “To heal, we must remember. It’s hard sometimes to remember, but that’s how we heal,” Biden said, speaking in front of the Lincoln Memorial after sunset, as 400 lights were illuminated along the Reflecting Pool. The memorial is located at the opposite end of the National Mall from the Capitol building where Biden and Harris will take their oaths of office on Wednesday. “It’s important to do that as a nation — that’s why we’re here today. From sunset until dusk, let us shine the lights in the darkness along the sacred pool of reflection and remember all who we lost,” he said. President-elect Joe Biden speaks during a COVID-19 memorial, with lights placed around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, in Washington, Jan. 19, 2021.Biden spoke alongside Harris and their spouses, Jill Biden and Doug Emhoff, respectively. Also on the program were musical performances of “Amazing Grace” by a nurse who has worked through the pandemic, and a rendition of “Hallelujah.” The event is the first public appearance of Biden and Harris in Washington, D.C., ahead of the inauguration. Earlier in the afternoon, Biden spoke to supporters in his home state of Delaware, where much of his campaign and transition work has taken place, before boarding the plane to the capital. Other landmarks across the United States, including the Empire State Building in New York and the Space Needle in Seattle, are being illuminated. Biden’s inaugural committee said hundreds of towns, tribes and communities would also join “in a national moment of unity.” Vaccine numbersBiden and Harris have made addressing COVID-19 a major focus of the early part of their administration, with a goal of getting 100 million vaccinations administered in the first 100 days, along with providing help for those struggling with the economic effects of the pandemic. To date, more than 12 million people have received the first of a two-dose vaccine regimen in the country that by far has recorded more infections and deaths than any other in the world. Senate confirmation hearings Tuesday is also the start of Senate confirmation hearings for top officials Biden has nominated. Those appearing before Senate committees include Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen, Secretary of State nominee Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary nominee Lloyd Austin, Homeland Security Secretary nominee Alejandro Mayorkas and Director of National Intelligence nominee Avril Haines. Members of the military stand guard at a checkpoint as security is increased ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, in Washington, Jan. 19, 2021.The Bidens spent part of Monday volunteering at a food bank in the eastern city of Philadelphia on the National Day of Service commemorating the annual holiday honoring late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. After she and Emhoff volunteered at a food bank in Washington, Harris downplayed personal security concerns ahead of the inauguration, saying she is “very much looking forward to being sworn in.” “I will walk there, to that moment, proudly with my head up and my shoulders back,” she told reporters. National GuardU.S. security officials say they are taking every precaution, including FBI security screening of the 25,000 members of the National Guard assigned to Washington to protect the event, which comes two weeks after pro-Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. A Biden-Harris supporter stands at a corner as National Guards deploy around the city ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony, in Washington, Jan. 19, 2021.Twelve members of the National Guard were removed from inauguration duties Tuesday — at least two were found to have anti-government sympathies, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. The Post said 10 were removed for reasons that did not involve extremism. Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller said the troops were being given extra training as they arrive in Washington and told “that if they see or hear something that is not appropriate, they should report it to their chain of command.” The inaugural site is encircled in tall fencing topped with concertina wire, a much more pronounced show of security than has been common at past quadrennial inaugurations. Authorities have also closed the National Mall, along with roads and Metro subway stations in much of downtown Washington. Bridges into the city from the state of Virginia are also being closed. Outgoing presidentPresident Donald Trump, going against 160 years of U.S. tradition, is skipping his successor’s inauguration and instead is flying Wednesday morning to his retreat in Florida. Vice President Mike Pence is planning to attend the inauguration. The House last week impeached Trump for a second time, accusing him of inciting insurrection, and his Senate trial is set to start soon after Biden’s inauguration. If convicted, Trump, the first U.S. president to be impeached twice, could be barred from holding public office again. Before he leaves the White House, however, Trump is expected to grant dozens of pardons and commutations, possibly to key supporters convicted of crimes or facing trials.
