Nelson Mandela Foundation celebrates Biden victory

The foundation of former president Nelson Mandela has expressed a "sense of relief" at the victory of president-elect Joe Biden, saying they "celebrate" the end of the Donald Trump era.

"Like many around the world, we celebrate the fact that we won't have to watch him [Trump] undermining democratic institutions and listen to him bringing the most powerful office in the world into disrepute for another four years.

"Now begins the daunting task for the US of undoing the Trump administration's deepening of racism, sexism, xenophobia, Afrophobia and many other intersecting vectors of prejudice and hatred," the foundation said in a statement.

The Mandela Foundation was looking forward to seeing the White House occupied by a leadership team "which understands the central importance of human dignity".

The foundation quotes Mandela who said a good leader knows when to step down. "It's not too late for Trump to embrace dignity, for himself and for others."

Build Back Better plan launched

Launching their Build Back Better transition plan on Sunday, US president-elect Joe Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris announced their four focus areas to "build back better than ever".

1. Covid-19

Biden-Harris has a seven-point plan to push back rapid infections of Covid-19 in the United States, that is underpinned by a commitment to "listen to science". This is a far cry from President Donald Trump's denialist approach.

Under Biden, Americans will have access to free Covid-19 testing and governors will be encouraged to make mask-wearing mandatory.

They will plan for the "effective, equitable distribution of treatments and vaccines".

2. Economic recovery

Biden-Harris has promised to "rebuild the middle class – and this time make sure everyone comes along".

Acknowledging inequalities in the economy, based on race, Biden says he will build a new American economy "for our families and the next generation".

The focus will be on local manufacturing and innovation, investing in clean energy, building a caregiving and education workforce and closing the racial wealth gap.

3. Racial equality

"The moment has come for our nation to deal with systemic racism," reads the introduction to this policy.

Biden puts economic growth in black and brown communities at the core of this programme. He acknowledges that the Covid-19 economic crisis has hit black and brown communities especially hard and will champion economic development for black and brown families, including equalising federal procurement.

Police reform initiatives include a nationwide ban on chokeholds and a ban on the transfer of weapons of war to police forces.

4. Climate change

Biden will immediately return the United States to the Paris Agreement on climate change, but "will go much further than that".

He acknowledges that climate change poses an existential threat to the country's environment, health, communities and national security.

He will use the post-Covid-19 economic crisis to build a "resilient, sustainable economy" that will put the US on the path to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Biden's plan to tackle rising coronavirus cases

Making the resurgent coronavirus his immediate priority, US President-elect Joe Biden on Monday will announce a 12-member task force to deal with the pandemic.

The coronavirus task force will be charged with developing a blueprint for containing the disease once Biden takes office in January.

It will be headed by three co-chairs, former surgeon general Vivek Murthy, former Food and Drug Administration commissioner David Kessler, and Dr Marcella Nunez-Smith of Yale University, according to two people familiar with the matter.

"I will spare no effort - or commitment - to turn this pandemic around," Biden said in his victory speech on Saturday in Wilmington.

The United States saw a record number of new infections last week, with cases nearing 10 million.

FACTBOX | Trump sues in Arizona, court battles continue as Joe Biden wins US election

US President Donald Trump's campaign said on Saturday it had filed a lawsuit in Arizona, its latest legal challenge over the results of the presidential election.

Biden win a setback for Israel's Netanyahu, hope for Palestinians

Joe Biden's US election win marks a setback for Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump - but it could spur renewed engagement between Washington and the Palestinians, experts said.

Netanyahu called Trump Israel's strongest-ever ally in the White House, and the Republican advanced policies that delighted the Israeli prime minister's right-wing base.

Netanyahu congratulated Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris on Twitter on Sunday, before thanking Trump for a raft of moves that, according to Netanyahu, advanced Israel's interests.

Trump unilaterally pulled out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal - an agreement between Tehran and world powers loathed by Netanyahu - and recognised Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided" capital.

He also endorsed Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights - which was seized from Syria - and avoided criticising Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.

According to a pre-vote poll by the Israel Democracy Institute think-tank, 63% of Israelis wanted Trump to win a second term.

- AFP

Kamala Harris victory: she braved the pains of being a black woman on a planet that won't accept you

Born to an Indian mother and Jamaican father, Kamala Harris has changed the course of history and flung open the door for other women to follow.

