US reports another record increase in coronavirus cases

The United States has reported a record increase in coronavirus cases for a fourth consecutive day with at least 131,420 new infections, bringing the country’s total caseload to about 9.91 million.  

Seventeen states reported a record one-day increase on Saturday, while 14 states reported record daily numbers of hospitalised patients.  

The number of deaths nationwide was more than 1,000 for a fifth consecutive day on Saturday, according to a Reuters tally.  

Based on a seven-day average, the US is reporting over 100,000 new cases daily, more than the combined average for India and France, two of the worst affected countries in Asia and Europe. 

Protesters gather at Trump’s golf club as race called

Several hundred people gathered outside Donald Trump’s Virgina golf club when the race was called for Joe Biden.  

The crowd includes dozens of Biden supporters celebrating his win, singing, “Hey hey hey, goodbye” and chanting, “Lock him up!” — a chant frequently heard at Trump rallies, directed at people he doesn’t like.  

While dozens of Trump supporters also turned up, many waving large Trump flags and chanting, “We love Trump!”  

Mr Trump re-entered the White House wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, looking glum with a mobile phone in his hand.  

Biden supporters gathered and celebrated loudly near the White House. 

Rap song ‘F**k Donald Trump’ shoots to top of charts

Released in 2016 following Trump’s election, the song, by LA-based rapper YG, went to the top of iTunes download chart in the US on Saturday, after the news of Joe Biden’s victory.  

Netanyahu congratulates Biden – but Twitter pic with Trump remains

Israeli prime minister has counted Donald Trump as one of his closest allies during his tenure – and vice versa. The US president has allowed many of Mr Netanyahu’s long-sought after aims to come to fruition, most importantly his controversial recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel – a move which led to the deaths of dozens of people in protests against the move. 

With Biden officially winning the US election on Saturday morning US eastern time, Netanyahu has taken until Saturday morning Israeli time to congratulate him – far later than most other key world leaders. 

Tweeting congratulations to both Biden and vice-president elect Kamala Harris, Netanyahu said: “Joe, we’ve had a long & warm personal relationship for nearly 40 years, and I know you as a great friend of Israel. I look forward to working with both of you to further strengthen the special alliance between the U.S. and Israel.”

But he followed up with a tweet thanking Trump for “the friendship you have shown the state of Israel and me personally, for recognizing Jerusalem and the Golan, for standing up to Iran, for the historic peace accords and for bringing the American-Israeli alliance to unprecedented heights.”

And his Twitter banner pic remains one of him and his friend at the White House. One wonders how long that will endure. 

SNL opens with ‘Macho Man’ Trump’s loss and Biden-Harris victory speeches

Hours after Joe Biden and Kamala Harris delivered their victory remarks following the results of the 2020 presidential election, the first post-election Saturday Night Live episode opened with Jim Carrey and Maya Rudolph parodying the president-elect and vice-president-elect making their own speeches.

“We did it,” he said as the new president-elect. “Can you believe it? I honestly kind of can’t. It’s been so long since something good happened. … I’ve never felt so alive, which is ironic because I’m not that alive.”

The actor, as president-elect Biden, also revived his Ace Ventura character to send a message to Donald Trump: “There are situations in life, and this is one of them, where there must be a winner and – a loser.”

Republicans drop Arizona voter fraud lawsuit following Biden’s win

Republicans on Saturday dropped a lawsuit in Arizona regarding voting ballots filled in with Sharpies, the Arizona Republic reported. 

Voters sued Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, and other county officials over allegations that they purposely gave out Sharpies to residents to use when filling out their ballots. The lawsuit alleged this was done to make the ballots unreadable. 

The Trump campaign, which has claimed voter fraud has happened in battleground states President Donald Trump lost, latched onto this lawsuit. 

In response to the claims, Maricopa County tweeted: “Sharpies are not a problem for our tabulation equipment, and the offset columns on ballots ensure that bleed through won’t impact your vote.”

Secretary of State General Mark Brnovich, a Republican, called for an investigation into the claims and later determined there was no proof to the allegations. 

“Based on correspondence and conversations with Maricopa County officials, we are now confident that the use of Sharpie markers did not result in disenfranchisement for Arizona voters,” he tweeted on Thursday. “We appreciate the county’s prompt insight and assurances to address public concerns.”

Defendants dropped the lawsuit on Saturday following the news that Joe Biden was projected to win the 2020 election. 

‘My dear friend’: Kamala Harris remembers late Beau Biden in victory speech

In her remarks to the nation after the Joe Biden and Kamala Harris ticket was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election, the California senator mentioned her close relationship with Beau Biden, the president-elect’s son who died following a brain cancer diagnosis in 2015.

“While I first knew Joe as vice president, I really got to know him as the father who loved Beau, my dear friend, who we remember here today,” she said.

‘Get Rudy Giuliani off TV’: Murdoch’s NY Post says math ‘near-impossible’ for Trump to win re-election

The New York Post’s editorial board has called for Donald Trump to behave with “dignity in the face of likely defeat” as results from the 2020 presidential election show that it is “near impossible” for the president to win his re-election bid against Democratic candidate Joe Biden, who has been declared president-elect.

In an editorial column published on Friday, NewsCorp’s daily newspaper said that the president’s “legacy is secure” enough to mount a 2024 campaign – on the condition that he “quits the conspiracy-addled talk of a ‘stolen’ election.”

Prime minister of Israel congratulates Biden on election win

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has congratulated Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on winning the 2020 presidential election. 

“I look forward to working with both of you to further strengthen the special alliance between the U.S. and Israel,” Mr Netanyahu said. 

His congratulations will likely be a blow to President Donald Trump, who has not yet admitted defeat. Mr Netanyahu is close friends with the Mr Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and the Kushner family. 

Read Mr Netanyahu’s full statement here: 

Republican senator congratulates Biden on winning 2020 election

Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican of Alaska, has congratulated Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on winning the 2020 election. 

“Even as ballots are counted in Alaska and legal challges continue in the Lower 46, former Vice President Joe Biden is now the projected winner of the close and hard-fought presidential race,” she wrote in a statement. “Tonight he declared victory and pledged to be a. president who represents all Americans.” 

She added: “I congratulate President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris and will be ready to work with their administration when it takes office.” 

Her statement went to acknowledge the transition from President Donald Trump’s presidency to Mr Biden’s without actually mentioning the sitting president. 

“It appears we will soon turn to a peaceful transition of power, which is fundamental to our system of democracy and ultimately honours the American people,” she said. 

Mr Trump has not indicated if he will concede the election or commit to a peaceful transition of power, as he continues to claim voter fraud prevented him from winning the election. 

Read Ms Murkowski’s full statement here: