The choice is apparently between a true radical or more traditional neocon with no diplomatic experience. “Aides to President-elect Donald Trump are focusing on former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton as the leading candidates to be the next secretary of state, two people familiar with the process said. The choice between the two would force Mr. Trump to choose between Mr. Giuliani, a longtime friend and ally in New York, and Mr. Bolton, a hawkish conservative diplomat who called last year for the U.S. to bomb Iran. A final decision could be several weeks away, these people said.” (WSJ http://on.wsj.com/2g9a5fl)
From COP 22 in Marrakech…China and other countries will stay committed to the Paris Agreement on climate change, irrespective of what the next U.S. administration decides to do, the outgoing U.S. climate envoy said Monday. Jonathan Pershing told reporters at U.N. climate talks in Morocco he doesn’t know what President-elect Donald Trump’s “outlook” on climate policy will be. But Pershing said his Chinese counterpart, Xie Zhenhua, told him that China intends to move ahead regardless. “Of course they are going to move forward,” he said. “I’m hearing the same from the Europeans. I’m hearing the same from the Brazilians. I’m hearing the same from Mexico, and from Canada, and from smaller nations like Costa Rica and from Colombia.” (ABC http://abcn.ws/2g98DK5)
ICC Sets Sight on US Torture in Afghanistan…The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Monday that she had a “reasonable basis to believe” that American soldiers committed war crimes in Afghanistan, including torture. The international prosecutor has been considering whether to begin a full-fledged investigation into potential war crimes in Afghanistan for years. In Monday’s announcement, the prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, signaled that a full investigation was likely. Still, the prosecutor did not announce a final decision on an investigation, which would have to be approved by judges, and it is unlikely that the United States will cooperate. (NYT http://nyti.ms/2g9beDL)
Smoggy shutdown...Iran shut schools and apologised to tourists Monday as its cities were hit by choking levels of air pollution. (AFP https://yhoo.it/2fS7jcX)
Fact of the day: The U.N. weather agency says 2016 is set to break the record for the hottest year since measurements began in the 19th century. (AP https://yhoo.it/2f9VCLc)