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By Polityk | 01/20/2021 | Повідомлення, Політика
Washington on High Alert on Eve of Biden Inauguration
The U.S. National Guard, the part-time military service providing security for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, has removed 12 members from security duty for the event, military officials announced Tuesday.The move underscored authorities’ resolve to secure the quadrennial ceremony amid concern over violence following the deadly January 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol by militant supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump.Chief Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman told reporters that 10 of the 12 Guardsmen were removed for “questionable behavior” unrelated to extremism that was uncovered by the FBI during its vetting of all 25,000 Guardsmen deployed in the Washington area for Wednesday’s inauguration of Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. The two others were pulled off duty after making “inappropriate” comments or texts, Hoffman said, without specifying their nature.National Guard troops reinforce the security zone on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 19, 2021, before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president.“We’re not asking questions of people who are flagged,” he said. “We’re, out of an abundance of caution, taking action and immediately removing them from the line of duty at the Capitol and the events taking place.”Hoffman said one of the two men who made inappropriate comments was identified by his chain of command and the other by an anonymous tipster. The Associated Press, citing two anonymous officials, reported that the two Guardsmen were removed after having been found to have ties to fringe militia groups.The development comes as tens of thousands of Guardsmen and federal agents remain on high alert in Washington in an unprecedented show of force that has transformed the nation’s capital into a veritable military fortress.The heightened security measures were put in place in response to FBI warnings about armed protests by Trump supporters in Washington and all 50 state capitals. Raising concern about a potential insider threat, several current and former military personnel have been charged in recent days in connection with the Capitol riots.However, some military officials are playing down the threat.U.S. Army Lieutenant General Daniel R. Hokanson testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing to lead the National Guard, June 18, 2020.Army General Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, told reporters, “I’m not concerned,” because only 12 of 25,000 Guardsman deployed in Washington have been flagged for removal.Hokanson confirmed a Washington Post report that the FBI had warned law enforcement agencies in recent days that far-right extremists had discussed posing as members of the National Guard in Washington.Biden’s swearing-in ceremony is set to take place shortly after noon on the West Front of the Capitol before what is likely to be the smallest inauguration audience in modern American history.Typically, hundreds of thousands of spectators fill up the National Mall — the landscaped park between the Capitol and the Washington Monument — on Inauguration Day. This year, about 200,000 flags representing every U.S. state and territory have been planted on the Mall in lieu of the spectators, and roughly 1,000 invited guests — mostly members of Congress and other dignitaries — will attend the swearing-in ceremony.Flags are placed on the National Mall, with the Washington Monument behind them, ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, in Washington, Jan. 18, 2021.Since the January 6 riots that left five people dead, the Capitol has remained closed to the public. A 7-foot fence — razor-wire and “non-scalable” — surrounds the Capitol grounds. A large swath of central Washington, including several blocks around the White House, is in lockdown with thousands of National Guard troops patrolling the deserted streets.Over the weekend, at least three people were arrested near security checkpoints, including a 22-year-old man carrying an unlicensed handgun and a 63-year-old unarmed woman posing as a law enforcement officer.Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen hold press conference at the Department of Justice in Washington, Sept. 22, 2020.As the nation remained on edge ahead of Biden’s inauguration, officials sought to reassure the public about the safety of an otherwise peaceful American democratic tradition. In a video statement, Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said that “every level of law enforcement and the National Guard are working around the clock in Washington, D.C., to provide safety and security for Inauguration Day.”Moreover, he said, federal, state and local law enforcement are providing security for state capitals and government buildings in all 50 states.”As I’ve repeatedly said, the Justice Department will have no tolerance for anyone who attempts to mar the day with violence or other criminal conduct,” Rosen said. “Anyone who does that will be caught and they will be prosecuted.”Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, denouncing Trump for provoking the Capitol riots, said, “Tomorrow we’ll have a safe and successful inaugural right here on the West Front of the Capitol, the space that [President George H. W.] Bush 41 called democracy’s front porch.”
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By Polityk | 01/20/2021 | Повідомлення, Політика
Biden Picks Transgender Woman as Assistant Health Secretary
President-elect Joe Biden has tapped Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine to be his assistant secretary of health, leaving her poised to become the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
A pediatrician and former Pennsylvania physician general, Levine was appointed to her current post by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf in 2017, making her one of the few transgender people serving in elected or appointed positions nationwide. She won past confirmation by the Republican-majority Pennsylvania Senate and has emerged as the public face of the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Dr. Rachel Levine will bring the steady leadership and essential expertise we need to get people through this pandemic — no matter their zip code, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability — and meet the public health needs of our country in this critical moment and beyond,” Biden said in a statement. “She is a historic and deeply qualified choice to help lead our administration’s health efforts.”
A graduate of Harvard and of Tulane Medical School, Levine is president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. She’s written in the past on the opioid crisis, medical marijuana, adolescent medicine, eating disorders and LGBTQ medicine.
Biden and his transition team have already begun negotiating with members of Congress, promoting speedy passage of the president-elect’s $1.9 trillion plan to bring the coronavirus, which has killed nearly 400,000 people in the United States, under control. It seeks to enlist federal emergency personnel to run mass vaccination centers and provide 100 immunization shots in his administration’s first 100 days while using government spending to stimulate the pandemic-hammered economy,
Biden also says that, in one of his first acts as president, he’ll ask Americans to wear masks for 100 days to slow the virus’ spread.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris called Levine “a remarkable public servant with the knowledge and experience to help us contain this pandemic, and protect and improve the health and well-being of the American people.”
Levine joins Biden’s Health and Human Services secretary nominee Xavier Becerra, a Latino politician who rose from humble beginnings to serve in Congress and as California’s attorney general.
Businessman Jeff Zients is Biden’s coronavirus response coordinator, while Biden picked infectious-disease specialist Rochelle Walensky to run the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vivek Murthy as surgeon general and Yale epidemiologist Marcella Nunez-Smith to head a working group to ensure fair and equitable distribution of vaccines and treatments.
The government’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, will also work closely with the Biden administration.
A transition spokesperson also said Tuesday that Dawn O’Connell will serve as senior counselor for coronavirus response to the health and human services secretary. O’Connell most recently served as director of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and was the senior counselor and deputy chief of staff to Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell during the Obama administration.
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By Polityk | 01/20/2021 | Повідомлення, Політика
Parting Words: Will Trump Leave Biden a Note?
For three decades, each departing U.S. president has left his successor a short note wishing him well as he takes office. But whether Donald Trump will leave such a note for President-elect Joe Biden is not known.Past presidents have left their notes in the ornate Resolute Desk in the White House Oval Office, where the new chief executive will find the good wishes immediately upon starting his four-year term.Republican Ronald Reagan started the tradition in 1989. In his note, Reagan told his former vice president and incoming president George H.W. Bush: “George, I treasure the memories we share and wish you all the very best. You’ll be in my prayers.”Four years later, Bush graciously offered good wishes to the Democrat who had defeated him in the November election, Bill Clinton. “Your success now is our country’s success. I am rooting hard for you,” he said.After two terms in the White House, Clinton told his successor, George W. Bush — George H.W. Bush’s son — in 2001, “You lead a proud, decent, good people. And from this day, you are president of all of us. I salute you and wish you success and much happiness.”After eight years as president, Bush offered Democrat Barack Obama his good wishes in 2009.“There will be trying moments. The critics will rage. Your ‘friends’ will disappoint you. But, you will have an Almighty God to comfort you, a family who loves you, and a country that is pulling for you, including me.”As he left office four years ago after two terms in office, Obama wished Trump well, even though he had campaigned in 2016 for Democrat Hillary Clinton. “Congratulations on a remarkable run,” Obama wrote to Trump. “Millions have placed their hopes in you, and all of us, regardless of party, should hope for expanded prosperity and security during your tenure. Michelle and I wish you and Melania the very best as you embark on this great adventure, and know that we stand ready to help in any ways which we can.”Biden Plans Ambitious Agenda for First 100-Days Covid-19 aid bill leads an agenda packed with Democratic prioritiesWhether Trump follows suit with a note to Biden is unknown, because Trump has already said he plans to break a string of long-standing traditions linked to the peaceful transition of power in Washington. Departing presidents usually greet their successors at the White House on the morning of Inauguration Day, and they ride together to the U.S. Capitol for the new president’s inauguration ceremony.But Trump said he is leaving before the inauguration for his own red-carpet, military send-off at an air base outside Washington, D.C., boarding Air Force One for the last time for a flight to his Atlantic oceanfront mansion in Florida. Biden, Harris to Honor US COVID Dead on Inauguration EveCalling event in Washington, other cities, ‘a national moment of unity’His refusal to attend Biden’s inauguration marks the first time in 160 years that an outgoing U.S. president has skipped his successor’s swearing-in ceremony, normally a public symbol of the peaceful transfer of power in the American democracy.Trump, a real estate titan-turned-Republican politician, has refused to concede he lost the November election to Biden, a Democratic fixture on the Washington political scene for nearly a half century.For several weeks, Trump has made baseless claims that he was cheated out of a second term even as dozens of judges, some of them appointed by Trump, found no substantial evidence of fraud that would have upended Biden’s victory.The House of Representatives impeached Trump last week after he urged thousands of his supporters to march to the Capitol on January 6 to confront lawmakers as they certified the Electoral College vote acknowledging Biden’s win.The Trump supporters stormed into the Capitol, ransacked some congressional offices and scuffled with police, mayhem that left five people dead, including a police officer whose death is being investigated as a homicide. Dozens have been arrested on various charges as the investigation continues.Trump faces a Senate trial on a single impeachment charge — that he incited insurrection. If convicted, he could be barred from ever holding office again.