FACTBOX | Global leaders react to Joe Biden's US presidential election win

Democrat Joe Biden captured the US presidency on Saturday as voters narrowly rebuffed Republican incumbent Donald Trump's tumultuous leadership and embraced Biden's promise to fight the coronavirus pandemic and fix the economy in a divided nation.

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend celebrate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris victory

Chrissy Teigen has spoken out against Donald Trump in the past, and she was overjoyed when it was revealed that Joe Biden had won the presidential election.

9 things Joe Biden plans to do to get the US coronavirus outbreak under control

During his campaign, US President-elect Joe Biden accused current President Donald Trump of having no plan to guide the US out of the pandemic. Biden put forward his own coronavirus plan on March 12 — the day after Trump said the virus posed a "very low" risk to Americans — and has consistently called for more widespread testing and mask requirements.

Many experts expect the current surge in cases to be America's largest, and perhaps deadliest, yet. The US's daily case counts surpassed 100,000 for the last three days in a row. 

Biden's victory could soon spell trouble for 'mini-Trump' Boris Johnson

As US President-elect Joe Biden prepares to enter the White House in January, concerns have been growing in the UK about what his election will mean for relations between the US and the man American President Donald Trump once labelled "Britain Trump."

INSIGHT | 'I just couldn't be silent': How American women decided the 2020 presidential race

Women appear to have been crucial in delivering the US presidency to Joe Biden.

They were at the forefront of the highest US voter turnout in at least a century, casting ballots at higher rates than men. And more than half of female voters - 56% - chose the former vice president compared to 48% of men, according to exit polls from the Edison Research firm.

Photos show Americans taking to the streets in celebration of Joe Biden's victory

What Biden promised for his first day in the White House – including change on climate

US President-elect Joe Biden's campaign promises will confront political reality on January 20. On the campaign trail, Biden laid out a long list of promises he said he'll get done on "day one" of his administration.

Among them, he pledged to put a Covid action plan in place, sign a series of executive orders, re-enter the Paris climate change accord, and send a big immigration bill to the US Congress. That's a ton to do on a single day— and that's not even everything he promised. Even his supporters say he's unlikely to get to everything on day one. 

ANALYSIS | Trumpism will outlast Trump, who defied the odds, grew the base

As he closed his campaign with a series of boisterous rallies, President Donald Trump told his cheering crowds they would prove all the experts wrong again - just as they had when he improbably won the US presidency in 2016.

"A great red wave is coming," Trump said at a rally on 31 October in Pennsylvania, predicting a surge of Republican support would carry him to re-election. "There's not a thing they can do about it."

Trump lost the White House, according to media outlets that called the tight race on Saturday morning for his Democratic opponent Joe Biden, the former vice president. And yet Trump clearly outperformed scores of polls that suggested he might lose in a landslide and proved his base of supporters was bigger and more loyal than many observers realised.

Bubbly mood: Washington scrambles for champagne after Biden win

Joe Biden's election as US president on Saturday sparked a scramble for champagne in the capital Washington and some stores were already close to running out of stock in the Democratic stronghold.

It seemed many were ready to toast an end to a tumultuous four years under President Donald Trump. Calvert and Woodley, known for its selection of wines from around the world, sold up to 75 percent more bottles than a usual Saturday, according to store employees.

Store salesman Mark, who did not provide his last name, said hundreds of bottles had been sold.

"People want to celebrate," he said.

His colleague Janis said "I bought 20 for myself."

Dressed in a Biden-Harris t-shirt and with a Biden-Harris sign in her hand, Juanita was one of the many customers in search of the bubbly.

"I'm so happy. It's an amazing day for democracy," she said while choosing a bottle.

At Magruder's, a wine shop in the residential district of Chevy Chase in business since 1845, the shelves were emptied quickly and employees had to fetch reserve cases of champagne.

"People buy two or three bottles. It's very unusual," said a cashier. "People are so happy today."

And they were obviously not concerned with the price. Bottles of champagne typically sell for around $40 dollars (R623) to start.

- AFP

Can Donald Trump challenge the US election verdict?

Minutes after US media declared Democrat Joe Biden victor in the tight race for the US presidency on Saturday, President Donald Trump rejected that conclusion, saying he will prove in court that he was the winner.

"The simple fact is this election is far from over," Trump said in a statement.

"Legal votes decide who is president, not the news media."

But experts say Trump has little chance of reversing Biden's win, without having provided the evidence of widespread vote fraud needed to overturn results in several 

What next for Trump? Golf, Twitter and maybe another run?

