/Biden wins US election – follow live

Biden wins US election – follow live

(AFP via Getty Images)

Joe Biden has won the 2020 US presidential election.

Four nail-biting days after the election, Mr Biden finally amassed enough electoral college votes needed to win the White House. 

Mr Biden won Pennsylvania, pushing him over the 270 electoral college votes needed for the presidency.

The former vice president took over the lead from Mr Trump in the battleground states of Pennsylvania and Georgia, pushing him nearer to claiming the White House.

Protests have broken out in battleground states after Mr Trump claimed without evidence that the election was being “stolen” from him in an extraordinary speech which has been criticised by both Democrats and Republicans.

The long and often bitter campaign has been dominated by the coronavirus crisis and its effects on Americans and the economy. On Wednesday, the US set a record for daily confirmed Covid-19 cases in a pandemic that has killed more than 233,000 people in the country.

Follow the latest updates

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Biden takes Nevada after winning presidency

It may not matter all that much now but minutes after taking Pennsylvania to win the presidential election, Joe Biden was declared the winner in Nevada – another key 2020 swing state.

The win takes Mr Biden’s tally of electoral votes to 290 and widens the gap between himself and Donald Trump.

Conrad Duncan7 November 2020 18:19

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Obama congratulates Biden on ‘historic and decisive victory’

Former president Barack Obama has congratulated Joe Biden on a “historic and decisive” victory over Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

“I know he’ll do the job with the best interests of every American at heart, whether or not he had their vote,” Mr Obama said in a statement.

“So I encourage every American to give him a chance and lend him your support.”

Conrad Duncan7 November 2020 18:12

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Jeb Bush, one of Donald Trump’s rivals in the 2016 Republican primary, has become one of the first prominent GOP figures to congratulate Joe Biden on his win.

Conrad Duncan7 November 2020 18:05

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‘Everyone is so happy’: Asylum seekers stranded in Mexico celebrate Biden win

Asylum seekers in the Mexican border city of Matamoros are celebrating Joe Biden’s victory in the US presidential election today, with the hope of seeing an end to the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies.

“We’re all going to celebrate today!” Dairon Elisondo, a Cuban asylum seeker who works as a doctor in the Matamoros camp, told Reuters.

“Everyone is so happy.”

Under Donald Trump, US law has been progressively tightened to the point that it is now all but impossible to apply for asylum along the US southern border.

Dozens spent the election night singing hymns, praying for a Biden victory, while others posed outside their tents with “Vote Biden-Harris” signs.

Mr Biden has promised to end the “Remain in Mexico” policy, officially called Migrant Protection Protocols, or MPP, although there are few details so far on how he will go about it.

Conrad Duncan7 November 2020 18:02

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UK prime minister Boris Johnson has congratulated Joe Biden on winning the 2020 US presidential election

Conrad Duncan7 November 2020 17:54

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Can Trump run in 2024 now he has lost to Biden?

It may not be the first thing on many people’s minds tonight but what would happen if Donald Trump tried to run for president again in 2024?

Our reporter, Chantal da Silva, has taken a look at what Mr Trump could do after he leaves office:

Conrad Duncan7 November 2020 17:51

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Biden to address nation tonight

US president-elect Joe Biden is expected to address the nation after 8pm on Saturday night, a campaign aide has told Reuters.

Conrad Duncan7 November 2020 17:44

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Nancy Pelosi and Kamala Harris’ sister post symbolic messages of support

The speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, has congratulated Joe Biden “on his victory” and Kamala Harris “for making history”. 

Meanwhile, Ms Harris’ sister, Maya, tweeted a photo of the vice president-elect’s mother. 

“Mommy would be beyond proud,” Maya said.  

Sam Hancock7 November 2020 17:39

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Harris shares moment she celebrated with Biden

Kamala Harris has taken to Twitter to share the moment she spoke to Joe Biden for the first time after learning they had won the 2020 election.

“We did it,” Ms Harris tells Mr Biden, beore adding: “You”re going to be the next president of the United States.”

Sam Hancock7 November 2020 17:34

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Celebrations erupt across America as Biden named next president

From New York to Los Angeles, cheering, screaming and honking erupted in the streets as Joe Biden was projected to be 46th president of the United States.

The Associated Press was the first media outlet to out its official alert projecting the final election result at 11.27am EST (4.27pm GMT) on Saturday and video quickly began circulating of major cities across the country breaking out in celebration.

Black Live Matter Plaza in Washington DC flooded with as news spread like wildfire and other news orginisations like Fox News and CNN began following the projection for a Biden-Harris White House.

People were seen dancing on balconies, hugging on sidewalks and crying in their cars.

Sam Hancock7 November 2020 17:27