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Biden’s inner circle get key cabinet posts as John Kerry named climate tsar Biden’s inner circle gets key cabinet posts as John Kerry named climate tsar
(32 minutes later)
Antony Blinken (second left) and John Kerry (right) are among the names announced for top roles John Kerry signed the Paris climate agreement in 2016
Former US secretary of state John Kerry will act as "climate tsar" when US President-elect Joe Biden takes office.Former US secretary of state John Kerry will act as "climate tsar" when US President-elect Joe Biden takes office.
He was one of several people named for top positions by the Biden transition team on Monday. Mr Kerry was one of several people named for top positions by the Biden transition team on Monday.
Other key picks include Avril Haines as the first woman to lead intelligence, and long-time aide Antony Blinken as secretary of state - the most important foreign policy position.Other key picks include Avril Haines as the first woman to lead intelligence, and long-time aide Antony Blinken as secretary of state - the most important foreign policy position.
It comes as calls are growing for Donald Trump to concede the election.It comes as calls are growing for Donald Trump to concede the election.
He has made unsubstantiated claims of widespread electoral fraud and is continuing to pursue legal challenges over the result.He has made unsubstantiated claims of widespread electoral fraud and is continuing to pursue legal challenges over the result.
How is President Trump challenging the result?How is President Trump challenging the result?
Can Trump overturn the election result?Can Trump overturn the election result?
'Overvoting' and other US fraud claims fact-checked'Overvoting' and other US fraud claims fact-checked
Mr Biden is projected to beat President Trump by 306 votes to 232 when the US electoral college meets to formally confirm the winner on 14 December. This is far above the 270 votes he needs.Mr Biden is projected to beat President Trump by 306 votes to 232 when the US electoral college meets to formally confirm the winner on 14 December. This is far above the 270 votes he needs.
In a statement following the announcement on Monday, Mr Biden said: "I need a team ready on Day One to help me reclaim America's seat at the head of the table, rally the world to meet the biggest challenges we face, and advance our security, prosperity, and values. This is the crux of that team." In a statement following the announcement on Monday, Mr Biden said: "I need a team ready on day one to help me reclaim America's seat at the head of the table, rally the world to meet the biggest challenges we face, and advance our security, prosperity, and values. This is the crux of that team."
Some of the positions require confirmation in the US Senate.Some of the positions require confirmation in the US Senate.
What do we know about Biden's picks? What will John Kerry do?
Mr Kerry, who signed the 2015 Paris climate agreement on behalf of the US before President Trump chose to withdraw from it, was chosen for the role of special presidential envoy for climate. Mr Kerry was chosen for the role of special presidential envoy for climate.
In a tweet following the news, Mr Kerry wrote: "America will soon have a government that treats the climate crisis as the urgent national security threat it is. I'm proud to partner with the President-elect, our allies, and the young leaders of the climate movement to take on this crisis as the President's Climate Envoy." The Biden transition team said the position would see him "fight climate change full-time". He is also set to be the first official dedicated to climate change to sit on the National Security Council.
Mr Kerry was secretary of state during Barack Obama's second term as president. A veteran Democrat politician, he lost to incumbent Republican George W Bush in the 2004 presidential election. Mr Kerry signed the Paris climate agreement on behalf of the US in 2016. The deal committed countries to working to limit the rise in global temperature.
He endorsed Mr Biden to be the Democratic Party's candidate in the 2020 race, and joined him on the campaign trail. Under Mr Trump, the US this month became the first country to formally withdraw from the agreement. But Mr Biden has said he plans to re-join the accord as soon as possible.
Our Planet Matters: Climate change explained
Under the rules, all that is required is a month's notice and the US should be back in the fold.
In a tweet following the announcement on Monday, Mr Kerry wrote: "America will soon have a government that treats the climate crisis as the urgent national security threat it is. I'm proud to partner with the President-elect, our allies, and the young leaders of the climate movement to take on this crisis as the President's Climate Envoy."
Mr Kerry previously served as secretary of state during Barack Obama's second term as president. A veteran Democrat politician, he lost to incumbent Republican George W Bush in the 2004 presidential election.
He was a senator for 28 years and chairman of the foreign relations committee.
He endorsed Mr Biden to be the Democratic Party's candidate in the 2020 race and joined him on the campaign trail.
What about the other roles?
Mr Blinken was nominated as secretary of state. The 58-year-old is a long-time adviser to the president-elect. He was deputy secretary of state and deputy national security adviser during the Obama administration, in which Mr Biden served as vice-president.Mr Blinken was nominated as secretary of state. The 58-year-old is a long-time adviser to the president-elect. He was deputy secretary of state and deputy national security adviser during the Obama administration, in which Mr Biden served as vice-president.
He is expected to manage a Biden foreign policy agenda that will emphasise re-engaging with Western allies.He is expected to manage a Biden foreign policy agenda that will emphasise re-engaging with Western allies.
Jake Sullivan, Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Antony Blinken are all tipped for positions Biden has chosen Jake Sullivan, Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Antony Blinken for key roles
Other selections included Avril Haines as director of national intelligence, and Alejandro Mayorkas as the first Latino secretary of homeland security.Other selections included Avril Haines as director of national intelligence, and Alejandro Mayorkas as the first Latino secretary of homeland security.