When networks projected he had lost his bid for re-election to Joe Biden, President Donald Trump was playing golf. He'll soon have plenty more time to enjoy the links if he so desires.

But if there's one constant for Trump, it is his love of the limelight and few expect this most unusual of presidents to pursue a traditional post-White House life of public reticence, reflective memoir-writing and occasional charitable events. Some allies have already spoken of Trump planning a rematch in 2024. 

Trump campaign files lawsuit over rejected vote claims in Arizona

Republican President Donald Trump's campaign said Saturday it had filed suit in Arizona, alleging the Southwestern state's most populous county incorrectly rejected votes cast by some voters in the US presidential race on Election Day.

The lawsuit, filed in Superior Court in Maricopa County, said poll workers told some voters to press a button after a machine had detected an "overvote."

The campaign contended that decision disregarded voters' choices in those races, saying new voting machines were used on Tuesday. The lawsuit suggested those votes could prove "determinative" in the state's outcome.

The Maricopa County Elections Department and a spokesman for the projected winner, Democrat Joe Biden, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

- Reuters

President-elect Joe Biden is arriving in Wilmington, Delaware to address supporters and the American nation after being named the winner of the US presidential race by major networks on Saturday.

Photos show Americans taking to the streets in celebration of Joe Biden's victory

On Saturday, all major news outlets in the USA the AP, including Fox News, concurred that Joe Biden is the President-elect of the United States of America.

Immediately following the news, people in cities around America — from Atlanta to New York City and DC — flooded the streets, cheered from their balconies, embraced loved ones, and sang patriotic songs.

The wait is finally over: After four days of anxiously waiting to hear who the next US President will be, the win was called in favour of Joe Biden and his running partner Kamala Harris. Here is a list of some of our top stories to read:

Biden turns the page on Trump's most divisive of presidencies

President-elect Joe Biden who has cast himself as healer-in-chief inherits a nation both traumatised and spellbound by his White House predecessor Donald Trump.

He has channeled personal tragedy into a heart-on-his-sleeve compassion for everyday Americans, but President-elect Joe Biden faces the challenge of a lifetime as he inherits a nation both traumatized and spellbound by his White House predecessor.https://t.co/AxhKNDE7wF

— News24 (@News24) November 7, 2020

Kamala Harris: America's first woman vice president

By winning the vice presidency, Kamala Harris will be a heartbeat away from leading the United States and poised on a stepping stone to the ultimate prize.

Kamala Harris crashed through one of the world's highest glass ceilings on Saturday to be elected America's first woman vice president, making history and helping bring to an end Donald Trump's turbulent rule.https://t.co/WN42iaRhOJ

— News24 (@News24) November 7, 2020

Jill Biden: A chance to transform the role of first lady

Jill Biden is no stranger to the glare of the political spotlight. Her husband has been a Washington insider since they wed in 1977, and she was America's second lady for eight years.

He will be a President for all of our families. pic.twitter.com/iGPKLMMIcK

— Dr. Jill Biden (@DrBiden) November 7, 2020

Donald Trump rose to power proposing a simple solution to the United States' deepest problems: himself.

https://t.co/By0KBr5HQV | Donald Trump: the wrecking ball who came to 'fix' America https://t.co/xG3Zk8Mypy

— News24 (@News24) November 7, 2020

Chinese state media laughed at Trump after he falsely claimed US election victory

Chinese state media on Saturday laughed at US President Donald Trump after he falsely claimed he had won the US presidential election. "HaHa," tweeted the People's Daily, the state-owned and largest newspaper in China, attaching two laughing emoji.

HaHa?? https://t.co/hQcTFrxaRn

— People's Daily, China (@PDChina) November 7, 2020

From Lizzo to Viola Davis and more, celebrities celebrate with Biden and Harris

A wave of celebrations from A-list stars as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris win 2020 US election https://t.co/xmshNJghh4 pic.twitter.com/K7Vz7rwmBl

— Channel24 (@Channel24) November 7, 2020

'Overjoyed' - Biden family, supporters celebrate at election HQ

Hundreds of Joe Biden supporters cheered and sounded car horns as they and members of the president-elect's family gathered at his election headquarters in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware on Saturday ahead of a victory party.

Scores of Democrats descended on the Chase Center, where the next president of the United States will lead celebrations later.

Inside the adjacent Westin Hotel, Biden's family and campaign team expressed their delight at Biden rendering Donald Trump a one-term president.