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By Polityk | 01/20/2021 | Повідомлення, Політика
Garth Brooks Joins Lineup of Entertainers at Biden Inaugural
Add Garth Brooks to the lineup of entertainers at the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden
“This is a great day in our household,” the country music superstar said during a virtual press conference Monday, two days before Biden is to be sworn in. “This is not a political statement. This is a statement of unity.”
Brooks, who joins Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez among others, performed during the inaugural celebration of President Barack Obama in 2009. He turned down a chance to play for President Donald Trump in 2017, citing a scheduling conflict.
Invited by incoming first lady Jill Biden, Brooks has known the Bidens for more than a decade, when Joe Biden was Obama’s vice president.
Brooks said that for this week’s inaugural, he will perform solo doing “broken down, bare-bones stuff,” and hinted at covering material by songwriters from outside the U.S.
He does not plan to sing his socially conscious “We Shall Be Free,” which he performed at the Obama inaugural.
Brooks praised the Bidens for being “hellbent on making things good” and said he welcomed the chance to help the country heal.
“I want to spend the next 10 years of my life not divided. I’m so tired of being divided,” he said.
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By Polityk | 01/19/2021 | Повідомлення, Політика
US Can ‘Outcompete’ China, Secretary of State Nominee Blinken Says
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s foreign policy team vows to work with partners around the world to take on pressing challenges ranging from receding democracy to the growing rivalry with China, Russia and other authoritarian states.
Tuesday, Biden’s nominee for secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, testifies at the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
Blinken will tell lawmakers the United States “can outcompete China.”
“We can revitalize our core alliances – force multipliers of our influence around the world. Together, we are far better positioned to counter threats posed by Russia, Iran, and North Korea, and to stand up for democracy and human rights,” according to prepared testimony. Blinken was deputy secretary of state during the Obama administration and has close ties with Biden. He was staff director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee when Biden was chair of the panel, and later was then-Vice President Biden’s national security adviser.
The incoming Biden administration may take possible confidence-building steps to reverse irritants in the U.S.-China relations, including easing visa restrictions on journalists and restoring closed consulates, according to Kurt Campbell, tapped as Biden’s senior coordinator for Indo-Pacific policy at the White House National Security Council, during a recent webinar at the Asia Society.
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By Polityk | 01/19/2021 | Повідомлення, Політика
Українські військові почали підготовку в горах із ночівлею в сніжній печері на висоті 1400 метрів – Міноборони
У Збройних силах України розпочався пілотний курс гірської підготовки військовослужбовців, повідомила у вівторок пресслужба Міністерства оборони.
«Проєкт покликаний удосконалити гірську підготовку в Збройних силах України, надати майбутнім інструкторам альпіністської справи необхідні знання та навички для подальшої підготовки військовослужбовців підрозділів. Курс проводиться спільно з Федерацією альпінізму і скелелазіння України та складається з зимового і літнього блоку. Участь у ньому братимуть військовослужбовці навчальних центрів та військових частин Сухопутних військ, Десантно-штурмових військ, морської піхоти та курсанти випускних курсів вищих військових навчальних закладів ЗСУ», – йдеться в повідомленні.
У Міноборони розповіли, що під час зимового курсу запланований тривалий піший марш гірською місцевістю, сходження на вершини, проведення занять з лавинної безпеки, транспортування умовно постраждалого на великі дистанції тощо. Також військовослужбовці проведуть ночівлю в сніжній печері (іглу) на висоті 1400 метрів, додали у відомстві.
Повідомляється, що учасники курсу поділені на групи, для кожної з яких активна фаза підготовки триватиме чотири дні.
«За цей час військовослужбовці пройдуть загалом близько 60 кілометрів з перепадами висот понад 1200 метрів, з яких не менше 25% дистанції долатимуть темної пори доби та здійснять сходження на найвищу вершину України – гору Говерла. Очікується, що участь в пілотному проєкті візьмуть близько 100 військовослужбовців ЗС України», – йдеться в повідомленні.
За даними Міноборони, на квітень-травень цього року запланований літній тижневий курс в одному зі скельних районів України.
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By Gromada | 01/19/2021 | Повідомлення, Суспільство
Шкарлет: випускники мають повернутися за парти
Повернення учнів випускних 9-х та 11-х класів до повноформатного навчання є вкрай необхідним, заявив 19 січня міністр освіти і науки України Сергій Шкарлет.
Як написав міністр у телеграм-каналі, вчителі мають перестороги з приводу відсутності очного спілкування з учнями. Також хвилюються батьки та школярі, які впродовж поточного навчального року готуються до ЗНО та ДПА переважно в дистанційній формі.
