USA

Washington, Nov 18 (PTI) The transfer of power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden's administration would be "orderly" and happen "right on time," according to a top Republican leader and Senator Mitch McConnell.

Last week, the mainstream media declared Biden as the winner of the presidential election after the 77-year-old former vice president crossed the mandatory 270 electoral votes out of the 538-member Electoral College.

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called on the Group of 20 (G20) countries to fill the financing gap of 28 billion U.S. dollars needed to fund the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-Accelerator) and its COVAX facility.

In a letter to G20 leaders before they meet on Nov. 21, the UN secretary-general said that "as we tackle this unprecedented pandemic, the world needs unprecedented leadership that is united in its quest to respond to the crisis and recover better."

Washington, Nov 18 (PTI) China has no theological basis to pick the next Dalai Lama, according to a top US diplomat, asserting that the Tibetan Buddhists have successfully picked their spiritual leader for hundreds of years.

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Boeing on Tuesday released its biennial World Air Cargo Forecast (WACF), predicting demand for 2,430 freighters over the next 20 years, including 930 new production freighters and 1,500 freighters converted from passenger airplanes.

The forecast reflected COVID-19 impacts and opportunities as well as substantial long-term demand for freighters over the next two decades enabled by a rebound in global trade and long-term growth, the WACF said.

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged governments worldwide to increase digital connectivity in their COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery plans.

"I urge all governments to make sure that your response and recovery plans include increasing digital connectivity in a way that is affordable, safe and inclusive," the UN chief said in his video message to the closing of the 2020 Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

Washington, Nov 18 (PTI) US President-elect Joe Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris have received a briefing from the national security experts about the diplomatic, defence and intelligence challenges facing the country.

The US government agency that launches the transition process - the General Services Administration (GSA), headed by a Trump appointee - has not yet recognised Democrats Biden and Harris as winners of the November 3 presidential election.

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Representing a client inside a courtroom for the first time in nearly three decades, Rudy Giuliani showed some rust as he tried to make the case that President Donald Trump has been robbed of re-election.

The former federal prosecutor and New York City mayor, who has taken over Trump’s efforts to overturn the election results, entered a courthouse in the small Pennsylvania city of Williamsport on Tuesday with a few dozen Trump supporters cheering him from across the street.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller said Tuesday the U.S. will reduce troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan by mid-January, asserting that the decision fulfills President Donald Trump’s pledge to bring forces home from America’s long wars even as Republicans and U.S. allies warn of the dangers of withdrawing before conditions are right.

NEW YORK (AP) — Now at Amazon.com: insulin and inhalers.

The retail colossus opened an online pharmacy Tuesday that allows customers to order medication or prescription refills, and have them delivered to their front door in a couple of days.

The potential impact of Amazon’s arrival in the pharmaceutical space rippled through that sector immediately. The stocks of CVS Health Corp., Walgreens and Rite Aid all tumbled Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators on Tuesday allowed emergency use of the first rapid coronavirus test that can be performed entirely at home and delivers results in 30 minutes.

The announcement by the Food and Drug Administration represents an important step in U.S. efforts to expand testing options for COVID-19 beyond health care facilities and testing sites. However, the test will require a prescription, likely limiting its initial use.

The FDA granted emergency authorization to the single-use test kit from Lucira Health, a California manufacturer.