And i want to thank senator durbin in absentia for his very kind introduction. It is truly the honor of a lifetime to appear before this committee as president elect biden said nominee to be secretary of state. And its an honor that carry special significance for me for two reasons. First, as you noted, i had the privilege of serving as the democratic staff director of this committee for six years, working alongside distinguished group of senators, including several still on the committee today, to advance american diplomacy and safeguard the interests of the American People. That experience gave me an abiding respect for this committee, for its finest bipartisan traditions, for the caliber of its members and staff , for the essential work it does to strengthen u. S. Leadership around the world. If i have the honor of being a confirmed, those lessons that i learned in my years with this committee will guide my approach to our Work Together. The second point of significance for me is a
[inaudible conversations] the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee will come to order. We have an important hearing this afternoon, obviously, as we talk about the president elects nomination of antony j. Blinken to be secretary of state, and well get to that very quickly. Every time im sworn in for a new term, as a matter of personal privilege, for just two minutes, every time im sworn in for a new term, i kind of think back. As i start my 41st year as a member of a senate body, ive learned some things over that period of time. I spent 28 years in our state senate, over two decades leading it, and now 13 years here. Some things ive learned, if i can make, very briefly, an observation, if we treat each other with kindness and respect, we get things done. One of the best friends i had during my time in the state senate was the democrat leader. Were still close personal friends. My wife and i stay with him when we travel to north idaho. He consults with me frequently and give
The reporters we will update you with the latest numbers in and when this is over, the state. 39,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 96 we will all, continue, to thrive. Have died just yesterday bringing the total death toll in california now to more than 1500. The deadliest day so far came is so irresistible, youll wanna eat them anywhere, wednesday when there were 115 so dont resist pop em outside, or on the go, who died in one day. Or on the way home pop my 100 allwhitemeat classic or spicy popcorn chicken combo for just 5. 99. Right here in the bay area there are currently more than 7000 confirmed cases of covid 19 with 243 deaths. Half 1 Million People have been tested for coronavirus here in the state and for the first time california has cleared its backlog of tests. That backlog reached 60,000 earlier this month and some people waited nearly 2 weeks or results of the test which slow down treatment. The forecast for warm weather is attracting more and more people back outside
And washington has said they could withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in money thats meant for the puerto rican government and thats for the puerto rican people in till this political crisis is resolved in a lot of people on the streets here said this was about someone that they viewed as a corrupt governor that was. Hard to receive you know whos now out of office but they also said this was about health and Education Services that they want and now Many Puerto Rican cyr on the streets are saying that they took to the streets by the hundreds of thousands of people to call for a new governor and they got one now too since the one before is out of office they called for change theyre now asking is this the change they really wanted still ahead on the u. S. President s visit to a city scott by Mass Shootings but protest to say who isnt welcome and why another day and breaks it could be. What severe food shortages. Hello there watching very closely typhoon kima now this storm system
Much. Ok lots more ground still to cover for you here on aljazeera including venezuelan government supporters are on the streets also ahead. The u. N. Raises the alarmist gun battles break out in the yemeni city of aden between separatist fighters and proGovernment Forces. Have a very unsettled picture across much of europe still got some very strong thunderstorms out times a huge amounts of cash coming in as you can see and in particular have seen some very heavy rain across the line of the alps but also into northern italy and in just. Reports of a landslide with flooding to the northern lombardi region. This morning the 4 calls as we head on it through thursday should be clearing. Into 0 going to warm day 27. 00 but youll notice there is another system here just waiting in the wings out of the atlantic already beginning to kick those northern coastal areas of portugal heading across eventually cross into spain but at the moment but a reprieve for london and paris and then weve got m