«Після завершення посилених карантинних заходів, за сприятливої санітарно-епідемічної ситуації, учні випускних класів повернуться до змішаної форми навчання. В областях, де показники захворюваності на СOVID-19 будуть контрольованими, порушуватиму питання про повернення школярів 9-х та 11-х класів за парти», – зазначив Сергій Шкарлет.
Він додав, що розглядається питання повноформатного або змішаного навчання для школярів інших класів. Тривають консультації з міністром охорони здоров’я Максимом Степановим та головним державним санітарним лікарем Віктором Ляшком.
Раніше Шкарлет говорив, що після завершення посиленого карантину учні молодших класів можуть повернутися до очної форми навчання, учні середньої школи – до змішаної форми навчання.
Минулого тижня міністр охорони здоров’я Максим Степанов пояснив, чому вважає неможливим повернення до звичайного навчання учнів молодшої школи під час дії посиленого карантину в Україні.
«Якщо в наступний понеділок (ішлося про 18 січня – ред.) учні молодших класів повернуться в школи, це зведе нанівець мету посиленого карантину», – стверджує міністр.
За словами Степанова, період дії посиленого карантину в Україні збігається в часі з завершенням інкубаційного терміну захворювання на COVID-19 у людей, які інфікувалися впродовж новорічних свят.
9 грудня Кабінет міністрів ухвалив рішення про запровадження посилених карантинних обмежень в Україні з 8 до 24 січня. Зараз не працюють кінотеатри, фітнес-клуби, спортивні зали, басейни, театри. Забороняється відвідування закладів освіти, хоча дитячі садочки продовжують приймати дітей дошкільного віку. Також працює громадський транспорт.
your ad hereBy Gromada | 01/19/2021 | Повідомлення, Суспільство
Для десяти національних парків України створили віртуальні туристичні маршрути – Міндовкілля
У Міністерстві захисту довкілля та природних ресурсів повідомили, що в рамках спільного проєкту з компанією Google Україна створили віртуальні туристичні маршрути та панорами ще для 10 національних природних парків України.
«Відтепер кожен у будь-який час може здійснити надзвичайну віртуальну мандрівку екологічними стежками, річковими маршрутами, відвідати Скелі Довбуша чи Мертве озеро, Джерело Бук чи Маєток Святого Миколая…Віртуальні подорожі, особливо під час карантину, дозволяють відволіктися від буденності та насолодитися краєвидами України», – повідомили у міністерстві.
Повідомляється, що серед запропонованих в перегляді онлайн є національні природні парки «Вижницький», «Ужанський», «Гуцульщина», «Сколівські бескиди», «Зачарований край», «Черемоський», «Верховинський», «Карпатський», «Дермансько-Острозький» та «Кременецькі гори». Подивитися на парки у віруальному режимі можна тут.
«Оцифровані національні парки – це не лише нові можливості для розвитку природоохоронної сфери. Передусім, це популяризація захоплюючих українських краєвидів далеко за її межами. Це ще один спосіб продемонструвати, що Україна дивовижна і нею варто подорожувати», – заявив міністр захисту довкілля та природних ресурсів Роман Абрамовський.
Торік у рамках такого ж проєкту в Україні було оцифровано перші шість заповідних об’єктів.
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By Gromada | 01/19/2021 | Повідомлення, Суспільство
Понад 1300 людей звернулися минулої доби до пунктів обігріву в Україні – ДСНС
У Держслужбі з надзвичайних ситуацій повідомили, що за минулу добу до пунктів обігріву в Україні звернулись 1355 людей.
«З метою недопущення випадків обмороження та загибелі людей, станом на 19 січня, місцевими органами влади у взаємодії з ДСНС розгорнуто 4979 пунктів обігріву, з них місцевим самоврядуванням – 4933 стаціонарних пункти, а ДСНС – 46 мобільні пункти обігріву на базі наметів та транспортних засобів. Загалом, упродовж доби 18 січня до пунктів обігріву звернулось 1355 людей, з них 405 – до пунктів ДСНС», – йдеться в повідомленні.
У ДСНС нагадали адреси пунктів обігріву, розгорнутих на території України, з якими можна ознайомитися за посиланням.
За прогнозами синоптиків, 19 січня в Україні утримається холодна погода, без істотних опадів, лише вдень на Закарпатті, Прикарпатті та в Карпатах невеликий сніг. Температура повітря вдень 11-16° морозу; на Закарпатті та крайньому півдні країни 4-9° морозу. На дорогах місцями ожеледиця. Вітер переважно західний, 5-10 м/с.
