Networks call Georgia for Biden as security officials say vote was ‘secure’
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Your support makes all the difference.As Donald Trump continues to refuse conceding the 2020 presidential race to Joe Biden, the president-elect was said to have spoken with Senate Republicans who have begun to admit he should at least receive intelligence briefings that have so far been denied.
On Friday afternoon most networks called Georgia for Mr Biden and North Carolina for Mr Trump bringing their respective electoral college vote totals to 306 to 232.
US federal and state cybersecurity officials, meanwhile, have delivered a direct rebuke to Donald Trump, who continues to allege irregularities and widespread fraud without evidence.
Chris Krebs, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said the 3 November vote was “the most secure in history" in a report published Thursday, and added that Americans should trust the result. His agency had not find any evidence of ballots being lost, deleted or altered, he said.
Merkel says Berlin must keep working on relationship with US
Angela Merkel said on Monday that Joe Biden knew Germany well and that it was crucial to keep working on the relationship between the United States and Germany.
The chancellor said the partners needed to work together to tackle issues such as the coronavirus pandemic, climate change and terrorism.
Ms Merkel had a fraught relationship with the outgoing president, Donald Trump, who berated her over defence spending and other issues, sometimes in public.
Shares in Japan hit 30-year high thanks to ‘Biden bounce’ after US election result
Japanese shares jumped to a 30-year high after Joe Biden was named as the president-elect of the US, writes Isobel Frodsham.
It rose 2.6 per cent when the market opened at 9am on Monday (12am GMT) and later closed up 2.1 per cent at a level not seen since 1991.
Its gains were also down to its recent boom in car manufacturing from brands including Toyota.
Shares in Japan hit 30-year high thanks to ‘Biden bounce’ after US election result
Other markets in Asia, such as China’s CSI index and Hang Seng in Hong Kong, also saw gains
Coronavirus pandemic will not end without leadership, says WHO chief as he congratulates Joe Biden
The coronavirus pandemic will not end without leadership, says the World Health Organisation’s director general, as he congratulates Joe Biden for his election victory.
Covid pandemic will not end without leadership, says WHO chief as he congratulates Biden
The coronavirus pandemic will not end without leadership, says the World Health Organisation’s director general, as he congratulates Joe Biden for his election victory.
Stock exchange chief expects Biden to have ‘big’ impact on climate politics
The head of the London Stock Exchange believes Joe Biden’s election heralds the start of a new period in which climate change politics is taken more seriously.
David Schwimmer, asked if a new president would change the US' contribution to the climate debate, told the Green Horizon Summit: "Short answer is 'yes' - big change."
He added: "Huge impact in terms of having the US joining the effort to deal with climate change as opposed to being out there on its own.
"The timing is actually pretty remarkable in terms of the US leaving the Paris Agreement a couple of days ago and then president-elect Biden indicating that it will be one of his first actions in office [to re-join]."
Opinion: We have a new president – but does that mean a new America?
The storm has arrived and it’s pleasant – so far, writes Aja Hannah.
As it became clear that Joe Biden was going to win, thousands flocked to DC on Saturday afternoon, gathering in Black Lives Matter Plaza – or, really, wherever they could fit in the city – to celebrate. Champagne sales rocketed. Music was only halted to hear the Biden and Harris speeches. Roads were clogged well out into the suburbs, where residents partied from home late into the night, hooting and hollering and setting off fireworks.
Opinion: We have a new president – but does that mean a new America?
The air of joviality following Biden’s win continues like nervous laughter but all the evidence suggests a tumultuous time awaits the US
Republican election commissioner says counting votes ‘not a bad thing’
A Republican election commissioner in Philadelphia has dismissed claims of “rigging” by president Donald Trump, saying that “counting votes is not a bad thing”, writes Stuti Mishra.
It comes as a response to Mr Trump’s now infamous tweet to “STOP THE COUNT!” on 5 November — at a point when he was already behind in the vote tallying process, and an end to counting then would have seen him lose the election anyway.
Republican election commissioner says counting votes ‘not a bad thing’
One of three commissioners who ran Philadelphia election - and the only Republican - dismisses Trump’s ‘corruption’ claims
General Services Administration under pressure to recognise Biden victory
The General Services Adminisration (GSA), the US government agency that supports the management and smooth functioning of the American government, is under pressure to recognise Joe Biden’s election victory.
"America's national security and economic interests depend on the federal government signalling clearly and swiftly that the United States government will respect the will of the American people and engage in a smooth and peaceful transfer of power," Jen Psaki, a Biden transition aide, tweeted on Sunday.
The GSA is tasked with formally recognising Mr Biden as president-elect, which begins the transition. Until then Mr Biden’s team can’t access government funds or deal with the agencies to which it plans to appoint staff.
The GSA’s Donald Trump-appointed administrator, Emily Murphy, has not started the process and has given no guidance on when she will do so.
Mr Biden, who was elected the 46th president on Saturday, is taking steps to build a government despite questions about whether Mr Trump will offer the traditional assistance.
Mr Trump has refused to concede defeat, and signalled he plans to continue to challenge what he baselessly claims was a stolen election.
Meanwhile, Politico obtained a letter sent to the outgoing president’s team calling on him to set the transition in motion.
In it, former top officials for presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton and one former Republican state governor write: “We urge the Trump administration to immediately begin the post-election transition process and the Biden team to take full advantage of the resources available under the Presidential Transition Act.”
Trump awake and tweeting - normal service temporarily resumed
Donald Trump is tweeting about the stock market again (remember that, before all the “stolen election” stuff?).
He is as thrilled as the rest of us at news that Pfizer’s experimental coronavirus vaccine seems to work.
If you haven’t caught up on that story, you can read on below:
Pfizer coronavirus vaccine is 90% effective, interim data suggest
‘Today is a great day for science and humanity. We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most’
Trump immediately dressed in golf attire at Madame Tussauds following election defeat to Biden
Donald Trump’s waxwork replica at Madame Tussauds has been transformed into a golfer, to mark his defeat to Joe Biden in the presidential election, writes Joe Middleton.
Mr Trump was pictured playing golf in Virginia on Saturday as his Democrat rival for the presidency Joe Biden sealed a nail-biting election victory.
The former reality TV star’s waxwork figure was previously placed in a replica of the Oval Office in a suit and red tie.
Trump immediately dressed in golf attire at Madame Tussauds following election defeat to Biden
Donald Trump was pictured playing golf in Virginia on Saturday as his Democrat rival Joe Biden sealed nail-biting election victory
Low-level Trump staffers trying to discreetly find new jobs - report
A report claims that inside the White House, lower-tier staffers are trying to balance making sure they can pay their rent with putting on a brave face for their boss.
Axios reported unnamed administration aides as saying that while senior staff may be able to delay the process of finding new employement, the younger ones need the security of a paycheck much sooner.
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