Security up as Biden swearing-in nears

shington, January 16

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US law enforcement officials are gearing up for pro-Trump marches in all 50 state capitals this weekend, erecting barriers and calling in their National Guards to prevent the kind of violent attack that rattled the nation on January 6.

The FBI has warned police agencies of possible armed protests at all 50 state capitols starting January 16 through President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20, fuelled by supporters of President Donald Trump who believe his false claims of electoral fraud.

Vidur is Covid adviser

• Biden has named health policy expert Vidur Sharma as testing adviser to his Covid response team.
• Seema Verma, Administrator of Centres of Medicare and Medicaid Services in Trump administration, has resigned.
• Sameera Fazili will be the Deputy Director of National Economic Council.

Michigan, Virginia, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Washington are among the states that have activated their National Guards to strengthen security, while Texas took the step of closing its Capitol from Saturday through Inauguration Day.

Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said in a statement late Friday that intelligence indicated “violent extremists” may seek to exploit planned armed protests in Austin to “conduct criminal acts.” — Reuters

New sanctions on Iran

The US has imposed fresh sanctions on firms in Iran, China and the UAE for doing business with Iran and on three Iranian entities over conventional arms proliferation.