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By Gromada | 01/19/2021 | Повідомлення, Суспільство
Tight Security Surrounds Scaled-back Presidential Inauguration
On January 20, the United States will inaugurate President-elect Joe Biden in Washington, D.C. Following the violent assault on the Capitol earlier this month by supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump, Americans are bracing for the worst but hoping for unity, the theme of Biden’s inauguration. Mike O’Sullivan reports.
Camera: Genia Dulot and Natasha Mozgovaya
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By Polityk | 01/19/2021 | Повідомлення, Політика
Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris Resigns Her Senate Seat
U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris has formally resigned her Senate seat in preparation for her inauguration on Wednesday alongside President-elect Joe Biden. Harris had served as a senator representing the Western state of California since 2017. “Thank you California — it has been an honor serving as your senator for the past four years. Our country has faced many challenges, but I remain certain that our best days are ahead. I promise to keep standing up for our shared values as your Vice President,” Harris said in a tweet Monday. Gov. Gavin Newsom chose fellow Democrat Alex Padilla, who is currently California’s secretary of state, to serve the final two years of Harris’ term. Newsom announced his choice in December. Padilla, who is Mexican American, will be the first Latino senator to represent the state. Harris did not give a farewell speech on the Senate floor. The chamber is not scheduled to reconvene until Tuesday, the eve of Inauguration Day. As vice president, Harris will become the Senate’s presiding officer. With the Senate split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans, her ability to cast tie-breaking votes could be crucial for Democrats to pass their legislative agenda. In an op-ed for the San Francisco Chronicle, Harris made note of the fact that she will continue to have a role in the Senate. “And this is not goodbye. As I resign from the Senate, I am preparing to take an oath that would have me preside over it,” she wrote. “As senator-turned-Vice-President Walter Mondale once pointed out, the vice presidency is the only office in our government that ‘belongs to both the executive branch and the legislative branch.’ A responsibility made greater with an equal number of Democrats and Republicans in the Senate.” Harris is the first woman ever elected vice president. She will also be the first Black woman and first woman of South Asian descent to serve in the role.
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By Polityk | 01/19/2021 | Повідомлення, Політика
US Capitol Shut Down Temporarily Over Nearby Fire
The U.S. Capitol complex was shut down temporarily on Monday out of an abundance of caution after a small fire broke out nearby, the U.S. Secret Service said, underscoring security jitters days before President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.
“There is no threat to the public,” the Secret Service said in a tweet.Public safety and law enforcement responded to a small fire in the area of 1st and F streets SE, Washington, D.C. that has been extinguished. Out of an abundance of caution the U.S. Capitol complex was temporarily shutdown. There is no threat to the public. pic.twitter.com/kQfAI4NxNK— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) January 18, 2021The U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement that, in an abundance of caution following an external security threat near the Capitol, its acting chief ordered a shutdown of the complex.
“There are currently no fires on or within the Capitol campus,” the statement said. “Members and staff were advised to shelter in place while the incident is being investigated.”
The lockdown follows the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington by Trump supporters, some of whom called for the death of Republican Vice President Mike Pence as he presided over the certification of Democrat Biden’s November election victory.
All participants in the rehearsal for Biden’s inauguration, were evacuated into the building, and participants were being held in the Capitol rotunda and other indoor areas, according to a Reuters witness. Biden will be sworn in on Wednesday.
The city’s fire department posted on Twitter that firefighters put out an outside fire near the Capitol complex.
“There were no injuries,” the department said. “This accounts for smoke that many have seen.”
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By Polityk | 01/19/2021 | Повідомлення, Політика
СБУ заявляє про передачу до суду справу проти затриманого в Рівному російського диверсанта
Служба безпеки України повідомила про завершення досудового розслідування у справі агента Федеральної служби безпеки Росії, затриманого в Рівному у вересні 2020 року. Про це йдеться в заяві СБУ 18 січня.
«Контррозвідка Служби безпеки України у вересні 2020 року затримала у Рівному агента ФСБ РФ, який намагався вчинити диверсію на одному з об’єктів критичної інфраструктури регіону», – йдеться в повідомленні відомства.
Слідчі передали до суду обвинувальний акт за статтями про державну зраду та замах на диверсію.
Читайте також: Перемога VS капітуляція: 5 запитань про Донбас у 2020-му
Як стверджують у СБУ, жителя Одеської області завербував представник ФСБ в травні 2020 року, він збирав і «він збирав і передавав інформацію про один з військових об’єктів Збройних Сил України, дислокованих на території регіону».