"I'm overjoyed," Biden's younger brother Jim Biden told AFP.

A great day for America

Campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon said she had been on a run when her mother called to tell her that CNN had called the election for Biden.

"Ecstatic - a great day for this county," she told reporters, after walking through the hotel's lobby in a white Biden t-shirt.

Shortly before the long-awaited announcement, Biden's sister Valerie Biden Owens described the result as "wonderful."

"It's a wonderful thing for us but it's a better thing for America," she told reporters.

Symone Sanders, a senior advisor to Biden, said his team were "elated and excited".

"This is a win, frankly, for America," she told reporters.

Balloons, American flags and Biden-Harris placards

Outside the venue's perimeter fence, Biden fans waved balloons, American flags and held up Biden-Harris placards. They shared food and drink as they waited in hopes of catching a glimpse of Biden later.

The president-elect is due to take to the stage in the center's parking lot around 03:00 South African time.

Several hundred cars full of supporters are expected to attend the drive-in rally for an election victory party that will be unlike any other due to social distancing restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Fireworks and music are expected. Biden will be joined by his wife Jill, America's next vice president Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff.

A little over a mile away, in downtown Wilmington, locals expressed an outpouring of joy at the sleepy city's favorite son ascending to the highest office in the country.

"I'm happy, I wanted Trump out," said 31-year-old Kristina Moncada.

World leaders congratulate Biden and Harris on election win

Democrat Joe Biden captured the US presidency on Saturday, several major television networks said, as voters narrowly rebuffed Republican incumbent Donald Trump's tumultuous leadership and embraced Biden's promise to fight the coronavirus pandemic and fix the economy in a divided nation.

As crowds poured onto the streets of Washington and other cities in exuberant celebration and former US president Barack Obama hailed Biden's win as "decisive" and "historic", here are some of the first reactions from political figures across the globe:

South Africa calls for deepening bonds of friendship and cooperation

We congratulate President-Elect @JoeBiden and Vice President @KamalaHarris and the American people on your election. We look forward to working with you and deepening our bonds of friendship and cooperation. pic.twitter.com/aajOxmL8KI

— Cyril Ramaphosa ???? #StaySafe (@CyrilRamaphosa) November 7, 2020

UK congratulates Biden and Harris, vows climate action

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson congratulated Joe Biden "on his election" as US president and Biden's running mate Kamala Harris "on her historic achievement".

"The US is our most important ally and I look forward to working closely together on our shared priorities, from climate change to trade and security," Johnson tweeted, after US networks called the race for Biden over President Donald Trump.

In a statement, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "President Trump fought hard in what proved a close contest."

He anticipated working with the Biden administration on issues such as the Covid-19 pandemic, as Britain prepares to take over the G7 presidency next year and to host the UN's next global climate policy gathering, COP 26.

Biden has vowed to rejoin the UN's Paris Agreement on climate change after Trump abandoned it.

France's Macron congratulates Biden, ready to 'work together'

"We have a lot to do to overcome today's challenges. Let's work together!," French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted after major US media networks announced Biden's victory over incumbent Donald Trump.

Germany's Merkel congratulates Biden, Harris

"I look forward to future cooperation with President Biden," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a statement posted on Twitter. "Our transatlantic friendship is irreplaceable if we are to master the great challenges of our time."

Merkel, the first female leader of Germany, stressed that Harris would be her country's first elected female Vice-President.

Canada PM Trudeau congratulates Joe Biden on White House win

"I look forward to working with President-elect Biden, Vice President-elect (Kamala) Harris, their administration, and the United States Congress as we tackle the world's greatest challenges together," Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement.

Trudeau has had a frequently stormy relationship with Trump, who once tweeted the Canadian leader was "very dishonest & weak" over a dispute on US tariffs.

The United States is Canada's largest trading partner, with US$1.8 billion flowing across the border each day.

Spain's Prime Minister Sanchez congratulates Joe Biden on Twitter

"The American people have chosen the 46th President of the United States. Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. We wish you good luck and all the best. We are looking forward to cooperating with you to tackle the challenges ahead of us," Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez tweeted.

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin

"I offer warmest congratulations to Joe Biden on his election as the 46th President of the United States. Ireland takes pride in Joe Biden's election, just as we are proud of all the generations of Irish women and Irish men and their ancestors whose toil and genius have enriched the diversity that powers America."

