CNN politics | Biden plans executive actions that would undo Trump’s policies

(CNN) – President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to reassert the United States’ leadership role on the global stage through a series of day-one executive actions that would mark a drastic turn from outgoing President Donald Trump’s policies.

Now that Biden has defeated Trump, his transition team is beginning to turn his campaign-trail promises into plans he can implement early in his presidency.

Biden’s first focus is likely to be the worsening coronavirus pandemic. He is set to name a 12-person coronavirus task force on Monday, two sources with knowledge of his plans said. Biden also said during the campaign that he will speak with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious diseases expert, before taking office.  —read more— 

CNN politics | ‘Her story is our story:’ Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sisters bask in Kamala Harris’ victory

(CNN) – Michelle Arrington was on a plane headed to a beach reunion with her Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority sisters Saturday when American history happened.

The Atlanta lawyer said she switched on her cellphone when she landed in Richmond, Virginia, saw a stream of 72 messages and “I thought ‘it has to be it.’ “

Kamala Harris had become the first woman, the first Black woman, the first South Asian — and yes, the first member of the storied Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority — elected as vice president.  –read more–

F1 | Hamilton wins wild race in Imola as Mercedes clinch seventh-straight constructors’ title

Lewis Hamilton spearheaded Mercedes claiming their record seventh consecutive constructors’ title at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, leading home team mate Valtteri Bottas and a delighted Daniel Ricciardo – but there was late race drama as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen retired from P2 after appearing to suffer a tyre issue, bringing out a Safety Car that led to a climactic race ending.

Bottas had enjoyed a strong start to the Imola race from pole position, leading into Turn 2 as Hamilton lost out to Verstappen on the run down to Tamburello on Lap 1 and moved to third.

But Mercedes’ decision to give Hamilton a long first stint paid dividends when Renault’s Esteban Ocon retired at the side of the track on Lap 29, the resultant Virtual Safety Car allowing Hamilton to pit from the lead – Bottas and Verstappen having boxed earlier in the race – and retain P1.  —read more—

sky sports F1 | Lewis Hamilton exclusive: Creating a lasting impact beyond breaking F1’s records

“You want to look back and say I was a part of something much bigger than myself, than my team, than the sport, and I did it with a whole group of people and a lot of force against us, but also a lot of force because there was many of us pushing in the same direction”

Lewis Hamilton has just become Formula 1’s new record holder for race victories and could, within a space of the next fortnight, also equal the record number of championships with a seventh world title.  —read more—

F1 | Bottas beats Hamilton to take pole at Imola as Verstappen survives Q2 scare to take 3rd

Beating Lewis Hamilton is no easy feat these days, but his Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas found a way to do just that at Imola as he took a sensational pole position for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

The Finn trailed Hamilton by just 0.031s after the first runs, but having topped both opening segments of qualifying, Bottas found the time when it mattered, lighting up the timesheets to take pole by 0.1s.

Mercedes were in a class of their own at the historic and picturesque Italian track, with Max Verstappen unable to get within half a second of the silver cars, but fortunate to get to Q3 at all after encountering a power issue in Q2.  —read more— 

CNN | High speed trains are close to doubling their speed

Japan’s first bullet train left Tokyo in 1964 running an average of 80 mph. High speed lines now run all over the world and the newest ones are pushing 370 mph.  —watch—