«Також за завданням і грошову винагороду від куратора фігурант намагався вчинити диверсію на об’єкті Рівнеоблводоканал, під час якої був затриманий контррозвідниками СБУ», – заявляє служба.
За повідомленням, обвинуваченому загрожує від 12 до 15 років ув’язнення.
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By Gromada | 01/18/2021 | Повідомлення, Суспільство
«Укрзалізниця» планує встановити камери спостереження в приміських потягах
«Укрзалізниця» планує оновити приміські електропотяги – відповідний коментар голови компанії Володимира Жмака каналу «Україна 24» пресслужба поширила 18 січня.
«Якщо ми говоримо про електропоїзди, то зараз ми вже займаємось їх модернізацією, яка включає в себе установку камер спостереження, котрі дозволять машиністу контролювати ситуацію у вагонах електропоїзда», – сказав Жмак.
Читайте також: Укрзалізниця планує відновити сполучення у напрямку Криму – голова правління
Він додав, що в кабінах машиністів планують встановити «червону кнопку», щоб машиніст міг викликати правоохоронців на наступну станцію в разі потреби.
За словами Жмака, він ставить за мету підвищити комфортність потягів, щоб зробити його більш привабливим, ніж пасажирський автотранспорт.
25 серпня міністр інфраструктури Владислав Криклій заявив, що «Укрзалізниця» в тестовому режимі повертає воєнізовану охорону в пасажирські поїзди.
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By Gromada | 01/18/2021 | Повідомлення, Суспільство
As Biden Presidency Nears, Many Americans Ready to Move On
Americans are getting ready to inaugurate President-elect Joe Biden after one of the nation’s most contentious elections and a violent assault on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump. Mike O’Sullivan reports on the mood of the nation as the United States transitions into its next political phase.
Camera: Genia Dulot, Natasha Mozgovaya, Jose Pernalete
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By Polityk | 01/18/2021 | Повідомлення, Політика
Регіональну стипендію Радіо Свобода виграла журналістка Юлія Турчинська
У конкурсі на стипендіальну програму Радіо Свобода Regional Reporting Fellowship перемогла журналістка Юлія Турчинська. За умовами стипендії наступні 8 місяців вона працюватиме у київському бюро Радіо Свобода, у відділі новин.
Юлія Турчинська навчалася в Київському національному університеті імені Тараса Шевченка. За фахом вона – політолог. Юлія працювала у виданнях Liga.net та «Лівий берег». Останнім часом журналістка спеціалізувалася на висвітленні суспільно-політичних тем. Раніше Юлія писала про зовнішню політику України.
Метою програми є сприяння професійному розвитку журналістів-початківців у країнах «Східного партнерства» ЄС та Західних Балкан. Стипендія покликана допомогти поглибити журналістські знання, розвинути навички та ознайомитися з принципами роботи незалежних медіа.
Стипендіатів інтегрують у щоденну роботу бюро, де вони працюють повний робочий день та отримують можливість виробляти журналістський контент, а також брати участь у редакційних дискусіях.
Стипендіальна програма базується на місії Радіо Вільна Європа/Радіо Свобода сприяти якісній і об’єктивній журналістиці, а також підтримувати демократію і права людини.
Проєкт фінансується коштом гранту від посольства США в Чехії.
Раніше стипендіатами програми ставали Анастасія Магазова, Наталія Патрікєєва, Вікторія Жуган, Ольга Комарова та Михайло Штекель.
