Thanks for joining us this morning as we had a look at what happened overnight.

We're now pausing our coverage and will be back in a few hours with more news and analysis.

Image source, EPA

Ukraine's leader says the country's ongoing war with Russia "will end sooner" once Donald Trump becomes US president.

“It is certain that the war will end sooner with the policies of the team that will now lead the White House," Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne, adding he had a "constructive exchange" with Trump on a phone call after his election victory.

The conflict began after Russia launched a full-scale invasion into Ukraine in February 2022.

During Trump's election campaign, he regularly criticised the US government for spending billions on supporting Ukraine and pledged to end the conflict "within 24 hours" through a negotiated deal.

• Read more on Trump's relationship with Ukraine and why Zelensky is keen for the war to end next year

The UK should adopt a US-style free enterprise system for trade and move away from the European Union's socialist model, says a senior economic adviser to Donald Trump.

The UK is "caught in the middle" of these two models, Stephen Moore tells the BBC's Today programme, adding "Britain would be better off moving towards more of the American model of economic freedom".

Such a move would "spur the Trump administration's willingness" to negotiate a free trade agreement with the UK, Moore says.

During his campaign, Trump pledged to increase tariffs - a type of tax - on goods coming into the US, with tariffs of up to 20% on most countries, and 60% for China.

Could the UK get an exemption?

"I do think we have a special relationship with Britain," Moore says, adding Trump views Britain in a "very different way" to China.

On a possible UK-US free trade deal, Moore says there will be "internal debate within the new White House", but points out inflation and illegal immigration are the top priorities for Trump.

Michael Bristow
BBC World Service Asia Pacific editor

Image source, Reuters

Speaking at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Peru, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said the world faced turbulence and transformation. He warned against unilateralism and protectionism.

Trump has promised to levy tariffs of at least 60% on Chinese imports, a serious threat to China's economy.

Speaking in Hong Kong, the Chinese ambassador to Washington took a similar line.

Later on Saturday, Xi will meet the outgoing US President, Joe Biden - but the Chinese message is aimed at the man who'll replace him.

Image source, Reuters

China has unveiled new measures aimed at boosting its flagging economy, as it braces for a second Donald Trump presidency.

The country plans to tackle tens of billions of dollars of local government debt to prevent it being a drag on growth.

But Trump’s victory is now likely to hinder Xi Jinping’s plans to transform the country into a technology powerhouse – and further strain relations between the world’s two biggest economies.

Trump won the US election on a platform that promised steep import taxes, including tariffs as high as 60% on Chinese-made goods.

As the president-elect is set to head back to the Oval Office with a pledge to hammer Chinese imports, Beijing will have to ask itself whether its latest measures to boost its slowing economy will be enough.

• You can read more on how the new Trump administration could affect the Chinese economy in our in-depth analysis

Image source, Getty Images

US President Joe Biden met with the leaders of Japan and South Korea yesterday, ahead of his meeting with China's President Xi Jinping.

The meeting, aiming to strengthen their diplomatic and economic ties, took place at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) leaders' summit.

It was the first time Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met in person.

They announced the creation of a "secretariat" for the three countries to formalise the relationship and to make sure it's just "not a series of meetings," US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters.

Biden sees close ties among the three as a hedge against aggressive steps by China in the region, a view Beijing rejects.

Image source, Reuters

Today, Peruvian President Dina Boluarte will be welcoming Biden to the second day of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) leaders’ summit in Lima around 08:50 local time (13:50 GMT).

The summit is scheduled to kick off at 09:00 local time (14:00 GMT) and leaders will then have their picture taken at the end of the proceedings.

Biden will then head to his bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping at around 13:00 local time (18:00 GMT) approximately.

On Sunday, Biden will head to Manaus, Brazil where he will take part in a aerial tour of the Amazon in the late morning.

The president will then tour the Museum of the Amazon at around 12:50 local time (17:50 GMT). There he will deliver a speech before jetting off to Rio de Janeiro to meet with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ahead of the G20 Summit on Monday.

Image source, Reuters

President-elect Donald Trump has already announced several names for his cabinet, but some positions are yet to be filled, and the role of treasury secretary is one that everyone is watching.

Scott Bessent, a billionaire hedge fund manager who has become a major fundraiser and economic adviser to Trump, appears to be the leading candidate for the role, two sources familiar with the transition told the BBC's US partner CBS News earlier this week.

Another name at the forefront for the role is Robert Lighthizer, a free-trade sceptic who led the tariff war with China as the US trade representative during Trump's first term.

But at least three others may also be under consideration for the role: John Paulson, another megadonor from the hedge fund world; former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chair Jay Clayton; and Fox Business Network financial commentator Larry Kudlow, who ran Trump's national economic council during his first term.

• You can read more about who has been picked so far, and which positions are still vacant in our detailed explainer

Image source, Getty Images

A little bit more on one of the latest staff picks from the Trump camp.

The president-elect has nominated his election campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt as his White House press secretary.

Leavitt, 27, will be the youngest White House press secretary in US history, two years younger than Ron Ziegler who had the same role under Richard Nixon in 1969.

In his announcement overnight, Trump said: “Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator”.

The New Hampshire native interned for the White House press office during Trump’s first term as president while she was still in school.

After graduating in 2019, she joined as a presidential writer and later worked as assistant press secretary.

In 2022, she ran for Congress, campaigning on issues such as lower taxes and a tougher stance on illegal immigration. In January this year, she joined Trump's election campaign as his press secretary.

Image source, Reuters

Over the last few days we’ve been reporting on Trump's cabinet and staff picks ahead of his inauguration in January – some of whom will need to be confirmed by the Senate.

Here's a reminder of some of those chosen so far:

• Secretary of state: Florida senator Marco Rubio. He opposed Trump in the 2016 Republican primary
• Attorney general: Florida congressman Matt Gaetz. Some Senate Republicans have signalled their opposition to his nomination
• Chief of staff: Trump's campaign co-chair Susie Wiles, who has been dubbed "the ice maiden" by the president-elect
• Health secretary: Former independent presidential candidate and vaccine sceptic Robert F Kennedy Jr
• Defense secretary: Army veteran and Fox News host Pete Hegseth
• Homeland security: South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who was passed over to be Trump's running mate after she shared an anecdote about killing her pet dog

Rorey Bosotti
Live page editor

Image source, Getty Images

Good morning and welcome as we continue to cover the progress of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition back into the White House.

Trump is back in Florida today. He is expected to select more candidates to fill in the top positions in his cabinet.

Trump has already tapped several of his most loyal backers for leading roles, including Sen Marco Rubio, former Hawaii Rep Tulsi Gabbard and ex-Florida Rep Matt Gaetz.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping as they both attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) leaders' summit in Peru.

The meeting comes mere weeks before Trump is set to be inaugurated.

The president-elect won the US election on a platform that promised steep import taxes, including tariffs as high as 60% on Chinese-made goods.

Stick with us as we bring you the latest on the new Trump cabinet and Biden’s meeting with Xi Jinping.