Jake Sullivan - formerly a top aide to Hillary Clinton, President Barack Obama and Mr Biden - was named as White House national security adviser. Jake Sullivan was named as White House national security adviser. Mr Sullivan served as Mr Biden's national security adviser during Mr Obama's second term.
Mr Sullivan served as Mr Biden's national security adviser during Mr Obama's second term. Long-time diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield was nominated US ambassador to the UN. She also served under President Obama, including as assistant secretary of state for African affairs between 2013 and 2017.
Long-time diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield was nominated as US ambassador to the UN. She also served under President Obama, including as assistant secretary of state for African affairs between 2013 and 2017.
What about the calls for Trump to concede?What about the calls for Trump to concede?
President Trump is continuing to refuse to concede the election. He has made repeated allegations of widespread electoral fraud, without providing any evidence. President Trump is continuing to refuse. He has been pursuing so-far fruitless legal challenges in several states to try to overturn his loss, but calls are growing for him to accept defeat.
He has been pursuing legal challenges in several states in a bid to overturn his loss to Mr Biden, but calls are growing for him to accept defeat.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a prominent Trump ally, called the president's legal team a "national embarrassment".Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a prominent Trump ally, called the president's legal team a "national embarrassment".
"I have been a supporter of the president's. I voted for him twice. But elections have consequences, and we cannot continue to act as if something happened here that didn't happen," he told ABC's This Week programme on Sunday."I have been a supporter of the president's. I voted for him twice. But elections have consequences, and we cannot continue to act as if something happened here that didn't happen," he told ABC's This Week programme on Sunday.
High-profile Trump supporter Stephen Schwarzman, the CEO of investment company Blackstone, also said it was time for Mr Trump to accept he lost.High-profile Trump supporter Stephen Schwarzman, the CEO of investment company Blackstone, also said it was time for Mr Trump to accept he lost.
"Like many in the business community, I am ready to help President-elect Biden and his team as they confront the significant challenges of rebuilding our post-Covid economy," he said in a statement reported by US media."Like many in the business community, I am ready to help President-elect Biden and his team as they confront the significant challenges of rebuilding our post-Covid economy," he said in a statement reported by US media.
How to move on after the US electionHow to move on after the US election
Maryland's Republican Governor Larry Hogan told CNN on Sunday that the Trump camp's continued efforts to overturn the election results were "beginning to look like we're a banana republic". Maryland's Republican Governor Larry Hogan told CNN that the Trump camp's continued efforts to overturn the election results were "beginning to look like we're a banana republic".
Some Republican lawmakers have also moved to acknowledge Mr Trump's defeat in the election.Some Republican lawmakers have also moved to acknowledge Mr Trump's defeat in the election.
Michigan Representative Fred Upton told CNN the voters in his battleground state "spoke" by choosing Mr Biden, while North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer said it was "past time to start a transition".
On Twitter on Sunday, Carl Bernstein, one of the reporters who exposed the Watergate scandal that ended Richard Nixon's presidency, named 21 Republican senators who he said had "privately expressed their disdain for Trump".
He said their "public silence has helped enable Trump's most grievous conduct - including undermining and discrediting the US" and the electoral system.
What's the latest with the challenges?What's the latest with the challenges?
The Trump campaign has lost a slew of lawsuits contesting results from the election, and its latest efforts focus on stopping the swing states that handed Mr Biden his win certifying the results - an essential step for the Democrat to be formally declared victor.The Trump campaign has lost a slew of lawsuits contesting results from the election, and its latest efforts focus on stopping the swing states that handed Mr Biden his win certifying the results - an essential step for the Democrat to be formally declared victor.
The president's latest legal setback came on Saturday when a judge dismissed his attempt to have millions of postal votes in Pennsylvania invalidated.The president's latest legal setback came on Saturday when a judge dismissed his attempt to have millions of postal votes in Pennsylvania invalidated.
In a scathing ruling, Judge Matthew Brann said his court had been presented with "strained legal arguments without merit and speculative accusations".In a scathing ruling, Judge Matthew Brann said his court had been presented with "strained legal arguments without merit and speculative accusations".
The move paves the way for Pennsylvania to certify Mr Biden's win on Monday. However, the Trump campaign is appealing against the ruling.The move paves the way for Pennsylvania to certify Mr Biden's win on Monday. However, the Trump campaign is appealing against the ruling.
Also on Saturday, the Trump campaign called for another recount in Georgia, a day after a by-hand recount confirmed Mr Biden's win in the state.
In Michigan, Republican officials wrote to the state's electoral board to request a two-week delay in certifying the results.
But the Michigan Department of State said delays and audits were not permitted by law.
In Wisconsin, election officials have accused Trump supporters of obstructing the state's recount of votes. They said observers for Mr Trump were in some cases challenging every single ballot to deliberately slow down proceedings.
If the recount is not concluded by 1 December - the deadline for Wisconsin to certify its votes - the way is open for the Trump camp to pursue a lawsuit.
What happens now?What happens now?
What Trump could do after leaving the White HouseWhat Trump could do after leaving the White House
Making history - the first woman vice-presidentMaking history - the first woman vice-president
How is President Trump challenging the result?How is President Trump challenging the result?
What Biden's victory means for rest of worldWhat Biden's victory means for rest of world
Election results in fullElection results in full