your ad hereBy Gromada | 01/18/2021 | Повідомлення, Суспільство
Security a Focus Ahead of Biden Inauguration
With U.S.-President-elect Joe Biden set to be inaugurated Wednesday, the FBI is conducting security screening of the 25,000 members of the National Guard assigned to Washington to protect the event amid worries of a potential insider attack. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told the Associated Press that he and other leaders have not seen evidence of any threats, and that so far the vetting had not turned up any issues among the Guard members. “We’re continually going through the process, and taking second, third looks at every one of the individuals assigned to this operation,” McCarthy said. McCarthy said there are intelligence reports suggesting outside groups are organizing armed rallies ahead of Inauguration Day.Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy, left, accompanied by Gen. James McConville, Chief of Staff of the Army, right, speaks during a briefing on an investigation into Fort Hood, Texas at the Pentagon, Dec. 8, 2020, in Washington.Security is an even bigger focus than usual with the inauguration coming two weeks after thousands of supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol. Trump had urged them to march to the building as lawmakers met to certify Biden’s victory. The immediate area around the Capitol is a virtual armed encampment, with fencing and concertina wire encircling the grounds. Authorities have also closed the National Mall along with roads and Metro stations in much of downtown Washington. Bridges into the city from the state of Virginia are also being closed. Thousands of National Guard troops and law enforcement officers are stationed across the area to protect against further violence. Despite the heightened security concerns, Biden plans to go ahead with the inauguration ceremony in its traditional location. “Our plan and our expectation is that President-elect Biden will put his hand on the Bible with his family outside on the west side of the Capitol on the 20th,” Kate Bedingfield, Biden’s incoming communications director, told ABC’s “This Week” show. She said the Biden team has “full faith in the United States Secret Service and their partners who have been working for over a year on the planning to ensure (the inauguration) is safe.”Streets sit largely deserted as National Guard personnel and police close off a block, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in Washington, as part of increased security ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.Trump has refused to concede his defeat or congratulate Biden, while acknowledging there will be a “new administration” come Wednesday. Trump, ignoring 160 years of the U.S. tradition of an outgoing president attending his successor’s swearing-in ceremony to demonstrate a peaceful transfer of power, has announced he plans to skip the inauguration. Vice President Mike President is planning to attend. Trump instead is planning to leave Washington on Wednesday morning with a red-carpet ceremony as he boards Air Force One for a flight to his Atlantic Ocean retreat in Florida. Trump’s plan has drawn criticism, including from a group of five Democratic members of the House of Representatives who in a letter Saturday to acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller and Joints Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley urged the Pentagon to not divert any resources for what they called a “disruptive departure ceremony for the outgoing president.” “The proposed action is unwise, unconventional, and most importantly, puts the national security needlessly at risk by diverting essential personnel and resources from the protection of the U.S. Capitol, where all of the institutions of government will be represented, to providing for the security, protection, and transport of the outgoing president,” the lawmakers wrote. Signatories included Congresswomen Sheila Jackson Lee and Jan Schakowsky and Congressmen André Carson, Steven Cohen and Danny Davis.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California signs the article of impeachment against President Donald Trump in an engrossment ceremony before transmission to the Senate for trial on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Jan. 13, 2021.The House last week impeached Trump for a second time, accusing him of inciting insurrection, and his Senate trial is set to start soon after Biden’s inauguration. If convicted, Trump, the first U.S. president to be impeached twice, could be barred from ever again holding office. Before he leaves office, however, Trump is expected to grant several more pardons, possibly to key supporters convicted of crimes or facing trials. People familiar with the matter said Trump met Sunday with aides to finalize a list of more than 100 pardons and commutations to issue before his term ends. White House advisers have said Trump has had discussions about preemptively pardoning himself and other family members, none of whom have been charged with any crimes, but that at this point he is not expected to do so. Bedingfield said Sunday Biden is planning to lay out a “positive, optimistic” vision for the country in his inaugural address on Wednesday and “try to turn the page on the divisiveness, and the hatred of the last four years” under Trump. “I think that’s what Americans all across the country want,” Bedingfield said. “They want a government that once again is focused on doing the right thing by them and helping them in their day-to-day lives.” Once in power, Biden plans to quickly overturn numerous Trump policies. Incoming White House chief of staff Ron Klain said Saturday night that Biden “is assuming the presidency in a moment of profound crisis for our nation. We face four overlapping and compounding crises: the COVID-19 crisis, the resulting economic crisis, the climate crisis, and a racial equity crisis.”
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By Polityk | 01/18/2021 | Повідомлення, Політика
У ПЦУ назвали міфом, що масові хрещенські купання є давньою українською традицією
«Деякі історики пов’язують такий звичай з росіянами, у яких було прийнято пірнати в холодну воду після лазні»
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By Gromada | 01/18/2021 | Повідомлення, Суспільство
В Україні зафіксували 3 034 нових випадки COVID-19 – МОЗ
В Україні протягом останньої доби виявили 3 034 нових випадки коронавірусної хвороби COVID-19, зокрема, захворіли 107 дітей та 87 медпрацівників, повідомив міністр охорони здоров’я Максим Степанов.
За його словами, за минулу добу шпиталізували 1 304 людини, одужали – 5 236. Померли – 67 людей.
За останню добу найбільша кількість підтверджених випадків зареєстрована у Миколаївській (323), місто Київ (301), Запорізькій (266), Київській (240) та Дніпропетровській (220) областях.
Протягом доби провели 13 247 тестуваень (зокрема методом ПЛР – 10 401, методом ІФА – 2 846). Загалом з початку пандемії проведено 5 964 388 ПЛР-тестувань.
За весь час пандемії в Україні захворіли 1 163 716 людини; одужали – 871 196; померли – 20 869 .
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By Gromada | 01/18/2021 | Повідомлення, Суспільство