"Joe Biden has always been a stalwart friend and supporter of Ireland, including of the prosperity, stability and opportunity made possible by the Good Friday Agreement, to which he has pledged his ongoing steadfast support."

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis

"Congratulations to US President-Elect @JoeBiden. Joe Biden has been a true friend of Greece and I'm certain that under his presidency the relationship between our countries will grow even stronger."

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo tweeted: "Congratulations @JoeBiden with your election as 46th President of the United States. A record number of people have cast their vote in this election. This illustrates the vibrancy of the American political life and its democracy."

EU chiefs congratulate Biden, urge closer US ties

European Union leaders Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen hailed Joe Biden's election as president of the United States and called for stronger trans-Atlantic ties.

"We take note of the latest development in the electoral process," said Michel, president of the European Council, which represents the leaders of EU member states.

"On this basis the EU congratulates President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on reaching enough Electoral Votes."

- AFP and Reuters

Former US president Barack Obama says he could not be prouder to congratulate Joe Biden and Kamila Harris on their victory.

"In this election, under circumstances never experienced, Americans turned out in numbers never seen. And once every vote is counted, President-elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris wukk have won a historic and decisive vitory," he said in a statement.

“We’re fortunate that Joe’s got what it takes to be President and already carries himself that way. Because when he walks into the White House in January, he’ll face a series of extraordinary challenges no incoming President ever has – a raging pandemic, an unequal economy and justice system, a democracy at risk, and a climate in peril,” he continued.

Congratulations to my friends, @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris — our next President and Vice President of the United States. pic.twitter.com/febgqxUi1y

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 7, 2020

Where is Trump?

US President Donald Trump was seen golfing at his golf club in Virginia, as major news outlets called the election for his opponent, the former Vice President Joe Biden.

Trump seen golfing as major US networks declare victory for Biden | @BISouthAfrica https://t.co/OtDjXCFx7t pic.twitter.com/zEGx4F8eQD

— News24 (@News24) November 7, 2020

Trump's campaign issued a statement vowing that its legal fight is not over, and insisting Biden had not won.

"The simple fact is this election is far from over," the statement read in part. "Joe Biden has not been certified as the winner of any states, let alone any of the highly contested states headed for mandatory recounts, or states where our campaign has valid and legitimate legal challenges that could determine the ultimate victor."

President-elect Joe Biden will address the USA at 20:00 Eastern time (03:00 in South Africa) in Wilmington Delaware, reports CNN, according to a statement from the Biden-Harris campaign.

This is the moment Kamala Harris called Joe Biden after getting news of the election win. "We did it. We did it Joe. You are going to be the next president of the United States," she said in a video clip posted to her Twitter account.

We did it, @JoeBiden. pic.twitter.com/oCgeylsjB4

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) November 7, 2020

This election was "about the soul of America and our willingness to fight for it", tweeted Kamala Harris, who will be the US's first Black and South Asian vice president, and first woman to hold that office. She posted the same video as Biden to her Twitter account.

This election is about so much more than @JoeBiden or me. It’s about the soul of America and our willingness to fight for it. We have a lot of work ahead of us. Let’s get started.pic.twitter.com/Bb9JZpggLN

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) November 7, 2020

Four days after a bitterly contested presidential election, former vice president Joe Biden enters the White House on January 20 as the oldest person to assume the office at the age of 78.

"I will be a President for all Americans". These were the words in US President-elect Joe Biden's first tweet following news of his victory.

America, I’m honored that you have chosen me to lead our great country.

The work ahead of us will be hard, but I promise you this: I will be a President for all Americans — whether you voted for me or not.

I will keep the faith that you have placed in me. pic.twitter.com/moA9qhmjn8

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 7, 2020

Democrat Joe Biden elected 46th US president, defeating Republican Donald Trump – CNN

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has been elected US President, after what was a nail-biting battle for the White House against Republican opponent Donald Trump, according to vote counts tallied by CNN.

Biden clinched victory after Pennsylvania - the state where he was born - put him over the 270 electoral votes needed to win.

The former senator from Delaware could be sworn in on January 20, 2021 as the 46th president of the United States. His running mate, California Senator Kamala Harris, 56, would be the first woman to become vice president and the first of South Asian descent.

Trump’s reelection defeat makes him the 11th sitting president in US history to lose the White House in a general election campaign. The last president to lose a reelection bid was George H.W. Bush in 1992.

