Networks call Georgia for Biden as security officials say vote was ‘secure’

Joe Biden’s victory speech in full

Here is the full transcript of president-elect Joe Biden’s victory speech, where he pledges to unify the United States:

Boris Johnson congratulates Biden

British prime minister Boris Johnson has congratulated Joe Biden for his US election victory.  

He said: "I congratulate president-elect Biden very much on his victory and, of course, I congratulate Kamala Harris on being the first female vice president, as she will become, in the history of the United States.  

"The United States is our closest and most important ally, and that has been the case president after president, prime minister after prime minister - it won't change.  

"I look forward very much to working with President Biden and his team on a lot of crucial stuff for us in the weeks and months ahead: tackling climate change, trade, international security, many, many other issues." 

Biden’s speech hailed as best yet

Celebrities, politicians and members of the public have praised Joe Biden’s first speech as president-elect, with some calling it the best he has ever made.

His conciliatory words were widely lauded on social media, where commentators commended the speech, which urged Americans to come together and “restore the soul of America”, for its unifying message.

Here are some of the best comments, including from retired basketball player Earvin Magic Johnson:

Celebrations erupt across US as news breaks of Biden’s win

Crowds flooded the streets across the US to celebrate as news broke of Joe Biden’s win, particularly in the battleground key states that have carried the Democrat into the White House.

From Philadelphia and New York to Chicago and Atlanta, crowds celebrated Trump’s defeat and hoped for a new political era in America.

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Israeli PM congratulates Biden – but Trump Twitter picture remains

Twelve hours after news networks in the US called Joe Biden the victor in the race for the White House, Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered his congratulations to Mr Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris.

In a tweet, Mr Netanyah pointed to his “long and warm personal relationship” with the president-elect and described him as a “great friend of Israel”.

Here is the full story: 

Making the White House dog-friendly again

Joe Biden will be bringing dogs back into the White House for the first time in four years.

The president-elect owns two German Shepherds, Champ and Major.

Donald Trump does not have a dog, and told a rally in 2019 the idea of owning one seemed “phony”.

“I wouldn’t mind having one, honestly, but I don’t have any time. How would I look walking a dog on the White House lawn?” he said.

“I don’t know, I don’t feel good. Feels a little phony to me.”

Here is the story: 

Iran's president calls on Biden to return to nuclear deal

Iran's president has called on Joe Biden to "compensate for past mistakes" and return the US to Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, a state-run news agency reported on Sunday.

Hassan Rouhani's comments mark the highest-level response from Iran to Mr Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris clinching the election.

"Now, an opportunity has come up for the next US administration to compensate for past mistakes and return to the path of complying with international agreements through respect of international norms," the state-run IRNA news agency quoted him as saying.

Here is Donald Trump announcing the move in May 2018:

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend have celebrated president-elect Joe Biden’s win by driving through the streets of Los Angeles and cheering at passersby.

In a short Instagram video, the couple can be seen standing through the roof of a large black car, laughing and cheering as they are driven slowly through a crowded street in West Hollywood.

Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel has reacted to Joe Biden's election victory, tweeting that his government recognised "the people of the United States has chosen a new direction".

"We believe in the possibility of constructive bilateral relations respecting one another's differences," he wrote.

Incumbent US president Donald Trump unravelled much of his predecessor Barack Obama's 2014-2016 detente with Cuba, reverting instead to a decades-old policy of seeking to choke its economy in order to force democratic change.

Progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would not say she is ready to negotiate with moderate Republicans even after president-elect Joe Biden used his victory speech to urge the parties to seek compromise.

Asked if she would seek common ground on legislation with “moderate” Republicans, the soon-to-be sophomore member did not say yes.