Senate confirms Biden confidant Antony Blinken as secretary of state Print this article
The Senate approved President Biden’s choice to lead the State Department, Antony Blinken, in a fast-tracked vote to round out the top ranks of the new president’s national security team.
Blinken is expected to begin work immediately as the new administration faces several global challenges, including an Iran that has shown signs of moving ahead with its nuclear arms program while causing trouble in the Middle East, an increasingly aggressive and defiant China, and a Russian president in Vladimir Putin who has shown continued willingness to attack the United States through cyberspace and protesters at home with police batons or self-ordered prison sentences. But the list does not end there, and Biden s top diplomat will be his point man around the world as the president tries to bring about the unity he says is needed at home while also trying to enact his ambitious left-leaning agenda
Biden faces uncertain outlook for quick confirmation of Cabinet nominees as some Republicans urge caution
President-elect Joe Biden has been moving swiftly to fill out much of his Cabinet. Whether the Senate will do the same is another question.
Biden faces the tricky task of navigating a narrowly divided Senate with competing factions within his own party, calls by conservative senators to bring the nomination process to a slow grind all with the added complication of the hotly contested Georgia runoff races making it impossible for the Senate to formally organize until the outcome is clear.
Moreover, some Republican senators have little interest in beginning the confirmation process in January with President Donald Trump refusing to concede the race, meaning Biden could have a difficult time getting some nominees confirmed on his first day on the job, as has been customary for his predecessors.
Biden Cabinet: Uncertain outlook for quick confirmation of nominees as some Republicans urge caution cnn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cnn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Sudan: U.S. provides financial facilities to clear World Bank arrears
December 16, 2020
December 15, 2020 (KHARTOUM) – The United States will provide financial facilities to support Sudan’s debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, said the Sudanese finance minister in a statement written in Arabic and English released on Tuesday.
In the Arabic version, Heba Mohamed Ali stated that these facilities exceed one billion U.S. dollars but in the English one she only said that Washington would “facilitate the first instalment that will support Sudan on its road to debt relief”.
According to the HIPC process, 44% of the debt relief is funded by the IMF, and the remaining amount is provided by bilateral creditors.
U S provides Sudan with financial facilities to clear World Bank arrears: minister - Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan sudantribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sudantribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.