Trump falsely claimed victory in the election multiple times this week, and baselessly suggested that the contest is being stolen from him. The US president has provided no evidence to support his allegations of fraud but has mounted legal challenges in battleground states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Georgia, to halt ballot processing.

Biden's campaign on Friday said that the US government is "perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House" in response to reports that Trump will not concede.

States have historically taken time after Election Day to tally all votes, although in most presidential elections the gap between candidates is big enough that television networks like CNN project the winner and the losing candidate concedes before counting formally ends.

The last time Americans waited this long for winner to be named was in 2000

Americans have been waiting longer than in any presidential election since 2000 to learn who The First Citizen will be in a contest that has dragged on for days.

Counting has been slowed by a record number of mail-in ballots as the Covid-19 pandemic prompted many to avoid voting in person on Tuesday's Election Day.

Four days after a bitterly contested presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, America on Saturday still awaited definitive results, with the Democratic former vice president on the brink of winning the White House.

Biden maintained his advantage going into Saturday, but television networks held off from declaring a winner because the margins are still close in the four states that will determine the election winner and votes are still being counted.

"The numbers tell us ... it's a clear and convincing story: We're going to win this race," Biden said late on Friday from his home state of Delaware, adding that he and his running mate Kamala Harris were already meeting with experts as they prepared to start their administration on January 20.

Trump, 74, has been defiant as his chances fade for securing a second four-year term. He has made repeated and unfounded claims of electoral fraud, including from the White House briefing room on Thursday night, while his campaign pursues lawsuits that legal experts say are unlikely to alter the election outcome.

Former Vice President Biden, 77, has a 253-to-213 lead in the state-by-state Electoral College vote that determines the winner.

- Reuters

Trump repeats unfounded claims of electoral fraud

US President Donald Trump blasted off a series of tweets, continuing his unsubstantiated allegations on Saturday morning.

He decried what he called tens of thousands of "illegally received" votes at 20:00 on Election Day, "totally and easily changing the results in Pennsylvania and certain other razor thin states".

Those tweets were flagged and masked by the messaging platform as containing potentially misleading content.

Trump, whose bid for reelection looked increasingly unlikely, showed no signs of conceding, and had several times prematurely named himself the winner, refusing to accept the data showing Biden poised for victory.

Trump's campaign has filed lawsuits around the country alleging fraud but made little headway, with no evidence produced to back up supposed ballot tampering or other significant incidents.

With thousands of votes still to count, it was not clear when the contest would conclude, though further updates were expected on Saturday.

Americans waited apprehensively for the final result.

- AFP and Reuters

With all eyes on the US presidential vote to find out if Donald Trump or Joe Biden will be the winner, have a look at previous concession speeches after US elections. 

How 4 US presidential candidates accepted defeat: A look at previous concession speeches.https://t.co/ynbxqt8YTW

— News24 (@News24) November 7, 2020

Fox News host Laura Ingraham advises Trump to accept defeat with 'grace and composure'

Fox News host Laura Ingraham advised US President Donald Trump on Friday to "accept defeat" with "grace and composure" in an extraordinary shift in messaging. 

Following Joe Biden's speech on Friday night, Ingraham went on Fox News to seemingly prepare her viewers for the likelihood that Trump might soon have to accept his election loss.

In a video of the segment, Ingraham said: "If and when it's time to accept an unfavourable outcome in this election, and we hope it never comes, President Trump needs to do it with the same grace and composure that he demonstrated at that town hall with Savannah Guthrie."

Laura Ingraham prepares her audience for the likely possibility that the President will lose the election pic.twitter.com/tG50EIHj60

— Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) November 7, 2020

Although the popular vote does not determine the outcome, Democrat Joe Biden leads President Donald Trump by 4.18 million votes nationwide out of a record 147 million cast.

He said Americans had given him a mandate to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, the struggling economy, climate change and systemic racism.

"They made it clear they want the country to come together, not continue to pull apart," said Biden, making his third bid for the White House in a political career spanning five decades.

Biden, who said he hoped to address Americans again on Saturday, said Trump's demands to stop the count would not work.

"Your vote will be counted. I don't care how hard people try to stop it. I will not let it happen," Biden said.

Trump gave no indication he was ready to give up.

"Joe Biden should not wrongfully claim the office of the President. I could make that claim also. Legal proceedings are just now beginning!" he wrote on Twitter.

A Trump adviser described the campaign's litigation strategy as chaotic and disorganised. Another Republican official said it was doubtful the lawsuits would yield a Trump victory.

