Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
New Orleans Immigration Crackdown Sparks Fear as Federal Arrests Intensify 
Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results 
Trump’s Name Appears on U.S. Institute of Peace Ahead of Rwanda–Congo Deal Signing 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
Taiwan Signals Openness to Renew Ties with Honduras as Election Unfolds 
During his campaign trail, president-elect Joe Biden has often touted uniting with his former Democratic rivals, a strategy that helped him win the presidency and the popular vote. As Biden prepares to appoint people to become part of his Cabinet, he has also weighed in on whether there are positions that could be taken up by his former rivals.
Speaking to NBC’s Lester Holt, Biden spoke about whether he would appoint his former rivals Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren to key positions in his Cabinet. The former president revealed that there is a significant representation of the progressive faction of the Democratic party in the Cabinet, but he did not dismiss the possibility. However, Biden suggested that Sanders and Warren are needed in the Senate as there are downsides to appointing a Democratic senator or member of the House. Thus, his two former rivals are better in the Senate to be able to push his agenda especially if the Democrats regain control by January.
“One thing is really critical, taking someone out of the Senate, taking someone out of the House, particularly a person of consequence, is a really difficult decision that would have to be made. I have a very ambitious, very progressive agenda, and it’s going to take really strong leaders in the House and Senate to get it done,” said Biden.
Sanders previously floated his interest in the Labor Secretary position. The progressive faction of the Democratic party has also lobbied Warren for Treasury Secretary. The position of treasury Secretary, Biden ultimately assigned to Janet Yellen, who has the support of both moderates and progressives. Other appointments that were announced were Antony Blinken as Secretary of State, Alejandro Mayorkas as Homeland Security Secretary, Avril Haines as Director of National Intelligence, John Kerry as US Climate Envoy, and Linda Thomas-Greenfield as US Ambassador to the United Nations.
Meanwhile, the president-elect and incoming first lady Dr. Jill Biden called in the nurses at Mercy Health Hospital in Muskegon, Michigan, to thank them for their efforts. Their call comes as the hospital’s intensive care unit has been hit with a spike in COVID-19 cases. Apart from thanking them, Biden also asked them what they need at this time, to which the nurses revealed that they are running short on nurses who could tend to the patients in the ICU.
