‘Biden to drop transgender ban in military’
WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden is set to issue an executive order to reverse a Pentagon policy that largely bars transgender individuals from joining the military, dumping a ban ordered by Donald Trump in a tweet during his first year in office, a person briefed on the decision told The Associated Press.
Biden has been widely expected to overturn the Trump policy in his early days in office. The White House could announce the move as early as Monday, according to the person briefed on the decision.
The move to reverse the policy has the support of Biden’s newly confirmed defence secretary Lloyd Austin, who spoke of the need to overturn it during his Senate confirmation hearing last week.
MPS threatened ahead of impeachment trial
Federal law enforcement officials are examining a number of threats aimed at members of Congress as the second trial Trump nears, including ominous chatter about killing legislators or attacking them outside of the US Capitol, a US official told The Associated Press.
The threats, and concerns that armed protesters could return to sack the Capitol anew, have prompted the US Capitol Police and other federal law enforcement to insist thousands of National Guard troops remain in Washington as the Senate moves forward with plans for Trump’s trial, the official said on Sunday.
The shocking insurrection at the Capitol by a pro-trump mob prompted federal officials to rethink security in and around its landmarks, resulting in an unprecedented lockdown for Biden’s inauguration.
Biden, Macron vow to boost Us-france ties
President Biden sought to mend and bolster US’ strained ties with France in his first phone to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, as the two leaders pledged to work together on shared foreign policy priorities, including China, and the fights against Covid-19 pandemic and climate crisis.
Biden called Macron on Sunday and expressed his desire to strengthen bilateral ties. He also stressed his commitment to bolstering the transatlantic relationship, including through NATO and US-EU partnership.