"This race is over, and the only person who doesn't see it is Donald Trump," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

- Reuters

Here's where the race to 270 stands

Former Vice President Biden has a 253-to-213 lead in the state-by-state Electoral College vote that determines the winner.

He edged closer to victory when he took the lead on Friday in Pennsylvania, whose 20 electoral votes would put him over the 270 needed for victory.

In the early hours of Saturday, Biden's slim lead widened in Georgia, a typically Republican-leaning state, to put him ahead by 7 248 votes with the count 99% complete.

In Pennsylvania, he led by 28 833 votes with 96% of the vote complete, while in Nevada he led by 22 657 votes with 93% of the count complete.

In Arizona, Biden's lead narrowed to 29 861 votes with 97% of the tally completed. Trump's campaign has been optimistic that Arizona will end up in the president's column.

With thousands of votes still to count, it was not clear when the contest would conclude, though further updates are expected on Saturday.

Why the US media is not yet declaring Joe Biden president-elect

The New York Times says 'Biden edges closer to victory'. CNN's main headline is 'Biden nears victory, but counts continue'. And while the Associated Press (and Fox News) have called Arizona for Democrat Joe Biden, AP is still not declaring Biden president-elect "because neither candidate has secured the 270 electoral college votes needed for victory".

In previous elections, the US media used a combination of exit polls and real results to predict, call or declare the outcomes of presidential votes in states. But the complexity of the 2020 election, with mail-in ballots coupled with "real life" voting, and different counting regimes in every state, has forced the major media houses to play it safe. 

Although all the cable networks and major news websites are strongly suggesting a Biden victory, none of the major news brands have called a defeat for President Donald Trump, who is aggressively disputing the results and launching legal battles. Biden himself hasn't stated outrightly that he has won the election.

CNN's political director David Chalian has explained that the channel has a dedicated team of statistical analysts who are continuously processing incoming votes from the battleground states; Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia and North Carolina. 

"All they do is, every single time vote comes in from one of these states, they plug it into their models and their formulas, trying to ascertain a very high level of confidence," in the results so that whoever is the number two person in these contests doesn't have a real possibility to overtake the number one person, Chalian explained on CNN.

A no-fly zone is in place over Joe Biden's home, and it's completely normal

The American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has restricted the airspace over Joe Biden's home in Wilmington, Delaware.

Temporary flight restrictions (TFR) first went info effect Wednesday afternoon and were expected to last until at least Saturday. The restrictions were extended until next Wednesday by a new notice to airmen (NOTAM) that went out early Friday morning.

ICYMI | Does Trump’s America offer a warning about populist leaders and how to manage elections? 

In this week’s edition of News24’s Friday Briefing, editor-in-chief Adriaan Basson argues that Trump’s America offers a warning about populist leaders and how to manage elections. Our opinions editor, Vanessa Banton, spoke to three experts about the US election and what how we should  interpret them. And assistant editor: in-depth news Pieter du Toit looked at South Africa’s MAGAs who shaped their own Trumpian fan-base here.

Trump activists are turning to alternative social networks after Facebook bans

Pro-Trump activists have found a new online home to protest vote-counting less than 24 hours after Facebook shut down an organising group of more than 365,000 members for breaking its policies around inciting violence.

Thousands have flocked to such groups on MeWe, a social platform emphasising users' rights and privacy that anti-lockdown protesters turned to earlier this year after they were kicked off Facebook. Nearly a dozen "Stop the Steal" groups have popped up since Thursday on MeWe, Business Insider has found, filled with posts claiming voter fraud and organising state-by-state protests of election results.

ANALYSIS | US 2020 presidential poll: An election of game changers 

The Covid-19 pandemic and the collapse of the economy were game changers in the US presidential election, writes Theo Venter. 

White House Chief of Staff tests positive for Covid-19 

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, who has frequently appeared at public events without wearing a mask, has been diagnosed with Covid-19, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters on Friday.

It was not immediately clear when or how he was infected.

Meadows regularly accompanied US President Donald Trump on the final frenzied days of the campaign rallies leading up to the presidential election on Tuesday.

Meadows, who was at a White House election night party attended by dozens of Trump loyalists, is the latest official within Trump's close circle to have contracted Covid-19, which has killed more than 230,000 Americans.

Trump, his wife Melania and son Barron all previously fought off the coronavirus infection, as has Trump's national security adviser Robert O'Brien.

- Reuters